MTLNOVEL Chapter 317: Using Public Office for Personal Gain?
"Lord Heroic, when can I enjoy the wine from your wedding with young Xue Ru?" Emperor Wei asked with a smile.
"I too would like to know that," Left Minister Xie Jing nodded with a smile.
"Lord Heroic, His Majesty and the Left Minister are urging you. Do you have a definite answer?"
"I already had thick gifts prepared for the wedding between Lord Heroic and the Duke Lin's daughter earlier."
"Only you prepared? I had someone bring agarwood from the East Sea to make wardrobes for Lord Heroic."
Several Chiefs of Staff and Vice Ministers joined in, evidently daring to exchange a few jokes.
Prince Zhenbei Du Qing and the just returned King of the Southern Garrison Gongye Jiahong stepped in to shield Chen Yi.
"What are you bunch of pedantic scholars making a fuss for? You're not even invited to Lord Heroic's wedding."
"If you dare come, I will join Taiping and make you lie on the ground by nightfall."
"Drinking? Prince, perhaps you don't know I am commonly known as the 'Wine Immortal'?"
"..."
Chen Yi watched as Emperor Wei and the others focused not on the gathering but jested about his wedding, feeling a mix of amusement and helplessness.
Yet he didn't break the jovial mood, pleaded for leniency, and shifted the topic to Lin Hansong and Chen Taiping.
"Everyone, please don't trouble yourselves over Yi Er's wedding. If there's news, Lin shall certainly inform you."
Lin Hansong graciously addressed the head of the table, "Indeed, His Majesty shall be the first to know."
Emperor Wei pointed at him and Chen Yi, jokingly scolding, "You all should hasten with these marriage arrangements so that once they grow up, they can see a Wei Dynasty free of demon menaces."
"..."
Only Emperor Wei dared utter these words, as the civil servants glanced at the Left Minister and chose silence, especially the Minister of Revenue, who tightly shut his mouth, fearing a demand for military funding.
The princes and marquises felt powerless, uncertain of the situation and doubting the strength for a counter against the Ten Thousand Mountains.
Chen Yi understood well, and considering the content he had prepared for the third trial, he couldn't help but smile.
"Seems the elders turn pale at the mention of the Demon Court, His Majesty might still need to devise a plan."
Emperor Wei glanced at him with a half-smile, then eyed the awkward ministers, asking, "What insight does Lord Heroic have?"
"I almost forgot, none of us present, including myself, have personally ventured beyond Beixiong Pass to truly understand the Ten Thousand Mountains."
"Why not use the time between the heroes' trials for Lord Heroic to tell us about it, enlightening His Majesty and these timid 'ministers'?"
At his words, the Chiefs of Staff and Vice Ministers appeared increasingly embarrassed, while the marquises fared better, having some notions from regular military reports on the Demon Court's movements and border battles.
Du Qing couldn't help but inwardly rejoice at their expressions, subtly giving Chen Yi a thumbs up.
In the past, whenever the Demon Court was mentioned at court meetings, these civil servants would deflect or use classical references to dispute until no result was achieved.
Now with Chen Yi who had firsthand experience speaking, those civil servants were silenced, truly satisfying.
"Lord Heroic, since His Majesty wishes to understand, go ahead. Let the imperial court hear about the situation at Beixiong Pass!"
Chen Yi certainly wouldn't refuse.
Even though he knew the northern attack on the Demon Court wasn't an overnight affair, if the officials in the Kyoto Prefecture didn't dare even imagine it, there'd be no chance of mobilizing north later.
For recognition unchanged, even if forces were rallied, these ministers would only hold back.
"Then let me speak, think of it as a story."
With that, Chen Yi narrated his experiences in the Beizhi prefecture, Beixiong Pass, and Ten Thousand Mountains.
His eloquence was notable, having recounted the experience before, he did so skillfully.
In a few sentences, he described the intense hardship in counties within Beizhi Prefecture where all households are soldiers.
"Unlike the south, Beizhi is frigid, especially in winter when each household must prepare firewood early."
"From the southernmost edge to Beixiong Pass, the official roads are spotless no matter the weather, cleaned daily to ensure smooth military passage."
"And within Beixiong Pass, the soldiers defending the border are ever vigilant, whether stationed or on rotation, always ready for combat."
"What impressed me most was the 'Dragon Gate Leaping'..."
A minister couldn't hold back, questioning, "What is 'Dragon Gate Leaping'? Does it really turn some demons into Demon Immortals upon leaping?"
"..."
Immediately after these words, not only Chen Yi but several knowing marquises and princes chuckled.
However, Emperor Wei didn't smile; his expression was chilling as he glared and berated the speaker.
"Fool!"
"What do you spend your days thinking about? Beyond your duties, have you never considered the border, or thought of the soldiers safeguarding Wei Dynasty's peace?"
"What 'Dragon Gate Leaping'?
"Let me tell you what it is—it's the Demon Court using our Beixiong Pass as a trial ground, offering rewards for demons to escalate by reaching Beixiong Pass!"
"If not for this being our Wei Dynasty's celebration, I'd want to behead you..."
The queried minister shrank back, profusely apologizing.
After the commotion, Chen Yi quietly completed his account, with not a soul daring to interrupt, fearing exposing their "ignorance."
Even the irritated Emperor Wei adopted a serious expression upon hearing of countless demons nestled amidst the mountain peaks, not only in hideouts but also in numerous, varying communities.
"Countless demons below the Fifth Grade Realm, Demon Kings above the Third Grade Realm everywhere... appears I underestimated the northern counteraction."
Chen Yi offered some comfort, "No need for disheartenment, Your Majesty. Vanquishing the Demon Court is truly arduous, but possible if aided by Great Divine Power users."
"Currently, we must strengthen ourselves and develop a clear understanding of the Demon Court. If truly a battle commences, having detractors would be foolish."
"Lord Heroic speaks rightly," Emperor Wei nodded, scanning the ministers who emerged as the fools, sneering,
"If you cannot even conceive it, how can you speak of northern campaigns?"
"This is my fault..."
Seeing numerous ministers stand, instigator Chen Yi meanwhile remarked as he observed, "Your Majesty, today is the second stage of celebration, perhaps discuss the campaign later?"
Emperor Wei's expression softened slightly, waving his hand, "Alright, let's watch our Wei Dynasty talents' performance. As for you all... I'll deal with you later!"
The ministers donned bitter smiles, reprimanded yet forced to appreciate Chen Yi, truly...
Foremost among them, Xie Jing reacted, noticing the serene Chen Yi's gaze turning toward the arena, suddenly pondering—could Lord Heroic have done it intentionally?
Because of the ministers' wedlock urgings, did he do this?
Impossible... Such pettiness...
Regardless of others' thoughts, Chen Yi would never admit it.
His focus was purely on Wei Dynasty's future, never for personal reasons.
Meanwhile, Huangshan Taoist, busy for long, readied the second trial—a tower stretching a thousand feet!
"The second trial focuses on training,"
Huangshan Taoist craned his neck toward the towering structure, solemnly stating, "Training tests not only temperament, talent, cultivation, and techniques but also wisdom and situational control."
"The rules are simple, this 'Thousand Mechanism Tower' has ninety-nine levels, each with varied trials, the more levels passed, the higher the rank in the second stage."
Huangshan Taoist paused, gazing around, "Only the top fifty advance to the third stage, begin one by one!"
"Starting from… the last rank in the first trial."
Last?
The gathered talents exchanged glances, watching Jiang Ye step forward with a bitter expression, cupped fists toward them:
"All, I'll pave the way."
With that, he saluted Huangshan Taoist and directly entered the first level of the Thousand Mechanism Tower.
Subsequently, Huangshan Taoist formed gestures with both hands, then a clear projection appeared atop the tower, featured Jiang Ye's figure—
"This is the first level?!?!"