The news of the war in the southeast spread throughout the Divine Capital very quickly. However, the officials on the Crown Prince's side exaggerated this tragic victory into a great victory. The people in the Divine Capital were in a state of jubilation, and they spontaneously organized themselves to light lanterns on the streets. The entire Divine Capital was in a state of complete fanaticism. Even in the middle of the night, there were still revelers drinking and singing loudly. The entire Divine Capital became a festive and lively city that never slept.
The plan that Zhao Liexian suggested was eventually accepted with conditions. The most crucial point was still the benefits.
The World Number One Tournament was not held every year. Sometimes, it would be delayed, and sometimes it would be held in advance. However, on average, it would be held once every four to five years, just like the imperial examinations. Each time it was held, it would bring great benefits to the imperial court and the divine sects.
The various sects could also obtain great prestige from it. Moreover, the cultivators who passed through the first round of the round-robin competition would more or less receive rewards regardless of their rankings.
Every tournament was the grandest celebration. In this year, around the tournament, countless merchants, merchants, even workers, common people, prostitutes, musicians, dancers, and other people could gain a huge profit.
The benefits generated from this tournament was comparable to one or two years of the imperial court's total income!
However, if the World Number One Tournament were to suddenly stop just like that, they would lose a great deal of benefits. This was a benefit that no one would be able to completely give up on.
Moreover, the Great Qi Kingdom was leaking money everywhere, and money was needed to fill the holes. Therefore, the first person to object was the Minister of Revenue. He was still hoping to collect a great amount of taxes to fill the financial gap. After all, if the tournament was held one more time, they would be able to collect more money.
Many gambling stalls would have to collect heavy taxes on their income during this period of time. At the same time, the income from the entrance tickets for each tournament had to be split with the divine sects. If there was one less tournament, they would lose at least several hundred thousand taels of silver, and at most millions.
The officials on Zhao Liexian's side immediately objected fiercely. Right now, they were standing on the Crown Prince's side, believing that if the skin was gone, where would the hair attach itself to? Once the southeast was defeated, the Great Qi Kingdom would definitely be shaken. By then, what use would it be even if they had more money?
After an intense argument, Emperor Zhao Bairen came out to mediate. As the mobilization of rations and troops required a certain amount of time, the tournament would continue. However, there was a need to make special adjustments to the competition system. They had to end the tournament as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the battles continued, the outcome would only be decided after over a month.
By that time, the battle would have been over by then!
Just as the Imperial Court made this secret decision, Li Chengfeng received the news immediately. The Crown Prince personally came to tell him.
"I'm very … sorry, this happened too suddenly, I had no other choice …" Crown Prince Zhao Hanqing said to Li Chengfeng in a pavilion at the back garden of the Xiefang Garden, his face full of guilt.
Li Chengfeng was also shocked by this sudden news. "All cultivators participating in the tournament will be sent to the frontline?"
Zhao Hanqing nodded solemnly. "That's right. As long as they are alive and not seriously injured, they must go."
Li Chengfeng was shocked. "The other sects aren't against it?"
Zhao Hanqing smiled bitterly and said, "When the nest is overturned, there will be no eggs left intact. If the Da Qi Kingdom is finished, once the Puppet Kingdom and the Dijon Kingdom come in, it won't be as simple as a change of dynasty. That will be the time of the sacrificial ceremony. At that time, the Puppet Kingdom's machinery factories and the Dijon Kingdom's blood-colored altars will be everywhere. Where will the cultivation sects find a place to stay?"
Li Chengfeng was silent for a while, then said in a low voice, "Didn't you say we won?
Why did you make it sound so dangerous? "
Zhao Hanqing shook his head. "It's just a facade!
Although we won at the frontline, it was a pyrrhic victory. Both sides won't be able to start another war of this scale in the near future. Now, we're competing on the three countries' ability to mobilize. Whoever can gather their strength in the shortest time possible to launch an attack has the highest chance of winning this war. "
Li Chengfeng sighed. "When the people prosper, the people suffer. When the people die, the people suffer.
I don't know when the common people will be able to calm down … "
Zhao Hanqing glanced around and said in a low voice, "The inauguration ceremony has been postponed …"
Li Chengfeng's eyelid twitched. He looked at Zhao Hanqing with an ugly expression. "Could it be …"
Zhao Hanqing nodded. "Fourth Brother and the rest tried their best to persuade Father. Their reason was that they were facing a great enemy, how could a country change its ruler?"
Li Chengfeng sighed. "Indeed, this reason is irrefutable."
Zhao Hanqing's expression was cold, his brows tightly furrowed. "I shouldn't have dragged you into this … this shouldn't be your war."
Li Chengfeng smiled and advised, "Let's not beat around the bush. There's no turning back in this fight for the throne. Whether it's me or His Highness, we can no longer escape this whirlpool.
One step back is a bottomless abyss, one step forward is the sea and the sky.
Plus, just like what His Highness said, once the Southeast is defeated, the world will be in chaos. When that happens, where will the world be? "
Zhao Hanqing sighed. "Brother, you're reasonable and considerate. I can't compare to you."
Li Chengfeng shook his head and said seriously, "No, His Highness is the kind-hearted one who loves the people like his own children. I'm very impressed!"
Zhao Hanqing shook his head too. "No, I'm the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne. In this world, other than the Emperor, the Crown Prince should have the biggest responsibility and the heaviest burden.
On the other hand, Little Brother is just a cultivator. You don't have to care about the rise and fall of the world, but Little Brother is always eager for justice and fights for injustice. It can be seen that Little Brother is a true chivalrous person!
I'm not as good as you! "
Zhao Hanqing sighed. "They say that everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world but there are very few who can do that!"
Li Chengfeng smiled. "They say that officials should serve the people and the Crown Prince should empathize with the people and love them like their own children. But how many Crown Princes can really do that?"
Zhao Hanqing stared at Li Chengfeng for a while before both of them laughed.
Li Chengfeng said, "Your Highness, I'm not afraid of the battlefield but I'm afraid of sneak attacks from behind."
Zhao Han Qing nodded his head and said, "You don't have to worry about this. Long Tenghai is Solitude's sworn brother. Solitude will write a letter to Solitude, and Solitude can hand it over to the general. That way, he will not make things difficult for you."
Li Chengfeng nodded and stared at the Crown Prince seriously. "Is there anything else, Your Highness?"
Zhao Hanqing shook his head. "No, you must remember not to be too eager to win. The battlefield is not a duel arena. Even if you defeat a hundred people in a duel arena, you won't be able to defeat a thousand men on the battlefield. Don't be reckless."
Li Chengfeng was silent for a while but did not say anything else. He chatted with the Crown Prince for a while until the Crown Prince left. Yuehan walked into the pavilion and he sighed. "The Crown Prince is such a gentleman …"
Yuehan laughed coldly. "If he was, he wouldn't have allowed you to go to the battlefield!"
Li Chengfeng shook his head. "That's not true. Even the Emperor has many things he can't do, let alone the Crown Prince who has a sensitive identity.
I asked the Crown Prince if there was anything else he needed help with. He could have let me gain more merits so that when I return, it would be a great benefit to him!
Most importantly, with the care of Great General Long Tenghai, it would be a piece of cake for me to make a name for myself. However, the Crown Prince didn't mention anything about it. Instead, he told me to pay more attention and not to covet fame.
If that's not a gentleman, then what is? "
Yuehan did not speak. She looked at Li Chengfeng with concern. "When are you leaving?"
Li Chengfeng replied, "Ten days at the latest. We'll finish the round robin in five days. The second elimination round and the third round of the finals will all be held together in seven days."
Yuehan was shocked. "Huh?
How do we fight then? "