There was a limit to loyalty.
There were conditions to loyalty.
There were choices to loyalty.
With a rich history, a long civilization, and a system that constantly repaired and improved itself, Houtu was the most powerful country in the world. Its power system and social system had reached the most perfect state possible in a feudal society. The social classes were orderly and flowed according to the strictest rules.
Monarch, Minister, Minister, Father, Son … This was etiquette and order. It was the cornerstone of a country and society. Everyone stayed in their positions and played their roles strictly according to the rules of the game. This order and rule were maintained by everyone because everyone benefited from this rule.
No matter if it was the emperor or the ministers, the nobles or the commoners.
The emperor obtained the power to rule over everyone. The ministers offered their loyalty to the emperor and the country and obtained what they wanted with their power. The nobles enjoyed many privileges and resources.
The commoners also had their own ways to change their fate … learning literature or martial arts. The latter was more popular. The Empire worshipped martial arts. The commoners who were born poor could change their fate by learning martial arts. If they could stand out in the triennial Military Exam and become a Martial Grand Scholar, they could even be bestowed with the Imperial Army by the Imperial Court. From then on, they would have a meteoric rise.
These were the many elements that a stable country had to have … a stable and flexible social class. The hierarchy was strict but not fixed. The upper class had overwhelming power, and the lower class had the opportunity to rise to the upper class. However, the upper class would fall to the mortal world for some reason.
The key to all of this was the Imperial Army.
It was because of the Imperial Army that the rule of the Empire was so stable.
If a warrior of the same level had an Imperial Army and an Imperial Army without an Imperial Army, the difference in combat power between the two was obvious. The former could easily defeat the latter.
When this difference was magnified to an entire army, it would only be greater. When two armies of similar size, morale, and equipment faced off against each other, if one of the armies was equipped with a large number of elite martial artists who wielded imperial weapons, then as long as these imperial martial artists formed a sharp blade unit, they would be able to directly tear apart the enemy's defensive line and allow their own troops to march straight in. There was no need for any superfluous tactics.
This was the reason why the Houtu Empire was able to fight against the Sky Demon and had an unparalleled military power.
When a large number of elite warriors from the Imperial Army gathered together, it was the nightmare of all the armies in the world. The warriors of the Empire had tempered their bodies and refined their essence into Qi. Their combat prowess was already far superior to that of ordinary people. If they had an Imperial Army, they would be able to obtain mystical powers that surpassed nature. And if the most brilliant and unparalleled warriors were to be equipped with the most powerful Imperial Army, they could even possess terrifying powers that could topple mountains and overturn seas, tearing apart the heavens and earth.
No shield could block such a sharp spear.
It was the Imperial Army that maintained the stability of the Empire and the strength of the country.
On the other hand, the Imperial Army was in the hands of the imperial court or the royal family.
This ensured that the central government had an overwhelming advantage over the local governments. Whether it was righteousness or strength, as long as the Imperial Army could be continuously produced, the Imperial Court would have an endless stream of warriors pledging their loyalty. Even if there were any upheavals or changes, as long as the foundation was not lost, the country would be as stable as Mount Tai.
As long as … the foundation was not lost.
Obviously, such an Empire was terrifying and even invincible. As the most powerful country in the world, Houtu would naturally be viewed as an enemy by the other countries. However, no matter whether it was Li Fire, which was the best in the world in terms of firearms, or Sharp Metal, which was the best in the world in terms of craftsmanship, even though they regarded Houtu as their greatest imaginary enemy, they still couldn't do anything to her after so many years of research and targeting.
But Sun Lang had a solution.
The strongest fortress could often be broken from the inside.
The Imperial Army was the pillar of the Empire, but it was also the country's greatest weakness.
Now, his enemy had personally delivered this weakness to him.
Sun Lang looked at the silent Wang Wuan and said casually, "You will be afraid, right?"
Imperial Weapons … allowed martial artists to transcend the mortal world, to stand above the world, and to be unrivaled. They were the symbol of status and the source of power. They brought victory, glory, and wealth to their masters. They were the most trusted comrades and the most precious treasures of Imperial Weapon martial artists.
Every cultivator that possessed an Imperial Armament would view it as something even more precious than their own lives.
However.
If the warriors knew that the Imperial Army, which was regarded as a treasure and brought victory, was not a treasure that could be completely trusted, but an evil thing that brought terrible disasters, what would happen?
In the invincible sharpness, there might be an evil spirit with bad intentions. It lived with you day and night, grew up with you, imitated you, and understood you. When the time was right, it would devour your soul, take everything from you, and make your soul disappear from the world completely. And your wealth, status, power, wife, and children would be openly seized by this evil spirit. No one would notice it, and no one would know that you had disappeared from the world …
What would happen then?
There was nothing more terrible than that.
And there was also nothing more unbearable than that.
There were conditions to loyalty, and there was a bottom line to loyalty. Warriors accepted the Imperial Army and the power and status bestowed by the court. In exchange, they offered their loyalty to protect the stability of the imperial power and the country. This was a fair trade, and it was the rule of the game that everyone agreed on.
This rule was the cornerstone of the stability of the Empire.
And the possession of the Imperial Army would completely destroy this cornerstone, and the rules of the game that had been maintained for hundreds of years would no longer exist. It would make the most loyal officials question the Emperor's motives, and it would make the country that was as stable as a rock because of the Imperial Army fall into an unstoppable turmoil … The success was because of the Imperial Army, and the failure was because of the Imperial Army.
Sun Lang looked into Wang Wuan's eyes and repeated, "You are afraid. This kind of thing, even a smart and tactful loyal official like you would feel afraid."
Wang Wuan did not say anything.
Sun Lang nonchalantly poured a pot of oil on the fire. "Maybe one day, after you sleep, you will never wake up again. But the Supreme General Wang Wuan will still exist in this world, continue to be loyal to the country, continue to be a loyal official, continue to f * ck his wife …"
Wang Wuan suddenly stood up. The Supreme General clenched his fists and stared at Sun Lang. His eyes were violently shaking. "Enough — this is only your side of the story!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the white light of the sword flashed in the hall. The Golden Sacred Sword solidified and was stabbed into the ground by Sun Lang. The sharp sword aura shot out in all directions.
Sun Lang held the hilt of the sword and stared at Wang Wuan. Senran said, "You have also fought side by side with Bai Yuwei, so you should know what the Golden Sacred Sword looks like. The original Golden Sacred Sword has gradually merged with Bai Yuwei's body because of the dog Emperor's possession plan, and it no longer exists. And this Sacred Sword is a new Sacred Sword that Bai Yuwei forged with the glory and pride of a warrior before he died … Don't tell me that you can't see the difference between the two!"
Wang Wuan looked at the new Golden Sacred Sword, and his eyes flashed with shock and sadness. He gritted his teeth and did not say anything.
Sun Lang's eyes were incomparably deep. "I also encountered the same thing in the Great Desolate Mountain, but I survived … You should understand now, Wang Ermazi. This is not an isolated case. It has been planned for a long time, and the target of this conspiracy is not just one or two people."
Wang Wuan said slowly, "I am not the owner of the Sacred Sword."
Sun Lang said indifferently, "But your Nation Stabilizing Sword is also one of the most powerful Imperial Army in the world. Do you think that with the temper of the dog Emperor, he will not return the favor?"
"Since you can even devour and control the powerful Seven Luminaries Sword Saint, why would you let the people below you go?
You, Wang Wuan, are the General of Qin Province, a military minister of the border. With such great power, even if you are careful and keep a low profile, you are still a natural target for the ruler to guard against — Since they have to guard against you, why keep guarding against you?
Wouldn't it be better to turn you into a puppet that they can rest assured of?! "
Wang Wuan still wanted to speak, but Sun Lang took a step forward and fiercely grabbed the General's lapel.
Sun Lang pulled him closer and stared into his eyes with a cold gaze. He said in a cold tone, "Even if that's not the case, even if the target of possession is limited to the Seven Luminaries Sword Saint, does that mean you can relax and ignore everything? Do you want to pretend that this never happened?"
"After you came here today, you flared up at me in an unfriendly tone because of those stupid people from the Bai Family, because they are Bai Yuwei's clansmen. How can such a benevolent person turn a blind eye to what happened to Bai Yuwei?
Do you think it is normal for an official of three dynasties to end up like this after a lifetime of military service? "
"I, Sun Lang, know my own affairs. It is unexpected that the Imperial Court will deal with me, but it is reasonable. There is nothing to say. Everyone will rely on their own abilities … But, what about Bai Yuwei?!"
Sun Lang's tone became more and more intense. "Even if you don't f * cking feel angry, you should at least feel sad for the death of a loyal official and a filial son, right?"
Wang Wuan didn't say anything, but his hands were trembling slightly.
He wasn't Sun Lang. He wasn't so rebellious and didn't view imperial power as nothing. He wasn't Zhao Yunlong. He wouldn't ignore everything and only follow Sun Lang. He was actually just an ordinary person. He had been educated since he was a child, and his personality had been cultivated for forty to fifty years. There were some things that he couldn't easily make decisions about.
He stared at Sun Lang and gritted his teeth. "Then what should I do?
Just because they heard your side of the story, they joined you and wholeheartedly wanted to rebel against you and destroy this country? "
Sun Lang's voice was as cold as ice. "Even if you don't join me, I can still destroy this country. If you don't want to become a puppet, you can only rely on my help. Do you understand?"
Wang Wuan just stared at him.
Sun Lang looked directly at the other party's murderous eyes and didn't back down. "So, you have to understand the situation clearly. Know who is your friend and who is your enemy … Then, don't hinder me. You have to cooperate with me. You have to learn to turn a blind eye to my people's convenience … Do you understand?!"