Chapter 681: No One Plots Against This Village Chief Twice
The humble minister proposes that the Black Wind Village Chief's merits and faults cancel each other out, revoking honors and any rewards, and ordering him to return home for reflection."
"This..." The Emperor of Song feigned hesitation, his gaze falling on the composed face of Jiang Dali.
"Village chief!"
Both Wang Yuyan and Murong Qingqing were shocked and approached Jiang Dali, never expecting that what should have been a triumphant celebration would turn into such a result.
Zhang Xian and other civil and military officials were also of varied expressions, surprised within.
Especially the officials close to Yue Fei's faction, at this moment sweating profusely with anxiety.
Then, Zhang Jun also stepped forward and shouted, "I concur! Although Master Jiang has achieved great merit, his ruthless act of killing envoys from Jin and Liao is a serious offense. It could very well lead to re-escalating conflict among the Three Kingdoms, causing untold suffering to millions! Severe punishment is necessary! I plead the emperor to issue orders!"
Zhang Jun's stance immediately shocked some of the pro-faction officials, who didn't expect Zhang Jun to align himself with Qin Gui and decide the fate of the Black Wind Village Chief.
Far away, dispersed masses of common people and players, although unclear about what transpired, understood from the prior chaotic battle scene that a dramatic change had occurred.
Natives could only go with the flow, obeying orders to retreat.
Players, however, felt uneasy and, once dispersed, used their movement techniques to leap onto tall buildings and trees, intently watching the inner city gate for any movement. Each was eager to know what actually occurred.
Some players, sensitive to scents, were aware that a major plot mission might be unfolding. If they could join in, they might reap rich rewards.
However, under the soldiers' intercepting retreat, there was no chance for players to intervene.
This surprise quickly spread on the Jianghu Forum, causing a clamor.
Meanwhile.
Jiang Dali allowed Zhang Jun, Wang Ciweng, and other officials close to Qin Gui to finish speaking before lifting his gaze to the hesitantly thoughtful Emperor of Song and coldly said.
"Emperor! I have a question to ask you!"
The Emperor of Song was startled, frowned, and sighed, "Mr. Jiang, what question do you have? Just ask.
But as you see now, your act of killing the envoys from Jin and Liao has brought great calamity to Song Country.
Indeed, you must bear responsibility for this."
"No matter! It's the village chief's responsibility, and I will own it. If it's someone else's responsibility, no one will escape."
Jiang Dali's gaze was sharp as a knife, directly staring at the Emperor of Song, grinning, "I want to ask the emperor, is the principle that when an emperor breaks the law, he is punished like a commoner applicable in Song Country?"
"Impudent!"
Qin Gui angrily said, "Black Wind Village Chief, mind your words!"
Though he said so, he suddenly felt a flutter of guilt in his heart, sensing extremely ominous implications.
Disregarding it, Jiang Dali glanced at Qin Gui, scrutinizing him from top to bottom, chuckled, "Qin Gui, you know very well what you've done. Sometimes, smart people are often outsmarted by their own cleverness, don't you know?"
"What!?"
Qin Gui jolted with fear, feeling his heart skip a beat.
"What is this Black Wind Village Chief trying to say?"
The Emperor of Song was unclear about the meaning of Jiang Dali's question, frowning as he recalled whether he had made any mistakes, sitting upright and speaking solemnly after a while, "When an emperor breaks the law, he is punished like a commoner. This principle also applies in Song Country. Though I may not be a wise ruler, I'm far from a mediocre one, and won't condone my own mistakes!"
"Good!!"
Jiang Dali laughed loudly, shouting, raising his arm, "Very good! With this word from the emperor, it is enough."
After speaking, he suddenly let out a long howl.
The Demon Hawk that had been circling above suddenly let out a long cry and swooped down abruptly.
"Protect the emperor!!"
Numerous imperial guards yelled immediately, swiftly forming a defensive formation around the alarmed Emperor of Song.
"Emperor need not panic."
Standing with hands behind his back, Jiang Dali displayed a calm smile on his broad, firm face, "If the village chief truly meant harm to the emperor, I wouldn't need to trouble myself this way. The emperor should look at the people on the hawk's back."
At this moment, the air raged.
The majestic Demon Hawk had already swooped into low altitude, its black feathers shining under the sunlight.
On the hawk's back, the Fist Tao God's robust figure stood tall, clutching one person in each steel-bar-like hand.
"That's..."
The Emperor of Song's eyes narrowed, body trembling, instantly recognizing the two people held by the Fist Tao God.
They were none other than the envoys of Jin and Liao, with unmistakable envoy attire and familiar faces, undoubtedly genuine.
"What!? They're not dead?"
Wang Ciweng, seeing the two envoys struggling in the Fist Tao God's hands, turned pale like paper, his features distorted, body struck as if by lightning, seemingly incredulous.
Qin Gui also stood agape, glaring upward, motionless for a long time, as if questioning the heavens, "Is this possible? Impossible! How could this go wrong?"
In the entire scheme to harm the Black Wind Village Chief, exclude Yue Fei, and elevate himself, the primary step was that the envoys of Jin and Liao must die for the plan to proceed.
No matter who killed the envoys, as long as they died after meeting the Black Wind Village Chief, even if it wasn't at his hands, Qin Gui had arrangements to ensure their death and then blame the Black Wind Village Chief, making the subsequent actions easier to execute.
However, now, the envoys of Jin and Liao weren't dead.
The Black Wind Village Chief hadn't killed those two at all.
Therefore, everything previously prepared failed, hindering any punitive action against the Black Wind Village Chief.
"Wang Ciweng, this worthless fool, even botched such a vital matter!!"
Qin Gui raged internally, clenching his fists before taking a deep breath, gradually calming down.
Being a minister of state, his absorbing abilities and mind exceeded the ordinary; even when situations spiraled out of control, he quickly settled down, pondering subsequent strategies.
Even though the plan failed and couldn't significantly threaten or penalize the Black Wind Village Chief, he wouldn't face accountability from the emperor, nor would anyone know his role in this event. Even if suspected by Jiang Dali, without evidence, he couldn't be touched!
"Consider yourself lucky, you bandit leader!"
Qin Gui coldly eyed the descending Demon Hawk and then looked at Jiang Dali.
But just at this moment, Jiang Dali also slowly turned, a hint of mocking laughter still hanging at the corner of his mouth.
An overwhelming sense of dire danger suddenly surged from Qin Gui's heart, spreading through his entire body.
There wasn't even time to react.
Bang!
Darkness enveloped his vision.
Breath smothered.
Jiang Dali's imposing, demon-like figure suddenly approached, his large hand like a forest of blades grasping at Qin Gui's face!
"No one can plot against the village chief and come back for a second time!"
...
...
(Requesting monthly votes and recommendation tickets! Throw New Moon's guaranteed monthly ticket to me! Another chapter for tonight's update!)