Chapter 398: General Yang
Maynila, capital and largest city of the Felipinas.
Malacanan Palace, official residence and workplace of the president of the Felipinas. It was a colonial-style building. The time now was midnight. Only the streetlights and some surveillance lights were switched on in the palace. Just then, some of the presidential guards suddenly felt a chill across their bodies. Simultaneously… the trees, flora and fauna in the surroundings keeled over with a soft rustle, almost as though something was softly brushing past their rich canopies.
Unfortunately, none of them were aware that a magnificent ghostly city was flourishing with dazzling lights right underneath the Malacanan Palace.
Anyone who entered the city would immediately wonder if they had gone back in time and entered the Song Dynasty once more, albeit one that was far more prosperous than it had ever been before.
“Great General, is there any reason for which you’ve summoned us today?” A man with a stern expression asked respectfully from the left side of the hall.
Everyone was silent.
He looked up, and a bright netherflame flickered in his eyes, “Who’s willing to go?”
Yang Jiye smiled, “It’s not possible to send everyone. We still need people to stand guard in the Felipinas. Over the last ten years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of incursions on our territorial waters. In fact, just last month, during the imperial court meetings, we’ve even spotted an Overwatch Sea Beast not more than three hundred nautical miles away from us. We cannot let our guards down. Furthermore…”
Silence.
“I am also willing to head out on this expedition.” Another general promptly stood up as soon as the young general was done. It was a female general this time. Yet, not a single person in the hall appeared to be surprised by her response at all.
“I’m willing to go!” “I’m also willing to lend aid to Hell!” “Same here!”
Yang Jiye glanced about the hall and sighed wistfully as he nodded, “Yang Yanzhao.”
“Yes!”
“Most certainly!”
“Yes!” Four female voices responded with great determination.
After all… everyone present today was in some way or another a famous general of the Yang Clan in their own right!
To that end, perhaps the only other envoys who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Yang Jiye would be Zhou Yu and Liu Yu.
Apart from that, Yang Yande, also known as Yang Wulang (TL: Wulang means the 5th son), was in life conferred the title of General Xuan Wei, appointed the commander-in-chief of the infantry and also tasked to protect the emperor. In the Battle of the Golden Beach, he was cut off from the rest, surrounded by enemy forces and completely outnumbered. Thus, he cut his hair and pretended to be a monk in order to escape his pursuers.
The imperial edict had been served, and the Yang Clan had selected the best of the best. Hundreds of years after Yang Jiye’s enfeoffment, they were finally returning back to Hell for the very first time!
Where did they come from?
Even the most stiff-necked folks would learn to become more adaptable after hundreds of years in Hell and the netherworld.
Didn’t you see how Liu Yu had alone mustered forces of well over ten thousand back during the imperial court meeting?
With that, he stood up and glanced about the hall.
This was a kind of silent tension before war broke out. An air of sobriety filled the entire hall.
“Apart from that…”
Then, he turned to each of the generals whom he was sending out to war, “If Hell is razed to the ground or Lord Qin perishes, and yet you still remain alive… I shall summarily put you to death without any mercy!!!”
…………………………………………
That said, Hell had also slowly but surely begun to stir into motion. But this time, it was slightly different from the hustle and bustle of prosperity that filled Hell in the past. Instead, Hell was filled with an air of tension… almost as though everyone could sense that war was coming.
This had only been done in accordance with Qin Ye’s instructions. This was a decision which Qin Ye had made as soon as he realized that they were on the cuff of the warring states era.
The only piece of good news was the fact that Hell’s Media Group had already been officially established. The Minister of Doctrine, Cang Jie, had been appointed the chairman of the group. On the very day of its establishment, thousands of workers worked overtime to print out thirty thousand copies of the newspaper which was distributed to all major work sites.
One of the more important things on the pipelines would naturally be to locate an independent source of power generation. However, now was not the time to consider these things. After all… the new Hell was stirring with passion and apprehension at the prospects of war.
“We’re going to war…” “Indeed. I’d never expected such tension in the underworld as well.” “Isn’t it just the same back in the mortal realm as well? The Middle East has been in conflict for the longest time.” “I just hope that these conflicts don’t affect us back in the City of Salvation. I’ve not even had a proper chance to enjoy life after death just yet…”
News?
Photographs?
And tabloids and entertainment news was completely out of the picture as well. Therefore, Qin Ye knew better than to waste his time and resources on this for the time being.
However, Qin Ye shook his head and glanced out of the window. He could tell that Hell had been filled with a rather restless atmosphere as of late. The prospect of war stirs up the most primal instinct of the human heart, and such stirring emotions would only be quenched by the stimulus of the spoils of war.
Even though Qin Ye was aware of his opponent’s identity, he still couldn’t wait for war to happen!
There would always be clues left behind wherever an army passes.
Time was of the essence.
“What about the citizens of the county?” Gu Qing continued with great concern, “We’d have to conduct a thorough sweep through the lands for Yin spirits. If any patrolling officers are inadvertently drawn into this altercation of the underworld, they won’t be able to survive!”
Gu Qing froze, and then gasped in horror, “Inform… who? You don’t mean--...”
Gu Qing’s jaws dropped slightly, and his entire body trembled a little.
Would they show fear, or respect?
Would they cooperate with us, or reject us completely? Would they celebrate our arrival, or show us a look of disgust?
“Alright.” Gu Qing no longer had any concerns. Instead, he turned and bowed deeply to Qin Ye, “Then, I sincerely wish King Yanluo a triumphant return! A hundred victories for a hundred battles ahead!”
“The first battle of Hell must end with a resounding victory!”
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