“Reporting to Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the Great Shang Empire is strong and prosperous, with a vast population. If we must survive by feeding the demon clan’s bellies, then I would rather retire and return home.”
“A bandit breaks into our house, robs our wealth, eats our food, drinks our wine, even sleeps with your wives. I ask you, ministers, would you be willing to endure that?”
“Prime Minister, what kind of words are these? Since ancient times, the demon clan’s invasions have been unavoidable. Thousands of years ago, even the Supreme Emperor led millions of troops against them. In the end, the casualties were even greater. As things stand now…”
“That was thousands of years ago,” Li Changsheng cut in sharply. “Back then, the population of Great Shang was only 100 million. Now it exceeds 1 billion.”
“If several million troops cannot deter the demon clan, then send 10 million. If 10 million are not enough, then send 100 million.”
“Your Majesty, I believe that if the Great Shang Empire has endured and prospered until today, then it is time for us to stand upright.”
“If the ministers here are content to cower at home and allow the demon clan to trample upon the dignity of Great Shang, then let them continue to cower. I ask Your Majesty to permit me to lead the army to battle. I will swear to defend the honor of Great Shang with my life and make the demon clan understand.”
“Great Shang is no longer the Great Shang of thousands of years ago. It is no longer weak and incompetent. If they can come to us, we can also go to them.”
The moment these words fell, the entire hall was stunned. All eyes widened as they stared at Li Changsheng like he was a madman.
“Lord Li, do you realize that your actions could bring the Great Shang Empire to the brink of destruction?”
“Exactly! Do you know how powerful the demon clan is? How many of them there are?”
“Do not speak recklessly. Are you willing to gamble the lives of tens of millions for a mere possibility? If we lose, do you know what the consequences will be?”
The ministers rebuked him furiously, but Li Changsheng only let out a cold snort.
“Hmph!”
“Everyone dies eventually. Some deaths are weightier than Mount Tai, others lighter than a feather. You seek only stability and tremble in fear. You are nothing but cowardly rats. I, as Prime Minister, disdain to stand among you.”
“I request Your Majesty to issue the decree and allow me to go to war. Even if I fall on the battlefield, it would be far better than living in cowardice like these men.”
Li Changsheng had finally thought it through. The only way to destroy the Great Shang Empire was to wage war against the demon clan.
If war broke out, victory would bring eternal fame and expanded territory, but it would also drain the empire’s strength and exhaust the treasury.
Either outcome would serve his purpose. Therefore, war with the demon clan was inevitable.
Even if he personally led the campaign, he would not foolishly charge at the front. He would drive the army into demon territory, letting imperial troops bear the brunt, continuously consuming the empire’s population and cultivation resources.
For a moment, the hall fell silent. The ministers were left speechless, their faces flushed red from his scathing words.
Being called cowardly rats infuriated the old ministers. They glared furiously, yet found no words to answer him.
However, the pro-war cultivators were extremely supportive of Li Changsheng. In the court, there were those who advocated peace and those who advocated war.
The peace faction consisted mostly of the old ministers, conservative to the extreme, afraid to truly fight the demon clan after being battered repeatedly in the past.
The war faction was made up of many younger cultivators. They had long understood that the demon clan and the human race were mortal enemies. They were well aware of the humiliations of the past. Every year, Great Shang lost millions of people, simply handed over to be devoured.
Upon the Dragon Throne, Long Qianqian frowned slightly. She looked at Li Changsheng in surprise. She had not expected this man to be so patriotic, willing to die on the battlefield rather than live in humiliation.
He could have easily echoed the old precedents like the other ministers. No one would have blamed him.
She herself had always thought the same. For thousands of years, Great Shang had followed this pattern.
Yet at this moment, she felt her blood surge.
She was the new Emperor. She needed to accomplish something great.
With a population exceeding 1 billion, even deploying an army of 100 million was not impossible.
If 100 million troops fought the demon clan to the death, perhaps they could truly defeat them. That would be a deed recorded in history forever.
Even if they were defeated, she was not afraid. The Supreme Emperor Long Cang still stood behind her.
Even in the worst-case scenario, the empire would likely not truly fall. Great Shang’s lands were vast and rich. The demon clan could not realistically annex the entire human domain.
Times had changed. As the new Emperor, she wanted reform. The demon clan was not invincible. They merely had greater numbers. Great Shang was not inferior.
After thinking it through, she suddenly felt that war was feasible.
If they won, the demon clan’s endless resources would belong to Great Shang.
If they lost, the empire still had sufficient foundations to endure.
“Li, your words are reasonable. As cultivators, we already defy the heavens. Mortals die, and cultivators are not immortal either. Some deaths are weightier than Mount Tai, others lighter than a feather. If the demon clan can invade us each year, then Great Shang can also strike back.” Enjoying the story? Read on at NovelPing.
“I have decided. Mobilize 100 million troops. We will go to war with the demon clan!”
The declaration shook the entire court. The old ministers were dumbfounded. It felt as though everyone had gone mad.
Long Qianqian acted decisively. She immediately began issuing orders. The Minister of War released empirewide notices to begin conscription.
The entire empire erupted in turmoil. Massive recruitment efforts began across all regions, sending troops toward the northern border. Cultivators communicated through communication talismans. Within a single day, the entire empire was mobilized.
Li Changsheng requested permission to join the campaign, but the Emperor refused. This time, all military cultivator generals of Great Shang were deployed.
Within one month, cities and towns across the empire began assembling forces. Troops marched continuously toward the northern frontier. Within three months, more than 10 million soldiers had gathered in the north.
Among these troops, mortals formed the majority. Cultivators served as commanders, relaying orders through communication talismans.
While reinforcements were still on the way, the vanguard had already clashed with the demon clan.
The demon forces were led by demon cultivators and composed of countless ferocious beasts. They surged endlessly toward the border.
There were bear clans, boar clans, dog clans, wolf clans, tiger clans, leopard clans, and later ox clans, elephant clans, sheep clans, rat clans, snake clans, horse clans, monkey clans, chicken clans, and more than a hundred other races united in a vast army, stretching without end.
The first battle between the two sides erupted without warning. As different races, both fought with savage intensity.
In the very first clash, the slaughter was apocalyptic. Blood flowed like rivers. Corpses lay everywhere.
As far as the eye could see, every living being was an enemy. All creatures became targets to kill or be killed.
In just a few days, the human army suffered catastrophic losses. Of the 10 million troops, 5 million died outright. The demon clan suffered even heavier casualties, yet their numbers continued to grow.
“Report!”
“The demon army has advanced 250 kilometers into our territory!”
“Report! The imperial army has suffered over 20 million casualties!”
“Report! Demon cultivators have slain more than 1,000 imperial cultivators!”
A series of battle reports poured in, throwing the entire court into panic.