The Black Book: Seven Deadly Sins
Chapter 223 - 223: Do Not Be Ridiculed by the Ming Ancestor

The pupils narrowed slightly, and Feng Zhaobai suddenly turned around, looking at Zhu Haomiao in disbelief, asking with a trembling voice.

"Have you mastered all eight Basic Forces to Great Perfection?"

"Yes."

Seeing the youth nod calmly, Feng Zhaobai took a deep breath, using great will to suppress the urge to roar.

"Impressive!"

Giving a thumbs up, Feng Zhaobai seemed to have made some decision and turned to leave.

Not until the door was closed did he lower his head to look at the Dragon Emblem in his palm, seeing the faint glimmer of gold in the deep darkness, he sighed softly.

"So... the Abyss is this color..."

A few minutes later, returning the Dragon Emblem with the recorded Cultivation Technique to Zhu Haomiao, Feng Zhaobai saw him rise to leave, suddenly called out to him.

"Wait, I haven't told you about the mission reward yet!"

Hearing the word reward, Zhu Haomiao's eyes lit up, and he quickly sat back down.

Seeing the youth sit upright seriously, Feng Zhaobai chuckled and shook his head.

"1000 Contribution Points."

"Huh?"

Immediately, it was no surprise to see the youth's disappointed expression, Feng Zhaobai couldn't help but smile, adding.

"Real Points."

"What?!!!"

Endless brilliance exploded in Zhu Haomiao's eyes as he stared firmly at Feng Zhaobai, confirming he wasn't joking.

Zhu Haomiao knew the value of Real Points, which were scarce resources only obtainable by risking one's life to quell Super Natural Disasters!

"However, the mission's target, the Imperial Jade Seal, you cannot take for yourself, it must be surrendered."

"Uh, that's proper..."

This kind of thing is useless for a person to keep, and I have no intention to ascend the throne and proclaim myself emperor...

"Additionally, any other True Objects you obtain during the mission can be handled at your discretion. If undesired, the Yanhuang Armory offers appraisal and recycling services."

"Oh."

"Any other questions?"

"None. I'm now eager to make a small contribution to the country."

Zhu Haomiao rubbed his hands together, stood up full of fighting spirit, and took his leave.

......

Imperial City, Forbidden City

A heavy low pressure hovered above the ancient and mysterious palace halls, and the passing eunuchs and maids slowed their steps, fearing to anger the masters and be punished indiscriminately.

In a luxuriously elegant study, the highest rulers of the Empire gathered, their faces sullen and silent.

After an unknown length of time, an elder with whitish beard, under the urging looks from his colleagues, sighed helplessly, breaking the oppressive silence.

"Your Majesty, Old Buddha, the Westerners have landed at Qinhuang Island, captured Shanhai Pass, and Nalan Shu's New Army is blocked in Liaodong, unable to return for now!"

Hearing this, the old woman seated at the top gritted her teeth, fiercely struck the armrest.

"What do you mean can't return?!"

"I've issued over a dozen orders, and he keeps delaying. I see he intends to hold military power for himself, establishing dominance beyond the borders!"

Thinking of the birthplace of Da Qing being occupied by others, the old woman was even more furious, her eyelids twitched uncontrollably, almost causing her to spit blood.

Originally planning that if all else failed, she would retreat beyond the borders and plan slowly, but now, that's impossible!

"Daddy, no need to worry. Our Da Qing still has loyal ministers and good generals, a million strong army, as long as we hold the Imperial City, within months, the Westerners will surely retreat."

Nearby, the young man in a Dragon Robe cupped his hands, softly comforting the old woman.

Yet the frantic old woman, like a desperate beast, roared sharply.

"The million-strong army collapses at the first contact, the Westerners are already outside the city, what use are they?!!"

"A bunch of useless people! All useless people!"

Hearing these words, a few ministers exchanged glances, awkwardly pursing their lips.

They knew too well what comprised the so-called million-strong army.

Most of them were peasant militias spontaneously organized, using tools like hoes and sickles, not even fit to be cannon fodder!

And the well-equipped Green Camp was just a bunch of drunkards; they might suppress commoners, but in the face of the Westerners' rifles and cannons, they ran faster than rabbits!

"Daddy, although the hastily organized garrison is inadequate, we still have the Xiang Army, Huai Army, Sichuan Army, Yunnan Army, Shan Army..."

"Once the loyal armies from all over arrive, this crisis will naturally be resolved."

As the youth in the Dragon Robe continued to console, a minister awkwardly stepped forward, presenting a memorial.

"Reporting to Old Buddha, Your Majesty, I've received intelligence, a secret letter from the Westerners' Alliance to the governors of various provinces."

The old woman's heart jolted, realizing something, cold sweat bursting out, she spoke in a trembling voice.

"Read it!"

"The letter is highly offensive, I dare not."

"I pardon you of any crime, read it!"

"At your command!"

The minister opened the memorial, swallowed some saliva, and slowly and solemnly read.

"The Man Qing, one of the Barbarians beyond the outer border, neither have the virtue of a divine mission, nor did they contribute to China, they took advantage of the Zhu Ming's decline, forcefully snatching, establishing false authority, employing all sorts of schemes, cunningly wielding the world..."

"Upon examining the current state of the Man Qing, the ruler is dim and weak, manipulating authority, officials sell positions, military corruption rampant, governance in decline, discipline ineffective, when interacting with foreign nations, they do not act with fairness but follow private opinions, they do not rely on trustworthiness but engage in deceit, they are loathed from near and far both inside and outside..."

"Thus, Heaven detests their virtue, and the people tire of their rule, the troops lack loyalty, unwilling to commit, thus their forces deployed externally, defeated at Lushun, annihilated at Weihai, routed at Tanggu, drowned at sea."

"Each defeat brings mockery from all nations, thus it is clear that the Man Qing's fate is over, and the world has abandoned them."

"Our Eight-Nation Alliance, should follow Heaven and respond to the people's will, marching forward. To hold the court accountable, forcing the Qing Emperor to bind his face and submit, fulfilling all our demands, vowing never to resist us thereafter..."

"Yet, what we punish is the Man Qing court, not the people of your esteemed country..."

"I earnestly hope that you all will comprehend our sincerity, cease suspicions, observe the inclinations of Heaven and Man, follow the grand trend of the world, raise the righteous banner in the Central Plains, rally the valiant troops, form a revolutionary army, to expel the Man Qing beyond the borders..."

"Do not miss this opportunity, the chance will not come again. Did the ancients not say: 'Heaven offers but is not taken, you shall suffer for it?' Rise quickly. Do not let the Ming Ancestor ridicule you!"

Upon hearing the final six words 'do not let the Ming Ancestor ridicule you', the old woman could no longer hold it in, she threw a gorgeously decorated porcelain vase to the ground, shattering it to pieces, and screamed hysterically.

"Who wrote this? Who wrote this?!!!"

With her knowledge of the Westerners, they could never have written such piercing proclamation.

The phrase 'the ruler is dim and weak, manipulating authority' wasn't this a direct personal attack, putting all blame on her alone?!!

"Uh... it's said that this document was fabricated by the pirates..."

Hearing this, the old woman grew even more furious, veins bulging, teeth grinding audibly.

"Damn beasts! Damn white-eyed wolves!!"

Meanwhile, the youth in the Dragon Robe, unable to be angry, asked nervously.

"What are the responses from the governors of each province?!"