Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 674 - 674 0433 Unwelcome Visitors

Chapter 674: Chapter 0433: Unwelcome Visitors Chapter 674: Chapter 0433: Unwelcome Visitors Chapter 0433 Unwelcome Guest

By the time the Emperor Bei Rong and his entourage departed, dusk had almost arrived. Although the darkness did not affect Qi Tian and his company, Qi Tian chose not to rush their journey, planning instead to spend the night at Yanming Pass and set off again the next morning.

Yanming Pass is currently under the control of Zhou Qingyu. Upon learning that Qi Tian would be spending the night at Yanming Pass, he quickly made arrangements for them, preparing the best rooms within the pass.

Days ago, the Bei Rong people had seized Yanming Pass, massacring all five thousand of its defenders. However, aside from a small number who were killed, the majority of ordinary citizens were spared. This wasn’t due to the kindness of the Bei Rong people, but rather because they viewed these citizens as their property, preparing to enslave them and take them back to the Bei Rong Kingdom when they retreated. Fortunately, Qi Tian arrived just in time to repel the Bei Rong forces, ensuring the safety of these citizens.

Now, Zhou Qingyu had spread far and wide the news of the Bei Rong Emperor’s apology to them. Qi Tian did not ask Zhou Qingyu to keep secret his overnight stay at Yanming Pass, so as a result, Zhou Qingyu announced it in order to curry favor with Qi Tian. Upon hearing this news, the citizens of Yanming Pass gathered, surrounding the small courtyard where Qi Tian was staying on all sides, both inside and outside.

If it were not for the fact that these people did not pose any threat to Qi Tian, Gao Jinmei and Jin Jin would’ve driven them away. However, for safety’s sake, Gao Jinmei sent Jin Jin to keep watch over them while she went into the room to report the situation to Qi Tian.

Originally, Qi Tian didn’t intend to go out and meet these ordinary people. But then he thought that this might be an opportunity to win over public opinion, so he decided to step out from the room and appear before the courtyard gate. As soon as he appeared, someone shouted, “The Master has come out, the Master has come out.”

Upon hearing this call, the gathered citizens all knelt down. Before their eyes, the area outside the gate was completely filled with kneeling figures. “We are indebted to the Master for his act of mercy,” they murmured.

Qi Tian extended his hand to help a few of the kneeling citizens, and then offered a courtesy gesture towards the others. He said, “Honorable citizens, please rise. The Crown Prince is selfish. He ignored the unique nature of the border region and withdrew ninety percent of the fifty thousand soldiers stationed at Yanming Pass. As a result, when the Bei Rong people attacked the border, despite our possession of a major fortification like Yanming Pass, there was no one to defend it. They easily took it over, putting Baoding Prefecture at risk of falling into the hands of the Bei Rong people. Heaven took pity on us. The ninth prince, Prince Zhao, gave me the appointment to inspect various border forts, and I discovered the dangerous situation here just in time. I was able to drive the Bei Rong people away and compelled their emperor to apologize publicly. He even issued a Self-Admonishment Edict to the whole world. Considering the future of Great Zhao Nation, I disagree with making the Crown Prince heir apparent. In my opinion, Prince Zhao would be the most suitable candidate. Prince Zhao is kind, and will certainly make an enlightened monarch in the future.”

Qi Tian’s words were quite incendiary, and more importantly, the truth laid before them that the Crown Prince had indeed ordered the majority of the border troops stationed at Yanming Pass to be withdrawn. This led to the citizens of Yanming Pass living in despair for several days. They could only hide in their homes, and were only able to collect a small fraction of the bodies of the soldiers who had fallen in battle on the city walls. It was only after Qi Tian drove the Bei Rong forces away and Zhou Qingyu received Qi Tian’s command to send a vanguard team into Yanming Pass that they began to collect the bodies.

For the citizens of Yanming Pass, the past few days had been like a living hell. Naturally, they could not have any positivity towards the Crown Prince who brought these days upon them. Conversely, they held an inexplicable trust towards Prince Zhao.

Qi Tian spotted Zhou Qingyu amongst the crowd. He waved at Zhou Qingyu and said, “General Zhou, step forward.”

Zhou Qingyu quickly got up from the ground, pushed past a few people standing in his way, and came close to Qi Tian. “I pay my respects to the Master.”

With a smile, Qi Tian asked, “General Zhou, do you think the Crown Prince should be abolished? Should Prince Zhao be made the Crown Prince?”

If this conversation had taken place in the past, even with three heads, Zhou Qingyu would not dare speak thus. But now, his mindset had changed unconsciously. There was no way he could continue to follow the Crown Prince; Prince Zhao was the new master worthy of allegiance. Although he had not met Prince Zhao, as long as Prince Zhao had Qi Tian’s support, Prince Zhao was thousands of times stronger than the Crown Prince.

“Master, honored citizens, I don’t understand great principles, but I’m fully aware that if it weren’t for Prince Zhao sending the Master here, my life, Zhou Qingyu, would have perilously landed in the hands of the Bei Rong people. As a soldier who eats from the emperor’s table, I have no complaints about dying on the battlefield. However, this war, which clearly should not have happened, did occur. Dying in such a war, I, Zhou Qingyu, couldn’t rest in peace. I’ve come to realize that the Crown Prince has no moral integrity. Should he continue in his role as Crown Prince, it will only weaken the Great Zhao Nation day by day. He might well become a ruinous sovereign. I, Zhou Qingyu, am not willing to follow such a crown prince without moral integrity. I wish to publicly announce my stance. I am willing to support Prince Zhao as the Crown Prince and heir to the throne.” Zhou Qingyu opened his mouth to express his stance clearly.