Keyboard Immortal - Chapter 2834

Immortal Chapter 1347 Taking on a Critical Mission

The battle situation beyond the Great Wall truly shook the world. The natives of this world thought that even the renowned Governor Yuan had been defeated and killed by the Manchu Tartars, so wouldn’t the Ming Dynasty be finished? Who in the court could now stand against them?

The shock of the group attending the Order Ceremony was beyond words. No one knew better than them how powerful Commander Augustus was. His reputation had been built through countless victories in his years of fighting against the followers of Annihilation.

How could such a top expert die in a secret realm that they thought was just a formality?

Could it be that the God of Annihilation had personally descended?

Zu An shook his head. If a true god were to descend in person, his vast and majestic aura would permeate the entire world; it would be impossible not to sense it.

As he was pondering this, an imperial edict appeared in the sky. Clearly, the Grand Elder was in a panic, summoning all relevant personnel to the capital for discussion.

He also had many doubts in his heart. After arranging things in the Northwest, he took the imperial edict and returned to the capital.

When he left, Li Zicheng was leading eighteen riders in the Shangluo Mountains, their faces filled with despair.

Hong Chengchou was simply too powerful, both in personal strength and military strategy. Even a figure like Chuang Wang (Li Zicheng) had his entire army wiped out, and they saw absolutely no hope of turning the tide. They

even considered disbanding, but they all knew that returning to their hometowns would surely mean being arrested and executed by slow slicing by the authorities. They were all discussing how to go into hiding.

Hearing his men’s discussion, Li Zicheng stood alone on the edge of the cliff, his heart turning cold. Their spirits had crumbled.

Just then, a figure shrouded in a cloak appeared before him: “Do you want to make a comeback?”

Li Zicheng was startled. How did this guy suddenly appear? “Who are you?”

“Don’t worry about who I am. I can give you the power you need most, allowing you to successfully take revenge.” The shadowy figure’s voice carried a strange, seductive quality.

Li Zicheng’s breathing quickened: “Fine, I need power!”

Now it was the shadowy figure’s turn to be surprised: “Aren’t you going to ask what I’ll have to give up?”

“No need to ask. Now I have nothing left to lose. I need power to avenge King Chuang and to overthrow this damned Ming Dynasty!”

“Good, I knew I hadn’t chosen the wrong person. From now on, you will gain the power of reproduction. Your subordinates will multiply like a snowball, inexhaustible…”

A strange light shone on Li Zicheng, and his originally desperate eyes grew brighter.

He then went to his men: “Brothers, fight back with me! We will take back everything we’ve lost!”

…

Forbidden City, Imperial Study.

The room was already in an uproar. Everyone was discussing what had happened, clearly aware of the abnormality of this Order Ceremony.

Zu’an stood in a corner with Isabella: “Bella, still no news of Chu Yan?”

Chu Yan hadn’t come to the capital as agreed for so long, and he had been investigating her through his own channels, but unfortunately, he hadn’t found anything.

“Brother Zu, don’t worry. I recently received intelligence that someone saw a beautiful woman overseas, and her description is very similar to Sister Chu,” Isabella comforted him.

“Overseas?” Zu An’s heart skipped a beat. This world had become much larger because of their involvement, and with the sea as a barrier, it was understandable

that Chu Yan couldn’t reach the capital. “Yes, that’s territory controlled by the Zheng family, and they are hostile to the current court. Sister Chu probably can’t come because of that,” Isabella explained.

At this moment, the First Elder’s voice quelled the noise in the Imperial Study: “The situation outside the pass is now extremely volatile. Fortunately, Hermes is stationed at Shanhaiguan, and Naraku has stabilized the cities outside the pass, preventing the Qing army from invading. What do you all think we should do next?”

The people in the Imperial Study looked at each other, and the atmosphere became somewhat heavy. Even the powerful Augustus had died in battle, and the others felt it would be difficult to do better than him.

“With Second Brother and Sixth Brother here, the situation outside the pass should be able to be stabilized, right?” Fifth Elder Lilith was no longer indifferent as she had been last time; this time she also came to discuss important matters.

“What good is merely maintaining stability? This grand ceremony is about saving the Ming Dynasty and rebuilding order. We must first pacify the foreign tribes beyond the Great Wall.” The First Elder’s face was grim. “Hermes and Naraku are not skilled in military affairs; they are good at maintaining the status quo but lack the ability to advance. Who do you think has the ability to go beyond the Great Wall and suppress the Manchus?”

The people in the Imperial Study frowned, no longer as relaxed as they had been the last time they were here.

The Fourth Elder, Mostima, suddenly spoke up: “I think Zu’an is the most suitable.”

Everyone’s eyes fell on Zu’an. Isabella’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly said: “Fourth Elder, Brother Zu is still young after all. I’m afraid he may not be able to shoulder this heavy responsibility. The uncles and elders should be more capable.”

She knew that beyond the Great Wall was extremely dangerous, and Brother Zu would probably face great danger if he went there. Naturally, she did not want her lover to take the risk.

Others attending the ceremony echoed,

“Yes, with several elders present, it’s indeed inappropriate to send an outsider.”

“We trust the Second Elder and the Sixth Elder more; entrusting external affairs to others is hardly reassuring,”

…

Zu An added, “I am of limited ability; even Commander Augustus couldn’t handle it, so I would be equally helpless. Moreover, as a Messenger of Memory, deep involvement is probably inappropriate.”

This Fourth Elder is no relative to me, so why has he been helping me ever since the Temple of Wealth?

Is he truly insightful, or does he have ulterior motives?

“We all know clearly about your major battles in suppressing the rebellion in the Northwest. You completely quelled the massive rebellion. No one here probably surpasses you in military ability. If we were to find someone to deal with the Manchus, you would be the only one,” Mostima added. “Besides, you’re not just the Messenger of Memory, but also our Merchant Guild’s future son-in-law. You’re not an outsider.”

“If you can make a great contribution to the Merchant Guild, I’d like to see who dares to interfere with your marriage to Isabella!”

“Fourth Uncle~” Isabella immediately feigned a coquettish smile, but she was also somewhat tempted.

She knew that many in the Merchant Guild didn’t actually approve of her marriage to Brother Zu, which was why she had previously neglected him.

As the eldest daughter of the Merchant Guild, although she appeared glamorous to outsiders, she was also aware of the responsibilities she bore and couldn’t act according to her own whims like ordinary people.

If she could get the Merchant Guild to agree to her marriage with Brother Zu, that would be ideal.

However, the area beyond the Great Wall was too dangerous, and she ultimately couldn’t bear to let Brother Zu take the risk.

Just as they were about to help Zu’an refuse, the Grand Elder spoke up: “Alright, let him serve as the Governor-General of Ji-Liao, responsible for pacifying the foreign tribes beyond the pass.”

The others wanted to persuade him further, but the Grand Elder waved his hand: “No need to say anything more, no one is more suitable than him.”

He then looked at Zu An: “Once you reach the border, the imperial court will provide you with all the assistance you need. As long as you can quell the Manchu rebellion, not only will your marriage to Isabella be secured, but you’ll also have a seat at the future Chamber of Commerce Round Table Conference.”

These words shocked everyone in the imperial study. The seven elders of the Chamber of Commerce Round Table Conference were all among the most powerful figures in the myriad realms; who wouldn’t be envious?

Many even wanted to volunteer to go to the border, but then they thought again. Even the invincible Augustus was dead; going there would only be suicide.

The position of the eighth elder of the Chamber of Commerce was tempting, but one had to be alive to enjoy it. Zu An going to the Northeast would most likely only lead to his death.

Thinking this way, many calmed down, and some even began to agree with his decision to go.

The atmosphere was tense, but Zu An remained unmoved; he knew the dangers involved.

Just as he was about to refuse, the Grand Elder suddenly spoke up: “Do you want everyone to think Isabella has entrusted herself to the wrong person?”

Zuan looked at Isabella, who quickly winked at him and secretly whispered, “Brother Zuan, please don’t go, don’t worry about me…”

He suddenly smiled. Since fate had arranged these things, he figured only by facing them directly could he find a glimmer of hope.

Besides, she was deeply in love; how could he let her lose face?

“Alright, I’ll go.”