Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 529 - 477: Evacuation

"What?"

Everyone turned their heads in unison toward Wang Bo Fan. The white-haired clan elder called "Third Uncle" furrowed his brows deeply. "Bo Fan, what do you mean by that?"

"I just received a secret report from a family spy, transmitted via the Nearby Worm."

Wang Bo Fan took out a bamboo tube from his chest, opened the lid, and pulled out the concealed note inside. "Just one hour ago, the Emperor of Jing Country issued a denunciation against Yu Country. At the same time, more distant countries devout to Haotian—such as Persia, Tocharian Country, Jin Country, Wei Country, Jiao Country, and over twenty other kingdoms—have all issued denunciations against Yu Country. They claim the Natural Science research of Yu Country’s Academic Palace has approached the Demon Path, defying Haotian, an unforgivable sin, and demand the immediate closure of the Academic Palace."

Upon hearing this, all the clan elders in the courtyard gasped in shock. What was a denunciation? It was a document used for summoning and denouncing, and its issuance often signified the onset of war. For more than twenty kingdoms to issue such denunciations at once clearly suggested that Taihao Mountain was manipulating events from behind the scenes.

The White-haired Clan Elder tremblingly took the secret report from Wang Bo Fan. Scanning its contents back and forth, he murmured, "How is this possible? How could this be..."

Only Taihao Mountain could command so many kingdoms. But what could possibly motivate Taihao Mountain? In previous years, hadn’t they enthusiastically engaged in academic exchanges with the Academic Palace of Yu Country? Why suddenly sound the clarion call to arms now? 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The oldest clan elder of the noble Wang Family held the secret report. He felt a sense of powerlessness, as if facing an uncertain future shrouded in darkness.

"There’s nothing impossible. The Academic Palace is making rapid advancements, recently having invented the Spiritual Energy Locomotive and a variety of fully functional talisman boards, visibly enhancing the national strength of Yu Country. They even plan to create a Spiritual Energy network, allowing every household and every workshop to use talisman boards. If we don’t wage war soon, the gap in national strength with Yu Country will only widen."

Wang Bo Fan said, "The Academic Palace Master Lian Xuanyao is growing old, with not many good years left. Now is the most opportune moment to strike. These kingdoms are demanding the immediate closure of the Academic Palace, which, of course, is impossible. Yu Country was established jointly by the forefathers of the Academic Palace and the Li Yu Royal Family; without the Academic Palace, Yu Country would cease to exist. The world uniting against Yu Country is imminent. Yu Country isn’t intimidated by Zhou Kingdom alone; even if Jing Country joined them, Yu Country could still match their power. But with so many kingdoms, coupled with Taihao Mountain pulling the strings behind the scenes, can Yu Country still hold out?"

Wang Bo Fan ignored the various expressions on everyone’s faces and continued, "Maybe this year, maybe the next, the war will eventually come. By then, it will either be the death of the Academic Palace or the death of the Academic Palace along with Yu Country. Yu Country is already a leaky ship; the wisest course of action is to abandon it and flee for survival..."

The White-haired Clan Elder interjected, "What does Old Seventeen say?"

The Wang Family also had members holding official positions in Taihao Mountain. The highest ranking among them was a Priest at the Torch Language Institute, with a standing only below one cardinal and three Deputy Envoys. He was a figure with real power within Taihao Mountain.

"Uncle Seventeen also sent a secret report through spies."

Wang Bo Fan chuckled. "He received a personal assurance from the Torch Language Cardinal, and from the Judicial Cardinal Bian Yubo, that this war was initiated by the Haotian Sect Leader out of dissatisfaction with the Academic Palace and is specifically targeting the Academic Palace, without impacting the noble families within Yu Country. As long as we agree to cooperate, when full-scale war breaks out and the Alliance forces breach Yu Country’s borders, our family can still be safe and not be held accountable."

"Dissatisfaction? Just because the Sect Leader is dissatisfied, a war of this unprecedented scale is to be waged?"

The White-haired Clan Elder rebuked angrily, "Don’t be foolish! It must be with the unanimous agreement of the Sect Leader and the four cardinals, even the elders of Taihao Mountain, to go to war with Yu Country. There must be deeper reasons behind this. Old Seventeen didn’t tell you the truth! Or perhaps he doesn’t know the whole story either!"

"Does it matter whether we know the whole story or not?"

Wang Bo Fan countered, "Taihao Mountain cannot tolerate the Academic Palace’s Natural Science research that seeks to tear away the mystique of Haotian, nor can the Academic Palace accept Taihao Mountain’s demands to cease their Natural Science studies. The conflict between the two is irreconcilable, like water and fire. Yet our noble family has no fundamental conflict with Taihao Mountain. In the three kingdoms of Jing, Zhou, and Yu, which noble family hasn’t produced a few Priests, Divine Officials, or even Cardinals? With Taihao Mountain far stronger than Yu Country, we must consider the future."

The White-haired Clan Elder stared at him intently and asked, "Considering the future, you want to continue propagating this plague?"

"Exactly."

Wang Bo Fan nodded. "Within three days at the latest, news of the denunciations from over twenty countries will spread throughout Yu Country. It cannot be concealed. When people become panic-stricken, they will inevitably flee to the mountains and forests, or even to other countries, for fear of the impending war. At such a time, if we delay the arrival of the plague medicine and combine it with the spread of the Plague Demon Talismans, the plague can spread rapidly, dealing a heavy blow to Yu Country and weakening its combat power. Thus, the intensity of the war can be reduced, which would also be a good thing for Yu Country’s citizens."

The White-haired Clan Elder said in a hoarse voice, "Is this what Old Seventeen told you?"

"No, I suggested it to Uncle Seventeen on my own initiative."

Wang Bo Fan replied solemnly, "If a ruler treats his ministers as his hands and feet, then his ministers will regard him as their heart and mind. If a ruler treats his ministers as dogs and horses, then his ministers will regard him as a mere stranger. If a ruler treats his ministers as dirt and weeds, then his ministers will regard him as a bitter foe. Since the Li Yu court doesn’t regard our Wang Family as human, inventing various ways to torture us, then why should we consider Yu Country our motherland? And why should we regard that Emperor Li Shun as a respected and beloved sovereign?"