Firefly Journey

Chapter 291 The World's Attack on Chu (1)

Jamie received a letter from home.

At the same time, the empire stopped pretending and issued a declaration of war against the State of Chu.

Jamie couldn't understand it at all. Henry I had just agreed to an alliance with the State of Chu, and then immediately issued a declaration of war. It was too fast for him to change his mind.

Having served in the border army for a long time, he knew that the empire's change of heart was not a sudden one, but rather a long-planned scheme.

The mobilization of troops is not something that can be done overnight. And according to the information he received, it's not just that the empire is going to take action against the Chu Kingdom; this time, the army that is going to attack Chu is even more ruthless than the one more than ten years ago, with all seven major ancestral god churches involved, and their momentum is even greater.

This was a long-planned attack.

The State of Chu sensed danger and thus bowed to the Empire. However, no matter how much it bowed, the fundamental contradictions remained unchanged.

The State of Chu was so rich that the entire Ancestral God Church stopped pretending and came over to share the spoils.

The alliance was probably just a delaying tactic by Henry I. He agreed on the surface to lull the Chu state into a false sense of security, and then suddenly assembled a large army to create a stark contrast and wake the Chu state from its slumber.

The Chu leadership seemed to have no solution to this.

For the State of Chu alone to contend with the combined forces of the Seven Gods is nothing short of a pipe dream.

The gap between the two sides is too large; it's no longer a question of whether they can win, but rather how long it will take for them to be defeated.

Strictly speaking, in this scheme, Fene was merely a prelude, serving a deceptive purpose.

As for how the Chu Kingdom will treat the brother and sister once the war begins, that is not something the empire should worry about.

Since it is war, there will always be sacrifices. If the Chu high command gets angry and uses the Robert family as a sacrifice, the empire will not care. At most, after the victory, they will hold a memorial service for them and call them heroes of the empire.

Who would know the truth back then?

Jamie was furious, but there was nothing he could do; he could only take it one step at a time.

What's reassuring is that Emperor Zhuang did not hold a grudge against the brother and sister, and did not even ask them a question, maintaining absolute trust.

……

At dawn, a commercial carriage exited through the west gate and slowly moved away from Danyang City.

The horse was a common, slow horse, and the carriage was made of simple wood, making the whole carriage look rather shabby.

The carriage had barely traveled a mile when it was intercepted.

Two well-dressed middle-aged men stood at the front of the road.

Simpson Budd didn't hire a driver, and he bought the carriage himself. It was clear that he disregarded the conditions offered by Chu and was determined to leave.

However, it seems some people aren't giving me a chance.

"Is there something you need?"

Simpson stopped the carriage and spoke to the two people in the middle of the road.

Having spent a long time in the State of Chu, Simpson knew that the two most powerful men in Chu were standing before him.

My meager skills are insignificant compared to theirs.

The Sword Saint rarely spoke, but Emperor Zhuang spoke up: "To be honest, just a few days ago, the Kingdom of Debasa, in conjunction with the Church of the Seven Gods, issued a declaration of war against my Kingdom of Chu and is currently deploying troops on the border."

This crisis is worse than ten years ago. Looking across the continent, only you, sir, can break this deadlock. Therefore, please do not leave. The Great Chu needs you to take charge.

Simpson paused for a moment.

Seven gods attacking Chu? Such a grand spectacle?

"The Vatican has also sent people?" he asked.

Despite his disappointment with the Papacy, Simpson, who came from a family with the Vatican, did not want to assume any ill will towards it. However, upon hearing the news, he found it difficult to accept.

The Holy See has existed for millennia, its mission to heal the sick and wounded, and its aim to benefit all people. Although its nature has changed, its doctrines remain. How can it possibly oppress the innocent?

Once war breaks out, it is the ordinary people who suffer. Is the Vatican today still the same as he knew it?

"Two cavalry units were dispatched to protect the faith," Emperor Zhuang replied.

Simpson was even more shocked.

The most elite of the three guardian cavalry units is stationed outside the abyss year-round to suppress demons.

In other words, besides the Dawn Cavalry Regiment, the other two cavalry units, Dawn and Daybreak, have all arrived. The deployment of these remaining two guardian cavalry units indicates that the Papacy is serious. What is the Pope thinking?

Who is leading the team?

“‘Thunder’ Texas, he commands two cavalry units, and ‘Flame’ Conrad isn’t here; he’s stationed at the Papacy headquarters,” Emperor Zhuang replied.

This information is hardly confidential; the major churches have practically made their intentions clear. The combined armies of the Seven Gods could easily sweep through any nation on the continent; they wouldn't need any schemes or tricks, taking it down is only a matter of time.

"I understand."

"Would you be willing to return to the city with us, sir?"

Simpson smiled: "Did I have a choice?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Chen Qingchen.

If the State of Chu doesn't let me leave, I certainly won't be able to leave today.

But his relenting was not due to fear of power.

He left the Papacy because he disapproved of its current practices. Now, the Seven Churches' united attack on the Chu Kingdom is even more contrary to their doctrines.

He did not want to see a country with freedom of religion shrouded in gloom and become a desolate place.

So he wanted to do something.

"Prime Minister Zhao thinks highly of me, but I can't guarantee I won't disappoint the State of Chu." Simpson wasn't the kind of person who was overly ambitious; he laid the unpleasant truths out upfront.

"It's alright, I trust the Prime Minister's judgment."

Simpson said no more, turned around, mounted his horse, and prepared to drive the chariot, but Emperor Zhuang, being a third-level awakener, was a step ahead.

"Please come in, sir. Let me handle this."

Simpson had no choice but to return to his carriage.

On the roof of the car, Chen Qingchen had somehow managed to climb up and stood straight, like a sword.

……

……

The Seven Gods' alliance gathered at the Kolumbutz Mountains.

Apart from the Debasa Empire, which mobilized its entire national strength, the other six churches in the coalition only sent superhumans to participate.

The quality of the troops is more important than the quantity. This battle doesn't require the participation of ordinary people; the empire is enough for the ordinary army.

In fact, apart from the Holy See, the other churches have very few troops, and even if they come, it's better than nothing and they're not very useful.

The mountains were high and the roads were long, and it took the Church of the Seven Gods a great deal of time just to assemble. Among them, the Dark Temple, located in the southern part of the continent, was the slowest to arrive.

They arrived last, not because of geographical reasons, but because their leader was a saint.

The saintess was willful and delayed on her journey for an unknown number of days.

Henry I personally led this eastern expedition, determined to wipe out the Chu Kingdom.

He treated every church that came to the meeting with courtesy, and even when the Dark Temple arrived late, he remained unperturbed and warmly welcomed them.

The Dark Temple's forces appeared outside the Allied forces' encampment.

Henry I personally came out to greet him.

He jumped off the carriage, placed his index and middle fingers on his brow, and then bowed slightly, receiving the people of the temple with the prayer ritual of the Dark Temple.

"I have seen the Holy Maiden; may the goddess bless you."

Wind Chime wasn't buying it, and said, "Isn't your national religion the Ancient Battle Arena?"

Henry I's expression changed instantly, but he quickly recovered: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I'd be happy to blend in."

"You really are very adept at social maneuvering."

"you misunderstood."

"most."

After a brief handover, the Dark Temple officially joined the army that was attacking Chu, and the Church of the Seven Gods was now fully assembled.

……

……

P.S.: I forgot whether I wrote about the temple prayer ritual earlier, so I made one up now.