Chapter 135: The Heart of the Storm
As Lin Yuer focuses on expanding her empire, a storm brews on the horizon. A coalition of warlords from the northern region, discontent with the rapid changes, begin to rally their forces. They see Lin Yuer's empire as a threat to their old ways of life—where power is concentrated in the hands of the strong and the influential, and the common people are nothing more than pawns.
The warlords are not easily swayed by Lin Yuer's reforms, and their growing influence threatens the stability of the Phoenix Path. They begin sending raiders across the borders, attacking villages and caravans that rely on the trade route. Though the empire's military forces are strong, the warlords are skilled in guerrilla tactics, using the rugged terrain of the north to their advantage.
Lin Yuer, ever the strategist, knows that this conflict cannot be solved with brute force alone. The warlords are not simply enemies—they are the embodiment of the old ways that have resisted change for centuries. To defeat them, Lin Yuer must address the deeper roots of their power and influence.
She decides to meet with the leaders of the warlord factions, inviting them to the capital for a summit. It is a bold move, one that could either unite the empire or shatter it. She hopes that by appealing to their sense of pride and showing them the strength of the empire, she can forge a lasting peace. But Lin Yuer knows that her enemies are proud and stubborn, and this may be the most dangerous challenge she has ever faced.