Chapter 178: All Engaged In Infighting
In the autumn of the second year of the Tian You Calendar, due to the struggle between factions within the Hao State, King Hao led a portion of elite troops, disregarding Zhao Cheng’s advice, and shifted his forces to the east. He called it strengthening the defense of the Bo Prefecture on the east side.
In fact, Zhao Cheng had somewhat anticipated all this. After all, Zhao Cheng knew that whatever he insisted on, the people on King Hao’s side would subconsciously oppose; in this way, except for particularly obvious traps that King Hao would not jump into, as long as a cloth was draped over any trap, as soon as Zhao Cheng said not to jump, the people on King Hao’s side would definitely step right in.
King Hao was just over twenty-five now, the age when he was least willing to be controlled.
After enduring humiliation for five years, he finally gathered a group of young radicals and suddenly made his move, shifting his mobile court out of Zhao Cheng’s control range to a city on the east side.
Little did he know! Stationing heavy troops in any city outside the capital theoretically required stockpiling grain half a year in advance. And to stockpile grain efficiently, without most of it being consumed by people eating and horses chewing on the road, fodder stations needed to be built every five kilometers to ensure the weary cattle and horses could be swapped out along the line to fatten up at the fodder stations.
Moreover, stockpiling fodder near post stations required mobilizing local corvée labor from various counties in advance. And mobilizing corvée labor required local stone trench clerks to round up people. But Zhao Cheng had been campaigning year after year, and the people had long been rounded up clean.
King Hao was now leading his loyal troops eastward, naively assuming the route he had taken in the past when patrolling east with his royal court retinue of a few hundred people.
Little did he know that in the past, his patrols relied on merchants passing through the eight northern routes to provide food and grass. Now, that supply could not sustain an army of thirty thousand at all.
Why did King Hao suddenly want to establish his capital in this city? Because in the past two years, what he heard was that the city’s defenses were solid and it had abundant copper and iron. Then he decided, rushing headlong there.
This was a decision comparable to Ma Su’s, seeing only some benefits and completely ignoring the fatal shortcomings. And he had the common affliction of monarchs, habitually taking charge of developing new routes, fixating tightly on the “advantages brought by the new route,” completely failing to think about the “shortcomings of the new route,” and even lazily handing over how to fill those gaps to others to plan and handle.
King Hao’s even more fatal flaw now was that he failed to see the “negative asset” effect he had during the march.
When orthodox military strategists conduct long-distance marches, their main camp contains only necessary sand tables, military records, and such things— at most the volume of four horse carts, which does not impede army operations.
But imperial travel is extravagant and hard to simplify; they must bring female attendants, the treasure cauldrons used for their own meals and lodging, and the large beds they sleep on, which often requires hundreds of people to carry. Such standards make it extremely difficult to maintain troops nearby—hence in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, once the monarch hastily fled, he immediately became a puppet.
This is like twenty-first-century travel: in the eyes of those responsible for route planning, one needs to book tickets in advance, plan inns, confirm which restaurants near the inns are close to attractions for convenient visits within limited time.
Rather than a carefree “travel on a whim.” Especially some who travel on a whim think their willfulness is reasonable; all willfulness consumes money, time, and resources to make up for mistakes.
Narrator: This is not carefree but playing rogue.
…The jade fell into the roadside sand and soil…
After King Hao shifted his troops, the northern fiefdoms of Da Yao received the news, and everyone chuckled: “Can’t deal with Zhao Cheng, but can’t we deal with you?”
Northern fiefdom general Liu Yun led his troops northward. He mobilized twenty thousand under his command. Compared to King Hao’s mindless ant-moving-house approach, Liu Yun first spread the message to all directions that he was leading a hundred thousand troops north, bluffing to alarm the Hao Army.
Then he dispatched a detached force to intercept King Hao’s accompanying migrant capital retinue. Under such operations, King Hao anxiously sped into Ting City, thinking that by entering the city first quickly, the other troops would spontaneously rally to him. Little did he know that once he left the main force, his accompanying retinue slowed down.
December of the second year of the Tian You Calendar, Ting City. Liu Yun arrived at the city base with fifteen hundred elite armored soldiers, two hundred of whom were his elite troops, prepared for the first assault.
One by one, simple trebuchets were deployed into position. As the final landing points of the parabolic arcs were set, though Ting City’s walls were sturdy, the area was too small; all the watchtowers on the east side city wall collapsed with a crash. The damaged watchtower roofs remained mostly intact in the upper half before falling from the sky, like decapitated heads.
On the first day of the siege, King Hao pretended to be calm, but vented in the rear palace that night.
However, starting from the third day, as King Hao indulged in wine and women, it became hard for him to get up on time.
Even if he got up on time, he was too lazy to bear the pressure at the frontline, just like a university student: after skipping the first class and finding they weren’t called on, over time they get lazier and lazier.
When Xuan Chong studied military strategy essentials, his memorization was not much better than these native people of the spacetime; after all, photographic memory was standard for Da Yao prodigies.
But Xuan Chong knew he was mortal and set multiple precepts in military strategy application; the first was to abstain from alcohol and women. Alcohol confuses reason, while lust drains morale. If one cannot coordinate one’s own schedule precisely like a Puritan, how can one stably coordinate the work of tens of thousands?
This State Lord of the Hao State, as a transmigrator’s consciousness, was drifting with the flow in adversity, already reaching the end.
Pu E, in the north setting up a teleportation gate, watched the situation in the Hao State through supernatural power.
She accurately noted the song and dance of the warbling beauties in the palace and shook her head, saying: “Huai Sheng (the transmigrator in the State Lord identity) will projection has reached its end.”
Pu E opened the system; on the system interface were scattered stars, each starlight a consciousness flickering on this plane, and around a dozen stars was a bubble-like halo. (This was the bottling seal)
Pu E gazed at this starry sky-like interface; one hexagonal little star was about to go out. This little star was “Huai Sheng’s”; Pu E remembered all his merits: competitive, ambitious, even fierce, but now he was boiled to the end.
Pu E decided to recover him after this mission, project him into certain exclusive spacetimes, and restore him via the “soul infusion” method.
However, Pu E slightly furrowed her brows at this time, because on the star chart she saw, there was a “barren” area she could not now explain, meaning no considerable consciousness in that area, or that she simply could not observe it now. Because even the Chaos April side of this plane had faint consciousness starlight visible.
In the dimensional system, whether will is strong does not depend on certain superficial standards. Respecting dimensional rules is not weak will. Rebelling against rules is not so-called strong will. The truly strong prove they can grasp the direction of development after spacetime unfolds.
For transmigrators like Pu E, their own level depends on the scale and number of “consciousnesses” they can mobilize.
Currently, the only ones she could mobilize disregarding cost were this “vagabond”-level transmigrator consciousness; “vagabond”-level transmigrator consciousness could only be used for one transmigration, and sometimes could not even withstand one adversity.
…Dragon claw rummaging…
That night, a coup occurred in the Hao Palace; masked inner court privy councilors rushed into the palace, but the next morning at dawn, the Hao Court ministers were summoned to the grand hall, where inner court people “wept bitterly” announcing the State Lord’s demise.
In such a situation, the court ministers could tell at a glance something was off with the inner court and would try every way to flee back to their localities, collude with power holders, then argue with the eunuchs controlling the palace.
However, on the day after King Hao’s demise, Zhao Cheng swiftly dispatched troops for rescue. Liu Yun saw the situation was bad and immediately fled from under the city. At the same time, he ordered—no need for his order, the detached forces he sent to the east also hightailed it.
The eunuchs had not completed collusion with the court ministers; a monarch’s unexpected death could not be covered up. Many clearly recorded eunuch coups in history books were like this.
But! Once inner ministers complete collusion with court ministers, they become many of the monarchs’ sudden deaths unknown in history books.
Structurally, the Hao State resembled the “Tang system”; the Hao State’s predecessor Zhen Dan, in the Haotian Realm, had emperors granting too much favor to their close palace attendants, sometimes letting these palace attendants build their own reputation. But that was in the Haotian Realm; the Haotian Dragon Kingdom had princes enfeoffed in various places to hold the fort, the central palace forces seized power themselves but also helped the Hao Emperor control more people, and the “inner court privy councilors'” inner guard force selected people with roots and foundations near the capital city. To a certain extent, preventing other local dragon descendants from intervening.
Now the Hao State kept changing capitals, not to mention the “inner court privy councilors” were all newly attached Da Yao poor family scholars without fixed property under warfare, now in the palace even more speculators.
In this regicide action now, the court ministers tacitly consented; at this moment in the grand hall, silence did not mean agreement.
In the royal court, an old minister began probing the eunuchs, asking: “Since the monarch is dead, the state cannot be without a ruler for a day?”
The head of the inner court privy councilors’ eyes flashed with relief, hurriedly picking up: “Yes, yes, the State Lord has passed, the state must quickly establish a new monarch; Lord Qing is of high virtue and prestige, please take the lead.”
Then many ministers began to discuss, and after discussion, they enthroned King Hao’s eighteenth son, only four years old, as the new State Lord.
Obviously, this four-year-old little Hao State emperor was for transition. That is, the old State Lord was “decently” sent away unexpectedly; if the new emperor were an adult with his own thoughts, after ascending he might learn from Cao Mao and martyr himself, leaving everyone unable to end it well.
Just as this group began establishing a new monarch, waiting for Great General Zhao Cheng to come rescue, a group of dragon descendant near guard army corps escorted Hao Emperor’s daughter quietly out of the city.
Pu E watched the endlessly infighting Hao State and sighed: “The national power defeated to this point, someone should have died long ago; and you ‘Huai Sheng’ can only die yourself, and only after your death does this state altars have a glimmer of vitality.”
Pu E glanced toward Zhao Cheng’s direction and nodded; she had now decided to hand this endgame to this soon-to-rebel “gacha general” for free play.
Under Pu E’s assignment, the four daughters of the old Hao State State Lord now headed east to seek refuge with their aunt Yu Li. Yu Li and Wu Hengyu’s three sons were also dragon descendants, and marriage alliances between dragon descendants ensured the bloodline would not weaken.
Amid the northern snowflakes, Pu E in dragon form gazed south; she believed Yu Li would make the most advantageous choice.
With Wu Hengyu’s bloodline all dragon descendants, in Pu E’s view, she might as well have rebuilt Haotian dragon descendants on the Xi Ren Star.
As for Zhao Cheng now hastily going to protect, he had obtained the legitimacy he wanted. In the future, would he be the exhaustive Zhuge Marquis, or the Cao Chancellor willing to perform Zhou Duke’s act?
Pu E was very interested in this! Because in the original timeline, Zhao Cheng had no chance to choose and was preemptively guarded against by the monarch with preventative measures.
Five days later, Wu Hengyu detected chaos inside the Hao State, so he sent troops west to seize Yangquan Pass, and when preparing to press further, he happened to encounter the Hao Army fleeing east.
This force of five hundred Heavenly Dragon Guards and dragon descendant group, Wu Hengyu originally wanted to capture, but was advised by Yu Li at his side and accepted this group of dragon descendants willing to change names and surnames.
After all, Emperor Yao was unrighteous; Wu Hengyu had no obligation to help Emperor Yao exterminate nine clans of Hao People. As Pu E foresaw, Yu Li took a liking to these four dragon descendant daughters, treating them as goddaughters.
In November of the second year of the Tian You Calendar, Wu Hengyu heard that Wu Fei had obtained full support from the Wu Family and temporarily shelved the idea of triumphant return in fine attire.
Now Wu Hengyu suddenly remembered that since childhood, Wu Fei had torn him down, making him uncomfortable.
Because Wu Fei now indeed had the qualification to tear him down; if he could not suppress his brother, like a meal without roast meat, boiled vegetables without salt, thus Wu Hengyu stayed in the north to develop.
…”Ethics”…
At the same time as the Hao Court palace coup, ripples also appeared in the Da Yao palace.
The nine floating palaces of Da Yao all had Hunyuan Instruments set up. The Sitian Chengs routinely performed Yao calculations once a year for the palace nobles. This Yao calculation was similar to a health checkup.
Especially the disciples of various palace Yao rooms had to wear robes for the inspection here.
Different people’s traits and residences could be datafied via hexagrams, then after Yao calculation, prompt the subject to note how daily words and deeds affect fortune and misfortune.—This was like in the twenty-first century: if one’s personality is explosive, they might have hyperthyroidism and need adjustments in diet and schedule; those with damp personality need to regulate via mountain climbing, sun exposure, and such exercise.
Since ancient times, shamans and doctors were undivided. The strongest medical assurance was not inviting “miracle cure” doctors, but like Bian Que, who could diagnose illness depth by sight.
The one in charge was Sitian Cheng named “Di Heng.”
However, such palace drivers, knowing the monarch’s secrets, often met with death.
Di Heng looked at Prince Ji (Ying’er) born to Consort Li and was greatly shocked in his heart. Because the son born to Consort Li had no incense and fire continuation from Da Yao.—This was a major usurpation matter.
However, just as he prepared to investigate, the next day he was abruptly smashed to death by a collapsing Hunyuan Instrument on his Sitian platform at work. The palace conducted multiple investigations, determining it was due to long-term disrepair of the Hunyuan Instrument, which became a minor unsolved case. Because skeptics suspected someone wanted to cover up “unspeakable celestial phenomena.”
The palace buzzed with discussion, while the true cause was concealed.
In the residence, Su Wang was drenched in cold sweat, clutching his chest; that thorny chain now firmly gripped his heart, lashing his soul—anyone detecting this secret would be punished.
If he had known earlier that Consort Li’s son was not imperial bloodline, he absolutely would not have allied. Though he wanted power, as an old minister of Emperor Ling’s former prince’s mansion, that bit of loyalty thought imprint remained. At least ensuring the next generation’s rivers and mountains stayed with Prince Zhou’s.
But now, he could not withdraw even if he wanted; tampering with the imperial bloodline was the most egregious treason, not solvable by just punishing Consort Li and the Li family; as a political ally, he would be thoroughly toppled by political enemies seizing the opportunity.
“Fend for himself” or “loyal to the imperial family”? Su Wang suffered, and in suffering was pleasure.
Ultimately he chose to thoroughly abandon morals, going all the way to the end; thus his last mental fig leaf was torn away. After the fig leaf was removed, there was an inexplicable thrill.
Su Wang did not know that the great existence he unwittingly communed with just loved seeing the “originally claimed unbreakable” quietly corroded and changed.
Loyal ministers turning traitorous, chastity turning shameless. As for wisdom, ultimately becoming fool outsmarted by cleverness.
Su Wang suddenly turned, asking who it was.
At this time, a shadow stood behind him, asking: “What’s wrong, don’t want to do it anymore?”
Su Wang looked at this shadow, thinking it was Wu Long (the one hosting the world alchemy assembly), his low voice mixed with anger and bewilderment: “All this is your calculation?”
The shadow controlled by Xian Daoren teased: “Every path has unknown risks; did you not know the ‘uncertainty’ when you chose to associate with me? But you still chose it.”
Su Wang bit his tongue to force calm, low-voiced: “The one who planted the seed in Consort Li’s womb, was it you?”
Xian Daoren chuckled: “Usurping imperial qi is impossible without sufficient fortune; I am but a Daoist priest, how dare I steal dragon qi for myself?”
Su Wang caught the meaning, suddenly asking: “Then this? Who dares steal the star and swap the moon?”
Xian Daoren smiled playfully without answering.
Su Wang stared at Xian Daoren, inwardly muttering: “Whose force is this person? He’s right, though the Yao room has declining virtue, it’s not for just anyone to usurp heaven’s mandate; so Prince Ji’s source is also extraordinary, must also be king, marquis, general, or prime minister. Otherwise, cannot withstand the dragon vein (Xi Ren Star’s human consciousness) backlash.”
Now Su Wang himself could not clear his involvement, so he wanted to use the secret to blackmail Prince Ji’s true clan lineage, making them his ally. He believed the clan possessing Prince Ji’s bloodline also feared the secret spreading.
Seeing Xian Daoren unwilling to say, he said: “I have grasped the court situation; if you don’t tell me, in three months at the autumn sacrifice, I will request His Majesty order the ancestors of court civil and military officials to enjoy offerings, then accompany Prince Ji to bestow favors one by one on these ministers’ god positions, thereby identifying.”
Xian Daoren nodded appreciatively: “That is indeed a good method.”
Seeing his mutual destruction threat ineffective, Su Wang’s momentum waned, somewhat desperately asking: “This star-stealing moon-swapping matter, what exactly do you plot? Since stealing dragon qi, you must use it for yourselves!”
Xian Daoren: “Nothing else; my believed master just wants to see, after Da Yao’s under heaven changes hands, what will it be like? As for you, telling you whose seed Prince Ji is is not impossible. Come closer to the ear.”
Su Wang’s eyes lit up and began leaning toward the black shadow.—At this moment, such thirst for truth was so strong, and the powerlessness after knowing the truth would precisely breed immense despair.
Xian Daoren, like a chef cooking delicacies, continuously processed Su Wang’s already corrupted consciousness.
Sure enough, after hearing the name Xian Daoren said, Su Wang’s expression stiffened like marble. The truth was so logical, yet so made him unable to act!
If it were another king, marquis, general, or prime minister, no matter how deep the foundation, Su Wang was sure he could use this “scandalous ruin” secret to bind them to his camp; only the name Xian Daoren said, he muttered: “Impossible, how could it be him!”
Regarding this person’s name, Prince Zhou had lost virtue first. Now to judge right and wrong, after Su Wang pondered a while, this “secret” seemed ineffective against that person.
Xian Daoren looked at Su Wang’s dazed and bewildered state, very satisfied.
The “saint” he believed in just loved using myriad phenomena to confuse mortals, ultimately stunning the target with truth, arousing mortals’ fear of truth.
And using truth to continually induce pleasure and pain belonged to the Purple Evil Moon’s enjoyment.
Now purple thorns gripped Su Wang’s heart, while blue imprint marks crawled over Su Wang’s forehead, burrowing toward his brain.
