Longjing, the Forbidden City.
Sui Ren looked vastly different from his appearance during the recent coup. His once meticulously groomed beard was now somewhat disheveled, and his already aged face bore bags under his eyes, his pupils slightly bloodshot, revealing fatigue and madness.
Below him, the kneeling civil and military officials dared not utter a sound.
Ever since the defeats at the Jibei and Hukou battles, Sui Ren had been in a state of suppressed frustration. Compounded by the issue of food shortages in rural mountainous areas faced by all factions, his aura of bad luck could be felt from afar, and no one dared to provoke him.
"Has the Zhang family relented?" Sui Ren suddenly spoke.
Because Zhang Hanshan, with the Zhang family's assistance, had previously escaped Sui Ren's territory (from Yumenguan to Chang'an, then to Zheng County, and finally to Lianyungang) and then directly reached Nihon, losing any direct leverage, the Zhang family, who already held considerable military power, became even more difficult to handle.
This was because the military power wielded by the Zhang family was exceptionally unique—the secret defense techniques of the Great Wall's Yan and Ji passes.
Losing such a national sword would cause Sui Ren significant headaches, especially when demon beasts descended from the north every winter.
Furthermore, it was not yet time to throw caution to the wind, and the Zhang family's stance had consistently hovered precariously close to Sui Ren's bottom line, putting Sui Ren's faction at a disadvantage in their negotiations and power struggles.
He wanted military power and secret techniques but couldn't resort to killing and seizing; he wanted to find a reason to confiscate their property but they never provided an opportunity; he wanted to cooperate with them, but they maintained their distance.
The Zhang family's current stance was simple: the entire family would remain neutral, holding no official positions in any faction, and their three thousand Great Wall garrison troops would focus solely on defending the Yan and Ji passes of the Great Wall.
In the early stages of a war where all parties were frantically deploying troops to the battlefield, such a three-thousand-strong elite defensive force was indeed crucial.
Looking at each other under the dragon throne, the officials eventually deferred to the second-in-command of the civil officials, Right Prime Minister Zhu Yong, who stepped forward and said, "Old man Zhang Chunlin is stubborn and difficult to persuade; he has not relented."
"Of the Ten Heavenly Stems, I have killed three and driven away five; of the Twelve Earthly Branches, I have killed one and driven away four; of the Six Ministers, I have dismissed three and then handed those three positions over to you to arrange.
Look at you all—some are in their fifties, some are immensely wealthy, some possess exceptional martial prowess, some hold significant power, and some are even related to my own children by marriage. Are you not all pillars of this court!
During the Longjing coup, that old woman Nuwa, with the desperate protection of the Fuxi faction, managed to escape. I tolerated it, because I knew that the desperate counterattack of any seventh-tier esper could be quite terrifying, let alone two seventh-tier espers. I understand you all.
When we exterminated the Yanluo Hall cult with Zhuanxu, I trusted your judgment and sent three thousand main forces from Hukou to quell the rebellion in northern Suzho, only to be encircled by Zhuanxu. Over thirty thousand men starved to death in the valley.
When crossing the Yellow River, nearly a hundred thousand men were held back on the north bank of the Yellow River Bridge by a mere mob of minor adversaries. That damned wretch! He even beheaded our commander Huang Quan! And he blew up the Yellow River Bridge! Tell me! What were those forty thousand men doing when we occupied the Yellow River Bridge earlier?! Was that commander a pig?! What exactly happened, do I have to curse you to your faces to get satisfaction?!
From the beginning of winter until now, the telegrams requesting reinforcements from the three prefectures of Ji and Yan have not stopped! How many times have I approved grain transport permits, and how much grain has reached the mouths of the people, you should know better than I!
You all stand on the shore with your heads held high, are you truly so clean?!
I know in my heart that even if you yourselves are not greedy, there are always those within your subordinate families who will act as your frontmen!
I advise you all to turn out your hearts and lungs, air them out, wash them, and tidy them up!
When I first ascended the throne, I believed the court's greatest enemy was Nuwa, so I drove Nuwa out of Longjing.
Then I believed the greatest enemies were Zhuanxu and Yao Shun, so I declared war on these traitors and those who hoarded power with malicious intent.
Now, food shortages and the Zhang family have become my heart's affliction. Alas, I have distributed the food and humbly sent people to negotiate with the Zhang family for cooperation.
I am now increasingly realizing that my heart's affliction is not outside, but within the court! It is within this Forbidden City! It is among my trusted officials!
The more we rot, the more the Great Dragon Kingdom rots!
If you all rot completely, Zhuanxu and Yao Shun will march on Longjing, leaving us with no place to be buried!
Think about it, that old immortal Fu Chi is still watching in the Wenxin Pavilion! How did the Qian Dynasty fall? Have you forgotten?!
I haven't slept for two days and two nights, constantly thinking about how to solve these problems, but after much thought, I find that I must bring these matters out into the open with you all! Let's speak clearly!
I know how much you all sacrificed to support my uprising, and I am willing to let you take a larger share of the profits, after all, you are the indispensable officials I must rely on, unlike those fair-weather opportunists.
But I've discovered that your boldness is growing! You mistake my tolerance for benevolence! For protection! For negligence! This nation isn't even built yet, and you're already thinking of snatching food from the people?!
The problem is, you could at least get things done if you took the money! As it turns out, you haven't accomplished anything, but you haven't taken less. Ask yourselves, can I still trust you? Can I trust the talents you recommend?"
After scolding for half an hour, Sui Ren, panting, returned to the dragon throne and pointed at Prime Minister Qian, saying, "Settle the terms with the Zhang family as soon as possible, at least get them to contribute money and grain; also, tell Xuanyuan that he must begin the conquest of Shu within ten days! Otherwise, he will face a military court in Longjing!"
...
Three days later, Badong, Jingzhou.
"The Wuxia Gorge of the Three Gorges in Badong is long, three ape cries and tears stain the clothes," Meng Le recited as he sat on a steamship, gazing at the steep cliffs on both banks and the rolling Yangtze River below.
Mo Chuan did not share Meng Le's mood for reciting poetry, instead intently studying maps of Chuanchuan and Jingzhou.
After a meeting and discussion between Xuanyuan Qi and the others, it was decided that Xuanyuan Qi, Lianshan Rang, and He Lanxin would lead the main force of eight hundred thousand troops to attack Hanzhong from Ankang, thereby cutting off the eastern route for Suzho to enter Bazhou. Mo Chuan, on the other hand, would lead two hundred thousand troops from Badong along the Yangtze River and through the Three Gorges to advance westward, capturing Qutang Pass, Fengjie, Wanzhou, and Fengdu along the way, finally approaching Yuzhou.
Capturing Yuzhou would mean occupying half of the Bashu Basin.
This time, Mo Chuan decided not to intervene, as he intended to temper his newly formed Soul Lotus.
(Map of entering Shu can be found in the chapter comments.)