Volume One, Chapter Eight: Restore My Justice

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Gu Changfeng’s furrowed brow relaxed. “If that’s the case, let’s put an end to it here. Remember, from now on, there is no Kingdom of Liyang, nor is there a Seventh Prince. There is only the Liyang Prefecture and the Lord of Liyang, and no old ministers of Liyang.”

With that, he picked up a scroll from the long table and handed it to Wang Yi. “Read this aloud. It contains the official appointments for all the former ministers. From now on, you are all officials of Daqian. I am merely issuing the edict on behalf of the sovereign.”

“Also, tell your subordinates to behave themselves.”

“Furthermore, order all cities to open their granaries and release grain. Anyone who disobeys shall be executed!”

Having spoken, he turned and left without waiting for anyone’s consent.

Wang Yi took the scroll. Some former ministers had been dispatched to the borderlands, while others remained to report locally.

Those who stayed within the Lord of Liyang’s mansion were Wang Yi, Zhao Yi, and the former Prime Minister of Liyang.

The Prime Minister of Liyang was named Liang Huo, a man in his sixties.

Back when Gu Changge was still in the slave camp, it was Liang Huo who had exhausted his family fortune and bribed high officials of Daqian, repeatedly thwarting the assassination plans of Prime Minister Sima Yun and the Daqian Imperial Advisor.

After all, who doesn’t have political rivals?

The position of Prime Minister Sima Yun was naturally coveted, with many eager to replace him.

Lu Xun once said, if you want to fight a high-ranking official, find his rival and you won’t go wrong.

The person Liang Huo sought to ally with was Daqian’s Censor-in-Chief, Zhao Gao.

Zhao Gao was greedy and lustful, coveting everything. He was the Daqian sovereign’s sycophant who rose by flattery.

Yet he was ambitious beyond reason. The position of Prime Minister had long been his goal, and he would never miss an opportunity to overthrow Sima Yun.

If it weren’t for him secretly revealing the plans of the Imperial Advisor and Sima Yun to the sovereign, the current Lord of Liyang would have been replaced.

Thus, Liang Huo was truly his lifesaver — as long as there was a share to eat, he’d have his portion.

Inside a pavilion of the Lord of Liyang’s mansion, the envoy sat facing Wang Yi, while Gu Changfeng occupied the main seat.

“Honorable envoy, what brings you here this time?” Wang Yi feigned ignorance.

The envoy’s face was bitter as he slapped his thigh. “Ah, Lord Wang Yi, Your Highness the Lord of Liyang, please don’t toy with me.”

“Do you think a humble envoy like me could get involved in such turmoil?”

“Master Ye is either a grandmaster or a ninth-rank expert, and the Daqian Imperial Advisor and Prime Minister are no less formidable. My frail life isn’t even worth their plaything.”

He then looked towards Gu Changfeng in the main seat.

“Lord of Liyang, just give me a straight answer—I only want to return having fulfilled my duties.”

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Gu Changfeng smiled. “Ha! Honorable envoy, to be honest, we don’t know what’s going on either. As for why Grandmaster Ye appeared in Blackstone City, I have no clue.”

“Besides, how could I possibly have connections with a grandmaster?”

“Honorable envoy, I fear someone is trying to sow discord between me and the Daqian sovereign!”

“As for General Zhao’s injuries, it’s merely a ruse. General Zhao has never been incapacitated. Why the Imperial Advisor would spread rumors that he’s become a crippled man, I cannot say.”

“This matter is beyond my knowledge, and I dare not speak further—after all, I cherish my life.”

“Please, return and inform the sovereign to thoroughly investigate this affair and restore justice to me. There must be someone secretly scheming behind this.”

Hearing this, the envoy nodded repeatedly. After all, he was just an ordinary man—his title as envoy was prestigious but only enough to intimidate those of lower status.

Now that grandmasters were involved, even a hundred lives wouldn’t suffice for their schemes.

In this high-level power struggle, he was merely cannon fodder.

Whereas the former Gu Changfeng could be dismissive, now he dared not be.

Wang Yi and Zhao Yi were both renowned figures of Daqian.

Especially Wang Yi — even the sovereign hesitated to kill him, hoping he would fully submit and contribute to Daqian’s strategies, conquering the rivers and lakes.

The reception banquet ended with the three drinking and exchanging cups. Wang Yi prepared a document for the envoy, summarizing everything Gu Changfeng had said that morning.

In essence: “I know nothing. Who I am, where I am, I am a servant of the sovereign. Also, I require troops and grain.”

The envoy left the Lord of Liyang’s mansion without delay, rushing back to Daqian overnight.

At the next day’s court assembly in Daqian, Sima Yun exploded with rage, and the ministers were equally furious.

“One hundred thousand stones of grain, five thousand infantry, five thousand cavalry—Gu Changfeng really dares to dream big!”

Other ministers echoed, “Indeed! This is practically rebellion!”

“We cannot grant him these, Prime Minister. If we do, it will surely bring upheaval.”

Sima Yun’s face darkened as he clenched his fists and surveyed the ministers. “Does anyone have a good plan? The matter of Liyang Prefecture affects the entire realm; mishandling it could cause great chaos.”

At that moment, the Daqian Imperial Advisor stood. “I believe it is more prudent to dispatch troops immediately to suppress Liyang Prefecture.”

Upon hearing this, Sima Yun’s eye twitched uncontrollably. To say this openly before so many ministers was to embarrass the sovereign.

Moreover, with Zhao Yi’s situation, it was this old man who blocked the issue; otherwise, Zhao Yi would have been suspended pending investigation.

They claimed he was crippled, yet he lived well. A ninth-rank expert like him unsettled all their enemies.

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Other ministers sighed upon hearing this.

“Prime Minister, I think we should wait for the sovereign’s return and let him decide,” one minister spoke.

“Very well, as you say.”

The assembly ended hastily. To Sima Yun, ten thousand soldiers were no concern at all.

In recent years, Daqian had sent not a million but two or three hundred thousand troops to Liyang, essentially returning their own soldiers.

Besides, Daqian had the million-strong White Tiger Army, one of the finest forces in the realm.

The garrison troops, composed of many smaller states’ armies, numbered over a million, though they were mostly cannon fodder on the battlefield.

Ten thousand soldiers? A mere flick of the hand by Daqian could wipe them out.

But if those troops were given to Gu Changfeng, he would have to think twice.

With Wang Yi and Zhao Yi combined, Gu Changfeng’s forces could fight ten to one.

If he then allied with other vassal lords to rebel, and if some exiled princes also joined, it would not be so easily quelled.

Each of those princes was ambitiously driven.

And the uncertain factor of the grandmaster was what terrified Sima Yun most.

Eight days later, the Daqian sovereign returned to take the throne.

On the very first court session, he approved the plan, granting not only the ten thousand but fifty thousand troops and two hundred thousand stones of grain.

Upon this decree, the ministers protested en masse.

The Daqian Imperial Advisor openly defied the sovereign and was subsequently placed under house arrest.

With two hundred thousand stones of grain and fifty thousand troops, the forces marched grandly into Liyang Prefecture.

Many vassal lords submitted petitions opposing this but were all rejected by imperial decree.

At the border of Liyang Prefecture, Gu Changfeng sat within his carriage, gazing silently upon the endless ranks of soldiers.

These fifty thousand were remnants—wounded and mixed troops thrown at him. The grain was similarly spoiled, with moldy rice and more husks than grains.

In front of the carriage, Wang Yi held a handful of the moldy rice, his face bitter.

“Your Highness, this…”