Soaring Palace Hall, Borderless Heavenly Capital, Han Royal Dynasty:
The throne in the Soaring Palace Hall had been left empty all the while. No one sat on it; no one dared to sit on it.
There was a chair placed at the bottom of the steps to the throne. Chen Tianshan wore official robes and sat on that chair, looking at the civil and military officials standing respectfully in two columns.
Gao Xianzhi, Mo Yike, and Meng Tai were not in the assembly hall.
“Reporting to Duke Tianshan, the Wu Imperial Dynasty has already captured Prior Qian City and Prior Ying City in the north,” an official said respectfully with an unsightly expression.
“Got it. Is there anything else?” Duke Tianshan said indifferently.
“Duke, are we not going to deal with the Wu Imperial Dynasty marching south and capturing city after city of my Han Royal Dynasty?” that official asked anxiously.
“Huh?” Chen Tianshan looked sullenly at that official.
“Duke, when His Majesty was around, when had my Han Royal Dynasty ever suffered such humiliation? The Wu Imperial Dynasty is strong, but my Han Royal Dynasty is not that easy to bully. This old official is willing to lead the soldiers to fight the Wu Imperial Dynasty’s invading army in the north! Duke, please permit this!” that official said gravely.
“The matters of the military and the nation are major matters. They cannot be determined by just a brief remark and feelings of loyalty. Lord Zhang is loyal to his sovereign and loves his nation. This duke will remember this. If there is nothing else, return to your position first.” Chen Tianshan shook his head.
“Duke!” That anxious official stepped back helplessly.
“Duke, including the Wu Imperial Dynasty, six factions are invading my Han Royal Dynasty. There are three other lower-tier sects and two royal dynasties annexing my Han Royal Dynasty’s territory. Are we going to do nothing about it? The Wu Imperial Dynasty is very strong; perhaps we can’t do much about it. However, why don’t we send our soldiers to defend against the three lower-tier sects and two royal dynasties? If we send Lord Gao Xianzhi, we should be able to settle the conflict very quickly!” another official said anxiously.
“This duke knows,” Chen Tianshan said.
“Duke, in His Majesty’s absence, my Han Nation has already lost twenty cities. The various factions even plundered the zither puppets. Are we just going to endure it? How long are we going to endure it? This lowly official is willing to lead the soldiers and destroy our enemies!” another official called out.
“This lowly official is willing to lead the soldiers and destroy our enemies!”
“This lowly official is willing to lead the soldiers and destroy our enemies!”
The various officials volunteered for war.
“Shut up!” Chen Tianshan glared.
The many officials immediately stopped volunteering.
“Today’s assembly will end here. The matters of the nation and military are major matters, not a children’s game. Anyone who dares to mobilize the army without this duke’s military authorization token will be considered a traitor! Humph!” Chen Tianshan snorted coldly as he stood up.
Chen Tianshan flung out his sleeves and walked out.
After Chen Tianshan left, the Soaring Palace Hall broke out in a loud commotion.
“Humph! Why did His Majesty choose Chen Tianshan to manage the nation? Duke Tianshan? He is not capable at all. He just shrinks back when he runs into difficulties.”
“Indeed. Lord Gao Xianzhi wanted to lead the army to settle the conflicts, but Chen Tianshan refused.”
“Why is Lord Mo not willing to lead the government? If Lord Mo led the officials, it would be much better than Chen Tianshan!”
“Indeed. It was Lord Mo and Lord Gao who took over the Yuan Imperial Dynasty’s territory. Yet, they are willing to listen to Duke Tianshan’s commands?”
“How difficult was it to capture those cities? Are we not going to care at all when we lose them?”
The officials felt resentful.
However, as Chen Tianshan left the Soaring Palace Hall, he showed a faint, bitter smile. Every royal assembly was incredibly tiring.
At this moment, a guest appeared at Gao Xianzhi’s residence.
The visitor bowed deeply to Gao Xianzhi. “Lord Gao, it has been a long time.”
“Mister Sima?” Gao Xianzhi’s face sank.
Sima Changkong wore white clothes and looked elegant. He showed a faint smile as he took in the various scrolls in the study. “Lord Gao, many factions must have come to recruit you over the past few years, right?”
“Oh? Mister Sima came to me in secret today to talk about this?” Gao Xianzhi said coldly.
“The disappearance of the Han Royal Dynasty’s blessings already says everything. Although this humble one is in awe of Gu Hai’s capability, the facts remain the same. Until when will Lord Gao persist? Gu Hai is already dead. He fell when Long Zhanguo opposed Heaven,” Sima Changkong said with a sigh.
“How audacious!” Gao Xianzhi glared.
“Lord Gao, you think the same in your heart, right? Is there any point in lying to yourself?” Sima Changkong said seriously.
Gao Xianzhi looked coldly at Sima Changkong.
“If Gu Hai were still alive, he would have returned long ago. Closed-door cultivation? Perhaps it might make sense for others. However, you understand Gu Hai very well. Would he be in closed-door cultivation for so long?” Sima Changkong said.
“Humph!” Gao Xianzhi snorted coldly.
“Lord Gao’s capabilities go without a doubt. The world knows that with Lord Gao’s ability, you would be an honored guest anywhere. Lord Gao also has an army of one hundred thousand peak Nascent Soul Realm or even Lower Heavenly Palace Realm soldiers. It would not be difficult for you to start your own nation. Why should Lord Gao remain in the Han Royal Dynasty and bow down to others?” Sima Changkong coaxed.
“You know quite a lot.” Gao Xianzhi looked coldly at Sima Changkong.
“Gu Hai is already dead. Borderless Heavenly Capital is just Gu Hai’s grave. What is the point of staying by this grave? Chen Tianshan? What merits does he have? Is he as capable as you? He is muddle-headed, incompetent, cowardly, and ridiculously pedantic. Hah! To think that Gu Hai installed him as Duke Tianshan? Lord Gao, do you not feel wronged? How can his capabilities compare to yours? Lead the military? Manage civil affairs? Can his army compare to yours? You have one hundred thousand powerful soldiers!” Sima Changkong persuaded.
Initially, Gao Xianzhi could agree with Sima Changkong’s disparagement of Chen Tianshan. However, when Sima Changkong mentioned his one hundred thousand powerful soldiers, he could not help raising his eyebrows.
While I have one hundred thousand soldiers, Chen Tianshan has five hundred thousand.
“Mister Sima, are you done? If you are, please leave. This humble one will not be sending you off,” Gao Xianzhi said.
Gao Xianzhi spoke without emotion, but Sima Changkong’s eyes lit up. Gao Xianzhi had not reprimanded him. Did this mean Gao Xianzhi felt slightly tempted?
“Lord Gao, I am aware of your capabilities. It would not be difficult for you to establish a nation. However, can you do it like Gu Hai did? His Reverence is determined to recruit you. If you do not give in, His Reverence will destroy you regardless of anything else. After all, you are too smart,” Sima Changkong said seriously.
“Long Shenwu? Haha! He wants to kill me?” Gao Xianzhi glared.
“Kill? It’s not just His Reverence. The people of the surrounding major factions share the same thought. If you do not join a faction, they will definitely destroy you to eliminate a potential danger. Otherwise, you would be tricky to deal with if you were to compete with them. How can those royal dynasties and sects compare to my Wu Imperial Dynasty? Before this humble one came, His Reverence instructed that as long as Lord Gao joined the Wu Imperial Dynasty, His Reverence would install you as the first battalion’s commander. You would be beneath just one man but above everyone else,” Sima Changkong said.
“Hah! Does Long Shenwu really think that highly of me?” Gao Xianzhi narrowed his eyes.
“It is not that he thinks highly but that he greatly appreciates you. A talented person chooses a patron of integrity. Lord Gao, you can be at your best only by working under someone who appreciates you the most. What can you do under Chen Tianshan? He is just an incompetent person. Don’t you feel wronged? Even an outsider like me feels for you,” Sima Changkong said.
Perhaps Sima Changkong had touched a sore spot, but Gao Xianzhi clenched his fist tightly and said, “Mister Sima, please. I won’t be sending you off!”
Gao Xianzhi had formally chased Sima Changkong out.
Sima Changkong knew that he had sufficiently provoked Gao Xianzhi already. Doing so any further would have an adverse effect.
Sima Changkong stood up and bowed. “Then, this humble one shall take his leave. Before I leave, let me say one last thing. I hope that Lord Gao will consider this carefully. His Reverence has already made it clear. As long as Lord Gao is willing, the Wu Imperial Dynasty’s doors are always open to you.”
“Humph!” Gao Xianzhi snorted coldly.
Sima Changkong left.
However, Gao Xianzhi sat back down, feeling somewhat fatigued.
As he looked at the distant assembly hall, he appeared somewhat at a loss.
After Baili Zhan, Gao Xianzhi’s subordinate, sent off Sima Changkong, he returned quietly.
“Milord, Mister Sima might not be wrong. Chen Tianshan is not worthy of being above you,” Baili Zhan persuaded.
“Get out!” Gao Xianzhi shouted.
“Yes!” Baili Zhan left, feeling bitter.
Gao Xianzhi sat in the study alone, looking at the distant palace with a bitter expression.
“Your Majesty, are you still alive or not?” Gao Xianzhi felt pain in his heart.
Chen Tianshan had said Gu Hai was in closed-door cultivation and would return. However, Gao Xianzhi did not truly believe that. The blessings were gone, and there was no news of Gu Hai in the world. He was already ninety percent certain that Gu Hai was dead. Only a thread of hope held Gao Xianzhi here, stubbornly believing that Gu Hai was still alive.
However, could Gu Hai still be alive?
The study was filled with many invitations from various factions. Gao Xianzhi had not even looked at them, as he still had some faith. However, this faith was starting to weaken.
Five years. It had been five years, but there was no news from the emperor.
The citizens were told that the emperor was in closed-door cultivation and would return soon. However, it had been five years. Some of the citizens had already started to doubt. Without blessings, would their emperor still return?
Gao Xianzhi felt sorrowful in his heart.
With a flip of his hand, he took out some small books. The books were titled Sun Tzu’s Art of War, The Thirty-Six Stratagems, and The Marshal’s Art of War.
These were military classics that Gao Xianzhi had never heard of before. Back when Gu Hai gave them to Gao Xianzhi, he had felt extremely grateful and treated them like great treasures. As he looked at these military classics, it was like he was seeing Gu Hai.
Gao Xianzhi’s faith had wavered earlier, nearly tempted by Sima Changkong. However, when he saw these books, he suddenly recalled Gu Hai’s efforts to nurture him. Aside from becoming a patron who appreciated his ability, Gu Hai had even taught and nurtured him, making him feel grateful.
“Five years? After His Majesty spent so much effort nurturing me, I cannot last even five years before thinking of betraying His Majesty? Hahaha! Gao Xianzhi, are you going to give up your loyalty after just a mere five years? Is your gratitude to His Majesty only enough to remember him for five years?” Gao Xianzhi’s eyes suddenly turned bloodshot.
Gao Xianzhi clenched his teeth and said, “Hah! Even a pedantic person like Chen Tianshan can hold his bottom line. How can I—Gao Xianzhi—not remain loyal? Am I not even comparable to Chen Tianshan? Your Majesty, I will continue to wait for you!”
Gao Xianzhi burned all the invitations in the study. While he had not accepted an invitation from any faction, he had not rejected any of them, either.
