Book 6: Chapter 014: Hearts and Minds

Mo Yike’s residence, Borderless Heavenly Capital:

Mo Yike sat by a pond in his residence, holding a fishing pole and trying to catch fish. There was a Go board with thirty-one line pairs at the side.

A fish nibbled away at the bait on the hook. If Mo Yike pulled on his fishing pole now, he could easily catch it. However, Mo Yike did not move. He just watched the fish eat the bait and smiled faintly.

When the fish finished the bait, he pulled the hook up, rebaited it, and lowered it back into the water.

At this moment, a white-clad Qin Zibai ambled over.

“Milord!” Qin Zibai said respectfully with a complicated expression.

“Zibai? There are no outsiders here. There is no need to be formal with me. Come, fish with me,” Mo Yike said with a smile.

“Milord, Sima Changkong came to visit earlier, but I denied him entry,” Qin Zibai said respectfully.

“Sima Changkong? Hah! His father, Sima Zongheng, betrayed Long Zhanguo. Now, the Qian Nation’s people hate him to the bone. To think that he dares to serve under Long Shenwu?” Mo Yike smiled.

“Milord, it is one thing not to meet the people that the other factions sent over. Now, it is Sima Changkong. Why reject him?” Qin Zibai asked somewhat reluctantly.

Mo Yike turned his head and looked at Qin Zibai. “Zibai? Are you thinking of leaving the Han Royal Dynasty?”

“Before my father died, he once instructed me to follow you. This humble one is stupid, but my father would never harm me. I will go wherever Milord goes. However, His Majesty has already died. I just feel that it is not fair to Milord,” Qin Zibai said with a bitter smile.

“Why is it not fair?” Mo Yike looked at Qin Zibai.

“Isn’t it due to that incompetent Chen Tianshan? He is extremely pedantic. My Han Royal Dynasty is being attacked on all sides, but he is shrinking back, not even letting the others make a move. On what merit was he installed as Duke Tianshan? How is he more capable than Milord?” Qin Zibai said, unconvinced.

Mo Yike shook his head. “You are wrong. His Majesty’s decision is right.”

“Ah?”

“The Han Royal Dynasty is under attack on all sides. Do you really think that sending soldiers to fight will solve it? Hah! It is not that simple. If His Majesty were around, everything would be fine. However, His Majesty is currently not around. People’s hearts are prone to change. If he sent out the soldiers, the soldiers might never return,” Mo Yike said seriously.

“Ah?!” Qin Zibai felt slightly shocked.

“The more soldiers the Han Royal Dynasty sends out, the quicker it will crumble. Although the Han Royal Dynasty is beset by enemies, Chen Tianshan is actually preserving as much strength as possible for the Han Nation by doing this,” Mo Yike said seriously.

“Rea-really?” Qin Zibai said with a peculiar expression.

“His Majesty is really a great judge of character. Chen Tianshan is cowardly and extremely pedantic. I know that. Initially, these should be flaws. However, they strangely became a strength for the Han Royal Dynasty. Because he is cowardly, he does not mess around. If he does not know if his next step contains any danger, he would rather not take that step,” Mo Yike sighed softly.

“It is as Milord said; Chen Tianshan can preserve the Han Royal Dynasty longer. However, His Majesty is no longer around. Milord, what is the point of remaining?” Qin Zibai asked anxiously.

Mo Yike raised his head. When he saw the sky covered in dark clouds and lacking blessings, he sighed softly.

Indeed. If Gu Hai were dead, what was the point of protecting the Han Royal Dynasty? So what if they could protect it for a long time or a short time?

With Mo Yike’s wisdom, he naturally could figure out Chen Tianshan’s thoughts. However, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Gu Hai could not be alive.

Mo Yike felt sour in his heart.

“Milord, you previously told me that Borderless Heavenly Capital might have an impending calamity?” Qin Zibai looked at Mo Yike.

Mo Yike nodded.

“Why?” Qin Zibai asked.

“When the Qian Nation collapsed, its territory turned chaotic. That’s why there was not much threat to us over the past five years. However, Long Zhanguo died to His Majesty. The men that Long Shenying brought back witnessed this very clearly. Long Zhanguo? Do you know how many loyal men he had? After the Qian Nation’s territory calmed down, all the factions and clans loyal to Long Zhanguo cast their hatred on my Han Royal Dynasty. The Wu Imperial Dynasty’s invasion is just the start. Next will be the Ying Imperial Dynasty and the surrounding factions eyeing us. Hah…,” Mo Yike said with a faint, bitter smile.

“Milord, since that is the case, why remain here? Now, the various factions are trying to recruit you. You just need to wait for a good offer. His Majesty is no longer around. Milord has to make plans for himself. Even if not for you, for the people who follow you. Milord has to take them into consideration,” Qin Zibai said.

Mo Yike put down his fishing pole and looked at the Go board at the side. Gu Hai had given that to him.

The Thirty Line-Pair World Go Puzzle.

After Gu Hai had comprehended it, he did not keep it a secret. Instead, he passed it on to Mo Yike. Looking at the Go board, he felt very grateful to Gu Hai.

Over the past five years, Mo Yike had slowly come to comprehend the Thirty Line-Pair World Go Puzzle. It was because he comprehended it that he felt even more reluctant.

“Milord!” Qin Zibai pleaded once more with a deep bow.

His Majesty is dead? Mo Yike felt even more certain of this in his heart. However, he found it hard to accept because he was certain.

Mo Yike shook his head. “Wait some more.”

“Why?” Qin Zibai asked in confusion.

“In my life, I have submitted to His Majesty alone. Those factions are not qualified to make me submit. Wait some more. Wait some more…” Mo Yike shook his head.

“Yes!” Qin Zibai nodded, inwardly releasing his bated breath.

Although Mo Yike was not willing to get in touch with the outside world, he did not reject it, either. This eased Qin Zibai’s worries. At the very least, Mo Yike would not be as thickheaded as Chen Tianshan.

——

A hall in the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, Borderless Heavenly Capital:

Meng Tai sat in the host’s seat, with two columns of Embroidered Uniform Guards before him.

A man knelt on the floor. He was covered in blood, having just been tortured.

Meng Tai showed a sullen expression as he eyed the man who had been tortured. “Humph! Hong Gang, we have treated you pretty well. I have been promoting you because you have followed me since long ago. You are now a leader of ten thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards. To think that you dared to collude with the Wu Imperial Dynasty’s men?”

“Milord! Milord! This humble officer had no other choice! His Majesty has already been dead for five years. What is the point of continuing to protect this place?” Hong Gang cried out with dissatisfaction.

“How audacious!” Meng Tai glared.

“His Majesty has only been gone for five years. To think that you dared to betray the nation and even make false claims about His Majesty, trying to mislead others! Men! Flog him to death!” Meng Tai said while glaring.

“Milord! Milord! Don’t! This humble officer did it for your good. Countless factions have sent people to recruit you in the past few days. However, you refused to meet any of them. Chen Tianshan is pedantic; Milord, why are you so as well? I have followed you for many years, sworn my loyalty to you. However, you cannot cast us all into the fire with you. Right now, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is valuable. Once…once the various factions split the Han Royal Dynasty between them, our Embroidered Uniform Guard will be useless. It would no longer be worth anything!” Hong Gang cried out anxiously.

“Flog him to death!” Meng Tai glared.

“Yes!” Some Embroidered Uniform Guards stepped forward, brandishing heavy staffs.

“Milord, think it over! Milord, I was not wrong! I was not wrong! As long as you swear loyalty to the Wu Imperial Dynasty, you will accrue contributions—great contributions! You will have an equally prestigious position in the Wu Imperial Dynasty!” Hong Gang insisted anxiously.

“Beat him!” Meng Tai glared.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Embroidered Uniform Guards viciously beat Hong Gang to death.

Feeling fearful, the other Embroidered Uniform Guards did not dare to say anything.

“This is the result of betraying the nation!” Meng Tai snarled while glaring.

“Yes!” the Embroidered Uniform Guards responded, shivering.

Then, they dragged Hong Gang’s corpse away, leaving Meng Tai seated alone in the hall. At this moment, his eyes seemed crazed.

No one knows whether His Majesty is dead or not. No, he is very likely dead.

Many factions tried to recruit Meng Tai, but he had never accepted any of their offers. It was not that Meng Tai was very loyal to Gu Hai. Instead, it was because he understood his own capabilities.

He was not that capable, unlike Gao Xianzhi or Mo Yike. People of his capabilities were easily replaced. Only Gu Hai appreciated him. When the other factions tried to recruit him, it was not because they appreciated his ability but because of the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

The moment he joined a faction and they took over the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he would be close to death.

However, continuously waiting felt tortuous.

“Your Majesty, can you really return?” Intense desire flashed in Meng Tai’s eyes.

Meng Tai could wield great authority only if Gu Hai returned. However, if Gu Hai did not, Meng Tai could only wait for death. Perhaps he would have to change his name and start from scratch.

Meng Tai looked at the invitations from the many factions on the desk. However, no matter how many he looked at, he could not find any that appreciated his abilities.

“Humph!” Meng Tai tossed all the invitations aside in depression.

He wanted to find a good patron, but a good patron was hard to find. Thus, he might as well remain here. At the very least, he held great status here.

——

After the morning assembly, Chen Tianshan returned to his residence.

More cities had fallen in all directions. However, Chen Tianshan could not do anything about it.

In the main hall:

“Liangyi? Why are you here?” Chen Tianshan looked at the handsome man before him.

“Third Granduncle!” This man was Chen Liangyi. At this moment, he had a somewhat apprehensive expression.

“What’s wrong? Are you like those people wanting to persuade me to join a faction? The Wu Imperial Dynasty?” Chen Tianshan glared.

“No, no. Third Granduncle, I’m not here to persuade you to join any faction,” Chen Liangyi immediately said.

“Oh? That is good,” Chen Tianshan sighed softly.

“Liangyi, it was your father’s death that brought out His Majesty. His Majesty has been very good to the Chen Nation. Although you were not very capable, he still made you a noble. You should be content, unlike those ingrates, always thinking of selling off the nation,” Chen Tianshan lectured.

Chen Liangyi peeked at Chen Tianshan. “Third Granduncle, you are the best to me. We are also the closest family. However, I have some things I want to say but am unsure whether I should or not.”

“As long as it is not about selling the nation, you can speak your mind.” Chen Tianshan shook his head.

“Third Granduncle, how could I think of selling the nation? All this is our Chen Clan’s. Why would I sell it away?” Chen Liangyi shook his head.

“Huh?” Chen Tianshan’s pupils constricted as he looked coldly at Chen Liangyi.

“Back then, it was I who gave the Chen Nation to His Majesty to form the Han Royal Dynasty. Now, Third Granduncle is the Han Royal Dynasty’s Duke Tianshan. His Majesty has died, so Third Granduncle holds the greatest authority. Naturally, we should take back what belongs to my Chen Nation, right, Third Granduncle?” Chen Liangyi said softly.

“How audacious! Chen Liangyi, how dare you?!” Chen Tianshan stood up in a fury, glaring hard.

Plop! Chen Liangyi fell to his knees.

“Third Granduncle, how am I wrong? Back then, Gu Hai was just a wealthy merchant of my Chen Nation. Back then, wasn’t everything my Chen Nation’s? Third Granduncle, now that Gu Hai is dead, everything naturally belongs to us. You can declare yourself the emperor and rule the world. We will have blessings again, no longer needing to fear the surrounding factions!” Chen Liangyi cried out anxiously.

“Hah! Hahahahahaha! Chen Liangyi, you have truly gone mad! To think that you delusionally think of swallowing up the Han Royal Dynasty? Hahaha! Men! Throw Chen Liangyi into prison!” Chen Tianshan glared.

“Yes!” Many guards immediately rushed into the hall and captured Chen Liangyi.

“Third Granduncle, I’m doing it for you! It’s for you! Third Granduncle, this is all my Chen Clan’s. Third Granduncle, don’t! Don’t imprison me!” Chen Liangyi cried out in horror.

“Chen Liangyi, reflect on yourself in prison. Humph! Greed is not sufficient for a snake to swallow an elephant. The Han Royal Dynasty will forever be His Majesty’s Han Royal Dynasty. The moment it is not called the Han Royal Dynasty, it will be the time of its destruction. Bring him away,” Chen Tianshan said with a glare.

“Yes!”

“Third Granduncle!”

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