Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds
Chapter 68, Emperor Chongming (seeking further reading)

Chapter 68: 68, Emperor Chongming (seeking further reading)

"Why don’t we strike first!"

Xu Ming had been silent all along. It was only when the horse carriage began moving that he spoke. After Xu Xing was imprisoned, Xu Ming heard the news and was forced to flee to the mountains, where he became a bandit. As the patriarch of the Qingmu Xu Family, and having lived as a bandit for a while, he was more ruthless than most.

"No!" Xu Xing interjected. "King of Sorrow Yao Dang is honorable and also serves as the deputy alliance leader of the Righteous Army. If we assassinate Yao Dang, firstly, we will inevitably bear the stigma of betrayal. Secondly, it would lead to the collapse of Mount Siming. Given that Mount Siming currently keeps the local powers in check, if something happens within our ranks, the first to turn against us might just be those same local powers who are currently helping us... Power requires balance!"

Xu Xing shook his head, interrupting what Xu Ming was about to say further.

If Fengxi Country were the only place in the world, the aftermath of assassinating King of Sorrow Yao Dang wouldn’t be too severe. At most, I would bear the name of an unjust man. But if I ruled with a gentle hand in the future and bestowed benefits upon the common people, I would still gain a good reputation when my deeds were recorded in history. After all, Emperor Tang Wendi killed his own flesh-and-blood brothers, whereas I would only be killing a sworn brother. However, the world is much larger than just Fengxi Country. My ultimate goal is to seek immortality and cultivate enlightenment. I fear that... no school or sect would accept a betrayer as a disciple. Even if this concern proved unnecessary in the future, it is essential to nip potential problems in the bud. One who does not plan for eternity is not fit to plan for the moment. My reputation for benevolence and righteousness absolutely cannot be tarnished! Besides, as Heavenly Kun King said, Yao Dang is a good man. Judging from Yao Dang’s current conduct, he still seems quite righteous. Unless we reach an absolute dead end, I am unwilling to take such an irreversible step.

Seeing that Xu Xing had no intention of being indecisive, Xu Ming nodded. "Xing’er, you’re not a fool. As long as you have your own considerations, that’s what matters. Our entire clan’s fate now rests on your shoulders. Remember, you cannot afford any misplaced compassion."

It was true that Xu Jing and Xu Shenghua’s decision to join the rebellion was partly influenced by brotherly loyalty... But if rebellion wasn’t a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of kin, they probably wouldn’t have so easily boarded Xu Xing’s ’pirate ship.’

"Brother Xing," Xu Shenghua began, opening the carriage window to glance at the streetscape outside, "if we don’t make a swift, decisive move... what should we do next?"

He had always admired his elder brother. Xu Xing had managed to enter the Capital, pass the Ministry of Rites examination under the Department of State Affairs, and become an Eighth-rank officer. He was truly the most outstanding talent of the Xu Family.

"It’s simple," Xu Xing replied, a cunning plan forming after careful thought. "We submit a petition to the Imperial Court requesting a reward. We state that... Lu Yong, the former defender of Guanxi Road, initiated a rebellion, causing the people in the domain to suffer immensely. We, the Righteous Army, in our unwavering commitment to protect the state, risked our own lives to defend the pass and prevent it from being occupied by villains. At the end of the petition, we will attach the names of all the gentry who donated grain this time."

"Will the Imperial Court believe it?" Xu Jing frowned, expressing his doubt.

"The Imperial Court and Emperor Chongming won’t believe it," Xu Shenghua chimed in seriously. "But the Imperial Court is likely to deliberately cover its own shame. I remember Brother Xing told us not to kill the officials, only to imprison them and then ceremoniously escort them out of Guanxi Road. If Brother Xing submits a petition for rewards, then this uprising won’t be officially recognized as a rebellion. These officials who lost their territories will likely return to the Imperial Court and try to maneuver. Even if these particular officials fail, in my view, it’s highly probable that Emperor Chongming will accept this petition for rewards."

As he spoke, Xu Shenghua gave a cold laugh. "Losing the territory of an entire Dao is tantamount to losing ancestral lands; his posthumous reputation would be terrible. Rather than face that, it’s better for him to feign ignorance and dispatch a large army to suppress us first. Even if that campaign fails, at least on the surface, he won’t be seen as having lost territory."

"And what happens next?" Xu Ming and Xu Jing asked in unison, their eyes lighting up.

They hadn’t expected Xu Xing’s strategy to be so far-reaching.

"As for what’s next, I’d rather hear your explanation, Brother Xing," Xu Shenghua said, deferring. "That was merely my humble opinion; I wouldn’t dare to elaborate further."

He consciously took a step back, unwilling to steal Xu Xing’s limelight.

Even though they were family, if one didn’t know one’s place, that familial bond might not last. His elder brother was no fool like King of Sorrow Yao Dang.

"It’s also simple," Xu Xing nodded, patiently explaining. "If we are victorious against the Imperial Court’s counterattack, then according to the official documents previously issued by the Imperial Court, we are not rebels. In other words, we would effectively become officially recognized government troops! The officials of every prefecture and county we’ve appointed would all be acknowledged by the Imperial Court!"

The Imperial Court never lacks for claims of ’righteous justification.’ Civil officials understand perfectly well what those two words entail. For Emperor Chongming, however, it’s difficult to grasp this point. Even if he did see it... if the Imperial army is victorious and crushes us in one battle, Guanxi Road would be pacified without further trouble. But if the Imperial army is defeated, rather than let Guanxi Road openly secede and cause him to lose face, it would be far better for him to acknowledge that Mount Siming has already been ’recruited’ by the court.

"Our Heavenly King is truly the Qilin Child of our Xu Family!" Xu Jing couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration upon hearing the full plan.

Xu Xing’s strategy was indeed a masterstroke of political maneuvering. Once Mount Siming was acknowledged as being within the Imperial Court’s system, the court’s prestige would inevitably plummet. Fundamentally, Fengxi Country would find it nearly impossible to maintain its system of central authority over the regions. With the Imperial Court Forbidden Army weak and local powers growing stronger, countless regional factions would be emboldened to emulate Xu Xing’s actions, becoming de facto warlords in their own territories.

This would cleverly shift the primary conflict from one of their rebellion against the Imperial Court to a broader struggle between regional powers and the central authority. The former meant confronting the entire realm; the latter meant only confronting Shenjing itself.

As long as Guanxi Road won this coming battle against the Imperial Court, the court would no longer possess the capability to mobilize armies from various regions to suppress the "rebels" in Guanxi Road. This was because Guanxi Road would have effectively become one of the recognized local powers. Attacking Guanxi Road would then be like attacking one of their own regional armies.

Furthermore, within Guanxi Road, with their official positions recognized by the Imperial Court, Xu Xing would have once again won over the gentry. With the Imperial Court’s ’righteous justification’ on their side, King of Sorrow Yao Dang’s claim to righteousness... would become insignificant.

...

「The 22nd year of Chongming.」

「Early spring, the second month.」

「In the Imperial Court.」

"Guanxi Road reports an urgent crisis..." Emperor Chongming began, his voice heavy, "and yet, this King of Sorrow’s petition for rewards has arrived."

He sat upright on the Dragon Throne, his hair streaked with white, his face etched with age. His dragon robe was so faded from washing it had turned somewhat white, and faint patches could even be seen on the lower part of his robe if one looked closely. After glancing through the memorial a few times, he let out a cold snort, followed by a dry, humorless laugh.

Inside Ziwei Palace, the assembled ministers trembled like quails, daring not to look directly at the imperial might.

"Do any of you, my dear ministers, have a viable solution?" the Emperor inquired.

Seeing their reaction, Emperor Chongming felt a flicker of satisfaction; his methods of handling his subordinates were becoming ever more masterful.

However, his outward expression remained impassive; he merely feigned an appearance of urgent anger.

"Your Imperial Majesty..." one minister finally stammered.

"Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!" the others chorused.

The ministers only knew to offer these formal greetings, not daring to say more.

"Retainer Ouyang," Emperor Chongming’s gaze shifted to the man standing in the first position on the right, "as Chief Councilor, you should have something to say..." He observed Ouyang Zai holding his ceremonial tablet, his expression clear and composed, and gave a slight nod. "Speak."

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Ouyang Zai began, "I have heard that there are Four Great Heavenly Kings on Mount Siming. Before the arrival of the Fourth Heavenly King, the other Three Great Heavenly Kings were relatively unknown. But after the Fourth Heavenly King arrived, Mount Siming swiftly rose to become the second most powerful faction among the Eighteen Rebel Kings... This King Xing Tian is none other than Xu Xing, the former Eighth Rank Official of Taipu Temple."

Just as Ouyang Zai was preparing to continue with his memorial, a junior official in a green robe suddenly hurried into the center of the hall and interjected, speaking before him.