I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 549 - 300: All Seas Are Subjects, People from All Directions Come to Court_2

Chapter 549: Chapter 300: All Seas Are Subjects, People from All Directions Come to Court_2

Gu Shanhai couldn’t even detect the true essence of the system, let alone grasp its manifest form as the World Tree back then.

"Filial piety between father and son doesn’t matter much, I’m just worried about succession issues," Jiang Lu said without any taboo, while Jiang Ming dared not even lift his head, as it was not his place to get involved in such matters.

Succession issues, as Jiang Lu referred to, naturally involved those who were short-lived, childless, or had become puppets and were conveniently disposed of. He couldn’t guarantee that all successors would be wise emperors or loyal ministers.

Having lived a hundred years, Jiang Lu had experienced everything, from his rise after being taken as a disciple by Gu Shanhai during his days of poverty to his current reign over the world. He had come to take a broader view of things.

"I can’t solve that either, given our situation. I have to stay close to you. What dynasty lasts forever...?" Gu Shanhai was about to state a profound truth but then realized there might indeed be one that does.

"Indeed, Teacher, you see things clearly, something the ministers dare not mention." Jiang Lu also sighed. Since his power had been established, except for Gu Shanhai, everyone was utterly respectful.

Some imperial censors had indeed tried to impeach Gu Shanhai for rudeness or disrespect before the Emperor as a way to enhance their reputation, only to find that the previously noisy court had suddenly quieted down, as if resigned to their fates.

Their reputation fell through, and so did their lives.

After the court session, the Jinyi Guard escorted these men to the dungeon, exposing all their misdeeds, and overnight, the arrangements for their execution the next day were made.

These were risky bets, but anyone with clear sight could see Gu Shanhai’s power. Not to mention that Jiang Lu, the Emperor Long, was his true disciple. The named disciples held high offices in the court—dukes and prime ministers, no less. Then there were the crown princes and princely heirs who were also studying under Gu Shanhai. To oppose him was to antagonize many powerful figures.

If you offend the Emperor, the ministers might still protect you for your courage in speaking out. But if you insult a group, everyone would watch you die.

"It’s no big deal, just a minor issue. If you’re that idle, you can groom someone yourself," Gu Shanhai expressed his inability to understand why anyone would want to oppose him.

"It’s too late for that now, and besides, things are fine as they are," Jiang Lu was quite fond of the current state of the court. Minor frictions were inevitable, but all the power of the Great Long Dynasty was concentrated in his hands. With the aid of the Dynasty Struggle System, there was no worry of him committing any acts of foolishness.

"By the way, some special plants you needed have been tributed from overseas recently. Shall we check the quality?"

Jiang Lu set down the memorial he was reviewing, which meant he wanted to take a look and also take a break.

"Sure, let’s have a look," Gu Shanhai didn’t object.

The two of them got up, and Jiang Ming followed, but just after taking a few steps, Jiang Lu scolded, "What are you doing following us? Did you finish today’s government affairs?"

"Not yet..."

"Then go back."

Clearly, Jiang Lu was already starting to prepare Jiang Ming, the crown prince, as his successor, and overall, he was quite satisfied with him, despite his somewhat soft temperament.

A softer nature might be beneficial; it would not lead to rash conflicts. Jiang Ming wouldn’t need to expand the Great Long Dynasty’s territories, as Jiang Lu would likely unify the world within five to ten years. Afterward, Jiang Ming would simply need to maintain what had been achieved.

Otherwise, if someone came in who was reckless and violent, it would not be good for the growth of the Great Long Dynasty.

After unification, what would be needed most would be healing and recuperation. His years of cultivation were only out of necessity; otherwise, with Jiang Lu’s temperament, he would have started a great era of conquest.

"You, don’t scold too much; Si’er is doing very well indeed," Gu Shanhai rarely spoke up, but he could see that the prince was not too soft to be without a spine but rather possessed a toughness that didn’t usually show.

"Teacher, you always like to speak on their behalf," Jiang Lu stopped when he saw Gu Shanhai intervene.

"That’s not it. Having faced battles, even the softest temper must become somewhat tough," said Gu Shanhai, indicating that those who trained under him couldn’t possibly be of no use.

"Let’s go and check out those plants that were tributed from overseas," Gu Shanhai said, and Jiang Ming cautiously glanced at Jiang Lu, not daring to follow without his approval.

"Since your grandteacher has spoken, let’s go together," Jiang Lu said, a bit irritably.

The three of them left the Imperial Study Room together, followed by a procession of mounts that required no effort to ride.

"I can’t understand it, this thing moves slower than me walking, yet you still think about sitting in it," Gu Shanhai complained after getting into the vehicle.

"It can’t be helped, what with royal dignity and all, these are just trivial matters, let them be," Jiang Lu wasn’t like Gu Shanhai; he had already grown accustomed to it.

He was, after all, of military origin and known for his decisive and vigorous actions. Sometimes, in urgent matters, he couldn’t care less about these things.

"These people are talking nonsense; is this how royal dignity is shown? If you display millions of Daoist Soldiers even just squatting by the roadside eating steamed buns, that too would fully demonstrate the royal essence, not these empty gestures," Gu Shanhai unhesitatingly said.

Dignity is shown by the edge of a sword, not by these nonsensical things. When Luo Chuan had been entrenched in Yong’an, Emperor Qianlong used this vehicle, but could it actually show royal dignity? It was still just a puppet after all.

"In prosperous times, what should exist will exist, at least I can be much more serene," Jiang Lu really agreed with Gu Shanhai’s words, but being an emperor, many things were beyond his control, and he didn’t have as much freedom as Gu Shanhai.

If Jiang Lu didn’t perform the necessary rituals, he would be constantly impeached, mainly because he couldn’t refute these impeachments. He had considered reforming directly.

However, he thought it would be better to use policies from the Dynasty Struggle System while aiding from the sidelines, mainly because if he took the lead, it would lead to many troubles.

Instead by using the Dynasty Struggle System, the process became much smoother.

However, now was not the time to introduce the corresponding national policies; his policy points were limited, and naturally, he needed to focus on development rather than wasting policy points on such trifles.

Of course, to enact these policies, he needed to prioritize many prerequisites. If it only needed a few policy points, it would be fine to use them, but now that the demand was too much, he naturally had to give up for the time being.

...

Another ten years passed, and the world was unified; Jiang Lu held another ceremony of worshipping Heaven and ancestors.

The great affairs of a nation rest in military affairs and religious rites.

Gu Shanhai too had branded the marvelous scenes of "all nations coming to court," and this journey could be said to be extremely successful.

...

Another ten years later, the Crown Prince was regent, and Jiang Lu was already seventy.

"Teacher, it’s been ten years since you passed, hasn’t it?" Jiang Lu asked.

"Duke An passed away ten years ago," an imperial chamberlain replied.

"If it hadn’t been for his shortened lifespan by ten years, teacher might have really lived to be a hundred," Jiang Lu also remarked with emotion, then realized, unbeknownst to him, his Dynasty Struggle System had suddenly completed an update.

Jiang Lu suddenly noticed, the name had also changed to the Dynasty Development System, and the three initial characters that had been blocked in the official version had emerged, officially named the Five Elements Sect Official Version.

He quickly opened the policy panel, revealing a plethora of brand-new national policies, the most eye-catching being the topmost independent policy section named Establishing Diplomacy, more importantly, these sections did not require any policy points to be activated, they were all already activated.

[Establish Diplomacy: Iron-blood Utopia]

[Establish Diplomacy: The Sun Never Sets Dynasty]

[Establish Diplomacy: Dashu Empire]

[Establish Diplomacy: Mahayana Xuanzhen Sect]

[...]

And all he needed to do was to click on them to communicate and even make contacts with these powers.

"Teacher, you really left me a great gift," Jiang Lu murmured softly, he had never forgotten, Gu Shanhai had told him he was the Five Elements Sect Leader, and he was the disciple of the Five Elements Sect.