Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1760 - 1753: Countermeasures

Chapter 1760: Chapter 1753: Countermeasures

Upon hearing his words, Ichuan Fei seemed unmoved. Instead, he lightly smiled and turned around, waving his hand as he said, "Since the holy disciple already knows my identity, why bother asking? My father is a Hundred Chief of the court, so given time, I shall enter the court to assist in governance. What I am doing now is merely accumulating for the future."

"Is the Young Mansion able to influence court affairs?" Luo’er was not fooled by his words and continued to squint as he asked.

"Though I am not talented, I have studied for several years. My father toils day and night, so as his son, it is my duty to ease his burden," Ichuan Fei replied calmly.

"It’s not as simple as a duty. The ruler commands a hundred officials, and officials govern ten thousand people. The Young Mansion is neither a royal minister nor an external official. How can it claim court affairs as its duty? Is the Dongsheng Court a public empire or a family empire?" Luo’er pressed on.

Facing Luo’er’s question, Ichuan Fei showed a rare look of astonishment and then fell into silence, unable to respond immediately.

Of course, Luo’er knew that Ichuan Fei could not answer because he had already seen that the Bailong Clan of the royal family and the Yichuan Clan as powerful ministers were already tightly intertwined.

The Bailong Clan controlled the officials, and the Yichuan Clan managed the people. Their union effectively monopolized the highest power of the Dongsheng Empire’s upper echelons, which is why the Yichuan Clan has the qualification to become the head of the Wen Family.

It is for this reason that Ichuan Fei would say that all court affairs are a matter of duty. Growing up in such an environment, he subconsciously overlooks that the two are not actually the same.

The court affairs of the Dongsheng Empire should be governed by civil officials and defended at the borders by military generals. However, it has now evolved into the Yichuan Clan’s complete seizure of the entire empire’s power.

From ancient times, whether on Earth or in Kyushu of the Otherworld, the emperor’s power as an individual could be seized by three possible forces: powerful ministers, imperial relatives, and internal eunuchs.

Powerful ministers often form factions for personal gain within the court. As their power grows, they may even oppose the emperor’s decrees, as seen in the East Lin faction of the Ming Dynasty.

Imperial relatives, as the emperor’s kin, easily seize power during the transition of imperial authority. Especially when the new emperor is young and unable to handle court affairs, it becomes the best opportunity for relatives to interfere, as seen in the Eastern Han imperial relatives.

As for internal eunuchs, being the emperor’s closest attendants, they are, to some extent, the emperor’s closest people. Once the emperor becomes lax in governance, these people will seize the power originally belonging to the emperor.

Which of these does the Yichuan Clan possess?

Regrettably, almost all of them.

First, as the leader of the civil official group, Yichuan Qing naturally became the Hundred Chief of the court, obtaining all the emperor’s power over the court’s officials.

Secondly, Yichuan Qing married the current Emperor Wu’s elder sister and had two sons, Ichuan Fei and Yichuan Xv.

In this way, Yichuan Qing became the emperor’s brother-in-law, and Ichuan Fei and Yichuan Xv became the emperor’s nephews. Even if the emperor wanted to act against Yichuan Qing, he had to take this relationship into account.

The emperor has two daughters, both of whom have the aptitude for cultivation. Even if the power transition occurs over time and the princess becomes the new Emperor Wu, with Ichuan Fei as the new Hundred Chief, the relationship remains close due to Ichuan Fei’s cousin relationship with the emperor.

As previously stated, the Yichuan Clan is like a vine entwined around the tree known as the Bailong Clan. They are already intertwined, and unless the Kyushu reshuffles, it will be difficult to unravel this relationship.

In truth, Luo’er also saw that Ichuan Fei had an unusual enthusiasm for court affairs, so he is certainly not just a mere record keeper.

How could someone longing for power be content with being idle all their life?

However, observing the history of the East Prosperity Nine States, Luo’er also believes that the Yichuan Clan’s usurpation of the empire’s power may not necessarily be a bad thing.

After all, if any family took up this role, it would lead to today’s situation. Allowing the Yichuan Clan to do so at least has the potential to lead the civil officials to push for court reform and achieve progress in the feudal era.

Thinking of this, Luo’er gradually let down his mental guard. He felt that they would have to interfere in the Dongsheng Empire’s internal affairs anyway. Otherwise, as outsiders, what right did they have to demand the Dongsheng Empire never repeat the West Outer Heaven?

Although he could not carry out sweeping reforms to overthrow the entire feudal order, Luo’er believed that at least correcting the current feudal system was not out of the question.

As the saying goes, compared to fairness, order is more important. Without order, fairness is meaningless.

Luo’er could not afford the cost of overthrowing the existing order. Overthrowing is easy, but rebuilding a new order is far beyond his current abilities.

Thinking of this, Luo’er unconsciously showed a slight smile, because he had come up with a strategy, understanding how to continue the conversation with Ichuan Fei.

He raised the wine cup and swirled it before putting it down again, then said to Ichuan Fei, "The Young Mansion believes relying on secular power to defeat cultivation forces, which I deem unwise."

"Oh, what insights does the holy disciple have?" Upon hearing this, Ichuan Fei’s eyes lit up, showing keen interest.

"In my view," Luo’er said, "cultivation in Kyushu, passed down through millennia. Relying on a century of accumulation to eliminate millennium-old ills seems unwise. After all, in Kyushu, the power of cultivators is tangibly visible, not just a concept."

"Secular power still requires development, while cultivation power has already reached its peak. To fight with a weak body against a towering peak is undoubtedly like an egg hitting a rock, leading to self-destruction."

Luo’er could make such statements because he was well aware that the firearm development in the East Continent was merely beginning, not comparable to Earth’s well-developed military industry, and could not even compete against the Western Continent’s poorly equipped armies.

Of course, relying solely on guns and cannons could defeat the Eastern Continent’s cultivation system, but it would at least need to reach the level of World War One on Earth.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Continent’s cultivation system had long reached its zenith, and primitive firearms could not contend with the cultivation system, necessitating the introduction of other forces for confrontation.

After listening to Luo’er’s analysis, Ichuan Fei furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought.

He had considered such factors before but always held a glimmer of hope. Now, being directly pointed out by an outsider like Luo’er, he finally understood that opposing the cultivation system was an unavoidable hurdle.

Thus, taking a deep breath, Ichuan Fei leaned forward respectfully and asked, "Does the holy disciple have a solution?"

"Since I brought it up, I naturally have a solution." Luo’er smiled slightly.

"I would greatly appreciate the holy disciple’s guidance," Ichuan Fei eagerly said, cupping his fists.

Luo’er gave a faint smile and did not immediately answer, instead asking in return, "Does the Young Mansion know why I consider myself a holy disciple?"

"I dare not speculate," Ichuan Fei cautiously said.

"On our journey here, do you think we are just pretending or truly capable?" Luo’er continued to ask.

"I heard from my father that the holy disciple possesses the Nascent Soul Realm, attracting a circle of heroes upon emergence," Ichuan Fei said.

"Do you also believe I am at the Nascent Soul Realm?" Luo’er smiled as he asked.

"Uh..." Ichuan Fei hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

"Do not worry about speaking—ignorance carries no guilt," Luo’er said, waving his hand.

"In my view, though the holy disciple has cultivation, it is definitely not at the Nascent Soul Realm," Ichuan Fei said, slightly frowning.

"The Young Mansion is indeed smart, with the wisdom to recognize pearls," Luo’er smiled and said, "As the Young Mansion said, I am not at the Nascent Soul Realm."

"But the holy disciple has repeatedly demonstrated Nascent Soul abilities," Ichuan Fei pressed on.

"That is merely an illusion. What we possess is a technique known as Magic," Luo’er explained.

"Magic?" It was the first time Ichuan Fei had heard the term and couldn’t help muttering it several times.

"Young Mansion, what do you think makes a cultivator attain the path?" Luo’er continued to ask.

"I am willing to hear the holy disciple’s true words," Ichuan Fei dared not speak rashly and instead cupped his hands to listen.

"Is it that the heavens grant the path to those of ambition, or is there inherently a path in heaven and earth, occupied by a few?" Luo’er asked once more.

"In my opinion..." Ichuan Fei said, falling into silence again.

"Both are true," Luo’er smiled slightly, revealing the truth.