Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 171 - 160: Using the Emperor to Command the Princes

Chapter 171: Chapter 160: Using the Emperor to Command the Princes

Who says all landlords have only foolish sons, who says the children of the wealthy must squander their family fortunes.

The fact has proved that wealthy families provide their children with elite education; education may fail, but as long as the child is willing to learn, or the parents can force them to learn, then the children of these wealthy families are sure to have resources beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Happy education?

That doesn’t exist.

Even someone as wealthy as Harold knows to have his son learn a foreign language from a young age – an in-depth study that encompasses both culture and language.

Another interesting thing is that Harold learned English and so did his wife.

But Harold had his son learn Chinese, with English as a minor.

Then Mu Tianwen learned Chinese to a level that made Gao Yi feel ashamed. Let alone the fact that Mu Tianwen could use several idioms correctly in a single sentence, something Gao Yi really couldn’t manage.

The information entropy of idioms is huge; a few words can mean a lot, especially when considering the stories and meanings behind them – it would take several sentences in English to express the same thing.

Therefore, communicating with Mu Tianwen was particularly effortless. Just by him saying "we are sworn enemies," Gao Yi knew what kind of hostile relationship Harold and Prince Shaman now had. And with "I am meat on the chopping block," Gao Yi also knew the predicament Harold was in.

Running errands for Harold, taking care of the undesirable tasks – the butler was very adept at these.

But when it came to analyzing the situation and dealing with the crisis, both the butler and Madam together were not as clear-sighted as Mu Tianwen.

"Why hasn’t Mu Tianwen... Why hasn’t Muhan taken control of the situation so far?"

Leaving Harold’s house and following the butler outside once more, Gao Yi’s first question was to understand why Mu Tianwen had not taken control of the situation after Harold had been captured.

The butler spread his hands and with a puzzled look said, "Who’s going to listen to a fourteen-year-old child?"

Alright, age was Mu Tianwen’s greatest weakness.

The butler continued, "The Young Prince is a bit odd, often saying strange things that neither the master nor I can understand, and Madam doesn’t really get it either. However, we all think he might be somewhat... unique."

Alright, this was two completely different cultural systems, the Young Prince’s accustomed way of thinking, speaking, and perspective on things were all incomprehensible to Harold and his family or, rather, incompatible.

The good thing about Saudi Arabia, this absolute patriarchal country, was that when Harold was captured, Mu Tianwen, as the eldest son, naturally took over his father’s right to speak. Just by getting the chance to speak and express his opinions, he could bypass Madam as an obstacle and make decisions.

Gao Yi could not help feeling impressed, "Big brother has a good son; his survival now depends on his son’s abilities."

Indeed, negotiations with Prince Shaman were of utmost importance. If Mu Tianwen could really persuade Prince Shaman to agree to meet, then Gao Yi and his team would have a chance. If Prince Shaman refused to meet at all, then naturally Gao Yi and his team would have no opportunity whatsoever.

Madam had already left the meeting to arrange for the private jet to take off, which would take some time, but it was better for her to handle it.

And Mu Tianwen also left with his mother, likely to discuss some things privately with her, things that were not suitable for Gao Yi and the butler to hear.

After waiting in the living room for about an hour, Mu Tianwen came out alone.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Not knowing Gao Yi’s name, Mu Tianwen respectfully referred to him as "sir," and as he sat down again in front of Gao Yi, he confidently said, "I’ve obtained Prince Shaman’s phone number. The private jet is now preparing. If things go well, it will be ready for takeoff in two hours. However, it can only wait in the hangar and can’t be pushed onto the runway. Should we get the takeoff clearance, the plane would be ready to fly within half an hour."

Accomplishing all these tasks in an hour was highly efficient of Mu Tianwen.

Gao Yi nodded.

Mu Tianwen might seem immature, but he was methodical in his approach. To describe him with a somewhat unfitting line of poetry, "knowledge gives one an air of elegance."

With such a young age, he already knew so many idioms and, therefore, surely knew the stories behind them. Mu Tianwen, brimming with knowledge, handled matters with maturity beyond his peers. The key was that the education he received was probably along the lines of preparing a successor; even the things he learned from childhood were different.

It was just that Harold, as his father, did not realize or, rather, could not understand what his son had actually learned.

After all, these were two different cultural systems, but Mu Tianwen could downwardly integrate, whereas Harold could only learn.

Mu Tianwen took out a cell phone and seriously said to Gao Yi, "So, shall I call Prince Shaman now?"

Not knowing whether Prince Shaman would agree to meet, how to meet him, or even the location of the meeting.

It was better to call early and prepare.

"I think, conspiracies are easy to detect, but open strategies are unsolvable."

Mu Tianwen was smart and well-versed in culture, but after all, he was just a youth. In dealing with some practical matters, he was undoubtedly too naive since he hadn’t yet become cunning.

Hearing the term "open strategy" lit up Mu Tianwen’s eyes, and he said, "The Decree of Enfeoffment, ’using a double-edged scheme,’ saving Zhao by striking at Handan... no, it’s ’using the emperor to command the lords’!"

Mu Tianwen stood up suddenly, excitedly saying, "Exactly, ’using the emperor to command the lords’!"

What Gao Yi mentioned about conspiracies and open strategies might not have meant this, but indeed, ’using the emperor to command the lords’ was the actual plan.

"What I meant by open strategy is to speak the truth."

Slightly embarrassed, Gao Yi whispered, "Given the resources and power Prince Shaman holds, if you lie, you might be seen through immediately. But if you tell the truth, explain your family’s difficulties, and state that you’ve decided to give up everything to save your father, willing to go abroad and steer clear of this turmoil. Tell him that I am willing to transport you to the United States for money, my identity is vital."

Mu Tianwen nodded solemnly.

Gao Yi continued, "Prince Shaman has never met me but knows I’m an assassin. However, his man, Abdulla, has seen me. Even if I change my appearance, I must guard against being recognized, for that might not only ruin our chances but could also endanger your father’s life. So, you just need to let Prince Shaman know I’m willing to meet."

Mu Tianwen frowned and said, "If I don’t go, it’s unlikely Prince Shaman will meet you."

After pondering for a moment, Gao Yi finally had to lower his voice and say, "Yes, you might have to go."

Mu Tianwen gravely said, "I’ll accompany you to meet Prince Shaman, but you can’t bring a gun or weapons. Even if you do meet Prince Shaman, how will you manage to ’use the emperor to command the lords’?"

Gao Yi seriously replied, "As long as there is a meeting, within five steps, I’m invincible."

Mu Tianwen’s expression trembled, and then he whispered, "Within ten steps, one man slain, a thousand miles without leaving a trace?"

Gao Yi smiled and said, "I think it should be ’Zhao Hui’s Golden Hammer, first startling Handan.’"

Fortunately, Gao Yi had also studied the text "The Knight," and could carry on the conversation without embarrassing himself.

Mu Tianwen was thrilled; he waved his hand and said, "Done!"

Picking up the phone, Mu Tianwen directly dialed a number.

Mu Tianwen’s expression was tense, and Gao Yi was also nervous, but fortunately, Mu Tianwen soon got through.

Despite a look of consternation, Mu Tianwen’s tone was calm with a hint of tension – fitting for his current state of mind.

Although Mu Tianwen spoke in Arabic on the phone, which Gao Yi could not understand a single word of,

Mu Tianwen jabbered on for a long time. After ten minutes, he finally hung up and with a grin said to Gao Yi, "Success."

Gao Yi was both shocked and elated, "What was said?"

"I said I understand the current situation and that I don’t want our wealth to be completely plundered after my father’s death. As for the analysis of the situation, I conveyed what we discussed earlier, and then I told him the only people I can count on now are three – the butler, you, and another assassin. I will bring you to meet Prince Shaman and then to see my father. Once my father publicly declares his support, we’ll leave this country. But the amount left for us will need to be discussed face-to-face, and he agreed!"

Gao Yi was truly shocked and delighted. He had not expected that Mu Tianwen could personally ensure a meeting with Prince Shaman and that such a significant hurdle would be so easily overcome.

"When is the meeting?"

"Tonight. Prince Shaman is not in Riyadh; we have to wait for his return in the evening to meet, but the location will be at the headquarters of the National Intelligence Bureau..."

As he mentioned the meeting place, Mu Tianwen’s tone somewhat dropped, because although the rest of the progress went smoothly, this particular location was fraught with danger.

It was an utter understatement to call it "entering the dragon’s den."

But Gao Yi didn’t care; the crux of ’using the emperor to command the lords’ lay in using the emperor to issue orders, not in laying waste to all the lords.

And for Gao Yi, it made no difference where the meeting took place – whether in a restaurant or a conference room, it was all the same as long as they could meet and he could get close enough.

Gao Yi checked his watch and said, "What exact time?"

"We can’t say for sure, but Prince Shaman said he’d be back at the bureau by ten, so the meeting will definitely be after that."

It was just past five in the afternoon.

Things were moving quickly, but Gao Yi was already mentally prepared; Harold could be executed at any moment, and they couldn’t afford to dawdle.

"I’ll make some arrangements. After I’ve got things in order, I’ll bring someone here to join you in meeting with Prince Shaman."

Making arrangements for backup, and considering the need for a forced withdrawal if the abduction failed, Gao Yi couldn’t possibly bring everyone to meet Prince Shaman. It was not necessary nor feasible.

Now, Gao Yi was thinking about who to bring along.

Mu Tianwen, with a slightly nervous tone, said, "Okay, I’ll wait for you here."

Gao Yi was also nervous but showed full confidence as he said, "Don’t worry, leave it to me; the plan cannot fail."