Chapter 359
Chapter 359
Hearing those words, the king, who had been holding back, could no longer contain himself.
“Yue Jun, throw this wastrel out.”
The Grand Eunuch, Yue Jun, received the order, and along with two other eunuchs, entered the study, picked up Shen Lang, and tossed him outside. Then, the king issued another command.
“Throw that wastrel back in here.”
A moment later, the two eunuchs threw Shen Lang back into the study.
The king asked again.
“Shen Lang, do you have the courage to go to Zhenyuan City?”
Zhenyuan City? That was Su Nan's core stronghold. Of course, just as Xuanwu City didn't belong to the Jin Clan, Zhenyuan City wasn't currently under the Su Clan's control either. The Su Clan's fief was about three thousand square meters, occupying only half of Zhenyuan City. But Su Nan was a different breed from Jin Zhuo. Jin Zhuo was an upright and stubborn man who rarely even approached the king. When the late king ordered the Jin Clan to immediately relinquish all jurisdiction over Xuanwu City, they did so without a second thought, cleanly surrendering all authority and stepping aside. In recent decades, not a single official within Xuanwu City belonged to the Jin Clan.
In contrast, the Su Clan, on one hand, frantically curried favor with the king at the heart of the royal court.
‘Your Majesty is wise and valiant. This subject will follow only your command.’
Meanwhile, on the other hand, they desperately infiltrated Zhenyuan City and Baiye Commandery behind the scenes, planting their own people throughout the entire Tianxi Province. Three governors of Zhenyuan City were driven out, and two of them died mysteriously within two years of taking office. In the end, Zhenyuan City was now completely the Su Clan's domain.
The position of Zhenyuan's governor had been vacant for over half a year, and no one dared to take it. The position of Prefect of Baiye Commandery also remained empty, months after Jin Qinong was dismissed for corruption. Both were difficult posts that everyone avoided.
If one were appointed to either of those posts and sided with the Su Clan, they would incur the king's wrath and certainly not last long. But if they didn't side with the Su Clan, it wasn't a matter of not lasting long—their very life would be in danger.
“I am willing to go.”
“That is Su Nan's stronghold. A coward like you who fears death has the courage to go?”
“Of course. Your humble subject has previously stated his intention to annihilate the entire Su Clan. There isn't a single good person in that family; they are all worse than beasts.”
The king said condescendingly to Shen Lang.
“Stop boasting. Do you think you can accomplish such a thing alone? You, wiping out the Su Clan by yourself? You speak of things I dare not even hope for. I have only one mission for you: monitor and restrain the Su Clan. I don't care what methods you use. Cause a disaster, pull a scam—it doesn't matter. Just ensure the Su Clan does not openly rebel for at least two months.”
Shen Lang sneered inwardly.
‘Monitor and restrain the Su Clan? They say a general in the field can act on their own judgment when orders can't be received in time. It should be fine if I act as I see fit. If I go there and fail to wipe out the Su Clan within two months, I'll have broken my promise to my wife. How could I ever face my beloved Mulan in the future?’
“Then prepare yourself. You must go to Zhenyuan City immediately. Your sole mission is to restrain them. If you can prevent them from openly rebelling for two months, you will have succeeded. When you return, I will reward you for your service.”
“What reward will you bestow upon me then?”
“Hmph!”
‘He’s thinking about his reward before he’s even completed the mission?’
The king asked in a cold tone.
“Then what is it you want?”
“I desire only one thing. For Your Majesty to treat the Fifth Prince, Ning Zheng, fairly. The other princes who have come of age have been enfeoffed as dukes or marquises, yet the Fifth Prince still holds no title.”
Hearing this, Ning Yuanxian was utterly enraged.
“Insolent! Shen Lang, what do you think your station is? You dare interfere in my family affairs? Do you truly believe I won't have you killed?”
‘Pah! Do you have any idea how many times you’ve said that? When you keep asking if I think you won't kill me, it means you have no intention of doing so. When you really want to kill someone, you don't say a word; you just issue an edict and have them sliced up like a vegetable.’
“Throw him out! Throw him out!”
Shen Lang was thrown out again.
“The young whelp has a conscience after all.”
Yue Jun muttered as he threw Shen Lang out. Once outside, Shen Lang stood straight and looked to the west.
‘Sword King, senior, how are things on your end? You mustn't let your hands or your heart tremble.’
* * *
Su Nan pressed on day and night, riding madly without sleep or rest. With several hundred men on horseback, the mounts quickly tired, forcing them to switch horses at the next post station. After a day and a half of such relentless riding, the sky had already darkened. Su Nan and his subordinates believed they were safe now. They would continue heading west, which meant they were essentially within Su Nan's sphere of influence.
The local officials in this region wouldn't join him in rebellion, but they were officials he had long since won over, their pockets lined with gold. Another two hundred li to the west, the cavalry of Sanyanye would come to meet them. When that happened, what was there to fear, even if ten thousand soldiers from the State of Yue were in pursuit?
‘Once we reach Tianxi, my stronghold will be right around the corner.’
Su Yong said.
“My lord, the Manshan Post Station ahead is our territory. Should we stop there and rest for a few hours?”
Su Nan shook his head.
“No, we don't rest. But we will eat and drink some warm water there. Remember, we only eat the food we've brought with us.”
“Yes, my lord!”
They galloped toward Manshan Post Station as swiftly as if they were charging an enemy. Though he hadn't slept for two days and nights, Su Nan's face and spirit were still vigorous, even exuding a grand aura. Of course, the plans he had arranged had been disrupted and shattered by that wretched Shen Lang, but the overall situation had not changed at all.
The grand strategy of surrounding and attacking the State of Yue from all sides was still taking shape. The State of Jiang had experienced a civil war, but it would be quelled quickly, and they would invade Tianxi Province. As for the State of Wu, the young King of Wu was burning with determination to achieve his primary goal. And the State of Chu? They would never miss such a golden opportunity.
The plan for the State of Jiang and the Su Clan to unite and rise like a soaring phoenix remained solid and would be completed as intended. However, because that young brat Shen Lang had ruined things, the Su Clan was forced into a passive position in their negotiations with the State of Chu and couldn't secure greater benefits. Nevertheless, the Su Clan's independence was already a foregone conclusion. Perhaps no one could have imagined things would turn out this way.
‘In a grand game of this magnitude, the first to fall will likely be the Jin Clan, won't it? What is Ning Yuanxian doing right now? Is he jumping up and down, raging like a thunderstorm? Or is he bluffing, pretending it's no big deal? When the great army of Jiang invades Tianxi Province, Ning Yuanxian might just present me with Shen Lang's head without me even having to ask.’
Su Nan and his several hundred cavalrymen entered Manshan Post Station with great speed. Here, they would rest for about half an hour, take a sip of warm water, and eat some dry rations and jerky. Atop his horse, Su Nan looked up at the sky. Why had the bright moonlight suddenly dimmed? Dark clouds had gathered, obscuring the moon. Su Nan's men, utterly exhausted, dismounted to drink water and prepare to eat their flatbreads. The soldiers at the post station were changing the saddles on all the warhorses, while dozens of farmers were chopping fodder with hay cutters.
*Chop! Chop!*
The farmers chopped the fodder, mixed in an egg and some wheat, and fed it to the horses. The warhorses neighed as they chewed their feed. Everything seemed normal, yet for some reason, Su Nan's heart kept pounding. His gaze darted like lightning, first scanning the station's soldiers, then the farmers chopping the fodder.
‘Nothing seems out of place.’
But then his eyelid twitched! Suddenly, a few of the warhorses stopped eating and fell silent. They seemed to have sensed something terrifying. Su Nan's gaze quickly landed on one of the farmers. The man didn't look special at all; he seemed more ordinary than an ordinary farmer. His movements as he chopped the fodder were very skilled and decisive. But the surrounding warhorses kept their distance from him, and even the crickets in his vicinity fell silent. All the mosquitoes and flies had fled from his presence.
“Stop that man!”
Su Nan shouted briefly, then yanked his horse's reins and galloped away like a madman. The several hundred warriors were stunned by the sudden turn of events, but they didn't hesitate, drawing their swords and charging at Sword King Li Qianqiu. Su Nan was truly remarkable. Li Qianqiu had shown no openings, and they were dozens of meters apart, yet Su Nan had sensed the immense danger from the Sword King at a single glance.
“Kill him! Kill him!”
Several hundred masters from the Su Clan swarmed Sword King Li Qianqiu like a tidal wave. Li Qianqiu hadn't brought a treasured sword, so he picked up the hay cutter and began to mercilessly cut them down.
*Swish!*
It was not a flying sword, but a flying hay cutter. Three seconds later! A rain of blood fell from the sky. A dozen corpses flew high into the air as Li Qianqiu broke through the encirclement. Then, moving faster than a galloping horse, he became a black shadow, desperately chasing after Su Nan. Su Nan spurred his warhorse, fleeing for his life, but in a short burst of full power, Grandmaster Li Qianqiu's speed was even greater. Though Su Nan had already fled for several thousand meters, the distance between them was gradually closing.
“Hngh, ahhhhh!”
The dark clouds covering the sky scattered, and moonlight poured down onto the ground like flowing water. Li Qianqiu let out an explosive roar. The hay cutter in his hand radiated an astonishing killing intent as the distance between him and Su Nan grew ever smaller. With only a few dozen meters left, Su Nan stopped fleeing. Instead, he raised a large hand, wheeled his horse around, and charged toward Sword King Li Qianqiu, accelerating as he went.
“Li Qianqiu, are you looking to die?!”
Su Nan's voice boomed like thunder as the black iron spear in his hand thrust toward Li Qianqiu. The two figures crossed in an instant.
*CRASH!*
A loud noise erupted as the two figures, colliding with full force, were sent flying back. Su Nan's body and his two-thousand-jin warhorse were thrown through the air. Another loud bang followed as they landed, gouging a crater in the ground. Su Nan managed to land on his feet, brandishing his black iron spear and roaring in fury.
“Li Qianqiu, do you truly wish to die?”
Then, like a flash of lightning, he charged toward Sword King Li Qianqiu at incredible speed. The black iron spear in his hand, as if possessed, swirled violently as it swept toward Li Qianqiu.
*Ting, ting, ting, ting.*
The hay cutter in Sword King Li Qianqiu's hand was made of ordinary iron and couldn't withstand Su Nan's attack, shattering into pieces. The broken blades scattered in all directions like a torrential downpour, snapping countless tree branches. The surrounding trees and grass were all cut down as if by a scythe. After the second exchange, Su Nan moved his spear again and charged at Sword King Li Qianqiu once more.