Chapter 601
Chapter 601
“According to you, isn't our State of Yue in a very dangerous situation?”
Shen Lang shook his head at Ning Yuanxian's question.
“It is indeed a very dangerous situation. But if the Great Yan Dynasty tries to swallow the world, the vassal states won't just stand by and watch. We won't be the first to be attacked. That's because our State of Yue doesn't share a large border with the Great Yan Dynasty. The most worrisome is the State of Wu. Moreover, His Majesty the Emperor has been on the throne for over forty years and is already seventy-three this year! The empire's immediate priority is likely a smooth succession to the throne, not unifying the world. So, we have at least a decade or so to prevent the Great Yan Dynasty's expansion!”
“You speak so clearly about the current state of Yue, so why are you resigning and returning home? Why not stay and assist Ning Zheng? He won't be able to maintain his power if you leave.”
“No, Your Majesty, you're mistaken. I don't actually know how to assist anyone! All I know is how to make people resent me or how to eliminate enemies!”
That was quite true. Until now, Shen Lang had fought everyone he met, never touching state affairs, and the same went for military matters.
“Besides, His Highness Ning Zheng doesn't really need anyone's assistance. His personal abilities are quite outstanding. He may not be the most intelligent person, but he is surely the most steadfast and patient. The sayings about constant dripping wearing away a stone, or grinding an iron pestle into a needle, must be about people like His Highness Ning Zheng.
In the current situation, if I remain in the capital, the conflicts between Your Majesty and the Zhu Clan, or with the Great Yan Dynasty, will intensify greatly. That would be very disadvantageous for the coming nationwide situation. The people of the world will think that His Highness Ning Zheng's rise was due to me, so if I leave, they will believe his bid for the throne has failed. The Crown Prince and the Third Prince will also no longer see His Highness Ning Zheng as a threat.
Recently, His Highness Ning Zheng has made a brilliant impression on the world and has gained a great deal. Now, His Highness must bide his time and consolidate the fruits of his victories! Besides, as I've said before, my primary goal in helping His Highness Ning Zheng's bid for the throne was to gain Your Majesty's recognition, and it seems that goal is about halfway achieved.
Now, if I leave, Your Majesty will be able to see His Highness Ning Zheng's abilities more clearly and accurately. You'll see whether he collapses in despair and never rises again after my departure, or if he shows an even more outstanding side. Furthermore, my departure will greatly ease the tensions between Your Majesty and the Zhu Clan, the Great Yan Dynasty, and even the court officials. With a great war on the horizon, that is incredibly important for Your Majesty.”
“Are you telling me to compromise once more?”
“Yes! And it must be a thorough compromise. It must look as if I've been cornered and sent into exile. That way, the Hidden Yuan Society, the Crown Prince, and the court officials will all feel vindicated! At that time, Duke Bian Wu must cooperate as much as possible. Originally, Princess Bian was more suited for that role, but she is too gentle and probably can't put on a harsh face.”
“Then when will you return?”
“In a few months at the least!”
Ning Yuanxian fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“Do you... view the southern situation so pessimistically? Do you think the State of Yue will lose?”
“Your Majesty, our State of Yue has fought countless great battles against the Southern Barbarians. You must have a very deep impression of them. What are your thoughts?”
“They all seemed insane. An insanity that fears no death.”
“Exactly! The Southern Barbarians are fiercer than the people of Qiang, having fought constantly for hundreds of years, mostly in civil wars amongst themselves. Whenever our State of Yue went to war with them, we always fought with superior numbers against their smaller forces, and we always used the Nanguo Kingdom as a sacrificial lamb. But in truth, our combat strength is inferior to theirs, especially in the southern rainforests.
I have met several warriors from the Southern Barbarians. The elite mercenaries under Queen Arunana of Qiang were all warriors from the Southern Barbarians, and the strongest gladiators from the various Western Regions were also from there. That race is incredibly brave in battle, but until now, they have never been unified, existing like scattered sand. But now, Aun'Goon has united the entire Southern Barbarian race, wielding that race of supreme combat strength like a war blade. With the support of the Great Calamity Temple and the various Western Regions, even if our State of Yue sends an army of over one hundred thousand to the Nanguo Kingdom's battlefield, I still believe the outlook is pessimistic.”
Ning Yuanxian walked over to the map and found that Shen Lang had marked the numerous strongholds of the Southern Barbarians with words and drawings.
“I have spent many days in the State of Qiang. Your Majesty is likely unaware of how wise and majestic Aun'Goon is in the hearts of the warriors from the Western Regions, the Southern Barbarians, and even the State of Qiang. He is seen as a man sent from the heavens, and to the Southern Barbarians, he is considered their greatest hero. Ying Yang told me that while he is loyal to Queen Arunana, many of the Southern Barbarian warriors under him wish to join Aun'Goon. He is now seen as the hope of all Southern Barbarians, acting as a force that unites them.”
“So you believe you cannot defeat him?”
“The Southern Barbarians fight in the southern jungles, so most of their army isn't an elite force! That is why I will create the Nirvana Army, an army of the best marksmen suited for mountain warfare. My reason for resigning and returning this time is, first, to avoid the sharp blades of the Great Yan Dynasty and the Hidden Yuan Society; second, to ease the conflict between Your Majesty and the Zhu Clan; and third, to prevent the Fifth Prince, His Highness Ning Zheng, from being attacked by everyone. But most importantly, I need sufficient time and energy to deal with Aun'Goon. He is the strongest enemy I have ever met.”
“You intend to reset the situation, make the Crown Prince and Ning Qi fight again, and let Ning Zheng grow quietly in the capital?”
“Yes! That is why I have a few suggestions to make before I leave.”
“Speak!”
“First, when I depart the capital in disgrace, Your Majesty must desperately elevate the status of the Third Prince, His Highness Ning Qi. You must give him Tianbei Province and appoint him as its Grand Governor. Then, summon Xue Che to the capital and entrust him with the Central Governorship of Tianyue.”
The King was startled to hear this. This would cause the Third Prince Ning Qi's power to skyrocket. The northern part of Tianxi Province, Tianbei Province, and Tianyue City would all fall to Ning Qi. The State of Yue had a total of five governors, and the Third Prince's faction would now control three of them. The Crown Prince's faction only held Tiannan Province, and the position of Central Governor for Tianxi Province was still undecided. If this happened, the short-lived alliance between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, formed because of Shen Lang, would instantly shatter.
“Then the Crown Prince's faction will come to plead with Your Majesty again, and even Zhu Hongzhu will compromise with you! The Crown Prince's faction will surely try to secure the position of Central Governor of Tianxi Province and will hope for Your Majesty's appointment. Besides, His Highness Ning Zheng and I are now the public enemies of the court officials. Once your favor leaves us, Your Majesty will quickly become a brilliant arbiter sitting on high. Because among the officials, some support His Highness Ning Qi, and some support His Highness Ning Yi, but no one will support His Highness Ning Zheng.
In any case, while I am away from the capital, Your Majesty must maintain an attitude of distancing yourself from His Highness Ning Zheng. But rest assured, he will surely endure. If Your Majesty desperately shows favor to the Third Prince, His Highness Ning Qi, then the Crown Prince will grow anxious and use all sorts of means to turn the situation around, trying to surpass His Highness Ning Qi in reputation. Therefore, the battlefield of the Nanguo Kingdom will become the Crown Prince's best option. In the past, Your Majesty also gained sky-high prestige thanks to your victory in the Wu-Yue War, and in one fell swoop, you defeated Ning Yuanwu and ascended to the throne. The Crown Prince, Ning Yi, will want to repeat your miracle.”
If Shen Lang's prediction was correct, the Zhu Clan would certainly invest their maritime resources into the Nanguo battlefield, and even Princess Ning Han would find a way to help him. When the war in the Nanguo Kingdom was at its smoothest, Crown Prince Ning Yi would surely head south to be stationed at the front, seeking to seize the fruit of victory in the Nanguo war.
Having heard this far, Ning Yuanxian asked in a trembling voice.
“If the war is lost, will Ning Yi die?”
No matter how estranged he was, Ning Yi was still his own son.
“No. Aun'Goon is incredibly cunning; he won't harm Ning Yi.”
Ning Yuanxian trusted Shen Lang's insight, but deep down, he didn't think the Nanguo campaign would necessarily end in defeat. This was because the total force the State of Yue would send to the Nanguo Kingdom numbered over one hundred and thirty thousand, and Zhu Lin and Princess Ning Luo had several of Nanguo's major cities under their control. More importantly, he had watched Aun'Goon grow up from a child, had taken him in as an adopted son, and had once held Aun'Goon's fate entirely in his hands. In Ning Yuanxian's eyes, Aun'Goon still seemed like a weak person. Although Shen Lang repeatedly spoke of how formidable Aun'Goon was, and the Blackwater Terrace's intelligence mentioned it as well, his old impression of Aun'Goon was too deeply ingrained. In Ning Yuanxian's heart, Aun'Goon was still that weak, adopted son.
Besides, Ning Yuanxian's heart was extremely conflicted. He, of course, hoped the State of Yue would win this war. But if winning the war meant, as Shen Lang said, first facing a situation of defeat where the Crown Prince's reputation was buried, only for Shen Lang to turn things around with all his might, leading to the rise of Shen Lang and Ning Zheng? Emotionally, Ning Yuanxian couldn't accept such a scenario, so he was determined to win the war in the Nanguo Kingdom with all his might. Yet, despite that, he also yearned for Shen Lang's return.
“Shen Lang, have you truly thought this through? If you leave and the situation doesn't unfold as you predict, the Crown Prince will ride a wave of success, and Ning Zheng's bid for the throne will become hopeless. Then you, too, will have no hope of making a comeback. Are you certain you want to leave?”
Shen Lang nodded. Ning Yuanxian gazed intently at Shen Lang.
*Who does this person resemble? This untamable, free spirit, as unpredictable as a heavenly steed soaring through the sky, feels somehow familiar. I truly envy him.*
Ning Yuanxian once again pondered deeply why he liked Shen Lang so much. The answer became clear. In his subconscious, Ning Yuanxian also yearned to live as freely and satisfyingly as Shen Lang. To eliminate anyone he wanted to eliminate, to do astonishing things like completely destroying a branch of the Hidden Yuan Society—how gratifying must that be. That was undoubtedly the life Ning Yuanxian dreamed of.
“Very well, then. Do as you wish!”
Shen Lang clasped his hands and bowed.
“Your Majesty, take care!”
Ning Yuanxian originally wanted to say, "Shen Lang, you take care too." But take care? That damn rascal! He would only ever be thinking of harming others.
“We will meet again!”
After finishing his words, Ning Yuanxian left Shen Lang's study and returned to the royal palace. This farewell likely meant it would be a long time before they met again. If they did meet again, it would mean the entire situation had unfolded just as Shen Lang had predicted. By then, the state of affairs in Yue would already be teetering on the brink of collapse, in a most perilous condition.