Chapter 57: The Divine Conman

However, the tribe where Guo Jing and his mother Li Ping lived was far from the Jin state, so the Jin had neither the will nor the ability to carry out population reduction there.

Thus, their location was relatively safe, and they need not fear the Jin’s population reduction policies.

But this did not mean they could relax, for within one or two years, Temujin would arrive—and when he led from the front in battle, Guo Jing would be the perfect target to eliminate.

They must establish a revolutionary base during this time, to stand against Temujin in one or two years.

Time was urgent; by dawn the next day, Zhang Chu’an and Zhang Xiaofan packed their belongings and set off for Shandong.

Watching the two depart, Li Ping could not help complaining to Guo Jing and Nie Huaishang:

“Really, must you rush into this so urgently? Couldn’t you rest for a couple of days?”

Guo Jing and Nie Huaishang exchanged bitter smiles—they weren’t in a hurry; their opponents left them no room to breathe.

They had to act, and they had to secure their own base of power as quickly as possible.

Firmly resolved, the two set out for a nearby small tribe, which numbered only a few thousand people; after excluding the elderly, children, and women, there were barely a thousand able-bodied warriors.

Gazing at the tribe before them, Guo Jing asked curiously beside Nie Huaishang: “Do you think if I just use the Five Thunder Correct Law to kill their leader outright and declare myself the Messenger of Eternal Heaven, I can win over this tribe?”

Such an easy method felt unreliable to Guo Jing—could these people really be fooled so easily?

Hearing Guo Jing’s question, Nie Huaishang smiled confidently:

“Don’t worry—Mongols are deeply superstitious now. Shamans get high status with nothing but cheap tricks; your Five Thunder Correct Law is far superior. It will absolutely terrify them.”

Then Nie Huaishang added dismissively:

“Besides, if your power can’t convince them, these few hundred can’t stop you—you can always fight your way out.”

Hearing this, Guo Jing nodded. Indeed, the tribe’s combat strength was mediocre; if he wanted to leave, they couldn’t stop him.

With that, Guo Jing no longer hesitated. Gathering his inner energy, he let out a thunderous roar and charged straight toward the tribe.

He wanted his presence to leave a lasting impression—the tribe members, hearing the earth-shaking dragon’s roar, paused their work and turned toward the sound.

They saw a young boy charging directly at them—and the tribe’s leader also turned to look.

Under the stunned gaze of all, a white light appeared suddenly in the boy’s hand; he pointed it forward—directly at their leader.

A bolt of lightning struck the leader’s body instantly; the man lay blackened and motionless on the ground, alive or dead, and the crowd fell to their knees in terror, unable to look toward the boy.

This spectacle shook them far more than any shaman’s tricks—this boy had truly summoned heavenly thunder.

Seeing the tribe members prostrate themselves, Guo Jing exhaled in relief—his last move had drained him completely; if he failed to win them over, he’d have to rely on Nie Huaishang to fight their way out.

But now it was clear they were utterly cowed. Guo Jing walked slowly to the half-dead leader, slit his throat, and shouted in Mongolian to the crowd:

“Your leader disrespected Eternal Heaven. Eternal Heaven sent me to punish him. All who once followed him are guilty.”

Hearing this, the tribe members bowed their heads frantically, pounding the ground:

“Messenger! We didn’t know of his crimes! Spare us!”

“We were forced! We had nothing to do with his actions!”

“Messenger, please forgive our sins!”

“Silence.”

Guo Jing barked at them. The entire tribe fell utterly still—thousands of people dared not make a sound, all waiting for his next words.

Amid their expectant silence, Guo Jing spoke slowly:

“If you follow me, I shall cleanse your sins for the rest of your lives. Even after death, your souls may return to Eternal Heaven. Will you follow me?”

“We will follow the Messenger!”

Hearing they could be absolved of their sins, the tribe members all pledged allegiance.

Meanwhile, the late leader’s loyalists, though unwilling to submit to Guo Jing, were forced by his supernatural power and the crowd’s submission to feign obedience for now.

That night, Nie Huaishang and Guo Jing met in the central Mongolian yurt to discuss strategy.

After closing the tent and shielding themselves from others, Nie Huaishang teased Guo Jing:

“Who knew you had the makings of a divine conman? You swindled a whole tribe of thousands so easily.”

Guo Jing grimaced in reply:

“If I had any other choice, I wouldn’t resort to this. But it’s the fastest way to build a foundation.”

Nie Huaishang didn’t argue—he nodded in agreement:

“It doesn’t matter what method you use, as long as it works.”

Then he shifted tone:

“But we still don’t fully control this tribe. Real power remains in the hands of the late leader’s loyalists.”

“Then how do we seize power?” Guo Jing asked eagerly.

Nie Huaishang shook his head: “We shouldn’t think about seizing power now. If you purge the late leader’s men, you’ll make everyone in the tribe fear for their lives.”

“After all, they once followed their former leader—and those so-called loyalists may not have been truly loyal to him at all.”

On the steppe, where interests rule, loyalty is worthless. Even Temujin’s father, Yesügei, was a capable leader.

Yet after he was poisoned, who cared for his widow and orphaned children?

Temujin eventually rebuilt his power thanks to his sworn brother Jamukha and his adoptive father Wang Han.

Thus, on the steppe, there is no such thing as absolute loyalty.

So there’s no need to purge the late leader’s men now—especially since the tribe still has no trust in either of us.

Thinking this, Nie Huaishang’s eyes gleamed with sudden insight, and he looked at Guo Jing with confidence:

“On this steppe, where interests rule, to earn others’ allegiance, you must give them ample benefit.”

On this steppe where interests reign supreme, if you wish to gain others' approval, you must ensure they receive ample benefit.