Chapter 125: then translation of chapter title

Your Majesty the Emperor is the incarnation of a heavenly deity on earth, the ruler of an unbroken line for all ages! The Court's imperial envoy represents the Emperor's face; who could have the audacity to give him not even a fraction of respect?

When the news first spread from the island of Kyushu to the various regions, both common folk drinking in taverns and travelers resting at relay stations shook their heads repeatedly, taking it as a bizarre tale fabricated by someone.

In their understanding, the Court of Heian Capital may have long lost its former deterrent power, but the words "Emperor" remain an untouchable symbol; even if the imperial envoy travels without fanfare, he should still command respect from all quarters—how could he be insulted?

Yet as more and more envoys returned from Zhen Dong City, embellishing the scene, people could no longer help but believe it.

"You didn't see it, did you? That Yuan Jingji held up the Emperor's edict so high his throat was about to burst from shouting. The soldiers in black on the city wall watched him as if watching a monkey performance."

The drinker at the neighboring table stared wide‑eyed and hurriedly asked, "What happened next? They couldn't just leave the imperial envoy hanging forever, could they?"

"Leaving him hanging is the least of it!" another merchant who had been to Zhen Dong City took over, his voice lowered but excitement evident, "I heard it truly: the official on the wall stuck his head out and asked outright, 'Who is the Emperor? I don't recognize him!'"

My heavens, if this were said in the Capital, even nobles would be dragged out for beheading! Lord Yuan Jingji's face turned pale, he trembled with anger, yet he couldn't even get through the city gate!

"And that's not all!" another person chimed in, his tone brimming with glee, "Those people not only refused to recognize the Emperor, they also mounted firearms on the city wall!"

Rows upon rows of pitch‑black Iron Control pipes pointed straight down; the dozens of warriors Yuan Jingji brought with him went weak in the knees on the spot, and two of them were so frightened they dropped their side swords to the ground!

"The most humiliating part is still to come!" the first speaking warrior slapped his thigh, drawing sideways glances from the whole room.

"They never even treated him as an imperial envoy; they just sent him to the side registration point to queue, standing with us merchants and petitioning servants! Imagine a dignified Court envoy, such a lofty status—his face turned green at the time, and in the end he had no recourse, forced to tuck his tail and slink away in disgrace!"

These rumors spread and were reshaped repeatedly in taverns, relay stations, and even the deep courtyards of the powerful magnates across the lands.

Yet regardless of the variations, the core content remains strikingly consistent: the overseas force called the Wang Family never gave the Heian Capital Court any heed. The Emperor's majesty, before the sturdy walls of Zhen Dong City and its cold firearms, is not worth a single coin.

In fact, the regional magnates have long harbored a complex attitude toward the Capital's nobles: they respect the Emperor's millennia‑old legitimacy and fear the rallying power behind the Court's notion of "great righteousness," yet deep down they despise those nobles—beyond poetry and elegance, in matters of troop training, governance, and strategy, they are even inferior to local petty warlords.

Now the people of the Wang Family, using the most direct and brutal method, have torn away that veil of pretense. It turns out the Heian Capital Court has long been a paper tiger—strong on the outside, hollow within—and the Emperor's name no longer scares those who truly wield power.

It turns out the Court is just a paper tiger.

It turns out the Emperor's name cannot frighten everyone.

In an instant, those magnates who had still clung to a sliver of reverence for the Court became completely unrestrained. In this chaotic age, rules have always been set by the strong; since the Court is no longer effective, on this land whoever has the bigger fist becomes the new rule.

And now the biggest fist in Kyushu is undoubtedly the Wang Family in Zhen Dong City.

Previously, regional magnates only sent retainers or envoys with modest gifts to test Zhen Dong City, but since the humiliation of Yuan Jingji spread, the pilgrim‑like caravans heading to Zhen Dong City have grown ever larger.

Many minor warlords even went personally, their carts laden with gold, silver, Silk and grain, hoping to present their petitions at the tiny registration point in Zhen Dong City; even a distant glimpse of General Wang Meng would be considered a great honor.

Zhen Dong City, the Lord's Mansion.

General Wang Meng looked at the compiled reactions from his intelligence department and broke into a broad grin.

"Hey! I never expected that leaving that kid Yuan Jingji hanging for a while would have such a huge effect!" He placed the report on the table and, excitedly, said to the aide beside him, his tone full of surprise and satisfaction.

The aide replied with admiration, "Indeed, General. In the past we had to go in person to show our strength; now the line of people queuing outside the city stretches almost to the sea."

"Hmph, these guys are all opportunistic wind‑catchers," Wang Meng sneered, though there was no contempt in his eyes, only a hint of understanding, "But that's fine. It saves us a lot of effort; we no longer have to knock on each one individually."

He stood up and walked to the map. On it, the territorial influences across the island of Kyushu were densely marked with pens of various colors.

"Yuan Jingji's uproar has completely disgraced the faces of the Fujiwara nobles. To regain face, they'll surely take another step. Yet they're out of reach; even if they get angry in the Capital, they can't do anything to us. At most they'll issue some 'enemy of the Court' decree, labeling us rebels."

Hearing the word "enemy of the Court," the aide's smile instantly faded, and with some worry he asked, "General, if they truly issue that decree, will we have trouble? Those warlords might, out of 'loyalty to the Emperor,' side with the Court…"

"Trouble? That's a tremendous good thing!" Wang Meng's eyes sparkled, "Head of Family said in the letter that we must completely break ties with them!"

Once they declare us enemies of the Court, the Kyushu warlords will have to choose sides—whether to follow a useless Court or our Wang Family, which can provide them weapons and wealth. It's a multiple‑choice question even a fool knows how to answer.

"I understand!" the aide exclaimed, "It's forcing them to fully turn to us!"

"Exactly." Wang Meng nodded, "Now the timing is almost ripe. This game of Kyushu has been played for so long; it's time for the main course."

His finger brushed over the largest colored patches on the map, representing the strongest powers on Kyushu aside from Matsura Town—such as the Shimazu clan of Satsuma, the Otomo clan of Bungo, and the Shōni clan of Chikuzen.

"Before, we cast a wide net, letting them bite each other and wear each other down. Now the net is almost fully spread; it's time to haul it in," Wang Meng said, his tone turning serious.

"Head of Family means we should pick, among these people, the most obedient and capable 'dog'—to nurture him so he can bite the other dogs and unify Kyushu for us?"

"Who to choose?" the aide asked, "That Matsura Town was the first to align with us and the most flattering toward us. Is nurturing it the safest option?"

"Matsura Town…" Wang Meng mused for a moment, then shook his head, "That dog is too old and too cunning. It's obedient now only because we've fed it well."

Yet its internal calculations never cease. Moreover, its low birth and the strength we forced upon it mean that making it integrate all of Kyushu would be illegitimate and face overwhelming resistance.

"So you mean…"

"We need a fellow with a solid power base and ambition," Wang Meng's gaze roamed the map, "someone who needs us yet remains easy for us to control."

He thought for a moment, picked up his pen, and wrote a letter to Wang Po (Wang Xiu) far away in Yangzhou.

In the letter, he detailed the aftermath of the Yuan Jingji incident and the latest movements of the various Kyushu warlords.

Finally, he presented his thought: "…The turmoil in Kyushu is like oil at a boil. I, your nephew, think that if we drop a spark now, it will set it ablaze completely."

The nephew plans to hold a Kyushu Heroes Gathering within Zhen Dong City, inviting all Kyushu warlords. Ostensibly to celebrate Zhen Dong City's completion and foster friendship, in reality to select the Wang Family's chief representative in the Japanese nation.

This person will represent the Wang Family and command Kyushu. For specifics on selection and control, I ask Head of Family to give guidance.

After finishing the letter, Wang Meng dispatched a ship at top speed to send it to Jiangnan.

Heian Capital.

Fujiwara Tadahira received the humiliating news Yuan Jingji brought back from Kyushu and, in his fury, smashed his most beloved celadon vase on the spot.

"Useless! A bunch of useless!" he shouted in his residence, berating the assembled nobles and ministers, "What good is raising you lot! You can't even handle a group of overseas merchants! The Emperor's face, the Court's face, you've both completely tarnished!"

The nobles fell silent as if chilled, daring not to lift their heads.

The previously hard‑line white‑faced noble muttered softly, "Your Highness the Regent, this… this cannot be blamed on Lord Yuan Jingji. It's those barbarians, too unprincipled…"

"Shut up!" Fujiwara Tadahira pointed at his nose and scolded, "No rules? They've got knives at our throats, and you talk about rules? What now? Tell me, what should we do!"

The main hall fell into dead silence again.

In the end, Fujiwara Tadahira calmed himself. He knew that sheer anger was useless.

He gritted his teeth and said word for word, "Transmit my command! In the name of Your Majesty the Emperor, issue an edict! Declare that the Wu people occupying Zhen Dong City, and all warlords colluding with them, are enemies of the Court! Order all warriors loyal to the Emperor across the land to strike them!"

He knew this decree might not even reach beyond the Capital, yet he had to issue it.

This is the Court's last shred of dignity, and his sole option as Regent.

He must let everyone know that the Fujiwara clan has not yet surrendered.

This imperial edict was quickly sent out. But it did not stir any waves in the Nine Provinces.

Those who received the edict from the Nine Provinces' mighty ones merely gave a contemptuous smile, then casually flung it aside, and turned to have people prepare even more lavish gifts to send to the place that truly could decide their fate—Guard East City.