Chapter 719

"The wind is rising."

Wenming stood in his royal court, his gaze deep and dark, as if embracing the universe's deepest darkness.

A person stands here, yet his heart has already transcended time, leapt beyond the shackles of heaven and earth's form, standing high to overlook the entirety of Honghuang's mountains and rivers; all worldly changes are merely a game of chess.

In this game he played, he determined the pattern of myriad ages' changes.

Mastering this ability also gives him the courage to bear responsibility for it.

This is a transcendent state of mind, the quality of a king.

Had he still been working under Chonghua in the past, Wenming would never have revealed such an attitude.

Otherwise, perhaps he'd really need to be a bit careful, worrying that one day Chonghua might mutter in secret—

"This child is terrifying beyond measure; he must not be kept!"

But today, he doesn't care anymore.

After all…

He has already gone out on his own!

Having a legitimate organization that followed proper procedures, he gained a sufficiently loyal support base; standing on his own turf, he could act as he wished without worrying about walls having ears.

Although, Wenming was never afraid anyway.

In this era's version-update slaughter, too many were crippled!

Even if he faked his death, truly playing a bitter-sweet ploy, suffering heavy losses… is it still not easy to bully the weak?

Wenming had a premonition.

Perhaps, this era's game will end because of him.

The affair of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, to him, is over!

Whether it be swords and blades or humility and concession, at that time it will no longer matter; the ages will have changed into a completely new playstyle.

"The sacred affair of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors has deceived endless wanderers."

Wenming chuckled, paced back to his workplace, and handled work nonchalantly.

After waiting a while, during a halftime break, estimating that the anxious Longshi-side visitors had been kept waiting long enough, he leisurely summoned them.

"Longshi's friends must be anxious waiting…… go convey my order, summon him to see me."

Wenming gave orders to the divine general stationed here.

The divine general received the command and departed.

On the other side, the minister assisting with state affairs felt some concern, "Your Highness, is this not somewhat inappropriate?"

"Nowadays, our Dongyi System's relationship with Longshi…… is not very harmonious!"

"You know…… previously, Longshi's Prince Dan Zhu rebuked Majesty Chonghua for treason and rebellion, labeling him a treacherous usurper, intending to summon all clan and tribal leaders who originally obeyed Longshi's orders to come pay homage, in order to reorganize humanity's military defenses here."

"But, no one went!"

"From then on, even Longshi's last shred of face was smashed, losing all past glory."

"Those who came to audience ignored Dan Zhu and went straight to pay respects to Chonghua."

"Those who encountered injustice and wanted to appeal did not consider Dan Zhu's ruling, but instead took their lawsuits to Chonghua."

"If one says these practical matters need an authoritative leader to oversee, then so be it."

"In the end, even the hollow affair of singing praises, no one wished to accept Longshi's invitation to praise Dan Zhu, to perpetuate Majesty Shun's reputation; instead, they crowded the threshold of Majesty Chonghua."

"Longshi, washed up!"

The ministers of the Xia clan that Wenming established painstakingly advised, loyal and forthright, urging their leader not to be too reckless, not to court death, and not to unnecessarily make enemies.

"At this juncture, Majesty Chonghua is at his peak, and the Dongyi royal court is doing all it can to eradicate Longshi's lingering influence…… Our Xia clan, though we have independent from this system, still have myriad ties; if we now become entangled with Longshi…… it's hard to say we won't face sanctions!"

"After all, a large part of our various material transactions and military aid comes from the Dongyi royal court."

"Mm…… Your words are quite sound." Wenming nodded, indicating he had taken the advice to heart.

But he just wouldn't change.

"Just I think……" Wenming shifted his tone, "You and I both understand the principle; could Longshi's side possibly not know?"

"Do they not realize that, under Bird Master's layers of blockade, finding a clan willing to extend an olive branch is utterly absurd and unrealistic?"

"This is a crucial step from nothing to something, nearly impossible to achieve."

"Does Longshi not understand?"

"I think they understand, knowing that under normal circumstances they are doing futile work."

"But…… they still came."

"This shows…… they are confident, coming prepared."

"They believe they can produce enough weight of chips to convince us."

"Coincidentally, I also want to see what they've got."

Wenming's tone was leisurely, unhurried, very transcendent.

"But…… the ill feeling toward Majesty Chonghua……" the minister hesitated.

"Ill feeling? Hah……" Wenming half-smiled, "Chonghua is what kind of person; I know better than you."

"When we are useful to him, he can tolerate acceptance, not caring about his own likes and dislikes…… Undeniably, he is a hero of outstanding talent."

"When we are of no use to him, he should exile or kill, not overly caring about past affection, leaving some leeway."

"Now, having become independent and gone solo, in fact it has alleviated part of the Heavenly Court pressure directly faced by the Dongyi System, waging war behind enemy lines, harassing and disrupting."

"This righteous cause remains, so Chonghua will ultimately find it hard to act against."

"Of course, it's undeniable…… such a 'honeymoon' cannot last long."

"It's hard to say how much goodwill Majesty Chonghua bears toward these small clans we've gone independent…… After all, at bottom, this is the ancient contest between Fire Master and Bird Master; Bird Master lost out and had to let go."

"If one could have it all, who would be willing to share power?"

It's not that there's nothing we can do!

Wenming laughed and said, "So, this kind of ill feeling stemming from interests and positions will never disappear as long as our Xiahou clan exists for even a day."

Just as the Fire Master always wants to give the Bird Master some eye drops.

Unless we are willing to give up striving, go back to work for wages, voluntarily accept being exploited of surplus value, and eat scraps and leftovers... only then can there be room for relief.

Otherwise, we should prepare a backup…… that is also the proper thing to do.

Having multiple backup plans also means having multiple options.

Although the Dragon Master is weakened, its foundation is still quite rich; it's worth considering.

Wenming argued in such a sophistical way.

——Indeed, it is sophistry.

As someone who truly understands Chonghua's actual identity, Wenming knows the correct answer is not at all a simple power struggle, but a game of central authority versus the waxing and waning strength of various feudal lords.

But rather it involves a more grand heavenly-human conflict, a showdown of ideological paths, with fundamentally no room for compromise; malice…… stems from this!

Under such a struggle, unless one defects, fawning is of little use…… one might even try to flatter and end up patting the horse's leg instead.

Even if one defects…… they might end up earning merit as someone else's undercover agent, dying without knowing how they died.

Wenming, having died and been resurrected, feigned death from the coffin, fundamentally not intending to compromise with Chonghua.

He is here to secretly supervise!

If Chonghua acts recklessly, he will have to follow orders, and one day cause Chonghua to 'die suddenly' on an inspection tour, then take over all military and political authority of the Dongyi system and wage a hard fight!

They dare to kill the king and establish themselves; would they still care about so-called malice?

But such a topic, Wenming would not bring up to his subordinate ministers, lest he frighten the little ones.

——Who are you? Which big shot personally took the field? You dare to brandish a blade and slay a feudal lord hegemon?

In a hard-to-describe silence, the Dragon Master's minister in charge of diplomacy stepped into this hall.

After the proper greetings, this Dragon Master envoy brought the demands of the faction behind him, as well as an exchange of interests.

This deal is huge, very tempting.

However, looking at his weary, dust-covered face, full of fatigue…… one can tell he has already hit walls with many people.

The Dragon Master offers many benefits.

But it is obvious that this benefit is not enough to make many other clans and tribes risk the great danger of opposing their old patron and suffer the iron-fist sanctions of the Dongyi court.

"I have seen the Dragon Master's sincerity."

Wenming was mentally calculating.

Agree, he will surely agree.

Even bringing his own rations to cause trouble, he could accept it; moreover, the price the Dragon Master offers is not bad.

When one can ignore the pressure of the Dongyi court, this price can be said to be quite good.

But many things stress being reasonable and logical.

The Xiahou clan does not want to be the unreasonable bird that sticks its head out——a tribe not particularly strong but with a clear-headed leader, where would it get the courage to oppose the Dongyi central authority?

Who gave them this courage?!

If it is too flimsy to withstand scrutiny, it might cause some people to become solemnly vigilant.

So, Wenming added a bit of fire, hinting somewhat intentionally or unintentionally, without leaving a trace, allowing this Dragon Master envoy to develop rich associations.

He believes this envoy can do it, having sufficiently agile thinking and excellent adaptability.

After all, he could become an envoy precisely because he was trained!

Otherwise, among the many excellent talents in the Dragon Master, why would he have received this mission?

"Would this count as me brandishing a little of the August Emperor's old trade?"

"Divining the future, influencing the future, the times make heroes!"

The right time, the right place, influencing the right people.

Heavenly Mechanism Easy Way is not merely observing the future; it also involves laying pieces ahead of time, making many developments appear reasonable and logical.

Standing at the windfall, even pigs can fly.

Wenming merely let one suitable talent stand at each windfall, and ultimately quite reasonably received the appointment to be sent to various parties—nothing more.

His competitors, coincidentally, all had exposed murky blemishes…… even if some were rumors or frame-ups, at critical moments they were all temporarily cleared.

In the end, it became the present situation; everything's development is like that of a marionette.

"But, given where the great righteousness lies, how could I, Wenming, dare to abandon the ancestral laws?"

Wenming spoke solemnly and righteously, his voice full of integrity and openness: "Recalling the past, the White Emperor ancestors, who opened up the wilderness and expanded the territory, only then did we establish our Dongyi!"

"Taking inclusiveness as the principle, and embracing all as the path, in the stubborn resistance against the Heavenly Court, we have step by step arrived today!"

"Your Majesty Chonghua, inheriting the lineage's law, upholding great righteousness, without moral failing, how could I, for private gain, dare to rebel and collude with your Dragon Master?"

Wenming spoke righteously.

What he said had not the slightest problem.

But, the audience he was speaking to had some problems.

After repeatedly hitting walls in his missions, the envoy worried about the Dragon Master's safety, and he himself was nearing his limit.

If we cannot break through the Dongyi court's encirclement and blockade, let this huge faction split, presenting a standoff between doves and hawks, intent on killing the Dragon Master…… the Dragon Master might truly not last until the return of the Great Sage Dragon Ancestor!

In desperation, one naturally grasps at straws.

Especially, he has the boldness to make daring assumptions and the caution to verify them carefully.

At this critical juncture, the envoy no longer holds back, bringing up the Dragon Master's beginnings that were being nurtured, yet suppressed step by step by Chonghua's hard-to-live-with rumors, which he firmly asserts as reasons for subversion.

"Your Highness Wenming, your words are mistaken!"

The envoy solemnly said, "Do you know, Dongyi is now in grave peril!"

The Bird Sect Leader has long been plotting treason…… He is a spy hidden in the Eastern Barbarians, just to overthrow human hegemony!

"Oh?" Wen Ming gave a cold smile, waved his hand casually, "Groundless slander—is this how the Dragon Sect behaves?"

"Baseless accusations, and you slander our Eastern Barbarians Leader…… Hah, when it comes to plotting treason and harboring malicious intent, who could have more ideas than the Dragon Clan behind the Dragon Sect?"

"Come, drag him out and drive him away!"

"Considering your status as an envoy, I won't punish you this time! Normally, I'd make you feel the rod, so you'd know what words cannot be spoken!"

Wen Ming displayed an attitude of defending Chong Hua.

This scene was recorded by a Time-Space Recording Stone hidden in the darkness nearby, waiting to be released someday as the perfect excuse to shift blame.

—Look, Wen Ming still supports Chong Hua, after all!

—It's just that there are bad people among humans, and he's the one sowing discord!

"Your Highness Wen Ming!"

That envoy gritted his teeth, "If I am guilty, I am willing to accept punishment!"

"But you must let me defend myself!"

"I am willing to take the rod, so that after this punishment you may hear my words and fulfill justice!"

"Is that so?" Wen Ming coldly replied, "As you wish!"

"Go! Give him ninety strokes!" he ordered his attendants.

However, though said so, his subtle expression made the divine general, who understood his superior's intentions, realize this was an act—his boss had other thoughts, ultimately wanting to hear the Dragon Sect Envoy's explanation.

Tacitly understanding, he also showed it during the punishment.

The Dragon Sect Envoy, though outwardly beaten to bruises and cuts, was inwardly unharmed, his thoughts sharp and agile, naturally grasping the subtle hint beyond words.

"Indeed, this Your Highness…… is ambitious!"

Feigning near‑death, the envoy's thoughts raced, inexplicably wary: "This Wen Ming…… is both ambitious and puts on an act—no easy opponent!"

"Elder colleagues, they chose him as the breakthrough point for dividing the Eastern Barbarians…… This seems promising for success, yet I always feel…… might it also sow the seeds of disaster?"

He felt lost, with no choice, only able to passively follow someone else's script.

On the surface, everything seemed perfectly normal.

There was the Dragon Sect Envoy, loyal and righteous to the core, willing to suffer disgrace for his people.

There was the Xiahou Clan Leader, who originally felt grateful toward the Eastern Barbarians' central authority, diligently upheld it, faithfully followed ancestral law, his reverence evident in word and deed—yet under the Dragon Sect's seduction, he gradually frowned, began to rationally discuss and inquire, showing his heroic side.

After performing this act, who knows which ghost is being fooled.

But in the end the act was carried out, and everything was recorded.

In the future, awaiting the right moment, it will be released as some kind of "ironclad proof"!

(End of chapter)