Chapter 153

"The Great Dao is fifty, Heaven's calculation forty-nine; one escapes, leaving a thread of life force — this is the Variable!"

Gu Xuan sat upright in the palace, softly reciting these words, a flash of sharp cold light passing through his eyes.

Without a doubt, this statement released by the Sima Family was for the purpose of building momentum.

Only waiting for the timing to arrive, they would inevitably force this Zhou King to abdicate.

And all signs indicated that this day was not far off.

Because one month ago, which was also the day of the Great Zhou Dynasty's founding ceremony, a major event also occurred in the imperial court.

It was the summer of the fourth month in the third year of the Pinglu Era Era Era of Great Zhou, also the third year since Gu Xuan's original body was enthroned as Zhou King.

That day.

Grand General Sima Shang wore full armor, brought his sword into the hall; the original Zhou King rose from the throne, very perceptively going to greet him.

Below, all ministers memorialized: "The Grand General's merit is towering; he should be made Duke of Jin, and granted the Nine Bestowments."

No matter how much the Zhou King compromised and endured, he still found it somewhat hard to accept in his heart.

This series of enfeoffment rituals undoubtedly symbolized that Sima Shang had taken another step closer to the supreme throne, making him look almost like the actual ruler.

Two thousand years ago, the Great Zhou Dynasty also encountered a powerful minister usurping the throne; at that time it was also like this.

First grant a royal title, add the Nine Bestowments, guide the ministers to take sides; not long after, they successfully seized the throne.

Fortunately twenty years later, a distant royal descendant counterattacked and settled accounts, which allowed the Great Zhou Dynasty to continue to this day.

Unexpectedly, so many years have passed, and that scene from back then has reappeared once again!

The distressed Zhou King momentarily lowered his head and did not answer.

But Sima Shang obviously would not let it go easily; his gaze was cold and gloomy, he shouted sternly: "My father, sons, and brothers — five men — have great merit for Zhou; two perished in the King's service; now as Duke of Jin, could it be they are unworthy?"

These words spoken resounded through the court, their prestige imposing.

And Sima Shang indeed had full confidence; the "father, sons, and brothers, two perished in the King's service" he spoke of referred to his two younger brothers who had successively died in the wars opposing the Quanrong Tribe.

This was also one of the Sima Family's sources of confidence.

The Zhou King was forced helplessly, and looking at the ministers below the hall, although obviously not all were completely the Sima Family's vassals, they were clearly all clever people of the "whoever wins we follow" sort, impossible to speak for this Zhou King.

In the end, he could only swallow his anger and reply: "How dare I disobey the command?"

And Sima Shang obviously still unwilling to let it go, he again sternly pursued: "The 'Crouching Dragon' poem, regarding us as loaches and eels — what propriety is this?"

The so-called Crouching Dragon poem was a poem the Zhou King secretly composed during his melancholy.

The poem goes as follows:

Alas, the dragon suffers crouching, unable to cross the deep abyss. Above cannot fly to the Heavenly River, below not seen in the fields.

Coiled dwelling at the well bottom, loaches and eels dance before it. Hidden teeth, retracted claws and armor, sigh — I am likewise!

Sima Shang's shouted question rang out, the entire hall fell silent.

Among the ministers present, more than ten were Sima Family confidants; hearing this they glared angrily at the Zhou King above, not the slightest bit mindful of ministerial propriety.

And among the remaining ministers.

Some with unbearable expressions, some with eyes closed like old gods at ease, some with cold smiles, some dumbfounded — all manner of reactions.

But awed by the terrifying strength of the Sima Family and its alliance, not a single one dared step forward to speak for the Zhou King; those who dared do such things had long since died.

In the end, the Zhou King lowered his head in silence, unable to answer.

And Sima Shang and the others coldly laughed as they descended the hall; the ministers stood in awe.

This matter absolutely counts as one of the several major political events of the Great Zhou Dynasty in recent years.

After this incident, the prestige of the Zhou King and even the royal family declined considerably again, the Sima Family's prestige grew even more grand, attracting more forces to throw in their lot with them.

Moreover, it greatly accelerated the Sima Family's determination and actions to usurp the throne.

If nothing unexpected happens, perhaps within a year or so, the Zhou King will have no choice but to issue an edict abdicating.

The ending awaiting him, in all probability, is to be imprisoned in some small place near the capital outskirts, and after some time, "die of melancholy."

And judging by the Sima Family's style, and their behavior of buying off various forces for the usurpation.

They will almost one hundred percent continue to implement a governance system that conforms to the interests of great clans and great aristocratic families, the so-called "Nine-Rank System."

……

However.

With the arrival of Gu Xuan's avatar, everything is destined to have a Variable.

With the end of all information torrents, Gu Xuan also closed his eyes, beginning to ponder his situation as this Zhou King, and feasible ways to break the deadlock.

The current situation is already very obvious.

For himself, his situation is equivalent to Han Xiandi, or to put it more vividly, should be the likes of Cao Mao.

For the entire dynasty, it can actually also be said to be in danger.

To the west there is the powerful Quanrong Tribe, which has now already become a climate, formed a great tribe, from time to time harassing the borderlands, extensively plundering the Jin Ren as slaves.

In the north there is also the ferocious, barbaric, cruel and bloodthirsty Jie Tribe, who on the surface accepted the Great Zhou Dynasty's enfeoffment, becoming the so-called Longxiang General Guard, sweeping away northern enemies for the dynasty, but in reality is a hungry wolf that cannot be fed full.

When Great Zhou was strong, it could still suppress these Alien Races.

But for hundreds of years, Great Zhou has long since declined, internal contradictions abound, the borderlands lie waste.

All this has been seen by the Quanrong Tribe and Jie Tribe, each and every one sharpening their knives, thinking that sooner or later they will kill into the Central Plains World, fulfill their wishes, and wantonly burn, kill, rape, and plunder.

And it must be said, the Sima Family this Power Minister Family is not blind to this situation.

But first, this generation of Sima Family Tribal Leaders represented by Sima Shang are experts at internal strife; external warfare can only be called mediocre.

Back then, in the one battle conquering the Quanrong Tribe, if not for Sima Shang's two younger brothers fighting to the death as rearguard, Sima Shang himself would likely have found it hard to escape back.

And these years, even when Sima Shang held the fort, he could only barely hold the scene before the Quanrong Tribe and Jie Tribe, only able to sit and watch these Alien Races burn, kill, and plunder within the borders, cannot speak of more achievements or even advancement.

With his external military ability, he can only reach this step.

Second, the Sima Family itself has selfish motives; even if external conquest goes badly, they can retreat to the southern borderlands, hold a corner in peace, and still be local emperors, enjoying all glory, wealth, and honor!

For Gu Xuan.

Now that he was already the Zhou King, the actions of Sima Shang, the Sima Family, and even their vassals had already courted death.

However, his most pressing problem at the moment was how to turn the tables, reclaim authority, and only then would it be possible to pacify the external threat of the alien races.

Gu Xuan closed his eyes and feigned sleep, pondering inwardly how to turn the tables.

First.

His greatest reliance was naturally his own martial power.

In this End of Dharma World, the martial power of this avatar of his was sufficient to be called a match for a thousand men, even surpassing the Taizhou Gaozu of old.

Be it the power struggles in the Capital City or slaughter on the battlefield, he could be called invincible under heaven; no so-called Commander or fierce general could intercept him!

And most importantly, no one knew of Gu Xuan's arrival; they all still thought he was that same puppet-like Zhou King as before.

As for the Great Zhou Divine King Art passed down in the royal family, for Gu Xuan, it wasn't exactly too low-end.

It was just that for the avatar of a Heavenly Emperor Level Expert, it was still somewhat beneath notice.

But since he was now the Zhou King, Gu Xuan still deduced and cultivated this art to its utmost limit; his attainment in it had already surpassed the Da Zhou Gaozu of old.

Second.

The power in the Chao Tang was obviously not a monolith for the Sima Family; although they had managed to suppress the moment, there was still an opposing side; otherwise they would have directly usurped the throne long ago.

The last point.

The Great Zhou Dynasty had been established for thousands of years; ultimately it still commanded some popular support.

At least, quite a few of the old Feather Forest Guard still remained.

They were also called the Feather Forest Orphans; they were the descendants of the many generals and soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the country, selected by generations of Zhou Kings, formed into an army to serve as the royal family's guard.

However, decades ago, after the Sima Family successfully seized power, they did not dare to massacre the Feather Forest Guard on a large scale; instead they dispersed them, placing them into various armies.

In addition, among local officials and ministers, there were also some who resented the Sima Clan's monopoly on power and disrespect toward the royal family.

Over these years, these people had once joined forces to raise troops, wanting to revive the royal family, but they were all brutally suppressed by the Sima Clan in league with other Aristocratic Clans, implicating and exterminating many clans.

Coupled with the fact that the former Zhou King and his father's generation were indeed dim-witted and weak, incapable of achieving anything.

Therefore, in recent years, no one had risen in arms so openly under the banner of reviving the royal family anymore.

This was also a very normal matter.

Even the royal family itself could not rally; what use were those people who merely harbored a cavity of loyal courage? One death meant one less.

To the point that later, the vast majority of hot-blooded people were either dead or had grown cold-hearted, turning into conformists who "follow whoever wins."

……

Just as he was pondering.

Suddenly, from outside the palace gate came the sound of miserable screams.

"Ah... ah..."

Judging by the voice, and searching the memories in his Sea of Consciousness, Gu Xuan identified it; it seemed to be Huang Jing, one of his few trusted inner attendants, currently suffering some punishment.

Daring to whip his trusted attendant right in front of the Zhou King, just outside his palace — the only ones who could do such a thing were obviously people of the Sima Family!

In addition, along with Huang Jing's screams, there was also a proud yet vicious rebuking voice.

"Dog slave, don't think just because you entered the Weiyang Palace you're something special; you don't show the slightest propriety when seeing our family!"

The speaker was named Cheng Bao; he was the second-in-command of the palace eunuchs, and also one of the people Sima Shang had planted in the palace to monitor the Zhou King.

This man had always bullied others by virtue of his master's power; sometimes he didn't even give the Zhou King face, let alone now whipping his trusted inner attendant.

It must be said.

For a generation's Zhou King to have fallen to the point of being bullied by a household slave — it counted as a kind of sadness.

However, compared to the countless common people within the entire Great Zhou Dynasty who couldn't even eat their fill and died unnatural deaths, whether it was the Zhou King or Huang Jing, their fates were already much better.

At least they had no worries about food and clothing, and would not freeze or starve to death.

Gu Xuan had already formed a plan in his heart.

Huang Jing must be saved; otherwise it would further chill the hearts of his few trusted inner attendants!

But on the other hand, regarding Huang Jing's beating, he did not step out, nor did he want to startle the snake.

He summoned another close inner attendant at the palace gate, then took out a Golden Signet Ring from the chest behind him, and had the close inner attendant deliver it to the second-in-command eunuch Cheng Bao, asking him to show mercy.

Before long, the whipping sounds finally stopped, and the close inner attendant also helped Huang Jing limp back.

As a person planted by the Sima Family, Cheng Bao naturally dared not accept that Golden Signet Ring; otherwise the next day he would certainly be killed by the Sima Family, becoming a corpse.

But the Zhou King, though already down on his luck, was still the nominal lord of the dynasty; and with such a low posture, Cheng Bao ultimately felt very pleased, and after a slight additional punishment, let Huang Jing go.

This was merely a small episode, but it also made Gu Xuan clearly recognize his own identity and situation as this Zhou King.

The time left for him was truly not much anymore.

And the time left for those wretched common people in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty was even less, especially the people in the border regions being brutally slaughtered by alien races!

Over the next several days.

Gu Xuan, while striving not to alert the Sima Clan, interacted with the palace guards, slaves, and minor officials in the palace — some heart-to-heart talks, some rewards — and roughly identified a few candidates.

……

This morning happened to be the Grand Court Conference held once every five days.

Grand General Sima Shang himself did not attend; instead he sent his third brother Sima Gu as representative.

Over these years, Sima Shang rarely entered the palace, giving the Zhou King absolutely no opening to exploit.

As for this Sima Gu, his post was Zhonghujun General; he was also a ruthless character who came from a military background and exuded a murderous aura.

Wherever his gaze fell, not a single minister failed to lower their brows and bow their heads.

No other reason — this Sima Gu really would kill people, even killing dissenters right in the court.

And on this day, Gu Xuan also conducted a small test.

During the court deliberation, he interjected a sentence, inquiring whether there were any measures taken regarding the Jie Tribe's burning, killing, raping, and plundering in Luocheng.

The targets of his inquiry included the Minister of War and the Minister of Revenue, all of whom were the Sima Family's confidants.

This obviously caused all the ministers to be greatly shocked.

For all along, the Zhou King seated high upon the throne had been merely an existence like a mascot, rarely speaking, and even when he occasionally spoke, he only echoed the Sima Clan.

What was going on now, that he actually cared about the war situation far away in Xijing?

Such an action, without a doubt, drew a cold, low rebuke from Sima Gu: "Your Majesty, was this matter not already deliberated in court long ago? Why bring it up again?"

Sima Gu's so-called "already deliberated in court" naturally referred to allowing the Jie Tribe to plunder Luocheng, with the court unable to interfere too much.

"Oh, We merely feel heartache for those dead subjects..."

On Gu Xuan's face, a grieved expression appeared; this was also born of true feelings, for before coming to this land, he had indeed perceived that miserable state.

Sima Gu took one look, and seeing that today's Zhou King was actually still putting on a hypocritical act to win over ministers, the fierce glare in his eyes grew intense.

The next moment, a eunuch he had planted, very perceptively, tugged at Gu Xuan's clothes from behind, simultaneously whispering almost imperceptibly behind Gu Xuan's back, "Your Majesty, watch your words."

And Gu Xuan ultimately still did not speak again.

But he also ultimately still saw clearly the reactions of the various ministers below.

Some showed anger on their faces, some showed unbearable pity, some looked grieved, and some narrowed their eyes slightly — a varied lot...

Under this situation, everyone's reactions could not escape Gu Xuan's eyes; obviously these people did not wear the same pants as the Sima Family and its Alliance.

And thus, Gu Xuan's objective was also achieved, giving him more confidence for tomorrow's final action.

(Chapter End)