Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
When outsiders mention Boyang Province City, the first thing that comes to mind is not its prosperity or cultural history.
The fame of Boyang Province City is entirely due to its incredible sturdiness; the city walls are exceptionally hard, comparable to solid bronze. This means that the walls of Boyang Province City are like a complete piece of bronze, and their strength is evident.
The reason for this lies in the fact that before the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Eastern Seven States were another country that had not developed much and had a relatively backward economy. Although they were in sight of the Central Plains and Nine Provinces, there was no communication between them. Later, during the Han Dynasty, when the eastern expansion aimed to unify the Eastern Seven States, the sovereign of the Eastern Seven States ordered the construction of Boyang Province City, using strong walls to fend off foreign invasions.
The technique used for this construction is unknown; it involved mixing lime, glutinous rice, and a type of stone powder together. This mixture was kneaded and used to fill the gaps in the city’s brick walls. Over time, it became incredibly solid, impervious to blades and weapons. Thus, it is easy to understand why Chen Qilin's Thunder Run could not breach it.
Initially, when Chen Qilin heard about this situation, he was furious and did not believe it, thinking someone was deceiving him and underestimating the power of his Thunder Run. However, after he personally came to see it with his own eyes, he had no choice but to believe.
In the end, Chen Qilin truly conceded defeat; he was dumbfounded and completely surrendered, leaving Lu Chen astonished.
In Lu Chen's understanding, Chen Qilin was definitely not someone who would easily admit defeat; his temperament was very peculiar and stubborn.
In the past, even when Chen Qilin realized he was wrong, he would not easily acknowledge it—that was just who he was.
This old fox conceded so quickly this time that Lu Chen found it unbelievable. After inquiring further, he learned that Chen Qilin had gone off to curl up and conduct research on how to develop a way to destroy such sturdy walls as those of Boyang Province City.
Lu Chen and Sun Zizhao both found this amusing; just a short while ago they had been incredulous, but now they truly believed it.
At nightfall, Lu Chen and Sun Zizhao stood atop the city walls together gazing into the distance at the clear night sky and gentle breeze.
"Brother Chen, look at how beautiful the scenery is in the distance; the mountains and rivers are so vast. When will we have the chance to stroll freely up there and truly be masters?" Sun Zizhao said in a tone that was almost teasing.
Hearing this, Lu Chen's heart jolted; he understood what Sun Zizhao meant. In recent years, they had not engaged in any plundering activities or expanded their territory. Sun Zizhao's words clearly indicated a desire to reignite conflict.
"Han Dynasty, do you feel lonely?" Lu Chen did not turn around but continued to gaze into the distance while standing side by side with Sun Zizhao.
"Ha ha ha, only you, Brother Chen, truly understand me. No matter what I think in my heart, whether I express it openly or subtly, you always know. You are indeed my confidant," Sun Zizhao said with a smile, glancing at Lu Chen.
"Han Dynasty, have you really thought this through? Once we enter the Central Nine Provinces or the Qi Kingdom, it will mean that the common people will once again be plunged into the flames of war. Of course, bloodshed is unavoidable. At that point, we will have many enemies, and you will also ascend to the true Sovereign's throne. Are you mentally prepared for that?" Lu Chen asked seriously, his expression solemn.
Lu Chen's simple words contained countless truths and facts. Once war breaks out, no one can escape its baptism; blood must be shed to establish a kingdom. This is a truth and an unchanging theorem throughout history—there has never been a kingdom gained without bloodshed; almost all have been built upon a foundation of blood. Lu Chen's words emphasized the stakes involved, but Sun Zizhao understood this well. Who is Sun Zizhao? He is well-read and knowledgeable about both ancient and modern history and geography; how could he not understand this?
"Of course, I understand everything Brother Chen has said," Sun Zizhao replied with a hint of sighing in his tone.
Sun Zizhao is a kind-hearted person. Because of his kindness, he is eager to save the common people and free them from the oppressive rule of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Great Zhou Dynasty has lost its virtue and the people's hearts; whenever commoners talk about officials, they speak of corruption.
Various atrocities abound; extortion is just one example, as they desperately squeeze the common people from all sides, draining their lifeblood.
Thus, Sun Zizhao stands from the perspective of a good person who cannot wait to start a war to rescue the common people. After all, blood will eventually be shed; it might as well be shed by our generation. This is Sun Zizhao's thought process.
Lu Chen nodded. He understood Sun Zizhao's intentions and said, "I understand Han Dynasty's thoughts. After all, building a kingdom requires bloodshed and someone to shed it; so let it be us in this generation. This is the mission bestowed upon us."
Lu Chen's words were quite solemn; since blood must be shed anyway, it might as well be us in this generation—a bold declaration.
"Good! Han Dynasty, our opportunity has come. I have been observing the signs lately; the imperial aura is moving eastward. This is a sign of the Great Zhou Dynasty's renewed decline. I believe you are now qualified to claim the throne; being above the Dragon Vein and with the imperial aura moving eastward means our direction is set. Therefore, the opportunity has arrived—please ascend to the throne, Han Dynasty," Lu Chen said from the side.
As soon as Lu Chen finished speaking, Sun Zizhao was immediately stunned. "Brother Chen, are you joking? Do you mean for me to claim the throne now? Establish a national title?" Sun Zizhao was very astonished and found it hard to believe.
It should be noted that initially, Sun Zizhao had prepared to claim the throne and establish a national title but was firmly opposed by Lu Chen. At that time, Sun Zizhao was quite upset about it for some time. After a period of reflection, he had begun to feel better about it; just when this wound was about to heal completely, years later Lu Chen brought it up again and requested that Sun Zizhao claim the throne and establish a national title.
Lu Chen nodded and took a deep breath. "Han Dynasty, I know that you have been troubled by my opposition to your desire to claim the throne years ago. I understand that this matter has lingered in your heart until you finally managed to forget it. Now that I bring it up again with a change of stance, it's understandable that you find it hard to accept at first. Back then, it was simply not the right time; conditions were not ripe yet. But now it's different—we are ready to claim the throne. Moreover, after claiming it, there are many things we need to do that can accelerate the collapse of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I will take care of all that; you just need to rest assured."
Sun Zizhao nodded. With Lu Chen saying this, he felt an immense sense of reassurance—as if no one's words could be as reliable in his heart as those of Lu Chen's. Because when Lu Chen speaks, he means every word and can deliver on them.
When Lu Chen initially stopped Sun Zizhao from declaring himself emperor, it caused some unpleasantness between the two. However, Sun Zizhao later reconsidered and felt that Lu Chen's actions were justified. If he declared himself emperor prematurely, under immature conditions, it could jeopardize their still-developing foundation. After all, the current situation appeared stable but was actually quite chaotic. The chaos lurked behind the facade of stability, and no one could fully grasp it or handle it alone. The situation was like a game of chess, and both the Great Zhou Dynasty and Despicable would not yield good results. Sun Zizhao understood this deeply, so he did not blame Lu Chen for previously stopping him from claiming the throne.
Sun Zizhao nodded, smiled slightly, and said to Lu Chen, "Alright, Brother Chen, since I have your support, I will immediately send someone to choose an Auspicious Day for me to declare myself emperor in Boyang and establish a national title, officially ascending to the throne."
Declaring oneself emperor and establishing a national title may seem like simple phrases, but their significance is immeasurable.
To declare oneself emperor naturally means to become an emperor, while establishing a national title refers to the name of a country, which is a matter of great importance that warrants nationwide celebration.
In ordinary times, merely mentioning these two terms could invite disaster—punishment by death and collective punishment of nine generations—because that would be considered treason, especially since the Great Zhou Court still exists. For instance, Qi Kingdom and Han Kingdom are among the largest vassal states outside of the Great Zhou Dynasty; they have vast populations and territories. However, their kings do not dare to declare themselves emperors; they are kings, not emperors.
When weighing their positions, emperors are burdened with countless responsibilities while vassal kings can enjoy leisure within their domains.
Comparatively, it seems that vassal kings have a more comfortable life. Yet in recent times, these vassal kings have become restless. They have already enjoyed enough wealth and power; they are just one step away from reaching the highest position. Thus, they desire to declare themselves emperors and establish national titles. However, for now, they remain compliant. Although they have distanced themselves from the Great Zhou Court's territory, they have not yet claimed the title of emperor.
They understand the current situation well; capable individuals in their courts assess the timing and conditions and determine that now is not the right time to declare themselves emperors. Therefore, they have settled down and do not dare to undertake these two actions lightly. A misstep could lead them to face judgment from History's iron pen—being condemned by public opinion and branded as traitors could drown them in scorn.
At this moment, while both major vassal states possess formidable strength yet refrain from such actions, Lu Chen instructs Sun Zizhao to engage in this audacious act against the Great Zhou Dynasty—declaring himself emperor and establishing a national title—which signifies a true break with the Great Zhou Dynasty. The implications are extraordinary.
Comment 0 Comment Count