Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 609: The Strategist

Chapter 609: The Strategist

Initially, when Tang Buqi forcibly dismissed them and stripped them of their commands, the generals harbored considerable resentment. The other officials in Jiangnan were even more displeased.

Those who did not support Tang Buqi’s ambitions for secession thought that he was finally making his move and considered ways to sabotage him.

Those who did support him thought of him a fool. After all, they were backing him, yet he was taking away their authority.

Some of those summoned to report to Zhao Changhe did not even know who he was. Their hearts simmered with discontent.

Who do you think you are? Just because the Tome of Troubled Times praised you a few times, you think you’re some king?

But once they witnessed Zhao Changhe astride his flying steed, all grievances vanished. They were left with a single thought: Whatever this man says, goes. In Jiangnan, all private ambitions and schemes were silenced.

When people encounter strength beyond comprehension, it evokes a primal reverence within them. Once, only one person wielded such overwhelming, irrational power—Xia Longyuan.

But Xia Longyuan’s aura of invincibility had long crumbled. Ever since the Tome of Troubled Times reported his pyrrhic victories—or defeats, public sentiment toward him grew even worse. And just at that moment, Zhao Changhe rose like a blazing sun.

Only Zhao Changhe himself knew that his actual strength could not even touch Xia Longyuan’s heels. But appearances were everything.

As they left Gusu and sailed north across the river, Zhao Changhe refrained from further displays of power, quietly leading Snow-Treading Crow onto the boat. After all, he could not leave his companions behind while basking in glory. He glanced southward toward the receding lands of Jiangnan. The once-intense royal qi over Jinling was already fading, a mere shadow of what it had been hours ago.

It was proof that the flow of energy—qi—could indeed be altered. With deeper cultivation, it could perhaps even be wielded directly.

“Your Highness,” Wu Weiyang, standing cautiously beside him, spoke up. “The Marquis of Wu himself isn’t entirely ready to rebel yet... Though he has thoughts of secession, without the support of the bureau chief, his hands are tied. The current situation isn’t entirely his doing. Others are pushing for greater ambitions. How can he simply bow his head and play the obedient child? How would the heroes of Jiangnan perceive him then? Could he still lead them?”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “That’s understandable... Do you feel the same way?”

Wu Weiyang hesitated before answering, “I won’t lie to you, Your Highness. I’m torn. On the one hand, I respect the bureau chief’s resolve and would willingly lay down my life for her. On the other... I wonder what in this dynasty is still worth preserving.” His voice grew earnest. “The allure of becoming a founding general, of securing noble status for generations, is hard to resist. We live but one life—what else is there to strive for? And in these times, who’s to say history will brand us as traitors? Even that last shred of concern for posterity is gone. Your Highness, I consider myself loyal. If even I waver, how could others not?”

Zhao Changhe sighed deeply. It was true. This was true even in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms—did history label the generals of the Kingdom of Wu, men like Zhou Yu or Lu Su, as traitors? Of course not. They became legendary figures, celebrated through the ages. When even the concern for legacy was gone, any lingering loyalty was simply habit.

Wu Weiyang continued, “Now, Your Highness has descended like a god, shocking Jiangnan into silence. The Marquis of Wu used this opportunity to ‘expel’ us, a gesture of allegiance to you. But when the tide rises again, even you may struggle to suppress it. Whether it’s the bureau chief or yourself, a swarm of ambitious men may eventually overwhelm you. This is the tide of fate, and taking a few generals away won’t be enough to change it.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Do you think I’m taking you away for that reason?”

“Uh...” Wu Weiyang hesitated. “Honestly, I can’t imagine what use we could be to Your Highness...”

“Whether you’re from the Demon Suppression Bureau or so-called recruited experts of Jiangnan, you all began as special operatives of the jianghu. Have you been commanding troops for so long that you’ve forgotten? Four experts ranked on the Ranking of Man can wreak havoc in specialized situations.”

“What kind of special mission do you have in mind, Your Highness?”

Zhao Changhe pulled out a jade token engraved with his name from the Demon Suppression Bureau. “Take this token and infiltrate Langya. Find Daoist Gui Chen of the Taiyi Sect. How you disrupt Langya’s rear lines will be at his discretion. He knows what to do.”

Wu Weiyang’s heart stirred.

Just as Tang Buqi had gathered Jiangnan’s martial talent, the Wang Clan of Langya had its own network of experts. The most valued among them was the Taiyi Sect.

Daoist Gui Chen, formerly ranked twenty-ninth on the Ranking of Earth, might seem unimpressive compared to some of the figures Zhao Changhe had encountered. But in the jianghu, he was among the most respected masters. Over the past two years of upheaval, with many experts on the Ranking of Earth falling, even some on the Ranking of Heaven being replaced, Gui Chen’s rank had risen considerably. In Langya, only Wang Daoning surpassed him; his strength even exceeded Wang Daozhong’s.

As the Taiyi Sect prospered, Gui Chen’s most promising disciple, Xuan Chong, though unranked, was widely believed to be at the level of the Ranking of Man.

When the Wang Clan raised their banner in rebellion, Gui Chen aligned himself with them, becoming an esteemed key ally. He maintained the pretense of a reclusive scholar, refusing to join the siege of Puyang directly and instead focusing on guarding Langya.

The Wang Clan saw this aloof stance as reasonable. In the past few months, Gui Chen had indeed proven his worth—expelling the agents of the Demon Suppression Bureau hidden in Langya and leaving the imperial court blind to Langya’s movements. When Wang Daoning returned wounded, Gui Chen maintained the region’s stability, thwarting any attempts at rebellion. Even assassins sent by the Cui Clan had failed.

He was a stabilizing force the Wang Clan trusted completely.

But who would have guessed that this thorn in the imperial court’s side—and the Cui Clan’s—had long been secretly aligned with Zhao Changhe?

If Gui Chen truly switched sides, leading the Taiyi Sect alongside these four experts at the level of the Ranking of Man, they would have a genuine chance to assassinate key figures while Wang Daoning was incapacitated. Alternatively, they could sow chaos in Langya the next time Wang Daoning ventured out—a certainty in the current stalemate.

Wu Weiyang, scarcely able to believe it, asked cautiously, “Daoist Gui Chen holds a prestigious position in Langya. The Wang Clan has promised to make Taiyi Sect the state religion, with Gui Chen as the national preceptor. Your Highness, are you certain he’ll listen to you?”

Zhao Changhe was indeed not entirely sure about this. Gui Chen had once looked down on the Wang Clan and made a pact with him, but if the rewards exceeded expectations, who could say for certain where his loyalties would lie?

Yet Gui Chen was a Daoist adept skilled in talismans, and observing qi was practically a required skill. Even Zhao Changhe could tell that Langya lacked the presence of dragon qi—it was below even Jiangnan in this respect. Could Gui Chen not see the same?

A wise man follows the prevailing tide.

Another telling clue was that the so-called expulsion of the Demon Suppression Bureau and the failure of Cui Clan assassins had left no casualties. No one had actually died.

“I can’t be completely certain,” Zhao Changhe admitted. “You’re a seasoned operative of the Demon Suppression Bureau. Trust your instincts. If things seem off, withdraw immediately. There’s definitely risk involved, but the rewards are all the more valuable. Are you afraid?”

Faced with the danger, a long-forgotten surge of heroism welled up in Wu Weiyang’s chest. He laughed heartily. “This is what the Demon Suppression Bureau exists for! If Your Highness trusts me, then I’ll return to the jianghu once more.”

Zhao Changhe patted him on the shoulder, his voice low. “That noble legacy you seek may not be found solely in Jiangnan.”

Wu Weiyang’s eyes gleamed with understanding. The same spark ignited in the eyes of the other silent warriors nearby.

Jiangnan, after all, was only suited for regional rule. Since time immemorial, trying to unify the north and the south was as difficult as reaching the heavens. No one truly believed the Tang Clan could unite the world.

But if it was the man before them making that promise... then there truly was a chance.

As they spoke, the boat docked on the northern shore.

Wu Weiyang and the other three leaped onto the riverbank, their figures vanishing in swift, graceful movements. Zhao Changhe, Lady Three, and Xia Chichi stood at the bow of the boat, watching their retreating forms. The energy in their strides seemed transformed, imbued with new purpose.

Xia Chichi glanced at Zhao Changhe, her eyes narrowing slightly. After a long pause, she muttered, “Boss Zhao, if you’d had this kind of cunning, foresight, and power to inspire back in the mountain stronghold, you might have already founded a kingdom at Beimang.”

Zhao Changhe smiled, ruffling her hair gently. “But they’re doing it for you.”

Xia Chichi turned to look at him, her eyes swirling with unreadable emotions.