Chapter 706: 689 chapters King Zhao returns to the capital
“You’ve taken his mind off drinking just by what you said.”
Looking at Xue Canghai’s enthusiastic departure to the Blood God Sect’s camp, Wan Dongliu sighed, “Does this count as using psychological tactics on people?”
Zhao Changhe took Xue Canghai’s seat and sipped his wine, letting out a comfortable sigh, “You’re overthinking it. Who’s to say it’s not because Xue isn’t familiar with you and simply doesn’t want to drink with you? There’s a generational gap between you and him; he really doesn’t care to bother with you.”
Wan Dongliu said, “I didn’t feel any generational gap; he was thrashed by Yue Hongling, and I was thrashed by you. Our ranks are clearly aligned.”
“Pfft…” Zhao Changhe nearly spat out his drink. So you two were exchanging experiences on being thrashed?
Wan Dongliu’s face was expressionless, “Since he’s not familiar with , why did he stand here chatting with just now?”
“He was just waiting for ,” Zhao Changhe smiled lightly. “Aren’t you here for the sa reason? Otherwise, how could you two possibly end up drinking at the Wang Family’s residence? Both of you have many subordinates to look after. If you were really going to drink, it would be with your subordinates.”
Wan Dongliu finally smiled too, “True. At the end of the day, he and I are essentially gang leaders. We’re sowhat out of place in the current situation. Of course, it’s more important for brothers within the gang to drink together.”
“Old Xue fears I stand with the Imperial viewpoint and doesn’t want to see their slaughter-prone Demon Sect feel restless, so he ca to . I just need to tell him that there are many places where killing is necessary. If he shifts his perspective from the Worldly Society to national warfare, he can go ahead and kill freely without being seen as a villain, but rather a hero.”
“Hmm.”
“So, what about you? What are you afraid of coming to see ?”
“I might belong to the Four Symbols Sect, but I’m also the young master of the Cao Gang… Is the cancellation of the grain transport and change to mariti your proposal?”
“Yes.”
“The Venerable pushed this because he wanted to provoke my father. I want to know, is this just a temporary asure, or will it continue to be implented?” Wan Dongliu spoke earnestly, “It’s alright to tell the truth, even if the grain transport continues to be canceled.”
“Opening the sea without discontinuing the grain transport won’t conflict,” Zhao Changhe explained. “From what I’ve seen overseas, as long as trade expands, the grain transport will flourish even more because you’ll have more goods to transport.”
Wan Dongliu was stunned, “Really?”
“The Wang Family is also a pioneer in opening the sea. If you have spare ti, don’t just sit here drinking; go see the sea. I’ve just returned from there, and the battle at Langya didn’t affect their booming business.”
“Alright.”
“You and Ye Leitu used to get along well, but there was so tension before which is now resolved. Try to interact more with him when you go back; you may discover new opportunities,” Zhao Changhe continued. “Many conflicts are rely due to a scarcity of resources, including land… The world is vast, after all. Of course, this requires improvent in technology and productivity… uh…”
It seed he had said too much… Wan Dongliu was silent, unsure how much he had taken in.
Zhao Changhe sipped his wine to cover up his over-ti comnts and suddenly said, “So you an the Cao Gang still only wants to be a money-making gang in the Worldly Society and doesn’t want to involve in local governance, even though you have beco powerful now, preferring to return to how things were?”
“Exactly,” Wan Dongliu responded indifferently. “It’s not just that we have no interest in it, but more importantly, you wouldn’t want a situation where having finally suppressed the Aristocratic Families, the Wan Family rises up. It’s fine for a gang in the Worldly Society to grow large, but it’s different when it cos to the control of states…”
He paused, then suddenly smiled, “Worldly Society matters remain in the Worldly Society… I prefer it this way, and I believe you do too. When we head back to Yangzhou later, I’ll treat you to a drink in the Xiao Xiang Inn… Oh, Chichi got married.”
Zhao Changhe also laughed, “I used to say that the Worldly Society wasn’t what I wanted… But looking back now, I miss those tis the most. Moving from the Worldly Society to ruling the world, from the human realm to the divine, the burden feels too heavy, suffocating.”
“It’s just more work for the capable, that’s all. Before, Xia Longyuan bore the brunt… Now, you are Xia Longyuan.” Wan Dongliu raised his glass in a toast, “I wish you quick success in bringing order to the realm… just don’t also hide and breakthrough in a Secret Realm, starting the cycle all over again.”
Zhao Changhe lifted his glass, his gaze lost in the liquid in the glass, suddenly wondering if Chichi taking over the throne partly served to release him, Zhao Changhe, from his duties. The throne looked appealing but was actually a dragon trap.
Thinking this, Zhao Changhe suddenly knew what he had to do.
He had been considering how to face the upcoming situations, whether to lead his forces to the Central Pass or head north to Yann. But now he realized he didn’t need to go anywhere; these were not his tasks to do.
Just like the recent battles in Langya and the Capital City, he hadn’t participated… The specialized tasks should be left to the professionals. He should not entangle himself in military affairs. What he needed to do was more likely…
Kunlun and Ba Shu.
He needed to find out what exactly Yi Shentong and Li Shentong were thinking.
As he was contemplating this, Cui Yuanyong hurried in, seeing Zhao Changhe and Wan Dongliu sneaking drinks here, he was also taken aback, “You’ve co out from the Secret Realm, why not attend the official celebration? And Brother Wan, what are you doing hiding here?”
Zhao Changhe said, “An official celebration has too many rules, annoying, nowhere near as good as having a few private drinks.”
Cui Yuanyong couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re the king, the rules are set by you, what you should be annoyed with is all the insincere flattery.”
“Either way,” Zhao Changhe asked, “You seem to be in a hurry. Is there new information?”
Cui Yuanyong nodded, “Father sent a ssage by carrier pigeon, saying the Yang Family wants to retreat from worldly affairs. Father thinks Yangyang should visit the Yang Family.”
Inside, Cui Yuanyang was contemplating the profound anings of the Heavenly Book, particularly about subduing the seas, when he overheard his brother’s words and was montarily stunned. Zhao Changhe was also planning to let her visit both the Yang Family and the Li Family, so it seed their father had the sa idea. She suddenly recalled her initial visit to the Yang Family to discuss the Lianshan Sword; perhaps it was not solely because of her experience with negotiating in Qinghe that it succeeded, but maybe, it was indeed due to the karma from a past life.
Zhao Changhe was saying, “Is it reliable to just send Yangyang? What if…”
Cui Yuanyong couldn’t help but laugh and cry, “With the current situation, unless the Yang Family wishes for their doom, where would they find the courage? Besides, Yangyang is not that critical; scheming to trick him to offend us severely would be foolish, and Yang Jingxiu is not an idiot.”
Seeing himself considered a re hostage that nobody wanted, Cui Yuanyang felt quite humiliated and stuck out his head to shout, “Maybe it’s precisely because I go that they won’t face doom! I’ll show you what a key figure is!”
Cui Yuanyong couldn’t help but laugh, “Yes, yes, you are indeed critical.”
Isn’t that crucial? If it wasn’t for taking you to Beimang back then, the Cui Family might be considering withdrawing from the world just like the Yang Family…
Cui Yuanyang hesitated and glanced at Zhao Changhe, who had sounded like he was planning to go to Central Pass, and even ntioned going together. Now if he went to the Yang Family, would it be out of the way?… Zhao Changhe, full of responsibilities now, probably didn’t have ti to visit the already surrendered Yang Family.
Zhao Changhe said, “Yangyang can go to the Yang Family first. I need to return to the Capital to check on the latest battle situation, especially regarding Ba Tu’s side, I don’t know if there have been any updates… We are currently not in a position to strategize over Central Pass. If the situation with Ba Tu is still manageable, I need to make a trip to Kunlun first.”
Cui Yuanyang was taken aback, “Go to Kunlun for what? To have them attack Central Pass too?”
“I want to ask Yuxu if his talking about cutting the dragon veins for the world is just lip service.”
…
As night fell, Zhao Changhe rushed toward the Capital, moving awkwardly.
Following by his side, Wuzhui twisted his head, utterly puzzled as he watched his master.
He had never seen soone who, having a horse, chose to lead the horse and fly instead—flying awkwardly, tiring, unpleasant to watch, and slow. He couldn’t figure out why.
But what surprised Wuzhui was that his master really managed to fly the whole way without falling.
However, it seed to take a huge toll, from Langya to the Capital his face was pale, drained of strength. If any divine demon attacked now, this fool would be dood.
Fortunately, as soon as the news from the Chaotic World Book about his distorted rear ca out, his presence was quite deterring in the short term; everyone weighed their actions carefully, and no one dared to provoke trouble easily. He arrived in the Capital smoothly, where the city was brightly lit, with the Light Cavalry patrolling everywhere, a clear state of martial law.
From ti to ti, people were seen being dragged into the Demon Suppression Departnt.
Hesitant for a mont, Zhao Changhe still decided to first visit the Imperial Palace.
Leading his horse just above the Palace, the stars suddenly flashed, brilliance fell, and a terrifying power smashed down upon him.
Zhao Changhe: “…”
When did they implent this defense array? It’s getting more and more mystifying. His magical Night Emperor Sword unsheathed, blocking above, and the mighty force from the star fall seed to falter, gradually dissipating.
Poor King Zhao returned triumphantly to the Capital, almost getting blown to bits by his own defensive array, barely suppressing the Night Emperor Array with the “Night Emperor’s Sword.”
“Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!” Guards from all sides rushed out, and upon seeing Zhao Changhe, hastily saluted, “Your Highness.”
Zhao Changhe waved his hand to indicate they could dispense with formalities, curious, “Where did this array co from?”
“It was set up a few days ago, specifically to defend against the Heavenly Vault, in case a divine demon attacks. There’s no such protection on the ground.” The guards, all elite mbers of the Four Symbols Sect, answered in detail. “Before Ye Leitu led his troops here yesterday, Your Majesty was already worried about a divine demon descending from the sky, but they didn’t co from above.”
Zhao Changhe nodded, Chichi was truly thorough. The barbarians or the Li Family really underestimated this young girl Emperor… He had never even dared to think of such a surprise attack while communicating and strategizing with Chichi. He thought the most likely scenario was a siege, but they really dared to make a light cavalry charge into the city, like marching to their death.
Turning his head, he saw Xia Chichi in a dragon robe standing in front of the hall, clearly extrely surprised by his sudden appearance, “You… how did you co back?”
Zhao Changhe said, “Worried about many things, let’s go inside and talk slowly.”
“Go inside…,” Xia Chichi bit her lower lip. “King Zhao, securing Qinghe single-handedly, retreating divine demons alone, flattening Langya with one arrow, strategizing over thousands of miles, and deciding the fate of the Capital. You’ve worked hard and indeed deserve a reward…”
The surrounding guards and maids all tilted their heads.
It sounded like a script of the Emperor taking off the armor for the general, too intense.
But it had to be admitted, the feats of Zhao Changhe were too legendary… Even now, people found it hard to imagine. He hadn’t taken a single soldier out of the city; upon circling back, the land was nearly transford.
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