CHAPTER 770: CHAPTER 89: IN THE CAPITAL, KINGS MEET

Ji Zichang looked at the young Taoist with the gentle smile, and for a moment, his mind somewhat seized up, simply because the sweeping tides of change in the world and even the future direction of it all weighed heavy on his shoulders.

He was just over thirty years old, having spent several days in withered contemplation. As a member of the Imperial Family, the ruler of Central State, from his position, he should choose the first Imperial Decree, to stitch and mend this tattered world and facade as much as possible.

But it seemed as though there was a fire in his own heart.

A chilling air burned his liver and lungs, making him feel uncomfortable inside, desiring to tear apart the ropes that were increasingly binding him, almost to the point of suffocation, which was why he had written the second Imperial Decree.

He was struggling between these two Imperial Decrees.

Originally, he wanted to inquire with Gongyang Su Wang.

He had already made it to the doorstep of Gongyang Su Wang, but then scoffed at himself with a laugh, "This is nothing more than shunning the responsibility for the consequences of making a decision, casting it onto the one making the suggestion."

"Such a matter, only I can make the final decision."

"At this time of change in the world."

"A ruler should not listen to the opinions of others now. The possible sin of losing the country should fall only on my shoulders, as I am the only one qualified to bear it."

The world seemed to part in two directions in front of the Chi Xiao Sword, one path would leave Marquis Qin Wu behind, who would not willingly accept his fate. He would depart from here, completely rupture ties with Central State, but Marquis Qin Wu, without Central State’s nominal support, would face a difficult time for a while.

But he should rise again.

The decline of Central State would be slower than now by several years.

The second Imperial Decree, on the other hand, would grant this Marquis Qin Wu the one thing he lacked the most, "name." Commander of the Army, an empty title in Central State’s hands, unable to provide any support, but in the world, the weight of "name" was also tremendously heavy.

Grand Marshal, Commanding the World’s Army.

The legend of the Red Emperor had not yet completely vanished; with this title, the common-born Li Guanyi would possess the legitimacy to suppress all disloyal subjects, scholars could not denounce him, and the common folk should recommend him with all their might.

The armies of Chen Country and Ying Country should, in name, be under his control!

With this title, Li Guanyi would become a figure in the hearts of the people of the world, immune to attack, for to do so would signify rebellion.

In this time of chaos, Li Guanyi and his Jiangnan would become an undesirable target for attack for a short period.

Even if the heroes, overlords, and great generals of Chen Country and Ying Country were not restrained by this "name," their ordinary soldiers and Colonels would face the pressure of an ill-founded campaign.

And the Qilin Army would have a terrifying moral bonus for "suppressing the disloyal and punishing the rebellious," with the residual might of the Red Emperor from eight hundred years ago transforming into an intangible, yet inevitable, awe.

This is an intangible but colossal force of public opinion.

Yet in the annals of history, no warlord or great general who reached this juncture failed to rebel; even if they didn’t rebel themselves, they would be swept up by the forces of the world, seize government affairs, and dethrone emperors.

But this would give the Red Emperor’s lineage a modicum of dignity.

To let the world fall into chaos, allowing the Red Emperor’s lineage’s last Marshal to subdue the world, defeat Chen Country, defeat Ying Country, and then let the legend of eight hundred years burn out in a blaze.

The legend of the Red Emperor began with the sword and ended with fire.

But even with such heroic spirit, making such a decision is not something ordinary people can do.

And while Ji Zichang was alone in this melancholy, he encountered Li Guanyi.

At first, Ji Zichang even suspected that the young man had come to find him on purpose. Having seen much as an Emperor, but then immediately he realized.

He recognized Li Guanyi, but Li Guanyi did not recognize him.

Li Guanyi had become famous when his portraits had been sent to the Imperial Palace of Central State.

But no painter in the world would dare to distribute portraits of the Great Emperor of Central State.

Even if offered riches and beauties, it would be in vain.

One should not underestimate the bonds between painters and their entire clans.

Moreover, even if someone were to paint an Emperor’s portrait, it would lose the real person’s characteristics, displaying instead the Emperor’s divine majesty, which has many differences from the real person. Furthermore, Ji Zichang, who had been withered in contemplation for seven or eight days due to enormous pressure, was quite unkempt.

Without speaking of Li Guanyi who had never seen him, even officials who attend court, especially those in the back rows, probably wouldn’t recognize him either. So, he smiled and asked, "Yes, are you also a disciple of the Academy?"

He lifted his wine jug and said, "Would you like some? It’s top-notch fruit wine."

This wine had a taste, but it wasn’t easy to get drunk on.

Ji Zichang didn’t even have the qualification to indulge in a drunken stupor.

It was just a polite gesture.

But Li Guanyi, who had roamed the world with Murong Qiushui since he was young, didn’t know what politeness was. Upon receiving an invitation, he wouldn’t be particular, sitting down next to Ji Zichang, reaching out to grab the rather expensive wine jug, tilting his head back, and pouring.

A stream of wine flew, entering his throat.

Li Guanyi’s eyes lit up.

Sss... hey, this wine!

It’s so much stronger than Mr. Lei’s Monkey Wine!

After gulping down a large mouthful and wiping his mouth, he noticed that the ragged, unkempt fellow sitting there, still dumbfounded, his hand stretched out, maintaining the gesture of passing the wine jug.

Ji Zichang’s thoughts came to a standstill.

No, I was just being polite.

You’re actually drinking it!

Li Guanyi shoved the wine jug back into Ji Zichang’s hands and said cheerfully, "Great wine, I’ll give you a jug another day. Today..." Li Guanyi glanced at his own wine jug on his waist, then averted his gaze, "today, it’s not convenient."