Chapter 434 - 290: Martial World Pariah and the Grand Death Spy Plan (15,000-Word Special)
In the hall, there was a moment of silence.
Qin You stared intently at Rong Yichu and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Rong, aren’t you worried that I might kill you right now?"
Rong Yichu chuckled lightly, leisurely took a sip of tea, and said, "Does Lord Qin really think that a student capable of seeing through Lord Yang’s decades-long assassination plan would make such a fundamental mistake?"
Rong Yichu slowly put down the teacup, looked at Qin You, and said calmly, "Today, I’ve come to see Lord Yang purely to pay him a visit, but meeting you, Lord Qin, is for negotiation. My lord is already entangled in the situation and cannot withdraw. If Lord Qin cannot give me a satisfactory outcome, then you can understand that my visit today is essentially a threat.
If I die, the assassination plan shatters, and the opportunity you’ve waited forty years for is ruined. If I’m not satisfied, then Lord Qin will have to wait a few more years, until my lord can possess the foundation to weather the storm and then proceed. However, while I can afford to wait, it’s uncertain whether Lord Qin or the assassination plan can afford it."
Qin You slightly narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
Yang Yuzhi sighed gently and said, "Mr. Rong, my assassination plan originally did not include Gu Zhan; or rather, from the beginning until now, it’s Gu Zhan who repeatedly intruded, and I really didn’t intend to manipulate him."
"I know," Rong Yichu said. "In Linjiang City, my lord was the variable. Without him, it could have been Gu Chuan or someone else; it didn’t matter who it was. Even several Noble Families in Linjiang City were possible candidates. My lord just suddenly appeared and unwittingly entered into your plans, Lord Yang.
As for Yunxi, you couldn’t have predicted that my lord would rise so quickly. Under normal development, my lord’s reputation could have been as a notable Great Cultivator at this time, which would already be impressive. Who could have foreseen that he would possess the strength to stir the winds and clouds?"
Yang Yuzhi sighed and said, "Indeed. If I had known that Gu Zhan would be so extraordinary, I wouldn’t have let him enter Yunxi in the first place. Initially, I thought Yunxi had a few years left, and Gu Zhan could use Yunxi as a springboard to reach the Capital City.
Unexpectantly, his entry into Yunxi accelerated its turmoil by half, and he quickly became a major power, once again surprising me by jumping into the fray. His status is too high to avoid anymore."
Rong Yichu nodded and said, "Therefore, I want Lord Qin to provide an outcome that allows my lord to leap from the chessboard and become a player in this fierce and unpredictable game."
Qin You furrowed his brow and said, "State your conditions."
Rong Yichu said slowly, "A marquisate and the rank of Grand General."
Qin You said in a deep voice, "What marquis, what general?"
Rong Yichu said slowly, "Marquis Yun, Grand General!"
"Impossible!"
Qin You slapped the table and said, "Mr. Rong, don’t you think your demands are outrageous? Even during the Cyan Gorge Covenant, the Court only granted some empty titles and positions. Even Sword King City was only given a count’s title and local positions; it’s impossible to grant a marquisate or a position of real power, and even less so, unrestricted military power!"
Rong Yichu slowly shook his head and said, "These are my demands, and I cannot retreat. Apart from this, anything given by the Court will not let my lord evade the upcoming turmoil."
Yang Yuzhi poured a cup of tea for Rong Yichu and said, "Mr. Rong, currently, Gu Zhan holds local office as the Inspector of Canglan Dao, wielding the power of the Military Garrison Office, with a military quota of twenty thousand..."
Rong Yichu directly interrupted, "Lord Yang, I’ve come from Jixia Academy and am the Seventeenth Master of the Academy’s Back Mountain, holding the direct power to stand before the Emperor. I’m well aware of the Court’s ways, so don’t think to deceive me with them.
An Inspector, while a local position with a high grade, truly holds no real use in the Xia Kingdom today. As for the twenty thousand military roles you mentioned, they are local troops with various constraints that must be locally supported, no different from militia, lacking Court establishment or resources, and can be dissolved at the command of the Court at any time.
Once Yunzhou is pacified, the positions and powers my lord currently holds will, even against Beidou Bang, eventually amount to nothing, given the precarious situation in Yunzhou. How should my lord protect himself? By becoming a lackey under the Noble Families and Clans? You know my lord; this is entirely impossible."
Qin You narrowed his eyes, speaking coldly, "Listening to Mr. Rong, does Gu Zhan intend to declare himself king? Does he desire to oppose the Court? As citizens, shouldn’t we comply with the Court’s arrangements? Why does he need so much power?"
Rong Yichu sneered and said, "Listen, Lord Qin, just listen to yourself. Such a condescending attitude; it’s signature behavior of those born into prestigious families, unchanged.
Who is my lord? He is a hero who dares to wield a blade amidst an army, and one of the largest Martial World leaders in Yunzhou today, potentially ranking among the top three of Yunzhou’s greatest experts!
Nevertheless, Lord Qin You, you maintain a condescending stance. It’s not your fault but the inherent rules accepted by those like you, from esteemed families, detached from the Human World, on the imperial court. Regardless of how strong a Martial World expert might be, in your eyes, they’re just brave fools.
Let’s see; as Yunzhou nears stabilization and the Xia Kingdom regains its former glory under you, Lord Qin, and Lord Yang, figures of noble heritage, how do you feel the court officials and prestigious families will treat my lord, seen by you as merely reckless and valiant?"