The Strongest and Most Powerful Shall Have It!

That day, in the open space outside a grand residence, a group of black-clad men wearing ghost masks silently set up a cordon before beginning to dig.

What they were digging was a huge pit.

A pit for burying people!

"Daddy, there's a group of masked people outside digging a huge pit!"

A delicate-looking little girl of about six or seven ran swiftly into the courtyard.

Hearing his daughter's childish voice, a somewhat elderly man followed the sound over. As he picked up the little girl, he could not help but frown slightly.

This man was Wang Shifan, the former Pinglu Jiedushi. His current post was General of the Imperial Guard of Great Liang, a title Emperor Zhu Wen had personally bestowed upon him not long ago.

But though the position sounded lofty and impressive, it held no real power!

If anything happened, he could only let others slaughter him as they pleased.

A trace of melancholy flashed through Wang Shifan's eyes, though he concealed it well enough that his daughter did not see.

"Second Brother, something's wrong!"

As he was lost in thought, his third brother, Wang Shihui, rushed through the residence gates. He opened his mouth to cry out, but Wang Shifan quickly signaled for him to stop.

"Go play with your mother. Your father and uncle need to discuss something." Wang Shifan set his youngest daughter down, smiling as he patted her shoulder.

After watching a servant lead his daughter away, Wang Shifan finally looked at Wang Shihui. "Third Brother, what has you so flustered?"

"Second Brother, those people outside are from the Xuanming Cult!" Wang Shihui said fearfully. "Do you know what they've come here for?"

Wang Shifan's face remained taut for a while before he finally sighed. "Of course I know. They've come for nothing more than to wipe out the Wang clan!"

"Second Brother, if we had even a sliver of hope, would you seize it?"

"You mean the Huan Yin Workshop?" Wang Shifan glanced at Wang Shihui.

"As expected, nothing escapes your eyes, Second Brother." Wang Shihui gave a bitter laugh, then said, "I'll be honest with you. Two of the Nine Heavens Holy Concubines from Qi State's Huan Yin Workshop have contacted me. If you are willing, Second Brother, they will escort you to Qi State."

"Though I, Wang Shifan, am no great man, I have revered Confucianism all my life and treated worthy men with respect. What Qi State values is nothing more than the reputation of the Wang clan, so that it may better win over the scholars of the realm."

As Wang Shifan spoke, he shook his head to himself. "The Huan Yin Workshop may protect one person, or ten people—but can it keep the more than two hundred members of my Wang clan safe? I cannot abandon them and flee for my own life. Besides, even if I escaped to Fengxiang, my circumstances might not be any better than they are now."

Wang Shihui tried to persuade him again. "Second Brother, as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn. Staying here will only mean death."

"Without military power in hand, the green hills are already gone."

By then, Zhu Youning had already arrived in Luoyang at full gallop with his elite cavalry.

He had, in fact, long since made a special study of Wang Shifan.

Wang Shifan was not a man content with his lot—or rather, no one in his clan was.

How could those content with their lot possibly carve out a place for themselves in such troubled times?

The Wang clan to which Wang Shifan belonged was a great aristocratic family, numbering more than two hundred members.

Wang Shifan's father was named Wang Jingwu. In his early years, he drove out An Shiru, the Pinglu Jiedushi, and assumed the post himself, becoming a regional warlord. Later, he rendered meritorious service in suppressing Huang Chao's rebellion and was appointed Chancellor.

Afterward, Wang Jingwu died, and Wang Shifan succeeded him as Pinglu Jiedushi at the age of only sixteen.

Seeing that Wang Shifan was still young, merely a boy, Emperor Zhaozong of Tang dispatched Cui Anqian, Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince and Zhongwu Military Governor, to Qingzhou. Cui Anqian coordinated from within and without with Zhang Chan, the Governor of Di Prefecture, a rebel general under Wang Shifan, intending to remove Wang Shifan from his position as Pinglu Jiedushi.

Yet Emperor Zhaozong of Tang had not expected that although Wang Shifan was young, he was decisive and ruthless. He first executed the rebel general Lu Hong, then put several of the other conspirators to death. After that, he personally led a great army against Di Prefecture, captured and executed Zhang Chan, and left Cui Anqian barely escaping with his life before fleeing back to Chang'an.

Only after Emperor Zhaozong of Tang heard news of Cui Anqian's defeat did he have no choice but to appoint Wang Shifan as Pinglu Jiedushi.

What followed was Emperor Zhaozong of Tang's death and the fall of the Tang Dynasty. Wang Shifan raised the banner of restoring the Tang Dynasty and launched troops against Zhu Wen, only to be defeated and surrender.

It sounded rather ironic, did it not?

Like the other warlords of the time, Wang Shifan was not loyal to the Tang Dynasty, but he was skilled at using the banner of restoring it.

In those war-torn years, such regional lords were everywhere. Did any warlords truly wish to defend the Tang Dynasty?

Of course not!

Take King of Qi Li Maozhen. To call him a minister loyal to the Son of Heaven would be utterly absurd.

How had Li Maozhen become King of Qi?

He had fought for it!

And whom had he fought?

The Son of Heaven at the time—Li Ye, Emperor Zhaozong of Tang!

In the second year of Jingfu, Emperor Zhaozong of Tang feared Li Maozhen's growing power and sent troops to attack him, only to be defeated instead. Li Maozhen then led his forces into Chang'an to demand an explanation, allowing his soldiers to pillage extensively and burn many palaces to the ground. In the end, through Han Jian's mediation, Li Maozhen was granted the title of King of Qi and appointed Minister over the Masses, after which he withdrew from Chang'an.

The Son of Heaven? What a joke!

Is the Son of Heaven born to it? Whoever has strong troops and sturdy horses becomes him!

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun!

Zhu Youning understood this principle deeply.

That was why he had specially brought a thousand elite Longxiang Army cavalrymen on this journey. So long as they did not encounter an expert of the Great Heavenly Rank, these thousand elite soldiers would be enough to handle anything.

Though Wang Shifan had intended to keep it hidden, the Wang clan still learned that the enormous pit Xuanming Cult was digging outside the estate was a burial ground prepared for over two hundred members of the Wang family.

Zhu Wen actually intended to bury the entire Wang clan alive?

At that thought, the members of the Wang clan immediately panicked.

Even Wang Shifan himself was somewhat shaken.

He had spent his life on the battlefield and was not afraid of death. But when his gaze fell upon his innocent, tender young daughter, her face brimming with happiness, his eyes filled with sorrow.

Wang Shifan had gained a daughter late in life. His greatest wish now was simply for his child to grow up safely.

"Lord Wang, I have always respected men like you. But an imperial order cannot be defied. Please accept your death!"

To prevent Wang Shifan from escaping, Zhu Wen had specifically sent Jiang Renjie, foremost among Xuanming Cult's Five Great Yama Kings, to keep watch. That was why Jiang Renjie was in Luoyang.

Hearing this, Wang Shifan cupped his hands and said, "All men must die eventually, especially the guilty. But I ask that the Benevolent Saint Yama King grant us permission to share one final family meal."

For some reason, Jiang Renjie also felt a surge of sorrow. "Very well. This Yama King will give you another two hours."

With a wave of his hand, he led the Xuanming Cult assassins away from Wang Shifan's residence.

Not long after Jiang Renjie withdrew from Wang Shifan's residence, he received word that Zhu Youning had arrived in Luoyang.

Truthfully, Zhu Youning's personal entry into Luoyang with a thousand elite cavalrymen had been an imposing spectacle. Few people in the city had failed to hear of it.

Thus, Jiang Renjie led his men to meet Zhu Youning.

"Jiang Renjie pays his respects to Prince An!"

The moment Jiang Renjie saw Zhu Youning, he clasped his fists in salute.

"So, it is the Benevolent Saint Yama King of Xuanming Cult." Zhu Youning remained seated on horseback without dismounting and immediately asked, "Where is Wang Shifan?"

"He is still at his residence."

"It is good that he is not dead yet." Zhu Youning let out a soft breath. "His Majesty has already ordered that Wang Shifan be pardoned of his capital crime. Take me to see him at once."

Jiang Renjie was visibly surprised by this.

What surprised him was not only Zhu Wen's order, but Zhu Youning's reaction as well.

After all, Zhu Youning had nearly died at Wang Shifan's hands. To Zhu Youning, Wang Shifan was practically an enemy.

An enemy had been pardoned of his crimes; he should have been furious. Yet judging by Zhu Youning's expression, he actually seemed somewhat pleased?

Though he pondered it inwardly, Jiang Renjie still led Zhu Youning to Wang Shifan's residence.