Urging the King to Kill His Son

Luo Cheng had never expected to meet his ancestor like this.

"A Cheng."

"Ancestor!"

"You're the first to meet me since A Su. You truly are outstanding, beyond anything I imagined."

A Su?

"Ancestor, do you mean our forefather Duke Wen?"

"Yes, him."

Luo Cheng could not stop trembling. The Sage King was a god whom every descendant of the Luo Clan worshipped, while Duke Wen was the example they aspired to follow.

Ji Zhao led him onward, and he followed closely. This world was illusory yet beautiful, filled with a sacred aura.

Perhaps this is Heaven's dwelling, Luo Cheng thought.

Then he saw rows upon rows of towering bookshelves, countless bamboo slips arranged upon them. When he looked at the labels, they were actually the history of the Luo Clan.

"Ancestor, could these be...?"

Ji Zhao glanced over and said, "You guessed correctly. The lives of every member of the Luo Clan are here, recorded at every moment."

In fact, there were not only the lives of Luo Clan members, but many other records as well. Such power beyond mortal reach left Luo Cheng profoundly shaken.

"A Cheng, if everything you're doing and striving for now were ultimately to vanish like smoke and clouds, would you still work this hard?"

Luo Cheng fell silent. Ji Zhao did not hurry him, passing the time by watching the beautiful scenery shift with every moment.

"The Mandate of Heaven shifts, and dynasties must eventually fall. Human strength has its limits, which is precisely why we must temper ourselves and press onward. I cannot see the future. I only wish to do what is before me well, with all the strength I have."

"A Cheng, you truly are remarkable. Go back. Do as you intend, and have no regrets."

Ji Zhao gazed at the mass of dark clouds on the horizon and frowned. Twenty years ago, those clouds had been thick with murderous energy, but after Luo State had shed its blood in Ying and Xu, much of it had dispersed.

During these years of Luo Cheng's rule, the dark clouds had continued to grow, yet their murderous energy had diminished considerably.

Where the Yi River and Luo River met, Luoyi stood quietly amid a vast plain.

Luo Cheng had served as chief minister of the Heavenly Office for twenty years. Throughout those twenty years, he had exhausted his mind and strength, attending to every matter personally.

The Royal Domain of Zhou State had flourished steadily, and Luo State's strength had begun to recover little by little. Yet the ruling clan's population had still not recovered, leaving a considerable hidden danger.

Luo Cheng put down the register of tribute presented by the feudal lords, looking deeply satisfied.

As the Royal Domain grew more prosperous by the day, the feudal lords treated the Royal House with increasing deference. Even the Marquis of Jin and the Marquis of Zheng had gradually begun to take their own positions seriously.

The quality of their tribute had improved as well. This virtuous cycle allowed the Royal House's outward strength to recover rapidly.

Although its land and population limited its potential for sustained warfare, it had considerable strength to bring to a single battle.

Luo Cheng had allied the Royal House with Chu State through marriage, drawn Qi State close through the Ji-Jiang Alliance, and formed an alliance between Jin, Luo, and Zheng to set the Ji feudal lords against those of other surnames.

This forced every feudal lord to rally around the Royal House to ensure that the others would not attack him en masse.

Over the years, aside from Fenghao, where war raged year after year and All Xia continued to fight the Rong People without respite,

the entire region east of Hangu Pass had gradually grown calm, even taking on a trace of peace and harmony.

So long as this momentum could be maintained until their military strength recovered to six armies, they could contact the feudal lords, advance into Fenghao, and retake Haojing.

"Duke of Luo, Chu State has destroyed another dozen or so Huai Yi tribes. The Marquis of Chu sent you a dispatch especially, along with his regards. There are now no Huai Yi tribes left south of Xi State."

The Royal House had bypassed the Hanyang States to grant land to Chu State, so Chu had ceased its attacks on the Land of Shen and Sui and turned to expanding westward, southward, and eastward instead.

The Huai Yi, in particular, had never recovered from their crushing defeat twenty years earlier. To Chu State, they were a choice morsel of fat meat.

Over these years, Chu State, Ying State of Ying—established on the former lands of Ying State and Xu State—and the two states of Wu and Wu-Yue had continually squeezed the territory in which the Huai Yi tribes could survive.

Ji Fu had few children, only two princes after all these years. But his queen, who came from Chu State, had borne Crown Prince Jin, his only legitimate son. With Chu State, Luo State, and Jin State all guaranteeing his succession, his claim to the throne was as firm as Mount Tai under normal circumstances.

Luo Cheng's only real regret was that Qin Ying, the Count of Qin's daughter, had failed to bear Ji Fu a prince. This had cost him a card with which to keep Qin State in check.

"Duke of Luo, this dispatch has just arrived from Jin State."

The messenger entered the hall. Luo Cheng took the bamboo slips and unrolled them. First came a lengthy greeting from the Duke of Jin, expressing admiration for all the hard work Luo Cheng had done over the years.

"There's more and more flattery these days." Luo Cheng sighed softly. As his power grew, even many feudal lords now chose their words with extreme care when speaking to him.

The Marquis of Jin briefly described the results of his campaigns against the barbarians living between the towns.

In the past, the feudal lords would never have sent such reports to the Royal Domain. Now, however, every matter concerning warfare, large or small, had to be reported there.

This was proof of the crown's authority.

At present, the territories controlled by Zhou State's various Marquisate States consisted chiefly of cities and the surrounding land, with roads linking one city to the next.

But between the cities, in places the roads did not reach, lay pockets of unclaimed land where many barbarians lived.

Thus, barbarians did not necessarily come from beyond the borders; they lived right beside them. These barbarians were not as powerful as the Huai Yi had once been, but some small states still could not cope with them.

There were simply too many of them, hiding beside forests and water sources and emerging from time to time to plunder.

What the states of All Xia were doing now was clearing out these barbarians little by little, then building towns and reclaiming farmland on the newly acquired land.

The Royal House's support for Jin State over the years had been highly effective. At a critical moment in particular, it had struck hard against the usurpations of a junior branch within Jin State, preventing internal turmoil.

This left the Duke of Jin both grateful and ashamed. Luo Cheng had specifically warned him back then, yet he had still allowed such a thing to happen.

Over twenty years, the land Jin State actually controlled had more than doubled. The barbarians between its towns had steadily dwindled, while its citizens and slaves had increased rapidly. For nearly ten years, no barbarians had taken the initiative to raid Jin's lands.

Under these circumstances, Jin State had repaid the Royal House generously. Over the years, thirty percent of the Royal House's tribute had come from Jin.

Luo Cheng took up his brush to reply.

"Duke of Jin, I have received your letter.

Eradicating the barbarians is the righteous duty of Zhou State's The Way of the King. That you walk this path brings great comfort to both the King and me.

Continue clearing them out, and do not relax for even a moment. The barbarians are like weeds beside the road: a moment's inattention lets them flourish. Give them no opportunity."

He finished the letter and sealed it within the bamboo slips, then was about to summon a maid.

Suddenly, pain stabbed through his chest. His vision went black, and his entire body toppled stiffly beside the desk.

The maid screamed, and the guards rushed over to examine him. These men were the most loyal Dare-to-Fight Warriors Luo Cheng had brought from Luo State.

Luo Cheng gasped for breath, clutching the captain's hand as he said haltingly, "Fetch the Son of Heaven. Bring the Son of Heaven here!"

He felt that he might not last. He had never expected disaster to strike so quickly. He had to give the Son of Heaven some instructions immediately, especially concerning the most important matter, which only the Son of Heaven could handle.

"Yes, my lord."

Luo Cheng's sudden collapse sent the entire Royal Palace into an uproar, like a basin of water poured into a pot of boiling oil.

Only moments later, Ji Fu hurried over. Upon entering, he saw Luo Cheng lying on the bed, his breath a mere thread, his face waxen yellow, with none of his former vigor. Ji Fu was genuinely kindhearted. Remembering Luo Cheng's patient teachings over the years, he burst into tears.

[Your family's political credibility has increased.]

"Duke of Luo!"

Hearing Ji Fu's voice, Luo Cheng forced his eyes open and tremblingly grasped his hand. Everyone else withdrew.

A trace of life suddenly returned to his waxen face. Forcing a smile, he said, "Your Majesty, I am going to meet the Sage King. I can no longer assist you. The world is a difficult place. From now on, you must walk your own path."

These words made Ji Fu's tears flow all the harder. Luo Cheng had sheltered him from wind and rain like a father.

Choking with sobs, he said, "Duke of Luo, you have come to this state for Zhou State's altars of soil and grain, for my realm. I truly do not know how I can repay you."

Ji Fu had once wanted to elevate Luo State to a duchy, but Luo Cheng had refused.

Luo Cheng said weakly, "King, the past cannot be reclaimed. I am about to depart. Before I die, there are several things you must remember. They all concern the survival of Zhou State.

Luo State is weak now and lacks the strength to aid the Royal House. Jin State and Qi State are its lifelines. If those two states fall, Zhou State will fall as well.

The key to Fenghao lies in Hangu Pass. As long as you hold the pass, you need not fear the states on the western frontier. It is a pity Qin Ying could not bear you a prince.

Chu State is your ally now, but its potential is immense. You must still keep a safeguard against it. The key to counterbalancing Chu lies in Ba-Shu and Ying State of Ying. Shen State, Sui State, and the others are merely dry bones in a tomb. They are no match for Chu.

Though these matters are crucial, they are not urgent. Once Luo Ren arrives in Luoyi, he will attend to them. But there is one matter of the greatest importance that I have not had time to handle. King, bring your ear close. Not a word of this must escape."

Ji Fu leaned close and said, "Speak, Duke of Luo. I am listening."

Luo Cheng said softly, "Prince An appears humble and courteous, but in truth he craves power and harbors a venomous snake in his heart. These past years, he has gathered men of talent and intelligence around him. I fear he has disloyal intentions.

I had intended to grant him a fief in Wu-Yue once he came of age, but I never expected my body to fail so soon.

When you leave here today, you must kill Prince An, or exile him immediately. Otherwise, he will surely become the root of calamity within the Royal House.

Only Crown Prince Jin's accession can secure the alliance between the Royal House and Chu State. Too many interests, too important to neglect, are tied to Crown Prince Jin. You must not take this lightly.

Unite All Xia and suppress the barbarians. This is our national policy. There must not be the slightest error."

Ever since returning from his meeting with his ancestor, Luo Cheng had pondered the matter tirelessly. He believed his ancestor would not have asked that question without reason. What could reduce everything he had accomplished to ashes?

There were many possibilities, but the likeliest was internal strife, enough to leave a flourishing dynasty unable to rise again for all eternity. Thus, he had always paid close attention to this danger.

Asking a father to kill his son was something he should never have said, even with the deep bond between him and Ji Fu. Yet at death's door, he could no longer hold himself back.

Naturally, Ji Fu was shocked by Luo Cheng's words. Prince An was his son too. How could a father simply kill a son who had committed no wrong?

Had anyone else said this, even his good temper would not have kept him from flying into a rage.

But looking at Luo Cheng's earnest expression, he nodded, just as he had for the past twenty years. "Duke of Luo, I understand."

Having given these instructions, Luo Cheng felt somewhat relieved. He reached out, removed his ring, and handed it to his wife, Luo Jiang. "I can no longer return to Luo State alive. This ring is the token of the Luo Clan's head. Place it in Ren'er's hands.

Ren'er will assist the Son of Heaven, and Yan'er will assist the Marquis of Chu. The Marquis of Qi is related to the Ji by marriage, and the Marquis of Jin by blood. Zhong Shu guards Ying Land and Xu's lands. With these five there, Zhou State's realm should be secure."

Luo Cheng was not worried about the ring being lost. It was a divine object; having Luo Jiang deliver it was merely a way to conceal the truth from others.

The ring contained countless books, not only histories and the genealogies of the various states, but also the crystallized wisdom written down by the scholars of the Royal Palace over these years. All of these could deepen the clan's foundations.

Ji Zhao came to his bedside. He had come to see this descendant of his on his final journey.

"Ancestor!"

Luo Cheng was deeply moved. His father had died full of bitterness, and even upon meeting their ancestor, had wanted only to receive a favorable appraisal.

Luo Cheng had no regrets in this life. He believed he had done everything within his power. With a trace of hope in his expression, he waited for his ancestor's praise.

Ji Zhao smiled and praised him. "A Cheng, you have done very well.

What you accomplished has exceeded my expectations. Since A Su, you have been the Luo Clan's most outstanding head."

Ji Zhao's praise was sincere.

With Luo Cheng's innate gifts, he should have been no more than a paperhanger patching over cracks. Merely keeping Zhou State functioning would have been no small feat.

Yet Luo Cheng had managed, through a series of maneuvers, to bring about the present situation and even help Ji Zhao obtain a top-grade, unique mystic-tier item.

He had also greatly enhanced the family's political credibility. Under his leadership, its prestige had risen to an unsurpassable height.

[Family reputation:

① Royal House: respect; ② royal clan: respect; ③ feudal lords: respect; ④ military: respect; ⑤ citizens: respect.]

Moreover, when the system later assessed his life, he would probably earn another mystic-tier item, along with a large number of fortune points. Such achievements had truly far exceeded Ji Zhao's expectations.

But the price he had paid was enormous too. It was not only his body, now a lamp whose oil had run dry. Luo State had suffered a great calamity as well, with an entire generation of the ruling clan's sons dying in war.

Over these years, Luo State had begun to contract, abandoning vast stretches of land and turning a blind eye as the surrounding feudal lords occupied them. It had had no other choice.

Hearing his ancestor's praise, Luo Cheng smiled happily. A single word of praise from his ancestor outweighed ten million words in the history books.

Ji Zhao was delighted as well. A descendant with good, though not supreme, aptitude had surpassed his limits and attained achievements beyond Ji Zhao's imagination. How worthy of celebration that was.

Although the Mandate of Heaven was hard to defy, was the Luo Clan not reversing it little by little as its descendants pressed forward one after another, accumulating fortune?

When the day of success arrived, he would be able to wield the strength of three thousand years of the Luo Clan and remake heaven and earth.

Luo Cheng coughed heavily twice. Still smiling, his arm fell limply, and his breathing ceased.

[Luo Cheng has passed away. Beginning assessment of Luo Cheng's lifetime achievements. Not a child of destiny. No Ancestors' Blessing. Surpassed his limits. Adjusting.

You have obtained the mystic-tier item: Nobody Card.]

[Mystic Tier · Nobody Card (Become a nobody!): Can be used on anyone. The target's presence will be drastically diminished. Even those most familiar with the target will be unable to notice them.]

Luo Cheng was not a child of destiny, so his achievements would be discounted somewhat. But he had surpassed his limits, which also merited a reward. Thus, the final assessment of his achievements was quite favorable.

The sheer potency of this card surprised even Ji Zhao. It was tantamount to erasing a person's existence outright.

Then Ji Zhao's gaze was drawn to the dark clouds. The moment Luo Cheng died, they began to stir.

The historian carved upon the bamboo slips, "The Grand Tutor, head of the Heavenly Office, Cheng, Marquis of Luo, passed away in the twentieth year. The King grieved deeply!"

Luo Jiang wept aloud, and Ji Fu sobbed loudly as well. Everyone burst into tears, and grief filled every heart.

Luo Cheng was given the posthumous name "Xuan."

Ji Fu held a magnificent funeral for him. He had truly wielded power over court and country. Leaving ability aside and speaking of power alone, he had possessed even more than his forefather Luo Su in his later years.

Luo Su had served as regent for only five years, whereas Luo Cheng, owing to Ji Fu's incompetence, had governed for twenty years, holding supreme power throughout.

What no one had expected was that Ji Fu, overwhelmed by grief, would catch a chill, never rise from his sickbed again, and die.

Prince An, whom Luo Cheng had warned him about on his deathbed, had not been executed!

Duke Xuan of Luo inherited the achievements of the Sage King and the virtue of Duke Wen. King Yi treated him as a father, and the feudal lords looked to him as their master. His virtue and authority were renowned far and wide. He campaigned against the Rong and revived Xia, forging alliances and covenants far and wide. In twenty years, the realm passed from darkness back into light. His unparalleled achievements are truly difficult to set down in writing. -Records of the Grand Historian, "House of Luo"

I suddenly thought of the instructions Guan Zhong gave Duke Huan of Qi on his deathbed. Duke Huan of Qi did not listen either. These rulers seem to like doing this. The words spoken at death's door are the most important, yet those are precisely the words they refuse to heed.