Chapter 1380
My name is Wang Mang, and I never expected this...
Chapter 1380 My name is Wang Mang, and I never expected this...
"Yao Guangxiao?"
Wang Mang abruptly sat up straight in his chair, the jade thumb ring in his hand falling onto the table with a "clatter" and rolling to the edge of the map.
His pupils contracted sharply. Triangular eyes? A black-robed monk? Yao Guangxiao?
These three keywords were like three thunderclaps, exploding in his mind.
As a seasoned time traveler, Wang Mang was extremely familiar with this name—the infamous "Black-Robed Evil Monk" in history, the chief strategist of Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) of the Ming Dynasty, who single-handedly orchestrated the Jingnan Campaign and helped Zhu Di rise from a prince to the emperor!
History books say he was "shaped like a sick tiger and had a bloodthirsty nature," and was most skilled at stirring up trouble. Although he was a monk, his mind was full of power struggles and conquests, making him a perfect representative of "Buddhist rebellion."
"Let him in!"
Wang Mang took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and gave the order in a deep voice.
He wanted to see what kind of trouble this top strategist in history was up to now, coming to this mixed-up Tianwu Continent.
A moment later, a monk dressed in black robes slowly walked into the study. He was thin and gaunt, with a pair of triangular eyes that revealed shrewdness and ruthlessness. It was Yao Guangxiao.
"This humble monk, Yao Guangxiao, greets Grand Secretary Wang."
He clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and spoke in a calm and even tone.
"Good heavens! It really is you! Black monk's robes, triangular eyes—this configuration is exactly as described in the history books!"
"Don't think I won't recognize you just because you've moved to another world. Aren't you that black-robed sorcerer monk who helped Zhu Di succeed in the Jingnan Campaign? Instead of properly reciting Buddhist scriptures, you're busy stirring up trouble and instigating rebellion. You're quite the rebellious monk!"
Wang Mang stared at Yao Guangxiao's face, growing increasingly alarmed, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Master Yao has come from afar, what brings you here?"
He outwardly maintained the decorum of a cabinet minister, and twitched his lips.
"This humble monk has come here only to offer the Grand Secretary a way out and to leave a glimmer of hope for the Great Ling Dynasty."
Yao Guangxiao narrowed his triangular eyes slightly and said calmly.
"A way out? A chance to survive?"
Wang Mang chuckled, sat back down in his armchair, and tapped the table with his fingers.
"Now, half of the Great Ling Dynasty's territory has been occupied by those three rebels, Liu Bang, Liu Xiu, and Liu Yu. Even Xuan Wushang, who was known as the Great Ling Dynasty's number one general, has been defeated by Tian Cangmang. You're telling me about a way out? Are you here to persuade Su Ye?"
"Your Excellency is indeed wise, guessing right away. I have come here today at the request of the Lord to offer you a strategy of alliances and counter-alliances—to mobilize all the remaining forces of the Great Ling Dynasty to hold back the rebel army led by Liu Bang. In this way, Great Ling can be preserved, and Your Excellency's power can be consolidated. Why not do it?"
Yao Guangxiao smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying.
Forming alliances? Raising a rebel army? Taking over the throne? Yao Guangxiao is as cunning as ever, his first words are always about rebellion!
But why did Su Ye, the powerful ruler of the Great Qian Dynasty, hire this great figure to work for him? Was Zhu Di not capable enough, and a more ambitious boss was hired instead?
Wang Mang leaned back in his chair, watching Yao Guangxiao speak eloquently, but his mind was already racing with a barrage of criticism.
My name is Wang Mang, and I never expected that I would time travel again!
Who would believe this? Back in the late Western Han Dynasty, I worked hard to carry out reforms, hoping to become a wise ruler who would be remembered for all time, but that idiot Liu Xiu ruined everything!
In any case, the battle of Kunyang involved less than 2 Han troops against 42 Xin Mang troops. Under such circumstances, who wouldn't say that they had the advantage?
But that kid was practically blessed with good fortune. He unleashed a powerful forbidden spell—Meteor Shower—and hundreds of thousands of soldiers vanished in an instant. I never understood how a battle could summon meteors.
What kind of cheat code is this?! Is this even reasonable? Are they even going to stop acting?
You've lost all sense of shame, you sore loser!
After Liu Xiu, that scoundrel with no martial ethics, led his men into Chang'an and killed me, I thought my life was over. Even with my eyes closed, I was thinking that in my next life I must be far away from him.
When I opened my eyes again, wow, the map had changed!
At first, I thought it was a typical ancient time travel story. I thought that with my knowledge that was two thousand years ahead of its time, I could carry out another "Wang Mang reform" and maybe unify the world, making up for the regrets of my previous life.
Before I could even put my skills to good use, I discovered that something was wrong with the world—everywhere there were warriors with superhuman strength and masters of internal energy who could split mountains with a single slash and shoot through clouds with a single arrow. My limited historical knowledge and reform plans were as worthless as paper in the face of absolute force!
Fortunately, who am I, Wang Mang? A man who initiated nationwide reforms and became emperor! My adaptability is top-notch! When in a new place, I'll just start anew!
With my (self-proclaimed) political wisdom that was two thousand years ahead of its time, and the foresight of a time traveler (though it didn't come in very handy), I climbed up step by step with the help of my family (which was the main factor), and managed to become a member of the Da Ling cabinet, holding half of the power to appoint and dismiss officials, which was quite influential.
Holding real power, he originally intended to develop peacefully and wait for the right opportunity to cause trouble, but who knew that the peaceful days would not last long before news of the uprising broke.
When I heard the names of the rebel leaders, I almost spat out blood—Liu Bang, Liu Xiu, and Liu Yu? How could these three possibly be together?!
I won't even mention Liu Xiu, that scoundrel. After all, I've already transmigrated. As my old rival, it's not unacceptable that we transmigrated together to form a "karmic entanglement."
But who are Liu Bang and Liu Yu anyway?!
One was a rogue emperor at the end of the Qin Dynasty, and the other was a ruthless character who had killed Huan Xuan, destroyed the Southern Yan, and was known as the "First Emperor of the Southern Dynasty"!
The key point is that he wasn't even from the same era as Liu Bang and Liu Xiu!
These two are separated by hundreds of years in history, so how did they end up in the same era and even team up with Liu Xiu to rebel?!
I was wondering if these three would start fighting amongst themselves if they got together? Liu Bang was a cunning old rogue, Liu Xiu was incredibly lucky, and Liu Yu was a ruthless man who didn't blink an eye when he killed people. Could they possibly be on the same page?
Reality gave me a resounding slap in the face—not only did they not fight amongst themselves, they even became sworn brothers!
Liu Bang was the eldest, Liu Xiu the second, and Liu Yu the third. Together they were known as the "Three Brothers of Daling Rebellion," and their army swept through the government forces, causing them to suffer repeated defeats.
This is like asking Qin Shi Huang and Tang Taizong to become sworn brothers, or asking Zhuge Liang and Wang Anshi to start a business together—it's utterly absurd!
I seriously doubt that the Time and Space Administration Bureau of this world is just for show, otherwise how could such an outrageous mix of history appear?
What devastated me even more was that, after inquiring through various channels, I discovered that the absurdity of this world far exceeded my imagination!
In the easternmost part of the Dayong Dynasty, there was a man named Xiang Yu, who was strong enough to lift a tripod. He wielded the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd and swept across the Jiangdong region of the Dayong Dynasty. Yes, he was the Chu Overlord who committed suicide at the Wujiang River!
However, in this life, he seems less impulsive and even knows how to listen to Fan Zeng's advice, which completely overturns my understanding of him.
The Qin Dynasty in the west was ruled by Emperor Ying Zheng!
The First Emperor, who unified the six kingdoms and burned books and buried scholars alive, actually traveled through time. He even established a centralized government, with Meng Tian and Li Si assisting him. His Black Ice Guard's spies were spread throughout the land, making him incredibly powerful.
Then there's Zhu Yuanzhang from Luzhou, the Hongwu Emperor who came from a cowherd background. He actually led Xu Da and Chang Yuchun to establish a separatist regime, and it's said that he even fought fiercely with Li Shimin.
Li Shimin? That's Emperor Taizong of Tang, who ushered in the prosperous reign of Zhenguan!
The most crucial thing is that this "Asian governor, the strongest carbon-based life form on Earth in the 7th century" actually brought along his even more beastly younger brother, Li Yuanba, from the novel!
Are you sore losers? Can't we even play anymore?!
And then there's Ye Wuhen, who, although not a historical figure, had Lü Bu under his command!
That's right, Lu Bu, the traitor who served three masters! He's the fierce man who wielded the halberd and was known as "Lu Bu among men and Red Hare among horses"!
Now that you've become the vanguard of the Night Fury, charging into battle every day, all I can say is that you're really brave, Ye Wuhen. With Lu Bu's fickle nature, aren't you afraid he'll sell you out one day?
The most outrageous thing is that there is some "Soaring Eagle" Amur on the grassland, and Liu Bang's three scoundrels have also gained a new one, Tian Cangmang, who is at the peak of Gang Qi. These are characters that I have never heard of, but their strength is actually able to compete with Xiang Yu and Li Yuanba, who are beasts at the peak of Gang Qi!
(End of this chapter)