Chapter 2235: Swallowing Thousands of Miles

The Qi Country’s three palaces vied for the dragon, grassland siblings competed for position, and the Jing Country’s East Palace remained vacant. The Jing Emperor, looking at his not-so-accomplished children and his exceptionally capable nephew, still hadn't made a choice for the succession.

The Chu Emperor’s various sons scrambled for the heir position; there was temporarily no crown prince, and the former crown prince was imprisoned.

The emperors of these hegemonic countries all seemed accustomed to holding power themselves. They always gave excellent children some hope but never too much. They were always releasing some rights, and yet at any time they were ready to take them back.

Among the world's six strong powers, only one, the Qin Country, had its East Palace determined early, and the position was firm as a mountain.

Ying Wu's crown prince position was one that no one could shake.

It wasn't that the Qin Emperor lacked excellent children, but Ying Wu's power was too far ahead.

He had already rooted deep and spread lush leaves, plundering all the nutrients, so much so that the grand Great Qin imperial family had no extra space to nurture another towering tree.

Today’s Ying Wu of Qin Country was extremely similar to the past Jiang Wuliang of Qi Country.

If Jiang Wuliang had not been deposed in the past, not imprisoned in the Qing Shi Palace, the later Chang Le, Hua Ying, Yang Xin, and Chang Sheng four palaces probably could not have risen.

He, Ying Wu, was a contemporary top-level true person, the first renowned figure in the West Border.

Among the Qin Ten Soldiers, the Great Qin imperial family controlled the Xiao Long and Tian Que armies.

Among them, the military power of the Xiao Long army was precisely in his hands.

The famous general commanding Chang Ping, Bai Dou, was personally promoted by him.

The current prime minister, Fan Si Nian, was his teacher.

His mother, the current Great Qin Empress, was a noble lady from the Great Qin famous clan, the Gong Yang clan.

The contemporary family head of the Gong Yang family, Gong Yang Pu, controller of the Qin Ten Soldiers' Fierce Tiger, had played with him since they were young until they grew up.

Of course, there was the most important point – he absorbed the lesson of Qi Country's deposed crown prince. Although he himself usually had many ideas, often singing against the emperor and "directly remonstrating and advising," on major state policies, he forever firmly supported his old man. He proclaimed himself the "Imperial Front Great General," which meant "Qin Emperor's blood blade."

In terms of literature and martial arts, in terms of military and politics, Ying Wu was the undisputed imperial family first.

He was also in reality, the current Qin Country's second real power figure, second only to the Qin Emperor.

His two older brothers above him didn't possess any particularly strong talents; this lifetime they only had wealth without substance – these were Ying Wu’s original words.

As for his younger brothers and sisters below him, before they even had time to grow up, he, Ying Wu, had already become the trend, with power tilting the court. Although they were all the emperor's bloodline, supreme and noble, they really had no way to contend.

Thus, even Gan Chang An, who came from an illustrious background and whose family even had a true monarch, behaved very respectfully in front of this imperial heir – general imperial princes and princesses might not even see Gan Chang An give face.

"I, the Lonely One, have many things to do on this trip outside the Great Wall." Jiang Wang asked directly, and Ying Wu also answered very heroically: "But before talking about those things, there are actually some words I want to say to True Person Jiang – previously, our fate was shallow, and I felt regret about it!"

Ji Zhao Nan saw his posture for a long speech and couldn't help but say: "Otherwise, why don the two of you sit down and chat? Standing like this makes us Qi people seem not too polite."

Ying Wu laughed heartily: "Instead, I, the Lonely One, see a hero and forget courtesy, my consideration was not thorough – shall we just sit down?"

He was asking Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang didn't lose courtesy and made a "please" gesture.

The crowd thus gathered around the fire and sat down.

This mountain cave had already been arrayed; it was still Gan Chang An who had personally arranged it. Jiang Wang wasn't skilled in this aspect, and Ji Zhao Nan, with a cold face, gained the right to be exempt from the work.

Although the array couldn't stop Ying Wu's arrival, hiding the movements inside the mountain cave was still no problem. So they lit the fire and roasted the meat.

As the heir of the vast West Extreme Empire, a descendant of heavenly nobility ranked on the list across the entire world, Ying Wu brought no guards, left the Great Wall alone, and came to the Shura's sphere of influence. This in itself was an expression of extreme confidence.

If the Shura clan knew that the Qin Country's crown prince had come to this side, it's only to be feared that the ten Shura kings would immediately kill their way over regardless of everything.

Killing one Ying Wu wouldn't shake the Great Qin's power, nor would it necessarily cause any unavoidable struggles and turmoil due to the vacancy of the crown prince. Just one thing – transmitting the Qin crown prince's head to the various borders – the Qin people certainly couldn't stay within the Great Wall.

Just this one thing was enough for the Shura clan to go mad.

Ying Wu appearing in Yu Abyss, he himself was a danger, an eye that would inevitably cause a world-shaking storm.

So, regarding Ying Wu's "great plan," Jiang Wang and Ji Zhao Nan were actually not interested. Even Gan Chang An had doubts in his heart – he wasn't a Cave True yet.

Divine Arrival should be playing with Outer Tower, sweeping Inner Mansion, kicking Teng Long with his foot, a cough collapsing a ground of wandering veins. How could he, merely a Divine Arrival, risk his life every day with this group of desperate true persons? Weren't other things more fun?

Ying Wu sat down; he had a natural leader's charisma. Casually sitting there, he was solemnly the center of the crowd, even the firelight gathering towards him.

He calmly turned his gaze, making eye contact with everyone present, seeming very respectful of their opinions, looking at them very seriously.

"I, Ying Wu, have always respected heroes. Cabinet Member Jiang and General Ji are figures I, the Lonely One, greatly admire!" He said, then smiled again: "Chang An is family, I won't praise him here."

There should have been laughter here to show a harmonious atmosphere and a good relationship between monarch and ministers.

But Ji Zhao Nan’s face was cold and unwavering, and Jiang Wang quietly waited for the follow-up.

So Gan Chang An said "ha ha" twice.

Ying Wu didn't show any annoyance; simply by making contact, he roughly understood the styles of these two people. Thus, he got straight to the point: "To not hide from everyone, I, the Lonely One, have a clear objective on this trip west outside the Great Wall. There is something I must obtain, and I need everyone's assistance."

This Great Qin crown prince acted very forthrightly, looking sincerely at Jiang Wang: "But I, the Lonely One, and Cabinet Member Jiang, have some knot in our hearts that needs to be untied, only then is full cooperation possible. This trip is not easy; if our hearts are not united, we definitely cannot succeed."

Jiang Wang did not deny the existence of the 'knot in their hearts,' even saying directly: "Which one does Qin Crown Prince mean?"

Ying Wu blurted out praise: "Cabinet Member Jiang, what I, the Lonely One, appreciate most about you is precisely this point! Sincere, forthright, no hiding, no covering up; a good man should be like this!"

The Great Qin crown prince’s praise was not false, but Jiang Wang just quietly looked at him.

Across the flickering firelight, Ying Wu and Jiang Wang made eye contact. He saw that within those seemingly peaceful eyes, there was neither joy nor sorrow. He understood this was a person full of honors and humiliations, with his own determination in his heart, absolutely not caring about others' praise or blame.

So Ying Wu said directly: "Our country's history regarding that public case is not obscure; history books clearly record it, and the world knows. I, the Lonely One, know that Cabinet Member Jiang and the descendant of the Embraced Emperor, Ying Zi Yu, have emotions like brothers."

Jiang Wang said: "Our emotions surpass those of brothers. Brothers can be severed, but I cannot lose Zhao Ru Cheng."

As a Tai Xu Cabinet Member, he should have been impartial, treating various countries and sides equally. But as "Jiang Third Brother," this specific person, he could not conceal his private feelings for Xiao Wu.

He was the kind of person who would stand behind Zhao Ru Cheng and be an enemy of Ying Wu. He did not conceal this point.

Ying Wu sighed: "In life, how many friends like this can one have? Zi Yu can also be considered without regret."

"He has many regrets," Jiang Wang said.

Ying Wu said: "Ying Zi Yu is truly innocent; his ancestors' loss of position is unrelated to him. He is in the imperial family and has great talent, yet he was born at an inopportune time. Fortunately, he is now a consort in the grassland; I hear the couple is affectionate and lives quite stably. Cabinet Member Jiang, if you mediate, and if he has the intention – I, the Lonely One, can make the decision to have him return to the Ying clan genealogy, with Great Qin as his backing. His father, grandfather, as well as He Xi County King Ying De Qing, who raised him in his childhood, I will all restore their reputations and ensure they receive sacrificial offerings. Everyone is of the same bloodline after all; being on opposite sides today is also somewhat regrettable. Xian Yang is the wanderer's home, welcome him to come back often to see."

The history of Qin Country was a messy account.

If one says that the year’s Xuan Emperor, Ying Zhang, did not gain the country righteously, his line has also ruled for many years. He was also a proper Great Qin clan member, a descendant of Ying Yun Nian.

And Qin Tai Zu, Ying Yun Nian, was still in the world, having just proven transcendence. He didn't express any opinion on this, tacitly approving the bloody competition among his descendants. What more could others say?

It was precisely after Ying Yun Nian successfully transcended in the Snow Domain, achieving the second great existence since the new beginning of the Dao Calendar, that the descendants of the Qin Embraced Emperor truly no longer posed a threat. No matter who, waving the banner of the Qin Embraced Emperor, no longer had any appeal.

But it was undeniable that the conditions offered by Ying Wu were quite sincere. Especially restoring the reputation of He Xi County King Ying De Qing, it undoubtedly admitted the Great Qin imperial family’s persecution of the Embraced Emperor’s line.

Jiang Wang said: "I gave a similar answer to Mister Man Jia in the Snow Domain – I am I, Zhao Ru Cheng is Zhao Ru Cheng. I can only choose to support him, but I cannot decide for him."

In the Dao Calendar 3919 at Guan He Platform, he, who once only wanted to hide his name and bury Zhao Ru Cheng, declared his identity and, with the divine ability Heavenly Emperor Sword, received an imperial audience with the Great Qin Emperor.

As his third brother, on that world stage, he couldn't say anything. One reason was that at that time, he represented Qi Country, not himself; the second reason was that at that time, whatever he said was meaningless.

But today, he had already won the right to "express."

Many people did not recognize this right, but they all finally had to use their lives to verify it.

Ying Wu looked at Jiang Wang, his tone gentle: "So I, the Lonely One, just ask you to mediate. I don't want to be an enemy of Zi Yu. Why should the hatred of ancestors extend to later generations? But the outcome still depends on Zi Yu's idea."

He shook his head again: "I, the Lonely One, also cannot deny that the court's methods towards the Embraced Emperor’s line were not gentle. Although it is said that throughout the dynasties, in various countries of the world, the struggles for the imperial position are all so cruel. But if Zi Yu has resentment in his heart and cannot relieve it, I, the Lonely One, can also understand."

He looked at Jiang Wang: "I, the Lonely One, aspire to six directions. Why can't I face the imperial family's past? I am just expressing my goodwill towards Zi Yu to you, Cabinet Member Jiang. My goodwill may not be accepted, but my attitude should be seen by you all."

This Great Qin crown prince was really a person hard to dislike.

Even if you had already preconceived opinions about him, and had hostility towards him based on your stance, you could still feel his heroic and open-minded, overbearing and confident nature.

Jiang Wang said: "Your Highness's attitude, Jiang Wang has seen. I will convey your words to Ru Cheng."

"That is sufficient," Ying Wu stretched out his hands to roast the fire. His hands were very large, his fingers very long, and the firelight flickered on the blue veins, giving a sense of power to grasp the world.

He slowly said: "There is still a second knot between us – Chu Huai State Duke treats you like a grandson, and you also treat him as an elder; your emotions are very deep. But the Huai State Duke's direct eldest grandson was precisely the one I ordered executed. The Huai State Duke's mansion should resent the Qin people, and Cabinet Member Jiang inevitably has a thorn in his heart as well. Is this correct?"

Jiang Wang pondered for a moment, then still said: "I cannot deny it."

"But thorns are thorns; they should not reach the degree of hatred," Ying Wu said. "Two armies fight, each for its country. Life and death are by fate, all depends on means. Battlefield matters end on the battlefield. If one day we meet on the battlefield, the Zuo family can kill me. Now that the war has stopped, the Huai State Duke hasn't come to the door. From ancient times, generals of all countries in the world have no hatred outside the battlefield. Don't you think so?"

Jiang Wang had to admit that Ying Wu’s words were forthright and each sentence had reason.

"Qin and Chu have national hatred; Jiang is alone in the world and cannot blame the Qin people. Bu Dong, Zhi Zhen, Chang An, Wei Yu, should also know my heart. Towards Your Highness, I of course cannot talk about a word like 'hate'," Jiang Wang said. "But I often reside in the Zuo mansion. Guang Shu often recalls his elder brother, the Eldest Princess misses her son, and the old duke cannot forget his eldest grandson. I see clearly and cannot remain unmoved. Qin Crown Prince is a world hero, supreme and noble; Jiang Wang admires you in his heart. But some things, since they have already happened, no matter the reason, cannot be changed. My path, I am destined not to walk with you."

Ying Wu sighed: "You are so close to the Zuo family. If there were no thorns in your heart towards me, I would instead not dare to believe you. Precisely this share of thorns makes you a true person. People have closeness and distance; they inevitably love themselves and then extend to others, relatives hiding for relatives; how can one be human without selfishness?"

He said again: "But at least now, we have this consensus – I, the Lonely One, greatly appreciate you, and you also have no hatred towards me. Since we do not talk about the word 'hate,' then there is a premise for cooperation. Rest assured, I, the Lonely One, do not want to ask you to help contend for the dragon; you do not need to walk with me."

He smiled: "Furthermore, that position does not need to be contended for. Just wait until my old father gets tired of sitting there and realizes that he cannot achieve the six directions, and has to pave the way for me. Then I will sit up."

These words were spoken plainly, yet were truly domineering.

What kind of grand strategy did the current Qin Emperor have? Grasping the world, aweing the hundreds, defeating strong Chu in the east, establishing the Great Wall in the west. Now the border troubles are all suppressed, a tiger viewing the human world. He has already brought the Great Qin Empire to an unprecedented prosperous period, vaguely already the second in the world, possessing the might to challenge the central Great Jing Empire.

Ying Wu, however, said that his old father had to pave the way for him.

Even an outsider like Ji Zhao Nan listened, his eyelids twitching.

Gan Chang An had his hands in his sleeves, looking dazed and foolish, as if he hadn't heard.

Ying Wu saw Jiang Wang's strange expression and laughed: "Misunderstanding! I said my old father cannot achieve the six directions as emperor, not questioning his old man's ability. How could he, who can teach me, not be an ancient and modern first-class emperor? It's just a pity that a hero still needs timing. In this current era, it is difficult for him to achieve – the Jing Country is old but not decayed, its might is still there. The sun rises from the east, Jiang Shu is an unprecedented hero lord. King's power suppresses god's power, He Lian Shan Hai changes the sky and earth. With these three, my father's ambition is hard to fulfill."

The Chu Emperor was currently displaying his majesty in the South Domain, the Jing Emperor held an army that had fought a hundred battles, and Li Country's Hong Jun Yan had been contending from the past until now.

These various factors, he actually did not mention.

He, with the identity of a Qin Country crown prince, commented on the world's monarchs. He thought the only obstacles to the current Qin Emperor achieving the six directions as emperor were the three he mentioned.

Truly a character who swallows ten thousand miles.

Those with aspirations in officialdom would find it hard not to be convinced by his ambition.

No wonder the Qin sons did not contend; who could contend with him?

Jiang Wang couldn't help but say: "If you say the current Qin Emperor finds it hard to achieve the six directions, where does Your Highness get his confidence? May I ask Your Highness – although you are talented in both literature and martial arts, a world hero, compared to the current Great Qin Emperor, in what place can you be stronger?"

Ying Wu smiled heroically: "The current Qin Emperor is not worse than me, the Lonely One, in anything, solely on one point, his father is not as good as my, the Lonely One’s, father. His father was unable to pave the road to the six directions as emperor for him. My, the Lonely One's, father, however, can pacify the river valley for me, paving down ten thousand miles of the Great Wall!"

He looked at Jiang Wang: "This is why my father cannot become emperor, but I can!"

"It is not that I, the Lonely One, can become the world, it is a thousand years of accumulation, generations of accumulated merits, finally coming to fruition, great fortune descending upon me, the Lonely One!"

His gaze moved away from Jiang Wang's body and again looked towards Ji Zhao Nan and Gan Chang An, his large hand flipping down, suppressing the flame by several inches: "Gentlemen, today the Great Wall has been established, both south and north are connected. We good men, how can we sit trapped here, waiting for achievements to come to our door?"