The world is like a prison, my body is holy

On that day, with Wang Wen's support, Tang King Chai Shen dispatched a group of eunuchs to break through the imperial guards' blockade and summon all the civil and military officials in the capital who were capable of influencing the court situation to the palace to discuss how to clean up the mess.

When Chai Shen sent out the palace eunuchs, they all returned empty-handed without exception.

Not a single civil or military official was willing to enter the palace at this time.

Most of the eunuchs who left the palace were unable to even knock on the doors of the civil and military officials.

Wang Wen was surprised to hear the result and looked at Chai Shen with a puzzled expression, wondering if this kid was so unpopular in the court.
But Chai Shen was quite calm about the outcome; he had expected it long ago…

He knew that there were unwritten rules governing the establishment of an heir apparent and the succession of a new emperor in the imperial court.

What unspoken rules?

Of course, it's all about the interests of the bigwigs in the government.

It can be said that behind every new emperor who has secured the throne, there is a complex and enormous interest group.

Where do these complex and massive interest groups come from?

Of course, it gradually took shape through repeated struggles and exchanges of interests.

Just like during the reign of Emperor Hongtai, there was the Crown Prince's civil service group, the Prince of Qin's military group, and the Prince of Qi's financial group...

These interest groups, closely united around the heirs to the throne, are not only the foundation of these heirs in the court, but also their weapons and armor in their struggles against other heirs.

Regardless of who ultimately succeeds in ascending the throne, he will inevitably bestow lavish rewards upon these former officials who once championed his cause, using them as the foundation of his rule to create a court situation unique to him.

This is what is meant by "a new emperor, a new court".

This is why, despite the brutal nature of the struggle for succession, so many brilliant civil and military officials throughout history have flocked to it.

Of course, it's because the potential profits are huge enough that a single successful gamble can propel one to great heights, surpassing the accumulated wealth of others over several or even dozens of generations!

In a sense, the new emperor who survived the brutal struggle for the throne and the interest groups under his command can be considered to have achieved mutual success.

This is also why, even though they are all imperial heirs, some imperial heirs have civil and military officials running around to promote them as soon as they are born, and all sorts of flowery and virtuous words are spread throughout the court and the country as if they were free.

Some imperial heirs, even when they reached the age of thirty, were still virtually invisible in the court and among the people. Not only did the powerful ministers and officials not take them seriously, but even some influential eunuchs dared to give them attitude!
Tang Emperor Chai Shen was just such an insignificant figure.

He had no capable civil or military officials in the court.

He doesn't represent anyone's interests...

Now, he's stepping forward in his capacity to oversee the overall situation, summoning the high-ranking officials to the palace for a meeting. In their eyes, this is tantamount to: 'This kid wants to get something for nothing from me?'

None of us have met before, we don't even know what kind of person you are, you haven't given us high-ranking positions and generous salaries or the first cup of pre-Qingming tea in spring, and you haven't even made any promises to promote us in the future. You just want us to build a ladder for you to ascend the throne.

Isn't this just trying to get something for nothing?
Who would be willing to come?

Which of the civil and military officials who were capable of influencing the situation in the court was not an exceptionally intelligent and powerful figure of the time?
Even in a power struggle where there are real, tangible benefits, these people wouldn't easily get involved...

Not to mention that he didn't even get a single contribution from the founding of the dynasty and got everything for free!

……

Wang Wenyu was indeed unaware of the intricacies involved.

But after Chai Shen gave him a few pointers, he quickly realized what he meant and jokingly said, "Then, as the biggest 'minister who followed the dragon,' you must give me a high-ranking official position, right?"

Chai Shen nodded without hesitation and said, "Whatever the General requests, I will grant it!"

Wang Wen scoffed silently and said with a smile, "Do you know what official title your elder brother bestowed upon me after he took office?"

Before Chai Shen could answer, he added, "The Pacification Commissioner of Huainan."

Chai Shen was stunned for a few seconds, then came to his senses and asked incredulously, "A real seal?"

Wang Wen patted his shoulder and stood up: "What do you think?"

The two light slaps made Chai Shen tremble all over.

He knew this was Wang Wen's warning to him...

Wang Wen stretched leisurely and asked softly, "Which official speaks the loudest in the court?"

Chai Shen subconsciously replied, "The first one I would recommend is Prime Minister Cai Jing."

"Cai Jing?"

Wang Wen stretched out a finger and gently scratched his temple, thinking to himself, "This name sounds familiar... Is there an official in the court named Gao Qiu? That guy is quite good at playing football."

Chai Shen thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "I have never heard of this person."

Wang Wen thought he might be overthinking things, and it might just be a coincidence of names. However, just to be on the safe side, he still asked, "What is the reputation of this Prime Minister Cai?"

Chai Shen looked at him with suspicion, pondering how to answer.

Liu Qi, who was serving nearby, noticed something, bowed and stepped forward, and replied in a soft voice, "Reporting to the General, the people say that Prime Minister Cai is a treacherous minister."

"Then let him."

Wang Wen nodded indifferently and asked, "Do you know the way to his house?"

Liu Qi nodded, about to speak, when Wang Wen put a hand on his shoulder: "Let's go!"

The next second, Wang Wen leaped into the air, his figure soaring into the air and disappearing through the hole in the roof of the palace in an instant.

Chai Shen:? ? ?
He pondered for a few seconds, and suddenly thought to himself, 'No way?'
But the words "No way!" had barely left his lips when his gaze once again involuntarily drifted towards the black coffin by the door: 'What can't I do?'

Despite his polite and measured manner in his conversation with Wang Wen, he remained composed and tactful.

In fact, ever since he stepped into the Chuigong Hall, his heart had never been at peace.

After Wang Wen left, he examined his inner self again and heard the sound of something breaking.

He knew that after this day, the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty would change...

As he expected, Wang Wen returned in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea after he left.

He brought back an old man's head, whose expression was one of utter horror.

Chai Shen certainly recognized the head; he had seen its kind yet indifferent smile countless times among a large group of civil officials.

However, from now on, that old face will never show that arrogant smile again.

Wang Wen casually shoved the severed head into Liu Qi's hands, whose face was pale and whose lips were trembling, and lazily sat back down in his chair: "Take this head and leave the palace again."

As Chai Shen watched Wang Wen pick up his teacup and calmly sip his tea, his burning desire for the throne suddenly extinguished by more than half.

……

Liu Qi led a group of eunuchs out of the palace again to visit each of the civil and military officials.

Faced with Liu Qi's sincerity, no one made things difficult for them this time. In fact, some civil and military officials even came to them before they even arrived at their residences. One civil or military official, upon seeing him, earnestly expressed that as officials appointed by the court, they should do their part at this time when manpower was needed.

Soon, one after another, understated yet luxurious carriages and sedan chairs carrying civil and military officials with ashen faces, looking as if their fathers had died, converged on the imperial city from all directions.

It was at this moment that these once high and mighty figures, who always liked to make the common people suffer, finally realized that times had changed...

Seeing this, Wang Wen, sitting in the Chuigong Hall, felt as refreshed as if he had drunk a large glass of iced plum juice on a sweltering summer day!
"You refuse a toast but drink cooking wine instead, you bunch of spineless cowards!"

He held his teacup, chuckling and muttering curses under his breath.

Although Chai Shen, who was sitting opposite him, did not know why he suddenly started cursing, he knew who Wang Wen was cursing.

He was just about to join Wang Wen in cursing those cultural relics officials to deepen their relationship when he saw Wang Wen put down his teacup and say, "The people have arrived. You can go do your work now. I should probably be leaving soon."

Chai Shen stared at him in astonishment, a strange sense of panic rising within him: "Isn't the General going too?"

"Have you thought this through..."

Wang Wen said unhurriedly, "If I go with you, then who gets to decide, you or me?"

He managed the matter to such an extent that he had minimized the turmoil caused by his killing of Emperor Zhaode.

If we continue to interfere, it will be counterproductive...

Chai Shen opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Wang Wen smiled, stood up and gently patted his shoulder: "Do a good job. As long as you can do a good job as the emperor, you will never have to see me again in your life."

Upon hearing this, Chai Shen forced a stiff smile and replied, "Hearing what the General said, I hope to see the General many more times in this life."

Wang Wen: "I also hope you can remember what you just said to me... I'm leaving."

After saying that, he leaped out of the Chuigong Hall and whistled.

Hearing the sound, Hei Erniu, who was dozing outside the Chuigong Hall, got up and leaped up, flames rising from his four hooves.

Wang Wen landed on the back of the black Qilin, first moving the corpse hanging on its back behind it, then gently pulling on the reins to turn the Qilin's head northeast: "Don't go home yet, head this way, slowly..."

The black Qilin responded and soared into the northeast. Wang Wen followed its speed, spreading his divine sense to encompass a radius of ten miles, searching for the mark left on the mysterious man earlier.

Outside the main gate of the Chuigong Hall, Chai Shen looked up, his expression complex as he watched the streak of light disappear into the distance. Only after the light had completely vanished from his sight did he finally breathe a long sigh of relief.

'A peerless figure...'

He murmured to himself with a hint of regret, 'It's a pity they can't be used by me!'

He withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Liu Qi beside him who was still gazing at the sky with his head up, and said in a gentle voice, "Eunuch Liu, first keep the news that General Wang has already left a secret."

Liu Qi snapped out of his daze and quickly clasped his hands in agreement.

Chai Shen gently patted his shoulder and solemnly made his first promise as the one in charge of the overall situation: "I will remember Eunuch Liu's kindness and never betray him. If I succeed in ascending the throne, Eunuch Liu will be the Grand Eunuch!"

……

'That doesn't make sense!'

Wang Wen scratched his head, puzzled, and used his divine sense to scan the forest below: 'I feel like it's definitely in this vicinity!'

He had anticipated that he would spend so much time in the Chuigong Hall, so he simply left a divine mark on the mysterious person with demonic energy, thinking that he would deal with the mysterious person after things in the Chuigong Hall were settled.

The mysterious man initially fled outside the palace and kept moving around the capital to hide. Later, whether he felt it was not safe or heard some rumors, he quietly slipped out of the city and fled in this direction.

At that time, Wang Wen was examining Chai Shen and had no time to deal with this fellow, so he let him run away.

They followed the divine imprint to catch up, but found they couldn't find any trace of him...

He hovered in mid-air for a moment, then simply rode the two black oxen down to an unnamed mountain, raised his sword finger and chanted, "Heaven and earth are boundless, Huangshan borrows the law."

A tremendous force descended upon him, traversing thousands of mountains and rivers. In an instant, the mountains and rivers within a hundred miles appeared in his mind like a somewhat unreal projection.

This level of divine empowerment is certainly far less than his absolute control over Huangshan.

But if it's just for finding people or things, he thinks it's enough...

Then Wang Wen lowered his sword and pointed it towards the vast mountains and forests ahead, muttering, "Majestic Huangshan, search the mountains and patrol the forests!"

A tremendous force erupted from his fingertips, transforming into thousands of gentle breezes that flowed among the grass and trees, causing the vast forests to rustle.

Wang Wen closed his eyes and carefully sensed for a moment, then his brows furrowed slightly.

He opened his eyes, waved his hand, and a stream of light shot out from the forest, landing in his palm and transforming into a straw figure over a foot tall, covered in soot and fire marks. A blood-stained finger was still stuck in the straw figure's chest.

The faint divine imprint he sensed was on this straw man.

"Unorthodox methods!"

Wang Wen snorted coldly with a displeased expression, and suddenly a burst of raging flames erupted from his palm, instantly burning the straw figure into a cloud of ashes.

From within the wisps of black smoke, a distant, mournful wail could be heard...

Wang Wen coldly dispersed the ashes in his palm, then tugged on the reins and said, "Let's go home."

"Alright, buckle up!"

Hei Erniu responded, leaped into the air, and transformed into a fiery red streak trailing a tail of flames as it sped south, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.

As dusk fell and the wind died down, the vast mountains and forests returned to silence once more.

"Majestic Huangshan, search the mountains and patrol the forests!"

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Wen's soft shout suddenly rang out again in the mountains and forests.

In an instant, a gust of wind even more rapid than before arose, sweeping across an area of ​​twenty miles with the force of autumn leaves, projecting countless pieces of information into Wang Wen's mind. The massive data stream flowed like a waterfall.

After a long while, he opened his eyes again and muttered to himself in surprise, "They really ran away? Is this method really that sinister?"

He shook his head and straddled Hei Erniu, who had transformed into a black ox from Wudi: "Let's go, this time we're really going home."

Hei Erniu leaped into the air, transforming into a black Qilin, and then into a streak of fiery red light, disappearing into the horizon.

The mountains and forests have finally returned to silence...

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that a small black snake, about the thickness of a finger, crawled out from a pile of rocks beside a small stone pool in the mountains, illuminated by the bright moonlight.

Under the moonlight, the little black snake transformed into a colossal creature with scales larger than a human hand. It opened its blood-red maw, exhaled a plume of black smoke, and transformed into a humanoid ghost.

The snake and the spirit exchanged a glance, and said in unison, still shaken, "We've at least escaped with our lives..."

The Central Plains are too dangerous!

If there's nothing else going on, it's best not to come again... (End of Chapter)