Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 149 Take Action! You've really put this old man in a terrible situation!
"This plaque with the words 'Xuanwu Gate' is actually in Mao Haifeng's hands?"

It also happened to coincidentally come together with the plaque of Xiangji Temple; I don't know if it was his luck or mine.

With this combination of abilities, the horizontal inscription reads: 'Destined by Heaven.' The wish that my father had worked hard for his whole life but could not realize could immediately become a reality.

With the exclusive royal seal in hand, our Caishui Wang family is no longer the humble princes and heirs of the past, but the true Kings of the East Sea!

They can establish their own systems and laws in the vast overseas territories according to their own ideas.

Those titles of "General Who Dives into the Sea" and "Grand General Who Guards the Sea," which were supposedly recognized by the imperial court, were nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

If handled properly, even the nine great kings at the founding of the Great Zhao Dynasty could not compare to this unrestricted pseudo-kingship.

However, this Xuanwu Gate plaque is enshrined on the altar in the meditation room.

With Mao Haifeng, a fourth-rank [Bai Shuilang], constantly guarding the area, it was impossible to obtain the item without alerting him.

Fortunately, only Wang Cheng himself knows the effect of "destiny's will," and it will ultimately belong to the victor in the battle for the throne, regardless of who actually holds the plaque.

So he decided to temporarily entrust the sign to Mao Haifeng.

But one last, deep look at the effect of this talismanic charm:

"After killing or completely defeating the opponent, one will be tacitly recognized by other key figures under the same system as the successor to the country and other forces. With popular support, one's momentum is unstoppable."

At the same time, he will also inherit his brothers' titles, widowhood, and property!

As long as you can win, it's a winner-takes-all situation.

With Xuanwu Gate and Xiangji Temple at their peak, neither of them can afford to lose!
"But where did my sister-in-law go?"

Wang Cheng controlled the flying insects to fly around the entire Qingxiang Palace and even the entire imperial palace, but he could not find any trace of Wang Cuiqiao, who had the "Official Star Peach Blossom" configuration.

That woman, who was so powerful, vanished without a trace, as if she had evaporated into thin air.

Shen Yueye was even more meticulous. She unfolded her golden veil and transformed into a wisp of green smoke as she entered the bedchamber. She checked the wardrobe and dressing table and found that many of the places for clothes and jewelry were empty.

For a long time, she worked for Wang Cuiqiao at the Koujiao Tavern and knew this famous courtesan of Qinhuai far better than Wang Cheng.

“I noticed that her usual jewelry and clothes are gone. It seems that she packed her things herself and left Qingxiang Palace on her own initiative.”

They weren't forcibly taken away.

She then specially found a few inconspicuous maids and used her fox spirit's signature skill to exhale a fragrant breath that bewitched their souls.

Only then did I learn from them that around the time of the disturbance at the Koujiao Tavern, Mao Haifeng personally took the people away, disguised them as leaving the palace, and then disappeared without a trace.

I only vaguely heard Mao Haifeng say that he had found a folk remedy that could help people get pregnant quickly, and that he wanted to take her to try it.

Although Wang Cuiqiao was reluctant, she could not defy Mao Haifeng's will.

"We just missed it?"

Wang Cheng remembers that there was a lot of trouble in the city during that period.

A riot broke out at the chewing tavern, a fight broke out among dockworkers, and a brawl broke out between two groups of samurai from different vassal states in Anqing Ward.
An East Frankish man and a Dutchman duel with muskets over a geisha; two Dazhao people argue about whether a dark-skinned Yingzhou warrior is an ancient Kunlun slave.
Most of the guards at the city's port were mobilized and were in a flurry of activity.

Even his own trusted men failed to notice the anomaly and report it to him.

"A folk remedy for conception? And they even picked the person up in advance?"
Is it true, or are you worried that the witchcraft involving the wooden figurine in my area will affect his ability to have descendants and obtain an official position?

Wang Cheng realized that the originally smooth plan had slipped out of his control.

If you are entrusted with a task, you must be loyal to it.

Luo Wenlong was still waiting for news from his wife, but Wang Cheng didn't want to break his promise.

After leaving Qingxiang Palace with Shen Yueye, he immediately summoned the white-headed eagle Aji and temporarily enlightened a group of seabirds to spread out.

"Find her, find her for me as soon as possible!"

"Qingfeng, Honglonghonglong, you two are in charge of keeping an eye on Mao Haifeng. As long as he still wants to have children, he can't possibly avoid seeing Wang Cuiqiao."

A faint, ominous aura of witchcraft and curses gathered behind him toward Qingxiang Palace. No amount of official aura, dragon aura, or even the divine aura of Emperor Shi Huang of Han could stop it or even detect it.

These Daoist energies were further corrupted by the state's treasure, the witchcraft wooden figure, turning it into a group of pale little wooden figures without facial features, only having insect mouthparts.

They all looked up at the weather above, which belonged to Mao Haifeng.

It was a giant black python that had begun to transform into a dragon, gradually growing a mane, claws, and a single horn.

Then they swarmed forward and began to gnaw at the python's tail.

Mao Haifeng, whose aura had transformed into a giant python, was completely unaware, watching helplessly as he was slowly gnawed away until his bones were exposed, and even his bones were chewed up, making a grotesque crunching sound.

Mao Haifeng, who was having a banquet with other large ship captains in the Chaoyang Hall, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

"Big Boat, what's wrong?"

Gao Ren, who was serving his godfather, noticed his unusual behavior and quickly poured him a cup of hot tea, offering it to him with both hands.

Mao Haifeng took a sip. The divine embryo inside his body had already completed its internal organs and was fully mature. He carefully examined himself and found no abnormalities, so he didn't pay any attention to it.

"I'm fine. Gao Ren, you're much better at handling things than your godfather."

Seeing you is like seeing my younger self; in my eyes, you are like my younger brother.

"Work hard, and next year I'll try to get you a few more sisters-in-law, hahaha!"

Gao Ren was well-versed in the ways of a subordinate. His face showed gratitude, but he dared not truly take his superior's politeness seriously. He was simply very relieved that after changing his superior, the bad luck surrounding him seemed to have decreased significantly.

The rumor that Gao Ren was cursed to kill his adoptive father did not spread as widely as the rumor that his adoptive father had killed four of his adopted sons; otherwise, how would he have had the opportunity to rise to power?

Of course, it wasn't that his "Official Star Attacking Self" pattern didn't work; it was simply because he was three ranks lower than Mao Haifeng, making it naturally more difficult for him to control the situation.

However, things seem to have changed again today.

The dignified fourth-rank official, Bai Shuilang, was just joking while drinking tea when he accidentally choked on his trachea and coughed for a while before he recovered.

The banquet was almost interrupted at one point.

Xu Weixue and Peng Laosheng outwardly showed concern, but secretly they were mocking and ridiculing the only commander of the Five Peaks Banner:

"Captain Mao is so young, he should take care of his health. His ability to take care of himself is going to be surpassed by this old man."

Only Wang Cheng knew that "the Tongmu people and the Mandate of Heaven have already begun to take effect."

On the surface, he showed concern for his sworn brother, but secretly he was also stirring up trouble, intentionally or unintentionally instigating infighting among the three.

The "slaves to money" he had bribed had already reported to him that in the past few days, the three of them had each won over a number of ship leaders from various factions, as well as outsiders.

Most of the small-time pirates from outside the area, who were not strong enough on their own, attached themselves to one side, hoping to take advantage of the chaos.

The big shots eat meat, so it's good if they can have some meat broth too.

After all, during the Warring States period, Pinghu Port was the only foreign trade center in Yingzhou, making a fortune every day and becoming the center of contention among all parties.

Today I'll steal one of your shipping routes, tomorrow I'll steal one of your sales channels.

The three men were essentially the same, except that the latter two only wanted power and money, while Mao Haifeng also wanted the life of the prince!

Wang Cheng had no choice but to prioritize guiding them to besiege Mao Haifeng, hoping to achieve a triple defeat so that he could calmly recover from the situation.

Wang Cheng was confident that after killing Mao Haifeng and recovering the Black Peak Flag's forces, he could suppress the other two again.

In fact, after acquiring huge sums of money from Mao Haifeng and Luo Wenlong, the preparations he made in secret were far more extensive than they appeared on the surface.

"We have plenty of funds this time, and there's a great show we've prepared for the three of you to put on later."

The next day, astonishing news spread like wildfire throughout Pinghu Port and the East Sea Kingdom.

The crown prince suddenly fell ill and ordered the palace to be closed.

The lice spirit, Dragon Tail Lord, entered the palace with the array talisman of the "Five Mountains Soaring High" formation, refusing all outside visits and setting up a magical realm over the entire Pear Blossom Palace, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.

Wang Cheng's loyal followers, whether armed or ordinary people settled in Pinghu, all gathered together as if facing a formidable enemy.

There are many different opinions from the outside world, but no explanation from any high-level officials has been received.

Only Mao Haifeng and Jiang Wenyuan celebrated their success:
"Wang Cheng is finished!"
He's merely a low-ranking official of the third grade; it will only take him three days at the earliest, and seven days at the latest, depending on how much Chen the carpenter is willing to pay to expedite the creation of the paulownia wood puppet.

As time went by, Wang Cheng still did not show up.

The core group of loyalists abandoned many of their existing spheres of influence and retreated across the board, making the atmosphere in Pinghu Port increasingly oppressive.

The conflicts among Mao Haifeng, the "Black Kirin" of the Black Peak Banner, Xu Weixue, the "Thousand Gold Peddler" of the Maritime Merchant Faction, and Peng Laosheng, the "Shopkeeper on Credit," are becoming increasingly intense.

Before Wang Cheng returned, Mao Haifeng could suppress others by appealing to the righteous cause of avenging his adoptive father.

Once Wang Cheng returned, the responsibility of governing the Donghai Kingdom, which consisted of "one port and seven vassals," was no longer on his shoulders as the righteous heir. He was immediately stripped of his original status and returned to the same level as the other two.

This is the power of "name and instrument".

Furthermore, because he prematurely revealed his ambition to use righteousness to command the feudal lords and seize the throne of the Prince of Jinghai, his predicament was naturally predictable.

However, the older Xu Weixue and Peng Laosheng were in the martial arts world, the more timid they became. They knew how powerful this young man, who was only half a step away from being promoted to the third rank of "Living Ghost God," was, and how ferocious the guardian spirits under his command were.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible for the old ship owner to be the number one stronghold in Wufengqi and to have gained the support of many young people when he was still alive.

The most ruthless and capable outlaws were basically all under his command.

Therefore, no one wanted to act rashly and they kept hesitating.

Unexpectedly, three days after the Crown Prince closed the palace, news suddenly came from the Five Peaks Banner that Mao Haifeng was also unwell and almost fainted in front of everyone.

Then he completely disappeared from public view and hid in his own water fortress base.

Thus, the situation in Pinghu Port, which was originally just a turbulent undercurrent, was suddenly accelerated.

On the evening of the sixth day, the two fleets of ships slipped out of Xu Weixue's and Peng Laosheng's water fortresses without warning and rushed toward the Black Peak Banner's garrison, then brazenly bombarded the water fortresses.

boom! boom! boom! boom! boom!
The soldiers on the ship, their eyes gleaming with gold and silver, shouted:

"It's getting cold in April, give my Xu (Peng) big boatman an extra layer! Brothers, if we take down Black Peak Flag, we'll be doing our part in helping the dragon rise!"

However, Xu Weixue and Peng Laosheng only received the news after the three-way battle had already begun, and the two almost vomited blood on the spot.

They exclaimed in unison, "Get me some more clothes? You've really put this old man in a difficult position!"

This time there was absolutely no politeness; it was all raw, unvarnished grudge!
Even if you're just adding a piece of clothing, you still have to go through the proper procedures and achieve the "Three No-Palace Rules": entering the court without hastening your arrival, praising without naming your name, and wearing a sword and shoes in the palace!
You're adding more now? Do you want me to die even faster? Having you all is truly my blessing!

I don't know how many times I've cursed these ignorant idiots for their lack of education, but I still have to bite the bullet and send troops to support them, lest Mao Haifeng retaliate after killing these idiots.

Following that script that had been repeated countless times, they unanimously shouted the slogan that had been passed down in China for thousands of years:
"Purge the court of corrupt officials! In this Eastern Sea Kingdom, Mao Haifeng is the modern-day Sima Yi!"

(End of this chapter)