Mythical Three Kingdoms

Speaking of this period, the Kushan Empire wasn’t particularly weak. Although the upper echelons of Kushan were already divided, Vasu Deva was still present. The empire hadn’t completely fallen apart, and there was still strength, but it had no enemies before, and the whole nation was in a state of complacency leading to demise.

As a result, losing a Spiritual Relic, if Vasu Deva I didn’t provide an explanation, he would have to step down himself, and his descendants could no longer continue as nobles. Under such intense pressure, if it was death either way, then why not enjoy it thoroughly before dying?

With this mindset, Vasu Deva I accomplished all the things he had wanted to do but was afraid might cause trouble within these seven or eight months.

For instance, the foolish descendant of Kanishka, who engaged in secession and established Kushan Nia in Northern Kushan. Vasu Deva had always guarded against him, but due to his status, never took action. This time, he didn’t notify anyone; he simply executed him.

Thirty thousand troops waged war without warning, stormed the capital built near Kasani, and directly killed him. As for the Brahmins who held divine power and supported him, the berserk Vasu Deva sent them to meet their gods, with the basic meaning being that the gods called them back.

All the principalities following him were exterminated, their kings thrown into serpent pits. With tens of thousands of troops at hand, he conveniently annihilated those he had disliked before. Holding the belief that they must die more miserably than him before his own death, the tyrant Vasu Deva disregarded any potential troubles and killed all the secessionists.

Such a brutal and iron-blooded approach abruptly halted the Kushan’s decade-long complacency. Even Khwarezm, which had been separated for many years, seemed to waver. After all, when anyone sees their emperor acting so fiercely, it’s likely to unsettle them.

After all, holding two hundred thousand infantry and cavalry, hundreds of ships with a well-structured navy, Vasu Deva I adopted an attitude of disregarding everything, confronting any resistance head-on. This even intimidated emperors of other empires, let alone the small domestic factions at odds.

Lions avoid mad dogs because, while defeating a mad dog means little, being bitten by one is not worth the trouble. Now, Vasu Deva I was precisely such a mad dog, not caring about any future chaos, focusing only on the present.

Vasu Deva I was frenzied, exterminated several principalities, bloodily purged the rebel factions, and annihilated those who talked but took no action, abruptly transforming the atmosphere of the entire Kushan Empire to a state of iron-blooded valor.

Subsequently, Vasu Deva I ordered the nation into wartime status, all shipyards to operate at full capacity, all soldiers to prepare their weapons and equipment, ready to be summoned at any time, as a hundred thousand infantry and cavalry marched from the Northwest of India, trampling all the way.

At that time, Vasu Deva’s slogan was, ”As long as the Spiritual Relic is on land, then we will occupy all the land. If it is in the sea, we will encircle the entire ocean! What’s ours must remain ours, and no one can take it away!”

This was how berserk he was, how wanton. After bloodily purging several principalities, Vasu Deva I’s tyrant reputation rose to a considerable level, and his execution ability improved correspondingly. A tyrant in execution is always at the forefront.

Similarly, seeing Vasu Deva I’s insane state, the nobles within the Kushan Empire were somewhat intimidated. Brahmins who dared to utter nonsense regarding this matter were sent to speak with their gods. Let alone other nobles, a terrifying tyrant.

Of course, it’s not that the Kushan Empire lacked clever individuals; some nobles had already seen through Vasu Deva I’s actions, but no intelligent person highlighted this matter.

After all, for them, a unified and strong Kushan Empire was very necessary, and the imposing spirit Vasu Deva I displayed by forcibly exterminating the secessionists with thunderous methods was already enough to be considered an excellent emperor.

Nothing is more important than this. No matter the reason behind Vasu Deva I’s display of such spirit, as long as he showcased it, he was an excellent emperor. The most challenging and dangerous times are the true tests of a person.

Vasu Deva I’s performance during this crisis was eye-opening for many nobles. Regardless of whether the approach was right or wrong, for a nation, the result is most important. Losing a Spiritual Relic was indeed terrifying, but if the entire Kushan Empire awakened because of it, then losing that Relic wasn’t in vain.

This is why, despite Vasu Deva I’s violent means of forcibly exterminating the rebels, the country didn’t experience significant turmoil. A group that had originally considered Vasu Deva I as mediocre, upon witnessing the spirit he displayed, spontaneously helped halt the empire’s decline.

When an empire has no one stepping forward, and everyone is watching, the first person to step forward, regardless of whether they’re good or bad, will have followers.

As long as this person exhibits qualities just slightly above the average line, they will become a hero, accompanied by countless followers. This is what is meant by circumstances shaping heroes.

With one warship after another launched, and with hundreds of thousands of troops advancing endlessly to the East of India, one piece of good news after another was received. Although the Relic was not found, the nation’s sense of unity grew stronger with every victorious war report.

The principalities and states originally inclined towards secession now held their tongues about such matters. After the Fate of the Kushan Empire had continuously waned, and after Zixu took away a Spiritual Relic representing national destiny, that Fate, already at its nadir, finally rebounded.

This empire, having endured for hundreds of years, after its Fate rebounded from the bottom, was either going to reach the Zenith, entering another stage, or become the stepping stone for other empires to achieve glory. This turning point will determine it.

Tens of thousands of elite infantry and cavalry, hundreds of warships, wealth accumulated over hundreds of years, all became the furnace fire for the empire to soar. Whether it’s rebirth from fire or becoming debris in the furnace depends on the Kushan Empire’s own performance.

But just for now, with the spirit Vasu Deva I displayed, the Kushan Empire already shows signs of soaring through fire. Wise strategists and strong soldiers are laying bricks and tiles under the emperor’s leadership for Kushan’s prosperity.

Of course, the Yizhou Scholars and Warriors, who had already dispatched troops to the Southwest and prepared to recover Yongchang, weren’t aware of these matters, just as Gan Ning, stationed at the Strait of Malacca and awaiting the return of the Marine searching for the Relic, was unaware.

Similarly, they didn’t know that Kushan’s hundred thousand infantry and cavalry were currently advancing steadily East along India, and the over one hundred newly launched warships from Kushan were heading out from the Arabian Sea, throwing the entire South Asian Subcontinent into chaos.