Mythical Three Kingdoms

The two immortals, one in black and the other in white, twitched their eyebrows slightly. The immortal in white flew away directly, and when he returned, he had already brought back various daily necessities for Qu Qi.

The two immortals could guarantee that no other immortals would end up as miserable as they were, having to buy everyday items for someone else.

As Qu Qi left the Shanyue region and continued southward, Qin Mi and others, who were dividing the world’s lands according to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, finally led the soldiers of Yizhou and the Southern Barbarians to the eastern region of Wenga by the agreed date. By this time, the Wenga Dynasty had already completely disbanded.

As for the former populace of the Wenga Dynasty, those who could migrate did their utmost to flee within a month’s time, either heading west to Soma, north to the Bannavanta Region, or east to the Biao State.

In short, within just one month, the entire land of the Wenga Dynasty became completely desolate, while Kushan had arrived here more than half a month earlier.

For such monumental events that pertain to the future dominion of the South Asian Subcontinent and the Indochina Peninsula, even the more powerful kingdoms and tribes in the region, such as the Meng Clan, Burmese People, Liche Tribe, Dakshin Kingdom, and Biao State, submitted State Documents to both sides, hoping to observe.

The Han Dynasty naturally showed an indifferent attitude of no concern, while Kushan was relatively more prudent, though not overly cautious, ultimately allowing the more powerful nations of South Asia to spectate.

Relatively speaking, this was akin to recognizing the legitimacy of these countries, instead of regarding them as illegal entities that could be arbitrarily demolished.

Although such a notion sounded very cruel, it was indeed the reality. In the current Subcontinent, most countries, speaking rationally, belonged to entities that could be forcibly demolished by the Han Dynasty and Kushan.

Alongside, the justification was ample, especially for countries like the Great Han Dynasty, which had been established for four centuries, experiencing fluctuations but never completely falling out of the Empire Sequence. The rationale was very sufficient.

Take, for instance, the Meng Clan City-State Alliance, which was once the ancient Meng Dynasty, a nation that needed to pay tribute to the Han Dynasty. Yet the ancient Meng Dynasty had perished, fragmented into Meng Clan tribes, and as time passed, evolved into numerous Meng Clan city-states. Ultimately, these city-states united due to hardships, establishing the Meng Clan City-State Alliance.

Though these changes seemed legal, in truth, if we trace back, they were indeed unlawful.

Firstly, the ancient Meng Dynasty as a Vassal State of the Great Han Dynasty was destroyed by the Meng Clan City-States. Although it’s said to be a fragmentation, it could also be explained as being exterminated by a Rebel Faction, thus belonging to the category of Vassal States attacked by the Han Empire.

Speaking rationally, according to Huaxia’s ancient vassal system, if a Vassal State were exterminated, the Suzerain State had an obligation to help with its restoration.

Thus, if truth be told, the Meng Clan City-State Alliance belonged to the category of illegal dynasties established by the descendants who destroyed the Huaxia Vassal State - the ancient Meng Dynasty. As the Suzerain State of the Vassal system, there is an obligation to aid its Vassal State in restoration.

Therefore, if the Great Han Dynasty were genuinely provoked, they could flatten all the named States from the Indochina Peninsula to the South Asian Subcontinent, apart from Biao State, and casually restore someone, which would be quite justifiable in terms of jurisprudence.

This is precisely the most worrisome aspect for all small nations currently, as they are fully aware that from their perspective, they are legal countries, yet precisely according to this era’s rules, the majority of them are unlawful, non-compliant countries.

As for the rules of this era, unfortunately, from the North Sea to the South Sea, the rules of the era are all stipulated by the Great Han Dynasty, and as the weaker parties, all they can do is listen to these rules.

Moreover, even allowing them to listen to the rules has already given them enough face. In fact, if they were more domineering, they could flatten these illegal countries, and even read their crimes beside the corpses of these Kings. Such acts by the Great Han Dynasty are not unprecedented.

With such a threat akin to a ”Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads”, how could these dynasties not be terrified and cautious?

It is precisely because of this that the many countries of the South Asian Subcontinent and the Indochina Peninsula proposed to observe this matter.

Whether it be Kushan or the Han Dynasty, they were very aware of the intentions of these countries. These countries wanted to gain recognition from the two great Empires to eliminate the danger of unjust demolitions in the future for doing nothing.

As for another reason, it was the Han Dynasty’s antics. The Han Dynasty had not yet formed a clear sentiment towards India’s fertile lands but held onto Kushan’s proclamation that if they lost, they’d withdraw westward for a thousand miles. North and south, regardless of width, they claimed Han Dynasty could extend, equating to half a Subcontinent directly gifted to the Han Dynasty.

Facing such boldness from Kushan, the Yizhou people pondered together and concluded that if the opponent had made such a major gamble, they too should wager something. After discussing among the civil servants, they decided not to bow their heads as it would concern their national pride.

Thus, there was this move, after all, wagering one’s own assets is hard-hearted, so Zhang Su simply wagered seven or eight Vassal States. Anyhow, these troublesome ones don’t listen, so might as well treat them as stake.

Moreover, if they lost, they truly would have no power to intervene in the Indochina Peninsula’s troublesome Vassal States. And if Kushan could defeat the Han Dynasty, these troublesome ones would definitely sway with the winds, so why not be generous and directly treat them as stakes.

Therefore, Zhang Su and Zhang Song pondered together, thinking, ”Alright, you’re being so magnanimous, Kushan. Well, our Han Empire will show even greater magnanimity. We will wager eight kingdoms as stakes. If you win, these eight countries will be directly gifted to you as Vassal States.”

Consequently, the land and eight million acres of fertile soil suitable for cultivation in South Asian Subcontinent became stakes for the two great Empires. Reasonably speaking, combining such territories and fertile soil, as long as a capable person emerges, establishing a top-tier dynasty should be no problem, yet now, they were being used as stakes.

As for those eight dynasties, they currently had no words, though they had achieved their first goal. As long as they obediently become vassals with no reckless intentions, the nation wouldn’t change much.

Regarding the second goal, although somewhat humiliating, there is not much to say about the humiliation they feel, wedged between the Han Empire and Kushan Empire.

Moreover, from the perspective of these dynasties, it makes no real difference whether Han Dynasty or Kushan serves as the suzerain. Regardless of being used as stakes this time, still having to pay tributes remains unchanged.

Furthermore, they can employ the spirit of victory to comfort themselves. For example, although we’ve been treated as stakes, at least we can witness an Empire being suppressed.

Especially upon hearing that Han Empire and Kushan Empire have deployed a hundred thousand troops upon the former lands of the Wenga Dynasty, preparing for an unprecedented battle, all dynasties involved as stakes had an inexplicable excitement.

A battle involving a hundred thousand soldiers, none could predict how many would perish, the dynasties involved as stakes silently thought to themselves. Overall, none of the major dynasties showed any intention of rebelling, obediently accepting whatever comes, to which Zhang Su expressed satisfaction.

When the Han Empire arrived at the Wenga battlefield, there were still two or three days left, hence the Han Dynasty corresponded with Kushan once more, and this letter wasn’t a declaration of war, but rather a wager.

A great nation indeed, not taking advantage of your Kushan, we’ll wager eight kingdoms as stakes. If we lose, we’ll directly withdraw troops from these eight kingdoms. You just need to send troops to receive them.

After this letter was sent over, Kushan felt immense pressure, just like how Han Dynasty doesn’t possess deep knowledge of Kushan, Kushan didn’t have profound understanding of Han Dynasty either; the impressions on both sides were from over a hundred years ago.

Kushan knew their own affairs; they retreated a thousand miles because they’ve become too overwhelmed and found controlling the South Asian Subcontinent challenging, even if no war occurred, they would’ve halted to reorganize, awaiting reinforcement from the rear to gradually consolidate the newly occupied Baisheng Dynasty.

Thus, upon witnessing Han Dynasty using eight kingdoms as stake, Kushan was bewildered. Han Dynasty’s border isn’t too distant, and reasonably speaking, even if Kushan wins this war, a mere hundred thousand-soldier battle touching an Empire’s foundations seems far-fetched, doesn’t it?