Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 904: Chapter 34 Shocking! Long Wuji Falls, Great Emperor Furious (Seeking Monthly Votes)_3 Chapter 904: Chapter 34 Shocking! Long Wuji Falls, Great Emperor Furious (Seeking Monthly Votes)_3 “` “Even when courting allies, he did not hesitate to use some underhand methods, such as secretly fomenting discord within prominent families or directly compelling them with an overwhelming trend, coercing others to take sides with an arrogant ‘thrive with me or perish against me’ attitude.”

As these words were spoken, Long Wuji’s face could hardly maintain composure, he responded with an embarrassed and dissatisfied tone, “Shouzhe, you should not point at the monk and scold him for being bald.”

“I am simply stating a fact, not deliberately targeting you,” said Wang Shouzhe, frowning slightly. “In the ‘excellent’ Kang Commandery Prince, I see many of the so-called ‘imperial tactics.’ Courting, suppressing, dividing, beautifying oneself—these methods are not wrong in themselves. The mistake lies in his reliance on these methods to achieve his ends, lacking the broad-mindedness and vision that a true emperor should possess.”

“If one were to look back through the historical records, it would be clear that when Emperor Longchang vied for the position of Emperor’s son, although he also possessed some cunning strategies, he did substantial and genuine work. His vision, scope, and tactics were all considered exceptional among his contemporaries, a true embodiment of a great emperor.”

“Even so, the lofty goals that the Great Emperor proclaimed in his youth, such as ‘expanding Tiance, opening up Longzuo, developing the Southern Desert, conquering the North of Liao’—which seemed more like pipe dreams at that time—have now all been realized. The overall national strength of the Great Qian Land has more than doubled since then.”

“That’s because Wu Chengsi has not yet become Great Emperor. Although I admit he likes to embellish himself, he is also a man with grand ambitions,” Long Wuji retorted. “His partnership with Gong Yang Ce to establish the ‘Dawn’ organization also comes with ideals, setting extremely lofty goals. They are preparing to strengthen national power, conquer South Qin, attack West Jin, and elevate the might of our Da Qian Land.”

“The ‘Dawn’ organization?” Wang Shouzhe chuckled coldly. “Indeed, under the Kang Commandery Prince’s name, this organization has attracted many a remarkable talent and is growing stronger by the day. Sadly, it’s just a tool for power struggle, nothing more than a sword to eliminate those who think differently.”

“Moreover, under His Majesty’s governance is our Great Qian Land truly shrouded in such darkness? Dawn, Dawn, what darkness is it breaking? Who exactly is it criticizing?”

“Has this broken organization ever done anything beneficial for the nation or the people? Has it infiltrated enemy states to sacrifice itself in eliminating critical threats? Or in the face of the natural disasters that happen every year, has Dawn ever organized any relief efforts?”

“In the eyes of Kang Commandery Prince, the eight hundred million people of Great Qian might as well be mere insects, and the prominent local families are nothing but servile dogs. The power of an emperor, the desire to control everything, that’s what he truly cares about.”

“Stop… with this talk…” Long Wuji’s forehead started to sweat.

“There are no outsiders here. I have said before, there are things I simply cannot hold back,” Wang Shouzhe spoke indifferently. “Even when Kang Commandery Prince does achieve something and embellishes himself, it’s only to please those high-ranking Princes and nobles. Various disasters like droughts, floods, earthquakes, pest infestations, he hasn’t deigned to glance at them. How can such an pretentious Quasi Emperor’s Son be fit to be a great emperor? Even an organization of water bandits like Jiaolong Gang would offer money and effort for disaster relief along the banks of Peace River, what about him?”

Long Wuji took a deep breath: “Say what you will about Wu Chengsi, but let me clarify one thing, the Jiaolong Gang is a legitimately registered business, not an organization of water bandits.”

However, he could not help but admit that after Wang Shouzhe’s dissection, he too felt that Wu Chengsi was indeed trying too hard to impress.

Previously, he had a vague feeling that something was off about Wu Chengsi but couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

After all, they both came from the same lineage; the teachings he received as a child were not much different from Wu Chengsi’s, just not as strict. Even though his naturally untamed character meant the influence on him was lesser, it still existed.

But, the three words used by Wang Shouzhe seemed rather precise—”hollow pretense.”

Now thinking back, all the places that felt amiss to him suddenly became clear.

Even though he had come to agree with Wang Shouzhe’s words, he still persisted, “Wu Chengsi is still young, once he becomes the Great Emperor he will have plenty of time to learn.”

No matter how unworthy Wu Chengsi was, he was born of their De Xin lineage; his grandfather was Long Wuji’s elder uncle. Moreover, the Commandery Prince Consort Wu Chengsi had married was the young lady of the direct line from the second-class Prominent Family of An Duke’s Mansion. She was someone Wang Shouzhe’s own mother would have to address as Grand Aunt.

“Whether he will learn or not, I do not know, but as the saying goes ‘look at the old from the young,’ the issues with Kang Commandery Prince stem from his childhood education,” Wang Shouzhe analyzed. “Prince Dexin was once the image of the Great Heavenly Proud, unfortunately born at the wrong time, he missed the opportunity of the True Dragon era. Thus, he placed all his hopes on Kang Commandery Prince and perhaps was too hasty in his education. The root of the problem, I’m afraid, lies with the Prince himself.”

“Enough, brother Shouzhe, you’ve gone too far. Prince Dexin is my Old Ancestor…” Long Wuji’s face darkened, looking like he was about to start throwing punches.

Jiang Yusong and Wang Shizhao to the side were breaking out in cold sweat.

“Let’s talk about Prince Yong’an, who has always been…”

“He’s my father!” Long Wuji, incensed to the point of laughter, said, “Wang Shouzhe, are you deliberately trying to provoke me, hoping I would strike first and then what? Is there an ambush waiting for me? No matter how much he is to blame… I won’t allow you to insult my father!”

“`

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com