The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 1047: Heaven’s Secrets

Proofreader: Papatonks

Luo Yunhai overlooked the tactical map in deep worry, “Yes, with the four lands under attack, making use of the front to gain any semblance of success is an impossibility. Sir Leng, is there any chance whatsoever that we can attack the central area’s heart? Rumors, divide and conquer, or any tactic to raise doubts and crumble their military offensive.” 

“Uh, well…”

Leng Wuchang shook his head, turning to Zhuge Changfeng, passing the baton, “Clan Head, Zhuge Changfeng has once been an empire’s Prime Minister. He is much better suited for this, ha-ha-ha…”

Luo Yunhai looked on to Zhuge Changfeng with hope, the Luo clan’s great steward.

Zhuge Changfeng rolled his eyes and sighed, “Sir Leng, you’re so sly, knowing there’s no solution yet dragging me into this. Are you mocking me?”

Leng Wuchang lowered his head with a grin.

“Steward Zhuge, there’s no weakness we can exploit inside their hearts either?” Luo Yunhai’s eyes shook and his heart fell.

Zhuge Changfeng pondered before sighing, “Clan Head, forgive my incompetence. The Sword Star Empire has been a baffling nation since inception. Normal tactics don’t work on it. In normal empires, the emperor would be in constant dissent with his officials, one side striving to better the other. And while a direct military offensive would show little result, inciting the enemy court would pit them against each other.” 

Luo Yunhai knew this all too well. His godfather was a victim of it. He hated these suspicions between the lord and its subjects, but also knew their value.

In any empire, no matter how strong, suspicions between the lord and the officials would lead to mistakes that brought about collapse. One could have a godly commander and flawless officials, as long as the emperor mistrusted them, he would do all he could to relieve them of their lives.

What came next was the enemy nation having their trouble while the crisis was averted.

In this situation, Luo Yunhai, a modest man, found this underhanded tactic the most plausible. In any case, all is fair in love and war. Winning was all that mattered, with no tactic being avoided, be it overt or covert.

Though judging by Zhuge Changfeng’s look, such a tactic wouldn’t work. 

“Clan Head, The emperor Baili Jingshi is no less able as Baili Jingwei, thus making such a tactic fruitless. But the crux is the Sword Star Empire’s structure, unlike your average empire, and sowing dissent won’t work on it. The emperor and the Prime Minister are appointed by Baili Yutian. This leads to no conflict between the two and thus no suspicions.”

Zhuge Changfeng sighed, “The emperor doesn’t fear his minister, and the same goes for the latter. The two work together, like a double-headed dragon in ruling the empire. And even if, by absurd, dissent works, Baili Jingwei’s military command won’t be affected by the emperor. The only appropriate target for dissent is Invincible Sword. Alas, he’s a madman, thinking himself on top of the world and finding even the Sword Star Empire beneath him. Telling him that Baili Jingwei is against him; he won’t believe it, or even care for that matter. He is certain that nothing in this world can make him fall and thus nothing matters.” 

“Yeah, Invincible Sword is beyond arrogant, which makes him a worse target for dissent because he doesn’t care in the first place, no matter how things play out.”

Leng Wuchang hesitated, “Fear is the easiest emotion one can leverage. Without it, he won’t argue with vile people.” 

Zhuge Changfeng eyed him, “Sir Leng, who are you calling vile?”

“Steward Zhuge, you understand that some debatable methods are unavoidable in diplomacy. I’m not cursing you.” Leng Wuchang chuckled.

Zhuge Changfeng smirked, “We’re all wallowing in trickery, with neither one of us any better. But isn’t it all for the swift rise of the clan?”

“True, we had to pull strings and make sure our new allies would see dangers outside the protective embrace of our Luo Alliance. Hasn’t Steward Zhuo put us here for this reason? Had we been any upright, Steward Zhuo would’ve never chosen us as Clan Head’s aides.”

You Ming sighed.

They all had to nod at that, with Leng Wuchang resuming, “Clan Head is just too morally bound, leaving the dirty work to us. Only now we three have the same enemy yet can’t help Clan Head overcome this problem. I wonder how Steward Zhuo would approach this?”

The four looked lonely, with Luo Yunhai still feeling the loss of his friend.

[Brother Zhuo, I thank you for all you did in the battle with Quanrong and preventing the people of Tianyu from suffering. Now all of western lands are in peril. Just where are you? What should I do?]

“Yunhai!”

A soft voice suddenly broke the silence as two figures burst into the tent.

Luo Yunhai gasped, “Sister, Yue’er, what is it?”

“Since Yue’er has finished her current supply orders for the Luo Alliance, we came to see you!”

Luo Yunchang smiled at her brother, looking fondly, “Yunhai, you’ve been looking a bit thin lately. You need to take care of yourself.”

Luo Yunhai chuckled, “It’s fine.”

The other three bowed to the girls, “Greetings young miss, madam!”

“There’s no need for courtesy. You have been helping Yunhai all this time and I am grateful to you for relieving some of his worries.” Luo Yunchang replied in kind, with the three bowing again, “Young miss is too kind.”

“Husband, we heard sister Lei say the enemy camp is showing movement. They’re going to attack soon. Do you have any plans?” 

Yue’er went to Luo Yunhai’s side and looked concerned.

He and the other three men all shook their heads.

Yue’er fell silent before smiling, “Husband, don’t worry too much, sister Shuang’er had gone to her ancestral home to pray for a solution to her ancestors’ spirits. She said heaven might help us turn things around.” 

“Holy Maiden has seen the disaster coming and has divined that overcoming it is beyond impossible. It’s no less difficult from Tianyu’s last war. All we can do now is do our best and follow heaven’s will. It is up to it if we are to perish.” Luo Yunhai shook his head with a bitter look.

Yue’er rushed to console him, “Husband, sister Shuang’er said the ancestor’s divination is far more precise than hers and may work in our favor. Don’t be discouraged. Hasn’t the last crisis of Tianyu been solved as well?”

“That was with brother Zhuo’s help. Holy Maiden said he operates outside heaven’s will and can change it. How then could we, mere mortals, fight the heavens?”

The others’ hearts sank. Zhuge Changfeng and the others refused to believe this, that they would rather fight the heavens above. But as matters stood, it was out of their hands, they had no hope but to trust in fate.

“No matter what, let’s wait for Shuang’er’s reading. If heaven can’t be swayed, we just do our best to fight it.” Luo Yunchang spoke with determination.

The others nodded.

Whoosh~

Yun Shuang rushed into the tent and gasped for breath, “A sliver of hope just appeared!

“What?”

“The fates are shifting!”

Yun Shuang panted, yet her eyes glimmered with hope, “I’ve read the heavens with the ancestor spirit’s help when going to my home and saw total demise, but then the fates changed. A power unlike any other is shaping fate, presenting us with a sliver of hope. We may fight this war yet!”

Luo Yunhai gave a shaky question, “Holy Maiden, what do you mean?”

“It’s just like the last great war of Tianyu. Someone outside fate is fighting it. The central area’s certainty of winning against the four lands might crumble!”

Luo Yunhai gasped, “Another man like brother Zhuo is involved in this war? But Holy Maiden, didn’t you say there are no other people outside fate? How come another one appeared so soon?”

“I am unclear. Could it be a flood of unchained people?” Frowning, Yun Shuang looked confused, “But with how big the world is, there’s a chance a second one had to appear.”

Luo Yunhai squinted, incredulous, “People are born between heaven and earth. Just how coincidental this is, for a person outside fate to appear right when the need is dire? People, I have a strong feeling this person is known to us, as if…”

Luo Yunhai trailed off, even he felt his guess was outrageous. Their disappointment would be too great if it proved to be false. Yet his eyes were filled with excited tears, his heart drumming in his chest.

[Brother Zhuo, have you come back?]