Chapter 1256: The Confucian Sect! (2/2)
With a sweep of his snow-white sleeves, Li Junxian stood up from his seat. His face had no more smile, and his expression was extremely solemn. He no longer called Wang Chong 'King of Foreign Lands' but directly addressed him by name.
”The Harmonious World is the irresistible trend, that which all things are flowing to. The will of a single person cannot change this. Even if you are a general, minister, or King, you are insignificant before this momentum. A praying mantis trying to stop a carriage fails to know its own strength. Not only will you fail to stop the wheels of history, you will bring a scourge upon yourself, your body crushed into powder!
”Whether it was in the southwest or northwest, I always believed that we were the same kind of people. This was why I tolerated you once, twice, thrice. Thus, even though you refused me the last time, even though I knew there was a high chance that you would not agree, I still waited for you in this restaurant to try and convince you one last time. Alas, you are far more foolish than I had imagined. You are not threatening us, only seeking your own destruction. In the end, you and the Wang Clan behind you will have to pay the price… Any stumbling block that dares to try and stop the wheel of history will in the end become crushed into powder and dust.”
As Li Junxian spoke, he slowly straightened his body, and his snow-white robes began to flap and snap around him. At this same moment, a tyrannical and boundless aura erupted from his body, not one bit inferior to Wang Chong's.
Wang Chong's pupils constricted and his face became a sheet of ice.
”It seems that we do not share the same path and cannot deal with each other. This being the case, farewell!”
With these words, Wang Chong drained his cup, and left with a sweep of his sleeve.
In this meeting, both Wang Chong and Li Junxian had failed to persuade their counterpart. Their experiences were different, as were their ideals, dooming them to walk different paths. As Wang Chong rose and left the restaurant, all was deathly still and silent.
”Wait a moment.”
As Wang Chong reached the stairwell, a voice came from behind him. Li Junxian stood in front of the table, staring at Wang Chong's back with a cold and aloof expression.
”If you leave this place, we will be eternal foes!”
”We already are!”
Wang Chong's steps paused for a moment, and then he continued onward.
”King of Foreign Lands, I will leave you with these words. You did not kill Boren, but Boren died because of you2! Ever since Khorasan, your subordinates are not out of reach!”
Li Junxian's voice carried a menacing tone.
Buzz!
Wang Chong's steps came to a sudden halt, and his body trembled. For the first time, Wang Chong paled.
”Many thanks!”
After just a moment, Wang Chong regained his senses and continued down the stairs.
”I have accepted the good intentions of the Confucian Sect! In the future, I will be certain to pay a visit!”
The words 'Confucian Sect' caused all the Confucians on the second floor, including the young man who had performed the sword dance, to instantly grimace. Even the elegant and graceful Li Junxian finally lost his composure. But before he could speak, thump, thump, thump! Wang Chong had already left Drunken Moon Pavilion.
……
”Your Highness, how did it go?”
Wang Chong had barely left Drunken Moon Pavilion when a group of people went up to meet him.
”Let's get on the carriage first, and then we'll talk!” Wang Chong grimly said.
Rumble! The carriage quickly departed Drunken Moon Pavilion toward the Wang Family Residence. As Wang Chong sat within, thick clouds of worry covered his brow.
”Old Eagle, immediately write a letter to Su Hanshan and Li Siye in the northwest to gather up all their subordinates. Without my order, they are forbidden to oppose the commanders sent by the Confucian school! I want the letter sent out today!”
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1. The war between Qin and Zhao refers to the Battle of Changping during the Warring States Period. Qin lost 250,000 soldiers in this battle, but it more infamously buried 400,000 soldiers of the state of Zhao alive. The Battle of the Fei River was a battle between the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Former Qin Dynasty. Due to the poor training of the vast Former Qin army, the Jin army was able to fool the soldiers into a rout and dealt the Former Qin army a crushing defeat, resulting in more than 700,000 soldiers being killed. This battle allowed the Eastern Jin Dynasty to maintain its hold over southern China while northern China collapsed into the chaos of the Sixteen Kingdoms Period. The Sui Dynasty attempted several invasions of Goguryeo, one during the time of its first Emperor and three during the reign of its second Emperor. The invasions were so disastrous that they are seen as one of the primary causes for the collapse of the Sui.↩
2. 'You did not kill Boren, but Boren died because of you' refers to an incident during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Wang Dao was an assistant to Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin. Wang Dao's cousin, Wang Dun, rebelled against the Emperor and began to encroach on the capital. Wang Dao, fearing that he and his family would be executed, went to beg at the Emperor's doorstep, but the Emperor refused to see him. Wang Dao asked Zhou Yi, whose courtesy name was Boren, to intercede on his behalf, which Zhou Yi did. However, he hid his involvement by cursing at Wang Dao, causing Wang Dao to believe that Zhou Yi hated him. Later on, when Wang Dun took the capital, he asked Wang Dao what he thought of Zhou Yi. Wang Dao said nothing, so Wang Dun had Zhou Yi executed. It was only later on that Wang Dao found out what Zhou Yi had done for him, causing him to lament, ”I did not kill Boren, but Boren died because of me.”↩