webnovelvip Chapter 142 A New Choice: What Does It Matter If the World Is an Enemy!
Chapter 142 A New Choice: What Does It Matter If the World Is an Enemy!
"Your Majesty, Prince Shuo has arrived."
The palace servants stood outside the study, their voices low and respectful.
"Let him wait a moment."
Yang Guang put down his vermilion brush and slowly stood up.
He walked to the bronze mirror, raised his hand to tidy his slightly messy beard, and straightened his crown.
Only when the figure in the mirror regained some of its former majesty did he let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.
He always paid great attention to his appearance and demeanor, but his lingering illness always inadvertently revealed his fatigue, which secretly annoyed him.
A moment later, Lü Xiao entered the study.
Although the doors and windows were open, the strong, bitter smell of medicine lingered, seeping into every inch of the air.
His gaze sharpened slightly as he glanced at the pile of reports on the table and the half-finished bowl of medicine.
Looking at Yang Guang's seemingly calm yet anxious face, he immediately understood.
The emperor's recent urgency and his relentless pressure despite criticism from both the court and the public have now been answered.
Time, illness.
For him, it has probably become the most luxurious and the most ruthless thing.
"Zilie, you've arrived."
Yang Guang picked up a fan and waved it a few times, looking slightly annoyed, trying to dispel the surrounding smell, but to no avail.
The medicinal scent seemed to have permeated the wood and stone, blending seamlessly with the somber atmosphere of the imperial study.
"Your Majesty summoned me urgently, and I dare not delay."
Lu Xiao walked to the rosewood table and saw that the incense in the beast-head incense burner was almost finished. He picked up a spoonful of incense powder from a jade box and skillfully added it.
A refreshing and slightly sweet aroma of agarwood rises up, slightly suppressing the bitterness.
"The smell of medicine filling this room probably gives you an idea of why I'm in such a hurry."
Yang Guang put down his fan and ran his fingers over the secret letters spread out on the table.
The messages from Shandong, Hebei, and Guanzhong were filled with an uneasy sense of impending doom.
He could have taken his time and worked things out gradually, but this sudden and serious illness prevented him from doing so.
This forced him to quicken his pace, even though there were cliffs and precipices ahead.
"Your Majesty... I roughly understand." Lü Xiao sighed softly.
If we still can't see through things now, we're just deceiving ourselves.
"This is why I have to be in a hurry!"
Yang Guang suddenly stood up, walked around the table, and grabbed Lü Xiao's arm.
The grip was very strong, even trembling slightly.
It wasn't entirely due to illness, but more so because of the burning desire within my heart that was almost bursting forth.
"Zilie! Reflecting on what I said to you in the Fengxing Hall, you should know where my ambitions lie!"
Before meeting Lü Xiao, his iron hooves had already trampled across the land, and his sharp sword was already pointed at the high gates.
The construction of the canal and the conquest of all directions were not merely for the sake of leaving a mark on history.
He wanted to shatter the centuries-old, deeply entrenched barriers of powerful families and truly bring the world into the hands of the emperor.
For this, he was willing to be an enemy of the entire old order!
Just as Lü Xiao's throat was bobbing, about to open his mouth in agreement...
A long-lost, cold, and mechanical voice suddenly resounded deep within his mind:
[The trend is irreversible; new choices are beginning.]
[I. Stay in the Sui Dynasty, participate without contributing, watch the Sui Dynasty collapse, and wait for your opportunity to contend for the world. You will be rewarded with high-yield crop seeds to help you lay the foundation for your new dynasty.]
[II. Fight to the death, and you will survive; be an enemy of the world! Each time you completely eliminate a rebel king, you will receive a specific reward.]
A brief hint, yet it reveals a path worlds apart.
The first principle is that it is prudent, selfish, and offers huge benefits, enough to support a brand new dynasty.
The second one is fraught with danger, with no chance of survival, and one is almost destined to be an enemy of the entire world.
However, Lü Xiao hardly hesitated.
The images of Yang Lin's kindness in recognizing his talent and Yang Guang's undisguised entrustment and trust flashed through his mind.
He is not a saint; he has his own selfish desires.
Some things are more important than so-called wise choices.
Report your favor on the golden platform, and bring Yulong to die for the king.
Even if what lies ahead is a bottomless abyss, a situation where certain death is inevitable.
Since he has pledged his life and his skills to the Sui Dynasty, he will pledge them to the end!
Having made up his mind, he met Yang Guang's piercing gaze and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, who do you wish me to kill?"
Political infighting and scheming are neither his forte nor his desire.
All he possessed was the invincible halberd in his hand that had once defeated countless powerful enemies, and the Crimson Valiant Iron Cavalry under his command that could traverse thousands of mountains and rivers.
Wherever the emperor pointed, his halberd swept towards that direction.
"I order you to suppress all impending rebellions!"
Yang Guang's voice was resolute, each word seemingly squeezed out from the depths of his heart.
"Even if the sky falls, you must hold it up for me! Even if the earth collapses, you must fill it back up for me!"
He knew all too well what he was doing.
Relocating the capital, opening up canals, excessive conscription, and suppressing power.
Each of these measures was like tearing flesh from the hearts of powerful families and adding fuel to the fire of restless hearts.
But he had no way back, nor could he turn back.
Time is his greatest enemy; he must solidify and pave this path in the limited time he has left!
"Your subject obeys the decree." Lü Xiao clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
From the moment he resolved to serve the Sui Dynasty, he foresaw this day.
Yang Guang chose a path of facing death to live, and Lü Xiao willingly became the sharpest knife and the strongest shield on that path.
"As long as I breathe my last breath, the rebel banner will never dare to occupy an inch of my Great Sui territory!"
"Alright! I trust you!"
Upon receiving this unwavering reply, a genuine smile finally appeared on Yang Guang's face, and even his sickly appearance seemed to lessen somewhat.
Whether it was the triumph of a hundred nations in the past or the unparalleled advance into the northern deserts.
This kid never disappoints when he makes a promise.
With Imperial Uncle Yang Lin stationed in Dengzhou and Lü Xiao sweeping across the land, he could confidently complete that earth-shattering final step.
"Oh, right," Yang Guang said, his tone softening as if he had just remembered something.
"As for the Prince of Dai, he has been corrupted by the pedantic scholars around him, and being young, he cannot keep secrets. For my sake, please do not take it to heart."
From Prince of Jin to Crown Prince, and then to the Emperor, he weathered decades of trials and tribulations, and became most adept at reading people's expressions and demeanor.
How could Yang You's slight contempt and resistance towards Lü Xiao's background and mannerisms escape his notice?
It's just that ingrained habits are hard to change overnight.
"Your Majesty is too kind," Lu Xiao said with a smile, tinged with a hint of helplessness.
Why would he hold a grudge against a child?
Regardless of who succeeds to the throne in the future, his loyalty to the Sui Dynasty is as clear as day.
But when he thought of Yang Ruyi, he sighed inwardly.
This woman is naturally rebellious; to be honest, she's really hard to control.
"With your mind set on this, I have no worries," Yang Guang sighed.
He knew that Yang Lin was getting old and could not protect the Sui Dynasty for many more years.
After he and his uncle passed away, the precarious empire would ultimately have to be shouldered by the young man before them.