SWDnovel Chapter 361 - Sweeping Across Ten Thousand Miles, Unifying All Under Heaven
Chapter 361 - Sweeping Across Ten Thousand Miles, Unifying All Under Heaven
Fan Li had praised each of the five families in turn, yet the issue of the new city’s name remained unresolved. However, his efforts had fostered a sense of goodwill. The representatives now looked at him with an almost reverent respect, as if he were a true and virtuous ruler.“Alas…” Fan Li sighed dramatically.
The representatives, instantly alert, inquired, “Why the sigh, Your Majesty? We are here to serve you, to ease your burdens.”
“Alas…” He sighed again. “Great Jin prospers, the five families pledge their loyalty… I feel the kingdom’s destiny is ascendant. What worries could I possibly have?”
“But this matter of naming the new city… I find it… difficult. I cherish the Zhang, Lu, Yin, Dou, and Kou clans equally. To name the city after one would be to slight the others, a thought that troubles me deeply.”
The representatives were nearly moved to tears. His Majesty cares for us so deeply! We have burdened him with our petty squabbles. We are unworthy!
“Your Majesty!” they cried in unison. “We…”
They began to declare their loyalty, then stopped abruptly, glaring at each other. Damn the Zhang/Lu/Yin/Dou/Kou Clan! How dare they compete with us for His Majesty’s favor!
Their rivalry, however, was momentarily forgotten. They turned to Fan Li.
“The Zhang/Lu/Yin/Dou/Kou Clan withdraws its request! We relinquish the right to name the new city, to ease Your Majesty’s burden!”
“Excellent!” Fan Li exclaimed, rising from the Dragon Throne.
“Your loyalty and filial piety are truly commendable! Therefore, I shall name the city myself. What do you think?”
Perhaps he had accepted their concession too readily. The representatives paused, a flicker of doubt crossing their minds. Is His Majesty… manipulating us?y-nine percent of Great Jin’s population, couldn’t remain idle.
His offer was met with overwhelming gratitude. Their earlier arrogance and posturing were forgotten. Harmony reigned between Emperor and subjects.
Once the five families had departed, only Fan Li and his officials remained.
“You have all worked hard today,” he said, finally blushing slightly. He had put on quite a performance. He wondered what his officials truly thought of his… theatrics.
“Your Majesty is the one who has worked hard,” Hu Zongxian replied. “The founder of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu, rose from humble beginnings to unify the realm. His success can be attributed to four words.” He glanced at his fellow officials and settled on Wang Ban.
“Winning hearts and minds?”
“Unifying the people?”
Their blunt assessments made Fan Li blush even more.
Hu Zongxian continued, “With Your Majesty’s talent, the people of the Central Plains will surely flock to your banner.”
Wang Ban added, “And the citizens of Great Ci, Great Ming, Great Wei, Great Han, and Great Wu will all serve Your Majesty.”
How familiar… Fan Li suddenly remembered a quote from Sima Yi, a figure from his previous life.
Unconsciously, he spoke the words aloud. “Sweeping across ten thousand miles, unifying all under heaven…”
Wang Ban, Hu Zongxian, and the others froze, then knelt in unison.
“Long live the Emperor!”
From Sima Yi’s Song of the Liao-dong Campaign:
Heaven and earth opened, sun and moon shone bright.
Opportunity arose, I exerted my strength in distant lands.
Sweeping away all filth, I returned to my homeland.
Sweeping across ten thousand miles, unifying all under heaven.
My task complete, I return to my fields,
Awaiting judgment in Wuyang.