Chapter 397

Chapter 397
Chapter 397 – Negotiation with Sun Jian
Sun Jian, Huang Gai, Hand Dang, and Cheng Pu managed to get to Ye City before the annual competition of various academies . Everyone was astonished by the feats of the children, especially Sima Yi and Wei Yan .
The second son of Sima Fang was as everybody had expected . All scholars and civil officers praised this child as the most promising new generation that could potentially join Tong as one of his strategists in the future .
As for the dark horse Wei Yan, many people had suspicion and thought that he was Tong's secret disciple or a potential groom of the princess Zhang Min . Because ordinary humans without martial art background could not keep up with Wei Yan's speed, they thought that Zhang Min got defeated on purpose .
However, veterans like Sun Jian and his men could follow through Wei Yan and Zhang Min's brief exchanges .
"What do you think?" Sun Jian turned to Huang Gai, who most the strongest among them .
"Both of their speed is on par with elite generals . If they have our stamina and the brain of that Sima Yi, they can roam any battlefield . "
Han Dang inserted, "Zhang Tong is wise to promote the next generation like this . All old coots in the court and lazy generals will feel threatened if they slack since these youngsters can replace them in the future . It forces all current personal to work harder as well . "
Sun Jian sighed in regret . He wished that Sun Ce could have participated in this competition, too . As for Sun Fang, Sun Jian did not know what to do with him to make his son reconcile with Tong .
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Later that day, Sima Yi got lectured by his father as usual . He was scolded for taking the princess on a date in public, which could cause some misunderstanding and damaging Zhang Min's reputation .
Tong also punished Zhang Min . She was house-arrested as a punishment for running amok . Until she could recover from her bruises during the competition with Wei Yan, she could not leave the inner palace .
As for Wei Yan, the new star, he was scouted by various ambitious nobles who sought to recruit this young man into their private forces . Many offered their daughters and sisters to seduce this future great general, but Wei Yan turned all of them down .
Thanked Zhang Min's charm and her cheerful nature, Wei Yan had no one else in his heart other than this little princess . He usually got into an argument with Sima Yi regarding Zhang Min, but none of them dare to express their feeling toward her .
Both lovestruck youths were still afraid of the emperor's wrath . Had this matter revealed to the public, their heads would roll .
On the other hand, Cao Ang and Liu Xie had more freedom to do anything they wanted inside the city . Both of them patrolled the town along with the local policemen, which was their daily routine .
At the moment, Liu Xie's reputation as the next emperor candidate plummeted among the civil officers . However, his standing with the peasants soared . Unlike Tong, who was busy in the palace all-day all-night, Liu Xie was closer to the local citizens and local garrison guards .
This was his way of gaining the trust of everyone . Liu Xie aimed to establish his foundation and attract followers with his own hard work .
Cao Ang, Wei Yan, Zhang Min, Liu Ye, and Sima Yi were a part of Liu Xie's gang . All the peasants called them "the Little Entourage" as they were all talented and had the emperor's backing .
Everybody was hopeful, and Ye City was as peaceful as ever .
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The next day, Sun Jian and his men were finally summoned to the throne room . The four kowtowed on the red carpet and reported themselves to the emperor .
As usual, Tong and Xun Yu remained in the palace to welcome these generals . Taishi Ci had already returned to Tong's side, and the eunuch Wei You stood behind Tong, waiting for any instruction .
"I'm sorry for the delay, Sir Sun Jian . I had planned to welcome you, but the annual festival made me busy . "
"Your majesty has been busy . This servant wouldn't dare to impose . "
Sun Jian kept his manner . Huang Gai and others also reserved their expression and thought as they knelt .
"Anyway . I'm sorry for involving you in my politic struggle against Cao Cao . I've prepared a compensation for everyone, but …"
Tong attempted to recruit Sun Jian into his clan .
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Tong revealed a wry smile as he thought, 'Figured as much . '
Sun Jian also received the system notification .
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Sun Jian bit his lower lips . The battle between otherworlders was still far from over, which Sun Jian and his entire clan would be dragged into this mess again .
"A pity," Tong muttered, "Had you not been in league with Sun Fang, I would have given you the Beiping, Ji, and Xiangping as a compensation . "
Sun Jian sighed, "If you wish to punish my eldest son for his crime, please let it falls on me . I'll take every punishment in his stead . "
Huang Gai and others panicked, "My lord!"
"This is my decision, men . Let me take my son's sins . "
Tong rolled his eyes and waved his hand, "I haven't said anything about punishing you . Where is this coming from?"
"… You're not going to punish us?"
"What happened to my wife was unfortunate . Secondly, all of you are not at fault . And lastly, I've already forgiven your idiot son . As long as he is willing to disband his clan and join me, I'm willing to overlook the past grudge we have had . "
"R-Really?" Sun Jian could not believe his ears .
"Yes . Look at my Prime Minister . He served Yuan Shao before, but he's working me with now, isn't he? Li Feihong also worked under Lu Bu before . But now, he's my trusted strategist . Many immortals are working with me for a reason, you know? We're trying our best to end this immortal game and pacify the country as soon as possible . Many mortals have suffered because of our infighting for too long already . "
"…"
Sun Jian slowly nodded, "I-Is that so?"
"Ah . Can you relay my message to Sun Fang with your clan chat? If he is willing to join me, we can end this pointless rivalry . "
"O-Of course . I'll tell my son right away!"
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Jianye City .
Sun Ce and Sun Fang had already seized this commandery since the last winter .
In the palace, Zhou Yu and the two brothers were reading the reports from Sun Jian's subordinates with a dark face .
Sun Jian relayed Tong's words to the clan while Huang Gai and others supplemented them . The four were excited that they would not have to fight against Tong anymore .
Sun Jian: "How is it, Fang'er? Will you reconcile with the emperor?"
Sun Fang: "As much as I'd love to, but you've been conned, father . "
Sun Jian: "I've been conned? How!?"
Sun Fang: "The only way to disband our clan system is my death . Either Tong or I have to die to end this immortal game . "
This was Sun Jian's dilemma . He could not kill his son for the sake of joining Tong, but he had no desire to rebel against the Han Court .
As everyone was in despair, a new name flashed . This year, Sun Fang had recruited a new member into the clan, Zhou Yu .
Zhou Yu: "Senior Fang, can you transfer the clan leader status then?"
Sun Fang fiddled with the clan menu . He found the transfer button, but it displayed that they required 1,000,000 lifespans as a fee .
Sun Fang: "I can, but I need some time to gather lifespans for the transfer . "
Zhou Yu: "How long do you need? How many lifespans do you require?"
Sun Fang: "A million . At best, I can earn about 400,000 years of lifespan if I do nothing but cultivating . This will take two and a half years to complete . "
Zhou Yu: "Very well . Tell the emperor that we require ten years for the clan disbandment . "
Sun Jian: "But Fang'er only needs three years? But how are we going to disband our clan? We have to kill the clan leader?"
Zhou Yu: "We can put a random thief as our clan lord and have our subordinate kill him . Then, we can reestablish a new clan again any time, right?"
Sun Jian: "Can we do it this way?"
Zhou Yu: "Yes . First, we'll buy time with the promise that all of us will join him . We will also try to draw Zhang Tong's resources to our clan to establish our new home base . "
Sun Jian: "Wait, why are we building a new home base when we're joining the emperor?"
Zhou Yu: "An exit plan, my lord . If Zhang Tong is tricking you, we can have a force ready to retaliate . "
Sun Jian and other senior generals did not like Zhou Yu's suggestion, but they could not trust Tong either . In the end, Sun Jian reported to Tong .
"Your majesty, I've consulted with my son . He agrees to disband his guild . "
Tong sneered, "Does he have enough lifespans to transfer the clan head title?"
"???"
"I know that we can't disband our clan normally . The clan leader has to die, or nobody can leave the clan . Clan members can't also harm the clan leader either . It's a fucked-up system by the gods . "
"Y-You knew? Your majesty?"
"Obviously . I'm a clan leader myself . Why wouldn't I know? It takes a whopping million lifespans to change a clan leader . "
Sun Jian had a scare . He was tested by Tong .
Had he lied or attempted to trick Tong, their head might roll .
"How long does Sun Fang need to collect the lifespan?"
"T-Ten years, your majesty . "
"That's bullshit . One-wing angel can cultivate 100,000 to 200,000 lifespans a year . Sun Fang has cultivation skills to boost his lifespans, so he should be able to rake 300,000 to 400,000 a year . A million lifespan takes only three years at best . I'll give him three years to resolve this and join my clan . If he resists, I'll mark your entire family as traitors!"
While Sun Jian was shocked by Tong's deduction, Cheng Pu and Han Dang reported an emergency to Zhou Yu and Sun Fang .
Han Dang: "Zhang Tong knows! He demands us to disband in three years!"
Zhou Yu: "It seems that I lack a lot of information regarding the immortal powers and lifespans . Senior brother, I'll consult this with you later . "
Zhou Yu: "For now, agree with Zhang Tong that we'll deal with the clan matter in 3 years . "
Sun Fang: "Are you sure? We won't have enough time to get everything prepared . "
Zhou Yu: "Senior Han Dang, please ask Zhang Tong how many people he can recruit into his clan a year . I know that one immortal can recruit one person a year . I need to know the number of his allies . "
Cheng Pu finished reading the instruction . He took the risk .
"Your majesty . We know that one immortal can recruit one person into a clan . We have four people right here, so it might take some time to recruit all of us . I think this matter might take a bit longer . "
Tong laughed, "How many immortals do you think I have?"
"This lowly servant is stupid . Please teach us . "
"Five . "
"So, five people a year . That means it will take more than one year to bring everybody in-"
At this moment, Sun Jian, Huang Gai, and Han Dang turned to Cheng Pu, gesturing him to shut up .
"Demou!"
"… I'm very sorry . "
Tong snorted, "I haven't finished yet . Do you know how many immortals remains in this land?"
"Your majesty?"
"Nine . "
Sun Jian and the other three got the hidden message . Out of nine immortals, more than half sided with Tong .
Tong continued, "That's not all . There were one hundred of us, but we are the last nine . I think you should understand what I'm implying . Stop resisting and surrender . If you wish for a territory for your clan, I can give that to you . Do not plan to raise a new dynasty to compete with me . The ending won't be pleasant . "
"…"
While Tong threatened Sun Jian, Han Dang and the others kept relaying Tong's every word to their clan chat .