Chapter 758 – End of Wu, Rise the Mao
Disciples of the Celestial Sword Sect returned to the Pirate Hunter City. However, their number drastically decreased. The prestige 1,000 inner disciples were no more. Only 150 inner disciples, including Miaomiao, remained in the sect's premise.
The outer disciples and initiates were the same. A thousand of them came back to rebuild their home, but the rest either chose to abandon the sect or delay their return.
The sect also suffered a major loss as all immortals and ancient elders died from the consecutive war. Buildings were burnt down. The library was raided, and the treasure houses were robbed. The influence of the sacred sword sect degraded as a result.
The situation was the same for the Wu Dynasty Empire. Most important cities were razed to the ground, except Huiji City which managed to outlast the onslaught. Surviving citizens migrated out of the country and headed north, moving to the territory of USW of Devil.
The country's foundation was in ruins. It would take ages to rebuild, and it might be impossible for the nation to self-sustain for a long time. Moreover, there was an issue with the inheritance and succession of the throne.
As Sun Wukong was the eldest son of Sun Jian, many retainers of the Wu Court supported his ascension to the throne. However, Wukong expressed that he wasn't interested in the throne and conceded it to Sun Ce.
This move caused a stir. Everybody in the court knew that Sun Wukong was more talented than Sun Ce, and they disapproved of the crown prince's decision. Unfortunately, Sun Wukong insisted. Sun Ce ended up succeeding the throne.
After Sun Ce took the throne, changes occurred. The brash and inexperienced youth ordered his retainers to reform the military to retaliate against Shu Han, which had already been destroyed by USW.
Despite the protests and disapprovals from the retainers, Sun Ce's edict was pushed through. Then, the order came to the Celestial Sword Sect, which the Wu Dynasty had been supporting for years.
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It had been a day since the last threatening announcement of Pan Mei.
Miaomiao no longer had enough free time to entertain his wives. As the strongest cultivator of the Celestial Sword Sect, Miaomiao was forcefully promoted as an elder per order by Mao Shan.
He sat at the seat of the 7th elder in the sect's grand hall, staring at his father and uncle's faces.
In the Celestial Sword Sect's main hall, only nine men were presented. Mao Shan sat on the throne as he was the sect master. Mao Cheng stood next to Mao Shan's throne, acting as the vice sect master.
On the armchairs in the hall, seven men, including Miaomiao, sat on their respective seats and waited for Mao Shan to initiate the meeting.
Mao Shan gazed at the empty hall and sighed for the seventh time. He was heartbroken because of a couple of letters.
Miaomiao was tired of waiting. He stood up.
"Father, if you don't want to start the meeting, I'll go back and manage the construction sites."
Mao Shan got back to his senses. He coughed, "Sorry, Miao'er. Sit down. There's an urgent pigeon message from Huiji City this morning that I want to relay to everybody."
"Message from the court again?"
The elders had just returned, and they wanted nothing more but rest. Upon hearing that the court sent a message to the sect, they let out a long sigh like Mao Shan.
The sect master laughed, "Now you know why I sighed, don't you?"
"Yes, indeed. The court is being annoying."
Everybody, including Miaomiao, was frustrated by the court even though they didn't know what kind of message they sent.
Mao Shan brought the small paper and read it out loud.
"Emperor's edict – All-Out Attack on Shu Han."
The message was simple, yet it infuriated Miaomiao and everybody.
One of the elders stood up and bellowed, "We just went through tough battles against Shu Han's main forces and lost 80% of our manpower! We can't mobilize anymore!"
Miaomiao facepalmed. He also raised his voice, "Even if this is an edict, this is beyond insanity. I'd rather rebel than follow this stupid command."
Mao Cheng glanced at Mao Shan, "Is this for real, brother?"
"Yeah. It's the emperor's edict. We must comply with it or we'll be branded as traitors."
Miaomiao got up from his seat, "Then, traitors, it is. We're done with this idiot kingdom."
"But there's another message, Miao'er. It's from the former crown prince Sun Wukong."
Miaomiao stopped on his track. He furrowed his brows.
Mao Shan tossed a folded letter to Miaomiao. The latter received it and opened the paper.
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Yo, dipshit. You must be thinking that you're lucky because you didn't participate in the fight, right? Well, too bad for you. My father left a will, and he wanted you to marry Sun Yun. Secondly, I purposely conceded the throne to make Sun Ce a scapegoat.
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"What the hell?!"
Miaomiao didn't know what happened to the imperial court after the war. But from the words of Sun Wukong, he found something weird.
Originally, Sun Wukong didn't exist in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. However, because of the Mu-Nyang and Pangu's conflict, their fate was entwined, and Sun Wukong was born as one of the Sun Clan's members against his will. As a result of the chaotic karma, they became a family.
And now, judging from Sun Wukong's letter, Sun Ce took the throne, and Miaomiao was still the fiancé of Sun Yun. Because of this complex relationship, Miaomiao also had the right to claim the throne if something happened to Sun Ce.
Miaomiao continued reading.
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I have to confess. I talked to Sima Yi, and he is planning to unify all territories of Shu Han, USW, and Wu Empire as one. You know what? He wants you to be the new emperor of the unified country! To be honest, I don't like you, and I don't want to serve you whatsoever. But if I have to choose between Cao Cao and you, I think you're a better choice.
Anyway, I know that you want to reunite with your girls, and you don't care about politics. Just work with us, and we'll handle everything for you. Oh, if we really need you, you'll know.
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The letter ended here, and it enraged Miaomiao. Sun Wukong sounded like he wanted Miaomiao as a figurehead for the new empire while Sima Yi and Sun Wukong would run the nation.
He hated it. Miaomiao had been a lackey in his previous life, and he was about to be freed from this universe. He didn't want to bother with the new nation that they wanted to create.
In anger, Miaomiao passed the letter to the other elders. He turned to Mao Shan.
"Did you read it?"
Mao Shan nodded, but he didn't say anything.
"I'm going to take Sun Yun and her followers here. We'll pretend that we are still serving Wu Empire, but we won't do shit, okay? If they want to mobilize troops, you don't have to deploy anybody. I'll go there in your stead and watch them die trying."
"You…"
Mao Shan wanted to say something, but Miaomiao left the sect's grand hall.
Meanwhile, the other elders skimmed through the letter and discovered the scheme of Sima Yi and Sun Wukong. They were shocked.
"This is terrible! The crown prince is planning to sell out his country to Elder Sima!"
"Sect master, are you into this, too?!"
Mao Shan sat and leaned back on his chair. He had a severe headache.
"No. I haven't decided who we should follow yet."
The elders looked at each other. They secretly exchanged sound transmission as everybody had a different opinion.
Mao Shan glanced at them. Judging from their expressions and excitement, they supported Sima Yi's plan as Miaomiao was one of them.
Testing his subordinates, Mao Shan questioned their motive, "If my son becomes the new emperor of the new country, will you serve him?"
The six elders turned to Mao Shan. They knelt and cupped their fists.
"Sect Master, please support Elder Mao Miaomiao!"
"Sect Master. We believe that your son is more suitable to become an emperor than Sun Wukong or Sun Ce. We wholeheartedly support Lord Mao Miaomiao!"
"Indeed. Elder Mao Miaomiao already proved that he has the qualification, strength, and charisma of a righteous ruler. He is an ideal emperor material. Let's support this plan and join forces with Elder Sima!"
"Let's make your son the new emperor, Sect Master!"
"Let's overthrow the Sun Clan!"
Everybody came to the conclusion in minutes, which troubled Mao Shan. The latter let out a deep long sigh.
"That's why I keep sighing. Do you understand how I feel?"
Everybody stopped talking. The elders and Mao Cheng waited for Mao Shan's final decision.
Mao Shan closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. After an hour of silence, he made his decision. He opened his eyes and gazed at the sunset, which still illuminate light through the front door.
"The Wu Dynasty Empire's era has ended. From this year onward, it will be the era of the Mao Clan!"
Mao Cheng and the elders groveled toward Mao Shan. They made a vow.
"We shall protect the Mao Clan with our lives!"
"Long Live, Your Majesty!"
"We serve the Mao Clan, not Wu!"
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