151: Liu Chongshan, the thief of the country

In reality, Wang Guanli was overthinking things.

Chancellor Liu wasn't without intentions of finding fault with them; it was just that the people he sent all got lost in the black mist.

The black mist, spanning Xu Province and Yan Province, was like a heavenly chasm, completely isolating the southern part of Great Yan from the outside world.

Old Capital, Prime Minister's Residence.

The night was deep, and inside the Prime Minister's Residence, lights blazed. Dozens of court officials gathered in the main hall, each with a solemn expression—or rather, they had no choice but to put on a solemn expression.

Chancellor Liu sat at the head, a pristine white mourning robe unblemished, its folds perfectly conveying his grief.

His face was sorrowful, and in his hand, he held a scroll of imperial edict in bright yellow—it was the “late emperor’s last will” he had just “found.”

This late emperor was naturally not Li Shun, but Li Shun’s father.

No one dared to question the authenticity of this edict. After all, Chancellor Liu was the late emperor’s most trusted subject, wielding immense power during the late emperor’s reign, to the extent that even the incense beside the Dragon throne required his nod before it could be changed.

“My fellow colleagues…”

Chancellor Liu’s voice trembled slightly, his eyes red-rimmed.

“Your Majesty insisted on moving the capital to Qingzhou. Although this old subject tried his best to stop him, his words carried little weight.”

“Now, Your Majesty is ill-fated and has been missing ever since.”

“And with the black mist blocking the way, Xu Province and Yan Province have become dead ends. Not a single scout sent there has returned alive…”

He paused, seemingly overwhelmed with grief, unable to control his emotions. His face twitched for a moment before he finally let out a long sigh.

“This old man cannot sleep at night. Every time I recall Your Majesty’s face and voice, my heart feels as if it’s being torn apart!”

“My heart is being torn apart!”

As he spoke, Liu Chongshan suddenly pounded his chest, producing a dull thud, and shed two old tears. It truly made those who heard sad and those who saw weep.

This performance of singing, narrating, acting, and fighting mostly convinced the ministers below.

Those who weren't convinced could only curse him silently as an ‘old geezer’ and then helplessly lower their noble heads, either covering their faces and weeping or shaking their heads and sighing.

“Chancellor, please accept our condolences!”

“A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Now that the black mist is spreading and demons are rampant, if no one takes charge of the overall situation, I fear the world will fall into great chaos!”

As soon as someone opened this door, the other ministers quickly followed suit.

“Yes, indeed!”

“If Your Majesty were here, he would surely not bear to see the common people suffer! Now, only the virtuous Chancellor can bear this heavy responsibility!”

Upon hearing this, Chancellor Liu showed “dismay” and waved his hands repeatedly.

“No! Impossible! What virtue and ability do I possess to dare to usurp? Your Majesty’s fate is unknown. If he returns one day, how will I explain myself?”

“Chancellor, you speak incorrectly!”

The Imperial Censor stepped forward, his expression solemn and serious.

“The black mist separates north and south. If Your Majesty were truly alive, news would have been sent back long ago. Now, several months have passed, and there has been no news at all. I fear…”

He stopped mid-sentence, tears welling in his eyes, “I fear Your Majesty has already met with misfortune!”

“Now, the Dragons are without a leader, and Your Majesty has not left behind a single child… It’s simply that Your Majesty was born at an unfortunate time!”

Chancellor Liu “sadly” closed his eyes, a tear rolling down his cheek, his voice choked.

“This old man… if I do this, how can I face the late emperor…”

“Chancellor!”

“Please, Chancellor, prioritize the nation!”

All the officials knelt down together and loudly declared, “The common people of the world are paramount! Please, Chancellor, ascend the throne to stabilize the nation!”

Chancellor Liu remained silent for a long time, then finally “reluctantly” nodded.

“Since that is the case… this old man will temporarily assume the imperial position. When Your Majesty’s whereabouts are found one day, I shall return the governance!”

All the officials bowed their heads in unison: “Your Majesty is sagacious!”

Liu Chongshan nodded with satisfaction. After the ministers left, only the Prime Minister's Residence’s strategists and guards remained in the main hall.

As if he had thought of something, Chancellor Liu unfolded a sheepskin map, his fingertip tracing heavily along the Wei River’s banks.

“Pass down the order,”

His voice was grim, “Mobilize one hundred thousand laborers to build a high wall along the Wei River. It must be completed before the black mist moves north.”

“Chancellor, this…”

A strategist hesitated, “It’s spring plowing season right now. If we mobilize so many laborers, I’m afraid…”

Liu Chongshan gave him a cold glance: “Afraid of what? When the black mist swallows their fields, they won’t even have their lives, let alone farm what land?”

He stood up, hands behind his back, and paced to the window, gazing at the distant, vaguely visible outline of the black mist: “Tell those commoners that this is for the Great Yan’s empire and nation. Anyone who dares to defy the order will be punished for treason.”

Cold sweat beaded on the strategist’s forehead, and he quickly bowed his head in agreement.

Liu Chongshan narrowed his eyes: “Send another team of overseers to supervise day and night. Within three months, I want to see a thirty-foot-high city wall standing by the Wei River.”

A cold smile played on his lips: “As for those laborers who die from exhaustion… say they are righteous warriors who sacrificed themselves to resist the demons, and give them a grand burial.”

Of course, some cursed him silently as “shameless” in their hearts, but no one dared to say it aloud.

***

After everyone withdrew, the sorrow on Chancellor Liu’s face vanished.

He slowly unrolled the “last will,” a cold smile playing on his lips.

“Li Shun, oh Li Shun, do you think you can survive by escaping to Qingzhou?”

He murmured to himself, “With the black mist blocking the way, everyone in the world believes you are dead. This world should have trusted Old Liu long ago.”

Not long after Li Shun and his group left, Liu Chongshan had sent people to assassinate them, but for some unknown reason, all the dispatched individuals died.

Previously, he thought these people were unlucky and died at the hands of demons, but according to the news brought back yesterday by the Prefect of Xu Province, these people likely all died in the black mist.

Qingzhou… His people all died; could Qingzhou escape this black mist?

Was Li Shun really dead?

…Whether he was dead or not, he could not return alive!

Once his mind was made up, Chancellor Liu gave low instructions to his trusted confidants.

“Pass down the order, continue to send people to probe the edge of the black mist. If there is any news from Qingzhou… kill them without mercy.”

“Yes.”

The dark figure accepted the order and withdrew.

Chancellor Liu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the deep night outside the window, his eyes devoid of any sadness, filled only with cold ambition.

“Wang Guanli, Shen Jianhong… you’d best be dead. If you’re not…”

He chuckled softly, “Once I stabilize the court, this old man will have another round with you.”

***

Meanwhile, on the city wall of Qingzhou.

Emperor Li Shun, whom Chancellor Liu constantly thought about, gazed at the black mist churning in the northern sky, his expression calm.

“Your Majesty, the Old Capital… I fear it will also be affected by the black mist this time,” Wang Guanli said softly.