Protect Our Patriarch

……

Wang Shouzhe broke out in a cold sweat as he listened.

This Long Wuji really has no filter. What do you mean by breaking off the engagement? And marrying Wu Xue'ning to An Ye?

You're really walking a wild path here.

Let's not even talk about whether Long Wuji would get beaten to death by his Ancestor Dexin for doing such a thing. Even if he didn't, do you think you can decide Wu Xue'ning's marriage? She's a great prodigy, likely to be conferred as a princess in the future. Her marriage would need Emperor Longchang's approval.

You're really bragging without a script.

Even if, by some miracle, Long Wuji could make the decision, our Wang Clan would never commit such a treacherous act.

"Let's not argue about this for now." Wang Shouzhe quickly changed the subject, pointing to Liu Ruolan beside him. "This lady is my wife, Ruolan. Ruolan, don't just stand there. Greet our guest, Head Long."

Actually, Liu Ruolan had already greeted him earlier, but Long Wuji was too angry to notice. Now, Wang Shouzhe was giving him an out.

This time, it was a formal introduction to Long Wuji.

Liu Ruolan was naturally beautiful, with an exceptional temperament. Every move she made was graceful and elegant, even more so than Wang Liyao.

Whether within the family or outside, she was the epitome of a Wang Clan matron—gentle, generous, and always considering the bigger picture.

However, she did have some stubborn traits, like her cooking and the children's education. The little green dragon Wang Lilong was still suffering in the Clan School.

Don't think Wang Lilong could always be arrogant in the Clan School. After several joint efforts by Wang Shouzhe and Liu Ruolan, that "girl" had become quite "well-behaved," at least on the surface.

"Sister-in-law, you are too polite."

Long Wuji quickly returned the courtesy.

He had been too anxious earlier and hadn't observed Liu Ruolan closely. Now, as he took a closer look, he felt a slight chill.

This sister-in-law had an ethereal aura, both vast like a flowing river and sharp like a cascading waterfall. It was clear that her understanding of water laws was profound, making him feel a bit apprehensive.

It seemed that Shouzhe's wife was no simple character.

The most crucial part was that his previous information on the Wang Clan had very little about this matron. If he hadn't seen her in person, he wouldn't have known that Shouzhe's wife was so deeply hidden.

She was hidden too well~

After the formal introductions.

Jiang Yusong also arrived slowly with Wang Shizhao at Broken Dragon Gorge.

Wang Shizhao was only forty-six this year, a young lad compared to the surrounding big shots. His aptitude was average, barely reaching the level of a prodigy.

He was often busy assisting his father and grandfather with family affairs, so his cultivation progress wasn't particularly fast, only reaching the mid-stage of the fifth level of the Lingtai Realm.

He still had a long way to go to reach the Celestial Realm.

Lingtai Realm cultivators could fly for a while, but they were far inferior to those in the Celestial Realm. Without Jiang Yusong's help, he wouldn't have been able to keep up.

As soon as he arrived, he obediently took out tables and dishes from his storage ring and set them up again. "Grandfather, Head Long, everything is ready. Please take your seats."

Long Wuji immediately sat back at the table. "Shouzhe, why don't you open the sluice gate a bit and let the water out slowly? We brothers haven't seen each other for fifty years. We can drink slowly, no rush."

"No rush, let the water accumulate a bit more." Wang Shouzhe smiled. "Our Wang Clan's engineering team and smelting workshop products are reliable. They can handle a bit of water."

You can handle it, but my heart can't!

Long Wuji's cheek muscles twitched.

The more water accumulated, the stronger the impact when it was released. No wonder Wang Shouzhe emphasized the high and sturdy riverbank he built earlier. He was waiting for Long Wuji here~!

If it really came to it, he would have to secretly order the fleet to approach the Changning Garrison dock.

"Brother Long," Wang Shouzhe seemed to see through his thoughts, "while we brothers drink, your Flood Dragon fleet must not move. Otherwise, my people might mistake it for an attack on Ping'an Town and blow up the Broken Dragon Sluice to protect themselves. If there's a misunderstanding, it won't end well."

Long Wuji's face grew darker. He said in a deep voice, "Shouzhe, I admit defeat this time. If you want to associate with Wu Mingyuan, I won't stop you. After this drink, I'll withdraw my fleet."

Long Wuji was a man of loyalty, highly valuing his subordinates. No matter how much he wanted Wang Shouzhe to join him, he wouldn't risk the lives of thousands of his men.

"Brother Long, you've come all this way. Why rush to leave?" Wang Shouzhe poured him a drink, smiling warmly. "Are you dissatisfied with my hospitality?"

Hearing this, a dangerous glint flashed in Long Wuji's deep eyes, and his aura became threatening. "Shouzhe, do you really want to keep me here?"

"Brother Long, you're a man of loyalty and righteousness. Even though we are in different camps, I admire you greatly. But I have a few heartfelt words that I must say." Wang Shouzhe said solemnly.

Long Wuji's expression softened, and he raised his glass with a smile. "I knew it. With my eye for people, how could someone I value so highly be so lacking in character? Alright, I'll listen to what you have to say."

"Ruolan, go and slowly open the Broken Dragon Sluice, so Brother Long can drink in peace." Wang Shouzhe smiled and instructed Liu Ruolan.

"Husband..." Liu Ruolan glanced at Long Wuji, still a bit apprehensive.

"No worries, Brother Long is a man of his word." Wang Shouzhe praised Long Wuji, "Since he said he admits defeat, he won't go back on his word."

"Yes, husband."

Liu Ruolan bowed and left gracefully.

Soon, a rumbling sound came from within Broken Dragon Gorge. The Broken Dragon Sluice opened a gap, and the accumulated water gushed out, creating a spectacular sight.

However, this controlled release wouldn't cause a massive impact downstream, nor could it destroy the fleet. The accumulated water would be gradually released over several days.

"Shouzhe, this 'Broken Dragon Sluice' is truly remarkable, ingeniously designed." Long Wuji, now relaxed, praised the sluice. "Only an immortal dynasty like Han Yue would use such methods to manage rivers."

Han Yue Immortal Dynasty, a name Wang Shouzhe had heard countless times. It was said to have a long history, immense strength, and a territory many times larger than the Great Qian, with advanced methods unimaginable to the people of Great Qian.

Currently, his niece Wang Lici was traveling with her master in the Han Yue Immortal Dynasty.

Hearing so much about it, even Wang Shouzhe couldn't help but yearn for the legendary immortal dynasty. However, as the head of his clan, he couldn't find the time to visit Han Yue Immortal Dynasty anytime soon.

"Shouzhe's Ping'an Town has the makings of a town under Han Yue Immortal Dynasty's rule." Long Wuji praised as he drank. "The port is well-organized, the riverbank is grand and sturdy, and the people live in peace and prosperity. It's truly admirable."

Long Wuji had been observing Wang Shouzhe for a long time, so he knew quite a bit about Ping'an Town.

Ping'an Town's prosperity couldn't compare to the commandery city or Shangjing City, but among garrison towns, it was one of the best.

More importantly, this was Wang Shouzhe's achievement in just seventy years. Other prosperous places had taken centuries or even millennia to accumulate their wealth and strength, making them incomparable.

This was one reason why Long Wuji admired and respected Wang Shouzhe.

"It's a pity that you and I are not on the same path." Long Wuji sighed, looking somewhat dejected.

"Actually, I did consider Brother Long's invitation back then." Wang Shouzhe clinked glasses with him and took a sip. "I even spent a lot of time and effort studying Commandery Prince Kang's achievements, character, and personality."

"And what did you find?" Long Wuji asked, intrigued.

"I found that Commandery Prince Kang has a harmonious family, and after marrying Zhao Yijing, a direct descendant of the Zhao Clan, they have been respectful to each other. He is strict with his descendants, displaying royal demeanor, and his family has never caused any scandals." Wang Shouzhe pondered. "He is skilled in forming alliances, maintaining good relations with major clans, princes, and commandery princes, and has garnered significant support. Even in the Holy Land, he has a good reputation."

"I heard he recently went to the outer region battlefield with Gongyang Ce. With their skills and strategies, they are bound to earn many merits and gradually gain respect in the military."

"Overall, Commandery Prince Kang is an excellent quasi-imperial heir, with many commendable qualities."

The more Long Wuji listened, the more he felt something was off. He couldn't help but frown. "If he's so excellent, why don't you pledge your loyalty to him? Are you really going to sacrifice your future for a marriage contract?"

"But his excellence is all in service of becoming the Emperor. It feels like he's been preparing for the throne since childhood." Wang Shouzhe sighed, his eyes heavy. "Of course, this isn't wrong. Given his status, bloodline, and age, he fits the criteria for a quasi-imperial heir. Your Prince Dexin must have had high hopes for him since childhood."

"Indeed." Long Wuji nodded. "Our Ancestor Dexin has valued Wu Chengsi since he was young, teaching him to the standards of a quasi-imperial heir from his teens, with strict requirements and no room for error. Even his marriage was carefully chosen, waiting until he was over forty to marry a direct descendant of the Zhao Clan. And Wu Chengsi has worked hard, satisfying Ancestor Dexin and other princes."

"Exactly." Wang Shouzhe's lips curled in understanding. "With high expectations from a young age, carrying the mission of vying for the throne, every step he takes is to get closer to the throne, constantly delivering satisfactory results to his elders, growing amidst praise."

"Even when forming alliances, he uses underhanded tactics, like secretly stirring up internal conflicts within clans or coercing others to take sides, with an arrogant 'submit or perish' attitude."

Long Wuji's face turned a bit sour. "Shouzhe, don't insult my family."

"I'm just stating facts, not targeting you." Wang Shouzhe frowned. "In Commandery Prince Kang, I see many so-called 'imperial tactics.' There's nothing wrong with forming alliances, suppressing, dividing, and beautifying oneself. The problem is, he's used to relying on these tactics to achieve his goals, lacking the grandeur and vision a true emperor should have."

"If you look at history, you'll see that Emperor Longchang, when vying for the throne, also used some clever tactics but also accomplished many practical deeds. His vision, strategy, and wisdom were unparalleled, truly embodying the imperial demeanor."

"Even the grand goals he set in his youth, like 'expanding Tianfu, opening Longzuo, developing Monan, and conquering Liaobei,' which seemed like fantasies at the time, have now been realized one by one. The overall strength of the Great Qian has more than doubled since then."

"That's because Wu Chengsi hasn't become the Emperor yet. Though I admit he likes to embellish himself, he also has grand ambitions." Long Wuji argued. "He and Gongyang Ce formed the 'Dawn' organization with lofty goals, aiming to strengthen the nation, conquer Southern Qin, and defeat Western Jin, enhancing the Great Qian's prestige."

"The 'Dawn' organization?" Wang Shouzhe sneered. "Using Commandery Prince Kang's name, it has indeed attracted many talents and is growing in strength. But it's just a tool for power struggles, a sword to eliminate dissent."

"Besides, under our Emperor's rule, is the Great Qian really shrouded in darkness? Dawn, dawn, what dawn are they breaking? Who are they insulting?"

"Has this organization done anything beneficial for the country and its people? Have they infiltrated enemy nations, sacrificing themselves to eliminate hidden threats? Or have they organized disaster relief for the annual natural disasters?"

"To Commandery Prince Kang, the eight hundred million commoners of the Great Qian are just ants, and the local clans are mere lackeys. The imperial power and control are all he cares about."

"Shouzhe, stop there..." Long Wuji's forehead was sweating.

"There are no outsiders here. As I said, I have some things I need to say." Wang Shouzhe said calmly. "Even if Commandery Prince Kang embellishes his achievements, it's only to please the high-ranking nobles. He has never cared about the droughts, floods, earthquakes, or plagues in various places. How can such a pretentious quasi-imperial heir become a good emperor? Even your Flood Dragon Gang, a water pirate organization, helps with disaster relief along the An River. What about him?"

Long Wuji took a deep breath. "Shouzhe, you can criticize Wu Chengsi all you want. But I must clarify one thing: our Flood Dragon Gang is a legitimate registered business, not a pirate organization."

But he had to admit, after Wang Shouzhe's analysis, he also felt that Wu Chengsi was a bit too pretentious.

He had vaguely felt that something was off about Wu Chengsi's behavior before but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

After all, they were from the same lineage, and his upbringing was similar to Wu Chengsi's, though less strict. Even with his rebellious nature, he was still influenced by it.

But Wang Shouzhe's description of "pretentious" was quite accurate.

Looking back, everything that had seemed off now made sense.

But even though he agreed with Wang Shouzhe, he still defended Wu Chengsi. "Wu Chengsi is still young. He has plenty of time to learn once he becomes the Emperor."

No matter how much of a scoundrel Wu Chengsi was, he was still from the Dexin lineage. His grandfather was Long Wuji's uncle, and Wu Chengsi's wife was a direct descendant of An Guogong's Mansion, who had to call Long Wuji's mother "aunt."

"Whether he learns or not, I don't know. But as the saying goes, 'the child is the father of the man.' Commandery Prince Kang's problem lies in his upbringing." Wang Shouzhe analyzed. "Prince Dexin was once a great prodigy, but he was born at the wrong time, missing the opportunity to vie for the throne. So he pinned all his hopes on Commandery Prince Kang, making his education too urgent. The root of the problem lies with Prince Dexin."

"Shouzhe, that's enough. Prince Dexin is my Ancestor..." Long Wuji's face darkened, looking ready to fight.

Jiang Yusong and Wang Shizhao, standing nearby, were sweating bullets.

"Then let's talk about Prince Yong'an, who spent his life being timid..."

"That's my father!" Long Wuji was so angry he laughed. "Wang Shouzhe, are you trying to provoke me into fighting you? My father may have his faults, but you can't insult him!"

"Alright, alright, I'll give Brother Long some face." Wang Shouzhe stopped and asked, "Do you think forcing me to pledge loyalty to such a master is pushing me into a fire pit?"

"Uh... I didn't think so before, but now that you mention it, it does seem that way." Long Wuji felt a bit awkward. "Forget it, forget it. This matter has failed anyway. Do whatever you want, Shouzhe. It's just that thinking about us being in opposing camps in the future makes me feel quite depressed."

"Brother Long, are you still planning to support Commandery Prince Kang? What are you after?" Wang Shouzhe looked at him curiously.

"What else? He's my nephew..." Long Wuji felt conflicted. "The relationship is there. I can't just support Wu Mingyuan, can I?"

If he dared to do that, his father and Ancestor Dexin would beat him to death.

"Brother Long, do you have any dreams?" Seeing Long Wuji wavering, Wang Shouzhe delivered the final blow.

"Dreams?"

Long Wuji was stunned and then fell into deep thought.

After a long while, he drank several cups of wine and said slowly, "Maybe, to achieve something and prove myself... and to stay far away, not wanting to see that old..."

"In that case, I have an idea." Wang Shouzhe suggested. "Brother Long, you know the world is vast, and the overseas territories are expansive. Why don't we join forces to explore the overseas territories?"

"Explore overseas?" Long Wuji's eyes lit up. "Shouzhe, this aligns with my thoughts. But the overseas waters are treacherous, and the risks are high."

"Exploring overseas, whether for trade or development, contributes to the Great Qian, better than internal strife." Wang Shouzhe persuaded. "Brother Long, you took the surname Long but are confined to the An River with the Flood Dragon Gang. At best, you'll be a river dragon. Only by entering the sea can you become a true dragon and show your true potential."

"Well said." Long Wuji was excited. "I've long been tired of this small An River. Returning to the sea is my true stage and destiny. Shouzhe, your words have touched my heart."

"As expected of my brother, with grand ambitions. Come, let's drink, and later I'll show you the ironclad ship I've spent decades designing."

"Cheers!... Wait, ironclad ship? Sails can't move an ironclad ship, can they? Are you using formations? But that would burn too many spiritual stones."

"Of course, it's not purely driven by formations. Let me keep a little secret for now. We'll see after we finish this drink..."

"Drink? Let's go see it now. If it works, I'll call you big brother."

"But Brother Long, we are still in opposing camps..."

"Opposing camps? What camps? Wu Chengsi won't miss one supporter, and having one more won't make a difference. Shouzhe, let's join forces to explore the overseas world, regardless of sides."

"Of course, it's not about sides. We're joining forces to contribute to the Great Qian's rise. Come, cheers."

"Cheers!"

Men's love and romance for metal ships seemed ingrained in their bones. From the moment he heard "ironclad ship," Long Wuji was excited.

Halfway through the drink, he eagerly asked Wang Shouzhe to take him to see the ironclad ship.

Then, an even more excited Long Wuji continued drinking with Wang Shouzhe.

They drank for several days.

Even though Long Wuji was a Zifu Ancestor with a robust constitution, without using profound energy to expel the alcohol, he ended up quite tipsy after a few days. In his drunken state, he even swore brotherhood with Wang Shouzhe.

From then on, the titles "Brother Long" and "Brother Shouzhe" were officially established.

And after this drinking session, Long Wuji was completely on Wang Shouzhe's "pirate ship," ready to conquer the vast ocean and reign supreme on the seas.

However.

The news of Long Wuji swearing brotherhood with Wang Shouzhe and their plans for comprehensive commercial cooperation and overseas exploration spread like wildfire.

Soon, even Guilong City was abuzz with the news.

The "Fifty-Year Pact" between Long Wuji and Wang Shouzhe, and the mutual admiration between the brothers, became a hot topic of conversation.

For the lower-tier clans, this was just idle gossip. But for the upper-tier clans, it was like a stone thrown into a thousand waves.

Long Wuji, the head of the Flood Dragon Gang, was the son of Prince Yong'an and an important figure in the Dexin Prince lineage. This was a semi-public secret among the upper-tier clans, known to all but unspoken.

Now, such a person had allied with the "opposing camp" of the Changning Wang Clan. Did this not indicate internal strife within the Dexin Prince lineage?

The series of disturbances this caused among the upper-tier clans was another story.

In the palace, within Zhuozheng Pavilion.

Emperor Longchang was half-lying on a wide, comfortable chair, his eyes half-closed, looking very content. Old Yao stood beside him, narrating the events with great detail.

If one listened closely, it would be shocking.

Every word he said was what Wang Shouzhe and Long Wuji had spoken while drinking at Broken Dragon Gorge. Old Yao's retelling was vivid, capturing the tone and phrasing perfectly.

It was unclear who had leaked the conversation to the Emperor.

"Looking at the historical records, you'll see that our Emperor Longchang..." Old Yao said this part with a particularly fawning smile. After finishing, he added, "Your Majesty, although Wang Shouzhe is the head of a small rural clan, he has some insightful views. He knows how hard Your Majesty has worked and acknowledges your remarkable achievements."

Emperor Longchang's old face wore a satisfied smile. "Old Yao, do you think Wang Shouzhe said this on purpose, knowing one of my people was with Long Wuji?"

"Your Majesty overthinks. Wang Shouzhe even criticized your youthful clever tactics~" Old Yao said with a smile. "Jiang Yusong, whom I personally trained, is discreet and well-hidden. His identity and backstory are flawless, and he has been with Prince Yingji for years without being exposed. Even if Wang Shouzhe is a genius, he couldn't have known he was your man."

"Clever tactics." Emperor Longchang's smile faded, looking somewhat displeased. "I call it strategic brilliance! Hmph~ If he said that to my face, I'd show him the true 'imperial might.'"

"Forget it, forget it. Considering his other comments were 'fair,' I'll reluctantly forgive him this once. Continue, Old Yao."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Old Yao, knowing Emperor Longchang's temperament, showed no reaction and continued with a smile.

"Our Great Qian, under Emperor Longchang's rule, is not shrouded in darkness."

"Dawn, dawn, what dawn are they breaking? Who are they insulting?"

"The imperial power, the desire to control everything, is all he cares about."

"He has never cared about the droughts, floods, earthquakes, or plagues in various places..."

"How can such a pretentious quasi-imperial heir become a good emperor?"

As he continued, Old Yao began to sweat but dared not alter the words, so he continued verbatim.

Emperor Longchang's face grew darker and more ominous.

"Bang!"

The desk made of thousand-year-old spiritual wood shattered into dust.

Old Yao shivered in fear and immediately fell silent.

"In the eyes of Dexin's lineage, am I the darkness looming over them?"

"Dexin, you resort to such unscrupulous methods to groom Commandery Prince Kang because you resent me for aging too slowly, causing you to miss your chance?"

Emperor Longchang's voice was low and angry.

His face was as dark as it could get. "Summon that wretch Wu Chengsi to see me!"

"Your Majesty, Commandery Prince Kang and Great Prodigy Ce are at the outer region battlefield, fighting the enemy." Old Yao said, sweating.

"Fighting the enemy? Ha~ Shouzhe was right. It's all to glorify and embellish himself. He's won over the court officials, the top clans of many commanderies, the Zhao Clan, and the princes. Now, he's aiming to win over the military. Truly, a grand strategist, Commandery Prince Kang."

"If I don't abdicate, he might even rebel one day."

"Dawn, my foot!"

……

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