Chapter 158: The Prisoner

As Zhang Juzheng finished reading the imperial edict, everyone's expression changed dramatically.

Emperor Jiajing of Great Ming?

What a brilliant move!

Appointed as Grand Tutor!

Admitted into the Grand Secretariat!

Ranked as a top-tier official of the first grade!

Such a magnificent gesture truly proved that Emperor Jiajing was without peer among the monarchs of the mortal world!

What a grand vision!

Zhang Juzheng’s opening stroke was equally extraordinary.

By preemptively reading the imperial decree, he had seized the psychological initiative.

Following Great Ming, even if the four nations of Chu, Wei, Han, and Wu were to use first-grade official positions to recruit Guiguzi, it would be difficult to match the impact of Zhang Juzheng's move.

To take one step ahead was to remain ahead at every step!

Even Fan Li could not help but praise inwardly, knowing that Zhang Juzheng was truly worthy of being Great Ming's final virtuous chancellor!

"Splendid, Teacher! I had no idea you were carrying this imperial edict with you?!" Crown Prince Wanli's expression turned complex as he looked at Zhang Juzheng, his emotions a mixture of delight and frustration.

What delighted him was that Zhang Juzheng had seized the initiative, single-handedly turning around the unfavorable momentum caused by the failure at the Flaming Mountains.

What angered him was that Zhang Juzheng had carried Emperor Jiajing's edict with him all along, concealing it even from him.

This time, Great Ming's recruitment of Guiguzi should have been the sole merit of Crown Prince Wanli.

Given Zhang Juzheng's wisdom, he would never dare to contend with the Crown Prince for credit.

Yet, a single imperial decree had instantly washed away all of Crown Prince Wanli's previous efforts.

Assuming Guiguzi joined Great Ming, it would merely prove the boundless grace of Emperor Jiajing!

As for the Crown Prince, he would at most be regarded as an errand runner.

"Sigh..." Zhang Juzheng also sighed inwardly: "His Majesty has always been fond of grand achievements, which indirectly deprived the Crown Prince of an opportunity to build his legacy. Even I am caught in the middle, finding it difficult to please either side."

As the reading of the edict concluded, Guiguzi’s figure shifted atop Mount Yunmeng.

He seemed to be gazing down at the mountain, yet he offered no explicit response.

At that moment, the Holy Sovereign of Metal-Virtue suddenly spoke:

"Guiguzi, the Pure Land of Sanskrit Chant is about to found its nation, and my elder sister, Holy Sovereign Yaoguang, shall become a sovereign empress of an era!"

"If you are willing to pledge your allegiance, the position of founding chancellor and leader of all officials shall belong to none other than you!"

"Pfft!"

Someone let out a light chuckle, filled with utter disdain and contempt.

"Who is it!?"

The Holy Sovereign of Metal-Virtue snapped in anger. Looking in the direction of the sound, she discovered it was Crown Prince Wanli.

Right in front of Guiguzi, even with her Mahayana realm cultivation, she dared not make a move against Crown Prince Wanli.

"Simple-minded." Fan Li shook his head inwardly as well.

Although the Pure Land of Sanskrit Chant possessed a terrifying reputation and was the top cultivation sacred ground in the mortal world,

it possessed virtually no secular foundation. It lacked the necessary land, population, and other conditions required to establish a nation, and no one knew how many years away its founding might be.

Talk of a founding chancellor and leader of all officials was nothing more than a reflection of the moon in the water or a flower in a mirror.

To attempt to recruit Guiguzi with such empty promises was nothing short of delusional nonsense.

Fan Li, conversely, found it rather strange.

Compared to Crown Prince Wanli, the Holy Sovereign of Metal-Virtue seemed more like a pure errand runner.

With her intelligence, how could she possibly hope to recruit Guiguzi?

If Holy Sovereign Yaoguang had not prepared a backup plan, this trip to Mount Yunmeng would have been entirely in vain.

"Teacher is above!"

Zhuge Liang suddenly stepped forward and knelt upon the ground.

"Should Teacher be willing to descend the mountain and assist Holy Sovereign Yaoguang in founding the nation, our Great Han is willing to offer the Chancellery Seal and invite Teacher to concurrently serve as the Chancellor of Great Han!"

As these words fell, they caused a shockwave as if the heavens had split open!

Great Han had not been established long, but it was a nation nonetheless.

To support the Pure Land of Sanskrit Chant with the power of an entire nation—such an alliance was utterly unprecedented!

Crown Prince Wanli wore an expression of sheer disbelief, while Zhang Juzheng's expression shifted numerous times before finally settling into a face as calm as still water.

"So that's how it is..."

Fan Li glanced at Zhuge Liang, then at the Holy Sovereign of Metal-Virtue, understanding dawning in his heart.

This declaration by Great Han must have been agreed upon beforehand among Holy Sovereign Yaoguang, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan.

As soon as Zhuge Liang finished speaking, Zhou Yu immediately knelt and reported:

"I implore Teacher to descend the mountain and assist Holy Sovereign Yaoguang. Great Wu is also willing to offer its Chancellery Seal and invite Teacher to concurrently serve as the Chancellor of Great Wu!"

Guo Jia knelt immediately afterward.

"If Teacher is able to assist Holy Sovereign Yaoguang, the Emperor of Wei is likewise willing to present the Chancellery Seal and invites Teacher to graciously accept it!"

At this moment, even Fan Li could not help but marvel.

Holy Sovereign Yaoguang?

What a magnificent stroke!

With a single descent from Mount Guigu, he could take hold of the Chancellery Seals of four nations at once?

"Hey? Aren't you going to make a statement?" Lü Fubao whispered to Fan Li.

Presently, only the Great State of Chu had yet to declare its stance.

Fan Li stood there dryly, looking rather awkward.

"Not at all." Fan Li shrugged, replying in an equally hushed tone. "I was just making up the numbers anyway."

"Your Chu nation's Chancellery Seal..."

"The Chancellery Seal belongs to yours truly. Up and down the Great State of Chu, apart from that dragon chair in the Golden Throne Hall, everything else belongs to me!"

Hearing Fan Li's rogue remarks, Lü Fubao could not help rolling her eyes, yet she found it immensely amusing.

Atop Mount Yunmeng.

Everyone gazed upward, but after waiting for a long half-day, Guiguzi in the pavilion offered no reaction whatsoever.

It was as if, in his eyes, a first-grade cabinet minister of Great Ming and the Chancellery Seals of four nations were not enough to move his heart in the slightest.

What on earth did Guiguzi actually want?

This was already authority second only to an emperor in this world; surely they could not invite him down the mountain to become the emperor himself?

"This fellow..."

Fan Li gazed at Guiguzi on the mountain peak, muttering under his breath, only to be stepped on the foot by Lü Fubao.

"He is a hermit of high virtue, what do you mean by calling him 'this fellow'?"

"Careful if Mr. Guiguzi hears you and defects to Great Ming on the spot, you'll regret it to your dying breath!"

Fan Li chuckled dryly, though he remained unimpressed in his heart.

Guiguzi's previous voice transmission had already planted a certain suspicion in his mind.

Now, watching Guiguzi in the pavilion remain unmoved by the invitations of the major powers only solidified that hypothesis.

Only, this hypothesis was far too shocking; he scarcely dared to voice it aloud.

Fan Li felt that Guiguzi was truly a prisoner—a captive utterly incapable of leaving Mount Yunmeng.

This journey to Mount Yunmeng, rather than various factions inviting Guiguzi to descend the mountain, was more akin to Guiguzi luring people in to rescue him!

Fan Li simply could not fathom how there could be a shut-in of over a thousand years in this world.

And he had no idea whether the Guiguzi on the mountain was the second or third generation of the title?

"Great Chu..."

As Fan Li's mind wandered wildly, he heard the voice of Guiguzi.

"Does Great Chu have anything to say?"

Among all the factions present, only Fan Li had yet to state his position.

Everyone looked at him in astonishment!

This was the first time Guiguzi had explicitly named a specific faction to speak.

"Teacher! Could it be that Guiguzi intends to side with Great Chu?" Crown Prince Wanli thought anxiously.

Zhang Juzheng offered a bitter smile.

He was not a roundworm in Guiguzi's belly; how could he possibly know?

Besides... Zhang Juzheng cast a sideways glance at Fan Li, feeling a headache of monumental proportions.

"This Duke of Jin is truly a rare anomaly in this world, always acting beyond expectations, completely impossible to control or calculate against."

"Sigh, could it be that I am inferior to him?"

Fan Li scratched his head; he genuinely had no idea what to say.

First of all, he had no intention whatsoever of helping the Pure Land recruit Guiguzi.

Secondly, if Fan Li were to recruit him himself, the terms he offered could never be the chancellorship of a nation.

Pondering it this way, there seemed to be no point in wasting his breath?

Suddenly!

An inspiration flashed through Fan Li's mind!

Assuming Guiguzi was indeed a prisoner, what could he promise him that would exchange for his loyalty?

"Freedom!"

Fan Li blurted out instinctively.

"Mr. Guiguzi, if you are willing to follow this Duke, this Duke will surely help you leave Mount Yunmeng!"