Chapter 1539: Small Horse Pulling a Big Cart

The diversion of stones from Xilin Temple was certainly no accident; he had planned it for a long time.

People say the dignity of the true gods is inviolable. But conversely, this also means that the gods' bottom line is not very flexible and can be easily tested.

It's really not hard to anger them; just cross their line a couple more times.

King Yao certainly didn't want to cross that line, but in He Lingchuan's view, the nation had already done so repeatedly. Now, He Lingchuan would help him cross it once more, delivering a crushing blow, aiming to destroy the gods' patience in one swift stroke.

After more than a month of coordination and intense training, the crew working on the capital's eastern expansion now executed his commands with conditioned reflexes. No one questioned his orders, not even Prince Ruì.

Naturally, He Lingchuan was careful: the teams sent to dismantle Xilin Temple, transport and sort the materials, and assemble the Huan Table were not the same, nor even multiple overlapping groups of people.

He broke these two tasks down into countless steps, with different people performing each small part.

The capital expansion was a massive construction site where everyone was only responsible for their own duties and had no time for anything else.

Every day, countless materials seemed to appear out of nowhere. Who could trace their origin? Who would want to? With endless work and constant exhaustion, no one had the energy for nosy inquiries.

When He Lingchuan ordered the assembly, the teams naturally got to work without a second thought. After so many times, following He Lingchuan's instructions had always worked out; why would this time be any different?

"Logically, I should be safe until the capital's eastern expansion project is completed."

King Yao needed him, the officials of Yao Kingdom needed him, and Tianshui City also needed him. He used this "demand" as leverage against the ill will directed at him from the temple and Qingyang.

The mirror, ever critical, interjected, "And what if it's not logical?"

"There's another possibility," He Lingchuan stated in a flat tone, delivering a cruel prediction. "This project itself might never be completed. By then, Tianshui City will be turned upside down, and who would care about me?"

The mirror tutted, "You've finally revealed your true intentions."

"For Yao Kingdom to dare launch the capital's eastern expansion in this manner is like a small horse pulling a large cart—overestimating its own strength!" He Lingchuan laughed. "Everything has pros and cons. How could there be a method that expands Tianshui, fills the national treasury, enriches the monarch and his officials, and makes the common people rejoice all at once?"

If they couldn't even grasp this basic principle, then the Yao court deserved whatever misfortune came its way later.

"But it did get moving, didn't it? With your help, too."

"I've always said the most dangerous part of this plan isn't the start, but after it gets going!" He Lingchuan drew back the carriage curtain. The sun had already risen, and they were stepping into the morning light. "Do you think the small horse in front still dictates the direction and speed once the large cart is truly in motion?"

The mirror imagined the scene and couldn't help but say, "The small horse will be the most pitiful then."

It would be pushed along against its will; if its pace slowed, it would likely be crushed by the large cart.

The master remained as ruthless as ever.

"King Yao and the court officials are blinded by greed, seeing only benefits and overlooking risks," He Lingchuan said calmly. "Whether they are the horse or the cart no longer matters. I will lead them to collide with things they shouldn't, couldn't, and wouldn't dare to hit."

King Yao, his officials, and Yao Kingdom itself were now trapped on the same war chariot.

No matter who wanted to jump off midway, it was too late.

Under He Lingchuan's guidance, the first target this war chariot would strike was Miaozhantian.

"Can this really offend Miaozhantian so deeply?" the mirror wondered. "Diverting a few old stones doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Doesn't Miaozhantian have that much tolerance?"

"The incident itself isn't significant; the key is the attitude," He Lingchuan said slowly. "Yao Kingdom's attitude toward Miaozhantian, and toward the gods."

"Perhaps you'll need several such collisions for it to be effective?"

"Have you forgotten? There's also Qingyang!" Qingyang had recently kept a low profile, rarely speaking in court. King Yao might be elated, thinking he had finally gained the upper hand over her. But He Lingchuan knew that Qingyang, biding her time, was becoming increasingly dangerous.

"She has at least two characteristics." He Lingchuan held up a finger. "She seizes opportunities against enemies and never lets a single one slip by."

"And the other?"

"She's ruthless, and at critical moments, very skilled at sacrificing others to achieve her own goals."

"Ah?" The mirror was confused. "Where did you get that from?"

"From the Panlong World, of course," He Lingchuan said, stroking his chin.

On the Jintao front line, the young Lu Wushuang was merely an army supervisor for Xiluo. How did she achieve greater military power and personal renown?

By using He Lingchuan to oust Baimoji, who commanded the Beijia army.

If she could be ruthless against "her own people" when she was young, would she feel any pity when dealing with Yao Kingdom in her old age?

That old woman's heart was harder than stone.

"If Qingyang wants to severely punish Yao Kingdom, she won't miss such an excellent opportunity."

The mirror was surprised: "Is this an opportunity you deliberately created for Qingyang?"

Just how many steps ahead had this master planned?

"The deities of Shali Heaven have long said that Venerable Lingxu is very displeased with Yao Kingdom, but since Yao Kingdom worships Miaozhantian as its main deity, Qingyang would need at least Miaozhantian's consent to severely punish Yao Kingdom and King Yao, right?"

"As for Beijia... Qingyang being sent here as regent, doesn't that clearly indicate Yao Kingdom's growing independence, its desire to break free from Beijia's control?" The craving for independence and freedom is a nation's instinct. "But how could Beijia tolerate that? Her arrival is, in itself, an extremely dangerous signal for Yao Kingdom. Otherwise, why didn't Beijia send a regent to Yao Kingdom in the past two hundred years, and why specifically this year?"

"Have you noticed that these events are happening almost simultaneously?" He Lingchuan shook his head. "In my opinion, Yao Kingdom's situation is as precarious as a stack of eggs; 'tottering' wouldn't even be an exaggeration. Yet, the monarch and officials at court remain blissfully unaware of the imminent crisis."

"Is it really that dangerous?" the Soul Mirror wondered. "To me, this nation still seems to be in a state of peace and prosperity."

"Yao Kingdom has existed for nearly two hundred years, enjoying peace for too long. The current monarch has developed an insensitivity and cannot truly comprehend the gods' pettiness or Beijia's fearsomeness." The sun rose, shining brightly, and He Lingchuan lowered the carriage curtain. "This is a major strategic misjudgment, and also our best opportunity."

For his goals in Tianshui City to be realized, he needed to disrupt the tripartite relationship between Yao Kingdom, the gods, and Beijia.

Currently, this relationship was deteriorating rapidly.

That was enough; neither the gods nor Beijia had much patience.