LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 8 - The Minister Wants to Fight, But the Ruler Surrenders First
Lu Ping barely had time to complain before he hurriedly opened the simulation panel to send a message to Luo Jinxuan, urging her to travel lightly and quickly return to the capital. Lu Ping also planned to send people to meet her, just in case.
However, Lu Ping had underestimated those old foxes in the court.
They remained silent during the flood crisis, and when the Quanrong invaded, they didn’t utter a word. But when it came to internal power struggles, each one was more capable than the last!
[Lu Ping, relying on the emperor’s favor, harbors ill intentions, forges a royal decree and seeks to install a new ruler. He is a traitor to the state!]
[Loyal ministers rise up, supporting the Chu Marquis, Luo Yingci, as the new ruler, and they eliminate the treacherous minister Lu Ping!]
Lu Ping’s heart sank upon reading this.
If they could turn black into white and accuse him of being a treacherous minister, it was likely that Li Wenfu had succeeded in his schemes. After all, history is written by the victors.
But Lu Ping still wanted to know how he had lost.
From what he knew, the Chu Marquis, Luo Yingci, was a straightforward and honest person. Although blunt, she was not an ambitious person. It seemed likely that she had been deceived by Li Wenfu.
Even though the simulation outcome was clear, Lu Ping clung to a sliver of hope. If Li Wenfu could deceive Luo Yingci, why couldn’t Lu Ping move her with reason and emotion?
Lu Ping wanted to use his military power to resist and then stabilize the situation before revealing the truth. However, constrained by his righteous character, he hesitated for a long time, unable to issue a command for mobilization.
In the end, Li Wenfu’s forces surrounded the Grand Commander’s residence, placing Lu Ping under house arrest.
It was over.
[The treacherous minister, Grand Commander Lu Ping, was captured. His former soldiers from the western frontier, without orders, left their posts to march on the capital, intending to stage a coup.]
[However, this ragtag force was no match for the royal army and was quickly routed without a fight.]
Lu Ping was enraged.
Li Wenfu, you scoundrel! Not only did you smear the western frontier soldiers by accusing them of attempting a coup, but how dare you call them a “ragtag force”?
They were the blood and backbone of the Great Jing Dynasty, heroes who had left their homes to defeat the Quanrong!
Without Lu Ping’s support and the escort of the frontier soldiers, Luo Jinxuan’s return to the capital was akin to walking into a trap.
Fortunately, the eyes of the people were clear.
Especially the people of the three provinces, including Yu, who had witnessed Lu Ping’s dedication to flood control and benefited from his reforms.
Given Lu Ping’s lone stand against the wolves in the court, wasn’t everything he did in the name of the people?
The people of the three provinces—millions of them—would not accept the accusation that Lu Ping sought to usurp the throne!
Tens of thousands of people wept, crying out Lu Ping’s name, demanding that the court restore his honor.
In response, Lu Ping was accused of inciting the populace.
Even though he had been slandered beyond recognition, Lu Ping refused to give in.
Heaven knows my conscience is clear!
But then, the final blow came.
[The Eldest Princess conspired with Grand Commander Lu Ping to depose the emperor. Upon being discovered, the Eldest Princess Luo Jinxuan committed suicide out of guilt.]
…
What is the most painful thing in the world?
When the minister wants to fight to the death, but the ruler surrenders first.
Lu Ping felt worse than if he had swallowed a bitter pill.
Han Marquis, how could you end your life so easily?
Don’t you think that dying is even more disgraceful than surrendering?
If you could just return to the capital safely and get hold of the imperial edict, we might still have a chance to turn things around!
[The imperial guards searched the Grand Commander’s residence and found a forged decree written by Lu Ping himself. The evidence was irrefutable, and the new ruler, enraged, sentenced him to death.]
“Alright, I was being too optimistic.”
At this point, Lu Ping’s hope was completely extinguished.
After two consecutive defeats, Lu Ping had no face left to restart the simulation.
All his efforts, his tireless work—what was it all for?
Wasn’t it all for the beautiful portrait of the Han Marquis, Luo Jinxuan?
But now that Luo Jinxuan was dead, what meaning was there left in living?
[Game Over.]
[Your life was legendary. You rose to prominence at a young age, controlled floods, repelled foreign invaders, reformed the tax system, and cleansed the bureaucracy. As Grand Commander, your prestige was unmatched.]
[In the year 522 of the Jing Calendar, you were falsely accused of “intending to install a new ruler” and imprisoned.]
[Unafraid to be crushed to pieces, you sought to leave your integrity in the world.]
[In the year 523 of the Jing Calendar, you hung yourself in the round earthen wall.]
[This simulation’s score: 40 points.]
[Historical Image: Positive.]
[Historical Evaluation: A great talent of his time, skilled in governance, who served his dynasty with distinguished achievements.]
[The Injustice of Lu Ping: After Grand Commander Lu Ping hanged himself, the people of the Great Jing Dynasty wept for him. Dark clouds covered Luoyang for days on end, obscuring the sky. Rumors spread, saying that Lu Ping had been wronged, and that even heaven and earth were moved. Others said that the Chu Marquis had framed Grand Protector Lu Ping, driving the Eldest Princess Luo Jinxuan to her death, and usurped the throne. Right Minister Li Wenfu, to quell the rumors, sent troops to suppress the unrest, but the people of the three provinces rose up in rebellion. The court barely won, and as a result, the Great Jing Dynasty’s national power declined. Seven years later, the Three Rivers Marquis led a revolt, overthrowing the Great Jing Dynasty.]
Seeing the related event, Lu Ping couldn’t help but shout, “Serves them right!”
Fortunately, this was just a simulation game, and Lu Ping had countless chances to start over.
But if things kept going like this, when would he ever get to be with the Han Marquis?
Lu Ping felt a shiver run down his spine as an idea struck him.
The first round had him with the Lü Bu template, and the second round with the Yu Qian template—both of whom didn’t have great endings in history.
Could this all be predestined?
Upon reflection, Lu Ping realized that his deaths in both rounds were eerily similar to how the historical figures themselves had died.
“Give this poor soul a template with a happy ending!”
Lu Ping prayed earnestly.
…
Luo Jinxuan also felt quite uncomfortable.
It was one thing to lose to Li Wenfu once—after all, the man had lived long and had seen more than she could ever dream of.
But to lose to him twice in a row?
How infuriating!
Damn Li Wenfu!
No matter how the next round begins, she must eliminate Li Wenfu first!
As for Lu Ping, though his actions in the second round were somewhat confusing—like inexplicably sending her to the frontier, which led to her losing control of the court—it seemed that he was the only one who truly had her best interests at heart.
“Fine then, given your loyalty, make sure you stick close to me in the next round…”
[On the day the Eldest Princess Luo Jinxuan committed suicide out of guilt, Grand Commander Lu Ping hung himself in the round earthen wall.]
Thinking of Lu Ping clinging to her, Luo Jinxuan’s cheeks flushed slightly. But when she saw in the simulation summary that Lu Ping chose to hang himself after her death, she became more convinced that he was just stubbornly hiding his true feelings. She pouted slightly and murmured, “Just don’t be so stubborn next time.”
[Retain simulation memory!]
[Start game!]
Thinking of Lu Ping, Luo Jinxuan felt a bit eager.
…
[Would you like to start the simulation?]
Lu Ping looked at the panel with indifference and emotionlessly chose “Yes.”
[Loading Map—]
[Identity Confirmed—]
[Your identity for this simulation is: A Retainer of the Chu Marquis]
[Randomly drawing a talent template, your talent for this simulation is: Chief Minister of a Prosperous Era!]
[Chief Minister of a Prosperous Era: You were born in troubled times, possess unparalleled knowledge, and are fearless. Your political abilities increase significantly, but your morality and reputation decrease.]
‘Chief Minister of a Prosperous Era—this is…’
‘The Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng of the Ming Dynasty?’
‘This was the pinnacle of all-powerful ministers!’
‘Just wait, Li Wenfu, this time, you’re going down for sure!’
‘Han Marquis, my dear Han Marquis, this time we’re definitely going to win!’
‘Wait a minute.’
‘Why is my identity that of a retainer to the Chu Marquis?’