Chapter 354 - 267: Controlling the Port, Heading for Kyoto

Chapter 354: Chapter 267: Controlling the Port, Heading for Kyoto

This was one of Wu Liangchen’s habits.

Even when a matter was all but guaranteed, he would always leave himself an escape route, just in case.

Under Wu Liangchen’s supervision, Yokoyama Daisuke obediently packed his belongings and prepared a horse-drawn carriage.

Taking advantage of the brief lull, Wu Liangchen summoned Yan Feng and Chen Baimei. He then had Yokoyama Daisuke hand over the port master’s token, allowing Yan Feng and Chen Baimei to act in his stead during his absence.

With the port’s management and patrolmen also under his firm control, the entire Bobin Port had effectively fallen into Wu Liangchen’s hands.

After giving a few simple instructions, Wu Liangchen set off that very night, taking Ota Masayuki and Yokoyama Daisuke straight to Kyoto.

Just as the map had shown, Bobin Port was only half a day’s journey from Kyoto. Coupled with the high speed of Yokoyama Daisuke’s carriage, they arrived at the city walls before dawn.

The Kyoto of the East Sea Kingdom was remarkably similar to that of the Great Yan Kingdom in both layout and style, only much smaller—a miniature version of Great Yan’s capital.

Since it was not yet dawn, the city gates were shut tight, but this was no obstacle for Yokoyama Daisuke.

He sent an attendant with his personal seal to have the gates opened.

After just a short wait, the city gates actually creaked open.

The carriage then drove into the city under the respectful gazes of the gate soldiers, heading directly for the northwest corner of Kyoto.

Yokoyama Daisuke’s residence was located there, as was the Yangxian Hall, making it a convenient location for whatever he had planned.

By now, the sky was gradually lightening, and early risers had begun to appear on the streets.

Wu Liangchen peered out the carriage window and observed the East Sea Kingdom’s Kyoto. The streets were narrow, the buildings on either side were crude, and even the pedestrians were dressed in rags, their faces sallow from malnutrition.

This was the capital, supposedly the most prosperous city in the East Sea Kingdom. If things were this bad here, one could only imagine how desolate the other regions must be.

No wonder Ichida Keizai had switched sides so quickly and harbored such hatred for the upper echelons of the East Sea Kingdom’s nobility.

The situation here was even more dire than in Great Yan.

It was only because their Monarch was a better storyteller, successfully duping everyone from top to bottom with the grand promise of conquering Great Yan.

The timely appearance of the Folangji merchants had further allowed the East Sea Kingdom, a nation with social conflicts already at a breaking point, to miraculously survive to this day.

But that was about to change.

Once news of the fleet’s complete annihilation before the Huangpu Guard spread, the East Sea Kingdom was bound to face immense turmoil.

At that point, the lower classes, seeing that the promised generous rewards would never materialize, would bury everything in their fury.

However, that had little to do with Wu Liangchen.

His only goal on this trip was to find those Folangji merchants and, through them, uncover clues about the hidden realms overseas.

Of course, before that, Wu Liangchen didn’t mind eliminating the so-called Monarch of the East Sea Kingdom first.

After all, he was the root of all this chaos.

Old Man Bai had been indirectly killed by him as well, and Wu Liangchen would not let such a grudge go easily.

So, he narrowed his eyes at the shadowy imperial palace in the distance and asked faintly, "Your Monarch lives in there, doesn’t he?"

"Most of the time, yes, but we can’t be certain of his exact location," Yokoyama Daisuke explained cautiously, not daring to look at Wu Liangchen’s expression.

"Even you can’t be certain?" Wu Liangchen said, turning to look at him.

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Yokoyama Daisuke’s forehead. Fortunately, Ota Masayuki came to his rescue at that moment.

"The Monarch does not grant audiences easily. In the traditions of our East Sea Kingdom, the Monarch is a god, not a man. A god cannot easily meet with mortals, as it would diminish his divinity."

"Divinity..." Wu Liangchen sneered. "Is it sharper than the blade in my hand?"

At these words, brimming with killing intent, the faces of the two men changed drastically.

They knew Wu Liangchen seeking an audience with the Monarch wouldn’t be for anything good, but they never expected him to be so direct.

And if the Monarch were killed, what would become of the East Sea Kingdom...?

The two of them dared not even imagine it.

The Monarch’s lineage was ancient, as old as the history of the East Sea Kingdom itself.

This was very different from Great Yan.

The history of Great Yan was a history of dynasties, one replacing the other in an endless cycle. It was a constant ’out with the old, in with the new,’ as various families took their turn as emperor.

But the East Sea Kingdom was different.

Their Monarch had long been deified, so even as power shifted, the Monarch always remained.

This was especially true for the current Monarch, who had used his superb political maneuvering to reclaim all power.

That was why he had become the most powerful Monarch in recent history.

But for that very reason, Yokoyama Daisuke and Ota Masayuki couldn’t imagine what would become of the country without a Monarch.

Wu Liangchen, however, didn’t care about any of that.

’The world would be a much better place,’ he thought, ’if there were fewer ambitious men in it.’

At that moment, the carriage arrived at the northwest corner of Kyoto. This area was much better off than the other parts of the city.

Both the streets and the surrounding buildings were a clear step up in quality.

"My home is just ahead. The Yangxian Hall is two alleys past it, but I don’t know if they are there right now," Yokoyama Daisuke explained.

"Let’s go to your place first. I’m going to get something to eat," Wu Liangchen said in a low voice.

Although his senses told him there was likely no one in the East Sea Kingdom’s capital who could defeat him, making thorough preparations before any action was a principle Wu Liangchen always followed.

"Yes!"

Yokoyama Daisuke cried out inwardly.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of Wu Liangchen eating; he was worried that if Wu Liangchen really did go on a killing spree at the imperial palace after his meal, he himself would have no way to explain it.

When that time came, Wu Liangchen could simply leave, but he would likely be torn to shreds by an angry mob.

But it was useless to think about that now.

The consequence of not following Wu Liangchen’s orders was immediate death.

And there was a difference between dying now and dying later.

And so, with a grim expression, Yokoyama Daisuke arrived at the gate of his home.

The guards at the entrance immediately opened the main gate upon seeing Yokoyama Daisuke’s carriage.

Although they didn’t know why the Patriarch had returned so early, Bobin Port wasn’t far from Kyoto, and Yokoyama Daisuke often came home, so it didn’t seem particularly strange.

Once the carriage entered the courtyard, family members who had heard the news already came out to greet him.

"My lord!"

"Father!"

Amid the clamor of voices, Yokoyama Daisuke stepped out of the carriage and waved his hand, signaling for everyone to withdraw.

The family members didn’t know what had happened, but seeing the gloomy look on Yokoyama Daisuke’s face, they knew he was in a foul mood and quickly dispersed.

Then, Wu Liangchen and Ota Masayuki also disembarked.

Wu Liangchen glanced around. The residence was quite impressive. While it couldn’t compare to the mansions of the powerful and noble families in Great Yan, it was certainly grand for the capital of the East Sea Kingdom.

"Master Wu, this way, please. I’ve already ordered the servants to prepare a meal. It will be served shortly," Yokoyama Daisuke said obsequiously, leading the way.

But just as they were walking toward the dining hall, a group of people suddenly appeared from around a corner of the covered walkway ahead.

One of them, a young girl in an extravagant dress, said with an excited look on her face, "Father, who is this young gentleman?"

The moment he saw her, Yokoyama Daisuke’s head throbbed.

Because this girl was his most beloved youngest daughter.

’How did she hear the news and show up here?’

But it was useless to think about that now. He could only put on a stern face and say grimly, "Insolence! This is an honored guest of the family. For a young lady like you to rush out here unannounced is completely improper! Servants, take your young miss away at once."

Yokoyama Daisuke had intended for the servants to take his youngest daughter away.

But to his surprise, she didn’t fall for it at all. Instead, her eyes sparkled as she stared at Wu Liangchen and suddenly asked, "Are you that Wu Liangchen from Great Yan?"

As soon as she spoke, the color drained from Yokoyama Daisuke’s face, and his heart leaped into his throat.

He had no idea how Wu Liangchen would respond.

If Wu Liangchen became suspicious, thinking his whereabouts had been exposed, and decided to start killing people, it would be a disaster.

But to his utter astonishment, none of his fears came to pass.

Wu Liangchen simply gave a faint smile and replied, "You recognize me?"