Desperados Attack - Chapter 67 - Will

Han Lan was not an ordinary person. Even if he couldn’t fully gauge the situation of the world, the fact that he could subtly mock in front of the King without disturbing him proved that he was definitely no common man. Now, he asked only to see the abilities of this hermit, Liuchuan.

“Uh…”

Liuchuan seemed a bit unimpressed with Han Lan’s performance, almost considering him a fool.

“General, do you really not know? Han is currently located in a central area, with Chu to the east, Qi to the west, and neighboring Qin watching eagerly. Han sits in the heart of the central plains, a strategic location coveted by military tacticians. Currently, they refrain from attacking, and I believe the only reason is to avoid the pretext of an unjustified invasion, which could provoke attacks from other countries. The King of Han consistently maintains a neutral stance, never engaging in conflicts with other kings, and the citizens uphold an indomitable martial spirit. These are the main reasons Han can avoid turmoil.”

Han Lan nodded repeatedly, thinking, “Not bad, it seems this person truly is a sage from beyond the worldly realm.”

He then clasped his fists in respect and said, “Sir, you truly are a wise man. Indeed, this is both an advantage and a disadvantage for Han. Situated in prime territory, it’s a battleground for strategists. But as you mentioned, Han was initially one of the Seven Heroes, relying on Jin. We once divided the world alongside Zhao and Wei, but over time, Han has grown weaker. After my grandfather’s death, my father could barely defend our lands and couldn’t resist strong nations. This time, I was ordered as the vanguard to fend off Wei’s aggression. Although we won the battle, over half the troops were lost. Sir, to be frank, these twenty thousand soldiers are over half of Han’s forces. If Wei returns, I fear we can no longer stand firm!”

His words were filled with hope for his nation’s strength, yet Han Lan never harbored ambitions of becoming king. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to; he simply couldn’t risk a coup or dethrone a rightful heir. His eloquent speech was merely a way to find a good future for his country.

“General, knowing this, you surely understand that no ordinary method can save Han.”

Hearing this, Han Lan straightened up and said, “Sir, you are the embodiment of the great Kunpeng of the Northern Continent. With a mere call, you can rally talents from across the land. I believe you must have a solution. Please, enlighten me, and I will be forever grateful.”

“Eh…”

Liuchuan waved his hand and said, “General, there’s no need for such words. I do have a plan. This strategy will not only help Han forever avoid enemy invasion but also enable it to launch an offensive, sweeping across the six nations and unifying the land!”

Seeing Liuchuan’s assured demeanor, Han Lan eagerly asked, “Oh? What is this plan?”

Liuchuan laughed heartily and said, “It is to find the ancient artifact!”

“What exactly is an ancient artifact?”

After the era of the Three Sovereigns, both divine and devil’s artifacts vanished into hidden corners of the world, and the knowledge of what these artifacts truly were became lost to all.

For someone like Han Lan, a commoner, such things were unheard of.

“We only need to obtain the White Tiger Banner and the Black Wolf Banner, and with just one of them, we could unify the world!”

“…….”

Han Lan quietly listened to Liuchuan’s detailed explanation.

“The White Tiger Banner can summon tigers, and the Black Wolf Banner can command wolves. Both of these artifacts were crafted by the ancient master craftsman, Zha Tian, and his junior disciple. Just one person wielding either artifact could fend off an army of tens of thousands.”

“Oh? Are you joking, sir?”

Could he believe the man before him? From his refined discourse, it was understandable that Han Lan yearned for such a sage, but the more miraculous the claims, the harder they were to comprehend, causing some discomfort in his heart.

“General, please look!”

Liuchuan pulled out a flask made of leather from his bosom, neither too large nor too small, about the size of a palm, with the character for “demon” inscribed on the front.

“Ah, sir, you truly appreciate the finer things, indulging in wine so late at night, a rarity in this world indeed!”

His implied meaning already formed some opinion of the man before him, but true sages are rare finds. So far, he had yet to see anything extraordinary about him, so he had to keep watching.

Liuchuan then opened the flask lid, and with a “gulp, gulp,” two mouthfuls of wine were downed.

“Wine?”

“It is and it isn’t!”

“Your words, sir, are beyond my comprehension. Please, could you explain clearly?”

“This is called the ‘Jiuli Pot’!”

“The Jiuli Pot?”

“Yes, the Jiuli Pot, a possession of Chi You, the chieftain of the Jiuli Tribe, and one of the ancient mystical treasures. It can create everything imaginable and has astonishing destructive power. Inside, it contains a bizarre space so vast it could seemingly envelop the heavens and the earth within.”

“Oh? This object can also swallow the sky and earth?”

Liuchuan nodded and said, “Exactly so, General, please look!”

He raised his hand and pointed towards the crescent moon overhead, saying, “Just watch this moon.”

After uttering a spell towards the pot, indeed, it demonstrated its ability to swallow the sky. A fierce wind that seemed capable of moving mountains and valleys effortlessly sucked the crescent moon into the pot.

Suddenly, it was pitch dark all around.

“General, could this item be of help to you?”

Facing Liuchuan’s inquiry, Han Lan looked at the Jiuli Pot with astonishment and said, “Sir, you truly possess divine powers. Just a small pot, yet it can capture the moon inside. With such an artifact, why not use it to subdue our enemies? This could spare us numerous battles.”

Han Lan’s reasoning was sound, yet he was unaware that the Jiuli Pot could dissolve and melt everything inside it.

“It cannot be done!”

Liuchuan shook his head, saying, “The Jiuli Pot can dissolve what nothing else can. If we were to put people inside, hundreds of thousands would die unjust deaths.”

As he spoke, he released the moon back into the sky.

“Oh, I see, what a sin!”

Liuchuan nodded and said, “Indeed, you are kind-hearted, wishing to avoid battle by capturing them inside the pot. Now, we must prevail through martial force, compelling them to submit, otherwise there is no chance for reversal.”

Han Lan looked at the moon, lost in thought, contemplating his modest ambitions, hoping one day to discuss the affairs of the world with monks.

“I acknowledge you as my Lord, you may…….”

Before Liuchuan could finish, Han Lan hastily interrupted, saying, “It cannot be, it cannot be. As a subject, I must remain loyal to my king; as a son, filial piety comes first. You acknowledging me as your Lord would involve me in unrighteousness.”

“Are you suggesting I assist that inept king? Not to mention that he is your father, the king of our country, even if he were the head of a family, he might not manage everything well. I, Liuchuan, was once invited by envoys from two countries and offered no strategies. Now seeing you possess the aura of a sovereign, I chose to acknowledge you as my leader, only to find you so unappreciative. Well, let it be, let it be, perhaps we shall meet again if fate allows!”