Chapter 119: The Strategy of Fang and the Decisiveness of Du

Once the precious blade was presented, the atmosphere between the two sides turned amicable, as if they were old friends reunited after years of separation. Xiao Zhi was truly astonished by the simple-mindedness of the Turks. This "precious blade diplomacy" could essentially be considered a stepping stone on the road between the Han-Tang and the Turkic people.

Luo Gan and Ge Laye entered the tent and were taken aback by the scene. The atmosphere had shifted so rapidly from tense and uneasy to the current state where the men were drinking and draping their arms over each other’s shoulders. Ge Laye covered her mouth with an elegant hand, staring at the sight in disbelief. Luo Gan, meanwhile, looked at Ge Laye with his own sense of wonder: how could heaven bestow such a breathtaking, peerless beauty upon someone, yet trap them in the wrong gender?

Only the dagger on the table remained, gleaming brilliantly. Its blade caught the dancing firelight, radiating a restrained luster as if waiting for some major event to be decided by its edge.

In the city of Chang'an, undercurrents were surging. For the truly powerful, this was more than just a struggle of political machinations.

"The game has only just begun," Fang Xuanling said, his eyes sharp and piercing, as if he could discern the mysteries of heaven from everyone around him, thereby mastering his own fate. "The intelligence I received indicates that three players have already arrived in Chang'an. One is that kid who made a spectacle of himself doing calisthenics, but I still cannot be certain who the other is."

Du Ruhui let out a few dry chuckles before breaking into a cough. Both men were entering middle age; for them, the age of "knowing one's destiny" was only a few years away. To the ancients, they were already half-stepping into the grave. Despite being high-ranking officials, they were fighting against their own destiny.

Du Ruhui remarked, "Given our current situation, your chances of winning are higher. It is hard to imagine anyone in this world holding a hand of cards that could rival yours."

Fang Xuanling sneered, but his expression instantly shifted into a mask of deep, calculating composure.

"When preparations are complete, one grows complacent; when things are common, one feels no suspicion. We cannot eliminate our competitors in time, and I fear we may be counter-attacked in the next step."

Du Ruhui countered, "If the history you speak of holds true, your destiny is to have a successful beginning and a perfect end. There are no other issues, so why worry unnecessarily?"

Fang Xuanling shook his head, seeing only a void before him. State affairs were not difficult for him; they were merely about seizing enemies and applying pressure. "But my target has not appeared yet. The clues did not suggest that the 'Jester' should simply vanish."

"Don't you find it strange?" Du Ruhui continued, musing over the Emperor's intentions. "A freak from a remote region causes a sensation in Chang'an, yet receives no rank. Even the Emperor was amazed by him, yet he didn't even make it past the second round."

"Someone interfered? Perhaps he is the target?"

"We should investigate what happened. How could the Jester vanish from Chang'an so suddenly without raising suspicion?"

Fang Xuanling looked at Du Ruhui. They had been collaborators for years—partners in both court politics and this game.

Fang Xuanling himself was a game participant. Much like the random distribution of factors in the game, Li Chuang had been dealt the "Farmer" role of Luo Gan, starting at a severe disadvantage. He had struggled through immense hardship to get where he was today, finally gaining a foothold, yet he still had to venture into the frozen wilderness. But for Fang Xuanling, the situation was entirely different. He had started as a staff member and a trusted advisor to Li Shimin. With great power in his hands, his actions were incredibly convenient, and his progress in completing tasks was far swifter than Luo Gan’s.

Satisfied, Fang Xuanling noted that his progress was already over halfway complete. He had reached the second stage: recruiting NPCs to assist in clearing levels. By pure luck, he had encountered Du Ruhui, who turned out to be an NPC. With such an addition, he was like a tiger granted wings—could he fail to win the competition?

In reality, however, things were far from smooth. The biggest problem was that despite all his efforts, Fang Xuanling could not locate his hunting target; they had vanished into thin air.

Du Ruhui had proposed a constructive idea: many competitors were likely anxious to expand their influence, and holding office was an excellent channel. Since Fang Xuanling possessed a system, screening the various talents hidden among the common folk might save them some trouble. This was the true purpose behind the "National Selection of Officials."

"Liu Linfu can be considered one of our own. If we entrust this to him, it should be successful. Besides defeating a competitor, is there any other way?"

Du Ruhui thought carefully and shook his head. "For now, there is no other way."

Fang Xuanling added, "But that fellow Luo Gan—leaving him be will only lead to future trouble. He is an eyesore."

Du Ruhui sternly rebuked him, "Do not do anything unnecessary. For you, this is a game of time; it is a competition to see who completes the tasks according to the requirements first. If you do extra things and accidentally trigger a penalty mechanism, wouldn't that be a loss outweighing the gain?"

Fang Xuanling did not continue. In truth, he knew he was adept at planning, but Du Ruhui had always been better at decisive judgment and seeing the bigger picture. As Du Ruhui said, doing unnecessary things would only bring him unknown trouble, yet he could not sit idly by.

"Is there anything we can do now? If we wait and waste time, our team's advantage will be gone," Fang Xuanling said anxiously, feeling he had to do something.

"The Duke of Song is truly detestable, opposing us at every turn. To face unknown opponents in the future, maintaining a firm grasp on the court is necessary."

"The Duke of Song? He is currently out of favor; the Emperor barely listens to his words, and his frequent remonstrances are born of selfishness. Now is the perfect opportunity to topple him."

Fang Xuanling nodded. Following the trend of the times was not a bad idea.

Elsewhere, Liu Buwen, with the help of the Duke of Song, had finally secured an opportunity to register for the national selection. After Luo Gan and his group left, Liu Buwen—lacking sufficient travel funds—could no longer afford to stay at the Red Peace Residence. He had to work odd jobs while studying, barely managing to live in a thatched hut in the East Market. This sudden cramming session was a significant test for him, as he had never imagined such an opportunity before arriving in Chang'an.

Jun Tao had arranged for Liu Buwen to serve tea and water at the brothel, which provided him with just enough to survive. Liu Buwen was not picky; he did not look down on the work due to his status, as he felt this was the best chance he would ever have to attain official rank. Sometimes, after finishing her dance practice, Jun Tao would come to check on him and see if he needed anything.

"Buwen," Jun Tao said, "if you need anything, remember to tell me in time. Things in the capital are not as convenient as they were in Anping County."

Liu Buwen nodded, expressing his deep gratitude. He gazed at the magnificent architecture of Chang'an and fell into deep thought, imagining the day he might stand in the imperial court, pointing out the destiny of the nation. That dream felt so close now.