Anti-War Game: Starting from Normandy Campaign-Chapter 704 - 339: [Wu Kingdom’s Game of Power]
Watching Wu Zixu assist Prince Guang in usurping power, the Blue Star audience in the livestream were still somewhat puzzled.
But with the plot’s progression and seeing King Liao of Wu looking even younger than Prince Guang, they came to understand the power struggle in the state of Wu.
Firstly, the ancestor of Wu was Tai Bo, the uncle of King Wen of Zhou.
Therefore, Wu has always practiced the system of brother succeeding brother.
When it came to King Wu Meng, he had four sons.
Zhu Fan, Yu Ji, Yu Mei, Ji Zha.
Prince Guang is the son of Zhu Fan, King Liao of Wu is the son of Yu Mei.
The two are cousins.
Initially, King Wu Meng wanted to pass the throne to Ji Zha, but Ji Zha declined three times, so the throne passed in order from Zhu Fan → Yu Ji → Yu Mei.
Until Yu Mei (the father of King Liao of Wu) was on his deathbed and, according to the brother succeeding brother system, prepared to pass the throne to Ji Zha, but Ji Zha declined once again.
So.
The throne was passed from Yu Mei to his own son, Prince Liao, who is now King Liao of Wu.
But this.
Nearly drove Prince Guang mad.
According to the order, your previous generation has either passed away or declined. When passing to the next generation, shouldn’t I inherit the throne?
It was my father Zhu Fan initially, passing it down through the generations.
How did it end up directly passed to your son?
King Liao of Wu’s ascension shattered Prince Guang’s long-held expectations for power; he truly hated King Liao of Wu to death but dared not show it.
And King Liao of Wu seemed to know Prince Guang’s hatred as well.
Frequently summoning noble sons, and in conversations, he couldn’t help but flaunt his power.
And when alone with Prince Guang, he was surrounded by at least 800 armored guards, giving Prince Guang no chance for revenge.
Seeing this.
The Blue Star audience in the livestream understood why Wu Zixu chose Prince Guang.
Only Prince Guang had deep-seated hatred towards King Liao of Wu, and only by helping Prince Guang ascend to the throne could Wu Zixu rely on that magnificent merit to have Prince Guang assist him in attacking Chu.
In fact.
The Blue Star audience in the livestream couldn’t help but ridicule as they watched.
King Liao of Wu, if you want to ascend, then ascend. Why do you incessantly provoke others, taking 800 armored guards with you everywhere? You even wear two layers of armor yourself, fearing Prince Guang might assassinate you out of hatred.
Yet, you couldn’t help provoking him frequently, seemingly knowing that Prince Guang is powerless.
Wanting to see Prince Guang’s impotent rage.
In the scene.
Wu Zixu advised Prince Guang, helping him build his personal influence, while Prince Guang himself was valiant, establishing considerable prestige in the military through his achievements.
It’s just....
Before he could ascend to the throne.
The King of Chu Ping, who caused Wu Zixu’s family’s ruin, had already died....of natural causes.
This nearly drove Wu Zixu to collapse.
In the scene.
Wu Zixu stood frozen in place, ears buzzing, as if the entire world collapsed at that moment.
He waited ten years, enduring humiliation for ten years!
Just to personally sever King Chu Ping’s head!
But now....
The enemy actually died first?!
Wu Zixu suddenly grabbed the collar of the messenger kneeling before him, eyes bulging:
"Impossible!"
"How could he die?!"
"How could he die?!!!!"
The messenger was terrified, stammering:
"General Wu... King of Chu has indeed passed away, the new king has ascended."
Wu Zixu looked as if struck by lightning, releasing his grip and staggering backwards.
Then Wu Zixu violently drew the sword from his waist, raging and hacking indiscriminately, destroying the room’s curtains, lampstands, and bronze vessels:
"Ah—!!"
"King Chu Ping! You old dog!!!"
"Aaaah!"
"No.... No!!!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
The insane Wu Zixu was like a furious beast.
Smashing everything inside the room.
Even when Prince Guang arrived and saw it, he couldn’t help but tremble with fear, not daring to approach. He instructed his servants to wait until Wu Zixu calmed down before calling him, then hurriedly left.
Until nightfall.
Prince Guang received news and returned again.
However, upon entering Wu Zixu’s house, he couldn’t help but be startled.
Wu Zixu, in mourning attire, was kneeling before a stack of memorial tablets, a whip placed before him. Yet at this moment, his face was finally calm, showing no trace of his earlier madness.
Prince Guang hesitated, unsure how to speak.
But Wu Zixu’s voice, devoid of emotion, sounded:
"Prince, the time to assist me in attacking Chu has come, hasn’t it?"
Prince Guang, upon hearing this, immediately said:
"If I ascend to the throne, I will assist you in attacking Chu."
"But now..."
Wu Zixu’s voice, calm yet filled with hatred:
"Now the King of Chu is dead, and the new king is young."
"Within the Chu court, there are no renowned ministers, and outside, no capable generals, making this a perfect opportunity."
"You, Prince, can suggest to the King of Chu to attack Chu, with you as the vanguard."
"Then King Liao of Wu will surely worry about your growing reputation and will appoint his own trusted loyalists to go forth."
"Recommend sending Prince Qingji (King Liao’s son) to Zheng State."
"At that time, your grand plan can be realized."
Wu Zixu spoke coldly, causing Prince Guang to turn red with excitement, yet he looked at Wu Zixu with some fear, but in the end, he saw hope.
Soon.
Prince Guang followed Wu Zixu’s strategy and suggested to King Liao of Wu to attack Chu.
And since the new King of Chu was young, with no renowned ministers and capable generals in court, such an opportunity was too good to pass up, not to mention King Liao of Wu also had this intention.
However, the person suggesting it was Prince Guang, who also wanted to be the vanguard.
This King Liao of Wu would not allow.
Thus, King Liao of Wu found an excuse to keep Prince Guang behind and sent his trusted loyal minister to attack Chu.
Meanwhile, following Prince Guang’s suggestion, he sent Prince Qingji to Zheng State.
This did not arouse King Liao of Wu’s suspicion, after all, during this period regardless of the mission, it was best to send one’s own son to other states, to show importance and also serve as a hostage to reassure others.
With the attack on Chu.
The interior of Wu was left empty, yet King Liao of Wu did not care at all.
Because his travel was always accompanied by 800 armored guards.
With such a force present, no one could cause trouble before him.
Until one day.
Prince Guang invited King Liao of Wu, claiming he found a cook whose fish dish was extremely delicious.
King Liao of Wu, already fond of fish, agreed immediately.
On the day of the banquet.
Still accompanied by 800 armored guards, these 800 guards surrounded Prince Guang’s residence tightly, even if they were spaced out.
As the aroma of the fish gradually filled the air, King Liao of Wu grew impatient at the table.
Zhuan Zhu, bare-chested holding a tray, approached slowly.
The scent of the roasted fish filled the grand hall, causing King Liao of Wu to exclaim:
"Just by the aroma of this roasted fish, I can tell its taste must be unparalleled."
"Quickly present it."
Zhuan Zhu bowed his head, his voice respectful:
"It is a humble man’s fortune to roast fish for the king."
Zhuan Zhu moved on his knees to King Liao’s table, offering the bronze tray with both hands.
The Blue Star netizens in the livestream held their breath.
For a moment, their minds raced in thought.
How Zhuan Zhu planned to assassinate King Liao, knowing that King Liao had guards with him, no more than three steps away, and Zhuan Zhu was bare-chested, with nowhere to hide tools.
Could it be that he planned to choke King Liao? That seems unlikely, right?
No matter how fragile, a person cannot be killed by a single choke, and besides, the guards were only three steps away.
There was hardly a chance for suffocation or beating to death.
Blue Star netizens were still thinking.
In the scene, King Liao had already reached out for the roasted fish, while Zhuan Zhu’s eyes flashed with cold light, and suddenly he reached into the fish’s belly, and a glint of silver shot towards King Liao.
But when it struck King Liao’s chest, it paused.
Inner armor!
King Liao’s face twisted:
"You!!!"
Thud!
The Fish intestines sword pierced through the inner armor, stabbing into King Liao’s chest, his expression of ferocity turning to fright as he looked down at the inner armor unable to comprehend how that dagger-like item could penetrate his two layers of inner armor.
For a moment, the hall was deathly still, then chaos erupted:
"Assassin!!!"
The guards nearby had already reacted, several weapons piercing Zhuan Zhu, yet Zhuan Zhu continued staring at King Liao, using every last ounce of strength to press down.
Both fell to the ground together.
The guards outside rushed in, seeing the life-or-death state of King Liao, unsure of what to do.
Prince Guang walked into the grand hall with a sword in hand:
"King Liao is dead! From today, I am the King of Wu!"
"Do you wish to rebel?!"
Prince Guang’s angry shout left all the guards bewildered.
This....
However, after all, this was an internal affair of the Wu royal family, and they were only guards, unable to intervene.
They did not dare rebel.
