"Greetings, Young Master. Dugu Clan's You Chuhong, Dugu Feng, and Dugu Feng pay their respects."
In the exquisitely decorated study of the Dugu Clan, under the leadership of You Chuhong, the Dugu Clan officially pledged their allegiance to Daniel Davis. For the Dugu Clan, after witnessing the divine dragon Daniel Davis had summoned, the choice was obvious. After all, the Dugu Clan had no ambitions to contend for the throne; they only wanted to maintain their current status.
Previously, the Dugu Clan had naturally favored the Li Clan, which was why younger members like Dugu Ce had been sent to Chang'an. Those who remained in Luoyang, aside from Dugu Feng, were mostly the older generation. This way, even if something unexpected happened, the Dugu Clan could retreat to Chang'an with their strength intact.
"It seems we're missing someone. Let's call Wang Shichong over." As Daniel Davis spoke, he activated his Observation Haki, preparing to use the Ope Ope no Mi to summon Wang Shichong.
"This guy is busy. I guess we'll have to let it go."
Upon sensing what Wang Shichong was currently occupied with, Daniel Davis immediately withdrew his Observation Haki. Earlier, he had only thought of bringing Wang Shichong over but had forgotten that it was the middle of the night. In this era with little entertainment, Wang Shichong was currently busy with his concubines, trying to produce an heir.
Even though Daniel Davis didn't particularly care for such matters, he couldn't just teleport Wang Shichong over in such a state. Even if he didn't mind Wang Shichong's feelings, he couldn't have Wang Shichong appear in the Dugu Clan's study in disheveled clothing.
"That's how things stand. Tomorrow, you and Wang Shichong will discuss the details. The day after, I will enter the city." After briefly explaining some matters to You Chuhong and the others, Daniel Davis prepared to leave. Even though You Chuhong wanted him to stay and rest at the Dugu Clan's estate, he declined.
"Young Master, your safety is of utmost importance. Perhaps Feng'er could stay by your side to take care of you." Seeing that Daniel Davis was determined to leave, You Chuhong immediately suggested that Dugu Feng accompany him.
"We'll discuss that after I officially take control of Luoyang." As Daniel Davis spoke, he stood up from his chair and walked over to You Chuhong, placing his right hand on her shoulder.
"Qi deviation, huh? Circulate your energy." Sensing the flow of You Chuhong's internal energy through her meridians, Daniel Davis used his Double-Full Hand technique to repair the damage caused by her previous qi deviation.
You Chuhong's strength was considerable. If it weren't for her asthma, even Zhu Yuyan would have found it difficult to defeat her. After all, she was the one who had single-handedly supported the Dugu Clan.
Among the four great clans, their immense reputation stemmed from their power and influence, with top-tier experts being an essential component. Whether it was Yuwen Shang of the Yuwen Clan, Li Yuan of the Li Clan, or Song Que of the Song Clan, all were top-tier experts. Only Dugu Feng of the Dugu Clan was relatively weaker, being just an ordinary expert. Thus, when people spoke of the Dugu Clan, the first name that came to mind was You Chuhong, not Dugu Feng. Even the second name wasn't the clan leader but Dugu Feng.
Such a top-tier expert, unable to fight at full strength due to illness, was a waste. Now that the Dugu Clan had pledged allegiance, it was the perfect time to show both kindness and authority.
"Let's go, Sulia." After healing You Chuhong, Daniel Davis glanced at Dugu Feng and then left with Sulia.
"Yes, Young Master." Hearing Daniel Davis's call, Sulia smiled provocatively at her junior sister Bai Qing'er before quickly following him.
"Congratulations." After Daniel Davis left, Zhu Yuyan waited for You Chuhong to finish circulating her energy before smiling and congratulating her.
"Same to you. You've had quite the stroke of luck this time." With her qi deviation healed, You Chuhong now looked several years younger.
"This isn't luck. It's just that some people were too greedy and brought about their own downfall by daring to claim they could 'select the emperor on behalf of heaven.'" Zhu Yuyan's tone was filled with schadenfreude.
"Alright, Sect Leader Zhu. It's late, and you heard the Young Master's instructions. I have some matters to attend to, so I won't keep you."
"Then I won't disturb you any longer, Elder Sister You. Let's go." With that, Zhu Yuyan led Bai Qing'er out of the study, rejoined the Four Beauties outside, and left the Dugu Clan's estate.
"Feng'er, recall Ce and the others immediately."
"Understood."
Now that they had pledged allegiance to Daniel Davis, the Dugu Clan members sent to Chang'an naturally had to be recalled. If it were anyone else, You Chuhong would never have done this. After all, until the very end, no one could be sure who would emerge victorious. But after witnessing Daniel Davis's power, it was clear that the world already had a master.
"Feng'er, come with me. I have some matters to discuss with you." You Chuhong then led Dugu Feng away.
---
"Congratulations, Young Master. The Dugu Clan's only phoenix is now yours." Back at the inn, Sulia immediately spoke with a smile.
"Don't make it sound like I'm some lecherous devil. I accepted Dugu Feng only to reassure the Dugu Clan." The Dugu Clan was known for its marriage alliances—Emperor Yang Guang, the Li Clan, the Yuwen Clan. Only the Song Clan seemed to have no marital ties with them.
Thus, after pledging allegiance to Daniel Davis, the Dugu Clan immediately offered their only legitimate daughter, Dugu Feng, who had originally been spared from marriage alliances. As the Dugu Clan's only legitimate daughter, her status was on par with Li Xiuning and Song Yuzhi. Normally, Dugu Feng would have already been betrothed to a noble family, most likely Li Jiancheng of the Li Clan.
Li Shimin had already married into the Zhangsun family, so he couldn't marry Dugu Feng. After all, as the Dugu Clan's only legitimate daughter, only the position of principal wife would be suitable for her.
The reason Dugu Feng hadn't been used as a marriage tool was largely due to her exceptional martial arts skills. She was the Dugu Clan's second-strongest expert, second only to You Chuhong. With the Dugu Clan's current lack of talent and You Chuhong's declining health and asthma, Dugu Feng couldn't be married off.
Her only options were to remain unmarried in the Dugu Clan or to take a husband who would live with her family. For a noble family, having no top-tier expert to rely on would lead to decline. If Dugu Feng had been male, she would likely already be the clan leader.
Of course, marrying the emperor was another matter. With Daniel Davis destined to unify the world, Dugu Feng might have a chance to become the future empress.
After all, in terms of status, as the Dugu Clan's only legitimate daughter, only Li Xiuning and Song Yuzhi could compare. As for Sulia, in You Chuhong's eyes, being from the Demon Sect, even if she entered the palace in the future, she could never become empress.
This was the way of noble families. You Chuhong usually doted on Dugu Feng, but when it came to the clan's survival, even her beloved granddaughter had to make sacrifices for the family.
Among the four great clans, the only one who truly cared for his daughter was Song Que. Although Song Yuzhi was also a marriage tool for the Song Clan, Song Que had promised her that if she didn't like someone, he wouldn't force her.
"What do you think about making Dugu Feng the leader of the Dugu Clan?"
"Young Master, what do you mean?"
"Sulia, don't you think women's status in this era is too low? Both you and Dugu Feng possess top-tier martial arts and talents that surpass most men, yet you are reduced to marriage tools."
With Sulia by his side, Zhu Yuyan's thoughts were similar to You Chuhong's. Not just Sulia, but even Shi Feixuan could be sent to him if he wished. Ci Hang Jing Zhai would surely deliver her to him.
"Young Master, your thoughts are truly unique." After a long silence, Sulia sighed deeply. She understood Zhu Yuyan's intentions, but after all, Zhu Yuyan was the one who had raised her since childhood. To Sulia, Zhu Yuyan was more like a mother than a master.
Even though emotions were often shallow in the Demon Sect, Sulia's feelings for Zhu Yuyan were genuine.
"It's not so unique. I just want to make some changes. By the way, have the Demon Sect keep an eye out for someone. See if he appears in Luoyang. Remember, treat him with respect. His name is Xu Xingzhi."
Even if Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui had sided with Li Shimin, Daniel Davis could still find someone to match them. Xu Xingzhi was undoubtedly such a person. Originally the strategist of Kou Zhong's Shao Shuai Army, Xu Xingzhi had been looked down upon by Wang Shichong. But now that Daniel Davis was here, he wouldn't let such talent slip away.
From Xu Xingzhi's management of the Shao Shuai Army in the original story, it was clear that he was a man of great wisdom. However, he was later let down by Kou Zhong. Daniel Davis even suspected that Xu Xingzhi might be connected to Ghost King Xu Ruowu from "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."
Daniel Davis had long had his eye on Xu Xingzhi, but due to a lack of influence and territory, as well as other matters, he had delayed acting on it.
"Understood."
---
"Greetings, Governor."
Two days later, Daniel Davis appeared outside the eastern gate of Luoyang with Sulia. Wang Shichong and the Dugu Clan both appeared, acknowledging Daniel Davis's status. This scene left the onlookers stunned. While many had speculated that Wang Shichong had ties to Daniel Davis due to his inaction, the Dugu Clan's move was completely unexpected.
After all, by all appearances, the Dugu Clan shouldn't have sided with Daniel Davis, especially since they had been locked in a power struggle with Wang Shichong over Luoyang.
Wang Shichong, as the governor of Luoyang, controlled about 50,000 troops in the area. However, the Dugu Clan also commanded nearly 5,000 imperial guards and held the strategic advantage of occupying the imperial palace.
Many had hoped for a clash between Wang Shichong and the Dugu Clan, as no matter who won, the other side would suffer significant losses.
"Is this the Dugu Clan's plan?"
Initially, many were puzzled by the Dugu Clan's decision. However, upon seeing Dugu Feng immediately take her place by Daniel Davis's side, like a personal attendant, many realized the Dugu Clan's reasoning. If Dugu Feng, the Dugu Clan's only phoenix, was offered as a marriage alliance, it wasn't impossible. After all, the Dugu Clan had a history of such alliances.
In an instant, a flurry of carrier pigeons and birds took flight from the outskirts of the eastern gate, carrying messages from the intelligence agents lurking in Luoyang back to their masters.
"The Buddhist sects?" Noticing a few bald heads in the crowd, Daniel Davis's lips curled into a cold smile. Now that he had arrived in Luoyang, even if Ning Daoqi and the Buddhist sects wanted to assassinate him, they wouldn't get the chance.
"Ouyang Xiyi is here too. I heard he's been fiercely criticizing the Buddhist sects lately. Truly, scholars are often the most heartless." After the news of Bi Xiuxin's death spread, Ouyang Xiyi had been furious. In contrast, Wang Tong, who had previously shown great respect for Shi Qingxuan, had fallen silent. Truly, the hypocrisy of Confucian scholars.
"Let's go to the palace."
Amidst the entourage of Wang Shichong and the Dugu Clan, Daniel Davis, Sulia, and Dugu Feng boarded a luxurious carriage and headed toward the imperial palace in Luoyang.
The palace was home to Prince Yang Tong, a child of eleven or twelve. When Daniel Davis and his group arrived, Prince Yang Tong, accompanied by a group of eunuchs, awaited them at the palace gates.
As a member of the royal family, Prince Yang Tong had enjoyed a life of luxury. But once power was lost, he became a lamb waiting for slaughter. The fear in Prince Yang Tong's eyes as he looked at Daniel Davis was palpable.
"You're lucky." Daniel Davis had no intention of harming a child, nor would he resort to eliminating potential threats by killing the innocent.
"This is Emperor Yang Guang's final decree."
Upon entering the palace hall, Daniel Davis immediately produced the decree Yang Guang had given him. He walked up to the dragon throne, unrolled the decree, and began to read.
In this era, decrees weren't as formalized as in later times. There was no requirement for everyone to kneel, and Daniel Davis certainly didn't care about such formalities.
The decree was straightforward: Daniel Davis was to become the governor of Luoyang, with full authority over the city's military and administrative affairs.
"From this day forward, I am the King of Tang." After reading the decree, Daniel Davis casually reduced it to ashes and sat down on the dragon throne without a hint of hesitation.
When it came to choosing a regnal name, Daniel Davis had deliberated for quite some time. He considered names like Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, and Ming. As for Song, given the weakness of that dynasty, he didn't even consider it.
Although these names had historical significance, there was no rule against reusing them. For example, Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, or the Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
In the end, thinking of Li Shimin, Daniel Davis decided to use "Tang" as his regnal name, preempting Li Yuan's claim to the title. Li Yuan, who hadn't yet declared himself emperor and still went by the title of Grand General, would undoubtedly be furious when he heard this.
Since the Sixteen Kingdoms period, the Central Plains had been in constant turmoil, suffering under the oppression of foreign tribes. This situation was truly heartbreaking. Some even took pride in submitting to the Xiongnu, paying annual tributes. Such behavior was utterly shameful. My goal is to establish a powerful Central Plains dynasty—no marriage alliances, no reparations, no ceding territory, no tributes. The emperor guards the nation's borders; the ruler dies for the state.
Although he used the Tang regnal name, Daniel Davis's slogan was borrowed from the Ming Dynasty. Despite the Ming Dynasty's many flaws, it was undeniable that its emperors had the most backbone.
Daniel Davis's speech, while not particularly moving, ended with a powerful statement: "No marriage alliances, no reparations, no ceding territory, no tributes. The emperor guards the nation's borders; the ruler dies for the state." This left everyone in the hall in stunned silence.
"Greetings, King of Tang." After a moment, led by Wang Shichong and You Chuhong, all the civil and military officials in the hall bowed.
In this era, there was no custom of shouting "Long live the emperor" or "Ten thousand years." Even for an emperor, the title "Your Majesty" was sufficient. As a king, one rank below emperor, "Your Highness" was appropriate.
"Erect a stone tablet in front of the palace and engrave those words on it."
(End of Chapter)
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