Within the Great Chu's grand court, the Emperor held his morning audience.
"Chen Shou, of the Capital Guard, for his numerous battlefield executions during the Yunzhou campaign, is hereby bestowed with the title of Marquis of Xinping."
"General Li Kang, for his bravery and ferocity in battle, for capturing over a thousand enemy soldiers, is hereby bestowed with the title of Marquis of Quyang."
"Former Protector General Situ Bai, for capturing a vast quantity of enemy weapons and supplies, is hereby bestowed with the title of Marquis of Qinghe."
"…"
Emperor Xiang Chong sat upon his Dragon Throne, his ears numb from the endless list of names.
Fan Li, reporting on the Yunzhou campaign's achievements, had just bestowed marquis titles upon over sixty military officers.
Weren't there too many?
"Duke… Duke Jin?" Xiang Chong spoke hesitantly.
"Hmm?"
Fan Li, deep in thought, heard the Emperor's timid voice. He was forced to interrupt his contemplation and glance at him.
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
They were in the Golden Luan Palace, the grand hall where officials reported to the Emperor on matters of state.
Fan Li, however, couldn't be bothered with Xiang Chong.
He had a more pressing matter to consider – the Five Emperors' Summit in half a month. The thought of it filled him with dread.
"It… It's nothing important."
Xiang Chong swallowed nervously.
Being the Emperor of Great Chu was truly a thankless task. He even envied Xiang Ning.
But Fan Li's victory against the Ming army, his capture of countless prisoners, the entire campaign had left Xiang Chong terrified.
"Are… are there truly so many deserving of a marquis title? Sixty-four men, Duke Jin! They will all require stipends from the Great Chu's treasury. The cost… the cost will be immense!"
Xiang Chong attempted to reason with Fan Li, his face plastered with a conciliatory smile.
Fan Li was stunned.
Had the Emperor suddenly learned how to count?
Of course, he understood Xiang Chong's true intention.
The Emperor suspected that Fan Li was using his influence to curry favor with the military, to consolidate his own power and threaten the throne.
How amusing!
His ancestors had already done that.
By the time Fan Li inherited the Fan Clan's leadership, he no longer needed to "curry favor."
The hearts of the Great Chu already belonged to the Fan Clan.
But looking at Xiang Chong sitting upon the Dragon Throne, his posture awkward, his demeanor unfitting for the Emperor's robes and crown…
It angered Fan Li.
Xiang Ning was still suffering in the Great Ci Dynasty.
"Your Majesty."
Fan Li's face darkened as he thought of Xiang Ning.
"These sixty-four generals have earned their rewards through their bravery and sacrifice upon the battlefield. It is because of their valiant efforts that Your Majesty can now enjoy the comfort and security of the Golden Luan Palace."
Shame flushed Xiang Chong's face.
Fan Li, however, wasn't finished.
"Of course, Your Majesty is the Emperor of Great Chu. Your word is law. You can reward or punish as you please. If you wish to deny these brave men their due reward, I will obey your command."
Excellent!
Xiang Chong almost blurted out the words.
To save a fortune, he would gladly deny them.
"However…" Fan Li paused, pointing towards the palace gates. "I suggest that Your Majesty personally visit the army camp and inform the soldiers of your decision."
What?!
He, the Emperor, should go there?
He wouldn't dare!
He had heard rumors about the Great Chu's garrison army's loyalty to Fan Li.
Some claimed to have heard the cries of a fox within the camp. Others had found a one-eyed stone statue.
During the cold season, the soldiers had boiled white snake soup for Fan Li, even draping him in a yellow robe to keep him warm.
The thought of it made Xiang Chong shudder.
"Ah… The soldiers have worked hard. To bestow upon them marquis titles… it's nothing… nothing at all…"
The eunuch, seeing that their conversation had ended, continued reading the imperial edict, announcing the bestowal of marquis titles.
Finally, the list was complete. Sixty-four new marquises.
Xiang Chong remembered another matter.
"Duke Jin," he asked hesitantly, "what are your thoughts on the Five Emperors' Summit? Should we attend, or not?"
Fan Li sighed.
"I received news before my return. The Emperors of Wei, Han, and Wu have all agreed to attend the summit in half a month at Mianchi. If Great Chu does not participate, won't that harm our alliance? Won't it make us appear… untrustworthy?"
Xiang Chong's face twisted with fear.
"But… but I heard rumors about the previous Three Emperors' Summit. It was a dangerous event. I… I'm not sure I'm ready for a Five Emperors' Summit."
Fan Li gave him a strange look.
"What do you mean?"
"I… I don't want to go." Xiang Chong was embarrassed.
Fan Li's expression became even stranger.
"The Five Emperors' Summit… I will attend on your behalf. What are you afraid of?"
Silence descended upon the court.
Fan Li's words had been… slightly disrespectful, hadn't they?
Xiang Chong stared at him with a terrified expression. Was Fan Li about to reveal his true intentions?
"Ahem!"
Fan Li cleared his throat, attempting to salvage the situation.
"What I meant was… Mianchi is far. It's a long and arduous journey. Your Majesty, as the ruler of Great Chu, your safety is paramount. I am willing to share this burden. I will attend the summit on your behalf."
"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
Xiang Chong immediately agreed.
"Duke Jin, your loyalty is truly unwavering! I am deeply moved! I entrust this matter to you!"
…
Mianchi, a place where Emperors had gathered for summits since ancient times. It was an unclaimed territory, a vast, open plain.
No mountains, no rivers, no obstacles.
During the Spring and Autumn period, feudal lords had gathered here for summits, a symbol of their willingness to meet as equals.
Coincidentally, the modern Mianchi was located between Wei, Han, Wu, and Great Chu.
Given their current alliance, they naturally wouldn't dispute ownership of this small territory.
Moreover, Mianchi was uninhabited, lacking any significant resources. It was simply an empty plain.
Therefore, they had tacitly agreed to treat it as unclaimed land.
A day before the summit, Fan Li arrived at Mianchi. To ensure his safety, he had sent a clone.
He was curious.
Empress Yao Guang had betrayed the alliance, leading to the deaths of Zhuge Liang, Guo Jia, and Zhou Yu.
How could she possibly have the audacity to convene another summit?
The Five Emperors' Summit was different from the Three Emperors' Summit. It wasn't simply a contest of power between rulers, as Xiang Chong had assumed.
'Perhaps it's a press conference? A chance for Yao Guang to explain the Yunzhou incident?' Fan Li wondered.
He had brought four thousand guards to Mianchi, but no truly powerful cultivators.
Wu Gang, injured in her battle against the Archery Sage, required time to recover.
But Fan Li wasn't concerned about his safety.
He was confident that regardless of her true intentions, Empress Yao Guang wouldn't dare threaten his life, especially not in front of the Emperors of Wei, Han, and Wu.
Unless Yao Guang had abandoned the Five Kingdoms Alliance. But that seemed impossible.
"Duke Jin, it's been a while."
Fan Li stood alone on the summit platform, enjoying the view.
The platform was spacious, capable of accommodating over a hundred people. It was the perfect location for a meeting.
The voice, seemingly coming from afar, grew closer.
Fan Li turned and saw an imperial procession approaching the platform.
Armored soldiers, their posture imposing, their demeanor fierce, marched alongside a carriage adorned with a golden dragon flag.
Fan Li recognized the man seated within.
Purple beard, blue eyes, a gaze that radiated intelligence. Square jaw, wide mouth. Dressed in the five-clawed golden dragon robe, he smiled at Fan Li.
"Oh? Emperor Wu?"
Fan Li bowed slightly.
Sun Quan didn't seem to mind the lack of formality. He returned the gesture.
They shared a smile.
Once, Fan Li had been the Duke Jin of Great Chu, while Sun Quan had been a mere general of the Han Dynasty.
Now, Sun Quan was an Emperor, his cultivation having reached the Great Vehicle Realm.
But in Fan Li's presence, he didn't dare act arrogantly.
After all, they were both rulers of powerful nations.
"Your Majesty arrived quickly. I arrived yesterday. I didn't expect to see you until tomorrow." Fan Li said with a smile.
"Alas…"
Sun Quan shook his head sadly.
"Gongjin died tragically in Yunzhou. I wanted to confront Yao Guang, to demand an explanation. But she sent a message, inviting us to this summit. For the sake of our alliance, I had to endure this humiliation."
Fan Li nodded.
Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, they were masters of patience. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to endure decades of humiliation under the Han Dynasty.
"Why didn't Your Majesty arrive with Emperor Wei and Emperor Han?" Fan Li asked curiously.
In the past, they had always acted in unison.
"This…"
Sun Quan's expression turned strange.
He seemed both angry and embarrassed.
But Fan Li had asked the question. He couldn't simply ignore him.
Sun Quan sighed.
"Aside from the Yunzhou incident, I've been busy dealing with the Han Dynasty Remnants. Not only has Cao Cao been trying to recruit them, but Liu Bei has also been interfering…"