Chapter 1646 — A Loyal Dog
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
The moment the words left his mouth, the Heavenly Masters remaining in Lingxiao Hall fell silent, their gazes flickering as they watched to see how the Fire Heavenly Master would answer. The Fire Heavenly Master raised his cup, tilted back his head, and drained it dry.
"Your Majesty jests. How would your subject dare ask for half the world? Your subject asks only for half of Jingping; beyond that, not one inch of land do I want.
" Emperor Hao smiled, and his gaze met the Fire Heavenly Master's.
"Ha ha ha ha!
" The two of them burst into laughter at once. The other Heavenly Masters laughed along with them, and the laughter gradually subsided.
Emperor Hao said with a smile, "Patriarch God King, do you want Jingping? " The Patriarch God King inclined slightly and said with a smile, "Your subject holds Xuandu by Your Majesty's command. Xuandu alone shrouds all the heavens and the myriad worlds; its lands are so vast that I can scarcely keep them in order as it is. I would rather not.
" Emperor Hao looked next to the Void Heavenly Master, who shook his head. "Your Majesty, like the Patriarch God King, your subject dares not covet the wealth of Jingping; I ask only to govern Youdu well. " Emperor Hao smiled.
"Then it falls to Us and Our beloved minister Huo to divide Jingping between us.
" Taichu smiled.
"Pray hold a moment, Your Majesty. " A dead silence fell over the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
Not a sound remained; every eye turned upon Taichu. Taichu smiled and said, "In the years when we were still the Ten Heavenly Masters, our interests were one and our gains were shared equally. Today the world is unified, and naturally we cannot do things as we once did. The whole of the primordial universe belongs to Your Majesty — yet Your Majesty's accession to the throne also rested upon the support of us old brothers. Having won the world, Your Majesty ought to reward merit and soothe the hearts of your old brothers; you must not let their hearts grow cold. " Emperor Hao smiled. "The Retired Emperor speaks wisely.
We have only just taken the throne of Heaven, and are not so practiced in it as the Retired Emperor. How does the Retired Emperor think Jingping should be divided? " Taichu went on, "Reward merit, and nothing more.
In the battle of Xuandu and the battle of Youdu alike, our old brothers gave all they had, staking their lives upon it, and several of our dao companions even fell. The living have won fame and standing, true, but the widows and orphans of the dead cannot go uncared for. Jingping's wealth falls only a little short of the Heaven Court's; divide it by the old rules, and Your Majesty loses very little by it. " The other Heavenly Masters said nothing more, and listened quietly. Emperor Hao said gravely, "The Retired Emperor's guidance is just. " Taichu smiled. "The Fire Heavenly Master — the human race, the celestial race, and besides, he has a covenant with Your Majesty.
The Void Heavenly Master, the Patriarch God King, the Taiji Ancient Gods, and myself, the Retired Emperor — even the Eastern Emperor Qinglong — all are ministers of merit.
Add to that the Heavenly Master Mu's submission; he wept and wailed in his letter of surrender, saying he wished only to beg a place of seclusion where he might pray for Your Majesty's blessing.
All of these are matters that must be discussed. " He laughed heartily. "The Void Heavenly Master and the Patriarch God King dare not ask for Jingping, but wealth can still be divided among us. Jingping is so rich, with so many forges and workshops, so many masters of the arts of calculation, so many master smiths. If we do not divide it, what if one day its people twist themselves into a single rope again and rise in rebellion? Better to divide it.