Stranded - A Nuova Italia AAR

[blklizard]

Chapter 197

Aleardo was there when the three barques returned from southern China. The Nuova Italian officer took a few minutes to absorb what actually happened before giving commands to head home. The brief expedition told them all they needed to know about the waters along China. Pirates were numerous and, until they got confirmation that the pirates were exterminated, all Nuova Italian merchants would be banned from entering those pirate infested waters. However, there was also a good sign that some Chinese forces were responding to the threats on the sea as seen with the large fleet.

The three barques sped quickly towards home to leave behind the deadly waters. The only casualty the expeditionary forces suffered was the death of Oddone which was more than enough to end the expedition, not that anyone was in any particular mood of exploring further and gamble their lives in the process. The pirates might have failed to get them this time but there could be no next time if they tempted fate. The three barques were luckily largely undamaged which allowed them to travel speedily with the winds blowing in their favor. Once they entered the waters of Southeast Asian nations, the barques were safe and the sailors aboard could relax somewhat.

When Sumatra was only a hour trip, one of the barques went ahead to notify the Doge of the recent developments. It was only proper to inform him about Oddone's death since the two of them were related by blood. All the officers agreed that Oddone deserved a burial fit for a man with his number of accomplishments. They soon arrived at the dock where large crowds of people were already gathered to see the famous explorer one last time. Aleardo was there as well and, even from a distance, everyone could tell from his body language that he was grieving for Oddone's death. This would be their final farewell.

Oddone was given a proper burial the same day his body was brought back to Sumatra. Aleardo spoke proudly of the explorer and the many sacrifices the man made for the Republic. There was sadness in the air as people grieved for the passing of the great man who brought them news of unexplored islands. The fact that Oddone was the only casualty also emphasized the terrible tragedy which could have been avoided. Aleardo blamed himself for Oddone's death since he was determined to learn about China. He was seen crying nonstop while Oddone was lowered into his grave. The first explorer of the Republic was laid to rest.

 

[blklizard]

Chapter 198

Following the death of Oddone, there needed to be another explorer hired to continue exploring the unknown. The three barques were still in excellent shape while the crews aboard them were also in great condition. The officials took a few days before they decided on the next candidate. The candidate called Sinibaldo was picked as the next explorer and he was immediately given a new place to explore. Sinibaldo, or commonly known as Sini by everyone, happily accept the mission and promised to bring glory to the Republic much like his predecessor, Oddone, did. Sini was sent to explore the various islands in the Philippines region.

Sini worked hard in fulfilling his promise by always leading the way. Even when headed into the wilderness filled with possible wild beasts or savages, Sini never backed away from his role and that helped him earn the respect of his officers and sailors. Sini, being a member of a relatively wealthy family in the capital, was largely perceived by the sailors and officers as a man who bought the position with both ducats and influence. Yet, they learned that their perception was off the mark as Sini was definitely a worthy successor of Oddone. While Sini could never replace the former explorer, his positive attitude and optimistic outlook allowed him to ease the men through their grief.

The new explorer also had a way with the natives. He could easily disarm the natives with words and gain their trust quickly. This incredible ability saw far fewer bloodshed which sped up the exploration of the various islands. The natives often offered to send a guide to aid the explorers and these helped create stronger bond between them. The exploration of the Philippines went very smoothly as detailed maps were soon made of the region. Sini told the natives that he hoped they could meet again. The natives were always fascinated by his stories which, despite being only hand gestures, entertained them greatly. As a result, they were saddened to sea him leave.

The successes of Sini soon reached across the Republic giving people hope that their exploration efforts weren't about to end with the death of Oddone. Aleardo, after listening to his advisers, agreed to sent Sini immediately to explore in the southeast direction where there was rumored to be a large landmass. Sini was excited with the prospect of discovering a large landmass so he personally saw to the resupplying and repairing of the ships to ensure that his new expedition could start at once. A month since the barques returned to Nuova Italia, Sini led the ships out to explore the rumored large landmass eager to make new discoveries.

 

[blklizard]

Chapter 199

The years of peace finally saw the disband of the mercenaries who could return home quite wealthy from the large amount of ducats the Republic paid them. There were new recruits entering the Nuova Italian military and, under the best training possible, they became the professional soldiers the Republic needed to defend its borders. The disband was immediately noticed on the finances as a large expense was gone virtually overnight. The government officials would happily invest the extra income elsewhere. Some argued that these should be invested in military facilities while others wanted income producing facilities.

Meanwhile, the officials still must deal with the ever increasing inflation. They must maintain it at acceptable levels or they could face some serious consequences. With the inflation reaching above 10% and still steadily climbing, the government needed to take action before it got out of hand. Goods were becoming quite expensive which could see the Nuova Italian citizens struggling in purchasing the goods they needed. After a few drastic measures, the government managed to drop the inflation back down to 8% but there were still plans to drop it further as the steady climb could see it reach 10% again in the near future.

Across the Republic, missionaries were encountering great success as they spread Catholicism to all parts of the nation. Nuova Italia was a tolerant nation when it came to religions but there were still often problems when the traditions and beliefs of various religions clashed with one another. The humanism policies already saw a greater religious unity despite the nation having a large population of heathens. The missionaries preached Catholicism in peaceful manners which helped avoid conflicts while, in the process, converted many of the newly conquered provinces. There was still work to be done before the entire nation was truly unified by a single religion.

Even in converted provinces, there were minorities who preferred to follow their old faith which was fine with the government. The officials created many laws that would protect these minorities as long as they didn't break any themselves. Most people, content with their lives, were law abiding citizens who strove to be the best they could be. A number of provinces were developing as a result with many new towns and even metropolises built. The peace and prosperity was definitely a welcoming change following the wars but no one regretted the wars. After all, the wars made Nuova Italia strong so no other nations dared to challenge her.

The next chapter (200) will be slightly longer than usual. I wish to thank everyone who had been supporting this AAR. It has been very fun.

 

[Michaelangelo]

They are the worst kind of pirates. Looting and pillaging is all fine and dandy, but murder is too far. Bloody pirates.

I always thought the name Sinibaldo sounded like it belonged to a magician. And for my next trick I will discover an entirely new landmass!

 

[Cityracer]

10% inflation is pretty bad. Time for economic.

 

[blklizard]

They are the worst kind of pirates. Looting and pillaging is all fine and dandy, but murder is too far. Bloody pirates.

I always thought the name Sinibaldo sounded like it belonged to a magician. And for my next trick I will discover an entirely new landmass!

He probably will amaze the crowd before him. Though, it's too early to tell if the landmass will be colonized or not.

10% inflation is pretty bad. Time for economic.

The 2% drop is good enough. We have other goals to pursue.

Chapter 200

Aleardo looked at his office one last time. His term was coming to an end and the results for the candidate was already out. He knew much earlier that he couldn't win the upcoming election so one term was all he got. Still, he felt he did a considerable job during the peace and prosperity his nation enjoyed. There wasn't much regret that his term was coming to an end already. Aleardo had made plans a few months before his term ended. With a final glance of his office for four years, Aleardo turned around and walked up the stairs to the top of the palace. He wished to see the magnificent view one more time before his term officially ended and the new Doge could take over.

The Doge still remembered when he first saw the magnificent view. He could see the entire capital before him and the size of Palembang was simply enormous. Aleardo couldn't believe that this city was once a tenth of its current size, if not smaller. The capital, like the Republic itself, grew under the rule of the numerous Doges who strove to make the nation even better. Aleardo felt some pride knowing he would join the other Doges in the history books. He might not have made incredible achievements but his contributions couldn't be overlooked. After four years of ruling over Nuova Italia, the man was convinced that his time for the prestigious position was up.

The man stared up at the sky where the moon was shining brightly. Midnight was almost there and that would spell the end of his term. The next Doge might not start as soon as midnight but the former Doge was expected to finish packing his belongings from the office to make room for the new Doge. Aleardo had packed his few belongings two days before so he didn't need to return to his office after the earlier glance. As soon as midnight hit, Aleardo would be freed from his duties allowing him to pursue whatever goals he had in mind. At the moment, the man only had one objective in mind and nothing was going to stop him from meeting success.

Aleardo was told that, at midnight, there was going to be something incredible showing up in the sky. Local astronomers claimed that a rare phenomenon was going to happen and it was best seen at high places. What better place for the Doge than the top of the palace where he was closer to the sky than ever before. He didn't bother inviting others to join him since he wished to see this phenomenon alone. Then, he could finally carry out the goal he had in mind. The man waited patiently before he noticed something change in the sky. When he looked up, he noticed that the lunar eclipse had begun with the Moon slowly disappearing from view.

The Doge watched in amazement as the Moon was slowly covered by the Earth's shadow. It seemed as though something was eating away at the Moon until there was nothing left. He waited until the Moon completely disappeared before he stood once again. He took a few steps towards the edge of the roof before taking one last look at the sky once again. He felt some hesitation and knew it wasn't too late to back away from his decision. Still, the demon that had been haunting him all his life refused to back away. Aleardo felt himself forced into a corner with no way out unless he took dramatic actions. On the palace roof, he was only a step away from escaping.

Early next morning, the patrolling guards were horrified to find the corpse in the courtyard. They immediately informed the officials of the discovery while special authorities were sent to investigate the death. As soon as the news spread across the nation, people were shocked to learn the former Doge was dead. Evidence showed that he might have committed suicide but many suspected that someone might have murdered him. The lunar eclipse would provide the murderer a perfect chance to strike without anyone noticing. Aleardo's corpse was found in the morning so the murderer was likely out of the capital if there was one.

The cause of death was determined to be falling from atop the palace but the Doge could easily be shoved off against his will. Special authorities must investigate every bit of evidence to be certain if this was a suicide or a murder. If this was indeed a murder, then they would use all of their manpower to find the culprit and bring him or her to justice. The new Doge wanted the authorities to pick up their pace as he didn't want this incident to be unsolved and affect his term. There was already plenty of rumors spreading throughout the court with some even suspecting him of being involved with the murder. Clearing his name was vital for the new Doge.

Once the special authorities had a chance to speak with Aleardo's family, they were almost certain that the former Doge committed suicide. Since the death of Oddone, Aleardo blamed himself for the life lost and had suffered depression ever since. His family members noticed his condition getting worse and worse as he rarely spoke to others. Aleardo was always keeping to himself and, whenever he did talk, he mentioned that demons were chasing after him. When his family heard about his death, they were convinced that Aleardo finally took his life to end his suffering. They would grieve for his death but they also felt content knowing Aleardo was free from his guilt and suffering.

Once Aleardo's death was ruled a suicide, there was much relief within the court. No one wanted a murderer to be running loose and targeting top Nuova Italian officials. The new Doge also breathed a sign of relief with the death being ruled a suicide since he needn't worry about other officials pointing their fingers at him while claiming he had a hand in the former Doge's death. This wasn't quite the start the new Doge wished to have with his new term but, luckily, the incident ended swiftly and order was restored to the court. The Nuova Italian government could function as normally for the best of the Republic and the Doge could finally make his mark in history.

Aleardo's funeral took place a week after the investigation ended. There were many present to see the former Doge one last time. The state of his corpse was in terrible state due to the fall so his corpse was largely concealed from view. His family members all said their final farewell before Aleardo was buried in a grave prepared for him when he took office. No one expected him to be buried so soon after his term. No one belittled the former Doge for his suicide and, instead, used the moment to celebrate his contributions to the Republic. Once Aleardo was finally laid to rest, the crowd left while Aleardo's family remained an hour longer before they, too, headed home ending the funeral.

 

[blklizard]

Special

Chapter 201

Yao smiled at the prisoners who were herded before him. These were the officials who had ruled over the region but they were bowing before him now. The man asked his elder son how they should execute the officials. The son, Guo, took a moment before whispering a suggestion to his father. The officials watched as a larger smile formed on Yao's face. They shook in fear as they tried to comprehend what was going to happen to them. Being captured by Yao was the worst thing that could happen to them considering how cruel the man was. Yao already made quite a name for himself.

The cruel man was once a military officer but he was discharged when his cruel torture methods were discovered. Since the discharge, Yao had been in a terrible mood and wanted to get back at the officials he saw responsible for his downfall. Yet, the man wasn't stupid since he wasn't about to take on unfavorable odds only to get himself killed. Therefore, Yao waited patiently while he gathered support from others who viewed the officials with hostility. He originally planned to wait for an opportunity to kidnap and torture the officials but fate provided him with an irresistible opportunity he couldn't possibly miss.

Yao wasn't surprised to find many supporters given the unjust laws and policies that were introduced in the region. The people wanted change and many of them would resort to violence if necessary. Yao had an easy time convincing them that he was their best bet for change despite not believing their cause at all. All he needed was their support to rise up to power before he systematically eliminated those that threatened his position the most. He envisioned a new state where he would rule as the king. Yao knew that he could certainly do better than the current officials because he was willing to go the extra mile to discover plots and his hidden enemies.

Once the government officials in the capital were slaughtered, Yao knew his time to strike had arrived. He and his three sons led their respective forces to key parts of the city where they launched their attack. The garrison had little time to react and, against the overwhelming rebels, they were dispatched in mere minutes. The path was open to the government building with Yao leading the way. The officials tried to flee but the government building was already surrounded when they were informed about the rebels. The officials were captured so they must await their fate at the hands of Yao.

 

[blklizard]

Special

Chapter 202

Yao had three sons but he always favored his elder son who showed the most promise. His other two sons were aware of the favoritism but they remained quiet with the belief that their father would give them what they deserved. They expected some land to be handed to them once the officials were executed so they could rule over their own people and army. Their elder brother might get more but they were content to get a smaller share overall. During the execution of the officials, the two sons weren't present as they knew a brutal execution was about to happen. Only Yao's elder son found the executions entertaining.

Under Guo's suggestion, Yao had the officials tied up and placed in large pots. The pots were then filled with water up to their necks. Before the execution, Yao had a short speech where he listed the many crimes the officials committed against the people and explained how he was liberating the people from their cruel oppression. Once Yao was finished, he gave the orders which saw the soldiers pile wood underneath the pot before lighting them aflame. The officials soon realized what was happening but they could do little to escape when their hands were tied and lids were placed over the pots.

With the flame burning underneath, the pots were heated up with the poor officials being cooked alive. The pots were designed so the screams of the officials could be heard clearly while the openings didn't slow down the rate at which the water was heated. Once the water was heated, all those present heard the screams of the officials who were struggling in futility to get out of the pots. As their screams got louder, Yao and Guo laughed as they enjoyed themselves with the occasion. Even the soldiers who lit the wood earlier felt disgusted by this inhumane execution but they stayed silent fearing they were next.

The scream lasted several minutes before the officials went silent, likely mercifully went unconscious from the pain of being cooked alive. Yao then summoned the families of the officials who had been near enough to hear the screams. He had them settle around the pots where he offered them two decisions. They could either die the same way as the officials or they could choose an alternate method to be revealed. The screams alone terrified the family members so they discussed amongst themselves if being cooked alive was what they wanted. Yao and Guo used the opportunity to eat their meal as a way to pass the time.

 

[Michaelangelo]

And here I thought another doge was finally going to leave office without dying. I guess I was wrong.

I hope that Yao isn't going to make them eat their family. Not that would be cruel and twisted.

 

[blklizard]

And here I thought another doge was finally going to leave office without dying. I guess I was wrong.

I hope that Yao isn't going to make them eat their family. Not that would be cruel and twisted.

To live past one's term is a rare luxury and a rather boring ending to their lives as the Doge. As for eating their family, I considered it but it seemed too horrid to write out so I ignored it.

Special

Chapter 203

With the reputation Yao had when it came to unique cruel executions, the families chose to be cooked alive as opposed to facing what else the monster could think off. Yao was definitely entertained as he ordered his men to bring forth more pots to accommodate the extra volunteers. He didn't notice his elder son being displeased as the young man clearly had other plans in store for the families. Guo wisely remained silent while his father had his fun. It was these times when Guo remembered that, despite being his father's favorite, there were many limitations as to what he could actually do without feeling the wrath of his father.

Yao's three sons learned from firsthand experience just how cruel their father could be. The three of them shared the same mother who was actually killed by their father. Their mother was at the wrong place when she made a remark which angered Yao who had a terrible temper. Yao ordered his soldiers to arrest his wife and personally orchestrated her execution. While Yao did admit that he regretted his decision of harming his wife, his sons didn't believe him for a moment as they saw personally the joy Yao had after the execution. Fearing a similar fate, they never went against their father's will or talk badly of their father.

Guo was growing discontent with the fact that he constantly lived under his father's shadow and one wrong move could cost him his life. He enjoyed the benefits of being his father's favorite but the risks involved were often far too high. With two brothers, Guo didn't doubt his father executing him if he unfortunately crossed the old man's path. The elder son realized that his two brothers were wise when they offered to rule other parts of the kingdom. By staying far from Yao, they were essentially improving their chances of survival. Conversely, he was the idiot who chose to remain too close to the tiger that could kill him without a second thought.

As Yao enjoyed the screams of the families, Guo settled down to think of an solution. He not only wanted his father dead but also intended on killing his brothers too. Guo was a greedy man who wished to control the entire kingdom his father created. The kingdom under his father hadn't been official yet since he had yet to conquer the entire region. With the former officials captured, it was just assumed that uniting the region under one flag was inevitable. Sharing had never been his strong suit and eliminating his brothers would remove competition for the throne. He needed a sneaky plan to lure his brothers to the capital so he could kill three birds with one stone.

 

[blklizard]

Special

Chapter 204

When Guo returned to his residence, he paced his room thinking to himself. He had a few men who were more loyal to him than to his father but he dared not discussing the matter with them just yet. He could never be sure which of his servants acted as an ear to his father and would report anything suspicious to Yao. Until he was ready to carry out his plan, Guo wanted no one to know of his plans. If the word got into his father's ears, there would be little he could do to convince his father otherwise. His death would make his brothers happier since they could split the kingdom between themselves.

Guo had already thought up a perfect excuse of getting his brothers to the capital. His two brothers, Dong and Sun, had been sent out weeks before Yao finally rebelled. They were sent to other parts of the region to rally supporters secretly to their cause. Yao had previously planned to mount a large rebellion across the region to quickly overpower the regional officials. Once that stage was done, he could proceed to gathering a large army and fend off any government forces that dared to retake the region. The rare opportunity at Nanjing allowed Yao to gain control with a lot less bloodshed while his two other sons were able to expand their influence.

The fact that Dong and Sun had chances to expand their influence worried Guo who had remained by the side of his father the entire time. As the eldest, he was guaranteed a large portion of the pie but his brothers could still gain support in other parts of the region for their claim of those territories. As long as Yao was alive, his two brothers wouldn't dare to do anything funny. However, it would be a much different story if Yao passed away. Being very paranoid, Guo couldn't help but imagine that his two brothers were plotting to eventually take his land from him. They were likely already building up their military for that very purpose.

With Yao's birthday coming up, Guo saw it impossible for his two brothers to not come to the capital. To refuse would see them feeling the wrath of Yao which suited him just fine. He would just wait until Yao disinherit one, if not both, sons before he carried out the other stage of his plan. If both of them were to attend the birthday, he could prepare for their arrival. He was amused with the irony that his father's birthday would serve as his funeral too. To ensure his father wouldn't feel lonely on his final journey, he would kindly let his brothers join him. He would then take over and become the undisputed king of the region.

 

[blklizard]

Special

Chapter 205

As expected, Guo's two brother agreed to participate in their father's birthday. Neither Dong nor Sun was confident about his ability of fighting his father so it made sense to participate and not anger Yao. During a meeting the next day, Guo spoke with his father explaining that he wished to make the plans so there could be surprises. Yao didn't suspect a thing and was even mildly amused that Guo was even remotely interesting in planning his birthday. While Yao thought his elder son had finally grown into a man, Guo secretly smiled knowing that the surprise he had in store would be his father's last.

Guo first began with the main events where there would be no surprises. He chose to follow the customs so his father wouldn't notice anything odd. He wanted Yao to be alone or lightly guarded when his men finally made their move. Of course, there were also his two brothers that would be included in the ambush he was meticulously planning. If everything went as planned, his father's birthday would be the same day he rose to the throne and become the king. As a way to remember his father's conquest, Guo decided to use the name his father had in mind. His own kingdom would be known Dali in two weeks.

Once the general planning was done, Guo had them sent to some of his father's advisers. First, he wanted their approval before moving forward with the smaller details. Secondly, he knew that they would speak with his father so this was his way of removing all suspicion. Yao would never expect his son to plan his funeral but Guo could never be entirely certain. If his father was ever in a bad mood, he would become unpredictable which was when everyone around him feared for their lives. Keeping his father happy until the birthday would be vital to the success of his ascension to the throne. Once Yao was dead, his days of cowering under his father would be finally over.

The advisers replied that the events were excellent and would surely make his father happy. Guo understood their reply as his father seeing the arrangements as satisfactory. He worked on the minor details while secretly finding the best opening his men could have. Once he was finished, Guo found the opportunity he needed. During the feast which was in the relatively late stages of the celebration, Yao's bodyguards weren't likely so vigilant while everyone else had some alcohol making them easier targets. The soldiers Guo had ambushed would strike where they would cut down Yao, Dong and Sun along with anyone in their way.

 

[Michaelangelo]

It seems like rulers in general have a short life once in power. There's always someone who wants them dead. Sometimes that person is themselves.

This sounds like it'd be one exciting birthday. Here's hoping it's as eventful as the Red Wedding.

 

[blklizard]

It seems like rulers in general have a short life once in power. There's always someone who wants them dead. Sometimes that person is themselves.

This sounds like it'd be one exciting birthday. Here's hoping it's as eventful as the Red Wedding.

No one said being Doge of Nuova Italia was easy. I won't be putting too much details into the birthday. There's quite a bit to get through with Dali not to mention the other states.

Special

Chapter 206

Guo watched as his fathers and brothers had a good time at the birthday. The main events had took place earlier that day with everyone enjoying the rare festivities in the capital. They were finally transitioning into the feast so the final stages of his plan would soon come to fruition. He made sure that he consumed as little alcohol so he could keep a clear head for what was about to happen. Earlier, he excused himself to head for the washroom only to check on his men who were in position. Guo was almost tempted to spring his trap then but he decided against it. Yao's bodyguards were still keeping a sharp eye out which could spell disaster if he got too impatient with his orders.

During the feast, Guo had dancers preforming on the stage. He purposely picked beautiful women for this performance and paid a small fortune for them. Guo was soon satisfied that his small distraction was working. Yao's bodyguards were keeping a sharp eye around the room but the beauty of the dancers had many of them mesmerized. They likely believed that, since nothing went wrong in the early stages of the feast, they could enjoy the rest of the celebration and what better way to enjoy it than watching beautiful women dance. Guo waited a few more minutes while toasting to his father and brother. While they drank down cups after cups of alcohol, Guo sneakily dumped his drink behind him without consuming any of it.

When Guo looked in the direction of his brothers, he noticed that their bodyguards were nowhere to be seen. He smiled to himself at the lack of suspicion his brothers had. They would die this day with their father and that suited him perfectly. Yao was already drunk seeing him mumbling nonsense to his advisers who simply nodded and offered compliments. Guo realized that the time was right so he excused himself to meet with his men. In the back, he saw his men rather restless after waiting so long. He promised them that, once they accomplished their small task, they could take one of the dancers home for pleasure.

With no one suspecting a thing inside the feast hall, Guo's soldiers entered with their weapons drawn. They ran in large strides to close the distance between them and Yao's bodyguards who were still staring at the dancers. When the bodyguards caught sight of armed men, they rushed to intercept. The bodyguards were quickly slaughtered and their deaths caused chaos inside the feast hall. The advisers, dancers and guests all fled the scene while Guo's soldiers surrounded Yao and his two younger sons. The three of them were so drunk that they didn't even know what was happening. Guo was taking no chances as he gave orders to have them beheaded immediately.

 

[blklizard]

Special

Chapter 207

Dong was shocked to hear that there were soldiers waiting in a room next to the feast hall. He understood that security was important for the safety of his father but it made more sense if they were posted around the perimeter where they could buy Yao more time if assassins attacked. One of his bodyguards, Kan, suspected that those soldiers weren't there to protect Yao. Instead, they were posted there to later kill Dong and Sun. He couldn't explain why Yao would want his two sons killed but those soldiers were good indications that death was awaiting them once the two younger sons of Yao stepped into the feast hall.

The two younger brothers had been very close ever since Yao made Guo his favorite son. They knew that they couldn't hope to rely on their father so it made sense for them to stick together. As soon as Dong learned about the soldiers, he quickly met with Sun who was preparing to go into the feast hall. Upon hearing from Dong, Sun also suspected that an ambush was awaiting them inside the feast hall and, if they entered, they might not leave alive. Still, they couldn't exactly not participate and feel the wrath of their father. While they suspected Yao to be the mastermind behind all this, there was still a chance Guo was behind the nasty plot.

One of Sun's bodyguards volunteered to dress up as him. The man said that he had been around Sun long enough to act just like him. With the large number of guests, he could easily get away with his disguise which would allow Sun to get away. One of Dong's bodyguard also offered his service knowing that he would die. However, the bodyguards vowed to throw away their lives so this was merely their duties. Dong and Sun were touched by this gesture and promised them that their families would be cared for once they returned home. The two bodyguards changed clothes and entered the feast hall while the two brothers prepared to leave the capital.

The two imposters were followed by bodyguards so they wouldn't attract the wrong attention. Their bodyguards would find a good time to disappear leaving the brave men to fate. If there was an ambush, this would be the last meal they have before they were sent on their final journey. Otherwise, they would meet up with Dong and Sun which was the happier of the two endings. Meanwhile, Dong and Sun changed into soldier clothes so they, along with their bodyguards, could be mistaken as a patrol heading out of the capital. They mustn't attract any attention or they would be in hot waters and, in the case with Yao, that could literally be their fate.

 

[blklizard]

Special

Chapter 208

It made more sense for the two brothers to act like subordinates since they couldn't fool other soldiers as officers. Kan was the best candidate for the task as he was once a military officer before he became Dong's personal bodyguard. The two of them met by chance when Dong was shown the soldiers training fields. At the time, Yao was still an officer and Dong was given tours of the training fields due to his desire to follow the path of his father. During one of the tours, Dong met with Kan who showed him around the training field. The two of them chatted and, given how well they got along, they became instant friends.

When Dong was given a position that saw him travel throughout the region, Kan jumped on the opportunity to serve as his bodyguard. Kan had always wanted to travel around the region to see the various towns and cities. His pay as military officer was decent but he still preferred adventures with slightly lower pay. By going along with Dong, Kan was given a chance to do so. Dong accepted the offer since he was worried about his own safety. He recognized that his ability to defend himself was sub-par which spelled disaster in the region when bandits and rebel forces were rumored to control certain key roads.

Dong only got his new position because the previous man in his position was captured by bandits with the ransom going terribly wrong. With Kan by his side, Dong didn't worry as much about bandits. However, the rebels were still something he worried about as they weren't to be taken lightly. The rebels, despite being made up of largely peasants, were rather well organized which, combined with the mountainous terrain where they constructed their camps, made it very difficult for government forces to uproot. The regional officials decided that it wasn't the effort to defeat these rebels so the rebels were free to reign over their small territories.

As his first assignment, Dong was sent to the southeast direction to deliver some key documents. The routes to his destinations were rumored to be controlled by rebels which made the journey exceptionally dangerous. He was allowed to bring a dozen bodyguards but they won't be enough to fight any rebels that decided to ambush them. Still, Dong wouldn't back down from his first assignment so he accepted. Kan called Dong a fool but he still chose to go with his friend. They knew danger was numerous on their upcoming journey but neither of them was ready for the surprises waiting for them.

 

[Cityracer]

Go Dong and Sun, get revenge against Guo.

 

[blklizard]

Go Dong and Sun, get revenge against Guo.

I don't think we'll get to see Dong and Sun fight their elder brother.

Special

Chapter 209

Dong and his bodyguards were traveling through the mountains when they discovered that they were surrounded. From the way the strangers were dressed, Dong's party could only assume that they encountered the rebels who were in control of these parts. The rebel leader shouted that, if the party members lowered their weapons and came quietly, their lives would be spared. Dong never intended on resisting when he saw their escape completely cut off. He ordered his bodyguards to lower their weapons as instructed. He believed that, as long as they lived, they could always find a chance to escape. Dong just hoped the rebels would be reasonable with their demands.

The small party was led deeper into the mountains while all of its members were tied up and under watch by at least two rebels. They were also blindfolded which made the journey up the mountains quite difficult. They stumbled many times and were forced to get back up. There was finally relief once they arrived at their cell inside a cave where their blindfolds were gone. They were still tied and rebels were standing guard outside their cell. With little knowledge of where they were at, Dong and the others understood that escape was difficult. Not only did they need to get past all the rebels but they also needed to find their way back to the path and, given they were strangers to these parts, navigating the mountain trails would be a true challenge.

The party was left alone in its cell until nighttime when some rebel leaders came to speak with them. Dong had expected the negotiation to eventually happen. He didn't particularly like his odds when he had basically no bargaining pieces to discuss with the rebels. If anything, he was at their mercy and hoped his father would at least consider his rescue. Dong and his father weren't exactly close so there was the possibility for the ransom to not happen at all. The young man remembered the story of the last man in his shoes who was killed when the ransom went terribly wrong. Dong started to wonder if he made a mistake and should've have resisted earlier.

The rebel leaders brought stools with them and sat outside the cell. They briefly introduced their names before proceeding to the negotiations. They first asked Dong what his party was doing in these parts of the region. Before Dong could say anything, everyone inside the cave heard shouts outside that sounded like a battle was taking place. In that exact moment, the rebel leaders and Dong realized what was happening. The mission Dong was given happened to be a ruse to draw out the rebels. While he and his party was taken to the rebel hideout, their movements were tracked by skilled trackers who would repart the location of the hideout to government forces.

 

[blklizard]

Special

Chapter 210

All but one rebel leader left the cave demanding an explanation for the chaos outside. The last rebel leader drew his weapon and ordered the warden to open the cell. A quick glance at his eyes told the party that this man wanted them dead. Kan stood between the cell door and Dong as he prepared to face the rebel leader. Despite being tied up, Kan managed to loosen his knots so he was almost free. If he had another minute, he could get loose and then proceed to freeing the others. Seeing the warden opening the door to let the rebel leader in, Kan recognized that time was a luxury they didn't have. He must continue freeing himself while holding off the man who sought for their blood.

The warden hadn't expected the outburst from the lone rebel leader seeing him struggle to open the cell door as ordered. This bought the party members enough time to prepare for the upcoming onslaught if they couldn't get themselves free. As soon as the cell door swung open, the rebel leader dashed in and swung at Kan. His nimble feet allowed Kan to easily sidestep the swing while he continued loosening the knots. The rebel leader, being so caught up in his rage, continued swinging at Kan time and time again but the end result remained the same. Kan kept moving and avoided every single strike. He bought more time in the process allowing him to finally loosen his knots.

With his hands free, Kan could finally fight back as opposed to maneuvering all the time to get away. He waited for another swing where the rebel leader used too much strength before grabbing the man's arm. Kan used the opportunity to not only disarm the rebel leader but also followed it up with a well placed punch to knock out the rebel leader. Kan then grabbed the weapon and parried in time to stop the warden from slicing one of his hands off. A few quick exchanges resulted in the warden getting a nasty gash across his chest. Knowing the man would die regardless, Kan mercifully stabbed the warden to end his life. He then turned to the unconscious rebel leader on the ground.

Kan was about to finish the rebel leader off when Dong told him to leave the rebel leader alive. Dong was already shaken after seeing the warden killed so he preferred to see bloodshed limited to a minimum. The fact the rebel leader was unconscious and no longer a threat meant his life could be spared. Kan respected Dong's decision and went to free the others. They then quietly made their way out of the cave only to be greeted by a scene of a battlefield. With Kan leading the way, they began their descent amidst the chaos. Kan only needed to use his weapons whenever they were stopped in their path by the rebels. They eventually met with the government forces that were besieging the rebel camp.

 

[Michaelangelo]

So Guo can't even recognize when random men are impersonating his brothers? Clearly he didn't spent much time with them.