The Demon Lords

Chapter 465 60 East!!!_1

Jin State is mountainous. Its northern Skybreak Mountain range is reputed to be the most expansive in the entire East, with occasional reports of demonic beasts emerging. However, these demonic beasts are, at best, comparable to the Pi Beasts raised by the Yan State's imperial family—often even inferior—making them mere curiosities. Consequently, when Jin State merchants travel, their most marketable goods are various strange and unusual demonic beasts.

Years ago, Yao Zizhan, a great literary figure from Qian State, traveled to Jin State in his youth. He had intended to draw poetic inspiration from the majestic and rugged Skybreak Mountain range. Instead, he was inadvertently captured by a settlement of wild people within the mountains. If not for a Jin State military detachment that chanced to be nearby, clearing out wild people, and rescued him, this great literary figure from Qian State might have met his end before his brilliance could fully shine.

The Skybreak Mountain range is one such feature. In western Jin State, bordering Yan State, lies another mountain range. The people of Jin call it Horse Fall Mountain, while the people of Yan call it Horse Hoof Mountain.

This range extends to the southwestern part of Jin State. Thus, Jin State can be likened to an egg enveloped by mountains. The only opening, a stretch of flat, accessible land, borders Chu State.

In fact, long ago, Jin and Chu States did not share a border. Chu State was situated in the southeastern region of the Eastern Continent, having originated from the Great Marsh. The emperors of Chu even proclaimed their lineage to be the Golden Phoenix Bloodline, born from the depths of the Great Marsh. However, for hundreds of years, the Chu people relentlessly pursued expansion, continuously annexing smaller surrounding states. Eventually, they successfully established a common border with Jin State, and the two states would occasionally clash in wars involving tens of thousands of soldiers.

In the southwestern part of Jin State, connected to the terrain of the Horse Hoof Mountain range, the South Gate pass was constructed.

Beyond South Gate, numerous small states stand. These states are nestled between the three major powers—Jin, Chu, and Qian—all of whom deliberately maintained their existence to serve as a buffer zone.

Consequently, although South Gate appears incredibly formidable, the last true battle fought there was several decades ago. That instance involved a coup d'état in one of the small states: a noble usurped the throne, and the rightful ruler fled towards Jin State. The pursuing forces chased him to South Gate but were repelled by the Jin garrison.

However, due to interference from the Qian and Chu States, Jin State ultimately did not dispatch troops to help this ruler reclaim his nation. Instead, they merely enfeoffed him as the Duke of Anle and supported him.

There were also claims that, at the time, the power of the Three Great Clans within Jin State was already immense. Rumors even circulated, suggesting, "A ruler's position should naturally belong to one of virtue."

Therefore, they believed that if a monarch could not defend their own throne and country, then their destiny was exhausted—a natural consequence of the workings of the Heavenly Dao.

The implications of this were clear to any discerning person.

At this moment, beneath South Gate, a vast caravan of seven to eight hundred people was undergoing inspection.

Three people stood atop the city wall. One man was clad in armor; he was the garrison commander of South Gate. Another was an elderly man in Confucian robes, a Vice Minister from Jin State's Ministry of Revenue. However, the Jin imperial court was merely a shell; this Vice Minister's actual duties involved managing trade for the imperial family, a task he had overseen on trips here for over a decade. Behind the old man stood a young, dark-faced attendant.

The garrison commander spoke first, "To the west, our Jin State is at war with Yan State. To the southwest, the Yan people are still fighting the Qian people. Where could such a large caravan like yours be headed?"

"To Qian State, naturally," the elderly Vice Minister replied with a smile.

The commander sounded surprised. "To Qian State? At a time like this?"

"The Qian people are wealthy," the Vice Minister explained. "My carts are laden mostly with herbs from Skybreak Mountain. We can get a good price for them there."

"Aren't you afraid of encountering Yan people within Qian State? Once they realize you're Jin merchants, they might rob you blind, or worse, you might not even escape with your lives," the commander retorted.

"As they say, fortune favors the bold," the Vice Minister said lightly.

"It seems His Majesty is truly desperate for silver, then?" the South Gate's garrison commander jested.

His words held no respect for Emperor Jin.

Indeed. Though it was called Jin State and possessed an emperor, its military and political power had long been in the hands of the Three Great Clans for many years. These Three Great Clans each possessed their own fiefdoms and armies. To be precise, they were akin to three great feudal lords within Jin State. Imperial edicts from Emperor Jin often failed to extend beyond the capital city's vicinity, rendering him more like a figurehead, revered but powerless.

When Zheng Fan had first learned of Jin State's circumstances, he had remarked that Emperor Jin was much like the Zhou Royal Family during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period.

The truth was, the Three Great Clans preserved Emperor Jin's existence primarily to maintain the overall stability of Jin State. After all, Yan State to the west watched them covetously, and conflicts with Chu State to the southeast erupted intermittently. Simultaneously, the Three Great Clans themselves also felt that the time was not yet ripe for them to truly go their separate ways.

However, an awareness of the Three Great Clans' dominance had long permeated Jin State, from the imperial court down to the common folk. The emperor reigning above them was no longer taken seriously. Perhaps only the commoners in the capital city and the imperial family's personal army still harbored some loyalty towards Emperor Jin, making him appear not entirely like a puppet.

"Isn't that just the case?" the Vice Minister sighed. "The war with Yan State has severed trade routes from the west. With Qian State also embroiled in war, their merchant caravans can no longer enter either. With both these commercial arteries cut, so many princes and nobles in the capital city couldn't even receive their silver stipends last month."

"So, His Majesty is indeed having a tough time, isn't he?" the commander quipped.