Firefly Journey

Chapter 271 Chu Ting’s Grand Stage (8)

The room's occupant pushed open the door.

The moment he opened the door, Simpson froze, because he didn't recognize the old man outside and was quite certain that he didn't remember him.

"Old man, you've gone to the wrong place."

No, I came to find you.

"I do not know you."

"I know you."

After saying this, Zhao Zheng took a step forward, intending to force his way into the room. Simpson Budd reached out and blocked the door frame, preventing him from entering.

"I really don't know you."

Zhao Zheng smiled kindly, took out a photograph from his pocket, and spread it out to show him.

Do you remember?

Simpson's pupils suddenly contracted; the person in the black-and-white photograph in the old man's hand was none other than himself.

Alchemy technology flourished, and black-and-white cameras were invented as early as a century ago, but such things were expensive and not affordable for ordinary people.

Generally, it was used by nobles to record their lives. Or, it was used by the state to preserve some rare information.

The old man in front of me was dressed and looked very distinguished. He must have been powerful and influential in the State of Chu. The fact that he could produce such a thing showed that he had been paying attention to me for some time.

Simpson couldn't understand it. He was of average skill and had no background whatsoever. Three years ago, he and his friend Black Knight left Yicheng and the Vatican.

The difference is that the Black Knight went to the North, while he traveled around, and the Chu Kingdom was his last stop.

The other party was someone of extraordinary background and had his own photo. Based on these alone, he had no reason to refuse the other party entry into the house for a chat.

Zhao Zheng didn't treat himself like an outsider at all. After entering the room, he saw tea on the table, poured himself a cup, and sat down to sip it.

Yahu Xiaozhu is a well-known luxury hotel in Danyang, and the tea they provide is naturally of exceptional quality. However, compared to what Zhao Zheng usually drinks, it pales in comparison.

Zhao Zheng didn't care about the taste, because he hadn't come here to drink tea in the first place.

Simpson sat down beside the old man, who seemed unsure of what to do, and spoke first: "May I ask who you are, and why you have my photograph?"

He arrived in the State of Chu three months ago, starting his journey from the local areas, stopping and starting along the way, and just arrived in Danyang yesterday.

Zhao Zheng put down his teacup and said with a smile, "Your name is Simpson Budd. You graduated from St. Louis College, worked for the Vatican, and later left to travel."

You have a very famous friend; you left together, but you didn't end up together.

Simpson frowned: "I know those things better than you do."

Zhao Zheng chuckled and got down to business: "That photo was taken by my Chu Kingdom's spies many years ago. At the time, Cassius Bello was a very famous man, and we wanted to investigate him. We found out that he was very close to you, so we took a picture of you as well."

"Unexpectedly, this seemingly unnecessary step has come in very handy."

“You still haven’t told me who you are or what you want to do,” Simpson reminded him.

"My name is Zhao Zheng, and I am the Prime Minister of the State of Chu," Zhao Zheng answered honestly.

"As for finding you... as you can see, I am now very old and lack energy, and I can no longer be competent in my current position."

Simpson's eyes narrowed: "Why are you telling me all this?"

Zhao Zheng sighed: "When a person gets old, he should leave something behind, otherwise he will have served as prime minister in vain."

When you came to the State of Chu, you didn't go to the most prosperous Danyang first, but instead chose to travel to other prefectures and counties, which shows that you are not a person who likes to join in the fun.

Such people are often down-to-earth and get things done. The common people need people like this.

Simpson Budd understood what he meant and found it unbelievable. "Are you kidding me, old man? We've only just met, why are you acting like I'm your heir?"

"What do you think of what you've seen and heard along the way?" Zhao Zheng asked.

Simpson thought for a moment and said, "Not bad, the lives of ordinary people in Chu are better than elsewhere."

Zhao Zheng sat up straight, his eyes gleaming with pride: "Our Great Chu is the strongest nation in the world, and its people naturally live in peace and prosperity. I hope they can continue to live like this."

Simpson frowned: "That's true, but you seem to have forgotten about the administrative system of Chu. Can your words be taken seriously?"

The Chu state was ruled by the surname Lü, a tradition that has continued since ancient times, and its rulers held absolute authority.

Simpson Budd, who was born in the Duchy of Bema, had always looked down on the imperial system.

A place, a country, or even the world, has never been the world of one person or one family, but the world of all races.

The State of Chu inherited the old system. Although its national strength was for a time, it was not a long-term solution and it would eventually be eliminated by the times.

The Kolenbutz match is the best proof of this.

Zhao Zheng remained silent for a while.

"It's man-made."

Simpson squinted, then looked shocked.

These four short words contain a wealth of information.

"Doesn't your Chu state always advocate loyalty to the monarch and love for the country? But you are not loyal to the monarch."

Zhao Zheng laughed heartily: "Then tell me, who am I loyal to?"

Simpson Budd glanced out the window.

Zhao Zheng stood up and slowly walked towards the door.

"Danyang has many beautiful sights, and you can't see them all in just a few days. I'll stay a while longer and wait for your reply."

With that, the old man disappeared from Yahu Xiaozhu.

Simpson Budd stared at the old man's retreating figure, remaining silent for a long time, his heart filled with inner turmoil.

He left the city of Ilham, utterly disillusioned with the Papacy and the Duchy, but that did not mean he had forgotten his original intentions.

His initial intention was simple, exactly the same as that of Cassius Bello, far away in the North.

Some people are too ambitious and can't see the ground beneath their feet; they want to make sure the ground is dust-free.

For nearly a century, the State of Chu was undoubtedly the strongest nation on the continent, and its position remained as solid as a rock even without the support of the Ancestral God Church.

He had never understood what the State of Chu relied on.

After three months of travel, he gradually understood.

Faced with the enthusiastic invitation from a high-ranking official, he considered the feasibility. However, the Chu state's system was outdated and showed signs of exhaustion. Could such a Chu state be the utopia he envisioned?

Simpson Budd watched the old man touch the tea, then poured himself a cup. He tasted it; it was somewhat bitter.

"It's all up to human effort..."

……

……

As dusk falls, the procession reaches its climax.

Lin Yuanran and Lü Jianming sat on the rooftop, with snacks and two jugs of wine between them.

The long street was brightly lit and bustling with people, with a long red dragon slowly moving through it.

Those were carts carrying the "deity statue," which, surrounded by the citizens of Danyang, paraded around the entire capital city, making a round every night for three days.

"What a long line," Lin Yuanran said.

"Of course, the gods of our Great Chu are incredibly diverse. Those who are qualified to be mentioned are all renowned. Ordinary, lowly gods don't even make the cut," Lü Jianming said with considerable pride.

Even though he grew up in the Principality of Bema, he never stopped learning about his own culture and was always proud of it.

Lin Yuanran, who was not a pure-blooded duchy citizen, smiled leisurely and took a sip of wine.

"The gods that participate in the procession are gods that do not exist in the Chu Kingdom. I wonder if the seven ancestral gods will be furious if they find out that they are not included."

Lu Jianming was speechless.