20demayo Chapter 3 The Omnipotent Spider, Luohe Tiangang
Chapter 3 The Omnipotent Spider, Luohe Tiangang
[Fifth person, the all-powerful spider, Louis XI, intelligence 102]
I am France.
If Charles the Bold was a stubborn and courageous tiger, then Louis XI must have been a cunning and patient spider. Louis XI, the unifier of French territory, the omnipotent spider king, used decrees as the mesh of his web, intelligence as its veins, diplomacy as its rope, and money as its blade. Known for his insidious cunning, Louis XI pushed France from feudal fragmentation to centralized power.
He broke down class barriers in appointing talent, divided the aristocratic alliance, and while domineeringly strengthening royal power and implementing unified laws, he also half-compromised by using marriage alliances and monetary diplomacy to win over people both inside and outside the court.
He funded the Swiss Confederation and the Duke of Lorraine to kill his greatest rival, Charles the Bold, and signed the Treaty of Piquigny, achieving a "kneeling victory." He also used a strategy of befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones to contain England and the Holy Roman Empire.
He established Europe's first systematic intelligence network, placing hundreds of spies of various professions in various European countries to build a pyramid-shaped intelligence system.
He introduced the silk industry, developed mines, standardized currency, and supported urban autonomy, enabling France to recover rapidly after the Hundred Years' War. He also required the church to disclose its assets and limited its economic privileges.
The rebel lord called him the most terrible king in history, and his confidants and advisors said he was a hard king in a suspicious and ruthless world. There were even rumors that he drank the blood and flesh of babies to prolong his life.
But his achievements are undeniable. For every person who scorns him, there is an equal number of supporters. Ministers call him a genius in governing the country, foreign envoys call him a fearsome sage, and merchants and citizens are grateful for his feat of ending the Hundred Years' War and supporting industry and commerce.
"System, remove Hu Yan and Louis XI, and summon from the remaining three: Yan Ying, Guan Zhong, and Liu Bingzhong."
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained Guan Zhong, who united the feudal lords and brought order to the world.]
Guan Zhong: Command 90, Strength 76, Politics 105, Intelligence 102.
Implanted identity: Guan Zhong, courtesy name Yi Wu, a talent recommended to Jin Mantang by his friend Bao Shuya. Seeing his achievements in political strategy, Bao Shuya ordered him and a group of people to take goods to the capital. There was also a letter of recommendation for the host to examine.
[Bring: Bao Shuya, Xi Peng, Ning Wei, Dong Guoya]
[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 10 ...
"Good!" Liu Xiao celebrated excitedly in his heart. This was very likely the only person before the Qing Dynasty to have achieved a political score of 105.
"System, will each summon bring a character along? Will the characters be implanted into me?" Liu Xiao asked expectantly.
[Ding! Only the first five summons will randomly include characters; this is a beginner's bonus. Each summoned character will be integrated into the host's faction.] The system spoke calmly as before.
"I see. It's a pity we couldn't bring all five heroes of Huan and Guan together," Liu Xiao said with some regret.
The Five Outstanding Ministers of Huan and Guan were five virtuous ministers recommended by Guan Zhong to Duke Huan of Qi, each in charge of a different position. Xi Peng was in charge of diplomacy, Ning Qi was in charge of agriculture, Prince Chengfu was in charge of military affairs, Bin Xuwu was in charge of criminal law, and Dong Guoya was in charge of supervision. Together, they laid a solid foundation for Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony.
[The recruitment of intelligence talent has begun.] Liu Xiao had no time for regret or further thought; the second special talent recruitment card had already been activated.
[Ding, First Person, Female Ai, Intelligence 96]
The practice of using water sprinkling began with Shao Kang of the Xia Dynasty, who had a woman named Ai water sprinkling water.
Nu Ai is the first female spy clearly recorded in Chinese history, and she played a key role in Shao Kang's restoration of the country. She infiltrated Guoyi, the territory ruled by Han Zhuo's son, Jiao, and secretly transmitted intelligence by hiding it in her hair bun, shoe sole, and other private places, ultimately helping Shao Kang to eliminate Han Jiao.
[The second person, Embroidered-Robed Envoy, Jiang Chong, Intelligence 95]
Jiang Chong, whose real name was Jiang Qi, was summoned by Emperor Wu of Han for reporting that Prince Liu Dan of Zhao had committed adultery with his elder sister and his father's concubines.
At the Dog Terrace Palace, she wore a silk robe and a hat with bird feather tassels, her attire reminiscent of a woman, yet her appearance was imposing. Emperor Wu was greatly impressed upon seeing her, marveling at the many extraordinary talents of Yan and Zhao. (PS: 2000 years later, numerous extraordinary individuals from Hebei have appeared on the internet as if they stepped out of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, fully demonstrating Emperor Wu's foresight.)
After Jiang Chong returned from his mission to the Xiongnu, Emperor Wu appointed him as an Embroidered-Robe Envoy, tasked with apprehending thieves within the Three Auxiliary Regions and monitoring the overstepping of etiquette by powerful officials. During his tenure, he was loyal and upright, earning the trust of Emperor Wu.
What happened next is well-known: Liu Ju's retainers were arrested, and Jiang Chong reported this to Emperor Wu. In his later years, Emperor Wu feared that he would be purged if the crown prince succeeded to the throne, so he fabricated the witchcraft incident. As a result, Liu Ju killed Jiang Chong, and the army was defeated and killed. After Liu Ju committed suicide, Emperor Wu regretted his actions and exterminated Jiang Chong's three clans. He built the Palace of Remembrance and issued the "Luntai Edict of Self-Reproach".
[Third person: Leader of the Cold Mountain Alliance, Luo He, Intelligence 97]
Luo He is the founder of the Cold Mountain Alliance and the holder of the Wind and Cloud Token, enjoying a supreme status in the martial arts world.
Luohe had the world at heart and insisted on the idea of "freeing slaves and stopping war," which seriously shook the interests of the old aristocracy. After being besieged by various forces and betrayed by her subordinate Dongfang Ji out of love turned to hatred, Luohe finally came to the end of her life.
She transferred 80% of the Frost Technique's internal energy, which she had cultivated throughout her life, to the young Chu Qiao. After handing her daughter over to the maid Snake Woman, she charged towards the pursuers with her sword, only to be killed by a traitor's ambush.
"No matter how many hardships you face, even if you live like a weed, you must live on with strength. Only by living can you have infinite possibilities." These last words left to her daughter later became the spiritual pillar that sustained Chu Qiao.
[The fourth person, the Bad Guy Commander Tian Kui Xing, Yuan Tiangang, Intelligence 98]
He upheld the ambitions of the world and commanded the respect of all rulers and people. One man could rule the world.
The pinnacle of the Bad Guys series, a 300-year-old monster who witnessed the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty. An elixir of immortality—whether it brought him fortune or destruction remains to be seen. As his old friends passed away and the dynasty crumbled, Yuan Tiangang, guarding the last bloodline of the Li Tang, still firmly believed in the domineering power of human will to overcome fate.
He was undoubtedly the number one in the world. His protective aura repelled Li Siyuan, and he crippled Zhu Yougui's lifelong skills with a single palm strike. He had thirty-six Heavenly Generals under his command and was stationed in the Hidden Weapon Valley. For three hundred years, he continuously plotted to conquer the world. In the end, in order to create momentum and block Li Xingyun's retreat, he willingly died by his sword. He was a tragic and lamentable character with extremely high popularity.
[Fifth person, Li Bi, Deputy Director of the Jing'an Division, Intelligence 95]
Li Bi's prototype is Li Mi, a famous prime minister in the mid-Tang Dynasty. In the drama, he joins forces with Zhang Xiaojing to solve the "Quelehuoduo" bombing case. Although he is captured during the attack, he still thwarts the conspiracy of Long Bo and others.
Although the crisis was eventually resolved, Li Bi's quick wit and benevolence, coupled with his inexperienced handling of affairs, sparked considerable controversy among viewers.
[Ding! Five intelligence agents have been summoned. Please remove two from the five. The system will then draw from the remaining three.]
"Remove Jiang Chong and... Nu Ai, and summon them in the Luo River, Yuan Tiangang, and Li Bi."
After careful consideration, Liu Xiao decided to remove Nv Ai, who had a higher level of intelligence, from the choice between Li Bi and Nv Ai. After all, Li Bi's prototype was Li Mi, and even if there were differences, his political and intellectual level was not much lower. Moreover, he could bring more intelligence personnel with him.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained...]