Chapter 52: Kneel

Before long, Zhangsun Wuji woke his family, arranged them in a safe room, and summoned a group of guards to stand watch around the courtyard.

No matter what sounds they heard, without his order, they were not allowed to enter.

The guards, though utterly baffled, all nodded in agreement.

Half an hour later, everything was ready.

Zhangsun Wuji walked back again, and with him came his three sons.

The three sons followed closely behind their father, silent, as if Zhangsun Wuji had already instructed them.

"My lord, we may begin," Zhangsun Wuji said, approaching with a cupped-hand salute.

Wang Bo said, "To let you see the true power of Thunderfire with your own eyes, I permit you to find some sturdy armor."

Zhangsun Wuji nodded and had the guards bring ten sets of armor, which were stood upright in the courtyard.

Wang Bo took the AK-47, inserted the magazine, flicked off the safety, and pulled the trigger.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat...

Accompanied by the crisp sound of gunfire, the modern firearm displayed its astonishing lethality to the ancient people. This cross-era technology was enough to violently shatter the worldviews of the four men in the courtyard once again.

The sturdy armor should have been impervious to blade and spear, but before bullets it was as fragile as wood, easily shot full of holes.

After Wang Bo emptied the magazine, the ten suits of armor were already tattered and torn, with not a single part intact.

Zhangsun Wuji broke out in a cold sweat, staring at the AK47 in Wang Bo's hands with utter terror.

Although he was a civil official, he also knew that the combat strength of the Tang army was absolutely the most powerful army under heaven.

But even the mightiest army, when faced with such an unreasonable weapon, is nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Boom!

Just then, the guards stationed outside could no longer contain their worry and burst through the door, but were quickly scolded out by the enraged Zhangsun Wuji.

His three sons stood motionless, almost like fools.

Only after a long while did Zhangsun Wuji walk back.

Wang Bo didn't wait for him to speak before applying intense pressure. "Now you should understand the Empress Dowager's power. She has many more weapons like this, enough to arm a force of a thousand men. You should understand what that means."

Zhangsun Wuji's breath caught in his throat; he understood all too well what this meant.

If the Heavenly Empress had a thousand-man force like this, sweeping through Luoyang would be effortless.

Even sweeping across the entire realm would not be impossible.

These old ministers living within Luoyang City were like dolls in the Empress's hands—she could knead and twist them however she pleased.

Resist? Heh, impossible, impossible.

Having witnessed the power of the AK-47, Zhangsun Wuji had long since lost the courage to resist.

In the world of martial arts, the gap between cold weapons and firearms is enough to drive anyone to despair.

"Your subject, your subject... your subject..." Zhangsun Wuji stammered for a long time without managing a complete sentence, truly because the shock he had received that evening was far too immense.

Wang Bo continued, "Zhangsun Wuji, do you know that the Empress actually harbors the intent to kill you?"

A chill seized Zhangsun Wuji's heart—of this, he had no doubt.

"However, I know your abilities—you are the foremost meritorious official of the Lingyan Pavilion, a capable hand at governing the realm. If you were to die just like that, it would be somewhat regrettable. So I persuaded the Heavenly Empress to give you one more chance."

"Of course, you can also refuse."

Perhaps the history books will even bestow upon you the fine reputation of a loyal minister of the Li Tang.

But that is all there is to it.

Wang Bo looked at Zhangsun Wuji with a faint, mocking smile and said darkly, “The Heavenly Empress is a star deity reincarnated, and she has good relations with the Underworld. With just one word from her, no matter how well you have done in the mortal world, you will still suffer endless torment in the Underworld.”

"First, you will not escape the suffering of the eighteen hells. Second, not only you, but even your family will endure torment in hell."

"Of course, that is not the end of it. When it comes time for reincarnation, perhaps the King of Hell will lightly wave his brush, and you will be sentenced to the animal realm, reborn as a fly, an insect, a pig, a cow, or a horse, with no further possibility of becoming human."

"Of course, if you are willing to contribute to the Heavenly Empress's ascension to the throne, perhaps in the future, should she be pleased, she might allow you to be reincarnated into a good family, or even become an emperor in your next life."

"All of this depends on how you choose."

Is it support, or opposition?

"Is it glory and wealth, or the ruin of your family and no peace even after death?"

After Wang Bo finished speaking, he quietly waited for Zhangsun Wuji's choice. He believed that Zhangsun Wuji would absolutely not disappoint him, for he had spoken both good words and bad, offered sweet dates, and brandished the stick.

If Zhangsun Wuji still failed to appreciate the situation, he would be utterly foolish.

In fact, Zhangsun Wuji indeed did not disappoint Wang Bo.

Not long after Wang Bo finished speaking, Zhangsun Wuji knelt.

He said resolutely, 'Please convey to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager—no, convey to His Majesty the Emperor—that this old minister, Zhangsun Wuji, is willing to devote himself entirely to our Emperor, to serve him with utmost loyalty and toil like a dog or a horse.'

The ancients actually believed in ghosts and gods.

Having seen the dharma treasure and recognized the power of the thunder and fire, he realized he had no chance of victory—if he continued to oppose the Heavenly Empress, he would not find peace even after death.

Zhangsun Wuji finally knelt down.

He was not the sort of loyal minister who would give everything for the Li Tang dynasty, even if it meant being reborn as a beast without regret.

He, too, had his own selfish motives.

So Zhangsun Wuji quickly made his choice. He had served the Li-Tang dynasty loyally for decades, and it was time to think of himself as well. Thus, at this moment, the former anti-Wu factionist Zhangsun Wuji was dead.

Now, he is the leader of the pro-Wu faction.

For Wu Zetian, he was willing to go through fire and water, without hesitation.

After Zhangsun Wuji knelt, his three sons also knelt. Having witnessed the power of the AK-47, they no longer had any thought of opposing Wu Zetian.

He was even filled with joy at his father's defection.

Wang Bo nodded with satisfaction, took out a piece of paper, and handed it to Zhangsun Wuji, who was kneeling on the ground. "The list on this paper—I hope you can persuade everyone on it to support the Empress Dowager's ascension to the throne as emperor."

Wu Zetian handed this list to Wang Bo. Wang Bo could not be bothered to seek out each person one by one; after subduing Zhangsun Wuji, he believed that Zhangsun Wuji would handle everything for him.

Zhangsun Wuji respectfully took the list, his pupils contracting slightly several times, because he saw that the first name on the list was his own.

But now, he no longer needed to worry, for he had already switched sides.

Then, after scanning through the list, he said, "My lord, to persuade this group, I will need the treasures you just showed me: the Gourmet Cloth and the Thunder Fire."

"All right!" Wang Bo smiled slightly and nodded in agreement.