Chapter 017: Planning the Future

When Wang Bo's subordinates gathered together, Wang Bo had the door closed, forbidding anyone to disturb him. At the same time, no one was allowed to approach this place; violators would be killed without mercy.

Regarding this order, Wang Bo's—or rather, An Lushan's—subordinates had no objections.

After all, what they were discussing here was the major matter of rebellion, so naturally no one was allowed to disturb them, nor was anyone else permitted to approach.

Everyone was quite satisfied with Wang Bo's caution.

Following such a far-sighted lord, this rebellion would surely be unstoppable. At the thought that they themselves could become ministers of a new dynasty, everyone couldn't help but let their imaginations run wild.

Then, they saw a light.

This light was certainly not the light of destruction; Wang Bo would not kill them—he was not that cruel.

In fact, this light was the light of brainwashing, the light of hypnosis.

Wang Bo planned to hypnotize this group of people, then brainwash them, turning them into his loyal followers—the kind who, at a single command, would unhesitatingly draw their swords and commit suicide.

Only then could Wang Bo thoroughly implement his orders.

Half an hour later, Wang Bo opened the door, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked out leisurely.

His subordinates filed out of the room one by one, leaving An Lushan's mansion with smiles, then returned to the army. The word 'rebellion' would never be mentioned again from then on.

Just pretend it never happened.

It was already evening.

Free of worries, Wang Bo was strolling through An Lushan's mansion. As the military governor of three circuits and the most powerful man in the Great Tang, An Lushan's mansion was not only enormous but also luxurious. Though it could not compare to the imperial palace, it was still first-rate.

Rockeries, gardens, pavilions, lakesides, courtyards, winding corridors—everything was there.

Wang Bo strolled partly to relax and partly to familiarize himself with the layout based on the information left by An Lushan, so as not to get lost in his own home. After all, from today onward, this mansion was his home.

And he, Wang Bo, was the new master here.

"My lord, my lord..."

While Wang Bo was wandering in the back garden, he suddenly heard a call.

Soon, a soldier ran over and knelt on one knee before Wang Bo. "My lord, the evening banquet has begun. The lady requests your presence for dinner."

Wang Bo nodded and said, "Lead the way."

The soldier quickly rose and led the way.

Wang Bo looked at his back, searched through An Lushan's memories, and immediately found the origin of this soldier.

Li Zhuer, An Lushan's trusted confidant.

He came from a Khitan tribe. From the age of ten or so, he had served An Lushan as a personal guard, and he was very cunning and clever.

Later, when An Lushan rebelled and established the so-called Great Yan, he had Li Zhuer castrated. Blood gushed out several sheng, and when he was near death, An Lushan applied ash and fire to his wound, and he recovered after a day.

Subsequently, Li Zhuer went from being a personal guard to a eunuch and gained An Lushan's trust and favor.

But An Lushan did not know that this man, whom he trusted most, would eventually kill him with his own hands.

Of course, this was also deeply related to An Lushan's own self-destructive behavior.

An Lushan was as fat as a mountain, old and sickly, nearly blind, with carbuncles on his back and poor sleep. He could only fall asleep under Li Zhuer's care.

But An Lushan had a foul temper, treating those around him like pigs and dogs, cursing and beating them at will.

Thus, Li Zhuer suffered greatly and bore a grudge.

Later, An Lushan's military advisor Zhuang Yan persuaded Li Zhuer. On the night of the first day of the first lunar month, Li Zhuer broke into An Lushan's tent and killed him by slashing his abdomen with a large knife.

This man, who had sparked the An-Shi Rebellion and caused the Great Tang to decline from prosperity, ultimately died at the hands of a traitor within his own household.

So today, when Wang Bo saw Li Zhuer, his first reaction was whether to brainwash this fellow as well and then find a suitable opportunity to sell his soul to Lady Gremory.

But Wang Bo quickly calmed down. Li Zhuer only earned his place in history because of An Lushan; he was not much of a figure. Without An Lushan, Li Zhuer was just an ordinary person.

Lady Gremory might not want such a mediocre soul.

Therefore, Wang Bo suppressed this idea and decided to find an opportunity to send Li Zhuer away.

Led by Li Zhuer, Wang Bo soon arrived at the mansion's banquet hall.

In the dining room, a group of men and women sat around the table, with the central seat empty.

A feast was laid out on the table, but no one dared to pick up their chopsticks.

Everyone was waiting for the master of the mansion.

When Wang Bo entered, he sat boldly in the main seat, picked up his chopsticks, and took a piece of lamb. Only then did the others begin to eat.

Taking this opportunity, Wang Bo's gaze swept lightly over those around the table, matching faces to names and confirming their identities.

Sitting to his left was a middle-aged woman who still retained some charm.

She was An Lushan's legitimate wife, Lady Kang. Not only was she An Lushan's first wife, but she was also the mother of his eldest son An Qingzong and second son An Qingxu.

To Wang Bo's right, a young and beautiful woman in a crimson long dress was An Lushan's beloved concubine, Lady Duan.

As for the others, they were An Lushan's eleven sons.

But Wang Bo had little interest in these so-called sons, so he didn't pay them much attention.

As for the two so-called wives and concubines, Wang Bo also had little interest.

Lady Kang was middle-aged; even if she was well-preserved, she had crow's feet at the corners of her eyes—a typical case of fading beauty with age.

And Lady Duan, though young and pretty, was far inferior to Yang Yuhuan, and even far inferior to Yako and Chunli. Wang Bo simply had no appetite.

So after hastily eating a couple of bites, Wang Bo put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "From now on, I will dine alone. You all need not wait for me at meals."

With that, Wang Bo rose and left.

Leaving behind a group of sons and wives exchanging bewildered glances, none of them knew what An Lushan was up to.

Returning to the study, Wang Bo took out the Gourmet's Tablecloth, ordered some delicacies, and savored them alone. Having grown accustomed to the food provided by the Gourmet's Tablecloth, his palate had long become very picky.

Even a full Han banquet might not satisfy Wang Bo's appetite, let alone the evening banquet at An Lushan's home.

That was also the reason he left after just two bites.

On the other hand, after enjoying the dinner brought by the Gourmet's Tablecloth, Wang Bo began to plan his future life.

Although every plan he made was disrupted by various time travelers or various incidents, ultimately forcing him to leave that world.

Still, Wang Bo never tired of it.

Every time he arrived in a new world, he would make a new plan for himself.

This time was no exception.

Having replaced An Lushan, Wang Bo naturally intended to live out his life as An Lushan. But how to live it required careful planning.

First, what Wang Bo needed to do was take a concubine.