Chapter 466

Chapter 466

Can’t a strategist ascend the throne? Extra Extra Nine (2)

No, to be precise, a row of stars hung on the opponent’s belt, with only the newest one still faintly flickering due to a recent settlement, marking the glorious achievement of its latest mission.

The identity of the new system was also revealed before the two strategist systems—

Palace Intrigue System 002.

002?

057 was suddenly startled.

Wow, this is a senior!

However, according to reason, at least from what Strategist System 057 has seen while squatting here drinking chicken soup and seeking experience, most systems numbered before 30 are quite laid-back, or rather, they fit its imagination of a big-shot system.

After all, these systems mainly focus on the idea that even if the host is not capable, the system can still carry them to victory. If it really comes to the point where the mission cannot be completed, these systems can still exchange special items with their own points.

In short, they will pull through no matter what.

But the one in front of them seems a bit… too youthful and energetic.

Although the acting expressions of these systems cannot be as rich as humans, it’s still obvious when the other is going crazy.

But if Palace Intrigue System were to speak for itself, it wouldn’t be a problem to rush over and beat up Strategist System 068!

Who understands family members!!

As a system from the first batch produced by the System Center, with a consistently high mission completion rate, it has always been the one to control others, never the other way around.

On its glorious resume hung at the System Center’s propaganda department, it records countless achievements.

There are those who rose from being a laundry maid, those who climbed from a married civilian woman, a concubine suspected by the emperor, and even seemingly unremarkable ordinary concubines, but in the end…

This time, it just happened to encounter a troublesome host, but that’s fine, as different hosts have different route planning methods.

Being approached by a system with a very low number is not a big problem, as there will always be a few newbies who take the wrong path.

But being strongly requested by this “newbie” to make a deal with its host, and even having the other party succeed, is simply a failure for it.

Not to mention whether its host bypassed it to hook up with another system, the result of this deal also made Palace Intrigue System see black.

Among the various chips offered by the other party, the first two could be provided by its system, and being rejected is not surprising, but the last one, using rebellion to open the palace intrigue mission, was completely beyond its expectations.

Coincidentally, its host was very interested, especially after hearing about the actions of the strategist system’s host and the current team under the other party, she completely ignored the obstruction of the Palace Intrigue System and directly decided on this cooperation.

Palace Intrigue System 002: …Might as well die of anger.

According to her words—

With the Palace Intrigue System, she might gain a unique position in the harem, allowing her to enjoy the honor of being the mother of the world, and even as many palace intrigue novels describe, the current emperor finally realizes after various harem struggles that only she is his true love, and after passing the throne to their child, they can enjoy the scenery together.

But she happened to encounter a suspicious and indecisive emperor, who only sits on this throne because the royal family lacks heirs.

So rather than entrusting her fate to such a person, after actually obtaining the throne of the empress, she would have to pretend for decades, and even occasionally hear reports of civil unrest from the court, it would be better to do something with her identity as a general’s daughter!

The host of this strategist system is right.

After all, the goal of the Palace Intrigue System is to become the most noble woman in the palace. If following the original understanding, this most noble could be the empress or the empress dowager, but is there a possibility that becoming the emperor also meets the condition?

Palace Intrigue System 002 has never seen such enterprise-level understanding!

What’s even more terrifying is that the bastard on the other side of the deal actually brought out its behind-the-scenes think tank to strategize for its host, and the character position locator exchanged was also played to the fullest, used to lock onto the location of enemy targets. Placed in ancient times, it would indeed be a divine weapon.

What a ghost.

Next time the System Center screens the backup host list, can it filter out dangerous people first!

But Palace Intrigue System 002 also has to admit, after doing so many missions up to now, it also finds it slightly… just slightly boring to always have the host cater to the target emperor, suddenly using it to win over people, create miracles, assassinate the emperor and usurp the throne…

It’s quite satisfying!

Especially seeing the dog emperor, who should have been fawned over by its host, turn into a dead dog, its host not having to dance on the roof but able to command the world, its operation core slightly overloaded, according to the System Center’s evaluation standards, this is its level of pleasure exceeding the value a system should have, and it’s necessary to clear the cache again.

But saying that, to avoid such absurd situations from happening again, breaking the plan it has spent so much effort to formulate, it must settle accounts with this strategist system here!

Don’t think that just because the Palace Intrigue System completed the mission with the host ascending the throne, it should thank this junior.

And at the moment it rushed towards the two strategist systems with a floating step that disowns all relatives, Strategist System 057 finally realized that it shouldn’t care whether the other is a senior or not, but should consider that the amount of information in the other’s words is quite shocking.

It immediately asked Strategist System 068: “What do you mean… your host ascended the throne and became emperor?”

068 moved a bit, “Literally. Ascended the throne and became emperor, doesn’t that mean whoever is said to be the world’s top strategist is the world’s top strategist? Of course, my host is still very democratic.”

It said righteously: “She consulted all the ministers who might deserve this title, and in the end, everyone agreed that this honor should be awarded to her.”

068 pointed to the star on its belt with a glowing effect, “Just tell me, did the mission get completed or not?”

This statement was previously used by Qiao Yan to talk to it.

Now, probably because it has been mixed with the host for too long, its face has thickened, and it appears particularly calm when saying this.

Palace Intrigue System 002 even felt that this statement was not only responding to Strategist System 057’s question but also to its intention to settle accounts with the other party.

Just as it braked, it heard Strategist System 068 say to its colleague: “Actually, you can’t blame my host for choosing to take a risky path. My host said this: if it encounters the Palace Intrigue System, it at least has a way to judge, such as sitting on the throne of the empress, or putting the child on the throne and becoming the empress dowager, but how does the Strategist System evaluate, as the prime minister?”

“But the problem is, in ancient China, imperial power and prime ministerial power have always been balancing each other. Whether under the system of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers or the later Three Departments and Six Ministries, it is almost impossible to concentrate prime ministerial power without any dilution in one person’s hands, and even the one with the highest status and most power might not be recognized as the world’s top strategist due to other evaluation criteria.”

“Rather than that, it’s better to jump out of this vicious circle.”

“Since you’ve chosen to fight for the title of the world’s top strategist in troubled times, why should you let others judge whether you are the first or not?”

Zhang Liang still had to feign illness and reduce outings after Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty to protect himself. As for the period chosen by Strategist System 057, the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it’s even more about comparing whose head is more durable with a bunch of lunatics, so it’s better to control your own destiny!

“Anyway, look, the mission is completed, I have successful experience, the host has a long and stable life, and even the people of the world have a monarch who is more likely to care for them. What’s wrong with that?”

The only pitiful ones in this are probably Liu Yu, who was once used as a tool to exploit the system’s wool, and other members of the Liu clan who were completely fooled by the host.

But even without Qiao Yan, the Han Dynasty had reached the end of its life. Whether it was ended by Cao Wei or its host taking over the Han Dynasty’s power, it made no difference to this dynasty in its twilight years.

Strategist System 057








The more I listened, the more it seemed to make sense.

If its host could leverage the advantage of the Jade Wall Battle to secure a piece of land for development and raise a private army, wouldn’t things like Gao Yang usurping power or eliminating remnants of the previous dynasty just be a matter of “Your Majesty, why rebel?”

Just send troops to crush them.

If one could conquer the world and ascend to the throne, why bother worrying about whether their superior is a lunatic or not?

This is what you call striking straight at the heart of the matter, hitting the bullseye, cutting straight to the chase.

Indeed, seeking advice from the successful is always meaningful.

Next time, it’ll do the same!

According to Strategist System 068, these early stages of farming, raising troops, winning hearts, and supporting a puppet ruler all sound like the work of a strategist. At most, it’s just about gradually nurturing the host’s ambition.

If Strategist System 057 could cleverly use the Jade Wall Battle as the opening move to build a reputation in a chaotic world, how could it possibly falter in the later stages? Change the environment, and it would still choose the right identity and starting point!

Just a different ultimate goal.

Thinking of this, it immediately burst into a round of enthusiastic applause to thank 068.

“…” Palace Intrigue System 002 gritted its teeth, muttering, “You’ve got your lines down pat!”

Don’t think it didn’t notice—068 was definitely a newbie. Maybe it didn’t even realize its host was faking it until the mask was torn off, still believing its host was diligently working towards becoming a strategist.

Too bad this guy’s luck was ridiculously good. Even if there were such suspicions, it would only come up as a joke between the two.

“Pfft…”

Watching the scene below and seeing other systems recording 068’s words for future reference, Martial Arts System 060, perched on the second floor of the system center, couldn’t help but laugh.

Compared to the tasks of strategist and palace intrigue systems, martial arts systems like theirs are straightforward. As long as the host is diligent and masters the necessary martial arts, nothing can go wrong.

After all, in literature, there’s no clear winner, but in martial arts, there’s no second place. If someone thinks your host isn’t the top martial artist, just challenge them directly. Simple as that.

“I always thought the host of that strategist system was something special, and sure enough, it’s true.”

Thinking back to the deal made with them, it’s been quite some time.

Who knows how much the “Broken Mountains and Remaining Waters” Lethal Spear Technique contributed to their host’s path to becoming emperor.

If I heard correctly, Strategist System 068 mentioned that its host first focused on physical training and martial arts practice?

Looking at it this way, I feel quite accomplished. I wonder how many people in the Three Kingdoms period got beaten up with that spear technique.

As an exchange, the strategist system’s host wrote a language arts guidebook, which was quite useful for my host, who’s good at everything except talking.

Let’s face it, you can’t survive in the martial world without a sharp tongue.

Martial Arts System munched on some virtual sunflower seeds and handed two handfuls to the systems beside it, asking, “How did you two fare with your tasks this time?”

It glanced at the Beast Taming System on the left, “Our situations are quite similar. People think what we do is high-risk and not very friendly to modern-day transmigrators, but with clear criteria, we can easily outperform those troublesome tasks, right?”

The Beast Taming System replied, “Absolutely! The host of that strategist system downstairs even had her generals and strategists come up with a bunch of beast-taming plans for my host. Who else brings a think tank to beast taming? No wonder she could defeat every beast tamer.”

“Though I suspect future generations in her world might wonder who Zhao Yun was and why his manuscripts were framed by my host.”

“Ahem…” Martial Arts System almost choked on its virtual seeds.

That strategist system host who completed the emperor task really knew how to make the most of everything.

But then again, whether it’s leveraging intellectual resources or capitalizing on historical figures’ fame, it’s all part of her strengths. Someone with that kind of strategic thinking wouldn’t mess up on such matters.

Martial Arts System 060 pondered and then asked, “So what did she trade for?”

The Beast Taming System replied in a voice only the three of them could hear, “She used beast-taming techniques to train carrier pigeons and… develop animal husbandry and pig farming.”

Martial Arts System: “…”

Suddenly, it felt that not having the matured strategist system host initiate a trade with it, but instead forming a good relationship before she fully understood the game rules, was somehow a blessing in disguise.

Otherwise, who knows if she might have traded for the “Sunflower Manual” to castrate piglets, right?

What would that do to my reputation?

That would definitely be spread everywhere by Strategist System 068!

But after glancing at the language arts guide, Martial Arts System didn’t voice this thought and quickly changed the subject, “No wonder she became an emperor, even overseeing animal husbandry herself. So, the farming techniques she modified to increase yield—did they come from you?”

It directed this question to the system on its other side.

On its other side was the Farming System.

Turning its gaze, it noticed that Farming System, being higher in rank, maintained a calm demeanor amidst the chatter of the palace intrigue and strategist systems below, as well as their discussion about using beast-taming for livestock.

It even felt its virtual seeds weren’t salty enough and added some more virtual salt.

It’s understandable why Martial Arts System felt a kinship with the Farming System.

Farming isn’t dangerous, and since field yields can be quantified, there’s no need to strategize like the strategist systems do.

“Indeed, she traded with me,” Farming System 043 replied. “The strategist system exchanged methods for increasing crop yields in northern lands.”

Hearing this, Martial Arts System muttered, “Well, self-defense martial arts, animal husbandry techniques, and farming methods—all covered. I just hope when she shares her experiences, other systems don’t think this is the standard trade package and come knocking.”

“We don’t get to see the thrilling rise to emperorhood. Just trading resources with them feels like a raw deal. Don’t you think?”

Actually, the Beast Taming System was already considering letting its next host try this thrilling path to power, but hearing Martial Arts System’s question, it nodded first.

However, the next moment, both systems heard the Farming System say, “Oh, didn’t I mention it before?”

It slowly lifted its virtual head and replied, “My host also became an emperor.”

Martial Arts System: “…”

Beast Taming System: “…”

Farming System: “I accidentally moved too slowly. I was supposed to go further back to the Tang Dynasty, but ended up in the late Northern Song Dynasty. What could I do? In that situation, my host was very determined. We decided to farm all the land. After all, once you’ve stockpiled enough grain, rebellion becomes easy. At that point, who cares about yield per acre? We’d be the most capable farmers.”

It tilted its head, seemingly pointing towards Strategist System 068 below, “See, as part of the trade, my host borrowed the Imperial Seal from her host to recruit troops early on. You know, after the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the standard Han Imperial Seal was lost, and there were many imitations. Borrowing the real one added credibility to our recruitment.”

“Of course, we only borrowed it for a few years. Once my host had enough soldiers and grain, we didn’t need those flashy props anymore.”

By then, even if my host held up a rock and called it the Imperial Seal, no one would bat an eye.

Farming System added, “So we returned the seal.”

It munched a couple more seeds before realizing the silence around it, asking, “Why are you all staring at me? Is it that strange for a farming system to produce an emperor?”

Martial Arts System: “…”

Beast Taming System: “…”

Author’s Note:

Slacking off on updates these days, not much to offer. (Lying flat)

See you tomorrow at 9:30 AM.

Oh, and just a heads-up, the next book won’t tie into any of the settings from this one. It’ll stand alone.