Chapter 51 Hes I

　　—Before power there is no kinship; the more alluring power is, the baser and more vicious the human heart.

　　After being ambushed in the sky above the capital Hes had been seriously wounded; he barely managed to fly back to the northern cold region—Skull City. He nursed his wounds for a long time before his body recovered.

　　Hes was the city lord of Skull City. After the sudden death of his father—the previous EagleGod King Hexi—his uncle Hesai ascended the throne. The first imperial edict Hesai issued ordered Hes to become city lord of Skull City.

　　Skull City lay at the extreme northern end of the empire, a bitter cold region; to be sent there as city lord was clearly a form of exile. Yet Hes dared not disobey the order; without a moment’s delay he left the capital and came to this frontier city to serve as city lord.

　　Skull City was situated upon an oasis in the vast StoneSea Gobi at the northern end of the continent of Mu. The stones upon this Gobi were as numerous as the waters of the sea; therefore it was called the StoneSea Gobi.

　　The EagleGod Clan stationed here were mainly responsible for managing the laborers and convicts sent to this place, supervising their labor, quarrying huge stones and panning for gold.

　　Almost all the stone materials for the magnificent buildings throughout the empire originated from this place.

　　Here it was bitterly cold the year round. Human laborers were escorted here to work; among them were also some BullHeads, even Giants and EagleGods who had committed crimes and been sentenced to hard labor here.

　　Those serving sentences worked year after year quarrying huge stones; the stones were transported by water to every part of the empire.

　　The ReedGrass River of the StoneSea Gobi contained gold sand in its bed; those serving sentences panned for gold here, and the gold obtained was presented for the use of the Green Clan celestial gods.

　　Skull City was built upon Skeleton Mountain. The external form of Skeleton Mountain closely resembled the skeleton of a BullHead; Skull City was situated upon the skull position at the front end of this mountain.

　　The upper and lower jaws of the skull formed the entrance to Skull City; the heavy iron gates resembled the pitchblack teeth of this skull. The entire city emitted a gloomy and terrifying atmosphere.

　　Apart from its terrifying external form, the reputation of Skull City and Skeleton Mountain was even more terrifying.

　　Those serving sentences here usually had only one chance in ten of surviving; the yearround toil allowed few of them to leave alive.

　　The laborers and convicts who came to Skull City ultimately became nothing more than dried bones.

　　“In the wilderness bones are often exposed; in the deep night green phosphorescence frequently flies”—this was the most vivid description of the StoneSea Gobi.

　　Bones were scattered everywhere upon the Gobi; after nightfall ghostfires drifted everywhere across the waste.

　　The BullHead garrison of Skull City made winecups from the skulls upon the Gobi; the place was so desolate and cold that the only amusement of the garrison was to drink from these skull cups.

　　One morning the stillrecovering Hes sat alone in his study drinking dull wine.

　　At that moment an EagleGod guard reported: “Reporting to Your Highness the Prince—General Tuohong has come to visit.”

　　General Tuohong had been a trusted subordinate of Hes’s father Hexi. During the time Hexi served as EagleGod King, Tuohong had played an important role as an adviser.

　　After Hes’s uncle Hesai ascended the throne the trusted subordinates of the Hexi era were either demoted or dismissed and left idle at home.

　　The idle Tuohong, upon learning that Hes had been ambushed, had specially come from the capital to Skull City to visit Hes.

　　Entering the study and seeing the wounds upon Hes’s back and wings, Tuohong said with deep concern: “Young Lord, your wounds are not light. Who had such great audacity as to strike at you in the capital?”

　　“Even if I do not speak you must know—who else but that false king?”

　　“Hush—beware of ears in the walls.”

　　“General Tuohong, rest assured. Speak freely. In my residence only members of the EagleGod Clan serve; they are all household generals who have followed me for many years and are loyal to me.”

　　Tuohong first inquired into the course of Hes’s ambush. After listening he nodded: “In that case the ones who set the ambush were all masters of the Eagle King’s residence; they were determined to succeed. Unexpectedly the Young Lord had great good fortune and was secretly aided by a celestial god—truly one who survives a great disaster is certain to have later blessings.”

　　“You also feel it was a celestial god who helped me? There is rumor that my father’s death was suspicious and that he was most likely killed by that false king. The celestial gods know everything and understand everything of the affairs of the world; if the celestial gods are just, how could they allow a regicide to ascend the throne?”

　　“The sudden death of the Lord is indeed open to doubt, yet evidence must be found. If evidence exists we can raise our arms and call out, raise troops and campaign against that false king.”

　　“Would our clan’s celestial gods permit us to do so?”

　　“Young Lord, although after the War of the Gods our clan’s celestial gods have no longer concerned themselves with the government of the realm and have continually remained in seclusion within the pyramid, rarely appearing and becoming ever more difficult to fathom, yet if conclusive evidence is made public I believe that even the celestial gods could not openly protect that false king.”

　　Tuohong stroked his goatlike beard and continued: “According to what the Young Lord has just related, I feel that the only ones upon the continent of Mu who possess the strength to end the lives of four of our EagleGod masters in an instant are the celestial gods; yet this ‘celestial god’ may not be our Green Clan celestial gods.”

　　“How is that possible? You and I both know that at present upon Mu Star there exist only our Green Clan celestial gods; the celestial gods of those other clans have either died or fled. I do not understand what you mean.”

　　“Recently news has circulated in the capital that a mysterious flying craft of unknown origin has entered Mu Star; our clan’s celestial gods even specially dispatched a ‘Vimana’ to pursue that craft.”

　　“Could it be the celestial gods of those two clans who fled to Ice Star returning secretly?”

　　“That is impossible. Since their defeat those two clans’ celestial gods have long been frightened out of their wits and are merely eking out a miserable existence upon Ice Star—what courage would they still have to pilot a ‘Vimana’ to Mu Star to provoke us?”

　　“In that case, who could it be?”

　　“I have heard that the flying craft of unknown origin is of strange shape, clearly different from the ‘Vimana’ we know. Secret channels in the capital report that those who pilot this strange flying craft are actually humans!”

　　“What? The lowly, cowardly human race can actually pilot flying craft and soar through the sky? How is that possible?”

　　“According to reliable information our clan’s celestial gods have already captured several humanclan celestial gods. According to the confessions of these humanclan celestial gods they come from a planet called Earth.”

　　“Earth? I have never heard of it. Truly strange—how can the lowly, cowardly human race possess celestial gods? This matter is extremely peculiar.”

　　“Indeed as the Young Lord says, the entire affair is fantastic, yet the source of the information is reliable. I conjecture that those who saved the Young Lord are very likely the fish that escaped the net among these humanclan celestial gods.”

　　“If that is the case the continent of Mu will soon again be filled with blood and storm. The human race is the lowliest and most cowardly race upon Mu Star; only after the fall of their Yellow Clan celestial gods were they forced to submit to us. These past twenty years they have endured humiliation and borne heavy burdens; their discontent has long been suppressed, like a volcano that may erupt at any moment.”

　　“Young Lord, recently I have heard that the human race has actually petitioned the celestial gods, claiming they wish to reduce or even abolish human sacrifice and labor service.”

　　“It seems that only after the human race obtained celestial gods of their own kind as a backer did they dare to be so bold. One mountain cannot contain two tigers; the War of the Gods of that year is very likely to be repeated.”

　　“Mm—the Young Lord indeed possesses the bearing of the former Lord; the analysis is very accurate. After that false king came to power most of us old subordinates were demoted. This time they actually dared to strike at the Young Lord in broad daylight with an ambush—it seems they have long been without fear. We must make a decision.”

　　“What can I still do? The celestial gods themselves invested that false king as EagleGod King; at present I can only endure humiliation here and eke out a miserable existence.”

　　“Young Lord, you must know that in the game of power one either wins or dies—there is no third road that can be chosen.”

　　“I came to this ghostly place Skull City, never going out of the main gate or the second gate, drinking and making merry every day, precisely in order to tell the false king that I only wish to endure humiliation and seek survival.”

　　“Do you truly think that by enduring humiliation we can preserve our lives? This time they unscrupulously ambushed you on the road and struck with deadly intent precisely because our strength is too weak. If this assassination fails there will still be a next time.”

　　“What you say is reasonable—then what do you think I should do?”

　　“At present the fragile balance of the continent of Mu is about to be broken; the wind is rising and the rain is coming. We must be able both to advance and to defend.”

　　“How both to advance and to defend?”

　　“If it is a time of chaos we can advance. Actively search for evidence that the false king murdered the old Lord; when the time is ripe display the evidence to the world. On the grounds that the false king murdered the sovereign, administered the government arbitrarily, that his virtue does not match his position and has caused great disorder in the world, we shall unite the various feudal lords, advance upon the capital, campaign against the false king, overthrow his rule and install the Young Lord as the new Eagle King. I believe the celestial gods will raise no objection.”

　　“And if it is still a time of prosperity?”

　　“If it is still an age of peace and prosperity we can choose to defend, become a frontier official of great power, and maintain our own troops. Even if the false king wishes to move against us, seeing that our troops are strong and our horses sturdy he will have to weigh the consequences. In this remote northern corner we shall conceal our strength and bide our time, waiting for the moment to act.”

　　“What you say is very reasonable, yet at present I have neither troops nor authority; in my hands I have only these household generals of the EagleGod Clan whom I brought from the capital. It is difficult to accomplish anything.”

　　“According to my information Skull City at present has more than a hundred thousand BullHead soldiers and more than a thousand EagleGod garrison officers—already a force that cannot be slighted. Moreover, in order to guarantee the supply of building stone and placer gold the empire has provided you with numerous laborers and convicts; I have heard that there are even Giants serving hard labor here. Once war breaks out these people serving sentences can also be used by us.”

　　“Ah—you also know that the false king has exiled me here. Nominally I am city lord, yet the garrison officers all obey General Yuan Ao; they keep me at a respectful distance.”

　　“That is not difficult. If General Yuan Ao cannot be used by us, then we shall…” Tuohong made a gesture of beheading with his hand.

　　“That will require finding an appropriate opportunity and pretext; otherwise it will arouse criticism and discontent.”

　　“Young Lord, I have a plan. You can…” Tuohong whispered something into Hes’s ear.

　　After listening Hes nodded continually: “Mm—this plan is good.”

　　“Young Lord, I shall first return to the capital, gather the old subordinates, and before the action pledge allegiance to you, thereby strengthening our forces.”