by <unknown>
But now that Boss Bai had said that it was for the "future emperor", there was no excuse for them to avoid drinking now. They had already toasted for Li Wuji with a bucket of wine. If they were to refuse to toast His Majesty, not just Boss Bai, even Li Wuji would not agree.
When the toast was for Li Wuji, you drank it, but when it was for the future His Majesty, you refused to drink. Then, was this a "National Protection Army" or Li Wuji's private troop?
Li Wuji certainly knew better than leaving such a weakness for other people to criticize him.
Hardly had Boss Bai concluded his sentence when Li Wuji strode forward and raised his cup, not caring if the space pirates at the dinner were hesitant. "Exactly. The reformists and the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors are just ants trying to shake a tree in front of the might of His Majesty. When His Majesty ascends to the throne, the iron army of the Imperium will immediately crumble over all the heinous rebels! Come on, everyone, here's to His Majesty and the Imperium!"
He was holding a cup, but what the soldiers of the Big Bai Pirate Gang carried over this time were buckets that were even larger than the previous two rounds.
It was also perfectly reasonable. His Majesty was apparently much higher than a Marquess Yongchun. Naturally, the buckets of wine to toast His Majesty should be larger than those for the Marquess Yongchun.
The competition within the four Kurfürst families was also very intense. It was always the most sensitive period when a new emperor claimed the crown. One moment of carelessness, and even the smallest mistake could become other people's weapons.
Even though they had lost the capital, they hadn't lost their great tradition of inner fights.
One of the reasons why Li Wuji did not want to socialize with the rude space pirates more than he needed to was that their lack of manners would add to his trouble. But out of his expectation, what Boss Bai did was rather flawless. He couldn't help but nod his head in approval.
The heads of the space pirates, however, looked awful. Some of the cautious thieves even grew wary.
To be honest, it was not unusual to attack the enemy under the excuse of meetings or dinners.
But things were different this time.
The battle between the four families and the reformists was fierce. The space pirates, which were large in number, were an important leverage and would tip the scales whichever side they were to join.
They might get removed when they were not needed anymore, but that time had not come yet. So, Li Wuji should be recruiting them sincerely.
Boss Bai, as the "mastermind", had pissed off the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors with the attack on the Blue Sky Market. He certainly had no reason to betray Li Wuji and the four families and swallow them at such an absolutely inappropriate timing.
Even though Boss Bai had expanded a lot, they had twenty-nine pirate gangs gathered here, and Li Wuji's regular army was also observing coldly. One Big Bai Pirate Gang was no match for them from any perspective.
However insane Boss Bai was, he couldn't be hoping to swallow twenty-nine pirate gangs as well as a fleet of the Kurfürsten on his own, could he?
All the heads of space pirates thought again and again, only to find no suspicious points. So, they believed that the Bai-surnamed boy was only showing off now that things had gotten his way, and it was best to just wait and watch.
Raising their necks, they poured the third bucket of wine into their stomachs, before they all cheered, "We appreciate the lord and His Majesty!"
"Long live His Majesty, long live the Imperium!"
Boss Bai also held the bucket and drank it hard.
But he was too drunk to keep the bucket in his arms. So, he simply tossed it to the ground into pieces, with the wine splashing like blood. "We are all life-and-death brothers after the three buckets of wine! Whoever is disloyal to the Imperium or to his brothers shall be torn into shreds that will turn into rats mauling and biting each other, experiencing the pain more miserable than hell!"
He was completely drunk and began to talk nonsense.
"Commander Bai, this is enough."
Looking at him coldly, Li Wuji said.
"No, it's… it's not enough."
Boss Bai waved his hands uncontrollably and said, "Hahahaha. Today is the happiest day of my life. Can you imagine that…"
He almost waved his hands that were stained with wine to Li Wuji's face. Immediately coming back to himself, he was covered in a cold sweat.
Li Wuji stepped back, his eyebrows almost rising, as he glared at him angrily. "Commander Bai, this is truly enough. I think the atmosphere is heated enough, and other people have shown enough respect for you as their commander."
"Yes, of course."
His lips shivering and his face reddened, Boss Bai said, while the odor of wine spurted out of his mouth, "I'm just too happy and want to serve my lord too much."
Chapter 2446: Safe Journey, My Lord! |
Li Wuji took another step back to dodge the odor of wine from Boss Bai's mouth. Covering his nose with a handkerchief, he glanced at his guard.
His guard went forward and announced, "Please enjoy yourselves at the dinner. Our lord has to leave in advance for other duties. By the time the Seven Seas Grand Market is conquered, our lord will hold a party again and entertain the generals here!"
"Goodbye, my lord!"
Boss Bai crossed his hands and bowed deeply, bidding farewell to Li Wuji together with the space pirates.
But as it happened, probably because he had drunk too much wine, or probably he was too excited to digest it for a moment, his stomach roared when he bowed, and he burped so loud that he was almost vomiting the wine out.
Li Wuji was so shocked that his entire face was darkened. He hurried to leave with his nose covered.
The other heads of space privates wanted to laugh but did not have the courage to. Seeing how Boss Bai was making a fool of himself, they threw away the anger that they were forced to drink three buckets of wine a moment ago, and they further believed that the smug guy couldn't have any scheme.
Boss Bai made two acidulous burps and struggled to press the wine in his throat back to his stomach. Knowing that he had greatly humiliated himself and probably pissed off Li Wuji, he hurried to clean up his clothes, wipe the greasy sweat on his face, and chase after Li Wuji.
"My lord, my lord!"
Boss Bai chased after Li Wuji on the road to the No. 1 dock.
"Commander Bai, is there anything else?"
Li Wuji turned around after hearing the calling. He said coldly, "If there's nothing else, just go back and gather your troops. Like you said, it is not an easy task to unite so many pirate gangs. The Imperium has been treating you well. You have to serve the country dutifully to return the favor."
"Yes, yes, I-I'll certainly devote my life and soul to the country. Well…"
Boss Bai stammered, not knowing what he was saying at all. He said in embarrassment, "Well, I was slightly drunk just now. I hope that my lord wouldn't… wouldn't…"
Li Wuji tried to hold his laughter back and put on a smile.
This time, Boss Bai's leather coat had been stained with wine and oil. It was greasy and stinky and couldn't have looked more terrible. Li Wuji, with his mysophobia, wouldn't pat his shoulder in person even if there were ten handkerchiefs on it.
His personal guard knew his master's temper very well. He simply stepped forward on behalf of Li Wuji and patted Boss Bai's shoulder.
"Commander Bai, everything about you is perfect, except that I didn't know that you had a drinking problem."
Li Wuji said thoughtfully, "I know that space pirates can be quite stressed when you make a living for yourselves, and if your nerves are tightened for too long, it is possible for you to get deranged. So, some of you like to soothe the nerves and the soul with special medical wines. It is also some sort of special training.
"However, a great war is coming near, and you have just recruited those disobedient guys, which nee
ds you to be a hundred percent sober. If you fail your mission because of drinking, even I wouldn't be able to save you."
"Of course!"
Boss Bai was suddenly refreshed. He held his chest high and declared, "Rest assured, my lord. I will not touch any drop of alcohol from this moment on. If I ever do, please cut my tongue, my lord!"
"I do not want your tongue. What I want is the Seven Seas Grand Market as well as the lives of the revels of the reformists and the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors!"
Li Wuji narrowed his eyes and gnashed. Then, he softened his voice and said solemnly, "Commander Bai, don't ever think that I'm simply regarding the likes of space pirates as pawns and cannon fodder. At the very least, you are different from other people.
"If you were a pawn or cannon fodder, your life and death would be none of my concerns. Would I care if you drink at all? There would be no need for me to say any of this to you.
"However, I truly have high hopes for you and believe that you are more than a humble space pirate. Or rather, you have only joined the circle of space pirates soon, and it is still possible to rescue you.
"Come on, there are no other space pirates here. Let's just be honest with each other. Do you think the four Kurfürst families' recruitment of the space pirates is sincere? Is it possible that they will get rid of the space pirates after they are no longer needed?"
Boss Bai was slightly dazed, as if he were caught unprepared by Li Wuji's subtle questions. Not knowing what to say for now, he sweated even harder. "Well, about that, I truly don't know. Well, it's not my place to say."
"You don't know, or you don't want to know?"
With a smile, Li Wuji said unhurriedly, "In fact, you should know that the space pirates who have been in the business for decades are already rotten to the bones. Even though they are under the banner of a legitimate army, they still can't stand restraints. After enough endurance, they will commit wrongdoings again because of the unchangeable nature.
"Therefore, the cooperation with those people is only temporary. One day, the National Protection Army will be further regrouped to clean the mark of space pirates in the past. That's when it will be reborn into a real regular army.
"Just now, you said that you were my men, but are the space pirates really qualified to be my men?
"But you—Commander Bai, Boss Bai—are the only exception. I truly look forward to your future, and I'm raising you as a trusted subordinate. I will also invest in the regrouped National Protection Army in the future without caring about the cost and help you build an unprecedented deep-sky fleet that roams a hundred worlds invincibly.
"In short, I have no doubt that you should be one of the toughest fleet commanders in the Imperium in the next hundred years, but not a clandestine space pirate.
"Now, you should understand how important you are. Young man, a great future is ahead of you. Just try to seize it."
Boss Bai seemed to be greatly shocked, as if he did not expect that Li Wuji would be so straightforward or think so highly of him.
Every wrinkle on his lips and his face was shivering, until he was shedding tears in silence in the end.
"My lord, you… you have given me so much appreciation that you are almost another parent for me!"
Boss Bai cried, "Although… although it was my parents who gave me my life, my life is solely yours now, my lord! It's been many years since my birth parents passed away, and I've been making a living in space on my own for all those years. Nobody taught me any life lesson. Also, because of the environment, I was forced to embark on the wrong path in helplessness. Actually, I regret very much that I became a despicable space pirate.
"My lord has given me a new life. You have raised me so considerately without bothering my humble background. I really don't know what to say right now. My lord, I do have another request. If it is too outrageous, please just consider it my drunk talk. The request is—well, I've been lonely for a long time since my birth parents died, but my lord's kindness for me makes me feel the parental warmth again. Then, it somehow occurs to me how great it would be if my lord adopts me!
"Well, I know it is inappropriate—too inappropriate. My lord's identity is too honorable for you to adopt someone like me as a son. However, considering my lord's age, you are actually in the generation of my grandfather. I'm told that your sons are all strong and well-acknowledged pillars of the country. How fortunate would I be if I could be adopted by one of them and be my lord's foster grandson!"
Slightly shocked, Li Wuji observed Boss Bai carefully.
Somewhat embarrassed under his eyes, Boss Bai chuckled and lowered his head.
"You are really…"
Li Wuji thought for a long time, only to come up with no word to describe Boss Bai. He simply waved his hands and said, "Let's talk about it after the battle of Seven Seas Grand Market is over and the rebels of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors are taken care of. Since you are loyal enough, it is not entirely unnegotiable."
"Thank you, my lord!"
Overjoyed, Boss Bai kneeled again.
But this time, he was not falling on one of his knees, but two.
Li Wuji was quick enough to step away. His personal guard also supported Boss Bai to prevent Boss Bai from kneeling.
"Don't do that. You are a general of the Imperium after all, and you'd better have the corresponding demeanor."
Li Wuji couldn't hold it back anymore. Pointing at Boss Bai's leather coat, he said, "Also, hurry to change your clothes. Haven't the regular uniforms and the battle uniforms of the Imperium been distributed to you? A regular soldier should be like a regular soldier!"
"Yes, my lord is right!"
Boss Bai immediately began to take off his clothes, as if he were determined to be naked before Li Wuji.
Li Wuji sighed and couldn't take it anymore. He hurried to go.
"Wait, my lord, please wait!"
Boss Bai chased after him while taking off his clothes.
"Are you not done yet?"
Li Wuji had run out of patience. He said gloomily.
"Nothing. Nothing important. But please be careful on your way."
Boss Bai said pitifully, "You have left half of the fleet here and are leaving with only the other half. I hope nothing will go wrong."
Li Wuji sniffed and said, "The guards of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors have been destroyed in the ports of the Blue Sky Market without any survivors. The rest of their fleets are marching to the Seven Seas Grand Market crazily, ready to focus and defend their nest. As for the other fleets of the reformists, they are cleaning up the mess in the capital and have no time to deal with us for now, don't they? What can possibly go wrong?"
Realizing that he had misspoken, Boss Bai said, blushing, "I just want to remind my lord to be wary of… the Cultivators!"
"The Cultivators?"
Li Wuji stopped his foot that was about to step away. "It's been a long time since I heard them. Why, is this place harassed by the Cultivators?"
"Yes, it is."
Boss Bai said solemnly, "The Cultivators are even more brutal and horrible than space pirates. They do not have any personal desires or weaknesses, which means that it is impossible to negotiate with or recruit them. There is no telling what they think, but they seem unafraid of failure or death.
"It had been many years since any Cultivators caused trouble in this area, but they began to raise turmoil again recently. Their general soldiers are not a big deal, just a few farmers and miners who have stolen some chainswords and storm bolters. But their leader, 'Fist King' Lei Zonglie, is really a tough one."
Chapter 2447: The Damn Cultivators! |
"Oh?"
Seeing the hate on Boss Bai's face, Li Wuji somehow grew interested. "Why, have you fought him? Is he very tricky to deal with?"
"We are all making a living at the edge of the Imperium. If the Cultivators get more, the space pirates will have less. Naturally, there are frictions."
Th
inking for a moment, Boss Bai said, "Most of the Cultivators are not exactly tricky, but they can be more persistent and better at running than us.
"We space pirates do not have many supply and maintenance points in the vast space. After all, most of the cities are scared of us. Before, apart from the free fairs under the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors, there were only several ports of space pirates where we could be anchored. If we missed the supply points and encountered a space storm, we would be dead for sure.
"Those Cultivators, on the other hand, seemed particularly good at activating the ordinary people. They could also hide themselves among the ordinary people. In every resource planet or every mine, no matter to whom those places belonged, they could always find a way out or melt themselves into the local people.
"In the past twenty years, the Imperium had an expedition first and then… a rebellion later. While the space pirates were developing, the Cultivators were developing too, even faster than the space pirates in a lot of places. That's really unbelievable!
"I've considered it for a long time, and I think that an ancient saying summarizes it quite well. Those who are barefooted are not scared of those who are wearing shoes, and those who are powerful are scared of those who are dogged!
"Compared to the government army and the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors, all the space pirates are barefooted. We have nothing but our worthless lives, and the battles are always in our favor no matter how they are fought.
"Those wretched Cultivators, on the other hand, are even more destitute and unafraid of death than us. We are all traveling in space to earn money and make a living. Since there are not many profits, we are often reluctant to attack the Cultivators, but those poor wretches often assault us when we have just done a big job, with our arsenals empty and our trophy warehouses full. Once they succeed, they will immediately move on to the resource planets and distribute the stuff they stole from us to the local miners and farmers.
"As you can see, my lord, after those people get benefits from the Cultivators, they will naturally side with the Cultivators and give them information. They will help treat the wounded and fabricate identities, and they will even ask the youngsters in their families who cannot live on anymore to join the team of the Cultivators—the damn 'Starlight'.
