One watched placidly from the rear of the room he was in as the Ministers of Defence and Transportation squared off for the dozenth time.
"Minister Shan, surely you must understand that moving the goods you need will take time regardless - I cannot divert any more resources to your efforts knowing the potential side effects of doing so." A thin weasel-faced man on one side of the room was negating furiously.
"Minister Peng, are you aware that the purpose of the railroads you are blocking me from using is to transport troops and ammunition? We do not sacrifice safety for commerce here. Perhaps you have spent too long abroad to remember this?" Another, drastically more rotund man countered, slapping his hands on the table like an angry child.
For all that they claimed superiority over the west, they still wore western clothes; slim-tailored suits with all the accompanying knickknacks and tools that demonstrated superiority in boardrooms the world over. Smartwatches filled the room, as did cellphones and computers.
Useful tools, if used only as tools. But heinous curses in the hands of those weaklings who had come to rely on them.
One did not often attend events such as this. Today, however, he was practically obligated to do so. He had already expected the summons well before the Chair had called for it.
After all, the nation was under attack. Not just that, it was under attack in a way that had not been seen in hundreds of years, even.
Naturally at first, the military had been sortied.
While yes, his Yangban had been constructed with the intent of stopping the dangerous and chaotic 'Parahumans' from disrupting the country, with many agreements and treaties signed declaring that they were for exactly that, and never to be used in matters of military or war… One had always known that was nothing but a polite facade.
Many in the government believed him harmless - almost useless with the institutionalized support they provided him. They regarded him as a 'Thinker with a particular bent towards Brainwashing techniques' or some such tripe. One did not consider himself such. He considered himself a philosopher. A student of the human condition. It was why he had taken upon himself the Dharma Name of One.
One above all. One beyond all. One who sees all.
One.
A side effect of his unique insight into people, how they worked, and why they worked - was that yes, he could manipulate conditions to affect any of those variables.
But that was not in and of itself, his 'power'. Much like his ability to read the intent of others was not the totality of his capabilities.
It did, however, make him an excellent lie detector.
The Yangban were always a military tool. They were just closer to nuclear ordinance than conventional troops. It would take a significant problem for the government to allow him to take visible action on the world stage.
Which was why he had done nothing to prevent the current invasion of the northern border - despite having expected it.
It would not do for his plans to be stymied at this juncture by a slightly above-average competent civil servant.
"Calm yourselves." He called carefully from the rear of the room. His body moved with his statement, tiny insignificant adjustments occurring that drew the eye of everyone in the room and kept it there despite the low volume of his statement. With a single step he stepped from the shadows at the rear of the room - where everyone knew he was standing anyway - and lifted a hand, enjoying the way their eyes followed it like a dog observing a ball.
They assumed that 'brainwashing' required being broken. Being starved and hurt and beaten and yelled at. They assumed these things, because it was how he broke his Yangban. It was how they saw him treat his soldiers.
They did not understand that people could be conditioned in a variety of ways, not all of them very obvious.
"Minister Shang, do you require assistance in transporting goods, or fighting the enemy." He asked carefully, lowering his hand to pluck at his own outfit; a much more respectable Shenyi garment. He made sure to phrase his question subserviently, giving the man face in exchange for interrupting his petty squabbling. But One already knew the answer to his question, even before Minister Shang spoke it.
"Resupply assistance would be appreciated, and I would be grateful for it." The Minister responded immediately. Likely he had never expected help from the Minister of Transport in the first place - they were rivals, just as every government official was, convinced that their path to greatness must be paved with the failures of all others.
It was a poor way to run a nation. It was also, ironically, the way China had always been ruled shortly before falling apart into warring factions. Truly, history is to be learned from.
Naturally, One knew this, as did all else in the room, but by offering himself this way, the favor he was owed by the Minister was diminished somewhat. One had to do his very best not to roll his eyes at the subtle smiles that flickered onto several faces at this. Any admission of weakness was to be capitalized on, and while none of them knew it, each and every person in the room thought they had the Yangban's support in the event that they attempted something… drastic.
They were, in a way, not even wrong. Zero, One, Two, and the ever insufferable Shen Yu had long since decided to support anyone that would bring their nation back to prominence. Not this toxic aping of the west that saw their wallets grow and their Dao wither. A true return, to when philosopher warriors, such as One himself, could rule with an even hand.
And One would be there to ensure whatever sprang forth from such an undertaking would not become corrupt, as so many dynasties before it.
So in a way, he did support each and every one of these would be Kings.
Unfortunately, he had also come to find he had a fondness for their current foe. A foe who hewed to the old righteous ways far better than a politician ever could.
The Horses - the Horde as they so loved to be called - were a menace. They raced across the more rural settlements in northern China like a crushing wave, driving enemies before them with strength of arms and righteous hearts. But they were respectful in their own way. Those who surrendered were made camp followers. Those who fought were slain honorably. They raised a prayer hall to praise the Military Saint each evening, and they debate the Dao into the night before moving on.
They did not stop, they did not doubt, and they did not shy away from death. Already soldiers were beginning to fear the sound of horses stampeding, as it meant that they were likely about to have a spear jammed into their throat. The creatures - regardless of whatever moronic Tinker had created them for - were not even bulletproof in most cases. They simply didn't care if they died, and that dedication allowed them to use their great strength and speed to close into melee range with a force that had not been trained for such in decades.
One could admit to a begrudging sort of respect for the creatures, even if it was not to the degree that he would not order their deaths if he had to.
But it was enough that he could maneuver his Yangban out of his way. If they made it to the heart of the nation, One knew which horse he would be obliged to back.
If not… well.
It was time for his Yangban to demonstrate their prowess on a greater scale soon anyway.
"Tell me about the girl." He said blandly to his personal servant as he exited the hall and returned to his vehicle so that he could comfortably return to his fortified position.
"We have placed the Infiltration Team in the city. The Boy is ready." His faithful assistant - this one was faithful anyway, since he had been allowed the time to raise her properly, unlike the last one - informed him.
"Good. He may begin at his leisure. Display no hostility." He commanded, before returning to his ponderings.
As ever, ruling a nation that did not know you were its ruler, was tiring.