Chapter 161: Evolution
Tianyou Calendar Year 2, early spring. With Yan Land recovered, the Northern Kingdom was shaken, and under heaven all eyes turned.
Post runners with flags stuck in their backs carried victory reports, relaying through multiple post stations to convey them to Yao Capital at the fastest speed. However, within Yao Capital, various forces had already obtained the news in advance through their own means. Birds of different colors landed one after another in the various noble families.
This Yao Army, with its backbone composed of rogues from Divine Capital, made many big figures in the Imperial Court sigh with emotion. If the late emperor were still here, such a troop would be the divine needle stabilizing Da Yao’s mountains and rivers.
But now, the canal in Yao Capital is crooked, and the shadow of the floating palace in the sky, when cast on the ground, is also misaligned.
When Emperor Shu was in power, the palace shadow could accurately point toward the eight-directional towers of Yao Capital on time and on the dot; now they are all displaced.
From Shu Tian Calendar Year 36 to Tianyou Calendar Year 1 end of September, in these roughly three years—not long nor short—the Eastern Market Army reported three campaigns to the Imperial Court. Compared to the hundreds of memorials on great and small battles that came frequently, it was truly unremarkable.
But these three campaigns were all great victories of annihilating armies and slaying generals, grinding down more than half of Hao State’s so-called 200,000-strong army.
Such battle merits were already enough to erase the stains from the late Emperor Shu’s reign in previous years, when cities fell and the fifteen northern expeditions bore no fruit.
The ministers in the Imperial Court knew in their hearts: if truly counting stains, many of the pots from Emperor Shu’s late period belonged to today’s emperor.
Sure enough, when discussing the Eastern Market Army’s brilliant war merits, the Imperial Court was all reminiscing about the late emperor, and said nothing about today’s emperor who hid in the deep palace favoring Consort Li exclusively.
Emperor Ling, who was in the rear palace eating grapes placed on a beauty’s navel, received the victory report and was overjoyed. He immediately lifted the curtain, wanting to come out and reward the frontline officers and soldiers.
After all, in his youth he had aspired to civil and military achievements after ascending the throne, and he also knew that the noisy voices from outside were linking this great merit of pacifying the Northern Kingdom to his reign.
He even more wanted to reclaim military power through a series of favors and threats. Emperor Ling paced in the palace, but it seemed he hadn’t walked for a long time, nearly tripping over the corner of his dragon robe and falling.
Emperor Ling sat back on the bed. Just as he was about to speak, Consort Li pressed his hand. Consort Li’s enchanting eyes now twinkled with spiritual energy at Emperor Ling, signaling him to first observe the current situation.
Next, under the “persuasion” of Su Wang and other eunuchs, Emperor Ling had no choice but to temporarily shelve further rewarding.
Su Wang knelt on the ground, advising as if “laying bare his heart and liver”: “Now the Wu Brothers are leading troops outside, unruly and untamed. They must be summoned to the capital city before generous rewards can be given.”
His words would be reasonable from other ministers’ mouths, but Su Wang had controlled court politics in the past half year, forcing many court ministers to death with either a cup of poisoned wine or a white silk cord; his so-called “summon back for generous rewards” sounded just like luring them back to slaughter like pigs.
The seemingly persuaded Emperor Ling was furious inside—this anger was not at Wu Fei, but at Su Wang.
Sure enough, after Su Wang left, these palace words somehow spread outside. No need for Wu Fei to retort; even the children on the main streets of Yao Capital were discussing Su Wang’s ulterior motives.
Nursery rhymes sang loudly, bound hair paraded through streets, loyal bones piled high, grain husks flying to the sky, wood-boring mites rotting beams…
…Trees of long worms fear woodpeckers, but also dislike borers…
After Su Wang left, Consort Li stroked Emperor Ling’s back, then gently advised His Majesty not to get angry. Strands of purple spiritual energy from her fingertips permeated Emperor Ling’s limbs and bones, soothing him.
Emperor Ling sprawled on Consort Li’s chest, crying like a child: “This villain deceives me in everything. What should be done?”
Consort Li held her head high, feeling waves of sensation, striving to keep her tone clear: “Your Majesty still needs to wait some more time. Su Wang’s faction is powerful in the Imperial Court; we must plan carefully.”
Emperor Ling hugged this beauty, biting and venting. For this good woman who had always encouraged him and accompanied him through darkness, he could silently accept everything. But amid this bliss, Emperor Ling still had a hurdle in his heart.
Emperor Ling: “Beloved consort, if back then you had successfully married that person, what then?” It seemed casual, but contained jealousy.
Consort Li’s hair bun slightly disheveled, a gentle smile on her face, fingers lightly scratching his chest: “Your Majesty, you are destined by heaven, and my coming to your side is also heaven’s will.”
…Perspective shifts to Hao State…
Sha Prefecture. Zhao Cheng was transferring his corps to three cities on the western border, while stockpiling food and grass on the border. He appeared diligently calculating for Hao State.
If not for Zhao Cheng’s “loyalty points” being visible to Pu E, his behavior would truly make his lord grateful to tears.
Zhao Cheng was back in a situation he could control, feeling everything at hand. His 50,000-strong army under him had been counted to the single digits in these days, then precisely mobilized to the frontline.
Regarding the fall of Yan Land, he actually wasn’t worried about the consequences; the current busy preparations seemed all to wait for someone.
Amid wind and thunder, Dragon Shadow descended from the sky; Pu E, upon arrival, checked Zhao Cheng’s loyalty and said nothing more, directly asking how to ensure the security of Hao State’s western side currently.
Zhao Cheng lowered his head to peruse the silk book map: “No need to worry. As long as defense is solid, the north basically has no warfare.”
Facing Zhao Cheng’s negligence, Pu E suppressed displeasure: “How so?”
Zhao Cheng then revealed intelligence collected in Zhenzhou: “Great Plague in Zhenzhou; the Imperial Court has decreed to strip Wu Hanluan of his Zhenzhou Commander position.”
Pu E said: “This is?”
Zhao Cheng, not wanting to argue, said quickly: “Wu Yuanchang is distrusted by the Imperial Court and will soon return to Chong Land; Wu Hengyu remaining in Bo Prefecture is no threat.”
Pu E asked hesitantly: “Why is it that without Wu Fei, Wu Hengyu cannot send troops from Yan Land to our territory?” —After all, he was her exchanged Divine General, inferior to local bulk goods, which displeased her.
Zhao Cheng’s finger traced the line from Yongzhou to Sha Prefecture on the map: “Fighting outside the pass relies on food and grass, on elites. Wu Fei excels at this; during our standoff at Gu Shou Pass, I discovered that his land reclamation in Bo Prefecture before was not because he couldn’t take Gu Shou Pass, but preparation to scheme for all of Yan Land. And to scheme for Sha Prefecture from Yan Land as starting point also requires land reclamation.”
Back then, Zhao Cheng helped Hao State take Sha Prefecture relying on Yan Land’s food and grass. Yan Land’s food and grass came from households captured by Hao State from Bo Prefecture, planted in Yan Land. Now with Wu Fei and Wu Hengyu recapturing Yan Land, Yan Land’s production system was wrecked once; to advance west threatening Sha Prefecture, they also needed to do land reclamation again.
This land reclamation couldn’t be resolved without two or three years, so Zhao Cheng judged Hao State’s Sha Prefecture area safe.
Pu E reluctantly accepted, saying to Zhao Cheng: “In that case, we should seize South of Yongshui.” Pu E vaguely remembered not drawing the little three (Yu Li) satisfyingly in the Yongshui battle; now she eyed that land again.
However, beyond Pu E’s expectations, Zhao Cheng, who once advocated gold horns, silver edges, grass bellies, now indicated abandoning the gold horn.
Pu E: “General, what do you mean? Could it be as outsiders say, ‘fearing Wu Xiao Que’?”
Zhao Cheng glanced, then generously said: “Indeed fearing him.” —Pu E saw Zhao Cheng’s loyalty points drop one at this moment.
Zhao Cheng slowly said: “I believe our country should make peace with the Wu Clan.”
Pu E’s chest silently rose and fell; after a good while, as if pondering: “Then handle it as you see fit, General.” This made Zhao Cheng, who originally wanted to explain, swallow his words back into his stomach. Pu E knew doing so would continue dropping loyalty, but her temperament had been worn to the extreme.
After Pu E left camp, Zhao Cheng’s advisor: “General is now a great ship. You were formed by stream ravines, but ultimately return to the great sea. We have always known General repays favors, but now you are not your own master. How can you abandon the sea for a stream?”
Persuaded thus, Zhao Cheng was slightly stunned, murmuring in his heart: “Formed by…, defeated by… .” But to the advisor he said: “Speak no more of this.”
…Zhao Cheng now no longer shares his overall strategy with Pu E…
Why didn’t Zhao Cheng want to first sneak Yongzhou, then take Zhenzhou? In the past, he would have planned so.
But now, times have changed. First, Da Yao’s internal royal authority is scattered; other places in Da Yao become easier to swallow, able to sweep under heaven, no need for gold horns, silver edges, grass bellies like before.
Moreover, when Wu Fei was in Bo Prefecture, he used “Exchange Pieces” policy to attrition with Zhao Cheng. Now Wu Fei has left the east; for Zhao Cheng to switch places for consumption now? That would be foolish.
Zhao Cheng was also annoyed inside: “If we could truly take Yongzhou and Zhenzhou, and solve Wu Xiao Que once and for all, fine—but can Wu Xiao Que be solved once and for all?” Zhao Cheng knew Wu Fei’s style well; it wasn’t “sweep under heaven speed push flow,” but “planting trees flow.”
Zhao Cheng could see that once Wu Xiao Que takes root somewhere, he prioritizes solidifying his foundation.
Behind Wu Xiao Que, the military and a series of frameworks were integrated seamlessly, while behind him Zhao Cheng it was split.
So as Hao State’s current smart alecks said, if he Zhao Cheng leads Hao Army west and gets bogged down in Yongzhou area, Wu Xiao Que can take early small losses, but after holding the frontline, most likely counter-push back.
But Zhao Cheng can’t afford losses; if he can’t break the situation, those following him will have their own thoughts.
For Zhao Cheng, if fighting Yongzhou takes three to five years unsolved, it’s bad. Wu Xiao Que is the type once provoked, can’t shake off.
Da Yao has other forces inside; though those military strategists’ abilities aren’t great, leaving them be creates too many variables.
Zhao Cheng: Leading Hao Army not fighting Yongzhou, better to temporarily set Wu Xiao Que aside. By Wu Xiao Que’s style, he will patiently first clean up Zhenzhou’s mess.
At this time, Wu Family’s mess in Zhenzhou has incurred under heaven’s disgust; with Wu Xiao Que’s talents, it can’t be solved without seven or eight years, equivalent to locking Wu Xiao Que there.
This is why Zhao Cheng now “fears” opening war with Wu Xiao Que; strategically not worthwhile.
…Actually still afraid!…
After Pu E dragon transformed, riding wind and clouds away from the great camp, a hundred li west, she immediately met an eastern Sha Prefecture prefect—this was currently Sha Prefecture’s only Dragon Descendant prefect.
Pu E stepped into the palace: “How many troops under you now?”
This prefect paused: “This minister can gather 100,000 men.”
Pu E shook her head. When Hao State first came to Xi Ren Realm this planet, seemingly only over 10,000, far fewer than today’s listeners, but back then those over 10,000 were backbone and gold, tested by interstellar expeditions. Belonging to “under heaven so vast, where can’t we go?” But among today’s gathered tens of thousands of troops, how many could withstand primal corrosion during heavenly wanderings?
The prefect thought Pu E was preparing to confront current Zhao Cheng, thus hurriedly advised: “My lord, though the eastern situation is dire now, no matter how angry we are it’s no use; General Zhao is a good general, do not get angry over some people’s misplaced anger.”
Pu E stared at this fellow: “You are a straightforward man. What kind of person do you think Yuan Chang in the south is.”
Now, while Zhao Cheng planned based on Wu Fei returning to Chong Land, Pu E was considering whether to intercept Wu Fei midway.
But her understanding of Wu Fei was still insufficient; she prepared to ask others.
Hearing this, the prefect pondered then said: “This man has talent, but actually harbors no great ambitions for under heaven.”
Pu E was stunned: “How so?”
The prefect fairly said: “Though Wu Yuanchang has talent to command troops in one area and govern localities, he has always remained subordinate; before, for Wu Hanluan stabilizing southern borders, and now clearly able to command Bo Yan’s momentum, yet willingly yields to Wu Hengyu.”
Pu E nodded; by her current “draw card” concept, comparing Wu Fei and Zhao Cheng these two character cards: though Wu Fei’s tactics system weaker than Zhao Cheng, excels at gathering hearts. Entering Bo Prefecture merely one year, making populace convinced, first obey general’s order, then heed Da Yao’s royal decree.
Pu E suspected “Yuan Chang’s” obsession system belonged to the “A Man” lineage.
Then Pu E opened her system for verification.
Wisdom and Courage System: Temporarily uncertain, please investigate.
Pu E: “What, you don’t even know how much obsession you’ve dropped here?”
This answer from Wisdom and Courage System was like a person who lost his wallet seeing everyone on the street holding his lost money.
Wisdom and Courage System: “Currently needs verification.”
…Perspective to Zhenzhou…
The situation grew worse; with insect disasters appearing in various Zhenzhou places, Wu Family Army in Chong Land had massive grain shortages, famine appeared here, and when Wu Hanluan opened granaries to release grain upon famine, discovered insufficient grain.
“Corrosion is everywhere, life so, human hearts likewise!” Wu Hanluan sighed thus.
Thus, compassionate he threw those with corrupt hearts into prison.
This prison located in central Lelang City, originally Prince Lelang’s blood prison, few knew the prison’s conditions. After Prince Lelang’s execution, this arena building was once vacant.
Wu Hanluan built a prison cell here, and also suppressed Gold Horn here to block the blood spring at the prison’s lowest level.
Since securing one side, Wu Hanluan didn’t want to reuse Gold Horn’s power, but now situation increasingly difficult, those crooked merchants and corrupt officials showed no issues upon investigation. This made Wu Hanluan anxious, feeling Gold Horn’s power increasingly hard to suppress, thus large numbers of people grabbed into prison.
Dim and foul interrogation room.
“I am innocent” “Wronged ah” “My lord investigate clearly”
One by one corrupt officials sent here all shouted innocence loudly, but upon arrival, thought to face severe torture, yet only saw a Golden Dou in the prison.
Just as they puzzled, suddenly, this Golden Dou in their eyes emitted brilliant pure gold and silver light.
These money-lovers’ expressions turned ecstatic, foolishly jumping up to grab into this Golden Dou with hands, feeling pure gold and silver, then crawled inside.
However, cultivator Shen Qing, imprisoned here for some days, saw these corrupt officials, after entering the room with “Golden Dou,” rapidly rotted within a day. Some had eye sockets replaced by maggots, mouths constantly spewing filth. But the rotting was cyclic: morning eye socket maggots crawling everywhere, afternoon skull full of mold, evening all rotten matter recongealing into flesh.
After experiencing one cycle of corruption’s pain, these corrupt officials finally saw clear, nightly becoming terrified, deranged, then self-abandoning; falling to rock bottom, seemingly becoming joyful, spilling everything to certain “little elves”—these “little elves” unseen by others.
Next morning restored as new, only fragments of memory and deep fear, then another cycle of rotting, immersing in enjoying Gold Dou’s power blessings after outpouring.
After seven-day cycle, these “corrupt heart” fellows discovered, in prison, what they fished from Golden Dou wasn’t gold, but disgustingly filthy objects. Released home, their hoarded money also rotten feces.
Thus these money lovers finally felt Wu Hanluan’s punishment so terrifying, confessing all their buried yellow and white places, only then released.
…Money like dung, yet must seek…
Outside prison, Wu Hanluan looking at this year’s finances, in period Wu Fei away from home, southern merchants began concealing accounts, especially at southern exit closed-door cultivation and entry checkpoints, bribing inspectors for smuggling, many doing so.
Within months, in Wu Hanluan’s interrogation process, obtained 300,000 gold, 2.4 million silver, 270,000 bolts of silk. Not only filled Tianchi City’s deficits, but greatly surplus. Yellow and white like dung piled in some cellar. Then transported out exchanged for grain and medicine to solve current problems.
However Wu Hanluan knew his methods not recognized by Xi Ren Realm’s human path!
Exiting the prison cell, he looked up at the dim yellow sky, slowly saying: “What is the outcome?”
…Green Evil Moon projection is Despair…
Entire Zhenshui Land, surrounding mountains, various mountains and waters mobilizing; Wangheng Sect Sect Master to second generation disciples (Golden Core realm) sent by under heaven’s six great sects: “Fellow Daoists, you’ve all seen Chong Land’s current Great Tribulation.”
At this time in Spiritual Eye, green and red interlaced Evil Moon in sky, green segment’s disturbing storm hanging down on earth, just landing on Chong Land, and looking under Chong Land’s great earth, dense veins corresponding to sky’s green Evil Moon appeared. Just like a bucket of sewage from heaven polluting Chong Land’s pond.
Various sects’ elders now indignantly stated Wu Family tyrannical, Son of Heaven already sternly rebuked, but Wu Hanluan unrepentant.
Note: Emperor Tianyou didn’t directly rebuke, merely lightly blamed Wu Hanluan for losing virtue causing heavenly disaster and man-made calamity; Wu Hanluan also submitted memorial pleading guilty.
But for sects and Divine Path forces, it meant they could attack Wu Family’s “auspicious qi”—first sealing Wu Family old fief ancestral graves’ virtue transport—Wu Fei and Wu Hengyu already had new fiefs, auspicious qi separately opened.
Then these sects invited Mountains and Rivers Flag, thoroughly sealing Zhenzhou.
As for next, Wangheng Sect Sect Master used star disk to calculate awhile, confirmed this tribulation-born auspicious qi child already appeared, then introduced a strand of mountains and rivers auspicious qi from sect flying toward the auspicious qi child’s direction.
Then these sects began action, dispatching Daoist priests to guide the auspicious qi child.
Future Zhenzhou Land auspicious qi’s division, in each sect’s view, already calculated by them.
