My father is a Confucian sage, but the system forces me to be a crude warrior

Chapter 452 Zeng Anmin: I Want to Control All the Armies in the World!
The great battle in the southern mountains has ended, with a resounding victory for the allied forces of the two nations of Shengjiang.

The Holy Dynasty and the Jiang Kingdom each obtained four mountain peaks, which could be used to repair their cities.

As for the last one, Lingyun Mountain.

Under Zeng Anmin's "reasonable arguments," Emperor Lide relinquished the mining rights to a spiritual mine, bringing it under the rule of Qinghai City.

Qinghai City, Yutou City, Lingyun City...

Next came the construction plan for these cities.

Today, everything within the Qinghai Bay sphere of influence is vibrant and full of life, with everything waiting to be rebuilt.

And today.

Zeng Anmin was with Qin Shoucheng, who is now the chief minister of the Lide Dynasty.

The two officially named the newly conquered area, encompassing the southern mountains and Qinghai Bay, as Qinghai Road.

From then on, the Lide Dynasty jointly controlled the three routes of Fengqi, Xiliu, and Qinghai.

This marks a significant step towards realizing the vision of restoring the capital!

……

Qinghai City, the Grand Tutor's Mansion.

Zeng Shilin is now addressed as "Grand Tutor" by the court officials.

In this Lide Dynasty, the Zeng family father and son were the true power holders.

However, the extent of this power still requires the father and son to continue their struggle...

yard.

Zeng Shilin was lying on the armchair, staring intently at the large tree in front of him.

I'm brewing a premium tea from Fengqi Road in my hand.

"father."

Zeng Anmin appeared beside Zeng Shilin.

"coming?"

Upon hearing his son's voice, Zeng Shilin slowly put down his teacup and looked at Zeng Anmin.

His eyes still gleamed with a sharp light, but they also carried an undeniable weariness.

"What do you need me for?"

Zeng Anmin looked at Zeng Shilin's slightly tired eyes and sighed inwardly.

These days, one major event after another has occurred.

As the head of the three routes, my father had countless official duties to handle every day.

Even though Zeng Anmin had tried his best to help his father alleviate his burdens, it was still just a drop in the ocean.

"Xu Ni's side may be about to launch an attack."

Zeng Shilin slowly raised his head and looked at Zeng Anmin: "I suppose you've already sensed something?"

“Hmm.” Zeng Anmin nodded, his gaze slowly darkening.
"Qinghai Road is in its early stages, but Xu will not give us much time."

"Therefore, we cannot afford to take a breather and must lead our army northward."

Zeng Shilin picked up where Zeng Anmin left off, his face also showing a hint of weariness:
"I just don't know how he'll launch his attack?"

Zeng Anmin hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Zeng Shilin:
"I, Emperor Lide, uphold the righteousness of the world, and my army marches northward. Wherever we pass, all will surrender."

"This is a situation that Xu Ni absolutely does not want to see."

"So I think he will make two preparations."

"Firstly, it is to incite the people and soldiers of the Holy Dynasty in six directions, but this method is not in line with the people's hearts. Judging from the reactions of various directions, they are more inclined to support my Lide Dynasty."

"After all, Emperor Lide was a direct descendant of the Holy Dynasty."

This was something Zeng Anmin had already guessed when he moved from the capital.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to transfer the chubby prince here.

Zeng Shilin chuckled lightly: "Humanity establishes nations primarily to plan for their destiny."

"The people may not know about the remaining six routes, but how could the officials not know?"

"If the nation's destiny were not protected... how could they not imagine what their fate would be?"

Zeng Anmin nodded slowly: "So there is no need to worry too much about this. Wherever my army passes, His Majesty only needs to step forward to make them submit."

“That’s natural.” Zeng Shilin smiled, then sighed softly.
"Unfortunately, this is not the capital. If it were the capital, with just one imperial decree from His Majesty, the fate of the nation would be at my disposal."

Why does it have to be the capital?

Zeng Anmin frowned slightly.

"You may not know this, but the dragon vein of my holy dynasty is located on Shouyang Mountain in the capital."

Zeng Shilin's face was ashen: "The foundation of a nation's destiny lies in its dragon veins."

"Therefore, we only need to follow the steps and take His Majesty Lide to the capital. With the help of the nation's fortune, that traitor Xu will be no match for us."

"But the question is... will Xu Ni let us enter the capital so easily?"

Zeng Shilin looked up at the sky.

It was as if he was asking Zeng Anmin, but it was also as if he was asking himself.

“A dragon vein…” Zeng Anmin stroked his chin, then blinked and looked at Zeng Shilin:

"Father, I do possess one of these dragon veins."

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it. I, Zeng Shilin, am loyal to the country to the end. Even if it means climbing mountains of knives or plunging into boiling oil, I will... Wait... What did you say??"

Zeng Shilin's body stiffened, and he looked over at Zeng Anmin.

"I say, about dragon veins... I happen to have one..."

Zeng Anmin scratched his head, then said embarrassedly, "Back when I was doing disaster relief in Xiliu Road, after I killed Shen Qiu, I took the dragon vein he had refined."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently flipped it over.

Then one could see a golden, indistinct line in the center of his palm, but one could immediately discern its extraordinary aura.

The moment that aura appeared, it emanated a dense divine might in all directions!
Zeng Shilin's eyes widened.

He stared intently at the golden aura that swirled in Zeng Anmin's palm like a carp!
"This……"

"This really is... a dragon vein?!"

Zeng Shilin's voice was hoarse.

"I'm sure it is." Zeng Anmin slowly withdrew his hand, placing the aura back into his sea of ​​consciousness, his voice filled with certainty:
"Guanglingzi personally verified it."

Zeng Shilin's body remained motionless, like a piece of wood.

"father?"

Zeng Anmin nudged Zeng Shilin.

Seeing that he ignored her, she waved her hand in front of his eyes again.

"Say something, please..."

"Oh...oh, go on, continue..."

Zeng Shilin looked up, staring blankly at Zeng Anmin's face...

Zeng Anmin nodded and continued:
"Secondly... and this is also my biggest concern."

As he said this, a serious tone crept into his voice:
"Xu Ni will never give up on reversing the rules of heaven and earth... He must still want to reverse the world and restore the world of destiny... It's just unknown where he will set his sights."

Zeng Shilin took a deep breath.

He slowly came to his senses and stared at Zeng Anmin for a long while.

"What is this...?" Zeng Anmin was somewhat at a loss for words under Zeng Shilin's gaze.

"His gaze..."

Zeng Shilin's lips curled into a cold smile:
"It doesn't really matter where it is placed."

"Oh?" Zeng Anmin looked at the chilling smile on Zeng Shilin's face and his brow twitched for no reason.

"What do you mean by that, Father?"

"Hehe." Zeng Shilin chuckled softly, picked up the teacup on the table, blew on it gently, and then slowly raised his head, his voice carrying a deep, oppressive quality:

"If I could give you a chance, would you be willing..."

"To fulfill one's heart's desire?"

……

Zeng Anmin's breath hitched.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

Zeng Shilin narrowed his eyes, staring at Zeng Anmin, a strange smile playing on his lips:

"Since Xu Ni doesn't want us to go to the capital, then there's no rush to go."

"If there is a dragon vein, then where can't a capital be built?!"

“You mean…” Zeng Anmin clenched his fists and stared intently at Zeng Shilin.

"Tell your father first, what is your heart's desire?"

Zeng Shilin squinted, staring intently at Zeng Anmin.

Zeng Anmin's lips were pursed together, his voice dry: "Father..."

"Speak!" Zeng Shilin stared intently at Zeng Anmin. "Tell your father!"

Zeng Anmin remained silent for a long time.

He then slowly raised his head, meeting Zeng Shilin's gaze. His voice was not loud, but extremely firm:
"if you can."

"I want to...control all the armies in the land!!"

"The armies of the world..." Zeng Shilin looked somewhat dazed upon hearing this.

Then he chuckled softly, "Hehe..." Gradually, the soft chuckle turned into a loud laugh, "Hahahaha!!"

"Shhh!!"

Zeng Shilin turned his gaze in another direction.

Is that the capital of the Holy Dynasty?

Instead... it's the Jiang Kingdom!!!
"The armies of this world are not limited to the Holy Dynasty alone."

In the depths of Zeng Shilin's weathered eyes, there even flickered a hint of... madness that was hard to fathom!
“Since Xu Ni wants to defy the rules of heaven and earth, then I, as his father, will lend him a hand.”

"Gudong~"

Looking at my father's frightening face.

Zeng Anmin swallowed hard.

What exactly do you want to do?

There was a tremor in his voice.

Don't go too far!

Zeng Shilin chuckled softly and slowly looked at Zeng Anmin:
"What? Isn't controlling the armies of the entire realm your long-held idea?"

"When faced with a crisis, you're actually backing down?"

Zeng Anmin gave a bitter smile:
"I won't back down, but since you haven't told me anything about the plan, I'm a little unsure."

"Tsk..."

Zeng Shilin laughed heartily, then reached out and gently patted Zeng Anmin's head:

"Don't worry about it. How could your father ever betray you?"

"My plan as a father..."

Zeng Shilin lowered his voice and spoke slowly.

Every word resonated deeply with Zeng Anmin.

"Announcing to the world, you have broken through to the first rank???"

Zeng Anmin was completely dumbfounded after hearing this.

He looked up in horror at Zeng Shilin.

"This is just the first step." Zeng Shilin nodded calmly, then prepared to talk about the next plan.

But Zeng Anmin interrupted him:
"Father, why didn't you tell me about such a big event as breaking through to the first rank?"

"You really don't treat me like your own son?!"

When Zeng Anmin said this, he was overjoyed!

His biggest worry was that Master Xu, being a first-rank array master, would use his martial prowess to coerce the remaining six armies and civilians.

but now……

If the news of my father breaking through to the first rank gets out, then Master Xu's previous advantage will vanish completely!

"Destiny is in my hands!! Destiny is in my hands!!! Hahaha!!!"

Zeng Anmin felt like he was losing control of himself and wanted to dance with joy...

"By the way, Father, when did you break through to the first rank?"

Zeng Anmin looked at Zeng Shilin with great excitement:
"Let me guess, it must be after the battle with Shen Nian and the Demon Lord of Illusion that day?" Zeng Anmin said with certainty.
"After that great battle, you returned with a feeling that led to your breakthrough, right?!"

Zeng Shilin grunted, then his old face flushed slightly as he said:
"It should be next month."

"Oh, it's next month!" Zeng Anmin exclaimed in surprise, but before he could speak, his expression suddenly froze.

"???"

He looked at Zeng Shilin with a blank expression:
"Next month?? What does that mean?? It means you haven't broken through yet?"

"Ahem." Zeng Shilin coughed lightly.
"If a second-grade Quasi-Saint wants to break through to the first-grade Fate Realm, he/she needs to follow the path of his/her predecessors and gain the approval of Heaven and Earth."

"As your father, I do feel this way, but for now..." he said, blushing.

"Practice is still needed."

Zeng Anmin's face was stiff: "I didn't understand."

Do you still remember the four-word mantra "unity of knowledge and action" that you once told your father?

Zeng Shilin glanced at him and said, "Since that day, I have been thinking about these four words every day. Just a month ago, I had a feeling and came up with the ten-character mantra. I don't know if it is right or wrong. It just needs to be put into practice."

"Which ten words?" Zeng Anmin's mind was in turmoil.

"True knowledge must be put into practice; without practice, it is not true knowledge," Zeng Shilin said slowly.

"Knowledge is the intention of action, and action is the practice of knowledge. Knowledge is the beginning of action, and action is the completion of knowledge."

Seeing Zeng Anmin's bewildered expression, Zeng Shilin looked at him with a mixture of disappointment and frustration:

"You're the one who came up with the phrase 'unity of knowledge and action'."

"Why are you getting confused again now?"

Zeng Anmin genuinely couldn't understand, but he still gritted his teeth and recited what he had memorized in his previous life:
"In my understanding, the unity of knowledge and action should be based on conscience, transforming moral cognition into the driving force and principle for current actions, and achieving the complete unity of personality in life practice."

This sentence was a summary he made when he read a post on Zhihu (a Chinese Q&A website) that mentioned Wang Yangming.

The whole passage was rather obscure and difficult to understand; he only memorized this sentence.

But after he finished speaking,

The old man across from me suddenly froze.

After a long while, he slowly began to murmur:
"Based on conscience..."

"To achieve the complete unity of personality..."

"So that's how it is!! So that's how it is!!"

"Exactly as I thought!!"

"Yes, yes!!"

Zeng Shilin suddenly felt a lightness all over his body.

The surging, righteous energy within his body was like a mighty river, omnipresent!

"The words of the sage are my words!"

"I said:"

"True and solid knowledge is the foundation of action."

"The point where one acts with clear awareness and keen insight is knowledge!"

Subconsciously, he blurted out what was on his mind!

"boom!!!"

A voice burst forth from his body.

It resembled the very first sound in the universe.

It was as if the heavens and earth were responding to him.

The images of Confucianism and Taoism were faintly beginning to coalesce in the sky!

"Chirp!!!"

A golden column of energy suddenly shot out from Zeng Shilin's body!

Just at this time.

"Not today, not now!! Cut it off!!!"

Zeng Shilin suddenly opened his eyes, his voice booming like thunder from the heavens.

It was only a fleeting moment.

All the strange phenomena surrounding him vanished into fragments.

He sat cross-legged on the ground.

He regulated his breathing for a long time.

Finally, he looked at Zeng Anmin:

"That was close! I almost ruined my grand plan!!"

Zeng Anmin watched all of this silently.

Slightly open your mouth.

He doesn't understand.

"Father...were you really about to break through?"

"When a father breaks through to the next level, he cannot be first; he must be last. Otherwise, how can you talk about controlling the armies of the world?!"

As he spoke, Zeng Shilin slowly stood up:

"Make preparations. Starting tomorrow, I will announce to the world that I have broken through to the first rank."

“Starting tomorrow, my army will begin its advance towards the capital.”

"Anyone who dares to resist along the way will be killed without mercy!"

His voice carried an undeniable certainty.

……

"What??"

"Lord Wenqing, you've broken through to the first rank of the Imperial Destiny?!"

After the documents from Qinghai City were sent to all parts of the Great Holy Dynasty.

Everyone's faces were filled with astonishment!
This news was like a thunderbolt from the heavens, striking everyone's minds!

(End of this chapter)