Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 419 Generous Rewards: Zhu Jinzhen's Gains

With the blessing of the Ming Dynasty upon her, Yan Yimei could sense the subtle changes in fortune. When she glanced at the officials of the Ming Dynasty, she could even sense their loyalty and treachery.

There was also the force of mobilizing troops from ten prefectures, which even surprised Yan Yimei.

Surrounded by the golden light of the nation's destiny and the divine radiance of the Investiture of the Gods, Yan Yimei's heart was also as turbulent as a stormy sea.

"So strong!"

"The combined forces of the ten prefectures are so powerful that even a celestial being would not dare to withstand their attack."

"Moreover... that national destiny baptism can further enhance my aptitude!"

The talents of the generals of Tian Ce are certainly good, but that's all. Whether it's Yan Yimei or the other generals of Cang Yun, the ordinary Cang Yun soldiers are not some monstrous martial arts prodigies.

Zhu Jinzhen is largely responsible for Zhu's achievements today.

Yan Yimei was overjoyed that her own aptitude could be improved so dramatically. Most importantly, her body became even more perfect, and she experienced a certain degree of rejuvenation.

There's also an intuition, deep down.

From this moment on, as long as the land of the Ming Dynasty still exists, she will never grow old!
Forever young!

This can be considered a side effect of sharing the same fate with the country.

This made Yan Yimei even more overjoyed.

Seeing Yan Yimei's transformation, all the civil and military officials, including the commanders of Cangyun and Tiance, looked expectantly at Zhu Jinzhen.

"Li Chengen, the Grand Commander of the Tian Ce Mansion, has pacified the utsang region, expanded the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and rendered meritorious service in conquering other states, greatly enhancing the prestige of the Ming Dynasty. For his meritorious service, he is hereby granted the title of Duke of Jing, a hereditary title. He also holds the position of Minister of War, is granted the title of Right Pillar of State, and is specially bestowed with the First Rank Military Fortune, a lifespan of a thousand years, the ability to mobilize the forces of the eight prefectures three times a year, the enjoyment of eighty sticks of incense offerings from the Ming Dynasty's fortune, and the baptism of the Ming Dynasty's national fortune three times, ensuring his survival each time."

"Xu Changhai, commander of the Tian Ce Mansion, has rendered meritorious service in destroying the country and has also made great contributions in the Jingnan campaign. He is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Dingyuan, promoted to Left Commander of the Right Army Commandery, and given the title of Pillar of the State (first rank). He is specially granted the first rank of military fortune, a lifespan of a thousand years, the ability to mobilize the strength of the eight prefectures three times a year, enjoy the incense offerings of eighty sticks of the Ming Dynasty's fortune, and be baptized by the Ming Dynasty's national fortune three times. He will not die after these three times."

"Zhu Jianqiu, the military advisor of the Tian Ce Mansion, has rendered meritorious service in destroying the country. He has devised strategies and plans on the road to Jingnan and has made great contributions in managing Burma, Annam and Siam. He is hereby granted the title of Marquis of Chong'an, promoted to Right Commander of the Right Army Commandery, and given the title of Pillar of the State. He is specially granted the first-rank military fortune, a lifespan of a thousand years, the ability to mobilize the strength of the eight prefectures three times a year, the enjoyment of eighty incense sticks of the Ming Dynasty's fortune, and the baptism of the Ming Dynasty's national fortune three times. He will not die three times."

"Yang Qingyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Shaanxi Provincial Military Command..."

"Qin Yiyan of Tian Ce Mansion..."

“Cangyun Song Senxue…”

With the establishment of the dynasty, the Ming Dynasty already had the foundation to become a celestial dynasty on earth.

Cangyun and Tiance were loyal to Zhu Jinzhen and made great contributions in the Jingnan Campaign. He was naturally generous in rewarding his officials, but only if they had made great contributions, made great contributions to the country, or needed to fill vacancies in the court.

Otherwise, Zhu Jinzhen did not make many changes to the civil service.

Only Xu Yu, the former Provincial Governor of Shaanxi, had the title of Acting Minister of Rites removed from his head and was promoted to Grand Secretary, entering the cabinet to assist in governing the country.

Shen Bing was promoted four ranks in a row, and became the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Ma You, the provincial inspector, was transformed into the Minister of Works and given the title of Grand Master of the Palace.

The remaining people were either highly meritorious or, although they received significant promotions, their fortune on the Investiture of the Gods was diminished.
Several levels, and many couldn't even make it onto the Investiture of the Gods list.

First-class fortune, a thousand times faster cultivation speed, three times the chance to survive, and to live and die with the nation.

There are three chances to escape death.

A second-grade fortune, eight hundred times the cultivation speed, three times of survival, and a lifespan extended by a thousand years.

A third-grade fortune, five hundred times the cultivation speed, three times of survival, and an additional eight hundred years of lifespan.

With a fourth-grade fortune, one's cultivation speed is three hundred times faster; if one survives a single death, one's lifespan is extended by five hundred years.

The further one progresses, the greater the weakening of the luck bonus becomes. However, as long as one is listed on the Investiture of the Gods, even with only the worst ninth-grade luck, it is equivalent to adding half a century to one's lifespan and increasing cultivation speed tenfold.

In addition to these, Zhu Jinzhen bestowed a special favor upon all registered soldiers and yamen runners of the Ming Dynasty. Regardless of rank, as long as they were registered, they would enjoy the protection of the Ming Dynasty's national fortune and the benefit of having their lifespan increased by ten years and their cultivation time doubled by one month each year.

While bestowing titles upon his officials, Zhu Jinzhen also took the opportunity to examine the benefits he had received as the ruler of the Ming Dynasty, with the nation's fortune and the heavens' fortune bestowed upon him.

First is the speed of cultivation.

As long as the fate of the Ming Dynasty still holds, he can manipulate the national fortune at will, transforming it into blessings and incense offerings to aid his cultivation, and even directly increasing his cultivation speed by ten thousand times in a short period of time.

"Hiss, ten thousand times?"

Zhu Jinzhen's pupils widened slightly. Although the incense offerings were time-limited, the ten-thousand-fold increase in cultivation speed in a short period of time, whether in terms of understanding the laws of heaven and earth or the speed at which he absorbed spiritual energy, had increased dramatically to this level.

That's quite a scary thing.

It was no less effective than some of the cheat codes he knew.

"Hmm, something's not right?!"

Zhu Jinzhen frowned and looked up at the sky. "Even if the cultivation speed in the Martial World is increased ten thousand times by burning the national fortune of the dynasty, can the Martial World withstand it?"

"Leaving aside distant examples, if I were to engage in seclusion and cultivate at this level..."

"I'm afraid it won't be long before it drains the entire martial arts world into a spiritless wasteland, turning it into a desert for cultivation, right?"

A cultivation speed increased ten thousandfold is powerful.

However, as the ruler of the dynasty, Zhu Jinzhen had to consider the consequences.

The world of Zongwu is not like those fantasy worlds with high martial arts. Although its foundation is much better than that of ordinary martial arts worlds, it even has an upper realm.

However, if Zhu Jinzhen, the ruler of a dynasty with cultivation levels surpassing those of celestial beings on land, were to unleash his full potential for cultivation, the spiritual energy of the martial arts world would plummet within a few years.

Even if it's not as extreme as directly avoiding the Dharma-ending Age.

However, if the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is not abundant enough, the cultivation speed of others will become extremely difficult.

Don't talk about celestial beings or immortals on land.

According to Zhu Jinzhen's estimate, he has been cultivating wildly for three years, absorbing too much of the spiritual energy of the martial arts world. In a few years, it will be difficult for even a celestial phenomenon to appear in the martial arts world again.

"No wonder celestial beings ascend to heaven once they reach the land."

"It's not that they've reached the pinnacle of martial arts, but rather that after surpassing the terrestrial celestial beings, they continue to linger in the mortal realm. The spiritual energy they absorb during a long period of seclusion is enough to create dozens more Finger Profound and Celestial Phenomena in this world."

Zhu Jinzhen's lips curled into a strange smile. If his speculation was correct, then the dozens of beings who surpassed the terrestrial celestial beings that he had secretly created using the Martial Arts Cultivation Furnace, as well as the hundreds of terrestrial celestial beings, were all present.

Doesn't that mean it occupies a large portion of the world's energy?

The moment this thought arose, a mysterious and profound message naturally appeared in Zhu Jinzhen's mind, as if telling him that it was not as he had guessed.

"Uh, that's not the case?"

Zhu Jinzhen blinked, and a look of realization gradually appeared on his face.

According to the information fed back to him by the world or the Golden Dragon of Fortune, the world is rooted in the void and chaos. Although its energy is not inexhaustible, it is not lacking in the energy that mortals cultivate.

Even if Zhu Jinzhen let go of everything, burning incense to enhance his luck and cultivating with a ten-thousand-fold amplification, at most he would just drain the spiritual energy of a region, and the time it would take to replenish the spiritual energy in other areas would be much longer.

It wouldn't lead him to speculate about something like the end of the Dharma.

(End of this chapter)