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

Chapter 449: Before fighting against the outside world, one must first make peace with the inside
On the day.

Upon returning to the Eastern Depot, Cao Zhengchun immediately worried about all the Eastern Depot's top experts in Beijing.

"Master, you look radiant, could it be that you have some good news?"

"Buqun!" Cao Zhengchun looked at Yue Buqun in front of him, pinched his pinky finger, and said with a smile, "It is indeed a happy event, and a very happy event. The Empress just summoned us to the palace and gave us the Eastern Depot a great reward."

Immediately afterwards, Cao Zhengchun recounted the matter of the Blood Bodhi.

For a moment, gasps of astonishment filled the East Factory.

Once everyone had recovered from their shock, Cao Zhengchun ordered the Blood Bodhi to be distributed, and each of the more than one hundred people received a Blood Bodhi that shimmered with red light.

"This Blood Bodhi has been causing quite a stir in the capital recently. You are probably all aware of its effects. Just one can cure serious injuries, and if there are no injuries, it can increase one's power and directly increase one's power by half a century."

"You are all experts from my Eastern Depot. This time, the Empress's reward is for everyone."

"I'll give you one day to digest the power of the Blood Bodhi. After one day, I want to see a change in the strength of our Eastern Depot, and then we'll begin sharpening our knives..."

As Cao Zhengchun finished speaking, a cold smile appeared on his face, startling everyone present and making them wonder who or which force would be in trouble next.

But now, they're overjoyed.

Blood Bodhi, one of them can increase one's internal energy by thirty years.

These experts from the Eastern Depot, upon obtaining one, could almost instantly ascend to a higher level, transforming from insignificant figures in the martial arts world into Vajra Realm masters, or even Finger Profound Masters.

Among them, Luo Jusheng and his wife's eyes lit up, as they were both masters of the Mysterious Realm.

Each person possesses a Blood Bodhi, and even if they cannot immediately reach the Grandmaster level of Celestial Phenomena, they are still enough to become outstanding individuals in the Finger Profound Realm.

……

the other side.

The same things were happening simultaneously in the West Depot, the Northern Garrison, the Six Doors headquarters, and the Dragon Guard Manor.

The first thing they did upon obtaining the Blood Bodhi was not to think about saving it for later.

Instead, it's about using it sooner and enjoying it sooner.

Western Factory.

Yu Huatian waited quietly until late at night, and only when Tan Luzi came to report did he finally smile.

"One hundred and sixty-seven Finger Profound Realm Grandmasters, one hundred and thirty-one Vajra Realm experts, not bad." Yu Huatian's lips kept curving upward. This power was naturally not enough in front of his own emperor, but in the martial arts world of the Ming Dynasty, it was enough to suppress all those who dared to disobey.

"Her summons today is both a reward and a warning, and a reprimand."

"There are some people and some things that it's our turn to do."

"Master, where are we going?" Tan Luzi asked, completely bewildered.

"It's either Jiangnan, or... Shaolin Temple on Mount Song."

Yu Huatian revealed a chilling smile.

The events at Jiayuguan were not something that could be resolved simply by the deaths of a few monks.

His Majesty had not carried out the purge before because he was too busy to deal with it.

Now that the Ming dynasty's imperial power has been smoothly transferred and the world is at peace, the internal troubles should naturally be eliminated before we can further deal with external threats!

Shaolin Temple on Mount Song?
Tan Luzi's pupils contracted, revealing a look of horror.

...There are no secrets in the capital.

It was no secret that Changsun Wangqing had summoned Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, Shangguan Haitang, Qinglong, and Liu Dufeng to the palace, and the news that they had received generous gifts could not be kept secret either.

Soon, the news spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

Not to mention, in less than three days, the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and Northern Garrison Command produced more than a thousand masters of the Finger Profound Realm. All the head constables of the Six Doors with bronze badges or above were urgently summoned back to the capital. Kill orders were issued for many unsolved notorious bandits. Seventeen head constables with gold badges left the capital in succession.

There are also blatant temptations from the East Depot, West Depot, Dragon Guard Manor, and Six Doors as they recruit top talents.

The news couldn't be kept secret anytime soon.

"What is that lady trying to do?"

"The East and West Factories each received three hundred Blood Bodhi seeds. These lackeys of the emperor were already fierce, so aren't they even more ruthless now?"

"It is said that Empress Zhangsun and His Majesty felt that the Eastern and Western Depots were useless, so they specially bestowed the Blood Bodhi."

"Are the Eastern and Western Depots useless?" Some people find it laughable. As the emperor's two most loyal dogs, especially after Zhu Jinzhen helped Yu Huatian ascend to the position of director of the Western Depot, he continuously bestowed gifts and cultivated him, making the Western Depot's strength increase day by day.

Are they not good enough?
When someone pointed out that the Eastern and Western Depots seemed weak and vulnerable compared to the Cangyun and Tiance guards stationed in the capital, as well as the Xuanjia Secret Guards, the officials and dignitaries in the capital who received the news fell silent.

If you compare them like that, the East and West factories seem pitifully weak... what a load of rubbish!

Many people were so angry they almost overturned the table on the spot.

The East and West Factories were already troublesome enough, but now each of them has received three hundred Blood Bodhi seeds. Moreover, according to news from the palace, Changsun Wangqing mentioned that if the two factories handle things well, there will be further rewards.

This is a genuine plan to cultivate the East and West Factories as if they were the Tian Ce and Cang Yun armies.
Are they completely leaving these people no way to survive?
"The improvement in the strength of the East and West factories is a good thing."

"Good thing? Haven't they caused us enough trouble in the past? They've used every trick in the book to frame loyal and honest people."

"You know that's the past. The current emperor is different from the past emperor, and our goals are different too. As long as we don't break the law or cross our emperor's red lines, what difference does it make if the Eastern and Western Depots become stronger?"

"They're targeting corrupt officials, not us."

"This……"

"Don't want to be on the Investiture of the Gods list anymore? A sixth-rank official can live for more than sixty years."

"You don't want His Majesty's various rewards? It is said that before His Majesty ascended the throne, he had already begun discussing salary increases with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel, and he wanted to abolish the previous practice of using various miscellaneous items to offset salaries. According to the Ministry of Revenue, our salaries will increase by at least five times, and there will also be war bonuses."

"War dividends?"

"I don't know, but I have some guesses. We'll just have to wait and see."

"So, do you still find the Eastern Depot and Western Depot terrifying?"

Such dialogues are constantly taking place in the residences of officials and dignitaries in the capital today.

The court was not without upright officials, but when darkness surrounded everything, no one dared to be a special light; only by blending in with the crowd could one survive.

Now, after Zhu Jinzhen's vigorous purge and reorganization before ascending the throne, the cabinet was uprooted. Although the civil service group still exists, it is no longer what it used to be. Many ambitious and honest officials no longer need to pretend to be something they're not, and can now fully realize their ambitions.

Instead of being wary of the rewards bestowed upon the Eastern and Western Depots, they were actually pleased.

The same situation applies to the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Don’t do bad things, don’t be afraid of ghosts knocking on your door.

It's not that they've stopped being greedy, nor that they've truly become incorruptible and wholeheartedly devoted to serving the people. It's just that their ambitions have grown, and they've become even more greedy, no longer desiring the meager sums they once had, or those vulgar possessions of gold and silver.

(End of this chapter)