The world is like a prison, my body is holy

The father and son, who had played the roles of martial arts performers, sat down again.

Emperor Tianqi grimaced and hissed, picked up the teapot and poured Wang Wen a cup of hot tea, respectfully inviting him to drink.

Wang Wen didn't touch the teacup in front of him, keeping his eyes lowered in silence. After a long while, he sighed softly and said, "I'll handle the military situation in the Northwest. You allocate the provisions and send them to support the Western Army and the civilians affected by the war as quickly as possible..."

Emperor Tianqi opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him to stay and finish the banquet before leaving, but the words stuck in his throat and he dared not utter them.

Wang Wen ignored his hesitation and continued, "The situation is not right lately. Something bad may happen. You should not go out for leisurely strolls and stay in the palace to handle state affairs."

"It is crucial to select a steady and reliable commander of the Imperial Guards to strengthen the palace's defenses, strictly check those entering and leaving the palace, and especially prevent any unsavory or heretical individuals from entering the palace!"

"The imperial palace is protected by the dragon's aura of national fortune. As long as you don't leave the palace or actively seek out those evil spirits and heretics, they can't harm you..."

"I will invite the leaders of the three talisman sects to take turns coming to the capital to oversee the palace. You must treat them with the same respect you would show me. In a critical moment, they can save your life and ensure that your Chai Zhou dynasty is not lost."

"If you encounter an emergency that is beyond your control, there is a consecrated statue of me in the palace. You can bring it out, offer a stick of incense, and silently recite my name. I will then return to guard it."

"You also need to pay more attention to the affairs of the court. Only when the dynasty is prosperous and the people live in peace and contentment can the national fortune and dragon energy protect you. If the dynasty declines and the people suffer, the national fortune and dragon energy will be like a thin sheet of paper that can be easily punctured, unable to stop those powerful evil forces."

"You don't need to worry too much about Huainan and Jiangnan, but you still need to show them kindness. They recognize you as their ruler, so you are their ruler. If they don't recognize you as their ruler, their will will not protect you..."

The Book of Changes says: "The Great Way is fifty, Heaven extends forty-nine, and man escapes one." I don't know if that escaped one truly exists in the world, or if miracles truly exist, but if it does exist, I think it must mean that the world is united and determined!

After finishing his lengthy speech, Wang Wen finally picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip.

Although his tone wasn't particularly earnest, it inexplicably brought tears to Emperor Tianqi's eyes.

'Even when my father and mother were alive, they never considered things for me like this…'

He thought silently in his heart.

Wang Wen put down his teacup and said calmly, "Give me the Western Army Tiger Tally, and I will set off for the Northwest immediately."

Emperor Tianqi looked up at him, hesitated several times before finally forcing himself to speak, and said, "Grand Tutor, the military affairs in the Northwest are not as urgent as they are right now. You have worked tirelessly day and night for the country, and if I don't even let you have a proper meal... I will not be at peace with myself!"

Wang Wen stared at him with a complicated expression, remaining silent for a long time.

Just as Emperor Tianqi was about to succumb to the pressure and admit his mistake, Wang Wen finally spoke up: "Do you know what hardships and sweat it takes for an ordinary family to raise a baby this age into a man who can wear armor, take up arms, guard the border, and protect the country?"

He gestured with his hands to indicate the length of about a foot, and asked softly.

Emperor Tianqi stared at him in astonishment, then lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Wang Wen continued, "Do you know how many fine young men, capable of donning armor and wielding weapons, will die in a single defeat?"

Emperor Tianqi dared not answer, nor did he know how to answer.

Wang Wen gently patted his thin shoulder and softened his tone, saying, "I know that you people treat ordinary people like plants and trees. The death of ten thousand is just a number, the death of a hundred thousand or a million is just a number. Perhaps it's not your fault, but it's wrong..."

“You’re not a bad person, but to be a good emperor, you need to learn how to treat yourself as a human being and how to treat everyone else as human beings.”

"At least... you have to give it your all before you can say to yourself and others with a clear conscience, 'I really did my best.'"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Tianqi suddenly recalled that chaotic evening three years ago when Liu Zhi'en escorted him to the palace to meet the Grand Tutor. In the carriage, Liu Zhi'en had said, "General Wang treats us crippled servants as human beings more than those officials in the court who constantly talk about benevolence and righteousness."

He suddenly understood why Liu Zhi'en, that little thing, had only met the Grand Tutor a few times, yet she was so devoted to speaking and acting on his behalf, both openly and secretly.

Suddenly, I understood why the Grand Tutor was able to become a saint...

"I will always remember the Grand Tutor's teachings and never forget them!"

Emperor Tianqi, with heartfelt admiration, clasped his hands and said, then rose and strode out of the warm pavilion to retrieve the Western Army's Tiger Tally, presenting it to Wang Wen with both hands: "The people and soldiers of the Northwest are now entrusted to the Grand Tutor!"

Wang Wen put away the tiger tally, casually uttered "I will do my utmost," and then his figure transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the warm pavilion.

Emperor Tianqi was stunned for a long time before slumping weakly into a chair, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the door of the warm pavilion.

Just then, a grand eunuch with striking features—bright eyebrows, sharp eyes, and unusually strong facial structure—wearing a python robe, entered the warm pavilion with a slight bow and steady steps, carrying a document. He whispered to the Tianqi Emperor, "Your Majesty, rest assured, that traitor has already left..."

Emperor Tianqi raised his head in a daze, staring blankly at the eunuch who had once been quite capable.

The burly eunuch felt inexplicably uneasy under his gaze, and immediately knelt on one knee, crossed his hands, and said in a strong and clear voice, "This servant failed to protect Your Majesty, causing you to suffer this injustice. I would rather die than atone for my sins!"

There are no fools among those who rise to the top in the imperial palace.

This sturdy eunuch was an exceptionally intelligent man, so intelligent that he knew he was just a pawn used by the emperor to keep Liu Zhi'en in check. Therefore, he had to oppose anything or anyone related to Liu Zhi'en, and even if he couldn't openly oppose them, he had to express his dissatisfaction.

Emperor Tianqi silently turned his gaze to the document in his arms, and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "What is this?"

The burly eunuch immediately presented the document to the Tianqi Emperor with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is the number of palace eunuchs that traitor requested..."

He paused, then said in a discreet voice, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have secretly reduced the number of people on this memorial by half. Even if that traitor takes it and reduces the number accordingly, it will not bring shame to the imperial family!"

Emperor Tianqi silently flipped through the documents, but his eyes were deeply stung by a number on the document that, even after being cut in half, still looked shocking.

Last year, he established an empress and had three concubines. He had only two princesses and a prince who was less than a year old. Apart from his family, there were only a few dowager concubines of the late emperor in the harem.

This was the first time he had ever known that there were nearly 40,000 eunuchs serving the dozen or so people in the palace!
Emperor Tianqi closed the document, shut his eyes, and called out in a low voice, "Someone come here!"

Two strong and powerful imperial guards entered, swords at their sides, and bowed with their hands clasped.

Emperor Tianqi waved his hand lightly and said, "Take this ignorant madman away and beat him to death!"

"Here!"

Two imperial guards responded loudly and pounced on him like wolves, pinning the sturdy eunuch, who was completely stunned and at a loss, to the ground and dragging him out of the warm pavilion... They had been annoyed with this smug little dog for a long time!

The burly eunuch was dragged for a distance before he suddenly realized that the Emperor wasn't just bluffing or trying to intimidate him, but was really going to beat him to death. He immediately wet himself in fear and frantically begged for mercy, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me..."

Emperor Tianqi seemed to be asleep, his eyes closed as he leaned back in his armchair, holding the documents, unmoved.

Only when the burly eunuch was about to be dragged out of the warm pavilion did he speak softly, "Enough..."

The two imperial guards immediately stopped and waited for the Emperor's next instructions, while the strong-willed eunuch struggled to kowtow to the Emperor in gratitude.

Emperor Tianqi waved his hand: "No need to thank me. It was the Grand Tutor, not me, who spared your life... You are banished to the imperial estate to carry manure, never to be promoted or sent out again!"

The burly eunuch felt as bitter as if he were eating bitter herbs, but dared not utter a single word, and could only kowtow to express his gratitude.

After two imperial guards dragged him out of the warm pavilion, Emperor Tianqi opened his eyes, straightened his posture, and softly called out, "Someone come here."

A trembling eunuch entered and greeted the emperor: "Your Majesty."

Emperor Tianqi: "Issue an edict to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs to thoroughly investigate the number of all eunuchs in the palace, propose to dismiss half of the eunuchs, provide them with travel expenses and resettlement allowances and send them back to their hometowns. The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs shall issue travel permits and instruct local governments to make proper arrangements for these eunuchs..."

He paused for a moment, and after careful consideration, added: "Those who do not wish to return to their hometowns may go to the Genyue Imperial Estate to live out their remaining years. In addition to travel expenses and resettlement allowances, each person will be allocated five mu of land to settle down and make a living until their death, after which the land will be taken over by the Imperial Estate!"

"The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs shall draft the regulations as soon as possible and submit them to me for review!"

The young eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and bowed with his hands clasped: "Yes, sir!"

Just as the eunuch left the warm pavilion, Emperor Tianqi said softly again, "Someone come here!"

Another eunuch bowed and entered: "Your Majesty."

Emperor Tianqi: "I hereby issue an oral decree to Qiu Xin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, that at tomorrow's grand court assembly, it shall be proposed that Wang Wen, the Prince of Weiwu and Grand Tutor, be promoted to Prince of Huai and Imperial Preceptor, with the additional title of General of the Cavalry, a hereditary title that will last forever and be shared with the nation!"

"Here!"

Emperor Tianqi: "Guards!"

"Your Majesty."

Emperor Tianqi: "I hereby decree that Prince Huai, Wang Wen, has upheld the state and served the country with utmost loyalty, turning the tide and saving the nation from collapse. He is hereby granted the privilege of not having to hasten his steps when entering the court, not having to mention his name when paying homage, and being allowed to wear a sword and shoes in the palace. He is also granted the authority to use the emperor's entourage!"

"(Gulp) Here... here!"

Emperor Tianqi: "Guards!"

"Your Majesty."

Emperor Tianqi: "Issue an edict to the Minister of Rites to increase the suburban sacrifices during the seasons (the highest level of state sacrifice in ancient times, which is divided into four sacrifices in spring, summer, autumn and winter)... During the Zhongyuan Festival, the emperor shall personally offer sacrifices to the six officials, and the spirit tablet of the Lord of Huangshan shall be offered!"

"Here!"

Emperor Tianqi: "Guards!"

"Your Majesty."

Emperor Tianqi: "Issue an edict to the Minister of Rites, Ji Jie, to prepare the ceremonial guards, draft the sacrificial text, and escort my robes to the Bright Summit of Huangshan for the Fengshan ceremony!"

"Here!"

Emperor Tianqi: "Guards!"

"Your Majesty."

Emperor Tianqi: "Issue an edict to Zhou Ming, Minister of Revenue, and Jiang Yi, Minister of War, to quickly discuss the war in the Northwest, raise funds and supplies, and boost morale!"

"Here!"

Emperor Tianqi: "Guards!"

"Your Majesty."

"I hereby issue an imperial edict to Right Chancellor Yu Shen, requesting that tomorrow's court assembly propose exempting the people of Huainan and Jiangnan from taxes, bestowing grace, and comforting the people..."

The Tianqi Emperor methodically issued a series of decrees, murmuring to himself, "Grand Tutor, I will not let you down!"

...After leaving the imperial palace, Wang Wen rode his black unicorn to Zhong Shidao's camp, which was stationed on the south bank of the Yellow River and confronting the Prince of Qin. After explaining the Northwest Incident and the evidence of the Western Army's tiger tally, he obtained a handwritten letter from Zhong Shidao and delivered it to Zhong Shizhong, the deputy envoy in charge of the Western Army, who was also Zhong Shidao's younger brother.

When he came out of Zhong Shidao's camp, the demon soldiers and generals of the Yellow River Water Palace, led by Ao Qing, and the demon soldiers and generals of the Taihu Lake Water Palace, led by Zhi Baiqing, were already waiting on either side of Mo Qilin.

Two and a half years ago, the three naval forces under the command of General Dangmo's Mansion mobilized their entire force, totaling no more than six thousand men.

Now, the Yellow River Water Palace and the Taihu Lake Water Palace alone have 15,000 naval forces!
The Demon-Slaying General's Mansion no longer commands the three major water mansions...

Instead, they are the Five Great Water Palaces!

"See the General!"

The two masters of the water palaces took the lead in bowing.

Wang Wen smiled and said, "You guys got here pretty quickly..."

Ao Qing replied respectfully, "How can I delay in the slightest when the General summons me!"

Zhi Baiqing nodded and said, "Reporting to the General, I encountered Lord Bai and his party on my way north. He asked me to inform the General that they will arrive shortly!"

Upon hearing this, Ao Qing quickly replied, "Please rest assured, General, my son Ao Lian is definitely on his way and would never dare to delay your important business!"

After Wang Wen promoted it to the position of River God of the Yellow River and put it in charge of the Yellow River, Bai Zimo took over its Hongze Lake Water Palace.

Wang Wen then handed over the vacated Chaohu Lake to Ao Qing's son, Ao Lian, which can be considered an indirect succession of the father's business.

In this way, the threat of these demon kings becoming too powerful and controlling their territory was resolved, and they were given hope of passing on their family business.

Besides, Wang Wen found it easy to use that simple-minded little fellow, Ao Lian…

"Don't worry about it."

Wang Wen smiled and waved his hand: "I never doubt Ao Lian's loyalty. As long as we can get here before dawn, that's fine."

"The General's care and affection for Ao Lian far surpasses that of this humble general. On behalf of Ao Lian, this humble general expresses his gratitude to the General."

Wang Wen: "We're all family, don't be so formal..."

He flipped over and straddled the back of the black unicorn, saying, "It's still early, you all wait here for me, I'll be right back!"

"Respectfully seeing off the Great General!"

Wang Wen nodded, gently flicked the reins, and the ever-more majestic and powerful Mo Qilin soared into the sky, transforming into a streak of fire that swiftly crossed the Yellow River and disappeared into the vast night sky.

Before long, Wang Wen appeared outside the study of the Prince of Qin's mansion in Jizhou.

The King of Qin, who was reading documents in his study, heard unfamiliar footsteps, looked up, and was stunned for a few seconds before clicking his tongue and chuckling, "General Wang, you're in a good mood, taking a stroll to Jizhou in the middle of the night."

"You're quite composed in the face of adversity..."

Wang Wen, acting as if they were old friends, stepped forward, carried a chair, and sat down opposite the King of Qin. He glanced at the mountain of documents piled up on the King's desk and laughed, "How about it? It's not easy to sit even with half the country under your control, is it?"

As Lao Tzu said, "Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish."

The King of Qin said with some emotion, "I lack the skill, so I can only mess things up haphazardly!"

Wang Wen shook his head: "Don't belittle yourself like that. Under your governance, the people in North China and Liaodong have actually been living quite well these past two years."

The King of Qin glanced at him in surprise, then said with delight, "To receive such a compliment from General Wang, all my hard work and sleepless nights over the past two years have been worthwhile!"

Wang Wen laughed and said, "We're all just paperhangers, don't flatter me too much!"

"Hahaha, the seamstress..."

The King of Qin slammed his hand on the table and laughed heartily: "Brilliant! This word is truly brilliant!"

Wang Wen leaned back in his chair and asked leisurely, "How have you been lately? Have you encountered any difficult problems?"

The King of Qin's laughter stopped abruptly, and he asked with great surprise, "General, are you willing to assist me?"

"whispering sound……"

Wang Wen curled his lip: "You're dreaming!"

The King of Qin looked him up and down, puzzled: "Then what's wrong with the general...?"

Wang Wen pondered for a moment, then said frankly, "A highly accomplished master told me that the world is changing, and the country may change hands and the world may be in turmoil. I came to see you on my way to see if you have encountered any troublesome people or things... I will not interfere in your dispute over the inheritance, nor will I allow any evil spirits or heretics to interfere in your dispute over the inheritance, whether it is for you or your twelfth brother!"

"This……"

The King of Qin was completely confused by what he said: "What exactly are these random people and things that the General is talking about?"

"Can't understand?"

Wang Wen said with relief, "It seems there aren't any left."

He pondered for a few seconds, then pointed at the thick carpeted ground. A large amount of soil gushed out of the carpet like a spring, and under the astonished gaze of the King of Qin, it visibly coalesced into a lifelike stone statue more than a foot tall, draped in civil and military robes.

Wang Wen then gently waved his hand, and the stone statue flew steadily onto the desk. He stared at the statue, and a golden light flashed in his eyes. A golden light then shone in the statue's eyes and then disappeared.

"This is my consecrated statue. If you ever encounter any invincible demons or monsters that threaten the safety of you and your army, offer a stick of incense to this statue and silently recite my name, and I will come to your aid!"

"This……"

The King of Qin's gaze lingered between Wang Wen and the stone statue for a few moments before he bowed respectfully and said, "General, your righteousness is truly admirable. I am completely convinced!"

Wang Wen waved his hand and said seriously, "I know that when you raised the army to quell the rebellion, it was because you were indignant at Chai Heng's treasonous methods and also wanted to prove yourself. But Chai Heng has been dead for almost three years. No matter how angry you are, you should have calmed down by now. Continuing to fight will only result in the needless deaths of soldiers and the depletion of national strength, which is meaningless!"

"To be fair, you are more suited to be emperor than your twelfth brother. It's just a pity you were unlucky; you weren't in the capital at the time, so it wasn't your turn..."

Upon hearing this, the King of Qin suddenly interrupted him with a smile: "General, are you trying to persuade me to withdraw my troops and surrender?"

"I didn't mean that..."

Wang Wen shook his head and said sincerely, "Since I said I wouldn't interfere in your brothers' fight for the family property, I will never interfere. I just want to say that you two brothers are actually doing quite well. If you can maintain the current situation, that would be good. Anyway, it's all your Chai family's empire. There's no reason for brothers to fight to the death over a chair."

"If you are willing to cease hostilities and restore peace to the world, I am willing to act as a mediator between you two brothers and request that your twelfth brother grant East China and Liaodong as your fiefdom. Apart from the fact that you will still be a vassal king of the Great Zhou in name only, everything else can remain as it is now. Even after your death, your descendants can still choose one of North China or Liaodong as their fiefdom..."

"As long as the Great Zhou Dynasty stands, and as long as I have a breath left, I will protect your lineage."

"Even if the Great Zhou Dynasty falls, I can still promise to ensure that your lineage continues peacefully and will never die out due to external interference."

"You should know my other identity, and know that I, Wang Wen, am not exaggerating!"

The King of Qin looked at Wang Wen with suspicion and uncertainty, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts and concerns: "General, I am deeply impressed by your sincerity. However, this matter is of great importance. Could you please allow me some time to consider it carefully?"

Wang Wen was right. The war had indeed reached a point where it was utterly meaningless and pointless for him.
But rebellion is not something that can be done on a whim.

Do you think it's child's play to expect hundreds of thousands of soldiers to risk their lives, grab their weapons, and follow him to the bitter end?

Believe it or not, the moment news spread that he wanted to surrender to Emperor Tianqi, he would be assassinated in the central military tent, and someone would immediately jump out and claim that he was assassinated by Emperor Tianqi, and that he would inherit his will and carry on the great cause of rebellion to the end.
However, if Wang Wenruo were willing to act as a middleman for him and his twelve emperors, this matter would indeed have great potential!

But how could he be sure that Wang Wen was genuinely helping him, and not just trying to lure him to the capital to be imprisoned and killed?

Ultimately, he and Wang Wen had only met twice and didn't have much of a relationship...

"up to you!"

Wang Wen nonchalantly raised his chin: "As long as you don't start a war, you can think about it for ten or eight years without any problem. But if you start a war, then don't come looking for me. As long as people die, it's none of my business whether you two brothers live or die!"

Seeing his attitude, the King of Qin's anxiety gradually subsided.

He now believed about 80% of what Wang Wen said...

Although he still couldn't understand why Wang Wen had gotten involved in this matter.

It is said that the world is bustling with activity, all for the sake of profit; the world is in turmoil, all for the sake of gain.

But what benefit could Wang Wen possibly gain from taking charge of this matter?

"I will keep your words in mind, General. I will think about them carefully. As long as there is even a sliver of hope to restore peace to the world, I will never fail to live up to your kindness!"

The King of Qin bowed solemnly.

"Okay, then you can continue with your work."

Wang Wen stood up: "I'll be leaving now!"

The King of Qin stood up in surprise: "General, you've come all this way, you must at least have a drink before you leave!"

Wang Wen chuckled and said, "You two brothers are really alike... Let's go!"

He turned his head and instantly transformed into a streak of light, dashing out of the study.

The King of Qin chased after him out of his study and saw a streak of light in the night sky, like a comet streaking across the heavens, hurtling rapidly southward and disappearing into the night sky in the blink of an eye.

"Come as you please, leave when you're done!"

He exclaimed in genuine admiration, "Truly an extraordinary person!"

Just then, a large group of fully armed elite soldiers rushed over in a hurry. The leader, a young general in silver armor, looked around with a murderous look on his face: "Father, where is the assassin? I will chop him into eight pieces and feed him to the dogs!"

The King of Qin gazed at the young general in silver armor, wanting to reprimand him, but when he was about to speak, he felt a sense of emptiness.

As if only now realizing it, he thought to himself, 'What can a peerless genius like General Wang do if he wants to harm someone, even with a thousand troops?' (End of Chapter)