Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 184 Fist Power (Part 2)

The rulers of the six states lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to breathe, until Lü Shang signaled them to leave, at which point they dared to rise tremblingly.

Then, with trembling hands adjusting their crowns and ribbons, and unsteady steps, they slowly withdrew from the main hall.

The candlelight inside the hall cast a pale blue glow, making everyone's figures appear both alluring and enchanting.

The group retreated outside the hall before daring to let out a soft sigh of relief.

After watching these people leave the hall, Lü Shang turned to Gongzi Chong beside him and said, "Brother, do you think they will dare to have any more disloyal thoughts in the future?"

Gongzi Chong shook his head and said, "I don't know either; the human heart is unpredictable."

Lü Shang nodded slightly and said, "Yes, the human heart is the most unpredictable thing."

After a while, he slowly said, "However, I think that if they ever change their minds again in the future, they will remember my leniency towards them today. I hope that next time, they can make a relatively correct choice."

“To punish without teaching is cruelty; to teach without punishing is leniency. I have already given them a chance. If there is a next time, I will destroy their state and their ancestral temples. I don’t think anyone can say anything about that.”

Gongzi Chong lowered his eyes, gazing at the backs of the six kings outside the hall, and said softly, "Since Your Majesty has displayed both thunderous might and benevolent grace, if the six kingdoms still harbor disloyalty, their lineage may be extinguished and their bloodline severed."

“I know, I know my heart, I don’t know, I know.”

Lu Shang sighed softly, "Brother, the four kingdoms have suffered a setback for the time being, but they will not give up. Of the two hundred kingdoms in Henan, the Ji family is the most powerful. Many kingdoms are watching them, and they will not bow down."

"We also need to prepare for war. They underestimated my military strength this time and were caught off guard. Next time they will definitely be prepared."

"The Ji surname ultimately originates from the Yellow Emperor's Di Hong clan, descendants of emperors for generations. No one knows what treasures their ancestors will leave them. When they return, it may be a fierce battle."

Gongzi Chong said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, we must fight even the fiercest battles. If we don't beat them until they are terrified, they will not know the power of the Xu people."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Your subject will do his utmost to improve our military equipment and strengthen the army of Xu."

Just as the emperor and his minister were exchanging verses, palace servants hurriedly entered the main hall.

"Your Majesty, Minister Wu has sent a bluebird to deliver a message,"

The palace maid held the jade slip in her hands and whispered.

The so-called bluebird is a messenger. The Classic of the Great Wilderness, West, records that there are three bluebirds with red heads and black eyes. One is called Da Li, another is called Shao Li, and the other is called Qingniao.

These three bluebirds, with their vibrant colors, abundant plumage, and unique forms, often soar between heaven and earth. The Queen Mother of the West resides on Jade Mountain, and the bluebirds serve as her messengers, running errands for her.

The bluebird mentioned by the palace servants was not the three bluebirds that accompanied the Queen Mother of the West, but rather a descendant of the three bluebirds.

The Three Bluebirds have existed for many generations and have numerous descendants. All the countries under heaven use the Bluebirds as messengers.

Lü Shang took the jade slip presented to him, unfolded it, and frowned slightly. He lowered his eyes and read it carefully.

"Jiao Bo has agreed to form a marriage alliance with my Xu Kingdom, thanks to Wu Xiang's letter. This jade slip has arrived just in time."

"By forming a marriage alliance with the Jiao Kingdom, we will have much more room to maneuver in the future."

"With the relationship with Jiao State, my Xu State can control the Ji clan in the east and unite with the Ying clan states in the west. The situation in Henan is in my hands."

Prince Chong, standing to the side, said, "Your Majesty, I congratulate you on your harmonious union and the imminent arrival of your great ambitions."

"Yes, great ambitions are not far off!"

After Lü Shang put the jade slip into his sleeve, he discussed and deliberated with Gongzi Chong for another half an hour before letting Gongzi Chong take his leave.

After Gongzi Chong left, Lü Shang sat alone on the throne in the main hall, his expression inscrutable.

"Indeed, the fist is power, and power is the force of the fist."

"I destroyed Tongqiu, plundered its wealth, defeated four kingdoms, and forced six states to submit. My fist is my power." Lu Shang sat on the throne, and a great power descended upon him from the darkness, continuously becoming the resources for his cultivation and transforming into a part of his own cultivation.

The essence of the Taiyi Divine Path is that the greater one's power, the greater one's supernatural abilities and magical powers.

After Lü Shang conquered Tongqiu, seized its people, thwarted the four-nation coalition, and threatened the six states, the fortunes of the Xu Kingdom also grew stronger.

As the Heavenly Fortune grew stronger, it nourished the Dao Fruit. Lü Shang felt his mind clear and a sense of invincibility slowly brewing within him.

At the same time, his mind was clear as a mirror, and he gained many insights into the many things he had not understood about the great principles of heaven and earth in the past.

This state was almost divine, to the point that the Gonggong-like divinity dormant within Lü Shang became increasingly active and powerful under the nurturing influence of the nation's destiny.

"If such a large increase can be achieved with just 1,700 new households, what would happen if there were 17,000 or even 170,000 households? Wouldn't they instantly become gods?"

"The Xia dynasty emperor was the ruler of the nine provinces, receiving the mandate of heaven and ruling over all the lands. What kind of great supernatural powers and magical abilities must he have possessed?"

With this thought in mind, Lü Shang closed his eyes and focused his mind, silently absorbing the Daoist insights deep within the bloodline of Gonggong.

Throughout history, Gonggong has been a powerful being, a being worthy of being called a god. The enlightenment he left behind even benefited Lü Shang until he attained true godhood and ascended to the upper realm.

It was through the enlightenment of Gonggong Shi of past generations that Lü Shang came to know the essence of the Taiyi Divine Way.

"The Great Dao is the ultimate essence, which cannot be given form or name. It divides into Heaven and Earth, and transforms into Yin and Yang. If we were to force it into a name, we would call it Taiyi (Great One)."

"Under the One, all gods receive the mandate, all people turn to him, and all people look up to him with utmost respect. He is wise in all things and his way benefits the world, and thus he is called a god."

In the eyes of the great supernatural beings of the Gonggong clan throughout history, the so-called gods were those who were the people's aspirations and the people's expectations.

Only by bearing the hearts of the people and the high expectations of all can one possess the wisdom to encompass all things, the virtue to benefit the world, and the supernatural power to grasp the mysteries of heaven and earth and the vastness of the universe.

Just as Lü Shang calmed down and focused his mind, the aftershocks of Xu Du's victory inevitably began to spread.

The first to be affected was Wu Wenhe, who was busy arranging a marriage for Lü Shang in Jiao Kingdom.

The message arrived via a bluebird, traveling three thousand miles in an instant. In the Jiao Kingdom post station, a bronze candlestick on the table flickered with a tiny flame. Wu Wenhe, having received the letter, looked at the jade slip and burst into laughter.

"Someone is coming,"

After laughing, Wu Wenhe tapped the edge of the jade slip with his fingertips, the candlelight casting a play of light and shadow on the corners of his eyes.

Xu Guo's resounding victory undoubtedly gave Wu Wenhe even more confidence.

Even if he were currently in Jiao, he could still use the momentum of this great victory to advocate for Xu.

"Prepare the carriage, I wish to pay my respects to Uncle Jiao,"

As soon as Wu Wenhe finished speaking, footsteps immediately echoed under the eaves of the post station.

He glanced at the jade slip, thought for a moment, and then said, "Let's use the bronze chariot that Jiao Bo gave us the other day."

A moment later, a servant came to report, "Minister Wu, the carriage is ready."

The bronze chariot was parked at the side gate of the inn, and the bronze axles on both sides of the chariot gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

After leaving the post station, Wu Wenhe boarded the carriage directly and said, "Let's go."

"drive,"

The driver cracked his whip, the horse's hooves pounded across the cobblestone path, and lanterns on both sides lit up one after another.

(End of this chapter)