Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 373-383: The Founding of Jiannan, the Foundation of the New Law (One more chapter tomorrow to complete the story)
Luoyang City, the capital of the Great Song Dynasty, was originally the eastern capital of the Great Qin Dynasty.

The city planning, imperial city layout, and regulations were exactly the same as those of Xijing.

The square city, when entered through the central Dingding Gate among the three southern gates, leads directly to the Imperial Street.

It is 140 meters wide from east to west and more than 4,000 meters long from north to south.

In late autumn, the clouds and dew are heavy. At a glance, the enormous palace at the end looks like a fairy palace hidden in the clouds, inspiring awe.

Li Cunxiao stood above the Ziwei Imperial City, looking down at the Tongtian Palace under construction behind the main hall, Qianyuan Hall.

Countless tiny figures moved back and forth on the ground, carrying various spirit wood building materials. Among them, the leader was none other than Wei He, who had recently been appointed as the Commander of the Palace Guard.

His Imperial Dragon Soldiers practiced the Baxia Dragon Son Technique, were skilled in controlling earth and rocks, and were the perfect candidates for engineers.

As for Tongtian Palace, which can also be called Mingtang, it was the palace where the emperor governed, the place for ancestral sacrifices, and the place for court audiences.

The so-called Mingtang (Hall of Brightness) is built by the emperor to communicate with the spirits, to influence heaven and earth, to regulate the four seasons, to spread education, to honor the virtuous, to value the righteous, to highlight the capable, and to praise those who have done good deeds.

The plan is for this Mingtang to reach a height of 100 meters, so that anyone in Tianzhong City will be able to admire its towering form.

Of course, Li Cunxiao was not a monarch who liked to build wonders, and the Mingtang was not built solely for political purposes or to boast of his achievements.

These are all related to the cultivation of the Haotian Dharma Image.

"At the current pace, it should be completed around New Year's Day. In this world, martial artists are indeed the primary productive force."

"With the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, half of the territory is under my control. Once the new laws are implemented, those captured warriors who practiced the old methods can be sent to various places to build roads and carve through mountains."

Li Cunxiao pondered for a moment, then transformed into a drifting cloud and flew into the imperial city.

The emperor's residence, Ziwei City, was the inner palace, while the imperial city, Taiwei City, housed the offices of the Three Departments and Six Ministries.

The Court of State Ceremonial was located east of Taiwei City. It was in charge of receiving foreign guests and court etiquette, and now also included matters concerning local warlords and princes.

Li Cunxiao walked in slowly, but no one around him noticed. The most conspicuous thing in the government office was a map.

Within the territory of the Song Dynasty, the few remaining separatist territories stood out starkly.

Seeing that the officials were busy with their duties and not slacking off, Li Cunxiao was somewhat satisfied and then revealed himself.

The officials remained calm despite the alarm, as this was not the first time something like this had happened.

The young Emperor Taizu of Song was very strict and ruthless towards officials, especially those who were lazy or negligent in their duties. He often inspected various government offices like this.

Therefore, Li Siqi, the newly appointed Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, quickly arrived.

His wide purple robe, gold belt adorned with lychee blossoms, and turban with outstretched legs made him stand out among the group of middle-aged officials.

"Your Majesty," Li Siqi said, looking at his former junior brother, now the emperor, without the slightest negligence, bowing respectfully.

The emperor governs the world through his official power; the ruler owns the world through his family.

Li Cunxiao adopted the title "Guanjia" (官家, meaning "official") to show his impartiality and selflessness. People were not used to it at first, but they eventually got used to it.

"No need for such formalities."

"A month has passed now. What are the reactions of the various regional warlords and princes?"

"The King of Wu, the King of Yue, and the King of Shu all sent memorials to pay homage and dispatched envoys with substantial tributes, but they all made excuses to avoid coming to the capital to pay homage."

"Only Prince Qi and the True Man Yuanmiao Daotong have traveled eastward and have already submitted their memorials. They have arrived in the city today. When should we summon them? Please give us your instructions, Your Majesty."

"No need to rush. Let the delegation rest well for the night, and we will summon them tomorrow."

When Li Cunxiao heard the last sentence, a slight smile finally appeared on his usually calm expression, which made Li Siqi breathe a sigh of relief.

Half a month has passed since the reign title was changed to Taiping Xingguo, and news of the deaths of several great masters, including Li Yisheng, Yelü Yi, and Zhu Quanzhong, has spread throughout the north and south.

The official account of the Song Dynasty was that the Liao and Liang dynasties launched a surprise attack on the Qin emperor, and Li Cunxiao killed the two and established a new dynasty.

The news naturally caused a sensation throughout the world.

However, having grown accustomed to being independent princes, none of them wanted to be subject to control anymore, and the prospect of going to the capital for an audience was seen by the princes as a trap.

Not coming might not mean certain death, but coming would definitely mean certain doom.

Yang Huayuan came from Maoshan. Although the relationship wasn't very close, he still had a powerful backer.

Qian Jumei was simply a spokesperson supported by Magu Mountain, and had no right to choose freely.

The two major Taoist holy sites radiate throughout Wu and Yue, and have a profound influence among the people. Although Li Cunxiao is confident that no one can defeat him, he is unwilling to act rashly, so he can postpone it slightly.

In any case, time is on his side. The deeper his control over the various prefectures and counties, the stronger the power of the Haotian Dharma Image will be. In the end, he can ensure that he gets a prosperous Jiangnan region without bloodshed.

As for Prince Qi, Li Zhengchen, he was completely used to being a submissive wife.

Previously, Li Yisheng had been able to suppress him in Hedong, but later the Louguan Dao moved west to Longyou, and Yan Daotong, wielding the Lingbao, ran rampant in Hexi, leaving him with no room to retaliate.

The former true disciple became emperor, and the junior brother was also reborn. Yan Daotong, the sect leader, naturally had to come back to help.

With the Grandmaster keeping a close eye on him, Prince Qi had no choice but to return. The return of Longyou Road to the Song Dynasty was already imminent.

Wang Jian, however, had neither powerful backers nor exceptional strength; he was merely a Grandmaster and couldn't even defeat Qi Ci.

Trying to stop a chariot with a mantis's arm is utterly absurd.

"Regarding the matter of the King of Shu, I will send a message to Master Puzhao Mingjue. When the envoy from Louguan arrives, Minister Li will go to receive him on my behalf."

The formal meeting tomorrow is actually political propaganda. Before that, he will visit Yan Daotong to discuss some practical matters.

For example, the treatment of Louguandao afterward and the governance of Hexi were similar to the transfer of Li Siqi and other members of the Li clan from Longxi to the capital to serve as officials. While ensuring their honors and treatment, it was also necessary to weaken the influence of powerful clans on the local area.

With the establishment of the new dynasty, Li Cunxiao wanted to ensure his absolute control over the country.

Local tycoons in the countryside can be tolerated, but families in counties and above should be dispersed as much as possible and absorbed into the official system.

He also planned to establish official schools covering both civil and military affairs, abolish various sects, collect Buddhist and Taoist esoteric teachings, integrate the declining Confucianism, and promote new learning.

Furthermore, with the improvement of his cultivation level, Li Cunxiao also gained new insights into the use of spiritual treasures.

Dragon boats, the Houtian Bag, the Linglong Pagoda, and the Taiqing Palace, which was recently moved from Xijing.

If we can reach an agreement with Yan Daotong, we might be able to borrow the Two Elements Banner, and then we can carry out that plan to change the world.
Li Cunxiao gave a few simple instructions and then left the Court of State Ceremonial, before heading to the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Court of Imperial Stud.

The prefectures and counties of various provinces have been plagued by war for years, and a large number of local prefects and magistrates have fled. It is necessary to reopen the imperial examination system and transfer them to fill the vacancies.
The four armies of Pengri, Tianwu, Longwei, and Shenwei should expand their troops and conduct reorganization, and gradually reduce the number of guards in each region.

War and natural disasters have led to the collapse of local finances, and a new tax system is urgently needed.

Because Chi Li had consumed a large amount of Qi Pills, he had reverted to his ancestral form as a dragon steed, and Li Cunxiao planned to use him as a breeding stock to cultivate warhorses for the army.
There were many things to do, one after another. Not only were the emperor and his officials busy from morning till night, but the affairs of war orphans and the medical system were also left to the empress.

Anyway, Li Cunxiao himself was the founding emperor of the country, so he wasn't afraid of any interference from the harem.

Both the emperor and empress were martial artists, full of energy. They were busy with government affairs during the day and busy making babies at night.

The current prime minister, Ye Jingneng, is obedient to the emperor in all political affairs, but he is extremely firm on the matter of having an heir. He leads the civil and military officials to put pressure on Li Cunxiao, hoping that the crown prince can be put into service as soon as possible.
Jiannan Road, Jindu, Shu King's Palace.

"Is Master Yuhai truly willing to form an alliance with me? He said he would come a few days ago, why has he not arrived yet?"

Wang Jian was dressed in a yellow robe with dragon patterns and wore an exaggerated turban, his anxiety was visibly palpable.

This demeanor also affected the civil and military officials below, who all looked at the Taoist priest in the center and began to clamor and curse.

"Your Majesty, please calm down," Yun Yi Dao Ren thought with a cold smile, but his face remained warm.

"As you know, ever since the Snow Mountain Barbarians occupied Weizhou, they have been causing trouble everywhere." "Even if my ancestor wanted to come, he would have to consider whether that Zanpu would launch a sneak attack on Qingcheng's foundation."

"Regarding this matter, I have already written to the Zanpu. When it comes to the Song Dynasty, we are all in the same boat."

"If they fight amongst themselves, then there will be no chance at all."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jian suppressed his impatience and took the initiative to clear up the misunderstanding.

After all, when faced with the Song Dynasty, the Qingcheng Sect could survive, and the Snow Mountain Barbarians could retreat to Tibet, but he had no choice.

The person on that dragon throne was actually Li Cunxiao?!

Wang Jian racked his brains but still couldn't understand how the Thirteen Protectors of yesteryear had transformed into the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty.
As for those achievements, he strongly suspected that Lou Guandao had secretly helped him; in any case, it was impossible for someone under thirty years old to have accomplished them.

Wang Jian, having spent his life in the military, possessed a warrior's spirit that made him unwilling to surrender without a fight, which is why he took the initiative to organize this gathering.

Without saying much, at the very least we must keep that bald monk Qici out of Jianmen Pass!

"Report!"

A guard rushed to the front of the hall, his face pale. Before the official in charge could reprimand him, the guard exclaimed in panic:
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Tens of thousands of troops have surrounded Jindu from three sides and are heading towards it!"

"what?"

"Nonsense! This is Jiannan. Where would we get a large army besides us?"

"Are you blind?!"

Before Wang Jian could ask a question, he suddenly saw Daoist Yunyi unleash his true energy and rush towards the outside of the hall. His heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising within him. Forgetting his status, he immediately shouted:

"You stinking old man, are you hiding something from me?!"

As he spoke, a Dharma image resembling a white ape soared into the sky behind him, and its hairy giant hand instantly grabbed Yun Yi Zhenren from behind.

The Taoist priest felt a sudden tightness in his chest, but remained calm and let out a long roar to the sky:
"Master, save me!"

Before he could finish speaking, a crimson meteor streaked towards him like a meteorite, directly knocking Wang Jin away. The latter roared repeatedly, but was still carried into the sky. The power of heaven and earth surged like a raging storm under the stirring of his true essence.

At this moment, another beam of azure light descended into the Shu King's palace. The pressure of a grandmaster radiated outwards, and all the civil and military officials and guards immediately knelt on the ground, looking at the old Taoist priest who had appeared with shock and fear.

"Ancestor!"

Daoist Yunyi let out a long breath and jogged over to Master Yuhai.

The latter looked up at the giant ape and the image of the Ming King battling in the sky, and was filled with emotion.

"Now, our Qingcheng Mountain has completely sided with the Song Dynasty."

"A grandmaster who's not even thirty years old, is he really the son of God?"

Thinking back to when that person was still the magistrate, the Taoist Yunyi shrank back.

He took on such a dangerous task precisely because he was afraid that Li Cunxiao would bring up the old issues after ascending the throne.

As long as he can capture the King of Shu, he will at least have rendered meritorious service to the new dynasty, and the unpleasantness caused by his disciples can be forgiven, right? Maybe he can even get an official position.
During the battle in the sky, a group of martial artists rushed out from the streets and alleys of Jindu City.

They were well-trained and organized, quickly occupying key routes and killing the city's guards, clearly having been prepared in advance.

When the city gates were opened wide, the rushing troops arrived at the city walls; among them were both people from the Central Plains and foreign tribes.

The two leading the group were none other than Ye Chengxiao and Jianzan.

Upon seeing Ye Chengxiao, the accomplice in the city addressed him as "Commander," and within half an hour, he had taken control of the entire city.

When Ye Chengxiao and Jianzan arrived at the Shu King's Palace, they immediately saw Wang Jian's head hanging high up, with a monk and a Taoist talking at the entrance.

“Brother Qici, I have fulfilled our agreement and helped you take Jindu. In the future, the Qingcheng Sect will also return the land in Xichuan and help the Song government to manage the local affairs.”

"When will I be able to see the Three Caverns True Scriptures?"

"Brother Dao, don't worry. Once the imperial court sends people to take over this place, I will accompany you to the capital."

“My disciple cough cough, the current emperor’s word is law, and he will surely allow you to enter the Taiqing Palace for some enlightenment.”

The senior monk appeared calm and collected, but his face betrayed an undisguised smugness.

Before he knew it, his disciple became emperor and even put him in charge of the Buddhist Registry, managing all the monks in the land. Where could he possibly reason with that?
Alas, I can only reluctantly clean up the scum of the Buddhist sect to repay my disciple's filial piety.

"The capture of Jindu without bloodshed was entirely thanks to the magician."

Ye Chengxiao and Jianzan were respectful.

Although the two had been developing spies and secretly cultivating a righteous army in Shu, their capture of Jiannan after several years of accumulation was an undeniable achievement.

But the person before them was, without exaggeration, the Imperial Tutor. Who would want to offend someone they could cultivate a good relationship with?

"Alright, Master Yuhai and I are not good at administrative affairs, so the rest is up to you."

Qi did not interfere much, and in the following days he really did sit in the palace with Master Yuhai to discuss the Dao.

Ye Chengxiao and others, relying on the intelligence they had gathered over the years and the militias they had organized in various places, quickly dismantled the warlords of all sizes in Jiannan Road.

Half a month later, the entire Jiannan Circuit had basically changed hands, and the officials dispatched by the imperial court were already on their way.

However, on the day the imperial officials entered Sichuan, Ye Chengxiao and Jianzan were surprised to find that Qici and Yuhai Zhenren were also present.

"Who could be worthy of an audience with two grandmasters? Could it be another imperial tutor?"

After naturalizing, Gyaltsen studied diligently and became fluent in Mandarin.

"No, I heard that the Emperor sent the Taiyi Ningguo Protector Saint to Huainan."

Several years have passed, and Ye Chengxiao is no longer a boy; he has also matured considerably in politics.

At this point, the two exchanged a glance, both realizing a certain possibility, and their faces showed surprise.

However, at that very moment, something even more astonishing happened outside Jianmen Pass—

The mountains are moving!

To be precise, with Jianmen Pass as the center in the direction towards Longyou and the capital region, the entire Dajian Mountain range surrounding the basin shifts to the left and right.

Amidst the earth-shattering commotion, a wide road, as if forcibly torn open, appeared before everyone's eyes.

After the mountains gave way, at the end of the road, a towering, crimson dragon-like Buddha statue, thousands of feet tall, left all who witnessed it speechless.

But it's not over yet.

The earth-shattering roar caused tens of thousands of demons in the mountains to flee in a frenzy, and the dark, surging tide of demons rushed towards Sichuan.

Ye Chengxiao and Jianzan's expressions changed drastically. Just as they were about to order their soldiers to form a battle formation, they saw the Buddha Wang wave his hand, and a vast expanse of lush greenery descended.

Qici could see clearly that this expanse of emerald rain was clearly made up of countless Bodhi seeds.

Some seeds fell into the soil, while others burrowed straight into the demon's body.

The next moment, a mournful howl echoed throughout the mountains, and Bodhi trees rose from the ground, their thick roots seeming to be equipped with radar, piercing through the demon's body and draining it dry.

The abundant nutrients allowed the tree to grow rapidly, quickly surpassing ten or twenty zhang in height. Within its heart-shaped Bodhi leaves, plump, golden fruits, the size of a thumb, grew abundantly, like grapes.

The area outside Jianmen Pass was completely filled with ginseng fruit trees!

(End of this chapter)