Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 208 Old Friends in the Mountain City: A Clear Mirror of Right and Wrong
"The Year of Open Source."

The man murmured something, as if the passing of time had touched upon his heart, and thus a sorrowful expression appeared on his face.

Chen Laosan felt something was strange.

This person is completely out of place in Jiujiang. Isn't it something to be happy about that Lin Shihong is dead?

I took a closer look at him.

This man, dressed as a江湖人士 (jianghu person, a person who travels the martial arts world), wore a long sword at his waist. He was very tall and thin, and his face was pale and bloodless, as if he had been ill for a long time.

Seeing his sorrowful expression, Chen Laosan guessed that he might have lost his family members in the war.

Thinking that several of my relatives and friends had also passed away, I couldn't help but offer a word of comfort:
“My friend, the year of great undertakings has passed, and many people are in the same boat as you. But now it’s a new beginning, and you need to change your mindset and cheer up. I’ve been in Jiujiang for a long time and have heard about the peaceful days in the Qingliu area. It may not be long before all parts of the world are the same.”

"If you don't have any coins, I'll give you a bowl of soup noodles."

He said he was going to take a spoon to scoop it up.

The tall, thin man thanked him, then declined, and suddenly asked, "Do you know where the Celestial Master is?"

Upon hearing the words "Celestial Master," Chen Laosan showed a look of admiration.

"Your friend just arrived in Jiujiang?"

"Yes."

"I had heard that the Celestial Master was at Xunyang Palace, but I don't know that now."

After Chen Laosan finished speaking, the tall, thin man asked how to get to Xunyang Palace. After Chen Laosan pointed out the way, he threw out some loose silver coins and headed straight for Xunyang Palace.

That's really strange.

"Hey"

Seeing how generous he was, Chen Laosan wanted to remind him that Xunyang Palace was not a place one could enter casually, but in the blink of an eye, the man with the high nose bridge had already walked far away with extremely fast steps.

"What a weirdo."

He muttered to himself, then was drawn away by the commotion from the teahouse next door.

For Chen Laosan, it had been a long time since he had felt this way. After a great battle, many parts of Jiujiang City were damaged and were naturally not as intact and bright as before the battle. Even now, many soldiers were participating in the repairs and working with craftsmen to move stones and carry timber.

However, this dilapidated city gave him a sense of new life.

This gave even a nobody like him hope for the future.

Winter has passed, spring has returned to the earth, and all things are reviving.

A blurry white image flashed through Chen Laosan's mind. Thinking of various legends, he couldn't help but look towards the direction of Xunyang Palace.

Just then, a sound of someone slamming a table startled him awake.

"Shopkeeper, what are you doing? Hurry up and bring the soup! Don't delay this old man from catching his boat north to Chang'an to see the play!"

"They're here, they're here!"

"..."

North of Jiujiang, in front of the Chaisang Hall of Xunyang Palace, there is a separate small hall, Zixuan Hall, which is where Lin Shihong's secretary office is located, specializing in handling documents, memorials, and official proclamations.

When chaos erupted in the city, the clerks had already fled.

At this moment, Xu Xingzhi was busy drafting a document.

It reads:

"The ancient sage-king Yao possessed virtues as vast as the heavens and wisdom as divine. He governed the world simply by wearing his robes. He selected the virtuous and capable, and brought harmony to all nations. His benevolence spread far and wide, and all people revered him."

With Zhou Yi having decided on the name of the state, Xu Xingzhi had many more things to consider.

We can't just talk the talk; we need to refine it.

Moreover, there must be a deeper meaning behind the lord's proposal.

After much contemplation, he suddenly realized the truth.

The Zhou and Tang dynasties originated from the ancient Emperor Yao. Their primary goal was to emulate the supreme virtue of the ancient sage kings, promote benevolent governance, rule the country with virtue, select virtuous and capable officials, and pursue a peaceful and prosperous era like that of "Yao's reign."

This is the true lineage of the Chinese tradition, demonstrating the fundamental reason why the world should turn to it.

Confucius praised him, saying, "How great was Yao as a ruler! How majestic! Only Heaven is great, and only Yao emulated it."

Therefore, he was the most ideal monarch in history.

Looking across the world, only our lord possesses such virtue and ambition.

Combining the era of open source with the ancient Emperor Yao, it is evident that the establishment of the Zhou and Tang dynasties heralded a new era and was imbued with the expectation of a prosperous age.
Xu Xingzhi was writing while thinking.

After finishing a long and eloquent article, he put down his pen and inkstone, read it repeatedly, and stroked his mustache with satisfaction.

Around 9 a.m., he prepared to present it to his lord for inspection.

However, footsteps were heard outside, and a palace guard came to report.

After listening to the guard's report, Xu Xingzhi thought for a moment and said, "Bring the person here."

"Yes."

The guards took their leave and soon brought in a tall, thin man. Xu Xingzhi was a first-rate fighter, and after a brief look, he knew that the newcomer was quite skilled in martial arts.

"Where do you come from? And why do you seek my lord?"

"Military Advisor Xu, I have traveled south from Yuguan Pass with extremely important news to report to the Celestial Master. This matter concerns the safety of the Central Plains, so please introduce me to him."

"what's your name?"

"My name is Yin Xianhe."

Xu Xingzhi was extremely knowledgeable about matters of the martial arts world, and the name sounded familiar to him.

Recalling the memories in my mind, I took another look at him:
"Are you the Butterfly Prince from Yuguan?"

Yin Xianhe was surprised that the other party could recognize him: "That's right."

Butterfly Prince is a master swordsman in Northeast China. He is said to be cold and ruthless, with a solitary nature. Although he has not committed any evil deeds, not many people like him because of his personality.

After learning of his identity, Xu Xingzhi found it even stranger.

"But is it related to the Turks?"

"good."

This person often travels through the northern desert regions, mostly carrying news of Jieli Khan.

Since that's the case, he has no reason to stop people.

"Please wait a moment, Young Master Butterfly, while I go and consult with your superiors."

"Thank you."

As soon as Xu Xing finished speaking, footsteps came from outside, and there were two of them.

He hurried out to greet them, and Zhou Yi and Shi Qingxuan had already come over together.

Upon hearing Xu Xingzhi's respectful greeting, how could Yin Xianhe not know who the visitor was?
My feelings suddenly became complicated. He was always indifferent to people, never smiled, and always had a face that said, "You owe me money."

At this moment, thinking of those rumors in the martial arts world, he couldn't help but be intimidated by the imposing presence of the newcomer.

He clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Yin Xianhe greets the Celestial Master."

After confirming that he hadn't misheard the name "Yin Xianhe," Zhou Yi glanced at him again.

Laughing, I asked:

"I just heard you say you wanted to tell me about the Turks?"

"Yes."

Upon meeting the person in question, Yin Xianhe dared not keep him in suspense any longer: "Since the Celestial Master's journey to the Eastern Capital, his power has shaken the entire land. The Turks regard the Celestial Master as their greatest adversary, which has prompted the Great Khan and the Little Khan to abandon their internal strife and prepare to gather a large army to march south together."

"The Western Qin, the Liang Kingdom, and the two Turkic lackeys, Liang Shidu and Liu Wuzhou, are also secretly cooperating with Jieli."

"I can ascertain that this time there are not only 100,000 Golden Wolf soldiers, but also these four allied armies, making the numbers extremely large."

At this point, Yin Xianhe glanced at the young man in front of him and found him to be completely unmoved.

They seemed completely unconcerned about the Turks' actions.

Yin Xianhe continued:

"Before the Southern War, when Dou Jiande went north to attack Luo Yi, I heard people from the northern desert say that Wu Zun had already gone south ahead of time."

"Oh?"

Zhou Yi became interested and guessed, "Did Bi Xuan hear the rumors in Chang'an?"

“Yes,” Yin Xianhe nodded, “but mere rumors were not enough to attract Bi Xuan’s attention. It was the news that the three grandmasters shattered the void at Jingnian Temple that reached his ears, making him believe that unimaginable changes had occurred in the Central Plains martial arts world.”

"Similar to Bi Xuan's situation, the Goguryeo sword master will probably also arrive in Chang'an."

Zhou Yi thought about it, following his words.

Ning Daoqi, Bi Xuan, and Fu Cailin, these three veteran grandmasters, all went to Chang'an.

The evil king and the empress were also present.

Tian Dao also set off yesterday.

Now, Chang'an was truly bustling with activity, and naturally, a sense of urge arose in my heart.

Yin Xianhe noticed that a gaze that seemed to see right through him was fixed on him.

"Young Master Butterfly, besides bringing this news, did you bring anything else with you?"

Upon hearing this, Yin Xianhe hardened his heart and prepared to kneel down.

Zhou Yi reached out and helped him up:

“We’ve never met before, and this information of yours is very useful to me. I haven’t had a chance to thank you, so why bother? Since you have something to say, please tell me.”

"Yes."

Yin Xianhe composed himself:
"I have a younger sister named Yin Xiaoji. Back then, bandits caused chaos and ruined my family. My sister and I wandered the world, relying on each other for survival. But we met with misfortune again on our journey. A bandit kidnapped my sister, and I fell in a pool of blood. I will never forget that moment."

She was very strong even as a child, and I knew she would survive. That's why I've been searching for her everywhere for so many years, but the world is vast, and it's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Xu Xing's doubts were suddenly resolved, and he suddenly understood why Young Master Die had such a personality.

In times of chaos, tragedies like this are commonplace.

"If you're looking for someone, why did you come here?"

"When I was passing through Youzhou, I happened to meet Liu Heita, Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling and others who were attacking Luo Yi. We became friends after fighting. Liu Heita heard about my experience and described his fate, saying that I was destined to be a lonely and evil person. And the only person in the world who has the ability to break this fate is the Celestial Master."

Yin Xianhe spoke with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

Although Liu Heita and Kou Xu had different accounts, the matter was so mysterious that it was beyond his comprehension.

Do you know which force abducted your sister?

Yin Xianhe sighed and shook his head, saying, "I don't know."

Zhou Yi's expression darkened slightly: "Among the eight gangs and ten associations in the world, there is the Baling Gang, which specializes in trafficking women. Among the villains in this gang are the Xiang family behind them. I have killed many of them, and I have heard some news about them."

Yin Xianhe's heart pounded violently, his face turned bloodshot, and his eyes widened.

"There is a girl among them who looks somewhat like you."

"Celestial Master, where...where is she?"

Yin Xianhe tried asking, and to his utter surprise, there was actually an answer!

"Go to Xiangyang and try to find her."

A simple sentence, yet it resounded like a thunderclap in Yin Xianhe's mind.

Looking at the person in front of him again, he felt even more that he was unfathomable.

Yin Xianhe bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Celestial Master."

"I, Yin, will certainly slay the villains and help bring peace to the world in order to repay your kindness."

He bowed again and then withdrew.

As Xu Xingzhi watched Yin Xianhe walk away, he couldn't help but sigh:

"It is said that this Young Master Butterfly is cold and aloof, the most unapproachable of all. No matter the identity or background of the person he faces, he is always like a cold stone. Now that even such a person is willing to serve His Majesty, what can possibly stop the arrival of a golden age?"

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "His temperament is not bad, but it is difficult for him to find his sister alone. You can send a letter to Ji Yinong in Xiangyang to help the brother and sister reunite."

"Yes."

After Xu Xing responded, he brought out the document he had written.

After reading it, Zhou Yi laughed again.

Seeing his expression, Xu Xingzhi felt quite satisfied.

The two chatted for a while about the news brought by Yin Xianhe, and then Zhou Yi took Shi Qingxuan out of Xunyang Palace.

Along the way, Shi Qingxuan inquired about the brother and sister with their tragic past.

Zhou Yi naturally knew that Yin Xianhe's sister was in Xiangyang, but he only gave her a perfunctory answer.

He talked to her about the Baling Gang, a scourge, and the Xiang family behind it.

Xiang Yushan is dead, but the Xiang family still exists.

When we go to Chang'an, we must give them a little surprise.

Zhou Yi did not linger in Jiujiang for long. Six days later, he went to Yuzhang and then headed west to Dongting Lake.

Along the way, some people recognized him, while others mistook him for a passerby.

As Zhou Yi walked through the bustling markets of various cities and prefectures, he was gratified to find that although the war in the south had affected a large area, many cities had surrendered directly.

Therefore, the city gate tower and residential buildings were not damaged.

Even if bandits take the opportunity to cause trouble, it won't be long before a group of troops from various regions return, bringing with them the rules they used in Qingliu City to maintain order.

There's no need to worry about the big picture, but if you focus on the details, there will be so much to do that you'll never be able to finish.

By getting close to the lives of ordinary people, Zhou Yi has a good grasp of the situation.

"There are many experts in Chang'an right now, so be careful when you go there."

When leaving Dongting Lake, Shi Qingxuan prepared to return to Sichuan.

Zhou Yi understood the deeper meaning in her words and advised, "Don't rush off."

Shi Qingxuan shook her head: "Finish your work first."

Seeing that she was determined to leave, Zhou Yi thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll take you to see an old friend."

"Old friend.?"

"Yes, it's an old friend."

Zhou Yi kept her in suspense and didn't tell her who it was.

They first went to Jiangling, then headed north to Nanjun, until they arrived at that blessed land.

Shi Qingxuan saw the fertile fields on both sides of the river and a large mountain rising suddenly from the plain, and naturally knew where she was.

Pegasus Ranch?

Shi Qingxuan was somewhat surprised: "Mr. Lu is here?"

"Did you guess it?"

“I don’t have any old friends, except for Senior Lu Miaozi. But how did he end up at Pegasus Ranch?”

then
Shi Qingxuan glared at him: "Did you bring me to see Mr. Lu, or to see your beautiful owner?"

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Such great hostility."

"Don't interrupt, just tell me."

Zhou Yi leaned closer to her and whispered something.

"Is this really true?" Shi Qingxuan was slightly taken aback.

"I'm not lying to you, Xiuxun is indeed Mr. Lu's daughter."

"Don't you want to see Mr. Lu's daughter either?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Qingxuan's earlier anger vanished completely.

Senior Lu Miaozi was someone her mother respected, and many of her interests were influenced by this senior.

"Let's go, you've succeeded."

"..."

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Pegasus Mountain City, Zhou Yi and Shi Qingxuan entered the inner fortress of the city.

When Shang Xiuxun saw the two of them, she neither showed great enthusiasm nor neglect.

However, they were clearly surprised after hearing the purpose of their visit.

So he inquired about this old story.

In the bird park, Zhou Yi walked among them, and he did most of the talking.

In a very clever way, he not only recounted the past but also revealed their backgrounds to them.

This inevitably evokes a sense of shared suffering.

Their mothers were all very good. They raised them from childhood and taught them carefully, teaching them many things that would benefit them for a lifetime.

However, they were all exhausted because of their fathers, and ultimately passed away with regrets.

Therefore, this old man is detestable, and they all have an ambiguous relationship with the Empress.

And now.
At the Moon Cave entrance leading from the Bird Garden to the back mountain, Shi Qingxuan and Shang Xiuxun exchanged a glance, then looked at Zhou Yi together.

Now, because of this guy, we've reconnected.

Zhou Yi felt two unfriendly gazes.

A strange chill swept over him, and the sense of crisis it conveyed was a hundred times greater than Lin Shihong's chilling power.

"Miss Stone".

As the owner of the ranch, Shang Xiuxun took the initiative to step forward.

"There's a waterfall on the back mountain. Let me take you to see it."

"it is good."

They had agreed to look for Lu Miaozi together, but they left first, leaving Zhou Yi behind. He pondered all the way and eventually arrived at Lu Miaozi's cozy home.

Old Lu was living a very comfortable life, but suddenly he felt that his daughter's gaze towards him was different again.

He naturally recognized Shi Qingxuan, and after inquiring with Zhou Yi, he learned what had happened.

"Zhou lad, you've got some nerve."

Lu Miaozi flicked his wide sleeves and said in a low voice, somewhat annoyed:
“When Xiuxun recalls the past, she will most likely give me a look. You are such a bad friend. You have caused me a lot of trouble.”

"I just wanted to let them get acquainted."

With a hint of helplessness but also a sense of loyalty, Zhou Yi said, "Don't worry, I guarantee I won't shift the blame."

Lu Miaozi handed him a jar of wine.

He glanced sideways and saw his daughter walking by the bamboo grove not far away, as well as the daughter of his old friend. "Although I am uncomfortable, you are destined to be the emperor, why have such troubles?"

"It's not that I'm worried, I'm just thinking that it's okay that Jiujiang is fighting a major battle at the end of this year, but where should I spend the New Year in the future?"

"This is beyond the scope of the curriculum," Lu Miaozi waved his hands repeatedly, "Where would I get the answer?"

"However, I do admire you."

He recalled the past and sighed, "You are very clever and have put in more effort than I have."

"besides."

Lu Miaozi looked him up and down: "You always think about these romantic feelings, how come your martial arts skills are so high? Doesn't that make all the martial arts practitioners in the world feel ashamed?"

"It's not difficult; you just need to manage the timing well."

He said it casually, but Old Lu actually started to think about it seriously.

Before long, Shi Qingxuan and Shang Xiuxun approached together.

Upon seeing Lu Miaozi, Shi Qingxuan greeted her politely.

When old friends meet, they naturally talk about old stories, most of which are related to Bi Xiuxin.

They ate lunch together, with Zhou Yi and Lu Miaozi sitting opposite each other.

He sat below, looking left and right at times.

Although the two women were somewhat dissatisfied with his behavior, they responded to him with their eyes.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi felt relieved.

"Mr. Lu, I am about to go to Chang'an to retrieve the Evil Emperor's Relic. Would you like to come with me?"

After he finished speaking, he added:

"The Queen of the Underworld is in Chang'an. Would you like to go and clear up the grudges from back then?"

Lu Miaozi was initially puzzled as to why he asked that question, but she decisively refused:

"I have no further connection with the Queen of the Underworld, so why should we meet?"

He finished speaking and then heard his daughter's voice beside him:

"Old man, at least you have some conscience."

As a result, Shang Xiuxun's anger towards him subsided.

Lu Miaozi smiled to herself, realizing that Zhou Yi had asked the question on purpose.

Zhou is indeed a righteous young man.

He was about to help pass on the message when, unexpectedly, Zhou Yi picked up his homemade six-fruit wine and poured a cup for Shang Xiuxun and Shi Qingxuan respectively.

Without saying a word, as if Old Lu didn't exist, he picked up his wine cup, gestured to the two of them, and drank it all in one gulp with a smile.

They remained silent for a few moments, then exchanged a glance.

Shi Qingxuan said, "Relics possess complex spiritual power, so be careful when handling them."

"Understood," Zhou Yi replied.

Shang Xiuxun chimed in, "Don't take any risks, don't get hurt."

"it is good."

Zhou Yi responded again, and then saw them drink the sweet and sour wine.

Lu Miaozi watched the whole thing from the sidelines, feeling the difference in their abilities, and took a big gulp of the Six Fruit Wine.

Strange, this wine is even more sour today, with a faint bitter taste.
Zhou Yi then spent nine days at Pegasus Ranch.

These days, because the three of them are together, apart from the occasional joke, he mostly follows the Zhou etiquette and his behavior is impeccable.

He helped them prepare vegetables and paint, guided them in their martial arts practice, and even took them fishing on the frozen Ju River.
time flies.

On the day he left, Shi Qingxuan did not immediately return to Bashu; she might stay there for a few more days.

Considering their temperaments, Zhou Yi wasn't worried.

Pegasus Ranch East Gorge Exit.

"The troops in the south are being mobilized, and now we are about to part ways. When we meet again, it may be when the world is at peace."

Zhou Yi seemed to be filled with sadness at parting, but the two people opposite him each had a slight smile on their faces, as if they had no feelings of parting at all.

"What else do you want to say?"

"Okay, say the rest of what you have to say."

A fleeting look of sadness crossed Zhou Yi's face, which was quickly replaced by a slight smile.

“I just want a hug before I leave,” he said, pointing to the rising sun in the distance, “like embracing this warm morning light.”

Shi Qingxuan smiled and shook her head: "No."

The beautiful owner pointed down the mountain and said, "You should leave now."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi turned to leave, but after taking only one step, he seemed to change his mind and turned back to walk towards them.

He hugged the beautiful owner of the venue, and then hugged Shi Qingxuan.

Perhaps because he didn't do anything excessive, it was just like a friend hugging when saying goodbye, so everything went smoothly.

However, this already shows a great deal of courage.

Zhou Yi waved without turning his head and went down the mountain with a relaxed smile.

Shi Qingxuan asked after he had walked away, "Did he come up with all those dishes?"

"Yes, and his recipes too."

"That's so thoughtful, may I take a look?"

Shang Xiuxun considered it for a moment, then quickly nodded: "Of course."

"Could Qingxuan tell me about his experiences in Sichuan?"

Shi Qingxuan answered readily: "Yes."

……

At the end of January of the first year of the Open Source Era, after the south quickly returned to stability, the army crossed the Yangtze River and gathered south of the Huai River.

In early February, the army officially marched north.

The Zhou and Tang documents, escorted by fast boats and swift horses, were delivered to the various hegemons of the north ahead of time.

Before the main army arrived, many county and prefectural officials along the way had already prepared the city's seals and hung the Zhou flag high, ready to accept the surrender.

Upon receiving the news, Dongdu responded immediately, sending a letter personally written by Yang Tong to Guanzhong.

Only by waiting for Li Yuan to surrender can unification be achieved in the shortest possible time.

Surprisingly...
Whether the letter came from the south or the eastern capital, once it entered Chang'an, it was as if it had sunk into the sea.

Given the personality of the Li clan leader, he should have reacted, but Li Yuan seemed oblivious, and it's unclear what he was relying on.

Amidst the conflicting opinions, numerous figures from both within and outside the Nine Provinces flocked to Chang'an.

It is said that the relic of the Evil Emperor has reappeared, and there is even a secret to shattering the void.

A few years ago, a rumor wouldn't have caused a sensation.

However, after the battle at Jingnian Temple, the whole world knew that the shattered void truly existed, and it was even rumored that the great martial arts masters of the time might be gathering in Chang'an.

This single act convinced the people of the martial arts world that the rumors were true.

The Northern Martial Venerable and the Goryeo Sword Master, who never leave their protected territory, are now heading to Chang'an together because they are nearly a hundred years old and wish to obtain the relics to prolong their lives.

As a result, even more martial arts practitioners flocked to the area.

Most of them are people who want to broaden their horizons, join in the fun, or want to meet martial arts masters and scholars. There are also many people who are hoping to take a chance and try to profit from the chaos.

This time, more martial artists entered Chang'an than went to Luoyang back then.

Despite this dangerous situation, the Li family remained unmoved, which was puzzling.

At almost the same time, an uprising broke out on the northern grasslands.

The Northern Hegemony Gang, the External Alliance Gang, the Desert Gang, and the Changbai Sect, all located in the northern border region, suffered heavy losses.

The three gangs and one faction in the northern desert suffered a huge blow.

For example, the external alliance led by Da Gonglang of the Xi tribe directly sided with Jieli Khan.

Any force that dared to disobey the Great Khan's orders in the northern desert region was completely annihilated.

The passage of the 100,000-strong Golden Wolf Army was nothing short of a devastating disaster.

Jieli Khan is preparing his army and, with the cooperation of Little Khan Tuli, is consolidating the power of the grasslands.

Li Gui of Liang and Xue Ju of Western Qin also mobilized large armies.

Those caravans and horse caravans that had been working hard in the northern deserts and the Hexi Corridor all retreated back to the Central Plains in order to survive.

Everyone knows that a major battle is just around the corner.
……

"Kill! Kill them all! Don't let a single one escape!"

On the city wall of Xingyang, a man in his forties or fifties, dressed as a scholar, was shouting.

Anger flashed in Wei Zheng's eyes, and the melancholy on his face was even more pronounced than before.

Below the city gate, a large group of people were fighting fiercely around the people in the middle.

The number of people surrounding the group was almost twice that of the group in the middle.

However, they were unable to subdue the group immediately.

The battle between the two sides was extremely fierce.

"Wei Zheng, what are you doing?"

A British man in a loose white robe rushed over, looking furious: "Make them stop!"

He carried a longbow on his back, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light.

"General Wang, they've gone mad."

“They are close confidants of the Lord Mi, how could they go mad?”

"It is what it is."

Wang Bodang frowned: "Wei Zheng, you secretly mobilized troops, are you betraying Lord Mi?!"

After saying this, he drew the long sword from his waist.

Wei Zheng glared at him, then stepped forward to meet his blade. Not only was he fearless, but he also placed Wang Bodang's knife against his own neck.

"General Wang, five families in the city were slaughtered by them, resulting in over a hundred lives. Don't these people deserve to die?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Bodang turned pale: "Damn it, but you should at least let me investigate. If it's true, I'll kill them myself!"

“You were entrusted with governing by the Duke, so you should not overstep your bounds by mobilizing troops.”

His tone softened as he said this.

Wei Zheng said, "By the time you investigate, they will have already left."

Do you know who died?

"Several of them were Li Mi's confidants. They were hiding in Xingyang, observing my movements, and also observing you. Therefore, they knew where Li Mi was. Now they have been killed, but these madmen are silencing them. Apart from those few, the rest of the dead were innocent people who were implicated."

Wei Zheng shouted down towards the city walls again, "Kill them!"

After shouting, he looked at Wang Bodang, who seemed somewhat lost in thought:

"If you think I'm talking nonsense, then please tell me, where is Li Mi?"

Wang Bodang sheathed his knife.

His face showed even more confusion because he couldn't answer.

Wei Zheng ignored his emotional breakdown and continued:
“You treat people with loyalty and righteousness, thinking that a scholar will die for one who understands him, but you have chosen the wrong person. Li Mi is afraid of the Taoist Celestial Master. He does not want to die, so he does not even trust you. Otherwise, you would not have been assigned to Xingyang and become the same target of the Celestial Master’s venting of anger as I have.”

Wang Bodang stood there, stunned, and opened his mouth to refute.

Wei Zheng interrupted, "Isn't what I said true?"

“General Wang, you are not just blindly loyal, you are simply stupid. If you know that someone is wicked and will bring disaster to the region, and you still continue to help them and die for them, that is not heroism or loyalty, but utter incorrigible.”

Wang Bodang's eyes widened. Although he liked to talk, he was no match for Wei Zheng when it came to arguing.

"A person should have a mirror in their heart that can clearly distinguish right from wrong, so that they can know what is right and wrong and fight against it. Even if the emperor makes a mistake, they should have the courage to point it out. In this way, they can die a quick and painless death. If you have such a mirror now, you should look at yourself."

“I told you long ago, those aliens can’t be trusted. You’ve messed up their brains.”

“If you’re still a man, go and kill them now, don’t let these scourges spread to other parts of the county and harm the people.”

Wang Bodang finally found an outlet for his anger. He stood on the city wall, his hair standing on end, and drew his bow to shoot.

He was known as a divine archer, whose arrows could trace all sorts of trajectories in the air, making them impossible to defend against.

They fired arrows in quick succession, each one faster than the last.

In the chaos of battle, being targeted by a sharpshooter is extremely dangerous.

In an instant, several top-tier experts among those who were surrounded fell from their horses and collapsed to the ground.

Wang Bodang fired several rounds of shots, emptying his quiver.

He drew his sword and charged down again!
At this moment, the attacking side gained momentum, and with the help of the fierce general Wang Bodang, they immediately charged towards the center of the encirclement.

Blood flowed like a river beneath the city walls, and nearly a thousand corpses lay scattered about.

Wang Bodang returned to the city wall and found Wei Zheng. He was covered in blood and had a knife wound on his shoulder.

"please!"

Wei Zheng understood his meaning and went with him to the families that had been slaughtered.

After some investigation, it turned out to be just as Wei Zheng had said.

Wang Bodang abandoned his knife on the long street; the pain in his heart far surpassed the pain in his body.

Wei Zheng's words now seem even more poignant.

"How did you find out? And why were you able to mobilize troops without my orders?"

Wei Zheng stated frankly, "The information was obtained for me by the Celestial Master's men."

“Li Mi has put you in charge of the army, but there are quite a few people who are no longer willing to follow Li Mi. These people are willing to listen to me.”

"you!"

Wang Bodang wanted to curse, but then stopped himself.

"Have you met the Celestial Master?"

"Yes."

Wei Zheng casually recounted what happened that night: "He and Li Mi are completely different kinds of people; one walks the crooked path, and the other walks the great path."

"You've heard the news from the south. Do you really want Xingyang to remain engulfed in war?"

Wang Bodang sighed: "What should I do?"

Wei Zheng said, "Even if the Celestial Master wants to kill you, you should do something meaningful. Most people in the army still listen to you. First, mobilize the troops and, according to the information I received, kill those who want to cause trouble in advance."

“You’ve stayed in Xingyang for so long and eaten the rice grown by the people, you should do something for them.”

“In that case, when you die, they will say that Wang Bodang was a real man.”

"Do or not?"

Wei Zheng stared at him, and Wang Bodang looked up at the sky for a long time before nodding to Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng patted him hard on the shoulder, sensing that this man wasn't completely stupid.

The blow landed squarely on Wang Bodang's wound, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.

Wei Zheng acted swiftly and decisively. With the cooperation of Wang Bodang, they fought from day to night, eliminating all of Li Mi's "mad" confidants, as well as the Jianghu forces and foreign forces behind them.

He really couldn't have done it without Wang Bodang's cooperation.

This killing resulted in thousands more heads being taken.

Wei Zheng himself felt a sense of lingering fear.

Late at night, the two arrived at Li Mi's residence, and Wei Zheng washed his face with well water by the moonlight.

"Actually, I was also deceived by Li Mi."

Wei Zheng wiped the water stains from his face:
“Li Mi once told me that once the Celestial Master recovers the south, the plan for Xingyang will become meaningless, and his confidants will withdraw from this place, handing Xingyang over to us.”

"In this way, we will not harm the people."

"But for some reason, his confidants had no intention of withdrawing; instead, they began to devise a sinister plan."

"Without external help, we would both become sinners for all time."

Wei Zheng shook his head: "This time we have to thank you a lot, otherwise, the Celestial Master would definitely think that I was lying to him."

Wang Bodang suddenly laughed:
"What, even you, Wei Zheng, are afraid?"

Wei Zheng said, "It's not that I'm afraid of death, it's just a pity."

"I still have many great ambitions to fulfill. If a new dynasty is established, I would like to serve as an advisor."

"An advisor?" Wang Bodang laughed again. "What's the difference between that and courting death? Haven't you heard he's petty and always looking for someone to settle scores with?"

"No."

Wei Zheng laughed and said, "This is the wisdom of the new ruler; he has a just cause for everything he does."

Wang Bodang was taken aback. Knowing he didn't have many days left to live, he spoke casually: "These are clearly flattering words. You can't be a good advisor, but you're a master at sucking up to people."

"What do you know?"

Wei Zheng said, "Think carefully, although he was ruthless in killing, who were the people he killed?"

"If I were truly petty, would Xu Shiji have survived? Perhaps I would have been killed that night."

"On the contrary, I think this new ruler is a magnanimous and benevolent person who cares about the people, which is very rare. Perhaps it is this mentality that makes his martial arts level so high."

"Yes, he definitely has some minor flaws, but I haven't had much contact with him, so I don't know him very well."

Upon hearing this, Wang Bodang couldn't help but recall what had happened in Yongqiu years ago.

Taking this opportunity, she began to speak with Wei Zheng.

The two talked until dawn, and only then did Wei Zheng understand the grievances between them.

He said to Wang Bodang:

"In that case, your death was not unjust."

"Don't worry, in recognition of your help this time, I'll erect a fine monument for you, and every year on the anniversary of your death, I'll make sure you get a pot of wine."

Wang Bo bowed to him and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Wei."

Wei Zheng was about to speak when he suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside. Then, to their astonishment, a figure in white was walking towards them.
……

(End of this chapter)