Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 454 Bringing a Letter of State

At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang of Sui established the Shanglin Garden in Luoyang City. The garden had a perimeter of 200 li and included three mountains, three palaces, pavilions, moon towers, sixteen courtyards, and so on.

During the Tang Dynasty, Shanglin Garden was renamed and its area was reduced, but its circumference was still more than 120 li.

Zheng Tianchang's royal palace and gardens continued to expand until his death, showing a desire to rival Yang Guang.

The total area is already an irregular polygon, with a total side length of about sixty li.

Since Chu Tianshu was temporarily residing in Ximingchi, he found a Xiangge (fragrant pavilion) nearby to stay in.

He has been making medicines here recently, and the area around the Xiangge Pavilion is filled with the fragrance of medicine that lingers for a long time.

As the sun rises today, the flowers and birds in the garden are at ease.

Sparrows hopped about on the branches, and Li Chenxiang walked past them.

When they arrived at the Xiang Pavilion, Cheng Xin and Su Xian also happened to be walking over.

Li Chenxiang smiled and raised his hand to greet the two of them.

While Cheng Xin was imprisoned, he regularly took poison. In addition, he had suffered many hidden injuries from his early years in the military, making his situation quite complicated.

Chu Tianshu not only taught him the medicine formulary, but also had him come every morning to check his pulse and give him a pill.

Li and Su's situation is relatively simple; they were only injured in the battle. They studied the medicine formulas and prescribed medicine for themselves. They came over in the morning simply to greet Chu Tianshu and ask him if there were any errors or omissions in the medicine they prescribed.

"Recently, I've been brewing medicine for myself every day, and I feel much clearer-headed."

Su Xian laughed and said, "Now that I think about it, I should have found a river route to the sea back in Zhenla Kingdom."

"If we go by sea, it will be difficult to be tracked. Landing in the Jianghuai or Qilu region and then heading straight for Chang'an is much easier than traveling overland through thousands of mountains and rivers and various countries."

Li Chenxiang shook his head: "Even if we take the waterway, I'm afraid we won't be able to leave Zhenla before we are intercepted."

"If we fight on the water, we might be in an even worse situation, and we won't have a chance to meet Senior Chu."

Su Xian thought about it and couldn't help but nod.

He only remembered the waterway last night, but now it seems that Li Chenxiang must have considered it long ago.

It's no wonder he's not as quick-witted as younger people.

The main reason is that over the years, he traveled between Zhenla and Tang Dynasty, and there were places to do business along the way, so the caravan route never involved the sea.

One reason is the inertia of thought.

Furthermore, the escort team for the divine drum was repeatedly intercepted. The people under Su Xian's command were originally just caravan workers, each with their own families, unlike the royal guards under Li Chenxiang who had been raised since childhood.

Su Xian's mental pressure was naturally greater.

Now that the Divine Drum is in Chu Tianshu's hands, he feels much more relaxed.

He was no longer in such a hurry to return to Chang'an.

Ultimately, if this extraordinary treasure, the Divine Drum, were rashly sent to Chang'an, a city rife with chaos and complexities, it would likely cause quite a few undercurrents.

Su Xian had no other choice at the time. He felt that places outside of Chang'an were more dangerous and uncertain, so he rushed there with all his might.

Now that Chu Tianshu is in charge, it would be safer to wait here for someone to come and meet us before setting off together.

The three chatted for a few moments, and then, seeing the doors of the Fragrant Pavilion open, they straightened their clothes and stepped inside.

Inside the incense pavilion, there are large windows on all four sides, with carved beams and painted rafters, bright light, a set of tables and chairs, a cloud bed, a few soft cushions, and an incense burner.

Chu Tianshu was going to make medicine here, so there were some more earthenware pots and ceramics in the room.

He sat at the table, took the pulses of the three men, and nodded slightly.

"Things are all good, but Cheng Xin, you're still overthinking things."

Chu Tianshu took a pill from the earthenware jar and handed it to Cheng Xin.

Cheng Xin swallowed it on the spot.

"Alas, only when I actually got involved in national affairs did I realize how difficult they were. Originally, I only managed military matters, which was much simpler in comparison."

Cheng Xin adopted a solemn expression and said, "Uncle, you'll be going to Chang'an sooner or later, won't you?"

Chu Tianshu nodded and smiled.

"Of course, when I went to that city before, I was tricked by Hai Donglai. I had to rush around in the middle of the night, taking all sorts of strange routes, and I didn't even have time to properly appreciate the scenery before I left."

He expressed his hope that, "This time, I will not only see the city, but I will also be very interested in the people in that city now."

Once someone familiar with the situation comes to meet him, Chu Tianshu will take the drum to Chang'an.

He wanted to see just how many people would come and fawn over him because of that drum.

Cheng Xin seemed to have made a major decision, and said slowly, "I would like to ask my uncle to bring a letter of state with him at that time."

Chu Tianshu was a little puzzled: "A letter of state?"

"Indeed, the Great Tianchang Kingdom, or rather my Nanzhao Kingdom, wishes to request submission and return to the Tang Dynasty."

Cheng Xin said, "We are all tied up, and the others don't seem to have enough influence. So, it seems that only Uncle is the most suitable."

The old man knelt down on one knee again, his sincerity utterly evident.

"We earnestly hope that our great-uncle can help us deliver the letter of state!"

Both Li Chenxiang and Su Xian showed surprise.

Chu Tianshu also realized what was happening.

In the past, Yi Mouxun and others were at most nominally subjects of the Tang Dynasty and accepted royal titles bestowed by the emperor. In reality, they still managed domestic affairs themselves.

Cheng Xin's current intention is to become a subject of the Tang Dynasty directly, and to accept the appointment of officials from the Tang Dynasty to govern the local area.
He recalled his hometown's history and learned that the Nanzhao Kingdom was not fully assimilated until the Yuan and Ming dynasties.

Moreover, it was won by a large army.

"What are you thinking...?"

Chu Tianshu asked, "They voluntarily requested to annex us?"

Cheng Xin had clearly given this matter considerable thought and consulted with a large number of court officials before he began to explain it in detail.

Firstly, considering the nation's strength, with martial arts flourishing and the Tang Dynasty's elite border troops capable of ignoring miasma and pestilence, traversing mountains and valleys, and arriving in a day after setting out in the morning.

In fact, Nanzhao had long since lost the will to resist the Tang Dynasty.

Secondly, since Duan Zhong was killed a century ago, Yi Mouxun's attitude has undergone a greater change, and the customs and traditions of the Tang people have long been rooted in the local area.

Not only were the Tang people who were captured or migrated able to preserve their own culture, but they also shared it with people of other ethnicities.

Today, when people of different ethnic groups in this land have difficulty communicating using their local dialects, they turn to Mandarin Chinese.

Their sense of identity as both Nanzhao and Tang people was much stronger than their sense of identity as part of the "Great Tianchang Kingdom".

“There is a third reason,” Cheng Xin said. “In fact, the civil and military education system established over the past sixty years in the Tang Dynasty has already produced a wealth of talented people in the country.”

"Many people take office for a short time, and even if they do a good job, they may be squeezed out due to power struggles in the court. Many others do not even have the opportunity to show their talents."

"And what we need right now is such talent."

Su Xian's eyebrows twitched with delight. "Without resorting to arms, the entire country has submitted. Isn't this exactly what the ancient sage kings did..."

As he said this, he suddenly remembered that the emperor didn't seem to have that much power now.

Never mind, even if it wasn't the emperor's achievement, it was at least an achievement of the Tang Dynasty.

The credit doesn't have to go to the emperor alone; wouldn't we, as citizens of the Tang Dynasty, be even more proud?
Su Xian quickly replied, "I have already written to my family in Chang'an, requesting assistance from the Inner Guard. I heard that the current commander of the Inner Guard is named Nie Hongxian, who is usually decisive and efficient. He should be arriving soon."

"When the local officials present the letter of state to Senior Chu, we can ask Commander Nie to be a witness."

Nie Hongxian was originally an official of the Tang Dynasty, so he naturally could not represent Nanzhao to hand over the state letter, but he was more than qualified to be a public witness.

At this moment, Su Xian just needs to be happy.

Li Chenxiang had many more thoughts on this.

However, the customs of Zhenla were quite different from those of the Tang Dynasty, and they were also quite far apart.

"At least for my generation, we don't have to worry too much."

As Li Chenxiang thought about it, she suddenly felt more open-minded and was also happy for the atmosphere present.

"Since you've all thought it through, what's so difficult about simply bringing along a letter of state?"

Chu Tianshu smiled and said, "Then you should go and prepare the official letter. I need to continue practicing my skills."

Upon hearing this, the three took their leave.

They all knew that Chu Tianshu had been striking that divine drum while practicing his skills recently.

Even if one is outside the imperial garden, the faint sound of drums would make one feel uncomfortable, and of course one would not dare to linger.

Chu Tianshu got up, sat cross-legged on the cushion, opened the wooden box beside him, and took out the Mountain King Divine Drum.

"Give me three pills first."

He opened three earthenware jars beside him and took out three pills in turn: red, green, and white. He put the red and green pills under his tongue and the white pill against his palate.

The drum was placed on his legs, close to his dantian, and when it was struck, its effect on his internal energy became even more pronounced.

Lately, he's been practicing his kung fu while holding medicine in his mouth and drumming at the same time.

"Heavenly Fragrance Dance, with the Bright King in hand. A powerful wind rises from the heavens, stirring the waters of the three rivers..."

The drumbeats rang out, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, in a rhythmic pattern.

Chu Tianshu used the Mingwang Finger Spear technique in his hands, and also sang the ballad "Rain and Wind, Mingwang Finger Spear".

The drumbeats gradually reached their climax, with the force of a sudden storm, like rain pounding on banana leaves.

My thoughts and feelings became chaotic.

"My heart is filled with unresolved sorrow, and I think of you every night without fail. Especially on this night, with the lamp flickering and me alone in this empty hall..."

When the finger is pressed down, the sound is powerful and resonant, like a quiet garden after the rain, where people stroll and contemplate in the cool breeze.

"Autumn has yet to dawn, the wind and rain are still raging. Without learning the ascetic's path, how can one forget one's former heart..."

Chu Tianshu became increasingly engrossed in striking the keys, his unique internal energy circulating with a low whistle.

Delicate emerald-colored ripples spread out from all over his body in countless tiny points.

The entire incense pavilion became dimly lit.

The person in the pavilion seemed to be facing the wind and rain alone.

The local climate is humid, and it was chilly in the early morning.

On the surface of Ximing Pond, as if a resonance had occurred, ripples stirred and carp surfaced.

The nearby flowering trees swayed, and a cool breeze began to rise.

"Autumn has not yet arrived, and the wind and rain are still raging!"

The alien energy silently seeped into his body, and he gradually captured it, rapidly surging and refining it.

The drumbeats started and stopped, stopped and started again.

This was repeated many times within an hour.

When the drumbeats reached their most intense moment of the day, lasting for more than a dozen breaths, the relentless rapid beat came to an abrupt end.

"call……"

After a long while, the strange light in Chu Tianshu's eyes subsided, the pill in his mouth completely dissolved, and he exhaled a mouthful of grayish-white turbid impurities.

Although the medicine provided relief and the meridians were not damaged, a sour and astringent sensation still arose.

Such a rapid search for and refinement of foreign spiritual energy is like bending a steel wire hundreds of times in a single instant, which is equivalent to the torment of the meridians.

However, the progress is also encouraging. After these few days, Chu Tianshu can clearly feel that he is only a tiny bit away from the perfect mastery of the profound arts.

After putting away the divine drum, Chu Tianshu took out the Three-Seven Sword, as he had done in the past few days.

After practicing with the divine drum, while waiting for the meridians to fully recover, it's inevitable to feel a bit lazy.

Chu Tianshu used this time to cultivate and train the spirit of his soldiers.

He drew his sword and placed it across his lap. He first took out a handful of mineral powder and spread it evenly on the sword. Then he forced out blood from his fingertips, mixed it with the powder, and began to apply it.

The Three-Seven Divine Sword trembled slightly as if stimulated at first.

Soon, it calmed down comfortably, and a sense of joy emanated from its soldier spirit.

At the same time, outside the royal city.

A group of well-dressed men sped past on the official road.

The village girl, who had just emerged from the forest, carried a few dry firewood on her back and held a wood-chopping knife in her hand, staring blankly at the departing people and horses.

The group of people we just saw was led by a woman.

Dressed in fine clothes, riding a spirited horse, and wearing long boots, with a long sword hanging from the saddle.

Her elegant and refined demeanor outshone everyone who followed her.

"What a beautiful person."

The village girl wiped the sweat from her forehead, a hint of envy in her eyes, and strode towards the royal city.

(End of this chapter)