Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 391 The Fury Between Zhao Er and Chai Rong
"So beautiful~"

Hanzhong, a post station.

With a gleam in his eyes, Zhao Er lay on the bed, playing with the pale yellow moon pearl in his hand.

This bead is very large; it is definitely a large one among pearls.

The surface is polished to a very smooth finish, and after holding it in your hand for a long time, you can even feel a slight warmth emanating from it.

There was no moonlight outside the window, but the dim room was brightened by the pale yellow light emitted by the Moon Pearl.

"This light is somewhat similar to moonlight."

Zhao Er, lying on the couch, pressed the Bright Moon Pearl to his forehead and stared at it intently.

"It really looks like moonlight, no wonder it's called the Bright Moon Pearl."

As Zhao Er gently stroked the Bright Moon Pearl, his eyes seemed to turn a ghostly yellow.

"A peerless treasure!"

"I really want it~"

He loved the bead so much that he even slept with it on his chest.

If Lin Dao had seen this scene, he would have given him a thumbs up and praised him.

You're awesome!

Lin Dao had previously measured it while wearing protective clothing and using a Geiger counter.

This so-called Bright Moon Pearl is not uranium ore, but a far more terrifying radium ore!
Radium ore is much more radioactive than uranium ore.

Not long after the Crystal Palace of Meng Chang, the last ruler of Shu, was completed, he only went there to stay for a period of time during the hottest part of summer.

Most importantly, the Bright Moon Pearl was hung on the ceiling of the main hall, so there was no direct contact with it.

As for Zhao Er, who placed the object directly on his chest and covered it with a thin blanket overnight, one can only say one thing.

"warrior!"

In history, Meng Chang surrendered to the Song Dynasty several years later.

He died just seven days after arriving in Bianjing.

Many people believe it was Zhao Dagan.

After learning about the Bright Moon Pearl, Lin Dao believed that it was very likely related to the Bright Moon Pearl.

After all, even if Zhao Da wanted to get rid of Meng Chang, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to kill him in seven days.

It would take at least a year and a half before he would die a sudden and silent death.

For example, Li Yu of the Southern Tang Dynasty was captured and taken to Bianjing, where he endured three years of hardship before being killed.

According to Lin Dao's estimation, it is very likely that long-term exposure to radiation led to his death.

As for the whereabouts of the Bright Moon Pearl afterward, it is highly likely that it fell into the hands of the generals of the army that destroyed Shu.

Finally, he was buried with someone.

Now, this precious pearl follows Zhao Er around.

Before he set off, Lin Dao arranged for Han Zhongyun to give him a new job.

He led Meng Chang and the civil and military officials of Shu to persuade the cities of Shu to surrender along the way.

Originally, it would have taken less than a month to reach Bianzhou by fast horse.

However, in order to possess the Bright Moon Pearl for a longer period of time, Zhao Er wandered around trying to persuade others to surrender, and it took him three whole months to finally deliver the precious pearl to Chai Rong.

For the past three months, he has carried the Bright Moon Pearl with him every day.

He even wore his clothes on his belt when changing clothes and using the restroom, showing how much he loved them.

When he handed it to Chai Rong, the deep reluctance in Zhao Er's eyes seemed to be wrapped around the Bright Moon Pearl like silk threads.

Chai Rong also really liked this bright moon pearl and praised it highly.

He played with it for a while before putting it away and then summoned Meng Chang and the others who had come with him.

With a gentle and pleasant expression, Chai Rong comforted Meng Chang.

He was also granted a series of titles and ranks, including Grand Tutor, Chancellor, and Duke.

Of course, everyone understands that this is simply a way of comforting and appeasing a defeated opponent.

Despite having many titles, they have absolutely no real power.

That means he could only earn a meager salary and make ends meet in Bianzhou City.

Chai Rong told Meng Chang to settle down in Bianzhou City, saying that this would be his home from now on.

"You all fought well."

After Meng Chang and the others bowed and left, Chai Rong, with a complicated expression, looked at Zhao Er and said, "A thousand-mile raid, destroying the Shu Kingdom in one battle."

"The Palace Guards, well done!"

The reason for praising the Palace Guard Commander rather than specifically referring to the Iron Cavalry was to share the credit with the Palace Guard Commander.

He was also extremely shocked when he received the news.

The Shu Kingdom was not strong, even weaker than the Southern Tang.

However, the terrain is treacherous, making it extremely difficult to destroy their country.

Lin Dao actually took the Meridian Road and made a thousand-mile raid, undertaking a military adventure that was almost impossible to succeed.

Along the way, whether it was Shiyang Pass or other passes, if there was any mishap, the army would be cut off from its supply lines and trapped in the mountains.

But Lin Dao actually succeeded.

They charged all the way for thousands of miles, reaching the outskirts of Chengdu, and even forced the Shu Kingdom to surrender.

This remarkable achievement was almost unbelievable to Chai Rong.

This is a feat that could destroy a nation!
He pondered for a moment, then asked Zhao Er, "Marquis Gaoping, what have you accomplished in Shu?"

The real meaning behind these words was to ask Lin Dao if he had done anything disloyal, such as trying to seize control of the Shu region.

In this era where warriors reign supreme, such things are perfectly normal.

He led a large army to conquer vast tracts of rich land.

It is entirely understandable that they would become independent from then on.

Moreover, Chai Rong knew that Lin Dao must have seen through his deliberate arrangement for Zhao Kuangyin to share the credit.

Zhao Er was a shrewd man.

He understood Chai Rong's meaning immediately.

He immediately bowed and replied, "The Commander-in-Chief is pacifying the region and is eagerly awaiting the imperial court's dispatch of civil and military officials to take over the Shu region."

It's not that he was particularly loyal to Lin Dao.

This kid isn't even loyal to his own brother, let alone outsiders.

The reason I spoke up for Lin Dao was mainly because he was also part of the group that contributed to the conquest of Shu, and was even listed as the one with the greatest merit.

If Lin Dao's achievements are denied, then all those who contributed to the conquest of Shu will have worked in vain. He's speaking for his own merits!
"That's it."

Chai Rong nodded and instructed Feng Dao, "The matter of dispatching local civil and military officials must be handled as soon as possible."

They accepted the various prefectures and counties of Shu, appointed civil and military officials to their posts, and even redefined the administrative divisions.

These are all things that should be done.

However, in an era dominated by warriors, the most important thing was to bestow rewards.

"Marquis Gaoping has performed a great service."

After careful consideration, Chai Rong made a decision: "He shall be granted the title of Duke of Jin, and shall be further granted the title of Duke of Qin, with an additional 2,300 households in his fief, bringing the total to 800 households."

He specifically explained, "The credit for the strategic planning in this battle belongs to Zhang Yongde."

“If not, Marquis Gaoping should be granted the title of king.”

Lin Dao was in charge of the actual fighting, while Zhang Yongde was the nominal head of the unit.

According to the rules, the lion's share naturally fell to Zhang Yongde.

"Fu Yanqing was enfeoffed as the King of Wei, and Zhang Yongde was enfeoffed as the King of Wei."

These two titles of nobility sound the same, but they are from different places.

Wei was a large state, while Wei was a small state.

Even among those who are granted the title of king, there are differences.

Fu Yanqing was a relative of the emperor's family, and was the emperor's father-in-law.

No one would say anything if he were to become the King of Wei, a small kingdom, instead of the King of Wei, a powerful kingdom.

Who can blame them when their daughter is the empress?

Moreover, Lin Dao, who made the contribution of destroying the country this time, is also Fu Yanqing's son-in-law.

In this way, his promotion was also thanks to Lin Dao, and he shared in Lin Dao's credit.

"Zhao Kuangyin was credited with holding Lin Dao back and provided assistance for Lin Dao's surprise attack on Chengdu. He was then granted the title of Duke of Song."

To reiterate, the State of Song was a small state, while the State of Qin was a large state.

Even among dukes, there are different ranks.

As for the states in these fiefdoms, they were basically based on the states of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

Zhao Kuangyin's bestowal of a title was clearly far-fetched.

He went to attack Qin, Feng and other prefectures with the aim of seizing military merits.

It wasn't their intention to draw the attention of the Shu Kingdom.

However, that is indeed the case in reality.

Chai Rong also took this opportunity to share some of the credit with others.

In this way, it would not seem so abrupt or cause criticism that Lin Dao was granted the title of Duke of Qin instead of a king.

For Chai Rong, he had to balance the power of the various military leaders and prevent any one of them from becoming too powerful and threatening his imperial status.

Moreover, Lin Dao is so young, what will happen to him if he is made a king right away?
If there's nothing left to block, then the only option is to turn against them.

That's not enough, of course.

Chai Rong thought for a moment, then looked at the Bright Moon Pearl he had just obtained.

He wanted to give this item to Lin Dao.

It looks so beautiful, I really can't bear to part with it.

After all, in the minds of the ancients, a gemstone that could emit light must be an extraordinary treasure.

"He was granted 100,000 strings of cash and 40,000 bolts of silk."

"Another twenty beauties will be bestowed upon him."

Seeing Zhao Er chuckling to himself, Chai Rong immediately asked, "Why are you laughing?"

"His Majesty."

"The Commander-in-Chief has already found a beauty in Shu."

"When I left, I was drinking and chatting happily with a beautiful woman, and I was not very happy."

"Oh?" Chai Rong asked again, "Who is this beauty?"

"Among the daughters of Meng Chang's palace, one was Consort Fei, née Xu, and the other was Zhaorong, née Li Yanniang."

In the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it would have been a serious crime for a general to take concubines from an enemy state as his own.

But in this day and age where martial arts prevail, such things are commonplace.

After all, the regional warlords and even the imperial dynasties changed and updated too quickly, leaving behind a large number of women each time.

We can't let them go to waste; we have to let them realize their full potential.

Moreover, Chai Rong was not a lecherous man; he valued power and fame more, and simply laughed it off.

"In that case, allow him to select ten beauties from Shu."

"Once the Shu region is stabilized, we should return to Bianzhou as soon as possible."

It is inappropriate for a general to lead a large army to be away from home for extended periods.

Chai Rong also planned to recall Lin Dao and the Palace Guard as soon as possible.

The glorious victory in the conquest of Shu also spurred Chai Rong on.

The successive demise of the pseudo-Han and Shu kingdoms led Chai Rong to despise all the heroes of the world, believing that no one could stop him from unifying the world.

Moreover, feeling the pressure of Lin Dao's outstanding achievements, Chai Rong decided to personally lead another expedition to completely pacify the Jiangnan region!
After making the arrangements, Chai Rong returned to the palace and played with the Bright Moon Pearl.

Meanwhile, in Chengdu, a distant city in Sichuan, Lin Dao was indeed, as Zhao Er had said, surrounded by beautiful women on both sides.

Meng Chang's palace had thousands upon thousands of women, but Lin Dao only chose two.

One was Consort Fei, née Xu.

This title is rather commonplace; this woman has another name, which is known to everyone.

She was known as Lady Flower Bud!

The Shu Kingdom once had two Lady Huarui. This is the second one, and the one who wrote the poem about the fall of the kingdom: "Fourteen thousand men laid down their arms, and not one of them was a true man."

Lin Dao wouldn't easily accept someone without a certain status, position, and reputation.

As for the other one, Li Yanniang, she is also recorded in history.

She is remembered in history for her signature hairstyle, the "Ten Thousand Miles to Heaven" (a poem composed for her by Meng Chang).

Because it was so popular, women in Sichuan all followed suit, and the "upward-facing bun" hairstyle was seen everywhere.

Lin Dao raised his hand and gently stroked Li Yanniang's hair bun, offering his instructions.

"Let your hair down and comb it into pigtails!"

(End of this chapter)