Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 123 Third Rank, Fourteenth Sword, Targeted by Officials, New Crisis!
The autumn wind is bleak, blowing across the southern sky, bringing with it a sense of loneliness and desolation.

News has arrived from Chenzhou that a great battle has begun.

Upon learning of the situation in Yongzhou, the White Lotus Army in Chenzhou unsurprisingly collapsed, with internal divisions and turmoil erupting, and many members panicking and deserting.

Ultimately, the Third Elder and Fourth Elder, who were in charge of overseeing Chenzhou, took decisive action to suppress the rebellion.

The Third Elder, who held the highest position, temporarily assumed the position of leader, barely managing to stabilize the situation and continue to defend Chenzhou against the attack of 50,000 Ming troops from Chenzhou.

However, the main force of the White Lotus Sect in Yongzhou had been wiped out, and their morale was low. No matter how much they resisted, it was all in vain, merely delaying their demise.

Although there were still more than 20,000 remnants left, and the Third Elder and Fourth Elder were also at the Grandmaster level, war is a contest of morale and overall strength.

The entire White Lotus Sect is a huge makeshift organization built around the sect leader, various elders, altar masters, and other Miao people. Over the years, through forbearance and planning, they have recruited people from all over the world. Most of the members are refugees who can't even get enough to eat.

Although there were many people, not many of them were actually capable of fighting, and they couldn't even provide each person with a decent weapon.

How could such a remnant army withstand the regular army of the imperial court, which possessed a variety of weapons of war?

Even the strongest grandmaster can only break through a few hundred armored soldiers before becoming exhausted. Once trapped in enemy lines and unable to break out, they will inevitably die.

Moreover, the Ming army was not without martial artists in command.

The five hundred Imperial Guards led by Xu Longqing were all fully equipped and agile, and were all experts in surrounding and killing criminals. The crossbows, grappling hooks, and other weapons they carried were made of special refined iron. As long as there were enough of them, they could break through the protective aura of a master.

Coincidentally, the third and fourth elders of the White Lotus Army in Yongzhou were only ordinary grandmasters.

The two sides had clashed once before. The fourth elder of the White Lotus Sect led a group of White Lotus Sect experts in an attempt to repeat their previous tactics, assassinating Ming generals such as Zhu Xieyuan and defeating the Ming army. However, under the joint attack of Xu Longqing, Ding Xiu, Pei Xing and others, the group of White Lotus Sect experts suffered heavy casualties.

Even the Fourth Elder nearly lost his life on the spot and fled in a sorry state.

Even a grandmaster is not invincible; in such large-scale wars, individual bravery does not play a significant role.

At least for ordinary grandmasters, it's not very useful.

It was from then on that the situation in Chenzhou began to stalemate.

The White Lotus Sect dared not make a move again, and both sides waited for the main forces in Yongzhou to determine the winner before making any further plans.

Now, the White Lotus army in Yongzhou has been defeated and almost completely wiped out. An Jianqing's elite Imperial Guards have also arrived in Chenzhou to help. The only advantage the White Lotus army currently has in Chenzhou is the control of the city.

However, facing the Ming army, whose morale was high and whose weaponry and numbers were overwhelming, defeat was only a matter of time.

Moreover, due to its unique geographical location, the only way out was the mountain road leading to Yongzhou. But now that Yongzhou has fallen, their last retreat is gone, leaving them with no choice but to defend Chenzhou City to the death.

Once the city falls, the outcome will be decided.

The White Lotus Sect has reached a dead end.

In Yongzhou, after stabilizing the situation, Lu Xiang-sheng divided his forces into two groups: one to continue clearing out the fleeing White Lotus followers, and the other to oversee post-war reconstruction.

After the White Lotus Sect swept through and looted the entire Hubei region, nine out of ten towns and villages were empty. In many towns, such as Qiyang County, not only were the people slaughtered, but the houses were also burned down, a truly tragic sight.

Autumn is now in full swing, and winter is just around the corner.

If reconstruction is not completed as soon as possible and the remaining people are not resettled, who knows how many more people will die.

Therefore, this matter cannot be delayed.

Fortunately, the remaining White Lotus followers were all readily available laborers. Now that they had been defeated and surrendered, they were all driven to various parts of Hubei and Hunan to participate in the post-war reconstruction work.

……

Bitter Sea Town.

The night is deep.

At the silent summit of Nanshan Mountain, beside an ancient well, Jiang Xuan sat with his eyes closed, enveloped in a faint golden light. Under the moonlight, he appeared extremely sacred and serene.

After several days, he finally recovered from his injuries.

At this moment, his true energy was at its peak, and he was concentrating on circulating his energy, attempting to open up his lower dantian and advance to the third-grade grandmaster level.

Amidst the shimmering pale golden aura, the sound of a surging river seemed to emanate from his body, like the roar of a tiger and the cry of a dragon, with an indestructible aura enveloping his entire being.

[Martial Arts: Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill (Beginner)]

【Progress: 1000/5000】

Although the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill has not yet been fully mastered, it still possesses the ability to open up the lower dantian.

The lower dantian, located one and a half inches below the navel in the abdomen, is the center of 'qi'.

Once this acupoint is opened, the true qi will no longer be like a rootless duckweed, only able to circulate throughout the body's meridians, but will return to the dantian (lower abdomen), and the amount of true qi that can be stored will also be greatly increased.

This is also the main reason why, in the last battle in Yongzhou City, the White Lotus Sect Leader had been fighting fiercely for a long time and was injured by the sword intent, yet he was still able to escape to Bitter Sea Town without showing much weakness. On the contrary, Jiang Xuan himself was seriously injured and his true energy was almost exhausted.

The White Lotus Sect Leader had a lower dantian that stored true qi, so the consumption was not significant. However, Jiang Xuan, who had not yet opened his lower dantian, had no more true qi to draw upon after exhausting the true qi stored in his meridians.

If it weren't for his own physical strength and the enhancement of his sword and saber techniques, he would definitely have lost in a one-on-one contest of internal energy cultivation.

This demonstrates the importance of one's level of understanding and awareness.

Practicing martial arts without internal training is ultimately futile.

Skill is the foundation of all martial arts!

The pain of opening the lower dantian was several times greater than that of opening the middle dantian. Jiang Xuan felt a piercing pain, as if his very spirit was being torn apart.

Of course, the fact is also true.

After opening the upper dantian at the Grandmaster level, one uses spiritual power to mobilize the circulation of true qi. At this time, the golden, flowing Vajra true qi, guided by spiritual power, continuously impacts the lower dantian acupoints, while simultaneously tearing at the spiritual power.

This pain is so intense that even nourishing one's inner energy cannot alleviate it much; one can only endure it.

Fortunately, having learned from the previous two experiences of opening acupoints, the pain did not last long.

As the pain subsided, the pent-up energy in his meridians, as if finding an outlet, surged into the acupoints in his abdomen. Jiang Xuan knew that the acupoint opening had been successful.

At this point, he officially entered the ranks of a third-grade grandmaster.

"Gurgling..."

It felt as if a giant, long-starved beast had opened its mouth in his abdomen, like a whale sucking in water, swallowing his true energy into its belly, which could never be filled no matter how much it swallowed.

"The acupoints of the human body are truly mysterious!" Jiang Xuan exclaimed in amazement at the wonders of the human body.

Mingming is extremely familiar with every part of her body.

But as his understanding of the world deepened, he became increasingly aware of his own ignorance and insignificance.

The human body is like a vast and unknown space, containing countless treasures.

Practicing martial arts is about constantly exploring the human body's space, discovering the treasures it contains, and thereby strengthening oneself and increasing one's power.

It's hard to imagine how terrifying the power will be once these 'treasures' are fully unearthed.

Jiang Xuan did not believe in the existence of gods and immortals in this world, but at this moment he could not help but wonder if a human body could be called an immortal when it discovers enough treasures and becomes powerful enough.
After pondering for a long time, Jiang Xuan shook his head and chuckled, suppressing his distracting thoughts. As a mere Grandmaster of the Third Rank, he was not even among the strongest in the entire Ming Dynasty. There was no need to be overly ambitious.

Focus on your cultivation, and we'll deal with the future when it comes.

"call……"

Jiang Xuan took a deep breath, stood up, and checked his physical condition.

His true energy had been completely channeled into his dantian, and at this moment, not a trace of true energy was leaking out of his body. He looked just like an ordinary person. Unless someone with a high level of cultivation used their inner vision, they would probably think he was just an ordinary person.

"No wonder that Five Poison Child likes to be the sixth one. This feeling of pretending to be weak to take advantage of others is really exhilarating."

However, Jiang Xuan was ultimately different from the Five Poison Child.

The Five Poisons Child appears to be a dwarf boy. Although he is already several decades old, he still has the face of a child. Unless he circulates his true energy, it is difficult for others to notice him.

However, because of the internal energy cultivation of Luo Mo, Jiang Xuan was strong and muscular, with broad shoulders and a large physique. In addition, with this appearance, anyone who saw him would not be able to take a second look and think he was extraordinary. Even if he wanted to be the sixth son, he could not.

Jiang Xuan tried circulating his internal energy again, and his true energy instantly surged from his dantian, flowing through his entire body, and his speed even increased.

His spirit and energy burst forth simultaneously, his body was enveloped in golden light, his blood surged, his muscles bulged, and his tendons and bones twisted like dragons, giving Jiang Xuan a powerful sense of confidence and strength.

At his peak, even without unleashing his sword and saber techniques, Jiang Xuan felt he could hold his own against masters of the same caliber as Dongfang Bubai and the White Lotus Cult Leader.

He was itching to show off his skills, so he looked up at Yan Shisan, who was standing silently protecting him, and called out, "Come and lend a hand!"

Breaking through the martial arts realm is different from breaking through the sword realm. The process of opening acupoints is very slow and cannot be accomplished overnight. In order to avoid being disturbed and failing to open the acupoints, Jiang Xuan deliberately chose to break through at the top of Nanshan Mountain and even asked Yan Shisan to protect him.

"Are you sure?" Yan Shisan also sensed that Jiang Xuan's aura was different; he had clearly broken through to a higher realm.

But he is a seventh-grade grandmaster, and with his sword intent, he can easily kill even someone of the White Lotus Sect Master's level.

Jiang Xuancai was only a third-rank cultivator, a full one-level difference and one rank higher than him.

"Come!"

Without wasting words, Jiang Xuan raised his hand and threw a punch at Yan Shisan. Instantly, a strong wind howled, and the void seemed to tremble. Even before the terrifying force of the punch arrived, it made Yan Shisan's heart tremble.

However, he reacted quickly. Seeing that Jiang Xuan was serious, he immediately mobilized his true energy and exchanged a palm strike with Jiang Xuan. Just in case, he did not use his sword intent.

boom!
As their fists and palms met, Yan Shisan's body trembled slightly, and he was forced back several steps. However, Jiang Xuan did not retreat even half a step.

"Use your Thirteen Swords!" Jiang Xuan was somewhat dissatisfied. With his physical body, Yan Shisan could not possibly be his opponent without using his swordsmanship.

"..."

Yan Shisan's expression turned serious, and he nodded, saying, "I've arrived."

Jiang Xuan remained silent, raised his hand and threw another punch, still using pure true qi and strength, without employing any other martial arts techniques or artistic conceptions.

Stupid!
Yan Shisan formed a sword shape with his fingers and pointed it out. Although he had no sword in his hand, a sword's cry still rang out in the night.

The wind howled, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was stirred, transforming into a jet-black sword light that swept towards Jiang Xuan with an astonishing killing intent.

Jiang Xuan's pupils contracted slightly, finally sensing a hint of danger.

However, the sword intent was not strong. Yan Shisan was obviously still worried about hurting him and did not use his full strength. Therefore, he was still confident that he could block it and threw a straight punch, clashing with the sword intent.

hum~
An invisible ripple spread out, and Jiang Xuan was forced back several steps, thus neutralizing the impact of the sword intent.

He looked up and saw that his originally tough skin had developed tiny cracks, with traces of sword intent remaining in the wounds, tearing the skin and causing blood to seep out.

Clearly, his indestructible body was still no match for the power of the intent.

Jiang Xuan was somewhat disappointed. Perhaps, he would only be able to block the intent once he had mastered the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art and cultivated the Vajra Indestructible Divine Body...

True energy surged forth, instantly erasing the sword intent from the wound. Nourished by the true energy, the wound began to gradually heal.

“This…” Yan Shisan also noticed Jiang Xuan’s injuries and his eyes widened in surprise.

Jiang Xuan actually managed to block his thirteen sword intents with just his true qi and physical body?!
Is it so outrageous? !

Although he didn't use his full strength, this was the artistic conception!

Even a grandmaster's protective aura could be easily broken through, yet it couldn't penetrate his physical body, leaving only such a tiny wound on his skin?!
Yan Shisan wondered if his mental state had weakened because he no longer possessed the Thirteen Swords...

Looking at the disappointed expression on Jiang Xuan's face, he couldn't help but twitch his lips. What a freak!
"My physical body is all the result of cultivating the Rama Internal Energy. Once you cultivate the Rama Internal Energy to perfection, you can also cultivate an indestructible body." Jiang Xuan glanced at Yan Shisan, understanding his thoughts, and casually explained.

"It's not that easy to master this internal skill." Yan Shisan shook his head. In the past few days of cultivation, he had already seen the extraordinary nature of this internal skill.

He had previously practiced a master-level internal skill, but it could only simply improve his true qi level. It was not as comprehensive as the Rama internal skill, which first refined the body and then cultivated true qi.

Although they were of the same level, Rama's internal energy was several times more profound and mysterious than the internal energy he had cultivated.

The more complex the internal skill, the harder it is to master.

"Take it slow. Practicing martial arts is something that cannot be accomplished overnight."

"Moreover, your comprehension is not bad. You just went astray before. Once you have recovered enough, I will teach you the Yi Jin Jing. The Yi Jin Jing will cleanse your marrow and rebuild your foundation."

"At that time, your cultivation speed will definitely improve significantly."

Jiang Xuan's words of encouragement were, of course, sincere.

Yan Shisan's comprehension was not bad to begin with; if his comprehension were poor, he would not have such talent in swordsmanship.

Thinking of swordsmanship, Jiang Xuan thought of something else and said, "Release your sword intent again, let me feel it."

Yan Shisan was puzzled, but he didn't ask any more questions and did as instructed.

Soon, a terrifying sword intent domain enveloped Jiang Xuan. Although it was not offensive, it was still filled with an aura of killing and death.

In terms of the sheer intensity of the sword intent, it is indeed much stronger than the Mad Sword Intent that I have only recently comprehended.

Based on the system's progress, it has reached at least 20%.

In other words, Yan Shisan has already reached one-fifth of the realm of his mental state.

This is already considered extremely rare.

After all, he only cultivates the way of the sword, unlike me, who can simultaneously integrate other artistic concepts to conduct comprehensive deduction and improvement.

Jiang Xuan waved his hand, and after Yan Shisan withdrew his domain, he thought for a moment and said, "Your Thirteen Deadly Swords should have a fourteenth sword, and even a fifteenth sword."

"Fourteen swords?" Yan Shisan was taken aback.

Jiang Xuan nodded: "Your Thirteen Swords must have been based on the Thirteen Swords of your family, incorporating various martial arts and swordsmanship techniques, which is how you comprehended the sword intent, right?"

Yan Shisan admitted that the Thirteen Swords did indeed originate from this.

"Show me how to do it," Jiang Xuan said.

When it came to his own swordsmanship, Yan Shisan did not hesitate at all. He directly picked up a tree branch from the ground and began to practice.

He didn't hold anything back either. Jiang Xuan had already grasped the essence of swordsmanship and had long since transcended the realm of mere technique. Why would he care about his swordsmanship?
Moreover, he was confident that although the Thirteen Swords were strong, the truly strong one was himself, Yan Shisan!

swoosh~
A mere tree branch was wielded with such ferocity and power, filled with murderous intent; almost every sword strike was aimed at taking a life, without any superfluous techniques.

Jiang Xuan wasn't surprised, after all, Yan Shisan was originally an assassin.

"As expected..." Gradually, Jiang Xuan figured out some of the tricks and nodded secretly.

Soon, the thirteen swordsmanship demonstration was completed. Yan Shisan looked at Jiang Xuan with a questioning gaze.

"Your thirteen swords have fourteen variations. If you want to break through to the second realm of swordsmanship, the core of it probably lies in this fourteenth sword."

boom!
Yan Shisan was stunned, and a sound exploded in his mind.

After comprehending the essence of swordsmanship, his understanding of the way of the sword reached a new level, and he could naturally sense that his thirteen swords had a fourteenth variation.

But he didn't care.

Since we've already moved beyond the level of mere technique, there's no point in paying attention to the variations in swordplay anymore.

But now Jiang Xuan says that this fourteenth sword can enable him to enter the second realm of swordsmanship.

It's not that he couldn't think of this problem, it's just that he had never considered it in this direction before.

Now, with Jiang Xuan's guidance, the fog in his heart was instantly cleared.

Yes, although we've moved beyond the skill level, that doesn't mean we can't practice skills anymore.

He already made his name with the Thirteen Swords and achieved his artistic realm with the Thirteen Swords, so why can't he continue to improve his swordsmanship with the Thirteen Swords?

“Fourteen swords…” Yan Shisan murmured, his eyes gleaming.

Comprehending the essence of a concept is one path, but is the fourteenth sword also a path?
After a long while, he looked at Jiang Xuan, took a deep breath, and nodded, saying, "I will try."

Jiang Xuan nodded.

In the original novel, Yan Shisan was able to fight Xie Xiaofeng after comprehending the fourteenth sword technique, and he was able to kill Xie Xiaofeng after comprehending the fifteenth sword technique.

In the end, however, he abandoned this sword technique, preferring to commit suicide rather than allow this sword technique, which was not of this world, to be born.

It is somewhat similar to the Sword Saint Dugu Jian's Twenty-Three Swords, both of which are swords that transcend life and death, and transcend the mortal realm.

He had only just seen Yan Shisan's sword intent when he thought of this matter, so he offered a word of advice.

If Yan Shisan can truly use this opportunity to advance further, that would be ideal.

"Then what about the fifteenth sword?" Yan Shisan pressed, his eyes burning with desire. He had never imagined that his own sword could have a fifteenth sword.

Jiang Xuan shook his head: "I don't know."

"You don't know?" Yan Shisan was dumbfounded.

"I just feel that your thirteen swords should be more than this. How far you can go depends on yourself."

After saying this, Jiang Xuan shook his head and headed towards the town.

Yan Shisan stood in the night wind, frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook his head helplessly and followed.

The way of the sword cannot be mastered overnight.

However, having a goal is good.

Not long after, the two returned to Xiaoyue Tower.

It was already broad daylight, and the Imperial Guards were already waiting there.

Today, they are preparing to head north back to Beijing.

Last night, news came from Chenzhou that Chenzhou City had fallen and their mission was complete.

As for the subsequent tasks such as clearing out the remaining members of the White Lotus Sect and disaster relief and reconstruction, others will handle those.

"Master!" Lin Ping stepped forward and bowed.

Jiang Xuan nodded and asked, "Has the person arrived?"

Just as Lin Pingzhi was about to speak, a slender figure stepped out from inside and bowed slightly: "Greetings, Your Excellency."

The woman, dressed in a light green long gown, had a beautiful face; she was none other than Ren Yingying.

Beside her was Lan Fenghuang from the Five Poisons Sect.

Three days ago, Ren Woxing also successfully eliminated Yang Lianting, regained control of the Sun Moon Sect, and led his men back to Bitter Sea Town to pay their respects.

Jiang Xuan kept his word and told him to handle the Miao people's rebellion himself. As long as it didn't cause major turmoil, he wouldn't take action against the Sun Moon Cult again.

In other words, as long as the Sun Moon Sect ceases to be an enemy of the imperial court, it can openly roam the martial world without being wanted by the court.

It's like moving from underground to the open, gaining official protection.

However, just in case, Jiang Xuan still planned to take Ren Yingying away, essentially as a hostage.

If the Sun Moon Cult outwardly complies but inwardly defies it, Ren Yingying will naturally be the first to die.

Ren Woxing naturally understood Jiang Xuan's meaning. Although he was reluctant to part with such a daughter, he dared not refuse and could only reluctantly agree.

Ren Yingying was well aware of her purpose and had no objections. She was willing to do anything to protect her father and the Sun Moon Cult.

Moreover, in her view, Jiang Xuan was of extraordinary status, and if she could get his help, she might be able to gradually change the status of the Miao people.

So when her father told her about it, she agreed without hesitation.

As for the Blue Phoenix, it was included as a bonus.

Leaving home for the capital alone is inevitably somewhat lonely.

"Is everything ready?" Jiang Xuan asked, glancing at Lan Fenghuang next to Ren Yingying, but didn't say anything more.

"Mm." Ren Yingying nodded.

"Let's go."

Jiang Xuan nodded, went inside to pack his things quickly, and then led his men away from Bitter Sea Town, heading back to the capital. The White Lotus Rebellion was over.

……

Beijing.

Since the new emperor ascended the throne and the eunuch faction was destroyed.

In the past six months, internal and external wars have broken out frequently, catching Zhu Youjian off guard and leaving him in a state of chaos.

Fortunately, he heeded the advice of Jiang Xuan and his officials, and reinstated Sun Chengzong, Yuan Chonghuan, and others, thus stabilizing the situation in Liaodong.

Half a month ago, another victory came from the Northwest. Under the combined attack of Hong Chengchou and Qin Liangyu, the leaders of the rebel army, Gao Yingxiang and Ma Guangyu, were killed. Zhang Xianzhong was defeated and surrendered to the Ming Dynasty. Only Gao Yingxiang's nephew, Li Zicheng, escaped with dozens of his remaining troops and hid in the mountains.

The great victory in suppressing bandits in the Northwest was a shot in the arm for the crumbling Ming Dynasty, greatly boosting morale.

This also relieved Chief Prosecutor Zhu You.

Now, only the White Lotus Sect in Huguang remains, and the internal strife has been completely quelled.

However, the fact that Jiang Xuan had embezzled disaster relief funds in Kaifeng Prefecture, and that he had colluded with the Prince of Fu in Luoyang to allow powerful families in Shandong and Henan to seize military farmland and oppress the people, reignited Zhu Youjian's boundless anger.

During this period, intelligence from the Northern Garrison Command continued to arrive from various places.

Throughout Shandong and Henan provinces, and even across the country, it is common to see powerful families seizing land and colluding with local officials to engage in corruption.

The sheer size of the land they seized and the vast amount of money they embezzled are appalling.

This further enraged Zhu Youjian.

With all the evidence gathered, Zhu Youjian could no longer tolerate it and directly ordered the Northern Garrison and the Three Judicial Offices to investigate and prosecute, resulting in the arrest of more than a dozen ministers in the court.

This even includes two cabinet ministers.

The embezzlement of disaster relief funds was the work of these two cabinet ministers, and the memorials submitted by Lu Xiang-sheng and others were also suppressed by them.

The eunuch faction had just been destroyed, yet these people dared to continue embezzling disaster relief funds and deceiving the emperor. This was a grave offense to Zhu Youjian, reminding him of the days when he was oppressed by the eunuch faction and dared not even step out of the palace. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he could no longer tolerate it.

After the investigation was completed, he disregarded the advice of his court officials and directly ordered the Northern Garrison to take action, resulting in a large number of executions.

This incident shook the imperial court, and everyone felt insecure.

Upon learning that the Northern Garrison Command was still investigating the encroachment of powerful families on military farmland and civilian farmland, many officials were greatly alarmed.

In just over ten days, officials of all ranks in the court submitted memorials one after another, some even threatening to die for their cause, while others impeached the Northern Garrison Commander, all wanting to stop the investigation.

Clearly, few of these people in the court have clean hands.

Whether it was the Donglin Party or other political parties such as Qi, Chu, and Zhe, weren't they all from prominent families?
Even if they themselves did not participate in the encroachment on military and agricultural land, their families, to varying degrees, were involved in such activities behind the scenes.

Pulled around and moved the whole body.

If this matter is thoroughly investigated, the entire court will have to undergo a purge, which will plunge the entire Ming Dynasty into great turmoil.

Zhu Youjian clearly understood this principle as well.

But those military and agricultural lands that were seized were all state property, in other words, they were Zhu Youjian's property.

When land is seized by powerful families, it means less tax revenue, which in turn means less income for the individual.

How could he be willing to do this?
After discussion, Zhu Youjian decided not to pursue the crime, but all the military and agricultural lands seized by powerful families must be measured and counted and returned to the local garrisons and the people.

But who would willingly spit out meat that has already been swallowed?

In the past few days, Zhu Youjian has been arguing with his officials, but they have not yet reached a conclusion.

The same is true today.

After arguing with his officials, Zhu Youjian sat on the dragon throne, his face gloomy, his teeth almost grinding to powder.

Only now did he realize just how difficult it was to be an emperor.

No matter what you do, it's almost impossible to move an inch without the approval of all the officials.

Fortunately, he also controlled the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, thus gaining control of his own eyes.

Otherwise, he probably wouldn't even have the right to interfere in important matters of the court.

These hypocritical scoundrels, who knows how audacious they are, who knows how many despicable things they've done behind his back!
"Your Majesty, I would like to reiterate that the eunuch faction has only recently been destroyed and Your Majesty has just declared a general amnesty, punishing only the ringleaders and leaving the accomplices unpunished."

"This matter involves far-reaching implications. If Your Majesty insists on investigating it and resorts to force again, it will surely cause turmoil in our Great Ming Dynasty, and the flames of war will spread once more within the country. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"

A cabinet minister, with tears streaming down his face, tried his best to dissuade him, as if everything he did was for the sake of the Ming Dynasty.

If the Northern Garrison Command hadn't already discovered that this person's family had also embezzled a large amount of military land, Zhu Youjian might have actually believed it.

But now, he only feels nauseous.

These bastards!
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"

Many ministers spoke out at the same time, all wanting to protect their own interests.

Zhu Youjian's gaze turned cold as he looked at Yang Sichang and the other neutral party officials, asking, "Minister Yang, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

"Your Majesty, I...I believe that what Lord Huang said makes sense. With the war still raging, we should not resort to violence or conduct large-scale investigations."

Yang Sichang answered with a forced smile.

Although he was not afraid to measure the fields, this was a really big deal, and he couldn't bear the responsibility if it caused unrest.

Zhu Youjian's breathing quickened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "No matter what, all the aristocratic families, including the regional princes, must return the land they have seized. This is my bottom line!"

Several cabinet ministers exchanged glances. Grand Secretary Han Kuang nodded imperceptibly and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, these are all hidden dangers left over from the years when the eunuch faction held power. After all, Your Majesty is also aware of the circumstances at that time."

“Even if we need to measure the land, it’s not something that can be done in a day or two. I think we should put this matter aside for now.”

That's easy for you to say!

The eunuch faction is already dead, and now they want to pin everything on them with just a casual remark?
Zhu Youjian sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, and asked, "What is Minister Han's opinion?"

Han Kuang said solemnly, "With the war still raging, I think we should first quell the internal strife of the White Lotus Sect and the war in Liaodong, and reclaim the Liaodong Peninsula that was occupied by the Qing army. After the overall situation of the court is stable, we can then deal with domestic affairs."

"I second the proposal!"

A minister stepped forward and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, to repel external enemies, one must first pacify the internal situation. Although the Northwest rebel army has been wiped out, the internal strife within the White Lotus Sect has lasted for nearly a year."

"The entire Shandong, Henan, Hubei and Hunan regions, and even most of the Jiangnan region, were thrown into chaos by the White Lotus Rebellion, and the people suffered greatly."

"The Emperor promoted Lu Xiang-sheng and Zhu Xie-yuan to suppress the White Lotus rebels, but so much time has passed now, and the White Lotus sect has not only not been destroyed, but has instead fled to the Huguang region."

"I have heard that the White Lotus Army has looted the entire Huguang region, leaving nine out of ten houses empty, with hundreds of thousands of civilians killed or injured, and countless houses burned down."

"This is due to the incompetence of the commander-in-chief. I must impeach Commander-in-Chief Lu Xiang-sheng and Zhu Xie-yuan for dereliction of duty!"

Zhu Youjian frowned, sensing something was wrong.

How did the topic shift to the White Lotus Sect?

"The White Lotus Army broke through the blockade and fled to the Huguang region. This was due to the interference of people from the martial arts world. I have ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to assist Lu Xiang-sheng in dealing with those martial arts bandits," Zhu Youjian explained.

"Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been away from the capital for more than two months, but so far no good news has come. On the contrary, the people of Huguang have been repeatedly harassed by the White Lotus rebels. What is the reason for this?"

The official solemnly replied, "This must be the work of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in dereliction of duty!"

"I second the proposal!"

Another person stepped forward and echoed, "Your Majesty, I want to impeach Jiang Xuan, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, for abusing his power and neglecting his duties, causing heavy casualties among the people of Huguang!"

“Indeed, His Majesty ordered him to assist Lu Xiang-sheng in suppressing the bandits, but he bullied the local gentry and local bullies in Kaifeng Prefecture, using his power to oppress people. When he failed to extort money, he privately investigated and confiscated their property, causing unrest among the people. I implore Your Majesty to dismiss and investigate him!” Another minister remonstrated.

"I second the proposal!"

"I also second the proposal!"

Within moments, almost the entire court of civil and military officials echoed the sentiment, representing various political factions.

Just then, Han Kuang casually added, "Your Majesty, I have also heard that Jiang Xuan is colluding with underground forces in the capital to oppress merchants and common people and to compete with them for profit."

"Nowadays, the underground forces in both the eastern and western parts of the capital have all submitted to him and become his henchmen. They only know Jiang Xuan and are not afraid of the Emperor. This is illegal, forming cliques for personal gain, raising private armies, and competing with the people for profit!"

"Your Majesty, I impeach Jiang Xuan for his treasonous act and plot to rebel. I implore you to immediately order his dismissal and investigation!" another official immediately declared, accusing him of treason.

In an instant, almost the entire court of civil and military officials began to target Jiang Xuan.

After a moment of stunned silence, Zhu Youjian's face darkened, and he finally understood the true purpose of the officials.

The investigation into the military farmland was triggered by the Kaifeng Prefecture case.

Seeing his resolute attitude, the officials shifted their focus to Jiang Xuan, who had caused the incident, and wanted to cripple him!

However, every single impeachment by the officials, though exaggerated, had its basis in fact.

Jiang Xuan led his men away from the capital for several months, but still no good news came.
In the Kaifeng Prefecture incident, Jiang Xuan used the pretext of borrowing money and grain from local gentry to relieve the people, which led to the embezzlement of disaster relief funds and the encroachment of military farmland by local gentry families. He then arbitrarily confiscated the property and exterminated the clan without prior notification or request.

As for Han Kuang's claim about colluding with the underground forces in the capital, he had indeed heard about it before. It was during the assassination attempt on Jiang Xuan that the entire underground forces in the capital were mobilized to help search for the assassin, which led to impeachments from many officials.

As for keeping a private army, he had never heard of it.

However, now that Han Kuang has said this, he has some doubts.

However, it is clear that the court officials have shifted their focus to Jiang Xuan in order to prevent him from investigating the land, so he naturally cannot do as everyone wishes.

Money is his bottom line!

"The matter of suppressing the bandits is subject to many changes and cannot be accomplished in a short period of time. As for the matter of Kaifeng Prefecture, I granted him the authority to act first and report later, and he reported to me in a timely manner afterward. After a review by the Northern Garrison Command, there was no violation of authority in this case. As for what Grand Secretary Han said about competing with the people for profit, I will summon him to court when Jiang Xuan returns to the capital and ask him about it clearly."

Zhu Youjian spoke in a deep voice, choosing to uphold the agreement.

But the crowd refused to back down.

"Your Majesty, winter is approaching, and the situation in Huguang is extremely precarious. If he fails to eliminate the White Lotus rebels soon, the court will have to spend a lot of manpower and resources on disaster relief. Who will bear this responsibility?"

"That's right, but what if he doesn't come back for three to five years?"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you immediately issue an edict to dismiss him from his post and arrest him, bringing him back to the capital for questioning!"

"You..." Zhu Youjian was furious.

Rebellious ministers and traitors!

They're all a bunch of traitors and rebels!
You're pushing me too far!

Zhu Youjian gritted his teeth, his eyes revealing a murderous intent filled with resentment. He even considered throwing everything away to imprison and execute all these treacherous officials.

Han Kuang saw this but was not afraid at all. He sneered inwardly and was about to step forward to speak.

But then, a loud, excited shout suddenly came from outside:
"Report~!"

"Good news——"

"A great victory at Yongzhou!"

Zhu Youjian's spirits lifted, and he quickly stood up, ordering, "Wang Chengen, go out and see what's going on!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Wang Chengen hurriedly ran out.

The officials' expressions changed slightly. Could it really be such a coincidence?!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

A moment later, Wang Chengen rushed in excitedly with a battle report in his hand, shouting, "Great victory at Yongzhou! Great victory! Our army has captured Yongzhou! The White Lotus Sect has been wiped out!"

The officials were all visibly shaken; it was truly...

Zhu Youjian was overjoyed, laughed heartily, and waved his hand, saying, "Read it! Read it to me in front of all the ministers!"

"Yes!"

Wang Chengen, suppressing his excitement, unfolded the battle report and began to read it aloud:
"On July 13, our army marched south from Tang County and split into two routes to suppress the bandits in Yongzhou and Chenzhou respectively."

"On July 28th, we set up camp in Hengzhou, where we were attacked by the Miao bandits, led by the Five Poison Boy, who poisoned our camp. Fortunately, Jiang Xuan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, had taken precautions in advance and was stationed in the central army, successfully repelling the bandits and averting the crisis..."

"On the fourth day of the eighth month, we arrived at Yongzhou City and launched the first attack on the city. However, the White Lotus rebels used evil magic to create poisonous corpses to assist in the defense of the city. The attack failed and we retreated."

"On the seventh day of the eighth month, the second attack on the city was launched. Over a thousand White Lotus rebels were killed, but the siege failed..."

"On August 12th, during the third siege, Jiang Xuan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, shot dozens of poisonous corpses of the White Lotus Army from the front lines. He charged into the enemy lines alone, killing Dongfang Bubai, the leader of the Sun Moon Divine Sect, Wudu Tongzi, the leader of the Miao Paradise Cave, and many other Jianghu bandits. He captured the leader of the White Lotus Sect alive. Our army broke through the city and achieved a great victory..."

After marching south from Kaifeng, Wang Chengen recounted in detail every battle the Ming army encountered, large and small.

And almost every one of these events is inseparable from Jiang Xuan's name.

Preventing enemy attacks and poisoning; on the battlefield, defeating generals and breaching cities, capturing the White Lotus Sect leader and several elders and altar masters alive...

It sounds like something out of a myth.

Those were tens of thousands of White Lotus Cult members. He went deep into the enemy lines alone, killed the enemy general, and even captured the White Lotus Cult leader alive.
Is this something a human being can do?

"Great! Excellent!" Zhu Youjian exclaimed excitedly, overjoyed.

He didn't understand what it meant to be a martial artist or a grandmaster; all he knew was that he had won!
The White Lotus Sect has been wiped out!

Jiang Xuan deserves the most credit for all of this!

This proves that Zhu Youjian (the emperor) did not misjudge the person!

"Now, what else do you gentlemen have to say?" Zhu Youjian looked at the officials, his eyes filled with sarcasm.

Everyone looked grim, feeling worse than if they had swallowed a dead fly.

That damned lackey! He sent him to suppress bandits, and now he's investigating some kind of embezzlement case involving disaster relief funds. All those shady dealings behind their backs have been unearthed by the Northern Garrison Command.

They had no other choice but to shift their focus, intending to get rid of this troublesome fellow first, thus crippling the emperor. That way, even if a thorough investigation of the fields were to be conducted, they would suffer fewer losses.

But now that this scoundrel has made such a great contribution, how can we continue to pursue impeachment?
Han Kuang's gaze was gloomy as he said, "Your Majesty, although the White Lotus Sect has been destroyed, the evidence is irrefutable that Jiang Xuan colluded with underground forces in the capital, raised private soldiers, and oppressed merchants and common people. I urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

"I will have the Northern Garrison investigate this matter. When Jiang Xuan returns, I will also summon him to court to give me and all my ministers an explanation!"

A hint of impatience appeared in Zhu Youjian's eyes.

He had previously thought that Han Kuang was loyal and capable, and that he was able to maintain his position in the cabinet despite being caught between different political parties, without ever overstepping his bounds, which clearly showed that he was a capable person.

Therefore, after removing the former Grand Secretary Guo Yantang, he promoted him to the new Grand Secretary to relieve his burden.

But now, he felt that this guy was the real villain who appeared loyal, and that the joint memorial submitted by the officials in the past few days was all thanks to this guy's behind-the-scenes instigation.

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Youjian's eyes. He waved his hand to suppress the other officials who wanted to submit memorials, and said in a deep voice, "This matter ends here. Other matters can be discussed after the disaster in Huguang is dealt with!"

"Retreat!"

Amidst the respectful farewells of the officials, Zhu Youjian departed with Wang Chengen.

As expected, as soon as Zhu Youjian left, the officials surrounded him and began to discuss it in hushed tones.

"Lord Han, it seems the Emperor intends to thoroughly investigate this matter. What should we do now?"

"Yes, which of us hasn't had our land encroached upon? If all of it were measured, how much would we lose?"

"Those lowly people, it's already an immense favor that we've been given to them to be tenant farmers and manage our land. They want me to return the land to them? That's wishful thinking!"

"Lord Zhao, be careful what you say."

"Hmph! What's there to be afraid of saying? It's not just a few families that have encroached on military and farmland. Throughout the entire court, and even the whole of the Ming Dynasty, how many families can withstand investigation?"

"Exactly, if we don't take it, someone else will. Why should we let those who are less powerful than us benefit?"

"I don't believe they'll obediently spit out the fat meat they've already got in their mouths. Once the Emperor orders a thorough investigation, it will definitely cause unrest. It's not that I'm reluctant to give up my own land; this is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty!"

"It's a pity that we couldn't get rid of that henchman of the Embroidered Uniform Guard this time. That traitor is truly despicable; he is a rebel who wants to overthrow our Great Ming Dynasty!"

"Although this thief is despicable, he is quite capable. He has made a great contribution in suppressing the thief this time. After returning to the capital, the emperor will definitely value him even more. He might even put him in charge of measuring the fields. What should we do?"

"Lord Han, please say something!"

Han Kuang waved his hand slightly, his face gloomy, and said, "There are too many people here, so it's not convenient to say more. Besides, His Majesty has already made up his mind, so there's no point in discussing it now. Let me consider this matter further."

After saying this, Han Kuang left.

A group of officials, led by him, looked at each other, their brows furrowed, and sighed deeply.

……

into the night.

The Han residence was brightly lit by candlelight.

Han Kuang stood in the room with his hands behind his back, and two other people stood behind him.

One of them was tall and thin, with graying temples. His gaunt face seemed to carry three parts sickness and seven parts majesty, making people dare not underestimate him.

This man was none other than Du Tongxuan, the top underground boss in the South District.

The man in black beside Du Tongxuan was his bodyguard, who was always by his side. He had a gaunt and ugly face with deep-set eyes, but his hands were extremely large and his temples were full, clearly indicating that he was a person with profound martial arts skills.

"The master doesn't seem to be in a good mood. If I'm not mistaken, he must have failed?" Du Tongxuan said, showing little respect for Han Kuang, as if they were communicating on equal terms.

Han Kuang didn't care and said with a stern face, "The war in Yongzhou is over. He helped Lu Xiang-sheng quell the White Lotus Rebellion. The battle report just came back today, which caused all our efforts to be in vain."

"Moreover, the Emperor has clearly seen that our goal is to eliminate Jiang Xuan and is doing his best to protect him, which I am powerless to do."

Du Tongxuan shook his head and sighed: "Such a person is truly terrifying. He is like the protagonist in a folk novel. He is blessed with a destiny and can turn danger into safety time and time again. Moreover, once he gains power, he will quickly rise to a height that ordinary people cannot reach."

"Then what should we do now?" Han Kuang asked, looking very troubled.

Du Tongxuan pondered for a moment, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and said, "Originally, our plan was just to make him lose power so as not to ruin our master's important affairs, but now it seems that we have no choice but to take drastic measures."

"Kill him?!" Han Kuang's expression changed slightly.

"That's all!"

Du Tongxuan nodded: "I've also heard about the war in Yongzhou. In just over two years, he has already been able to easily kill a Grandmaster. His martial arts talent is terrifying. If we allow him to continue to grow, he will surely become a major threat to our future success!"

Han Kuang pondered for a moment, glanced at the man in black next to Du Tongxuan, and said, "So what do you plan to do? Have your men take action?"

"I am no match for him." The man in black suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse. "I knew it the last time we met. His sword intent is terrifying; it could kill me!"

"Even you are no match for him?!" Han Kuang's eyes widened in disbelief.

Although he didn't know martial arts, he had witnessed this man in black fight over the years. No matter what kind of person the opponent was, this man in black almost never missed.

The man in black calmly said, "He could easily kill Dongfang Bubai and the White Lotus Sect Leader, and he could easily kill me too. I won't do anything I'm not sure I can handle."

"What should I do?"

Han Kuang frowned deeply: "Should we report to the King... and have him send someone over?"

"We can't touch the people on the master's side; if we do, we'll be exposed."

Du Tongxuan shook his head, pondered for a moment, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said, "I will handle this matter. Killing doesn't necessarily require personal intervention!"

Han Kuang glanced at him and said, "In short, we must not let him return to the capital. Once he's back in the capital, you won't have a chance to make a move."

"The capital city isn't as simple as you think."

“I understand.” Du Tongxuan nodded. “I witnessed it the night Wei Zhongxian launched the palace coup.”

Within the imperial palace, there exists a power capable of suppressing the martial arts world.

He never dared to be careless.

(End of this chapter)