The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 476 A Messy Discovery

"I know that Zhou Xuancheng alone cannot make up for the losses suffered by the Beggars' Sect and the lives of so many brothers in the Beggars' Sect."

However, what if my Ming Cult were to offer the Beggars' Sect an immense fortune? A fortune that your Beggars' Sect could not refuse, a fortune that would make up for everything.

"That's strange. We're a bunch of beggars who have never known what wealth or status is. We're content as long as we can get enough to eat."

Moreover, in my old beggar's eyes, no amount of wealth or status is as important as the lives of so many disciples in my gang.

"Please give me a few words before drawing a conclusion, Chief Hong."

As Nangong Luan spoke, he suddenly became somewhat excited. Sweat began to appear on the tip of his nose, and his eyes became somewhat manic. He waved his hands as he spoke.

"The Song Dynasty court is now corrupt and on the verge of collapse. The pro-war faction in the court has all lost power and cannot even save their lives. Only the pro-peace faction, those spineless cowards, are left. They do nothing but fight for power and profit and exploit the people on a large scale."

Official corruption, lax military preparedness, and years of exorbitant taxes and levies, coupled with the need to grovel before the Jin Dynasty in the north and pay an annual tribute of 300,000 taels of silver, have made life unbearable for the people under the Song Dynasty. They are now like a bundle of dry tinder, ready to ignite into a raging fire with just a spark.

Our Ming Cult, pitying the suffering of the people, has offered sacrifices to the sacred fire for generations. Whenever the imperial court oppresses the common people, our Ming Cult rises up in rebellion.

Our Ming Cult is the spark that ignites and burns everything. Now is the best time to rise up in rebellion, overthrow the Zhao family dynasty, and establish a new dynasty.

Now, if the Beggars' Sect is willing to join my Ming Cult and lend my Ming Cult a helping hand, I am willing to appoint Chief Hong as the Vice Chief, second only to the leader and above all others.

In the future, when I establish a new dynasty and rule the world, it will be no problem for Chief Hong to be granted a fiefdom and become a king. Even the disciples of the Beggars' Sect who beg for food every day will become people of high status.

"Chief Hong, tell me, isn't this a great fortune and opportunity for your Beggars' Sect from my Ming Cult? Compared to this, what are those previous misunderstandings between your two sides, and those mere lives?"

Nangong Luan became more and more excited as he spoke, completely immersed in the picture he was creating. After he finished speaking, he was panting heavily, which was unusual for someone of his martial arts skill level. This showed just how excited he was.

Even now, his chest was still heaving, his eyes were frighteningly bright, and he was staring straight at Hong Qigong, waiting for Hong Qigong's reply.

At this moment, whether it was Hong Qigong, Wu Chengyu, or even the Beggar Clan elders and eight-bag disciples who had some knowledge with them, they all had only one evaluation of Nangong Luan: an ambitious schemer.

He constantly talked about the corruption of the Southern Song Dynasty and the promises of official positions and wealth after the establishment of a new dynasty, but he never mentioned what principles the establishment of this dynasty would adhere to or how it would affect the common people.

The later rebel leader Li Zicheng was quite uncultured, but at least he could proclaim that "when the rebel leader comes, there will be no taxes," so on the surface, he was nominally thinking of the common people.

All Nangong Luan wanted was to rebel; he never considered how many families would be destroyed and lives lost in the process.

All his ideals and ambitions stemmed from his own ambition, without ever considering the price he would have to pay.

The "spark" he speaks of is probably burning his own ambition and the lives and fortunes of ordinary people. This guy's name is well-chosen; it's a perfect example of chaos.

However, while Nangong Luan was giving his excited speech, Wu Chengyu listened while keeping his eyes on Fang Yu.

Although Nangong Luan spoke of the Ming Cult without mentioning himself, the subtext was that he already regarded himself as the leader of the Ming Cult. He even talked about what he would do after establishing a new dynasty, without any regard for the leader Fang Yu behind him.

Fang Yu's face turned red and white in turns, looking extremely pale. His eyes were always lowered and staring at the ground, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking. However, his fists were clenched so tightly that his body could be seen trembling slightly.

Now Wu Chengyu understood everything. It was obvious that the Ming Cult was in turmoil, and Fang Yu, the leader, had been sidelined or even coerced. The one in charge now was the Left Guardian of Light, Nangong Luan.

Zhou Xuancheng, the Golden-Faced Fox King who was just beaten into a cripple and thrown out to take the blame, should belong to Fang Yu's side. He was captured in this rebellion and became a victim of the Ming Cult's internal strife.

Hong Qigong squinted. He had no interest in Fang Yu, but he already understood Nangong Luan's nature very well.

"Do you know that if we raise the flag of rebellion, those suffering people will probably lose their lives and won't even have the right to complain?"

"So what? As long as a new dynasty can be established, everything is worthwhile. Those common people should be happy even if they die."

"Then how can my Beggars' Sect help you?"

"Your Beggars' Sect has tens of thousands of disciples, most of whom know some martial arts. With a little training, they can become an army of tens of thousands."

Moreover, your Beggars' Sect has accumulated a considerable amount of money and provisions over the years, which can be used as military funds. Furthermore, your Beggars' Sect is well-informed and can gather intelligence for my Ming Cult.

"As long as your Beggars' Sect is willing to join my Ming Cult, our great cause can be accomplished. In the future, I will certainly not treat the Beggars' Sect unfairly. I, Nangong Luan, hereby swear..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wu Chengyu interrupted him, because he simply couldn't bear to listen anymore.

"I think I understand now. This guy wants to get something for nothing. The army belongs to the Beggars' Sect, the army pays the soldiers, and he wants the Beggars' Sect's intelligence system. Then he wants to help him establish a new dynasty and make him emperor. Seventh Master, is this guy out of his mind, or does he think we're all idiots?"

Hong Qigong remained silent with a sullen face, while Wu Chengyu turned his face to Fang Yu, who had been keeping his head down behind him.

"I say, Master Fang, it seems you've been completely manipulated by your subordinates and turned into a puppet. Why don't you hand over the Great Shift of the Universe to me, and I'll help you take down this Nangong Luan? You definitely won't lose out on this deal."

Fang Yu raised his head slightly, but quickly lowered it again, remaining silent.

Nangong Luan then turned his attention to Wu Chengyu: "You are Wu Chengyu. Although I don't know where you came from, it is truly rare for someone so young to have such martial arts skills."

Since you are fond of martial arts, my Ming Cult possesses countless extraordinary skills and techniques. As long as you submit to me, I can teach you all of them. If you achieve great merit in the future, I can even give you the Great Shift of the Universe. I, Nangong Luan, have spoken my word and will never go back on it.”

As soon as he said that, Wu Chengyu wanted to retort, but before he could even unleash his sharp tongue, someone nearby objected.

The three ghost generals, who smelled both fragrant and foul, and had been standing silently to the side, finally reacted.

One of the men spoke up, his tone somewhat strange: "Lan Gonglan, you promised that as long as we help you, you'll give us the Qiankun Great Shift. How can you go back on your word?"

Nangong Luan frowned slightly, somewhat impatient, at the way the ghost general was addressed.

"I told you that as long as you do things for me, I will give you the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, but I never said that it would only be given to you."

It's just a martial art; no one has ever been able to master it, and it has even killed many sect leaders, yet everyone is eager to learn it.

What I value is the empire, my grand cause. A mere secret manual is insignificant to me. As long as you obey, I will copy it for you immediately upon returning to Bright Peak. A king's word is his bond.

At this point, the three ghost generals immediately removed their bamboo hats, revealing their true faces, and spoke urgently.

"No, the Great Shift of the Universe is a sacred skill of our sect, and we must take it back to Persia. We cannot give it to anyone else."

Wu Chengyu was speechless. He had many guesses about these three people, but he still couldn't figure them out.

After all that, it turns out they were three burly white men. Considering the background of the Ming Cult, these three people should be Manichaeans from Persia, just like the three mysterious wind envoys in the later novel "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," who also had the idea of ​​using the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.

The so-called ghost generals were not living dead, but were actually the ghosts of foreign devils. In the eyes of ordinary people at that time, their appearance was really similar to that of ghosts.

As for the foul smell that had to be suppressed with perfume powder, Wu Chengyu finally knew what it was.

Compared to Asians, Caucasians are actually less evolved. In addition to having coarse body hair, large pores, and more allergens, they also have a stronger body odor, and some individuals have severe bromhidrosis (body odor).

These three people are probably among the worst sufferers of body odor among Caucasians. After arriving in the Central Plains, it's likely that the people around them couldn't stand them and had to buy them face powder to suppress the pungent smell.

Wu Chengyu is a bit of a conspiracy theorist and never thinks things in a positive light. So at first he thought it was a special arrangement by the Ming Cult, or even some kind of drug. Now it seems the truth is just that simple, or rather, just that absurd.

Wu Chengyu looked at the three white men with a sense of helplessness, wondering where these three clowns had come from.

At this moment, Hong Qigong finally spoke: "Although our Beggars' Clan are all beggars, we all come from the common people. On ordinary days, we beg for food and are supported by kind-hearted people."

The Beggars' Sect had many problems and was bound to harbor filth and evil, but they never thought of rebelling because they knew that if they rebelled, the most miserable ones would be the common people.

The Song Dynasty had been weak for a long time and was indeed extremely corrupt, but the common people still had food to eat and were not without a way to survive. If someone like you were to succeed, the world would be plunged into chaos and suffering.

As the saying goes, those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. The feud between the Ming Cult and my Beggars' Sect must be settled. I, Hong Qigong, will not allow such an ambitious person as you to harm the world.

The old beggar spoke with unwavering resolve, and the beggars behind him, including Ah Ku, also stood tall with firm gazes, united in their hatred of the enemy.

A person like Nangong Luan will never understand what righteousness is. He did not understand Hong Qigong's answer and was furious.

“Old beggar Hong, no one can stop the great cause of my Ming Cult and the ambition of Nangong Luan. If your Beggar Clan refuses to surrender, you, the Northern Beggar, and all these beggars will die here today.”

Without you, it will be a piece of cake for me to take over the Beggars' Sect; it will just take a little more effort.

I'm giving you one more chance. Will you submit? Don't be ungrateful.

(End of this chapter)