Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 165 Mantle Space Travel

On April 5th of the second year of the Tianyou calendar, the Wu family army learned the devastating news that their old commander had died from the mouths of the monks who had fallen into the sea.

Wu Hengyu was plunged into deep grief, and the entire Northern Route Army began to wear mourning clothes. Even the generals of the Eastern Market Army expressed their respect for the dead.

From the perspective of all parties within Bohai, they cannot see the evil deeds committed by Wu Hanluan.

After hearing about this, the young men of Yaodu felt more empathy for Wu Hanluan's fate: this old general guarded the border for Da Yao, but in the end he only became a marquis in Zhen, and was killed by treacherous officials in the court.

These soldiers in the Eastern City Army couldn't help but wonder if, having made such great contributions to the country, they would be rewarded the same way as Wu Hanluan next year.
As twilight descended, the generals of the Eastern Market Army grew increasingly disloyal to the imperial court. Even the thunder in the sky sounded muffled.

Seeing Wu Hengyu silently weeping, Wu Fei seemed to realize something, and thus gave him one last helping hand before he left.

…With the old man gone, we had to start thinking about dividing the family property…

Before leaving, Wu Fei made arrangements for the handover of the army, including plans for rewards and punishments in the final battle to destroy Hao.

Wu Fei knew that Wu Hengyu was exceptionally brave, but he had a serious problem with rewards and punishments. While others eagerly awaited titles and rewards, he was oblivious to people's feelings.

Therefore, when destroying Hao, what merit and rank should be awarded for advancing first, and what rank should be awarded for capturing the city? If these are not handled properly, problems will arise. And Wu Hengyu will definitely overlook a crucial point, which is the rank that should be given to those who surrender in battle.

In front of the main tent, Wu Fei announced the reward and punishment regulations for the Northern Route Army's future conquests in front of Wu Hengyu. An officer in the army asked, "Sir, does this mean that even if the enemy surrenders a city, they will be granted a noble title?"

All the soldiers in the tent looked at Wu Fei. Wu Fei said slowly and deliberately, "The primary objective of this battle is to destroy Hao. No meritorious official can be missing in this battle. Even those of the Dragon Descendant can be rewarded and ennobled as long as they restore order."

"After we conquer the false Hao, only the traitorous chieftain must not be spared. If the traitorous chieftain commits suicide and his family is willing to offer his head as a tribute to the city, then he can be given a grand burial and his descendants will be treated well!" Wu Fei was offering a way out for those around Hao Wang to surrender and a "dignified" ending.

For a subject, in a situation where defeat is inevitable, as long as he gives his ruler dignity (by committing suicide), he has fulfilled his loyalty. As for the ruler, if he doesn't want that dignity, then he puts the subject in a difficult position.

For example, the last emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty made things difficult for Wu Sangui, forcing him to end his life in an undignified manner.

Wu Hengyu remained silent, lost in grief, and had no intention of expressing his opinion at this moment.

Wu Fei knew from their previous private discussion that he didn't have such a detailed plan.

If Wu Hengyu were to attack the city, he would certainly have the power of life and death over the loser.

So at that time, Wu Fei tried hard to persuade him, saying, "Our biggest enemy right now may become certain forces within the Great Yao. So why not turn the wolf into a dog?" Only then did Wu Hengyu realize the truth and acquiesce to this rule.

Before the assembled generals, Wu Fei read aloud all the reward and punishment regulations, then presented them to Wu Hengyu. He then took one last look at the generals of the Eastern Market Army.

Wu Fei has already formulated a strategic objective for Wu Hengyu's forces, identifying the future strategic enemies as the Hao Kingdom and the various warlords of Da Yao. If the Hao Kingdom were to retreat, then Wu Hengyu would only be able to fight the warlords of Da Yao.

In this way, yesterday's purpose was to prevent the dragon descendants from entering the pass, while today's purpose is to bring the dragon descendants out of the pass.

This absurd result led Wu Fei to argue: "In terms of entering the pass, Wu Sangui leading the Qing into the pass and Li Tang leading the Xianbei into the pass are essentially different, aren't they?"

In truth, Wu Fei was also uncertain. In his rational analysis, the reason why the Li Tang dynasty was able to bring the Xianbei into the pass was simply because the Five Barbarian tribes had been causing chaos for too long, and the expectations of the Han aristocratic families for the imperial lineage had been lowered again and again to the lowest point.
Although the Li Tang dynasty's paternal lineage can be traced back to the Han dynasty, its people adopted a barbarian-influenced style. In the early years of its founding, it faced rejection from major Han Chinese clans due to its surname. Later, it gradually won over the people by continuously suppressing barbarian tribes and restoring Han authority. The Northern Route Army and the Eastern Market Army in Bozhou absorbed non-Han ethnic groups and married women of other ethnicities as their principal wives, which was also a form of "barbarianization." In Da Yao, the imperial line is unbroken for ten thousand generations, and Wu Fei is unsure whether the various factions within Da Yao will be so "open" as to accept impure border armies into their rule.

Of course, even if problems arise in Bohai and Yan in the future, Wu Fei shrugged: "They'll just fall into Heng Yu's hands."

After the rewards and punishments were determined, just as Wu Fei was preparing to ride the peacock back home, Yu Li was brought over by Wu Hengyu.

The dragon descendant looked at Wu Fei and said, "Lord of the Army, on your journey back, you will inevitably encounter all sorts of people blocking your way within the Great Yao territory. I have a technique that can allow you to travel ninety thousand miles on the wind."

Wu Fei paused slightly, looked at Wu Hengyu, and his cousin nodded, clearly indicating that he had Yu Meiren firmly under his control.

"This woman captured in the Great Swamp is said to be a descendant of dragon nobility. Tsk tsk, if Zhao Cheng becomes disloyal in the future, this claim could be a hidden weapon." Wu Xiaoque secretly plotted how to make things difficult for Zhao Cheng.

Wu Fei: "Please enlighten me, sister-in-law."

Yu Li blushed, her chin blushing, and her jawline turned a deep blue, as if she were ripe. She then looked at Wu Hengyu.

…The perspective shifts to the Hao Kingdom…

On the bronze table, small jade beasts were placing different kinds of official documents under their feet. These paperweights were quite intelligent; if the document they were responsible for was mistakenly taken by another paperweight, they would ram and snatch it.

On Zhao Cheng's desk lay the latest reward and punishment orders of the Da Yao Northern Route Army, especially the news that Dragonborn could surrender and that the Dragon Slaying Order was no longer in effect. He nodded.

Zhao Cheng concluded that Wu Fei was probably gone. He began issuing orders and said to the people beside him, "Our troubles in taking control of the world are over."

The advisors beside Zhao Cheng immediately understood what was going on. The leader, a general named Hao Tian, ​​said to Zhao Cheng, "My lord, shall we step onto the jade steps (lead our troops into the palace to force the emperor to surrender)?"

Zhao Cheng looked at him, scoffed, and shook his head: "If our merits are insufficient to uphold the heavens, yet we presume to act on behalf of the emperor, wouldn't we be traitors and rebels?"

For a usurper, without establishing significant achievements, there is no real power to bestow official titles and ranks upon their subordinates. Forcibly seizing power to gain that title is futile. Most officials within the system will not play games with a usurper.

Only after conquering most of the territory and achieving great feats, and possessing the ability to bestow substantial titles, will the talented people of the land eagerly and tacitly accept the rise and fall of the usurper for the sake of those titles. However, then they cannot be called usurpers, because this empire was truly won through battle.

Zhao Cheng needs achievements more than Wu Fei right now, because he's currently an employee, and legally speaking, he could be fired by his boss at any time! Only by expanding rapidly and then transferring assets during that expansion can the ownership be usurped.

The reality of the company is this ruthless. The boss won't give you equity just because you do hard or technical work; they might even lay off technicians simply because their skills are stable. Only by climbing into a management position and getting involved in various company finances and equity transfers can you turn around and drag your boss into a debt trap, then collude with the mortgage company to take away the valuable assets and live a carefree life.

For Zhao Cheng, a fierce battle with Wu Fei in the field of military strategy would definitely allow him to bring his skills to their fullest potential.

But what happens after killing Wu Fei? Does he retire at thirty-five? Then he's summoned to the palace and stabbed to death by a group of palace maids with bamboo spears? Zhao Cheng's post-traumatic stress disorder has flared up.

However, if the company owner's son is a skilled technical expert, then it's a different story.

Zhao Cheng was quite envious of Wu Fei. First, he was capable, and second, he had a family fortune. In this chaotic world, he started working for him right away. As for Wu Fei going back to handle his family business...

Zhao Cheng: "It seems that the trouble over there (in Zhenzhou) won't bother him for long. It will be quelled within a year at most, and I'm certain of that—"

Zhao Cheng opened the map and pointed to a large circle of neighboring prefectures surrounding Zhenzhou, saying, "A bunch of fools in Da Yao will fall into this trap. (The warlords around Wu Hanluan are too eager to seize Zhenzhou.)"

Zhao Cheng turned his finger and pointed to the three states, including Yuhua Prefecture, to formulate a strategy.

Just three days after Zhao Cheng finalized the strategy, talented individuals from across Hao Kingdom gathered at the General's Mansion.

…The rise and fall of Pu'e's companions…

Meanwhile, in the palace, King Hao began to act tyrannically, looking at the court officials and beginning to distrust them.

Even though he had mocked the madness of those last dictators before his transmigration, he couldn't remain calm when faced with the situation himself. In a disunited army, everyone longed for the "end," and he found himself in a position to be the "full stop." As the deposed emperor, he wanted to make one last desperate attempt.

Meanwhile, Pu'e, who was soaring through the sky like a dragon, was determining the new stargate transmission parameters.

As clusters of blue starlight fell behind her, Pu'e quickly dodged. She turned her head to look at the direction of the blue meteors and found that they were heading straight for the palace where King Hao was.

Pu'e paused slightly, then sighed. Over the past year, the series of divide-and-conquer strategies left behind by Wu Fei in the North had stirred up the thoughts of all sorts of people in the entire Hao Kingdom from top to bottom, breaking them apart and leaving no room for unity or solidarity.

Pu'e felt uncomfortable with Zhao Cheng; but after observing and understanding Wu Fei, she grew to dislike him.

Perhaps it's because of this "disregard for rules and self-righteousness".

…the world was divided…

Pengze, where the water ripples, Wu Fei rode a peacock and led his team to arrive. A total of 527 people accompanied Wu Fei on this journey back.

This includes the younger generation like Wu Juwang, as well as members of the Wu family represented by Wu Hong. (Wu Hong travels north with Wu Fei in Chapter 120.)

These Wu family members, who had fought alongside Wu Hengyu in the Northern Route Army for over a decade, mostly came along to avenge their family's old lord, except for a few who had already settled down in Bo County.

Wu Fei had tried to persuade them that there was no need for them all to come back, but they said they were worried about their elders at home and insisted on coming back with them!

Wu Fei roughly understood their thoughts, so he allowed them to come with him as they wished.

Note: These members of the Wu family were uncomfortable working under Wu Hengyu, but couldn't openly express their dissatisfaction. They had been fighting against outsiders for over a decade and were now exhausted. Therefore, taking advantage of Wu Fei taking over the rewards and punishments under Wu Hengyu and compiling a record of their merits, they quickly jumped over, preparing to seamlessly integrate into the merit exchange system of Wu Fei's Southern Army.

Note: The merit book compiled by Wu Fei himself must be acknowledged by the officers of the Southern Route Army.

The five ghost chariots fell under Wu Fei's command, and the twelve chariots formed a chariot formation. As Yu Li activated the magic array of the Great Cave Heaven, the surrounding clouds began to envelop them. The entire army disappeared into the Great Cave Heaven.

Wu Fei activated his identification senses and then opened his eyes wide. Good heavens, the cave seemed to be a space elevator, extending endlessly to the mantle and curving southwards.

Wu Fei looked at the swirling vortex track and raised his hand. The peacock beside him, as if by telepathy, raised its wings along with Wu Fei. When Wu Fei's hand flapped slightly, the peacock flapped its wings in sync with Wu Fei's hand, and the surrounding vortex walls rippled gently with the flapping.

Wu Fei sensed that he could control the vortex orbit, so he began to operate it.

Based on his senses, Wu Fei avoided the interference of small vortices in his mantle travel path.

These small eddies, like the eddies in a pond that attract filth such as insect carcasses and decaying grass, are currently teeming with evil spirits.

These small eddies are the ponds and pools where the Yin energy is abundant, and the monsters and spirits in those pools are the branches that can discover the Great Cave Heaven when diving.

From Wu Fei's perspective, the opening and closing of those great caves is the source of the small vortex he is currently encountering underground.

When you move through these downward-hanging "vortex tails," you will encounter resistance. (Think of the vortex tail as the eddy tail inside a glass of water when you shake it.)
And then! With the peacock's cooperation, the vortex was stirred up deeper and deeper, and after passing through these small vortices, it began to travel into even deeper depths.

Just like the trajectories of rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles, both are trajectories, but the trajectory of an intercontinental ballistic missile is higher, which can avoid more atmospheric drag.

Wu Fei and Kong Que simultaneously revealed expressions of curiosity. As the vortex continued to expand, Wu Fei sensed the core of the planet and even discovered many energy bodies around it. These energy bodies flew around like small mosquitoes swirling around a lamp at night.

Wu Fei also discovered a familiar presence: the coordinates of the Vermilion Bird that had penetrated into the Earth's core.

This Vermilion Bird energy coordinate also discovered itself, and so it flew over from the Earth's core.

Immediately, Wu Fei waved his hand to indicate that he didn't want to go with it, and pointed in the direction of Tianchi City. The Vermilion Bird energy understood and began to escort it.

Gongshu Wang, who had accompanied Wu Fei south, looked at Wu Fei and asked, "Sir, can you control this Cave Heaven Travel?"

Gongshu Wang held the compass, gazing at the increasingly distant land above, feeling the power of mountains and rivers constantly converging along the shuttle's path. This power, gathering earth elemental fluctuations in the traversing space, propelled them faster and faster. His fingers trembled.

Wu Fei: "Oh, I didn't control myself." But after seeing Wu Ju's pale face, he changed his tune.

At this moment, in the navigation interface, the reflection of the Vermilion Bird circled around like a giant koi in an underwater passageway, and could even interact with it. This sight terrified the other "passengers" traveling with Wu Fei on the large aircraft. After all, deep-sea voyages often induce claustrophobia, and this was the depths of the Netherworld.

To reassure his entourage, Wu Fei said, "My guardian angel is here."

Then Wu Fei pointed to the Vermilion Bird Fire on the outside of the bubble. The Vermilion Bird Fire paused outside the bubble for a moment, and then a point of flame pierced through the bubble and landed on Wu Fei's forehead. The people next to him were startled by the sudden flame. Wu Fei touched the red mark on his forehead and said to everyone, "Look, it's quite mischievous."

This geocentric journey within this metaphysical framework is similar to manned spaceflight—no, it's a manned trek to the Earth's core.

At this moment, Wu Fei's perception was slightly different from when he traveled north with Gong Qian, when he looked up and down at the heavens and earth.

Back then, when Wu Fei looked up at the starry sky, he could see large celestial bodies distorting the space as they descended towards the ground; now, when Wu Fei looks up, he can see all the phenomena on the Earth's surface. (Similar to looking up at waves on the water underwater.)
The mountains and rivers, undulating like the bones of a dragon, rise and fall along the curved landscape, revealing the distinct folds at their base.

Gongshu Wang was diligently recording information using a feng shui compass, and Wu Fei, realizing what was happening, picked up a charcoal pencil. He looked up and sketched the locations of the mountains and the routes of the watercourses above.

Wu Fei muttered to himself, "In the upcoming battle, we need to understand the terrain. By the way, where is the terrain around Zhenzhou?"

At this moment, the Vermilion Bird coordinates outside the bubble began to mark the places that Wu Fei on the ground above wanted to know with light cones.

Now Wu Fei saw the situation in Zhenzhou: a green bubble suddenly appeared there. The anomaly there was clearly caused by the spatial distortion caused by Xie Yue's descending form.

Wu Fei could clearly see that this green "bean" (where Jin Dou was located) was polluting the underground water veins.

Wu Fei was unaware of what his visual essence, deep within the earth, meant in this world.

The system is unwilling to use the physical terms that Xuan Chong was familiar with in his previous life to explain any physical phenomena on this planet.

Wu Fei now defines his visual perception as a kind of "remote sensing of the earth." He not only sees water veins, but also, with Zhuque's explanation, can identify the meaning of some special colors. Among them, white gold indicates where iron ore is buried.

As the orbit gradually approached the Earth's surface, Wu Fei also discovered that although the "green bean" was most dazzling in Lelang City of Zhendi, some blue spider silk was also spreading, and blue beans were forming in some mountains in several surrounding states.

After Xuan Chong hurriedly finished recording the "pimples" projected on the Earth's surface by these extraterrestrial forces, he traveled closer and closer to the Earth's surface.

…System: The mission to contend for supremacy in the north has been completed and is currently being scored…

Yu Li, in Pengze, stared blankly at the deep water, speechless for a long time. When she and Wu Hengyu traveled, they jumped across multiple lakes (short trajectory), encountering numerous evil spirits along the way; while her uncle, after burrowing underground, traveled ten thousand miles in one go! Without being disturbed by any evil forces, he returned to his ancestral home ten thousand miles away in one go.

(End of this chapter)