Demon Emperor

Chapter 7 Breaking Free from the Cage
The sun was high in the sky.

Dust rose in the air on the drill ground as the Imperial Guards shouted their battle cries.

"kill!"

"Good good!"

"A barrage of arrows, all hitting the target."

On the command platform, banners fluttered in the wind. Ruan Hu, dressed in military uniform, sat on the platform, watching the Imperial Guards showing off their martial arts skills.

The athletes on the field were sweating profusely, wielding their long spears with cloth-covered tips, shouting and fighting each other with all their might.

Some people were also wrestling on the yellow sand, displaying their strength in front of him.

Someone on horseback hit a target two hundred paces away in succession, causing all the soldiers to slam their guns on the ground and shout in unison.

Then this person dismounted and kowtowed before the command platform to receive the reward and express gratitude.

It was supposed to be a test of archery skills, but once they arrived, it naturally turned into a comparison of various martial arts skills.

Ruan Hu didn't care; the so-called test of martial arts skills was just an excuse.

Even hunting is just an excuse.

His main purpose in coming here was to use physiognomy to see how many men were actually available in the various camps of the Imperial Guard.

In addition to the originally agreed-upon rewards, Ruan Hu even took off his purple and gold-embroidered battle robe and threw it to this person.

"Well done, you're welcome."

"With such martial arts skills, how come he's still just a Imperial Guard?"

"Lift……"

Even when he's giving his opinions on current affairs, he thinks everyone above him is a bunch of incompetent and blind scoundrels, and he sighs that his talents are going to waste.

If one day, the person in the Golden Palace really comes before you, praises your skills, rewards you with silver and silk, takes off his own battle robe and drapes it over you, and even promotes you and grants you a promotion.

In an instant, the tyrannical ruler became a wise one, and the blind man became a man of exceptional insight.

The Imperial Guards had been lax in their military preparedness for many years. Although some of the original soldiers were from the Northern Army who followed the late emperor into Xicheng, most of them were now old and retired, and the new recruits were all second-generation members.

However, with more people, you're bound to see some promising talents and those with formidable fighting skills.

Selecting these people and putting them to good use requires a general's discernment and a long period of careful selection and guidance.

Ruan Hu, on the other hand, could see right through his opponent at a glance.

To be able to know the entire Imperial Guard's personnel and the power they can mobilize in just one morning.

At the end, Ruan Hu waved his hand.

"Everyone who participated in the martial arts demonstration today will be rewarded with a bolt of silk."

"Bring the wine out."

The eunuchs brought out eighty jars of Xinfeng wine and opened the sealed jars.

Holding the silk and smelling the aroma of wine.

The heart, already restless from the martial arts performance, was stirred up in an instant.

"drink!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

In an instant, the shouts of the Imperial Guards' sons shook the heavens.

After drinking two bowls, Ruan Hu announced another piece of news.

To everyone's surprise, Ruan Hu moved the hunt, originally scheduled for a few days later, to today.

On the platform, Ruan Hu seemed to speak on a whim.

"My sons, today you shall come with me to the Southern Garden of Fenghuang Mountain."

"Some skills cannot be shown on the training ground, but are truly revealed on the hunting ground."

"If you are truly capable, there will be a further reward!"

After a burst of commotion, all the spirited and capable soldiers that Ruan Hu had just selected were stirred up by Ruan Hu and couldn't wait to go out with him.

Silk was money, and the prey obtained from hunting could also be taken back.

Animal meat is edible, and in addition, fur, tendons, and horns are all very useful.

Not to mention, the emperor also bestowed additional rewards.

Such good fortune is rare under normal circumstances.

Of the 8,000 imperial guards in the capital, Ruan Hu left with 1,200 men, most of whom were selected through "martial arts drills".

It cannot be said that all the talented people in the Imperial Guard were wiped out, but it can be said that some of the capable people were gathered together.

Several generals in the Imperial Guards wanted to say something, but before they could say anything, Ruan Hu ignored them and took the man away.

At noon, the streets in the north of the city suddenly became noisy.

"Bah!"

"drive!"

"Bah!"

Horses passed through the long street and city gates, followed closely by a large number of infantrymen, escorting the emperor's entourage as they headed out of the city.

One banner after another, layer upon layer, fluttered in the air above the street.

Inside the Prime Minister's residence, the Prime Minister sat between two screens, his expression grave, discussing with several advisors and officials the matter of Ruan Hu's earlier announcement of his intention to go hunting outside the capital.

However, they were unaware that the emperor had already begun his journey.

"His Majesty has done something so outrageous again. The Prime Minister must stop him!"

"His Majesty must not be allowed to leave the capital."

"Prime Minister, could you ask the palace horse stables to come up with a solution? His Majesty usually listens to what he says."

The prime minister felt this was unacceptable, and even more so, he felt that the emperor's outrageous actions were completely beyond his control.

At this moment, they were unaware of Ruan Hu's plans, but most officials disliked an emperor who was completely out of control, especially a powerful minister.

"No rush, I will enter the palace tomorrow..."

Before he could finish speaking, someone rushed in.

He cupped his hands in greeting, then whispered something in the ear of one of his staff members.

Instantly, the staff member exclaimed in surprise.

"what?"

"His Majesty has led the Imperial Guards directly out of the capital?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically.

Some stood up immediately, some leaned forward, and some immediately gripped their sleeves tightly.

"what?"

"Chase after them! Quickly bring His Majesty back!"

The prime minister even dragged himself outside.

"I'll go myself."

However, it seemed as if the emperor knew their plans.

Before the court could react, Ruan Hu led over a thousand selected imperial guards out of the capital.

The prime minister returned in a fit of rage, while the advisors present exchanged bewildered glances.

At this moment, someone finally spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Why does the Emperor suddenly want to go hunting outside the city, and in such a hurry?"

"Could it be that they already know what we're going to do..."

Instantly, the scene became even more deathly silent.
-
The hunting grounds in Xiyuan were located at Fenghuang Mountain, further west of Xijing.

Upon leaving Xijing, Ruan Hu suddenly felt as if he had escaped a cage and was now swimming freely in the ocean.

During a march.

Ruan Hu carefully observed how the officers and soldiers were organized, how they conducted reconnaissance, cleared the way, and made marching arrangements.

How did the messengers relay orders and patrol? What did the various flag signals mean? How were logistics and accommodation arranged?

Western suburbs.

The Imperial Guards camped near an abandoned temple. At first, Ruan Hu thought the temple was dedicated to a mountain god, but after entering the temple and seeing the statue, he realized it seemed to be a military general.

When setting up camp, Ruan Hu took a moment to observe how Yuchi Chongwu arranged the campsite.

It's getting dark.

As everyone began to rest in the middle of the night, Ruan Hu seemed to hear some noise.

To be precise, the evil tiger inside him sensed something and suddenly burst out of his body, circling around him.

Ruan Hu put on his clothes, picked up his long sword, and led two or three people into the main hall of the temple.

The courtyard was piled with fallen leaves, and the cries of crows came from the old trees, but the crows could not be seen.

Following his intuition, he wandered around the dilapidated temple and noticed a mural behind the statue of a deity.

What kind of painting is this?

The mural depicts what appear to be deities, flying in groups in the sky. They are likely all women, and the entire mural looks peaceful and serene.

Ruan Hu felt that the painting was a bit strange. It was said to be from the Central Plains, but the style was somewhat ambiguous.

It lacks some of the ethereal and classical qualities of Central Plains portraits, focusing instead on depicting the graceful and charming figures of the women, whose clothing also carries a hint of foreign influence.

"Wait, why is something moving inside this painting?"

As Ruan Hu looked at the painting, he finally realized why the tiger had suddenly emerged from his body: something in the painting had disturbed him.

Ruan Hu stared intently.

In the corner of the portrait, a hideous demon with an incongruous style has invaded the wall.

The evil spirit, carrying a bow and arrows and wielding a sharp blade, chased after the "gods" in the painting with a ferocious expression.

Now, let's turn our attention to the "deities" in the painting.

Then discovered.

The expressions and movements of the "deities" flying in the sky in the painting also changed, and they all showed a look of fear.

The demon in the painting seemed to notice that someone outside the painting had noticed him, and immediately revealed its scarlet eyes, looking at Ruan Hu.

Without hesitation, Ruan Hu slashed forward with his sword.
"Bang!"

(End of this chapter)