Three Kingdoms Lords: Starting by walking into the mouth of a giant python

Chapter 90 Eight-Fruit Plum Death Sentence

In August 177, Xia Yu, Protector of the Wuhuan, Tian Yan, General Who Destroys the Xianbei, and Zang Min, General Who Destroys the Xiongnu, each led more than 10,000 cavalrymen, marched more than 2,000 li beyond the border, and launched a three-pronged attack on the Xianbei.

However, they were defeated by the Xianbei leader Tanshihuai from different directions, and the Han army suffered heavy casualties, with seven or eight out of ten killed or wounded.

As a result, the Xianbei became increasingly powerful, and raids and plundering occurred everywhere.

In March 178, tens of millions of Yiren (a type of people) descended upon the territory of the Xianbei.

After several investigations, Tan Shihuai selected tens of thousands of people who were skilled in agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing and hunting, and filled them into various Xianbei tribes.

The rest were either slaughtered or driven out.

Tens of millions of people from other regions traveled south and east, pouring into border counties such as Wuyuan, Daijun, Shanggu, Yuyang, and Youbeiping.

The original Kyoto Alliance was just a small group spontaneously organized by about a hundred soldiers in Juyong County, Shanggu District.

When "outsiders go south," the natural attribute of soldiers protecting the borders and people attracts countless players who are displaced and wandering.

In just one month, the number of members exceeded one million.

The entire Shanggu Commandery comprised eight counties and ten thousand households, with an original inhabitant population of just over fifty thousand.

The difference of five to one hundred was so great that it kept the magistrate of Juyong County and the governor of Shanggu Prefecture awake at night.

Just then, the Kyoto Alliance was facing a food shortage, so the governor of Shanggu County sent someone to inform the Kyoto Alliance that he was willing to raise 100,000 shi of grain and request that the Kyoto Alliance move north.

[Kyoto Alliance] Chu Tiankuo agreed, bringing 100,000 shi of grain, and moved the entire alliance to Chicheng. Afterwards, they expanded the city, diverted the Gu River to form a moat, and dug tunnels throughout the surrounding areas.

At the beginning of the month, a group of western Xianbei raiders harassed Shanggu and attacked Chicheng, but failed to capture it.

Upon hearing this, the Xianbei Tuoba tribe gathered a thousand mounted archers and marched south. Reaching the outskirts of Chicheng, more than half of them were caught in traps and killed, and fled in panic.

More than ten days ago, news came that the western Xianbei Tuoba Tuiyin and the central Xianbei Kezuique were going to lead their people south to massacre Chicheng.

The Kyoto Alliance sought aid from Juyang, but the governor of Shanggu County refused to see them.

Chu Tiankuo personally went to Zhuo County to seek help from Liu Bei, who was still studying.

Liu Bei then went north to Chicheng, accompanied by Gongsun Bogui, the former magistrate of Zhuo County.

The Xianbei were powerful, and Liu Bei feared he could not defeat them. So he sent Jian Yong and others to the "Southwest Pillar of Light" to seek out virtuous and righteous people to fight against the Rong and Di tribes.

On Wudou Peak.

Upon hearing this, Lü Yi immediately agreed.

Li Yu shook his head and refused. He said that a close friend had entered the "treasure hall" at the top of Tiantan Peak, and he would wait outside. If anyone harbored malicious intentions, he could help them.

To correspond with one or two?

Jian Yong and Luo Meng were speechless when they thought of the pile of treasures that Li Yu had acquired at the auction.

With all your fancy clothes and wealth, you "nouveau riche" still have time to take care of others?

"Once my brother gets out, I'll head to Chicheng and lend Old Chu a hand," Li Yu said.

Upon hearing "Old Chu," Luo Meng paused for a moment, then realized that it referred to Chu Tiankuo, the leader of their [Kyoto Alliance]. Luo Meng was somewhat speechless at Li Yu's overly familiar manner. He had initially intended to advise the other to be careful, but now he didn't want to say anything.

Jane and Luo left.

The auction has begun.

[Huangpin·Kitchen God Temple].

[Huangpin · Hundred-Refined Blade].

[Building Blueprints - Wanka Temple].

……

These were things that Li Yu looked down upon.

The last [construction blueprint] was quite interesting.

According to the owner of the blueprints, it was obtained by him after killing a black man in the [ladder].

Wanja is a deity in Gandhi mythology, the father of Musisi, the god of earthquakes.

He lived on a small island in Lake Victoria. One day, he displayed his divine power, causing the sun to fall from the sky and plunging the world into darkness.

At the request of King Jukho, Wanga returned the sun to its original place. From then on, people prayed to Wanga whenever they fell ill or suffered various disasters.

Li Yu wanted to buy the blueprints to add some brightness to the square pot, but Zhu Han snatched them away for a large sum of money.

Amidst the chaos, a day passed, and Li Yu only obtained one [Moonlight Scroll - Danzhu].

Danzhu was the son of Yao. Li Yu purchased this [yellow] scroll for the sake of that "precious treasure from the time of Yao".

Li Yu participated in the auctions that followed on the next two days.

However, the harvest was meager, consisting of only a fruit tree sapling and a musical score.

The musical score is titled "Puppet Master," which is related to the siege of Baideng by Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang).

The seedling is [Eight-cornered Plum], which is said to have been obtained from a player in [Dog Slave Kingdom] in [Sky Ladder].

[Hachika-ume] is a plum tree in Japanese legend that bears eight fruits from a single flower.

There are many stories about this tree in Japan.

The Hachika-ume plum from Yamanashi District, Yamanashi Prefecture, grew from the pit of a plum that Takeda Shingen ate when he was thirsty during the Battle of Kawanakajima.

The Hachikame plum in Ina-gun, Gifu Prefecture, grew from the walking stick of Kobo Daishi. The Hachikame plum in Hōhan-gun, Aichi Prefecture, is said to have been planted by Prince Shotoku.

Each type of eight-fruit plum has its own uses. Some are for filling the stomach, some for treating illnesses, and some for ensuring a smooth pregnancy and delivery.

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'Eight Fruit Plum'

[Rank] Yellow

[Attribute] Grows in [fertile soil]. Eating this plum will ensure a safe delivery for the mother.

[Description] At the end of the Heian period, in order to elucidate the true meaning of Amitabha's vow to liberate all sentient beings, the Venerable Shinran, at the age of thirty-one, ate meat and married, which drew much criticism and led to his exile to Echigo. One day, after Shinran finished eating umeboshi (pickled plum rice), he buried the plum pit in the courtyard. Thereafter, in this harsh and snowy place, eight plums grew.

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On May 28th, Li Yu planted fruit trees in the [spirit field].

Lü Yi had already gone north with Jian and Luo. Li Yu was all alone, attracting more and more greedy glances.

Li Yu stopped using the [pot] for two reasons: first, he was afraid of trouble; second, the [Palace of Gold and Jade] had already appeared for fourteen days, and he was afraid that if he stayed any longer, there wouldn't be enough time.

After all, the various checkpoints in the Glass Palace required considerable effort.

into the night.

[Thirteen Ants] offered a handful of [Mysterious Dew], which Li Yu drank in one gulp. On his personal panel, the [Attributes] section changed to "Strength 26, Constitution 31, Agility 25, Spirit 33".

According to the [Thirteen Ants], the number of [Mysterious Steeds] has exceeded three thousand, and [Mysterious Dew] can be obtained once every ten days.

Li Yu nodded.

We are one step closer to obtaining [Python Gallbladder and Saposhnikovia Pills].

Then, a "system notification" sounded.

"[System]: Congratulations to the player for completing the 'Intelligence Ranking Quest - Top of the List' and receiving [Random Reward] ×1."

"[System]: Congratulations to the player for activating the 'Intelligence Ranking Quest - Pinnacle' - If the player can maintain the top ranking for a season, they will receive a special reward."

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"Want's Death warrant"

[Rank] Heavenly Grade

[Attribute] Write the true names of living beings on this scroll and depict their fate of death. Uses (1/1).

[Description] Vante, a witch of the underworld in Etruscan mythology, is the embodiment of death. She carries a torch, a key, and a scroll. The scroll outlines the fate of the dead; the key is used to open the gates of the underworld; and the torch illuminates the journey for the departed souls.

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At this point, everything is ready.

Half past midnight, Li Yu ascended Tiantan Peak for the third time.

Even though it was late at night and everyone was asleep, many players and locals were still guarding the magnificent palace.

Li Yu walked toward the Palace of Gold and Jade.

Everyone's gaze swept over, but quickly shifted away.

They were waiting here for the person who would bring the treasure out of the palace, not for anyone else.

Suddenly, one of them focused his gaze and nudged his companion with his elbow. The companion looked up and saw that it was the fat sheep they had been searching for for the past two days.

The two exchanged a glance, both pleasantly surprised, and quickly sent a message down the mountain. After a flurry of activity, they finally finished, only to see the "fat sheep" reach out and press on the [palace], instantly disappearing without a trace.

The two were stunned and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Before long, a large group of thirty or forty people rushed up the mountain.

Where are they?

"Where's the fat sheep?"

"What? They've entered the palace?"

------

On this side, Li Yu stepped into the Glazed Palace. What met his eyes was not carved beams and painted rafters, or dragon-carved jade pillars, but a desolate wilderness.

Smoke rises from the abandoned garrison mountains, and fire spreads across the wasteland.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and dusk settled, a flock of weary birds flew in from the distant mountain shadows.

Li Yu listened intently; the birds' calls were extremely strange, sounding like weeping and wailing—

Son, come back!

Son, come back!

Son, come back!

(End of this chapter)