155: Nanzhao State Letter

Chapter 154 Nanzhao State Letter

"R-Reporting to Your Majesty, you have been in seclusion for twelve...!"

"You haven't touched a single bite of the food this servant sent you."

The leading Shadow Guard said, and Zheng Yi furrowed his brow at this moment.

"Twelve? A day in the Great Yu world is equivalent to a year in the Huanzhen world?"

"A day in heaven, a year on earth?"

Zheng Yi reined in his focus; fortunately, he was a Level 2 Cultivator, so his requirements for ordinary food were not very high.

Otherwise, the trials in the Huanzhen world alone could have starved him to death!

"Summon Liu Chengen and Chen Liancang. Also, prepare a table of food for Us."

"this servant obeys the decree!"

The two Shadow Guards left quickly, and before long, a table of food was prepared for Zheng Yi.

Phoenix-tail Shark Fin, Red Plum Pearl Fragrance, Kung Pao Wild Rabbit, Eight-Treasure Wild Duck, Buddha's Hand Gold Rolls, Stir-fried Cuttlefish Shreds, Hydrangea Scallops, Stir-fried Guinea Fowl, Creamy Fish Fillets...

Dozens of dishes were placed before Zheng Yi, dazzlingly arrayed, whetting his appetite, and he soon began to tuck in heartily.

Meanwhile, Chen Liancang and Liu Chengen attentively waited on him from the side.

After feeling about half full, Zheng Yi took a sip of lotus seed soup and asked, "Chengen, these past few days of Us being in seclusion, have any major events occurred in the court?"

"Your Majesty, not many major events have occurred in the court, nothing more than intelligence related to some rebel factions."

"Oh? What important intelligence is there?"

"In Shu Province, General Cui Xiawu has completely subdued Hanzhong and other places, and has already breached the Divine Sword Pass, the number one strategic pass of Shu Province, and is now advancing toward Chengdu, the prefectural capital of Shu Province."

"Along the way, the rebel army fled at the mere sight of them, with no one being a match for them."

"Oh?"

Zheng Yi did not find it too surprising; with the Red Barbarian Cannon and hot air balloons, if Cui Xiawu couldn't even take down the Divine Sword Pass, then he would have wasted his time being General Zhaowu!

"What else?"

"As for Jing Province."

Liu Chengen continued, "General Jinpeng won a land victory against the Thirteen Routes of Jing Province Water Bandits, but lacking large ships, he was ambushed by the Thirteen Routes of Water Bandits and had to retreat thirty miles."

"Fortunately, General Meng Guang led the Northern Ocean Navy into Jing Province from the Nulong River, spanning across Hai Province, Jiang Province, and Jing Province, annihilating a large number of rebel naval forces."

"According to the latest intelligence from a few days ago, General Meng Guang led his navy to rout three routes of the Jing Province water bandits and is currently surrounding and annihilating the largest rebel king of Jing Province, the water bandit rebel army known as the 'River-Matching White Dragon'."

Before Zheng Yi could ask, Liu Chengen continued, "In the direction of Yun Province, General Guan Shan has taken full command of the Yun Province imperial army, but was ambushed by Shi Tianlang of Yue Province, forcing him to turn back to deal with Shi Heilang of Yue Province."

"There is another matter: General Shi Heilang, the son of Shi Tianlang whom Your Majesty once appointed as the Yue Province Regional Commander, also rebelled, but he was killed by General Qu Bo, commander of the 1st Division of the 1st Army of the New Army!"

"Shi Heilang has rebelled?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Liu Chengen said, "When passing through Shu Province, Shi Heilang was subverted by someone sent by the Shu King, and subsequently ambushed General Cui Xiawu's camp, but unfortunately, he was blown to death by the... landmines set up outside the camp by General Cui Xiawu."

Zheng Yi shook his head. These grassroots rulers lacked insight and loved to lead charges in person when commanding armies outside.

In this way, although it would increase the combat effectiveness of his troops and greatly boost morale, it also placed himself in extreme danger.

Once the commanding general was killed, the morale of the subordinates would drop drastically immediately.

In the worst case, the entire army would even directly collapse.

Shi Heilang was a case in point.

The imperial court treated him quite well; not only was he the Yue Province Regional Commander with massive rewards bestowed upon him, but he was also given the rank of a second-grade general.

Instead of showing gratitude, he was bewitched by a rebel king to revolt.

Such a person deserved to die a thousand deaths.

Zheng Yi said, "Pass down the order to General Guan Shan, telling him to exterminate Shi Tianlang of Yue Province and wipe out his nine clans at all costs!"

"Understood!"

"What about other places?"

Liu Chengen said, "Your Majesty, in the other provinces, various rebel kings are fighting each other, and they still haven't decided a victor up to now."

"The imperial court's spies in these places are limited and cannot obtain all intelligence."

"However, we have already found out the general intelligence."

Liu Chengen continued, "In Bing Province, the hidden Sect of the Wang Family has made a move. Their subordinate 'Heavenly King Army' has a force of 300,000, occupying most of Bing Province and threatening the imperial capital region."

"There are even rumors that people suspected to be immortals haunt the Heavenly King Army of Bin Province, controlling heavenly thunder and once wiping out the Bing Province Governor with heavenly thunder in a single battle."

"Immortals? They must be the Cultivators hidden by the Wang Family's hidden Sect. I didn't expect them to finally make a move."

Zheng Yi said indifferently, "The Wang Family colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country; they deserve to die."

"Once our army pacifies the two provinces of Chuan and Jing, we will surely trample Bing Province under hoof!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Liu Chengen continued, "Hai Province is occupied by Yuanhe Mountain. Its 30,000 Disciple can each match a hundred."

"They recruit refugees, rout the imperial army, occupy the prefectural capital, and even sent envoys demanding an audience with Your Majesty."

"Hai Province? Yuanhe Mountain?"

Zheng Yi frowned slightly. This Sect located in Hai Province was a martial arts Sect capable of locking horns with the Taiyi Sect.

What important business could they have in sending people to see Us after occupying Hai Province?

"What important business do they have in sending people to see Us?"

Liu Chengen hesitated for a moment, and Zheng Yi said indifferently, "Speak."

"Yes!"

"Yuanhe Mountain sent people to seek an audience with Your Majesty, demanding that Your Majesty recognize Yuanhe Mountain as the actual ruling Sect of Hai Province. The imperial court must not collect taxes in Hai Province, and officials and military generals dispatched by the imperial court to Hai Province must be approved by Yuanhe Mountain..."

"Insolent!"

Zheng Yi laughed out of anger. Had Yuanhe Mountain lost its mind, daring to make such demands to the imperial court?

Where did they get their confidence?

"Cut off the ears of Yuanhe Mountain's envoys and tell them to get lost!"

"Understood!"

Liu Chengen continued, "Qing Province is occupied by the White Lotus Sect."

"Rumor has it that a Saintess of the White Lotus Sect has descended to the world, able to walk on water to heal the sick and save people, as well as summon heavenly soldiers and generals, making them impervious to blades and spears."

"They routed the Qing Province commandery troops at the fastest speed and invaded neighboring Ji Province, but were repelled by Disciple of the Taiyi Sect."

"According to the latest intelligence, the White Lotus Sect seems to have clashed with Yuanhe Mountain, and a major battle broke out between the two sides for the contention of cities..."

"Yangzhou and Xu Province are occupied by the Tuoba Family, while Jiang Province is occupied by Tianlong Temple, but a large number of rebel kings still exist among them, and they are still fighting."

"As for these rebel kings, who knows when a victor will be decided..."

"With all ten provinces in rebellion, it is still the common people who suffer."

"Bing Province, Ji Province, and Qing Province are still alright because they are close to the imperial capital. In the past two years, nearly a million refugees have fled here."

"After all, across the entire world now, only the imperial capital region where Your Majesty resides is the safest."

"Not only can they find a way to survive, but they also have food to eat, and can even save quite a bit of silver..."

"The other southern provinces are miserable..."

Zheng Yi shook his head. It was chaotic, truly too chaotic.

Now the entire world of Great Yu was practically boiled into a mess, with almost every province having a dozen or even dozens of rebel kings.

Ranging from hundreds of thousands at most to thirty or forty thousand at least, they were seizing cities and territories everywhere, conquering and subduing one another.

If Zheng Yi wanted to wipe out so many rebel kings in one go, it would really take a lot of time.

"What about Grand General Xu? Is there any news of him?"

Liu Chengen did not reply, but instead looked at Chen Liancang.

Chen Liancang respectfully said, "Your Majesty, Grand General Xu has already returned to Yun Province and is currently heading back to the capital."

"Grand General Xu is alright?"

Zheng Yi said pleasantly surprised, "When can he return to the capital?"

Chen Liancang lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, Grand General Xu's left arm was severed, and he entered Nanzhao Kingdom alone... He killed the Nanzhao Kingdom's Protecting Grand Master, and forced the Nanzhao King to sign a bilateral treaty."

"Nanzhao Kingdom sends Princess Lingyin into the capital to become Your Majesty's consort."

"Nanzhao Kingdom submits to Great Yu, recognizing Great Yu as its Sect Master country, and Nanzhao Kingdom shall be a vassal state of Great Yu for generations!"

"What?!"

In the eighth year of zhengyong, on the twenty-fifth day of the eleventh month.

Xu Mujun entered Nanzhao Kingdom alone, and was intercepted by 3,000 elite Nanzhao Qilin troops at Taohuazhang, the border demarcation line between the two countries.

With a single man and a sword, Xu Mujun slashed through the Nanzhao Qilin army formation, killing 1,562 Nanzhao Qilin troops and slaying Luo Lin, commander of the Nanzhao Qilin army!

In the eighth year of zhengyong, on the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month.

Xu Mujun was intercepted by She Longzi, the Nanzhao Protecting Grand Master, and a fierce battle broke out between the two sides.

On that day, Xu Mujun used Flying Sword arts to slay She Longzi, the Nanzhao Kingdom Protecting Grand Master!

In the eighth year of zhengyong, on the fifth day of the twelfth month.

Xu Mujun entered the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom, where 20,000 Imperial Guards intercepted him.

Xu Mujun advanced, and the 20,000 Imperial Guards retreated.

Xu Mujun advanced further, and the 20,000 Imperial Guards retreated again!

Quan Longsheng, the Nanzhao King, personally came forward, and the 20,000 Imperial Guards surrounded and tried to kill Xu Mujun!

On that day, Xu Mujun spat out a Flying Sword, which turned into a bloody light and killed over 3,800 Nanzhao Kingdom Imperial Guards.

The Nanzhao Kingdom Imperial Guards collapsed!

Disregarding the Nanzhao King's order, they turned around and fled for their lives.

And Quan Longsheng, the Nanzhao King, had no choice but to surrender the entire country.

Three days later, the Nanzhao King issued an imperial edict promulgating several decrees.

First: Princess Lingyin of Nanzhao Kingdom shall enter Great Yu to become a consort of the Great Yu Emperor.

Second: Nanzhao Kingdom submits as a whole, revering Great Yu as its Sect Master country.

Third: The 120,000 border troops of Nanzhao Kingdom shall all be commanded by General Guan Shan, the Yun Province Regional Commander.

Fourth: The garrison troops at Taohuazhang on the Nanzhao border shall be withdrawn, and troops shall be dispatched by Great Yu to guard it.

Fifth: Nanzhao King Quan Longsheng abdicates, and his seventh son, Quan Xubai, ascends the throne.

Sixth: ...

Upon seeing the memorial submitted by Xu Mujun and the state letter signed by the two countries, Zheng Yi rubbed his eyes, almost unable to believe it.

Are you kidding me?

Is this a state letter for sure, and not a letter of surrender?

Military power and national defense authority were all handed over, leaving Nanzhao Kingdom with only a portion of political power exercised within its own territory.

Viewed this way, Nanzhao Kingdom was practically equivalent to a province of Great Yu.

The Nanzhao King being able to sign so many treaties must mean he was beaten into fear by Xu Mujun.

Zheng Yi immediately ordered, "Order the garrison troops along the way to ensure Grand General Xu's safety at all costs, and welcome him with the etiquette of a prince, understand?"

Liu Chengen's mind was shaken greatly, and he hurriedly said, "this servant obeys the decree!"

Chen Liancang suddenly said, "Your Majesty, this old slave has another matter to report."

"What matter?"

"The Mojin Captains of Tianshou Mountain have already dredged the konjac sea lotus and found the front of the Old Ancestor's true tomb."

"Without Your Majesty's order, they do not dare to enter rashly."

"Dredged?"

Zheng Yi's eyes suddenly lit up. After four to almost five years, they finally dug to the front of the true tomb!

The tomb of this Old Ancestor was truly not easy to dig.

"Liu Chengen, you look after the imperial palace."

"Elder Chen, accompany Me to Tianshou Mountain!"

"Understood!"

As dusk was gradually falling, Zheng Yi led a large group of Imperial Guards and finally arrived at Tianshou Mountain.

"We pay respects to Your Majesty!"

Under the leadership of Hu Bafeng, more than a dozen Mojin Captains and over a hundred 'staff members' respectfully knelt on the ground, shouting long live in unison.

"Rise!"

Zheng Yi said, "Hu Bafeng, well done. We shall reward you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

More than four years of continuous excavation of the imperial mausoleum had left Hu Bafeng's face weathered and his hands covered in calluses.

And because he had been blowing up the konjac sea lotus almost every day for the past two years, his hearing seemed to have developed problems.

When talking to people, he had to shout loudly, otherwise he couldn't hear clearly at all.

Led by Hu Bafeng, Zheng Yi brought people into the Old Ancestor's mausoleum.

The konjac sea lotus that originally occupied a huge wall had now been excavated into a deep, dark passage, wide enough for five people to walk side by side.

Walking into the konjac sea lotus passage, after about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the scenery before them suddenly opened up.

Massive stalactites hung upside down overhead, and even the surrounding air was filled with thick moisture.

And before Zheng Yi's eyes appeared a giant bronze cauldron.

Behind the giant bronze cauldron was a huge bronze door, guarded outside by ferocious dragon-shaped fierce beasts.

On both sides of the giant bronze door was carved a pair of huge couplets.

First line: Gazing at the Dipper and Bull, embracing flying immortals to roam freely;

Second line: Riding the clear wind, holding the bright moon to endure forever.

Horizontal scroll: Ascension in broad daylight!