88: The rebel died suddenly

Chapter 88: Rebels Die Suddenly

After the Party admission ceremony concluded, Chen Hongxiu, Zhao Tieshan, Meng Guang, and the others bade farewell to Zheng Yi and led their respective subordinates toward the northern regions.

The three of them shared a similar destination, which was Bin Province.

However, the places Chen Hongxiu and Zhao Tieshan were heading to were north of the Canglong River, where they would rendezvous with General Xu Mujun to confront Wu Country.

As for Meng Guang's destination, it was a seaport at the border of Bin Province and Jizhou.

He was going to establish the Northern Ocean Navy there!

Accompanying them was also an artillery unit of over two hundred men.

These people were the foundation of the Northern Ocean Navy, as well as its founders.

After seeing the three off, Zheng Yi handed over all matters of national importance to the cabinet.

As for himself, he summoned Chen Liancang.

"Elder Chen, what is the current martial arts cultivation level of the Shadow Guard?"

"Replying to Your Majesty,"

Chen Liancang said, "For some reason, these people's cultivation levels have increased rapidly over the past two years. Currently, there are already five First Grade Realm Martial Artists, eleven Second Grade Realm Martial Artists, and the rest are on the verge of a Breakthrough."

Zheng Yi thought about it; since the Shadow Guard spent their days in the inner palace and had the closest contact with those five streaks of innate spiritual energy, it was completely normal for their martial arts cultivation to improve rapidly.

The only pity was that he could not control those five streaks of innate spiritual energy.

If those five streaks of innate spiritual energy could all remain within the imperial palace, or rather, inside the capital...

Wouldn't the improvement in his subordinates' strength be even faster?

Just at this moment, a message suddenly came from the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror in his mind.

[Giving birth to ten streaks of innate spiritual energy can influence the propagation area of innate spiritual energy.]

Seeing this message, Zheng Yi's eyes suddenly lit up.

Ten streaks of innate spiritual energy?

Doesn't that mean there are still five more?

"Your Majesty?"

"Oh, We thought of something else."

Zheng Yi recovered his composure and said, "The Shadow Guards who have achieved cultivation Breakthroughs shall all be rewarded."

"Whoever can be the first to break through to the Grandmaster Realm, We will also reward them!"

Chen Liancang respectfully said, "Understood."

"Right, Elder Chen, your current top priority is to focus on the excavation of the imperial mausoleum."

Zheng Yi continued to instruct, "The matter of cultivating young Shadow Guards can be entrusted to Liu Chengen's Directorate of Ceremonial to handle on your behalf."

"this servant obeys the decree."

"Very well, Elder Chen, you may withdraw."

"Understood!"

After arranging the matters of the imperial mausoleum excavation and the cultivation of the Shadow Guards, Zheng Yi had no other major matters and subsequently immersed himself in the inner palace day after day.

His own lifespan surged at an extremely fast rate.

And the women around him also rotated rapidly.

But there were only a limited few whom he would favor every few days.

He was selecting a candidate suitable for giving birth to an imperial daughter.

This woman herself must be endowed with the spiritual essence of nature, and possess extremely high Aptitude and Physique.

In this way, the Aptitude of the daughter born would correspondingly increase.

It would be best if the woman herself possessed a Spiritual Root.

In that way, the offspring born would also have a very high probability of possessing a Spiritual Root.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the tenth day of the fifth month.

Jade Tablet Protector Zhao Su Ling of the Hall of Offerings returned from Daizong Mountain and reported that Zhao Xi Zheng had gained some occasional enlightenment and had entered secluded meditation once again.

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

Yunnan Regional Commander Minister Miao reported a major military victory, having personally led an army of fifty thousand into a decisive battle against two hundred thousand rebel forces at the border of Qingzhou.

In this battle, the imperial army won a pyrrhic victory.

They lost over twenty-three thousand men themselves, killed over seventy thousand enemies, and the remaining rebels collapsed. A portion surrendered on the spot, while a small minority fled into the mountains and forests to become bandits occupying the mountains.

Protector Bahar of the Heavens Mandate Sect's main sect was captured alive and escorted back to the capital.

Zheng Yi ordered that the remaining refugees be relocated into Yan, granted land and food, and pacified so that they could return to their roots.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the ninth day of the sixth month.

Zheng Yi stayed overnight at the Guangle Palace, attended by Imperial Concubine Yue, Miao Yuesheng.

Miao Yuesheng was Minister Miao's daughter.

Although her appearance was not peerlessly beautiful, her face was delicate and cute, and her figure was also out of the ordinary. Zheng Yi toyed with her all night, forgetting to return home out of pure enjoyment.

That night, Zheng Yi's lifespan increased by another 16 points.

The next day, Your Majesty issued an order promoting Imperial Concubine Yue, Miao Yuesheng, to Noble Consort Yue!

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the twenty-second day of the sixth month, Minister Miao led his troops back in triumph to the court.

Emperor Zhengyong held a grand banquet at White Jade Capital to welcome Minister Miao, accompanied by Noble Consort Yue.

The sovereign and his subject interacted with great joy; Minister Miao even personally took the field and performed a saber dance that was fierce and full of momentum, earning high praise from the emperor.

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

Your Majesty issued an imperial decree appointing Minister Miao as the Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of War concurrently serving as the Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, as well as the Governor-General of Qingzhou, holding overall command over the regional commanders of Qingzhou and Jizhou.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the first day of the seventh month.

A popular uprising occurred in Yong Province.

Prefect Liu Xiang of Changan Prefecture failed to report the situation while additionally imposing harsh taxes and levies. Although he had already been beheaded and displayed to the public, the heavy taxes and levies he left behind were still being apportioned.

On the first day of the seventh month, Huang Wa'er, a village head in Extended Commandery, was whipped and scolded by an Extended Commandery tax collector because he could not collect enough taxes. In a fit of anger, he turned the tables and killed the tax collector.

That night, Huang Wa'er incited one hundred and thirty-two villagers of Hongzao Village to rebel. Carrying civilian weapons such as carrying poles, kitchen knives, and sickles, they breached the county seat of Tumi County in Extended Commandery and killed forty-seven officials of the county yamen.

A few days later, all thirty-two villages in the county seat of Tumi County revolted.

They killed corrupt officials and robbed landlords, and the flames of war spread throughout the entire Extended Commandery.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the seventh day of the seventh month, Huang Wa'er coerced one hundred thousand chaotic commoners and assaulted the commandery government office of Extended Commandery. The commandery soldiers were unable to match them and hastily sent requests for reinforcements to the imperial court.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the seventeenth day of the seventh month, Huang Wa'er breached the commandery government office of Extended Commandery and killed Li Changshui, the Commandery Governor of Extended Commandery.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the eighteenth day of the seventh month, Yanfeng Commandery revolted, and the rebel chieftain Black Dog proclaimed himself the Black Dragon Great King.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, Changfeng Commandery revolted, and the rebel chieftain Shi Dashan proclaimed himself the Mountain King.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the twenty-eighth day of the seventh month, Wuqi Commandery revolted, and the rebel leader Wu Feng proclaimed himself the Black Dragon Child.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the second day of the eighth month, Ganquan Commandery, Luozhen Commandery, Huanglong Commandery, Anchang Commandery, and Weibei Commandery all revolted.

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the eighth day of the eighth month, eighteen factions of rebels gathered together in Anchang Commandery and jointly pushed Huang Wa'er as the leader of the rebels across the ten commanderies of Yong Province, self-proclaiming as the "Yellow Heaven Great King".

The rest of the rebels collectively proclaimed themselves the Eighteen Kings!

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the tenth day of the eighth month, the rebel Huang Wa'er led an army of five hundred thousand to besiege Changan Prefecture!

In the fifth year of zhengyong, on the twelfth day of the eighth month, a portion of the rebels slipped into places like Hanzhong and Shuzhong.

Places like Hanzhong and Shuzhong also harbored intentions of rebellion!

If Changan Prefecture was breached, then the entirety of Yong Province would fall into the hands of the rebels.

Looking at the memorial before him, Zheng Yi felt his head swell significantly.

Damn it!

I had only quietly practiced Dual Cultivation for a few months and was still preparing to make babies, yet Yong Province had rebelled again.

We just wanted to quietly cultivate immortality!

At this moment, Liu Chengen outside walked in quickly: "Your Majesty, General Minister Miao has arrived."

"Let him in!"

"Your subject, Minister Miao, greets Your Majesty!"

The person who entered was not tall, but he was very sturdy. His eye sockets were extremely large, and his face was covered in fierce flesh. Most of his face was almost blocked by thick hair, making him look just like a savage.

Zheng Yi could not fathom how this big man who looked like a bear could have given birth to such a petite, delicate, and lovely person like Noble Consort Yue?

"Beloved minister, please rise. No need for such formalities."

Zheng Yi said: "Regarding the rebels in Yong Province, what does the beloved minister think?"

Minister Miao said: "Your Majesty, the rebels of Yong Province are merely crumbling pottery and crumbling dogs, completely vulnerable to a single blow!"

"As long as Your Majesty grants a portion of artillery weapons such as the Red Barbarian Cannon and Thunderbolt Mines to my subordinates, your subject will surely pacify the rebels within a month!"

Zheng Yi's mouth twitched. Ever since the bombardment of Pseudo-Yan, news of the Red Barbarian Cannon had swept through more than half of Great Yu like a gale.

Generals of almost every unit were submitting memorials asking Zheng Yi to prioritize supplying their armies.

The military munitions factory was operating at full throttle to manufacture them, but unfortunately, it took time.

Furthermore, most of the Red Barbarian Cannons and Thunderbolt Mines had been supplied to Shenji Camp; he really did not have much stock on hand.

Zheng Yi shook his head and said: "Minister Miao, it is not that We do not want to give them to you, but the munitions factory only produces that much every day, and priority must also be given to Shenji Camp and General Xu."

"Your subordinate of course dare not snatch General Xu's artillery, but you must give your subordinate some... How about one hundred units?"

Minister Miao said boldly and carelessly, his eyeballs spinning extremely fast.

Zheng Yi said helplessly: "We can only give you ten units first; there are no more even if you ask for more..."

"Your subordinate thanks Your Majesty!"

Minister Miao said with great joy: "Your subordinate will immediately send people to haul them away from the munitions factory. Once I get my hands on them, your subject must thoroughly test the power of the Red Barbarian Cannon."

"Don't be hasty, Minister Miao. You haven't explained how to deal with the rebellious commoners of Yong Province yet!"

"This matter is simple."

Minister Miao continued: "Since the beginning of spring this year, our Great Yu has enjoyed favorable weather with timely wind and rain, having already experienced seventeen or eighteen heavy rains. The previous drought situation no longer exists at all."

"As for the chaotic commoners of Yong Province, we only need to annihilate the rebel chieftains and die-hard elements, while exempting the rest from taxes—"

Minister Miao pulled out a scroll of a map from his waist, and when unfolded, it was shockingly a map of Yong Province.

It seemed he had long guessed that Zheng Yi would send him to Yong Province to suppress the rebellious commoners.

"Your Majesty, please look, this map is the topographical map of Yong Province."

Minister Miao pointed at the map and said: "Yong Province is situated in the northwest, but it is blocked by large mountains on all sides, and the Canglong River flows past its northeastern part."

"This terrain is easy to defend and hard to attack, but at the same time, it is also like a prison locking all the rebellious commoners within the region of Yong Province."

He pointed his hand at several points on the right side of the map and continued: "Your subordinate has asked several officials and soldiers originating from Yong Province. According to what they said, if one wants to leave Yong Province, they must pass through Wuguan Pass, Dafeng Pass, Weiguan Pass, and Canguan Pass."

"Canguan Pass is located on the western side of Yong Province, and further west is an uninhabited desert area; the rebels cannot possibly go there."

"Therefore, we only need to guard the three passes of Wuguan Pass, Dafeng Pass, and Weiguan Pass to lock the rebels tightly within the borders of Yong Province, and then annihilate them slowly!"

"However, Your Majesty, the personnel under your subject have suffered heavy losses and can guard at most two passes. The remaining pass will still require someone else to guard it."

"Do you have any warrior generals to recommend?"

"I do."

Minister Miao said: "Regional Commander of Yue Province, Shi Heilang!"

"This person is of Yue descent and has long since attached himself to Great Yu. Not only is his own martial arts cultivation at the Grandmaster Realm, but he is also experienced in a hundred battles. Under his command are also thirty thousand tribesmen skilled in jungle warfare, known as the 'Wolf Army'."

"Even your subordinate, in mountain and forest warfare, is definitely not this person's match."

"The terrain of Yong Province is complex, making it even more suitable for this person to fight in."

After carefully looking at the map, Zheng Yi slowly nodded and said: "Very well, then We shall grant your request and transfer Regional Commander of Yue Province, Shi Heilang, to enter Yong and fight."

"Understood!"

The next day, Zheng Yi issued an imperial decree.

Dispatching Regional Commander of Yunnan Minister Miao, Regional Commander of Yue Province Shi Heilang, and Imperial Guard Commander Chen Wannian, leading an army of one hundred thousand, to enter Yong and suppress the rebels.

At the same time, he issued a new order.

Train the New Army!

The three generals led an army of one hundred thousand, advancing along three routes simultaneously, and charged into Yong Province with the momentum of splitting bamboo.

Minister Miao garrisoned Wuguan Pass, Shi Heilang garrisoned Dafeng Pass, and Chen Wannian garrisoned Canguan Pass, sealing off the rebels' eastern exit with the momentum of beating a dog in a closed door.

The armies under the three men were all elite forces. Among them, Minister Miao had the fewest soldiers under his command, but they were all veterans of a hundred battles.

After entering Wuguan Pass, he immediately took over the local commandery soldiers, expanding the number of troops to over eighty thousand in an extremely short period of time.

As for Shi Heilang, the troops under his command were all Yue people, most skilled in mountain and forest warfare, and Dafeng Pass happened to be located precisely within the mountains and forests.

On the third day of entering Yong, Shi Heilang personally led his personal guards to raid and kill the rebel encampment, slaying Shi Dashan, one of the Eighteen Kings of the rebels.

Just when everyone, even Zheng Yi, thought this would be a protracted major war, a piece of news arrived that thoroughly shocked everyone.

The leader of the Yong Province rebels, the Yellow Heaven Great King Huang Wa'er, suddenly died a sudden death!

"What? The rebel leader Huang Wa'er was killed?"

When hearing this news, Zheng Yi was also dumbfounded.

What was going on? What about the agreed-upon Yellow Heaven Great King, and the agreed-upon rebel leader? Why was he gone just like that?

"Your Majesty, there is a military order from General Minister Miao."

Lu Xiangqing said: "The killing of Huang Wa'er, the head of the Yong Province rebels this time, is entirely thanks to the merit of one person."

"Oh, who?"

"Your Majesty, please look."

Zheng Yi's interest was piqued. Opening the battle report to take a look, his eyes lit up greatly after a few breaths, and he said in surprise: "I didn't expect it to be him!"

"Wang Anshi!"