《I Am A Corrupt Official, Yet They Say I Am A Loyal Minister!》 Chapter 1: Champion of Examination, Binding the Corrupt Official System! Chapter 1: Champion of Examination, Binding the Corrupt Official System! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month ?? or you can send manually to paypal ount thunderkirin[''@'']gmail
Upon observing Lin Beifans outstanding academic and moral achievements, along with his exceptional talent, he has dominated the pce examinations and is an invaluable asset to our nation. Therefore, we dere Lin Beifan as the champion of this years examinations! A majestic and dignified female voice echoed throughout the grand and imposing Golden Pce. Thank you, your majesty! Lin Beifan eximed loudly, brimming with joy. He was actually a transmigrator who had arrived in this dangerous martial world three years ago, and had bound himself to a system. The system had informed him that its functions would only activate once he held an official position. With the assistance of the system, he had dedicated himself to studying tirelessly in order to establish himself in this treacherous world and activate the system. In just three years, he had achieved the top score in the examinations, bing this years champion! Being the champion meant that he could finally hold an official position. He was overjoyed and couldnt wait to ask the system, System, isnt it time to activate it? [Ding! The host has met the activation requirements, and the system is now officially activated!] [Ding! Hello, host. The Super Corrupt Official System is at your service!] The Super Corrupt Official System? Lin Beifan had a bad feeling about this. System, youre not going to make me a corrupt official, are you? [Ding! The hosts understanding is correct. This system exists to assist the host in bing a super corrupt official!] [As long as the host is in office and bes more corrupt, the rewards provided by the system will be more abundant! These rewards are not limited to strength and martial arts, and can even help the host be a divine being onnd, or surpass a divine being onnd!] Lin Beifan gritted his teeth and eximed, Damn system! Are you trying to kill me? To be honest, being an official in this world was an extremely dangerous upation, especially as a corrupt official. This was a martial world where there were many powerful warriors. Even those who were slightly stronger than average would not hesitate to challenge and even harm officials! Especially corrupt officials, they wish to be killed quickly! If anyone dislikes him, they can just take matters into their own hands under the pretext of rob the rich to help the poor. Who would they go to reason with? Moreover, this world is about to be in chaos. The world where Lin Beifan lives is called the Great Wu Empire, which hassted for 300 years since it was established. Those who have studied history know that few empires canst for 300 years. Now, the empire has entered a period of decay, and all kinds of problems have surfaced! In the court, treacherous officials are in power, factions are formed, and there is a struggle for power and profit, causing turmoil in the country! Among themon people, major families and martial arts factions are extorting and robbing the people, causing public anger! There are also regional warlords who are seceding, building up their own armies, and ready to invade the Central ins at any time! Outside, major empires and dynasties are looking on! Especially after an inexperienced and ipetent empress came to power, the situation became even more tumultuous and full of crises! At this time, being an official is already a very dangerous thing! And being a corrupt official Isnt this just asking to be killed quickly? At this moment, Lin Beifan wanted to quit and find a ce where no one could find him! The world is vast, and his life is the most important! Schr Lin, I have a task for you now! In his panic, a voice sounded in his ear. Lin Beifan looked up, and the voice came from the female empress, Wu Qingmei, who was sitting high on the dragon throne. She had an exquisitely beautiful face, fair skin, and her ck hair was coiled up high. Although she was wearing a rtively loose imperial robe, she still couldnt conceal her graceful figure. She sat high on the dragon throne, overlooking all directions, and looked majestic and invible! Lin Beifan didnt dare to look at her more, and lowered his head after just one nce. Because he had heard that this empress was stupid, capricious, and liked to kill people. If he identally angered her, he would lose his head. Your Majesty, please give your orders. Your servant will surely do his best to repay your grace! Lin Beifan saluted and started with the usual ttery. Supreme power lies with the empress! Before having the strength to resist the empresss power, its better to keep ones tail between ones legs! Good! The empressughed heartily and apuded, This is the pir of the Great Wu Empire! This matter is very simple. Previously, the Household Ministrys Assistant Minister, Zuoxiang Quan, embezzled and vited thew, and his crime is unforgivable. He has been locked up in prison! Therefore, I order you to raid his house and seize all his illegal gains to fill the national treasury, without fail! Upon hearing this, Lin Beifan cked out! This is really going to be a disaster! Dont think that this task is simple. It involves a struggle between the empress and another faction! If we really raid their house, we will inevitably offend the other faction! The path to sess in the officialdom will be difficult from now on! If we turn a blind eye, its either a crime of deceiving the monarch or dereliction of duty, and we will inevitably offend the empress! The path to sess in the officialdom is equally difficult, and even ones head may be on the line! The empress is forcing him to take a stand! What can he do? He is very desperate! This is the rhythm of forcing him to death! Thank you for your grace! Lin Beifan said loudly. Raising his head, he found that the gazes of several officials looking at him were ambiguous. He sighed helplessly, this is really going to be the end! The system is forcing him! The empress is forcing him! The officials are forcing him! Everyone is forcing him! He feels bitter in his heart. Then, Lin Beifan received the imperial decree and went to raid the house. Raiding the house is very simple, just lead a group of soldiers to search for valuable things in the other partys house and then move them into the national treasury. In less than a day, the raiding work was over. A junior official came to Lin Beifan with a ledger and respectfully said, Sir Lin, all the treasures have been counted, and they are all here, with a total value of about 2.2 million taels! Please review it! Lin Beifan casually browsed through the ledger and nced at the dazzling gold, silver, and jewels that were confiscated from the surroundings, shaking his head and sighing, This Zuoxiang is really greedy! It should be noted that the annual fiscal revenue of the Great Wu Dynasty was only just over 100 million taels! The other party was only a third-rank official with an annual sry of about 6,000 taels. Having served for less than 30 years, his total wealth should be less than 180,000 taels. However, they confiscated 2.2 million taels worth of treasures from his house, which shows how greedy he was! Looking at the dazzling treasures around him, Lin Beifan thought of the system and his eyes lit up. Can I At this moment, the junior official holding the ount book pulled Lin Beifan into an empty corner and whispered with a smirk, Sir Lin, are you tempted? To be honest, when I was counting just now, I was already tempted! Actually, its human nature to feel this way! Lin Beifan frowned, What do you mean, Sir Zhao? What I mean is, as long as you agree, I can secretly erase the extra amount. We can split the 200,000 taels, you take six and Ill take three, and the remaining one-tenth will be divided among the people present. This is our hard-earned money! Sir Lin, dont worry, this is amon practice in the officialdom. The higher-ups will turn a blind eye! The junior official showed a knowing expression. Lin Beifan was so angry that he trembled all over and scolded loudly, Sir Zhao, I didnt expect you to be this kind of person! As the saying goes, you eat the sry of the ruler and share the worries of the ruler! You receive the courts offerings and enjoy the empresss grace, but instead of making progress, you want to embezzle the treasurys money! Can you justify this to the empress? Can you justify this to themon people? Can you justify this to the conscience of heaven and earth? Three consecutive questions, like the voice of the Great Dao, were deafening! The junior official looked ashamed, Yes, yes, Sir Lin, youre right. I wont dare to do it again! Lin Beifan flicked his sleeves and said displeasedly, And being greedy for small advantages wont lead to big aplishments! The junior official bowed his head and admitted his mistake, Sir Lin is right! So, if you want to be greedy, be greedy for something big! Just give the extra amount to the empress, and well split the rest! The official eximed, Huh?! Chapter 2: If you want to be greedy, be greedy for big things, and give the scraps to the Empress! Chapter 2: If you want to be greedy, be greedy for big things, and give the scraps to the Empress! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
! The junior official raised his head and looked at Lin Beifan in shock. He never expected that someone would say such audacious words! If you want to be greedy, be greedy for big things! Give the scraps to the Emperor! The rest we can divide among ourselves! This was such a daring statement! He had been an official for over twenty years and had met many talented youths and corrupt officials, but he had never encountered such a bold and reckless person before! To eat the meat himself and give the Empress soup, he had no sense of self-preservation! If he were caught, his head would definitely roll! SirZhao, whats wrong with you? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. If you dont speak, Ill take it as your consent! The junior official trembled in fear and replied, No, I didnt consent! Then speak up! Lin Beifan said. Sir Lin, two million taels is too much, isnt it? If were caught, well lose our heads. How about 500,000 taels? Its still risky, but not as dangerous, the junior official cautiously suggested. Lin Beifan was not satisfied. How is 500,000 taels enough? After splitting it with everyone, Ill only get 300,000 taels. Real estate in the capital is incredibly expensive. It takes tens of thousands of taels to buy a good house. Thats not enough! The junior official was sweating profusely and frightened. Its too greedy. It wont work, he said. Stop talking nonsense. Ill ask you a question. Do you want to do it or not? Lin Beifan asked. No, I dont want to. Please let me go, sir, the junioy official quickly replied. He didnt dare to take a single penny of the money, fearing that he would be implicated and killed with Lin Beifan. Hmph, youre a coward! If you dont want it, Ill take it! Lin Beifan took the ount book, tore off a few pages, changed the numbers to 200,000 taels, and returned it. Thats it! Its done! Lin Beifan nodded in satisfaction and red at the official. Forget about this. Be careful, or Ill turn you in, and well all be doomed! The junior official nodded in fear and shame. Lin Beifan returned and closed the two boxes filled with jewelry. He called out, Dali! A tall and powerful man in coarse clothes walked over. Dali was a servant that Lin Beifan had acquired when he first arrived in this world. Dalis father had just passed away, and he had sold himself to bury his father. Lin Beifan felt sorry for him and, being filial himself, gave Dali all the money he had earned. Dali then stayed by Lin Beifans side, loyal and hardworking, doing any kind of manualbor. With Dalis protection, Lin Beifan was able to focus on his studies and eventually passed the imperial examinations. Lin Beifan instructed Dali to carry the two boxes back home, and Dali did so expressionlessly. That evening, after dealing with the matter of raiding the house, Lin Beifan went back home. He quickly locked himself and the tworge boxes in the room and eagerly said to himself, System, settle my ount immediately! [Ding! Host has embezzled two million taels of gold and silver jewelry, a huge amount. As a reward, the merging of the temte of the Prince of Zhennan ter period) is granted!] A terrifying force fused into Lin Beifans body. He knew that it was the Princes internal strength. The Prince had cultivated the North Sea Divine Art and absorbed the internal strength of dozens of people, making his internal strength very powerful. In just a moment, Lin Beifan was almost overwhelmed. But it didnt end there. A huge amount of memory was also fused into his body. The Princes martial arts, cultivation experience, and everything else flooded into his mind. Lin Beifan couldnt help but sit on the bed and crazily absorb this internal strength and memory. At this moment, deep within the pce, a Embroidered Uniform Guard was reporting to the Empress about the situation. If Lin Beifan were here, he would be surprised, as the report was about his embezzlement. The report was clear about how he embezzled and how much he had taken. After listening, the Empress was furious and mmed the table: Lin Beifan! You just became the top schr, and before your butt even warmed the seat, you embezzled 2 million taels. You have betrayed my trust in you! The Embroidered Uniform Guard who was kneeling on the ground was trembling with fear and did not dare to raise his head. The Empress paced back and forth, bing more and more angry, while also feeling very sad. Lin Beifan was someone she had high hopes for. He had a clean background and was not from an aristocratic family, but he was also very talented. She promoted him to the top schr despite opposition just to have him work for her. However, after just one try, he couldnt resist the temptation. He had embezzled 2.2 million taels and only gave her 200,000 taels as the remainder. This was like begging for food. She had never seen such a greedy person in her life. She couldnt let this go unpunished. She called the innocent Embroidered Uniform Guard over and impatiently waved her hand: You can go now! The Embroidered Uniform Guard left in a hurry. The Empress let out a sigh and sat heavily on the throne, her eyes still full of anger. After a long time, she called out softly, Sister Qingxuan! In the dim light, a slender figure suddenly appeared. Your Majesty, what are your orders? The Empress angrily said, Sister Qingxuan, you also heard it just now! The new top schr Lin Beifan embezzled 2 million liang before taking office. He did not pass my test! If he is allowed to continue, he will definitely be a huge greedy person who harms the country and the people! What does Your Majesty n to do? The white figure in front of her spoke calmly. You help me investigate. If it is true, you will confiscate all the money he embezzled for me! As for him Will you still kill him like before? The Empress thought of Lin Beifans young and vibrant face and couldnt bear it. No, talents are rare. He is still young and may have lost his mind for a moment and gone down the wrong path! Therefore, I will give him a lesson first! If he still refuses to repent in the future, it is not toote to kill him! Yes, Your Majesty! The white figure gradually disappeared. Shortly afterwards, the white figure silently came to Lin Beifans courtyard. Through the dim light, she saw Lin Beifan inside the house. Hmm? This Lin Beifan knows martial arts? At this point, Lin Beifan had already absorbed the princes strength and was very satisfied. Now, I should be considered a peak 7th rank warrior, and finally have some self-protection ability! This world is a high martial world, where one in ten people practices martial arts. Martial artists are divided into nine ranks, with the first rank being the strongest and the ninth rank being the weakest! Among them, the 1st to 3rd ranks are called Grandmasters. They are extremely powerful, capable of single-handedly fighting thousands of soldiers and horses, and are the rarest and most respected martial artists standing at the top of the pyramid! Even the high-ranking officials of the imperial court treat them with respect. If one bes a first-ss grandmaster, even the empress would treat them with great respect! The 4th to 6th ranks are innate strongmen. Their meridians are unobstructed, and they can absorb the aura of heaven and earth to supplement their true qi at any time. Their powerful true qi can be released outward, and they can fight a hundred people alone with amazing destructive power! These strongmen are also very rare, and are generally the heads and elders of various schools. If they serve the imperial court, they can at least be promoted to a sixth-rank official. Even Lin Beifan, who defeated thousands of new schrs, started as a sixth-rank official. The 7th to 9th ranks are acquired strongmen. Their true qi cannot yet be released outward, and they cannot yet absorb the aura of heaven and earth. Their strength is limited, and they can only fight about ten people alone.
1. Prince Zhennan of Dali is a fictional character in many wuxia stories. Dali is a kingdom that existed in what is now southwestern China during the Tang dynasty. In many wuxia stories, Prince Zhennan is portrayed as a skilled martial artist who fights for justice and righteousness. In some stories, Prince Zhennan is depicted as the ruler of Dali who is forced to go into hiding after his kingdom is invaded by a more powerful enemy. He then bes a wandering hero who uses his martial arts skills to protect the weak and innocent. In other stories, he is portrayed as a member of a secret martial arts sect who fights against corrupt officials and evil martial artists. Overall, Prince Zhennan is a popr character in wuxia stories due to his bravery, skill in martial arts, and sense of justice. 2. Jin Yi Wei () is a term in Chinese that trantes to Embroidered Uniform Guard in English. It refers to a secret police force that existed in China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The Jin Yi Wei were known for their loyalty to the emperor and their willingness to carry out his orders, even if they involved acts of violence or brutality. They were responsible for protecting the emperor, investigating treasonous activities, and eliminating political enemies of the ruling dynasty. The Jin Yi Wei were highly trained in martial arts, espionage, and assassination techniques. They were often called upon to carry out covert missions and to maintain order and stability within the empire. In popr culture, the Jin Yi Wei have been portrayed in many novels, movies, and television dramas as skilled fighters and fierce defenders of the throne. However, they have also been criticized for their role in suppressing dissent and for their often ruthless methods. Chapter 3: Take from the people, use for the people! Chapter 3: Take from the people, use for the people! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan is currently at the seventh rank peak, stronger than ordinary postnatal experts but still inferior to innate experts, cing him in a semi-innate state. This is mainly because he has fused with the temte of the Prince of Zhennan. By chance, he obtained godly skills such as North Sea Divine Art and Soaring Cloud Footwork, and acquired a powerful internal strength, truly making him lucky. However, he does not love martial arts and has not learned it since childhood. As a result, his martial arts foundation is weak, which has caused him trouble. Otherwise, he might have advanced to the next level and be a true innate expert! Never mind, what I gain is my fortune; what I lose is my destiny! The Prince of Zhennans temte is a very cost-effective one, possessing three great divine skills and a powerful internal strength. As long as I practice well, I have a chance to reach the pinnacle of the innate realm! Besides, there will be a chance to merge with other strong temtes in the future! But this time, I have gained enough and its worth it! Lin Beifan was very happy. He does not love money but cherishes his life. In this uing chaotic world of martial arts, not having martial arts skills is very dangerous! Therefore, he took the risk of embezzling 2 million, which now seems worthwhile. With the seventh rank peak of martial arts, although not invincible, as long as he does not offend innate and above experts, he can livefortably. Worst case scenario, he can just run away! He has the top-level light skill Soaring Cloud Footwork and is best at running away! No one below the grandmaster level can catch up with him! Therefore, after three years of hard work, he finally has the ability to protect himself in this world! Lin Beifan jumped off the bed and opened two boxes, revealing a dazzling disy of gold and silver treasures that made people want to grab them. The white figure outside the window squinted her eyes; the information was correct. Lin Beifan really embezzled 2 million taels of gold and silver jewels. A small official, a huge greedy person! As she was about to take action, Lin Beifan sighed and said, Three years as a clean and honest governor, one hundred thousand silver taels! No matter which dynasty it is, the officials live the mostfortable lives, while themon people suffer the most hardships and toil! Prosperityes with the peoples suffering! Destruction alsoes with the peoples suffering! The white figure outside the window froze for a moment. When the government prospers, the people suffer! When the government falls, the people suffer! Such a simple yet profound statement! Since the other party knows this, why be so greedy? At this moment, Lin Beifan grabbed a gold bar from the box and squeezed it hard, turning it into a pile of broken gold. Then he grabbed another gold bar and squeezed it into a pile of broken gold. Continuously. The white figure was puzzled and frowned, What does he want to do? She quietly watched. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he had turned all the gold into broken gold, all the silver ingots into broken silver, and even divided the pearl ne into individual pearls. At this point, Lin Beifan changed into a ck outfit and then took out a piece of ck cloth to cover his face. After everything was prepared, he wrapped all the gold, silver, and jewels in arge cloth and slipped out secretly. With a light jump, he disappeared in the courtyard. What does he want to do? The white figure followed. At this moment, Lin Beifan used the Soaring Cloud Footwork technique and quickly walked through the streets and alleys. When he found a house that was rtively run-down, he slipped in and left behind some broken silver before disappearing again. It took about an hour, and he had almost toured half of the imperial city. And all his money was scattered. This is another way of taking from the people and using it for the people! Done, lets call it a day! Lin Beifan patted his butt and went back to rest. But the white figure who had been following him was very shocked: He actually After a while, she returned to the pce and met with the Empress. The Empress was still awake and was very happy to see her: Sister Qingxuan, why did youe back sote? How is the situation? Did he really steal my money? White Shadows expression wasplex: You could say he stole it, or you could say he didnt! What do you mean? White Shadow reported to the Empress in detail what she had seen. The Empress was very shocked: Sister Qingxuan, what are you saying? Are you saying that he distributed all the stolen gold, silver, and jewels to the poor people and didnt keep any for himself? Your Majesty, its absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes, and there was no falsehood at all! White Shadow looked serious. Thisthis is great! The Empress pped the table in excitement and eximed: Hes a good official who cares about the people, and hes exactly the kind of talent I need! Lin Beifan, you didnt disappoint me! Hahaha White Shadow hesitated: But, Your Majesty, he also stole from the national treasury The Empress didnt care andughed out loud: What is the problem? The money goes into the treasury, but isnt it still being embezzled by those corrupt officials? Instead, let Lin Beifan take it! At least he gave the money to themon people! But what makes me happiest is his character! Not only is he highly educated, but he also has high moral standards. I will definitely reward him heavily! The next day, Lin Beifan got up early in the morning and heard amotion outside. He asked, Dali, whats going on outside? Why is it so noisy? Young master, two things happened yesterday and everyone is talking about it! Dali said in a buzzing voice. The first thing is thatst night when everyone was sleeping, the poor peasants in the capital suddenly received a sum of money, ranging from a few taels of silver! Everyone is very excited and discussing this matter! Some say its the work of gods, while others say its the work of a hero Lin Beifan nodded, I see, and whats the second thing? The second thing is about you What about me? Dali hesitated, They said that when you were ransacking a housest night, you took advantage of the opportunity to steal a lot of money, which has caused public outrage! Now, everyone is cursing you outside! So thats it! Lin Beifan nodded calmly, realizing that the news had leaked. He didnt know which son of a bitch leaked it, but given another chance, he would still do it! Since he was destined to die, why not take a chance to grab some money and fight for a glimmer of hope? At least it seemed that he made the right decision! Not only did he win a chance to survive, but he also improved some peoples lives. As for the people outside, let them curse as much as they want! He had no regrets! Thinking of this, Lin Beifan instructed, Dali, dont pay too much attention to whats going on outside! Im going to the morning court session. You sneak out of the city and wait for me at our old meeting ce. If Im not in trouble within three days, you cane back! Young master, you Dali became anxious. Rest assured, Dali. I have good fortune on my side and will be fine! Even if I cant be an official, I can still treat you to the best things in life! Im leaving! With a heart that was ready to flee at any moment, Lin Beifan went to the morning court session. Chapter 4: I Wish to Impeach the New Top Scholar! Chapter 4: I Wish to Impeach the New Top Schr! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Long live, long live, long live our Empress! In the Hall of Golden Pce, the officials bowed and saluted, chanting in unison. In this imperial dynasty of the world, kneeling was not a custom. Everyone simply stood and saluted to show respect. Dispense with formalities, my ministers! The Empressmanded with authority. Thank you, Your Majesty! They all straightened up and spoke in unison. The Empress surveyed the officials, and finally behind the crowd, she saw Lin Beifan. Unconsciously, she revealed a slight smile. If before, she had just regarded Lin Beifan as someone pleasing to the eye, now she regarded him as extremely pleasing. With a pleasant gaze, she asked kindly, Schr Lin, yesterday I ordered you to search a house. What were the results? Lin Beifan stepped forward and calmly replied, In response to Your Majestys inquiry, I went to the residence of the Prime Minister Zuo yesterday to search for his assets. After a careful search, I discovered a sum of 200,000 taels of stolen money, an enormous amount. It has already been deposited into the national treasury. I request Your Majestys investigation. At this point, a dozen or so ministers looked over, opening their mouths in shock. Two hundred thousand taels? Is that considered a lot? How dare you report it! Besides,pared to what youve embezzled, its nothing! The Empress pounded on her throne and angrily eximed, This Minister Zuo is a despicable person! He has been in office for more than twenty years and has embezzled 200,000 taels of stolen silver. How many lives has he ruined? Killing him a hundred times wouldnt be enough to quell the publics anger! Your Majesty speaks the truth! Lin Beifan responded without changing his expression. Everyone was shocked again! What the hell! You are even more corrupt than Minister Zuo, and yet you can say that with a straight face! Do you have any shame? The Empress ordered, Guards, take Minister Zuo out and execute him! All other implicated personnel will receive severe punishment! Yes, Your Majesty! A guard in brocade armor received themand and walked out of the Hall of Golden Pce. After killing a person, the Empress was extremely pleased, Furthermore, your search was fruitful, Lin. I have decided to promote you by half a rank! You were originally a sixth-ranked official, but now you will be a fifth-ranked official! As for your future position, I have decided This time, everyone could no longer remain calm! He had just be the top schr yesterday, and his official position had not even been decided yet. Yet after searching a house, he was promoted by half a rank! This speed was too fast! No one had ever seen someone promoted through searching a house! Moreover, he embezzled so much money, and you still promoted him? Is there no justice? Is there no fairness? A senior official stood up and respectfully said, Your Majesty, I have a matter to bring up. What is it? The Empress was displeased. She had just been preparing to reward Lin Beifan and win him over, but someone interrupted her! However, upon seeing the old minister, his anger disappeared without a trace. The other party was a court official named Yao Zheng, who had been in office for more than 30 years as a remonstrance official. Although his rank was not high, only seventh rank, he held a great deal of power. He was responsible for advising the emperor and supervising the behavior of officials, and for impeaching those who vited thew and discipline. What do you have to report, Minister Yao? the empress asked. Your Majesty, Yao Zheng replied, looking at Lin Beifan with red eyes, I wish to impeach the new top schr, Lin Beifan! Yesterday, when he went to search a home, he embezzled jewelry worth two million taels of gold and silver! He has only just be the top schr, and he has already embezzled such a huge sum of money. Your Majesty, please conduct a strict investigation! The officials present couldnt help but smile and watch the show. The empress on the dragon throne remained calm and asked Lin Beifan, Is this true, Minister Lin? She felt a hint of anticipation, wondering how Lin Beifan would get through this crisis. If he couldnt, she would step in to save him! Lin Beifan remained very calm and replied, Your Majesty, Minister Yaos usations are entirely groundless! You!!! Yao Zhengs eyes were spitting fire. Lin Beifan stood tall and straight, his voice thundering, Since my childhood, I have studied the ssics of Confucius and Mencius, and have followed the rituals of the saints. I have lived an upright life and have never done anything to be ashamed of. How could I do something that is despised by both man and God, such as embezzling two million taels of silver and gold? The empress on the dragon throne nearly burst outughing. This guy is really shameless. He obviously embezzled the money, yet he acts as if hes innocent! He has no shame! Hes shameless! At this point, Lin Beifan aimed his gun and said, Sir Yao, why are you using me with baseless usations? Are you taking bribes from others and purposely framing me? Yao Zhengqi was so angry that he almost vomited blood and said, As a righteous imperial censor, I have the duty to monitor and supervise all officials. How could I take bribes and nder loyal and upright officials? Its not necessarily true! The former Minister Zuo is righteous and incorruptible, but he still embezzled 200,000 taels of silver, didnt he? As the saying goes, you cant judge a book by its cover, and appearances can be deceiving! Lin Beifan sarcastically retorted. Yao Zhengqi trembled with anger and said, Sir Zuo was a corrupt official, how can youpare me to him? Then why do you use me of being greedy? Lin Beifan asked. I naturally have evidence! Yao Zhengqi said with his hands sped, Your Majesty, you can send someone to interrogate the officials we searched yesterday to see if its true! As for physical evidence yesterday, I heard that Lin Beifan had someone take the dirty money back to his house, and many people saw it. We can send someone to his house to check! At this point, many ministers shook their heads, and Lin Beifan was in trouble. He was indeed too young and greedy, and didnt do things discreetly enough, leaving himself open to being caught! Sir Lin, do you have anything else to say? the empress asked calmly, showing no emotion. Your Majesty, I am innocent! If you must investigate, then do so! I walk a straight and narrow path and would never do anything illegal or improper! Lin Beifan said with a sense of righteousness. The empress wanted tough! This guy was really Lying through his teeth! He had no shame at all, even thicker-skinned than an old fox on the field! The empress loudly proimed, Very well! Since we have nothing else to do, let us all go to Sir Lins house together and see if he is really corrupt! If he is not, we will clear his name. If he is, he will be thrown into prison! Long live the empress! everyone shouted in unison. Chapter 5: The Top Scholar Cries Poverty: Im Really Too Poor! Chapter 5: The Top Schr Cries Poverty: Im Really Too Poor! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After about half an hour, everyone arrived at a run-down courtyard. Is this where Schr Lin lives? Its too run-down, isnt it? Can people really live here? Everyone was shocked. The Empress was also very surprised as she looked at Lin Beifan and asked, Schr Lin, is this your home? Lin Beifan nodded calmly, Yes, Your Majesty. To be precise, this is a temporary residence that I rented. If youre renting a ce, why not rent a better one? an official couldnt help but ask. Sir, when youre not the one in charge, you dont know how expensive the necessities of life are! Lin Beifan felt very wronged, I also wanted to rent a better ce, but unfortunately my financial situation doesnt allow it! This is the capital, the emperors city, where every inch ofnd is precious! Buying a house is expensive, and renting one isnt cheap either! Do you know how much money I have to spend to rent this courtyard for a month? Lin Beifan held up a finger, Ten taels of silver! I have to spend 10 taels of silver to live here for a month! Thats 120 taels of silver a year! I was born into an ordinary family. How could I afford this kind of money? But in order to take the imperial exam, in order to have a suitable environment for studying, I had to grit my teeth ande up with this huge sum of money! After spending this huge sum of money, I became a poor farmer, no different from the beggars on the street, just dressed a little better! I usually have to save every penny I can and cant afford to spend extra money! I dare not move around much either, for fear of starving! The empress shook her head inmentation, Schr Lin, I never expected you to have suffered so much in the past! Yes, I suffered a lot in the past, mainly because I was poor! Im really too poor! I have no parents, no siblings or rtives, and everything depends on myself! Lin Beifan reminisced, I vaguely remember, a year ago, a thief came to rob my house! At that time, I was hiding under the bed, not daring to make a sound, afraid of scaring the thief away! Do you know what I was thinking at the time? What were you thinking? The empress asked. At that time, how I wished he could find some money! Lin Beifan covered his face. The empress and officials coughed. In the end, he found nothing and ran away in tears! During the holidays, he even left two bags of rice at my house! The empress and officials coughed again. Lin Beifan was grateful and wiped away a tear in secret. I survived every day of the year, thanks to the aid of a thief. He made me feel that there is love and kindness in the world! Is it really that bad? an official couldnt help but say, I remember that with honors and titles, the court provides subsidies! Lin Bei, you even passed the examinations and won the top prize. You should not live in such miserable conditions! Thats right! The court subsidies are generous. He couldnt possibly be living that badly! To be honest, I dont believe it either. You only know one side of the story. Lin Beifan said, The main reason is that I rose too fast! I passed the examinations and won the top prize three years in a row. Before I could even im the subsidies, I became the top schr! If I had taken it slower, things wouldnt have been so bad! The officials coughed again. They red at Lin Beifan incredulously. This guy was definitely pretending! Isnt winning the top prize three years in a row good enough? Its what many students dream of! And yet, heins that it was too fast? Unbelievable! The empress chuckled. She found Lin Beifan more and more interesting! He cried of poverty with such elegance and sophistication. And when he showed off, he did it with such elegance and sophistication! Moreover, he made such convincing arguments that people wanted to beat him up! So, Lin Bei, your insatiable greed is the reason why you live in poverty, the rmendatory official Yao Zheng sneered. You suffered before bing an officer, and now youre trying to make up for your losses by being greedy. Sir Yao, do not reverse ck and white! I am someone who studies the teachings of Confucius and Mencius and practices the rituals of the saints! If you continue to speak like this, I will use you of defamation! Lin Beifan retorted. Its obvious if its true or not! Yao Zheng pushed the door open and shouted, Search! Search carefully and thoroughly, dont leave any inch ofnd! Yes, Sir! A group of soldiers rushed in. Sir, theres nothing in the living room! Sir, theres nothing in the main room! Sir, theres nothing in the guest room! Sir, theres nothing in the kitchen! In the end, all the soldiers who searched stood in front of them, indicating that they didnt find anything. Yao Zheng was perplexed, as were the officials present. How could there be nothing? Its impossible! Yao Zheng eximed. Lin Beifan boasted, What else can you find? Look at my house, itspletely empty, even a poor thief wouldnt bother to steal from me! If there was anything, you wouldve found it at a nce! He had given away all of his money beforehand, considering this consequence. As long as you cant find anything, its difficult to charge me. Its impossible that theres nothing Tell me! Did you move things beforehand? Yao Zheng eximed. Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, Where could I have moved them to? Im so poor that I can barely afford food! Just then, Lin Beifans eyes involuntarily looked to one side. Yao Zheng caught his gaze. He followed Lin Beifans gaze and saw a big tree, which seemed to have recently been tilled and was damp around it. Yao Zhengughed triumphantly: Haha! I know, Lin Beifan, you must have hidden the jewelry under this big tree! Lin Beifan immediately shook his head: No! Absolutely not! How could there be none? I saw it just now! Yao Zheng came to the bottom of the big tree, stepping on newly loosened soil, proudly saying: Look at this soil, it has just been turned over! Therefore, you must have hidden the stolen silver here, am I right? Everyones eyes froze and they indeed saw the freshly turned soil. At this point, Lin Beifans home had already been searched once, but nothing was found. Therefore, the jewelry was probably 80% hidden there. Lin Beifan was panicking: Sir Yao, its definitely not there, please dont assume things! Im sure it is! Yao Zheng shouted: Bring me a shovel, I will personally dig it out! Sir Yao, dont do this, youll regret it! Shut up! Ill regret it if I cant find it! Yao Zheng took an iron shovel and excitedly began digging. After just a few digs, a hole was dug out. At this moment, a ck shadow suddenly rushed out from inside and bit Yao Zhengs hand. Yao Zheng cried out in pain: Aha snake! Ive been bitten by a snake, help me! Chapter 6: The Empress is great, be less greedy in the future! Chapter 6: The Empress is great, be less greedy in the future! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Ten minutester, Yao Zheng finished treating the wound. Fortunately, the snake was not venomous, otherwise they would not have been safe and sound. However, the other party still looked angrily at Lin Beifan, Lin Beifan, why didnt you say anything earlier? Lin Beifan was very aggrieved, It was you who told me to shut up! Yao Zheng was speechless and tried to defend himself, Then why didnt you say it earlier? You were hesitant and deliberately trying to harm me? Lin Beifan became even more aggrieved, How could I say it? I was afraid of disturbing Her Majestys ride. Snakes are disgusting creatures, and if they frightened Her Majesty, it would not have been good. Thats why I didnt dare to say anything or let you dig it up! Yao Zheng was speechless once again. The Empress held back herughter and said, Alright, lets just forget about this incident. Sir Lin was also considerate of me, so he didnt say anything. Sir Yao was also vignt in his duties as an inspector, so he fell victim to this poisonous snake. Neither of you were at fault. What Your Majesty said is absolutely true! Lin Beifan immediately nodded in agreement. Yao Zheng was extremely aggrieved in his heart. So, did I just waste my breath? It was obviously this bastards trickery that made me fall for his trap! This guy is not fit to be a human being! Im already so old, and he still deceived me! Am I easy to deal with? Since nothing has been found, Sir Lin should be innocent. Lets go back to the pce! The Empress waved her hand. Wait a moment, Your Majesty. I still have something to say! Yao Zheng called out. Sir Yao, what else do you have to say? Yao Zheng red at Lin Beifan fiercely and respectfully said, Your Majesty, even though no evidence has been found, it does not prove Lin Beifans innocence! I have already invited the people who apanied him on the house search yesterday, and they can testify to what I have said! A group of trembling people came forward. These people were the ones who apanied Lin Beifan on the house search yesterday. Greetings, Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty! they said while trembling. No need for formalities! Tell me what happened! The Empress ordered. Thank you, Your Majesty! They spoke in detail about what happened yesterday. The empress looked at Lin Beifan with a smile that was not quite a smile and asked, Sir Lin, do you have anything to say? Lin Beifan remained very calm and replied, Your Majesty, they framed and falsely used me of wrongdoing. They are ndering an honest official. The empress asked with a meaningful smile, Why do you say that? Lin Beifan spoke firmly, I dont know why they conspired to use and frame me, but as an honest official, I have nothing to fear. If I did not do it, then I did not do it. The empress was rolling her eyes in response to his words. She thought to herself, Hes lying through his teeth, but it sounds so convincing! If it werent for knowing his true nature, I would have already ordered his execution! Lin Beifan continued, Furthermore, Your Majesty, I suspect that they have been bribed. If you dont believe me, you can send someone to search their homes. After the search, the truth will be clear. The witnesses became anxious and said, Please, no! The empress narrowed her eyes and waved her hand. Several guards came forward to receive her orders. Go and search their homes for me! Yes, Your Majesty! One hourter, the empress looked at the dazzling array of treasures in front of her with a gloomy expression. The total value of the items confiscated from the witnesses homes reached 300,000 taels. The witnesses had already turned pale and were incessantly kowtowing and pleading for mercy. Your Majesty, I was wrong. Please spare my life! Your Majesty, please show mercy and spare me from your punishment! Lin Beifan stood resolutely and said, Your Majesty, look at them! They are all low-ranking officials, yet they are all richer than me! Their wealth far exceeds what they should have earned through their positions. They are a group of corrupt officials. How can their words be trusted? They can harm the interests of the state for their own benefit. Naturally, they can falsely use honest officials for their own benefit as well! The empress became displeased and said, Take them away and execute them! Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty! No matter how they pleaded, in the end, heads would roll. Lin Beifan came to Yao Zhengs side and looked at Yao Zheng, whose face was turning green and white. He smiled and said, Sir Yao, is this the witness you invited? Not much of a witness, is it? You! Yao Zhengs face turned green with anger. It seems that the facts have proven that Sir Lin is indeed innocent! The empress smiled and continued, Moreover, in such a difficult environment, Sir Lin was able to achieve the highest score in the national college entrance examination. I am very pleased! I am unworthy of your praise, Your Majesty, Lin Beifan quickly replied. You are worthy. But as a newly-appointed schr and a court-appointed official, living here is too shabby and it damages the courts reputation! How about this, since Former Minister Zuos house has been confiscated, I will give you that house. You should move there as soon as possible! The empress pondered for a moment and said. Lin Beifan was shocked. He had seen the house before; it was located in the heart of the capital, wasrge and luxurious, and had a very elegant environment. It could easily amodate a hundred people! Such arge house was worth at least 200,000 taels in the valuablend of the capital! The empress had given him such a good house. She was really too kind to him! Lin Beifan was very moved and vowed to be less greedy in the future. Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said loudly. Looking up, he saw envy and jealousy all around him! I hope that Sir Lin will stay true to his original aspiration and forge ahead, and not let me down! The empress said meaningfully. Lin Beifan dered boldly, I am willing to serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly and die for Your Majesty! The empress apuded andughed heartily, Good, good, good! Remember your words! Lets return to the pce now! At this point, Lin Beifan said again, Your Majesty, since were already here, why dont we stop by Sir Yaos house and see if we can discover anything unexpected? Yao Zheng angrily said, Lin Beifan, what do you mean? Lin Beifan smiled and said, What do I mean? Sir Yao, you know very well! As the saying goes, Those who associate with the red will be stained with red; those who associate with the ck will be stained with ck. You dare to bring a group of corrupt officials to criticize me. Do you dare to say that you have no rtionship with them? You!!! Yao Zheng was furious. The empress squinted her eyes with a difficult-to-understand expression. Yao Zheng said angrily, Lin Beifan, dont nder me! I have always been pure and upright, and have never done any shady dealings, let alone embezzled any public funds! Alright, since you want to see, Ill take you there! Yao Zheng bowed and said, I humbly invite Your Majesty to visit my humble abode to prove my innocence! The empress smiled and said, Okay, lets stop by and take a look! Chapter 7: Sir Yao, Youre Too Happy Too Early! Chapter 7: Sir Yao, Youre Too Happy Too Early! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
About 10 minutester, everyone arrived at Yao Zhengs house. As soon as they entered the courtyard, a dignified old woman led a group of people to Yao Zhengs front, anxiously asking, My lord, whats wrong with your hand? And who are these people? My hand was bitten by a cunning little snake, but its nothing, Yao Zheng gave Lin Beifan a fierce re, then turned to the old woman and said, We happened to pass by your door, so I brought a few colleagues to pay a visit. And this is the current Holy Empress, please pay your respects to her! Everyone was taken aback and immediately bowed, saying, Greetings to Your Majesty, long live the empress! Please, rise, the empress said with a smile. Thank you, Your Majesty! everyone stood up. Yao Zheng proudly introduced, Your Majesty, this is my humble wife, Yao Zhangshi! She is virtuous and kind, and has been by my side for over 30 years, deeply in love with each other! And these two are my sons, both with achievements to their name! The empress nodded with a smile, Not bad! Its gettingte, lets go inside and have a look! Yao Zheng immediately weed her inside, while reminding his wife to prepare some refreshments. Yao Zhengs home had a simple and cleanyout, with a front courtyard and a back garden. It wasnt particrlyrge, nor was it extravagantly decorated. After a tour of the house, the empress was very satisfied, It seems that Sir Yao is an upright and honest official! My Great Wu Empire is fortunate to have you, and so I am! Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. I am undeserving, Yao Zheng was overjoyed, I am always strict with myself and lead by example, teaching and educating the people. All for the sake of not letting down Your Majestys generosity! At this moment, he was somewhat grateful to Lin Beifan. If it werent for his proposal, he wouldnt have had the opportunity to show his honesty in front of the empress and the officials! Promotion and honor, as well as leaving a name in history, were now within reach! The empress apuded, Well done! Yao Zheng was ecstatic and came to Lin Beifans side, proudly asking, Sir Lin, do you have anything else to say? Lin Beifan smiled faintly: Sir Yao, youre happy too early! Yao Zheng was displeased: What, can you point out my mistake? Lin Beifan pointed his finger: Look! Following Lin Beifans finger, everyone saw the tables and chairs ced in the hall. Whats the problem with this set of tables and chairs? Theres a big problem! This set of tables and chairs is all made of ck gold nanmu wood! ck gold nanmu wood has a hard texture, is as ck as ink, not easy to corrode, not easy to burn, and is a good material for making furniture! Currently, ck gold nanmu wood is very expensive on the market, and it takes ten taels of silver to buy a catty! This set of tables and chairs weighs five to six hundred catties in total, which means that the total value is five to six thousand taels of silver! If you also include the processing cost, the price will be even higher! Lin Beifan smiled faintly: May I ask, Sir Yao, where did you get this set of tables and chairs? This Yao Zheng was tongue-tied and couldnt help but look at his wife. Sir Lin, are you telling the truth? The empress looked left and right, her face full of doubt. This set of seemingly ordinary tables and chairs is actually worth 6000 taels of silver? Lin Beifan bowed and said resolutely: Your Majesty can send someone to investigate, and I, your humble servant, have not spoken a word of falsehood! The empress nced at Yao Zheng and her face darkened. And this tea, its also unusual! Whats the problem with this tea? Lin Beifan smiled: This teaes from the neighboring country of Mount Dahua. After being brewed with water, it emits a lingering fragrance and is refreshing, making it a medicinal tea! Due to its extremely limited production, it is highly sought after! One tael of gold for one tael of tea, also known as gold tea! Even many high-ranking officials and wealthy people cannot afford to drink this tea. Sir Yao, where did you get it from? This tea is it really that precious? Yao Zheng was shocked. Believe it or not, you can have someone check it out to see if what Im saying is true or not! Lin Beifan said with a smile. Yao Zhengs face turned pale, and the empresss face became even more solemn. Then, Lin Beifan pointed out a few more things. For example, a painting hanging on the wall, a rockery ced in the middle of the courtyard, and some small essories, among others. They all looked ordinary, easily overlooked by people who didnt pay close attention to them. But all of them contained hidden mysteries and were worth a total of 40,000 taels. Yao Zhengs face was already as white as paper, and he was sweating profusely. The empress was furious, mming her hand on the table: Yao Zheng! We trusted you and appointed you as the Imperial Censor to supervise the officials! We didnt expect you to be corrupt and take bribes yourself. What crime have youmitted? Your Majesty, youve wronged me. I had no knowledge of this! Yao Zheng fell to his knees, pleading. The empress became even angrier: Still denying it? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty, please calm down. Sir Yao may not have been corrupt, but his subordinates may have been! Sir Yao has read the ssics and held the position of Imperial Censor, so he can control himself. But his subordinates may not have the same self-control! After all, power can blind peoples eyes! Chapter 8: Just and Righteous Lin Beifan! Chapter 8: Just and Righteous Lin Beifan! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Right, right, right! These were all arranged by my wife, I had no knowledge of it at all! Yao Zheng knelt down with his wife and cursed angrily, Whats going on? How did these things end up in my house? Tell me the truth in detail! My Lord, it is true that I arranged these things, but I didnt know they were so valuable! Yao Zhangshi said in a panic, They were all given to me as gifts by others! But I remembered your teachings and didnt ept any of them. I only bought them when I saw they were cheap and good. I never expected Youre being foolish! Yao Zhengmented, My reputation for a lifetime has been ruined by you! My Lord, I did wrong! Yao Zhangshi cried. It seems everything is now clear! Lin Beifanughed and said, Sir Yao and his wife didnt actually act greedy, they just didnt know the value of these items. But they couldnt resist the temptation when the gifts were presented to them. Even if they didnt mean to be greedy, they ended up as such! The Empress snorted, Yao Zheng, since you were unaware, we will not remove your official hat. But you will be fined for one year and let this serve as a warning to others. Also, all of these items will be confiscated. Remember this and dont make the same mistake again! Yao Zheng and his wife were relieved and quickly kowtowed, Thank you, Your Majestys mercy! Thank you, Your Majestys mercy After handling the matter, the empress looked at Lin Beifan in amazement: Sir Lin, you have truly impressed me! These items are difficult for ordinary people to recognize, but you can see through them at a nce and urately estimate their value! You are amazing! Your Majesty overpraises me, I am unworthy, Lin Beifan replied humbly. Sir Lin, how did you do it? In response to Your Majestys question Lin Beifan respectfully said, I have read extensively since I was young, swallowing all kinds of knowledge. At the same time, I am curious about anything new and pay attention to observation in my daily life. Over time, I have learned a lot. These are just some minor skills and not worth mentioning. In fact, it was all thanks to his system. He bound the system for corrupt officials, which included a scanning and identifying function for antiques. Anything that passed his eyes could be identified, along with its value. This prevented him from missing any treasures. This is not just some minor skill, but a very effective one if used properly! I hope you will continue to maintain it! the empress said. I will follow your orders! Lin Beifan replied. The empress was even more satisfied with Lin Beifan. Not only did he care about the people, but he was also quick-witted and had the ability to turn danger into safety. He was well-read, sharp-eyed, and had the ability to identify treasures. In the imperial court, its rare to find someone as talented as him! But hes a bit cunning and a bit bad! Even someone as old as Yao Zheng fell for his trickery! Hes also thick-skinned and can spin lies without batting an eye. However, his strengths outweigh his ws! The empress pondered and said, A bronze mirror can reflect ones attire, history can reveal the rise and fall of a nation, and people can reveal gains and losses. As a censor, you are a mirror of the imperial court. Through this mirror, we can see the filth and shorings of the court and make improvements. Therefore, as a censor, you must lead by example and set a good standard! Everyone nodded in agreement. The empress sighed, But now even the usually righteous Yao Zheng has sumbed! Who knows how many censors arepromised in our system? Their harm is too great, and I am deeply concerned! Thus, we must carry out a thorough investigation. Everyone bowed their heads, afraid to speak. In truth, raiding someones home is a lucrative task where one can pocket some valuables. However, raiding a censors home was an act of making enemies! A censor holds the power to monitor all officials and can impeach anyone from the emperor to the lowest-ranked official. If you offend them, arent you afraid of being impeached in the future? Ill assign this task to The empress scanned the officials and prepared to pick someone. At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward and loudly said, Your Majesty, please assign this task to me! You? The empress was puzzled. This task is not suitable for anyone else, only me! Why? Because if others investigate, they may protect each other and it will end without result! But I dont have this problem. Im a neer to the officialdom and not familiar with anyone. I wont protect anyone! Moreover, I have the ability to appraise treasures and wont miss any valuable items! The empress smiled, Arent you afraid of offending people? Lin Beifan shook his head, his eyes very firm and righteous, No! Im grateful for your grace and have already put life and death aside! Im willing to devote myself to your service and repay your great kindness! The empress eximed, Good! Its rare to have such loyal officials. Ill assign this task to you! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed, Im willing to work hard and die for Your Majesty!
1. Censor, in traditional East Asia, governmental official charged primarily with the responsibility for scrutinizing and criticizing the conduct of officials and /topic/censor-East-Asian-government Chapter 9: House Search, Im a Professional! Chapter 9: House Search, Im a Professional! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After receiving the imperial decree, Lin Beifan went to search the houses with great enthusiasm. This set of tea sets may look ordinary, but it is actually made of the top-grade white jade, meticulously crafted, and naturally fragrant. It is worth 3,000 taels of silver on the market! With Sir Lius financial resources, he cannot afford to buy this set of tea sets! Take it away! This painting is a genuine work by the calligraphy and painting master Yan Qing and is worth 5,000 taels on the market! Sir Wang, can you tell me how you acquired this painting? If I cant get a satisfactory answer, I will take it away! These two stone lions are made of Jin Yushi from Mount Hanbai! Jin Yushi is already expensive and this pair of stone lions are worth at least 2,000 taels! Move it away! Zhao, your childs marbles are made of agate! Each one is worth three to four hundred taels. Its extravagant to let your child y marbles with them! Take it away! Sir Xu, please take off your clothes! Your clothes are made of expensive silk and this set is worth at least 500 taels. With your financial resources, you cannot afford to wear this outfit! Lin Beifan was ruthless and took everything of value heid his hands on. It was like a swarm of locusts had passed through, leaving nothing behind. At the same time, hepletely offended all the censor officials! Sir Lin, are you really going to be so ruthless? We will be officials of the same court in the future, and we will meet again sooner orter. Its better to leave room for reconciliation now! One of the censor officials said with a stern expression but inwardly cowardly. Lin Beifan sneered, You should say that to the empress. Do you think she will spare you? Sir Lin, be careful with your ck gauze hat! Another censor threatened. Lin Beifan chuckled, It doesnt matter! As he looked at their gnashing teeth and fierce expressions, Lin Beifan smiled smugly. I just like it when you cant stand me but cant do anything about it! Anyway, I dont n to stay in the officialdom for long, so I dont care if I offend anyone! Compared to the benefits he received, these were insignificant! Lin Beifan was already happily calcting how much he could embezzle this time. How much should he leave for the empress? The empress had been so good to him, he should leave a little more for her! Just then, a familiar call came from nearby. Young master! Lin Beifan turned to look and called out, Dali, why did youe back? Dali stood in front of Lin Beifan, towering over him, rubbing the back of his head and saying, Young master, I never left the capital. Forgive me, please dont throw me away! Lin Beifan was deeply moved. The two had been inseparable for three years. How could he not understand Dali? The other party was clearly worried about his safety, afraid that he would get into trouble, so he risked his life to stay in the city. The two could be said to be each others closest people in this world! Good! Im fine now, no need to worry! Lin Beifan smiled. Great! Dali nodded happily. You came at the right time! Lin Beifan pointed to two big boxes beside him and said with a smile, These are my spoils of war today, help me take them home! Yes, Young Master! Dali didnt hesitate to pick them up and turn to leave. Wait! Lin Beifan called out. Young master, is there anything else? Da Li turned around. Youre going in the wrong direction! Lin Beifanughed and pointed in another direction, Our home is over there! Dali was puzzled: This doesnt seem right, isnt that the former residence of Household Ministrys Assistant Minister, Zuoxiang Quan? Lin Beifan nodded: Yes, its Household Ministrys Assistant Minister, Zuoxiang Quans residence! The Empress has rewarded it to us, and from now on, it will be our home! Great! Da Li became even happier. Half an hourter, the two of them arrived at Household Ministrys Assistant Minister, Zuoxiang Quans residence in high spirits. Looking at this familiar high-walled courtyard, both of them felt veryplicated, sighing about the unpredictability of life. Yesterday, they had just confiscated someone elses home, and today it had be their own! Since it had just been confiscated, it was still basically in its original condition, with everything except valuable items, and they could move in with just a bag. Young master, this house is quite big. Do we need to invite some people to take care of it? After all, you are now an official and should pay attention to certain things! Da Li said enthusiastically. Lin Beifan rolled his eyes. As someone who could flee at any time, why would he invite people toe over? What a waste of money! Lin Beifan shook his head: No need, just the two of us will do! If we see anything dirty or messy, well tidy it up a bit! Were all men, we dont need to be so particr! Okay, young master! Ill go back now and bring our things over! Wait, first move these two boxes into my bedroom! After the boxes were moved into the bedroom, Lin Beifan closed the door and called out in his mind: System, settle ounts for me immediately! Chapter 10: This Bastard! Hes Greedy and Gave Empress Scraps Again! Chapter 10: This Bastard! Hes Greedy and Gave Empress Scraps Again! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Currently, Lin Beifan is like dancing on the edge of a de, at any moment his head may fall. So whenever there is an opportunity, he immediately converts it into strength. With Lin Beifansmand [Ding! The host embezzled 450,000 taels of gold and silver jewelry, a huge amount, and is rewarded with the integration of the temte of Master Linghu ter stage)!] A powerful force quickly merged into Lin Beifans body. Immediately after, there was also a memory that merged into his mind. Lin Beifan knew that he was absorbing the Master Lihus providence, so he sat cross-legged and absorbed it. At this time, in the imperial pce- A Embroidered Uniform Guard is reporting to the Empress. Reporting to Your Majesty, under the leadership of the new top schr Lin Beifan, progress has been rapid! 28 officials mansions have already been searched and a total of 600,000 taels worth of treasures have been plundered! Please review, Your Majesty! The Empress mmed the table and stood up: How absurd! As an official, they should be a model of morals for the court, but not only did they not lead by example, they even embezzled 600,000 taels of treasures, averaging more than 20,000 taels per person! It can be seen that the court is corrupted to what extent? Im afraid its worse than I imagine! Your Majesty, please calm down! Embroidered Uniform Guard lowered his head. How can I calm down? The Empress Dowager said angrily: Eating the court sry, not only did not help me, but also hindered me. I wish I could cut them all down! Immediately investigate one by one and make it clear! If they are unknowing, fine them a years sry and put them under scrutiny! If they are knowingly guilty, immediately take off their ck hats and throw them into prison! Yes, Your Majesty! Embroidered Uniform Guard respectfully said. After venting her anger, the Empress is still not satisfied. If the court wasnt short of talents, how could she be lenient and leave them alive? Its only because she has been in power for a short time and has too few reliable people. The court cannot function without these people, so they are always at their mercy, and can only kill some small fish to vent their anger! Seeing the hesitation of Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Empress Dowager frowned: What else do you have to say? Reporting to Your Majesty, its about the new top schr Lin Beifan! Lin Beifan? When the name Lin Beifan was mentioned, the empresss frown finally eased a bit. Of all the officials in the court, she admired him the most. He was not just a nobleman with a pure background and outstanding academic achievements, but also had apassionate heart and was not afraid to take on major responsibilities. He was exactly the kind of talent she had been seeking. She was determined to cultivate him into a powerful minister who would assist her in her grand cause. The only w was that he was too young andcked experience in the political arena, so he couldnt yet take on heavy responsibilities. Otherwise, she would have promoted him to a higher position immediately. What is it about him? the empress asked, her face showing a hint of a smile. Your Majesty, its like this! The Embroidered Uniform Guard looked at the empresss expression and cautiously said, During the house search of newly crowned top schr Lin Beifan, he embezzled treasures worth 450,000 taels, and only deposited the remaining 150,000 taels into the national treasury! The empresss smile gradually froze. She subconsciously clenched her fists, as if she wanted to beat someone to death. This bastard! He embezzled a huge sum of money and gave her the leftover crumbs! No wonder he was so enthusiastic at the time, making her feel touched. It turned out he had been nning this all along! This damn son of a bitch! This is a crime of disrespect and disloyalty to the empress, dont you understand? Do you have any loyalty to the empress left in your heart? You may go now! The empress weakly waved her hand. Yes, Your Majesty! The imperial guard retreated. After a while, the empress calmly said, Sister Qingxuan, you heard that. Please help me take a look at it! Yes, Your Majesty! A white figure flitted away. At this moment, Lin Beifan had already absorbed the enlightenment from the martial arts master Linghu. His cultivation had not grown at all, but his strength had improved significantly, and he should be able to handle ordinary innate masters without any problems. This is mainly because Linghu Sect Leaders strength is really not that greatpared to Prince Zhennan, hecks internal strength,cks lightness skill, and his martial arts skills are not that impressive. However, Linghu Sect Leader still has many strengths. For example, he received a very systematic and formal martial arts education since he was young, which is something Prince Zhennan cannotpare to. He knows a lot of martial arts skills, such as fist and foot techniques, Huashan Sword, Wuyue Sword, Xixing Dafa, and even a castrated version of Yijinjing, which makes his attacking techniques very rich andpensates for his previous shorings. Most importantly Dugu Nine Swords!!! This set of top-notch sword techniques inherited from the Sword Demon and dreamed of by countless people! No ones can defeat this techniques, allowing one to win even when they are weaker, which is very impressive! Now I can also be considered a master swordsman! Lin Beifan was very happy. As a man, who doesnt have a dream of wielding a sword? Coming to this world of advanced martial arts, it would be a shame not to go out and explore! However, he ns to realize this dream when he is no longer able to be an official. Wandering the world with a sword, fighting with the bandits in the green forest! Tasting the affection of the people in the rivers andkes! Drawing his sword to help the oppressed, and incidentally killing corrupt officials like himself! Just thinking about it makes him feel great! Lets focus on business for now, its time to scatter some wealth again! Lin Beifan crushed the two chests of treasure, changed into ck clothes again, and went out to scatter his wealth. Unbeknownst to him, a white figure was following him from behind.
1. Linghu Chong is a fictional character from the Chinese wuxia novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (also known as Swordsman) by Jin Yong. He is the protagonist of the story and is a skilled martial artist who is forced to navigate a series of betrayals and conflicts in the martial arts world. He is known for his swordsmanship and for his unwavering loyalty to his friends and family. Chapter 11: Will your conscience not ache for embezzling so much money from me, Lin Beifan? Chapter 11: Will your conscience not ache for embezzling so much money from me, Lin Beifan? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The next day, Lin Beifan attended court again. Greetings, Your Majesty, may you live for ten thousand years! All rise, my beloved ministers! the Empress said. Thank you, Your Majesty! After the formalities, Lin Beifan took a step forward and respectfully said, Your Majesty, I carried out the order to search the homes of the censor officials yesterday! It has now beenpleted, please take a look! You were so efficient! The Empress praised, Only yesterday did I issue the order and in less than half a day, you finished it! Indeed, you are an invaluable asset to our Great Wu Dynasty. With you, our country is fortunate! Lin Beifan was humble, Thank you for Your Majestys praise. I do not deserve it! Tell me about the situation, the Empressmanded. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan took out a memorial and spoke loudly, Yesterday, I carried out the order to search the homes of the censor officials! I worked tirelessly throughout the night. Out of the 28 officials, two were found to have embezzled over 20,000, three between 10,000 and 20,000, and five between 5,000 and 10,000 Finally, out of the 28 officials, 24 were suspected of taking bribes! The total embezzled amount was 150,000, which is a huge sum! The specific details are all in this memorial. Please inspect it, Your Majesty! The officials around them all had grim expressions. To have searched the homes of 28 officials and only found 150,000, less than the amount that the former Minister, Quan, took how could they believe that this was a huge sum? Their eyes looked strange as they looked over at Lin Beifan. Would he steal the remainder? The Empress, seated on her high chair, also had a change in expression. This jerk! He really did steal 450,000! Do you not feel guilty for stealing so much money from me? How can you say it so calmly? Your face is really thick! In the face of everyones meaningful nces, Lin Beifan remained calm andposed. Whatever you think, whatever you see, I am not greedy! I am just returning the money and goods that everyone has stolen to their rightful owners! I am the conscience of the officialdom! I have more conscience than you! The more he thought about it, the more confident Lin Beifan became, raising his head high. In fact, the empress had already known about the situation of the house search and had secretly issued an order. But in the court, they still needed to perform. They saw her angrily saying, Well done! As a censor, not only did they not lead by example, but they also embezzled and vited thew, adding to their crimes! Continue to investigate, if they arepletely unaware, seize the illegal gains and fine them for a years sry! If they have no knowledge, but the amount is over 10,000, seize the illegal gains and fine them for two years sry! If they are knowinglymitting a crime, embezzling less than 5000 silver, seize the illegal gains and fine them for three years sry, and demote them by one level! If they knowinglymit a crime and embezzle more than 5000 silver, immediately remove their position and throw them into prison! All censors, although not imprisoned, will still be under observation for three years and cannot be promoted! Those who merit will be given leniency at the discretion of the court! But if theymit the offense again, they will definitely be executed! Your Majesty is wise! Lin Beifan loudly said. Other officials followed suit and shouted, Your Majesty is wise! Sir Lin has done a great job in searching the house, and We will reward him! The empress smiled and said, What do you want, tell Us! Lin Beifan lowered his head in fear, It is the duty of an official to share the worries of Your Majesty! As long as I can do things for Your Majesty, that is the greatest blessing of a subject! Your humble servant does not dare to expect any other rewards! Sir Lin! The empress pretended to be very moved on the surface, but sneered in her heart, this bastard is quite good at pretending! When you were embezzling, why didnt you think of me? You cant have merit without reward! Lets do this After a moment of contemtion, the empress said, ording to convention, since you were the top scorer in the imperial examinations, the court will arrange for you to enter the Hanlin Academy and serve as a Hanlin Academy editor, with a rank of sixth grade official! Now, We will promote you half a rank, to a proper sixth-grade official! At that moment, the officials present all looked at Lin Beifan with envy and jealousy. Its important to note that from the time Lin Beifan became the top scorer in the imperial examinations until now, it had only been two days. In just two days, he had searched his own home twice and was immediately promoted half a rank. Who knows how many years worth of effort that saved him! This can truly be called great imperial favor! As for the official position the empressughed and said, The National Academy is in need of a new director of studies! Sir Lin, who has achieved triple sess in the imperial examination, is highly educated and virtuous. He is a perfect fit for the position. Therefore, I will appoint you as the director of studies of the National Academy! I hope that Sir Lin will pass on his knowledge and teach more outstanding talents for the country and the people! Everyone once again looked at Lin Beifan with envy and jealousy. Although the director of studies of the National Academy is only a sixth-ranked official, it is a very high position. The National Academy is equivalent to a national university, and the director of studies is like a vice-president, responsible for specific administrative affairs under the presidents leadership. In the future, anyone whoes from the National Academy will pay their respects to Lin Beifan and call him master. The empress really dotes on him! Lin Beifan was also very surprised, he didnt expect the empress to give him such a great official position! But, there are benefits to be gained. So, Lin Beifan loudly said, Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty! Chapter 12: Why Did He Alone Receive the Empresss Favor? Chapter 12: Why Did He Alone Receive the Empresss Favor? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In addition, we decree that you can attend the morning court every day! The officials were once again shocked and turned their heads to look at Lin Beifan. If before, they only envied and hated him, then this time they were absolutely crazy with envy! Do you know what the morning court is? It is the center of the countrys power! A gathering of officials, discussing national affairs, deciding the countrys destiny! Usually, only important ministers with a third-grade rank or above have the opportunity toe here regrly. Officials with a rank below third-grade can onlye here if summoned by the empress. For any small official, being able to attend the morning court is a huge favor. Lin Beifan could attend the morning court several times due to his special situation in the past few days, which is already a great honor. Moreover, attending the morning court is not only a great honor but also a rare opportunity. Because all the countrys affairs are announced from here. Staying here makes you closer to the center of power. If there are any policies announced from here in the future, you will be the first to know. Moreover, the Empress of the Great Wu Dynasty is here. You can meet her frequently, express your opinions, and influence national policies. If you perform well, you can even enjoy the empresss favor and get promoted. There are too many benefits. Everyone couldnt help but shake their heads and sigh. What kind of luck did Lin Beifan have? Why did he alone receive the Empresss favor? In just two days, he was promoted, obtained the high-paying position of the director of studies, and was even granted permission to attend the morning court daily It was like a meteoric rise! At this time, Lin Beifan was also very surprised. He didnt expect the Empress to favor him so much, which made him a bit overwhelmed with affection. He didnt seem to have done anything significant, only searched the home. Could it be that she has taken a fancy to him? Lin Beifan couldnt help but touch his face, which had the beauty of the golden age, with facial features like Fan Kuai and the charm of Song Yu. He nodded with 10 points of affirmation. Well, its very possible! The Empress may have really taken a liking to him! The Empress is shallower than he imagined! After taking off her emperors robe, she was just a normal woman, and naturally was overwhelmed by my beauty! Sometimes being too good-looking is like cheating in life, uncontroble! Seeing Lin Beifans shocked appearance, the empress was very satisfied. I will favor you now, and I will do everything I can to promote and uplift you, to make you feel the generosity of the empress, and the benevolence of the lord of heaven, and then serve me wholeheartedly! Sir Lin, I hope you dont disappoint my expectations! The empress smiled and encouraged him. Your servant will spare no effort and devote myself to death! Lin Beifan bowed and solemnly dered. Good! The empressughed, Do any of you ministers have any objections? The ministers looked at each other, what objections could they have? The empress made it clear that she wanted to promote the new highest-scoring schr Lin Beifan, and if they went against her, they would be ignorant. He was just a sixth-grade minor official, not so significant, so they gave him the promotion, which would not affect the overall situation! Your majesty is brilliant! All the officials eximed. Good! Considering that Sir Lin has just be the highest-scoring schr, and also because of yesterdays celebration, things may be a bit busy! So, I grant you a few days off! Three dayster, you may go to the National Academy to begin your official duties! The empress smiled. Thank you, your majesty! Lin Beifan happily replied. As soon as the court session ended, Lin Beifan slipped away. The next day, he took off his official clothes and put on a clean and simple white robe. Then, like a young master, he excitedly went out to wander the streets. To be honest, since he crossed over, he had spent most of his time studying and preparing for the imperial examinations, and had little leisure time. Now, he has be the top scorer in high school, his system has been activated, he has gained strength, and he feels at ease. He wants to take advantage of these three days to explore the capital and rx. As the center of the Great Wu Dynasty, the capital is densely popted and bustling. People and vehicles flow continuously on the main streets, and shops line the streets, with constant haggling and a lively atmosphere. However, at this time, the liveliest thing is an event. Lin Beifans ears perked up as he approached a corner where a group of people were discussing animatedly. One old man was pontificating, spitting with excitement: Let me tell you, Night Hero is a great person! He scattered money against night. How much did I get? Haha, I got eight taels of silver, and now my life is better! Yes, Night Hero is a good person! I had a back injury and needed money for medicine. But when I woke up this morning, I found a piece of gold on my bedside table, and my medicine costs are covered! Thank you, Night Hero! Haha! I wish there were more good people like him! What good people? I think Night Hero is not even human. He is a living bodhisattva! How else could he have such apassionate heart? Youre right, he is a living bodhisattva! Living bodhisattva! Lin Beifan listened happily because they were talking about him as the Night Hero. Praise me, praise as much as you want, I wont mind! Chapter 13: Were not familiar, just call me handsome guy! Chapter 13: Were not familiar, just call me handsome guy! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, everyone noticed Lin Beifan standing aside. Hey, young man, who are you? When did youe here? You look like a schr! Lin Beifan showed a bright smile. I heard everyone discussing the Night Hero and I became curious, so I came to listen! I see, said the same old man from before, still trying to act wise, Young man, what should we call you? Were not familiar, just call me Liang Zai!'' replied Lin Beifan earnestly. Liang Zai? The old man wrinkled his brow. Yes! Lin Beifan happily responded. Liang Zai The old man repeated, feeling that the name was strange and difficult to pronounce. Oveing the weird feeling in his heart, he asked, Where are you from? You look like a schr. (Tln: Liang Zai means handsome guy) Lin Beifan nodded. I am indeed a schr. I got tired of studying so I came out for a walk to rx! Please continue to actively discuss the Night Hero, praise him to your hearts content, and dont worry about me! After he finished speaking, Lin Beifans face showed a pure and curious expression. It must be said that Lin Beifans face was very deceptive, making everyone unconsciously let their guard down. Great, then lets continue talking! The old man pped his thigh and changed his posture. When ites to the Night Hero, he really is a righteous and kind-hearted person! He helps the needy and is generous with his wealth. It is said that in just the past two nights, he has already given out more than one million taels of silver! Yes, its amazing! One million taels of silver can be thrown out like its nothing, and ordinary people cant do that! I know many oldrades who have greatly improved their lives because of this money! Its a pity that I havent seen what he looks like, otherwise I would really like to make a card for him and offer incense day and night! Lin Beifan listened whileughing so hard his eyes couldnt stay open. Keep praising me, praise me to death, no need to pity me! But at that moment, the old man sighed, Speaking of the Night Knight, I remember another person! Who? The current top schr Lin Beifan! What happened to him? The old man looked around, then nced at Lin Beifan, and whispered, You should have heard about it. When he searched the home of Former Minister Zuo Xiangquan two days ago, he embezzled nearly two million taels of silver! Everyone gasped, Thats so much! And just yesterday, when he searched the house of the Imperial Censor, he embezzled a lot of money again! Everyone gasped again, He even dares to embezzle money from Imperial Censors? One person interrupted, Old Xu, is it true? He embezzled two million taels and also embezzled money from Imperial Censors? This top schrs courage is too big! To be honest, I dont really believe it! The old man became unhappy, How could it be fake? The old man looked around again, and also nced at the smiling Lin Beifan. He whispered, Let me tell you, after searching the house, the top schr had his servant carry tworge boxes around town, many people saw it! Its just that they found nothing so it ended there. But I dont believe hes innocent! At this time, an old man interjected, What Old Xu said is true! My neighbors second cousins brother-inw is an official, and he was there at the scene, he saw how Lin Beifan embezzled! He got drunkst night and told us this story, he even said he has never seen such a corrupt person! Everyone couldnt help shaking their heads and sighing. This is really a tragedy! Empress Majesty opened up the imperial examinations and originally nned to recruit talented individuals, but who knew they would end up recruiting such a person? Being so corrupt as a small official, how will he end up in the future? One is generous and the other is crazily greedy! They are both human, but why is there such a huge gap? Ah, those who are righteous often end up being betrayed by those who study! Our court has gained another corrupt official, and life is bing increasingly difficult! The old man took the opportunity to lecture Lin Beifan, using his seniority to teach him: Young man, you are also someone who studies! Study well and serve the court, work for the well-being of the people, but dont be like that top schr who lose his conscience as he study more! Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly, What the senior said is true, I have learned my lesson! Hmm, the younger generation can be taught! It was at this moment that an old man squinted his eyes and stared seriously at Lin Beifan. He felt like he had seen this person somewhere before. Then, suddenly, he cried out in surprise and fell to the ground, pointing trembling fingers at Lin Beifan, Hes the new top schr, Lin Beifan!!! The scene exploded. What? Hes the new top schr, Lin Beifan? Why is he here? Is this a joke? Everyone looked at the smiling Lin Beifan in amazement, unable to believe this fact. Lin Beifan stood up, stood with his hands behind his back, and smiled, Yes, I am Lin Beifan, the corrupt official you all talk about! Chapter 14: How could an upright official like me end up in a place like this? Chapter 14: How could an upright official like me end up in a ce like this? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Everyone was frightened and immediately knelt down, bowing and apologizing. Im sorry, top schr. I didnt know it was you! I was wrong. Please forgive me, sir! I wont dare to do it again in the future! Ill let it go this time since you didnt know any better. But dont talk bad about me behind my back in the future, or else Lin Beifan squinted his eyes. Or else what? Everyone trembled in fear. Or else Ill do it too! Everyone: .. Okay, Im leaving! Lin Beifan patted his buttocks and left. Everyone looked at each other in confusion. The top schr they had secretly criticized had just left without punishing them? He let them off so easily? Lin Beifan continued to wander around, not taking the incident seriously after experiencing the public outrage in his previous life. Even if they criticized him harshly, it wouldnt faze him in the slightest. Unknowingly, he arrived in front of a luxurious and bustling building. Many young and beautiful girls with charming figures stood in front of the building, waving and attracting customers with their extreme enthusiasm. Many well-dressed men smiled and put their arms around the girls waists, walking into the building. Upon closer inspection, the three characters Hundred Flowers Brothel were hanging above the building! Lin Beifan lost hisposure: Holy crap! Isnt this a brothel? How could an upright official like me end up in a ce like this? He nced around, then slipped away when no one was watching. However, even after crossing through time and space, Murphys Law continued to apply. The more you try to avoid something, the more likely it is to happen. At that moment, the madam saw Lin Beifan and her eyes lit up. She approached him with a big smile and said, Isnt this the new top schr Lin Beifan? Since youre here,e in and have a seat! All the girls here admire you so much! Grabbing Lin Beifans hand, she didnt want him to leave. Lin Beifan coughed, Madam, youve mistaken me for someone else. Im not the top schr, Im Wu Dng, the guy who sells pancakes! How could I be mistaken? The madam said. Ive seen the top schr from afar before, and a person as outstanding as you, with such refined and charming demeanor, belongs to this one and only category. I would recognize you even if you turned to ashes! Lin Beifan smiled brightly as he listened, I love hearing this kind of talk. However, I am a principled person and I will never give in so easily. Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, But I dont have money and cant afford to spend! The madam still held onto Lin Beifan and eximed eagerly, Mister Schr, it is our honor to have you visit our Hundred Flowers Brothel. How could we charge you? Mister Schr, dont refuse,e on in! At this moment, six young and beautiful girls walked out of the Baihua brothel, smiling and greeting Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan coughed and said, I didnt n to go in, but you have invited me seven times. If I refuse again, I would not know how to show my appreciation. Lead the way. The madam and the girls were delighted and happily sent Lin Beifan inside, shouting, Mister Schr is here! Under the wee of the girls, Lin Beifan walked into the Hundred Flowers Brothel and found that although it was still daytime, it was already packed with people, with teasing and yful noises filling the air. Lin Beifan couldnt help but sigh, The brothel is full because peoples hearts are lonely. Everyone shouted in agreement, Thats right! If it werent for unbearable loneliness, who would want toe here? Yes! If I go back home, I would have to face an old tigress, so I prefer toe here and spend money to relieve my loneliness! The girls here are beautiful and have sweet voices. I love this ce! Thats right. Mister Schr understands my heart. Hahaha! With just one sentence, Lin Beifen was brought closer to the prostitutes. At this moment, the madam had someone bring over writing materials and smilingly said, Schr Lin, please offer a poem! This was equivalent to Lin Beifens payment for services rendered. Lin Beifens spirits lifted and he picked up the brush writing quickly and eloquently. Everyone gathered around and recited the poem, apuding madly afterwards. One schr praised Lins ability to capture the emotions of the prostitutes so masterfully with just a few words. The women present were all touched and gazed at Lin with affectionate eyes. In that moment, Lin Beifen was the most handsome man in the brothel.
1. Murphysw is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. It is a humorous take on the idea that anything that can be misinterpreted or misunderstood will be. Thew is often invoked to express the idea that things will not always go ording to n, and that seemingly impossible scenarios can and will happen. Chapter 15: Will Miss Shi Shi Leave the Brothel? Chapter 15: Will Miss Shi Shi Leave the Brothel? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Next, Lin Beifan was invited by the madam to sit in the golden position on the second floor, where he was served with delicious food and wine. Many courtesans admired Lin Beifans talent and volunteered to apany him, but he politely declined their advances as he had a cleanliness fetish and was not interested in women touched by others. While enjoying his food and wine, Lin Beifan couldnt help but marvel at how much he was enjoying himself. He had good wine to drink, delicious food to taste, and beautiful talented women to keep himpany. It was truly a mans paradise! It was no wonder that countless men would risk everything toe here and leave nothing behind, as this ce fulfilled all their fantasies and desires! At one point, Lin Beifan raised his ss to toast the nearby table and said, Sir Zhao, please! The other party quickly raised his ss in response and said, Schr Lin, youre too polite, please also drink with us! After they had both taken a sip of their drinks, their rtionship grew closer. Curious, Lin Beifan asked, Sir Zhao, is it always this lively here? Zhao shook his head and smiled, saying, No, only in recent days it has been busier than usual! Whys that? Lin Beifan asked, his curiosity piqued. Its because Miss Shi Shi is preparing to leave the brothel. Her performances are a must-see, so everyone ising here to support her! Zhaoughed. Miss Shi Shi? Lin Beifan frowned. Seeing Lin Beifans confusion, Zhao immediately exined, Miss Shi Shis real name is Li Shi Shi. She is a talented and virtuous courtesan here, and she sells her art but not her body! She has a beauty that can bring shame to the flowers and a talent in music, chess, calligraphy, poetry, and painting that makes her a well-known figure in the capital. She has countless admirers! But just a few days ago, she announced that she would be leaving the brothel, choosing a husband among those who are talented, noble, and powerful. Thats why people are pouring in these past few days since everyone hopes to catch her attention. Zhao added. Who is she nning to marry? Lin Beifan asked, his interest piqued. I dont really know, but she said she will choose someone who is talented, noble and powerful. So many people areing in hopes of being chosen by Li Shi Shi! Zhao replied. Lin Beifan teased, It seems like you also want to be chosen by her, Sir Zhao! Zhaoughed heartily and said, Who wouldnt want to have close contact with such a beauty? Who wouldnt want to marry her? But there are too many suitors, and my chances are slim. Im just here to join the fun. But Lin, you have a higher chance than most! Lin Beifan shook his head with a smile and said, Im not interested in these things. Besides, Im always on the run, how could I marry and have children? Even if I were to find a wife, Id have to wait until I have a stable life! No need to talk so much, lets drink! Zhao raised his ss to toast and said, Heres to Schr Lin! At this moment, in a boudoir, a stunningly beautiful woman was holding a poem written by Lin Beifan and reciting each word. Silently climbing up the blue building, the moon is like a hook, the lonely parasol tree locks the autumn night! Unable to cut or straighten, its the sorrow of parting! Its a feeling that touches the heart What a beautiful poem! The stunning womans eyes became misty. This poem was simply a portrayal of her life, her inner thoughts! She couldnt help but recall her past. Initially, due to family circumstances, she had to offer herself to the Hundred Flowers Brothel at a young age. Relying on her own talent, she managed to keep her innocence and became the top courtesan in the Hundred Flowers Brothel, renowned in the capital. But everyone only saw her surface glory, who saw her hardship behind the scenes? Who would willingly offer themselves to a brothel? To be coveted by countless men with greedy, lecherous, andscivious eyes? Miss, why dont you just choose to marry the top schr Lin Beifan! An attendant in a blue dress said enthusiastically, Look, hes not only talented and extraordinary, but also young and aplished, winning three times in the imperial exams. How many people have achieved that throughout history? Moreover, hes currently in favor with the empress, having been promoted half a rank in just two days, and appointed as the director of the National Academy. He was even granted a luxurious mansion and allowed to attend court meetings daily! If you marry him, the high-ranking official wont be able to do anything to you! The stunning woman before our eyes was the top courtesan in the Hundred Flowers Brothel Li Shi Shi. Unluckily, she had been targeted by a young master. He was a spoiled brat, indulging in wining, dining, prostitution, and gambling. Relying on his fathers power, he hadmitted many evil deeds, frightening everyone into silence. In order to avoid being defiled by the high-ranking official, she had chosen to leave at this time. She sought out a righteous gentleman to protect her, and took the opportunity to reform her ways. However, the young master had seen through it all, and boasted that whoever dared to interfere with him, he would deal with them. Therefore, many people of high status and position didnt dare toe near, afraid of offending the young master. Thus, in recent days, she had been unable to find a suitable candidate Lin Beifans appearance was an unexpected surprise. Li Shishi sighed, Xiao Cui, everything you said is true! The top schr is certainly the best choice in terms of talent and appearance, and he wont fear the high-ranking official thanks to the empresss favor! Unfortunately, hes also a corrupt official! Chapter 16: Whoever dies or is injured, its all for the sake of the people! Chapter 16: Whoever dies or is injured, its all for the sake of the people! 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Li Shi Shi really detested corrupt officials. Because she was originally born into a gentry family, with a loving mother and a doting father. Her father was a fifth-ranked official who once aspired to be a clean and upright good official. However, being in the murky and corrupt officialdom environment, he was unconsciously influenced and became a corrupt official. After his wrongdoing was exposed, he was executed by the court and lost his head. Her life also underwent a huge change. Her mother couldnt take the blow and died of illness, while she was alsobeled as an official prostitute because of her fathers stain. Fortunately, she was redeemed by the Hundred Flowers Brothel, otherwise the oue would have been unimaginable. Therefore, she really detested corrupt officials and corruption and bribery! An extreme abhorrence from the bottom of her heart! So, to let her offer herself to a corrupt official, was absolutely uneptable! Especially someone like Lin Beifan, who was a new official but already a huge corrupt official, she was even more unwilling! Im sorry, miss, I brought up your sad past! Xiao Cui apologized. Li Shi Shi put on a forced smile, took Xiao Cuis hand and gently said, Its alright, Xiao Cui, Im just feeling a bit nostalgic, its all in the past! The two women had lived together since they were young, officially they were mistress and servant, but they were actually as close as sisters. One look and one sentence, they understood what the other was thinking. Miss, since you dont want to choose the top schr, how about we choose another ideal husband! Xiao Cui said. Who else is there? Gao Yanai has already issued a statement, and no one dares toe under his pressure! Looks like I cant get out of his palms in my lifetime! Li Shi Shis face was bitter. When she thought about her life, it was almost always apanied by hardships. Sometimes, she even considered ending it all. But there were still things she couldnt let go of, like Xiao Cui. After all, if she was gone, Xiao Cui wouldnt have anyone to protect herself anymore. Miss Xiao Cui opened her mouth, her eyes filled with worry. Li Shi Shi thought for a moment, her gaze bing resolute, Alright, lets just choose this top schr! Miss, you really detest corrupt officials, why Xiao Cui was surprised. Compared to that useless Gao Yanai, the newly crowned top schr Lin Beifan is an outstanding man. Hes talented and handsome, and the empress favoured him! Since thats the case, why wouldnt I choose a good man to marry? Li Shi Shi said. Moreover, if I marry the top schr, theyll definitely be at odds with each other! One is the son of a second-rank official, and the other is a favorite of the empress, someone will be injured when they fight! Whoever dies or is injured, its all for the sake of the people! Li Shi Shi smiled wryly, This may be my only value! Miss Xiao Cui tried to dissuade her. Xiao Cui, dont try to dissuade me, my mind is made up! At this moment, Lin Beifan was drinking flower wine when suddenly amotion broke out. Miss Shi Shi ising out! Everyone look, Miss Shi Shi ising out! What a beautiful person! Lin Beifan turned his head and saw a stunning and gentle woman walk gracefully onto the stage. She emanated an air of elegance and refinement, nothing like a brothel woman. Lin Beifan couldnt help but secretly admire her, what a beauty! No wonder so many people are infatuated with her, unable to free themselves from her allure! Meanwhile, she also happened to turn her head and look at Lin Beifan. In her heart, she thought, what a handsome gentleman of this troubled world, and on top of that, such a charming youth! Coupled with overflowing talent, she wouldnt be ashamed to dedicate herself to him. If only, he wasnt a corrupt official, that wouldve been nice! At this moment, Li Shi Shi had alreadye to the center of the stage, her vermilion lips lightly curled, and her voice was mellifluous. I am Li Shi Shi, and I offer you a song! Great! Miss Shi Shi, please! everyone apuded. Ill perform shamelessly! Li Shi Shi sat down and a pair of slender jade fingers lightly floated on the strings of the qin. After a moment, a mournful and beautiful song was yed. Everyone listened in trance-like bliss, the lively brothel became quiet, and only the sound of the qin was left. Lin Beifan sipped his wine quietly as he admired the performance. One had to admit, Li Shi Shi yed the qin really well, and she looked good too. Compared to the stars of another world who only had good images but no actual talent, she was much stronger! She was good-looking and also had more talent than you! Comparing the two horizontally, you would be instantly reduced to ashes! But he didnt know if it was an illusion, Lin Beifan couldnt help feeling that Li Shi Shi was looking at him intentionally or unintentionally. Her gaze was strange, a mixture of admiration and regret. As the song ended, the whole hall cheered. Great! yed really well! Still Miss Shi Shis music that moves my heart the most! Reward her greatly! Li Shi Shi bowed and thanked everyone respectfully. Thank you all for your love! And thank you all for your continued support! However, today may be thest time I present my performance! Everyone was shocked, Why? Because Li Shi Shi smiled slightly, I have already found a good man! From now on, I will follow my husband and raise my children. And I will not give my performance anymore! Please forgive me! Chapter 17: Such a beautiful woman confesses her love and you refuse? Chapter 17: Such a beautiful woman confesses her love and you refuse? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Has Miss Li found her significant other? Who is it? Who is so lucky? Please tell us, Miss Li! Everyone was curious and eager to know. Facing the questioning, Li Shi Shi smiled and pointed to Lin Bei Fan sitting on the second floor: This person is the new top schr Lin Beifan who is sitting on the high tform! Lin Bei Fan, who was drinking, choked and coughed. Everyone turned their heads in shock. The new top schr Lin Bei Fan? Miss Li has her eyes on the top schr? Really him? Zhao Yuanwaiughed heartily, Haha! Mister Schr, you really made me guess right. Miss Li has her eyes on you! I knew it, intelligent women always love talented men! You both, a talented man and a beautiful woman, are a perfect match! Congrattions! Lin Bei Fan was dumbfounded, pointing to himself: Me? Are you sure? Miss Li, we have never met before, this is our first time meeting. Why do you like me? Li Shi Shi blushed with a smile, her beauty indescribable: Sir Lin, although we have never met before, I have admired you for a long time! Your talent, your demeanor, have always captivated me! So I take this opportunity to confess my feelings, hoping that you can ept them! For a moment, envy and jealousy filled the gaze of those around them. Damn! So Miss Li has already set her sights on the schr! And she even confessed her feelings publicly! Is it just because hes handsome? Is talent all that matters? As a beautiful woman confessed to him, Lin Bei Fans heart couldnt help but flutter. Looking at the envious eyes of the men around him, he felt even more ttered. He couldnt help but sigh, it was hard to not cause strong reactions wherever he went due to his looks. Even Miss Li couldnt escape his charm. Its a headache! However, he was still very clear-headed. He raised his cup and smiled, Thank you for your kindness, Miss Li. However, I believe that love is about mutual attraction. Its true that you like me, but Ive only met you for the first time today, and to me, youre just a familiar stranger. Its not love or affection. Therefore, lets not talk about these things again! Everyone was once again shocked. Lin Bei Fan, he actually rejected her? He actually rejected Miss Lis confession? Is he blind? How can he reject such a good woman? Li Si Shi was a little confused that the other party had actually rejected her. And it didnt seem like there was any hesitation! Was she not attractive enough? For the first time, she began to doubt her looks. However, she didnt give up. If she didnt follow Lin Beifan, she would only fall into the hands of Gao Yanei, and the situation would be extremely miserable! Im sorry, Sir Lin, for being impolite! Li Si Shi immediately apologized, But I hope Sir Lin can give me a chance to serve by your side, lighting candles, grinding ink, adding fragrance, and serving tea, that would be enough for me in this lifetime! The crowd was shocked for the third time. F*ck! Miss Si Shi just confessed for the second time! And she loves so humbly! What merit did Lin Beifan umte to receive Si Shis love? Whats there to hesitate about? If it were me, I would immediately agree! With such a beautiful woman, one lifetime is enough! Lin Beifan was confused again. I rejected you, youre stilling? To be honest, looking at Li Si Shis charming and admiring appearance, he couldnt help but be moved. However, as someone who could run away at any time, was it really a good idea to find a wife? Lin Beifan quickly waved his hand, No need, I can do things like lighting candles, grinding ink, adding fragrance, and serving tea by myself, so theres no need to trouble Miss Si Shi. Moreover, I currently have no ns to get married and have children! The crowd was shocked for the fourth time. Lin Beifan rejected her again? Is he impotent? How could he not be attracted to such a beautiful woman? If it were me, Id be willing to lose ten years of my life! I suspect theres something wrong with his brain! At this moment, Li Si Shi was once again confused, did he reject her again? I am already so humble, yet you still reject me? With a look of grievance and a tone that was equally mournful, Sir Lin, why do you repeatedly reject me? Did I do something wrong? Or is it that my delicate beauty is not to your liking? At this moment, everyones hearts were broken. When did Miss Si Shi be so sad and sorrowful? Everyone turned their heads to re at Lin Beifan angrily, wishing they could chop him up as a heartless scoundrel! Lin Beifan: He felt very innocent! I didnt do anything, why are you all looking at me like that? Lin Beifan smiled bitterly: Miss Si Shi, you are iparably beautiful,parable to the Goddess of Luo. Among the women I have seen, you are at the top of the list! Your talents in music and other areas are also outstanding! Yourportment and demeanor must make you a virtuous and refined woman! Anyone who can marry you is blessed for three lifetimes. However However, what? Li Si Shi asked. Chapter 19: Going to the Brothel, Gaining A Wife! Chapter 19: Going to the Brothel, Gaining A Wife! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Seeing Lin Beifans aggrieved look, everyone wanted to beat him up! He had gained a beautiful woman who was both skilled in arts and amorous feelings, a fortune that many people couldnt even dream of, yet he looked like he had been greatly wronged! It was simply unreasonable! They didnt understand! They were all filled with anger! Finally, Li Shi Shi herself paid for her redemption money and regained her freedom. Hundred Flowers Brothel held a simple farewell ceremony. Mother, thank you for taking care of me all these years! Without your care, Im afraid I wouldnt be here now When I have time, I wille to see you often! Li Shi Shis eyes were filled with tears. The madams eyes were also filled with tears: Shi Shi, all these years, Ive always treated you like a daughter! You have found a good husband now, and I am genuinely happy for you! This is a ce of right and wrong after all, so donte back once youve left! But if I have the time, I will go see you! Mother! Shi Shi! The two women hugged each other and wept. Then, the madam took Li Shi Shis hand and ced it on Lin Beifans hand. Lin Beifan: From now on, the two of you should live a good life together! The madam said sincerely to Lin Beifan: Schr Lin, Shi Shi has had a tough life since she was young! But even though she came from red world, she has remained untainted, and is a very rare and good girl! So you must treat her well and not let her down, do you understand? Lin Beifans mouth twitched. This felt like a wedding ceremony. Dont worry, I will treat her well! he said. Finally, amidst the reluctant farewells of the crowd, Lin Beifan and the others walked out of Hundred Flowers Brothel. Li Shi Shi took a lingering nce at Hundred Flowers Brothel, turned around, bowed slightly to Lin Beifan, and said in a gentle voice, Schr Lin, from now on, I am yours. Please be kind to me. Lin Beifan was sharp-eyed and felt that there was some smugness behind her smile. In fact, Lin Beifan had always suspected her motives. He didnt believe that the woman in front of him had followed him because she admired him. There couldnt be such a wonderful thing in the world! Even YY had to follow the basicws, right? Therefore, she must have had other intentions! However, she was just a weak woman, and Lin Beifan was confident that he could handle her! He wanted to see what she was up to. Well,e with me! Lin Beifan warned: But let me make it clear in advance that life with me is hard! If you cant handle it, you can leave on your own, and I wont stop you! Sir, what are you saying? Li Shi Shi was a little angry: Since this I have chosen you, naturally, I will stay with you forever! I am your person in life and in death! I hope that in the future, you will not say these hurtful words again! She was a traditional woman. No matter what the purpose is, since choosing Lin Beifan, then follow the chicken if marrying a rooster and follow the dog if marrying a dog. Even if Lin Beifan gets into trouble, she will follow him. Just like her mother did back then. Lin Beifan was taken aback, he only made a statement earlier, why was she so excited? As if she wouldnt be disappointed in him! Could it be that she really fell in love with him? Lets go home first! About half an hourter, they returned to the mansion given by the Empress. Dali walked out from inside and saw Lin Beifan with two outstanding looking women and was surprised: Young Master, who are these two? Lin Beifan sighed and introduced them: This one is named Li Shi Shi, a famous girl in Capital! And this little girl is named Xiao Cui, Li Shi Shis maid! From now on, they will live here! Ah? They live here? Dali was even more surprised and whispered, Young Master, who are they to you, and why can they live here? Dont you always dislike outsiders? Lin Beifan was conflicted, How should I say this? Saying shes his wife isnt quite right. Saying shes a friend isnt quite urate either. What is their rtionship? He cant exin it now, its just an inexplicable connection. At this time, Li Shi Shi spoke up, You must be Dali, right? Dali nodded, Yes, I am! Is there anything you need, Miss Li? Nothing! Li Shi Shi held a set of clothes in her hands and smiled, I heard the Empress mention you earlier, saying that you are a loyal and good brother! I picked out these clothes for you on the way and gave them to you as a gift, I hope you like them! These are clothes for me? Dali was very surprised. Since he could remember, besides his mother, no woman has ever given him a gift. As soon as he saw the value of these clothes, he got excited and rubbed his hands together, How can I ept this? At this time, Xiao Cui, the maid, spoke up, You should ept it, this is a gift from your young Mistress! Young Mistress? Does that mean youre the young masters wife? Dali turned his head back in shock, Holy cow! Young Master, youre amazing! You went out for a trip and came back with a beautiful wife! Lin Beifan: He also thought he was amazing! He went to a brothel, listened to a song, drank some flower wine, and ended up with a stunningly beautiful wife! This whole thing He thought the heavens were joking with him!
1. YY= [wi wi] v. YY is a pinyin acronym for [y yn]. 1) To fantasize; 2) to have sexual fantasies; 3) to have unrealistic expectations. 4) to interpret things in narcissistic ways. [wi] means crooked, nted, and evil. Chapter 20: Where had all the money they had made from corruption gone? Chapter 20: Where had all the money they had made from corruption gone? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Since it was clothes given to him by the young mistress, Dali happily epted them. He expressed his gratitude, Thank you, young mistress! Youre so kind! If you need anything, just tell me. I may not be well-educated, but I have strength and can do hard work! Li Shi Shi smiled and was fond of this simple-minded and a little slow Dali. At this moment, Li Shi Shi looked around curiously and was surprised, Is it just the two of you here? No one else? Dali shook his head, No, just me and the young master! Li Shi Shi was even more surprised, Just the two of you in such a big courtyard? Why not hire someone to take care of it? Of course, it was for convenience to run away, not wanting to waste money! Lin Bei Fan was about to find an excuse to fool her, but Dali replied, As for the young mistresss question, the young master said that we are both grown men and can take care of ourselves, so we dont need to hire anyone! Li Shi Shi was even more astonished, Not hiring anyone? How could they not hire anyone? Even officials have busy public duties. If they dont hire anyone, how can they manage it all? Moreover, some people of status and position pay attention to their image, especially officials. Even if its just a small sesame official, whether they have money or not, they will still hire a few people to show off, take care of their daily life, meals, and receive guests, otherwise, others will look down on them. Moreover, if you have embezzled so much money, whats the problem with spending a little money to hire people? But she thought about it and ultimately didnt ask. Because their rtionship was not yet familiar enough, breaking the ice might make people resentful. At this point, Lin Bei Fan took out some silver and said, Dali, since we have a rare visitor, go buy some good wine and food! Yes, young master! Ill put down the clothes and go buy them! Dali took the money and ran out. Only Lin Bei Fan, Li Shi Shi, and Xiao Cui were left. Li Shi Shi thought for a moment and smiled, Sir, can you take me around? Of course! Lin Bei Fan nodded. Then, Lin Bei Fan took Li Shi Shi on a tour. Along the way, Li Shi Shi found that there really was no one else here, and there didnt seem to be anything valuable. The only thing worthy of praise was that the courtyard was well-maintained and tidy. Due to therge courtyard and few people, the environment was very quiet and peaceful. This not only aroused her curiosity about Lin Bei Fan but also made her realize that he didnt seem like a corrupt official at all. If there were corrupt officials, after embezzling the money, they wouldnt neglect to enjoy themselves. Even the servants wouldnt be left out! There doesnt seem to be any official demeanor at all! Compared to other officials, it can be said that he is very poor! At this time, Lin Beifan had already led them to the front of an elegant room and said, Miss Shi Shi, this is your room! It used to be the residence of the wife of Zuo Xiangquan, the minister of the household. I have had it cleaned up and prepared for you to move in! Thank you, sir! Li Shi Shi bowed slightly. And Xiao Cui, your room is next door! Lin Beifan added. Thank you, sir! Xiao Cui smiled happily. You can take your time to settle in. If you have any problems,e find me! Lin Beifan said before leaving. Li Shi Shi watched his departing figure, her eyes showing a hint ofplexity. Dinner time quickly arrived. There were two tables, Lin Beifan and Li Shi Shi at one table, and Dali and Xiao Cui at the other. The table was filled with good food and wine, such as chicken, duck, fish, and seasonal vegetables. The wine was a fine rice wine. However, Li Shi Shi was stunned when she saw the food on the table. Because it was very different from what she usually ate. She also ate meat such as chicken, duck, and fish, but only the most essential parts, which were presented on a delicately arranged te with plenty of dipping sauce that was sure to make ones mouth water. In contrast, what was served now was simply put in a pot without much dipping sauce, and some of the meat had not been cleaned properly. The wine she usually drank was also a high-quality beverage, clear and sweet, leaving a memorable aftertaste. Unlike this rice wine, which was somewhat cloudy and had a bitter taste. Li Shi Shi put down her chopsticks and asked, Sir, do you usually eat like this? Lin Beifan shook his head, No, I dont eat like this normally. I knew it! Li Shi Shi breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. I cant even afford to eat meat normally, let alone drink good wine! Its only because I am an official now and have a sry that I can eat a little better! And since you all are here, we are able to have a more extravagant meal tonight! Lin Beifanughed. As Li Shi Shi looked at his innocent and pure smile, her expression became dreamy. At this moment, Dali, who was busy eating meat, nodded vaguely and said, Yeah, in the past, I depended on the young master for everything and was used to living a hard life. It was good enough to have meat once a month! Its not like now, where theres meat to eat every meal! Todays feast is the most luxurious Ive ever seen! Thats why I say studying has a future! Hehehe! Li Shi Shis mind became even more muddled. If Lin Beifan could still lie, then Dali was less likely to do so. Because he looked simple and foolish, unable to hide anything or act so realistically. Li Shi Shi was lost in thought. It was understandable that they had lived poorly in the past and ate poorly. But now that they had made so much money, why were they still living in hardship? Where had all the money they had made from corruption gone? Chapter 21: What kind of person are you, Lin Beifan? Chapter 21: What kind of person are you, Lin Beifan? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifanughed and scolded, Dali, as the saying goes: eat without speaking and sleep without words! You are busy eating now, so dont talk! Eat more, so you have the strength to work, got it? Yes, young master! Dali happily replied. And Xiao Cui, dont be polite with me! Lin Beifan said again. Yes, Sir! Xiao Cui smiled. Then, Lin Beifan said to the beautiful Li Shi Shi in front of him, I apologize for not treating you as well as Hundred Flowers Brothel. I hope you dont mind. Li Shi Shi smiled, like flowers blooming, My Lord is joking! Youve used the best for me, and I am very pleased. How could I mind? Li Shi Shi picked up her chopsticks and even helped Lin Beifan pick up a piece of chicken, saying, My Lord, lets eat together! Lin Beifan nodded and smiled, Sure, lets eat together! Both of them started to eat. Lin Beifan ate at a normal speed, but Li Shi Shi chewed slowly. She found that although the food was not as good as Hundred Flowers Brothel, there was a certain human vor to it that made her appetite increase. She ate more than usual. In ancient times, there was no nightlife, so after dinner, there wasnt much to do except rest. Li Shi Shi was the same. After eating, she returned to her room to get ready for bed. However, thinking about everything that happened today made her feel like she was in a dream. She used to work at Hundred Flowers Brothel as a courtesan, then suddenly someone paid to redeem her and she followed a stranger back. She thought she had fallen into an abyss and would have to spend the rest of her life with the corrupt officials she despised. But aftering here, she realized that things were different. The other party lived frugally, didnt splurge on anything, didnt hire anyone to take care of things, and even the food and drink were very ordinary. There were no expensive items, and there was no sign of corruption. Furthermore, after spending time with him, Lin Beifan gave her a feeling of being decent. His smile was pure, his gaze was clear, and he didnt have the sleazy look of the people she had seen in brothel or the arrogance of a government official. He looked at people as equals. He respected her and didnt look down on her because of her background. This made it veryfortable for her to be around him, and she felt a little reluctant to leave. Thinking about it made her unable to sleep. What kind of person are you, Lin Beifan? she muttered. Meanwhile, in the pce. After finishing the memorials, the empress couldnt help but look out the window and noticed that it was already dark. Your Majesty, heres some tea! An old eunuch brought over a cup of hot tea. Thank you! The empress nodded and stood up to stretch before sitting back down. As she drank her tea, she asked, Whats new in the capital recently? Tell me! As the empress, she was busy with official business, so she couldnt leave the pce often. During her spare time, she liked to hear about what was happening outside to alleviate her loneliness and boredom. It felt a bit like scrolling through news feeds in modern times. Your Majesty, there was a interesting thing that happened today about the newly appointed top schr, Lin Beifan! The old eunuchughed. About Lin Beifan? The empress was puzzled. What did he do? Tell me in detail! Yes, Your Majesty! The old eunuch recounted the situation. After listening, the empress couldnt help but shake her head andugh: You, Lin Beifan! I approved your leave, for you to rest at home, but you had the mind to visit a brothel! Not only that, you brought back the top courtesan of the capital! What a talented yboy! Even the newly appointed top schr, whom I have high hopes for, cannot resist such temptations! Yes, Your Majesty! The old eunuch couldnt help but snicker: It is rumored that at the time, Lin Beifan didnt want to ept Li Shi Shis offer, but Li Shi Shi was determined to follow Lin Beifan, even resorting to redeem herself with her own money, causing envy and anger among countless men, and getting drunkte at night! He also left a poem, which became popr in the whole city, causing countless women to lose sleep! Oh? What did he write in the poem that caused such amotion? The female emperor was curious. The well-prepared old eunuch recited the poem. The empress listened once and remembered it, then recited it herself: Alone in the brothel, the moon hooks like a sickle, lonely osmanthus locked in the deep autumn night! Unable to cut, only tangled, this is the feeling of parting a feeling that lingers in my heart! It is indeed a great poem, with just a few words, depicting the mncholic image of the brothel women, and is sure to be passed down for generations! It is worthy of a newly appointed top schr! Your Majesty is right! The old eunuch bowed his head in agreement. However, what is the purpose of Li Shi Shi approaching Lin Beifan? The female emperor frowned. It should be noted that although Li Shi Shi was a courtesan, her background was mixed with fish and dragons in the brothel, and she could still be the top courtesan of the capital, which definitely made her not a simple character. Such a woman has met with all kinds of talented men and heroes, so why would she fall in love at first sight with Lin Beifan? And why would she go to such lengths to follow him? Obviously, there must be some hidden agenda! And Lin Beifan was a person she valued greatly, and had high hopes for. If something happened to him due to this, it would be disastrous! Thoroughly investigate Li Shi Shi and her motives for approaching Lin Beifan! the empress ordered. Yes, Your Majesty! Chapter 22: Is He Really a Corrupt Official? Chapter 22: Is He Really a Corrupt Official? 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Investigating an ordinary person was very simple for the empress. Within an hour, all information regarding Li Shi Shi had been gathered and presented to the empress. Li Shi Shi, twenty years old, originally from Baihua district. She is exceptionally beautiful and talented in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is known as the number one courtesan in the capital. She is the daughter of convicted criminal Li Guangyao After reading through the information, the empress nodded. So, she chose Lin Beifan to avoid the pursuit of the son of the Ministry of Personnel, Gao Tianyu. After all, the new top schr is much better than that worthless second-generation rich kid! The empress set down the papers and sighed. This is just another self-protection method for a woman in the brothels. With a lowly identity, one can only find a good supporter to maintain their innocence. But this woman has good judgment, picking the schr even I have faith in! Tsk tsk, she has experienced both good and bad luck in her life. Your majesty, how should we handle Li Shi Shi? The old eunuch asked. After thinking for a moment, the empress said, Observe her for a period of time, and if there are no problems, let her be. Yes, your majesty! The old eunuch respectfully bowed his head, then cautiously asked, The top schr may have a feud with Gao Tianyu because of Li Shi Shi. Do we need to Hearing the name Gao Tianyu, the empress showed deep disgust. To be honest, she despised these second-generation rich kids who acted arrogantly and recklessly solely because of their family background. If they had no abilities, that would be one thing, but to act so recklessly was simply unreasonable! However, although these second-generation rich kids were doing wrong, they had notmitted any major crimes. It wasnt easy for her, the empress, to discipline them, as she couldnt cross over their fathers to deal with these brats. No need to interfere. Let the top schr handle it himself. If he cant even deal with a minor official, how can he handle more important duties? Yes, your majesty! The old eunuch said, bowing his head. The old eunuch quickly passed. On the 2nd day, Li Shi Shi woke up early, looking tired from a bad sleep the night before. She had nned to pay her respects to Lin Beifan following proper etiquette, but found that he had already vacated his residence. Seeing Dali sweeping the floor, she called out to him, Dali! Dali respectfully lowered his head and asked, Young Mistress, do you have any orders? Li Shi Shi asked, Where has Master gone? Why cant I find him? Without hesitation, Dali replied, In response to Young Mistress, Young Master went out to y! Her Majesty only granted him a three-day holiday, so he must make the most of it now, or he wont have another chance! Li Shi Shi was puzzled after hearing Dalis words. He was using the precious holiday to y instead of preparing for future work? Wasnt that just like an innocent child in school? As a newly appointed top schr and official of the court, a well-known figure beside the Empress, shouldnt Lin Beifan be working diligently to serve the court and not thinking about ying around? The contrast was too great! Her drowsiness vanished out of nowhere! Li Shi Shi became increasingly curious about Lin Beifan and gestured for Dali toe over. Dali, tell me about Masters past experiences. What kind of person is he? Dali responded enthusiastically, Oh, Young Mistress, I could talk about my Master for three days and nights! Lin Beifan is approachable, has firm willpower, is indifferent to fame and fortune, doesnt seek pleasure or riches, and is a great role model in his life. But rumors have it that he is greedy and corrupt, as he amassedrge amounts of wealth just after taking office. Li Shi Shi was confused. How could these two different personalities exist in the same person? The image she saw was more in line with what Dali had described. She pondered for a long time, but couldnt understand. Finally, she sighed, Lin Beifan, who are you really? Li Shi Shi became increasingly curious about Lin Beifan. It was a trend she couldnt resist. Two days went by quickly. Although her days were ordinary, Li Shi Shi found peace and security from the past anxieties and fears that gued her. She yed the zither, helped Lin Beifan with household chores, tended to the yard, and their rtionship progressed quickly. Lin Beifan noticed the difference in having a woman in his home. Li Shi Shi was able to efficiently manage problems that were previously overlooked. And on this day, Lin Beifan put on his official uniform and went to attend the early court session. Chapter 23: Not Paying Doesnt Count as Prostitution, at Most its Mutual Affection! Chapter 23: Not Paying Doesnt Count as Prostitution, at Most its Mutual Affection! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Greetings, Your Majesty, long live the Empress! All my courtiers, please rise! Thank you, Your Majesty. Speak if you have something to report, otherwise the court is dismissed! At this moment, an official stepped forward, saluting and loudly dered, Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister wants to impeach the new top schr, the director of the Imperial Academy Lin Beifan! Everyone turned their heads towards him. This person was Yao Zheng, the representative from the Department of Censors who had previously impeached Lin Beifan. Everyone had an expression of interest, thinking that they were in for a good show! Lin Beifan just sneered. You censors have barely recovered, and now youre eager to strike again? Such a low level, it cant lead to anything big! The Empress on the throne became confused. Minister Yao, why are you impeaching Lin Beifan? Your Majesty, during Lin Beifans vacation, he did not strive for sess, did not think of the Empressrs grace, and was openly visiting brothels and engaging in prostitution. The impact was extremely bad. I request that Your Majesty investigate! Yao Zheng spoke loudly. The Empress had no expression. Lin Beifan, is there such a thing? Lin Beifan stepped forward. Reporting to Your Majesty, the matter is true! Yao Zheng was pleased. Your Majesty, you see, Lin Beifan admitted it himself. I request that Your Majesty investigate! The Empress still had no expression. Lin Beifan, do you have anything to say? I do! Lin Beifan turned to look at Yao Zheng. I want to ask Minister Yao, whats wrong with visiting a brothel? Whats wrong with engaging in prostitution? Whichw of the Great Wu Empire states that engaging in prostitution is illegal? ording to our Great Wusw, it is indeed not illegal to engage in prostitution, but we do not encourage it. However, as the dorey of the Imperial Academy, you have to set higher moral standards as an example to countless students. Others can go to brothels, but you cant! Others can engage in prostitution, but you cant! Otherwise, students will follow your example, and it will be inappropriate. The reputation of the Imperial Academy will be ruined by you! Therefore, strict investigation must be conducted, and no mercy shown! Yao Zheng proudly dered. Everyone heard this and couldnt help but nod in agreement. The Empress also nodded. Minister Yao, what you said makes sense! Yao Zheng became even more pleased. He coldly sneered at Lin Beifan, wanting to see how he could respond. Lin Beifan didnt change his expression and asked, May I ask Minister Yao, whats the definition of prostitution? Prostitution is defined as the act of engaging in sexual intercourse with another person for money, goods, or other benefits! Yao Zheng, having prepared for this moment, immediately responded. Thats right! Lin Beifan spread his hands. I went to a brothel but didnt pay anything. How can it be considered prostitution? Suddenly, everyone was stunned! Thinking back, Lin Beifan did indeed visit the brothel without paying, and he ate and drank for free. ording to the definition, it cant be considered prostitution! Yao Zheng was speechless. This, this Not paying doesnt count as prostitution, at most, its mutual affection! Lin Beifan chuckled, Besides, I was just drinking in the lobby, always keeping myself in check and behaving properly. Where did this usatione from? The courtesans and clients present can vouch for me! Yao Zheng was at a loss for words again. So Lin Beifan raised his head and chest confidently, I didnt pay or engage in any sexual behavior. How can that count as soliciting prostitution? Yao, please provide some real evidence when using others, dont just talk nonsense. Everyone couldnt help but think, Damn, he managed to turn it around! Even the empress rolled her eyes, thinking that this guy can really spin a story! However, Yao Zheng, the person involved, became infuriated, pointing at Lin Beifan with a trembling hand, Youre using sharp words! Youre twisting the truth! If you didnt go to solicit prostitutes, why did you go to the brothel? Yao, what youre saying is illogical! Lin Beifan chuckled, As far as I know, you pass by the brothel every day! Do you want to go there and solicit? Thats why you go there every day? Thats nonsense! Yao Zheng was angry, How can I have such a dirty thought? My mansion just happens to be located along the street with the brothel, so I have to pass by every time! Thats right! By the same logic, I was hungry at the time and the brothel was right in front of me. Is it wrong for me to go there to eat and drink? Who says you cant go to the brothel to have some drinks? Cant I go there to warm the hearts of the girls from the Hundred Flowers Brothel? Lin Beifan spoke confidently. Everyone listened with crooked mouths and eyes. You have the nerve to say that youre going to warm the hearts of the girls from the Hundred Flowers Brothel! Yao Zheng was almost breathless with rage. What a shameless person! At this point, the empress spoke up, Alright, my two courtiers, stop arguing. Its just a small matter. Sir Yao, as part of your duty, you pointed out Lin Beifan, but you dont have any evidence. You may leave. Yes, Your Majesty! Yao Zheng retreated, feeling aggrieved. Lin Beifan, you may be young and handsome, but as a role model for students in the imperial academy, you should be more self-disciplined! Therefore, no matter what the reason, dont go to the brothel again to avoid a negative impact! Your Majesty is wise! Lin Beifan also retreated. This round was a draw for both courtiers. Yao Zheng didnt gain any advantage, and Lin Beifan didnt suffer any losses. However, their hostility towards each other became more intense. As Lin Beifan watched Yao Zhengs back, his eyes glimmered and he chuckled. My fellow courtiers, is there anything else to report? Chapter 24: Hes blocking my way to money! This old guy is really wicked! Chapter 24: Hes blocking my way to money! This old guy is really wicked! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The morning court quickly ended. As Lin Beifan was leaving, he bumped into Yao Zheng again. Yao Zheng had a very dark expression on his face. Sir Lin, youre lucky this time! Hmph! Lin Beifan gave a slight smile with a hint of sarcasm. Sir Yao, I thought you were going to use me with the embezzlement of your Imperial Censors, but it turns out its just this little matter of visiting a brothel! If you really did that, I would have respected you as a man! However, it seems that your Imperial Censors cant live up to their reputation! Yao Zhengs face grew even darker. How could they dare to use this matter to impeach Lin Beifan? If they won, Lin Beifan would be finished, but they would be finished too! If they lost, it will even be worse! In short, it was a thankless job! Lin Beifan, dont be too proud. Well meet again soon, Yao Zheng said as he left. Lin Beifan waved goodbye. Sir Yao, no need to see me off. Im looking forward to your performance! After the morning court, Lin Beifan went to the National University to report for duty. Today was his first day. When he arrived at the Imperial Academy, ording to custom, he first had to pay his respects to the leaders here. Guided by a doctor, Lin Beifan entered a elegant office and saw an old man in his 60s. This person is the leader of the Imperial Academy, named Liu Huaye. His official position is Sacrificial Wine Officer, equivalent to the principal of the Imperial Academy. He is a fourth-rank official and has been in charge of the Imperial Academy for more than ten years. He is highly respected for his moral integrity and reputation. Lin Beifan bowed respectfully. I am Lin Beifan, paying my respects to Sacrificial Wine Officer Liu! Liu Huaye greeted him with a heartyugh. The top-ranked schr has arrived! Not bad, indeed a talented person! Liu Beifan humbly said, Sacrificial Wine Officer Liu is too kind! Dont be so polite. Please have a seat! Liu Huaye said. Thank you, Sacrificial Wine Officer Liu! Lin Beifan said as he sat down. The two of them had tea and exchanged pleasantries. After a while, a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance arrived. Lin Beifan was puzzled. Who is this? Sir Ling, let me introduce you! Liu Huaye stroked his beard and smiled. This is Sun Tiandao, the other Director of the Imperial Academy. Hes been here for more than four years and is my most relied upon assistant! Lin Beifan quickly stood up. Greetings, Director Sun! Lin Daren, youre too polite! Sun Tiandao said respectfully. He couldnt afford to offend Lin Beifan. Although Lin Beifan was young, he was the top-ranked schr and was also favored by the Empress. His future was limitless! The two sides chatted amiably, without any discord. Liu Huaye smiled and said, Im old and not as capable, so almost all the work here is taken care of by Director Sun. Because of the busy workload, Director Sun has be ill several times, and I feel guilty. Sir Lin, you came at the right time. Lets divide up some of Director Suns workload now! Lin Beifan quickly nodded. Of course! Lin Daren, what are you good at? Tell me, and Ill assign you some tasks! Liu Huaye said. Lin Beifans spirits lifted. His chance to make money had arrived! Thank you, Senior Liu, for giving me this opportunity! I am proficient in mathematics, ounting, and financial management, so Senior Liu can entrust the ounting work to me! Lin Beifan said seriously. Good! Ill hand over this work to Sir Linter! Sun Tiandao said without hesitation. Thank you, Sir. Sun! Lin Beifan smiled happily. As Liu Huaye looked at Lin Beifans happy expression, he suddenly remembered a rumor. Lin Beifan was not only the newly crowned top schr, but also a huge swindler who was particrly good at taking money. He had been caught twice, and no one knew how much money he had taken. If he was allowed to manage ounting, he would surely take the money and run. Liu Huaye quickly called out, Wait a minute! Whats the matter? Lin Beifan looked over with Sun Tiandao. I think Sir Sun should continue to be responsible for the ounting work! Hes mature and steady, and less likely to make mistakes! Sir Lin, why dont you start with some simpler tasks! Liu Huaye coughed. Lin Beifans eyes became resentful. He thought, Hes blocking my way to money! This old guy is really wicked! Since Sir Sun will continue to be responsible for ounting, I can take on the logistics management. I promise to manage everything properly! Lin Beifan suggested again. Okay, Ill hand over the logistics work to Sir Linter! Sun Tiandao said. Thank you, Sir Sun, for your support! Lin Beifan grinned. This wait a minute! Liu Jiayao coughed again. I still think its better for Sir Sun to take charge of the logistics work. Sir Lin, why dont you choose something else? Lin Beifans eyes became even more resentful. He thought, Hes blocking my way to money again! This old guy has a terrible personality! Liu Huaye felt a little uneasy under Lin Beifans gaze. Eventually, Lin Beifan suggested several other money-rted tasks, but they were all rejected by Liu Huaye without hesitation. In the end, Lin Beifan was so angry that he almost cried out, Senior Liu, you cant do this! You asked me to suggest something but rejected everything I said. Are you deliberately targeting me? Feeling a little embarrassed, Liu Huaye tried tofort him, Well, SirLin, you can be responsible for student discipline, moral education, and academic affairs. As a new top schr with three excellent results in the imperial examinations, you are more than capable of handling these tasks! Okay, the decision has been made happily! I have something else to discuss with Sir Sun, so I wont keep Sir Lin any longer. Goodbye! So, Lin Beifan was forced to leave. Lin Beifan: Chapter 25: Do you think this was enough to stop me? Hmph, you are too young! Chapter 25: Do you think this was enough to stop me? Hmph, you are too young! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After Lin Beifan left, Sun Tiandao asked in confusion, Principal Liu, Lin Beifan is a well-known person by the Empresss side, highly favored and on the fast track to sess. We cannot afford to offend him. Why did you just Sun, my friend, I had no choice! Liu Huaye, the the principal,ughed bitterly. Rumors have been spreading that the new top schr Lin Beifan is a huge corrupt official who has embezzled a fortune after two searches. If he were to get involved in financial matters, he would repeat his mistakes and both of us would suffer. I had to prevent it from happening. Sun Tiandao apologized, Principal, you are a far-sighted man. I was careless. No worries! In the future, you must not allow Lin Beifan to involve himself in financial matters. Do you understand? Liu Huaye advised sternly. Sun Tiandao nodded firmly. Although they were speaking quietly, Lin Beifan, a martial artist, could hear everything outside. Do you think this was enough to stop me? Hmph, you are too young! Lin Beifan adjusted his official cap and strolled forward. Today was his first day at work and his first visit to the Imperial Academy. He nned to familiarize himself with the working environment first before starting specific tasks. Along the way, Lin Beifan saw many young students. Some were running andughing beside him. Some were ying chess in groups of three or two. Some were sitting by the pond, nibbling on steamed buns, and reading books without rest. Filled with youthful vigor. Lin Beifan felt as if he had returned to his university days in his previous life. However, the students here are working harder than the university students from his previous life, more like high school students working hard in their youth. Youth is wonderful! Lin Beifan sighed. Although he was younger than most people here, he had more experience, and his mentality was inevitably older. Seeing the young students, emotions swept over him. At this moment, everyone noticed the young man in an official uniform, and curiously looked over. Many people did not recognize Lin Beifan, but they recognized the official uniform he was wearing. The short-sleeved blue robe with floral patterns and a in silver belt This was a uniform that only officials of the sixth or seventh rank could wear. It showed that he was at least at the seventh rank. The students present were envious. They came to the Imperial Academy to study to be officials. But at the same age as them, while they were still reading and striving for sess, the other had already be a seventh-rank official. How could they not be envious? At this time, a student suddenly ran up to Lin Beifan and eximed excitedly, You You are Lin Beifan, the top scorer of this years exam and the official in charge of the Imperial Academy, right? Lin Beifan nodded solemnly, Yes, I am he. Who are you, and what do you want? The other person became even more excited and stumbled over his words, Its really you, Lin Beifan! Ive admired you so much! Finally, I get to meet you! The scene exploded. Hes this years top scorer? The freak whos been in the top three for three years? He looks even younger than me! Everyone excitedly gathered around. Although literary people may look down on each other, schrs admire those who read better than them, especially someone like Lin Beifan who has achieved the highest academic achievement in the imperial exams. He is like a god to them. They only worship gods without feeling any jealousy. Greetings, Mr. Lin! The students bowed and saluted in unison. Greetings, students, be at ease. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Thanks to the grace of the Empress, I will serve as the director of the Imperial Academy, responsible for monitoring the moral conduct, discipline, and academic performance of the students from now on. Greetings, Director Lin! The students bowed again. No need for formalities, Lin Beifan smiled again and said, We will study together from now on! I hope you can study diligently, make progress, and repay the grace of the Emperor! Director Lin is right. We will remember it in our hearts! The students bowed once more. Lin Beifan suddenly liked it here. The students here worshiped him at every turn, especially their admiring eyes, which made him very happy. His little vanity was greatly satisfied. Director Lin, can I ask you a question? A student raised his hand hesitantly and excitedly. Lin Beifan was in a good mood and said, Sure, ask away! Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Director Lin! The student was very excited, I heard that you achieved academic sess in a very difficult environment and became the top scorer. Can you share your study methods with us? Everyone tilted their heads in anticipation, hoping that Lin Beifan, the god of learning, would share his study methods. Lin Beifan smiled, Of course, Im happy to share! Everyone became even more excited. Great, Director Lin is willing to share his study methods! If I learn them, I could have a chance at the imperial exams! Be quiet and listen to what Director Lin has to say! Chapter 26: What do you have besides a good-looking appearance? Chapter 26: What do you have besides a good-looking appearance? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Everyone gradually quieted down and listened carefully to Lin Beifans teachings. Some even took out pen and paper, dipped the brush in saliva, and prepared to take notes with a very devout look. Before doing anything, you need a powerful driving force! As long as you find the driving force, have direction and interest, you can aplish things with half the effort and will not give up halfway! Everyone unconsciously nodded their heads. Your words make sense, sir! With motivation, we will study seriously! Please continue, sir! Lin Beifan smiled slightly, So, may I ask all of you here, what was your motivation for reading back then? Lin Beifan looked around and pointed to a student who looked like a bookworm, ssmate, what was your motivation for studying? Can you tell us? The other party was excited and said, To seed, to enter the officials, to benefit the people! Lin Beifan nodded, Your ideal is in line with reality, good! He then pointed to another person, And you? What was your motivation for studying? The other party was even more excited, To contribute to the rise of Great Wu through education! Lin Beifan nodded, Your ideals are very lofty, not bad! Then he pointed to another person, What is your motivation? Uh, to be honest, my family is poor! I study just to have a better life and not let my family go hungry! The student felt embarrassed and lowered his head. Lin Beifan nodded again, Your ideals are very practical and good! Lin Beifan asked several more people, each with a different reason. Some people couldnt answer. Finally, Lin Beifan smiled and said, Everyones motivation is really unique, and no matter what the motivation is, it is worth respecting! In fact, in this era, studying is the cheapest and most rewarding investment! If you cant learn martial arts, you can study to be an official and benefit the people! If your brain isnt good, you can study to be wise! If you havent gone out, you can study, studying can broaden your horizons and increase your knowledge! If you are short on money, you can study to learn how to make money! Lin Beifan shook his head and sighed, The benefits of studying are really too many, and they can satisfy most peoples needs! As long as you read seriously, you will always gain something! If you cant find a reason or motivation to study, then dont waste your time! Everyone was thoughtful. They had also wondered why they had to read, but their minds were only filled with vague concepts. To be an official, to be rich, to benefit the people, or just to have a better life But what Lin Beifan said was so easy to understand, so popr. So thought-provoking! Looking up, they looked at Lin Beifan with admiration. He deserved to be the new top schr who won three awards in the imperial examination. What he said was so nutritious! At this time, a student asked, Mr. Lin, what was your motivation for reading? Everyone turned to look at him with curiosity. Mr. Lin, what was your motivation for studying? Can you tell us? We really want to know! Lin Beifan sighed and said, I wont hide it from you. My life has been miserable. I grew up under constant criticism and ridicule from others. In order to change their perception of me, I worked hard and studied diligently! The others were shocked and filled with emotion. Mr. Lin was ridiculed and criticized growing up? This is outrageous! Mr. Lin is such an outstanding figure, how could anyone insult him? They dont know whats good for them! Tell me who said that and Ill take care of them! Lin Beifan felt touched by everyones concern and smiled: Thank you for caring, but its all in the past now. In fact, thinking back, what they said was true! Without their constant criticism, I would not have achieved what I have today! What did they say about you, Sir? Can you tell us? Everyone was curious. What could have been said to have such a profound impact, leading Lin Beifan to be the top schr for three consecutive years? Many took out pens and paper, preparing to jot down every word. I used their insults to motivate myself. They said, There isnt a good person among those who are good-looking. They ridiculed me, saying, Do you have anything else besides your good looks? And they went even further, With your looks, no one will believe youre a beggar if youre out asking for food.'' Lin Beifan became emotional and clenched his fist. Thats why I worked so hard to prove them wrong! I dont just have good looks; I have a wealth of talent too! And not only am I more talented than them, I also worked harder! He roared, You are all nothing but ugly and have nothing to offer! The studentsughed nervously, unable toprehend his feelings. They looked at each other, some even taking out mirrors to examine themselves before looking back at Lin Beifan with a sense of shame. We cannot understand how you feel, Sir. Chapter 28: I even embezzled the empresss money, why should I fear a Minister Personnel? Chapter 28: I even embezzled the empresss money, why should I fear a Minister Personnel? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The group of young people came to a stop and turned back towards Lin Beifan. One of the more imposing young men, who appeared to be the leader, asked with confusion, Are you calling me? Thats right, I am calling you, nodded Lin Beifan seriously. What do you want from me? You seem unfamiliar, are you new here? the young man retorted. The Imperial Academy has strict disciplinary requirements. Beingte or leaving early without permission vites the school regtions and will result in serious punishment! And you are currentlyte, do you know what you did wrong? Lin Beifan replied sternly. The other party sneered arrogantly and said, So what? Even if I know, what are you going to do about it? Ive done this many times before, why should you care? Who do you think you are to try and manage me? Haha! The others followed suit andughed arrogantly. Naturally, I have the qualifications. Do you know who I am? Lin Beifan said. The young manughed dismissively and said, I dont care who you are! Even if you have a high rank, are you higher than my father? Get out of my way, or Ill make sure you regret it! How dare you insult a court official! Lin Beifan snarled. All youve done is insult me. Ill even hit you! The young man said, raising a hand and striking at Lin Beifans face. Lin Beifan blocked it with a light flick of his hand and then pped the young man back. The p was very loud and clear! The young man was dazed and spun around twice before regaining hisposure. His face had already swelled up. He covered his swollen face and trembled with anger, his eyes spitting fire. How dare you hit me! Why didnt I dare hit you? Lin Beifan sneered. Do you know who my father is? the young man asked furiously. I dont care who your father is! Lin Beifan said arrogantly. The young man was about to faint from anger. He had never seen someone so arrogant in his life! He had never been humiliated like this before! Without hesitation, he waved his hand and shouted, Kill that bastard! Yes, Young Master! The group of people surged forward and attacked. The guards around them could no longer remain indifferent and intervened to stop the fight. Young masters, please calm down! Hes the director of the Imperial Academy, you cant hit him! The young man from before roared, I dont care who he is, I will take responsibility if anyone dies. Hurry up and kill him! Lin Beifan waved his hand, Dont stop them, let theme! They broke through the blockade and charged forward. Then, within less than a minute, they were all lying on the ground, writhing in pain. Lin Beifan pped his hands andughed contemptuously, If you dont have the ability, dont try to fight! He said, grinning as he approached the young man. The young man was frightened and stuttered, What what are you going to do? Let me tell you, I am Gao Tianyu, my father is the Minister Personnel, Gao Tianyao! If you dare to hurt me, my father wille for you! Lin Beifan was filled with disdain. I even embezzled the empresss money, why should I fear a Minister Personnel? Lin Beifan walked up to the young man and kicked him suddenly. What are you doing? Dont mess around! Ah The young man fell to his knees andy on the ground like a dog. Now, I am going to enforce the schools regtions! Lin Beifan pronounced coldly and mercilessly, ording to the regtions of the Imperial Academy, for frequent tardiness and early departure, he shall be punished with 100 cane strikes! Disrespecting seniors, insulting imperial officials, 100 cane strikes! Gathering a crowd to assault an imperial official, the severity is 10 points, the punishment is increased by one level, 200 cane strikes! So, 400 cane strikes! Now, bring me the cane! The young man was almost scared out of his wits! One strike was enough to kill him, let alone 400 strikes. How could he survive? At this moment, he finally became afraid and pleaded, Stop! Sir, I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance to mend my ways. I wont dare to do it again next time! Good! I am usually kind-hearted, so I will give you a chance! Lin Beifan nodded. The other party was overjoyed and was considering how to take revenge when Lin Beifan squatted down, grinned and said, 1000 taels, exemption from one punishment! The young mans face turned green with anger! Only one punishment could be exempted for 1000 taels? Doesnt that mean he would have to pay 4 million taels for 400 strikes? Where would he get so much money? He imed to be kind-hearted, but he was clearly very ck-hearted! Can you lower it a bit? I dont have that much silver! The young man begged. Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, No! Either money or life, you choose one! The young man gritted his teeth and took out dozens of silver bills and some small jewelry from his pocket, saying, Heres a total of 200,000 taels! These jewels are worth 50,000 taels! Theyre all for you! Lin Beifan happily epted, Not bad, you can be exempt from 250 strikes! The young man shouted at the others who were howling in pain, You guys, quickly take out the money in your hand and give it to me! Yes, Young Master Gao! They all took out their money and gathered it in Lin Beifans hand. The young man asked excitedly, Now its 400,000 taels, can I avoid being beaten now? Lin Beifan pulled out a 1000-tael silver bill and put it in young man hand. The young man was confused, What does this mean? Because I still cant resist the urge to beat you! Lin Beifan chuckled and swung the stick, which was thicker than a thigh, with force. Ah! He screamed in agony. Chapter 29: What a Flock of Fat Sheep, It’s Time to Slowly Fleece Them! Chapter 29: What a Flock of Fat Sheep, Its Time to Slowly Fleece Them! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
This strike was truly fatal, causing the young man to cry out in pain as his skin and flesh split open. Everyone was stunned! They never imagined that Lin Beifan would actually take action! And he went all out! He wasnt afraid of offending the Minister of Personnel, was he not afraid of death? Lin Beifan held the stick in his hand, turned his head to the other yamen students and said, And you, those who make the same mistake as him, will also be caned four hundred times! Will you choose money or life? These students-childern of officials were all scared to tears. Of course, they chose life, but the problem was that they didnt have much money! Some of the money was just given to the spn of Minister of Personnel! They never thought they would suffer along with him! Can we owe you? They asked pitifully. Lin Beifan waved his stick and sneered, What do you think? They quietly pulled out their silver coins from their pockets. In the end, Lin Beifan took another 600,000 taels from this group of students-children of officials, feeling very satisfied, What a flock of fat sheep, cant just kill them with one strike, we have to slowly fleece them! Then, Lin Beifan enforced school rules. He didnt hit as hard as before, but it still made them feel like they were dying in pain and they cried out in agony. Dont scream! Do you know that when I hit you, it hurts me too? Lin Beifan said while beating them, his heart in pain. Then why are you hitting us? The students-children of officials were both in pain and aggrieved. Because I like the feeling of heartache! Lin Beifan said smugly. The students-children of officials thought to themselves: What a despicable person! After enforcing the school rules, none of them could stand up. They were all lying on the ground, looking lifeless. Lin Beifan threw down the stick and said, I hope you remember this lesson and reform yourselves! Come to ss tomorrow on time, even if you have toy down, you have toe! Otherwise, I will punish you severely! Got it? We got it! The students-children of officials responded weakly. In addition, let other students who skipped ss know! If they donte tomorrow, Ill let them know why the flowers are so red! Lin Beifan added. Yes! They responded again. Just at that moment, Liu Huaye and Sun Tiandao ran over anxiously. Poor Liu Huaye, he was getting old, thin and weak. Running was like his body was falling apart. They saw the bloody scene in front of them and almost fainted. Liu Huayes voice trembled, Sir Lin, how how could you how could you beat them? Lin Beifan arched his hand and calmly said, Report to Principal Liu, these are a group of problematic students who bully others! Not only are they oftente and leave early, but they also show no remorse after being criticized and insulted and beat me, which is a very serious offense! So ording to the regtions of the Imperial Academy, I punished them. Please investigate, Principal! Liu Huaye was scared and his face turned white! How could he investigate this? He even felt like he wanted to strangle Lin Beifan! Sir Lin, do you know their status? Of course, I do! Lin Beifan calmly said, This one is called Gao Tianyu, the son of the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao! This one is the Deputy Minister of Personnels Lin Beifan introduced them one by one. Finally, he said righteously, As the son of an official of the court, they should focus on studying hard and serving the court, but instead, they break the rules, ignore and destroy the regtions of the Imperial Academy. I have to punish them strictly! However, I will let them off the hook this time since they are my students and I wont expel them from the Imperial Academy. Lin, youre confused andpletely wrong Liu Huanye said worriedly. Lin Beifan asked, They made a mistake, and I punished them ording to the regtions of the Imperial Academy. Is there anything wrong with that? No Liu Huanye replied. Lin Beifan asked again, As the director of the Imperial Academy, I am responsible for the students conduct, discipline, and academic performance. Does it go against the regtions of the Imperial Academy to punish them for their mistakes? No Liu Huai replied again. Since theres nothing wrong, why do you me me? Lin Beifan asked confidently. Aish, I cant argue with you. I can only say that things arent always right just because its reasonable. Youre too young! Liu Huanye left with a wave of his sleeve, I wont care about this anymore. You take responsibility for everything and dont drag me into this! Dont worry about it, Principal! Lin Beifan said loudly. Looking at the leaving figure, he felt disdainful inside, The older people get, the more cowardly they be! In the end, these young masters were carried out by others. Lin Beifan continued to work as if nothing had happened, and happily went home after work. At dinner, Li Shi Shi asked with a smile, Sir, today is your first day in office. How do you feel? Can you tell me? Of course! Lin Beifan touched the thick silver taels in his chest and said happily, My colleagues at the Imperial Academy are very nice, and the students are very enthusiastic. I feel like Im a wee guest here! I came to the right ce! Thats good. Shi Shi can rest assured. Li Shishi smiled slightly. After eating two bites, she put down her chopsticks, looked uneasy and looked at Lin Beifan. She hesitated and said, Sir, I have always had something on my mind that I wanted to tell you. If I dont say it, Ill feel guilty, so I What is it? Dont keep it in your heart. Its easy to get sick! Lin Beifan asked while eating. Yes, Sir! Li Shishi finally plucked up the courage to speak. Chapter 30: Even if it causes trouble at the Golden Imperial Palace, I am in the right! Chapter 30: Even if it causes trouble at the Golden Imperial Pce, I am in the right! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Sir, the reason why I chose to follow you is not solely because of your talent, but because I wanted to get rid of the harassment from Gao Tianyu, the son of the Minister of Personnel. As a low-borndy, I had no choice but to resort to this n to protect my purity. I beg for your forgiveness! Lin Beifan raised his head, stunned. Why didnt you tell me earlier? Li Shi Shi lowered her head in shame. Im sorry, sir! I was too afraid to tell you, fearing that you would me me. But after spending time with you, youve treated me too well and I feel guilty. I couldnt keep it a secret any longer. Thats why Im telling you now Lin Beifan put down his chopsticks and sighed. If you had told me earlier, I would have taken more forceful action and guaranteed that I would have disabled him with one blow of my stick! Now, the opportunity is lost! Li Shi Shi was confused. What do you mean, sir? I dont understand. Let me tell you what happened today when I went to the Imperial Academy to take up my position. Lin Beifan briefly recounted the events that had taken ce. Li Shi Shi became even more confused. He had beaten up Gao Tianyu and hispanions on his first day in office? How reckless and brazen! She couldnt even imagine it! Sir, if youve beaten up Gao Tianyu, what about his father? Li Shi Shi looked anxious. Lin Beifan was nonchnt. Dont worry. Although they may hold high positions, I am still in favor with the Empress. What can they do to me? Besides, I acted ording to the rules and logic is on my side! Yes, sir! Li Shi Shi felt relieved when she thought of the importance of Lin Beifans background. Lets continue eating. Dont let those spoiled brats affect your mood! Lin Beifan picked up his chopsticks again. Sir, do you me me for keeping this from you? Li Shi Shi asked cautiously. Lin Beifan smiled. Why would I? I knew from the beginning that you had ulterior motives when you chose to follow me! Your behavior towards getting rid of Gao Tianyu ispletely understandable, and it doesnt affect me in any way. Why would I me you? Thank you for understanding, sir! Li Shi Shi breathed a sigh of relief and put on a smile again. As she ate, she secretly looked at Lin Beifan, who was enjoying his food, and her eyes seemed to be moist. Priceless treasures are easy to find, but finding a man who truly cares for you is rare! In an age where men are superior to women, and marriages cannot be chosen at will, it is extremely difficult for any woman to find a suitable partner. Especially for her, who came from a brothel, it was even more difficult. But the man in front of her met all her requirements! If only you werent an incorrupt official, she sighed inwardly. Then, she scolded herself for being too greedy. To have someone who can understand, care, and ept her is already a great blessing! She shouldnt ask for too much! At this moment, Dali rushed in anxiously. Master, somethings not right! A lot of officials have surrounded our mansion! Lin Beifanughed lightly. The young and the old ones have alle knocking! Sir Li Shi Shi worried. Dont worry, Ill be right back! Lin Beifan walked calmly towards the door, where he saw his mansion had indeed been surrounded by officials. The leader was a high-ranking official of the court, someone he had met earlier in the day. In addition, there were many people gawking from the sidelines. High- ranking officials, what brings you here? Lin Beifan asked, puzzled. Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, asked furiously, Lin Beifan, dont make a fool of me! Did you hit my son? Sir Gao, your son is Gao Tianyao! Lin Beifan finally remembered. Hes the one who looks disheveled and has a weasel face. He doesnt look anything like you, Sir. I almost didnt recognize him. Gao Tianyaos face turned ck. Was he mocking that he had been cuckolded? Even angrier, he demanded, Lin Beifan, what gives you the right to hit my son? Yes! Who are you to hit my son, a mere official? asked another official. Why did you do it? The other officials loudly questioned him. Lin Beifan shook his sleeve and proudly straightened up, shouting, I am an instructor at the Imperial Academy, and they are students at the Imperial Academy! They are constantlyte, absent, disrespectful towards me, and have even physically attacked me. As an instructor, I have a duty to punish them. Gentlemen, I merely followed the rules of the Imperial Academy and disciplined them. Is that wrong? Lin Beifan pointed to the sky and the earth, ringing out confidently, Even if ites to the Golden Pce, I am in the right! You!!! The officials were furious. How could he hit their sons and still be so arrogant? This was preposterous! This seems like, Lin Beifan, you have a personal grudge with me? Gao Tianyao and the others faces darkened. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, How can that be? I am merely following the rules and regtions to not disappoint the grace of Her Majesty. Gentlemen, isnt that what you would do? The officials didnt dare to deny it. Although they often did things secretly against the Empress, they had to maintain a pleasant facade. Otherwise, who could say for sure what would happen? Oh yes, gentlemen, please inform your children to be on time tomorrow! Otherwise, I will have to follow the rules of the Imperial Academy, expelling them and never epting them again! How dare you!!! The officials were once again incensed. Chapter 31: Do You Dare to Challenge Me? Chapter 31: Do You Dare to Challenge Me? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The Imperial Academy was the highest institution of learning in the country, and the students there were all the cream of the crop. In order to cultivate outstanding talents for the country, they offered rich educational resources, and at the same time, they also had strict rules, one of which was that if a student behaved badly, they would be expelled. Once expelled, they would never be able to take the imperial examination for the rest of their lives. In other words, for students studying there, if they were expelled from the Imperial Academy, they would never be officials again. How could these court officials ept this? Lin Beifan, dont you dare to act recklessly! Arent you afraid of offending us? Dont you still want to advance in your career? Lin Beifan took a step forward and shouted, Do you dare to challenge me? The sharp edge of a warrior was first revealed! The officials had no choice but to retreat! Their hearts were both shocked and angry! They simply couldnt understand why this lowly sixth-rank official was so daring and fearless. Was it all because of the Empresss favor? Themon people who were watching the scene were also very surprised. A newly crowned top schr dared to confront several court officials, it was truly an extraordinary bravery. In the end, the officials took a step back. Humph! Lets go! The Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, left with a wave of his sleeve. Other officials followed suit. It was truly a case of arriving in haste and leaving in a hurry! Lin Beifan turned around and walked back. Close the door tightly and continue eating! Yes, young master! (Dali) The next day, Lin Beifan went to court as if nothing had happened. He thought that he would be met with a fierce storm, but these officials didnt even mention it, they just had an unpleasant expression. Actually, it was easy to understand why. Their sons had caused trouble first, and Lin Beifan had simply enforced thew. If they went to the Empress with this matter, they would ultimately be in the wrong, and they would be used of not disciplining their sons strictly enough. Lin Beifan was the rising star in front of the Empress and had not done anything wrong, at most he would be scolded. Since that was the case, why bother courting disaster? However, Lin Beifan also suffered retribution, which was being isted by the court officials. During the morning court, some people still exchanged a few words with him, but now no one spoke to him, and some even avoided him. He stood silently at the back, looking so lonely. Lin Beifan couldnt help but sigh. He had offended all the top factions in the court within a few days of taking office. He raided the house of Household Ministrys Assistant Minister, Zhuxiang Quan, and angered all the officials led by the Minister of Household. He had only been an official for a few days and had already offended two major factions in the court! Moreover, he also took the Empresss money! Being an official was really like dancing on thin ice and dancing on the tip of a knife! Fortunately, the Empress was still in the dark and treated him very well, otherwise he could only abandon his official position and wander around the world! This feeling was really Too exciting!!! The morning court was over, and Lin Beifan returned to the Imperial Academy. Along the way, whether it was the guards, the students, or the professors, everyone looked at Lin Beifan with admiring eyes. Lin, sir, you were truly amazing! Holding a cane, you taught those spoiled second-generation officials a lesson! The most amazing thing was what happenedst night! I heard that the fathers of those officials all went to sir Lins house to make trouble, but sir Lin wasnt afraid and scolded them, he was such a role model for us! However, sir Lin had his fun, but it will be difficult for him to advance in his career in the future! What are you afraid of? The world is vast and the truth is the greatest! In order to be an official, we should be fearless like sir Lin! The students here have not yet entered the officialdom, so most of them have not been polluted and their minds are still pure. They think that Lin Beifans behavior of not fearing the powerful is amazing, and as a result, he has gained many young fans. At this time, Lin Beifan had already arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Academy, but did not go in. He stood there like a sculpture with no expression on his face, looking in all directions and listening to everything. He wanted to see if those young lords dared to bete or not even show up. Soon after, the son of the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyu, arrived. He was carried in lying down and was still crying in pain. When he saw Lin Beifan, his eyes were full of hatred. After he went back yesterday, he found out who this person in front of him was- the new top schr, Lin Beifan. He not only took away the woman he liked, but also cheated him out of his money, and even hit him, leaving bruises on his buttocks. Lin Beifan also threatened him, saying he would be expelled from the school if he didnt show up, and he would never be an official in his life. He had never suffered such a loss before in his life and he hated Lin Beifan to the bone. But Lin Beifan ignored the hatred in his eyes. Only the weak express their hatred, while the strong hide it in their hearts and find a way to quietly kill their enemies. Then, more and more young lords arrived. They all came lying down, and some had blood oozing from their buttocks, looking very pitiful. They too red at Lin Beifan with hatred. Soon after, the bell for ss rang. Finally satisfied, Lin Beifan nodded and looked at the group of young lords, some scared, some full of hate and said, Very good, everyone is here, and nobody waste! Chapter 32: These Kids are Clever and Have a Promising Future! Chapter 32: These Kids are Clever and Have a Promising Future! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The young masters were intimidated by Lin Beifans gaze. They bowed and said in unison, Greetings to Director Lin! Hmm! Lin Beifan nodded, then produced a cane in his hand and walked towards the group of young masters standing there. He said, But ording to the regtions of the Imperial Academy, being repeatedlyte or leaving early will result in a punishment of 100 strokes! Who wants to go first? Wait, Sir Lin! one of the young masters called out. What is it? Lin Beifan asked. The young master took out a few silver banknotes from his pocket and handed them to Lin Beifan, ttering him, Sir Lin, heres a total of 100,000 taels! Can you waive the punishment for us? Lin Beifan naturally put the silver banknotes into his pocket, then patted the young masters shoulder and smiled, Youre well-prepared! Not bad, with a bright future ahead of you! Ill let you go this time, but dont let it happen again! Thank you, Sir Lin! The young master was overjoyed. Other young masters saw this and also took out their silver bills. Sir Lin, this is my 100,000 taels, can you waive my punishment? Sir Lin, I also have 100,000! Sir Lin And so on In this way, without evenying a hand on them, Lin Beifan had already collected 1.2 million taels, more than yesterday. Lin Beifan was very satisfied, Not bad! They really deserve to be students of the Imperial Academy, with good understanding! I wont me them this time, but if they do it again, Ill punish them severely! Thank you, Sir Lin! Everyone was overjoyed. Uh, Sir Lin, can we leave now? one of the young masters asked cautiously. Leave? Where are you going? Lin Beifan smiled. Toto attend ss! The young master was terrified. How long have you been absent? Did you forget what day it is today? Lin Beifans expression turned serious as he dered in a loud voice, Let me tell you, today is the day of the monthly exam, so go take the exam! Yes, Sir Lin! The young masters were frightened. Oh, I forgot to mention! In order to encourage students to study hard, I have added a new regtion: if you fail the monthly exam, you will receive 20 strokes! If you fail twice in a row, it will be 40 strokes! If you fail three times in a row, it will be 80and so on, until you pass! I hope you all pay attention! Lin Beifan announced loudly. Well even get caned when we fail our exams?! The young masters cried out. Of course! Lin Beifan spoke resolutely, As students of the Imperial Academy, you enjoy the best educational resources in the country, so naturally, you should aim higher! If you cant even pass the exam, what are you good for? The young masters were speechless. They felt like this regtion was targeted at them! Now go take the exam! Lin Beifan waved his hand, Be honest, Ill personally invigte the exam! If I catch you cheating, youll receive 100 strokes! Yes, Sir Lin! The young masters left dejectedly. This day was the day of the mock exam at the Imperial Academy. To urge the students and select talents, the schools across the country would host a monthly exam, known as the monthly test. Those who performed well received point rewards and could advance to higher schools or obtain better educational resources. It even had benefits for future career development. Therefore, both students and teachers attached great importance to it. As the one responsible for students academic performance, Lin Beifan naturally became the chief invigtor, overseeing all the exam venues and maintaining exam discipline. Under his authority, no one dared to cheat. After the monthly test, grading and scoring took ce. There were three levels: A for excellent, B for passing, and C for failing. The group of ipetent noble students all failed! Lin Beifan angrily eximed, I cant understand why you all failed such a straightforward test? You made so many spelling mistakes, its unbearable! Some of you even misspelled your own names. I dont know what kind of books youve been reading! .. The group ipetent noble students were all trembling with fear. Director, forgive me and give me another chance! Ill study hard and pass next time! Please dont be angry, your health is not worth it! Please dont hit me! I will ept any amount of scolding! Without rules, chaos will ensue, and mistakes must be punished! Lin Beifan picked up his cane and asked, What should be done now? The group ipetent noble students understood his intentions and each painfully took out their silver banknotes. One cane was worth 1,000 taels, and 20 canes amounted to 20,000 taels! Individually insignificant, these 24 academic nobles collectively provided Lin Beifan with 480,000 taels! Lin Beifan stuffed the thick silver banknotes into his pocket and nodded satisfactorily, Not bad, very clever! If you applied this cleverness to your studies, you would have achieved results long ago! Go back and study hard, strive to pass next months exam, otherwise, it wont just be 20,000 taels! Yes, sir! The group ipetent noble students responded weakly. Chapter 33: Becoming an Innate Expert! Chapter 33: Bing an Innate Expert! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After the young masters had left, Lin Beifan counted his gains from the past few days. On the first day, I scammed 400,000 from Young Master Gao and over 600,000 from the other young masters, totaling over a million taels! On the second day, I scammed 1.2 million from the second batch of young masters! Now, after the monthly test, I scammed another 480,000 from them! So, in these few days, I have earned a total of2.7 million taels! After getting the number, Lin Beifan couldnt help butugh with his eyes barely open. Being a director is such a sweet gig. Ive earned nearly 3 million in just a few days! Thanks to the Empress, its time to level up again! That night when he returned home, Lin Beifan couldnt wait to close the door. System, settle everything for me! Beep! The host embezzled 2.7 million taels of gold, silver, and jewels, which is a huge sum. Reward: the merging temte of Xiao Bangzhu ter stage)! A terrifying force quickly fused into Lin Beifans body. Then, a wealth of martial arts experience fused into his mind. Lin Beifan absorbed them crazily. At the same time, a tremendous change was happening within him. Dirty and foul-smelling odors were expelled from the sweat pores on his body. Afterward, his cells became more translucent, gleaming, and vitalized. The internal energy, which filled his Lower Dantian, quickly formed into a thick mist and gradually condensed into a liquid. Each trace of energy was filled with a terrible destructive force. It seemed like there was a qi traversing from his head and prating his body. After about an hour, Lin Beifan finally opened his eyes, filled with joy. Why? Because the merging temte of Qiao Bangzhu was so fantastic! Besides substantial internal energy and abundant martial arts experience, it gave him martial arts techniques such as 18 Dragon Subduing Palms, Dog Beating Staff Method, Dragon Capture Skill, and also a terrifying talent for martial arts! One has to know that Qiao Bangzhu, without any external aid, became one of the Four Heavenly Kings at a young age and easily defeated all experts, all due to his horrific talent at martial arts! With this talent, his future cultivation would be much easier! Aside from that, he also gained his most significant profit, bing an Innate Expert atst! An Innate Experts entire body would be renewed, and all hidden injuries would be eradicated! His cells recovered to the stage of a newborn baby, giving him stronger healing and vitality, making him look younger and live longer. His internal energy would turn into Innate True Qi, which became denser, and its destructive force increased by more than three times! Furthermore, it could transpire through his body, killing someone ten zhang (approx. 33 meters) away! All the meridians in his body had been opened, connecting with heaven and earth, and he could supplement internal energy with the spiritual energy at any time, without relying on eating or exercising. In this high martial world, being an Innate Expert already counted as a mighty person, as he could effortlessly take on a hundred people. Usually, they are respected figures among the major sects, such as the head or elder level. Although I am only a sixth-grade innate master now, with the opportunities given to me, I can defeat fifth-grade innate masters without fail! With the addition of a third-grade grandmaster, I can even save my own life! Lin Beifan was very pleased. Since he crossed over, he has been striving to be stronger! Now, he has finally be a sixth-grade master who canpete with fifth-grade innate masters! Although not invincible, he can go anywhere in this world! Now is not the time to be reckless, Ill continue to develop surreptitiously! As long as nothing goes wrong, Ill greedily take it all! Someday Lin Beifan daydreamed: When I be the worlds number one corrupted person, that will be the time when I prove myself as and immortal! At this moment, in the pce. The Empress waved her hand to dismiss the just reported Embroidered Uniform Guard. Then, she lightlyughed at the void: Sister Qingxuan, you also heard it, Lin Beifan is truly adept at corruption! We transferred him to the Imperial Academy, a clean government department, and in a few days, he was able to embezzle 2.7 million! The other corrupt officials just plunder the people, fattening themselves and harming the people! This guy, on the other hand, goes the other way, collecting money from corrupt officials, harming the corrupt officials and benefiting the people! Its really interesting! He is indeed a genius, a genius at corruption! In the void, a white figure appeared. Her body was shrouded in thick white fog, her face couldnt be seen clearly, but judging from her graceful figure, she must be an exceptionally beautiful woman. Indeed! He uses all his talents to be corrupt! In order to be corrupt, he doesnt hesitate to offend officials! I really dont know where he gets his courage! Kukuku The Empress couldnt help butugh. Your Majesty, he also embezzled money from your treasury! The Empresss smile faded instantly. She gritted her teeth and said: This deceitful and treacherous bastard! If he hadnt distributed the embezzled money to the people and be a people-loving official, I would have executed him long ago! The Empresss eyes turned: Sister Qingxuan, do you have any way to retrieve the money he embezzled for me? Your Majesty, are you thinking The white figure was shocked.
1. Xiao Bangzhu (Boss Xiao) is the extremely powerful leader of Beggar Sect and is perhaps the most powerful person of all time. He is known for the 18 dragon subduing palm technique, which was extremely fierce and dangerous. His real name is Xiao Feng, a character from the wuxia novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber () by Jin Yong. He is the protagonist of the novel, also known as Zhang Wuji or Ah Zhi, who grew up in the Ming Cult andter became the leader of the cult. He is known for his mastery in martial arts and his integrity,passion, and righteousness. Chapter 34: “My Lord, you are the Night Hero, right?” Chapter 34: My Lord, you are the Night Hero, right? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The Empress said seriously, Yes, I want to use his money to develop my own power! The Empress sighed and said worriedly, Nowadays, there are many corrupted officials in the court, forming factions, fighting for power and profit, and corruption is rampant! Outside the capital, my imperial uncles have their own armies and can rebel at any time! Even beyond that, the major imperial dynasties are eager to move, stationed at the border, ready to invade the Central ins at any time! Even the martial world is not very stable, with ambitious people causing a lot of trouble s! It can be predicted that in the near future, the world will inevitably be in turmoil! In order to deceive the court officials and my imperial uncles, as well as foreign emperors, I have to pretend to be a foolish ruler and secretly umte strength! The Empress sighed again, However, to develop my own power, I not only need time, but also a lot of money and grain! I am very short of money, the private treasury is empty, and I want to use the money from the national treasury, but that money is being watched by countless pairs of eyes. If I use it, my intentions will be exposed and cause others to be vignt! Now, there is a very good way to make money! The Empresss voice carried a hint of joy, That is to transfer the money Lin Beifan has embezzled into my hands! After I have money, I can develop my own power and deal with the future crisis! Your Majesty, this is indeed a good idea! However, it is a difficult problem to take money from him! If we use force, it may lead to uncontroble consequences! This is where I need your help, Qingxuan. I believe you can handle it! The Empress winked mischievously, I only have one request, dont reveal my identity! After all, this is not a very morous matter, and its better to have as few people as possible who know about my secret development of power! This is a bit difficult, but I will try my best to find a solution! Thank you, Qingxuan! The white figure gradually disappeared. The next day, Lin Beifan left early for the morning court. At noon, Dali carried tworge boxes into Lin Beifans room. This scene happened to be seen by Li Shi Shi. Curiously, she asked, Dali, what are you doing? Dali respectfully bowed his head and said, In response to the young mistress, when the young master went out this morning, he gave me a silver banknotes worth 100,000 taels and asked me to exchange it for 100,000 taels of silver at the bank! Inside this, there are 100,000 taels of silver! 100,000 taels of silver Li Shi Shis eyes were trance-like. At this point, Dalie had already finished moving the boxes and closed the door of the room. Young mistress, I have no other business, so I will go and do my work! Okay, go ahead! After Dali left, Li Shi Shi slowly walked over and opened the door to Lin Beifans room. She also opened tworge boxes ced at the bedside, and was immediately blinded by the shiny silver inside. Really 100,000 taels! Li Shi Shis gaze wasplex, expressing sadness, disappointment, and confusion. In the evening, when Lin Beifan returned to eat, he noticed that Li Shi Shis face was not quite normal, looking haggard and unable to eat. So he asked concerned, Whats wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Li Shi Shi forced a smile, Hmm, maybe I caught a cold and dont feel toofortable. Thank you for your concern, sir! Do you want me to call a doctor for you? No need, its nothing serious. I should be fine after a nap! Okay, after dinner, rest as soon as possible! Their conversation was minimal, as if both had something on their minds. After dinner, Li Shi Shi went back to her room to rest. Lin Beifan also went back to his own room, opened the box full of silver, and then took the silver pieces and crushed them one by one. Late at night, Lin Beifan changed into his night cloak again and secretly went out with the crushed silver to spread wealth. Soon after he left, a graceful figure appeared at Lin Beifans door. She knocked and called out a few times, but received no response. When she pushed the door, she found that no one was inside. The tworge boxes of silver were open, but there wasnt a single tael of silver. Where did the master go? What about the silver? Li Shi Shi felt like she was in a huge mist. Lin Beifan had be even more mysterious to her. Less than an hourter, Lin Beifan finished spreading wealth and returned home. But as soon as he arrived at the door of his room, he felt that there was someone else inside, sitting on his bed. He was very alert and immediately broke in, Who are you? With swift movements, he quickly grabbed the persons throat. But by this time, Lin Beifan had recognized the person in front of him and quickly released his grip. Shi Shi, why are you here? What are you doing here? Sir, Shi Shi has been waiting for you! Li Shi Shi stood up from the bed and bravely walked towards the ck-clothed masked man in front of her. With shaky hands, she took off the mask, revealing a familiar face. At this moment, tears suddenly fell from her eyes and she smiled excitedly, Sir, I knew it was you! Youre the night hero, right? Youre the one whos been generoustely, right? Shi Shi didnt get it wrong, did she? Chapter 35: Theyre greedy, but Im even more greedy! Theyre deceitful, but Im even more deceitful! Chapter 35: Theyre greedy, but Im even more greedy! Theyre deceitful, but Im even more deceitful! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan turned around and closed the door. Then, he looked at the familiar figure before him with aplicated expression and asked, Why do you say this? For a long time, there have been rumors outside that you, sir, are also a corrupt official! However, during our long-term interactions, I have found that you, sir, are not that kind of person at all! You are indifferent to fame and wealth, do not indulge in pleasure, are not afraid of power, and treat people with sincerity and equality! Such a person, how could they be a corrupt official? But this morning, I saw two boxes of silver being delivered to you, which aroused my suspicion and uncertainty. Not opening them made me uneasy! So tonight, I came over and found that you were gone, and the silver was also gone! Taking into ount the recent emergence of a nighttime hero in the capital, who is generous and charitable to the poor, but no one knows his identity, no one knows where his wealthes from! This persons timeline of corruption coincidespletely with yours, starting from your appointment as top schr. So, I made a bold guess! Seeing youe back wearing nighttime clothes, it confirms the guess in my mind even more! So, sir, you are the nighttime hero, right? Li Shi Shi gently held Lin Beifans cheeks, staring at his eyes with intense yet tender gazes. Lin Beifan nodded, Yes, I am the nighttime hero! Mmm~ Li Shi Shi excitedly covered her own mouth. I give all the money Ive earned through corruption to the poor people! I hope they can live a better life after having this money! Lin Beifan continued. Why do you do this, sir? Do you know how dangerous this is? Li Shi Shi grabbed Lin Beifans arms and said excitedly. Why of course I know, but I have no other choice! Lin Beifan sighed. I was born into a poor family and witnessed how corrupt officials exploited the people, making it hard for them to survive. I felt indignant and worked hard to be the top schr just to seek revenge on them! I only steal back what they took from the people! This is the only thing I can do! You can still be a good official and benefit the people! Li Shi Shi advised. You are thinking too simply! Lin Beifan smiled bitterly. The court is already corrupt! There is an ipetent ruler and cunning officials. Even if you are not corrupt, others will try their best to make you corrupt! If you still refuse to be corrupt, they will find ways to remove you from power! The current court cannot tolerate a clean official! Yes, the court cannot tolerate a clean official Li Shi Shi murmured, understanding deeply. Her father once aspired to be a good official, but being in a government that was rampant with corruption and dominated by wicked officials, self-defense alone was already a problem. Not to mention anyone else, all the civil and military officials in the court are corrupt, but you are an honest official who cannot even fill a pot of urine, so you are isted. It is very difficult to do anything at all. In the end, under the sugar-coated bullets of others, you also fell. Just like a pot of ck and muddy ink, if a drop of clear water drips into it, it can never be washed clean! If thats the case, why not join them? Lin Beifan sneered, Theyre corrupt, so I need to be even more corrupt than them! Theyre cunning, so I need to be even more cunning than them! Otherwise, how can I fight against them? Li Shishi shuddered. There was also a grayish-white figure outside the window, and her figure trembled slightly. But your reputation My reputation doesnt matter! Lin Beifan smiled casually, Anyway, Ive never thought about being an official all my life. Whats the point of these reputations? If I can be an official for as long as I can, I will run away if I cant. Being a hero while hiding ones identity is just as good! In this big world, where cant I go? To be honest, my biggest dream has never been to be an official! It is to be a hero in the martial arts world, walking the rivers andkes, helping the weak and fighting the strong, enjoying the thrill of revenge! If theres something unfair, Ill take care of it. If I dont like someone, Ill just stab them with a sword. Why make things soplicated like now? Sir Li Shi Shis teary eyes became blurry. But Lin Beifans image in her mind became even clearer. He was originally a young man who pursued freedom and romance! But for the sake of the people, he had to give up his martial arts skills and enter the dirty officialdom, doing things that he did not want to do, being a corrupt official who was hated by everyone, including himself! For the sake of themon people, he abandoned his baggage of freedom, carried a heavy burden and marched forward! At that moment, Li Shi Shi cried like rain! Chapter 36: Lin my dear, Its too difficult for you! Chapter 36: Lin my dear, Its too difficult for you! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Miss Shi Shi, why are you crying? Lin Beifan was shocked. Li Shi Shi shook her head abruptly and smiled, Shi Shi is not crying! This is happiness! This is excitement! What are you happy about? What are you excited about? To tell the truth, Lin Beifan didnt understand at all! He was currently doing extremely dangerous things, not knowing when his head would be on the line. As someone who followed him, shouldnt Li Shi.Shi be worried and fearful? Why was she instead Happy and excited? Especially her beautiful eyes! Full of affection and love, all focused on him, making Lin Beifan feel ufortable. So, he said fiercely: Shi Shi, now that you know my true identity, tell me, how should I treat you? After all, the fewer people who know about my identity, the better! However, Li Shishiughed and bravely approached Lin Beifan step by step: No matter how you treat me, whether to kill or cut, its up to you! But before that, I hope to be your woman! Suddenly, Li Shi Shi rushed towards Lin Beifan, tightly hugging his neck, her face against his. Feeling the warmth in his arms, Lin Beifans breathing became urgent: Wont regret it? II will never regret it! So, Lin Beifan picked up the beauty in his arms and rushed to the big bed. The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and the music was melodious. At this moment, the white figure outside the window disappeared without a trace. Inside the pce. The white figure reported everything they had seen and heard tonight in detail to the Empress. The court has be corrupt, with a foolish ruler and sycophantic officials. Even if you are not corrupt, others will try every means to make you corrupt! If you still refuse to be corrupt, they will try everything to bring you down! The current court cannot tolerate an honest official! Its like a bottle of ck and murky ink. Even if a drop of clear water is dripped into it, it will never be washed clean! Since thats the case, why not go with the flow? They are corrupt, I want to be more corrupt than them! They are treacherous, I want to be more treacherous than them! Otherwise, how can I defeat them? Reputation is irrelevant! After all, I have never thought of being an official for a lifetime. What use is there for these reputations? Ill serve as long as I can, and if I cant, then Ill run away and hide my name. Theres nowhere in the world I cant go! My biggest dream has never been to be an official! Its to be a martial arts hero, traveling around the world, helping the weak and defeating the strong, and enjoying the victories and losses The Empress fell into contemtion. After a long time, she sighed with regret: Lin my dear, Ive wronged you! She understood Lin Beifans suffering too well! For the sake of the people, she had to give up her own dream and enter the court as a corrupt official, bing everyones disliked object. But she was the Great Wu Empress, upying the name of legitimacy. Even if the people underneath her refused, they had no choice but toply with her. But what about Lin Beifan? What he was doing was a hundred times harder than what she had to do! All the civil and military officials in the court are enemies. As long as one misstep is taken, there will be no chance of recovery! hemon people do not understand him either, and they curse him as a corrupt official! Surrounded by enemies, there is no one to lend a helping hand! He can only hold on to his beliefs and walk alone. The empress sighed with pity, It is really too difficult for him! Yes, its is really too difficult for him! He gave up everything to join the corrupt officialdom, fighting against corrupt officials, traitorous officials and all the injustices, tolerating the insults and carrying the burden of shame. His spirit isparable to the greatest saints in history! The white figure followed with a long sigh. She had almost reached the peak of human cultivation, calm andposed, not perturbed by honor or disgrace, impervious to external influences. However, she was moved by someone for the first time today! Despite being weak in strength, he possessed a strong and vibrant inner energy. Though his body may be small, his character is great! No, he is not alone! The empress stood up in excitement. Since he has no helpers, we will be his greatest helpers! Since he has no backing, we will be his greatest backing! Let us work together to rebuild Great Wu! Your majesty is wise! The white figure bowed. The next day, Lin Beifan woke up in a fragrant and soft environment. Husband, let me help you change your clothes! Husband, let me change your shoes! Husband Lin Beifan felt unsettled. Its okay, Shi Shi, I can do all these things myself. You dont have to bother, he said. But this is what I should do, and I like it! Li Shi Shi gave Lin Beifan a seductive nce and continued to serve him. With just one nce, Lin Beifan wanted to hug Li Shi Shi and go back to sleep. He sighed in his heart. No wonder ancient kings did not attend court early. Who would be willing to get up when they had a beautiful woman to sleep with? Under Li Shi Shis service, Lin Beifan had already dressed in his official robes. He then gently lifted Li Shi Shi onto the bed and said, You worked hardst night and are not feeling well. You can sleep a little longer! Hmm! Li Shishi nodded happily. When he was about to leave, Li Shi Shi called out again, By the way, husband, what do you want to eat tonight? Ill prepare it in advance! Lin Beifan smiled, Anything will do! You are the hostess here, you decide! Okay! Li Shi Shi nodded happily again. Lin Beifan intended to close his eyes again and continue sleeping, but he couldnt fall asleep anymore. He turned to look at the window and saw that the day was dawning and all things were beginning to revive. His heart was as beautiful as everything else. Chapter 37: Spoiling the Top Scholar, the Foolish Empress! Chapter 37: Spoiling the Top Schr, the Foolish Empress! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The Golden Imperial Hall was crowded for the morning court session. We greet Your Majesty, long live the empress for ten thousand years! All the officials knelt in unison. Please rise, my dear ministers, said the empress who sat on her throne, observing the whole crowd. When she saw Lin Beifan standing at the back, her eyes lit up and she smiled sweetly at him. Minister Lin, where have you been hiding? Come forward, please. Lin Beifan stepped out and made a bow. Your Majesty, what can I do for you? I just wanted to see you, thats all, the empress smiled again. Minister Lin, youve been serving for some time now. Are you stillfortable in your position? Is there anything you dont understand? Your Majesty, everything is fine. I appreciate your concern, Lin Beifan replied with another bow. And how is your work in the Imperial Academy? Have you familiarized yourself with it? Thanks to the help of my colleagues, I have adapted well to the environment and various tasks are running smoothly, Your Majesty. Lin Beifan replied confidently. I see. Thats why youre the top schr that I admire. Ive rewarded you with a mansion. Are youfortable living there? Your Majesty, I live veryfortably. Thank you for your generosity, Lin Beifan said, touched by her kindness. Are you eating well, though? You seem much thinner than before. Your Majesty Lin Beifan felt ttered and honored by the empresss unusual attention. Why was she so concerned about his well-being? It made him feel a little embarrassed. The other officials, on the other hand, looked at each other with annoyance. Could they please focus on some serious matters and avoid such petty and lovey-dovey chit-chat? This was the Golden Imperial Hall, after all, a ce for discussing important issues of state! However, they all remained silent, knowing better than to contradict the empress. After a round of Q&A, Lin Beifan had answered all the questions perfectly, causing the empresss dissatisfaction to grow. The whole point of her inquiries was to discover what she could do for him as a sign of gratitude for his contributions. However, he had imed that he had met no challenges that required her intervention. Whats wrong with you, Minister Lin? You must have some issues. Tell me honestly, or else Id charge you with deceiving Your Majesty! the empress shouted. Lin Beifan shook with fear, unsure of what to say. Must I tell you, Your Majesty? You must! Lin Beifan sighed. Okay, I have one problem What problem? Spit it out! Im struggling to make ends meet! My sry is meager and the cost of living in the capital is exorbitant. Im barely making it through, Lin Beifan said, blushing with embarrassment. The other officials at the Golden Imperial Hall rolled their eyes. Really? Is he now crying poverty? Since you became an official, you have embezzled millions of taels! You even embezzled money from our sons, and you dare to cry poverty? What a shameless scoundrel! However, the empress nodded in agreement. Lin Beifan did not have much background, and as a low-ranking official, his sry was limited. He had spread his ill-gotten gains around and also had to support his family in the expensive capital. It was indeed difficult for him. Therefore, the empress said sympathetically, You have truly worked hard, my dear minister! Let the Ministry of Revenue increase your sry to resolve your financial troubles! How about we give you the sry of a fourth-rank official? Lin Beifan was dumbfounded. I havent done anything, and youre already increasing my sry? What does this mean? The officials were also not calm. He hadnt even worked a few days and this scoundrel was given a raise? And, he was suddenly made a fourth-rank official? It was too chaotic! The Minister of Revenue was the first to stand up and said loudly, Your Majesty, this is inappropriate! Since the founding of the Great Wu, the Ministry of Revenue established a rule that officials of different ranks must receive a sry at their respective rank levels. How can we maintain stability in the court if we do not follow the rules? We cannot break thew and vite the ancestors wishes. Please think twice, Your Majesty! Think twice, Your Majesty! the officials echoed. Seeing this group of officials opposing her, the empresss anger rose. Okay, I wont increase sir Lins sry! Then I will give him a reward of ten thousand taels of silver. Shouldnt that be enough? The Minister of Revenue spoke again, Your Majesty, a reward of silveres from the national treasury and involves the states economy. We cannot use it rashly. Sir Lin has no merits, and a reckless reward would vite thew and reason. Please think twice, Your Majesty! Think twice, Your Majesty! the officials chanted again. The empress was so angry that her chest heaved. She wanted topensate the only honest official in her court, but why was it so difficult? You greedy officials! One day, I will execute you all! Fine, I wont use the national treasurys money. Is it okay to use my private money? Its my money, and I can give it to whomever I want! the empress said angrily. Your Majesty Dont say it. My mind is made up! The officials looked at the empress, who was not to be trifled with, and shook their heads in unison. They all thought the same thing: a foolish monarch! Chapter 38: My Damn Uncontrollable Charm! Chapter 38: My Damn Uncontroble Charm! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan is still confused until now! He cant understand why the empress is so good to him, giving him rewards without doing anything! You should know that he is currently a sixth-grade official, with an annual sry of more than 1,300 taels. This amount of money is already equivalent to his sry for 7 or 8 years. And this money ispletely legal and can be used. Lin Beifan secretly nced at the empress who was high above him. Could it be that she really liked him? After thinking carefully, it seems that this is the only possibility! Otherwise, what else can the empress use him for? Lin Beifan couldnt help sighing. Its all because of my damn uncontroble charm! I have tried my best to keep a low profile, but I still cant hide it! What if one day the empress bes wild and asks me to serve her in bed? What should I do? Should I agree, or protest against the order? If I dont agree, its going against the imperial edict! If I do agree, then I will be innocent no more! Sigh, its really troublesome! However, the empress is truly the most beautiful woman, the most stunning person in the country, and it seems like its not bad to be with her. Lin Beifan shook his head to get himself out of his random thoughts. With the idea of taking advantage of any opportunity, Lin Beifan loudly said, Thank you for your graciousness, Your Majesty! The empress nodded in satisfaction, Lin my dear, if you need anything, just tell me. If you encounter any difficulties, also let me know. I will do my best to help you solve them! Damn! The hearts of the officials were once again unbnced! Not only did he receive money, but his other problems were also solved? Is the empress too fond of this bastard? What special abilities does he have? Is it just because he is young? Is it because he is handsome? At this moment, even the calm officials were envious and jealous! Thank you, Your Majesty! I will do my best until death! Lin Beifan gratefully said. He nced smugly at the group of older officials, being handsome is an advantage! After finishing the morning court, Lin Beifan went to work at the Imperial Academy with his reward. In the afternoon, he left work early and went back home. After all, he has a wife, and every man understands that! As soon as he stepped into the door, a beautiful figure threw herself into his arms. Husband, why did youe back so early? It was Lin Beifans newlywed wife, Li Shi Shi. She really became a wife, patting the dust and wrinkles off Lin Beifans body with great care and seriousness, the image of him in her eyes was all-epassing. Her charming and coy look made Lin Beifans heart skip a beat. Lin Beifanughed, I didnt have much to do today! I missed you, so I came back early! When has Li Shi Shi ever heard such a direct confession? Especially one from her beloved? She blushed and lowered her head, her shy and charming look making her even more alluring. Lin Beifans heart jumped again. This woman is bing more and more tempting! At this moment, Li Shi Shi saw that Lin Beifan was holding a small box in his hand and curiously asked, Husband, what is this Lin Beifan smiled, This is the 10,000 taels of silver awarded by Her Majesty the Empress! He opened the box and took out two silver ingots, giving one to Dali and Xiao Cui respectively, and said, This is for you, buy some clothes and household items for yourself! Thank you, young master! Thank you, sir! The two of themughed so much that they couldnt close their mouths. Shi Shi, Ill leave the rest to you! Okay, husband! Li Shishi smiled happily. In this world, men are responsible for making a career and earning money outside, while women are responsible for managing finances and household affairs. By entrusting his money to Li Shi Shi, he acknowledged her position as the female head of the household. Next was dinner time. Looking at the table full of dishes, Lin Beifan was shocked: Why is it so abundant today? These were arranged by me! I didnt know what husband wants to eat, so I arranged everything! Li Shishi smiled. It must have cost a lot of money! Lin Beifan felt a bit distressed. Please eat, husband. Even if we have such a meal every day, I can still afford it! Li Shi Shi covered her mouth andughed. Why? Lin Beifan didnt understand. Because, before I entered Lin family, I earned a lot of money. I used some of it to redeem myself, currently there are still 140,000 taels left! Although I cant guarantee that we will be rich and wealthy, I can ensure that the two of us will have a worry-free life! Lin Beifan was shocked. Li Shi Shi had spent 50,000 taels of silver to redeem herself! Unexpectedly, there were still 140,000 taels left! The number one beauty in the capital could really earn money! He had actually married a wealthy woman! Lin Beifanughed: It seems that in the future, I will have to rely on your soft rice, my dear! Li Shishis face turned serious: Husband, you cant say that! We are one, your money is my money and vice versa! Okay, okay! Lin Beifanughed heartily. With a wife like this, what else could he possibly ask for? Next, they drank and dined. Actually, the main eater was Lin Beifan, while Li Shi Shi was by his side, pouring wine and serving dishes, staring at him without turning away, with a smile that couldnt help but overflow. Lin Beifan felt today was so blissful! During early morning court, he was unexpectedly rewarded by the Empress. When he returned home, there was also good food and wine, and a doting wife serving him. Life was simply too beautiful! As expected, kind-hearted people are never treated unfairly! Especially for someone like him, who is kind-hearted and handsome, he is simply a favoured son of heaven! Chapter 39: Rescue the Urgent, Help the Poor with Intelligence! Chapter 39: Rescue the Urgent, Help the Poor with Intelligence! 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During this time, Xiao Cui and Dali didnt want to be a third wheel, so they left after finishing their meal. Only Lin Beifan and his wife were left in the lobby. Because of the urgencyst night, they didnt have the time to talk and had many doubts in their hearts. Now they finally opened up. It was not until now that Lin Beifan found out that his wife was actually born into a family of high officials and was a well-knowndy. However, due to her fathers corruption, her family fell apart and she ended up in the red-light district. Therefore, she hated corrupt officials very much. Once she found out that Lin Beifan was not a corrupt official, but a clean and honest official who served the people, all her grievances disappeared and shepletely fell in love with him! How lucky I am that fate brought me to meet you! Li Shi Shi felt so fortunate. She had originally wanted to get rid of the harassment from high officials son, so she found Lin Beifan, who was a well-connected person in front of the Empress, to be her backer. She never expected to find the best man in the world! He was highly educated, knowledgeable, handsome and had a high moral character, and he was also good to her She felt so happy! After living a wasted life and using up all her luck, she finally exchanged it for the best husband in this life! If other sisters knew about this, they would surely envy her! I am lucky to have met you too, but following me may be tough for you in the future. You may have to follow me and run away, even risking your life. Are you scared? Lin Beifan smiled. Meeting you is also my good fortune! Lin Beifan smiled. But following me, you will suffer. You may have to go on the run with me at any time, and we might even lose our heads. Are you afraid? Husband, dont say that. I will follow you wherever you go. If things go wrong in future, I will apany you in roaming the world, even if we be a pair of fugitive lovers. If we unfortunately lose our heads, I will apany you in walking the yellow spring road to the underworld, and we will be together all the way until the next life as husband and wife! I am yours in life and in death! Li Shi Shi tightly held Lin Beifans hand. Lin Beifan was moved and held her in his arms without hesitation. He thought to himself that for the sake of his beloved wife, he would have to be a bit more corrupt in order to protect himself! After dinner, they simply tidied up and went back to their room. Of course, their nights were full of passion. In the following days, Lin Beifan would attend early morning court meetings, go to work at the Imperial Academy and earn money from those officials, ande back to spend time with his wife at night. Their lives were very routine. However, sometimes, in the dead of night, he would secretly go out to give out money. But, the amount of money he gave out was getting less and less. At first, he could give away 100,000, then it became only 50,000 the next morning, and then less than 10,000 the next day. On the fourth day, Li Shi Shi saw Lin Beifan taking a pile of treasures out and then bringing them all back. My husband, why Lin Beifan sighed and said, Its already saturated! Since bing a night hero, I have dispersed nearly 3 million taels, basically taking care of all the poor people in the capital! Each person receives varying amounts, but enough to improve their lives and prevent them from falling into poverty. Any more than that would be too much! Why is that? Li Shi Shi asked, puzzled. Because human nature isplex! If I give them money once, they will be grateful to me! Even when I give it a second time, they will still be grateful. But by the third or fourth time, they will no longer be grateful to me and will develop a habit of asking for money without working or striving for improvement. They bezy and will no longer be of use. If I dont give them money, not only will they not be grateful, they will also me me! Lin Beifan sighed, Therefore, we should save those in need, not those in poverty, and focus on lifting them out of poverty through education and intelligence. Li Shi Shi suddenly understood, What you said is absolutely right, my husband! Thinking again about the phrase Lin Beifan had said, saving those in need, not those in poverty, and focusing on lifting them out of poverty through education and intelligence, it was so brief but thought-provoking! Li Shi Shi looked at Lin Beifan with admiration and her eyes sparkled. He truly was her husband! But what should we do with the money? Lin Beifan threw the silver in his hand on the ground, Lets keep it for now, there will be opportunities to disperse it in the future. Just then, a white figure suddenly appeared in front of them. How about giving this money to me? Lin Beifan felt a chill go down his spine. All of his hairs stood up! He was, after all, a pinnacle master of the innate realm. In the martial world, he would be considered an elder or a master-level character with profound strength But this person had appeared before him, and he hadnt noticed anything! A ghost! Li Shi Shi was so frightened that she clung onto Lin Beifan. Dont be afraid, shes not a ghost, shes just skilled in martial arts! Lin Beifanforted Li Shi Shi and looked at the white figure with suspicion. Who are you, and what are you doing in my house? Dont be afraid! If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it long ago! But Ive been watching you these past few days, running around for the people with a pure heart, so I havent made a move! The tone of the other persons voice was calm and had a charismatic quality. It was quite pleasant to listen to. However, when Lin Beifan heard those words, he felt even more scared! Chapter 40: The Resemblance of a Goddess and Demon, Bai Guanyin! Chapter 40: The Resemnce of a Goddess and Demon, Bai Guanyin! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
This shows that she had already set her sight on him a long time ago! And she was originally here to kill him! She only refrained from doing so after seeing the things he did for the people along the way! All along, his life had been hanging by a thread! It was truly terrifying! Who are you? What is your purpose for being here? Lin Beifan asked. My real name is Bai Qingxuan, but in the martial arts world, I am known as Bai Guanyin! The figure in front of him spoke. There seemed to be a thinyer of white mist enveloping her body. Although her appearance was not clear, from her graceful figure, she must be a breathtakingly beautiful woman. Bai Guanyin! Li Shi Shi in Lin Beifans arms eximed. You know her? Lin Beifan asked, lowering his head. Excitedly, Li Shi Shi nodded her head. I do! Husband, theres no need to be afraid. Shes a good person! Lin Beifan released her and looked at the white figure before him. Bai Guanyin is a female martial artist who appeared ten years ago. No one knows her appearance or background, but her martial arts are powerful and unfathomable, resembling that of a goddess and a demon. Each time she appears, she only leaves behind a white figure, floating like a fairy. Bai Guanyines and goes without a trace, but each time, she brings with her a bloody storm! From corrupt officials in court to powerful viins in the martial arts world, no one can escape from her grasp! What is most praised about her is that she once hunted down three master viins who brought chaos to the world, crossing three thousand miles and three dynasties, to ultimately defeat them with her martial arts. This battle made her famous across the world! Lin Beifan was shocked. Even the master viins were killed by her hands. No wonder she was so terrifying! As a small beginner, he couldnt afford to provoke her! There are some deeds that I wont go into detail about. She often dispersed the money collected from corrupt officials to themon people! Because of her beauty and kindness, so she was known as Bai Guanyin! But in recent years, she disappeared. I didnt expect to see you again! Li Shi Shi asked excitedly, Are you really Bai Guanyin? The other party replied calmly, Absolutely! Why havent you taken action against the rampant corrupt officials in recent years? The other party sighed, Becauseter, I met a child! She was very wise and intelligent! She told me that killing corrupt officials and viins wouldnt solve the problem if the root cause was not addressed. As long as the soil that nurtures them remains the same, there will still be corrupt officials and viins even if you kill them. When will it end? In her, I saw the social mdy, but also saw hope! So I stopped, guarding by her side, watching how she changes thiscorrupt world! Lin Beifan and Li Shi Shi heard the deep helplessness in her tone. There were too many bad people killed, and she became filled with despair towards society. Even with unparalleled martial arts skills, what can she do? So, were you nning toe and kill me? Lin Beifan asked sullenly. What do you think? The other partys gaze shifted over. Although he couldnt see her face clearly, Lin Beifan felt that she was smiling, a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown. Bai Guanyin, my husband is the best official in the world. Please dont harm him! Li Shi Shi stood in front of Lin Beifan. Bai Guanyin, or Bai Qingxuan, said, Naturally, he is a good official, or else I would have killed him a long time ago. But the way he is a clean official is really eye-opening for me! Its because of the circumstances! Lin Beifan said sullenly. I understand that. When corrupt officials are vicious, clean officials must be even more vicious. Otherwise, how can theypete with corrupt officials? Right? (Bai Qingxuan) The other party smiled ambiguously. Hn! Lin Beifan nodded reluctantly. Unexpectedly, the words I said to Li Shi Shi that night were heard by her! That night, some indescribable things happened. Was she spectating on the sidelines that time? Luckily, you are a female! If you were male, I would fight you rightaway! Li Shi Shi also rxed. As for the money in your hand, if it has no other use, why not give it to me? Bai Qingxuan looked at Lin Beifan and said. Do you want to use it to help the poor? Lin Beifan asked. No! That method is the lowest, it can only help for a moment, but not for a lifetime! As long as society doesnt fundamentally change, there will still be poverty, injustice, and people will still suffer! Therefore, I want to use it to do something big! Once it is done, the entire empire will undergo earth-shattering changes! At this point, Bai Qingxuans eyes shone. Okay! Its all yours! Lin Beifan pushed all the broken silver and silver notes in the box out without hesitation. Bai Qingxuan was stunned: You didnt even ask, you just gave it to me? Im toozy to ask! If I ask too much, it will only cause trouble! As a powerful person like you, who has achieved great aplishments, you dont need to talk to me, a small person, and you dont need my consent to take the money! And the fact that you asked me about it shows that you are a principled and bottom-line person! Lin Beifan smiled. In addition, from our conversation just now, I found that we are doing the same thing, but the methods may be slightly different! Since thats the case, why should I fuss over these small matters? Bai Qingxuan looked deeply at Lin Beifan andughed, You are a smart little guy, no wonder you can be the top schr! Also, in the future, I can give you all the money I earn from greed! Lin Beifan continued. I just hope you can promise me one thing! What is it? Say! Chapter 41: A loyal subject cannot be wronged! Chapter 41: A loyal subject cannot be wronged! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Bai Guanyin, you know that what Im doing now is a risky business. So, I hope that when I get into trouble, you can help me save Shi Shi, Dali, Xiao Cui, and others, and quickly send them away from the capital! Lin Beifan said seriously. Husband! Li Shi Shi looked up with teary eyes. The only thing I am concerned about is you all. As long as you are safe, I can boldly do what I have to do! But if something happens to my husband, I will not live either! Li Shi Shis gaze was firm. Dont worry, this is only the worst-case scenario! Lin Beifan smiled and said, I have a habit of always preparing for the worst and doing my best. Its rare toe across a great master like you, so I want to be more prepared just in case! Bai Qingxuan asked in confusion, With your skills, there shouldnt be many people in the capital who can stop you. As a deep and unfathomable master herself, she had long seen through Lin Beifans strength. Although he had only reached the sixth rank of innate realm, his strength wasparable to that of a fifth-rank innate realm practitioner. There were not many people in the capital with such strength! In addition, he was extremely skilled in lightness technique, and even a grandmaster might not be able to catch up with him! Taking people out of the capital was not difficult for him. Im not afraid of anyone else, but the only one Im afraid of is the empress! Lin Beifan sighed. Why are you afraid of her? As far as I know, Her Majesty has been showing you great favor! Bai Qingxuans face became strange. Unfortunately, it was impossible to tell in the white mist. Thats why Im afraid! The deeper the love, the stronger the responsibility. She favors me now, but after my incident is revealed, when she finds out that I took her money, she will definitely be furious and turn all her love into hate! Women can be terrifying when they get angry, especially proud women like the empress! At that time, she will send arge army to hunt me down. What should I do if she sends ten or even dozens of innate or even grandmasters to chase after me? Even if I am stronger, I will have no way to turn the tide! Bai Qingxuan suddenly felt likeughing when she heard this. You also know that! Since you knew better, why were you still so greedy? If it werent for the fact that the empress is a wise ruler, your head would have already rolled. How could you have survived until now? Upon closer inspection, it suddenly became clear that these two young people were truly a pair of quarrelsome allies. One was a corrupt official, while the other was a tyrant ruler. One desperately tried to embezzle money from the other, without letting the other know. Meanwhile, the other tried to siphon off the money that the other had embezzled into his own private pockets, without letting the other know. However, everything these two did was for the sake of the country and themon people. For some reason, Bai Qingxuan had a glimmer of hope for this murky and filthy society. Fine, I agree to your request! But I suspect that youll never have to use this condition in your entire life! I hope so! Lin Beifan sighed and didnt have much hope. Then, Bai Qingxuan took away all the money that Lin Beifan had embezzled. She returned to the pce and reported this matter to the empress. The empress was overjoyed: Wonderful! With this money, many things can be expedited! Lin my dear, you truly are the pir of my support. I will reward you well! The next day, during the morning court session, as soon as everyone had finished reciting their salutations, the empress couldnt wait any longer and asked: Lin my dear, where are you? Answering your Majesty, Im here. The surrounding ministers felt a wave of disgust once again. Can you guys talk about something more substantial in private? Its a time to discuss national affairs during the court meeting, can we focus on serious matters? Im even tired of listening to you guys, how can you not be annoyed? Not long after, the empress asked about food again. Lin Beifan said that he was very happy to be able to eat meat every day. But the empress was distressed. Youre so happy just to eat meat every day? Your standards are too low! Look at those corrupt officials, all of them eatvish meals and do nothing! How can my most valued person be satisfied with just meat? This wont do! Loyal officials should not be wronged, and honest officials should be rewarded even more! So, the empress said with distress, Lin my dear, we have wronged you! Heres what well do: We will have the imperial kitchen send a fresh food delivery every day with a variety of options including chicken, duck, fish, andmb. Eat to your hearts content and dont be polite with us! The officials couldnt help but exim, Holy cow! Can this even be done? Chapter 42: Is there no justice left? Is there no law? Chapter 42: Is there no justice left? Is there now? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan was dumbfounded! The Empress had actually given him food from the Imperial kitchen to eat? This was too considerate of her, wasnt it? You see, what kind of ce was the Imperial kitchen? It was the ce where the Emperors meals were prepared! The chefs there were the best in the country, and so were the ingredients. Everything there was of the highest quality! When it came to food, no one could match the Empress! And many of the ingredients were specially provided, things you couldnt even buy if you wanted to! Lin Beifan was thrilled. He immediately said loudly, Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Looking up, he saw that the courtiers were all looking at him enviously. To be honest, these officials had been in the system for most of their lives. What kind of rare and delicious foods hadnt they tasted? But what they missed most was the food from the Imperial kitchen! That was the real top-notch luxury, something you couldnt even buy with money! But who, besides the Empress and some members of the royal family, could eat food from the Imperial kitchen every day? What kind of virtues and abilities did this guy have to be so favored? The Empress saw Lin Beifans happy expression and smiled too. Lin my dear, do you drink? the Empress asked again. In response to Your Majesty, drinking impairs judgment, so I usually dont drink! Lin Beifan bowed and said. Not drinking is good, but sometimes you have to drink in the officialdom! How about this The Empress pondered for a moment. In my wine cer, theres a special wine called Hundred Flowers Brew! Its made from the petals of a hundred flowers and is deliciously sweet with a lingering aftertaste. You wont get drunk even if you drink a lot! Ill give you 10 barrels! The courtiers were dumbfounded again! Not only was she rewarding him with food, but also with drinks? And it was the most top-notch pce wine Hundred Flowers Brew! You see, this was a wine specially brewed for the Emperor, using petals from more than a hundred flowers! As the Empress had said, the wine was deliciously sweet with a lingering aftertaste and wouldnt get you drunk even if you drank a lot! This wine was produced in very limited quantities, only 50 barrels a year, and it had already been priced sky-high outside the pce, but it was not for sale! Because, basically, only the Emperor drank it. If the Emperor didnt drink it, it would be stored away and rarely given as gifts. And yet, it was awarded to this jerk! And 10 barrels at that! The courtiers eyes turned green with envy! Lin Beifan obviously knew how rare this wine was, so he quickly thanked her loudly. Thank you for your graciousness, Your Majesty! I will do my best to repay your kindness! Hmm! The Empress nodded in satisfaction. Now she realized how enjoyable it was to give rewards! Things that she owned and valued should be shared with those who appreciated them. So, not only the other person is happy, but oneself is also happy! Double happiness! Unlike before, when giving gifts, it was always these corrupt officials. Every time she gave something, it was like cutting into her heart. The other person is happy, but oneself feels doubly sad! So, the empress couldnt help but speak again: In addition, reward 10,000 taels of silver! Damn! Shes still giving money? The officials were bewildered and then angry! You reward food, I can tolerate it! You reward drinks, I can also tolerate it! But this time I absolutely cant tolerate it! This greedy giant has so much money, how can he still receive money? Is there any justice? Is there anyw? Even if Im a corrupt official, I cant stand it! So, the officials stood up one after another. Your Majesty, you cant reward anymore. Youve already shown him enough favor, too much is too much! Your Majesty, the national treasury is heavy with silver, and it is rted to the livelihood and stability of the people. It cannot be used lightly! Director Lin has no merits, and it is unreasonable to reward him rashly. The officials and the people do not agree! Please revoke the decree, Your Majesty! Please revoke the decree, Your Majesty! The officials kowtowed. The empress was unhappy: I used the money from my private treasury! The officials kowtowed again. Your Majesty, you cant just give out money from your private treasury! You are the ruler of a country, representing the majesty of the Great Wu. Every word and action is rted to the countrys foundation! Please pay attention to your words and actions, dont be capricious and let officials and the peopleugh at you! Please revoke the decree, Your Majesty! Please revoke the decree, Your Majesty! The empress was so angry that her eyes were red. I just want topensate Lin Beifan well, why is it so difficult? You traitorous officials and thieves! One day, I will eliminate all of you! Not a single one left! Under the pressure of the officials, the empress had to revoke the decree, feeling guilty and saying, Lin my dear, Im so sorry! Your Majesty, its not your fault. I understand very well! Lin Beifan said loudly. Thank you very much for your understanding, sir Lin! The empress was moved. The officials once again fawned over her! Cant they stop doing this? They sound like they are not a part of it! They cant help but shake their head. What a foolish ruler! Chapter 43: You said I embezzled money from the students? Where did their money come from? Chapter 43: You said I embezzled money from the students? Where did their moneye from? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, someone finally couldnt help but stand up. It was Lin Beifans old rival, the censor Yao Zheng. He spoke loudly, Your Majesty, I want to impeach someone! Sir Yao, who do you want to impeach? the empress asked. I want to impeach the new top schr and director of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan! Yao Zheng red at Lin Beifan and spoke loudly. Lin Beifan shook his head inwardly. This old guy couldnt resist causing trouble again! Did I fuck his wife or kidnap his daughter-inw? Why does he always keep an eye on me? The empress, sitting high on her dragon throne, was also very displeased. I just rewarded Lin Beifan, and youe out to impeach him. Youre too short-sighted! Its obvious that you dont take me seriously! Moreover, there are so many corrupt officials and tterers in the court. You dont impeach them, but instead you impeach a truly honest and loyal official, my trusted confidant. What kind of reasoning is this? Are you deliberately causing trouble with me? As she thought about it, the empresss face darkened. Under the empresss deadly gaze, Yao Zheng began to sweat, and his face turned pale. In fact, he was also very helpless. At this point, Lin Beifan hadnt achieved any notable aplishments yet, but the empress was already favoring him. When he is promoted and has more power and influence, it will be even harder to bring him down! Therefore, he had to stand up at this time. Sir Yao, what mistake has Lin Aiqing made that you want to impeach him? If you cant give a concrete reason, I will punish you for your crime! the empress said with authority. This was already a very serious warning! Generally, when a censor makes an usation, even if they are wrong, they are not punished. This is a power granted to censors by the court, to allow them to speak boldly and exercise their supervisory power without constraint or interference from anyone. Now, the empress said she wanted to punish him if he had no evidence, which meant she was very angry. Yao Zheng, trembling with fear, said, Your Majesty, I use Lin Beifan of embezzlement and abuse of power for personal gain! Since he took office as the Director of the Imperial Academy, he has used his power to extort over two million taels of silver from students through threats, intimidation, and robbery, corrupting the academic atmosphere and undermining education! Therefore, I havee to report this to Your Majesty and ask you to investigate! Sir Lin, is there such a thing? asked the empress. Lin Beifan calmly saluted and said, In response to Your Majestys question, there is absolutely no such thing! Sir Yaos words arepletely groundless! Yao Zheng angrily pointed at Lin Beifan and said, Lin Beifan, do you dare deny it? Lin Beifan remainedposed and said, I have not done anything wrong. How can I admit to something that I havent done? Yao Zheng grew even more furious and said, You dare to quibble? Lin Beifan countered, Mr. Yao, you keep using me of embezzling money from students. Let me ask you, whose money did I embezzle? Yao Zheng shouted, The son of the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyu, and the son of the Deputy Minister of Personnel, Bai Yng He listed their names one by one, speaking with conviction. Lin Beifan then asked, How much did I embezzle? I dont know the exact amount, but it definitely exceeds two million taels! Yao Zheng shouted loudly. Lin Beifan chuckled and said, Sir Yao, you used me of embezzling money from these students, and the amount reached 2 million! The question is, 2 million is not a small amount, where did their moneye from? Their money is, of course, from Yao choked and his face turned paler, sweat dripping down. Looking up, he saw all the high-ranking officials staring at him with very unfriendly and warning eyes. Looking up again, he saw the empress looking at him with a yful gaze. This was a hot potato! A hot potato that no one could touch! Once it was revealed, either everyone would be doomed or they would just have to drink three cups and let the matter pass! But no matter what the oue, the person who personally revealed this hot potato would definitely end up dead! Sir Yao, please speak up, where did their moneye from? They are all good students who dont produce anything and are busy studying every day. Where did they get so much money from? Yaos face turned even paler. And their fathers are all here, all honest and upright officials, with not much money in their hands. How much money could their children possibly have? Yaos face turned even paler. I believe that all the gentlemen here today will lead by example and educate their own children well! They will definitely not let their children do anything wrong, so they cannot possibly have any money on them! Since they have no money, how could I have embezzled anything? Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, Gentlemen, am I right? At this point, even if they didnt want to, everyone had to speak up for Lin Beifan. What Director Lin said is true! How could my son have money? Usually, I lead by example and educate my descendants carefully, never neglecting even a bit! I know my son well, he is not that kind of person and would never do anything wrong! So Lin Beifan took advantage of the situation, pointed at Yao Zheng, and said loudly, Lord Yao is just talking nonsense, trying to confuse right and wrong! Yao Zheng was already paralyzed on the ground. Chapter 44: Empress, can you act more dignified? Chapter 44: Empress, can you act more dignified? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The empresss beautiful eyes turned to Yao Zheng, her expression cold: Sir Yao, do you have anything else to say? Yao Zheng trembled as he stood up, bowing: Your Majesty, I was mistaken! However, Lin Beifan is not innocent! A few days ago, I saw him indulging in luxury and pleasure, exchangingrge amounts of silver from the bank through his servants! So I beg Your Majesty to search Lin Beifans mansion! The truth will be revealed! This route was not working, so he decided to take a detour. Not facing the officials directly, but making Lin Beifan reveal himself. You want to search my house again? Lin Beifan eximed, Sir Yao, have you be addicted to searching peoples homes? I just became the second-ranked schr not long ago and youe to search my home! I just moved and youre already searching my home! Even though youre a censor with the power to supervise officials, you cant act recklessly like this! Are you afraid, Sir Lin? Yao Zheng asked, indifferent. The innocent need not fear, of course I am not afraid! But Yao Zheng, you have used me of wrongdoing over and over again, even mud will ignite after being insulted three times! If you still cant find anything, what will you do? Lin Beifan shouted. Yao Zheng was urged on by Lin Beifans provocations, and he bowed deeply, saying loudly: Your Majesty, I am willing to pledge my own life as a guarantee. If nothing is found, I will resign and never again involve myself in politics! The empress pped her hands and said: Good! Lets go to Lin Beifans mansion again! About half an hourter, the empress and her officials arrived at Lin Beifans mansion. Li Shisl Shi was confused when she saw Lin Beifaning with a group of people. Husband, who are these people? she asked. My Lady, these are all civil and military officials of the court and my colleagues! This beautiful and remarkable woman is the current Holy Empress, Empress Wu! Lin Beifan exined. Theyvee to search our home! When Li Shi Shi heard that the empress and officials hade to search their home, she became weak and afraid. The thing she had been worrying about had happened so quickly? Lin Beifan tightly held Li Shi Shis hand and reassured her: Dont worry, theres nothing to worry about! Quickly greet Her Majesty! Li Shi Shi was ustomed to big events and quickly calmed down. She looked up at the beautiful woman dressed in imperial robes and felt a sense of inferiority. She bowed slightly: Thismoner Li Shi Shi greets Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty! Xiao Cui and Dali also bowed with her. Everyone, please rise! The empress extended her hand and smiled at Lin Beifan, Such a beautiful and charming wife! Sir Lin, youre so lucky! Thank you for Your Majestyspliments, being able to marry Shi Shi is also my good fortune! Lin Beifan smiled. Li Shi Shi felt at ease seeing Lin Beifans joking with the empress and officials. Especially when she heard Lin Beifan admit to being with her in front of the empress and officials, she was filled with sweetness. The empress looked around and asked in confusion, Is this all the people in your household, sir? Yes, Your Majesty, theyre all here! Lin Beifan introduced, This is my beloved wife, Li Shi Shi, and these two are the housekeeper and maid named Dali and Xiao Cui, theyre all very close family! Why dont you invite more people? the empress asked. Lin Beifan sighed, With all due respect, Your Majesty, we couldnt afford it before! Although we have some money now, Im used to living a simple life, and a few people are enough for us to be self-sufficient, so we didnt bother! The empress felt sorry again, Youve worked hard, sir. How about I arrange some pce maids and guards for you? The officials were confused again! Damn it! Hasnt she given enough favor? Now shes even sending people! Your Majesty, cant you act more dignified? Lin Beifan felt ttered, Your Majesty, I appreciate your kindness, but really, theres no need! As someone who could run away at any time, how could he bring more people? Plus, they belonged to the empress, so he dared not ept them! The empress persisted, Are you sure? The ones I arrange for you will be the best pce maids and the most excellent guards! Dont worry, their wages will be paid by the Imperial Household Department, so you wont have to pay a penny! The officials could not hold back and stood up one after another. Your Majesty, since were already at sir Lins mansion, lets finish the search and go back to the court meeting! Yes, Your Majesty, this is a major matter! Lets not worry about other trivial matters! Your Majesty, please prioritize national affairs! The empress was very unhappy. She just wanted to reward Lin Beifan with something to win him over, why was it so difficult? She waved her hand helplessly, Go ahead and search! But be careful, dont mess around and dont break anything here, understood? Yes, Your Majesty! The officials followed the order and rushed in. Yao Zheng was also a little uneasy, so he went with them to search. Chapter 45: All the courtiers are sycophants, and the foolish empress sits before them! Chapter 45: All the courtiers are sycophants, and the foolish empress sits before them! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifans house had nothing good, and the search was quicklypleted. However, Yao Zheng walked out with a box in his arms, filled with joy. He opened the box and loudly announced, Your Majesty, I have found including banknotes, silver, and other gold and silver jewelry, totaling about 150,000 taels, in Lin Beifans room! Please investigate! Yao Zheng turned his head and said proudly, Lin Beifan, how will you argue this time? The empress was a bit worried. Could it be that Lin Beifan had not handled things properly and someone had found out? What reason should I find to cover for him? However, Lin Beifan was very calm and bowed, Your Majesty, this money does indeed belong to me! Yao Zhengughed triumphantly, Haha, you admitted it! But, these funds are all legal ie, and I have a clear conscience! shouted Lin Beifan. How are they legal? You have only been an official for a few days, and your sry is limited. How could you have so much money? Thisclearly you have gained it through corruption! Yao Zheng was excited. Lin Beifan remained calm, My sry is indeed limited! But, Your Majesty rewarded me with ten thousand taels of silver! So, around one thousand taels of silver arepletely legal! The empress nodded, Thats right! I did reward you, my dear Lin Beifan, with ten thousand taels of silver! What about the other one hundred and forty thousand taels? You wouldnt say that Your Majesty rewarded it all, would you? Yao Zheng was getting more agitated. Of course not! Lin Beifan gently took Li Shi Shis hand and smiled, The remaining one hundred and forty thousand taels were brought as a dowry by my wife Li Shi Shi after she married into my family! Thats nonsense! Does your woman really have that much money? Yao Zheng yelled. Why not? My wife Li Shi Shi was the number one courtesan in the capital before entering my family. She was talented, beautiful, and quickly built up a substantial fortune in just a few years! Lin Beifan smiled, If you still have doubts, go out and ask around. Almost everyone in the capital knows this, and its impossible to fake! Yao Zhengs face turned pale. Li Shi Shi nodded, This is indeed the dowry brought back by thismon woman! My husband does not despise me, and we do not need to distinguish between each others share of the money! Yao Zhengs face turned even paler. The empressughed heartily and said, It seems that everything is clear now! Sir Lin is not corrupt at all, and all his assets arepletely legal and reasonable! Part of ites from me, and partes from his wife! Sir Lin, since you have money now, enjoy yourself well and dont skimp on anything! Only by eating, drinking, and sleeping well can you wholeheartedly serve me and work for the welfare of the people, right? The empress emphasized. This was like a gold card for Lin Beifan to escape death. Allowing Lin Beifan to boldly eat, drink, and have fun, not to be too hard on himself, whatever happens she will take care of it, do not be afraid! Your Majestys words are entirely correct, I have learned a lot! Lin Beifan bowed respectfully. And to all of you officials, dont use these things to target sir Lin again in the future! Sir Lin is a wealthy family, its understandable that he leads a luxurious lifestyle! As long as he doesnt neglect his duties, he is a good official! The Empresss words were directed more at the group of court officials than anyone else. She was warning them not to make an issue out of this again, or else they would face consequences. Yes, Your Majesty! The officials paid their respects. Hmm! The empress looked at Yao Zheng, who was pale, and asked, Yao Zheng, do you have anything else to say now? This miniter has nothing to say! Yao Zhengs face was bitter. He knew he had failed again! He had failed three times on a young rabbit! Was this guy his nemesis? Well, you should know what to do now, right? Do I need to remind you? The empress had no expression on her face. Trembling, Yao Zheng raised his hands and took off his ck gauze hat, bowing deeply and using all his strength to say, Minister This minister resigns and asks to be allowed to retire and return to his hometown by Your Majestys grace! The empress brushed her sleeve and said without hesitation, Granted! Yao Zheng closed his eyes in despair, swaying as he said, Thank you, Your Majesty! Return to the pce! Yao Zheng, you dont need toe back! The empress led all the officials away. Everyone, even one look, didnt turn back to look at him! Not even a nce! Yao Zheng watched the officials leave, suddenly bursting into tears. The entire court is full of hypocrites, and the ruler is sitting in front of the hall! Its not that I didnt want to work hard, but this court It simply cannot tolerate an honest official! Chapter 46: Offending the Entire Court, I Still Live Freely! Chapter 46: Offending the Entire Court, I Still Live Freely! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Three dayster, at the residence of the imperial censor Yao Zheng, the lights were on and everyone was busy. An old woman was busily directing the loading of quilts onto a carriage. Put all these quilts on the carriage! The masters body is weak and cannot withstand the bumpy ride, so make them thick andfortable! she ordered. This thing is no longer needed. Sell it tomorrow, and whatever price it fetches is fine! she added. Hey, be careful with that! Its the masters favorite calligraphy and painting! she scolded. Yao Zheng, with his white hair, stood in front of the main hall with a sad and reluctant expression on his face. He had resigned from his official post and was going to retire in his hometown tomorrow. Leaving this mansion where he had lived for nearly 30 years, leaving this ce where he had struggled for half of his life, he felt too much reluctance. He could have stayed, but since he could no longer hold an official position, what was the point of staying? His ambitions and ideals were all in vain, so it was better to leave this ce of controversy and not see or hear anything that would trouble his mind. Just then, a servant rushed in anxiously and said, Master, the new top schr and the director of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan, is here to visit you! Yao Zheng was taken aback. He didnt expect his political rival toe and see him before he left. Yaos wife, the old woman, was angry and said, He caused our master to end up like this, and he still has the nerve toe here? Go and tell him we wont see him! Show him out the door! Yao Zheng sighed and said, Forget it, we were colleagues after all. Ill see him. In a short while, Lin Beifan arrived with a jar of wine and a food box, smiling from ear to ear. He was surprised to see everything packed up and said, Mr. Yao, are you leaving? Can I stay? I have no official position and no job here. Staying here would only make people disgusted with me, Yao Zheng sarcastically replied. Thats not true! We were colleagues after all, and we may have different political views and debate and argue with each other in court. However, as friends, we can still be friendly with each other! Lin Beifan said with a smile. Looking at Lin Beifans smiling face, Yao Zhengs eyes wereplicated. You are the first person to visit me since I resigned, he said, his voice filled with sadness. As they say, when a person leaves, the tea cools quickly. But it had never cooled so quickly before. Having served as an official for thirty years, Yao was well-known both inside and outside the court, and had a wide circle of acquaintances. But since he resigned three days ago, not a single colleague hade to visit him. Instead, it was the corrupt official Lin Beifan who had used him several times who came to visit him. Wasnt it ironic? I am honored beyond words! I have prepared some wine and dishes, would you like to have a drink? Yao Zheng pondered for a moment and said, Sure, I also want to chat with you! The two entered the study and set up some snacks and wine. As soon as the wine jug was opened, the fragrance of the wine immediately filled the room, like a hundred flowers in full bloom. This is the Hundred Flowers Brew! Yao Zheng was amazed, he did not expect Lin Beifan to bring such a top-notch wine. It is indeed Hundred Flowers Brew, just delivered from the pce today! But good wine needs goodpany, so I brought it over specially. Lets enjoy it together! Lin Beifan smiled as he poured the wine. You have some conscience, pour more and fill it up! Yao Zheng sniffed and was very intoxicated. Dont worry, today Ill let you drink your fill! Lin Beifanughed. After a few sses of wine, the rtionship between the two eased considerably. Lin Beifan asked Yao Zheng about his doubts. To be honest, Mr. Yao, I really cant understand why you have always targeted me, Lin Beifan asked puzzledly. There are so many corrupt officials and scoundrels in the court, why do youe after a neer like me? While drinking, Yao Zheng replied with self-mockery, Do you think I dont want to? I have been struggling for 30 years, from my prime to now with white hair all over my head! The result is that they climb higher and higher, while I am still stuck in the same ce! Have you ever experienced this kind of despair? Now you know why I have to fight you so hard! Yao Zheng looked deeply at Lin Beifan and said, Because I am afraid that you will grow up to be another corrupt official and power-hungry person! So while your wings are not fully grown, Im bringing you down! But instead of defeating you, I lost my official position, and you are even more terrifying than them! Lin Beifan shook his head, Thats because your approach is too rigid and not effective! Are you suggesting that I should be like you, swimming with the tide? Yao Zheng sneered. Whats wrong with that? Look at me now, Im living veryfortably! Lin Beifan smiled, I have good wine, good food, endless money, and even the favor of the empress! Even if I offend all the officials and generals in the court, Im still living a carefree life! No matter what others do, I cannot do such things! Yao Zheng poured himself a ss of wine and said, Sir Lin, I also have a question for you! Please ask, Mr. Yao! Sir Lin, you keep saying that you love the Great Wu, either serving the empress with all your heart or dying for her. Then why did you embezzle so much silver? And what are you going to do with so much silver? Mr. Yao, your question is a bit What? Cant answer or too embarrassed to answer? Yao Zheng mocked. Of course not! Lin Beifan sat up straight, looking serious. Let me tell you, Mr. Yao. Great Wu, which allowed me to embezzle so much silver, why wouldnt I love it? Yao Zheng: Cough. Chapter 47: Money isnt everything, but without it, one cant do anything! Chapter 47: Money isnt everything, but without it, one cant do anything! 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Yao Zheng drank the wine he had just taken in, and coughed it right back out. His face turned red with irritation! Lin Beifan quickly reached out his hand and patted Yaos back gently, saying, Mr. Yao, drink slower, no rush! Yao Zheng gave Lin Beifan an angry re. If it wasnt for this annoying kids words, could he have choked on the wine? As for why Im greedy for so much money Lin Beifan opened his hands and smiled slightly, Theres a saying that goes, Money cant buy everything, but without money, you cant do anything! Who wouldin about having too much money, wouldnt you agree, Mr. Yao? Hmph! You have so many twisted theories, and I cant argue with you! Yao Zheng lifted his wine ss with a gloomy face and said, Ill drink to you, and I hope someday you be the person you hate most! Lin Beifan lifted his cup happily and said, Ill take your good wishes, because I hate rich people! Yao Zheng coughed Mr. Yao, why did you choke again? Lin Beifan asked. If you just said one less thing, Id be fine! After drinking a few more sses of wine, Lin Beifan exined his reason for inviting Yao Zheng. Mr. Yao, actually, I came here this time to invite you to teach at the Imperial Academy! Yao Zheng stood up in anger, Lin Beifan, are you trying to humiliate me? What do you mean? Lin Beifan asked, puzzled. Yao Zheng angrily said, We were officials of the same dynasty and on the same level! Now, if you invite me to teach at the National Academy, wont your subordinates be humiliated? Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Mr. Yao, youre overthinking it! Have you ever seen anyone humiliate you with good wine? What do you mean? Yao Zheng sat down calmly. This is what I mean! Lin Beifan coughed, Mr. Yao, youve been an official for more than 30 years, and you have a lot of experience in the political arena! Plus, you had been a Censor, responsible for monitoring the behavior of hundreds of officials! Therefore, I want to invite you to teach at the Imperial Academy and impart your thoughts, virtue, and principles of governance to the students. Upon hearing this, Yao Zheng was somewhat tempted. Although he couldnt be an official anymore, he could still be a teacher! He could exert some residual warmth and cultivate some good students. When these students be high officials, its also a matter of pride for him! Arent you afraid that I will train honest officials to deal with you? Yao Zheng asked. Thats exactly what I want! Lin Beifan smiled. Yao Zheng said, Huh? Lin Beifan sighed and said with great annoyance, Because there are too many corrupt officials in the court! Each one is old, cunning and tricky, and I cannot fight them all! So I hope that Mr. Yao can cultivate some honest officials, purify the official environment, fight against those corrupt officials, and make my life morefortable! Yao Zheng gritted his teeth and said, Dont worry, I will do my best to train honest and capable officials! I will not only fight against the corrupt officials in the court, but also fight against you! Lin Beifan chuckled, Ill wait for good news! After a few more drinks, Lin Beifan left full and satisfied. However, Yao Zheng came out and shouted, Dont pack up, put everything back where it was! Sir, why? Yaos wife asked in confusion. Were not leaving, were staying in the capital! Yao Zheng stood tall, and his murky eyes shone brightly. Because he found a new goal, a new pursuit! The next day, Yao Zheng reported to the Imperial Academy, where he was personally received by Lin Beifan and all formalities were taken care of. This news quickly spread throughout the court, and everyone was stunned! Yao Zheng, who had resigned from his post, was going to work as a professor at Imperial Academy under Lin Beifan? What kind of divine development was this? Werent they fighting each other to the death before? How did they turn foes into friends now? The rumour spread like wildfire! The Empress heard the news quickly and nodded in satisfaction. Sir Lins move is in line with my wishes! she said. She had previously angered and dismissed Yao Zheng but had regretted itter. There were not many honest officials like Yao Zheng, but he was too rigid and inflexible, making it difficult to use him. However, Lin Beifans move resolved this perfectly. He invited Yao Zheng to be a professor at the Imperial Academy, allowing him to leave the officialdom but notpletely, maintaining her dignity as the Empress. It also allowed Yao Zheng to use his life experience and knowledge to cultivate some honest officials. If necessary, he could also be promoted and reused. It was a win-win situation with too many benefits! The Empress was getting more and more excited as she thought about it. Among all the civil and military officials, only sir Lin is thinking about me! Moreover, he can put his past grievances aside and use Yao Zheng again. His broad-mindedness is too impressive! I must reward him well! Chapter 48: The Empress is too extravagant, giving out rewards again! Chapter 48: The Empress is too extravagant, giving out rewards again! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The next day, in the Golden Imperial Hall Where is Director Lin? Here, Your Majesty! I Grant Director Lin a purple-gold auspicious cloud carriage, and ten rolls of damask silk! Lin Beifan was stunned! It was so early in the morning, and he was being given a carriage and ten rolls of silk? He was caught off guard, and had no mental preparation for this! The court officials were also stunned! It was so early in the morning, and Lin Beifan had not even done anything yet, and he was given a carriage and ten rolls of silk? What was the Empress thinking? Even if she favored Lin Beifan, shouldnt she follow the basicws? If she gave him so many good things without him having any merit, wouldnt it make us feel unbnced? Lin Beifan was about to speak, but the Empress sternly said, Director Lin, you must not refuse, otherwise I will punish you! Lin Beifan was even more confused! Damn it! The Empress was too extravagant! She was rewarding me with gifts and not even letting me refuse. Cant she respect my human rights? Unfortunately, this was a feudal society where the power of the ruler was supreme! Therefore, Lin Beifan could only say with tears in his eyes, Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Hmm! The Empress nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the officials who were about to speak and said, Let the court begin. If you have memorials, present them. Otherwise, you may leave! And so, the Empress went ahead and gave Lin Beifan a luxurious carriage without consulting anyone. There was nothing significant that happened that day, and the court session ended quickly. Lin Beifan walked out of the pce with the officials, preparing to ride his own little pony to the Imperial Academy. At that moment, a coachman led a carriage towards him, and respectfully said, Sir Lin, this is the purple-gold auspicious cloud carriage that Her Majesty has rewarded you with! And also ten rolls of damask silk, which have already been sent to your residence! This is the carriage that Her Majesty has rewarded me with? Lin Beifan looked at the luxurious carriage in front of him and was stunned. The carriage was over two meters tall and was made of reddish-brown wood. It looked quite tall and resembled a small house on wheels. The windows and railings were exquisitely carved, clearly the work of a skilled craftsman. On top of the carriage hangs a purple-gold auspicious cloud, appearing noble and elegant. The horses pulling the carriage are even more impressive, as they are two mighty sweat-blooded BMWs, equivalent to the Rolls-Royces in modern society. Two sweat-blooded BMWs are like two Rolls-Royces, and with the luxury carriage being pulled behind, this carriage is simply a fighter jet among Rolls-Royces! Is this the carriage Her Majesty gave me? Lin Beifan asked again. The coachman respectfully bowed his head and smiled, Yes, how dare I deceive you, sir? Lin Beifan was certain that this was the carriage Her Majesty gave him, as extravagant as always. Looking at the carriages and sedan chairs of the officials nearby, they could also be considered luxurious, butpared to Lin Beifans purple-gold auspicious cloud carriage, they appeared particrly shabby and of lower ss. There wasnt a single official with a lower position and rank than Lin Beifan present, but he was riding a better carriage than any of them! A carriage not only serves as a means of transportation, but it also represents ones status! These high-ranking court officials, who governed the imperial dynasty, were surpassed by a mere sixth-ranked official. They felt envious, jealous, and resentful. Wasnt Her Majesty showing too much favoritism to this little bastard? However, amidst the admiring gazes of the crowd, Lin Beifan sighed with sorrow. An official couldnt help asking, Sir Lin, why do you sigh? Because I feel that my life is hopeless, Lin Beifan sighed. Look at me, although Im just a sixth-ranked official, I live in a luxurious mansion, eat food from the Imperial Kitchen, drink the pces finest wines, wear top-notch silk and satin, travel in a top-notch luxury carriage like the purple-gold auspicious cloud, and have an endless amount of silver Lin Beifan lifted his head and pleaded, Gentlemen, can you tell me where my life is headed? The faces of the officials turned ck! What a troublemaker! Is he trying to provoke them? They didnt want to see him anymore, so they left in anger! Then, Lin Beifan got into his own Rolls-Royce and went to work at the Imperial Academy. On the way, he learned from the coachman that he was also arranged by Her Majesty to help him take Chapter 49: Yunying, the Foodie Little Princess! Chapter 49: Yunying, the Foodie Little Princess! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
So, Lin Beifanmuted to work on a golden purple auspicious cloud carriage andmuted home on the same carriage. Along the way, he attracted the attention of many people, but more were criticizing him. This is the carriage of the new top schr Lin Beifan, its so luxurious, its even more luxurious than many court officials carriages! It is said to be bestowed by the empress herself! In these days, Her Majesty the Empress has rewarded the new top schr with a mansion, fine wine, fine food, and ten thousand taels of silver. Adding this luxurious carriage, the new top schr is truly blessed! Such a huge scoundrel, and yet the empress still favors him so much, shes bing more and more foolish! Yes, it is said that this new top schr has embezzled several million taels of silver from the students at the Imperial Academy, corrupting the integrity of the academy and undermining the foundation of education. Hes so detestable! Will the court still have hope if this continues? Will the people still have hope? Suffice it to say thatints were everywhere. However, Lin Beifan closed his eyes to rest. He had heard so much criticism that he had grown callous and uninterested. At that moment, the carriage suddenly came to a stop. Lin Beifan opened his eyes and asked, Why did you stop? Sir, someone is blocking the way and wont let us pass! Just push them aside! Sir, this person is of high status, and I am afraid! Who is it? Miss Yunying, the little county princess! At this point, a small figure jumped agilely onto the carriage, and in a blink of an eye had reached Lin Beifans face. Are you Lin Beifan, the new top schr of this years Imperial Academy? The speaker was a beautiful and youthful girl in her mid-twenties, with two buns on her head, a round and chubby face, big and limpid eyes, wearing a goose-yellow shirt and a green skirt, looking particrly adorable and charming. At this moment, she was standing with her hands on her hips, looking down at Lin Beifan from above. Her big watery eyes seemed to be trying to intimidate Lin Beifan, but they had no effect. Lin Beifan knew this girl. Her father was a prince, and a staunch supporter of the imperial cause. He was highly trusted by the empress. It was said that she had the innate peak strength, and was also themander of the 100,000 forbidden army in the capital, with a high position and great influence. Because of this, no one dares to provoke this little miss of the county. And this little miss is also an uneasy master, hates evil like enemies, loves to meddle in other peoples affairs, and loves to prank corrupt officials and the children of wealthy families. Another characteristic is that she loves to eat and is a foodie from ancient times. She often uses food to prank others. Lin Beifan hurriedly bowed, This official is Lin Beifan, I have seen the little county miss Yunying! Yunying looked down at Lin Beifan and sneered, You look talented, why dont you work for the government? What are you saying, little miss? This official doesnt understand, Lin Beifan said, puzzled. Dont y dumb with me, Ive heard all about you! Yunying shouted, I just returned to the capital and heard that this years top schr, you, used your position to embezzle and take bribes of several million taels of silver. You are a typical corrupt official! I dont know why Empress Sister is so fond of you, hmph! nder! This is absolutely nder! This official has always been clean and upright, how could I do such a thing? Lin Beifan denied. Dont bullshit me, the eyes of the people are clear! the little miss said loudly. Nonsense! The eyes of the people are clearly ck and white, half ck and half white! Seeing is not necessarily believing, hearing is not necessarily true! Lin Beifan said. Dont talk nonsense! This county miss is hungry, invite me to eat! If you dont invite me The little miss raised her small fist and threatened with her small teeth, Have you ever seen a fist as big as a y pot? Lin Beifan eyeballed her, I havent seen a fist as big as a y pot, but I have seen a fist as big as a steamed bun! Ah! the little miss went crazy, feeling that she had been despised by the other party. She was about to do it and show the power of her y pot-sized fist. Lin Beifan hurriedly said, Little miss, dont do it, I still have to attend the early court tomorrow! If Empress asks, I will say you did it, and you will be punished! Ah! The little miss went even crazier, she never expected to be threatened by the other party. The little misss small fist was even closer to Lin Beifans face. Do you really think I dare not hit you? Go ahead, I dont believe you dare! Lin Beifan said smugly. Hmph! You win! Ill give Empress Sister face and wont stoop to your level! The little miss withdrew her fist, sat in the carriage, and pouted with her hands under her chin. Then she turned her head, bit her silver teeth and said, What are you waiting for? Im going to eat all the money you embezzled! Lin Beifan smiled slightly and let the carriage continue forward. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they arrived at a luxurious restaurant. The little miss said smugly, Im telling you, Ive been to hundreds of restaurants in the capital, and the food at this restaurant is the most satisfying, the only downside is that its expensive! Today, Ill eat you out of house and home! Been to all the restaurants? I dont believe it! Lin Beifan chuckled, Theres one ce you definitely havent been to! Theres a ce we havent been to? Thats impossible! The little miss shook her head. There is! Lin Beifan nodded heavily. Looking at Lin Beifans confident expression, the little miss believed him somewhat, and asked with interest, Where is it? The Hundred Flowers Brothel, you definitely havent been there! Lin Beifan said. The little miss: . Chapter 50: You call me a pig and say its a compliment? Chapter 50: You call me a pig and say its apliment? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Ah! The young princess went crazy again, feeling both embarrassed and angry, Thats a brothel, how could I have gone there? The two of them argued and bickered as they entered the restaurant and sat on the second floor by the railing. A waiter walked over and asked, What would you like? What would we like? Lin Beifan fell into deep thought and said, Youve really got me there! I want to do as I please, achieve my goals, wander through mountains andkes, stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun, dance with the moon, apany the stars, and experience all the romance and beauty in the world The young princess pounded her fist on the table and, smiling, said impatiently, Shes asking you for your order, not your lifes ambitions! Waiter, bring us your specialty dishes, a full set! Thank you! Its a total of 12 dishes, is that really what you want? the waiter asked. Yes, and add a te of greens and peanuts! Thats too much, what if we cant finish it all? Lin Beifan felt sorry. The young princess blinked her big eyes and said very innocently, Its not too much at all. Those 12 dishes are for me, the greens and peanuts are for you. You should be able to finish it all, right? Lin Beifan: After a moment of silence, he quietly raised his hand and said, Waiter, add a roast duck to our order! Okay, please wait a moment, sir. In about an hour, all the food was ready. Ill start, you go right ahead! The young princess put out her chubby little hands and started eating happily with a mouth full of oil. Looking at the young princess enjoying her food, Lin Beifan couldnt help butugh and say, You really are a little foodie! The young princess got angry, Are you insulting me again? No, Im praising you! Lin Beifan said seriously, Someone who looks good and loves food is called a little foodie! Someone who looks ugly and loves food is called a glutton! Hmm, you make a good point! The young princess couldnt stopughing. She suddenly found that the corrupt official from before wasnt as annoying as she had thought. He had actually found a way topliment her! Not bad, not bad! Half an hourter, dinner was over and all the dishes were cleaned up. To Lin Beifans surprise, the young princess, despite eating so much, still didnt look any bigger. Her ability to not gain weight was something that many women would envy. Were done, can we go now? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Yes! All good things muste to an end, the young princess nodded, blinking her watery big eyes, and said expectantly, But if you treat me, I can eat some more! Lin Beifan was surprised, You havent finished eating yet? Mhmm The little princess nodded repeatedly, fluttering her eyshes and hinting crazily. Lin Beifan covered his face, Dont eat anymore, my pigsty cant amodate you! What! You called me a pig! The little princess was about to go crazy, Im telling you, youre finished! Dont get excited, I was actually praising you! The little princess was confused, You call me a pig and say its praise? Of course, because pigs are very useful! Lin Beifan quoted ssic examples, endlessly describing the benefits of pigs, Pig skin can be used to make boots, pig hair can be used as a brush, pig meat can be eaten, pig penis can be used to increase virility, pig faces can be used to scare people, and even their name can be used as an insult! You see, everything about pigs is valuable, so how can I not be praising you? The little princess was speechless. Im telling you, Im angry! Im starving and if you dont let me eat more, youll regret it! The little princess looked at Lin Beifan, looking very cute. If you want more, just order it. Dont be shy! Lin Beifan generously said. Thank you! Waiter, bring me another set! The little princess excitedly raised her hand, and proceeded to eat another set until she was satisfied. Looking at Lin Beifan, she pouted, We have to leave now. The total is about 300 taels, pay up! Lin Beifan was surprised, Isnt it your turn to pay? The little princess was also surprised, How could it be me? Im a princess. Why should I pay? But, I dont have any money. If you dont pay, who will? Lin Beifan replied. The little princess was anxious, How could you not have any money? Youre a corrupt official! You know that Im a corrupt official? Lin Beifan replied confidently, Have you ever seen a corrupt official giving money out? They all put it in their own pockets! The little princess was speechless. Lin Beifan shook his head, But I really dont have any money on me. If you dont believe me, search me! The little princess searched him, but he really had no money. She sighed disappointedly, Why did you leave without any money? I never carry money. I just use face recognition! Lin Beifan said seriously, Because when they see my beautiful face, they feel ashamed and wont let me pay. I want to pay, but they kneel down and beg me not to! The little princess was not happy and snorted, Youre just freeloading and trying to justify it! Ill pay now, but you have to treat me back doubleter, got it? Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly, Sure, sure! As a result, the next night, when he returned home, he bumped into the little princess again, either intentionally or coincidentally. Chapter 51: You Can Eat So Much, What If the Palace goes Bankrupt? Chapter 51: You Can Eat So Much, What If the Pce goes Bankrupt? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
She stood with her hands on her hips, raising her little face threateningly. Did you bring money this time? If not, youll be in trouble! Lin Beifan patted his pockets and straightened his back confidently. Of course I did. Follow me, I know where to go. The little princess believed in Lins confidence and nodded eagerly. Okay, lets try a different restaurant today. Im going to eat everything they have and bankrupt you! After finishing their meal, Lin Beifan took out a few small silver coins and ced them on the table. The little princess was shocked. Only ten pieces of silver? Thats not even enough to pay for a single dish! Give me some more! This is all I have! Lin Beifan said. The little princess was furious. You only brought ten pieces of silver? Yes, Lin Beifan nodded. The little princess was even more enraged. You only brought ten pieces of silver and had the audacity to invite me with such confidence? Little princess, youre not married yet, so you wouldnt understand! Men like us in this new era leave our money to the women in our family to manage. To prevent us from spending recklessly outside, our wives only give us a small allowance! As someone who had gone through this before, Lin Beifan smiled and said, Back then, before I was married, I felt insecure leaving the house without a hundred or so pieces of silver on me. But now that Im married, I feel proud to only carry ten pieces! The little princess burst outughing. Seeing her opponents proud expression, the little princess really wanted to punch him. She asked with a ck face, So, you really have no money left? Lin Beifan confidently opened his arms and said, No money left. You can search me if you dont believe me! The little princess actually searched him but found nothing. She reluctantly took out her own money again. Ill pay for this one again. Next time, you have to pay me back twice! Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly. Of course, I promise! Promise my foot! You dont even have any money on you. How can you make a promise to me? the little princess said angrily. Lin Beifan remained silent. On the third day, Lin Beifan managed to return home without being intercepted by the little princess. However, Li Shi Shi walked out in a panicked manner: Husband, you finally came back! If you didnte back, I wouldnt know how to handle it! Whats wrong? Lin Beifan asked puzzled. Little County Princess Yunying is here! As she was speaking, the little princess walked out of the courtyard proudly. With her small face held high, she said to Lin Beifan arrogantly, Lin Beifan, didnt you say you didnt bring any money? Thats why I came to you. From today onwards, Ill stay at your house, eat at your house and drink at your house. Im going to eat you out of house and home! You dont have to stay at my house! After all, as a young unmarrieddy of the Yun family, its not very convenient. But since youre here, well all treat you well! Lin Beifan said with a smile. Hmph! You know your ce! Im going to eat all the money youve greedily obtained! The little princess snorted. And so, Lin Beifans house gained a cute little foodie. When it was time for dinner, the little princess looked angry at the table full of delicious food. Lin Beifan, you sneaky person! This table of food costs at least a hundred taels of silver, far exceeding your sry. You still say youre not corrupt? Thats not it at all. These were bestowed upon me by the empress! The empress bestowed them upon you? What happened? The little princess was confused. Lin Beifan exined the situation. So, these things were all deserved by me. Its not what you think at all! Just as he was speaking, he noticed that the little princess was lowering her head and her eyes were turning red. Lin Beifan was a little anxious: Little princess, whats wrong with you? The little princesss eyes turned red and tears flowed down her face: Everyday, the imperial kitchen supplies food, and even Empress Big Sister Empress Big Sister wasnt so good to me! At this point, Lin Beifan reached out his big hand and patted the little princesss head gently,forting her in a soft voice, Dont be so negative! After all, she is the ruler and has many things to consider for the country. Maybe she just cant be too good to you! Is that true? The little princess raised her head hopefully. Of course it is! Just think about it, you can eat so much. What if the pce goes bankrupt? Who dares to be good to you? Lin Beifan spoke confidently. Hateful! The little princess stopped crying and smiled. Stop crying, eat quickly! Otherwise, there will be too many tears and they will be salty! Lin Beifanughed. Okay! The little princess lowered her head and ate ravenously. Then, she stole a nce at Lin Beifans handsome profile. Thoughts shed through her mind: This guy isnt actually that hateful! At this time, in the pce. The empress finished reading the memorials and remembered something, turning her head to ask: It seems like Yunying hase back. Why havent I seen here to see me? The old eunuch bowed respectfully and said: Your Majesty, little princess Yunying has indeed returned! However, these past few days she has been pestering the newly appointed top schr Lin Beifan, saying she wants to eat him out of house and home! Hmm? She actually went up against Director Lin? And said she wants to eat him out of house and home, haha The empresss interest was piqued: How is the situation? Was Lin Aiqing at a disadvantage? Your majesty, the little princess wants to eat Sir Lin out of house and home as she always did, but for two consecutive nights, she has been the one paying! The empress was surprised: It was actually Yunying who paid? Chapter 52: Dont Let Him Sell You and Help Him Count the Money! Chapter 52: Dont Let Him Sell You and Help Him Count the Money! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
You should know that Yunying is the county prince who holds heavy power and is the most beloved youngest daughter. Normally when she provokes others, people would basically be willing to admit defeat and readily pay up, considering the face of the other partys father. However, when it came to Lin Beifan, it unexpectedly turned around? And not just once, but twice! How did Sir Lin do it? The empress was even more interested. Your Majesty, this is how the situation is After hearing the exnation, the empress couldnt help butugh and cry. On the fourth day, the little county princess Yunying finally entered the pce to meet the empress. She made a gesture of respect and said, Yunying pays her respects to Empress Sister! The empress put down her memorandum and smiled with a hint of me, Little Yunying, youve been back for four days and you only remember toe see me now? Have you forgotten about me? The little princess hurriedly exined, Empress Sister, thats not the case at all! How could Yunying forget about Sister? Its just that something came up before and dyed me! What happened? Empress Sister, let me tell you, when I returned to the capital, I heard from someone that the new top schr was a huge corrupt official! So, I wanted to punish him like I used to, and make him give up the money he got through corruption. Thats why it took me so long! The empress shook her head, These are all rumors from themon people. Its all hearsay and cannot be trusted! Sir Lin is a good official whom I trust very much, and is a model for the entire court! Thats not true, Empress Sister! The little princess pouted, Theres no smoke without fire! Although I cant find any evidence of his corruption right now, Ive already discovered that this guy is really bad! He cheated me out of two meals, and often makes me angry The little princess went on and on, criticizing Lin Beifans crimes. The empress couldnt help but roll her eyes. This guy was indeed quite bad! On the surface, hes all about serving the country with utmost devotion until death, but behind the scenes, hes doing things like deceiving the empress and seeking personal gain with his power! He deserves to die a hundred times over! So, Im secretly getting closer to Lin Beifan now! Im following him around, going to his house to eat and drink often, and Ill have the chance to find out! The little princess looked proud like a fox. Alright, alright, as long as youre happy! The empress nodded with a smile, not holding any hope in her heart. This Lin Beifan is very cunning, he has offended the entire court, but still managed to live sofortably! You naive little girl, just forget it! Dont let him deceive you and help him count the money! But, Empress sister, although he is very annoying, he is not hopeless! The young princess blinked her big eyes and said naively, After all, he is still young. Young people are bound to make mistakes, but fundamentally he is a good person! If I find evidence of his embezzlement and bribery, I hope you can give him a chance, Empress sister! Okay, okay, I promise you! The Empress nodded, holding back a smile. After getting the Empresss permission, the young princess happily left. Then, the Empress gave an order: Let the kitchen send more ingredients to Sir Lins house! Yes, Your Majesty! replied the servant. Shortly thereafter, the young princess went to the Imperial Academy to find Lin Beifan. Young princess, why are you here? Lin Beifan was surprised. Nothing, just bored! I heard you are an official at the Imperial Academy, so I came to see you! The young princess batted her big eyes and looked unnatural. What is there to see about me? Lin Beifanughed. Its nothing. I just came to see you. You do your work, and dont mind me! The young princess waved her hand. Okay, thank you for understanding, young princess! After a while, Lin Beifan watched the restless young princess and said with a smile, Young princess, are you interested in being a teacher here? Be a teacher? I only know how to wield a sword and other than that, I dont know anything! The young princess was confused. Thats enough. As long as you can manage these students well, make sure they attend ss and dont skip, you can be a qualified teacher! Lin Beifanughed. Is it that simple? Can I do it? The young princess was eager to try. Being a teacher was something she had never done before, and it must be very interesting! Of course you can! Lin Beifan put aside his official duties and stood up, Come with me, I have arranged for you to be a teacher, your title will be homeroom teacher! With the excited young princess, Lin Beifan came to a ssroom. There were more than 20 students who were listless and drowsy, half sitting and half lying down. Yes, all of these people were children of officials, and in order to avoid them from affecting other students, Lin Beifan arranged them to be in the same ss. When Lin Beifan walked in, including the doctoral candidate who was lecturing, everyone stood up and saluted. Greetings, Lin sir! You dont have to be too polite! Lin Beifanughed, In these past few days, you have beening to ss on time, and I am very pleased! To encourage you to learn, I have specially found a homeroom teacher for you! As he spoke, Lin Beifan pped his hands, and the young princess walked in. Seeing the room full of officials children, she got excited and rubbed her hands, So you are all here, making it easy for me to find you! The officials children turned pale with fright: Princess Yunying! Chapter 53: Educate Them with Love and Fists! Chapter 53: Educate Them with Love and Fists! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
If Lin Beifan is the person they fear the most, then Princess Yunying is the second! Before Lin Beifan appeared, Princess Yunying was their number one fear! Because this princess often shed with them, punching and kicking them, and often took them to restaurants, leaving them penniless! Unfortunately, Princess Yunying has a bigger background than them, and they cannot afford to offend her! So every time they see the little princess, they take a detour! Unexpectedly, they even ran into each other at the Imperial Academy, and the other party actually chased after them! The little princess was excited and thrilled! She actually had the opportunity to be the teacher of these dandies, which meant that she could legitimately teach them a lesson! What a great idea! Why didnt she think of it before? She secretly gave Lin Beifan a nce of appreciation: Well done! It seems that everyone is old acquaintances, and we will surely get along very well! Lin Beifan smiled. I have no objections! the little princess raised her hand excitedly. I I have an objection! an officials son student weakly raised his hand. Hmm? The little princess raised her eyebrows. Under the little princesss deadly gaze, the other party was scared and retracted his hand. But thinking about his future miserable situation, he bravely raised his hand again. What is your objection, student? Lin Beifan smiled. My objection is At this moment, the little princess appeared next to the person with a swoosh, lifted him up with one hand, and said, Lin Beifan, give me some time, Ill do some ideological work on him! Then she swooshed away with him, and both of them disappeared. A momentter, there was a heart-wrenching scream outside the ssroom. It was really heart-wrenching to hear and tear-jerking to see! The other son officials students in the ssroom listened to the heart-wrenching screams outside, and their lips turned white! After a while, the little princess returned triumphantly. The officials son student also returned, but with two ck eye circles, purple cheeks, and a look of despair on his face. Lin Beifan asked again, What is your objection, students? In reply to Sir, the student has no objections! the other party immediately bowed and replied loudly. What about you, do you have any objections? Lin Beifan looked at the pale-faced yamen students. They shook their heads one after another. No objections! Absolutely no objections! Hmph! The young mistress smiled smugly. Since no one has any objections, then this matter is happily decided! Lin Beifan announced loudly, From today on, the princess will be the homeroom teacher of this ss, responsible for supervising everyones studies and discipline! No! The young masters closed their eyes in despair, seeing only darkness, much like their future lives. Princess, they are now under your care! Lin Beifan said reluctantly, Although they are very mischievous, they are still just children! Sir Lin The young masters opened their eyes hopefully. However, when they need to be punished, they must be punished, and when they need to be scolded, they must be scolded! If one beating doesnt work, give them two beatings, and if two beatings dont work, give them three beatings until they obey! Otherwise, it would be irresponsible for their future! Oh no! They closed their eyes in despair once again. The princess suddenly felt a great responsibility, her face serious. Sir Lin, rest assured! I will keep a close eye on them and will not let them go astray and walk down the wrong path! Lin Beifan was very pleased. Princess, enjoy your work! But, this is my first time being a homeroom teacher and I have no experience. Sir Lin, could you teach me? The young princess asked humbly. Its very simple, you must educate with love! Lin Beifan smiled. Love? The young princess was puzzled. As they say, love deeply, discipline strictly! So, use your loving fists to teach them. If you can use your hands, dont just talk! Just keep hitting them until they learn their lesson! Lin Beifan said solemnly. The young princess raised her small fist and nodded heavily. I understand! The young masters present all touched their chests and felt their hearts turn cold. Then, the young princess officially became the homeroom teacher of this ss and kept a close eye on every student. Whenever anyone cked off, she immediately used her loving fists to educate them. asionally, screams of pain could be heard. Looking at the harmonious rtionship between teacher and students, Lin Beifan was very pleased and silently praised his idea. After all, he had official duties to attend to and was busy with work, so he couldnt always keep an eye on this group of people. But with the young princess as their homeroom teacher, it was different. She was the nemesis of these young masters, and with her watching over them, they wouldnt dare to misbehave. This troublesome matter was also solved. Without Lin Beifans urging, the young mistress would be activelying to work without being paid, and she wouldnt bother him either. Two problems were solved at once it wasfortable! Chapter 54: Foreign Envoys Arrive and the Court is Difficult! Chapter 54: Foreign Envoys Arrive and the Court is Difficult! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
However, when Lin Beifan returned home at night, there was still a little tail behind him. I told you, I will eat you out of house and home! the little princess gritted her teeth. Lin Beifan smiled, Very wee, consider it a reward for you! You were the homeroom teacher for a day, thank you for your hard work! Youre sensible! Lets go! The two got into the carriage and gradually disappeared into the sunset. The news of the little princess being a homeroom teacher quickly reached the Empresss ears. The Empressughed dumbly, Little Yunying, you were really sold by Lin Beifan, and even gave him money. You didnt make it through a full day! Using the little princess to manage this group of officials not only avoided the trouble of the little princess, but also managed the officials well. It had to be said, this was a brilliant n! People were amazed by it! Lin Beifan, Im increasingly looking forward to you! The Empress put this thought aside and continued to handle the memorials. At this time, one memorial caught her attention. The envoy from Darro Kingdom will arrive tomorrow! The next day, in the Golden Imperial Hall, Greetings to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor! All my ministers raise! Thank you, Your Majesty! The ministers stood on both sides. At this moment, an old eunuch shouted, Your Majesty, Prince Ham from Darro Kingdom hase with his envoys to pay respects! Granted! The Empress said sternly. Five tall and strong men in peculiar and unusual clothes entered the Golden Luang Hall. They raised their right hand and ced it on their left heart, slightly bowed and said in unison, Greetings to Her Majesty, the Empress of the Great Wu Dynasty, may you enjoy good health and prosperity! The envoys from Darro Kingdom arise! The Empress extended her hand to help them up. Thank you, Your Majesty! The crowd looked up. Prince Ham, what brings you here this time? Your Majesty, I havee for five reasons! Firstly, to see your beautiful face and convey my countrys friendly intentions! Secondly, to admire the beautiful scenery of the Great Wu Dynasty, thirdly The two sides had a friendly conversation. Lin Beifan stood in the back and listened quietly. He knew exactly why the envoys from Darro Kingdom hade. Darro Kingdom was a small country on the border of the Great Wu Dynasty with a poption of less than 10 million, and its strength was very limited. They had previously had some conflicts with the Great Wu Dynasty and fought a few battles, but ultimately lost to the Great Wu Dynasty. Therefore, they came to seek peace. The Great Wu Dynasty did not want to fight either. Because the Great Wu Dynasty had too many internal and external problems, and fighting would only consume their own strength. Both sides had the same opinion, which is why this meeting took ce. Just then, Prince Ham snapped his fingers. Two people came up respectfully and brought a beautiful box. Your Majesty, this is our treaty, please review it! Hand it over! The Empress ordered. Yes, Your Majesty! The eunuch walked down and was about to open the box to take out the book, but found that he couldnt open it no matter what. Prince Hamu, please open the box! Prince Hamu shook his head: It cant be opened! This box is called the Thousand Miles and Rivers Box, built by dozens of skilled craftsmen in our country. It requires a special key to open it! However, the key was lost due to the long journey! It is said that there are many talented people in the Great Wu Dynasty who should be able to open this box! However, this box is very valuable, and I hope it can be opened and the book can be taken out without damaging it! Everyone present was experienced, and they could tell what the other party wanted to do just by the way they moved. It was clearly a loss, and they felt resentful, so they chose to make trouble! However, the Great Wu Dynasty had no choice but to go on. Although this may seem like a small matter, it is a matter of face and power struggle! It may seem useless, but countries must fight against each other! Ministers, is there any way to open the Thousand Miles and Rivers Box? the empress asked. The civil and military officials gathered around, carefully examining the box, frowning and thinking, and finally shaking their heads one by one. Your Majesty, the structure of this lock is quiteplicated, with many hooks inside. Without the original key, it is really difficult to open! Please forgive us for our inability! Only one had some confidence. Your Majesty, I need two days! Everyones heart sank. Two days, even cold dishes would spoil! If the Thousand Miles and Rivers Box cannot be opened before the morning court ends, Great Wu will lose! Everyonesplexion was not very good, while Prince Hamu and others smiled triumphantly. Then, Prince Hamu pretended to be regretful and said: If it still cant be opened, I will have to use a knife to split it open! Although it will damage the Thousand Miles and Rivers Box, the friendship between the two countries is more important! Humph! The empress was quite unhappy and looked at the officials. The civil and military officials all lowered their heads in shame. However, at this moment, she noticed a person who was very calm from start to finish. Suddenly, she felt a glimmer of hope and asked, Sir Lin, do you have any ideas? Chapter 55: Master Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Not Afraid to Walk into Another World! Chapter 55: Master Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Not Afraid to Walk into Another World! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, Lin Beifan slowly stood up and bowed, saying, Your Majesty, your humble servant has a method that can be tried! Good! Please go ahead! The empress said loudly. Lin Beifan continued to bow his head, But my method requires some things to be prepared. Please allow me, Your Majesty! What do you need? Please tell us! The empress said. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan loudly said, Your humble servant needs some dried wood ear mushrooms and clear water! In less than half an incense sticks time, two small eunuchs brought the dried wood ear mushrooms and clear water over. Lin Beifan quickly ground the dried wood ear mushrooms into powder and poured it into the keyhole of the Thousand Miles and Rivers Box. Then, he quickly dripped a few drops of clear water onto the mushroom powder to allow it to absorb the water. Finally, he pressed the keyhole of the box with his hand. In less than a minute, the box made a click sound and it opened by itself, revealing the contents inside. All the ministers, including the envoys of the Darro country, were amazed. How did the Thousand Miles and Rivers Box open by itself? How did he open it without a key? What kind of magic did he use? Its too puzzling! Lin Beifan handed the box and the letter inside to the old eunuch and then calmly bowed, Your Majesty, your humble servant has seeded in opening the Thousand Miles and Rivers Box! Very good, very good! The empress eximed three times in a row before finally asking eagerly, How did you do it, my miniter? Please tell us! Everyone pricked up their ears and listened carefully. The method is actually very simple! Lin Beifan smiled and said, As the saying goes, everything changes but the essence remains the same. No matter how cleverly a lock is designed, the principle of unlocking is the same! As long as all the springs inside are pushed open, the lock can be opened! Therefore, your humble servant used dried wood ear mushrooms! Dried wood ear mushrooms have a characteristic that they can quickly expand when absorbing water! So, your humble servant ground the dried wood ear mushrooms into powder and poured them into the lock hole! Then, your humble servant added clear water and sealed the lock hole! The mushroom powder absorbed the water and expanded, with nowhere to go but to push open the springs inside, and the lock naturally opened! Ancient locks were not asplicated as modern ones. They were made up of springs, and any key that was inserted into the lock could open it. Even if the key was lost, another key could also open it, making it especially poor at preventing theft. It was said that the design wasplex, but it was really just a few more springs. Therefore, Lin Beifan easily opened the lock. This was the power of science! Master mathematics, physics and chemistry, and you wont be afraid to walk into another world! I see! Everyone nodded, whether they understood or not. Prince Hamu took a deep look at Lin Beifan and asked, Who is this gentleman? The Empress smiled proudly and said, His name is Lin Beifan, the new top schr of this years examination! He scored three years in row, is knowledgeable and talented, has seen much and knows much, and has outstanding abilities. He is my trusted and beloved follower! Your Majesty is too kind, I do not dare to ept such praise! Lin Beifan took a step back. After finishing the matter, he left with hidden talents and name! In modern terms, it means showing off and then running away! The Empress opened the letter from Darro country, nodded in satisfaction, and said, I ept the letter, but the matter ofpensation needs to be discussed further! Of course! This is a major matter, andbined with the long journey, I wish to return and prepare! Granted, see the guests out! The Empress ordered. Prince Hamu made a bow and led the envoy out, but before leaving, he gave a deep look at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan felt that the two would meet again in the future. At this time, the Empress said with excitement, Sir Lin,e forward and listen to the reward! Your Majesty, I am here! Lin Beifan stepped forward. Before the diplomats of the Darro country that we met earlier, Sir Lin, you were wise and brave, and defended the dignity of our country. I am truly pleased! The Empress said loudly, Reward him with ten thousand taels of silver, ten rolls of satin, ten jars of jade liquid, a pair of exquisite jade ruyi, and two sweating blood horses A pile of rewards were directly spouted from the Empresss mouth. Lin Beifans eyes widened in disbelief! Whats got into the Empress? He only did a tiny thing, yet she rewarded him with so much! Too extravagant! The civil and military officials couldnt help but feel sour in their stomachs. This little guy only did a small deed, yet he was rewarded so much? Too biased! We have served as officials for decades, and we have never been rewarded like this. We are so envious that our teeth are falling out! So, they all spoke up. Your Majesty, this is not necessary! Your Majesty, please withdraw the order! The Empress frowned and said unhappily, Sir Lin has made merits, rewarding him is not wrong, is it? Your Majesty, Lin has made merits, so rewarding him is indeed not wrong! But, the reward is too much for his achievements! Therefore, Your Majesty, please withdraw the order! said an old official. Your Majesty, please withdraw the order! the officials said in unison. The Empress was so angry that she wanted to kill them all! She had finally found a reason to reward Lin Beifan, but now they were causing trouble! How much is too much? I dont think its too much at all! The Empress sneered and banged the table, Just now, the envoy from the Darro Country caused trouble, and none of you achieved anything, which almost made our country lose face! I have already forgiven you for not punishing you, but you are stopping me from rewarding those who have merits. What is your intention? Chapter 56: I was wrong to have expectations that shouldnt have been held! Chapter 56: I was wrong to have expectations that shouldnt have been held! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
We are ipetent, please forgive us, Your Majesty! The courtiers were filled with fear. If you know that you are ipetent, then get out of my sight and dont cause me any further trouble! The Empress scolded. Your Majesty, we are indeed ipetent! But An old courtier stood up and pointed at Lin Beifan, berating him. Sir Lin clearly had a way to open the Thousand Miles and Rivers Box, but until the very end, he still stood by and did nothing. He clearly wanted to see our countrys embarrassment! He has sinister intentions, is disloyal to our country, and insincere to you, Your Majesty. Please investigate this matter! Please investigate! The officials all cried out in unison. Lin Beifan was stunned. Heavens! They were actually trying to frame him! They were turning ck into white and distorting right and wrong, falsely using him! As expected of these old foxes from the political arena! He did have ulterior motives, but it wasnt to see the country embarrassed, but to see the officials make fools of themselves. When they couldnt resolve something, he would step in and resolve it himself. And then he would smack their faces. The idea was so simple and straightforward! Sir Lin, is there any truth to this matter? The Empress had no expression on her face. Lin Beifan bowed and eximed angrily, Your Majesty, this is absolutely untrue! My loyalty to you is as clear as day and night, and my love for our country is apparent to the world! I ampletely loyal and devoted. How could I have done such a thing? Please investigate, Your Majesty! The Empresss lips twitched when she heard this. The officials also twitched their lips. It sounded so good, but he still took so much advantage? People can be shameless, but not to this extent! Director Lin, since you im to bepletely loyal and devoted to me and to our country, then why didnt you stand up when the envoy was being difficult? It seems to me that you have ulterior motives! The old courtier from before was furious. Thats right! You clearly wanted to see our country embarrassed and to see Your Majesty embarrassed! Another minister stood up. Are you tongue-tied because youre guilty? The third minister spoke. Your Majesty has shown you so much kindness, yet you dont think about how to repay it! The fourth minister said. Director Lin, how do you have the nerve to face me? Rarely do we find an opportunity, yet officials all threw stones down the well. Among the usations from the officials, Lin Beifan let out a deep sigh and said with a bitter smile, My Lords, youve misunderstood me! The reason why I didnt stand up at the first moment was because I believe in all of you and have full confidence in you! Have full confidence in us? The officials were confused. Yes, I have full confidence in all of you! Lin Beifan became more impassioned. I believe that this simple question could not stump any of the brilliant officials present here! Every one of you is a sessful candidate who has stood out from thousands of exam takers. You are among the highest in terms of intelligence and strategy today! I believe that all of you can see through the conspiracies of the envoy Dorro! With decades of experience as officials, you must have been through various dangers and conspiracies, having the capacity to strategize and n! I believe that nothing in the world could stump the officials present here today! You are the backbone of the great Wu, the pir that holds up the sky and earth of the nation! Therefore, I have always stood behind, admiring the magnificent figures of all the great lords! The civil and military officials were all swept up in Lin Beifans words. They realized that they were seen as great and noble in his eyes. However, just at this moment, Lin Beifans tone suddenly changed. But, I didnt expect that What didnt you expect? An old official asked. Lin Beifan nced at the officials with deep disappointment in his eyes. I didnt expect such a simple question could stump all the great lords here. It broke through my psychological defense directly without any warning, and robbed me of my chance to prepare! You have all shown the lowest level of intelligence and embarrassed me without leaving any chance for me to rescue you! I am ashamed! The civil and military officials were speechless. This jerk had basically insulted them to their face! They all looked ugly and felt terrible inside. The empress sitting on the dragon throne almost burst intoughter. Wow! Beifansbat power was too strong! He had defeated the officials with his eloquence and tongue, and forced them into silence! She had been holding court for many years, but had never seen the civil and military officials suffer such a great loss! How satisfying! How satisfying! Based on this, Lin Beifan must be rewarded heavily! Sir Lin, as they say, ignorance is bliss! You didnt know the officials abilities, so you didnt stand up in time. We forgive you! The empress coughed and suppressed the joy in her heart as she spoke. Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan was moved to tears. The officials faces became even uglier. Do you have anything to say, my ministers? The empress asked again. The officials looked at each other and replied in unison, We have nothing more to say, Your Majesty! Chapter 57: Greed on the Imperial Court? Chapter 57: Greed on the Imperial Court? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Alright! In that case, We shall continue to reward Sir Lin! The Empress then proceeded to shower Lin Beifan with numerous rewards that left him dizzy, and left the officials envious and separated by a wall of jealousy. However, having learned from past experience, none of them dared to voice their opposition. They were afraid of angering some asshole and getting themselves killed. For Lin Beifan, he simply epted the benefits and loudly proimed, I thank Your Majesty for Your kindness! Next, let us discuss the matter of receiving the foreign emissaries! The Empress spoke again, The emissaries from the Kingdom of Darro havee to mainly discusspensation. We should send someone savvy and capable to ascertain their intentions. Any suggestions, my ministers? At this point, the Minister of Rites stepped forward and respectfully said, Your Majesty, this matter is best handled by the newly appointed top schr, Director Lin. Lin Beifan, who was idly passing the time, was taken aback. Why did this have to fall on him again? My minister, why do you say so? The Empress asked, casting a nce at Lin Beifan. The Minister of Rites replied, Your Majesty, Sir Lin and Prince Hamu are of simr age and may connect with each other more easily. Furthermore, Sir Lin has quick wits and just debunked the tricks of Darros emissaries earlier. I believe that during the reception process, Sir Lin will be able to uncover their true intentions. Lin Beifan rolled his eyes. This old man had some scheme in mind again! Receiving foreign guests was not an easy job. It involved catering to them like they were ancestors, eating, drinking, ying with them, and avoiding offense. If it was done well, it was ordinary. If it was not done well, it could escte into a diplomatic dispute. It was a thankless and exhausting task. This kind of reception work should have been handled by experienced, mature, and responsible officials. Instead, the task fell to him. It was obvious they wanted to see him make a fool of himself. His heart was seething with anger! The Empress, too, saw through the Minister of Rites intentions. However, she had some faith in Lin Beifan and asked, Sir Lin, what do you think? Lin Beifan bowed and said, Your Majesty, I believe that the Ministry of Rites should be responsible for this matter. Furthermore, I was just recently appointed as the Director of the National Academy, and have many burdensome duties to attend to. I fear I cannot ease Your Majestys worries. Please forgive me. The dozen or so officials present had their mouths twitching. Burdened with duties? Bullshit! He spent every day lecturing their sons and daughters. He busied himself with milking money from them. And now, he was also dragging the Yunying County Princess into this mess! The Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, stood up and shouted, I believe that Director Lin is the most suitable candidate for this task! The Minister of Revenue also stood up, I agree, this task should be given to Lord Lin! The Minister of Household Affairs also voiced his support, I concur! Officials began to speak up and strongly rmend him! Not for anything else, but to let their children suffer less! Alright, this matter will be handled by Sir Lin! The Empress said loudly. Lin Beifan was helpless, he couldnt escape this time! This group of old schemers! Since it was like this, Lin Beifan let go! Thank you, Your Majesty and all the lords for your kindness! But this matter is of great importance, and my sry is meager. I am afraid of not providing adequate hospitality, so I would like to apply for a public envoy fee! Makes sense! How much do you need, I will have the Ministry of Revenue give it to you! The Empress asked. I need 300,000 taels! Lin Beifan bowed. The whole scene erupted. 300,000 taels?! Do you really need that much to entertain foreign guests? Sir Lin, are you joking? The Empresss mouth twitched. This guy was obviously corrupt! He was even greedily asking for money in front of the officials and her! He was getting bolder and bolder. Lin Beifan felt very wronged: Honorable lords, please dont misunderstand me! If I am to host the Darro envoys, I will definitely take them to eat, drink, and be merry, and give them an enjoyable experience. But all of this requires money! We have inns for them to stay, so I wont mention that. But we cant be careless about food! The best restaurant in our capital averages 50 taels per person! They are a group of 20 people, and if they eat three meals a day, it will cost 30,000 taels per day! They will be here for about 10 days, so just for food it will cost 300,000 taels! Furthermore, during meals, we will surely have to arrange some singing and dancing performances. The best dance troupe in our capital costs 30,000 taels per show, so for 10 days, thats another 300,000 taels! And if they want to go to brothels to find girls, the expenses will be even greater Ultimately, Lin Beifan boldly stated, Therefore, I dare to ask for 300,000 taels, which is well-founded and based on facts! And this is my first time hosting foreign guests, and I have no experience. Its better to prepare more money, to be safe than sorry! Please forgive me, Your Majesty and all the honorable lords! Everyones faces twitched again. This guy really dared to speak up! The Empress looked expressionless at the Minister of Revenue, Minister Qian, what do you think? The Minister of Revenues face was dark, Your Majesty, the treasury is tight right now, so at most we can give 200,000 taels! Add a little more! Lin Beifan said. The Minister of Revenues face became even darker, and he waved his sleeve, Only 200,000 taels, no more! Alright! Just 200,000 taels! The Empress said loudly, Sir Lin, after you receive this money, please host the Darro envoys well, and at the same time, investigate their true intentions. Dont let me down! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed. Although he couldnt get 300,000 taels, he was still very happy with the 200,000 taels! Chapter 58: Paying for a Warm Welcome, No Matter Who You Are! Chapter 58: Paying for a Warm Wee, No Matter Who You Are! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The next morning, Lin Beifan received a huge sum of 200,000 and went to the inn with a smile to receive the Darro country envoy. Prince Hamu, as well as all the esteemed guests who havee from afar, I will be your host for these few days. I will show you the prosperity of Wus capital, the local customs of Wu, and the magnificentndscapes! Lin Beifan said warmly. It turns out to be the promising young Lin Beifan. Having you apany us is wonderful! Prince Hamu replied with a smile. Prince Hamu is too polite. It is my honor. Lin Beifan smiled in return. Both sides were very polite. Its already early morning now, Im sure everyone is probably hungry! Let me take everyone to have breakfast first, and after that, we can visit the streets together, how about that? Lin Beifan suggested with a smile. Thats exactly what I had in mind! Prince Hamu agreed with a smile. Then, Lin Beifan led the group out. Unexpectedly, they bumped into Princess Yunying on the way. At this moment, she was wearing a green flower dress. When she ran, the skirt swayed lightly with the wind, making her look youthful and cute. Why are you here? Lin Beifan asked in confusion. I heard you were receiving foreign guests, so I came to join you for a meal and a drink! Yunying said with a cheeky grin. Lin Beifan was a little confused! Well, this princess really lived up to her reputation as a foodie. As soon as she heard there was food, she immediately ran over! Im receiving guests, so I cant take care of you! Lin Beifan whispered. Dont worry, I know whats important and whats not. You focus on your work, and Ill just follow behind and eat! Yunying said seriously. Who is this? Prince Hamu asked. Lin Beifan introduced Yunyings identity. Prince Hamu was very enthusiastic. Lets all go together! The more, the merrier! So everyone went out together. Within a short time, Lin Beifan led the group to an open-air breakfast stall. Prince Hamu and all the esteemed guests! Lin Beifan said with a smile. This is Liang Ji Breakfast, which is well-known near and far in the capital. The breakfast here is authentic, with everything from fried dough sticks, steamed buns, soy milk, and shrimp dumplings, all of which are ssic Wu breakfast foods! Yunying tugged at Lin Beifan and whispered, You brought the guests here to eat this? Of course! Lin Beifanughed and nodded. Yunying was worried. How can you let the guests eat this? These things are inexpensive and will make peopleugh at them! Little Princess, you dont know anything! Lin Beifan confidently said, Think about it, they are all nobles from Darro Country, what delicacies havent they tasted? They must have already eaten until theyre sick of it! Coming to a foreignnd, they definitely want to try something different! Thats why I brought them to eat Great Wus breakfast, isnt it just what they wanted? The Little Princess tilted her head and said, Hmm, what you said seems to make some sense! Of course it makes sense! Lin Beifan walked over and smiled, Everyone, please sit down! Order whatever you want, Ive got it covered! Prince Hamu waved his hand, Everyone, please sit down! Everyone ordered, and the dozen or so men basically ate up the entire breakfast shop. Lin Beifan smiled as he watched it all. The breakfast here was of good quality and value, withrge portions that could easily fill one up. It cost less than ten silver taels for a meal, and everything left over went into his pocket. After eating, Lin Beifan asked, Prince Hamu and friends, how was the breakfast here? The taste is good, thank you for your hospitality! the prince said politely. Where did you learn to tter people like that? The Little Princess teased. I have my ways! Lin Beifan smirked. After breakfast, everyone began their official tour of the streets. The Darro embassy officials looked around and found everything here to be very exotic. At that moment, a noble embassy official took a liking to a beautiful vase, yed with it in his hand and couldnt bear to put it down, but he was very slow in paying, frequently looking towards Lin Beifans side. Mr. Lin, what do you think of this vase? he asked. Its nice, very beautiful! Lin Beifan replied. But it costs 20 silver taels! the official said. Thats a fair price! Lin Beifan encouraged. The hints kepting. Finally, Lin Beifan could not take it anymore, Why dont let me pay for you? What? How can I do that? the noble embassy official was overjoyed. No need to be polite! Lin Beifan extended his hand and, in the bewildered look of the other party, reached into his purse, took out a bag of silver, and then took out 30 taels of silver from it, handing it to the vendor selling the vase, Keep the change! The shopkeeper thanked him profusely, Thank you, Mr. Lin! No need to thank me! Lin Beifan smiled slightly and ced the bag of silver into the noble embassy officials purse. The noble embassy officials face twitched, I also want to thank Mr. Lin! Its just a small gesture, Sir Allo doesnt need to be so polite! Lin Beifan humbly said, And all my friends, if you need to pay for something, just give me a shout! I dont discriminate against anyone! Everyones mouths twitched, Thank you, Mr. Lin! Chapter 59: In Great Wu, Beauty is in Being Fat! Chapter 59: In Great Wu, Beauty is in Being Fat! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After themotion caused by Lin Beifan, the Dorro envoys willingly paid for their beloved items. They didnt want to trouble Lin Beifan and risk having a portion of their money taken away. The little princess was confused, as she had never seen a diplomat so willingly help pay for a guests expenses. She pulled Lin Beifan to a corner and asked, Lin Beifan, how could you let the guests pay for themselves? Why not? Lin Beifan replied. If I pay for this and that, how much money do I have left for them to spend? So, I have to break their illusion immediately! But if they get angry and report to the Empress, what will you do? Dont worry, I wont give them that chance, Lin Beifan said confidently. He was sure that he would never pay for anything himself, as the money he saved would go towards his embezzlement. So, he had to save as much money as possible. After touring around, it was lunchtime. Lin Beifan took everyone back to Liangji Breakfast Shop and said generously, Dear guests, I have already paid for this ce. Order whatever you want and dont be polite with me! Why is it Liang Ji Breakfast Shop again, Mr. Lin? someone couldnt help asking. Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Prince Hamu said the food here was good, so I brought everyone here to try it! Prince Hamus mouth twitched. I just made a politement and you took it seriously! So, they all had another meal of steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk. At dinner time, one envoy asked, Sir Lin, is it Liang Ji Breakfast Shop again for dinner? He had already eaten more than a dozen steamed bun and a bucket of soy milk, and he was already sick of it. Dont worry, its definitely not! Lin Beifan smiled. Its closed now, and were going to a brothel! Great! Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Prince Hamu, dear guests, tonights activities are rich and varied! We not only have good wine and delicious food, but also singing and dancing performances. In addition, I have invited some beauties to apany us Everyones eyes lit up. Wow! Good wine, good food, singing and dancing, and beauties to apany us? Sir Lin, you know exactly what I want! Hehe I knew it, Sir Lin, you will never disappoint me! I feel so much better already! Even Prince Hamu couldnt help but smile at Lin Beifans extravagance. Sir Lin, this is too much! Lin Beifan apologized, Its mainly because I didnt entertain you well enough earlier, and I feel guilty about it. So, I arranged something better for you this time, and I hope you can forgive me for my mistake. Theres no need to apologize. We understand, the envoys said. Lets go! Lin Beifan led everyone to a rundown restaurant. They had big bowl rice and diluted rice wine, butpared to the two meals they had during the day, it was much tastier. Before we eat, lets enjoy a singing and dancing performance! Lin Beifan pped his hands, and an old man in a white robe led two strange creatures to perform. The old man then picked up a small horn and blew it hard. The prating sound echoed throughout the restaurant. Everyone felt goosebumps and dropped everything on their te. Under the music, the two strange creatures started to dance. The scene was filled with a eerie atmosphere. Prince Hamu looked disgusted and said, What kind of instrument is this? It sounds terrible! This is our countrys traditional instrument Suona! Lin Beifan smiled and continued, As the saying goes, among all kinds of instruments, Suona is the king! At first listen, you will not understand the meaning behind the music, but after listening again, you be like a person in a coffin. Thats why I invited the best Suona master to perform for everyone. And what about this dance? Prince Hamu asked again. This dance is called the Summoning of Souls, which is the most widely circted traditional dance in our country. Everyone, whether alive or dead, has seen it at least once! Its main purpose is to invigorate and awaken the soul. When paired with Suona, its a perfect match! After watching, dont you feel more energized? Lin Beifanughed. Prince Hamu was shocked and eximed, Not only am I energized, Im also starting to feel nervous! Well! Everyone nodded in surprise. The little princess sitting next to Lin Beifan silently asked, How did you get the funeral troupe to perform? Because its cheap. It only costs a few taels of silver to perform, so who else should I invite? Lin Beifan replied nonchntly. But they havent died yet. Is it really a good idea to do this? the little princess asked. Whats wrong with giving them a preview of the afterlife? Lin Beifan countered. The little princess snorted angrily and turned away to eat her food. After the crazy funeral performancested for half an incense stick time, Lin Beifan said, Alright, everyone can start eating now! UmLin Sir, what about the beautifuldies? one envoy couldnt help but ask. Oh! I almost forgot! Lin Beifan pped his hands. More than a dozen obese,rge women with shy attire entered from outside. Gentlemen, you finally arrived. You made me wait for so long! Come on, lets have fun together! Dont be reluctant to me tonight, okay? All present couldnt help but spit out blood from their mouths. Prince Hamu was stunned and asked, Sir Lin, are these the beautifuldies you mentioned? Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Of course! But they are too fat! Prince Hamu eximed. In Great Wu, we believe that being fat is beautiful! Lin Beifan smiled. Everyone eximed, What the hell! Not only are they fat, but they are also old Lin Beifan still smiled, In Great Wu, we respect our elders. The older, the more popr they are! Everyone eximed again, What the hell! Sir Lin, why dont you call one for yourself? Lin Beifan answered sternly, I, as an official, shall remain pure and avoid all things rted to women! Everyone eximed, What the hellllll! Chapter 60: Since hes greedy, lets bribe him! Chapter 60: Since hes greedy, lets bribe him! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In the end, everyone came to the banquet in high spirits, but left disappointed. The young princess, on the other hand, ran excitedly to the pce to tell the empress about her experience. Empress sister, let me tell you something fun! Today, Lin Beifan and I went to receive the envoy from Darro Country. Do you know what Lin Beifan did? He invited them to have breakfast at Liang Ji Breakfast Shop, then invited them for lunch at the same ce. And in the evening, he invited them to a terrible restaurant and served them porridge that had water mixed with rice wine! My goodness, he only spent less than 50 taels of silver in total to send them away! And during dinner, he even invited a group of fat, old, and ugly women to apany them! Empress sister, do you know how he tricked the envoy? He said that in our Great Wu Dynasty, being fat is beautiful and being old is respected, and he fooled them! Today was reallyughable for me, hehe The empress was shocked to hear this. Lin Beifan is he really that reckless? The princessughed, holding her belly. Its even worse than what I just told you, there are so many things I havent said yet, hehe Oh my god! The empress sighed, feeling overwhelmed. She never expected Lin Beifan to act so recklessly. Using such an outrageous method to treat foreign envoys, how would that reflect on their reputation? Even if he was corrupt, he should at least show some hospitality. She couldnt help but feel sorry for the envoy from Darro Country. This was not a small matter! If it was not handled properly, it could directly affect the diplomatic rtions between the two countries, and another war could breakout! And because of this, Lin Beifan may be impeached and removed from office. Yunying, watch him closely and dont let him do anything reckless again! The empress ordered. Dont worry, Empress sister, I will keep an eye on him! Yunying replied. On the other hand, at the inn, Prince Hamu and hispanions returned with sour faces. Losing the war was enough to make them unhappy, and now, they were ridiculed by a small official from the Great Wu Dynasty. If they werent so well-bred, they would have thrown a fit right then and there. Prince Hamu has made up his mind to report Lin Beifan to the Empress when he sees her again. Just then, someone walks in and respectfully reports that the investigation Prince Hamu requested has beenpleted. Among the civil and military officials in Great Wu, the most powerful ones are listed along with their official positions. Prince Hamu frowns, remarking that these people are all cunning and sly. Their main purpose for this trip is to negotiate and discusspensation. As a defeated nation, they want to pay as little as possible. Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, they n to bribe one or two important officials to speak on their behalf. When the name of Lin Beifan emerges as a possible candidate, Prince Hamu feels a wave of disgust. The informant exins that since bing the top schr in the imperial examination, Lin Beifan has received many rewards from the Empress, including a luxury mansion, arge sum of silver, silk fabric, premium wine, daily meals from the imperial kitchen, top-notch carriages, and several excellent horses. Prince Hamu feels jealous and inferior to someone who has gained so much in so little time. However, the informant also reveals that Lin Beifan has a weakness for money and is very corrupt. He has already embezzled more than two million silver from two households, and has also stolen two million silver from his students while serving as the director of the Imperial Academy. ording to spies, he also received a reception fee of 200,000 silver from the Ministry of Revenue and only spent less than one hundred silver on that day, keeping the rest for himself. Prince Hamu decides to choose Lin Beifan as their target, as he is favored by the Empress, easy to approach, and very eager for money. He believes that once they bribe him, they will have a greater advantage during the negotiations. Chapter 61: Do You Have a Tendency for Masochism? Are You Cheap? Chapter 61: Do You Have a Tendency for Masochism? Are You Cheap? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
On the second day, Lin Beifan and the Little Princess arrived at the inn early. To Lin Beifans surprise, Prince Hamu and hispanions smiled happily when they saw him, without any signs of anger. Prince Hamu and everyone, how did you enjoy yesterday? Are you satisfied? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Thanks to Mr. Lin, we had good food and drink yesterday and had a great time! We are very grateful to Mr. Lin for his hospitality, really thank you very much! Prince Hamus smile was as warm as the spring breeze. Yes, thank you Mr. Lin for your care yesterday! I feel like Im back home! To put it in the idiom of Great Wu: guests feel at home! Haha! Thank you so much, Mr. Lin! The Little Princess following behind Lin Beifan was puzzled. Lin Beifan treated you like this, and you still say he is good? Do you have a tendency for masochism? Lin Beifans smile grew even brighter. As long as youre satisfied, thats all that matters! Since everyone is happy with my arrangements, shall we follow yesterdays itinerary again? Well have breakfast and lunch at Liangji Breakfast Shop, go to Luoxia Restaurant for dinner, have someone y the suona and perform the shenwu dance, and then invite some plump and old flower girls No, no, no its not necessary, Mr. Lin is too polite! The envoys shook their heads. Sir Lin, its like this! Prince Hamu said solemnly, We are deeply grateful for your care yesterday, so we unanimously decided to host Sir Lin from today on! Lin Beifan was confused: Ah? How is this possible? You are all distinguished guests who came from afar. It should be me who hosts you, which is in ordance with the rules of etiquette, isnt it? Lord Lin, please dont be so polite! Prince Hamus expression turned serious: If you dont give us this opportunity, it means you dont give me face, and we wont be friends in the future! The princes face must be saved! Lin Beifan was stunned: Since its like this, then I will ept it humbly! Thats right! Haha! Prince Hamu and hispanionsughed heartily. The Little Princess was even more puzzled! Lin Beifan treated you like this, and you invite him back? Are you cheap? With this baffled question, the Little Princess followed them. This time, it was Prince Hamu and hispanions who led the way. They took Lin Beifan to a luxurious teahouse andughed, Baiju House, a famous teahouse far and wide. Ive heard of it even when I was in Darro. The tea is not only fragrant, but the breakfast inside is also excellent! The Little Princess couldnt help but interrupt, The breakfast inside is really good, I oftene here to eat! Especially love the osmanthus cake, crystal shrimp dumplings, steamed pork dumplings and barbecue pork buns inside! She was drooling while speaking. They walked into the Baiju House while chatting andughing. After they sat down, Prince Hamu handed the menu to Lin Beifan. Mr. Lin, please! Lin Beifan politely replied, You are the guests, and it is your invitation, so please go ahead! Mr. Lin, dont be polite to me! the prince chuckled. Since the prince insists, I wont hold back anymore. Bring me two servings of everything on the menu! Lin Beifan said. Prince Hamus lips twitched, You really arent holding back! Waiter, did you hear? Bring two servings of everything on the menu! the prince ordered. Yes, honored guests! the waiter replied. Then, they listened to the storytellers story, drank fragrant tea, and ate delicious breakfast. After finishing breakfast, they started another day of sightseeing. This time, they went in another direction, and it was even more lively. Prince Hamu smiled as he walked, Mr. Lin, if you see anything you like, dont hesitate to say so. Dont be polite to me! Lin Beifan was ttered, Prince Hamu, how can I do that? You have already paid for our meal earlier, which made me feel guilty. If you pay again, it will really make me feel bad. Its not appropriate! Prince Hamu pretended to be displeased, If you consider me a friend, dont refuse my kindness! Lin Beifan reluctantly nodded, Well, alright! Soon, Lin Beifan spotted a inkstone that he liked. Shopkeeper, how much is this inkstone? he asked. Its not expensive, only 500 taels of silver! the shopkeeper replied. Its really not expensive. Your Highness, please pay for it! Lin Beifan said. Prince Hamu: After a while, Lin Beifan saw a pair of precious hairpins that he liked. Shopkeeper, how much are these hairpins? he asked. Sir has a good eye! These are made of pure gold and are beautifully decorated with two small agate stones. They are very exquisite! These hairpins are unique in the entire capital. If you want them, Ill only charge you 800 taels! the shopkeeper exined. Not bad, Your Highness, please pay for it! Lin Beifan said. Prince Hamu: In this way, in less than half a day, Lin Beifan had acquired many valuable items, while Prince Hamu had lost thousands of taels. Chapter 62: In the scorching summer, all the beauties in the country wear super short skirts! Chapter 62: In the scorching summer, all the beauties in the country wear super short skirts! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Even the little princess couldnt bear it anymore. Lin Beifan, could you stop this? Theyre guests, and you emptied their pockets! Lin Beifan felt very innocent: It was Prince Hamu who said that if you like something, dont be polite to him. Otherwise, we couldnt be friends! If we cant be friends, what will happen to the peace negotiations between our two countries? Im doing this for the country, why dont you understand me? The little princess was so angry that she rolled her eyes: Youre doing this for yourself, not for the country. Prince Hamu has paid nearly ten thousand taels. You should take it as a courtesy! Lin Beifan looked more innocent: Yes! To me, this kind of money is nothing as a corrupt official! The little princess: Hmph! I cant argue with you! If things go wrong, wait to be scolded by the Empress Sister! At this point, Lin Beifan presented a pair of exquisite bracelets to the little princess. What are you doing? The little princess was puzzled. Lin Beifan smiled: I noticed that you liked these bracelets just now, so I bought them from Prince Hamu and gave them to you! Try them on quickly! The little princesss heart was beating faster. She looked up at Lin Beifans brilliant smile, and her face turned slightly red. She didnt expect this guy He was really considerate! She just nced at them, and he remembered. Lin Beifan shook the bracelets: Do you want them? If you dont, Ill give them to my teacher! I want them! The little princess snatched the bracelets and happily put them on her hands. So thats how it happened, the little princess was bribed. Unwittingly, they yed until nightfall. Prince Hamu smiled: Mr. Lin, its time for dinner! I have already reserved the best restaurant in the capital city, and there will be some entertainment! For example, inviting some lovelydies toe over and add to the fun! Lin Beifan became excited: Its just like in the scorching summer, all the beauties in the country wear super short skirts! Everyone was puzzled: What do you mean? Lin Beifanughed, Its just what I like! Hahaha Everyoneughed knowingly. Only the little princess behind them cursed silently, Men are all scoundrels. They all went enthusiastically to the restaurant. By the way, which restaurant did you book? Hundred Flowers Brothel! Lin Beifan stopped in his tracks. Mr. Lin, why dont you continue? Lin Beifan hesitated: To be honest, as a representative of the Imperial Academy, its not appropriate for me to visit a brothel. Moreover, I once promised Her Majesty and the officials that I would never step into a brothel again, so What? So what should we do? All thedies I invited are inside! Everyone was confused. This is simple! Lin Beifanughed. Well rent out a proper restaurant and invite them over. Isnt that easy? Great idea, well do it just like Mr. Lin suggested! Prince Hamu eximed loudly. Not long after, everyone sat inside a luxurious restaurant, enjoying rare delicacies and fine wine, watching the performances of the Hundred Flowers districts girls. Additionally, each person was waited on by a young, beautiful woman who poured their wine it was more than pleasant. However, something unexpected happened to Lin Beifan. All the waitresses who came to pour him wine were chased away by the little princess. Lin Beifan, you said you werent interested in women, so I helped you get rid of them. You dont have to thank me! The little princess was extremely pleased with herself. Mr. Lin, its not like Im unwilling to help you, Im just helpless, one of the guests said. Otherwise, wed have to offend the little princess! We can only enjoy these beauties for ourselves. Please bear with us! Everyoneughed and joked. Theirughter drifted over. Lin Beifan sighed, looking at the little princesss sulking face. Little princess, have I ever made you feel wronged in these past few days? Why are you seeking revenge? Under Lin Beifans mncholy gaze, the little princess felt guilty. In these past few days, Lin Beifan had indeed been treating her well, taking her out to eat, drink, and y, giving her gifts that made her incredibly happy. Alright, Ill pour you wine, is that okay? Saying this, the little princess sat down next to Lin Beifan, pouring him wine with the utmost respect. Sir, please enjoy it slowly! This time, envy arose in the hearts of the crowd. Which woman present was more beautiful than the little princess? Which one had a higher status than the little princess? The fact that the little princess was pouring wine for Lin Beifan personally was such a great honor and enjoyment! Looking at the women around them, they suddenly felt mediocre and vulgar. In contrast, Lin Beifans vanity was greatly satisfied. Although this girl, the little princess, often caused him trouble, she gave him face when it mattered, which was very thoughtful! So Lin Beifan raised the wine ss that the little princess had personally poured for him and said with a smile, Let me toast everyone! They yed until midnight when the little princess went home and Hamu Prince sent off the dancers. Only Lin Beifan and the emissaries from Darro country remained at the scene. Chapter 63: There are no bribery that can defeat me! Chapter 63: There are no bribery that can defeat me! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Then, Prince Hamu pped his hands again. Immediately, an emissary pulled out a beautifully-crafted wooden box and pushed it in front of Lin Beifan. Opening it revealed shiny gold and silver jewelry worth about 100,000 taels. Lin Beifan calmly poured himself a ss of wine and asked, Prince Hamu, what is the meaning of this? Mr. Lin, its like this! Prince Hamu politely smiled and said, In two days, it will be the day of negotiations between Great Wu and Darro. It has been preliminarily agreed that the annualpensation will be nearly 3 million gold and jewels, as well as resources! However, the expenditure of 3 million per year is too much for our Farro to bear! We Darro are just a small country with a poption of just over 10 million, limited resources, and the people are suffering greatly! Our annual financial ie is only about 8 million taels, which is simply not enough! If we take out 3 million every year, it will be thest straw for our country! If there is any natural disaster or cmity, it will be even more unimaginable! So, during the negotiations, I hope Mr. Lin can speak on our behalf and help us reduce our burden! On behalf of the millions of people in Duoluo, I thank you, Mr. Lin! This is just a small gift for our meeting! After the sessful negotiations, there will be heavier gifts to present! The other emissaries all smiled tteringly at Lin Beifan and spoke up. Yes, Mr. Lin, we entrust Darro to you! The millions of people in Darro rely on you, sir! After the sess of negotiations, you will benefit greatly! Under the watch of everyone, Lin Beifan calmly closed the box. Take it back, I wont ept it! Everyone was stunned. Just then, Lin Beifan stood up and angrily dered: Do you think this small amount of money can buy me? Do you think it can make me betray the interests of Great Wu? Do you think it can make me betray the empress? Im telling you, its impossible!!! Lin Beifan stood tall and straightened his chest: Although I am corrupt, I do have principles! My loyalty to the empress is evident from the passing days, and my love for Great Wu is known to all! If you want me to betray the empress and Great Wu, then you are asking me to betray my conscience! How can someone without a conscience stand between heaven and earth? Everyone was once again dumbfounded. Prince Hamu blurted out, You, such a corrupt official, actually have principles? Lin Beifan was furious: As a corrupt official, I must have principles! Otherwise, without principles, whats the difference between me and an animal? Darro envoys looked at each other, feeling extremely frustrated. T hey thought they had chosen a good target, but they had chosen the wrong person! Although the other party was a corrupt official, he was a corrupt official with principles! All their previous efforts were in vain! Prince Hamu smiled bitterly and picked up a ss of wine: Mr. Lin, I apologize for my rudeness just now. I didnt expect Mr. Lin to be such a loyal person! Ill drink this cup as my punishment, and lets just forget about this incident, shall we? Lin Beifan was still not very happy: Its good that you know! Great Wu is the country I love, and the empress is the master I love. If you want me to betray themyou need to pay more! Prince Hamu eximed, and everyone was shocked for the third time! They thought the other party was a loyal person, but they didnt expecta leopard cant change its spots! Prince Hamu asked in surprise, Mr. Lin, didnt you say that this money couldnt buy you off? Its true that its not enough, so I asked you to add more! The envoy from Darro eximed, What the f**k! Prince Hamu asked again, Mr. Lin, didnt you say that you are a conscientious person, and would never betray Great Wu and the empress? The reason why I didnt betray them is because the chips they offered werent enough! The envot from Darro eximed again, What the f**k! Prince Hamu asked again, Mr. Lin, didnt you say that you are a person with principles? I do have principles, but money can sell my principles! The messenger from Darro eximed again, What the f**k! Seeing Prince Hamu talking incessantly, Lin Beifan became angry: Ill tell you straight up, theres no bribery that can beat me! The reason why you cant beat me is because you havent offered me enough! Do you understand? Yes, we understand! Everyone nodded repeatedly. They sat back at the table, but the atmosphere waspletely different. Prince Hamu pped his hands, and someone brought a small box filled with gold, silver, and jewels. Lin Beifan nced at it indifferently: Not enough! Prince Hamu pped his hands again, and someone brought another box of gold, silver, and jewels. Lin Beifan remained calm and shook his head: Not enough! Prince Hamu had someone bring another box of gold, silver, and jewels. Not enough! Prince Hamu couldnt sit still any longer: Mr. Lin, how much do you want exactly? Lin Beifan sneered: Prince Hamu, youre asking the wrong question! Its not about how much I want, its about how much you have! Ill take as much as you have! The envoy from Darro eximed, What the f**k! Chapter 64: How to Make Money Without Betraying Great Wu? Chapter 64: How to Make Money Without Betraying Great Wu? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The envoys from Darro were shocked at the greed of the young man in front of them. They had never seen anyone so insatiable before. It was outrageous and even angered the gods. Prince Hamu spoke in a low voice, Mr. Lin, its not that we dont want to give you more, but what if you fail to deliver? Then all our money would have been wasted. Lin Beifan calmly drank his wine while the emissaries from Darro continued to speak. So lets give you a small gift as a token of our appreciation. After the job is done, we will give you more, based on how well you perform. Rest assured, Mr. Lin, we will not cheat you. Yes, Mr. Lin, please take this money first. After the job is done, we will give you more. Duo Luo will never treat you unfairly. The emissaries of Duo Luo spoke one after another. Lin Beifan nodded and said, Thats fine. But we need to set some ground rules. Otherwise, you might end up giving me too much or too little. Very well. Prince Hamu spoke sternly. From what we know, Darro needs to pay Great Wu 3 million taels of tribute silver each year. Lets use this as a benchmark. We will give you as much as we owe Great Wu. Is that eptable? Lin Beifan countered, What if I decide to waive the tribute silver altogether? In that case, I will add 500,000 more as a token of our gratitude for your help. Prince Hamu gritted his teeth. Good. Its a deal! Lin Beifan said loudly. Finally, the negotiations werepleted, and everyone continued to enjoy themselves. After finishing the drinks, Lin Beifan left with jewelry worth 300,000 liang. However, as soon as he closed the door, he saw a figure in white. He was startled, Its you! Your sudden appearance is quite scary. The white-d woman was Bai Qingxuan, also known as Bai Guanyin, a woman with unpredictable and mysterious powers. She calmly asked, Are you scheming with the Darro emissaries to betray the interests of Great Wu? How do you know? Lin Beifan asked in surprise. When I passed by Drunk Flower Tower just now, I saw you and the envoy from Darro drinking and having fun. I was curious and went to take a look, and naturally found out! Bai Qingxuan said seriously, Although you are greedy for money for the sake of the people, there are some things that cannot be done. Without a country, how can there be a home? Dont worry, I never nned to betray Great Wu! Lin Beifan smiled, The Empress treats me so well, even if I am heartless, I cannot do such a thing! So, you were just ying them? Bai Qingxuan asked. I wasnt ying them, I still wanted their money! Lin Beifan shook his head. Hmm? Bai Qingxuan didnt understand. He wasnt betraying Great Wu, but he still wanted money from Darro, how was this possible? Although she was a martial arts master and her martial arts were profound, she was a novice in politics. Let me sell you a hint, youll knowter! Lin Beifan smiled mysteriously. Then, Bai Qingxuan took away the gold and silver jewelry in Lin Beifans hands and told the Empress about the incident. The Empress was confused after hearing it, It doesnt harm Great Wus interests and can still make money from Darro? How is this possible? Is Lin Beifan tricking us? Money was limited, Great Wu wanted more and Darro wanted to pay less! This was a zero-sum game! The Empress looked at Bai Qingxuan. Bai Qingxuan shook her head, Im not sure either. Thats just what he told me. He sold me a hint and didnt reveal his method. I cant force him. This bastard! Always dancing on a tightrope, it makes people worry! Fine, let me see what hes up to! The Empress gritted her teeth. Then, Lin Beifan apanied the envoy from Doro for two more days before finally entering the negotiation stage. Representatives from both sides argued fiercely over the amount ofpensation and refused to give an inch. After three days of arguing, they still hadnt reached a result. Lin Beifan, on the other hand, watched the whole thing indifferently, neither speaking up for Darro nor for Great Wu. This made Prince Hamu anxious, so he sent another gift overnight. Your Highness, please rest assured. I have been thinking about this matter and am just waiting for the right moment! Please be patient, I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer! Thank you, Mr. Lin! Finally, on the fifth day, they reached a decision. Darro would have topensate Dahu with 3.2 million taels of silver or goods each year. This condition was harsher than before. In the Golden Pce, the Empress looked at thepensation terms and asked loudly, Any objections, my lords? We have no objections! The officials said in unison. At this moment, Lin Beifan finally stood up and said, Your Majesty, I have a different opinion! Chapter 65: Tribute Must be Abolished, Otherwise Military Conflict Will Continue! Chapter 65: Tribute Must be Abolished, Otherwise Military Conflict Will Continue! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Sir Lin, what is your opinion? The empress asked. Lin Beifan made a gesture and said something shocking, Your Majesty, I believe that this tribute is very inappropriate and should be abolished! As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was in an uproar. Abolish the tribute? We have worked hard to negotiate this tribute, and you want us to abolish it? You want us to give up over 3 million taels of silver per year? How can this be justified? Sir Lin, have you received benefits from the envoy of Darro, which is why you are speaking up for them? Lin, do you know what this means? You are betraying Her Majesty and betraying our Great Wu! Can you justify Her Majestys kindness to you? Your Majesty, I want to impeach the new top schr and the master of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan! Lin Beifan remained calm, facing the officials with a cold eye. The empress, who was prepared, was also very calm: Silence! Let us hear what Sir Lin has to say. Your Majesty, and all the esteemed ministers, before we discuss thispensation, let us first take a look at the situation in Darro. Lin said. Darro was originally a small border country of our Great Wu with a poption of only over ten million, and limited resources. The people there are extremely poor and cannot bepared with our Great Wu Empire! It is reported that their annual treasury ie only barely reaches 8 million! If there is a drought, or a military disaster, this treasury revenue will be greatly reduced! In the past, they have had conflicts with our Great Wu Empire, and they lost, which made their situation even worse! Under these dire circumstances, having to pay 3.2 million taels of silver annually is simply unbearable! I think Your Majesty and all the esteemed ministers should have already known this! The atmosphere in the Golden Imperial Hall gradually quieted down as they listened to Lin Beifans analysis. So, this tribute will definitely be shared by the people of Darro! The people there are already living a hard life, and now they have to bear this extra burden, which will undoubtedly make their lives even more difficult! Enduring it for one year may be possible, but what about two or three years? Who would be willing to bear such a heavy burden forever? In the long run, it will definitely provoke public anger! And when they are provoked, what will be their target? Can it be anything other than our Great Wu? The court was in an uproar again! Lin Beifan continued impassionedly, Because we are the ones that imposed this great burden on them, they will naturally hate us and seek revenge on us! I conclude that military conflict will break out again within three years! The entire court was in an uproar once more. All the officials were moved by Lin Beifans words! Even the empresss face changed. So, this tribute use is actually a deration of war! As long as we dare to issue it, we will have a war with Darro within three years! Lin Beifans voice was resolute. If were going to fight, are we afraid of them? an old minister challenged. Lin Beifan sneered. Sir Wang, its easier said than done! Do you know how many resources are needed tounch a war? How much manpower and material resources need to be used? Let me tell you, a troop of 100,000 soldiers consumes 400,000 catties of grain a day! Based on currentmodity prices, 2.5 taels of silver is needed for every 100 catties of grain, so 400,000 catties of grain require 10,000 taels of silver! In addition, to support the mainbat troops, nearly twice as many logistics personnel are needed. Therefore, it would actually be 200,000 people, with a daily consumption of 800,000 catties of grain and 20,000 taels of silver! And we have to deal with Darros army! Based on past war experience, we need to send out 300,000 mainbat troops to form an overwhelming force! So, just for one day, we need to consume 60,000 taels of grain! If things go well, the war can end within three months! However, the consumption of grain alone in three months is a terrifying number, reaching 5.4 million taels! If things go poorly, consumption will only be even higher! There are also other material resources, such as armor loss, horses, bows and arrows, as well as the consumption of transporting grain,pensation for soldiers and generals, and so on. These are also astronomical numbers that I havent calcted! As they say, every shot of the cannon costs a thousand pieces of gold! Lin Beifan looked at the minister who questioned him, Sir Wang, do you still think its so easy to fight a war now? These are all money, even if our treasuries are ample, supporting such a costly war is still very difficult! Is it worth it to fight a war that costs millions just for a few million taels ofpensation? Moreover, the enemy we face is not only Darro! There are many great empires, with their ambitions and eyes fixed on us, and they could invade the Central ins at any time! There are also various local governors that we must guard against! The other party unconvinced, retreated among the officials. Lin Beifan bowed and solemnly said, Therefore, the use of military force must not be taken lightly! Your Majesty, please take note! The empress nodded. Sir Lins words make sense! So, should we just give up this tribute? If we dont take it, wont it encourage Darros arrogance? If we dont take it, how can we justify the sacrifice of our soldiers? an excited minister eximed. Of course we should take it! However, we can use a different method! Lin Beifan smiled slightly. Chapter 66: Your Majesty, Are You Interested in Expanding the Territory? Chapter 66: Your Majesty, Are You Interested in Expanding the Territory? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
What method, Sir Lin, please speak! the empress asked. Before I tell you this method, may I ask Your Majesty Lin Beifan bowed and smiled, Are you interested in the Darro Kingdom? The empresss heart skipped a beat and she quickly asked, Sir Lin, what do you mean? Let me rephrase the question! Lin Beifan smiled slightly, Your Majesty, are you interested in expanding your territory and incorporating the Darro Kingdom into your rule? The audience was in an uproar! Everyone looked at Lin Beifan in shock! And the empresss heart was already in a frenzy! Expanding the territory! Expanding your rule! As an emperor, who wouldnt want to expand their territory? Who wouldnt want to expand their rule? Who wouldnt want to add glorious achievements to their reign? For an emperor, there is no greater achievement than expanding their territory! The empress was no exception! Sir Lin, what do you mean? Do you have a way to conquer the Darro Kingdom for me? the empress asked excitedly. Of course! This humble servant dares to propose this because I have a way! Lin Beifan smiled confidently, If done properly, we can take down the Darro Kingdom without shedding a drop of blood! The audience was in an uproar again! To be able to take down the Darro Kingdom is already impressive enough! And he was talking about doing it without shedding blood? Thats impossible! Although the Darro Kingdom is just a small border country, its people are fierce! To take it down, we would need to send a million troops! Its impossible to do it without shedding blood! Its impossible! Ive never heard of such a ridiculous thing before! Sir Lin, please watch your words! Silence! Listen to what Sir Lin has to say! the empress ordered. Your Majesty, to take down the Darro Kingdom, we only need to focus on three things! Lin Beifan said. What three things? the empress asked. First, conquer them through military force! Conquering a country always starts with strong military force! Having a strong military force is the key to intimidating other countries and preventing them from starting a war! Just like before, the Darro Kingdom was already defeated by us, and thats why they came to surrender! In the short term, they wont dare to start a war again, and they wont be able to start a war! This provides us with very necessary conditions for the next operation! Empress nodded her head, Go on! Whats the second point? The second point is controlling the economy! Lin Beifan confidently said, Compared to Darro country, our country is vast and prosperous. Production andmerce are highly developed, possessing enormous economic advantages! The people of Darro country, even if they say they are not jealous, it is fake! However, due to long-term warfare, both sides are not closely connected, andmerce is impossible! If we seize the opportunity to propose opening up trade ports, supportmercial exchanges between the two countries, and exchange goods, the benefits would be unimaginable! Our country can not only make a lot of money from it, but the lives of themon people in Darro will also greatly improve! Lets have theme to use our Great Wus porcin, wear our Great Wus silk, drink our Great Wus tea, eat our Great Wus foodeverything in life cannot do without our Great Wu? At this time, if we begin war, themon people will definitely not be willing! From being thrifty to being extravagant is easy, but from being extravagant to being thrifty is difficult! They have enjoyed all the good things, how can they easily let go? They are afraid of losing everything they have, so naturally they dont want to go to war with us! And war will inevitably take away everything they have, which they cannot ept! Lin Beifanughed triumphantly. The idea is well-reasoned! Continue! Empress nodded her head. Additionally, throughmercial exchanges, we can also take the opportunity to control Darrosmerce and important resources, controlling their food, salt, oil, etc.! Once we start the war, we can immediately cut off their supplies, and they will surely be defeated! Empresss eyes lit up, This idea is not bad! Finally, from a ideological standpoint, we can tame them! Lin Beifan smiled, Darro has a fierce spirit andcks education, like a nk piece of paper! We can send many schrs and teachers to tame the people of Darro, to publicize the virtues of the emperor and the beauty of Great Wu! In the long run, the people of Darro will inevitably yearn for our Great Wu and respect our empress, seeing themselves as subjects of our heavenly dynasty! Without fighting, we can conquer the enemy! At this moment, although Darro has not yet been incorporated into Great Wu, it is not far off! Lin Beifan had everything under control, So, conquer with military force, control with economy, and tame from an ideological standpoint! The three-pronged approach, advancing together, Darro will naturally be conquered! Without fighting, without expending any effort! Empress, esteemed ministers, do you agree? The room was silent, and you could hear a pin drop! Everyone looked at Lin Beifan in shock, and in their hearts, four words emerged: what a cunning monster! Chapter 67: This Plan is Brilliant, Expanding the Territory is Just Around the Corner! Chapter 67: This n is Brilliant, Expanding the Territory is Just Around the Corner! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, the court officials and the empress were all pondering about the feasibility of this n. Conquer through military force! Control through economy! Tame through ideology! By doing these three things, they can firmly control Darro and merge it into Great Wu without waging war or hurting the people, achieving their goal of expanding their territory. This idea was too great, and the more they thought about it, the more feasible it became! To be honest, if they can achieve all three aspects, they dont believe they cant take over Darro! After a long time, the empress finally spoke, What do my esteemed ministers think about this n? Your Majesty, we believe this n is feasible! If we can achieve military, economic and ideological control, we dont believe we cant take over the small Darro! But these are all ideal situations! In practical implementation, we will definitely encounter various problems! For example, in terms of economy, how do we subtly control their livelihoods? This is a huge project that needs to be carefully considered! And taming them through ideology is also not easy. Changing a persons ideology is the most difficult In addition, during the implementation process, we also need to avoid raising the rm of the Darro royal family! Thats why we think we should discuss this thoroughly! The officials expressed their opinions. Lin Beifan nodded and smiled, What youve said is very true! Thats why I have written a n outline overnight, and its all in this report! Please examine it, Your Majesty! The empress anxiously said, Quickly present it! When the report was presented, the empress eagerly opened it. Although it was only a few thousand words, the empress read it slowly, not even finishing it in the time it takes to burn incense. After finishing it, the empress apuded and praised, Excellent, excellent! This n is extremely clever and very detailed! If we follow this outline, we will see results within three months! In less than three years, Darro can be merged into Great Wu! Haha The civil and military officials below couldnt help but feel eager to see what was in the report. Your Majesty, what is written in the report? May we have a look? The empress shook her head with a smile. She did not trust the officials. Behind these officialsy various interests, and for their own benefit, they had done countless things that harmed the public and benefited themselves. What if they found out about the n and made a profit from it? What if they even sold out the country? This involved her great achievement of expanding territory and could not bepromised! Moreover, if this n was implemented, not only could they incorporate Darro into the greater Wu empire, but it would also greatly enhance their power. This was too important for her, and there could be no sloppiness. The previous tribute n is abolished and reced with Sir Lins n! said the empress. Your Majesty, can we reconsider? a minister asked earnestly. The empress waved her hand, No need. We cannot think of a better way than this! We can swallow Darri without going to war. I will name this nSwallow Python! Your Majesty is wise! the officials eximed. And, this n must not be leaked! The empresss eyes glinted coldly. Otherwise, regardless of your identity or achievements, I will cut off your head and punish your whole family! We dare not, Your Majesty! the officials trembled in fear. Some officials turned pale and were sweating profusely. Even such a harsh threat as punishment for family members was said, indicating that the empress was very serious. Some people put away their cautious thoughts. In short, be honest with me! The empress threatened once again. Where is Sir Lin? I am here! Lin Beifan stepped forward. The empress smiled admiringly at Lin Beifan with a full expression of appreciation. This guy had given her another surprise! He was really talented to think of such a clever n. Sir Lins Swallow Python n not only avoids war but alsoys the foundation for our great achievement of expanding the territory of the greater Wu! If this seeds, you have done a great job, Sir Lin! Tell me, how should I reward you? Lin Beifan said humbly, Serving Your Majesty is the duty of the minister, and I dare not expect rewards. The empress dered loudly, When there is merit, there must be reward! Sir Lin,e forward and receive your rewards! I am here! Lin Beifan bowed. Reward with ten thousand silver! A pair of gold, jade, and emerald! Ten pearls! Once again, she was extravagant and didnt mind spending money. The eyes of the civil and military officials were red with envy! However, this time, they could not find any reason to oppose it. If this reallyes to fruition, they could have the chance to rise three ranks. And even if it was just for some wealth, it was well worth it. After finishing the rewards, the empress smiled and said, This is just an initial reward! If this n is sessful, I will give you a higher rank and title! Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said loudly. Chapter 68: Xiao Lis Flying Dagger, a Promise Kept! Chapter 68: Xiao Lis Flying Dagger, a Promise Kept! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Under the organization of Lin Beifan, thepensation was renegotiated. The Kingdom of Darro was not required to pay a penny, but they were to open their borders and allow the Great Wu merchants to enter and conduct business, with tariffs and other taxes collected not being overly high, and also allowing Great Wu schrs to enter and establish schools to teach the locals. After hearing the news, Prince Hamu was overjoyed. He never expected that Lin Beifan would be able to aplish this and not require any tribute. As for opening the borders and allowing Great Wu merchants and schrs to enter, it did not matter much to them as it did not pose a threat to their rule, as long as the military did not interfere. In fact, they were even pleased by it, as it could promote trade and improve the lives of their people while educating them. They were very grateful for all of this, and it could not have been done without one person. To express their gratitude, they once again invited Lin Beifan. Mr. Lin, I offer you a toast! Prince Hamu raised his ss, his face flushed with excitement. He could not believe the outstanding achievement that had been aplished during the negotiations. Upon returning home, his father would surely praise him greatly, the officials would support him, and the people would look up to him, ensuring his position as the heir. Thinking of his bright future, he was ted. Your Highness, no need for such formality. Please, everyone, have a drink! Lin Beifan offered a toast in return. Mr. Lin, please join us! The envoys all raised their sses, pleased with the achievement they had aplished. They could not deny that they would be handsomely rewarded upon their return, with titles and promotions. After enjoying a few more drinks, Lin Beifan raised his ss meaningfully and said, Prince Hamu, I have fulfilled my end of the bargain. Dont forget our agreement: 3.5 million, not a single coin less! Otherwise, not only can I overturn the previous tribute agreement, but I can also re-establish it! I dare not forget Prince Hamu was both happy and distressed, as 3.5 million was no small amount, equivalent to half a years treasury ie. However,pared to paying over 3 million in tribute to Great Wu every year, this was already a very favorable oue. He could not afford to offend Lin Beifan now. Lin, 3.5 million is arge sum. We only have about 300,000 on us now, but we will give it all to you. I will report to my father and make sure to pay the rest in full. You can trust me, as Prince Hamu, I guarantee that we will not default on this! Prince Hamu made a solemn promise. I trust you, Prince Hamu. Lets continue drinking! Lin Beifan smiled, squinting his eyes. Agreed! Lets drink to our hearts content today! The group happily continued drinking. Everyone exchanged cups and had a lively time. The drinking continued until midnight before the party dispersed. Lin Beifan went back with approximately 300,000 worth of jewelry. By this time, it was alreadyte and Li Shi Shi had fallen asleep. Lin Beifan, reeking of alcohol, didnt want to disturb her and nned to settle for a different room for the night. However, before going to sleep, he decided to upgrade himself. System, settle my ount! [Ding! Host has embezzled 700,000 taels of silver and gold jewelry, a significant amount. Reward: fuse with Xiao Li, the imperial court first ce schr ter stage) temte!] A powerful force fused into Lin Beifans body. This was Xiao Lis inner strength, along with his lifelong martial arts experience and literary talent. After all, he was not just a famous person without merit and had been the top schr in Imperial Academy. In no time, Lin Beifan had absorbed all of Xiao Lis abilities. He had the innate peak strength (if it was an innate skill, he wouldnt have contracted tuberculosis), and although his inner strength and light work were average, he had a terrifying ultimate skill that no one could ignore: the Xiao Li Flying Dagger! This was a cheat-level ability that hit the target every time, with a terrifying speed. Anyone who saw the dagger had already died. With the fusion of Xiao Lis advanced abilities, Lin Beifan could use anything as a dagger. This ability is excellent! Lin Beifanughed uncontrobly. Although his cultivation level hadnt improved, his fighting ability had been significantly elevated. When the wealth of Darro country arrives, I can further improve my cultivation level!
Xiao Li (Little Li), his real name is Li Xun Huan from drama series Legend of Dagger /Legend_of_Dagger_Li Chapter 69: The handsome man is always lonely! Chapter 69: The handsome man is always lonely! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After two busy days, Lin Beifan finally finished his work of Darro Country. He had two days off. On this day, the sun was shining and the wind was refreshing. Lin Beifan and Li Shi Shi went out of the city for a spring outing. They rode in two carriages, one for people and one for food, they leisurely left the city. The little princess also followed. It seemed that ever since she met Lin Beifan, she had be his little tail. Wherever he went, she followed. Everyone chose a beautiful ce, set up a long table, and put out snacks, wine and tea. They enjoyed the beautiful scenery while eating happily. Lin Beifan and Li Shi Shi nestled together,ughing and admiring the scenery on the mountain. A perfect match made in heaven! The little princess sat opposite, always eating and eating Her little mouth just wouldnt stop! Lin Beifan couldnt stand it anymore, Little Princess, dont eat anymore! Its rare toe out, you should take a look at the scenery around you, empty your mind, and dont just think about eating! The little princess, still eating watermelon, said, Theres nothing good to see. Ive been looking at it for more than ten years, and Im tired of it! Youve been alive for more than ten years, so howe youre not tired of life? asked Lin Beifan. The little princess: The little princess threw the watermelon peel and red fiercely at Lin Beifan, Sister Shi Shi, look at this bastard Lin Beifan. He speaks so rudely! How did you fall for him in the first ce? Li Shi Shi leaned on Lin Beifans arms and covered her mouth,ughing, Little Princess, you dont understand. My husband is the best man in the world! Being with him makes me very happy and very at ease! Lin Beifan raised his head proudly. Little Princess, dont youe to y with my husband often? The little princesss eyes dimmed, Because I dont have any friends! My status is high, everyone is afraid of me, and wont y with me! Those who have the same status are all yboys, and we cant y together! In old days, Empress Sister yed with me! But ever since she ascended the throne, she got busier and more dignified, so I have no friends! Only Lin Beifan isnt afraid of me. I wouldnt have any friends if I didnt y with him! At this moment, a warm hand covered the little princesss head. The little princess looked up to see Lin Beifans warm face. She heard Lin Beifans gentlefort, Little Princess, dont think too much. I understand you very well because I used to be very lonely and had no friends! Littel Princess: What? You never had any friends before? Why? Because, Ive always been alone! Lin Beifan sighed sadly. I bear with the handsome looks you wouldnt expect from someone my age, so Im often isted by other people! Little Princess chuckled, Youre shameless! Who praises themselves like that? Lin Beifan sighed again, Those who havent experienced misery cant really understand the troubles and misunderstandings thate with this beautiful appearance of mine. Only Dali likes me for who I am, encourages me, and never leaves my side no matter what, giving me the courage to persevere and survive! Little Princess and Li ShiShi giggled. Whileughing, Little Princess made a fist and hammered on Lin Beifans arm, You have such thick skin! Even the walls of Capital cantpare to your thick skin! You scoundrel Lin Beifan spread his hands, See, no matter what, why not just smile? Mhm! Little Princess nodded forcefully. After beingforted by Lin Beifan, her mood improved greatly, and she felt warm as well. This guy Whenever she wasnt happy, he always knew how to make her smile! He just had a unique way of doing it! So shameless! Hehe! Lin Beifan continued to stroke the small head of Little Princess, So, Little Princess, if you ever feel lonely, juste find me! Even if youre bored, you cane find me! Ill always be there for you! Lin Beifans face became firm, Please remember, youre not alone! Little Princesss eyes were filled with hope, Is what youre saying true? Lin Beifan nodded firmly, Yes, because youre a pig! Little Princess: Little Princess went crazy, Ah! Lin Beifan, you bastard, youre calling me a pig again! Do you want to kill me with anger? Saying that, she grabbed the food in front of Lin Beifan and fiercely took a bite. Little Princess, thats my favorite pig trotter, dont! I want to! This is Dongpo Pork, spit it out quickly! I want to eat it! Little Princess, you will regret it! Ill never regret it! Watching Little Princess stubbornly continue, Lin Beifan sighed, Youre from the same species, why do you eat it? Little Princess: Ah! Lin Beifan, you bastard! At that moment, two people appeared in the distance, a man and a woman riding tall horses. Chapter 70: The Worlds Turmoil Arises from People Like Us! Chapter 70: The Worlds Turmoil Arises from People Like Us! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
They saw Lin Beifan and hispanions who were out for a spring outing at a nce and couldnt help but be attracted by them. The man was handsome and extraordinary, the woman was beautiful and charming. The three of them sat on the ground while eating snacks, drinking wine, chatting about life, and living carefree. The woman said, Junior brother, there are people ahead! Lets go and ask for directions! The man replied, Okay, senior sister! Lin Beifan also noticed these two people. They were clearly martial artists of the jianghu. The man was in histe teens, wearing a slightly loose blue robe, carrying a sword on his back. The woman was about twenty years old, with delicate and beautiful features, and her ck hair was flowing in the wind. She was wearing a purple and white Han robe, looking suave and heroic! To be honest, this was not the first time that Lin Beifan had seen martial artists of the jianghu. But he had never seen anyone with such a style before. They exuded youthful spirit all over their bodies and should be from a famous family. At this time, they had already arrived in front of Lin Beifan and hispanions on horseback. The woman in purple bowed her hand and said, Greetings, three friends! We, two siblings, are from the north of Hebei and are headed to the capital! But we dont know the way, so we came to ask for directions. We hope you can help us. Thank you! Lin Beifanughed, The capital is not far from here, we will be there soon! Its fate that we meet, I have some great wine here. I would like to invite you two for a drink. Would you do me the honor? The woman hesitated for a moment. Senior sister, we have been on the road for half a day, and both us and the horses are tired. Why dont we rest for a while? The woman turned her head and found her brother staring at the two beautiful women. She sighed helplessly. He said resting, but he clearly had ulterior motives! But they were indeed tired. The woman in purple bowed and smiled, Thank you for your kindness! Please! Lin Beifan smiled. The two got off their horses and tied up the reins. Then they came to Lin Beifan and sat down on the ground. At this point, Lin Beifan had already poured them a ss of wine, Cheers! The two took a sip and eximed, This is good wine! Lin Beifan smiled, Of course, only good wine matches heroes! The two couldnt help but smile. Then they chatted. Through their conversation, they learned that the mans name was Guo Shaoshuai, and the womans name was Mo Rushuang. They came from the Iron Sword Gate in the north of Hebei and were here to do something in the capital. Lin Beifan also introduced himself in a low-key manner as Lin Beifan, an ordinary handsome man. They only felt familiar with the name and didnt think much of it. I have always longed for the jianghu! Lin Beifan smiled and asked, unable to resist inviting the two over. Could you tell me some interesting stories from the jianghu? This was his purpose in stopping the two, purely out of curiosity for jianghu gossip. Mr. Lin, what do you think jianghu is? Mo Rushuang smiled and asked. Where there are people, there is jianghu! Lin Beifan smiled and replied. Where there are people, there is jianghu Mo Rushuangs eyes lit up. You said it well! Lin Gongzi, your understanding is very deep! No, no, noI think jianghu is a ce where one can show off their prowess and be famous! As long as you are strong enough, you can use your sword to take care of all the injustices in the world and kill all the unjust people! Guo Shaoshuai eximed excitedly. After speaking, he couldnt help but nce at the two women beside Lin Beifan. However, he found that their gaze was fixed on Lin Beifan, not even sparing him a nce, leaving him very disappointed. He couldnt help feeling jealous, thinking that it was because he was only slightly handsome. Can being handsome put food on the table? Lin Beifan smiled lightly. Guo siblings, you are still young now and only see the beauty of jianghu, but not the piles of bones underneath. By the time you understand, youll be old! As the saying goeswhen the worlds winds and clouds arrive, we in the jianghu have aged! Discussing the imperial vision and hegemony with a smile, unable to withstand the intoxication of life! The women in attendance all had their eyes light up. What a great poem! What great literary talent! Guo Shaoshuai felt jealous once again. Whats so great about that? Is it just because hes more literary than me? Can this thing feed people? Mr. Lin, youre also young. Why do you have such profound insights? Mo Rushuang turned her gaze and smiled. Seeing through the ways of the world is all about learning, understanding human sentiment is all about writing! The more books you have read, the more you will understand. Its nothing remarkable! Lin Beifan replied with a faint smile. Mo Rushuang sighed, You said it so well! If everyone had Mr. Lins insights, then there would be much less strife in jianghu! Unfortunately, many people cant see through this even after they die! When will jianghu be able to calm down? As long as there are people, jianghu will never calm down! Lin Beifan said. I think that to end the conflicts in jianghu, you need strength and a big fist! As long as you have enough strength and a big enough fist, no one will not yield to you! If they dont yield, then beat them until they do! Guo Shaoshuai couldnt help but interject again, very excited. There is always a higher mountain, there are always those stronger than oneself. What is truly the strongest? Lin Beifan asked. I dont know, but I am working towards being the strongest! In the near future, I will put an end to the chaos in jianghu! Thats some big talk. Are you really that strong? Of course Im strong! Im already 17 years old and have reached the pinnacle of the eighth grade. Before Im 20, I hope to reach the seventh grade, and before Im 25, I hope to reach the innate realm. In the future, I hope to cultivate to the realm of a grandmaster! After speaking, he raised his head proudly, full of energy. Lin Beifan turned his head to look at the little princess. The little princess nodded and suddenly threw a punch. Guo Shaoshuai couldnt react and was sent flying, with stars in his eyes. Lin Beifan turned his head back. It seems youre not strong enough, lets continue our conversation from before! Guo Shaoshuai: Pfft! Chapter 71: My two maidservants, please pardon their rudeness! Chapter 71: My two maidservants, please pardon their rudeness! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Mo Ruoshuang looked at the little princess in shock and asked, Who is she? Her junior brother was a peak expert of the eighth rank, although he was not considered strong among the martial arts world, he was already a prodigy among his peers, and was expected to reach the innate level in the future. However, the woman in front of them looked even younger than her junior brother, with a single gentle punch, she had sent him flying, indicating that she had reached the seventh rank. As for the sixth rank of the innate realm, Mo Ruoshuang didnt dare to even think about it. The little princesss big, bright eyes had a hint of cunning in them. She suddenly leaned against Lin Beifan and lowered her head with some shyness, her voice soft and tender as she said, I am the young masters maidservant, responsible for serving tea and water to the young master! This sentence was too shocking! Guo Shaoshuai waspletely unable to ept it: this beautiful, lovely, younger, and more powerful young girl was just a maid to Lin Beifan! Such a talented and powerful young girl was just a maid serving tea and water! Then what was he? Is she really your maid? Guo Shaoshuai asked incredulously. Lin Beifan stroked the little princesss head and humbly said, Yes! Xiao Yun is a little impulsive and weak in strength, please forgive her! Pfft! Guo Shaoshuai looked over at Li Shishi. Then who is this? Li Shi Shi lowered her head and saw the little princess secretly gesturing to her. With her natural grace and kindness, she smiled slightly, leaned against Lin Beifan and said, I am also the young masters maid, but responsible for keeping the bed warm and changing clothes! Mo Ruoshuang asked in surprise, Do you have any martial arts skills? Li Shi Shi shook her head, No! Fortunately! Mo Ruoshuang and Guo Shaoshuai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But little princess said, But sister Shi Shi is a great schr! She excels in poetry, painting, calligraphy, and music! If she takes the imperial exams, bing a Jinshi should not be a problem! The two were dumbfounded once again! This beauty was actually a great schr! It is important to note that the imperial exams had three levels of achievement: Shengyuan, Juren, and Jinshi. Bing a Jinshi was already a rare urrence, and if you did not be an official, you would still be a well-known person of high status. And the middle-level jinshi were even more impressive. They were the top schrs in the country, highly valued by the court and had a bright future ahead of them! Many people had spent their whole lives trying to pass the exam for juren (another level of the imperial examinations), and they were already extremely proud of themselves! This little servant girl was unexpectedly so impressive? At this moment, Lin Beifan held Li Shi Shis hand and humbly smiled, Im sorry for Shi Shi ignorance, which has made the two of youugh! Guo Shaoshuai: Haha! Li Shi Shi lowered her head, ashamed, and said, I am indeed ignorant, and my knowledge is not even one percent of young masters! Guo Shaoshuai: Haha! The little princess covered her mouth and giggled secretly. So it turns out that Shishi-jie (older sister Shishi) is also a troublemaker. I wonder if she was led astray by someone? At this point, the two of them looked at Lin Beifan again, and their eyes suddenly changed! Good heavens! Theyre both talented and skilled! Both maids, one with literary talent and the other with martial arts, had reached the top level. How can anyone else live? Moreover, both maids were beautiful and stunning! They also had an affectionate look in their eyes toward the young man in front of them! Life is not fair! Guo Shaoshuai was extremely frustrated. He couldntpare to the other partys appearance. Even the only thing he could be proud of, his strength, was surpassed by the other partys maid! It felt like all his years of hard work had been in vain! Whats the point of living? Better off dead! Mr. Lin, you really impress me! Mo Rushuang looked deeply at Lin Beifan and suddenly felt that the person in front of her was mysterious and unfathomable, making it difficult to fathom him. Dont think too much, Im just an ordinary young man. Lets drink! Lin Beifan said. So they drank a few more sses of wine and shared a few interesting stories from the martial arts world before saying goodbye to Lin Beifan and continuing on their journey. However, before leaving, Mo Rushuang asked for Lin Beifans address. On the way, Guo Shaoshuai felt a bit indignant, Senior sister, youre not interested in Lin Beifan, are you? Mo Rushuang was a little embarrassed, Why do you say that, junior brother? Senior sister, you were chatting with him so happily just now. Ive never seen you talk to a man for so long! And before leaving, you even asked for his address. Isnt that to keep in touch with him in the future? Would you have taken the initiative to do that if you didnt have any intention? Guo Shaoshuai felt sour in his heart. This guy already had two beautiful and talented maids, wasnt that enough? If even his most respected senior sister was stolen away by the other party, he really would go crazy! Mo Rushuang became even more embarrassed and scolded him, Junior brother, dont talk nonsense! I just think that he has an extraordinary background and broad knowledge! Moreover, he has an amazing talent, which can be used for the prince. So I paid more attention to him! As soon as she mentioned the word prince, Guo Shaoshuai became more energized, Senior sister, is what you said true? Naturally its true! Mo Rushuangs expression became serious. The Prince is wise and valiant, noble in character, and ambitious to overthrow this chaotic world! As followers of the Prince, we naturally should share his burden! And I believe Lin Beifan is a great talent. If he can be used by the Prince, he will undoubtedly be a powerful asset! Guo Shaoshuai nodded, Senior Sister speaks the truth! Enough talk, lets continue on our journey! Once we reach the capital and find the Night Hero, we can go back as soon as possible! Yes, Senior Sister! Lets go! The winds gather in the capital!
Shengyuan, juren, and jinshi are three ranks in the Chinese imperial examination system, which was used to select officials for the government bureaucracy in Imperial China. Shengyuan () was the lowest rank, also known as students. These were individuals who had passed the initial county-level examination and were eligible to study for the next level. Juren () was the second rank, also known as rmended men. These were individuals who had passed the provincial-level examination and were eligible to study for the highest level. Jinshi () was the highest rank, also known as advanced schrs. These were individuals who had passed the pce-level examination and were eligible for appointment to high-level government positions. Bing a jinshi was considered the highest achievement in the imperial examination system, and it was a rare honor. Sessful candidates were typically appointed to high-ranking government positions and enjoyed great social status and prestige. Chapter 72: Without pressure, you wouldnt know how rich your parents are! Chapter 72: Without pressure, you wouldnt know how rich your parents are! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After Mo Ruoshuang left, the two girls, Little Princess and Li Shi Shi, giggled together. Little Princess threw herself into Li Shi Shis arms, giggling, Shi Shi sister, you acted so well just now! Your embarrassed look when you couldnt keep up with the discussion scared them both silly! Junzhu, you were just as good! Your pitiful look when you made a mistake was so heart-wrenching! Li Shi Shi covered her mouth andughed. No, Shi Shi sister, youre better than me. I still have room for improvement! The two girls praised each other. However, Lin Beifan let out a sigh and reproached them, How could you deceive others like this? He was a good young man with aspirations. Youve ruined him! Little Princess put her hands on her hips and grumbled, Youre the worst! One moment you said he was weak, another moment you insult us as servants, you shattered his moral integrity! Hmph! Husband, Little Princess is right. I wont defend you this time, Li Shi Shi protested unhappily. Lin Beifan apologized repeatedly, I know, it was all my fault! But I did it for their own good! The two girls were confused, This was for their own good? Yes, I did it to teach them a valuable lesson: never trust someone just because they look good! Lin Beifan exined. The two girls burst intoughter once again, enjoying themselves thoroughly. After they finished their wine, they continued to admire the scenery until it waste and they returned home. Lin Beifan didnt take Mo Ruoshuang and herpanion seriously, thinking that it was a chance encounter and their paths will likely never cross again. After his vacation, Lin Beifan returned to the Imperial Academy to resume his duties as a director. On the day of the monthly exam, Lin Beifan cancelled all other work to invigte the tests. He felt thrilled because it was another day to reap the rewards of his work he could officially harvest the budding cabbage. As he watched the students pondering over their exams and scratching their heads, Lin Beifan felt content. It looked like he could reap another good harvest. Sweet! The results were soon released. Gao Tianyu, failed! Wang Ruofeng, failed! Ding Shaoren, failed! None of them passed! Lin Beifan fumed, Take a look at your grades! I gave you a month, arranged the best teachers, and hired a homeroom teacher for your ss, but you still ended up with zero points! What use are you to me? Are you worth my painstaking effort? The sons of high-ranking officials trembled in fear, Director, we were wrong! Please, give us another chance! I dont want to say any more! Lin Beifan drew arge stick, I dont want to use violence, but youre forcing me to! Im democratic you can either give me your money or your life. Choose one! Life we choose life!!! Under Lin Beifans coercion, one by one they all reluctantly took out their money. ording to the rules, failing the first monthly exam would result in a caning of 20 strokes. Failing the second monthly exam would result in a caning of 40 strokes. If they didnt want to be beaten, they had to pay 1,00 taels of silver for each stroke. So, each of them took out 4,000 taels of silver. In total, there were 24 people, which added up to 96,000 taels of silver. One wave of extortion made Lin Beifan rich! Lin Beifan epted the money, feeling satisfied, You all are well-prepared, if only youd put this much effort into your studies! These spoiled brats had been milked so many times, yet they still had a huge potential to be exploited. Lin Beifan thought he could still squeeze more out of them. If I dont push you, you wouldnt even know how rich your parents are! Seeing the depressed faces of the students, Lin Beifan yelled, Stop looking so mournful, do you really think I wanted your money? Isnt that what you wanted? the students asked hungrily. Of course not! Im a director how could I do such a thing? Lin Beifan said righteously, I did this to motivate you to study hard! If you dont understand, its your loss, why me me? The students sneered to themselves, not believing a single punctuation mark he said. Let me tell you, the money is only with me temporarily! When you all improve, I will return the money to you! The students were ted, We can get the money back? Of course! Im a director, whats the point of cheating you? Lin Beifan was getting angry. The students had a glimmer of hope, their mood was lifted. Im sorry, Director, I misunderstood you before! I thought you were a corrupt official, but I didnt expect your intentions to be good for us! Im sorry, Director, I was wrong to me you! Lin Beifan felt warm in his heart. After all, they were just children! He waved his hand nonchntly, saying, As long as you understand my good intentions, thats enough! Enough talking, keep working hard! I look forward to hearing good news from you all! Um, Director Lin how can we get the money back? one person cautiously asked. Everyone listened carefully. Lin Beifan smiled, Its simple, just pass the imperial examination and Ill return the money! The imperial examination? Thats impossible! Kill me then! Everyonemented. Passing the provincial level examination was feasible, given their family background and some maniption, but passing the imperial level examination was hopeless! Traditionally, the emperor would personally oversee and review the exam papers of the students, making it clear whether you truly had the ability or not! If there were any issues, it could cost you your life! They red at Lin Beifan in anger. This guy was too despicable! He brought them hope, then crushed it himself! You devil!!! Lin Beifan ignored them and left, patting his butt, Next time you give me something, make sure its better or else the price will go up! After Lin Beifan left, Gao Tianyu let out a roar, Enough! I cant take it anymore!!! Every day we are brought to school, losing our freedom, living a live worse than death! If weete, we get beaten; if we dont learn, we get beaten; if we dont pass, we get beaten again! If we dont want to get beaten, we have to pay, but if we dont pay, we still get beaten. Now, I dont even have a single penny left on me! When we go back and ask for money, our parents will just scold us! When will this miserable life end? I dont want to live anymore!!! Other young masters were listening, their hearts filled with sorrow, tears streaming down their faces. Yes, were living so miserably! No money, no freedom, no one loves us! We have nothing, I dont even know the meaning of living anymore! I havent tasted the touch of a woman in a month! Im just a child, why must they treat me like this? I dont want to live anymore! Waaah! At this moment, Gao Tianyus eyes turned cold, and he gritted his teeth, Lets justlets find someone to kill him, alright? All the others were shocked. Kill a court official? Thats a huge crime! We would lose our heads! My father said that Lin Beifan is favored by the Empress. If we kill him, the Empress will be furious and our own fathers wont be able to protect us! I think we should consider this for longer Whats there to be afraid of? We can secretly spend money to hire an assassin! Even if something happens and the assassin is caught, we wont be med! Gao Tianyu sneered. Isnt this inappropriate? Whats inappropriate about it? Do you want to continue living like this? I cant bear it even if you can! Gao Tianyu said without looking up. What if he doesnt die? If he doesnt die, then well hire someone else to kill him until hes dead for real! Gao Tianyuughed arrogantly. What if he finds out? Even if he finds out, theres no need to worry. Just deny it! Any incident requires evidence, dont you know that? Were not easy to bully either! Gao Tianyuughed. What if he doesnt give in? Gao Tianyu became angry and mmed his hand on the table, Enough! Cant you see Im annoyed? The next second, his face turned pale. DirectorDirector Lin ! Youyoure back? he stuttered. I came back for my stick, but unexpectedly heard a major matter concerning my life! Great! Very great! Excellent! Lin Beifan sneered while holding his stick. Gao Tianyu red at the people around him and whispered, Why didnt you remind me? The other young masters all smiled bitterly, they wanted to remind him but couldnt somehow bring themselves to. They watched as Gao Tianyu fell deeper into the trap. Director, please listen to me, things arent what they seem Gao Tianyu tried to exin. Lin Beifan remained expressionless, Hiring someone to kill a court official is a very serious crime! ording to the rules of the Imperial Academy, you will be expelled and sent to the authorities to be punished! Gao Tianyu panicked, Dont expel me, Ill pay! Ill pay He immediately took out all his money, totaling about 50,000 taels, and gestured to the other young masters, finally umting 300,000 taels. Director Lin, here it is! A total of 300,000 taels! Gao Tianyu fawned. Lin Beifan collected the money and lifted his stick, But Im still very angry, can I hit you once? Looking at the thick stick, Gao Tianyus legs weakened and he begged, Lord Siye, please dont hit me! I know I was wrong. If you hit me, Ill die Lin Beifans voice softened, Listen to me! Lay down and lift your butt! Gao Tianyus face turned white and he clung to Lin Beifans leg, Director, please dont do this Dont worry, only once! It will be over soon! Lin Beifan shook his leg lightly and Gao Tianyu fell to the ground. The stick was raised high and then came down swiftly. Dontah!!! Chapter 73: Causing Displeasure, Officials Unite to Impeach! Chapter 73: Causing Displeasure, Officials Unite to Impeach! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
With just one strike, Gao Tianyus skin split open again, and he rolled around in agony and wet himself. If he didnt need to lie down for two months after this, then he wouldnt deserve to have screamed so pitifully! The other young master students who witnessed this felt immense pain, both in their hearts and their butts. It was too cruel! Trulytoo cruel! It was enough to take a life! As they looked at Lin Beifan, their gazes were filled with fear. After delivering this blow, Lin Beifan looked at the other young master students and said, You all are aplices and participated in the conspiracy to kill a government official. ording to the rules of the imperial academy, you will be caned 100 times and expelled from your studies, then handed over to the authorities! However, considering that this is your first offense, I will give you all a chance to reform. Do you want money or your lives? The young master students wailed, What? We have to be punished too? But we didnt do anything! Lin Beifan angrily said, If youd actually done something, would I be calmly reasoning with you right now? The young master students were so angry they were spitting blood. How was this reasoning? It was clearly just extortion! He was waving around such a thick stick, how could this be called calm reasoning? Demon! Director Lin, we really have no more money! Yes, were truly broke! I even stole the dowry my mother gave me, and when I go back Ill be beaten up! We really cant squeeze out any more silver! Lin Beifans expression softened slightly and he put away the stick. I understand your difficulties, and Im not unreasonable. Heres what you can do. Ill give you three days. If you cante up with the money in time, we will follow thew and take action. If you doe up with the money, then youll be forgiven for what happened before. Yes, Director Lin! The young master students went back despondently. They had to reach out to their parents for money again in order to make up the amount required. At the home of the Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen : His son, Qian Duocai, looked at his dignified old father and stuttered, Father, could I have some money? Why do you need money? Minister Qian Yuanshen snorted. To tell the truth, he was very dissatisfied with his son. He couldnt do anything right, and spent all his time eating, drinking, gambling and whoring. He was always asking the family for money. If this werent his own offspring, he would want to p him dead. Qian Duocai shrank his head and said fearfully, Father, I made a mistake at the imperial academy and was fined by Director Lin. He wants to beat me, so You made a mistake again? What did you do wrong? Qian Yuanshen was furious. He knew that Lin Beifan was incredibly corrupt and especially enjoyed extorting money from their children. However, this guy was as shrewd as a monkey. Even if he was being corrupt, he always had legitimate reasons for doing so, making it impossible for them to do anything. It had to be that his son had made another mistake and been caught by the other party. Hiring someone to kill a government official. I was an aplice, but we failed and were discovered. Does that count? Qian Duocai whispered. Qian Yuanshen was so angry he was trembling. You ungrateful brat He raised his hand, wanting to p him, but was stopped by his olddy. Enough, whats the big deal? After all, he is still your son. Dont hit him. I feel bad for him if you break his bones. Qian Yuanshen was even more angry. You see, youre too doting on him. Youre just spoiling him! The olddy and Qian Duocai both fell silent. However, Lin Beifan is also an asshole! Qian Yuanshen gritted his teeth. Hes already taken so much money, isnt that enough? His greed knows no bounds! Tomorrow, I will definitely impeach him! At the home of the Minister of Public Works, Wang Yuanshan : When his son, Wang Ruofeng, returned home, he immediately knelt in front of an olddy and wept bitterly, Mother, you have to help me! If you dont help me, Ill be killed My child, whats wrong? The olddy asked with concern. Im broke! If I cante up with 100,000 taels in three days, Ill be beaten to death! Mother, please help me persuade Father to give me another 100,000! That night, when he returned home, Wang Yuanshan was very angry. He was not only angry at his son, but also at Lin Beifan. Damn it, that Lin Beifan really thinks my son is like a leek, so easy to cut as he pleases? A wise man can put up with anything, but there are some things a man cant tolerate. I will definitely impeach him tomorrow! Simr incidents also urred in the households of other officials. However, the person who was the most furious was the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao. Because his most beloved son had been beaten up once again. Not only did the other party extort money from him, but they also beat his son until his skin split open. He was heartbroken. If a p on the wrist is all it takes, how can we resolve this? On the same night, the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, rushed to Lin Beifans house. Minister Gao, what brings you here? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. You know why! Gao Tianyao eximed. Lin Beifan, did you beat my son into that state because you think you can get away with it due to the empresss favoritism towards you? Minister Gao, why dont you ask what your son did? He is just a child, what could he have done? You are simply seeking revenge! Lin Beifans smile disappeared, and his face turned serious. Minister Gao, your son Gao Tianyu, publicly dered that he wanted to hire someone to kill me! This is a taboo in the government circles, dont you understand? I have already shown mercy to him by not expelling him. You stille to demand justice, what logic is this? Gao Tianyaos face changed slightly. There is indeed a rule in the government circles that one cannot hire a hitman to assassinate a political opponent. Otherwise, it would lead to chaos. All disputes must be resolved in court. Therefore, in the government circles, no one can buy a hitman to kill anyone, even if they do, they cannot be caught, or else they will suffer the consequences. Even if you say so, what can be done if nothing has happened? continued Gao Tianyao. Isnt prevention better than cure? replied Lin Beifan sternly. As the Director of the National Academy, I must be cautious! If I find a problem, I must correct it in time! Is what I did wrong? Gao Tianyaosplexion changed, and he left in a huff. Hmph! I couldnt argue with you, you can handle it yourself, but our ount is not settled! Please be careful on the way home, Minister Gao. Lin Beifan waved his hand with a smile. After returning home, Gao Tianyao looked at his sons miserable appearance, and his anger rose again. My son, dont worry, I will avenge you! The next day in the morning court, a very spectacr and orderly scene appeared. Your Majesty, I report Lin Beifan, the Director of the Imperial Academy, for his misconduct! Your Majesty, I report Lin Beifan, the Director of the Imperial Academy, for his misconduct! The Empress was a little confused. What had this guy done to make all the officials turn against him? Why must you all use Director Lin? asked the Empress. Minister Gao Tianyao stood up and said loudly, Your Majesty, during his tenure as the Director of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan acted recklessly, was morally corrupted, encouraged students to y with strange and exotic techniques, neglected their studies, and shook the foundation of education. I ask Your Majesty to investigate! I ask Your Majesty to investigate! echoed the officials. Their own corruption could not be exposed, so they had to find legitimate reasons. Director Lin, is this true? asked the Empress. Lin Beifan calmly stood up and said, Your Majesty, this ispletely false, they are just making baseless usations! Gao Tianyao sneered, Lin Beifan, I knew you would deny it! Thats why I invited Principal Liu and another Director to testify for me! Announce! ordered the Empress. The old eunuch shouted loudly, Invite the Principal of the Imperial Academy Liu Huaye and the Director of Imperial Academy Sun Tiandao to see the empress! Soon, Lin Beifans immediate superior Liu Huaye and his colleague Sun Tiandao walked into the Golden Imperial Pce. Greetings, Empress! Our Majesty, live for ten thousand years! You may rise. Thank you, Your Majesty. The Empresss face was strict as she asked, Just now, the Minister of Personnel Gao said that during his time at the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan was willful and morally corrupt, encouraging students to indulge in strange and perverse practices and neglecting their studies. Is there any truth to this? The two looked at each other and replied at the same time, It is true! Liu Huaye took a deep breath and said, Your Majesty, during his term, Director Lin acted recklessly He went on to list all of Lin Beifans crimes. Lin Beifan looked disdainfully at this old man who sought favor and went along with whatever was popr. He not only failed to defend him while the court was looking into his case, but also took the opportunity to put him down. How could he be a great official? After Liu Huaye finished, he stepped back, and it was Sun Tiandaos turn to exin. Sir Lin, do you have anything to say? The Empress was a little worried. If what Lin Beifan had done was really as Liu Huaye had said, then under the pressure of the court, she would have to temporarily remove his post and avoid the crisis. She sighed. Could this guy give her a break? He was very capable, but he also had a knack for causing trouble. She was always left to clean up after him. At this point, Lin Beifan calmly raised his hand and said, Your Majesty, the Principals allegations are incorrect! I did encourage students to study strange and perverse practices, but it was all for Your Majesty, for Great Wu, for the country and the people! Absurd! I have never heard that ying with strange and perverse practices can benefit Your Majesty, benefit Great Wu, and benefit the country and the people! On the contrary, many people lose their ambition because of these distractions and end up being useless! Thats right! As schrs, we should aim for sess, fulfill our duty by benefiting the people, and be diligent in our studies. We should not waste our time on useless things! Lin, what is your true intention behind this? Your Majesty, Director Lin is simply wicked and mischievous, taking advantage of your favor to act recklessly. Your Majesty, please issue a decree to punish him! The officials were all arguing and pointing fingers at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan calmly said, I would like to ask Your Majesty and all the ministers to follow me to the Imperial Academy! Once were there, everything will be clear! The Empress thought for a moment and nodded, Agreed. Chapter 74: Heaven Enters the Sea, Dreaming Under the Shade of Rice Chapter 74: Heaven Enters the Sea, Dreaming Under the Shade of Rice Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After about half an hour, everyone arrived at the Imperial Academy. Lin Beifan led everyone to thekeside. At this time, there was a student by theke, ying with all sorts of strange things and looking very busy. When he saw Lin Beifan leading a group of officials in their official costumesing over, he was very surprised. He quickly put down whatever he was holding and bowed respectfully, Student pays respects to Director Lin, and all the officials! No need for so much courtesy! Lin Beifan smiled kindly. Haitian, let me introduce you. This elegant and peerless woman is the current Holy Empress! The others are the current civil and military officials! Ahh! Its actually the Empress! The other party was flustered and bowed again, Student pays respects to the Empress, long live the empress! Stand up. The Empress extended her hand. Thank you, Your Majesty! Although he stood up straight, he still dared not look up. His whole body trembled and his face was covered in sweat. Obviously, he was seeing such a grand scene for the first time and was very nervous. Lin Beifanughed, Haitian, how is your research going? I brought the Empress and the civil and military officials to take a look. Show us your results quickly! Haitian nodded hurriedly, Yes, yesI will show you my resultsbut I am still quite nervous. He was still too nervous and couldnt exin clearly. So Lin Beifan stepped in and smiled, Before showing you the results, may I ask the Empress and the officials a question? Can steel float on water? Absurd! Steel is so heavy, how could it possibly float on water? It will definitely sink to the bottom of the sea! Gao Tianyao looked displeased. Yes, how could steel float on water? Its impossible! Lin Beifan, why are you asking such a strange question? Have you studied so much that youre bing foolish? Everyone mocked him. The Empress remained silent and looked calmly at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan smiled faintly and took out a strangely shaped iron block from the side, made to look like a model ship. Your Majesty and officials, take a look, is this made of steel? After the Empress and several officials passed it around, they nodded, Yes, this is definitely made of steel! If this thing is put on water, will it sink? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. It will definitely sink! the officials dered confidently. Alright, watch this! Lin Beifan tossed the iron block into theke. The iron block sshed into the water and created a lot of ripples. When everyone thought the iron block was going to sink, it actually floated up, swaying with the waves like a boat. The Empress and officials were all shocked, This As you can see, although this thing is made of steel and is extremely heavy, it can still float on water! Your Majesty and officials, do you know why? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Wehave no idea! everyone shook their heads in confusion. One official couldnt help but ask, Sir Lin, this iron block is so heavy, how can it float on water? It doesnt make sense! Its because of buoyancy! Lin Beifan smiled, Water has buoyancy, so it can support boats and oars, leaves, and even all things, including steel! The reason it doesnt float is just because it hasnt met the right conditions yet! Everyone nodded in confusion. But in Lin Beifans eyes, they were all pretending to know. Only the Empress pretended to be the most profound, staring at Lin Beifan all the while. Lin Beifan, what is the point of researching these things? Can it govern the country and protect the people? If not, they are just useless tricks and not worth considering! Gao Tianyao sneered. Minister Gao, your vision is too narrow! Lin Beifan shook his head and said, Your Majesty and officials, just think, if we thoroughly understand this principle and buildrge steel ships, what would happen to our Great Wu Navy? Everyones faces changed, stunned. Buildingrge steel ships, this Using steel to build a ship, how could that be possible? But if we can buildrge steel shipswow! Wow! Everyone gasped in shock. Lin Beifans eyes were fanatical. If we can create a steel behemoth, we can dominate the worlds waters and be unstoppable! Our navy will no longer have any worries! Everyone nodded in agreement. Your Majesty and esteemed guests, do you still think this research is useless? Lin Beifan smiled faintly. Everyone fell silent. Only the empress nodded in approval. Sir Lin, you speak the truth! Then she said dreamily, If one day, we really can create arge steel ship, we will be unbeatable and rule over the seas and oceans in no time! Minister Lin, and this student, you must continue with this research! Once the steel ship is created, I will reward you heavily! the empress said. Lin Beifan bowed. I shall obey! The student named Haitian was thrilled. I shall obey! Then Lin Beifan led the group to a wide square. Several students were working on a balloon-like object. Your Majesty and esteemed guests, before introducing this object, may I ask if you think its possible for humans to fly? Lin Beifan asked. Thats impossible! How can humans fly? Even if one reaches the pinnacle of martial arts, they can only jump higher and stay in the air longer. Flying is impossible! Perhaps only divine beings can do it! Everyone shook their heads. Lin Beifan pointed to the balloon and smiled. But my invention might make it possible! The crowd erupted in protest. Thats impossible! Its definitely not possible! Please watch, Lin Beifanmanded. The students lit a fire underneath the balloon and it swiftly inted. Then, amidst everyones shocked gazes, it slowly rose up to a height of seven or eight yards. Luckily, there was a rope holding it down, or it might have flown away. Its really flying! Its flying! How is this possible? The Empress was shocked and so were the officials. Lin Beifan smiled and said, This is modified based on the principle of a Kongmingntern and was originally called an air balloon! Currently, it can carry about 10 kilograms of weight, which means it can carry a baby! Think about it, if we erge it 10 or even 20 times, we can carry people up in the sky! It seems like we can really do it! Everyone looked up at the air balloon in awe and wonder. Flying, it was the dream of many people for thousands of years, with countless ssic poems and myths and legends passed down over generations. It was romantic and deeply ingrained in the culture, but it was almost impossible to achieve. Humans could not fly, but now they saw hope. The Empress eximed, Great, great, great! Sir Lin you have given me yet another surprise! Your Majesty, besides flying, this air balloon can be used in various ways! With its wonderful applications, it can quickly enhance the military might of our country and suppress enemies all around! What can it be used for? Tell me quickly! As the saying goes, if you stand high, you can see far! With this air balloon transported to the battlefield, people can climb up and fly, and see the enemys troops and deployment from above. Yes, why didnt I think of that? With such a powerful weapon, our chances of winning are greatly increased! The officials pped their foreheads in agreement. In addition, it can also survey the terrain! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Our country has many mountains, which are high and treacherous, and many ces are difficult to walk. Many terrain areas are still a nk space! However, by sitting on the air balloon, we can observe the mountains and terrain from a high vantage point! Yes, it can be used this way too! Amazing! Lin Beifan went on to exin the several benefits of the air balloon. Each application was amazing and made people apud! The Empress looked at the air balloon with fiery eyes and said, Lin Beifan, we must study this air balloon carefully and try to carry people up in the sky as soon as possible! I will fulfill Her Majestys order! Lin Beifan bowed. Then, Lin Beifan led everyone to a grassy field. The field had been damaged and reced with rice paddies. Several students had taken off their clothes and were busy working in the paddy fields, like ordinary farmers. At this moment, everyone felt a little ufortable. The first two inventions were too astonishing, either flying in the sky or diving underwater, exceeding everyones imagination, and were incredibly impressive. However, this scene before them It was almostmonce. Lin Beifan, what is this? The Empress asked curiously. Before unveiling this invention, Id like to share one thing I dreamed of under the shade of rice paddies since childhood! Say it! The Empress nodded. Since I was a child, I had a dream of finding afortable spot under the rice paddies! Lin Beifan was exhrated. I once dreamed that rice grew taller than sorghum, the ears longer than brooms, and the grains were as big as peanuts! My family and I were taking a nap under these rice fields. The Empressughed, This is not only your dream but also mine! If rice can grow taller than sorghum, ears longer than brooms, and grains as big as peanuts, then there wont be any hunger or poverty in the world! As the people say, food is of the utmost importance. Once the problem of food is solved, many problems will cease to exist! Then she asked in confusion, However, what does this have to do with your invention? Because I found that by crossbreeding hybrid rice, the rice grown will be taller, stronger, more resistant to natural disasters, and hence yield higher! So, I encourage interested students to research in this area! The Empress and officials all looked dismayed. Chapter 75: I have a small disposition and will seek revenge on the spot! Chapter 75: I have a small disposition and will seek revenge on the spot! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Ultimately, all national problems are rooted in food problems! This is because the country is made up of people, and people need to eat. Only by first being well-fed can they worry about other things. If they cant even eat well, then other issues cannot even be discussed. The Empresss just now had a point, as long as the food problem can be solved, many other problems wont be problems! If Lin Beifan can really improve the grain yield, then The Empress anxiously asked, Sir Lin, are you sure? Can this hybrid rice improve yield? I wouldnt dare to deceive Your Majesty! Lin Beifan pped his hands, and someone immediately handed him a booklet, which he passed to the Empress. As the Empress read, Lin Beifan exined, This is information that I had my students collect from themon people, visitingrge farming households, and walking through the fields! ording to the information, the hybrid rice grows taller and stronger, more able to resist natural disasters, and produces more grains per stalk! Furthermore, a grain of hybrid rice can increase the yield by more than 30%pared to regr rice! Your Majesty and all other officials, think about it Lin Beifan said in a tempting tone, If we were to research and promote hybrid rice throughout the country, the national rice yield would increase by over 30%! And thiswould be able to solve the food problems of 50-60 million people! Everyones breathing became rapid. An increase in rice yield of over 30%! Solving the food problem of 50-60 million people! What a great achievement this would be! It is worth noting that many countries have poptions of only ten million or so! Although the Great Wu Empire has abundant resources and can support only two hundred million people, 90% of the poption struggles to get by, without sufficient food. Therefore, the national situation is now highly unstable, and people are barely surviving! All of this is due to the fact that they cannot eat their fill. If the hybrid rice can be sessfully promoted, not only can it solve the food issues of 50-60 million people, it can also consolidate the ruling power! After all, if people have enough to eat, live well, who has the energy to start a revolution? If you dare to resist, I wont let you eat! Food is the most powerful weapon and is the guarantee of long-term peace in a country! Sir Lin, can this hybrid rice really increase yield by 30%? The Empress asked again. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Thats just a conservative estimate, it could be even more! If we could select the best rice varieties for crossbreeding, it wouldnt be surprising if we could increase yield by 50% or even 80%! 50% or even 80%! Everyone listened, their eyes zed over, and their breathing became rapid. If we can really research and promote this hybrid rice, the people would have enough food, and the country would definitely be more stable, with peace throughout the realm! Your Majestys rule will be unshakable, and the Great Wu Empire would have long-term stability and session! The Empresss breathing became even more rapid, Sir Lin, you must research this well! Tell me what you need, and I will make sure you have it! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kind words! Lin Beifanughed. Then, Lin Beifan led the Empress and the other officials to see other inventions and creations. Although they were not as stunning as the first three inventions, they were still of great use. The Empress and the officials were dazzled and impressed, feeling as if they had wasted their lives for the past few decades. Your Majesty, this is the strange and clever technique that I have encouraged my students to research. What do you think of it? Lin Beifan smiled proudly. The Empressughed and scolded, If this counts as a strange and clever technique, then there is no such thing as a strange and clever technique in the world! For this kind of strange and clever technique, you should bring more people to research it! As long as you can research one, it can benefit the people, and the merit is immeasurable! However, all my intentions are for Your Majesty, for Great Wu, and for the people! Despite my genuine loyalty, I am not understood by others, and even used and ndered by my colleagues and officials. I am suffering! Lin Beifan covered his chest and forcibly squeezed out two tears with his inner strength. At this point in the y, Lin Beifan felt that Oscar owed him a little golden man! The officials twitched their mouths as they listened. Who was he calling a petty person? The Empress sympathetically said, Minister Lin, you have suffered injustice! She then looked at the officials with the authority and threat in her phoenix eyes. I will let Sir Lin continue to research his strange and clever technique. Does anyone have any objections? If you do, just speak up, I wont listen anyway! The officials smiled wryly. There was no use saying anything since the Empress wouldnt listen. It was obvious that the Empress was biased towards Lin Beifan! If they were the emperor, they would have done the same thing because these things were too terrifying. As long as one of these things could be researched, the national strength would increase rapidly! It was simply a national treasure, and no one would be unmoved. We have no objections! the officials said in unison. The Empress encouraged Lin Beifan, Sir Lin, research these things well. As long as you research one of them, you will be heavily rewarded! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed. The suspicion was cleared. Now, its time for revenge! Lin Beifan was a person with a small mind who couldnt stand being wronged. If he had a grudge, he would revenge it on the spot! Lets kill two petty people first and boost morale! Thinking of this, Lin Beifan sighed with disappointment. Why are you sighing, Sir Lin? the Empress asked. Your Majesty, since taking the position of the Director of the Imperial Academy, I have been working diligently and conscientiously, fulfilling my duties. As a result, the Imperial Academy has undergone aplete transformation. The students have obeyed the rules and regtions and achieved significant improvements in academic performance. All of this is visible to everyone! However, I dont know why, but all the officials havee to use me! Ignorance is not a crime, and I can understand that! But, as colleagues of mine, Principal Liu and Director Sun, they have seen all of this, yet they continue to use me! So, I am extremely confused, distressed, and cant control my emotions! The Empresss face turned solemn. Liu Huaye and Sun Tiandao, is this true? Principal Liu and Director Sun became flustered and stammered. This Your Majesty, you can ask other teachers and students, and they can testify for me! Lin Beifan said. At this moment, a familiar person appeared in front of the Empress and the officials. Greetings, Your Majesty, Long live Your Majesty! This person was Yao Zheng, an official who taught at the Imperial Academy. He came to pay respects to the Empress because he heard that she was here. He wanted to show that he was still in the game and had a chance to be called back. When the Empress saw Yao Zheng, she smiled and said, Sir Yao, long time no see! I heard that you teach at the Imperial Academy now. I am very pleased! I hope you can cultivate more talents and serve the country! Yao Zheng was overjoyed and said, Yes, Your Majesty! I will not disappoint your expectations! You came at the right time. You are an honest person, and I have something to ask you! Your Majesty, please ask. I will tell you everything! I ask you, how has Sir Lin done since he took office at the Imperial Academy? Yao Zheng nced at Lin Beifan and said, Your Majesty, Sir Lin has been responsible for the discipline, morals, and academic performance of the students at the Imperial Academy. In terms of discipline, Sir Lin strictly enforces the regtions of the Imperial Academy, and the phenomenon of beingte, absent from ss, and skipping ss has noticeably decreased. The atmosphere has improved greatly! Lin Beifan secretly smirked. He had reduced the phenomenon of students beingte or skipping ss by disciplining them. As for moral conduct, Sir Lin has put forward higher rules. Anyone who does not bow to the teachers, says vulgarnguage, or spits randomly will be punished! At the same time, he also invited me to be the morality teacher, and the students moral conduct has improved significantly! Lin Beifan smirked again. He had put forward stricter rules to fleece these spoiled kids. Anyone who dared not bow to the teachers, spoke vulgarnguage, or spat randomly would be punished. With strict rules, the results will naturally be remarkable! What about the students academic performance? the Empress asked again. Your Majesty, since Lin Beifan has taken over as the director, there have been two monthly exams, and the average student performance has significantly improved! Yao Zheng replied. Lin Beifan smiled secretly. Holding those students firmly in the ssroom, even if they didnt want to learn, they could learn something eventually. And if they didnt perform well, they would either be beaten or fined. They had great potential, and their grades improved rapidly. With their improved performance, wouldnt the average performance of the students in the Imperial Academy increase? It can be said that by getting these students under control, many problems will be solved easily! At this moment, the more the Empress listened, the more her face became gloomy. Liu Jiyue and Sun Siyes faces were getting paler and they were almost copsing. Finally, the Empress asked, Sir Yao, what you said is true? Every word I said is true! Although I have different opinions from Lin Beifan, I would never speak good or bad words with a guilty conscience! I am a righteous person and if there is any falsehood in my words, Your Majesty can punish me! Yao Zhengs face was serious. The Empress turned her head and pointed at Principal Liu and Director Sun, angrily saying, You, Liu Huaye! You, Sun Tiandao! As the officials of the Imperial Academy, you have used loyal and honest people and harmed your colleagues! With such unscrupulous behavior, what right do you have to lead students as role models? With such disregard for thew, what crime should you be punished with? Your Majesty, forgive us! We were ignorant for a while The two of them knelt down in fear and secretly signaled to the officials, hoping that they could say a few good words for them. After all, they were being instigated by the officials. However, not one official stood up. They watched intently, their noses and hearts in sync, with hands in pockets. At this time, the Empress shouted loudly, Take off Sun Tiandaos official robe and demote him to amoner, never to be employed again! Your Majesty, forgive me, I know my mistake Sun Tiandao kept bowing his head. Take him away! I dont want to see him again! The Empress waved her hand. So, Sun Tiandao has been taken away. And you, Liu Huaye, the Empress shouted loudly, As the principal of the Imperial Academy, not only is your conduct reprehensible, but you have also harmed your subordinates! Moreover, you have poor eyesight and are really not worth utilizing! However, in view of your hard work in providing the court with arge number of talents over the years, your position will be temporarily retained, but your sry will be docked for two years! I hope you remember this lesson, and if you make the same mistake again, I wont spare you. Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty! Liu Huaye bowed his head and breathed a sigh of relief secretly. Chapter 76: Officials Apologize to Lin Beifan? Chapter 76: Officials Apologize to Lin Beifan? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
To be honest, the Empress really wanted topletely demote Liu Huaye. But, the Imperial Academy cannot be without a Principal. After demoting him, she would have to arrange for a new person to take on the job of Principal All the civil and military officials in the court were corrupt officials and traitors, each one greedier and more cunning than the next. Who would be a good choice? So, its better to let Liu Huaye continue for now. At least, he still had some conscience and didnt let the corruption of the officialdom affect the Imperial Academy. And you all! The Empresss phoenix eyes scanned the officials and ministers, her expression turning stern. You have ndered the loyal and innocent officials and falsely used your colleagues! If it werent for Sir Lin proving his innocence, Im afraid your official positions and reputations would be ruined. What crime do you think you should be punished with? We humble officials were ignorant and misled by wicked men. We beg Your Majestys punishment! The officials bowed and spoke in unison. As old hands in the court, they immediately lowered their heads to admit fault. Thew doesnt punish a group, so what can she really do? In the end, it would all be smoothed over and forgotten. No one would be affected. The Empress hummed disapprovingly, clearly seeing through their tricks. But, the Empress wasnt a simple person herself. Alright, since you all know your mistakes and beg for punishment, then I will punish youapologize to Sir Lin! she dered. The officials were dumbfounded! They were being asked to apologize to that bastard Lin Beifan? These high-ranking officials of the court were being asked to apologize to a lowly sixth-rank official? How could they face the public like this? Lin Beifan was also stunned! The officials were being told to apologize to him? Thisthis This was great! The Empress was so kind, she loved him! Without realizing it, Lin Beifan stood up, making it easier for the officials to apologize. Looking at the hesitant officials, the Empresss tone turned cold. Whats wrongreluctant? I only asked you to apologize to Sir Lin. Cant you even do this little thing? Or do you not believe you are in the wrong? Are you trying to deceive the Empress? The officials panicked. We dare not do so, Your Majesty! Since you dare not, then hurry up and apologize. Do I need to remind you again? the Empress barked. This At this point, Lin Beifan coughed. My esteemed officials, as the Empresss faithful subjects, we should share the Empresss worries. We should not make things difficult for the Empress! Whatever the Empress orders, we will do it. This is our duty as officials! I am ready. Are you all ready? Please apologize to me quickly! The officials felt extremely wronged! Of course, you wouldnt feel troubled. Youre not the one who needs to apologize! Youre not the one losing face! At this point, Lin Beifan considered their feelings. My esteemed officials, time is running out. Are youing one by one, or all at once? I can ept either way! The officials were left speechless. You can ept it, but we cant ept it! You little bastard! The officials looked at each other for a while. Finally, led by some department heads, they bowed and apologized very reluctantly, saying, Sorry, Sir Lin! Ah~ Lin Beifan closed his eyes in rapture. The sound of the apology was so pleasant, so beautiful, and so heartwarming! It felt like he was enjoying a foot massage from head to toe! It felt so good! Finally unable to resist, he couldnt help but ask, My esteemed officials, I didnt catch that. Can you say it again? The officials: The Empress, who was watching with a cold gaze, almostughed. Lin Beifan was really too wicked! All these high-ranking officials are lowering their heads to apologize to you, and you still want to hear it again? Are you deliberately trying to provoke them? Alright, Sir Lin, the officials have already apologized. Please do not trouble them further, the Empress said, holding back herughter. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan quickly backed down. The officials breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt very indignant. He beat our son, cheated us out of so much money, and now we have to apologize to him Where is the justice? Where is the fairness? After being officials for so many years, today they had suffered the most grievances! Just at that moment, the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, stood up and loudly reported to the Empress, During Lin Beifans tenure as the Director of the Imperial Academy, he strengthened the discipline and moral cultivation, creating a positive learning environment where students academic performance improved! Moreover, during this period, he led students to research and invent numerous instruments that benefited the country and the people, setting an example for all officials and being a pir of the nation! The court cannot bury talents, so I request that Sir Lin be promoted by one level, please grant your mercy, Your Majesty! The officials were confused! What had gotten into Gao Tianyao? He actually proposed to the Empress to promote Lin Beifan? Had he just been too stimted and said such nonsense? Then, the Minister of Household also stood up and said loudly, What Minister Gao said is right! I also request that Sir Lin be promoted by one level, please grant your mercy, Your Majesty! Then, the Minister of Works also stood up and said, I also request that Lin be promoted by one level, please grant your mercy, Your Majesty! The fourth Minister also stood up. The fifth Minister also realized it. They were all proposing to promote Lin Beifan. The other officials gradually understood and also stood up together. Bowing and saluting, they all said, I also request that Lin be promoted by one level, please grant your mercy, Your Majesty! The scene was magnificent! The surrounding students and teachers were all confused! The joint voice of the officials to promote Lin Beifan by one level was such a great honor! It could even be recorded in history! Lin Beifan so surprised! However, Lin Beifan was not happy at all. These old cunning foxes! If they couldnt bring him down, they wanted to transfer him from the Imperial Academy. He was currently the director of the Imperial Academy, a sixth-ss official. Above his position in Imperial Academy was the Principal, his direct superior which was a fourth-ss official. If he were to be promoted by one level, he would be a fifth-ss official, but there was no corresponding position in the Imperial Academy, so he could only be transferred from the Imperial Academy. If he left the Imperial Academy, their son would naturally be relieved. They would also be relieved and no longer be scammed by Lin Beifan. He couldnt leave the Imperial Academy! He couldnt bear to part with these experienced little baby boys! He had to get tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of liang from them every month! Where could he find such a stable stream of experience baby boys? So Lin Beifan anxiously said, Gentlemen, you are too ttering to your lowly official! Your humble official has only been in office for a little over a month and has shallow experience and limited abilities. It is really difficult to bear such a great responsibility! Therefore, your humble official thinks it is better to hone his skills in the Imperial Academy for a few more years! Upon hearing this, the officials became uneasy! You want to stay in the Imperial Academy for a few more years? We are all going to be scammed by you to bankruptcy! Being a corrupt official is not easy, cant you let go of us? Although we are rich, it is also obtained through slow and hard work and sweat. Yet they are all taken by you! The officials thought more and more, and hurriedly urged him, Director Lin, you are too modest, your abilities are obvious to all! Being a Director at the Imperial Academy is too understated for you! You should have a broader stage, a greater prospect, a greater cause, rather than staying here! Director Lin, if you really want to serve your majesty, dont decline! Lin Beifan humbly refused again. The Empress, standing in the middle of them all, couldnt help but smile at the ridiculous scene. She couldnt help but exim inwardly. Being an official was not easy at all! When encountering someone who could scam and be as cunning as Lin Beifan, they could only promote him and send him away! Well, dont argue! said the Empress, and the officials immediately quieted down. You all are right! The Empress smiled and said, During Director Lins tenure at the Imperial Academy, not only was the academys moral fortitude improved, but students academic performance significantly improved too. He also invented so many instruments that benefited the country and the people, and thus deserves to be promoted by one level! The officials were overjoyed and eximed, Long live your Majesty! But, as Director Lin himself said, he has not been an official for long, and his experience is shallow, his abilities are limited, and he should hone his skills at the Imperial Academy for some time. In addition, if not for his oversight, these instruments that benefited the country and the people are not safe! Lin Beifan was overjoyed and eximed, Long live your Majesty! So, I have been thinking hard and have finally thought of a good idea! The empress suppressed a smile and said, We can first promote Lin Beifan one level to a fifth-rank official, but he will still serve as the Director at the Imperial Academy. When he is capable enough, he can be transferred to other positions. Isnt that a win-win situation? The officials were confused and dismayed. They thought to themselves, Hes getting a promotion, but that jerk still gets all the benefits by not leaving the Imperial Academy. How is this fair? They outwardly protested, Your Majesty, this cannot be done! It goes against precedent! The empress waved her hand and replied, Although there is no precedent, we can create one. Sir Lins situation is unique, and his talent is scarce. Why cant the court make some changes? Isnt that what you want? The officials continued to argue, but Lin Beifan secretlyughed. He was getting a promotion and could continue to make money. What a great benefit! The empress was too good to him! Suddenly, the empress decisively announced, Enough! We have made our decision. Sir Lin,e forward and receive your new rank. We will now hear the opinions of the officials. You are promoted one level to a fifth-rank official and will continue to serve as Director at the Imperial Academy, serving the country. Lin Beifan gratefully thanked the officials, while they scowled in frustration. Chapter 77: The World Cannot Allow Such a Powerful Person to Exist! Chapter 77: The World Cannot Allow Such a Powerful Person to Exist! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Due to his promotion, Lin Beifan was very happy. That night, he and Li Shi Shi were enjoying the moon and drinking, having a great time. Just then, a cold white figure appeared in front of them. It was Bai Qingxuan, Bai Guanyin, a woman who was like a goddess or demon. Li Shi Shi was initially startled, but then delighted, standing up and bowing slightly. I greet Lady Bai Guanyin! A maic voice emanated from Bai Qingxuan, You dont have to be so polite. Lin Beifan, on the other hand, was not so courteous, rolling his eyes and saying, Every time you appear, its like a ghost, without any warning! Bai Qingxuan said, Sorry, Im used to it. Ill be more careful next time. Lin Beifan rolled his eyes again because he couldnt hear any apology in her tone. But what could he do? He couldnt beat Bai Guanyin. I heard that you have created many inventions that benefit the country and the people, such as giant steel ships that can float on water, balloons that can fly in the sky, and hybrid rice that can increase production Lin Beifan was shocked, How did you know so much? I have my sources, Bai Qingxuan said curiously, How did youe up with these wild ideas? Can they really be realized? Lin Beifan looked at the wine on the table and smiled, Lets drink and talk about it. Bai Qingxuan thought for a moment and nodded, Alright. She disappeared from her stone seat and reappeared on a different one. This was the first time that Lin Beifan had such a close encounter with Bai Qingxuan, but he could only barely make out her features and outline. It seemed like there was ayer of mist surrounding her that he could never see through. She was a mysterious and fascinating woman. Li Shi Shi had already poured wine for Bai Qingxuan, and after drinking it, she curiously asked Lin Beifan, Why can a heavy ship made of steel still float on water? Because water has buoyancy, it can support anything, Lin Beifanughed, The greater the buoyancy, the heavier the object it can support. The buoyancy of the water has nothing to do with the weight or material of the object, but with the amount of water disced by the object. The more water is disced, the greater the buoyancy of the object, so naturally steel can float on water Lin Beifan exined the buoyancy of water in simple terms. Oh~ Bai Qingxuan nodded as if understanding. So why can a hot air balloon fly? Its the same principle. We live in a world filled with air, which is like water. Water has buoyancy, and so does air. I call it air buoyancy Lin Beifan exined the principle of ballooning in detail. Can hybrid rice really increase production? Can it solve the problem of peoples food? Yes, it involves the principle of eugenics. Let me exin it to you Lin Beifan briefly exined the concept of hybrid rice. Bai Qingxuan nodded, feeling like she had opened a door to a new world and overturned all her previous beliefs. Li Shi Shi was admiring Lin Beifan, thinking that her man was so knowledgeable and wise! After exining everything, it was alreadyte at night. Li Shi Shi had fallen asleep without realizing it, and Lin Beifan carried her to the room to rest. Bai Qingxuan sighed and said, One short conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of studying. I didnt expect that there are so many profound truths and knowledge hidden in our daily lives. The more I know, the more I feel ignorant. The stronger I be, the smaller I feel. Lin Beifanughed, Youre right. Life is limited, but knowledge is infinite. Thats why we shouldnt be narrow-minded and arrogant. I have a question, where did you learn all these strange knowledge from? Bai Qingxuan asked. Lin Beifan shamelessly replied, I learned on my own, self-taught. I have another question, since you have to run away at any moment, why do you do so many things? Bai Qingxuan asked. Exactly because of this, thats why I do it! Lin Beifan replied. What? Why? Bai Qingxuan was confused. Lin Beifan covered his face and said, Because the Empress has been good to me, but I havemitted so much corruption behind her back. So I hope that when I have to run away, she will consider my past kindness and let me go. Bai Qingxuan couldnt help butugh. These two were happy enemies, secretly caring for each other, but forced to act like corrupt officials and ipetent rulers due to the pressure of reality. She suddenly became curious, what would Lin Beifans expression be if this matter was exposed? Actually, there is another reason! Lin Beifan said. What reason? Bai Qingxuan asked. I want to leave a mark in this world, to prove that I was here! Lin Beifan smiled proudly. He came to a brand new world, and since he had the opportunity, he had to leave something behind, to prove that he had lived here carefree and unrestrained. That was enough! Maybe one day, people will refer to him as the father of science because he brought science to the world. #### Two flowers bloomed, each with its own branch. The two of them who dared to go to the Iron Sword Gate in the capital were still unable to find the Night Hero after several days of effort. It was as if the other party hadpletely disappeared, leaving no trace. In the restaurant, Guo Shaoshuai said in frustration, Sister, do you think the Night Hero has already left the capital? ording to the information we gathered, he hasnt appeared for almost half a month! Mo Rushuang frowned and said, Its possible! But ording to our sources in various ces, we havent found any traces of the Night Hero either! What should we do now? Guo Shaoshuai asked anxiously. Lets look for two more days! If we still cant find him, we can only go back! Muo Rushuang said helplessly. Sigh, we have no choice! Guo Shaoshuai sighed. At this moment, Mo Rushuang remembered that she had met Lin Beifan before. She said, We have some time now, why dont we visit Lin Beifan? We can get to know him better and see if he can be of use to the prince. What visit him? Guo Shaoshuai was unwilling in his heart. Thest time they met, he waspletely crushed by Lin Beifan, unable to raise his head. If they met again, he would probably be crushed to pieces in seconds. Mo Rushuang said helplessly, Junior brother, dont be impulsive. Business is the most important thing! Okay, sister, Ill listen to you! Guo Shaoshuai reluctantly agreed. Mo Rushuang called the waiter, paid the bill, and asked for Lin Beifans address, hoping he could help them. Youre looking for the new top schr Lin Beifan? The waiter was surprised. The person were looking for is named Lin Beifan. Why is he the new top schr? Muo Rushuang asked in confusion. Because he is indeed the new top scorer of this year, dont you know? The shopkeeper was surprised. The two shook their heads. They were both people of the martial world and paid more attention to its matters. As for the matters of the court, it was too far-fetched for them, and they only knew some basic content. Can you tell me about the situation of the new top scorer, Lin Beifan? We are from out of town and dont know much about him! Mo Rushuang calmly took out some silver. Of course, I can! The shopkeeper quickly epted the silver and said, Lets talk about this top scorer, Lin Beifan. He is truly talented, knowledgeable, and handsome! He even scored three times in the imperial exams at a young age, and there are countless girls in the capital who want to marry him! Did you know that he also visited our famous brothel Hundred Flowers House? Guess what happened? What happened? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai, the two of them spoke in unison. The shopkeeper pped his thigh, full of envy, and said, Our capitals number one courtesan, Li Shi Shi, was captivated by his talents and looks, and she was crazy about following him! She even spent money to buy her freedom, and this has be a popr story in the capital! Guo Shaoshuais heart was sour as he listened. The new top scorer, who had scored three times in the imperial exams, was talented, knowledgeable, and handsome! Countless girls in the capital wanted to marry him! He even had the capitals number one courtesan following him madly! Damnhe had not even met him yet, and he was already feeling inferior again! Moreover, our top scorer is highly favored by the Empress! The shopkeeper said with red eyes, Just two days after bing the top scorer, he was rewarded with a luxurious mansion by the Empress! The mansion is located in the center of the capital and is worth 200,000 silver, which even the wealthy may not be able to afford! He was also rewarded with a golden purple auspicious cloud carriage, which was like a luxurious small house. It was pulled by two sweat-blooded horses and was truly magnificent! Hes often rewarded with things like silver and gold, satin and silk, pce wine, and so on. Hes nevercking in anything! It is said that the Empress is concerned about his diet and has the kitchen send food to him every day! Chicken, duck, fish, and other top-grade ingredients that only the Emperor would usually have. Its really enviable! Guo Shaoshuai felt even more sour. He was better-looking than him, more talented than him, and even more popr with women than him! But when it came to food, clothing, and transportation, everything was better than him! Damnthis was aplete blow! Moreover, this guy gets promoted quickly! In just one month, he was promoted two grades and became a fifth-rank official! Do you know how much effort it takes for a top scorer to be promoted to a fifth-rank official? It usually takes at least three years, and thats only possible under the favor of the court! But he did it in just one month. Is this fair? Guo Shaoshuai shook his head. This was unfair! This man should be dismembered and executed! The world cannot tolerate such a badass! Mo Rushuang couldnt help but sigh, Being a top scorer in the imperial exams and getting promoted two grades in just one month, and receiving such favor from the Empress, it seems that hes a good official with abilities! The shopkeeper couldnt help but curse, Hes just a corrupt official! Corrupt official? Mo Rushuang and the two of them were confused. Chapter 78: He is not only a massive corrupt official but also a traitor to the country! Chapter 78: He is not only a massive corrupt official but also a traitor to the country! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Yes, he is really corrupt. I have never seen anyone so insatiable in my life! The shopkeeper sighed. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai looked at each other, and Guo Shao Shuai asked, How did he be so corrupt? Ill tell you! The shopkeeper sat down, carefully looked around, and then lowered his head to whisper, Do you know that he started to be corrupt the day he became the top schr? On that day, the Empress ordered him to seize the assets of the Former the Ministry of Households. He went to raid the property and took the opportunity to box up all the gold, silver, jewelry, and other valuables in the victims house and had his servant carry them home! At the time, people on several streets saw it, and it was said that there were nearly 2 million inside the boxes! 2 million! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai gasped. He became corrupt with 2 million as soon as he became the top schr. Dont you think hes corrupt? The two didnt hesitate to nod their heads, Yes, hes corrupt! Later, he was ordered to seize the homes of various imperial censors and got hundreds of thousands out of them! Guo Shaoshuai was shocked, He dared to be so bold as to take money from imperial censors. Is he too audacious? Isnt he? The shopkeeper nodded in agreement, However, you thought he stopped there? Let me tell you, his greediness is beyond your imagination! Guo Shaoshuai asked, How did he be even more corruptter? Afterward, he received the favor of the empress and became the director of the Imperial Academy. This guy became even more corrupt and took money from students! It was said that he has been corrupt with nearly 3 million in just one month! 3 million! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai gasped again. Guo Shaoshuai couldnt help but m the table in anger and said, He is too corrupt! He even takes money from students. Is he still human? Shhbe quiet and dont let the top schrs people hear you! The shopkeeper was panicked and quickly pulled Guo Shao Shuai down. After looking around again and seeing no one, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled bitterly and said, Please dont be impulsive, you two. If someone like Lin Beifan hears about this, we will be in trouble! What are you afraid of? What can he do to me? Guo Shaoshuai sneered. I am afraid! I and my family are all here, and we cant leave! The shopkeepers face was as bitter as a gourd, You are a hero and can leave if you anger him. But I and my family cannot leave! Junior brother, dont be impulsive! Mo Rushuang advised, and smiled at the shopkeeper. Little brother, my junior brother is young and inexperienced. He embarrassed you. Please continue. The shopkeeper was mesmerized by Mo Rushuangs smile and dumbly nodded, Alright! Later, he sold the country for money and betrayed our Great Wu! The two were shocked again, What? He sold the country? This is the situation! Before, our Great Wu had fought a battle with the country of Darro, who hade to negotiate a truce and discuss the issue of tribute! Lin Bei Fan was ordered to receive them! During the reception, the other party openly epted the bribe from the envoy of Darro! Whatever he wanted, the envoy would buy it for him. At the time, people on the street saw it! Afterward, Lin Beifan, who had received the benefits, spoke for Darro in the court. Later, the tribute between the two countries was announced. Can you guess what happened? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai simultaneously asked, What happened? As a defeated country, Darro didnt have to pay a penny! Not only did they not have to pay money, they also opened the ports and allowed businessmen from both countries to trade! Moreover, the court would also send schrs to their country to establish a school, teach and educate the people However you look at it, its better for the country of Darro, and theres no benefit for our Great Wu! Poor my young Wu soldiers. They died young on the front lines, but they got this disappointing result! The shopkeeper gritted his teeth and said, Of youre telling me this isnt selling out our country. What is it then? This is selling out our country! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai are devastated and closed their eyes. The veins on their faces bulged as they clenched their fists on the table. This traitor! Its infuriating that he would sell out Great Wus interests for a bit of money! This kind of person is not worth sparing even if he was killed 100 times! Guo Shaoshuai was both happy and angry. He was angry because he really hated corrupt officials, especially traitors. He was happy because he had shattered the other persons perfect image in his heart. Even if you are better looking than me and more talented, so what? Even if you enjoy all the riches and glory, so what? You are a corrupt official! A shameless person who is greedy and a traitor. This is a stain that will forever cling to you! Such a person is like a cockroach in a sewer. They do not deserve my envy or jealousy! I never thought he was this kind of person Mo Rushuangs eyes wereplex. Remembering the first time they met, the other partys gentle and eloquent demeanor had left a deep impression on her. She had even intended to introduce him to the prince to help end this chaotic era. She never expected him to be a super corrupt official! Not only was he corrupt, but he was also a traitor! Mo Rushuang let out a deep sigh, feeling both heartache and regret. He is a traitor, tantly selling out the countrys interests. You have all noticed this, why hasnt the court noticed? How can they notice? The shopkeeper scoffed, disappointed. All the civil and military officials in the court are corrupt, and even the empress is a foolish ruler! Even if they noticed, its just officials protecting officials, and the empress giving shelter. What can be done? Im telling you, just yesterday The shopkeeper said softly. When all the officials of the court and the empress inspected the Imperial Academy, they rmended Lin Beifan for a promotion! Hes only been at the Imperial Academy for less than a month, and he hasnt aplished anything, but they still gave him a promotion! If there isnt any vested interest involved, I wouldnt believe it with even my dogs life! This is officials protecting officials. The court is even more sinister than we thought! The shopkeeper sighed. Anyway, Ivepletely given up on the court! We should just live our own lives! After speaking, the shopkeeper left. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai remained where they were, their hearts unable to settle down for a long time. Senior Sister, should we still go find him? Mo Rushuang shook her head and sighed, Our paths are different, its impossible for us to work together! Whats the point of going to see him? It will just add trouble; we might as well not see him! Lets continue searching for the Night Hero. He is the one who shares the same path as us! Senior Sister, speaking of finding the Night Hero, I suddenly have a good idea! What good idea? Mo Rushuang turned to ask. Guo Shaoshuai grinned, We can pretend to be the Night Hero, rob and give away money at night, and create a reputation for ourselves! Once he hears about it, he will definitelye out! Then, I can have a good talk with him! Mo Rushuang nodded and smiled, Thats a good idea! But where will we get the money? We dont have much money on us! Of course, well take it from Lin Beifans corrupt officials house! He has embezzled so much money, and people are outraged. We can take some of it, its considered robbing the rich to help the poor! Besides, I can take the opportunity to give him a good stab, its also for the sake of the people! A hint of killing intent appeared in Guo Shaoshuais eyes. Suddenly, a pure and innocent face appeared in Mo Rushuangs mind. She couldnt bear to say, Lets find someone else. He has shown us the way and shared a drink with us. Although he deserves to die a thousand deaths, we must uphold the moral principles of the martial arts world. If he offends us again, its not toote to take action! Alright, Ill listen to you! Guo Shaoshuai reluctantly nod. That night, they snuck into a corrupt officials house and found some silver. Then they dressed up as the Night Hero and went out to spread wealth in the middle of the night. The next morning, the legend of the Night Hero was everywhere, and it was talked about everywhere. Li Shi Shi was puzzled and asked softly, Husband, what did you dost night Absolutely nothing! Lin Beifan said seriously, As you know, I held you in my arms all night and didnt want to leave the bed! Oh, right! Li Shi Shi blushed. But this Night Hero Lin Beifan shook his head. I dont know, Im also surprised! Maybe someone admires the Night Hero and is doing the same thing! After all, the power of idols is great! What you said makes sense! Li Shi Shi nodded. Actually, its better this way! Lin Beifanughed, If someone does good deeds, then I, the real Night Hero, can retire! After all, its getting coldtely and its not safe to go out at night. Its better to stay warm in bed! One Night Hero lies down, a thousand Night Heroes stand up! Li Shi Shi nodded repeatedly, What my husband said is right! Its too dangerous to go out at night to spread wealth, its easy to expose our identity and be chased by the authorities! From now on, lets just give the money directly to Lady Bai Qingxuan. She will take care of it properly! Lin Beifan agreed with her very much. So hepletely ignored the matter. At night, he would sleep with Li Shi Shi every time. Meanwhile, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai continued to pretend to be Night Heroes and distribute wealth for three consecutive days. They scattered over two hundred thousand taels of silver, but they couldnt find the person they were looking for, and they were very frustrated. Senior Sister, do you think the Night Hero has already left? Otherwise, why hasnt he appeared even after we made such a bigmotion? Guo Shaoshuai couldnt help asking. Maybe, Mo Rushuang sighed, Lets do it for another two days. If we still dont get anything, we can think of other ways! Yeah, thats all we can do! Guo Shaoshuai nodded in exhaustion. So they continued to pretend to be Night Heroes for another night. However, on this night, Bai Qingxuan suddenly appeared in front of Lin Beifan and asked, Are you out distributing wealth again? Lin Beifan shook his head, No, I havent been a Night Hero for many longs! Bai Qingxuan asked again, Is the Night Hero that has suddenly appeared at night recently rted to you? Lin Beifan shook his head again, Absolutely not! Bai Qingxuan nodded and said, Okay, I understand. I wont involved you in this matter! Lin Beifan asked, Whats going on? They havemitted a crime! Chapter 79: It Was My Husband Who Saved You! Chapter 79: It Was My Husband Who Saved You! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
What did they do wrong? Lin Beifan curiously asked. Although they did a good thing by giving away money, the money was stolen from other officials mansions! Because they took too much, they have caused public outrage and are being chased by the officials! They have set up a dra to capture the two thieves! Bai Qingxuan exined. So, they are really bold! Lin Beifan sighed. This was the imperial capital, where the Empress resided with the most formidable guards. Many martial artists who came here had to be cautious in their actions. In the past, Lin Beifan had also used the money he had corrupted to spread his wealth, which was why he had not caused public anger. These imposters, on the other hand, dared to steal from the officials in the capital, showing their reckless courage. However, since its not you, it doesnt concern you, so I wont bother with it! Bai Qingxuan said before disappearing. Lin Beifan pondered for a moment and didnt want to get involved in this matter. After all, he was constantly on the run and didnt have the time or energy to deal with other peoples problems. If he were to get implicated because of this, it would be a great loss for him. Take the me for what youvemitted yourself, Im going to bed! At this moment, Mo Rushuang, who was unaware of what had happened, and her brother, were still dressed in their night clothes pretending to be heroes to give money to the poor people of the city. Sister, I heard today that themon people in Liuxiang, in the west of the city, were owed by the court and were struggling to make ends meet. Lets go there first and give away some money! Guo Shaoshuai suggested. Good idea, lets go! The two of them flew over the rooftops and quickly arrived at Liuxiang. Then they began their days work of giving away money. But just as they entered the alley, the entire area around them lit up. The soldiers held torches and the archers were ready to fire. Oh no, were surrounded! Brother, lets get out of here! Mo Ruoshuang said urgently. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh Arrows flew everywhere. They dodged and ran away. At this time, among the soldiers, a mighty figure charged forward like lightning, ignoring the dense arrows flying towards him and quickly approached the two of them. Where do you think youre going? Stay here! he shouted. Mo Rushuang and her brothers faces changed dramatically. A master of the innate realm! The two of them didnt hesitate and attacked at the same time. The three of them shed in the air. Boom. The man who charged forward backed away two steps but was unharmed. However, Mo Rushuang and her brother spat out blood and flew back more than ten meters, crashing into a house. Just that one hit caused them both to suffer severe injuries. Mo Rushuang knew that the two of thembined were no match for their opponent. She made a decisive decision. Brother, lets split up and run, you go one way and Ill go the other! Guo Shaoshuai also understood that this was not the time to be heroic and nodded. Okay, sister. The two immediately ran in opposite directions with all their might. Chase them! The innate master shouted. Watching the two run, he headed after Mo Rushuang, the stronger of the two. Mo Rushuang ran for her life. She kept going, ignoring her injuries until she was almost out of breath. To escape the pursuit of her opponent, she had to use a secret technique that could temporarily increase her speed three to four times. After the half an hour, however, the technique would fade and she would be weakened to such an extent that she would be helpless and exposed. But despite using the technique, her pursuer, an innate master, was always on her heels. With the soldiers besieging her along the way, it was even more difficult to escape. She ran and ran until her injuries grew worse and extreme fatigue began to set in. She grew desperate. Am I going to die here? she thought. She had a great future ahead of her and an unfinished dream. She didnt want to die here. At this moment, she saw a luxurious mansion in front of her. A que hung on the mansion with two gilded characters that read Lin Mansion. Isnt this Lin Beifans mansion? Mo Rushuang was a bit confused. She had already decided not toe here, but ended up here after a twist of events. She turned her head to see the pursuers behind her, and then looked at the luxurious mansion in front of her. Mo Rushuang gritted her teeth and said, Lets do it! She jumped with force, easily crossing the nearly 5-meter high wall and leaped into the Lin Mansion. Lin Beifan, who was sleeping, suddenly opened his eyes, and a bright light flickered in his eyes. Someone has infiltrated my mansion! He quickly got up from the bed, put on a coat and walked out of the room. Using the special sense of qi that innate experts possess, he quickly located the intruder. He opened the thick bushes and saw a ck-clothed person lying unconscious on the ground, with a strong bloody smelling from their body. Lin Beifan removed the intruders ck mask, revealing a familiar and stunning face. Its her! Lin Beifans eyes flickered. Meanwhile, the officials had already surrounded the area, and the lights were on. Search carefully! He has already run out of steam, so he cant run far. He must be hiding somewhere! Yes, leader! They patrolled the streets and searched the surrounding mansions. When they reached Lin Beifans mansion, the leader hesitated: Wait a minute! This is the mansion of the newly appointed top schr, Lin Beifan. He is highly regarded by the empress! If you mess around and offend Lord Lin, it wont be good. I will go in and search personally! The leader of the innate experts adjusted his official hat and uniform before knocking on the door of Lin Beifans house. Soon, the door opened, and Lin Beifan, wearing a loose coat, yawned and walked out. Whats your business? The leader of the innate expert bowed politely and said, Lord Lin, I didnt expect it would be you who opened the door! We are catching criminals. They are extremely dangerous and pose a threat to the people in the mansion. Can you allow us to search the house? In reality, the officials rank was higher than Lin Beifans. However, Lin Beifan was a favourite person by the empresss side, and had confronted both civil and military officials several times, so the official was extremely polite and didnt dare to offend him. Lin Beifan yawned again, No wonder its so noisy. You guys are interfering with my sleep! Its okay, donte in. There cant possibly be a criminal here. I want to go back and continue sleeping. I have to attend early court tomorrow. Lin Beifan said as he walked back inside and closed the door. The leader of the innate experts looked at the closed door and sighed. Leader, should we still go inside and search? An official holding a torch asked. No need to bother. Weve already fulfilled our duty to inform. Lets leave the rest to fate! He has been in office for many years and is able to sit in this position not because of his capabilities, but because of his ability to handle people and knowing who to offend and who not to offend. People like Lin Beifan are clearly not to be offended. If the other party does not agree, then they will not do it. If something happens, they cannot be med. Continue searching in other areas! This mattersted all night, but no one was caught in the end. After two more days without any results, the matter gradually subsided and turned into a secret search. Mo Rushuang finally woke up unclearly, feeling pain all over her body, exhausted, and unable to even move her fingers. However, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief because she knew she had been saved. If she hadnt been saved, she wouldnt be lying in afortable bed. Thinking of when she used all her strength to jump into Lin Beifans mansion before losing consciousness, her mood becameplicated. Obviously, she was saved by Lin Beifan, the corrupt official who she hated the most. She sighed and thought: why worry about it now? I should recover from my injuries first and then go out to find my junior brother. I wonder how he is doing now? Has he escaped the pursuit of the officials? At this time, Li Shi Shi walked in and looked at Mo Rushuang, who had just woken up, and eximed in surprise, Youre awake? Mo Rushuang nodded slightly and used all her strength to say thank you! Her voice was dry and weak. Li Shishi lowered her head and smiled: You should thank my husband. He brought you back! Mo Rushuang nodded slightly, as she had expected. Li Shi Shi continued with a smile, My husband said that you were lying in the grass, gasping and almost out of breath when he found you. Then he brought you back Mo Ruoshuangs ears moved and she asked, He carried me back? Yes, whats wrong? Li Shi Shi was puzzled. Nothingnothing! Mo Rushuang shook her head slightly, and a blush appeared on her pale and pretty face. From childhood to adulthood, she had never been so close to any man besides her father. What made her even more embarrassed was that she was in aa and didnt know anything at the time. Li Shi Shi continued, After my husband brought you back, he found out that you were badly injured and took care of your wounds and bandaged them. Fortunately, he did so in time Wait a minute! You mean he also bandaged my wounds? Yes, whats wrong? Li Shi Shi was puzzled. Nothingnothing! Mo Rushuang shook her head again, and her pretty face turned even redder. She was covered in injuries, and the other party treated her wounds and bandaged them. Then he must have seen everything, and even The more she thought about it, the more ashamed she felt. Li Shi Shi, who was gentle and virtuous, saw through her thoughts and smiled, Miss Rushuang, this is unavoidable! There are only four people in our family, and only my husband can treat these wounds. We had no choice in this emergency. I hope you understand. I understand! I wont me him! Mo Rushuang gritted her teeth. Hmm, its good that you understand! Li Shi Shi chatted for a while, fed her some porridge, and then left her to continue resting. In the evening, Lin Beifan finally returned. Chapter 80: My family is so poor that this is all we have left, so just make do and eat! Chapter 80: My family is so poor that this is all we have left, so just make do and eat! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Knowing that Mo Rushuang had already awakened, Lin Beifan hurried over to see her. Miss Rushuang, are you feeling better? Lin Beifan asked, concerned, as he looked at Mo Rushuang still lying in bed. Im much better, thank you for rescuing me, Mr. Lin, Mo Rushuang gritted her teeth. Lin Beifan felt puzzled, why did she look at him with that three-part sorrow, three-part shyness, and four-part anger? That didnt look like a grateful gaze at all! Lin Beifan murmured to himself: Women are such inexplicable creatures! Well, thats good, Lin Beifan smiled, Miss Rushuang, your condition is very serious, it may take a week for you to be able to walk, and a month to fully recover! Rest well, I wont disturb you! After saying that, he turned and left. Wait! Mo Rushuang called out. Lin Beifan turned back, Miss Rushuang, is there something else? You, Mr. Lindont you have anything to ask me? Mo Rushuang asked. Are you talking about pretending to be the Night Hero and being hunted by the authorities? Lin Beifan said. Mo Rushuang was surprised, How did you know I was pretending? Its easy to deduce! Lin Beifan smiled, Firstly, when the Night Hero gave money away in the past, he used his own silver, so he didnt cause any trouble! But you guys gave away money using government officials silver, so you were hunted down by the government! Mo Rushuangs face became somewhat unnatural. Secondly, ording to others, when the real Night Hero gave away money, he woulde and go without a trace, no one could see their shadow! But you gave away money, and were trapped by the government with no way out! Lin Beifan continued. It shows that your footwork technique is not as good as the real Night Hero! Mo Rushuang felt a little ashamed as she nodded her head. Thirdly, and most importantly! Lin Beifan smiled, When we met outside the city before, you asked me for directions, which showed that you were visiting the capital for the first time! How could someone like that be the Night Hero? Youre absolutely right, Mr. Lin! Mo Rushuang nodded her head . Lin Beifan smiled. He thought to himself: The most important point is that I am the real Night Hero, and everyone else is a counterfeit! Since you know what Ive done, why not turn me over to the authorities? As far as I know, you are still the new top schr of the court, you belong to their group! Mo Rushuang asked. There are three reasons! Lin Beifan smiled, Firstly, weve met before, and thats fate! Since we have a connection, if I see you in trouble, and have the opportunity to help, I wont sit idly by! Secondly, you pretended to be the Night Hero to give money away, which is a rtively just thing to do. Personally, I admire your character, so if I can help, Ill lend a hand! Thirdly, you stole money from my political enemies, and seeing them suffer makes me very happy! As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so Im willing to help you! As Mo Rushuang was about to speak again, Lin Beifan hurriedly said, Alright, dont ask so many questions, the most important thing for you right now is to rest! You can rest assured that its very safe here, and no one can harm you! Then he pped his head, Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you some good news! Your younger brother hasnt been caught by the authorities yet, but I dont know about anything else! Thank you, Mr. Lin! Mo Rushuang nodded slightly. Lin Beifan gave a few more instructions before leaving. As Mo Rushuang watched his figure leaving, her gaze becameplicated. Is he really a hated corrupt official? Just now, seeing his bright and pure smile, she had a slight feeling of being moved. Shaking her head slightly, she sighed inwardly. Forget it, dont think too much! The most important thing now is to heal her injuries before she can do anything else. I wonder how my younger brother is doing? She couldnt help but worry. Meanwhile, in a dpidated temple in the capital. A group of beggars living there were making amotion, the air was smoky and chaotic. Suddenly an old beggar shouted, Little Shuai,e over here! Come and massage Liuoyes back and beat his feet! A young beggar ran over immediately, Okay, Iming! After a while. Another old beggar shouted, Little Shuai,e over here! Wash Wang ges trousers, and Ill give you some rice to eat! This small beggar ran over, Okay, thank you, Old Wang! After a while again. The third old beggar shouted, Little Shuai, youre so cute, hurry up and take off your trousers so I can have some fun! The young beggar: The scene burst intoughter. Old Wangtou, you cant hold it anymore! You animal, youll beg for anything! Dont scare him like that, what if he runs away! Haha! Shhh! Come secretly next time.. The young beggars face was full of shame and anger, yet he had to smile along. His emotions were hard to control, and he felt sadness welling up inside of him: I never thought that I, Guo Shaoshuai, the contemporary genius of the Iron Sword Sect, would end up like this one day! This person was none other than Guo Shaoshuai who had escaped from the governments clutches. In order to avoid being chased by the officials, he had to disguise himself as a beggar and sneak into the beggars nest. He ate leftover food, drank ditch water, and sometimes even fought with dogs for food. As a new beggar with no money, status, or rights, he was often ordered around by older beggars to do all kinds of hard work. He helped the beggars rub their feet and backs, squeeze pus from their backs, and even wash their clothes, which had not been changed for months. Some beggars looked at him with suspicious eyes, making him afraid to sleep deeply at night, fearing that he would lose his dignity and innocence when he woke up in the morning. My life is so hard! Guo Shaoshuai sighed, but his eyes quickly became determined: This is nothing! Only through bitter experience can one be a superior person! At least I still have my life and hope! I just dont know what happened to my senior sister? He worried about her in his heart. Mo Rushuang, his senior sister, had led away arge number of pursuers and even an innate powerhouse to protect him. It was very dangerous, and he still had not heard any news from her until now. Senior sister, where are you? Little Shuai misses you Meanwhile, in the Lin familypound, Mo Rushuang had decided to stay there to heal her injuries. However, she soon discovered that it was toofortable to recuperate here. Not to mention the living environment, just the daily food and drink made her shocked. Every day, they were served with delicacies and rare ingredients that were even better and more delicious than what she had eaten when she was with the prince. ording to the princes servants, they were not usually so extravagant. Only when there were important guests did the princemand his people to prepare a good meal to entertain them. But here, they were served like this every day! As for clothing, it was even more extravagant. All of their clothes were made of silk and satin, never repeated when changed every day. Because there were too many colors of silk and satin, they even extravagantly made several quilt covers out of them, one of which covered her. Not only the host but also the two servants, were also dressed in silk and satin and enjoying the feast of big fish and meat, looking radiant. Mo Rushuang felt guilty and quickly said, Its too troublesome for everyone! We only met by chance, and you not only saved me, but also gave me such good food. Rushuang is very ashamed! A simple meal of coarse tea and light rice is enough for me! Lin Beifan blinked his eyes, Miss Rushuang, our family is so poor that we only have these things left, nothing else! If you want to eat coarse tea and light rice, we still have to go out and spend money to buy it! Youll have to make do with what we have! Mo Rushuang: Make do with what they had? What the hell! Seeing Rushuangs slow and hesitant manner, Lin Beifan thought she might not like the food, but in order to save face for both of them, he said with concern, Miss Rushuang, I apologise if its not to your taste. Mo Rushuang gave Lin Beifan a white look. She thought to herself, Its very much to my taste. Bring me another bowl! Lin Beifan offered his generosity in regards to food and drink, but when it came to clothing and daily necessities, she dared not ept. These clothes are too valuable! And these utensils are also very precious! As a country girl, it would not be good if I were to break them. Can you please give me something more ordinary? At the other partys insistence, Lin Beifan led her to the room where the clothes were kept, as well as the grocery room. This is where we store our clothes. Choose whichever you like! This is where we keep our daily utensils. Use whichever you want! Mo Rushuang looked at the room full of luxurious clothes and essories, as well as the other room filled with rare treasures. Quietly, she lowered her head and said, Ill just stick with my original items. Lin Beifan happilyughed, Thank you for understanding, Miss Mo. Mo Rushuang: .. Mo Rushuang thought, for some reason, that Lin Beifans smiling face was detestable. She felt as if he was intentionally trying to provoke her, and she wanted to punch him. In this way, Mo Rushuangpletely gave up and spent her days eating delicious delicacies and wearing luxurious clothes to recover from her injuries. I wonder how my junior brother is doing? Is he eating well? Is he keeping warm? At this time, in the dpidated temple A leading beggar suddenly burst in and shouted, Everyone, its time! Today, we must use all our strength to beat them until they cry like babies! Whether we get to eat and drink the good stuff depends on each of you! Great! Everyone shouted, feeling very excited. Young beggar Guo Shaoshuai woke up groggily and asked, confused, What are we doing? One beggar replied excitedly, You just arrived, so you dont understand! Our group of beggars in the area have a weekly fight! If we win, we get the ownership of a piece of valuablend and get to eat and drink whatever we want! Really? Guo Shaoshuai lit up. Although he was temporarily a beggar, he had to make do. But why not take the opportunity to eat and drink well? Of course its true! Why would I lie to you? Youre young and strong, so please do your best! Dont bezy, okay? No problem! Guo Shaoshuai was confident. He was a skilled martial artist, it wouldnt be difficult to take care of a group of beggars! Even if he was heavily injured, he was still invincible! Chapter 81: I had to be greedy for the sake of the people! Chapter 81: I had to be greedy for the sake of the people! 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So that day, Guo Shaoshuai used his brute force and killed people in all directions. Leading his group of beggars, he defeated the beggars from other ces and won the ownership of the treasurend. Everyone was very happy. Little Shuai, this is yours! I didnt expect you to look so white and tender, but fight so fiercely! You did a great job, let you choose first when the food is distributed! We promise you will eat until yourepletely satisfied! Guo Shaoshuai was a little impatient: Hey brothers, what ce are you talking about? What delicious food is there for me to enjoyter? I tell you, this thing is really delicious! Ive only eaten it once, and I cant forget it all my life! Its so delicious that many rich people dont have the opportunity to eat it! In short, youre lucky today! Haha! Guo Shaoshuai was getting more and more expectant. Unconsciously, they came to the back door of a wealthy mansion in a high spirit. An old beggar happily patted Guo Shaoshuais shoulder and said with a smile, This is the ce I was talking about! When its time to eat, there are many leftovers in it, and the taste is really I guarantee youll forget it after youve eaten it once! Yes, Ive been to the homes of many rich people in the capital, and Ive eaten their food! But to say the best, its this one! Another beggar said, licking his lips after speaking. Thats why this has be a ce where beggars must fight!. Is that so? Guo Shaoshuai was getting more and more expectant, and asked again, What is this ce? What is delicious? Can you tell me about it? Of course! The old beggarughed. Ill tell you! This is the residence of the new top schr, Lin Beifan! He is greatly favored by the Empress, and the Imperial kitchen sends fresh, top-grade ingredients every day! Since there are few people in his household, they cant finish everything and we can take advantage of that! We are indirectly, eating the imperial kitchens dishes! What the empress eats, we eat! Many rich people cant enjoy it! Haha! At this time, Guo Shaoshuai was already shocked: What did you say? You said this is the home of the new top schr Lin Beifan? And we are here to eat his leftovers? The old beggar patted Guo Shaoshuais shoulder: Yes! Are you excited, are you happy? Guo Shaoshuai: Excited my ass! Happy my ass! If I had known that I was fighting for the leftovers of Lin Beifan, the dog official, I wouldnt have done it! I am the contemporary genius of Iron Sword Sect, Guo Shaoshuai, who is famous in martial world for his lifes mission of eliminating evil and promoting good and killing corrupt officials! And today, I actually came to fight for the leftovers of Lin Beifan, the dog official! Eating his leftovers! If this gets out, what face will I have left? At that moment, his face turned ck and he wanted to turn around and leave. But at that moment, the back door opened. Dali was carrying a big bucket of leftovers. The beggars eyes lit up and they rushed over. Guo Shaoshuai, who was about to leave, was dragged forward. Wow! You came out so early today! Theres still so much food left. Were lucky today. Haha! I could smell it from far away! Today is really great! Dali said, Eat as much as you want, but dont make a mess here. I dont want to have to clean it again when Ie back! Dont worry, Dali. Well eat everything clean! Dali nodded and went back inside. He closed the door. After Dali left, the beggars went crazy and couldnt wait to put their hands in the garbage can and grab something to eat. Wait, everyone. Dont be in a hurry! It was Shaoshuai who led us to defeat the other beggars. He deserves the most credit, so let Shaoshuai choose first! The old beggar shouted. The old beggar was very respected. After he said that, everyone stopped and looked at Guo Shaoshuai. Shaoshuai, you eat first, and then well eat! Im not going to eat. You guys eat! If you dont eat, how can I have the face to eat? Guo Shaoshuai shook his head again: Dont bother me. I absolutely wont eat a bite of this food from that dog official Lin Beifan! Give it to him to eat! Suddenly, a chicken leg appeared in Guo Shaoshuais mouth. Guo Shaoshuai couldnt help but chew twice. The beggars asked eagerly, How does it taste? Oh my god, its really delicious! Guo Shaoshuai chewed with great relish and said, Its soft and juicy. The fragrance is overwhelming. When I take a bite, my mouth is full of oil. Its so delicious. Ive never had such a delicious chicken leg in my life! Im telling you, this chicken is mine. Nobody else can fight me for it! The beggars were overjoyed: Great! So all the chicken was left for Guo Shaoshuai to eat. Guo Shaoshuai took a bite and wanted another! He took a second bite and wanted a third! He took a third bite and wanted a fourth! He just couldnt stop! After he finished eating, Guo Shaoshuai was satisfied and also speechless! Facing the wall, he shed tears of regret: I never thought I, Guo Shaoshuai, would one daypete with others for food from that dog official Lin Beifan. And I actually ate it so deliciously What a shame! I, Guo Shaoshuai, have be the person I hate the most! But this is just an ident! Guo Shaoshuai opened his eyes and his face became determined: Starting from tomorrow, I must resist Lin Beifans temptation! No matter what leftovers he offers, I will not give in! I must remain poor and humble, and never be moved by wealth! I cannot be defeated by weapons, I cannot be corrupted by wealth and status. Be a man who is upright and down-to-earth! At this moment, a voice came from afar, Shaoshuai, are you still going to eat chicken tomorrow? Guo Shaoshuai blurted out, Ill have duck tomorrow, thank you! Okay, Ill leave you some duck meat tomorrow! Guo Shaoshuai: On the other side. Because Mo Rushuang was well-fed and well-nourished at the Linbei Fan house, her injuries recovered quickly. It was impossible to hide the fact that there was one more person in the house, so Mo Rushuang was often found by the little princess who was always begging for food and drink. However, this little girls thoughts were extraordinary. She thought that what the other party did was a heroic deed. Not only did she not report it, but she also brought good medicine from her house. As a result, Mo Rushuang recovered even faster and could walk on the ground. Everyone here treated her well, and Mo Rufeng felt the warmth she had been missing for a long time and was very attached to it. In particr, there is one person, with a dignified appearance, erudition, extraordinary eloquence, and great concern for her. He took good care of her and left an indelible mark in her heart. But when she thinks that the other party is the most hated corrupt official, or a traitor, she feels sad So one day, she came to the study and looked at Lin Beifan who was writing. She couldnt help asking, Mr. Lin, when I came to the capital, people outside were saying that you were a huge corrupt official who has taken countless of money! Lin Beifan raised his head and looked at her calmly. There is such a thing. Is there any problem? Why be so corrupt? Mo Rushuang walked closer and looked at Lin Beifans clear eyes. She said seriously, You have the empresss favor, you are promoted, you are rich and honorable, you cant enjoy it enough. Why do you want to be so corrupt? You know, what you are corrupting is the peoples money! If you are more corrupt, the people will suffer more! When did I ever corrupt the peoples money? Lin Beifan retorted. You said it yourself, you corrupted the money of the Former Minister of the Ministry of Households, the money of the officials, and the money of the students in the Imperial Academy! Mo Rushuang said. If Im corrupting the money of the Former Minister of the Ministry of Households, the money of the officials, and the money of the students in the Imperial Academy, what does it have to do with the people? When did I ever corrupt the peoples money? Lin Beifan retorted. This Mo Rushuang was dumbfounded. Think about it carefully, it seems that the other party really didnt corrupt a penny from the people! What he was corrupting was the money of corrupt officials, or the money of people rted to corrupt officials! It seems that he didnt even touch the people at all! But its wrong to be corrupt Her voice weakened a little. Whats wrong with it? Lin Beifan asked again, Everyone in the court is corrupt. Why cant I? If they do corrupt, why dont I have a chance to corrupt? If I dont corrupt, should I leave it to others to corrupt? Since thats the case, why shouldnt I put it in my own pocket? Upon careful thought, she realized that the other party made a valid point. The entire court was corrupt, so why couldnt he be? Mo Rushuang was greatly shaken in her heart! Her entire worldview and moral outlook were in shambles! So, I have to be corrupt! For the sake of themon people, I dont want to be corrupt, but I have to be! Lin Bei Fan shook his head, At leastpared to them, I am already upright and honest. I havent taken a single penny from themon people. I have a clear conscience! Mo Rushuang opened her mouth but had no words to say in response. There was a moment of silence. Mo Rushuang asked, But Mr. Lin, why did you sell out the country? When did I sell out the country? Lin Bei Fan asked, looking up. Just before this, when the envoy from Darro Country came to the capital to discuss tribute matters! Mo Rushuang said, I heard that you took the bribery of the envoy of Darro country, and argued in the court, finally wiped out the 3 million tribute that was agreed upon, and also opened the trade port to promote the development of trade in Darro country! There are also schrs sent to Darro country to set up schools and preach These conditions are of no benefit to Great Wu, but are beneficial to Darro without any harm! Mo Rushuangs emotions were a bit fiery as she loudly questioned: Mr. Lin, can you justify the empresss favor, can you justify themon people suffering, can you justify the soldiers who died on the border? I certainly can! Lin Beifanughed lightly, There is no one in this world who can justify the empress, justify the people, and justify the soldiers who died on the border more than me! Mo Rushuang looked at Lin Beifan in shock. She never thought that such words woulde out of his mouth. You sold the country out, and you still justify it? Lin Beifan asked while writing, Is three million tribute a lot for Darro? Yes! Mo Rushuang nodded without hesitation. As far as I know, Darro is just a small country on the edge of the Great Wu Empire, with poornd, scarce resources, and a poption of over ten million. The annual treasury ie is only eight million taels of silver! If there is a famine, this ie will be reduced! The three millionpensation already ounts for half of the treasury ie! Lin Beifan nodded, It seems that you are not so ignorant. So let me ask you again, how do you think Darro will raise this huge amount of money every year? First, through national treasury funds! If there is not enough silver, then it will be collected through taxation, fees and other means from the people to make up for the funds! Mo Rushuang said without hesitation. Lin Beifan asked, Are the people of Darro suffering? Yes, of course! Mo Rushuang nodded. Their conditions are so harsh that they can hardly even farm. We can barely solve the food problem by farming, but they have to rely on the heavens for food! Lin Beifan asked again, If three million more is added each year, will they suffer more? Yes, only more suffering and they may not survive! Mo Rushuang nodded again. Lin Beifan asked for the third time, If you were them and couldnt survive, what would you do? Of course, I would rebel! Mo Rushuang said without hesitation. At that moment, Mo Rushuang was stunned! Lin Beifan smiled slightly, Look at you, even if you cant survive, you will rebel, let alone the people of Darro? If they rebel, they will be fighting against us the Great Wu who burdens them and destroys their hopes for a living! Mo Rushuang remained silent. So, this tribute is actually a deration of war! Lin Beifan sighed, The people of Darro cannot bear it and will definitely rise up to hold us, Great Wu ountable! And there will be another war on the border region, which will happen within the next three years! The peace we fought for with tens of thousands of soldiers, this hard-won peace, is destroyed for only a mere three million taels of silver each year. Do you think its worth it? Not worth it! Mo Rushuangs voice was weak. Itspletely not worth it, and even extremely not worth it! Launching a national war would consume resources and money worth millions. This is just the visible loss, the unseen damage would be even greater and far-reaching. The number of casualties in this war would be in thousands and countless families will be shattered, and people will be disced. It will cause instability in the country and affect the lives of ordinary people. Great Wu is already chaotic enough, and it cannot be further destabilized. Thats why I spare no effort and spare no cost to abolish this indemnity. Its for the empress, its for the prosperity of the country, and its for the benefit of themon people. Do you think I am wrong? You are not wrong! You did the right thing! Mo Rushuang said in shame. Well, finally you speak like a human being, Lin Beifan responded. Mo Rushuang asked, But why open amercial port and allow merchants from both countries to do business? Great Wu will also send schrs to teach there. Isnt this equivalent to strengthening their country? What if they use their strengthened power against us? Thats just one aspect of it. You dont know the other side of the story, Lin Beifan shook his head. Trade between the two countries is beneficial to both, but more so to Darro Country. They have people, butck many resources, and we can trade resources for theirbor. In other words, we give them food, money, and everything they need, but they have to work for us. With this, the people of Darro Country are forced to work, and they wont have the energy to fight a war. Plus, with the material wealth obtained from Great Wu, their lives will be prosperous and they will be content. Will they want to go to war? Once the war starts, their lives will be destroyed, and they will not be willing to fight again. Mo Rushuang nodded, They definitely wont. Thats right. As for the schrs teaching there Just to educate them on the rituals of Confucius and Mencius, and the ways of the sages, so that everyone can be knowledgeable and reasonable! When there are conflicts, everyone can sit at the negotiating table and talk things out, instead of resorting to violence! Lin Beifan spread his hands. You see, I proposed these conditions in order to prevent decades, or even hundreds of years, of war in the future! This is equivalent to saving tens of millions of families and ordinary people,ying a solid foundation for the long-term peace of both countries, and creating favorable conditions for the stability of the Great Wu Empire! You tell me, did I do anything wrong? You you didnt do anything wrong! Mo Rushuang lowered her head in shame once again. Since I didnt do anything wrong, how can you use me of betraying my country? Lin Beifan bellowed. Mo Rushuang panicked. I only heard it from themon people You should know that mostmon people are short-sighted and narrow-minded, only caring about immediate interests, and are not capable of considering long-term benefits! Lin Beifan said disdainfully. If I really betrayed my country, could the entire court and military not notice it? Would the Empress not notice it? They are the smartest people in the world, and the long-term stability of the country depends on them! If they dont object, then why cant we think about it and consider why they didnt object? Could the entire court be foolish? Uh, youre right! Mo Rushuang muttered reluctantly. So, in the future, when you encounter situations like this, you must think carefully and explore more knowledgeable opinions. Dont just blindly follow others, or you might be sold without even knowing it! Lin Beifan warned. But, it seems like you also received money from the Darro envoy Whats wrong with that? Lin Beifan became agitated. Ive contributed so much to the Empress, to the Great Wu Empire, and to the ordinary people. Cant I enjoy some benefits for myself? Isnt that fair? Mo Rushuang felt ashamed and wished she could disappear. In the end, she had no choice but to leave. Mr. Lin, Im sorry for disturbing you. I know I was wrong. Ill go rest in my room now, she said, before fleeing. Watching the figure of the fleeing person, Lin Beifan chuckled, Youre easier to handle than those old foxes in the court! He lowered his head and continued practicing calligraphy. Soon after, Li Shi Shi came over with a cup of birds nest, smilingly saying, Husband, the birds nest has arrived! Drink it first, then continue writing! Good! Lin Beifan nodded. He put down his brush, walked over, and sat down next to Li Shi Shi, scooping up some of the birds nest and taking a sip. He frowned slightly, The taste is off! Its not made by you or Xiao Cui! Indeed, it wasnt made by me or Xiao Cui, it was made by Miss Rushuang! Li Shi Shi smiled and said, She knows about your situation, and she felt guilty so she specially made this birds nest to apologize to you! Hmm, Lin Beifan nodded and continued drinking the birds nest. Li Shi Shi said with admiration and infatuation, Husband, you are a man of great vision and consideration for the people. You are truly the only one who thinks so deeply for the welfare of Great Wu and themon people among all the civil and military officials in the court! After speaking, she held onto Lin Beifans hand tightly and emotionally said, Husband, no matter how people view you, no matter what the future holds, I will live and die with you! Lin Beifan was deeply moved! With a wife like her, what more could he ask for? He finished the birds nest in three sips and then hugged Li Shi Shi. Shi Shi, its alreadyte at night, lets rest! Hmm, please have mercy on me, husband! Li Shi Shi blushed and lowered her head. The two quickly returned to their room without turning on the light and went to sleep. On the other side, Mo Rushuang had a hard time falling asleep. She thought about boldly questioning Lin Beifan today and felt so embarrassed that she buried her face in the pillow. Im so stupid! I didnt think it through and went to question Mr. Lin. He must have thought I was so foolish at the time, right? The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became! However, she did not regret it. Because of this, she saw the truth of the matter and also saw Lin Beifans true face, which suddenly lifted her spirits. Mr. Lin is not a traitor, he never betrayed his country! Everything he said was for the sake of Great Wu and the people! However, outsiders dont understand him and he is unreasonably burdened with a lot of derogatory terms! Although he is corrupt, he only takes corrupt officials money and does not touch themon people! His greed is not without principle At this moment, the Prince Hamu, far away in Darro country, suddenly sneezed.
(yn w) is a type of Chinese delicacy made from the edible nest of the swiftlet bird. It ismonly used in Chinese cuisine and is considered a luxurious ingredient due to its high price. It is usually cooked in soups or sweet desserts. Chapter 83: I Understand Your Difficulties and I Wont Discriminate Against You! Chapter 83: I Understand Your Difficulties and I Wont Discriminate Against You! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In the days that followed, every time Mo Rushuang saw Lin Beifan, her eyes would shine with embarrassment. However, it seemed that Lin Beifan didnt take it to heart and treated her as before, asking after her and chatting idly with her every day, making Mo Rushuang feel warm inside. Sometimes, the Little Princess, who was bored, woulde to y with Mo Rushuang and ask about things in the Jianghu. Mo Rushuang would always tell her everything. I envy you. You are free to roam the Jianghu, see the wonders of the outside world, and do whatever you want. Meanwhile, I am trapped in the capital and cannot go anywhere! The Little Princess sighed, resting her cheek on her hand. Mo Rushuangughed and said, Actually, I dont know how many people envy you, Little Princess! You were born into nobility and have been well-fed and clothed since you were young. Unlike us, who have to work hard for our daily meals! Mo Rushuang sighed, To be honest, life outside is really difficult, harder than you can imagine! I can only survive in this tumultuous world because I have martial arts skills. For themon people, who have no money or power and no chance of joining a noble family, they can only till thend day after day, and their lives can only be imagined! The Little Princess nodded, as if realizing something. Youre right! Its like what that bastard said: Life is like a besieged city. People inside want to leave, while people outside want toe in! Mr. Lin said it so well. No wonder he is the top schr who passed the imperial exams three times in row! Mo Rushuang eximed. After some thought, she asked slyly, Little Princess, can you tell me about Mr. Lin? The Little Princess curled her lip. That big bad guy? He made me angry from the first moment I met him! I dont even know how many times I have been angry with him! If hes such a big bad guy who makes you angry, then why do you stille to y with him? Mo Rushuang asked with a smile. Because although hes bad, he has a bottom line. Unlike others who are bad from head to toe! And ying with him is really fun. Let me tell you, even though he looks dignified and serious, hes full of mischief The Little Princesss chatterbox was opened as she went on to recount Lin Beifans glorious deeds how he bullied the arrogant children of high officials, outwitted the court officials, and yed tricks on foreign envoys. Mo Rushuang listened with fascination from bullying the evil young masters to outwitting the cunning officials, and even ying with foreign envoys who had ulterior motives Just as he became the top schr, he was already flourishing and effortlessly ying with court politics. It was too amazing, too impressive! Her heart unexpectedly harbored some admiration! However, the princesss words also further confirmed her spection. Lin Beifan was indeed a corrupt official, but he was a principled one who only targeted corrupt officials and powerful ministers for money, never harming themon people. Rushuang, do you know why he was promoted a level a few days ago? Why is that? Rumors outside say its because corrupt officials protect each other No! The truth is that he was too greedy and embezzled several million from those young masters! The officials couldnt tolerate it any longer, but they couldnt do anything about him, so they rmended him together to be promoted and banished from the Imperial Academy where he cant extort money from their children anymore! Ah? So thats why! Mo Rushuang couldnt help but stifle augh. Looking at how this corrupt official behaved, he had pushed all the civil and military officials to a dead end. But Empress Sister is too fond of that scoundrel, or perhaps, does it on purpose, and raised his rank, allowing him to continue to stay at the Imperial Academy, which angered the officials and ckened their faces for several days! Hehe! The princessughed as well. Kekke Mo Ruoshuang alsoughed. This Lin Beifan guy is actually pretty good, talented and strategic, and has done a lot of good things for my Great Wu! But hes just too corrupt, which is why I have to constantly follow him and make sure he sweats out all the extorted money! The princess gritted her teeth. Thats probably a bit difficult. His kitchen is connected to the Imperial Kitchen! Mo Ruoshuang chuckled. Hmph! Where theres a will, theres a way. I believe one day Ill manage it! The Little Princess was inspired with fighting spirit, so she came over to eat for several days in a row. This brought a very direct and serious consequence, which was that the leftover food in Lin Beifans house quickly dwindled and was not enough for even one group of beggars outside, causing Guo Shaoshuai, who had just be a beggar, to salivate with hunger again. Ever since he ate the leftovers from Lin Beifans house, he lost interest in eating other kinds of food and felt that the food he had eaten before was all garbage. Therefore, he was waiting every day by the back door of Lin Beifans house, his eyes piercing through the door, hoping for some food to be thrown out to him. But even though he worked so hard, the leftover food was still decreasing day by day. At first, he could still eat duck meat, which was fat and juicy, and every bite was full of oil, making it incredibly delicious. Later, he could only nibble on the duck bones, which still had some meat on them, but were still very fragrant. But now, even the bones were gone. How could he eat? Beggars also have their own demands, right? Finally, one day, he couldnt hold back anymore! If I cant eat outside, Ill sneak in and eat secretly! When no one was around, he used his lightness skills to easily jump into Lin Beifans mansion. Carefully following the smell of food, he finally found the kitchen. As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, his eyes lit up and his mouth watered: Theres so much delicious food! God hasnt been unkind to me after all! Today, I, Guo Shaoshuai, will definitely eat until Im full! He rushed over at his fastest speed and picked up the trash can on the ground. Feeling around inside, he pulled out a duck bone, and was extremely excited: Theres still so much meat left, this is great! He immediately put it in his mouth and began to blissfully nibble on it. Thats right! This vor! Fat but not greasy, smooth and tender, overflowing with fragrant oil and delicious juices! Even the bones are marinated and are crispy and fragrant! Delicious to the point of unimaginable!!! In less than a moment, the entire duck bone was crushed and swallowed into the stomach. Reaching out and grabbing, the item in hand was full of surprise. Thisis actually chicken butt! This delicious and juicy chicken butt is too good to not eat. You guys dont eat it, I will! He immediately stuffed the chicken butt into his mouth and indulged in the taste. Mmm! So fragrant and tender! Its so delicious that I cant stop! In this world, the only dish that can rival duck bones is chicken butt! Im so lucky to have eaten it, haha! Its so tmd (too much damn) blissful! After eating the chicken butt, he reached out and grabbed again, once again surprised. Thisis actually my favorite pig intestine!!! Its still raw and hasnt been washed! This fresh pig intestine, if you guys dont eat it, I will! After eating each piece of food, he reached into the trash can. He was increasingly fond of this way of eating, which felt like opening a blind box full of surprises every time. Because he was so engrossed in eating, he didnt notice a few peopleing up behind him. They saw the beggar wolfing down the leftover food from the trash can with relish and were stunned, unable to say a word for a long time. However, he was ultimately a warrior, and he heard the movement behind him and immediately turned around. Then, he saw the two stunning beauties, Li Shi Shi and Little Princess, whom he had once admired, as well as Lin Beifan, the big official he despised, all staring at him in disbelief as he ate the stale food. At this moment, he was also stunned! His most humiliating moment was seen by the people he liked and the person he hated the most! Embarrassing! Too embarrassing! Its shameful! Too shameful! The four of them stared at each other, not knowing how to break the awkward situation. In the end, it was Lin Beifan who had the courage to offer the leftover food in his hand, with a friendly smile: Please enjoy! I understand your difficulties and wont discriminate against you!'' Chapter 84: Child with autism? Let me give him a shock treatment! Chapter 84: Child with autism? Let me give him a shock treatment! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Finally, Guo Shaoshuai was chased back. However, after experiencing such arge-scale social death incident, he couldnt handle the pressure and locked himself in his room. Mo Rushuang knocked on the door outside, shouting with deep concern, Junior Brother, if theres something bothering you, please open the door. Dont iste yourself! You can tell me anything, cant you even trust your senior sister? It would make you sick if you keep it all in A voice of shame and anger came from inside the room, Senior Sister, please dont bother me, let me deal with my own problems! If you keep bothering me, Ill run away and never see you again! After these words were spoken, there was no sound anymore. Junior Brother! Junior Brother Mo Rushuang called a few more times, but didnt get a response, so she sighed and left. How is he? Lin Beifan and the others asked in unison. Hes still the same, cant face reality and doesnt want to see anyone. Mo Rushuang said helplessly. At this point, the straightforward little princess spoke up, Sister Rushuang, I dont know if I should ask this or not, but why does your junior brother, Guo Shaoshuai, like to eat spoiled food? He ate it so happily just now, even finished the whole bucket Mo Rushuang suddenly felt ashamed. Her junior brothers act of stealing spoiled food had been exposed, which made her, his Senior Sister, lose face too. She really wanted to kick the door open and give him a few kicks. I dont know why! I can only say he wasnt like this before! He used to dislike anything that wasnt fresh, but now Mo Rushuang sighed. Maybe something happened to him and it caused some changes in his psychology! When he was caught by ident, his self-esteem was hurt, so he doesnt want to face reality anymore I guess we can only understand it like that! Everyone nodded. Lets not bother him for now. Maybe helle around on his own. Mo Rushuang sighed. You cant do that! Young people, like him, are most likely to get stuck in their own thoughts and do unexpected things! So, Ill go and enlighten him! Lin Beifan said. Are you sure you can do that? Everyone was doubtful. Except for me, there arent many people in this world who can. Did you forget my identity? I am the director in the Imperial Academy, responsible for the moral and ethical education of students! Under my guidance and education, the students of the Imperial Academy have worked hard, flourished and prospered! Lin Beifan said confidently. The students of the Imperial Academy all sneezed. The little princess remembered the embarrassing things Lin Beifan had done at the Imperial Academy and said anxiously, Are you really capable of that? Dont mess things up! Lin Beifan shook his sleeves and said confidently, You watch and learn. Ill give him a shock treatment! Lin Beifan walked calmly to Guo Shaoshuais room door. After a few knocks and no answer, he gathered his energy and made a light chop, slicing through the beam, pushing the door open. At that moment, Guo Shaoshuai was lying on the ground, eyes staring at the ceiling, as if he had lost all hope. But when he saw Lin Beifane in, he reacted a little. How did you get in? I dont want to see you! Guo Shaoshuai said. Lin Beifan squatted down, looked at the lifeless Guo Shaoshuai and sighed, Why do you torment yourself like this? Its not that big of a deal! Guo Shaoshuai remained expressionless, with no reaction. Lin Beifan sighed again, Actually, when I saw you eating spoiled food so happily, I felt very close to you because I could understand your situation. I also went through tough times and often suffered from hunger and cold, so sometimes I had to A glint of seeking approval appeared in Guo Shaoshuais eyes, YouHave you also eaten spoiled food before? Lin Beifan shook his head, No, unlike you, I dont have such a good appetite! Guo Shaoshuai couldnt help butugh. I used to be hungry all the time, so I had to beg for food like you do now. That way, I wouldnt starve to death! Lin Beifan recalled his past unconsciously. What happenedter? Guo Shaoshuais eyes had a glint of seeking empathy. I didnt seed either! Lin Beifan shook his head and spoke with a bitter tone. I was too handsome, and no one believed that I was begging. They all thought I was a destitute schr, so they would drag me in and feed me until I was full before letting me go! Guo Shaoshuai snorted. Especially youngdies from wealthy families who were about to enter marriageable age. They didnt even want to let me go and wanted to make me their husband! Tell me, was it easy for me to do all that just for a meal? Guo Shaoshuai snorted again. Thats why I envy you so much! Lin Beifan said, You still have a chance to beg for food and eat whatever you want. As for me, I dont even have the opportunity to try because others have blocked my way! Guo Shaoshuai was angry, very angry. He let out a roar, Enough, Lin Beifan! Are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Let me tell you, you seeded! You sessfully made me angry! Were not on the same side now! Dont think too much! Lin Beifan smiled and said, I just wanted to tell you a profound truth. Dont think too highly of yourself. Everyone is busy and doesnt have time for you! The only people who have time for you are those who want to see you fail, like me now! So, why make the people who care about you unhappy and the people who dislike you happy? Why torture yourself? Guo Shaoshuai was stunned and fell silent. He realized that what Lin Beifan said was Really sensible! So, you really dont need to think too much! Lin Beifanughed. You eat leftovers and drink sour water, which only disgusts others. It should be them who want to die, not you! Guo Shaoshuais mouth twitched. At this moment, Lin Beifan went out and came back with two jars of wine. No need to say anything else. Lets drink! Being drunk is the best solution to anything! Lin Beifan said, Do you remember the poem I read? The worlds changese from people like us. Time flies when were in the martial arts world. We talk andugh about politics and power, but we cant surpass the moments we get drunk in life. Guo Shaoshuais spirits lifted and shouted, Good! Lets drink! The two of them drank the wine until they were satisfied. However, Lin Beifan soon regretted it. This guy couldnt hold his liquor. He became crazy after drinking half a bottle. It would have been fine if he just acted crazy, but he also called Lin Beifan his brother. Just calling him brother was bad enough, but he also shared his feelings about how he had to eat leftover food for thest few days. Lin Beifan felt disgusted listening to it. When the conversation became emotional, the other party said excitedly, Brother, you understand me! From now on, I will take care of you! As long as I have a bite of food, you can have a sip of my urine! Lin Beifan was deeply moved. Brother! As long as youre full, I dont care if Im thirsty! Brother! Hahaha Guo Shaoshuaiughed and passed out. Lin Beifan immediately got up from the ground and called for help to clean up. The next day, Guo Shaoshuais condition was much better after he sobered up. However, he still had the impulse tomit suicide when he thought about what he had done yesterday and how he had exposed his worst side in front of his sworn enemy. He didnt realize that his resentment towards Lin Beifan had diminished quite a bit. Mo Rushuang felt relieved and said, Im d youve recovered, Junior Brother! Dont worry, Senior Sister. I wont do anything foolish that will make you worry, Guo Shaoshuai assured her. Mo Rushuang felt even more relieved and said, Junior Brother, youve be more mature and responsible than before! Guo Shaoshuai nodded in agreement. He realized that he had grown up a lot since being enlightened by Lin Beifan. It was as if he had matured in an instant. By the way, Junior Brother, how did Mr. Lin enlighten you and help you mature so quickly? Mo Rushuang asked curiously. Guo Shaoshuais lips twitched, Senior Sister, its better not to mention these things. Lets just forget about it. Oh, and by the way, why are you staying in Lin Mansion? This is the situation! That night, I was being chased by a high-level practitioner and many soldiers Mo Rushuang briefly exined the situation. Guo Shaoshuai thought about it and said, It seems that Lin Beifan saved you! Although hes a corrupt official, he still has some conscience Junior Brother, you cant say such things about him! Mo Rushuangs face was serious. Actually, many outsiders misunderstand him! Although hes corrupt, he has principles in his corruption and is much better than other court officials! He has never been a traitor to the country, and he has done a lot for the country and the people. We should respect him! Senior Sister, whats the whole story? Guo Shaoshuai asked seriously. Mo Ruolshuang exined the situation to him. It seems that hes not as annoying as people say Guo Shaoshuais attitude towards Lin Beifan had also undergone a fundamental change. But he still didnt want to show a good face to Lin Beifan. Perhaps this was thest stubbornness of a young man! Afterwards, the Senior Sister and Junior Brother lived in Lin Beifans house for a week to recuperate. During this time, they had recovered 70 to 80% of their injuries and decided that it was time to leave. They came to say goodbye to Lin Beifan. Mr. Lin, weve caused you a lot of trouble these days. Thank you very much! However, weve been dyed for too long, and we have important matters to attend to, so we must leave now. Wevee to say goodbye! Mo Rushuang said gratefully. Lin Beifan understood and nodded, I wont keep you, take care! Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Lin! We may meet again in the future! Mo Rushuang bowed politely. Take care! Guo Shaoshuai also bowed respectfully. After that, they used their light skills to leave the city under the cover of night. Before leaving, Mo Rushuang nced reluctantly at Lin Beifan before finally flying away. Suddenly, Guo Shaoshuai, who had been silent for a long time, asked, Senior Sister, do you like Lin Beifan? Mo Rushuang trembled, trying to y it cool, Junior Brother, why do you say that? You cant hide liking someone! Ive never seen you care so much about any man before! Ive already figured it out. You cant fool me! Guo Shaoshuai said, feeling a bit sour in his heart. His beautiful Senior Sister had been taken away by this guy. What a jerk! Mo Rushuang sighed and smiled bitterly, What can I do if I like him or not? Were not meant to be together, after all! Hes a court official, and were from the Jianghu! Hes the Empresss confidant, and were the followers of the Prince! Weare destined not to be together! Mo Rushuang said. Guo Shaoshuai nodded and didnt say anything more. The two of them continued on their journey. Chapter 85: Your Majesty, please dont give me any more rewards. My yard is too small to fit them! Chapter 85: Your Majesty, please dont give me any more rewards. My yard is too small to fit them! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After Mo Rushuang had left, Lin Beifans life returned to normal. However, something exciting happened recently. The promised reward from Prince Hamu of the Darro Kingdom had arrived, aside from the already given 300,000 taels of silver, making the total amount now 3.2 million taels. Most of it was changed into bank notes and some precious gold and silver jewelry were secretly delivered to Lin Beifan. He was thrilled, With this money, plus the 3.5 million taels I embezzled from the young master before, my total is 6.7 million taels. I can finally upgrade myself to a higher level. System, calcte it for me now! [Ding! The host embezzled 6.7 million taels worth of gold and silver jewelry. The amount is enormous, reward includes fusing Whispering Wind and Striding Cloud (early stage) temtes.] Two mighty forces merged into Lin Beifans body. Innate! These are innate abilities! Both of these powers are innate powers! Soon, he absorbed the terrifying martial arts experience into his mind. Wind Gods leg techniques, Cloud Dispersing PalmLin Beifan sat down and rapidly absorbed them. His strength quickly expanded, expanding, and finally broke through a huge bottleneck. He spent more than an hour absorbing these two forces. Opening his eyes, Lin Beifan was ecstatic. Innate, level five! Now, I am already a high-level innate warrior! With more abundant true energy and understanding of martial arts experience, defeating several innate level six masters is not a problem. As for post-innate masters, he could basically kill them in seconds. He could easily beat four or five of his previous selves. Aside from the horrifying growth of his strength, he also gained more martial arts experience and unique skills. Take Wind Gods leg technique for example, its a fast and sharp leg technique that can move like a wind or even run through the wind like a god. It can also form a powerful attack power, and no one can stop it. After fusing these two characters, an even more terrible ability was obtained! The Boundless Divine Power! Because they represent the wind and clouds, when theybine, they can trigger the Boundless Divine Power, bursting out ten times or even dozens of times the power, invincible in the world! Lin Beifan merged the power of both characters, as well as his own thoughts, so he could simultaneously use the power of the wind and the cloud, triggering the Boundless Divine Power, reaching ten times or morebat power. Now that I am level five innate martial artist with martial arts knowledge of several talented warriors, coupled with the Boundless Divine Power, I can fight top innate masters! If someone wants to stop me, they can dream on! No matter how many innate masters there are! Aftering to this conclusion, Lin Beifan was very happy because it meant that his survival ability had greatly improved, and his chances of escaping were much greater. Unless there was a master above innate level, but how many are there? Even if they make a move, they may not be able to catch me! After being happy, Lin Beifan soon calmed down and nned to continue living in seclusion and develop himself discreetly. The fewer people know his strength, the safer he is. The less people know his strength, the greater his chances of escaping. Just then, a white figure appeared in front of Lin Beifan. No need for words, this is the woman who was said to be like a god or demon, Bai Qingxuan. To Lin Beifans surprise, her power had increased several times, and he couldnt feel her breath. He didnt even know when she arrived, and she was already in front of him when he saw her. If she wanted to kill him, he wouldnt be able to stop her. He thought to himself, What a terrifying woman! Meanwhile, Bai Qingxuan was also surprised to see Lin Beifan. Your power has increased again? she asked. Lin Beifan nodded and modestly said, I was practicing just now and identally broke through. Sorry to show off! You monster! Bai Qingxuan eximed, The first time I saw you, you were just a small peak-stage powerhouse. Now, in less than two months, youre already a fifth-level martial artist! In terms of academics, youre a rare genius in a century! In terms of martial arts, youre also a rare genius! Lin Beifan could onlyugh bitterly and say, Im not even as much of a monster as you are. Ive improved so quickly, but I still cant see through you. May I ask how strong you are now? After asking, he immediately perked up his ears to listen. Im not sure. Its been a long time since Ive fought someone else. Eight years ago, I fought an old master who had reached the peak level of Grandmaster. I barely won after one attack. Since then, I havent met an exciting opponent! Bai Qingxuan said calmly. Lin Beifan thought to himself, Wow, 10 years in the field, and she defeated someone who had reached the peak level of Grandmaster eight years ago! This means that she has at least the strength of a first-level Grandmaster! Moreover, she hasnt met an opponent that excites her in eight years. Isnt she invincible? Through hismunication with her, he found that she wasnt very old, but she had already reached such a level of cultivation. This shows that she is a rare martial arts prodigy who appears once in a century or even once in a thousand years. With such frightening talent, wouldnt her strength increase in the past eight years? He didnt believe it- this woman was indeed terrifying! Do you reach the legendary realm of thend immortals? Lin Beifan asked curiously. Bai Qingxuan thought for a moment and shook her head, Probably not! That is a legendary realm, where martial arts are divine, and one can defy immortality, possessing all sorts of incredible abilities, like a celestial being! I feel like Im still far from that realm! Lin Beifan thought to himself, Youre already like a celestial being now! But I think you have a chance to touch that realm! Bai Qingxuan said earnestly, Lets make a deal! When the dayes that you be a Grandmaster, well have a good fight. Perhaps that will give us both the pressure to enter that legendary realm! Are you overestimating me? Lin Beifan smiled wryly. No way! Of all the martial arts geniuses Ive met, youre definitely the most monstrous! Evenpared to myself when I was your age, youre far superior! Grandmaster is not your limit! Bai Qingxuan said confidently. Lin Beifan realized that this woman was bing more and more terrifying. Her intuition was so urate. If he kept going like this, he really might have a chance to reach the realm ofnd immortals! Enough about this. Its still early to talk about these things! Lin Beifan opened a few boxes filled with silver tickets and many gold and silver jewels. These are the 3.2 million two worth of money that Hamu, the prince of Darri Kingdom, sent. Ive also made about 3.5 million two from those young masters. Take it all! he said handing the money over to Bai Qingxuan. Bai Qingxuan looked at the thick silver notes and the piles of gold, silver, and jewelry-filled boxes. Even the calmest heart would be stirred. I take back what I said earlier! I think you are an unprecedented monster when ites to greed for money! Even in terms of talent in studying or martial arts, you are far inferior! Lin Beifan smiled and gestured modestly. You tter me. I still have a long way to go. Bai Qingxuan was speechless. You mean you still havent had enough? Why dont you just take the national treasury? Lin Beifans eyes lit up. Great idea! Bai Qingxuan left with all the silver notes and gold and silver jewelry. The next day during morning court, Lin Beifan noticed that the empress was exceptionally happy. As soon as she finished reciting the court edict, the empress eagerly called out, Lin my dear, where are you? Lin Beifan stood up and bowed respectfully, his face solemn. I am here. What are your orders, Your Majesty? The empress beamed. Nothing much, I just wanted to see you and give you something. To the new top-scoring schr and imperial academys director, Lin Beifan Ten casks of pce jade Luo wine! Ten boxes of premium fragrant crystal tea! A pair of premium jade unicorns! She listed a pile of rewards! The extravagance was as usual! As unreasonable as ever! Lin Beifan was dumbfounded! Your Majesty, if you want to reward me, at least give me a reason! I havent aplished anything, and I havent done anything, but youre giving me so many things! I am truly Overwhelmed! I am more than shocked! The hearts of the civil and martial officials were filled with anger! Again? How many times has this happened? Cant you stop being so sudden, so unreasonable, so stimting? Im getting old, and I cant handle it! However, no one opposed this time. Because every time they opposed before, they were the ones who suffered. So, this group of old foxes learned their lesson and didnt bother to argue as long as it didnt involve core interests. But their eyes still turned red, unwilling to concede to this. Damn it! Why give him so much? More than before! Did this guy save the empress in his previous life? Or did he save Great Wu? So thats why the empress is so fond of him? Im not envious! I really am not! But at that moment, there was a cracking sound as an old minister identally bit his teeth. Other ministers gritted their teeth and contained their impulse to hit someone. After about ten minutes of rewards, the empress finally stopped, not quite satisfied. The civil and martial officials all heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, its over! For them, it was simply torture! There were no knives, but it was bloody! Then, with a grin, the empress asked, Lin Aiqing, are you satisfied with the rewards? Your Majestys love for me has been felt by me! But please, take back your orders! said Lin Beifan, his voice full of sincere fear. Why? Dont you like it, Lin my dear? The empress didnt understand. Its not that, but my yard (mansion as whole) is too small to fit all of these treasures! Lin Beifanined. The empresss eyes lit up. Good! Then Ill reward you a yard dedicated to storing these exotic treasures! The civil and martial officials burst intoughter.
Whispering Wind (Nie Feng) and Striding Cloud (Bu Jingyun) are main characters of the Storm Riders wuxia series. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Storm_Riders Chapter 86: Lin My Dear, How Long Will You Struggle? Chapter 86: Lin My Dear, How Long Will You Struggle? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The officials were jealous to the point of madness! How could Lin Beifan be given another courtyard? Wasnt the one he lived in already big enough? It could amodate over a hundred people, and that was the standard for high-ranking officials of the court! There was no way he could get a bigger one closer to the imperial pce! Giving him another courtyard to fill with treasures and rarities was just too much, even for someone favored by the empress! Dont you care about hurting the hearts of us old officials? Lin Beifan was dumbfounded! You want to give me another courtyard? This was not a good thing for him! Your Majesty, this cannot be! Why not? The Empress was puzzled. My dear, you said your courtyard is too small and cannot hold all the treasures and rarities. So Im giving you another one to solve this problem, isnt that right? This problem may be solved, but another one has arisen! Lin Beifan smiled bitterly. Your Majesty, my family is small, including myself, there are only four people. Managing the original courtyard is already beyond our capacity! If you add another one, it will be a disaster! Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to withdraw the award! Lin my dear, you are in the wrong! Im wrong? Lin Beifan was stunned. Of course you are! The Empress said discontentedly. Lin my dear, you are now a high-ranking official of the court, and your financial resources are ample. You should hire some people to help manage your estate and not be so frugal! When I suggested that you hire some help before, you refused. Now youre running into trouble, arent you? Lin Beifan: She made perfect sense, but he was speechless! The officials were so jealous that they wanted to kill Lin Beifan! The Empress actually advised him to take anything he wanted, to enjoy himself, and not to deprive himself! Otherwise, she would not be at ease! This was What a great favor! Why was this corrupt official still enjoying such favor despitemitting so many crimes and corruption? Where is justice? Where is fairness? Seeing that he couldnt persuade the Empress, Lin Beifan had to seek outside help. He whispered to the Ministers standing beside him, Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, and Qian Yuanxin, the Minister of Finance, Gentlemen, please help me persuade Her Majesty. You are usually very good at that, arent you? The two ministers faces turned cold and they thought, Are you asking us to persuade her? Youre just showing off! They turned away and ignored him. Lin Beifan then turned to other ministers and begged for their help. Minister Zhao, Minister Wang, you are usually very fair. Her Majesty has given me too much, I cannot ept it. Can you please help me criticize her? Ministers Zhao and Wangs faces also turned grim. Are you trying to provoke us? they thought. I have never seen anyone as shameless as you! They also turned away and ignored him. Lin Beifan looked towards the other side. Minister Sun, Minister Liu, you have never liked me. This is your chance to shine. Use your eloquence to persuade Her Majesty to retract her decree. If you dont speak now, it will be toote! Ministers Sun and Lius faces turned ck. You wretched person! they thought. Youre just showing off to us! If we speak, we will be seen as just as shameless as you! In the end, after searching for a while, Lin Beifan sadly realized that he could not find anyone to speak ill of him. He was anguished by how positive his rtionships had be. I would rather not have this at all! he thought. The Empress sat on her dragon throne, smiling as she watched everything. She had a satisfied expression as she said to Lin Beifan, Is that enough? How long will you continue to struggle? Lin Beifan was sweating profusely as he replied, Your Majesty, there is no need to reward the courtyard! But your house cannot hold all of it The Empress said. Its okay, I can store it in the Pce for now. I will use it when needed, Lin Beifan replied quickly. The Empress thought for a moment before nodding and saying, Alright. Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed. The Empress was extremely pleased with herself. She had rewarded a loyal minister and disgusted the corrupt officials at the same time. Thrilling! Refreshing! If I have the chance, Ill do it again! After packing up her mood, the morning court officially begins. I have a petition with a basis, and I will withdraw if there is no basis! I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, I have one! Lin Beifan added an extra petition in his hand and said loudly. The empress smiled and said, Lin my dear, what do you have to petition for? Lin Beifan said loudly, Your Majesty! Before, I was ordered to lead students to research on national heavy equipment, and I dare not bezy! But as the research deepened, the manpower, material resources and financial resources required became more and more, my official sry was limited, and the funds of the Imperial Acay were limited. Therefore, I request Your Majesty to allocate some funding to support the research! The empress nodded, Indeed! How much money do you need, tell me, and I will instruct the Ministry of Revenue to allocate it to you! The funding I need is in the petition, please scrutinize it, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said. Hand it over! After receiving the petition, the empress looked at it carefully. The more she looked at it, the deeper her frown became, and she couldnt help but look at Lin Beifan weirdly. Lin Beifan remained calm and did not divert his gaze. The empress continued to look through, and by the end, her lips twitched. She handed over the petition expressionlessly: Minister Qian,e and look at this petition! Do you think this funding is appropriate? I ept the order! The Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen, respectfully took over the petition. As a result, he was worse than the Empress! The more he looked, the more he trembled, and finally shouted, Nonsense! How can research on those things require so much money? 5 million funds per year, consecutively for three years! Director Lin, are you trying to embezzle while you have the chance? Lin Beifan did have this idea. Because the money needed for future upgrades would increase more and more, he had to seek more sources of revenue, mainly through opening up sources of revenue. So, he couldnt help but focus on the money in the national treasury. There was so much money in the national treasury, if he didnt take it, he could only let other corrupt officials take advantage of it. So, he was going to take it without hesitation! However, he couldnt say that out loud. Lin Beifan smiled bitterly, Sir Qian, you have misunderstood me! I have always led a clean and honest life, and have always been an upright official. How could I do such a thing that would provoke the wrath of both humans and gods? The officials and the empress, their lips twitched at the same time. Not only have you done it, youve done it very ruthlessly! Whats even more outrageous is that in front of the entire court, you say you are an honest and upright person? Too shameless, too shameless! Lin Beifan argued reasonably, Your Majesty, and everyone present, everything I am researching is a national heavy equipment! There are the steel giant ships that can dominate the major waterways, the air balloons that can carry people to the sky, and the hybrid rice that can solve the food and clothing problems of the people As long as we produce one, it can quickly enhance the national strength! Is an annual research funding of 5 million too much? If it can really be researched, 5 million is not a lot! But what if it cant be researched? Then this money will go to waste, and who will make up for that huge hole? Finance Minister Qian Yuanshen spread out his hands and said, You should know that the national treasury is rted to the safety of the state, and arrangements have been made in all aspects! If we redirect funds from here, it will affect the use of funds in other areas, and the impact will be huge! Therefore, the amount of this funding is toorge, and I cannot approve it! Upon hearing this, the officials began to voice their opinions I also cannot approve of it! The amount is toorge, our national treasurys annual ie is only a few hundred million, if we allocate 5 million, it will affect all aspects, and we will all have to live frugally! What if there is a natural disaster or a man-made disaster and we need funding? And, I have always felt that what Director Lin is researching is too unrealistic and impossible! So, why waste this money? Its better to wait until something is actually researched, and then reward them! The Empress also couldnt resist persuading, Lin my dear, forget about it! Lets approve a budget of one or two hundred thousand first, and then increase the investment when something is actually researched, how about that? Lin Beifan bowed and said, Your Majesty, I am confident that I can research it! Take the hot air balloon, for example, if I have sufficient funding, I am confident that I can research and develop it to carry people within three months! Everyone was stunned. Research a hot air balloon that can carry people within three months? Can it really be done? No one could resist this temptation, especially the ancient people who longed to fly. The Empress couldnt wait and asked, Lin my dear, can you really research it within three months? How much money do you need? I dare not deceive Your Majesty, I really can do it! As for how much money I need Lin Beifan smiled slightly and held up two fingers, Two million should suffice! The expressions of the officials twitched. Two million? He said it so casually! Two million may be eptable if a hot air balloon that can carry people is really researched within three months! said Finance Minister Qian Yuanshen, turning his head to look at Lin Beifan sternly and asking, But if it cannot be researched, how will you ount for the funds? Lin Beifan didnt hesitate and said, If it cannot be researched, the funds will be returned to the national treasury with interest! Its as if I borrowed the money from the national treasury! Good! Remember your words! Qian Yuanshen turned around and saluted, Your Majesty, I have no objection! What about the opinions of other officials? I have no objection if Director Lin can really research it as he said within three months, and if he cannot, I agree with returning the funds with interest! said Minister of Personnel Gao Tianyao. All the officials followed in unison, We have no objections! The Empress dered, Okay! Lets go with the opinions of the officials! Lin Aiqing, step forward to receive the decree, and Imand you to research and develop a hot air balloon that can carry people within three months! The necessary funding of 2 million taels of silver can be withdrawn from the national treasury! If it is not achieved in the end, all funds must be returned to the national treasury with interest, and there must be no errors! I will do my best and not let Your Majesty down! Lin Beifan saluted. Chapter 87: Mo Rushuang recommends Lin Beifan to the person behind her! Chapter 87: Mo Rushuang rmends Lin Beifan to the person behind her! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The morning court had ended, and Lin Beifan immediately ran happily to collect his money. If he were to study hot air balloons in the conventional way, it would cost him 2 million and take several decades, and he might not even get any results. However, since he was from another world, he already knew the principle behind hot air balloons. With this knowledge, he could save a lot of money and time by directly creating the final and most mature version of the hot air balloon. All the money saved went straight into his pocket. The most crucial part of a hot air balloon is the material of the balloon! As long as we can find a material that is waterproof, air-proof, and durable, we can create a huge hot air balloon that can ascend without any problems! And I happen to know how to do it! As long as I can create it, manned flight can be expected! Lin Beifan was secretly pleased. He had already made a calction to purchase suitable materials to weave into the balloon and then give the balloon special treatment to make it waterproof, air-proof, and durable. Finally, he would add some other devices It would probably cost him a few thousand taels, and the rest of the money would go into his pocket! The more Lin Beifan thought about it, the happier he became. If I spend more than 10,000 taels on this, I lose! After he returned home, Lin Beifan immediately purchased arge quantity of materials and hired hundreds of people to work on it, creating a huge spectacle. He wanted the Empress and the civil and military officials to see that he was tirelessly studying the hot air balloon. He really did spend the money he saved and did not keep any for himself. ### At this time, Mo Rushuang and herpanion, who had already left the capital and hurried back to Northen Hebei by horse, arrived at a luxurious mansion. After being announced by the servants, they went inside and met a middle-aged man dressed in a fancy gown. The two of them paid their respects and said in unison, We pay our respects to the prince, long live the prince! The middle-aged man in fancy clothes walked over quickly,ughing heartily and politely, Haha! We are allrades, you two dont need to be so polite. Please sit down quickly! Come on, bring some tea and dont neglect our guests! Mo Rushuang and herpanion felt a warm feeling in their hearts as they said in unison, Thank you, Your Highness! They sat down, and tea was served with a faint scent of smoke. The man in fancy clothes, the prince, looked at the two dust-covered youths and said with emotion, You two have really worked hard! This trip was only a little over a month, but you two have a little more vicissitudes on your faces. Its not easy! It wasnt hard. We just ran errands, Mo Rushuang replied. Compared to you, Your Highness, what we did was trivial! You are the hero who saves the country and the people! herpanion tteringly added. The prince waved his hand with a smile and modestly said, Well well. You two have overrated me. As a descendant of the royal family, it is my duty to hope for less conflict and killing in the world so that the people can live in peace and happiness. Compared to the two of you who act for public welfare, I am far inferior. Mo Rushuang and herpanion were deeply moved. Only by pursuing such enlightened rulers could the world have hope! By the way, have you gained anything from this trip? Did you find the Night Hero? What did he say? Is he willing to join me? the prince asked. The two of them looked at each other, and Mo Rushuang said with embarrassment, Your Highness, were sorry. We didnt gain anything from this trip, and I couldnt find the night hero. To find him, we even pretended to be him and went out to help the poor, but we still only met him once. Unfortunately, he has probably already left the capital, and we dont know where he went. Ah thats such a shame! The prince pped his thigh and sighed regretfully. Mo Rushuang and herpanion felt even more ashamed. So what youre saying is that you two are the fake night heroes that caused a stir in the capital? the prince asked. Yes, its my brother and me, Mo Rushuang nodded. ording to what I know, that incident happened on the first day of the month, more than 20 days ago! Why havent we heard anything from you two, and where did you go? The prince asked curiously. I dare not deceive Your Highness, Mo Rushuang said, bowing. That night, my brother and I came out as fake night heroes to help the poor, but we were ambushed by the government! They sent thousands of soldiers and even innate experts to hunt us down! We barely survived that night! Luckily, we took refuge in the mansion of Lin Beifan, the new top schr who just passed the imperial examination. He saved us and helped us escape with our lives. We spent most of our time in his mansion, recovering from our injuries, before leaving the capital to report to Your Highness! The prince was puzzled. Ah? You mean that Lin Beifan saved you? But hes a person of the court. How could he have saved you? Mo Rushuang then exined the incident outside the city where they met Lin Beifan. I see! You two have gone through a lot. Had I known, I wouldnt have sent you two out. We almost lost you! The prince regretted his decision. Mo Rushuang and herpanion were moved by the words and said, Serving Your Highness is our duty! Since you two havee in contact with Lin Beifan for some time, you should know what kind of person he is! Can you tell me what he is really like? Rumors say hes a huge corrupt official, extremely greedy Mo Rushuang felt very ufortable upon hearing this. She quickly replied, Your Highness, those are all baseless rumors. Dont trust everything you hear! The prince raised his eyebrows in surprise, Really? Can you tell me what kind of person he is? Lin Beifan is actually a principled corrupt official. He only takes money from other corrupt officials and doesnt harm the people. And in private, he has done many things for the people, but has not been understood Mo Rushuang continued to talk about Lin Beifan and even slightly glorified his image. Ah It turned out to be like this! It seems that rumors from the outside world are mostly unreliable and not trustworthy! The prince smiled bitterly. Seeing Lin Beifans image being whitewashed, Mo Rushuang felt unexpectedly happy. She thought for a moment and said, Your Highness, we can actually win him over! Why do you say that? The prince was puzzled. Your Highness! Mo Rushuang bowed. Lin Beifan is the new top schr who has won the imperial examination. In terms of talent, there are few in the world who canpare to him! He vigorously abolished the reparations between the two countries, proving that he has a good heart and considers the people, and has great vision! Although he is corrupt, he is also in a dirty official environment who has no choice. Even so, he still maintains the most basic bottom line and principles and does not harm the people! Such talent is very rare! Mo Rushuang rmended Lin Beifan highly. Right now, we are nning a major event, and we need to recruit soldiers and buy horses. If Lin Beifan can be of use to Your Highness, he would be like a tiger with wings added! This let me think about it! The prince was lost in thought. Mo Rushuang felt a little disappointed. She really hoped that the prince would agree immediately. In this way, they would have a chance to work together, fight for amon cause, and even after the chaos was over? As she thought about it, she blushed a bit. Guo Shaoshuai, who was sitting behind her, saw it and wasnt happy! She must be thinking about that bastard again! It is clear that she rmended it to the prince, hoping to have more opportunities to get in touch with him in the future He couldnt understand it. They had only known each other for more than 20 days. The senior sister, who was always knowledgeable and calm, fell in love with that bastard who was so irritating to talk to! Is it just because hes handsome? Just because hes talented? The senior sister is not that superficial! This is simply unreasonable! Ah, that bastard! If he has the chance to go back, he will definitely beat him up! This is a major event. Let me think about it carefully! Two young friends, rest first and Ill let you know when I make a decision! The Prince politely saw them off. Yes, Your Highness! We take our leave! the two stood up and bowed. At this moment, an elegantly dressed handsome young man rushed in and saw Mo Rushuang with great joy: Rushuang, youre back! I heard from the servants that you came back, so I came to see you immediately! At this time, the Princes face became stern and he rebuked, Jie, as the prince of the Wangs family, how can you be so impetuous? The handsome young man immediately bowed and said, I know I was wrong, please forgive me, Father! The person in front of him is the Princes son, Wu Yingjie. Two young friends, my son is impetuous, and I apologize for embarrassing you! the Prince said ashamedly. Your Highness, how can you say that? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai bowed respectfully to the handsome young man and said, We have met the prince! Both of you are old friends, dont be formal! Wu Yingjie quickly said, his eyes glued to Mo Rushuang, reluctant to blink. Mo Rushuang sighed slightly in her heart. She had always known that the prince had been interested in her. For any woman in the world, if she had the opportunity to be the princes woman, she would definitely be excited to go crazy. However, she didnt have any feelings for the prince, and she wasnt a person who admired vanity, so she always kept a polite distance from him and even avoided him specifically sometimes. Looking at the prince in front of her, another handsome figure came to her mind Lin Beifan. Unknowingly, shepared the two. In terms of image and temperament, the prince was also considered handsome and suave, with a natural sense of nobility because of his royal birth, which made people feel extraordinary at a nce. However,pared with Lin Beifan, he was seconds behind. Lin Beifans appearance can be called the beauty of the prosperous era, perfect and iparable. As for temperament, he has an inherent arrogance, with self-confidence andposure that can solve anything, as if there is nothing in the world he cannot handle. Chapter 88: Mo Rushuang: Its strange, why do I keep thinking about Mr. Lin today? Chapter 88: Mo Rushuang: Its strange, why do I keep thinking about Mr. Lin today? 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In terms of talent, the Eldest Prince had been guided by famous teachers since he was young and was considered a famous schr in Northern Hebei. Passing the imperial exam was not a problem for him. However, whenpared to Lin Beifan, he was instantly reduced to scum. This person had achieved the highest score in the imperial exam, a triple top scorer within three years; how many people could achieve such a feat throughout history? During their interactions, Mo Rushuang had discovered that Lin Beifan was a polymath and knew things that others did not. He spoke with authority on everything, and was much better than those who only knew knowledge from encyclopedia. In terms of ability, the Eldest Prince had begun to be involved with Kings affairs, and was performing well. However, whenpared to Lin Beifan, he was a waste of space. Thetter was directly involved with the court, facing the civil and military officials head on and exerting his intelligence and wit. These officials were all old foxes, filled with cunning schemes and deep calctions, yet every time, Lin Beifan managed to triumph over them ande out on top. In terms of achievements, the Eldest Prince performed even worse. At present, he had achieved nothing and was again a scum when in the presence of Lin Beifan. Within a month, Lin Beifan had jumped two ranks and be a fifth-ranked official with his own efforts. Moreover, he had overturned the tribute agreement between two countries, avoiding war and saving millions of lives. His contribution was enormous. It seemed that, apart from their family background, the Eldest Prince had nothing that could match up to Lin Beifan. If they switched ces and Lin Beifan had the same family background, what would his future look like? Mo Rushuang shook her head inwardly, unable to imagine. Beauty loves heroes and talented men! Unconsciously, her heart was more inclined towards Lin Beifan, and her gaze towards the Eldest Prince became even more nd. Just then, her thoughts diverged. If the Eldest Prince was not as good as Lin Beifan, then what about the Prince who had the world and the people in his heart? It seemed that he was still no match for him. (Note: In ancient China, the son of a prince was also called a prince) At the old age, he had also been crushed by Lin Beifan! Rushuang! Rushuang, whats wrong with you? Two soft calls brought Mo Rushuang back from her thoughts. Ah? Im sorry. I was thinking about something just now, so I drifted off. Please forgive me, Your Highness! Mo Rushuang apologized. Its all right. Why would I me you for this little matter? The Eldest Prince shook his head and curiously asked, Rushuang, what were you thinking about? Can you share it with me? Mo Rushuang arched her hand and said, Im sorry, Your Highness! I am quite fatigued from the journey these few days, so I and my junior brother will retire for some rest. Lets talk again another day! Then she nodded to Guo Shaoshuai, and they both left together. Rushuang, rest well! The Eldest Prince watched the beautiful womans departing figure with reluctance. At this moment, the Prince snorted, looking very unhappy and said, Jieer, do you still look like the Prince? A woman from the jianhu has easily charmed you. If this gets out, wont it be aughing stock? Father, but I I like Rushuang. The Eldest Prince blushed and lowered his head. Nonsense! The Prince was furious. Jieer, you should understand your own identity. You are a prince with a distinguished status, while the other party is just amon Jianghu woman, in other words, a civilian. How can she be worthy of you? Only noble women are worthy of your identity! You can take her as a concubine in the future, but you cannot marry her as your wife! Father, I The Prince impatiently waved his hand, Dont say anything more to me now. You just make me angry when I see you! Return to your room and reflect on your mistakes. Donte out until you have figured it out! Yes, Your Majesty! the eldest prince dejectedly returned to his room. He waved his hand and suddenly a serious-looking middle-aged man appeared in the hall. Your Highness, what are your orders? Give me the most detailed information on the new top schr, Lin Beifan. I want to know everything! Yes, Your Highness! The man bowed and disappeared. After the eldest prince Wu Yingjie went back, he couldnt resist sneaking out within a day. In order to see Mo Rushuang, he invited all the martial arts heroes who had joined the Royal Pce under the pretext of a hero banquet. Mo Rushuang couldnt refuse and attended the banquet with her junior brother. At the banquet, the eldest prince sat in the main seat, holding his ss and looking flushed. Its rare to have all the heroes gathered here. I am very happy! Friends, please! Dont leave until youre drunk tonight! The eldest prince please! Everyone raised their sses and drank. After basic etiquette was done, the eldest prince eagerly turned to Mo Rushuang, who was sitting at the next table, and said kindly, Rushuang, this is your favorite yellow chicken. I had someone specially make it for you. How does it taste? Is it good? Mo Rushuang tasted a bit and smiled politely, It tastes good! But then she put down her chopsticks. She actually liked eating yellow chicken, especially the ones from the royal pce. But now she found that the yellow chicken seemed to be missing a bit of vor. Suddenly, she remembered the yellow chicken she had tasted at the Lin Mansion during her injury. It was truly delicious and savory, and was the best yellow chicken she had ever tasted in her life. At that time, Lin Beifan was by her side. He seemed to notice this and then often had yellow chicken for her to eat. The eldest prince was very pleased at the moment. Rushuang, if you like it, eat more! And this fruit wine, hows the taste? I heard you like to drink, so I had someone find it for you! Mo Rushuang picked up the ss and took a sip, smiling, The wine is sweet and fragrant, and its good! Then she put down the ss and didnt continue drinking. Because she found that the taste of the fruit wine was really too ordinary and not easy to swallow. Unconsciously, she thought of the fine wine she had drunk at the Lin Mansion during her injury. There were more than ten barrels of wine, each containing a collection of dozens of rare wines that were the most delicious in the world. She had never tasted them before. Among them, her favorite was the Hundred Flowers Wine. It had both the fragrance of flowers and the mellow taste of wine, leaving a lingering aftertaste in the mouth. It was said to be the best wine in the pce, specially brewed for the emperor, and its yield was very rare. Even if others wanted to drink it, they couldnt get it. But his home had more than ten barrels of it. She knew the wine was expensive and she had injuries on her body, so she didnt dare to drink too much, only two cups each time. It seemed that he noticed it again, so she had Baihua wine to drink every day. She knew the wine was expensive and she had an injury, so she dared not drink too much and only had two cups each time. At that time, Lin Beifan was by her side. It seemed he noticed again, so she drank Hundred Flowers Wine every day. With this, the prince was pleased again: Rushuang, if you like to drink, have a little more! I have two jars stored away, all of which I will give to you! Mo Rushuang was shocked and said, Your highness, its too precious. I cant take it Rushaung, dont be polite with me! If you keep being so polite, I will be angry! The prince feigned annoyance. Mo Rushuang heaved a sigh and could only ept it. Seeing his beloved receiving his gift, the prince became even more happy and said, Without poetry at a banquet, how can it be? Today, I will recite a poem for all the heroes. How about that? Good! Please, your highness! Everyone eximed. I will present my poor skills! The prince thought for a moment before reciting the poem that he had already prepared. A man should stand up for his era and drink like a hero After he was done reciting, the room apuded. The prince was smug and asked with a hint of arrogance, Rushuang, how was my poem? Are you satisfied? Mo Rushuang nodded and smiled, It was very good. Your highness is indeed a great literary figure renowned in Northern Hebei! Once again, her mind recalled Lin Beifan in the capital. He had also written a poem about heroes and wine. Under the heavens, heroes emerge. Once we enter society, time flies! Discussing the imperial n and conquest with augh, overwhelmed by a single drunken night! Such heroic, powerful words! Such stirring emotions! Only a true hero and great talent could write such poetry! If wepared the princes poem with Lin Beifans There was no need for aparison, it was too simple, too straightforward, andcked the qualifications topare at all! Why did she keep thinking of Lin Beifan today? She had only left a few days ago! Mo Rushuang sighed silently in her heart, Ah, Mo Rushuang, youre really useless! As she thought more about it, she could no longer eat or drink. Guo Shaoshuai, her junior brother, also couldnt eat or drink. He looked at the table full of delicacies and felt a sense of emptiness in his heart. He sighed to himself, The delicacies of the Royal Pces banquet cantpare to that bastards spoiled food! When will I be able to eat it again, what a worry! After politely drinking a few more sses of wine, Mo Rushuang begged off due to being unable to handle the liquor and left. Guo Shaoshuai also left with her. After the two left, the banquet lost some of its liveliness, and the prince became lost in thought. An old man from the jianghu made a joke, Your highness, after Rushuang left, your heart followed. You didnt even bother greeting us, the stinky men, haha! Im sorry, everyone. Im sorry! The prince apologized. A big man with a red face and meaty grinughed and said, Your highness, were all experienced people who can totally understand! Your highness, since you like Miss Rushuang, go after her boldly! With your charm, what woman can resist you? Do you all agree? Yes! The match between your highness and Miss Rushuang is a match made in heaven! If I were a woman, I would marry your highness! Youre dreaming! With your appearance, even if you paid me to marry you, I still wouldnt want you! Just kidding! They all cheered. The prince smiled wryly, Thank you for your kindness, everyone. I want to, too! Unfortunately, the king has a purpose, and the goddess is without mercy! But I will do my best. I believe that honesty opens doors, and that Rushuang will eventually be touched by my sincerity! What a good situation you have! Its just that were afraid that your goddess has found another lover. No matter how hard you try, it will be of no use! The prince was suddenly shocked, What? Rushuang has a lover? How could that be? I know who she interacts with and I know everything about it. How could she have a love affair? Senior Sun, are you joking? Chapter 89: What Is It If Not Usurping The Throne? Chapter 89: What Is It If Not Usurping The Throne? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The old man known as Senior Sun took a sip of wine and shook his head with a smile. How could I be mistaken? Ive had my fair share of women in my life, and I can tell that Miss Rushuang is clearly suffering from lovesickness and is pining for her lover. The Eldest Prince was hit hard by this revtion. The person he couldnt stop thinking about already had a lover! Rushuang already had someone else, and it wasnt him! He asked urgently, Who is this person? After some thought, he asked again, Is it her junior Guo Shaoshuai? Senior Sun shook his head. I dont know for sure, but I can tell its none of us here. Otherwise, Miss Ruo Shuang wouldnt be suffering from lovesickness. After all, one longs for what is missing, isnt that right? Who is this person? If he dares to steal the Eldest Princes woman, he must have a death wish! We must find out who he is and teach him a lesson! The crowd cheered, wanting to support the Eldest Prince. But he couldnt hear them anymore. Esteemed heroes, Im feeling unwell. Ill retire to my room. Feel free to enjoy the feast. After saying his farewell, he left in a daze. Meanwhile, a detailed report on Lin Beifan was delivered to the Princes hands. Lin Beifan, 18 years old, the recent top scorer in the national college entrance examination. He is the first honoree in the Great Wu Empire to achieve three consecutive top scores in the imperial exams. He has gained the favor of the Empress, who has rapidly promoted him to a fifth-rank official and appointed him as an official in the Imperial Academy. He is permitted to attend court meetings daily and has received many rewards from the Empress. Although he frequently quarrels with his colleagues and officials, he always manages toe out on top. He is an unscrupulous official who is known to be very corrupt, having embezzled five to six hundred thousand taels of silver since his appointment, which has caused discontent among the officials and anger among the people. After reading this report, the Prince sighed. Hes truly an outstanding young man! Hes only a teenager, yet hes already achieved so much. Not only talented, hes also a rising star in the courtI cantpare! Your Highness, Lin Beifan is indeed extraordinary! Hes not only capable, but hes also highly regarded by the Empress! If we could take him into our fold, you would undoubtedly gain a valuable ally. This would be a huge boon for your ambitions! An elegant middle-aged man, dressed in a feathered fan and a soft hat, bowed respectfully and spoke. This man was the Princes military adviser, who admired the great strategist Kong Ming and often imitated him in his dress and even referred to himself as Mr. Kong. Having worked for the Prince for over twenty years, he was known for providing sage advice and being trusted deeply by the Prince. The Prince was intrigued and said, Mr. Kong, youre right! Our court iscking skills and influence. If we could bring him under our wing, it would be good for our ambitions. But a clever young man like him is unlikely to want to serve me. How do we convince him? Your Highness, as you say, hes a smart man. He must have realized that the dynasty is in trouble and that chaotic times are upon us. He must choose a wise ruler to follow if he wishes to be safe and sessful in these troubled times. Your Highness, you are just such a wise ruler. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and Im confident that with your wit and wisdom, you can persuade him to serve us! Mr. Kong stroked his beard and smiled confidently. Thats excellent! Well said, Mr. Kong! The Prince was beaming as he spoke. Send Mo Rushuang and herpanion to contact him. They have a close rtionship with Lin Beifan. When the time is right, we can bring him into the fold and have him serve us! Good! We shall follow your words! The Prince eximed. As a result, Mo Ruoshuang, who had just returned less than two days ago, was summoned by Prince. Your humble servants pay respects to the Prince, may Prince live for a thousand years! Hahaha! The two young heroes, no need to be so polite, please sit down! Princeughed heartily and continued, You both have just rushed back from the capital and should rest for a few days. But there is an urgent matter at hand that only you both can help with. So, I have to trouble you both again! Please speak, Your Highness, we will die for the cause. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai became serious. Prince solemnly said, Previously, you both mentioned the new top schr, Lin Beifan. Through investigation, I have found that he is truly a rare talent! With such a skilled person to assist me, my great aplishments would not be far! Therefore, I want to ask you both to persuade Lin Beifan and make known my appreciation of his talents. Will you both be willing to go? Your Highness, we will not fail in our duty! Mo Rushuang and herpanion joyfully replied. Upon returning home, they packed their bags and set off. At this time, a small tail followed them secretly. Mo Rushuang became like this because of her trip to the capital. It shows that the person she desires is likely in the capital. I have to follow her and see who that person is. (Eldest Prince) Day and night, they traveled tirelessly and finally arrived in the capital after a few days. Then, they met Lin Beifan again. Lin Beifan was puzzled when he saw them, Werent you both supposed to return to Northen Hebei? How did youe back? Mr. Lin, we did go back! But we encountered some things that needed to be dealt with in the capital, so we had to rush back! Mo Rushuang saw the person she longed for and became very excited. Guo Shaoshuai was also very excited to finally taste the food in this ce. Even if it was rotten food, he was willing to eat it. Oh, so thats it! Lin Beifan smiled, I thought I wouldnt see you both for a long time! But since youre here, you have to stay and have a drink with me tonight, or else it would be disrespectful! We humbly obey! Mo Rushuang and herpanion smiled. After they had the long-awaited meal, night had fallen. They apanied Lin Beifan to his study, closed the door, and said mysteriously, Mr. Lin, we havee for you! For me? Lin Beifan was confused. Mo Rushuang became serious, Mr. Lin, we are not only disciples of the Iron Sword Sect, but also followers of Prince of Northern Hebei! The empire is in chaos and Prince is kind-hearted and concerned for the people. He wants to end this chaos and let the people live in peace and have enough food to eat! We see hope in him, so we have pledged our allegiance to him! After we returned, we rmended you to Prince, and he was very pleased! He recognized that you are not only a rare talent, but also a person with the same ideals as him. So he wants to invite you to join him and work towards a great cause together! Guo Shaoshuai vigorously nodded his head. Lin Beifans eyes became strange as he looked at them both. He scanned them both peculiarly and Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai felt uneasy. Why are you looking at us like that, Mr. Lin? Lin Beifanughed and said, Ah, I see now. You are men of Prince Northern Hebei here to persuade me to betray the court and join the rebellion to usurp the throne, am I correct? As soon as the characters of to usurp the throne were mentioned, the expressions of Guo Shaoshuai and Mo Rushuang changed slightly. It must be known that those four characters were an extremely serious crime, and saying them out loud could result in losing ones head! Anyone would avoid mentioning these characters. Guo Shaoshuai argued, Lin Beifan, how can you say this is a case of usurping the throne? Then what is it? Lin Beifan asked in confusion. You all say that the empire is crumbling, and chaos is emerging How did this chaose about? It must be because the court is no longer capable and poorly managed, which led to this chaos! You also said that the Prince has a benevolent heart and intends to put an end to this chaos so that the people can live and work in peace How can we put an end to this chaos? We must certainly overthrow the court and the rule of the current emperor, and establish a new order! After overthrowing the court, we must be the emperor ourselves, otherwise, how can we implement our own policies? Would we just sit back and let others rule us? I dont believe that the Prince does not have this ambition! Tell me, if this is not usurping the throne, what is it? The two were left speechless by this argument. Regardless of how you understand it, everything we do is for the sake of the people of the world! It doesnt matter who bes the emperor, as long as he can allow the people to live a good life, he will be a good emperor, and we will support him! And the Prince of Northern Hebei is the enlightened ruler we are seeking! Guo Shaoshuai said seriously. Mo Ruoshuang advised, Lin Beifan, the current Empress is ignorant and her wicked officials are in power. The people are in distress! You may not see it in the capital, but outside the capital, people are already full of grievances! Various feudal princes have already recruited soldiers and horses, and are ready to act! There is no shortage of ambitious people in the world, and chaos is about to erupt! You are in a dangerous position, facing wicked officials and corrupt officials. Not only are you in danger of losing your head at any time, but you also have aspirations and talents that are nowhere to be used. Are you willing to stay there? Its better to join an enlightened ruler in time and seek a way out for yourself! And the Prince is such an enlightened ruler, he cares for the people and cherishes talents, with countless supporters throughout the world! So, Lin Beifan, join us! I believe that with your talent, you will be highly valued by the Prince! Great achievements are right in front of you! Lin Beifan waved his sleeves, displeased, Dont say any more, follow me! Lin Beifan led the two to a room. As soon as the door was pushed open, Mo Rushuang and the Guo Shaoshuai were dazzled by the room filled with gold and silver treasures. Let me tell you, these gold and silver treasures were all bestowed upon me by the Empress! Lin Beifan said proudly, Among them are ten thousand taels of gold, one hundred thousand taels of silver, one hundred dragon-eye pearls, one hundred grams of fine agate, 36 pieces of fine jade and there are countless other jewelry and ornaments! I ask you, if I join the Prince of Northern Hebei, can he give me these things? Well, no! the two replied with a bitter smile. Follow me again! Lin Beifan opened another room. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were dazzled again by the room filled with silk and satin. These were also bestowed upon me by the Empress! Lin Beifan said again proudly, There are already over a hundred pieces of silk and satin here, and there are all kinds of rare fabrics. If I made them into clothes and changed them every day, I wouldnt finish wearing them even after ten years! I ask you again, if I join the Prince of Hebei, can he give me these things? Well, no! the two replied with an even more bitter smile. Follow me again! Chapter 90: A loyal subject does not serve two masters, unless both are female! Chapter 90: A loyal subject does not serve two masters, unless both are female! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan led them to the third room. Pushing the door open, they found many barrels of wine, stacked full to the brim. The aroma of wine wafted strongly, enough to intoxicate them. Lin Beifan boasted once again, These fine wines are all gifts from the empress! Among them are Hundred Flowers Wine, Pce Jade liquid wine, Bihua tea wine, Supreme Monkey wine, and other rare and valuable wines. One barrel ced outside would be worth a fortune and unattainable for purchase! But I can drink them like water, and even ask the empress for more! I ask you, if I were to pledge allegiance to the Prince of Northern Hebei, could he give me these things? Could he let me drink until Im satisfied? The corners of Mo Rushuangs and Guo Shaoshuais mouths turned even more bitter: No, he couldnt! Lin Beifan then led them to visit other rooms. There was a room filled with the most precious delicacies, such as abalone, birds nest, and shark fin, another room filled with valuable medicinal herbs like ginseng, lingzhi, and tianqi, and there was a room filled with various antiques and curios They were both dumbstruck by the endless wonders of treasures. Goodness, even the princes mansion wasnt this extravagant! It wasnt even one-tenth of what was here! They felt like they had entered a treasure trove, with precious things strewn everywhere! If they were to take just one item, it would ensure they would be free from worry about food and clothing for life! This is only a small part of it! Lin Beifan said with pride. There are many other treasures that couldnt fit here, so they are temporarily stored in the pce. When I need them, I can just take them out! Are you serious about that? Both Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were scared out of their wits. Of course! The empress even wanted to reward me with a mansion just for these treasures, but it would be too much of a hassle to take care of it, so I declined! Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, With such great imperial favor, how can I betray the empress? Its impossible! He asked again, If it were you, would you be willing to give up all the wealth and glory and do dangerous work that could cost your life? Mo Rushuang remained silent, and Guo Shaoshuai shook his head bitterly, I wouldnt. Lin Beifan asked again, If it were you, would you be willing to give up your bright future and follow a prince youve never met before, always worrying about an uncertain future? Guo Shaoshuai shook his head again, I wouldnt. Exactly! Lin Beifan said with a righteous air, As the saying goes, a loyal subject does not serve two masters unless they are both female rulers! You want me to betray the empress? Thats absolutely impossible; give up on that idea! Guo Shaoshuai then asked, Hmm? Can you serve two female rulers? Lin Beifan instantly got annoyed and said, Thats not the point. Dont worry about these small details! But, Mr. Lon, chaos is imminent, and what good is all that wealth when you dont have the strength to protect it? You might even lose your life due to possessing the treasure beforehand and be shown as a traitor! Therefore, its better to prepare for a backup n ahead of time. Otherwise, you will lose everything once your life is gone! Mo Rushuang spoke with a heavy heart. Lin Beifan nodded slightly, You also make some sense. Mo Rushuang saw an opportunity and tried to persuade him harder, During such troubled times, only strength can protect oneself. His Highness the Prince has a kind heart and has enlisted many heroes from the Jianghu! As long as Mr. Lin is willing to serve His Highness, he will undoubtedly send out various top experts to protect you, even IIm willing to Mo Rushuang blushed, Im willing to hold the sword and protect you personally, and I wont let any traitors or thieves get close to you! Lin Beifan nodded and smiled, In fact, I do admire the person that His Highness, the Prince of Northern Hebei is! If I have to choose someone to surrender to, he would undoubtedly be my first choice! Thats why I let you visit my treasure house Lin Beifan blinked, Do you understand what I mean? Huh? What do you mean? The two of them were confused again. What did visiting the treasure house have to do with this? Such a simple reason, why cant you understand? Lin Beifan said annoyed, I let you visit my treasure house to tell you that the empress gave me so much because of my loyalty. How can the Prince of Northern Hebei expect me to pledge allegiance to him without showing some sincerity? Tell him that if he wants me to surrender to him, he can! But he must show some sincerity! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were shocked. In the end, it all came down to benefits! Their nature as corrupt officials was undoubtedly exposed. Mo Rushuang said indignantly, Mr. Lin, serving His Highness, working for the welfare of the people, and establishing peace for future generations is a rare opportunity. Why talk about money? Lin Beifan snorted: Miss Rushuang, your words dont make any sense. I dont even know the Prince of Northern Hebei, and I have no emotional connection with him. If not for money, what else should we discuss? Love? Guo Shaoshuai stammered, Sister, what he said makes sense! Shut up! Mo Roushuang scolded him. Lin Beifan chuckled leisurely, Besides, if you want a horse to run fast, you have to let it eat more grass! If I dont get paid, how can I eat and drink anything? Should I work for him for free? Is there anyone so foolish in this world? The faces of Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai became unnatural. Lin Beifan was stunned: Are you two the foolish ones? He hasnt given you anything and you still stick to him like glue? Cough cough Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai tried to defend themselves. Guo Shaoshuai blushed and argued: Lin Beifan, we are working for themon people. Its not as vulgar as you think! Guo Shaoshuai blushed and argued: Lin Beifan, we are doing this for the sake of themon people. Its not as vulgar as you think! Lin Beifan replied with irritation: With your intelligence, you would even count the money for the people who sold you! Okay, stop arguing! Mo Rushuang looked at Lin Beifan with mixed emotions. What do you want, Mr. Lin? We will report back to the prince! Lin Beifan said without hesitation, Money, I need a lot of money. The more, the better! The amount of loyalty I give is proportional to the amount he pays me. If he gives me more than the empress, Im willing to exhaust myself for him, even to my death! Mr. Lin, how superficial you are? Mo Rushuang was a little embarrassed and angry. She felt that Lin Beifans glorious image had copsed in her heart. How could he be so crude and indecisive? If youre not willing to spend money, what kind of master is worth serving? Lin Beifan sneered: Lin Bei Fan sneered: You should know that Im risking my life by working for him! Once exposed, I will have nothing, not even my own life. So why not take money? At least I can say I owned something! I cant make the decision on this matter. I must report to the prince and wait for his decision, Mo Rushuang said exhaustedly. Tell the Prince of Northern Hebei that I cant resist any temptation! Lin Beifan eximed. No money, no deal! Mo Roushuang and Guo Shaoshuai went back. They didnt go back to Northen Hebei but used a special channel to quickly transmit the news back to the Northern Hebei Pce. The prince opened it and became more and more excited and angry as he read it. He mmed his hand on the nearby table and shattered it. This is outrageous! Lin Beifan is a scumbag! Your Highness, what happened? Did you receive a message from Lin Beifan? Zhuge, senior adviser, asked carefully. The prince handed over the paper and said angrily, Look at what Lin Beifan said! He actually asked me for bribes, saying he wont work without money! This is outrageous! I have been a Vassal King for so many years and have never been treated like this? Lin Beifan doesnt have a sense of respect! I wish I could go to the capital and get rid of him! Congrattions, Your Highness, this is actually a good thing! Zhuge smiled. Wheres the good? The prince was confused. Your Highness, think about it! Lin Beifan is the favored person of the empress. She trusts him a lot. If he pledges allegiance to you without asking for anything, can you trust his loyalty? This The prince hesitated. Your Highness, you definitely cant. This is human nature! Thats why Lin Beifan smartly proposed these conditions! Firstly, to see his status in your mind. The more you give him, the higher your status in his heart, the more pleased he will be. Zhuge exined. The prince nodded slightly, Zhuge, youre right! Go on! Secondly, it is actually for him to surrender! Surrender? The prince was puzzled. My lord, just think about it. As long as he takes our bribes, regardless of whether he is truly loyal to you or not, the suspicion on him will never be erased. The more he takes, the more dangerous it bes. Once discovered, it will be a capital offense. So he can only follow us until the end! Isnt that surrendering? Zhuge smiled. I see! The prince suddenly realized. Zhuge said with a bow, Therefore, Lin Beifan actually wants to sincerely surrender to you, but because he has never met you, he is hesitant in his heart. Thats why he made this request to try you out. If Your Highness doesnt understand the meaning behind it, you will lose a talented person. And if you give him the money, you will immediately gain a talented person! But he is asking for too much! The prince said painfully. Although he didnt say anything, allowing Mo Rushuang to participate in his treasure house implies that we cannot offer less than that. If what those two said is not exaggerated, then his wealth is even greater than that of my pce! How can Ie up with so much gold and treasures? Zhuge also struggled with this, saying, Indeed, he is asking for a lot. To be honest, if we offer too little, it will seem like we dont value him enough and appear petty. But if we offer too much and cante up with it, then its really difficult Even if I empty my pce, I cante up with it! The prince asked eagerly, Zhuge, do you have any ideas? Otherwise, should we give up? Finding talented people is rare, but we have no money! Zhuge hurriedly said, My lord, we absolutely cannot give up! Lin Beifan is in the court and is very trusted by the empress. He can y a crucial role at a critical moment! So we must bring him into our fold! Otherwise, if he is trapped by other princesit will be very detrimental to our big cause! The princes heart trembled. Youre right! But what about the money Your Highness, dont worry. Let me think of a solution! Zhuge said with a headache. Chapter 91: Whoever brings money to my door, thats who Ill be friends with! Chapter 91: Whoever brings money to my door, thats who Ill be friends with! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
As expected of a Zhuge (military strategist), he quickly came up with a satisfactory solution. Then he quicklymunicated it to Mo Rushuang, informing Lin Beifan. His Highness the Prince wees Mr. Lins joining us very much! But you are requesting too much, and he cannote up with so much money at once. So lets change the conditions. You do one thing for His Highness, and he will pay you ordingly. How about that? This method is currently the most appropriate way of cooperation. First of all, Prince of Northern Hebei cannot immediatelye up with the money that Lin Beifan needs, so by paying him in installments, he can umte the money needed. Second, both parties currently cannot trust each other. Especially Prince of Northern Hebei, who is afraid that if he gives Lin Beifan the money, he will not listen to him and might even betray him. Therefore, by using this method of paying for each job, it can prevent any loss from happening while also providing Lin Beifan with the corresponding motivation. Lin Beifan nodded. Okay, but before I do anything, I need a 30% deposit. Otherwise, I wont do it. And I wont do a second thing until I receive full payment. He also does not trust Prince of Northern Hebei and is afraid of working for nothing, so he requested some money in advance. Ill convey your request back. But I think there shouldnt be a problem! In addition, one more thing to mention is that His Highness the Prince hasmanded my junior sister and brother to stay in the capital! First, because it can observe the situation in the capital and, at the same time, make it easier to contact you! Second, it can also protect you! Isnt it to monitor me? Lin Beifanughed. Hmph! Think whatever you want, but these are the twomands I received! Mo Rushuang suddenly looked a little unhappy. Guo Shaoshuai o took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket and said, This is the greeting gift from His Highness, a total of 300,000 taels! Lin Beifan took the silver notes with a smile. He gave me 300,000 taels of silver without doing anything. His Highness is finally generous for once! It wont be a bad thing to follow such a master! Looking at Lin Beifans smug smile, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai wanted to punch him. You know, with these 300,000 taels, how many good things His Highness could do for the people? But it all went into your pockets, you corrupt official! Mo Rushuang said angrily. Hmm! Guo Shaoshuai nodded in agreement. Lin Beifan snapped his fingers. I dont care about how he uses the 300,000 taels. I only care about where he got the 300,000 taels to give to a person he just met. It proves that his family wealth must be more than 3 million! Then the question is, after he has been an Imperial Prince for over 40 years and has received over 40 years of imperial sries, he still has millions of taels of silver left. Where did the extra moneye from? Lin Beifan asked. Mo Rushuang and General Guo were stunned. This You cant think of it, right? I cant either, but we can slowly figure it out. Its going to be interesting! Lin Beifan leaned back and put his hands on his head, smiling. To be honest, you keep saying that Prince of Northern is a wise ruler, but I dont see any signs of it at all! Dont insult His Highness! Mo Rushuang was angry. Ahem! His Highness is generous, helping the needy and distressed, often giving money and helping families in need. He punishes criminals, strikes downwbreakers, and never hesitates to help fellow martial artists in need. Thats why many martial artists are willing to serve him! How can such a person not be a wise ruler? Guo Shaoshuai defended Prince of Northern Hebei. Mo Rushuang nodded vigorously. Lin Beifan smiled. Yes, it seems that he has done many good things on the surface and is a decent person, but its too early to call him a wise ruler! You know what the standard of a wise ruler is in my mind? What is the standard? both asked in unison. The standard is very simple! Lin Beifan sat up straight, seriously saying, Dont look at what he has done, but look at the area he governs, whether the people are living well, and whether their lives have improved. Thats enough! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai both pondered on those words. Now, lets use this standard to prove whether Prince of Northern Hebei is a wise ruler! Your praise of the Prince is righteous, and he has been resident in Northern Hebei for more than 20 years, giving him ample time to improve the living standards of the people in Northern Hebei! But have the lives of the people changed at all? Lin Beifan shook his head. None! Not at all! Its still chaos, the peoples lives are miserable, its no different from elsewhere, or even worse! Do you think this kind of person is still a wise and martial master? This Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were speechless. They couldnt refute it, but the more they thought about Lin Beifans words, the more they felt it made sense. If Prince of Northern Hebei is indeed a wise ruler with the heart and capability to save people, then the people in his jurisdiction should be living in peace and prosperity, enjoying great changes in their lives. Why has nothing changed, and why are the people poorer? One chilling thought popped up in their heads! Have they been following the wrong master all these years? Lin Beifan waved his hand. Okay, I am going to sleep now, you all should go back! Lets talk about anything else tomorrow! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai both bid farewell with heavy hearts. At this moment, a white figure suddenly appeared before Lin Beifan. Although he was already ustomed to it, Lin Beifan was still startled. Bai Guanyin, could you not be so scary the next time you appear? Especially at night, its too scary! Sorry, Ill be more careful next time, said Bai Qingxuan lightly. Lin Beifan rolled his eyes. She said the same thing every time, but still did as she pleased. Do you really n to join Prince of Northern Hebei? Bai Qingxuan asked curiously. Lin Beifan shook his head. I never had that intention! The Empress treated me so well. How could I betray her? Its just that Ive been earning money slowlytely, so I want to open up a financial path from him. There should be a lot of money on the Princes body, right? Bai Qingxuan felt speechless. You really dont have any scruples! Thanks for thepliment! My biggest advantage is that Im not picky about food and like making friends! Whoever brings money to my door, thats who Ill be friends with! This is the money I just earned, its still hot, take it! Lin Beifan hehehe smiled. Bai Qingxuan took the silver notes and warned him. You have to be careful. Prince of Northern Hebei is ambitious, and to work with him is to risk your life. If youre not careful, youll bebeled a traitor and lose everything! Dont worry, I know! Lin Beifan nodded seriously. Bai Qingxuan left with the money and reported the matter to the Empress. What? Prince of Northern Hebei came to Lin Beifan and theyre in cahoots? the Empress was shocked. Bai Qingxuan nodded. The Empress was furious. This bastard Lin Beifan! Hes getting wilder and bolder, how can he get involved in this kind of thing? As long as hes associated with the Prince, he can never wash off the stains on his political career! What if something happens in the future? How will he solve it? Bai Qingxuan also felt that Lin Beifan was too reckless. He had a bright future ahead of him, but for the sake of a little more money, he actually got involved with Prince of Northern Hebei. Her courage pales inparison. The Empress was exhausted. Forget it, since its already happened, let him go! This man always makes people worry, making them anxious every time! Bai Qingxuan nodded in agreement. By the way, Qingxuan, what does Lin Beifan think of this Imperial Uncle of mine? Bai Qingxuan exined Lin Beifans theory of a wise ruler, and concluded that Prince Jibei was either a dishonest and maligned person or a stupid and foolish person. The other party is clearly the former, ying a game of deception for his own ambition, deceiving the world. In fact, he didnt do anything good behind the scenes. As expected of my trusted attendant! The Empress praised. It took me several years to see through this Imperial Uncles true colors! But Lin Beifan saw through his illusions at a nce, his vision is remarkable, I admire him! She felt that she and Lin Beifan were bing more and more in sync with each other! The way he looked at problems was often very simr to hers, giving her apanionable feeling. A kindred spirit is hard toe by in life! Its been a while since she bestowed a reward, and it seems like she can bestow another wave tomorrow! Let him feel the grand imperial grace of the Empress! So, the next day, during the morning court. Director Lin, where are you? I am here, Your Majesty! Today is sunny, and my mood is good, so I shall bestow upon you Ten thousand liang of silver! 10 roots of top-quality ginseng! 10 pairs of jade and emerald! 10 liang of top-quality Dahongpao tea! Lin Beifan was dumbfounded! Here ites again!? He already has so many things that his house cant hold anymore! The officials were also stunned! Here ites again!? Empress, can you please be more rational and not so impulsive? He doesnt even need it, why give so much? Cant you leave a little for us old officials? However, the Empress seemed to be unable to see the officials resentful expressions. After the rewards were given, she felt very happy and waved her hand, Alright, Director Lin, quickly thank me for my grace and retire! Morning court is about to begin, those with matters to report may speak, those without may retire! Lin Beifans mouth twitched: Thank you for your grace! And so, the morning court officially began. At this time, the Eldest Prince Wu Yingjie had already rushed to the capital in a bedraggled state. As soon as he set foot in the capital, he was mesmerized by the bustling scenery of the city. The neat and tall buildings, lively and prosperous streets, flowing crowds of people, and the cries of peddlers everywhere made this country bumpkin from Jibei forget to return. Is this the capital? Its several times more prosperous than our Northern Hebei! The Eldest Prince was extremely enraptured. Just then, someone beside him reminded him in a low voice: Your Highness, this is the Emperors foot, and your status is very sensitive! So act with caution and do not expose your identity! The Eldest Prince nodded slightly: Dont worry, I understand! They talked carefully and slowly blended into the crowd. Chapter 92: The top scholar is like a heavenly immortal, youre not worthy to even hold his shoes! Chapter 92: The top schr is like a heavenly immortal, youre not worthy to even hold his shoes! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After wandering around for a while, the prince was once again captivated by the bustling scene of the capital. No wonder my father always longed for the capital! If it were me, Id want to stay in this wealthy and bustling city day and night, and never return to Northen Hebei! He finally understood why his father wanted to conquer the Central ins. He couldnt help but feel a tinge of ambition growing inside him. Originally, he had followed Mo Rushuang to the capital to find out who her lover was. But now, whether he found Mo Rushuangs lover or not, he had decided to spend more time in the capital. He entered a tea house and ordered a pot of tea and some small dishes to rest his feet. Then he took out some silver coins and called out to the waiter, Hey, whats good to do in the capital? Whats good to eat? Tell metell me about it all! Thank you, sir! The waiter gratefully epted the silver coins and said, Sir, are you and yourpanions here for the first time in the capital? If you want to know the best ce to visit, its definitely The waiter rmended several ces in a row, and the prince eximed, If I have time, Ill definitely go check it out! But if you want to know the best ce, its Hundred Flowers District! What is Hundred Flowers House? It sounds like a brothel Well, it is a brothel, but its not just any brothel! The waiter smiled, Its where the most beautiful women in the world gather, not only are they stunningly beautiful, they are also incredibly talented and know how to please men. Its like a paradise for men! If you dont go take a look, then youve wasted your trip to the capital! The princes eyes lit up, Since you put it that way, I really have to go take a look! Although he was infatuated with Mo Rushuang, as a prince, how could he be just a young and inexperienced man? As soon as he heard that Hundred Flowers House gathered the most talented and beautiful women in the world, he couldnt sit still and immediately went to Hundred Flowers District. Thanks to his generous spending and good looks, he quickly became one of the most esteemed guests at Hundred Flowers House. The prince was surrounded by a group of beautiful women. No wonder the quality of women in the capital is higher than anywhere else, not bad, not bad! This is the right ce for me! At this time, he heard a disdainfulughter from someone nearby, Hick! Are these women seducing you? The prince was immediately dissatisfied, What do you mean? Arent these women beautiful enough? These women are beautiful, but they are empty shells without any internal qualities. Only you young people would think they are attractive! Compared to the former courtesan, they are far inferior! The person took a sip of wine and sighed. Who is this former courtesan youre referring to? The prince asked in confusion. She was a courtesan at Hundred Flowers House, also known as the Number One Flower in the capital! She had the looks of a goddess and was also a master in art and literature. Many of the daughters of noble families were inferior to her in many ways! Unfortunately, she has already turned her life around, and we can never see her again! The person sighed. Yes, she was the most beautiful woman Ive ever seen. Her smile and frown keep me thinking about her! As long as she yed a song, I felt like my heart had found its home! Unfortunately, we can no longer see her! However, seeing her with a good ending, I am also very happy! Listening to others talking about how beautiful and talented the former courtesan was, the prince was still unconvinced. Even if she was beautiful, could shepare to my Mo Rushuang? His Mo Rushuang was amazing, with extraordinary looks and was one of the top beauties in the martial arts world. How many martial arts heroes were captivated by her beauty and lingered on without leaving? Even this prince himself was captivated by her! A former courtesan in a brothel, how could shepare to Mo Rushuang? The prince didnt take it seriously and continued to drink and have fun. As the wine was poured, his poetic mood was aroused, and he waved his fan and said, Let me recite a poem for you, shall I? Sure, please do, my lord! The women around him pped. Listen carefully as I recite! The prince swayed and recited, The stars fall from the sky, turning into a hundred fairies After reciting the poem, the women around him pped and praised him, saying, What a great poem! My lord is truly a talented person! Thedies here are very impressed! The prince was proud and arrogant. I have money and talent. I dont believe I cant pick up any of you! At this moment, the man at the next table sneered, Pffft! What kind of rubbish poem is this? Its shallow,cking nutrition, tasteless, and not even worth looking at when thrown on the ground! The prince was unhappy and said with anger, You said my poem was bad, now you make one for me to see! The other shook his head, I wont. I dont want to lose face. Look over there, thats where the real poetry is! The prince turned his head and saw a gorgeous poem. Alone in the green building, I sit in silence, The moon a hook, the parasol tree my only alliance. Locked in clear autumn night, I feel the pain, Unable to untangle, my heart in chains. Its not just a fleeting feeling, but a lingering stain. The prince was shocked, Thisthis is who wrote this poem? So beautiful! Of course, it was written by the newly crowned top schr, Lin Beifan! He is the top schr who scored the highest in the exams. He is talented and educated, and his talent isparable to the heavenly immortals! Since he wrote this poem here, countless schrs have been self-conscious and no longer dare to show off their inferiority in front of him! Besides you, haha! Yes! I was confused when I heard him recite his poetry earlier. This is a definite shame! Haha, youre killing me! Other people alsoughed, afraid that the world would not be chaotic. You guys The prince blushed with embarrassment. If he wasnt in the capital, he would have had these ridiculers arrested and thrown into prison. The prince said, What if hes talented and rich? Hes just a poor schr! The other person snorted, Hes not poor! He lives in a mansion in the capital, eats dishes from the royal kitchen, drinks wine from the royal winery, wears silk and brocade clothes, and travels in a purple and golden auspicious cloud carriage! I heard that his home is filled with gold, silver, precious jewels, and exotic goods, and several rooms are not enough to store them. His life is more thanfortable! Even other princes, royals, and aristocrats cantpare to him! The prince was angry, How is that possible? Hes just a schr. How can he live so well? Why else? Of course, its because he is favored by the Empress! I heard that during the morning court today, the newly crowned top schr was again rewarded with a pile of gold, silver, and precious jewels by the Empress, making the civil and military officials so envious! If you dont believe it, you can go out and ask. This is a well-known fact! The prince was struck again. He couldnt match the schrs talent and was inferior to him in terms of material possessions! He was even more resentful, but before he could speak, the person beside him spoke for him, Even if hes talented and rich, how can hepare to my young lord in looks? My young lord is not only handsome but also a great talent! The prince opened his folding fan, raised his head proudly, and was about to ept everyones praise. Hes not ugly! The other snorted again, Hes the most handsome man Ive ever seen in my life, with the most exceptional aura. Anything said about him pales inparison. Ill tell you simply, your lord looks good, but in front of him, hes not even worthy of carrying his shoes! The prince: Fuck! What the f*ck! How could he say such things to hit a persons confidence?! Not even worthy of carrying his shoes? Am I that inferior? Do you know why the former courtesan left Hundred Flowers House? The other raised their head arrogantly, Its because she fell for the top schr, and was charmed by his beauty and talent. She would rather spend money to redeem herself than stay here! At that time, the top schr had nothing, just what you call a poor schr. But she would even pay to be with him. This has be a good story in the capital! I ask you, can you make a courtesan leave with you? Can you? The prince was speechless. He realized that he was really unable to do so. If he didnt reveal his background, no girl would be willing to endure hardships with him. He was shaking with anger. As a prince, he waspletely defeated by a top schr who came out of nowhere! Besides his background, he seemed to have nothing impressive to show. But his background could not be revealed now, or else he would be in trouble. He was so frustrated that he hated someone unconsciously! He drank a few more sses of wine, unable to bear everyones ridicule, and left Hundred Flowers House in embarrassment. He went to another restaurant and sat upstairs, drinking to ease his mood. At this moment, a luxurious carriage passed by below. The prince envied the carriage, which had a small room-like carriage house with two sweat-blooded horses pulling it. It was more magnificent than the carriage he had in Northern Hebei. He thought to himself that he must get one when he goes back. Just then, a young man in a brocade robe jumped off the carriage. He had a regal bearing, sword-like eyebrows, and no extra decorations on his body, but looked very outstanding. The prince was jealous once again, Waiter, who is this person? Hes the newly crowned top schr and the director of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan! So hes Lin Beifan! The prince had to admit that the top schr in front of him was indeed better looking than him, but only slightly. At this moment, Lin Beifan reached out and helped a breathtakingly beautiful woman down from the carriage. Seeing the stunning woman, the prince was somewhat moved, Waiter, who is that woman? Excuse me, my lord, thats the top schrs wife! She used to be the most famous courtesan in the capital, but she followed the top schr without hesitation and now stays at home to raise their children. Its hard to see her now! So shes Shi Shi, the courtesan! The prince had to admit that Shi Shi was indeed very beautiful, almost as beautiful as his beloved Rushuang. She had a literary and elegant temperament, very suitable to be a wife. Unfortunately, this flower was bitten by a pig like Lin Beifan, which was truly despicable! Hmph! My Ruoshuang is still more beautiful! In my heart, she is the worlds most beautiful woman, no one canpare! The princeforted himself in this way, feeling much better. But just then, Lin Beifan reached out again and took out another stunning woman from the carriage. When the prince saw this woman, he was stunned! Chapter 93: He Has Made a Fool of Me, What Can I Do to Him? Chapter 93: He Has Made a Fool of Me, What Can I Do to Him? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
He knew this woman, it was Mo Rushuang, the woman who had upied his heart. He hade all the way to the capital just to find her. He never thought that she would appear in Lin Beifans carriage. Wait, what did he just see? He saw his beloved Mo Rushuang holding hands with Lin Beifan as they jumped down from the carriage. They were holding hands! Ah! The eldest prince was stimted beyond measure. His eyes turned red. He had never held Mo Rushuangs hand before. Every time he tried to get close to her, Mo Rushuang would avoid him and keep her distance. Being a stranger made it even harder for him to get close to her. But now, Mo Rushuangs hand was being held by Lin Beifan, and she didnt resist. Her rosy cheeks looked shy yet delighted. This bastard!! The Eldest Prince gnashed his teeth in anger. His head felt like it was about to explode, turning green like a grasnd. He was now certain that Lin Beifan was Mo Rushuangs beloved. Otherwise, she would have rejected his advances because of her pure and clean nature. What does this bastard have that I dont? Why does Mo Rushuang love him and not me? The Prince roared with frustration. However, he realized that Lin Beifan was better than him in every aspect talent, appearance, and wealth, except for his social status. He was being crushed by Lin Beifan in every way possible. Thinking about this made him even angrier. Go and beat up Lin Beifan!! The Eldest Prince ordered his men. Prince, thats not a good idea! The others replied in panic. Why not? He stole my woman and made me wear a big and round green hat! Dont I have the right to vent my anger? The Prince asked. Prince, please understand that Lin Beifan is now under Imperial Princes (your father) protection. Imperial Prince values him very much and has invested a lot in him. If you beat him up, we will have to answer to Imperial Prince, someone whispered. But he stole my woman. Can I just let it go? The Prince asked. Prince, controlling your emotions is essential for good strategy. If you cause trouble now, it will affect Imperial Princes n, and we will all suffer for it, the other person exined. The Eldest Prince remembered his fathers authority and felt a shiver run down his spine. He finally calmed down and said, Fine, I wont worry about that bastard for now. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan frowned. Somethings not right. Whats wrong, Mr. Lin? Mo Rushuang asked, puzzled. Since we got off the carriage, I feel like were being watched. Especially when I was helping you down. I felt like someone was watching us with murderous intent, Lin Beifan said, looking in the direction he felt the gaze. Do you feel something? Im only a seventh-grade martial artist. I cant sense any danger, Mo Rushuang blinked her eyes curiously. You cant sense it because youre not powerful enough. But Im a fifth-grade innate, and I can easily sense the presence of others, Lin Beifan exined. Maybe its just your imagination, Mo Rushuang said, smiling. Maybe, Lin Beifan said,ughing. Anyway, lets continue our stroll. We dont want to ruin everyones good time. Lin Beifan then held Li Shi Shis hand and walked like a couple. Mo Rushuang followed behind, feeling envious. If only he was holding her hand instead. At this moment, the eldest prince couldnt sit still any longer: No, I cant take it! I must follow them closely, Im afraid theyll do something behind my back! Saying this, he left the tavern and followed at a distance. At the same time, Lin Beifan once again felt a sense of being watched. He turned his head and immediately locked onto a suspicious-looking young nobleman. Dressed in a silver-white outfit with slight nobility, he was apanied by several capable attendants and seemed toe from a distinguished background. Though the other person seemed to be shopping and didnt look his way, Lin Beifan had a feeling he was being followed. He was puzzled as to who this person was and why he was following him, especially since the other seemed hostile towards him. At that moment, Mo Rushuang called out, Mr. Lin, watch out! She quickly moved to embrace Lin Beifan, and took two steps to the left just as a child fell to the ground and spilled a bowl of water in their direction. Rushuang had seen thising and had acted swiftly to protect Lin Beifan from getting sshed with dirty water. Dont make such a fuss over a trifle matter, Rushuang, Lin Beifan said, trying to y down the incident. Mr. Lin, this is not a trifle matter, Mo Rushuang replied earnestly. In the Jianghu, there are often viins who pretend to be innocent and poison others. Its a dangerous world, so we have to be on guard. Alright, Lin Beifan said, feeling exasperated. Suddenly, he sensed someone staring at him with malicious intent again. The culprit was the nobleman who had been following them. With his exceptional intelligence, Lin Beifan observed his and Mo Rushuangs stance, and then thought about it just now, and suddenly realized. Standing still, he asked with a smile, Rushuang, you are a beautiful woman, I am sure there are many people who pursue you, correct? Mo Rushuangs heart raced, causing her cheeks to be flushed. Is Mr. Linplimenting my looks? she thought, feeling taken aback by the sudden praise. Mo Rushuang lowered her head and whispered, How would I know? Im not a mind-reader. So, among those who admire you, who is more suave and distinguished? Lin Beifan asked again, trying to discover the identity of that person. Well Mo Rushuang hesitated for a moment. Whats wrong, are you reluctant to say? Lin Beifan smiled. No! Its just that there are so many people, I cant remember who Mo Rushuang reluctantly lowered her head. Lin Beifan was speechless, was she trying to y coy with him? Okay, she won! Next, everyone continued to idle around. During this process, Lin Beifan felt a subtle hostilitying from behind. Suddenly, a mischievous thought arose in his mind. identally, he grabbed Mo Rushuangs hand. Another incident, he embraced Mo Rushuangs waist. There was even a time when they had to dodge a pedestrian, and he identally fell into Mo Rushuangs embrace. The eldest prince who had been secretly following them was so angry that smoke seemed to being out of his head. He gritted his teeth and said, This bastard is clearly taking advantage of Rushuang, he is so shameless! Ill go and talk to him! The others quickly stopped him, Your Highness, you cannot do that! The eldest prince retorted, Why not? Im not going to hit him, Im just going to talk to him! Your Highness, your identity is sensitive, you cannot easily reveal it! If you go over there, your identity will be exposed! Lin Beifan has just pledged loyalty to the Imperial Prince (your father), and there are doubts about his loyalty. Its too risky! Your Highness, please stay calm, dont act impulsively! The eldest prince became even angrier, So, youre saying that I was still unable to deal with him even though he has made fool of me? Everyone nodded with a wry smile. Ah~ The eldest prince groaned in pain, clutching his chest. He watched his beloved and his rival being affectionate with each other; he couldnt do anything but watch as he was being humiliated it was even worse than killing him! He felt heartbroken and could barely breathe; his head felt like it was splitting apart! Your Highness, its gettingte, let us go back and rest! Someone asked cautiously. No! I want to see how long they will continue! The eldest prince angrily replied. And so, the eldest prince continued to walk towards the greenway. With each step, his head grew greener (envy, jealous), and his heart ached more. He didnt know how he managed to persevere! They only managed to calm him down when they finished walking the streets and returned to Lin Mansion. Your Highness, are you feeling any better now? They asked worriedly. The prince was still clutching his chest, Im not feeling any better, today was too much for me. I need to go get drunk! Dont any of you try to stop me, or Ill decapitate you! Later, after dinner, Lin Beifan apologized to Mo Rushuang, Rushuang, Im so sorry about today. I was stumbling around and almost got us into danger so many times. You had to save me so many times! Mr. Lin, you should be more careful when youre walking! Mo Rushuang said resentfully. Normal people wouldnt encounter so many dangers. Clearly, he had ulterior motives! Hmph! Dont think that I dont see through you! You viin! Just as the little princess said, you have a belly full of bad intentions! Lin Beifan took out an exquisite bracelet, Rushuang, youve been such a great help today! As an apology, I want to give you this small gift. I hope youll ept it. Mo Rushuang was happy inside but acted reluctant, Alright, Ill reluctantly ept it. Thank you! Although she said it reluctantly, her hand was quick to grab it, and she held onto it tightly. I have nothing else to do. Im going back to my room to rest! As night fell, Lin Beifan changed into his nighttime clothes, performed his top-notch light work, and roamed the skies of the capital city. In just a moment, he arrived at a luxurious restaurant. At this point, the eldest prince, who had been following him during the day, was already drunk and unconscious, and had been sent back to his room to rest. There were also a group of strong guards outside, whispering to each other. Lin Beifan stuck to the top of the restaurant and listened carefully. After a moment, he learned a shocking piece of information and smiled, So its the son of the Prince of Northern Hebei? A thousand miles to deliver the head! Prince of Northern Hebei, our first deal is going to happen! He jumped into the window, used his innate true energy to slice through the air lightly, and then he quietly left the room with the drunk and unconscious prince in tow.
The idiom (A thousand miles to deliver the head!) can have a few different meanings, depending on the context: 1. To deliver a decisive blow: This idiom is often used to describe a decisive and devastating victory in battle. It suggests that the enemy was not only defeated, but also suffered significant losses, with their leaders or important figures killed or captured. 2. To bring someone to justice: The idiom can also be used in a more literal sense, to describe the act of bringing a criminal to justice. In this case, (qin l) would refer to the distance traveled to apprehend the criminal, and (sng rn tu) would mean to capture or kill the criminal and present their head as proof. 3. To go to great lengths: Finally, (qin l sng rn tu) can also be used to describe someone who is willing to go to great lengths to aplish a task or goal. It suggests that the person in question is very determined and will not be easily deterred. Chapter 94: There are rules to follow are you saying you dont have to pay? Chapter 94: There are rules to follow are you saying you dont have to pay? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan held the unconscious prince and quickly leapt across the rooftops with ghostly speed, several streets away until they came to an old street. This old street was the famous red-light district in Capital. Lin Beifan had previously spent a few taels of silver to hire some plump and old prostitutes from this area to serve the envoy from Darro, so he knew his way around. Now, these old women were dressed in provocative clothing, gossiping endlessly. Sisters, how has business beentely? Business has been very badtely. We havent had any business in a week. If it keeps up like this, well all starve! Nowadays, men only like young and pretty women. Who would want us old and fat ones? When will the Great Wu Dynasty start appreciating beauty in fat? Im already preparing my fat just waiting for that day. Haha! Dont even think about it, youll never find it in this lifetime! At this moment, an old woman raised her two fat and thick arms and held them together. Big Sister Fat, what are you doing? Everyone was confused. Im making a wish. I heard that if you make a wish on a shooting star, it wille true! So Im going to try! Haha! You believe in such a childish lie? Big Sister Fat, are you going crazy for a man? This is soughable! Everyone teased her. Big Sister Fat waved her thick arms, Go away! Dont listen to me! If a person has no dreams, whats the difference between them and a salted fish? Whether it seeds or not, you still have to try! What if it works? Just then, a shooting star appeared in the sky. Big Sister Fat immediately closed her eyes and made her wish with a devout expression, Shooting star, if you can hear my voice, please bless me with a wealthy and handsome young man! Thump! A huge sound was heard. What was that sound? Big Sister Fat and the others were startled. They cautiously walked towards the sound and found a handsome young man dressed in fancy clothes, reeking of alcohol, lying unconscious on the ground. Big Sister Fat eximed in delight, Did my wishe true? Did the shooting star hear me and send me a wealthy and handsome young man? The rest of the old women surrounded him, chatting away. Wow, hes really good-looking. Hes charming and elegant. Thisdys heart is moved! Wearing such luxurious silk clothing, he must be wealthy! Not just wealthy, hes very wealthy. Ordinary people cant afford clothes like this! Ive never served such a customer before! Big Sister Fat panicked, This is my man, dont snatch him from me! Big Sister Fat, this is clearly a fat sheep. We can share him together. Dont be so stingy! Thats right! Have you forgotten our sisterhood? I dont even have any money left. Im relying on this man to survive this month! The next day, the prince woke up with a splitting headache and an aching back. Seeing the unfamiliar surroundings and the room filled with a unique smell, he furrowed his brow, Where am I? What happened? He then noticed his disheveled clothes and a plump old woman lying next to him. The situation was clear. He, a prince, had been slept with by an old woman. His face turned green, and he just wanted to leave as quickly as possible. At this moment, Big Sister Fat finally woke up and grabbed the princes hand, shouting, Dont leave, you have to pay! You want me to pay? Dont even think about it. I never want to see you again in my life! The prince just wanted to leave this sorrowful ce as soon as possible and quickly put on his clothes to run away. What, you call a woman and dont want to pay? At this moment, Big Sister Fats sisters all aggressively rushed in and blocked all the exits like tanks. Give us the money now. If you dont pay, you cant leave! If you dont pay, well report you to the authorities! Wait to be humiliated in public! The princes head was aching, and he just wanted to escape from this ce. Impatiently, he said, Fine, fine, fine! Ill give you the money. Is that good enough? He grabbed his clothes and reached into his pockets. But suddenly he remembered that he rarely carried money with him when he went out and all his money was in the hands of his servants. So he didnt have any money on him right now. This was awkward. Um I dont have any money on me! My money is all with my servants. Let me go back and have them bring it to you, okay? That sounds like an excuse. You just want to run away, dont you? Ive seen plenty of men like you who just want to freeload! Report him to the authorities. Let the officials handle him! The prince was taken aback and quickly waved his hand, Dont report to the officials, lets talk this out! Not reporting is not an option. Come with us or youll regret it! And so, the prince was pushed and shoved by the old women and taken to the officials. They immediately knelt down and cried, Please help me, sir! Although this young gentleman seems wealthy, he slept with us and refused to pay. Whats the rationale? Were doing the prostitution business, how can we survive without money? We had no other choice but toe to you. Please help us, sir. We kneel to you! The judge responsible for the case was immediately given a headache upon seeing the old women. This was not the first time or the second time this had happened. They would bring someone over every other day toin. And they imed that someone slept with them? They should take a good look at themselves in the mirror before using someone. Who could argue against them? The truth was, they were the ones who were enticed by other party handsome and had sex with them, yet demanded payment afterwards! If they couldnte up with the money, they would use the other party in the court. It was too despicable, too shameless! Looking at the handsome and elegant young man, the judge suddenly felt sorry for him. He was young and had been subjected to such a heinous crime, and had undoubtedly suffered great psychological and physical trauma. He didnt know if he could make it through the rest of his life. What an unfortunate thing! Alright, thats enough from all of you! The judge impatiently waved his hand. Listen, since the other party cante up with any money, lets temporarily retain their valuable items here and let them go back to get the money. Is that okay? Thank you for helping us, sir! The old women smiled smugly. The judge pounded the gavel and said seriously, Who are you? Dere your name! I am, I am Wuying, a young master! The young man replied. His identity was sensitive, and he didnt dare to reveal his true identity to avoid alerting the court, so he just made up a name. You seem like an educated person who understands right from wrong. I wont waste any more words with you! The judge stated calmly, You have heard what I just said. Leave behind a valuable item here and go back to get the money. After paying those women, I will return the item to you. How about it? But I dont have anything valuable on me right now! The princeughed bitterly. How can that be? Did you go out without bringing anything? The judge was surprised. The prince smiled wryly, Yes, sir! My gold, silver, and other valuable items are all with my attendants! It seems like youre still a pampered young master. How did you fall so low? The judge looked at the old women and shook his head in dismay. The prince hung his head in shame. Everything that had happened today was a nightmare that would haunt him forever, and he would never be able to lift his head in front of anyone again. Sir, can you send an official with me to retrieve the money? Dont worry, my family has money and we will pay off what is owed! The prince said. That is indeed a solution But at that moment, the judge noticed a jade pendant hanging from the princes waist and said with a smile, Who said you have nothing? Isnt the jade pendant around your waist valuable enough? It doesnt look like an ordinary piece. Quickly present it to me! This jade pendant is a personal item and cannot be given away! The prince panicked. Dont hesitate, hand it over! The judge had someone remove the jade pendant from the princes waist. The prince resisted and didnt want to hand it over, but he was outnumbered. The judge held the jade pendant in his hand. With just one look, he felt that it was quite extraordinary, made from a special type of jade that was not only crystal clear, but also very hard and not easily damaged. He recognized this type of jade and called it golden jade. It was very rare and had already been collected by the royal family, so how could the other party own it? The judge became suspicious and continued to examine the jade pendant, only to find a dragon and phoenix carved on the back. This was even more significant because there were regtions in Great Wu that only members of the royal family, or those who had obtained permission from the emperor, could wear items with dragon and phoenix carvings. Looking at the front, his face suddenly changed at the sight of the words written on it. Quickly spread the word, this is a major event! This incident spread at an extremely fast speed, reaching the ears of various departments and causing amotion in the court. The son of the Prince of Northern Hebei, Wu Yingjie, had actually appeared in the capital! This was not a small matter! It should be noted that the court was currently unstable, with various princes and dukes ambitious to seize power and rece the emperor. The Prince of Northern Hebei was one of them, and his son secretly appearing at this time could not help but raise suspicion. Therefore, everyone had to handle this matter carefully! That day, the empress directly dispatched the imperial guards to surround the court. After verifying the princes identity, they politely invited him to a luxurious mansion and dispatched the imperial guards to guard night and day. It seemed like it was for the safety of the prince, but it was actually a form of house arrest. At the same time, the court urgently convened officials to discuss countermeasures. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 95: Active in Corruption, Sly in Sharing Worries! Chapter 95: Active in Corruption, Sly in Sharing Worries! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
As soon as she saw the officials, the empress cut to the chase and asked: Should we release or keep the eldest prince? The officials looked at each other, and an old minister bowed and asked: Your Majesty, have we asked about the purpose of the eldest princeing to the capital? The empress nodded. Yes, we have. He just said he was bored and came to y in the capital. But now, with the current tense situation, how could a prince like him, with his special status,e here without any ulterior motive? Clearly, he is hiding something. Moreover, as the eldest prince, he holds a very honorable position and cannot be punished unless hemits a crime. So, we might not get any answers from him. Thats why I called you all here toe up with a strategy! Your Majesty, I believe we should release him! The Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen, stood up and said loudly. Currently, Wu Yingjie is still the crown prince, and his father, the Prince of Northern Hebei, has not yet broken ties with us. If we continue to detain the eldest prince, it may anger the Prince and lead to an uprising. The consequences of a rebellion are unpredictable! Our empire not only has to face the Prince of Northern Hebei, but also other neighboring princes who are waiting for a chance to strike. Other countries beyond our borders will also not miss this opportunity. We are facing too much pressure! Currently, the situation isplicated, and it is better to stay inactive than to act. The court cannot afford to make mistakes! Other officials from Qians faction chimed in: Thats right, we should release him! Keeping him is too troublesome! Let him go and appease the Prince of Northern Hebei! Our court really cannot afford to be distracted, nor can the empire! At that moment, the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, stood up. Your Majesty, I believe we should keep him! Indeed, as Mr. Qian said, there will be endless troubles if we didnt release the eldest prince. But if we do release him, will that extinguish the Princes ambition? Its impossible to think so! The Prince has been plotting for more than twenty years and will not give up his ambition just because of one crown prince. A war is almost inevitable! Keeping the eldest prince is currently the best option! By keeping him alive, we can at least make the Prince hesitate. Moreover, by keeping the eldest prince, we have a chance to dig out more information about the Prince of Northern Hebei, which would be very helpful in our preparations for war! Officials from Gaos faction also spoke out in support: Yes, keeping the eldest prince is the best option! This can make the Prince of Northern Hebei fear us and give us more time to prepare! This is the best solution for now! Everyone gave their opinion, and they all made sense. The empress was hesitant and couldnt make up her mind, so she called for the officials toe up with a strategy. However, they couldnte up with a good solution. At that moment, she thought of someone who always surprised her unintentionally. She looked towards the person standing at the back with a smile and said: Sir Lin, everyone has made valid arguments. What is your opinion? Speak up and let me hear it! Lin Beifan, who was cking off, was taken aback. Cant I even ck off in peace? The officials were all silent now, looking at Lin Beifan for his opinion. Lin Beifan stood up and said: Your Majesty, I believe Minister Qians argument is valid. The Eldest Princes identity is sensitive, and if we keep him, it may anger the Prince of Northern Hebei and worsen the situation, leading to chaos in both the court and the country. Currently, Wu Yingjie faces too many problems, and it would be unwise to escte this issue. Minister Qian smiled lightly and said: Sir Lins opinion is right. No wonder he was the top scorer in the imperial examination! For the first time, Lin Beifan was regarded as sensible and admirable. But Minister Gaos argument is also valid, Lin Beifan continued. The Prince of Northern Hebei has ambitious ns, and whether we release or keep the Eldest Prince, he will eventually start a war. By keeping the Eldest Prince, we can use him as a hostage to make the Prince hesitate and gain more information from him. The smile on Minister Qians face disappeared, and Minister Gao wasnt pleased either. Everyone was dissatisfied with Lin Beifan. Sir Lin, whose side are you on? You flip-flop between releasing and keeping! Youre making everyone confused! What do you mean? Lin Beifan remained calm and said loudly: Both releasing and keeping have their merits. Your Majesty is wise and all-knowing, and I trust that you have a course of action in mind. So, I wont worry about it. Whatever decision you make, I will fully support it! Everyone thought to themselves: this is just a bunch of useless talk with no substance! He even buttered up the empress! What a sly little fox! The officials couldnte up with a better solution in the end, so they decided to hold off on their decision for now. They treated Wu Yingjie well and kept him confined to the pce. They also monitored the Prince of Northern Hebeis reaction and waited for the right time to act. After the meeting, Lin Beifan returned to his mansion, where Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai rushed in, asking anxiously, Is it true that the Eldest Prince has been captured by the empress? .. This incident had caused a stir in the city, and almost everyone knew about it. Lin Beifan didnt hide anything and nodded. Yes, its true. Ah, this is troublesome! Both siblings looked worried, and Guo Shaoshuai said anxiously, If the Eldest Prince is caught, how do we exin it to the Prince? Lin Beifan chuckled and said, What does this have to do with you? Its not like he was caught because of you! Guo Shaoshuai hesitated and said, Thats true, but Lin Beifan interrupted him, saying, If you ask me, its his own fault! He knew his identity was sensitive but didnt stay in Northern Hebei Province. Instead, he came to the capital, revealing his identity for all to see. What was he thinking? If I were the Prince of Northern Hebei, Id be so angry that Id p him against the wall, and still not get any useful information out of him! Mo Rushuangs face looked a bit unnatural. She vaguely felt that the Eldest Prince hade to the capital because of her. By the way, Mr. Lin, how was the Eldest Prince arrested? Mo Rushuang asked. Dont you know? Its already been spread outside! Lin Beifan blinked his eyes. ording to rumors, the Eldest Prince was arrested because he refused to pay after hiring a prostitute, so he was reported to the officials by the prostitute. But this is impossible. The Eldest Prince is noble and has high standards. How could he fall for a prostitute? And those women were old, ugly, and fat, its impossible! Guo Shaoshuai said anxiously. Although its hard to believe, its the truth! Lin Beifan said with a sigh. Mo Rushuang and the others eximed, Wow! I cant understand it either. How could a prince like him fall for those ugly old prostitutes? I think he must have been eating too many delicacies and wanted to try some wild vegetables from the countryside! Its just that the world is full of wonders! Lin Beifan shook his head. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai trembled when they thought of the Eldest Prince being intimate with those old, fat women. It was really too disgusting! Especially Mo Rushuang, who felt a bit nauseous and decided to stay away from the Eldest Prince in the future. Mr. Lin, youre extremely intelligent. Can you save the Eldest Prince? After all, hes the Princes own son. If something happens to the Eldest Prince, the Prince will surely go crazy and it will affect the future Mo Rushuang asked with hope. Lin Beifan sighed and said with a bitter smile, Ill do my best, but the chances are slim! You should tell the Prince about this as soon as possible and see what he can do! Mo Ru Shuang and Guo Shaoshuai nodded heavily with a heavy heart. This news quickly reached the Prince in the far north. The Prince was furious, I told him before not to let his affairs get in the way of the countrys affairs. He didnt listen! Now hes in that girls hands and Im being forced to act passively! Damn it! He shook with all his might, and his powerful internal force erupted, shattering all the tables and chairs around him. Zhuge, the advisor, said cautiously, Your Majesty, its possible that the Eldest Prince is being victimized by wicked people! Its said that the Eldest Prince was resting in his room at the time, and there were many guards outside! However, he was kidnapped unnoticed and sold to the prostitutes, resulting in this current situation! The Prince continued to angrily ask, Are you trying to defend him? If he hadnt gone to the capital, would this have happened? Im supposed to be wise in my life, how could I have given birth to such a bastard? Even the words bastard were spoken, indicating how angry the Prince was. Your Majesty, are you going to save the Eldest Prince? Zhuge asked. Hes my son, of course I will! The Prince clenched his fists. Two dayster, arge group of ck-d experts suddenly broke into the Eldest Princes residence. Help! Someones trying to assassinate the Eldest Prince! Archers, get ready! Fire! Dont let the assassins escape! They fought fiercely for a whole night, but the group of ck-d experts had no gains and had to retreat. The same thing happened the next night, and the night after that. In fact, they could never seed because the Empress had prepared a well-equipped army of 2,000 soldiers to guard the Eldest Prince day and night, in order to prevent him from being rescued. Even if the ck-d experts were very powerful, facing such a well-equipped army would put them in a difficult situation. One person could fight dozens of soldiers, but what about hundreds or thousands? Sometimes manpower was stretched too thin, and just one mistake could lead to the entire army being wiped out due to the enemys overwhelming numbers and tactics. In addition, the Empress had also arranged for dozens of powerful experts, including several innate ones. This force was more than enough to wipe out arge faction. With the advantages of advantageous timing and geographical location, the court could send troops to support at any time, and troops could be replenished continuously, so these experts could only retreat without sess, and even suffered losses. Too many powerful people had sacrificed, so the Prince of Northern Hebei dared not send anyone else. They finally turned to Lin Beifan for help. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 96: I Almost Lost My Life, Whats Wrong with 1 Million? Chapter 96: I Almost Lost My Life, Whats Wrong with 1 Million? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The Prince has already sent martial art experts to save the Eldest Prince! However, the Imperial Court has many skilled soldiers and horses, and the Princes men have returned empty-handed many times, suffering casualties that they can no longer afford. Therefore, the Prince earnestly requests that Mr. Lin help to speak on behalf of the Eldest Prince in court and persuade the Imperial Court to release him! After the matter is sessfully resolved, there will surely be heavy rewards! Mr. Lin, I beg of you, please rescue the Eldest Prince! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai came over, sincerely pleading. Lin Beifan said righteously, You are too kind. The Prince is being too kind as well. Rescuing the Eldest Prince is my duty that I cannot shirk. Even if the Prince did not ask, I would do everything in my power! Mo Roushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were filled with gratitude upon hearing this. Mo Rushuangs eyes were gentle as he said, Mr. Lin, thank you for your hard work! After the matter is over, I will definitely speak highly of you in front of the Prince and let him know of your efforts and contributions! Guo Shaoshuai said, I will also say a few good words for you! Lin Beifan waved his hand and humbly said, Theres no need for that. This is what I should do! At this point, Lin Beifans tone changed and he said with some difficulty, But rescuing the Eldest Prince will not be easy! It will require great hardship and a high cost. So I hope What do you hope for? Mo Rushuang and hispanion said in unison. Firstly, I hope that the Prince can pay the reward in advance. Im not asking for much, just 1 million taels! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai eximed in shock. They thought that he had changed his ways and turned over a new leaf, but they didnt expect him to still be the greedy teenager who hadnt changed at all! He asked for 1 million taels right off the bat and said it wasnt that much Do you know how much money that is? Mo Roushuang said angrily, Mr. Gongzi, you still call that not much? You are clearly asking for a life! 1 million taels is equivalent to the annual expenditure of 100,000moners. How can the Prince have so much money? Guo Shaoshuai also said, Mr. Lin, you are really too greedy. I cant bear to watch anymore! Lin Beifan felt extremely wronged and said, Do you think its easy for me? Do you know why the Imperial Court is dying the release of the Eldest Prince? Why? They both asked at the same time. Thats because the Imperial Court, including the empress, has seen through the Princes intentions and believe that he will inevitably revolt. So they do not agree to release the Eldest Prince! They want to keep the Eldest Prince detained in the capital and use him as a hostage to threaten the Prince, forcing him to be cautious! So thats how it is! They were shocked. Lin Beifan raised a finger and said, At that time, I spoke on behalf of the Eldest Prince! But who would have thought What happened? They both asked in unison again. I almost got exposed! Lin Beifan said with lingering fear. At that time, all the civil and military officials in the court looked at me suspiciously, suspecting that I had betrayed the Imperial Court and sided with the Prince of Northern Hebei! Even the empress who usually favored me, looked at me with suspicion! Is it that serious? They were shocked again. Not at all! Lin Beifan continued to be agitated and roar, So, whats wrong with 1 million? I almost lost all my wealth, glory and favor from the empress, and almost lost my life! In other words, I lost everything! I just want 1 million, is that a lot? The Prince only lost 1 million, but I lost everything! Lets look at it from a different angle. Is the Eldest Princes life not worth 1 million? Mo Rushuang felt extremely ashamed, Mr. Lin, I misunderstood you! I never expected you to sacrifice so much for the Crown Prince. 1 million is not a lot! Im really sorry Guo Shaoshuai was also ashamed: Mr. Lin, Im sorry, I misunderstood you! Lin Beifans face was still ugly: Humph! Its good that you understand! And do you think that the 1 million really went into my pockets? Looking at the two confused expressions, Lin Beifan said impatiently, You are really stupid, you cant even figure this out! No one in the court agreed, so I had to spend money to persuade them, otherwise who will speak for me? Oh, thats right! Mr. Lin, youre right! The two finally understood. Lin Beifan took out a small abacus from somewhere and calcted, I have already calcted that there are about 30 people in the court who can have a say! They are all corrupt, and each person needs at least three or four hundred thousand silver to change their minds! So at the very least, I should spend 900,000! taels! If I meet someone who is more greedy, three or four hundred thousand may not be enough! For example, the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, and the Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen, they are all very greedy, and they have a grudge against me! If they cant be convinced with 80 or 90 thousand, some may need more than ten thousand! Considering all this, 1 million is far from enough, I have to put in more money! Lin Beifan put away the abacus and sighed in despair, You guys tell me, just to save an inexperienced prince, I have already lost so much, and I still have to endure others misunderstandings, is it easy for me? Both Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai felt embarrassed. Mo Rushuang apologized again, Mr. Lin, I am so stupid and didnt know anything, but I misunderstood you, Im sorry! I wont doubt you again in the future! Guo Shaoshuai bowed and apologized, Mr. Lin, Im sorry! You didnt do anything wrong, it was me! Its good that you understand! Lin Beifan sighed. Looking at Lin Beifans sad and distressed appearance, Mo Rushuang felt very distressed and advised him, Mr. Lin, you have already done so much for the prince and the king, we all see it! If 1 million is not enough, then ask for more. I think the Prince will understand! Lin Beifans eyes lit up, Can I really do that? Seeing Lin Beifans changing expression, Mo Rushuangs mood improved, Mr. Lin, you have already done enough, dont hurt yourself! Even if you dont ask for more, I will still help you plead, its what you deserve! Is 1.5 million enough? Lin Beifan was very moved and grabbed Mo Rushuangs hand excitedly, Rushuang, you are always the best to me! Thank you! Uh-huh! Mo Rushuang blushed and nodded. Feeling the warmth on her hand, her heart was filled with joy. At this time, Guo Shaoshuai came forward and said seriously, Mr. Lin, I will also speak for you more! Lin Beifan pushed his big face away, Get out of my way! Guo Shaoshuai: After that, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai left. The letter was written and sent through special channels to the princes hands as quickly as possible. The prince read it and was trembling with anger. What the hell! 1.5 million yuan and he still wont help me rob them? Whats wrong, your highness? Zhuge asked, confused. The Prince handed Zhuge the letter, annoyed. Advisor, read it and see how greedy this Lin Beifan is! He wants 1.5 million taels just to help me save my son! Zhuge looked carefully at the letter. 1.5 million is indeed a lot, but if it can be used to bribe officials and improve our situation, its not too much money. The prince was reluctant. But what if he takes the money and cant get the job done? Then Ill lose a lot of money. Zhuge smiled. Didnt we agree to pay a 30% down payment first when we made the agreement with Lin Beifan? We can pay the rest when the job is done, and that way well reduce our losses. The prince nodded, looking much happier. Moreover, your highness, we can use this opportunity to test Lin Beifans capabilities. The eldest prince is currently being held by the court, and the officials refuse to release him. If Lin Beifan can save the eldest prince in this unfavorable situation, it proves that he is a very capable person. Such a talented person, isnt it worth the money to bring him into our ranks? The prince nodded, looking at Zhuge and motioning for him to continue. Money can be earned back, but talent is extremely rare! If we can win him over and make him do even greater things in the future, it will definitely help your highnesss career! Zhuge said. Youre right, the prince said. Lets do it this way. Your highness is wise! Zhuge bowed. So, a silver note worth 450,000 yuan was quickly sent to Lin Beifans hands. The prince says this is a 30% down payment! When you rescue the crown prince, they will pay the rest of the money as promised! Mr. Lin, were counting on you now, you must save the crown prince! Mo Ruoshuang said seriously. Lin Beifan quickly stashed the silver note away and said seriously, Now that the moneys been paid, theres no problem! Go back and tell the prince to wait for my good news! In his heart, he thought: this prince is really a fat sheep, I must fleece him more in the future! Looking at Lin Beifans confident expression, Mo Rushuang was still worried and said, Mr. Lin, you must be careful! Dont force yourself to do something thats impossible! In my eyes, your life is more important, so please dont risk it! Okay, I understand! Lin Beifan promised. The next day, Lin Beifan stood up very positively at the morning court meeting and said loudly, Your Majesty, these days I have been thinking hard and believe that for your sake and for the prosperity of the country, the eldest prince should be released! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 97: Using the people of the world as a tool to kill the Prince of Northern Hebeis son! Chapter 97: Using the people of the world as a tool to kill the Prince of Northern Hebeis son! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The Empresss mouth twitched. Was he this enthusiastic because the money had been paid? Mr. Lin, speak your reasons! shemanded. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan straightened up and loudly proimed, Leaving the Eldest Prince in captivity has more disadvantages than benefits! Firstly, continuing to keep the Eldest Prince under house arrest will only anger the Prince of Northern Hebei and worsen the conflict! The Crown Prince, as the eldest son and heir to the Prince of Northern Hebei, has been doted on and carefully raised with high expectations. Now that he is in our hands, the other party will undoubtedly be anxious! From the previous assassination attempts, it can be seen that those people were not sent to kill the Eldest Prince, but were skilled experts sent by the Jibei King to rescue him! From these actions, it is clear that the other party is bing more and more impatient! If the Prince of Northern Hebei sees that there is no hope of saving his son and decides tounch a coup in advance, then things will be dire! This is not an impossible scenario. Your Majesty, please consider carefully! The Empresss expression changed slightly as she nodded and said, You make a good point. Please continue! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan continued loudly, Secondly, continuing to keep the Crown Prince in captivity will attract countless troubles! Now, we not only need to deal with the Prince of Northern Hebei, but also with other potential enemies! Such as other vassal kings, ambitious figures in the martial arts world, and various countries outside Great Wu. There are too many enemies! They are all waiting for an opportunity to stir up trouble and take advantage of it! And the Eldest Prince is the perfect opportunity they have been waiting for! If they send someone to kill the Eldest Prince, it will worsen the conflict between the court and the Prince of Northern Hebei! Once both sides start fighting, they can sit back and reap the benefits! This is not an impossible scenario, but a very likely one! Anyway, if I were them, I would definitely not miss such a good opportunity! The faces of everyone present finally changed. Lin Beifan continued, As for the Eldest Prince, we cannot harm, insult or kill him. We must always protect him! Now we can still deal with the Prince of Northern Hebeis men, but what aboutter? When other ambitious people react and send skilled experts to assassinate the Eldest Prince, can we still hold him? Even if we can, we will have to spend a great deal of manpower and resources, which is astronomical! At the same time, we must bear the risk of unrest in the capital, which is difficult to estimate! The capital is the heart of Great Wu. If there are problems in the heart, it will inevitably affect the operation of Great Wu! Now, with wolves and tigers surrounding us, any problems in the capital will be a big issue! Therefore, Your Majesty, please consider carefully! Everyones face became heavy. The Empresss face was solemn, Your reasoning is sound, continue! Thirdly, there is no point in keeping the Crown Prince! From his behavior, he can be said to be rtively naive,cking the necessary caution. Otherwise, we would not have captured him so easily! This shows that hecks experience and has not been involved in important affairs, so we cannot obtain any useful information from him! Keeping him will only threaten the Prince of Northern Hebei! However, the Prince of Northern Hebei has several sons, each one is a rare talent! The Prince of Northern Hebei is ambitious and has always wanted to enter the Central ins. The death of one son is not a big deal to him! Even if the Eldey Prince dies, it will provide him with a reason for revolt. This must be prevented! Therefore, I believe that keeping the Eldest Prince is more detrimental than beneficial. It is better to release him as soon as possible! After listening to Lin Beifans words, the empresss ideas had already leaned towards him. However, she still wanted to hear more opinions and gather diverse views. Gentlemen, do any of you have any other opinions? Your majesty! Gao Tianyao, the minister of personnel, stood up and addressed Lin Beifan. Admittedly, Sir Lin has spoken very reasonably. But if we release the eldest prince so easily, wont everyone mock us for being afraid of the prince of Northern Hebei? Moreover, even if we release the eldest prince, those ambitious individuals will not miss this opportunity to assassinate him and me us, intensifying the conflict between us and prince of Northern Hebei! Furthermore, the situation is even more precarious now because without our protection, the other side is more unscrupulous! With ack of protection around the eldest prince, he is almost certain to die, and the situation will not change in the end! Additionally, we do not know what kind of person the eldest prince is, nor do we know much about the prince of Northern Hebeis affairs. Perhaps he is deliberately trying to deceive us? Prince of Northern Hebei has several sons, so losing one is not a big deal. But the son who he has appointed the crown prince is undoubtedly the most important to him! If the eldest prince is kept, Prince of Northern Hebei will be wary! Therefore, I have always believed that keeping the eldest prince is more advantageous than releasing him! The empress nodded, Sir Gao speaks the truth! Does anyone have a different opinion? Speak up quickly! I think Sir Lins words are correct. Its better to release the crown prince! I believe its better to keep him! The officials began to argue. At this time, Lin Beifan stood up, interrupting their argument, and smiled, Your Majesty, I still firmly believe that we should release the eldest prince. However, how we release him is crucial. As long as we handle it properly, our court can not only avoid all risks and losses but also use this opportunity to strike a blow against Jibei Prince, causing him to suffer huge losses! This is a rare opportunity. I hope your Majesty will not miss it! The empresss eyes brightened, Sir Lin, quickly tell us your method! Firstly, we will notify Northern Hebei Prince of our intention to protect the eldest princes safety and send him to Northen Hebei. If any idents happen to the eldest prince on the way, it will be Prince of Northern Hebeis negligence we can avoid responsibility! Secondly, we will send off the eldest prince in a grand way. This will not only show the magnanimity of the emperor but also let the world know that the eldest prince is in the capital and is going back to Northen Hebei! Why is that? The empress asked curiously. Because there are too many people who want to kill the eldest prince. This is the best time! For example, the eldest princes several brothers, each of whom is ambitious, will be happy if he dies because if he does not, they will never have a chance. There are also other feudal lords, ambitious people in the martial arts, and other groups who are eager to see the eldest prince dead, so they can take advantage of the chaos! The empresss eyes lit up, I understand now. Youre using other people to kill the eldest prince! Your Majesty is wise! Lin Beifan bowed and smiled. This way, when the whole world knows that the eldest prince has left the capital, various forces will inevitably send their top experts to assassinate him! And Prince of Northern Hebei will have to send soldiers and experts to protect his son! Prince of Northern Hebei will have to face the hunting of various forces alone, which will undoubtedly result in significant losses! In the end, no matter who wins or loses, it has nothing to do with our court! We can avoid all kinds of losses and sit back and watch the show! The empress nodded, Very well. We will do as you suggested! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 98: Although I Committed Corruption, I Am Still a Good Person! Chapter 98: Although I Committed Corruption, I Am Still a Good Person! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After returning, Lin Beifan told Mo Rushuang about the matter. After my efforts and persuasion, plus some silver to clear the way, Her Majesty finally relented and agreed to release the eldest prince! Go back and tell the Prince, have him settle the final payment! Mo Rushuang was very happy, Thank you, Mr. Lin! She happily went back to write a letter and report the matter to the Prince. Soon after, the Prince of Northern Hebei received Mo Rushuangs letter, as well as a reply from the court. It told him that the eldest prince had been released and asked him to send someone over to bring back the Northern Hebei. The Prince was overjoyed, Lin Beifan really got it done! ording to Rushuang, he only went to court once he received the money, and immediately settled everything. A talented person! Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Your Highness! The eldest prince is safe, and you also gained a talented person! Zhuge the advisor immediately congratted him. Haha The princeughed and was very happy. Afterughing, he continued to look at the courts reply and frowned, What makes me suspicious is that why does the court want me to send someone to bring back the eldest prince? Is there fraud involved? Zhuge looked at the letter, stroked his beard, and smiled, ording to the letter, the court is now facing internal and external problems. There is really no way to send troops to protect the eldest prince, and they do not want to offend you, Your Highness. Therefore, they had to release the prince! (Zhuge) But, the eldest princes identity is very special, and he may be targeted by someone with bad intentions. It would be bad if something bad happened! It would be unfavorable for you and the court! So, the court has asked us to send someone over to pick up the eldest prince. This can be understood. (Zhuge) The prince nodded, The advisor is very right! Moreover, this matter has almost been publicized. The court will certainly not p its own face! Zhugeughed, Your Highness, you can send experts to set off now, pick up the eldest prince, and it will be done soon! Good! The prince shouted loudly, I will send experts and soldiers to go to the capital now, and bring back Jieer! In addition, the remainder of the payment should be given to Lin Beifan for his contribution! You are wise, Your Highness! Zhuge smiled and bowed. So, the prince immediately sent experts and soldiers to pick up the prince. Not many people were sent, less than a hundred, but many of them were experts, and there were even two innate ones. In addition, there were many high-level experts who had arrived in the capital to rescue the eldest prince, but had not shown themselves and were protecting him in secret. This force was almost extravagant to protect one person. On the day of the pickup, the momentum was huge, and there were crowds of people. The Empress personally appointed a high official to see the prince off. At the same time, she also sent a lot of treasures for the prince to take back to the Northern Hebei, showing her great favor. It can be said that the Empress had done everything she should have, and no one could pick out any faults. So, the eldest prince returned home safely, and it really seemed like he had just gone to the capital to y. Even the prince himself could not believe that he had been released so smoothly without being harassed by the court. However, less than a day after leaving the capital, the prince was assassinated. But because there were so many experts with the prince, the other party did not seed and had to run away. However, more than ten people in the princes team still died. The next day, he was attacked again. This time, the attackers were even more fierce, with dozens of post-innate experts, and even one innate expert. Still, they were unsessful and left behind a pile of bodies. On the third day, there was another assassination. This time, there were even more powerful attackers, including three innate experts. It is said that there were even bounty boards posted in the ck market, offering 500,000 silver coins for the eldest princes head. This was a big deal, for 500,000 silver coins was a huge sum of money! It would be enough to support a small army! People die for wealth, and birds die for food! Many thugs wore masks and joined the team hunting the prince. Assassination became more frequent and more brutal! All kinds of despicable methods were used, such as setting traps and poisoning. The escort teams capabilities were ultimately limited, and after wave after wave of assassination attempts, they finally couldnt hold out any longer and had to call for help from the prince. Upon receiving the message, the prince immediately dispatched troops and strong warriors for reinforcement. The two sides engaged in a prolonged struggle, with bloodshed and corpses covering the ground along the way. It was said that when the eldest prince returned to Northen Hebei, he had lost two thousand elite soldiers and hundreds of strong warriors had died, even an innate strong martial artist had fallen, the losses were indeed tragic. Unable to make any profit and having suffered losses in soldiers and money, the prince was very angry. He imprisoned the eldest prince responsible for the loss and forced him to reflect on his mistake. The eldest prince was not allowed to leave without his permission. However, Lin Beifan couldnt see any of this. He was currently smiling while counting the silver bills he had obtained from the Prince of Northern Hebei. A total of 1.5 million, not a penny more, not a penny less, Prince of Northern Hebei is truly a big fat sheep! I just said a few words at court and earned the money like this, too easy! In the future, I can look for more opportunities~! The malicious thoughts in his mind bubbled up. He was wondering if he could find another opportunity to take advantage of Prince of Northern Hebei. Just then, a white figure quietly appeared in front of him. Lin Beifan was used to the other partys sudden appearances and calmly said, Youre here! Bai Qingxuan looked at the silver bills in Lin Beifans hand and said in a speechless tone, Youre really something, you have your cake and eat it too! You not only gained the empresss reward, but also made a profit from Prince of Northern Hebei! When ites to corrupt officials, youre one of the best in history! Thank you for the praise, its what I deserve! Lin Beifan was full of himself. Ive always had a question! Please ask! Bai Qingxuan spoke inly, I heard that the eldest prince was captured and revealed his identity because he was thrown into the hook cage by a stranger strong warrior. Did you do it? Lin Beifan was shocked and pointed to his own nose, Bai Guanyin, I am a new top schr, and the director of the Imperial Academy, how could I do such a despicable thing? Bai Qingxuan casually said, Have you done any less despicable things? Lin Beifan was speechless. Embezzlement, deceiving the public, tantly demanding bribes, seeking personal gain through power I can list one after another which could get your head chopped off! Lin Beifan was silent. Bai Qingxuan stared at him, although it was difficult to see with the haze, but there seemed to be a smile in his eyes. Lin Beifan, do I need to list them one by one? No, its enough to keep them in your heart! Although I embezzle, deceiving the public, tantly demand bribes, and seek personal gain through power I am a good person! Lin Beifans face was pious, Although I am in the darkness, my heart is towards the light! Ipletely agree! Bai Qingxuan nodded. Right? Lin Beifan smiled. Although you have a dark mind and your methods arent very honorable! Bai Qingxuan shook his head. Lin Beifan: I can tell, you came here specifically to depress me? Lin Beifan said. Bai Qingxuan shook her head: Absolutely not! I was just bored and wanted to chat with someone, so I came here and depress you a little! Seeing you unhappy makes me feel better! Lin Beifan: At this point, Bai Qingxuan took the silver ticket from Lin Beifans hand. Im done chatting, Im leaving, and Im taking this money with me! She then disappeared, reallying and going in a hurry! Lin Beifan was very puzzled. Are all experts like this? Meanwhile, in the pce. Lin Beifans 1.5 million silver tickets had already reached the hands of the empress. The empress was very pleased: This Lin Beifan really is a big talent! While protecting the interests of the court, he not only embezzled 1.5 million from the Prince of Northern Hebei, but also caused him to lose soldiers and horses! He really is a talent! Bai Qingxuan admired. Fortunately, talented people like him have good intentions and self-restraint! Otherwise, they would cause great cmity in the world, leading to the suffering of living creatures and hopeless people! The empress nodded in agreement: Sister Qingxuan, you are right! If such a talented person has good intentions, they can benefit the world! If they have evil intentions, they will cause widespread suffering and destruction! Fortunately, he is my person! The empress was very pleased. Over the years, the thing she was most proud of was discovering Lin Beifans talent and making him her own. Since having him, many things had be smoother. She easily resolved the matter with Darro Kingdom. The courts control over the officials had be stronger, and the civil and military officials dared not act too recklessly. They were afraid of being harassed by Lin Beifan or retaliated against their children. The most critical thing was hiding his strength and rapidly developing it. With this 1.5 million, my development is even faster and my strength is even stronger! Under the situation of mutual loss and gain, the Prince of Northern Hebei lost a lot of elite soldiers and warriors as well as a lot of money, greatly weakening his power! The empress smiled triumphantly. Uncle, Ive won this round! Since the empress was in a very good mood, she generously rewarded Lin Beifan again the next day at the imperial court. Her godlike aura was once again revealed! Lin Beifan felt numb, and the officials followed suit! How many times was this? Why was the frequency so hightely? Was the empress crazy? Your Majesty, please stop, dont reward me anymore! Lin Beifan was very frightened. Lin my dear, dont worry. I can still give you another reward! The empress said confidently. No need, Your Majesty! If you insist on rewarding me, please give me a few days of leave. I want to rest! Lin Beifan said shyly. Rest? Is there something wrong with your health, Lin my dear? The empress asked with concern. Lin Beifan shook his head and said, blushing, No, Your Majesty! With a few days of vacation, I wont have to attend the morning court, and Your Majesty can reward me less! The civil and military officials suddenly felt a sense of Versailles, and their minds and bodies were seriously damaged! After receiving the empress three-day leave, Lin Beifan happily left. Entertainment was scarce in ancient times, so Lin Beifan nned to take his family to the Thundercloud Temple outside the city for a short trip. It was said that the scenery was good, with clouds and mist rolling, like a fairnd. He could gaze upon the capital from high up, and enjoy the beautiful view. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 100: Is Buddhism just a scam? Lets see who can scam who! Chapter 100: Is Buddhism just a scam? Lets see who can scam who! 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Everyone looked shocked! When did this old monk appear here? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai immediately rushed to Lin Beifans side, drew their swords and watched the old monk in front of them vigntly. The little princess also ran over and whispered: My father told me that there is a high monk in Thundercloud Temple who eats vegetarian food and recites Buddhist scriptures all day long, ignoring worldly affairs! But he has profound Buddhist skills and strong strength, so he should be the one! Lin Beifan nodded slightly. The other partys strength was indeed very powerful, giving him the feeling that it had reached the pinnacle of innate, and it seemed to be only one step away from the realm of the Grand Master. He was the second strongest person he had ever seen. The strongest was naturally Bai Qingxuan, that woman who was like a god or a devil. Master! The little monk walked over and sped his hands together in front of the old monk and bowed slightly. The old monk nodded and calmly said to Lin Beifan and others, Dont be nervous, the poor monks name is Jing Tai, an old monk from Thundercloud Temple, and there is no malice towards you! I just want to say a few words to this donor. I hope you all understand. Amitabha! Step back, this master should have no malice! Lin Beifan waved his hand. Even if there was malice, he was not afraid. With his current strength, although he couldnt beat the other party, he could fight with the other party for dozens of rounds. Dozens of rounds were enough for Bai Guanyin toe and save him. Be careful, Mr. Lin! Mo Ruoshuang said before retreating. Lin Beifan walked over and smiled, Master Jing Tai, what do you want to say to me? Amitabha! Jing Tai sped his hands together, Just now, this poor monk was behind the Buddha Hall, listening to donors exnation of the divination. I found that donor spoke with profound Buddhist principles. When I looked at the donors appearance, I found that you have Buddha nature and Buddha bones. Therefore, I have the intention of epting you as a disciple. Donor, are you willing to follow this poor monk to learn the supreme Buddhism and save all beings? Lin Beifan was stunned after listening! You actually heard the Buddhist principles in my nonsense? And you want to ept me as a disciple? Let me abandon my family, my beautiful wife, my fine wine and food, my glory and wealth, and be a miserable monk with you? Are you kidding me? Everyone else was stunned too! This is the top schr who has won three consecutive years of examinations and is highly favored by women. He is expected to have a bright future. You, a monk, are asking him to give up his glory, wealth, and future, and be a monk with you? Are you out of your mind? Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Master Jing Tai, you ask me to abandon my beautiful wife, abandon fine wine and food, abandon my glory and wealth, and be a miserable monk who eats vegetarian food and recites Buddhist scriptures I cant do it! Jing Tais expression remained calm. Donor, you are deluded! You must know that women are all bones covered in flesh. Even if they are beautiful, they are only a skin bag and will eventually turn to dry bones! If you are obsessed with women, you are equivalent to being obsessed with dry bones. When will your heart be liberated? Master, I think you are deluded! Lin Beifan smiled and said, You must know that form is emptiness and emptiness is form! Form is not different from emptiness, and emptiness is not different from form. Since it is originally empty, why bother to care so much? Moreover, all beings are equal! Are we not just bones covered in flesh like women? Since we are all dry bones struggling in the sea of suffering, we should join hands and work together. Where does this obsessione from? Finally, I want to say Lin Beifan spread his hands out and said, As long as there is Buddha in the heart, there is nowhere that cannot be liberated. Master Jing Tai opened his cloudy eyes and praised, The donor indeed has wisdom roots, this Buddhist principle is inferior to the poor monk! With Buddha in the heart, there is nowhere that cannot be liberated. I have learned from the donor! Master, you tter me, Lin Beifan said humbly. But, donor, being addicted to fine wine and delicacies is a great sin! Know that alcohol is a poisonous drug, meat is the knife that kills life, being addicted to fine wine and delicacies is equivalent to slowlymitting suicide and will eventually harm oneself! Donor should awaken early and apany the poor monk to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddha to be rid of this poison! the old monk advised again. Lin Beifan rolled his eyes. You want me to give up fine wine and delicacies? That is impossible! Just kill me instead! Master, you are mistaken again! Lin Beifan eximed. Master Jing Tai looked at him in confusion. The reason why Buddha wants people to abstain from alcohol and meat is because he is concerned that peoples determination is not enough and will be deluded by the secr world, and eventually be far away from Buddha! However, as long as there is Buddha in the heart, drinking wine and eating meat is also possible! Lin Beifan dered boldly. Indeed as the saying goes, alcohol and meat pass through the stomach, but Buddha remains in the heart! Master Jing Tai was greatly shocked, Donor, you are right! It seems that I have indeed been mistaken, which caused me to be further away from Buddha! Amitabha Buddha, I have benefited greatly from your guidance, thank you! He then bowed respectfully. Master, you are too polite! Lin Beifan quickly helped him up. At this moment, Master Jing Tai looked at Lin Beifans eyes not as a senior looking at his junior, but as an equal. He regarded Lin Beifan as a person who is knowledgeable in Buddhist teachings. Donor, you are a person with Buddha in the heart! Why are you still addicted to the sea of suffering in the world, pursuing wealth, status, honor, and fortune? These are all fleeting things, we cannot bring them with us when we are born, nor can we take them with us when we die! Know that the sea of suffering is endless, but there is a shore! Amitabha Buddha! the old monk advised again. Lin Beifan sighed, Yes, the world is a huge sea of suffering, where people struggle and fall into despair, unable to be liberated! Master, do you know why? I would like to hear the details, Master Jing Tai asked humbly. Because, without someone to guide people in the sea of suffering, who can return to the shore? Lin Beifan answered. Exactly! Master Jing Tai eximed in surprise. Lin Beifan nodded solemnly, As the saying goes, If its not me who chooses to go to hell, then who else? I can only immerse myself in the sea of suffering to show people the right path and to save them from this misery!'' Lin Beifan sped his hands together and continued, Before jumping into the sea of suffering, I made a great vow: I will not be a Buddha until all beings are saved, I will not return to the shore until the sea of suffering is dry! Therefore, Master Jing Tai, please do not advise me anymore! As long as I can show the right path to beings, even if I drown in the sea of suffering, I will be willing to do it! Amitabha Buddha! Master Jing Tai closed his eyes emotionally. Donor, I have misunderstood you. I havemitted a mistake! Only those who lead beings out of the sea of suffering can be a true Buddha! Lin Beifan replied seriously, Master, you are correct. Amitabha Buddha! Master Jing Tai bowed again. At that moment, he looked at Lin Beifans eyes full of admiration and respect, as if he saw a true Buddha. Then, Master Jing Tai brought up another Buddhist question. Donor, I often hear this saying: The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind is like a clear mirror stand, diligently brush it, do not let it be dusty! Is this Buddhist principle correct? Please enlighten me! Master Jing Tai requested. Master, you have been mistaken again, Lin Beifan said with a smile. You should know that the Bodhi does not have a tree, and the clear mirror does not have a stand. In reality, there is nothing at all. So how could there be any dust? Exactly! Donor speaks the truth. I have now understood! Master Jing Tai bowed to Lin Beifan again. Master Jing Tai also raised a few other questions about Buddhist teachings which Lin Beifan was able to answer urately. Master Jing Tai listened with great joy and benefited greatly. Everyone around them was stunned. Unexpectedly, Lin Beifan could discuss Buddhist teachings with the high monk, and it even seemed that the master could not surpass Lins knowledge, frequently seeking advice from him. Li Shi admired, My husbands Buddhist knowledge is really profound! After listening to it, I have benefited a lot. Both my body and mind have been purified! Mo Rushuang admired, Indeed! The Mr. Lins Buddhist principles are profound and mysterious. There are even philosophical aspects that I have learned from it! Only the little princess tilted her head and said doubtfully, Really? Why do I feel like he is duping people? At this moment, the little monk turned his head and whispered, Dont talk! Secrets cannot be shared, dont miss this opportunity! So the scene quieted down once again. The Old Monk asked several more questions, and Lin Beifan answered them all correctly. Isnt Buddhism just a scam? It depends on who can scam who! However, as Lin Beifan answered more questions, the aura around the Old Monk gradually changed. Just then, he suddenly rushed out of the room. Everyone was puzzled and followed closely behind. They saw that the Old Monk had already leapt hundreds of meters away and stood with his legs on a solitary peak not far away. As he opened his eyes, a terrifying aura came crashing down like an avnche, sweeping through an area of several miles and dispersing all the clouds and mist. Then, the clouds and mist gathered together again and formed a huge Buddha statue. It was like a miracle! Everyone was stunned, Master, did you break through? Lin Beifan yelled angrily in his heart. Grandmaster!!! This is definitely a Grandmaster!!! The other party had even taken a step forward and be a powerful Grandmaster! It should be noted that the Grandmaster is the most top-notch expert in this world! Even if its only a third rank Grandmaster, its enough to dominate the world! Then, the Old Monk folded his hands together and took a few steps forward, as if he had traveled through time and space to appear in front of Lin Beifan. The aura around him had already converged, and he looked ordinary, already back to his original self. However, everyone dare not underestimate this old monk. Congrattions, Master! Youve taken a step further beyond the limitations of a hundred feet pole! Lin Beifan smiled and sped his hands together. However, the Old Monk took a step back to avoid Lin Beifans bow, feeling very ashamed and afraid, In front of you, I dare not call myself a Master nor refer to myself as a senior! Only someone like you, who possesses the fearless, selfless, andpassionate qualities of a true Master, can be called a true Master! Only you can be considered the true Buddha in the world among us mere mortals! Master, this is too much! Lin Beifan waved his hand. Dont call me Master, call me a mere monk! The Old Monk said in admiration, It was your Buddhism that enabled me to achieve a great enlightenment! I owe you a great debt of gratitude for imparting your knowledge to me! However, the more I know, the more I realize how ignorant I am! I dont know if I have the chance to be your disciple, follow you, and learn the supreme Buddhist teachings? After saying that, he bowed deeply to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan was dumbfounded on the spot, What? You want to be my disciple? You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 101: Shameless monks have nothing to do with anyone else! Chapter 101: Shameless monks have nothing to do with anyone else! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Not only was Lin Beifan stunned, but everyone around him was too! Just a moment ago, you said that Lin Beifan had the bones and heart of Buddha, and wanted to take him as a disciple and make him a monk. How did it suddenly turn around and you are now bowing to him as your master? Furthermore, as a respected and powerful older monk, is it appropriate for you to bow to a young schr who has no martial arts skills? Amitabha! Master Jing Tai straightened his back but still maintained a respectful posture. Facing Lin Beifan with folded hands, he showed admiration and devotion, This humble monk has seen the true Buddhist teachings and great love in you. You are the true Buddha in this world, so I wish to bow to you as my master and learn the iparable Buddhist teachings. Please ept me as your disciple! After finishing, he bowed deeply to Lin Beifan once again. Lin Beifans mouth twitched. Did my nonsensical teachings mislead you? Finally, everyone confirmed that this senior monk really wanted to bow to Lin Beifan as his master and he seemed very sincere! This scene was too crazy, crazier than a mouse wishing a chicken a happy new year! Lin Beifan felt it was inappropriate and said, Master, I think bowing as master and disciple is not necessary. After all, I am young, and it is not suitable for me to be your master. We can be friends and exchange knowledge on Buddhism. No, this cannot be done. The ink of your brush strokes has be a masterpiece! The old monk felt anxious and scared. Your understanding of Buddhism is far more profound than mine. Every sentence you say benefits me greatly and gives me a clear understanding of what I have been missing out on. Its not about age, but those who are wise and capable. I want to learn your teachings. Please ept me as your disciple! Lin Beifan forced a smile, But I only have a limited understanding of Buddhism, and I am unable to be your master. The old monk became more excited and enthusiastic, Even with limited knowledge, you are so profound! Amitabha! You are indeed the true Buddha in this world! Please ept me as your disciple! Lin Beifan continuously shook his head, No, no, nomaybe we should think about it again. The old monk quickly urged, Master, theres no need to think about it anymore! Is it because my heartcks sincerity, or my Buddha nature is not sufficient? Please tell me, I will change immediately! Lin Beifan continued shaking his head, You are already a great monk, you dont need to change. Its me who needs to make changes. The old monk asked urgently, If thats the case, why dont you ept me as your disciple? The two continued to argue like this. One didnt want to take in this old disciple, while the other desperately wanted to bow to him as his master. Onlookers were dumbfounded. Master Jingt Tai is too persistent, isnt he? Is it really worth going this far just to learn some Buddhist teachings? To be honest, I still cant see any trace of Buddha in Lin Beifan! Is it appropriate to ept him as a master? Amitabha, you just dont understand! The young monk joined his hands in a fanatic manner and said, As the saying goes, hearing the truth in the morning is enough to satisfy ones life. My master devoted his life to Buddhism and pursued Buddhist fate. After finally encountering the true Buddha and experiencing the true Buddhist teachings, he naturally swore to follow him to death! If it werent for my master making the first move, I would have thought of switching to Mr. Lin as my teacher! Everyone held their heads with their hands, feeling exhausted. Two lunatics! they said. At that moment, seeing the stalemate, the old monk bit his teeth, suddenly pounced over, and grabbed Lin Beifans thigh, saying shamelessly, Sir, if you dont ept me as your student, I will hold onto your leg and wont let go! Holy Fuck! Lin Beifan eximed. Holy Fuck! everyone echoed. Everyone was stunned! You were a highly respected monk! Was it worth losing your dignity to be a disciple? Really It wasnt necessary! Lin Beifan shook his leg but couldnt get rid of him. He helplessly said, You have to give me time to consider such a big matter as epting a disciple, dont you? Just consider it, dont worry about me. As long as you promise to ept me as your disciple, Ill let go immediately! The old monk shamelessly responded. What if I still dont agree? Lin Beifan asked. Then I wont let go, and I hope you will keep your promise! the old monk replied. Damn it! Lin Beifan eximed. The old monk was even more shameless than Lin Beifan had imagined! The young one was even worse! No wonder they were from the same temple! The old monk moved to a different spot and pretended to be serious, saying, Jie Kong, this is the Buddhas leg. You must hold onto it tightly, but be sure not to hurt the sir, understand? Thank you, Master, for your help! Jie Kong said. Excited, he jumped over and hugged Lin Beifans other thigh. Lin Beifan was at a loss! Two monks holding onto both of his legs made it difficult for him to move! Eventually, Lin Beifan had to say, Alright, Ill take you both as my disciples and teach you the supreme Buddhist teachings. Is that okay? Get up quickly! The two monks were overjoyed and said in unison, Thank you, Master! They packed their belongings and happily followed Lin Beifan down the mountain. The whole way down, Lin Beifan still felt confused, as if he was in a dream. He went up the mountain to enjoy the view, worship Buddha, and ended up taking two monk students back home! One of them was even a third-grade Grandmaster! He didnt know whether to be happy or sad; his heart was tangled up. In the end, he had to take it one step at a time. After all, he had a big business and could afford to support two monks. In thete evening, they finally returned home to prepare dinner. Dali and Xiao Cui quickly got to work in the kitchen. However, the two novice monks who had just arrived were having a hard time digesting the table full of meat, fish, and luxury wine. The young monk was nervous and said, Amitabha! My master and I are vegetarians, could we have some vegetarian dishes instead? Dali replied, Its toote now; we can only prepare them tomorrow! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Jing Tai, have you forgotten what you said to me before? Amitabha! I dare not forget. Master said: Meat and wine enter the stomach, but the Buddha remains in the heart! As long as there is Buddha in the heart, even if you eat and drink wine, its alright! Lin Beifan nodded, Thats right! Everything is like a dream, like bubbles or dew or lightning! Everything in the world is illusory, and so is meat and wine. If you hesitate to eat, its because you cant rx and dont have enough confidence in Buddha. How can you expect the Buddhas kindness and protection if you are like this? Amitabha! Master speaks the truth. Jing Tai has learned a lot! Jing Tai bowed down with both hands sped. Then he grabbed a chicken leg, took a bite and ate it with relish. But his Buddha nature became even stronger. The young monk watched the old monk eat so eagerly and secretly swallowed a bit of saliva. Master, can I eat too? he asked. Meat and wine enter the stomach, but the Buddha remains in the heart! But thats only the first half of the sentence, theres a second half! Lin Beifanughed. The old monk immediately put down the chicken leg and sped his hands together with a solemn expression, Master, please tell us more! The second half of the sentence says, If people follow me, they will fall into the devils path!'' This means that if your level is not high enough and you cant always make Buddha your priority, then you shouldnt follow us and eat meat and drink wine. Otherwise, you will fall into the endless hellish path of the devil! Lin Beifan continued, Jie Kong, its obvious that you havent reached that level yet and cant resist temptation. So its better not to eat meat and drink wine for now! Amitabha! Master speaks the truth. Jing Tai has learned a lot! Then he turned to the young monk and said sternly, Jie Kong, your level is still too low, and your understanding of the Buddhas teachings is not deep enough. So for now, you shouldnt eat meat and drink wine. Instead, eat some dry food to fill your stomach! Yes, master, thank you! Jie Kong bowed his head in shame as he rubbed his stomach, feeling very hungry. He looked up again and saw everyone enjoying their meal with relish, their mouths full of oil. He felt tortured, realizing that his master was right about the world being a sea of suffering. And so, the two monks stayed in the Lin mansion. Lin Beifan was very important to the Empress. When two strangers appeared in Lin Beifans home, she immediately became wary. She then sent someone to investigate and found out that the two living there were monks from the Thundercloud Temple. The old monk was named Jing Tai and was a highly respected and powerful monk. The young monk was named Jie Kong and was the old monks disciple. The Empress was confused, What do that guy have to do with monks? Then, Bai Qingxuan appeared in the void. I know Jing Tai. He truly is a wise monk who has great faith in Buddhism, and ispletely different from the monks in the martial arts world! He is also a reclusive powerful master who previously had peak innate strength, and has taken a step forward to be a grandmaster! As for Jie Kong, he is indeed Jing Tais disciple who has been learning Buddhism from him since he was young. He is highly enlightened and wise, and will definitely be a respected monk in the future! But how did they end up with Lin Beifan? They dont have any necessary connection! The Empress asked with a frown. Because Lin Beifan is Jing Tais master, they have a teacher-disciple rtionship and naturally came together. What!? Lin Beifan is Jing Tais master? The Empress was shocked, How could something so strange happen? What can Lin Beifan teach him? I dont believe it either, but I witnessed it with my own eyes and had to believe it! Bai Qingxuan said while suppressing herughter, At that time, I felt someone had broken into the grandmaster level, so I went to the Thundercloud Temple and found out why! The two met in the Temple and Jing Tai wanted to ept Lin Beifan as his disciple, so they discussed Buddhism. However, Jing Tai was instead conquered by Lin Beifans Buddhism teachings! He had a great enlightenment and took a step forward to be a grandmaster! Because he wanted to seek even deeper Buddhism teachings, he then took Lin Beifan as his teacher and followed him! The Empress scoffed, Thats ridiculous! Bai Qingxuan, do you really think Lin Beifan understands Buddhism? Could it be nonsense hes saying seriously? Bai Qingxuan almost burst outughing, Maybe? Who knows? Isnt he full of surprises? The Empress nodded, Youre right! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 102: Theres Always One or Two Winds in the World, Filling My 180,000 Dreams! Chapter 102: Theres Always One or Two Winds in the World, Filling My 180,000 Dreams! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
But, I still think its ridiculous! In Lin Beifans mouth, not even two out of his ten sentences are true! Hes especially good at twisting words and turning ck into white and even changing concepts. I dont think that high monk can learn anything about Buddhism from Lin Beifan! The Empress sneered, having long seen through the other partys nature. But, if you change your thinking, it can be understood! Bai Qingxuan smiled, Grandmaster Jing Tai is indeed a highly profound master of Buddhism, but he is also someone who easily gets bogged down in things. He asked for Buddhas help day and night with extreme piety, and as a result, he fell into a dead end and couldnt see a way out, causing both his Buddhist and martial arts practices to stagnate. But, if he meets Lin Beifan, its different! As Your Majesty just said, he has many unconventional ideas and is good at twisting words. He can turn even Buddhism into something different. This created a new, alternative path for Grandmaster Jing Tai, leading him to a great enlightenment. Thats why he willingly became Lin Beifans student, hoping to gain more insights. Well, Qingxuan is very convincing! The Empress nodded, However, I still cant rest easy with a strange master living in Lin Beifans home. Could you keep an eye on things and let me know if anything goes wrong? Your Majesty, please rest assured. Ill keep an eye on things. Bai Qingxuans figure gradually disappeared. One day passed quickly. The next morning, Lin Beifan saw the old monk and young monke to greet him. Theres no need for such formality. Just treat this ce as your own home, Lin Beifan smiled, I was nning on going out today, would you be interested in joining me? With two days left of his vacation, Lin Beifan naturally didnt want to stay at home and wanted to go out instead. Yes, Teacher (Master)! The two monks replied in unison. So the three of them went out with excitement. By now, the sun had already risen and people had started their daily routines. The streets were bing lively. Lin Beifan leisurely walked with the two monks, feeling the people of the capital city. However, wherever they went, they attracted many peoples attention. Because theirbination was too bizarre! One was a newly appointed top schr of the capital, one was a withered old monk, and the other was a young and ignorant monk. Naturally, they drew many peoples eyes as they walked on the road. Especially when they saw Lin Beifan walking in front with the two monks respectfully following behind, it was more surprising. How could the new top schr, Lin Beifan, be mixed up with two monks? And, it was even more strange that the two monks looked at Lin Beifan with utmost reverence. People whispered, and the capital city had another piece of gossip. At that time, Lin Beifan saw the young monk behind him frowning and wanting to speak several times. Jie Kong, just speak your mind, dont hide your thoughts, Lin Beifan said. Yes, Master! The young monk first bowed to Lin Beifan before raising his doubts, Master is obviously a true Buddha walking the earth and has greatpassion in his heart, helping sentient beings to attain liberation. Why do the people keep spitting on Master? The old monk also looked up and waited for Lin Beifans exnation. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Because what I do is not understood or epted by others! Ive said before, the world is a vast ocean of suffering, and people are struggling and sinking in the sea of suffering! I want to bring people out of the sea of suffering and quickly seek transcendence! But, have you thought about how to save sentient beings from the sea of suffering and help them reach the shore? This I havent thought about it! The two monks shook their heads. Lin Beifan spoke forcefully, First, one must experience the depth of the sea by sinking oneself in it. Only then can one know how deep the sea of suffering is! One must make oneself impure and then experience the dirtiness of the sea of suffering. One must speak of the bitterness and then taste the bitterness of the sea of suffering! Only by doing so Can one lead others out, ferrying them across the sea to the other side! The two monks seemed to have grasped something. Amitabha Buddha! But, when one has seen the depth and tasted the bitterness of the sea of suffering firsthand, and their body is covered with dirt, they will inevitably not be epted by the people! Because they are also sinking in the sea of suffering, their eyes are blinded by delusions, and they are extremely ignorant. They only believe in what they see and dont want to search for the truth behind it. They only believe in what they hear and dont want to seek the real truth behind it! Anyone who is different from them will be rejected! Anyone who goes against them will be detested! Thats why Im spurned by them! Amitabha Buddha, I understand now! The two monks said in unison. As long as you understand. Lin Beifan nodded. Master is truly a Buddha walking the earth! The old monk looked at Lin Beifan with admiration, Your heart is filled with greatpassion, showing pity to sentient beings. Its like the Buddha cutting his flesh to feed the eagles. Your disciple has learned a lot! But, Master, doesnt it hurt when others misunderstand you? The young monk asked curiously. I will go to hell if no one else will. Lin Beifan smiled calmly. Since I have chosen this path, I must bear everything. Even if thousands of people oppose me, I will move forward! Its not only for the benefit of all beings, but also for the Buddha in my heart. As long as my mind remains steadfast, no criticism or opposition can stop me. The old monk trembled all over and was deeply moved by Lin Beifans words. Each of his statements was an eloquent and wise saying that struck his heart. Amitabha Buddha! The old monk folded his hands together, and his Buddha nature became even stronger. Lin Beifan was surprised that his gibberish about Buddhism would inspire such enlightenment. Amitabha Buddha, Master, you are truly a person of great perseverance. Even if thousands of people oppose you, you still move forward. If it were me, I couldnt hold on. Im ashamed! said the young monk, his head bowed in contrition. Its not that exaggerated! Lin Beifanughed. There are many like-minded people on this path. Youre not alone! Although there is too much suffering and happiness is fleeting, every once in a while, there is a wind that fills me with ten thousand dreams. Amitabha Buddha! The two monks were again enlightened. This time, even the young monks Buddha nature became stronger. For monks who specialize in studying Buddhism, a stronger Buddha nature means greater strength. Lin Beifans lips twitched. This master-disciple pair was really strange! His nonsense actually inspired enlightenment. Next, the three continued on their way. The old monk behind them felt the rapid increase in their Buddha nature over the past two days and felt extremely happy. It was fortuitous to encounter a true Buddha. Bing his disciple was the right decision! He learned more about Buddhism in these two days than in the past few years! Watching Lin Beifans back, he felt he was holy and dignified. His admiration for him grew stronger. Folding his hands together, he secretly made a decision. Master, you are not alone on the path of salvation! This disciple, this disciple is willing to go through life and death with you! Amitabha Buddha! Two days passed in a sh. Lin Beifan started working again. It had been a month since thest monthly exam, and now it was time for them to make their profits. Lin Beifan once again cheated arge sum of money from the group of useless young masters. As it was already the third monthly exam, he still failed. ording to the rule set by Lin Beifan, failing three consecutive monthly exams would result in being beaten with 80 canes. But if you handed over 80,000 taels of silver, you could avoid punishment. There were a total of 24 young masters, each of whom paid 80,000 taels of silver. So, during this monthly exam, Lin Beifan received a total of 1.92 million taels of silver. This made both the civil and military officials feel a sharp pain. In only two months, they had already lost so much money. If it continued this way, what else could they do? Their money was not just picked up from the street. It was the result of their hard work for several years or even decades, but they were all cut down like leeks by Lin Beifan. This was inhumane! Many ministers had already issued death orders to their own sons. If they didnt pass the next monthly exam, they would not give them money again, letting them suffer the consequences and fend for themselves. The young masters were crying and howling, feeling a bleak future ahead. At this time, after many days of tireless efforts, Lin Beifan finally created a manned hot air balloon. This unprecedented manned hot air balloon not only changed the worldsndscape but also became Lin Beifans sharp tool to cut down the leeks. Nobody can resist the temptation of flying! No ruler can ignore this national weapon that changes the war situation! As long as you cant resist the temptation, just wait for me to cut down the leeks! With the hot air balloon, who canpete with me? Lin Beifan had already sharpened his knife, and the bad ideas in his head stirred up again. On this day, the early morning court session came. Lin Beifan stood up and said loudly, Your Majesty, after my unremitting efforts for a month, I have finally created a manned hot air balloon! We are about tounch the first flight experiment. Please witness it, Your Majesty! As soon as he finished speaking, the court was in an uproar! A manned hot air balloon has been created? Thisis it a miracle? Can it really carry people flying? The empress was full of surprise on her face: Sir Lin, are you telling the truth? Did you really create a hot air balloon? Lin Beifan smiled and said, How could I deceive Your Majesty? Good, good, good! You have worked hard, Sir Lin! The empress thanked him three times and smiled so much that her mouth couldnt close. But she became worried again: This flight will be a historic moment. What is the probability of sess? After all, it is the first flight, and I dare not say that it has a possibility of 100%, but it should be about 70-80%, Lin Beifan said conservatively. 70-80% is enough! The empress became happy again: If the flight is sessful, I will reward you heavily! Thank Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed. Sir Lin, when will you fly? The empress couldnt wait to ask. I have already observed the stars at night, and tomorrow is a good time for flying with clear sky and sunshine, Lin Beifan smiled. Great! We will hold the flight experiment tomorrow, and I and the officials will witness the miracle together! The empress dered. I obey, Your Majesty! The officials all said in unison. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 103: Lin Beifan, the First Person to Fly! Chapter 103: Lin Beifan, the First Person to Fly! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
On the second day, the empress and all the officials came to the Imperial Academy to witness the miracle of flight. The students and teachers of the Imperial Academy also skipped sses and came together to watch. In the square, under the operation of several students, therge balloon that had been made was beginning to spread outwards,rger than a basketball court. At the other end of the balloon was an opening, connected to a basket, and several students were busy holding torches to heat up the balloon, making it expand. The empress was puzzled and asked, Sir Lin, what is the meaning of this? When can the balloon fly? Lin Beifan stood beside the empress, looking at her exquisite face, and smiled, Your Majesty, the students are heating up the balloon with hot air, just like with a Kongmingntern. When it has absorbed enough heat, it will expand and fly! I see! The empress nodded, still curious. After a while, she asked anxiously, Can this balloon really fly with people? Your Majesty, rest assured, it will definitely work! Lin Beifan was confident. The balloon he had made waspletely modeled on the most mature hot air balloon. In terms of material, although the balloon was made of fabric, after being treated with a special method by him, it not only became more durable and airtight, but it was also highly resistant to heat, with more than enough material to make the balloon. In terms of ropes and baskets, he had also made borate arrangements. Even the fuel had been made with the most durable substance, which could burn more vigorously andst longer. With all of these preparations, how could it not be sessful? After about two sticks of incense, the balloon finally inted, forming a giant sphere that was three or four stories high. Just this scene alone was very shocking, leaving people in awe. And at this moment, the balloon had a tendency to rise. If a few students did not hold it down, it might really take off. The time to witness a miracle hade! Everyone was very excited, and the empress was excited, The time hase, who will fly? Come out quickly, let me see! Lin Beifan stood up and said with a smile, Your Majesty, the person who will fly is none other than me, a humble servant! The empress and officials were dumbfounded! The first person to fly was actually Lin Beifan? Thisthis It was something they had never imagined! The empress asked in surprise, Sir Lin, why you? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty, from the production of the balloon to its flight, I was fully involved! No one knows hot air balloons better than I, so naturally, I will be the one to try it! In fact, there was another reason; he wanted to be the first person to fly! This flight experiment was basically sessful, and it was bound to be famous in history and be remembered for generations toe! With such a rare opportunity to show off, how could he let it pass? Besides, he was powerful enough to escape danger in case of an emergency, what was there to be afraid of? But its too dangerous. You are an official of the court and have a heavy responsibility. You should not be in such a dangerous situation! Sir Lin, please let someone else do it! A minister couldnt help but say. Your Majesty, please rest assured, all of you please rest assured, I dare to be the first person to fly because I am fully prepared and there will be no danger! Lin Beifan said with a smile. The empress knew Lin Beifans ability and nodded, Go ahead, be careful. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan nodded and then came to the bottom of the balloon and jumped into the basket. He nodded to the students next to him, You may release it now! Yes, Director! they replied. As everyone let go, the balloon slowly ascended. Everyone was very excited and shocked. Its flying! He really is flying! What a feat! The empress looked at the sky in shock. Its really flying! At this moment, the hot air balloon was already 20 meters off the ground and about six stories high, with a rope attached so it wouldnt fly too high. Lin Beifan sat in the basket, waving to the crowd below. Your Majesty, rest assured, everyone can rest assured, Im fine! The empress shouted, Director, please be careful! Lin Beifan nodded and waved again to the students below. They received the signal and let go of the rope, causing the hot air balloon to slowly rise once again. Unknowingly, it had already risen 80 meters off the ground. This height was already very impressive, equivalent to the height of an 18-floor building today, far surpassing the tallest building in the capital, standing out in the sky. Many people in the capital saw the gradually rising hot air balloon and were instantly surprised. What is that? So huge and it can fly too? Could it be a monster? Truly, it is a strange object. Could it really be a monster? If it is, then the officials and soldiers would not sit still! I see someone up there! Me too, its the top schr! The top schr is flying! Everyone saw it as a miracle and immediately called their friends toe and see the hot air balloon. In Lin Mansion, Dali ran back excitedly. Mistress,e and see, young master is flying away! Li Shi Shi, Mo Rushuang, Guo Shaoshuai, and others were disturbed by the noise. Dali, whats going on? You said my husband is flying away, how could he fly? Li Shi Shi asked suspiciously. Dali pped his thighs. s, I cant exin it! Look up at the sky, and youll naturally understand! Following Dalis direction, they saw a huge object rising into the air. Underneath the huge object was a basket with a person standing inside. The person was the owner of Lin Mansion, Lin Beifan. So everyone was dumbfounded. What is that? How can Mr. Lin be flying up there? Mo Rushuang asked incredulously. Flying so high, how did he do it? Guo Shaoshuai asked, stunned. Did Young Master fly directly to the sky? Xiao Cui was shocked. Two monks were equally shocked and worshipped, Amitabha, this is a miracle! Li Shi Shi said excitedly, My husband told me hes been researching a human-carrying flying devicetely, called a hot air balloon. It should be this thing, and I didnt expect him to seed so quickly! At this moment, Lin Beifan, who stood on the hot air balloon, was very excited. Flying with his self-made hot air balloon was very fulfilling! Especially in a world without much technological background, making a human-carrying flying hot air balloon and sessfully flying it was even more fulfilling! In the future, this feat will surely be recorded in history! Lin Beifan, the first person to fly in the sky! At this time, the hot air balloon was already 80 meters off the ground, and the first sessful manned flight of the hot air balloon could be considered aplete sess. However, Lin Beifan was still not satisfied, wanting to fly higher and farther. So once again, he waved to the students below to signal that they should let go of the rope. The students were stunned, their faces turning pale. When the empress asked about it, one student said nervously, Reporting to Your Majesty Director Lin has asked us to release the rope holding the hot air balloon! The Empress was puzzled: What danger is there in releasing the rope? Why have you all changed your expressions? The student trembled and said: Your Majesty, if we release the rope, the hot air balloon will lose its restraint and we do not know where it will fly! This is the first manned flight, no one has operated a hot air balloon before, there is no previous experience to refer to, it may bring many uncertain dangers! Also, the fuel on the hot air balloon is limited, if it runs out, he will fall The Empresss expression changed slightly as well. But at this moment, Lin Beifan could not wait any longer and cut the rope himself. Losing the restraint of the rope, the hot air balloon flew higher, as if it really was going to fly to the sky! The people of the city were stunned, and eximed that he must be a god! Many ignorant people even knelt down and worshipped! Gradually, the hot air balloon actually flew away from the capital and no one knew where it was going to fly to. Hurry and fetch him back! If something happens to him, I will hold you responsible! The Empress shouted. Yes, Your Majesty! Everyoneplied. Arge number of soldiers left the city and chased the hot air balloon. At this time, Lin Beifan was extremelyfortable. Sitting on the hot air balloon, he saw the whole city, as well as the mountains, rivers,kes and seas at his feet! He shocked the Empress and the officials, and was worshipped by the people! It can be said that he seeded in pretending to be great! However, the fuel is not enough, so I can choose a vacant plot ofnd tond on! As the fuel gradually depleted, the hot air balloons hot air was insufficient, and it slowly descended. Finally, itnded safely in a vacant grasnd. This meant that the first flight in this world had been aplete sess. Soon, some powerful generals and court experts all rushed over. Seeing that Lin Beifan was safe and sound, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sir Lin, the Empress hasmanded us to escort you back! Lin Beifan nodded: Its alright! However, after I put away the hot air balloon, I will go back with you! Of course! Do you need my assistance? About an hourter, Lin Beifan brought the hot air balloon back to the imperial academy. The Empress hurried over, saw that Lin Beifan was safe and sound, and finally let go of her heart, scolding him: Sir Lin, you scared me! From now on, do not do such dangerous things! Just now, she was really scared because she was afraid that Lin Beifan would not return! If something unexpected were to happen, it would be toote to regret! She found that she had be somewhat dependent on Lin Beifan! She would rather not seed in flying to the sky than let Lin Beifan get into trouble! Looking at the concern in the Empresss eyes, Lin Beifans heart warmed, and he bowed and said: Your Majesty, I have caused you to worry. I will not do such adventurous things again in the future! Good, remember your words! If you do it again, I will take off your head! The Empress scolded. Looking at the hot air balloon behind him that had already been put away, the Empress was extremely excited: Sir Lin,e forward and receive the decree! Im here! Lin Beifan bowed. The Empress loudly proimed: Lin Beifan created the great invention of the hot air balloon, and presided over the sessful first manned flight, paving the way, benefiting the country and the people, with a very significant contribution! Therefore, I will award you Promote you to the next rank, as a Fifth-Rank Official, and continue to serve as a Director at the Imperial Academy! Reward you with one hundred acres of fertilend! Reward you with ten thousand taels of gold! This was followed by a series of luxury rewards. However, the most enviable and jealousy inducing reward was the promotion to the next rank, as well as the one hundred acres of fertilend. The promotion to the next rank gave him even more power. The one hundred acres of fertilend could be passed down as a family wealth for generations, ensuring that the family would not decline. Thank you for your grace! Lin Beifan loudly proimed. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 104: Who Can Resist the Temptation of Flying? Just Wait to be Deceived by Me! Chapter 104: Who Can Resist the Temptation of Flying? Just Wait to be Deceived by Me! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Such favoritism made the officials jealous and envious! However, they couldnt find fault with it! After all, the other party had created a divine artifact, a balloon capable of carrying people into the sky, bing the first person in Great Wu to fly, and even the first person in the world to fly! He had made history! It had an unimaginable impact on the country and the world! No amount of rewards would be enough! Only a promotion and a hundred acres of goodnd and other items were granted, and the empress had already shown great restraint. If they were emperors, they would probably be even more crazy than the empress. Sir Lin, as the first person in Great Wu to fly, pleasee and share with us your feelings of flying for the first time with the officials and students present! the empress urged. The officials eyes brightened, and the students and teachers present here were also excited. Although they had not flown, hearing Lin Beifans feelings of flying still satisfied their curiosity. After all, humans had always been curious. No one could resist the temptation of flying! For a moment, everyone around quieted down and listened carefully. Yes, Your Majesty! Then I will share my feelings of flying with everyone! Lin Beifan said, and then he began to exaggerate. Climbing onto the balloon and flying up into the sky, he could overlook the prosperous scenery of the capital! He could instantly travel through mountains and rivers, face the blue sea and the setting sun, and see the beautiful rivers and mountains of Great Wu! Drifting in the sky, it seemed like he could ascend to the sky and pick the stars and moon! He roamed freely between heaven and earth, with a heart as vast as the sky and the earth, and with nothing to restrain him! In short, he exaggerated how beautiful it was, causing everyone to listen enthralled and dreamy! Beautiful! The empress eximed, If there is a chance, We really want to experience it! The others also nodded uncontrobly. Your Majesty, although flying is beautiful, it is also very dangerous! If there is any mistake in operation, it could easily result in a fall from the sky and death! Lin Beifan said with a serious face. Everyone couldnt help but shudder, waking up from their beautiful dreams. Flying was indeed beautiful, but it would be death without burial ground if idents happened. Sir Lins words are true! We will not take risks, and We also hope that Sir Lin will not take risks in the future! After all, your existence is very important to Us, and to Great Wu! The empress said solemnly, and her deep affection toward Lin Beifan made everyone in the court and the students present envious. Even Lin Beifan was slightly dazed. The empress valued him so much, would he not need to escape when the truth was revealed in the future? Sir Lin, We have another question! The female emperor asked again. Your Majesty, please ask! Lin Beifan bowed. The empress was in a daze again and said, Can this balloon carry people to the ninth heaven to see the gods? The court officials and the students present here couldnt remain calm anymore! Fly to the ninth heaven to see the gods? How many people yearned for it but could not obtain it! Could this balloon really do it? Everyone perked up their ears and listened carefully. Lin Beifan secretlyughed. Even the empress was not immune to the allure of bing an immortal and pursuing longevity! In fact, when you think about it, what else can these emperors and those in power who stand at the top of society pursue, given their supreme power and endless wealth and riches? Only by bing an immortal and achieving eternal life can they continue to enjoy their luxury andfort forever! Therefore, he pushed out the balloon. He did not believe that other emperors or those in power could resist this temptation! If they couldnt resist, then they can only be at his mercy! In reply to Your Majestys question, although we have not done it, as long as the balloon can fly higher, we will definitely be able to do it! Lin Beifan said respectfully but secretlyughed. Moreover, even if we cant achieve it, participating in the balloon flight is still a very enjoyable experience! Everyone had a very naive idea that immortals reside in the heavens, so as long as the balloon can fly higher and higher, they will have a chance to see the immortals and obtain fortune! Lin Beifans words made everyone excited and agitated. Flying to the heavens! Seeing the gods in the sky! Everyone was excited. Obtain fortune! someone else shouted. Is there really a chance to achieve it? asked someone else. The balloon, the divine flying tool! In short, everyone was excited and agitated. Okay! The Empress was very happy and wanted to reward someone. Sir Lin,e forward and receive your reward! Lin Beifan was dumbfounded, Another reward? Dont talk nonsense! I cant control myself, stand up and ept your reward! Because Sir Lin brought immortality, I am pleased to reward you with taels of silver, and 10 barrels of the finest pce wine So, Lin Beifan gained some weight again. He felt very sad. Could the empress stop giving him rewards? His house cant fit anymore! Plus, its so much work to organize everything! Its a waste to have so much, and Dali and Xiao Cui are bothining! Ah! Im really suffering! Lin Beifan sighed. The officials were jealous and furious: Such an ungrateful person! Soon, Lin Beifan returned home with a pile of rich rewards. On the way home, people were excitedly running towards him, surrounding him and asking how he flew and what it felt like. This was the first time that Lin Beifan was so adored by the people! Even when he got home, he couldnt have peace. Husband, you finally came back safely. I was worried sick about you! Master, I heard you rode a magical flying object called a balloon, with such arge volume, it must be very heavy, how could it fly? Master, can you tell me? Young master, was flying fun? After using a lot of persuasion and effort, Lin Beifan finallyforted everyone. He couldnt help but be amazed, pretending to be someone he wasnt wasnt that easy! At that moment, the little princess ran into the house excitedly, pushed past everyone, and ran up to Lin Beifan, asking, Lin Beifan, how did you fly into the sky? Tell me about it! So Lin Beifan had to tell the story again. The little princess was particrly fascinated: Being able to see the whole city from the sky, watching the blue sea and the green trees, and even talking to gods in the sky Its so much fun! Lin Beifan, can you take me flying once? I beg you, Ill listen to everything you say! Please, please She said, grabbing Lin Beifans arm and acting cute. It must be said that the lovely little princess acting cute had a special charm. Everyone was moved. They all looked at Lin Beifan expectantly. Lin Beifan smiled, Youre toote! The balloon has been taken by the empress, heavily guarded, and no one can get near it without the empresss permission. No one can fly without his approval, even I cant! Ah~~ How could this be! The little princess was very disappointed. Dont think about it too much for now, there might be a chance in the future! Itste now, lets eat first! Lin Beifan patted the little princesss head and said with a smile. Dinner time was finally calm at Lin Beifans house. However, the news that the Great Wu Dynasty had a flying magical object spread quickly throughout the city, to the major provinces, to the bordering countries, and even the whole world. Lin Beifan, the creator of the flying magical object and the first flyer, became famous throughout the world! The heads of all major families, feudal lords, and emperors of various countries were all shocked! The Great Wu Dynasty actually possessed a flying magical object! This thing can take people to the sky, does that mean there is a chance to meet the gods in the sky? If you meet the gods, do you have a chance to achieve immortality and live forever? No ruler could resist the temptation of immortality! The temptation of eternal life! All peoples eyes turned red! Send someone to the capital quickly, we must bring the flying magical object to us! Even if we cant get the flying magical object, we must get the blueprint for it! The way to be immortal, to be equal with heaven, is right in front of us! The winds of change were gathering in the capital city. However, this matter will not be discussed for the time being. The next day, at the morning court session. We pay our respects to Your Majesty, long live the Empress for ten thousand years! All of you ministers may rise. Thank you, Your Majesty. At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward, holding a document in his hand, and loudly stated, Your Majesty, this is the production method for the Air Balloon, also known as the Divine Flying Machine. It has beenpiled and organized by your subject! With this method, our Great Wu can produce arge number of Divine Flying Machines! Please have a look, Your Majesty! The Empress was delighted and eagerly said, Quickly, show it to me! After receiving the document, the Empress read it carefully. In the end, she smiled and said, Sir Lin, you are truly loyal, brave, and patriotic! With you in Great Wu, it is a blessing for me and the country! Your Majesty tters me, Lin Beifan replied with a slight smile. He knew that these things were useless to keep to himself, and it was better to proactively give them up. At least it could help improve his favorability in front of the Empress. Then, Lin Beifan took out another document. Your Majesty, this is the method for controlling the Sky Balloonpiled by your humble subject! As long as we learn this method, our Great Wu can quickly train a group of Sky Warriors, who can control the Air Balloons and protect the Great Wus territory! The Empress eximed, Quickly, show it to me! After obtaining the method, the Empress studied it carefully. The method for controlling the Air Balloon is very detailed andprehensive. Its advantages and disadvantages are also clearly exined! With this method, we can quickly enhance the power of Great Wu! The Empress smiled and looked at Lin Beifan with satisfaction. Sir Lin, you have presented the production and control methods for the Sir Balloon, and have made great contributions. How should I reward you? Lin Beifan felt frightened, Serving Your Majesty loyally is my duty as a subject. I beg you not to reward me anymore. My home can no longer amodate it. The surrounding civil and military officials felt that Lin Beifan was showing off. The Empress was surprised andughed, Okay! I wont reward you anymore. This achievement will be recorded and saved for future reward. I have a feeling that this day wille soon! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan saluted and withdrew to the back of the court. Now, our Great Wu has the production and control methods of the Air Balloon! All ministers, how should we use them to quickly enhance the power of Great Wu? The Empress surveyed the officials and asked the critical question that needed to be answered. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 105: One Million Is Not Enough, Can You Add More Money? Chapter 105: One Million Is Not Enough, Can You Add More Money? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, an old courtier stepped forward and said, Your Majesty, entrust the manufacturing method to the Ministry of Industry! The Ministry of Industry has arge number of experienced craftsmen and a very sophisticated technology system. As long as the manufacturing method is entrusted to them, they can quickly produce arge number of flying artifacts air balloons! As for the method of control, it is naturally entrusted to the trusted generals and soldiers! We already have an air balloon and can begin to organize training to master the method of control! When arge number of flying artifacts such as air balloons are produced, they can be controlled to travel the world and protect our Great Wu Empire! The Empress nodded. This was the most appropriate method at present. However, the manufacturing method of the air balloon was very important to her. It could quickly enhance the military strength and give her the opportunity to ask for longevity. It must not be lost. The Ministry of Industry was one of the departments with the most corruption and bribery. They maintained a group of corrupt officials, and bribery and embezzlement were rampant. They also often worked together to drain the national treasury, which made her uneasy. Her gaze then turned to Lin Beifan. Among all the civil and military officials, he was the one she trusted the most. Although this guy often made her very angry, he was still very principled and had never betrayed the interests of Great Wu. Handing this matter over to him was more reassuring. So the Empress asked, Sir Lin, I want to entrust this matter to you! You are the inventor of the air balloon, and I want you to organize people to manufacture air balloons. How do you think about it? Lin Beifan hurriedly declined, Your Majesty, it is absolutely impossible! As a director of the Imperial Academy, I am responsible for overseeing the students academic and moral performance. The responsibility is heavy, the public affairs are busy, and I really have no interest nor ability to get involved in other affairs! When he finished speaking, the officials smirked. Supervise the students academic and moral performance? Arent you just trying to make money off of them? Lin Beifan continued, And, I have pushed forward several projects that can run on water, such as the Steel Giant Ship, and hybrid rice that can increase production and yield. These arerge-scale projects that benefit the country and the people and are no less important than the air balloon. Please take this into ount, Your Majesty. In fact, there was another very important reason. He was nning to make money through this project and earn a big sum first before he had to take any responsibility if it went wrong. The Empress nodded with some disappointment, Sir Lin has indeed worked hard! So let the Ministry of Industry handle this manufacturing method! The Minister of Industrye forward and listen to the decree! The Minister of Industry, Wang Rushui, stood up, I am here! The manufacturing method of the flying artifact air balloon will be entrusted to you! I hope you will not disappoint me and quickly produce a batch of flying artifacts to protect Great Wu Empire! I obey! The Minister of Industry bowed. But remember! The Empresss eyes became stern. This manufacturing method is rted to the fate of the country, and it must not be leaked out! Once I find out, no matter who it is, they will be punished severely! Yes, Your Majesty! I promise that I will never leak this method! The Minister of Industry was scared. I do not trust your promise, and I will have the Embroidered Uniform Guard keep an eye on you! If there is a problem, you will solve it yourself! The Empress said. I obey, Your Majesty, the Minister of Industry said with a bitter smile. As for the flying warriors I have my own arrangements! The morning court ended, and Lin Beifan went to work at the Imperial Academy. The courts speed was very fast. In the morning, the Ministry of Industry had already organized arge number of personnel to prepare to manufacture air balloons. In addition, a team of Forbidden Army soldiers took Lin Beifan out and took the air balloon away to train the flying warriors secretly. In the streets, everyone was still discussing the flying artifact and the first flying person Lin Beifan. This heat might not dissipate for months. At the same time, Lin Beifan noticed some changes around him. There were many unfamiliar people staring at him even around his home. These people were probably spies from other princes or the royal family, and they wanted to see the secrets of the flying artifact from Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan was not worried about himself but was concerned about the safety of his family. So when he returned home at night, he called out the old monk, Jing Tai, I need your help with something! Amitabha! Master, what can I do for you? The old monk asked respectfully. I feel that there are many unfamiliar people outside, and it is not very safe at home. So I ask you to look after them! Lin Beifan said. Master, rest assured. This monk will definitely protect everyones safety! The old monk said without hesitation. With you here, I feel relieved! Lin Beifan smiled. Do not underestimate a grandmasters strength! One person can fight thousands of soldiers and escape freely among millions of troops. They can react quickly, move rapidly, and cross vast distances in a snap. Aside from peers of simr strength, they can hardly be killed! It can be said that as long as they dont leave the capital city, everyone will be safe! Lin Beifan secretly rejoiced that he had picked a good grandmaster apprentice. The days passed peacefully for two days. While Lin Beifan was calm on his side, there were some problems in the Ministry of Industry. Several foreign spies who had infiltrated the Ministry were discovered, and several insiders who sold the secrets of the flying celestial artifact were also exposed, causing a headache for the Minister of Industry. The Empress was very angry and directly executed several people, and then dispatched heavy troops to guard the Ministry, and the matter finally came to an end. After the Ministry of Industry was settled, it was Lin Beifans turn to face trouble. At night, someone finally couldnt resist and sneaked in. Amitabha! The old monk opened his misty eyes and in the blink of an eye appeared outside the room, behind a ck-d figure. Friend, it is not the behavior of a gentleman to engage in viinous activities! Stop in time and leave with me. The sea of bitterness has no bounds, turn back is the shore! Amitabha! The old monk advised. The ck-d figure was very frightened: Who are you? When did you appear behind me? Ill kill you! A dagger appeared in his hand, and he quickly stabbed forward. The old monks face remained calm: Put down your butchers knife and be a Buddha on the spot! A wave of energy shook out of the old monk, directly knocking out the ck-d man. Then, the old monk single-handedly lifted the ck-d man and disappeared into the night. At midnight, another spy sneaked in, but was soon knocked out and taken away by the old monk. Everything was silent, as if nothing had happened. Early the next morning, Lin Beifan saw three strangers tied up in the courtyard like pigs. Standing next to them was the old monk, looking at Lin Beifan respectfully, he said: Amitabha! Master, these three are the ones who infiltrated the Lin Mansionst night. They have been knocked out by this monk, please give your orders! Okay! Just send them directly to the officials. I will go to the morning court first! Lin Beifan smiled. These spies seemed to be small fries, and he was toozy to waste words with them. Yes, Master! The old monk bowed his head. Then, he called the young monk and took the spies to the officials. After two more days, the old monk caught several more spies and sent them all to the officials. Eventually, things finally calmed down. Everyone knew that there was an unfathomable monk in the Lin Mansion, and sneaking in was simply asking for death. One day, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai mysteriously appeared in Lin Beifans study. As soon as he saw their mysterious demeanor, Lin Beifan knew that the first deal was about to be made. At this time, Mo Rushuang looked at Lin Beifan and said, very embarrassed: We just received a letter from the Prince, and he is very interested in the flying celestial artifact, the Air Balloon. He knows that you came up with it, and he wants you to give him the manufacturing method. He said, as long as you give him the manufacturing method, he is willing to pay a reward of one million taels! Lin Beifan sighed: This is not an easy matter! Whats so difficult about it? Guo Shaoshuai asked in confusion, The Air Balloon is your invention, and you know the manufacturing method. Why not write it down and give it to the Prince? You only know the first step, but not the second! Lin Beifan said. Lin Beifan smiled bitterly, The hot air balloon was indeed invented by me, and I also know the manufacturing method. However, Her Majesty the Empress has repeatedly emphasized in the court that this method must not be passed on! Anyone who vites this order, no matter how high their status or how favored they are, will lose their head directly without any mercy! Previously, there was a leakage incident in the Ministry of Industry, and more than a dozen heads were chopped off, including two officials, blood everywhere! Only by killing the chicken and warning the monkey, and sending heavy troops to guard, could the incident be quelled! Aside from the Ministry of Industry, I am the only one who knows the manufacturing method! If the method leaks out now, everyone will definitely associate it with me! Once it is confirmed, I will lose my head! Do you think this is an easy thing? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai both understood immediately and said with a bitter smile, It is indeed very difficult! Lin Beifan spread out his hands, Its not that I dont want to help the prince, but I am really powerless! But what can we do? The hot air balloon is very important to the prince! Guo Shaoshuai anxiously asked, The prince said that if the courts aerial vehicle, the hot air balloon, is equipped, it will definitely boost military power and make it more difficult for them to overthrow the Empresss rule! Therefore, they must also equip themselves with hot air balloons to fight against each other! I also understand the princes difficulties and want to help the prince Lin Beifan said with great pain, Oh! If I had known, I should have given the method to the prince before making the hot air balloon. It wouldnt have been so difficult now! Mo Rushuang kindly said, Mr. Lin, this matter cannot be med on you! No one could have expected you to invent an aerial vehicle! Once you made it, you were already powerless! Lin Beifan was very moved, Rushuang, thank you for understanding! At this time, Lin Beifan gritted his teeth and made a decision after much consideration, Forget it! In order to support the princes cause and for the sake of the people, even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will give the manufacturing method to the prince! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were very moved, Mr. Lin! However, now I have a small problem and I hope the prince can help me solve it! Mo Rushuang did not hesitate, What problem, Mr. Lin just say it! The prince is fair-minded, kindhearted, and will definitely help you! The problem is one million is too little. Can the amount be increased? Lin Beifan said expectantly. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai eximed, Huh?! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 106: Kindness to the Prince is Cruelty to Oneself! Chapter 106: Kindness to the Prince is Cruelty to Oneself! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Talking and talking, its all about money again. I was moved for nothing! You are still that money-grubbing young man, without any change at all! Mo Rushuang, unhappy, said, Mr. Lin, one million is already a lot of money! Is one million a lot? Do you know how much silver I spent to research the flying celestial artifact, the Air Balloon? How much did you spend? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai asked in unison. I spent over two million. I spent over two million to finally invent the Air Balloon! Aside from money, I also exerted countless sweat and hard work! Does Prince think its too much for me to ask for one hundred million and want to take away my manufacturing method, or am I unreasonable? Is it really that much? Mo Rushuang blinked and asked. Lin Beifan pointed to the door, You can go out and ask. This is something the whole capital knows about! If I didnt dig up 2 million from the treasury, where would we get the Air Balloon we have now? As Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai looked at Lin Beifans resolute expression, they believed him. How about adding a little more? Is 1.5 million enough? Mo Rushuang asked cautiously. You want to buy it for only 1.5 million? Lin Beifan became unhappy again. 1.5 million is already not a small amount. You spent that much to save the princest time! Guo Shaoshuai said. Indeed, I only spent 1.5 million to rescue the Eldest Prince! But do you know how much I would have to pay if I gave the manufacturing method to Prince? Lin Beifan eximed. How much? Mo Rushuang asked. Ill just tell you this. Last time, to rescue the Eldest Prince, I bribed all the officials with 1.5 million and they supported me. Thats the only way I could save the Eldest Prince while still keeping my own life. But this time, how can I bribe officials? How can I keep my life? Lin Beifan was extremely unhappy, The Empress has already dered three times that whoever leaks the manufacturing method of the national treasure to others, once discovered, would be executed. No one can be saved! The treasury has been cleaned up, so theres no possibility for anyone else to leak it. My path is the only one left! Therefore, if the Prince manufactures the Air Balloon, and the Empress finds out, Ill be dead without a doubt! In other words, Im risking my life to do things for the Prince! Lin Beifan shook his head, his heart aching as he shouted, The Prince only lost a small amount of money, but what I lost was my entire life! Money can be earned again, but once my life is lost, its gone! Is it wrong for me to ask for a little more money? Shouldnt I be asking for more? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were overwhelmed and nodded repeatedly, You should, you definitely should. Lin Beifan continued to be unhappy, I really doubt if Prince is intentionally targeting me. Why does he always give me such a deadly order? Does he want me to die? How could the Prince want you to die? He just Mo Rushuang could not continue. Because she also realized that bothmands were very life-threatening. The firstmand, to save the prince, almost ruined Lin Beifan and cost him everything. The secondmand, to obtain the method of creating the divine artifact air balloon, was a crime punishable by death if exposed. And it seemed very easy to expose, making it almost certain to be a death sentence. In her heart, she med the prince. Why did he always give such difficult tasks to Lin Beifan? Was it intentional harm? Guo Shaoshuai reflected on this and also felt that the princesmands were too difficult. He opened his mouth and said, Mr. Lin, youve worked hard! Lin Beifan sneered, Im not afraid to tell you that I now suspect the princes intentions, so I must keep something in reserve! Only if I have arge sum of money in my hand will he care about me and help me when my life is at stake! Im just a powerless schr, everything I do is just for self-preservation, is there anything wrong with that? Mr. Lin, youre not wrong. Youve done well! At any time, the most important thing is to protect your life! Mo Rushuang immediately spoke up. Mr. Lin, I understand your difficulties, and I fully support you! Guo Shaoshuai also said. Im d you can understand! Lin Beifan nodded in relief. Im not unreasonable! If, in the end, it proves that I was overthinking, one day in the future, I will return the money and support the princes cause! Mo Rushuang looked at Lin Beifans thin shoulders and felt heartache. As he said, he was just a powerless schr! However, being in the court and doing only things that could cost him his life was too difficult! He needed more money just to protect himself! Because only if he had a lot of money in hand would the prince be unwilling to let him die and help him in a critical moment. Otherwise, he would be left with nothing, both person and wealth. Was it also for this reason that he had been greedy for money before? She seemed to understand Lin Beifan even more! Mr. Lin, we will report the situation to the prince in detail. I think he will understand your difficulties! 2 million taels, is that enough? Mo Rushuang said solemnly. Do you think 2 million taels are enough? Lin Beifan blinked and suddenly felt that Mo Rushuang was funny. At this time, Guo Shaoshuai frowned unhappily, Sister, how can you say 2 million taels is enough? Didnt you hear what Mr. Lin said? It cost over 2 million taels to develop this Divine Artifact Air Balloon, so the price must be higher! Besides, Mr. Lin only wants more money for self-preservation, and the more he gets, the safer his life will be. So I think at least 3 million taels! 3 million taels??!! Lin Beifan looked at Guo Shaoshuai, suddenly feeling that this guy was quite handsome. Howe he didnt realize it before? Junior Brother, youre right! Mo Rushuang eximed. But 3 million taels is too much. The prince may not have that much money. How about wepromise and ask for 2.5 million taels? Mr. Lin is not a greedy person! Lin Beifan said solemnly, That sounds reasonable. Im grateful for your understanding! So, they reported the situation to the Prince of Northern Hebei promptly. When the Prince saw the letter, his face turned pale, and his hands and feet trembled with cold. Finally, he yelled in anger 2.5 million taels, why dont you just rob me? Your Highness, what happened? The military adviser Zhuge Liang, who had just arrived, asked cautiously. See for yourself! The prince tossed the letter over to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang looked at it seriously, his eyelids twitching as he read further, 2.5 million, the price is indeed very high! I thought proposing 1 million would satisfy his appetite, but I seriously underestimated him! The prince sat on the chair, angrily stating, Advisor, you see it too! Its not that I dont want to give it to him, but Lin Beifan is too greedy. Where do I find so much money to give him? Zhuge Liangughed, Ipletely understand your mood, Your Highness! But I also understand Lin Beifans mood! As the letter said, the two tasks Your Highness assigned him were almost life-threatening! Thats why Lin Beifan became suspicious and thought that you were targeting him deliberately by asking for more money to protect himself! Lin Beifan is in the capital, so he has not seen Your Highness heroic aura and noble character, and doesnt trust you. So, he yed this little trick! If it were me, I would do the same! The princes mood eased a little. Zhuge Liang continued, Thats why my suggestion is to meet Lin Beifans demands! Although it will cost some money, we can get the method for making the flying celestial artifact and gain the loyalty of a top talent. Isnt that worth it? The prince sighed, But where do I get 2.5 million? Ive already paid 1.5 million a month ago, and I still havent recovered from it! I am truly powerless! Your Highness, 2.5 million is indeed a lot, but we can tough it out! You should know that all the major princes and dukes want to obtain the method for making the flying celestial artifact! However, only you have this opportunity. Isnt it worth spending a little more money? Zhuge Liangs eyes lit up with fanaticism. If we get the flying celestial artifact, our strength will increase rapidly, surpassing other princes, and we will have a better chance to win the Central ins! By taking control of the Central ins and bing emperor, everything we lost before will be regained! Whats the loss of a little money right now? The prince nodded repeatedly, Advisor, you are absolutely right! Moreover, Your Highness! This air balloon can transport people into the sky, meaning we have the chance to meet immortals, and have the opportunity to obtain immortality! Isnt it worth spending a little money? As soon as the prince thought of his chance to be immortal, his face turned red with excitement. Advisor, you are absolutely right! As long as we can live forever, its worth spending any amount of money! Since the other party wants money, well give it to him! 2.5 million,pared to the chance of immortality, its not a lot at all! Your Highness is wise! Zhuge Liang smiled and bowed. So, the 2.5 million silver notes were quickly handed over to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan blinked his eyes, feeling a bit regretful and thinking he could have asked for more. The other party gave in so easily, so they must have more money! This was a super fatmb that would drip with oil as it walks! Lin Beifan silently told himself to ask for more next time and not be soft-hearted! The princes kindness was his own cruelty! The prince, who was dreaming of immortality, suddenly sneezed. Now that the money has been handed over, what about the method for making the flying celestial artifact? Mo Rushuang asked. Ive already prepared it! This is the method for making the flying celestial artifact, you can give it to the prince! Remember, this is very important and must not be exposed! Lin Beifan took out a document and gave them strict instructions. Mo Rushuang and the other left solemnly with the document. After they left, Lin Beifan chuckled to himself. However, when he turned around, he saw a white figure appear beside him, just like a ghost staring at him intently. The two met eyes, and the proximity almost scared him out of his wits. Guanyin, cant you do that? Next time you appear, can you make some noise so I can be mentally prepared? Lin Beifan patted his chest, still frightened. Guanyin shot him a nce, Didnt you say you were used to it? That was before. But youve defeated me with your new appearance! Dont get too close, its really scary! Ill keep it in mind! Guanyin said insincerely, But I have a question now, did you really give the method for making the flying celestial artifact to Prince of Northern Hebei? You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 107: Such a Meager Sum of 500,000, Trying to Bribe Me? Chapter 107: Such a Meager Sum of 500,000, Trying to Bribe Me? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Yes! Lin Beifan nodded. Why is that? By giving the manufacturing method of the air balloon to the Prince of Northern Hebei, you are helping an evil person! Once he creates the flying artifact, air balloon, his ambition will inevitably expand and war will follow soon! Bai Guanyin wrinkled her brow. She found Lin Beifan usually quite intelligent, but why did he be muddled in this situation? A thought already surfaced in her mind, to retrieve the manufacturing method of the air balloon, kill all the witnesses, and deal with it secretly. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Rest assured, he can never make it! Why? Bai Guanyin asked curiously. Because Lin Beifan mysteriously said, I made some slight changes to the manufacturing method I gave him! This one change guarantees he can never make the air balloon! Where did you make the changes? Bai Guanyin asked. The material used for the balloon! Lin Beifanughed, Our flying artifact air balloon has a simple structure: arge balloon, a basket, and fuel. It is easy to imitate the basket and prepare fuel. The key is the balloon! Whether or not we can make a tough, airtight, and heat-resistant balloon is the key to flying the air balloon! Bai Guanyin nodded, That makes sense. Continue. Therefore, I made some changes to the material used for the balloon. These changes are very slight, but fatal! As long as they follow the steps ordingly, then They cannot make the air balloon? Bai Guanyin guessed. No, they can make it, but it will fail! Lin Beifan chuckled, The air balloon has high requirements for the balloon-it must be tough, airtight, and heat-resistant. If its a little bitcking, its impossible! Based on my manufacturing method, they can definitely make the air balloon, but it cannot fly high, far, or for any decent amount of time! It might even break when it rises only ten or twenty meters into the air and fall back down! So, they will only suspect their own craftsmanship, not me me! Therefore, they will repeatedly experiment with manufacturing, resulting in huge human and material losses, and time consumption! Even in the end, they might fail! Lin Beifan said. Bai Guanyin said speechlessly, You are truly wicked! Thank you for thepliment! Lin Beifan proudlyughed, In fact, when I made the air balloon, I knew King Jibei woulde and ask me for the manufacturing method. Since that was the case, why not take the opportunity to make some money? Look, this 2.5 million taels of silver, that was easy money! Lin Beifan handed over the silver notes of 2.5 million taels. Bai Guanyin silently epted it and said, However, you still need to be careful! Your behavior can also be considered as betraying the country, and once things are exposed, you will lose your head! Thank you for the reminder, I will be careful! Lin Beifan nodded, walked to the desk, and picked up the brush. What are you doing? Bai Guanyin was puzzled. Im going to write several more copies of the manufacturing method of the air balloon and try to make more money! Lin Beifan replied. Bai Guanyin left speechlessly. Back in the pce, she reported the matter to the Empress. After listening, the Empresss mouth twitched. Then she stood up and eximed angrily, gritting her teeth: This scoundrel! I have repeatedly ordered him not to leak the method of making the divine artifact, and he still dare tomit a crime against the wind. Does he not regard me as anything? I have treated him so well, but he betrayed me without hesitation! This bastard makes me so angry! Bai Guanyin smiled at this happy couple and found it extremely interesting. Your Majesty, calm down! He did not betray you, but helped you earn 2.5 million in funding and even tricked the Prince of Northern Hebei. The loss of one is a gain for the other, and now that Prince of Northern Hebei is weaker, your power is stronger! Qingxuan sister, youre right, but his actions really make me angry! The empress was both angry and tired: He always dances on the edge of a knife, constantly pushing the boundaries, making me scared and unable to rx! When will he be honest and stop causing trouble? How about telling him your identity? He shouldnt be causing trouble then! Bai Guanyin smiled. Im afraid that if he knows that Im supporting him, hell be even more reckless andwless! The empress gritted her teeth. Youre right! Bai Guanyinughed. Now that the world is against them, they can still y so recklessly and crazily! If he knows that the empress is behind him, his ambition will swell, and he would y even more recklessly. There is no doubt that he can do it! Its better to maintain the current status quo and make him calm down. Due to the empresss anger, she red at Lin Beifan frequently for the next two days even though he did nothing wrong. Lin Beifan couldnt help but sigh in his heart. Women are truly strange creatures, and the empress is even more so! Before, she loved him so much that she refused to let him go, but now she throws a tantrum and treats him as if he betrayed her. Its really hard to serve her. As the ancients said, apanying the king is like with a tiger, especially a mother tiger! On this day, when Lin Beifan returned from the Imperial Academy, he was intercepted by a wealthy merchant. We dont know each other, so why are you blocking my way? Lin Beifan asked. The other party had a round belly, looked quite rich, and smiled like a Maitreya Buddha, saying, Mr. Lin, we dont really know each other, but Ive always admired your talents! Now that weve met on the street, I would like to invite Mr. Lin for a few drinks! Does Mr. Lin have the honor? As he spoke, he quickly handed a few silver bills to Lin Beifan and stuffed them into his sleeve. Lin Beifan looked down and saw that there were ten thousand taels in total and smiled. You are thoughtful. I like to make friends like you. Please lead the way! The wealthy merchant was overjoyed: Thank you, Mr. Lin, for giving me this opportunity. Come with me, the food and drink are ready! They arrived at a nearby restaurant and walked into a luxurious room. As the wealthy merchant said, the food and wine were already prepared. The wine was good, and so was the food. Everyone sat down, and the wealthy merchant smiled and said: Mr. Lin, I also prepared a group of singing and dancing beauties. Lets have a drink and enjoy their performance together, shall we? Good, guests follow the host. The wealthy merchant pped his hands, and a group of beautiful and graceful singing and dancing girls walked in and began to perform. Everyone drank and ate together while watching the performance of the singing and dancing girls. During the process, the wealthy merchant introduced himself as Wang Fugui, a merchant who traveled north and south. He was especially hardworking and had a good business sense, so he created an astounding wealth in just 30 years. This alone made people look at him in a different light. You see, the situation in Great Wu was very chaotic and turbulent. The various feudal lords were in constant conflict, and corrupt officials oppressed the people. Jianghu were filled with strange and dubious people, and many ordinary people could not survive. They became bandits or mountain overlords. After about half an hour of eating and drinking, Lin Beifan spoke up, Mr. Wang, why did you invite me here? We have eaten and drank enough. Lets talk about business. What you said is right, replied Wang Fugui, dismissing everyone else in the room. Then he sat down in front of Lin Beifan, looked around, and whispered, Mr. Lin, Ill get straight to the point. I came here for the air balloon-making form, the Divine Artifact. As long as you give it to me, I will give you a satisfactory price! Lin Beifan rebuked, Mr. Wang, you are very bold! You are an ordinary citizen, who dares to covet the imperial air balloon! This is a matter of life and death! Are you not afraid that I will report you to the officials and get you arrested? Of course Im afraid! Wang Fugui replied bitterly, But I have no choice! To tell you the truth, if I dont get the form, I will still lose my head! Lin Beifan asked, You dont have the courage to do that. Who is behind you? Speak up! Wang Fugui whispered, At this point, I wont hide it from you anymore. Behind me is the Prince of Southern Jiang! It is because of the Princes support that my business has grown so big! Lin Beifan narrowed his eyes. The Prince of Southern Jiang is another prince with rebellious intentions. He lives in the Southern Jiang region and is therefore known as the Prince of Southern Jiang. With the prosperousmercial industry in Southern Jiang and his advantageous location, the Prince of Southern Jiang naturally began to do business and earned a lot of money. In terms of wealth, there are probably only a few in the whole Great Wu who canpare with him! Even the wealthy Prince of Northern Hebei is slightly inferior in front of him. Needless to say, he is a big fat sheep! Seeing the Divine Artifact- Air Balloon, he couldnt help but reach out his hand. Mr. Lin, since the Air Balloons invention, the Prince has been determined to get it! You are the inventor of Air Balloon and the first person to fly with it. If you can offer the manufacturing method of the Air Balloon to the Prince, he will be very happy and will give you a very satisfactory reward! In addition, the Prince also said that he admires your talents very much! If you can work for him, there will definitely be benefits for you! This is a gift from the Prince, a total of 500,000 taels. Please ept it! Saying that, he handed over a thick stack of silver notes. Lin Beifan raised his eyebrows. The gift is 500,000 taels, 200,000 taels more than the Prince of Northern Hebei! It must be said that this Prince of Southern Jiang is very generous! So damn rich! Lin Beifan shook his head resolutely: Take it back, I wont ept the money! Wang Fugui was shocked: Mr. Lin, you Lin Beifan unhappy said: Do you think that this little money can buy me? Wang Fugui blinked his eyes and said in doubt: Isnt it? He had already inquired that this official had a special love for money and had embezzled several million taels of silver in just two months after taking office. Therefore, he sent the money, knowing his interest. But he didnt expect that the other party seemed to have principles and refused to ept the money. Of course not! Lin Beifan stood up and pointed at Wang Fuguis nose angrily, Let me tell you, it takes a lot of money! Wang Fugui: Huh! Lin Beifan said unpleasantly: A mere 500,000 taels, Im toozy to pick up if you throw it on the ground! You feel embarrassed to to give it, and I feel embarrassed to ept it! Wang Fugui: Huh! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 108: Innate peak, the number one below the Grandmaster! Chapter 108: Innate peak, the number one below the Grandmaster! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Wang Fugui looked at Lin Beifan in shock. He had known that Lin Beifan was greedy, but he never imagined that he was so greedy! Is 500,000 taels of silver not enough to satisfy your appetite? he asked. How much more do you want? Lin Beifan replied, Indeed, it is true that the amount you have given me is less, and it does not match the identity of a high-ranking individual like myself. Wang Fugui gritted his teeth and took out a few more silver notes from his pocket, offering a total of 700,000 taels of silver. Please ept this, Mr. Lin, he said. I only have this much money on me, but I will make sure to give you the remaining 300,000 liang in the near future. How does that sound? Lin Beifans expression finally changed. Alright, this is more reasonable, he said. Ill give you face and ept this money for now. However, you must make sure to give me the remaining 300,000 as soon as possible. He then quickly took the silver notes and put them in his pocket. The whole process was smooth and seamless. Wang Fuguis mouth twitched. Yes, sir, he said. The two then sat down together amicably. Mr. Lin, what do you think about the manufacturing method of this flying machinery? Wang Fugui asked again. Lin Beifan drank his wine and hesitated before responding. Honestly, this is not an easy task. Revealing the method is punishable by death. The empress has explicitly forbidden the disclosure of this technique, and whoever does so will lose their head. A few people from the Ministry of Industry have already been beheaded for leaking the secrets. If you ask me to give you the manufacturing method now, I would bemitting a crime. Im not willing to take that risk. Its too dangerous. Absolutely not, Lin Beifan shook his head. Wang Fugui whispered, I know that youre in a difficult position, Mr. Lin, but the manufacturing method is crucial to my lord. He said that he would pay a great price to obtain it. My lord is very generous. If you give him the method, he will definitely reward you handsomely. Besides, if anything goes wrong, we will immediately send someone to take you to Southern Jiang. There, you can still enjoy afortable life, and no one can harm you, not even the Empress. Lin Beifan was somewhat tempted. Is that true? he asked. Wang Fugui was excited. Of course its true! When ites to wealth, few people in the world canpare to my lord. Additionally, my lord is always looking for talented individuals like yourself. If youe to Southern Jiang, you will definitely be highly valued, and promoted to high rank sooner orter. Ill think about it, Lin Beifan said. But right now, Im more interested in knowing how much money youre willing to spend to buy the manufacturing method of the hot air balloon. Remember, it took me 2 million taels of silver to research this flying machinery. Wang Fugui was about to shout for two million, but when he heard Lin Beifan say that, two million is definitely not enough. Gritting his teeth, he said, Mr. Lin, what about 2.5 million? Lin Beifan smiled slightly and said, Someone contacted me before and wanted to buy the method of making balloons with three million yuan, but I didnt agree! You want to take it away with 2.5 million~? Wang Fugui was stunned, Someone has already contacted you? Of course! If you can contact me, why cant others? Lin Beifan smiled. Wang Fugui asked eagerly, Who is it? Lin Beifan said four words, Prince of Northern Hebei! Wang Fugui immediately became anxious. Prince of Northern Hebei is his masters archenemy. Both have the ambition to dominate the Central ins and have been preparing for more than 20 years. Currently, their strengths are evenly matched, one is rich enough to rival a country, and the other is a master with numerous skills. If the other party gets the method of making balloons, the bnce of victory will definitely tilt towards the other side. Mr. Lin, have you agreed? Didnt I just say that I havent agreed yet, but its hard to say in the future! After all, there are more than just you two lords who want the method of making balloons! And I can resist everything, except for temptation! Mr. Lin, please dont agree to others! Only our lord will give you a satisfactory reward! Wang Fugui anxiously said. This is uncertain. If others offer a higher price, I cant just give it to you and not give it to them, right? Mr. Lin, give me some time, and I will give you a satisfactory answer! Wang Fugui went back with heavy thoughts. The next day, he went to Lin Beifan again, made up the owed 300,000 meeting gift, made him an offer: 4 million! Our lord is willing to spend 4 million to buy the method of making balloons! Lin Beifans eyelids twitched. Sure enough, he was the richest lord, and he increased the price by one million with just one offer! This shows that the other party has great potential to dig! Can you add more? If you give us another 1000,000, I will immediately hand over the method of making balloons to you! Okay, then its 5 million, deal! Wang Fugui said without hesitation. Lin Beifan immediately regretted it, it seems he asked for too little! But since he has already opened his mouth, there is no possibility of repentance. A dayter, the two met secretly again. Wang Fugui took out five million yuan in silver bills, and Lin Beifan took out the method of making balloons. Is this the way to make the flying divine artifact air balloon? Wang Fugui carefully opened it and found several pictures that looked exactly like the balloon he saw before. Below it, there were dense annotations. He couldnt understand them but felt that they were very professional. This is naturally real. How can I deceive a Prince? If you cant make it, you cane and find me anytime! Lin Beifan said confidently. Seeing Lin Beifans determined expression, Wang Fugui believed him and carefully put the information into the box. Thinking about it, he asked, Mr. Lin, did you give this method to Prince of Northern Hebei or other lords? Lin Beifan was a bit angry: How dare you suspect me? I may be greedy, but I also have principles! Since I promised to give it only to the Prince of Southern Jiang, I will not give it to anyone else! Moreover, leaking the method of making the air balloon will result in death! I am already risking my life by giving it to the Prince of Southern Jiang! If it is leaked to others, the chances of exposure will increase. How many heads do I have? Wang Fugui felt ashamed and bowed: Mr. Lin, you are right; I misunderstood you. I apologize to you. You know better now! Lin Beifans face slightly brightened, and he reminded, Go back and tell the Prince and others to study carefully, not to be discovered by others, otherwise, my life will be in danger! I understand! Wang Fugui nodded repeatedly. Then, Wang Fugui took the method of making the flying divine artifact balloon and left. Lin Beifan then received the third person with a smile. Mr. Lin, I am a follower of the Duke of Wuxi! We came here to obtain the method of making the flying divine artifact air balloon from you! As long as you hand over the method, our lord will definitely not mistreat you! Easy! As long as the money is in ce, everything is not a problem! In the next half month, Lin Beifan eagerly received numerous representatives from the lords and secret delegates from other countries. The results were remarkable, with a total of more than 20 million taels of silver obtained. Adding the money acquired from the Prince of Northern Hebei and Prince of Southern Jiang, the total exceeded 30 million, making him instantly rich. Lin Beifanughed until his eyes couldnt open: The air balloon is truly a miraculous flying artifact, taking me to new heights! With the money in hand, the most important thing to do was to upgrade and be stronger. After all, was that not the reason he had worked so hard to obtain money? System, it can be settled now! Lin Beifan was excited. [Ding! Host has embezzled 32 million taels of precious metals. The amount is extremelyrge, and rewards the merger of the undefeated naughty boy temte ter stage)! A terrifying power entered Lin Beifans body. This power was overwhelming and ten times stronger than his current strength, making it almost unbearable. Following this were horrific martial arts experience and memories that poured into his mind. These memories were just as terrifying, including Vajra Unbreakable Body, which possessed copper skin and iron bones, invincibility to all poisons, and Absorbing Mastery Methods, which could absorb the power of others. Also included were all eight martial arts from the martial art sects Its like a walking martial arts treasure trove! It took Lin Beifan a whole night to absorb all of this power and martial arts experience. And finally, his strength took a big step forward. Peak fourth-grade innate! After three months of hard work, I have finally be a master at the peak of innate! Lin Beifan was very happy. Although he had only reached the peak of innate level, there were still three grandmaster-level experts above him. However, such grandmaster-strength experts were very rare and seldom seen. Most of the strong people in the martial arts world are innate. And now that he has the strength of the peak of innate, as long as the Grandmasters dont appear, he is invincible! Moreover, he is not an ordinary peak of innate expert! In terms of skill, he has top-level skills such as North Sea Divine Art, Absorption Skill, and Vajra Unbreakable Body Divine Art. In terms of attack techniques, he has top-level sword techniques such as Six Pulse Divine Sword and Dugu Nine Swords, top-level palm techniques such as Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms and Cloud-Dispelling Palm, top-level leg techniques such as Wind God Leg, and top-level skills such as Xiao Li Flying Knife. In terms of lightness, he has Lingbo Micro Step and Wind God Leg, among others. With the martial arts experience and memory of several people, he is now a martial arts master and his fighting skills are definitely not weak! It can be said that he has almost no weaknesses now! Moreover, he had also gathered the power of the wind and clouds, enabling him to unleash an immeasurable amount of power, ten times his normal strength, allowing him to withstand attacks from grandmasters head-on! For example, the old monk who lived in his house, his loyal disciple Jing Tai. He felt that he could fight against him and definitely wouldnt lose! Therefore, his strength had undergone a tremendous change! While he couldnt im to be able to defeat grandmasters, he was undoubtedly the number one below grandmaster level! With such formidable strength, he had more confidence in facing the mysterious and dangerous future! Just then, Lin Beifan turned his head to the left, feeling something, and saw a white figure. The other party seemed somewhat surprised, You can sense me? Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed! However, I only noticed you when you came so close, so youre not that good! He felt that he could fight him and he would definitely not lose! Therefore, his strength has undergone earth-shattering changes! He may not be able to defeat the Grandmasters, but he is definitely the top below the Grandmasters! Such a powerful strength has given him more confidence to face the strange and dangerous future! Just then, Lin Beifan felt something and turned his head to the left. As a result, he saw a white figure, and the other side seemed a little surprised: You can find me? Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed! But I only noticed when you got this close, so its not that good! Thats already very good. Jing Tai, the old monk, still hasnt found me yet! It seems that your strength has broken through again, to the peak of innate level! Jumping one level per month, you monster! Bai Guanyin said speechlessly.
Undefeated naughty boy is protagonist from The Royal Swordsmen wuxia series You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 109: For the prince, for the world, I sacrifice myself for righteousness! Chapter 109: For the prince, for the world, I sacrifice myself for righteousness! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
She was really surprised and speechless! Even in the past, as a demon like her, it took two to three years of hard work day and night to go from sixth to fourth rank. But the person in front of her has daily official duties to attend to and can be considered busy with public affairs. However, in just three months, he went from sixth to fourth rank, which was even more amazing than her previous progress. Compared to you, Im way behind! Lin Beifan said modestly. He knew his own situation, he only upgraded fast because of the system and external help. And the demon woman in front of him relied on her own efforts and talent. With thisparison, it was clear who was winning and losing. And, it will be difficult to progress in the future! Lin Beifan sighed. He embezzled nearly 40 million liang just to push himself to the peak of the fourth rank innate level. To take a step forward and be a true master, he would need billions! This amount of money was too huge. The Great Wu Empires annual treasury ie was only 100 million taels. Where could he get so much money from? Therefore, his future upgrade speed will inevitably slow down. Of course, he could also rely on himself, his own efforts and insights, to break through the barrier and enter the realm of the Grandmaster. But that may take two to three years, which is too long and he cant wait. If outsiders were to hear this, they would definitely be driven crazy. You can be a Grandmaster in just two or three years, and you stillin about the speed? I look forward to your future! Bai Guanyin smiled. At this time, Lin Beifan took out a box of silver tickets and said, This is the money I earned by selling the method of making air balloons during this period of time, please ept it! It looks like a lot! Well, its about 30 million taels. 30 million taels!!! Bai Guanyin was extremely shocked. Although she was obsessed with martial arts, it didnt mean she had no concept of money. 30 million taels was nearly one-third of the treasury of the Great Wu Empire! The annual national treasury ie of the dynasty was basically this much! Small countries like the Darro Kingdom, their treasury ie for several yearsbined might not even reach 30 million! Lin Beifan was truly rich and powerful! How many people did you sell the method of making the air balloon to? Bai Guanyin asked. Besides Prince of Northern Hebei, there are also Prince of Southern Jiang, Duke Wuxietc. Basically, the vassal kings with power have bought it! And some powerful countries around the Great Wu Empire, such as the Great Xia Empire, Great Yan Empire, and Great Yue Empire, have secretly sent people to buy it! The prices range from 2 to 5 million taels! Lin Beifan proudly said. Bai Guanyin was very speechless: You really captured them all! Lin Beifan shook his head: Not all! Some offered low prices, and I havent sold it to them yet. Butter, I thought, even if ants are small, theyre still meat. I cant waste it! So I decided to work harder and write more to sell. I can earn five or six hundred million more at least! Bai Guanyins mouth twitched visibly. At this time, she finally understood the helplessness of the Empress. She sighed helplessly, You handle it yourself! But be careful, if they discover the truth, they wont let you off! Dont worry, I have my own arrangements! Lin Beifan grinned. Bai Guanyin took the huge sum of money and reported the situation to the Empress. The Empress looked at the huge sum of money, surprised and happy, but also angry and irritated. After a while, she cursed, This bastard! In the following days, Lin Beifan wrote out the methods of making air balloons every night and sold them to make money. Lin Beifan admired himself. Few corrupt officials were as diligent as him! Whether it was intentional or unintentional, or simply an act of provocation, he was eventually discovered by Mo Rushuang. Mo Rushuang felt heartbroken: Mr. Lin, why would you do this? Is this really fair to the prince? Lin Beifan remained calm and continued to draw while saying, Im doing this for the prince! Both Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were confused. I truly am doing this for the prince, Lin Bei Fanughed, Let me tell you, secrets cant be kept forever! Sooner orter, the government will find out about the princes creation of the flying balloon! If that happens, what do you think the government will do? Guo Shaoshuai replied without hesitation, They will definitely be very angry and distrustful, and force the prince to reveal the creation method and destroy all the balloons! Lin Beifan asked again, What do you think the prince will do? Guo Shao Shuai quickly said, The prince definitely wont agree and will act in secret! Lin Beifan asked again, What will happen if the government finds out? Guo Shao Shuai said, Theyll have to use force! The danger of the balloons is too great, and the princes possession of them is an even greater threat to the government. They must be eliminated, or else there will be endless troubles! Lin Beifan then asked, And what will happen to the prince at that time? Guo Shaoshuai answered, Of course, the prince would be wary and fight back! Lin Bei Fan said, Exactly! Thats why Im covering for the prince! If all the powers in the world have balloons, do you think the government will still attack the prince? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuais eyes lit up with understanding. Mo Rushuang eximed, If all the powers have balloons, the government wont be able to attack, so the prince will be safe! Lin Beifan smiled and said, You understand my genuine intention! Mo Rushuang apologized, Its all thanks to you, Mr. Lin. If it werent for you, we wouldnt have thought of this! Mr. Lin, you are truly wise and far-sighted! Im sorry, we misunderstood you again! Guo Shaoshuai hung his head in shame. Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, Its okay. Ignorance is innocent! As long as you can understand my good intentions, thats all that matters! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai admired Lin Beifan even more. Mo Rushuang then asked worriedly, But Mr. Lin, if you sell the creation method to others Lin Bei Fanughed, Dont worry, Im only selling them fake creation methods that absolutely cannot make flying balloons! This way, not only do I make a profit, but I also consume their strength for the princes benefit. Its a win-win situation! Both Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were filled with admiration and eximed, Mr. Lin, youre brilliant! However, Mo Rushuang still had concerns, But if the secret is revealed, Mr. Lin, your safety will be in danger For the lord, for the world, I will sacrifice myself! Lin Beifan said with great righteousness. Mr. Lin! Mo Rushuang was very moved and determined, No matter what, I will stay by your side and protect you! If they want to take your life, they will have to step over my dead body! Lin Beifan was also moved, Mo Rushuang, you are so good to me! The two exchanged sincere nces, their emotions evident. However, in that very moment, Guo Shaoshuai abruptly interjected: Mr. Lin, I am willing to put my life on the line to ensure your safety! Step aside and leave my sight! Lin Beifan replied firmly. Guo Shaoshuai: Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai then joined Lin Beifans n. They helped Lin Beifan write and draw, and even helped him with business deals. They were being used and still counting the money for others! Meanwhile, far away in Northern Hebei, the Prince received Mo Rushuangs letter and knew of everything Lin Beifan had done for him. He felt a trace of emotion in his heart, I never imagined that Lin Beifan would do so much for me! After reading the letter, Zhuge Liang was full of admiration, Your Highness, I am increasingly impressed with the wisdom of the top schr! Through this method, not only can it help alleviate the pressure on the court, allowing you to continue to secretly prepare, but also weaken the financial and military strength of other vassal kings and countries! Finally, the top schr can profit from it, its simply killing three birds with one stone! Its amazing! The Prince nodded andughed, Yes, I couldnt have thought of it! Haha! However, it may be a bit difficult for the top schr! After all, what hes doing is really risky! Once discovered, hes sure to die! Your Highness, the top schr has done so much for you, his loyalty should not be in doubt! Zhuge Liang said. Indeed, there is no need to doubt! It seems that my previous actions have already won him over! The Your Highness was very happy. Congrattions, Your Highness! With such a talented schr, theres no reason why our great endeavor cannot seed! Zhuge Liang eximed. Haha! The Princeughed heartily, Youre right, Advisor! With such a talented schr, our great endeavor cannot fail! I see that Lin Juns talents can rival that of three armies! Haha! Your Highness, you are absolutely right! Zhuge Liang said with a smile. But soon, the Your Highness became worried again, However, what Mr. Lin is doing is too risky! What if hes discovered Your Highness, dont worry, the top schr is resourceful, he must have considered this! Zhuge Liang smiled, Miss Mo said in her letter that Lin Beifan has taken a monk as his disciple who is suspected of having the skills of a grandmaster! With a grandmaster protecting him, his life should be safe! Your Highness, the most important thing now is tofort Lin Beifan and make him know that you appreciate his efforts! This way, he will work even harder for you! The Your Highness thought this was a good idea, Advisor, youre right! This kind of loyal and devoted person should be rewarded! Those who work for me should not be treated unfairly! Advisor, what should I do? Zhuge Liang smiled, Thats easy! Our top schr likes money the most, so just give him more money! So the Priny reluctantly pulled out 500,000 taels of silver from the pce treasury and handed it to Lin Beifan. There was also a letter written by the Prince himself, encouraging Lin Beifan to continue working hard. Lin Beifan was a bit dazed, he made 500,000 just by performing a show? The Prince was too generous! Recalling every little thing he had done with the Prince, he realized that everything went smoothly! Whenever he proposed harsh conditions, anyone in their right mind would have to think twice, but the other party readily agreed without hesitation. It felt like someone had been assisting him all along! At this time, all the different factions had obtained the method for making the hot air balloons and were racing to produce them. Finally, one day, the truth was exposed. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 110: Im Going to Search Your Homes, I Hope You Cooperate! Chapter 110: Im Going to Search Your Homes, I Hope You Cooperate! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Your Majesty, I have discovered that the Prince of Northern Hebei, Prince of Southern Jiang, Duke Wuxi and other vassal kings have been researching and manufacturing a flying device known as the Air Balloon in their own territories. They have made significant progress and will soon be able to test fly. Your Majesty, please take notice! Themander of the Imperial Guards reported to the Empress in court. Your Majesty, I have just received shocking news that surrounding countries such as the Great Xia Empire, Great Yan Empire, and the Great Yue Empire are also actively manufacturing the Air Balloon with great sess. Your Majesty, please take notice! An old general reported to the Empress on the grass field. Another group of people also reported on the situation with the Air Balloon. The Empresss facial expression became increasingly dark, and the court became quieter and quieter, just like the calm before a storm. The Empress shouted, Wang Rushui, where are you! I am here! The Minister of Industry, Wang Rushui, came out trembling and sweating. The Empress stood up and pointed at Wang Rishuis nose, angrily saying, Look at what you have done! I have expressly forbidden the secret of the flying device to be leaked out. Those who vite this order should be beheaded on the spot! But look at what has happened everywhere! Are my words not enough, or is my sword not sharp enough? Your Majesty, I am innocent! Wang Rushui fell to his knees, sweating profusely. Your Majesty, the structure of the flying device is notplex at all. For skilled craftsmen, they can easily figure out how to make it just by looking at it. Therefore, I am not associated with this matter. Please have mercy! The Empress continued to rage, You dare to im your innocence? Did you not hear the reports? They have made significant progress and will soon be able to test fly! They clearly have aplete understanding of the manufacturing process! Where else could they have gotten it from but the Ministry of Industry you lead? In such a short time, how do they have aplete understanding of the process? They must have obtained the process itself! It must have leaked from your Ministry of Industry! Wang Rushui, what is your punishment? Your Majesty, I am truly innocent! The Minister of Industry, Wang Rushui, was about to cry. He knew that the Empress highly valued this matter and that it was important to the entire court. He also highly valued it himself and warned everyone not to act rashly. He even personally rooted out several traitors to set an example. But now, everything has failed! He felt so bitter and wronged! Your Majesty, you are aware of the current situation in the Ministry of Induy! The Imperial Guards and arge number of the Forbidden Army are guarding the area, making it impossible for any leaks to ur! In fact, apart from the Ministry of Industry, there is another person who could have leaked the manufacturing method! Wang Rushui turned his head and pointed to Lin Beifan, who was standing behind the officials watching the scene, and said loudly, That person is Lin Beifan, the inventor of the flying artifact and the first person to fly with it. He also has the potential to leak information. Your Majesty, please investigate! This is a tactic often used by experienced officials even if it is not true, throw the mud and share the me. Lin Beifan stood up angrily. Sir Wang, you do not have to nder me! I am loyal and devoted to Your Majesty and the Great Wu Empire. How could Imit such an unforgivable act? If I were disloyal, why would I give the manufacturing and control methods of the flying artifact to Your Majesty instead of selling them to someone else? Obviously, this is unnecessary! Moreover, Your Majesty has been very gracious to me, treating me like a son and providing for my every need. Any decent person would not betray Your Majesty in this way! With his hand on his chest, Lin Beifan let out a loud roar, You can insult my conscience, but you cannot insult my loyalty! Wang Rushui looked embarrassed. The Empress, who was sitting on the throne, had an ufortable expression on her face. Lin Beifans argument made sense, and they could not find a way to prove his guilt. Only the Empress, her fists clenched, wanted to strike Lin Beifans face. Lin Beifan added, Finally, as you said earlier, the Imperial Guards and the Forbidden Army are stationed all around the Ministry of Industry. It is impossible for any leaks to ur. If I leaked information under these circumstances, wouldnt it be obvious? They would suspect me immediately for any small issue! I am a triple winner of the imperial examination, do you think I would do something that foolish? This The officials all shook their heads. Any person with normal intelligence knows what they should do. Lin Beifan, such a smart person, must not have made such a stupid mistake. I am innocent, Your Majesty, please investigate! Lin Beifan bowed. Sir Lin is indeed innocent! The empress said firmly: He has been loyal to me and to Great Wu. In his three months in office, I do not know how many achievements he has made for our court! The Darro Swallowing n was his idea, and the air ballon was his invention! Among all the civil and military officials, others may betray me, but he will not! Your Majesty is wise! Lin Beifan was deeply moved. Therefore, the method of making the air balloon must have leaked from your Ministry of Industry! After all, your ministry has a history of such things happening regrly! Wang Rushui, what is your crime? Your Majesty, I am really innocent! Wang Rushui, the Minister of Industry, cried, feeling more wronged than Dou E1 Seeing Wang Rushui, who usually opposed her, crying, the empress felt happy inside. Of course, she knew the other party was innocent, framed by some little viin and ended up taking a big ck pot on his head. But with such a rare opportunity to vent her anger, how could she let it go? Humph! Theres no such thing as being wronged. Since it has already happened, you cannot escape responsibility for negligence! the empress said angrily: You will be fined three years sry and remain under investigation! If you make the same mistake again next time, you wont need your official hat I will definitely finish you thoroughly! Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Wang Rushui breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a matter of sry punishment, as long as he still had his official position, there was no problem. But in the future, he may have to act low-key. This leak threatens our national stability, and we cannot take it lightly. We must impose severe punishment! the empress said loudly: Investigate! Investigate the Ministry of Industry inside out! We must not let anyone off! Once a problem is found, they must be dealt with severely! At this time, Lin Beifan stood up: Your Majesty! Sir Lin, what is it? Your Majesty, please give this matter to me! Lin Beifan said with a heavy heart: I am very sad and angry to see the air balloon that I have researched so hard being leaked like this. Therefore, I must find the mastermind behind the scenes and let them receive their due punishment! The empress sneered in her heart: You bastard, you are good at pretending to catch the thief! At this moment, you seem quite proactive. Are you thinking of pilfering again? When will you ever give me some peace of mind. On the surface, the empress appeared heartbroken, saying, My dear, I have caused you great distress! Your pain is my pain, and I understand it so well! That being the case, I entrust this task to you! Lin Beifan was overjoyed, Thank you, Your Majesty! I will give it my all and will not rest until it is done! This is another way to get rich! Who knows how many corrupt officials work in the Ministry of Industry? You know, those in construction are all rich beyond measure! If you dont seize this opportunity to cut them deep, it would be a waste! Looking up at the empresss stunning face. Your Majesty, I love you! The empress, sitting on the throne, looked at Lin Beifans slightly upturned lips and could sense his inner pride and joy. She made a fist and wanted to punch him again. Also, I hope you can take up residence in the Ministry of Industry. On one hand, you can help the craftsmen manufacture the airship sooner! On the other hand, I hope you can keep an eye on others and not let this method leak out again! If the manufacturing method is leaked again, you wont be able to escape responsibility, so dont cause problems for me. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan readily agreed. So next, Lin Beifan led the imperialmand to break into the Ministry of Industry. The leak of the airship threatens the state and has angered the empress! The empress has said that the Ministry of Industry must be thoroughly investigated from top to bottom, and no one can be excluded! Once a problem is found, it must be immediately exposed, and punished severely! What this means is Lin Beifan smiled, Im here to search your homes, and I hope you all cooperate! The officials of the Ministry of Industry were shocked. What? You want to search our homes? Absolutely not! Lin Beifan is too greedy, we must not let them in! Sir Wang, please speak for us! The officials were very agitated. Lin Beifan smiled at the Ministry of Industry Heaf, Sir Wang, they seem very uncooperative! Can you help me out a bit? Otherwise, I could end up going too heavy-handed and offending my colleagues! Wang Rishui, the Head of the Ministry of Industry, was tired and weak, saying, This is the order of the empress, so please cooperate with Sir Lin! Otherwise, if you make a mistake, I wont be able to save you! Sir Wang! Sir Wang! Everyone was shocked that even Sir Wang couldnt stand up against it. Everyone, have you heard Sir Wangs words? I hope you will cooperate or else I will charge you with treason and give you no mercy! Lin Beifan shouted. The officials trembled, feeling as though the sky was about to copse.
1. Dou E is the protagonist of the ssical Chinese y The Injustice to Dou E, also known as The Injustice Done to Dou E. The y is a Yuan Dynasty y by Guan Hanqing and is regarded as one of the Four Great ssical Chinese Dramas. The storyline revolves around the struggles of Dou E, a young woman who is falsely used and punished for a crime she did notmit. The y has been adapted into various forms of media and is widely known in Chinese culture. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 111: Deliver the Money Before Dark, and Your Suspicion Will be Cleared! Chapter 111: Deliver the Money Before Dark, and Your Suspicion Will be Cleared! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Sir Zhou, lets start with you! Lin Beifan said with a smirk, looking at a middle-aged man with a pale face. This persons name was Zhou Huayuan, holding the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Industry, a high-ranking official of the third rank in the imperial court. Very well, Sir Lin, please follow me, Zhou Huayuan forced a faint smile. Thank you for your cooperation, Sir Zhou! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, then turned to the other officials of the Ministry of Industry and said, The rest of you can stay here for now! Without my permission, do not leave the Ministry of Industry! Otherwise, dont me me for not considering the camaraderie and treating you as traitors and conspirators! We dare not, we dare not! Everyone trembled in fear. Then, Lin Beifan followed Zhou Huayuan, the Assistant Minister of Industry, to his residence. Using his sharp eyes, Lin Beifan searched the house and discovered nearly 1.5 million taels of gold and silver jewelry. He even found the treasures hidden in secret rooms and vaults. With a smiling face, Lin Beifan said to Zhou Huayuan and his family, Sir Zhou, considering your sry over the years, it is impossible for you to possess so much money! Please exin the origin of these gold and silver jewelry one by one. If their origin is normal, legal, andpliant, then there wont be any problem. But if you cant exin, I have reason to suspect you as a traitor and conspirator! These are the earnings from my sry over the years, totaling about 40,000 taels! These are the revenues from mynd for the past few years, totaling about 20,000 taels! These are the dowries of my humble daughter These are Zhou Huayuan, with a pale face, exined the origins of the gold and silver jewelry. However, in the end, only about 100,000 taels could be clearly exined, while the origins of the rest could not be ounted for. Those who cant exin the origin are definitely obtained illegally. Whether you exin or not, you will die. Sir Zhou, it seems you are highly suspicious! Zhou Huayuan was sweating profusely and bowed, saying, Sir Lin, I am wholeheartedly loyal to Her Majesty and devoted to the Great Wu. I have nevermitted any act of treason or betrayal! I implore Sir Lin to see the truth! If thats the case, then where did these extra gold and silver jewelrye from? Lin Beifan asked. Well Zhou Huayuan was speechless. At this moment, Lin Beifan sighed, To tell you the truth, I dont believe that you arepletely loyal and havent betrayed Her Majesty or the Great Wu! But its really hard to exin this extra money! However, Her Majesty has ordered me to investigate thoroughly, and now that problems have been uncovered, how can I justify it to her? Well Zhou Huayuans mouth twitched with bitterness. Dont worry, Sir Zhou, I actually have a solution! Lin Beifan said with a smirk. Sir Lin, please tell me! Zhou Huayuan eagerly asked. With the extra gold and silver jewelry gone, wouldnt you be in the clear? Lin Beifan said with a smile. In that case, Sir Lin, what do you mean Sir Zhou, you are usually quite shrewd, but why are you confused at this moment? Lin Beifan chuckled softly and said, You can just move all these extra treasures to my house, and then youll be fine, wont you? What the hell! Zhou Huayuan eximed. After struggling for a while, it turned out he still wanted to be greedy! Looking at the other partys stunned expression, Lin Beifan whispered again, Sir Zhou, whether you agree or not, just say a word! Let me rephrase it: Do you want money, or do you want your life? Of course, I Zhou Huayuans face twitched, want my life! Lin Beifan patted his shoulder with a smile, A very wise choice! So, Sir Zhou, hurry up and send someone to do it! If you deliver the money before dark, then your suspicion will be cleared! Then I must thank you, Sir Lin! Zhou Huayuan gritted his teeth. Lin Beifan smiled warmly and said, Its nothing. After all, we are colleagues, seeing each other every day. Helping each other is only natural! Well then, Ill go to Sir Lius ce now! I hope I can see you tomorrow morning at the court! After speaking, Lin Beifan arrogantly left. Zhou Huayuan looked at the room filled with gold and silver jewelry, closed his eyes in pain, and said, Someone, take these things to Lins residence! Then, Lin Beifan raided one household after another, confiscating a lot of gold and silver jewelry. It had to be said that these officials involved in construction projects were truly wealthy. Even a fifth or sixth-ranked official could have three or four hundred thousand taels of gold and silver jewelry found in their homes. In order to save their own lives and official positions, they had to endure the pain and send all the ill-gotten gold and silver jewelry they had greedily umted over the years to Lin Beifans residence. As a result, the people of the capital witnessed another spectacle. Boxes of gold and silver jewelry were continuously transported to Lin Beifans house. Their hearts were filled with sadness andmentation. The top schr is being greedy again. These are the blood and sweat of themon people! The top schr already has the best in food, clothing, and living expenses. Why is he still so greedy? When will we, themon people, have a good life? We cant live like this anymore! After two days of time, Lin Beifan finally conducted a thorough search and confiscation of all the officials in the Ministry of Industry, seizing gold and silver jewelry worth tens of millions of taels. At the same time, several deeply hidden traitors were also discovered and handed over to Lin Beifan. After this battle, the entire Ministry of Industry was greatly damaged. Although the official system was kept intact, all their illicit gains were greedily taken by Lin Beifan, leaving them impoverished overnight. Director Lin, is it over now? Wang Rushui, the Minister of Industry, had bloodshot eyes. For the past two days, he couldnt sleep or eat, feeling restless every day. He had gained more than a dozen white hairs on his head, and his beard hadnt been trimmed. He looked several years older. Its almost done, but one person is still missing! Lin Beifan smiled. Who? Wang Rushui was puzzled. In his impression, everyone had been investigated. Of course, its you, Minister Wang! Lin Beifan turned his head and said with a smile. You bastard! You even investigate me? Wang Rushui jumped up in anger. Naturally! Lin Beifans expression turned serious. Her Majesty has issued a strict order. The leak of this incident threatens the countrys foundation, so the entire Ministry of Industry must be investigated thoroughly. No one can be spared! As the Minister of Industry, Minister Wang, naturally you cant be an exception! I hope you understand and dont make things difficult for me! Wang Rushui trembled with anger. It was so pompous. You just wanted to raid my house and seize the opportunity to be greedy for wealth. Ive seen through your true face a long time ago! Go ahead, investigate! Lets see how long you can be arrogant! Wang Rushui admitted defeat and said displeasedly, waving his sleeves. Rest assured, Minister Wang. I will never let a bad person go free, nor will I wrongly use a good person! Then, Lin Beifan followed Wang Rushui to his residence. After spending half a day searching, they found unidentified gold and silver jewelry worth three million taels. Then, Wang Rushui, with a dark face, ordered his men to send these items to Lin Beifans residence. It is said that on that day, Minister Wang Rushui was so angry that he couldnt eat and had one of his servants disguise as Lin Beifan, whom he beat up. The next day, during the morning court session, Lin Beifan reported loudly, Reporting to Your Majesty, as per Your orders, I have investigated the leak of the Ministry of Industrys Air Balloon incident, and there are results! Zhao XX, Huang XX, and six others have been found guilty of treason and espionage. They have been imprisoned, awaiting Your Majestys verdict! The remaining officials of the Ministry of Industry are innocent and did not participate in this matter. Please examine it, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said. The Empress nodded and said, Lin, you have worked hard! Since it has been proven that Zhao XX and the others are guilty of treason, there is no need for a trial. Take them away and execute them! As for their families and others, deal with them ording to thews of Great Wu! Furthermore, although the other officials of the Ministry of Industry are innocent, they are also guilty of inexcusable negligence in this incident and must be punished severely! They will have their sries deducted for two years as a warning to others! The several officials from the Ministry of Industry present were trembling with fear. Their wealth had been greedily taken by Lin Beifan, and now they were being punished with a two-year sry deduction. How could they survive? However, no matter how unwilling they were in their hearts, they could only bow their heads and ept it. They reluctantly said, Thank you, Your Majesty! Seeing the deste appearance of the Ministry of Industry officials, the Empress almost burst intoughter. She had been waiting for this day for a long time! She had dreamt of it for a long time, and now her dream wasing true! Hehe, you are experiencing it now too! You dared to covet the Empress wealth, greedily taking from themon people. Now I will make you spit it all out! Looking at Lin Beifan, the Empresss gaze became particrly approving. Although this guy often did things that gave her a headache, he also did things that inspired her and allowed her to vent her anger. Just like this time, when the monarch and her subjects worked together in perfect harmony to thoroughly investigate all the officials of the Ministry of Industry and scrape away all the ill-gotten wealth from them. It was truly satisfying! Thrilling!!! At this thought, the Empresss generous heart started to itch with the desire to reward. Sir Lin, please step forward and listen to the imperial decree! she said with a smile. Lin Beifan stood up, looking confused. The Empress beamed and said, In this investigation, Sir Lin took the lead, exposing the traitors hidden within the Ministry of Industry and clearing other officials of any wrongdoing. His contributions are remarkable and deserve great rewards! A reward of ten thousand taels of silver! A set of crystal cups! A pound of Dragon Blood Tea! Another round ofvish rewards! Lin Beifan felt embarrassed by the generosity. He had just embezzled tens of millions behind the Empresss back, and the items hadnt even cooled off yet when the extravagant rewards came from the Empress! Even if he had a thick skin, he didnt dare to ept it now! After all, he still had a bit of conscience! Meanwhile, the officials werepletely consumed by jealousy! He had embezzled so much money, and now the Empress was bestowing heavy rewards! Is there any justice? Is there any rule ofw? Especially the officials from the Ministry of Industry. They had just returned to poverty, and now they saw the chief culprit who caused their impoverishment enjoying a life of luxury, with silver in one hand and gold in the other, basking in favor The tremendous sense of disparity infuriated them to the point of wanting to kill! Their hearts were bleeding, and they felt so wronged that they wanted to cry! It took two minutes for the Empress to finish reciting all the rewards, seemingly watching Lin Beifan about to refuse, she quickly added, Sir Lin, please dont refuse. This is what you deserve! We understand that your home may not be able to amodate it all, so we will temporarily store it in the pce. When you need it,e and get it! The Empress had gone to such lengths in her words, refusing now would be a blow to her face. Therefore, Lin Beifan could only hold back his tears and say, Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Good! The Empress was very pleased. Sir Lin, from now on, you will focus on the Ministry of Industry and strive to mass-produce the air balloons, showcasing our national power and shaking the world! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 112: The Arms Race in Another World Begins! Chapter 112: The Arms Race in Another World Begins! 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After the morning court session, seeing that there was nothing to attend to at the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan strolled over to the workshops of the Ministry of Industry to exercise his supervisory duties. Along the way, he encountered many officials from the Ministry of Industry, and he interrogated all of them thoroughly. As soon as they saw Lin Beifans dark expression, their faces turned ugly. Some even gritted their teeth, turned around, and walked away. Lin Beifan smirked. He liked it when they couldnt stand him but couldnt get rid of him. Before long, he arrived at the workshops of the Ministry of Industry. At this time, thousands of craftsmen had gathered in the workshops, exerting their full efforts to produce the airborne divine artifactshot air balloons. Lin Beifan was received by a Deputy Director, who had a dislike for him but had no choice but to entertain him. Sir Lin, since taking on this task, we have gathered arge number of craftsmen. They have been continuously manufacturing hot air balloons for twelve hours. Currently, we are simultaneously producing twenty hot air balloons, which will bepleted soon! Lin Beifan nodded. Not bad. When can they be delivered? The Empress is eager to use them! After pondering for a moment, the Deputy Director said, If everything goes smoothly, we can deliver them within three days. Good! Lin Beifan nodded in approval. The two continued to walk forward until they reached the area where the balloons were being made. At this moment, there were many workers inside, cingrge pieces of fabric into a green water pool,pletely soaking them. Then, they took them out to dry. Once dry, they immersed them in water again. This process was repeated multiple times until it formed the impermeable, airtight, heat-resistant, and durable envelope of the hot air balloon. This was the key to constructing the hot air balloons. Whether the hot air balloons could be sessfully made depended on this step. However, this was also the most prone to errors. Lin Beifan stared at the pool of green water and shouted, Wait! Whats the matter, Master Lin? This pool of water is not good. The envelopes made from it wont do! The Deputy Director was puzzled. But we made this pool of adhesive ording to your manufacturing method, Sir Lin! It was indeed fine originally, but after multiple uses, the adhesive effect deteriorated! Lin Beifan grabbed the raw materials from the side and threw them into the water pool in a certain proportion. Lin Beifan pped his hands. Okay, mix it well, then dye it two more times! The Deputy Director was still puzzled. Sir Lin, this Lin Beifan smiled and said, It involvesplex chemical principles that you wouldnt understand even if I exined. Just remember that when the adhesive bes diluted, you must throw the raw materials into the pool in the proper proportion until the water returns to a dark green color. Adding a little more or a little less wont work! Understood, I know how to do it now! After inspecting the workshops of the Ministry of Industry, Lin Beifan went to see the training of the Sky Warriors. Arriving at the Forbidden Army camp, Lin Beifan was received by amanding officer of the Forbidden Army named Zhao. He held the rank of Fourth-rank official, a powerful innate expert, andmanded a force of 30,000 soldiers. He was highly respected and trusted by the Empress. As soon as Lin Beifan arrived at the military camp, the officer was already waiting at the entrance, smiling and bowing. Sir Lin, you have finallye! Pleasee in quickly. I have been waiting for a long time! Lin Beifan modestly replied, Commander Zhao, youre too polite. How could I trouble you? No trouble at all. Its an honor for me to meet Sir Lin! Haha! The officerughed heartily. He dared not be too arrogant in front of Lin Beifan. The newly crowned top schr who achieved the Triple Sess in the imperial examination! In just three months as an official, he had already jumped three ranks and be a Fifth-rank officer! He was highly favored by the Empress and frequently received rewards from her! He often confronted civil and military officials, offending them all, yet still lived a carefree life! And in the past few days, he had interrogated all the officials of the Ministry of Industry! He didnt even spare the Minister of Industry! Truly daring and audacious! Who would dare to offend someone with such great prospects and audacity? The two chatted andughed as they walked into the military camp. They arrived at a spacious open area where the first airborne divine artifact, a hot air balloon, was ced. Inside, it was filled with hot air but hadnt ascended yet. There were 30 lean soldiers training nearby. Sir Lin, these 30 are our first batch of Sky Warriors, carefully selected from the Forbidden Army. They are loyal, brave, and skilled warriors! All of them have reached at least the Eighth Rank, and three of them have even reached the Seventh Rank! Sir Lin, are you satisfied? Commander Zhao proudly said. Not bad! Commander Zhao, you have done well! Lin Beifan smiled. The selection of Sky Warriors was simr to selecting pilots nowadays. First, loyalty was paramount, and second, they needed to have excellent physical fitness. Especially the second requirement, it was non-negotiable. Otherwise, if any danger arose, they wouldnt be able to escape and would only meet their demise! At what stage is their training now? Have they conducted the second test flight? Lin Beifan asked. The necessary training has beenpleted, but we havent conducted the second flight yet, Commander Zhao replied. Lin Beifan was surprised. Really? It has been quite a while already. Why havent they conducted the second test flight? Commander Zhao smiled bitterly. Its unavoidable! Although we have the method of piloting provided by you, everyone is still inexperienced. They havent actually flown before, so their experience iscking, and they are clumsy! If any mishap were to ur and the airborne divine artifact were damaged, we wouldnt be able to bear the responsibility! Lin Beifan chuckled. Commander Zhao, youre too cautious! Let me tell you, in a few days, the Ministry of Industry will produce another 20 balloons! If one balloon is damaged, there are still 20 others to rely on. No need to worry about it! Besides, even if theyck experience, dont forget that Im here. As the first person to fly, I wrote the piloting method that you all learned. I will guide you in flying and quickly familiarize you with the art of piloting the hot air balloons! In fact, it was Lin Beifan who couldnt resist the temptation of flying in the sky again. So he came up with a reasonable excuse. Sir Lin, your guidance is sufficient for us. You dont have to fly, Commander Zhao quickly said. If I dont fly, how can I teach you the art of flying? Lin Beifan replied. Sir Lin, its too dangerous! What if something happens to you? How can we justify it to the Empress? Commander Zhao said with a bitter smile. Dont worry, I wont be in danger! Lin Beifan waved his hand dismissively. Sir Lin, thats not what I mean! I mean, Her Majesty has explicitly forbidden you from boarding the hot air balloon! If you were to board the balloon, we would be disobeying the imperial decree and would be executed! Lin Beifan was shocked, What the hell? Is the Empress specifically targeting me? Its indeed what Her Majesty said! Commander Zhao looked at Lin Beifan with a hint of envy and said, Her Majesty said that your life is rted to the Great Wu Empire, its prosperity, and stability. You must not make any mistakes! If you insist on boarding the balloon, all of us will be in trouble. You see, Her Majesty values you greatly. Please spare me, Sir Lin! Lin Beifans mood instantly turned sour! He would rather not have such importance ced on him! All he wanted now was to fly! Commander Zhao, this wont do. How can I teach the art of flying if I dont fly? Please speak some good words for me in front of the Empress. Its just a short flight. With my experience, there wont be any problems. Everyone can rest assured! Seeing Lin Beifan persistently pushing for it, Commander Zhao didnt want to offend him either, so he agreed, Alright! I will inform the higher-ups on behalf of Sir Lin. If its not possible, then theres nothing we can do! Thank you, Commander Zhao! Not long after, inside the pce The Empress, who was reviewing memorials, received a verbal message from Commander Zhao and was somewhat surprised. What? Lin Beifan wants to board the hot air balloon again? The chief eunuch nodded respectfully, Yes, Your Majesty! The top schr says that only by boarding the hot air balloon can he conveniently teach the art of flying and quickly train a group of sky-faring warriors! The Empress continued to focus on reviewing the memorials and said, Tell him directly, he is not allowed! This guy dared to cut the ropes and fly outside the city on his first flight. We almost couldnt find him! Another attempt? No way. The chief eunuch lowered his head, Yes, Your Majesty! Just as he was about to go and deliver the response, the Empress called out, Wait! The chief eunuch turned around, respectfully asking, Does Your Majesty have any other instructions? The Empress pointed to the fruits on a tray beside her and said, This winter melon from the Western Regions is good. Its sweet and juicy, even more delicious when chilled. Send it to Sir Lin for him to taste! Yes, Your Majesty! The chief eunuch lifted the tray with both hands and left. About an hourter, several eunuchs arrived at the Forbidden Army camp. The imperial decreemands: Lin Beifan is prohibited from boarding the divine artifact, hot air balloon. It is decreed! Lin Beifans face was full of disappointment, and Commander Zhao spread his hands, expressing helplessness. At that moment, two young eunuchs opened arge and exquisite food box, taking out chilled fruits from inside. Master Lin, these are fruits bestowed by the Empress, winter melons from the Western Regions. They are sweet and juicy, and even more delicious when chilled. Please have a taste, Sir Lin! Lin Beifan blinked. What did the Empress mean by this? Was she implying that he should just be an ordinary onlooker and stop causing trouble? As a result, Lin Beifan could only eat the chilled watermelon while instructing the Sky Warriors on how to fly. In this way, three days quickly passed. The 20 hot air balloons from the Ministry of Industry were delivered on time. With the 20 hot air balloons, the training speed of the Sky Warriors increased significantly. In less than three days, they had basically mastered the art of flying and could ascend to an altitude of forty to fifty meters. The Empress was extremely pleased and rewarded everyone generously. She also decided to hold an ascension ceremony soon, where all 20 hot air balloons would ascend simultaneously, shaking the world. On that day, when the 20 hot air balloons rose into the sky above the capital, the entire city became lively! It was hailed as a rare spectacle in the Great Wu Empire in a hundred years! This rarely seen scene quickly spread throughout the country and even to other nations! Princes and rulers from various countries were greatly stimted! The Great Wu Court already possessed 20 sky-faring divine artifact hot air balloons! And they hadnt even made one themselves! How could theypete with the Great Wu Court in the future? As a result, they invested more resources and efforts into manufacturing hot air balloons. The arms race in the otherworldly realm had begun! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 113: Did the Air Balloon Succeed or Fail? Chapter 113: Did the Air Balloon Seed or Fail? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In the Northern Hebei, within a grand courtyard belonging to the Prince. This courtyard was extremely luxurious, serving as a ce where the Prince of Northern Hebei received martial arts heroes, as well as a ce for researching and manufacturing the celestial artifact known as the Air Balloon. Ever since obtaining Lin Beifans method of manufacturing the balloon, the Prince of Northern Hebei had gathered numerous skilled craftsmen and invested significant manpower and resources into developing the balloon. After half a month had passed, finally, good news arrived. The military advisor Zhuge came to congratte and said, Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Your Highness! Our first heavenly artifact, the Air Balloon, has been sessfully manufactured. We will soon be able to conduct a flight experiment! Your Highness, you are one step closer to achieving your grand ambition! Ascending to the heavens, attaining immortality, its within reach! Excellent! Truly excellent! The Prince of Northern Hebei was overjoyed. The sessful development of the Air Balloon not only meant a step closer to the throne but also Attaining immortality! Achieving eternal life! For any king, this was an irresistible temptation! Thus, the Prince of Northern Hebei couldnt wait and said, The court has already produced 20 Air Balloons. Time waits for no one! We will conduct a test flight tomorrow. What do you think? Yes, Your Highness! I will inform everyone about this matter! The next day, the Prince, along with his trusted followers, arrived early at the courtyard. The martial arts heroes who had joined the Prince also gathered here, witnessing this rare and extraordinary flight experiment. The Prince stood beneath the balloon, which was being filled with hot air, and eximed, This is the Air Balloon! Its truly astonishing that such a peculiar-looking object can actually take flight! A martial arts hero smiled and said, Your Highness, if it werent for the confidential information, I wouldnt believe that this thing can actually take flight! It can only be said that Lin Beifan is truly talented. He deserves to be the literary star from heaven,ing down to earth. He has actually invented this artifact! Upon hearing this, the Prince nodded with a smile on his face, disying a sense of pride. Now, Lin Beifan, the top schr, could be considered one of his men. When others praised Lin Beifan, it felt as if they were praising himself. However, Your Highness, I still have some concerns. Can this thing really take flight? The Prince expressed his uneasiness. When it came to things he had not witnessed with his own eyes, he always felt uncertain. Zhuge, the advisor, smiled and reassured him, saying, Your Highness, rest assured! This celestial artifact is identical to the one produced by the court! And it was the same person who provided the manufacturing method. So, there is absolutely no problem with its ability to fly! The Prince was very pleased and dered, Good! If this test flight is sessful, everyone will be handsomely rewarded! Thank you, Your Highness! Everyone present smiled. As the balloon filled with hot air, it gradually expanded into a huge sphere, as tall as three or four stories. Even when standing outside the courtyard, it was clearly visible and attracted the attention of many people. However, the Prince made no effort to conceal it. Now, all the major princes and countries were developing balloons. Even if the court found out, what could they do to him? He was not as guilty as everyone else; he could only acknowledge it reluctantly! Thinking this way, he admired Lin Beifan, who was far away in the capital, even more. With a small n, he helped him solve future troubles! Truly a great talent! The Prince stood beneath the balloon, watching it expand, and his ambition swelled along with it. This time we must seed in flying to the heavens! At that moment, a soldier reported, Your Highness, the balloon is fully inted. We can proceed with the first test flight! Everyones eyes became filled with excitement. Your Highness, let me be the first to take flight! Your Highness, please assign this task to me! Your Highness Watching the martial arts heroes eager to take the lead and the generals and soldiers eager to try, the Princeughed heartily, Heroes, theres no need topete. Everyone will have their turn! Young hero Liu, how about letting young hero Liu be the first? Liu, whose full name was Liu Zhenyun, was a young hero who had recently joined the Prince of Northern Hebeis faction. At less than 20 years old, he was full of youthful vigor and impulsive passion, eager to aplish great things alongside the Prince. This move was just right for winning the other partys favor. As expected, when Liu Zhenyun heard the Prince entrusting him with this precious opportunity, he was overjoyed and said, Thank you, Your Highness! I will definitely live up to your expectations! He then eagerly jumped into the basket and waited for the balloon to ascend. Seeing this, others were no longer interested inpeting, as they knew there would be opportunities in the future. At this point, the balloon had slowly begun to rise, hovering about a meter above the ground. Everyone was filled with excitement. Its taking off! It really took off! Its going to fly to the heavens! The Prince of Northern Hebei was delighted and said, It really took off! Truly the Air Balloon! As they spoke, the balloon had already risen three to four meters above the ground. Everyone was even more thrilled. Its already three to four meters high, taller than a building wall! Fly even higher! Fly up to the sky! Amidst everyones anticipation, the balloon continued to rise slowly. Unbeknownst to them, it had already reached a height of over 30 meters above the ground. Adding to its original height, it had reached a maximum height of 50 meters, visible to almost everyone in the city. Everyone was ecstatic and dancing with joy. From below, the Prince shouted, Young hero Lin, how is everything going? Lin Zhenyun, standing in the basket, was extremely excited and replied, Everything is going well, Your Highness. Please rest assured! Good! the Princeughed heartily. Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions! Zhuge Liang eximed, bowing and saying loudly, This experimental flight can be considered a sess! With this flying artifact, what can hinder our great cause? Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions! everyone chimed in unison. Hahahaha the Princeughed heartily, realizing for the first time how close he was to his dream. But just then, a puff sound was heard. The balloon unexpectedly stopped ascending and began descending slowly. The king was bewildered, asking, Whats happening? Everyone turned to look at the chief craftsman in charge of developing the balloon. Wiping the sweat off his face, the old craftsman hesitantly said, Your Highness, it seems that the gas envelope of the balloon has ruptured. The Prince pressed on, What will happen if it ruptures? ording to the manufacturing method, the balloon relies on the hot air inside to ascend. If it ruptures, the air will leak, and the hot air inside the balloon will escape. Without the hot air, the balloon cannot fly. As they spoke, the flying balloon slowly descended before the astonished gazes of everyone. Taking another look, they discovered a hole in the balloon through which the hot air was escaping. Please forgive us, Your Highness! The craftsmen immediately knelt down, trembling. The Princes expression darkened. The first flight experiment turned out like this! Moreover, it happened in front of everyone, causing embarrassment. Advisor Zhuge quickly spoke up, Your Highness, this first flight experiment can already be considered a sess! The air leakage might be due to the craftsmensck of experience in their first attempt! Give them more opportunities, and they will surely create a flying artifact, the balloon, that will satisfy you and conquer the vastnds! The Princes expression eased slightly, as he still relied on this group of craftsmen to help him build the balloon. If he were to punish them, it would undermine their motivation. With this in mind, the Prince revealed a gentle smile and said, The advisor is right. This flying artifact, the balloon, can already be considered a sessful development. It just encountered a minor issue in the process. Craftsmen, please rise quickly. The ground is too cold! Thank you, Your Highness! The craftsmen were both surprised and relieved, expressing their heartfelt gratitude. Other martial arts heroes seemed to witness this scene and nodded one after another. This was the broad-hearted and virtuous prince they had in mind! This was the enlightened ruler they swore to follow to the death! Next, I will continue to trouble all the craftsmen! The Prince smiled kindly and said, Please strive to produce arge number of flying artifact balloons as soon as possible! Once the task ispleted, I will reward generously and bestow higher ranks. It wont be a problem! Yes, Your Highness! The craftsmens faces were filled with ecstatic joy. At this time, in the Southern Jiang. Another balloon slowly ascended but fell down before reaching a height of forty to fifty meters. A group of astonished people stood below. Among them, a person standing in the middle appeared somewhat dignified and overweight. This person was the Prince of Southern Jiang. He gazed at the falling balloon in front of him, his eyes vacant. Is this flying artifact considered a sess or a failure? Can anyone tell me? Wang Fugui, who had done business with Lin Beifan, bravely spoke up, Your Highness, naturally, it can be considered a sess! The Prince of Southern Jiang turned his head and asked, Why do you say that? Your Highness, it has already flown dozens of meter in the sky. Isnt that a sess? If we look back in the past, was there any other divine object that could carry people more than dozens of meter into the sky? There was none! Wang Fugui said, bowing respectfully. Very well, you make a valid point! The Prince of Southern Jiangs expression brightened. ording to the manufacturing method, the gas envelope of the balloon has strict requirements, and there should be no room for error! Its possible that our craftsmencked experience in developing balloons for the first time, leading to some problems. If we try more times, there shouldnt be any issues! Wang Fugui continued reporting. You make a valid point. Lets continue to manufacture balloons! Lets make 50 of them no, 100! The Prince of Southern Jiang dered emphatically. Wang Fugui was startled, Your Highness, isnt it too many? It will require a lot of money! Prince of Southern Jiang shook his head, Not at all! The court has already developed 20, and I dont have a single one. How can I contend with the court? In a while, they might have forty or fifty! Therefore, we must seize the time and quickly manufacture a hundred air balloons to surpass the court! As for money Prince of Southern Jiang proudly said, Am I a person whocks money? Im only left with money! Immediately gather arge number of skilled craftsmen to manufacture a hundred air balloons! Yes, Your Highness! At this time, other vassal kings and nations also conducted their first flight experiments with air balloons. However, without exception, all of them failed to fly beyond 50 meters and fell back down. Yet they all considered themselves sessful, believing it was just a minor mistake. After all, it was their first production attempt, which could be understood. Consequently, they all intensified their efforts to produce air balloons, not wanting to fall behind. This situation quickly reached the pce. The Empress smiled triumphantly, As Lin Beifan predicted, the air balloons they developed have significant problems. They cant even fly 20 zhang! What threat can a balloon that doesnt reach 20 zhang pose? A balloon that cant reach 20 zhang is simply a conspicuousntern, easily shot down with a single arrow. It cant pose any threat without reaching a height of 70-80 zhang. (TLN: 1 zhang= 3.3 meter) You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 114: Demanding 10 million taels at the start, such a huge appetite! Chapter 114: Demanding 10 million taels at the start, such a huge appetite! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
To think that they still have no idea and are producing these problematic big balloons at any cost! In the end, they lost a great deal of manpower and resources, but gained nothing! The Empress couldnt help but burst intoughter! Lin Beifans move is truly ruthless and brilliant! With minimal effort and without deploying military forces, he weakened the strength of all the vassal kings, allowing my own power to rapidly expand! The scales of victory are gradually tipping in my favor! Kings, none of you could have expected this, right? The Empress was extremely proud. Now, she held the legitimate title and possessed arge amount of wealth, allowing her to develop her hidden forces. The longer the time dragged on, the more advantageous it became for her. She increasingly admired and appreciated Lin Beifan. This guy was always unpredictable, often causing her headaches, but he proved to be the most reliable at crucial moments. As she thought about it, she found herself missing that guy somewhat. Oh, how is Sir Lin doing now? He has been so quiet these past few days. Its not like him! Oh, didnt I reward him with a good piece ofnd? Did he ept it? The old eunuch lowered his head and reported, Your Majesty, Sir Lin has been busy running between the Imperial Academy, the Ministry of Industry, and the Forbidden Armys camp these past few days. His official duties are quite demanding! As for thend, Sir Lin has not epted it yet! He hasnt epted it? This wont do! The Empress urged, Go and remind him to ept thend as soon as possible! Only withnd will he settle down! Yes, Your Majesty! The old eunuch bowed and left. Soon after, the old eunuch personally visited Lin Beifans residence. Wang Gonggong, its said that one should not enter the Treasure Hall without a reason. What brings you here? Lin Beifan greeted with a smile. Sir Lin, it is Her Majestys order for me toe. The old eunuch chuckled. Do you have any instructions from Her Majesty? Lin Beifan was puzzled as he felt that there hadnt been much going on recently. Sir Lin, have you forgotten? Her Majesty once rewarded you with a hundred mu of goodnd, but you havent gone to im it yet! Her Majesty grew impatient, so she sent me to remind you! the old eunuchughed. Lin Beifan pped his forehead. Oh, dear, Ive been busy with official dutiestely and forgot. Im sorry! In reality, he never took it seriously. After all, he was someone who could be on the run at any moment, and he couldnt take thend with him. What use did he have for it? So he unconsciously forgot about it. Sir Lin, youre currently in favor and working diligently for Her Majesty, so its understandable that your official duties keep you busy. However, you cant neglect thend! Can you find some time to apany me? Otherwise, if Her Majesty mes me, it wont be good for me either! The old eunuch forced a smile. Where is thisnd? Is it far? Lin Beifan asked. Not far, its just outside the city! This is a piece ofnd specially selected by Her Majesty for you! The old eunuch said enviously. Alright, since thats the case, lets go take a look! Lin Beifan nodded. Good, please follow me! The old eunuch led the way. Lin Beifan brought along Li Shi Shi and others, so they could recognize the way. After about an hour, they arrived outside the city. The old eunuch pointed to a fertile and neatly organized piece ofnd. Sir Lin, this is the goodnd rewarded to you by Her Majesty, a total of 100 mu! Its not far from the capital city, making it convenient to manage. What do you think? (Tln: 1 mu about 666 square meters, approximately 9 ser fields could fit into an area of 100 mu.) At a nce, it was indeed goodnd, as the rice fields were thriving. Having spent over three years in this world, Lin Beifan had never seen such excellent farnd before. Lin Beifan nodded and smiled. Its excellent. I really like it. Please convey my thanks to Her Majesty, Wang Gonggong! Sir Lin, as long as youre pleased with it! The old eunuch also smiled and took out a box containing several papers. He advised, These are thend deeds for this piece ofnd. Please keep them safe, Sir Lin! Thank you, Wang Gonggong! Lin Beifan received it with both hands. Its nothing. Ill go back and report now! Take care, Wang Gonggong! At this moment, holding thend deed in his hand and looking at the fertilend in front of him, Lin Beifan felt a bit confused. Is it this easy to be a wickedndlord, exploiting the farmers in the old society? He sighed silently in his heart. After all these years, Ive be the person I despise the most! But this feeling I like it! Husband, we have our ownnd now! Li Shi Shi was overjoyed. For people living in this era, having their own piece ofnd meant having a means of livelihood, it meant having hope, it meant they wouldnt starve to death. This is a sense of security that money cannot bring! Just like now, many people, even when they have money, still want to buy a house to feel secure. Its a tradition deeply ingrained in our bones. Shi Shi, youre happy too early! Lin Beifan sighed and smiled bitterly. With the things weve done, well eventually have to leave this ce. We cant take thisnd with us. Whats the use of having it? Husband, what you said is true! Li Shi Shis mood dampened. Lin Beifan felt a pang of heartache and quicklyforted her, Dont worry! Everything will be fine! No difficulty can defeat me! The world is vast, and there will always be a ce for us to settle! Wherever my husband is, thats where our home is! Li Shi Shi smiled and nestled gently against Lin Beifan. The two of them enjoyed this moment of tranquility. Meanwhile, Lin Beifans mind began to wander. Although he couldnt take thisnd with him and it wouldnt bring him significant profits, he could use it as a test field for hybrid rice. It was much better than the small experimental field at the Imperial Academy. With this in mind, Lin Beifan said to Dali with determination, Dali, I need you to go to the Imperial Academy! Gather the students responsible for hybrid rice research and tell them that I have a good piece ofnd that can be used as a test field for hybrid rice! Alright, young master! In about half an hour, they all arrived. Seeing this vast fertilend, they were extremely delighted. Director Lin, this fertilend is truly fertile! Its perfect for use as a test field! We can have a great experiment here! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Everyone, work hard! This is a great undertaking that will bring glory to our generation and benefit future generations! If we seed, I will report to the court and rmend all of you for recognition! There will be promotions and titles waiting for you! The students were overjoyed because there were precedents for this. Previously, the students who worked on the research of hot air balloons received praise from the court, which made their career paths smoother. If they were able to develop hybrid rice that increased productivity and solved the food problem for themon people, what kind of rewards would they receive? The students eximed in unison, Thank you very much, Sir! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile. Husband, is it really possible to develop this hybrid rice? Li Shi Shi couldnt help but ask. It will definitely be possible! Lin Beifan was full of confidence. If everything goes smoothly, we will reap the harvest on this day next year! Its not just wishful thinking, it will be a reality! If you really seed, my husband, you will be regarded as a sage of ancient times and your name will be remembered for generations! Li Shi Shi said excitedly. Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled. I havent thought that far ahead! I just want to do something within my capabilities and help others in any way I can. As for how others see me, its not my concern. Amitabha! Master, you truly embody the spirit of a true Buddha in this world! Two monks folded their hands together in admiration. However, we still need more people! Help me gather the tenant farmers from here! Before long, dozens of farmers gathered, looking anxious as they gazed at Lin Beifan. They had already heard that Lin Beifan was extremely greedy. Could it be that he was dissatisfied with the previous rent distribution system and wanted to demand more money? One elderly farmer, gathering his courage, asked, Sir Lin, you summoned us here. What is the matter? I intend to take back thisnd to cultivate hybrid rice, Lin Beifan replied. The farmers panicked upon hearing this and fell to their knees. Sir, you cant take back thend! What will we eat and drink? My whole family depends on thisnd! Please have mercy on us and leave us a way to survive! We truly beg you, sir! Lin Beifan frowned, Listen to me till the end! Although I will take back thisnd, Im not going to drive you away. I intend to use it for cultivating hybrid rice. As for what hybrid rice is, you dont need to worry about it. Just follow these students and do what they ask you to do. Take good care of the farnd. As long as you obey and perform well, I will pay each of you one or two taels of silver as wages every month! One or two taels of silver per month! The farmers were shocked. You see, as lower-ss farmers, they would earn at most four or five taels of silver in a year through their hard work, and thats assuming a decent harvest. If they were to receive one or two taels of silver per month, it would be 12 taels in a year! Nearly double the amount! Sir Lin, are you telling the truth? It was the same old farmer, asking with excitement and anticipation. Lin Beifan stood with his hands behind his back, Of course! Why would I deceive you? Do you think I cant afford a mere amount of silver? They all remembered his wealth and felt reassured. He was a person of status and wealth, so there was no need for him to deceive them. Good! Sir, I will work with you! Sir, I will work with you too! As long as we dont starve, we will do whatever you ask us to do! A wise choice. I like obedient people! Lin Beifan snapped his fingers and said to Dali beside him, Give each of them one or two taels of silver to improve their lives! If they continue to perform well in the future, reward them further! The farmers were overjoyed, Thank you, Sir Lin! Under Lin Beifans benevolent and authoritative influence, the farmers expressed their gratitude and enthusiastically participated in the construction of the experimental fields to help Lin Beifan cultivate hybrid rice. The farnd was a scene of bustling activity. This day next year will be the time of harvest! With hybrid rice, Great Wus power will undergo a tremendous transformation! Lin Beifan felt that he couldnt afford to lose after making such a significant contribution to the Empress and the Da Wu Empire. Therefore, the next morning during the court session, Lin Beifan submitted a petition. I humbly report to Your Majesty that my research on hybrid rice has entered a critical stage, but we are currently in dire need of funds. I respectfully request an allocation of 10 million taels for research purposes. I am deeply grateful! As soon as he uttered these words, the entire court was in an uproar! The Empress twitched her mouth. Asking for 10 million taels right off the bat, such a huge appetite! Did he be too greedy recently, inted, and carried away? You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 115 Chapter 115 This minister objects! Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Revenue, stood up and said loudly, Your Majesty, I oppose it. The funding required by Sir Lin is toorge. Once allocated, it will undoubtedly affect the bnce of the national treasury and have far-reaching consequences, even shaking the foundation of the country. I absolutely disagree! Lin Beifan remained calm, saying, Sir Qian, it is true that the required funding is substantial! However, if we can research and develop high-yield hybrid rice, it will solve the food problem for tens of millions of people! It will enable people to live and work in peace and make the Great Wu regime more stable. Its benefits willst for generations! Compared to that, 10 million taels of research funding is not much! Qian Yuanshens face twitched. Do you have the audacity to say that 10 million taels is not much? Did you previously indulge yourself in the Ministry of Industry and develop an insatiable appetite? If spending 10 million taels can research and develop high-yield hybrid rice, solving the food problem for tens of millions of ordinary people, it is indeed very worthwhile! But what if it fails? What if it fails, and these 10 million taels go down the drain? Can you bear this responsibility, Sir Lin? Qian Yuanshen rebuked. Lin Beifan remained calm, saying, Sir Qian, your words are too harsh! Previously, you said that I couldnt research and develop a flying celestial balloon, but havent I aplished that? So, there is hope for hybrid rice, isnt there? What happened before is in the past, and now is now! Qian Yuanshen became excited. Sir Lin, you were able to develop a flying celestial balloon, realize the dream of flight, and enhance national power. Both I and the people of the whole country appreciate your contribution! But a flying celestial balloon and hybrid rice arepletely different matters! Throughout history, countless sages have researched the food problem, but how many have seeded? None, not a single one! Can you guarantee that you will definitely seed? Qian Yuanshen argued. Of course, I can! Lin Beifan confidently dered. I am willing to enter into a written agreement. If I fail to research and develop high-yield hybrid rice within two years, all the expenses spent will be returned to the national treasury, with interest calcted! Sir Lin, even if you have the determination and ability, our national treasury doesnt have that much money! All the funds in the treasury have already been allocated and there is simply no way to squeeze out 10 million taels! Therefore, I Qian Yuanshen bowed to the Empress: I object to Minister Lins proposal! Minister of Personnel Gao Tianyao stood up and said, I also object! Minister of Industry Wang Rushui also stood up and said, I also object! The other officials all stood up, and none of them agreed. Even the Empress wasnt entirely in agreement; 10 million taels was truly too much! 10 million taels already ounted for 1/10 of the national treasury, which could be used to undertake a massive project or evenunch a war involving millions of people. It couldnt be easily allocated. If you applied for one or two million taels, she might reluctantly agree. But 10 million taels was uneptable! Sir Lin, youre asking for too much. Can you reduce the amount? she said. Alright then! I understand the difficulties faced by Your Majesty and the officials, so how about I take 5 million for now! The remaining 5 million can be paid next year! Lin Beifan said with hopeful eyes. Everyone was infuriated and speechless! What difference does it make from directly asking for 10 million? And you understand our difficulties? If you truly understood, you wouldnt make such a request! What a despicable person! The Empress said with dissatisfaction, What I meant was, just ask for one or two million. 10 million really cant be done! But with less than 10 million, its really impossible to conduct the research! Lin Beifan felt wronged. Im about to produce the hybrid rice that will benefit the nation and the people! With this super rice, we can immediately address the food problem for tens of millions of people. Its a great thing that cant be bought with any amount of money! And you offer only one or two million, is that fair? You cant bully honest people! Seeing Lin Beifans aggrieved expression, the Empress and officials were speechless. They made themselves seem like they were losing out! Is earning less considered losing? The Empress was extremely exhausted. The national treasury really doesnt have that much money! Lets temporarily set aside the hybrid rice research and take it slowly. You can start researching something else, like that giant steel ship that can float on water! Lin Beifan nodded, That works too, but I request a budget of 5 million! The f**k! eximed the Empress. F**k! eximed the officials. Everyone gave Lin Beifan an annoyed look. 5 million, you dare to ask for it! Sir Lin, you only spent 2 million on the previous project to develop the air balloon. Why do you need 5 million for the steel ship? Minister of Industry Wang Rushuis face twitched. Even at my greediest, I wouldnt dare ask for that much! Sir Wang, you dont know the whole story! Lin Beifan chuckled. The air balloon was actually quite easy to produce! In fact, we were able to produce 20 balloons in less than a month. The main challenge was in the research and development. But the steel ship is different! First of all, to build a steel ship, we need a lot of steel! As we all know, steel is a very valuable material! If I want to build a ship, I first need to purchase arge amount of steel, which requires a lot of money. And then, the construction of the steel ship requires a tremendous amount ofbor, which also costs a lot of money! So, building a steel ship costs much more than the air balloon. 5 million is even on the low side! Everyone couldnt help but nod, as it seemed to make sense. However, they still felt that he had ulterior motives. The Empress looked at the expressions of the officials and thought to herself, You dont need to doubt, he definitely has ulterior motives! Last time, with the 2 million research budget, he managed to embezzle 1.99 million. With this 5 million budget, he can embezzle at least 4.9 million. You old foxes are still a bit naivepared to him. Minister of Revenue Qian Yuanshen snorted and ignored Lin Beifan, addressing the Empress directly, Your Majesty, 5 million is still too much. The national treasury simply doesnt have that much money. Please consider it carefully! Well, Sir Qian, how much do you think is eptable? I can make some adjustments, Lin Beifan said. At most 2 million, no more! Qian Yuanshen snorted. Lin Beifan sighed slightly disappointedly, Alright, 2 million it is! Although its a bit less money, I can barely develop a water-based weapon! Qian Yuanshen instantly regretted it, feeling like he gave too much! This cunning fox! Sir Lin, dont get too excited yet! Qian Yuanshen sneered, Lets be clear from the beginning. If you use funds from the national treasury, which involves the foundation of the country, there is no room for failure! If you spend this money and fail to produce anything, what crime should you be held ountable for? Then lets set a three-month limit! Lin Beifan dered loudly. If within three months, I still cant produce the desired result, I will return the 2 million to the national treasury as promised! Agreed! Its a deal! Your Majesty and all officials, please bear witness! Qian Yuanshen saluted. Thus, Lin Beifan managed to scrape together 2 million from the national treasury. Although it was a little less, money is still money. He now aspired to move up to the next level, which required a significant amount of money. He could only constantly seek new sources of funding. Due to his previous sess in researching the flying divine artifact, the Air Balloon, Lin Beifan, now armed with new research funds, attracted a lot of attention. Everyone was curious to see what groundbreaking invention he woulde up with. However, to everyones surprise, Lin Beifan seemed to be living a carefree life, enjoying himself without seeming to be concerned about this matter. In the capital city, everything appeared peaceful and prosperous, with music and dancing abound. But beyond the capital city, there were disturbances and chaos. Among them, a major event urred in the region of Eastern Jiang. A demonic cult called the Tianyi Sect suddenly emerged, causing trouble and deceiving the masses. In a short period, they managed to gather tens of thousands ofmon people and incite rebellion, posing a potential threat to the imperial authority. During the court meeting, the Empress was deeply angered. A demonic cult that emerged out of nowhere dares to threaten Us! Currently, my imperial uncles are just watching it as a joke. If it is not promptly extinguished, it will undoubtedly destabilize the political situation! Ministers, do you have any good strategies? Your Majesty, such a demonic cult can be eradicated by sending troops! A senior general stepped forward and respectfully said, Please grant me 100,000 troops, and I will surely crush the Tianyi Sect and capture all the demons! We need not worry about a small cult! Your Majesty, this n must not be pursued! an anxious junior official spoke up. He hailed from the Eastern Jiang region and hade to report this matter. Why must it not be pursued? the empress asked. Because the leader of the Tianyi Sect is revered as thepassionate Holy Mother, with the aspiration of saving all beings! They possess the ability to deceive people and have been manipting themoners to do their bidding. Themoners are ignorant and obey theirmands! In case of a conflict, themoners will be the first to suffer, and this has happened more than once! The junior official wiped off the cold sweat from his face. If we send troops to suppress them, it will inevitably lead to a massive bloodshed and heavy casualties! Moreover, they are all experts and would escape at the first sign of trouble! Therefore, Your Majesty, this n must not be pursued! The crowd was astonished. So thats the case! They are truly heartless! Even the empress was greatly troubled. My esteemed officials, do you have any appropriate solutions? However, the situation was extremely tricky, and no one dared to speak up. Could we dispatch elite experts to carry out targeted assassinations against the members of the Tianyi Sect? suggested an elderly courtier. That is a viable approach, but it would be extremely difficult! the junior official spoke again. The opposing side has several innate experts, so we would need to send more than ten innate experts ourselves, and we must act swiftly! Otherwise, once they decide to escape, we wont be able to stop them! We must prevent them from infiltrating themoners Everyone nodded with grave expressions. The lethality of a single innate expert was tremendous! With a simple wave of their hand, they could im dozens or even hundreds of lives! Swarming tactics were useless against them! Everyone contemted possible solutions, including the empress. Eventually, when surveying the officials, she noticed a person swaying and dozing off, utterly uninterested. You wretched scoundrel! Everyone is concerned for our welfare, yet youre idling around! Is it only when theres an opportunity for personal gain that you can show concern for us? Cant you be a little less self-centered! Thus, the empress called out, Sir Lin, do you have any wise suggestions? Chapter 116: Sir Lin, Stop Pretending to Us! Chapter 116: Sir Lin, Stop Pretending to Us! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan instantly snapped out of it, looking at the Empress and the entire court staring at him. He immediately made a salute and said, Reporting to Your Majesty, esteemed officials, your words are reasonable, and I have no objections! Sir Lin, did you fall asleep? We didnt say anything just now! mocked Wang Rushui, the Minister of Industry. So thats how it is! Lin Beifan blinked his eyes and saluted again, saying, Reporting to Your Majesty and esteemed officials, although you didnt say it explicitly, you must have had strategic intentions. This humble servant is dull-witted and will not state the obvious! After saying that, he took a very humble step. Everyones faces twitched. Fuxk! Why does he make sense! Cunning little fox! The Empress said impatiently, Sir Lin, stop pretending and quickly tell us your method for everyone to consider! Lin Beifan smiled bitterly, Your Majesty, I really dont have any methods! The Empress pointed at Lin Beifan with an intense tone, I believe you do! Lin Beifan shook his head, Your Majesty, there really isnt! The Empress, giving up, impatiently waved her hand, I knew you didnt listen carefully. Someone please tell him the situation. After learning the specific situation, Lin Beifan asked, The Tianyi Sect deceives the people and maniptes them to do things for them! The question is, what methods do they use to deceive the people? Mainly by demonstrating miracles to deceive the people! a junior official immediately spoke up, They possess the ability to fly in the sky and descend from the heavens! They can transform water in a basin into holy water. After drinking it, themon people all feel physically healthy and light as a swallow! They can control objects, making them move at will! They canmand celestial fire, drive away demons, and eliminate disasters for themon people! Every time they pray for the people, heavenly signs appear, withrge characters reflecting in the empty sky. Bodhisattvas and immortals also manifest themselves, visible for miles around! It is precisely because of these miracles that the people firmly believe in them and regard them as divine beings who save them from suffering and difficulties! Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed loudly, They deceive the people by using miracles, making them work for them! If we can expose their tricks and make the people realize the truth, this demonic cult will lose its power and crumble on the spot! The Empress nodded, Sir Lins words are reasonable! An elderly courtier stood up with a furrowed brow and said, The ability to fly in the sky and descend to be honest, anyone skilled in lightness techniques could achieve that and use it to deceive the people! The ability to control objects at will I have heard that those at the innate level of martial artists can release their true energy and manipte weapons. The demonic members of the Tianyi Sect have innate experts, so there should be no problem! However, the ability to transform water into holy water, granting physical well-being to the people Ormanding celestial fire to drive away demons and burn evil And the heavenly signs visible for miles around These are not abilities that martial artists can possess. I cannot understand it! The elderly courtier made a salute and stepped back. The Empress eximed loudly, Gentlemen, do you have any solutions? The officials shook their heads, unable toprehend. Finally, the Empress turned to Lin Beifan, with a hint of expectation in her voice, Sir Lin, you have always been resourceful and knowledgeable. Can you unravel the secrets behind their deceptive miracles? Lin Beifan made a salute, Your Majesty, please grant me one days time! Tomorrow morning court, I will enlighten Your Majesty and the esteemed ministers! The Empress dered loudly, Very well! I will give you one days time! The next day, Lin Beifan prepared many things for the morning court. Sir Lin, it has been a day. Have you now unraveled the secrets behind the deceptive miracles of the Tianyi Sect? Lin Beifan smiled confidently, Certainly, Your Majesty. Please have a look! First, the transformation of an empty basin into water! Lin Beifan took out a small basin and showed it to everyone, saying, Please observe, is this empty? Is there anything inside? No water, right? Everyone nced at it and nodded in agreement. It is indeed empty! There is nothing inside! Pay close attention now! Lin Beifan had a piece of red cloth in his hand, which he used to cover the small basin. Then, he quickly unveiled it. Immediately, the previously empty basin now contained half a basin of clear water. Huh? How did water appear? How did this happen? Where did the watere from? Everyone was greatly astonished. The Empress couldnt wait and asked, Sir Lin, how did you do it? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Its actually very simple, just amon trick! The basin originally had water in it, and I covered it with a transparent film that seamlessly blended with the water. Since the water is clear, it appears as a single entity! As a result, it creates a visual illusion, making everyone think there is no water in the basin. When I tore off thatyer of film in the basin, the water naturally flowed out! Lin Beifan turned his head to look at the junior official from Eastern Jiang and asked, Is this how the demonic members of the Tianyi Sect do it? The junior official responded excitedly, Yes! Thats exactly it! Its the same as what you did! However, the holy water they produce has some healing effects after drinking That is also simple! Lin Beifan chuckled and said, They might have added some medicine to the water, so drinking it is equivalent to taking medicine, naturally producing healing effects. Or perhaps there is no medicine at all, just a psychological effect. Its not surprising! Sir Lins demonstration has truly broadened our horizons! Is there more? the Empress asked with anticipation. Naturally, there is more. Next is the ability tomand celestial fire and drive away demons! Lin Beifan made a gesture and said, Your Majesty, please have someone close the doors and all the windows, and extinguish all the candles! The Empress agreed, Granted! After all this was done, the Golden Imperial Hall became dim. Your Majesty, and esteemed officials, please have a look! Lin Beifan snapped his fingers, and an ethereal green me instantly appeared in his hand, burning slowly. Everyone was suddenly shocked. A fire! Theres actually fire! How did it appear? If the fire burns in the hand, isnt there a risk of getting burned? Lin Beifan extended his other hand and snapped his fingers again. Suddenly, a bright red me appeared on his hand, also burning slowly. Everyone was astonished once again. Its still fire! This time its a crimson me! How did it appear? Next, Li Beifan sped his hands together and vigorously rubbed them. A huge colorful me unexpectedly ignited from his hands, illuminating the Golden Imperial Hall. The junior official from Eastern Jiang beside him eximed excitedly, Yes, yes, yes! The demonic members of the Tianyi Sect do it this way to create celestial fire! And they canmand the mes with both hands without fear of getting burned! The Empress was also thrilled and asked, Sir Lin, how did you do it? Quickly tell us! Its actually very simple! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Because I have phosphides in my hands. This substance can burn and has an extremely low ignition point, making it self-ignitable! Just now, when I snapped my fingers and rubbed my hands together, it reached its ignition point and naturally started burning! The temperature of this fire is extremely low, so it wont burn my palms! Everyone nodded thoughtfully. However, Lin Beifan could tell that most of them were pretending to understand. Someone humbly asked, Sir Lin, what is phosphide? Why can it burn? Phosphides are found in the ashes of burned human bones! The ghostly mes often seen in graveyards are actually the result of phosphidebustion! Lin Beifan exined with a smile I see! Everyone suddenly realized. As for why it can burn, its tooplex to exin clearly. I wont go into details! Lin Beifan opened a small box that contained various colored powders and said with a smile, This is phosphide! I can transform it into any color of celestial fire you want! The officials and even the Empress were curious. So, Lin Beifan led everyone in ying with celestial fire. They dipped their hands in phosphide powder, snapped their fingers or rubbed their hands together, and the celestial fire ignited in their palms, which was extremely fascinating. It truly broadens our horizons. The world is full of wonders! The Empress sighed, Sir Lin, do you know the secret behind the heavenly omen? Naturally, Your Majesty, please have a look! Lin Beifan lit a candle, and the room was dimly lit. However, when Lin Beifan took out a trumpet-shaped metal copper piece with a reflective inner surface and ced it on the candle, the surroundings darkened. Only a circr area above the beam became exceptionally bright and dazzling. I gather the faint underground light using this method and condense it into a powerful beam that shines on the beam above! Just imagine, if we rece the candle with a giant me and erge the trumpet-shaped metal copper piece in Chens hand ten times, wouldnt it be able to illuminate the void and create a heavenly omen? In fact, its the principle of a shlight! By converging all the light, the prative power bes stronger and can reach farther distances! Lin Beifan exined with a smile, If you want to disy certain words or patterns, just ce them underneath! I happened to make one before! Lin Beifan took out a piece of paper-cut art and ced it on the metal copper piece. Instantly, a vivid figure of a Bodhisattva appeared on the beam. Yes, why didnt we think of this? I never expected it. Its so simple! Weve truly broadened our horizons today! Truly a talented schr! As a result, all the deceptive tricks of the Tianyi Sect were exposed by Lin Beifan. Your Majesty, as long as we pass on these three methods and demonstrate them in front of the public, the people will naturally see through the true face of the Tianyi demonic cult! In this way, they will no longer believe in the demonic cult! The Tianyi Sect will immediately copse and pose no more threat to the court! Good! The Empress eximed excitedly. Quickly pass on these methods! As youmand, Your Majesty! Furthermore, dispatch a group of experts! Once their schemes are exposed, apprehend them directly! If they cannot be captured, execute them immediately to prevent any future troubles! As youmand, Your Majesty! After issuing a series of orders, the Empress looked at Lin Beifan with a pleased expression. Sir Lin, you have made great contributions again! Tell me, how should I reward you? Your Majesty, I dare not expect any rewards! But if you insist on rewarding me, please allocate some funds to support my research on hybrid rice. Two or three million would suffice! Lin Beifan said eagerly. The officials couldnt help but twitch their mouths. Can he not let go of this matter? The Empress rubbed her temples with a headache. Lets talk about it once you have researched the steel giant ship! Due to the court adopting Lin Beifans methods and exposing the Tianyi Sects conspiracy and deceit, the Tianyi Sect copsed. However, they reacted very quickly, and by the time the courts experts arrived, they had already disappeared without a trace. However, a brothel named Xiyue Lou had opened in the capital city. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 117: Another Courtesan Sets Her Sights on Lin Beifan! Chapter 117: Another Courtesan Sets Her Sights on Lin Beifan! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Ever since the opening of Xiyue Tower, it had be a sensation in the capital city. This was because thedies of Xiyue Tower were exceptionally beautiful, with a touch of Western Regions charm that was irresistibly enticing. Among them was their leading courtesan, Ziyue, who had never been unveiled to the public. However, just a glimpse of her was enough to haunt peoples dreams and upy their thoughts. Consequently, numerous suitors flocked to Xiyue Tower, and it quickly surpassed Hundred Flowers House to be the foremost brothel in the capital. Naturally, Lin Beifan, a talented and romantic schr, had also heard about it. However, being blessed with a beautiful wife and surrounded by a bevy of beauties, the allure of Xiyue Tower greatly diminished for him. Moreover, considering his professional identity as a director in the Imperial Academy, it would be inappropriate for him to visit such a ce. Therefore, he naturally did not go. His daily routine remained unchanged: attending the morning court session, going to the Imperial Academy after its conclusion, or supervising the workshops at the Ministry of Industry. By evening, he would return home, leading a disciplined and virtuous life. A week passed in this manner, and Xiyue Tower grew even more popr. At this moment, within a secluded chamber of Xiyue Tower, there was a young woman wearing a light veil and dressed in purple attire. Although her facial features were not clearly visible, judging from her exposed skin and graceful figure, she was undoubtedly a stunning beauty. The woman in purple attire was bing impatient. Its been so long, why hasnt that official named Lin arrived? Isnt he rumored to be a talented and romantic schr? He just won the top schr title and brought back the former leading courtesan of the capital, Li Shi Shi, as his wife. He is always surrounded by beautiful women. Why havent we heard anything from him until now? Kneeling below her was another woman, also attractive but somewhat inferiorpared to the young woman in purple attire. Princess, I have already inquired about it! Lin Beifan, the top schr of the Great Wu Empire, is indeed a talented and charming individual, but he is also very upright! He only visited Hundred Flowers District once and has never been to a brothel again! In his daily life, he doesnt frequent such ces of indulgence! He doesnte to us, how can we seek revenge? He has exposed our tricks and ruined the foundation we worked so hard to establish! I cant stand this dog of an official and his actions! Lets just directly attack the Lin residence! The woman in purple clothes was filled with anger. The kneeling woman was greatly rmed and said, Princess, absolutely not! It is said that within the Lin residence, there is an unfathomable old monk guarding its security! Lin Beifan himself also has the protection of two young experts! Moreover, this is a crucial area in the capital city, and our identities are sensitive. If we were to expose ourselves, it would be self-destruction! So, Princess, we can only rely on strategy, not direct confrontation! The woman in purple clothes waved her hand dismissively and said, Rest assured, I am just momentarily frustrated and venting. I, as the princess, will risk my own life and the lives of everyone for this! How can I die before aplishing our great cause? Princess, you are wise! The other woman lowered her head. However, waiting like this is not a solution! The woman in purple clothes fell into deep thought and said, Why dont we organize antern appreciation and poetry gathering, inviting all the talented individuals in the capital city! With such a grand event, that person with the surname Lin should not be able to postpone it! Princess, thats a brilliant idea, worth a try! Thus, invitations from the Xiyue Tower were quickly sent to the homes of the various talented individuals. Upon receiving the invitations, these individuals were all filled with excitement. This is an invitation from Lady Ziyue! If I can be the poetry champion during the gathering, I might have a chance to have a deep conversation with Lady Ziyue under the moonlight and catch a glimpse of her beauty! This is wonderful! I, as a gentleman, will definitely attend this poetry gathering! This smallntern appreciation and poetry gathering quickly became a grand event in the capital city. Naturally, an invitation was also sent to the Lin residence. Lin Beifan just nced at it indifferently and said, I wont go. How can you not go to such a fun event? The young princess sitting beside him became excited and eximed, Lin Beifan, think about it. All the talented individuals and beauties of the capital city will gather together,posing poetry and lyrics, enjoying wine, moonlight, andnterns. Isnt it a wonderful thing? As the newly appointed top schr, renowned for your talent, how can you miss it? Lin Beifan scoffed, Little princess, what are you up to? If you dont honestly exin, I wont take you even if I go! I heard that Xiyue Tower has many delicacies from the Western Regions. I want to go and try them! The young princess licked her lips. Lin Beifan: Li Shi Shi smiled and said, Husband, why dont we all go together and have a look! After all, such a grand gathering is rare! Moreover, it is mentioned that family members are invited as well! Fine, lets go and take a look! So, that evening, Lin Beifan led his entire family to set off. The venue was not Xiyue Tower but Wanyue Restaurant because they had a spacious and beautiful backyard frequently used for hosting grand events. After arriving at Wanyue Restaurant, they indeed saw many young talented individuals. They even spotted many of their former colleagues, such as the second-ce schr and the third-ce schr, as well as other sessful candidates. However, within three months, the gap between the two sides had widened. Lin Beifan had been promoted three ranks and had be an official of the fifth rank. He was highly favored by the Empress and had a say in the court. But the other sessful candidates were still struggling at the lower levels, waiting for opportunities and umting experience. When they saw Lin Beifans arrival, they had to respectfully greet him as a senior. Fellow colleagues, today is a gathering of talented individuals. No need for such formalities. Everyone can rx a bit! Lin Beifan smiled. Lin, Sir, you are absolutely right! Everyone let out a sigh of relief. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they went their separate ways. As they walked around, they encountered many talented individuals, but Lin Beifan was undoubtedly the most outstanding among them. With a beautiful appearance, abundant talent, enormous fame, and a beautifulpanion by his side, Lin Beifan attracted attention wherever he went. At this moment, Lin Beifan suddenly had a feeling that this poetry gathering seemed to be prepared for him! Top schr, your seat is over there. Please follow me, a young and beautiful woman came over to guide him. Thank you for your trouble, Lin Beifan nodded. He then led everyone to a pavilion. This pavilion could be considered a VIP area, reserved only for true VIP guests. Everyone took their seats one by one, and the young princess couldnt help but start eating when she saw the table full of delicious food. Meanwhile, in a room. The woman in purple couldnt help but ask, Luoxia, has that man named Lin arrived? Your Highness, he has also entered! Luoxia replied. Good! Thats great! The woman in purple was delighted. Where is he? He is in the pavilion next to the rockery! Luoxia answered. A small crack was gently opened in the window of the room, and the woman in purple looked in the direction indicated by her maid. She immediately saw the handsome face of a young man and muttered, He looks quite decent! Her hatred towards him unconsciously lessened by quite a bit! At the same time, Lin Beifan felt a sense of being watched. Following the direction of his intuition, he looked towards a room where the window was opened, revealing a mysterious woman. Her face was covered by a purple veil, and he could only see her eyes, which were ck with a hint of purple, deep and captivating, enchanting and soul-stirring. In just an instant, the woman closed the window, and he couldnt see her anymore. Such a stunning woman was rare toe across! Could this woman be Ziyue? Lin Beifan spected. As the time arrived, the moon rose above the willow branches. All the guests had arrived, and with the intery of lights and the presence of fine wine and delicious food, the atmosphere was lively. Amidst the eager anticipation, the oiran of the Xiyue Tower, Miss Ziyue, finally made her appearance. She could be seen wearing a flowing purple gown, with her long ck hair cascading down gracefully as she walked with elegance. Although half of her face was covered by a purple veil, her fair skin was still visible. Especially captivating were her eyes, with a hint of purple, truly enchanting. Miss Ziyue has arrived! So beautiful! Every step she takes feels like a lotus blooming beneath her feet! She is like a goddess descended from the moon! Everyone eximed in astonishment, and many were left in awe. Unable to contain their curiosity, they couldnt help butpare her to the former top courtesan, Li Shi Shi, and discovered that while each had their own unique qualities, Ziyue possessed a distinct exotic charm that was extremely appealing. Husband, what do you think of Miss Ziyue? Li Shi Shi asked in a soft voice. The little princess and Mo Rushuang sitting beside them couldnt help but prick up their ears. Lin Beifan nced at her, and even the most generous woman couldnt help but feel a tinge of jealousy at this moment. Lin Beifan coughed and said, She looks quite good! How does shepare to me? Li Shi Shi asked again in a hushed tone. Lin Beifan responded displeasedly, Isnt that a deliberate question? How can you evenpare yourself to others? Li Shi Shis eyes immediately dimmed. Lin Beifan continued, She is both beautiful and intelligent, while you are beautiful and silly! Only you would be so foolish to trust everything to me after just one meeting. I have never seen a woman as foolish as you. However, I love silly women the most! Husband, youre so mean! Li Shi Shi said with tears in her eyes, breaking into a smile as she leaned against Lin Beifan. The little princess and Mo Rushuang were filled with envy in their hearts. Lin Beifan smiled faintly and reached under the table, grabbing hold of Li Shi Shis small hand. But he realized that this hand was a little small and plump, not as delicate as Li Shi Shis. His heart skipped a beat. Could he have grabbed the wrong hand? He turned his head slightly and saw the blushing face of the little princess, who red at Lin Beifan fiercely. There was only one hand on the table, and the other hand was missing. Lin Beifan: At this moment, the girl in the purple dress standing on the stage introduced herself, saying, Wee, gentlemen and friends, to thentern appreciation poetry gathering I am hosting! It is my great honor to meet all of you. I am Ziyue, and I am delighted! Hello, Miss Ziyue! someone immediately called out. Thank you! Ziyue gave a slight bow. I am a neer to the capital, unfamiliar with the ways of life here. I hope to make friends with all the talented individuals through thisntern appreciation poetry gathering! Ziyue smiled and her voice was clear and pleasant. To liven up the gathering, I have prepared some gifts! After saying that, she pped her hands, and immediately, a maid brought forward precious treasures. This is the Autumn Light Mountain Tour Scroll! This is the exquisite Snowke Wine! Ziyue smiled and said, As long as any of the gentlemen be tonights poetry leader, I will present these two treasures to him! And I am willing to unveil my face for him and personally y a tune! The whole audience was immediately in an uproar! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 119: Miss Ziyue, please restrain yourself, I am not your mother! Chapter 119: Miss Ziyue, please restrain yourself, I am not your mother! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Amidst the crowds expectations, Ziyue smiled and said, This youngdy also greatly enjoys the poem of the top schr! With over a hundred words, it perfectly expresses the romance and emotions of the bright moon! Therefore, without a doubt, the winner of this poetry gathering and the newly appointed top schr is Lin Beifan! Very well Everyone cheered in agreement. The maidservants, with smiling faces, were about to present their treasures. Top schr, these are the rewards you have won! The Autumn Scenery on Snowy Mountains! The Finest Snowke Wine! Lin Beifan smiled and said, I will ept the Autumn Scenery on Snowy Mountains! However, as they say, a true friend is scarce as the wine flows. We are all good friends, rarely gathered together like this. Why dont we open it and have a toast, one cup for each person? Great! The top schr is truly generous! Thank you, top schr! Once again, everyone cheered, filled with joy. As a result, the Snowke Wine was opened, and its rich aroma filled the air. Each person raised their cup and toasted together, saying, To the top schr, to Miss Ziyue, to the magnificentnd and rivers of the Great Wu! They then drank it all in one go, and the atmosphere reached its climax! At this moment, Miss Ziyue was also very excited. Because she could finally carry out her ultimate n! With graceful steps, she walked slowly to Lin Beifans side, a smile on her face, and said, Young Master Lin, you are truly deserving of being the winner tonight! Now is the time for this youngdy to fulfill her promise. Pleasee with me! Lin Beifan waved his hand with a smile and said, I think its unnecessary, right? I understand Miss Ziyues good intentions Ziyue looked pitifully at him and said, Could it be that Young Master Lin wants to treat this youngdy unjustly? Its not that! After all, I am a married man, and it wouldnt be appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone together in a room Stop the nonsense ande with me! Ziyue became impatient and directly grabbed Lin Beifans hand, quickly leading him towards the inner hall. Lin Beifan was bewildered! Is this for real? Why is she in such a hurry? I dont agree, and yet shes dragging me along? Everyone who witnessed this scene was also stunned! Miss Ziyue directly grabbed the top schrs hand and walked away! And it seems like theres some eagerness in her actions! Could it be that she has feelings for the top schr Everyone gasped in shock! Hmph! Big idiot! The young princess grumbled unhappily and picked up a big piece of meat to gnaw on. Mo Rushuangs heart was filled with bitterness, but she had no right to speak, so she gave up. The only one with the right to speak, Li Shi Shi, was a very traditional woman who wouldnt embarrass her husband at a time like this. She smiled and entertained the crowd, saying, Lets start eating, my husband will join us soon! At this moment, Ziyue had already led Lin Beifan into an elegant room in the inner hall. The stone in her heart finally fell. She realized that she was actually holding Lin Beifans hand. It was the first time she had ever held another mans hand, and her face slightly reddened. She felt a bit shy and awkwardly let go. Young Master Lin, I was a bit impulsive just now. Please forgive me! Ziyue nodded and smiled. Its alright, I understand! Lin Beifan smiled. You understand? Ziyue was puzzled. Yes, because of my appearance and talent, many girls have a hard time controlling themselves when they see me! Miss Ziyue, you can already be considered quite reserved! Lin Beifanughed. Ziyue rolled her eyes in anger! This official actually said that I cant control myself when I see him Am I such a shallow person? Narcissist! But upon closer inspection of the other persons appearance, she found that he did indeed have the capital to be narcissistic! Young Master Lin, as long as you understand! Ziyue gritted her teeth. Due to the thin veil separating them, her hatred was not visible. The two sat on the floor, and there were some drinks, tea, and snacks on the table. On the opposite side sat a beautiful maid, her hands gently ying a melodious tune on the zither. Lin Beifan was puzzled and pointed to the maid not far away, Miss Ziyue, didnt you say you would fulfill your promise? Show me your face and y a tune for me. Why Ziyue put on countless charming and flirtatious gestures, Young Master Lin, on such a beautiful asion, why care about these trivial matters? Isnt this maiden beautiful? Lin Beifan nodded, Hmm, youre indeed pretty, although I dont know what you look like! Ziyue rolled her eyes in frustration. Was this guyplimenting her or insulting her? Through gritted teeth, she said, Rest assured, Young Master, I will reveal my face to youter. You wont be disappointed! This young master is looking forward to it! Ziyue looked at the delicacies on the table and suddenly coquettishly said, Young Master Lin, when I was hungry as a child, my mother would always bring me osmanthus cake. Lin Beifan looked at the osmanthus cake on the table, immediately picked up a piece, and ced it in her bowl. Enjoy, Miss Ziyue! Ziyue continued, Young Master Lin, when I was thirsty as a child, my mother would always brew tea for me. Lin Beifan understood the meaning and promptly poured a cup of tea for her. Please enjoy, Miss Ziyue! Ziyue felt a sense of joy. Men are all fools. You cant escape from my grasp! When I was cold as a child, my mother would hold me tightly, Ziyue shivered, her gaze clear as she looked at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan: .. Lin Beifan remained silent for a moment and said, Miss Ziyue, please restrain yourself. I am not your mother! Ziyue: At this moment, Ziyue really wanted to hit someone out of anger! She decided to stop pretending and reveal her true intentions! Young Master Lin, havent you always wanted to see the appearance of this maiden? Now, I will let you have a good look! Ziyue unveiled her face, and Lin Beifan saw an incredibly stunning and captivating face. This face was truly extraordinary, with delicate skin, distinct facial features, a deep and profound gaze, yet also exuding the soft beauty of an Eastern woman. It was the face of a mixed-blood beauty. Then, at that moment, Ziyues pair of violet eyes seemed to spin. Lin Beifans eyes gradually lost focus. Seeing Lin Beifans dazed expression, Ziyue became smug. From now on, lets see how arrogant you can be in front of me. What she was using now was her cultivation technique called the Purple Jade Soul Hooking Great Technique. It was a technique specifically targeting the mind and spirit. As long as the opponents strength didnt exceed hers by too much or their willpower was not superhuman, they would be mesmerized by her, bowing their heads in submission and obediently carrying out her orders! She wanted to conquer Lin Beifan through this technique and make him willingly do her bidding! This official is not only the current top schr but also a favorite of the Empress! He is knowledgeable and talented with a deep background! If I can make him work for me, it will definitely benefit the development of our grand cause! The more Ziyue thought about it, the happier she became. She increased her output, hoping to conquer Lin Beifan as soon as possible. However, her spiritual power poured into Lin Beifans mind like a stone sinking into the sea, without any response. It seems that this officials willpower is quite strong! But I dont believe I cant mesmerize you! Ziyue increased the output of her spiritual power, and sweat began to appear on her face. At this time, in the outside world. Everyone listened to the melodious sound of the zither, filled with envy. The top schr is truly fortunate! Not only can he witness the unparalleled beauty of Ziyue, but he can also listen to her zither ying up close! Its truly enviable! The first flower-ranking beauty has already been chosen by the top schr. I hope the second one wont fall into his hands as well. Its probably a sure thing! Didnt you see how impatient Ziyue was just now? This young master even suspects that this poetry gathering was created by Ziyue specifically for the top schr! To be honest, in the capital, every woman wants to marry the top schr! Its a case of dying of thirst when surrounded by water and drowning in water when suffering from drought! The discussions of the crowd slowly drifted over. The young princess felt displeased and turned her sadness and anger into a voracious appetite, eating quickly. Mo Rushuang seemed lost in thought, frequently losing focus. Li Shi Shi, on the other hand, maintained herposure with a smile, gracefully entertaining everyone, disying her elegance. As a result, everyone admired the top schr even more. Inside the family, the red g never fell, while outside, colorful gs fluttered, living up to the image of a sessful man. At this moment, one piece of music had already ended. But soon, the second piece began to y. What? The second piece already! Didnt they agree to y only one piece? Maybe Ziyue and the top schr were enjoying themselves in conversation, so she yed an extra piece! Damn it! This envy-inducing stroke of luck! After the second piece ended, the third piece started ying. Really? This is already the third piece! Its not over yet? Weve been waiting with bated breath! It seems that another beautiful flower has been plucked by the top schr! The top schr is truly remarkable! Its over. The tree of my love has withered! Everyone was consumed by jealousy! Why? Everyone present was a renowned talent of the time, highly aplished in their studies, charming and handsome like Pan An. Why was it that only Lin Beifan caught the attention of Ziyue? Is it just because he is slightly more talented than us? Slightly more handsome than us? Everyone looked up and sighed at the injustice of heaven! Some people couldnt handle the blow and drowned their sorrows in alcoholte at night! Meanwhile, in the chamber, Lin Beifan smiled as he looked at Ziyue, who had a paleplexion and was covered in fragrant sweat. He said, How long will you struggle, Ziyue? Why why doesnt my charm technique work on you? Ziyue was shocked. With her level of charm, even a master could be enchanted! And yet, this powerless schr in front of her remained unaffected! Why was that? She couldnt understand! Because this gentleman has righteousness in his heart, noble character, and unwavering will. I am not swayed by evil and crooked paths! Lin Beifan dered with righteousness. Ziyue trembled with anger. You shameless scoundrel! You, a detested corrupt official, dare im to have righteousness and noble character? Do you have any shame left? Has a dog eaten your righteousness and character? Spit! Even a dog wouldnt eat it! Miss! The maid who was ying the qin rushed over, helping Ziyue up from the ground. In her other hand, she held a cold and gleaming dagger, warily staring at Lin Beifan. She whispered, Miss, what should we do now? Should I kill him? This Ziyue was torn. Lin Beifan remained calm, drinking and smiling. He said, Thats the worst idea! If you kill me, you and your people will never escape! Its better for us to sit down and have a good talk. The elusive princess of the nted Moon Dynasty, am I right? Ziyues face was filled with astonishment. How do you know my identity?
1. Pan An, also known as Pan Chao, was a famous figure in ancient China during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). He was a poet, musician, and government official. Pan An was celebrated for his exceptional talent, handsome appearance, and romantic allure. He is often depicted as the epitome of a charming and elegant gentleman in Chinese literature and culture. His romantic persona has made him a symbol of idealized beauty and charisma in Chinese society. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 120: Who says we have no grievances? Our grievances are substantial! Chapter 120: Who says we have no grievances? Our grievances are substantial! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
You should know that her identity is top secret! Except for those close to her, no one else knows how the man in front of her found out. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Because you just used the Soul-Entwining Technique, trying to charm my soul! As far as I know, there arent many forces that possess this secret technique. The fallen nted Moon Dynasty is one of them. Its their closely guarded secret, only taught to female members of the royal family who possess a captivating physique! Of course, at this moment, I still cant be certain of your identity. But Lin Beifan pointed at the dagger in the maids hand and said, This dagger gave you away! From what I know, the nted Moon Dynasty once obtained a piece of extraterrestrial meteorite. It is indestructible and as ck as ink. They used it to forge a batch of daggers called Ink des, which were given to the most loyal warriors as personal guards for important royal members! Your maid possesses extraordinary strength. She rushed in without hesitation just now and smoothly drew out the Ink de. Its evident that shes ustomed to using it! So, I made a bold guess and didnt expect it to be true! Ziyue nced deeply at Lin Beifan and said, The top schr is truly knowledgeable and erudite. With only a set of techniques and a dagger, you already know my identity. I truly admire that! You tter me! Lin Beifan smirked. In truth, he relied on his system. As long as something had value, it couldnt escape his scrutiny. This dagger clearly had great value, so he saw through it. But sometimes, the more you know, the shorter your life bes! My identity is sensitive. Now that you know it, I cant let you live! Ziyues gaze turned cold. Princess, kill him! The maids eyes gleamed with cold light, seemingly ready to make a move. Lin Beifan confidently said, You absolutely wouldnt darey a hand on me! Ziyue asked, Why do you say that? Lin Beifan calmly smiled, Because the imperial city is filled with experts, and there are tens of thousands of soldiers and martial artists guarding it! I am an official appointed by the court, and currently, I am in favor with the current empress. If you kill me, it will surely provoke her wrath! Experts will surround the city, and the mighty army will encroach upon thisnd. You and your people will have nowhere to escape! Ziyue threatened, I can take you as a hostage and kill our way out of the city! Lin Beifan shook his head, No, you dont have that opportunity. Ziyue asked again, Why do you say that? Because the senior monk in my family, with the Dharma name Jing Tai, is a grandmaster! Do you think you can take me out of the city under the watchful eyes of a grandmaster? Lin Beifan smiled. Ziyue was filled with astonishment, That old monk is actually a grandmaster! A grandmaster, thats the pinnacle of world-ss power! Even the weakest third-grade grandmaster possesses invincible strength, capable of single-handedly facing thousands of troops! No one can y tricks in front of a grandmaster! The only ones who can contend with a grandmaster are also grandmasters! Ziyue never expected that there was a grandmaster living in Lin Beifans house! The situation became tricky! Its not scary to offend the court, as there would still be a chance to survive! But if you offend a grandmaster, you will definitely be hunted down with no way to escape! You didnt deceive me? Ziyue was taken aback. I guarantee its true. If you dont believe it, you can try it! Lin Beifan smiled. Ziyues face was full of disappointment. She had thought that by using the Purple Jade Soul-Entwining Technique, she could bewitch the other party and make him serve her. She didnt expect that the other party would bepletely unaffected. And now, he even recognized her identity, making it impossible to kill him or take him away. She felt like she was dealing with a hedgehog, no matter how she touched it, she would be pricked. Miss Ziyue, we can sit down and talk properly now! Also, ask your maid to continue ying the zither, or else idents might happen! Lin Beifan smiled and invited Ziyue to sit down again. Hmph! What is there to talk about between us? Ziyue sat down unkindly, while instructing her maid to continue ying the zither to conceal their conversation. I cant figure it out, Miss Ziyue. Why did you try to harm me? Lin Beifan asked puzzled, We areplete strangers, with no personal grudges or grievances. Could it be that you just wanted to use me for your own purposes? Who said we have no grievances? Our grievances are substantial! Ziyue gritted her teeth and red at Lin Beifan. Do tell me more about it! Lin Beifan asked. Ziyue immediately exined their grievances to him. They had previously deceived a group ofmon people in Eastern Jiang under the name of the Tianyi Sect, nning to start a rebellion. The situation was developing rapidly, but Lin Beifan saw through their true intentions and effortlessly exposed their tricks of deceiving the masses, rendering all their previous efforts in vain. Now, they had be like rats crossing the street, wanted and hunted by the court. Dont you think this grudge is big? Isnt this resentment deep? Ziyue gnashed her teeth and said. I didnt expect it to be this reason! Lin Beifan sighed helplessly. So it turned out that he had identally injured them, no wonder they came looking for him! Then Im puzzled. It was the Dyue Dynasty that annihted your country. What are you doing causing trouble in Great Wu territory? Lin Beifan pped his forehead. Oh, I understand now. You want to pick on the weak! Ziyue nced at Lin Beifan faintly, then said with hatred, Youre right! The nted Moon Dynasty was destroyed by the Dyue Dynasty twenty years ago. At that time, I was still a child under the age of five and luckily escaped the disaster. For the past twenty years, I have been thinking about restoring my country and seeking revenge for my father and mother! But its easier said than done! Ziyues face was full of despair. In the past twenty years, the Dyue Dynasty has be stronger and stronger, with a powerful army. My hopes of revenge and restoration have be increasingly slim. Thats why I ced my hope in Great Wu! A glimmer of light shed in Ziyues eyes. Now, the Great Wu Empire is ruled by vassal kings, surrounded by wolves, corrupt in its court, and the people are living in misery! Great Wu has the name of an empire, butcks the essence of an empire. It could copse at any time. It is the perfect ce to cultivate power and establish a regime! As long as I seize a piece ofnd here, gather the people, and cultivate my own army, there will be a chance for revenge and restoration! I see now! Lin Beifan suddenly understood. But everything has been ruined by you! Ziyue said bitterly. With a sharp tone, Lin Beifan disdainfully replied, Even without me, you would have difficulty achieving anything! Ziyue was irritated by his contemptuous gaze and mmed her palm on the table. You dare to look down on me? Lin Beifan raised an eyebrow provocatively. Dont doubt it, I do look down on you! You! Ziyue was about to faint from anger. Now that Im in a good mood, Ill exin it to you and see where you went wrong! Lin Beifan chuckled. Fine! I want to hear the details! Ziyue gritted her teeth. Firstly, your choice of location is wrong! Whats wrong with it? Ziyue retorted, The reason I chose Eastern Jiang is because themon people there are rtively poor and ignorant. The courts governance isx, and there are fewer troops! Thats why I started with the sect and used the people for my own purposes! Look, within less than a month, weve developed a force of tens of thousands! As she said this, there was a hint of pride on Ziyues face. Lin Beifan chuckled softly, How did you determine that Eastern Jiangs governance isx? You should know that its the only ce without a vassal king! From top to bottom, it has always been under the control of the court! The reason there are fewer troops is that there is no need to station them there! Do you really think that the Great Wu court is a toothless tiger, useless? This isnt it? Ziyue felt somewhat guilty. Remember, even a starved camel is still bigger than a horse! Lin Beifan sneered, Now, the Great Wu court is still legitimate. It remains the most powerful force within this empire! Although the other vassal kings have rapidly expanded their strength, they dare only make moves in secret and wouldnt dare to openly oppose the court! Yet you, on the only territory of Great Wu, act mysteriously, deceiving the people, and subverting the regime. Isnt that seeking death? If I dont eradicate you, that would be abnormal! Ziyue was berated to the point of being speechless. After thinking about it, she realized there was some truth to it. However, she refused to admit it and retorted, If not here, then where should I choose? Should I choose the territories of the vassal kings? They have a strong army and are formidable. How could we rebel against them? Thats right, you should choose the territories of the vassal kings! Lin Beifan pped his hands andughed. Cause trouble in their territories, under the guise of resisting the court! The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Those vassal kings will turn a blind eye, and they might even provide you with convenient conditions! The court wont be able to reach out its hands as they are too far away! This way, things will naturally flourish! You can even get involved with the local princes! On the surface, you submit to them, but secretly, you can leverage their resources for your own development! No matter what happens, they will take the me while you quietly develop and umte strength behind the scenes! Isnt this a good n? Ziyue was greatly moved by what she heard. Yes, why didnt I think of that? Choosing the territories of the vassal kings is obviously more advantageous! The vassal kings wont deal with them, and the court cant deal with them. They can survive and develop in the cracks! There is also an opportunity to cooperate with the vassal kings. No matter what happens, they will take the lead! Meanwhile, she can slowly develop from behind, preserve her strength, and umte power! Once the timing is right, they can ignite a prairie fire! By the way, do you currentlyck manpower or resources, or both? Lin Beifan asked. We dontck resources, mainly manpower! Ziyue said. Then go to Wuxi! Lin Beifan pped his thigh. But Wuxi has vastnd and few people Its precisely because it has vastnd and few people that you should go! Lin Beifan smiled. Although it seems sparsely popted there, in reality, the poption is not small. Its just that the area isrge, which makes it seem like there are fewer people! Otherwise, Wuxi wouldnt be able to raise an army of millions! It will be easier for you to seed in starting a rebellion there! They dontck people, but theyck resources and wealth. Since you have money, you can easily assemble a force! Compared to closed-off regions, you can continue your deceptive methods there! Due to the vastnd, its easier to hide and not easily be eliminated! By quietly developing and umting strength, you will inevitably grow stronger one day! Thats why I cant understand why you didnt choose such a favorable ce and instead chose Eastern Jiang. Are you all out of your minds? Ziyues face turned red from being scolded! She tried to refute, but then realized The other party was right! But if we develop there, we will have to face the million-strong army of the Wuxi Duke. Thats why we didnt choose Wuxi in the first ce! Ziyues beautiful eyes conveyed her concern. A million-strong army is just an intimidation tactic, nothing to fear! Have you ever heard of guerri warfare? Have you heard of tunnel warfare? As long as you master these two tactics, the Wuxi Duke wont be able to do anything to you! Lin Beifan smirked. I havent heard of these two warfare tactics, Sir Lin. Could you? Ziyue humbly asked for advice. Since you havent heard of them, forget it. We can discuss it when theres an opportunity in the future! Lin Beifan waved his hand. Ziyue: You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 121: Only Money Earned through Greed Can Be Used with Confidence! Chapter 121: Only Money Earned through Greed Can Be Used with Confidence! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Ziyue gazed at Lin Beifan resentfully. He deliberately aroused her curiosity, but stubbornly refused to speak. You scoundrel! Now, lets talk about the methods. Your methods of uprising are also incorrect! Whats wrong with them? Ziyue immediately retorted, Themon people are ignorant. By spreading our teachings and giving them hope for a better life, we can quickly gather a massive force! Wasnt the previous Tianyi Sect a testament to that? Lin Beifan smirked, Indeed, the speed was quite fast, and the copse was also swift! Ziyue opened her mouth but found no words to say. These deceptive tricks of yours might deceive people for a while, but they cant deceive them forever! Look, I have already exposed it, havent I? Even without me, someone else would have done it! There are plenty of smart people in the world, and they will always see through your schemes! Dont underestimate others. If you can think of something, why cant others? Ziyue felt frustrated and grunted, unable to respond. Furthermore, do you really think you can conquer the world with a group of hungry, untrained people? Frankly speaking, even if your numbers reach a million, its not enough to be feared! Lin Beifan sneered, As long as the court is determined, they can send tens of thousands of troops for a fierce charge and annihte your million-strong armypletely! In the end, its just themon people who will suffer! Alright, Lin Beifan, what do you suggest then? Ziyue asked in a sulky tone. Lin Beifan spoke confidently, To build apetentbat force, several key points must be considered! First, they must have unwavering faith! Ziyue interjected, The previous Tianyi Sect teaching Lin Beifan waved his hand, Not those tricks of yours! This faith should make them know who they are fighting for and why they are fighting! They should know what they can gain after their efforts! That is true belief, not some elusive divine favor! Secondly, having faith alone is not enough. They must be trained to be qualified soldiers! How to quickly train arge number of excellent soldiers while preserving our own strength is crucial and determines the sess or failure of the uprising! However, if we can master guerri warfare and tunnel warfare as mentioned earlier, then these problems wont be a problem! Ziyue opened her mouth, Sir Lin, these two battle tactics That can be discussed another time! Ziyue remained silent. Thirdly, an effective system of rewards and punishments! Rewards for merits and punishments for mistakes. The rewards and punishments must be clear and gain the eptance of the people! Lin Beifan nced at Ziyue and said, As a princess, you should have received a rtively systematic royal training, so I wont say much about it! Well, actually, I can talk about it Ziyue lowered her head in embarrassment. Lin Beifan sighed. Then, Lin Beifan briefly exined. Fourthly, timing must be emphasized! When your strength is insufficient, you must develop sneakily! Seize the opportunity when it arises! Lin Beifan couldnt help but nce at Ziyue again, Like the Tianyi Sect you established before, the timing waspletely off! You formed a force without any real strength, bing an easy target. If I didnt deal with you, then who do you think youll be dealing with? Ziyue once again lowered her head in shame. Fifthly, emphasis should be ced on tactics, or rather, military strategy! There are many intricacies to warfare! However, when your initial strength iscking, its best to employ guerri warfare and tunnel warfare. They can y a remarkable role! Sir Lin, these two battle tactics Later, well talk about it! Ziyue remained silent. Sixthly, raising an army requires money! As the saying goes, when the cannons roar, gold is plentiful! It takes a lot of money to fight a warfood, horses, armor, bows and arrows, and so on. Without sufficient funds and provisions, its impossible to seed in warfare! Sir Lin, rest assured, we wont suffer in terms of finances! Lin Beifan couldnt help but ask, Youre so confident, how much do you have? I dont know the exact amount! However, since the founding of the nted Moon Dynasty, we have been allocating half of the annual national treasury ie to a hidden treasure location for future needs! It has remained untouched for so many years. Can you imagine how much there is? Lin Beifan gasped for breath. The nted Moon Dynasty had been established for over 200 years! Their annual national treasury ie was approximately 30 million taels, so half of that would be 1.5 million taels! umted over more than 200 years, there would be 300 million taels!!! Equivalent to the national treasury ie of the Great Martial Dynasty for three years!!! This woman was undoubtedly the richest woman in the world! Suddenly, Lin Beifan had the urge to resign from his official position! What future did a corrupt official have? Despite all the effort and corruption, he would only amass a few million taels at most! It would be better to be a freeloader! Sister, I dont want to work anymore! Seeing Lin Beifans shocked expression, Ziyue felt extremely proud in her heart, as if she had finally turned the tide! Do you not fear that I will rob you after youve told me about this? Lin Beifan asked. Ziyue shook her head, Im not afraid! Why are you not afraid? Lin Beifan asked. For one, its not a secret. Many major forces know about it! Secondly, nobody knows the location of the treasure, not even members of our royal family! We contact the guardian of the treasure through a special method. Once they receive the information, they will deliver the required amount of money and provisions to the designated location, and then they will die without fail. No immortal can save them! So, robbing me would be useless. I truly dont know! If I get into trouble and my royal identity is revoked, I wont be able to contact the guardian anymore! Lin Beifan was greatly shocked by this revtion. This method of hiding treasure was truly extraordinary! For over 200 years, nobody had found the location of the treasure, and nobody knew about it! Those who knew would die after transporting the money! However, Lin Beifan, you have truly impressed me! Ziyue looked at Lin Beifan admiringly. Even after I revealed the amount of treasure, your eyes remained clear without a trace of greed! Lin Beifan exuded righteousness, Of course, a gentleman loves money but also has principles! Ziyue looked at him with even higher regard, You are noble, indeed! Lin Beifan continued with righteousness, Only money acquired through corrupt means (someone elses money) can I use it with peace of mind! Ziyue eximed, Tsk! I almost misunderstood you just now! Youre still that money-grubbing young man, not a bit changed! Corrupt official! You made me waste my emotions for nothing! So, getting back to the main point, your uprising will never seed! There are too many ws. It will either be destroyed by my hand, someone elses hand, or even your own! Ziyue stood up and gave a slight bow, saying with heartfelt gratitude, Thank you, Sir Lin, for your guidance. I have greatly benefited from it! Lin Beifan waved his hand nonchntly and said, Its nothing. I was just bored, so I thought Id chat with you all. After some small talk, lets discuss the main matter at hand! The main matter? Ziyue was a bit confused. Wasnt this the main matter? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Miss Ziyue, your identity has been exposed. You are the mastermind behind the Tianyi Sect, the princess on the run from the nted Moon Dynasty! If I were to report this to the court, what would you do? Ziyue waspletely dumbfounded! She never expected that he would use her own identity against her! To be honest, if her identity were exposed, she would have to run for her life! Ziyue was somewhat angry and asked, Sir Lin, what do you want? Its simple. As long as you provide me with enough silver taels as hush money, I can pretend this never happened! Lin Beifan opened his hand, speaking in a very understanding manner Sir Lin, didnt you say that a gentleman loves money but also has principles? Yes, and this is my way of obtaining money! Lin Beifan proudly smiled. Seizing wealth through cunning and force, isnt that what corrupt officials do? I dont think Ive done anything wrong, have I? Ziyue: Damn it! Suppressing her anger, Ziyue asked, Lin Beifan, how much do you want? He didnt even call him Sir anymore; it was evident how angry she was! It depends on how much you have. Whatever you have, thats how much I want! Lin Beifan extended his palm for a handshake. Ziyue took a sharp breath, saying, You have quite the appetite! Think it over quickly! Once we step out of this door, I might not be able to control whates out of my mouth! Lin Beifan pointed towards the door. Ziyues eyes were filled with anger as she said, Luoxia, give him all the money we have on us! The maid was startled, Princess, this Do as youre told! Yes, Princess! The maid handed over all the money they had. Apart from some silver and gold, all they had left were silver bills, totaling a value of one million taels. Lin Beifan was extremely delighted. Attending a poetry gathering and making some profit! That appearance fee was worth it! Now that youve received the money, you know what to do, right? Ziyue said angrily. Rest assured, although Im greedy, I do have principles! Lin Beifan chuckled and stuffed the money into his pocket. For the next three days, I absolutely wont utter a word! As for after three days, well, its hard to say! Hmph! I hope you keep your promise! Ziyue said resentfully. Afterward, they walked out of the room together and returned to the poetry gathering venue. In fact, half an hour had already passed, and everyone was anxiously waiting. The top schr and Miss Ziyue havee out! They finally emerged! Ive been waiting for ages! If they donte out soon, Im leaving! Top schr, Miss Ziyue, why did you two take so long? someone curiously asked. Everyone perked up their ears to listen. Lin Beifan patted his slightly bulging pocket and smiled happily, Miss Ziyue is talented in both appearance and intelligence, so we had a delightful conversation in the room! We talked about life, ideals, and gained a lot. Time flew by without us realizing it! Master Lins words are absolutely true! I deeply regret not meeting him sooner. We got carried away in the conversation and lost track of time. Please forgive us! After saying this, Ziyue even gave Lin Beifan an angry stare, hinting at some yful banter. Everyones hearts shattered! So they indeed have an affair! Whats there to talk about when ites to life and ideals? Isnt it just a matter of a few words? Who would want to watch you indulge in love affairs if they dont desire you? Leaving us outside, feeding on dog food, while you two have your romantic talks, with sweet nothings, expressing love for each other Have you considered our feelings? A pair of scoundrels! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 123: A Difficult Situation, Can I Take on a Part-Time Job? Chapter 123: A Difficult Situation, Can I Take on a Part-Time Job? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Another day passed, and in the evening, Princess Ziyue returned to the bustling capital city with her maid. Miss, are we really going to find Lin Beifan? He knows our identities and hes also an official of the court. If he reports us, well be in great danger! the maid whispered, her face filled with worry. Princess Ziyues expression was firm. In the past couple of days, I have deeply reflected and realized that we have indeed taken many wrong paths, which has led to our national restoration project being constantly dyed. I dont want to continue wasting time like this anymore! I dont want the people who follow me to be disappointed time and time again! I dont want to reach old age without avenging ourselves! Lin Beifan has given me hope! He has a broad vision and strategic thinking. With just a few words, he has cleared away the clouds and pointed out the direction for us! I believe that with his assistance and guidance, our great cause will definitely flourish and eventually ignite a fire that sweeps through the nation! Thats why I must find Lin Beifan and make him work for me! But, Miss, its really dangerous the maid pleaded. If you dont enter the tigers den, how can you catch the tigers cub? When I came here, I had already considered all the pros and cons. At worst, its just sacrificing one life! Andpared to the restoration of our nation, my life is insignificant! The unwavering gaze of Princess Ziyue, fearless in the face of life and death, left the maid in a daze. Suddenly, she felt that the princess had matured! Miss, Im willing to apany you through the crimson sunset! Good! The two of them spoke softly and unconsciously arrived at Lins residence. They knocked on the door and, after receiving permission, entered the house. At this moment, everyone witnessed this scene. Thats Miss Ziyue! Miss Ziyue hase to visit the top schr! Oh no, could it be that Miss Ziyue has also set her sights on the top schr? Its very likely! I heard that a few days ago at the poetry gathering, Miss Ziyue couldnt wait to pull the top schr into the inner chamber. They talked for nearly half an hour and seemed to be enjoying each otherspany! My heart aches! Another flower has been plucked by the top schr! Can they leave some soup for us to drink? Countless men, all in deep sorrow andmentation. At this moment, Ziyue had already entered the Lin residence. As she walked along the way, she felt extremely puzzled. Because in the vast courtyard, there were hardly any people, it was very quiet. She was somewhat perplexed. Wasnt Lin Beifan a corrupt official? He had embezzled so much money, why didnt he hire more servants? Otherwise, what did he do with all that money he embezzled? Just then, she saw two monks, one old and one young, sweeping fallen leaves. The young monk appeared quite youthful, with some level of cultivation. But the old monk seemed so ordinary, blending in with the surrounding environment. If it werent for the fact that he was sweeping the floor, one might not even notice him. Her heart trembled; truly, he was a grandmaster! At this moment, the old monk sensed someone looking at him. He stood up straight, slightly bowed, and sped his hands together, reciting a Buddhist chant, Amitabha Buddha! Respectful greetings, benefactor! Like the sound of the Dao, prating and stunning, it shattered all the thoughts in her mind! Greetings, Master! Ziyue immediately returned the greeting. She didnt dare to show any negligence towards a grandmaster. After paying her respects, the old monk continued sweeping the floor, and Princess Ziyue continued on her way. Finally, she entered the main hall and saw three exquisite women: Li Shi Shi, the Young Princess, and Mo Rushuang. The Young Princess wrinkled her nose and displeasingly said, Why did youe, woman? Ziyue greets Princess Yunying, Lady Lin, and Miss Rushuang! Ziyue made a slight bow and smiled, Ivee to visit Mr. Lin with important matters to discuss! The Young Princess became even more displeased, What important matters could you have with that scoundrel? Isnt it just to talk about love and romance? Young Princess! Li Shi Shi scolded. The Young Princess waved her hand, Fine, fine, I dont care anymore! Li Shi Shi smiled and weed her, Miss Zi Yue, wee to the Lin residence! My husband is currently handling some official affairs in the study. Ill take you there! No trouble at all! Princess Ziyue lowered her head and thanked her. The group chatted andughed as they arrived at the study. Lin Beifan was surprised to see Princess Ziyue, You actually dare toe? Why wouldnt I dare? I deeply admire Mr. Lin! Especially your talent, it has earned my utmost admiration! Since Mr. Lin didnte to me, I had no choice but to pay a visit! Zi Yue gritted her teeth and smiled. Seeing Lin Beifan, she remembered that night when he extorted millions from her, making her furious! In all her years, when had she ever suffered such humiliation? This man truly knows nothing about cherishing a woman! Li Shi Shi sensed that something was amiss, excused herself, and said, Ill prepare some tea for you. Take your time and talk! Shi Shi, Miss Ziyue is an honored guest. Bring the Golden Dragon Tea! Golden Dragon Tea was an exquisite tea that was worth a fortune, with a single tael costing a thousand gold pieces, but it required a very long steeping time. Li Shi Shi understood the hidden message, which meant that they were discussing private matters that would take a while, so she didnt need toe back. My husband, I understand! Li Shi Shi walked out of the study and closed the door behind her. Princess Ziyues maid followed her out and stood guard outside. Alright, theres no one else now. Just speak up about your business! Lin Beifan straightforwardly asked as he opened the door. Princess Ziyues expression became serious, and she gratefully said with tears in her eyes, I benefited greatly from Mr. Lins guidance before! After careful consideration, I havee to realize even more that you, Mr. Lin, possess extraordinary talent and great insight. You are a rare talent that can assist the kingdom! Therefore, I havee here to ask Mr. Lin to be my military strategist, to offer counsel and strategies for our kingdom, and to train our troops for battle! Once our great cause is aplished, I will definitely appoint you as the prime minister, surpassing all others! I implore Mr. Lin not to refuse! Lin Beifan shook his head and chuckled softly, Princess Ziyue, are you not joking? You want me to abandon my current prosperity, a bright future, and gamble on an uncertain future with you. Do you think thats possible? Lin Beifan put down the pen in his hand and dered loudly, Look at my current life. I live in a top-tier mansion, wear luxurious silk and satin, drink pce-grade wine, and eat imperial delicacies. I have luxury carriages to pick me up and drop me off! Although I am currently just a low-ranking official, I can still navigate and influence the court, guiding the nation! I have the favor of the Empress, and in the future, I may even ascend to a higher position! I can say that I have everything I could want in life! The winner in life can be none other than me! And you all are nothing but a group of rats fleeing across the street, not only being pursued by the Dayue Dynasty but also wanted by the Great Wu. You are in a state of constant upheaval and uncertainty! It must be madness that drives me to join you! Therefore, Princess Ziyue, please go back! Lin Beifan waved his hand dismissively. Indeed, as you said, it is highly unrealistic to ask you to abandon all your current wealth, glory, and promising future to join us in pursuing an uncertain future. However, Lin Beifan, you must understand that everything you currently enjoy is like a moon reflected in a mirror and flowers floating in water! Because the Great Wu is on the verge of chaos! Princess Ziyue spoke loudly, In the current Great Wu Dynasty, the vassal kings are in control, military forces are strengthened, corruption runs rampant in the court, and the martial world is in constant turmoil. Various major dynasties are eyeing them Internal and external troubles continue, and the dynasty is on the verge of copse! Even if you possess tremendous talent, you have no power to reverse this situation! Your individual abilities are insignificant in the face of such overwhelming circumstances. Its even a luxury to ensure your own safety. It would be better to seek an alternative path for yourself! Princess Ziyue eximed with excitement, Lin Beifan, your talent is greatly admired by us! As long as you join us, we will treat you with the highest respect befitting a national hero! Dont you want to make great achievements? Dont you want to leave your name in history? We will provide you with ample opportunities to showcase your talents! Although you make some valid points, a loyal subject serves only one ruler! Lin Beifan stood firm with righteousness, I have received great favor and trust from the Empress, and naturally, I am willing to devote myself wholeheartedly to repay her magnanimous grace! Asking me to betray Her Majesty, to betray the Great Wu, is to betray my own conscience, which is absolutely impossible! Princess Ziyue was extremely shocked and deeply moved! She didnt expect this corrupt official, who was disliked by everyone, to be so loyal and devoted! It seems that he does have some redeeming qualities! Could it be that Im going to fail? Princess Ziyue didnt give up. She risked her life to return to the capital city and had already made sufficient preparations. She immediately took out several dozen silver notes from her pocket, totaling a value of 1 million taels, and pushed them in front of Lin Beifan with utmost sincerity, saying, Lin Beifan, as long as you agree to join us, all of this will be yours! If you achieve great things in the future, you will be handsomely rewarded! We will never mistreat any deserving contributor! However, Lin Beifan smiled and said, Oh! Princess Ziyue, you think you can buy me with money? Let me tell you, NO~~ Problem! Princess Zi Yue was confused, What do you mean? It means, no problem! Lin Beifan deftly pocketed the money andughed, Princess Ziyue, youve made a futile attempt! I am a person who can resist anything except sugar-coated bullets! I can withstand any temptation! From today onwards, I will be your military strategist, helping you with strategies and nning! Ask me any question you have, and I will speak without reservation! Princess Ziyue eximed, Fxck! She had already prepared herself for disappointment and was ready to leave, but unexpectedly, the situation took a dramatic turn! He was brought down by just 1 million! If I had known earlier, why did I bother so much? What a waste of time and energy! And emotions too! Princess Ziyue looked at Lin Beifans smiling face and opened her mouth, Lin Beifan, didnt you just say that a loyal subject doesnt serve two masters? Yes, a loyal subject doesnt serve two masters unless theyre all female masters! Lin Beifan grinned and said, Princess, you are a woman, and not just any woman, but a wealthy and beautiful beauty. I dont think theres any problem with working for you! Princess Zi Yue eximed, Fcxk!! But didnt you say you wouldnt betray the Empress, wouldnt betray the Great Wu? she questioned. I indeed havent betrayed anyone, Im just taking on two jobs! Times are tough, and its getting harder to make money. Cant I have a part-time job? Lin Beifan justified confidently. Princess Zi Yue eximed, Fxxk! The princess asked loudly, What about your conscience? Lin Beifan firmly waved his hand, Dont ask, because the answer is none! Princess Zi Yue eximed, Fcxk!! If I have one, I hope its sold by weight! Princess Zi Yue eximed, Fcxk! You scoundrel Lin Beifan got angry, Princess, will you ever stop? Its already thiste, does it really matter about these small details? No wonder you havent achieved anything in so many years! Lets get to the point quickly. This 1 million can onlyst for half an hour. When youe back next time, well have to reevaluate the price! Princess Zi Yue eximed, Fcxk!! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 124: Princess, Remember to Bring More Money Next Time! Chapter 124: Princess, Remember to Bring More Money Next Time! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Princess Ziyues current mood is truly indescribable! Mixed feelings abound! Originally, she came with sincerity, wanting to enlist Lin Beifans help and advice. Now that he has agreed, why doesnt she feel any joy? She cant help but feel that he is shameless and unreliable! Should I trust someone who can be bought for a million? Should I give him an important role? Princess Ziyue is uncertain. Well, lets take it step by step! At this moment, Lin Beifan held a white feather fan in his hand and gently fanned the air, exuding an air of military advisor like Zhuge Liang. Princess, speak up. This military advisor is all ears! he said. Princess Ziyue put aside her jumbled thoughts and said, Now, we have decided to shift our focus to the western region of Wu, preparing to develop quietly there and wait for the right opportunity! But we are at a loss on how to proceed. Please advise me, military advisor! Lin Beifan smiled and said, You can continue spreading your teachings as before, using your methods of trickery to deceive the people. I guarantee youll quickly develop a group of followers! That was what I initially considered! However, such a group is too unstable and could copse at any time! Princess Ziyue sighed. Military advisor, we want a strong and loyal army with firm beliefs that can win battles! It seems you have remembered what I said earlier. It will be easier from here on! First, lets address the issue of belief! Lin Beifan cleared his throat. Belief, in essence, is about making them understand who they are fighting for and why they are fighting. They need to know what they can gain from their efforts. Once this issue is resolved, their belief will be firm. Even in the face of future challenges, their faith and spirit will remain unshaken! Please teach me, Military Advisor! Princess Ziyue humbly asked. Lets first rify the first question: Who should they fight for? They should fight for our nted Moon Dynasty Princess Ziyue replied weakly. Wrong! Why should they? Lin Beifans voice thundered. People are inherently selfish. Why should they fight for your nted Moon Dynasty? What does it have to do with them? Remember, you aim to attract the people within the Great Wu Territory and develop armed forces there! These people are the inhabitants of Great Wu. Why should they abandon their own lives and follow you to risk their lives? If it were you, would you foolishly join in? Of course not! Princess Ziyue vigorously shook her head. Therefore, Ill tell you that they will only fight for themselves. Only when they clearly understand that the rewards they will gain from their efforts far surpass what they had before, will they join your cause! Princess Ziyue nodded thoughtfully. Youre right! Now, onto the second question: Why should they fight? Why should they fight? Princess Ziyue pondered and replied, To have enough food, to have money to spend, to live a good life. These should be the reasons! So, what is the foundation for all of this? Lin Beifan asked. What could it be Princess Ziyue puzzledly asked. Stupid! You cant understand such a simple truth. Of course, its thend! Lin Beifan impatiently said, For farmers, or for any ordinary people, the most important thing is undoubtedlynd! Withnd, they can cultivate crops and have food to eat! Withnd, they can sell their harvest and earn money to spend! Withnd, they can seek a wife and live afortable life with a family! The foundation of all this is, of course, thend! Withnd, they can survive! Withnd, their lives have direction! Withnd, they will risk their lives to follow you! Am I right? Yes, yes, absolutely right! Princess Ziyue nodded repeatedly. Once this problem is solved, the third question bes much simpler! Let me ask you, if they follow you and put in efforts, what should be their greatest reward? Land! Princess Ziyue answered without hesitation. Thats right, itsnd! Lin Beifan pped his hands andughed. So, as long as you promise that by following you, they will receivend as a reward! The greater their contributions, the morend they will receive! They will certainly be willing to risk their lives for you! Because they have nothing left, why not take a chance? Who knows, they might achieve a better future? This is their belief! Princess Ziyue was extremely excited. The Military Advisors words are absolutely right! But then she frowned and said with concern, But we dont have anynd! Stupid, cant we take it by force? Lin Beifan snapped impatiently. The entire western region of Wu is such arge area, are you afraid there is nond? The entire Dayue Dynasty has so muchnd, isnt it enough to distribute? You just need to conquer it, and then youll havend. Isnt that the goal youve always had? Yes! Princess Ziyue became excited once again. Lin Beifan smiled confidently. For the sake ofnd, they will unleash an unprecedented fighting force! Because they know that winning means gainingnd, and losing means having nothing! Any force that opposes them is essentially depriving them of theirnd and taking away all their hopes. Do you think they will fight to the death? Absolutely! Princess Ziyue grew even more excited. This is their belief, a true and unshakable belief! Yes, yes! Princess Ziyue nodded fervently. In addition, there is another tremendous benefit! Lin Beifan chuckled, If you make a name for yourselves, many farmers will surelye seekingnd! As a result, your forces will growrger and stronger until Lin Beifan spread his arms and eximed excitedly, A spark ignites a prairie fire, unstoppable! Mmm! Princess Ziyue, already excited, closed her eyes. She was already envisioning this scene! For the first time, she felt that her hope for revenge and restoration of the country was so close! She realized that all of this was brought by the man before her! Princess Ziyue stood up and gave a slight bow. Thank you so much for teaching me, Military Advisor! Lin Beifan humbly smiled and said, Princess, we are all on the same side, no need for such formalities! As she looked at Lin Beifans gentle and confident smiling face, Princess Ziyue was momentarily lost in thought. She thought about how over these years, she had shouldered a heavy burden andbored tirelessly for the cause of revenge and restoration. However, her abilities were limited, often feeling mentally and physically exhausted, and the rewards were meager. She felt weary and lost. It was only after encountering this man that she found new hope. Suddenly, a sense of security rose in her heart. I still have to thank you! Princess Ziyue expressed her gratitude once again. If it werent for your guidance, Advisor, we might have taken many detours and who knows when we would have seeded? Your great kindness and teachings are unforgettable! If you insist on thanking me, then give me a little bit of money. I truly wont mind! Lin Beifan winked. The corner of Princess Ziyues mouth twitched. Advisor, lets continue with our previous topic! Alright, lets continue! Lin Beifan cleared his throat and continued, Thats why I suggest you choose thend of Wuxi! Although thend in Wuxi is vast, it is poor and resources are scarce, resulting in a difficult life for themon people! This is the time to implement benevolent governance and provide the people with a way out. However, the Duke of Wuxi, driven by his own ambitions, has disregarded everything and mobilized millions of troops! The people have suffered under the rule of the King of Wuxi for too long! Therefore, when you go there to develop, incentivize themon people withnd, and you will undoubtedly receive a tremendous response! Coupled with food and mary rewards, you can quickly build up a formidable force! Furthermore, you can also employ the persuasive methods you used before! By manipting the belief in the divine will, promising the distribution ofnd after the sess of the cause, you will surely attract countless followers Half an hour quickly passed. Lin Beifan spoke tirelessly, while Princess Ziyue listened attentively, captivated by his words and gaining profound insights. Every word spoken by Lin Beifan was reasonable and thought-provoking! It thoroughly cleansed her mind and thoughts! It also filled her with confidence! It felt as if as long as she followed Lin Beifans words, sess was not just a possibility but a certainty! If it didnt seed, it wouldnt be due to the ineffectiveness of the method, but rather her own shorings! Alright, lets stop here for today! Lin Beifan took a sip of his now cold tea. So soon its over? Military Advisor, can we talk a bit more? Princess Ziyue expressed some dissatisfaction. Lin Beifans face turned serious. Princess, you must understand that greed leads to nothing but indigestion! I have imparted a lot of knowledge today, and you need to absorb it well in order to apply it effectively. Otherwise, it will be like swallowing dates without chewing, knowing the result but not the reason behind it, which will greatly diminish the effect. Once you have absorbed this knowledge, I will discuss new content with you! Military Advisor speaks the truth. Ziyue has learned a lot! Princess Ziyue stood up, slightly bowed, and smiled. Its gettingte today, I will seek advice from the Military Advisor another day. Princess, farewell. I wont apany you! Lin Beifan smiled. Princess Ziyue nodded with a smile. Military Advisor, we are on the same side, no need for such formalities! After saying that, she put on a purple veil, turned her head, and left. Wait, Princess! Lin Beifan called out. Military Advisor, do you have any further instructions? Princess Ziyue turned her head, smiling. Princess, remember to bring more money next time! Lin Beifan said reluctantly. Princess Ziyue: Princess Ziyue didnt respond and silently left with her maid. Feeling hopeful about her grand cause, her mood was exceptionally good, and as she passed by pedestrians, they nodded and paid their respects. This led to some misunderstandings. Miss Ziyue looks so happy! Of course, she just met her beloved. How can she not be happy? You mean the top schr, Lin Beifan? Exactly! I saw Miss Ziyue visiting the Lin Mansion just now. Its obvious that she met the top schr! Its been almost an hour, and she left happily! Oh no! Miss Ziyue has truly been taken by the top schr. I have no chance anymore! You never had a chance in the first ce. Go dream your dreams! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 125: The Talent of a Military Advisor, Comparable to the Ancient Saint of War! Chapter 125: The Talent of a Military Advisor, Comparable to the Ancient Saint of War! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Meanwhile, Lin Beifan was busy counting his gains. After bluffing for half an hour, I gained 1 million taels. How satisfying! He looked up and saw a familiar figure. Bai Guanyin gazed at Lin Beifan and softly remarked, You even colluded with the escaped princess of the nted Moon Dynasty, providing her with advice and strategies for nning in the Wuxi region. Your audacity is truly growing! Theres no choice, just trying to make a living! Lin Beifan spread his hands. Bai Guanyins mouth twitched. Trying to make a living? Who is like you, opening your mouth and grabbing millions of taels at a time? And you call that just trying to make a living? She had seen many corrupt officials, but she had never seen someone so adept at making money! Bai Guanyins expression becameplicated. Colluding with the princess of the outer court, it seems you n to betray the Empress! Lin Beifan became a little angry. Bai Guanyin, dont nder me! I have the bare minimum of morals and conscience. The Empress has been so good to me, how could I betray her? Bai Guanyin retorted angrily, You dont? You have already introduced foreign invaders to split the imperial court. Isnt that considered betrayal? This situation is far more serious than the crimes you havemitted in the past! I did this for Her Majesty and for the Great Wu! Lin Beifan justified confidently. Huh? Bai Guanyin was dumbfounded. Youve already caused a split, and yet you boldly im its for Her Majesty and for the Great Wu How shameless can you get? A person can be shameless, but not shameless to this extent! Think about it, ever since Duke Wuxi took control of the Wuxi region, he has be a major threat to the Empress and the court. With a well-trained army of one million soldiers under hismand, he aims in all directions. There are few who canpete with him in the world! In this situation, the court can only appease, not act rashly! At this time, remnants of the nted Moon Dynasty have appeared! Lin Beifan proudly continued, They have been enduring hardships for over 20 years in order to restore their dynasty! It can be said that they will do anything for the sake of regaining their country! So, I took the opportunity to lure them to the Wuxi region! There cant be two tigers on one mountain. Without the Empress and the court taking action, they will fight among themselves! Isnt this more advantageous for the Empress and the court? Bai Guanyin was astonished. So, you are using them? How can you say its using? It should be said that we both have our own interests! Lin Beifan smiled and said, For the Xieyue Dynasty to restore its power, it needs territory and people. The Wuxi region is very suitable for that! It has bothnd and people, and it is also closer to the Dayue Dynasty! If we can take control of the Wuxi region, we can aim for the Dayue Dynasty! And our court, without spending a single soldier, will not only resolve the issue of the Wuxi Duke but also counter the Dayue Dynasty! Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, Why not do something that benefits everyone? Bai Guanyin was shocked and shook her head, You are truly cunning and terrifying! Youe up with such a perfect n. As your enemy, I feel truly pitiful! Dont talk nonsense! I am very pure. I only drink purified water and pure milk! Lin Beifan blushed and lowered his head. You, pure? Bai Guanyin sneered. If you were pure, you wouldnt manipte all the corrupt officials in the court! If you were pure, you wouldnt manipte the various vassal kings so skillfully! If you were pure, you wouldnt continue thriving after embezzling millions of taels! If you were pure, there would be no pure people in this world! A person like this, if they do good, will undoubtedly benefit the world! If they do evil, they will surely bring cmity and chaos! Then, Bai Guanyin took the money from Lin Beifan and went back to report. Inside the pce, when the empress learned that Lin Beifan had once again betrayed her and caused harm to the country, she was speechless. This guy again? He has such audacity, actually colluding with external enemies and dividing our imperial territory! The empress massaged her forehead in frustration. When will he give me some peace of mind? Bai Guanyin chuckled and said, Although he takes an unorthodox approach, its actually a good method to resolve the Wuxi region issue! Sounds promising! But The empress shook her head. With just the remnants of the nted Moon Dynasty, they think they can defeat the Wuxi Duke with his million-strong army? Its like striking a rock with an egg, a foolish dream! I used to think this matter was difficult to aplish as well, but after hearing his theories on military strategy, I realized there might be a chance! If executed properly, it could be a great opportunity! The empress blinked curiously and asked, He also knows military strategy? Sister Bai, what did he say? Then, Bai Guanyin exined Lin Beifans theory ofnd revolution. After hearing it, the empress was amazed, Did he reallye up with this theory? To makend the belief, gather people from all directions, fight for thend, and fight for themselves! In the end, the victors have their own fields and houses! Everything they need is within reach? Thats right, its his idea! Bai Guanyin sighed in admiration. To makend the belief and let themon people fight for the nted Moon Dynasty! In this way, themon people, for the sake of their ownnd and interests, will fight without hesitation! In order to protect their ownnd and interests, they will firmly support the rule of the nted Moon Dynasty! Eventually, more and moremon people will be attracted to join, rapidly developing and growing, forming an unstoppable force! Your Majesty, do you think this method is feasible? The empress pped her hands in approval and said excitedly, This method is truly marvelous! With this theory as guidance, the military and the people will undoubtedly unite as one, and there is no reason for them not to seed! I never expected this top schr to be a military genius! Bai Guanyin asked, Your Majesty, can this method be applied to Great Wu? The empresss smile turned bitter, The idea is wonderful, but it cannot be implemented! Bai Guanyin pressed further, Why cant it be implemented? The resistance is too strong! The empress sighed, Nowadays, almost all thend in the country is owned by the officials, powerful ns, and sects! They hold high positions, have military power, and firmly control various resources, dictating the rise and fall of the dynasty! Themon people are like helplessmbs, unable to resist at all! By using this method, its equivalent to snatchingnd from their hands. Do you think they would agree? I can guarantee that if this method is implemented, it would lead to chaos in the entire country! At that time, even my throne would be in jeopardy! Actually, there is one more thing to consider. She herself is the biggestndowner, so how could she carry out a revolution? Does she have to take out her own valuable possessions and distribute them to others? No one would be so generous! Inparison, the nted Moon Dynasty can utilize this method. Since they dont havend and are in dire straits, they can precisely use this method to motivate themon people to fight for them! If we cant conquernd, I wont be able to distribute it to you! But if we do conquer it, we will naturally distribute it based on merit! Although I dont havend, I can collect taxes! No matter how you calcte it, its not a loss! The empress fell silent, and so did Bai Guanyin. After a while, the empress spoke softly, Sister Bai, if Lin Beifan holds another lecture, can you bring me to listen? Hmm? Bai Guanyin was puzzled. Based on your ount just now, I specte that Lin Beifan has aplete theoretical system and there are many things he hasnt mentioned. I want to hear it with my own ears! I feel that his ideas would greatly benefit our future ns! Alright! No problem! Bai Guanyin nodded. Two flowers blossom, each showing its own beauty. At this moment, Princess Ziyue had already returned to the Xiyue Tower. As soon as she came back, she immediately took out pen and paper and recorded everything she had learned from Lin Beifan. To not miss any piece of knowledge, she wrote down every word that Lin Beifan had said, word for word. Fortunately, she was intelligent and had a good memory, otherwise she wouldnt have been able to remember so much. Even so, it took nearly two hours. It was alreadyte at night, with a dark sky andplete silence. However, Princess Ziyues room was still brightly lit. With a face full of joy, she held the paper filled with words as if it were a precious treasure and sighed, Reading it again, it still brings many benefits! The talent of a military strategist isparable to a celestial being, worthy of being on par with the ancient military sage! With this brilliant strategy, coupled with the exceptional military advisor, how can we not seed in our great cause? Princess Ziyue was full of confidence. She believed that this time she would not fail again! She believed that this time she would be able to lead the remnants of the nted Moon Dynasty, restore the dynasty, and avenge herte father and queen mother! Although it waste at night, she was still full of energy. So she copied another copy overnight. One copy was kept for herself, and the other copy was sent back to guide everyones actions. The next morning. Princess Ziyue put one of the copies into a box and handed it solemnly to a trusted person, instructing, You must immediately rush back and personally deliver this method to Old Xu. He knows what to do! Remember, this method is extremely precious and is rted to our restoration cause. It must not be lost! If you encounter any danger, its better to destroy it than let others see it! The trusted person had a serious expression on their face. Princess, rest assured, I know what to do! Princess Ziyue smiled. When ites to handling tasks, Ive always been at ease with you. Princess, is there anything else you want me to do? Yes, remember to bring back more money! Princess Ziyue replied. The trusted person was taken aback. Ah? Bring back more money? She clearly remembered that Princess Ziyue had brought over millions of taels of silver. How could it be spent so quickly? It had only been a day since she returned. Where did it all go? *cough* Princess Ziyue felt a bit uneasy under the other persons gaze and cursed in her mind about someone being greedy. She replied with a hint of irritation, Dont look at me like that. The money I need has a great purpose! Yes, Princess! The trusted person bowed and took the box, bidding farewell to the princess. Three days passed like this. In the evening, Princess Ziyue visited Lin Beifan once again. The two of them sat in the same study. Seeing the beautiful Princess Ziyue again, Lin Beifan was in a good mood and personally brewed a cup of tea for her. Princess, please enjoy! he said. Princess Ziyue smiled. Thank you, military advisor. Lin Beifan greeted her cordially. Princess, did you bring the money? Princess Ziyues mouth twitched slightly as she took out a thick stack of silver bills and handed them to Lin Beifan. Military Advisor, this is 1.5 million taels. Please ept it! Lin Beifan happily epted the money, putting it in his pocket, and praised, Princess, you are truly generous and open-handed! Itsfortable to work with someone like you! Princess Ziyue smiled proudly, Of course, I never mistreat my own people! As long as you follow me, military strategist, fame, fortune, and rewards are within reach! Endless glory and wealth to enjoy! Thank you for your generous favor, Princess! However, next time you can bring a bit more! Lin Beifan said. Princess Ziyues smile gradually froze on her face. Unable to hold back, she spoke, Advisor, isnt 1.5 million taels enough to satisfy your appetite? Youre too greedy! Knowledge is priceless! Lin Beifan confidently justified himself, I have already imparted invaluable knowledge to you, and Im at a loss. Whats wrong with charging you some money? Are you actuallyining about it? Princess Ziyue opened her mouth but couldnt say anything. She had to change the subject, Advisor, can we start now? Naturally! With the money in ce, nothing is a problem! Lin Beifan smiled and immediately began his lecture. Meanwhile, on the rooftop outside the room, two figures appeared. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 126: Teaching Guerrilla Warfare, Shocking the Women! Chapter 126: Teaching Guerri Warfare, Shocking the Women! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
This enchantingdy is the fugitive princess of the nt Moon Dynasty? She does indeed have some charm, a foxy and bewitching appearance! A stunning woman spoke with a slightly dissatisfied tone. Indeed, Your Majesty! Another woman smiled and spoke. These two people were Bai Guanyin and the Empress, who hade to attend the lecture. They stood firmly on the rooftop, employing some method that made them invisible and inaudible to others. However, they could clearly see the situation inside the house and hear the people talking. And the person who had expressed dissatisfaction just now was the Empress of the Great Wu Empire. At this moment, the Empress was very displeased with Princess Ziyue. Not only did she cause trouble within our country, but now she also set her sights on my beloved official, trying to seduce him away. Causing trouble is one thing, but wanting to snatch away my beloved official? Its simply unbearable, intolerable! If it werent for her still having some value to exploit, helping her deal with the Wuxi Duke, she would have immediately sent troops to capture Princess Ziyue. Seeing the slightly jealous Empress, Bai Guanyin smiled and said, Your Majesty, Princess Ziyue values Lin Beifan greatly! Moreover, Lin Beifan is ready to run away at any time, and Princess Ziyue would be a good ce for him to go! Do you think they might? No one can take away my beloved minister! The Empress spoke resolutely, with an imposing tone: Only I truly understand Lin Beifans extraordinary talent, understand his sincere intentions and grievances! Only I genuinely understand him, sympathize with him, and truly consider his well-being! Only in the Great Wu Empire can Lin Beifan fully disy his astonishing talent and fulfill his lifelong ambitions! I and the Great Wu Empire cannot be separated from Lin Beifan! And Lin Beifan cannot be separated from me and the Great Wu Empire! Weplete each other! Therefore, no matter whoes, they cannot take away my beloved minister. I will never give them that opportunity! Its good enough that Your Majesty knows! Bai Guanyin smiled faintly. As for that woman let her enjoy her moment of triumph for now, well settle the score with herter! The Empressposed herself and quieted down, preparing to listen to Lin Beifans lecture. Inside the study, Lin Beifan took a sip of tea and began his lecture. Last time, we talked about the issue of belief! Once the people and the army have a firm belief, knowing why they are fighting, they possess unparalleled cohesion, unite as one, and unleash formidablebat power! However, belief alone is not enough! It also needs to be cultivated, cultivated into qualified warriors, in order to possess tremendous fighting strength! Otherwise, it will still be a scattered and insignificant force! Princess Ziyue nodded repeatedly, What the Military Advisor says is absolutely true! So, how do we cultivate apetent fighting force? There are numerous methods! Lin Beifan smiled, Conventional training methods such as running, climbing mountains, practicing drills, and also various military skills training, team building, and so on! As long as they follow the rules, they are considered qualified! But the best training method is to train in battle, to temper oneself in life and death, to sustain warfare through warfare. Only then can we rapidly cultivate apetent fighting force! To train in battle, to temper oneself in life and death, to sustain warfare through warfare, but whom do we fight against? You fight whoever your enemy is! Lin Beifan replied. Princess Ziyue took in a sharp breath, shocked as she said, Military Advisor, but our enemy is the Wuxi Duke! Hemands a well-trained army of millions. How could we, a ragtag group of recruits, possibly be a match for them? Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Actually, it is possible to fight them. This involves a strategy I mentioned earlierguerri warfare! Princess Ziyue immediately became spirited! Here ites! You see, the Military Advisor has mentioned the words guerri warfare multiple times! He holds it in high regard! It seems that by mastering this strategy alone, one can be invincible and win a hundred battles! On the rooftop, the Empress furrowed her brow and asked, Guerri warfare? Is there such a strategy? Why have I never heard of it? She perked up her ears and listened even more attentively. Inside the room, Princess Ziyue eximed with excitement, Please teach me, Strategist! Of course, I will teach you! Lin Beifan smiled lightly. Once you grasp guerri warfare, you can triumph over the strong with the weak, ovee outnumbered odds. Although the Wuxi Duke has arge army, they are not invincible! Princess Ziyue became even more excited, Can this guerri warfare really defeat the Wuxi Duke? Naturally, why would I deceive you? Lin Beifans expression turned serious. Guerri warfare can be summarized in 16 words. Listen carefully! What are those 16 words? Princess Ziyue asked eagerly. Enemy advances, we retreat; enemy encamps, we harass; enemy tires, we strike; enemy retreats, we pursue! Lin Beifan exined. Princess Ziyue took notes while pondering, Enemy advances, we retreat These 16 words mean that if the enemy attacks, we retreat! If the enemy encamps, we harass them! If the enemy bes tired, we seize the opportunity to strike! If the enemy retreats, we pursue them! Princess Ziyue furrowed her brow. She seemed to understand, yet also seemed uncertain. Lin Beifan noticed her thoughts and smiled, Lets give an example to illustrate. For instance, we are facing the army of the Wuxi Duke. If the Wuxi Duke has 100,000 troops, and we only have 50,000, do you think we should fight or retreat? Retreat! Princess Ziyue answered without hesitation. If we also have 100,000 troops, should we fight or retreat? This still retreat! Princess Ziyue hesitated. Although we both have 100,000 troops, the Wuxi Dukes army is well-equipped and well-trained. We are definitely not a match. Its best to retreat! If we have 200,000 troops, should we fight or retreat? This fight! Princess Ziyue hesitated again. With twice the troops, we have a higher chance of winning. We can fight! Wrong! Still retreat! Lin Beifan eximed. Why? Princess Ziyue was puzzled. Although we have arger force and a higher chance of winning, the victory will be costly, with significant sacrifices. Its not worth it! Our forces are already limited, so we should preserve our strength rather than making futile sacrifices! Oh Princess Ziyue nodded thoughtfully. Let me ask you again, if we have 400,000 troops, four times the army of the Wuxi Duke, should we fight or retreat? With such a clear advantage, we should fight! Princess Ziyue answered without hesitation. Wrong! Still retreat! Lin Beifan eximed. Princess Ziyue was dumbfounded once again, With such a clear advantage, why should we still retreat? Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Did you forget? At this moment, the enemy is on the offensive, their morale is high! If we fight them now, even if we have the advantage, there will be sacrifices! Why not wait until their morale is depleted and then strike? Wouldnt the odds of winning be even greater then? Yes! Brilliant, Military Advisor! Princess Ziyue pped her forehead. The Empress on the rooftop praised, To deduce the whole from a glimpse of a part! Although its just a few words, its enough to see the level of Lin Beifans military strategy! Lin Beifan is truly a talent in military affairs! Indeed, I cant help but admire! Bai Guanyin sighed At this moment, Lin Beifan asked again, Let me ask you once more, if we have 400,000 troops and the Wuxi only has 100,000, and they have already lost their morale, should we fight or retreat? Fight! Without hesitation, fight! Princess Ziyue affirmed. Wrong! Absolutely wrong! Still retreat! Lin Beifan eximed. Ah!? Princess Ziyue was dumbfounded. The two women on the rooftop were also dumbfounded. With such a disparity in forces and the enemy losing their morale, why shouldnt they fight? Military Advisor, why retreat? Princess Ziyue asked. Did you forget the second and third phrases of guerri warfare? Lin Beifan asked. Enemy encamps, we harass; enemy tires, we strike? Thats right, its this phrase! Lin Beifanughed. At this moment, we cant afford to engage in a battle, so what can the Wuxi Duke do? They will definitely set up camp and rest! This gives us an opportunity. If we send a small number of troops to harass them, disturb their rest, and make them unable to eat or sleep well, they wont find peace! You tell me, wont theirbat effectiveness be greatly reduced? The eyes of the women brightened, Yes! If we lead the majority of our forces to attack when they are exhausted, wouldnt our chances of victory increase even more? Princess Ziyue nodded repeatedly, Thats right, thats right. The Military Advisor is correct! Let me ask you again, if the enemy retreats at this time, should we pursue and strike while we have the advantage? Should we fight? We should! Princess Ziyue answered without hesitation. Wrong again! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. Why is it wrong again? Princess Ziyue was dumbfounded. The two women on the rooftop were also dumbfounded! Isnt this the best time to pursue and strike while having the advantage? Why is it still wrong? We should indeed pursue, but whether to fight or not depends on the situation! What situation? Princess Ziyue humbly asked for advice. Stupid, did you forget what guerri warfare says? Did you forget what I just taught you? Enemy advances, we retreat; enemy camps, we harass; enemy tires, we strike; enemy retreats, we pursue! Princess Ziyue immediately said. Thats right, thats how it is! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. If the enemy is exhausted, then we continue to pursue and kill! If we are also exhausted, we should not engage in battle. Instead, we should send small units to harass them, preventing them from resting and continuing to tire. Meanwhile, the majority of our forces should rest and recover, replenishing our strength for the next battle! If the enemy receives reinforcements, we must retreat without hesitation! We must fully implement these 16 words, resolutely execute them! Lin Beifan shouted. Remember, never pursue a glorious victory at the cost of disregarding losses in individual cities or territories! Instead, while maintaining our own forces, we should strive to eliminate the enemys fighting strength as much as possible! In doing so, the enemys power will weaken further, while our own strength will grow stronger! Ultimately, we will be able to transition between offense and defense, triumph over the strong with the weak, and prevail with the few against the many! This is the true essence of guerri warfare! This is the core of guerri warfare! A strategy that is advantageous in every situation! A strategy that triumphs over the strong with the weak, and the few against the many! Princess Ziyue widened her eyes, experiencing a tremendous shock within her heart! The two women on the rooftop were equally stunned! So, this is the true essence of guerri warfare! A strategy that is advantageous in every situation! A strategy that triumphs over the strong with the weak and the few against the many! What a powerful strategy! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 127: Three Great Strategies to Solve the Problem of Wuxi! Chapter 127: Three Great Strategies to Solve the Problem of Wuxi! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The tactics of guerri warfare are very strong! The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we strike; the enemy retreats, we pursue If we can flexibly apply this method, we may not be able to defeat the enemy, but at least we can stand undefeated! The Empress sighed, This advisor of mine is truly a talented military strategist! Even the knowledgeable Empress was impressed, let alone Princess Ziyue? She eximed excitedly, Military advisor, if we master guerri warfare, can we defeat Duke Wuxi? Lin Beifan smirked, What are you thinking? Its not that easy. Although guerri warfare is good, it also has significant ws that we must face and make reasonable use of; otherwise, we will be the ones to lose! Princess Ziyue was dumbfounded, Such a perfect strategy also has ws? Even the Empress, who had just praised Lin Beifan, was shocked! Her question was the same as Princess Ziyues! Of course, there are ws, and quite a few of them! Lin Beifan smiled, To achieve the level of guerri warfare, the speed of movement must be fast, actions like the wind; otherwise, its not called guerri warfare! This requires the operatives to have either excellent lightness skills or good legwork, or they must have exceptional steeds! Regardless of which requirement, only a few people can meet it! With a small number of people, we simply cannot pose a threat to arge army! In such a situation, we can only retreat ording to the 16-word guideline of guerri warfare, constantly retreating and unable to engage inbat! Although we have no losses, the enemy is not eliminated either, and it serves no purpose! Therefore, guerri warfare is only suitable for small-scale battles, primarily focused on harassment and training troops! Itspletely impossible to rely on it to win against the enemy! Princess Ziyue was instantly doused with cold water. The Empress standing on the rooftop felt like she had been pped. Just a moment ago, she praised Lin Beifans tactics, but now he had pped her in the face so quickly! Indeed, by skillfully mastering this method, one could stand undefeated! But the enemy also had no way to defeat it! It was just going back and forth,pletely futile! So, here, I want to supplement with another strategy! It works in conjunction with guerri warfare and produces remarkable results! What strategy? Princess Ziyue inquired. Mobile warfare! Lin Beifan smiled faintly. The so-called mobile warfare is to eliminate the enemy while on the move! Relying on arger operational space, exchanging space for time, mobilizing forces to surround the enemy, and swiftly defeating them with superior forces! In summary: avoid the enemys main forces, lure the enemy deep, and concentrate superior forces to defeat them one by one! Please, advisor, teach me! Princess Ziyue earnestly requested. Lets still use the previous example as an example! Lin Beifan cleared his throat, If Duke Wuxi has 100,000 troops, and we only have 50,000 troops, should we fight or retreat? Retreat! Princess Ziyue answered without hesitation. If Duke Wuxi has 50,000 troops, and you still have 50,000 troops, should you fight or retreat? Retreat! Princess Ziyue still answered without hesitation. If Duke Wuxi only has 10,000 troops, and you still have 50,000, should you fight or retreat? Definitely fight! And use the tactics of guerri warfare to maximize their elimination! But, advisor, Duke Wuxi cant possibly have only 10,000 troops, he has 1 million! Lin Beifan smiled, Yes, Duke Wuxi cant possibly have only 10,000 troops, he has 1 million troops! But if you break it down into 100 parts, each part having only 10,000 troops, and you lead your 50,000 troops to eliminate them one part at a time, wouldnt you still be able to destroy Duke Wuxi in the end? Yes! Princess Ziyues eyes lit up. Thats the strategy of mobile warfare! When you have 50,000 troops and he only has 10,000 troops, you can decisively move in to eliminate them! When you have 50,000 troops and he has 100,000 troops, you need to avoid them and find a way to break them down into smaller parts. Then, lure the smaller part with fewer people into your encirclement, allowing you to concentrate your forces and strike! This method of breaking down can be achieved through guerri warfare! Bybining these two strategies, alternating between the real and the virtual, you can effectively strike at the enemy! Even if Duke Wuxi has arge number of troops, you can slowly wear them down! Yes, yes! Advisor is right! Princess Ziyue nodded excitedly. Furthermore, there is a third strategy! This third strategy,bined with the previous two, willplement each other! Advisor, what strategy is it? Please tell me! Princess Ziyue eagerly asked. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, This strategy is called tunnel warfare. Tunnel warfare? Princess Ziyue frowned, finding it strange. The two women on the rooftop also felt puzzled. They chewed on the words, unable to understand the meaning. At this moment, Lin Beifan spoke, Thend of Wuxi is all grasnd, with t terrain stretching as far as the eye can see. There is simply no ce to hide! And what youre doing is risky business. Once discovered by Duke Wuxis troops, it will be a disaster! When his army invades and encircles you from all sides, there will be nowhere to escape! Moreover, in such terrain, ying guerri warfare or mobile warfare is easily discovered by them, greatly reducing the effectiveness! Princess Ziyue nodded, Advisor is right! So, since its easy to be discovered on the surface, why dont we develop underground? Princess Ziyue was puzzled, Develop underground? Tunnel warfare, in essence, is about digging tunnels! Lin Beifan smiled, Underneath the vastnd of Wuxi, we can dig awork of interconnected tunnels. This way, when facing danger, we can quickly hide underground! If we want to strike the enemy, we can also secretly move our troops underground andunch unexpected attacks from unexpected locations! With this, we can advance when attacking, retreat when hiding, and turn any situation into an advantage! Princess Ziyues eyes lit up, and she stood up excitedly, shouting, Brilliant strategist, please ept my respect! On the rooftop, the empress apuded, Excellent! Such imaginative methods! Combining guerri warfare, mobile warfare, and tunnel warfare, it willpletely outsmart King Wuxi! I am confident that with these three strategies, the remnants of the nted Moon Dynasty will be the most formidable enemy of Duke Wuxi! In the future, just dealing with the people of the nted Moon Dynasty will consume all of Duke Wuxis energy. He probably wont have the energy to oppose me anymore! My advisor, you have once again achieved a great feat! Haha! Congrattions, Your Majesty! Bai Guanyin smiled. Princess, please rise, theres no need for excessive courtesy! Lin Beifan quickly helped Princess Ziyue up and said with a smile, As long as we master these three strategies flexibly, we will definitely establish a foothold in Wuxi! The goal of restoring the kingdom is within reach! Thank you, advisor! If this n seeds, you will have made a great contribution! Princess Ziyue eximed excitedly, I will reward you generously, and you shall enjoy boundless wealth and prosperity! Lin Beifan frowned slightly and said, Princess, thats too much. Im not someone who desires wealth and prosperity! I only like money. Just give me money, and you can keep everything else! The smile on Princess Ziyues face gradually froze. Every time he opened his mouth, it was about money, yet he had the audacity to im he wasnt someone who coveted wealth and prosperity! What thick skin he had! The two women on the rooftop were stunned! This Lin Beifan was truly insatiable! Advisor, its gettingte. Ill go back first ande find you in a few days! Princess Ziyue stood up. Alright, Princess. Until we meet again! With that, Princess Ziyue left in a cheerful mood. The two women on the rooftop also left. After returning, Princess Ziyue immediately organized the gains from today and had them taken back to train her army ording to the tactics discussed, to prepare for battles in Wuxi. The empress, upon returning, also sorted out the gains from today and benefited greatly. Who would have thought that Sir Lin not only possesses extraordinary talent, but is also an unparalleled military master! With the previous theory of faith and now these three major strategies, the people of the nted Moon Dynasty will undoubtedly develop rapidly in Wuxi and pose a great threat to Duke Wuxi! Its amazing how easily the problem of Wuxi can be solved. Wonderful! Thus, the next day at the morning court, a pile of luxurious rewards was bestowed again. Reward Sir Lin with ten thousand taels of silver! Ten rolls of fine silk and ten rolls of satin! Ten barrels of Jade Dragon Wine! Lin Beifan and the entire court, both civil and military, were left dumbfounded. What kind of idea did the empresse up with again? After a few more days, when the timing was right, Lin Beifan finally unveiled his second invention. He was ready to make a big fortune again. During the court session, Lin Beifan reported loudly, Your Majesty, after months of diligent research, I have finally developed an unparalleled water weapon. I am ready for the first test, and I invite Your Majesty and the officials to witness it together! The officials were in an uproar! The empress couldnt contain her joy, Sir Lin, is this true? Have you really developed it? I would never deceive Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed and smiled, With this weapon, the Great Wu Navy will be unstoppable! Excellent! the empress eximed, Sir Lin truly is a pir of the nation! If the test is sessful, I will surely reward you generously! The next morning, the empress and the officials eagerly gathered by the river in the capital city to witness the first test of Lin Beifans water weapon. However, at that moment, the river was empty, with nothing to be seen. Sir Lin, where is the boat? Where is the giant steel ship? Why dont we see anything? Where is the boat? Hurry up and bring it over for Her Majesty and all of us to see! Even the empress asked, Sir Lin, where is the boat? Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Your Majesty, please wait a moment, along with everyone else. The boat will arrive soon! It will be an unprecedented marvel, so please dont be surprised when you see it! With Lin Beifans words, everyone became even more eager. Just then, a dozen students from the Imperial Academy arrived with several carts filled with goods. Lin Beifan uncovered the cloth on the carts and smiled at everyone, Your Majesty and esteemed officials, the time hase to witness a miracle! 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Everyone became even more confused! They were supposed to see a boat, but instead, there were several carts filled with cargo. However, nobody asked further questions and watched quietly. Under themand of Lin Beifan, the students started bustling around. On one of the carts, there were long and short wooden sticks, which the students quickly assembled into a huge wooden frame resembling the keel of a ship, butid t. Surprisingly, the other cart was filled with airbags used to make hot air balloons. However, these airbags, when inted, were much smaller than regr balloons, only big enough for two people to embrace. The students swiftly filled the small airbags with air, sealed the openings, and ced them into the wooden frames, securely fastening them. Each wooden frame contained a small airbag, forming neat bubbles. Then, they covered it all with a wooden board. This scene left everyone puzzled. They were supposed to be building a ship, but there was absolutely no resemnce to a ship. If its not a ship, how will it float? Someone couldnt help but ask, Director Lin, what exactly are you doing? Ive been watching for a long time, but I still cant understand Lin Beifan smiled mysteriously, Sir Zhao, please be patient. Youll understand soon! Thus, everyone could only continue watching with patience. After about an hour, under Lin Beifansmand, the students created a massive t panel measuring 5 zhang in length and 5 zhang in width, then pushed it into the river, where it floated on the water surface. (1 zhang = 3.3 meters) Lin Beifan reported loudly, Your Majesty, I present to you the water weapon I have developed, the hovercraft. Please have a look, Your Majesty! The Empress and all the officials were dumbfounded. They were all stunned, looking at the massive wooden board floating on the river. After a while, the Empress pointed at therge wooden board on the river and asked, Sir Lin, is this the water weapon you mentioned? Exactly! Lin Beifan replied with a slight smile. Qian Yuan, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, looked confused and pointed at therge wooden board on the river, Sir Lin, didnt you say you were going to build a giant steel ship? Is this the giant steel ship you were talking about? Lin Beifans expression turned serious, Minister Qian, you must have remembered incorrectly! I have always emphasized the concept of water weapons and never promised to build a giant steel ship! Moreover, with only three months time, it is impossible to gather enough steel for shipbuilding. Where do you expect me to build a steel ship for you? The Minister of Revenue was left speechless. It seemed that the other party had always emphasized water weapons and never mentioned building a giant steel ship! Its just that when ites to water weapons, everyone couldnt help but associate it with a giant steel ship! Because only a giant steel ship can be considered a water weapon! However, now another question arises. Sir Lin, you say this is a water weapon, but it doesnt look anything like a water weapon. What can it do? The Empress was very perplexed. It was called a hovercraft, but it didnt resemble a boat at all. It looked like it was just abination of wooden boards that could be easily scattered by a few big waves. The officials nodded involuntarily. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty, dont judge it by its appearance! In fact, it can carry cargo and people very effectively. I assure you, even if a hundred people stand on this hovercraft, it wont sink! Is that so? Your Majesty, you can try it yourself! The Empress immediately waved her hand and said, Lets start with 10 people! Immediately, ten soldiers stepped onto the hovercraft and remained safe. Another ten! Ten more soldiers stepped onto the hovercraft, still safe. Add another twenty directly! Twenty soldiers stepped onto the hovercraft, and it still floated steadily on the river. In this way, the number of soldiers increased, but the hovercraft continued to float steadily on the water. Until reaching 100 people, there was no sign of sinking. This time, everyone finally looked at it with different eyes. On this small surface, it can actually carry over a hundred people! These are all fully grown men, and if we calcte each weighing 150 jin, it means it can bear a load of 150,000 jin! Its astonishing! (1 jin = 0.5 kg) It doesnt even look like a boat, so how can it carry so many people? What is the underlying principle? Could it be those airbags? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty, there are still plenty of spaces on top. Why not send more soldiers to see how many people it can amodate? You make a valid point, Minister! The Empress waved her hand. And so, ten more soldiers stepped onto the hovercraft. In this manner, the number of people continued to increase. 110! 120! 130! Until finally, there were almost 200 people standing on it. Everyone was shoulder to shoulder, with no space left to stand, yet the hovercraft still didnt sink. This truly is a miracle! This boat, constructed with just a few wooden boards, can actually carry over 200 people! Its carrying capacity is alreadyparable to a regrrge ship! How is this even possible? Everyone was greatly shocked. As you can see! Lin Beifan smiled and said, One of the greatest advantages of my hovercraft is its ability to carry cargo! Even if we double the number of soldiers, its unlikely to sink! Here, I want to ask Your Majesty and esteemed officials a question. How much silver do you think it would cost to manufacture such a hovercraft? Everyone began to ponder. Among them, Minister of Industry, Wang Rushui, spoke first: To build arge ship capable of carrying 200 people, based on the expenses of our Ministry of Industry, it would require over 1,000 taels! If we were to entrust it to a private shipyard, the price would be slightly higher, around 1,400 taels! Taking a middle ground, I specte it would require 1,200 taels! Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, No, guess again! Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen, stepped forward, This hovercraft appears so rudimentary, it shouldnt cost that much! Therefore, I specte it would require around 500 taels! Once again, Lin Beifan shook his head, No, its less, guess again! Even less than 500 taels? Everyone was astonished. An elderly official stood up, I specte it would require 300 taels to build this ship! Once again, Lin Beifan shook his head, Still too much! Sir Lin, please stop keeping us in suspense and tell us the actual cost! the Empress couldnt help but ask. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan smiled proudly, To build this hovercraft, it cost less than 100 taels in total! Everyone was shocked and pale. Such a hovercraft capable of carrying over 200 people, and it cost less than 100 taels? Not even one-tenth of the cost of an ordinaryrge ship! Sir Lin, are you joking? How is that possible? Its indeed true! Lin Beifan exined in detail, This hovercraft may appear ordinary, but it mainly consists of wood and airbags! The total cost of the wood used to build the frame and nks of the ship was less than ten taels of silver! The most expensive part is the airbags! We used airbags simr to those used in makingrge balloons! These airbags are flexible, waterproof, airtight, and even fire-resistant, so they incurred significant expenses, totaling 80 taels! Therefore, the total cost of this hovercraft is approximately 90 taels! This time, everyone finally believed it! It really only cost less than a hundred taels to build this hovercraft capable of carrying over 200 people! Your Majesty and esteemed officials, allow me to ask you another question! Lin Beifan smiled and said, How much time do you think it took to build such a hovercraft? Once again, Minister of Works, Wang Rushui, spoke first, Based on the information from our Ministry of Industry, building arge ship capable of carrying 200 people would take anywhere from three months to half a year! It should take around a month! Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, said. He yed a trick because Lin Beifan had delivered it within a month. So obviously, the shipbuilding time couldnt exceed a month. Many agreed with this timeframe. In less than a month, arge ship capable of carrying over 200 people was built, saving over 60% of the time! Sir Lin, impressive skills! One minister raised his thumb in admiration. Lin Beifan shook his head and raised a finger, Esteemed officials, all of you guessed wrong! In fact, it only took one week! Everyone was shocked once again, It can be done in just one week? Lin Beifan exined, The wooden frame for constructing the hovercraft follows standardized specifications and is easy to manufacture! Hand it over to skilled craftsmen, and they can build it within a week! As for the airbags, they also take about a week to manufacture! Once these twoponents are ready, as you all witnessed earlier, it only takes an hour to assemble and float steadily on the river! This time, everyone finally believed it! In just one week, a hovercraft capable of carrying over 200 people could be built! This achievement moved them! Your Majesty and esteemed officials, do you know what it means to be able to build a hovercraft capable of carrying over 200 people in less than a week and at a cost of less than a hundred taels? Lin Beifan asked. What does it mean? Everyone had already figured it out, their hearts pounding. It means Lin Beifans eyes gleamed with fervor, We can rapidly manufacture a batch of hovercraft in a short period of time, navigate them on various waterways, even in coastal areas! We can quickly enhance the strength of our navy, dominating the major water systems! Everyones breathing became rapid. It can also strengthen logistical support during wartime! In warfare, logistics are crucial. As the saying goes, An army marches on its stomach! How to quickly transport arge quantity of food to the front lines within the shortest time has always been a concern for us! And our logistical transportation primarily relies on water transport! In the past, we were limited by ships, and the transport capacity could not keep up with the demand! But now, with hovercraft, its different. In the same amount of time, we can transport more food and supplies! Thus, our logistics will be stable, right? Everyones breathing became even more rapid. In addition, it can promote economic development and increase imperial revenue! Keep in mind that within our Da Wu territory, we have an extensivework of waterways! Our transportation relies mainly on water transport! However, we have been limited by shipbuilding capacity, and the transport volume has been rtively low! Now, with hovercraft, we can transport more goods, promoting economic and trade development! As the economy develops, peoples lives improve, and the imperial revenue increases, isnt that right? Lin Beifan pointed at the hovercraft, his voice resolute, Everyone, this hovercraft possesses so many advantages! If this isnt a waterborne weapon, then what is it? You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 129: Promoted to a Higher Official Position, Where to Serve? Chapter 129: Promoted to a Higher Official Position, Where to Serve? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Everyone was greatly shocked! However, if what Lin Beifan said is true, if this hovercraft can transport over 200 people and costs less than 100 taels, and can be manufactured within a week, then it can definitely Rapidly enhance the capabilities of the Great Wu Navy! Strengthen wartime logistics support! Promote economic development and increase imperial revenue! This is truly an unparalleled weapon in the water! Excellent! Excellent! Empress was delighted and eximed loudly, With this hovercraft, we can definitely rapidly enhance the strength of Great Wu. What else could be a better water weapon? Sir, you have made great contributions again! Lin Beifan was filled with trepidation and said, Your Majesty, I dare not take credit. It was all made under Your Majestys wise guidance. The empressughed and scolded, Stop ttering, whats yours is yours! An old courtier stood up to question, But, isnt this ship too rudimentary? Can it really perform exceptionally? For example, without sails, how does it move? Without guardrails, what if the cargo on the ship falls into the water? Moreover, the ship is built with small pieces of wood and is not sturdy enough. What if it gets damaged? Sir Liu, your question is well-asked! Lin Beifan exined with a smile, Because time is limited, this is just a rtively crude version I have built to show everyone. If you think it cant move without sails, we can simply add sails to it. We dont even need sails; we can attach it to old ships, thereby increasing the transport capacity of the old ships! As for theck of guardrails, we can easily build them, which wont take much effort! As for the issue of ship sturdiness, it can also be easily resolved! We can use some of the original shipbuilding ribs or directly use steel to construct the ships body, ensuring its stability like Mount Tai! In addition, this hovercraft does indeed have some drawbacks! For example, the airbags are prone to damage, but we can prepare an ample supply of airbags for easy recement. It wont be a big problem! Lin Beifan pointed out several disadvantages and their solutions. In conclusion, he said, Although this hovercraft has various shoringspared to other ships, these shorings are insignificantpared to its advantages! The Empress burst intoughter and said, Thats right! Although this hovercraft has some disadvantages, they can all bepensated for! Compared to its advantages, they are nothing at all! With this watercraft, my Great Wu Navy has nothing to worry about! You are absolutely right, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan smiled. Seeing Lin Beifans proud expression, Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Revenue, became unhappy. Director Lin, I have a question for you! Please, Sir Qian. Qian Yuanshen said loudly, Director Lin, you im that this ship, despite being crude and rough, only cost less than 100 taels to build and took less than a week! So, I want to ask you, since you withdrew 2 million taels from the national treasury before, wasnt that too much? Can you return the excess money? Everyone showed expressions of anticipation. Lin Beifan remained very calm. Sir Qian, you cant just look at the surface of the issue! Although it cost less than 100 taels to build this hovercraft, do you know how much money was spent during the research process? Even if it cost more, it couldnt possibly reach 2 million taels, right? Very well! Lin Beifan questioned loudly, If I give you 2 million taels, can you research and develop it? Well Qian Yuanshen was at a loss for words. Knowledge is priceless! Lin Beifans voice was loud and clear. I have devoted my time and effort to research day and night to create this watercraft, the hovercraft. Do you know how much benefit it can bring to Great Wu? Have you considered that? Yet, you are arguing with me over a mere 2 million taels. What kind of reasoning is this? Qian Yuanshen was so angry that he could almost explode. How could he not care? Thats 2 million taels! Do you know how much money that is? If it were used for shipbuilding, it could build thousands of ships! If it were used for other projects, how much could he embezzle from it? Do you know? And the result all goes into your pocket! Other officials listened with twisted mouths and sideways nces. Devoted day and night? Working day and night? How dare you say that! We havent even seen you busy! This month, weve only heard gossip about you and Lady Ziyue! Seeing that an argument was about to break out, the Empress waved her hand with a smile and said, Alright, alright, these are all minor matters! Just build the ship, dont worry about other things! Yes, Your Majesty! Both of them said in unison. Lin Beifan felt proud, while Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Revenue, felt extremely aggrieved! Your Majesty, this little bastard openly embezzled 2 million taels from the national treasury, and youre telling me not to care? Even if youre biased, you cant be so biased, can you? Sir Lin, step forward and listen to the decree! Your Majesty! Lin Beifan stepped forward. The Empress said loudly, Previously, Director Lin presented the methods of manufacturing and piloting the flying celestial artifact, the air balloon. He also discovered several traitors from the Ministry of Industry and exposed the maniptive methods of the Tianyi Sect, thus safeguarding our dynastys rule! Now, he has also built the watercraft, the hovercraft, greatly enhancing the capabilities of our navy. His contributions are tremendous! Therefore, in recognition of his achievements, Minister Lin will be promoted by one rank and awarded the title of a fourth-grade official! I will also reward you with a hundred acres of fertilend and ten thousand taels of silver! This is my decree! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. When he looked up, he noticed envious eyes glowing red. To be honest, it was impossible for the court officials not to envy him. They had spent decades of time, gone through years of effort, and defeated countless rivals to gradually reach their current positions! Only they knew the hardships they had endured. But what about Lin Beifan? From the moment he became the top scorer in the imperial examination until now, it hadnt even been four months. He was promoted almost every month, jumping from a low-ranking sixth-grade official to his current position as a fourth-grade official! He had saved himself several years, even more than a decade of time! What was even more infuriating was that he had risen so quickly in rank and had greedily pocketed so much money along the way! He was practically draining them dry of their profits! For the first time, they hated the heavens for being so unjust! However, at this moment, many of them secretly breathed a sigh of relief and felt a sense of joy in their hearts. Because now that Lin Beifan had been promoted, there should be no way for him to stay at the Imperial Academy and continue siphoning money from their children. After all, the highest-ranking official at the Imperial College, the Principal, was also just a fourth-grade official. And Lin Beifan was also a fourth-grade official, so their ranks were equivalent. This was a big taboo in the officialdom, and it meant that someone would have to be transferred away. Clearly, the current Principal, Liu, had held the position for over a decade and was highly respected and deeply rooted in the Imperial Academy. In the end, it would be the least experienced Lin Beifan who would be transferred. The Empress smiled and asked, Director Lin, now that you are also a fourth-grade official, a high-ranking official in the court, which department would you like to serve in? I give you the right to choose! Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving me this opportunity! I have always had an aspiration for the Ministry of Revenue, so I would like to go there to gain experience and learn from Minister Quan. I ask for Your Majestys approval! Lin Beifan smiled. Treasury, here Ie! Upon seeing Lin Beifans smile, Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Revenue, felt uneasy. This bastard was clearly eyeing the treasury! He managed to embezzle so much money even beforeing to the Ministry of Revenue. If he were toe here, what would be of them? If something went wrong in the future, his immediate superior wouldnt be able to escape responsibility. He would eventually be ruined by him! So without hesitation, Qian Yuanshen stood up and said, I object! The Empress asked, Minister Qian, why do you object? I believe that Sir Lins appointment to the Ministry of Revenue would not serve any purpose for his growth and development. It would be better for him to go to the Ministry of Industry! Sir Lin has already invented the sky-bound divine artifact, the air balloon, as well as the waterborne weapon, the air-cushioned ship. His talent in invention and creation is extraordinary! Therefore, if Sir Lin goes to the Ministry of Industry, he will undoubtedly make a tremendous contribution! Wang Rushui, the Minister of Industry, felt his eyelids twitching upon hearing this. Qian Yuanshen, what grudge do you have against me? Why are you causing me such harm? Beforeing to the Ministry of Industry, he had already thoroughly exploited all the officials in our department, squeezing us dry of any profits. We returned to poverty overnight. Now you want us to see him every day and work with him. Isnt that torturing us? Im not in good health now. If he causes me any harm due to the stress, will you take responsibility? So without hesitation, Wang Rushui stood up and said, I object to Sir Lins appointment in our department! The Empress asked, Minister Wang, why do you object? Wang Rushui dered loudly, I believe that Sir Lin would be wasted in our Ministry of Industry! Our ministry deals withborious and dirty tasks that Sir Lin would be unable to showcase his talents in. It would be more suitable for him to go to the Ministry of Personnel! Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, was infuriated and his mouth twisted. You, Wang Rushui! I have never treated you poorly. How could you harm me like this? I cant stand that little troublemaker now, and youre introducing him to me? Are you deliberately trying to infuriate me? Hmph! The next opportunity I get, I will definitely retaliate against you! I object! Gao Tianyao stood up and said, May it please Your Majesty, all the official positions in the Ministry of Personnel are currently filled, and there is no suitable position for Sir Lin. It would be better to arrange for Sir Lin to go to the Ministry of Justice! Minister Lin is resourceful and quick-witted, and he will surely excel in handling criminal cases! I object! The Minister of Justice also stood up without hesitation. And so it went on, everyone passing the buck, avoiding him as if they were afraid. Not a single department was willing to ept him. Lin Beifan blinked his eyes. Am I really that unwee? Honestly, I dont think Ive done anything wrong! The Empress saw this scene and found it amusing! With a half-smile, she nced at Lin Beifan. This guy has offended all the civil and military officials. No one is willing to ept him! At this moment, a minister suggested, I remember that there is a vacancy for a pacificationmissioner in thend of David. Sir Lin is resourceful and eloquent. Why not appoint him to that position? The officials eyes lit up, and they all bowed. I second the motion! I second the motion! Lin Beifan was trembling with anger. These old bastards! The Pacification Commissioners Office was an administrative institution established by the court in a remote border region. The pacificationmissioner served as the executive head of the office, responsible for conveying the emperors orders, pacifying the local military and civilians, and handling specific affairs. And thend of David was very far from the capital. These old folks clearly wanted to take advantage of the situation and transfer him away from the capital, not wanting to see him! Their intentions were extremely malicious! You May Also LikeShadow ve Chapter 130: The First Sacrificial Wine Official Under 20 Years Old in History! Chapter 130: The First Sacrificial Wine Official Under 20 Years Old in History! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
However, these suggestions from the group of old cunning officials are not without benefits! If he goes to thend of David, he can be far away from the political center and can escape in time if he senses something is wrong in the future! The downside is that he will no longer have the opportunity to make as much money! And he wont be able to enjoy the luxurious life he has now! Of course,pared to his life, these things are nothing. So, Lin Beifan cupped his hands and said, Your Majesty, the suggestions of the esteemed officials are not unreasonable. I am willing to go to thend of David! The Empress nced at Lin Beifan, thinking, What are you plotting? Dont I know? Clearly, he wants to seize the opportunity to escape, cunning little fox! Among all the civil and military officials, you are the one who has captured my heart the most! I wont let you leave! Then, she nced at the other officials. You bunch of old thieves, how dare you advise against my loyal minister and beloved official! Its simply unreasonable! Dont give me a chance, or Ill make you suffer! Thend of David is too far away, and the conditions are harsh. I cant bear to let him go! So, Sir Lin, why dont you stay in the capital? I can see you often! the Empress spoke up to persuade him. Lin Beifan didnt know if he was disappointed or happy, while the officials werepletely disappointed. They have been serving in the same court as this little cunning person for a day, and they are already quite fed up. However, they havent given up hope. Your Majesty, but there is no suitable official position for Sir Lin in the capital! Who said there isnt? the Empress smiled and said, The position of the Sacrificial Wine in the Imperial Academy, isnt it suitable for Mr. Lin? The officials were shocked that Lin Beifan was appointed as the Principal! Lin Beifan was also shocked that the Empress appointed him as the Principal of the Imperial Academy! What is the position of the Principal in the Imperial Academy? The Imperial Academy is the only university in the country that cultivates talent. The Sacrificial Wine of the Imperial Academy is the equivalent of the president of the only national university in the country. Its even more prestigious than the presidents of Tsinghua University and Peking Universitybined! Although the official rank is not high, only at the fourth rank, the status is extremely prestigious! The person is Headmaster of all the students in the Imperial Academy! In the future, no matter how high the official positions of the talentsing out of the Imperial Academy are, they have to bow and address him as Mr. Principal! If you dont show respect, its considered disrespectful to the teacher and the Confucian teachings, and people will criticize you! Moreover, from now on, there will be an additional title of highly respected and esteemed on your head. How does that feel? Furthermore, holding the position of Principal has another huge benefit! That is, he can continue to exploit the privileges and benefits of the privileged ss! Exploit them until they run out of money! Clearly, the officials also realized this problem and were all dumbfounded! Gao Tianyao, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, anxiously said, Your Majesty, this is absolutely not advisable. Liu has been serving as the Principal of the Imperial Academy for many years, diligently managing the academy. He may not have achieved great aplishments, but he has certainly put in effort. It would be difficult for the public to ept if he is removed without any wrongdoing. Please, Your Majesty, think twice! Liu, the Principal? The Empress sneered, Has he really been diligently managing the Imperial Academy? Over the years, Ive heard that many students frequently arrivete, leave early, and even engage in fights and assaults within the academy, including assaulting teachers. It has seriously tarnished the reputation of the Imperial Academy! But he did nothing about it. Dont think Im unaware! After speaking, she also red at the officials. The officials lowered their heads in shame. Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Wang Rushui, advised, But Liu Huaye, the Principal, is highly respected. If we remove him abruptly, the students and officials may not ept it! Highly respected? Are you kidding? The Empress once again sneered, It should be said that he has be senile and his virtue has declined! Just over two months ago, he could even frame his colleagues! What qualifications does such a person have to continue as the Principal? Minister of the Ministry of Household, Qian Yuanshen, advised, But Lin Beifan is too young. Is it appropriate for him to hold the position of Principal in the Imperial Academy? Indeed, Lin Beifan is young, but we should not be rigid and should prioritize talent! The Empress said, Lin Beifan, as the top schr in the recent imperial examination, has more than enough knowledge and ability! Since taking over as the Director of the Imperial Academy, the atmosphere in the academy has significantly improved, and student academic performance has rapidly increased! Moreover, during this period, he has made two significant inventions that benefit the nation and the people! Considering all these factors, how is Liu Huaye superior to him in any aspect? And besides, Liu Huaye is already old and often finds it difficult to fulfill his duties. It is time for him to step down and let the talented Lin Beifan take over! But Your Majesty Dont try to persuade me anymore. My decision is final! The Empress waved her sleeve and dered loudly, From this day forth, Lin Beifan is appointed as the Principal of the Imperial Academy, in charge of all matters in the academy! As for Liu Huaye, reward him with ten thousand taels of silver to thank him for his contributions over the years! Let him resign and retire! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan happily responded. Yes, Your Majesty! The officials replied with bitterness. The Empress spoke with earnestness, Lin Beifan, from now on, you are the Principal of the Imperial Academy, with great responsibilities! I hope you can lead the Imperial Academy to forge a new path! I will not disappoint Your Majestys trust! Lin Beifan cupped his hands. I believe you will seed! The Empress smiled. She had high expectations for Lin Beifan! It can be said that the entire officialdom has be corrupt! Corrupt officials run rampant, and treacherous ministers hold power! Only the Imperial Academy remains a ce of purity, as the students there have not yet set foot in the officialdom. They still possess a sense of innocence and ambitious aspirations, untainted by the corruption of the officialdom! So, she has been searching for the best candidate to safeguard this ce of purity! And now, she has finally found him, Lin Beifan! She believes that under Lin Beifans leadership, the Imperial Academy will produce one upright and capable official after another, washing away the impurities of the officialdom and eradicating its disgrace! Until the end, saving the Great Wu! On this day, the news of Lin Beifan bing the Principal of the Imperial Academy, along with presenting a significant national weapon, quickly spread throughout the capital city, the empire, and even to neighboring countries! The whole world was astonished! A Principal of the Imperial Academy under 20 years old, the first in our dynasty since its founding! Not only in our dynasty, but in other countries as well, we have never seen a Principal under the age of 30! This is truly a glorious achievement, worthy of boasting for a lifetime! Is it appropriate for someone so young to be the Principal? Many students in the Imperial Academy are older than him! The Empress is truly foolish. How could she issue such an edict? Enough talk! Hasnt the Empress been foolish for a while now? Ever since Lin Beifan became the top schr, the Empress has be increasingly foolish! With such a corrupt official bing the Principal, the Imperial Academy is doomed, and the country has no hope! No matter whats happening outside, Lin Beifan is feeling great right now! Hes walking on air! Street vendors cant help but take a few extra nces, passersby cant help but take a few extra nces, even beautiful girls cant help but take a few extra nces! Even dogs cant help but take a few extra nces! Wait a minute! Lin Beifan looks down and sees a warm pile of poop on the ground! No wonder the dogs were taking a few extra nces. He nearly stepped on dog shit! Cant afford to mess with single dogs, huh! Cant afford to mess with licking dogs either! So, Lin Beifan takes a step back and continues floating forward! Light as a feather, he arrives at the Imperial Academy. Unlike the outside world, the students here are very excited to see Lin Beifan. Director Lin is here! What Director Lin? From now on, we should change our address and call him Mr. Principal! Yes, yes! Look at my memory! Mr. Principal is truly amazing! He has only been in office for less than four months, but he has already jumped four ranks and be the Principal! He is definitely the number one in history! From now on, I will take Mr. Principal as my role model! Me too! Lin Beifan listens to everyones discussions and is overjoyed! Because the students here are all talented and speak in a pleasing manner, he really loves it here! Unlike the people outside who cant distinguish between good and evil and dont acknowledge others! In the end, all the students stand up neatly, bow their hands, and say in unison, Greetings, Mr. Principal! Lin Beifan smiles and says, My fellow students, theres no need for formalities! Although I have be the Principal, we will still interact as we did before! Feel free to ask any questions you have, and I will share all my knowledge with you! Looking at Lin Beifans kind and friendly appearance, the students are thrilled! They gather around one after another! One student excitedly says, Mr. Principal, you are the person I admire the most! I want to take you as my role model from now on, study hard, be a high-ranking official, and benefit the people! Lin Beifan immediately encourages, Believe in yourself! You can replicate my sess! Yes! This student bes even more excited. Another student eagerly says, Mr. Principal, I spend nine hours studying every day, I wont rest until I finish reading nine articles, and I stick to a six-day study week. Can I be as sessful as you? Lin Beifan smiles and encourages, Believe in yourself, working 996 brings blessings! Yes! This student bes even more excited. The third student excitedly says, Mr. Principal, I want to learn from you and be a highly respected official! Lin Beifan immediately encourages, Believe in yourself, your future is not a dream! In this way, while chatting enthusiastically with the students, Lin Beifan also dispensed words of inspiration and motivation. It must be said that after bing famous, even ones fart smells fragrant! These innocent students, after drinking Lin Beifans words of inspiration, became instantly excited as if injected with chicken blood! They were eager to rush over, pick up their books, study tirelessly overnight! Sir Lim, after bing the Principal of Imperial Academy, do you have any teaching philosophy? How do you n to lead our Imperial Academy? another student asked. My teaching philosophy is Give me a pen! Lin Beifan took the pen and paper, and while scribbling on the paper, he loudly recited, Establish a heart for heaven and earth! Establish a mission for the people! Inherit the wisdom of the sages! Bring eternal peace to the world! This is my teaching philosophy! This is the foundation of my teaching! I hope all teachers and students in the school will be inspired by it! To establish a heart for heaven and earth! To establish an unending aspiration for the vitality of heaven and earth! To give a purpose to the people! To guide themon people on a path of shared righteousness! To inherit the knowledge from the wise sages of the past! To carry forward the teachings that were left behind! To bring eternal peace to the world! To create an era of peace and prosperity for generations toe! As these words were spoken, they resounded like the voice of the Great Dao, awakening the deafened ears! All the teachers and students in the school, without exception, paid their respects, saying, Thank you, Mr. Principal, for your guidance!
1. Working 996 refers to a work schedulemonly practiced in somepanies, particrly in certain industries in China. It stands for working from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, six days a week (hence, 996). This work schedule entails long working hours, often exceeding the standard 40-hour workweek. It has been a subject of debate and controversy due to concerns about work-life bnce, employee well-being, andbor rights. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 131 Chapter 131 As soon as this teaching philosophy emerged, it spread throughout the Imperial Academy, and all the teachers and students bowed in admiration! At the same time, it spread throughout the capital city, and schrs in the entire city began praising him! Their hearts were filled with admiration! To establish the heart for heaven and earth, to establish the mission for the people, to inherit the wisdom of the sages, and to bring eternal peace In just four sentences, it epasses the lifelong pursuit of schrs. Principal Lin is truly talented! These four sentences can serve as my life motto! Originally, I didnt believe that the top schr deserved to be the Principal. But based on his teaching philosophy and the four sentences he recited, I believe that the top schr is definitely qualified to be the Principal! Yes! I also believe that under the leadership of Principal Lin, the Imperial Academy will flourish! This is the best era for schrs! Naturally, this teaching philosophy also reached the imperial pce. To establish the heart for heaven and earth, to establish the mission for the people, to inherit the wisdom of the sages, and to bring eternal peace The Empress delightedly murmured, Good, truly good. He deserves to be the top schr I selected! Schrs should be like this, with such ideals and aspirations! The Empress said loudly, Make this statement the motto of the Imperial Academy! All students and teachers of the Imperial Academy must memorize and understand it! Furthermore, appoint Lin Beifan of the Imperial Academy as the exemr of schrs worldwide. Spread this promation throughout the nation and let it be known far and wide! Let schrs from all over the world learn from Principal Lin! Yes, Your Majesty! With the Empresss support, Lin Beifans reputation soared even higher! Every schr in the world knew Principal Lin! His teaching philosophy became the maxims and pursuits of schrs, spreading far and wide! At this moment, Lin Beifan had already finished work and returned home. Seated on his left was his wife, Li Shi Shi, who kept serving him food and pouring wine, her beautiful eyes misty as she looked at Lin Beifan with admiration. Seated on his right was Mo Rushuang, who couldnt help but nce over during the meal, her face radiant with desire. I have to say, the title of Principal has given him a considerable boost, making him full of charm. Sitting across from him is the little princess, who is looking at Lin Beifan with envy through her cute andrge eyes. She couldnt help but be jealous. This guy is such a poser! After visiting the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, he left behind a poignant poem called Silently Ascending the Courtesan which depicted the hardships of the women in the brothel. It made schrs hesitate to visit the brothel! After visiting the Thundercloud Temple, he left behind a romantic poem called Heavenly White Jade Capital, Twelve Towers and Five Cities which was widely praised throughout the world and earned him the title of Heavenly Immortal! He participated in a poetry gathering and left behind an eternal verse called When Will the Bright Moon Appear, Holding Wine and Asking the Blue Sky which captured the yearning and romance of the moon, establishing him as the unrivaled poet! Now that he has be the Principal and put forth the super teaching philosophy of To Establish the Heart for Heaven and Earth, To Establish the Mission for the People he has be the exemr of schrs worldwide, renowned throughout thend! His style is off the charts! The little princess is consumed by envy. She also wants to be as impressive as Lin Beifan! Why are you looking at me like that, little princess? Lin Beifan asked, puzzled. He noticed that she had been staring at him since earlier, even eating less. Lin Beifan, can you teach me how to be impressive? Lin Beifan: Huh? What I mean is, can you teach me how to make everyone think Im amazing and awesome! The little princess danced with excitement. In the midst of the expectant gaze of the little princess, Lin Beifan calmly took a sip of wine. Young princess, arent you making things difficult for me? Im just an ordinary schr. I dont know how to do that! How can you not know? The little princess rushed over and said excitedly, Every time you make an appearance, you recite a poem, exuding such an impressive aura. Its amazing! Lin Beifan calmly replied, Is that considered posing? Its just my everyday life. The little princess was instantly shocked! Wow! With just one sentence, he managed to pose! This guys level of posing has reached an extraordinary realm, returning to its original nature! Lin Beifan, teach me quickly! The little princess said eagerly. Do you have no sense of requesting assistance? You should first address me as Mr. Principal! Lin Beifan scolded. Mr. Principal, please, Im begging you! The little princess blinked her eyes, looking as innocent as a kitten, and said pitifully, Please. Thats more like it! Lin Beifan stroked the little princesss head whileughing and said, How do you want to pose? It would be great if every time I make an entrance, I have a poetic line! After hearing it, others will think Im awesome! Can I do that? The little princess danced with excitement while asking eagerly. Thats the simplest thing! Lin Beifan calmly smiled and said, When you make an entrance, you just need to recite At the peak of immortality, I stand proudly in this world. With me, Yunying, there is heaven! With the Red Peak Spear and the Eternal Shield, I y the immortal king and annihte the nine heavens! Immortality and heaven! A spear and a shield! And ying the immortal king and annihting the nine heavens! The little princess, as well as everyone present, felt a strong aura of prestigeing over them! So powerful!!! Everyone gasped in awe. So impressive! I love it! eximed the little princess excitedly. But, will saying this line be too arrogant? Will it get me killed by others? Li Shi Shi hesitated, her expression uncertain. Lin Beifan calmly said, No! Its a surefire way to get killed! The little princess: If you dont possess the unrivaled strength of a supreme grandmaster, uttering this line would definitely be courting death! The little princess: The little princess felt weak, Principal Lin, can we change it to another line? I cant handle this one, lets choose something less arrogant! Thats also possible. Listen carefully! Lin Beifan nodded. Tell me! The little princess once again filled with anticipation. Lin Beifan dered, Who stands at the end of the immortal path? In one encounter, Yunying bes emptiness! Grasping the sun, moon, and stars, there is no one else like me in this world! The immortal path and emptiness! The sun, moon, and stars! Its either bing emptiness or being a person like no other! Everyone once again felt a surge of pressure, hitting them head-on! So powerful!!! Everyone gasped in awe once more. Even the two monks who were eating and chanting the Buddhas name almost couldnt hold it together. They chanted Amitabha to suppress the arrogance demon within them! I want this one! The little princess was so excited that she almost cried. Every time she made an entrance and shouted this line, it would definitely impress the whole audience and make her the most dazzling presence! But this line is still quite arrogant! Can the little princess handle it? What if passing experts take offense and eliminate the little princess? Mo Rushuang worriedly expressed her concerns. Such things are not umon in the martial world! Sometimes, its precisely because one is too arrogant that they get killed by a low-profile expert, resulting in a very unjust and suffocating death! Lin Beifan smiled faintly. Of course, the little princess couldnt handle it! This line encapstes the fortunes of two xianxia protagonists. How could a little girl like her bear it? The little princess also realized this and felt discouraged, Can we change it again? Thats also possible! Lin Beifan nodded. Tell me! The little princess urged eagerly. Lin Beifan dered, If I desire, the heavens cannot be without! If I desire nothing, the heavens will not permit existence! My destiny is like a demon, seeking to seal the heavens! Everyone gasped in awe once again, Powerful!!! However, when the little princess thought about her own abilities, she became frantic with excitement, Lin Beifan, dont always use words like immortal and heaven, theyre too advanced! Lets go for something simpler within the realm of martial arts on Earth! That works! Lin Beifan nodded. Tell me! The little princess became excited again. Lin Beifan proimed, I am the Heavenly Emperor, destined to suppress all enemies in this world! Everyone: Powerful, powerful, powerful Amitabha! The two monks chanted the Heart Sutra once again, suppressing the arrogance demon within them. The little princess became frustrated, Didnt I just say not to use words like immortal and heaven? Lets stick to something within the earthly realm! You can also proim yourself as the Heavenly Emperor! Lin Beifan suggested. The little princess became even more frustrated, Ill be crushed by my older sister, the Empress! Fine, Ill think of something else! Lin Beifan replied. After a moment. Lin Beifan shouted, I am invincible in the mortal realm. If not against the heavens, then whom shall I fight? The little princess felt dejected, Still too powerful But its within the earthly realm! Lin Beifan argued. You can fight against the heavens, and you call that weak? Can we change it again? the little princess pleaded. After another moment. Lin Beifan bellowed, Heaven did not give birth to me, Wu Yunying, the sword path endures like an eternal night! The little princess once again felt discouraged, Still too powerful. Can we make it weaker? But this is already weaker. Among the martial arts, I only choose the path of the sword! Lin Beifan responded. Enough talk, change it again! the little princess insisted. In the end, after a round of attempts, none of them were satisfactory. Lin Beifan felt extremely tired and shook his head with a sigh. Young princess, you are too weak. Even when given the chance to show off, you cant seize it! The little princess lowered her head in guilt, suddenly feeling worthless. Only one line left, if this one doesnt work, Im out of ideas! Lin Beifan sighed. The little princesss eyes lit up. Tell me! Lin Beifan proimed, Tell what? Lin Beifan acts throughout his life, why should I exin myself to you? The little princess suddenly became furious, You look down on me? Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head. Thats the line I mentioned! How do you feel about it, little princess? The little princesss anger vanished in an instant, and she blinked her eyes. Lin Beifan acts throughout his life, why should I exin myself? Alright, alright, I want this line! Its perfect! Then she excitedly bounced and skipped out! Li Shi Shi expressed some concern, Husband, this line is still somewhat arrogant. Im worried Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, There shouldnt be any problems! At least in the capital, her father has her back! As Lin Beifan predicted, the little princess encountered no issuester on. However, the idle young masters in the capital suffered. Because the little princess needed a stage to show off, she needed targets, and those idle young masters were the best targets. The little princess would start attacking them as soon as she saw them, pping them left and right. When the idle sons asked why she was hitting them, the little princess would young masters with a single line, Lin Beifan acts throughout his life, why should I exin myself? And then she would continue pping them! Silence was not an option! If they didnt speak, the little princess would keep hitting them until they did! As soon as they said something, she would reply with that line! Thats just how willful she was! The capital became chaotic with people running around in disarray! After two days, Mo Rushuang, Li Shi Shi, and Lin Beifan walked into the study. Young master, we just received a letter from the prince! He says he wants to obtain the method of manufacturing the watercraft air-cushion! Chapter 132: Sacrificing Myself for the Prince Again! Chapter 132: Sacrificing Myself for the Prince Again! Lin Beifan chuckled in his heart. He knew the prince couldnt sit still. The imperial court possessed the watercraft known as the air-cushion ship, a powerful tool on water. He didnt have one, and in the future, when vying for supremacy over the Central ins andpeting for the throne, he would definitely be at a disadvantage. Being at a disadvantage makes it easier to lose, and once he loses, he would have nothing. For the ambitious prince, this was uneptable. Therefore, he would do everything possible to obtain the air-cushion ship. No matter what price he had to pay! So, he could once again harvest a group of unsuspecting victims! Lin Beifan sighed, embodying the role of a tragic actor, and said with a bitter smile, I understand the Prince, but the situation is difficult! Why is it difficult? Guo Shaoshuai asked, puzzled. You are the inventor of the air-cushion ship. Just write down the manufacturing method and give it to the prince. Isnt that enough? Its not as simple as you think, Lin Beifan said with a bitter smile. Previously, the manufacturing method of the Flying Heavenly Artifact, the Air Balloon, was leaked, and both the Empress and the imperial court were furious. They secretly killed hundreds of people! Even all the officials in the Ministry of Industry were investigated, and a few of them were discovered and directly sent to the execution ground! Due to the previous precedent, both the Empress and the imperial court attach great importance to the air-cushion ship this time. They have dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guards, various spies, and heavy forces to guard the workshops of the Ministry of Industryyer byyer! If the manufacturing method of the air-cushion ship were to be leaked, needless to say, it can onlye from me! Last time, I was lucky enough to survive, but what about this time? Who can guarantee that the goddess of luck will always stand by my side? Lin Beifan held his forehead in pain and said, My lord, are you trying to take my life? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai immediately understood Lin Beifans predicament. As he said, the previous incident of the airship leak had already caused such a hugemotion. Over a hundred people lost their heads, and all the officials in the Ministry of Industry were investigated. Several of them were sent to the guillotine, and everyone was fined two years worth of sry. The punishment was undoubtedly severe! And now, the Empress and the court were even more vignt, deploying heavy troops to guard the area. All the officials in the Ministry of Industry had already faced severe punishment. It was unlikely that they would dare to provoke the authority of the court at this critical moment! Therefore, if the manufacturing method of the air-cushion ship, hovercraft leaked out, it would undoubtedly point to Lin Beifan! He was able to escape a disasterst time, but what about this time? No one could guarantee it! Ah, Mr. Lin, why didnt you secretly give it to the Prince when you first researched it? Guo Shaoshuai replied in regret. Do you think I didnt want to? Its just that there was no way! Lin Beifan bitterly smiled and said, Ever since thest invention of the airship, all the officials in the court have been watching my every move. They know everything I do! In such a situation, how can I hide? s! Thats true! The two of them sighed deeply. It was simply an unsolvable problem. At this moment, Lin Beifan gritted his teeth and said, Forget it! For the Princes great cause and the peace of the world, I will write down the manufacturing method of the waterweapon, the air-cushion ship, and give it to the Prince! Mr. Lin! Mo Rushuang and the Guo Shaoshuai were deeply moved. Mo Rushuang eximed excitedly, Mr. Lin, dont act impulsively. You will risk your life like this! Lin Beifans righteousness resolutely replied, For the Prince, I am willing to sacrifice myself! Mo Rushuang advised, Mr. Lin, lets think again. Maybe there is a better way! There is no other way! The Prince wants the manufacturing method of the air-cushion ship. If I hand it over, the court will take my life! If I dont, the Prince will be disappointed, which will affect the mission of saving the country! Confucius said cultivate benevolence, and Mencius said uphold righteousness!'' Lin Beifan closed his eyes in despair. So, after much consideration, the only way to achieve evesting peace is to sacrifice oneself. Mr. Lin! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were both moved and excited. But even if I find myself in a desperate situation, I will never give up hope, Lin Beifan turned his head to look at them. Rushuang, Shaoshuai, can you help me with something? Mo Rushuangs gaze was resolute. Mr. Lin, whatever it is, please tell us. I am willing to go through fire and water for you, without hesitation. Guo Shaoshuai eximed fervently, Mr. Lin, even if it costs me my life, I will definitely help you aplish it! Lin Beifan waved his hand repeatedly. Its not that serious! I just need you to request 2.5 million taels from the Prince on my behalf. Consider it as the reward for obtaining the manufacturing method of the air-cushion ship! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai, who were brimming with enthusiasm, were dumbfounded! After all that talk, it came down to a matter of money! Their previous emotional response was in vain! Do you really think Im greedy for money? I only need the money for self-preservation! Lin Beifan said passionately. Having money in hand is crucial in critical moments! With money in hand, the Prince will remember me and try his best to rescue me! Guo Shaoshuai felt a bit ufortable. Mr. Lin, I understand your predicament! But cant you ask for a smaller amount of money? The Prince doesnt have much money left! Rest assured, the Prince is virtuous and righteous. After all you have done for him, he will definitely save you! Lin Beifan sneered, Are you kidding me? If he had the ability, he would have saved the eldest prince earlier. Why would he beg me for help? Guo Shaoshuai was suddenly speechless. After thinking for a moment, he said, There is also Master Jing Tai. He can save your life in a critical moment! Jing Tai is indeed powerful, but do you think the court has no experts? You should know that the Great Wu Court is the most powerful force within the empire. If they didnt have some strength, who would submit to them? Now the court knows that theres a powerful old monk living in my house. If the truthes out, do you think they wont have a countermeasure? Guo Shaoy was once again speechless. So, after much consideration, my method is more reliable! Because only when I have money, others wont wish for my death! The more money I have, the greater my chances of survival! Seeing the hesitant looks on the two of them, Lin Beifan became even more agitated, roaring loudly. What are you hesitating for? For the Princes great cause, for the peace of the world, Im willing to risk my life, and all he needs to pay is a mere 2.5 million taels. Is that a lot? For the previous airship, the Air Balloon, I only asked for 2.5 million taels! This time, Im in even greater danger, but as long as its 2.5 million taels, Im already giving the Prince a significant discount! Is my water weapon and my life not worth 2.5 million taels? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were scolded until their heads spun. Mo Rushuang, thinking about the possibility of losing her beloved, gradually became resolute in her gaze. Mr. Lin is right! The manufacturing method of the air-cushion ship is important, but your life is even more important. So, I support Mr. Lins decision! Lin Beifan was touched. Rushuang, you truly understand me! Mr. Lin, I think 2.5 million taels is a bit too little! This time, youre taking even greater risks, so you should ask for a bit more! How about 3 million taels? Lin Beifan excitedly grabbed Mo Rushuangs hand. Rushuang, can we really do that? A blush spread across Mo Rushuangs face, and her voice became soft. Mr. Lin, wealth is external, and if its lost, it can be earned again. But your life is irreceable! I believe the Prince will understand you! Lin Beifan was even more moved, tightly holding Mo Rushuangs hand. Rushuang, youre so good to me! Um! Mo Rushuang shyly lowered her head. Where was her heroic and elegant demeanor as a female warrior? Mr. Lin, I understand you too! Guo Shaoshuai, with his ugly face, ruined the atmosphere and interjected. Get out of the way, this doesnt concern you! Guo Shaoshuai: Not long after, the Prince of Northern Hebei received a letter from Mo Rushuang. He opened it with an excited heart. With just one nce, his hands and feet turned cold! With another nce, his whole body trembled! The third nce Damn it! Couldnt bear to look anymore! With a headache, he handed the letter to his advisor, Mr. Zhuge, who was nearby. Advisor, take a look. These are the conditions proposed by Sir Lin, and they are even more expensive than the manufacturing method of the Air Balloon! After Zhuge finished reading, his hands also trembled, and sweat appeared on his face. Indeed, its a bit too much Just a bit too much? Its quite a lot! The Prince of Northern Hebei sighed bitterly. The manufacturing method of the Air Balloon only cost 2.5 million taels, but this waterborne weapon, the air cushion ship, is demanding 3 million taels from me! Sir Lins appetite is getting bigger and bigger! ording to the contents of the letter, the situation our top schr is facing now is even more dangerous than before! He wants more money for his own protection! Mr. Zhuge said. The Prince of Northern Hebeiughed even more bitterly. I understand, but the royal household doesnt have much money left! Your Highness, please give it! If you dont, then all our previous efforts will be in vain, Mr. Zhuge advised. Your Highness, think about it! The top schr has now be the Sacrificial Official and has gained even more trust from the Empress. He can y a bigger role in the court! He is in charge of the Imperial Academy. What kind of ce is the Imperial College? Its where all the talented individuals of the entire dynasty gather! If the top schr is in charge of the Imperial Academy, then the Imperial Academy will be your talent garden, wont it? Therefore, the benefits of including the top schr are tremendous! Money can be earned again, but if we lose a talent like the top schr, no amount of money can bring him back! The Prince of Northern Hebei nodded. Youre right, Advisor! Furthermore, the top schr has also promised us that he only wants money for his own protection! If trouble arises in the future, and he can safelye to Northen Hebei to assist Your Highness, he will hand over all the money and treasures to you! Your Highness, just think of temporarily entrusting the money to the top schr! After all, he has repeatedly risked his life and done so much for you. We cant disappoint him! The Prince of Northern Hebei gritted his teeth. Advisor, your words are true! However, we really dont have that much money Mr. Zhuges gaze turned sharp. Your Highness, those who achieve great things are not bound by trivial matters! The Prince of Northern Hebei nodded heavily, his eyes gleaming with a cold light. The 3 million taels of silver bills were soon handed over to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan was extremely happy. To be able to produce 3 million taels so quickly, it turns out one shouldnt underestimate the financial power of a prince! It seems that he can exert even more effort in the future! This is the manufacturing method of the air cushion ship! Lin Beifan handed over several sheets of paper filled with words and drawings, instructing, You must be careful and never let it leak out, otherwise, well all be in deep trouble! Mr. Lin, rest assured, we know how to handle it! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai carefully picked up the documents, put them in a box, and took them away. Having just made a fortune, Lin Beifan was in a very good mood and nned to go out for a stroll. However, he saw a familiar person and smiled. Boss Wang, long time no see! What brings you here? Chapter 133: In terms of greed, I would proclaim him the strongest! Chapter 133: In terms of greed, I would proim him the strongest! The person in front of him is Wang Fugui, a trusted confidant of the Prince of Southern Jiang. Previously, he had represented the Prince of Southern Jiang in contacting Lin Beifan and spent five million taels of silver to obtain the method of manufacturing defective hot air balloons from him. At this moment, the other party, with a big belly, hurried over. With a ttering smile on his face, he nodded and bowed, saying, Of course, its all thanks to Director Lins support! Oops, look at me speaking out of turn I should address you as Mr. Principal! Congrattions on your promotion. Bing a Principal before the age of 20 is truly unprecedented. You will definitely be remembered in history and leave asting legacy! Lin Beifanughed heartily, Mr. Wang, you really know how to tter! If you have more to say, Im all ears! Alright then! Since Principal Lin likes it, let me say a few more words! Wang Fugui smiled broadly. To congratte your promotion and bing a historical figure, I have prepared a sumptuous feast. I wonder if Principal Lin would honor us with your presence? I would be delighted! Lin Beifan replied with a smile. The two of them arrived at a luxurious restaurant. The restaurant had been booked exclusively by Wang Fugui, catering specifically to their needs. The table was filled with various delicacies and exquisite wines, which made Lin Beifan thoroughly enjoy his meal. Wang Fugui even arranged for a songstress to perform, specially brought in from Southern Jiang, adding to the delightful atmosphere. During the course of eating and drinking, Wang Fugui frequently toasted and ttered incessantly. It must be said that he truly lived up to his reputation as a businessman. His words were incredibly sweet, almost making Lin Beifan feel light-headed. This meal, Lin Beifan enjoyed it very much. This is the kind of day corrupt officials should enjoy! With that, after three rounds of drinks and five vors of dishes. Wang Fugui finally dismissed everyone and then raised his ss, sitting close to Lin Beifan, with a smile on his face, he said, Principal Lin, are you satisfied with the food? Very satisfied, thank you, Boss Wang, for the treat! Lin Beifan held up his wine ss, smiling and saying, Boss Wang, what brings you here this time? Can you tell me now? The other person moved closer and whispered, I believe Director Lin already guessed the purpose of my visit! I came here this time for the imperial watercraft, the hovercraft! Wang Fugui further exined, A few days ago, Principal Lin, you invented the second national treasure, the hovercraft! It is said that this ship is low-cost and easy to manufacture, but it can carry arge amount of food and troops, greatly enhancing the strength of the imperial navy! His Highness was very pleased to hear about it and hopes that you can share the manufacturing method of the hovercraft! His Highness will surely reward you generously! While Lin Beifan held the wine ss and tasted the wine, he hesitated and said, Boss Wang, I am honored to serve His Highness! However, what youre asking for is a matter of life and death! You must understand that the previous leakage of the aerial divine artifact, the giant air balloon, caused great anger in the court and resulted in the execution of a group of people He repeated the exnations given to Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai, as well as the arguments presented to the Prince of Northern Hebei. In the end, he shook his head firmly and said, So, this is something that absolutely cannot be done. Please find another way. Wang Fugui forced a bitter smile and said, I know its very difficult for you, Principal Lin! But the His Highness has emphasized multiple times that we must obtain the method for manufacturing the air-cushion ship! If we cant retrieve it, I will lose my head. So, Principal Lin, please understand! You can absolutely trust that once the task is aplished, you will be rewarded generously. At this moment, Lin Beifan finally relented and said, I understand the difficulties you and His Highness face! Heres my proposal: if you can meet my conditions, I will hand over the method for manufacturing the air-cushion ship to you. Principal Lin, please speak! Wang Fugui responded. Lin Beifan raised five fingers and said, 5 million taels! If you can provide me with 5 million taels, I will give you the method for manufacturing the air cushion ship! What? 5 million taels! Wang Fugui widened his eyes in shock. Principal Lin, thats too much! You should know that the method for creating the flying divine artifact, the Air Balloon, is only 5 million taels! The air cushion ship is just a ship, yet youre demanding 5 million taels. This this is really unreasonable. His Highness will never agree! Its good if he doesnt agree. I was afraid of having money with no way to spend it! Lin Beifan said happily. Wang Fugui realized that the other party deliberately made an exorbitant demand to politely refuse their request to him and the prince. Principal Lin, can you lower the amount a bit? How about 3 million? Wang Fugui asked, hoping for some flexibility. Lin Beifan shook his head without hesitation. Dont even think about it! Im truly risking my life this time. I wont settle for anything less! Wang Fugui became conflicted. Principal Lin, give me some time to discuss with His Highness. Let me negotiate with him. Of course, go ahead! Lin Beifan replied. After finishing the banquet, Wang Fugui hurriedly left with worries in his mind. Then, two days passed without any sign of him. It wasnt until the third day when Wang Fugui appeared, his face filled with exhaustion. Principal Lin, what do you think about 4 million? Will it work? he asked. Lin Beifan firmly refused, Its still 5 million. I wont settle for anything less than that. After a long while, there was still no sign of Wang Fugui. During this period, Lin Beifan secretly contacted other vassal kings and confidential representatives from other countries. Due to Lin Beifans high asking price, not less than the cost of manufacturing the Air Balloon, many people hesitated and hadnt agreed yet. But Lin Beifan was not in a hurry. There was only one option avable, and sooner orter, he would get their money. Meanwhile, news of this matter reached the ears of the Empress through Bai Guanyin. The Empress was stunned, This guy has started engaging in activities that betray the country again! I now suspect that he created the air cushion ship just to swindle money from them! No need to doubt, thats exactly it! Bai Guanyin said with a suppressed smile. The production of the air cushion ship requires the air bags from the Air Balloon. But their air bag manufacturing method has issues, they are not durable and prone to leaks. So even if they manage to make it, they wont be able to use it! Thats excellent! the Empress couldnt help butugh. In that case, I will lend my support to Sir Lin! On the second day of the morning court, the Empress announced publicly that she was preparing to deploy the new national treasure, the air cushion ship, for a military exercise on the river to demonstrate our countrys might. Another day passed, and the Empress, apanied by officials and themon people, arrived at the riverside outside the city. The Empress ordered the already constructed air cushion ship to be pushed into the river. Then, the boats were connected with iron chains, forming a massive waterbornend. Next, the soldiers were ordered to step onto thend one by one. On that day, this waterbornendposed of air cushion ships was filled with over ten thousand people, steadily floating to the other side. The entire process took less than half an hour! This scene profoundly shocked everyone! In less than half an hour, over ten thousand soldiers could be transported to the other side! If there were even more air cushion ships, wouldnt it be possible to transport even more soldiers simultaneously? It could even carry more provisions, important materials, and so on! Truly, the air cushion ship was a formidable weapon on water! The undercover agents, feeling the immense threat, realized that the water weapon, the air cushion ship, posed a much greater danger on the battlefieldpared to the Air Balloon! Although the Air Balloon could fly, its carrying capacity was limited, at most two people. Even if you made 100 of them, you could only transport a maximum of 200 people. What could 200 people do? At most, they could conduct reconnaissance, carry out small-scale surprise attacks, but theirbat capabilities were limited. In real battles, its all about the strength of the troops, transportation capabilities, and logistics support! At this moment, the air cushion ship demonstrated its tremendous advantage! It could easily connect boats with iron chains and float across the river, transporting arge number of troops and supplies! Moreover, its transportation capacity had no upper limit! No matter how many air cushion ships were built, they could transport as many troops and supplies as needed! Furthermore, it was said that the cost of manufacturing air cushion ships was not expensive, and the process was not overlyplex As a result, the military strength of the court was significantly enhanced! If a war were to break out, the court would have a greater chance of winning! This urgent news quickly spread back. On the second day, Wang Fugui appeared once again in front of Lin Beifan. Without hesitation this time, he said, Principal Lin, His Highness has agreed. 5 million taels, give me the manufacturing method for the air cushion ship! Lin Beifan shook his head, 5 million is not enough, I want 6 million taels! Wang Fugui was bewildered, Why are you raising the price? Can you me me? Isnt it because of you all? Wang Fugui was even more puzzled, me us? Lin Beifan felt annoyed and said, You didnt want to buy it for 5 million before! But now, after yesterdays military demonstration, everyone has realized the immense value of the air cushion ship. The court is paying even closer attention. What do you expect me to do? Im also desperate! Wang Fugui panicked, Principal Lin, but we had previously agreed Lin Beifan became even angrier, Who agreed with you? I always said 5 million, and you disagreed! Now its 6 million, buy it or forget it if you dont want to buy! Wang Fuguis expression kept changing, and finally, he gritted his teeth, 6 million, Ill buy it! And so, Lin Beifan earned an extra 1 million! Afterward, Lin Beifan secretly met with other representatives of the vassal kings and the country. Without exception, he raised the price for all of them! Considering their respective financial capabilities, he increased the price by at least 500,000 and up to 2 million, and he refused to negotiate! Now it was a sellers market. Whether they wanted to buy it or not, he was being willful like this! In the end, they all reluctantly epted! In this wave alone, Lin Beifan earned over 40 million taels! He made even more than he did with the previous air balloons! When Bai Guanyin saw this huge sum of money, she was stunned! When the empress saw this huge sum of money, she was also stunned! The empress was both shocked and delighted, yet also perplexed, This guy is so greedy! In less than half a month, he has embezzled over 40 million, which is almost equivalent to half of the national treasury! Bai Guanyin remained expressionless and said, Actually, since he took office, the amount of money he has embezzled is already equivalent to a national treasury! In terms of greed, I would proim him the strongest! The empress nodded in agreement. But by offending so many people and making enemies everywhere, he wont be able to go anywhere in the future! The empresss gaze softened, and she smiled, Its best if he cant go anywhere! In that case, he can stay obediently in the capital and serve me! However, what Im most eager to see now is the reaction of the other vassal kings when they realize that they have paid a fortune for the manufacturing method but cant produce qualified air-cushion ship. I wonder what their expressions will be like? It will undoubtedly be quite spectacr! Bai Guanyin smiled. Chapter 134: Has the manufacturing method of the hovercraft also been leaked? Chapter 134: Has the manufacturing method of the hovercraft also been leaked? 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At this moment, the Prince of Northern Hebei, who had already obtained the manufacturing method of the hovercraft, had already produced a batch of hovercraft. The court has already built a batch of watercraft weapons, hovercraft, and has conducted naval exercises! It is said that on that day, tens of thousands of soldiers crossed the river in a magnificent manner! I wonder when I, the king, will be able to achieve that? The Prince of Northern Hebei daydreamed. If he also had a batch of watercraft weapons, hovercraft, how could his grand ambitions not be realized? Your Highness, we are notcking in that regard! Advisor Zhuge smiled and said, We have the manufacturing method from the top schr, and now we are working overnight. We have already built 20 hovercraft! ording to the method, each hovercraft can carry more than 200 people! These 20 hovercraft alone can carry over 4,000 people! When we manufacture hundreds, or even thousands, of hovercraft, an army of tens of thousands will cross the river, head straight to the capital, and establish an unshakable position. Its definitely not a dream! The Prince of Northern Hebei was stimted by this scene! As someone with ambitions for the throne, this was the thing he couldnt resist the most! Advisors words are absolutely right! How about we also have a naval exercise? The Prince of Northern Hebei said eagerly. That can be done, but Advisor Zhuge hesitated for a moment. But what? the king inquired. Just that if the news of us having hovercraft is known to the court, it may be disadvantageous for the top schr, Advisor Zhuge said with a bitter smile. Advisors words have merit! the Prince pondered, How about this, well secretly conduct an internal exercise, without letting outsiders know. What do you think? Well Your Highnesss suggestion is wise! Advisor Zhuge reluctantly agreed, lowering his head. He was well aware that doing so woulde with the risk of exposure! However, at this moment, the ambitious Prince was already swollen with pride, and no matter how much he was advised, he couldnt be dissuaded. So Advisor Zhuge reluctantly agreed, hoping that their colleagues in the capital would take care and stay safe. The next day, the prince ordered the troops to block the river and not allow anyone to approach. At the same time, the hovercraft was secretly transported and prepared for a water trial. Those who were able to witness this were only the princes trusted confidants and some martial arts heroes who had been bribed. Everyone was eagerly anticipating the first water trial of these watercraft weapons, the hovercraft. As the 20 hovercraft wereunched one after another, forming a connectedndmass and floating steadily on the river surface, the Prince of Northern Hebei burst intoughter. Immediately, a martial arts hero eximed loudly, Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Your Highness! Look at these 20 hovercraft floating on the river surface. It seems that they have been sessfully developed! Its magnificent! Like and on water. Thismoner has never seen anything like it! With this watercraft marvel, how can our grand ambitions not be realized? Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Your Highness! ttery came pouring in, and the princeughed heartily once again, feeling extremely delighted. However, he still spoke modestly and cautiously, saying, Brave heroes, it is too early to make such assertions. The naval exercise has just begun! Lets see now, how many people can these hovercraft carry? The prince waved his hand, and Advisor Zhuge immediately called out, Ten people on board! Immediately, ten soldiers boarded the hovercraft, as steady as Mount Tai, as if walking on t ground. The king waved his hand again, and the advisor called out, Another ten! And so, 30, 40, 50 The number of people kept increasing! Soon, it surpassed a hundred! Then it surpassed two hundred! As the number of soldiers on board continued to grow, the smile on the princes face became more pronounced. Unbeknownst to them, they had already exceeded a thousand! Yet, the hovercraft remained incredibly stable! Over a thousand soldiers stood on the hovercraft, as if standing firmly onnd without any ripples! Once again, everyone shouted in unison, Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Your Highness! Hahaha The princeughed proudly, Keep adding more people until the hovercraft is filled to capacity! Yes, Your Highness! And so, the number of people on the hovercraft continued to increase. Quickly surpassing 2,000! Then surpassing 3,000! When the number reached 4,000, the hovercraft became quite crowded, and there was no more room for additional people! However, this already pleased the prince greatly! With just 20 hovercraft, they could transport over 4,000 soldiers! If they were to build more hovercraft, like 100 or 1,000, wouldnt they be able to carry even more soldiers? Just the thought of it was incredibly exciting! Its magnificent! Thismoner has never seen over 4,000 people standing on the river surface! If we build more hovercraft, wont we be able to amodate even more people? By then, Your Highness can lead an army of tens of thousands, following the river downstream, straight to the capital! With this powerful weapon, how can our grand ambitions not be realized? Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Your Highness! ttery once again filled the air. The princeughed proudly, Hahaha He felt as if he were floating on air! Just onest step to go! Hurry and let them cross the river. Once all 4,000 soldiers have safely reached the other side, it means the hovercraft water trial is a sess! the prince eximed with excitement. Yes, Your Highness! And so, the hovercraft carrying over 4,000 soldiers floated slowly towards the opposite shore. The process went smoothly all along! As sess seemed within reach, the hovercraft suddenly made a popping sound. Then, it started to shake, causing the soldiers on board to lose their bnce and fall into the river. The prince, watching from the shore, was dumbfounded! The martial arts heroes were dumbfounded! Everything was fine just a moment ago, so why did it suddenly sink? Why did everyone fall into the river? Can someone tell me what on earth is happening? Why was everything fine just now, and now everything has gone wrong? The king was furious, feeling as if he had been pped in the face! No one could answer his question. Everyone turned to the advisor for help. Advisor Zhuge, with a stiff expression, said, Reporting to Your Highness, it could be due to poor craftsmanship. The hovercraft was just built, so there may be some issues with the water. Additionally, it might be because this was everyones first time maneuvering the hovercraft across the river,cking experience! Therefore, trying a few more times should solve the problem! Hmph! I hope so! Keep a close eye on it. If such a problem urs again next time, I will hold you responsible! The Prince of Northern Hebei left displeased. Meanwhile, in the Southern Jiang region The Prince of Southern Jiang, who obtained the method of constructing hovercraft, immediately had five hovercraft built by working overtime. On the same day they were built, he couldnt wait to conduct a water trial. Can such an ordinary-looking small boat really transport 200 soldiers? The Prince of Southern Jiang questioned as he looked at the hovercraft floating on the rivers surface. Rest assured, Your Highness, it will definitely work! Mr. Wang Fugui, the owner, smiled and said, You dont know, back then I witnessed tens of thousands of soldiers standing on this waterborne state formed by hovercraft, majestically crossing the river. It was incredibly awe-inspiring. I believe that if the Empress can do it, you certainly can too, Your Highness! Hahaha, you make a valid point! The King of Jiangnanughed heartily. Furthermore, Your Highness, these hovercraft can be used formercial purposes! Mr. Wang Fugui said excitedly, The carrying capacity of these hovercraft far exceeds that of ordinary boats, and they are cost-effective with simple craftsmanship. They can be rapidly mass-produced! We can promote them on the river and greatly increase our ie! Is that so? The Prince of Southern Jiang became excited. No one understood business better than the Prince of Southern Jiang! For those engaged in business, transportation is a problem that must be solved! In this era, the cost of transporting goods to another ce for sale is extremely high! The same product often needs to be sold at several times the price just to make a profit! If transportation capacity can be increased, the substantial price difference will enter his pockets, making enormous profits! The more money he earned, the more it would contribute to his grand ambitions! I wouldnt dare deceive Your Highness! Wang Fugui smiled and said, Although it cost 6 million taels, it is absolutely worth every penny! Very well, very well! The Prince of Southern Jiang became excited, his face flushed. If this thing is as you say, 6 million is nothing at all, and we will quickly earn it back! Fugui, you have once again achieved great merit! I will definitely reward you generously, generously! Thank you, Your Highness! Wang Fugui eximed loudly. As they conversed, the five hovercraft had already beenunched. The Prince of Southern Jiang ordered people to board the hovercraft. Once there were 1,000 people on board, they would cross the river. Everything was going well initially, and it seemed that the first water trial was about to seed. However, when the hovercraft reached the middle of the river, it made a popping sound and became extremely turbulent, causing the people on board to fall into the water. The Prince of Southern Jiang was dumbfounded. What is going on? Who can tell me? He turned to look at Wang Fugui, his gaze filled with anger and doubt. Wang Fugui turned pale, his back drenched in sweat. He could only muster the courage to say, Your Highness, its possible that the craftsmen made some ws in the hovercraft during their first construction, especially since they rushed toplete them overnight. It could also be that the soldiers were not familiar enough with operating them for the first time, so Very well! Since you say there are these issues, I will give you time to solve them! But if something like this happens again next time, you will be held ountable! The Prince of Southern Jiang angrily left. Yes, Your Highness! Wang Fugui forced a smile. After obtaining the manufacturing method, other vassal kings and countries immediately produced hovercraft and conducted water trials. However, without exception, they all failed halfway through the river. All of this quickly reached the ears of the Empress. It often made the Empress unable to resist bursting intoughter. One time, she evenughed herself awake in the middle of the night. Hmph! Those who dare to steal my hovercraft manufacturing method deserve their failures! Due to her overwhelming joy, whenever she was happy, she couldnt control her extravagant generosity and would often bestow unwarranted rewards upon Lin Beifan during the morning court sessions. Lin Beifan was at a loss! Your Majesty, can you please stop giving rewards? My house really cant fit them all! They go to waste every time. Such a waste! The court officials were also at a loss! Your Majesty, as the ruler of a nation, can you please stop acting recklessly? Stop favoring one person excessively! We, the loyal ministers, also need some constion! Leave some for us, please! Clearly, the capricious Empress did not consider the feelings of Lin Beifan and the court officials! Afterpleting a round of rewards, the Empress joyfully dered, If there is anything to report, do so now. Otherwise, court is dismissed! Your Majesty, I have some information to report. It has been discovered that Prince of Northern Hebei, Prince of Southern Jiang, Duke Wuxi and several other vassal kings have sessfully researched and manufactured hovercraft as waterborne weapons in their respective territories. Their trials have been highly sessful. I implore Your Majesty to take note! Themander of the Imperial Guard stepped forward to report. Your Majesty, I have just received news that the surrounding nations, such as the Great Xia Empire, Great Yan Empire, Dayue Dynasty, and others, have also researched and sessfullyunched hovercraft. I implore Your Majesty to take note! A senior general stepped forward to report. Your Majesty You May Also LikeShadow ve Chapter 135: Leave me a little, the landlords house has no surplus food! Chapter 135: Leave me a little, thendlords house has no surplus food! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Minister after minister stepped forward to report on the situation of the hovercraft. The womans face grew increasingly gloomy, and the atmosphere in the court became more oppressive, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Though there were no swords and shadows, the air was filled with a sense of destion. The Empress remained silent, and the officials dared not speak. Only one person trembled with fear, their face pale and sweating profusely. That person was Wang Rushui, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry. Because only officials from the Ministry of Industry possessed the knowledge of hovercraft construction. If the manufacturing secrets of the hovercraft were leaked, Wang Rushui, as a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Industry, would bear full responsibility. Under the Empresss cold and piercing gaze, Wang Rushui finally couldnt hold on any longer. He stood up and fell to his knees with a thud. Your Majesty, Ive been wronged! The Empress shouted, Speak! Where have you been wronged? Wang Rushui wailed, I didnt do it! As the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, I know the importance of the hovercrafts construction method to Your Majesty and the court! So, Ive been on guard day and night, never daring to ck off! Moreover, if the construction method were leaked, I would not be able to escape responsibility! How could I do such a foolish thing? Therefore, I am innocent, please investigate, Your Majesty! The Empress shouted once again, If it wasnt you, then it was someone from your faction. Where have you been wronged? Wang Rushui faltered, I Twice! Its already the second time! The Empress raised two fingers angrily and said, The first time, the manufacturing method of the air balloon leaked, and it could be somewhat forgivable! But now its the second time,mitting such an unforgivable crime twice in a row. What right do you have to im innocence? I am truly innocent Wang Rushui cried. Tears streamed down his face, and he cried with great sadness! He now hated the person behind this, why did they always make a problem with him? Cant you just harm someone else instead of only targeting me? Your Majesty, there is actually another person who knows the manufacturing method of the hovercraft, and that person is Lin Beifan! It was he who invented the hovercraft, maybe hes the one who leaked it! Wang Rushui shifted the me. You, Wang Rushui! Lin Beifan stood up angrily and said, The leaking of the hovercrafts manufacturing method pains me the most! I havent med you, yet you dare to me me? What kind of reasoning is this? Without even using honorifguage, Wang Rushui directly shouted out the name, indicating how angry he was pretending to be! You keep saying that I leaked it! Then let me ask you, what benefit does it bring to me if I were to leak the manufacturing method of the hovercraft? Wang Rushui questioned loudly. Lin Beifan questioned loudly in return, Now, I have received the favor of the Emperor and can enjoy endless glory, wealth, and a bright future right before my eyes! I am grateful beyond words. Why would I do something that risks my own life? Wang Rushui was speechless, Uh, well Ill ask you again! Lin Beifan continued to question loudly, If I truly had ulterior motives, why would I offer the hovercraft, a national weapon, to Your Majesty and the court? Isnt that contradictory? Wang Rushui once again faltered, Well Therefore, this manufacturing method must have leaked from your Ministry of Industry! If its not you, then its someone from your faction! In short, Wang Rushui, you cant escape responsibility! Lin Beifan made a bow and said, Please, Your Majesty, investigate! The Empress, sitting on the dragon throne, nced at Lin Beifan. This guy yed his role well, even calling out the thief with such righteousness! Sir Lin, you make a valid point! The Empresss tone softened slightly, Since sir Lin took office, although for a short period of time, he has already made numerous contributions and achievements for our dynasty. His loyalty is beyond doubt! Your Majesty is wise and enlightened! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. Therefore, the problem can only arise within the Ministry of Industry! The Empress dered loudly, Launch a thorough investigation of the Ministry of Industry! No one shall be spared! We must root out this troublemaker and punish them severely. Better to kill the wrong person than let them escape! Your Majesty is wise! The officials echoed in unison. This task shall be entrusted to The Empresss gaze fell upon Lin Beifan, Let Sir Lin handle it! With the leakage of the hovercraft manufacturing method, I believe Sir Lin must be extremely angry and will not let any wrongdoer go unpunished! Moreover, previously, it was Sir Lin who exposed the troublemaker in the case of the air balloon manufacturing method leak, upholding thews of the court and safeguarding the interests of our great Wu Empire! Therefore, we have great confidence in entrusting this matter to Sir Lin! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan dered loudly, I will not let Your Majesty down! After receiving the imperial decree, Lin Beifan sharpened his sword and headed to the Ministry of Industry. How to investigate? Of course, it starts with searching their homes! Regardless of whether there is any problem or not, searching their homes once will reveal the truth! This work, Lin Beifan was experienced and professional! Gentlemen, due to the leakage of the hovercraft manufacturing method, Her Majesty is extremely furious! Therefore, I have been ordered to investigate every person in the Ministry of Industry. I hope you all cooperate! Lin Beifan said with a smile. The officials of the Ministry of Industry trembled in fear, How do we cooperate? Lin Beifan smiled and said, We start with searching your homes! The officials were in a state of despair. Another search? Sir Lin, I beg you to spare my family. We really dont have much money left! Im practically eating dirt now! Lin Beifan shouted, Stop the nonsense! Those who do not cooperate are highly likely to be involved in the leak! Her Majesty has said, better to kill the wrong person than let them escape! Those who do not cooperate will be immediately thrown into the dungeon and subjected to harsh interrogation! The officials trembled in fear and finally behaved themselves. Lets start with Sir Zhou, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Industry! Due to being familiar with the process, it took less than half an hour to search his house. They only managed to seize around 100,000 taels of gold and silver jewelry in total. Principal Lin, as you can see, my family only has this little money left. We really have nothing else! Sir Zhou said with a bitter smile. It seems that Sir Zhou has been very honest during this period. You havent been greedy for anything! Lin Beifanughed. Naturally! Ever since the air balloon leak case, I have been keeping a low profile, serving the country with integrity, and I would never betray Your Majesty or the nation! Please, Principal, see the truth! Sir Zhou bowed. Lin Beifan nodded, Alright, you can send this gold and silver to my residence, and you will be considered innocent. Sir Zhou looked confused, Wait a minute! Principal Lin, this is my legitimate ie. Youre not going to take even this? Lin Beifan spread his hands, You cant expect me toe here for nothing, right? Sir Zhou eximed, Damn it! This guy is really too greedy, not even sparing my legitimate ie! Principal Lin, please reconsider! Sir Zhou hurriedly said, At least leave me some. Even andlords family needs reserves! I understand your difficulties, Sir Zhou! How about this, Ill leave you with this amount! Lin Beifan raised one finger. 10,000 taels? Minister Zhou felt somewhat relieved. This guy wasnt too greedy after all, giving him a bit of face. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, 100 taels! Master Zhou eximed, Damn! He actually dared to say 100 taels! Is he trying to dismiss me as a beggar? Sir Zhou, let me be clear! Lin Beifan coughed and whispered, Her Majesty hasmanded me to investigate the leaking of the air-cushion ship manufacturing method. I have to find a few people to take the me! If its not you, it will be someone else! Do you want money, or do you want your life? Sir Zhous face twitched. Damn, hes actually threatening me! How many times has this happened? This is outrageous! Still, if I cant see it before nightfall, dont me me for not considering our colleagues feelings! Lin Beifan left arrogantly. Sir Zhou reluctantly nced at his remaining wealth, closed his eyes in despair, and said, Send this gold and silver to the Lin Mansion! And so, one by one, the Lin Beifan family ransacked the wealth. Regardless of legality, they greedily took it all. They left them with only 100 taels, enough for a few days rations. After this round, Lin Beifan scraped nearly 2 million taels from the Ministry of Industry. The officials of the Ministry of Industry became even poorer and were itching with resentment. Golden Imperial Hall, morning court. Lin Beifan reported loudly, Your Majesty, I have been tasked with investigating the case of air-cushion ship leakage! After my efforts over these past few days, I have found that the majority of the officials in the Ministry of Industry are innocent! Only Xu X and Li X have significant suspicions! They have already been imprisoned and will undergo further interrogation! I ask Your Majesty to observe! . The Empress nodded, Sir Lin, you have worked hard! Since those two individuals have significant suspicions, there is no need for further investigation, just kill them directly as a deterrent! For the Empress, there was not a single innocent person in the Ministry of Industry! If they were not corrupt officials, they were treacherous courtiers. It was not unjust to kill anyone, and she could kill as many as she wanted! If the functioning of the state did not depend on the Ministry of Industry, she would have wanted to kill every single person in the ministry from top to bottom! Kill them all, then it would be good! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan received the order. The Empress continued, The leakage of the air-cushion ship and its implications seriously threaten the state and the rule of the court. All officials of the Ministry of Industry are guilty of inexcusable negligence! Moreover, this is the second time it has happened, so they must be punished severely! Dock their sries for two years and prohibit any promotions or transfers within three years! The Ministry of Industry officials attending the morning court were trembling and their faces turned pale. All their money had been greedily taken by Lin Beifan! And now they were being docked their sries for two years Including the previous punishment, it adds up to four years! Without any ie for four years, how are they supposed to live? Just the thought of it feels hopeless! Are there any officials who have it worse than them? However, at this moment, even if they are unwilling, they can only bitterly say, Thank you, Your Majesty! Seeing their bitter faces, the Empress almost burst outughing. Oh, the satisfaction in her heart is indescribable! Feeling satisfied, the desire to reward them starts to stir! In this incident, Sir Lin has tirelessly exposed the traitorous conspirators behind the scenes, safeguarding the state and clearing the names of other officials. His contribution is immense, so he must be rewarded! A reward of ten thousand taels of silver! A pound of calming tea! Another round ofvish rewards. Lin Beifan felt both happy and troubled! The Empress, really, here shees again! Making me look like Im living off her. Although I enjoy it, I cant have too much, or Ill get easily overwhelmed! The officials, once again, envy and resentment tearing them apart,pletely changing their appearance! And the officials of the Ministry of Industry, witnessing this scene of favoritism and resentment, couldnt bear the stimtion and fainted one after another with a thud. You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 136: Useless Officials and the Promotion of Corrupt Officials! Chapter 136: Useless Officials and the Promotion of Corrupt Officials! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Finally, Lin Beifan tearfully epted the empresss reward. The empress advised, Sir Lin, due to the consecutive incidents of leakage in the Ministry of Industry, I have great concerns about the department! Therefore, you need to be more diligent and closely monitor the Ministry of Industry. Do not let the manufacturing method of the air cushion ship leak again! And strive to mass-produce air cushion ships, enhance our countrys power, and awe the world! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan happily epted the order. The case of the leakage of the manufacturing method for the air cushion ship hade to an end. Next, Lin Beifan shifted his focus back to the Imperial Academy. It had been half a month since he took up the position of Principal. During this half month, Lin Beifan mainly focused on the handover work. He took over all the rights from the previous Principal andpletely gained control of the Imperial Academy. The handover process went very smoothly, and no one dared to disobey! In fact, no one dared to disobey! Lin Beifan was the favored one in front of the empress! He had offended countless civil and military officials multiple times, yet he still lived a carefree and impressive life! He even thoroughly dealt with the Ministry of Industry, leaving nothing behind! With such an impressive Principal, who would dare to offend him? However, he also encountered some problems. The main issue was that he was too busy. He not only had to take care of matters at the Imperial Academy but also had to keep an eye on the Ministry of Industry. He even had to attend the morning court session every day, helping the empress with state affairs. Therefore, it was necessary for him to find some people to share his workload. On this evening, Lin Beifan arrived at the former censor Yao Zhengs residence with a barrel of fine wine, wearing a smile on his face. Yao Zheng led his family to greet Lin Beifan at the door and said, This subordinate pays respects to Principal! Although Yao Zheng disliked Lin Beifan and his corrupt behavior. Lin Beifan was still his immediate superior, and moreover, a respected Principal. Personally paying a visit, Yao Zheng had to treat him with respect, otherwise it would be a subject of ridicule. No need to be so formal! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Sir Yao, its rare to have some free time today. I have prepared some wine and dishes. How about we have a drink? Its my honor, Principal, please! Yao Zheng made way for him. The two of them sat in the same study once again. On the table were wine and dishes, enjoying them while chatting. They were called wine and dishes, but they were far from ordinary. The wine was the exquisite wine bestowed by the empress, and the dishes came from the imperial kitchen, things that couldnt be bought outside with money. As soon as the wine barrel was opened, Yao Zheng couldnt wait to have a drink, thoroughly enjoying it. This Longyan wine is truly fragrant! Thest time I drank it was at the grand pce feast three years ago! But back then, I was in a lowly position and only received a cup! That taste is unforgettable even now! Is it really that delicious? Lin Beifan held up his wine cup, gulped it down in one sip, and said. Then, Lin Beifan drank two more cups and said, The taste can only be described as decent. Yao Zheng sighed and said, Drinking like this is such a waste, its like a cow chewing peonies. Fine wines like this should be savored slowly! First, take a sniff of the fragrance, let it open up your nasal passages, and let the aroma intoxicate you! Then take a sip, dont swallow it, let it linger in your mouth and savor it, allowing your taste buds to fully experience it! Finally, take small sips, one after another! Only then can you truly taste the essence of Jade Dragon Wine! Let me demonstrate it to you personally! With that, Yao Zheng indeed demonstrated it to Lin Beifan, and in the end, he blissfully eximed, Fragrant! Lin Beifan blinked his eyes and said, Sir Yao, does it really be more fragrant this way? Why do I feel a bit silly? Who invented this drinking method? Were they so poor that they couldnt afford to drink, so they came up with this self-numbing way of drinking? Yao Zheng coughed Lin Beifan quickly patted his back and said, Sir Yao, take it easy, no one ispeting with you! Yao Zheng gave Lin Beifan a resentful re. Every time he talked to him, he was driven half to death with anger! His mouth was too venomous! What was even more infuriating His gaze was even more venomous! Lets forget about those matters, Yao Zheng lifted his wine cup and said seriously, I offer a toast to Sir Lin, wishing you promotion and sess as the Principal of the Imperial Academy! Thank you, Sir Yao! Lin Beifan raised his cup with a smile. They clinked their sses together and finished their drinks in one gulp! After drinking the wine, Yao Zhengs face flushed slightly, and his gaze towards Lin Beifan carried a hint of envy! To be honest, he was truly envious! In just three short years, the other party had achieved the top score in the imperial examination thrice! And within a mere four months, he had jumped four ranks, bing the Principal of the Imperial Academy, a fourth-rank official! A Principal of the Imperial Academy under the age of 20, the first in history! If everything went smoothly, there was a possibility of reaching the position of a high-ranking minister, a noble or even the prime minister in the future! In contrast, he had been an official his entire life and only held the position of a seventh-rank court censor! Compared to the other party, the difference was truly significant! The wine emboldened him, and Yao Zheng spoke earnestly, Sir Lin, now that you have be the Principal of the Imperial Academy, you are an exemry figure for schrs across the country! Your words and actions deeply influence the entire schrlymunity! Its not toote to stop now, dont make any more mistakes! Lin Beifan poured himself another cup of wine with a smile, Sir Yao, are you trying to teach me how to be an official? Yao Zheng shook his head, I dare not lecture, I can only offer a reminder! You are still young and clearly have a bright future ahead of you. It would be such a pity if you ruin it because of these matters! I appreciate your kind intentions, Sir Yao! Lin Beifan clinked his ss with Yao Zhengs and smiled, However, I have a question for you now. What kind of officials do you think the Empress needs? Yao Zheng didnt hesitate to say, What the Empress needs are good officials! Lin Beifan asked again, What qualifies as a good official then? Yao Zheng replied without hesitation, An official who is upright and dedicated, practices self-restraint and observes propriety, and advocates for the peoples interests. That is a good official! Lin Beifan asked for the third time, But currently, the entire court is filled with corrupt and treacherous officials. How do you exin that? The Empress has been deceived by corrupt and treacherous officials! Lin Beifan asked for the fourth time, Since the Empress has been deceived by corrupt and treacherous officials, and the entire court is filled with them, do you think the court has copsed? Do you think the country is in chaos? Yao Zheng was speechless, Well Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, Although the entire court is filled with corrupt and immoral officials, the government still operates normally and deals with state affairs. Although there is turmoil in the country, the surface remains calm! Sir Yao, let me ask you this: In this situation, who has made a greater contribution, the corrupt officials or the clean officials? Yao Zhengs face became sweaty, Well You cant answer, right? Let me answer for you! Lin Beifan shouted, The entire dynasty belongs to the Empress, and no one wants to govern this country better than the Empress. No one hopes for the prosperity of this country more than the Empress! Therefore, those who can aplish tasks for the Empress are good officials! Whether they are clean or corrupt officials, it makes no difference to her! If there are officials who are both clean and capable of aplishing tasks for her, of course, she would favor them the most! But if they cant aplish tasks for her, what use is their cleanliness? It is precisely because clean officials are useless in the current court that she favors corrupt officials! She has no choice! No, the next moment, the country will surely fall into chaos! Lin Beifan questioned loudly, Sir Yao, let me ask you one question. If you were sitting in the Empress position, at this critical moment of life and death, would you choose to use corrupt officials or clean officials? I I Yao Zhengs face was full of sweat as he was cornered Lin Beifans wordspletely overturned his worldview, values, and beliefs that he had held all along. He had never thought that the reason why the entire court was filled with corrupt and immoral officials was because clean officials were useless, and therefore, they had no choice but to rely on corrupt officials! If they were useful, the Empress wouldnt hesitate to use them! So you see, when the Ministry of Industry was involved in two treasonous acts before, the Empress merely deducted their sries and executed a few low-ranking officials to vent her anger. What kind of punishment is that for them? With their positions and power, they can easily enrich themselves without relying on their meager sries! Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Its precisely because no one can rece them that the Empress has to endure this! But being corrupt officials is wrong Yao Zhengs voice weakened significantly. Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed, being a corrupt official is wrong, but if you dont have the ability, you cant be a corrupt official! You have to understand, embezzlement is a beheading offense, yet they carry their heads on their waists and climb up the ranks step by step. What else is it if not ability? Such top talents, why shouldnt they be used? Yao Zheng once again found himself speechless in the face of this refutation. Lin Beifan chuckled lightly, So, as long as the benefits you bring to the country outweigh the benefits you personally gain from being corrupt, the Empress will tolerate you and even promote you! Otherwise, if you cant solve any problems, what good is your integrity? It would be a waste of the countrys resources! Yao Zheng closed his eyes in despair. Being a corrupt official is indeed wrong, but if you dont have the ability, you cant be a corrupt official! Corrupt officials who can climb to high positions are all top talents, so why shouldnt they be used? As long as the benefits you bring to the country outweigh the benefits you personally gain from being corrupt, the Empress will tolerate you and promote you! Otherwise, if you cant solve any problems, what good is your integrity? It would only be a futile waste of the countrys resources! At this moment, his worldview waspletely shattered, leaving nothing behind! He had always upheld his beliefs, which now crumbled! So, lets return to the previous question! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Sir Yao, you say Im wrong and ask me to stop in time, but what wrong have I done? Yes, I am a corrupt official, but have I ever taken a single cent from themon people? Yes, I have indeed been corrupt, but it was all from the hands of the officials! If they werent corrupt, would I have had the opportunity? In my own way, I am indirectly avenging themon people! Compared to others, I can be considered the conscience of the court, much more upright than them! Lin Beifan proudly raised his cup and took a drink. Moreover, I have resolved many matters for the court and the Empress! If it werent for me advising the Empress and the officials to give up on thepensation from the Darro Kingdom, within three years, the border would have surely seen warfare again! How many brave men would bleed on the frontier? How many people would be disced? How great would be the losses for the court? Have you considered all of this? It was me who made it possible to avoid this war! It was me who saved countless men andmon people, minimizing the courts losses! I have also invented the miraculous flying vessel, the Great Air Balloon, and the watercraft, the air-cushion ship! These are artifacts that benefit the country and the people, each one enhancing the national fortune and increasing the national strength! Lin Beifan proimed, Sir Yao, I have done so much for the court, for the people, more than all of you upright officialsbined! So, what wrong have I done? 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You righteous officialsbined dont contribute as much as I do alone. Why do you have the right to teach me how to do things? What qualifications do you have to teach me? Lin Beifan questioned loudly once again. Ah! Yao Zheng sighed, drinking silently and looking as if he had aged several years. He truly had no qualifications! None of the righteous officials in the entire court had any qualifications! Although Lin Beifan was indeed corrupt, he had also done concrete good deeds for the court and the people! These righteous officials didnt even have the opportunity to serve the court or plead for the people! With no contributions to their name, what right did they have to criticize others? Was it just based on their reputation and integrity? Sometimes, these things were useful, but sometimes they werepletely useless! Just like now, at the critical moment of the nations survival, whether the country could be preserved was a question. What use were these reputations and integrity? What use were righteous officials? Otherwise, Her Majesty wouldnt have promoted corrupt officials! No, righteous officials are still useful! As long as capable righteous officials are cultivated, Her Majesty will definitely promote them, and the court will definitely promote them! Therefore, I must cultivate capable righteous officials! Not only incorruptible, but also capable of handling practical matters for the people and solving problems for the court! At that time, when the entire court is filled with capable righteous officials, the face of the court will undoubtedly be revitalized, and the lives of the people will inevitably improve. Our Great Wu Dynasty will be saved! Yao Zhengs spirit shook, finding a new faith and radiating new vitality! Lin Beifan smiled brightly, Congrattions, Sir Yao, for your enlightenment! As you said, it is only useful to cultivate capable righteous officials! When the entire court is filled with capable righteous officials, the Great Wu Dynasty will undoubtedly be saved! But it is very difficult to cultivate capable righteous officials! Lin Beifan sighed, You see, the reason why righteous officials cannot contend with corrupt officials is because righteous officials have ethics and integrity, while corrupt officials do not! Righteous officials are self-disciplined and serve the public, while corrupt officials do not! Righteous officials have a broad vision, while corrupt officials only protect their own interests! Under such restrictions, it is too difficult to cultivate capable righteous officials! No matter how difficult it is, I am willing to try! Yao Zhengs face was resolute. Good! I will give you an opportunity! Lin Beifan eximed, Currently, our imperial academy iscking two directors. So I n to promote you to take up the position of one of the department heads, responsible for the education of students in subjects and moral cultivation. Would Sir Yao be interested? Yao Zhengs body trembled, shocked as he said, Principal Lin, you He had always been dealing with Lin Beifan before, but he didnt expect that the other party would disregard past grievances and want to promote him to the position of department head! It would allow him to step into the officialdom once again and fulfill his lifelong ambition! He stammered, Mr. Principal, why are you doing this? Lin Beifan smiled slyly and said, Since I became a Principal, my official duties have be increasingly burdensome. So I wanted to find someone to help share the workload. Sir Yao, you have served as an official for many years and have rich experience! You have also spent some time in the imperial academy, familiar with its operations, and have done an excellent job. Thats why I thought of promoting you to assist me! Although these words were spoken lightly, for Yao Zheng, who had dedicated his life to being an official, it was like being given a second life! His heart was filled with gratitude, with a thousand words rushing to his mind, but he didnt know what to say! All he could do was bow and, with a slightly choked voice, say, Thank you, Mr. Principal! No need to be polite, this is something you should be thankful for! However, I wont do good deeds for nothing! Lin Beifan smiled slyly and continued, You see, I have helped you rise in rank and wealth. Dont you think you should show your gratitude in some way? Yao Zheng was dumbfounded! Goodness! He wanted him to show gratitude? Wasnt he just asking for personal gain? This Principal, actually asking for bribes from him, a former censor! Mr. Principal, you cant be so greedy. I really dont have money at home Who said Im being greedy? Ive already searched your house thoroughly. How much money you have, dont I know? Im asking you to offer a bribe first, and then I will firmly refuse! Lin Beifan scolded. Yao Zheng: Damn! He bribes first, and then the other party refuses? So, Im the one in the wrong, and you can still maintain your innocence? Isnt this intentionally ying with me? You see, Ive done such a big favor for you. Cant you let me enjoy myself a little? Lin Beifanined. Yao Zheng: Damn! Enjoy what? Clearly, he wants to establish his own happiness on top of my suffering! You should know that I have served as an official my whole life, with utmost integrity! Not to mention bribing others, I have never even epted bribes! He has always been proud of this! However, now youre asking me to bribe you, and then you refuse Isnt this trampling on my dignity? This is utterly despicable! How could youe up with such a disgusting scheme? Sir Yao, can you make a decision? If you cant, just say so. If not, Ill find someone else! After all, the position of department head in the imperial academy is a sixth-rank official, and many people are eager to take it! Lin Beifan said. Wait, give me a little time to consider! Just a little time Yao Zheng said, his heart in great turmoil, his expression constantly changing. Should I do it or not? If I dont, Ill miss the opportunity to be a department head! In the future, there may never be another chance for me to step into the officialdom and fulfill my ambitions! But if I do it, I will be going against my lifelong principles and beliefs! In that case, am I still me? This decision is too difficult for him! Meanwhile, Lin Beifan happily drank his wine, enjoying Yao Zhengs struggle. In the end, Yao Zheng made up his mind. Trembling, he walked to the bookshelf and took out a slender box, then approached Lin Beifan with great pain and said, Mr. Principal, this is a calligraphy and painting by Master Fuzhang, which I have cherished all along. I now present it to you as a gift! Please entrust me with the position of department head in the imperial academy. After saying these words, Yao Zheng felt as if all his strength had been drained from his body. I have finally be The person I hate the most! Heaven, why are you treating me like this? And the person in front of me is simply a demon! Lin Beifan smirked triumphantly and said, Sir Yao, you see, now youre bing more adaptable, arent you? As long as you have the position and can still fulfill your ambitions and ideals, what does a small sacrifice matter? If you fall into the hands of corrupt officials, no matter how much you regret or try to save yourself, it will be in vain! Please remember Lin Beifan spoke with great emphasis, Dont give your most beloved things to the people you hate the most! Because they will only ruin them, not cherish them! After hearing Lin Beifans words, Yao Zheng suddenly regained his spirits and regained much of his vigor. These words make so much sense! Dont give your most beloved things to the people you hate the most! Because they will only ruin them, not cherish them! So, even if it means going against some conscience and making sacrifices, it ispletely worth it! Thank you for your guidance, Sir Lin, Yao Zheng bowed respectfully. Lin Beifan nced at the painting and said, This thing is not worth much, take it back. Just wait for my good news! Thank you, Sir Lin! Yao Zheng expressed his sincere gratitude. After finishing the wine, Lin Beifan left. The next day at the imperial court, Lin Beifan submitted a memorial. I humbly report to Your Majesty, since I assumed the position of Principal, I have been diligent and dedicated, working tirelessly, never daring to ck off! However, the official duties have be excessively burdensome. Not only do I have to manage the affairs of the Imperial Academy, but I also have to oversee the Ministry of Industry. Moreover, both positions of the two chief department in the Imperial Academy are vacant simultaneously, severely affecting the normal operation of the National Academy! Fearing to disappoint Your Majestys favor, I propose to appoint an official to fill the position of Director in the National Academy! May Your Majesty grant permission! The Empress expressed her concern, My loyal subject, you have worked hard. Do you have a suitable candidate? The former censor, Yao Zheng, is suitable for this position! Lin Beifan reported loudly, Sir Yao has served as an official for thirty years, with sufficient qualifications and rich experience in the officialdom. He is upright and admirable in character. Moreover, he has been teaching at the Imperial Academy for several months now, familiar with its affairs, and has performed excellently in his work! Therefore, I propose to promote Yao Zheng to the position of Director in the Imperial Academy! The officials were somewhat bewildered. Yao Zheng was just barely dealt with by you, and now you want to promote him? Arent you afraid that he will continue to cause trouble for you? However, these are all matters concerning the Imperial Academy, which falls under Lin Beifans jurisdiction, and they are toozy to interfere. The Empress spoke, Yao Zheng indeed has amendable record as an official, but sometimes his rigid adherence to principles and his aversion to evil have brought about many troubles. That is why I had him resign for self-reflection. Now, it seems he has learned his lesson, so I approve of Lord Lins proposal! Yao Zheng will be reinstated and promoted as Director of the Imperial Academy! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan saluted. Then, he presented another memorial. I have another submission! Present it! At the same time, Lin Beifan loudly dered, To demonstrate the vast grace of the emperor and convey Your Majestys concern, I propose that all officials of fifth rank and above, their eligible children, should enroll in the Imperial Academy! The Empress, sitting on the dragon throne, and the officials were stunned! Sir Lin, why do you propose such a thing? Lin Beifan saluted and reported loudly. Firstly, it reflects the vast grace of the emperor and solves the education problem for officials children. Where can local educationpare to the Imperial Academy? By providing them with this precious opportunity, officials from all regions will be deeply grateful and devoted to Your Majesty and the court! Secondly, the children of officials will benefit from their fathers teachings and have excellent lineage. Most of them are outstanding in both character and learning. By studying in the Imperial Academy, they can receive a moreprehensive education, improve their abilities, and better serve the court! Thirdly, it can enhance the cohesion of the dynasty! The children of officials from various regions are scattered, making it difficult for them to interact regrly. By giving them a priority opportunity to study together, work together, and experience the emperors grace together, they will inevitably be more loyal to the court in their future official careers! Thus, the cohesion of our dynasty will be greatly enhanced! Fourthly Lin Beifan presented several more benefits before saying, Therefore, this strategy benefits the nation and the people. The advantages are numerous! I came up with this n overnight and was delighted. I immediately present it to request Your Majestys approval! Everyone was dumbfounded, and their mouths twitched. We dont believe you! You despicable scoundrel! You make it sound so noble! You speak so confidently! In the end, isnt it all about making money? By gathering all the eligible children of officials of fifth rank and above in the Imperial Academy in the capital city, isnt it convenient for you to make money? Goodness! You cane up with such methods! Youre already not satisfied with the capital city; now youre reaching out to the whole country? You May Also LikeShadow ve Chapter 139: Two Young Grandmasters Meet in the Capital, Deciding the Winner! Chapter 139: Two Young Grandmasters Meet in the Capital, Deciding the Winner! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
On this evening, Princess Ziyue visited Lin Beifans house for the third time as a guest. They were in the same study as before. Lin Beifan looked at the stunning figure in front of him and smiled, Princess, long time no see. I hope youve been well! First of all, congrattions to Mr. Advisor! It has been over a month since west met, and you have be a highly respected and young sacrificial wine official. You have made history and will surely be remembered in the future! Princess Ziyue said with a smile. Lin Beifan humbly replied, Princess, you exaggerate. I am just a small sacrificial wine official, nothing special. Princess Ziyue rolled her eyes upon hearing this. Indeed, the position of a sacrificial wine official was not particrly remarkable, but you managed to jump four ranks and be a sacrificial wine official within four months. That is truly extraordinary. Unless someone is blind or brainless, they can see that you have boundless potential. I heard that you invented the waterborne weapon, the air-cushion ship, which has enhanced the power of the Great Wu Dynasty. And two months ago, you invented the flying divine tool, the air balloon! Princess Ziyue sighed, People say you are a celestial being, and sometimes even I wonder if you truly descended from the heavens. How else could you have such ingenious ideas, profound knowledge, and strategic thinking? These two things were just created by chance, theyre not that miraculous! Lin Beifan eagerly said, Princess Ziyue, do you want the manufacturing methods for these two divine tools? I can sell them to you as a package deal for only 5 million! Its for the cause of the nted Moon Dynasty. The Empress, who was eavesdropping on the rooftop, was dumbfounded! This guy! Until now, you still cant be content and want to make extra money? Do you still have any regard for me, for the court, for the Great Wu Dynasty? The princess was deeply tempted upon hearing this. After all, any major power, especially a nation, would want to possess these two divine tools! But after some thought, she shook her head and said, Forget it, its too expensive! We are currently preparing for the cause of restoring the nation, and we need a lot of money! Besides, these two divine tools are temporarily useless to us. Well consider them when the need arises in the future! Oh! Lin Beifan disappointedly nodded. He didnt get to make a fortune from this wealthy woman, which was regrettable. Princess, you look in good spirits. Have you encountered something good recently? Of course! Military Advisor, do you know what Ive been doingtely? the princess asked with a hint of pride. What have you been doing? Lin Beifan asked curiously. During this period, our former nted Moon forces have basically relocated to the western martialnds and started a vigorous revolution! Princess Ziyue said excitedly. Following your guidance, we secretly used charm techniques to recruit followers in rural areas and small counties, enticing them withnd benefits! Hows the situation? Lin Beifan asked curiously. Its unexpectedly good! the princess eximed. Now, we have organized tens of thousands of soldiers once again! Among them, we have selected 3,000 elite troops and started regr military training! We are teaching them some light skills in preparation for future guerri warfare and mobile warfare! As for the others, we havent wasted their efforts. We specifically assigned them to dig tunnels! Everyone is enthusiastic, and all our endeavors are progressing smoothly! I am bing more and more confident! The princess couldnt stop smiling. Thats great! Lin Beifan nodded and smiled. Everything is thanks to the guidance of Military Advisor! If it werent for you, we would be like headless flies, not knowing what to do! Princess Ziyue expressed her heartfelt gratitude and took out a batch of silver bills. Mr. Advisor, here are two million taels of silver. Please ept it! Lin Beifan quickly epted the money and smiled even brighter. Princess, youre too kind! Today, lets talk about the strategy of surrounding the cities from the countryside! And how to follow the mass line, unite all possible forces, and resist Duke Wuxi! Military Advisor, please enlighten me! Princess Ziyues expression turned serious. Then, Lin Beifan started his lecture! Not only did Princess Ziyue benefit greatly from listening, but the Empress on the rooftop also gained profound insights and was sincerely convinced. Sir Lin is undoubtedly a military genius! Even if he werent to join the army and engage in battles, he would definitely be a great general! The fortune of the nation lies in having you, Sir Lin! When she returned to the pce, she secretly issued a confidential order. Keep a close eye on the situation in the Wuxi region! Report to me immediately if there is any unusual activity! Yes, Your Majesty! At this moment, the Great Wu Dynasty experienced an unusual calmness. The various vassal kings who were the source of turmoil, as well as the nations beyond the Great Wu Dynasty, were all busy studying and manufacturing the air ballon, the flying divine tool, and the waterborne weapon, the air-cushion ship, preparing for future wars. However, at this time, the martial world became lively. In fact, the martial world was nevercking in excitement. Fighting, power struggles, and pursuing personal interests were allmonce! However, the matters that attracted Lin Beifans attention and could rise to the court were generally not trivial! Reporting to Your Majesty, the Great Xia Dynasty has produced a young swordsmanship grandmaster, Shangguan Jianhun, who ims to be a sword immortal! He has traveled from the west and entered our Great Wu territory, defeating all the top martial artists! The Great Yan Dynasty has also produced a young saber mastery grandmaster, Ouyang Badao, who calls himself the Saber Saint! He has traveled from the east and within our Great Wu territory, he has simrly defeated all the invincible opponents! They seem to have an unspoken agreement and are preparing to meet in the capital to determine the superior! The situation is serious, please be aware, Your Majesty! The chief head-catcher of the Six Doors, responsible for managing martial arts matters, reported to the Empress. After hearing this news, the faces of the court officials changed. Grandmasters were not ordinary experts! They were the top-notch experts of the martial world, capable of single-handedly facing thousands of soldiers and horses. Their destructive power was too strong! If they were to really have a showdown in the capital, it would definitely ruin the city and bring disgrace to the imperial court! The Empress was furious, Since ancient times, chivalry has vited thew with martial arts! Onees from the Great Xia, and the otheres from the Great Yan. They must be the two dynasties secretly fanning the mes and taking advantage of the opportunity to cause chaos in our Great Wu Dynasty! Do they really think our Great Wu Dynasty is weak and powerless? Your Majesty, please forgive me! The chief head-catcher of the Six Doors bowed his head. You are not guilty. Why would I me you? The Empress spoke loudly, Guo, pay close attention to the movements of these two individuals and report the situation at any time! When necessary, I will send the imperial envoys to assist you! Yes, Your Majesty! The chief head-catcher of the Six Doors epted the order. Lin Beifan was a sacrificial wine official, responsible for teaching and educating people in literary and moral. This matter had nothing to do with him, so he went home after attending the morning court. However, when he returned home, he found everyone discussing this matter. The young princess ran over, bouncing with excitement. Lin Beifan, do you know? Two young grandmasters have emerged from the neighboring Great Yan and Great Xia dynasties. They have defeated all the invincible opponents they encountered along the way, and they are preparing to meet and determine the superior! Lin Beifan nodded and smiled. Yes, I heard about it during the morning court today! The sh between the two grandmasters, I really want to witness it! Mo Rushuang tightened her grip on the sword in her hand, lost in her reverie. Yes, yes! Guo Shaoshuai nodded excitedly. Lin Beifan was also looking forward to it. After all, encountering a grandmaster was rare, let alone witnessing a duel between grandmasters. Of course, it would be even better if they didnt have the duel in the capital. Lin Beifan, who do you think will win? the young princess asked eagerly. I dont care who wins or loses, Lin Beifan smiled faintly. Im just here to enjoy the show! As time passed, the poprity of these two young grandmasters grew, and the entire capital city began discussing the matter. Do you know? The Great Xia and Great Yan each have a young grandmaster under 30 years old. One excels in swordsmanship, and the other excels in saber techniques. They have defeated all opponents throughout the realm and are preparing to meet for a decisive battle! That Shangguan Jianhun is particrly formidable! It is said that he once used a single sword to cut off a hundred-foot waterfall. The swords aura remained on the rocky shore of the waterfall and never dissipated! And that Ouyang Badaos saber is incredibly domineering and terrifying! It is said that over a thousand bandits who didnt recognize heroes tried to rob him. In the end, the Saber Saint made a single strike, cutting all the bandits in half, and the blood flowed like a river! These two individuals are truly extraordinary! Their battle is bound to be highly anticipated! I wonder if our Great Wu has any young grandmasters who can match them? Everyone was discussing and even cing bets on who would win or lose. However,pared to the lively atmosphere outside, the atmosphere in the court was tense, with preparations being made for any eventuality. Your Majesty, they have already dered their intention to meet in the capital and decide the oue. I have sent people to persuade them, but it had no effect! the chief head-catcher of the Six Doors reported, sweat forming on his face. The expressions of the officials also became grave. Two grandmasters dueling in the capital was not a good situation. If things escted and they lost control, countless lives could be lost. Moreover, the dignity of the court would be trampled upon. This is uneptable! They are intentionally provoking our Great Wu court! Since they are so eager for death, I will grant their wish! the empress said angrily. Guo, I will send two court envoys to assist you! Thank you, Your Majesty! the chief head-catcher of the Six Doors breathed a sigh of relief. Being appointed as court envoys meant they were at least grandmasters. With this, they would have the power to confront these two young grandmasters. When the chief head-catcher of the Six Doors, apanied by the two court envoys, went to find them, the two grandmasters had vanished without a trace. When a grandmaster wanted to hide, they were generally difficult to find. However, their challenge had already been issued. Meeting in the capital for a decisive battle! As a result, the capital became even livelier, and everyone was discussing the matter. More martial arts experts came, eager to witness the battle between the grandmasters. With the influx of martial artists, the likelihood of unrest and chaos increased. The principle of using martial arts to challenge authority was not just empty words. For example, Lin Beifan came across two young warriors who wanted to do justice and rob the rich to help the poor. But they had the great misfortune to run into an old monk who was watching over his family and was knocked out and sent to the authorities. Jing Tai, the capital is quite chaotic these days. Take care of things at home, Lin Beifan instructed. Yes, Master! the old monk folded his hands together. However, Master, its also dangerous for you. Let me serve and protect you. I dont need it! Lin Beifan shook his head. Rushuang and the Shaoshuai are enough. Yes, Master! the old monk no longer insisted. Although the capital was in chaos, Lin Beifan still leisurely went out. With his current strength, there were few people in the world who could harm him. Even if they were grandmasters, he could fight them head-on. Just then, Lin Beifan noticed a person on the rooftop of a nearby tavern, drinking alone. He was dressed in a white robe, with his hair flowing behind him, thick and lush. He had two ck beards, and his entire presence was extraordinary, like a sharp sword.
The chief head-catcher of the Six Doors, also known as the Chief of the Six Divisions, is a high-ranking official in the imperial court of ancient China. The Six Doors, or the Six Divisions, refer to the six major branches of the imperialw enforcement and intelligence agency during that time. These divisions were responsible for maintainingw and order, conducting investigations, and apprehending criminals. The Six Divisions typically included: 1. Jingdou Wei (Capital City Guards): Responsible for maintaining security and order within the capital city. 2. Jin Yi Wei (Embroidered Uniform Guards): An elite special forces unit tasked with protecting the emperor and carrying out secret missions. 3. Shen Yi Bu (Censorate): Responsible for conducting investigations into corruption and malfeasance among officials. 4. Ji Bu (Imperial Secretariat): In charge of the imperial archives, official documents, andmunications. 5. Li Bu (Court of Judicial Review): Responsible for overseeing the judicial system, handling legal cases, and conducting trials. 6. Dongchang Bu (Eastern Depot): Responsible for conducting espionage, gathering intelligence, and dealing with internal security threats. The chief head-catcher, as the leader of the Six Doors, held significant authority and was responsible for managing and coordinating the activities of the various divisions to ensure the security and stability of the empire. They reported directly to the emperor or the highest-ranking officials in the imperial court. You May Also LikeShadow ve Chapter 140: Sword Immortal? Watch me deceive you to death! Chapter 140: Sword Immortal? Watch me deceive you to death! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan sensed a hidden and unreleased sword intent from him! This sword intent was extremely fierce and sharp! However, it was currently restrained within him, like a sword hidden in its sheath, making it impossible for outsiders to detect. Otherwise, once it was unleashed, it would surely be earth-shattering, unstoppable by anyone! In his heart, he thought that this person should be the sword immortal who came from the Great Xia! At this moment, the sword immortal upstairs also noticed Lin Beifan. With just one nce, he felt amazed. Because this was the most beautiful young man he had ever seen, with a face like jade, eyes like stars, extraordinary and outstanding. Although he was dressed in luxurious clothing from a noble family, there was not a hint of arrogance that usually apanied such noble-born individuals. He remained calm and pure like water. What surprised him even more was that the other party remained unfazed, neither sad nor happy, upon seeing him. You should know that even though he had already restrained his sharpness and returned to simplicity, he was still not someone ordinary people could directly face. Ordinary families would feel ashamed and bow their heads upon seeing him. Even those with some martial arts cultivation would not dare to meet his gaze, feeling a chill in their hearts with flickering eyes. But the young man before him was the same from beginning to end! It seemed that he saw him no differently from anyone else, just a stranger passing by! Truly interesting! He poured a cup of wine, raised it from a distance to toast Lin Beifan, and smiled, Young man, are you interested in having a drink with me? The voice was not loud, but it clearly reached Lin Beifans ears. Not interested! Lin Beifan shifted his gaze away and continued walking forward. This sword immortal was a troublesome character, and he didnt want to get entangled with him! The sword immortal upstairs was stunned. This was the first time he had ever seen someone refuse him so decisively and without hesitation! As a result, he became even more curious about Lin Beifan. With a heartyugh, he suddenly appeared in front of Lin Beifan, cing a hand on his shoulder and saying with a smile, You may not be interested, but I am! Come on, join me for a drink. You cant leave without drinking! In an instant, the two of them appeared upstairs. The sword immortal sat in his original position, and Lin Beifan was pressed to sit across from him. Then, he personally poured a cup of wine for Lin Beifan. Come, have a drink with me! Lin Beifan could tell that this was a somewhat carefree and unrestrained sword immortal. No wonder he imed to be an immortal; he indeed had a somewhat ethereal demeanor. At this moment, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai rushed over, standing in front of Lin Beifan with swords in hand. Youre not allowed to harm our young master! The two of them were extremely nervous, sweating profusely. To be honest, they had no choice but to be nervous! Lin Beifan, such a big living person, was easily taken away by him, leaving them with no time to react. The person before their eyes was definitely a formidable expert, at least at the innate level. Lin Beifan waved his hand. No need to be nervous. Put down your weapons! If he wants to harm me, you wont be able to stop him! The sword immortal burst intoughter. Youre right! Even if the Heavenly King himself were here, it wouldnt matter if I wanted to harm your young master! You have good vision, young man! Taste this cup of wine. Its the first cup Ive poured for someone. How does it taste? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai cautiously stepped back. However, they didnt let go of their swords and continued to closely watch the sword immortal before them. The sword immortal couldnt be bothered with these two insignificant ants. He looked at Lin Beifan as he raised his cup and drank it all, then asked, How does it taste? Its just average, far inferior to the wine at my home, Lin Beifan replied calmly. This is the wine I personally poured, and you think its just average? The sword immortal was taken aback. So what? Lin Beifan sneered. The person who poured the wine is still a human. Are you not human? Can you make me taste something different? The sword immortal was taken aback once again, then pped his thigh and burst into heartyughter. Youre right! Absolutely right! Youre such an interesting young man. Come,e let me pour you another cup of wine! So he poured another cup for Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan drank it all in one gulp. At that moment, his gaze noticed a sword on the table. The sword was hidden within its scabbard, which seemed to be made of exquisite material, shining brightly with embellishments of pearls and radiance. It was clearly not an ordinary item. Without much thought, the sword hidden within this scabbard must be an extraordinary sword. The sword immortal noticed Lin Beifans gaze and asked with a smile, What do you think of this sword of mine? This sword is not bad, Lin Beifanmented lightly. However, the sword immortal was somewhat dissatisfied and said, Not just not bad! Let me tell you, this sword is forged from thousand-year cold iron. It is an unparalleled divine weapon, its sword light is extremely fierce, and blood is shed whenever it is unsheathed! It has apanied me in defeating heroes from all over the world, countless valiant warriors have perished by its bloody edge! And you only give it a not bad evaluation? I know of a sword, known as the Qinggang Sharp Sword, Lin Beifan calmly spoke, It is sharp and mighty, capable of crushing any defense, and can contend with the heroes of the world! This sword is not bad! The one who wields it can be called a young martial arts hero! The sword immortal nodded and smiled, However,pared to my sword, it falls far short, not worth mentioning! Not worth mentioning! I know of a sword called the Ziwei Soft Sword, Lin Beifan continued, Its sword body is light and agile, much more versatile than a sharp sword, with incredible speed that strikes before the opponent can react! This sword is also not bad! The one who wields it can be called a grand martial arts hero, and a skilled swordsman! The sword immortal nodded in appraisal, Butpared to my sword, there is still a significant gap! I also know of a sword called the Xuantie Heavy Sword, Lin Beifan spoke leisurely, This sword is forged from Xuantie, weighing over 60 kilograms, without any sharp edges! However, it is heavy and edgeless, yet skillful in its technique! No matter your myriad of ingenious moves, I can break them with my sheer strength! What a fine Xuantie Heavy Sword! What a great line, heavy and edgeless, yet skillful in its technique! What a brilliant move, breaking countless ingenious tricks with sheer strength! The sword immortal eximed three times, The one who possesses this sword can be called a martial arts hero, a master of the sword! If I have the chance to meet him, I truly want to learn from him! But his sword,pared to my sword, is still inferior! I also know of a sword called the Wooden Sword, Lin Beifan calmly spoke, This sword is simply made from ordinary wood,cking the sharpness of the Qinggang Sharp Sword, the lightness of the Ziwei Soft Sword, and the heaviness of the Xuantie Heavy Sword. However, it allows one to be unrestricted by physical objects, as anything from grass, trees, bamboo, to stones can be wielded as a sword! The expression on the sword immortals face finally changed, A good sword! This is an extremely rare and exceptional sword! A peerless masterpiece! This sword is capable of contending with my sword! Look! He suddenly had a fallen leaf in his hand and lightly flicked it with his finger. The wine ss on the table neatly split into two, spilling the wine. Throughout the entire process, he didnt use any internal force, nor did he even use sword energy. He only used sword intent, yet he severed the wine ss. The sword immortal proudly eximed, You see, has my sword reached this level? Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed, it is impressive! You have reached the realm of the Wooden Sword! Hahaha! The sword immortalughed triumphantly. At this moment, Lin Beifan changed the topic, However, I also know a sword, which is even stronger than the Wooden Sword! Theres a sword stronger than the Wooden Sword? The sword immortal was astonished and eagerly asked, What sword is this? Lin Beifan pointed to the now empty wine ss. The sword immortal immediately poured a ss of wine for Lin Beifan and urged, Tell me! After drinking the ss of wine, Lin Beifan spoke slowly, In reality, there is no sword at all. One is the sword itself, and the sword is oneself! The fusion of person and sword, the Swordless Sword surpasses any sword, and the absence of techniques ovees any technique! The fusion of person and sword! The Swordless Sword surpasses any sword, and the absence of techniques ovees any technique What a sharp sword! What a divine sword! The one who possesses this sword must be a grandmaster of swordsmanship! This sword, I am inferior to it! The sword immortal murmured to himself, sensing a faint realization in his heart. Indeed, it is an exceptional sword! If I had such swordsmanship, I would surely be invincible in the world! Guo Shaoshuai daydreamed leisurely. I dont seek to reach the realm of the Swordless Sword. If I could attain the realm of the Soft Sword, I would be satisfied, Mo Rushuang said. At this moment, the sword immortal became anxious and eximed, Who is the one who possesses this sword? Why have I never heard of his name? Tell me who he is, where he is, I must discuss swordsmanship with him! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, I have already told you! .. The sword immortal was stunned, What did you say? Yes, Ive said it several times! Lin Beifan smiled faintly. He is the one who wields the Qinggang Sharp Sword, the Ziwei Soft Sword, the Xuantie Heavy Sword, the Wooden Sword, and even the Swordless Sword! All five swords belong to him! All five swords belong to him!? The sword immortal was extremely shocked. The sword immortal closed his eyes and recollected everything Lin Beifan had said. He realized that these five swords were the persons umted swordsmanship experience and insights! In other words, they were hisplete swordsmanship! The enlightenment he received was tremendous, pointing him towards the future! Lin Beifan continued, This person calls himself the Sword Demon. He started learning the sword from a young age and, due to defeating all opponents, he has been seeking a worthy defeat his whole life. Thats why he calls himself Dugu Qiu Bai! The Sword Demon Dugu Qiu Bai! What a formidable Sword Demon, what a pursuit of defeat! I am in awe! The sword immortal admired him wholeheartedly. The two kneeling beside, Mo Rushuang, were also filled with admiration. The title of Sword Demon revealed the opponents madness for the sword! The title of Dugu Qiu Bai revealed his invincibility! Throughout history, who among swordsmen canpare to him? Lin Beifan chuckled inwardly, thinking, let me deceive you a little longer! Although the Sword Demons strength may not be on par with yours, the principles and path of the sword are interconnected. He is undoubtedly a once-in-a-millennium grandmaster of swordsmanship, just restricted by the world. If he coulde to this world, he would undoubtedly disy his brilliance swiftly and create an immortal legend! Young friend, can you take me to meet the venerable Sword Demon? As a swordsman, if I cant pay my respects to this esteemed sword master, it would be a great regret in my life! Please! The sword immortal became excited and somewhat anxious. Mo Rushuang and the others were also eagerly anticipating it. Lin Beifan calmly said, No chance, hes dead! The sword immortal was shocked, Hes dead? How did he die? Such a powerful person Who in this world can escape death? Even if you are peerlessly beautiful, reigning supreme, in the end, you be a pile of bones! Even if you are an unrivaled genius, with boundless cultivation, in the end, you turn into a handful of yellow soil! No one can resist the passage of time! Lin Beifan sighed. The sword immortal was initially shocked, but then he smiled bitterly, Indeed, you are right. I have been fixated. He could only drink in silence, filled with regrets. At that moment, Lin Beifan calmly spoke again, Actually, I also know of another sword
1. The Qing Gang Sword, also known as the Green Dragon Crescent de, is a legendary weapon associated with the historical figure Cao Cao, who was a warlord and prominent figure in thete Eastern Han Dynasty of China. Cao Cao is often portrayed in Chinese history, folklore, and popr culture as a skilled general and strategist. The Qing Gang Sword is one of the weaponsmonly associated with him, and it has be an iconic symbol of his military prowess and leadership. The Qing Gang Sword is described as a massive weapon with a green de resembling a crescent moon. It is said to possess tremendous power and is often depicted as a formidable and fearsome weapon in various forms of media, including literature, films, and video games. 2. Dugu Qiubai, literally Loner Who Seeks Defeat, is a fictional character who is mentioned by name in three wuxia novels by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). He does not appear in any of the novels because he lived in an era long before the events of the novels took ce. Nicknamed Sword Devil () to reflect his prowess in and devotion to the practice of swordy, he attains the philosophical level of swordsmanship without a sword, which means that he has reached a level where he is better without sword. This means relying on his own limbs and inner energies far exceeds any tools created by humanity. In his resting ce, Dugu Qiubai had divided his martial arts life to five stages and is the creator of the legendary Dugu Nine Sword Skills. You May Also LikeShadow ve Chapter 142: Few Understand the Sword! Youngster, Lets Become Friends! Chapter 142: Few Understand the Sword! Youngster, Lets Be Friends! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
There are seven great realms: the realm of steel swords, the realm of flexible swords, the realm of heavy swords, the realm of wooden swords, the realm of swordlessness, the realm of no no-boundaries, and finally, the realm of the Dao! These seven realms truly epass the essence of the sword! Once, I thought I had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship and couldnt help but feel a hint of arrogance! But now I realize that I was like a frog in a well, ignorant and ashamed! However, its never toote to mend the sheepfold! Today, to hear such invaluable advice and gain insight into the path ahead, its as clear as day! Hahaha the sword immortalughed heartily, continuously pouring himself wine and enjoying himself. Yes, the path of the sword is long! Guo Shaoshuai sighed, Today, Ive only realized that I am still at the most basic realm of steel swords, and there are so many realms ahead of me. There is still a long way to go! Yes, indeed. The path knows no bounds, and so does the path of the sword! Mo Roushuang sighed. Lin Beifan secretly chuckled, Have Ipletely fooled you? I havent even mentioned the concept of the infinite multiverse, where the Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, and three gives birth to all things! I havent even mentioned the concept of being unconstrained by realms, where all realms are defined by it! I guarantee that it will scare you to death! Young master, how did youe to know about these realms of cultivation? Mo Roushuang curiously asked. The other two perked up their ears, listening intently. Keep in mind that there are always greater heights beyond the heavens and more exceptional individuals beyond ordinary people! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Except for the final realm, there are naturally people who have reached the other realms, which is why they have been summarized! The first five realms can generally be achieved by reaching the pinnacle of Grandmasters! As for the sixth realm of no-no boundaries, Lin Beifan deduced it logically! He suspected that Bai Guanyin, that woman who resembled a goddess and a demon, might have already reached this realm! Otherwise, how could she possess such peculiar abilities? It doesnt seem like martial arts but more like fantastical cultivation! As for thest realm, that one was truly made up by him logically! As for whether anyone has reached it, he doesnt know, and he doesnt care! Facing the inquisitive gazes of everyone, Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, Dont look at me. I dont know those people, and I have no rtion to them! I learned all of this from books! From which book did you learn it? the sword immortal pressed on. Lin Beifan calmly replied, I learned it from countless books, from tens of thousands of volumes! Reading a book a hundred times reveals its true meaning! Then I synthesized and shared it with all of you! Can one really discern these things just from reading books? The sword immortal was puzzled and highly skeptical. Why not? Lin Beifan said, There was once a schr who served as an official in the court. He was a civil servant and had no knowledge of martial arts! However, while proofreading the Daoist Canon, he unexpectedly grasped the principles of martial arts and created an extraordinary technique, also known as the Martial Arts Compendium! With this technique, he became invincible in the world and sought revenge for past grievances! Is there really such a person? Does such a technique truly exist? the sword immortal continued to inquire, perplexed. Of course! Lin Beifan calmly deceived, This technique is called the Nine Yin Manual. It has long been lost, but I remember a few sentences. Let me recite them to you and see if they make sense! With that, Lin Beifan began reciting, The Dao of Heaven reduces excess and supplements insufficiency, therefore emptiness triumphs over substance, insufficiency triumphs over excess After reciting less than 50 words, Lin Beifan stopped. Because he hadnt memorized the rest. However, these few dozen words, when they fell into the ears of the sword immortal, were like pearls of wisdom, brimming with the profound truths of the universe. Great insights, marvelous martial arts! the sword immortal apuded, With just these few sentences, its enough to see that the person is a grandmaster-level figure! It seems that reading books is indeed beneficial! Naturally! Lin Beifan nodded and smiled. Youngster, there are few people like you who understand the sword! The sword immortal looked at Lin Beifan with admiration and a sense of camaraderie, Its rare to find a kindred spirit in life! Lets be friends after drinking this cup! Saying that, he lifted his cup, his eyes filled with anticipation. Lin Beifan shook his head and said, Drinking is fine, but being friends is unnecessary! Why? The sword immortal was astonished. Just as they say, those who follow different paths cannot make ns together! Lin Beifan eximed, You are the Sword Immortal of Great Xia, and I am an official of Great Wu. Our positions are naturally opposing, so how can we be friends? You recognized me? The sword immortal was even more astonished. Of course! With such profound expertise in swordsmanship, who else could you be if not the Sword Immortal? Lin Beifan dered. Hahaha Youre right! Absolutely right! The sword immortal burst intoughter, then proudly proimed, I am indeed the Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun from Great Xia! Ah! Youre actually that Sword Immortal! Sword Immortal!!! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai eximed in astonishment, filled with disbelief. The sword immortal ignored them and continued to gaze at Lin Beifan, somewhat surprised. I didnt expect you to be an official! However, I still want to be friends with you! Someone who understands the sword as well as you is incredibly rare. I have traveled throughout the world and have yet to find another like you. If we dont be friends, I will regret it for the rest of my life! I absolutely refuse! Lin Beifan firmly rejected. Even if you refuse, it doesnt matter. I have already decided! The sword immortal grinned mischievously and refilled Lin Beifans cup, saying, Come on, after we drink this cup, well be friends! Lin Beifan was infuriated, trembling with anger. How can you force someone into a position they dont want? What forcing? Why do you speak so harshly? I just At that moment, arge group of soldiers suddenly surrounded them. Weve found the Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun! Quick, surround him! Dont let him escape! A few experts were approaching swiftly, using their exceptional skills to leap and scale walls. Among them was an old man, incredibly powerful and exuding a majestic aura that was no less impressive than the Sword Immortal. What a disappointment! The Sword Immortal sighed, setting down his cup and picking up his sword. In an instant, he vanished from the spot. Only a carefreeughter echoed from near and far, as ifing from the heavens. Friend, Ill invite you for a drink another day! Hahaha! And on that day, news of the arrival of the Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun in the capital spread rapidly throughout the city. Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun has arrived! Truly free-spirited like an immortal! I heard he was surrounded by thousands of soldiers, yet he moved as he pleased! What style! The Sword Immortal has arrived, it seems the Knife Saint will be here soon too! Hahaha, it looks like the grand battle between masters is not far off! The capital city was buzzing with excitement. However, the court became tense, treating it as a major threat. Heavy military forces entered the capital, keeping watch day and night. Experts from the Six-Door Division, the Brocade Guards, and even the Eastern Agency were all dispatched to closely monitor the Sword Immortal and the impending arrival of the Saber Saint. In the court, civil and military officials engaged in intense discussions and deployments. Meanwhile, someone took the opportunity to trip up Lin Beifan. Your Majesty, I have something to report regarding Sir Lin! Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, spoke loudly. When the Sword Immortal was discovered, many people saw Sir Lin sitting at the same table as Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun, drinking and chatting merrily! I suspect that Sir Lin is colluding with the Sword Immortal, intending to subvert Great Wu. I implore Your Majesty to investigate! I implore Your Majesty to investigate! The officials echoed in unison. Lin Beifan sneered. These old cunning individuals! At this moment, someone still wants to bring up an old issue! The Empress spoke, Sir Lin, is there any truth to this? Lin Beifan calmly saluted, Your Majesty, there is absolutely no truth to this. Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, continued to attack, You dare not admit it? You should know that dozens of people in the entire restaurant witnessed it with their own eyes! Moreover, when the Sword Immortal left, he called you a friend and invited you for a drink! I ask you, if there wasnt a close rtionship between you, would he refer to you as a friend and invite you for a drink? Lin Beifan responded calmly, What does sitting together imply? I see Minister Gao every day, does that mean we have a good rtionship? Furthermore, I often refer to Minister Gao as a colleague and have mentioned inviting him for a drink. Does that mean we have a close rtionship? You should know that since I entered the court as an official, in less than half a year, Minister Gao, you have implicated me in at least 10 cases. Can such a rtionship be considered good? Even a dog wouldnt be as persistent as you! Comparing him to a dog! Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, turned red with anger, trembling all over. Minister Lin, you are truly disrespectful! Unreasonable! Lin Beifan ignored this mad dog and saluted, Your Majesty, this humble official only met the Sword Immortal today! At that time, I didnt know why, but he took a liking to me at first sight, abducted me and had a drink with me. At that time, I didnt know his identity! After a pleasant conversation, he insisted on being friends with me! I couldnt refuse, it was really difficult! I implore Your Majesty to investigate! At that moment, an old eunuch approached and whispered a report. The Empress nodded and smiled, Sir Lin was indeed abducted by the Sword Immortal! It is understandable that Sir Lin, a powerless schr, couldnt resist a grandmaster-level Sword Immortal! Thank you for Your Majestys understanding! Lin Beifan saluted. The Empress continued, Moreover, when facing the Sword Immortal, Sir Lin remained fearless and conducted himself with courtesy, upholding the dignity and elegance of our dynasty. He deserves a reward! A reward of ten thousand taels of silver! Ten rolls of silk and satin! The civil and military officials were all dumbfounded! Your Majesty, its already thiste, why are you still thinking about rewarding him? Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, regretted so much! If he had known, he wouldnt have implicated him in a case! Not only did he fail to bring him down, but he also allowed him to receive another round of rewards! Alright, lets stop here. Lets discuss how to deal with the two grandmasters! After the court assembly, Lin Beifan deliberately approached the Minister of Personnel, bowing and smiling, I thank Minister Gao for earlier! Hmph! Gao Tianyao left with a ck face. Next, the court dispatched arge number of experts, exerting all efforts to search for the Sword Immortal, Shangguan Jianhun, and the elusive Saber Saint, Ouyang Badao. But no matter how they searched, they couldnt find them. It was as if they had evaporated from the earth! Lin Beifan regained hisposure, attending the morning court on time and carrying out his duties diligently. Then, one day, a rugged-looking young man with a sword on his shoulder intercepted Lin Beifans path. The mans appearance was very casual. His ck hair was tied behind him, leaving a few strands hanging in front of his forehead. His face seemed unwashed, with some dirt stains, and he wore a short-sleeved coarse linen robe, resembling amoner. With one hand on his hip and the sword on his shoulder, he even shook his foot, lookingpletely rxed and carefree, giving off an aura of being in need of a beating. However, anyone who underestimated him would be in trouble! Because the impression he gave Lin Beifan was no less than that of the Sword Immortal! Especially that sword, although it seemed ordinary, it was undoubtedly made of divine iron. It was an extremely dangerous weapon that had drunk the blood of countless people! The man looked Lin Beifan up and down, raised an eyebrow, and said, Youre Lin Beifan, the good friend of the Sword Immortal, Shangguan Jianhun, right? You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 143: Your sabe is even inferior to theirs, what else could it be if not an ordinary saber? Chapter 143: Your sabe is even inferior to theirs, what else could it be if not an ordinary saber? 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There is no doubt that this young man is the Saber Saint, on par with the Sword Immortal! Otherwise, he wouldnt put such immense pressure on Lin Beifan. Facing the other partys inquiry, Lin Beifan shook his head and said, I am not. Not? The Saber Saint was puzzled. I heard that the most handsome and imposing person sitting in the Purple Gold Auspicious Cloud Carriage is Lin Beifan, the Sword Immortals closest friend. If its not you, then who else could it be? Look at what the Saber Saint said, so eloquent! So, Lin Beifan quickly nodded and said, Youre referring to the handsome and imposing Lin Beifan, and thats me! However, I am indeed not the Sword Immortals friend! Its all rumors from outside, not true! Impossible! The Grandmasters dignity cannot be vited. Whoever dares to impersonate the Sword Immortals friend would definitelye to settle the score with the person! But so far, no one hase, which means you truly are his friend! With a swish, the Saber Saint appeared on the carriage. Protect the young master! Both Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were shocked, drawing their swords, but they couldnt move. Im in a good mood today, no killing! The Saber Saint leisurely passed by them and came in front of Lin Beifan, blinked, and said with a smile, Young man, are you interested in inviting me for a drink? Its an opportunity that many people cant obtain no matter how much they ask! Lin Beifan was a bit confused! These experts are all a bit entric. They either insist on inviting me for a drink or make me invite them for a drink! I dont have money. If you want to drink, find someone else! Lin Beifan didnt hesitate. The Saber Saint was shocked and looked Lin Beifan up and down: Youre dressed so well, with tender skin and flesh, and yet you im to have no money? Of course, because I never carry money when I go out. Usually, its others who treat me! Lin Beifan proudly replied. It seems that you are a person of status and position! Alright, today, Ill treat you! The Saber Saint ced his hand on Lin Beifans shoulder and said with a yful smile, Young man,e with me. You cant refuse me! In an instant, the two disappeared from the carriage. Shortly after, they appeared in a small tavern. The tavern was not big, rather secluded, and the food and drinks were ordinary, but the Saber Saint enjoyed them immensely. Anything that entered his mouth seemed like a delicious delicacy. At this moment, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai had caught up with them. Lin Beifan stopped them from taking action. However, they still red at the person sitting or standing in front of them with resentment. Uh~ The Saber Saint burped andughed, This meal was truly satisfying andfortable! Indeed, the best food is in the capital city! Now that were full and satisfied, its time to get down to business! As he spoke, he ced hispanion saber in front of Lin Beifan. I ask you,pared to the Sword Immortals sword, is this saber stronger or weaker? Lin Beifan secretly thought that the Saber Saint wanted to inquire about the Sword Immortals strength and skill through him. Lin Beifan just nced at it and shrugged, saying, This saber of yours is average, on par with the Sword Immortals sword. The Saber Saint was dumbfounded, Average? You actually say that my saber is average? Do you even know whats valuable? I know of a saber called the Crescent Moon Saber! Lin Beifan calmly spoke, With its green saber radiance resembling a crescent moon, it earned its name. This saber is incredibly powerful, capable of destroying anything, with astonishing speed. It possesses earth-shattering might, and its presence startles both gods and ghosts. Anyone who wields this saber has a chance to be the strongest in the world! If what you say is true, then indeed it is a good saber, not inferior to my own!mented the Saber Saint. Lin Beifan continued, However, despite its beauty and astonishing power, it is a demonic saber, an evil saber! Anyone who wields it will be seduced and infected by its demonic nature, falling into the path of demons, devoid of emotions and principles, only capable of killing! Except for those with great wisdom andpassion, no one can escape the influence of the demonic saber! While it is true that the quality of the saber depends on the mindset, beliefs, and abilities of the wielder, the name remains untarnished! the Saber Saint said. However, there was someone who defeated this demonic saber with a wooden sword! The Saber Saint was shocked, What? Defeated the demonic saber with a wooden sword? How is that possible? It was indeed a wooden sword! Made from very ordinary wood, probably not even as sturdy as a kitchen knife. However, the person managed to defeat the demonic saber with this ordinary wooden sword! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, And the person who wielded the saber was originally the owner of the demonic saber! The Saber Saint was even more astonished, He turned out to be the original owner? He urgently asked, How did he defeat the demonic saber? Lin Beifan shook his head, I dont know! However, after defeating the demonic saber, he only said one thing: Even if someone possesses a divine saber, they cannot be a god within the saber! Even if someone possesses a divine saber, they cannot be a god within the saber! the Saber Saint murmured. He had a feeling that this statement seemed simple, but it seemed to contain certain principles of the way of the saber. Lin Beifan casually sipped his drink, Tell me,pared to his wooden sword, how does your precious saber fare? Well I am inferior! The Saber Saints mouth twitched with a hint of bitterness. Without my precious saber, I wouldnt be able to ovee myself who possesses the precious saber. But he managed to do it, defeating the precious saber, conquering his inner demons, and conquering himself! He is truly a predecessor in the way of the saber, a god within the saber! I also know of a saber called the Heavenly Saber! Lin Beifan said. The Heavenly Saber! Such audacity! The Saber Saint couldnt ept it. Even as a formidable figure in the way of the saber, he never called himself the Heavenly Saber. What qualifications did the other person have? This saber is extremely domineering, a result of countless practicalbat experiences. It epasses the Eight Techniques of the Heavenly Saber! Once executed, it is like a celestial being riding the wind, with colorful mist and clouds, disying a myriad of expressions. Its intricacy is unparalleled, earning it the reputation of being the invincible saber of the world! And the person who wields this saber has reached the realm of forgetting the saber while having it, merging the self with the saber! Furthermore, they have transcended even beyond discarding the saber, leaving nothing else behind. It can be regarded as the ultimate state of the way of the saber! Forget the saber while having it, merge the self with the saber! Discard the saber, leaving nothing else behind! The Saber Saint gasped, taking in a breath of cold air. This is truly an exceptional saber. It is not an exaggeration to call it the Heavenly Saber! Lin Beifan smiled, Compared to his saber, how does yours fare? I am inferior! The Saber Saint lowered his head in shame. Although he called himself the Saber Saint, he hadnt fully reached the realm of forgetting the saber while having it and merging the self with the saber! Not to mention the even higher realm of discarding the saber and leaving nothing else behind! I also know of a saber called the Xiaoli Flying Saber! This saber is slightly different from the others! What makes it different? The Saber Saint humbly inquired. The previous two sabers had already stunned him, so he couldnt help but anticipate something even more extraordinary with this one. It is an ordinary saber, made from verymon steel. It doesnt even require exceptional steel! It doesnt haveplex realms or numerous techniques. It has only one move! The defining characteristic of this move is its speed, reaching the utmost limit! Before the saber strikes, you wont even see this saber! But once you realize its presence, youre practically already dead! No one can survive under this saber! What kind of saber is this? The Saber Saint was utterly perplexed. He could barely grasp the realms and domains of the previous demonic saber and heavenly saber, but this saber, solely focused on speed What kind of saber was it? His own saber is also fast! But it doesnt possess the terrifying killing power as the other saber described. Because your saber isnt fast enough, thats why you cant understand! As the saying goes: in the world of martial arts, nothing is imprable, only speed cant be broken! In the realm of martial arts, ultimately, the pursuit is nothing more than power and speed! If you can achieve one of the two, youll be invincible! Lin Beifan shouted, His saber is this invincible saber, a saber that pursues extreme speed! It gathers the essence and spirit of the whole body! This is a saber of abandonment, selflessness, carrying the belief of certain victory, and the courage to move forward! Only by believing in your invincibility can you unleash this terrifying and earth-shattering strike that makes ghosts and gods weep! Its unavoidable, theres nowhere to hide, only a one-way path to death! This is the most invincible saber! The Saber Saint was greatly shocked! In the world of martial arts, nothing is imprable, only speed cant be broken. When speed is pushed to its limit, it bes invincible! This saber is the one that gathers the essence and spirit of the whole body, reaching the pinnacle of speed! It is a saber of abandonment, pressing forward courageously! It is a saber of belief! Only by believing in ones invincibility can one unleash a strike that shocks the world and makes ghosts and gods weep! Its an unavoidable strike, nowhere to hide, only a path to certain death! What an invincible saber! The Saber Saint hurriedly asked, What saber is this? The Xiaoli Flying Saber! Lin Beifan smiled and said, The Xiaoli Flying Saber lives up to its reputation! The Saber Saint pped his thigh excitedly. What an incredible Xiaoli Flying Saber! It truly lives up to its reputation! With such an invincible weapon, sess is guaranteed! Haha! Its truly a powerful saber! A magnificent saber! I really want to see it with my own eyes! Guo Shaoshuai couldnt help but be enthralled. Junior brother, dont be eager to see it! Havent you heard what the gentleman said? Everyone who has seen this saber has died! Mo Rushuang advised. Guo Shaoshuai shivered and chuckled with resentment. Lin Beifan turned to the Saber Saint and asked, Compared to your saber, how does this saber fare in terms of strength? The Saber Saints mouth twitched with bitterness. I am no match either! Although my saber is fast, its definitely not as fast as the Xiaoli Flying Saber! Because his saber gathers the essence and spirit of the whole body, a level that I currently cannot reach nor find the way to enter! His saber is a saber of belief, possessing the belief of certain victory, abandoning everything, reaching selflessness, and can be called an invincible saber! But I dare not im invincibility at this moment. I dont have the belief of invincibility, so naturally, I am inferior! Although I may be fierce, his saber is truly beyond my reach! Your saber is inferior to that ordinary wooden saber, inferior to the pinnacle of saber techniques, the Heavenly Saber, and also inferior to the Xiaoli Flying Saber that lives up to its reputation So, if your saber isnt an ordinary saber. What is it then? Lin Beifan scolded. Indeed, I am ashamed! However, do these sabers truly exist? Why have I never heard of them? Are you making them up to deceive me? The Saber Saint voiced a hint of doubt. Lin Beifan calmly drank his wine and said, I can only say that your knowledge is limited due to your narrow-mindedness! If they didnt exist, could someone like me, a powerless schr without any martial arts skills, fabricate them? Well, thats true! The Saber Saint nodded. Without the guidance of the saber predecessors, one cannotprehend such profound saber principles! I wonder where those three predecessors are? Its a pity to hear their teachings but not see them in person! After speaking, the Saber Saint looked at Lin Beifan with eyes filled with anticipation.
1. Xioali Flying Knife https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaoli_Feidao You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 145: Everyone is Dead, Who Can I Blame? Chapter 145: Everyone is Dead, Who Can I me? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After a cup of tea. Lin Beifan put down his teacup and smiled, saying, Master Guo, can we talk about it now? Principal Lin, you dont know! Guo the Head Catcher smiled bitterly. Ever since those two young grandmasters arrived, our days havent been peaceful! We have to send out arge number of experts for patrols day and night, living in fear of something happening! I havent had a good nights sleep for a whole week, often waking up in the middle of the night, and my colleagues too! Lin Beifan nodded in agreement, deeply feeling the same, Master Guo, what you said is absolutely true! Since those two arrived, the capital city has indeed be less safe! Even my own residence has been targeted by thieves twice! Yes! We really cant provoke or criticize these two grandmasters, because once they get angry, the consequences are too severe for us to bear! But even so, we, the Six-Door, still have to take the lead! This situation is really dangerous! How can we, ordinary people, match up against grandmasters? If we could solve the problem, it would be one thing, but were afraid of losing our lives in the process! We would not only let down our brothers but also betray the grace of the empress! Therefore, Principal Lin Guo the Head Catcher turned his head and looked at Lin Beifan, his tone extremely sincere, This time, you have to help this official! Lin Beifan was puzzled, As a schr, how can I help you? I heard that you are good friends with Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun and de Saint Ouyang Badao, so I want to trouble you to mediate and persuade them not to fight in the capital city but to go outside the city! That way, we can avoid some trouble! Guo the Head Catcher said. Im friends with them? Lin Beifan blinked his eyes. Master Guo, who told you that? It was them who said it! Lin Beifan replied, Master Guo, I think youve misunderstood! Lin Beifan quickly said, Ive only met them once, talked for less than an hour, how can you say were good friends? They must be deceiving you! Principal Lin, they are both grandmasters, how could they do something so shameless? Guo the Head Catcher said. Lin Beifan sneered. Have they done anything thatcked shame? They kidnapped me without my consent, either making me treat them to drinks or forcing me to treat them! They even dered themselves my friends without my consent! And now theyre spreading it everywhere, afraid that others wont know! Those two bastards! Principal Lin, this time you really have to help me! Guo the Head Catcher said with some excitement. If you dont help me, I can only watch myself die! Lin Beifan became a bit angry, Master Guo, youre exaggerating. How can I just watch you die? Guo the Head Catcher felt a littleforted in his heart, Principal Lin Lin Beifan interrupted, I will close my eyes! Guo the Head Catcher eximed, Damn it! Lin Beifan smiled bitterly, Master Guo, its not that I dont want to help you, but Im really powerless! Im just a weak schr with no martial arts skills. What can I do? If I identally provoke them and they kill me, what can I do? So, Master Guo, please find someone else, I really cant help! Principal Lin, please dont be like this! If you dont help us, well have no way out! Guo the Head Catcher gritted his teeth. Heres the deal. As long as you help me with this favor, give it a try, whether it seeds or not, the Six-Door will owe you a favor. How about that? Lin Beifan was tempted! Favors from the Six-Door were valuable! They could solve many problems at critical times! Alright, Ill give it a try! Lin Beifan finally agreed. Thank you, Principal! Guo the Head Catcher was overjoyed. However, you need to report this to the Empress first and get her permission before I can get involved in this matter, Lin Beifan said. The officialdom had its own rules, and it was enough to do ones own duties. If he rashly intervened in other peoples affairs, it would be crossing the line. How would the officials and the Empress view him? They might think he had ulterior motives, which would bring a lot of trouble. Therefore, Lin Beifan asked him to request permission from the Empress first. I understand, of course! Guo the Head Catcher nodded. So, the next day during the morning court session, Guo the Head Catcher reported to the Empress. Your Majesty, currently, Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun and de Saint Ouyang Badao have gathered in the capital city and are ready to engage in battle at any moment. The situation is extremely critical! I have heard that Principal Lin had a pleasant conversation with these two young grandmasters and is good friends with them. So, I request assistance from Principal Lin to persuade them to move the battlefield out of the capital city. May Your Majesty grant permission! Guo the Head Catcher reported. The Empress and the officials were stunned! They looked at Lin Beifan with strange expressions. Did this guy have a knack for socializing? He could be friends with two grandmasters just like that, achieving what he talked about? The Empress spoke up and asked, Sir Lin, what Guo just said is it true? Do you know them? Lin Beifan bowed and replied, Your Majesty, I have only met them once! The Empress said, But Guo just said Lin Beifan continued his report, Master Guo is not wrong! Its just that during that encounter, we had a pleasant conversation, and under their excitement, they insisted on bing my close friends! The Empress blinked in astonishment, You became friends after just one conversation? Yes, Your Majesty! I didnt intend for it either, but they forced me, even resorting to force. I couldnt refuse. Its been very distressing for me! Lin Beifan said in anguish. Everyone was infuriated and felt like giving him a beating! Being friends with grandmasters is something many people can only dream of. And here you are,ining about it? While others long for such an opportunity and cannot obtain it, you have two. Are you not aware of the hunger of those who have none? Now, the whole capital city knows about this. They know that I have two grandmaster friends. Its been so distressing for me! Lin Beifan expressed even greater anguish. The officials were so angry their mouths were crooked! You despicable person! Are you in pain or are you taking the opportunity to show off to us? The Empress contemted for a moment and said, This battle is almost unavoidable. If we can move the battlefield out of the capital city, it will indeed reduce a lot of losses and casualties. Heres the n, Sir Lin, you will assist Sir Guo and persuade those two individuals! Your Majesty, its too dangerous! Both of them are grandmasters, while I am just an ordinary schr. Although we had a brief encounter, our rtionship is casual at best! How about you choose someone else? Lin Beifan pleaded with hopeful eyes. The corner of the Empresss mouth twitched. You bastard, are you pretending to be weak? Ive long heard from Sister Bai that if you were to go all out, grandmasters might not even be your match! Youre clearly taking advantage of the situation for your own benefit. Dont think I cant see through it! Thats the decision then! The Empress dered loudly, Regardless of the oue, you must give it a try, and I will ensure your safety! If this seeds, it will be an immeasurable merit, a great aplishment for our court. I will definitely reward you generously! Any objections, my esteemed ministers? The officials looked at each other and unanimously replied, We have no objections! They didnt have any objections. Their interests were now aligned. If those two grandmasters were to fight in the capital city, they would also suffer. Therefore, they had to support Lin Beifan. Very well! Sir Lin, we will rely on you for the next steps. We await your good news! Yes, Your Majesty! After receiving the imperial decree, Lin Beifan openly went about his business. Another day passed, and the Six Doors finally located the Sword Immortal, Shangguan Jianhun. They didnt take action on their own but instead let Lin Beifan make contact. The Sword Immortal was delighted to see Lin Beifan and warmly greeted him, saying, Come, my friend, we meet again! The wine is ready, lets continue our previous conversation and discuss swordy, haha! Lets put the matter of the sword aside for now and talk about the issue of the grandmasters battle. Can you fight outside the city instead of in the capital? Lin Beifan straightforwardly asked. The Sword Immortals gaze hardened, Are you here on behalf of the Great Martial Dynasty? Thats right! Lin Beifan nodded. Thats difficult to do! The Sword Immortal poured himself a drink, You see, Ive already made my intentions known. Many people from the martial world have traveled a long way toe here. If we dont fight in the capital, I would lose face. Its inappropriate, its inappropriate! Lets not bring up this matter again. Lets talk about the sword instead! Lin Beifan sneered inwardly. This wasnt about saving face; it was clearly about showing off! Lin Beifan noticed that the martial practitioners in this world seemed to have a tradition of opposing the imperial court. Those with weaker strength would bully the local authorities. Those with stronger abilities, like bing grandmasters, felt that they had to step on the face of the imperial dynasty; otherwise, they wouldnt live up to the title of grandmaster! Since they couldnt step on their own countrys imperial court, they had to step on the face of another dynasty! As a result, they often chose the Capital City as the battleground! The underlying reason was to show off! To make others think they were formidable! You will cause the deaths of many people by dueling in the city! Lin Beifan earnestly advised. They are mere ants! The Sword Immortal disdainfully replied, Those officials of yours dont care about the lives of themon people. They see them as insignificant, readily harvested like weeds. Why should I care? Then, with a strange smile and an eerie gaze, the Sword Immortal looked at Lin Beifan and said, Ive heard about you, Lin Beifan. Youre a notorious corrupt official. Youve been in office for just a few months and have already embezzled countless wealth, tens of millions even! How can a heartless corrupt official like you care about the lives of themon people? Lin Beifan angrily retorted, How can I not care? If everyone is dead, who will I extort? The Sword Immortal choked and spewed out a mouthful of wine, Cough, cough That argument made too much sense, leaving him speechless! Actually, I can change the venue for the fight! The Sword Immortal spoke. As long as you consider it a favor from me, Illply with your request. How about that? Its quite easy. He now owed Lin Beifan three favors, and the weight of repaying them burdened him. Therefore, he saw this as an opportunity to fulfill one of those obligations. Lin Beifan became furious, Its just a matter of moving your legs, and you wont suffer any loss. You im to be my friend, but you wont help with such a small matter? And you expect to repay a favor? Your favors as a Sword Immortal are worthless! Once again, the Sword Immortal was left speechless! He could only drink in silence, So, what do you want? In any case, I wont easily leave the capital! Lin Beifans expression changed, and he smirked, To be honest, arent you just trying to step on the face of the Great Wu Dynasty and show off? Frankly speaking, this approach has been overused by other grandmasters. Its not fresh anymore! I have a better n. Do you want to know? Lin Beifan said with an enticing tone, Once this n is executed, it will astonish the world and be unforgettable. It will be recorded in the annals of the martial world. Your name as the Sword Immortal will not only spread worldwide but also be immortalized in history! At that moment, the Sword Immortal felt a twinge of temptation, Go ahead, tell me! You May Also LikeShadow ve Chapter 146: Battle in the Sky on a Full Moon Night! Chapter 146: Battle in the Sky on a Full Moon Night! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan sat down and smiled, In the past, when masters dueled, they either chose to fight on a mountain or by a river orke. The most powerful duel would be in the Capital City! But there is a ce that no one has ever tried! What ce? The Sword Immortal asked. Lin Beifan pointed to the sky, Have you ever thought about fighting in the sky? In the sky? The Sword Immortal was confused, How can we fight in the sky? I cant fly Even though he was a grandmaster and had excellent lightness skills, he could only hover in the air briefly using his abundant true qi. He couldnt fly up to the sky! That was something only immortals could do! People really cant fly up to the sky, but that was in the past. Now we have a chance! Lin Beifan grinned, Our empire has developed a flying artifact called the Great Air Balloon that can carry people to the sky! Then you can fight in the sky! Yes! The Sword Immortals eyes gleamed. Just think about it. This will be an earth-shattering battle! Lin Beifan danced excitedly, Two young and extraordinary martial artists, one is a sword immortal, the other is a saint of the saber, fighting in the sky like gods and immortals. It will definitely be a legend in the martial arts world and be recorded in history forever! Battle in the sky, recorded in history forever! The Sword Immortals eyes shone brighter and brighter. Old brother, you are called a sword immortal and yet you cant fly? As an immortal, how can you not fight in the sky? Lin Beifan smiled insidiously, egging him on. Right, right, thats too right! The Sword Immortal nodded excitedly. He couldnt help but daydream. If he could fight in the sky, he would definitely be worthy of his name and be famous throughout the world of martial arts! Even if he could be a legend and be recorded in history forever! Damn, its so cool! The more he thought about it, the more excited he became! His blood began to boil. He couldnt wait to fight in the sky right now! Sword Immortal, do you agree or not? If you agree, I will arrange it for you. If you dont, then forget it. Ill give the opportunity to someone else. Dont regret it! Lin Beifan stood up impatiently, seeing that the Sword Immortal had not responded yet. The Sword Immortal quickly pulled Lin Beifan back down and said in a friendly tone, Hey, dont gobrother, I am considering it, arent I? Lin Beifan was angry, Youre still considering such an excellent opportunity? It seems like you dont value it. Im leaving! The Sword Immortal quickly stood up and held Lin Beifan down, Dont go! How can I not want such a great opportunity? Besides, we are good friends. Can I hand over such a rare opportunity to someone else? Lin Beifan became even angrier, What do you mean by good friends? Do good friends do this kind of thing? Hehe, its just youthful recklessness! The Sword Immortal poured Lin Beifan a drink and smiled, Come, lets drink. After this ss, our misunderstanding will be cleared up! After a ss of wine, the two of them were reconciled. The Sword Immortal excitedly discussed the battle in the sky with Lin Beifan, bing more and more passionate. But in the end, the Sword Immortal became somewhat anxious, Brother, can this battle in the sky really happen? The imperial court should approve it, I have received the favor of the empress. Everyone in the court gives me face. It should be possible! Lin Beifan smiled, The only problem is the Saber Saint. Im afraid he might refuse. Will he dare to refuse? The Sword Immortal said angrily, If he refuses, Ill fight him until he agrees! Ok, with you saying that, things have been settled. Wait for my good news! Then, Lin Beifan went to ask the Saber Saint, Ouyang Badao, for his participation. This guy agreed immediately upon hearing that they would fight in the sky and that there was a chance to be a legend. He seemed even more excited than the Sword Immortal. Then, Lin Beifan reported the matter to the imperial court. Using two or three giant air balloons, they could lead the battle outside the city, reducing casualties and losses considerably. This was also considered saving face for the imperial court. The court quickly approved it. Sir Lin, you have done well in this matter. You are indeed the pir of our country! The empress praised, You will have full authority in this matter. The Six Doors, Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Forbidden Army will all be under yourmand for the time being. After the matter is over, we will reward you for your contribution! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan saluted. Next, Lin Beifan made a big effort in his promotion. Firstly, he used the power of the imperial court to promote this fight. The Sword Immortal and the Saber Saint are going to fight in the sky! I never expected it could be done this way; no martial artist has ever attempted it before! Other ces cant do it, but we can because we have the artifact flying device, the Great Air Balloon! Haha! A fight in the sky will definitely be the first of its kind, a renowned tale throughout history! It will definitely be a world-shocking battle!!! The whole city was buzzing! Even more, it quickly spread outside the city, throughout the country, and to nearby countries. Everyone was eagerly anticipating this otherworldly battle! To strengthen the promotion, Lin Beifan even wrote a catchy slogan: Full moon night, height of the sky! A sword flying from the west, for an otherworldly flight! The full moon night refers to the time of the martial arts fight! The height of the sky means up in the air! A sword flying from the west for an otherworldly flight refers naturally to the Sword Immortal, Shangguan Jianhun, because he calls himself an immortal and hails from the west! As soon as this slogan came out, it spread like wildfire, and people of all ages knew it! The name of the Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun shook up the world! The Sword Immortal was ecstatic, feeling his brother-in-arms understood him very well! He proactively came to visit and drank with Lin Beifan before leaving. However, the Saber Saint felt unhappy. Youve talked up the Sword Immortal so high that his name overshadows mine. How can this be? Drifting through the martial arts world, arent wepeting for these little bits of reputation? As your close friend, you cant favor one and neglect the other! He also came to Lin Beifans ce to pull Lin Beifan to write a slogan. Otherwise, he would stay home and refuse to leave. Lin Beifan asked, Whats your sabers name? The Saber Saint proudly said, Dragon-ying Saber! Lin Beifan smiled, Okay, the Sword Immortals sword is aptly named The Heaven Reliant! Then, a magnificent slogan emerged: The greatest of the martial arts, the Dragon-ying Saber! The Heaven Reliant is absent, who can fight for the victory? The Dragon-ying Saber naturally refers to the Saber Saint! As they are the greatest in martial arts, who can deny their power? The Heaven Reliant refers to the Sword Immortal, meaning that only the Sword Immortal canpete with him! So, they were ced on the same level! The Sword Saint left satisfied! This slogan quickly spread throughout the country, and the name of the Sword Saint Ouyang Badao became known all over the world! As a result, the two great warriors were set on the same level, and anticipation for their fight reached its peak! The Sword Immortal and the Saber Saints fight in the sky is the best time for the martial arts world! I must go and see it! If I dont, it will be regretful for the rest of my life! Iming to the capital city of Great Wu! The martial artists of the Great Wu Empire all rushed towards the capital city! Even martial artists from other countries, after hearing about it, traveled far to see the fight! However, when they arrived, they were stunned. Because there were one hundred thousand troops guarding the ce, and all the strongest martial artists were there to prohibit anyone from entering. This is a martial arts gathering! Why cant we watch? I came from so far away just to see this world-shocking battle! Why are you stopping me from watching it? Your court is too overbearing! Dont force me to take action! We protest, we protest! Everyone was extremely angry. At this moment, Lin Beifan came out with a smile, carrying a sign: If you want to watch, pay up! Ordinary people, 1000 taels per person! Late-stage experts, 3000 taels per person! Peak-stage experts, 10,000 taels per person! No bargaining allowed! Everyone became furious when they saw this: Why should we pay? Lin Beifan confidently replied, Why shouldnt we charge? This aerial battle is arranged by our Great Wu Dynasty. Do you know how much manpower and resources we have expended to prepare for this battle? These fundse from the treasury, from themon people! If we dont recoup our expenses, not only will the court not agree, but themon people wont agree either! They were speechless. But 1000 taels per person is too expensive! someone said. Is 1000 taels too expensive? Some of you spend more than that when visiting brothels! Remember, there are plenty of prostitutes, but a world-shaking battle is once in a lifetime! Im even offering you a discount with this 1000 taels! Lin Beifan waved his sleeve. If you cant pay, then get lost! Poor people are not wee here! What the hell! What the hell! Countless people were so enraged that they wanted to draw their swords and kill this bastard! At this moment, a powerful old man stepped forward, pointing angrily at the fee sign: Charging a fee is one thing, but why is it more expensive for peak-stage experts? Isnt it the stronger the strength, the more respect they receive? Lin Beifan nodded. Exactly! I am showing you respect, arent I? If your entrance fee is the same as everyone elses, then your value will diminish, wont it? Im considering your best interest with this strategy! What the hell! What the hell! Countless experts were so angry that they wanted to kill someone! At this moment, someone shouted, Lets ignore him and charge in together! I dont believe that with their officials and soldiers, they can stop so many heroes! For a moment, the crowd responded. Yes! Charge in! How many corrupt officials have I killed? I can kill a few more! I dont believe he can stop us! Charge! The 100,000-strong army raised their weapons and armor, ready for battle. The experts from the Six Doors, the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and the Forbidden Army all unsheathed their swords, emanating powerful energy. The great battle was about to begin! Then, at that moment, a very ordinary old monk walked over. He stood in the middle of the court and the martial arts world, blocking Lin Beifan, facing the crowd. With hands sped together, he bowed slightly. Namo Amitabha! Respectable benefactors, may I offer my greetings! Its not good to brandish des and spears! You must know The old monk opened his eyes, releasing a terrifying aura that overwhelmed the entire venue. Put down your butcher knives and be a Buddha! The sea of suffering knows no bounds; turn back and seek the shore! Namo Amitabha! All the martial artists were pressed back several steps, gasping for breath, unable to exert more than 60-70% of their true strength. Their eyes widened, and they blurted out, Grandmaster!!! You May Also LikeBefore I Died, I Confessed to the Heroine, and She Actually Believed Me! (MTL) Chapter 147: This official, his heart is truly black! Chapter 147: This official, his heart is truly ck! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
No one could have imagined that this ordinary-looking old monk in front of them was actually a grandmaster! A grandmaster was the highest expert in the world, capable of taking on thousands of soldiers and horses alone! You could tell just by how arrogant the newly-crowned Saber Saint and Saber Immortal were towards the Great Wu Dynasty. Anyone below a grandmaster was like an ant, and the only ones capable of fighting against them were other grandmasters. No matter how many others tried to fight against them, it would be useless. Therefore, no one dared to make any sudden moves, afraid of provoking the grandmaster in front of them and being pped to death with a single palm. Amitabha Buddha! Good, good! The old monk lowered his presence, returning to his true nature and emitting no aura, as if he were an old dying monk. Lin Beifan walked out, smiling from behind him. Now, everyone sees it, right? If you want to witness this world-shocking battle, unless you have grandmaster strength, you must pay up to me! If you dont want to pay, then dont bothering! Martial arts heroes and legends in the Jianghu world felt both frustrated and angry. They had always been the ones robbing officials, but now they were being robbed by officials, which had never happened before. However, the situation prevailed over individuals. In front of grandmaster-level experts, they could only grit their teeth and ept it. As a result, they all handed over their money one after another. Lin Beifans money bag quickly filled up, and he had to switch to another one. Lin Beifan smiled from ear to ear. This is what Im talking about! Fighting and killing hurt the atmosphere, and harmony brings wealth! Everyone wanted to p this hypocritical official who only cared about his own profits. They had kept the peace, but he was the only one getting richer. This official was despicable! In just half a day, Lin Beifan had collected millions of silver. You should know that in two days, it would be the night of the full moon, and that was when the two grandmasters would fight. Now those who have rushed over are all martial arts people who have juste from the capital, and many more martial artists are still on their way. This group is veryrge in number, and can definitely make Lin Beifan fill up his bowl and overflow with profits. Just thinking about the bright future, Lin Beifan couldnt even open his eyes from smiling too much. Now, can we go in? The martial artists present said with hatred. Of course! Lin Beifan put away the money bag and said with a smile, But, let me remind you all! You must follow the rules when you go in, put away your weapons, settle your grudges, and dont fight and kill recklessly. Otherwise, I will have to drive you all out! The Jianghu people nodded. They could ept these rules. They didnt want to start fights with others while watching the battle. Furthermore, do not provoke any officials and soldiers of the court! Lin Beifan continued, The reason we sent so many soldiers over is mainly to maintain order at the scene and ensure that everyone has a happy viewing experience! If anyone deliberately causes trouble, dont me us for being ruthless! The Jianghu people nodded again. They could ept these rules too. They came to watch the battle, not to stir up trouble. Also, with a grandmaster presiding over the event, they dare not make a move. Onest thing! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Once you go in, its best not toe out, otherwise Ill have to collect another payment! This time, the martial arts heroes became emotional and indignant. Ive already paid, why do I have to pay more? Are you deliberately robbing us? Clearly the actions of a despicable official! Because I have face blindness and cant recognize who is who! Lin Beifan remained calm and said confidently, If you keep going in and out, I wont recognize anyone and some of those who havent paid might sneak in. Isnt that unfair to everyone? Im thinking of you! Everyone was livid! How shamelessly he could say these things with such dignity! Hes clearly just thinking of his own money bag! We all see through you! However, everyone was toozy to argue and just red at Lin Beifan before walking in with resentment. Next, many more martial arts people came in droves and were unsurprisingly scammed by Lin Beifan. Everyone came with enthusiasm but left with disappointment, cursing Lin Beifan to the Heavens. Lin Beifan remained calm. Let them curse as much as they like; they wouldnt be able to harm a hair on his head. Only the money in the bag was real. In this way, Lin Beifans ie for the day quickly broke through tens of millions. The officials of the court were salivating at the sight of the profits. Lin Beifan smiled and grabbed a thick stack of silver bills and stuffed them into the arms of Guo, the head of the Six Doors. Guo looked down and his eyes nearly popped out! Good gracious, this one stack of thick bills alone was worth at least 100,000 taels! Principal Lin, what do you mean? I cant ept this! Guo quickly took it out again. However, Lin Beifan pressed it back and said with a smile, Guo, just ept it, dont refuse! You guys have been guarding the pce these days, and this is what you deserve. Go buy something nice for yourselves! Guo slowed down his pace as he thought about the hardships of the past few days. Lin Beifan continued with emphasis, Besides, this is not themon peoples money, but the money of these Jianghu people! They often cause trouble for us, and we should take their money. Isnt that justified? We are also getting rid of harm for the people and seeking revenge for our colleagues! Guos eyes lit up. That made a lot of sense! These Jianghu people were always against the authorities, causing them trouble and even killing some of their colleagues. Why cant they take their money? In fact, its justified! Lin Beifan whispered to Guo, This is just a small token of appreciation. Help me keep an eye on things and Ill give you a big reward after I scam all these Jianghu people. Guo replied excitedly, Principal Lin, dont worry, I will! Lin Beifan smiled, With you here, Im at ease. Lin Beifan left, but Guo became energetic and shouted, Everyone, keep a close eye! Dont let anyone escape, otherwise, dont me me for being ruthless! Yes, My Lord! Everyone responded in unison. In addition to collecting money, Lin Beifan was also responsible for distributing money to all the officials present. ording to their rank, ability and contributions, the higher officials received tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of taels, while the lower ones received at least a few thousand. Even every soldier present received a silver tael from Lin Beifan, making sure that no one was left out. They all worked together as one team! Seeing this scene, everyone couldnt help shaking their heads and sighing. One general even gave Lin Beifan a thumbs up, Principal Lin is really generous! No wonder he was able to sit in this position at such a young age. He did it with his true abilities! Yes, throwing away millions like this, he really has the guts to do big things! So, everyone worked harder, knowing that these Jianghu people were all their experience treasures and had to be watched closely. The more greedy Lin Beifan was, the more they would get rich together! In the pce, the empress knew about this and couldnt help but cry andugh, This Lin Beifan always does things so perfectly, but cant resist making money for himself afterwards. He even drags others down with him! Hes aplete corrupt official! Bai Guanyin shook her head and sighed, This is the first time Ive seen someone able to reach into the pockets of the Jianghu people and get money out of them. With so many martial arts people here, who knows how much money he can scam? Im sure its a lot! The empress said angrily, As the saying goes, poor in literature but rich in martial arts. How did they learn their skills without money? After acquiring good martial arts skills, they dont sell them and instead engage in illegal activities to make money, causing constant chaos in the country! If they paid taxes ording to thew, the treasury would have increased by at least 50 million taels! This time, its best to catch them through Lin Beifans greed! Bai Guanyin nodded with a smile, Your Majesty is absolutely right! Under the attention of the empress and Bai Guanyin, Lin Beifan continued to fleece the martial arts experts. In just one day, the entrance fees alone amounted to 20 million taels, mostly contributed by postnatal martial artists. There were too many of them, and 99% of martial artists were postnatal, which formed the foundation of the Jianghu. Each person had to pay over 1000 taels, and with over 5000 people, that amounted to over 15 million taels. Lin Beifan believed that there was still a lot of untapped potential. For example, the Great Martial Empire recorded over 20,000 postnatal martial artists, and there were even more undocumented ones. With the inclusion of martial artists from other countries, their numbers would increase by tens of times, which was impossible to count. Lin Beifan thought that in the end, he could break through 30 million taels or even 40 million taels! Freshly steamed buns and dumplings! We also have rice and dishes, everything you needmy heroes, do you want to try some? Prices are low, honest! During mealtime, Lin Beifan brought a group of officials and soldiers to serve hot food. After spending a day at the martial arts event, everyone couldnt resist the smell of the hot food. How much is a serving of food? Give me one! Lin Beifan smiled, The prices are very cheap, only 100 taels! The martial artists there were outraged. What? Youre charging 100 taels for this in food? Ive never eaten something so expensive in the capital! Your heart must be ck! If youre not satisfied, you can go back to the capital to eat. I wont stop you, Lin Beifan still smiled. Everyone was so angry that their faces turned ck! If we could go back, we would have left long ago. Would we still be exploited by you? Despite being reluctant, everyone smelled the food and knew that given the thousands of taels they had already spent, another hundred taels was nothing. They began buying food, but hesitated once they received their portions. Is this food safe to eat? It should be! A skilled martial artist sneered. If they poison us, our sects wont let it go easily. They wouldnt want that responsibility. True. Lets eat without worries. Can I have some water, please? And so, everyone wolfed down the food. In the end, everyone found that one serving wasnt enough and ended up buying several portions, spending hundreds of taels more. Corrupt official, your heart is so ck! You May Also LikeShadow ve Chapter 149: Advancing to Grandmaster Level, Flowing Six Void Techniques! Chapter 149: Advancing to Grandmaster Level, Flowing Six Void Techniques! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, a white figure appeared in the distance, treading on air and floating like a fairy. The Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun has arrived! everyone eximed. On the other side, another figure appeared. Instead of treading on air, he walked on the ground while carrying a sword. His movements looked clumsy, but he advanced dozens of yards with every step, at a simrly fast speed. The Saber Saint Ouyang Badao has also arrived! everyone eximed again. They were the protagonists of this battle outside of the world, Shangguan Jianhun and Ouyang Badao. One became a celestial being in the sword, while the other was revered as a saint in the saber! They regarded the 100,000 strong army and tens of thousands of martial artists as nothing, and directly passed through them, arriving in front of Lin Beifan in the blink of an eye. Looking at their long-awaited opponent, their fighting spirits rose. However, they did not say a word. Talking at this moment would leak their air and weaken their momentum. In a fight between experts, every little thing mattered. They wanted to preserve their best state for the duel. Lin Beifan understood their state of mind and smiled, The Flying Sky Artifact, Air Balloon, is ready. Pleasee. Tworge air balloons behind Lin Beifan slowly rose into the air. The two experts nodded and then leaped into the air, lightlynding on the air balloons, one holding a sword and the other carrying a saber. Together with the slowly rising air balloons. The martial artists witnessing this were all excited. Theyre flying, the two experts are flying! The battle outside the world is about to begin! Is the sword of the Sword Fairy sharper or the de of the Saber Saint stronger? Its so exciting! Unknowingly, the two had already risen to a height of 300 feet with the air balloon! This was already a height that ordinary humans could hardly reach! It was no exaggeration to call it beyond the sky! The air balloon was veryrge, emitting a faint silver light, like a silver te. The tworge air balloons and the bright moon reflected each other, as if three bright moons were suspended in the sky, creating an extremely beautiful scene. At this point, the two experts standing on the air balloon finally spoke. Sword Immortal: I am Shangguan Jianhun! Saber Saint: I am Ouyang Badao! Sword Immortal: I touched a sword at the age of three and started to seriously learn sword at the age of five! I have been with my sword day and night, and have already passed through twenty-five spring and autumns, reaching the realm of unity of man and sword! Saber Saint: I started learning the saber at the age of four, and have never been without my saber since. I have already gone through twenty-six winters and summers. I have realized the truth of the saber, that the saber is me and I am the saber. Sword Immortal: What a great realm! Saber Saint: What greatprehension! The Sword Immortal raised the sword in his hand. This is my sword, made of thousand-year cold iron, with a de length of three feet and seven inches and a weight of eighteen pounds and eight ounces! It is invincible and follows me to prove the ultimate sword way. Its name is Yitian! The Saber Saint took his de in his hand. This is my saber, made of celestial cloud iron from beyond the sky, with a de length of four feet and three inches and a weight of twenty-eight pounds and three ounces! It is extremely bloodthirsty, having killed countless enemies under mymand. Its name is Tulong! Sword Immortal: What a great saber! Saber Saint: What a great sword! At this point, they had already started fighting, trying to overwhelm each other with their momentum. However, both of them were firm-willed and these words couldnt shake their hearts, so they had to start attacking. Take my sword! The Sword Immortal leaped out of the air balloon, holding his sword, and stabbed it out! An amazing sword aura quickly prated hundreds of feet, shing towards the Saber Saint! The sword light was brilliant, beautiful and iparable, just like a celestial being from outside of the world! The Saber Saint wasnt any worse, jumping into the air, seemingly even higher than the moon. He held his de in both hands and shed down in midair! That terrifying de aura descended from above, tearing through hundreds of feet of space! It surged forward, just like a divine punishment! Boom boom The world shook! Although they were hundreds of feet above ground, the terrifying force still came crashing down, making people feel suffocated. It was as if these swords and des were shing at them! Everyone was amazed. This is the Sword Immortal! This is the Saber Saint! With just one move, two air balloons were destroyed! The two had lost their footing and were drifting down with their true qi under the wind. At this moment, many Kongmingnterns suddenly rose from the ground, like stars decorating the sky. Stepping on thenterns, they jumped into the air again, continuing their battle outside of the world. Sword aura criss-crossed, des shed, prating the void, like a divine battle! On the ground, everyone was intoxicated by the spectacle. Its so beautiful, so powerful! After traveling a thousand miles, it was definitely not in vain! To be able to witness such a battle outside of the world, even if we die, its worth it. This life has no regrets! This will surely be a resounding event in the martial arts world! Lin Beifan watched with a dreamy expression. He also wanted to fly and have a lively fight with others! But when he thought of his identity and the dog system, he could only shed tears and sigh. Forget it, hed just be an honest corrupt official! However, his mood quickly improved. Because he could level up again. Twice in a row, I have embezzled about 15 million taels of silver from the Ministry of Industry officials! Selling the air cushion boat manufacturing method, I obtained 43 million taels of silver from various princes and other countries! From Princess Ziyue, I embezzled 4.5 million taels of silver! From the young masters of the Imperial Academy, I embezzled nearly 10 million taels of silver! Now, from this group of martial arts practitioners, Ive embezzled 40 million taels of silver, leaving me with 35 million taels after using 5 million taels to bribe others! So Ive now embezzled over 100 million taels of silver! Lin Beifan became happier the more he thought about it. After all the effort he had expended, he had finally amassed arge sum of money that could bring about drastic changes in his life! He really had to thank the Sword Immortal and Saber Saint, or he wouldnt know when he would have enough money. The divine battle outside of the worldsted an hour. Although there was no clear winner, everyone was satisfied with what they saw and gained a lot, feeling that it was a worthwhile trip. At this time, a joyfulugh came from outside of the world: Wonderful! I havent met an opponent like you in a long time! Sword Immortal, your sword is really good, sharp and graceful, I admire it! Anotherugh came: Saber Saint, your de is not bad either! Youre the most domineering de Ive ever encountered! This is a good de, I admire it! Sword Immortal, see you again, Ill go first! Saber Saint, see you again, well fight another day! The twoughed heartily, leaping into the air and returning to rest while absorbing the gains of this battle. After watching the battle, the crowd left reluctantly, feeling that they had gained a lot. At the same time, news of this battle quickly spread. As a result, the names of the Sword Immortal and Saber Saint became even more famous! Lin Beifan also went back. When night fell and it was quiet, Lin Beifan secretly sneaked to a deserted wild area. Because he wanted to level up. Thest time he saw the old monk breaking through to Grandmaster, the impact was too great, he didnt want others to discover his strength, so he could only run outside to break through secretly. Lin Beifan, full of excitement, said, System, settle for me now! Ding! As the main character, embezzling 190 million taels of gold, silver, and jewelry, a sum of 10 points, shocking the world, rewards the fusion of the martial arts Grandmaster Western Kunlun ter) temte! Terrifying power instantly prated Lin Beifans body! There were more terrifying knowledge, not just martial arts knowledge, but also mathematical, astronomical, physical, exploration, and military knowledge, all pouring into Lin Beifans mind! At the same time, outside, the worlds spiritual energy rapidly converged, forming a tornado. And Lin Beifan was sitting in the center of the tornado, and the image of Tai Chi Bagua vaguely appeared around him, which was very mysterious. It took about an hour for Lin Beifan to absorb this temte. He opened his eyes very happily: Now, I have finally be a real Grandmaster! In this high martial world, Grandmasters were top-level powerhouses! Like Sword Immortal and Saber Saint, they just became Grandmasters, and they dared to step on the face of the imperial court, and the court could not stop them! The battles between the two Grandmasters can attract thousands of martial arts practitioners from afar! Even if Lin Beifan had cut them once, they could only grit their teeth, acknowledging it! This was the terror and appeal of Grandmaster level powerhouses! And, I am not an ordinary Grandmaster! He absorbed the temte of Xikunlun! Speaking of Western Kunlun, maybe not many people knew about it. But if you mentioned the Zhou Liu Six Vacant Skills, perhaps few people didnt know about them. Zhou Liu Six Vacant Skills was a very mysterious martial art. This martial art was based on eight natural forces of heaven, earth, mountains, rivers, wind, thunder, water, and fire,bined with Tai Chi Bagua. Once this skill was learned, one could use these eight forces to control everything in the world. Zhou Liu Six Vacant Skills, the practice of everything! This martial art was no longer just a martial art; it could be ssified as a type of Daoism and magic. Western Kunlun was the founder of this amazing martial art! The opponent had even be the worlds number one Grandmaster with this amazing martial art! And now, Lin Beifan possessed this power and was very proficient in Zhou Liu Six Vacant Skills. He opened his arms and slowly flew up using the power of the wind. He waved his hand, releasing endless mes, burning down a forest. He waved his hand again, extinguishing all the mes. He pointed his finger, and a purple sword qi shot out, shattering a boulder the size of six people hugging, with a charred trace on it. It was more like a thunderbolt than a sword qi. Moreover, all the natural forces were at his disposal. The energy he lost just now was immediately supplemented by the power of nature, and his body was in perfect harmony. Lin Beifan sighed, Controlling the power of nature to use for myself, this skill is really too strong, too much like a cheat! Im afraid people will actually believe that Im a god! This 100 million taels of silver is really worth embezzling, hahaha! Now, he didnt dare to say he was invincible in the Grandmaster level, but he was definitely one of the strongest among them! Just then, Lin Beifans expression changed slightly, and ayer of mist appeared on his body, covering his facial features. Because he felt someoneing, and this person was not weak. He turned his head and saw a person rushing towards him quickly, taking dozens of steps forward in a single leap, like a speeding train. No, even the speed of a train was not as fast as his! This person, Lin Beifan knew, was The Saber Saint, Ouyang Badao!
The Zhou Liu Six Void Technique is a highly mystical martial art. It is based on the concept of harnessing the eight natural forces of the heavens and the earth: heaven, earth, mountains, rivers, wind, thunder, water, and fire, in ordance with the principles of the Taiji Eight Trigrams. This technique allows the practitioner to manipte and control these eight forces to wield incredible power and influence over the world. The name Zhou Liu Six Void refers to the six aspects or dimensions of the technique. Zhou means cycle or circte, indicating the continuous flow and interaction of the natural forces. Liu means six, representing the six dimensions or realms of existence. Six Void signifies the emptiness or voidness that underlies all phenomena and the ability to tap into and utilize this fundamental essence. By mastering the Zhou Liu Six Void Technique, practitioners gain the ability to manipte and harmonize the forces of nature. They can generate powerful attacks, control elements, enhance their physical abilities, and even achieve extraordinary feats such as flight or profound healing. It is considered a highly advanced and esoteric martial art that transcends traditionalbat techniques, bordering on the realm of Daoist cultivation and immortal arts. The origin of the Zhou Liu Six Void Technique is attributed to the Western Kunlun, a legendary ce associated with Daoist philosophy and cultivation practices. The founder of the technique, originating from Western Kunlun, became renowned as the foremost grandmaster by harnessing the power of the Zhou Liu Six Void Technique. Overall, the Zhou Liu Six Void Technique represents a profound and awe-inspiring martial art that enables practitioners to tap into the natural forces of the universe and attain extraordinary abilities. You May Also LikeI Be a Rogue Lord in a World Where Only I Level Up (Read Epub Online) Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, the Saber Saint Ouyang Badao was extremely shocked. Just now, he was absorbing the gains from the battle outside of the world when he suddenly felt a powerful force sweeping over. This force was very strong and terrifying, and there was some familiarity to it, just like when he broke through to a grandmaster, which made him a bit suspicious. Along with this force, he also felt a strange aura of a powerful person that was not weaker than him. So, he came with a curious heart to take a look. As a result, he really saw a stranger, hidden in the mist, incredibly mysterious. Although he couldnt see the others face clearly, and couldnt feel their qi and strength, the person gave him a very dangerous and deadly feeling. What shocked him the most was that this person was actually floating in the air without any support, about a yard above the ground. To be honest, he himself could also briefly float in the air with his own power. But, he used his own true qi and resonated with the spiritual energy of the outside world, so he could fly briefly. However, the person in front of him seemed not to have used true qi. It seemed like they were being carried by the force of the wind and standing lightly in the air. Mysterious and powerful, like an immortal. At this time, the Saber Saint had alreadye to Lin Beifans front. Holding the saber tightly with one hand on his shoulder, he looked up at Lin Beifan, with a slightly nervous expression. Ouyang Badao? Lin Beifan spoke, his voice was ethereal and seemed toe from the sky. You recognize me? the Saber Saint said. Of course! The battle outside of the world, there is no one who does not know the Saber Saint and Sword Immortal! Lin Beifan said. The Saber Saint nodded understandingly. This great battle had attracted the attention of martial artists around the world. It was normal for the other party to know. Your saber is not bad! Lin Beifan said again. Thank you! The Saber Saints face showed a little proud smile. Even the mysterious strong person in front of him praised his saber, proving that his de was indeed good and had a high level. However,pared to my de, it falls far short! Lin Beifan said. Arrogant! The Saber Saints face changed drastically. You know, he was a person who had been holding a saber since he was young. From a young age, he practiced saber skills, unafraid of heat and cold, apanying him for over 20 years. In the end, he used his saber to enter the path and became a grandmaster, which is why he called himself the Saber Saint. There are few people in the world who understand sabers better than he does. Such a saber that had been tempered over thousands of strikes, when seen by the other party, was actually far inferior, could notpare to the other persons de! Wasnt this insulting his saber? Wasnt this insulting his decades of persistence and effort? The Saber Saint put down the saber on his shoulder, sped his hands tightly, pointed the de at Lin Beifan, and his fighting spirit surged up as he shouted, If you say that my saber is far inferior to yours, then let me see what your de is like! Fine! The night is long, I will y with you! Lin Beifan beckoned. What about your de? The Saber Saint shouted again. It depends on whether you have the ability to force out my de! Lin Beifan was expressionless. He didnt even have a de, how could he take it out? The Saber Saint was furious. Even now, he still didnt take out his de. He underestimated him. Good! Ill force out your de! The Saber Saint shouted and rushed forward two steps holding the de. The two stood more than 20 yards apart but in the blink of an eye, they were upon each other! The Saber Saint leaped up, holding his saber with both hands and bringing it down from above, unleashing sword energy that swept through the air in all directions as if he was the creator Panggu separating the heavens and the earth. This one strike could cleave a small mountain in half and break the mighty Yellow Rivers flow. Even a grandmaster would have to avoid this saber! But Lin Beifan didnt move; a dazzling golden light shone from his body, as if he were a Buddha. Then, he finally moved, but he only used one hand. He reached out his golden right hand and grabbed the Saber Saints iing saber. Arrogant and conceited! The Saber Saint sneered inwardly. Even a grandmaster wielding a weapon would not dare to directly confront his strike, yet Lin Beifan thought he could block it with just his bare hand? The Saber Saint did not warn him but instead elerated his attack. However, to his surprise, the man in front of him managed to withstand his strike with his bare hand without the slightest damage! How is this possible? The Saber Saint was shocked. Lin Beifan had used the Indestructible Diamond Technique! Once this technique was activated, Lin Beifans whole body would be as hard as copper and iron, with infinite strength that no poison could affect him. Now that he had be a grand master, his Indestructible Diamond Technique had be even stronger, invincible and unbreakable; his whole body had be as indestructible as a divine weapon and could not be injured by any weapon! That was why Lin Beifan dared to directly confront the Saber Saints sacred weapon with his bare hand. Suddenly, Lin Beifans hand struck out and The Saber Saint. The Saber Saint was in excruciating pain and frustration. No matter what method he used, his opponent easily defused it. In closebat, his opponent was like a wall of bronze, unstoppable and imprable, and it was even easier to pierce his own armor. In rangedbat, his opponent possessed a superb divine technique that could absorb all of his sword energy, rendering it useless. Moreover, his opponents methods in rangedbat were even more versatile. He not only attacked with true qi, but also unleashed lightning and fire His opponents speed was even faster than his lightness techniques and it seemed like he could even fly. The Saber Saint felt like he was facing a hedgehog and had no way to attack! He felt increasingly frustrated and miserable to the point of tears. Finally, hey on the ground in desperation: I give up! I wont fight anymore! Lin Beifan shouted, We cant stop now! He had been holding back for so long and finally could let loose. And now, he had encountered a punching bag that he could hit however he wanted. He couldnt just stop now after finally getting this chance. Even if you kill me, I wont fight! The Saber Saint dered firmly and defiantly. Is that so? I dont believe you! Suddenly, Lin Beifan appeared in front of The Saber Saint and kicked him hard. The Saber Saint screamed in pain, but gritted his teeth and didnt resist. Lin Beifan kicked him again, and The Saber Saint screamed again but continued to be defiant. So, Lin Beifan continued to kick him several more times. The Saber Saint screamed, Just kill me already! Dont torture me! You wish! Pick up your saber and y with me properly! When Ive had enough fun, Ill naturally let you go! After saying that, Lin Beifan stomps on him a few more times. The Saber Saint was so angry that he was trembling all over. What did you take me for? A prostitute? Youll only release me after youre satisfied? A gentleman may kill, but he must not humiliate! The Saber Saint let out a sad and angry roar. Lin Beifan pped him, Ive humiliated you, so what? Ive bullied you, so what? If you have the ability, resist me, fight me! Show me your shameless backbone! The Saber Saint spat out a mouthful of blood! If I could resist, I wouldve done it long ago. How could I have been so humiliated? You beast! How could there be such shameless people in the world? Just then, a graceful figure appeared in the distance, and it turned out to be the Sword Immortal, Shangguan Jianhun. The Saber Saints eyes lit up, and he cried out in joy, Shangguan,e and save me! This bastard is not human, hes a super beast! Help me kill him! As long as you defeat him, I will recognize you as my big brother! The Sword Immortal was extremely shocked. The Saber Saint, who had fought him to a draw, was actually being trampled underfoot by a stranger. Who was this person in front of him and how powerful was he? While Lin Beifan was stepping on the Saber Saints butt, he beckoned to the Sword Immortal, Hes useless,e and y with me! Okay, Ill figtyou! The Sword Immortal drew his sword. Rarely encountering an expert, he felt itchy hands and wanted to fight. However, he soon regretted it. In less than half an incense sticks time, he was trampled underfoot by Lin Beifan. That handsome and intimidating face was beaten ck and blue, that long and ck hair was burned into a tuft, and that snowy white robe was torn into tattered pieces. Lying on the ground, he had a face full of doubts about life. Thank you both! I am very happy today and I will fight again someday! Lin Beifan said, patting his butt and leaving. The Saber Saint crawled over and looked at the Sword Immortal, who was even more miserable than him, sympathetically saying, Brother, I am sorry for what has happened to you! Dont say anything, let me be quiet, and dont ask me who quiet is! You May Also LikeI Be a Rogue Lord in a World Where Only I Level Up (Read Epub Online) Chapter 151: Who is this mysterious young grandmaster master? Chapter 151: Who is this mysterious young grandmaster master? 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The next morning, people outside the city saw the Sword Immortal and Saber Saint walking side by side, looking battered and bruised with torn clothes. This shocking scene quickly spread into the city and caused a huge uproar. What happened to the Sword Immortal and Saber Saint? Who could have beaten them like this? They are both masters who can fight against thousands. Who else can beat them like this? To beat them like this, it must have been a grandmaster who did it. But how many grandmasters are there in the world? They are elusive and never appear in public, so how could they encounter them here? I guess after their battle beyond the sky, they didnt find it satisfying enough and fought again in private. But this time, they fought harder, which is why they ended up like this! That sounds reasonable! Everyone was specting and guessing. The most eptable assumption was that the injuries on their bodies were inflicted through mutualbat, and they had simply gone too far. No one dared to believe that they were both beaten by the same person. And that person was not a grandmaster; they were just a young, unknown individual who had recently reached the level of a grandmaster. Lin Beifan rushed over when he heard the news and was shocked when he saw the two battered men. Brothers, what happened to you two? Did you have a fight after the battle beyond the mortal realm? Saber Saint shook his head with a bitter smile, Enough talking! Little brother, its all tears! Sword Immortal let out a heavy sigh, still feeling the fear fromst nights battle. Lin Beifan, who was possessed by Sammo Hung the Actor King, blinked in confusion, Okay, lets not talk about that right now. Come with me to my house. I have some top-quality medicine that will help you recover. Okay, they both nodded in agreement. They needed to rest and heal their injuries. So Lin Beifan brought them to his house. He had Dali and Xiao Cui make the medicine, and he personally administered it to them. During the process, they talked about the incident. Our injuries were caused by an unknown strong warrior, Saber Saint said. Everyone was shocked, An unknown warrior caused your injuries? But you two are masters, the top fighters of this world. Who could beat you? We dont know who he was. We dont know his name or his appearance, but he was undoubtedly a powerful warrior, the strongest weve ever seen in our lives. Saber Saint spoke solemnly, Last night, after the battle beyond the world, I was nning to go back to rest and digest the insights I gained from the battle. Suddenly, I felt a gust of wind apanied by a terrifying energy. Out of curiosity, I followed the wind and saw that person. At that time, he stood in the void, one yard away from the ground. I couldnt see his face clearly, nor did I know where he came from, but he gave me a sense of great danger and strength. He said that my saber was no match for him, so I drew my saber and fought him to see who was stronger. How did it go? everyone asked in unison. As you can see, I lost horribly. In less than ten rounds, he beat me, a grandmaster with a divine weapon, with his bare hands, and I couldnt even resist him, Saber Saint said with a bitter smile. Everyone gasped in shock. A grandmaster who was skilled in saber fighting was unable to resist his opponents bare arms? Was the man really that terrifying? Then, Sword Immortal arrived and fought him as well, Saber Saint continued. How did it turn out? everyone asked again. I lost as well,pletely and utterly, Sword Immortal muttered. Everyone took a sharp breath. He lost as well? The man had defeated two masters? Little Princess couldnt help but ask, He defeated both of you, so he must be a grandmaster, right? Sword Saint pondered for a moment and shook his head with a wry smile. I dont know. The impression he gave me was that of a grandmaster, but he surpassed the strength of an ordinary grandmaster by far. Even if he wasnt a grandmaster, he must be very close to that level! In addition, it seems like he was a young man, Sword Immortal added. Although we couldnt see his face, his tone and demeanor were full of youthfulness. Also, his white and delicate hand showed no signs of injury, which only young people could possess. Everyone was shocked again. Another young granmaster? they eximed in disbelief. And hes an extremely despicable one! Saber Saint covered the wound on his face and eximed, Damn it, hes really heartless! He doesnt even spare a blow to the face! He must be jealous of my appearance, and thats why he did such a heinous thing! He has no humanity! Suddenly, Saber Saint let out a cry of pain. Lin Beifan looked at him apologetically, Sorry, Brother. I identally pressed on your wound while applying the medicine. Saber Saint waved his hand, Its okay, dont worry about it. Being hurt is nothing to me, Ive experienced many battles in my life. You can continue applying the medicine. Saber Saint felt a warm feeling in his heart; it was nice to be cared for by someone. This brother of his was truly worth knowing. Its alright, little brother! I know you care about me, thats why you couldnt control your emotions. You can continue doing what you were doing, the pain I can endure it! Thank you for understanding, older brother! And so, Lin Beifan continued applying the medicine once again. Saber Saint continued to speak, That bastard was not only shameless but also a terrible person. Look at us now, were burnt and struck by lightning thanks to him! Is that something a person would do? Hes a beast! Suddenly, Saber Saint let out another cry of pain, even more pitiful than before. Lin Beifan was the culprit again, Be careful, little brother! Older brother, didnt you say that you could endure the pain? I cant handle it this time! Then, Sword Immortal and Saber Saint stayed at Lin Beifans home to recover. The story of how they were injured gradually spread throughout the Lin residence and it turned out that they had encountered a strange strong person. This mysterious strong person was too powerful; after defeating Saber Saint, he went on to defeat Sword Immortal as well! He had beaten two grandmasters barehandedly! His strength was truly terrifying! Even if he wasnt a grandmaster, he was close enough! It was said that he was also very young, a young grandmaster! Everyone was shocked! Another young grandmaster! Why did hee to Capital? Was it to watch the battle beyond the world? Did he have an itch to fight, so he went to have a fight with Saber Saint and Sword Immortal? Nobody knows his origin or if he is good or evil! Suddenly, so many grandmasters appeared in Capital. The capital is really eventful! Hope he doesnt cause any trouble! Everyone was discussing it. Since no one knew his name nor his appearance, everyone referred to him as the Nameless Strong Person. Are you the Nameless Strong Person? Bai Guanyin suddenly appeared in front of Lin Beifan and asked. Lin Beifan nodded, Yes, its me! Bai Guanyin looked at him with admiration and smiled, You improve so quickly! Two months ago, you were only at the innate level, but now youre already a grandmaster! Congrattions! Watching two grandmasters fight gave me the opportunity to breakthrough! Lin Beifan made up an excuse. Bai Guanyin shook her head, This is not just coincidence, its talent, strength, and a little bit of luck! I have more and more confidence in your future! You are my fellow martial artist, and we will walk side by side on the path of martial arts. Lin Beifan smiled and nodded, I hope so! Although the two grandmasters did not leave Capital and another Nameless Strong Person appeared, the city gradually became calm, and most of the martial arts people had left. Lin Beifan had also be idle and often stayed at home. Youre an official, little brother, howe you seem more at ease than us? Lin Beifan smiled, Ive asked the empress for a three-day leave, now Im on vacation! Now that he had be a grandmaster, the whole world was open to him, even the imperial court would find it hard to keep him. With his safety greatly assured, the burden on his heart was almost lifted, and he wanted to enjoy life. So, during the morning court session, after receiving the reward for solving the big issue this time, he also applied for a three-day leave, and the Empress granted it without hesitation. She even encouraged Lin Beifan to stay at home and invite the two grandmasters over, so they could discuss sword and saber techniques together. Thats perfect; we can discuss swordsmanship together! Sword Immortal smiled. We can also discuss sword techniques together! Knife Saint added. Great! Lin Beifan nodded. Those who practiced martial arts, such as Mo Rushuang, Guo Shaoshuai, and Little Princess, came over to listen. After exchanging ideas, everyone benefited greatly. Sword Immortal looked at Lin Beifan with a mixture of joy and regret. Joy because he had met someone who understood swords so well. No matter what he said, the other party could understand and often only needed one or two sentences to awaken him. Regret because the other party was just a schr with no martial arts skills. Little brother, are you interested in learning sword techniques? If you are, I will teach you immediately! Although learning martial arts right now is a bitte, your potential is limitless! With your intelligence, you will definitely make a name for yourself in the future! Sword Immortal spoke with deep sincerity. Why learn swords? Come and learn sabers with me! Although the saber looks simple, its difficult to master. Thats why its so important to have intelligence. Brother, youre a genius, soe and learn from me. I will teach you everything personally! Saber Saint tried to persuade him. Better to learn sword techniques! He is a schr, and swords are more suitable for his status and temperament! Sword Immortal countered. Saber is better! He looks too weak andcks a manly spirit, so he must learn sabers to strengthen his physique! Saber Saint argued. Learning sword techniques is better Learning saber techniques is better Lin Beifan watched with amusement and thought, You guys fight it out. When one of you finally wins,e and teach me. I understand both of your good intentions, and I appreciate it, Lin Beifan smiled. As they say, everyone has their own ambitions. As a schr, my sole focus is on serving the country and benefiting the people. Im not interested in fighting and killing. Ah! The two men sighed with regret. After spending five more days together, Sword Immortal and Saber Saints injuries had healed for the most part, so they bid farewell to Lin Beifan and continued on their own path of cultivation. Within the capital, everything had returned to normal. Various fiefs and countries were still busy making big air balloons and air cushions. However, what surprised everyone was that the big air balloons and air cushions they had made were always defective. Every time the balloon wasunched, it would rise to only a height of thirty or forty feet before falling back down rapidly. The air cushions could carry people and goods, but once they exceeded a certain amount, the entire ship would sink. Everyone was confused. Why do the air balloons and air-cushion ship always fail? Why do they never work? You May Also LikeI Be a Rogue Lord in a World Where Only I Level Up (Read Epub Online) Chapter 152: I am Loyal to the Prince, Why Do You Doubt Me? Chapter 152: I am Loyal to the Prince, Why Do You Doubt Me? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In thend of Northern Hebei, at the princes residence, watching the repeated failures of the air balloons and air cushion ships, the Prince of Northern Hebei, Lei Ting, became furious. Advisor, tell me, it has been over three months already. The court has already produced hundreds of air balloons and thousands of air cushion ships. Why havent we been able to make a single one? What is the reason behind this? Tell me! The advisor, Zhuge feared and trembled, his face turning pale. The prince was not usually angry, but once he got angry, it was absolutely terrifying! There was once someone who didnt do their job properly and angered the prince, and ended up being torn into two halvesit was extremely bloody! In recent years, in order to portray an image of eagerly seeking talent and respecting virtuous individuals, the prince had cultivated his character, suppressing his original temper and treating everyone with kindness and gentleness. However, after following the prince for decades, he knew the princes true nature all too well. In reality, he hadnt changed one bit. Once his anger was provoked, the consequences were unimaginable. Advisor Zhuge bowed and said, Your Highness, ever since we obtained the manufacturing methods for the air balloons and air cushion ships, we have gathered all the craftsmen in the area and worked tirelessly to manufacture them. We have never ckened off and have been working diligently. Please investigate this matter, Your Highness! Why did we still fail? the prince angrily asked. He had already spent millions on these two things, and the pce was on the verge of bankruptcy as a result! It also required a lot of manpower and resources, and they had been given enough time! Now that they hadnt produced anything, how could he not be angry? The thought of killing someone even crossed his mind! Advisor Zhuge shivered and said, Your Highness, ording to the craftsmen, the key to both the air balloons and air cushion ships lies in the air bags. But the ones they made were not durable, which led to their failure! Howe the courts air balloons work then? The prince was even angrier. During the battle outside the sky a few days ago, two grandmasters rode the air balloons and flew 300 zhang high without any problems. My air balloons couldnt even make it to 30 zhang. Tell me, what is going on? After some thought, he asked loudly, Did you guys skimp on the materials and embezzle some money? Zhuge Mr. was frightened. Your Highness, its a misunderstanding! We know how important these two instruments are to you, so we have been diligently and continuously monitoring them. No one dares to touch them! The craftsmen suspect that the manufacturing method has a problem. Using this method, they simply cannot make durable air bags! The manufacturing method has a problem? The prince frowned, his eyes gleaming with a cold light. This manufacturing method was all from Lin Beifan. Did he deceive me? To be honest, he had always felt that Lin Beifan was suspicious. Although he always got things done properly, he also took arge amount of money from him every time. His princes mansion was thus impoverished. He was a prince, how could he have suffered such injustice? If it werent for Lin Beifans usefulness, he would have sent someone to deal with him long ago! It shouldnt be possible, right? Advisor Zhuge said, Whether this manufacturing method is true or fake, the top schr has already presented it, and he cannot separate himself from it! If thats the case, why bother doing this kind of thankless job that offends both the court and the prince? That makes sense! The prince nodded. A normal person couldnt do such a thing. Advisor Zhuge secretly let out a breath of relief. He had always strongly rmended Lin Beifan. If Lin Beifan had really caused a problem, he would also be done for. So he had to speak kindly to Lin Beifan and clear his name of suspicion. I suspect that there must be some problem with it! Advisor Zhuge said. ording to the craftsmen, the manufacturing method has aplex process with strict material ratio. Any mistake is fatal! The court directly appointed the top schr as the supervisor, which is why they were able to manufacture arge number of air balloons and air cushion ships in a short period of time! But we dont have a top schr here, only ordinary craftsmen What should we do? Tie him up and bring him over? The prince spread his hands out and said loudly. Your Highness, that method is naturally unworkable. If we do that, the top schr will be exposed and it will be detrimental to our business. But we have someone by his side. We can send people to slowly inquire, correct and improve the manufacturing process, and we will eventually seed! In addition, we can also think of a way to steal some airbags from the court! Byparing them, it should be easy to seed, right? It seems The prince sighed helplessly with his hands on his waist. We have no other choice! So Prince Lei Ting of Northern Hebei conveyed this matter to Lin Beifan through Mo Rushuang. Lin Beifan was very angry when he heard it. Pointing to his own head, he roared, I am loyal to the prince, I have done so many dangerous things for him. Why does he still doubt me? Is his conscience eaten by dogs? Let me tell you, you can insult my conscience, but you cannot insult my loyalty! Mr. Lin, thats not what Prince meant! Mo Rushuang said anxiously. We and the prince do not doubt you! Its just that we have been unable to produce usable airbags using your manufacturing method, which is why we asked! The situation is too normal! Lin Beifan said calmly, We are all human beings, we all study the same Confucian texts, so why do some people pass the imperial examination and be schrs, while others study their whole lives but can never pass? Why is it that among fellow students who cultivate the same techniques, some be masters at a young age while others struggle to even break through a small realm? Mo Rushuang and the other person were speechless. Thats the difference! The difference between people, sometimes even greater than the difference between humans and dogs! Even in the workshop I oversee, out of 10 airbags, 5 of them are scrapped! Lin Beifan stood with his hands behind his back and concluded, The reason they cant make them is either because theyre ipetent or someone is cutting corners. This is too normal! After all, every ce has its worms. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai repeatedly asked, and Lin Beifan insisted that the manufacturing method he provided was absolutely genuine. The reason they couldnt produce good airbags was due to their ownck of skill, not his problem. They asked if it was possible to obtain some airbags made by the court for reference. Lin Beifan shook his head, Forget about it! Since the two incidents of leaks, the court has attached great importance to this matter. They have stationed heavily armed guards and experts to ensure tight security. No one can take out a single airbag! Private manufacturing is strictly prohibited, and anyone caught will lose their head! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai returned disappointed. Representatives from the Southern Jiang Princes side and the Wuxi Dukes side, and so on, came to inquire. But Lin Beifan gave them the same answer: its not that his method is wed, its their ownck of skill, so they shouldnt me him. As a result, everyone focused their attention on the airbags of the Da Wu Dynasty. However, after suffering two losses, the Da Wu court had be smarter and strengthened the security of the airbag manufacturing workshop. 30,000 well-trained soldiers guarded it every day, and numerous experts patrolled day and night. Obtaining court-made airbags became even more difficult than reaching the heavens. As a result, everyone once again turned to Lin Beifan simultaneously. For the sake of the princes great cause, I have already risked my life twice and barely managed to survive! This time, I really have no way out. Please seek someone elses help! Facing the envoy Wang Fugui sent by the Southern Jiang Prince, Lin Beifan declined. Principal Lin, if you dont help now, well be in trouble! Wang Fugui said anxiously, The prince is very angry that we still cant produce qualified airbags. Hes already beheaded several people! If we fail again, my head wont be safe either! But if I help you, my own head wont be safe, Lin Beifan pointed to his head. Principal Lin, could you please help me! Only you can help me! Wang Fugui gave him a dozen silver taels, This is a small gift from the prince. Please ept it! There will be a big reward when it seeds! Lin Beifan looked down and saw 300,000 taels. This Prince of Southern Jiang really knows how to get to him! As the saying goes, its easy to get money, but a true friend is hard to find. As the saying goes, the gift is light, but the sentiment is heavy. As the saying goes, where theres money, theres happiness! So Lin Beifan reluctantly took the money and said, To be honest, I cant just give you the airbags. But I can provide you with an opportunity to obtain them. It depends on whether you can seize it or not. Okay! Any opportunity is better than no opportunity! Wang Fugui was overjoyed. Next, Lin Beifan secretly met with others. Every time he said it was impossible, but as soon as the other side offered a bribe, Lin Beifan was immediately swayed. Each person gave him at least 200,000 taels, and some even gave up to 500,000 taels. After a round of meetings, Lin Beifan easily made over 5 million taels. The opportunity wille soon. Just wait for my good news! he said. The next day at court, Lin Beifan stood up. Your Majesty, I have a proposal! he said loudly. The empress was surprised. This bastard usually doesnt show any initiative and tries to avoid problems. Did he swindle money again? What is it, Sir Lin? the empress asked in anticipation. These past three months, my colleagues and I at the Ministry of Industry have worked tirelessly day and night and have finally made 1,000 watercraft air cushion ships! I believe its time for a long-distance military exercise! This will not only test the effectiveness of the air cushion ships, but also demonstrate our national might and awe our enemies worldwide! This was a reasonable suggestion, and the officials did not object. The empress agreed and smiled, Your proposal is reasonable, Sir Lin! Since we have sufficient air cushion ships, its time for a military exercise! This will not only test the effectiveness of the air cushion ships, but also awe our enemies worldwide! This military exercise will be led by the Minister of War, Sir Li! Minister of War Li Kaiguang stepped forward and bowed, I obey the order! You May Also LikeI Be a Rogue Lord in a World Where Only I Level Up (Read Epub Online) Chapter 153: This Scoundrel! He Wants Money and Lives! Chapter 153: This Scoundrel! He Wants Money and Lives! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, the empresss gaze turned to Lin Beifan and she smiled, Sir Lin, you are the inventor of the water weapon, the hovercraft, and also participated in the manufacturing process of the hovercraft! This military training exercise on the water is of great responsibility, and you are solely responsible. I will appoint you to supervise the entire process! If the training is sessful, you will be given credit! This is the magnanimous grace of the empress. Even if there is no credit, he can still give you some credit! This makes it easier to get promoted in the future! However, Lin Beifan quickly rejected, Your Majesty, these are all professional matters! Professional matters should be left to professional people to handle. One person like Master Li is enough, I as a schr do not need to interfere! The empress narrowed her eyes, rejecting it so easily, this guy must have a problem! Okay! Then I will hand this matter over to Sir Li to be responsible for! The empress nodded. Understood! The Minister of War bowed once again. At this time, Lin Beifan turned around and said to the Minister of War, Master Li, this water-based military training exercise is of great importance and cannot afford any mistakes! I suspect that someone will cause trouble. Master Li, please be extra careful! I have arranged everything myself, Principal Lin neednt worry! The Minister of War sneered. He didnt have a good impression of Lin Beifan. His own child was studying in the Imperial Academy, and he didnt know how much money he was swindled away by Lin Beifan. Moreover, the matter of training soldiers was originally their specialty in the Ministry of War. Did they need a schr to point out the way? Joke! Lin Beifan smiled faintly and didnt care. At that time, you will cry! So, the matter was settled. On the first day of next month, the court will hold a water-based military training exercise. They will transport arge amount of military supplies with the newly manufactured hovercraft, starting from the mother river in the capital and flowing straight to Shangzhou, a distance of 300 miles. The main purpose is to test the long-distance transportation effect of the hovercraft. At the same time, it shows the might of our country and shocks other nations. This news caused a sensation among the people. I heard that the hovercraft is a new type of water transport ship made by the court. It can carry people and goods, and its cargo capacity is several times that of ordinary ships. Its really extraordinary! After the hovercraft is deployed, it will form a smallnd mass that people can walk on as if on even ground. Its a magnificent sight! I heard that the cost of building this ship is very cheap, and the production process is very simple. The court was able to produce thousands of ships in less than three months. I wonder if it can be promoted formercial use? This water-based military training exercise is a rare opportunity. We must go and see! Who says no! For themon people, it is mainly for entertainment. But for the kings and emperors of various countries, this is a great opportunity to seize the airbags. Usually, these airbags are locked in the Ministry of Industry. Heavily guarded, heavily fortifiedit is almost impossible to breach and emerge alive. Now, the Great Wu Empire is conducting a water-based military training exercise, using hovercraft to transport military supplies, with a battle line that spans 300 miles. They dont believe that on such a long journey, there wont be any opportunity to take advantage. So, the ambitions of all kinds of people are excited. This time, we must get our hands on the airbags! Send out our top experts to seize the hovercraft! No matter how much it costs, we must bring back several airbags! So, various ambitious people sent their experts to the capital. In a private room, Lin Beifan and Wang Fugui were drinking and chatting. Lin Beifan smiled at Wang Fugui, Boss Wang, I have arranged everything for you! With Master Wangs ability, there should be no problem seizing a few airbags, right? Wang Fugui was very excited and raised his cup to Lin Beifan, Principal Lin is indeed a capable person. With your help, there is nothing that cannot be achieved. Thank you on behalf of His Highness! Lin Beifan said displeasedly, Boss Wang, we are all on the same side. Why thank me so much? Its too polite! Wang Fugui pped his forehead, Oh, Principal Lin is right! Lin Beifan said, Money is more practical! Wang Fugui said, F*ck! So, Wang Fugui took out a sum of money and gave it to Lin Beifan. He looked at it and saw that there were 300,000 taels. Lin Beifan became even happier and raised his cup. His Highness is so generous. Lets continue drinking! Then, Lin Beifan got some money from others. Although it wasnt much, it added up to 3 million taels. Adding the previous amount, Lin Beifan made a small profit of over 8 million taels. As time passed, Lin Beifan kept an eye on the preparations for this water-based military training exercise. He found that he was worthy of being an experienced Minister of War, and that the arrangements for this military training were well organized and orderly. However, a major w was also discovered, and that was theck of troops. The Minister of War had only arranged for 20,000 soldiers and horses. Although this was enough for normal water military exercises, it was not enough for this one. They were facing various powerful opponents, not only from domestic vassal kings but also from other countries. They would definitely send out their strongest experts to seize the airbags. 20,000 troops wasnt even close to enough, 30,000 or even 40,000 soldiers would be barely sufficient. Lin Beifan thought of reminding the Minister of War, but quickly discarded the idea. He and the Minister had a very cold rtionship, so he doubted if the Minister would even listen to him. Therefore, Lin Beifan decided to find the head-catcher of the Six Doors, whom he had worked with before. They had established a good rtionship, so he could entrust this matter to them. One night, Lin Beifan brought some gifts and went to the Six-Door headquarters. Lin Beifan, its rare for you to visit. What brings you here? Come in,e in! Dongmei, prepare some good tea for Principal Lin! Guo, the leader of Six Doors, was very weing. If it werent for Lin Beifans intervention before, helping to solve the problem of the two grandmasters having to fight, Guo and his men might have lost many brothers. Therefore, Guo was very grateful to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Master Guo, theres no need to be so polite! I came here because I have something important to discuss with you. After we finish, I will leave immediately. Guos expression became serious, and he extended his hand to make way, saying, Principal Lin, pleasee to the study! The two of them walked into the study while chatting andughing. After a servant brought in two cups of hot tea and left, only the two of them remained in the room. After taking a sip of tea, Chief Guo spoke with a serious tone, Principal Lin, what important matter do you have? This is about the uing water military exercise. It may not end well, said Lin Beifan with a stern expression. What do you mean? Guos face also became serious. Lin Beifan told him, I heard that the Prince of Northern Hebei and the Prince of Southern Jiang are ambitious and will send their experts to seize the airbags during the exercise! Guo was surprised, There is such a thing? Is this information reliable? This informationes from my two friends, the Sword Immortal and the Saber Saint, who are also experts in their own right. They unintentionally overheard this important message while traveling outside and passed the information back to me! Chief Guo envied him greatly for having two Grandmaster friends. But, Principal Lin, this exercise is under the responsibility of the Minister of War. Shouldnt you inform Minister Li about this instead ofing to me? Chief Guo asked, puzzled. Lin Beifan smiled bitterly. Master Guo, do you think Minister Li would believe me given our rtionship? Thats true! Chief Guo nodded. Although his focus was on the Jianhu rather than the court, he was well aware that the rtionship between Lin Beifan and the Minister of War was like water and fire. To be precise, Lin Beifan was at odds with everyone in the court. It was a matter of life or death for either side. In such a situation, who would believe what he said? You could inform the Empress Thats not a good idea! After all, the source of this information is still questionable. I trust my two friends, but Her Majesty may not believe it. Even if she believes it and makes preparations, if nothing happens, the me will fall on me! Lin Beifan said with a bitter smile. With such a good opportunity to attack, do you think the court officials will give up? They will surely take advantage of the situation, and then my future may be ruined! Lin Beifan continued. Sir Lin, youre really in a difficult situation! Chief Guo patted Lin Beifans shoulder sympathetically. As they say, as a high-ranking official, you eat the rulers food and carry his worries! Lin Beifan looked serious and thanked the heavens above. Since I know about this matter, I cannot just sit idly by. Otherwise, it would be a disgrace to the emperors grace. This is why I came to ask for your help, Guo! What do you want me to do? asked Chief Guo. Its simple! Lin Beifan smiled. Master Guo, you can arrange for Embroidered Uniform Guard experts to follow the soldiers secretly during the exercise. If nothing happens, its okay. If something does happen, your people can take action! This way, you can maintain the courts dignity and earn a great merit for yourself. Isnt that a beautiful thing? Master Guo was very tempted. If nothing happens, its okay. But if something does happen, he can earn an incredible merit. There is no harm to him! For Guo, it was a win-win situation with no drawbacks. Okay! Chief Guo pped his thigh. Principal Lin, youre right! There havent been any major events in the Jianghu recently, so I can arrange for my men to go and have a look. If nothing happens, then its okay, but if something does happen, then we can take action and fulfill our duty to the court and the empress! Haha! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Master Guo, youre absolutely right! After that, Chief Guo went to visit the Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and informed him of the situation. He hoped that they could send some experts to keep an eye on the soldiers during the exercise. As this was a critical matter, the Commander-in-Chief was reluctant to make a decision on his own, so he reported the matter to the Empress. Upon hearing about the situation, the Empresss face twitched. She already knew what Lin Beifan was up to: he wanted both money and power. But she couldnt deny that this n was excellent and aligned perfectly with her interests. Excitedly, she said, Since Sir Lin is so certain, we should send more people! We should send half of Embroidered Uniform Guards innate experts! So many? The Commander-in-Chief was stunned. It might not be enough! The Empress paused for a moment and then said, Also, half of the East Depot and half of the West Depots innate experts should be secretly mobilized for this! This time, I must ensure that they do not return alive! The Commander-in-Chief was dumbfounded. 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That night, the Empress secretly mobilized the experts from the Six Doors, Embroidered Uniform Guards , East Depot, West Depot, and the early-stage members of the Forbidden Army to prepare for the ambush. Lin Beifan was stunned when he heard the news! This Empress was too powerful! When he decided to inform the Six Doors and Embroidered Uniform Guard, he never thought of hiding it from the Empress. He wanted to use these violent departments to convey the message to the Empress. After the Empress knew about it, she would definitely believe in it and dispatch a powerful army. But he never expected to send such a powerful lineup! More than 30 early-stage experts! This force can almost sweep everything! Unless they encounter a grandmaster, no one is their opponent! In addition to the 20,000 soldiers apanying them, Lin Beifan felt that it was enough! I didnt expect that the empress would attach so much importance to this matter and even ordered me as themander in chief to arrange it! Chief Guo of the Six Doors was full of envy and said, Principal Lin, the empress really trusts you so much! Lin Beifan opened his mouth but found nothing to say. Indeed, it is a great deal of trust. With just a flimsy excuse, so many experts were immediately mobilized. What kind of trust is this! Lin Beifan was moved and ashamed! She trusted him so much, but he took so much money behind her back, and did so much iniquity If I had another chance, I would definitely be more corrupt and take from her! Principal Lin, although you already know about this, dont leak it out, otherwise, it will not be good if we startle the snake in the grass! Chief Guo secretly reminded Lin Beifan. Dont worry, I know! Lin Beifan nodded. So, Chief Guo bid farewell to Lin Beifan and secretly prepared everything Lin Beifan continued to do what he should do, attending the early morning court, going to the Imperial Academy to work, and talking with Li Shi Shi, the little princess and others during his leisure time. Although life was dull, it was fulfilled. Finally, on the first day of the lunar year, the long-awaited water drill finally began. Outside the capital, the mother river was reviewed by the empress and the whole citys peoples support, and the army that was about to set off. One airboat after another entered the river, a total of 100, connected by iron cables into rows and rows, like a huge water-basednd, very spectacr. Then, the generals carried the military supplies onto the airboats. Originally, this time was mainly used to transport military grain and some armor and arrows, but the Empress considered that this time was primarily for testing. It wouldnt be good if an ident happened. Therefore, most of the military equipment was reced with mud, leaving only a small amount of military grain as the armys ration. Then, a group of soldiers boarded the hovercraft and were responsible for steering and rowing, escorting military supplies. The majority of soldiers stood on both sides of the shore to provide protection. After everything was prepared, the troops set off towards Shangzhou, 300 miles away. If everything went smoothly, they would reach their destination in three days. As the military set off, some people discreetly disappeared from the crowd. Quick, notify the superiors! The training troops have already set off! They will arrive at Qing Shanling in about a day and a half, and that will be the perfect opportunity for us! But for this training exercise, the court surprisingly did not mobilize any real military resources! This must be the first long-distance trial, so they are also afraid of anything happening to the hovercraft! But we only need to focus on our main goal, the hovercraft, as long as it is there, there wont be any problems! Thats right, as long as we can take down the airbags for the hovercraft, we wont have to worry about anything else! Thus, many mysterious people secretly followed them, and many others had already ambushed themselves in Qing Shanling. After about a day and a half, the majority of the troops finally arrived at Qing Shanling. Qing Shanling was a very special ce, located right in the middle of the capital and Shangzhou. There were no viges or shops nearby, so it was difficult to seek help in case of danger. Also, the river here was rtively small and fast flowing, with forest and vegetation on both banks, making the path difficult to traverse. Miasma permeated the river and forest, making it difficult to see beyond thirty yards. The ambush here was too convenient. Once they seeded, they could flee thousands of miles away, and the regr soldiers wouldnt be able to catch up with them. At this time, the general in charge of transporting military supplies shouted loudly, We have arrived at Qing Shanling! This ce is very dangerous and is the most suitable for ambush. Everyone needs to keep their eyes open and pay attention. Dont put the me on me if something goes wrong! Yes, General! Everyone replied in unison. At this time, another generalughed, Sun General, you are too nervous! We are only transporting rocks and dirt. Who would ambush us? They must bepletely at leisure and bored! You cant be too sure, just be cautious! The General Sun had a grave expression. He had average strength, but possessed a very keen sixth sense. Relying on this feeling, he survived several times on the battlefield, bing a general and being granted a wife and children. He trusted his own intuition. Just now, he felt a huge danger and shouted to warn everyone to be alert. Just as his words were ending, several people rushed out of the river, swiftly attacking everyone. General Suns face changed, he unsheathed his waist knife and hoarsely shouted, Ambush! All the generals and soldiers also changed their expressions, pulling out their weapons. Ambush! Pick up your weapons and get ready to fight! Quickly! Again, there were continuous sshing sounds, and more than ten people appeared out of the river, each with strong skills. As soon as theynded on the air cushion boat, they attacked the soldiers and injured dozens of them, causing them to fall into the river. At the same time, a lot of strong people suddenly jumped out of the forests on both sides of the river. Some of them swiftly jumped onto the air cushion boat by leaping or treading on the water surface. General Sun was taken aback: Oh my god, why are there so many people? There were about three or four hundred people, and each one had the strength of at least seventh rank. There were also some whose strength couldnt be discerned clearly, making it hard for General Sun, who was only of the eighth rank himself, to cope with them. There was nothing valuable on the boat, so why did they provoke so many powerful people? Even the warriors who had jumped onto the boat were confused, wondering why there were so many people. Could it be that they were all there to rob the air cushion boat? Jump off the boat! Dont fight with them, jump off the boat! General Sun gave the most sensible order. All the soldiers on the boat jumped into the river and swam towards the shore. At this time, a general on the bank shouted, They are here for the air cushion boat! Fire arrows at them! As soon as he finished, a dense rain of arrows came flying towards them. Many warriors couldnt dodge them and were killed. Only about two hundred people survived the first round of arrows, and then there was a second and a third round of arrows. Under such intense attacks, in the end, only about twenty people survived. The arrows seemed to have no effect on them and were all shattered. One of them was an old man who disdainfully said, Just relying on these arrows to try to break my innate qi? Thats a foolish dream! It turned out that he was an innate master. Innate masters condensed their true qi outside their body to form an innate qi shield, which was indestructible and hard to be harmed by swords and knives. They could also constantly absorb the natural spiritual energy from the outside world and their true qi would never run out. However, he looked around at the other innate masters and felt a bit of a headache: Can anyone tell me where these masters all came from? Are they all here to rob the air cushion boat from us? Other innate masters had the same thoughts. Why are there so many masters? Are they all here to rob the air cushion boat from us? Luckily, there were enough air cushion boats; otherwise, they would have all started fighting each other. Just then, there was a swooshing sound. The chief of the Six Doors finally arrived with his luxurious troops, holding a token and shouting, The Six Doors have been ordered to apprehend those who have stolen boats! Surrender yourself, or face death! The innate masters on the air cushion boat felt a huge danger and looked at each other before starting to fight. Although the number of imperial innate masters was only a few more, they were all elite! For example, the chief of the Six Doors had a peak fourth-rank strength, making him one of the strongest among the innate masters, and he easily dealt with several ordinary innate masters on his own. In less than a moment, two innate masters were killed by him. Other weaker innate masters also died at the hands of the imperial experts. Other innate masters felt great danger and broke the air cushion boat, taking a few airbags and fleeing for their lives. Chase them, make sure not one of them escapes! shouted Guo, the chief of the Six Doors. Yes, my lord! This pursuitsted for a day and night. There were originally 24 innate masters, but only three managed to escape, while the other 21 were killed. The other non-innate strong people mostly died in the rain of arrows. This ambush could be said to have been highly sessful. In the Lin familys residence in the capital, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai came to find Lin Beifan with a heavy expression. Lin Beifan asked with concern, Is everything okay with you guys? Did you not get the airbags? Mo Rushuangughed bitterly, We did get the airbags, but the sacrifice was too great! In order to get the airbags for the air cushion boats, Prince sent two innate masters and 30 seventh-rank warriors! But in the end, only one innate master managed to escape, and everyone else didnt make it back! Even that one innate master paid with one hand Ah, what a pity! Lin Beifan sighed, wondering how everyone didnt die. It really is a pity. For just one airbag, so many lives were lost! Guo Shaoshuai, felt very regretful. These were all seventh-rank warriors, and in the Jianghu, they were considered experts! Each one was stronger than him, but they died before they could make a name for themselves. At this moment, he suddenly remembered a poem that Lin Beifan had recited. The worlds turmoiles from our generation, once we enter the Jianghu, time flies and the years slip by! Chatting andughing about imperial dominance, one cantpete with the drunkenness of life! He didnt understand it before, but now he gradually understood it and felt very upset. But luckily, the airbags have been obtained! Mo Rushuang said thankfully. With the imperial airbags, Prince will surely speed up the research on therge air balloons and air cushion boats, which will be a great boost for the future! Yes, with the airbags, Princes great achievement is inevitable! Lin Beifan smirked. You May Also LikeI Be a Rogue Lord in a World Where Only I Level Up (Read Epub Online) Chapter 155: The Prince Who Cries Silently! Chapter 155: The Prince Who Cries Silently! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this time, the innate who was being discussed by Lin Beifan and others, day and night rushed back to Northen Hebei. Prince, I didnt disappoint you. I finally brought back the airbag of the air cushion! He raised the deted airbag with his only sound hand and presented it to the Prince of Northern Hebei. The Prince took the airbag and handed it to his advisor Zhuge next to him. Then he quickly helped the innate up and looked at the innate with only one hand, full of tears and said, Liu Xia, you worked hard! Its not that hard! He gave a bitter smile, his expression a bit low, Its just that we underestimated the courts defenses! This time, I took 30 good hands to go, and none came back! Even Huang Daxia I didnt do a good job and let the Prince down! Ah! Liu Xia, Im just d you came back safely! The Prince sighed deeply, regretting deeply, If I had known this, I wouldnt have sent you out. You are all my rtives and friends, my brothers that I cant do without! Who knew that now, we are separated by life and death! I still remember that night when we were drinking and talking about the future, but now sigh As he spoke, two lines of hot tears reluctantly flowed from his eyes. The reason for his tears was not regret, but pain. Thirty seventh-rank high-level experts that he sent out all died, and an innate was sacrificed! The only innate who escaped came back with a broken hand and greatly reducedbat effectiveness! The loss was too great, and he really felt heartbroken! However, Liu Xia, the man with his eyes, didnt know. He looked at the tearful prince and was moved in his heart, secretly nodding. This is indeed a prince with unparalleled kindness and justice. This is the lord that we should follow! Prince, dont be sad! Liu Xia advised, At least we brought back the airbag, and our sacrifice was not in vain! What you should do now is to cheer up and work hard for our great cause! Only by overthrowing the corrupt court and rebuilding the country, can we give the people a bright future, and only then can we truly honor the sacrifices of our brothers in the underworld! Liu Xia, youre absolutely right. Now is not the time to be sad! Prince of Northern Hebei wiped away his tears and said, Liu Xia, I have prepared a room and good medicine for you. Your top priority now is to rest well, recover from your injuries, and leave the rest to me! Thank you, Your Highness! Liu Xia stepped back. Prince of Northern Hebei immediately turned to the advisor holding the airbag, looked it over a few times, and said, Is this the airbag produced by the court? It looks just like ours! Your Highness, it seems that the method of the top schr in making them is absolutely genuine! The reason why we cant make them may just be a matter of skill! Advisor Zhuge smiled and said. Hmm! Prince of Northern Hebei nodded, dispelling Lin Beifans doubts. Your Highness, were just outsiders. We cant tell whether theyre the same or not. Why dont we invite experienced craftsmen toe and have a look? Perhaps they will find something! Advisor Zhuge suggested again. Youre right. Call the craftsmen over quickly! In a short while, several experienced craftsmen arrived. Carefully examining andparing the airbags they had made, their faces became more and more troubled. So, can we make qualified airbags now? the prince eagerly asked. The craftsmen looked at each other and didnt know how to speak. One of the old craftsmen, gritting his teeth, said, Your Highness, after observing, the airbags made by the court and the ones we make are indistinguishable, they are exactly the same! We still havent found out what the specific differences are! Why are the courts airbags so durable and ours are not In other words, its still not possible? the princes face darkened. If it still didnt work this time, he really would kill someone! The craftsmen on the spot were frightened and sweating profusely. Your Highness, it is possible, but it just needs a little time for research! The old craftsman quickly spoke up. Hmph! Thats more like it! The princes face eased slightly. He snorted, Ill tell you, this airbag was obtained with the lives of more than thirty heroes! The blood of heroes cannot be shed in vain. Ill give you one month. If you still cant research it, then wait for your head to fall! Yes, Your Highness! The craftsmen trembled in obedience. Prince of Southern Jiang and the Great Xia Dynasty also received the airbags from the court. However, they encountered the same problem as Prince of Northern Hebei, that is, they couldnt see any difference between the courts airbags and the ones they made themselves. They felt exactly the same. However, the airbags of the Great Wu Dynasty could fly across the country, while theirs had trouble doing so. What was the difference, and was it really a matter of craftsmanship? As for the forces that gained nothing, they were heartbroken and bleeding. They had spent so much money and lost so many experts, yet they had not gained anything. It really was a big loss! The courts training troops have returned in a sorry state. In the court, the Empress is very angry and shouts, Li Kaiguang,e here! Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, stood up with a stiff face and said, Your Majesty! The Empress scolded, Li Kaiguang, I am disappointed! I trusted you to handle the water training, but you made a mess of it! The military exercise was disrupted, and the courts airbags were stolen! If it werent for the timely arrival of the Six Doors, the reputation of our court would have been tarnished! What punishment do you deserve? Your Majesty forgive me! I never intended The Minister of War smiled bitterly. He thought he had a great job. He thought that after leading 20,000 soldiers to travel 300 miles, he could get promoted and be wealthy. Who knew that so many postnatal experts, and more than 20 innate experts woulde to snatch the airbags? The postnatal experts didnt matter much, but the key was the innate experts, which ordinary army couldnt handle! What could he do? He was also very desperate! You never intended, do you think I did? The Empress pped the table and stood up. Your Majesty, please forgive me! I know I was wrong! The Minister of War immediately apologized. As the main person in charge of this matter, he couldnt avoid responsibility for any problem, let alone such a big one. Therefore, he had to bear this big, round ck pot. Your Majesty, Sir Li did not anticipate such an incident. Please forgive him! Your Majesty, this time, there were no significant casualties, nor much loss of military equipment. Sir Li did his best. Please forgive him! Two Deputy Ministers of War stepped forward to exin for their immediate superior. The Empress shouted, Dont defend him. Youre also at fault! Your Majesty forgive us! The two Deputy Ministers immediately bowed their heads. All officials responsible for this training exercise will have their sries reduced for one year! Li Kaiguang, as the main person in charge of this training exercise, and with a significant mistake, will have his sry reduced for two years! Thank you for Your Majestys mercy! The officials of the Ministry of War breathed a sigh of relief. Sry reduction was not painful or itching for them as they did not live on the pay alone. In fact, the Empress was also very helpless. Her punishment measures were nothing more than sry reductions, demotions, and in severe cases, direct execution. However, whether it was demotion or execution, the official position would surely be emptied, and with no one to work, it would be necessary to promote someone. The people behind were also corrupt, and they had no ability. What could she do? Now, with enemies everywhere, the Great Wu court can no longer afford to be disturbed and can only maintain the current situation. Changing any senior official will have a huge impact, making her dare not act recklessly! From now on, all of you must be reced! The Empress said with hatred in her heart. Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Lin Beifan behind the officials, and her eyes softened. Talent outstanding, virtuous and incorruptible, not forming factions or favoring cronies, but most importantly, capable of sharing her worries. This is the role model for all officials and the type of official she needs! However, sometimes he can be quite troublesome! Almost everyone has been deceived by him at least once! And he can be quitezy! Without any opportunity for personal gain, he shows no enthusiasm! If it werent for these ws, he would be perfect! The Empress dismissed these thoughts and continued, Mistakes should be punished, achievements should be rewarded! During this military exercise, Chief of Six-Doors Guo and his skilled team promptly annihted the enemy, reducing losses to the court, preserving its dignity, and achieving great merit. They deserve rewards! .. Each person will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver! One suit of golden-threaded armor! One imperial court sword or de! As the overallmander, Sir Guo shall be rewarded In short, various rewards were bestowed, and they were quite substantial. These rewards were almost like a windfall. Chief Guo and the skilled team were overjoyed and loudly eximed, Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Returning the favor, Chief Guo eximed, May it please Your Majesty, it was due to the reminder of Principal Lin that we were able to discover the enemys whereabouts, annihte them in a timely manner, and achieve aplete victory. Therefore, Principal Lin deserves the most credit. Your Majesty, please take note! Sir Guo speaks the truth, Your Majesty, please take note! other skilled individuals chimed in unison. The court officials were left dumbfounded! How did this be rted to Lin Beifan again? Did this guy unknowingly achieve another feat? So thats how it is! The Empress, with the persona of a diva, acted as if she had just learned about this matter andughed, Lin, my dear, I didnt expect you to have contributed to this as well. Youve kept it a secret from Us so skillfully! I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Its just that I wasnt certain if this matter was true or false, so I refrained from informing you to avoid affecting your wise judgment! Lin Beifan, acting as an actor, spoke somewhat anxiously. The Empress pointed at Lin Beifan, shaking her head with a smile. You, oh you still so courteous with Us? In any case, you have achieved great merit. How do you suggest We reward you? It is all due to Your Majestys wise leadership. I dare not im credit! Lin Beifan replied. I wanted to reward you generously, but I find that youck nothing. Theres nothing more to reward you with! Let this merit be temporarily noted, and when you achieve another feat in the future, We shall reward you then! The Empress dered loudly. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed. Congrattions, Principal Lin! Chief Guo and the other skilled individuals turned around and respectfully said with sped hands. Same joy, same joy! Lin Beifan responded with a smile. Lin Beifanughed, the Empressughed, and Chief Guo and the other skilled individualsughed too! Everyone performed this act well, and each person gained something, leaving them highly satisfied! Only the Minister of War wasnt very satisfied, feeling like he had been kept in the dark from beginning to end and had be a sacrificialmb! So, he immediately voiced his dissatisfaction on the spot!! You May Also LikeI Be a Rogue Lord in a World Where Only I Level Up (Read Epub Online) Chapter 156: The Continuously Defeated Minister of War! Chapter 156: The Continuously Defeated Minister of War! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Principal Lin, since you knew about this earlier, why didnt you tell me? Are you deliberately trying to make fun of me? The Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, said angrily. Lin Beifan felt very wronged. Sir Li, thats not fair! When I proposed the water training, I already reminded you! Who knew that you didnt appreciate my kindness and said you had your own arrangements, so I didnt need to worry about it! If I continue to speak, wouldnt it annoy people? Well Li Kaiguang was speechless. Your majesty, and all the civil and military officials can testify for me! Lin Beifan said with his head held high and righteous indignation. The empress tried to hold back herughter and said, Minister Li, I saw it too. Principal Lin did remind you. Its just that you didnt take it seriously and now you me him for the problem. What kind of logic is that? Your Majesty, I was confused for a while. Please forgive me! Li Kaiguang quickly bowed. You should apologize to Principal Lin, not me! The empress pointed at Lin Beifan. Li Kaiguang was greatly unwilling. How can the Minister of War, such a dignified position, not have such a broad mind? The empress loudly rebuked him, It seems that you havent learned your lesson yet. Do you need me to teach you how to behave? Noits not necessary! Li Kaiguang turned his head and faced Lin Beifans smug smile. He bowed with his hands together and said in great frustration, Principal Lin, just now I was too impulsive and spoke without thinking. I apologize to you. Lin Beifan quickly replied, Sir Li, its alright. Everyone can be impulsive and lose their temper. Just be more careful next time. Li Kaiguang was so angry that his mouth was crooked. Will there even be a next time? He even suspected that this whole thing was nned by Lin Beifan just to scheme against him! This sly bastard! If he falls into my hands, Ill show him! Alright, lets end this matter here. The empress waved her hand to end the matter. Next, Lin Beifan shifted his focus back to the Imperial Academy. Recently, Lin Beifan was very happy. It was the monthly exam again and he had managed to trick arge sum of money from the group of wealthy students. The little princess was also very pleased. In the past, she could only bully a few dozen students and it was not satisfying enough. But now, she could bully the spoiled rich students from all over the country! She could beat up whoever she didnt like and it was really enjoyable! It shouldnt be called bullying, it should be called loving discipline! She held up a test paper and pped it onto Gao Tianyus face, hands on hips and said angrily, Look at your results again this time, you failed again! This is the umpteenth time. Its not just embarrassing for you, but even embarrassing for me as your homeroom teacher! Raising her small fist, she asked, Dont you think my loving discipline is not enough? Do you want to take a few more punches? Gao Tianyus face was full of fatigue and he weakly said, Little Princess, I tried my best! ording to my performance in thest monthly exam, I would definitely pass, but who knew that this time the exam paper was so difficult, there was nothing I could do! Yeah, its too difficult. It almost cost me my life. Even the students in other sses didnt pass the exam! My head hurts from it! Everyone began toin. Is it really that difficult? Or is it just that you guys dont know how to take the exam! The little princess spoke with the authority of someone with experience, Exams like these have a pattern. You should think about the intentions of the test-makers! Think about why they woulde up with questions like this and what theyre testing for! Once you figure it out, answering the questions bes easy! Ive figured it out, but I still dont know! Gao Tianyu looked despairing, his eyes lifeless. The little princess was confused, If you figured it out, why dont you know how to answer? Because he wants me dead! Gao Tianyu gritted his teeth. Pffft! The little princess burst outughing, holding her stomach. You hit the nail on the head! Other students giggled along, Pffft! Little princess, can you help me convince Principal to stop making such difficult questions? My family is really poor, or at least Im broke. Please help me out! Yes, little princess, please help me convince Principal! Ive been studying really hard for the past few months, making a lot of progress! But who knew that the questions hees up with would just keep getting harder? Im really hopeless now! Little princess, Ive already turned over a new leaf, please dont torture me anymore and give me a chance! Little princess, if I pass this exam, Ill do anything you ask! Everyone begged for her help. The little princesss vanity was greatly satisfied. With a smug look on her face, she waved her hand dismissively, Fine, Ill go talk to him and ask him to stop setting such difficult questions next time! But I cant guarantee anything! The students were overjoyed, Thank you, little princess! And so, the little princess happily went to find Lin Beifan. Little princess, what brings you here? Lin Beifan put down the document in his hand and smiled. Lin Beifan, can you stop making the exams so difficult next time? My students are starting to doubt their lives! The little princess got straight to the point. Lin Beifan didnt understand, Is it really that difficult? I could do them with my eyes closed! The little princess was irritated, Of course, these questions are easy for you, the new top schr with triple honors. But for my students, who are all struggling, its not easy. Theyve made so much progress in the past few months, but its already difficult enough. Please give them a chance, or else Im afraid they might consider taking their own lives. Alright, next time I wont make the questions so difficult! Lin Beifan readily agreed. He knew the concept of fishing a fish out of a pond step-by-step. He had to give them a bit of hope and slowly string them along. Once they were fattened up, he could continue to ughter them. Thank you! The little princess smiled happily, as if Lin Beifan had done it just to make her happy. She took out a delicate little box from her pocket with some reluctance and expectations. Lin Beifan, this is my favorite delicacy. Lets eat it together! Okay! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile. The two then climbed to the highest point of the Imperial Academy and sat side by side on the fence, enjoying the beautiful scenery in the distance while eating the delicacy. The delicacy didntst long, only two to three bites. But the view was so beautiful that they didnt want to leave. At this point, the sun had already set, casting a warm golden light on them, not scorching, but ratherfortable. Bathed in the golden sunlight, they shone like gods and goddesses. This scenery is so beautiful, I wish it couldst forever! The little princess swayed her short legs boredly, resting her chin on her hands. I suddenly realized that life is so short and that we often spend it being idle without knowing why or how many beautiful scenes weve missed! Sometimes we should slow down, maybe well discover different scenery! Lin Beifan, dont you think so? Yes, youre absolutely right! Lin Beifan nodded immediately. Then the little princess turned her head to look at Lin Beifan and suddenly asked a philosophical question, By the way, Lin Beifan, what is the purpose of life? For money and women! Lin Beifan answered without hesitation. The little princess punched him with a small fist and angrily said, You are the new top schr with triple honors, and also the principal of the Imperial Academy. How can you be so vulgar? For career and love! Lin Beifan spoke with a lofty tone Good! The little princess nodded in satisfaction but then was dumbfounded the next second. Wait, isnt that same? It is different! imed Lin Beifan. Whats different? The little princess asked angrily. Lin Beifan justified himself, Money is vulgar, while career is noble! Love is great, and women are What are women? The little princess moved closer with her little fist. Women are lovely! Lin Beifan continued to reason. Therefore, people can live without money, but they cant live without career! People can live without women, but they cant live without love! The little princess was dumbfounded again. Without women, how can there be love? Little princess, you are so short-sighted! Lin Beifanughed. Love is great. It not only transcends national boundaries but also ovees gender and race! Havent you heard of this phrase? The love between men is true love, while the love between men and women is only for the continuation of the offspring! The little princessughed angrily, You really beat me with your nonsense! She lightly punched Lin Beifan a few more times, and the two continued to enjoy the sunset scenery. The little princess turned her head slightly and saw Lin Beifans profile. She didnt know why, but she suddenly thought he looked rather attractive and charming. Blushing, she turned away and continued to rest her chin on her hands, Lin Beifan, I have another question for you! Go ahead, Ill tell you everything I know! The little princesss eyes were a little hazy. I heard that when people are in danger, the persons name they shout out proves to be the most important person in their heart! Whose name did you shout out when you were in danger? After asking, she looked at Lin Beifan expectantly. The name I shouted out Lin Beifan fell into deep thought and didnt answer. The little princess couldnt help but ask, Was it your parents name? Lin Beifan shook his head. No. The little princess asked again, Was it your siblings names? Lin Beifan shook his head again. No, I dont have any siblings! The little princess asked again, Was it your seniors name? Lin Beifan shook his head again. No. The little princess asked again, Was it Sister Shi Shis name? Lin Beifan shook his head again. No. After asking around, Lin Beifan still did not answer. The little princess became angry. Who was it? Lin Beifan furrowed his brows. I dont know! Ive been thinking, What the f*ck? I guess I would call the name when I was in danger! What the f*ck! The little princess eximed. Little princess, so youre the same! Lin Beifan seemed to have found a kindred spirit and said happily. Get lost! Who said were kindred spirits? Who shouts out that word in danger? The little princess punched him again and said through herughter, Youre trying to make meugh to deathare you satisfied? She was so happy inside! This guy is really something, always unintentionally making her happy! She wished it could go on like this forever and ever! Just then, they noticed a person in armor riding a ck horse galloping quickly down the street ahead. Riding wildly like a bull, no one could stop him. Lin Beifans and the little princesss faces changed. Urgent message from 800 miles away! Something big has happened! You May Also LikeI Be a Rogue Lord in a World Where Only I Level Up (Read Epub Online) Chapter 157: Mutiny? Only Lin Beifan can solve it! Chapter 157: Mutiny? Only Lin Beifan can solve it! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Sure enough, within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, someone came to inform Lin Beifan to go to the study room. When Lin Beifan arrived, the other high-ranking officials of the court were already there. Their faces were solemn, their expressions serious, as they looked at the empress sitting at the desk. At this moment, there was no time for salutations or greetings. Lin Beifan obediently stood behind the officials. The empress nced at everyone, realizing that they were all present, and with a hint of anger in her voice, she said, Just moments ago, an urgent message came from Tangzhou. There has been a mutiny! Several rebel soldiers killed themanding general and deputy general, leading 30,000 troops into the mountains, turning to banditry. They are currently facing off against the imperial army, and the situation is extremely serious! The officials were instantly in an uproar! A mutiny had urred, and indeed the situation was extremely serious! Your Majesty, what is the cause of this? an old courtier asked, bowing. Whats the cause? See for yourselves! The empress threw down the urgent message, allowing the officials to read it. The local generals,manding and deputy, had been embezzling the soldiers pay for a long time, leading to the soldiers shedding blood and sweat without receiving the treatment they deserved. Even eating was a problem. Furthermore, thesemanding and deputy generals either beat or scolded their subordinates, and the grievances between the two sides had been building up for a long time. The final spark was when a deputy general openly harassed a soldiers wife. The soldiers, who had been oppressed for a long time, finally couldnt bear it anymore and started a mutiny! The empress mmed the table, gnashing her teeth and said, They have such audacity, even daring to embezzle the imperial militarys pay! And freely insulting and harassing the soldiers wives! How can they resemble any high-ranking officials of the court? Now, the mutiny has caused trouble for me, its truly unreasonable! Truly unreasonable! Your Majesty, please calm down! the officials said in unison. How am I supposed to calm down? The empress said angrily, Now, the courts political situation is unstable, with major vassal kings eyeing the court, and the neighboring countries are eager for action! Yet, at this time, they dare to cause trouble for me? If they werent already dead, I really want to drag them out and kill them again! The officials remained silent. At this moment, the empress turned her head towards the Minister of War, her anger burning, and said, Li Kaiguang, what crime should you be charged with? The Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, was dumbfounded and quickly stood up. Your Majesty The empress shouted loudly, As the Minister of War, you are in charge of military affairs nationwide and responsible for overseeing the generals and military officials in all regions! However, you didnt even know about the Tangzhoumanding generals embezzlement of military funds and mistreatment of soldiers! Tell me, do you not have an inescapable responsibility? Tell me, what crime should you be charged with? The Minister of War felt extremely wronged! This matter was clearly not his doing, yet he was forced to bear the me! He also wanted to drag thosemanding and deputy generals out and kill them again! He couldnt help but wonder if he had offended some unlucky star recently, always encountering such bizarre misfortunes. He had organized a simple naval training exercise, but ended up facing a group of martial arts experts and the training failed! And now, when he hadnt done anything, disaster struck! I plead guilty! The Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, immediately lowered his head and admitted his mistake. The empress was right, although he didntmit this act, as the Minister of War, he had an inescapable responsibility! Your crime will be remembered for now! The most important thing now is to resolve the mutiny in Tangzhou. We must swiftly cut off the chaos. The longer we dy, the more detrimental it will be to our Empire! The empress said calmly. What Your Majesty said is absolutely correct! The officials echoed in unison. Now the question is, how should this matter be handled and who will handle it? The officials each gave their opinions, but ultimately agreed that the focus should be on persuading the rebels to surrender. If persuasion failed, then they would have to resort to military suppression. They needed to quickly resolve the mutiny. So, who should we send? The empress asked again. The officials looked at each other. This matter was extremely tricky and not a desirable task. If handled poorly, it could potentially affect their future careers. The Minister of War stepped forward and said, Your Majesty, I am willing to redeem myself by aplishing this task! He knew that at this moment, even if he didnt want to step forward, he had to! But you have messed up so many things. I dont trust you! The empress sneered. Li Kaiguangs face was filled with frustration. The empresss gaze turned to Lin Beifan, who was idling behind the officials. Sir Lin, I assign this matter to you! Lin Beifan was stunned. Your Majesty, have you mistaken me? I cannot do this! The empress smiled and said, Sir Lin, I have not mistaken. I chose you because you have always been quick-witted and able to solve many difficult problems! You are also eloquent and articte, making you the most suitable negotiator! Use your silver tongue to persuade them to surrender! Lin Beifan blinked. Your Majesty, arent you overestimating me? Not at all! The empress shook her head. When you went to Thundercloud Temple earlier, you managed to persuade a grandmaster monk of Buddhist teachings toe to our pce! After that, you encountered two other grandmasters, a sword immortal and a saber saint, and your tongue won them over, bing their close friends! You see, if you can persuade even masters, can you not persuade a group of martial artists? Lin Beifan felt a bit panicked. But what if I cannot persuade them? I dont know how to fight! The empress sneered inwardly. Pretending again! With the previous theories ofnd revolution, guerri warfare, mobile warfare, and mine warfare, as well as the strategy of surrounding cities with rural masses, all of which I learned from you, even I have greatly benefited! Your knowledge of military tactics can be regarded as that of a master! If even you dont know how to fight, then no one in the world does! Lin Beifan, stop refusing! I believe that among all the civil and military officials, you are the most suitable. There is absolutely no second choice! If this matter is sessfully resolved, I promise you will be greatly rewarded! The empress promised loudly. What Your Majesty said is absolutely correct. This matter belongs to no one but Principal Lin! Principal Lin is eloquent and resourceful. He is the most suitable person to handle this matter! With the Sir Lins intervention, sess is certain! The officials all spoke up and strongly rmended Lin Beifan! Lin Beifan was trembling with anger. These old cunning officials were up to no good again! When the opportunity arises, Ill raid their homes! Helpless, Lin Beifan had no choice but to ept the order: Iply with the decree! That night, after finishing dinner, Lin Beifan immediately set off, riding his horse at full speed throughout the night. Apanying him were Mo Rushuang and the official dispatched by the court to protect Lin Beifan. The little princess also followed secretly, iming to protect Lin Beifan, but actually just wanting to join in the fun. After two nights and a day of rushing, they finally arrived in Tangzhou in the deep night of the second day. The local prefect, Mr. Liu, personally weed Lin Beifan: Greetings to Mr. Principal, greetings to Miss Yunying! I have prepared a feast to wee you and wash away the dust! We can discuss the feastter. How is the situation now? Lin Beifan asked directly. Prefect Liu smiled bitterly and said, The situation is still very tense! Currently, both sides are in a standoff with the mountain and river as the boundary! As long as we cross the boundary, they will attack without any reason. Many of our officials have been injured! Furthermore, there was a conflictst night! The rebels, due to a shortage of food, came down the mountain and fought with our troops to seize provisions! Fortunately, the casualties were not heavy, otherwise, I would be in a difficult position! Lin Beifan nodded. I dont know how the court ns to resolve this matter? Prefect Liu asked cautiously. The main approach is persuasion. If that doesnt work, we can only resort to military suppression! We must resolve all issues within a week. Otherwise, this situation can be exploited by interested parties, and the consequences would be unimaginable! Lin Beifan stated. Prefect Liu nodded with a solemn expression. Then, Lin Beifan followed Prefect Liu to the scene to take a look. It was alreadyte at night, and most of the rebels had gone to sleep. The forest on the mountain appeared dark and eerily quiet. However, cautious eyes could still be seen amidst the pitch-ck vegetation. Lets go back and rest for now. We will make ns tomorrow! Lin Beifan turned around and left. At this moment, Lin Beifans arrival had already alerted the rebels on the mountain. A person hurriedly ran up the hill and woke up a sleeping person: Boss, theres a new officialing down from the mountain. It must be someone sent by the court! The person referred to as the boss is a young man, tall and powerful, with strong limbs. One of his arms is as thick as someone elses thigh. He has dark skin, and when he opens his eyes, they are sharp and full of spirit. Who is this person and what does he look like? I dont recognize him, but he looks very young, under 20. He has rosy lips and white teeth! However, he is dressed in a crimson official robe, so he is at least a fourth-ranked official! Its not easy to achieve such a high rank at such a young age! As they spoke, their tone was filled with envy. A fourth-ranked official under 20. It seems like its the newly appointed top schr Lin Beifan! The young man referred to as the boss nodded thoughtfully. The newly appointed top schr Lin Beifan? I heard he is very talented and highly trusted by the empress, so he has been promoted four ranks in the past few months! He has received all kinds of rewards, and his house cant even fit them all! But I heard that he is still a corrupt official. He embezzled millions of taels within a few months of taking office! Another corrupt official. I really want to chop him down! Corrupt officials deserve to die! Everyone was very excited. They hated corrupt officials the most! If it wasnt for those corrupt officials embezzling their military pay, they wouldnt have ended up in such a situation! Now, an even bigger corrupt official has arrived, making them so angry that they want to take up arms! Boss, what do we do next? Should we continue to confront the court, or should we retreat to the mountains and be bandits? In my opinion, we should simply revolt. With our skills, we wont have to worry about food no matter where we go! How about joining other warlords? I heard the Prince of Southern Jiang is wealthy and currently recruiting soldiers and warriors. It seems like he is preparing for something big. We can enjoy luxury by following him! The Prince of Northern Hebei is not bad either! I heard he treats his subordinates with respect and is good to everyone. He is a good lord! Boss, well follow your lead! Everyone stared eagerly at the young man in front of them, waiting for his decision. From this, it can be seen how respected the young man is. The young man waved his hand: Brothers, calm down for now! Lets see the courts attitude tomorrow. Anyway, with me, Big Bull, you can be sure that none of you will be wronged! Everyone nodded. Chapter 158: You are corrupt official yoursef, why should we trust you? Chapter 158: You are corrupt official yoursef, why should we trust you? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
On the second day, Lin Beifan returned to Panshan River once again. At this time, the two sides were facing each other with swords and spears, tense and nervous. There was sweat on their faces and blood on their bodies, as if they had just experienced a fierce battle. Whats going on? Lin Beifan asked in confusion. Reporting to the prefect, these rebels came to snatch our food again! a prefect envoy reported. Prefect Liu smiled bitterly. This situation is quitemon! They have been raiding us almost every day recently, at different times! To appease them, I have prepared some food for them! But the amount is too little, so they end up fighting over it with our government envoys! Lin Beifan nodded in understanding. After all, the food supply for 30,000 people was toorge, and only the imperial court could afford it. The local government had no way to handle it. Now that they had be rebels, the imperial court would definitely not provide them with food. Instead, the intention was to starve them and make them powerless to resist. But this put the prefecture magistrate in a difficult situation. After all, if these rebels caused trouble and entered Tangzhou to cause damage and steal food, the me would fall on him as the prefecture magistrate. Therefore, he could only take thispromise approach. Give them food and wait for the imperial court to send someone to resolve the situation. At this time, Prefect Liu shouted loudly, I advise you to surrender quickly, dont struggle in vain anymore! As long as you give up resistance, the imperial court will take your hardships into consideration and deal with you lightly! Do you really want to be bandits? Do you really want to abandon your identity as soldiers? Are you really willing to give up everything and live a precarious life? Look, even eating is a problem for you now! Think about your wives, children, parents, siblings, and rtives! If you really betray and flee, your loved ones will also be disgraced and despised There was somemotion among the rebels, but it quickly calmed down. Lin Beifan couldnt stand it any longer. Prefect Liu, this way of speaking wont work! They are already tired of hearing these arguments, it wont have any effect. Watch me! What Principal Lin said is absolutely right, please! Prefect Liu politely made way, but his heart was full of disdain. Youre saying my words are not effective? This is a set of arguments that I painstakingly summarized. What does a young man like you know? Dont make the rebels angry and out of controlter on! Lin Beifan stepped forward and said loudly, I advise you to surrender quickly, its a path of no return! If you step on this path, you can never turn back! Do you know what serious consequences there will be? One of the leaders of the rebels sneered, What consequences can there be? We have already thought through everything! The other rebels also began to shout. Thats right, we have already thought through everything! Its just death, whats there to be afraid of? Ive experienced life and death situations, what should I be afraid of? I have made up my mind on this path, I have never thought of turning back! Do we still have to continue being bullied by you corrupt officials? We are men, we are not cowards! Lin Beifan shook his head with disdain. Youre thinking too simplistically! Let me tell you, once you go down this path, you really cante back! Your wives will be widows, your children will be orphans! In that case Lin Beifan raised his head high and shouted loudly, Other men will have the chance to sleep with your wives! The rebels eximed, F*ck! They will beat your children! The rebels eximed, F*ck! They will humte your mothers! The rebels eximed, F*ck! They will spend all the money you earned! The rebels eximed, F*ck! They will seize your houses andnds, leaving you with nothing! The rebels eximed, F*ck! In other words, all your years of hard work will be wasted on other mens pleasure! Lin Beifans voice resonated with conviction. That man could be your lifelong rival! The rebels eximed, F*ck! He could be a ruffian or a rogue on the street! The rebels eximed, F*ck! Or he could be the corrupt and greedy officials you despise! The rebels eximed, F*ck! After you leave, no one will be happier than them! Because if you dont leave, they wont have this opportunity! Once you leave, all of this will be theirs! Lin Beifanughed triumphantly. And you, you will have to wear a big green hat, carrying this shame, struggling for your whole life! Watching your most hated enemies happily sleeping with your wives, beating your children, humiliating your mothers, spending all the money you earned, and seizing your houses andnds The rebels immediately copsed! Please stop, please stop talking! Dont say it anymore, my heart hurts so much! Why did you have to tell us about these bloody things? You devil! Everyone was shocked! Damn! Mr. Principal, youre amazing! With just a few words, youve crushed the rebels will! But I have to admit, those words were too harsh, no man can handle them! If it were them, they would definitely copse as well! Prefect Liu gave a thumbs up. Principal Lin, youre incredible, Im impressed! Lin Beifan smiled calmly. I havent even used my full power yet. At this moment, a tall and strong man with dark skin walked out from the rebel ranks. He nced at the demoralized crowd around him and shook his head helplessly. He loudly said, You must be official sent by the court, Lin Beifan? Thats right, its me! Lin Beifan stood with his hands behind his back. Impressive, truly worthy of being the top schr, your words are sharp! the man in front of him said in awe. Youre not bad yourself! Lin Beifanughed. You must be the great man who led the rebellion, beheaded the deputy general, and fearlessly turned to banditry. You sure have guts! The man didnt hesitate to reply, Thats right, I am the one who killed them all because they deserved it! They embezzled our military pay, leaving us with not enough money to eat! They treated us like animals, always beating and cursing at us. And in the end, they even harassed my brothers wife Enough is enough! Such officials should be killed. If theyre not, I cant find peace of mind! Thats right! Such officials should be killed! Its better to kill them all! If the leader doesnt take action, I will! The rebels shouted excitedly, filled with emotions. Lin Beifan shouted, Indeed, these officials deserve to be killed! However, it should be done by the court, not by you! What you are doing now, lightly put, is rebellion, and heavily put, its treason! Hand it over to the court? The big manughed disdainfully. If the court had found out earlier, this situation wouldnt have happened! You see, weve been oppressed for a whole year! Where were you all during this year? Thest sentence was practically a roar! On this point, the court does owe you an apology! Lin Beifans tone was gentle. Thats why Her Majesty has sent me to resolve this matter! As long as you ally down your weapons and surrender, returning to the military, the court will undoubtedly show leniency! Big man, youre a clever person, and a loyal and conscientious man! Otherwise, you would have left with them a long time ago! Because you know that by leaving, it would be easy for you, but your brothers who follow you would lose everything! After all, most of them are ordinary people. They have families, wives, children, and they cant abandon everything! Big Bull sighed heavily, never expecting that this corrupt official would understand him so well. Thats why he hesitated to leave! Because he was alone, he could eat his fill without worrying about his family going hungry. It didnt matter where he went, he would be fine. But his brothers were different. They were the pirs of their families, responsible for taking care of their wives, raising their children, supporting their parents. They couldnt just walk away. Moreover, life outside was not as good as it seemed. There was chaos and suffering. It was extremely difficult to earn a living, and even more so for a group of wanted criminals like them. Did they have to live a life on the run, resorting to robbery and theft forever? It would be better to stay within the military camp, at least they would have food to eat. So, he had been waiting for the courts representatives toe and have a proper discussion. But Big Bull sneered, Hmph! Your proposal sounds easy! Who knows what youll do to us once wey down our weapons? What if you throw us all into prison or kill us? Wouldnt that be unjust? Even if the court shows leniency and allows us to rejoin the military, what if we encounter another corrupt official who embezzles our military pay and treats us like animals? What then? And you yourself are a corrupt official, why should we trust you? The rebels mored. Thats right! What if we surrender and you throw us in jail? What if we encounter another corrupt official? You yourself are corrupt, why should we trust you? Lin Beifan calmly responded, I dont expect you to trust me, nor do I intend to make you trust me! Because belief is belief, no matter how eloquent my words, you still wont believe me! So, I havee up with a win-win solution! What solution? asked Big Bull. The solution is for everyone else to rejoin the military, but you, Big Bull, can leave the military! This way, you can secretly monitor our actions! If we fail to fulfill our promises or encounter another case of embezzlement, you can kill us all over again, just like before! You dont have to believe me or the court, but you should believe in yourself, right? Lin Beifan smiled confidently. If you dont even believe in yourself, then I have no way to help! Big Bull was moved by his words. Indeed, he didnt trust those officials, but he trusted himself! If the other side doesnt handle his brothers properly or encounters another corrupt official who harassed his brothers, he could avenge his brothers, even if it meant sacrificing his own life! This seemed to be the best option at the moment! And the other rebels all looked eagerly at Big Bull, waiting for him to make a decision. Alright, I ept this solution! But I have one request. The main cause of this situation was me. I was the one who killed the deputy general and led the mutiny. They all followed me blindly. So, pardon them of their crimes! Big Bull dered loudly. Thats impossible! Lin Beifan firmly rejected. The court has itsws, rewarding merits and punishing crimes! You have all caused a mutiny. If there are no punishments, how will others fear and respect the court? Big Bull and the others expressions dimmed. But considering the reasons behind your actions and the courts understanding, we can show leniency. However, each person must receive ten beatings with a stick! And after the beatings, all the owed military pay will be fully given! Everyones eyes lit up again. Chapter 159: Im going to raid their home and get revenge! Chapter 159: Im going to raid their home and get revenge! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The reason they betrayed us, isnt it because they didnt get paid enough? If we can retrieve the unpaid military sry from before, they would even be willing to take a beating! After all, we have to endure it every year, isnt it just a little bit? They are all soldiers, tough and can take a hit! Big Bull noticed everyones expressions and knew that they were tempted, so he nodded and said, Alright, well do it your way! But if I catch you going back on your word, I wont spare you! Dont worry, you wont get the chance! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Now, you can leave. Ill give you one day. After one day, the court will issue a wanted notice to capture you! Think about how to save your own life! Big Bull nodded with a solemn expression. He also knew that having killed a high-ranking official of the court and leading soldiers to rebel, the court would definitely not let him off. Now, giving him a chance to escape was already going easy on him. But he also believed that he wouldnt be captured so easily. He not only had to survive for himself, but also for his brothers. Only by staying alive and avoiding capture could he deter others, ensure his brothers safety, and get the treatment they deserved. So he turned his head to the others and said, Brothers, Im leaving. Take care! Boss! Iming with you! Boss! Everyone was reluctant to part. Big Bull hugged a few people tightly, patted their backs, andughed, Im not going forever! Dont worry, well have a chance to meet again! Then he looked back affectionately at his brothers who fought side by side with him, waved his hand, and decisively walked into the forest. Wait! Lin Beifan called out again. What else? Big Bull turned back. Lin Beifan took out a silver ingot and threw it over. Big Bull caught the silver ingot and asked puzzledly, What does this mean? Our court rewards and punishes ordingly. Although you havemitted unforgivable mistakes, you have also made contributions to our court! This money is the military sry that was owed to you before, consider it as travel expenses! Lin Beifan exined. Big Bull deeply looked at Lin Beifan, Now, I somewhat believe in your promise! In addition, let me advise you, dont join other warlords and dontmit treason or illegal acts again, otherwise you may end up facing your own brothers with swords! Lin Beifan said. Dont worry, I definitely wont! Big Bull epted the money and looked back at the others one more time before boldly venturing into the forest without turning back. The rebel soldiers continued to confront Lin Beifan, providing cover for Big Bulls escape. Until an hourter. Lin Beifanughed, Is it enough now? With his skills, he should be able to run quite far in an hour. Even if we send people to pursue him, it would be difficult to catch up! The rebel soldiers looked at each other and finally felt relieved. Now, drop your weapons! Then, cross the river in groups of ten, with ten groups forming a team! Lin Beifanmanded. tter The weapons all fell to the ground. Then, the rebel soldiers crossed the river in batches of a hundred. Now, lets enforce militaryw. Each person will receive tenshes, and once its done, well issue the withheld military sries! Lin Beifan said. Immediately, ten rebel soldiers fell to the ground as an official carried out the punishment. Ah, ah The sound of painful screams filled the air. Everyone couldnt bear to witness it. The young princess couldnt help but say, Lin Beifan, lets just forget it. They were forced to do this Lin Beifans face turned cold, We must punish them! Although there were reasons behind their actions, they still vited military discipline and betrayed the court. These are unforgivable sins! So not only must we punish them, but we must do so severely to make sure they remember this lesson! In the future, they wont repeat their mistakes! After one round, the backsides of the ten rebel soldiers were covered in bloody wounds, almost half-dead. Alright, punishment is over, wee back to the army! Lin Beifan had someone bring a basin of peculiar-smelling medicine and said, This is a high-quality medicine for treating injuries. Apply it and your wounds will heal in a few days! Also Lin Beifan took out severalrge silver ingots, giving one to each person saying, This is the military sry owed to you by the court. Keep it! Although the punished rebel soldiers were in pain, they were overjoyed inside. With trembling hands, they gently held the silver ingots and expressed their gratitude, Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir No need to thank me, this is what you deserve! Lin Beifan patted one of them on the shoulder and smiled. After you recover, return to the barracks as soon as possible. The country needs you, and Great Wu needs you! Looking at Lin Beifans radiant smile, the rebel soldiers gaze became trance-like. Is this really the detestable corrupt official everyone talks about? The other punished soldiers saw this and also became excited. We really received our military sry! So much money! I want to go first in the next round! Let me go, you can wait in line! Everyone scrambled to get in line. Although the sticks were still heavy and they still screamed in pain, the atmosphere on the scene was not solemn at all, but rather joyful. Because after getting beaten, they would have money to take! Almost a years worth of military sries, how much money was that? It was enough to improve their lives! And they could continue being soldiers and making money! Life was once again full of hope! Watching the people screaming in agony yet feeling joyous, Lin Beifan sighed and said, Actually, they didnt ask for much! Im just returning what belongs to them, and theyre so grateful! I really dont understand those scoundrels, why would they even want to greedily take things that others risked their lives for? They are worse than beasts! Prefect Liu nodded in agreement, deeply understanding, What Mr. Principal said is absolutely right! Some money can be embezzled, but there is some money that should never be touched, otherwise there will be consequences! However, this money seems to be yours, Mr. Principal, you paid for it Lin Beifan waved his hand nonchntly andughed, Its nothing, just some pocket change! As long as it can pacify the soldiers and resolve the mutiny, whats a small sacrifice? Prefect Liu admired and raised his thumb, Mr. Principal, you truly understand righteousness. I am in awe! Lin Beifan smiled, Ill just take it again from the Ministry of Warter! Prefect Liu eximed, Holy cow! Prefect Liu looked at the young man in front of him in shock! He had always heard that the newly acimed Lin Beifan was extraordinary and daring, not hesitating to take money from the officials. Now he finally saw it for himself! Losing some money, he actually wanted to raid the homes of Ministry of War officials like it was nothing! Oh, right, he heard that he already raided homes of Ministry of Industry officials before! Twice in a row! Magistrate Liu shuddered! He was not just extraordinary, but incredibly audacious! This person must not be offended! Lin Beifan blinked and said, Oh, by the way, Prefect Liu, I havent raided the homes of the General and Deputy General yet, right! The Empress ordered me to handle this matter with full authority. Later, Ill trouble Prefect Liu to take me to their residences. Ill raid their homes and make them bleed every time! Prefect Liu eximed, Holy cow! Having easily resolved the mutiny, Prefect Liu breathed a sigh of relief and was extremely happy. He prepared a sumptuous banquet and treated Lin Beifan and others with great respect. That evening, everyone felt right at home. Since the most important issue had been resolved, Lin Beifan felt light and carefree. After raiding the homes of the General and others, he nned to stay in Tangzhou for two days and have enough fun before returning. Prefect Liu took the time to apany him. However, as they walked along the way, they didnt enjoy themselves. Instead, they discovered many beggars on the streets. Their faces were dusty, their clothes tattered, and they looked extremely pitiful with their emaciated bodies. Some of them, unbelievably, were begging as a whole family. Prefect Liu, look here! Lin Beifan pointed at a group of beggars, smiling mockingly, From what I know, although Tangzhou may not be as prosperous as the capital, it is still a wealthy ce and there shouldnt be any problem in ensuring the peoples basic needs! But under your jurisdiction, there are so many beggars, far beyond my imagination! It seems that your governance Prefect Liu, have you been extorting and embezzling money from themon people? Confess now, or Ill tell Empress Sister and have you punished! the little princess interrupted. Prefect Liu sped his hands and smiled bitterly, Principal Lin, Princess Yunying, you have really misunderstood me! Although I may not be a virtuous official, I do fulfill my duty and at least have a conscience. I would never ignore the peoples well-being! Then can you exin whats going on here? the little princess asked. These beggars, they are all refugees from Northern Hebei. They came here to make a living! They just dont have a ce to live at the moment, so they end up on the streets! There are too many of them, and I cant arrange for housing for all of them! From Northern Hebei? Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were taken aback. Yes, they all came from Northern Hebei! Prefect Liu exined, Recently, I dont know what happened, but arge number of refugees with their families havee from Northern Hebei to make a living here! When I asked about the reason, they told me that a group of roaming bandits appeared in Northern Hebei! These bandits are insatiable and extremely brazen. They often roam around robbing, taking anything of value, be it from wealthy merchants or ordinary peoples homes. Due to the frequent robberies, the people in Northern Hebei couldnt bear it anymore and had no choice but to flee to Tangzhou! Dont the authorities in Northern Hebei take any action? Mo Rushuang asked anxiously. If they were able to, they wouldnt have fled here! Prefect Liu shook his head and sighed, After all, if they had a choice, who would want to leave their hometown? You can seek the Prince of Northern Hebei! The prince is kind-hearted andpassionate, he will definitely not ignore this! Mo Rushuang added. Prefect Liu shook his head again, I dont know about that! After all, the prince is a prominent figure with many important matters to attend to. He might not have noticed these small issues! Anyway, lets not talk about the prince. We should continue enjoying our time in Tangzhou and not let these matters dampen our spirits! Then, Prefect Liu continued to introduce the scenery of Tangzhou to everyone. However, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were preupied and couldnt focus. Chapter 160: Forgiving you is the Buddhas matter, my task is to take you to the afterlife! Chapter 160: Forgiving you is the Buddhas matter, my task is to take you to the afterlife! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In the blink of an eye, two days had flown by, and Lin Beifan made the decision to head back. During his initial departure, he had rushed, determined to avoid even the slightest dy. But, upon his return, he opted for a more leisurely experience, traveling in avish carriage and savoring the rxed journey home. However, along the way, they discovered many refugees. Their clothes were tattered, their faces pale and skinny, their eyes lifeless. Many of them were barefoot, as if they hadnt had a full meal in a long time or a good nights sleep. Mo Rushuang couldnt help but stop a few refugees and asked, Are you all from Northern Hebei? The refugees simply nodded and didnt say much, quickly avoiding them, seemingly afraid of Mo Rushuang and the others. Therefore, Mo Rushuang stopped an older refugee and asked, Are you also from Northern Hebei? Yeah, the person numbly nodded. Why did you leave your hometown? Wasnt it good there? Mo Rushuang asked again. There are bandits everywhere, how can I survive? If I could make it, who would want to leave? Sigh! The person shook their head and left with a sad expression. Mo Rushuangs heart sank as well. Guo Shaoshuais heart also felt uneasy. After all, that was their hometown, who would want to see it be like this? Lin Beifan seemed to sense their thoughts and said, Northern Hebei isnt far from here, why dont we take a detour and have a look? It wont dy us much time. Thank you, young master! Mo Rushuang eximed in pleasant surprise. Lin Beifan waved at the official attendants and said, Change out of your official uniforms, were going to take a detour to Northern Hebei! Yes, My Lord! The attendants immediately responded. When they came, they had already been instructed by the Empress to follow Lin Beifans orders. So everyone put away their official uniforms and changed into casual clothes. They took a different path and headed towards Northern Hebei. In less than half a days journey, they had already entered the territory of Northern Hebei. However, along the way, they saw more and more refugees, some heading to Tangzhou and others going elsewhere. Everyones mood became increasingly heavy. At this moment, Mo Rushuang pointed to an empty vige on the roadside and said in a heavy tone, I remember passing by here with my junior brother half a year ago! At that time, it was filled with people, bustling with noise, but now its almost empty! Yeah, at that time we were here asking for a bowl of water to drink. The vigers here were very weing, but now theres nothing to be seen! Guo Shaoshuai said in a lost tone. They continued walking and came across several more small viges, but there were no people, and even the fields were abandoned. The mood of everyone became increasingly heavy. It seems that the problem of bandits here is very serious! Lin Beifan sighed. To be honest, this situation is indeed very serious! Ive traveled all over, but Ive never seen anything like this before! Normally, when such a big thing happens, the local authorities would definitely send someone to handle it! Even if they couldnt handle it, they would report it to the court and let the court handle it! But now, theres nothing, its quite bewildering! one of the apanying officials said. Lin Beifanughed and said, Sir Wang, youre basically saying that the officials here are colluding with the bandits! The official quickly waved his hands and said, My Lord, this is something that cant be said casually! It must be that the local authorities here have done nothing, which has led to the rampant banditry and the rise of refugees! When we go back, I will definitely report this to Empress Sister! the little princess said with a burst of righteousness. Just then, the sound of galloping hooves could be heard in the distance. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a group of fierce men riding high-headed horses rushing over, raising dust all the way. In a short time, they arrived in front of Lin Beifan and the others, surrounding them. Brothers, it looks like weve got a fatmb here! This must be a young master on a journey! Such a luxurious carriage, fine clothes, and so many followers, he must be very rich! Tonight, we can have an even better feast! And there are two beautiful women who look like fairies from heaven! Tonight, Im going to have some fun! Once the boss is done, we can all have some fun! Haha, everyone gets a share! They shamelessly spoke lewdly,pletely ignoring Lin Beifan and the others. Protect the young master! All the attendants around Lin Beifan drew their knives and guarded him. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai drew their swords and cautiously stared at the intruders. The little princess had no weapon, but her little fists were clenched, her face full of excitement, eager to try. However, these bandits continued tough without any sense of fear. Haha! You actually want to resist? This just got interesting! Indeed, its been a long time since weve encountered something this interesting! They really dont know their ce! The leader of the bandits waved his hand and shouted, Attack, boys! Kill all the men, leave the women! Kill! The bandits howled. A momentter, all the bandits trembled and knelt down on the ground. The leader of the bandits cried out, Spare us, brave hero! We were wrong, we shouldnt have robbed you! Please give us a chance to live, we wont dare anymore! Lin Beifan squatted down with a smile, I have a few questions for you, I hope youll answer them honestly. If I answer, can I keep my life? The bandit leader was somewhat cunning. Lin Beifan nodded, Yes! I am a devout Buddhist. The Buddha ispassionate. As long as you let go of your weapons, the Buddha will forgive you. Amitabha! Okay, ask your questions! The bandit leader was somewhat delighted. Lin Beifan asked, I heard that a group of bandits appeared in the Northern Hebei region. Is it you guys? Yes, thats us! The bandit leader immediately nodded. Lin Beifan asked again, How many of you are there in total? Its hard to say for sure, we havent counted, but there must be around two or three thousand! The bandit leader said. Everyone felt extremely heavy after hearing this. Two or three thousand bandits, such arge number, is enough to cause chaos in the area. Moreover, they suddenly appeared, indicating organization and premeditation. But so far, the court hasnt received any information about it, which is a serious situation. Lin Beifan asked again, Who is the mastermind behind you guys? The bandit leader shook his head, I dont know! Lin Beifan was surprised, How could you not know, otherwise who gives you orders? Because we have a single line of contact! The person above me is , but as for who is above them, we dont know. He gives orders for us to rob, so we go rob. As for the things we rob, apart from keeping a small portion for ourselves, the rest is all turned in! the other party honestly replied. Youre so obedient, have you never thought of rebelling? Lin Beifan chuckled. The bandit leader shivered, We dare not! They have many powerful individuals, just one of them can easily annihte me! So its better to just work honestly and enjoy the good things in life! Lin Beifan asked a few more questions but didnt gain any valuable information. Sir, thats all I know! Please spare me and I promise I will never do it again! I will kowtow to you now, I will kowtow As he spoke, he really kowtowed, showing ack of integrity. The other bandits followed suit. Lin Beifan stood up and said, Guards, they are of no value anymore, kill them all! The leader of the bandits was dumbfounded, Didnt you say you would leave me alive? Lin Beifan nodded, Yes, I will leave your life behind! The bandit leader eximed, Damn! The bandit leader pleaded, Didnt you say that if we put down our weapons, the Buddha would forgive us? Lin Beifan nodded again, Yes! But forgiving you is the Buddhas business, my task is to send you to the afterlife! The bandit leader eximed again, Damn! Attack! Lin Beifan waved his hand. Several shes fell, and all the bandits were killed. They set a fire and burned the bodies. Then, they continued on their way. Surprisingly, they encountered two more groups of bandits, and they were all killed. Lin Beifan and hispanions shook their heads in sigh, in just half a days time, they encountered three groups of bandits. No wonder the people in Northern Hebei could not stay and became refugees, they had no other choice but to flee. Because if they didnt run, they really had no way to survive! .. . That evening, they found shelter in an uninhabited vige. The moon was bright, the stars were sparse, and a gentle breeze filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Most of the people were asleep, while Lin Beifan sat on a stone table, drinking wine and admiring the moon. He seemed to be waiting for someone. At this moment, Mo Rushuang walked over, Mr. Lin, there is something that I cant understand in my heart! You are wise and intelligent, can you solve my confusion? Lin Beifan nodded and smiled, What is your question? Ask me! Mr. Lin, who is the mastermind behind these bandits, and what is their purpose? Mo Rushuang said with pain. Lin Beifan smiled, Actually, you already have the answer in your heart! Mo Rushuang said painfully, It shouldnt be him. He is kind-hearted, wise, and martially skilled. Its impossible for him to do such things! But besides him, it seems there is no one else! Lin Beifan tapped on the stone table, After all, this is his territory. When such a big incident happens, can you believe that he doesnt know? So he definitely knows, but if he knows and does nothing, then there are only two possibilities! What are the two possibilities? Mo Rushuang asked eagerly. The first one is that the mastermind behind the bandits is too powerful for him to offend! Lin Beifan said, However, such people are rare! After all, he is someone who even wants the throne. How many people in the world can he not afford to offend? So the only possibility left is the second one! Lin Beifan smiled, They are in cahoots, which is why the bandits are being tolerated! Mo Rushuangs face became even more pained. It was as if his long-held belief had copsed and was hard to ept. Lin Beifan stood up and ced his hands on Mo Rushuangs slender shoulders, speaking softly, Rushuang, dont overthink it. Lets observe and allow the situation to unfold. Everything will be revealed in due time. Now, go back and get some rest! Yes, Mr. Lin! Mo Rushuang nodded and went back. At this time, due to losing track of three groups of bandits in the same location, the bandits became alert. Wolf, Fox, Bear havent returned. Something doesnt seem right! They were all operating in Feng County today! It seems that they might have encountered trouble. Send someone to investigate immediately! The nearby bandits immediately mobilized and found three burned bodies. The situation was promptly reported up the chain ofmand. Chapter 161: No one can survive under Xiao Lis Flying Knife! Chapter 161: No one can survive under Xiao Lis Flying Knife! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
On the second day, Lin Beifan and the others continued their journey. But surprisingly, they encountered three groups of horse bandits in less than half a day yesterday, which was very frequent. However, today, after half a day had passed, they didnt encounter a single one, it was surprisingly peaceful. This is strange, we didnt encounter a single horse bandit! Guo Shaoshuai eximed. Could it be that theyre scared of us? the little princess boasted. Yesterday, she took the lead and single-handedly injured more than a dozen horse bandits, which was extremely satisfying. Today, she was eager to try again and wanted to beat up a few more. This is arge and organized bandit group, its impossible for them to be afraid! They most likely have nned something big to deal with us. Now is the eve of a storm! Lin Beifan said. The other experienced people nodded in agreement, The young master is absolutely right! I have a bad premonition, everyone needs to be careful, take out your weapons and be on guard at all times! Mo Rushuang warned. Take out all the weapons! Official Wang shouted loudly. ng ng Everyone drew out their weapons, surrounding Lin Beifan, carefully watching their surroundings. Just at this moment, the sound of galloping horses could be heard from all directions, deafening. Looking around, they saw many people dressed as horse bandits, about three to four hundred of them, riding tall, powerful horses, rushing towards them, surrounding themyer byyer, and blocking all of Lin Beifans retreat routes in the blink of an eye. Among this group of horse bandits, there was a person who was tall and brawny, like a little giant. He seemed a bit clumsy, but his strength was the most powerful, reaching seventh-grade. He appeared to be the leader of this group of horse bandits. Next to him, a small horse bandit whispered, Boss, it should be them! We searched through all the people with horses in Feng County, and they are the most suspicious! The boss nodded, riding his horse and slowly walked out, ring with a ferocious gaze from a higher vantage point, and said, I ask you, did you kill my men? Lin Beifan pointed to the surrounding horse bandits and smiled, At this point, does it even matter if I answer that question? It does, I dont want to kill the wrong people! If I kill the wrong ones, then I can only continue to kill, otherwise, I wont be able to exin it to my dead brothers! the bosss voice rumbled. You still talk about the chivalry of the martial world? Lin Beifanughed. It was us who killed them, what can you do about it? the little princess proudly said, her small fist already itching to fight. You admit it, brothers, attack! Both sides no longer hesitated and directly started fighting. The horse bandits were numerous and ferocious. However, Lin Beifans side was not inferior either. Although they were fewer in number, most of them were experts, with several seventh-grade experts among them, more than enough to deal with this group of horse bandits. In less than a moment, all the horse bandits were killed. Even the previously arrogant leader of the horse bandits was beaten to death by the little princess. But after killing him, she still wasnt satisfied and kicked him a few more times. Ugh! I hate you horse bandits the most. You have hands, you have feet, and you have skills, yet you choose to be thieves instead of being decent people! I, Yunying, will uphold justice! she dered. Enough, quickly set a fire and continue on our way! Lin Beifan waved his hand. At this moment, Sir Wang, the official responsible for protecting Lin Beifan, looked worried and said, Young master, we have attracted the attention of the horse bandit group, the situation is serious! For your safety and everyones safety, I suggest we leave Northern Hebei now! Dont worry, we will continue forward, nothings wrong! Lin Beifan said calmly. As a grandmaster, I havent even made a move yet, why rush? Let them force out my true strength first! Yes, young master! Sir Wang reluctantly nodded. So, they continued their journey, but became even more cautious and careful. Meanwhile, news of this quickly reached the Northern Hebei Princes Mansion. The Northern Hebei Prince was furious, Who are these hooligans who dare to kill my people and ruin my good ns? Thisrge and formidable horse bandit group was secretly backed by the Northern Hebei Prince, it was a force he had quietly cultivated. Due to being tricked by Lin Beifan out of a considerable amount of money, being left without funds and without any other immediate means of making money, he had no choice but to let this group of people pretend to be horse bandits andmit robbery in order to recover his losses. The banditsmitted crimes while he secretly sheltered them from above, and everything had been peaceful. But who would have known that a group of people would emerge and kill his men and horses? Damn it, they killed 500 people in just two days! Theyre too arrogant! If he lets them continue, his influence will be wiped out. Your Highness, how should we handle this? Advisor Zhuge asked. To prevent further trouble, send Mu Lao to deal with it! the Northern Hebei Prince waved his hand. Yes, Your Highness! Zhuge gentlemen bowed. And so, an imposing figure quickly rushed towards Feng County. He arrived in front of Lin Beifan and the others, without saying a word, immediately attacked. This is a master! Protect the young master! Protect the princess! The officials shouted loudly and drew their swords to attack. However, how could they be opponents of the innate expert? In less than a moment, many of them were injured! At this moment, the masked innate expert finally spoke, his voice somewhat old: Youve ruined my lords ns, you all shall die! The terrifying and powerful true energy surged in their hearts! A mighty momentum swept through all directions! It was at this moment that everyone realized that the opponents hadnt used their true strength earlier! Quick, retreat! Protect the young master and the princess! At this moment, Lin Beifans right hand moved slightly, and water vapor quickly condensed in his hand, forming droplets, which then solidified into ice, bing a thin knife as delicate as a cicadas wings, exuding a chilling coldness. Then, the ice knife in his hand suddenly disappeared. As if it had never appeared. And at this moment, the innate expert who was preparing to kill all of them suddenly saw a faint lighting towards him. His pupils contracted, and he murmured, So fast! It fell straight down from the sky, facing up, motionless. Everyone was stunned by this scene! The formidable innate expert, who was preparing to kill them all, suddenly fell down? Can someone tell me whats going on? After being shocked for a while, Sir Daren, with the most courage, slowly approached and checked the body, finally standing up with a relieved expression: Hes dead! Everyone was even more astonished. Hes dead? How did he die? Who killed him? Who is capable of killing an innate expert? I dont know! Sir Wang smiled bitterly and removed the mask from the innate expert, revealing a white-haired old man. His eyes widened, full of shock, seemingly unable to ept his fate. A tiny blood vessel appeared in his throat, and blood slowly seeped out. The fatal wound should be here! Sir Wang said with a serious expression, Despite the small size of this wound, it cut through his throat and blood vessels, instantly killing him! Everyone gasped. Instantly killing him with one strike, who has the ability to do that? Who can kill an innate expert with a single move? To have such strength, Im afraid it can only be a grandmaster! And not just any grandmaster! Which grandmaster made a move? Perhaps he was killed by a passing grandmaster! Sir Wang smiled bitterly. As for which grandmaster, I have no idea! They have always been elusive, and their abilities are unknown to others! Everyone nodded, as this exnation seemed the most reasonable At that moment, Sir Wangs expression suddenly changed, and he shouted towards the sky, Thank you, esteemed grandmaster, for saving us! If it is possible, please leave your name, and I will report back in gratitude! Others also followed suit, shouting loudly, Thank you, grandmaster, for saving us! Please leave your name, and we will show our gratitude! However, after a while, there was no response, as if the grandmaster had already left. Sir Wang and the others shook their heads, acknowledging that extraordinary people act unexpectedly and their intentions cannot be fathomed. Lin Beifan got off the carriage and asked, Whats the situation? Did the innate expert die? Yes, young master! Just when we exerted our full strength, we were saved by a mysterious grandmaster who happened to pass by. The innate expert was killed with a single move, very remarkable. Sir Wang spoke admiringly. Lin Beifan nodded. The little princess couldnt help but ask, What about the grandmaster? Princess, they might have already left! They probably just passed by and intervened when they saw injustice, then left after killing the person! Sir Wang respectfully replied. Such incidents were not umon in this world and were often spread as tales of heroism. Ah, what a pity! the little princess sighed. Its regrettable not to have met the grandmaster! Lin Beifanmented, then stepped closer to the corpse of the deceased grandmaster. Young master, be careful, he might not bepletely dead and could suddenly attack! Sir Wang warned. Its alright! Lin Beifan waved his hand calmly. Xiao Lis Flying Knife never disappoints! No one can survive under Xiao Lis Flying Knife! Lin Beifan squatted down and carefully examined the face of the deceased innate old man. In his heart, he thought, you are the first person in this world to die under Xiao Lis Flying Knife, and it suits you! At this moment, Mo Rushuang and Mo Ruhuang approached, and when they saw the face of the old man, they were shocked and pale, eximing, Its Mu Lao! Lin Beifan smiled and asked, Do you know him? Mo Rushuang closed her eyes in despair and said, Yes! Guo Shaoshuai let out a heavy sigh, the light in his eyes disappeared, his body grew a bit hunched, as if he lost all his vitality in an instant, like an old man. He turned his head to look at his fellow apprentice sister, and weakly asked, Senior sister, have we been doing the right thing all this time? Dont ask me, I dont know! Mo Rushuangs eyes were filled with confusion. What are you talking about? By the way, you all know this innate expert. Who is he? the little princess curiously asked. Although no one spoke, everyone perked up their ears to listen. But Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai remained silent, devoid of life. Lin Beifan waved his hand, Dont ask anymore, they have their own reasons! Lets discuss thister! Young master, the situation is getting critical now! If the other side sent an innate expert, there might be more strong individuals behind them! We have limited strength and cannot rely on another grandmasters protection. Its best to leave as soon as possible! Sir Wang advised once again. Lin Beifan looked at the injured crowd and felt a bit guilty. He nodded, Lets go back! So they retraced their steps until they left the Northern Hebei region, finally heaving a sigh of relief. It was another night in Langxing, and Lin Beifan sat alone, drinking. Mo Rushuang approached him and said, Mr. Lin Chapter 162: A man has to be a little wicked for women to love him Chapter 162: A man has to be a little wicked for women to love him Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Mr. Lin, I am feeling distressed and there are some things I want to talk to you about! Mo Rushuang said sorrowfully. Alright! Sit down quickly, lets drink and talk at the same time! Lin Beifan nodded. Thank you, sir! Mo Rushuang slowly sat down,posed herself, and said, The expert who hunted us down, I dont know his specific name, but everyone, including the Prince, calls him Old Mu. He is an experienced warrior! Ive only seen him once! That day, the Prince held a grand feast and invited all the martial arts masters who had a good rtionship with him! At that time, I was fortunate enough to be there and saw him sitting next to the Prince, receiving frequent toasts from the Prince! It can be seen how highly regarded he is by the Prince! In this world, the only one who canmand him is probably the Prince! Mo Rushuang said in pain, I cant believe that person is the Prince! Why cant it be him? Lin Beifan asked. Because my sect, the Iron Sword Sect, has always received the Princes favor! My master told me from a young age that only the Prince is the savior of the world. He is wise, loves the people like his own children, is generous and kind, and respects the virtuous and humble. Only by following him can Great Wu have hope, and themon people have hope! The people I know, the martial artists around me, all speak highly of the Prince and are convinced by his wisdom! And all along, I have believed that following the Prince would bring hope to the people! So, after I became skilled, I came to join the Prince, hoping to use my sword to kill all enemies and pave the way for the Prince, to do my part for themon people! But now it seems that my persistence, my beliefs, have been wrong from the start! I never thought that this wise and martial figure is just an act, and behind the scenes he is actually Mo Rushuang said in great pain, I was really blind! Lin Beifan quicklyforted her, Rushuang, you are not blind, you were just deceived by him! Think about it, in the martial world, there are countless heroes who have been fooled by him! They are all old people in the martial world, have eaten more salt than youve eaten rice, and have traveled longer paths than you have crossed bridges, but they all fell for the Princes scheme and willingly let him manipte them! How can a young girl who just came out of the martial world see through his true intentions? Thank you forforting me, sir! But, for all the things Ive done for him, am I not aiding an evil ruler? Mo Rushuang extended her trembling hand, Just the thought of me unknowingly doing so many things for him makes me feel covered in blood and dirty! This blood is the blood of themon people! Lin Beifan immediately tightly grasped her hand and said, Rushuang, youre overthinking! This isnt aiding an evil ruler, you just had good intentions but ended up doing bad things. Its never toote to mend your ways! Just think carefully, have you ever killed an innocent person No, absolutely not! Mo Rushuang said excitedly, Before I kill someone, I investigate thoroughly. They all deserve to die, thats why I acted! Otherwise, my conscience wouldnt allow it! Then theres nothing to worry about. Since you have a clear conscience, why feel guilty? Lin Beifan smiled. Mo Rushuang felt much better in her heart. But, sir, what should I do next? Mo Rushuangs eyes were filled with confusion, Now that I know his true face, if I continue to help him, its like being an aplice to a tiger. I cant ept that! But if I stop, I dont know what to do Even he, a deceitful person, I dont know who else in the world can be trusted? Is there still hope for Great Wu? Is there still hope for themon people? Whats your n? Lin Beifan asked. I want Mo Rushuangs eyes became firm, I want to expose his true face, let everyone in the world know his false benevolence and righteousness, so that no one can be deceived by him anymore! Dont do that! Lin Beifan said. Why not? Mo Rushuang asked in return. Because if you really expose his true face, then the world will inevitably descend into chaos! Chaos in the world? Mo Rushuang was shocked. Lin Beifan said with conviction, It is said that those who gain Tao will have many helpers, while those who lose Tao will have few. If he loses the most basic ethics, the people will lose trust and loyalty towards him, even the martial artists who were once friendly with him will abandon him! As a result, the throne will be farther away from him, and he will be increasingly desperate, resorting to desperate measures, and war will not be far behind! Once war breaks out, the other vassal kings will undoubtedly not remain indifferent, the neighboring countries of Great Wu will certainly not stand by! As a result, Great Wu will fall into chaos, and the world will be in chaos! In this chaos, the people will surely suffer and countless lives will be lost! Mo Rushuang was shocked and pale. And your sect will also be affected! Because you exposed the true face of the Northern King, he will definitely be angered and target your sect, targeting all your rtives and friends! So, please dont act impulsively! Mo Rushuangs face turned white! Just the thought of these tragic scenes made her feel like a perpetuator of eternal guilt! She felt ashamed of the kindness her sect had shown her! She desperately held Lin Beifans hand, feeling as if she had grasped thest straw of salvation, and said, What should I do now? Please teach me, sir! Of course, you should continue pretending, pretending to know nothing! Lin Beifan said. But my conscience is troubled! Mo Rushuang said in pain. Look at it from a different perspective, see yourself as a spy lurking by the princes side! A spy? Mo Rushuang looked puzzled. A spy representing the people, a spy pleading for the peoples lives! Only by lurking by his side will you know what he has done, what he is up to! This way, we can take targeted measures to crush his ambitions! Lin Beifan blinked, Doesnt that make you feel better? Yes, it definitely makes me feel better! But can I really do it? Mo Rushuang said anxiously, I myself have been deceived by him for so many years, I cant possibly defeat him! If theres anything you dont understand, you can ask me, Ill help you! Lin Beifan tightened his grip on Mo Rushuangs hand. Being covered by a pair of warm hands, Mo Rushuang felt a strong sense of security. Yes, if she doesnt understand something, she can ask the gentleman! The gentleman is so incredibly smart and resourceful, he must be able to deal with the warlord! And, doing this also has a big advantage! What advantage? By continuing to infiltrate, you can continue to help me swindle money from the Prince of Northern Hebei! Without money, his influence will diminish, and maybe without anyones intervention, hell ruin himself! Lin Beifan smirked proudly. Mo Rushuang couldnt help but burst intoughter, Mr. Lin, youre so wicked! A man has to be a little wicked for women to love him! Lin Beifan said. Mo Rushuangs face turned red instantly, she thought for a moment andined slightly, Mr. Lin, did you already know about the princes true nature, so youve been swindling his money all along? Why didnt you warn me earlier? Were you just watching me make a fool of myself, being used without realizing it? Ive already warned you before, but you didnt take it seriously! Lin Beifan shook his head andughed. When did you warn me? Mo Rushuang felt a bit confused. Have you forgotten the words I said to you before? Lin Beifan said seriously, To determine if a ruler is truly wise and kind, dont judge them based on what they usually do, but rather on how the people under their rule are faring! Now youve seen the situation for yourself, theyre living very poorly, theyre all bing refugees! Some things are better understood when witnessed firsthand! Mo Rushuang nodded in deep agreement. If she hadnte to Tangzhou this time and passed through the Northern Hebeis territory, she might have been deceived her whole life and remain a tool for the Prince to use. Mo Rushuang looked at Lin Beifans handsome and radiant face, and a surge of impulse rose within her, Mrm Lin, can I lean on your shoulder for a little while? Just for a moment! Of course, my embrace will always be open for you! Lin Beifan reached out and embraced Mo Rushuang. The two were close together, feeling each others warmth, and hearing each others heartbeats. Mo Rushuangs wandering heart found sce. Mr. Lin, youre so wonderful to have! Lin Beifan felt a sense of loss as he watched her slip away so easily. Ancient women are so easily shy, they would blush at the sight of a mere peoples shadow. If it were a modern girl, she wouldnt be embarrassed to kiss in public. Lin Beifan turned his head to re, wanting to see who ruined his good mood. But he found that it was Guo Shaoshuai, this entric teenager, walking over with a gloomy expression. Mr. Lin, Im feeling down and I wanted to talk to you about something! Lin Beifan frowned and said unhappily, Itste at night, and were both men, whats there to talk about? Are we going to talk about love? Go home and y with your cotton balls! Guo Shaoshuai: Guo Shaoshuai looked pitifully, Mr. Lin, if you dont talk to me, Ill pester you all day long, even if I have to squat in the toilet! Lin Beifan was shocked, What the hell! Youre so malicious! Fine, just say whatever you want, Ill listen! Thank you for understanding, sir! Guo Shaoshuai sat down and prepared his emotions, then said, I know the person who was hunting us down, he is called Lin Beifan immediately interrupted him, Wait, your senior sister has already told me about these things. His name is Mu Lao, he is an attendant of the Prince of Northern Hebei, definitely sent by the Prince to kill us! Skip the details and get to the point! Guo Shaoshuai opened his mouth but couldnt find the right words, helplessly said, But if I dont say these things, I wont be emotionally prepared! But Im already emotionally prepared, so quickly get to the point and stop wasting time like a woman! Lin Beifan impatiently said. Alright, Ill get to the point! Guo Shaoshuai said in anguish, Mr. Lin, I didnt expect that the Prince Ive been following all this time turned out to be a deceitful person! I didnt expect that my persistence and belief all these years were wrong! Mr. Lin, am I blind to not see through it? Lin Beifan pped and eximed, Youre absolutely right! Youve been foolishly doing his bidding for so many years, only now realizing that hes a viin, what else can it be if not blindness? Guo Shaoshuai: Ha?! Not only are you blind, youre also stupid and naive! If I were you, I would have already found a crooked tree to hang myself on, to prevent dying from my own stupidity! Lin Beifan said. Guo Shaoshuai: Ha?! This statement was a bit provoking, especially piercing to the heart! Guo Shaoshuai felt that his already slightly cold heart became even colder! Chapter 163: Thank you for comforting me, my heart feels even colder now! Chapter 163: Thank you forforting me, my heart feels even colder now! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
I reallyck judgment! Just the thought of me blindly doing so many things for him, causing someones death because of me, makes me feel my hands are full of blood and dirt! Guo Shaoshuai sighed to the sky, Im not even 20 years old yet, why do I have to bear all of this? Shaoshuai, dont think too much. Thinking too much will only bring you unnecessary troubles! Lin Beifan called gently. Are youforting me, sir? Guo Shaoshuai felt touched. Lin Beifan shook his head, Dont misunderstand, I have no such intention at all. Guo Shaoshuai: Lin Beifan pointed to a distant river, Do you see that river? I see it, whats wrong? Guo Shaoshuai was confused. Thats the Jinjiang River, the current is turbulent, and its at least three zhang deep! Lin Beifan sincerely said, If you really cant take it anymore, just jump in there, that way you wont have any troubles, and you can also redeem yourself! Guo y: Huff! What the heck I came to ask forport, but youre encouraging me to jump into the river! Is there no humanity left? Lin Beifan patted Guo Shaoshuais shoulder forcefully, Jump without worry, I definitely wont hold you back, nor will I give anyone a chance to save you. Go and die peacefully! Guo Shaoshuai: Huff! I think people should still live well! Guo Shaoshuai, full of survival instinct, said, But I dont know what to do now. Mr. Lin, you are knowledgeable and capable, can you teach me? Just now, didnt I already teach you? Lin Beifan blinked and said. Did you teach me? No, you didnt? Guo became even more confused. I did, I already taught you two methods! Lin Beifan raised two fingers, First, you can hang yourself to death! Second, you can jump into the river andmit suicide! These are the two most painless methods! If you still dont like them, you can take your sword and cut your throat, simple and straightforward! Its up to you to choose. Guo Shaoshuai: What the f*ck! After all that talk, its still telling me to die! What grudges do we have, for you to treat me like this? Guo Shaoshuai felt desperate, realizing that he had found the wrong person! Now, after my constion, how do you feel? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Thank you for yourfort, my heart feels even colder! Guo Shaoshuai said, touching his chilling chest. Its hot, good to feel cool! Since your heart is cool now, go back and rest. I wish you have a nightmare tonight! Lin Beifan waved his hand. Guo Shaoshuais mouth twitched. Thank you, sir, I will go back first! Finally, under Lin Beifans constion, both Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai decided to switch sides and join Lin Beifan, continuing to act as a liaison for both parties. Lin Beifan was pleased. Although these two were a bit foolish, they were very useful! Its so easy to deceive them! Especially Mo Rushuang, this silly woman, Lin Beifan felt like he didnt even need to deceive her anymore! Just with this face, he could make her person do anything! Fortunately, you met me. Otherwise, you would have been sold out and counting money for others. Its better to count money for me! At least, I care about you as a person, I dont care about anything else. After a day passed like this, Lin Beifan finally returned to the capital. After a long drought, they encountered a sweet rain. He had an intimate night with Li Shi Shi, needless to say about the pleasures of that night. The next day, he attended the morning court again. The empress looked at Lin Beifan admiringly. Sir Lin, you really havent disappointed us! After arriving in Tangzhou at night, you resolved the rebellion without using a single soldier or horse the next day! The country is fortunate to have you! Its all thanks to Your Majestys achievements. I dare not take credit! Lin Beifan bowed. Sir Lin, step forward and receive your title! the empress shouted. Im here! Lin Beifan took a step forward. The empress loudly said, During the battle of the grandmasters, Sir Lin led the soldiers and persuaded two grandmasters to leave the capital, which avoided frequent destruction and reduced numerous casualties, maintaining the dignity of our dynasty! During the military exercises on water, you promptly discovered various experts attempting to sabotage the drills, steal our countrys airbags, and you reported it to the court, recovering significant losses and once again maintaining our dynastys dignity! Now, you have also solved the rebellion in Tangzhou, which is a tremendous achievement! Therefore, We grant Sir Lin a promotion to the next official rank, bing a fourth-rank official and continuing to serve as the principal in the Imperial Academy! A reward of a hundred mu of fertilend, ten thousand taels of silver, and ten precious pearls After that, there was a series of luxurious rewards. Lin Beifan had already grown ustomed to it! The officials had also grown ustomed to it! However, even though they were used to it, the officials were still jealous! And they were driven crazy by it! This damn bastard gets promoted and rich again! And its all right in front of their eyes! But when they thought of the achievements he had made during this period, everything was justifiable, and they had no right to oppose! I can only say that this little fox is bing harder to deal with! After the Empress finished reading the reward, Lin Beifan loudly said, Thank you, Your Majesty! The Empress smiled and said, Sir Lin, you are the pir of the country. I have great expectations for you! I hope you continue to stay true to your original aspiration, forge ahead, and serve the country and the people! Yes, Your Majesty! I have a report to make right now! Sir Lin, speak freely about anything you have! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan raised his head, wiped away his tears, and said, I was originally prepared to send troops to suppress the rebels when I was ordered to go to Tangzhou to persuade them to surrender. However, the actions of this group of rebels have deeply moved me! Although they have killed the general and the officers, their hearts still long for the Great Wu Dynasty, still considering themselves as soldiers of Great Wu, unwilling to leave! Because they know that once they leave, they will truly be rebels! Finally, they would rather endure 10 militaryshes from me than remain rebels! They are such loyal and patriotic warriors, what lovely people they are! The Empress nodded in deep agreement. However, there are people who, for their own selfish interests, embezzle the soldiers wages, treat them as less than human, and resort to violence. Their crimes are unforgivable! And how many of these people are there? Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed and earnestly said, You must know that the people are the foundation of the country, and the soldiers are the backbone of the country! If we do not protect the interests of our officers and soldiers, the army will inevitably be unstable, losing all its fighting power. How can we then defend our Great Wu territory and protect our Great Wu people? Our Great Wu would be destroyed! What you say is absolutely correct! The Empress nodded, So, Sir Lin, what is your suggestion? We must thoroughly investigate and examine all the generals! Once they are found guilty, there should be no leniency! Lin Beifan said with determination, As the saying goes, if the top beam is crooked, the bottom beams will be askew! I believe we can start with the Ministry of War and gradually extend the investigation to the entire army! The Empress smiled and said, Sir Lin, your words are reasonable! Since you brought up this matter, you will be responsible for it. I believe you will sessfullyplete this task and not disappoint me! Lin Beifan was somewhat confused. He hadnt even mentioned it yet, and the Empress had already assigned him the task! She truly understands him! Lin Beifan eximed joyfully, Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best and give my all! The Minister of War and the officials of the Ministry of War were panicked! If this bastard was put in charge, he would definitely take the opportunity to raid their homes and leave nothing untouched! The Ministry of Industry is a lesson to be learned! Being raided twice, even a thief would run out in tears! Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, anxiously said, Your Majesty, this should never happen! Why not? Shouldnt we investigate? the Empress ordered. We should investigate, but it should not be entrusted to Lin Beifan! I think its good to assign this task to Lin, the Empress said with a smile. In the previous investigations, Sir Lin has done an excellent job, very outstanding! Its better to let Lin handle it since he has already proven himself. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty, your wisdom is unmatched! Li Kaiguang was extremely anxious. Your Majesty, this really wont do Li Kaiguang, shut up! the Empress shouted. I havent held you ountable for the rebel situation yet! Your repeated attempts to stop this, is there something wrong with you as well? Your Majesty, you misunderstand me. I ampletely loyal Li Kaiguang tried to exin. Shut up! You have no right to speak now! the Empress yelled again. Li Kaiguang closed his mouth feeling stifled. The officials were shocked. The Empress disyed her authority! Since Lin Beifan entered the court as an official, she had be more powerful! Because Lin Beifan was extremely capable and seemed to be able to solve any difficult problems, she no longer relied on the corrupt officials as much! Not relying on them naturally made her more authoritative! Therefore, this matter will be entrusted to Sir Lin. Anyone daring to obstruct it, refusing toply with the arrangement, will be at odds with me, and I will show no mercy! the Empress dered. Yes, Your Majesty! the officials reluctantly responded. After obtaining the power to confiscate properties, Lin Beifan sharpened his knives and headed to the Ministry of War. As a sign of respect to the Minister of War, Lin Beifan decided to start with his house. After this round, he confiscated jewelry worth 3.5 million taels. Lord Li, do you know what to do now? I dont think I need to teach you, right? Lin Beifan stood in front of the pile of jewelry, smiling. Lin Beifan, are you really going so far? Li Kaiguang eximed in anger. Sir Li, look at the way youre talking I have been lenient! Ive only confiscated your belongings, but you still have your official position and your head intact. Yet, you still say Ive gone too far? Lin Beifan said helplessly. Even if I go too far, its nothingpared to you! Li Kaiguang fumed. I only embezzled 3 million taels, but you have embezzled tens of millions. What qualification do you have to lecture me? Sir Li, I understand your current mood! But if you dont cooperate, I will have to report to the Emperor and have you punished! Punish me? Li Kaiguang sneered. Who dares to bring me down? You should know that if it werent for me leading the Ministry of War, it would have fallen into chaos, and the Great Wu Army would have fallen into chaos too! So, the Empress will never touch me! Sir Li, youve been an official for half your life. How can you be so naive now? No one touched you before because no one could rece you! Once someone can rece you, you will be dispensable and eventually be nothing! Lin Beifan said. Who can rece me? Li Kaiguang arrogantly asked. Lin Beifan pointed at himself and said, Me! Li Kaiguang replied, You? Lin Beifan nodded, Yes, me! Li Kaiguang scoffed, What qualifications and abilities do you have? Lin Beifan smiled and spread his hands, saying, Sir Li, that question of yours is too ignorant! You tell me, based on my capabilities and contributions to the court, why shouldnt I sit in this position? Chapter 164: I dont mind, Ill take that position in advance! Chapter 164: I dont mind, Ill take that position in advance! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, was a little confused and couldnt help but reminisce about everything Lin Beifan had done in the past year. He proposed a n to annex the Darro country and gradually integrate it using the Swallow Python strategy! He invented the air balloon, an aerial weapon, and the air-cushioned boat, a water-based weapon, which enhanced Great Wus military power! He proposed the n to release the Eldest Prince, which weakened the power of the Prince of Northern Hebei! He convinced the two grandmasters to move their battle outside the city, saving the capital, and maintaining the dignity of the court! He provided advanced warning, allowing the court to annihte various skilled individuals during the naval exercise! And now, he effortlessly resolved the rebel army problem! Furthermore, in just a short six months, he had risen through the ranks in the power struggle with the officials, skipping five levels and bing a fourth-ranked official. This truly demonstrated his ability! Li Kaiguang suddenly realized that Lin Beifan indeed had the ability and had made significant contributions deserving of a position as the Minister of War. Without even mentioning anything else, if the Darro country n seeded and helped the Empress achieve the great ambition of expanding the territory, he could potentially be awarded a noble title and be a high-ranking official, a promotion of three ranks wouldnt even be a problem! Lin Beifan was already a fourth-ranked official, but if he were to skip three ranks, he would be a second-ranked official! The position of Minister of War was just a step away! As Li Kaiguang thought about this, he began to feel a little panicked. Sir Li, have you thought it through? In the past, there was no one who could rece you, which is why the Empress tolerated you and let you do as you pleased. But now, its not as necessary anymore! Because she has me! I can also share the Empresss worries, and I can solve many problems even better than you, in a way that aligns more with her intentions! Moreover, I am someone she personally promoted. Its safe to say that I am a confidant! You tell me, based on these choices, who do you think she will choose? Me or you? Fine beads of sweat appeared on Li Kaiguangs face. So, the situation is quite clear now Lin Beifan grinned, With the Empresss favor and my abilities, my rank will definitely rise! After all, there are only 6 ministerial positions, and one of them is filled by you. One of you will have to step down, dont you think? And right now, theres a perfect opportunity, isnt there? Li Kaiguang was shocked, Youve already set your sights on the position of Minister of War? I currently have no interest in that position, but Lin Beifan turned his head and whispered, If you, Minister Li, dont cooperate, I dont mind taking that position in advance! If the Ministry of War doesntply, if the army doesntply? Lin Beifan chuckled softly, his eyes sharpened, I have plenty of ways to make themply! More sweat appeared on Li Kaiguangs face, and he looked even paler. Lin Beifan shouted, Sir Li, whether you believe it or not, I can carry out a thorough investigation of all the civil and military officials in the court and they will still be unharmed! Li Kaiguang trembled, and his clothes behind him were soaked with sweat! His legs felt weak! If he wasnt leaning on the table, he might have already fallen! Now, do you know what to do, Sir Li? Lin Beifan patted Li Kaiguangs shoulder, If I dont see these things after you go back tonight, then you dont need your official hat, and you dont need your life. Ill take care of it for you! Saying that, he arrogantly went to loot the residence of another official. Meanwhile, Li Kaiguang closed his eyes in despair, Someone, take these gold, silver, and jewels and send them to send them to the Lin residence! Then, Lin Beifan tirelessly continued to raid one household after another. The officials of the Ministry of War were furious but dared not speak out! Thinking about the money he had umted over half his lifetime, all of it going into that bastards pocket, it felt like his heart was bleeding! He cursed Lin Beifans ancestors eighteen generations in his heart! Other officials felt both sympathy and hesitation! Another official from a different department had his house raided! First, it was the Ministry of Industry, now it was the Ministry of War. Were they far from being targeted? How did the court let this disaster in? And themon people saw it all, shaking their heads in disappointment. Theyre all corrupt officials! One more corrupt than the other! When will this end? When will themon people have a good life? Great Wu is finished, heaven is doomed! Perhaps the only one happy was Lin Beifan! After the whole ordeal, he had collected a total of 16 million taels, and his wallet quickly grew fatter! Remember, this was only from the Ministry of War. There were still the generals in the army who hadnt been raided yet! Lin Beifan estimated that he could easily collect another 10 million taels from the army! However, the majority of the army generals are mainly scattered across the country, guarding the homnd. It will take time to find them and take action. But the generals in the capital can be dealt with first! In this way, another 4 million taels were confiscated, totaling over 20 million taels! While Lin Beifan happily raided houses, the little princess went to see the Empress and shared her observations from the trip. Sister Empress, do you know how Lin Beifan persuaded the rebels? the little princess said mysteriously. How did he persuade them? The Empress Dowager chuckled as she read the memorials. ording to the reports from below, he reached an agreement with the rebel leader and released them, and all the rebels returned to their posts! However, many details were not mentioned. Can you tell me? Of course I can! Let me tell you! The little princess excitedly described in vivid detail how Lin Beifan persuaded the rebels. If you leave, the man you hate the most will have the opportunity to sleep with your wife, beat your children, bully your mother, seize your wealth, properties, andnd, and then mock you for having nothing Hahaha Thats how he scared the rebels to death! The Empress Dowager listened andughed, Lin Beifans mouth is truly venomous. No man can handle that! Hahaha! Absolutely! At that time, many people were overwhelmed! The two women burst intoughter. But then, the little princesss mood became somewhat low. When we returned, we encountered many refugees! They all came from Northern Hebei. Because a group of bandits constantly rob and pige there, the people couldnt bear it anymore and had to leave their hometowns to seek a better life elsewhere. They look so pitiful! Then, the little princesss eyes lit up, and she held the Empress hands, full of hope. Sister Empress, you are the ruler of a nation. Dispatch people to capture all of them so that the people in Northern Hebei can have a better life! The Empress nodded with mixed feelings. I understand. In fact, she already knew about this matter a long time ago but hesitated to take action. Because she always suspected that it was instigated by the Prince of Northern Hebei. Only when he was short of money would he resort to such desperate measures. Otherwise, why hasnt he shown any response until now, and why havent any officials from Northern Hebei reported this matter? She didnt believe that the bandits had nothing to do with the Prince of Northern Hebei, even if it cost her life. Moreover, even if she wants to take action now, she has no way to do so! Although Northern Hebei is still nominally part of Great Wu, it has actually be the territory of the Prince of Northern Hebei,pletely under his control, like a country within a country. The officials there have already been assimted, only following the orders of the Prince. Many taxes cannot be collected as they have been embezzled by them. Even if she orders a crackdown, the other party will secretly oppose it, minimizing the impact and turning minor issues into nothing. There is one more thing she doesnt want to deal with. Its good if Northern Hebei is in chaos! If Northern Hebei is in chaos, the Prince of Northern Hebei will lose the support of the people, which will help her rule! Little Yunying, you can go back now. I will handle this matter myself! the Empress said softly. Oh, then Ill go back first. Take care, Sister Empress! The little princess walked away with a disappointed look on her face. After the little princess left, the Empress remained silent for a long time. She chuckled self-mockingly, Although I have ascended the throne, I still cant be as ruthless as an emperor! Send orders to the governors of Tangzhou, Liuzhou, and other ces to properly receive and assist the refugees, providing them with food and help them settle in newnds for cultivation! shemanded. Yes, Your Majesty! A blurry white figure appeared on the high beam of the pce, smiling at everything. At this moment, the little princess returned to Lin Mansion, feeling unhappy. Lin Beifan, who had just finished raiding houses, was in a good mood. Little princess, you seem a little unhappy. Tell us whats bothering you, so we can all cheer up? Dont bother, Im not in a good mood right now! The little princess sat on a stone stool, propping her chin with her hands, feeling frustrated. I feel like the Empress Sister has changed! Lin Beifan was taken aback. Changed how? Before, she cared about the people! Whenever I told her that people in certain ces were suffering, she would be furious and find ways to solve the problems! But now, when I told her about the bandits in Northern Hebei, she was very indifferent, as if it didnt matter at all! She has truly changed and is no longer the kind and tolerant Empress Sister that I knew! The little princess was feeling very distressed. This is normal. Once someone ascends the throne, even the most naive person will change! Lin Beifan said. Because they no longer have themselves in their hearts, but the whole world! If they have the ability, its fine. But if they dont, its a disaster for the country! Thats why every action andmand she takes must be carefully considered and thought through. Otherwise, if she makes a mistake, many people will suffer along with her! I see! The little princess nodded, as if she suddenly understood. To be honest, its not easy to handle the bandits in Northern Hebei! It involves manyplex issues that are not as simple as you think! Any small move could lead to chaos throughout the country! So, its right for Her Majesty not to act rashly! The little princess let out a sigh of relief, hopped off the stone stool, and looked at Lin Beifan sincerely. Lin Beifan, thank you! Every time I talk to you, my mood improves a lot! Thats how it should be! Lin Beifan ruffled the little princesss hair affectionately and smiled. In the future, whenever you encounter something that makes you unhappy, you cane to me. I will always be a loyal listener to you! The little princess felt that his hand was so warm andforting. Raising her head, she asked eagerly, Lin Beifan, will you change someday too? No, absolutely not! Lin Beifan shook his head without hesitation. How is that possible? Even the Empress has changed! Im different! Because being corrupt is my character! Lin Beifan said seriously. Whether its the past, present, or future, I will always be that corrupt young man, without the slightest change! The little princess:
1. In ancient China, the number of ministerial positions varied throughout different dynasties and periods. However, there were usually a limited number of high-ranking ministerial positions within the imperial court. During the Tang Dynasty, for example, there were eight major ministerial positions known as the Eight Ministers or Eight Great Ministers. These positions included the Chancellor (prime minister), the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of War, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Works, and the Minister of Education. Chapter 165: As long as you have enough dignity, no one can look down upon you! Chapter 165: As long as you have enough dignity, no one can look down upon you! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Little Princess was furious: You scoundrel, you even speak so eloquently about your greed for wealth, shameless! One day, I will definitely report to Empress Sister and say that you are a corrupt official! If my secret is revealed, then I will have to leave Great Wu, and we wont have a chance to see each other again! Lin Beifan said sadly. Little Princess suddenly panicked and grabbed Lin Beifans arm: Dont go, I wont say anything, okay? Alright, I wont leave, give me a smile! Lin Beifans expression instantly changed, he reached out his devilish ws and pinched Little Princesss chubby cheeks, so cute! Little Princess red at Lin Beifan angrily. In this way, she seemed to be treated as a child by the other party. Little Princess swatted away Lin Beifans misbehaving hand, grinding her teeth and threatening, How dare you bully me? Ill have you know, I have tasted human blood, are you afraid? Lin Beifan scoffed, Youre talking about bleeding gums, right? Ive had that too! Little Princess: Little Princess continued to threaten, I have even eaten human flesh. Are you scared? Lin Beifan sneered, Youre talking about wife cake, its quite delicious, Ive eaten it too! Little Princess shouted loudly, Wrong! Then it must be Fu Qi Fei Pian! If not, its Dongpo pork, haha! Lin Beifanughed triumphantly. Little Princess became furious, Why do you know everything? If you smack your lips, I know what you want to eat! Lin Beifan said proudly. Little Princess clenched her fist in anger, Damn it! I will never let you look down on me again! I swear, one day I will grow up and defeat you with my intelligence! No need for that trouble. As long as you have enough dignity, no one can look down upon you! Lin Beifan said again. Little Princess became agitated once more, Ah! Just as the two were ying around, a knocking sound came from the door. Dali, go and open the door! Lin Beifan called out. Little Princess pouted, Big Sisterjust went out to buy something, Dali and Rushuang are with her! Those two monks went back to the temple and havent returned yet. Its just the two of us in the mansion! I see, thats why its so quiet! Ill go open the door myself! Lin Beifan straightened his clothes and leisurely walked towards the main door. Just before half an incense stick burned out. An elderly man with gray hair arrived at Lins mansion with the support of two people. This should be the residence of Mr. Principal! The elderly man carefully took out several blue notebooks and said, I hope this trip goes smoothly! If I can get the endorsement of Mr. Principal, my lifelong effort might finally be published! But grandfather, although the other party is the top scorer in the imperial examinations and has now be the Principal of the Imperial Academy, highly respected and a role model for schrs throughout the country, Ive heard that he is still a greedy corrupt official! Previously, when we visited other schrs, they wouldnt even let us in without enough money! Will this work? said a young woman in her twenties. She was dressed in in white clothes, without any adornments on her face. Her long ck hair was simply tied with a white ribbon, reaching her waist. But her delicate features gave her a beautiful and ethereal appearance. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! We have to give it a try! the old man sighed. Son, you go knock on the door, and make sure to be respectful! Yes, Father! responded another person, around forty years old, with a hint of facial hair, giving him a mature and dignified look. He adjusted his hat and lightly knocked on the door. After several knocks, the door finally opened, revealing a handsome young man. What can I do for you? The middle-aged man immediately bowed and saluted, Greetings, young sir! I am Li Yng, and this is my father, Li Ruozhen, and my daughter, Li Yuxin! Wee from a family of physicians and have an important matter to discuss with the Principal. Could you please inform him? Lin Beifan was a bit confused. These people knocked on his door and didnt even recognize him? It seems that they must not be locals! Lin Beifan turned around and looked at the two people behind him. The old man had gray hair and wrinkles on his face, looking to be in his sixties or seventies. It was not easy to live this long in such troubled times. As for the woman, although she was dressed inly, she had a beautiful and ethereal appearance, like a lotus flower emerging from water. Lin Beifan couldnt help but take a second look at her. At this moment, the two people bowed and smiled politely at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan raised an eyebrow, as if he had discovered something interesting, and said with a smile, What business do you have with him? Its like this! Li Yng said seriously, Father has been practicing medicine for over sixty years, encountering numerous difficult andplicated cases, and saving numerous lives. He haspiled all his knowledge and experience into a book called Lis Medical Prescriptions. He hopes to pass down his medical skills and continue helping people. However, the book has been unable to be published due tock of reputation. So we would like to trouble Mr. Principal to give a preface to our medical book. With that, it will be easier to get it published! Lin Beifan understood their intention. They wanted to publish their own medical book, but they didnt have enough reputation, and publishers wouldnt ept it. After all, they also needed to make money! Therefore, in this era, there was apromise. That is, to ask well-known schrs or intellectuals to write forewords and prefaces for the book, which would increase its reputation and make publishers more willing to ept it. Lin Beifan happened to be such a famous schr! And he was also the Principal of the National Academy, highly respected and esteemed! If we can get him to write a preface and endorsement, then there wont be any problem with publishing this book, guaranteed to be a bestseller! What about the medical books? Lin Beifan asked. Ohhere they are! Li Yng immediately took several volumes of medical books from his fathers hands and handed them seriously to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan flipped through a few pages and said, The Principal is extremely busy and doesnt have time to meet with you. I will give him the books to review, but I cant guarantee whether he will agree to write a preface and endorsement. Of course, of course, thank you, young sir! they said politely. Its no big deal! Lin Beifan waved his hand. Just as he was about to close the door, Li Yng called out, Wait! What else? Lin Yng took out a small amount of money from his pocket and pushed it into Lin Beifans hand. This is a small token of appreciation, please ept it! Lin Beifan was once again confused. This was the first time he received such a small bribe, not even enough to fill a tooth! Lin Beifan found it amusing and weighed the money in his hand, smiling, Alright. Come back in three days! Thank you, young sir! They bowed and thanked him in unison. It was only after Lin Beifan closed the door that they straightened up. I hope this trip goes smoothly. Among all the people weve encountered, this young sir is the easiest to talk to, without making things difficult for us! sighed Li Yng, the middle-aged man. Lets go back for now. Welle back in three days! the old man said. Yes, Father! Yes, Grandfather! The three of them slowly walked away. Before leaving, the woman turned her head back and took another look. She always felt that the young man just now was a bit strange! His beauty and demeanor were rare in her life, making her unable to resist wanting to look at him more! At this moment, Lin Beifan had already gone back with the medical books. What are you holding in your hand? the little princess asked curiously. Medical books! Lin Beifan replied as he flipped through the books. Someone just gave me a small amount of money, hoping that I could write a preface and endorsement for this medical book to facilitate its publication! The little princess was shocked, They dared to give you just a small amount of money. Isnt your calligraphy worth more? Yeah, its the first time Ive received such a small amount of money! Lin Beifan tossed the small silver coin in his hand to the little princess. Buy yourself some candy! The little princess caught the silver coin and looked at Lin Beifan studying the books. She asked, Are you really going to write a preface and endorsement? Take a look, anyway, I have nothing better to do! If its written well, I dont mind writing a few words for him! Lin Beifan said as he lowered his head, reading the book. So, three days passed quickly. The family of three once again arrived at Lin Beifans doorstep and knocked on the door. This time, it was Di who answered the door. Looking at the three strangers in front of him, he asked, Who are you? What do you want? It was still Li Yng, the middle-aged man, who politely bowed and said, We visited the Lin Mansion three days ago for an important matter, hoping to meet Mr. Principal. But at that time, the Principal was not avable, and it was a young man who met us. He asked us toe back today. Is this young man here? Young man? Dali muttered. He was a very handsome young man, around 20 years old! Li Yng quickly added. Dali blinked his eyes. The only one who could be called handsome seemed to be their young master! As for the other young man, Guo Shaoshuai, he was not good looking! And the little monk could only be described as fair-skinned! All three of them were not at home three days ago, and it seemed that only the young master was! Just wait here, let me go in and inform! Dali said. Thank you! In less than three minutes, Dali opened the door again. Follow me inside! he said. The three of them followed obediently behind Dali, entering the Lin Mansion without daring to look around or ask questions. Finally, they arrived in a small garden and saw the young man from three days ago sitting in the pavilion. The young man was sitting in the middle like the center of the universe. Nice to see you again, three of you! Lin Beifan smiled. We greet the young sir! The three immediately bowed in salute. What young sir? Your address is incorrect! This is the master of our Lin Mansion, Lin Beifan. You should address him as Master Lin or Mr. Principal! Xiao Cui said somewhat displeased. You, you, youso youre the Principal? Li Yng and the others were dumbfounded. Its a genuine article! Lin Beifan smiled. Ah! Li Yng and the others legs went weak. They never expected that the young man they saw before was the Principal they had been desperately searching for! If they had known, they would have shown more respect! Addressing him as young sir was so impolite! Especially Li Yng, the thought of him giving silver coins to the Principal, it was such a disrespectful act! Their faces were filled with embarrassment, and they felt like dying! Lin Beifanughed heartily without a care. Everyone red at him with irritation. It must be this guy causing trouble again! Every time he didnt stir up some trouble, they felt uneasy! Mr. Principal, we were rude earlier, please forgive our mistakes! Please forgive the three of them hurriedly bowed and apologized with sincere fear. Its nothing, its all trivial matters. Lets talk about the medical book instead! Lin Beifan waved his hand, not minding. Mr. Principal, how do you find this medical book? the old man asked excitedly, while the other two eagerly awaited his response. Ive read the medical book, its very detailed and covers almost all medical knowledge. Overall, its not bad! Lin Beifan smiled. The eyes of the three brightened. However, there are some issues! If these issues cannot be resolved, I wont write a preface and endorsement for you, as it would tarnish my reputation! Lin Beifan added. The hearts of the three sank.
1. Wife Cake https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetheart_cake 2. Fu Qi Fei Pian /fu-qi-fei-pian/ 3. Dongpo pork https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongpo_pork Chapter 166: Could the person before my eyes be the Medical God? Chapter 166: Could the person before my eyes be the Medical God? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Could it be that I havee here for nothing again? The old man extended his trembling hand and asked, Mr. Principal, may I ask what the issue is? Lin Beifan opened the medical book and said, For example, here, the silver needle poison test has a problem! Whats the problem? Mo Rushuang, who was sitting beside him, asked in confusion. People like us, who are from the martial world, always carry a silver needle with us. When eating outside food, we use the silver needle to test for poison, and its always effective! Thats right! Li Yng and the others nodded. This is a big problem! Lin Beifan said seriously. The principle behind the silver needle poison test is actually the chemical reaction between the sulfur element in the food and silver, which is why the silver needle turns ck! However, there are many non-toxic substances that can also turn the silver needle ck! And many highly toxic substances, because they dont contain sulfur, cannot be detected using a silver needle! Therefore, the effectiveness of using a silver needle for poison testing is limited and insufficient as evidence! If you dont believe it, we can try it! Lin Beifan said. Who has a silver needle? Young master, I have one! Mo Rushuang casually took out a silver needle and handed it to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan called out again, Dali, bring me a fresh egg! Alright, young master! Shortly after, Lin Beifan inserted the silver needle into the egg yolk. No, the silver needle gradually turned ck after a moment. Everyone was extremely shocked. The silver needle actually turned ck? Is this egg poisonous? Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, This egg is the same kind we usually eat, its not poisonous at all, but it can still turn the silver needle ck! Do you dare to say that the silver needle can test for poison? I have learned my lesson! The old man repeatedly bowed. And here, theres also a problem! Lin Beifan pointed out another part of the book. Sucking snake venom with the mouth is actually very unsafe and not rmended! Why is there a problem with sucking snake venom with the mouth? I have always done it this way when I was poisoned by snakes! After sucking out the snake venom, my body recovered significantly! Guo Shaoshuai asked in confusion. Thats because you are a martial artist with strong vitality, ordinary snake venom cannot harm you! But if an ordinary person encounters it, theyre pretty much done for! The wounds caused by venomous snakes are usually very small, making it difficult for an average person to extract the venom! Even if they can extract a small amount of venom, the remaining venom left in the body can still cause the victim to be poisoned! If the rescuer has oral ulcers, bleeding gums, or other issues, then during the process of treating others, they will also get poisoned! So, the best method after being bitten by a venomous snake is to find a band and tie it tightly near the wound, to slow down the spread of toxins! Then, flush the surface of the wound with cold water repeatedly to remove snake venom, and use a small knife to cut the skin of the wound, squeezing the venom with both hands! This is the safest self-help method! After hearing this, everyone started to think deeply again. It was still the experienced old man who first understood everything and said, Mr. Principal is absolutely right. Sucking snake venom with the mouth indeed has significant ws. Your method is the safest! When I go back, I will make the necessary changes to this content! And here, the blood test for kinship is fake! Lin Beifan continued. Why is it fake? A graceful and elegant woman spoke up, Sir, in our hometown, there was a woman who gave birth to a child after her husband had been away for several months! Some people suspected that she had cheated on her husband, so they used the blood test for kinship to clear themselves of suspicion! Yes, this is something I have known since I was young. How can it be fake? The blood of rtives can naturally blend together! Is young master joking? Everyone expressed their doubts. Lin Beifan shook his head. It seemed that the method of blood test for kinship, which had no scientific basis, had be a consensus here. It was like the geocentric model, which had prevailed for thousands of years without proof, but everyone firmly believed in it. What is heard may not be true, but what is seen is real! Lin Beifan led Dali into the kitchen. In less than a moment, he brought out a bowl of water with blood droplets in it. This is Dalis blood. Who wants to try and see if it can blend with it? Ill do it! Guo Shaoshuai didnt hesitate to take out a knife and cut his finger, dripping a drop of blood into the bowl. Then, everyone saw that the two drops of blood quickly merged together. Guo Shaoshuai was incredibly shocked and excited, Dali, could you be my long-lost brother? Dali repeatedly waved his hands, saying, Im not! How is that possible? Look, our blood has merged together! Guo Shaoshuai said excitedly. Dali shook his head again, Dont misunderstand, I really am not Lin Beifan chuckled, Actually, I tricked you just now! I didnt use Dalis blood, I used pigs blood! If we follow the principle of the blood test for kinship, Shaoshuai, then you would be rted to the pig, right? Guo Shaoshuai: What?! Rted to a pig? Whats the difference between that and using derogatorynguage? Guo Shaoshuai felt like his heart had been stabbed, looking at Lin Beifan with a resentful gaze. This bastard set me up, hes really cruel! Immediately denying, How am I rted to a pig? Dont joke around! Everyone burst intoughter. Lin Beifan pointed to the bowl of water with blood and said, If you dont believe it, you can all try and see if your blood can blend. Two more people tried it and found that their blood integrated perfectly. So, this blood test for kinship method is fake and unreliable! Lin Beifan concluded. Then, Lin Beifan pointed out several other errors in the book, exining them clearly and conducting some small experiments to prove their validity. Ive learned a lot, thank you for your guidance, Mr. Principal! Without you, I would still be in the dark! This book will bring harm to many people, and I would be greatly guilty. Im ashamed! The old man bowed repeatedly, expressing his gratefulness. Thank you, Mr. Principal, for your guidance! Li Yng also bowed in gratitude. Li Yuxin, who was standing at the back, looked at Lin Beifan with a hint of admiration in her eyes and couldnt help but ask, Mr. Principal, are you also a skilled doctor? Yuxin, dont be rude to Mr. Principal, apologize! her father admonished. Mr. Principal, I apologize for my rudeness earlier! Li Yuxin gave a slight bow, full of apology. Its nothing, I dont mind! Regarding medical skills, I can only say that I have some understanding! Lin Beifan modestly replied. Everyone rolled their eyes upon hearing this. Some understanding? After just reading it once, he pointed out so many errors in a medical book that someone spent decades writing? Does he really think were fools? At this moment, Dali couldnt help but speak, Actually, Young Masters medical skills are very impressive! I used to suffer from night blindness, and I couldnt see clearly at night, often stumbling and falling. When Young Master found out, he told me to eat more animal liver and some vegetables! In just over two months, it got better! Everyone was extremely shocked, Is there really such a thing? You know, in this era, night blindness is a verymon condition! The poorer and more impoverished a person is, the higher the probability of having night blindness! And there is no way to cure it, its like an incurable disease! Mr. Principal, how did you treat night blindness? Can you tell me the method? The old man and his family were all very excited For their medical family, obtaining a method of curing diseases was like a martial artist obtaining a secret technique. Of course, it can be done. Actually, the method is quite simple! Lin Beifan smiled, The reason why people suffer from night blindness and cant see clearly in the dark is mainly due to a long-term deficiency of a certain substance in the body. So as long as this substance is supplemented, the disease will naturally be cured without the need for medicine! This substance is found in animal liver, egg yolks, fish liver oil, and so on! If you cant afford meat, you can eat carrots, pumpkins, and leafy greens, which can also supplement this substance! By doing this consistently, the symptoms will naturally disappear! Thank you, Mr. Principal, for your guidance! The three people bowed. Mr. Principal, can you record this method in this book and spread it to the world? the old man asked cautiously. Of course, theres nothing difficult about that! Lin Beifan replied nonchntly. The old man and his family looked at Lin Beifan with newfound respect! Other doctors would normally keep such personal healing methods to themselves because it was their way of making money! You see, there are countless people suffering from night blindness, and by relying solely on this method, one could be wealthy! But here he was, offering it without reservation! Praised be the Buddha! Master is truly a living Buddha in this world! the old monk bowed. Thank you, Mr. Principal, for your generosity! the old man and his family bowed. Afterwards, everyone continued to exchange medical knowledge. In reality, it was mainly the old man and his family asking questions, while Lin Beifan did most of the talking, and before they knew it, an hour had passed. Lin Beifan spoke until his mouth was dry, and everyone listened with great fascination. They never expected that thisplex and difficult-to-understand medical knowledge would be so interesting and easily understandable when spoken by Lin Beifan, and they learned a lot from it. Especially the three doctors, they benefited greatly, as if they had lifted a veil and seen a whole new world. Looking at the young face before them, they saw a medical deity! As a whole, this medical book is quite good, written in great detail and specificity. It can be considered aprehensive encyclopedia of medicine. Old sir, you have indeed put in a lot of effort! Lin Beifan smiled. Shameful, shameful The old man lowered his head, feeling truly ashamed. It took them over 60 years and the collective efforts of three generations to finally write this monumental medical work, and they thought it was enough reason to feel self-satisfied and proud! But they never expected to be outshined by this young man before them! Not only did he point out all the errors in their book, but he also contributed several methods of healing, greatly benefiting them. They felt like toddlers taking their first steps in front of him! The other two couldnt help but shake their heads, feeling ashamed! This is a great book for healing and saving lives. It should indeed be published and spread in the world! Once youve finished revising it,e find me, and Ill write a foreword for you! Lin Beifan said. The old man and his family were overjoyed, Thank you, Mr. Principal, for your generosity! At this moment, the old man gritted his teeth and bowed, Mr. Principal, I have one more humble request! Speak! Lin Beifan smiled. I would like to ask Mr. Principal to be a co-author of this book! What? Lin Beifan was surprised. Chapter 167: The Publication of Medical Books, is Mr. Principal a Divine Doctor? Chapter 167: The Publication of Medical Books, is Mr. Principal a Divine Doctor? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Everyone was surprised and didnt understand why the other party made such a request. Why is that? Lin Beifan asked. Because Mr. Principal not only pointed out the mistakes in the book, but also contributed various effective methods for treating illnesses and saving people, which are recorded in the book! Each of these methods is priceless and beneficial to thousands of people. It is a great merit! The old man said with admiration and guilt, I feel unworthy and dont know how to repay Mr. Principal. Therefore, I can only suggest this! Let your name be forever associated with this book, so that everyone will remember your kindness! Please grant our request! the other two said in unison. Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Theres no need for that. I only contributed a few methods for treating illnesses and saving people. Its not a significant contribution! Most of this medical book was written by all of you, and your names should be recognized. I dont want to be involved! If it spreads, people might think Im just seeking fame and reputation, and it will be embarrassing! Mr. Principal, youre too modest! The old man admired and said, Im just summarizing the experiences of predecessors! Summarizing experiences can be done by any doctor. But you, Mr. Principal, are pioneering a new field of medicine, pointing out a new direction for all doctors in the world. That is something extraordinary! Therefore, your contribution is more remarkable than mine! Yes, what Father said is true. Please dont decline, Mr. Principal. Mr. Principal Lin Beifan postponed his response again. He really didnt think that the medical knowledge he contributed, which was nothing special, would have such great value and be highly esteemed by others. In fact, he underestimated his own contribution. You should know that in ancient times, medical knowledge was not advanced, and a minor illness could cost someone their life. For example, giving birth to a child, almost half of them would die! But in modern times, although safety rate is not 100%, but it has reached over 98%! That is a huge difference! The few methods he contributed, although they only treated minor illnesses, were considered major illnesses during this era. Moreover, they were verymon major illnesses, and if one wasnt careful, they could really end up meeting the king of the underworld! Therefore, as doctors, they highly admired Lin Beifan! At this moment, Li Shi Shi covered her mouth andughed, Husband, they are sincere in their intentions, so ept it! Finally, Lin Beifan relented, Alright, lets do it as you all suggested! But my name must be listed after yours, otherwise, I wont agree! The old men were overjoyed, Thank you, Mr. Principal! Even after leaving, they still felt like they were in a dream. This trip was unexpectedly smooth for them! On the very first day, they directly met the Mr. Principal! They originally thought they would be met with difficulties, but not only were they not obstructed, the Mr. Principal was also easy to talk to! They obtained the promise of having their forewords and annotations listed without really giving much in return! Furthermore, they were able to point out the mistakes in the book and gain a lot of practical medical knowledge, invaluable methods for saving lives, broadening their horizons! Their long-constrained medical knowledge made great progress and brought great rewards! The old man excitedly said, After we return, we must revise it well and strive to present it to the Mr. Principal as soon as possible, with our forewords and annotations! Yes, Father! Li Yng was also excited. This was the lifelong effort of his father, and also half of his own lifes effort! Now they finally had the opportunity to publish it, how could they not be excited? At this moment, the elegant and ethereal woman, Li Yuxin, couldnt understand and asked, Grandfather, Father, why do I feel that Mr. Principal is different from the rumors? ording to the outside world, he is an immensely greedy person, never satisfied, and hated by everyone! But today, I found that he is so gentle, polite, knowledgeable, and broad-minded. He doesnt seem like a corrupt official at all! Because human nature isplicated! In the old mans muddy eyes, there was a glimmer of wisdom, After traveling around and saving lives for so many years, I have encountered thousands of people and discovered that people have two sides! Some people may appear extremely violent and ruthless, killing without hesitation, but they are extremely filial to their parents! Some people may indulge in a promiscuous lifestyle, constantly drawn to brothels, but they are actually deeply in love with one person, unfortunately, they have already passed away! Some people may appear righteous and well-dressed, but behind their backs, they are beastly creatures! Thats why people have two sides, and we shouldnt judge someone based on just one side! And we shouldnt listen to others blindly, but use our own eyes and hearts to see! Li Yuxin nodded as if she understood something. Li Yng sighed, Yes, just like when we visited many well-known schrs before! Even though we spent a lot of money to make arrangements, we never had the chance to meet them in person! Even if we did meet them, without enough wealth, we couldnt move their hearts to write the forewords and annotations for our medical book! Compared to that, Mr. Principal is much more noble and kind! Its the first time Ive seen someone who opens the door for himself! And he only epted one or two taels of silver, which I insisted on giving to him! That scene was soical, I still remember it vividly, haha! The three of them recalled the scene of their first meeting with Lin Beifan and couldnt help butugh. As Li Yuxin supported the old man and walked forward, she couldnt help but turn her head to nce at Lin Mansion, and an image of a brilliant young man appeared in her mind, Mr. Principal, what kind of person are you really? For the first time, she felt this curious about a man! After returning, they immediately worked overtime to revise the medical book. In just three days, they came back to Lin Beifan with the revised book. Lin Beifan looked very satisfied, Its good, youve made good revisions! Heres the foreword that Ive already written, take it back with you! Thank you very much, Mr. Principal! The old man excitedly took Lin Beifans foreword. He discovered that there were just over a hundred words, but they were eloquent, every word was precious, and he couldnt help but apud! Especially the sentence Physicians have the heart of parents, and the love of a calf for the apricot forest, which directly expressed his thoughts! He even had the feeling that this foreword would be popr! Mr. Principal, your foreword is written so well! With this foreword, my medical book will surely be published smoothly! Thank you for your support, Mr. Principal! The three of them were very excited. As long as you like it! Lin Beifan smiled. In the end, they thanked him profusely and went back to find a publisher for printing and publishing. This time, everything went very smoothly. When the publisher saw that Lin Beifan wrote the foreword and participated in the revision of the book, they readily agreed and offered to print tens of thousands of copies without hesitation! In less than half a month, this book, The Li Familys Medical Prescriptions, was freshly published! And it was sold under the name of Lin Beifan. Everyone was shocked. Mr. Principal actually wrote a foreword for a medical book? Who is it? Such a big honor! I heard that not only did he write the foreword, but he also participated in the revision of the book and contributed several methods for treating diseases and saving lives! What the hell! Is it fake? Does Mr. Principal know medicine? He even created the flying divine artifact, the hot air balloon, and the hovercraft what else doesnt he know? Yeah, this guy always manages to surprise people! Lets see what a medical book with forewords, revisions, and annotations by Mr. Principal looks like! With Lin Beifans fame, this medical book unsurprisingly became popr! Many doctors and physicians, upon hearing about it, wanted to buy a copy to see if it would be helpful to them. Even those who were not studying medicine nned to buy a copy. But after reading it, they were extremely surprised. Because this book was simply a medical encyclopedia, almost all methods for treating diseases and saving lives were included. Not only were doctors and physicians benefited from reading it, but even ordinary people found it very helpful. What was even more astonishing was that it pointed out manymonly epted medical practices were wrong. The silver needle poison test method was not reliable, sucking snake venom with the mouth was not safe, and the blood sibling recognition was a falsehood People wanted to argue, but the book also listed several experimental methods. Some people conducted experiments based on the methods mentioned, and in the end, they found The book was right! All their long-held beliefs and concepts werepletely wrong! This situation was extraordinary! The psychological impact on people was tremendous! As a result, this book became even more popr! Whats even more surprising is that there are actually several new methods for treating diseases and saving lives in it. Night blindness, which troubles ordinary people, can actually be improved by eating animal liver and some special vegetables. Even athletes foot can potentially be cured by eating more millet, peanuts, and other foods. As for goiter, it can be alleviated and treated by consuming seaweed,ver, and other remedies. It seems very magical. And doctors and physicians, upon seeing these methods for treating diseases, are extremely excited. If what is recorded here is true, then many people can be saved! Yes, who would have thought that these problems that have troubled us for so long can be easily cured! Is it true? Im starting to have some doubts! We can find someone to try it out! If it really works, it will be a great joy for the medical field, a blessing for the patients! Did Dr. Li Yuzhen propose these methods? I know him, although he has rich experience after practicing medicine for many years and can be called a divine healer, I dont think he has this ability! This book has another author, could it be Mr. Principal who proposed them? Yes, he proposed them, and there are annotations below! So, these doctors and physicians immediately went to find patients to conduct experiments. If it really worked, they could promote it and save thousands of patients. At that moment, inside the pce. The empress, who had just finished reviewing the memorials, yawned and stretched, Whats new in the capital recently? Tell me quickly! The old eunuch smiled and said, Your Majesty, recently a medical book called The Li Familys Medical Prescriptions has been published in the capital. It is known as a medical encyclopedia and is extremely popr, with everyone talking about it! This book has revised many medical misconceptions and provides treatment methods for several difficult andplicated diseases. It is highly acimed! By the way, Mr. Principal participated in the foreword and revision of this medical book! The empress was bewildered, Is this guy so idle that he actually wrote a medical book? Does he know medicine? Chapter 168: I dont want a son-in-law like this, I want a son-in-law like that! Chapter 168: I dont want a son-inw like this, I want a son-inw like that! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The eunuch lowered his head andughed, Perhaps you understand! Mr. Principal is knowledgeable and talented, with broad knowledge. He has created flying divine instruments like air balloons and watercraft like air cushion boats. Its not hard to understand that he also knows a bit about medicine! Well, thats true! The Empress nodded. She had always found Lin Beifan mysterious and seemed to possess knowledge far beyond this era. Not to mention his two top inventions, he always found unconventional solutions to difficult problems, effortlessly solving many seemingly insurmountable challenges. It seemed like there was nothing he couldnt handle! Having some knowledge of medicine was also not difficult to understand. What bothered her was that he was too good at hiding his abilities, keeping many things concealed and not letting outsiders know. Despite possessing incredible martial arts skills, he pretended to be a powerless schr. How is this medical book written? the Empress asked. She was very curious about everything regarding Lin Beifan. This medical book is overall very good! Besides containing extensive medical knowledge, it also exposes many misconceptions that people have had for a long time, broadening my horizons! Furthermore, it includes methods to rescue severalmon difficult conditions! If these methods are effective, it will truly benefit the people! Even I couldnt resist buying a copy to read! The Empresss interest was piqued. Really? Bring the medical book here for me to see! Yes, Your Majesty! In no time, the Empress had a copy of Lis Medical Form in her hands and eagerly began reading it, focusing on the parts modified by Lin Beifan. It was at this moment that she realized the silver needle poison testing method was not entirely reliable. There were some highly poisonous substances that couldnt be detected with silver needles, while some foods that appeared poisonous were actually harmless ording to the silver needle test. She also discovered that using the mouth to suck out snake venom was an incredibly unsafe method of treatment. If one was not careful, both the patient and the rescuer could end up poisoned and in a perilous situation. Furthermore, she discovered that the blood-recognizing method, passed down for thousands of years, was actually baseless. Any blood would mix together, regardless of whether it belonged to rtives or not. And so on The Empress gradually became enthralled in the book. It felt like watching a scientific revtion, irresistibly captivating! This book is quite interesting! the Empressughed. What Your Majesty said is absolutely right! the eunuch responded. The Empress continued reading and finally came across several new methods of treating illnesses and saving lives. To think that night blindness can be cured so easily, its amazing! The Empress sighed, In the army, there are many soldiers who suffer from night blindness! They cant see clearly at night, which affects theirbat effectiveness! Thats why military campaigns and battles are not chosen to be conducted at night unless necessary. If this method can truly treat night blindness, it will significantly enhance the armys strength! The Empress pondered and spoke to herself, We can try implementing this method in the military! If the results are significant, we can extend it to the entire army, and the military power of Great Wu will undoubtedly be enhanced! The Empress continued reading and came across the treatment method for athletes foot. Again, in the army, there is no scarcity of soldiers suffering from athletes foot, the Empress sighed once more. She had visited military camps before and discovered many soldiers suffering from athletes foot. The odor was truly unimaginable, detectable even ten miles downwind, making her lose her appetite for days. Moreover, athletes foot not only caused a foul smell, but also itching, numbness, and skin ulcers. This, of course, affected the soldiersbat effectiveness. This method can also be implemented in the military! The Empress continued reading and found the treatment method for a disease called big neck. In remote and rugged areas, cases of big neck disease are everywhere. It was believed to be a divine punishment, with no cure! Now it turns out that its caused by ack of a substance in the body, a nutritional deficiency! We can pass down this method and spare themon people from suffering! The more the Empress read, the more delighted she became. She realized that this book was truly a treasure trove! This book is soprehensive! It contains methods for treating many diseases andmon injuries, making it a perfect military medical book! If the army is equipped with this book, it will undoubtedly reduce casualties and significantly enhance military power! Lin my dear, you have once again made a great contribution! The Empressughed happily, Spread the word and make this book a military medical manual! Additionally, conduct small-scale experiments with the methods for treating night blindness, athletes foot, and other conditions. If they prove effective, promote them throughout the entire army! Yes, Your Majesty! With the Empresss support, the sales of this medical book became even more booming! The Li family was astonished! They had initially just intended to write a medical book, hoping to pass down their medical skills and benefit more people. They never imagined that this specialized medical book would sell so well or that it would bring them wealth. But now, it was selling so hotly. The first 10,000 copies were quickly sold out, and even the court ced orders for their books. For a time, their books became highly sought after in Capital! They made a fortune solely based on this book! It was quite unexpected! It was a delightful surprise! All of this is because of Mr. Principal! If not for Mr. Principal, this book wouldnt have had the opportunity to be published, let alone be popr throughout the city and gain the attention of the court! Elder Li Yuzhen couldnt contain his emotions, tears streaming down his old face. He was extremely excited. Indeed! Without Mr. Principal, this book wouldnt exist! Li Yng was also very excited and happy. Go and visit Mr. Principal again, and tell him the good news! So, they visited Lin Beifans residence once again, this time with the whole family and bringing generous gifts, showing great respect. Thank you, Mr. Principal! Without your assistance, this book would never have been published, let alone be popr. All our efforts would have been in vain! The elderly man bowed deeply. Lin Beifan quickly helped the old man up. You are an elder, theres no need for such a gesture. Please stand up. To me, its just a small matter. Nothing to be mentioned. You might think its a small matter, but it means the world to us. We can never repay this favor in our lifetime! The old man said excitedly. Youre being too polite. Pleasee inside and have a seat. Lin Beifan invited them into his house, and after a cup of tea, the old man presented a tray of silver, around 2,000 taels. He said, Mr. Principal, this is part of the manuscripts payment. We saved half of it, and the other half is yours. Please take a look! Lin Beifan waved his hand dismissively. No need. Take it back. This small amount of money means nothing to me. Just continue with your medical practice and helping people. That would be the greatest reward for me. Thank you, Mr. Principal! The old man bowed gratefully. At that moment, Lin Beifan shook his head and showed signs of fatigue. Mr. Principal, is everything alright? Are you feeling unwell? Lin Beifan shook his head. Its just that Ive been busy with official dutiestely, which makes me tired. Ill be fine after a good rest tonight. Seeing this, Li Yuxin unexpectedly felt concerned. Bravely, she stood up and rolled up her sleeves slightly. Mr. Principal, let me give you a massage to relieve your fatigue. Ive learned a set of massage techniques that can rx your muscles and nerves, soothe your mind, and relieve fatigue. The old man quickly added, Yes, Yuxins massage technique is truly miraculous. Let her help you rx and alleviate your fatigue. Lin Beifan waved his hand. Theres no need for that Please, Mr. Principal, dont refuse. Its the only way we can express our gratitude! the old man insisted, bowing again. Lin Beifan finally relented. Alright, give it a try! Thank you. Li Yuxin, with a hint of excitement, stood behind Lin Beifan and gently pressed her jade-like fingers on his temples. Lin Beifan noticed that her fingers were fair and delicate, like a work of art. Lin Beifan noticed that her hands had a faint medicinal fragrance, which smelled very pleasant. Lin Beifan also realized that her massage was indeedfortable. Mister, is the pressure appropriate? Li Yuxins voice sounded. So much morefortable! Lin Beifan sighed, unconsciously closing his eyes and enjoying it. At this point, the old man stood up. Mr. Principal, we will take our leave and not disturb your rest. Yuxin, you can stay behind and finish the massage beforeing back. Yes, grandfather! Li Yuxin responded shyly. Lin Beifan said, Let me see you off! The old man declined several times. Theres no need to trouble you, we can go back on our own. Lin Beifan insisted, Then Ill have Dali see you off! After they left the Lin residence, Li Yng couldnt understand. Father, why did we leave in a haste and only leave Yuxin behind? It seems quite impolite! Are you really dumb or just pretending? Cant you see it? The old man retorted impatiently. Yuxin clearly has feelings for Mr. Principal. Im creating an opportunity for them to spend time together! Oh? So thats it! Li Yng was dumbfounded. But Father, Mr. Principal seems to already have a wife and concubines. He hasnt married officially, nor has he taken in any concubines. Where did you hear about his wife and concubines? Even if he did have them, they are just his mistresses. They dont count officially! Besides, someone as talented and promising as him, a charming and talented man, wouldnt have multiple women? Take yourself as an example, you also took in a concubine! Li Yng fell silent. Well Furthermore, our Yuxin has reached a marriageable age, but she hasnt found anyone she likes. Thats why shes still avable! However, now that she has met Mr. Principal, a talented man matched with a beautiful woman, its a perfect match! The old man smiled proudly. But Dont but anymore. Even if you dont want a son-inw like him, I want a grandson-inw like him! I will decide on Yuxins matters, and you must not interfere! The old man said angrily. Yes, Father! Everyone reluctantly agreed. Chapter 169: Im sorry, Lord Wang, Her Majesty has given too much! Chapter 169: Im sorry, Lord Wang, Her Majesty has given too much! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, Li Yuxin was still massaging Lin Beifans head. Looking at Lin Beifans handsome face so close, she could feel his breath and warmth. She couldnt help but feel a little joy, and her heartbeat quickened. A blush quietly flew up to her cheeks. Sir, you seem very tired, is it always like this? Li Yuxin asked softly. Yes, I have too many official duties to handle! Lin Beifan sighed with his eyes closed. I am the Principal of the Imperial Academy, responsible for managing thousands of teachers, students, and workers in the school. The responsibility is not light! In addition, I have been entrusted by Her Majesty to oversee the production of the ari balloon and the air cushion boat! I also have to attend early morning court every day and take care of other affairs! I am truly a brick of the court, moving wherever needed! For example, before this, I was responsible for handling the matters of the two grandmasters battle, as well as going to Tangzhou to persuade the rebel army to surrender. These are not my original job, but I took care of them, and fortunately, Ipleted the missions satisfactorily, not disappointing the grace of the Empress! Li Yuxin said with pity, Sir, youve worked hard! This is not considered hard work, it is also a way to share the worries for Her Majesty and seek justice for the people! Lin Beifan said, If I dont oversee the production of the air balloon and the air cushion boat, there will definitely be people who take advantage of the situation and betray the national interests, putting Great Wu in a disadvantageous position! If I am not responsible for the grandmasters battle, they will bring the battlefield to the capital, even directly to the Forbidden City. The capital will inevitably suffer countless casualties and deaths! If I dont go to persuade the rebel army to surrender, war will surely break out, causing discement and destitution among the people! Therefore, I have no choice but to do these things! Li Yuxins eyes were filled with admiration and admiration. I heard about these things when I came to the capital! If it werent for your tremendous efforts, Great Wu would have been in chaos long ago! Sir Principal, you are amazing! Oh! Its good that you understand! Lin Beifan sighed, However, the most tiring thing is dealing with the court officials. They all wish for my death! As long as I make a single misstep, I will meet my demise! I have topete with them in wit and courage every day, which is especially exhausting! Li Yuxin felt even more sorry, Sir, you are truly too hardworking! You are so young, yet you have to take care of so many state affairs! How about this, I wille regrly to give you massages and help you rx! Ah? How can that be appropriate? I dont deserve any reward without merit! Sir, I beg you not to refuse. This is the only thing I can do for you! Thanks to you, my grandfathers hard work could be published, and you even revised medical books and taught us invaluable remedies. I dont know how to repay you, this is the only way I can show my gratitude! Li Yuxin said sincerely. Lin Beifan was moved by her sincerity, Okay, thank you for your hard work! Sir, youre too kind, Li Yuxin smiled slightly, feeling full of joy in her heart! She would be able to see him more often in the future! Half an hourter, the massage finally ended. Lin Beifan noticed that Li Yuxins delicate jade fingers were trembling slightly, indicating her effort during the massage. So, Lin Beifan asked her to stay for dinner. Afterward, he asked Mo Rushuang to send her home. At this time, in the Northern Hebei, Advisor Zhuge, hesitated at the door for a long time, pondering over it repeatedly, and finally gritted his teeth and walked into Princes study. Bowing with both hands, he said, Reporting to Your Highness, we still havent found the real murderer behind M. Please punish us! (Tln= M is Old Mu who was murdered by Lin Beifan) Prince of Northern Hebei became furious, You worthless thing! I gave you such a long time, why cant you find a single person? I raised so many of you, what are you doing? Zhuge nodded his head lowly, enduring the scolding with bitterness in his heart. In these past few months, Princes temper had gotten worse and worse! The Royal Mansion was empty, there was not much wealth! The production of the air balloon and air cushion boat consumed a significant amount of manpower and resources, but they still couldnt be produced! Many experts died in session, even innate experts suffered two deaths and one serious injury! The military force disguised as bandits was wiped out by someone else! It could be said that the fortunes were not in favor! Therefore, Prince was extremely angry, either scolding or beating! And as his trusted confidant, the person responsible for many matters, Zhuge bore the brunt of his anger! It could be said that his body suffered, but his heart suffered even more! After scolding, Prince felt more relieved in his heart and asked, How much money is left in the Royal Mansion? Give me a sum of money, around 500,000 taels. I was nning to entertain important guests! Zhuge lowered his head and said, Prince, there is not that much money left in the Royal Mansion! Prince became angry again, How can there be no money? Where did the money go that we robbed before? Trembling, Zhuge said, Prince, although we had robbed over 3 million taels before, more than 1 million taels were spent on manufacturing the air balloon. Another 1 million was used for the expenses of the army and the martial arts experts in the mansion! The remaining 500,000 taels were sent to the top schr in the capital city! So, now theres less than 500,000 taels left! Prince was once again enraged, If theres no money left, then go and rob again! Zhuge panicked, Prince, we cant rob anymore! Why cant we rob? Prince, we have already robbed everything that can be robbed. Themon people dont have much wealth anymore! Furthermore, due to rampant banditry, many people have fled from Northern Hebei, no longer working in agriculture! Merchants no longere to our region for business, and the economy has already declined. The tax revenues have also decreased significantly! Therefore, we should rest, recuperate, and work to restore the economy as soon as possible! But how can we do without money? Prince angrily eximed, How can we support the army without money? How can we support the martial arts experts? Dont be fooled by their obedience, each and every one of them is an experienced expert. If we run out of money, they will leave faster than anyone else! We have worked so hard to establish a good situation, shouldnt it all copse? Your Highnesss words are very true! But we really dont have much money Mr. Zhuge wiped his sweat, feeling helpless. Since theres no money, then you find a way to get money for me! Prince shouted. But I dont know how Mr. Zhuge helplessly smiled. He was an advisor, good at nning and advising, but if it came to quickly making money, he truly had no way. Prince also knew that this was a difficult task, calmed down, and said, Since we cant rob in our territory anymore, we can send people to other provinces and let them rob there! Mr. Zhuge was shocked, Your Highness, this is very dangerous! Without our secret protection, the casualties will multiply! Why dont you have another solution? Prince said angrily. Mr. Zhuge lowered his head. Just do as I say! Thus, the bandits who were once confined in the northern Hebei region seemed to break free from their cage and spread out in all directions. While bringing back great returns, they also brought back massive casualties. The other provincial governments and military forces were not lenient towards them. Once they discovered the bandits, they immediately took action and dealt with them ordingly. And this matter finally rmed the imperial court. The Empress became enraged, How can this be! The problem with the bandits has be so serious before it was reported? What were you all doing before? Your Majesty, these banditse from the northern Hebei region, it may be rted to Prince of Northern Hebei! As this matter is of great importance, the officials dare not act without orders. Please forgive us, Your Majesty! an old minister said. F*ck the Prince! If I find out youre involved in this matter, I wont spare you! the Empress eximed loudly, My esteemed ministers, do you have any good strategies to solve this bandit problem? Your Majesty, we can request other provincial governments to send troops to suppress and eliminate them! But the bandits move quickly, appearing and disappearing without a trace. How can we send troops to suppress them? By the time the troops arrive, they might have already fled! In that case, what other solutions do you have, Sir Wang? Everyone had their own opinions. The Empress wasnt very satisfied, and her gaze drifted to Lin Beifan, who was standing there, idly fishing. She smiled slightly, Sir Lin, do you have any good strategies? Lin Beifan stepped forward and said loudly, Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble servant does not have any good strategies. Please examine it carefully! In his heart, he silently thought, Prince, rest assured, I will never betray you! I am your most loyal subordinate, unwavering in poverty and misfortune, never yielding to power and prestige. You can trust mepletely! The empress still had a smile on her face, Sir Lin, if you propose a good strategy, I will grant you a three-day vacation! Lin Beifan immediately said loudly, Reporting to Your Majesty, I have juste up with a method that might solve the bandit problem! Silently shedding tears in his heart, Im sorry Prince! Its not that I want to betray you, but the Empress has given me too much! The Empress smiled internally. I knew it, if I dont give you some benefits, you wont budge, youzy person! Sir Lin, what is your brilliant n? Speak up quickly! the Empress asked expectantly. Your Majesty, the reason why its difficult to eradicate the bandits is because they move quickly and disappear without a trace. They are also highly scattered. It isborious and inefficient to surround them with regr military forces. To deal with these cunning bandits, ordinary soldiers wont do. So, cant we change our approach and use martial arts experts to fight them? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Martial arts experts also move quickly and disappear without a trace, and they are even more powerful. They are perfect for dealing with bandits! We can publish a wanted list and offer a reward for the bandits heads, ten taels of silver per head. Let them kill the bandits for us, and we can distribute the money from behind! This idea is good! the Empresss eyes brightened. But, ten taels of silver per head is too little, it wont attract powerful experts at all! And if their strength is insufficient, they wont be able to deal with the bandits! Shouldnt the reward amount be higher? an old minister asked. Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, No need! In addition to the wanted list, we can also release a hero list for recognition! ording to the number of bandit heads killed, they will be ranked. The more they kill, the higher their ranking! Most of these martial artists are fame seekers. To rank higher, they will definitely actively kill bandits and strive to make the list, to be heroes! This hero list is great! the Empresss eyes became even brighter. In addition, we can promise that the person ranked first on the hero list will be granted a reasonably fair condition by our court! This way, wont we attract real experts? Lin Beifan proudly smiled, This group of bandits is at most four to five thousand people. We only need to pay a mere forty to fifty thousand taels, plus a reasonably fair condition, to easily solve the bandit problem. Your Majesty, is this n feasible? The Empress shook her head andughed, Sir Lin, it had to be you. You came up with such a brilliant strategy! I think this n is good. My esteemed ministers, do you have any objections or anything to add? The officials looked at each other, unanimously saying, We have no objections, Your Majesty! Good! We will proceed ording to the Sir Lins n! Chapter 170: The Hero List is Out, and the Martial World has Gone Crazy! Chapter 170: The Hero List is Out, and the Martial World has Gone Crazy! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
This matter involves the martial world, so it naturally falls under the responsibility of the Six Doors. Therefore, the bounty list was posted. To solve the problem of bandits in the northern region of Hebei, the imperial court offered a generous reward of ten taels of silver for each bandits head. At the same time, a Hero List was released, and the top ten individuals who kill bandits can be on the list, known as heroes, spreading their fame far and wide for everyone to know. The person who ranks first will be hailed as the Great Hero who exterminates bandits. They can propose a reasonable condition to the imperial court, and the court will consider and grant it as appropriate. When this imperial list was released, it shocked the martial world and sparked heated discussions. The bounty list, with ten taels of silver for each bandits head? If you kill dozens of them, wouldnt it be hundreds of taels? Are bandits really that easy to kill? If its so easy, the imperial court would have taken action themselves. Why would they leave it to others? If one doesnt have a certain level of martial arts cultivation, going after the bounty list is seeking death! And then theres the Hero List. Being on the top ten for killing enemies, you can be a hero and be famous throughout thend! If you do well, wouldnt you be renowned? Lastly, the person who kills the most bandits can propose a condition to the imperial court! This condition is so tempting. If I want to be an official, would the court agree? Maybe not as a high-ranking official, but as a low-ranking one? This condition really makes me tempted! Countless martial artists were tempted. They came out to roam the martial world, didnt they want to uphold justice and make a name for themselves? Now there was a perfect opportunity! Going to kill bandits, isnt that upholding justice? Climbing up the Hero List, bing a bandit exterminating hero, wouldnt that make their name known? Moreover, killing bandits can also earn money. Bing a great hero who exterminates bandits, the imperial court would even grant them a reasonable condition! They could uphold justice, earn money, gain fame, and even make wishes This imperial list satisfied all their needs! Arent they just small bandits? Even if theyre strong, can they overpower my de? I happen to need money. Ill go kill a few bandits for fun! Today, I will go kill bandits and be a bandit-ying hero! Countless martial artists, sharpening their des, rushed towards the northern region of Jibei. Among this group of martial artists, there was a burly man with his face covered, only revealing a pair of eyes. He looked at this imperial list with eager eyes and muttered excitedly to himself, If I can be a bandit-exterminating hero, perhaps I can He touched the de in his hand and clenched his teeth, Those who dare, win. Lets do it! Then, without hesitation, he turned and left, heading towards Northern Hebei. Northern Hebei and the surrounding areas became bustling. A middle-aged man in his thirties, with a thick waist and broad shoulders, suddenly stopped a group of bandits. Arrogantlyughing, he said, You must be the bandits, right? I happen to need money, so Ill use your heads to earn some and be a bandit-ying hero, haha! The leader of the bandits was furious, saying, Lets see if you have the ability! Brothers, kill him! In the time it took to burn half an incense stick, the middle-aged man withdrew his sword and looked at the bodies on the ground, sneering, You think you can be bandits with this level of skill? You overestimate yourselves! In another ce, two young heroes tracked down a group of bandits. Are you the bandits wanted by the court? Youre carrying so many things, looks like you havent stopped robbing! Today, I will uphold justice and kill you! Without hesitation, they drew their swords and attacked. In the time it took to burn half an incense stick, they left behind the bodies on the ground and left. Senior brother, Ill go kill the next batch! Youre right, junior brother! In other ces, scenes of martial artists hunting down bandits were ying out everywhere. These martial artists faced the bandits fearlessly and directly drew their weapons, excitedly shouting and killing. It must be said that using martial artists to deal with bandits was the perfect match. Because if you didnt have any skills, you wouldnt dare to venture into the martial world and would have died long ago. As a result, in less than a day, many people came to report to the government. Haha, today I killed thirteen bandits and came to report! A burly man with a face full of beard entered the government office, carrying a sack. He opened the sack and poured out a pile of bloody right palms. The person in charge of receiving the report was an expert from the Six Sects. He carefully verified the authenticity of each right palm. To prevent others from killing innocents for personal gain, they came up with this method of verification. First, they could tell if the hand belonged to someone who often held a sword or other weapon. With their rich experience, they could tell at a nce. Second, those who became bandits must have stronger abilities than ordinary people, usually possessing some internal martial arts skills. A hand that had been nurtured by internal martial arts and that of an ordinary person were different, and they could discern it. With this method, they could basically determine the authenticity of the hand. Of course, one could also kill other martial artists and im their hands for credit. However, martial artists were more difficult to kill, and their numbers were limited. With this time and energy, it was better to kill more bandits. A total of thirteen bandits, so the bounty is 130 taels. Please take it! The expert from the Six Sects epted the sack of right palms and handed over the bounty. The other person epted the money and curiously asked, By the way, Your Honor, I killed thirteen bandits. What rank am I now? The official from the Six Doors smiled and said, It seems like you want to make it onto the Hero List? The other person arrogantly replied, Of course! Is it just for a few measly silver coins? Alright, Ill give you a waist que that represents your identity. With this, your military achievements can be umted! Whats your name? The official from the Six Doors took out a specially made waist que and asked. My name is Zhao Hu! The expert engraved the words Zhao Hu on the waist que and also recorded Zhao Hus name in another booklet before handing over the waist que to him. In the future, when youe to turn in the bandit heads, use this waist que for registration. Your military achievements will be umted! Our Hero List will be updated every day at noon and posted, so keep an eye out! Thank you, Your Honor. I, Zhao Hu, will take my leave! Afterwards, many martial arts experts came to im their rewards with bloody palms. In just one day, over 300 bandits had been killed, and the results were remarkable. As a result, the rankings for the first edition of the Hero List were released, causing a heated discussion. The rankings for the first edition of the Hero List are out! Zhang Long is in first ce, having killed 32 bandits, impressive! The second ce is also remarkable, a person named Zhao Hu, who killed 17! The following rankings have many people as well, all true heroes! Ah! I was just a step away from making it onto the Hero List. If I had known, I would have made an extra effort and killed more bandits! Thats right, lets go, tonight well kill bandits all night long and make sure were on the Hero List tomorrow! Countless martial artists were stimted. Those who made it onto the Hero List felt inspired and proud, while those who didnt felt like they had been injected with chicken blood, and they vigorously pursued. A scene ofpeting and chasing unfolded. Among these people, there was a tall and sturdy individual. He had a sack draped over his shoulder, emitting a faint smell of blood. At this moment, he was solemnly looking at the list, saying to himself, I camete by one day, looks like I must catch up! Without hesitation, he turned and left, heading towards the government office. Upon seeing the official from the Six Doors who was responsible for the reception, he ced the sack from his shoulder on the ground, revealing several bloody palms. Ivee to im my reward! The official looked at the other partys appearance, and although he was curious, he didnt ask further questions. In the martial arts world, there are all kinds of people, and no matter how unique their appearance may be, he had seen it all before. Its best not to inquire too much in the martial arts world, so as not to annoy anyone and cause unnecessary trouble. A total of seven bandits, heres 70 taels of silver, take it! The person epted the money and said, Give me a waist que! Whats your name? I am called Niu Mowang (Great Bull Demon King)! The name was also peculiar, more like a title, but the Six Sects member didnt ask further and handed over the waist que with the engraved characters. After leaving the government office, the person looked back and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Gazing forward with determination, he said to himself, Continue to kill bandits, strive to be a great hero in suppressing bandits! Subsequently, more and more martial artists came to fulfill their tasks and im their rewards. The Hero List was released every day, with new heroes appearing every day! Everyonepeted and pursued, striving to be heroes on the list, thepetition was intense! And gradually, this list spread from the Northern Hebei region to the entire country, attracting nationwide attention. Thepetition is too intense, the top spot changes every day! Yes, yesterday was in first ce, today dropped to fifth, overtaken by four people! We wont know who the hero is until thest moment! Now, its about who can stay longer, the one who stays the longest can be considered a hero! Thats right! However, I think that person, the one called Niu Mowang, is quite impressive. Since making it onto the list, he hasnt fallen off and has been steadily ranked! Although his name isnt at the top, hes exceptionally consistent! Ive been paying attention to this Niu Mowang, lets see if he can make it to the top! The heroes on the list also became famous across the country, more famous than many long-established heroes and chivalrous figures! As a result, even more envious martial artists were mobilized to go to Northern Hebei region to kill bandits. The head of the Six Doors specially came to find Lin Beifan and had a cup of tea with him. He raised his thumb and said, Principal Lin, your method is truly amazing! With a negligible cost, youve managed to mobilize so many martial artists to go to Jibend to suppress the bandits! Ever since I joined the Six Doors, Ive never seen this group of martial artists so active! Haha! Lin Beifan smiled and said, As the saying goes, where theres no profit, theres no motivation! I give them money, give them fame, and theres a huge promise from the court waiting for them. I dont believe they wont be motivated! Youre right! In this officials opinion, it may take less than half a month to solve the bandit problem! Principal Lin, you have once again achieved a great aplishment, congrattions! Guo, the head of the Six Doors, smiled and bent his hand. Thank you, thank you! Master Guo, you have also achieved something, havent you? Lin Beifan also bent his hand. Everything is thanks to Principal Lins blessings! If such good things happen in the future, dont forget about this official, haha! Of course, of course! The twoughed heartily and were very happy. At this moment, Lin Beifan thought of the prince of Northern Hebei and wondered if he had gone mad with anger? Chapter 171: Which grandson came up with such a vicious plot, causing me to cannibalize my own men? Chapter 171: Which grandson came up with such a vicious plot, causing me to cannibalize my own men? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, the Prince in Northern Hebei was already furious in madness. F*ck! Damn court, daring to offer a reward for my men, allowing fellow martial artists toe and kill them! Do they really think Im a paper tiger that can be bullied at will? Your Highness, please calm down! Mr. Zhuge behind him trembled and said. The Prince of Northern Hebei became even angrier: How can I calm down? Ive worked so hard to train these soldiers, and more than a thousand of them have been killed! I havent made much money, and a third of my men are dead! If this continues, in less than half a month, everyone will be dead! Are you going topensate me for all my efforts? Mr. Zhuge was scolded to the point of being speechless. He lowered his head and said, Your Highness, since we have already been discovered by the court and suffered heavy casualties, we might as well recall them! Absolutely not! If we recall them, our mansion will have no money. What will we eat and drink? Can you solve these problems? The prince arrogantly said, Moreover, if we recall them now, wouldnt it mean that I, the king, am afraid of the court? Afraid of the niece sitting on the Nine-Five Seat? Therefore, I must confront the court head-on! But, Your Highness, the casualties will be enormous Mr. Zhuge said earnestly. You dont have to say any more. I have made up my mind! The Prince of Northern Hebei said in a fit of rage. Just then, a servant came to report. The Prince of Northern Hebei tidied himself up, adjusted his mood and expression, and became affable and friendly, saying, Let theme in! A group of martial arts heroes walked in, and they all greeted in unison, Greetings, Your Highness! The Prince of Northern Hebei greeted them with a heartyugh, Haha! My dear friends from the martial arts world, I was just thinking about you and preparing to invite you for tea and chat, but I didnt expect you toe first. Isnt this a wonderful coincidence? It is! The group of martial arts heroesughed. Haha! The princeughed again, and hisughter filled the room, making everyones mood pleasant. My friends, you all came together. Is there something you need? Report to Your Highness, we havee to bid farewell to you! Farewell? The Prince of Northern Hebei immediately asked with concern, Did I not entertain you well? They quickly waved their hands, Your Highness, you misunderstood! We have been living well here, enjoying ourselves so much that we have forgotten our homes! If it werent for a major event happening, we wouldnt want to leave! Oh? What major event is it? Tell me, and perhaps I can help you solve it! the prince said considerately. Your Highness, its not actually a major event! one of the righteous heroes, with a righteous appearance, smiled and said, The court has issued a wanted list, calling for everyone to kill bandits! Killing the bandits not only earns money but also gains fame! This action truly suits my taste. Although Im not happy with the court, they have indeed done a good thing! I thought there was nothing to do recently, so I also went to kill bandits. By doing so, I can eliminate harm for the people and gain the reputation of a bandit-ying hero. Isnt it wonderful? The princes smile gradually froze, Youre going to kill the bandits? Yes, we are all going to kill the bandits! I had the intention before, and then I found out that everyone else had the same idea, so we decided to go together and kill the bandits, haha! Not only can we earn some pocket money, but we can also gain fame and help the people. Its a win-win situation! I know many martial artists who have participated and be heroes in killing bandits, their reputation spreading throughout the world! I cant stand it, their strength is not evenparable to mine, so why should their reputation surpass mine? So I will kill a few bandits, brush up my own reputation and surpass them! Lets take over all the top ranks on the Hero List, wont that be a legendary tale? Thats a great idea! But I think the top hero position belongs to Hero Mohe River! Modesty, modesty, haha! The more they talked, the more excited they became, as if they had already reached the top of the Hero List. However, the princes face became darker and his mood worsened. Is it considered self-cannibalization to let these heroes kill the bandits? Using the heroes he had recruited with great difficulty to kill the soldiers he had painstakingly trained? And if they acted, would his soldiers have any chance of survival? The princes heart was filled with anxiety and he said anxiously, Heroes, theres no need to trouble yourselves with such trivial matters, you dont have to go, right? However, the intention of the martial arts heroes to go had already been decided. Rest assured, Your Highness, we are just going for the fun! It will only be 10 days to half a month at most, and even if its slow, we will be back within a month. It wont dy any major matters! Moreover, its very close to the mansion. We cane back in two or three days! Take care, Your Highness. Well see you again! Well be going! They bid farewell and left, leaving behind a confused prince and a bitter military advisor. Mr. Zhuge forced himself to speak, Your Highness, recall them! If they dont return, there will only be a dead-end, and they will die at the hands of their own people! Can you endure this humiliation? Ah! The prince went into a frenzy, smashing things around. Damn it! Which cunning grandson came up with such a rotten idea? Causing me to cannibalize my own men, this is absurd! I cant coexist with you anymore! Mr. Zhuge tried to speak, Your Highness Quickly summon them all back! If its toote, youll be responsible! Yes, Your Highness! However, the bandits had already dispersed and couldnt be recalled just by wanting to. In the Northern Hebei region and its surrounding areas, numerous martial artists had gathered, guarding various checkpoints, waiting for the bandits. As soon as they detected them, they would attack and kill them to gain credit and fame. These bandits, who were once arrogant and rampant, are now pathetic and miserable. They are running around like rats being chased by people. Sometimes, in order to avoid being hunted, they even hide in the deep mountains and forests, starving and feeding on mosquitoes for days. And the Hero List is almost being refreshed every day. The top-ranked hero for killing bandits has already surpassed 200 heads! Even the heroes at the bottom have a high number of bandit kills. Even the lowest ranked 10th ce has surpassed 100! The difference between them is not significant, and thepetition is fierce! Almost every day, a group of people would be waiting at the yamen gate. Look, thats Hero Mohe River! He has only been here for two days, but he has already killed over 80 bandits with incredible efficiency! He will probably make it onto the Hero List today! And theres Hero Jin, his strength is also very strong. He has been dominating the list for four consecutive days, very powerful! And theres Hero Wandao, his sword is very fast! It is said that he once single-handedly faced a group of forty to fifty bandits and killed them all with just two or three strikes, very remarkable! Look! Thats Niu Mowang (Bull Demon King)! Everyone turned their heads and saw a tall, masked man walking in. Niu Mowang can be said to be a legendary figure on the Hero List. Since he climbed onto the Hero List, he has nevere down. His strength is formidable, so everyone admires him. In addition to his tall stature, mask-wearing appearance, cold expression, and the title of Niu Mowang, he stands out and has gained numerous fans and admirers So when he came, he immediately attracted the attention of many people. Niu Mowang had long been ustomed to all of this. Ignoring the worshipful gazes of the crowd, he carried a bag full of bloody palms and entered the yamen. Ivee to report! Ive got a total of 31 bandits. The harvest is not bad this time! Congrattions, Hero Niu Mowang, I have a feeling that you might make it to the top 3 on the Hero List this time! Well done! an official weed him with a smile. Thank you! Niu Mowangs voice was somewhat hoarse. He nced at the Hero List, his gaze determined, and clenched his fist! He not only wanted to rank in the top 3, but also wanted to reach the top and be the great hero of bandit extermination! This is 310 taels, keep it! Thank you! Niu Mowang took the money and turned to leave. He wanted to continue killing bandits and increase his kill count to be number one! In less than a week, over 2000 bandits had already been eliminated. The remaining bandits dared notmit crimes and could only hide to avoid being killed. As time went on, more and more people from the martial world joined, but the number of bandits being killed decreased, causing everyones killing speed to slow down. The rankings on the Hero List gradually stabilized. However, to everyones shock, there was still one person steadily rising. That person was Niu Mowang. Every day, he would consistently bring back several bandits palms, constantly updating his aplishments. Although it was much lesspared to before, it was still much better than everyone else. Someone asked him, how did he find those bandits? Niu Mowang fell silent for a moment and said, Perhaps it is my talent! He grew up in the jungle, so his facial features and instincts were trained to be as sensitive as beasts, and he could even understand thenguage of animals. So, relying on this special skill, he found one nest of bandits after another in the deep mountains and forests, eliminating them all and turning it into his own aplishments. After three more days, no bandits could be found, not even by Niu Mowang himself. Thus, the imperial court solemnly announced: the grand bandit extermination operation was over! The people on the Hero List could all be called heroes who exterminated bandits, and the court would post a notice to spread their glorious names throughout the world! Among them, Niu Mowang, with his formidable feat of being the number one in enemy kills, ranked at the top of the Hero List and was hailed as the great hero of bandit extermination, his name admired by all. Congrattions, Hero Niu Mowang! The officials collectively congratted him, From the moment we saw you for the first time, we knew you were extraordinary! I didnt expect you to not only be a hero who exterminated bandits but also ascend to be a great hero. This is truly remarkable! Thank you all! Thank you! Niu Mowang was extremely excited, trembling all over. sping his hands tightly, his goal had finally been achieved! So, could he An official smiled, Hero Niu Mowang, our court promises that as long as you be a great hero who exterminated bandits, our court can fulfill one not too excessive condition for you! Please tell me, what is your request, and I will report it to the empress! The empress is wise, and she will definitely fulfill your wish! Thank you! Niu Mowang took off his hat and tore off the face cloth on his face, revealing his true identity. Everyone was shocked when they saw his face, You, you, you are As you can see! My wish is Chapter 172: Mr. Principal, you are truly my lucky star! Chapter 172: Mr. Principal, you are truly my lucky star! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In the imperial pce of the capital city, in the Golden Imperial Hall, during the morning court. Your Majesty, I have been assigned the task of resolving the issue with the bandits! It has been over half a month now, and a total of 4282 bandits have been eliminated. The Northern Hebei region and its neighboring areas can no longer find a single bandit, and the threat of bandits has beenpletely eradicated. Please take notice, Your Majesty! The chief of the Six Doors reported on the progress of eliminating the bandits. The empress listened and was extremely delighted. Imperial Uncle, can you still eat when you have lost so many soldiers and warriors? I really want to see your expression now! It must be quite a sight! Haha! Sir Guo, you have done a splendid job with this matter! I reward you with ten thousand taels of silver, one night pearl, and ten dragon eye pearls! In addition, everyone who participated in this matter will be rewarded with one thousand taels each! Thank you for Your Majestys reward! The chief of the Six Doors was very pleased. This aplishment and reward were almost like picking up for free. Because they didnt have to sacrifice anything, not risking their lives or shedding blood and sweat. They were mainly responsible for eptance and distribution of funds, and yet they managed to obtain this credit. They were truly grateful for Mr. Principal! The chief of the Six Doors suddenly realized that following Mr. Principal was a promising path! Previously, when they encountered two grandmasters, he and his brothers were prepared to sacrifice themselves for their country. However, the opponents easily moved the battlefield outside the capital city, resulting in no sacrifices and even gaining a substantial profit. After that, the incident of seizing the military exercise ship was also informed by him, which allowed him to im this credit. On top of that, there was now this achievement Mr. Principal was truly his lucky star! It seems that he should move around more in the future! Additionally, there is one person who deserves even greater rewards! The empress smiled as she looked at Lin Beifan, If it werent for Sir Lins brilliant n, our court wouldnt have been able to resolve the bandit issue so smoothly! Sir Lin, you deserve credit for your contribution! Serving Your Majesty and alleviating Your Majestys worries is my duty! Lin Beifan spoke loudly. I know that youck nothing now, so I wont reward you with anything! This aplishment will be remembered for now, and when you have umted enough, I will reward you with a promotion! The empress said loudly. Lin Beifan knew that the empress was saving up credit for him again, and once it was enough, she would promote him a level! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan responded. Your Majesty, during this process of eliminating the bandits, ten heroes emerged who each killed at least two hundred bandits! It was because of them that our operation against the bandits went so smoothly! As per Your Majestys request, I have already put up their names and spread their fame throughout the empire! Chief Guo continued his report. Sir Guo, you have done a good job with this matter! The empress nodded. There is one person among them who has exterminated 514 bandits and has be a great hero in the fight against the bandits! However, this persons identity is extremely special, and the conditions he has proposed are also very unique. I couldnt make a decision, so I havee to report to Your Majesty! The empresss mood was good, Who is this great hero, what are the conditions, and why couldnt you make a decision? Your Majesty, this person ims to be the Niu Mowang, but his original identity is Big Bull. He was the ringleader who led 30,000 soldiers in desertion and is currently a wanted fugitive by the court! There was an uproar in the court! They never expected that the great hero in the fight against the bandits was actually a wanted fugitive! And not just an ordinary wanted fugitive, but someone who previously killed an official of the court and led a desertion of 30,000 soldiers! And the condition this person has proposed is to have the warrant on his head canceled and to be pardoned for all his crimes! Due to the significance of this matter, I couldnt make a decision, so I havee to report it to Your Majesty! The empresss gaze became serious, What are your thoughts, esteemed ministers? Speak your minds! Your Majesty, absolutely not! The Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, stood up, This person killed a court official andmitted treason, nearly causing irreparable damage to the court. His crimes are grave and he is unforgivable! If we agree to his request and pardon him for his crimes, where will the courtsws and authority be? Please, Your Majesty, think carefully! Please, Your Majesty, think carefully! Other officials also stood up in agreement. Minister Li, how do you think we should proceed? The empress asked. Your Majesty, I believe we should seize this opportunity to capture him and bring him to trial! Li Kaiguang said loudly. He lowered his head, his eyes shed a hint of cunning. It was this person who caused him to inexplicably bear the me. It was this person who caused Lin Beifan to take advantage of the situation and raid his house, leading to him losing his wealth overnight. The grudge was too deep. He must kill that person to relieve his hearts hatred! At this moment, Lin Beifan also stood up, Your Majesty, I believe Minister Lis approach is not appropriate! What is inappropriate about it? The empress asked. Our court has promised that those who be heroes in the fight against bandits can make a reasonable request to the court! If we disregard this promise and throw him into prison, wouldnt we be aughingstock in the eyes of the world? At that point, the courts authority and reputation would suffer as well! Please, Your Majesty, think carefully! Lin Beifan spoke loudly. Sir Lin, he is a wanted criminal of the court, and a traitor to the country! If we easily let him go, what if others follow suit? Can you bear the consequences of that? Li Kaiguang eximed angrily. Lin Beifan smiled, Minister Li, thats an exaggeration! What if others follow suit? They would first need the ability to do so. Can ordinary soldiers kill high-ranking officers? If they can, it means the officer is worthless, so we wouldnt want them anyway! But, as for others, would they follow suit andmit treason? Lin Beifan chuckled softly, If they have good food, good shelter, and receive monthly military pay, and if their officers treat them well, who would be willing tomit treason? After all, treason is a matter of life and death, and who would be willing to take such a risk? So, Minister Lis words dont have much reasoning behind them! The Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, was speechless after being refuted and had to change his approach. But what about thews of the court? After all, hemitted treason, he is a wanted criminal of the court, how can we easily pardon him? Yes, he has indeed aplished something, but his aplishments do not outweigh his crimes! Indeed, his aplishments do not outweigh his crimes, but we can make an exception! Lin Beifan bowed, Your Majesty, whether to capture or release him, or to take other action, we must consider everythingprehensively, analyze the pros and cons, and make a decision that is most beneficial to the court! First, capturing him! This way, the court indeed resolves a potential threat, but our reputation will bepromised! From this perspective, the cons outweigh the pros! Next, releasing him! Although it preserves our reputation, it does indeed undermine ourws! And also, with him being outside, not bound by any restrictions, people may still feel uneasy. Again, the cons outweigh the pros! Therefore, I have a third option: amnesty! Amnesty? The empress pondered, Continue. Amnesty has multiple advantages! Lin Beifan smiled, Firstly, it can preserve the courts reputation and authority, and it can also showcase the emperors benevolence, encouraging more people to choose to serve the court and devote themselves to Your Majestys rule! Secondly, after weing him with amnesty, he will be under our watchful eyes. We can closely monitor him to prevent any further harm to the court. This way, everyone will feel more at ease! Thirdly, this person has extraordinary abilities to subdue and conquer numerous bandits. Such talent should not be wasted! We can allow him to continue serving the court, continue achieving merit despite his guilt! Once his merits are sufficient, we canpletely pardon his crimes. This way, the courtsws will not be harmed! Your Majesty, do you agree with this? Sir Lin, your approach has won my favor! The empress was delighted, Let it be so! However, who will be in charge of him? Your Majesty, let me take charge! Guo, the head of the Six Doors, stepped forward and smiled, This person is not only skilled, but also adept at tracking in the wilderness. The Six Doors just happen to need such talent! Very well, let it be Sir Guo! In this way, the matter was settled. The heroic bandit exterminator, Big Bull, who was a wanted criminal of the court and hadmitted unforgivable crimes, was notpletely pardoned but was granted amnesty outside the boundaries of the courts jurisdiction. However, he had to enter the Six Doors and undergo court supervision while continuing to serve the court and achieve merit with guilt. One could say that this approach was highly appropriate, satisfying both the courts face and its core interests, leaving no room for criticism! When Big Bull learned of this, he was very happy. Although his crimes were notpletely pardoned, he had regained his freedom. He no longer needed to hide his face or fear being captured. He could openly meet his brothers. Although he had to enter the Six Doors and be under court supervision, serving the court. But from another perspective, he was now eating the governments food. Many people would love to have the opportunity to enter the Six Doors, but they didnt have the connections. As long as he didnt make any mistakes, he could live a peaceful life. So, he followed the skilled members of the Six Doors and went to the capital to meet Guo. I am a humble subordinate, Big Bull. I pay my respects to Master Guo! Guo inspected Big Bull from head to toe and nodded in satisfaction, Not bad, you are talented! I heard you are particrly skilled in tracking. You have found many bandits hiding in the wilderness. The Six Doors just happen to need someone like you! Do your best! And as for the crimes on your record, dont worry about it. When your merits are sufficient, I will request the empress topletely pardon your sins! Yes, Master! Big Bull rejoiced. But, you really have a boldness! The court was searching for you everywhere, yet you dared toe and kill bandits, and even dared to propose such conditions to the court. You are so impulsive! Do you know that your life was nearly forfeit? Guo scolded. Big Bull was shocked, Then why Isnt it because of Sir Lin? Guo smiled, If it werent for Sir Lin defending you in court, speaking on your behalf, you would have been finished! After all, youmitted the crime of treason, nearly causing heavy losses to the court. Its already fortunate that your head is still on your shoulders! Siri Lin Big Bulls gaze becameplicated, and his emotions were alsoplex. He remembered the young man he met two months ago! It was him who took action, swiftly resolving the rebellion and giving him a way out, leaving a deep impression! But he never expected that it was him again, saving his life in court! The two had met by chance, with no grudges or favors. Why was he so kind to him? Big Bull bowed respectfully, Master Guo, I would like to ask for your permission to take a leave and express my gratitude to Sir Lin. May I have your permission? This should be done. You may go! Please convey my regards to Sir Lin! And so, Big Bull bought some valuable gifts and went to the Lin family to express his gratitude to Lin Beifan. He solemnly stated that if there was ever a need, he would spare no effort to repay the debt of saving his life. Chapter 173: I study Spring and Autumn, I am not a casual person! Chapter 173: I study Spring and Autumn, I am not a casual person! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Looking at the figure of Big Bull leaving, Lin Beifan sighed: Many who im righteousness are actually heartless, and many who study are unfaithful. Mr. Lin, why do you say that? Mo Rushuang asked in confusion. Look at Big Bull. He has be a wanted criminal by the court, yet he still came here to kill the horse bandits and boldly requested for amnesty Lin Beifan shook his head. If he didnt still have hope for the court, hope for this country, why would he take the risk of being executed? With his abilities, he could hide his identity, live somewhere else, wouldnt that be better? To knowingly do something impossible, that is a true loyalist! Mr. Lins words are wise! If it were me, Im afraid I would have long escaped to the ends of the earth and not have any more rtions with the court! Mo Rushuang nodded in agreement. But, it is also because of those naive and lovable people that the country has hope! Inparison, many well-read people are heartless and unfaithful,peting and attacking each other in court for their own selfish gain! It is because of them that they have ruined the great foundation of Great Wu, leading to the suffering and hardships of the people! Lin Beifan said. Mr. Lin, I think what youre saying is not correct! Mo Rushuang said. Where am I wrong? Lin Beifan was perplexed. Not all schrs are heartless and unfaithful! Like Mr. Lin, you are an outstanding schr, but you silently aplish many things that benefit the people! Especially this time, if it wasnt for your intervention, the region of Northern Hebei would still be suffering from the horse bandits. On behalf of the people in my hometown, I thank you! Mo Rushuang said, feeling somewhat emotional. Rushuang, is it just gratitude in words? Lin Beifan asked expectantly. Mr. Lin Mo Rushuang blushed and lowered her head. Then, she reached out her delicate jade hand and slowly untied her belt. Lin Beifan was shocked! Could it be that Rushuang wants to repay me with her body, in the absence of any other means? Oh my, how can this be? Although I really want it, I am after all, a schr of Spring and Autumn, I am not a casual person! But if you insist, I can only reluctantly agree! Lin Beifan, who had received a modern education, knew an important lesson in certain situations, one must uphold morals and not resist a womans will! Then, something even more shocking happened to Lin Beifan! She actually She actually took out a stack of silver notes from her belt! Mr. Lin, take it! A total of 500,000 taels! Mo Rushuang said proudly. Lin Beifan was speechless. Is that it? Where did this moneye from? I swindled it from the prince! Ever since I found out his true identity, I have been trying to weaken his power, so I took advantage of your name and tricked him into giving me this sum of money! Mo Rushuang said, feeling triumphant. Lin Beifan said helplessly, Rushuang, youre bing more and more wicked! Mo Rushuang humbly said, Its all thanks to the guidance of Mr. Lin! Lin Beifan: Lin Beifan took the silver notes and said, Since its just money, why are you blushing? Mo Rushuangs cheeks turned red. After all, its my first time deceiving someone, so I feel a bit embarrassed. Lin Beifan was even more speechless! Okay, so I misunderstood. I got excited for nothing! Now, how is the situation on the princes side? Lin Beifan asked with concern. I dont know the core secrets, but I heard from a friend at the Royal mansion that the prince hasnt been in a good mood recently! Although he smiles at everyone, it seems forced! Mo Rushuang proudly said. Also, the Royal mansion is running out of money! The advisor even told me to find a way for you to ask for less money! Lin Beifan burst intoughter. They probably never expected that you have defected to my side! Not only didnt you save them money, but you actively helped me earn money! Please dontugh, Mr. Lin! Mo Rushuang blushed and lowered her head. Seeing the bashful appearance of the beauty in front of him, Lin Beifan felt his heart flutter. He reached out his hand and pulled Mo Rushuangs slender waist into his embrace. In the midst of her astonished gaze, he kissed her. Mr. Lin mmm! Time slowly passed, and two days went by. On this day, after more than half a month of preparation, the Li Medical Clinic finally opened in the capital city. Due to the poprity of Lis Medical Form throughout the city, the Li Medical Clinic became popr as well. Many people from the capital came to join in the fun, crowding in front of the clinic. However, the majority of the young masters were mainly there to see a certain person. They were fixated on a white figure at the back of the clinic, as if their souls were being drawn away. Is that Miss Li Yuxin? Shes so beautiful, like an elegant chrysanthemum, and as enchanting as a blooming narcissus, beautiful! Yes, shes different from Miss Shi Shis noble appearance and different from Miss Ziyues bewitching allure. Li Yuxin has a unique temperament that can be described as pure and ethereal! And, not only is Li Yuxin beautiful, but she is also knowledgeable, respectful to her elders, and treat everyone kindly! She has been learning medicine from her ancestors since childhood and is a skilled andpassionate doctor! If I could marry a woman like her, I would dly sacrifice ten years of my life! So, they were all gathered at the clinic entrance to admire the beauty. Many young masters even pretended to be patients and entered the clinic in search of medical advice, hoping for a chance to get closer to Li Yuxin. Li Yuxin seemed to see through their intentions and ignored them, instead handing them over to the senior doctors inside the clinic. She mainly focused on receiving female patients or attending to children, and if there were no patients, she would prepare prescriptions. This left many young masters, who had ulterior motives, greatly disappointed. However, their moods quickly improved. Li Yuxin ignored me and ignored you as well, which means I still have a chance! When a golden city is reached, gold and stone will yield! They believed that one day, they would be able to win Li Yuxins heart! And at that moment, Li Yuxin looked towards the door and suddenly revealed a radiant and delighted smile. Everyone was struck by this smile, their hearts pounding. Li Yuxin, are you smiling at me? So beautiful! Such a healing smile! Mom and dad, I think Im in love! Then, Li Yuxin hurriedly ran towards the entrance of the clinic. The young masters immediately started showing off, disying their handsome and valiant sides like peacocks opening their feathers. But Li Yuxin ignored them and went to a young man. Excitedly, she said, Mr. Principal, youre here! The person in front of her was Lin Beifan, who apologized as soon as he entered, Im sorry, everyone. I was busy with official duties and only had time toe now. I hope you understand! The people in the clinic gathered around, smiling. Mr. Principal, you are too polite. Its an honor for us that youre here! Its our pleasure to have you here. You bring radiance and make us delighted! Li Yuxin, serve Mr. Principal a cup of tea! For a while, Lin Beifan became the most handsome guy in the clinic! Those so-called young masters were nothingpared to Lin Beifan! Li Yuxins beautiful eyes were always fixed on Lin Beifan. She lowered her head slightly, with a shy and timid look that clearly indicated her feelings. This drove the young masters crazy! Li Yuxin, could it be that youre interested in Mr. Principal? Whats so good about that man? Is he just slightly more handsome? Slightly more talented? Slightly wealthier? Slightly more powerful? But can these things feed you? Li Yuxin, cant you be less superficial and take a look at us too! Although we may not be handsome, talented, rich, or powerful, but we have a heart that loves you! Dont give up the whole forest for just one tree! At this moment, Lin Beifan, who was adored by everyone, raised his hand and said, Although I came to offer my congrattions, I wont wish you all good luck in your business! Why, Mr. Principal? everyone was puzzled. After all, you are running a medical clinic. Wishing you good luck and prosperity means more suffering and hardship for themon people, isnt that inauspicious? Everyone burst intoughter. Mr. Principal, youre absolutely right! So, here Lin Beifan smiled and said, I wish you all good health and a life free from illness and disaster! Thank you, Mr. Principal! Mr. Principal, pleasee inside! Li Yuxin, since you dont have any patients now, you can entertain Mr. Principal! the old man called out. Yes, grandfather! Li Yuxin blushed and nodded in agreement. Watching the two of them happily enter the inner room, the young masters present once again felt heartbroken! Such a depressing smile! Mom and dad, it feels like I just experienced a breakup! My beloved woman has someone else in her heart, but that someone is not me! Inside the inner room, Lin Beifan only stayed for a while and then left. After all, the other party had just opened and had many things to attend to. It wouldnt be good to dy them. But as he walked out, he bumped into someone he knew, Princess Ziyue, who had just returned. Princess Ziyue, its been over a month. I hope youve been well! Lin Beifan smiled. Mr. Principal, as soon as I returned, I heard that you got promoted again. Congrattions! Princess Ziyue walked over gracefully, her eyes filled with a smile. She still liked wearing purple clothes and a purple veil, only revealing her captivating purple eyes. She exuded a seductive and mysterious aura, giving off a sense of nobility. Lin Beifan shook his head. Its just a small fourth-rank official, nothing special! Princess Ziyue rolled her eyes upon hearing this. A fourth-rank official is nothing special? In the imperial court, that could be considered a high-ranking official! Even in some smaller countries, even when facing the prime minister of another country, they would still speak with confidence! Moreover, you have achieved this rank in just over half a year, and rapidly climbed several ranks. Its all thanks to your actual achievements. Theres probably no one in the world who could aplish this! Mr. Principal, youre really joking! Now, if you have the time, there is something important I want to discuss with you! Princess Ziyues expression turned serious. Lin Beifans expression also became serious, and he nodded. Of course, I have time! Mr. Principal, please follow me! The two of them left side by side, talking andughing. The young masters who were still there, witnessing this scene, felt heartbroken once again and let out a resentful roar in their hearts! You already have so many good women, why do you have toe andpete with us for Li Yuxin? Cant you leave some soup for us to drink? Lin Beifan, we are sworn enemies! Chapter 174: Is the Duke of Wuxi colluding with foreign enemies, about to rebel? Chapter 174: Is the Duke of Wuxi colluding with foreign enemies, about to rebel? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Princess Ziyue led Lin Beifan to the back of Xiyue Building. There was a tranquil courtyard pavilion connected to Xiyue Tower, which was Princess Ziyues residence in the capital. Although the courtyard was small, it was decorated very elegantly, obviously with a lot of thought put into it. Lin Beifan followed the princess into the pavilion, where a faint tea fragrance wafted through the air. It turned out that the tea was already brewed. Princess Ziyue removed the purple veil from her face, revealing her stunningly beautiful face. Then she invited Lin Beifan to sit down and delicately lifted a cup of tea, cing it in front of Lin Beifan with a smiling face. She said, Advisor, please enjoy! Lin Beifan took a sip and smiled, The fragrance is intoxicating, and the aftertaste is sweet. What a great tea! It is an honor to drink tea personally served by the princess! If the advisor is willing to apany me to Wuxi, you can drink my tea every day! Princess Ziyue took the opportunity to say. Lin Beifan continued to taste the tea without responding. Princess Ziyue cast a resentful nce at Lin Beifan. She also knew that Lin Beifan now had an unlimited future and would definitely not abandon his current glory, wealth, and bright future to follow her on a risky adventure. Therefore, she stopped dwelling on this question. Then, they discussed the development of Wuxi while drinking tea. After nearly three months of secret development, the nted Moon faction had made some achievements. The number of members had reached 300,000, distributed in various border viges. The formal military strength they had absorbed had already reached 30,000, forming a certain scale. However, they had not yet formedbat effectiveness and needed to focus on training. Princess, congrattions! Lin Beifan smiled and bowed, In another three months, these soldiers will be able to be deployed to the battlefield and train with the soldiers of Duke Wuxi! The restoration of the nted Moon Dynasty is just around the corner! Thank you, advisor! If it werent for your assistance, we wouldnt have achieved our current results! If our great cause seeds, you will be the greatest contributor! Princess Ziyue thanked Lin Beifan with gratitude. Princess exaggerates, I only gave some suggestions, but you all took action! I am also very happy to see your achievements! Lin Beifan humbly smiled. However, we have discovered a major problem! This problem is rted to the restoration of our dynasty, so I came to seek advice from the advisor! Princess Ziyues expression gradually became serious. What problem, please tell me, Princess? Lin Beifan asked, his expression bing solemn. We have discovered that the Duke of Wuxi and the Dayue Dynasty are secretly colluding! Princess Ziyue said in a low voice. Lin Beifan became unsettled, and the two women standing on the pavilion were also unsettled! The Duke of Wuxi was a prince of the Great Wu Empire! He was the uncle of the current empress, a member of the imperial family! Not only did he fail to protect the borders for our ancestors and the court, defending against enemies outside the countrys gates, but he also secretly colluded with other dynasties. This is such a treacherous act! What does he really want to do? Lin Beifans gaze hardened as he asked, Is this true? How could I dare deceive the advisor? Princess Ziyue exined in detail, We stumbled upon this situation identally! The Dayue Dynasty and thend of Wuxi are separated by the Qinglong Mountains. As long as we defend several key checkpoints, we are basically worry-free! But in reality, there is a secret passage unknown to outsiders, and we had used this passage to travel between our nted Moon and the Great Wu! Lin Beifan nodded, indicating for her to continue. However, we unintentionally discovered that the Duke of Wuxi knows about this secret passage! They use this passage to secretly trade with Dayue Dynasty, transporting provisions, warhorses, weapons, and more! No! It shouldnt be called a trade, its more like one-sided assistance! Because all we have seen is the Dayue Dynasty sending these military supplies to the Duke of Wuxi, while the Duke of Wuxi hasnt given anything in return! So I suspect they may have a secret agreement, possibly targeting Princess Ziyue pointed towards the Forbidden City, The Great Wu! On the rooftop of the pavilion, the empress clenched her fist, gritting her teeth. He is truly a good uncle of mine! Actually colluding with outsiders, inviting wolves into our home, and disregarding our ancestors legacy! How admirable! Your Majesty, please calm down. Let us continue listening! Bai Guanyin calmly spoke. Hmm! The empress nodded, perking up her ears, not wanting to miss a single word. Inside the pavilion, Lin Beifan asked, How much provisions, warhorses, and weapons have they transported so far? Princess Ziyue immediately responded, Since we discovered this situation, we have sent experts to keep a close eye on that secret passage! Up until now, they have transported a total of 40 million catties of provisions, over 20,000 warhorses, and numerous sets of armor, difficult to count, but enough to equip an army of 50,000! Upon hearing this, the empress turned cold all over. Truly, a good uncle of mine! Over 40 million catties of provisions, over 20,000 warhorses, and enough armor to equip an army of 50,000 These were enough to fight a medium-scale war! If they were to wage war, who could they fight against? Certainly not the Dayue Dynasty, the supplier of the resources, it could only be The Great Wu Empire! Assisting outsiders to fight against their own empire! Shameful and detestable! Lin Beifan closed his eyes, then opened them, raising three fingers, In less than three months, the Duke of Wuxi will definitely rebel! Everyone was shocked and horrified. The princess immediately asked, Advisor, what makes you say this? Very simple, because this military supply is also a burden for the Dayue Dynasty! They wont keep giving without any returns, they wont willingly feed a wolf and let it attack them! So, the Duke of Wuxi must rise up and take action within a short period of time, or else! The reason why the time frame is less than three months is because after three months, the weather will get cold and it will be difficult to wage war. They would have to dy until next year, and neither side can afford to dy! Therefore, they will undoubtedlyunch a swift attack before the court can react, all the way to Fenghuang Mountain! By upying the Fenghuang Mountains, they will have a natural barrier to defend and safely spend the winter! The empress on the rooftop felt even colder, with a chill running down her spine. Because she realized that Lin Beifans analysis was incredibly logical! The Duke of Wuxi was very likely to rise up in the near future and conquer one-third of the Great Wu territory by advancing to Fenghuang Mountain! At that time, other vassal kings would surely take advantage of the situation and rebel, splitting the Great Wu! Neighboring countries would definitely not remain indifferent and would invade the Central ins! The Great Wu would undoubtedly be engulfed in mes of war! Uncle, you are despicable! For the first time in her life, the empress despised someone so much! However, Princess Ziyue in the pavilion was somewhat excited. Advisor, isnt the internal chaos in the Great Wu our opportunity? Our chance for the nted Moon to ascend? Lin Beifan mocked, Princess, give up on that idea. Its already good enough if we can survive! The princess was dissatisfied, Advisor, why do you say that? The internal chaos in the Great Wu is a perfect opportunity for power struggles and the rise of various forces. Cant we benefit from it? If you want to benefit from it, you must have strength first! Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, But princess, with the forces we currently have, what can we do? Can we defeat the Duke of Wuxi? Can we defeat the Dayue Dynasty? We cant even defeat a regr army! As soon as we emerge, we might be wiped out by others! The princess lowered her head in shame. She didnt expect herself to be so blinded by the current situation ande up with such a foolish idea! Fortunately, she sought the advisors advice, or else their grand cause would once again have no hope! Now, what we need more than anything is a stable environment for development! When we have enough strength and are no longer afraid of anyone, then we can make waves! In summary, its eight words: discreet growth, then powerful domination! What should we do? Please advise me, advisor! The princess earnestly asked for guidance. Naturally! I am the strategist of the nted Moon, responsible for the rise and fall of the nted Moon! Lin Beifan dered with righteousness. Thank you, strategist! The princess was overjoyed, eagerly listening. The two figures on the rooftop also perked up their ears, listening to Lin Beifans strategies. However, after a while, Lin Beifan still hadnt said anything. Advisor, what Lin Beifan coughed, Princess, have you forgotten something? What? Princess Ziyue blinked her eyes in confusion, looking unexpectedly cute. This thing! Lin Beifan rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, winking crazily. Princess Ziyue: The two women on the rooftop were infuriated, their faces turning ck. At such a critical moment, he still thought about money? I want to go down and beat that money-grubbing bastard! Princess Ziyue gritted her teeth and took out a stack of silver bills, handing them to Lin Beifan: Advisor, please ept! Princess, youre too kind. Its my duty to offer advice and strategy for you! Lin Beifan quickly epted the money while speaking politely. The corner of Princess Ziyues mouth twitched. Advisor, you truly understand me. Can we speak now? Of course! Lin Beifan smiled mischievously. There are three things we need to do now! First, we absolutely cannot let this war break out! Once it starts, even if we dont want to, we will be involved! At that time, we will not only have to face the Duke of Wuxi, but also the Dayue Dynasty and possibly other forces. Its too dangerous! Our current strength is too weak, we must be cautious! Princess Ziyue nodded in agreement. Second, we must prevent the alliance between the Duke of Wuxi and the Dayue Dynasty. If these two, one being a vassal and the other a newly-risen dynasty, join forces, their strength will be too formidable and pose a great threat to us. Furthermore, both of these forces are enemies of our nted Moon Dynasty. Only by dividing and weakening them can we benefit! The strategist is right! Princess Ziyue nodded again. Third, we need to seize the opportunity to weaken the Duke of Wuxis power. After he obtains this batch of military supplies, his strength will greatly increase, which is extremely disadvantageous for us. If we continue like this, the power gap between us will only growrger, and it will be more difficult for us to rise! Advisor, do you have any brilliant ideas? Princess Ziyue eagerly asked. For some reason, seeing Lin Beifan so calm, her previously anxious heart suddenly became calm, filled with a sense of security, as if there was nothing he couldnt solve. The empress standing on the rooftop also hadplete confidence in Lin Beifan. Ever since he entered the court as an official, he had resolved many particrly difficult matters! As long as the money was in ce, nothing was a problem! She was particrly eager to see how this money-grubbing little bastard would handle the uing war and resolve the crisis in the Great Wu! Chapter 175: A Bloody Incident Triggered by a Treasure Map! Chapter 175: A Bloody Incident Triggered by a Treasure Map! 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Princess, before proposing the strategy, I want to ask you a question. The treasure of the nted Moon Dynasty is not likely to be in the Qinglong Mountain Range, right? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Princess Ziyue shook her head. I dont know, but its highly unlikely! 100 years ago, our dynasty had a general who intended to rebel butcked money. So, he came up with the idea of this treasure! He suspected that the treasure was hidden in the Qinglong Mountain Range, but after 20 years of searching, he couldnt find anything. Strategist, why are you asking this? Well, that makes it easier! Lin Beifan pped his hands. My strategy is rted to the nted Moon treasure! The nted Moon treasure is not a legend but a real thing! For hundreds of years, countless people have wanted to obtain this treasure and be superior beings, but no one has seeded. However, its charm still attracts countless people! So, we can discreetly publicize that the nted Moon treasure is hidden in the Qinglong Mountain Range, at the vicinity of that secret passage! In doing so, all the problems will be solved! Lin Beifan said proudly. Princess Ziyue, still in a daze, asked, Advisor, how does that solve everything? How dense are you? Cant you understand such a simple logic? Lin Beifan said impatiently. By saying that the nted Moon treasure is near the secret passage, the secret passage will be exposed. Can the Wuxi Duke still cooperate with the Dayue Dynasty through that secret passage? Obviously not! Right! Princess Ziyues eyes lit up. Secondly, who wouldnt want the incredibly wealthy nted Moon treasure? Whether its the ambitious Wuxi Duke or the power-hungry Dayue Dynasty, they will never let go of the treasure and want it for themselves. And the nted Moon treasure is conveniently located between the two! As a result, they will inevitably have suspicions and be wary of each other, making cooperation even more difficult! The strategist is absolutely right! Princess Ziyues eyes became brighter. Thirdly, if the nted Moon treasure is exposed, it will not only attract the attention of the Wuxi Duke and the Dayue Dynasty but also the people from various feudal lords and even individuals from different countries. Even many martial arts practitioners will join in the excitement! It can be said that there will be all sorts of people, all of them rebellious figures who will definitely give the Wuxi Duke a headache! Dont be fooled by his im of a million strong army and formidable strength. In front of the people of the world, its not enough! At that time, due to the pursuit of the treasure or other conflicts of interest, major frictions will inevitably ur, leading to casualties on both sides! The Dayue Dynasty will also suffer significant losses! Yes, yes! The advisor is right! Princess Ziyue nodded repeatedly. Fourthly, if everyone is digging for treasure, who will have the mood for war? You might end up losing your home while fighting! Moreover, the nted Moon treasure is so enticing! If one obtains it, they will surely be the richest person in the world! Wars can be foughtter, but the treasure cannot be missed! I believe that the Wuxi Duke and the Dayue Dynasty will make wise choices! In this way, the war wont start, right? Theres also the fifth point, Princess. We can take advantage of theirpetition for the treasure and develop ourselves! As long as we get through this period, we will be able to challenge the Wuxi Duke! The Empress standing on the attic, excitedly pped her thigh. Great idea! This is killing two birds with one stone! Not only does itpletely solve the crisis of the Great Wu, but it also weakens the West Wu King and the Great Moon Dynasty! Even other ambitious individuals will be drawn into the game, and casualties will be inevitable! Its truly marvelous, beyond words! Bai Guanyin shook her head and sighed, This n is indeed brilliant! Using the world as a chessboard, calcting everyone inside, letting them kill each other and damage each other, while ensuring the safety of the Great Wu, its really extraordinary! Inside the attic, Princess Ziyue looked in shock at the man before her, as if she was seeing a deity. Lin Beifan smiled slyly and asked, Princess, is this n feasible? Princess Ziyue stood up and deeply bowed, acknowledging, Advisor, you are truly talented. I am convinced! Princess, theres no need for such a grand gesture. Its just some trivial strategy! Lin Beifan immediately helped the princess up. Princess Ziyue rolled her eyes. How could this be considered trivial? Then what would be a brilliant strategy? Princess Ziyue sat back down and thought for a moment. She voiced her concern, The only problem now is, will they believe it? They would rather believe there is something than believe there is nothing! After all, its the incredibly wealthy nted Moon treasure. Even if theres only a glimmer of hope, they wont give up! Lin Beifan was extremely confident. Princess Ziyue thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. If it were her, even if there was only a slight possibility, she would send someone to search for the treasure. Finding nothing would be fine, but what if they actually discovered something? However, we need to carefully consider the specific methods, how to achieve a seamless deception and deceive the whole world! Then, Lin Beifan and Princess Ziyue discussed how to deceive the world. Fortunately, Princess Ziyue was a member of the nted Moon royal family and knew many secrets about the treasure. As a result, the n became more and more refined, and a story about treasure hunting emerged. There was a destitute young man who was desperate and decided to pawn an ancient treasure map. He imed that the treasure map was passed down from his ancestors, and his great ancestor was a general who had discovered a treasure but died before he could excavate it, leaving behind only this treasure map. ording to the map, anyone who found the location described would obtain a breathtaking treasure and be incredibly wealthy! Of course, the pawnshop owner definitely didnt believe it. If someone truly had a treasure map, they would have dug it up themselves. Why would theye to pawn it? Upon closer inspection, the treasure map appeared to be hastily made. How could it be real? Clearly, they were being yed, so they kicked him out of the pawnshop. Im telling you! This is the real treasure map! You will regret not taking it! You will definitely regret it! The person shouted in anger at the entrance of the pawnshop. At that moment, a knowledgeable wealthy man appeared. He was very curious about the authenticity of the treasure map, so he spent money to buy it. But two dayster, that destitute young man was found dead, drowned in water. This incident caught the attention of many people because the person had visited the pawnshop just two days before and then died within two days. It was hard not to connect these two events. Meanwhile, the wealthy man who had bought the treasure map suddenly decided to move, going back to his hometown. Then, two dayster, the wealthy man was found murdered, along with many other people. Some of the treasures in the house had also disappeared. This incident finally caused a huge reaction. At that moment, a child iming to be the child of the wealthy man emerged. He said that his father was killed by his stepmother and her lover. Because his father had decoded the secrets of the treasure map, the young man who was the only one who knew about the treasure was nning to go look for it. But the stepmother found out and brought her lover to kill his father, leaving alone to find the treasure. The child had been hiding in the cupboard at that time and witnessed everything. The truth was revealed! It turned out to be a bloodbath caused by a treasure map! Everyone became curious about this treasure map. Child, is this treasure map real? Of course its real! My father was knowledgeable and talented. He deciphered the secrets of the treasure map and said it was left behind by General Baoshan! Who is General Baoshan? Why havent we heard of him? My father said he was a figure from 100 years ago, a foreign general! I forgot which country he was from! How much gold, silver, and jewels are in this treasure? A lot! My father said that once the treasure is dug up, you would be the richest person in the world, even surpassing the emperor! The child spoke without restraint, answering almost every question. As everyone looked at the childs confident appearance, they gradually started to believe. Onest question, where is the treasure located? My father said the treasure is in the Qinglong Mountain Range, around the head of the dragon! Its surrounded by cliffs on all sides, like swords piercing the earth. Oh, and At that moment, a masked expert appeared and abducted the child. However, news about the treasure, about this story, quickly spread. It involved treasure, vengeance, a massacre, and even adultery It had almost all the explosive elements! This story was destined to be popr! As it spread wider and wider, it finally caught the attention of many interested parties. They conducted investigations, and the more they investigated, the more shocked they became. Who is general Baoshan who owned the treasure 100 years ago? They actually discovered such a person, a general from the nted Moon dynasty who had achieved great military feats. However, because he plotted treason, the dynasty discovered it and exterminated his whole family. This general, during his lifetime, had spent a long time searching for the nted Moon treasure. Wait a minute, could the treasure mentioned on the treasure map be the nted Moon treasure? Did he really find it? If the treasure referred to on the treasure map was the nted Moon treasure, the wealth inside it would definitely make someone the richest person in the world! The treasures location was in the Qinglong Mountain Range Through some historical records, they discovered that the Baoshan general had indeed spent a lot of time searching for the treasure in the Qinglong Mountain Range but had publicly announced that he hadnt found anything in the end Wait, could it be that he had already found it? Perhaps he had lied to everyone to keep the treasure for himself! Unfortunately, before he could excavate the treasure, the nted Moon dynasty wiped him out! However, the treasure map had been passed down. Everyone felt that they were getting closer and closer to the truth! Their hearts pounded with excitement. The nted Moon treasure, a treasure that could rival a wealthy country, who wouldnt want to possess it? As soon as they obtained this treasure, they would immediately be the richest person in the world, surpassing even the emperors of the dynasty! Regardless of whether it was real or not, couldnt they just investigate to find out? The rough location of the treasure had already been exposed! Going to take a look wouldnt hurt! What if they actually found it? Wouldnt that be a huge gain? Those who are afraid of starving will be outshone by the daring ones! Since we have discovered the location of the treasure, it would be a waste not to go and take a look! Now that many people know about it, I must hurry over to seize the opportunity! Otherwise, the treasure will belong to someone else! Such an astonishing fortune must not be missed! Xieyue treasure, here Ie! So, many people rushed to the Qinglong Mountain Range. Chapter 176: The Slanted Moon Treasure, Who Dares to Touch? No Mercy! Chapter 176: The nted Moon Treasure, Who Dares to Touch? No Mercy! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In thend of Northern Hebei, at the residence of the Prince. The military advisor, Zhuge, burst into the study with an excited expression on his face, Your Highness, great news! Something wonderful has happened! At this moment, only the Prince of Northern Hebei was in the study. Due to many unpleasant things that had happened recently, he was feeling extremely frustrated and stayed in the study, reading books and seeking inner peace, avoiding contact with outsiders. Seeing the restless military advisor rushing in, the Prince furrowed his brows and put down the book in his hand, Advisor, where does this joye from? Your Highness, there is a tremendous piece of news! Zhuge said excitedly, The nted Moon Treasurethe nted Moon Treasure has been discovered! The nted Moon Treasure? The Prince pondered for a moment, and eximed in astonishment, Could it be the treasure left behind by the nted Moon Dynasty? Exactly, Your Highness! Zhuge nodded eagerly. How is it possible that it has been found? Are you not lying to me? It has been over 200 years, many people have exhausted their efforts to search for the treasure, if it could be found, it would have been found long ago! The Prince didnt believe it. Your Highness, it is true! Let me tell you what happened The military advisor recounted in detail the bloody incident triggered by the treasure map. Your Highness, I have verified the information revealed by the child, and it matchespletely with some secret historical records. This is not something an ordinary person would know! So, this news is highly likely to be true! Zhuge said with great excitement, Your Highness, if we can find the nted Moon Treasure, which is as rich as a country, our financial problems will be solved, and our great ambition can be realized! Finally, the Prince of Northern Hebei was moved! You see, his biggest problem now was theck of money! Being without money made it truly difficult to move forward, and it was even challenging to maintain the normal operation of the princes residence! If they could find the nted Moon Treasure, the problem of money shortage would be immediately solved! Moreover, with this astonishing wealth, they would undoubtedly be even more powerful, giving them a greater chance to ascend the throne than other feudal lords! As he thought about it, his breathing became rapid. Advisor, this is indeed great news! If we really find the nted Moon Treasure, our chances of sess will be even greater! We cannot waste any time. You must organize a team of experts to explore the Qinglong Mountain Range right away, so as not to let others get there first! the Prince said eagerly. Yes, Your Highness! Zhuge happily withdrew. Thus, the Prince of Northern Hebei dispatched arge group of experts secretly to explore the Qinglong Mountain Range. In the southern region, the Prince of Southern Jiang also received this news and was extremely excited. We must obtain the nted Moon Treasure! You see, although he was wealthy, his lifelong umtion couldntpare to even a fraction of the nted Moon Treasure. If he could acquire this treasure, it would be a tremendous boost to his grand ambition. So, he immediately counted his troops. You must set off immediately and go to the Qinglong Mountain Range to search for the nted Moon Treasure! Once you find it, figure out a way to bring it back! After aplishing this, I will reward you generously! Not only with money, but I will also promote your status and grant you noble titles, providing for your wives and children! Yes, You Highness! On this journey, you may encounter opponents from various sides, so you must be cautious! If it bes impossible to seed in obtaining the nted Moon Treasure, make sure no one else gets it either, understood? Yes, Your Highness! After receiving the orders, the troops of the Prince of Southern Jiang also set off. Other ambitious vassal kings, neighboring countries, and even ambitious individuals in the martial world all dispatched people to the Qinglong Mountain Range. The winds of change gradually converged in thend of Wuxi. In the residence of the Wuxi Duke. My Lord, something terrible has happened! Something terrible! A somewhat ugly middle-aged man rushed into the inner hall in a panic. Advisor, why are you so rmed? A burly, muscr man wearing a generals uniform responded. This person was none other than the Duke of Wuxi, the supreme ruler of Wuxi. And the panicked, ugly man was his military advisor. His real name was unknown, but due to his assistance to the Duke in achieving great aplishments over the years, he called himself Mr. Fengchu. Mr. Fengchu ran up to the Duke of Wuxi and took a few breaths before saying, My Lord, the nted Moon Treasure has been discovered, its near the secret passage we use to transport supplies and weapons in the Qinglong Mountain Range! The Duke of Wuxi furrowed his heavy eyebrows, Advisor, tell me everything as it happened! Yes, my Lord! Mr. Fengchu detailed the process of discovering the treasure. After listening, the Duke of Wuxi became restless, his eyes turning bright red, The nted Moon Treasure! Since he was young, he had heard of the legend of the nted Moon Treasure, a treasure worth at least 300 million silver taels, enough to rival a countrys wealth! If anyone could obtain the nted Moon Treasure, they would undoubtedly be the richest person in the world! He had fantasized many times about what it would be like if he could own the nted Moon Treasure! By doing so, he would no longerck weapons and supplies! Why would he need to ruin his reputation and sacrifice his interests by cooperating with the Dayue Dynasty? Never did he expect that the long-awaited nted Moon Treasure was actually hidden near the secret passage where they transported supplies and weapons in the Qinglong Mountain Range! In other words, it was right under his nose! This was simply Heaven is assisting me! So, the Duke of Wuxiughed triumphantly, Advisor, this is clearly a joyous asion. Why do you say it is a bad thing? Are you joking with me? Haha Mr. Fengchu anxiously replied, My Lord, if the treasure were located elsewhere, it would indeed be a great joyous asion! But since this treasure is hidden within our territory, it has be a cmity! Now, news about the nted Moon Treasure has spread throughout the world. Experts and forces from all walks of life have dispatched people to explore the Qinglong Mountain Range! These people are not easy to deal with, and if wee into conflict with them, casualties are inevitable! I have a million soldiers. What do I have to fear? the Duke of Wuxi arrogantly dered. My Lord, although we have many troops, we cannot handle everyone in the world! Mr. Fengchu became even more worried. This is my territory, and I am in charge. I wont tolerate anyones audacity! the Duke of Wuxi remained arrogant and said, Advisor, immediately gather our strongest soldiers to guard the important passages of the Qinglong Mountain Range. No one should be allowed to enter! Furthermore, gather more troops to explore the mountains and find the treasure! Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must retrieve the treasure! Mr. Fengchu was dumbfounded, My Lord, are we all going to dig for the treasure? Dont we need to prepare for war? The Dayue Dynasty has already urged us multiple times! Well deal with themter. The matter of starting a war can be discussed at ater time! The most important thing now is to search for the treasure! the Duke of Wuxi said resolutely, The nted Moon Treasure belongs to no one but me! If anyone dares toy a finger on it, they will be mercilessly killed! A menacing aura emanated from him! Themotion caused by the nted Moon Treasure would undoubtedly attract the attention of the Great Wu Dynasty. During court assembly, the Empress asked, Regarding the nted Moon Treasure, what do my ministers think? Your Majesty, as they say, there is no smoke without fire! replied the Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, stood up and said loudly, I have confirmed the news about the nted Moon Treasure by investigating and cross-referencing with the historical records in the pce. It should be somewhat credible, considering the magnitude of thismotion! I suggest that regardless of the authenticity of the news, we send someone to investigate! If the treasure truly exists, it is located within the Great Wu territory in the Qinglong Mountain Range and should rightfully belong to us! If the treasure does not exist, it would only be a wasted trip, with no real loss! The Empress nodded, Minister Lis words make sense. So, who should we entrust this matter to? At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward and said loudly, Your Majesty, why not entrust this matter to me! If the treasure truly exists, I will find a way to bring it back! The reason for his enthusiasm was that he wanted to cause trouble there! At the same time, he wanted to see if he could profit from it! Your Majesty, Principal Lin is young and talented, wise and brave. He is the best candidate for this mission! So, why not entrust this matter to Principal Lin! I believe he will sessfullyplete this task! Yes, Your Majesty! Principal Lin has always been quick-witted and has sessfullypleted many tasks for the court. I believe this matter will not be too difficult for him! Entrusting this matter to Principal Lin, I am very confident! Your Majesty, lets entrust this matter to Principal Lin! I second that! I also second that! The officials all agreed, not because they were kind-hearted, but because they wanted to see Lin Beifans demise! For such a dangerous task, if you go and join in the fun, if you dont die, who will? Might as well fulfill his wish! However, the Empress was not willing This guy could run away at any time. Going to the Qinglong Mountain Range, which is so far away, what if he doesnte back? Moreover, there is a princess of nted Moon who has been captivating him! That woman is fair-skinned, beautiful, and extremely wealthy. What if he cant resist the temptation? So, he absolutely cannot be allowed to run away! Therefore, the Empress said with concern, Sir Lin, its too dangerous there! Youre a schr, what are you doing going there? Its better to stay in the capital! Minister Li, how about you go instead? Minister of War, Li Kaiguang: He couldnt hold back anymore! MMP! he thought to himself. Your Majesty, even if youre double-faced, you cant be this double-faced! If its dangerous for Lin Beifan to go, then wouldnt it be dangerous for me to go too? Cough cough Your Majesty, I am also a schr with no martial skills. I am not proficient in these matters! I think its better to have someone morepetent handle this! Li Kaiguang stepped back. The Empress didnt insist and began considering various departments in her mind. Imperial Pce Guards, East Depot, West Depot, Embroidered Uniform Guard, Six Doors The Imperial Pce Guards were specifically for guarding the pce and might not be suitable for treasure hunting. The East Depot and West Depot were her personal forces and should not be used casually. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was used to supervise the officials and also should not be used casually. Moreover, this nted Moon Treasure was fake, so there was no need to dispatch real forces. It was enough to put on a show. That only left Let the Six Doors handle this matter! Yes, Your Majesty! Chief Guo stepped forward to receive the order. The Empress thought for a moment and said, Chief Guo, this matter is of great importance, and there must be no mistakes! If you have any questions, you can consult with Sir Lin. He is always resourceful and strategic and should be able to assist you! Yes, Your Majesty! Chief Guo replied loudly. And so, the matter was decided! Chapter 177: Gathering at the Qinglong Mountains, Stirring up the world! Chapter 177: Gathering at the Qinglong Mountains, Stirring up the world! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Assigned with an important mission by Her Majesty, the Chief of Six-Doors attached great importance to it and immediately made arrangements upon returning. Xu Xian, you have excellent lightness skills, disappearing without a trace in the mountains and forests. You will participate in this operation! Yes, sir! a person replied loudly. Wuqing, you have long been handling such matters, experienced and mature. You will be in charge of leading the team! Yes, sir! a mature and steady person responded. And Big Bull! You are best at tracking, so you will also participate in this mission! Yes, sir! Big Bull was overjoyed. After making all the arrangements, nearly half of the experts were sent out, but Guo, the chief of Six Doors, still felt it was not secure enough, feeling immense pressure. After all, this was the nted Moon Treasure, something that everyone dreamed of! In order to obtain this treasure that could rival a countrys wealth, countless forces had dispatched numerous troops and experts. Apart from dealing with various forces, they also had to deal with the million-strong army of the Wuxi Duke. The manpower at their disposal was simply not enough. If they failed toplete the mission, they would be betraying the favor of the Empress! This matter absolutely could not be taken lightly! He became restless, pacing back and forth, feeling the need to find someone to seek advice from. At this moment, a young figure appeared in his mind. Lin Beifan, the Mr. Principal of the Imperial Academy. He was a resourceful and cunning young man who had solved countless troubles for the Great Wu since he entered the court as an official. He never fell short when faced with civil and military officials, and could be called the contemporary Zhuge Liang. With his help as an advisor, Guo, the chief of Six Doors, felt more at ease. Moreover, Her Majesty also suggested that he seek Lin Beifans assistance. So, that night, he came to the Lin mansion with a gift. Master Guo, why are you here sote at night? Mr. Principal, dont they say I wouldnt climb the Three Treasures Hall without a reason? The main purpose is to discuss the nted Moon Treasure, which is a major affair. I hope you can give some advice! Ah, I see! Master Guo, pleasee to the study! After entering the study, Xiao Cui served tea and then retreated, leaving only the two of them. Guo, the chief of Six Doors, first briefly exined the situation regarding the nted Moon Treasure, and then revealed his own arrangements. Then, humbly, he asked, Mr. Principal, with my current arrangements, is it appropriate? Do I need to assign more manpower? Or is there anything else I need to pay attention to? Please give me some advice! Lin Beifan waved his hand and smiled, Master Guo, youre worrying too much. It really doesnt have to be like this! Mr. Principal, I cant help but worry! Guo, the chief of Six Doors, smiled bitterly. That is the nted Moon Treasure, a super treasure that can rival a countrys wealth, a treasure that everyone desires! If it falls into the hands of other forces, it would pose a great threat to our Great Wu! And, various forces have dispatched troops and experts to the Wuxi Land, where the worlds winds and clouds gather at the Qinglong Mountains. Everyone is vying and struggling, if we dont put in some effort, the treasure will end up in someone elses hands! Lin Beifan smiled and waved his hand again, Master Guo, you really dont need to put so much pressure on yourself! To be honest, whether the nted Moon Treasure exists there or not is still uncertain! Even if it does exist, you wont be able to bring it back even if the Six Door troops goes all out! Since thats the case, why bother worrying so much? Guo, the chief of Six Doors, nodded, Mr. Principal, youre right, but Master Guo, actually, your main purpose for this trip shouldnt be the treasure! Guo, the chief of Six Doors, was greatly surprised, Mr. Principal, why do you say that? Lin Beifan smiled, Just as I said earlier, whether the nted Moon Treasure can be found is still a question, and even if it is found, whether you can bring it back is also a question! Therefore, your mission is destined to be impossible toplete! Guo, the chief of Six Doors, smiled bitterly and nodded, I can only do my best! Since it cannot be aplished, why not take this opportunity to earn some credit? Guo, the chief of Six Doors, was a bit puzzled, Mr. Principal, are you suggesting Lin Beifan smiled, My suggestion is that the Qinglong Mountains are currently the ce where the worlds winds and clouds gather. Experts and troops from various forces are congregating there, calcting and scheming for the treasure. Master Guo, you can take this opportunity to sow discord, set up traps, and weaken the strength of the various forces, especially the Wuxi Duke! The Wuxi Duke has always had ambitious ns and is disregarding everything in his pursuit of martial power. It ismon knowledge that he poses a great threat to the court! If you can weaken their strength and cause them losses, wouldnt our Great Wu be even more secure? In that case, wouldnt you have achieved great aplishments? Guo, the chief of Six Doors, pped his thigh and eximed excitedly, Yes! This is truly a rare opportunity! Many thanks to Mr. Principal for the reminder! Ill use tea instead of wine to express my gratitude. I toast to you, Mr. Principal! Master Guo, youre too kind! The two of them lifted their tea cups, clinked them lightly, and drank with a smile. Thanks to Mr. Principals reminder today, its like dispersing the clouds and seeing the clear sky. I already know what to do! I wont express my gratitude in words, Ill go back and rearrange the work and invite Mr. Principal for a drink another day! Master Guo, take care. Ill see you off! Lin Beifan saw him off at the gate. Not long after, Princess Ziyue arrived. She was extremely excited and as soon as she entered the study, she eximed, Advisor, our n worked! Now, the whole world knows that the nted Moon Treasure is buried near the secret passage of the Qinglong Mountains. Everyone is sending people to search for the treasure! With so many experts gathering at the Qinglong Mountains, the Wuxi Duke will have a headache! Hehe Congrattions, Princess! Congrattions, Princess! Lin Beifan cupped his hands and smiled. It should be a shared joy! If it werent for the advisors n, we wouldnt have achieved such results! Strategist, you deserve the credit! Princess Ziyue couldnt stop smiling. She personally took charge of this n, manipting people from all over the world, and felt a sense of aplishment in her heart. Princess, now is the perfect opportunity for revenge! Lin Beifan chuckled. To obtain the nted Moon Treasure, the Dayue Dynasty on the other side of the Qinglong Mountains will definitely not remain indifferent. It is highly likely that they will send arge army into the mountains! As long as we sow discord among them, we will inevitably weaken the Dayue Dynastys forces! Princess, when else will we have such an opportunity for revenge? A hint of hatred shed in Princess Ziyues eyes. Advisor, youre right. This is indeed the perfect opportunity for revenge! After I return, I will make sure to arrange everything properly, ensuring that they meet their doom in the Qinglong Mountains! Princess Ziyue only stayed for a while before leaving. She needed to hurry back to implement the n and seek revenge for the nted Moon. The Empress, who witnessed everything, shook her head and sighed, Truly my excellent advisor! Orchestrating strategies and winning battles from afar! At this time, more and more experts arrived in the Wuxi Land, the Qinglong Mountains. However, they were blocked by the great army of the Wuxi Duke. Both sides were in a standoff. From the army of the Wuxi Duke emerged a majestic general who shouted, This is the territory of His Royal Highness, the Wuxi Duke! Without his permission, no one is allowed to set foot here! Anyone who disobeys will be put to death! Kill! Kill! Kill! The 300,000 strong soldiers behind him yelled in unison, their voices thundering and terrifying. Why? Since when did the Qinglong Mountains be the territory of the Wuxi Duke? He simply wants to monopolize the treasure and doesnt allow us to enter! The treasure belongs to the worthy! Since he wont give it to us, then lets force our way in! Attack! The anger of the heroes surged, and they drew their weapons. It seems there are those who are not afraid to die! It was still that general, as he drew his icy de and roared, Fire the arrows! Swoosh swoosh swoosh A rain of arrows came, causing many casualties. Many people retreated, contemting how to break through the obstruction of the army and enter the Qinglong Mountains. However, there were still many powerful individuals who forcibly broke through. Just a rain of arrows? How could it stop me? Haha An indiscernible figure of an old man came from a distance, his figure elusive, and in the blink of an eye, he had already arrived in front of the army. Fire the arrows at him! the general shouted. Swoosh swoosh swoosh Arrows rained down! However, they couldnt harm the opponent at all. This is an innate expert! the general eximed in shock. A million strong army? Just a group of ants! Hmph! The elderly innate expert stepped on the soldiers heads, arrogantly disappeared into the mountains, and left no trace. Haha, Ill go first! Another powerful individual forcibly broke through. Fire the arrows! Shoot him down! the general roared in anger. Swoosh swoosh swoosh Another round of arrow rain. However, these arrow rain attacks shattered upon hitting the opponent. It seemed there was another innate expert. The arrogant figure of the opponent left, leaving behind only a elusive silhouette. Haha! Ill join in on the fun! The third person forcibly broke through. Fire the arrows! Shoot! the general shouted again. Swoosh swoosh swoosh The arrow rain still failed to achieve anything, and the opponent easily broke through the military formation, unstoppable. Beforepletely disappearing, the opponent even swung back a sword. ng! The sword energy soared, spanning tens of meters, and killed hundreds of soldiers! Then came the fourth, the fifth One after another innate experts broke through the blockades of the army and left arrogantly. The 300,000 strong army had be a sieve, with casualties reaching 5,000 people! The general felt extremely frustrated and roared in indignation, Damn it! Every single one of these people deserves to die! Quickly report this to the king! 23 innate experts have already broken through the blockade and entered the Qinglong Mountains! Yes, General! As for the other non-breaking through experts, they watched the 300,000 soldiers from afar. Their eyes shimmered, filled with calctions. And inside the Qinglong Mountains, it was not peaceful either. In the secret passage, tworge armies were at a standoff, banners fluttering, and soldiers wearing chilling armor! One side was the great army of the Wuxi Duke. The other side was the army of the Dayue Dynasty. At this moment, the Wuxi Duke, wearing scale armor and riding a tall horse, walked out and shouted, This is within the boundaries of the Wuxi Land! I advise you to retreat quickly, otherwise, swords and des have no eyes. Dont me me for being impolite! Ridiculous! Since when does this ce belong to the Wuxi Land? If you want to monopolize the treasure, just say so! A mighty general from the Dayue Dynastys army walked out and said, Wuxi Duke, you have taken a lot from us. Its time to fulfill your promise instead of fighting for the Dayues treasure here! After obtaining the treasure, I will naturally fulfill my promise! The Wuxi Duke chuckled, But what confuses me is when did the nted Moon Treasure be yours, the Dayue Dynasty? We established the Dayue Dynasty on the territory of the nted Moon Dynasty. We inherited everything from the nted Moon Dynasty, so naturally, its treasure belongs to us! The opposing general shamelessly replied. The Wuxi Duke sneered, Such a shameless fellow! Looks like theres no need to talk anymore? The great general from the Dayue Dynasty drew his sword, There was never a need to talk in the first ce! The atmosphere became tense, and war was about to break out! Chapter 178: All of them are cunning old bitches, all coming out to harm people! Chapter 178: All of them are cunning old bitches, alling out to harm people! 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At this moment, a soldier hurriedly ran to the front of Duke Wuxi to report the situation. On the side of the Dayue Dynasty, the situation was the same. After hearing this, Duke Wuxis expression became solemn, and he shouted at the opposite person, Lets temporarily stop the war and not let others take advantage! Lets use this ce as the boundary, and each of us will search for the treasure without stepping into the others territory! Dukes Wuxi words are agreeable to me! The general on the opposite side nodded. With that, the battle was temporarily halted. However, both sides sent reinforcements to guard the area, forming a clear boundary. At this time, the experts had already broken into the Qinglong Mountain Range. However, the Qinglong Mountain Range is vast, and even if the treasure points to the head of the dragon in the mountain range and even marks the four steep cliffs, it is still quite difficult to find the treasure in this area. However, they were all experienced experts, and they knew what to do with just a turn of their minds follow the army of Duke Wuxi. Duke Wuxi had arge force and was also a local hunter, so it would certainly be easier for him to find the treasure than them. Once the treasure appeared, they would make a move and seize it, simple and convenient. Therefore, they all took turns squatting near the army of Duke Wuxi, waiting to take advantage. Duke Wuxi looked up and saw this group of experts lurking around, feeling extremely angry and frustrated. Because these people were useless against ordinary soldiers. To deal with them, only the experts of the same level were capable. However, there were too many experts on the other side, making it impossible to fight against them. Even if they could engage in battle, once they hid deep within the mountains, it would be difficult to catch up with them, especially troublesome. My lord, what do we do now? the strategist, Mr. Fengchu, asked cautiously. Lets not worry about them for now! Duke Wuxi waved his hand in annoyance. But below the mountains, there is also a group of warriors squatting, numbering over 3,000! Mr. Fengchu asked again. Block them, dont let theme up! If we cant handle the experts, cant we handle them? Duke Wuxi said angrily. Yes, my lord! Mr. Fengchu smiled bitterly, feeling very pessimistic. Blocking them temporarily was possible, but blocking them forever was impossible! There were only over 3,000 people below, but their numbers would continue to increase. When the number reached tens of thousands, or even 20,000, could their forces still hold them back? By that time, it would inevitably result in significant casualties. The cost would be too great! However, letting them in would be even more dangerous, with even greater casualties. Because in the wild jungle, these warriors can make use of their advantages, using their light skills to move around andunch sneak attacks and assassinations. Meanwhile, their soldiers are at a disadvantage with their limited mobility and be easy targets. Therefore, they can only keep them blocked outside and suppress them with the advantage of theirrger army. After two days, just as Mr. Fengchu had anticipated, more and more warriors gathered and finally exceeded tens of thousands. They united and attempted two surprise attacks, but were repelled. However, the situation was bing more and more dire for Duke Wuxi. At this time, the experts from the Six Doors had arrived. They looked at the current situation and analyzed the pros and cons. When we came here, the Chief had already given orders. This operation is secondary to obtaining the treasure; our main goal is to severely injure Duke Wuxis military strength. Now we have a great opportunity ~! The expert in charge of leading the team of the Six Doors, named Wuqing, smiled and said, Look here, currently both sides are in a standoff, like fire and water! We can lead this group of warriors to break through the blockade, which will definitely heavily weaken Duke Wuxis army! Master Wuqing is absolutely right, but what should we do next? Everyone nodded. Lets wait for two more days until there are more warriors, and then we will take action! Additionally, this operation will be more covert. Thousand-Faced Langjun, you put on make-up for everyone! Alright, boss! A young man with an ordinary appearance nodded. Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and the number of warriors gathered here has increased rapidly, reaching an astonishing . The pressure on Duke Wuxi was growing, forcing him to dispatch an additional 100,000 troops. A total of 400,000 troops were firmly guarding the Qinglong Mountain Range. The Six Doors felt it was time to act. So, disguised as ordinary martial artists, they stepped forward. Fellow heroes, I believe we cant wait any longer! Wuqing shouted loud, Duke Wuxis army is guarding all major passages and not allowing us in! The experts cane and go as they please, entering the Qinglong Mountain Range one step ahead! The other end of the Qinglong Mountain Range is probably the same! Sooner orter, the nted Moon Treasure will fall into their hands. Are you all willing to ept that? Did wee here just to watch others get the treasure while we return empty-handed? We are unwilling, but what can we do? Duke Wuxi has heavily guarded the area, and our strength is weak. We simply cannot break through! Without the power of the innate force, well be pierced like hedgehogs with their arrows as soon as we get close! The treasure is important, but our lives are even more important! We have no other choice! Everyoneined one after another. Fellow heroes, I understand everyones difficulties, so why not take a gamble! We have innate powerhouses here, so let our pre-celestial powerhouses lead the way and break through, paving the way for you all to follow. This way, we can enter the Qinglong Mountain Range! Wuqing eximed loudly, revealing his cultivation level. Youre a innate powerhouse! everyone eximed in shock. Then, four more people stood beside Wuqing, disying their own cultivation levels. Theyre all innate powerhouses! Five pre-celestial powerhouses! everyone was shocked. Fellow heroes, let us lead the way and guide you all into the Qinglong Mountain Range! Wuqing said with righteousness, I n to divide our forces into five groups, each led by a pre-celestial powerhouse. This way, we can break through Duke Wuxis army! By dividing their forces, instead of concentrating them, they could cause significant damage to Duke Wuxis army. The warriors at the scene looked at each other, some tempted by the idea. This was indeed a good n, although they knew the Six Doors had ulterior motives, they were willing to be used. Alright! I agree! Only in this way do we have a chance to enter the Qinglong Mountain Range and obtain the treasure! Thank you to the five heroes! Everyone responded one after another. The Six Doors and others exchanged nces, revealing a hint of satisfaction. Wait! an ordinary-looking old man raised his hand and stepped forward. The Six Doors and others froze as Wuqings gaze flickered. He smiled and asked, Hero, do you have a different opinion? We only have five pre-celestial powerhouses, is that enough? the old man chuckled, Duke Wuxis army already has five innate powerhouses. If they take action, they can definitely stop you all! So, what does the senior suggest Actually, I am also a innate powerhouse. I can open another path for us! With that, we will have six forces, and they will have to divide their attention! the old man said confidently, releasing his powerful aura. Another innate powerhouse! someone eximed. Ruthlesss face lit up with a happy smile, That would be much appreciated, senior! Wait a minute! someone else called out. Everyone turned their heads to see an ordinary middle-aged man. Wuqing asked, What can I do for you, hero? How can I miss out on such a good opportunity? the man walked out, carrying an axe and smiling, Actually, I am also a innate powerhouse! Let me open another path! A strong innate force followed his words! Another innate powerhouse! someone eximed. Wuqing and the others smiles grew brighter, Of course, youre most wee! Wait a minute! I also want to join! another innate stepped forward, releasing a powerful aura. I can contribute with my limited power! The fourth innate appeared. I cant stand Duke Wuxi, so count me in on this good opportunity! The fifth innate appeared. Then came the sixth, seventh, eighth One after another, more innate powerhouses emerged. Everyone was stunned! Even the members of the Six Doors were dumbfounded! Wow! A total of fifteen innate powerhouses! Adding the five innate powerhouses from the Six Doors, that made twenty! No one could have imagined that among this group of cultivators, there were so many innate experts! Each of them was cunning, waiting for this moment to harm others! Many people trembled in fear! They were so powerful and yet so devious, making it increasingly difficult to survive in the martial world! After some brief calction, it was decided that the five strongest pre-celestial powerhouses would infiltrate Duke Wuxis army, attracting their innate experts and holding them back. Then, the other fifteen innate powerhouses would lead their own forces to attack Duke Wuxis army. In this way, they could not only break through the army but also cause significant losses to the enemy. After discussing the n, everyone decided to take immediate action. The five most powerful innate powerhouses swiftly charged into the army. With a single palm strike, they took the lives of tens of people. These are pre-celestial powerhouses! Quickly, call the five reinforcements! Out from the military camp came five pre-celestial powerhouses. Using strength to bully the weak, how shameless! Let me handle you! One against one, it was an evenly matched battle. At this moment, the other fifteen pre-celestial powerhouses also made their move. Swoosh Swoosh Like sharp swords, they pierced through Duke Wuxis army, causing chaos and clearing a bloody path. Seeing this, other post-celestial cultivators followed through the path, howling as they charged forward. It was a brutal and blood-soaked journey, with rivers of blood flowing! However, there were no more pre-celestial experts on Duke Wuxis side, so they could only watch helplessly as the intruders broke through. Todays killings are truly satisfying! We have finally vented our frustrations from these past days! Duke Wuxi, you have met your match! Qinglong Mountain Range, here Ie! Haha! The nted Moon Treasure will be mine! They entered the Qinglong Mountain Range and disappeared. All that remained were bodies scattered on the ground and and stained with blood. That night, the group of martial artists not only broke through Duke Wuxis defensive line but also annihted 100,000 soldiers, causing heavy casualties for Duke Wuxi! When Duke Wuxi received this devastating news, his face turned ck, almost spitting out blood in anger. Very well! I have been tricked! Damn it! All of you, you all deserve to die! That night, Duke Wuxi flew into a rage, smashing everything inside his tent. On the other side of the Qinglong Mountain Range, within the territory of the Dayue Dynasty, a simr scene was unfolding. Innate experts from the former nted Moon Dynasty, disguised as experts from other countries, led an uprising and broke through the defensive line of the Dayue Dynastys army, charging into the Qinglong Mountain Range. The Dayue Dynasty suffered heavy losses, with more than 80,000 casualties! Chapter 179: Has Duke Wuxi Found the Treasure? Chapter 179: Has Duke Wuxi Found the Treasure? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
One night passed, and Duke Wuxi was still very angry! Damn it, there are 20 Innate experts hidden among the Martial Artists. They all attacked at the same time! He could clearly see that someone wanted to take advantage of the situation and plot against him! Moreover, it was highly likely that it was the enemies such as the imperial court, Prince of Northern Hebei, Prince of Southern Jiang, etc. who united to target him. Otherwise, how could they find so many Innate experts? Before the grand event even began, he had already lost 100,000 soldiers and horses! Duke Wuxis heart was bleeding with pain! He was filled with an intense hatred and a strong desire to kill! My lord, what should we do now? Mr. Fengchun looked at Duke Wuxis displeased face and cautiously asked. What else can we do? Duke Wuxi angrily said, Since we can no longer stop them, then dont stop them. Let them in! Since they want to find the treasure, let them find it for me! After they find the treasure, I will take it back! I wont let them leave the Qinglong Mountains alive if they have grievances to settle orints to make! Yes, my lord! Mr. Fengchun bowed and retreated, rying the orders. After receiving the dukesmand, the soldiers of Duke Wuxis army became more low-profile and stopped fighting with others. Additionally, they patrolled the mountain in groups, with at least a hundred people in each group. However, despite this, they still suffered heavy losses. Either these patrol teams would disappear without a trace, or they would suddenly be wiped out. In less than three days, the losses reached a staggering 6,000! Duke Wuxi jumped in anger every day, his face turning red. He roared, Withdrawpletely and stop patrolling the mountain! Lets see what they can do to me! However, Duke Wuxi greatly underestimated the morality of this group of people. Suddenly, severalrge rocks fell from the sky andnded among the army, killing dozens of people. Suddenly, a fire broke out and burned the armys food supplies. Suddenly, snakes, insects, rats, and ants swarmed into the army, causing chaos throughout the night. And then suddenly, a few beautiful butterflies flew down from the sky, dancing gracefully. However, all the soldiers below were poisoned and died frothing at the mouth. Even some of the Innate experts, who had no concept of morality, asionally struck with a palm or swung a sword, taking the lives of hundreds of people. Duke Wuxis soldiers lived in constant fear and trepidation, as if walking on thin ice! They couldnt even eat, sleep, or relieve themselves without being cautious of snakes and insects suddenly appearing. Duke Wuxi was so furious that his heart was about to explode, Those bastards! Those bastards! My lord, I have a suggestion! Mr. Fengchun said. Speak! Duke Wuxi angrily demanded, emitting a murderous aura. Mr. Fengchun said nervously, My lord, if we continue like this, our casualties are still inevitable. I suggest that we withdraw all the troops from the Qinglong Mountains and leave only the top martial artists. This way, we can reduce the losses of our soldiers and continue to pursue the nted Moon Treasure. Once we discover the treasure, we can bring the entire army back! Absolutely not! By doing so, it would mean that I am afraid of them! Duke Wuxi said angrily. My lord, it is said that smallpromises lead to chaos in grand ns! Mr. Fengchun advised. Advisor, my mind is made up, you dont need to say anymore! You have also worked hard these days, go rest! Duke Wuxi waved his hand impatiently. Yes, my lord! Mr. Fengchun bowed, reluctantly smiled, and left. On the other side, the Dayue army also encountered simr situations. Despite being extremely careful and cautious, the casualties were still enormous, with over 2,000 deaths and injuries every day, which was very consistent! General Dayue couldnt eat for three days out of anger! It wasnt that he couldnt ept casualties, but he couldnt ept this kind of suffocating casualties! They died inexplicably, and the enemy couldnt be found! No matter how they defended, there was no use, and seeking revenge seemed hopeless! It was too frustrating! It was too maddening! However, he was calmer than Duke Wuxi. After analyzing the pros and cons, he immediately ordered most of the soldiers and horses to withdraw from the Qinglong Mountains, leaving only a few top experts to continue searching for the treasure. Although Duke Wuxi was stubborn, he still made some adjustments. The majority of his troops also withdrew from the Qinglong Mountains, leaving behind 50,000 elite soldiers to continue the search for the treasure. However, when others dislike you, they can find fault in everything you do. At this moment, Wuqing from the Six Doors stood on a high cliff, looking down at the army camp below. His eyes rolled around, and suddenly he shouted, I suspect that Duke Wuxi has already found the nted Moon Treasure! As soon as these words came out, everyone exploded. Has Duke Wuxi found the treasure? Where? Where is the treasure? Tell me quickly! Duke Wuxi angrily walked out of the army camp, carrying his sword, and looked up at Wuqing on the cliff. In his heart, he wondered what trick the other party was ying this time, and why they said he had found the treasure. Duke Wuxi stormed out of the army camp, holding his sword, and looked up at Wuqing on the cliff. In his heart, he wondered what trick the other party was ying this time, and why they said he had found the treasure. With everyones attention, Wuqing smirked and pointed at the army camp below, loudly saying, Everyone, please look, it is highly possible that the nted Moon Treasure is buried beneath the army camp! Since Duke Wuxi arrived in the Qinglong Mountains, he has set up the army camp here and never moved an inch! So, I highly suspect that he has already found the treasure and is secretly excavating it! As soon as these words came out, the scene exploded again. Yes, why didnt I think of that? No wonder I couldnt find it after searching for so long. It turns out Duke Wuxi has already obtained it! Duke Wuxis actions are clearly a case of pretending while secretly doing something else! Hes so cunning! This brave warriors words make sense! People spoke, their gazes deep and mysterious. Duke Wuxi was enraged, You f***ing bastards! How could there be treasure here? If there were, I would have moved away long ago! Why would I give it to you? Your usations are baseless, and your heart deserves punishment! Duke Wuxi, is it true? Just move the tent aside and let us have a look. Seeing is believing, which is more effective than your ten useless exnations! Wuqing smirked. Yes, move the tent and let us have a look! Well know whether there is treasure or not at a nce! If you dont cooperate, dont me us for being impolite! Duke Wuxi, I hope you understand the situation! Everyone mored, determined not to give up until they achieved their goal. Duke Wuxis heart was about to explode! How dare they try to force him out of power? If he surrendered, what face would he have in the future? Duke Wuxi said firmly, Ill say it again, there is no treasure here! Whether you believe it or not is up to you! It seems, Duke Wuxi, that you dont intend to cooperate. Its really regrettable! Wuqing shook his head. The various masters exchanged nces and almost simultaneously took action. Innate palm strength! Innate sword radiance! Innate de aura! Countless attacks rained down! Duke Wuxis eyes widened in fury, You will all die!!! Without hesitation, he grabbed the nearby military advisor, Mr. Fengchun, swiftly turned and fled. Just as he escaped from the army camp. Boom Boom Dozens of army camps copsed! The soldiers inside and outside the camps, unable to escape in time, were all wiped out! Mutted limbs, rivers of blood, devastating casualties! So, there really is no treasure here. It seems I misunderstood Duke Wuxi! Your Highness Wuxi, Im sorry for using you, I wille another day to apologize properly! Wuqing said with a sincere tone. Your Highness Wuxi, I was too heavy-handed earlier. I will be more careful next time! Your Highness Wuxi, see you next time! After saying that, all the masters of the innate stage slipped away. Duke Wuxi red at the group of fleeing innate experts with bloodshot eyes, filled with hatred! They had pped his face, killed tens of thousands of his elite soldiers, and now they just ran away with a casual apology! How could this be? How could this be?! Duke Wuxi let out a furious roar, I am at odds with all of you!!! To preserve his own strength, Duke Wuxi had no choice but to reluctantly withdraw all his soldiers from the Qinglong Mountains, leaving only a few strong individuals to continue searching for the nted Moon Treasure. The events of the Qinglong Mountains spread throughout the world through various channels, and everyoneughed their hearts out! Everyone gathered in the Qinglong Mountains, suffering casualties, but the most pathetic is Duke Wuxi, who has been targeted by everyone! The treasure hasnt been found yet, and the once million-strong army is now reduced to only 800,000. They really suffered a great loss! They even tried to force him out of power,pletely losing face! Look at the Dayue Dynasty, how shrewd they are. They timely withdrew from the Qinglong Mountains. Now they dont have any trouble at all! Duke Wuxi still wants to start a rebellion! But I have a feeling that he might have been killed by the masters of the Qinglong Mountains even before the rebellion started! It makes me want to go and see the scene myself! Hehe! In Northern Hebei, the Royals mansion. The Prince of Northern Hebei was very happy after learning this news. It was the best news he had received in these days. He was walking on air and had a smiling face for everyone he met. You think youre worthy ofpeting with me for the world? Take care of yourself first. Before you even begin to conquer the world, your own soldiers have been wiped out, haha! The princes face was flushed, and he couldnt stopughing. When he saw Zhuge, who wasing toward him, he said, Advisor, lets have a good drink tonight, shall we? Respect is better than obedience, Your Highness! Zhuge smiled and cupped his hands. In Southern Jiang, the princes mansion. The Prince of Southern Jiang was also very happy but pretended to be benevolent and said, My poor younger brother, the 200,000 soldiers and horses are gone just like that. How can he withstand such a blow? Call someone, send something tofort Duke Wuxi! What should we send, Your Highness? The servant asked, confused. Send paper offerings! Even the Empress on the court was extremely delighted. A million-strong army, reduced to less than 800,000 in half a month. The losses were so severe, how could they still rebel? Surviving without being yed to death was already fortunate! Even the Dayue Dynasty suffered heavy losses! The Empress was so happy about this devastating blow to her two major enemies, who were so weak that a gust of wind could destroy them. When people are happy, they be generous and cant help but reward others! As a result, Lin Beifan became the victim. Lin,e forward and receive your reward! Reward of ten thousand silver taels! A piece of top-grade jade, Qinglong Feicui! Ten barrels of top-grade snowke wine! Lin Beifan was dumbfounded, as were the officials! Why did the rewards start again? It hadnt even been normal for a few days, and now they were acting crazy again? Chapter 180: Since I entered the palace, I have been the sole recipient of the Empresss favor! Chapter 180: Since I entered the pce, I have been the sole recipient of the Empresss favor! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Your Majesty, why are you suddenly bestowing gifts upon this humble servant? I seem to have not aplished anything! Lin Beifan asked, bewildered. My dear official, you are unaware! The Empress smiled and said, Just now, I received good news. The Duke of Wuxi, in his quest to obtain the nted Moon Treasure, had a conflict with the other treasure hunters, resulting in 200,000 casualties and a significant loss of power. The Dayue Dynasty has also suffered from this, which is not a bad thing for our empire, right? I am very happy, so let us all rejoice! Ah, I see! The officials suddenly understood. However, following that, their discontent grew even stronger. Why are you only happy for one person? Arent we all human beings too? They knew the Empress was biased, but she shouldnt be so tantly biased! Your Majesty, if we are all to celebrate together, then you cant just reward the Mr. Principal alone. We are also your loyal subjects! A senior official shouted, filled with dissatisfaction. We, the old officials, also needforting, please understand, Your Majesty! Another senior official eximed loudly. Your Majesty, everyone should share in the rewards! One senior official said sourly. Even Lin Beifan, unable to bear it in his heart, said, Your Majesty, why not also reward them a little? The esteemed officials are also not living an easy life! Especially those in the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War, their homes are running out of oil! Officials from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War: You also know that its because of you, you damn fool? Under the persuasion of the officials, the Empress finally relented, What you all say is absolutely correct. I have overlooked it! Since we are all to rejoice together, I cannot only reward Principal Lin. Each and every one of you present here deserves a substantial reward! The civil and military officials eyes lit up. The Empress finally remembered them, which was no easy feat! They couldnt even remember thest time they received rewards! Since Lin Beifan joined the court, it seemed like they had no connection to the rewards! What would the Empress reward them with this time? Gold and silver? They didntck those and didnt need them. What they most desired was the pces fine wine and delicacies Those were things that money couldnt buy outside! If they could taste a sip of the pces fine wine and have a bite of the pces delicacies, they would be content even if they were given an immortal! As everyone thought about it, their excitement grew. They stretched their necks, like ducklings eagerly awaiting food. During these days, you all, esteemed officials, have not only had hardships but also put in great efforts! Therefore, taking this rare opportunity, I will certainly generously reward you all and rejoice together! The Empress said loudly. Your Majesty is wise! The civil and military officials smiled. So, I will bestow upon each esteemed minister The Empress tenderly raised a finger, 100 taels of silver! The civil and military officials: Everyone was dumbfounded! 100 taels of silver? What could they do with 100 taels of silver? It wasnt even enough for a good meal! It wasnt even enough for a good meal! It would have been better not to give anything at all! Your Majesty, is there anything else? someone asked unwillingly. The Empress shook her head, There is nothing else! What about some wine as a reward? someone else asked unwillingly. If you want to drink, go and buy it! Havent I given you money? The Empress waved her hand impatiently, Alright, thats it. Let the morning court begin! Those with a petition can stay, while those without one, leave! The civil and military officials: In the evening, Lin Beifan returned with a group of eunuchs. The eunuchs carried gold, silver, jewelry, silk, and other items. Lin Beifan waved his hand, saying, Youe here so often, you know where to put things. I wont remind you anymore! Rest assured, Mr. Principal, we know where to put things! they responded. They skillfully ced these precious items into various rooms. Li Yuxin arrived and found this scene to be quite strange. Seeing Lin Beifan sighing, she became even more perplexed and asked with concern, Mr. Principal, is there something troubling you? Why do you have such a worried expression? Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed, I have encountered a distressing matter! Mister, can you share it with this humble woman? Perhaps, I can share your burden! Li Yuxins eyes were filled with care. Lin Beifan seemed to have found someone to confide in and sighed, Miss Yuxin, you dont know! Since I entered the pce, I have been the sole recipient of the Empresss favor! I advise Her Majesty to distribute rewards equally, but she insists on only rewarding me, over and over again. Lin Beifan sighed again, Now, my house can no longer hold all the rewards. Im worried! Huh? Li Yuxins eyes widened, stunned. What kind of trouble was this? It was a situation that many desired but couldnt obtain! Why did he speak of it as if it were so painful? Li Yuxin felt like she had been deceived! She really wanted to punch him in the face! Keke! Li Shi Shi chuckled as she approached gracefully, Husban, youre being mischievous again! Yuxin, dont mind him! Sometimes my husband says things that dont make sense, just joking around. Youll get used to it! Oh! Li Yuxin nodded, still confused. However, there are indeed too many things that cant fit, and many of them have not been stored properly! Lin Beifan sighed, For example, those shark fins and birds nest, they have gotten damp and are no longer edible. Its a waste, and eating them would be too greasy. Its so annoying! I know a few medicinal recipes that use shark fins and birds nest as the main ingredients. Not only do they have a unique and fragrant taste, but they also nourish the body! If you dont mind, I can make them into medicinal dishes! Li Yuxin offered. Youre a guest, how can I let you do it? Lin Beifan responded. Mr. Principal, why be so polite with this humble woman? Li Yuxin replied. Husband, Yuxin is not a stranger! Li Shi Shi pulled Li Yuxins hand and smiled, Yuxin, lets research medicinal dishes together. Im interested in this aspect too! Mistress, please! Li Yuxin agreed. The two women chatted and walked together. Watching their retreating figures, Lin Beifan was a bit puzzled. When did their rtionship be so good? But after thinking about it, he understood. Women need best friends, they need to make friends. And when finding a best friend, they prefer someone simr. Li Shi Shi was more traditional, didnt venture out much, and had limited interactions with other women. The only ones she could truly connect with were the Little Princess, Mo Rushuang, and Xiao Cui After considering it, Li Yuxin was the closest in temperament. It wasnt difficult to understand why they became friends. An hourter, the medicinal dishes were ready, and a rich fragrance filled the air. A small figure suddenly rushed in, shouting excitedly, Its here! Good food, how could I miss out? It turned out to be the Little Princess, squatting in front of therge pot, her bright eyes widening, and drooling about to drip out. Her little hands were itching, as if she was about to reach into the pot at any moment. When theres food, youre always so enthusiastic. Sit properly! Lin Beifan pulled her to the table. No, let me have a taste first! the Little Princess reluctantly said. Everyone sat obediently, waiting for the delicious food to be served. This is the Medicinal Dish Golden Jade Banquet. It is made with abalone, sea cucumber, fish bones, and other ingredients, slowly stewed with medicinal herbs. Not only is it rich in nutrients, but it also has a wonderful taste. Please enjoy! Lin Beifan exined. Each person had a bowl, and everyone savored the vorful dish. Lin Beifan smiled and said, This dishbines all the ingredients and medicinal herbs together, allowing their vors to blend and create a unique taste. It is a supreme culinary pleasure! Delicious, its incredibly delicious! This reminds me of a dish called Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.'' Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? The Little Princess, who was busy eating, raised her little head curiously and asked, What kind of dish is that? Is it tasty? Everyone perked up their ears and listened attentively. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is made by slowly stewing various rare ingredients in a specific process. The taste is incredibly delicious and leaves asting impression! They say its so fragrant that even the Buddha cant resist jumping over the wall to eat it, hence the name! Everyone became even more interested upon hearing this. However, this dish requires a lot of ingredients, and the process is veryplicated and time-consuming, making it quite troublesome to make! Its not troublesome at all. Just tell me the recipe, and Ill find someone to make it right away! The Little Princess blinked her eyes, hinting eagerly. Dont change your mindter. Go eat your own food! Ah, so mean! During this meal, everyone enjoyed themselves as both hosts and guests. After eating and drinking to their hearts content, Lin Beifanzilyy on a rocking chair, blissfully pondering about the Qinglong Mountain Range. Now, various forces and experts have already gathered in the Qinglong Mountain Range. For the sake of fighting for the nted moon treasure, there have already been bloody conflicts, with the Wuxi Duke and the Dayue Dynasty suffering the most losses. In the past half month, the Wuxi Duke has lost 200,000 soldiers and horses, while the Dayue Dynasty has lost 150,000. It can be said that the losses were disastrous. In the uing period, their losses will continue to expand. Moreover, after this battle, their strength will greatly diminish, and their cooperation will also be basically non-existent! If they want to mobilize their forces, Im afraid theyll have to wait until next year! At this time, the military strength of the nted Moon Dynasty has already grown strong enough to pose a significant threaty to them. Everything is developing ording to his expectations. Just at this moment, Lin Beifan suddenly felt a bit ashamed. His enemies are all on the frontlines, fighting and shedding blood for a treasure that may not even exist, while he is enjoying himself behind the scenes. Its too decadent, too aimless. How can he bear it in his heart? If they were to find out, wouldnt they be infuriated? Therefore, he must rise up! He must pull himself together! At the very least, he must pretend to be a little more capable! Otherwise, his conscience will not be at ease! Chapter 181: No Treasure Here? Disappointed Treasure Hunters, The Collapsed Duke Wuxi! Chapter 181: No Treasure Here? Disappointed Treasure Hunters, The Copsed Duke Wuxi! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Due to the failure to find the treasure, some people have already left in disappointment. Recently, Duke Wuxi has been in a bad mood. He has dispatched arge number of troops to search the treasure location indicated by the treasure map meticulously, but still hasnt found anything. Afterall, one bad news after another keepsing. He has already withdrawn most of his soldiers from Qinglong Mountain, avoiding conflicts with the people on the mountain. However, casualties are still unavoidable, with thousands of people being injured or killed every day. It seems like there is a special organization targeting him. Every time he goes down the mountain in anger to find someone, he can never find them, which frustrates him to no end. In the past half a month, the number of casualties has reached a staggering 50,000! Combined with previous losses, it has already reached 250,000! Many military supplies, rations, and more have also suffered severe losses. Duke Wuxi is furious. His forces have already been weakened by 25%, and his reserves have also suffered heavy losses. With severe shortages of rations and supplies, how can he fight against the court? Maybe before even reaching Fenghuang Mountain, his troops will starve to death. He had initially wanted to seek aid from the Dayue Dynasty, but they have also suffered heavy losses and are unable to help themselves. Therefore, he now has all his hopes pinned on the treasure. As long as I find the nted Moon Treasures first, I can recover all my losses and even turn a profit! This is his thinking, somewhat simr to that of a gambler. If there is no treasure herehe doesnt dare to even think about it. At this moment, Mr. Fengchu walks in. Duke Wuxis eyes light up and he asks, Strategist, do you have any news about the treasure? Mr. Fengchc bows and says, Report to my lord, there is none! The light in Duke Wuxis eyes disappears and he scolds, Keep searching until you find it! Mr. Fengchu hesitates and says, My lord, there is something Im not sure whether to say or not. Duke Wuxi waves his hand, Just say it, we dont need to be so formal between us. Yes, my lord! Actually, I have always suspected that the rumors about the nted Moon treasure are fake! Fake? How is that possible? Duke Wuxi stands up excitedly, banging the table, The legend of the nted Moon treasure has been passed down for over 200 years, countless people have already confirmed it, and youre telling me its fake? The powerful aura of a warrior is released along with his anger. Under this pressure, Mr. Fengchu trembles in fear, his face covered in sweat, and he almost copses. My lord, what I mean is that the nted Moon treasure does indeed exist, but it is not hidden in the Qinglong Mountain Range! There are people spreading false information, intending to cause chaos and harm to the people! You Duke Wuxi angrily lifts Mr. Fengchu, Tell me everything in detail! If you say one wrong word, no matter how great your past achievements, I will definitely execute you! Saying that, he puts down Mr. Fengchu, his face still as dark as iron. Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life! Mr. Fengchu breathes a sigh of relief and humbly says, My lord, all of us came here to search for the treasure because we heard that the nted Moon treasure is hidden in this area of Qinglong Mountain Range. But if we trace the origin, the information about this treasure alles from a young child! All the clues and informatione from his mouth! We believe whatever he says, but there is fundamentally no solid evidence! For example, his father knew about this information but he died! The couple who stole the treasure map and killed the childs father has disappeared without a trace. The young man who provided the treasure map also drowned! You can say that all the relevant individuals have died, and there is no proof that what the child said is true or false! Now, even that child has disappeared, and the treasure map is gone too! Mr. Fengchu spreads his hands and says, You can say that all the key clues are non-existent, only the words spoken by that child remain! My lord, dont you think this situation is suspicious? Duke Wuxi remains silent, but his brow furrows. Mr. Fengchu continues, Later, I sent someone to investigate and discovered more problems! The bodies of the drowned young man and the murdered wealthy man have all disappeared, reportedly cremated! The pawnshop owner and his assistants who saw the treasure map have also disappeared! This whole matter reveals something suspicious and eerie from beginning to end! Something out of the ordinary must have a supernatural cause! So, I have very strong suspicions that someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes! Duke Wuxi turns his head around and says, Since you say someone is behind this, who are they? What is their purpose? To create such arge scheme, are they merely ying with the whole world? My lord, I do not know who they are! But their purpose might be to deal with us, to weaken the power of the Wuxi Royal Court! Mr. Fengchu sighs. It is clear that they have achieved their goal! Duke Wuxis pupils contract, revealing disbelief and a hint of murderous intent. My lord, listen to my analysis! The other side might have already known about our secret collusion with the Dayue Dynasty, and they have set the treasure location of the nted Moon treasure here after discovering the newly found secret passage we used to transport military supplies! Then, based on historical legends, they fabricated a colossal lie to deceive everyone in the world toe here! In order to obtain the treasure, everyone ispeting and fighting, resorting to extreme measures! And as the King of Wuxi, with a million troops and the strongest power, you naturally be the target of everyone! As a result, you will undoubtedly suffer losses and decrease in strength! And the current situation is just that! Mr. Fengchu sighs, Because of this treasure, in less than a month, we have lost 250,000 troops, a decrease of 25% in our strength! And there are countless other losses! Duke Wuxi clenches his fist, his eyes bloodshot, filled with killing intent. Mr. Fengchu shakes his head in astonishment, I have to say, the person who came up with this n is truly formidable, every step is carefully calcted, with hidden killing intent, involving everyone in the world! Even if one knows the truth, they would still fall into the trap! It was onlyter that I realized this, but it was toote to change anything! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Duke Wuxi lets out a resentful roar, This is definitely not true, everything is just your spection! The nted Moon treasure must be real, it must be hidden in the Qinglong Mountain Range! My lord Mr. Fengchu tries to speak. You dont need to say anymore! Duke Wuxi angrily says, Strategist, you must be too tired recently, thats why you have these delusions, uttering nonsense! Now, I order you to go back and rest! Immediately, right now! My lord, I If you dont rest, I will chop off your head! Duke Wuxi draws his sword and ces it against Mr. Fengchus neck. Fine beads of sweat emerge from his neck. Mr. Fengchu feels that if he says anything unfavorable, the king might actually decapitate him. That would be a great injustice! Please take care, My lord. I will go rest first! He bows, and exits the military tent. In the next three days, Duke Wuxi sends out more troops to search They even set fires to burn the forest, destroying many trees and grass, but still found nothing. As a result, more people leave in disappointment. It seems there really is no treasure here! I told you, finding the nted Moon treasure is not that easy. Its been over 200 years and still hasnt been found! I am also a lover of wealth, wasting my timeing here! Lets go, lets go, this is not a ce for humans to stay! However, Duke Wuxi still refuses to believe. He sets aside his grievances and calls upon all the innate experts present. All the heroes here, we have alle for the nted Moon treasure! It has been a month already, and we still havent found any trace of the treasure. Are you all willing to just leave like this? Everyone calls out one after another. Duke Wuxi, what do you mean? Dont beat around the bush, just say it directly! Duke Wuxi says in a deep voice, I have searched all thend here, nothing! So, the treasure is highly likely hidden within the cliffs! But these cliffs are tough, only with the use of innate qi can they be broken! Therefore, my idea is to gather everyones strength and sweep through the cliffs! After finding the treasure, we can rely on our own abilities, how about it? This idea is good, worth a try! Gathering our collective strength shouldnt be difficult! Finally, Duke Wuxi, you said something sensible! Everyone agrees one after another. Since they have been trying for a month, they might as well give a final effort. If they still cant find it this way, they will give up. In that case, Ill leave it to all the heroes! Duke Wuxi bows and smiles. Then, all the innate experts exert their efforts together, using innate qi to break through the rockyers of the cliffs. Boom Boom The sounds of explosions fill the air. Fragments of rocks roll down. But disappointing everyone, although they have broken through a couple ofyers of rock walls, there is still no trace of the treasure. This continues for three days, with the cliffs being scraped multiple times, the ground covered in debris. But still, no trace of the treasure is found. Duke Wuxis face is full of despair, Why why is there nothing A person stands still in ce, their eyes lifeless, looking ahead like a statue. Mr. Fengchu watches from a distance and sighs. And the other innate experts finally give up, leaving in disappointment. It seems there really is no nted Moon treasure here! We wasted a months time. If we knew, we wouldnt havee! Lets go, lets go home! Just then, the mountain suddenly emits a rumbling sound. Whats happening? Why is there suddenly an earthquake? Whats going on? Although everyone is rmed, they still believe in their own abilities to solve everything. Then, with a loud crash, a massiveyer of the mountain suddenly copses, crashing down towards the bottom, breaking intorge pieces of rocks, rolling towards the lower parts of the Qinglong Mountain Range. And below the Qinglong Mountain Range, there are currently 200,000 troops of the Wuxi Army. Everyone, including Duke Wuxi, watches helplessly as this heap of rocks falls towards the army below. Duke Wuxis eyes are filled with fury, No!!! Rumble Many soldiers dont have time to escape and are swallowed by the rocks, sleeping in eternal rest with the earth. Chapter 182: Taking advantage of me and not giving me money? Chapter 182: Taking advantage of me and not giving me money? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
That day, due to the destruction of the Qinglong Mountain Range, the rolling stones fell down, covering the sky and the earth! The 200,000 army of Duke Wuxi couldnt escape in time and were instantly buried by the rolling stones! Only 100,000 soldiers managed to escape, while the other 100,000 soldiers forever rest here, resting with the heavens and the earth, endlesslymenting! Duke Wuxi witnessed this with his own eyes, his heart torn apart, and he fainted after coughing up three liters of blood! And this news quickly spread throughout the world! Duke Wuxi became a huge joke. Another loss of 100,000 troops, did Duke Wuxi provoke the wrath of the heavens and was punished by the heavens? Its already 350,000 troops! Since the search for nted Moon Treasure less than a month ago, Duke Wuxi has already lost 350,000 troops. Its pitiful andughable! The battle hasnt even started, and theyre already defeated! I heard that Duke Wuxi vomited blood and fainted on the day the rolling stones fell. Haha! Heaven pardons those who are innocent, but those who bring cmity upon themselves cannot live! This is retribution! Duke Wuxi, the road to greatness is far away! Although the various vassal kings did not find the treasure on this trip, they felt some regret. But when they saw their formidable enemy, Duke Wuxi, losing troops and suffering a great blow, they all rejoiced. Those who were wealthy and influential even rewarded their armies. The court also did the same. In the court, the empress had a radiant smile on her face that she couldnt hide and said, My dear ministers, Duke Wuxi has provoked the wrath of the heavens and lost another 100,000 troops. This is the will of the heavens! Congrattions, Your Majesty! Congrattions, Your Majesty! the officials all eximed together. The empress was in high spirits and said, I have decided to reward all of you, my dear ministers, and rejoice together! Long live Your Majesty! the officials praised. Sir Lin, step forward and receive your reward! Ten thousand taels of silver, ten rolls of fine silk, ten jars of Imperial Dragon Wine, ten liang of Phoenix Gold Tea, and one root of a hundred-year-old top-grade ginseng The civil and military officials: Lin Beifan loudly said, Thank you, Your Majesty, for your graciousness! Your Majesty, what about us? the officials eagerly asked. My dear ministers, dont worry, I wont forget about you! The empress smiled proudly. Except for Sir Lin, the rest of the ministers will each be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver! The civil and military officials: What the f*ck Now, the heroes of the Six Doors, pleasee forward! Under the leadership of Guo the Head Catcher of the Six Doors, all the experts who went to the Qinglong Mountain Range to execute the mission appeared in the court. We bow before Your Majesty, long live the Emperor! You may rise, my dear subjects! The empress smiled and said, Although you didnt find the treasure on this trip, it is the will of the heavens. I dont me you! However, you have performed extraordinarily in this mission! It was your intervention that caused Duke Wuxi to lose troops and resolved the crisis for the court. Each and every one of you is a hero of the court and deserves to be rewarded! Everyone is promoted by one rank, rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver, and granted a ceremonial sword or saber! The experts of the Six Doors were overjoyed, Thank you for your graciousness, Your Majesty! The empress continued, Big Bull, I know you, the great hero who exterminated bandits! Although you are currently a criminal with meritorious service, unable to receive rewards! So, I wont promote your rank, but I will give you the silver and the sword as rewards! I hope you continue to serve the court, and when your merits umte enough, I will pardon all your crimes! Big Bull was overjoyed and tearfully grateful, Thank you, Your Majesty! His heart was filled with infinite emotions! Just two months ago, he was a wanted criminal of the court, being chased and hunted by the court! Now, he has be a person of the court, serving the court, having the opportunity to see the empress, being remembered by the empress, and receiving rewards from the empress. What a great honor it is! This lifetime can be considered meaningful! Although he still carried guilt, his heart was filled with hope for the future! Unable to help himself, he turned his head and looked at a person in the court. The Mr. Principal of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan. This infamous corrupt official, whom everyone wanted to kill, gave him hope. Lin Beifan smiled and secretly gave him a thumbs up. Big Bull gratefully whispered, Thank you, Sir! And Sir Guo, you should also receive a generous reward! The empress smiled, During this period, you have achieved extraordinary merits! Under your leadership, the Six Doors have been flourishing! So, you shall be rewarded with a hundred mu of fertilend, ten thousand taels of silver, and ten jars of the finest jade dragon wine! Thank you for your rewarding, Your Majesty! Guo the Head Catcher eximed in joy. Ten thousand taels of silver didnt matter much! The main thing was the hundred mu of fertilend, which was a good thing capable of being passed down as a legacy, benefiting future generations. With this, his descendants would not starve to death. And then there was the finest jade dragon wine He was a seasoned drinker. Just thinking about the taste of jade dragon wine made him uncontrobly salivate. His thoughts drifted, seemingly since bing friends with the Mr. Principal, his luck had improved. Achievements came one after another, without having to fight desperately, he had everything! No, it couldnt be called luck, it should be called the ability of the Mr. Principal! During the grand battle between grandmasters, if it werent for the Mr. Principals intervention, the Six Doors would have surely suffered countless casualties. During the naval exercise, if it werent for the Mr. Principals reminder to set an ambush in the Qing Mountain Range, they wouldnt have had the opportunity to gain this merit. Regarding the trouble with the bandits in the northern Jibei region, if it werent for the ingenious n of the Mr. Principal, they would have had no chance to im this merit. And this time, if it werent for the guidance of the Mr. Principal in dealing with Duke Wuxi, this merit would have vanished. The Mr. Principal, with eyes like torches, strategized and determined, was a truly capable individual! Never forget the person who dug the well when you drink water. Guo the Head Catcher immediately said, Report to Your Majesty, during the treasure hunt in the Qinglong Mountain Range, if it werent for the guidance of Minister Lin, we of the Six Doors would not have achieved this merit! Sir Lin deserves great credit, please observe, Your Majesty! The empress then realized and said, I didnt expect you, Sir Lin, to be involved in this matter too! Your Majesty, Master Guo is exaggerating! I merely offered a few suggestions, nothing significant! Lin Beifan humbly replied. Sir Lin is being modest! Although you only said a few words, each one was invaluable! Every word is a gem, and even a thousand gold wouldnt be enough! Guo the Head Catcher waved his hand repeatedly. Oh, no, Master Guo is the one with extraordinary contributions The two of them began exchangingpliments. The empress chuckled, Sir Lin, it seems you also deserve credit in this matter. You should indeed be rewarded! However, the rewards you have received today are already plentiful. We will temporarily acknowledge this merit and discuss further rewards in the future! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said loudly. The morning court session ended, and the officials left the Golden Chamber, each going about their duties. In the evening, Guo the Head Catcher of the Six Doors held a banquet in a restaurant to celebrate and invited Lin Beifan to attend, who dly epted. At the banquet, Lin Beifan and Guo the Head Catcher sat in the seats of honor, while the other experts took their respective seats. Everyone raised their cups and had a lively time. To entertain their brothers and Lin Beifan, Guo the Head Catcher reluctantly brought out two barrels of the finest jade dragon wine. Unfortunately, it was finished in no time, and he had to bring out two more barrels. Guo the Head Catcher felt a little pained, Brothers,e on, at least leave me a little, dont drink it all at once! Everyone burst intoughter. At this moment, Guo the Head Catcher raised his wine cup and loudly proimed, In these days, the reason why our Six Doors have achieved extraordinary merits and been flourishing is all thanks to Sir Lin! Minister Lin is truly our benefactor! Let us raise our cups together in a toast to Sir Lin! To Sir Lin! Everyone raised their wine cups and eximed in unison. No need for such courtesy, everyone, no need for such courtesy! Lin Beifan clinked his cup and drank it all. However, they were too polite. They toasted three times, and only after Lin Beifan drank three cups did they stop. After the wine was finished, everyone took their seats. Guo the Head Catcher once again lifted his wine cup and clinked it with Lin Beifans, saying solemnly, Sir Lin, we cannot repay your kindness! If you ever need anything, juste to the Six Doors directly! As long as it doesnt vite principles, we will help you! Sir Lin is not an outsider, so feel free to delegate tasks if you have any! Sir Lin, just give the orders, and we will do it! Haha, thank you, Master Guo, and thank you all for your heroic efforts! Lin Beifan lifted his wine cup once again. That night, everyone enjoyed themselves at the banquet. Two dayster, Princess Ziyue returned. As soon as she arrived, she pulled Lin Beifan into the study and excitedly said, Advisor, do you know how many casualties the Dayue Dynasty suffered due to our efforts? I heard that during this treasure-seeking expedition, the Dayue Dynasty lost nearly 150,000 soldiers and horses! Lin Beifan smiled. Actually, its much more than that! Princess Ziyue said with great excitement. The number of casualties they im is only 150,000, but the actual number is 200,000! And we also burned all their food supplies, so theyll have problems surviving the winter! This is the greatest loss the Dayue Dynasty has suffered since its establishment! Moreover, its our first glorious victory against the Dayue Dynasty! The more Princess Ziyue spoke, the more excited she became. Her face was flushed, and her body trembled. Congrattions, Princess! Lin Beifan praised with a bow. Princess Ziyue bowed in return and tearfully expressed her gratitude, If it werent for your guidance and schemes to deal with the Dayue Dynasty, we wouldnt have achieved such a great victory. Thank you, Advisor! Youre too kind, Princess! Lin Beifan quickly helped Princess Ziyue up. Recalling everything she had experienced in the past half year, Princess Ziyue felt like it was a lifetime away, as if she had been in a dream. Half a year ago, she was a defeated and fleeing princess, working tirelessly with her old subordinates from nted Moon to restore their country. But after more than ten years of fruitless efforts, she lost hope in life and even doubted its meaning. However, everything changed after she met the man before her. Under his guidance, the cause of restoring their country developed rapidly and showed signs of widespread sess. Under his strategies, their archenemy, the Dayue Dynasty, suffered heavy losses. This magnificent man standing before her gave her hope for the restoration of their country. This man before her Reliance! Tears welled up in Princess Ziyues eyes as she once again bowed, Advisor, thank you! With you, nted Moon is truly fortunate! Lin Beifan blinked and smiled, Princess, theres no need to thank me anymore! If you really want to express your gratitude, give me some practical rewards! How about a reward of two or three million taels? The more, the better! Princess Ziyue covered her mouth andughed. In the past, she found Lin Beifans desire for money annoying, but now she discovered that it was somewhat endearing. Advisor, close your eyes, and Ill give you a big surprise! Lin Beifans eyes lit up, How big of a surprise? A very big one! Princess Ziyue lowered her head slightly, a blush appearing on her cheeks. Could it be four or five million? Princess, youre so generous! Lin Beifan became excited and closed his eyes with anticipation. At that moment, Princess Ziyue suddenly leaped forward and hugged Lin Beifan. Then, she tiptoed and In that moment, Lin Beifan felt warmth and tenderness, something he wanted to cherish! However, that moment was too short. When Lin Beifan opened his eyes, the room was empty, and the beautiful woman was nowhere to be seen. Advisor, Ill go back first. Well talk another day! Lin Beifan trembled with anger. She took advantage of me and didnt even give me any money? Chapter 183: What did Mencius teach you that made you value money over people? Chapter 183: What did Mencius teach you that made you value money over people? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In the past two months, Lin Beifan has subdued the rebellious Prince of Northern Hebei and Wuxi Duke, restoring stability to the situation in Great Wu. At this moment, the gluttonous little princess has been persistently pestering Lin Beifan, and he finally agreed to make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall for her. He selected the finest ingredients such as abalone, sea cucumber, fish lips, fish fins, and tendon from the Empresss reward, and after special treatment, he put them together in arge pot. Then, he used high broth and fine wine to slowly stew over a low me, taking approximately twenty-four hours. And today is the day when it will be cooked. The rich aroma has already filled the kitchen. The food-loving little princess has been waiting in the kitchen, smelling the scent and drooling: Is it ready? It has been two days! Dont worry, as they say, good thingse to those who wait! Slowly stewing over a low me allows the vors of the ingredients to fully blend together, creating a wonderful reaction that brings out a unique and fragrant taste! Lin Beifan sniffed: It will be ready in about half an hour! Another half hour? Im starving! The little princess held her empty stomach and said in misery. Seeing the pitiful appearance of the little princess, Lin Beifan couldnt help but chuckle: Since youre hungry, you can eat something else first! The little princess looked even more aggrieved: Ive already eaten, I cant eat anymore or I wont be able to eat Buddha Jumps Over the Wall! At this moment, Lin Beifan turned his head and looked outside as he walked and said, There are guests, Im going to see! Little princess, dont open the lid before the time is up, or the taste will bepromised! Dont worry, when ites to food, I wont disappoint! The little princess waved her hand. Lin Beifan said to Dali, Keep an eye on the little princess, dont let her move around! Dali responded, Understood, young master! The little princess sighed. As he walked out of the kitchen, Lin Beifan saw Li Yuxin approaching him with a graceful smile: Mr. Principal, greetings! She was specially invited by Lin Beifan. In these past few days, Li Yuxin had oftene to the Lin residence, not only to help him with massages and rxation, but also to teach him several medicinal recipes. Lin Beifan was filled with gratitude, so he invited her to taste the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall together. Lin Beifan nodded and smiled, Yuxin, you came at the perfect time! Buddha Jumps Over the Wall will be ready in half an hour, so make sure to have an extra bowl! Thank you, its my honor! Li Yuxin smiled. Just as she arrived, she was immediately pulled into the inner chamber by Li Shi Shi. No one knew what they were discussing, but they seemed to be chatting andughing. Not long after, Princess Ziyue also arrived. She was also invited by Lin Beifan. When she saw Lin Beifan, her gaze inexplicably dodged, and her usual bravery seemed to have disappeared. Lin Beifan gritted his teeth and said angrily, Miss Ziyue, you ran away so fastst time! You even dared to flirt with me when I wasnt paying attention! After flirting, you just left without exining anything! If it werent for my position as a military advisor threatening you, you would have avoided me, right? Tell me, what should be your punishment? Sir, I know I was wrong! Princess Ziyue said pitifully, Whether its cuddling or hugging, kissing or sleeping, no matter what punishment you give me, I wont even frown! Holy cow! Lin Beifan eximed. This is indeed a fox spirit! She not only wanted to eat my tofu but also tried to take advantage of the situation! This is simply unreasonable! Lin Beifan said righteously, Youre thinking too highly of yourself! Im not interested in your beauty, I just want money! If theres no money, then only my body canpensate! Princess Ziyue said even more pitifully. Holy cow! Lin Beifan eximed. Seeing Lin Beifans frustrated look, Princess Ziyue giggled. The shyness she had before disappeared. Approaching Lin Beifans ear, she whispered, Advisor, dont worry, I have already prepared a great gift! Its just that the journey is far, so I havent had a chance to deliver it yet! Lin Beifans eyes lit up, How valuable is this gift? Worth 5 million taels! she replied. Lin Beifan immediately smiled, Princess, you are very thoughtful! But Princess Ziyue didnt feel good about it. Even as a beautiful woman, she couldnt charm him, but 5 million taels made him surrender! She realized that shecked any materialistic attractions! For the first time, she doubted her own charm. She brought up this question. If he can only choose one, would Lin Beifan choose money or her? Of course its money! Lin Beifan answered without hesitation. Princess Ziyue was heartbroken, Advisor, how can youpare me to material possessions like money! Lin Beifan panicked slightly, Princess, you misunderstand! I have studied the works of Confucius and Mencius, this is what Mencius taught! The princess looked confused, What did Mencius teach you, that you prioritize money over people? Mencius once said Lin Beifan said righteously, I desire a woman, and I also desire money. Should the choice be between the two, sacrificing the woman and acquiring the money bes necessary. Given the opportunity, I would indeed desire to possess both. Damn! Did Mencius really say that? Princess Ziyue asked. Of course! Princess, with your intelligence, do you think I can lie to you? Lin Beifan said confidently. Princess Ziyue red at Lin Beifan, Do you think youve lied to me any less? Lin Beifan: But, if the advisor is willing to apany me to Wuxi, and wholeheartedly supports my effort to restore nted Moons glory, we will have wealth and riches, and you will have the money you desire. Even I am willing to Princess Ziyue blushed and lowered her head, shyly saying, I am willing to devote myself to you, bear your children, and be a good wife and mother! Damn! Lin Beifan eximed. This fox woman is tempting me again! Doesnt she know that I cant resist temptation? Especially the temptation from a rich woman! Just then, the little princess walked out of the kitchen. Seeing the two whispering to each other, she immediately felt jealous and walked up to Princess Ziyue, annoyed, Why are you here? Greetings to little princess! Mr. Principal invited me toe and taste Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. I heard that its the best delicacy in the world, so I naturally came! Princess Ziyue smiled. The little princess pointed at Lin Beifans chest with her finger, You, this guy, are quite flirtatious. Even when eating a meal, you cant help but call your confidante! A man without a flirtatious nature is a wasted youth! Lin Beifanughed. You still have an excuse? the little princess got angry. Reason can conquer the world, while unreasonableness cant take a single step! Lin Beifan retorted. Dont give me excuses! A wasted youth? Looking at your lecherous appearance, Im afraid youll be a flirt your whole life! scolded the little princess. Of course, a man is forever young until his death! Lin Beifan said. Damn! the little princess eximed. On the side, Princess Ziyue couldnt stopughing at their bickering. Half an hour quickly passed. Everyone knew it was time and gathered in the pavilion, ready to taste the legendary delicacy. Looking around, Lin Beifan suddenly realized that there were various stunning women gathered here. The elegant and noble Li Shi Shi, the ethereal and graceful Li Yuxin, the heroic and imposing Mo Rushuang, the enchanting and alluring Princess Ziyue, the adorable and greedy little princess Each one was so unique, so beautiful! At this moment, Lin Beifan also remembered two other women, the mysterious and unfathomable Bai Guanyin, and the peerless beauty, the Empress. Unknowingly, he had interacted with so many beautiful women. And he had gained many interesting friends. The honest and loyal Dali, the slightly delusional but always discouraged Guo Shaoshuai, the devoted Buddhist master Jing Tai, the foolish and silly little monk, as well as the sword immortal and de saint whose whereabouts were unknown Of course, he also had enemies all over the world. If everything he had done was exposed, he would definitely be hunted down by everyone in the world. However, fortunately, he had obtained the skills of a grandmaster, sufficient to handle everything. Finally, its here! Buddha Jumps Over the Wall! Dali and Guo Shaoshuai came out carrying a steaming hot pot. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is finally ready! We can eat now! Everyone excitedly gathered around. With a sense of ceremony, Lin Beifan, as the host, uncovered the lid of the pot. Instantly, a fragrant aroma filled the courtyard. It smells so good! No wonder its called Buddha Jumps Over the Wall! Even the Buddha would jump over to eat it! Just the smell is so amazing, I wonder how delicious it tastes! Its probably something that even the immortals in heaven would eat! I cant resist anymore, haha! At this moment, the little princess couldnt resist and reached out her hand. Wait! Lin Beifan pped away the little princesss greedy hand and said to Dali, Dali, bring a clean bowl! Yes, young master! Dali ran back to the kitchen and brought a bowl. Lin Beifan scooped some Buddha Jumps Over the Wall into the bowl using adle and handed it to the little princess. Little princess, could you please take this bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and give it to the Empress to taste! The Empress had always taken care of Lin Beifan, and he had been living a fulfilling life. But he felt guilty for doing so many treacherous things behind her back and wanted to repay her. However, all the good things he had were given by the Empress. Now, he had finally made the first pot of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall from another world, so it was a perfect opportunity for the Empress to try it. Why me? I want to eat it too! The little princess was somewhat dissatisfied. Because you know martial arts and can run fast! Plus, only you can freely enter and leave the pce. Who else could I choose if not you? Lin Beifan waved his hand. Go quickly, ande back soon! Dont eat it too fast, wait for me toe back and eat together! The little princess disappeared in a puff of smoke. Lin Beifan continued to distribute the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, one bowl per person. Everyone enjoyed the deliciousness, their faces filled with delight. So delicious! Its really, really good! So fragrant and tender, it melts in your mouth. The taste is truly extraordinary! Give me another bowl, thank you! In less than a moment, the little princess came running back. She took out arge basin-sized bowl and had Lin Beifan fill it up for her. Then she hugged the bowl and started devouring it, with sauce all over her face. So delicious! So, so delicious! Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, I love you so much! In the blink of an eye, half of the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was gone. Seeing the little princess eating voraciously, Lin Beifan said with a leisurely tone, I suddenly realize that Confucius said something very true. What did Confucius say? Confucius said, It is difficult to raise women and scoundrels. Little princess, you eat so much, you are really difficult to raise! The little princess: Everyone burst intoughter. Meanwhile, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was also presented to the Empress for her review of the memorials. Chapter 184: Our spy in Great Yan is actually Lin Beifan? Chapter 184: Our spy in Great Yan is actually Lin Beifan? 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Your Majesty, this is the delicacy Buddha Jumps Over the Wall sent by Princess Yunying! It is said to be researched by the top schr, using precious ingredients such as premium abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber, and cooked for 24 hours! The empress looked up, somewhat surprised, Lin, the Principal, can actually cook? Yes, after the old servant heard this news, I was also quite surprised! the old eunuchughed, But the top schr is versatile and outstanding, it seems not surprising to have an additional skill! Thats true! the empress nodded and smiled. At first, she thought Lin Beifan was just a schr who excelled in studying. Then she discovered he was also a martial arts expert. Later, she realized his administrative and governing abilities were exceptional, able to handle both civil and military officials without falling behind, and has helped her solve many troubles, earning her favor. Later on, she found out he was also an inventor who created the two great national treasures, the hot air balloon and air cushioned ship. Then, she discovered he was a military strategist, proficient in various military skills, helping the fugitive princess of the nted Moon Dynasty build a great foundation. Afterwards, she discovered he even knew medical skills and corrected many peoples misconceptions about medicine. Now, he even has culinary skills. He is like a surprise box that keeps refreshing, with every opening bringing small surprises. You never know what else he is capable of. At this moment, the fragrance of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall wafted over. The empress became spirited, It smells so good, Ive never smelled such a fragrant aroma before, quickly bring it over for me to taste! The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was ced in front of the empress, the lid was opened, and an even more intense fragrance spread with the heat, filling the study with the rich aroma of the dish. Its still hot, it seems it was just taken out of the pot and brought over, they are very thoughtful! eximed the empress happily. Although she ruled alone, she still longed to be cared for. Lin Beifan, in particr, was her most trusted and favored confidant, and the little princess was her most cherished friend. The friendship they showed by sending this delicacy made her heart feel warm. She picked up a spoon and was about to eat. Your Majesty, how about letting this old servant taste it first? the old eunuch beside her suggested. The empress waved her hand, Dont worry, they wont harm me! Saying so, she took a sip of the soup and tasted it carefully. A beautiful expression of intoxication appeared on her face, Fresh! Fragrant! Delicious! The vor of this soup is truly unique! I have tasted countless broths, but this one is the richest in vor! She took two more sips before taking a bite of the abalone. This abalone is stewed perfectly, not at all mushy, but especially soft and tender, doesnt stick to the teeth! And these fish maws soaked up the soup, eating them is extremely enjoyable, pure bliss! And these mushrooms, so savory! And so, the empress ate andmented as she ate. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she finished the whole bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Her t stomach slightly protruded. But the empress felt very satisfied andzily said, Sir Lin knows how to enjoy! The delicacies I reward him, he actually ys around with them! This Buddha Jumps Over the Wall can be considered the number one delicacy in the world! Your Majesty, since you enjoy eating Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, why not let the top schr contribute the recipe and hand it over to the royal kitchen, so that Your Majesty can eat it often! the old eunuch suggested. Thats a good idea, but lets forget it! the empress smiled, The one made by the royal kitchen will always be different from the one made by Sir Lin! For the royal kitchen, its just a job! But for Sir Lin, its his sincerity! Money can be valued, but sincerity is priceless! Tell the top schr that I really like his Buddha Jumps Over the Wall! Yes, Your Majesty! the old eunuch understood her implied meaning. In fact, it hinted to Lin Beifan that in the future, whenever he makes Buddha Jumps Over the Wall or any other delicious dishes, he should send a portion over because the empress really likes them. This is also a way of showing favor and enjoying together as ruler and minister. By the way, two months have passed! Have the soldiers night blindness and beriberi improved? the empress asked with concern. She had been concerned about this matter. Most soldiers suffered from night blindness and beriberi, though not major issues, they were persistent problems that greatly affected the militarys performance. Night blindness led to easy defeat in battles at night. Beriberi posed challenges during marches and battles. If these two conditions improved, the strength of her army would undoubtedly increase. Apologize to Your Majesty, this old servant doesnt know, but may I suggest summoning General Zhao to inquire as he is responsible for this matter! Summon General Zhao to the pce! Not long after, General Zhao entered the pce with a powerful stride. Greetings, Your Majesty, may our empress live ten thousand years! General Zhao, no need for formalities! the empress asked with concern, Previously, I asked you to conduct experiments based on the Lis Medical Form. How is the situation? Has there been any improvement in the soldiers night blindness and beriberi? Your Majesty, following your instructions, I selected 100 soldiers suffering from these conditions from the military and provided them with the corresponding food as mentioned in the medical book, without interruption! General Zhao spoke loudly, After two months of experimentation, there has been significant improvement in the soldiers night blindness and beriberi! Among them, 32 people with night blindness havepletely recovered, and 34 people with beriberi have also recovered! Although others have notpletely recovered, their conditions have significantly improved, and the severity of the symptoms has lessened! This waspletely unimaginable before, the methods recorded in the medical book are indeed effective! General Zhao couldnt contain his joy, Your Majesty, due to the short duration of the experiment, the number of fully recovered individuals is rtively small! Give me another two months, and I am confident that more than half of the soldiers will recover! Good! the empress apuded, delightedly saying, Since this method is effective, implement it throughout the entire army! Your Majesty is wise! General Zhao eximed loudly before leaving. Military affairs are not trivial matters, and news of this quickly spread, astonishing the people. Is it true that the treatment methods for night blindness and beriberi recorded in Lis Medical Form actually work? How can it be false? The court has secretly conducted experiments for over two months and obtained very positive results, which is why it is being promoted throughout the entire army! It seems that Mr. Principal, the imperial physician, is truly a skilled doctor. His methods are effective! The other treatment methods recorded in the medical book might also be true! There was a lot of discussion among the people, and once again, Lis Medical Form became popr. At this time, a young nobleman dressed in luxurious attire walked down the street and listened to the discussions of the people, greatly surprised. I didnt expect that there would be effective treatments for beriberi and night blindness! If this treatment is promoted, the Da Wu army will undoubtedly improve by 1 to 2 percent! This is not good news for our dynasty! Well, Your Highness, think about it from another perspective. If we bring back this treatment method, it would be a great achievement for you! a elderly man behind him whispered. Youre right, it would be a free gain! Cant let it go to waste! the young noblemanughed, But what interests me even more is the one who proposed this medical form, Lin Beifan! It is said that he is the first top schr to pass all three imperial examinations since the founding of Great Wu. At such a young age, he is highly favored by the empress, so he has been steadily promoted and has even jumped several ranks to be Principal! The flying divine artifact, the Air Balloon, and the water weapon, the air-cushion ship, were invented by him and greatly enhanced Great Wus strength! I never expected him to also be a doctor, haha! Truly interesting! That young man is indeed talented! the elderly man next to him admired and said, I heard that he is less than 20 years old but has already made a name for himself in the court! His talent is remarkable, especially in poetry and writing. He hasposed numerous ssic poems that have spread throughout the countries! He may be the strongest opponent in our Yan and Wu Competition! We should indeed take him seriously, but no matter how strong he is, there is only one of him! the young noblemanughed, The group of schrs we sent this time is the most outstanding since the founding of our Yan Dynasty! They are bound to dominate this literary contest! And if they cant do it, I will! As he said this, he stood proudly, with a radiant expression. What Your Highness says is absolutely right! the elderly man ttered, Your Highness also possesses the talent of a top schr! If it werent for your royal identity, you would have been nominated as the top schr! The young nobleman burst intoughter. Your Highness, the Yan and Wu Competition is a major event and cannot afford any mistakes! Should we contact the insider in Great Wu in advance so that we have a better chance of obtaining information about our opponents? Our chances of winning will be greater! The expression on the young noblemans face turned serious. Who is this insider? Actually its Lin Beifan, the Imperial Academys Principal of Great Wu! Its actually him? The young nobleman was somewhat dumbfounded. The young man he had just praised turned out to be their insider. What kind of situation is this? Sir Wang, are you mistaken? How could it be him? The young man furrowed his brows. ording to my knowledge, Lin Beifan is highly favored by the empress, which is why he has been steadily promoted and enjoys endless glory and wealth! It doesnt make sense for someone with such a bright future to betray Great Wu. How could he be our inside man? The elderly man sighed bitterly. Your Highness, it is indeed him! Although he is highly favored and has a promising future, he has one major characteristic, and that is greed! It is because of this that we were able to buy him off! Greed? How greedy can he be? the young nobleman asked. Your Highness, let me tell you, he leaked the manufacturing methods for the Air Balloon and the Air Cushion Boat to us! In order to obtain these two divine devices manufacturing methods, we paid a total of 8 million taels of silver. He wouldnt agree to anything less! The elderly man winced. 8 million taels! Truly greedy! Even if he, as a prince,bined all his wealth, it wouldnt amount to one-third of what the other party received. And it is said that during his time in office, he embezzled tens of millions of taels of silver, taking even the money of other ministers for himself! He truly is insatiable! The young nobleman gasped. He embezzled tens of millions of taels! With such greed, isnt he afraid of losing his life? To be honest, I dont know why he is so audacious, perhaps he relies on the empresss favor! The entire Great Wu court, from top to bottom, is corrupted to the core! Your Highness, if we were to visit him and ask for his help, we may need to prepare more money! the elderly man said again. The corners of the young noblemans mouth twitched. Lord Wang, I think its better not to do that! I dont have that much wealth to satisfy his appetite! Besides, we dont really need his help in this Yan and Wu Competition! Your Highnesss words are absolutely right! The two of themughed and disappeared into the street. Chapter 185: Lin Beifans One Against Five in the Yan and Wu Competition? Chapter 185: Lin Beifans One Against Five in the Yan and Wu Competition? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At the grand meeting of the Great Wu Court, after the officials finished their words of congrattions, the Empress spoke directly. The triennial Yan and Wu Competition is about to begin again! The Great Yan Dynasty has already sent their contestants, who will arrive in the capital one week from now topete against the outstanding youths of our dynasty! General Tang, are you prepared? Lin Beifan knew about this Yan and Wu Competition. It was apetition jointly organized by the Great Yan Dynasty and the Great Wu Dynasty, simr to the Olympics, with a history of over a hundred years. It was held every three years, alternating between the two dynasties. In the Yan and Wu Competition, participants under the age of 30 from each side wouldpete in both literary and martial arts. The literarypetition focused on skills such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose, while the martial artspetition naturally focused on martial skills. Although there were no rewards for winning or punishments for losing, thispetition was about honor and face, which was highly valued by the country. It was a must-win. Moreover, it was an opportunity to showcase the abilities of the younger generation of both countries. The more outstanding the young people, the better the development of the country, indicating a better future. It would have an uplifting and morale-boosting effect. After so many years of development, thispetition had be a grand event eagerly awaited by the people of both countries. The previous Yan and Wu Competition was held in the Great Yan Dynasty, so it was naturally the turn of the Great Wu Dynasty this time. Zhao Jinli, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward and respectfully said, Your Majesty, after months of preparations, the venue for the Yan and Wu Competition has already been arranged and is ready for thepetition at any time. Your Majesty, please rest assured! Good! Then how are the participants arranged? The Empress was most concerned about this. Your Majesty, there is a slight inadequacy in arranging the participants, Zhao Jinlis forehead broke out in ayer of fine sweat. Firstly, for the literarypetition, I have learned that the Great Yan Dynasty will be sending the most outstanding young talents in history! The top three of this years imperial examination, as well as the first ce in the second ss, are all under 25 years old but possess the abilities of top schrs. They are called the Four Sons of the Great Yan! Everyone gasped in surprise. The top four in the imperial examination were all young people under the age of 25, and they all had the ability of top schrs. This was truly terrifying. It should be noted that many schrs studied for over twenty years and didnt achieve the top schr title until they were in their thirties or forties. In the case of the Great Wu Dynasty, they hadnt produced a top schr under the age of 30 for many years. Thats why Lin Beifans appearance caused such a stir. In addition, the leader of the Great Yan team, Prince Yan Xinghe, is also a talented schr with diverse knowledge and abilities. He once participated in the imperial examination in disguise and achieved the top two rankings. If his identity hadnt been exposed in the end, he might have achieved the top three and not fallen short of Principal Lins abilities! Everyone gasped in surprise again! This means there are five top schrs! And they only have Lin Beifan, one person against five, how can he win? Just thinking about it makes the chances of winning seem bleak! The Empresss face darkened. Minister Zhao, are you suggesting that we are already destined to lose in the literarypetition? Minister Zhao Jinli wiped the sweat off his forehead. Your Majesty, we still have a great chance of winning! As the host, we can establish rules that are more favorable to us! What do you propose? the Empress asked. Your Majesty, we can adopt a rotation system, where one person falls, and another immediately takes their ce. As long as not all of us fall, it wont be counted as a loss! Compared to our other talented schrs, we may be slightlycking, but we have Principal Lin. As long as he can withstand everything, we still have a chance of winning! Minister Zhao reported loudly. It really has be one person against five! But in this way, Sir Lin will suffer! This the Empress said with concern. Your Majesty, this is currently the best solution! Please think it over, Your Majesty! Under the persuasion of the officials, the Empress finally relented. It seems we can only adopt the rotation system! Sir Lin, we can only rely on you! Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost! Lin Beifan said calmly. Everyone was worried, but Lin Beifan wasnt worried at all. He had the cultural wealth of another world and integrated so many impressive character temtes. It was equivalent to absorbing all their experiences and talents. His talent was expanding! Lose to others? What a joke! But the Empress and the officials didnt know! The Empress looked at Lin Beifans calm demeanor and thought that he was pretending to be calm. She advised, Sir Lin, dont put too much pressure on yourself. Just do your best! If you lose, we wont me you! But if you win, you will have made great contributions to our court, and we will definitely reward you generously! Any objections from the ministers? We have no objections! the officials said in unison. Minister Zhao, how are the arrangements for the martial artspetition? the Empress asked again. Your Majesty, there are also some shorings in the martial arts aspect! Minister Zhao said cautiously. What do you mean the martial arts aspect is also inadequate? The Empress was so angry she wanted to kill someone. Your Majesty, the five young experts sent by the Great Yan Dynasty this time all have a cultivation level of at least fifth-rank! Among them, one has outstanding talent and has reached the fourth-rank realm, with formidable strength! As for the young experts of our Great Wu, only three have reached the fifth rank, and the other two are at the sixth rank! As he spoke, Minister Zhaos voice became much quieter. The Great Yan Dynasty has four fifth-rank and one fourth-rank experts, while the Great Wu Dynasty only has three fifth-rank experts and two sixth-rank experts! How you look at it, its certain that Great Wu will lose! Just a fourth-ranked person can wipe out all of Great Wu! The Empresss chest heaved with anger. Zhao Jinli, I have given you several months to prepare, and youe up with these people? What use are they? Are you intentionally making a mockery of Great Wu? Minister Zhao forced a smile and bowed. Your Majesty, I have searched through the three armies, Six Doors, Embroidered Uniform Guards, and even the Jianhu, but couldnt find anyone suitable. Please forgive me, Your Majesty! The Empresss face turned dark with anger, finally sighing weakly. Great Wus decline seemed inevitable, with a heavy atmosphere hanging over thend. The princes were in control, corrupt officials ran rampant. The people suffered, and the dynasty was on the verge of copse. In such a dire environment, useful talents could not be cultivated at all. Even if one or two talents emerged, they might be disappointed in Great Wu and seek employment in other countries. In contrast, the Great Yan Dynasty was in its prime, with talents emerging endlessly. Thinking back to two hundred years ago, Great Wu was also like that, talents budding like mushrooms after the rain, shaking the four seas and attracting visitors from all directions, as if they were the center of the world! Now, everything was just a thing of the past! At this moment, the Empresss gaze couldnt help but drift towards Lin Beifan. This guy was a hidden grandmaster. Even renowned sword immortal and saber saint were easily defeated by him. If he were to take action, it shouldnt be a problem. Unfortunately, this little brat always yed coy. Sigh! Ministers, any good strategies? the Empress asked, as the officials exchanged nces. The gap was just too big, and none of the methods seemed very effective. At this moment, Lin Beifan stood up. Your Majesty, I have a n! The Empresss eyes lit up. What n, Sir Lin? Tell us quickly! Your Majesty, and esteemed ministers, have you heard the story of Tian Jis horse racing? Lin Beifan smiled. Tian Jis horse racing? Everyone looked puzzled. In ancient times, there was a country called Qi, where the people loved horses and horse racing. Among them, there was a man named Tian Ji who oftenpeted in horse races against King Qi Wei. However, his horses were never as good as King Qi Weis. Do you know how he eventually won? How did he win? everyone asked in unison. It was because a military strategist discovered that although Tian Jis horses were not as good as King Qi Weis within the same grade, the difference wasnt that significant. But there was a huge gap between different grades! So, the strategist suggested that Tian Ji use his best horse against King Qi Weis average horse, his average horse against King Qi Weis worst horse, and his worst horse against King Qi Weis best horse. In this way Lin Beifan smiled. Tian Jis best horse was stronger than King Qi Weis average horse, winning a match! Tian Jis average horse was stronger than King Qi Weis worst horse, winning another match! Tian Jis worst horse, of course, couldntpare to King Qi Weis best horse, losing a match! Three matches, two wins for Tian Ji! Our martial artspetition is simr to Tian Jis horse racing! Everyones eyes lit up, as if they had already thought of something. But we only have three fifth-ranked masters. We can only win the martial artspetition if they all win. And each of their participants is at least fifth-ranked. How can we win? Someone raised a question. . Your Majesty, we can gather information about the participants from the Great Yan Dynastys martial artspetition, analyze the weakest three, find their weaknesses, ande up with a way to defeat them. Then, we can provide specialized training to our own people! With this, our chances of winning will be high! Lin Beifan reported loudly. Finally, the Empresss face brightened. This idea is good! Ministers, is there anything you would like to add? We have no objections! The officials replied in unison. Good! Lets proceed with this n! And. The Empresss gaze drifted towards Lin Beifan and she smiled. Sir Lin, you will be in charge of this! Lin Beifan was confused. Me? Yes, one task, no need for a second leader! The Empress smiled warmly. Sir Lin, since this was your suggestion, naturally you will be responsible for it. I believe you will not disappoint me! Lin Beifan panicked. But, Your Majesty, I cant do it! After all, he was a diligent and responsible corrupt official! He wouldnt do anything that didnt benefit him! I dont care, I leave it to you! Among all the civil and military officials, you are the one who puts me most at ease. Use whatever resources you need, and I will fully support you! The Empress said with a smile. Lin Beifans expression changed immediately. Your Majesty, I need 500,000 taels of silver. Please grant your permission! The Empress: Wow, he really knows how to climb up thedder! Asking for 500,000 taels of silver, he dares to make such a request! Fine! I grant you 500,000 taels of silver! If anyone has any objections, speak up, and I will assign this task to them. If they fail toplete it, I will punish them! The Empress said loudly. The officials who were about to speak all retreated. Lin Beifan smiled. Thank you, Your Majesty! But, Sir Lin, you are a schr. Is this suitable for you? The Minister of Rites advised. The Empress scolded, Shut up! Sir Lin is much more useful than you! I gave you several months to prepare, but this is the answer you give me? You disappointed me too much! Zhao Jinli, who had been scolded, shrank his head and felt a sense of grievance and frustration. He had worked so hard and done so much, without any credit but with a lot of effort. He not only didnt receive the Emperors praise, but was also scolded in front of all the civil and military officials. Touching his heart, it felt as cold as water! Chapter 186: Is Great Wu going to lose? Chapter 186: Is Great Wu going to lose? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After the morning court, Lin Beifan went to various departments such as Six Doors, Embroidered Uniform Guards, and West Depot to further understand the information and data of the participants from the Great Yan Dynasty ande up with corresponding measures. However, these departments didnt have much information, so they could only wait for them to arrive in the capital before making further ns. When Lin Beifan returned home at night, the little princess was already waiting at the Lin Residence. Seeing Lin Beifan return, she immediately eximed excitedly, Lin Beifan, I heard that you will represent our Great Wu in the literarypetition of this Yan and Wu Competition! And I heard that you are also in charge of the martial artspetition, is that true? Everyone was thrilled to hear this. Li Shi Shi smiled and said, My husband participating in the literarypetition? With my husbands talent, he truly deserves it and will surely dominate thepetition! But what surprises me is why my husband is also in charge of the martial artspetition? My husband is just a schr and doesnt know how to wield weapons! The little princess exined, It is said that in this Yan and Wu Competition, our preparations for the martial arts aspect of thepetition are not sufficient, and there is a high possibility of losing. However, Lin Beifan proposed a n that could potentially turn the tables and lead to victory. So, after careful consideration, Empress Sister entrusted this task to him! I see! Mo Rushuang said proudly, Young Master, your talent should indeed be recognized by the court! If in this Yan and Wu Competition, you can excel in both literature and martial arts, you will surely make a name for yourself! Guo Shaoshuai was very excited, Young Master, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a name for yourself! The two monks eximed, Amitabha! Master, you are truly amazing! Lin Beifan sighed and said with a bitter smile, Whats so good about this? Its nothing but trouble, and its giving me headaches! How so? Everyone was confused. Lets talk about the literarypetition first. Although I will participate, the situation is not optimistic! Lin Beifan said with a bitter smile, Among the talented young people under the age of thirty sent by the Great Yan Dynasty, all five of them have the talent of a top schr! Among them, the Third Prince of Great Yan, Yan Xinghe, is like a celestial star descending to earth, a triple crown champion, and his talent is on par with mine! And in our Great Wu, apart from me, there are basically no other outstanding young talents! So, it will be extremely difficult for me to deal with all five of them in this literarypetition! Ah how can this be? Everyone was confused once again. I can still hold my own in the literarypetition, so there is still a slight chance of winning. But in the martial artspetition Lin Beifan sighed deeply, Theres basically no hope! Ah? Everyone was even more confused. Lin Beifan continued to exin, In this martial artspetition, the Great Yan Dynasty has sent four fifth-rank experts and one fourth-rank expert, all of whom are excellent young warriors! As for Great Wu, we only have three fifth-rank experts and two sixth-rank experts! The difference between them is self-exnatory, right? Everyone gasped in shock. Guo Shaoshuai couldnt help but say, Four fifth-rank experts and one fourth-rank expert, we have no chance of winning! Mo Rushuang nodded and said with a bitter smile, Yes, the difference is too great! Just one fourth-rank expert from the other side is enough to defeat all of our forces. The chances of winning are extremely slim. It seems like were going to lose this martial artspetition. Lin Beifan sighed again. Thats why Im worried. I cant see any chances of winning. Everyone sighed deeply as well. Although most people were disappointed with the court, they still represented the countrys legitimacy. If the Great Wu court lost, it meant that they lost. This was something that any citizen of Great Wu found hard to ept. But, where theres a will, theres a way! Lin Beifans face showed determination. Even if its extremely difficult, I will give it my all! Even if its like a moth to a me, with no escape, I will never bow down! No matter what, the backbone of Great Wu cannot bend, the spirit of Great Wu cannot be broken, and the essence of Great Wu will never perish! Young Master! Everyone was deeply moved. At that moment, Lin Beifans body began to sway. Li Shi Shi eximed, Husband, whats wrong with you? Perhaps its because Ive been too mentally and physically exhausted from the Yan and Wu Competition. I feel a little dizzy! Lin Beifan said unsteadily. Husband, please sit down quickly. Ill help you massage your head and rx your mind! Li Shi Shi hurriedly helped Lin Beifan sit down and stood behind him, pressing on his temples to help him rx. Husband, do you feel better now? With his eyes closed, Lin Beifan enjoyed it and said, Much better, thank you, Shi Shi! Husband, no need to be polite between us. Li Shi Shi smiled. She was d she could share her husbands burdens. At that moment, Lin Beifans hand trembled several times in a row. Young Master, whats wrong with your hand? Mo Rushuang eximed in shock. Lin Beifan painfully said, Perhaps due to the excessive fatigue from the Yan and Wu Competition, my hand and foot coordination is off, and I cant control myself! Young Master, let me help you rx! Mo Rushuang grabbed Lin Beifans arm and gently pressed on it. Young Master, do you feel better now? Lin Beifan was touched. Much morefortable. Thank you, Rushuang! Young Master, no need to be polite! Mo Rushuang smiled. At that moment, Lin Beifans leg began to shake and identally kicked Guo Shaoshuais buttocks. Guo Shaoshuai eximed, Young Master, whats wrong with your foot? Lin Beifan shook his head weakly and said, Didnt I just say it? Due to excessive fatigue and inadequate blood supply, my hands and feet are not functioning properly. I cant control my foot now! Im sorry, Shaoshuai! Guo Shaoshuai felt sympathy and said, Young Master, let me help you massage it! He crouched down. At that moment, Lin Beifans foot flew out again, causing Guo Shaoshuai to fall to the ground and let out a cry, Ouch! Lin Beifan was in great pain and said, Shaoshuai, Im sorry! I didnt mean to! Its okay, Young Master, I understand! Guo Shaoshuai said considerately and walked over again. Lin Beifan kicked again. Ouch! Young Master, your foot is too powerful. Can you please control it a bit? I cant control it. Cant you bear with it? Guo Shaoshuai: In that case, let me do it. Theres nothing I, the little princess, cant handle! The little princess squatted down, lifted Lin Beifans leg, and began to massage it skillfully. This time, Lin Beifans leg was very obedient. Lin Beifan, how do you feel now? Is it a bit morefortable? the little princess asked with concern. Lin Beifan moaned in joy, Much morefortable! Little princess, youre so kind! The little princess proudly said, Of course! You should know, I have never massaged my father king like this before. Youre the first! Lin Beifan touched the little princesss head and said, So sweet! Ill cook you a special dish in a few days! Great, great! The little princess worked even harder. Like this, Lin Beifan enjoyed the service of the beautiful women and was about to fly withfort The Yan and Wu Competition? Lets forget about it for now! A few days passed quickly. As the time approached, the atmosphere of the Yan and Wu Competition became more and more intense. Every street was filled with discussions. With the Yan and Wu Competitioning, do you think this time the Yan Dynasty will win or will our Great Wu win? Its hard to say. Last time, the Yan Dynasty won! But they had the advantage of being the home team, so their victory was understandable! This time, we have the home advantage, so our chances of winning should be high! Thats right! In terms of literarypetition, we have Principal Lin, who is talented and knowledgeable, even revered as a celestial being. How could we lose? In terms of martialpetition, we also have a lot of talented individuals here. With some effort, we can win! This time, we will definitely win! Just then, a lightughter came from the neighboring table: Great Wu will win? What a joke! I think Great Wu will definitely lose! I came here this time to see how Great Wu will lose and how they will be utterly defeated! Haha! The people of Great Wu immediately refused to ept this. How could we Great Wu possibly lose? You are simply spreading falsehoods! Lets not forget that our Principal Lin is a three-time champion, and there is no genius in the Yan Dynasty who canpare! Look at his appearance, he must be from Yan, thats why hes speaking for his own country! Hes just trying to please the crowd, lets not pay him any attention! I will tell you why Great Wu will definitely lose! With a snap, the person opened a folding fan and confidently spoke, In terms of literarypetition, besides Lin Beifan, Great Wu doesnt have anyone else worth mentioning! But in Yan, all the participants in this contest are talented individuals! We have 5 top-ranked schrs, while you only have one. How can you win? Moreover, your top-ranked schr is overrated and not as good as you think! Perhaps if we randomly send someone, they will easily defeat your top-ranked schr! And in terms of martialpetition, you are even weaker! We have one fourth-ranking and four fifth-ranking young experts, all of them strong fighters. What do you have? You cant even produce one fourth-ranking expert. You are destined to embarrass yourself! Therefore, this time, Yan will surely achieve aplete victory! You people of Great Wu, you will only end up defeated! As the person spoke, they began tough loudly. The people of Great Wu, fueled by their righteous indignation, retorted: Nonsense! How could we possibly lose? You are simply talking nonsense and distorting the truth. Great Wu will definitely win! You people of Yan are already doomed to lose! Both sides started arguing and their faces turned red. Just then, someone shouted, The Yan team has arrived! Everyone leaned out to have a look, and they saw the Yan team slowly walking under the protection of the Great Wu army. Leading the way were the representatives in the martialpetition, each one with amanding presence and extraordinary aura. They were clearly outstanding individuals. Following them were the literary geniuses. Although they had rtively slender physiques, each one looked elegant and charming, with an exceptional air that showed their extraordinary talents. They couldnt help but think of the young talents of Great Wu, to see if there were any who could rival them. But in the end, they only thought of Lin Beifan. The others couldnt evene to mind. Feeling somewhat disappointed and doubtful, they wondered, Could it be that Great Wu is going to lose? Chapter 187: The Yan and Wu Competition Begins! Great Emperor, I was once your people! Chapter 187: The Yan and Wu Competition Begins! Great Emperor, I was once your people! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, a noble young man, surrounded by a few people, approached the team from the Great Yan Empire in a grand manner. The organiser in the front reached out to stop him. Halt! This is for guests from the Great Yan Empire. Show respect and leave immediately! The young man stood firm with his hands behind his back and said arrogantly, I am the third prince of the Great Yan Empire, Yan Xinghe, also the leader of the Great Yan team! Among the Great Yan team, everyone recognized him as the third prince and said with a smile, This is indeed the third prince, let them in quickly! After confirming his identity, the organiser let them pass. Once inside, the third prince immediately gained the support of everyone. Your Highness, what have you gained from this Great Wu journey? someone asked with a smile. The third prince, Yan Xinghe, nodded and whispered, I have gained a lot! This Great Wu is like a rumor, with vassal kings, corrupt officials, and the people living a difficult life. Its like an old, decrepit man, no longer a match for our Great Yan! In a few more years, it will definitely copse! Then, it will be a great opportunity for all of you to achieve sess! Thats great! everyone was overjoyed. Your Highness, are there any formidable talents in Great Wu who pose a threat to us in this battle? someone asked with concern. The third prince smiled brightly, After my investigation, besides Lin Beifan, who has some talent in literarybat, there is no need to fear anyone else! Lin Beifan is just one person, he cant make much of an impact alone! So in this Yan and Wu Competition, destiny is on our side, and the Great Yan will definitely win! Thats great! everyone became even happier. Just like a lion pouncing on a hare, we must go all out! So, everyone, rest well tomorrow after meeting the Empress of Great Wu, and strive forplete victory in the Yan and Wu Competition! the third prince said confidently. Yes, Your Highness! everyone responded. Under the arrangement of the Ministry of Rites, they stayed in an inn. In order to prepare for the Yan and Wu Competition, they didnt go out for leisure activities and followed the rules strictly. But in the quiet of the night, a figure floated into the inn and approached a powerhouse who had reached the innate realm. Surprisingly, this powerhouse didnt notice and continued to sleep soundly. The figure observed for a while and then left, moving in to observe other innate powerhouses. After about half an incense sticks worth of time, they quietly left the inn. On the second day, the third prince, Yan Xinghe, led the team from the Great Yan Empire into the pce to meet the Empress. As the Empress watched the outstanding talents of the Great Yan, she couldnt help but worry. As the saying goes, The belly is filled with poetry and books, and the air exudes brilliance! Whether a person has talent or ability can be determined at a nce. These outstanding talents from the Great Yan, with their extraordinary presence and aura, were clearly exceptional individuals. They have selected talents, but besides Lin Beifan, none of them can fight. Will our Great Wu lose? Even the Empress herself started to doubt. However, the Empress didnt hesitate for too long and said, Everyone, you have traveled a long way and worked hard. Go back and rest! After three days, the Yan and Wu Competition will officially begin! Yes, Your Majesty! The representatives of the Great Yan responded. Turning around to look at the civil and military officials, the Empress nced at Lin Beifan before leaving. After the morning court session, Lin Beifan left the pce and arrived at a training ground. There, five young people were waiting for him, the participants of the martial artspetition. Greetings, Mr. Principal! No need for formalities! Lin Beifan said seriously, In order to prepare for the Yan and Wu Competition, Her Majesty has entrusted all of you to me for targeted training. Only then can we bring glory to our empire in this battle! The participants nodded, their expressions serious. Let me introduce someone to you! At this moment, the venerable Master Jing Tai stepped forward and said, Amitabha, greetings to all the participants! Lin Beifan smiled and said, This venerable masters Dharma name is Jingtm Tai, a grandmaster! Grandmaster!!! Everyone eximed in surprise. That was an absolute top expert in the world! Quiet! Lin Beifan called out, Jing Tai is already familiar with the techniques and weaknesses of the representatives from the Great Yan in the martial artspetition. So he will provide you with targeted training! I hope you make good use of your time and quickly improve yourselves, not disappointing the grace of our empress! Yes, Mr. Principal! Everyone became excited. Having a grandmaster for training was an opportunity that one couldnt ask for, so they must cherish it! After dealing with this matter, Lin Beifan left. Three days flew by, and the highly anticipated Yan and Wu Competition finally began. The arena chosen for thepetition was a massive training ground that had already been prepared. To reduce noise and prevent external factors from affecting the performance of the participants, as well as to ensure the safety of the emperor and the officials, the arena was not open to the public. But any significant developments would be immediately reported so that the people could know. Though they couldnt see the process of thepetition, crowds still gathered outside, whispering and waiting for the results. Today is the literary battle. Who do you think will win first? Of course, its our top scorer, who is hailed as a literary star in the heavens. Who do you think will lose? Youre right, in the first round, Great Wu will undoubtedly win! Inside the arena, the Empress and the officials had already arrived. With a nod from the Empress, the master of ceremonies announced loudly, The Yan and Wu Competition has officially begun! First is the literary battle! The rules for the literary battle are as follows: it will be conducted in a round-robin format! In each round, one contestant from each side willpete! The winner stays, and the loser steps down, and so it continues! Thepetition ends when one side ispletely defeated. The side that has contestants remaining will be the ultimate winner! Now, does either side have any objections? A person from the Great Yan side whispered, Your Highness, this move of theirs is targeted against us! They know that we have many talented individuals here, while they only have Lin Beifan, so they want to use him against all of us. Its quite a far-fetched idea! The third prince, Yan Xinghe, fanned himself and smiled slightly, Dont worry, let them be. Lets see what tricks they cane up with! The final winner will definitely be us! Your Highness speaks the truth! The Great Yan side chuckled. We, Great Yan, have no objections! Neither do we, Great Wu! The master of ceremonies nodded, Since both sides have no objections, the literary battle officially begins! The first roundqin (ancient string instrument)! Please send representatives from both sides forward! At this moment, a handsome and talented young man walked out from the Great Yan side. I, humble as I am, have made some achievements in ying the qin, so I represent Great Yan topete against all of you! But before the qinpetition, please allow me to introduce myself! Your Majesty of Great Wu, may I have your permission? The Empress nodded, Go ahead! Thank you, Your Majesty of Great Wu! The man straightened his posture and confidently said with a smile, I am Ding Shaojie, born into a rtively wealthy family! Since the age of six, I have studied and learned to read, studied the Four Books and Five ssics, and enjoyed reciting poetry and ying the qin! At the age of 24, I took the imperial examination and fortunately became a jinshi (sessful candidate in the examination), ranking third on the list in Great Yan Everyone was very puzzled. These were things that they already knew. Why was he saying them? Was he trying to show off? What a waste of time. But at that moment, the man changed his tone, However, I am not originally from Great Yan! I moved here with my father when I was eight years old. It was because I excelled in my studies that I became a true resident of Great Yan! There was an uproar in the audience! The reigning jinshi of Great Yan turned out not to be a native of Great Yan! This was truly explosive news! Then what country are you originally from? The Empresss heart sank with a bad premonition. Reporting to Your Majesty of Great Wu! Ding Shaojie saluted, raised his head with a sly smile, and said, I was originally your subject! The Empresss face was filled with shock, as if she had been struck hard! And the audience erupted in chaos once again! The jinshi of Great Yan was actually originally amoner of Great Wu! And now he is turning against Great Wu! This this The Empress was enraged, her chest rising and falling. She felt a mixture of confusion, regret, and anger, and urgently asked, Since you were a citizen of Great Wu, why betray Great Wu and serve Great Yan? Betrayal? Where did thate from! Ding Shaojie blinked mischievously and said, Your Majesty of Great Wu, do you know why we left Great Wu and went to Great Yan? Why exactly? The Empress asked again. Because we were fleeing for our lives to Great Yan! Ding Shaojies voice rang out with a hint of hatred, I was born into a wealthy family, not extremely rich, but had no worries about food and clothing! I thought I could live a carefree life. If I studied well, I might even have the chance to gain fame and serve the court! But then, a corrupt newly appointed county magistrate became insatiable and coveted our familys wealth! He found excuses to seize ournd and property! We endured it for a long time, but he still wasnt satisfied! To prevent the matter from bing known, he even nned to kill us. Luckily, we found out in advance! Ding Shaojie raised his head and loudly questioned, If we had stayed in Great Wu, the lives of all thirteen members of my family would be forfeit! I ask, Your Majesty of Great Wu, what would you choose? How would you choose? His voice shook the eardrums! The whole venue fell silent! The Empress opened her mouth, but it turned into a helpless sigh. Her hatred for corrupt officials grew even stronger! It was because of them that talented individuals who could have served the court were driven away! The Empress solemnly said, We understand your difficulties! Speak up about the corrupt officials who persecuted you, and we will investigate! If it is true, we will punish them severely! Thank you, Your Majesty of Great Wu! Ding Shaojie bowed and said, However, those are all things of the past that I no longer care much about! If not for those experiences, I wouldnt have the bright future I have now! I wouldnt have gained His Majestys favor and the opportunity to pursue my ambitions! The less he cared, the greater the impact on the Empress. Because he truly didnt care about Great Wu anymore. And besides, with so many corrupt officials in Great Wu, can Your Majesty really eliminate them all? Ding Shaojie smirked in triumph, The more corrupt officials there are, the more advantageous it is for us, Great Yan! Isnt that right Your Majesty of Great Wu? The officials rebuked, Outrageous! You must not show disrespect to Her Majesty! The Empress weakly waved her hand, Let it be, we, Great Wu, should be tolerant! Let thepetition begin! At this moment, it was clear to everyone that the other side was deliberately undermining the morale of Great Wu! Moreover, they seeded, and the morale of Great Wu had fallen. Chapter 188: Im brain-dead to go to Great Yan! Chapter 188: Im brain-dead to go to Great Yan! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Representatives of the Great Yan Dynasty, upon seeing this scene,ughed smugly. One cannot deny, this move is ruthless! Precise! urate! Fierce! Originally, they were talents of the Great Wu Dynasty, but they were forcefully pushed into the enemy camp by your corrupt officials. And now they are turning against you, doesnt this prove that your Great Wu Dynasty is ipetent? If your Great Wu Dynasty is ipetent, what qualifications do you have topete with us, the Great Yan Dynasty? At the same time, it is also telling the talents of the Great Wu Dynasty, is it worth serving such a corrupt court? It makes you doubt yourself, losing all your confidence and spirit! Ding Shaojie, with a satisfied smile, looked at the low morale of the young representatives of the Great Wu Dynasty and apuded his own idea! At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward, bowing his hand and said, Your Majesty, after hearing the speech of the Great Yan representative, Ding Shaojie, just now, it has deeply touched me and evoked countless emotions. I also have something to say, may I have your permission? The empress blinked her eyes in confusion, not knowing what the other party was up to. But out of trust in Lin Beifan, she smiled and said, Sir, speak freely! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan raised his head and nced at the civil and military officials, sighing, Actually, I am not originally from the Great Wu Dynasty! Ah! The scene erupted in an uproar. As the top scorer in the Imperial Examinations and a principal at the Imperial Academy, he was not from the Great Wu Dynasty? The empress was somewhat astonished, but considering the other partys background, she began to understand. After Lin Beifan became the top scorer, she secretly investigated his identity and background. However, the investigation only revealed information from three years ago, beyond that, it was aplete nk. It was as if he had suddenly appeared. Now, he was openly dering it, which piqued the empresss curiosity. Sir, which country are you originally from? the empress asked. Lin Beifan shook his head and said, I am a man of the mountains and wilderness, without a country! At that time, I lived in a ce that was on the border between the Great Wu and Great Yan Dynasties, and it was rtively close to Great Yan! However, to showcase my talents and to benefit the people, I chose toe to Great Wu! The Third Prince of Great Yan couldnt help but interject, Sir Lin, since you wanted to showcase your talents, why didnt youe to Great Yan? What benefits does your Great Yan have to offer? Lin Beifan retorted. The Third Prince opened his heart and said resoundingly, Our Great Yan has a clean government, seeks talent eagerly, and embraces all rivers! All talented and learned individuals will be highly valued! Sir Lin, with your talent and learning, if youe to our Great Yan, promotion and nobility are just around the corner! Lin Beifan chuckled lightly, Third Prince, you are joking! Im joking? The Third Prince was stunned. Yes! Look at these talents! Lin Beifan pointed to the group of talented representatives beside the Third Prince and said, They are all from the same batch of schrs as me, and it has been over half a year now! I, on the other hand, am already a Principal at the Imperial Academy in Great Wu, promoted to a first-level official, a fourth-ranked official! And what about them now? The Third Prince, Yan Xinghe, was at a loss for words. Ah, well Lin Beifan turned his head and looked at Ding Shaojie, exerting his powerful authority, Ding Shaojie, you were the champion of Great Yan! I ask you, what rank are you now, and what position do you hold? Ding Shaojie stammered, Currently, I am a Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-ranked official! In the past half year, what contributions have you made to Great Yan? Lin Beifan questioned again. Ding Shaojie once again stumbled, UmI havent made any significant contributions! In the Hanlin Academy, his role was essentially organizing books and drafting documents, simr to a menial office job. He couldnt even think of any contributions that coulde from such work. Even if there were any, they would be insignificant and not worth mentioning. Lin Beifan turned his head to another person, Tang Yong, you were the top scorer of Great Yan! What rank are you now, and what position do you hold? The top scorer, Tang Yong, felt ashamed and said, Currently, I am a Drafter in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-ranked official! This position was actually simr to Ding Shaojies, both doing menial tasks, somewhat simr to an office secretary. In the past half year, what contributions have you made to Great Yan? Lin Beifan asked again. Tang Yong became even more ashamed, I havent made any significant contributions, Im ashamed! Lin Beifan looked at the third person, Liu Hai, you were the second-ce schr of Great Yan Like this, Lin Beifan asked them one by one. Everyone questioned by Lin Beifan felt embarrassed and wished they could find a hole to hide in. Because, they were all schrs of the same year, but Lin Beifan, who was younger than them, had climbed to a high position, exerting his influence in the court, guiding the nation, and demonstrating his lifelong aplishments! He had numerous achievements and contributions, renowned throughout the world, making people envious and admiring! And they, on the other hand, were meager officials in the Hanlin Academy, doing menial tasks like screws in a machine! They had no political achievements and were unable to exhibit their ambitions! The gap was too wide, and the more they thought about it, the more embarrassed they became! Lin Beifan held his head high, Third Prince of Great Yan, this is my answer! They and I are all schrs of the same year, yet after over half a year, their ranks havent been promoted and their abilities and knowledge havent been disyed. They are so obscure that they are almost forgotten! But in Great Wu, I have been continuously promoted, from a lowly sixth-ranked official to the present fourth-ranked official, the Principal at the Imperial Academy! I can also enter and leave the court, share the burdens of Her Majesty, and seek the well-being of the people! And, I have received the favor and richness of Her Majesty, enjoying them endlessly! Lin Beifan sneered, So, I must be a fool to go to Great Yan! Haha! Sir Lin, what you said is absolutely true! The Empress and all the civil and military officials burst intoughter. The Third Prince of Great Yan, along with the other representatives, were speechless and couldnt find a way to argue. They wanted to defend themselves, but they realized that the facts were undeniable. Their momentum, which they had just built up with great difficulty, had beenpletely shut down! The Third Prince became somewhat angry and ashamed, Sir Lin, no matter how eloquent you are, no matter how you try to argue, it is an undeniable fact that Great Wu has many corrupt officials! In such an environment, how can talent be recognized? Not being persecuted is already a good oue! I do not deny that there are indeed problems in Great Wu! But because of these problems, people with talent and knowledge like us are even more needed! Only by solving these problems can we prove our abilities! Otherwise, if there are no problems to solve, what use do we schrs have? Lin Beifan pointed at the representatives of Great Yans schrs with scorn and said mockingly, Do you want to be like them, with your knowledge wasted, spending your whole life reciting poems, indulging in refinement? The Third Prince and others felt ashamed and embarrassed. Haha! The civil and military officials burst intoughter once again. Even the Empress couldnt help but shake her head andugh. This guys sophistry skills were simply too strong! Although it was sophistry, every sentence made sense! In the presence of problems, schrs were needed! Solving problems was the proof of a schrs abilities! Without problems, what use did schrs have? Were they only there to indulge in refinement and recite poems? Lin Beifanpletely dismantled the words of the Third Prince of Great Yan! So, let me give you a word of advice, there is no future in Great Yan, its better toe to Great Wu! Lin Beifan smiled and issued an invitation, Only here is the grand stage to showcase your knowledge! Our Empress thirsts for talent, and only talent is chosen! As long as you have the ability, you will be recognized! Dont be deceived by the prevalence of corrupt officials here; as long as you have the ability, you can rece them! Lin Beifan shook his head, Unlike in Great Yan, where there is an abundance of talent! Even if you have the ability, you have to climb up step by step, waiting for promotion, which seems endless! By the time youre old, youll probably only be a small official of the fifth or sixth rank! To reach the position I am in now, who knows how long it will take, maybe a whole lifetime of waiting! Of course, if youre afraid of death, its better not toe! What we wee here are schrs with knowledge and courage, not timid schrs who hide in theirfort zone, spending their entire lives ying with words and ink, just being superficially knowledgeable! Hey! The talented individuals from Great Yan were extremely indignant. This statement was really a mixed bag! But upon further reflection, it was notpletely unreasonable! They possessed immense knowledge, but they were not valued in Great Yan. The main reason was that there were simply too many talented individuals there. People with both knowledge and connections were more abundant, leading to a serious hierarchy based on seniority. And for them to have a chance to realize their ambitions, they would have to wait for a very long time? How many years did they have left in their lives? Were they going to waste it all away? Why note to Great Wu and give it a try? In Great Wu, there were problems, and thats where they had the opportunity to showcase their abilities! Look at Lin Beifan, who was from the same generation and was valued by the Empress, now holding the position of a fourth-rank high-ranking official in the court! To say they didnt envy him would be a lie! Their own knowledge was not inferior to his, so why couldnt they give it a shot? Perhaps they could also achieve great sess! The Third Prince witnessed this scene and silently cursed; he was so angry that his teeth were about to break! He red at Lin Beifan, that bastard was truly despicable! He was actually recruiting people right in front of me! The most critical thing was that what he said made sense, and some people were tempted! At this moment, the Empressughed and spoke, Though Sir Lins words may have been a bit harsh, they are not without reason! Only in Great Wu can schrs showcase their talents, and only in Great Wu can they achieve rapid wealth! I am in great need of talent. As long as you have the ability and are willing to serve the court, I will definitely value and reward you, regardless of your nationality! And you! The Empress turned her head to the participants from Great Wu and encouraged them, Disy your talents and let me see! If you have the ability, I will surely reward you generously! Promotion and titles are within reach! Thank you, Your Majesty! The young talents from Great Wu were overjoyed. With their heads held high and full of confidence, they were ready to show their abilities! In this way, the morale in Great Wu was further boosted, even more so than before! Inparison, the morale in Great Yan had weakened. Everyone was considering what Lin Beifan had said, and some lost their desire topete. The Third Prince, Yan Xinghe, panicked, Your Majesty of Great Wu, it is gettingte now, can we start thepetition? Thats a good point! The Empress nodded with a smile, feeling satisfied in her heart. Earlier, Great Yan tried to suppress Great Wus momentum by citing examples of officials in Great Wu persecuting talented individuals and being unable to retain them. But Lin Beifan turned the tables by using examples of Great Wu being the ce where talented individuals should be, where they would be valued, and hepletely extinguished the opponents arrogance. He also boosted his own momentum, inspiring everyone! Truly, he is my reliable Minister when it matters the most! I love this little guy so much! Great! The intellectual debate continues! The Empress said cheerfully. Chapter 189: Qin Battle! Gao Shan Liu Shui vs Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao! Chapter 189: Qin Battle! Gao Shan Liu Shui vs Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Ding Shaojie, the representative of Great Yan, was in a bad mood. The morale he had worked so hard to boost was brought down by Lin Beifan! He was very unwilling and decided to continue to challenge. He smiled and said, Sir Lin, lets start with the two of us for the first game, shall we? By inviting Lin Beifan to go first with him, he had a chance to eliminate him. He didnt know how skilled Lin Beifan was in ying the qin. However, Lin Beifan had a special identity. If he was eliminated, it would definitely hit the morale of Great Wu. Lin Beifan blinked, Are you sure I should go first? Of course! Ive heard that Sir Lin is talented and knowledgeable, a rare genius in a century! I believe he must be outstanding in qin ying as well. So, I cant wait to witness it myself. I believe everyone here is also very eager to hear Sir Lins qin music! Ding Shaojies words were full of politeness and ttery, pushing Lin Beifan up high, forcing him to go on stage. If Lin Beifan went on stage, he had a chance to use his qin skills to defeat the opponent and hit Great Wus morale. If he didnt go on stage, it would mean that Lin Beifan was afraid. Being afraid before the battle could also affect his morale. It had to be said that even a small qin battle was full of deceit and cunning, making it difficult to guard against. The Empress and the civil and military officials looked worriedly at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan nodded calmly, Alright! Ill go first in this game! Ding Shaojie smiled happily and arrogantly, Thank you, Sir Lin, for your cooperation! Then, under everyones gaze, Ding Shaojie walked to the center of the martial arts arena. Now, let me y the first piece, Gao Shan Liu Shui, for everyone to appreciate! Saying that, he knelt down and pressed his hands on the qin strings. After closing his eyes for more than ten seconds, waiting for his heart to calm down, he began to y the well-known piece, Gao Shan Liu Shui. Instantly, a melodious and soothing, elegant and fresh sound of the qin filled the entire venue. In the qin music, everyone seemed to see a tall green mountain deep in the forest, with a flowing stream winding down, crashing against the rocks and making a pleasant dingdong sound. The stream was clear and one could see the moss and even fish. Beside the stream were strange rocks, green forests, and the sounds of insects and birds. It was as if they could also see two people ying the qin under the high mountains and flowing water, a scene of harmony and tranquility between man and nature! Their hearts couldnt help but calm down. On the side of the Great Yan team. Tang Yong, the top schr, whispered, Its been a few days, but now I really have to admire it! Shaojies qin skills have be even more refined. Not only has his technique reached its peak, but he can also integrate emotions and scenery into his qin music. Amazing! Indeed, Shaojie is truly outstanding in this aspect. He will definitely be a master qin yer in the future! At this moment, the third prince of Great Yan, with a hushed tone, said, Enough talking, lets quietly enjoy this beautiful piece of music! Everyone nodded, some even closed their eyes, swaying and moving their heads. The melodious qin music even floated outside the venue. This is the sound of the qin, the literary battle has begun! Who is ying Gao Shan Liu Shui? It sounds so delightful! The scenery has been integrated into the music, I can almost see a painting depicting high mountains and flowing water. Its so beautiful! This is the best version of Gao Shan Liu Shui that I have ever heard. The lingering soundsts for three days, its unforgettable! With this divineposition, victory is already assured! Who is the genius behind it? It should be Liu Feng, from our Great Wu. He excels at ying the qin! I also think its Liu Feng. This prodigy is the best at ying the qin. I heard he even sleeps while hugging his qin! Haha! It seems like we have already won this round! The people of Great Wu grew excited. At this moment, a soldier ran out and shouted, In the first round of the literary battle, Great Yan has sent Ding Shaojie, the second ce winner in the imperial examination, who is currently ying the well-known qin piece Gao Shan Liu Shui! The venue instantly fell silent! Everyones hearts became filled with worry. After about half an incense sticks time, the qin music finally came to an end, and everyone snapped out of their trance caused by the melodious music. There was a bit of regret, as the qin music was too short and they couldnt continue to enjoy it. What a wonderful rendition of Gao Shan Liu Shui! the Empress praised loudly. Although it is a widely circted qin piece, you have yed it in a new realm. Well done! Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty of Great Wu. I am unworthy of it! Ding Shaojie smiled faintly, but couldnt hide his arrogance. He had yed this piece of Gao Shan Liu Shui more than a thousand times! Not only had his skills reached their peak! But he could also integrate emotions and scenery into his qin music, making it truly extraordinary! He didnt believe that anyone could y it better than him! It could be said that he had already secured his victory, haha! Sir Lin, its your turn! Ding Shaojie said with a smile that he couldnt conceal. Lin Beifan smiled, You yed really well! With just this piece, you can be considered outstanding! Outstanding? Ding Shaojie furrowed his brows slightly, feeling somewhat dissatisfied. In the field of art, skill levels could be categorized as famous, outstanding, and master. A famous master is someone who has reached a level recognized by the public in a certain skill. An outstanding individual is someone who has devoted many years to a particr skill and has reached the pinnacle of that skill. A grand master is someone who has transformed their technique into an art form and established their own style. He felt that based on his performance just now, calling himself a grand master would not be an exaggeration. But the other party only gave him the title of outstanding, which was clearly stubborn and stingy, unwilling to admit his greatness. Sir Lin, please! Let me see what level your qin skills have reached! Ding Shaojie said somewhat provocatively. Lin Beifan did not respond and stepped onto the stage slowly. The spectators eyes filled with worry. This was the first round for Great Wu, and Lin Beifan was the soul of Great Wus representatives. If they lost this round, it would be a huge blow to Great Wu. And based on the current situation, the chances of losing were very high. On the side of Great Yan, the third prince, Yan Xinghe, opened his paper fan and smiled triumphantly. Lin Beifan is destined to lose! Shaojies qin skills have reached their peak, they are iparable. No matter how well Lin Beifan ys, it will only result in a draw! Moreover, Shaojie has taken the initiative. I dont believe that Lin Beifans mentality wont be affected! Once affected, he is bound to lose! What Your Highness said is absolutely right! On the side of Great Yan, they burst intoughter as if victory was already in their hands. At this moment, Lin Beifan had already arrived in front of the ancient qin. With aposed expression, he said, Next, I will y the piece Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao! This is a qinposition that I created. Please enjoy! After the introduction, he sat down and ced his hands on the strings of the qin. Without making any adjustments, he began ying directly. After just a few notes, everyone felt a tremor throughout their bodies, as if they were being pulled by an inexplicable force. Before they could react, a majestic and grand aura rushed towards them, like surging waves in the vast ocean! Wave after wave, the tides rose and fell, the sky was high and the sea was wide, and determination filled their hearts! Everyone felt as if they were being swept along by the waves! It was as if they had leapt out of the waves and stood on top of tall rocks, facing away from the setting sun, witnessing the surging tides, the lingering glow of the setting sun, the rising winds and clouds, and the waves crashing on both shores. Their hearts were filled with determination and magnanimity, and their minds were boundless! At the same time, in the vastness of the world, there was only one person, who couldnt help but feel a sense of vastness and loneliness! All the trivialities and mundane matters of the past seemed to have been washed away by the waves, leaving only a deep evening glow and a release of heartfeltughter! Young people, listening to this piece, felt their hearts brimming with courage, wishing they could wield a sword and enter the martial world, or hold a pen and enter the court. The elderly listened to this piece of music and shed tears. Memories of the past were like clouds drifting away, swept away by the waves. Whatwhat kind of tune is this? So bold and yet so moving? Representatives from the Great Yan side were shocked as they watched Lin Beifan ying the qin. The third prince of Great Yan eximed, The opponent actually yed such a divine tune? Ding Shaojie couldnt believe everything, shaking his head vigorously, Its impossible! This cant be! At this moment, the melody of this piece spread outside. The people who heard it were filled with excitement, a sense of courage surging through their bodies, as if they couldnt wait to express it. What kind of tune is this? I havent heard it before. This should be a newposition! And its different from the usual mncholic qin tunes! This piece is full of boldness and ambition, its a song for heroes! So captivating! Yes, it sounds amazing! I feel like I can see the surging river and its flow into the sea! I see the martial world in it, isnt this what the martial world looks like? This is the kind of tune a man should listen to, full of grandeur and magnanimity. I want to shout loudly! Dont shout randomly, listen carefully! Half an incense sticks time passed, and Lin Beifan finished ying. It took a while for everyone toe back to their senses. The Empress asked, Sir Lin, is it over? Lin Beifan replied, Its over! The Empress felt unfulfilled, filled with regret. It ended so quickly! Lin Beifan said, Your Majesty, it has been half an incense sticks time already! Although its been half an incense sticks time, after listening, I still want to listen again! This piece is different from the usual qinpositions, which tend to be somewhat mncholic andcking in grandeur! But this tune is so refreshing, majestic, vast, and full of heroic and free-spirited energy. Its a song for heroes, a song for great men! Truly worthy of being called Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao! praised the Empress. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Thank you for Your Majestys praise! However, I still feel like something is missing! Whats missing are lyrics! Lin Beifan smiled. The Empresss eyes lit up and she eagerly said, Yes! Thats it! Its missing lyrics! Because its a qinposition, not many people can y it! But with lyrics, everyone can sing along and express their emotions! Especially when sung by great heroes and individuals, it can bring out their heroic spirit! What Your Majesty said is absolutely right! A general sitting nearbyughed. Actually, I wanted to express my feelings just now. But without lyrics, all the courage in my heart, filled to the brim, didnt know how to be expressed. Its ufortable to keep it inside! If it could be apanied by a set of lyrics, it would be absolutely marvelous! A goodposition needs to be paired with good lyrics toplement each other! Everyone started to speak. Sir Lin, since this tune wasposed by you, its up to you toplete the lyrics! We believe that with your talent and knowledge, you can create the best lyrics! Let thisposition, Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao, be renowned throughout the world! The Empress assigned the task. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Your Majesty, actually, I already have the lyrics!
1. Gao Shan Liu Shui () is a famous piece of ssical Chinese music that originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The title trantes to High Mountains and Flowing Water in English. It is a solo guqin piece, with the guqin being a traditional Chinese musical instrument. Gao Shan Liu Shui is considered one of the most renowned and challengingpositions for the guqin. It is often regarded as a masterpiece of Chinese music and has been performed by many virtuoso guqin yers throughout history. The piece is known for its expressive and evocative nature, aiming to depict the imagery of towering mountains and flowing water. Itbines various ying techniques to mimic the sounds and movements of nature, such as the cascading of water and the grandeur of mountains. Gao Shan Liu Shui has be a symbol of Chinese culture and has been performed and recorded by numerous musicians, both within China and internationally. Its enduring poprity and significance have made it an integral part of the guqin repertoire and an important piece in the preservation of traditional Chinese music. 2. Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao () is a popr Chinese song from the 1990s. The title can be roughly tranted as A Laugh in the Vast Sea. The song was performed by Chinese singer/songwriter Zhou Huajian, also known as Dave Wong in English. It gained significant poprity and became one of Zhou Huajians signature songs. Cang Hai Yi Sheng Xiao is known for its emotional and poetic lyrics, which depict the vastness of the sea and theughter that resonates through it. The songs melody and lyrics evoke a sense of longing, reflection, and a connection to nature. It has be a ssic and enduring piece in Chinese popr music, and Zhou Huajians rendition is widely recognized and appreciated by listeners in China and beyond. Chapter 190: The Third Prince of the Great Yan Empire coughs up blood, this song is toxic! Chapter 190: The Third Prince of the Great Yan Empire coughs up blood, this song is toxic! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
So, the lyrics are already prepared? The Empress eyes lit up as she urged, Sing quickly! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan once again sat back in front of the piano. With the anticipation of the crowd, he yed the melody of Laughing at the Vast Sea on the qin while singing. Laughing at the vast sea, the tidal waves on both sides surge, Floating and sinking with the waves, only remembering the present, The heavensugh, the worldly tides are in chaos, Who will triumph, only the heavens know, As the singing began, everyone felt a powerful and heroic atmosphere enveloping them. Their scalps tingled, their bodies trembled, and even their souls were stirred, as if evoking their hidden ambitions and aspirations. A sense of pride brewed in their chests, uncontainable until released. However, everyone held back. After all, they were currently engaged in a literary battle, with both the Empress and the civil and military officials watching. They had to maintain decorum and follow the rules. But they underestimated the charm of this song. As Lin Beifan sang with passion, the majestic aura surged like waves, sweeping over them wildly, washing away their worries. The pride within their chests not only didnt diminish, but instead umted strength. And at the moment when it all poured out uncontrobly, they couldnt hold themselves back any longer! It came! The perfect timing had finally arrived! As Lin Beifanughed maniacally, La~~~~ First, the generals couldnt help but join in, singing loudly. La~~~~ Then, the civil officials, no longer reserved, also joined in the singing. La~~~~ Lastly, the entire crowd sang together. Meanwhile, outside the venue, themon people couldnt hold back any longer either. As they heard the lyrics and melody, they started singing along with enthusiasm. Until the end, when Lin Beifan stretched out thest note, everyone sang together! Inside and outside the venue, their voices melded into one! La~~ La~~ It felt as if they possessed the aura to conquer the heavens and earth! Listening to the singr voice of the entire crowd, the Empress felt deeply moved, tears welling up in her eyes. When has the Great Wu Empire ever been so inspiring? When have they ever joined forces like this? If the monarch and the officials, the military and the civilians, the ministers and the subjects all stand united, how could the Great Wu Empire not flourish? They, the Great Wu Empire, how could they decline any further? The Empress couldnt help but focus her gaze on the young man singing in the center of the stage. It was him, the one who brought hope to the Great Wu Empire! We, we will have hope! After finishing one round of the song, Lin Beifan continued to sing. Because the melody was simple and the lyrics catchy, everyone knew the song after hearing it once. They followed Lin Beifans lead, howling along with him, wave after wave, their voices overpowering his. Suddenly, Lin Beifan felt like he was performing in a concert, except they didnt pay him. Meanwhile, the representatives of the opposing side, surrounded by the sound of the song, felt restless, ufortable, and uneasy They also wanted to sing along, they had that same fiery feeling in their hearts, wanting to howl it out! But is it appropriate to start singing now? After all, it was the opponents song! If they sang along, wouldnt it only strengthen the other sides momentum? So, they had no choice but to suppress it fiercely. However, a divine song is a divine song, and finally, someone couldnt hold back anymore: The kingdomughs, the misty rain is distant The Third Prince turned his head to the left, his face dark, and shouted, Stop singing, shut up! But, Your Highness, I cant control Shut up and hold it in! Sing when we get back! Yes, Your Highness! At this moment, to the right of the Third Prince, a loud voice rang out, The gentle breezeughs, causing loneliness The Third Princes face was filled with ck lines as he turned his head, Shut up! But, Your Highness, I One more word, and severe punishment will be carried out! Yes, Your Highness! Just then, behind the Third Prince, the crowd sang, La~~ The Third Prince, Yan Xinghe, cursed, Damn it! This song is toxic! All good things muste to an end. The wonderful song finally ended, leaving everyone wanting more. If they didnt have apetition to continue, everyone wouldve run outside and howled a few more times. The Empress pped andughed, A great melody! Great lyrics! The perfectbination of melody and lyrics! Even I couldnt help but sing along! Lin Beifan, this song of yours will surely be a ssic, leaving behind asting legacy! Thank you for Your Majestys appreciation! Lin Beifan smiled. Sir Lin, if you possess such skill in ying the qin, why didnt you mention it earlier? There was a hint of reproach in the Empress voice. If you had shown this skill earlier, everyone wouldnt have worried. Your Majesty, the reason I didnt mention it is because I believed that this skill in ying the qin was not worth mentioning! Such skill in ying the qin, not worth mentioning? Everyone was dumbfounded. Lin Beifan modestly said, Yes, even if I y the qin well, it is just a minor skill that is useless for the country and the people. So I didnt put much thought into it! If it werent for thepetition today, I would have forgotten about this skill! Compared to my other talents, it really is not worth mentioning! Everyone was speechless. Are you being modest? Clearly, he was finding ways to show off! But upon careful consideration, they realized that the other side was right! The other party was a super talented individual who could effortlesslypose timeless poems and lyrics. He excelled in the political arena, rising to great heights, with his expertise lying in poetry and governance. ying the qin really wasntparable! They hadnt even seen him y before! Talent can be capricious like that! At this moment, the Empresss gaze drifted towards Ding Shaojie and she smiled, Ding Shaojie, who do you think will win this round? Ding Shaojie sped his hands and the corners of his mouth turned bitter, Naturally Lin Beifan will win! Although he didnt want to admit it, the fact was right in front of his eyes. Everyone heard and witnessed it; the other sides qin skills were not inferior to his, even surpassing him by a few points. Moreover, the other side yed an original and highly ssic qin piece, earning extra points. So, Lin Beifan won! Good! The Empress nodded in satisfaction. Yan Empires Third Prince, Ding Shaojie has admitted defeat. Send the next contender! The Third Prince, Yan Xinghe, stood up and his mouth also turned bitter, Your Majesty, its not necessary. We, the Yan Empire, admit defeat in this round! Ding Shaojie was already the one with the best qin skills among them. If even he lost, what was the point of sending someone else? Moreover, in order to surpass Lin Beifan, they would not only need to possess qin skills at the same pinnacle, but they would also have to y an original ssic qin piece that is no less superior than Laughing at the Vast Sea. Otherwise, it would still be a loss! Creating a ssic qin piece is not that easy! Therefore, the oue was already determined, there was no need to continue embarrassing themselves. As they thought about it, they felt a bit ufortable. They hade here full of confidence, thinking they would triumph, but they lost in the first round, with their pride wounded. It felt like a big p to their faces, burning hot and painful! However, this was just the beginning. There were still many more rounds toe, they just needed to win them back! They had so many talented individuals, they refused to believe they couldnt win it back! Thinking of this, the Third Princes confidence surged once again. Good! Since Yan Empire has admitted defeat, there is no need to continueparing qin skills! The Empress, Long Xin, said joyfully. I solemnly announce: in the literary battle, the first round of qin goes to Great Wu! The civil and military officials were uplifted! The good news quickly spread outside the venue! Good news! In the first round of the literary battle, Lin Beifan, representing Great Wu, yed an original qin piece, Laughing at the Vast Sea and defeated the Yan Empire representatives, winning the first round of the literary battle! The people were also uplifted. We won the first round of the literary battle! The song he yed earlier is called Laughing at the Vast Sea and was performed by Lin Beifan! I knew it! Whoever has such talent, its no surprise that its Lin Beifan! We, Great Wu, have taken the lead! Haha! The second round of the literary battle quickly began. In the martial arts arena, the host announced loudly. The second round of the literary battlechess! Please send a chess yer from each side to y a game. The winner stays, the loser steps down! Thepetition continues until one sides five chess yers arepletely defeated. The side left in the arena will be the final winner! Among the Yan Empire representatives. Tang Yong, among all of us, you have the best chess skills, and your emotions are stable, unaffected by external interference! So, you will be the first to y in this round and secure our opening victory! The Third Prince appointed. Yes, Your Highness! Tang Yong sped his hands, walked out with his head held high. On the Da Wu side, the representative sent was unexpectedly The Chief of the National Academy, Lin Beifan! The Yan Empire side was stunned, and Tang Yong asked, Lin Beifan, are you also going to be the first to y in this second round? Lin Beifan smiled yfully, Yes! Its been a long time since I yed chess, and I couldnt resist going first. I ask everyone for their understanding and tolerance! It is my honor to y against Lin Beifan! Tang Yongs eyes sparkled with a hint of determination. Previously, their opponents had achieved aplete victory in the qinpetition, suppressing the arrogance of Yan Empire. Tang Yong was determined to win it back. Lin Beifan, please! he said. Tang Yong, please! Lin Beifan replied with a smile. A massive chessboard was set up in the martial arts arena, showcasing the skills of the two yers. Outside the arena, another giant chessboard was disyed. The second round of the literary battlechess, begins now! For the first round, its the First Schr of Yan, Tang Yong, against the First Schr of Great Wu and Principal of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan! Tang Yong ys the ck pieces, while Lin Beifan ys the white pieces! The people were excited. Its a showdown between the First Schrs of both countries! This chess game is so interesting, I cant wait to see it! No need to say more, the Principal will definitely win! At this moment, Lin Beifan and Tang Yong had already each taken their positions with the ck and white pieces, beginning their match. There was an hourss next to them to keep track of time. They must make their moves before the sand runs out; otherwise, it would be considered a loss. Representing Yan Empire, Tang Yong had a serious expression, furrowing his brow as he pondered each move carefully. He nearly ran out of time with each move, ying at a slow pace, but his style was steady and cautious. Compared to him, Lin Beifan appeared rxed. Almost immediately after Tang Yong made a move, Lin Beifan confidently ced his piece without any hesitation. After several moves, Tang Yong was puzzled. Lin Beifan, arent you watching the board? I am, Lin Beifan nodded. If youre watching, why are you ying so fast? Because I know every move you make, replied Lin Beifan. Howhow do you know? Do you know about Alpha? Lin Beifan raised an eyebrow. Tang Yong furrowed his brow. What is Alpha? Not knowing is the key! Lin Beifan smirked mysteriously. In the future, the game of Chess had already been thoroughly studied. Among them, the artificial intelligence known as Alpha was the culmination of the Chess rules. Almost no one could beat Alpha. Although Lin Beifan wasnt an artificial intelligence like Alpha, he had enjoyed ying Chess in his past life and had be extremely skilled at it. Combined with his integration of multiple character temtes, his brain development wasparable to that of aputer. Thus, he was like an ancient version of Alpha! Tang Yong, focus on your game. Soon, youll know what Alpha is! Chapter 191: You all go together, I want to fight four of you! Chapter 191: You all go together, I want to fight four of you! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Tang Yong furrowed his brows once again. He didnt know what Alpha referred to in Lin Beifans words, so he decided to stop thinking about it and focused on the chess game. Maintaining his steady state, he calmly yed the Chess game, neither rushing nor panicking. On the other hand, Lin Beifan continued to make swift moves as usual. His speed was astonishing, even the referee beside him didnt have time to flip the hourss before Lin Beifan made his move, leaving everyone stunned. Is there really someone who ys Chess like this? Hes ying so fast, does Principal Lin not even look at the chessboard? This is no childs y! The empress sitting on the dragon throne began to feel anxious. She had never seen anyone y Chess like this before! She clenched her teeth in frustration, wondering if this little brat had received some benefits from Great Yan? But even so, if youre going to pretend, at least pretend a little! Cant you y a bit slower and sweat a few drops? Otherwise, if you lose, how am I supposed to cover up for you? However, gradually, as the chessboard unfolded, everyone noticed something different. That was, although Lin Beifan yed quickly, his moves were also reasonable and well-considered, with both advances and retreats nned out. Each move was very appropriate. There were even some clever strategies that amazed everyone. As a result, everyone calmed down and watched the game. But on the contrary, Lin Beifan himself was bing less calm. Hes too slow! The opponent in front of him is ying too slowly! With each move, he patiently waited for the sand to flow in the hourss before his opponent made their move. This waiting took nearly a minute each time. What can you do in a minute? You can do a lot of things in a minute, okay? A young man from the present, who understands that time is money and time is life, cant stand wasting time the most. If he had a phone, he would immediately take it out and y it. But unfortunately, he could only stand in one ce, which made him very ufortable and restless. The referee sitting next to him curiously asked, Mr. Principal, are you feeling unwell? Lin Beifan sighed, Im perfectly fine! Its just that hes ying too slowly, making me wait so ufortably! The referees mouth twitched slightly. Its not that hes ying too slowly, its that youre ying too fast, okay? When others y chess, they carefully consider and contemte each move. They think and think again, strategize and n their moves, even thinking thirty steps ahead. It takes a lot of time. Sometimes, when facing a tough opponent, it may take years to make the next move. But you, you cant even wait for the sand to flow in the hourss. After sitting for a while, Lin Beifan couldnt help but ask, Sir Zhao, can I move around? Sitting here is ufortable. The referees mouth twitched again, You can! But you cant leave the martial arena, you cantmunicate with others in secret, and you cant make loud noises that would disturb your opponent! Thank you, Sir Zhao! Lin Beifan smiled and thanked him. Then, under the astonished gazes of everyone, he stood up and walked towards the court officials. The empress asked in confusion, Minister, what are you doing? Your Majesty, Tang Yong ys Go too slowly, and its starting to bother me! So, I came back to eat something! Lin Beifan smiled. Everyone was stunned. Although there were no rules against moving around or eating during a debate, it was still the first time they had seen someone do so, especially during a Chess game. Isnt he afraid of being distracted? Lin Beifan didnt care what others thought. As long as he didnt break any rules, they couldnt do anything to him. When Lin Beifan came back again, he was carrying a bunch of fruits, some snacks, and a pot of iced tea. He had returned fully loaded. Tang Yong, who had just made his move, was dumbfounded. Principal Lin, what are you doing? Lin Beifan teased, What about you? You took so long for your move, Im starving. So, Im eating to replenish myself! Tang Yong, want some? No need, Principal Lin, help yourself! Tang Yong sneered inwardly. This is an offboard move, trying to distract me by offering food. I wont be affected! So, he continued to focus on the game, determined to y seriously. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan began to enjoy himself, eating snacks and drinking tea, feeling especially content. After eating and drinking his fill, he even had a book in his hand and started reading while still ying the game. But at the same time, he did not forget to make his moves! His moves were still swift! The empress and the court officials shook their heads and sighed as they witnessed this scene. Too arrogant! While others meticulously nned their moves, you are so distracted. Do you not take others seriously? Youre underestimating your opponent, I feel like giving you a good beating! The representative of Great Yan was furious! Your Highness, calm down. Lin Jiujus actions might be a deliberate attempt to distract Tang Yong. He knows that he cant win against Tang Yong in a normal game, so hes using an offboard move. We must not fall for it! Youre right! However, he is underestimating Tang Yongs determination. I want to see how Lin Beifan will lose! Your Highness, you speak the truth! However, as more moves were made on the chessboard, the avable positions became fewer and the difficulty of the game increased! Tang Yongs forehead was already covered in tiny beads of sweat. He was indecisive, every move required careful consideration, and it was extremely difficult. This game was one of the most challenging he had ever yed, giving him a feeling of facing a worthy opponent and meeting a talented rival! If I find it so difficult, does Lin Beifan feel the same way? Unable to resist, he looked up and was immediately stunned. Because he realized that Lin Beifan wasnt even paying attention to the chessboard. He saw one hand holding a strange novel,pletely absorbed in reading. The other hand wasnt holding any chess pieces but was holding a tea cup, leisurely sipping tea. He looked sofortable, just like he always was during his leisure time. At this moment, Tang Yong couldnt help but feel a bit vulnerable! Why is it that I find it so difficult, but the other person seems so rxed, as if its not a big deal? His gaze became resentful. Lin Beifan was taken aback when he noticed Tang Yong staring at him and asked, Are you done with your move? Its my turn after you! Tang Yong quickly waved his hand, saying, Not yet just a moment! Lin Beifan furrowed his brows and unhappily said, Well, hurry up and make your move. Dont distract me from reading! The reigning champion, Tang Yong, muttered to himself, Damn! He lowered his head and continued contemting the game. At this moment, news of this game spread outside, and everyone was discussing it. This game is fiercely contested, difficult to decipher and impossible to determine the oue! The ck yer is steadily advancing, steady and solid. Its like a mighty army marching forward, disying great chess skills and the aura of a grandmaster! But the white yer is even more formidable! It seems like theres no rhyme or reason to their moves, but each move is precise and leaves no room for error! There are also many ingenious tricks and brilliant moves, which leave people amazed! However, what puzzles me is, why is the white yer making moves so quickly? Everyone was very confused. In theory, this kind of calction and strategy should require a lot of mental effort. One should consider several steps ahead, so the game should be yed slowly. But the opponent was going against the norm, continuing to y at the same speed even in the second half of the game, leaving people perplexed. Unbeknownst to them, they had reached the second half of the game. Tang Yong found it increasingly difficult to make his moves. Sweat not only covered his forehead but also drenched his entire back, making him look drenched in sweat. Lin Beifan, on the other hand, remained calm and rxed as always, even switching to another book to continue reading. There was a stark contrast between the two. In Great Yans side, everyone rxed as well Your Majesty, although I dont understand chess, judging by Sir Lins demeanor, his chances of winning are high! the old eunuch whispered. The empress nodded, a faint smile curling at the corners of her mouth. Indeed, Sir Lin has a great chance of winning! This chessboard is like a battlefield. The moreposed and calm one is, the better they can perform and the greater their chances of winning! Although Sir Lin is often unpredictable and even reckless, he never fails to deliver during crucial moments! However, the Great Yan side became serious. Tang Yongs current state is not good! Ding Shaojie said gravely, Look at Tang Yongs appearance, he clearly has expended a lot of mental energy. This kind of state is simply unsustainable! Once he cant hold on any longer, he will lose! Yes, who could have anticipated that Lin Beifans chess skills are so exquisite and can exert such pressure on him! What can we do now? We cant disturb him! Are we going to lose this game? Everyone, calm down and dont panic! the Third Prince said in a deep voice. Although his bad premonition was growing stronger, as the backbone of the team, he absolutely couldnt panic. At this moment, the sand in the hourss had already run out. Tang Zhuangyuan, times up. Please make your move immediately! the referee reminded. Okay, okay! Right away Tang Yong hastily said. Tang Zhuangyuan, please make your move now, otherwise, I can only follow the rules and dere you as the loser! the referee reminded again. Just a little more time! Just a little more time Tang Zhuangyuan! Ah! Tang Yong gritted his teeth and finally ced his ck piece on the board. Lin Beifan smiled slightly. Tang Zhuangyuan, youve lost! Hmph! How could I lose? Tang Yong sneered, thinking that it was just a psychological tactic from the opponent and didnt take it seriously. Then just watch quietly! Lin Beifan ced a white piece. In this way, he yed a few more moves, with Lin Beifan capturing the opponents pieces along the way. Two more moves, and he captured more of the opponents pieces. On the third move, he captured several more pieces. From then on, it was basically Lin Beifans showtime, capturing territories and overwhelming all sides. Until the end, there were almost only white pieces left on the chessboard. Tang Yong looked at the difficult-to-move chessboard and said dejectedly, Ive lost! This was the first time he had lost so miserably, almost beingpletely wiped out! Good! The empress led the apuse. p, p, p The game was magnificent, the victory was magnificent, and the apuse was thunderous. Outside the venue, there was also a big celebration because of the victory in this round. We won the first round! Our champion is even more amazing! Its another great start! Tang Yong left the stage in a state of disarray. The Third Prince quicklyforted him, Tang Zhuangyuan, its okay. You did your best, and we all can see that! Rest well now, well take it from here and we will surely win it back! Thats right! Lin Beifan cant keep it up anymore. Its our turn to win it back! Thank you, Your Highness, and everyone for your understanding! Tang Yong sped his hands and forced a smile. Just then, Lin Beifan loudly said, Your Majesty, its too slow to y one by one. I request to y against four people simultaneously. Please grant me this favor! The court was in an uproar! The representatives of the Great Yan side were immediately furious. Lin Beifan, what do you mean by this? Do you look down on us from Great Yan? Lin Beifan arrogantly said, Thats right, I do look down on the chess level of Great Yan! Come at me together, I want to y against four of you! Tang Yong, you seem reluctant, so lets add you as well! The representatives of the Great Yan side: Damn it! Chapter 192: The faster they come, the faster they die! Chapter 192: The faster theye, the faster they die! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Hes too arrogant! Hes too domineering! Representatives of Great Yan were trembling with anger! Having lived for so long, they had never seen such arrogance before! To challenge four opponents in one-on-onebat, and even five opponents, it truly showed apleteck of regard for others! Even the Empress of Great Wu and the civil and military officials felt that Lin Beifan had gone too far. Sir Lin, your words have gone too far, quickly apologize to the representatives of Great Yan! urged the Empress. Lin Beifan felt aggrieved. Your Majesty, I was just speaking my mind, whats wrong with that? The chess skills of Great Yan are reallycking. Everyone saw it just now. I was sipping tea, eating snacks, and reading a novel while effortlessly defeating Schr Tang ! If it wasnt for his slow moves and stubbornness, I would have finished the game long ago! Tang Yong: Fck! It is said that Tang Yong is already the best chess yer in the Great Yan representative team! But if even someone like him is no good, then whats the use of the next opponents? Are they just here to make up the numbers? Great Yan representative team: Fck! Your Majesty, there are still four matches to go! Lin Beifans eyes were filled with pain and hopelessness. Each match takes at least an hour. Four matches would require four hours! Just the thought of having to spend over four hours ying house with them makes me want to die! Great Yan representative team: Fck! Remember, time is money, time is life! Their wasting my time is wasting my money and plotting against my life, so I cant bear it anymore! Lin Beifan bowed and said, I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me this opportunity, I am endlessly grateful! This is too much!!! finally, the third prince of Great Yan stood up, angrily saying, Sir Lin, you look down on the chess yers of Great Yan so much. Its like a gnat trying to shake a tree, you dont know your ce! If thats the case, this prince will fulfill your wishes! Saying that, he cupped his hands and loudly said to Empress, Empress Great Wu, please fulfill his wishes and let uspete against Lin Beifan! Empress Great Wu, please fulfill his wishes! echoed the Great Yan side in unison. The Empress hesitated. This The Minister of Rites wiped the sweat off his face and advised, Your Majesty, Principal Lin is young and impulsive, dont mind him! Its better to be cautious and stick to the n! Please think twice, Your Majesty! Civil and military officials: Please think twice, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan couldnt help but say, Mr. Zhao and gentlemen, I am not impulsive, I am very calm! The Minister of Rites scolded, Shut up! Dont talk nonsense! The Empress hesitated. To be honest, she was still inclined towards the cautious approach, to proceed step by step, which had a greater chance of sess. However, Lin Beifans emotions also had to be considered. Moreover, the opponents seemed rxed, indicating that they hadnt been giving their all. Making such a request was not without purpose. Sir Lin, how confident are you? the Empress asked. Your Majesty, youre asking the wrong person, you should ask them! Lin Beifan pointed to the Great Yan representative team. Ask them? the Empress was puzzled. Your Majesty, its not a matter of confidence, but a matter of speed! Lin Beifan smiled slyly. The faster theye, the faster they die! Great Yan side: Fck! Tang Yong shouldst a bit longer because hes the slowest! Tang Yong: What the f**k Hes mocking me again! The Empress was speechless! This guys mouth was too venomous, infuriating the Great Yan representative team with just a few words! The Empress thought for a moment and felt that it might be worth a try. This match doesntply with the rules! But since both sides are willing, it wouldnt be right to dismiss your intentions! So lets consider this match a friendly one, regardless of the oue, it wont count! After this friendly match, thepetition will continue! If Minister Lin loses, he will apologize immediately to the Great Yan side! If he wins, then its fine! This was the most cautious approach she could think of, where the oue of this match wouldnt affect the overall situation. Yes, Your Majesty! Everyone was satisfied. Thus, five chessboards were set up, and Lin Beifan faced off against five opponents. Outside the field, fiverge chessboards were also set up. Whats going on? Why are there four more chessboards? Werent they supposed to y in a round-robin style? After the official exnation, everyone understood the reason and became even more excited for this match. Lin Beifan stood in front of the five chessboards and smiled. I proposed this chess situation and spoke out of line, dont hold back. Please make your moves! Hmph! The Great Yan side didnt hold back and made their moves directly. Each persons move was in a different location, resulting in different chess paths and adding difficulty for Lin Beifan. However, Lin Beifan remained calm, holding the white pieces and making his moves on each board. ying chess is not childs y. Principal Lin is actually challenging all five opponents? Yes, chess is not easy. It requires a great deal of mental effort! For each additional board, it requires double the mental effort! Now that there are four more boards, the difficulty has increased more than fourfold! Im afraid that while ying, hell get his head muddled! Thank goodness this is a friendly match, otherwise I would really curse him! But if he wins all of them, hell create a historical precedent and be a chess genius! People whispered quietly as they watched the chessboards. The time for one stick of incense quickly passed. Lin Beifan remained very rxed, as did the representatives from the Great Yan side. It was still the early stages of the game, and everyone was making their opening moves. The difficulty wasnt too high, and the speed of y was rtively fast. The time for two sticks of incense passed. Lin Beifan remained calm, with no signs of worry on his face. However, the representatives from the Great Yan side had be serious, focusing intently on their moves. The time for three sticks of incense passed. Lin Beifan was still rxed. However, the representatives from the Great Yan side had be solemn, with furrowed brows. They had to carefully consider each move, and the speed of their y had slowed down. An hour had passed. Lin Beifan still looked the same. However, the representatives from the Great Yan side were sweating, with beads of sweat on their foreheads. This was a physical reaction resulting from the mental strain of deep thinking. With each move they made, they were almost running out of time, appearing hesitant and indecisive. By this time, about half of the chessboard had been filled. Everyones ying style was fully disyed. Like the previous Schr Tang Yong, he yed a steady and cautious style. The second-ce finisher Liu Hai had a more aggressive and adventurous ying style. The third prince yed boldly and aggressively, with a majestic momentum and a royal demeanor. But when it was Lin Beifans turn, it was different. He didnt have a fixed ying style. He could be steady when he wanted to, cunning when he wanted to be, or daringly aggressive when he wanted to be And he could seamlessly switch between ying styles, making it extremely difficult to deal with him! The representatives of the Great Yan side were being driven crazy by Lin Beifans unpredictable ying style and moves. Sir Lin, your chess skills are truly extraordinary, definitely on the level of a grandmaster! No wonder you dared to challenge all five opponents. Its clear that you have full confidence in your chess skills! the Empressughed. Your Majesty, even an ordinary grandmaster wouldnt be able to take on all five opponents! a senior official smiled bitterly. After all, the opponents he is facing are not ordinary people. They are either masters or experts in the field! And it is extremely difficult to simultaneously defeat them. Sir Lins chess skills are undoubtedly the strongest I have ever seen! Regardless of the oue today, his chess ability will surely shake the world! Youre right! But if he emerges victorious, he will be unprecedented! I am very much looking forward to witnessing a miracle! the Empress smiled, her beautiful eyes focused on the chessboard. At this moment, the referee shouted, Great Yans Liu Hai is defeated, and Lin Beifan of the Great Wu emerges victorious in this round! Everyone was surprised and delighted. Weve won another round! Principal Lin, youre amazing! There are only four people left, Principal Lin, keep it up! Liu Hai retreated with a gloomy face. In less than half a stick of incense time, the referee shouted again, Great Yans Ding Shaojie is defeated, and Lin Beifan of the Great Wu emerges victorious in two rounds! Everyone became excited once again. Principal Lin has won again! He has two consecutive victories, keep up the good work! Mr. Principal, keep pushing forward! Then, in less than the time it takes to make a cup of tea, the referee shouted, Great Yans Sun Shande is defeated, and Lin Beifan of the Great Wu emerges victorious in three rounds! What the heck! He has already won three in a row! There are only two more to go! Mr. Principal, you must win! The three consecutive victories put immense pressure on the remaining Third Prince and Tang Yong. Especially Tang Yong, who had already lost one round and had exerted a great deal of mental energy. Without time to recover, he yed another round, which took a toll on him. Fatigue makes people prone to mistakes. So, with an unintentional misstep, Lin Beifan seized the opportunity, once again making significant gains andpletely wiping out Tang Yongs pieces. Tang Yong looked at the board filled with white pieces and sighed, I have lost again! The referee loudly announced, Great Yans Tang Yong is defeated, and Lin Beifan of the Grand Wulin has won four consecutive rounds! Thus, all the pressure fell on the Third Prince. Yan Xinghe truly felt immense pressure! Unprecedented pressure! He was the only one left! If he lost, it meant that Great Yan waspletely defeated, losing face in a disgraceful manner! This was something he had never dared to think about before! He wouldnt know how to exin it to his father, to the civil and military officials, to the people! So, no matter what, he had to hold on! Even if it meant dying, he had to fight to the end! The representatives of Great Yan looked at the chessboard, clenched their fists, and silently cheered. Your Highness, you must hold on! Your Highness, you must win! We cant lose! You must win the next round and preserve our dignity! We rely on you, Great Yan! However, some things are beyond the control of others. He was now facing not an ordinary person, but Lin Beifan, the master of Chess in the future, who possessed terrifying mental calction abilities, equivalent to an Ai model Alpha. This was a crushing blow! The oue was determined from the very beginning! As a few more moves were made, the Third Prince weakly ced his piece on the board and smiled bitterly, I have also lost! The referee loudly announced, Great Yans Third Prince Yan Xinghe is defeated, and Lin Beifan of the Grand Wulin wins five consecutive rounds! Therefore, in this friendly match, Lin Beifan emerges as the winner! The faces of the Great Yan representatives were filled with despair, while the Great Wu side cheered with excitement! Mr. Principal has won, we have won!!!. Chapter 193: To defeat Great Wu, Lin Beifan is a mountain that must be surpassed! Chapter 193: To defeat Great Wu, Lin Beifan is a mountain that must be surpassed! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Although this is just a friendly match, Lin Beifan being able to fight and win against five opponents with a ratio of 1 to 5 is truly an inspiring and celebratory achievement! Its even more delightful than winning the chess game itself! Because if he can win 1 vs. 5, can he possibly lose 1 vs. 1? The cheers from outside have already pierced through the high walls and entered the martial arts arena. The representatives of the Great Yan team have extremely unpleasant expressions. The civil and military officials are very happy. The Empress was thrilled: Sir Lin, you yed this game well, your moves are brilliant! Your chess skills are definitely number one in Great Wu, unparalleled in history. You can be called a master of the chess world! Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I am unworthy, Lin Beifan smiled. The Empress turned to look at the representatives of Great Yan with a smile on her face: Third Prince of Great Yan, even though you lost, it doesnt matter! Friendshipes first,petitiones second. This is just a friendly match and doesnt affect the Yan and Wupetition. Dont take it to heart. The representatives of Great Yan have even more unpleasant expressions. Its easy for her to say since its not them who lost! Being swept away 1 vs. 5 is like having their faces pped on the ground and trampled mercilessly, losing all face! They would rather lose the actual chess game than the friendly match! They cant help but feel a twinge of regret! If they had known that his chess skills were so extraordinary, they wouldnt havepeted with him! Losing face in a 1 vs. 1 match is still eptable! Losing face in a 1 vs. 5 match is utterly embarrassing! Third Prince of Great Yan, now that the friendly match is over, lets continue our chesspetition! the Empress said with a smile. After witnessing Lin Beifans chess skills, she is no longer worried about the oue! Instead, she is eagerly looking forward to Lin Beifan humiliating them once again! Humiliating them to the point where they question their existence! Humiliating them to the point where they cant even take care of themselves! Let them know that even though Great Wus power has declined, we are not to be trifled with! Your Majesty of Great Wu, its not necessary! With Sir Lin alone, we have no chance of winning, so this chess game The Third Prince of Great Yan forced out four words with an extremely unpleasant expression: We surrender! The Empress tried to dissuade him: Third Prince of Great Yan, dont give up on yourself! The game is not yet over, how can you abandon hope? Remember, man can conquer destiny. Without striving and fighting, you wont truly understand despair! The Great Yan side: Dammit! Lin Beifan waved his hand like a madam: Come,e, friends from Great Yan, lets y a few more rounds! This time, Ill hold back a bit and let you die with dignity! Great Yan side: Fuck! The representatives of Great Yan trembled with anger! Evil people! All of you are evil people! The Third Prince decisively said, Your Majesty of Great Wu, theres really no need! We, Great Yan, surrender in this chess game! Please dont persuade us any further, my decision is made! The Empress and Lin Beifan sighed, feeling deeply regretful. At this moment, the Third Prince continued, Your Majesty of Great Wu, its gettingte, and the participants on both sides have expended a great deal of mental energy. Its time to rest! Therefore, lets suspend the literarypetition and continue tomorrow, how about that? The Empress smiled slightly, clearly they suffered too much defeat, the blow was too great, and their morale was low, so they wanted to regroup. Alright, we will suspend the literarypetition and continue tomorrow! The first day of the Yan-Wu Competition was over. In the matches, Lin Beifan, representing Great Wu, forced the Great Yan side to surrender with his ssic masterpiece, A Laugh at the Sea. Afterwards, with his extraordinary chess skills, he once again forced Great Yan to surrender. Two consecutive victories, the people of the capital were uplifted and jubnt. Two consecutive wins, indeed, Great Wu is the strongest! With just Lin Beifan, hepletely outshone all the talents of Great Yan! He is the one who guards the pass, unbeatable by ten thousand foes! Lin Beifan truly deserves to be called a literature star! I believe as long as Lin Beifan is here, the literarypetition is secure! Due to their overwhelming joy, many people outside were singing and dancing, singing Lin Beifans A Laugh at the Sea. Lla~~ Lla~~ In contrast, the representatives of Great Yan in the inn wore gloomy expressions. When they set off from Great Yan, they were full of confidence and ambitious aspirations! They thought that with their vast knowledge, they would definitely dominate the Yan-Wu Competition andpletely defeat the representative team of Great Wu! To achieve great sess and fame, to have their names spread far and wide, was within their reach! But reality pped them hard in the face! With just one Lin Beifan, he knocked them down and left thempletely defeated! They lost miserably! They lost all their face! It was too tragic! They were so miserable that they began to question their lives, on the verge of despair! Listening to the sounds of the song from outside, they found it particrly grating and ufortable. At this moment, the Third Prince of Great Yan stood up and closed the windows, looking at the downcast crowd. He sighed, Speak up, what should we do for the uing literarypetition? Everyone looked at each other, no one spoke first. The two matches today drained their spirit and also shattered their pride. They felt ufortable in their hearts and didnt know how to proceed. We absolutely cannot lose! The Third Prince clenched his fists, Its not that we cannot lose, but we cannot lose to Great Wu! Great Yan is thriving while Great Wu is declining. We cannot lose to a weak country! Furthermore, we have sent out our strongest lineup, with high expectations from the court and the people. We have no reason to lose! If we lose, how can we justify ourselves to the Emperor and the people of Great Yan? Have you considered your own future? The expressions of everyone changed slightly because it was really difficult to justify! Moreover, losing would also affect their future, which they could not ept! At this moment, the Third Prince spoke with a slightly softer tone, Everyone, I was a bit harsh just now! I have always believed that all of you are talented. The reason we lost today is because we underestimated our opponents, we underestimated Lin Beifan! But no matter how formidable Lin Beifan is, he is still just one person! He is indeed outstanding in his qin and chess skills, but human talent is limited, time is limited. I refuse to believe that he is equally outstanding in other areas. Besides Lin Beifan, would other people be opponents? Everyone immediately felt that this made a lot of sense. No matter how amazing Lin Beifan was, he couldnt be amazing in every aspect! After all, he was only one person, not a god! At his age, being able to y the qin and chess to such a mesmerizing level was already incredibly impressive! He couldnt be equally outstanding in other areas! So, we have a great chance of winning tomorrows matches! So, everyone, pull yourselves together! The Third Prince shouted, Dont dwell on todays matches, go back and get a good nights sleep, gather your strength, and fight again tomorrow! I believe that tomorrow we will definitely win! We will definitely prevail! Everyone finally regained their spirits. Your Highness, rest assured, tomorrow I will give it my all! Your Highness, rest assured, we will definitely win! Nothing can defeat us, Great Yan! The Third Prince nodded in satisfaction, Very good! These are the talents of Great Yan! Everyone, go back and rest well, and fight again tomorrow! The talents bid farewell to the prince and went back to rest. In the room, only the Third Prince and an old minister remained. The Third Prince still watched the talents leave without turning back, and asked, Sir Wang, do you think we will win tomorrow? To be honest, Your Highness, the situation is not optimistic! the old minister sighed. Why do you say that? the Third Prince turned around and questioned, We have four top-ranked schrs, plus myself, making it five. Our strength is so powerful! Although we didnt perform well today, its just a temporary setback. We will surely turn the tide tomorrow! I used to think the same way, but now I dont have that confidence anymore! Is it because of Lin Beifan? Yes, its him! The old minister said solemnly, In todays battle, Lin Beifan defeated our talented schrs, boosting the morale of Great Wu and causing our morale to plummet! Therefore, in tomorrowspetition, Great Wus performance will inevitably be stronger by three points, while our side will be weaker by three points. The gap has narrowed, and it wont be easy for us to win! The most terrifying thing is Lin Beifan, his talent is extraordinary,parable to the stars in the sky! To defeat Great Wu, Lin Beifan is a mountain that must be surpassed! He may be strong, but hes still just one person! the Third Prince said. He is indeed just one person, but who knows what else he is capable of? The old minister sighed, We have never seen him y the qin, nor do we know that he can y the qin, but he yed A Laugh at the Sea! We have never seen him y chess, nor do we know that he can y chess, but he single-handedly defeated the young talents of Great Yan! The Third Prince fell silent, his heart heavy with worry. The old minister sighed again, The uing literarypetition includes calligraphy, painting, and poetry! The poetry has already be a ssic and is popr in many countries! The opponents talent is absolutely top-notch, and it wont be easy for us to win! Poetry is a major part of the literarypetition, and if we lose in this aspect, then we are truly defeated! In that case, how do we exin to the Emperor and the people? The Third Prince clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. This was his first task on the outside world! If he failed in something that was supposed to be a certain victory, the Emperor and the court officials would be greatly disappointed in him! Sir Wang, in your opinion, what should we do? The Third Prince humbly asked for advice. Its not toote to make up for the lost sheep! The old minister whispered, Your Highness, have you forgotten? Lin Beifan is one of us, Great Yan! As long as we bribe him and make him go easy, we have a chance to win! What? You want me to bribe him? Absolutely not! I will never agree to that! The Third Prince was shocked. He used to look down on Lin Beifan, thinking that with his own talent and the luxurious team he brought from Great Yan, he would definitely be able to defeat Great Wu. But reality pped him hard in the face, and he suffered a miserable loss! And now, he was being asked to go to Lin Beifan and ask him to throw the match! He was a prince, a dignified one! Moreover, he was a schr with top-ranked talent, how could he do such a thing? It was so embarrassing to even say it! Your Highness, think twice. We cannot afford to lose! The old minister said with seriousness, This is not just a battle for honor, but also a battle for your throne! If we fail in this matter, it will undoubtedly disappoint the Emperor and the people, and the throne will be far away! Do you only want to be an idle prince? Even if you are willing, your brothers may not be! The Third Princes heart trembled, struggling with his expression. The reason why he worked so hard in his studies and tried so hard to perform well was to ascend the throne of power! If something as simple as this were to fail, the Emperor would surely be greatly disappointed in him! His brothers would definitely take advantage of the situation and betray him! Compared to the throne, what did a little bit of face matter? The Third Prince gritted his teeth, Sir Wang, youre right. I will follow your advice! Chapter 194: With This Little Money, Its Hard for Me to Do Things for You! Chapter 194: With This Little Money, Its Hard for Me to Do Things for You! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
That night, an invitation letter with special symbols arrived at the Lin Residence. Lin Beifan opened it and smiled, Now you remember me? What took you so long? The invitation letter was from Great Yan, although it wasnt signed specifically, it was 80% from the Third Prince of Great Yan. He must have been desperate after losing today, so he had no choice but to contact him. Its not easy to be a little greedy for money. If I dont beat you all up, you wont know how to give me money! Lin Beifan epted the invitation letter and happily went out. He arrived at a restaurant and entered a rtively secluded room, where he saw the initiator of the invitation letter, the Third Prince of Dayan, Yan Xinghe. So its Your Highness, the Third Prince! Lin Beifan greeted with a smile. Principal Lin, Ive heard of you for a long time! Ive heard that youre knowledgeable and talented, with outstanding abilities. Todays performance has truly impressed me. Thats why I specially invited you here to gather! the Third Prince said with a smile. Thank you for Your Highness praise, but I am unworthy of it. I wonder, why did Your Highness invite me here? Lin Beifan asked. Well lets have a drink and some food first, and well talk after we finish the drinks! Sure! Lin Beifan nodded. They ate some small dishes, drank some wine, and then Lin Beifan asked again, Your Highness, what is the matter you invited me for? Please speak directly. I have to continue thepetition tomorrow, so I cannot stay for long and need to rest and prepare. Well well The Third Prince blushed and stuttered. After all, he still had some face to maintain, and it was very difficult for him to speak about these matters. An old minister beside him saw this and took over the Third Princes words. He raised his cup and said with a smile, Principal Lin, it is like this! Our Highness led the team to participate in the Yan and Wu Competition in Great Wu this time and has been entrusted with high expectations by His Majesty and the people of Great Yan! If we lose the Yan and Wu Competition, it wont be easy to exin when we go back. So we hope that during thepetition, you could properly go easy on us and let Great Yan win by chance. This is a small token of our appreciation, please ept it! He handed over a delicate little box. Lin Beifan opened it and saw a total of 300,000 taels of silver notes. Please fulfill our request, Principal Lin. We are sincerely grateful! the Third Prince said with a bow. Lin Beifan took out the silver notes from the small box and pped them twice, making a clear and pleasant sound. This was not a small amount. With Lin Beifans current official position, even if he worked his whole life in the court, he probably wouldnt earn this amount of sry. However, Lin Beifan looked troubled as he said, Your Highness, I see your intention! But to be honest, with this little money, its hard for me to do things for you! The Third Prince and the old minister looked at each other, secretly thinking that this person was indeed greedy. He couldnt even be satisfied with 300,000 taels. The Third Princes face darkened, and the old minister asked, Principal Lin, how much do you want? Lin Beifan raised a finger and said, At least 1 million taels! The Third Prince and the old minister: Damn! How can you ask for 1 million taels?! The old minister said solemnly, Principal Lin, your request is a bit excessive! We only asked you to go easy on us and let Great Yan win by chance. You dont need to make any sacrifices. Isnt 300,000 taels enough? Mr. Wang, youre speaking lightly! Lin Beifan sneered, Do you know how much I would lose if I were to lose the Yan and Wu Competition? I would like to hear the details! the old minister said. After todays events, my reputation has soared, and my name is renowned! This is the perfect time for me to take another step forward. But if I unfortunately lose thepetition, my reputation will plummet and be aughingstock! The saying goes, money is like dirt, while reputation is priceless! Lin Beifan said, If I sacrifice my own reputation to enhance the reputation of Grear Yan, can it bepensated with a mere 300,000 taels? Well The Third Prince and the old minister looked at each other. Furthermore, besides reputation, my future prospects will also be affected! Lin Beifan put down the silver notes in his hand and poured himself a drink, saying, In these days, I have made numerous contributions to the court! Now is the perfect opportunity. As long as I win the Yan and Wu Competition, the Empress will be delighted, the officials will be pleased, and the people will be inspired. I will definitely be promoted! I am already a fourth-ranking official of the court. If I am promoted one more level, I will be a third-ranking official, a significant figure in the court! Third Prince, Mr. Wang, if it were you, would you be willing to give up such a bright future for a mere 300,000 taels? The two of them were shocked once again, Ah, this If it were them, they definitely wouldnt be willing! What does 300,000 taels matter if they can be a third-ranking official of the court? Bing a third-ranking official means a higher position and greater power. Isnt it easy to make money then? As the saying goes, a clear-minded county magistrate can amass 100,000 taels of silver in three years! Even a fourth-ranking magistrate could earn 100,000 taels of silver in a short three years! Wouldnt it be even easier for a third-ranking official of the court? Principal Lin, are you really going to get promoted again? the old minister Mr. Wang couldnt help but ask. Of course, why would I lie to you? Lin Beifans face was displeased. Congrattions, Principal Lin! The old minister bowed and said with envy. He had struggled for half a lifetime, turned his hair white, and only recently managed to be a significant official of the court. The other party, at such a young age, was about to be a third-ranking official. How could one not envy? Lin Beifan sighed, Stop congratting me. This is not something worth celebrating! Youre getting promoted, arent you happy? Both the Third Prince and the old minister were bewildered. Lin Beifan sighed again, his face full of mncholy, Of course, the promotion is too slow! Back then, I basically got promoted every month, the speed was consistent! But now, it has been over two months, nearly three months, to get promoted once. Its not as good as before, and its a bit embarrassing to even mention it! The Third Prince and the old minister were embarrassed and not feeling good at all! You should know, that is a third-ranking official, a true significant figure in the court, trusted by the Emperor, wielding great power, every word and action can influence national policies. Its not easy to rise to such a position, you know? You achieve such a feat in just three months, and you still think its slow? And youre even embarrassed to ask for more? Really Its infuriating! The Third Prince and the old minister were a bit unhappy! At this moment, Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, Forget it, lets not mention these sad matters! The Third Prince and the old minister: Lets get back on track and continue discussing the matter of the Yan and Wupetition! Lin Beifan confidently said, The Yan and Wupetition is rted to my reputation and future! You only gave 300,000 taels, and you expect me to sacrifice my reputation and future. Is that possible? Besides, do Ick these 300,000 taels? The Third Prince and the old minister once again exchanged nces. You indeed dontck 300,000 taels, but we dont have more money to give you. Principal Lin, I think you should obediently ept the silver and faithfully serve us! The Third Prince said with a hint of anger, You should know, you are one of us! If your identity is exposed, your bright future and prosperity will vanish. Can Great Wu tolerate you? Lin Beifan sneered and ridiculed, So you dare to threaten me? Third Prince, youre too naive. If you go out and expose my identity, who do you think others will believe, me, a loyal servant who has made numerous contributions to Great Wu, or you, a treacherous prince from an enemy country? The Third Prince had no response. Looking at Lin Beifans proud expression, he said solemnly, But we have evidence! What evidence? Back then, we spent a huge amount of money to obtain the manufacturing methods for the air balloon and air cushion from you. These manufacturing methods are the evidence! As long as wepare it with your handwriting, you wont be able to deny it! The Third Princeughed with pride. Lin Beifan sprayed out his drink and burst intoughter, holding his stomach. Hahaha Why are youughing? The Third Prince asked, displeased. Its just so funny that youre using the manufacturing methods as a threat. Its really hrious! It makes meugh! Lin Beifanughed heartily. Is there something wrong with that? Third Prince, do you think I would do such risky things without considering the consequences? The handwriting on your manufacturing methods ispletely different from mine! Youre too presumptuous to try to threaten me with that. Its downrightughable! Hahaha The Third Prince was extremely unhappy, ck lines appearing on his face, filled with anger. If they werent in the territory of Great Wu, he would have wanted someone to drag this disrespectful person out and have him beheaded! Alright, alright, were all on the same side, lets not hurt our rtionship! Finally, the old minister stepped forward as a peacemaker and said, Principal Lin, the Third Prince was impulsive just now and said some nonsense. Dont take it to heart! Ill punish myself with three cups of wine, and you, sir, should overlook the faults of us small people! Saying this, he drank three cups in a row, his face changing color. Mr. Wang knows whats best, please! Lin Beifan replied with a toast. Principal Lin, after careful consideration, I will give you the 1 million taels you mentioned! Tomorrow, we will trouble you, sir! The Third Prince became anxious and pulled the other party to a corner, whispering, Mr. Wang, we dont have that much money, you know? The old minister smiled bitterly and said, Your Highness, now we cant afford not to give it. You were too impulsive just now and offended Lin Beifan. If he holds a grudge and causes chaos tomorrow, we really cant afford to lose! We can gather some money. As long as we can win the Yan and Wupetition, the loss of some money wont matter. The Third Princes face was conflicted, But we dont have that much money We can gather it together! As long as we can win the Yan and Wupetition, a little financial loss is nothing, the old minister said. After some thought, the Third Prince finally made up his mind and nodded, Mr. Wang, you are absolutely right! So, they came back and promised 1 million taels. But Lin Beifan was still very unhappy, You think you can dismiss me with just 1 million taels? How naive! You threatened me earlier, and Im very unhappy. You need to add more money! The Third Prince and the old minister: Fuck! Chapter 195: Theres not even a capable person here, and Im ashamed to be associated with you all! Chapter 195: Theres not even a capable person here, and Im ashamed to be associated with you all! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Wevee to this point, and you still want to ask for more money? Youre too greedy! Indeed, Desire is the root of all sins, what worries is there without enough words! Principal Lin, youre asking for too much. I dont have that much money! The Third Prince said with a dark face. Who would believe that? You are the magnificent Third Prince of the Great Yan Empire, greatly favored by the Emperor, with many supporters. How can you not have money? Lin Beifan said incredulously. In the Great Yan Empire, we have strict regtions on the control of officials and royal family members. Every year, the sry is fixed and not substantial. If corruption and bribery are discovered, severe punishment will be imposed! Light punishment could result in demotion, and serious punishment could lead to losing ones head. It could even bring cmity to three generations of the family! Although I, as the Third Prince of the court, am greatly favored by my father, if I am found to be involved in even the slightest vition or corruption, I will be imprisoned and strictly disciplined by the Zongren Mansion! My father is just and fair, and no one can be an exception! The Third Prince helplessly said, Thats why I really dont have that much money! Third Prince, if you cant even take out a million taels, youre living a life of failure! Lin Beifan mocked, I know a princess who, in order to recruit me, promised me tens of millions of taels of silver, and even offered herself! But I didnt agree! Your mere several hundreds of thousands of taels cant make me budge! Which princess is so rich? I dont believe it! The Third Prince shook his head. That princess Lin Beifan mentioned is naturally Princess Ziyue! The fugitive princess who is also a princess! And this princess is really rich, much more impressive than those legitimate princesses! Believe it or not, its up to you! Third Prince, since you dont have any money, then I cant help you! Lin Beifan stood up and said, Gentlemen, I apologize for the inconvenience earlier. Ill take my leave! Mr. Wang, the old minister, extended his hand and called out, Principal Lin, please wait, lets discuss again! Saying that, he pulled the Third Prince aside in a corner and whispered, Your Highness, you must agree! If Lin Beifan leaves, we wont have a chance, and the Yan and Wupetition will be in jeopardy! The Third Prince helplessly said, But Mr. Wang, I really cante up with so much money! Mr. Wang gritted his teeth, Your Highness, I still have some private funds! Although its not much, it should be enough to satisfy his appetite! Thank you, Mr. Wang. I will remember your kindness! And so, the Third Prince managed to gather 1.2 million taels, barely meeting Lin Beifans demands. With a smile on his face, Lin Beifan put the thick stack of money into his pocket, Third Prince, Mr. Wang, you have shown your sincerity! Rest assured, tomorrow you will see how I perform! We will trouble you, Principal Lin! The Third Prince, now a pauper, and Mr. Wang bowed their heads. Dont mention it! However, I cannot tantly lose. Even if I have to lose, I want to lose gracefully, with a sense of pride in the defeat! Only then can I maintain my dignity and also be ountable to the Empress and the people! The Third Prince and Lin Beifan understood each others point and nodded. The Third Prince asked, Principal Lin, whats your n? My n is like this! Lin Beifan cleared his throat, During tomorrows literarypetition, I will pretend to be arrogant. You wont be able to stand it and will increase the difficulty of the questions. Feeling provoked, I will rise to the challenge. With a smug smile, Lin Beifan continued, Even with the increased difficulty, I will perform normally, or even exceptionally well, but I will still lose to you. In this way, it wont be because of myck of ability, but because the heavens are not on my side. I will lose gracefully! The Third Prince and Lin Beifan both nodded and said, This n is good! Lin Beifan raised his ss and said confidently, Heres to our sess! Sess! Everyoneughed. After finishing the drink, Lin Beifan, carrying therge sum of money, said his goodbyes and left. The next day, the literarypetition continued. Due to the Great Wus victory on the first day of the Yan and Wupetition, representing Great Wu, Lin Beifan defeated the representative team of Great Ya and the peoples morale was high. As the sky brightened, many people had already gathered outside the venue. I hope we continue to win big today! I think as long as we have Principal Lin, there wont be any problems! Yes, as long as Principal Lin is here, Great Yan will be invincible and unbeatable! The time hase, its starting! Inside the martial arts field, the Empress and the officials were already present. After yesterdays victory against the representative team of Great Yan, the Empress and the officials were very happy, and their faces were rxed. Their gaze couldnt help but drift towards Lin Beifan. They hoped that he would continue to excel and lead the young talents of Great Wu to pursue victory. Inparison, the representative team of Great Yan had a more solemn expression. After losing two rounds yesterday, the situation was not looking good, and they had to win today no matter what. The Empress looked at the sky, nodded towards the announcer, and said, We can start! Yes, Your Majesty! The announcer turned around, facing the two representative teams, and announced loudly, The third round of the literarypetition Calligraphy! Each side will send forth one talented individual to participate in the calligraphy contest. The winner stays, the loser steps down! This will continue until one sides five talented individuals have all been defeated. The contest ends when the winning side remains! The representative team of Great Yan. Liu Hai, you go first for this round! the Third Prince ordered. Liu Hai was a bit nervous and hesitant, But Your Highness, my calligraphy is only average among everyone. If I go first, and heaven forbid I lose, it will affect our teams morale! No need to worry, show your true strength. We will definitely win today! The Third Prince was very confident. I have bought off their strongest person, so why should we be afraid of losing? As long as he throws the match, what is there to be afraid of for the others? Yes, Your Highness! Liu Hai took a deep breath and stepped onto the martial arts field. Great Wus side. Liao Rumin, you go first! Lin Beifan said. Mr. Principal, shouldnt you go first? Liao Rumin was surprised and asked. Lin Beifan disdainfully said, They are too weak, and they cant stimte my fighting spirit! You go first, show everyone your calligraphy skills! Rx, I have your back! Yes, Mr. Principal! Liao Rumin confidently stepped onto the martial arts field. And so, the calligraphy contest officially began. The rules were as follows: both sides would receive the same topic and write the characters on the paper. After finishing within the specified time, they would disy their work for everyone to vote, and the one with the most votes would win. In less than half an incense sticks time, both sides had finished writing and disyed their work. The characters written by Liu Hai are clean, powerful, and even carry a hint of elegance. Not bad, not bad! Liao Rumins characters are also very well-written, butpared to Liu Hais, they are slightlycking. Yes, there is an obvious difference between the two! Although Liu Hai is representing Great Yan, I still want to vote for him! Now, its time to vote! the referee shouted loudly. After one round of voting. The referee announced loudly, Liu Hai from Great Yan received a total of 55 votes, while Liao Rumin from Great Wu received a total of 22 votes! Therefore, the winner is Liu Hai from Great Yan! The Great Yan representative team cheered, while the Great Wu side sighed in disappointment. Next, Great Wu sent out their second participant. They wrote their characters again and had another round ofparison. After the voting ended. The referee announced loudly, Liu Hai from Great Yan received a total of 44 votes, while Xu XX from Great Wu received a total of 33 votes! Therefore, the winner is Liu Hai from Great Yan! The Great Yan side cheered again, while the Great Wu side sighed in disappointment. Then, Grear Wu sent out their third person, fourth person But surprisingly, none of them were a match. The Great Yan side was overjoyed, but the Great Wu side was dejected. We actually lost all of them. Did our luck run out? That can only mean that the Great Yan representative team is too strong. Its difficult to deal with a genius like their top scorer! They are indeed strong! But dont worry, we still have Mr. Principal! Mr. Principal is powerful! If Mr. Principal doesnt lose, then we wont lose! Although they had lost four rounds in a row, the people from Great Wu were still full of confidence. Because they still had Lin Beifan, the to schr, a man who gave infinite confidence and always created miracles! He was the undefeated banner of Great Wus literary world, holding up the backbone of the literary world! As long as he was there, Great Wu would not be defeated! Please send out the final contestant from Great Wu! Step by step, Lin Beifan leisurely walked onto the martial arts field. Great Yans team suddenly felt a sense of crisis. The other representatives from Great Wu were not even worth considering. Only Lin Beifan had to be taken seriously. Because it was this guy who won two rounds yesterday,pletely extinguishing their arrogance! It was this guy who ruthlessly trampled on their dignity, as well as the dignity of Grear Yan, making them unable to lift their heads up until now. Whether they could defeat Great Wu depended on the person in front of them. At this moment, Lin Beifan stood with his hands behind his back, raised his head high, and contemptuously said to everyone, I didnt expect you to actually force me to make a move. It seems youre notpletely useless! You Great Yans team collectively became furious. Lin Beifan, dont be so arrogant! Fortune always changes, and today is your time to lose! Liu Hai said with a fierce expression. You worthless dogs, how dare you speak so boldly? Lin Beifan looked down with disdain and mocked, If it werent for me taking pity on your pitiful selves and giving you a chance to perform, I would have already shaved your heads! You jerk! How did Great Yan end up with a loser like you? Liu Hai was furious. Lin Beifan seized the opportunity and shouted, Your Majesty, the Great Yan representative team has spoken arrogantly, defamed the humble servant and Great Wu. Their hearts are deserving of punishment! Please allow this humble servant to once again take on five opponents and teach them how to behave! Great Yans team: What the f*ck! Who was really speaking arrogantly? The Empress began to sweat, Sir Lin, theres no need for that! They were just being hasty with their words. Lets continue the literary contest ording to the rules, one by one! Lin Beifan yelled, Do you see now? If it werent for Her Majestys mercy towards your pathetic self-esteem, I would have annihted you all! How dare you call yourselves talented champions? You cant even fight, Im ashamed to be associated with you! Great Yans team: What the f*ck! At this moment, they were truly outraged! They wished they could tear apart Lin Beifan, who had be sessful as a lowly person! Even the Third Princes eyelids were twitching! Although they already knew the other party would act arrogant, they didnt expect it to be this arrogant. Just listening to him made them want to hit someone! At this time, the referee next to them said, Principal Lin, thats enough, dont provoke them any further. Lets continue with the contest! Today, this official will give Mr. Liu some face and not argue with you! Lin Beifan extended his right hand and said confidently, Bring me the pen! Today, I will let you all witness what true characters are! What true calligraphy is! Chapter 196: Arrogance was promised, but youre too arrogant, arent you? Chapter 196: Arrogance was promised, but youre too arrogant, arent you? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
And so, thepetition continued. Lin Beifan received a brush and began to elegantly write and ssh ink on the Xuan paper. In just a moment, a beautifully written and magnificent character appeared on the paper. Everyone carefully examined it and couldnt help but apud. What a great character! Truly amazing! This character is plump and powerful, with a grand and vigorous aura. It exudes a resolute temperament! It seems to embody the spirit of a great nation! This is an excellent character! The Empress couldnt help but praise, Sir Lin, your calligraphy is truly outstanding. It looks very dignified and magnificent, full of masculinity and aesthetics! I really like it! Lin Beifan respectfully replied with a smile, Thank you, Your Majesty, for the praise! The Empress continued, This character is different from what Ive seen before. Is it a font you created? Indeed! I call it Yanti! Lin Beifan replied. Why is it called Yanti? Is there any significance behind it? the Empress asked curiously. Because it was a font created by the top calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty, Yan Zhenqing, it was naturally named Yanti. However, Lin Beifan obviously couldnt exin it like that. I created it in memory of a deceased friend. His surname was Yan, so I named this character Yanti! I hope to uphold his reputation and font for eternity! Lin Beifan said with a tinge of sadness. I sympathize with your loss. Its rare for you to be so thoughtful. Your friend must be aware of it from the underworld! the Empress consoled. Thank you, Your Majesty, for yourfort. I feel much better now! At this moment, Liu Hais calligraphy and Lin Beifans calligraphy were disyed side by side. It was clear to everyone that there was a significant difference between the two. Although Liu Hais characters looked good, with neat handwriting that was pleasing to the eye, there were clearly traces of craftsmanship. On the other hand, Lin Beifans characters were a newly created font that had reached the level of aesthetics. In this way, everyone knew who the winner was. What great characters! I must vote for Mr. Principal! I also like Mr. Principals characters! It looks sofortable to read. I vote for Mr. Principal! When the votes were counted, Lin Beifan had an overwhelming 73 votes, far surpassing Liu Hais 4 votes. Its possible that the 4 votes Liu Hai received were just encouragement. Because Liu Hais performance was not impressive, some soft-hearted judges gave him their votes. Lin Beifan was full of pride, while Liu Hais face turned pale, and the representatives from the Great Yan delegation looked gloomy. Ive said it before, youre all useless! You cant y the qin, you cant y chess, and now your calligraphy is alsocking! So just go back where you came from and stop embarrassing yourselves! Lin Beifan arrogantly dered. You!!! The Great Yan delegation was both angry and powerless. They were all knowledgeable people who had read numerous literary works! When Lin Beifans Yanti appeared, they knew they had lost! No matter how beautifully they wrote or how neat their handwriting was, it couldntpare to Yanti. In this case, what was the point of continuing thepetition? Your Highness, what should we do? Are we going to surrender again? Everyone was in a panic. They had already lost two rounds in a row, and if they lost again, it would be three rounds. The uingpetition would be even more challenging! If they lost in the literary battle, how could they face anyone when they returned? Dont panic, everyone. We still have a chance to win! the third prince said calmly and secretly celebrated in his heart, thankful that he had bribed Lin Beifan; otherwise, they would have really lost! Now it was time to show off their acting skills! Watch me! the third prince stepped forward and loudly eximed, Principal Lin, your calligraphy is truly beautiful, even I greatly admire it! But, do you n to continue using this font for the nextpetition? Is there a problem with that? Lin Beifan asked in response. Of course not, its your freedom! However, youre just taking advantage of a loophole! Since your regr characters are not good enough, you had to use such a unique font. How mediocre! the third prince sneered. Lin Beifan seemed to be stimted and eximed loudly, You call me mediocre? What a joke! In the next round, I wont use Yanti, but Ill still win against you all! If I were to use it, then I admit defeat! The third prince was delighted and immediately responded, Deal! The face of the Empress and the officials changed, Sir Lin, youve gone a bit too far with your words! Your Majesty, please rest assured! This lowly official dares to speak like this because I have absolute confidence! Lin Beifan confidently said, In the field of calligraphy, no one can defeat me! I will let them know what it means to have mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people! I will let them know that there are always greater talents, and one mountain is even higher than the next! I will let them know that they simply cannotpare! You!!! The Great Yan side was infuriated and their faces turned red with anger. The Empress and the others shook their heads; it was obvious to them that Lin Beifan was being cocky. However, if they had the same ability, they would be cocky too! They just hoped that the other side wouldnt make any mistakes! Alright, let the literary battle continue! The Great Yan side sent Ding Shaojie, their top schr, into thepetition. He was under immense pressure at the moment. Having lost twice in a row yesterday, another loss today would be a huge blow to him! So when he saw Lin Beifan looking like he was facing a formidable enemy, he was sweating and his expression was very serious. Lin Beifan had a smile on his face. Brother Shaojie, dont be afraid. Youll get used to losing after losing a few times! Hmph! Ding Shaojie turned his head and refused to look at him. Then thepetition continued. Lin Beifan picked up the brush and once again wrote with great flourish and sshed ink. In just a moment, another beautiful character emerged. Everyone took a look and were amazed once again. What a great character! This ispletely different from Yanti! Yes, this one is slender and firm, with a decisive and powerful force, strong bone structure, and a tight structure. Its beautiful! This is also a beautiful character. I really like it! Everyone praised it endlessly. Lin Beifan smiled slightly and said, I call this font Liuti. This was actually the font created by Liu Gongquan, thest great calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, also known as Liuti. Whenbined with Yan Zhenqings font, it was called Yan Jin Liutian (Yan tendon, Liu bone). Sir Lin, why do you call it Liuti? asked the Empress, feeling very sad. This is mainly tomemorate a friend of mine with the surname Liu, who created this font! Unfortunately, the beauty has passed away, so I cant see her anymore! Lin Beifan said with deep sadness. Sir Lin, please ept our condolences! the Empressforted once again. At this time, Lin Beifans characters and Ding Shaojies characters were ced together. Everyone could see the obvious difference. Mr. Principals characters are still more beautiful. I vote for Mr. Principal! I also vote for Mr. Principal! So do I! When the votes were finally counted, Lin Beifan once again received more than 70 votes and had arge lead. Lin Beifan scorned the Great Yan delegation, saying, Indeed, not a single one of you canpete. I can still crush you with a different font! You!!! The Great Yan side was once again enraged. The third princes mouth twitched; he wanted to be arrogant, but Lin Beifan was being too arrogant. Couldnt he leave them with a little face? Regret filled his heart! If he had known, he would have reminded himst night to show some mercy and not be so arrogant! Its okay, let him be smug. Well win backter! the third princeforted everyone. This is a statement thatcks self-awareness! Third Prince, dont you feel guilty speaking like this? Doesnt your conscience ache? Lin Beifans mocking words came over Third Prince: Damn! At this moment, he wanted to draw his sword and attack! To hell with the Yan and Wu Competition! First, he wanted to rip apart this bastards mouth! With his hands on his waist, Lin Beifan proudly said, You dare to challenge me? Even if I change my font, I can still easily crush you! Whos next? Step forward, I wont spare nameless ones! Damn! the Great Yan side eximed. Even the Empress couldnt bear to see it anymore. Sir Lin, restrain yourself! Confucius taught us hospitality to friends whoe from afar. They are guests, and we should show basic manners! Your Majestys words are true! Lin Beifan reined in his arrogance, but still looked down on everyone. The literary battle continued, and the Great Yan side sent Tang Yong, their top schr, into thepetition. But he still lost. Because this time, Lin Beifan showcased Zhao font. It was the font created by Zhao Mengfu, a great calligrapher from the early Yuan Dynasty. The font was slightly square, with well-rounded strokes, very upright, and had smooth and beautiful curves. With such a font, winning was difficult. Next, the Great Yan side sent their fourth person, who also cleanly lost. The Great Yan sides morale plummeted, and despair filled their faces! Only the Third Prince, Yan Xinghe, remained. If even he lost, the Great Yan side would bepletely defeated! With a serious expression, the Third Prince stepped forward. Lin Beifan sped his hands and smiled. Third Prince, its been said that among the representatives of the Great Yan, your handwriting is the best and has its own unique style. Im really looking forward to it! Im also looking forward to Principal Lins performance! Mr. Principal, what font do you n to use next? The Third Prince spoke while hinting with his eyes. Thats about it!. Youve already won four rounds, showcasing four different styles of fonts. You truly deserve the title of a great calligrapher! Even if you lose, it will still be a glorious defeat! This time, I will showcase Thin Gold font. I wont disappoint you! Lin Beifan smiled. I hope Mr. Principal wont disappoint me! The Third Prince looked deeply at Lin Beifan. With that, both sides began to write. Lin Beifan continued to write with his usual flourish and sshed ink. However, the Third Prince, although holding a brush, did not start. His attention was fully focused on Lin Beifan, observing how he would make a glorious mistake. At this moment, a sudden gust of wind blew in. It even blew the paper on the desk. Lin Beifan continued to write without noticing it, but identally wrote outside of the paper, making a mistake. Oops, its nted! Lin Beifan regretted deeply. Others saw it and sighed regretfully! If it werent for this mistake, this piece of calligraphy would have been perfect! Unfortunately, fate was not in his favor. The sudden demonic wind caused Lin Beifan to make a mistake! This round might be lost! Seeing Lin Beifans regretful expression, although the Empress felt sorry, she stillforted him. Sir Lin, dont me yourself. Youve already performed very well today! Even if you lose, its not your fault. Its just destiny, and We dont me you! Lin Beifan was full of gratitude. Thank you, Your Majesty, for understanding! Afterpleting the final few characters, he sighed and walked away. The Third Prince was ecstatic in his heart! An opportunity! This was the opportunity created by Lin Beifan! As long as he wrote well and perfected his calligraphy, he could still defeat Lin Beifan, couldnt he? Haha! This round, we, the Great Yan, are sure to win! The Great Yan side was greatly motivated, as if they saw a glimmer of victory! Your Highness, stay steady! We will definitely win! Your Highness, keep going! Chapter 197: Heavens Conscience, Its Not His Doing! Chapter 197: Heavens Conscience, Its Not His Doing! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Stay calm, stay calm! Stayposed, stayposed! The Third Prince took a deep breath, calming his excited heart. He knew he hadnt won yet; the most important thing now was to write the characters well, so he could secure the final victory. After about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, the Third Prince finally calmed his emotions and let his mind and body enter a state of rity. He began to write on the rice paper with a steady hand, the strokes flowing gracefully andfortably. Because he was rxed, his writing was exceptionally smooth and beautiful. On the sidelines, the people from the Great Yan Empire were all smiles, praising his work. The Third Princes calligraphy is as impressive as always, elegant and natural. Its even better than his usual performance! The Prince has entered a state of rity, surely his abilities will surpass expectations! While we admire Lin Beifan and appreciate his calligraphy, he made a major mistake. We have won this game! Heaven is on our side, the Great Dao is with us, haha! On the other side, the people from the Great Wu Empire sighed with regret. It seems we are going to lose this game, what a pity! We were doing so well, but who would have known that a gust of demonic wind would disrupt the rhythm of the ceremony! Fate is fickle, what can we do? Alright, let the Great Yan Empire win this round! In the martial arts arena, the Third Prince continued to pour his ink and brush onto the paper. With each beautiful stroke, the people from the Great Yan Empire grew more excited, while those from the Great Wu Empire became increasingly disappointed. If nothing unexpected happened, the Great Yan Empire had secured the victory this round! Even the Third Prince thought so. Because he was in such a good mood, his writing became more fluid, beautiful, and generous. A smile involuntarily appeared on his face. After I finish this character, I will have won, and the Great Yan Empire will have won! Haha Just then, Lin Beifan gently hooked his finger. The Flowing Six Void Art was activated! The Flowing Six Void Art was a magical technique that controlled the eight natural forces of the world, including the power of wind. As Lin Beifans finger moved, a sudden gust of wind erupted. Whoosh~ It seemed toe out of nowhere! The wind was stronger and fiercer than what Lin Beifan had encountered earlier. It stirred up dust and blew onto the Third Princes face. The Third Prince couldnt help but close his eyes. However, the wind was too strong, and it also blew the paper on the desk, causing it to float in the air and make rustling sounds. The Third Prince felt something was amiss and immediately opened his eyes. But it was toote. The brush in his hand had already swept across the paper, creating a massive stroke that seemed to split the heavens and the earth like Pangu! Many characters were destroyed by this stroke, and the entire calligraphy scroll looked extremely unsightly! The Third Prince let out a cry of despair, No!!! The strong gust of wind came and went in an instant, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Only the Third Prince was left standing in a daze, a nk expression on his face. He stared at the calligraphy scroll on the table, filled with shock, confusion, grief, regret, and disappointment His expression was incrediblyplex, as if his soul had been stolen. What happened? Whats going on? Why is the Prince crying out in sorrow? The people from the Great Yan Empire were all taken aback! They thought something had happened to the Third Prince and hurried over anxiously. But when they saw the calligraphy scroll, their expressions mirrored the Third Princes. They had their mouths open, their eyes filled with shock, confusion, grief, regret, and disappointment On the other hand, the people from the Great Wu Empire cheered and rejoiced upon seeing the calligraphy scroll. This stroke is terrible, it ruined the whole scroll! Haha! We thought we had lost, but its a sudden turn of events, haha! Thats right, Lin Beifan only made a single mistake, which didnt have a significant impact overall! But the Third Princes calligraphy ispletely uneptable! Could this be fate? Fate is on our side! Haha! We have won, Great Wu triumphs! Even the Empress sitting high on the dragon throne couldnt help but reveal a slight smile. At this moment, the Third Prince, still in a daze, turned his head and looked at the referee beside him. He wore a smile, trying to please him, and said, Can I write another one? The referee remained expressionless and replied, Third Prince, youre joking! Since the beginning of the Yan and Wu Competition, there has never been such a precedent! If you can rewrite, then Lin Beifan should also be able to rewrite. We can have a rematch! the Third Prince said hopefully. The people from the Great Yan Empire held on to hope. But the referee remained stoic, Im sorry, Third Prince, but this request is beyond the rules. I cannot grant it. Although he was the referee, he was also an official of the Great Wu Empire, so he naturally leaned toward their side within the boundaries of the rules. Now that the victory is secured, why do we have topete again? If he agrees, the Empress will punish himter! The expressions of the Third Prince and his entourage dimmed instantly. In the final vote, it was unsurprisingly Lin Beifan who emerged victorious, signifying the victory of the Great Wu Empire. The eyes of the Third Prince were empty as he looked at the result. He had bankrupted himself to bribe the strongest opponent from the other side, and they did indeedply, but in the end, he still lost? And he lost because of his own mistake! He couldnt ept this bizarre and cruel ending! He ced his hand on his chest, feeling an icy coldness! Third Prince, pull yourself together! This is not your fault, its the influence of the weather. Look, even Lin Beifan made a mistake! Its just one match, well win it back in the future! You are our pir, you cant fall! Under thefort of the crowd, the Third Prince finally regained some spirits and forced a smile, Thank you all for your concern. Im fine, just need to rest a bit! He touched his chest and felt much better! But at that moment, Lin Beifans arrogantughter echoed, Haha! I won again! Even when I made a mistake, you still cant win! It seems that the Great Yan Empire is truly incapable and worthless! The Third Prince: Cough! Next, the literary battle continued. Literary Battle, Round 4 Painting! Both sides please select a talented individual for a paintingpetition! The winner stays, the loser exits! Thepetition ends when one sides five talented individuals have all been defeated. The remaining side will be the ultimate winner! As soon as the emcee finished speaking, both sides sent forth a talented individual. The Great Yan Empire sent their top schr, Tang Yong. Since they had already lost three rounds in a row, the morale of the Great Yan delegation was low and their spirits were greatly diminished. They had no choice but to send out Tang Yong, known for his stable performance. The Great Wu Empire sent a talented artist. At this moment, a box filled with pieces of paper was brought before the Empress. These pieces of paper contained the topics, and whichever topic the Empress drew, both sides would paint ordingly. The Empress randomly picked a piece of paper and read aloud, Stone! So, both sides started painting stones and had to finish within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Afterpleting their paintings, they would be handed over for everyone to vote on. Next, it was the Great Yans turn to perform. 52 votes to 22 votes, Great Yans Tang Yong wins! 49 votes to 25 votes, Great Yans Tang Yong wins! Just the top schr Tang Yong alone managed to sweep away the representatives of the four talented individuals from the Great Wu Empire. As a result, the situation of Lin Beifan facing one versus five emerged again. Amidst great anticipation, Lin Beifan stepped onto the stage once more. The Great Yan Empire, once again, faced an intense battle. Looking at Lin Beifan as if facing a great demon, sweat covered their faces. Feeling sorry for them, Lin Beifan quickly smiled and said, Dont be nervous, Im not a good person The representatives of the Great Yan Empire: Sorry, I almost spoke my mind! Lin Beifan coughed and said earnestly, What I mean is that friendshipes first,petitiones second. Dont care so much about winning or losing, participation is what matters! No matter how hard you try, you cant beat me! So dont struggle, just surrender quickly, sooner orter youll die anyway! The representatives of the Great Yan Empire were infuriated beyond words! Listen, is this how people talk? Are you trying to infuriate us? Principal Lin, dont get too proud, we will win the nextpetition! Just die already! Thene on, Ill take all of you! Lin Beifanughed triumphantly. Next, the two sides began the paintingpetition. Once again, Lin Beifan disyed his astonishing painting skills and defeated the representative of the Great Yan Empire. 72 votes to 5 votes, Great Wus Lin Beifan wins! 69 votes to 8 votes, Great Wus Lin Beifan wins! Lin Beifan once again won three consecutive matches in andslide victory! The morale of the Great Wu Empire soared, celebrating and rejoicing! Inparison, the morale of the Great Yan Empire reached its lowest point, feeling disheartened and despondent! They seemed to see the same oue of continuous defeats! At this moment, the Third Prince of the Great Yan Empire secretly winked at Lin Beifan. Signaling that its enough, you have already performed well enough. Although defeated, its still honorable. Hurry and step down! He was afraid that another unexpected mistake would ur in the final match! Lin Beifan nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. The Third Prince secretly let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight off his heart. This time, they should be able to win, right? The Great Yan Empire sent their fourth talented individual, Jia Zheng. Although he wasnt a top three schr, he possessed the talents of a top schr, making him a rare bookworm. However, at this moment, he looked extremely nervous, his whole body drenched in sweat, his face and corners of his mouth pale, as if he were going to the execution ground. Lin Beifan couldnt help but ask, Are you okay? II can do it! Jia Zheng gritted his teeth, looking a bit uncertain. With everyone in position, thepetition between the two sides began. Lin Beifan performed as usual, nning to make a few deliberate mistakester on to fool the Third Prince. Jia Zheng, on the other hand, seemed overly nervous, his hands trembling, his painting not stable enough. Watching this, Lin Beifan sighed. This guys mental resilience is not good, hes already doubting life due to losing. It seems that a few deliberate mistakes are still needed. But at that moment, Jia Zheng suddenly looked up and nced at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan responded with a friendly smile. This smile startled Jia Zheng, causing him to exim, Ah! And he slipped and fell to the ground! Unexpectedly He fainted just like that! The entire audience was dumbfounded! Lin Beifan was also dumbfounded! How did he faint out of the blue? As sure as heaven and earth, he definitely didnt do anything! The representatives of the Great Yan Empire hurriedly ran over to help Jia Zheng, who had fallen to the ground. Jia Zheng, what happened? Wake up! Whats wrong? At this moment, the imperial physician arrived and, after a check-up and treatment, Jia Zheng woke up but appeared pale and weak. Your Majesty, esteemed officials, Jia Zhengs physical difort was caused by extreme nervousness, which led to insufficient blood and qi supply in his body, resulting in symptoms of fainting! Theres nothing serious, just drink some water, eat something, and rest for half a day! Can he continue thepetition? The Great Yan representatives asked with concern. Although its possible, it greatly affects his performance, and the chances of winning are slim. Theres no need to continue thepetition! Therefore, I suggest that he goes back and rests! Chapter 198: You guys from Great Yan are so trash, I think highly of you for being trash! Chapter 198: You guys from Great Yan are so trash, I think highly of you for being trash! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan had aplex expression in his eyes: Third Prince, its our turn again! The Third Princes eyes were alsoplex: Yes, things are unpredictable! Both couldnt help but sigh. The Third Prince nced over: Do you know what to do next? Of course I do! Lin Beifan held his head high: Third Prince, I will definitely not hold back! I will crush you with unparalleled strength and prove that none of you in Great Yan can fight! The Third Princes face darkened: Principal Lin, thats enough! Dont worry, Your Highness, I know what to do! While speaking in riddles, the two started topare their artwork. Lin Beifan picked up a brush and quickly sketched on the paper, forming a contour rapidly. The Third Prince didnt pick up a brush but secretly observed Lin Beifans drawing. He noticed that Lin Beifan had restrained himself a lot, his brushstrokes were much more clumsy, and he nodded to himself. In this way, it would be much easier for him to win against Lin Beifan, just by performing normally. Before Lin Beifan finished his drawing, he picked up the brush and sshed ink on the paper. After all, this was drawing and not writing, it required a lot of time, and time was not abundant, they had to seize the opportunity. The Empress and the civil and military officials were all focused on the two artists. Principal Lins brushstrokes seem to have be clumsy, not as smooth and seamless as before a senior court official furrowed his brows and voiced his concern. This situation is normal! another senior court official sighed: Whether its writing or drawing, it consumes a lot of mental energy! Principal Lin has already been holding on for nearly two hours since earlier, even an iron man cant handle it, its normal for his skill to decline! Yes, anyone would get tired, its already remarkable that Principal Lin could hold on until now! If it werent for Mr. Principal being here, we would have long been defeated, we cant ask for more from him! Losing is just losing in one game, no big deal! The Empress watched Lin Beifan paint and listened to the whispers of the officials. In her heart, she thought, Haha, this guy is tired? Hes a grandmaster, full of energy. Even if he fought for three days, he wouldnt get tired! He must have secretly received money! No wonder hes been acting so strange since earlier. Hes really good at acting, I almost believed it! After about half a stick of incense, Lin Beifan finished his work. He looked at his painting, moving his slightly sore arms and shook his head with a sigh. Im too tired today. The performance of this painting is a bit off, I might lose, sigh. Sir Lin, your performance today has been impressive enough! If you lose this match, its not a big deal. Tomorrow, youll win it back! The Empress encouraged earnestly. Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan saluted. The Third Prince sneakily nced at Lin Beifans painting, a smug smile appeared on his face. With this level of artwork, he was certain of his victory! So he continued to paint vigorously. On the side of Great Yan, hope surged again in their hearts. Lin Beifan is struggling. This time, we will definitely win! Your Highness, keep going! We will win for sure! This time, we can do it! At that moment, Lin Beifan, who had already finished his painting, hooked his finger. He activated the Flowing Six Void Art once again. Suddenly, a huge lightning bolt appeared in the clear sky. Boom! The sound was extremely loud. The Third Prince, who was concentrating on his painting, was stunned by the thunderous sound. His hand trembled as he painted, resulting in a big blotch on the paper, looking particrly awkward. The Third Prince eximed, Damn! Its okay, its just a small extra mark. Theres still a chance to fix it! The Third Prince silently admonished himself to stay calm and not be impulsive. There was still enough time and room for recovery. So he worked on fixing the blotch with his brush. After a while, the masterpiece was restored. The Third Prince smiled smugly in his heart, A little difficulty. Can it really defeat me? After checking the time, they continued to paint vigorously. Just then, Lin Beifan hooked his finger again. Boom! Another clear sky thunderbolt! The Third Prince was startled once again, his hand trembled and another blotch appeared on the painting. The Third Prince eximed, What the hell At this moment, the Third Prince was furious! Why did the lightning always strike when he was painting? Did the heavens have something against him? Its okay, theres still time, theres a chance to fix it! The Third Prince dipped the brush in ink and started to fix the second blotch. Within the time of three cups of tea, it was restored again. Although there were some ws, there was no major issue. Haha, its still not difficult for me! The Third Prince continued to write and paint. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan casually enjoyed his tea and hooked his little finger. Boom! Another clear sky thunderbolt! The sound was even louder! The Third Prince was mentally prepared, but he was still stunned by the sound of the thunderbolt. His hand couldnt help but tremble again, and a big blotch appeared. The Third Prince cursed, You Everyone looked up at the sky in confusion. Why are there so many thunderbolts, but it doesnt seem like its going to rain? Clear sky for miles, not even a cloud in sight! The weather is really strange! While cursing in his mind, the Third Prince used the brush to fix the big blotch. However, this blotch was too obvious, it disrupted the harmony of the entire painting, and no matter how he tried to fix it, it didnt work well. Its okay, my painting is still better than Lin Beifans. I can still win! He could only console himself this way. Looking at the time, he realized there wasnt much time left. He became a bit more nervous, sweat forming on his face, and he started to paint faster. Just then, there was another loud thunder from the sky. However, the Third Prince had be ustomed to it and waspletely unaffected. Hmph! A small thunderbolt, it cant scare me anymore! The Third Prince felt proud in his heart. However, at this moment, a gust of eerie wind suddenly blew in! It blew the painting on the table! The Third Prince didnt notice in time, and with one stroke of the brush, he drew a long, thin line that went through the entire painting. It was like having a long scar on the face, exceptionally ugly. The Third Prince: F*ck It was nothing but curses, words that cannot be said! He really wanted to kill someone! What sins had hemitted for the heavens to treat him like this? If you tell me, Ill change! Is it fun to torture me like this? In a desperate situation, he could only quickly fix the impact of this thin line and minimize its influence on the painting. At this moment, thunderous lightning from the sky struck again. Boom! The Third Princes hand trembled once more, and another mistake appeared on the paper. The Third Prince: Time unknowingly passed by. Just then, the referee shouted, Times up! Third Prince of Great Yan, please stop painting! Wait! Its almost done The Third Prince said urgently while continuing to paint. The referee shouted again, Third Prince, stop painting immediately, or else you will be dered the loser! Ah! The Third Prince reluctantly put down his brush. His painting was hung up by the referee for everyone to appreciate andment on. After seeing this painting, everyone was shocked! Especially the representatives of Great Yan! Your Highness, did you really paint this? Why does it look so poor, this is not your usual standard! Your Highness, what happened The Third Prince felt ashamed, covering his face: Please stop talking! When I was painting, I was disturbed by the thunderous lightning from the sky, and then there was a gust of eerie wind, so I made a mistake with my strokes! This is the best I could do! I see Thats the case! But can we win with this painting? Everyone was initially full of confidence, but after seeing this painting, they became uneasy. There must still be hope! The Third Prince held onto hisst hope. At this moment, everyone started to vote. I vote for Mr. Principal! Although Mr. Principals brushwork has declined, the overall look of the painting is still very neat and pleasant. Its much better than the Third Princes! I also vote for the Mr. Principal. The Third Prince made too many mistakes, I really dislike it! I vote for the Third Prince. Despite the mistakes, his handling was quite clever! Overall, it looks better than the Mr. Principals! I also vote for the Third Prince! Like this, one vote after another, the final result was The Third Prince of Great Yan received 32 votes, Lin Beifan of Great Wu received 45 votes, so Lin Beifan from Great Wu wins! Finally, in the painting contest, Great Wu wins! The Third Prince of Great Yan and his people closed their eyes in pain, they had lost again. On the side of Great Wu, they were ecstatic. Weve won again in Great Wu! Four consecutive victories, a brilliant triumph! Mr. Principal is amazing! The Third Prince looked at everything in despair. He had put in so much effort, even risking everything, but in the end, he still lost. The blow was too great! He actually felt a bit dizzy and unsteady on his feet. Everyone was shocked. Third Prince, whats wrong with you? Why is your face so pale? The Third Prince touched his cold chest and painfully said, We lost another round, it hurts in my heart! Your Highness, its not your fault. Who could have predicted the abnormal weather? We didnt lose to Great Wu, we lost to the will of heaven. Dont let this matter weigh on your heart! Your Highness, stand up, you cant fall! You are our pir, you must hold us up! The Third Prince felt the care and love from everyone, and he felt a warmth in his heart, showing a forced smile. Thank you all forforting me. I feel much better now! At this moment, Lin Beifans mockingughter resounded, Even though I performed poorly, you still couldnt defeat me? You people from Great Yan are so trash, impressively lousy! Haha! The Third Prince coughed up blood in anger, F*cj! On that day, news of Lin Beifan leading Great Wu to win two consecutive rounds spread quickly. The people rejoiced, singing and dancing. Weve won again! Four consecutive victories, such a beautiful win! Principal Lin is awesome! Who dares to say that Great Wu is not capable anymore? The representatives of Great Yan were in a state of shock and despair, feeling very upset. Their spirit and morale were crushed. The Third Prince couldnt say anyforting words because he was the one who suffered the most. To pay such a huge price and not achieve a good result, but instead lose even more miserably than the day before, it was truly frustrating! And to top it off, it was all because of his performance, two times in a row! The thought of death crossed his mind! Chapter 199: Fear not godlike opponents, fear pig-like teammates! Chapter 199: Fear not godlike opponents, fear pig-like teammates! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan was also feeling upset! When he saw the Third Prince again, he angrily questioned, Third Prince, what is the meaning behind your actions today? I intentionally let you win, so why did you still lose? Cough! The Third Prince felt a knife to his heart. If you wanted to lose so badly, you should have said so earlier! I would have let you die thoroughly! Cough! Another knife struck the Third Princes heart. You give me money but dont let me lose, intentionally ying tricks on me, is that it? Cough! Another strike to the Third Princes chest. Let me tell you, youve seeded! Ive never experienced such a loss in my entire life! Congrattions on your sess, youve taught me a valuable lesson, I thank your whole family! Cough! Another stab to the Third Princes chest. The senior minister on the side hurriedly tried to calm things down. Principal Lin, please stop for now, His Highness is feeling very upset! Lin Beifan became even angrier, He is feeling upset, so am I supposed to feel good? I sacrificed my reputation and future, but in the end, you still couldnt do it, a rotten mud that cant support the wall! Cough! The Third Prince responded. Lin Beifan sneered, Fear not godlike opponents, fear pig-like teammates! Cough! The Third Prince responded again. By calling you pigs, Im insulting the animal itself! Cough! The Third Prince responded once more. Lin Beifans words were deadly like knives. The Third Prince held his chest, feeling a chilling sensation. Although there was no blood, he was already full of wounds. Principal Lin, youre right! The Third Prince stared nkly ahead, his eyes losing focus. You created so many good opportunities for us, but we still lost. Its all my fault! If it werent for me, we would have already won two rounds for Great Yan! As he spoke, he raised his right hand and pped himself. Im truly despicable! Smack! Im truly worthless! Smack! Im really Lin Beifan grabbed his hand and shouted, Third Prince, stop! The Third Prince turned his head and looked at Lin Beifan. Principal Lin, you Let me do it! The Third Prince: Smack! The Third Princes face twisted to one side, and the left half quickly swelled. Smack! The Third Princes face twisted to the other side, and the other half quickly swelled as well. Lin Beifan raised his hand again. The Third Prince quickly grabbed it and incoherently said, Alright, alright, no need to hit anymore. Ive learned my lesson! Lin Beifan regretfully withdrew his hand. In fact, everything is due to unfortunate circumstances! Elder Minister Wang sighed. If it werent for the sudden gusts of eerie wind and the thunder from the sky, the Third Prince wouldnt have underperformed! It can only be said that its a matter of timing and fate, theres nothing we can do but ept it. But fortunately, we still have a chance to salvage the situation! Elder Minister bowed to Lin Beifan and smiled. Tomorrow, well continue to trouble you, Principal Lin! Trouble is fine, but itll cost you another 1 million! Lin Beifan raised a finger. The Third Prince and hispanion were astounded. Why do you need more money? Tomorrowspetition is about poetry, essays, and songs. This happens to be my strong suit! Everyone in the world knows that Im especially skilled atposing poetry. If you want me to let you win, isnt that testing my skills? If the skill level is high, then it shoulde with an added fee, shouldnt it? Lin Beifan confidently justified. The Third Prince and hispanion eximed, What the hell! And who knows if youre ying tricks on me again? Lin Beifan sneered. Once again, Im sacrificing my reputation and future, and yet you let me win. Isnt that intentionally trying to disgust me? Thats why I need money topensate for my losses! The Third Prince and hispanion eximed, What the hell! Lin Beifan continued, Furthermore, after todays battle, my soul has suffered severe trauma. Dont you think you should give me some money tofort me? The Third Prince and hispanion eximed, Bloody hell You didnt suffer any losses! You took our money, won from start to finish, and profited from both ends. You didnt have any losses at all! What more do you need forfort? The ones who truly needfort are us, not you, you bastard! They finally witnessed Lin Beifans greed! He truly pursued money, using any excuse possible, going to any extreme! But, we really dont have any money left! The Third Prince forced a smile. No worries, Ill teach you a solution! What solution? Lin Beifan smiled slyly. Nowadays, banks provide lending services. With the Third Princes personal reputation, you can easily borrow 1 million taels from the bank. This way, wont your financial problem be solved? The Third Prince was dumbfounded! Damn, he wants me to borrow money to bribe him? This is truly a first in history! Inside his heart, he had ten thousand reasons to refuse! Because borrowed money must eventually be repaid, and with interest! How will hee up with the 1 million taels to repay the bank in the future? Lin Beifan looked at the hesitant Third Prince, stood up and patted his buttocks. If you dont have the money, then I cant help you. Farewell, gentlemen! Principal Lin, wait! Its just a matter of money. Give me some time, and Ill get it for you! the Third Prince called out. He no longer had any way to turn back! He had already lost four consecutive rounds in the literarypetition. If he lost again tomorrow, it would be aplete defeat! After returning, how would he exin to his father and the people? They would surely be very disappointed! The imperial throne he had always been yearning for would be increasingly distant from him! It was possible to repay a debt, but once the imperial throne was lost, there would be no chance! So, the old minister Wang immediately went to the bank to handle it. While waiting, the Third Prince thought about Lin Beifans arrogant behavior today and couldnt help but say, Principal Lin, could you please tone it down a bit during tomorrowspetition? Dont be so arrogant. My mentality is fragile, and I cant handle the pressure! Lin Beifan nodded. I can do that. The Third Prince sped his hands and smiled. Thank you so much, Master! But it will cost you more money! Damn it! In the end, Lin Beifan epted another 1.2 million taels. Satisfied, he said, Third Prince and Lord Wang, rest assured, I will definitely let you win tomorrow. You must seize the opportunity and lead Great Yan to turn defeat into victory. Dont disappoint me again! Thank you for your trouble, Principal Lin! the Third Prince and hispanionughed. After leaving the restaurant, Lin Beifan did not return home. Instead, he took a turn and arrived at a small courtyard. This was the home of Liao Rumin, one of the participants in the Yan and Wu Literary Competition. When Liao Rumin realized that Lin Beifan hade, she felt extremely honored and happy. She quickly spoke, Mr. Principal, why have youe? Pleasee in quickly! Xiao Qing, serve tea! Lin Beifan smiled and said, I came here for something and also to see how youre doing! Tomorrow is the poetry, essays, and songspetition, the highlight of the literary contest. How are your preparations going? Liao Rumin sped her hands and replied, Sir, I have been preparing diligently, not daring to ck off in the slightest! To prepare for tomorrowspetition, I have been reviewing the poems and verses I have written over the years, hoping for the chance to use them! Every talented individual has the habit of writing poems and verses. They like to umte their works and use them when the opportunity arises. Tomorrowspetition is the perfect opportunity. If the topics align, it will be a stroke of luck, and they can directly bring out their prepared works! I see, you have put in effort! Can you let me have a look? Lin Beifan asked. It would be my honor, please have a look, Sir, Liao Rumin said. Lin Beifan took the collection of poems and started to read. Most of the poems were ordinary without any shining points, but there was a small portion that was exceptionally well-done. Lin Beifan chose those poems to provide guidance and make some modifications. Liao Rumin was ecstatic! How many people could receive personal guidance from the Mr. Principal? It was a tremendous honor! Moreover, Lin Beifan was truly talented and knowledgeable. The poems he guided and modified greatly improved, with more precise word choices and higher artistic conception. It was ineffably marvelous. Thank you so much for your guidance, Master! Liao Rumin expressed her gratitude tearfully. Lin Beifan returned the collection and said with a smile, Continue your review, I will take my leave now. Ill see you off, Sir! Liao Rumin followed with courtesy. Then, Lin Beifan visited the homes of the other three participating contestants. He read their collections of poems, provided guidance, and made some modifications. In return for their overflowing gratitude, he calmly left. In the evening, when it was quiet andte, Lin Beifans figure flickered and gracefully arrived at the Ministry of Rites. Inside, there was a box containing many slips of paper, which were the exam questions for the next day. Lin Beifan opened it, nced through the contents, and then returned them to the box before leaving. The next day, the literarypetition continued. Todayspetition focused on poetry, essays, and songs, which was the highlight of the literary battle. Ones talent and knowledge could easily be revealed through a few poems or verses. Due to their consecutive victories in four rounds, the Great Wu side appeared very rxed with a significant lead. If they won one more round in poetry, their victory would be assured. In contrast, the Great Yan side felt immense pressure, with serious expressions on their faces. If they lost a single round, the entire literarypetition would be lost. They simply couldnt afford to lose. The Third Prince encouraged loudly, Todayspetition is in poetry, essays, and songs, which are all our strong points! Lets give it our all, and victory will surely be ours! Yes, Your Highness! The talented individuals from Great Yan replied,cking some confidence. The Third Prince inwardly shook his head, understanding the mindset of the others. They werepletely intimidated by Lin Beifan. If he hadnt already bought off Lin Beifan, he wouldnt have had confidence himself. At this moment, the talented individuals from both sides had already arrived at the martial arts field. With the Empresss nod, the Master of Ceremonies announced loudly, The literarypetition continues! Todayspetition is in poetry, essays, and songs, with a total of five questions, each question equivalent to a round! In each round, Her Majesty will randomly select a question for the talented individuals from both sides to answer, byposing poems, verses, songs, or essays! The victor remains, and the loser steps down! Thepetition continues until one sides five talented individuals arepletely defeated! However, please take note that this poetry and songpetition is different from the previous ones. It will be timed! The time limit will be one incense sticks burning time! If, within the duration of one incense stick burning, the five talented individuals from one side have not all taken turns, but are unable to produce better poems or songs, they will also be considered the loser! Now, both sides please send forth a talented individual topete! Chapter 200: Lin Beifan didnt take the stage, and a small fry defeated us? Chapter 200: Lin Beifan didnt take the stage, and a small fry defeated us? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
On the side of Great Yan, the first to take the stage was the top schr Tang Yong. In the past two days, the team representing Great Yan has continuously suffered defeat, morale has greatly diminished, and emotions are not high. Therefore, they could only send Tang Yong, who is the most emotionally stable and academically talented, to boost morale. On the side of Great Wu, Liao Rumin took the stage. The opponent is rtively talented in poetry and literaryposition, so she took the stage first, hoping to achieve a good start. After two days of confrontation, both sides have be more familiar with each other. Without much words, they all raised their heads and faced the Empress, waiting for her to present the topic. A box filled with questions was brought before the Empress. The Empress reached out her hand, preparing to draw a question. At this moment, Lin Beifan lightly flicked his finger, and a slight breeze slipped by the Empress, blowing out a piece of paper with the question written on it, which fell into her hands. The Empress didnt think much and directly took it out. Upon opening it, she read, Bamboo! The referee immediately announced loudly, The first question for poetry and literaryposition Bamboo! Representatives from both sides need to write poems and literarypositions about bamboo within the time of burning an incense stick, and then submit them for judgment by the officials present at the scene! This question is not considered difficult. Bamboo has always been a beloved nt by literary schrs. They admire the bamboos loyalty and unyielding spirit, leaving behind numerous poems praising bamboo. The current talented schrs, in their spare time, would often write one or two poems about bamboo to show their refinement. Tang Yong, the representative from Great Yan, smiled confidently. Because, he was prepared for this topic. He has written quite a few poems about bamboo, among which there is a masterpiece. Once it is presented, it will definitely amaze the entire audience! We are certain to win this round! However, Liao Rumin, the representative from Great Wu, was ecstatic in her heart. She also prepared a poem about bamboo. Moreover, this poem was modified by the Principal, elevating the overall level of the poem by more than one level, achieving the effect of a masterpiece! She believes that once it is presented, it will surely shock the entire audience! Haha! Truly, the heavens are helping me as well! I am certain to win this round! Today is the time for me, Liao Rumin, to make a name for myself! Both sides nced at each other, revealing extremely confident smiles. At this moment, the referee lit an incense stick and loudly dered, The countdown begins! Tang, please! Liao, please! Both sides approached the table, picked up their brushes, dipped them in ink, and started writing. This scene attracted the attention of the crowd, and whispers broke out. They started writing quickly, it seems like they were well-prepared! It should be so. This topic is not difficult. It all depends on who can write better poems! Poems about bamboo are already everywhere. Now it depends on who can bring out something original and meaningful! It really tests their skill level! On the side of Great Yan. The Heavenly Prodigy Ding Shaojie sped his hands and smiled, Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions! What is there to be happy about? The Third Prince was puzzled. Ding Shaojie smiled, I had the honor of reading Tangs collection of poems! There is a poem about bamboo in it, depicting the bamboos loyalty and unyielding spirit, reaching the level of national stability! As long as Tang presents this poem, our chances of winning are great! Haha! Thats good news! The Third Princeughed heartily. The only thing we need to worry about now is Lin Beifan! Ding Shaojie frowned, filled with dread. His talent is something I have rarely seen in my life! In the realm of poetry and literaryposition, he possesses unparalleled talent! Every poem he has written has reached the level of a masterpiece! Im afraid that he The Third Prince smirked mysteriously. Him? Theres absolutely no need to worry! He has already taken money from me; he will definitely purposely lose in thepetition. Writing poetry andpositions tests ones abilities, and either you can do it or you cant. There wont be any unexpected urrences. Therefore, we will definitely win! I have a feeling that we will win this round! The Third Prince confidently dered. Everyone was shocked, Your Highness, why do you say that? Just keep watching quietly! The Third Prince smiled mysteriously. At this moment, Tang Yong had already finished writing his poem, a five-character quatrain. Everyone looked at it and praised it without reservation. What a great poem! This poem is marvelous, it truly depicts the bamboos loyalty and resilience! Definitely at the level of national stability! Barring any surprises, Tang Yong should be the winner of this round! Its no wonder he is the top schr! Tang Yong felt proud and delighted, and Great Yans side was beaming with joy, as if victory was within their grasp. At this time, Liao Rumin from Great Wu also finished writing and took a nce. Liao, how did my poem turn out? Does it meet your standards? Tang Yong said with a hint of arrogance. Liao Rumin gave a faint smile, Its indeed well-written. You truly live up to your title as the top schr! Tang Yong instantly felt dissatisfied! She made it sound so easy. Can your writing be better than mine? He had inquired before, and it was true that Liao Rumin was talented, but she was far inferior to them. If she were to take the imperial examination in Great Yan, she would barely make it to the second-ranked schr. What qualifications does a second-ranked schr have to look down on their poetry? Then please, Liao, showcase your poem for everyone to see! Tang Yong said with a fake smile. Liao Rumin confidently presented her poem and eximed, This is a poem written by this student, titled Bamboo and Stone! Your Majesty, and esteemed gentlemen, please have a look! Everyone focused their attention and immediately had a face of astonishment. They saw the words written on the paper: With steadfast grip, it clings to emerald mountains, its roots entwined in the broken crags. Through countless trials endured, undeterred, it braves tempests from the four cardinal gs! Amidst the verdant peaks, an eternal testament, it stands tall, unyielding to natures wrath. For every wind that howls from every direction, deep in its core, fortitude fills its path! What a great poem!!! Just one word, and it allows this old man to see the tenacity and unwavering nature of bamboo! The entire poem seems to portray an old bamboo, firmly rooted in the rocks! Fearless of any winds from any direction, unafraid of any trials and tribtions. Upright, righteous, strong, and persevering, standing out from the rest! This poem truly captures the strength and perseverance of bamboo! I have read many poems about bamboo, but this one depicts it the most vividly, genuinely loved it, and has reached a profound understanding! This poem definitely reaches the level of a masterpiece! The audience consisted of the most elite schrs of the present time, who loved reciting poetry andposing essays, and possessed the highest level of poetry appreciation ability. Now, witnessing a poem that reached the level of a masterpiece, and one that came from their opponent, Great Wu, made them even more excited. Words of praise overflowed. Thank you all for thepliments. Im humbled, and unworthy of your praises! Liao Rumin modestly said. But deep down, she was overjoyed! Tang Yong, the top schr, looked dumbfounded at this scene. How is this possible? He had already brought out his best poems, reaching the level of national stability, and thought he had already won. However, his opponent presented a masterpiece, reducing his national-level works to ashes in seconds! Life is full of ups and downs, and it was too thrilling! The Great Yan sides faces instantly turned ugly, as if they had lost their parents. Especially the Third Prince, his expression was the worst. He had been boasting confidently, thinking they had already won this round. But now, Lin Beifan had yet to appear, and their opponents insignificant member had already defeated their top schr! What a p in the face! Tang Yong opened his mouth and asked, Liao, is this really the poem you wrote? Liao Rumin blushed slightly. The original version of this poem was indeed written by her. Butter, the Principal made significant changes to it, resulting in the current effect. Liao Rumin nced secretly at Lin Beifan, but saw him shaking his head. Knowing Lin Beifans intentions, Liao Rumin confidently said, Of course, I wrote it. Would you give such a masterpiece to someone else? Tang Yong shook his head inwardly. To schrs, this masterpiece is like a peerless martial art skill in the hands of martial artists. Who would be willing to give it away and let someone else have it? The referee smiled faintly and said, Writing poetry requires inspiration! Its not surprising that any schr can produce a masterpiece with a moment of inspiration. Just like our Principal, who is exceptionally talented and abundant in inspiration, often reciting masterpieces for the world to appreciate! Thats right! Our Principal is indeed a person of exceptional talent. He effortlessly writes poetry andpositions, earning him the title of a literature star! Because only literature stars possess such stunning talent! Compared to him, I am far behind, with not even a thousandth of his talent! Liao Rumin immediately began ttery, showering him with praise. Lin Beifan listened and felt quite pleased. This kid understands and is not helping in vain! Tang Yong also knew the situation, but he couldnt ept his own failure. In the end, after the votes were cast, Liao Rumin unsurprisingly emerged as the winner. Tang Yong walked down, feeling deste, with a bitter smile on his face. Your Highness, and everyone, I apologize for disappointing you! Tang Yong, you have already performed well. Your loss does not reflect your ability! Who would have expected Liao Rumin to produce a masterpiece? It can only be said that luck was not on your side. Although you lost, it is still honorable! The Third Prince consoled him. Thank you, Your Highness, for your constion! Tang Yong bowed. Now, leave it to us! The Third Prince said urgently. Do you have any other poems about bamboo? Now is not the time to be stingy. Quickly bring them out! Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads with bitter smiles. Your Highness, we really dont have any! Your Highness, I have one, but it pales inparison to Liao Rumins Bamboo and Stone! Your Highness, the poem in my hand is not presentable at all! The Third Prince became even more anxious and urged, Since there are none, then think quickly! Use every method you can think of! Although this is only the first round of poetry, once we lose, it means we have lost the literary contest entirely! How will we exin it to His Majesty and the people? Representatives from Great Yan were close to tears. But Your Highness, its not easy toe up with a masterpiece! Even if I rack my brain, I cant think of one! We really dont have a solution! The Third Prince shouted, Stop wasting time, think quickly! Chapter 201: Today I wont participate, but I will still crush you! Chapter 201: Today I wont participate, but I will still crush you! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
On the side of Great Yan, they were in deep thought, scratching their heads, and anxiously pacing like ants on a hot pan. On the side of Great Wu, they leisurely watched this scene, feeling very rxed. In order to defeat them, Great Yan had toe up with an extraordinary poem. However, creating a poem that can stand the test of time is not easy. Over the years, there have been countless schrs and intellectuals, but how many of them have been able to write poems that can truly be passed down? One could say they are extremely rare! Writing a poem that can be passed down is more difficult than achieving the top score in an imperial examination. Not to mention, they have to do it within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Therefore, it can be said that Great Wu is essentially unbeatable! Everyone couldnt help but look at Liao Rumin, who stood proudly in the field, with admiration and astonishment in their eyes. They didnt expect this young talent, who had performed averagely in the previous four rounds, to actually produce a poem of such caliber in the fifth round of the literarypetition. Truly, appearances can be deceiving, and the depths of the sea cannot be measured! Liao Rumin, your poem is well done, We really like it! the Empress spoke. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your appreciation! Liao Rumins heart was filled with excitement. She had thought she would just be a bystander in this literarypetition, but unexpectedly, she had the opportunity to showcase her talent and be the center of attention in the entire crowd! Now, she, Mo Hong, Shoufa, and Xian have all received the personal praise of the Empress! From today onwards, she would definitely rise to great heights and achieve sess! She felt immense gratitude towards Lin Beifan. If it wasnt for hisst-minute intervention, reading her collection of poems and making some revisions, she wouldnt have had the chance to perform as she has now. Mr. Principal, I love you to death! At this moment, time slowly passed. The incense stick had burned halfway, and the remaining time was slipping away. However, Great Yan was still racking their brains, but they still couldnte up with a poem to respond with. The Third Princes head was spinning with worry! He had thought that once they dealt with Lin Beifan, victory was theirs, but now this unexpected turn of events had emerged, and a nobody like Liao Rumin had wiped them out! If they couldnte up with a solution, they would truly lose the literarypetition! Unconsciously, half of the time had passed, and the incense stick was gradually burning to its end. The referee issued a reminder, Great Yans schrs, please send your representative quickly, time is running out! The Third Prince stuffed a poem into Liu Hais chest, saying, You go! Liu Hai shook his head, But Your Highness, this poem is not suitable! Desperate times call for desperate measures. We cant afford to be picky. Go now! So, Liu Hai took the stage with this poem. Unfortunately, although his poem was considered decent, it only barely reached the level of national stability, far from Liao Rumins Bamboo and Stone. As a result of the final vote: Liao Rumin received 77 votes, Liu Hai received 0 votes, Liao Rumin wins! Literarypetition, round 5, Great Wu wins! Great Yans side had a face full of despair! Great Wus side was overjoyed! We won! We won round 5, we won the literarypetition! We defeated Great Yan! Five consecutive victories! Haha! The Empress, along with the officials, all had happy smiles on their faces. Such a splendid victory was truly rare! Even they couldnt have imagined that their countrys representatives would win so decisively, and with such ease! It was truly groundbreaking in the history of literary and martialpetitions, worthy of being recorded in the annals! Although the result of the literarypetition was already determined, there were still four rounds left topete in. Great Yans side, once again, rallied their spirits under the encouragement of the Third Prince, Everyone, even though we lost in the literarypetition, thepetition is not over yet. We must continue topete in the remaining four rounds! Even if we lose, we must lose gracefully and honorably! Yes, Your Highness! The crowd responded weakly. Both sides of Yan and Wu each sent out another talented schr, who stood on the field.. For Great Yan, it was the Heavenly Prodigy Ding Shaojie, and for Great Wu, it was still Liao Rumin. At this moment, the Empress was about to draw the topic again. Lin Beifan subtly gestured with his finger, a gentle breeze blowing, causing a piece of paper to fall into the Empresss hands. The Empress didnt pay much attention and casually took it out to read: Flower! This was also a rtively simple topic, and both sides immediately started writing. However, Liao Rumins poem fell short and was eliminated from thepetition. But among Great Wus representatives, there was one schr who became excited. I know this topic, let me do it! Let me do it! After getting Lin Beifans approval, he immediately rushed up, picked up the brush, and wrote a poem titled Admiring Peonies gracefully. The peonies in the courtyard are enchanting, The lotus in the pondcks emotions! Only the peony truly represents the countrys beauty, Blooming in the season, it captivates the capital! As soon as this poem was revealed, it immediately stunned the audience! What a great poem! With just a few strokes, it portrays the beauty and grandeur of the peony! I now have a liking for peonies! This poem is definitely at the level of being passed down through generations! The Empress couldnt help but praise, This poem is really well-written. You have depicted the beauty and grandeur of the peony, making people irresistibly yearn for it! I didnt expect you, my subject, to have such talent! Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty! The schr was overjoyed in his heart. He never expected that as an ordinary schr, he would have the opportunity to show off in front of the Empress and the officials! It was worth it in this lifetime! To return a favor, he said, Your Majesty, when ites to talent,pared to Mr. Principal, I can only be seen as a firefly to the moon! Mr. Principal is a celestial being in poetry, while I am merely a novice! The Empressughed, He has great talent, and youre not bad either! Ultimately, Great Yans side couldnte up with a better poem and suffered another defeat! The morale of the entire delegation was further diminished. The Third Prince felt bitter inside, but as the pir of support, he had to hold on andfort them, saying, Lets not dwell on thest round. No one could have anticipated that the other side would present another masterpiece. We can only me our luck for being unfortunate! Although we lost again, we still have three rounds left. As long as we win them back, its all that matters! Yes, Your Highness! Everyone responded weakly. Round 3 of poetry and songpetition, round 7 of literarypetition. The Empress drew the topic: Moon! It was another very simple topic! As soon as the topic was announced, one of the representatives from Great Wus side became excited. I know this topic! Ill do it! Let me do it! Without hesitation, he rushed up, pulled down the schr who was still on the stage, and started writing a poem titled Drinking Alone Under the Moon gracefully. A bottle of wine among the flowers, alone toasting without apanion! Raising my cup, I invite the moon, forming a party of three with my shadow! As soon as this poem was revealed, it amazed the entire audience! What a great poem, Drinking Alone Under the Moon! With just a few strokes, it captures the solitude and bitterness of drinking alone under the moon! I especially love thest line: Raising my cup, I invite the moon, forming a party of three with my shadow! Itbines the romance of a poets sentiment and the pain of parting in reality, blending the emotions perfectly! Wonderful! Another masterpiece to be passed down through generations! The Empress pped and eximed, Great poem! Such a great poem! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise! The talented schr was ecstatic and loudly said, Actually, this poem was inspired by a poem previously written by Mr. Principal titled Water Melody: When Will the Bright Moon Appear? Its thanks to Mr. Principals brilliant work that this poem exists! Mr. Principals poetry gave me inspiration! Compared to Mr. Principal, I am infinitely inferior Then, utilizing all his knowledge, hevishly praised Lin Beifan from head to toe Hearing this, Lin Beifan felt regret. In his heart, he resented, If only I had known that you were a tterer, I would have arranged an even better poem for you! Come on, keep ttering! Dont pity me! In the end, Great Yans side couldnte up with a better poem and suffered defeat once again. Their morale hit rock bottom, and their faces were filled with despair. The Third Prince was on the verge of copse, feeling disheartened. But as the backbone, he had to hold on and said some words thatcked sincerity, Everyone, hold on! Although we lost another round, we still have two more rounds. We just have to win them back! I refuse to believe that they cane up with another masterpiece! Poetry and songpetition, round 4. Literarypetition, round 8. The topic drawn by the Empress was (grass), which posed a greater difficulty. However, one talented individual from Great Wus side became excited, I know this topic, let me handle it! Saying that, he rushed up, picked up the brush, and vigorously wrote his poem. Waving the brush, he passionately wrote: On the fields, grass withers and blooms with each passing year! Unextinguished by wildfires, it regenerates with the spring breeze! It was another masterpiece! Once again, theypletely crushed the delegation from Great Yan! Great Yans delegation felt hopeless. The Third Prince was going crazy. He felt crushed. Another round lost! Eight consecutive losses! Even in the literarypetition, let me win at least one round! How cruel! How heartless! Is this the way you treat your guests, Great Wu? Its too inhumane! Your Highness, I feel upset, can youfort me? The schrs from Great Yan looked at the Third Prince with anticipation. The Third Prince covered his chest and said in anguish, Stop talking. I feel upset too, so heartbroken that I cant even breathe. Can youfort me first? You have only lost some reputation, but I have not only lost my reputation but also a lot of money! Who is more miserable than I am? Oh~~ The schrs from Great Yan: On the other hand, Great Wus side was already rejoicing. The Empress and the officials looked at the schrs from Great Wu with satisfaction on their faces! Today, each person had delivered stunning performances, presenting a masterpiece, and leading Great Wu to four consecutive victories! Indeed, it was impressive! Contrarily, Lin Beifan, who had amazed everyone in the past two days and was the most active, became more low-key. He sat in the back, leisurely sipping tea and eating snacks, as if he was purely there to watch the show. However, even though Lin Beifan had not made a significant contribution today, no one could ignore him. His talent and knowledge had long been recognized by the world, and he didnt need any further proof! He was like the pir of the Great Wu delegation, the guiding light for the talented schrs. As long as he sat there, he would bring endless confidence to everyone! Despite the previous stunning performances of the four talented schrs from Great Wu, who had defeated Great Yan with their masterpieces and were full of spirit, they maintained a humble and respectful attitude in front of Lin Beifan. Even when receiving rewards, they admired Lin Beifan immensely, praising him endlessly. But everyone could tell that their admiration was genuine. The Empress narrowed her eyes. This guy was so arrogant yesterday and so low-key today; there must be something wrong! The four talented schrs previously had average performances, but today they all collectively exploded, indicating a big problem! He must have been manipting things behind the scenes again! Not only did he ept money from Great Yan, he also tricked them! His heart was truly malicious! At this moment, Lin Beifan was feelingfortable, sitting in the back and enjoying himself. He leisurely sipped tea and watched with satisfaction as the people from Great Yan cried, feeling despair and misery. Even without me participating today, I still crushed all of you! Chapter 203: It seems like the other side knows me well, Ive always lived in their shadow! Chapter 203: It seems like the other side knows me well, Ive always lived in their shadow! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The next day, the martialpetition began. Due to the unprecedented victory in the literarypetition, the people of the capital were ecstatic. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the martial arts arena, hoping for a glorious victory in the martialpetition as well. Inside the massive arena. The rules of the martialpetition are very simple! The referee announced, There will be a total of 5 rounds! In each round, both sides will send out a warrior to engage inbat! If one side bes incapacitated or is knocked out of bounds, they will be judged as the loser! If there is no clear winner within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the winner will be determined based on the condition of both sides injuries! In short, the martialpetition follows a best-of-5, 3 wins format! Now, both sides have half an incense sticks time to prepare! After half an incense stick, the martialpetition will officially begin! On the side of Great Yan. These rules dont restrict us much! We have one fourth-ranked warrior and four fifth-ranked warriors, while they only have three fifth-ranked and two sixth-ranked warriors. The difference is too obvious, like night and day! So Third Prince said viciously, During the martialpetition, beat them hard and preferably make them all bald. Otherwise, it wont ease the pain in my heart! Yes, Your Highness! the others responded. On the side of Great Wu. Lin Beifan smiled and asked, Everyone, how is your preparation going these past few days? Are you familiar with their tactics and moves? Mr. Principal, after days of hard training, we have be familiar with all their tactics and moves, and weve developed countermeasures! If we engage in battle, I have an 80% chance of winning! said one fifth-ranked warrior of the Innate Realm, filled with confidence. The other two fifth-ranked warriors felt the same. Lin Beifan nodded in satisfaction, Very well, well see your performanceter! Then, he turned to the two sixth-ranked warriors beside him and encouraged them, You two, give it your all as well. Outstanding performances can lead to promotion! Yes, Mr. Principal! they responded. The half incense sticks time quickly passed. The time is up, the martialpetition officially begins! For the first round of the martialpetition, each side should send out a representative! On the side of Great Yan, Third Prince appointed, Liu Feng, you go first! Liu Feng, ranking second among their representatives, had already reached the peak of the fifth rank in strength. With his current strength, he could basically sweep Great Wu. Third Prince wanted to send him out to achieve an impressive victory. Yes, Your Highness! the other party responded, with a confident stride, stepping onto the martial arts arena. On the side of Great Wu. Without Lin Beifan needing to appoint anyone, a sixth-ranked warrior took the stage. Third Prince looked and chuckled softly. They sent out a peak fifth-ranked powerhouse, while the other side only had a lowly sixth rank. Even if the other side possessed extraordinary martial arts skills, it would be difficult to bridge this immense gap. They had already won this round! As expected, not even three rounds had passed before Great Wus warrior was knocked out of bounds, losing the round as Third Prince had predicted. For the second round, Zhou Jiannan, its your turn! Third Prince pointed confidently once again. Zhou Jiannan was ranked fourth among their representatives in the martialpetition. Although ranked fourth, his strength was undoubtedly one of the best in the Great Wu delegation. Winning this round wouldnt be difficult. Your Highness, Im ready! Zhou Jiannan said, gripping a sword and confidently stepping onto the martial arts arena. On the side of Great Wu, without Lin Beifan having to say anything, a fifth-ranked warrior took the stage. Zhou Jiannan looked and felt a hint of contempt. Because even though both sides were fifth-ranked, there was still a significant difference. If the fifth rank were divided into three stages, he was in the upper stage while the opponent was in the lower stage. A warrior like him could easily handle two opponents like the one he was facing! Third Prince noticed this and felt relieved. The opponent they sent out was named Wang Dao, currently 29 years old, and he was already their second strongest fighter. However, there was still a noticeable gap between him and their fourth-ranked warrior. This round was already determined. Please teach me! Please! The two sides took their positions and fought with all their might. Sword energy filled the air, and the arena was filled with the shadow of des! Zhou Jiannan, representing Great Yan,pletely dominated the representative from Great Wu. Every move and technique pushed Wang Dao back! Wang Dao struggled to keep up, his grip on the sword causing his palm to crack slightly, revealing a trace of blood. Zhou Jiannan relentlessly pursued him, intending to knock him out of bounds and end the duel. Ha! Witness my Four-sided Annihtion! The opponent used his ultimate skill, dividing himself into four shadows that seemed both real and illusory, attacking from four directions. Wang Daos eyes gleamed, it was the perfect timing! He condensed a terrifying sword energy, abandoning all defense andunched a desperate attack towards one of the illusions! Boom! The ground within several zhangs cracked! All four illusions vanished, and Zhou Jiannan appeared in his original form, looking somewhat disheveled. Cough, how did you see through it? Without wasting any words, Wang Dao immediately pursued his advantage! Because he knew that right after the opponent had used his ultimate move, when his old strength had faded but his new strength hadnt emerged, it was crucial to press the advantage and expand the fruits of the battle! Wang Daos every move was fierce,pletely risking his life! However, Zhou Jiannan, despite being stronger, was forced to retreat step by step, dodging and evading in a very disheveled manner. Regret filled his heart, wishing he hadnt used his ultimate move! His trump card was indeed powerful, not only capable of confusing enemies but also delivering a lethal blow! But it also had a significant weakness, it consumed too much energy. It would take the time it takes to brew two cups of tea to fully recover and continue fighting. Usually, this wasnt a problem. Since his move could confuse anyone except for grandmasters, even fourth-ranked warriors were no exception. Once confused, he would have time to calmly recover. However, now, he was unexpectedly recognized by the opponent, interrupting his execution of the ultimate move. And before he had fully recovered, he was entangled by the opponent, preventing his qi from replenishing, greatly reducing his strength. After 10 rounds, he was unexpectedly knocked out of bounds by the opponent, losing a round. Haha! We Great Wu won a round! Turning defeat into victory, a beautiful win! That was amazing! On the Great Wu side, they apuded and celebrated, ted. The Empress had a smile on her face. Well done! Third Prince was dumbfounded. We actually lost this round? The other representatives from Great Yan couldnt believe what they were seeing. All of Great Yans strong fighters were knocked out of bounds by their opponents. The round they should have won, they actually lost! Zhou Jiannan, who walked down the martial arts arena, looked ashamed. Your Highness, Im sorry for disappointing you. Third Prince adjusted his mindset and waved his hand. Its alright. You did your best. We can only say that they were too cunning! We still have three more rounds, we will win them back! Thank you for yourfort, Your Highness! The opponent sheathed his sword and quietly stood in the back. Mohu, its your turn! said Third Prince. Mohu was their strongest fighter, with a fifth-level strength ranking and ranked third. His strength was even stronger than Great Wus strongest fighter and could easily defeat their representatives. Third Prince wanted to use him to win this round and boost morale. At this moment, Great Wu sent out their strongest fighter Wu Dao. He was also a skilled swordsman and held a position in the Six Doors. He had a good rtionship with Lin Beifan and they had even had a drink together. Master Wu, Im counting on you next! Lin Beifan smiled. Mr. Principal, rest assured! I will definitely win this round for you! Wu Dao said confidently. If we win this round, I will treat you to a drink after the martialpetition is over! Lin Beifan added. Thank you, Mr. Principal! Wu Dao was overjoyed. Now everyone knew that the drinks in Mr. Principals house were the imperial pces tribute wine, which was excellent. Even their Chief Catcher was very envious and often found excuses to visit and show his politeness, just for a few sips of the wine. Now, I have this opportunity too, haha! Wu Dao walked onto the martial arts arena as if he had been injected with chicken blood. Great Yans Mohu vs. Great Wus Wu Dao! In this round, the difference between the two sides was not significant, so they fought evenly from the beginning. But to everyones surprise, Wu Dao, who was supposedly inferior by three points, actually pressured Mohu, making it difficult for him to retreat or advance. The representatives from Great Yan were dumbfounded. Why does Mohu seem to be struggling? He clearly has strong strength, why does it seem so difficult for him? We wont lose this round, right? Dont panic, everyone! How could Mohu possibly lose? The opponents are probably just pretending and luring us in! So, we have to believe in Mohu and not lose ourposure! Third Prince pretended to be calm and reassured them. But at this moment, Mohu couldnt say what was in his heart. The opponent seemed to understand him very well. Every move, every technique he used, the opponent had a countermeasure. Even anticipating the first move, the opponent had already struck his weak point before he could even attack. It made him feel like he was fighting with his hands tied, very ufortable. On the other hand, Wu Dao became more and more excited as he fought! Because the countermeasures taught by Master Jingtai were indeed effective, every move caught the opponent off guard, attacking when they were unprepared. The effect was too obvious! So he fought even more fiercely, and his chances of winning were gradually increasing! In less than half an incense sticks worth of time, Mohu was knocked out of bounds, and Great Wus Wu Dao won. We won again, haha! 5 rounds, 3 wins. We have won two consecutive rounds! Just one more win and well win! Great Wu cheered once again. The representatives from Great Yan were stunned, watching this oue in disbelief. Mohu, who was up next, had a ashamed expression on his face. Im sorry, Your Highness, and everyone. Ive disappointed you! Third Prince asked in a daze, Mohu, youre stronger than him, how did you lose? Mohu felt even more ashamed, Im sorry, Your Highness, I dont know why either! Its like the opponent knows me so well, predicting every move and technique I make. Ive been living in his shadow Third Prince shook his head. Although the opponent lost, they had already given their all. With numerous injuries on their body, what more could be said? You rest up, leave the rest to us! Thank you, Your Highness! Having lost two rounds already, if they lose one more, it will bepletely over. Third Prince never imagined that Great Yan would lose so badly in the literarypetition, to the point where even the martialpetition became dangerous. A horrifying thought appeared in his mind: Could it be that Im going to lose again? He shook his head immediately, getting rid of this dreadful thought. No! Its absolutely impossible! We cant lose the martialpetition, I cant lose! We must win the martialpetition! eximed the prince. Chapter 204: Damn! Is it that easy to win? Chapter 204: Damn! Is it that easy to win? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Hu li, its your turn in the fourth round! the third prince said. A tall and powerful man was startled, Your Highness, so soon? ording to the original n, I was supposed to be thest to go! This person was the strongest in the Great Yan side, practicing the extremely strong and yang cultivation method. Once he activated it, it was like hot oil on fire, with mes all over his body, so he called himself Huo Lie (ming Falme). We cant wait till the end. If we lose in the fourth round, then we lose the martial arts contest. So you have to go early! the third prince said. Alright, Your Highness! Huo Lie nodded and walked confidently towards the martial arts arena. On the Great Wu side, the second-ranked sixth-grade martial artist was sent out. His name was Sun Shaorong and he came from the Forbidden Army. Although he had just stepped into the Innate realm, he was quite young, only 25 years old. Being young meant having great potential, and he had the opportunity to cultivate to the fourth-grade strong realm in the future. However, Huo Lie frowned as he looked at his opponent in front of him, Your strength is too weak. Let someone stronger rece you! He was a dignified fourth-grade strong, while the opponent was just a small sixth-grade, the two had a difference of two levels, and the gap in strength was huge, making it difficult for him to be interested. Sun Shaorong took out his knife, with a condensed de energy on it, and said, Defeat me first before you say that! He knew that he was weak and had been abandoned by Great Wu. However, he also wanted to seize this rare opportunity to show his ability, so that he could be noticed by the court and be trusted by the Empress. Huo Lie was very dissatisfied, but ording to the rules of martial arts, he couldnt say anything. With the refereesmand, the two began to fight. Actually, it was mainly Sun Shaorong attacking while Huo Lie defended. Huo Lie had no interest in fighting at all and easily defeated Sun Shaorong with just a few moves. Finally, with a fierce fire palm, he knocked his opponent out of the arena and won this round. Sun Shaorong came back injured and said with remorse, Im sorry everyone, I lost! Lin Beifan encouraged him, Shaorong, its normal for you to lose to him, dont take it to heart! Take good care of your injuries and work hard. In the next Martial Battle, you will have a chance to participate! Its your turn to take the spotlight in the next one! Yes, Mr. Principal! Sun Shaorong clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. Lin Beifan turned his head and looked at another person, smiling, Its up to you in the next round, Tian Miao! Follow the teachings of Jing Tai and your chances of winning will be over 90%! Tian Miao, thest representative of Great Wu, had a cultivation of the fifth-grade. Tian Miao nodded, Mr. Principal, dont worry, I know what to do! I believe in you! Lin Beifan patted his shoulder and his gaze shifted to the third prince of Great Yan. Your Highness, are you prepared for another failure? Great Yan side. Your Highness, fortunately I brought back the victory! Huo Lie returned and bowed. The third prince nodded and smiled, Very good, thank you for your hard work! Huo Lie shook his head, It wasnt hard at all. The opponents strength was too weak! I thought I could encounter a worthy opponent in Great Wu, but I was greatly disappointed! Sigh! Yes! The third prince nodded with a smile on his face, but he disagreed with Huo Lies thoughts. For the royal family, the weaker the opponent, the better. No matter how bad I am, as long as youre worse than me, thats good! Typical politicians thinking! Common prosperity? Common development? Nonexistent! Now we have won two rounds, and there is only one round left. We must win thest one! The third prince clenched his fist. They had already lost in the literarypetition, and no matter what, they had to win the martial artspetition! Otherwise, how could he exin to his father and the people? Luo Shan, its up to you next. You must win, you cannot lose! The third prince said to the remaining yer. His name was Luo Shan, with a mid-level fifth-grade strength, rankedst among the representatives of Great Yan. Luo Shan never expected that as the weakest person in the team, someone who was supposed to be just a bystander, he would bear the heaviest responsibility at the end, feeling immense pressure. In a deep voice, he said, Your Highness, rest assured, everyone, I will do my best! The third prince said, I dont want you to do your best, I want you to win! Luo Shan smiled bitterly in his heart. Just like the two teammates who were stronger than him before, they were supposed to win, but ended up losing to the opponent. As the weakest, he reallycked confidence. Luo Shan reassured once again, Your Highness, I promise to return in triumph! However, the third prince was still not at ease. After all, Luo Shan did not have the absolute strength to crush his opponent, making it easy for him to turn defeat into victory. The previous two losses were a lesson. His gaze couldnt help but drift towards Lin Beifan of the Great Wu side, regret filling his heart.. If he had known earlier, he should have paid him off yesterday. Although the other party was greedy, things could have been done smoothly. The previous literarypetition was done very well, without any ws. It was just unfortunate that they had bad luck and lost the literarypetition. Now they didnt even have a chance to bribe him, sigh! After thinking for a moment, the third prince whispered, Do any of you have any short-term techniques or pills to boost our strength? The warriors present were shocked, Your Highness, why are you asking this? The third prince blushed a little and said, We have already lost in the literarypetition. We cannot afford to lose in the martial artspetition, otherwise itll be difficult to exin when we return! So, you understand! But, Your Highness, doing this seems to be against the rules. Once discovered Thats why we have to do it sneakily! The third prince nced at the referee and officials, and said in a low voice, As long as its not discovered, then theres no problem, right? You dont want to return in aplete defeat, do you? Everyone fell into contemtion, their faces filled with inner conflict. The fourth-grade warrior Huo Lie spoke softly, I do know a method of stimting acupuncture points with silver needles. As long as we stimte certain meridians in the body with silver needles, it can create the cirction of true qi, thus temporarily boosting our strength! The third prince was overjoyed, This method is good! But there is one downside to this method. It stimtes the hidden potential within the body, and once activated, it can increase strength by three times. The more you stimte, the shorter the duration! And after the effect wears off, the body will enter a state of fatigue, the level of which depends on the situation, and the strength will greatly decrease! The third prince waved his hand and smiled, This downside is nothing at all. Were not fighting for our lives right now. As long as we win this duel, we can rest afterwards! Everyone agreed with this. Luo Shan said in a deep voice, Your Highness, Huo Lie, lets do it! Huo Lie secretly took out the silver needles and began to puncture Luo Shans body. In about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Huo Lies strength increased by about 50%, reaching the level of high-ranking fifth-grade. To prevent being discovered, I only increased his strength by 50%, which shouldst for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense! With that much time, we should be able to win! Huo Lie said. The third prince smiled, 50% is enough. We have already won this round! Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Your Highness! The others whispered with a smile. At this moment, Lin Beifan, who was drinking tea, twitched his ears and nced towards the Great Yan side, revealing a mysterious smile. The fifth round of the martial artspetition started quickly. This was the match point, and everyones attention was focused on it. The fifth round of the martial artspetition is now beginning. Both warriors, please enter the stage for the duel! Luo Shan from Great Yan and Tian Miao from Great Wu confidently stepped onto the stage. At this moment, both of them were filled with confidence in their hearts. They stared at each other, their eyes filled with strong fighting spirit. This round, Great Yan will surely win! The victory should belong to Great Wu! Then lets prove it with our actions! Both sides exchanged fierce words. The referee announced, The fifth round of the martial artspetition begins now! Both sides shouted and were about to start. At this moment, the weather suddenly changed, and a strong wind blew, stirring up flying sand and rocks, filling the stage. The weather how did it change so suddenly? It was a sunny day just a moment ago, and now the wind is blowing. It doesnt look like its going to rain! Yes, the thunder was booming just the day before yesterday. Its really strange! The Empress shouted, Pause the duel. Lets continue when the wind stops! Yes, Your Majesty! Both of them stopped and waited for the wind to stop. However, strangely enough, the wind continued to blow fiercely, and it didnt stop. Unknowingly, a quarter of an incense sticks time had passed. The third prince became anxious. Their method of using silver needles to stimte acupuncture points could onlyst for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. After that time, their people would be weakened and unable to fight. How could they continue? So, he politely said to the Empress, Your Majesty of Great Wu, its just a little strong wind, it doesnt affect thepetition between the two. Why dont we let them continue? The Empress nodded, The third princes words make sense! Then At this moment, the raging wind blew towards the Empress and the officials. Their clothes rustled, making it difficult for them to open their eyes. Some people even had their hats blown away, and sand got into their mouths. They looked extremely disheveled. The Empress had to hide behind the stage to avoid the wind. The old eunuch smiled bitterly at the third prince, Your Highness, lets just wait. With such strong wind they can continue the fight, but we wont be able to watch! Oh The third princes face was full of shock, feeling helpless. So, amidst the third princes anticipation, the strong wind continued to blow. After half the time of an incense stick, it still didnt stop. The third princes heart sank, and he became more and more uneasy. Finally, the time of an incense stick had passed, and the strong wind finally stopped, almost as if timed. This should have been a good thing, but the third princes heart sank to the bottom. At this moment, the Empress came out and loudly announced, The wind has stopped, and the martial artspetition will continue! The interrupted duel resumed. Tian Miao from Great Wu shouted and released a powerful attack with all his strength. Luo Shan from Great Yan tried to block it, but seemed tock power. He was knocked away like a rag and fell to the ground, spitting out blood before passing out. Tian Miao was stunned, Damn! Was it this easy to win? The third princes body swayed, and he said absentmindedly, Its over! Its all over! Chapter 206: The Talented Youngster of Yan, Joining the Great Wu? Chapter 206: The Talented Youngster of Yan, Joining the Great Wu? 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The Yan and Wu Competition achieved an unprecedented victory, greatly pleasing Empress Longxin, who opened up a night market and celebrated for three days. As a result, various activities and night stalls sprouted up across the streets and alleys of the capital city. The brightly lit streets were filled with bustling crowds. This kind of scene hasnt been seen in a long time! Lin Beifan couldnt help himself and immediately changed out of his official attire when he returned home. He then led the young people from his household to happily parade the streets, indulging in eating, drinking, and having fun. Especially for Lin Beifan, as the greatest contributor to the Yan and Wu Competition, he was supported by the people wherever he went. Even when he wanted to buy something, no one epted his money. In the end, they insisted on giving it to him. It left Lin Beifan and hispanions with their hands full of food, overwhelmed. Luckily, they had the little princess with them. Her little hands were also filled with food, one mouthful of tanghulu after another, one mouthful of sticky rice dumplings after another. Her face was filled with happiness. So many delicious things! It would be great if every night was like this! Youll be as round as a ball, and no one will want you! Lin Beifanughed. I dont care if I get fat! There are only two things in the world that cant be betrayed: one is delicious food, and the other is delicious food! Lin Beifan, youre the Vice Governor of the Capital now. Cant you order to open the night market, so there will be delicious food every night from now on? The little princess was full of anticipation. Lin Beifan shook his head. Dont daydream. Three days of night market opening is already good enough! Why not? Opening the night market is a good idea. It will be lively and bring a rich nightlife! Moreover, many people cane out and set up stalls to earn money, making their lives better. Isnt this good? The little princess danced happily. Your idea is too simple! Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head. Opening the night market does indeed stimte consumption and boost the economy. However, the cost of social management will also multiply. No matter which world it is, more incidents are prone to ur at night, especially when there are more people. In this high martial arts world, many people possess some martial skills, strong vitality, and a fierce temperament. It is easy for things to escte into a fight with just a single wrong word, making management very difficult. If someone gets drunk and causes trouble, it cant be controlled. Thats why many ces have curfews and do not allow activities at night, making it less likely for incidents to happen. The capital city is rtively well managed and does not have a curfew, but night markets are still prohibited. Therefore, these three days of night market opening are especially rare and precious. Husband, it looks like they are setting off fireworks over there. Lets go take a look! Li Shi Shi held Lin Beifans hand and excitedly ran towards the distance. Over there, several fireworks bloomed in the sky, a beautiful sight to behold. In the pce, Empress Longxin stood alone on a high tower, looking at the lively streets outside the city and the splendid fireworks shooting into the sky, filled with contentment and longing. The capital city hasnt been this lively in a long time. This is the true scene of prosperity! Unfortunately Empress Longxin sighed, A fleeting moment! A white figure appeared and smiled, There will be opportunities! Your Majesty, you are working towards this direction, eliminating the ws of the court, preserving the essence, and one day, you will bring peace and prosperity to the world! Yes, although the road ahead is difficult and filled with challenges, I believe that day is not far away! The Empress said firmly. Suddenly, she thought of a little troublemaker and a beautiful smile appeared on her lips. It was his arrival that gave her hope! Let us, Emperor and subject, work together to save the Great Wu! At that moment, an old eunuch approached. The white figure disappeared as if it had never appeared. Your Majesty, the Second Highest Scorer in the Imperial Examinations, Liu Hai, seeks an audience with you! the old eunuch reported. The Empress turned and asked, Besides him, is there anyone else? The old eunuch lowered his head, Your Majesty, only him! Its interesting that hees alone! The Empresss face showed a yful smile. In the imperial academy, Empress Longxin met Liu Hai, the Second Highest Scorer of the Great Yan Dynasty. Upon seeing the Empress, Liu Hai immediately greeted, Greetings, Your Majesty, long live, long live, long live ten thousand years! The Empresss smile became more and more yful. For every subject, there can only be one true Emperor. He directly called her Your Majesty instead of Empress of Great Wu, indicating that he had already decided to switch sides. Todays performance had already worked. Talented individuals wereing to pledge their allegiance, and she naturally had to continue epting them. She smiled gracefully and said, Liu Hai, your recent performance has impressed me greatly. However, the Yan and Wu Competition has already ended. What brings you here tonight? Liu Hai gritted his teeth and bowed, May it please Your Majesty, after contemting and reflecting, I realized that I could not fulfill my lifelong ambitions in the Great Yan. Therefore, I hope to serve Your Majesty in the Great Wu. I beg for Your Majestys permission! He spoke the truth. As someone of humble birth, he was fortunate to achieve the Second Highest Scorer title in the imperial examinations, thinking that he could ascend rapidly and achieve greatness. However,ter he realized that he had been too naive. The Great Yan court had too many talented individuals, and the phenomenon of seniority was severe. Moreover, many people not only had talent but also had influential backgrounds, leading to rapid promotions. Meanwhile, someone from his own batch, Lin Beifan, who also came from a humble background, had already be a Third Rank official. Moreover, he held the position of Vice Governor of the Capital, holding significant power. His future prospects were limitless, destined for nobility and high-ranking positions. The fact that someone from a humble background like him had surpassed everyone frustrated Liu Hai. The more he thought about it, the more unwilling he became. Tossed and turned, he suffered from insomnia multiple times. So, in the absence of opportunities in the Great Yan, he decided to try his luck in the Great Wu. The Empress smiled even more brightly, Wee! Very wee! Our Great Wu needs ambitious talents like you! Although you are from the Great Yan, as long as you serve Great Wu, you are a person of Great Wu, and I will treat you equally! Liu Hai was overjoyed, Thank you, Your Majesty! The Empress thought for a moment and said, Its rare that you are willing to serve Great Wu. You must not suffer any grievances! How about this, I will first give you a sixth-ranking official position! When you make contributions in the future, I will promote you ordingly! Liu Hais heart was filled with joy, Thank you for your benevolence, Your Majesty! In the Great Yan, he held a small seventh-ranking official position in the Hanlin Academy, doing menial tasks with no prospects. Now, as soon as he switched sides, he was immediately promoted. The grace of the Emperor was immense. He believed that a bright futurey ahead! Liu Hai thought for a moment and said loudly, Your Majesty, I have a shocking secret! After much thought, I have decided to inform Your Majesty! What secret? Speak! The Empress encouraged with a smile. May it please Your Majesty, I discovered that during the Yan and Wu Competition, the Vice Governor, Lin Beifan, and the Third Prince of the Great Yan had multiple secret interactions! I suspect that Lin Beifan and the Third Prince colluded in secret. I plead for Your Majesty to investigate! Liu Hai said. The smile on the Empresss face froze slightly! I knew it, this little troublemaker took money from the Third Prince. He doesnt miss any opportunity! He not only took their money but also made them lose everything. Its so hical! All I can say is, well done! The Empress calmly asked, If you say they colluded, what were they colluding about? It is highly likely that it was for the Yan and Wu Competition! The Third Prince secretly bribed Lin Beifan to manipte the results in favor of the Yanwu battle. Liu Hai said loudly The Empress spread her hands, But Great Wu did not lose, on the contrary, we won splendidly! You say they colluded, but wheres the proof? Is it possible that the Third Prince bought himself a loss? This Liu Hai was speechless. Great Wu did indeed win, and they won brilliantly. The im of collusion was unfounded! Your Majesty, actually, during the culturalpetition, Lin Beifan intentionally made mistakes! Unfortunately, the luck of the Great Yan was not on their side, so they didnt win! God bless Great Wu! Liu Hai said. The Empress shook her head, Everything you said is based on your spections, not enough evidence! The fact is, Sir Lin led the representatives of Great Wu and won the Yan and Wu Competition! His loyalty to our court is evident, and he is the person I trust the most! So, in the future, please refrain from saying such things! Liu Hais heart was filled with envy! That annoying guy is so favored! Why? Your Majesty, there is actually another matter that can prove Lin Beifans betrayal of Great Wu! What is it? The Empress asked. Liu Hai said loudly, May it please Your Majesty, when I served in the Great Yan, I learned that the methods of manufacturing the Great Yans air balloons and air cushions were actually bought from Lin Beifan! The Great Yan spent millions of taels of silver to acquire these manufacturing methods, which affected the national treasury. Please investigate, Your Majesty! The Empresss expression changed, her face bing gloomy. Do you have any evidence? Your Majesty, this is what I learned from a friendly lower-ranking official. I have no evidence! But, Your Majesty, please think carefully. In the entire Great Wu court, it seems that only Lin Beifan can provide both manufacturing methods at the same time! The Empresss expression became even darker. Liu Hai secretly nced at her and felt a secret delight in his heart. In fact, everything he said was fabricated. Whether it was true or not, he didnt know, and it was impossible for him to know. Anyway, he was just throwing mud at Lin Beifan, making him look bad. The Empress clearly took his words seriously, which would nt seeds of mistrust. In the future, Lin Beifan would no longer be favored. If he fell from grace, all the opportunities that belonged to him would be Liu Hais. Hahaha! The Empress quickly regained herposure and said, This information is very important. I will send someone to investigate him! If it is true, no matter how many merits he earns, I will not easily forgive him! Liu Hai felt secretly delighted. His words had indeed worked! The Empress continued, Sir Liu, you can go back with the Great Yan delegation for now! Liu Hai panicked, Your Majesty, are you dismissing me? How could that be? The Empress showed great thoughtfulness. Sir, the main reason is that you came to participate in thepetition in a hurry without much preparation. So, I want you to go back and prepare yourself before serving Great Wu! Sir, dont worry, I will send someone to escort you all here! Liu Hai breathed a sigh of relief and happily said, Thank you, Your Majesty! Liu Hai left the study. The Empresss face turned cold, Someone, when Liu Hai leaves Great Wu, find an opportunity to kill him! Yes, Your Majesty! Chapter 207: Feel free to be corrupt; Ill confiscate as much as I want! Chapter 207: Feel free to be corrupt; Ill confiscate as much as I want! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
When there was no one in the imperial study, the figure of Bai Guanyin appeared and asked curiously, Since the other party is talented and hase to join Great Wu, why kill him? He came to join Great Wu and serve Us. I was indeed happy! The empress spoke with a heavy tone, But he absolutely should not have ndered one of Our loyal ministers! The method of manufacturing air balloons and airships was indeed leaked by Sir Lin! However, I absolutely do not believe that someone as insignificant as him, a mere sixth-rank official, would know such a secret! I asked him for evidence, but he couldnt provide any. Clearly, he intentionally ndered and maliciously spread false usations! Bai Guanyin nodded in agreement, That makes sense! Although this person is talented, his loyalty is questionable since he easily changes sides. Moreover, he immediately used others without hesitation after switching sides, showing questionable character! A person like this will undoubtedly be a corrupt official and treacherous minister once they grow! The empresss gaze was like a torch. Bai Guanyin nodded once again. The empress shook her head, In fact, we in Great Wu are notcking in talent. What weck are loyal and patriotic talents, like Sir Lin! Even if misunderstood by the world, he always holds firm to his beliefs. That is what We need the most, that is the pir of talent We need! So, why keep someone like Liu Hai, who is scheming and framing loyal ministers? He is useless to the country and the people, only causing trouble. Its better to kill him quickly! Bai Guanyin nodded, and then disappeared. Meanwhile, Liu Hai had returned excitedly,pletely unaware that he had entered the 07 Yellow Springs Road, where his head would be taken as soon as he left Great Wus territory. Three days quickly passed. The delegations from Great Yan returned with hearts full of scars. Lin Beifan also took up his post and reported to the prefecture office in De Tianfu. At this moment, the prefecture office in De Tianfu was bustling. Officials such as the Zhi Zhong, Tong Pan, Tui Guan, and Xun Dao, as well as many constables and government officials, were all gathered in the office, standing neatly as if in a military parade. An old official stood at the front and lectured, Later, all of you keep your eyes wide open. The new prefect ising! This prefect is not an ordinary official. He was the sacrificial wine official of the Imperial Academy, and at the same time, he is a third-rank official in the imperial court. He can be considered a prestigious figure! He has free ess to the court and is highly regarded by the Empress He has only been an official in the court for less than a year but has already been promoted several ranks, showing outstanding talent and ability! Even other high-ranking officials in the court cannot do anything against him! So you all Alright, alright, Mister Zhi Zhong, we all know very well who the new prefect is. Please dont say any more! Our ears have already grown calluses from your repetitive talk! A person dressed as a constable said. Yes, yes, please stop talking! Sir Lin, who in the capital city doesnt know? We all know! Mister Zhi Zhong, youve been talking for the past three days, and Im so sick of it! Can you please be quiet for a moment? The old man became angry when he heard this, Are you stillining about me being talkative? If it werent for the fear of offending the new prefect, I wouldnt have wasted so much breath, would I? Since thats the case, then I wont say anything anymore, alright? The old man shut his mouth, and everyone finally felt relieved, but inside, they gradually became nervous. Because they were very familiar with the new prefect who had arrived. But precisely because they were familiar, they were afraid. What people found most enticing about him was not his talent and abilities, but his greed! Since entering the court as an official, no one knew how much silver he had embezzled. He was most fond of confiscating wealth, and among all the civil and military officials in the court, he had confiscated the homes of over a third of them, including the senior secretaries. These people had very few clean dealings, and they didnt know how the new prefect would treat them! They really had no idea! At this moment, a luxurious carriage stopped at the entrance of the prefecture office. Everyones eyes lit up, the new prefect had arrived. This carriage was the only one of its kind in the entire capital, without any duplicates! The prefect has arrived! The Zhi Zhong, Tong Pan, and others immediately stepped forward, speaking in unison, We pay our respects to the prefect! Stepping down from the carriage was indeed Lin Beifan, who had just taken up the position of prefect in Dedian Mansion and hade here to report for duty. Looking at the subordinates surrounding him, Lin Beifan bowed and smiled, Greetings, colleagues! From today onwards, we will be working together. I hope we can get along well in the future! Definitely, definitely! Everyone nodded and smiled obsequiously. After familiarizing himself with the officials present, Lin Beifan straightened his sleeves and disyed his authority, As a neer, I am not familiar with the environment. Please guide me around. Of course, prefect, please follow me! Please follow me, prefect! Everyone rushed to be the first. Lin Beifan chose only one person from among the officials, saying, You alone will do. The rest of you can carry out your respective duties and dont need toe along! Yes, prefect! Everyone responded. Then, under the guidance of the Zhi Zhong, Lin Beifan became familiar with the surroundings of Dedian Mansion. It could be said that it wasrger and had more personnel than he had imagined. There were the Zhi Shu (Supreme Court), Cha Yuan (Inspection Court), Fu Guan, Gong Guan, Yin Yang Xue, Medical Department, Sang Dao Si (Department of Monks and Daoists), He Bo Suo (River and Pond Office), Shui Ke Ju (Tax Office), Xun Jian Si, and Yi Zhan (Postal Station). It could be said to be small butplete. It was almost on par with one of the six ministries in the imperial court. There were even constables, reaching a number of over 5,000, all of whom followed his orders. This was a considerable amount of power. Therefore, Lin Beifans power has expanded several times, and even the civil and military officials are extremely wary. After a full round, it was already noon. I never expected the official to be this professional and have such a tremendous sense of responsibility! I had always assumed that their responsibilities would solely involve reviewing cases, collecting taxes, and maintainingw and order in the city. This truly surpasses my expectations! Guo Shaoshuai sighed. Of course, the official is responsible for many things! Especially here, as the capital, with nearly five million people, all sorts of things will happen. Thats why there are so many departments and positions! Managing this ce well is not an easy task! Young master, youll have a tough time in the future! Mo Rushuang said with some concern. Its actually not that bad! Lin Beifan smiled and said, As long as each department does its job and follows the rules, the government can run smoothly. Its a systematic project, none of the parts can be missing! So you martial artists shouldnt randomly target government officials! It might be fun for you, but in the end, the troubles are left to the officials, and if the government affairs arent handled, its themon people who suffer! Guo Shaoshuai and Mo Rushuang felt somewhat embarrassed. Indeed, they have done that before. At the time, it was enjoyable, but they hadnt thought about how they were passing the troubles onto themon people. In other words, they let themon people suffer the consequences of their actions. Since youre apanying me to the Dedian Mansion, its not very convenient to have the status of amoner! How about I give you the position of constable? Itll be more convenient for you to do things in the future! Lin Beifan smiled. We martial artists can actually be constables and receive imperial stipends! Haha, thats really interesting! Guo Shaoshuai happily eximed. Even the usuallyposed Mo Rushuang had a smile on her face. Two dayster, Lin Beifan finally became more familiar with the work in Dedian Mansion. There were a lot of things to manage, both big and small. Basically, any work one could think of was involved. It was like a downsized version of the imperial court. But if he could manage all these things well, establish order in his jurisdiction, and ensure the peoples livelihood and prosperity, then it would undoubtedly prove his talent and promotion and appointment were just a matter of time. Especially in the capital, there were even more and moreplex issues. If he could manage this ce well, he would definitely be valued by the imperial court, and even have the opportunity to be a noble or prime minister. Thats why the Empress had brought him here, to give him an opportunity to train. When his abilities were sufficient and he had achieved enough merits, he would naturally be promoted. On this day, Lin Beifan summoned all the officials in the prefecture. Everyone looked nervously at Lin Beifan. As the saying goes, a new official will set fire to three things, and now it was time to start the fire! They didnt know how Lin Beifan nned to start this fire and if it would burn them. Colleagues, in these past two days, I have been familiarizing myself with the work of the Dedian Mansion. I now have a better understanding. You have all done a good job, and I am very pleased! Lin Beifan smiled and nodded. Everyone felt relieved. But, I have also noticed many problems! Once again, everyone tensed up. Lin Beifans expression became serious, I have noticed that there is a lot of corruption and bribery, abuse of power for personal gain within our prefecture. I am deeply distressed! You, as the officials who serve the people, should be thinking of serving the court and pleading for themon people! As he spoke, Lin Beifan mmed the table and shouted, What crimes should you be guilty of? Everyone panicked. Prefect, this is a misunderstanding! We absolutely havent done anything like that! Whether you have done it or not, I will make the judgment! Lin Beifan pointed to the que above his head. Do you see the words on the que? It says upright and honest. We should start with ourselves, and no one is exempt! The assistant cautiously asked, So, does the Prefect mean? Lin Beifan spoke with righteousness, I am now representing the court and the people, and I will search your homes! If nothing is found, it proves your innocence! If something is found, you deal with it! Ah! The officialsmented. They knew that the other side wouldnt let them off! They had really invited a disaster into their own home! In the end, the officials of Dedian Mansion had no choice but to reluctantly ept it. The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works were thoroughly searched by him. What use were these small yers? Now, the other side was their immediate superior, it would be too easy for him to make things difficult for them or even throw them in prison. In the end, Lin Beifan seized five million taels from these people, fattening his own pockets. And he issued a final ultimatum: You can continue to be corrupt in the future, and I will confiscate as much as you are corrupt. If the situation is severe, I will not only seize your sries and other legitimate ies but also leave no penny for you! No! The officials of the prefecture were filled with despair. Chapter 208: Its not your fault, why should they accuse you? Chapter 208: Its not your fault, why should they use you? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Knock knock At this moment, the sound of knocks came from outside. Someone was reporting a case. Usually, Lin Beifan didnt handle ordinary cases, but he was in a good mood now. I happen to have some time, so Ill handle this case! Lin Beifan walked into the main hall and saw a woman kneeling downslightly attractive, but dressed in worn-out clothes and with a troubled expression. Lin Beifan mmed the table and sternly asked, Who are you? State your name! I beg your pardon, sir. I am Qizhang, amoner. I havee from Huzhou to file aint, and I ask for your help. The woman bowed and pitifully pleaded. The Dedian Prefecture where Lin Beifan resided was the political center of Great Wu. It had great authority and could handleints from all over the country, like a small Ministry of Justice. When cases couldnt be resolved here, they would be sent to the Ministry of Justice and other judicial departments for a joint trial. Qizhang, what grievance do you have? Quickly tell me! Lin Beifan said. Yes, sir! The woman exined her grievances. She and her husband used to run a small business and lived a humble but happy life in Huzhou. However, because of her somewhat attractive appearance, she caught the attention of a local official. He tried to coerce and entice her, but she and her husband resisted. One day, however, four masked individuals vandalized their shop and broke her husbands leg. She immediately reported the incident to the local authorities, but they colluded with the official and refused to ept herint. They even threatened her, making their lives even more difficult. With no other options, she had no choice but to travel a long way to the capital to file aint. Sir, this is absolutely untrue! At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed in luxury rushed in anxiously. Who are you? Without prior notification, you dare to barge into the court. What crime have youmitted? Lin Beifans official authority was firmly in control. Sir, he is the official who broke the legs of themoners husband. Please, sir, help us bring the true culprit to justice! the woman who filed theint angrily said. Sir, shes speaking nonsense, falsely using an innocent person! The official raised his voice. She keeps saying that I harmed her, but she cant provide any substantial evidence. Why should I be used? Shes simply trying to extort money. Please, sir, help me! Lin Beifan nodded. I understand! Arrest this person and give 30shes! Immediately, two constables went forward and held down Qizhang, themoner woman. Qizhang panicked. Sir, I am innocent! Lin Beifan waved his hand and pointed at the official. Youve mistaken the person. I meant to punish him! The official was dumbfounded. Sir, why do you want to punish me? I am innocent! You dare to im innocence? Lin Beifan mmed the table and shouted, If its not your fault, so why would she uses you? The official eximed, What the hell! What kind of twisted logic is this? If someone uses me, does that mean they are the bad guys? Lin Beifan waved his hand again. Theres no need to say anything more. Give him 10shes first! The Assistant Magistrate Zhang sitting beside them opened his mouth. Prefect, there is suspicion of abuse of power in this case Lin Beifan shouted, I am the judge, dont interrupt! The Assistant Magistrate obediently closed his mouth. Then, two constables held down the official, and another constable came forward and mercilessly whipped him, causing him to scream in agony, as if he were on the verge of death. After the 10shes, Lin Beifan asked, Qizhang, you imed that he harmed your husband. Do you have any evidence or witnesses? Qizhang shook her head and bitterly said, At that time, it was only my husband and me, there was no evidence or witnesses. But I recognized one of the masked individuals as a servant from the officials residence. His name is Liu San, and he is highly favored by the official. He only follows the officials orders! Sir, you heard it yourself. She clearly has no proof, yet she is falsely using me. Im truly innocent! the officialmented. Lin Beifan shouted, You dare to speak out again? Obviously, you havent learned your lesson. Give him another 10shes! The official eximed, What the hell! And once again, there was a wailing sound as the official writhed in pain. Is Liu San in the city now? Reporting to sir, Liu San followed the official to the capital! Good, summon Liu San! A sly-looking servant stepped forward. But when he saw the sorry state of his master, he was shocked. Master, what happened to you Lin Beifan shouted, Arrest him and give Liu San 100shes! Liu San was taken aback. Sir, why would you punish me? Lin Beifan shouted, Because your master confessed! He said that you coveted Qizhangs beauty and conspired with others to break her husbands leg! Liu San was flustered. Thats impossible! How could my master confess? Lin Beifan grinned. Because I made him confess through torture! Liu San eximed, What the hell! Lin Beifan continued to smile. Have you seen the sorry state of your master? Thats the consequence of 20shes! Imagine if you received 100shes, how would you fare? Liu San was terrified! With half his life gone from just 20shes, how could he survive 100shes? The man before him was like a ferocious wolf! Even scarier than the King of Hell! Sir, its a misunderstanding! The situation is not what it seems Liu San suddenly kneeled down, crying bitterly. Indeed, we were the ones who did it to Qizhangs husband, but we wouldnt have dared without my masters orders. We were just ordinarymoners! My master was infatuated with Qizhang, but his affections were unrequited. In the end, he had no choice but to resort to violence! We were just aplices; my master is the true culprit. Please, sir, investigate this! So, your master says its your doing, and you say its your masters doing. Who should I believe? Lin Beifan shook his head in disappointment. Sir, I have witnesses. They were involved with me, and they can testify in my favor! Have they all arrived? They have! Since theyre here, bring them in! After a while, the other three people came trembling with fear. Lin Beifan shouted, Lock each of them in a separate room for interrogation. If any of their testimonies contradict the others, it means that person is lying and guilty. Give them 100shes before further proceedings! In the end, everyone confessed to protect themselves. All their testimonies were the same, all pointing towards the official. He was jealous of Qizhangs beauty but couldnt have her, so he acted out of anger and had her husband beaten. Afterward, when the other party tried to report it, he hindered them even more. They wrote down all the details clearly in their testimonies. Official, do you have anything to say? Lin Beifan shouted. I plead guilty, please have mercy, Your Honor! The official trembled. Lin Beifan pped his hands. Good, pleading guilty is wise! ording to your crimes, based on the Great Wu Law, you shall receive 80shes, 5 years in prison, and you mustpensate the victim for all losses and medical expenses, totaling 300 taels! Yes, Your Honor! The official bowed his head. And you four, do you plead guilty? Lin Beifan shouted. We plead guilty! the four servants trembled. ording to the Great Wu Law, you shall receive 50shes, 3 years in prison, as a warning to others! Thus, the trial of this case quickly came to an end. Thank you, Your Honor, for standing up for me! Thank you, Your Honor! The heavens bless you! Qizhang cried tears of joy. She hade to the capital with little hope when she brought herint. After all, officials protect each other, and as amoner, she couldnt win against them. But unexpectedly, she encountered a young official who cleanly resolved the case, not only bringing the true culprits to justice but also obtainingpensation for her. Happiness was truly sudden! Thank you, sir! Thank you, heaven bless you she kept bowing and thanking. Lin Beifan waved his hand with a smile. You may go now, but I will have someone keep an eye on them until they deliver the money to you! Thank you, sir. I will take my leave! Qizhang said. With the case concluded, Lin Beifan smiled and asked the Magistrate and the Assistant Magistrate present, Everyone, how would you rate the level of my case handling? Prefect, its high! Really high! Everyone raised their thumbs in approval. Lin Beifan smiled contentedly. However, sir, what if you made a mistake and punished the wrong person? one of the officials asked with a bitter smile. The case hasnt been fully investigated, and you have already punished them withshes. At worst, it could be considered abuse of power! Lighter oues may result in demotion or removal from office, but in severe cases, it could cost your head! Thats not a problem at all! Lin Beifanughed. When the official entered, I saw it in his eyes, a hint of infatuation, cruelty, and regret! Infatuation, because he coveted Qizhangs beauty. Cruelty, because his desires were unfulfilled and it sparked the evil within him. Regret, because he didnt have time to stop it and allowed the other party to report it! Therefore, I concluded that he was most likely the true culprit. I used their own tactics against them, using them, in order to break their psychological defenses and draw out the subsequent evidence from the witnesses. Sir, its impressive, really impressive! Everyone continued to tter. Now, I have a question for all of you! How do you usually handle cases like this, whenmoners sue officials or powerful individuals? Prefect, of course, we follow the procedures of the Great Wu Law for handling the cases! First, we rify the reasons behind the case, then we summon the parties involved for further questioning. Finally, we search for witnesses and evidence, investigate the true culprits, and reconstruct the truth of the case. Thest step is sentencing! one of the officials exined incessantly. Theres one more thing to add. As officials representing the court, we must be impartial and strict, without favoring anyone! another official added. Is that so? Lin Beifan tilted his head and smiled. But I have noticed that this prefecture has taken on many cases wheremoners sue officials or powerful individuals, and in the end, themoners always lose! Where does this impartiality and strictness start? Could it be that your money is obtained through corruption? The officials present broke out in a cold sweat! Chapter 209: Commoners suffer, cannot be bullied, but the rich bully to their hearts content! Chapter 209: Commoners suffer, cannot be bullied, but the rich bully to their hearts content! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Prefect, its definitely not like this! Youve misunderstood me! This absolutely did not happen! Lin Beifan shouted, Stop pretending! I know who you really are better than anyone else! Before you argue, think about how you managed to umte hundreds of thousands of silver in your homes! The officials present fell silent. Lin Beifan continued angrily, Im talking about all of you! It is said that those who eat the sry of their lord should bear the worries of their lord. You receive your official sry from the court, so you should not only consider the concerns of the court, but also enforce justice! But instead, for your own selfish interests, you disregard thew. Can you justify the courts expectations of you? Can you justify the trust of the emperor? The officials in the room lowered their heads one after another. Lin Beifan continued to reprimand, Themon people are already living a difficult life. Why must you take advantage of your power and oppress them? Themon people can endure a lot and often endure it silently! If they cant endure any longer, why would they report to the authorities? Why would they expose the powerful? Do you think they dont understand the concept of striking a rock with an egg? But you, dampen their hopes, and deny them any way out! As officials, can you live up to the expectations of the countlessmon people? The officials remained speechless. Moreover, we have studied the books of Confucius and Mencius since we were young, and learned the rituals of the sages! The sages taught us that schrs have the responsibility to dedicate themselves to the prosperity of the country and the well-being of the people, and to give their all until death! After studying for so many years, where have all your teachings gone? Can you satisfy your own conscience? Do you not fear being criticized by the people even after death? The reprimanded officials all felt ashamed. Sir, your reprimand has made me deeply ashamed! I will never dare to do it again in the future! From now on, I will certainly enforce justice, not let down the emperors favor, not let down themon people, and not let down my conscience! Lin Beifan nodded in satisfaction, Its not toote to repent! But considering your difficulties, sometimes its necessary to be a bit corrupt, otherwise life wont be easy! The officials looked at each other. You tell us not to bully themon people, but then tell us we can be corrupt. What does this mean? Could it be fishing for favors while enforcing thew? One of the officials asked cautiously, Sir, what do you mean? I dont quite understand. Let me first talk about how you obtained your money! Lin Beifan smiled and said, It must have been during the process of handling cases when one party offered you a bribe. Because of that money or fear of the other partys power, you naturally leaned towards the wealthy and influential side, am I right? Well No one dared to admit it, but their silence was equivalent to confirmation. Lin Beifan shook his head, Youre thinking too small! How much money can you gain by doing this? Its no wonder that after all these years, youve only managed to umte a few hundred thousand silver, and your official position hasnt advanced! The group once again looked at each other, feeling that they were being looked down upon. But upon careful consideration, they realized that the other partys contempt was justified. In less than a year in office, Lin Beifan had embezzled several times the amount of money they had, yet his official position had been rapidly promoted, even skipping several levels, and now he was sitting above them. Compared to Lin Beifan, they were truly living like dogs. Thinking about it, they couldnt help but feel frustrated. Prefect, what should we do? One of the officials respectfully asked for guidance. Youve asked the right person. Let me tell you now! Lin Beifan shouted, If you want to be corrupt, you should target the wealthy! If you want to bully, it should be those in power! How much money do themon people have? The total value of all their possessionsbined wouldnt even be enough for a meal for you! Its better to bully the wealthy. Thebined wealth of thousands ofmon people wouldnt match that of a single wealthy person! Themon people are powerless. Is it even interesting to bully them? Its time-consuming,borious, and without benefits! Its better to bully those in power. Its more satisfying! The officials eximed in shock. But how do we extort money from these people? A timid official asked. Lin Beifan impatiently replied, How foolish, cant you understand such a simple concept? Just use them, arrest them, and then there will be room for negotiation! For example, the Deputy Supervisor we just arrested, ording to the Great Martial Law, he is to be caned 80 times and imprisoned for five years! Do you think someone like him, who is delicate and unable to endure hardships, would prefer to pay money to avoid being caned or ept 80shes? The officials eyes lit up, He would definitely want to pay! Lin Beifan continued, If he serves five years in our prison, do you think he would want to eat and drink well, or suffer like the others with poor food and rotten water? The officials eyes lit up once again, Definitely spend money to enjoy! The conditions in prison are harsh, with no freedom. Do you think he would want to be released early? The officials eyes shone brighter, Certainly! What should he do, then? The officials unanimously said, Spend money to reduce his sentence! Lin Beifan pped his thigh andughed, You see, arent these all opportunities? As long as we arrest them, we can use our authority to negotiate! Its not a one-time deal, it doesnt end after the case is closed! We can profit from start to finish. As long as they cant bear the grievances, they will have no choice but to spend money, continuously! In this way Lin Beifan smiled smugly, We can uphold justice for themon people, be worthy of the court, be worthy of the people, and be worthy of our conscience! We can also profit from it, a win-win situation, isnt it great? Sir! This is truly brilliant! Everyone praised and admired him. Youre too kind, colleagues! Lin Beifan smiled, So, in the future, when handling cases, lean towards themon people! They have a hard life and are easily defeated. We shouldnt bully them! But those in power and authority can be bullied! As long as we dont beat them to death, they will yield! Everyone nodded with a smile, as if they already saw a path to riches opening up before them. Lin Beifan whispered, As long as this goes well, I promise, you can have twenty percent of the money we extort from them, and Ill keep the remaining eighty percent! Everyones eyes sparkled with excitement. However, one of the officials was notpletely satisfied, Sir, can you add a little more? Lin Beifan smiled and nodded, Alright, I can give you eighty percent! The other person ecstatically responded, Thank you, Prefect! But, in the future, if we bully those in power and authority, such as the officials in the court, youll take the lead! The persons face instantly turned red. Bloody hell! This small official ispletely unable to withstand it! Just one person stepping up canpletely annihte him! The Assistant Magistrate chuckled, Its better if Sir Lin takes the lead! Sir, you should bear such great pressure and receive more; I fully support it with both hands and feet! I also support Prefect Lin receiving more! Sir, youve worked hard! Not hard at all! Lin Beifan said with righteousness, Colleagues, for the Emperor, for themon people, and for our upright hearts, lets all work together! Dedicate ourselves fully and only rest in death! All the officials in the government office werepletely convinced! Look at how he can talk so fresh and noble, so tall and majestic! No wonder hes thriving in the officialdom. He is truly capable! Under Lin Beifans leadership, the officials mobilized and first dealt with some long-standing cases. Cases reported by the people against officials or powerful individuals were given priority. After the trial, many people in power and authority were thrown into prison. Many of the powerful individuals involved were terrified. They wanted to bribe, but found that it was impossible. The other side looked at them with a greedy gaze, as if they wanted to devour them. Some even tried to bribe the officials in the court, hoping to smooth things over. But as soon as they found out the matter was rted to the Dedian Prefecture, they immediately returned the bribes. That person was too formidable to provoke! Its better to provoke as little as possible! The people of the capital gradually noticed that things had changed in the Dedian Prefecture. It was no longer a case of officials protecting each other, but rather a fair and just enforcement of thew. Those in power and authority were frequently targeted to protect the interests of themon people. As a result, themon people became more courageous and went to court without hesitation! The Dedian Prefecture warmly weed such litigants and treated them with enthusiasm. They also promised that as long as yourwsuit was reasonable and legal, they would definitely seek justice for the people and protect their interests. Many people in power and authority were scared out of their wits! They had to be careful not to cause trouble. If they were sued to the Dedian Prefecture, they would suffer severe consequences even if they didnt die! As a result, the phenomenon of bullying and taking advantage of the weak diminished. Everyone followed the rules honestly. The atmosphere in the entire capital became refreshed, and the lives of themon people improved significantly! Meanwhile, Lin Beifan made a lot of money from it and lived afortable life. His officials also benefited greatly and ledfortable lives. It can be said that from start to finish, everyone benefited! Only those who bullied and took advantage of others suffered losses. They deserved it! Chapter 210: Activate the Stall Economy! Spend the Least Money, Achieve the Most! Chapter 210: Activate the Stall Economy! Spend the Least Money, Achieve the Most! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
With the improvement of the social environment, Lin Beifan felt that it was time to focus on the economy. Only by improving the economy and making the people wealthy, could they have enough to eat and live in peace and happiness. This would also be his greatest political achievement. At this moment, Lin Beifan was walking on a street in the capital city with a local official named Wang. Lord Wang, what do you think is the best way to increase the ie of themon people and let them have money? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. There are many methods! Wang replied with a smile. For example, reducing taxes, encouraging trade, and promoting water conservation. These are all effective measures, but the implementation can be somewhat difficult. For example, reducing taxes. Taxation cannot be lowered just by saying so! Tax revenue is rted to the state treasury, and it requires the approval of the Ministry of Revenue, and even the emperors consent, to be implemented! As local officials, we do not have the authority for this! Lin Beifan nodded in understanding. Taxation is a crucial source of the countrys finances, and local officials only have the right to collect taxes, not to reduce them. Moreover, since ancient times, only the emperor has had the ability to lighten the burden and reduce taxes across the country! As a local official, what right does he have? Furthermore, encouraging trade is definitely a way to stimte economic andmercial development and put money in the hands of the people! For example, the Southern Jiang region is prosperous because of its flourishingmerce, allowing many people to have wealth! However, this alsoes with a major issue! With a strongmercial atmosphere, people tend to focus on doing business rather than engaging in productive activities! As a result, many fertilends have been neglected and the grain production has been decreasing year by year! The price of grain is about 50% higherpared to other regions, making it unaffordable for many people to have enough food! Once people go hungry, more problems arise, and society bes unstable! Therefore, our dynasty has always prioritized agriculture and suppressedmerce. It is a measure that has been reluctantly taken! Lin Beifan nodded once again. Currently, it is the era of small-scale farming, and the productivity is not advanced enough. The question of whether people can have enough to eat is a real issue. As a result, most people live in poverty. When there is a shortage ofbor, grain production decreases. And when grain production decreases, people cannot have enough food, which affects various aspects of life and even threatens the foundation of the country. Therefore, the court employs various policy systems to encouragebor and prevent people from wandering around. Prioritizing agriculture and suppressingmerce is how it has been done. Now, lets talk about water conservation! Lord Wangs enthusiasm grew stronger. Improving water conservation and canal projects are rtively feasible and direct methods for us. It is like us spending money to hire themon people to work. By doing so, we can improve our water management projects, benefit the country and the people! Themon people will also have money, and their lives will naturally be better! Lin Beifan nodded. Indeed, this is currently the best approach! This method is somewhat simr to future government investments, using investment to boost economic growth, and the effects are significant. Its a good method, but the biggest problem is theck of money! Lord Wang sighed. The investment required for any of these projects is massive! Our governments financial resources are limited and we need to address immediate needs! If we dont have the support of the Ministry of Revenue, it is impossible to push forward with such massive projects! Lin Beifan smiled faintly. Actually, its not that difficult! As long as Lord Wang contributes the money he has, then there shouldnt be any problem! Cough cough, Prefect Lin is just joking. I dont have that much money! Lord Wang replied. Then, the two of them did not mention the matter again and continued their conversation while walking. Lin Beifan realized that although Lord Wang was greedy, he was indeed a talented person and had a better understanding of business and the economy than others. He seems to know what hes talking about in many areas. Lord Wang also found it astonishing that the newly appointed Prefect Lin, despite being young, possessed extensive knowledge. He had unique insights into the economy and business, and sometimes just a few words from him would enlighten him. No wonder he has been promoted step by step. Capable individuals are in demand everywhere. After the conversation, Lin Beifan realized that improving the ie of themon people was greatly limited in ancient times. This was mainly determined by the backwardness of productivity. With backward productivity, even having enough to eat bes a problem, and most people can only toil away in the fields. In order to ensure production and food supply while maintaining social stability, the government had no choice but to prioritize agriculture and suppressmerce, keeping most farmers tied to thend. With limitedmercial development, the government naturally has little money. Productivity determines the production rtionship, which has led to the current situation where progress is hindered at every step. Therefore, if we want to improve the economy and increase peoples ie, the key is to improve productivity. However, improving productivity is not something that can be aplished overnight. Even if Lin Beifan brought forward several groundbreaking inventions, it would still take several years to see results. Its too slow, and time is of the essence. For example, the hybrid rice that he is currently working on will take until next year to cultivate the varieties, and a few more years to promote it nationwide. What he needs now is immediate results. At this moment, Lin Beifan heard the continuous cries of vendors along the street. Lin Beifan pointed to the street and smiled, Lord Wang, look at these stalls ced haphazardly, its very messy! And due to the disorganized arrangement, there is a lot of wasted space! If these stalls are nned and organized by our government, with everyone conducting business within their own boundaries! If the streets are properly nned and more people engage in business, it can increase the ie of themon people! Ah! Prefect Lins words are absolutely right! I will have someone arrange it! Lord Wang pped his forehead. Incorporate the bustling streets of the entire capital, including some vacant areas, into the n and categorize them ordingly, with one street for eating and drinking, one street for entertainment, and one street formerce! If this is done well, I estimate Lin Beifan thought for a moment and raised three fingers, At least it can create 3,000 job positions, benefiting 3,000 families! Lord Wang eximed, Can it really have such a significant impact?. Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, It might be even more! Because once this matter forms a scale, it will create a clustering effect! People who enjoy eating and drinking will go to the street dedicated to that. People who enjoy entertainment will go to the entertainment street. People who want to buy things will go to themercial street. Business will flourish! And as business improves, the number of employees will naturally increase! Just like the Western and Eastern markets, they were not initially popted, but when people found out that they could buy high-quality and inexpensive goods there, they became lively! Lord Wangughed. Thats right! Street vendor economy is rted to peoples livelihoods. Lord Wang, go ahead and do it. After all, its not a difficult task for our government! If it doesnt go well, there wont be much loss, but if it seeds, it will be a great political achievement! Prefect Lin is right. I will make arrangements immediately! After Lord Wang returned, he started arranging it right away. The entire capitals streets were reorganized, categorized, and marked out with equally sized stalls for themon people to conduct their street vendor businesses. They must operate ording to the rules within their designated stalls, maintaining cleanliness and not encroaching outside their boundaries. No fees are charged, and a lottery is held every month to redistribute the stalls. After obtaining Lin Beifans approval, the n was announced throughout the city. Themon people of the capital were astonished. They didnt expect that since Lin Beifan took office, the first policy he implemented would be about street vendors. The starting point is very down-to-earth. And it looks very good. It took three days to finalize the n. Everyone noticed that after the reorganization, the situation was indeed different! The previously chaotic streets are now neat and no longer encroach on the road, making them look more spacious andfortable! Once it bes clean andfortable, people are more interested in going shopping. Moreover, the nning and arrangements are very much in line with the wishes of the masses. For example, if someone wants to find something to eat, they can directly go to the street dedicated to food and drinks, where there is a variety of options to enjoy without the need to wander around like before. Little Princess is one such example, she has eaten her way through the snack street multiple times. Its the same in other areas too! The entire street vendor economy has been activated, with more and more consumers and business owners! .. . People flow through like a shuttle, filled with a bustling atmosphere! Lord Wang eximed with joy, Prefect, just as you said, the streets have be neat, everyones business has improved, many peoples profits have increased, and it didnt cost much money! Lin Beifan smiled slightly, My governing philosophy has always been: spend the least amount of money to aplish the most things! Prefect, you are truly admirable! Lord Wang gave him a thumbs up. Meanwhile, in the pce. The empress, who had just finished reviewing the memorials, stretched and muttered to herself, It has been half a month already. I wonder how Sir Lin has managed Dedian Prefecture! She had high expectations for Lin Beifan, which is why she appointed him as the prefect of the capital city. The ability of a person can be judged by their management of a ce. If that ce is developing and improving the lives of the people, it proves their outstanding governing ability. Otherwise, it shows that they are inadequate. Although only half a month has passed, usually officials are just settling into their positions and familiarizing themselves with their work. However, the empress was eager to know what Lin Beifan has aplished. A detailed report was delivered to the empress. She carefully read through it and found that the first thing Lin Beifan did upon taking office was to confiscate the wealth of corrupt officials, resulting in a sum of four to five million taels. The empresss eyebrows raised, He really never changes! This didnt surprise her at all! She ced Lin Beifan in Dedian Prefecture to use his hand to clean up the group of corrupt officials. Let them have the opportunity to be corrupt, but not the opportunity to enjoy it. The empress continued reading. She saw that Lin Beifan had improved the atmosphere in Dedian Prefecture using a unique method. She couldnt help but apud, This method is ingenious! It punishes the powerful, protects the interests of the people, and even manages to benefit from it! Truly my good strategist, achieving results so quickly! Once this method is implemented, not only the capital city, but the entire Great Wus judicial and social environment will greatly improve! Haha! The empress continued reading, but shook her head with some regret, Unfortunately, this method is not easily promoted! Lin Beifan dare and can do such things because he is fearless and unafraid of offending people. But other officialsck this courage, and it is destined that they cannot achieve the same. Chapter 211: Only he would think of such a sinister method! Chapter 211: Only he would think of such a sinister method! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Empress continued reading and her eyes lit up again. Street stall economy! Street stall economy is not a new concept, its just allowingmon people to set up stalls on the streets and earn money, every city has it. However, she discovered that Lin Beifan hade up with a new approach. First of all, in terms of nning, categorizing and nning the stalls, allowing everyone to operate within their designated stalls, maintaining cleanliness and tidiness. As a result, the streets looked much cleaner and less chaotic than before. Secondly, categorizing and nning allowed simr stalls to be grouped together, creating economies of scale and naturally attracting more people to consume, making business better. Thirdly, with the improvement of street stall businesses, moremon people would naturally be attracted to do street stall businesses, increasing ie. This creates a mutually beneficial and self-reinforcing cycle. The method is precise and ruthless, directly increasing the ie of the lower-ssmon people without middlemen making a profit. This method is ingenious, worth promoting! Empress eximed excitedly. Lin Beifans approach was not actually sophisticated, but it was simple and made Empress apud and highlymend it. Because now, Great Wu was in decline and the court had no money, neither did the local governments. Without money, many policies could not be implemented and many things could not be carried out. So, how to promote the economy and increase the ie of themon people with the least amount of money was the most urgent problem. Lin Beifans method was a brilliant solution to this problem. Firstly, it didnt cost much money. Just have the governmente forward, n each street and each stall, and allow the stall owners to operate ording to the rules, and business can start. Just look at Lin Beifan, after implementing the street stall economy, in less than a few days, there were more than 3,000 additional stalls. This means solving the problem of more than 3,000 peoples meals, benefiting their families as well. This means that at least tens of thousands of people will benefit! Immediate results, remarkable effects! Moreover, this method is simple and easy to implement and can be replicated and promoted. Every city has street stall businesses. And those who do street stall businesses are often themon people in the city, they are the backbone of the city. If this is promoted in every city, at least millions ofmon people will benefit! My trusted subject, you are indeed capable of governing! Empress admired Lin Beifan. In just half a month after taking office, he cleaned up the judiciary and social environment in Dedian Prefecture, making the officials and aristocrats afraid to do evil. He implemented the street stall economy, giving the lower-ssmon people another way to earn money, activating the market, making the streets lively, and the results were very remarkable. Therefore, during the morning court, Empress praised Lin Beifan verbally. She also expressed that she would let him continue his efforts, keep the position of Vice Governor for him, and let the court officials envy and be jealous. Under Lin Beifans management, the appearance of the capital city has beenpletely transformed. The phenomena of bullying and intimidation have reduced, the ie of themon people has increased, and the streets have be lively, presenting a vibrant scene. Lin Beifans days have be prosperous again. However, there is one person whose days have be difficult. That person is Guo, the head of the Six Doors. While drinking with Lin Beifan, he sighed and expressed his envy, saying, Mr. Lin, you have only been in office for just over half a month, and you have achieved such remarkable results. Even the Empress praised you in front of the entire court. Its an asion for celebration! With everything going so smoothly, you will surely ascend to the position of Minister in the future, surpassing the authority of the Six Doors! I toast to you! To be honest, Guo is truly envious. Hecks the abilities for governance and can only manage a group of guards. His official position is nearing its end. Unlike Lin Beifan, who has climbed to high positions at a young age, now managing the capital city efficiently, exhibiting extraordinary governing abilities. He is bound to be valued and reach higher positions. The position of Vice Governor of the capital city? Those are definitely not the end! Thank you, Master Guo, for your kind words. I am unworthy of such praise! Lin Beifan smiled and clinked sses with him. After finishing the drink, he asked with a smile, Master Guo, you seem to be in a bad mood. Did something troubling happen to you? Guo nodded and sighed, Recently, I have indeed encountered a troubling matter! I am just a rough person, only skilled in wielding knives and spears. I really cante up with a good solution! Two minds are better than one, so I came to seek your advice, Mr. Lin! I would like to hear the details! Lin Beifans expression became serious. Guo let out a breath, This Jianghu has be restless again! It turns out that there is a top-tier force in the Jianghu called Tianmen, which senses the chaos in the Jianghu and has called on major sects to hold a martial arts conference to elect a leader of the martial arts and maintain order in the Jianghu. This sounds like a good thing, but the leader of Tianmen, named Leng Ruochen, is an ambitious person! Since he founded Tianmen, he has been continuously developing it! In the past 30 years, it has grown into a super sect with over ten thousand members, and there are over ten innate experts among them! Lin Beifans face slightly changed. To have over ten thousand members is not a small number, and it poses a great threat to an army of a hundred thousand. Moreover, with over ten innate experts among them, it bes even more terrifying. Back in the Dragon Mountain Range, led by twenty innate experts, they were able to break through the 400,000-strong army of the Wuxi Dukedom, resulting in over a hundred thousand casualties! Although Tianmens power is far from that, it is still enough to pose a threat to an army of 200,000. And, the leader of Tianmen has recently made a breakthrough and be a pinnacle figure at the Grandmaster level! Lin Beifans expression changed once again. The leader is also a grandmaster! This threat is even greater! You have to know, when two grandmasters gathered in the capital city in the past, what kind of impact did they have? The court could only tolerate them as long as they didnt cause trouble. Now, this top-level martial arts force has produced an ambitious grandmaster, the problem is serious! Guo smiled bitterly, So, Mr. Lin, you should guess why he is holding a martial arts conference at this time, right? Even a fool knows the ambition of Sima Zhao! Lin Beifans eyelids drooped.1 Yes! Guo nodded, His power is already formidable. If he bes the leader of the Jianghu, consolidating the strengths of all the martial arts factions, the threat to our court will be greater than that of the major vassal kings! Why didnt we send troops to suppress them when they first developed? Lin Beifan asked in a discontented tone. I also wanted to! Guo sighed, But they are too cunning! They developed separately, each innate strength developing as a separate force, and for more than ten years, no one discovered them! It was only this year that they integrated and joined Leng Ruochens Tianmen! At this point, it is toote to say anything! s! Lin Beifan sighed. Guo sped his hands and asked, Thats why I havee to seek your help, Mr. Lin! You are always astute and have deep foresight. Please see if there is any solution! You asked the right person, I indeed have one! Lin Beifans eyes brightened, and he said eagerly, Please speak, Mr. Lin, I am extremely grateful! The method is actually quite simple! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, As long as we, in the name of the court, appoint the abbot of Shaolin Temple as the leader of the Jianghu, and lead the martial artists, we can curb their development! Guo pped his thigh and eximed excitedly, Exactly! Why didnt I think of it? Haha! Shaolin Temple, as the leading figure in the martial artsmunity, is very well-suited to be the leader! However, there cannot be two leaders in the martial artsmunity, so they will directly sh. The martial arts conference of Tianmen will be a joke! In the future, if they want to develop and be the leader, they cannot bypass Shaolin Temple! We just need to sit back and watch them fight, haha! Lin Beifan smiled and nodded, Exactly! Although the martial artists may not agree with our court, our court represents the orthodox authority, recognized by the world! Therefore, appointing Shaolin Temple as the leader is a legitimate matter that no one can oppose! Then, Guo became worried again, The method is good, but what if those cunning monks of Shaolin Temple be timid and refuse to take on the role of the martial arts leader? Lin Beifan remained calm andposed, They cannot refuse! Because if they refuse, it would be tantamount to defying the imperial edict, disrespecting our court. Then, their good days wille to an end! Besides being a martial arts sect, Shaolin Temple is also a Buddhist force with numerous followers throughout the world! If we tarnish their reputation and make their followers lose faith in them, the losses will be incalcble! They absolutely cannot bear this price! If they are wise, they would definitely not refuse the goodwill of our court! By bing the leader of the Jianghu, although they would have to contend with Tianmen, they would also have the legitimate authority to manage the disputes in the martial arts world! If they do well, their influence will grow even further! If they decline, their reputation will definitely plummet, and they will be a despised figure. Their days will be miserable! Mr. Guo, if it were you, what would you choose? Guo smiled, Definitely be the leader, even if it means gritting my teeth! Lin Beifan chuckled, Exactly! However, if they still refuse, dont we still have Wudang? If we bring down Shaolin Temple, lets see if Wudang would dare to refuse? Thank you, Mr. Lin, for your guidance. I know what to do now! So, the next day during the morning court assembly, Guo reported the martial arts conference organized by Tianmen to the Empress The Empress angrily eximed, Guo, I appointed you to lead the Six Doors and manage the martial world! Yet, you allowed Tianmen to grow and now it threatens the court. What crime should you be punished with? Guo immediately bowed his head, Your Majesty, please calm down. It was indeed my negligence that allowed them to develop. I am at fault! However, I have a method to curb their growth! Speak! the Empress demanded in anger. Yes, Your Majesty! Guo immediately exined Lin Beifans method. The Empresss face slightly softened, This is indeed a good method! However, I dont believe that you woulde up with such a n! If you had the ability, you would have been more than just a third-ranked official! Your Majesty, this method was suggested to me by Lin, the Prefect of the Dedian Prefecture and the Principal of Imperial Academy! Guo exined. The Empress sneered, I knew it! Only he woulde up with such a cunning n! Lin Beifan:
1. The saying Even a fool knows the ambition of Sima Zhao means that Sima Zhaos ambition is so evident and well-known that even someone who is not intelligent or perceptive would be able to recognize it. In other words, Sima Zhaos aspirations and intentions are quite obvious and apparent to everyone, and it doesnt require any special insight or intelligence to understand them. Sima Zhao was a historical figure who lived during the Three Kingdoms period in China. He was a prominent military strategist and politician and served as the regent of the Wei state, one of the Three Kingdoms. During his time, his actions and decisions clearly disyed his desire for power and control. His ambition to further consolidate his authority and possibly be the ruler of the Wei state would have been widely recognized and acknowledged by people, whether they were well-informed or not. So, when the saying Even a fool knows the ambition of Sima Zhao is used, it implies that Sima Zhaos ambitions were so apparent that anyone, regardless of their level of intelligence or awareness, could easily discern his desire for power and influence. Chapter 212: I believe in you, without leaving the capital, you can destroy Tianmen! Chapter 212: I believe in you, without leaving the capital, you can destroy Tianmen! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan blinked his eyes, was this praise or criticism? The empress contemted for a moment, This method is indeed good! Although the Shaolin Temple is ambitious, its ambitions do not pose a threat to the court. Therefore, appointing them as the leader of the martial world to manage affairs in the Jianghu is not a bad idea! But, Tianmen must be closely monitored by us! The empresss gaze became sharp, It has secretly developed for ten years and only now has it been exposed. If anyone were to say that it has no ambitions, no one would believe it! Sir Guo, if anything happens in the future, you will be held responsible! Yes, Your Majesty! Guo bowed his head and breathed a sigh of relief. ording to the meaning of Her Majesty, the previous oversight would be forgiven. Now the most important thing is to closely monitor Tianmen and prevent it from growing stronger, threatening the authority of the court. The empress thought for a moment and said, Sir Guo, if there are any problems regarding Tianmen in the future, you can consult Sir Lin first. He should have a solution! Yes, Your Majesty! Guo replied with a slight smile on his face. Lin Beifan bitterly smiled, Your Majesty, you really overestimate me! The empress smiled, Sir Lin, dont be modest, I believe in you, without leaving the capital, you can destroy Tianmen! Lin Beifan became more and more anxious. The empress was putting more and more trust in him. Wouldnt it be even harder for him to bezy in the future? So tiresome! I just wanted to be a low-key corrupt official, dont give me so many tasks! After receiving the imperial decree, Guo immediately went to Shaolin Temple. The Imperial Decree states: The Jianghu is in chaos, and the people are suffering! Shaolin Temple, as the model of the martial arts world, should bear the heavy responsibility! Therefore, I appoint Shaolin Temples abbot as the leader of the martial arts world, in charge of the martial arts, and maintaining order in the Jianghu! So be it! Thank you, Your Majesty! This humble monk epts the decree! The abbot of Shaolin Temple received the decree. Guo smiled, Abbot Xuannen, from now on, we are family. Lets get closer! The abbot of Shaolin Temple smiled bitterly, Amitabha! Guo, we should indeed get closer! I hope that when facing Tianmen, the Six Doors wont just stand by! Of course not, haha! Guoughed. Then, Guo drank a cup of tea at Shaolin Temple and left with a smile. The face of the abbot of Shaolin Temple immediately became troubled, Amitabha! An old monk beside him asked in confusion, Senior Brother, why did you ept the imperial decree? The court is clearly using us as their weapon to deal with Tianmen, which has arge number of people and great power! Amitabha! Junior Brother, you dont understand! The abbot replied withpassion, If we dont ept the imperial decree, it would be defying the imperial order! At that time, the court will take extreme measures against us, which we cannot afford! Senior Brother, we are the influential figures in the martial arts world, with numerous skilled practitioners in our temple. Why should we fear the court? The old monk looked disdainful. Amitabha! Junior Brother, you are thinking too simplistically! Thepassionate abbot continued, Although Shaolin Temple is a martial arts sect, its essence is still a holynd of Buddhism. Buddhism is the foundation of our sect, with Buddhism in the forefront and martial arts in the background. We have been able to endure for a thousand years and have many followers, not because we have many skilled practitioners, but because we sincerely worship and follow Buddhism, guiding people with Buddhism. This is why we are recognized and blessed by the world and the Buddha! The old monk nodded in agreement. The imperial court represents the orthodox rule of the world. Once we do not obey the imperial courts will, we will undoubtedly be feared by the court! If we use any means to damage our reputation, and prevent the people from worshiping, our holynd of Buddhism that has been established for a millennium will copse! How can I, as a monk, have the face to go to the Western Heaven and face the Buddha? Amitabha! So thats the case, senior brother, I have learned my lesson! The old monk looked ashamed. However, fortune and misfortune rely on each other! Although this brings us great trouble, we have also be the recognized leaders of the imperial court, representing the orthodoxy. Many things will be much more convenient for us. If we handle this matter well, the prestige of Shaolin Temple will surely rise to a new level! Tianmen is just a small matter. The expression on the Abbots face turned fierce yetpassionate. In face of Shaolin Temple, we cannot tolerate their arrogance! Senior brother, you are absolutely right. Amitabha! Amitabha! The two monksughed. When the abbot of Shaolin Temple received the imperial edict and became the leader of the martial arts world, the news was immediately spread by the imperial court, making all the martial artists in the world aware of it. The abbot of Shaolin Temple has been appointed as the leader of the martial arts world? What the heck! This is interesting. The head of Tianmen was just about to hold a martial arts conference, sending out invitations, and many people are already on their way. Now what are we going to do? The leader of the martial arts world has already been selected. What will the head of Tianmen do? What can he do? Would you support the head of Tianmen as the leader of the martial arts world, or the abbot of Shaolin Temple? Of course, its the abbot of Shaolin Temple. He is respected and backed by the thousand-year-old Shaolin Temple, which has countless powerful disciples! The head of Tianmen, besides having good strength,cks in many other aspects! This move by the imperial court is brilliant. The head of Tianmen has be aughingstock! His ambition has been exposed! Hahaha! People in the martial arts world couldnt help butugh. The head of Tianmen and the martial arts conference he organized all became jokes. At this moment, in a courtyard deep within Tianmen, a middle-aged man in a red robe with a cold expression forcefully pped the stone table and angrily said, This is outrageous! How dare the imperial court y such a trick on me? Boom! In an instant, the stone table shattered into pieces, and dust filled the air! He was the head of Tianmen Leng Ruochen. Although he was within the martial arts world, his ambitions extended to the entire world! Upon hearing the news, his face turned pale with anger! This move by the imperial court was like a heavy p on his face. It not only made him lose face and reputation, but also shattered his ambition, making it impossible for him to continue reporting the grand martial arts gathering, and be the leader of the martial arts world. Without bing the leader of the martial arts world, he had no way to rally the martial artists and fulfill his ambitions! If he wanted to make a name for himself, he had no choice but to confront the Shaolin Temple! As an ancient and prestigious martial arts school with countless skilled disciples, its impossible topete with them without suffering heavy losses. This move is truly vicious,pletely restraining him! Master, should we continue the martial arts conference now? A cautious expert asked. Leng Ruochen angrily replied, Whats the point now? Are we going to be aughingstock to the world? The person lowered their head obediently, resembling a scolded student. Although he was a powerful expert, in front of the Grandmaster Leng Ruochan, he was as insignificant as an ant. A single strike from the Grandmaster could kill him. We cant continue the martial arts conference, well have to take it step by step! However, I need to vent my frustrations first! Leng Ruochen turned coldly and said, Lonely Wolf, immediately lead Red Lady, Demon Child, and a group of people to the capital. Stir up some trouble in the city! Let the court know that I am not someone to be trifled with! Yes, Master! The person backed down and immediately gathered people to head to the capital. The news quickly reached the attention of the Six Doors. Guo, the head of the Six Doors, came to find Lin Beifan with a solemn expression. The martial arts conference has been canceled, but it is said that the Tianmens Grandmaster is extremely angry and has dispatched a group of powerful experts heading north. The capital is likely their target. Be cautious, do you need me to send someone to protect you? Lin Beifan shook his head. I have Jing Tai protecting me, its unnecessary. If you need skilled experts, let me know! Guo hurriedly left to mobilize forces in preparation for the arrival of the Tianmens experts. Lin Beifan continued to go to the morning court with a smiling face every day, then wandered around the Imperial Academy and the Dedian Mansion. If there was nothing important, he would return home. If it werent for his official attire, no one would think he was anything more than a carefree rich young man. At this time, the Tianmen experts had secretly infiltrated the capital. Meanwhile, a family of three walked on the street, appearing quite unusual. Among them, the husband looked very fierce, the wife dressed in red clothing and exuded a seductive charm, while the child had two pigtails and was eating candied haws, but their eyes revealed a sinister aura. Its only been a year since Ist came to the capital, and there have been so many changes. Its much livelier than before! sighed thedy. I heard that the newly appointed prefect has implemented a street vendor economy, which has made the capital more lively than before. Many people now have a means to make a living! the man replied. It seems this new official has quite a talent! Not just talent, the man sneered. That persons name is Lin Beifan. I heard he became the top scorer in the imperial examination half a year ago, achieving the highest rank three years in a row! After bing an official, hes been unstoppable! In just over six months, he has been promoted several ranks and is now a third-ranking official of the imperial court. He also holds the positions of the Principal of the Imperial Academy and the prefect of the Dedian Prefecture. The Empress trusts him greatly! In that case, Gu Long, Hong Niangzi, lets target him first, the child with a sinister expression said, letting out a hideous chuckle. The alliance leader wants us to stir up trouble in the capital, and killing the prefect would be a pleasure, wouldnt it? Mo Tong, your idea is not bad. But Ive heard that there is a grandmaster in his residence, an old monk the man hesitated. What qualifications and abilities does he have to have a grandmaster protect him? Hong Niangzi, thedy, said jealously. But just to be safe, we can secretly kill him outside! Even if that old monk is powerful, he wont be able to react in time! Youre right! Lets kill him first, and then storm into the Dedian Mansion to wreak havoc, to turn the world upside down! The three of them quickly made up their minds to target Lin Beifan, the prefect of the capital. And then, they would ughter all the officials in the Dedian Mansion, ensuring that they could turn the capital upside down. So, they secretly followed Lin Beifan for two days. They discovered that Lin Beifans life was very disciplined. He would attend morning court sessions, then go to the national academy, and after finishing any business there, he would go to the Dedian Mansion to handle his official duties before returning home. He was only apanied by two young skilled martial artists along the way. As for the old monk they were concerned about, he mostly stayed within Lins residence and never came out. There were plenty of opportunities to strike. The three of them were ecstatic in their hearts! Chapter 213: Sending a Head a Thousand Miles, the More You Send, the More Enthusiastic! Chapter 213: Sending a Head a Thousand Miles, the More You Send, the More Enthusiastic! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, Lin Beifan held his stomach and said in pain, My stomach is not feeling well, maybe I ate something wrong. Ill go to the toilet first, you guys wait here! Guo Shaoshuai shouted, Young Master, Ill go with you! No need! I cant do it with you watching! Lin Beifan said. Guo Shaoshuai: Lin Beifan jumped off the carriage and ran into a toilet in a nearby restaurant. Lets go! The three people who were tracking him were overjoyed: the opportunity hase! They immediately followed him into the toilet. Surprisingly, four people squeezed into the small toilet. Lin Beifan trembled, Who are you, and what do you want to do? The three members of Tianmenughed sinisterly, We are the ones who will kill you! Lin Beifan continued to tremble, We dont know each other, have no grudges, why do you want to kill me? Hmph! Theres no need for so many reasons. I dont like you, so what if I kill you? Lonely Wolf sneered and was about to make a move. At this moment, the shortest Demon Child let out a devilishugh, Wait! Killing directly is too boring. Let me y with you! Dear Lord Prefect, Ill give you a chance! Before you die, do you have anyst words? I have an unfulfilled wish, I hope you can help me fulfill it! Lin Beifan pleaded pitifully. Tell me, I will fulfill it if I can! the mischievous Demon Child said. I want to eat watermelon! Lin Beifan said eagerly. Lonely Wolf frowned, Summer is already over, where can we find watermelon? It doesnt matter, I can wait! Lin Beifan said considerately. The three members of Tianmen became angry, Damn, hes just ying with us. Lets just kill him! As they spoke, they were about to make a move. But the next moment, they found that they couldnt move. Their entire bodies were locked down! Even their true qi couldnt circte smoothly and stagnated! This situation was very familiar to them. They had seen it on their Sect Master before. A Grandmaster! They looked at the young man in front of them in shock. They had never expected it! The person they were about to kill turned out to be a Grandmaster! Moreover, he seemed much stronger than their Sect Master! Their Sect Master could control the qi field around them, affecting their true qi operation and reducing their strength by thirty to forty percent. But they could still move. But the person in front of them actually immobilized them! Could it be that the person in front of them had already reached the legendary realm of Grandmaster? The more they thought about it, the more shocked they became! They had actually sought death by attempting to assassinate a Grandmaster! Lin Beifan stood up straight and shook his head, I knew it was you guys, the Lonely Wolf, Red Lady, and Demon Child from Tianmen! Sending the head a thousand miles away, I really dont know how to describe you! The three people from Tianmen were filled with bitterness in their hearts! If we had known you were a grandmaster, who would dare toe? They also felt foolish! With so many people to kill, they specifically chose the most difficult one! Is it because they havemitted too many sins that even the heavens cant bear to watch? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Next, lets y a game. I ask, you answer! I hope you cooperate.~! Hmph! Even if we tell you, will you let us go? Dream on! The Lone Wolfughed bitterly, Falling into your hands, I ept my fate. Go ahead and do it! Lin Beifan reached out and held onto his head. Immediately, a scorching me burst forth from his hand, quickly turning the Lonely Wolf into ashes, falling into a dung pit. The two people beside were astonished, What kind of demonic technique is this? Lin Beifan looked down at the Demon Child, who had just reached his waist, expressionless. The Demon Childs heart was trembling, but he toughened his stance, If you want to kill or mutte me, do as you please! If I frown even once, I wont be a man! Lin Beifan reached out and held onto his head. Immediately, an extremely cold aura was released from Lin Beifans hand. Under this cold aura, the Demon Child turned into an ice sculpture. Then, with a light tap from Lin Beifan, he turned into ice water and fell into the dung pit. Red Lady felt a cold shiver all over her body. First fire, then icewhat exactly is the person in front of her, a human or a demon? Its too terrifying!!! Lin Beifan looked at the only person left. Red Lady trembled and begged, Please spare me, Great Immortal. I will tell you anything you want! Lin Beifan finally smiled, Thats more like it! After a moment, Lin Beifan leisurely emerged from the ce where he had sent the Red Lady to a decent death. Young Master, why did you take so long? If I hadnt seen youe out, I would have gone to the toilet to look for you! Guo Shaoshuai eximed. Its nothing. I saw three annoying bugs and casually killed them. It took a bit of time! Lin Beifan jumped onto the carriage, Lets continue on our way! At night, when it was quiet andte, Lin Beifans figure floated out of the city and arrived at an abandoned courtyard. Dozens of people lived inside, with bright lights shining. They were the Tianmen disciples who hade with the Lonely Wolf and the Demon Child. They stayed outside the city, waiting for the Lonely Wolfs orders to act. Unfortunately, their immediate superior had already met the King of Hell ahead of time. Lin Beifan calmly looked at this group of people, Daring to cause trouble on my territory, you know nothing of life or death! With a wave of his hand, sword aura soared! Everyone in the courtyard perished in their sleep! Then, Lin Beifan set the courtyard aze and left without a trace. The people sent by Tianmen had unknowingly met their demise! Lin Beifan continued his usual routine, attending morning court, visiting the Imperial Academy and government offices, handling official duties, and if there was nothing else, he would rest at home. His days were peaceful and fulfilling. The members of the Six Doors struggled to track and guard against the people from Tianmen who came to cause trouble in Capital, having to mobilize numerous personnel for patrols day and night. But no matter how they searched, they couldnt find anyone, causing their hair to turn white from worry. Lin Beifan found great joy in watching this. Another person who was equally worried was the Master of Tianmen, Leng Ruochen. Every day, ording to Tianmens rules, the troops he sent out should receive daily reports. However, three consecutive days had passed, and there was no news at all. Moreover, the capital remained peaceful with no disturbances. This gave him a bad premonition. It was important to note that the team he sent out was already considered luxurious, with three innate experts leading dozens of acquired realm cultivators. This force could easily handle even thousands of cavalrymen. Even if they encountered danger, the three innate experts could still escape one or two of them. But now, there was no movement at all, and it seemed that the situation had taken a turn for the worse! He called someone in. Pojun, the Lonely Wolf and others went to the capital for a mission, and there have been no updates for the past three days. I have a bad feeling about this! Secretly investigate the situation and find out what happened! Leng Ruochen ordered. Yes, Sect Master! Pojun responded. Be extremely cautious, act discreetly, understood? Leng Ruochen advised. Yes, Sect Master! Pojun left the room. Then, he carefully went to the capital to investigate. ording to the information he had received, he soon found the abandoned courtyard. Looking at the courtyard reduced to rubble, Pojuns face darkened, It seems that things have turned for the worse! I hope the Lonely Wolf and the others are safe; otherwise, Tianmen will suffer a significant loss! He spected that the real culprit behind this might be someone within the imperial court. After all, only the court possessed such strength within the capital. So he slipped into the city and began to investigate. Observing the bustling crowd, he felt somewhat lost and thought to himself, The letter from the Lonely Wolf mentioned that they were nning to kill the Capital Prefect first, and then wipe out all the members of the Dedian Mansion, thus causing chaos in the capital! Perhaps they made a mistake during their operation! Therefore, I might as well capture the Prefect and interrogate him; he might know something! He proceeded with great caution and secretly followed Lin Beifan. It was only when Lin Beifan went to drink with someone, and when he was alone going to the toilet, that Pojun revealed himself. Holding a knife to Lin Beifans neck, he sternly asked, Do you know the whereabouts of the Lonely Wolf, Red Lady, and Demon Child? Lin Beifan calmly nodded, I do. Pojun was overjoyed, Quickly tell me, what happened to them? Lin Beifan pointed at himself with his finger, I killed them. Pojun felt a sudden coldness in his heart, although he had already had a premonition, he still felt deeply upset, Who killed them? Lin Beifan pointed to himself, It was me! Pojun was dumbfounded, You? Yes, it was me! Lin Beifan smiled and extended his hand, See, I killed them just like this! After a moment, Lin Beifan walked out of the toilet, and in the outhouse, there was an extra puddle of icy water. Back in the private room, Chief Guo of the Six Doors was still using alcohol to drown his sorrows, Lin, sir, I have mobilized all our forces to search the entire capital. Howe we still cant find them? Maybe they all hid in the outhouse! Lin Beifan sat down with a smile, Lets forget about those bothersome matters and have a drink! Yes, yes! Lets drink! The others agreed. Meanwhile, for three consecutive days, the Tianmen Sect Master received no news from Pojun. A bad premonition surged in his heart, Could something have happened to Pojun as well? Hes such a cautious and powerful person, how could he encounter trouble? He felt extremely uneasy until the matter was thoroughly investigated. So he called someone in. Killstar, the Lonely Wolf, the Demon Child, the Red Lady, and Pojun have all disappeared from the capital. Help me investigate this matter! The capital is filled with experts, remember to be extremely discreet and avoid exposure. Understand? The Sect Master ordered. Yes, Sect Master! Killstar epted the task and headed to the capital. Based on the information from previous messages, he investigated the ruined courtyard and felt heavy-hearted. ording to the letters, they were nning to target the Capital Prefect and officials in the Dedian Mansion. Perhaps they were exposed, leading to the pursuit and their current grim situation! I can secretly capture the Capital Prefect and question him; he might know something! One night, the two of them met in the outhouse. Seeing the person before him, Lin Beifan felt speechless, I have to say why are all of you so eager to deliver yourselves like this? If you want to die, find a better ce for it. Dont keep choosing outhouses. Its not only disgusting to me, but Im sure you also find it disgusting! Killstar was dumbfounded, What do you mean? This is what I mean! Lin Beifan extended his hand and held his head. After a moment, the person was flushed away by water. What bad luck! Lin Beifan walked out displeased. Chapter 214: Giving the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual to the Head of Tianmen! Chapter 214: Giving the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual to the Head of Tianmen! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Another three days passed, and the Head of Tianmen still received no news from Killstar. He was already clear in his heart that something must have happened to him! His heart ached, and it felt like bleeding! You should know that up until now, five innate experts had disappeared without a trace! Innate experts were not easy toe by; they couldnt be found just anywhere! To cultivate an innate expert, besides possessing exceptional martial talents, it also required arge amount of resources to nurture them. He had spent more than 30 years to cultivate ten innate experts! But in less than a month, five of them were lost! What a tremendous loss it was? Now, he dared not send any more innate experts to the capital, fearing that they might also encounter idents! For now, Ill record this matter and report it to the court another day! The Head of Tianmen temporarily put aside his worries, but Lin Beifan was unhappy. He hadnt provoked Tianmen at all, yet they repeatedly sent people to the capital to cause trouble. Each time, they targeted him. Did they think he was easy to bully? If he hadnt possessed exceptional martial skills, he would have met the King of Hell long ago! A grandmaster could not be humiliated; this enmity must be avenged! Unfortunately, now that he was the Prefect and the Principal of the Imperial Academy in the capital, a prominent minister of the court, he couldnt leave the capital and directly attack their headquarters. He could only think of other ways. One day, Lin Beifan invited the chief of the Six-Doors to his home. Looking at the worried expression on Chief Guos face, Lin Beifan smiled and said, Still troubled by the matter with Tianmen? Of course, as long as Tianmen exists, I cant sleep or eat peacefully! Chief Guo said with a bitter smile. Especially recently, I found out that five innate experts from Tianmen, like Lonely Wolf, Red Lady, and Demon Child, have disappeared without a trace. I have no idea where theyve gone or what theyre nning! If I cant investigate this within a day, I cant rx my vignce! Lin Beifan smiled faintly. You would never know where they went; you could never investigate it. I have a way to severely cripple Tianmen and relieve Chief Guos worries. Do you want to know? Lin Beifans tone was full of temptation. Chief Guos eyes lit up, and he urged, Sir Lin, do you really have a way? Tell me quickly! The method is actually simple! Lin Beifan smiled and took out a manual, saying, As long as you can deliver this manual into the hands of the Head of Tianmen, Tianmens days will be numbered! What manual is this, and why is it so amazing? This is a manual I identally obtained. Go ahead and open it and take a look! Lin Beifan handed the manual to Chief Guo with excitement. Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? Is there such a sword manual? Howe Ive never heard of it before? He couldnt wait and immediately flipped to the first page, where it read: To practice this skill, one must first castrate oneself! Damn! Chief Guo was dumbfounded. What kind of bizarre technique was this? Why did it require that? It made him feel a chill down there! Raising his head, he looked at Lin Beifan in confusion. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Chief Guo, keep reading! With perplexity, Chief Guo continued to read. The more he read, the more rmed he became! This set of techniques ispletely different from the usual martial arts. It follows an unconventional path, reversing the meridians. However, the progress in cultivation is incredibly rapid, one can describe it as covering a thousand miles in a day! For those with a talent for martial arts, as long as they cultivate ording to the techniques in this manual, they can be a ninth-grade expert in less than three days. Within a month, they can be an eighth-grade expert. And within three months, they can be a seventh-grade expert. This speed is truly astonishing! You should know that ordinary martial artists usually have to endure rigorous training for several years before they can be a ninth-grade warrior. If they persist and have sufficient resources, it may take seven or eight years to be an eighth-grade expert. It will take more than a decade or even twenty years to be a seventh-grade expert and reach the pinnacle of the acquired realm. But this set of techniques cultivates at an unbelievably fast pace! Its beyond imagination! Even if someone is an extraordinary talent in martial arts, without any fortuitous encounters, they cantpare to this speed! It makes him want to wield a sword out of frustration! After reading it, Chief Guo pondered for a moment and furrowed his brows, saying, Sir Lin, if you want me to give this technique to the Head of Tianmen, wouldnt that be equivalent to enhancing Tianmens strength? Why would you Lin Beifan took a sip of tea and smiled, Chief Guo, do you really think theres such a good thing in the world? Ninth-grade in three days, eighth-grade in a month, seventh-grade in three months? Chief Guo was puzzled, Lin Daren, please exin! Chief Guo, you should have realized by now, this is a sinister technique! Regr martial arts practitioners start by doing horse stances, cultivating Qi and blood, strengthening muscles, and building bones. After their bodies are well-conditioned, they start meditating and cultivating Qi while diligently practicing martial techniques and techniques. It can be said to be a step-by-step process, with no room for carelessness! During this period, they also need to ensure an adequate diet and herbal supplements; otherwise, they will harm their bodies and shorten their lifespans! Martial artists may encounter fortuitous opportunities, but there are absolutely no shortcuts! Chief Guo nodded in agreement. Like him in the past, he had cultivated step by step. Over more than 40 years, except for some special circumstances, he had never ckened, which led to his current level of strength. Practicing martial arts was much harder than studying! During severe cold or hot weather, one could stay inside reading books, but martial artists had to face the harsh weather while practicing to confront nature to gain strength. Practicing martial arts was more expensive than studying! Reading mainly required money for buying books and paying tuition fees, which most families could manage with determination. But martial artists needed to consume arge amount of meat every day to replenish their physical nutrition, which was not affordable for ordinary people. They also needed to purchase expensive medicinal herbs to nourish their bodies, which incurred even higher costs. If they sought apprenticeship, they would also have to pay tuition fees. Moreover, practicing martial arts required natural talent, which was notmon. However, reading was essible to anyone with a sound mind and the willingness to learn. So, this technique actually overdraws the life force within the body for cultivation! The faster you cultivate, the faster you die! If you cultivate to the ninth grade, it will shorten your life by 10 years! Eighth grade, 30 years! And if you cultivate to the seventh grade Lin Beifan chuckled, You might not even live for a year! Chief Guo eximed, Damn! If you have outstanding talent and cultivate to the half-step Innate level, you might not even live for a month! Chief Guo eximed again, Damn! As for Innate realm? Lin Beifan waved his hand, He will never have that opportunity! The moment he bes Innate, it will be his time of death! Chief Guo was shocked repeatedly. His hands holding the manual trembled. This was truly a sinister technique! While others practice martial arts to be stronger and live longer, this technique goes against the grain! The faster you cultivate, the faster you die! It was terrifying!!! So, as long as we hand over this technique to the Head of Tianmen, to strengthen the power of Tianmen, he will definitely pass this technique to his subordinates and let them practice together! By that time, we wont need to take action; they will destroy themselves! Lin Beifan confidently smiled. But, can this n really work? The opponent is a grandmaster. Wouldnt he be able to see through it? Chief Guo asked. Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Even if he sees through it, he wont resist the temptation! For someone as ambitious as him, sacrificing others to further his own cause is nothing out of the ordinary, right? Sir Lin, you are absolutely right! Chief Guo wholeheartedly agreed. After obtaining this manual, he will definitely let his subordinates practice it while contemting ways to improve it! However, cultivation follows basic principlesthere are gains and losses. If he wants others to cultivate quickly, he will have to consume vast amounts of cultivation resources, or else they can only overdraw their lives! What do you think he will choose? He will undoubtedly sacrifice others to further himself! Chief Guo firmly said. Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Exactly! Moreover, handing over this technique to the Head of Tianmen has another significant advantage! Lin Beifan said mysteriously. What advantage? Chief Guo eagerly asked. After cultivating this sword manual, their temperament will change, bing violent and bloodthirsty! By then, we can portray them as evil cultists and rally the heroes of the martial world to exterminate them together! These martial world heroes may be cunning and crafty, but in order to prevent Tianmen from continuing to grow and to obtain the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, they will undoubtedly rise together to attack Tianmen! In doing so, they will end up killing each other! We can eliminate Tianmen while also taking the opportunity to weaken the power of the martial world. Killing two birds with one stone, isnt that satisfying? Lin Beifanughed triumphantly. Brilliant! Its truly brilliant! Chief Guo pped his thigh in excitement. With Tianmen destroyed and the martial worlds power weakened, it will be much easier to manage the martial world. We will be stable and not afraid of them causing trouble! Haha! However, if the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual spreads and is practiced by others, it may lead to a huge upheaval No need to worry, take a look at this! Lin Beifan took out another manual. Chief Guo looked at it and said, The Method to Crack the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! This technique is specifically designed to counter the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! Lin Beifan said with excitement. As long as the officials learn this cracking method, even an eighth-grade expert could defeat a seventh-grade expert who practices the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! If they dont practice it, thats fine, but if they do, besides shortening their lifespan, they will be under the strict control of our imperial court! Haha! What an ingenious cracking method! I really like it! Haha! Chief Guo alsoughed delightedly. All the frustration he had experienced in recent days poured out. Heughed heartily, feeling rxed and relieved. His eyes towards Lin Beifan suddenly changed. Lin Beifan was puzzled and touched his own face, saying, Chief Guo, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face? Chief Guo looked serious and pointed at Lin Beifans nose,ughing and scolding, Youre the only one who cane up with such devious methods! Haha! Lin Beifan:
1. The Evil Repelling Sword manual, also known as the Bixie Sword Manual, is a fictional martial arts manual featured in the ssic Chinese wuxia novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (Xiao Ao Jiang Hu) written by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). In the novel, Yue Buqun is a prominent character and a skilled martial artist who practices the Bixie Sword technique. You can read the fanfic here Being Yue Buquns Disciple, My Masters Wife is Teasing Me! Chapter 215: Everyone Practice the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, Becoming Dragons! Chapter 215: Everyone Practice the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, Bing Dragons! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After Guo, the head of Six Doors, returned from Lin Beifans home, he immediately started making arrangements. Sending the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual to the Head of Tianmen was not a difficult task for them. Over the years, they had already nted an insider within Tianmen. They fabricated some murderous incidents, delivering this secret manual smoothly and reasonably into the hands of the insider. Through the insiders connection, they could then deliver this manual to the Head of Tianmen. Reporting to the Sect Master, here is a manual named Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. It was collected from a dead person by one of our subordinates. This manual is extremely sinister and peculiar, so Ive brought it for the Head to review! What kind of manual is it that you make such a fuss? Let me see it! The Head of Tianmen opened his eyes, which had been closed for meditation, and calmly took the manual from the other persons hand. As a grandmaster, reaching such a level of cultivation, he had undoubtedly seen various martial arts manuals and integrated all kinds of martial knowledge. He could even write a martial arts manual himself. He didnt believe that any manual could surprise him. However, when he saw this manual, he was astonished. From the very beginning, this sword technique explicitly stated: To practice this skill, one must first castrate oneself! He had seen many martial arts techniques but had nevere across such a bizarre requirement. His interest was piqued. You need to castrate yourself before practicing? Thats truly intriguing! Let me see what kind of extraordinary martial art this is! As he read on, the astonishment in his eyes grew stronger. It turned out to be a fast-paced cultivation technique. By following the requirements in the manual, one could reach the ninth level in three days, the eighth level in a month, and be a seventh-level expert in just three months. The speed was incredibly fast, beyond imagination. To put it in perspective, even as a grandmaster and a martial prodigy, it had taken him three to four years to go from an ordinary person to a seventh-level expert. But this manual imed it could be achieved in just three months, less than a tenth of the time! It was mind-boggling! He couldnt believe that such a heaven-defying technique could exist in the world. Yet, as he scrutinized and assessed it with the eyes of a grandmaster, he was surprised to find that the manuals logic was impable, perfectly in line with the principles of martial arts. He couldnt find any ws in it. It seemed that by following the instructions, sess was almost guaranteed! Excitement surged within him! Currently, he was devoted to expanding Tianmen and using it to fulfill his ambitions. Earlier, he had nned to hold a grand martial arts gathering to be the leader of the martial world, rallying support and rising to power. Unfortunately, the court had seen through his plot, foiling his ns, leaving him frustrated for a long time. Now, unexpectedly, such a heaven-defying manual had been presented before him. If this Evil-Repelling Sword Manual is authentic, and if the people of Tianmen cultivate this technique, their strength will undoubtedly soar rapidly in a short period! And the power of Tianmen will expand several times over! Currently, we have over ten thousand people in Tianmen! If each of them practices this technique, well have ten thousand seventh-level experts! Ten thousand seventh-level experts would be like an army of a million, unstoppable! If among these ten thousand seventh-level experts, a few of them reach the peak and be innate masters The entire world will be within our grasp! The more the Head of Tianmen thought about it, the more excited he became! They trembled all over! This manual was like a timely downpour for him! It was the supreme treasure that could fulfill his ambitions! I can try it out with a few people first! If it works, then I can The Head of Tianmens eyes were filled with fanaticism. Promote it throughout the sect! Everyone practicing the Divine Technique, bing dragons! The great undertaking is within reach! In his eagerness, he immediately called five people in. These five individuals were rtively new disciples, possessing only a little martial skill and not yet reaching the ninth level. When they saw the Head of Tianmen, they were filled with excitement, all bowing and addressing in unison, Greetings, Sect Master! With a gentle smile, the Head said, I have a manual here called the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. It is an extraordinary divine technique. Now, I will pass it to you for cultivation! If you cultivate it well, there will be substantial rewards! The five individuals became even more excited! Not only did they have the opportunity to meet the Head of Tianmen, but they also had the chance to cultivate this extraordinary divine technique passed down by the Head himself! What a tremendous reward! They felt that their ancestors in the afterlife must be aware of this, blessing them! Thank you for the Heads reward! We are willing to do anything for the Head, even walking through fire or water, without hesitation! The Head of Tianmen handed over the manual and said, This is the divine technique. You can read it now. If theres anything you dont understand, you can ask me! Yes, Head! Excitedly, they took the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual and sat together to read it. However, the more they read, the more horrified they became. Their faces turned paler, and sweat dripped down from their foreheads. Because this sword technique actually required them As young and vigorous men, they couldnt ept this demand! Have you understood it? Is there anything unclear? If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and Ill answer carefully! The Head of Tianmen said with a smiling face. Sect Master, we, the disciples, are unable to practice this sword technique! I have a wife at home, and she is currently expecting a child! If I practice this technique, how can I exin it to my wife and to my parents and ancestors? Sect Master, please choose someone else! My family has a single lineage for nine generations, and I cannot break the family line. I hope the Head will forgive me! Sect Master, I also cannot practice this technique! The Head of Tianmens face instantly darkened! He called in five people, and they all refused! It was a severe blow to his prestige! Thus, he shouted angrily, The divine technique is right in front of you, yet you all shrink back in fear. How can anything significant be aplished like this? Since you all have demons in your hearts, Ill help you get rid of them! As he spoke, he immediately took action. Sect Master, please dont! Sect Master, I beg you to spare me! Sect Master!!! However, how could they resist the sect master with his grandmaster-level strength? In less than a moment, they were all covered in blood. Their eyes were lifeless, as if their hearts had died in sorrow. (They were forcibly circumcised, lol) Practice diligently! I will inspect your progress daily. If I find any negligence, you will have to deal with the consequences! The Head of Tianmen left with his hands behind his back. Three dayster, the Sect Master was pleasantly surprised to find that after practicing the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, all five individuals had broken through. They transformed from ordinary people who knew a little about martial arts into genuine ninth-level warriors. Their internal strength circted, their power and speed increased significantly, and their strength multiplied several times, enabling them to defeat dozens of ordinary people easily. Continue your practice without stopping for even a day! After about five days, the Sect Master was amazed to find that their cultivation speed was incredibly fast, almost equivalent to two or three months worth of progress in a single day! In just five days, their strength doubled, achieving the effects of what would take others two or three years to aplish! In another twenty days, they would have the opportunity to break through to the eighth level, bing formidable eighth-level experts! However, he also noticed a problem. These individuals were aging prematurely. Although he had chosen young people around the age of 20, their physical functions had declined significantly, making them appear several years older. This should be a w in this technique. Although the cultivation speed is fast, it will deplete their life force! Even with medicinal supplements, its impossible to make up for the loss of vitality. Well, theres no perfect technique in the world, hahaha! After identifying the w in the technique, the Sect Master felt relieved and even happy. To him, the lives of these ordinary disciples were worthless. If exchanging their lives for such formidable power could help him achieve his ambitions, he considered it well worth it. Even if these people died, he wouldnt care. He could always cultivate another batch. With the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, it was easy for him to nurture skilled experts. After all, the world was never short of people! So, he couldnt wait to let others in the sect practice the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. In the Tianmen sect, screams echoed every day, and the smell of blood could be detected from afar. In the main hall, the newly appointed eunuchs looked at the person they had once admired with puzzled, confused, and resentful eyes. They could never have imagined that this person could do such things. He had be an unprecedented stranger, cruel and terrifying! Facing everyones gaze, the Head of Tianmen paid no attention, his expression cold and indifferent as he threw down a few hand-copied Evil-Repelling Sword Manuals. These are the cultivation manuals that Im passing down to you. You must cultivate them diligently! If theres any negligence, I wont be lenient! he said. Yes Sect Master! The voices of the crowd were weak. Subsequently, except for seventh-level experts and above innate masters, everyone in Tianmen started cultivating the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. The entire strength of Tianmen seemed to have soared like a rocket, steadily increasing day by day. Seeing this scene, the ambitions of the Head of Tianmen also rapidly swelled. Boastfulughter often echoed within the confines of Tianmen. Hahaha! Hundreds more have broken through! The great undertaking is within reach! The great undertaking! Hahahaha!!! All of this was naturally monitored day and night by the Six Doors. To fulfill his ambitions, the Head of Tianmen has done such terrifying and insane things! Its too dreadful, too crazy! one of the Six Doors experts shook his head in disapproval. Yes, you cant imagine how crazy he is! If I hadnt run fast, I might have been killed! said another person, patting his chest, still frightened. This person was the undercover agent who had previously infiltrated Tianmen. When he handed over the manuals, he quickly found an excuse to flee; otherwise, he would have be a eunuch like the others. This man is extremely dangerous! For the sake of his ambitions, he can do such despicable things! Once he gains power, he will surely bring disaster to the world! We must report this to the Chief Guo and take action immediately! Youre right, lets act quickly! The information quickly reached the Six Doors in the capital city. After receiving the information, Guo, the head of Six Doors, felt ted. Excellent! Just as Sir Lin predicted! After obtaining the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, the Head of Tianmen made the entire sect practice it! Those whomit many injustices will eventually perish. Its time to take action! He immediately activated the n. As a result, news about Tianmen cultivating the evil technique and turning into evil and demonic cult quickly spread throughout the martial world. Chapter 216: Gathering the Strength of Heroes to Siege Tianmen! Chapter 216: Gathering the Strength of Heroes to Siege Tianmen! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Have you heard? It is said that Tianmen is secretly practicing a mysterious technique! What kind of technique are they practicing? Tell us! I dont know the name of the technique, but it is incredible! They say that by practicing it for just a few days, one can break through to the first-rank! In just a few months, one can be a peak expert of the acquired realm! Wow! What kind of technique is this? It cant be that amazing. Even Shaolins Yi Jin Jing and Wudangs Tai Chi Divine Art dont have such terrifying training effects! Its said to be an evil technique, so of course, the progress is faster! When I passed by Tianmen, I heard screams every day, and the smell of blood was intense! They might be using human blood for cultivation! Practicing demonic arts, this is utterly insane! The Master of Tianmen dares to defy the world like this? Why would he be afraid? Just think about it, if the entire sect practices this demonic art and everyone bes peak experts of the innate realm, who in the world could threaten him? Gasp! This is horrifying!!! As this information spread, it became increasingly mysterious and shocking, causing a great uproar. Practicing demonic arts was the most taboo thing in the martial world, frowned upon by all major righteous sects. Now, the most powerful force in the martial world, Tianmen, was practicing demonic arts throughout the entire sect. Moreover, it was a demonic art with such terrifying effects. If they seeded in practicing it, wouldnt they subvert the martial world, challenge the dominance of other sects, and shake their foundations? All sects and factions couldnt remain indifferent and secretly sent their experts to investigate Tianmen. As as result, people would go missing near Tianmen every few days. These missing individuals, already resentful towards the Tianmens Master due to losing something essential to men, were forced to reveal the truth under life-threatening circumstances. The truth was unveiled every member of Tianmen was indeed practicing demonic arts. The demonic art they were cultivating was called the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, and anyone with martial talent could practice it. By following the techniques in the manual, one could be a ninth-rank expert in just three days, an eighth-rank expert in a month, and a seventh-rank expert in three months. For those with exceptional talents, they could even break through to the Innate Realm within a year. In pursuit of his ambitions, the Master of Tianmen resorted to extreme measures, castrating all the members of the sect and forcing them to practice this technique. And now, the results were evident everyone in Tianmen had be ninth-rank experts, with over 2,000 people progressing rapidly to be eighth-rank experts. The entire martial world was in shock. To have everyone be ninth-rank experts was an incredibly terrifying power. Its important to note that no other force in the martial world could gather more than ten thousand ninth-rank experts. Even the top sects with the deepest foundations like Shaolin and Wudang only had three to four thousand ninth-rank experts at most. Yet, Tianmen, a rtively new sect, had surpassed thebined numbers of these two sects. If they were given a month, wouldnt their entire membership reach the eighth rank? In three months, wouldnt they all be seventh-rank experts? This horrifying force, not to mention dominating the martial world, even had the potential to challenge the rule of the world itself! The more they thought about it, the more terrifying and hair-raising it became! We cant let Tianmen continue to develop! Its a demonic sect filled with evildoers! Once they grow stronger, they will pose a huge threat to all our sects and bring cmity to the people! As righteous sects, we absolutely cannot turn a blind eye! We must unite and eliminate Tianmen to uphold the order of the martial world! Evil and wicked, everyone must be eradicated!!! Various rumors were spreading like wildfire. Each sect sent representatives to Shaolin Temple, hoping that the newly appointed leader of the martial world, the abbot of Shaolin, would preside over a martial arts assembly to eliminate Tianmen and uphold the order of the martial world. Ah, we are finally confronting Tianmen! The abbot of Shaolin Temple held his prayer beads, his face filled with a bitter smile. Ever since he became the leader of the martial world, he had foreseen this day. Master, this evildoer must be eradicated! A senior monk next to him expressed concern, The Master of Tianmen had been hiding for over 30 years before revealing himself. He is undoubtedly an ambitious person! Now, the entire sect practices demonic arts not just for the martial world but for ruling the world! If they seed, we will be in danger! Therefore, we must gather the strength of the martial world before he bes unstoppable and eliminate this threat together! Brother, what you say is true! However, this whole matter seems suspicious from start to finish, and it makes one feel cautious! The abbot of Shaolin Temple furrowed his brow, lost in thought. At that moment, representatives from the Six-Doors arrived. As the Pir and Star of the martial world, and as the leader of the martial world, the court hopes that you will promptly hold a martial arts assembly to unite the strength of the martial world and eliminate the demonic sect Tianmen to maintain the order of the martial world! Ah, I, as the leader of the martial world, have a duty to fulfill! After the representatives from the Six-Doors left, the abbot of Shaolin Temple smiled bitterly, Brother, we are indeed being used as pawns! Thus, the abbot of Shaolin Temple proceeded to convene the martial arts assembly, calling on all sects and factions to send their powerful experts to eliminate the demonic sect Tianmen and uphold the righteous path, maintaining the order of the martial world! The heroes responded! Every sect and faction followed suit! They dispatched powerful experts to Tianmen, aiming to exterminate the evildoers! Many martial practitioners from all corners of the martial world spontaneously went to Tianmen to contribute their strength! Meanwhile, within Tianmen. Upon hearing the news, the Master of Tianmen was furious, They dare tobel me a great evildoer, and Tianmen as a demonic sect? They want to gather the power of the entire world to kill me? This is preposterous! His true qi shook, sweeping across all directions! Boom, boom Everything around him turned into rubble, devastated! The people below smiled nervously, afraid to look up. They were worried about identally angering the Grandmaster, which would lead to an utterly disastrous oue! And who leaked this information? The Master of Tianmen seethed with anger, and killing intent filled the surroundings. If he had just a couple more months, all his members would be seventh-rank experts, and the situation would be solidified. Who in the world could then be his opponent? But now, everything was exposed, and all the martial sects were besieging them, rendering all their previous efforts in vain. He loathed the person responsible for the leak! Inform the Sect Master, its impossible to investigate this matter now! The most important thing is how to deal with the uing siege from the martial arts sects. Our current strength is not enough to fully confront the entire martial world! A cautious Primordial realm expert said. You make a valid point. Getting angry now wont help us! The Master of Tianmen suppressed his aura but still had a cold expression. Instruct our people to focus on cultivation, each day of practice makes us stronger! Additionally, set up more defensive arrangements. I want all the sects toe to us, but none shall leave alive! Yes, Master! The Primordial realm expert acknowledged. Two dayster, arge number of martial practitioners gathered at the foot of Tianmens mountain. However, they didntunch an attack immediately; instead, they surrounded the area, preventing anyone from escaping. Meanwhile, the people of Tianmen remained inside, diligently cultivating. A rare understanding formed between the two sides. Soon after, representatives from Qingcheng School, Kongtong School, Emei School, Huashan School, and other renowned martial sects arrived. New sects like Iron Sword Sect, Swordsmith Vi, and Iron Palm Sect also came. Finally, Shaolin and Wudang arrived as well. At the foot of Tianmens mountain, it unexpectedly gathered two top-tier sects, eight major renowned sects, and nearly ten smaller sects, almost epassing all major righteous sects! In addition to other martial heroes who came due to curiosity, the total number of people reached over 20,000! It was truly an unprecedented era in the martial world! On the day of Shaolin Temples arrival, the abbot, who was the leader of the martial world, immediately presided over the assembly. Ah, Buddha be praised! To eliminate demons and uphold the righteous path, we must fulfill our duty! The abbot addressed the gathering martial heroes with solemnity, Every day we dy, Tianmen grows stronger, and it bes more detrimental to us! So, everyone will rest for a day! After restoring our strength, tomorrow morning, we will attack Tianmen, exterminate the evildoers, and rid the martial world of their menace! Yes, Leader! The martial heroes responded in unison. Thus, all the martial practitioners rested well for the night. Meanwhile, Tianmen made its final preparations. On the second day, the great battle began. The martial heroes surged up the mountain like a tide, an overwhelming force. Tianmen was well-prepared andunched a counterattack, making use of the advantage of their terrain. Evil and wicked, everyone must be eradicated! We absolutely cannot let a single evildoer escape! Kill them all, and make a name for ourselves in this moment! The cries of killing shook the heavens and earth. The killing intent soared to the highest sky. At the moment of contact, blood flowed like rivers, and corpses were scattered everywhere! The martial heroes at the foot of the mountain became increasingly shocked as they found that Tianmens strength had increased in just a few days! Not only were all their members ninth-rank experts or above, but they also had many more eighth-rank experts, nearly twice as many as before! The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual was truly terrifying! And Tianmen, with all its members practicing the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, was even more fearsome! Their resolve to eliminate Tianmen solidified in their hearts! Seeing the enormous casualties and the failure to breach Tianmen, some of the Innate realm experts couldnt bear it any longer. They roared and soared into the air, swiftly charging into Tianmen, creating a path of blood for everyone. Under the lead of these Innate realm experts, they captured one ce after another, and finally, victory began to tilt in favor of all the sects and factions. Even the five Innate realm experts within Tianmen couldnt withstand their assault. The Master of Tianmen, who had been sitting in the rear, could no longer remain idle. Bullying the weak with your strength, what kind of righteousness is that? Let me y with you! With a swift move, he charged out from the rear and in the blink of an eye, severely injured over a dozen Innate realm experts. Standing tall on the mountaintop, heughed arrogantly, Under a Grandmaster, you are all mere ants! Whoever dares to obstruct my ambitions will be killed! Everyone was horrified! Was this the power of a Grandmaster? Incredibly strong! Then came despair! Who could contend with such a peerless powerhouse? At that moment, another mountain peak revealed an old monk, his hands sped in prayer, with apassionate expression on his face. Amitabha! Benefactor, your hands are soaked in blood, and you have fallen into the demonic path! Why not return with this humble monk, eat vegetarian meals, and chant Buddhist scriptures to cleanse yourself of your blood debts? Though his voice wasnt loud, it resonated clearly throughout the entire scene. His voice was filled with Buddhas nature andpassion, calming everyone down. The abbot of Shaolin Temple smiled proudly, Amitabha! This is the venerable senior of the Color Word Generation of my Shaolin Temple, who has been eating vegetarian meals and chanting Buddhist scriptures for over 120 years. His profound inner strength has already reached the level of a Martial Master! So its the esteemed senior of Shaolin, forgive my impoliteness! Even Martial Masters are present, truly worthy of being the Tai Shan and Bei Dou of the martial world! No wonder Shaolin has stood for a thousand years without falling! Everyone was filled with amazement. The Master of Tianmens eyes showed a trace of apprehension. Do you think you, an old monk, can stop me? What if I, a humble monk, join in as well?
. 1. Shaolins Yi Jin Jing and Wudangs Tai Chi Divine Art are two legendary martial arts techniques associated with their respective schools. Shaolins Yi Jin Jing: Yi Jin Jing, also known as the Muscle-Tendon Changing ssic, is a traditional Chinese qigong exercise that has been practiced for centuries in the Shaolin Temple. It is believed to have been developed by the Indian monk Bodhidharma, who is also credited with founding Zen Buddhism at Shaolin. The practice involves a series of movements, breathing techniques, and mental focus aimed at improving the flexibility and strength of the muscles and tendons. Wudangs Tai Chi Divine Art: Tai Chi Divine Art is a term often used to refer to the various styles of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) practiced in the Wudang Mountains. Wudang is a famous Taoist mountain range in China and is renowned for its association with martial arts and Taoist philosophy. 2. Color Word Generation refers to the generation of monks at Shaolin Temple who wear robes with colored Chinese characters on them to indicate their seniority in the monastery Chapter 217: This cunning little bitch, calculating the Tianmen to the death! Chapter 217: This cunning little bitch, calcting the Tianmen to the death! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
A figure appeared on a nearby mountain peak. This person was wearing a simple gray daoist robe, with a yin-yang Bagua pattern on the back. They were holding a fly-whisk in their hand, with white hair but a rosyplexion, giving off an aura of transcendence and wisdom, resembling a hermit from the secr world. Although they didnt exude any imposing aura, no one dared to underestimate them! To be able to face the Tianmen Sect Master head-on, they must be a formidable character! The head of the Wudang Sect proudly introduced, This is our Wudang Sect senior uncle, Daoist Liao Chen! He has been in seclusion for a century and only recently came out of seclusion. He heard that we are here to eradicate demons and uphold justice, so he came to lend a hand! So, it turns out to be Senior Uncle Liao Chen. I thought he had already passed away, but hes still alive. Truly an immortal being! He has long been a grandmaster, achieving unity of man and nature. Its not surprising that he lives a long life, is it? Another grandmaster! Its worthy of the Wudang Sect, with such profound heritage! Everyone was filled with admiration and awe towards the Wudang Sect. The Tianmen Sect Masters expression of fear and apprehension grew heavier. A grandmaster alone, he could ignore. But two grandmasters, he could not ignore. After all, no matter how strong he was, he could only deal with one grandmaster. He wouldnt stand a chance against two grandmasters. Moreover, these two grandmasters possessed such deep heritage. However, his tone remained firm, Another old geezer! But even if you all attack together, you wont be able to stop me! May the Buddha bless you! Fellow cultivator, you are lost in delusion. You should know that by relinquishing your butchers knife, you can be a Buddha immediately! You wicked sinner, die! The two grandmasters made their move together. The Tianmen Sect Master fought against them alone! They fought so fiercely that the heavens and earth crumbled, and the sun and moon lost their radiance! Meanwhile, the righteous sects below, seeing that their side had two grandmasters, their morale skyrocketed, rushing towards the Tianmen Sect with great fervor. On the other hand, the Tianmen disciples had low morale and could only resist passively. The mountain gate was quickly breached. Charge, kill all the demonic heads! Victory is within sight! Establish a name for ourselves, now is the time, haha! Everyone excitedly rushed in, shouting loudly. The Tianmen Sect Master, who was fighting against two grandmasters alone, watched with fury, You all deserve to die! He was unexpectedly struck by the old Daoists palm, and then he entered the Tianmen Sect with a violent killing intent, sweeping through like a storm, killing all the righteous sect disciples along the way. The path was strewn with corpses, staining the road red with blood. For a while, the righteous sect disciples were frightened and dared not advance. It was only when the two grandmasters arrived that the Tianmen Sect Master had no choice but to retreat. In the end, the Tianmen Sect Master, outnumbered and injured, fled. Remember this, all of you! I will definitely avenge this grudge! Without the protection of the Tianmen Sect Master, the Tianmen Sect was like a tiger with broken teeth and limbs, subjected to bullying and ughter. Within the span of a joss stick, the mountain gate was once again breached, with countless casualties. As a result, the once formidable Tianmen Sect, which stood side by side with the Wudang and Shaolin Sects, was finally annihted! However, the various sects gained no benefits from this. After this battle, they had all suffered heavy losses and their strength was greatly diminished. The martial world, as a result, lost some of its luster and tranquility descended upon it. The Great Martial Imperial Pce, morning court. Guo, the head of the Sixth Ministry, excitedly reported, Your Majesty, all the various sects besieged Tianmen, and now Tianmens mountain gate has been breached, resulting in numerous casualties! Five of the innate masters of Tianmen perished in this battle, while the other five all lost their lives as well! The Tianmen Sects Master was no match for the two grandmasters from Shaolin and Wudang and fled with injuries. His whereabouts are unknown! The Empress was delighted, Good! Very good! Excellent! Guo continued his enthusiastic report, In addition, the various sects also suffered heavy losses in the siege! ording to my estimation, there were over 20,000 martial artists who participated in the attack on Tianmen, but more than tens of thousands are now buried at Tianmen Mountain! The strength of the martial world has greatly diminished, reducing the threat to the court. Please take note of this, Your Majesty! The Empress became even happier and pped her hands withughter, This is wonderful! Our countrys situation is unstable, and the martial world is in turmoil! But after this battle, not only did we eliminate the major threat of Tianmen, but we also weakened the strength of the martial world, maintaining the rule of our dynasty! Guo, not only have you redeemed your past mistakes, but you have also aplished great deeds! Haha! Guo beamed and modestly said, Its not my merit; everything was guided wisely by Your Majesty. The credit all goes to you! The Empress yfully scolded him, You, you Since you entered the court as an official, you havent learned any other skills, but youre quite skilled at ttery! Haha! Guo hung his head, looking very embarrassed. This is a significant achievement and must be rewarded! The Empress said happily, For all members of the Six-Doors involved in this matter, reward each of them with a thousand liang of silver! As for the main responsible persons like Liuqing, Lieyang, reward each of them with ten thousand liang of silver and promote them by one rank! In addition, theres Guo, you! You were fully responsible for this matter, not only eliminating Tianmen but also weakening the strength of the martial world, safeguarding the rule of our dynasty. Your contributions are immense! Therefore, reward you with ten thousand liang of silver and one hundred mu of fertilend! You will also be promoted by one rank and remain in charge of the Six Ministries. Kneel and receive the honor! Guo was ecstatic! To him, the other rewards were just icing on the cake. But being promoted by one rank, bing a second-grade official of the court, was an unprecedented honor! You see, the total head of the Six Doors had always been a third-grade official. Since the establishment of the Six Doors, there had never been a total head who became a second-grade official of the court. He was breaking new ground! He might not be the most powerful total head in history, but he was undoubtedly the most outstanding one! His name would be recorded in the annals of history! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness! Guo eximed loudly. The officials at the court all cast envious nces at him. What kind of luck was this guy having recently? How did he achieve sess one after another? Now he was even promoted out of the ordinary. It was truly something to be jealous of! Guo, now tell us how you wiped out Tianmen and weakened the martial world, the Empress asked with a delightful smile, her eyes unconsciously drifting towards Lin Beifan. Reporting to Your Majesty, all of this was thanks to the Vice Governor of the Dedian Prefecture and the Principal of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan! Guo said loudly, It was Lin Beifan who came up with a brilliant n, allowing us of the Six Doors to aplish such great achievements! The Empress was taken aback and smiled, Indeed, it must be Sir Lin! Without leaving the capital, he managed to annihte Tianmen! Then, Guo vividly described the whole process. Lin Beifan provided a forbidden cultivation method that rapidly consumed ones life force and had the Six Doors deliver it into the hands of the Tianmen Sects Master. Once he got hold of this wicked technique, he not only castrated all the members of his sect but also forced them to cultivate it, increasing their strength while simultaneously provoking enmity. Afterward, he spread rumors to portray Tianmen as a demonic and heretical sect. Then, with Lin Beifans help behind the scenes, they united various sects to destroy Tianmen. Finally, Tianmen was destroyed, and the Sects Master escaped with injuries. The threat to the court was resolved. From beginning to end, they didnt pay much price and easily wiped out Tianmen! When the officials in the court heard this, they couldnt help but shake their heads and sigh. Devious! Too cunning! This sly and crafty person calcted Tianmen from start to finish! It seems that we must keep our distance from him in the future. Otherwise, we might get fooled without even realizing it! Only the Empress was extremely delighted, This method is truly marvelous, astounding! Sir Lin, you have aplished another great deed. But we will temporarily keep this achievement in mind, andter on, we will reward you ordingly! Thank you, Your Majesty, Lin Beifan bowed. In the evening, when it was time to finish work, Guo, the head of the Sixth Doors, unexpectedly came with a group of people, carrying severalrge boxes. Lin Beifan was puzzled when he saw them, Master Guo, why do you have the time toe now? At this time, shouldnt you be taking your brothers to celebrate with drinks? Guo had a beaming smile on his face, Drinking is indeed in order! But before we drink, lets present a gift first! Lin Beifan chuckled, Do we really need to exchange gifts between us? Besides, do you see anything missing here? This gift, Sir Lin, you will definitely like it! Guo leaned in closer and whispered, In these boxes are the treasures of Tianmen, with a total value of 5 million liang! We thought that instead of letting these treasures go to those cheap martial artists, it would be better to give them to you! So, while all the various sects besieged Tianmen, we secretly moved these treasures out from inside! Please ept them! Lin Beifans eyes lit up. He unexpectedly received additional ie! 5 million liang! It wasnt a small amount, and it made him quite excited! He could reject anything, except he couldnt resist the temptation of money! Lin Beifan smiled, How can I ept such a generous gift? Besides, what I have here is already sufficient. Its fine to ept it! Its fine to ept it! Guo also smiled happily. All along, he and the Sixth Doors were indebted to Lin Beifan. He reduced many casualties and achieved merits, leading to promotions and titles. He was full of gratitude towards Lin Beifan! But there wasnt much they could do to repay him, which made them feel quite guilty! Knowing that Lin Beifan was fond of money and treasures, they saw this great opportunity. Seizing the chaos outside, they secretly moved the gold, silver, and treasures from Tianmen and gifted them to Lin Beifan. Now it seemed that they made the right choice! The other party was very pleased and readily epted. Guo was extremely happy. This kind of mutual giving and receiving deepened their friendship! In the future, when they encountered problems, they could directly and openly seek Lin Beifans advice. With Lin Beifans help, wouldnt the next promotion and titlee much sooner? Haha! This was a win-win situation, and everyone was very happy! Sir Lin, our banquet at the Sixth Doors is about to begin. Would you honor us with your presence? Guo extended the invitation. Id be honored! Lin Beifan waved his hand, Today is a very joyous day. Ill bring over a few casks of fine wine from my cer, and well all have a great time tonight! Haha, Ill thank you on behalf of those little rascals! Guo said with gratitude. That night, everyone drank merrily and joyfully. Chapter 219: Are Disaster Victims Still Considered Humans? Chapter 219: Are Disaster Victims Still Considered Humans? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The eunuchughed, ording to Princess Yunying, this is a new way of eating invented by the Prefect, called hot pot! Whether its vegetables or meat, they are all raw but thinly sliced. Just put them in boiling water, boil and season them, then you can eat them! Really? It sounds very interesting! I will try this hot pot today and see whats so special about it! The empresss interest was piqued. Then, the eunuch ced the broth and charcoal on the table, as well as raw vegetables and meat, and various condiments neatly arranged. These were all sent by Little Princess, and the charcoal was burning brightly, while the broth was boiling, ready to be eaten directly. The empress looked at the steaming broth, the raw vegetables and meat in front of her, so she picked up a piece of raw meat with chopsticks and followed Lin Beifans instructions to put it in the boiling water and cook it for a moment. Since the meat was very thin, it was cooked in a matter of seconds. Then, she ced the cooked meat in an empty bowl and carefully tasted it. Although the ingredients were delicious and warm, the taste wascking. At this moment, she saw the full array of condiments on the side, including spring onions, ginger, garlic, sesame, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili, etc. She thought of the eunuchs words and poured them into the bowl ording to her own taste. She mixed the meat in her hand thoroughly with the condiments and took another bite. Mmm! This is the proper way to eat it! At that moment, the empress fully understood the way to eat hot pot. With renewed interest, she picked up another piece of meat and put it into the boiling water. After it was thoroughly cooked, she added condiments to the bowl. By now, the meat coated with condiments was not as hot, but it had the fragrance of the condiments. This bite was just perfect, and the empress felt satisfied. This is the mostfortable way to eat it! Next, the empresss chopsticks almost never stopped as she ate one piece after another, her speed getting faster and faster. The eunuch beside her stared wide-eyed at her. Is it really that delicious? Should he also prepare a table like this for himself? After about half an hour, the empress finally ate her fill. Although she was revered as the Empress, she rarely had the opportunity to eat so heartily. Because she was usually busy with state affairs, she rarely had the chance to eat a meal on time. Moreover, the imperial kitchen was a bit far away. By the time the dishes were served, they were usually lukewarm, or even cold. So, as the emperor, it was really difficult for her to have a mouthful of hot and fresh food. Especially in winter, it was even harder to have a mouthful of hot food. But now, with hot pot, everything was different. She could directly eat the hottest and freshest food, eat whatever she wanted, and eat it however she liked. It waspletely up to her, and it was enjoyable and satisfying! The hot pot eating style invented by Sir Lin is exactly what I like! Tell the imperial kitchen to prepare meals in the style of hot pot for the next few days! Yes, Your Majesty! After eating her fill, the empress returned to her state affairs. However, when she saw a memorial, she frowned, The southern region is experiencing cold and rainy weather Continuous rain in winter was not a good thing. Winter was already cold, and it was easy for people to freeze to death. In addition, the recent continuous rainfall has caused the water levels to rise rapidly, resulting in backflow of the river water, submerging farnds and viges, and discing the people. The cold weather andck of food make it even easier for people to die. Such events are not umon. The Empress shook her head and said, I hope that I am just overly worried! However, the Murphys Law applies everywhere. If there is a possibility of something changing, no matter how small it may be, it will happen. In other words, the more you dont want something to happen, the more likely it is to happen. For several consecutive days, the Empress received bad news from the southern region. The rainfall shows no signs of stopping, but instead, it is increasing. Low-lying areas in rural areas are now mostly submerged, making it difficult to travel. Some farnds and viges are also flooded. Fortunately, the farmers living in those areas have already been evacuated. However, the most dangerous situation is still the Qinhuai River and Huai River. The river water has gradually overflowed the riverbanks. Once the riverbanks cannot hold, the floodwater will surge in, and the entire river basin will be affected, causing millions of people to be disced. The Empress issued several imperial edicts, instructing the officials in the southern region to do whatever it takes to protect the riverbanks and quickly evacuate the people in the river basin to minimize the damage. However, the most dreadful thing happened! In the face of a terrifying natural disaster, manpower is sometimes limited, and the riverbanks cannot be held. The floodwater rushed in, submerging all the viges and farnds along the way, destroying everything, and millions of people lost their homes! The only good news is that due to timely evacuation, the casualties among the people are not significant. However, the food supplies were not able to be moved in time and were washed away. What can be done with over a million people without food? The Empress immediately ordered the officials in the southern region to open the grain warehouses and do their best to aid the disaster-stricken people! However, the officials from the southern region replied, There is no grain in the south. We earnestly request support from the court! During the morning court session, the Empress mmed the dragon throne with great force and angrily said, How dare they say there is no grain in the south? We have already investigated and found out that they have sufficient food, but the Prince of Southern Jiang has taken it all for military use! Please calm down, Your Majesty! The officials said in unison. How can I calm down? The Empress continued in anger, That Prince of Southern Jiang has ambitious ns and has been coveting my imperial throne! Even before sitting on that position, he has disregarded the people within his territory! If such a selfish and self-serving person ascends the throne, will there be any hope for the people in the world? Please calm down, Your Majesty! The officials repeated. We will discuss the matter of the Prince of Southern Jiangter. The most important thing now is to aid the disaster-stricken people! The Empress said with a headache, My esteemed ministers, since the Prince of Southern Jiang is not providing grain, what good strategies do you have? With that, her gaze fell upon Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of the Household. The Minister of the Household stood up and bowed, saying, Your Majesty, this year the weather in our country has been unpredictable, and the food harvest has been affected, resulting in a decrease of around 20%! In the Ministry of the Household, food reserves are limited, and it may be difficult for us to aid the millions of disaster-stricken people! The Empresss expression darkened. The Minister of the Household continued, Moreover, Your Majesty, our capital city is quite far from the south. Even with the fastest horses, it would still take two days to arrive! Even if we transport the grain there now, Im afraid it will already be toote! Sigh! The Empress let out a heavy sigh. Her gaze unconsciously turned away from Lin Beifan, filled with a hint of anticipation. However, it quickly dimmed again. Even if he was incredibly clever and full of strategies, what use was it now? What theycked was food. Without food, everything was just empty talk. Could he conjure food out of thin air? He was human, not a god! Just then, a soldier rushed in hurriedly. Report! The Prince of Southern Jiang and the officials of Southern Jiang have driven all the disaster-stricken people out of the Southern Jiang region! At the same time, they loudly proim that there is food in the capital! If they want to survive, they should go to the capital to beg for food! Bang! The Empress was enraged again: What a ruthless Prince of Southern Jiang! What a poisonous scheme! This scheme is indeed ruthless! Gao Tianyao, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, sighed helplessly. The Prince of Southern Jiang is clearly throwing the burden of millions of people onto our court! If we ignore it, we will undoubtedly lose the support of the people, and the court will be in danger! If we intervene and open the granaries to aid the disaster victims, we might save them, but we will lose a significant amount of food! If a war breaks out or we encounter other issues, it will be extremely detrimental to us! Other officials nodded in agreement. Yes, this scheme is extremely ruthless! Whether we intervene or not, we will suffer losses! We either lose the support of the people or lose our food! Either way, its disadvantageous to our court. What should we do? The officials were troubled, and the Empress was even more troubled: My esteemed ministers, do you have any good strategies? This The officials shook their heads one after another. Your Majesty, there is something I must say! Li, the Minister of the Ministry of War, stepped forward. Minister Li, what do you have to say? the Empress asked. Your Majesty, currently, the major vassal kings are militarizing and there are external countries eyeing us. Our court is in a precarious state, and its highly dangerous! Therefore, we must ensure an ample food supply to cope with any adversity! If we use this food to aid the disaster victims now, we will at most gain some good reputation! What use is that to us? Can we eat reputation as food? No, we cannot! The major vassal kings will still fight if they have to, and other countries will continue to eye our court, waiting for an opportunity to strike! So, we must weigh the two harms and choose the lighter one we must preserve the food! As for the disaster victims, we can only leave it to fate! The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Zhao, was furious: Minister Li, do you want us to abandon the disaster victims? Have you forgotten everything youve learned from the teachings of sages? Are you still a human being? Minister Zhao, I understand your anger very well! But now, getting angry wont help! A countryes before family; if we cant even protect our country, how can we protect our people? Minister Li raised his voice and questioned, If we fail to do so and the country perishes, wont it result in the sacrifice of not just a million disaster victims but tens of millions ofmon people? Minister Zhao, can you bear that loss? This Minister Zhao was speechless, angrily retreating. Moreover, even if we try to help now, can we actually save them? Minister Li said loudly. We are over 800 miles away from Southern Jianh. Even if we rush food there, it will take at least 10 days, and by then, the people will have starved to death. Tell me, how can we save them? Can we actually save them? Everyone was left speechless by his questions. Minister Li bowed and said, Your Majesty, pardon my blunt words, but at this point, the disaster victims are no longer human! They are so hungry that they would eat anything without regard for decency, behaving like beasts! Therefore, we must prioritize national affairs. Its better to let these people fend for themselves and perish! The officials sighed one after another, and the Empress closed her eyes in pain. The court fell into silence. Just then, a loud voice rang through the court. I believe that we should save the disaster victims! Chapter 220: Lin Beifan, the Imperial Envoy! Chapter 220: Lin Beifan, the Imperial Envoy! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The Empresss eyes lit up because the one who spoke these words was her most trusted minister, Lin Beifan. Whenever he spoke, he could always get to the core of the matter and bring hope. Sir Lin, what is your opinion? Speak up quickly! the Empress urged. Lin Beifan spoke loudly, I believe that the disaster-stricken people must be rescued, and immediately! Theres no time to dy! If we dont save them, the country will fall into chaos, and Great Wu will face destruction! The atmosphere in the court changed drastically, and many officials chastised him. Sir Lin, do you know what youre saying? How dare you say that our country will fall into chaos and be destroyed? These are just fear-mongering and deceiving words! Abandoning a group of disaster-stricken people, can it really shake the foundation of our dynasty? Sir Lin, you should choose your words carefully! Wouldnt you apologize to Her Majesty? The Empresss expression also turned unpleasant, but due to her long-standing trust in Lin Beifan, she calmly said, My dear ministers, please calm down and listen to Sir Lins exnation first! The court finally quieted down. Your Majesty, I am not fear-mongering; there is indeed a serious matter at hand! Lin Beifan spoke loudly. Just now, Minister Li from the Ministry of War made a very pertinent point. The starving disaster-stricken people have lost their humanity. They resort to cannibalism to survive, disregarding all principles and ethics. At this moment, how can we expect these disaster-stricken people to still respect the court and itsws? Could it be that they would rebel? The officials expressions slightly changed. Lin Beifan continued, In Tangzhou, 30,000 soldiers rebelled and turned to banditry because they were deprived of their military pay and couldnt even afford food. What about this group of disaster-stricken people who are on the brink of losing their lives? They consider food as their top priority! They cant even afford to eat, let alone survive. What else can they do? They have no choice but to rebel! If they dont, they can only wait for a slow death! But if they rebel, perhaps there is a glimmer of hope! Let me ask all of you present here, if you were in their shoes, what would you choose? Would you rebel or not? Lin Beifan loudly questioned the officials in the court, his voice shaking the audience. Any official targeted by Lin Beifan couldnt help but avoid his gaze, their eyes flickering uneasily. The situation is already evidentthey will rebel! Once they do, the resulting chaos will be beyond the scope of food supplies! They will inevitably storm the viges and towns, resorting to arson, murder, looting, and plundering anything they cany their hands on! At that time, the number of affected people will not be just a million, but possibly several million, even tens of millions! Countless lives will be in misery, and the people will be in dire straits! All the major princes and neighboring empires will undoubtedly seize such a perfect opportunity to attack our dynasty! At this point, we have lost the support of the people and are betrayed by them. We are incapable of resisting the powerful external forces, and facing such internal and external threats Lin Beifan scanned the entire audience. I would like to ask Your Majesty and all the officials: Can our court still hold on? Will you be able to continue enjoying your current luxurious lifestyle, standing tall andmanding the country as you do now? Everyones face became solemn, filled with fear and anxiety. The court was the foundation of their status! Without the protection of the court, they wouldnt be able to enjoy all they have now! They might not even be able to keep their lives! The Empresss expression also became serious! Although she had some strategies in mind, dealing with such a crisis was still challenging! If she failed, it would be over, with no chance for regrets! Lin Beifan spoke loudly, Our court is currently in great turmoil, perilous at every step. We really cannot afford to make any mistakes! Once we make a mistake, the enemy will seize the opportunity! So, please Your Majesty, think carefully, and all of you, think carefully! Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, eased his tone, But how can we save them? Our capital is too far from Jiangnan. Even if we start preparing food now, it will take at least ten days, and the disaster-stricken people will have starved to death by then! Yes, its not that we dont want to save them, but theres really no way! Even if the food arrives, the people will be almost dead by then. Its toote! The Empress looked at Lin Beifan with hope in her eyes. Sir Lin, do you have any solution? Lin Beifan bowed and said, Your Majesty, the Prince of Southern Jiang has been propagating that the capital has ample food supplies, inviting the disaster-stricken people toe here for relief. We can request the local officials along the way to aid the disaster victims! Though their food supplies might be limited, providing one or two meals is still possible, which can sustain them for two or three days! In addition, we must act swiftly to transport relief food by using air-cushion boats. One route will head north, and the other will go south! This way, we have a chance to gather midway and provide relief to the disaster-stricken people! This is the best solution at present. I implore Your Majesty to consider it carefully! The Empress nodded, The army values speed! Where is Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Household? Here! The Minister of Household stepped forward. Immediately open the granaries and distribute relief food to the disaster-stricken people! I obey! The Minister of Household said loudly. Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, are you here? Here! The Minister of War stepped forward. Quickly set up air-cushion boats to transport food and dispatch soldiers to guard along the way! I obey! The Minister of War said loudly. Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, are you here? Here! In this manner, the Empress orderly issuedmands. After arranging everything, her gaze fell on a slender figure in the court. She said, This time, Sir Lin will be in charge of the relief effort! Appoint Lin Beifan, the Prefect of Dedian, and the Principal of the Imperial Academy, as the Imperial Envoy responsible for all aspects of disaster relief! Armed with the royal sword, he will have the authority to act in our name without awaiting approval! I obey! Lin Beifan epted the order. He then received the royal sword bestowed by the Empress and hurriedly began to arrange the relief efforts. Watching Lin Beifans hurried figure, the Empress murmured, My minister, do not disappoint me! At this moment, everyones interests in the court were at stake, and no one was negligent. The actions were swift. Cart after cart of grain was transported from the granaries and delivered to the river in the capital. There, numerous air-cushion boats had already been assembled, forming a vast floatingnd connected by iron cables. The grain was loaded onto the air-cushion boats, and they set off southward to provide relief to the disaster-stricken people. Now, they were racing against time, and speed was of the essence! Alright, the food on this boat is enough for the disaster-stricken people to eat for two days. Speed is crucial. Set off immediately! You continue transporting food and stop at various states and prefectures along the coast, preparing to aid the disaster victims! Yes, Sir! After everything was arranged, Lin Beifan jumped onto the air-cushion boat and shouted, Sail! The sail on the air-cushion boat was hoisted, and aided by the wind, it slowly departed from the capital. At that moment, Lin Beifan waved his hand, and a strong wind rushed in, propelling the air-cushion boat forward rapidly. Simultaneously, the river beneath Lin Beifans feet elerated as well. Thebination of both factors increased the air-cushion boats speed by more than double! In some waterways, it was even twice as fast! This situation was quickly noticed by everyone. Why is the boat so fast? Whats going on? Lin Beifan shouted, This is Heavens will! Heaven blesses Great Wu! Heaven blesses the people of Great Wu! Keep going day and night, full speed ahead! Yes, Sir! Everyones spirits were lifted, and they responded in unison. With the Heavens will banner, everyone united as one and sped forward with full force. The distance between Southern Jiang and the capital was over 800 li (about 400 kilometers). Even if they traveled day and night through waterways, they could cover around 80 li (about 40 kilometers) per day, and it was estimated to take about 10 days. If the disaster-stricken people were moving northward, it would take seven to eight days for the two parties to meet. This was already considered quite smooth! However, now, in just three days, they had crossed over 600 li (about 300 kilometers)! This is truly an unreplicable miracle! All of this can only be attributed to Heavens will. The Old Deity is blessing us, unaware that someone is secretly meddling. Lin Beifan also let out a sigh of relief and smiled, In half a day, we will reach Huazhou, where most of the disaster-stricken people are! Quickly notify the Prefect of Huazhou to light fires and boil water. As soon as our food arrives, we can start cooking porridge! Yes, Sir! Themander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard received the order and quickly rode off on arge horse. At this moment, beside the banks of Huazhou. The Prefect of Huazhou looked at the group of disced and emaciated disaster-stricken people, heaved a deep sigh, and the grain was already gone! Four days ago, after receiving the disaster relief mission, he immediately gathered food and provided relief to the victims. However, as a local government, the amount of food he had was limited, and it couldnt sustain a million disaster-stricken people at all. They could only provide one meal per person per day, and each meal was only a bowl of thin porridge with very little rice, barely enough to prevent starvation but not enough to satisfy hunger. In order to keep his official position and save face, he had to use some means, even extracting food from wealthy families. They even collected husks and bran to feed the victims. This could only support them for three days. Now, they had run out of food, and the disaster-stricken people had been starving for a day and were refusing to move any further. If one more day passed and the relief food didnt arrive, there could be unpredictable consequences! Disaster-stricken people who couldnt survive would resort to anything! However, he also knew that the capital was too far from here! Even if the food was transported from there, it would take at least seven or eight days, and it would be toote for everything! His official position was also at its end, and whether he could survive or not was unknown! What should I do? The Prefect looked distressed, and his hair had turned white from worry. Just at that moment, a Embroidered Uniform Guard rode in on a high-headed horse at full speed. As he rode, he shouted loudly, Report! There is still an hour left, and the relief food from the court will arrive! Please start the fires and boil water immediately. As soon as the food arrives, we can start cooking! The Prefect of Huazhou was shocked, thinking he might be hearing things. He hurriedly went up to meet the Embroidered Uniform Guard and asked, So fast? The relief food from the court will arrive in just an hour? Youre not ying tricks on me, are you? The Embroidered Uniform Guard looked displeased, Why would I deceive you? This is military intelligence. Who dares to report false military intelligence? Id be risking my life! The Prefect was overjoyed, Excellent! Excellent! Is the food transferred from another ce? The Embroidered Uniform Guard replied, No, itsing directly from the capital! The Prefect was confused, From the capital How is that possible? Even if it flies, it cant arrive that quickly! The Embroidered Uniform Guard impatiently waved his hand, Stop talking nonsense and quickly light the fires and boil the water! If you dy the matter, I will report it! The Prefect clenched his teeth and shouted loudly, Start the fires and boil the water immediately! Chapter 221: We Fear No Opponents Ahead! Chapter 221: We Fear No Opponents Ahead! 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Under the order of the Prefect, all the officials immediately sprang into action. The famished surrounding victims saw this scene and a glimmer of hope ignited within them. Are they setting up fires and cooking? Does that mean theres food? Great! We wont have to go hungry anymore! But where is the grain? Where is it? Where is the grain? Facing the hopeful gaze of the victims, the Prefect nced at the nearby Embroidered Uniform Guard and reluctantly said, ording to this Embroidered Uniform Guard officials words, the imperial disaster relief grain will arrive in about an hour! Everyone, please remain calm and be patient a little longer. Soon, there will be food! The imperial disaster relief grain ising?! Fantastic! We can finally eat to our hearts content! I was afraid we wouldnt make it! The victims cheered with excitement. As such, everyone waited with eyes wide open. Each minute and second felt agonizingly long. Time flies normally in an hour, but under the current circumstances, it felt so protracted, making everyones wait unbearable. With their hearts set on it, they finally saw, on the other side of the river, a massive fleeting steadily towards them. The fleet upied almost the entire river, led by Mo Hongshou and fully loaded. Although the fleet was enormous, its speed was astonishingly fast. Even the escorting soldiers on the shore had to ride their horses to catch up with it. The Embroidered Uniform Guard official shouted loudly, and his voice spread across the whole scene, This is our imperial grain delivery fleet! The ships are filled with grain, enough to relieve millions of victims! The victims became even more excited. The grain has finally arrived! Haha! What a massive ship! It must be loaded with grain! We can eat to our hearts content now! Even the Prefect of Huazhou breathed a sigh of relief. The imperial grain had finally arrived, and the victims would no longer starve. Half of his burden was lifted. Fellow vigers, the imperial grain has arrived, and everyone will have food to eat! Now, please dont rush, maintain order, and line up! Once the porridge is cooked, we will immediately distribute the grain! Everyone formed a long queue, waiting for the grain distribution. The hovercraft, carrying the expectations of the people, gently docked at the shore. As soon as it docked, Lin Beifan waved his hand, and the people on the ship immediately began unloading the grain. The officials on the shore, who were already prepared, took the grain and put it into the boiling water to cook porridge. The porridge cooked quickly, and in less than half an incense sticks time, the aroma of rice wafted through the air, indicating that it was ready to be eaten. As a result, the waiting victims excitedly lined up to receive their porridge. This rice smells heavenly! Its soforting to eat! Sir, could you please give me a bit more? Ive been hungry for two consecutive days! Sir, I have three children at home, all growing up. Can I have a bit more? While the officials were distributing porridge, one of them said, Rest assured! Everyone will have enough food, the grain supply is sufficient! At this moment, the Prefect of Huazhou approached Lin Beifan with a smile, and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, You must be the imperial envoy, Lin Beifan, the Vice Governor of Dedian Prefecture, and the Principal of the Imperial Academy, right? Haha, Ive heard about you for a long time! Lin Beifan smiled and replied, You are correct, thats me! And you must be the local Prefect, right? The Prefect bowed again, I am Li Yuanyou, the Prefect of Huazhou, paying respects to Lord Lin! Mr. Li, we are both appointed officials of the court, serving Her Majesty, no need to be so polite! Lin Beifan extended his hand and embraced the Prefect, saying with a smile, Seeing your exhausted appearance, youve worked hard these days! Youre absolutely right! The Prefect smiled bitterly, pouring out his grievances, These days, I havent returned home for three days, working hard to settle the victims and ensure they have something to eat. However, despite all my efforts, I still couldnt gather enough grain. If you hadnt arrived in time, I wouldnt know what to do! I can tell, I can tell! Being able to hold on for four days, Mr. Li, you must have exerted tremendous effort, and its definitely not easy! I will report to the court and make amendation on your behalf! Lin Beifan said with a smile. The Prefect was delighted and thanked him, Thank you, Sir Lin! But I have a question. The distance from the capital to this ce is about 800 miles! Even if you travel day and night by boat, it should take eight or nine days! How did you manage to arrive in less than four days? Because we had the heavens help! Lin Beifan pointed at the sky, Since we boarded the ship, a north wind has been blowing from the north to the south! Coupled with the hidden currents in the water, we relied on the assistance of wind and water to travel southward quickly! No wonder! The heavens have shown mercy and blessings! The Prefect was extremely excited. At this moment, a few individuals disguised as victims among the crowd had gloomy expressions while watching the long queue of people receiving porridge. This is not good. The imperial grain has arrived, and the princes n is ruined! Yes, who knew the imperial forces would be this fast? Its only been three days, and theyve already delivered the grain. What should we do now? If we cantplete the mission, the prince will punish us! Lets wait and see if we can incite a riot! They stopped discussing further and continued pretending to be victims, lining up to receive their porridge. After about two hours, all the victims had received their porridge and eaten their fill. Though they were only about 40-50% full, they were already satisfied and no longer in such dire straits. Moreover, with so much grain from the imperial supply, they no longer had to worry about going hungry in the future. With hopees direction. At this time, the Prefect of Huazhou called Lin Beifan over and loudly proimed, Fellow vigers, allow me to introduce someone! Standing by my side is this remarkable and distinguished young man, the imperial envoy sent by the court for disaster relief! He is Lin Beifan, the Vice Governor of Dedian Prefecture, the Principal of the Imperial Academy, and a high-ranking official in the court! The scene erupted in an uproar! They hadnt expected that this young official before them was an imperial envoy sent by the court! And not only that, but he also held multiple prestigious positions, including the Vice Governor of Dedian Prefecture, the Principal of the Imperial Academy, and a high-ranking official in the court Each title was remarkably significant! Next, let Sir Lin say a few words! The Prefect led the apuse. p, p, p Apuse resounded throughout the mountains. Amidst everyones anticipation, Lin Beifan spoke loudly, Fellow countrymen from Southern Jiang, Her Majesty and the court have been deeply concerned about the continuous heavy rain in Southern Jiang. The court has repeatedly issued orders to urge local officials to perform disaster relief work, with the preservation of peoples lives as the top priority! However, fate is beyond human control, and the dreaded cmity of flooding still urred! Upon hearing that millions of people were disced, Her Majesty felt heartbroken and immediately ordered to open the granaries and use the entire nations strength to aid the victims! The distance from the capital to Huazhou is a total of 800 miles! From opening the granaries to transporting the grain to Huazhou, if everything goes smoothly, it would take at least eight to nine days! However, we managed to do it in just four days! Wow! Everyone was greatly astonished, and the whole scene buzzed with excitement. Four days to cover 800 miles! An average of 200 miles per day! And they had to transport enough grain for one million people! Just thinking about it, one could understand the difficulties involved! It was almost an impossible task! Yet, the court had miraculously aplished it! A persons irreplicable miracle! Many people became excited, their hearts filled with fervor. Lin Beifan loudly proimed, The reason I am sharing all this with you is to let everyone know that Her Majesty has never forgotten you! The court has never forgotten you! You may be in Southern Jiang, but you are still the people of Great Wu! As long as you are the people of Great Wu, our Emperor and the court will keep you in their hearts! We will never abandon any Great Wu citizen! Nor will we forsake any Great Wu resident! So, no matter the cost, Great Wu will spare no effort to rescue all of you! Even if it seems impossible, we will still strive to achieve it! Regardless of the price or loss, we will aplish it! Our Emperor and the court are your strongest support! Lin Beifan raised his arm and shouted, Long live Her Majesty! Long live the court! Long live Great Wu! Everyone was moved, joining Lin Beifan in an enthusiastic chorus. Long live Her Majesty! Long live the court! Long live Great Wu! Their voices thundered, resounding through the sky! The Prefect standing behind also saw this and was filled with admiration. He followed suit, loudly cheering along. He nced at the young figure beside him, filled with admiration. No wonder he managed to rise to a high position within less than a year, gaining favor from both the court and the Empress. His eloquence is truly remarkable! In just a few words, he ignited everyones fighting spirit and significantly boosted the courts reputation! Incredible! Although we are facing difficulties right now, Lin Beifan continued to shout, these challenges are only temporary, and nothing can defeat us! Because we are proud citizens of Great, behind us, we have our wise and martial Emperor, officials in the court who petition for the people, and the entire country! Though the road may be arduous, it is not to be feared! Though the path may be winding, hope lies ahead! My fellow countrymen, let us unite as one, stand strong together, and march forward with our heads held high! Nothing can conquer us! Lin Beifan raised his arm high and proimed, We fear no opponents ahead!!! We fear no opponents ahead! We fear no opponents ahead! Everyone seemed hypnotized, fervently shouting. One wave after another, the momentum surged, deafeningly loud! An unprecedented sense of confidence and determination surged within their hearts, as well as trust in the Empress and the court! The hidden individuals who had been scheming witnessed this scene with their ns copsing! Everyone had been swayed, fully embracing the courts cause, wholeheartedly following the Empresssmands. How could they still cause any disruptions? They had driven these million victims out to burden the court, not to strengthen it. If these one million victims sided with the court, their long-nned schemes would be ruined. At this moment, a sharp voice sounded, Stop spewing nonsense! Everyone, dont listen to him! Chapter 222: The True Bully is the Southern Jiang Prince, So Hate Him! Chapter 222: The True Bully is the Southern Jiang Prince, So Hate Him! The voice was extremely sharp, instantly piercing through the entire hall! Everyone was astonished and turned their heads to see who had the audacity to utter such outrageous words. They found a burly man with a darkplexion standing out from the crowd. He pointed at Lin Beifan with great anger and said, This official is simply talking nonsense! Does the Empress care about us? Does the court care about us? Its all a joke! Think about the grievances weve suffered over the years! For years, weve been working diligently, farming thend, abiding by thew, and not causing trouble. But what have we received in return? Excessive taxes, harsh corveebor, endless oppression! We are bullied by the privileged, and when we seek justice from the officials, they turn a blind eye to our life and death! They protect each other, shelter the privileged, and only bully us, extorting money from us! Think about it, where was the Empress back then? Where were the court officials? Have they ever considered us? At this moment, everyones hearts wavered. Yes, over the years, where was the Empress? Where were the court officials? Do we just let go of so much injustice like this? Everyone fell into silence. The dark-faced man continued to shout in anger, Dont sell your lives to them just for a few favors! They should provide us with grain because its our tax, our blood and sweat! Have we not paid enough taxes over the years? I see it clearly; the court is simply afraid of us causing trouble, so they had no choice but to open the granaries! They only care about their own positions and power; they absolutely do not care about us! In this great Wu court, there is not a single good person! The Empress is a foolish ruler, and all the officials are corrupt! The officials and soldiers on the scene changed their expressions. Shut up! How dare you nder the Holy Empress! Come, seize this man! Lin Beifan waved his hand and smiled, Everyone, calm down. Let me reason with him first. The officials and soldiers stopped their steps and didnt act. Lin Beifan smiled faintly and asked, May I ask your name and hometown, brave warrior? Whats the point? Do you want to investigate me? Ill tell you without fear. I am called Big ck Bull, just a small farmer from Southern Jiang. Im all alone in this world, so Im not afraid of death! I just cant stand the way you officials behavesaying one thing and doing another, putting on a facade while secretly extorting money. So I couldnt help but expose your true colors! the dark-faced man sneered. Lin Beifan asked, Have you ever been to the capital city? Im just a humble farmer, busy with farming and tilling thend all day long. I havent even left my local vige much, so how could I have had a chance to go to the capital city? Honorable officer, youre asking such questions. Are you confused? the dark-faced man scoffed. Lin Beifan smiled, Then Im very puzzled! Since you have never been to the capital city, and you havent even left your local vige much, guarding just your own little plot ofnd, how did youe to the conclusion that the Empress is a foolish ruler and the court officials are corrupt? This I heard it from others! the dark-faced man hesitated. Lin Beifan pressed on, Who did you hear it from? I cant remember who exactly, but someone told me! Honorable officer, are you intentionally changing the subject by pursuing this question? the dark-faced man argued. Lin Beifan smiled again, Big ck Bull, your words are truly ridiculous! As the saying goes, without practice, one has no right to speak! Since you havent even been to the capital city and cant even remember who you heard it from, you actually use someone elses words to refute my words, iming that the Empress is a foolish ruler and the court officials are corrupt But arent those other peoples words also fabricated? Cant others twist the truth? Lin Beifan shook his head, Big ck Bull, I really dont know what to say to you! You are willing to believe the words of a passerby you cant even remember, but you dont want to believe my words! Did you have a momentarypse of judgment a few days ago? Is your mind filled with mush, leading you to say such nonsensical words? Hahaha! Many people burst intoughter. This retort was just too ssic, using their own argument against them! Well, well, well The dark-faced man became increasingly angry and embarrassed. But, over the years, weve been bullied by officials and the privileged, and that cant be fake, right? I have so many fellow vigers here, and they can all testify! Lin Beifan asked, Let me ask you, which official bullied you? Jiangzhou Prefect! replied Big ck Bull. Lin Beifan asked, Where is he from? He is an official from Southern Jiang! answered Big ck Bull. Lin Beifan asked, Why did he bully you? For no reason, he just bullied me and wanted to extort money from me! said Big ck Bull. Lin Beifan asked, In Southern Jiang, who is the highest authority? Of course, its His Royal Highness, the Southern Jiang Prince! answered Big ck Bull. Lin Beifan asked, If you were the prefect, would you listen to the Southern Jiang Princes orders? Of course I would! replied Big ck Bull. Lin Beifan asked, And all the officials in Southern Jiang, do they listen to the Southern Jiang Princes orders? Of course they do! said Big ck Bull. So, who is the one truly bullying you? Lin Beifan asked. Of course, its the Southern Jiang Prince No, its not like that! Big ck Bull became somewhat flustered. Why cant it be like that? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Look here, not only are there people from Jiangzhou, but also from Nanzhou and Hezhou. Without exception, they are allmon people from Southern Jiang, and all of them have been oppressed! The fact that they are all gathered here can only indicate that the entire bureaucratic system in Southern Jiang is corrupted! As the saying goes, A rotten fish stinks from the head. Its because the Southern Jiang Prince didnt manage his subordinates properly, and even indulged them, that you have suffered so much hardship! Therefore, all along, the one truly bullying you is the Southern Jiang Prince, not the Empress, not the court officials! If you want to resent someone, you should resent the Southern Jiang Prince, not the Empress, not the court officials! The whole scene was in an uproar! But when they thought about what Lin Beifan said, they couldnt deny the truth of it! In the entire Southern Jiang, the Southern Jiang Prince held the highest authority! All the officials in Southern Jiang followed the Southern Jiang Princes orders! Their corruption, bribery, mutual protection, and oppression of the people were all done under the Southern Jiang Princesmand or with his protection, allowing them to act recklessly! So, the real root of the problem was in the Southern Jiang Prince! It had nothing to do with the Empress! It had nothing to do with the court officials! The dark-faced man was sweating profusely. It cant be like that, it cant be like that Why cant it be like that? The officials in Southern Jiang are ultimately officials of the court, so they should all listen to the Empress, right? Youre saying the mountain is high and the Emperor is far away! Lin Beifan said with a smile, Its 800 miles away from here to the capital city. It takes a day and night to deliver an urgent message over that distance. Its easy to deceive the Empress in such a situation. Theres a chance to escape if you offend her. But if you offend the Southern Jiang Prince, theres no way you can escape! So, if you were in their shoes, would you listen to the Empress or the Southern Jiang Prince? This, the dark-faced man was left speechless. He tried to stir up trouble again, Our Prince is wise and martial, caring for the people. Hes definitely not the way you described him! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Alright, since you say the Southern Jiang Prince is wise and martial, caring for the people, then why doesnt he open the granaries for the millions of Southern Jiang people who are now homeless? Because theres no grain! answered the dark-faced man. How did he manage to support his 600,000-strong army? Well Lin Beifan blinked, Looking at it from a different perspective, isnt he willing to let millions of people in his jurisdiction starve to death rather than lose a single soldier from his private army? Isnt that what he means? I Can you please stop saying more? The dark-faced man became angry and embarrassed. The more Lin Beifan talked, the more his masters reputation would be ruined. How could he exin this when he returned to his master? So, everything is clear now! Lin Beifan loudly addressed the disaster victims. Its the Southern Jiang Prince who abandoned you! Over the years, all the taxes and grain you paid were used by the Southern Jiang Prince to maintain his private army! But when you needed help, he didnt even want to provide a single grain of rice! He drove you out of Southern Jiang and watched you starve to death! All the oppression and grievances you suffered over the years were caused by the Southern Jiang Prince, not our court, and not the Empress! So, all this time, youve been hating the wrong people! But at the critical moment, our Empress and the court disregarded past grievances, opened the granaries, and provided relief for you! The difference between the two sides is clear! With such great imperial favor, shouldnt you feel grateful? Is this how you treat those who show you kindness? The disaster victims knelt down one after another, feeling guilty and crying. I was wrong! All this time, I med the good people! Your Majesty, I was wrong! Your Majesty, please forgive me! Only the dark-faced man and a few others remained standing, looking very out of ce. Lin Beifan pointed at the dark-faced man and said, Capture them, dead or alive! Yes, sir! The court experts moved forward. The dark-faced man and hispanions, seeing that their scheme had been exposed, quickly jumped up to a height of several meters and tried to escape into the wilderness. The disaster victims, however, could see through their ruse. Someone with such great martial skills couldnt possibly be a disaster victim. With those skills, they could easily hunt animals in the forest to feed themselves, so why would they need relief from the court? Being amongst the disaster victims, they clearly had ulterior motives! Feeling even more ashamed, the disaster victims saw through their deception. In the end, due to being outnumbered, the dark-faced man and hispanions were captured and brought back. Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, Kill those who spread deceitful words to deceive the masses! Yes, sir! Cracking sounds echoed as several heads fell to the ground. Chapter 223: A Divine Figure Descends, Punishing the Prince of Southern Jiang! Chapter 223: A Divine Figure Descends, Punishing the Prince of Southern Jiang! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Following that, Lin Beifan allowed the disaster victims to rest properly. Early the next morning, they would continue their journey towards the capital. On that evening, the Prefect of Huazhou warmly entertained Lin Beifan in the prefectural office. When the night grew quiet, Lin Beifan quietly left his room and soared into the sky with a whoosh. He extended his hand, summoning a gust of fierce wind. Riding the wind, Lin Beifan flew towards Southern Jiang, a hundred li away. In Southern Jiang, at the royal pce, neither the Prince of Southern Jiang nor his courtiers had gone to sleep. The Prince had just received news from Huazhou, and he was infuriated. His face turned ashen, and his bby body trembled uncontrobly as he mmed the table and stood up, I never expected the imperial relief grain to arrive so quickly! It was supposed to take eight or nine days, but it arrived in just three days, ruining my ns! This is truly outrageous! Your Highness, please calm down! The courtiers spoke in unison. And that Lin Beifan, he deserves to die! Prince of Southern Jiang fumed, He publicly ndered me, causing me to lose face and reputation in front of millions! I wont be at ease until hes dead! The Prince had grievances against Lin Beifan since he had taken away nearly ten million liang from him over time. Though the Prince was wealthy, he couldnt bear such a hefty sumten million liang was a significant amount. It had even affected his military preparations. However, he had tolerated all of that. But now, not only did Lin Beifan disrupt his ns, he also publicly insulted him in front of countless people. This damaged his reputation and was intolerable. Guards, find an opportunity to kill Lin Beifan! The Prince of Southern Jiang dered loudly. Your Highness, please calm down! Lin Beifan now holds a high position and has considerable influence. Killing him might provide temporary satisfaction, but it would be detrimental to many of our ns. Hes more useful to us alive! When he loses his value in the future, it wont be toote to kill him! Wang Fugui quickly spoke, bowing respectfully. The anger on the Princes face eased slightly, and Wang Fugui continued, Actually, it was also because of Big ck Bull and the others impulsiveness that things escted. If they hadnt intervened, none of this would have happened. They brought this upon themselves! The Prince of Southern Jiang finally spoke in a softer tone, So, youre suggesting we just let it go? Im full of anger, and I cant seek revenge? Your Highness, seeking revenge is only natural! As the chosen one, anyone who disrespects you should be punished. However, killing him wouldnt be wise. We can teach him a profound lesson instead! Wang Fugui said in a low voice. What profound lesson? The Prince asked. Wang Fugui smiled cunningly, Your Highness, the million sacks of relief grain from the imperial court are less than a hundred li away from us in Southern Jiang! We can easily seize them and use them as our military provisions! The Princes eyes brightened, Youre right! For an ambitious person, there could never be too much food. This grain was enough to support a million disaster-stricken peopleit had to be seized entirely! Moreover, Your Highness, they used an air-cushion ship to transport the relief grain! Wang Fugui continued, The effectiveness of this air-cushion ship has been demonstrated, easily transporting a million sacks of grain from the capital to Huazhou in less than four days. There must be some clever design involved! Who wouldnt want to possess such a watercraft treasure? Our air-cushion ships havent made much progress, but if we could get our hands on this one, it would undoubtedly be a great boost! So, Your Highness, we can take advantage of this opportunity and seize the air-cushion ship! The Princes eyes sparkled even more, Youre absolutely right! Well also snatch the air-cushion ship! The Prince of Southern Jiang was extremely excited, A million sacks of grain right before us, and the watercraft treasure, the air-cushion ship, right before us too! What does this signify? It means even the heavens are on my side! Great things areing, and great things can be expected! Congrattions, Your Highness! Congrattions, Your Highness! Everyone congratted in unison. Haha! The Prince of Southern Jiangughed triumphantly, I really have to thank Lin Beifan this time! If it werent for him, I wouldnt have had the chance to acquire so many good things. So, lets spare his life for now! Your Highness is wise! Wang Fugui said loudly. When given a chance, one should seize it; if not, one will suffer the consequences! Arrange a team immediately; tomorrow morning, set off to seize the grain and the air-cushion ship for me! Ill toast to your triumphant return! The Princes face was full of joy. Yes, Your Highness! They all responded. Unaware of everything, Lin Beifan overhead all they said from the rooftop. Lin Beifan raised an eyebrow, You want to steal my grain, steal my ship, and you almost wanted my life? Your Highness, Ill give you a special gift in return! His body floated away, and he arrived silently in the grain storehouse of the Prince of Southern Jiang. Gazing at the room filled with sacks of grain, his eyes turned cold. Since I cant take it away, then Ill destroy it all! A powerful me emanated from Lin Beifan, instantly engulfing the entire warehouse. The grain crackled and burned. Themotion quickly caught the attention of the guards watching over the storehouse, and they shouted loudly: Fire! Fire! The storehouse is on fire, lets put it out! Quick, bring buckets of water! The guards rushed into action, carrying buckets of water and desperately trying to extinguish the mes. However, at that moment, strong winds started blowing from the sky, fanning the mes and making the fire burn even more fiercely. Eventually, not only the warehouse Lin Beifan set on fire was burning, but the other warehouses nearby also caught fire. The ze raged on, and the mes soared high, visible throughout the entire city. Fire! Hurry, put out the fire! Such a huge fire, a sight we rarely see in decades! Whats burning over there? It seems to be the grain warehouses! Shortly after, the Prince of Southern Jiang hurriedly arrived at the scene. As he looked at the burning warehouses, his face turned dark, and he almost couldnt stand properly. He shouted loudly, Put out the fire! Theres grain inside, hurry and put out the fire! Despite the efforts of over ten thousand soldiers, they couldnt extinguish the mes. In the end, the fire burned for a day and a night before it was finally put out. The Prince of Southern Jiang stared at the charred remnants of the grain, his eyes vacant, and he copsed weakly, saying, Its over! Everything is over! The news of this incident quickly spread far and wide, shocking all the forces across thend. The grain warehouses of the Prince of Southern Jiang werepletely burned down! The fire was too mysterious! It was freezing cold outside, and it had rained before, making the air moist. Yet, a fire could still break out under such conditionsit was strange! Moreover, even with tens of thousands of people using water, they couldnt put out the fire! Was it an ident, or was it intentional? Some said it was neither idental nor intentional; it was divine punishment! On that day, someone witnessed a figure in the fiery sky, floating high above like a god or a demon, silently gazing at the massive fire. The Prince of Southern Jiang abandoned a million disaster-stricken people,mitting an unforgivable crime! This angered the divine figure, who then brought down divine punishment! Regardless of the rumors, this great fire was a cause for celebration for many. In the northern region, at the royal pce of the Northern Hebei Prince: The Northern Hebei Princeughed heartily, Brother, oh brother, you finally meet your downfall! Although youre rich, what good is wealth alone? Without grain, how can you sustain arge army? How can youpete with me? Truly, the heavens are assisting Your Highness! The strategist Zhuge spoke tteringly. Haha! The Northern Hebei Prince continued tough triumphantly. In the western region, at the royal pce of the Wuxi Duke: The Wuxi Duke was alsoughing heartily. Since thest time he obtained the treasure from the nting moon, he hadntughed so genuinely. My imperial brother is truly kind to me! He must know how mncholy Ive been feeling, so he made this joke. Reciprocating the favor, go, bring a gift to my imperial brother! What gift, Your Highness? The strategist Fengchu asked. Just return the paper he gifted me! Haha! Yes, Your Highness! In the capital city, within the imperial pce: Upon learning this news, the Empress was also greatly excited and delighted. My good uncle, you refused to open the granaries and provide relief, and now theyre all burned down! Youve lost your reputation and your grain, and facing winter will be a problem! My good uncle, dont you feel trapped in your own making? Haha! Your Majestys words are indeed true, and heaven blesses our Great Wu! Themander of the Imperial Guards smiled, However, this fire is very peculiar. I n to continue investigating to find out the truth and report it to Your Majesty! The Empress smiled but said nothing. There was no need for an investigation; she already knew who did itit must be that little scoundrel, Lin Beifan! Just as Lin Beifan arrived in Huazhou, trouble arose! Only he possessed such terrifying strength, enabling him to enter heavily guarded granaries unnoticed and set fire to the grain! With a small move, he inflicted heavy losses on the Prince of Southern Jiang! Truly, he is the lucky star of our Great Wu! The Empress was secretly delighted, I must take good care of him when he returns! Meanwhile, the culprit, Lin Beifan, had already returned to Huazhou and continued to oversee disaster relief efforts. After cooking porridge and letting the victims have a hearty meal, they set off again towards the capital. Dont worry, we still have plenty of grain! When we finish the food on this boat, theres more ahead! We have arranged a lot of food along the riverbanks of each city. As long as we follow the river, well reach the next city and have a hot meal! Dont worry! Our court will absolutely not abandon or give up on anyone! Under Lin Beifans loud calls, everyone moved forward confidently. On both sides of the river, there were dense crowds, and soldiers were there to maintain order. Sitting on the air-cushion ship, Lin Beifan moved along the river, closely monitoring both sides. Suddenly, he noticed an old woman falling to the ground. A young man immediately bent down, Mother, let me carry you! Son, I have a leg ailment. I cant make it to the capital. Dont worry about me; go on your own! Mother, what are you saying? How can I leave you behind? He also saw a child panting for breath, lying on the ground. Mother, I cant walk any longer! A young woman, full of weariness in her eyes, said, Son, endure a little longer! Just hold on for two more hours, and well have food to eat! But, I really cant walk anymore. My feet are covered in blisters! Lin Beifan looked around and noticed many people had eaten their share of food, leaving many empty spots. He called out, There are seats on our boat! The elderly, weak, sick, and disabled can board! The young and strong can continue walking on the shore! The disaster victims were overjoyed. We can ride on the boat? Thats great! Sir, my mother has trouble walking. Please give her a seat! Sir, I have two young children Unfortunately, there were too few seats on the boat for the number of people in need. Lin Beifan called out again, Dont fight, take turns. Every two hours, well swap positions! In the end, the boat was full of people, carrying hope as they moved forward. Chapter 224: Building a New City and Accepting Disaster Victims! Chapter 224: Building a New City and epting Disaster Victims! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan looked at the countless disaster victims around him and felt that the current situation was not sufficient. It was bitterly cold, and everyones clothes were hardly providing any warmth. They were not adequately fed, and they had to travel such a long distance. During this journey, who knew how many people would perish. So, he called for the Embroidered Uniform Guards and said, Immediately inform the relief fleet ahead to unload the grain and send the ships to transport the disaster victims! Yes, my lord! The Embroidered Uniform Guard officer bowed and replied. Lin Beifan continued, Furthermore, Im afraid some people might take advantage of the situation to cause trouble. So, instruct them to assign experts to guard the food and air-cushioned boats. They cannot be careless at all. Understood? Yes, my lord! The Embroidered Uniform Guard officer received the orders and left. After receiving Lin Beifans orders, the Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately used special means to inform the fleet ahead. They followed themand, unloaded the grain, and headed south to transport the disaster victims. At first, there were only a few air-cushioned boats, which could only transport a few thousand people. However, gradually, more air-cushioned boats arrived, allowing them to transport arger number of victims. Along the river, the procession continued, and the disaster victims, though fleeing, felt that their journey became smoother and more rxed as they moved on. Each time they reached a new city, steaming hot porridge was ready to support them. After having the porridge, they could rest immediately, and once they were rested, they continued on without worries. Although everyone had their families with them, with the help of the air-cushioned boats, the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled were assisted, and this resolved the biggest concern for the disaster victims. With less pressure, the journey became easier, and the speed increased significantly. As time went on, more air-cushioned boats were avable. Many young and strong individuals had the opportunity to hitch a ride on these air-cushioned boats, catching a free ride. Thanks to these thoughtful arrangements, the casualties among the disaster victims were significantly reduced. Filled with hope, they all headed toward the capital city. Unconsciously, they drew closer and closer to the capital city. At the riverbank of the capital city, the Empress, civil and military officials, as well as the wealthy andmon people of the city, had already gathered, ready to wee the arrival of millions of disaster victims. They watched as the dense crowd poured in from one end of the river. Everyone was very excited. They have finally arrived! So many people! I heard that this time, during the mass migration of a million people, covering a distance of 800 miles, the deaths and injuries were less than 1,000! This is truly a miracle in the history of disaster relief! Yes, most of them died of old age or illness! Not a single person starved to death! Chief Minister, this is incredible! Amidst the discussions, the main group finally arrived before the Empress. Lin Beifan took the lead, bowed deeply, and said loudly, We pay our respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor, long live! All the disaster victims followed suit, bowing and shouting loudly, We pay our respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor, long live! Some even knelt down to express their sincere gratitude. The Empress spoke loudly, My people, rise and be at ease! Thank you, Your Majesty! they all said in unison. Lin Beifan reported loudly, I inform Your Majesty that I was ordered to go on a disaster relief mission, and the whole journey took 15 days, during which there was not a moment of negligence! Now that the mission ispleted sessfully, I have returned, and I request Your Majestys approval! The Empress was very excited and said, Minister Lin, you have worked hard throughout this journey! I know everything you have done! You left the capital and traveled day and night, arriving in Huazhou in less than four days, providing timely relief to the disaster victims! After that, with your thoughtful arrangements along the way, the casualties among the people were greatly reduced! You did a great job, and I am deeply grateful! Take a good rest for a few days; I will take care of other matters! Your contributions will be remembered! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan expressed his gratitude and stepped back, giving up the central position. Facing the expectant gazes of the people, the Empress spoke loudly, And to all my people, you have traveled a long distance to reach here, and you have all endured hardships! I have arranged hot meals, tents, quilts, and more for you. After eating and resting well, replenish your spirits! As Minister Lin said, you are all citizens of Great Wu, my people! I will never abandon any citizen of Great Wu, nor will I give up on any one of you! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your benevolence! The disaster victims replied in unison, filled with joy. While the relief issue had been resolved, the court now faced a major challenge in resettling the disaster victims. This matter involved the basic needs of over a million people, including food, clothing, shelter, and daily necessities. If not handled properly, it could lead to unforeseen consequences. In order to find a solution, the Empress had to convene her civil and military officials to discuss countermeasures. Even Lin Beifan, who was resting, was summoned to the meeting. My esteemed ministers, do any of you have viable solutions? The officials put forward their suggestions one after another. However, due to the vast number of people involved, finding aprehensive solution proved to be extremelyplicated, and there was no perfect way to address all the issues. At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward and said, Your Majesty, I have already thought of a strategy! The Empress said with joy, Minister Lin, please share! The disaster victims are currently left with nothingno homes, nond, no food, and no money. So the most crucial thing now is to provide them with employment. With jobs, they will have money, food, and homes. One elder official furrowed his brow and said, But how can the capital city offer so many job opportunities? Lin Beifan smiled and replied, The capital city may not be able to provide them, but our court can! The Empresss eyes lit up, Are you suggesting work-for-relief? Exactly, Your Majesty! But what about the food? Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Household, sighed, Our most significant problem now is the shortage of food! Do we intend to support them indefinitely? If we do that, our food supplies wontst until next year! In addition, with work-for-relief, what kind of work can we offer? Wang Rushui, the Minister of Public Works, stood up and said, In the capital city, most of the feasible projects have already been undertaken! There are only some minor projects remaining, which are not sufficient to employ a million disaster victims. And then theres the housing problem! The Minister of Justice also stepped forward, Now, the weather is getting colder! The disaster victims are living in tents, wrapped in quilts, and they still feel the cold. But in another two months, during the severe winter, if we cant solve this problem, there will inevitably be arge-scale freeze to death! How can we address this issue? As everyone expressed their concerns, the situation seemed even moreplicated. The Empress furrowed her brows, Thats enough! I summoned you all here to find solutions, not to raise more problems! Since you are currently unable toe up with a n, lets hear what Minister Lin has to say. Lets see if he has any ideas! Minister Lin, please share your proposal! After she finished speaking, all eyes turned expectantly to Lin Beifan. Since this fellow took office, he had already solved many difficult matters. They hoped he would do the same this time! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Your Majesty and esteemed officials, resolving this matter is not difficult at all! Have you ever considered building a subsidiary city within the capital city? The crowd was shocked, Building a subsidiary city? Yes! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Once we build a city, all the problems will be solved effortlessly! Establishing a new city will require argebor force. Isnt a million people enough? After constructing the city, it will address the disaster victims food, clothing, shelter, and other issues once and for all! Furthermore, our capital city is already overcrowded! The citys area remains the same, but the poption keeps growing, making it difficult to manage and develop! Building a new city can amodate some of the poption! This idea might sound good, but its not so easy to build a new city, said the Minister of Rites with a wry smile. Every city in Great Wu has taken decades to establish, bit by bit. We simply dont have that much time now! Even if we manage to build the city, not just the disaster victims, but we all might be on the verge of death by then! Besides, it would require an enormous amount of resources! I dont need to borate on the resources needed; all of you should be aware of it! Our court simply cannot afford such resources! Minister Lin, your idea seems far-fetched and unrealistic! Lets consider other alternatives! Everyone was skeptical. At this moment, Lin Beifan bowed and said loudly, Your Majesty, I have a method to build a new city within three months! Moreover, it absolutely wont cost any of the courts resources! The crowd was shocked and dismayed. Building a city in three months? How is that possible?! This must be a joke! Minister Lin, the matter is of great importance now, please dont make such jokes! Lin Beifan remainedposed. I dare to make such a promise because I have the capability. It involves one of my inventions, which is no less remarkable than the flying sky balloon and the air-cushioned boat! Once I present it, it will undoubtedly solve the citys construction problem! The people were astonished once again! This invention was no less remarkable than the flying sky balloon and the air-cushioned boat? One must know that Lin Beifans previous two inventions were absolutely astonishing! One could carry people into the sky, fulfilling humanitys dream of flying for thousands of years! The other enhanced water transportation, enabling the massive transportation of troops and food, significantly strengthening the militarys logistics capabilities! Now, he hade up with an invention that rivaled these two remarkable artifacts? As a result, the court officials were no longerposed! Even the Empress was no longerposed! Minister, what exactly is this invention? Tell me quickly! The Empress was extremely excited. The officials eagerly awaited Lin Beifans exnation. However, Lin Beifan said leisurely, Your Majesty, this invention involves state secrets! In order to research and develop this invention, I have sacrificed sleep and meals and paid a great price. So, could you provide some research funding to help me? The Empress almost burst intoughter! This cheeky fellow! At such a critical moment, he still thinks about money! The Empress said in a displeased tone, Enough, enough! Minister Lin, if your invention truly benefits the country and its people, solves the problem of millions of disaster victims, and can build a city within three months, I will grant you 2 million in funding, alright? Your Majesty, can you give a little more? Its really not easy for me! Lin Beifan asked eagerly. The Empress was so infuriated that she wanted to tear off his cheeky face and roll it into a ball to kick! Another 500,000, but the Ministry of Revenue is also short on funds! Your contributions will be remembered, and you will be rewardedter. Alright? Now quickly tell us about your invention! The Empress urged. Chapter 225: Are You Satisfied with the Speed of Building? Chapter 225: Are You Satisfied with the Speed of Building? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Are you all satisfied with the speed of my house construction? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. As part of my third invention, I present to you cement! he continued. Cement? Everyone looked puzzled. Lin Beifan exined, Cement is a building material. It is a powder at ordinary times, but once you pour water on it, it bes a gel-like substance that can quickly solidify. Once it solidifies, it bes as strong as rock! With cement, we can build houses, repair bridges, mend city walls, and so on. Its applications are incredibly vast! The materials used are rtively simple, mainly quicklime, y, and some iron g. After being processed through calcination, cement is formed! Seeing everyone looking bewildered, Lin Beifan felt the pride of a student from the science discipline. These people are really ignorant; they cant even understand such simple principles! He thought to himself, talking to them is like talking to a brick wall, or like ying a harp to cows! Thus, he said with some impatience, Let me make it clear to you! With cement, we can build a house in just three days! Moreover, the strength of the house will be no less than that of a luxurious mansion! Finally, the expressions of the audience changed. Wang Rushui, the Minister of Works, blurted out, Build a house in three days? How is that possible? If you were talking about constructing a thatched cottage, three days might be barely enough! However, if you want to build a house with a strengthparable to a luxurious mansion, how can three days possibly be enough? As far as I know, to build a proper house, you first need to dig the foundation trenches, which takes 3 to 4 days! Next, you need toy the foundation, which also takes 3 to 4 days and cannot be taken lightly! After that, you need to ce the topstones, erect therge wooden pirs, which takes 2 to 3 days! Only at this point can we say that the construction of the house has truly begun, but already 8 to 9 days have passed! After sessfully erecting therge wooden pirs, you can start bricying and building the walls, and if things go smoothly, this may take 4 to 5 days! Finally, you need toplete the roofing and tileying, which will also require 4 to 5 days! Therefore, to build a house properly, it would take at least half a month, and thats assuming there are sufficient materials! Yet, youre telling us it only takes three days; isnt that a joke? Seeing the Minister of Works speaking so authoritatively, everyone began to question Lin Beifans words. Its impossible to build a house in three days! For example, it took three years toplete my official residence, from start to finish. Even a small house inside took more than three months to construct! When I was still a student, I loved watching others build houses. To construct arge house in less than a month is simply impossible! I dont believe that you built such a house in just three days! Facing everyones doubts, Lin Beifan remained calm. Gentlemen, just because you havent seen something doesnt mean it doesnt exist! Just like before when I said I would develop a flying divine tool, did you believe it? No, you didnt believe it at all, but it was still created by me and is now in mass production! The officials exchanged nces with each other. And the watercraft masterpiece, the hovercraft, is also my invention! It is now in mass production and has yed a significant role! Whether its transporting people or supplies, it performs exceptionally well! Lin Beifan continued. Gradually, the officials fell into silence. Lin Beifan continued speaking, Therefore, my intentions are not unfounded! When cement is applied properly, it is no less effective than airships and hovercraft! In some aspects, it can even be more practical than these two divine tools! As long as we use cement, I am fully confident that within two months, we can provide millions of disaster-stricken people with affordable, sturdy, and warm houses! Within three months, we canpletely build a new city! The expressions of everyone changed drastically once again! Solving the housing problem for millions of disaster-stricken people within two months! Building an entire new city within three months! How could that be possible? Just as they were about to voice their objections, the Empress waved her hand decisively, Its pointless to say more now. Let the Sir Lin give it a try! Sir Lin has been serving as an official in the court for over half a year and has never disappointed us. Lets see the results first, and then well fully support it! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed. The Empress thought for a moment and added, By the way, since this involves construction, the Ministry of Works will provide full cooperation! As youmand! replied the Minister of Works. With the Empresss support, Lin Beifan began to take vigorous action. Holding a hand-drawn map of the area around the capital, he led a group of people outside the city. Here is Panniji Mountain, where there is arge amount of limestone. Lead a group of disaster-stricken people here to mine the limestone! Theres a river passing through below, and the limestone can be transported here through the river! Yes, Sir! Then he ran to another location. Here, we have arge amount of high-quality y that can be used to produce cement! Take the disaster-stricken people here to excavate the y, and then transport it downstream to this location! Yes, Sir! Notify the Ministry of Works to bring all the iron g left over from their usual production of weapons and various iron products here! Also, collect as much iron g from the civilians as possible, the more, the better! Yes, Marquis! Continuing, Lin Beifan brought out the artisans from the Ministry of Works to create a huge forging and burning factory in his designated area, specifically for producing cement. He also arranged some artisans to make molds and others to excavate and transport sand and gravel. The work was extensive, and the details were precise, but Lin Beifan organized everything methodically. Once all the arrangements were in ce, everyone rolled up their sleeves and started working. Around one million disaster-stricken people, except for approximately 300,000 who were elderly, weak, sick, or disabled, all joined in thebor. Physically strong men were responsible for the arduous tasks on the construction site, while women who were not capable of such physical work took charge of logistics, such as cooking and fetching water. The scene was bustling with energy and enthusiasm. A week quickly passed, and the Empress and the officials were curious to see how Lin Beifans efforts had turned out. They left the city to take a look. As they arrived, they couldnt help but feel like they were experiencing a simr feeling to a character in a story entering a grand garden, where everything was fresh and unfamiliar. Sir Lin, exin to Us what all these things are for! the Empress asked. Of course, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan led the Empress and the officials to a ce filled with warmth. Your Majesty, this is the workshop for producing cement, also known as the Cement Workshop! All the cement needed for our citys construction is produced here! What does your cement look like? Can you show Us? the Empress inquired. Certainly! Lin Beifan led them forward, pointing to piles of dull grayish soil, and said, This is cement! Everyone was astonished, This is cement? It looks so unattractive. Dont be deceived by its appearance; it is incredibly practical! Lin Beifan exined. The Empress curiously asked, How is this cement used? This cement needs to be mixed with sand and water in certain proportions, and then it bes extremely sturdy! Theres no need to say more; follow me! Lin Beifan led everyone to a t area with a collection of grayish bricks. This is the brick-making area, and we are using cement to make bricks! Bricks made from cement? everyone was once again puzzled. Lin Beifan exined, We need to make bricks first before we can construct houses! Compared to traditional bricks, the bricks we make with cement have an unparalleled advantage. What advantage? they asked. They are fast, time-saving,bor-saving, and cost-effective! Lin Beifan smiled, Previously, when making bricks, we had to first excavate the y, let it pile up in the open for about half a year under the scorching sun and rain, letting it dpose and loosen inside. Then, through a certain process, only fine and pure y remained! After that, we would mix the pure y with water, repeatedly knead it into a thick mud, and then shape it into brick embryos. After drying, we put them into kilns for firing! This entire process was time-consuming,bor-intensive, and required a lot of charcoal! Upon hearing this, everyone couldnt help but nod in agreement. But our cement bricks are different! To produce cement, we only need about three days or so! After the cement is produced, as long as we mix it with sand and water in a certain proportion to form a y-like substance, we can use the existing molds to create bricks. Then, we leave them in a dry ce to solidify! In 2 to 3 days, we can have bricks ready for construction. Their quality is not much different from traditionally fired bricks, Lin Beifan exined. The officials expressions changed. Lin Beifan picked up two dried and solidified cement bricks from the ground and smiled, Take a look at these bricks. How are they different from the ones you usually see? After contemting for a moment, an old minister said, Apart from the color, they are nearly as strong as the usual bricks. Thats another significant advantage of cement. It sets quickly and is very sturdy! Lin Beifan smiled. With these bricks, building houses bes much easier and more affordable! Their expectations grew. Everyone, please follow me! Lin Beifan led them forward to rows of bungalows. With pride, Lin Beifan said, These are houses built with cement, and it only took five days toplete all of them! Built in five days? Everyone was astonished. How can it be done in five days? someone asked. As you can see, we transport the pre-made cement bricks here and use them to build the walls, reinforcing with more cement! In this way, the houses are naturally constructed! Lin Beifan exined. Do we not need to dig trenches for the foundation? the Minister of Works asked. We do, but we dont need to dig as deep. It takes half a day to handle that. All our houses are interconnected using cement, providing mutual support and stability like Mount Tai! Lin Beifan replied. Do we not need to erect pirs? the Minister of Works asked again. Lin Beifan shook his head, No, we dont! The cement walls we build are very sturdy. So, we skip that step and build the walls directly. The whole process takes two days, one day for wall construction and one day for waiting for the cement to dry and solidify. What about the roofing? the Minister of Works inquired once more. Thats the simplest part. Look up! Lin Beifan pointed, and they saw severalrge horizontal beams on top of the houses, and the walls were still made of cement. After we finish building the walls, we ce several horizontal beams on the roof. Then, wey the pre-made cement boards on top and let them solidify with cement! This entire process takes less than half a day! After that, we wait for one more day for the roofing stones to dry and solidify, and its all done! This is the process of building houses. We just need to produce cement, and with it, we can make cement bricks and cement boards. Then, we follow the construction process like stacking building blocks. The whole process is as simple as that! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Your Majesty and distinguished officials, are you satisfied with the speed of house construction? The Empress and the officials were shocked and amazed! Chapter 226: Creating an Economic Special Zone in Another World! Chapter 226: Creating an Economic Special Zone in Another World! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In just four days, they had built arge and sturdy house. How could they not be satisfied? It was simply shocking, a heartfelt and profound shock! No words could describe the astonishment in their hearts! Its incredible! an old minister eximed, his mouth trembling with shock. A strong and durable house built in just four days! With this, how can themon people not afford homes? Yes, and the process of making cement is so simple, much easier than making blue or red bricks. It saves time and money! With a little effort, themon people can build their own houses! No wonder Sir Lin dared to boast! With such a powerful tool like cement, how could anything be impossible? With cement, building houses bes so simple! Everyone praised repeatedly. Lin Beifan modestly said, Gentlemen, you overpraise me. I am not worthy of suchpliments. Even the Empress was greatly astonished. Only when she witnessed it herself did she understand the magic of cement. If building houses was so simple, then what about using it for bridge construction, road paving, or repairing city walls? What if it was used for other projects, like water conservancy? Unthinkable and startling! If these projects used cement, think about how much material,bor, and food could be saved! And with the money and food saved, how much more could be aplished? For the imperial court, it was definitely a matter where the pros outweighed the cons, and it could rapidly strengthen the Great Wus power! No wonder Lin Beifan said that cement was as extraordinary as airships and hovercraft. Now, looking at it, it was indeed the case! The Empress gaze at Lin Beifan softened. This little rascal had once again surprised her greatly! She really didnt know how to reward him! This cement can be regarded as a national treasure! The Empress said excitedly, With cement, everyone has the opportunity to live in good and durable houses! Moreover, for road bridges, city walls, and other projects, cement can be used! As long as itsid with cement, it will be extremely solid! With this, how can my Great Wus territory not be secure? What Your Majesty said is absolutely correct! The officials nodded with smiles. But, Sir Lin, you said before that the houses could be built in three days, and now it takes one more day! the Empress said with a smile. Lin Beifan calmly replied, The reason it took one more day is that this is the first time everyone used cement to build houses, and they are not familiar with it, so they were slow. Once everyone bes familiar with how to use cement, they can dig the foundation and build the walls in one day, and then wait another day for the walls to solidify. On the third day, the roof can be sealed. So, three days will be enough! Everyone nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. Furthermore, our cement workshop has just been built, and cement production is limited! When our cement workshop expands and produces more cement, the speed of building houses will undoubtedly be faster! Building a thousand or even ten thousand houses in one day will not be a problem! It must be expanded, and the imperial court fully supports it! The Empress said loudly. Then, Lin Beifan led everyone to continue touring and visiting. Along the way, they marveled and were amazed. They were bing more confident in Lin Beifans promise to allow a million disaster victims to afford homes within two months and to build a city within three months. Even if three months were not enough, it could still be aplished within a year! Building a city within a year was not any less magical! Finally, Lin Beifan led everyone to severalrge pictures. Sir Lin, what is this? The Empress was puzzled. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty and all honorable guests, please take a look! This is the n Ive designed for the city after its construction! The Empress and the officials were stunned after looking at the drawings. In the pictures, houses were arranged neatly and densely, roads were wide and straight, and connected with each other. The city walls were tall and sturdy, capable of defending against external enemies. How could they describe this feeling? It was like a modern person looking at a futuristic science and technology city! Sir Lin Can this really be achieved? The Empress was so excited that her words became incoherent. Of course it can! Lin Beifan was also extremely excited, raising his arms and saying loudly, Just give me three months, and this miraculous city will rise here, standing tall and unshakable! Good, good, good! The Empress cheered excitedly. At this moment, Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Households, who had a worried expression, stood up and said, Your Majesty, its good, but building like this, our imperial courts resources simply wont be able to sustain it! Especially food, its really not enough! Everyone was instantly poured with a bucket of cold water, and their joy disappeared. Qian Yuanshen turned to look at Lin Beifan and said, Sir Lin, you said that you can build this city without using the resources of the imperial court, but why is there no movement now? Everyone turned their heads to look at Lin Beifan, waiting to see how he would respond. Since Sir Qian is asking, Ill tell you! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Although the imperial court doesnt have resources, many wealthy merchants and ns do! We can just get them to contribute money! Isnt that enough? No, no! The old ministers shook their heads. This kind of thing goes against morals andws! We cant do this unless we are left with no choice. Otherwise, it will lead to peoples resistance against the government! Lin Beifan made a motion of reaching into his pocket, smiling, Gentlemen, rest assured, I can make them willingly contribute money and food! Moreover, they will be very enthusiastic,peting with each other, eager to do so, fearing that they will be one step toote! Really? Everyone was shocked and curious. To actually make wealthy merchants and ns willingly contribute money? And they would bepeting with each other, eager to do so, fearing that they might bete? They found it hard to believe! You see, this group of people never gets up early for anything unless there is a big benefit involved. They only put money in their pockets! If there were no great benefits, they would never willingly part with their money! Sir Lin, what is your n? The Empress asked. Your Majesty, look at the excellent quality of this cement. Once it solidifies, its as durable as stone! Its uses are extensive; it can be used to build houses, repair bridges and roads, and for any kind of engineering project! The most important thing is that the price is not expensive. If we sell it, who wouldnt want it? Lin Beifan said proudly. Sell cement? No, no, this is a national treasure and should be used for the country. How can we sell it to private individuals? Yes, it cannot be sold. It should also be prohibited from being used or produced by others! Such a good thing should only be held in our hands. Its beneficial for the country! The officials and the Empress shook their heads, and the Empress held a negative attitude as well. They believed that good things should be kept in their hands, just like the airships and hovercraft. They thought that if they had it and others didnt, they would maintain a leading advantage. Lin Beifan shook his head, Your Majesty, esteemed officials, I understand your thoughts very well! However, keeping it to ourselves wont work. The method of producing cement will eventually leak out! Once it does, others will be able to produce cement, and we wont be able to stop it! Why cant we stop it? Because cement is not as technologicallyplex as airships and hovercraft. It doesnt create a technological barrier. The process of making cement is simple; you just need to dig up y and limestone, burn it into clinker, and mix it with iron g. Its easy for ordinary people to learn! The materials needed are also simple: y, limestone, and iron g. Apart from iron g, which might be a bit difficult to obtain, the other two are easy to collect! In this way, how can we stop it? We have a millionborers here, with peopleing and going every day. Its very possible that the method has already leaked! Everyone fell silent, epting this fact In that case, why not use it to make money? Lin Beifan smiled, Cement is in high demand and has a wide range of uses! So, we can make cement a monopoly of the court, just like salt and iron. It will definitely bring continuous benefits to our court! Ive already thought about it. We can make this ce the main production base for cement! We produce cement here and sell it throughout the country! Selling cement will require distributors! For such a useful building material, which merchant wouldnt want it? At this time, we can establish a contribution system! We are in arge-scale construction here,cking food, clothing, and money, weck everything! As long as they contribute their money, grain, clothing, and other materials to the construction, the one who contributes the most will be granted the exclusive distribution rights for our courts cement! In this way, wont our material problem be solved? Everyones face was full of shock! Lin Beifan continued, The ones who can get the cement distribution rights will be only a few! Even if they dont get the rights, it doesnt matter. As long as they contribute greatly, they will still get rewards! We can set up numerous tax incentives in the city to reward these contributors! For example, three years of tax exemption or five years of halved taxation, which will definitely attract many merchants to set up factories and do business here, driving the economic development and solving the livelihood problem for many people! Everyone was shocked once again! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Your Majesty, esteemed officials, in this way, wont our material problem be solved? Not only that, it will also solve the future livelihood issues of the million disaster victims. Our court can also earn a lot from it. Isnt that great? The Empress apuded first! The officials followed suit! The Empress said excitedly, Wonderful! Its truly wonderful! Sir Lin, if this n is executed properly, it will definitely solve the problem of a million disaster victims. At the same time, it will allow our court to profit from it. Its a win-win situation! The officials were also very excited. Yes, even if we rack our brains, we couldnte up with such a strategy! If handled well, all the problems can be solved! And if the contributions arerge enough, they can make up for our previous losses! This n is excellent! The Empress looked at Lin Beifan with shining eyes, as if she was looking at a priceless treasure, Sir Lin, sometimes I really want to split your head open. Why do you always have so many ingenious ideas? You are simply the lucky star sent by the heavens to save my Great Wu! Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I am humbled. Lin Beifan replied modestly. The Empress eximed loudly, One task does not trouble two masters! Sir Lin, since you proposed this n, you shall take charge of it. I fully support you! After the matter is done, we will discuss merits and rewards! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan smiled. The economic special zone in another world will rise under my control! Thinking about it, Im a little excited! Chapter 227: Where did you hang out last night? You look so tired. Chapter 227: Where did you hang outst night? You look so tired. Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan worked overnight to draft an implementation n and submitted it to the empress and the officials for review. After obtaining approval, it will be announced to the world immediately! To support the construction of a new city for a million disaster victims, the court is collecting necessary supplies such as food, cloth, and charcoal from various sectors of society. The top 10 contributors will receive a 5-year exclusive distributorship right for cement granted by the court! The 11th to 30th top contributors can establish factories and engage in business in the new city with a 5-year exemption from taxes and a 3-year halving of taxation! The 31st to 60th top contributors can establish factories and engage in business in the new city with a 3-year exemption from taxes and a 2-year halving of taxation! The 61st to 100th top contributors can establish factories and engage in business in the new city with a 2-year exemption from taxes and a 1-year halving of taxation! Other outstanding contributors may receive tax reductions at the courts discretion. As for what cement is, it will be exined in detailter. It is described as a miraculous tool for building houses, repairing bridges and roads, and a national treasure There is praise from the heavens but disbelief on the ground! Everyone is encouraged toe and see the new city, and everything will be clear. This immediately piqued everyones curiosity! What exactly is cement? Is it really that amazing? Can a solid and durable house really be built in three days? I dont believe it. I dont believe it either. Its too fast. It takes me seven to eight days to build a thatched house! It would take at least one or two months to build those durable mansions! I heard that cement was invented by Lin Beifan! Previously, Lin Beifan also invented the flying artifact, the hot air balloon, and the water weapon, the hovercraft, and they both had impressive effects! So its possible that cement is also something simr! We should go and take a look! And the tax incentives below are too generous. It makes me want to do business there! Many businessmen were tempted! If cement is really as amazing as the court ims, it would definitely be a miraculous tool for building houses and a money-making tool! In this world, who doesnt want to have a home? Who doesnt want to own a solid, durable, and affordable house? Now, the opportunity is right in front of them! If they can obtain the exclusive distributorship granted by the court, they will definitely make a fortune! Even if they cant get the business rights for cement, it is worth going to see for the tax incentives. Saving so many years of taxes would mean saving a lot of money! And how much money can they earn with the money they save? Businesspeople are the most sensitive to this aspect! As a result, representatives from various business families and merchants all sent their people to the new city. The fastest to arrive were naturally the business families in the capital. As they looked at the neatly arranged houses that seemed to go on endlessly, their eyes widened in shock. These houses were built in just a few days? Of course, seeing is believing. Can I still deceive you? Lin Beifan smiled. Lin, how many houses are there in total? Lin Beifan held up a finger and smiled. Since we started construction until now, it has been 10 days, and a total of about 1,000 houses have been built! Built a thousand houses in 10 days? Everyone was speechless and shocked. It should be noted that the scale of these houses is already equivalent to a small county! They only took 10 days to build a small county! Its a miracle, its truly a miracle! one excited businessman said incoherently. Too fast! They are building 100 houses on average every day. Its a speed that ordinary people cant even imagine! If I hadnt seen it with my own eyes, I wouldnt believe it! Another merchant eximed incoherently. If I didnt know this was a tnd, I wouldnt believe that houses could be built so quickly! Everyone was amazed. But Lin Beifan shook his head and said with some disdain, Still too slow! Too slow?! Everyone was extremely shocked. Indeed! Its mainly limited by production conditions; we dont have enough cement! If I were given enough cement Lin Beifan opened his arms and said confidently, I am confident that we can finish building all the houses within a week and a new city within two weeks! The big merchants felt dazzled by his statement! Lin Beifan led everyone into the rows of houses and said with a smile, Gentlemen, these houses are all built with cement! Take a look at them, how is the quality? Are they sturdy and durable? They had someone test the houses and found that they were indeed sturdy, water-resistant, and even fire-resistant, simr to the houses they usually lived in. However, these houses were built in just three days and were very affordable, meeting the housing needs of most people. The market potential was vast! The merchants realized what a huge opportunity this was, especially considering the current real estate situation. Sir Lord, how can we obtain the cement distribution rights? someone couldnt help but ask. All eyes turned to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan smiled and said, The conditions have already been set! Our new city is under major construction and needs various material support, such as food, vegetables, cloth, cotton, diesel, and so on! As long as you contribute surplus materials from your homes and be one of the top ten contributors, you can obtain the cement distribution rights! Even if you dont get the distribution rights, it doesnt matter! As long as youe here to set up factories and engage in business, we will provide you with various tax incentives and even offer freend and facilities to let everyone conduct business peacefully! Fantastic!!! Everyone was thrilled. After a day of enthusiastic exploration, the merchants immediately went back to prepare the required materials. On the second day, carts after carts of materials were transported here. Meanwhile, through word of mouth among the merchants in the capital, more people became aware of the uses of cement and the favorable policies for the new city. As a result, even more merchants rushed to visit, and the flow of people was endless. On one impressive day, they received 300 merchants! Everyone came with enthusiasm and returned with satisfaction, thinking that this trip was definitely worth it! The amount of materials being delivered here continued to increase! Now, the food supply was bnced, and there was no longer a need for the court to continue relief efforts. Necessities such as cotton, nkets, oil, and charcoal were gradually bing more abundant. The lives of the disaster victims were getting better and better! They had free houses to live in, could eat and drink to their fill every day, had nkets to keep warm, and their family and friends were by their side. No one exploited them, and their lives were looking brighter and better! Who could have imagined that half a month ago, they were homeless and starving refugees? Now, their lives here were even better than what they had experienced in Southern Jiang! Their grateful eyes turned to the young man among the merchants who was lively and full ofughter. It was this young man, the great official, who had saved them from the abyss and brought them all this happiness! Thank you, Sir Lin! Lin Beifan was truly busy now! Apart from managing the Imperial Academy, he had to take care of the affairs in the capital, and now he was also busy with the construction of the new city! In all aspects, he couldnt do without him. Luckily, he was a grandmaster, full of energy and stamina; otherwise, he might have been exhausted! But even so, Lin Beifan was still extremely tired, especially when facing women. At this moment, Li Shi Shi and Li Yuxin came in together, carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup. Lin Beifansplexion immediately turned pale. Li Shishi felt distressed and said, Husband, take a rest for a while. Have some soup before continuing with official business! Lin Beifan shook his head, The official matters are not finished yet; I cant rest! Li Shishi scolded gently, Even if youre busy, you must take care of yourself! These official matters can wait until tomorrow! Your health is the most important thing now! Saying that, she moved the official documents in front of Lin Beifan to the side and made him rest and drink the soup first. After a few sips, Lin Beifan felt full. At this moment, Li Yuxin quietly walked behind Lin Beifan and helped him massage his temples to rx. Lin Beifan once again smelled the familiar medicinal fragrance, which felt particrlyfortable. He closed his eyes and said, Miss Yuxin, thank you, youve worked hard! Sir, you are the one whos truly working hard! Li Yuxin said tenderly, You have been working tirelessly day and night to settle the one million disaster victims. My little effort is nothingpared to what youve been through. Sir, let me help you with a massage every day from now on! Thank you, Miss Yuxin! Lin Beifan was moved. No need to thank me; its what I should do! Li Yuxin was very happy in her heart. At this moment, Lin Beifan felt some movement on his legs. He opened his eyes and saw Li Shishi holding her small fist, massaging his leg muscles, and asked, Shishi, what are you doing? Li Shishi smiled and said, Husband, this is a skill I just learned from Yuxin! You have been working hard these days, running around tirelessly. Let me help you rx your legs, hoping youll feel morefortable! Shi Shi, you are truly my good wife! At this moment, the little princess ran in shouting, Lin Beifan! Lin Beifan But she was stunned to see this scene. Lin Beifan waspletely slumped in the chair, looking pale like a ghost. A series of question marks appeared above the little princesss head. What happened? How did he be so weak after just one day? Did he secretly go out and do something naughtyst night? Lin Beifan, whats wrong with you? the little princess asked carefully. Husband has been busy with the construction of the new city, so hes exhausted! Li Shishi sighed. I see! The little princess ran up to Lin Beifan and squatted down in front of him, looking at his almost lifeless appearance, feeling a little distressed. Lin Beifan, how are you now? Should I call the imperial doctor to see you? At this moment, Lin Beifan reached out his weak hand towards her. What are you trying to do? The little princess blinked her eyes, puzzled. Im so tired, bring your little face over and let me pinch it! Lin Beifan said. The little princess: She was about to get angry, but seeing Lin Beifans pale face and thinking about the hardships he had endured these days, she softened her heart and said, Just a quick pinch, not too much! Little princess, youre really kind! Lin Beifan pinched her face and chuckled with a mischievous look. Its so bouncy and fun to pinch! Not long after, Dali came in and said, Young Master, Minister of Personnel Gao Tianyao hase. He wants to see you about something! Chapter 228: The Lamb Delivered to the Door, How Can It Not Be Taken? Chapter 228: The Lamb Delivered to the Door, How Can It Not Be Taken? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan was extremely surprised! Since he entered the court as an official, the first high-ranking official he offended was Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel. The two could be considered political enemies, not having any dealings with each other until their deaths. Unexpectedly, one day, Gao Tianyao actually came to him! Dali, go and tell him to wait a moment, and also prepare a cup of tea. Ill be there soon! Lin Beifan instructed his servant. Yes, young master! After a moment, Lin Beifan saw Gao Tianyao in the main hall. He greeted him with a cupped hand and a smile, Sir Gao, what an unexpected guest! I never thought you woulde to visit me! Haha! Cough, Gao Tianyaos face was somewhat unnatural. He forced a smile through the wrinkles on his face and said, Sir Lin, I have nothing important to do, just wanted to have a private talk with you. By the way, this is a little gift I brought, please ept it. Lin Beifan looked over and found that Gao Tianyao brought quite a few gifts. There were calligraphy and painting supplies, calligraphy samples, jade carvings, all of them elegant and undoubtedly valuable. For example, there was a calligraphy and painting work by a master, which had already been priced at 6,000 taels in the market. The value of the other items was also considerable. It could be said that Gao Tianyao had put a lot of thought into these gifts. Since its Sir Gaos gift, then I, as an official, will humbly ept it! Dali, these are all good things, move them directly to my study! Lin Beifan said with a smile. Yes, young master! Dali, together with Xiao Cui, moved the items to the back. Seeing that Lin Beifan epted the gifts without showing any displeasure, Gao Tianyao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Afterward, Xiao Cui served the tea and then screened the surroundings, leaving only Lin Beifan and Gao Tianyao. Now theres no one else, Sir Gao, please speak openly. Im all ears! Lin Beifan said. Cough, Sir Lin, let me get straight to the point. I am here this time on behalf of the Gao family in the Northern Region, Gao Tianyao said seriously, but his expression still appeared somewhat unnatural. He spoke in a low voice, We, the Gao family, hope to obtain the distribution rights for cement. I hope you can help us with this matter. Lin Beifan chuckled inwardly. Now its your turn toe begging to me! The Gao family in the Northern Region was a prestigious family that had been passed down for thousands of years. This family was extremely remarkable and had produced many outstanding schrs who became officials in every dynasty. Their strength was formidable. At their peak, about one-third of the officials in the court were from their family, influencing the policies of the country. Even the current emperor had to consider their opinions in his decision-making. However, with the implementation of the imperial examination system and the widespread avability of books, their status had greatly declined. Nevertheless, they still wielded significant influence in the court. Gao Tianyao was the most outstanding representative of their generation, reaching the position of a second-ranked Minister in the current court. He could be considered someone with high authority and power, bringing good fortune to the entire Gao family. All prestigious families required financial resources for their development. At this crucial moment, Lin Beifan introduced cement, a miraculous product. How could the Gao family remain unmoved? Therefore, the Gao family decided to persuade Gao Tianyao to approach Lin Beifan. No matter how reluctant Gao Tianyao might be, he had toe and present gifts to Lin Beifan and seek his help for the sake of the Gao family. Sir Gao, this matter is quite difficult to handle, Lin Beifan spread his hands with a helpless expression, It is written on the Imperial List that only the top ten contributors can obtain the distribution rights for cement! If I act against the rules, it would be tantamount to deceiving the empress, which could lead to my execution. I cant afford to take such a risk! Gao Tianyao nced at Lin Beifan with a hint of disdain. How many times have you acted against the rules and deceived the empress? I dont even want to talk about it! Sir Lin, I know this is difficult, but I hope you can be flexible within the rules. For example Gao Tianyao whispered, Could you tell me where the Gao family currently ranks in terms of contributions, who is ahead of us, and how much they have contributed? This way, I can handle it better. As he spoke, he took out a banknote worth 100,000 taels from his pocket. Lin Beifan blinked his eyes and said, Sir Gao, add a little more! Gao Tianyaos mouth twitched, and he took out two more banknotes, making it a total of 200,000 taels. Thank you, Sir Gao! Lin Beifan grinned and tucked the money into his pocket. Since Sir Gao is so generous, I cant be stingy. Let me tell you. Lin Beifan lowered his head and whispered, The contribution ranking of the Gao family is currently twelfth. As for those ahead of them, they are Upon hearing the names and contributions of the families ahead of them, Gao Tianyaos face turned pale. I didnt expect those few prominent families to be so generous! And some wealthy merchant families, usually low-key, are actually so rich! Lin Beifan shook his head and sighed, I didnt expect it either. It seems that theres always someone wealthier than us. If it werent for the emergence of cement, Im afraid they wouldnt havee forward like this! Thank you for telling me. Ill go back and prepare! Gao Tianyao hurriedly left. Clearly, he intended to umte enough contributions to break into the top ten. Lin Beifan watched the others departing figure and felt pleased in his heart. In fact, the contribution ranking of the Gao family was eighth, quite high indeed. However, only a few people knew about this, and Lin Beifan had strictly ordered them not to reveal it to anyone. This provided him with a lot of leverage! He could easily make money on the side and also profit from some resources. Why wouldnt he take advantage of this opportunity? As Lin Beifan sipped his tea, he was just about to return to his study to continue enjoying himself when Dali came again and said, Young Master, the Minister of Revenue, Qian, is here. He says he wants to talk to you about something! Lin Beifan smiled. Looks like someone else is bringing money. Behind the Minister of Revenue, Qian, there was also the shadow of a prestigious family. Perhaps one could say that most high-ranking officials in the court had the backing of prominent families. Otherwise, it would not be so easy for them to climb the ranks. The prominent families had helped them gain power, and now it was time for them to repay the favor! Please, invite him in! Over the next few days, Lin Beifan secretly met with many people. They all wanted to inquire about the contribution rankings from Lin Beifan and even hoped he could directly help them secure a distribution right. Lin Beifan skillfully handled the situation, epting all the sweet-talking ttery while keeping the information about the distribution rights to himself. He would inform them about their contribution rankings so they could work on increasing their contributions, but obtaining the distribution rights was out of the question. In order to secure the distribution rights for cement, some people came to him twice, even thrice, each time bearing more sincerity. As a result, Lin Beifan easily made five million taels. After receiving information about their contributions from Lin Beifan, the major merchants and prestigious families hurried back to prepare the necessary resources and increase their contributions. Thepetition was fierce, one after another, like a never-ending stream! As a result, the support for the construction of the new city increased more and more! To what extent? To the extent that Lin Beifan could even repay the court. All the grain spent on disaster relief waspletely replenished, with some surplus left! As for other resources, they were also abundant! This matter shocked the court! During the morning court session, the Empress praised Lin Beifan excitedly: Sir Lin, it was absolutely right to entrust this matter to you! Not only did you sessfully prepare the necessary resources, but you also made our court wealthy! Excellent, truly excellent! Your merits will be remembered for now and will be rewardedter! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan replied loudly. In his heart, he thought, not only has the court be wealthy, but I have also be wealthy! But the next moment, Lin Beifan felt a chill on his back, as if he was being watched. In the evening, the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, came to hold him ountable. He angrily said, Lin, I heard that you told Minister Qian about the contribution rankings? Lin Beifan remained very calm and said, Yes! Minister Qian came with great sincerity, and I couldnt just turn him away, right? Sir Gao, you also know, I cant resist gold, silver, and jewels! Gao Tianyao was even more furious, But I have checked with him, why did he say something different? Lin Beifan remainedposed, I can only say that the contribution rankings are constantly changing, so naturally, the information may vary. I hope Sir Gao can understand! Gao Tianyao got angrier, Nonsense! Its only been the time to finish a cup of tea, and it has changed? Lin Beifan: Sir Lin, dont fool me! Just say, how much money do you want to give one distribution right for cement to the Gao family? Name your price directly, stop being coy! Gao Tianyao said impatiently. Lin Beifan held up three fingers, Two million taels! Two million taels! Are you kidding me? Gao Tianyao was enraged. Lin Beifan said with grievances, You asked me to name my price! Gao Tianyao jumped up in anger, I asked you to give a price, not to rip me off! Two million taels, I dont even know if I can make that back! Cant you be more reasonable? Alright then, one million taels! As long as the money is received, the Gao family will definitely get one distribution right! Lin Beifan said reluctantly, as if he was losing a significant amount of money. One million taels, Gao Tianyao still felt it was too much! However, if they could secure one distribution right in advance and avoid the endless contributions of resources, it would be worth it! Gao Tianyao gritted his teeth, Fine! Its a deal! Once again, they made up and enjoyed their wine together. While drinking, Gao Tianyao tentatively asked, Sir Lin, what about the tax policies for the new city? Can you give a little benefit to the Gao family too? Dont worry, you wont be left out of the benefits! Lin Beifan looked shocked, Sir Gao, arent you being too greedy? Besides the distribution right for cement, you even want to get tax benefits for the new factory? Gao Tianyao felt somewhat embarrassed. Just as he was about to exin, Lin Beifan raised five fingers, Okay, add 500,000 taels! Gosh! Gao Tianyao eximed. Who was the greedier one after all? After getting Lin Beifans promise, Gao Tianyao immediately went back to raise money! Watching the departing figure, Lin Beifan smiled with narrowed eyes. In fact, the contribution ranking of the Gao family had already reached the top three. They were almost certain to secure it! However, when amb is delivered to your door, how can you not take advantage of it? Next, the Minister of Revenue came to hold him ountable, the Minister of Justice came to hold him ountable, the Minister of Rites came to hold him ountable Lin Beifan followed the same tactic, and from each of the other prominent families, he managed to squeeze out 1.5 million taels from each, totaling 15 million taels. He made them pay more money and yet they still felt grateful! If they found out, would they spit blood? Chapter 229: The Prince of Northern Hebei Finally Rises to Power Chapter 229: The Prince of Northern Hebei Finally Rises to Power Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
In addition to these prominent families, many merchants and prestigious households havee to Lin Beifan. Although they couldnt obtain the cement distribution rights, they hoped to rank higher and receive more tax benefits. As a result, Lin Beifan gained another 5 million taels, making a total of 25 million taels through this city construction. Another big fortune, haha! Lin Beifan felt extremely happy, feeling that the hard work in these days had not been in vain. Now that he had received the money, he nned to handle things properly. Lin Beifan announced the families that obtained the cement distribution rights and those eligible for tax exemptions. He solemnly stated that as soon as the city was established, all rights would be opened up to support their business and industrial activities. With this settled, everyone felt relieved. The news spread quickly and shocked the world! Initially, many forces were waiting to see a joke when the court epted a million disaster-stricken refugees. After all, these refugees had nothing no homes, fields, food, or money. Sustaining them daily with food and supplies was an unimaginable burden for the court. If they continued to support them, it would inevitably burden the court to the point of copse. If they didnt support them, it would lead to scattered hearts and deal a massive blow to the courts reputation. They were waiting for the moment when the court could no longer hold on, and they would rise in rebellion. But what they never expected was that in less than a month, Lin Beifan managed to activate the situation! Using the miraculous invention of cement, he built a new city outside the capital, solving the resettlement issue of the refugees. He also attracted prominent families and merchants from all sides through a contribution system, with donations pouring in. This not only resolved the immediate problems of the refugees but also addressed various issues such as food, clothing, and shelter,pletely revitalizing the new city! The most incredible part was that Lin Beifan even managed to benefit the court and make it wealthy as well. It was truly a transformation from decay to miraculous! As everyone admired Lin Beifan even more, they also became more curious about cement. Was it truly a magical tool for construction? Is that why everyone was eager to get their hands on it? They dispatched experts to inquire about it. In the end, as Lin Beifan had expected, cement had no significant technological barriers; many people could figure out how to produce it with just a nce. By taking samples back and studying them, they could manufacture cement themselves. In the territory of Northern Hebei, in the royal mansion. The Prince of Northern Hebei looked at his excited strategist, Zhuge, and asked anxiously, Strategist, how is the situation? Is it true? Replying to Your Highness, Ive sent people to investigate, and the situation is entirely true! Zhuge said excitedly, The top schr has indeed used the incredible invention of cement to build thousands of houses in just a few days! Moreover, he has truly attracted prominent families and wealthy merchants through cement, resolving the food, clothing, shelter, and transportation issues for a million disaster-stricken refugees! The court has also be much wealthier! The Prince of Northern Hebei breathed heavily and said, Is cement really that miraculous? Absolutely, Your Highness! Zhuge, the strategist, replied with a serious expression. The Prince of Northern Hebei became even more anxious and said, Then quickly get in touch with Lin Beifan and obtain the method of making cement! Whatever money he wants, well give it! Zhuge smiled calmly and said, Your Highness, theres no need. The method of making cement has already been brought back by our people! Really? The Prince of Northern Hebei widened his eyes, finding it hard to believe. How could I deceive you, Your Highness? Zhuge arched his hand and smiled, The method is straightforward, and our people learned it at a nce! So, Your Highness, this time we dont need to contact the top schr, and we dont need to spend money; we can produce cement ourselves! Really? Thats fantastic! Haha! The Prince of Northern Hebei was overjoyed. Amid theughter, it was unclear how much bitterness and suffering were hidden. Do you know how much he paid to obtain the two inventions from Lin Beifan initially? Not only did the royal mansion be impoverished, but the entire economy of Northern Hebei also suffered. And now, youre telling me we dont need to spend money? We can produce cement ourselves? Its hard to imagine! The Prince of Northern Hebei felt like he had broken free from a cage. He didnt have to be exploited anymore, nor oppressed; he felt the sense of bing the master! Hahaha!!! Joyfulughter spread through the royal mansion. Even the strategist, Zhuge, secretly wiped away a tear; he was crying tears of happiness. After theughter subsided, the Prince of Northern Hebeis mind became active. Since Lin Beifan could raise resources and umte wealth through cement sales, could he do the same? After all, he was very poor now and desperately needed food and money! So, he immediately shared his thoughts. Your Highness, I think its very feasible! Zhuge smiled and said, We canpletely emte the top schr and implement a contribution system! Whoever contributes enough food and resources will be given the right to sell cement. This way, we can not only raise sufficient resources but also continuously earn money, which benefits our grand n! Youre right, youre right! You said it well! The Prince of Northern Hebei beamed. Moreover, Your Highness, now is the perfect opportunity! Zhuge said excitedly, On the top schrs side, they need to build a new city before they can sell cement, which will take two to three months. But we can produce cement right now! With this advantage, we can attract the merchants before they do! Youre right, youre right! Very reasonable! Lets get ahead and attract those merchants! The Prince of Northern Hebei became even happier. Besides cement, the top schr has also introduced a series of tax incentives, which have received positive feedback among the merchants! Your Highness, shall we The Prince of Northern Hebei frowned, Reducing taxes for merchants? Isnt that giving away money? Im still trying to collect more taxes; so, lets forget about this policy! Understood, Your Highness! Zhuge nodded. His thoughts were the same as the Prince of Northern Hebeis; the tax incentives were just giving away money and were entirely unnecessary. With the construction wonder, cement, who wouldnt be attracted to the merchants? At this moment, they both seemed to see food and money rushing towards them and couldnt help but smile at each other. Strategist, Ill rely on you for the next steps! Rest assured, Your Highness! Then, Zhuge energetically went to take care of the matter. They announced that they could produce cement, and now they were attracting investments from outside, hoping for ambitious individuals toe and join them. They made a grand spectacle, as if they werepeting with the court! Even Wuxi Duke, Prince of Southern Jiang, and others were not willing to be left behind. They all announced that they could also produce cement and weed major wealthy merchants to invest; they were very enthusiastic about it. Even other vassal kings were doing the same! The whole Great Wu was caught up in a cement fever! During the morning court session, the Empress called on her officials to discuss a response. Only Lin Beifan remained calm andposed, saying, Your Majesty, theres no need to worry about this matter! The Empress was puzzled, Minister, why do you say that? I have said it before. The method of making cement is not difficult, and they will eventually steal it. But to make money through cement, it wont be that easy. They simply dont have the necessary conditions! Lin Beifan said with a proud smile. Minister, dont keep us in suspense. Can you exin it in detail? The Empress urged. Of course, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan stood tall and confident and exined, First, to produce cement, one needs y, limestone, and iron g. All three are indispensable! y and limestone are easy to obtain, but iron g is another story! You see, the iron mines are under the control of our court, and private mining is prohibited! Iron g is the waste left after iron processing. So, the truth is, only our court possesses a significant amount of iron g. Other vassal kings simply dont have this condition, which restricts their production! Everyone nodded, and the Empress said, Minister, continue. Secondly, even if they find these three materials, production cost is an essential factor! Lin Beifan smiled proudly, My cement workshop is less than five li to the south, where we can obtain arge amount of limestone. Less than three li to the west, we have ess to high-quality y. Less than seven li to the north, we can get iron g. Moreover, there are rivers throughout the route, enabling water transport, saving time and effort. As a result, production costs are significantly reduced! But where can other vassal kings find such advantageous geographical conditions? So, the cement they produce will undoubtedly have much higher costs than ours, how can theypete with us? The Empressughed, Minister, youre right. Is there more? Thirdly, their market is not viable! Lin Beifan exined confidently, Cement is mainly used for building houses. To make money, those houses need to be sold! These houses are considered luxury items, and only rtively wealthy people can afford cement houses! In other words, only when themon people are prosperous can they afford to buy houses! But look at the region of Northern Hebei. It experienced the previous bandit disaster, and many people fled; the economy has declined. Who will they sell the houses to? Look at the region of Southern Jiang. Although its rtively affluent, it has suffered from floods and food supply issues! They havent even solved the problem of food; who will be concerned about housing? As for Wuxis territory, forget about it! The Wuxi Duke has always been involved in constant warfare and seized everything he could. Merchants are struggling just to protect themselves; how can they dare to do business there? As for other regions, the markets are too small to support them! Merchants want to make money; who would engage in unprofitable deals? Only our court can sustain the enormous market for cement! The capital is nearby, gathering the wealthiest people in the country! When people have money, they are more willing to spend it on houses. The cement sales will be no problem! Moreover, over the past year or so, the territory under our courts rule has been peaceful, with no wars. The people have recuperated, and they have disposable ie; they naturally will spend money on houses! Lin Beifan spread his arms and said excitedly, This is our courts biggest advantage! We have the broadest market, and they dont! The Empress apuded, Well said! Absolutely right! Chapter 230: They Have No Choice but to Choose Great Wu! Chapter 230: They Have No Choice but to Choose Great Wu! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Fourthly, under the current situation, all major merchants can only choose Great Wu! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Now, everyone in the world knows that the major vassal kings have rebellious intentions and are hostile to our court! If merchants do business with the vassal kings, they will undoubtedly be rejected by our court! Moreover, the vassal kings have mutual enmity between them! Therefore, merchants can only do business with one faction! In thisparison, our court has abundant raw material resources and produces high-quality and affordable cement. Besides, we have a vast market. Only foolish merchants would choose others over us! The Empress pped her hands once again, saying, Well said! Very well said! Fifthly, besides granting the major merchants distribution rights for cement, we have also provided them with generous tax incentives. However, the vassal kings are only interested in making money, so they wont be favored by the merchants either! Theres also the sixth point! Lin Beifan nced at the civil and military officials around him and smiled, We have the advantage of seizing the opportunity to attract all the wealthy people in the world! They are investing a massive amount of resources in our new city, and the costs are enormous. They will undoubtedly need a return on investment! If they switch allegiance at this point, they wont recover these losses. So, they are already tied to Great Wus ship and have no choice but to choose Great Wu! The Empress burst intoughter,ughing heartily as she pped her hands, saying, Sir Lin, youve said it so well! I was a bit worried before, but now that Ive heard your words, I realize theres no need to worry at all! Other officials looked at Lin Beifans triumphant expression and silently cursed him in their hearts for being cunning. At this time, in the northern region of Hebei. The Pince of Northern Hebei still dreamt of getting rich. Almost every day, he called his military advisor for inquiries. Advisor, how is the situation with attracting investments? How many people have signed up? The Pince of Northern Hebei asked eagerly. The military advisor, Mr. Zhuge, remained calm and respectfully sped his hands, Reporting to Your Highness, the investment call has just been announced to the world, and the work has just begun. As of now, there are no wealthy merchants who havee to register. However, I believe that in a few days, there will be a flood of applicants! The Pince of Northern Hebei patted the military advisors shoulder with relief, Advisor, youre right. I was too anxious! Another day passed, and the Pince of Northern Hebei once again summoned his military advisor. Advisor, how is the situation today? Mr. Zhuge remainedposed, Reporting to Your Highness, as of now, there are still no applicants. I suspect they received the news yesterday and started their journey to Northern Hebei today. There should be good news in the next two days! The Pince of Northern Hebei smiled, Advisor, you are absolutely right! In the next two days, there should be good newsing! On the third day, the Pince of Northern Hebei couldnt resist calling his military advisor again. Advisor, whats the situation today? Have any wealthy merchantse to invest? Mr. Zhuge remainedposed and self-assured, Your Highness, today no one hase! Its possible that the long journey has left them tired, so they took a day to rest and prepare beforeing tomorrow! After all, these prominent merchants value etiquette, and its not surprising for them to take their time. Your Highness, you can expect good news from me soon! I trust you, advisor! The fourth day, the fifth day Every day, the Pince of Northern Hebei called for the military advisors input. However, the news he received was that there were still no applicants, and the situation seemed to make no progress at all. Gradually, even Mr. Zhuge started to lose hisposure. It had been five days, and there was still no sign of anyone? On Lin Beifans side, on the second day of the announcement, a group of wealthy merchants immediately came from the capital city. On the third day, merchants from neighboring cities arrived. On the fourth day, even wealthy aristocrats and prominent merchants from farther locations rushed over. In the following days, the phrase applicants like clouds and the entrance crowded like a marketce perfectly described the scene. Why was the situationpletely different here? Five days had passed, and not a single person appeared. The entrance remained cold and deserted. It was a pitiful sight. Where had these wealthy merchants gone? Could it be that they had gone to other vassal kings? Gradually, the Pince of Northern Hebei became a little impatient, Advisor, its been nearly a week. Why have we not seen anyone? Even if they are in Wuxi, they should havee by now. Can you exin this to me? Mr. Zhuge was full of sweat on his face, Your Highness, I suspect there might be some issues. What kind of issues? The Pince of Northern Hebei pressed. Uh um Mr. Zhuges face became even sweatier. He racked his brains toe up with an excuse, but the Pince of Northern Hebei noticed the situation and left with an unpleasant expression, leaving his hands behind his back, Advisor, if there is still no good news tomorrow, you handle it! Your Highness! Your Highness, please listen to me Mr. Zhuge hurriedly chased after him, but he couldnt catch up with the kings steps. His heart was filled with bitterness because he knew that the king was genuinely angry. When the king became angry, it was terrifying! It seems that we can only handle it this way for now! Mr. Zhuge clenched his teeth. In the evening, he invited the wealthy merchants from the city. But the result was disheartening. Only a few merchants showed up, and the scale of their businesses was meager, just over twenty to thirty thousand liang. Many of them were not even well-known. Mr. Zhuge furrowed his brows, Why are there only a few of you? Where are the others? The merchants at the scene exchanged nces, and one of the more prestigious merchants bowed and smiled bitterly, Mr. Zhuge, the others have already left Northern Hebei and are doing business outside! Mr. Zhuge furrowed his brows even more, Doing business outside? Isnt Northern Hebei suitable? This The merchants looked at each other, remaining silent. Mr. Zhuge then realized that the previous issues with bandits had a more significant impact than he had imagined! Lets forget about them today, Mr. Zhuge changed the subject, revealing what he thought was a friendly smile. Today, Ive called you all here because theres an opportunity for you! If you seize it tightly, you will surely have a wide source of wealth and make a fortune! What opportunity are you talking about, Mr. Zhuge? someone asked. The miraculous invention of cement for building houses, have you heard of it? Mr. Zhuge said temptingly, Our royal family can also produce cement! So, this is your chance to get rich! After exining this matter, Mr. Zhuge left contentedly. He believed that these merchants, upon knowing they had the chance to obtain the distribution rights for cement, would be ecstatic and grateful to tears. With that, he could give a satisfactory ount to the king. However, after he left, the merchants present wore bitter expressions. If I knew earlier, I would have left too! They said they would give us the distribution rights for cement? Hmph! Clearly, they want to profit from us! Thats right. To obtain the distribution rights for cement, we have to provide a substantial amount of resources! But after the bandit trouble, where do we have any money left? Even if we obtain the distribution rights for cement, there are poor people everywhere. Where can we sell it? Your Highness, it seems like you want to squeeze every penny out of us, leaving us with nothing! Im afraid that once we get rich, the bandits wille back again! Ah, life is really unbearable! At this moment, an older merchant gritted his teeth and said, Fellow merchants, its not toote to leave now! If we dont leave, we really wont have a way out! They nced at each other and nodded heavily. The next day, within the royal pce. The Pince of Northern Hebei called for Mr. Zhuge once again. Advisor, how is the situation now? I want the truth, dont try to deceive me! This time, Mr. Zhuge was full of confidence and patted his chest, saying, Your Highness, rest assured! In fact, some wealthy merchants already contacted mest night, expressing their interest in cement! In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they wille together! Is that so? I happen to have some time, Ill wait with you! The Pince of Northern Hebei smiled. As a result, the time it took for an incense stick to burn passed, but still, not a single person showed up. Another time it took for an incense stick to burn, yet no one appeared. The Pince of Northern Hebeis face gradually darkened, and his gaze at Mr. Zhuge contained some anger. Mr. Zhuge was in a panic and said, Your Highness, they might have been dyed by something. Let me send someone to urge them toe! As a result, the messenger quickly returned, Mr. Zhuge, its not good! I went to their homes and stores, but they are all empty! Theyve all run away! What? They ran away? Mr. Zhuge slumped down. The other vassal kings also didnt fare well. In thend of Southern Jiang, merchants gathered, and in theory, they should have been able to find cement distributors. However, the Pince of Southern Jiang had a troubled expression. At the beginning, he invited wealthy merchants to sell cement, and there was a rtively positive response. However, as soon as they heard that they could only exchange it for grain, their expressions immediately changed, and they all refused. Having experienced floods and the devastating fire, grain was scarce in Southern Jiang, and its price had reached three to four times the normal price. Many people couldnt afford to buy grain anymore, even the wealthy merchants had limited supplies and could only provide for their own people. Now, the Pince of Southern Jiang wanted to exchange cement for grain. Wasnt this making a fuss? People could live without houses, but they couldnt go without food! As a result, both parties got into an argument, and the cement business fell apart. In the midst of this, Wang Fugui returned with a troubled face. The Pince of Southern Jiang, filled with hope, asked, How is it? Did they agree? Ive already offered a discounted price for the cement! Wang Fugui spread his hands, looking bitter, Your Highness, they still refuse to exchange, but they are willing to pay in money! The Pince of Southern Jiang jumped up in anger, Does this kingck money? What Ick is grain! Go back and tell them, this king wants only grain! Only grain! Only grain! At this moment, a general rushed over, Your Highness, were running out of grain! If theres no food, the soldiers below will riot! What should we do? The Pince of Southern Jiangs eyes shed with fierceness, Since they wont cooperate, this king can only resort to plundering! In the end, the cement business was not sessful, but the Pince of Southern Jiang ended up seizing all the grain brought by the merchants, turning them into beaten dogs who dared not speak up. In thend of Wuxi, under the strong support of the Duke of Wuxi, Mr. Fengchu held a grand and prosperous business conference. However, on the day of the conference, not a single person showed up, and it turned out to be a lonely affair. Chapter 231: The Gathering of Power in the Capital! Chapter 231: The Gathering of Power in the Capital! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The situation was the same in other small vassal kingdoms! They all became theughing stock of the whole world. The Prince of Northern Hebei is truly ridiculous. He wanted to make money by selling cement, but scared away all the remaining merchants! The Prince of Southern Jiang is just as absurd, trying to exchange cement for food! People there cant even get enough to eat, how would they consider building houses? When they disagreed, he resorted to force, driving the merchants of Southern Jiang insane! The mostughable one is the Duke of Wuxi! Who would dare to do business with him, given his character? The other vassal kings are no better; they cant support the cement market at all! At this moment, desperate merchants all headed to the capital, as if guided by an instinctual urge. Father, why are we going to the capital? Theres no way to survive here anymore. We can only try to make a living in the capital! But havent you always said that the capital is full of corrupt officials and powerful nobles, and its impossible to do business there? That was in the past, but now the situation has reversed! Chaos is rampant throughout the Great Wu territory, and only the capital is rtively stable and safe! If we stay here, we might not even survive! But if we go to the capital, we might be able to live as refugees and get by! I heard that the new city in the capital is under massive construction, with a millionborers and numerous merchants gathering there. The policies are more favorable to businessmen, which might be a way out for us! Lets go to the capital, Son! Father, youre right. Well go to the capital! In addition to the merchants, many impoverishedmon people who couldnt even afford food heard that a million refugees in the capital were provided with work, food, and even houses, and they all flocked there. It seemed like a great momentum was gradually gathering in the capital! The biggest beneficiary of this trend was Lin Beifan, as well as the court behind him. On that day, while Lin Beifan was inspecting the progress of the construction, a soldier rushed over to report, Lord Prefect, a few merchants from Northern Hebei have donated arge amount of grain, charcoal, and nkets, a total of 20 carts. They wish to see you! See me? How interesting! Lin Beifan smiled and said, I happen to have some time, so lets meet them. Lin Beifan went to the outskirts of the city and met the merchants as the soldiers mentioned. Straight to the point, he said, Our contribution system hase to an end! Even if you donate these things, you wont get much in return! We know, but fairness should prevail! We donate these goods with modest requests, hoping that you can amodate us, pleaded the merchants. What do you want? Lets hear it, Lin Beifan said with a smile on his face. Inform Lord Prefect, we have all fled from Northern Hebei to save our lives, so we seek a ce to settle down and amodate our families! The houses dont need to be too big; cement houses will suffice. Please grant our request, My Lord! The Northern Hebei merchants nodded earnestly. Lin Beifan nodded in agreement, Your request is quite simple, and I can fulfill it. The Northern Hebei merchants were overjoyed, Thank you, My Lord! Subsequently, Lin Beifan continued to meet with many small merchants. Most of them had fled from other ces, and they donated money and goods in the hope of having a ce to settle down and make a living. It had to be said that these merchants were truly shrewd. The houses in the capital were too expensive for them, so they came here to find a ce to live. Their cement houses were readily avable, and they could build hundreds or thousands of them in a day, with prices absolutely reasonable. Lin Beifan was happy to ept them, as the citys development required not onlybor but also other talents. He weed anyone who made contributions. With more merchants, trade began to flourish. However, unfortunately, most of the people here were refugees who didnt have much money to spend, so consumption was limited. It seems like its time to pay some wages and activate the economy of the new city! Lin Beifan mused to himself. A citys development depended on its economy, and the economy depended on money. Only with money could there be consumption, and with consumption, there would be economic growth. A thriving economy would allow everyone to live a better life. Now, the conditions were gradually ripe, and Lin Beifan decided to intervene by providing some manualbor to activate the market economy. He wanted to make the entire city run efficiently through the market, blessing everyone. At this moment, from a distance, came a neat and deafening sound, Greetings to Your Majesty, long live the Empress, ten thousand years of prosperity! It turned out that the Empress had arrived! Since the construction of the new city began, she frequently visited to inspect the progress. Seeing everyone so enthusiastic, well-fed, and well-clothed, and witnessing buildings rising one after another, she felt deeply satisfied. Greetings, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan smiled and greeted her. Minister, theres no need for so much courtesy! The Empress looked around andmented, Minister, this ce is changing every day! I still remember that when I came here a few days ago, it was just an empty space! Now, there are rows and rows of houses, as far as the eye can see! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Indeed, it changes every day! Minister, how many cement houses are there now? Your Majesty, currently there are a total of 20,000 houses, which have solved the housing problem for approximately 60,000 people! Hmm, not bad! The Empress was very satisfied. Is the cement production still keeping up? The Empress asked again. Its still very tight! If it werent for the issue of cement production, I would have already built 50,000 houses! Then continue to expand the production, let me know if you need anything! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan thanked her with a cupped hand and a smile. As they walked and talked, the Empress mentioned the other vassal kings efforts in attracting cement investments and couldnt stopughing. Minister, you were absolutely right! My uncles, even with cement, couldnt get things done! One scared away the few remaining big merchants in the territory! Another had the absurd idea of using cement to exchange for food, and when it didnt work, he resorted to forced acquisition! And another one even held an investment conference but not a single person showed up! Haha! Its really hrious. The things they did are enough to amuse me for several days! Indeed, its quite funny, Lin Beifan also found it amusing. Did they really think that having cement would allow them to do whatever they pleased? They didnt even consider their own reputations and the chaos they caused in their territories. With such character, who would dare to do business with them? Merchants are very astute; they seek profits and avoid risks. As a result, many merchants seeking refuge came to his city. At noon, work stopped, and everyone went to have their meal. Watching everyone enjoying the steaming hot meals with great relish, the Empress let out a sigh, The fundamental issue for a nation lies in its food, in the ability to feed its people! As long as the people can have enough to eat, the country will be stable and unshakable, like Mount Tai! In the Northern Hebei region, due to the previous banditry problem, themon people couldnt have enough food, leading to them bing refugees and fleeing to other ces, causing many fertile fields in Northern Hebei to lie fallow and the economy to slump! In the Southern Jiang region, it suffered from floods, and the people had no food. The Prince of Southern Jiang withheld the grain, resulting in a million refugees! Now, not only does the Prince of Southern Jiangck grain, but there are also no people cultivating the fields, causing the economy to slump! In the Wuxi region, it has always been like this! If it werent for the million-strong army of the Duke of Wuxi suppressing everything, Wuxi would have fallen into chaos long ago! But our court has enough grain, so weve developed quite steadily over the past year! Your Majestys words are absolutely right! Lin Beifan nodded in agreement. This food is truly essential! By the way, Minister the Empress turned her head with concern and asked, How is your research on rice? Any progress? Lin Beifans expression turned solemn, Your Majesty, the research has reached a bottleneck now. Weck a crucial element! If we cant solve this problem, we wont be able to break through the technological barrier! Whats missing? The Empress became even more concerned. Weck funds! Lin Beifan said gravely. The Empress: Lin Beifans expression became even more serious, This research on rice is a significant project that will benefit millions ofmon people. It requires a considerable amount of silver to conduct research and pave the way. Without sufficient funding, it will be challenging to continue the research! The Empresss mouth twitched, How much do you need? Lin Beifans eyes glimmered, Your Majesty, as long as you provide a research fund of 10 million taels, I am confident that we can develop rice with astonishing yields by next year! The Empresss mouth twitched even more. This little scoundrel is trying to take advantage of the situation and get more money! Havent you already taken so much? However, this time, the Empress didnt outright refuse; instead, she fell into contemtion. During the almost one year period, Lin Beifan had already proven his abilities through various impressive inventions such as the flying sky artifact Air Balloon, the watercraft Air Cushion Boat, and the construction marvel Cement. Their effects were astounding! The rice he mentioned was also likely to be achievable. If the rice research seeded, it could increase the grain yield of Great Wu by more than 50%! Just imagine how many peoples food problems it could solve. This was indeed a true national treasure! Alright, 10 million it is! When the national treasury budget is being prepared next year, even if I have to squeeze, Ill set it aside for you. Satisfied now? The Empress said somewhat irritably. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan replied with a beaming smile. After the inspection, the Empress hurried back to the imperial pce to handle state affairs. A few dayster, Guo, the head of the Six Doors, came to drink with Lin Beifan. Sir Lin, no need to apologize. Ipletely understand! Youve been very busy with the new citys matters; theres a lot on your te, and you cant find the time. Haha! Guo said understandingly. Haha, thank you, Master Guo, for your understanding! Lin Beifanughed heartily. Actually, being busy is a good thing! The busier an official is, the broader the future prospects! Guo said with envy. Now, everyone knew that Lin Beifan was busy with the construction of the new city. In the process of city development, Lin Beifan disyed extraordinary abilities that left everyone astonished. He had enough capabilities, achievements, and prestige. The day the new city waspleted would also mark the moment Lin Beifan became the Prefect of the Capital! Then, Guo could only look on with envy. If he were in that position, he would definitely not be able to aplish such earth-shattering things! As they drank, they discussed various topics, including worldly affairs and matters in the martial world. The time hade, and Lin Beifan asked, So, Master Guo, what brings you here this time? Guo, the head of the sixw enforcement agencies, had a serious expression as he said, The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual has reappeared in the martial world! Chapter 232: The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, the Madness of the Martial World Chapter 232: The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, the Madness of the Martial World Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan had a look as if he had expected this. When he introduced the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, he knew that this day woulde. No one could resist the temptation of rapid power growth. Thats why all the sects united before, calling on the strong figures of the martial world to eliminate the powerful Tianmen and seize the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual for themselves. It was about time for this to happen again! Are there many people practicing the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Many! A lot! So far, Six Doors have already discovered over ten cases from different forces! There must be even more hidden in secret! Once these people gain some strength, they cant help but show off and expose themselves! They arepletely unaware that they are seeking their own doom! Guo said with a sinisterugh. The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual is a sinister technique. The faster you cultivate it, the faster you die! Moreover, our court has countermeasures against the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. They wont be able to stir up any storms in front of us! Master Guo, how does the Six Doors n to handle them? Lin Beifan asked. Guo, with excitement in his expression, said, My n is like this: as long as they do not harm civilians or pose a threat to our court, we will let them be! In doing so, those who practice the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual will definitely be stronger than those who dont, and their strength will grow even faster! Those who havent practiced the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual will inevitably feel aggrieved and join in the cultivation. In the end, everyone in the martial world will practice the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, leading to infighting among them. This will weaken each others strength and also weaken the strength of the martial world as a whole! What do you call this situation again? Internal strife! Lin Beifan summed it up. Guo, the head of the Six Doors, pped his thigh and said excitedly, Exactly! Its internal strife! Let them get tangled up in it! Haha! Lin Beifan sped his hands and said, Congrattions, Master Guo. You are preparing to make great achievements again! Thank you, thank you! If it werent for Sir Lins Evil-Repelling Sword Manual and the countermeasures, I wouldnt have been able to achieve such significant sess! You also share the credit for this achievement! Guo immediately returned the courtesy. Haha! The two of them conspired together and burst intoughter. The only worry is the Tianmen Sects leader, who has already disappeared, and we dont know where he fled to! Guo frowned. The opponents strength is profound and unfathomable. He is now hiding in the shadows, holding the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. If he cultivates arge number of experts again, it will undoubtedly stir up turmoil! This person has enormous ambitions and formidable strength. Indeed, we have no better way now. We can only wait for him to show up again! Lin Beifan said. Yes, its quite a headache! Guo agreed. After finishing their drinks, Guo immediately returned and ordered his men to closely monitor the martial world. They kept a close eye on those who practiced the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual and the sects involved. In order to catalyze conflicts in the martial world and make everyone fight against each other, he even distributed a few copies of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual himself. It must be said that since cooperating with Lin Beifan, Guo had be more cunning! Chapter 233: To Train or Not to Train, It’s Too Sinister! Chapter 233: To Train or Not to Train, Its Too Sinister! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Continuing, the Prince of Northern Hebei borated on the situation. A month ago, a renowned escort agency in the martial world, the Pingwei Escort Agency, was annihted by their enemies, the Jindao Sect, all because of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. The young master of the agency has fled and his whereabouts are unknown. The Golden Dragon Lake and the two major gangs, Jiaolong and Flying Fish, also got entangled in a battle over the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. In the conflict, the Flying Fish sect suffered a devastating defeat because none of them had cultivated the sword manual. Only a few managed to escape. It is said thatter, those survivors also started practicing the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual and sought revenge on the Jiaolong gang. And theres more The Prince of Northern Hebei recounted one event after another. The situation has be increasingly dire. The abbot of Shaolin Temple convened a martial arts congress, urging everyone not to cultivate the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, but this did not halt its spread. Consequently, conflicts and bloodshed escted in the martial world, resulting in a brutal struggle! After hearing all this, the Master of Tianmen burst intoughter, filled with delight. This is retribution, retribution hase! Back then, they dared to unite and annihte our Tianmen. They should have expected this day toe! They call me a devil and im our ways are twisted? Hmph! They are the true devils and possess twisted ways! Devils and those who walk crooked paths should die! All of them should die, hahaha! Theughter was infused with satisfaction, with the pleasure of avenging blood grudges. ncing at the Prince of Northern Hebei beside him, he asked boastfully, Your Highness, do you know what kind of technique the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual is? The Prince of Northern Hebei hurriedly replied, It is said to be a demonic art. Those who practice it must first undergo castration to cultivate it. Afterward, their strength increases rapidly, reaching the third level in three days, eighth level in a month, and seventh level in three months! The speed of cultivation is unimaginably fast, so many people lose control and be practitioners of demonic arts! However, it is said that after practicing this technique, their temperament undergoes a drastic change, bing bloodthirsty and killing without mercy. As a result, many vendettas and grudges in the martial world are triggered by this technique. The Master of Tianmen chuckled and shook his head, Your Highness, you only know part of it, but not the whole truth! The consequences of this technique are far more severe than you can imagine. Please enlighten me! The Prince of Northern Hebei sat down attentively, ready to listen earnestly. The strength is not attained out of thin air; there is always a price to pay for gaining something! The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, although allowing rapid progress, exacts a toll on ones life force! Based on my long-term observation and spection, cultivating the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual to the ninth level would shorten ones lifespan by 10 years! Reaching the eighth level would cost 30 years of life! At the seventh level, there wouldnt be much time left, probably less than a year! If one possesses exceptional talent and reaches the innate realm, the day of sess will be the day of death! The Prince of Northern Hebei was shocked and drenched in cold sweat, Isnt this too sinister? Indeed, there is no need for me to deceive you, Your Highness! The Lord of Tianmen smiled slyly, In other words, the faster you cultivate this technique, the quicker youll die! But if you dont practice it, youll be left at the mercy of others who mighte to your door to bully and annihte your entire n! Hahaha! The Prince of Northern Hebei waspletely chilled, realizing that this was truly a sinister art. Whether one practiced it or not, everyone was destined to meet a calcted end! Since the emergence of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, it had only brought ughter and nothing else! Master Tianmen, did you create this sword manual? asked the Prince of Northern Hebei. The Master of Tianmen shook his head with regret, No, it wasnt created by me. I came across it by chance! Originally, with the power of this technique, I had the opportunity to dominate the martial world, but I fell short, what a pity! Indeed, its a pity! The Prince of Northern Hebei nodded, but he didnt think that way in his heart. If you werent finished, then his path to kingship would have a massive threat! The entire Tianmen sect cultivating the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual was terrifying! At this moment, the Master of Tianmen suddenly asked, Your Highness, do you want the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? As long as all your subordinates cultivate it, your strength will undoubtedly increase significantly in a short period! Even the position of the ruler might not be unattainable! Tianmen Master jests. How could I let my subordinates practice such wicked arts? The Prince of Northern Hebei said righteously. Although he wanted it badly, he couldnt risk such a grave consequence in the world. Since his debut, he had been building an image of a wise and heroic prince, which had attracted numerous heroes and gants to support him in a short time. If others knew that his subordinates also practiced demonic arts, his reputation would be ruined, and who would continue to support him? Perhaps he would face a joint attack from the martial world, just like Tianmen. Moreover, he dared not take the risk now. This was a technique that shortened ones lifespanthe faster one practiced, the quicker one would die. If he managed to conquer the world but all his people died in the process, what would be the point? Therefore, despite being tempted, he restrained himself. The Master of Tianmen seemed to see through the Prince of Northern Hebeis thoughts and smiled as he took out a secret manual from his sleeve and handed it over, saying, Your Highness, take this! Curiously, the Prince of Northern Hebei epted it and asked, What is this? The Master of Tianmen smiled, This is another technique I adapted based on the principles of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, known as the Sunflower Treasure. Compared to the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, the cultivation speed is three to four times slower, but it doesnt require castration! Shocked, the Prince of Northern Hebei eximed, Three to four times slower but doesnt require castration? Yes! The Master of Tianmen grinned, Indeed, this Sunflower Treasure doesnt require castration! However, thats precisely why the cultivation speed is slower. It takes ten days to reach the ninth level, three months to reach the eighth level, and a year to reach the seventh level! Butpared to ordinary techniques, it is still much faster! Yes, much faster! The Prince of Northern Hebei nodded enthusiastically, but then he asked with a clear mind, Such an excellent technique, isnt there any w? Of course, everything has its origin, and there will always be a trade-off for gains! The Master of Tianmen chuckled, Cultivating this technique will also shorten ones lifespan. Reaching the ninth level will cost three to four years, the eighth level about a dozen years, and at the seventh level, one might have only three to four years left to live! If you manage to touch the innate realm, youll have less than a month of life remaining! However,pared to the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, its already much better! Yes, much better! The Prince of Northern Hebeis eyes lit up, and his hands trembled. This secret manual was like a winning treasure for him to achieve his ambitions! First of all, he didnt need to undergo castration, which disassociated him from the infamous demonic technique, the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, that was being widely circted in the martial world. Secondly, this technique could be cultivated rapidly as well! In just one year, he could cultivate a significant number of seventh-grade experts! A year was a time he could afford to wait! Even if this technique would shorten their lifespan, there were still several years of buffer time. In those years, he could fully establish his dominance and cultivate another batch of strong individuals to rece those who would be affected. The process could be carried out stealthily, making it unlikely to be easily discovered! The Prince of Northern Hebei was extremely tempted. He raised his head, a bit trembling, and asked, Master Tianmen, what is your intention? Why are you giving such an excellent technique to me? The Master of Tianmen smiled and said, Consider it a token of gratitude for your assistance, Your Highness! At the same time, I hope that when everything is aplished, Your Highness wont forget about me. Excitedly, the Prince of Northern Hebei proimed, Sure, Master Tianmen! When everything is aplished, I will treat you with the status of a national teacher! The Master of Tianmen bowed his hand, Thank you, Your Highness! Hahaha! The Prince of Northern Hebeiughed loudly. Then, he left, holding the secret manual, brimming with excitement. He didnt fully trust the Master of Tianmen. He decided to have a few people start practicing the technique first and then expand itter if there were no issues. The Master of Tianmen watched the figure of the Prince of Northern Hebei departing, his gaze flickering. He certainly wasnt that benevolent. This technique had a hidden control mechanism, and anyone who practiced it would eventually be under his control. He wanted the Prince of Northern Hebei to help him cultivate talents and lead the way in conquering the world. When the Prince of Northern Hebei seeded, he could seize the throne for himself. At this moment, he had a few more copies of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. Since the martial world is already chaotic, lets make it even more chaotic. Otherwise, how can I vent my hearts hatred? He sent these manuals out through special means. With the support of the Prince of Northern Hebei and the maniption of the Master of Tianmen, the martial world became increasingly chaotic. Various factions were fighting each other incessantly. The leader of the Martial Art Alliance, the abbot of Shaolin, had to convene another martial arts congress, urging everyone not to practice the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. But in the end, it had no effect, and they could only let things take their course. Finally, due to therge number of martial artists practicing the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, the situation became extremely chaotic, severely threatening local stability and causing great trouble and harm to themon people. Consequently, the Ministry of Justice had to take action. The experts from the Ministry of Justice made their move, and instantly, they overwhelmed all the troublemakers from the martial world, arresting them all. They caught one after another, leaving almost no escapees! People from all walks of life in the martial world were dumbfounded! When did the Ministry of Justice be so powerful? Those seventh-grade experts who practiced the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual couldnt even defeat an eighth-grade expert from the Ministry of Justice! If it were an eighth-grade expert from the Ministry of Justice, they could catch the practitioners of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual with certainty, making it impossible for them to escape! The Ministry of Justices reputation skyrocketed! Afterwards, people from various factions in the martial world investigated the situation and discovered that things were not as they seemed. The Ministry of Justice hadnt be stronger; they had mastered a technique that perfectly countered the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. Even if ones strength was weak, as long as they learned this technique, they could defeat those who practiced the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. The truth shocked the entire martial world! The imperial court actually mastered a way to counter the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? So, are those who practice the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual doomed? Of course, if youmit any wrongdoing, youll have to wait to be dealt with by the imperial court. There is no other way! Why did this happen?! Many martial artists who had practiced the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual were almost driven to madness! They had struggled with their determination, only to find that their sacrifice hadnt brought them the expected benefits. Instead, the imperial court ruthlessly suppressed them, leaving them at a loss on how to continue living. Will they have to live with their tails between their legs in the future? Even if they wanted to, they couldnt do it anymore! As a result, many of them were on the verge of a breakdown! Why does the imperial court have a way to counter the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? Why did I only find out about all this now? Its toote! Why didnt thise earlier when I was wielding my sword just now! Oh heavens, what did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this? I dont want to live anymore!!! Chapter 234: No Omission in Calculation, Proceeding Step by Step, Experts in the Court! Chapter 234: No Omission in Calction, Proceeding Step by Step, Experts in the Court! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Many martial sects held the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual in their hands, finding it useless to study but regretful to abandon it. If they didnt practice it, their strength would not be strong enough, and they might be wiped out by enemies. However, if they practiced it, they would be restrained by the court and eventually annihted by the court. No matter what they chose, death seemed inevitable, frustrating them to no end. As a result, the martial world fell into a strangely calm state. Shaolin Temple. Amitabha! The old monks face was full of admiration. Indeed, its the court. They have researched the method to crack the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual so quickly! It might lead to peace in the martial world, which can be considered a good thing! The abbot sighed, Junior Brother, do you really think the court has truly managed to quickly study the method to crack the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? Senior Brother, what do you mean? The old monk was puzzled. Our Master Uncle, who possesses the strength of a grandmaster, still couldnt figure out the way to crack the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. So how could the court have such ability? The truth is, we have all been deceived; we fell into the courts scheme! Senior Brother The old monk remained puzzled. The abbots face showed a bitter smile. Let me tell you this, the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual was actually deliberately released by the court! They already possessed the manual and naturally had the method to crack it! The old monk was shocked. What? How could that be? Why would the court do this? Of course, its to deal with Tianmen, as well as the entire martial world! Junior Brother, listen to my analysis! The abbot continued, Initially, the head of Tianmen was nning to hold a martial arts conference to elect the leader of the martial world. The court felt threatened by this, so they issued a decree appointing me as the leader of the martial world, ordering us to deal with Tianmen! The old monk nodded. However, the matter didnt end there! The abbot held the prayer beads in his hand, took a couple of steps forward, and continued, Although I became the leader of the martial world and blocked Tianmens development path, their strength didnt weaken in the slightest! So, in order to deal with Tianmen, the court secretly handed the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, a wicked technique, to the head of Tianmen! This technique is incredibly miraculous! After just a few days of cultivation, progress was swift. The head of Tianmen regarded it as a treasure and had all the disciples practice it, rapidly strengthening their power! By doing so, they perfectly yed into the courts intentions! The court made this matter public,beling the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual as a demonic art and branding Tianmen as a wicked and evil sect. They rallied all the heroes of the world to collectively attack them! And now, as you can see The abbot turned back with a bitter expression. As the leader of the martial world, Shaolin Temple is a prominent figure, so we had no choice but to be used by the court, gathering all the heroes of the world to besiege Tianmen! As a result, Tianmen was destroyed, and the head of Tianmen vanished without a trace! The martial world suffered heavy losses in this battle, weakening the threat to the court! However, the matter is far from over! After each sect and powerful individual obtained the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, they couldnt resist practicing it. Once they mastered it, they started attacking each other, causing chaos in the martial world again and significantly reducing their overall strength! When those who cultivated the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual became a threat to the court, they were killed using the cracking method provided by the court! Its truly a perfectly woven web, with each step connecting to the next! The abbot sighed in admiration. Now, we realize the courts scheme, but its toote! They truly ounted for everything, proceeding step by step. There are experts within the court! Amitabha! The old monk closed his eyes. But from his expression, it was evident that his heart was far from calm. Junior Brother, it seems we should be more courteous to the court from now on! The abbots face was filled with a bitter smile. Otherwise, we wont even know when theyll plot against us again! Amitabha, Senior Brother, you are absolutely right! the old monk agreed. Amitabha! In the region of Northern Hebei, the head of Tianmen soon learned this news. As a highly ambitious and scheming individual, he quickly grasped the whole situation and couldnt help but exim in anger, Damn it! Ive been tricked by the court! They used only one Evil-Repelling Sword Manual to destroy Tianmen, which I worked hard to establish over thirty years! Now, Ive be a wanted man, hunted and killed by others! I will never coexist with them! His eyes were filled with boundless killing intent, and he even wanted to march straight to the capital to seek revenge. However, at the critical moment, he restrained himself. The courts strength was not weak, and if he were to face them alone, he might not get a favorable oue. If he summoned the two experts from Shaolin and Wudang or the courts enforcers, it would be disadvantageous for him. Now is not the time for revenge! When the Sunflower Manual ispleted and the Prince of Northern Hebei rises, that will be the time for me to take revenge! For now, Ill temporarily set aside this ount! The head of Tianmen returned and began cultivating with closed eyes. At this moment, peace descended once again upon the martial world. In the capital city, Lin Beifan was still leading everyone in constructing the new city with great enthusiasm. After more than half a month of hard work, they had built over 30,000 houses in the new city, along with the existing cement houses, which had solved the housing problem for nearly 300,000 people. By this time, it had been a month since the construction of the new city began. Being able to resolve the amodation issue for 300,000 people in just one month was a miracle no matter where it was ced. However, Lin Beifan still felt that it was not fast enough. Initially, he had promised to let all the disaster victims move into new houses within two months and build a new city within three months. The current efficiency still did not meet the requirements. But he wasnt worried either because the cement factory had expanded its construction, producing more and more cement. People were bing more skilled in utilizing cement, leading to faster house construction. They would surely be able to let everyone move into new houses within two months! Within three months, they would undoubtedly be able to build the new city! Everyone, lets work hard! Strive to build the new city and move into new houses before the New Year! Lin Beifan shouted with great effort. Yes, sir! The people responded and rolled up their sleeves to work harder. At this time, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai arrived. Mo Rushuang whispered to Lin Beifan, Young Master, we just received a letter from the Prince of Northern Hebei! Lin Beifan nodded slightly and followed the two to a secluded ce. What new mission does the Prince of Northern Hebei have for us? Lin Beifan asked. Mo Rushuang shook her head. Young Master, theres no mission this time! His Highness said that we have worked hard for more than half a year, so he specially rewards us with a martial art technique for us to cultivate diligently. What technique? Lin Beifan became curious. Here it is! Mo Rushuang took out a handwritten martial art technique and handed it to Lin Beifan. The Sunflower Manual? Lin Beifan frowned. The more he looked at it, the more peculiar it seemed, as if he had seen this martial art technique somewhere before. Wait a minute, isnt this the same as the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual he wrote? Although it has been altered beyond recognition, the core remains the same! Next to him, Guo Shaoshuai danced with excitement as he said, Young Master, His Highness said that the Sunflower Manual is an extremely rare and supreme martial art that anyone can practice! In 10 days, one can reach the ninth rank; in three months, the eighth rank; and in one year, the seventh rank! If one possesses outstanding talent, they may even be able to open up all the meridians within two or three years, bing an unparalleled innate expert! Although I dislike the character of His Highness, he is truly generous this time. He actually decided to reward us with such an excellent martial art technique! Ive already made up my mind to diligently practice this technique and strive to break through to the innate level within three years! As Guo Shaoshuai spoke, he became more and more excited, as if he could already see a bright future ahead. At this moment, Lin Beifan interjected, If you practice that, death will be near! Guo Shaoshuai was startled, Young Master, why do you say that? Because it is an evil art no less than the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! Lin Beifan was nowpletely certain that the Sunflower Manual had been derived from his Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. The core was exactly the same; it was just a different name for the same thing. Normal people might not be able to tell, but as the inventor of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, how could he not see it? There were not many people who had the ability to make such alterations, and the head of Tianmen was one of them. He was truly capable of doing such a selfish thing. Two months without news, and now they found out that the other party had gone to the Prince of Northern Hebei! Moreover, they hade up with such a sinister martial art technique and handed it over to the Prince of Northern Hebei. The situation was bing more and more intriguing! What is evil about this martial art? Why cant I see it? Guo Shaoshuai asked, confused. Have you heard of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Both of them immediately nodded, and Guo Shaoshuai said, Of course, we know. It was this evil art that caused two great cmities in the martial world, resulting in the decline of the martial arts and heavy losses for each sect! But what does it have to do with the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? Because the Sunflower Manual is actually a modified version of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! In other words, its essentially the same as the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! Guo Shaoshuai was astonished once again, How could that be? The Sunflower Manual doesnt require self-castration, so why do you say it is the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? While practicing the Sunflower Manual indeed doesnt require self-castration, it will still make you pay a heavy price! What price? The price of losing years of life! Lin Beifan smiled, Theres no such thing as a free lunch in the world; gains alwayse with losses! Practicing this Sunflower Manual will undoubtedly lead to rapid progress, but its essentially exchanging your life for it! Practicing to the ninth rank will cost you three to four years of life; reaching the eighth rank will cost you more than ten years! And even if you reach the seventh rank, you may only have three to four good years left! In other words, the faster you progress in cultivation, the faster youll die! Guo Shaoshuai was drenched in sweat, Is it true? Is this technique really so sinister? Shaoshuai, I have no grievances with you. Why would I deceive you? Lin Beifan patted his head. Mo Rushuang spoke up, Although Young Master doesnt practice martial arts, he can still discuss martial principles with two grandmasters. Obviously, he is very knowledgeable about martial arts! Junior Brother, we should listen to Young Masters words! Guo Shaoshuai nodded in agreement; Lin Beifans understanding of martial arts had long convinced him. Lin Beifan continued, Furthermore, practicing this martial art will make you susceptible to maniption! Both Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were shocked, Maniption by whom? Lin Beifan grinned mischievously, Whoever gives you this martial art will control you! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai both eximed in unison, The Prince of Northern Hebei!!! Chapter 235: Young Master, as your enemies, they are quite difficult! Chapter 235: Young Master, as your enemies, they are quite difficult! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Watching the shocked, fearful, and angry expressions of the two individuals, Lin Beifan had just thought about exining that the mastermind behind all this was the Tianmen Sects leader who had disappeared. It was also possible that Prince of Northern Hebei had been deceived. But when the words reached his lips, he held them back. The Tianmen Sects leader wasnt a good person, and neither was Prince of Northern Hebei! Since they had already acted maliciously, then lets y it out to the end! Thats right, its Prince of Northern Hebei! Lin Beifan pped his hands and said, Prince of Northern Hebei is selfish and hypocritical. If this cultivation method is truly excellent, why would he give it to outsiders? He wouldnt even have time to keep it hidden; surely, he has some ulterior motives! The situation is already very clear. He wants to buy you with this technique, make you sacrifice your lifespan to cultivate it, and then use your increased strength to serve him! Even if you eventually discover the truth, you will still be under his control! He is truly despicable! If you two unknowingly cultivate this technique, you wouldnt even know that youve been sold to others! Prince of Northern Hebei!!! Mo Roushuang and Guo Shaoshuai gnashed their teeth. They were utterly disappointed in Prince of Northern Hebei now! Not only disappointed but also extremely disgusted! And extremely angry! Over the years, they had put in a lot of effort for Prince of Northern Hebei, traveling long distances, working day and night, with no small amount of contributions to Prince of Northern Hebei! In the end, they found out that their enthusiasm and loyalty had been wasted. He turned out to be an ambitious hypocrite who disregarded the lives of themon people in order to amass wealth. Now, to achieve his ambitions, he even handed this evil technique to them, making them sacrifice themselves for him. It was truly vicious! Guo Shaoshuai angrily said, Young Master, Senior Sister, I really want to go back to Northen Hebei and settle the score! Mo Roushuang advised, Junior Brother, dont be impulsive! Prince of Northern Hebei is powerful, and there are many experts protecting him. If we go back, it would be like seeking death, and we might even drag down our sect. Its not worth it! Guo Shaoshuai remained furious, Are we really helpless? Prince of Northern Hebei might not only give this technique to us but also to others. Other martial artists will suffer too! They are our fellow martial brothers and sisters, devoting themselves to a great cause, only to end up like this. Senior Sister, can you bear it? Mo Roushuang sighed deeply, not knowing how to persuade him. After a moment, Guo Shaoshuai calmed down but looked deste, pained, and desperate. Whichever choice they made, they would have to sacrifice some people. This decision was really difficult! Young Master, is there no way to have it both ways? For example, we could secretly leak this matter to let everyone see Prince of Northern Hebeis true face. What do you think? Guo Shaoshuai became excited, liking his own idea. Lin Beifan shook his head, If we do that, it will be themon people who suffer, and more people will die! Why? Guo Shaoshuai didnt understand. Prince of Northern Hebeis foundation lies in the martial world. By creating the image of a wise and martial lord, he attracts heroes from all over the martial world to join him, giving him his current influence! If the truth is revealed and he loses support, he will go crazy and immediately rebel! When war breaks out, who do you think will be the most unfortunate? s! Guo Shaoshuai sighed helplessly. So, right now, we cant do anything! We not only cant expose the truth but also have to help conceal Prince of Northern Hebeis actions! This way, you, your Senior Sister, and your sect will be safe! Themon people will be safe too. Only a small group of people distantly connected to you will be sacrificed. This is the best approach for the current situation! At this moment, Guo Shaoshuai seemed as if all his strength had been drained, and his eyes were filled with despair. Lin Beifan sighed, This is the martial world! When in the martial world, ones own actions are often beyond ones control! Thank you for your guidance, Young Master! Im feeling a bit unwell, so Ill go back and rest first, Guo Shaoshuai said with a cupped hand, then left with a dejected expression. Mo Roushuang stayed behind and watched Guo Shaoshuais departing figure. She said, Young Master, Junior Brother is still young, and his heart is filled with enthusiasm and ideals. Hes having a hard time epting this situation. Lin Beifan smiled and replied, I understand very well. Everyone goes through a youthful phase. Mo Roushuang was surprised and asked, Young Master, did you also go through such a phase? Lin Beifan said earnestly, I should say that all my enemies have gone through such a phase! Mo Roushuang couldnt help but chuckle, Indeed, as your enemies, they must have had a tough time! They walked side by side, chatting as they went. Mo Roushuang admired Lin Beifan and said, Fortunately, we have you, Young Master. You saw through the Sunflower Manual and Prince of Northern Hebeis true nature at a nce. Otherwise, we would have unknowingly stepped into a deep pit and been sold off! Lin Beifan chuckled, Thats nothing! As long as youre more vignt, it wont be so easy to be deceived. Theres no such thing as a free lunch in this world; remember that! The principle sounds simple, but when faced with powerful martial techniques, who can resist temptation? Mo Roushuang sighed, Take the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, for example. Despite its various ws, it was still pursued by many martial artists, and countless bloody battles were fought for it. If not for the imperial court finding a way to counter it, chaos would have been even worse! Indeed, Prince of Northern Hebei knows very well how to manipte peoples desires! To achieve his ambitions, he even created a martial manual as deadly as the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. He is truly sinister! Lin Beifan nonchntly shifted the me onto Prince of Northern Hebei. Who could have imagined that behind his image of a wise and martial lord lies such a wicked heart? Mo Roushuang clenched her fist, gritting her teeth, Not only does he disregard the lives of the people in his territory, but he also doesnt spare his own people! Ambitious people care only for themselves; others are just sacrificial pawns! Lin Beifan remarked. Yes, such a person can hardly be called human! Inparison, Young Master, although you carry the reputation of a corrupt official and treacherous minister, everything you have done has been for the benefit of the country and the people! Mo Roushuangs eyes sparkled with admiration, You have contributed so much in the court, resolving the banditry issue, and saving themon people in Northern Hebei! You pointed out the errors in medical texts and added several medical forms, saving millions of patients! You distinguished yourself in the Yan and Wu Competition, bringing glory to the country! Since taking up the position of Prefect of the Capital, you have cracked down on the powerful and upheld justice for themon people! You have also encouraged and supported the development of a low-carbon economy, providing the people with a path to prosperity! And now, youre helping to save millions of disaster victims from afar, and youre doing your best to address their food, clothing, shelter, and transportation needs! Mo Roushuangs face was filled with admiration, and her eyes sparkled like stars, Young Master, you have done so much for the country and the people! Without you holding everything together, the court would have fallen into chaos, and the world would have been in turmoil! Lin Beifan was delighted, Its good that you understand me! Ive done so much, but others cant see it. They only focus on a little bit of greed andbel me as a corrupt official. Its just too unfair! Mo Roushuang weakly said, Young Master, its not just a little bit of greed; its quite a lot Lin Beifan: Really? Lin Beifan touched his nose. Yes! Mo Roushuang nodded vigorously. Lin Beifan was a bit angry, Rushuang, how could you say that? Can you honestly say that I am really that greedy? Mo Roushuang touched her conscience, Young Master, you are even greedier than I imagined! Lin Beifan: Ive only seen the tip of the iceberg; theres probably much more that I havent seen! Mo Roushuang continued. Lin Beifan: This womans intuition is really damn urate! Can we still be good friends in the future? Looking at Lin Beifans frustrated expression, Mo Roushuang covered her mouth andughed, then said seriously, However, despite being a corrupt official, you are a good person, Young Master! Lin Beifan became happy again, Rushuang, you truly are a woman; you can say such unreasonable things, and I like it! Haha Mo Roushuang alsoughed happily. She realized that every time she was with Young Master, she felt so happy! Its like she had no worries at all! But, Young Master, continuing like this will be very dangerous. Stop now and change course in time! Otherwise, if you keep indulging in greed, youll face irreversible ruin! Mo Roushuang advised with concern. When in the martial world, ones actions are often beyond ones control; the same goes for the court, Lin Beifan sighed, I have no turning back now! A pure-hearted person like me cant survive in a court full of corrupt officials. To achieve my ambitions, I must make some sacrifices! Moreover, if I dont indulge in greed, others will! If they cant gain benefits from me, they will seek them from others. Not everyone is as conscientious as I am! The court is already full of holes and decayed. It cant withstand too much disturbance! Once it copses, it will be like a domino effect! So, Im greedy out of necessity! I will go to hell for others; who will do it if not me? Lin Beifan dered solemnly, Let all the sugar-coated bulletse at me, let money corrode me. I wont refuse anything thates my way, and I will bear the burden! Whatever cant break me will only make me stronger! Young Master! Mo Roushuang was deeply moved. She didnt expect that behind Young Masters insatiable greed, there was such noble character! Young Master had sacrificed too much for his ideals, for themon people, and for the country! And she had been narrow-minded, unable to see all of this! With firm determination in her eyes, Mo Roushuang said, Young Master, no matter how others see you, in my heart, you are a true hero and a great person! In this lifetime, I will stand by your side through life and death, never abandoning you! Great! Lin Beifan was very excited and grabbed Mo Roushuangs hand. At this moment, tens of thousands of eyes were watching not far away. Mo Roushuang felt quite shy, slightly struggling, but in the end, she acquiesced and lowered her head. Shortly after, Mo Roushuang left, still feeling shy. Looking at the Sunflower Manual in his hand, Lin Beifan smirked, Prince of Northern Hebei, Leng Ruochen, Im preparing to send you a grand gift! Hope you wont be too surprised, haha! Chapter 236: Winning the Hearts of the People! Lin Beifan, the Prefect of the Capital! Chapter 236: Winning the Hearts of the People! Lin Beifan, the Prefect of the Capital! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
To master the Sunflower Manual, it would take at least half a year of time. Lin Beifan had plenty of time to prepare calmly, so he wasnt in a hurry. Instead, he focused on the issues of building the new city. Under Lin Beifans efforts, the development of the new city progressed rapidly, changing day by day. Looking at the brand-new city that was about to rise from the ground under his hands, Lin Beifan felt a great sense of aplishment. As long as this city continued to stand, he would never be forgotten. He and this new city would exist together forever, bing a part of history. This could be considered the most brilliant mark he left behind in this world. On this day, the Empress visited again. Seeing the dramatically transformed new city, she was delighted. Before long, all the disaster victims here will be able to afford new houses! Sir Lin, you have made a tremendous contribution! Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. However, we have encountered a slight problem! Lin Beifan said loudly, In order to elerate the construction of the new city in Dedian Prefecture, we need to do a lot ofprehensive urban nning work to ensure the orderly progress of urban construction. We will promote the development of all four modernizations, allowing people to live a happy and prosperous life, with housing for the residents, fields for the farmers, and ie for theborers Lin Beifan continued to talk eloquently with a lot of empty words. The Empress twitched her mouth, Make it simple and speak in innguage! I want to use a hot air balloon to fly up high and guide the citys construction! Lin Beifan said simply, eagerly looking at the Empress. The Empress nced at him indifferently, as if she saw through his thoughts, Sir Lin, you said so much just because you want to y with the hot air balloon, right? Youre really something! Lin Beifan felt wronged, Your Majesty, how can you doubt the sincere intentions of your humble subject? Everything I do is for the construction of the new city, for Dedian Prefecture, for the millions of people affected by the disaster, for Your Majesty, and for Great Wu The Empress felt a headache, Alright, if you want to y, go ahead. Ill arrange the hot air balloon for you right away! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed happily. At this moment, the Empresss younger sister, the Little Princess, cleared her throat and spoke, Empress sister, the Prefect is a schr and has no martial skills. Flying with the hot air balloon is very dangerous! If anything happens, Great Wu will lose a talented pir! So The Empress looked over, as if she also saw through her sisters thoughts, So, what do you suggest? Ill fly with him, staying by his side to protect him at all times! The Little Princess said earnestly. The Empress smiled wryly, Little Yunying, are you also interested in ying with the hot air balloon? The Little Princess felt wronged, Empress sister, how can you doubt me? Everything I do is for the construction of the new city, for Dedian Prefecture, for the millions of people affected by the disaster, for Your Majesty, and for Great Wu The Empress rubbed her forehead in exasperation, Alright, alright, if you want to y, go ahead. I wont stop you! The Little Princess was overjoyed, Thank you, Empress sister! Soon after, the aerial artifact, the hot air balloon, arrived. The two of them excitedly spread out the balloon, then rushed into the hot air. When the balloon inted, they climbed aboard and slowly ascended into the sky. In the blink of an eye, they flew to a height of 50 zhang (approximately 150 meters). Looking down from above, the entire new city was fully visible, presenting a panoramic view. Were flying, the hot air balloon is flying! The Little Princess was extremely excited, jumping around. Lin Beifan, who was controlling the hot air balloon, had some objections, Little Princess, we are flying at high altitude. What if theres an ident and we crash like pancakes? Please control your emotions! Suddenly, the Little Princess turned around and hugged Lin Beifan, eximing, Lin Beifan, were flying, were soaring through the sky! This is my first time flying like this, so thrilled! Lin Beifan: After the excitement, the Little Princess looked up and asked, By the way, what did you just say? Lin Beifan blinked and said seriously, I said, dont control your emotions, just release them freely! The Little Princess tilted her head, Really? It seems like you didnt say that just now Lin Beifan retorted, Youre so clever, can I deceive you? Thats true! The Little Princess agreed. So, the Little Princess continued to release her emotions and forgot about what a pancake is! The disaster victims in the new city watched the soaring hot air balloon and eximed in admiration. Is that the flying artifact, the hot air balloon? Its flying so high and far! I really want to fly up there once! Even if it costs me ten years of life, Id be willing! The Empresss eyes were filled with envy. She also wanted to fly up and take a look! However, as the ruler of a country, she couldnt be capricious. In the following days, whenever Lin Beifan had free time, he would ride the hot air balloon and guide the construction of the new city. The Little Princess often used the excuse of protecting Lin Beifan to join the hot air balloon flights. Besides them, Mo Rushuang, Li Shi Shi, and others also had the chance to experience the thrill of flying. With the hot air balloon, Lin Beifans work progressed smoothly, and the construction of the new city advanced rapidly. In less than two weeks, the construction of new houses waspleted, and all the disaster victims moved into the cement houses, fulfilling the lofty ims Lin Beifan had made. Lin Beifan called out loudly, Fellow vigers, lets keep up the good work! Lay down the cement roads, build the city walls, and have our city ready before the new year! Lets spend the New Year in peace and happiness! Alright! Everyones enthusiasm was soaring. With united efforts, everyone rolled up their sleeves and worked hard, and in less than 25 days, they built the city walls andid down cement roads. As a result, the construction of the new city was dered aplete sess! In less than three months, with the efforts and attention of everyone involved, a huge city capable of amodating millions of people stood tall on the eastern side of the capital. Standing in front of this magnificent city, everyone felt a great sense of achievement! This was their city! They built it brick by brick! Every grain of sand represented their hard work! It was irreceable in their hearts! Please, Your Majesty, grant the city a name! The officials and themon people all spoke in unison. Please, Your Majesty, grant the city a name! The crowd echoed. The Empress was very excited, Good, good, good! This is a miraculous city, built under everyones efforts, capturing the hearts of the people and fulfilling their aspirations. So, this city shall be namedMinxin City! Minxin City! Everyone was highly satisfied. Bring me the writing tools! The Empress was in high spirits. The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were quickly arranged! The Empress picked up the brush and wrote three characters on the paperMinxin City! There was no need to say more; these three characters would be hung up in the city. Sir Lin, where are you? The Empress called out again. Im here! Lin Beifan stood up. The construction of Minxin City ispleted, and its time for rewards based on merits! The Empress smiled and admired, Sir Lin, since you became the Prefect of the Capital, the politics have been clean, and the people are well-fed and clothed. Later, you rushed to Southern Jiang regardless of everything to aid the disaster-stricken people, achieving remarkable merits! You invented cement, the miraculous building material, solving the food and housing problems for the victims, and also raised sufficient funds and resources for the court! Now, in less than three months, you miraculously built a city capable of amodating millions of people Sir Lin, your capabilities, merits, and prestige are all sufficient for further advancement! So, starting from today The Empress loudly dered, Your official rank is promoted, you are now a third-rank official of the court, officially assuming the position of the Prefect of the Capital, responsible for overseeing all matters in the Capital and Minxin City, concurrently serving as the principal of the Imperial Academy! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said loudly. Raising his head, he looked at the millions of disaster victims! The million victims looked at the thin figure that had rescued them from the abyss. Their emotions were deeply moved, their eyes fanatical, and they all said in unison, We pay our respects to the Lord Prefect! The resounding voice shook the heavens and the earth! Lin Beifan smiled and waved his hand, Dear fellow vigers and elders, no need for so many formalities! From today onwards, I will formally take charge of all matters in the Capital and Minxin City. I hope you will all support my work! Lord Prefect, we will definitely support your work! Whatever you want us to do, we will do! Even if you ask us to die, we would do so willingly! This was true public support! Lin Beifan turned his head and smiled as he looked at the civil and military officials! Although he was only a third-rank official of the court, he was now the Prefect of the Capital! With millions of people in the Capital and Minxin City, they all had to listen to him! There were also hundreds of officials in the Prefects residence, and various functional departments were well-established, with the authority to intervene in the six ministries! He could directlymand over 6,000 constables! He could also have an audience with the Emperor and directly report his work! From a power perspective, he was no less inferior to the six ministers! In some aspects, even stronger! From today onwards, I assume the position of the Prefect of the Capital! It is a great responsibility, and I hope all the gentlemen will support my work! I express my gratitude here! Lin Beifan bowed his hand humbly. First to speak was the Chief Constable of the Six Doors. Heughed heartily and bowed, saying, Congrattions, Sir Lin, on your promotion to the Prefect of the Capital! As fellow officials, I will surely cooperate with you in your work. At the same time, I hope the Prefect will take care of the Six Doors! Haha, of course! Lin Beifan responded. Congrattions, Lord Lin, on your promotion! Congrattions, Lord Prefect! Others congratted one after another. Lin Beifan had fully grown up now, and his power was no less than theirs! He was in charge of the Capital, and many things had to be dealt with by him. It was better to put on a good face instead of a sour one, hoping that he wouldnt be too excessive in the future. Thank you all, I will certainly not let you down! Lin Beifan smiled. The Empress saw this scene and also smiled. Before, when Lin Beifan held a low position, he could leave the civil and military officials speechless, causing them toin endlessly. Now that his rank had risen, and his power had increased, she wondered how the situation would turn out. She was very much looking forward to it! At this time, it was less than a week before the Spring Festival. The festive atmosphere grew stronger, and everyone purchased New Year goods, put on new cotton-padded clothes, and ughtered chickens and ducks, happily preparing for the New Year. The civil and military officials in the court had almost stopped working, preparing to start their holidays.
TL: Remember, Lin Beifans official position was Vice Governor, as the Governor position was still held by the Empress. However, he has now be the Governor/Prefect himself, responsible for the Capital and Minxin City. Chapter 237: You Clearly Understand, Don’t Pretend Otherwise! Chapter 237: You Clearly Understand, Dont Pretend Otherwise! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Although Lin Beifan held a position as a local official, he couldnt take a leave during the New Year, but his official duties were significantly reduced. He dealt with urgent matters first and postponed other tasks until after the New Year. In this way, he managed to finish all his work within just two to three hours each day, leaving the rest of the time for leisure and preparing for the New Year. Themon people also followed a simr pattern if there were no urgent matters, they would not bother reporting to the authorities until after the New Year. During this time, there was an unprecedented understanding between officials and the public. With great anticipation, New Years Day finally arrived. This New Years Day was different from what modern people knew. In modern times, New Years Day is the first day of the Gregorian calendar, just an ordinary holiday. However, here, New Years Day corresponds to the first day of the lunar calendar, signifying the beginning of a new year. Every New Years Day, the imperial court would hold a grand court assembly. This grand court assembly was a traditional event that strengthened the connection between the emperor and his officials, enhancing the cohesion of the court. It also allowed the officials to show their gratitude for the emperors benevolence and wholeheartedly serve the court. The grand court assembly consisted of two main parts. In the first half, the officials offered their blessings to the emperor and presented gifts. In thetter half, the emperor rewarded the officials and hosted a banquet for them. On that day, the officials gathered to offer their blessings to the empress. Everyone held gifts and, ording to their ranks, paid their respects to the empress. Lin Beifan was attending the grand court assembly for the first time and felt a bit anxious. He asked in a low voice, Master Guo, its my first time attending the assembly! Are there any particr customs when paying respects to Her Majesty? I dont quite understand. Could you enlighten me? With pleasure! Guo, the head of the Six Doors, smiled and said, Paying respects to Her Majesty is a matter of great importance, especially when ites to the gifts! What should be paid attention to regarding the gifts? Please, tell me, Lin Beifan humbly asked for advice. First of all, the gifts must be innovative! Guo chuckled, As the ruler of the world, Her Majesty has seen all kinds of wealth and treasures. Therefore,mon items like gold, silver, and jewels should not be given as gifts. If you want to give something, it should be something unique and rare, something that Her Majesty doesnt possess. Only then can you win her favor! Lin Beifan nodded, That makes sense. Among the officials who paid their respects earlier, not one of them presented gold, silver, or jewels. After all, no matter how good or valuable the gift was, could it surpass what the pce had to offer? The empress had grown tired of suchmon presents! Secondly, the gifts must be sincere! What do you mean by sincerity? Lin Beifan asked again. The so-called sincerity refers to treasures that are not easily obtainable, Guo, the head of the Six Doors, said with a smile. For example, the Jade Guanyin that Lord Gao just presented! This Jade Guanyin is made of ordinary white jade and doesnt have anything particrly unique about it. However, Lord Gao mentioned that it was crafted by nine skilled artisans and took seven months toplete, which makes it quite rare and shows his sincerity! Lin Beifan eximed, That makes a lot of sense! Thirdly, the gifts should cater to Her Majestys preferences, Guo continued. We should give her what she likes to win her favor. So, I specially prepared this gift to present to Her Majesty! Curious, Lin Beifan asked, Master Guo, what did you prepare? Please have a look, Lord Lin! Guo gently lifted the red cloth, revealing a glimpse of the gift. To Lin Beifans surprise, inside the cloth was a potted nt with several beautiful and unique flowers. Guo whispered, I heard that Her Majesty has been fond of flowerstely, and she has cultivated many exotic flowers in the garden. So, I specifically prepared this potted Camellia called Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. Its a grafted nt, and each flower is different and gorgeous, hence the name. This gift is innovative, sincere, and aligns with Her Majestys preferences! Lin Beifan gave a thumbs-up. Master Guo, you are truly remarkable, and I admire you! Guo, feeling pleased, chuckled, Haha, you tter me, Lord Lin! By the way, what gift are you nning to present to Her Majesty? Looking at his own gift, Lin Beifan looked embarrassed and said, I havent prepared enough, so I wont embarrass myself by presenting it! Guo understood andforted him, Lord Lin, theres no need to worry! Its your first time attending the grand court assembly, and we all understand that you might not have been fully prepared. Moreover, youve achieved so much this year, and Her Majesty holds you in high regard. She wont me you for this. As long as you have good intentions, it will be enough. Thank you for your constion, Master Guo. I feel much better now, Lin Beifan expressed his gratitude. The line of officials continued to present their gifts, and finally, it was Guos turn. He offered the potted Camellia named Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, which indeed pleased the empress. I really like this Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea. Sir Guo, youve shown your thoughtfulness! praised the empress. Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I dare not ept such an honor, Guo humbly replied. For a moment, Guo became the center of attention with his outstanding gift. Finally, it was Lin Beifans turn. He carried a covered bucket and approached the empress. The empress and all the officials were curious about the gift Lin Beifan was about to present. The empress smiled and asked, Sir Lin, what is this gift of yours that requires a bucket for its presentation? Your Majesty, please have a look! Lin Beifan unveiled the red cloth, revealing a peculiar and extremely ugly object inside the bucket. The officials were shocked, and murmurs filled the hall! One elderly official pointed at Lin Beifan and angrily eximed, Sir Lin, youre presenting this to Her Majesty? Yes! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile. How can you offer such a humble thing to Her Majesty? Its obvious that you dont hold her in high regard! the other official scolded. Lin Beifan raised his voice and asked, What is this? Its ginger! the official replied after a moment of thought. Cooking ginger! Lin Beifan asked again, How does this ginger look? The official responded, Layer uponyer, like a mountain! Exactly! This is the gift Im presenting to Her Majesty! Lin Beifan pushed the bucket of ginger in front of the empress and proimed loudly, I present to Your Majesty a Unified Kingdom (a bucket of Ginger Mountain)! The officials were shocked once again! The empress rose from her seat, delighted, and eximed, Wonderful! Minister Lin, this gift of yours is truly amazing; it has touched the depths of my heart! I really love it! Quickly, take this Ginger Mountain and make dishes with it. I want to consume this unified kingdom! Haha! What Your Majesty said is absolutely right! Lin Beifan smiled brightly. The head of the Six Doors, Guo, who was standing beside him, was dumbfounded! Wow! This gift is so thoughtful and ingenious, and it even saves a lot of money! Even if I wrack my brain, I couldnte up with such a great gift! Guo gave Lin Beifan a resentful re. You pretend not to understand, but you clearly understand it very well! Next, the empress hosted a banquet for the officials. Delicacies from the mountains and seas, pce wine, and endless enjoyment. There was also a pce dance troupe, ying musical instruments, singing, and dancing to entertain everyone. At this moment, all the officials rxed. They enjoyed the performances while savoring the delicious food and wine. Even if they were usually political opponents, setting traps for each other, today they smiled and toasted each other. Grudges were set aside for the moment. They were determined to celebrate the New Year well, and after the New Year, they could deal with everything again! Even the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, who usually didnt get along with Lin Beifan, frequently toasted and drank, his face full of smiles, in a good mood. Seeing Lin Beifan not touching his chopsticks or wine, Gao Tianyao curiously asked, Sir Lin, why arent you drinking this excellent wine? Thank you for your kindness, Lord Gao. But I had somest night! Lin Beifan smiled. Gao Tianyao: Wow, he feels like hes been shown up! Even the empress rarely rxed. She watched the performances with mixed emotions, thinking that another year had passed. This year was not easy at all! The demon cult caused trouble, starting an uprising, attempting to overthrow the court! Two Grandmasters fought in the capital! The 30,000 soldiers in Tangzhou rebelled against corrupt officials and became insurgents! There were bandit troubles in the Northern Hebei, with rampant arson and looting! The Wuxi Duke of the West and the Dayue Dynasty conspired tounch an attack against Wu! A flood urred in the south, and the selfish Prince of Southern Jiang led to millions of refugees bing disced, leaving the burden to the court! And the martial world, the Master of Tianmen, had ambitious ns to seize power! If any of these matters were not handled properly, unimaginable consequences would follow. The court was on the verge of copse and could not withstand any further turmoil! But fortunately, they had him! The empress couldnt help but look at Lin Beifan with admiration in her eyes. It was him who exposed the demonic cults maniption and extinguished the mes of the uprising! It was him who persuaded the two young martial arts masters to leave the capital, saving it from disaster! It was him who persuaded the 30,000 rebels to surrender, resolving the internal strife! It was him who cleverly dealt with the bandit problem! It was him who strategized and achieved victory from a thousand miles away, severely damaging the military power of the Wuxi Duke and the Dayue Dynasty, resolving a war! It was him who rushed to Southern Jiang to rescue millions of refugees, using cement to solve their food, clothing, shelter, and transportation problems,pensating for all the losses incurred by the court and making it stronger! It was him who used ingenious methods to destroy Tianmen and severely weaken the power of the martial world factions! It was all because of him! Although this year had been filled with disasters and challenges, the court managed to maintain a stable development and steadily grow stronger. Inparison, the other vassal kings became weaker and posed less of a threat to the court. All of this was because of him! With him by her side, she wouldnt be isted in the court. She wouldnt be so passive facing officials who were loyal in appearance but disloyal in heart. Her confidence and power grew, and the officials became more obedient! All of this was because of him! He allowed her to have sufficient financial resources to develop her own forces! With him by her side, she wouldnt be powerless in the face of the mysterious and unpredictable future! Without Lin Beifan, there wouldnt be the current favorable situation! He was so selfless and fearless, devoting so much for Great Wu! But what she could give in return was too little! Thinking of this, the empress felt ashamed. She raised a cup of wine and solemnly said to Lin Beifan, Sir Lin, I toast to you and thank you for everything youve done for me and for Great Wu! Lin Beifan quickly lifted his cup, Your Majesty, your praise is too much. This is what I should do as a subject! The empress smiled faintly and shook her head. How could this be what you should do? Dont think I dont know that you, little bastard, have been preparing to run away all this time! But I wont let you leave! Stay here; this is where you belong! Great Wu cannot be without you! I, cannot be without you! In Chinese wordy, the rtionship between Ginger Mountain (, jing shn) and Unified Kingdom (, y tng jing shn) is a homophonic pun. (Ginger Mountain) and (Unified Kingdom) sound very simr when pronounced in Mandarin. The phrase means to unify and govern the entire country, signifying the rulersplete control over thend. It is often used to describe an emperor or a ruler who has sessfully conquered and united all the different regions of the country under one rule. By presenting a bucket of ginger and humorously referring to it as (Unified Kingdom), Lin Beifan cleverly ys with the homophonic nature of the words. The pun creates a light-hearted and witty moment during the gift-giving ceremony, amusing the empress and the officials, and showcasing Lin Beifans cleverness and sense of humor. Chapter 238: Across Vast Waters and a Thousand Mountains, Is One Million Taels Enough? Chapter 238: Across Vast Waters and a Thousand Mountains, Is One Million Taels Enough? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The grand court assembly concluded, and the official holiday for the New Year began! The holiday was quite long,sting for a full 15 days from the first day of the lunar new year until the Lantern Festival. Excluding the first day, which was upied by the court assembly, Lin Beifan had a total of 14 days of vacation, giving him plenty of time to rest. On the morning of the second day of the lunar new year, Dali eagerly approached Lin Beifan. He was dressed neatly and stood upright, respectfully bowing as he said, The new year has arrived! In this new year, I wish Young Master smooth sailing and continuous sess! Lin Beifan grinned and replied, Thank you! I ept your blessings. I also wish you a prosperous and fortunate new year, Dali! He then took out a red packet and handed it to Dali. The red packet was notrge, containing 10 taels of silver, intended for good luck. Dali was a bit puzzled, Young Master, Young Mistress already gave me a red packet yesterday! Lin Beifan chuckled, Is there such a thing as too much money? Just ept it. Buy something you like with it! Thank you, Young Master! Dali happily received the red packet. Witnessing this, Xiao Cui quickly ran over, imitating Dali, she said gracefully, I wish Young Master abundance and sess in the five blessings! Lin Beifan was delighted, Well said, Xiao Cui! He immediately handed her a red packet, and she gratefully epted it. Guo Shaoshuai also rushed over excitedly, Young Master, may you have good luck in the new year, and may all your wishese true! Well spoken, you deserve a reward! Lin Beifan said. In this manner, Lin Beifan distributed red packets to everyone he met, and they all received their share. Even the old monk from the Thundercloud Temple, who spent his time in meditation and chanting, received a red packet from Lin Beifan after uttering a Buddhist prayer. The old monk looked at the silver coins in his hand, feeling a bit flustered, Ah, even I get one? Of course! Youre my disciple and also my junior. Its only natural for me to give you a red packet, Lin Beifan confidently exined. Thank you, Master. I wish you a prosperous new year. Amitabha! the old monk smiled. As a seventy or eighty-year-old monk, receiving a red packet from someone else for the first time felt particrly novel! I heard someone was giving out red packets. Where, where? Little Princess excitedly rushed in. Lin Beifan weighed the few silver coins in his hand, indicating his intentions. Little Princess immediately came before Lin Beifan, extending a hand and eagerly saying, May you be blessed with wealth! Hand over the red packet! Well said! Lin Beifan was very happy and immediately put a few taels of silver into her hand. Little Princess joyfully epted the silver, then extended her other hand, eagerly saying, May you have an abundant source of wealth and good luck! Exactly! Lin Beifan was delighted and put a few more taels of silver into her hand. Little Princess was even happier. She epted the silver pieces and held them in both hands, excitedly proiming, Lin Beifan, I wish you to be a great and influential official of the Wu Dynasty, a powerful minister! The smile vanished from Lin Beifans face as he snatched the little princesss purse and took out the silver pieces from inside. Confused, the little princess asked, What are you doing? Why are you trying to grab my red envelope? Lin Beifan snorted, You wished for me to be a great and influential official, which means I cant be greedy for money, right? Im giving you a red envelope, and yet you want to harm me? Ill give you a chance to rephrase your words, or else Ill take the money back! The little princess stayed silent. Everyone burst intoughter. In addition to rtives and friendsing to pay their New Years respects, many subordinate officials also came to pay their respects. It had be an unspoken rule in the officialdom to offer New Years greetings to superiors. All the officials of Dedian Mansion came to Lin Residence together. They lined up neatly ording to their ranks and bowed deeply, saying in unison, We wish Prefect Lin a prosperous and sessful year, with every wish fulfilled and continuous promotion! Lin Beifan was very pleased and replied, I also wish all of you to have your wishes fulfilled and achieve continuous promotion! In the new year, I hope we can continue to work together, hand in hand, and make Dedian Prefecture an even better ce! We will heed Prefect Lins teachings! the officials replied in unison. Officials from the Imperial Academy also came to pay their respects. Guo, the head of the Six-Doors, also brought his men to pay their respects. For two consecutive days, Lin Beifans mansion was bustling with guestsing to pay their respects one after another. Among the visitors that day, there was a prominent figure in purple. Princess Ziyue, Happy New Year! Its been a while, hope youre well! Lin Beifan greeted with a smile. Before him stood the fugitive princess of the nted Moon DynastyPrincess Ziyue. After several months, she was still graceful and slender, with fair skin and enchanting beauty. Especially her pair of purple eyes, even more captivating, leaving people mesmerized. From this, it could be seen that her cultivation had be even more profound. Princess Ziyue smiled and said, Sir Lin, its been a long time! In just a few months, you have been promoted two levels and be the Prefect of Dedian Prefecture! The speed of your promotion is truly astounding, I have to admire it! In her heart, she genuinely admired Lin Beifan! He led the young representatives of Great and achieved the most glorious victory in the history of the Yan and Wu Competition. In less than four days, he brought millions of food to aid a million disaster victims. He invented the miraculous building material, cement, and in less than three months, without exhausting the resources of the court, built a city that could amodate millions of people, solving all the problems of a million disaster victims. Each of these achievements was real and enough to go down in history. They proved that Lin Beifan was a monstrous talent, excelling in both governance and militarymand. If she could win him over and have him wholeheartedly help her restore the dynasty, it would be wonderful! He alone was worth more than a million soldiers! Princess Ziyue, you tter me! What important matter brings you here this time? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Princess Ziyues expression turned serious as she said, I came mainly to wish you a Happy New Year, Advisor, and to share the situation on our side with you, seeking your help in analyzing it! Sir Lin, please listen! They entered the study together. After a cup of tea. Lin Beifan asked with a smile, Princess, how is the situation in Wuxi? Is there any movement from the Wuxi Duke? Advisor, weve developed rapidly in these few months, far beyond our imagination! Princess Ziyue said with excitement. Now, we have gathered 500,000 people in the Wuxi region, among which 100,000 have undergone training and be qualified soldiers! We have secret bases in almost every vige, and weve dug 72 tunnels! We already have the strength to fight against the Wuxi Duke! After the New Year, we n to start guerri warfare to show the Wuxi Duke how formidable we are! Thats indeed fast! And what about the Wuxi Duke? Lin Beifan asked. Duke Wuxis days are not going well! Princess Ziyue spoke with even greater joy. Since the incident with the nted Moon treasure, Duke Wuxi has suffered heavy losses, cut off ties with the Dayue Dynasty, and faced restrictions in development. Especially in terms of military strength and food, he has been at a disadvantage! Thats why we have developed so rapidly! Furthermore, during Duke Wuxis conscription, we also sent people to join his army! Many of our people are hidden among his soldiers, and we know every move he makes! This way, when ites to fighting, we will know our enemy and have favorable conditions! Princess Ziyue raised an eyebrow. Advisor, am I smart? Lin Beifan gave a thumbs-up and praised, Impressive, Princess! I admire you! Princess Ziyue felt a little embarrassed. Previously, Lin Beifan hade up with the n for the nted Moon treasure, which outwitted everyone in the world, severely damaging the military strength of Duke Wuxi and the Dayue Dynasty, leaving them unable to recover for years! This was true top-level strategy! Her own petty tricks were nothingpared to the strategists brilliance. Princess Ziyue was grateful and tearful. Its all thanks to the advisor! Without your help, we would still be insignificant! Your kindness to me and nted Moon surpasses the heavens! I dont know how to repay you Lin Beifan smiled, Its simple! As the saying goes, theres no way to repay kindness unless Offer myself? Princess Ziyue blushed shyly. Lin Beifan was speechless, Youre thinking too much! As they say, sentiment is worth more than a thousand gold, and money is like dirt to me! Just give me a little more money, after all, youre so wealthy! Princess Ziyue looked up seriously, Advisor, as long as you apany me to Wuxi, both money and me are yours! Lin Beifan: Goodness! This woman is trying to tempt me again! And shes targeting my weak point. Doesnt she know that I cant resist temptations? After that, the two chatted happily, and time passed unconsciously. Princess Ziyue looked at the time, stood up reluctantly, and said, Its gettingte. I should go back now! Military strategist, see you another day! Lin Beifan felt a bit lost, Princess, are you leaving so suddenly? Looking at Lin Beifans reluctant expression, Princess Ziyue suddenly felt very happy and spoke softly, Advisor, Im already very happy to have spent this much time with you! We have a long future ahead, and well have many more opportunities to meet! In that case, I wont stop you. Leave some money before you go! Theres a saying, Love is beyond price, how about 1 million taels? Lin Beifan said eagerly. Princess Ziyues mouth twitched, and she suddenly became a little angry! She came from afar to see him, and he only remembers this? Too much! Doesnt she have any appeal beyond money and material possessions? Princess Ziyue gritted her teeth and said, Advisor, I have prepared a big gift for you. Close your eyes! Im not closing them! Who knows if youre trying to take advantage of me? Lin Beifan snorted. You dont have to close your eyes! Princess Ziyue suddenly pounced on him and hugged Lin Beifans head. In the end, the princess got her way, leaving with a smug and radiant expression! Lin Beifan was trembling with anger! Damn it, she got her way again! If I hadnt hidden my true strength, how could she have taken advantage of me like this? Chapter 239: Advancement to Grandmaster, Cultivating the Devil-Seeding Great Technique! Chapter 239: Advancement to Grandmaster, Cultivating the Devil-Seeding Great Technique! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The following is still the time for the Lunar New Year, and everyone is visiting rtives and friends. However, Lin Beifan does not have many rtives, and most of his friends live in the Lin Residence, so he finally has some free time. Every day, he spends an hour dealing with political affairs, and then he can do his own things. This is a rare leisure time for him. He stays at home every day, chatting with everyone about ordinary things. If he feels bored, he goes out for a walk. Although life is in, it is filled with small happiness. He suddenly realizes that this kind of life is quite nice, and it would be great if it could continue like this. At the same time, Lin Beifan is considering his own abilities and suddenly realizes It seems I can level up! Since he became a Grandmaster, more than half a year has passed. During this time, he has fully integrated the power of a Grandmaster and reached its peak. The next breakthrough would be to be a Second-Rank Grandmaster, which would probably require two to three hundred million silver taels ording to the systems estimate. However, things are not that simple! Actually, he can also try to break through on his own, but it would be time-consuming. There is another method, which is to use the stone of others to polish jade. By obtaining aplete cultivation method and experience from another Grandmaster, he might gain insights and thus break through. In the past half year, he embezzled over 100 million taels of silver, which should be enough for an attempt. Even if he still cant break through, it will still increase his own strength and shorten the time needed for the next breakthrough. Well then, lets make this happy decision! In the evening, he sneaked out of the city and found an uninhabited valley. In his heart, he said, System, calcte it for me! Ding! The host embezzled 108 million taels of gold and silver jewelry, a huge amount, and receives the temte of a Fusion Magus ter stage) as a reward! A powerpletelyparable to his own merged into his body, doubling his strength! And a vast memory of cultivation merged into his mind! This memory was extremely massive and abundant, containing the lifelong cultivation experience and knowledge of that person! Among them, there was a miraculous technique that caught Lin Beifans attention. The Devil-Seeding Great Technique of Dao Heart! This is a magical technique for cultivating mental power! It can make the mind substantial, infiltrate everything, conquer enemies with mental power, and even win without fighting! It can also seize the essence of the universe and extract the essence of the cosmos! Previously, he had obtained the Flowing Six Void, which granted him the miraculous ability to control eight types of powers in the world. Now, he can also cultivate and control mental power! Lin Beifan bitterly smiled in his heart, Now, Ive truly be a Magus! But he quickly discarded this thought. Whats most important now is to absorb the power of this Grandmaster and integrate his cultivation memory to further advance his own strength! At this moment, a hurricane swept through the heavens and earth, and the spiritual energy of the world, as well as the essence of the sun, moon, and stars, converged towards Lin Beifan! As the center, he rapidly absorbed it into his body! His body seemed like a ck hole, madly absorbing all the essence and spiritual energy around him. The space seemed to twist, giving a divine and demonic feeling. Under such circumstances, his strength soared after doubling, and it continued to skyrocket! Such a strange phenomenon rmed nearby Grandmasters! In the imperial pce, the three Grandmasters who were practicing opened their eyes and looked into the distance, greatly surprised. Such a phenomenon Someone broke through to be a Grandmaster? So powerful! This aura is several times stronger than when I broke through back in the days! Moreover, this aura is both righteous and demonic, extremely eerie and sinister! Who on earth is it? He actually broke through outside the capital city. Could he pose a threat to the court? Lets go and take a look! The three of them exchanged nces and swiftly flew towards the direction where Lin Beifan broke through the valley. Inside the Lin Residence, the Old Monk Jing Tai opened his eyes and looked towards the outside of the city, his gaze filled with surprise and doubt. Someone broke through to be a Grandmaster? Grandmasters are not easy toe by in the world! However, before he could go and see, a Buddhist principle emerged in his mind. There was originally nothing, so where can dust collect? Amitabha! He closed his eyes again and recited the Heart Sutra. Mirror tform Elder didnt go either, but the Three Court Grandmaster had already rushed out of the city and arrived at the valley where Lin Beifan broke through. They saw the unusual phenomenon before their eyes, and their eyes were filled with astonishment! They saw a superrge spiritual whirlwind forming in the valley, sweeping everything around it, behaving wildly! Even with their Grandmaster-level strength, they couldnt stand firm in its presence! In the center of the spiritual whirlwind was a pitch-ck void, vaguely revealing a figure. Everything was being devoured, and it seemed that even light couldnt escape its grasp! Watching it for too long, it felt like one would be drawn into it! What a mysterious martial art! What an enigmatic person! This martial art doesnt seem to be orthodox, nor does it seem to be demonic. What kind of supreme martial art is this? Truly unheard of, unseen! What Im most concerned about is whether this person is righteous or evil? After about an hour, Lin Beifans breakthrough waspleted. He finally became a Second-Rank Grandmaster, and he was very satisfied with his current strength. With this level of power, he would be considered a top expert in the world, a master among masters. Grandmasters were already strong and rare, but there could still be several of them in each dynasty. However, the same couldnt be said for Second-Rank Grandmasters! They were even more elusive and their strength wasparable to that of gods and demons, a force to be reckoned with. Nothing could restrain them; they could do whatever they pleased, even bing an emperor if they wanted! However, such individuals pursued the ultimate realm of martial arts, so bing an emperor would be beneath them. Being an emperor meant dealing with many matters, which would not be as carefree as being an immortal. Wouldnt you agree? Lin Beifans gaze shifted to the three Grandmasters outside the valley. He recognized them; they were the three court grandmasters. They had good strength and were very well-behaved; they didnt disturb him during his breakthrough. Otherwise, he would have made these three old guys understand why roses are red! At this moment, he nced at them, and the three Grandmasters felt their hair stand on end. Their bodies became ice-cold, as if frozen in ce! A long-lost intuition of death surged in their hearts, and they were screaming frantically inside! Second-Rank Grandmaster! The other party was definitely a Second-Rank Grandmaster! Only a Second-Rank Grandmaster could make them feel such a terrifying threat! Just with one look, Lin Beifan withdrew his gaze. Checking the sky, it was time to go back. Then, his body inexplicably flew up and slowly drifted out of the valley! The Dao Heart Seeding Devil Technique, controlling matter with the spirit! This scene once again shocked the three Grandmasters! They could also briefly fly and ascend, but they relied on the internal true qi and external spiritual energy to create resonance or control the wind to achieve flight. However, the other party flew without relying on anything at all! This kind of flight technique was no different from that of immortals! Such immortal-like figures were extremely rare, and if they could receive their guidance, they would undoubtedly benefit greatly! So, the three Grandmasters chased after him. One of the Grandmasters shouted, Senior, where are you going? Shall we lead the way for you? A voice seemed toe from afar and then close by, No need, donte, otherwise, my weird cultivation technique will show no mercy! The three Grandmasters stopped in their tracks and called out, Please tell us your name, Senior! You are not worthy to know! At this moment, Lin Beifan had already disappeared into the night sky. The three Grandmasters returned with disappointment and reported the matter to the empress. The empress was greatly shocked, Three Court Grandmaster, you are saying that a mysterious Second-Rank Grandmaster has appeared outside the capital city? Yes, Your Majesty! This persons strength is profound and unfathomable. Just by ncing at me from the valley, I felt a chill and couldnt extricate myself! said one of the Grandmasters with lingering fear. Yes, I havent felt the sensation of death for a long time! the second Grandmaster added. Your Majesty, we dont know if this person is righteous or evil, friend or foe. We need to strengthen our guard and be vignt! said the third Grandmaster with a serious expression. Three Court Grandmasters, what you said is absolutely correct! the empress nodded earnestly. Just at this moment, a weak voice reached the empresss ears. The empress felt relieved and said, Inform the Prefect of the Capital City and have him be on guard and alert! Your Majesty, should we inform the Six Doors, the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and the Forbidden Army to join forces and deal with this unknown powerful individual? suggested one of the Grandmasters. The empress waved her hand, No need for that much trouble! As the three grandmasters said, if the other party is a Grandmaster, sending too many people from our side would be useless! Its better to leave it to Sir Lin. He is exceptionally clever and resourceful, and should be able to handle it! In her heart, she thought: He brought this trouble upon himself, so let him solve it! Yes, Your Majesty! At this time, Lin Beifan had already returned to the Lin Residence. On the rooftop, there was a figure in white, seemingly waiting for him. This person was none other than the enigmatic Bai Guanyin! Every time she appeared, her face was covered by white mist, obscuring her entire appearance! In the past, Lin Beifan couldnt see what she looked like, but now he could vaguely see the outline of her face, although her features remained indistinct, like an ethereal figure from a painting. But for Lin Beifan, this was already a huge improvement! Bai Guanyin looked at Lin Beifan returning and smiled, Congrattions on breaking through to be a Grandmaster! Lin Beifan modestly replied, Thank you! It proves that my efforts in the past year were not in vain! But I noticed that you didnt seem to work hard during this year. You were busy with court affairs and had little time for cultivation, said Bai Guanyin with a strange glint in her eyes. In fact, I did practice. I practiced the Dao of Dreaming and Enlightenment! Lin Beifan said confidently. Hmm! Bai Guanyin didnt inquire further. Everyone has their own path and destiny. Theres nothing else, just came to congratte you. Im going back now! Bai Guanyin said, turning to leave. Wait! Lin Beifan called out. What else? Bai Guanyin turned back and asked. Happy New Year! Lin Beifan smiled. Happy New Year! Bai Guanyin smiled back, her body ethereal and gradually disappearing. Chapter 240: Not Fluttering Flags, Not Swaying Wind, It’s Your Hearts That Are Moving! Chapter 240: Not Fluttering gs, Not Swaying Wind, Its Your Hearts That Are Moving! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The Empresss decree quickly arrived, stating that a mysterious expert,parable to a Grandmaster, had been spotted outside the city. She instructed to strengthen the defenses and be vignt. If they encountered the said expert, he should handle the situation tactfully to avoid endangering the capital and the court. Lin Beifan delegated this task directly to the constables since they patrolled the city anyway. This matter didnt raise much attention, and everyone continued to celebrate the grand New Year peacefully. Despite his increased strength, Lin Beifan lived his life just as before. He ate and drank as he pleased, leading a very ordinary and unpretentious life. How to describe this feeling? It was like working hard to finally get into ones dream university. After the initial excitement, life carried on just as usual. Lin Beifans power had grown to be one of the top-tier experts in the world, yet he remained unaffected. He didnt take delight in material things norment over personal matters. He maintained a tranquil and calm demeanor. How to put it into words? It was as if one studied diligently and finally got into their desired university. Theyd be happy for a moment, and then life continued as normal. There was no excessive excitement or overreactions. This newfound tranquility brought about by increased strength did have some effects. As Lin Beifan sat in front of the warm stove reading a book, one hand munching on peanuts, and sipping hot tea, he seemed very rxed andfortable. Beside him sat the little princess, her hands supporting her cheeks, her big eyes fixedly gazing at Lin Beifan. Why are you looking at me like that, little princess? Lin Beifan asked without turning his head. The little princess had been observing him for several cups of teas time, which was quite unusual. I dont know why, but I feel like youve changed. Youre not the same as before! the little princess said. Is that so? Lin Beifan asked calmly, How have I changed? I cant quite describe the feeling the little princess shook her head, pondering, I just feel that youseem to be more good-looking now! But, your appearance hasnt changed at all! Lin Beifan was delighted. Why was this child so articte? He picked up a few peanuts and ced them in front of the little princess, looking forward to her words, If you can speak, then say more. Im all ears! Even though youve be better-looking, youve also be more shameless! the little princess continued. Lin Beifan: Lin Beifan silently took the peanuts back and ate them himself. The other girls also turned their heads to look at him. Li Shi Shi smiled and said, The little princess is right! Before, I thought it was just an illusion, but now I see that its not. Husband, you have indeed be much better-looking! But, Im with you every day. How can there be such a significant change? Mo Rushuang turned her head and said, Young Master, you have indeed be much more handsome. Why is that? Everyone was quite puzzled, except for Lin Beifan, who remained as calm as ever. Because he had learned the Dao Heart Devil-Seeding Technique!. It was a cultivation method rted to spiritual power. As his spiritual power overflowed, it naturally brought about charm, making people perceive him as more attractive. I know, of course! Lin Beifan smiled faintly. What is it? Please tell us, Husband! What do you see over there? Lin Beifan pointed in the distance where there was a banner swaying gently. We see a banner gently swaying! Mo Rushuang said. Why is it moving? Lin Beifan asked again. Why ask such a simple question? Its because the wind is blowing; the wind moves the banner! the little princess said in a displeased tone. Wrong! Completely wrong! Lin Beifan eximed. Wrong? Why is that? Everyone was utterly puzzled. Lin Beifan smiled faintly and said, Its not the gs fluttering, its not the wind moving, its your hearts that are moving! This sentence was quite teasing, and the faces of all the women present turned red with embarrassment. What nonsense is that? Who, who has feelings for you? The little princess stammered. Mr. Lin, please dont speak randomly; I dont have such feelings! Mo Rushuang lowered her head. Husband, lets talk about this at night! Its not appropriate to discuss it in public! Li Shi Shi also blushed shyly. Lin Beifan smirked, Where did your minds wander off to? I was talking about Buddhas teachings! You dare to make excuses? The three women scolded in unison, feeling both embarrassed and angry. At that moment, Guo Shaoshuai looked anxious and said, I also think Mr. Lin is good-looking! Could it be that I also have feelings for Mr. Lin? Lin Beifan: You step aside and fetch the mirror! Lin Beifan ordered. Not long after, the old monk arrived. Lin Beifan shared the allusion with him. The old monk suddenly understood, Master is right, its not the gs fluttering, its not the wind moving, its our own hearts that are moving! This sentence is full of Buddhas teachings. Thank you, Master, for guiding me. Amitabha! Lin Beifan looked triumphantly at the three women, as if saying, See, I was right, wasnt I? The three women were both embarrassed and angry. He clearly meant what they thought he meant, yet he still dared to make excuses and deceive them? They rushed over and pinched Lin Beifans soft waist. This irrational scene of women venting their anger was disyed to the fullest. Only Lin Beifan was quietly shedding tears. Women, huh! Clearly, they wanted to be teased, but after being teased, theyd start to use their hands and feet. Men were truly in a difficult position! Time passed unknowingly. The Spring Festival came to an end, and the new year officially began. The court once again operated at a rapid pace. Various officials returned to their posts and carried out their duties to handle government affairs. Common people also left their homes and started working to earn a living and support their families. Minxin City, the newly built city, also began to operate efficiently. Various major businesses had settled in Minxin City, establishing factories, recruiting workers, and conducting trade. The local residents continued to produce cement, work for the major businesses, engage in farming, or start their own small businesses. They did whatever they wanted and went wherever there was money to be made. The local people in the capital saw the vitality of Minxin City and rushed over to do business. The era of street stalls economy had revived! The whole city exuded a vigorous vitality! Lin Beifan estimated that within a year, this city would be the economic center of the Great Wu. Spring was here, and the most important thing was still farming. Cultivating fields and growing crops ensured everyone had food to eat, which was essential for everything else. Historical experiences had proven that without food support, a country would be unstable, and the economy would falter. Just look at the southern regions where the shortage of food had led to serious intion, high grain prices, and aplete copse of the economic system. No one was faring well! To maintain a strong economy, it was crucial to ensure good agricultural production. Lin Beifan used cement to build and repair various water facilities, promoting food production. Saving time, effort, and money, with surprisingly good results! Other officials from various regions learned about this and started applying for the use of cement. As a result, besides selling eighty percent of the cement produced by the cement workshops, the remaining twenty percent was used for their own purposes, such as building water facilities and repairing city walls. To elerate the construction, the cement was transported to various cities through air-cushioned boats and waterways. Massive water conservancy construction projects wereunched with Minxin City at the center. Everyone was very busy, but Lin Beifan was not as busy as before. During the construction of the new city, he was practically working non-stop, managing many tasks. However, after the city was built, it no longer required such attention. With so many officials under hismand, he could delegate their responsibilities, and as long as he kept control of the overall direction, there would be no problems. Everything was steadily developing for the better. But in other ces, the situation was not so good. In the Northern Hebei, due to the previous threat of bandits, many people had fled, leaving not many farmers tending thend. As a result, the grain production was limited, and the economy struggled to recover, causing everyone to live frugally. Prince of Northern Hebei was also facing simr difficulties and had to tighten his belt. He was waiting for everyone to fully practice the Sunflower Treasure Manual beforeunching a war. In the Southern Jiang, due to theck of grain, the economypletely copsed. The shortage ofbor for farming, caused by Lin Beifan taking most of the farmers to the capital, hindered the productivity from improving. Without enough grain, they had no means to wage war, and the enemy could simply hold the frontline to wear them down. In Wuxi, Duke Wuxi was having the hardest time. The previous incident involving the nted Moon Treasure caused him to lose many soldiers, and most of the grain was burned, leading to a severe shortage. Now, he was also being targeted by the remnants of the nted Moon Dynasty. In a seemingly ordinary small vige in Wuxi, Princess Ziyue faced the people excitedly, saying, Everyone, after more than half a year of effort, its time for us to reveal our fangs! From today onwards, we will take the initiative to attack, using Duke Wuxis soldiers to train our own troops and ultimately create an iron-blooded army to march towards the Dayue and restore the dynasty! March towards the Dayue, restore the dynasty! March towards the Dayue, restore the dynasty! Everyone was extremely excited. They had been waiting for this moment, putting in so much effort, and now it was time for them to reap the rewards. Princess, we have received the news! Tomorrow evening, Duke Wuxis army will pass through the Daliang Vige, with approximately 3,000 men and horses. Its a perfect opportunity for us to strike! one person excitedly reported. Good! This is our first action, very important. Follow all themands! Princess Ziyue dered. The next day, the remnants of the nted Moon Dynasty led their troops and ambushed in Daliang Vige. As they saw a group of soldiers in ck armor riding tall and majestic horses, returning with grandeur and preparing to set up camp and rest, Princess Ziyue waved her hand and shouted, Attack! Suddenly, a group of people emerged from the grass and rapidly shot arrows. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh After a round of arrow rain, dozens of people were killed. Theres an ambush! Theres an ambush! Get them, kill them! The army reacted quickly and swiftly wielded their weapons to counterattack. However, the ambushers shot their arrows and immediately ran away without any hesitation, disying swift movements. Even when the soldiers mounted their horses, they couldnt catch up with them. Chapter 241: Guerrilla Warfare Demonstrates Dominance, Duke Wuxi Coughs Up Blood in Anger! Chapter 241: Guerri Warfare Demonstrates Dominance, Duke Wuxi Coughs Up Blood in Anger! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
However, even if they couldnt catch up, they had to keep pursuing! They fell into an ambush, losing dozens of people, and they didnt even know who the enemy was! If they didnt capture someone to interrogate, how could they exin it to their superiors? Catch up to them! Dont let them escape! Try to capture them alive! Charge! Send more people, everyone follow me! Both sides chased each other relentlessly. Unknowingly, they left Daliang Vige and strayed away from the main armys sight, arriving at a rarely traveled small road. At this moment, the group of archers who were fleeing earlier turned around and resumed shooting. From the grass on both sides of the small road, thousands of people emerged, holding arrows and shooting swiftly. The pursuers were thrown into panic. Theres another ambush! Quick, go back and report this to the general! There are too many people, lets get out of here! However, it was toote to escape now! After several rounds of arrow showers, almost 200 soldiers from the pursuing group lost their lives here, while only a few of the nted-Moon people were injured, and none of them died! Princess Ziyue looked satisfied at the scene. Very good! Clean up the area immediately and send more people to harass them. Try to lure more troops here! Yes, Princess! everyone responded. The same group of archers ran back to the camp of the Wuxi Army and unleashed a volley of random shots again. After shooting, they turned and ran without hesitation. Its them again! Damn it! Our brothers might be in trouble! Chase them! Avenge our brothers! Another batch of soldiers and horses arrived! This group wasrge, reaching five or six hundred people! Clearly, they had learned their lesson and dispatched so many people this time! However, they could never have imagined that there were even more ambushers waiting for them, totaling over 2000 people, all experts in surprise attacks and archery, taking advantage of the terrain! After a round of chaotic shooting, they managed to defeat this group of soldiers and horses! Go and harass them again! Yes, Your Highness Princess! So, the group of archers ran back and shot randomly, then ran again, quite teasingly! This made the soldiers of the Wuxi Army furious! However, the leading general was more rational and shouted, No pursuit allowed! There must be a trap! Lets set up camp, rest well, and after that, report this to the general and send arger force to sweep the area! Yes, General! Thus, they stopped pursuing and set up camp, lighting fires and cooking. Their n failed, but the nted-Moon people were not disheartened. On the contrary, they appeared in front of the Wuxi Army once again, continuing their archery. Several cold arrows were released, iming the lives of a few more people. The Wuxi Army was both angry and annoyed, and once again, they gave chase. However, they only pursued for a while before running back. After all, they were also afraid of falling into an ambush and not being able to return. In this manner, the nted-Moon troops came back again, continuing to shoot cold arrows, and the Wuxi Army chased after them once more. This back-and-forth pursuit continued until nightfall. The Wuxi Army had not enjoyed a proper meal and was thoroughly exhausted by the constant running around. The guerri forces of the nted-Moon were also extremely tired. Princess Ziyue expressed concern, Your task isplete. Rest well, and leave the rest to us! Yes, Your Highness Princess! they replied. Princess Ziyue then reced them with another group of people and confidently appeared in front of the Wuxi Army. The soldiers loudly reported, General, theyreing again! The general bellowed, Be alert! Once they get close, shoot immediately! Yes, General! As a result, the opposing force stopped at a distance of seventy to eighty zhang, a safe distance where their arrows couldnt reach. Then, unexpectedly, they took out instruments resembling big drums and gongs and enthusiastically started to bang on them. Boom boom boom boom ng ng ng ng The banging was without rhythm and incredibly deafening! The Wuxi Army was bewildered, What are they trying to do? The general became furious, Damn it! They simply want to harass us, preventing us from resting! The soldiers were also incensed, This is too vicious! They came up with such a cunning n? We can endure no longer! The generalmanded, Everyone, remain calm! Dont act impulsively and fall into their trap! A few of you keep an eye on them, while the rest of us rest. Well get through this by enduring a bit longer! Yes, General! So, they endured the difort of the noise, feeling especially miserable. Just then, one member of the nted-Moon guerri squad took out a small trumpet-like object. Though it was small and delicate, it was the king of musical instrumentsthe suona! As the saying goes, among all musical instruments, the suona is the king! When the suona is yed, it either signifies a joyous asion or apanies a souls ascent to heaven! When the opposing force forcefully blew the suona, its sharp and loud sound pierced through the starry sky! re~~ The Wuxi Army felt incredibly ufortable, to say the least! Their hearts raced, pounding irregrly, and their spirits seemed to have been blown away! However, they still abided by their military orders and didnt make any rash moves. But the general couldnt take it anymore. He burst out of his tent and angrily eximed, This is too much! They even brought out the suona! Ill kill them! But, General, didnt you say we shouldnt engage them? one soldier asked. The general fumed, I cant take it any longer! If I dont do something, Ill ascend to heaven myself! Attack! Yes, General! So, the Wuxi Army charged once again, and the guerri squad immediately fled. After the Wuxi Army returned, the guerri squad came back again, continuing to y music and even bringing along an additional suona. The Wuxi Army chased after them once more, and the guerri squad ran again. The game of cat and mouse continued to y out! After several rounds of such back-and-forth, it was already thetter half of the night. They had endured the whole night without closing their eyes; every time they managed to doze off, the tormenting sound woke them up again. Damn it! We cant even get some sleep! the general cursed, Brothers, since we cant rest, lets continue on through the night! When we get back, well report this and have the main army sweep the area! Yes, General! They packed their belongings and set off again during the night. After two hours, the dawn gradually broke. However, the Wuxi Army still hadnt had proper rest, and they continued traveling through the night, exhausted and fatigued. Some soldiers even fell off their horses. The horses were tired too; some didnt want to walk anymore. But at this time, the soldiers led by Princess Ziyue from the nted-Moon were ahead, waiting to strike when the Wuxi Army arrived. Your Highness Princess, the Wuxi Army is approaching! They have around 2400 remaining troops, and they are tired and weakened now. With our forces, we should be able to defeat them! a soldier reported. Princess Ziyue looked at the tens of thousands of soldiers behind her, smiled, and nodded, There should be no problem! Once the Wuxi Army entered their encirclement, Princess Ziyue gave the order, and the tens of thousands of troops behind her moved in unison Swish, swish, swish Several rounds of arrow showers caught the Wuxi Army off guard, causing chaos among their ranks. Then, the nted-Moon soldiers unsheathed their knives and spears, charging into the fray. Kill! Wipe out the Wuxi Army! Liberate the Wuxi! Kill! Leave no one alive! Glory and achievements lie in this moment! The general of the Wuxi Army was rmed, They have so many people! We are in danger! The battlested for over two hours. Due to the numerous and well-prepared nted-Moon troops and the weakened, hungry, and exhausted Wuxi Army, the nted-Moon forces suffered around 300 casualties but managed to annihte the Wuxi Armypletely! In the first battle, they achieved such remarkable results! Princess Ziyue was extremely delighted, Clean up the battlefield, and well celebrate when we return! Yes, Your Highness Princess! Next, Princess Ziyue pursued her advantage and used guerri tactics and positional warfare to defeat another Wuxi Army unit. Combined, they had already eliminated 5000 soldiers from the Wuxi Army, while they only suffered a few hundred casualties. This was unimaginable before. The Wuxi Army surpassed the nted-Moon forces in both strength and equipment. Even a 1:1 casualty ratio would be considered a victory for the nted-Moon. However, now, they paid such a minimal price, inflicting heavy losses on the Wuxi Army, achieving a brilliant record. Princess Ziyue was very excited, The three strategies taught by Lin Beifan were indeed correct! As long as we use these three strategies flexibly, dealing with the Wuxi Army will not be a problem! After the excitement subsided, Princess Ziyue calmed down, After two battles, Duke Wuxi will undoubtedly be on high alert, and it wont be easy to deceive him again. The next battles will be the real hard fights! Princess Ziyue arranged her troops to deal with the retaliation of the Weapon Duke. After receiving the news, Duke Wuxi of the Wuxi Dukedom was furious, Who is targeting me? Last years military losses had not been fully replenished, and just a few days into the new year, they suffered another loss of 5000 soldiers and horses! Who was behind this, causing trouble on his territory? Did they really think Duke Wuxi was easy to bully? The trembling general reported, Your Majesty, the enemy appears and disappears mysteriously, and their actions are swift. We still dont know which force is behind this. Please forgive us, Your Majesty! Appearing and disappearing mysteriously, with swift actions? Duke Wuxi sneered, his eyes filled with a fierce intent, In that case, dispatch a massive army to sweep the area! Better to kill the wrong target than to let anyone escape! I want to see where they can run to! Yes, Your Majesty! Subsequently, Duke Wuxi sent out an army of 100,000 soldiers, heading out in full force to sweep the area. While this method was time-consuming andborious, once they discovered the enemys whereabouts, they could encircle them, leaving no chance for escape. However, the nted-Moon forces had already learned about Duke Wuxis actions from their insiders. They calmly avoided the main army through underground passages, relocating to another area to continue their guerri warfare. In this manner, they annihted another 3000 soldiers of the Wuxi Army. This battle was like a p to Duke Wuxis face! Duke Wuxi was so furious that he howled and immediately dispatched anotherrge army to sweep the area. Yet again, the nted-Moon forces managed to evade them and eliminate another small-scale unit of Duke Wuxis forces. After repeating this several times, over ten thousand of Duke Wuxis soldiers and horses had been lost! As for the enemy No one knew their whereabouts! Duke Wuxi finally realized, and angrily eximed, Damn it! We have a traitor among us! Chapter 242: Wanted List! Hero List! The Wuxi Duke Pursues the Bandits? Chapter 242: Wanted List! Hero List! The Wuxi Duke Pursues the Bandits? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Every time the Wuxi Duke led his troops, the enemy managed to escape the encirclement perfectly, indicating that there must be a traitor leaking information to them! The Wuxi Duke was very angry because there was nothing worse in the world than betrayal, especially for someone as stubborn and self-willed as he was! Therefore, he began to reorganize his army, attempting to root out the traitors. With the attitude of rather killing a few innocent than letting a single guilty escape, the Wuxi Duke captured and executed hundreds of people as a warning to others. However, even after doing this, the Western Armys subsequent operations failed, and the enemy still managed to evade capture. The Wuxi Duke was infuriated and killed another group of people. This wont work! he eximed. He had no idea how many traitors had infiltrated his army, and no matter how many he killed, they seemed to be never-ending. In the end, before even annihting the enemy, his own army fell into disarray. So, he adopted a new approach. He sent his trusted subordinates to lead separate armies, temporarily assigning missions, and making them act independently. At the same time, each group within the army and every individual kept a close eye on one another and reported any suspicious circumstances immediately. With this, he hoped to reduce the chances of information leaking. Yet, even after several consecutive operations, they still failed, and there was no trace of the enemy. The Wuxi Duke couldnt understand. Despite surrounding themyer byyer, with soldiers sealing off any possible escape routes, how were they managing to escape every time? Were they gods flying away from the heavens? In a hidden tunnel, arge group of people was hiding. Princess Ziyue secretly felt relieved, Luckily, the military strategist (Lin Beifan) helped use up with the strategy of tunnel warfare! Otherwise, we would have long been besieged by the Wuxi Dukes forces! Everyone admired, Indeed, the military strategist is brilliant, and victory is decided before the battle! Thanks to the tunnel warfare strategy, they had evaded the Wuxi Dukes repeated encirclements numerous times, ensuring their survival. Following that, the members of the nted Moon group continued guerri warfare against the Wuxi Duke. They struck and vanished, leading the Wuxi Duke in circles and continuously inflicting casualties. The news of this situation quickly spread throughout the world. Everyone found it amusing. The Wuxi Duke has encountered a formidable opponent! His so-called million-strong army is being yed around by an unknown force! I heard theyve already lost tens of thousands of men, but they have no idea who their enemy is! Suddenly, they discovered this mysterious force uses sneaky tactics, avoiding the main force and targeting smaller groups. Once theyre done, they slip away, not engaging in direct confrontation! Though its sneaky, its effective. The Wuxi Duke is getting a headache! Haha! Couldnt agree more! Everyone was amused and entertained by the situation. Some gambling houses even opened bets on who would win or lose in this peculiar rivalry. In the Northern Hebei Region, at the residence of the Northern Hebei Prince, upon hearing the news, heughed heartily, Ah, my royal brother, you have brought this upon yourself! Those who stray from the right path will naturally face adversaries! This person fearedparisons the most; although I may be miserable, as long as you are more miserable than me, I am content! Bring out my treasured wine; I want to get drunk and forget all this, haha! In the Southern Jiang Region, at the residence of the Southern Jiang Prince, upon learning the news, he also felt delighted, My poor royal brother, who have you offended? Why are you constantly targeted by others? Have you been involved in too many wicked deeds? Haha! Recently, the Southern Jiang Region suffered from food shortage and economic copse, making his mood not very beautiful. Butpared to the Wuxi Duke, he found that these troubles were nothing. Although hecked food, at least his people were still alive, and where there were people, there was hope. However, the Wuxi Duke had neither enough food nor sufficient troops, and the battle hadnt even started yet, and he was already done for! He couldnt help but sympathize with the Wuxi Duke. It seemed like he had encountered a string of bad luck. Last year, he lost over 300,000 soldiers, and at the beginning of this year, he began losing troops again, to the point that he couldnt even gather enough soldiers. His so-called million-strong army had be aughingstock. Is my royal brother feeling very sad right now? As his elder brother, I cannot ignore his feelings! The Southern Jiang Prince called out, Someonee! Two people walked in from outside, bowing respectfully, Your Highness, what are your orders? The Southern Jiang Prince said with a mournful expression, Send my paper to the Wuxi Duke! Tell him that even if not a single soldier is left at the end, I will send my paper to mourn for him! Yes, Your Highness! At the Great Wu Court. The Empress was radiant and smiled, Everyone should have heard about the situation in the Wuxi Region, right? A mysterious force has risen there, consistently targeting the troops of the Wuxi Duke! My dear ministers, what are your thoughts? The Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, stood up and spoke loudly, Your Majesty, I have learned that this mysterious force appears and disappears, moves swiftly, and within half a month, has already eliminated tens of thousands of Wuxi Army, causing significant trouble to the Wuxi Duke! This situation is very advantageous for our court! However, the origins of this mysterious force are unknown, so we must remain cautious! Good! The Empress nodded in satisfaction. Her gaze shifted towards Lin Beifan among the officials, her eyes somewhat strange. She smiled and asked, Minister Lin, what are your thoughts on this matter? Your Majesty, I have been busy with spring farming recently and do not know much about this matter. Therefore, I have no thoughts on it. Please forgive me, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan replied seriously. The Empress arched an eyebrow, finding it ridiculous that this behind-the-scenes mastermind imed not to know about the matter. Do you think I dont know youve been in touch with Princess Ziyue? Youre really good at pretending! My minister, go ahead and speak your mind. If you say something wrong, you will be pardoned! Lin Beifan said, I think we should let them fight it out! As the old saying goes, when the snipe and the m fight, the fisherman profits. We just need to guard the Phoenix Mountain Range and prevent them from crossing over. Your words are in line with my intention! The empress nodded in satisfaction. In the Wuxi Region. The Wuxi Duke was extremely angry and troubled. As a powerful leader with an army of a million soldiers, he was beingughed at by everyone! If he didnt deal with these rats that were running amok everywhere, and regain his dignity, he might really die from anger! Military advisor, do you have any good strategies? the Wuxi Duke asked. Feng Chu, the wise advisor, cupped his hands and said, Your Highness, this group of rats focuses on attacking our small units and avoids our main forces, which shows that their strength is not strong! Therefore, the best n for now is to recall all the dispersed troops; they wont find opportunities to strike! Youre right! But I want to eliminate thiswless group of rats even more! Otherwise, my grudge will be hard to extinguish! the Wuxi Duke replied. Feng Chu continued, Your Highness, after withdrawing the troops, we can send out skilled experts to deal with them! These experts have powerful martial arts and move swiftly, which will make it much easier to deal with them! But the Wuxi Region is too vast, and we have too few experts. How can we manage that? The Wuxi Duke frowned. There may be few experts, but we can hire people! Feng Chu smiled and said, Your Highness, half a year ago, there was a problem with horse bandits in the Northern Hebei Region. The bandits were rampant, causing havoc everywhere, and the people were suffering. Do you know how the court resolved that issue? I heard that they released a reward list and a hero list the Wuxi Duke said. Exactly, Your Highness! Feng Chu smiled and continued, Back then, when the Northern Hebei Region had a problem with horse bandits, the court released a reward list, offering a reward of ten taels of silver for each bandit to lure them with money. Later, they also released a hero list to promote fame. Those who became great heroes for exterminating the bandits could also request a not too unreasonable condition promised by the court! It was because of these three conditions that the court resolved the issue of the horse bandits in the Northern Hebei Region at a very low cost! One must say, the person who proposed this n is truly brilliant! Feng Chu was full of admiration. I see! But what does this have to do with the current situation? the Wuxi Duke asked, still puzzled. Your Highness, this group of rats running amok everywhere is equivalent to the horse bandits for us, arent they? Lets do the same and issue a reward list. Well offer a reward of ten taels of silver for each of these Western bandits! And then release a hero list to spread the word! Those who be heroes for exterminating the bandits will have the chance to propose a not too unreasonable condition to Your Highness! This way, we can call on heroes from all over the world to deal with these bandits! Feng Chu exined. The Wuxi Duke excitedly mmed the table, Brilliant! Its truly brilliant! Military advisor, do it as you said! I entrust this matter to you, dont disappoint me! I will obey! Feng Chu replied promptly. After Feng Chu left, he immediately set about the task and issued the rewards to the world. To solve the issue of the Wuxi Regions bandits, the Wuxi Duke offered a generous reward of ten taels of silver for each bandits head. At the same time, a hero list was announced to be spread throughout the world. The top ten bandit killers would be recognized as heroes, and their names would be known far and wide. Once this list was released, everyone in the world was stunned. A reward list? A hero list? Isnt this the courts method to exterminate bandits? Yes! I participated in the bandit extermination half a year ago, and it left a deep impression on me! I didnt expect the Wuxi Duke to use the same tactic; it seems he was driven to desperation by those bandits! Haha! It seems like a good opportunity to try it out! After seeing this, many people were tempted. The grand event of bandit extermination half a year ago was still vivid in their memories. Many unknown individuals became heroes in the fight against the bandits, and their names echoed throughout thend. Especially the renowned bandit extermination hero Big Bull, who evenmitted the crime of treason but was pardoned, has now been recruited by the court, enjoying the benefits of being in the imperial service and living afortable life. Now, another rare opportunity presented itself before them! As a result, many people rushed towards the Wuxi Region. In the pce, the Wuxi Duke was delighted, Advisor, you are truly remarkable! To so easily enlist the heroes of the world to serve me, after this is aplished, I will remember your great contribution! Hahaha! Thank you, Your Highness! Feng Chu, with a pleased expression, bowed and smiled. At the same time, Princess Ziyue also received this news and felt extremely anxious. The Wuxi Dukes n was too ruthless, involving heroes from all over the world to deal with her! In this way, the troops she worked so hard to cultivate might suffer heavy losses! What should she do? At this moment, a figure suddenly came to her mind. The situation is critical; I will go consult the military advisor! Until I return, do not act rashly! Yes, Your Highness! Everyone responded. Chapter 243: I’ve Never Seen Such Shameless Person! Chapter 243: Ive Never Seen Such Shameless Person! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After Princess Ziyue finished her exnation, she quickly rushed to the capital and met with Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan greeted her with a smiling face, Princess, what brings you here? Princess Ziyue anxiously said, Advisor, our situation is getting critical! You probably know that Wuxi Duke has issued reward and hero lists to deal with our forces! Now, many experts have already headed to Wuxi. If we dont handle this well, all our previous efforts will be in vain! Lin Beifan remained calm and said with a smile, Princess, dont worry, Ive got everything under control. Seeing Lin Beifan soposed, Princess Ziyue also calmed down. It seemed that with the strategist around, nothing was a problem. Please help me, Advisor! Princess Ziyue pleaded sincerely. Lin Beifan smiled slightly and said, Actually, its not difficult to break this n. Princess Ziyue was overjoyed, Advisor! As long as the money is enough, everything will be fine. Princess Ziyue: At such a critical moment, hes still talking about money? Princess Ziyue gritted her teeth and said, Advisor, I came in a hurry this time and have no money with me. Illpensate you next time! I trust you, Princess! Lin Beifan smiled and said, The method is quite simple. Since Wuxi Duke has issued a reward and hero list with a reward of ten taels of silver per head, we can do the same, offering twenty taels per head! Wuxi Duke has more soldiers and clearer targets. How do you think everyone will choose? Princess Ziyues eyes lit up. Wuxi Duke has issued a hero list, calling for heroes to eliminate bandits. We can also issue a hero list, calling for heroes to overthrow the rebellious king! Over the years, Wuxi Dukes ambitions have caused misery to the people due to his militarism. He is the number one rebel and enemy! Revolting against Wuxi Duke has more righteousness! How do you think the heroes will choose? Princess Ziyues eyes shone even brighter. Wuxi Duke can promise conditions, and we can do the same! At this point, Lin Beifan took out a piece of paper and said with a smile, With this promation from me, we can surely shatter Wuxi Dukes n and make him pay a heavy price! Princess Ziyue was very excited, Thank you, Advisor, for your help! As she was about to reach out and take the promation from Lin Beifans hand, he said, Princess, as the saying goes, one word is worth a thousand pieces of gold. This promation is about a thousand words. Giving me 1 million taels of silver would be reasonable, right? Princess Ziyue looked at Lin Beifans money-grubbing expression and really wanted to punch him. Dont worry, Advisor. I wont forget you! Princess Ziyue gritted her teeth and epted the promation. After reading it, her eyelids twitched. Indeed, it was no wonder he got the top score in the imperial examinations. The promation was written exceptionally well! It was elegant, expressive, and scolded people harshly! If he were Wuxi Duke, he would probably be infuriated! Other heroes would probably feel too embarrassed to help Wuxi Duke after reading this promation! Thank you, Advisor! Princess Ziyue finally felt relieved. With Lin Beifans strategy and the promation in hand, Princess Ziyue didnt believe that Wuxi Duke could do anything to harm her. It would be good enough if he could take care of himself. As she was about to leave, Princess Ziyue, with a retaliatory mindset, once again hugged Lin Beifan forcefully. Advisor, Im going back now. Well meet again someday. Hehe~! Lin Beifan was trembling with anger. This woman was bing more and more audacious! Not only did she exploit the value ofbor, but she also ate his tofu without paying. Even Yang Bao wasnt this ruthless! After returning, Princess Ziyue immediately announced the promation to the world. It listed Wuxi Dukes crimes: Wuxi Duke, as a official of the court, should have been loyal to the Emperor and served the court. However, he engaged in militarism and attempted to rebel, which is disloyalty! As a royal vassal, he disregarded his ancestral heritage, which is unfilial! For the sake of his ambitions, he ignored the lives of his subjects, causing them to suffer, which is unkind! He harmed loyal officials and framed righteous schrs, which is unjust! Such a disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust person still dares to live in this world! Ive never seen such a shameless person!!! If Wuxi Duke intends to rebel and overthrow the court, aiding him would be disloyal! If Wuxi Duke engages in militarism and harms the people, aiding him would be unkind! If Wuxi Duke issues rewards to deal with righteous individuals, aiding him would be unjust! If Wuxi Duke is ruthless and tyrannical, he has deviated from the path of righteousness! Aiding him would be unwise! With such disloyal, unkind, unjust, and unwise actions, how can he have the face to stand between heaven and earth? And he calls himself a hero? Spit! Hes nothing but a despicable viin! As the promation was released, the world was in an uproar! This promation scolds him well! It has a solid foundation and is eloquently written. It feels so refreshing! Heh! Ive never liked Wuxi Duke! This article is right! Wuxi Duke is such a disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust person! Its unbelievable that he still dares to live in this world. Truly shameless! Those who support Wuxi Duke are all scoundrels! They are all nothing but despicable viins, unworthy of being called heroes! Everyone felt relieved as they criticized, nailing Wuxi Duke to the pir of shame, unable to be taken down. Apanying this promation were another set of reward and hero lists. A reward of twenty taels of silver per head was offered for Wuxi soldiers heads. An hero list was published, dering the top ten killers as heroes, and the one ranked first would receive a reasonable reward. The content of these lists mirrored Wuxi Dukes, but the conditions were even more favorable. For a moment, the heroes who were going to Wuxi to eliminate bandits hesitated. If they helped Wuxi Duke eliminate the bandits, they would not only receive a bad reputation but also be called viins! As they roamed the martial world, besides wealth, reputation was what they sought. If they lost their reputation, how could they continue standing in the martial world? Then, they looked at the other reward and hero lists. They found the rewards were more generous, with twenty taels of silver per head. You see, if they went to Wuxi to eliminate bandits, they would first have to find the bandits, which would be time-consuming andborious, with low efficiency. But if they killed Wuxi soldiers, it would be much easier. With so many troops stationed there, the targets were clear, so they didnt need to search and could directly attack. For killing one, they would receive twenty taels of silver, double the price. If you were in their shoes, what would you choose? Moreover, this hero list was the true hero list. Wuxi Duke was a rebel, cruel and unkind. Such a person deserved to be killed, and only by killing him would justice be served! That mysterious force rose to resist the rebellion of Wuxi Duke. They couldnt be called bandits; they should be called righteous heroes! Heroes couldnt be killed; killing them would be unjust! So what choice did they have? In fact, there was no choice at all! So, this group of heroes continued to move forward. Although their direction didnt change, their targets for killing did! At Wuxis pce, Wuxi Duke quickly received the news and was shocked and angry: Thesewless rats dare to falsely use me like this? They say Im disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust, and that Im shameless How can this be? As a king, how could he allow himself to be scolded like this, losing face? They used him of being disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust, and whats worse, it was all reasonable! Now he could already imagine how bad his reputation had be! He deeply hated the people behind all this! Your Highness, now is not the time to be angry! The strategist, Mr. Feng Chu, said in a flustered manner, After this promation, the heroes are still heading to Wuxi, but they are not targeting the Western Bandits, but our Wuxi Army! Your Highness, the situation is critical. What should we do? Wuxi Duke was also somewhat panicked. He still remembered the incident with the nted moon treasure half a year ago. At that time, he had been headstrong, thinking that with a million troops, he could withstand the attacks of heroes from all over the martial world. However, reality gave him a profound lessonhundreds of thousands of troops were lost, and he gained no benefits. If such a situation happened again, he wouldnt even need to rebel; he would justmit suicide. Advisor, what should we do now? Wuxi Duke asked anxiously. Your Highness, I dont know what to do now! Mr. Feng Chu appeared despondent and had a teary face. I dont care! You muste up with a solution for me. If you cant, then what use do I have for you? Wuxi Duke said angrily. Your Highness, I will do my best! Mr. Feng Chu was sweating profusely with urgency. In the end, Mr. Feng Chu actually came up with a solution. Your Highness, we can withdraw the reward and hero lists and inform the Western Bandits that the affairs of Wuxi will be handled by Wuxi itself. Whats the point of relying on others? Continuing like this will only result in infighting, wasting resources, and being unwise! Wuxi Duke was furious, Your solution is to make me admit defeat? I will never agree! Mr. Feng Chu smiled bitterly, Your Highness, we have no choice but to do this now! If we continue to resist, both sides will suffer losses, but our losses will be greater! Once our strength is greatly diminished, the various vassals will not let us go, and the court will not spare us either. We cant take the risk! Suppressing our anger for now will bring peace! Wuxi Duke finally calmed down and sighed, Alright, Ill follow your advice! So, Wuxi withdrew the reward and hero lists and announced to the world that Wuxi would handle its own affairs and not rely on others. The people with keen eyesight allughed heartily when they saw this. Is Wuxi Duke admitting defeat? He has no choice. Heroes from all over the world are on their way, brandishing their knives at Wuxi soldiers! Wuxi Duke is indeed powerful, but how can hepete against all the people in the world? He cant bear such a loss, haha! Now, it depends on whether the Wuxi righteous heroes will agree! Its best if they dont agree. Im just waiting to make a fortune! Princess Ziyue naturally received this news. After thinking about it, she withdrew the reward and hero lists. The reason she was dealing with Wuxi Duke was not because she had a grudge against him, but mainly to cultivate her own troops and let them train and grow through blood and sweat, giving her a chance to restore the dynasty. If she relied on others to deal with Wuxi Duke, she wouldpletely lose the opportunity to train her troops. So, she agreed to Wuxi Dukes request, that the affairs of Wuxi would be handled by Wuxi itself, and they would not rely on others. Both sides arranged their troops and started fighting again. Chapter 244: The Great Thief Comes to the Imperial Palace to Steal? Chapter 244: The Great Thief Comes to the Imperial Pce to Steal? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
nted Moon Army and Wuxi Army were fighting again, but Lin Beifan, the culprit, was busy with spring plowing. As the saying goes, the n for the day lies in the morning, and the n for the year lies in the spring. The harvest of this year depends mainly on the spring plowing. Lin Beifan attached great importance to agriculture. In order to promote agricultural development and increase production and ie, besides using cement to build and improve water facilities, Lin Beifan brought over his experience from his past life and summarized it into the Eight Agricultural Methods, which he promoted widely. These Eight Agricultural Methods are: Soil, Fertilizer, Water, Seed, Density, Protection, Management, and Tools. Soil: It is necessary to deeply cultivate and improve the soil, conduct soil surveys, and nnd use. Fertilizer: Reasonable application of fertilizers. Water: Developing water facilities and using water rationally. Seed: Cultivating and promoting good seeds. Density: Reasonable nting density. Protection: nt protection, prevention, and control of diseases and pests. Management: Field management. Tools: Improvement of tools. Each method is exined in detail, allowing all farmers to scientifically and reasonably nt crops, increasing production and ie. Among them, besides water facilities, Lin Beifan was most concerned about fertilizers. As the saying goes, A good crop relies on good fertilizers! Whether the fertilizers are used well or not directly affects the crop yield. In the world, there has never been ack of clever people. In order to increase food production, this world has long understood the use of fertilizers, such as human, horse, cow, sheep, and pig manure, ash and straw, with nearly forty varieties, most of which are organic fertilizers. The more diverse the types of fertilizers, the more they can promote food production. Therefore, Lin Beifan added dozens of types of fertilizers and their production methods, expanding the variety of fertilizers to make it easier for everyone to obtain fertilizers and increase production and ie. At the same time, Lin Beifan also innovatively added several types of inorganic fertilizers, such as lime, gypsum, sulfur, and brine. These inorganic fertilizers can be obtained after certain processing. Several officials responsible for agricultural affairs looked at the inorganic fertilizers proposed by Lin Beifan with doubt, Lord Prefect, can these things really increase food production? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Of course they can. These things provide the essential nutrients needed for crops, and they are rtively easy for us to obtain! Just do as I said, do you think Im joking with my official position? Alright, I will do it right away! the person rushed away in a hurry. In addition to this, Lin Beifan also added several types of green manure. After arranging everything, Lin Beifan rxed and said with a smile, This year should have a good harvest! Although he dared not say much, a 40-50% increase in production was achievable. Although these days were a bit hard, as an official, he had to bring benefits to the people in his tenure! Only then would he have a clear conscience! When he ran away in the future, he wouldnt leave any regrets! With nothing to do, Lin Beifan, along with Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai, went out for a stroll. Compared to before the Spring Festival, the capital became even livelier. The streets were crowded with carriages and horses, and pedestrians were endless. Shouts and hawkers filled the air, andmerce became more prosperous. All of this was closely rted to the series of actions Lin Beifan had taken since taking office. He rectified the officials of Dedian Prefecture, improved the administration, and purified the social environment, allowing everyone to hold their heads high and be upright. Loosening the restrictions on street stall economy allowed more people to earn money and promoted roadside markets. The most crucial factor was the introduction of cement, the miracle building material, which not only stimtedmercial development but also solved many peoples employment issues, leading to increased spending power among the popce. As a result, with an additional one million poption in the capital and an expanded market, how could the city not improve? Due to these achievements, despite still beingbeled as a greedy official, Lin Beifans prestige continued to grow. As he walked on the street, he often encountered greetings from themon people. Greetings, Lord Prefect! Lord Prefect, have you eaten? Lin Beifan smiled and nodded in response. Unconsciously, he arrived at a teahouse and was about to order a pot of tea, listen to some music, and rest his feet. Teahouses and taverns were always the most well-informed ces. While sipping his tea, Lin Beifan quietly listened to the neighboring tables hushed discussions. Have you heard? The Night Fragrance Thief ising to our city! Really? Where did you hear this news? Of course, its from him! Hes preparing to test his skills in our city! The news will spread quickly! Wow! I wonder whom hes targeting this time! Dont worry, he always targets powerful and influential figures, it has nothing to do with usmon folks! Youre right, lets just enjoy the spectacle! Lin Beifan was familiar with this Night Fragrance Thief. The person was a notorious master thief, specializing in stealing treasures from the powerful and influential figures. In the Great Xia Dynasty, he had struck seventeen times, all targeting significant forces, including the Great Xia court, and never failed once. Because of this, his reputation was widespread and renowned throughout the world! Though the exact extent of his abilities was unknown, his skills in thievery and lightness technique were absolutely top-notch. For instance, during the theft in the Great Xia Imperial Court, even though two grandmasters were appointed to guard the precious treasure day and night, they were ultimately defeated by him. Before each heist, he would send a letter to the target in a polite and gentle manner. Additionally, he always appeared in a white robe with a dashing demeanor, earning him the title of Thief Marshal or Young Master of Thieves by others. Hmm, it sounds somewhat simr to Kaito Kids image. However, Lin Beifan wondered if this Night Fragrance Thief was as charming as Kaito Kid. He felt somewhat excited. The Thief Marshal ising. Young Master, you might be in danger! Mo Rushuang said with a smile. Lin Beifan smiled back, Oh, how do you know? Rumor has it that the Night Fragrance Thief targets powerful and influential figures, especially officials favored by the Empress. As the Prefect of the capital with so many rare treasures in your residence, he mighte after you! Mo Rushuang exined. Lin Beifan nodded in agreement, That makes sense. But deep down, he didnt really think much of it. If he wants toe, let hime. If he can steal something from my residence, Id admit hes impressive! At that moment, a soldier rushed over and said anxiously, Lord Prefect, Her Majesty summons you! Alright, lead the way! In less than the time to burn a stick of incense, Lin Beifan entered the pce and found many officials present. To his surprise, not only the head of Six Doors, but also the Commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Supervisors of the Eastern and Western Depots, and other officials from the various violent institutions were all there. Furthermore, he noticed the Empress sitting on the throne, looking solemn with a hint of anger. Something seemed off. So, Lin Beifan stood behind the Head of Six Doors and asked in a low voice, Master Guo, whats going on? Chief Guo whispered back, I dont know the specifics, but its rted to the Night Fragrance Thief. Night Fragrance Thief? Lin Beifans expression turned peculiar. He had just heard about him and was already summoned to the pce. Could he be targeting the precious treasures in the pce? After waiting for a while, all the officials were present. My honored ministers, after reading this letter, you will know the exact situation! The Empress handed down a scented letter. Lin Beifan took the letter and unfolded it to read. Amidst the Great Wu Court, theres a seven-colored pearl that blooms at night, radiating rainbow-like brilliance, which is incredibly alluring! On the night of the seventh day, the Night Fragrance Thief ns to steal it! Night Fragrance Thief! Lin Beifan thought to himself, Sure enough, hes targeting the pce! After everyone finished reading the letter, an elderly eunuch exined, I found this at the entrance of the Golden Imperial Hall around noon, carried by a flower branch, and inserted into a pir in front of the hall! The officials were in an uproar! The fact that the letter was sent to the entrance of the Golden Imperial Hall was serious! We have failed in our duties. Your Majesty, please forgive us! The heads of the Imperial Guards and the Eastern and Western Depots immediately apologized. The Empress mmed the table in anger and said, This is a challenge to our courts dignity! This matter concerns our courts reputation. My esteemed ministers, what strategies do you have to prevent the Seven-Colored Pearl from being stolen and to apprehend the Night Fragrance Thief? Your Majesty, we should send experts to guard the Seven-Colored Pearl day and night! one official suggested promptly. But he has already stolen seventeen times in the Great Xia Dynasty, never failing once! Even when facing the treasures of the Great Xia Imperial Pce, he was not stopped. The Emperor dispatched two Grandmasters, thirty Innate Experts, and over 200,000 soldiers, but still couldnt catch him! What can our court do against him? another official said helplessly. Sir Wang, why do you praise others while belittling yourself? Then tell me, what is your solution? the Empress questioned. Everyone argued loudly. Silence! The Empress pounded the table, and the officials fell silent. Her gaze swept across the officials and finally settled on Lin Beifan, carrying some hope, Sir Lin, do you have any strategies? Tell me quickly! Your Majesty, I have a n to let the Night Fragrance Thief return empty-handed and protect our courts dignity! Lin Beifan said loudly. The Empresss eyes lit up, Tell me quickly! Lin Beifan smirked, Since the other party ising to steal our Seven-Colored Pearl, we should take the initiative and smash it ourselves. That way, he wont be able to steal it! Everyone fell silent; it was a terrible idea! The Empress was troubled, Sir Lin, dont joke! Just then, two eunuchs carefully brought up an exquisite box. The box was opened, revealing a fist-sized pearl sparkling with a seven-colored halo, exuding breathtaking beauty. This is the Seven-Colored Pearl, the object that the Night Fragrance Thief wants to steal. It is naturally formed and unique in the world, of inestimable value! Its one of the most precious treasures in our imperial court! the Empress said. The officials were mesmerized by the pearl. This Seven-Colored Pearl is so beautiful! This pearl is worth at least one million taels! Youre underestimating it! When the nted Moon Dynasty still existed, they considered it a celestial pearl and wanted to exchange it for two cities, but the Wu Emperor refused! It is truly invaluable! The Empress was very pleased with everyones reaction. Her gaze shifted towards Lin Beifan, and she smiled, Sir Lin, isnt this pearl beautiful? Lin Beifan immediately nodded, Its beautiful! Exquisitely beautiful! The Empress continued, Do you like this pearl? Lin Beifan promptly nodded again, I like it! I like it very much! Since you like it, Ill give it to you! The Empress said generously. Lin Beifan: Huh?! The officials: Huh?! Chapter 246: Your Admirable Beauty, Why Turn to Thievery? Chapter 246: Your Admirable Beauty, Why Turn to Thievery? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Amidst great anticipation, night finally descended. Lin Beifan, the focus of everyones attention, did not return to his mansion but went straight to the heavenly prison, requesting to be confined to thest level of cells. This news quickly spread throughout the court, astonishing all the officials who gave him thumbs up in admiration. Prefect Lins action is truly extraordinary! That heavenly prison is where the most heinous and dangerous criminals are held, and the security is extremely tight. No one can break in! Especially thest level of the heavenly prison, its made of severalyers of refined iron. The cells are impregnable. Unless someone possesses the strength of a grandmaster, escaping is impossible. Its both the most dangerous and safest ce in the Great Wu! Night Fragrance, the famous thief, wanted to steal the Seven-Colored Pearl from the heavenly prison. Its as difficult as ascending to the heavens. One slight mistake, and hed be trapped inside! Prefect Lin spending a night in there will undoubtedly be worry-free! Inside the imperial pce, the Empress was also aware of this news and shook her head with a smile. Your n, Lin my dear, is indeed clever! But why go through so much trouble? Just demonstrate your strength, and Night Fragrance will have no chance to escape! At this moment, in thest level of the heavenly prison, a group of jailers was swiftly tidying up the cell. They cleared away all the clutter,id out nkets and pillows, and even prepared a charcoal stove to keep Lin Beifan warm. Seeing the cell cleaned up, Lin Beifan waved his hand, saying, Alright, you can leave now! Without my orders, no one is allowed to enter, nor open this cell. Understood? Yes, Prefect Lin! The jailers retreated. As soon as everyone was gone, Lin Beifan sat cross-legged on the bed. On a small table beside him were delicacies, peanuts, and wine. He enjoyed his time, reading a book leisurely. Even in confinement, he knew how to indulge himself. Time passed by second by second, and the heavenly prison remained serene. asionally, the crackling sound of burning charcoal echoed, casting a warm red glow in the cell. Just then, a group of people appeared outside the cell. In the middle stood a woman dressed in dragon robes, exuding an imposing aura. The jailers were startled to see her and quickly bowed down, saying, Greetings, Your Majesty, long live the Empress! The Empress spoke with authority, No need for excessive formalities, rise. Thank you, Your Majesty! They responded. I heard that Sir Lin locked himself in the heavenly prison to protect the nations treasure, the Seven-Colored Pearl. Its a thoughtful gesture. However, I couldnt bear it, so I came to see him. Open the cell! the Empress ordered. Yes, Your Majesty! Without hesitation, theyplied, and the Empress led the group inside. Crossing one barrier after another, they arrived at the deepest level of the heavenly prison and met Lin Beifan. As soon as Lin Beifan saw the Empress, he quickly jumped off the bed and bowed with respect, saying loudly, I pay my respects to Your Majesty! The Empress smiled and said, No need for formalities between us, Lin my dear. Theres no need to be so polite. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan raised his head and asked with confusion, Your Majesty, why have youe? I heard that you locked yourself in this cold heavenly prison to protect the nations treasure, the Empress looked around, her face filled with distress, Lin my dear, I feel sorry for you! Your Majesty, it is my duty, not a hardship, Lin Beifan replied resolutely. The Empress waved her hand and said, Open the cell door. I want to have a detailed conversation with Advisor Lin. Yes, Your Majesty! the jailers responded. Wait, dont open the cell yet! Lin Beifan called out. Why, Lin my dear? The Empress was puzzled. Ive heard that Night Fragrance is skilled in disguises and can imitate anyone to perfection, making it impossible to distinguish between men and women, Lin Beifan warned cautiously, Tonight is the time he acts. Your Majestys sudden visit is suspicious. So, Id like to ask you a few questions to confirm your identity. I hope Your Majesty understands. The Empress smiled and nodded, Lin mu dear, Im d youre cautious. Ask your questions. Thank you for understanding, Your Majesty. First, what is the birthdate of the third Emperor of the Great Wu? Without hesitation, the Empress replied, In the 24th year of the Great Wu calendar, on the th day of the th month Next, Your Majesty, during the reign of the fourth Emperor of the Great Wu, Emperor Wu Ying, what achievements did he make? Again, the Empress immediately responded, During Emperor Wu Yings reign, he aplished Lin Beifan proceeded to ask several questions known only to the royal family. Two of them were particrly tricky, and many people didnt know the answers, but the Empress could answer them right away. After asking all the questions, Lin Beifan apologized, I apologize for any offense just now, and I hope Your Majesty forgives me. The Empress smiled, Lin my dear, I dont me you. Ignorance is not a crime. Thank you for understanding. Now, can we open the cell door? Lin Beifan asked. Yes, Prefect Lin! Subsequently, the prison door opened, and the Empress gracefully entered, observing Lin Beifan sitting near a warming stove, sipping wine, and eating peanuts. Sheughed, Sir Lin, you really know how to enjoy life! Lin Beifan smiled, After all, its not like Im truly in prison! Thats true! The Empress waved her hand, instructing, Everyone, leave us. I want to have a private conversation with Sir Lin. Yes, Your Majesty! The others left. Your Majesty, what would you like to discuss in private with me? Lin Beifan asked. Sir Lin, what I want to discuss with you is The Empress waved her hand, and a green smoke wafted out from her sleeve. After inhaling it, Lin Beifan fell unconscious. The voice that followed was not the Empresss voice but that of an unfamiliar man. Clearly, he was the imposter, Night Fragrance, who came to steal the Seven-Colored Pearl. With the mission aplished, the Empress ignored the unconscious Lin Beifan and casually walked out. However, at that moment, a massive steel gate came crashing down in the corridor. Empress inwardly eximed that things were not going well. He tried to use his top-notch lightness skill to escape before the iron gate fell, but he was ultimately a step toote. Boom! The iron gate came crashing down, sealing off the way out. Subsequently, the door to the cell behind him clicked shut as well. To his surprise, Lin Beifan, who had already been unconscious, appeared quite alert now, as he was the one who locked the cell door. In this way, the Empress was trapped in the corridor. There was no way out, and retreat was not an option! Footsteps sounded from outside as the jailers rushed in. Lin Beifan stood on the other side, smiling, and said, Night Fragrance, Ive been waiting for you! Lets see where youll escape this time? The Empress was greatly rmed and asked, You were affected by my Lavender Mist, why are you still so clear-headed? Lin Beifan smiled mysteriously and replied, Because I was prepared for it! Hmph! You, a petty official, are somewhat capable. This young master underestimated you! the Empress scoffed, lifting off the yellow robe and revealing a changed appearance. It turned out to be a strange man With a head of ck hair and handsome features, hisplexion was fair, dressed in white from head to toe, even his shoes were white, spotless and unparalleled, exuding a remarkable and extraordinary aura. Holding a folding fan even in the cold weather, he seemed to be showing off. Ah! Its Night Fragrance, the thief! Everyone was shocked. Thats right! I am indeed Night Fragrance! the strange man proudly dered. Lin Beifan looked at the handsome appearance of the man andmented, You, a gifted beauty, why resort to thievery? Night Fragrance stood arrogantly, about to say something fierce. Lin Beifan interrupted, Just with your appearance, you could earn a fortune as a male courtesan, so why bother resorting to theft? Night Fragrance trembled with rage, Shut up! As an official appointed by the court, how dare you use such foulnguage and disgrace this young master? Lin Beifan snorted, Still pretending to be noble! A thief is a thief. Theres no need to be polite with thieves. Even the male courtesans adhere to thew and pay taxes, which is more noble than you! Night Fragrances face turned extremely ugly. He looked at Lin Beifans smug expression, fanned himself, and said, Hmph! It seems youre quite pleased with yourself, thinking you can trap this young master? Lin Beifan made a gesture of invitation, You can give it a try! Night Fragrance was a four-rank innate master. He gathered his innate true qi, transforming it into sword energy and shed at the door. The steel gate made a loud sound, but it only left a slight mark without being damaged. Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Its useless! This steel gate is designed for people like you. Its made of refined steel, solid and heavy! Even with innate true qi, you cant break it! Even if you manage to break it, there are several moreyers of gates outside. Lets see how manyyers you can break! Night Fragrances face became even more unpleasant. Oh, I forgot to tell you one thing: the Seven-Colored Pearl in your hand is fake! Lin Beifan added. Night Fragrance was shocked, How could it be fake? Saying so, he took out the Seven-Colored Pearl in his hand. It was crystal clear, dazzling, and didnt look like an imitation at all. The real one is still in my hand! Lin Beifan also took out a Seven-Colored Pearl and said with a smile, The one you have is made of ss by me. Does it look simr? Night Fragrance looked at the one in Lin Beifans hand and realized it was even more radiant and exuded a more spiritual aura. It was clear at a nce which one was real and which one was fake, and which was superior and which was inferior! Damn it! Night Fragrances face turned dark as he forcefully crushed the fake Seven-Colored Pearl in his hand. Alright, the matter is concluded. Im going back to rest. Sweet dreams! Lin Beifan patted his butt and left. This incident quickly spread throughout the pce and the entire city! The great thief Night Fragrance was actually caught by Prefect Lin! I heard that Prefect Lin lured him by offering himself, entered the heavenly prison, and trapped Night Fragrance inside. Now, Night Fragrance is stuck in the corridor of the prison and cant get out! Haha! Night Fragrance actually slipped up and got caught in our Great Wu! This is truly an extraordinary story! As they say, a dog biting a man is not news, but a man biting a dog is news! Night Fragrance, the great thief, hasmitted 17 crimes without a single failure, bing a legend in the underworld! Now, he unexpectedly fell into the hands of Lin Beifan, a powerless civil official, bing a hot topic of discussion. Chapter 247: Night Fragrance Young Master, Fresh and Hot, Drink While It’s Hot! Chapter 247: Night Fragrance Young Master, Fresh and Hot, Drink While Its Hot! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The next day at the morning court, the Empress was very pleased. Sir Lin,st night, you not only protected the nations treasure, the Seven-Colored Pearl, but also captured Night Fragrance, trapping him in the heavenly prison. You upheld the dignity of our dynasty, and I am delighted! The Empress said calmly. Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. Your humble servant is undeserving of such honors, Lin Beifan replied modestly. For this merit, it will be remembered for now! Now, theres an important issue that needs to be addressed! The Empress spoke again, How should we handle Night Fragrance? The Minister of War said fiercely, Your Majesty, Night Fragrance dared to steal our countrys precious Seven-Colored Pearl and challenge the dignity of our court. It would be best to kill him directly as a deterrent! Seconded! I second it! A group of officials immediately agreed. For these thieves, killing them was the most convenient solution. However, one official hesitated and said, But Night Fragrance is a fourth-rank expert with extraordinary strength, and his exceptional lightness skill makes it quite challenging to kill him. Besides, weve only trapped him for now The Minister of War said loudly, Summon the court grandmasters and execute him! Everyone nodded in agreement. Just then, an Embroidered Uniform Guard hurriedly ran over and presented a confidential letter. After reading it, the Empresss expression turned somewhat unpleasant. She said, Gentlemen, we cannot kill Night Fragrance. Why, Your Majesty? The Empresss tone turned grim, I just received news that Night Fragrance is actually a disciple of a grandmaster! If we kill him, we might invite the mad revenge of the grandmaster! Everyone was shocked, Ah, this The situation becameplicated when it involved a grandmaster! If they provoked a grandmaster and he came to cause trouble, no country could bear the consequences! Gentlemen, whats your good n? The Empress asked. The officials all lowered their heads in silence. Clearly, they couldnt kill the person, but continuing to imprison him would also lead to problems. But if they were to release him, where would the dignity of the court be? The situation became very tricky! At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward and said, Your Majesty, please entrust this matter to your humble servant. The Empress raised an eyebrow slightly. This guy was never proactive, often cking off in the court. Today, he was unexpectedly so enthusiastic, voluntarily taking on a troublesome matter. Was there some hidden agenda? However, since he took the initiative to handle it, the Empress was delighted and smiled, saying, Sir Lin, you are truly a pir of the nation! Since you are so proactive, I will leave this matter in your hands, hoping you wont disappoint me. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said loudly. With this troublesome matter thrown to Lin Beifan, the Empress felt relieved and asked, Sir Lin, what do you n to do? Replying to Your Majesty, since we cannot kill or capture Night Fragrance, I intend to persuade him to change his ways and start anew, Lin Beifan smiled. The opponent has formidable strength and exceptional lightness skill, especially skilled in thievery, which is precisely the kind of talent our Dedian needs! If he reforms and works for the court, wouldnt that be a good thing? The Empress and all the officials were shocked! He actually wants to offer amnesty to Night Fragrance? Such a bold idea! Come on, Night Fragrance is a notorious thief renowned throughout the world, backed by a grandmaster. Do you think he will submit? Can this n work? the Empress asked with concern. Its a matter of human effort. I will try first. After all, we dont have a better solution at the moment! Lin Beifan replied, sping his hands. Well, then! I leave this matter to you. If you seed, you will be greatly rewarded! the Empress promised. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said loudly. Then, carrying the imperial edict, he went to the prison. Inside the prison, tight security was in ce. In order to trap the grand thief Night Fragrance, the court had dispatched 5,000 elite troops of the pre-Innate realm, taking turns to guard. But they still dared not rx. After all, during the previous incident in the Great Xia Imperial Court, nearly 200,000 elite troops, dozens of Innate experts, and two grandmasters were sent to capture Night Fragrance, but they failed. He managed to steal the precious treasures and escape without a hitch, turning the Great Xia Imperial Court into aughingstock. Now, although he appeared to be trapped, they couldnt take it lightly. Lin Beifan, following the imperial edict, passed throughyers of guards and arrived at the depths of the prison, where he met Night Fragrance again. Just one night had passed, and the opponent had not changed much, but his expression was still unpleasant. Seeing Lin Beifans arrival, he asked, What are you here for? Lin Beifan grinned, I just aplished a great merit and am in a good mood. I came to visit! Seeing your unpleasant look, I feel relieved! Night Fragrances face turned grim, Youve gained the upper hand and are showing off! Hmph! Naturally! After all, the renowned grand thief Night Fragrance has fallen into my hands. How can I not be pleased? Lin Beifanughed heartily. His words were like a thorn in Night Fragrances ears, and he angrily retorted, Dont get too pleased with yourself! Sooner orter, I will escape. When I ascend to the heavens, it will be the day of your demise! Heh, youre still this arrogant even when locked up? Lin Beifan waved his hand, Come, bring out the incense for Night Fragrance! Damn it! Night Fragrance cursed. Then, the prison guards brought a cart full of foul-smelling excrement and urine. Lin Beifan covered his nose and frowned, The smell is getting a bit too strong! The prison guards felt somewhat embarrassed and lowered their heads, Were sorry, Prefect Lin. Some of us got irritatedst night, so Getting irritated is good! Its freezing cold outside, and we need the warmth! Lin Beifan called out while running a few yards away. Hurry up and use Night Fragrance to entertain the great thief! Yes, Prefect Lin! The guards lifted the lid, and the foul smell soared into the air, filling the entire cell. Night Fragrance covered his nose, looking terrified, Lin Beifan, what do you think youre doing? Im telling you, dont mess around! At this point, Lin Beifan had already run far away, calling out, Night Fragrance, fresh and warm! Drink while its hot! Damn it! Night Fragrance cursed. Ssh, ssh Fresh Night Fragrance was poured into the cell. The great thief, Night Fragrance, dodged left and right, using his inner energy to fend off the Night Fragrance that came at him. However, the Night Fragrance didnt disappear; it fell on the ground, the walls, and the ceiling, leaving the entire cell reeking and putrid. Our elegant and refined Night Fragrance now had a green face and rolled eyes, utterly disgusted. Lin Beifan cough you bastard! I havent finished with you cough! At this time, Lin Beifan had almost reached the door, holding his nose and calling out, Night Fragrance, you dont seem to be in a good mood today. Ille back to see you tomorrow! Take care! Lin Beifan! Ill curse you There were plenty of expletives behind him. The next day, Lin Beifan came again. Even before entering the cell, he couldnt take another step because the stench was too horrifying, even worse than the previous day! Lin Beifan held his nose with both hands, Good lord, it has fermented already! Stepping into the cell, he saw Night Fragrance once more and was dumbfounded. He found Night Fragrance huddled in the only clean corner, covering his nose, with a green and white face, lips turning purple, looking like he had been poisoned. There was a puddle of vomit next to him. When he saw Lin Beifan enter, his eyes shot fire. Night Fragrance, how are you feeling? Lin Beifan pinched his nose and asked. Night Fragrance cursed loudly, How do you think Im feeling? You caused all of this! Ill! Another long string of standard curses. Unfazed, Lin Beifan had more Night Fragrance brought in. Night Fragrance couldnt keep up with his cursing, his face full of horror, Lin Beifan, dont mess around! A warrior may be killed but not humiliated. If you continue like this, Ill turn hostile against you! Ssh it! Lin Beifan called out and quickly moved far away. Ssh, ssh The entire cell was once again covered in excrement and urine, green and yellow. The Night Fragrance was almost on the brink of ascending to the heavens, feeling dizzy and disoriented! In that moment, he lost his defense and was drenched from head to toe by a bucket of Night Fragrance. Night Fragrance: Ugh, ugh He vomited once again, his eyes rolling white! Night Fragrance, Ille back to see you tomorrow! On the third day, Lin Beifan returned once more. He entered the cell wearing a self-made gas mask, and he saw Night Fragrance again. The Night Fragrance now had none of the former suave and dashing appearance. He was dirty all over, the stench was unbearable, his face was green and purple, his lips were ck and purple, and his eyes were bulging and dark, making him look like a dead body. Upon seeing Lin Beifan enter, there was a slight flicker in his gaze, but no other reaction. Evidently, he had run out of curses and had be too exhausted to bother. Lin Beifan looked at him with some sympathy, Sigh! The Night Fragrance grand thief is also a dignified individual. How can we treat him like this? Hurry and help clean up Night Fragrance! Yes, Prefect Lin! In Night Fragrances numb eyes, a glimmer of hope emerged. Shortly after, the guards brought in several buckets of water. Lin Beifan frowned, Why are you bringing water? Sir, how else can we clean it without water? Just burn it directly! Pour a bucket of oil and set it on fire, much more convenient! Night Fragrance: Damn it! Finally, the guards brought a bucket of kerosene, poured it, and ignited the fire. The Night Fragrance reacted with the fire, creating even more putrid fumes. Night Fragrance was once again overwhelmed by the smell, and he burst into curses, Lin Beifan! Ill curse you After the burning, Lin Beifan had another bucket of Night Fragrance brought in. Night Fragrance: The same scenario repeated on the fourth day. On the fifth day, Lin Beifan looked at the almost lifeless great thief Night Fragrance and said with a smile, Night Fragrance, its been five days. Hows your consideration going? I dont have so much time to waste with you! Night Fragrance was furious, Consider what? You havent asked me anything, and you want me to consider what? Lin Beifan pped his forehead, Oh no! I forgot to mention! Fuck Night Fragrance spat out blood. Chapter 248: As Long as I Have No Morals, You Can’t Kidnap Me! Chapter 248: As Long as I Have No Morals, You Cant Kidnap Me! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Watching the murderous intent in Night Fragrances eyes, Lin Beifan coughed and said, Young Master Night Fragrance, since you began your career, youvemitted 17 cases of theft, and not a single one failed! Your strength, lightness technique, and thievery skills are all exceptional. The Dedian Mansion is in great need of talents like you. So, as long as youre willing to join my side and work for me, I will let you go! Night Fragrance was shocked, You actually want to recruit me and have me work for you? Lin Beifan earnestly nodded, Exactly! Hahaha Hahaha Night Fragranceughed heartily, clutching his stomach, I am the renowned bandit lord Night Fragrance! You actually want to recruit me? Your imagination is really running wild. Am I dreaming? Hahaha Lin Beifans face was expressionless, Stopughing, or Ill ssh you with feces! Night Fragrance choked, Cough, cough! After a moment of contemtion, Night Fragrance suddenly realized, Oh, I understand now! What do you understand? Night Fragrance coldly smirked, ording to reason, when your court captures a thief king like me, for the sake of eliminating future troubles, you should kill me quickly! However, so many days have passed, and you havent taken action. You want to recruit me. Its obvious you have concerns! Let me guess, you know theres a grandmaster behind me? Lin Beifan nodded in agreement, Thats right! Haha, even your court has times of fear! Night Fragranceughed victoriously once again. Its not fear, its concern! After all, the destructive power of a grandmaster is too strong. Our court cares about the people, so we are unwilling to create animosity and provoke trouble! But if troublees, we are not afraid! Lin Beifan held his head high, As an empire with a 300-year heritage, our foundation is deep, and how could we not have a few grandmasters? Wouldnt you agree? Night Fragrance sneered and said disdainfully, Those grandmasters of yoursck experience. In the end, they are nothing more than tigers kept in cages! But my master is a fierce tiger that battles with the heavens and earth. Although they are both tigers, the strong and weak are clear! To be frank, my master could handle the three of your grandmasters with ease! Lin Beifan asked in surprise, You talk so highly of your master. Who is he and where does he live? I have no problem telling you! Night Fragrance straightened his chest, saying proudly, My master has lived for too long, I dont know his exact name, but he excels in using spears. Others call him the Spear God! He wields the old spear with extraordinary skill, full of a killing intent, possessing the power to create and destroy. He once killed two grandmasters with his spear. Lin Beifan nodded, It indeed sounds impressive! Seeing Lin Beifans calm demeanor, Night Fragrance felt a bit displeased and unsatisfied, Besides his strength, my master is also skilled in teaching disciples! Apart from me, he has taught three other disciples, and they have all be fourth-level innate experts! They are Lin Beifan calmly nodded again, Indeed impressive! Seeing Lin Beifans continuedposure, Night Fragrance, full of frustration, threatened with malice, Perhaps my master already knows that Im trapped in Great Wu Capital City and is on his way to save me! And my senior brothers wont spare you either! Haha Lin Beifan chuckled, You make it sound like I cant handle your master? Lin Beifan grinned, Even if your master is strong, hes just a grandmaster! Remember, beyond grandmasters, there are great grandmasters! Let me show you something! Lin Beifan took out a small knife and tossed it to Night Fragrance. Night Fragrance took the knife and looked closely, instantly surprised. From this seemingly ordinary small knife, he sensed a profound martial intent. This martial intent was something only a grandmaster possessed, something he had felt from his own master several times. However, the martial intent on this small knife was several times stronger than that of his masters. It carried a chilling killing intent and had the power to obliterate everything. Moreover, from the gathering of this martial intent, it seemed to have just condensedst night. Just then, the martial intent on the small knife was triggered. Boom! The small knife exploded, piercing through a hole in the nearby steel wall. Night Fragrances face was filled with shock, his voice trembling, This is the martial intent of a great grandmaster! Lin Beifan smiled, You have a bit of insight! You have a grandmaster, but we have a great grandmaster! The gap between great grandmasters and grandmasters is evenrger than the gap between grandmasters and innate experts! Your master wonte, thats good, because when hees, hes bound to meet his end! Night Fragrance felt a chilling coldness all over his body. Even if he doesnte, it doesnt matter! Lin Beifanughed, Now I know the identity and location of your master, and even the situation of your master brothers! To prevent future troubles, our great grandmaster doesnt mind making a trip! Night Fragrance eximed, Why are you all so heartless? My master and my senior brothers are innocent! They might be innocent, but are you innocent? Lin Beifan shouted, You must understand that we didnt offend you originally. It was you who came to us, stealing our national treasure, the Seven-Colored Pearl! All these cmities were caused by you! To eliminate the roots, we had no choice but to do this! As a person from the martial world, you should be able to understand us! Night Fragrances arrogance was shattered. His body swayed, and his voice was dry and weak as he pleaded, Indeed, I was wrong. Ive implicated them! I beg you, what do you want me to do to spare them? It depends on you! Lin Beifan smiled, If you bow down and confess, join the Dedian Mansion, and work for our court, then we will be family! Within a family, fighting and killing are inappropriate, wouldnt you agree? If you disagree, dont me me for being merciless! Night Fragrance struggled visibly, and after much internal conflict, he sighed in resignation, Alright, Ill join the Dedian Mansion! Lin Beifanughed, Congrattions on making a wise choice! From his pocket, Lin Beifan took out a contract of servitude and handed it to Night Fragrance to sign and press his handprint. In reality, this contract of servitude had no real use for someone of his caliber as a high-level expert. However, having this contract did impose some level of constraint on him. If in the future the other party betrayed him, he could stand on a moral high ground and pass judgment or take action against them. After Night Fragrance signed his name and pressed his handprint, he said, Can you let me go now? With a satisfied grin, Lin Beifan epted the contract of servitude, Just wait for a moment! I will report this to Her Majesty and can only release you after getting her approval. But there shouldnt be any issue! Lin Beifan then reported this matter to the Empress, who was very pleased. Sir Lin, youve handled this matter well! Youve averted a disaster and gained a talented individual! However, Night Fragrance is unruly. Keep a close watch on him and dont let him cause trouble. Lin Beifan bowed, saying, Your Majesty, rest assured, with me present, he wont dare to act recklessly. With the Empresss approval, Lin Beifan released the bandit leader Night Fragrance. The first thing Night Fragrance did after leaving the prison was Damn it! Finally, I dont have to stay in this stinking prison anymore! Prepare arge amount of clean water for me immediately, along with soapberries, fragrances, and so on. This lord needs to cleanse myself and dispel bad luck! Lin Beifanmanded his subordinates, saying, Why havent you gone yet? Yes, Lord Prefect! After the clean water, soapberries, and fragrances were prepared, Night Fragrance locked himself in his room and didnte out. News of the notorious great thief Night Fragrance being recruited by the Dedian Mansion quickly spread throughout the city. The great thief Night Fragrance has actually been recruited by the court? Could this news be fake? How could Night Fragrance be recruited by the court? No way its fake. My elder cousin works as an officer in charge. Hes responsible for overseeing the prison, and hes the one who leaked this information! Its said that Lord Prefect personally intervened and used various means to bring Night Fragrance under hismand! To think such a unruly grand thief could be recruited. Lord Prefect is amazing! Truly impressive! Beyond impressive! Chapter 249: I, the Dashing Night Fragrance, Got Restrained Dead! Chapter 249: I, the Dashing Night Fragrance, Got Restrained Dead! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Everyone was utterly astonished by this turn of events! Whether everyone believed it or not, the fact was established: Lord Prefect was extraordinary! Inside the administrative office of the Dedian Mansion, Lin Beifan was at work. A rather ordinary-looking official walked in, bowing respectfully, and said, Reporting to Lord Prefect, the Dashing Night Fragrance, the great thief, has been dealt with and is about toe to pay respects to you. Lin Beifan looked up, speechless, and said, Night Fragrance, how long are you going to keep up this y? Take off your disguise! The official was taken aback and blurted out, How did you figure it out? Lin Beifan chuckled lightly, Even if you can mimic someone perfectly, every person has their own aura, unique and one of a kind! You might mimic it incredibly well, but it will never be exactly the same! In truth, he had discerned it with his spiritual power. Everyones spiritual power was different, and different spiritual powers emitted unique maic fields, much like fingerprints. Having mastered the Dao Heart Seeding Demon Technique, he was an expert in spiritual matters, so he recognized it at a nce. The official tore off his disguise, and indeed, it was the great thief, the Night Fragrance. At this moment, he was dressed in white from head to toe, meticulously groomed, without a speck of dust. He even held a folding fan, appearing elegant and handsome. It had to be said that he presented himself very well; he was absolutely a favorite of wealthydies. Amazing! Under the heavens, aside from my master, only you could recognize me at first nce! Admirable! Night Fragrance saluted with a cupped fist. This isnt anything difficult! Lin Beifan smiled faintly. Apart from recognizing you through your aura, theres also your scent! Your distinct odor can be smelled from ten li away! The recently cleaned Night Fragrances expression instantly turned gloomy. He gritted his teeth and said irritably, Could you please stop bringing this up? If you mention it again, Ill lose my temper! Lin Beifan waved his hand andughed, Alright, I wont mention it! Anyway, no matter what, youre still under my wing, and if you feel embarrassed, Ill feel the same embarrassment! Hmph! Good to know! Night Fragrancesplexion returned to normal. He pulled a chair over, sat across from Lin Beifan, fanning himself while ring at Lin Beifan with resentment. He said, Although I, the Night Fragrance, have joined the Dedian Mansion and am serving the imperial court, I am someone with a reputation and face. So, we need toy down some ground rules! Otherwise, I might follow orders but not obeymands, work passively, and youll have to consider the consequences! Tell me, Lin Beifan said in a calm tone. First! Night Fragrance raised a finger. Although I, the Night Fragrance, have joined the Dedian Mansion, donte to me for every little thing! For trivial matters, you can handle them yourselves! Im only responsible for significant matters and difficult tasks! Lin Beifan nodded, This request is reasonable! Make the most of resources, match talents with tasks. Having a world-renowned master thief like you do trivial things would indeed be a waste! As long as you understand, Night Fragrance replied. Second! Night Fragrance raised two fingers, a hint of arrogance in his tone, Though Ive joined the Great Wu Court, no one canmand me! Not even the current Emperor! Nobody canmand you, should we treat you like a young master? Lin Beifan chuckled. Except for you! Night Fragrance said resentfully, Ive fallen into your hands twice, even though I used special methods. Its still a skill. I might not acknowledge anything else about you, but I acknowledge your abilities. Others whoe are useless. Lin Beifan nodded again, Alright, I agree to this condition! Third! My freedom must not be restricted! Night Fragrance fanned himselfzily, swaying side to side, Im like the wind, a man of independence and freedom. So, when Im not busy, dont bother me, and disturb me as little as possible! Lin Beifan nodded once more, Agreed. Fourth, I shouldnt receive any less than the treatment and rights I deserve, Night Fragrance said proudly, Although I may not value those things, you still need to show some consideration. Its a form of respect for my character and acknowledgment of my abilities. Lin Beifan nodded, A good horse is worth a thousand in gold. Its only right. I didnt expect you to be so amodating. I have no issues now, Night Fragranceughed. You might not have issues, but I do, Lin Beifan grinned, Since youveid down your three uses, Illy down mine as well. Tell me, Im listening, Night Fragrance reclinedzily. First, youre not allowed to engage in theft anymore, Lin Beifan said. Night Fragrance eximed, Im the world-renowned Night Fragrance, the master thief. To prevent me from stealing is as good as killing me. Pardon me for not being able toply! Lin Beifan chuckled, What I mean is, you cant steal within my territory. As for other ces, I have no jurisdiction, no concern, and no interest! Thats reasonable enough, Night Fragrance said as he sat down. Second, without my permission, you cant use your disguises to deceive others, Lin Beifan continued. Why not? Night Fragrance protested, Disguising myself is my interest. Are you going to meddle in that too? Lin Beifan shook his head, Your disguise is too terrifying. There are very few people in the world who can recognize it! If you disguise yourself as a high-ranking court official or even the Emperor, it could lead to unimaginable consequences. Therefore, I must restrict your use of disguises, at least within my jurisdiction. Fine, fine, whatever you say, Night Fragrance sighed, feeling weary. Third, abide by thew, Lin Beifan said, Now that youre also a member of the court, representing its dignity, dont engage in illegal activities that would turn us into aughingstock. Alright, alright, Ill follow everything you say, Night Fragrance nodded repeatedly. In his heart, he sneered: Even if I do those things, what can you do to me? Can you keep watching me forever? So, these conditions were essentially powerless to bind him. Lin Beifan saw through his thoughts and said with a smile, Youre agreeing so readily. Its not like your style. Are you nning to say one thing and do another? Absolutely not! I, Night Fragrance, am not a person who breaks their word! Night Fragrances face was full of determination. Let me show you something, Lin Beifan grinned mischievously, pulling out a small knife. This small knife was quite extraordinary. When ced on the table, it actually pointed towards Night Fragrance like apass. Feeling the tip of the knife aimed at him, Night Fragrance sensed a deadly aura and became rmed, What is this? Its just an ordinary knife, but it has been infused with the true essence of martial arts by a grandmaster, Lin Beifan exined in detail. Previously, you came into contact with a simr knife and left a psychic imprint on it. Its attracted to each other. So, you are utterly exposed now. No matter where you run, this knife will find you, delivering a fatal strike. Lin Beifan grinned, The power of this knife is equivalent to a grandmasters full-powered strike! Unless you possess the ability to counter a grandmaster, you can only bow your head under its blow. Cold sweat ran down Night Fragrances forehead, I cant believe such a thing exists in the world! This little knife was his nemesis! No matter how fast he ran, how well he disguised himself, or how strong he was, none of it mattered! Unless, as Lin Beifan stated, he acquired the strength to rival a grandmaster, he wouldnt escape the knifes pursuit! However, to achieve that level of power, he would need to reach the master level. To reach that point well, it would take forever! Despite Night Fragrance being a Fourth Stage Innate, just a step away from a master, that step was like a chasm, not easily crossed! If it were that easy, there would already be masters aplenty! Moreover, even as a master, it didnt guaranteeplete safety! Now, Night Fragrance finally surrendered, sighing, Your Honor, rest assured. Since Ive joined the Great Wu Court, Ill definitely abide by thew and not engage in any more wicked deeds. Good to know, Lin Beifan retrieved the small knife, casually tossing it into his pocket. Night Fragrance watched, his heart pounding, Your Honor, could you please be more careful? If this knife activates, its lethal! Lin Beifan shrugged nonchntly, If it activates, it activates. Its not me whos going to die. Night Fragrance thought with frustration, Of course, its not you who will die! Its me!!! Night Fragrance suddenly realized he had another mission: to protect Lin Beifan! Otherwise, the consequences for Lin Beifan would be unimaginable. When he thought about this, he felt hopeless, utterly fatigued. Here he was, Night Fragrance, a grand master thief, a man as unrestrained as the wind, one who yed with the world through his own efforts. Yet he had fallen into Lin Beifans trap and was being calcted to the bone! Regret filled his heart; if he had known, he wouldnt havee to the Great Wu Court! By the way, lets get down to business now. What business? Night Fragrance asked with fading interest. About your survival, Lin Beifan said seriously. In the beginning, when the whole court wanted to kill you, it was my rational arguments, my running around, that saved your life. In other words, Im the one who saved you. Night Fragrance was shocked, You saved me? Yes! Lin Beifan nodded vigorously. But for some reason, even when looking at Lin Beifans serious expression, Night Fragrance couldnt generate a sense of trust. Really you? Night Fragrance asked again. Of course its me! Among all the court officials, who else would save you? Lin Beifan said with self-confidence. Night Fragrance pondered for a moment and realized he had no interaction with the officials of the Great Wu Court. The only person who would speak for him was Lin Beifan. Night Fragrances eyes wereplex as he asked, Your Honor, why did you save me? Lin Beifan shook his head with a smile, Why so many whys? Isnt it just because I saw that youre young, powerful, with astonishing thieving skills, and a promising future? If you were to die like this, ah A warmth welled up in Night Fragrances heart. He suddenly found that the person in front of him wasnt as detestable as he had thought. Lin Beifan continued, Stolen treasures, who knows where theyve been hidden, which guy has benefited? What a pity, dont you think? Night Fragrance muttered under his breath, Damn! In the end, it was all about the treasures in his possession! This person was still as annoying as ever! And even more so now! Chapter 250: I, Night Fragrance, am a person with integrity and will never compromise! Chapter 250: I, Night Fragrance, am a person with integrity and will neverpromise! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Night Fragrance eximed, You are simply trying to take advantage of a debt repaid! Lin Beifan waved his hand with a smile, Dont make it sound so harsh. I saved your life. Shouldnt you repay me? Are you, as a great thief, someone who forgets favors? Of course not! Although I am a thief, I uphold the principles of the martial world. I distinguish between kindness and resentment, seek revenge for enmity, and repay kindness for favors! Night Fragrance said proudly, Since you have saved my life, repaying you is only right! Tell me, what do you want? I dont want much, just a few treasures! Lin Beifan smiled. Tell me! Night Fragrance fanned herself and said. Lin Beifan spoke, I want the White Jade Beauty, Golden Toad Buddha Bead, Thousand-Year Qilin Wood Lin Beifan recited several precious items. Night Fragrance listened and felt distressed, You really have an eye for treasures! These items in my collection are all priceless treasures! However, since you have saved my life, Ill give these things to you! Lin Beifan raised his thumb andughed, Truly a master thief, so generous! Night Fragrance proudly waved his fan, Of course! However, I also want the Big Golden Buddha Head, Purple Jade Pearl, wless Beauty Bixi Lin Beifan recited more precious items. Night Fragrances eyelids twitched as she listened, Goodness! These treasures, although not at the forefront of my collection, are still extremely rare. Yet, youve set your eyes on them! Nheless, even though these treasures are rare, Ill give them to you! Thank you, Great Thief! But I also want the Heart of the Sea, Red Sun Coral, Phoenix Wutong Wood Lin Beifan recited a long string of treasures. Night Fragrance jumped with anger, No! Absolutely not! Lin Beifan became displeased, Why not? Im just asking for a few things. Is there a need to be so agitated? Night Fragrance stomped his feet in anger, Just a few things? Youre taking everything! These are the treasures Ive painstakingly stolen over the past two years. Youve taken all of them! Ive roamed the martial world for so many years and never encountered someone as greedy as you! Its as they say: A drop of water deserves a burst of spring! I saved your life, so shouldnt you fully repay me? Isnt your life as a great thief worth more than these treasures? Lin Beifan justified himself. My life is certainly valuable, but cant you leave me something?! Night Fragrance retorted. Leave something? These things werent originally yours; you stole them! You interact with these items day and night, dont you feel burdened by guilt? Asking for the stolen items is actually helping you cleanse your sins! But instead of understanding, you insult me! Its like the pot calling the kettle ck! Yourepletely ignorant! Lin Beifan trembled with anger. Night Fragrance was also trembling with anger. Clearly, he intended to snatch my belongings, yet he speaks with such righteousness, such persuasive words! Truly adept at twisting words! So shameless!!! Although I am a thief, I work hard to earn money for my family. I even face life-threatening dangers! But you, sitting in your office, havent done anything, yet you want to rob me of my hard-earned gains! Youre worse than a thief!!! You can forget about it; I absolutely wont agree! Night Fragrance roared. Lin Beifan pulled out a small knife expressionlessly and pped it onto the table with a loud sound. What did you just say? Say it again! Night Fragrance roared, Do you think that brandishing this small knife can intimidate me? Let me tell you, money can be earned again, but once life is gone, its gone! Wait for it, these things will soon be delivered to your residence. Keep an eye out! You have integrity! Lin Beifan put away the knife. Night Fragrance gave a cold smile, Of course! I, Night Fragrance, have wandered the martial world for many years. The reason Ive survived until now is because of this integrity! A person without this integrity would have died long ago! Lin Beifan wholeheartedly agreed, Absolutely right! After a few days, Night Fragrance sent all 17 stolen treasures to Lin Beifans residence. The items have been given to you. From now on, our grievances are settled. Thanks, Great Thief, haha! Looking at these 17 treasures shining in front of him, Lin Beifan couldnt even open his eyes due to hisughter. The main reason he saved Night Fragrance was for this. These 17 treasuresbined were worth at least twenty million! How significant is that amount of money? Extremely joyful! After the happiness, Lin Beifan looked at the white figure beside him and said with a smile, Bai Guanyin, take these treasures! Bai Guanyins expression shifted slightly, These invaluable treasures, dont you want to keep them? Why keep them? Lin Beifan waved his hand with a smile, To be honest, these things are of little use to me. Theyre not even worth a meal or a jug of wine! Ive owned them, Im content, and I dont pursue evesting possession! Take them and do something more meaningful! I know you mean well, but I dont need them! Bai Guanyin shook her head. Lin Beifan was taken aback, Why not? Dont you need money? We do need money! But, these items are difficult to fence! Bai Guanyin looked conflicted. Lin Beifan: In the end, Bai Guanyin only took gold and silver and left the treasures behind. With the household now filled with treasures, it often attracted several women toe and view them. Wow! This White Jade Beauty is so beautifully carved, enchanting and charming. Its as if a real woman is lying down asleep! And this Golden Toad Buddha Bead, so translucent, with a golden toad inside each bead. Each bead is full of Buddhist spirit! The Heart of the Sea is so stunning, it would look great worn around the neck! And this Wutong Wood, I heard it can be used to craft divine weapons! The little princess watched with excitement. Finally, she turned her head and asked, Lin Beifan, where did you steal these treasures from? Stole them? These were given to me by the honorable Great Thief Night Fragrance, moved by my sense of justice. So, he handed over what he had stolen over the years! Lin Beifan said while pinching the little princesss tender cheeks. The little princess pped away Lin Beifans mischievous hand, Nonsense! You dont even have a conscience, how could you have a sense of justice? Lin Beifan: Everyone burst intoughter. I can see that you obviously schemed for these; youre a big schemer! The little princess furrowed her brows cutely. Lin Beifan was furious, Little Princess, if you keep saying that, Ill get angry! The little princess ced her hands on her hips and eximed, Try getting angry at me! Lin Beifan stared at the little princess intensely. The little princess became a bit flustered, What are you doing? Lin Beifan had a deadpan expression, Im getting angry; do you see? The little princess blinked, Really? I didnt notice! Lin Beifan: Its normal not to notice. I get angry faster than flipping a book page! The little princess: Oh my god! Everyoneughed heartily once again. By this time, Night Fragrance had already left Lins residence. However, the more he thought about it, the more displeased he became. These seventeen treasures were the result of over two years of his hard-earned thefts! But within a few days, they were greedily taken by Lin Beifan, this official dog. It left him frustrated, furious, and even considering murder. That damn Lin Beifan, I will definitely make you pay! I wont rest until Ive taken revenge!! He was filled with determination and ambition. Just then, he noticed not far ahead, a pickpocket was squeezing into the crowd, extending a third hand to steal something from an old womans pocket. This behavior disgusted him greatly. Although he was also a thief, he abided by the principles of the martial world. He only stole from the wealthy, powerful individuals homes and never bulliedmon people. Immediately, he shouted, Stop! In an instant, he appeared beside the pickpocket, grabbing the hand that was in the act. Seeing that he was exposed, the pickpockets face twisted into a grimace, Who asked you to meddle in other peoples business! In his hand appeared a small knife, thrusting it with force. Night Fragrance coldly chuckled. After merely learning some skills, he actually dared to show off in front of me? A mantis trying to stop a chariot, truly overestimating himself! He was about to step on the pickpocket and end his life. But at that moment, a thought came to him, causing him to withhold ny-nine percent of his strength. Though it was less than one percent of his strength, when this force struck the pickpocket, it was like being hit by a train. The pickpocket was sent flying, in pain and spitting out blood. Ah~~ This sudden turn of events shocked the people on the street, and they all stepped back in fear. Whats happening? Someones fighting! Quick, inform the authorities! No need to inform them. This young master is an official! Night Fragrance snapped open his folding fan, took a few steps forward, and stepped on the pickpocket. The thief begged for mercy, Sir, spare me. I know I was wrong! Fortunately for you, you encountered me now. If it were before, youd be dead by now! Night Fragrance said proudly, Stand up now ande with me to the office. Dont force me to use violence! Yes, sir! The thief had a bitter expression. Night Fragrance nced to the side, pointed his folding fan at another person, and said, And you, youre in cahoots with him. Come with me, or youll regret it! And so, Night Fragrance took the two thieves back to the office. The Dedian Mansion was instantly in chaos. At this moment, Lin Beifan had just walked out of his house, leisurely heading to the Dedian Mansion office. He ran into two official messengers, and they hurriedly said upon seeing Lin Beifan, Lord Prefect, a major incident has urred! What could be so rming? Rx, with me here, exin it slowly! Lin Beifan said calmly. The messengers rushed, Two thieves have been caught and brought in for investigation! Lin Beifanughed, Isnt that good news? These thieves were captured by Great Thief Night Fragrance! Lin Beifan was dumbfounded. Thieves catching thieves? What kind of situation was this? The messengers continued urgently, Lord Prefect, this matter involves Great Thief Night Fragrance. Sir Zhao Tong, who is in charge, doesnt dare to make a decision. He wants you toe back and handle it! Alright, lets go back and have a look! Everyone hurriedly returned to the office. Chapter 251: No matter how many criminals you catch, I’ll take them in! Chapter 251: No matter how many criminals you catch, Ill take them in! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Upon arriving at the office, they saw Night Fragrance holding onto two thieves, lying on the ground. Many government officers surrounded them but didnt dare to approach. The judge in charge of the trial, Mr. Zhao, sat on a high tform, holding a gavel with a very conflicted expression. As soon as he saw Lin Beifan, his face lit up, Lord Prefect, youve finallye! Lin Beifan smiled, Mr. Zhao, dont worry! I already know the details. Ill handle it! Then I trouble Lord Prefect! Mr. Zhao cupped his hands. Lin Beifan ascended the tform and asked sternly, Night Fragrance, what exactly happened? Night Fragrance fanned himself and smiled, When this young master was wandering on the street, I found these two stealing from others. I couldnt tolerate it, so I brought them here! Lin Beifans gaze turned to the two pickpockets on the ground, Is what he said true? Do you confess? We confess, we confess! We confess! they immediately nodded. We ask for leniency from the prefect! The pickpockets immediately kowtowed. Their swift confession indicated that Night Fragrance had employed some special methods topel them. Lin Beifan mmed the gavel and solemnly said, Since youve confessed, ording to thews of Great Wu, you will receive ten cane strikes, then be imprisoned in the dungeon for six months! Thank you, Your Honor! Thank you for your mercy, Your Honor! The two pickpockets were overjoyed and kept bowing. Take them away! Lin Beifan ordered loudly. Yes, Your Honor! Two officers led the pickpockets away for punishment. Now that theres nothing else, this young master will take his leave! Night Fragrance left, fanning himself. Thinking this matter was over, they were surprised when, not even an hourter, Night Fragrance returned with another thief. While I was enjoying tea at the teahouse, I noticed him stealing, attempting to take the innkeepers money! Finding it disagreeable, I apprehended him! I beseech the judge to look into this! Night Fragrance said with a grin. Lin Beifan once again presided, Zhang San, do you plead guilty? I plead guilty, I plead guilty! I ask for punishment, Your Honor the used bowed and said. Since you confess, this is straightforward! Due to the substantial theft this time, in ordance with thews of Great Wu, you will receive twenty strokes of the cane and be imprisoned in the dungeon for three years! Thank you, Your Honor! In less than half an hour, Night Fragrance brought two more pickpockets. These two audacious thieves even attempted to scale the walls and break into a residence for theft. Luckily, this young master noticed and brought them here for legal retribution! Night Fragrance said triumphantly. Lin Beifan looked at him speechlessly, This is the fifth pickpocket, youre quite active today! Its necessary! Night Fragrance opened his fan and grinned, Im now part of Dedian Mansion. Maintaining peace in the capital, fighting crime, its an obligation I cannot shirk! Lin Beifan conducted another trial and sent the thieves to the dungeon. However, the matter was far from over. In the following days, Night Fragrance continued to bring in two pickpockets each day for Lin Beifan to judge. On the second day, he acted again and caught nine pickpockets. On the third day, he astonishingly unearthed a den of thieves, capturing twenty-five pickpockets. On the fourth day, he caught thirteen pickpockets. On the fifth day Almost every day, there were more pickpockets. Lin Beifan had be somewhat numb, wondering what exactly Night Fragrance was trying to achieve. Could it be that because he couldnt be a thief anymore, out of a sense of revenge, hes capturing all the pickpockets he sees and throwing them into jail? I cant steal, so you cant either? Who cares? After all, this can be considered as getting rid of a menace to society. Lin Beifan had no reason to oppose it! But the situation inside the prison wasnt looking good. Starting from the fifth day. A prison guard rushed over, Lord Prefect, the cells are full. Theyre pickpockets everywhere; we cant fit anyone else in! Lin Beifan waved his hand, Its fine, they can squeeze a bit more. As far as I know, in about a week, dozens of people will be released after serving their sentences. By then, there will be plenty of space. The sixth day. The prison guard came running again, Lord Prefect, the situation is dire! Night Fragrance has caught another 20 pickpockets. There are too many people; we cant fit them all inside the cells! Lin Beifan responded, Let them squeeze a bit more. The seventh day. The prison guard returned once more, Lord Prefect, its a big problem! Night Fragrance has put 18 more pickpockets in jail. The cells are bursting, and the prisoners are getting aggressive. A fight could break out anytime! Lin Beifan waved his hand, Send a few officers to watch over them. Whoever starts trouble, deal with them! The eighth day. The prison guard came again, Lord Prefect, Night Fragrance brought in 17 more pickpockets. The cells arepletely full. Theres no room even to sleep! Lin Beifan said, Then let them sleep together. Let them get cozy with their fellow men! The prison guard was taken aback, Huh? Cant fit them anymore? What a pity! Night Fragrance walked in, fanning himself, and regretfully said, I found another den of thieves, probably around 20 people. Im nning to go apprehend them. Should I do it now or not? At this point, how could Lin Beifan not see through Night Fragrances intentions? Clearly, he was trying to disgust him using this method! However, one had to admit, the method was effective! Because what the other party was doing was just and right, he couldnt refuse! Refusing would damage his official image! Lin Beifan smiled slightly, Go ahead! No matter how many criminals you catch, Ill take them in! With a snap, Night Fragrance closed his fan andughed, With your words, Im relieved! Ill go apprehend them right away! After Night Fragrance left, the prison guard had a worried expression, But, Lord Prefect, the cells really cant hold more people. It will cause problems if we force them in! Lin Beifan chuckled, Dont worry about that! We have cement, and we can quickly build a new prison to house the prisoners. The prison guard still looked concerned, But building a prison also takes time! In the vacant houses in Minxin City, they can serve as temporary cells. Transport the prisoners there for now. Once the new prison is built, you can transfer them back, Lin Beifan suggested. Yes, Lord Prefect! The prison guard sighed in relief. So, the prison cell problem was temporarily resolved. However, Night Fragrance was still tirelessly catching pickpockets. In less than half a month, he managed to capture all the thieves in the capital and Minxin City, leading to a strange scenario where there were no thieves in the capital and doors were left unlocked at night. Even if there were still some thieves, they didnt dare to show their faces now. They were afraid of being targeted by this grandmaster of thievery and being caught to earn merits. Seeing this scene, Lin Beifan couldnt help but shake his head, Youre of the same origin, why hurt each other in haste? Unable to catch pickpockets, Night Fragrance turned his attention to other criminals. As soon as he spotted wrongdoers, he would immediately bring them to the government office and throw them into the prison. Luckily, Lin Beifan had the magical tool of cement for constructing buildings, which enabled quick establishment of prisons to house the offenders. No matter how many Night Fragrance caught, Lin Beifan would amodate them all. This led to a significant consequence: the prisons were overcrowded, but the security conditions in the capital and Minxin City greatly improved! People refrained from stealing and causing trouble out of fear of being apprehended by Night Fragrance. Among neighbors and friends, harmony prevailed. Even if they had a little disagreement after having a drink, they would suppress their anger for the sake of Night Fragrances reputation. Brother, Im sorry for earlier! Brother, dont say that. In truth, I also had my faults. Lets continue drinking! Dont drink. The situation is a bit delicate. Lets have tea instead! Youre right! Tea wont cause any trouble! Not far away, Night Fragrance, who had been observing, left with great disappointment. He was extremely frustrated because despite his efforts over these past few days, he not only couldnt disgust Lin Beifan, but he also helped him achieve a significant political aplishment. No, I cant give up! If I cant mess with him, my mind wont be at ease! However, before Night Fragrance coulde up with a solution, Lin Beifan was already approaching him with a smiling face. Comrade Night Fragrance, do you have a moment now? Night Fragrance squinted his eyes. Why did this official suddenly look so pleasant? Serving kindness when unnecessary, either not genuine or deceitful! Im avable. What do you want? Night Fragrance asked cautiously. Thats excellent. Come with me, I have a surprise for you! Lin Beifan took Night Fragrance to the gate of the yamen. To Night Fragrances surprise, the entrance was crowded withmon people. Some were holding things like chickens, ducks, geese, steamed buns, fruits, and more, a truly abundant disy. They all smiled at Night Fragrance, some even appeared quite excited. Night Fragrance was bewildered, Whats going on? Dear fathers, elders, and fellow vigers, please listen to me! Lin Beifans voice resonated loudly, The person standing next to me is the former bandit chief, Night Fragrance! Although he used to be a thief, he has reformed himself! Since joining our Dedian Mansion, he has been leading by example, at the forefront, and has apprehended a total of 571 pickpockets and 472 other criminals! Thanks to his efforts, the security situation in our capital has greatly improved. No evil deeds can escape his attention, and we even see the rare scenes of clean roads and open doors at night! He, Night Fragrance, is the hero of our Dedian Prefecture! p, p, p Apuse thundered. Everyone watched Night Fragrance with joy and excitement. Lin Beifan continued loudly, For our hero, what should we do? The citizens holding gifts rushed forward. Hero Night Fragrance, thank you for everything youve done for us! This is a chicken from my farm, a gift for you! Hero Night Fragrance, these are freshly baked buns, very delicious when warm, please enjoy! Hero Night Fragrance, these are fruits from my garden, very juicy! Night Fragrance felt both surprised and honored, quickly rejecting, No need, no need. Youre too kind! Really, no need Lin Beifan smiled, Night Fragrance, these are heartfelt gifts from your fellow vigers. Dont refuse them. If you do, it might hurt their feelings. Looking at the earnest smiles and the heartfelt gifts covering the ground, Night Fragrance reluctantly nodded. For some reason, his eyes suddenly felt a bit teary, an impulse to cry welled up within him. A warm, powerful sensation surged into his heart, flowing slowly. He had never experienced this feeling before. It made him want to escape, yet he also wanted to savor it. Chapter 252: Night Fragrance, the Nemesis of Evil! Chapter 252: Night Fragrance, the Nemesis of Evil! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At this moment, under the respectful greetings of the crowd, an elderly eunuch arrived in front of Night Fragrance. Night Fragrance was a bit puzzled, What do you want? Lin Beifan whispered, Dont talk! This is a good thing, quickly receive the imperial edict! Silence! Everyone, be quiet! Lin Beifan shouted. The old eunuch opened the imperial edict and read aloud, By the grace of the Emperors decree: The great thief Night Fragrance has turned over a new leaf and submitted to the court! In these days, you have led by example, fought against local crimes, and maintained local tranquility, greatly pleasing Us! We hereby appoint Night Fragrance as a Fourth-Rank Sword-Bearing Guard and bestow upon you the title of Imperial Cat, praised be this! Night Fragrance was dumbfounded, Huh? Appoint me as a Fourth-Rank Sword-Bearing Guard and give me the title of Imperial Cat? Lin Beifan nudged him with his elbow, Dont just stand there, ept the edict! Oh okay Night Fragrance dumbly epted the imperial edict, pondered for a moment, and said, Thank you, Your Majesty. The old eunuch smiled and bowed, Congrattions, esteemed Night Fragrance! Since the founding of our dynasty, there have been many Fourth-Rank Sword-Bearing Guards, but those who have received an imperial-bestowed title are few and far between! Is that so? Is this title so precious? Night Fragrance blinked. For some reason, he felt a hint of happiness inside. Naturally! Could our humble abode deceive you? The old eunuch chuckled, Every person who receives such an honor is registered. How could we make a mistake? I see! Night Fragrance pretended to be reserved. But a smile had already crept onto the corners of his mouth; he couldnt hide his inner joy. This achievement was also fought for by Lord Prefect on your behalf! the old eunuch smiled, At that time, Lord Prefect faced the court officials alone in the court, arguing based on reason, and it was he who fought to secure this honor for you! Ah? Night Fragrance turned to look at Lin Beifan, his gazeplex, Why did you help me? Lin Beifan smiled, Why would there need to be a why? You are myrade. You have done so much for our Dedian Prefecture and the court. Its only right that I secure the rightful treatment for you, isnt it? Night Fragrance opened his mouth but couldnt find any words to say. He looked up at the sky, his eyes slightly sour, his heart a bit sour. At this moment, Lin Beifan had an additional red envelope ofmendation in his hand, with a big red flower on top of it, and he draped it over Night Fragrance. Night Fragrance was puzzled, Lord Prefect, what are you doing? Dont move, Im giving you an award! In the midst of Night Fragrances dumbfounded state, Lin Beifan draped themendation red envelope over him. Therge red flower hanging on his chest appeared festive and eye-catching. Lin Beifan called out, Bring the que! Two officials approached, holding thergest que in their hands. The que was borately inscribed with the characters Imperial Cat, apanied by the imperial seal, signifying that it was an imperial-bestowed que. Lin Beifan held the que with both hands and ced it solemnly into Night Fragrances hands. He said with a serious tone, Night Fragrance, from this point on, you are the Imperial Cat of our Great Wu. I hope you wont disappoint His Majestys trust, the courts trust, and the peoples trust. Yes, Lord Prefect! Night Fragrance eximed with excitement. Lin Beifan pped his hands and called out, Good! Inspired by Lin Beifan, the crowd also began apuding and cheering, Good! p, p, p The apuse thundered, filling the air. Flowers rained down from above, and the atmosphere reached its peak! In this moment, Night Fragrance looked at the flowers strewn all around, listened to the apuse echoing through the streets, saw the envious and admiring gazes of the officials, and held the que in his hands, along with therge red flower on his chest Suddenly, an urge to throw himself into the fray, to devote himself passionately, surged within him! This feeling was so fulfilling! So moving! So overwhelming that he couldnt control his emotions! He used to be a thief, a thief who was beaten and chased by others. When would he ever receive such an honor? He felt like finding a secluded ce and crying his heart out! Lord Prefect, can I leave now? Night Fragrance asked shyly. Wait! You cant leave just yet, Lin Beifan said. Why cant I leave? Night Fragrance was puzzled. Look over there! Lin Beifan pointed to a spot, where a schr was meticulously painting on a white piece of paper. What is he doing? Night Fragrance asked. Hes painting! Lin Beifanughed. He wants to capture this scene of you receiving the award and announce it to the world. Night Fragrance grew nervous and a bit flustered. I think this isnt necessary, right? No! This is what you deserve! Lin Beifan pressed Night Fragrance, who was trying to escape, and said with a smile, Dont move, stand straight, keep smiling! Otherwise, if the painting turns out crooked, it will be aughingstock! Alright! Night Fragrance nodded earnestly, lifted his head, straightened his posture, and smiled, revealing eight teeth. This was going to spread far and wide; he had to maintain a good posture! Otherwise, it would tarnish my image as a renegade leader No, thats not right, it would tarnish my image as an Imperial Cat! So, Night Fragrance stood with the big flower on his shoulder, the que in his hands, looking like a fool, smiling for half an incense sticks worth of time. However, his heart was content, burning with warmth! His heart was passionate, his whole body was restless! During this half-incense sticks worth of time, he thought about many things! He thought about the past, how every time he yed around the world, seeded in theft, he felt happy too! But that happiness was fleeting, followed by endless emptiness! So he could only keep stealing, keep attracting attention, as if he was addicted! It seemed like that was where his valuey! But now, he felt like he didnt need that anymore! Because he had found a new value, a value of being cared for and needed by others! With so many people in the world, so many suffering from injustice, so many suffering and struggling, they needed him, needed him to administer justice and uphold righteousness! He was the Imperial Cat, irreceable! Only by being continually needed by others could he maintain his value. At this moment, the painting finally came to an end. Night Fragrance stole a nce and saw that the artist had captured his heroic demeanor, nodding in satisfaction. He once again shyly asked, Lord Prefect, can I leave now? He wanted to escape again! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Of course you can, but remember to take these things with you! After all, this is the heartfelt gift from themon people. Theyve put in their effort; dont let them down! Night Fragrance looked at the piles of goods all around and made a bitter expression. There was just too much stuff to carry! Nevertheless, he selected a few items. When both hands were full and he couldnt carry any more, he said to the crowd, Theres just too much stuff, I cant possibly finish it all by myself. It would be a waste not to eat it. Ill share it with my colleagues here to nourish ourselves! I have something to attend to, so Ill take my leave! After saying this, he disyed exceptional lightness skills and left in a graceful escape. Lin Beifanughed, Everyone heard that, right? Distribute these goods and dont let the goodwill of the Imperial Cat go to waste! Ha-ha! Everyone burst intoughter. From that day on, Night Fragrance became even more active in fighting crime. In the capital city, his agile figure could be seen soaring and descending everywhere. When themon people saw him, they didnt panic; instead, they joyfully eximed, The Imperial Cat! The Imperial Cat is here! Many children excitedly chased after him. The Imperial Cat is here! Were following the Imperial Cat to catch the bad guys! Watching this scene, Night Fragrance was not only excited but also extremely proud. The feeling of being needed was trulyfortable, greatly satisfying his vanity! Just then, he noticed two people on the street fighting while sitting in chairs. With a quick movement, he appeared between the two, separating them, and said, Stop! This is a bustlingmercial street with peopleing and going. Why are you resorting to violence? The Imperial Cat is here! Its the Imperial Cat! Everyone seemed to have found a savior. One of the brawlers said, Imperial Cat, your timing is perfect. Please mediate for us! Ive set up my stall here, but his vehicle crossed the boundary and invaded my space. ording to the rules, isnt it his fault? The other person retorted loudly, It was just an ident! An ident? Ive warned you three times, and you didnt budge. What do you mean by that? While I admit I was somewhat at fault, you were the one who started the fight! And you dare im youre in the right? Night Fragrance quickly understood the ins and outs of the situation. The matter was quite simple: one person had upied the stall space of another, which thetter found uneptable. After advising the offender several times without sess, a physical altercation ensued. If it were in the past, he would have simply taken both of them to the government office, causing trouble for Lin Beifan. However, now he was the beloved Imperial Cat, entrusted with safeguarding the people. He couldnt enforce thew so brusquely. So, for the person who had encroached on anothers stall, he administered verbal criticism and imposed a fine ording to the stall regtions. As for the one who initiated the fight, he subjected them to severe criticism and ensured theypensated the other party for medical expenses. In this way, the matter was resolved, and no one was dissatisfied. Then, amidst the admiring and grateful gazes of the crowd, he left gracefully. Im leaving too! Under Night Fragrances protection, the capital city became even more peaceful. Lin Beifan felt more rxed as well. The young princess, observing Night Fragrances agile movements through the air, curiously asked Lin Beifan, I cant understand. Night Fragrance used to be a thief. Why did he change so much in less than a month and be so proactive in fighting crime? Lin Beifan smiled, Because he found his own lifes value and naturally started putting in effort. The young princess tilted her head, puzzled, His lifes value is serving the people? Lin Beifan retorted, No! His lifes value is showing off! The young princess eximed, Huh? She looked at Lin Beifan with a face full of question marks. From the moment Iid eyes on him, I knew he was a show-off criminal! Lin Beifan smiled faintly and exined, He likes to wear white clothes. Why? Aside from being clean, its because white stands out, making it easy for people to notice him! In cold weather, he even carries a folding fan, because holding a fan is a convenient way to show off. He enjoys stealing, but while others steal discreetly, he does it ostentatiously. He specifically targets influential figures, adding to the spectacle. Its all about showing off! And since he has such a strong psychological need for this, I satisfy it by giving him the title of Imperial Cat and announcing it to the world! This is a unique honor, after all. Can you imagine how pleased he is? And when he continues to feel the genuine love of the people, always being needed by them, he can keep showing off whenever he wants. Do you think he wont give his all to actively fight crime? The young princess wrinkled her nose, Youre so wicked, exploiting him like this! Lin Beifan shook his head, Im not exploiting him, Im guiding him in the right direction. Im encouraging him to do something meaningful and be a genuinely good person. In doing so, he gets what he wants, and the security of our capital city improves. Its a win-win situation. Is that not a good thing? Masters words are absolutely right! The old monk opened his eyes, joined his hands together, and bowed to Lin Beifan, Master once said that only by diving into the sea of suffering can one lead others to do good and reach the other shore early. Masters actions are truly virtuous, Amitabha Buddha! Lin Beifan responded, Amitabha Buddha! Chapter 253: Crown Prince of Great Xia Visits, Handing Over the Night Fragrance! Chapter 253: Crown Prince of Great Xia Visits, Handing Over the Night Fragrance! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Imperial Cat Night Fragrance was extremely active, either suppressing criminals every day or on the way to suppress them! It was precisely due to his efforts that the security of the capital city was getting better and better. Under such security conditions, Lin Beifan felt that it was possible to open the night market. The night market was a major initiative to promote peoples livelihoods. Many people were busy working during the day and only had time to spend money when their work ended at night. With more money circting in the market, the economy could flourish. However, there were many considerations to take into ount under the imperial city, and it couldnt be done recklessly. Therefore, Lin Beifan decided to first implement it in Minxin City. Although Minxin City was also within the jurisdiction of the capital city, it was separated by a certain distance. Problems urring there wouldnt affect this side of the capital city, so many issues could be avoided. Lin Beifan wrote about this matter and obtained the Empresss agreement. Lin Beifan announced to the outside world that the night market in Minxin City was being opened, allowing stalls to operate at night. As soon as this policy was announced, the whole city responded enthusiastically! Opening the night market is great. Its another way to make money! This policy is excellent. I fully support it! Minxin City has be livelier now. Nights wont be lonely anymore! As a result, the nights in Minxin City became exceptionally lively. In less than a week, the city was brightly lit, with people flowing like a river, bustling streets and alleys filled with the mor of themon folk, even more so than during the daytime. In the capital city, many small vendors were envious and rushed over to do business, earning more than usual. Many people also went there to eat, drink, and have fun, staying out all night. The Little Princess was one such example. At this moment, the Little Princess held glutinous rice balls in one hand and skewers in the other. She mumbled as she ate, I told you, opening the night market is so good! No one has to worry about not finding things to eat at night, and theres money to be made! Li Shi Shi, walking beside her, smiled and said, Little Princess, youre ming my Husband wrongly! Actually, opening the night market puts a lot of pressure on him. If anything happens, hell be held responsible! Its only because the security has improved recently and the conditions are ripe that hes implementing it. You need to understand! The Little Princess nodded repeatedly, I understand! I really do! It would be great if this night market could stay open! Saying that, she picked up another skewer and happily started munching on it. One word: delicious! Actually, my Husband is opening the night market for someones sake! The Little Princess was taken aback, Who has such face? Li Shi Shi looked at the Little Princesss blushing face, teasingly saying, Who keeps thinking about the night market? Hes doing it for that person! The Little Princesss cheeks turned even redder, and she stuttered, Is that so like this? Li Shi Shiughed, Otherwise, who else could it be for? The Little Princess fell silent, her face all rosy! To disguise her excitement and shyness, she kept eating, her gaze unconsciously turning toward the elegant figure walking ahead. After a moments thought, she ran up ahead, holding out the skewers, and said, Have some.~! Lin Beifan shook his head, Thanks, Little Princess, but Ive already eaten! The Little Princess red at Lin Beifan, sternly saying, If I offer you food, you better eat it. Dont refuse! Lin Beifan: Huh? He was baffled; was he being coerced into eating skewers? After all, this was a sincere gesture from the Little Princess. Lin Beifan epted it and started eating slowly. The Little Princess ran back, feeling very happy. So, she casually bought another pack of skewers and started eating heartily. Inside the imperial pce of the capital city The Empress sat in her study, looking through the window at the rising lights in the distance. She then turned her attention to the documents in her hand and smiled as she shook her head. Under the management of Sir Lin, the capital city is improving more and more! During this period, she had witnessed Lin Beifans efforts and achievements. After the Spring Festival, he had vigorously supported spring farming. He had used cement to build numerous water facilities, greatly improving the agricultural environment. He had summarized and organized the Eight Agricultural Techniques, allowing farmers to follow systematic and reasonable cultivation methods for fields and the cultivation of vegetables. The results were remarkable. He had also introduced a variety of fertilizers, enriching the sources of fertilizers and increasing yields. Although only a month had passed, the effects of his efforts in agriculture were already beginning to show. In terms ofmerce, he was doing even better. The cement industry had driven the entire citys development, providing jobs and food for everyone. He had evenunched a night market economy, promotingmercial development and making the city bustling. Regarding public security, his performance was also outstanding. He had unexpectedly appointed the thief Night Fragrance to manage public security, and the results were significant. There had even been a time when people didnt need to lock their doors at night, and lost items were left untouched on the streets. It could be said that since Lin Beifan had taken charge of the affairs of the capital city, its development had been changing rapidly. The stronger Lin Beifans abilities became, the happier the Empress felt. He can manage a city with millions of people so well. Extending this to the entire country shouldnt be a problem! Give him a bit more time, and give him even more responsibilities! Now, she increasingly felt that Lin Beifan was the best gift sent to her by the heavens. With him around, many things had be easier and simpler. With this joyful mood, the Empress continued to review the documents. At this moment, she received an important piece of information. The Great Xia Dynasty is sending Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong for a diplomatic visit? The Empress frowned. She was very familiar with this prince from the enemy nation. In fact, she was familiar with all the important members of the Great Xia royal family. Xia Tianqiong, the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty, was an exceptionally capable and ambitious prince. He had be Crown Prince before the age of 20 and had shown outstanding performance over the past decade. He had gained the support of the entire court, especially the military. He also enjoyed the favor and trust of the Great Xia Emperor, which had greatly expanded his power. Compared to other imperial princes and grandsons, he far outshone them and was beyondpetition. He was undoubtedly one of the most stable Crown Princes in history. At the same time, he was young and ambitious, a staunch advocate of war and territorial expansion. The ultimate goal he had set was the conquest of the Great Wu region. He had proposed numerous times in court to initiate military actions against Great Wu, but they had all been rejected by the current Great Xia Emperor, who was aging and cautious, not willing to take risks. However, if the current Emperor were to step down and Xia Tianqiong ascended to the throne, it was highly likely that he wouldunch a military campaign against Great Wu. At this time,ing to Wu, Im afraid the intentions of the visitors might not be good! The Empress said with a sigh. Even if she was reluctant, since the other side was visiting Wu, they must receive them with respect, maintaining the demeanor of a great nation. A weekter, Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong of the Great Xia Dynasty arrived in the capital city leading his delegation. The Empress received him in the court. Greetings to Her Majesty of Great Wu. May you have good fortune, peace, and may all your endeavors seed! The representatives of the Great Xia Dynasty spoke in unison. Among them, standing in the center was Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong himself. He was dressed in a golden python robe, his gaze sharp and spirited, tall and imposing, exuding the aura of an emperor. Although currently just a crown prince, he already carried the presence of a ruler. Crown Prince of the Great Xia, as well as all the envoys, please stand without ceremony! The Empress said sternly. Thank you, Your Majesty of Great Wu! they all said in unison. Crown Prince of the Great Xia, what is the purpose of your visit this time? The Empress inquired. This prince has three main purposes for this visit, Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong said loudly. First, on behalf of my imperial father, the ruler of the Great Xia Dynasty, Ivee to convey sincere greetings to Her Majesty of Great Wu, wishing you good health, national prosperity, and the well-being of your people. The Empress nodded and smiled, Its thoughtful of Emperor Xia. Second, since ascending to the position of Crown Prince, this prince has been diligently striving. However, my experience is shallow, and my abilities are limited, falling short of the grace of the throne. These reflections have always left me ashamed. Therefore, I havee on this visit to learn from the advanced management practices of Great Wu. I humbly ask Your Majesty of Great Wu for permission. The Empresss mind sneered. It was clear that they were here to probe for information rather than for a visit! However, their pretext was valid and reasonable, and she couldnt refuse them face to face. Otherwise, she would seem petty and afraid. I see. We shall assign Minister of Rites Zhao as your guide, the Empress said. In matters of state reception, rank symmetry was highly emphasized. Since the other partys visitor was a crown prince, they had to send an equivalent-level figure as well. However, Great Wus situation was unique. They had no crown prince, no prince at court, and no prime minister. After some consideration, the Minister of Rites was the most suitable choice. However, Xia Tianqiong shook his head, No need to trouble Minister Zhao. Id like the Prefect of the Capital City, Lin Beifan, to apany me. Lin Beifan, who was currently spacing out, was stunned, Me? Xia Tianqiong turned his head to look at Lin Beifan and smiled, Although I am far away in Great Xia, Ive already heard about Prefect Lin! Youve achieved the triple triumph in the imperial examination at a young age and led Great Wu to victory over Great Yan in the literary war. Your talents are outstanding, and your knowledge is profound. Moreover, since taking office, youve shown remarkable abilities and achievements. I deeply admire that! Considering that the capital city is under your jurisdiction, I hope to take this opportunity to get to know you better, and I hope you wont reject this humble request of mine. Lin Beifan sped his hands and said, Crown Prince of the Great Xia, youre too kind. The Empress nodded, Since the Crown Prince of the Great Xia has made the invitation Prefect Lin, you shall be the one to host him! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan epted the decree. Crown Prince of the Great Xia, what is this third matter? the Empress asked. This third matter concerns the great thief Night Fragrance, Xia Tianqiong said, bowing. Sinceing into existence, Night Fragrance hasmitted 17 thefts within our territory. These were all precious treasures of our nation, and his crimes are heinous! Furthermore, he has mocked our Great Xia court, behaving arrogantly and causing both man and god to be furious. He is a great thief of the nation, deserving no mercy! I humbly request that Your Majesty of Great Wu hand him over to Great Xia for trial. I would be extremely grateful. As soon as this was said, the atmosphere in the room instantly changed. It should be noted that although Night Fragrance was previously a major thief who had indeed stolen many things andmitted numerous wrongdoings, he had now submitted to the court and was a person of Great Wu. He had been doing quite well during this time and was even granted the title of a fourth-ranked guard with a sword. He had also been given the title of Imperial Cat. If they were to hand him over, what kind of image would they present? How would the world view their court? Chapter 254: A Sharp-Tongued Character! Chapter 254: A Sharp-Tongued Character! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
At that time, the Great Wu Court will undoubtedly lose face and be aughingstock throughout the world! In the future, aspiring individuals from various quarters will certainly not choose Great Wu! Peoples trust will bepletely shattered! Moreover, by doing so, they will offend Night Fragrance and the grandmaster behind him. If they encounter trouble, the entire Great Wu will be left with no recourse. It can be said that handing over Night Fragrance would be all harm and no benefit! At best, they might receive some praise from the Great Xia, but what use is that? So, why should they hand over Night Fragrance? The Empresss face turned cold, Crown Prince of the Great Xia, your words have gone too far! Night Fragrance is now a person of Great Wu. He holds the rank of a fourth-ranked guard with a sword and has the title of Imperial Cat in Great Wu. During his service, he has fought crime at the forefront, maintaining the peace of the capital city. He is a pir of our nation and a hero of our people. How could we push our own hero out the door? Crown Prince Xia Tianqiongs expression remained unchanged, I implore Your Majesty of Great Wu to think twice! Night Fragrance is a thief. He has always been a thief from the beginning to the end. Dont think that just because hes behaving well now, he has truly changed. Its said that thendscape may change, but ones nature is difficult to alter. He will definitely reveal his true nature in the future. By then, you will regret it! The Empresss tone was heavy, I believe he has reformed. Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong spoke loudly, Since you persist in your refusal, is the Great Wu Court a sanctuary for criminals and a hiding ce for filth? The Empresss face changed, as did the faces of the officials. Bold! This is the Great Wu Court. It wont tolerate your insolence! Crown Prince of the Great Xia, please watch your words! Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong coldly smiled, Could there be something wrong with what this prince has said? Many were left speechless, as they had indeed been harboring Night Fragrance. What Night Fragrances identity was and what he had done were known to people throughout the world. There was no way they could argue against this. At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward with a smile, Listening to the Crown Prince of the Great Xias words, Im reminded of a situation very simr to the current one. The Empress was somewhat puzzled. At a time like this, are you going to tell a story? However, Lin Beifan had never disappointed her. When he appeared at a moment like this, he would certainly not be aimless. So, the Empress smiled and said, Sir Lin, if you have something to say, please share it with everyone! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan stood upright and said, I once heard: Citrus trees grown south of the Huai River are called orange trees, while those grown north of the Huai River are called trifoliate orange trees. The leaves of these trees look very simr, but the taste of their fruit ispletely different! One is sweet and delicious, loved by people, while the other is sour and difficult to swallow, disliked by everyone. Lin Beifan arched his hand and smiled, May I ask, Your Majesty, Crown Prince of the Great Xia, and all the esteemed individuals present, why is this? Ah, well Everyone fell into contemtion. The Empress was the first to ask, Is it because of different tree species? Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, They are the same kind of tree, theres no difference. Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong asked, Could it be due to different cultivation methods? Once again, Lin Beifan shook his head, They are the same. Everyone racked their brains but couldnte up with an answer. The Empress urged, Sir Lin, dont keep us in suspense. Quickly reveal the reason! Its actually quite simple. The reason for such a situation is due to the environment! When the soil and environment change, the cultivated fruits will also change. One bes liked by people, while the other bes disliked, Lin Beifan exined. For example, in the same patch of grass, some grass is often exposed to sunlight, so it grows lush. Othersck sunlight, so they wither, he continued. Everyone suddenly realized, That makes sense! When born south of the Huai River, its an orange; when born north of the Huai River, its a trifoliate orange, Lin Beifan smiled, This is the case with Night Fragrance. Why is it that when he was a thief in thend of the Great Xia, but aftering to our Great Wu, he transformed into a good person? Its because the environment changed, and people changed along with it. Therefore Lin Beifan eximed, Great Wu isnt a haven for filth and corruption. Its a sacred ce, a ce of reform, a ce of benevolence. Even a great thief like Night Fragrance, when hees here, will be reformed and be a good person! Conversely, your Great Xia is the ce of filth you speak of! Because in an environment like yours, it can only cultivate thieves, it can only cultivate great national criminals! The crowd pped and cheered, Well said! So logical! Born south of the Huai River, its an orange; born north of the Huai River, its a trifoliate orange! The fact that Night Fragrance has improved aftering here proves that this is not a ce of filth and corruption, but a sacred and purend! You people of the Great Xia cantpare. How can you still have the audacity to use us? Although the Empress didnt speak, her brows danced with delight, clearly pleased. Lin Beifan looked at Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong, whose face was now both green and ck, and said with a smile, To prevent Night Fragrance from falling into evil ways again and causing turmoil in the world, Great Wu has thoroughly considered the matter and decided not to hand him over! Our actions are not selfish, but for the sake of the world and themon people. I believe that as the current Crown Prince of the Great Xia, you must understand the greater good. You will surelyprehend and support our decision! Crown Prince Xia Tianqiongs face turned even darker and greener! My, oh my, he managed to talk himself into a corner. Now hes being bitten back! If he still insists on taking the person, then he would be in the wrong! It would mean he doesnt grasp the greater good! It would show he is self-centered andckspassion, disregarding the well-being of the world and the people! At this moment, Xia Tianqiong burst intoughter, Actually, just now I was only joking. Please dont take it to heart! Chasing after someone and not letting go would be undignified, so everyone smiled faintly, considering the matter resolved. Then, after performing some formal farewells, Xia Tianqiong took his leave from the Empress. Before leaving, he looked meaningfully at Lin Beifan, Sir Lin, well meet again tomorrow! Lin Beifan responded loudly, Farewell, Crown Prince of the Great Xia! After leaving the pce, the Great Xia delegation began to vehemently criticize Lin Beifan. Hes truly a sharp-tongued individual, to actually scheme against our Great Xia! Not fearing the Great Xia, disrespecting His Highness, this person deserves punishment! Crown Prince, should we give him a lesson? At this moment, Crown Prince Xia Tianqiongsplexion had returned to normal. He smiled and shook his head, No! He was just upholding Great Wus dignity. Its the duty of a subject, so whats the crime? On the contrary, I admire him very much. Hes eloquent and shrewd. If only we could make use of such talent! We still have a few days left, plenty of time to get to know him better. No need to rush! On the other side, not long after Lin Beifan had finished attending the morning court, Night Fragrance came in a hurry. I heard that during the morning court today, Crown Prince of the Great Xia visited the Empress and requested her to hand me over. Is that true? he asked. Lin Beifan nodded, Yes, thats true. Night Fragrance became even more anxious, So, what are you going to do? Lin Beifan chuckled, Whats there to worry about? We absolutely wont hand you over, even if the Great Xia Emperor himselfes! You just stay here and be our court cat! Night Fragrance breathed a sigh of relief, Thats good to hear! He really didnt want to leave here! Though he had only been here for a month, he had be attached to too many things he couldnt let go of. Everything here made him very nostalgic! Now that things had settled down, he opened his fan with a snap. Once again, he was the handsome and imposing Imperial Cat, Night Fragrance. By the way, what did you do to the Crown Prince of the Great Xia? During the morning court today, I noticed a hint of resentment in his eyes when he mentioned you, Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Not much, really. Its just that when I was stealing treasures in the pce, I identally put a green hat on him! Night Fragrance said nonchntly, fanning himself. Lin Beifan was astonished, Thats not much? You actually put a green hat on someone? This is a grievance of cuckoldry, even a man cant bear this! Its not asplicated as you think. I happened to have a green hat in my hand when I was stealing the treasure. He was standing in front of me, so I casually put it on him! Lin Beifan sighed disappointedly, So thats how it happened. I got excited for no reason! But then, when I seeded in the theft, I was so excited that I couldnt control myself and blurted out that the Crown Prince was wearing a green hat. So, the whole city found out! Night Fragrance chuckled mischievously. Lin Beifan shook his head and clicked his tongue, It was bad before, now its even worse. No wonder he hates you so much! Night Fragrance chuckled mischievously, his eyes yfully shifting around, clearly plotting some mischief. Lin Beifan warned, Im telling you, dont mess around! Xia Tianqiong is the heir of the Great Xia Empire. He represents Great Xia. If anything happens here, it wont end well for a lot of things! At that time, our court wont be able to protect you! Night Fragrance waved his hand, Rest assured, Ive turned over a new leaf. I know what to do and what not to do. Ill act after he leaves Great Wu. I wont involve you guys! Lin Beifan whispered, Remember to disguise yourself! Its best to disguise yourself as the Great Xia Emperor. Fathers disciplining their sons is only right and proper! Night Fragrance eximed excitedly, pping his thigh, Youre really cunning! Its settled then! The next day, Lin Beifan arrived at the inn to receive Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong and his entourage from the Great Xia Empire. He apologized with a bow, Your Highness, I was quite offensive yesterday. Please forgive me! Sir Lin, youre being too harsh. You were upholding the dignity of the court. What crime is there? Xia Tianqiong politely replied, After thinking it over once I returned yesterday, I realized I behaved impolitely. I hope Sir Lin can forgive me! Your Highness, youre too kind! After a bit of polite conversation andughter, the grievances from yesterdays morning court were brushed aside. Your Highness, as youre visiting the capital for the first time, do you have any specific ns? Please let us know, and Ill make the arrangements for you! If you dont have any ns, Ill take the liberty to make some decisions for you! Lin Beifan smiled. Xia Tianqiong shook his head, I dont have any specific ns, just a stroll, sightseeing, and asking questions about anything I dont understand. Consider it a rxing vacation! However, I must visit the Minxin City outside the capital. Its said that the Minxin City can amodate over a million people and yet rose from t ground in less than three months. It can be called a miracle! So, I want to see this city of wonders with my own eyes! Lin Beifan smiled, Alright, Ill arrange it for you then! Chapter 255: Crown Prince, Why the Worried Look? Chapter 255: Crown Prince, Why the Worried Look? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Minxin City isnt far. After leaving the gates of the capital, its only about seven or eight li to the east. So, everyone wasnt in a hurry; they set off leisurely. After getting permission from Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong of the Great Xia Empire, they decided to start by exploring the capital and then head towards Minxin City. As they walked along the streets of the capital, Xia Tianqiong was greatly surprised. Because he found that the capital was incredibly lively. The flow of carriages and people was unending, with street stalls neatly arranged. There were hawkers everywhere, along with cheerful voices andughter, giving the feeling of thriving prosperity. Inparison, their Great Xias capital seemed a bitcking! Wasnt it said that Great Wu was declining, and its national power was weak, and it wasnt doing well anymore? Why did it seem to be better than their Great Xia? Keep in mind that their Great Xia was at its zenith right now. Even the Great Yan Dynasty, which was equally prosperous, was slightly less so than them, yet they were surpassed by the seemingly waning Great Wu Dynasty! The members of the Great Xia delegation exchanged puzzled nces. The intelligence seemed to be wrong, differing from what they knew before. The person in question was right there, so they tentatively asked, Sir Lin, has your capital always been this lively? Lin Beifan modestly replied, Its just so-so, nothingpared to your Great Xia! Sir Lin, youre being too modest! Xia Tianqiong smiled and said, Ive juste from the capital of Great Xia. Honestly, our capital in Great Xia isnt as lively as yours. It greatly surprised me! Wevee to learn from Great Wus advanced management experience. Please enlighten us! Its really nothing much! Lin Beifanughed. As long as you uphold justice and integrity, enforce thew strictly,bat crime, and protect the fundamental interests of themon people! Encourage production and trade, so that the people can earn money and have enough to eat. Naturally, things will improve! Everyone was speechless. Was there any difference between what he said and saying nothing at all? Who doesnt know to do this? The issue lies in the measures and policies; thats the key! Seeing that they couldnt extract any valuable information from Lin Beifan, Xia Tianqiong bent down and asked an elderly man who was both smoking dried tobo and selling it. Old sir, has the capital always been this lively? The old man was a bit bewildered. He was in the middle of enjoying his smoke. Why were they asking him these questions? Couldnt they see for themselves? But seeing them dressed elegantly, exuding an air of nobility, he knew he couldnt afford to offend them. He couldnt ck off and promptly stood up. Then, he noticed Lin Beifan, who was apanying the group, and he was even more surprised. He respectfully bowed, Lord Prefect, what brings you here Lin Beifan smiled and introduced, The person whos asking you is none other than the current Crown Prince of the Great Xia Empire, Xia Tianqiong! And the people beside him are high-ranking officials from the Great Xia Empire. Theyre here for a diplomatic visit and decided to tour the capital as well. The old man was greatly surprised, Ah? Hes actually the Crown Prince of Great Xia Xia Tianqiong continued to inquire, Old sir, could you tell me about the situation in the capital? Well The old man hesitated, looking at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Old sir, since His Highness is asking, please go ahead and tell us! Yes, Lord Prefect! The old man stood up, though still slightly hunched, and said, If were talking about before, the capital wasnt like this. It was lively, but not to this extent. However, everything has changed since Sir Lin took office! Oh? The Great Xia group turned their heads to look at Lin Beifan, who smiled in response. Sincest year, after Sir Lin took over as the Prefect of the capital and assumed control over all its affairs, everything has changed! Sir Lin rectified the administration, improved the judicial environment, favored usmon folks in case trials, punished the powerful, so they dare not act recklessly. Wemoners can stand tall, unafraid of being bullied! So thats how it is! The old man continued, After that, Sir Lin encouraged business development and opened up the street vendor economy! Look around, every street has been nned well, and everyone conducts their business within their designated area. As a result, many people have the opportunity to make money! As long as youre not afraid of hard work, you can earn money. The capital has be so lively, and this is partially due to it! Everyone was surprised, and Xia Tianqiong asked further, Is the effect of this street vendor economy really that good? From intelligence reports, he also knew that Great Wus capital had implemented the street vendor economy long ago, and it had indeed yielded some results. But at that time, he hadnt thought much of it. Wasnt it just setting up stalls to do business? At most, it meant adding some organization, but it was still the same products being sold. How could it significantly promotemerce? Looking at it now, he might have been a bit presumptuous! The old man shook his head, This old man isnt very clear about it! There are plenty of grand theories, but I dont know. Anyway, since the capital opened up street vending, it has indeed be livelier, and everyone can make money! Just like me, Im usually busy farming. When I have free time, Ie here to sell dried tobo, and I earn a few taels of silver. Ha ha! As he spoke, he seemed a bit proud. But the biggest change was after the New Year! the old man continued. After the New Year? Everyone was astonished. Since after the New Year, the development has really taken off! The old mans eyes shone as he said, Across from the capital, in Minxin City, many shops and workshops have opened, and arge number of workers have been recruited! The government-run cement factories also need a lot of workers to produce cement! The wages offered are very generous, making people envious! If it werent for me being old and having fields to tend to, Id want to go there and make a living too! And as a result of this, more people in the capital are engaged in business! Doing business requires manpower, so more people are needed! In short, everyone has a job, everyone is making money, and life is getting better and better! This this the Great Xia delegation was extremely shocked. The old man bowed to Lin Beifan, respectfully saying, All of this was brought about by Sir Lin. Thank you for bringing us a good life and new hope! Lin Beifan smiled and said, This is what I should do. Serving as an official for a term, benefiting the people in the region! Sir Lin, do you smoke dried tobo? This old man will give you a few taels! No need, I dont smoke. The Great Xia delegation asked a few more people and received simr answers. Since Lin Beifan became the Prefect, overseeing everything in the capital, peoples lives had been getting better and better. Especially after the New Year, Minxin City began to operate, and its development had been advancing by leaps and bounds, changing day by day. Thus, everyone greatly admired Lin Beifan. Sir Lin, youre incredible! Not long after bing the Prefect, youve brought about such significant changes. Im impressed! No wonder youre favored by the Empress! Lin Beifan humbly responded, stating that it was nothing. Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong urged, Now, lets go see Minxin City. I cant wait any longer! In less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, they arrived at Minxin City. Before them stood a majestic and magnificent city, towering high! Was this really built within three months? They had already heard about how magnificent and grand this newly constructed city was, but seeing it with their own eyes was still incredibly shocking. Even the city walls were almost on par with any city in the capital! Its guaranteed to be real. Everyone, pleasee inside! Lin Beifan smiled and invited them in. As they walked into the city, they were once again astonished. Rows of houses were neatly arranged, and the roads were wide and t, clean and tidy. It was bustling with carriages, pedestrians in a hurry, and numerous shops with constant vendors calls. It felt even more lively and prosperous than the capital! Is this really a newly built city? A city thats been around for less than half a year, why is it so lively and bustling? Could this be a miracle? Everyone was wide-eyed and tongue-tied, just like someone entering a grand garden for the first time, everything seemed fresh. Their gazes involuntarily turned to Lin Beifan, who was calmly standing there, as if he were a deity. To build a city capable of amodating millions of people in just three months was already astonishing. However, the fact that the city was not only constructed but also efficiently operational in just a month was beyond the reach of ordinary people. Sir Lin, how did you do it? How can you make a new city burst with such vibrant vitality? A senior courtier from Great Xia asked with great admiration. Xia Tianqiong and others perked up, eager to listen. Lin Beifan smiled slightly, Actually, its very simple. All you need to do is attract investment, encouragemerce, provide jobs for everyone, and ensure that everyone has the means to earn a living! Hearing this, everyone was speechless. Who didnt understand thismon sense? The real issue was how to implement it! Couldnt he exin it more clearly and practically? It was as if he was implying that our intelligence wascking! Realizing they couldnt extract anything useful, they ended up asking passing pedestrians, finally obtaining some more specific answers. Indeed, Lin Beifan encouragedmerce, but it was mainly through tax reductions. The tax incentives were substantial, with the maximum exemptionsting for five years and then a three-year halved taxation period. No other country had dared to implement such measures; being exempt from taxes for even a year or two was considered a significant concession. Furthermore, Minxin City heavily developed the cement industry, which provided numerous job opportunities. In addition tounching the street vendor economy, they also introduced a night market economy, further boostingmercial development. With these various measures in ce, Minxin Citys development was progressing rapidly. The days journey quickly came to an end. After returning, the Great Xia delegation remained deeply impressed. This trip was definitely worth it! Weve learned a lot. Who would have thought that a city could be managed and operated in this way! We can definitely learn from this, haha! Our Great Xia was already powerful, wont we be even stronger now? Minister Zhaos words are absolutely right, haha! Everyone enthusiastically discussed, as if they had glimpsed a brighter future. However, at this moment, they noticed Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong was furrowing his brows, lost in thought. So, someone who didnt understand asked, Crown Prince, why do you have a worried expression? Chapter 256: I Will Request My Father to Raise an Army and Attack Wu! Chapter 256: I Will Request My Father to Raise an Army and Attack Wu! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong of the Great Xia Empire sighed, Do you think that these things are so easy to learn? Why do you say that, Your Highness? the crowd was puzzled. Xia Tianqiong sighed again, Todays trip has indeed left a profound impact on me. I also thought that if we copied these experiences and took them back to the Great Xia, it would bring about significant positive changes! But upon closer examination, I found many problems, making it impossible to replicate. Your Highness First, lets talk about judicial reform. Since Lin Beifan took charge of the Dedian Mansion, the first thing he reformed was the judicial environment. He favored themon people in legal judgments, punished the powerful, regardless of how much power they held or their backgrounds. But do you know how he did it? Many shook their heads, indicating theirck of understanding. Xia Tianqiongs tone wasplex, I received information from a spy that the reason Lin Beifan did this was to openly arrest the influential individuals and exploit them. Wish to avoid punishment? Pay up! Wish to have good food and amodation? Pay up! Wish to reduce your sentence? Pay up! In other words, he, single-handedly, challenged the powerful figures across the realm! By exploiting the wealth of these elites, he not only protected the interests of themon people but also enriched himself. Astonishing! The crowd was greatly surprised. Such courage is truly admirable. However, if we were to do this in the Great Xia, who would dare? Even the current Prime Minister might not have the courage! This Everyone shook their heads. Not only the Prime Minister, even the current Emperor wouldnt dare! Because doing so would anger too many people! It wouldnt be conducive to governance! Even a ruler of a nation sometimes has topromise when faced with various problems. Why does Lin Beifan dare to do this? Xia Tianqiong shook his head, I cant fathom it either, but he did it, and its effective! Without a fair and just judicial environment, the court cannot gain the trust of the people, and many matters cant even begin. Everyone nodded in deep agreement. Next, lets talk about public order. Xia Tianqiong cleared his throat, took a sip of tea, and continued, In this aspect, Lin Beifan unexpectedly appointed the former thief, Night Fragrance, tobat crime and maintain local order. Youve all witnessed the results; it has reached the point where no valuables are lost, and doors are left unlocked at night. However, this is something we cant imitate. Because individuals like Night Fragrance are extremely rare throughout the world! Even if they exist, would you dare employ them? Even if you dare, can you control them? Night Fragrance has formidable martial skills and remarkable strength, and hes inherently unruly! How could you make him work obediently and follow orders? Even a grandmaster couldnt achieve that! Only Lin Beifan, I dont know what method he used, managed to make Night Fragrance obey orders! Thus, with a good judicial environment and improved public order, people and merchants gain a sense of security, which leads to the possibility ofmercial development and economic improvement! Xia Tianqiongs eyes gleamed. Everyone nodded once again. After achieving these two favorable environments, Lin Beifan promoted the street economy and simultaneously introduced night market economy. This made the city lively and vibrant, significantly boosting the business economy, ensuring that people had money! We can emte the street economy, but the night market economy would be challenging, as public safety remains an unsolved problem before us! Everyone nodded vigorously. They all knew that a thriving night market economy was great, but they really couldnt figure out how to make it work! Because many people practice martial arts and are full of energy, they are prone to getting into trouble at night, especially when there are more people around. The cost of management is extremely high, and its difficult to control. Thats why many cities impose curfews, prohibiting people from going out at night. Only Lin Beifan doesnt have such concerns because he has the great thief Night Fragrance, who is highly skilled in martial arts and exceptional in lightness techniques. He manages the citys security, and as long as the opponents arent grandmasters, he can handle them all. This naturally solves the public order problem. Of course, they could also find a fourth-ranked warrior to manage the citys security, but who would want to do such mundane tasks? That would be a waste of their exceptional abilities, and no one would be willing. Your Highness, we also have cement; we can develop a cement economy! an old courtier suggested. Yes, we can develop a cement economy! We can produce cement and sell it, drivingmercial development! This way, our court can earn money while also stimting the market economy, killing two birds with one stone! Your suggestion is good; in fact, our court has been working on this! However, cement production requires arge workforce! As you all saw, to produce cement, they employed a total of four to five hundred thousand people in Minxin City, just to support this industry! Xia Tianqiongs face was bitter. Where can we find so many people? Everyone joined in with bitter smiles. Four to five hundred thousand people already equated to the total poption of arge city. To mobilize so many people is an extremely difficult task. Even if they had the capability, others might not be willing to do it; cement production is very demanding! Its worth noting that most of themon people in Minxin City were originally disaster victims who traveled great distances to arrive here and had no other means of livelihood, so they could only engage in cement production. Furthermore, theres another problem! This cement is primarily used for building houses, and the demand is enormous. The Great Wu Court achieves this through advanced waterways and hydro-craft called air cushion boats. The air cushion boats have a massive carrying capacity; one boat can transport tens of thousands of catties of cement! We havent yet developed our air cushion boats; we can only use regr wooden boats for transportation. This increases costs, making cement more expensive, and fewer people buy it. So, the market wont develop, and whats the point of producing so much cement? Xia Tianqiong sighed repeatedly. Yeah, why didnt I think of that? Your Highness is truly wise! Furthermore, in terms ofmerce, Lin Beifan has provided various tax incentives to prominent merchants, encouraging everyone to engage in business and trade! This action has indeed greatly promoted themercial activities in the capital city and Minxin City, leading to a thriving market! But, he can do this, and we cannot! Because, when Lin Beifan did this initially, it was to address the issues of livelihood, clothing, housing, and transportation for a million people. Without enough food and resources, he had to attract merchant families through these conditions. It was the optimal solution given the current constraints! However, if we were to do the same, its certain that tax revenue would decrease, thats beyond doubt! Moreover, if everyone engages in trade, who would grow crops? Ournd is not as fertile as Great Wus, and the yield is limited. If everyone shifts tomerce, the grain output will inevitably decrease. The consequences, I need not emphasize; you all know! Everyone nodded in agreement An elderly courtier spoke up, Without grain, the nation will fall into chaos! Exactly! Xia Tianqiong nodded, So, we must restrain the growth ofmerce and ensure our grain reserves! However, ifmerce cant flourish, the cement economy will face severe limitations! Xia Tianqiong sighed again, Therefore, we simply cannot adopt Minxin Citys development model! They created such an unreplicable miracle due to specific circumstances. If we learn from them, it might just be a case of imitating without understanding, inviting ridicule. If a major problem urs, it will be toote to rectify! Your Highness, your wisdom shines through. We have learned from you! the various officials praised. Xia Tianqiong modestly replied, Gentlemen, youre too kind. I have limited experience and abilities. There must be shorings in my problem analysis. I request that you all point them out; I will surely improve! Your Highness, youre being too humble! The elderly officials looked at the princes modest demeanor, feeling deeply gratified. As long as they followed such a capable ruler, there was hope for the future! Besides this, I have also identified a tremendous crisis! What crisis, Your Highness, please enlighten us! Xia Tianqiongs eyes were burning with intensity as he spoke, Our primary objective ining here was to observe the current state of Great Wu, gather intelligence, and understand the situation in detail. This way, we can formte strategic measures and annex Great Wu in one sweep, expanding the territory for our Great Xia! Everyone nodded in agreement. They had gathered around the prince because they all shared the same goal. For any courtier, the greatest achievement was undoubtedly expanding the nations territory. However, the situation has surprised us! The Great Wu court hasnt declined; instead, its thriving, full of vitality, and showing signs of resurgence! If given another two or three years, they will undoubtedly rise to power. By then, annexing Great Wu will be difficult! Everyone exchanged worried nces, their eyes revealing concern. Your Highness, do you have any insightful ideas? an elderly courtier asked. Originally, we intended tounch our campaign when internal turmoil arose within Great Wu! However, the Northern Hebei region is facing troubles with bandits, the economy is in a slump, the poption is declining, and the Northern Hebei Princes recent actions are unknown, maintaining an extremely low profile! The Southern Jiang region is struck by flooding, causing ack of food, economic copse, and severe poption loss. The Southern Jiang Princes development efforts have been hindered, and even whether the people can have a meal is a problem! The Wuxi Duke has suffered military losses and is now encountering a group of elusive righteous warriors. Theres no hope there! As for the other Great Wu vassal kings, theyre weak and cant make much of an impact! Hence, we can only rely on ourselves now! We absolutely cannot afford to give them a chance to rise! The longer we dy, the more unfavorable it bes for us! After this trip, I will certainly request an audience with my father, the emperor, and propose a military campaign against Great Wu! The officials exchanged nces and then stood up, speaking in unison, Your Highness, your wisdom shines through. We wholeheartedly support you and are willing to give our all, even if it means risking our lives! Chapter 257: Why Did I Abandon the Wu and Defect to Xia? Chapter 257: Why Did I Abandon the Wu and Defect to Xia? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Regarding everyones attitude, the Crown Prince of Great Xia, Xia Tianqiong, was highly satisfied. With their support, persuading the Emperor upon returning would be much easier, and he was filled with confidence. The time of war would be his moment to expand the borders, establish his merits, and make his mark. The gains from this trip are indeed substantial. Theyve allowed us to discover signs of Great Wus resurgence. With this knowledge, we can prepare in advance, halt their rising momentum, and eliminate the threat to our Great Xia, Xia Tianqiong said with a smile. Your Highnesss words are absolutely correct! everyone smiled and concurred. What surprised me even more is that the harbinger of this resurgence is none other than Lin Beifan, a former corrupt official. Xia Tianqiong took two steps forward, looked into the distance, and began to exin, Since he took office in the court, he has contributed greatly to Great Wu. He invented the aerial artifact known as the Air Balloon, the watercraft Air Cushion Boat, and the miraculous construction material Cement. All of these innovations have rapidly expanded the strength of Great Wu. During the past, two young grandmasters converged in the capital city, and it was him who intervened and persuaded them to depart and engage in a decisive battle outside the city! During a rebellion in Great Wu, he swiftly quelled it. In the Northern Hebei region, when it was afflicted by bandits causing suffering and discement among the popce, it was reportedly his brilliant strategy that resolved the issue with minimal cost, pacifying the menacing banditry. When a significant flood struck Southern Jiang, he personally rushed there to aid the flood victims. He even established Minxin City, addressing the livelihood, sustenance, and basic needs of a million afflicted citizens. In the Yan and Wu Competition, he led the youth of Great Wu to a resounding victory over the Yan nation. Xia Tianqiong sighed, It can be said that without his support, Great Wu would have fallen into turmoil long ago. Its a pity that such an exceptional talent belongs to the Great Wu. An elderly courtier sped his hands andughed, Your Highness, if you admire him so much, why not recruit him for our cause? With his assistance, our strength will surely be enhanced! I am already considering that! Xia Tianqiong said with a determined and ambitious expression, In the next couple of days, I n to have a detailed conversation with him. Hes an exceptionally intelligent individual; he should understand how to proceed! Although they had already decided tounch an attack against Great Wu, Xia Tianqiong and his entourage firmly decided to extend their stay by a couple of days. This would allow them to gather more intelligence and be prepared for any eventuality. So, on the second day, under Lin Beifans hospitality, they continued to tour the capital city and Minxin City. Witnessing how both cities flourished under Lin Beifans management, Xia Tianqiongs appreciation for Lin Beifan grew even stronger. Talents are scarce, especially talents like Lin Beifan, even scarcer! Having someone like him is equivalent to having an army of 100,000! On this day, Xia Tianqiong saw a colossal object rising into the air before them, soaring high into the sky. The delegations were all taken aback, Is this the legendary Air Balloon? Lin Beifan smiled, Indeed. Why is this balloon ascending? Has something significant happened? someone inquired in confusion. Lin Beifan shook his head and exined, Theres no major event; its merely a training session for the Flying Sky Battalion! Despite having the Air Balloon, regr practice and frequent use are necessary. Its only during critical moments that it proves its value. I see! Everyone suddenly realized, appearing like rural folks seeing the world for the first time. Looking at themoners around them, it was apparent that they were already used to this spectacle. The Air Balloon! Xia Tianqiong gazed at the balloon in the sky, filled with fascination. For him, this Air Balloon was an incredibly important strategic weapon. As the saying goes, ascending heights offers a clear view into the distance. If they were to rise into the sky using the balloon, they could gather intelligence on the enemys situation and conveniently orchestratemands, thus enhancing their chances of victory. Moreover, a flying balloon hinted at Immortality, longevity! Since ancient times, legends have spoken of immortal beings residing in the nine-tiered pces in the heavens, overlooking the mortal realm. The Air Balloon could fly. If one were to ascend the balloon, did that mean they could reach the heavens, meet the legendary immortals, gain immortality, and live forever? This temptation was hard for anyone to resist! Especially for someone like Xia Tianqiong, who was destined to be an emperor. With the highest authority, desiring immortality was the only way to ensure his power remained enduring. With these thoughts, Xia Tianqiong couldnt help but ask, Sir Lin, how high can this balloon fly? Can it take people to the nine-tiered pces in the heavens to meet the legendary immortals? As soon as he spoke, the people present became unsettled, their ears perked up to listen. Lin Beifan shook his head, I dont have a precise measurement of how high this balloon can fly. However, based on our flight records, it has reached a height of 500 zhang. As for the nine-tiered pces and immortals, we havent seen them yet. Perhaps we havent reached the required altitude; further effort is needed. The crowd didnt know whether to feel regret or relief. Regret because flying so high still hadnt led to encountering immortals or the nine-tiered pces. Relief because they were fortunate not to have been discovered by Great Wus people. Looking at the ballooning Air Balloon in the distance, Xia Tianqiongs heart began to float along with it. He turned to Lin Beifan and said, Sir Lin, could you allow me to ride the Air Balloon once? Lin Beifan was dumbfounded, Huh? You want to ride the Air Balloon? Others were equally astonished, Your Highness? After the initial shock wore off, they all anxiously tried to dissuade him. Your Highness, absolutely not! Your esteemed dragon bodywhat if something unexpected happens? Your Highness, please reconsider! Xia Tianqiongs gaze was determined, Esteemed individuals, please dont be anxious. Rest assured, Im not acting recklessly. I possess considerable martial skills and can protect myself. Moreover, with Elder Hei present, nothing untoward will happen. Your Highness Enough, dont say more. My mind is made up. Xia Tianqiong turned to Lin Beifan once again, his eyes filled with hope. To witness the divine artifact of flight yet be denied the experience personally leaves me with regret. I hope Sir Lin can fulfill this wish. Lin Beifan replied, I cannot make this decision on my own. I must report to Her Majesty. Only with her consent can you attempt this. Sur Lin, I implore you. Lin Beifan conveyed the matter to the Empress. After contemting it, she agreed to the request, but she stipted that Lin Beifan must apany Xia Tianqiong. For safety reasons, the balloons altitude should not exceed 100 zhang. Despite the limitations, Xia Tianqiong was content. He followed Lin Beifan and boarded a balloon that was about to take off. As the balloon ascended, it swiftly floated into the air and reached an altitude of 100 zhang in the blink of an eye. Looking down from above, the distant sights of the capital city and the city of Minxin were captured in his view, expanding his horizons. Xia Tianqiongs emotions were running high, This Air Balloon truly is a divine artifact of flight! If it flies high and fast enough, one can explore the mountains, rivers,kes, and seas in a single day, gazing at the azure sea in the morning and the verdant trees of Cangwu in the evening. Lin Beifan chuckled, That depends on whether the wind is favorable. If theres a strong wind, the speed will increase. After the excitement subsided, Xia Tianqiong looked at Lin Beifan beside him with a half-smile. Sir Lin, our Great Xia Empire spent a considerable sum to acquire the method of creating the Air Balloon from you. However, half a year has passed, and the balloons weve manufactured cant even fly 50 zhang beforending. Is there an issue with the method you provided? Lin Beifan remainedposed. Your Highness, youre mistaken about the wrong person. If the method I provided was incorrect, you wouldnt even be able to produce the balloons, let alone make them fly! Ive emphasized before that the key to making the balloons lies in the airbag. Its a delicate process that requires meticulous attention to detail. Even if the Ministry of Industry produces the balloons under my supervision, we still end up with a 50% failure rate. In the end, its your craftsmen who are inadequate, not the method. Xia Tianqiong nodded in agreement. Indeed, our Great Xia craftsmen arecking, mainly due to the absence of talents like Sir Lin. Sir Lin, have you considereding to Great Xia to develop? Lin Beifan was puzzled. Your Highness, what do you mean? Ill be direct, Xia Tianqiongs gaze was earnest as he looked at Lin Beifan. Your talent and abilities are greatly appreciated by me. Youre an extraordinarily rare talent fit for being a pir of the state. I hope you can apany me to Great Xia and serve under me. Lin Beifan chuckled. Your Highness, you truly hold me in high regard. I must. Your past achievements have proven your capabilities. I am in great need of you, Xia Tianqiong affirmed. Lin Beifan suddenly felt a shiver. That sentence held a double meaning. As the saying goes, building a nest attracts the phoenix. Your Highness, if I were to follow you to Great Xia and assist you, what rewards and benefits could you offer me? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Promotion and honors, wealth and prosperity. Whatever you desire, you shall have it, Xia Tianqiong immediately promised. Promotion and honors? Lin Beifan pointed to the Great Xia delegation beneath the balloon. If I were to follow Your Highness, could my official position surpass theirs? Well Xia Tianqiong was dumbfounded. He hadnt expected Lin Beifan to ask such a sharp question. Lin Beifan continued, These people below are your devoted ministers, loyal for over a decade, supporting you tirelessly. How could you mistreat them? I am a neer, and no matter how great my aplishments, I cant surpass theirs in position or merit. Otherwise, it could shake your power in the Eastern Pce and undermine your rule. Thats something you couldnt ept. I believe, Your Highness, that you absolutely wouldnt do anything so irrational. Xia Tianqiong gradually fell silent. Lin Beifans words made sense. I just calcted. When you add up their positions, theyve essentially taken up key roles like prime minister and high-ranking officials in the ministries. If I were to go to Great Xia, the most I could achieve is a second-tier position and maybe a noble title. That would be the limit. Compared to the power I have now, its almost negligible. Lin Beifan shook his head. Ive already established a considerable foundation here, earned the favor and trust of the Empress. If I continue diligently, I might even have a chance to ascend to prime minister in the future. Bing a marquis or a minister wouldnt be difficult. Going to Great Xia would only result in limitations. Its not a wise decision. Furthermore, regarding wealth and prosperity Your Highness should understand. I currently reside in a luxurious mansion, dine on pce cuisine, and drink courtly wine. The Empress has rewarded me with countless precious treasures and wealth. The luxuries and wealth I enjoy here are endless. If I were to go to Great Xia, I couldnt enjoy all these luxuries anymore. Even if you wanted to grant them, I doubt your old ministers would agree. Lin Beifan smiled. So, Your Highness, why would I abandon all I have here, give up my Wu path, and pledge myself to Great Xia? Chapter 258: Because of Greed, Hence Loyalty Chapter 258: Because of Greed, Hence Loyalty Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Xia Tianqiong fell into silence because Lin Beifans words were undeniably logical. In the realm of Great Wu, Lin Beifans position could be described as reaching the zenith of a ministers power. Moreover, he was young and held the Empresss trust. If he continued to develop steadily, he might even ascend to the position of a marquis or a prime minister in the future. Following Xia Tianqiong to Great Xia wouldnt necessarily lead to such heights. After all, Lin Beifan would first need to consider the welfare of his old ministers. They had followed him for over a decade, some were even veterans from two reigns, respected and venerable, with deep qualifications. They hadbored for years, and though their merits might becking, they had certainly contributed. They had to be taken care of. If neers were ced above them, how would others see him? How would the entire court view him? It was inevitable that they would be greatly disappointed and resentful. If their loyalty wavered, it would be challenging to lead them. There were only so many positions avable, and if they were given to the old ministers, there would be none left for Lin Beifan. Therefore, he had to ept this injustice. Regarding wealth and prosperity, Lin Beifans current lifestyle his food, his residence, and his indulgences was already the pinnacle of his times, nearly on par with the emperor. In some aspects, it was even more extravagant than the Crown Princes. He himself couldnt live such a life, so what could he offer Lin Beifan? Even if he were willing, the other old ministers would likely not agree. It wasnt aboutcking resources, but about uneven distribution a principle that applied universally. Xia Tianqiongsst realization was a sorrowful one he couldnt provide Lin Beifan with what he desired. No wonder Lin Beifan was reluctant to leave Great Wu; he himself wouldnt want to in such a situation. However, Xia Tianqiong wasnt entirely disheartened. In fact, he spoke confidently, Sir Lin, your words are valid. However, have you considered one thing? Great Wu is deteriorating day by day and is on the verge of copse. Treacherous ministers wield power, princes rebel, the martial world is in turmoil, and neighboring nations are watching closely, ready to invade the Central ins at any moment. Chaos and downfall are inevitable for Great Wu. Its ruin is just a matter of time. When Great Wu falls, as a mere courtier, where can you go? Seeing Lin Beifans silent expression, Xia Tianqiong believed he had shaken Lin Beifans thoughts and continued with a bright smile, As the saying goes, a fine bird chooses a tree to nest in. You are an exceedingly rare talent, one that shouldnt be wasted. Join me in Great Xia. While I cant offer you the same official position and wealth, I can ensure your safety and provide a tform for you to showcase your talents. Although you would start from a lower position, you are still young, as am I. We have time to establish a great legacy. When those old ministers leave, who will be able to obstruct your rise? Ascending to power, standing above tens of thousands, isnt that a matter of time? Dont you agree? Lin Beifan sped his hands and said, Your Highness, your words make sense, but Ive already decided to stay in Great Wu. Xia Tianqiong was taken aback. Why are you so obstinate? You should know that Great Wus fate is sealed! Your Highness, those words go too far. Although Great Wu is facing problems and decline, there are solutions. Even if, as you said, Great Wus fate is sealed, I will still be here. Should Great Wus sky fall, Ill hold it up. Should Great Wus backbone break, Ill carry it. Should Great Wus fate exhaust itself, Ill continue it. As long as Im here in Great Wu, Ill use all my might to prolong its existence! His voice was resolute,manding attention, echoing in the high sky. Golden sunlight bathed Lin Beifans face, making him appear so resolute, so pure. Xia Tianqiong gazed at Lin Beifan in a daze, as if seeing him in a new light. After a long while, he murmured, I never expected that you, a grand corrupt official, would actually be a loyal subject. It was unclear whether it was admiration or sarcasm. Exactly because of greed, hence loyalty! Lin Beifan dered righteously. Otherwise, where would I find such fertile ground for embezzlement? In your Great Xia? Could you offer me a chance to embezzle tens of millions? Xia Tianqiong eximed, Damn! You almost fooled me with your demeanor just now! Youre still the same money-hungry youth, not an iota of change! Xia Tianqiong snorted, Great Wu is bound to fall. You alone cant change anything; its just a futile struggle. However, I value talent. Ill give you one more chance. When we meet next time, I hope you can make a wise choice. The conversation between the two concluded, and the hot air balloon began to descend slowly. Back at the inn, Xia Tianqiong addressed his attendants, saying, When I rode the hot air balloon today, I attempted to recruit Lin Beifan, but he refused. Refused? Why would he refuse? Cant he see that Great Wu is on itsst legs? Its such a simple truth shouldnt he understand? The old ministers expressed confusion one after another. Xia Tianqiong fell silent, not revealing Lin Beifans reasons for refusal. However, a trace of urgency welled up within him. The time is almost right. Well set off for Great Xia tomorrow! He nned to return and prepare for war, invading Great Wu! He not only aimed to expand his territory and fulfill his lifelong aspiration but also to capture Lin Beifan and other talents to serve under his banner. On the second morning, Xia Tianqiongs party bid farewell to the Empress and set off for Great Xia. The Empress politely urged them to stay for two more days and eventually apanied them on their journey. Following this, in the court, the Empress inquired of Lin Beifan, Sir Lin, for the past few days, youve been apanying Great Xias Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong. How do you perceive this person? Does he pose a threat to our Great Wu? Reporting to Your Majesty, I find this person to be a significant threat! Lin Beifan bowed and continued, Though weve only interacted for a few days, from observing Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong, he dares to take the lead, possesses sharp insight, is skilled at recognizing and utilizing talents, and harbors ambitious aspirations. He has the qualities of a monarch who could lead his nation to greatness. Under his leadership, Great Xia is bound to prosper, which would be greatly detrimental to us, Great Wu. The Empress nodded, as Lin Beifans viewpoint aligned with hers. Xia Tianqiong was a truly exceptional rulertalented, ambitious, and possessing keen insight. If he were to ascend the throne, it would indeed pose a significant threat to Great Wu. My ministers, how should we handle this in the future? the Empress inquired. Various officials expressed their opinions, sharing their thoughts. But just then, Lin Beifan voiced his opinion, Your Majesty, I believe the best course of action now is to immediately apprehend him, ce him under house arrest, and tightly monitor him, preventing him from returning to Great Xia. At this statement, the entire court was shocked! Apprehend the Crown Prince of Great Xia? Our nation has always upheld etiquette and propriety. He visited our realm as a guest, and now we want to arrest him. How would this be viewed by the world? What will everyone think of us? Lin Beifan, are you trying to harm our Great Wu? What if heunches a war? Will you step up to take charge? Great Xia isnt inferior to our empire. How can we lightly provoke conflict? Our Great Wu is already chaotic enough; we cant afford more chaos! Lin Beifan, have you gone mad? How can you say something like this? The Empress urgently asked, Sir Lin, why do you propose this? Have you noticed something? Facing the questioning gazes of the entire court, Lin Beifan remainedposed. The reason I suggested this is actually to prevent warfare and minimize losses for Great Wu. For a long time, Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong has held hostile intentions toward us. During his visit these days, he has traveled through our capital and witnessed its prosperity and resurgence. A sense of crisis has already taken root in his heart. Our Great Wus development is increasingly unfavorable for them. The longer we dy, the worse it bes for them. If they hastily return, its likely they will formte strategies against us, possibly leading to war. Thus, its better to take preemptive action to prevent future danger. By capturing him first, we can use him as leverage against Great Xia. With their heir in our hands, Great Xia wont dare to act recklessly, ensuring the safety of Great Wu. I beseech Your Majesty to consider this. The Empress frowned, remaining silent. However, the officials disagreed. Sir Lin, everything you say is based on your suspicions, and it holds no weight! The Crown Prince might have had other reasons to return. After all, as the heir of a nation, having matters to attend to is quite normal. The other party hasnt taken any action against us that is detrimental. If we arrest him now, it might backfire, bringing disgrace upon us in the eyes of the world. Moreover, it might escte tensions and trigger an unwarranted war. We are a nation of etiquette, not bandits or robbers. How can wemit such a discourteous act? Finally, both the Empress and the officials rejected Lin Beifans suggestion. Lin Beifan nonchntly took a step back. After all, he was just offering advice. If it wasnt epted, he had no loss. After several more days passed, Night Fragrance, who had been missing for a few days, returned with a somewhat distressed expression. Lin Beifan chuckled and said, Judging by your appearance, I assume you werent sessful? Before this, Night Fragrance had harbored the intent to retaliate against Xia Tianqiong, but it was suppressed by Lin Beifan. Only after Xia Tianqiong left Great Wu were they given the opportunity to take action. Night Fragrance had been missing for several days due to this reason. Night Fragranceid down and gloomily said, Dont mention it. Xia Tianqiong had a Grandmaster protecting him. I had just gotten close when I was discovered. I didnt have a chance to properly teach him a lesson! Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled; he had long anticipated this oue. There was an unremarkable old man dressed in ck beside Xia Tianqiong, and he was a Grandmaster. With him around, how could Night Fragrance seed? However, even though I didnt seed this time, there will be another chance. I refuse to believe there will always be a Grandmaster by his side! Night Fragrance was determined. Lin Beifan then asked, By the way, have there been any changes in the border forces of Great Xia? Any mobilizations? Night Fragrances expression turned serious, Indeed, there have been some changes. The defense is much tighter than usual. Also, there have been frequent movements in terms of provisions, troop trainingmore than before. Lin Beifan nodded thoughtfully. Is war imminent? Are Great Xia and Great Wu preparing to engage in battle? Night Fragrance inquired further. Its highly possible. We need to be prepared in advance, Lin Beifan sighed, One trouble hasnt even settled before another one arises. Great Wu is truly gued with difficulties. A week quickly passed. Urgent: 800 miles!!! News of border conflicts finally arrived! The Great Xia Empire stationed an army of 300,000 troops at the border between the two nations and invaded the bordends of Great Wu,unching an undered war! Great Xia hase to fight!!!. Chapter 259: Assume the Position of Chief Supervisor, Swiftly Support the Frontline! Chapter 259: Assume the Position of Chief Supervisor, Swiftly Support the Frontline! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
When this news spread, the entire capital was in an uproar! In these years, the Great Wu had not been without wars against other countries,rge and small battles countless in number. However, fighting against a evenly matched major power was the first time in 50 years! At this moment, the Great Xias power was on the rise, while the Great Wus power was declining! In such an unfavorable situation, if the Great Wu were to lose, it would bring unimaginable consequences! In the capital, fear and anxiety filled the hearts of the people! The Great Xia and the Great Wu are about to go to war. The strength of the Great Wu is no match for the Great Xia. Once they lose, its all over! Just a few days of good times have passed. Why has such a thing happened? Yes, just as the good times were beginning, we have to go to war. The heavens are not giving usmoners a way to live! Quick, pack up and flee! Other ces are even more chaotic. Where else can we escape to? In the court, the Empress looked at Lin Beifan with regret on her face and said, Sir Lin, youve really hit the mark with your words! Even the officials in the court couldnt look at Lin Beifan without embarrassment. Initially, Lin Beifan had said that once the Crown Prince of Great Xia returned, it was highly likely that he would initiate a war, and it would be best to take necessary measures, including confining Xia Tianqiong. Their resistance had been the strongest, insisting that it was impossible, but it had all turned out to be a p in the face. After the Crown Prince of Great Xia returned, he immediatelyunched a war and invaded their Great Wu! Lin Beifan didnt say anything. The deed was done, and saying anything more wouldnt change it. Your Majesty, now is not the time for regrets! The most important thing now is to mobilize troops and provisions, immediately head to Ho Pass, guard the border, and resist the Great Xias forces! The Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, said loudly. The Empress rallied, her voice filled with authority. Sir Lis words are absolutely right. We must immediately mobilize troops, sendmanders, transport supplies, support the frontlines, and absolutely not allow the forces of Great Xia to set foot in our Great Wu! Just then, a member of the Imperial Guard in ceremonial attire came running from a distance. Report! Urgent news! The Empress eyebrows furrowed. Whats the matter? Speak! The Imperial Guard reported loudly, Your Majesty, weve just received news from the frontlines. The Great Xia Dynasty has mobilized another 500,000 troops from various parts of the country and is heading towards Ho Pass! Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong is leading them in person! What? Another 500,000 troops mobilized? The Empress and the officials were taken aback. It must be noted that Great Xia had already stationed 300,000 troops previously. With this additional 500,000, the total number of troops would reach 800,000! This was already enough to support arge-scale battle! Only a dynasty or empire with arge poption and substantial strength could send out such a massive force! The Empress mmed the table and stood up. The Great Xias desire to see us perish is unrelenting! Its maddening! Report! Urgent report! Another Imperial Guard rushed in. A sense of unease welled up within the Empress. Whats the matter? Speak! The Imperial Guard dered loudly, Your Majesty, weve just received news from the border regions of the Great Yan Dynasty. Theres been unusual activity, frequent mobilization of troops and horses. Their target is directly our Great Wu! The Empress face darkened. Just as Great Xia had taken action, the Great Yan was unable to sit still! Clearly, they intended to take advantage of the situation and divide thends and rivers of Great Wu! This Great Yan isnt a good entity either! Report! Urgent report! Yet another Imperial Guard came rushing in. The Empresss expression grew even more grim. Whats the matter now? Speak! The Imperial Guard loudly announced, Your Majesty, weve just received news from the southern regions. The Southern Princes forces are also on the move Report! Urgent report! One bad news after another echoed within the Great Wus court. It can be said that during this rare asion of the Great Xias invasion, ambitious vassal kings and neighboring countries that had long been waiting could no longer remain idle! They all sought to take advantage of the chaos, stirring the waters and aiming to gain from the turmoil. The Empresss face was extremely gloomy. The faces of the officials didnt look any better. While the Great Wu was strong, it couldnt handle so many forces at once. Just dealing with Great Xia had already stretched its resources thin. Moreover, there was also the formidable Great Yan Dynasty, the powerful major dynasties, and the armies of the feudal kings Once they all joined forces against the Great Wu, the situation would be dire. The Empress asked with a grave expression, Esteemed ministers, do you have any good strategies? Your Majesty! an old general stepped forward, arching his hand and speaking loudly, Currently, various forces are mobilizing troops. It will take time! I estimate about a month! So, the current n is to swiftly resolve the situation at Ho Pass, push back the Great Xias forces as soon as possible, and severely intimidate these various forces. Otherwise, the longer we wait, the more disadvantageous it bes for us! Please observe, Your Majesty! The Empress nodded, What the old general says is true! But can a months time be enough? There wont even be enough time to mobilize the troops and sendmanders! Yes, Great Xia still has 800,000 troops. Even just defeating them is a daunting task! Were facing attacks from various sides right now. We can only muster up to 500,000 troops to support Ho Pass! The disparity in forces is significant. Just holding our ground is alreadymendable! What can we do in this situation? Everyones faces were filled with distress. The Empress eximed, Even if you cant think of a solution, you must think! If the Great Wu falls, you will all fall along with it! Yes, Your Majesty! The officials responded with troubled expressions. The Empresss gaze swept across the officials with authority, and finally settled on Lin Beifan, filled with hope. She asked, Sir Lin, do you have any ns to swiftly resolve the situation at Ho Pass and repel the Great Xias forces within a month? Lin Beifan furrowed his brows, Your Majesty, this is a difficult matter to handle. The Empresss eyes brightened, Difficult? Is it impossible to make it possible? Minister, do you have any ideas? Inside, Lin Beifan was thinking, What in the world is this? Could it be interpreted this way? Lin Beifan cupped his hands and smiled wryly, Your Majesty, military affairs are not childs y. Im far from the battlefield here in the court, and I know very little about the situation at Ho Pass. I really dont have a solution. What Sir Lin says is true! The Empress nodded, Heres the n then. We appoint you as the Chief Supervisor. Immediately head to Ho Pass! If necessary, you can seize military authority andmand operations! Its a must that within a month, you resolve the situation at Ho Pass, repel the Great Xias forces, and safeguard the integrity of our Great Wusnds and rivers! Lin Beifan was dumbfounded, the officials were dumbfounded! To actually send Lin Beifan as Chief Supervisor? Its important to note that this role was usually taken on by eunuchs, military officers, ormanders of the Imperial Guard. There was no way it would normally fall to Lin Beifan, who was merely the prefect of the capital city! Even if being Chief Supervisor was possible, allowing Lin Beifan to seize military authority andmand operations? What kind of situation was this? He was a schr-official, not a military general! Your Majesty, is this appropriate? Lin Beifan asked cautiously. The Empress shook her head, Theres no such thing as appropriate or not. If I feel you can do it, then you can! But who will manage the capital city while Im away? Lin Beifan asked again. For minor matters, those below will handle them. For major matters, they cane find me! The Empress said firmly. But Minister, dont refuse! The Empress dered loudly, Now, with Great Xias aggressive momentum and the Great Wu surrounded, at this crucial moment of life and death, there are few people I can trust. And you are one of them! Youve always been resourceful, possessing quick wit. You often find innovative ways to solve problems. Even though the situation is dire this time, I still believe in you. Minister, go! With you here, my heart is at ease. Looking up at the Empresss earnest and hopeful gaze, as well as the faint worry behind her eyes, Lin Beifan recalled her kindness towards him during these days. He felt a subtle stirring in his heart and respectfully replied, I shall obey the order. Good! Excellent! The Empress pped her hands. In this life-and-death situation, all officials must not ck off. Coordinate with Sir Lins actions! If anyone disobeys, they will be dealt with ording to militaryw. Sir Lin, I will grant you a military token and the Imperial Sword. Consider them as if I am personally present, and carry out your duties as needed! The officials unanimously voiced their concerns, Your Majesty, this move is inappropriate. Please reconsider! The Empress overrode their objections, My decision is final. No need for further discussion! Shaking their heads, the officials thought, what a foolish ruler! So, with the military token and the Imperial Sword in hand, Lin Beifan faced the civil and military officials. He said, Esteemed gentlemen, the situation is dire. Lets put aside our past grievances. I implore you all to fully support my actions! If we fail in this battle, everything you have will be in vain. Yes, Sir Lin! The officials reluctantly responded. Since the establishment of the Minxin City, they had been tied to Lin Beifans fate, and also to that of the Great Wu. So, even if they werent happy about it, they had no choice but to fully support Lin Beifan. As he had said, if they didnt, and the battle was lost, everything they had would be in vain. Thus, Lin Beifan began to mobilize troops and gather provisions. While the officials might be greedy, they were also highly capable and acted swiftly. Both provisions and troops were mobilized immediately. They boarded the air-cushion boats and sailed downstream to Ho Pass to support the frontline. It had to be said that since the introduction of air-cushion boats, the Great Wus ability to mobilize forces had increased several-fold. In less than a day, Lin Beifan had gathered over a million units of provisions, weapons, and a hundred thousand soldiers. Speed is vital in war. Were setting out now! Lin Beifan waved his hand. Yes, Sir Lin! The air-cushion boats once again linked together and moved forward in a grand formation. On both sides of the river, there were crowds ofmon people escorting them. Having finally enjoyed a good life, they hoped for a smooth journey and a triumphant return. Sir Lin, take care on your journey! Please return safely. Were waiting for your good news! Victory is certain in this battle! Among them were Li Shi Shi, the Little Princess, and others, waving from the riverbank with a hint of worry in their expressions. Lin Beifan called out, Rest assured, Ill be back soon! Jing Tai, you must protect them! The old monk loudly replied, Master, rest assured, this humble monk will ensure everyones safety. Amitabha! Lin Beifan nodded with relief. The old monk was a grandmaster and capable of protecting others. Besides the old monk, there was also Bai Guanyin observing from the shadows. With this dualyer of assurance, if they still couldnt be protected, Lin Beifans presence wouldnt make a difference! Chapter 260: Battle Begins, Reunion with the Great Xia Crown Prince Chapter 260: Battle Begins, Reunion with the Great Xia Crown Prince Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Just at this moment, a white figure broke through theyers of people and appeared beside Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan turned his head and asked, Night Fragrance, why are you here? Night Fragrance fanned himself with a fan and said helplessly, What else could I be doing? Of course, Im here to ensure your safety! This trip of yours is going into battle, very dangerous! If that thing in your hand identally activates, then Im done for! So, I must protect you at all costs! Lin Beifan smiled, Its good that youre here. There are certain matters that really require your expertise. Night Fragrance eximed, Hey hey hey! Im here only to protect you. I wont do anything rted to charging into battle! When the timees, you wont have a say! Lin Beifan chuckled, feeling a mischievous thought bubbling up inside him. Night Fragrance suddenly felt a chill run through his body. ncing at the sky, he noticed that it was gettingte. Lin Beifan waved his hand, and a strong wind suddenly blew in! Though he stood on the boat, a force prated the river. The river surged and rushed forward! As a result, the speed of the air-cushion boat increased, rushing forward with a crashing sound. Lin Beifan loudly eximed, Look, even the heavens are aiding us! In this battle, we will prevail or not return! The soldiers morale soared, shouting in unison: We will prevail or not return! We will prevail or not return! Advance at full speed! Lin Beifan roared. With this aura of impending victory, everyone advanced at full speed along the river. As they had been on boats the entire time, there was no need for them to march. They could progress day and night using the rivers current and the winds power. Thus, the armys marching speed was extremely fast, covering over 300 miles in just a day! This speed was much faster than riding horses, as horses required rest while boats did not. Finally, astonishingly, they arrived at Ho Pass in just three days. General Zhao, who was guarding Ho Pass, was dumbfounded. Based on past experience, it would take at least three days for the court to mobilize troops, provisions, and weapons. Then, moving at full speed, it might take about ten days to reach here. And if they encountered any problems like unusual weather or natural disasters, it could stretch to half a month or even longer. Thats just for the vanguard of the troops; provisions and weapons might take several more days. So, it would take around half a month to twenty days for the courts support to arrive here. But goodness, it hadnt even been five days since they sent back their military report, and the courts reinforcements were here already, bringing ample provisions and weapons. It was almost unbelievable! General Zhao, weve brought a hundred thousand troops on this journey, along with six million jin of provisions, one million arrows, and thirty thousand sets of armor! This is only the vanguard; there are still a hundred thousand troops and more supplies on their way! Lin Beifan said with a smile. General Zhao immediately bowed in gratitude, Thank you, Sir Lin, for your assistance from afar! But I have a few questions, I hope you can rify them. Lin Beifan had a smile on his face, General Zhao, please speak. General Zhao bowed and curiously asked, Sir Lin, why did the courts reinforcements arrive so swiftly? Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Because we have the waterborne tool, the air-cushion boat, which can transport arge number of troops, provisions, and more! A hundred thousand troops can sit on these air-cushion boats and go downstream! General Zhao frowned, But even if theye by boat, the speed is still too fast, isnt it? Lin Beifan pointed to the sky, Because this is a battle of righteousness, with the heavens help! There was a west wind, an underwater current, favorable wind and water conditions, so the speed naturally increased! But Lin Beifan decisively interrupted his questioning, General Zhao, dont bother about these small details anymore! Several days have already passed. Let me ask you, hows the situation on the battlefield now? Have you encountered any difficulties? General Zhaos expression was filled with frustration. Were these small details? For marching and warfare, werent they crucial? However, the other party clearly didnt want to borate, and General Zhao wisely didnt ask further. ncing at the reinforcements behind Lin Beifan, he said, Sir Lin, I originally had many questions, but with the courts reinforcements arriving early, many of these questions are no longer relevant. General Zhaos face lit up with excitement, I have 200,000 troops here, and with the courts support, we have a total of 400,000 troops! Coupled with ample provisions and weapons, Im confident that we can hold Ho Pass and not allow a single step of the Great Xia forces to advance! Although Great Xia had 800,000 soldiers and they had only 400,000, as the defenders, they had the advantage of the terrain. With this advantage, along with sufficient supplies and weapons, defending Ho Pass was well within their means. If it still wasnt enough, he might as well hang himself. However, Lin Beifan furrowed his brows, General Zhao, this wont do. Why not? General Zhao asked. Lin Beifan proceeded to exin the current predicament the court was facing, one by one. He concluded, Currently, our court is surrounded, in a perilous situation. We must not only hold Ho Pass but also repel the Great Xia forces within a month. Otherwise, the longer we dy, the more unfavorable it will be for us. General Zhao listened, his brows tightly knitted, Sir Lin, this is quite difficult! With 400,000 troops facing 800,000, how can we possibly win? Moreover, we have to repel them within a month. This is nearly an impossible task! Lin Beifan nodded with a wry smile. General Zhao shook his head, The difference in forces is too great. Even if I were possessed by a martial saint, I wouldnt have the ability! Can the court send more reinforcements? This time, Lin Beifan shook his head, We cant send more! These 200,000 troops are already the greatest support our court can provide! We still need enough troops to guard against various nations and fiefdoms. We cant afford to send more people! General Zhao let out a sigh, feeling as if his head was going bald. Just at that moment, horn signals blew from the distance. General Zhaos face changed, and he cursed, Damn it, theyre attacking the city again! Sir Lin, Ill go defend the city gate first and then host youter! You little bastards, kill for me! Saying so, he exerted force from below, leaping several zhang in the air, and swiftly rushed towards the city gate. The other troops were also busy preparing for battle, pounding drums and sounding trumpets. Lin Beifan followed in General Zhaos footsteps and arrived at the city gate. Charge! Push forward! Dont let theme up! The shouts of battle were intense. Looking into the distance, there were tens of thousands of Great Xia soldiers advancing in waves. Some had already reached the base of the city walls, setting updders and climbing onto the walls. Others carried giant logs, ramming against the city gates. Led by General Zhao, the soldiers of Great Wu shot arrows, hurled stones, swung swords, thrust spears They did everything in their power to halt the enemy from entering the city. Beneath the city walls, the ground was littered with bloody bodies, forming mountains of corpses and rivers of blood. This battlefield resembled a massive ughterhouse. General Zhao saw Lin Beifan approaching and shouted, Sir Lin, its dangerous here, quickly retreat! Lin Beifan replied, General Zhao, dont worry. I have protection; nothing will happen to me. General Zhao saw a man and a woman, both of considerable strength, guarding Lin Beifan, so he nodded, In that case, be careful, Sir Lin! Lin Beifan continued to observe the battlefield. This was the first time he witnessedrge-scale close-quartersbat with traditional weapons. His blood was boiling, and he wished he could join in the fight. However, given his strength, participating in the battle would be bullying. So he gestured, summoning a strong gust of wind that swept into the battlefield, carrying dust and sand with it. The soldiers of Great Xia were unable to open their eyes due to the strong wind, and even maintaining their stance became a challenge. General Zhaos spirits lifted, This wind is a godsend! You little rabbits, shoot arrows immediately and kill them for me! Yes, General! The soldiers drew their bows. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh Arrows rained down, sweeping across the battlefield! Due to the favorable wind, the arrows reached quite a distance. The soldiers of Great Xia, unable to open their eyes due to the wind, couldnt evade, and they were hit by the arrows, causing blood to flow on the battlefield. In just a few rounds of arrow rain, General Zhao harvested the lives of tens of thousands of enemy soldiers! Ugh~~ Great Xia retreated. General Zhao waved his hand triumphantly, After fighting so many battles these past few days, todays battle was the mostfortable, the most exhrating! Sir Lin, youre my lucky star! Not only did you bring troops and provisions, but also a resounding victory! Come with me to my mansion. I want to treat you to a feast and drink heartily, ha-ha! With all due respect, I will follow your lead! Lin Beifan smiled. That night, Lin Beifan, General Zhao, and the other generals present enjoyed a thoroughly merry feast. On the second day, Great Xia resumed their siege on the city. Unfortunately, an ill wind struck again. General Zhao seized the opportunity and released a volley of arrows, mercilessly striking down the enemy once again. On the third day, the enemy ceased their attack because the Great Xia Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong, had arrived. He led 500,000 soldiers to the outskirts of Ho Pass. Dressed in silvery-white armor, holding a long spear, mounted on a high-headed silver-white horse, his presence was imposing, like a young war god. Wherever he went, several generals guarded him on both sides, making him the center of attention. The morale of the Great Xia soldiers soared with his arrival. On the city tower, General Zhaos face turned serious, True battle is about to begin. Lin Beifan smiled, General Zhao, do you have confidence? General Zhao smiled bitterly and shook his head, I used to, but there are over thirty innate experts among their forces. Its going to be quite difficult. However, even if our strength isnt enough, we must fight! Thats the spirit! Lin Beifan continued to smile. At that moment, Xia Tianqiong gazed towards Ho Pass and spotted Lin Beifan on the city wall. He smiled and shouted, Sir Lin, its been a few days. Are you well? Although they were far apart, his voice still reached the city wall. Lin Beifan saluted, Thanks to Your Highnesss blessings, I have taken up the post of military supervisor at Ho Pass and am here to meet Your Highness. Xia Tianqiong spoke loudly, Youve arrived at the right time! What do you think about my previous proposal? Lin Beifan responded, Your Highness, our paths are different, so we cannot coborate. Xia Tianqiong nodded, Very well! It seems youve made your choice. In war, lives are at stake, dont me me for being heartless! Raising the long spear in his hand, Xia Tianqiong shouted, For me, charge! Charge!!! Chapter 261: 20 Innate Experts Attack, Achieving Victory in One Battle! Chapter 261: 20 Innate Experts Attack, Achieving Victory in One Battle! 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ughter! Charge into Ho Pass! Push through to Great Wu Capital! This is the moment to make a name for ourselves! Battle cries shook the heavens! The Great Xia army surged forward, an overwhelming force covering the sky,unching another assault on the city! Release the arrows! Hurl the stones! General Zhao shouted loudly. Yes, General! On the city walls and below, many soldiers drew their bows. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh Arrows rained down instantly! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh And numerous giant stones flew into the sky, crashing down onto the battlefield! Just then, Lin Beifan beckoned, summoning a strong gust of wind, sweeping up dust and sand, howling as it swept toward the battlefield. In such a fierce wind, the arrows and stones flew farther, with even greater destructive power. But the soldiers of Great Xia, facing the headwind, struggled to run against it. Not only was it more difficult, but they also couldnt keep their eyes open, unable to discern their direction. Under these conditions, their strength greatly diminished. They were struck by arrows and crushed by stones one after another. Before even reaching the city gate, the casualties had already reached thousands. Great Xias Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong, rode his horse with a grave expression, asking, Whats happening? A general reported, Reporting to Your Highness, the weather at Ho Pass has been abnormal recently. Strong westerly winds have frequently blown, carrying sand and dust with them. This greatly hampers our armys movements and operations! So thats the case! Xia Tianqiong nodded. Warfare emphasized the timing, terrain, and personnel, and none could be missing. Now, the unusual weather was greatly unfavorable to them. In terms of terrain, the enemy upied Ho Pass, holding the higher ground, which was also greatly unfavorable to them. Their only advantage was theirrger numbers, but even with many people, they couldnt kill everyone. Dont make pointless sacrifices! Xia Tianqiong shouted loudly. Hei Hu, Ju Lang, Zi Mo, Jiao Hu He called out the names of 20 people in a row. 20 Innate Experts immediately stepped forward, respectfully saying, Subordinates are here! Xia Tianqiong pointed his spear at Ho Pass and roared, Directly charge into Ho Pass, open the city gates, and lead our troops into the city! Yes, Your Highness! Everyone responded in unison, then disyed their lightness techniques and rapidly headed toward Ho Pass. Beside him, a general eximed, Your Highness, you Xia Tianqiong smiled faintly, This time, I lead the expedition personally with a clear goal in mind. We dont have time to waste here, nor do I want to sacrifice soldiers in vain. We will achieve victory in one battle and settle the oue! Xia Tianqiong raised his red-tasseled spear high, roaring, Today, we will break Ho Pass and enter Great Wu! Break Ho Pass and enter Great Wu! Break Ho Pass and enter Great Wu! The soldiers shouted in unison, their morale soaring. On the city walls of Great Wu, as they saw the 20 Innate Experts approaching like they were entering an uninhabited realm, General Zhaos face turned pale. 20 Innate Experts, how can we withstand this? Were finished! General Zhao, how many Innate Experts do we have? Lin Beifan asked. Including me, we have a total of 8! The disparity is vast, its impossible to turn the tide! General Zhaos expression was bitter. In fact, there is a way! Lin Beifan smiled. What way? General Zhao suddenly turned his head, hope gleaming in his eyes. Lin Beifan turned to the Night Fragrance who fanned himself and acted nonchnt. Night Fragrance felt a bad premonition rising within her heart, Why are you looking at me like that? Are you trying to make me take action? Let me tell you, Ill only ensure your safety, I absolutely wont agree to anything else! Lin Beifan spoke earnestly, Night Fragrance, youre the guardian deity of the people of Great Wu! Think about it, if they break into Great Wu, reach the foot of the capital, and massacre the citizens, can you live up to everyones earnest hopes for you? Are you willing to stand by and watch as they ughter the people of Great Wu? Night Fragrance felt a pang ofpassion. If the city gate fell, if Great Wu was obliterated, if the citizens perished, he would revert to his original state. He would no longer be the unforgettable Imperial Cat, but the infamous thief, Night Fragrance. Although it might not seem like a significant loss, there would always be an emptiness in his heart, as if he had lost something. Thus, he finally spoke up, But even if you want me to take action, I can only deal with three or four at most! They have 20 Innate Experts; we simply cant hold out against them! Its possible, Ill help you! Lin Beifan said. Night Fragrance was puzzled, How can you help me? Lin Beifan pulled out a small knife and tossed it over, saying, Catch! Night Fragrance was greatly surprised and carefully caught the small knife, eximing, Dont just throw things around recklessly! This thing can take lives! This seemingly ordinary small knife was precisely the de that countered Night Fragrances abilities, carrying the will of a Innate Experts martial arts. Dont worry, this thing wont easily cause trouble! Lin Beifan chuckled, With the will of a Innate Expert in this knife, its invincible andparable to a divine weapon. With its assistance, there shouldnt be a problem, right? Indeed, there shouldnt be a problem! Night Fragrance fondly held the knife. With this knife, he could temporarily disy the strength of a Grandmaster. It would be like encountering gods when facing gods, and encountering demons when facing demons. Just the thought of it made him a little excited! General Zhao, this is my n! Lin Beifan looked at General Zhao. Sir Lin, please exin, Im all ears! General Zhao turned his head. Lin Beifan cleared his throat and said, General Zhao, you and the other 7 Innate Experts temporarily dy their 20 experts. Then, have Night Fragranceunch a sneak attack. With his excellent agility and speed, coupled with his strength and a sharp weapon, he can achieve twice the result with half the effort! Can he do it? General Zhao skeptically looked at Night Fragrance. How can a man say cant? Night Fragrance raised his head proudly, holding the small knife, Rest assured, you can count on me! General Zhao couldnte up with a better n, so he could only follow this course of action. Attack! The 8 Innate Experts of Great Wu charged out. In the distance, within the Great Xia camp, Xia Tianqiong, the Crown Prince of Great Xia, sneered and said arrogantly, You think 8 Innate Experts alone can stop our experts? Youre overestimating yourselves! Your Highness, the situation in Great Wu is irreversible! Were breaking Ho Pass right now! A nearby general beamed with excitement. Congrattions, Your Highness! Breaking Ho Pass is happening right now! Everyone congratted him in unison. Hahaha! Xia Tianqiong burst into proudughter. However, at this moment, with a wave of Lin Beifans hand, the wind grew even stronger! A fierce wind roared, carrying sand and stones, shrouding the sky and earth. Under these circumstances, visibility dropped to mere ten feet ahead! The battlefield turned into chaos, with only the sounds of battle echoing. However, Xia Tianqiong and the others remained calm. In their view, no matter how strong the wind, it couldnt affect Innate Experts. I have 20 Innate Experts, how can you contend against me? Ho Pass was undoubtedly going to fall! At this moment, on the battlefield shrouded in the fierce wind and yellow sand, the Innate Experts of both countries were already engaged inbat. They fought to the point where the heavens and earth crumbled, and the sun and moon lost their brilliance. However, Great Wus Innate Experts were in the minority. Each of them had to deal with 2 to 3 opponents, barely holding their ground. If this continued, they would inevitably fail, unable to stop the experts of Great Xia. Just then, Night Fragrance was like a lurking venomous snake, hidden amidst the battlefield. As a world-renowned thief, his disguising and stealth abilities were formidable. He had even managed to impersonate a Great Xia soldier and sneak near a Great Xia Innate Expert, getting ready to strike when the opportunity arose. Swoosh! That Innate Expert never expected his own troops to turn against him. Whats more, he couldnt have anticipated that the opponent possessed the pinnacle strength of a Innate Expert and wielded a divine weapon In that split second, Night Fragrance pierced through his heart from behind. A single strike, a fatal end! Night Fragrance acted swiftly. After dispatching the first Innate Expert, he immediatelyunched an unexpected attack on the second Great Xia Innate Expert. Although the opponent had some precautions in ce, he was still pierced by Night Fragrance. Thus, a double kill was achieved! The Great Wu Innate Experts were overjoyed, Great! Night Fragrance looked at the knife in his hand with delight, Excellent de! Truly an indomitable weapon! While he had the strength to kill ordinary Innate Experts, it would take him a few moves and some time to defeat an opponent. However, with this knife, he could finish off an opponent in a single strike! Powerful! Too powerful! The Great Wu Innate Experts approached, and Night Fragrance whispered, You go support the others, create opportunities for them, and Ill attack secretly! Alright! The other person responded. Saying that, he immediately entered another battlefield. General Zhao, Im here to assist you! The leader on this battlefield was indeed General Zhao, a powerhouse who single-handedly held back three Innate Experts. Seeing someoneing to support him, a glint of joy shed in his eyes. Moreover, the fact that the person had arrived indicated that Night Fragrance had seeded, at least eliminating two enemies. 3 against 1, a natural victory! Then, they continued with such operations. One person would confront the enemy head-on to attract their attention, while Night Fragrance waited for the chance to strike secretly. Due to the wind and sand dividing them into individual battlefields, no one could see clearly, nor could they discern specific situations, so their actions went smoothly. One by one, the Innate Experts became the victims of Night Fragrances de. When the Great Xia Innate Experts realized something was wrong, ten of their own had already been killed! The situation isnt right, lets retreat! General Zhao and the others emerged, blocking their path. Haha, you cant escape now! Since youre here, dont leave, or others might find it impolite! Leave your lives here! The battle began, but now the roles of attack and defense had reversed! After about half a joss sticks worth of time, the violent wind finally began to dissipate, and the billowing smoke and dust gradually settled. The battlefield became clearer, allowing them to see the path ahead. Within the Great Xia camp The wind has finally stopped, the sound has quieted down. It seems the battle has ended! Who won and who lost? Do we even need to say? We have 20 Innate Experts; how could Great Wu be a match for us? Perhaps the city gate has already opened, and theyre weing His Highness! One after another, generals praised the situation. Xia Tianqiong listened with a smile, bursting into heartyughter, Good! It seems the overall situation is settled! Lets see how our 20 warriors have fared in battle. But when they looked at the oue, they were dumbfounded! Utterly dumbfounded! Chapter 262: The Collapsing Great Xia Crown Prince Chapter 262: The Copsing Great Xia Crown Prince Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
As far as the eye could see, the soldiers who had previously attacked the city were all lying on the ground! And their highly anticipated 20 Innate Experts were nowhere to be found! Ho Pass remained unscathed; the city gates had not been breached. The defending soldiers were still intact, and the Great Wu armys banners fluttered high in the wind, as if nothing had happened. Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong of Great Xia was dumbfounded! Great Xiasmanders were dumbfounded! Great Xias soldiers were dumbfounded! After a while, Xia Tianqiong finally managed to stammer, This whats going on? Can anyone tell me where theyve gone? Where are they?! An unimaginable foreboding surged within him! Crown Prince, look over there! Amander pointed at a spot, shocked, and said, That person seems to be ck Tiger! ck Tiger Wheres ck Tiger? Xia Tianqiong followed the direction of his finger, gazing intently. He saw a bloody corpse lying among a heap of bodies, eyes wide open, the expression of death refusing to close them. Xia Tianqiongs whole body trembled, This is ck Tiger What happened to him? Crown Prince, it seems hes been killed by someone! Xia Tianqiong trembled again, Hes a Fifth-Rank Innate Expert, who could have killed him? Crown Prince, I dont know At this point, another person pointed at a spot, Crown Prince, look there! It seems to be General Giant Wolf! Xia Tianqiong looked over immediately and saw another bloody corpse. His chest appeared to have been pierced, blood flowing out, staining the surrounding grass. Hes Giant Wolf! What happened to him? Xia Tianqiong asked excitedly. Crown Prince, it seems hes dead too, killed by someone Impossible! How could this be? How could he have been killed? Xia Tianqiongs face paled, and he roared in anger. Crown Prince, look over there. It seems to be Master Zimo. It seems hes dead too! Crown Prince, that body seems to be Sly Foxs Crown Prince As one body after another was identified, everyones morale grew increasingly dismal and sorrowful. Until finally, the bodies of the 20 Innate Experts were all recognized. Each death was quite horrifying, all of them pierced through the heart by someone else, their faces twisted in a grimace. Theyre dead Theyre actually all dead! Xia Tianqiongs face turned ashen as paper, his lips trembling. Seated on his high horse, he seemed unsteady, as if he might topple at any moment. Take care, Your Highness! Themanders all said in unison. How can I take care of myself? These were my most trusted and beloved generals! Theyre all dead, all of them! Im heartbroken, do you even understand? Xia Tianqiongs eyes were red, and he let out a furious roar. These were 20 Innate Experts! Innate Experts, no matter where they were, were not just easily expendable! Each one was a formidable existence, capable of taking on thousands single-handedly, an unparalleled powerhouse amidst a sea of troops! Such experts were exceedingly rare; even ten thousand warriors might not produce a single Innate Expert! He would rather sacrifice 200,000 troops than lose 20 Innate Experts! Crown Prince Everyone felt equally sorrowful and distressed, unsure of how to console him. Xia Tianqiong eximed emotionally, Tell me, who exactly killed them? I must avenge them! I absolutely cannot let them die in vain! Everyone shook their heads, sighing, unable to find words to say. At this point, who else could have killed them? Isnt it obvious? Clearly, Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong was a bit confused and incoherent in his anger! Just then, Night Fragrance, who had returned in triumph to Ho Pass, waved his hand and called out, Green Hat Prince, have you received the gift I sent you? Twenty corpses, surprising and delightful, arent they? Xia Tianqiong roared in fury, My trusted and beloved generals you killed them? Tell me, was it you? Night Fragrance was a bit stunned. After all, they had all collectively participated in the killing. Why was he being solely med? But upon careful consideration, he realized that these 20 individuals did indeed die by his hand. So, he nodded, fanning himself while wearing a smug grin, Exactly, it was me! Like ughtering little chickens, one by one, I sent them to meet the King of Hell! Ive never killed so efficiently before, haha! Xia Tianqiongs eyes turned bloodshot, his chest filled with overwhelming killing intent! So, youre the ringleader! The hatred of these fallen generals was beyond reckoning! Xia Tianqiong pointed his spear at Night Fragrance atop the city gate and shouted, Guards, go kill that madman for me! Night Fragrance taunted, Come on,e on, do you think Im afraid of you? Provoked, Xia Tianqiong grew even angrier, Kill him for me! Hurry! Calm down, Your Highness. We would only be walking to our deaths if we went. He must have unique methods to have killed 20 Innate Experts. Dont act recklessly until we understand. Your Highness, stay calm, dont be impulsive! Everyone began to offer advice. Realizing that he couldnt let his men die in vain, Xia Tianqiong turned to a seemingly ordinary old man standing nearby, and with a touch of respect, said, Elder ck, please help me kill that madman! This old man was the Grandmaster tasked with protecting the Crown Prince. Elder ck shook his head, I cant kill him! His lightness technique is exceptional. If he could have been killed, he wouldve been long ago. Xia Tianqiongs eyes turned crimson. He pointed at Tiger Prison Pass and gritted his teeth, Since we cant kill Night Fragrance, then help me wipe out Great Wus Innate Experts! Eliminate them all, tit for tat! Elder cks expression remained calm as he refused, Crown Prince, your request goes too far! I promise His Majesty to ensure your safety, but I wont get involved in anything else. But they killed my generals, I need to avenge them! Elder cks demeanor was indifferent, People die, so what? Who in this world can escape death? Which Innate Expert hadnt emerged from a sea of corpses and bloodshed? He had long grown indifferent to such matters. These dead people had nothing to do with him, and their deaths wouldnt affect his interests. Why should he avenge their deaths? Taking action might even be seen as bullying the weak and losing face. Xia Tianqiongs eyes were filled with disappointment and resentment. Being respected and revered by the court, these Innate Experts were even out of his fathers control. He couldntmand them at all. Seeing the plummeting morale of his army and realizing that further battle was inadvisable, Xia Tianqiong said reluctantly, Withdraw! Order the troops to withdraw! Great Xias army temporarily retreated. The generals and soldiers of Tiger Prison Pass erupted in cheers, We won! Weve repelled Great Xia! We won this battle! What a miracle! This battle was perilous, and victory was hard-earned! General Zhaos face was flushed with excitement as he loudly proimed, Tonight, Ill host a feast to treat you all. We wont return sober! Thank you, General Zhao! everyone cheered. During the feast, Night Fragrance, the biggest hero of this operation, received toast after toast, bing the most radiant figure in the room. Night Fragrance was so happy, so proud, and so inted, its beyond words! He alone killed 20 Innate Experts and scared off 800,000 fierce lions of Great Xia! This battle was enough to boast about for a lifetime! After returning to the capital city, he would definitely be idolized by the whole city once again! Come, lets drink! Lets drink to our hearts content! When he returned to his room to rest at night, he ran into Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan smiled and spread his hands, saying, Night Fragrance, shouldnt you return my little knife now? Night Fragrance pretended to be tipsy, speaking in a muddled manner, What what are you saying I dont know what youre talking about Im drunk lets talk about it tomorrow! Since youre drunk, Ill just take it myself! Lin Beifan chuckled and beckoned. A small knife flew out from Night Fragrances sleeve andnded in Lin Beifans hand. Night Fragrance was suddenly rmed and reached out, saying, Hey! My knife! My knife Seeing Lin Beifans ambiguous smile, he gave a wry smile and retracted his hand. Lin Beifan sneered, It seems youre not drunk! If youre not drunk, then its simple. I have a task for you tonight! Night Fragrance exploded, A task at thiste hour? Ive achieved great merit today. Cant you let me rest? Im a human being, not a beast! This task can only be entrusted to you! Lin Beifan said, Among us, youre the strongest at level 400, with excellent lightness technique, skilled in disguise and stealth. Who else can I ask? It would be better to finish this battle sooner and go back. Fine, tell me what the task is! Night Fragrance nonchntly shook his head. This task is simple! Lin Beifan whispered, I want you to go into the Great Xia military camp and cause some minor disruptions! Like killing a few Innate Experts, burning supplies, and so on. If you could capture Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong, even better! Night Fragrances eyes nearly popped out in shock, Is this simple? Are Innate Experts so easy to kill? If they were that easy, they wouldnt be Innate Experts! You want me to burn supplies? Those supplies are heavily guarded. How am I supposed to burn them? And capturing the Crown Prince Night Fragrance gave Lin Beifan a disgruntled re, Just say you want me dead! Lin Beifan was a bit annoyed and pointed to his chest, saying, What are you saying? How could I bear to let you die? How do you see me? Know that Im the one in the entire world who cant bear to see you dead the most! Night Fragrance felt a bit moved, Lord Prefect, you Only if youre alive can you continue to help me amass wealth! If you die, wont I lose a source of ie? Night Fragrance eximed, Damn! He had been naively moved just now, but youre still that cunning Lin Beifan! You want to squeeze me to death, so greedy! Night Fragrance shivered in anger. Dont look at me like that. While Im greedy, I have principles. Im always generous to my own people! Heres the deal: if you follow orders and sessfullyplete all tasks on this mission, Ill give you this small knife! Lin Beifan pulled out the knife and tossed it back to Night Fragrance. Night Fragrance caught it, his spirits lifting, Really? Why would I lie to you? You wont lose anything in the end! Night Fragrance thought for a moment and nodded, Fair enough! A gentlemans word is as good as his bond. Lin Beifan echoed, A gentlemans word is as good as his bond. Watching Night Fragrances excited figure leave with the small knife, Lin Beifan chuckled to himself. I managed to sell you so easily, this feels great! This little knife, I can get as many as I want, hehe! Chapter 263: The Nation’s War Can Be Lost, But Night Fragrance Must Die! Chapter 263: The Nations War Can Be Lost, But Night Fragrance Must Die! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After receiving Lin Beifans promised reward, Night Fragrance was extremely happy. Its just about causing havoc, isnt this my old profession? Tonight, Night Fragrance will create chaos in the Great Xia military camp! He used light footwork to leap out of the wall, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at the Great Xia military camp. Amid heavy guards, he infiltrated the camp without a trace, as if moving through an uninhabited realm, unnoticed by anyone. When he appeared again, he hadpletely changed his appearance. Wearing a set of generals armor, with dark, oily skin and a full beard, his body was strong, and he walked with a powerful stride. In his hand, he carried a jug of wine, and the fragrance of the wine slowly wafted out. The guards and soldiers along the way saw him and stood tall and straight, saying, Greetings General Li! Night Fragrance, ying the role of a general, nodded sternly and said, Pay attention, all of you, especially at night. Its easy to be ambushed by others at night! I heard that Night Fragrance is most skilled in stealth and disguise. Hes likely to act at night! So, you must keep a close watch and not let him sneak in, understood? Yes, General Li! they replied in unison. Good, you continue your watch. Im going to find General Liu for a drink! Night Fragrance arrived at a military tent, guarded by two elite soldiers. Each general had their own tent, and this tent belonged to General Liu. This old man wants to have a drink with General Liu. Please inform him! Yes, General Li! In less than a moment, General Liu, who had removed his armor, opened the tent, surprised and asked, General Li, why have youe? Night Fragrance sighed, Ah! So many people died today, my mood is heavy, and I cant sleep. So, I wanted toe and have a drink with you. I hope General Liu doesnt mind! General Liu was even more surprised. His rtionship with General Li was merely casual. They exchanged nods, yet here General Li was, seeking to drink with him? After all, they were colleagues, and in the military, they were bound to encounter each other frequently. General Liu invited him inside. General Li, pleasee in! Thank you! Next, the two of them drank and chatted without much direction. When they talked about the tragedy of the day, Night Fragrance unexpectedly shed two hot tears, pounding his chest and crying bitterly, as if wishing he could take their ce. Gradually, General Liu began to sympathize. He hadnt expected General Li to have such a passionate and emotional side. Even though they were just ordinary colleagues, he felt the depth of General Lis emotions. Such a person was worth befriending. So, he went a step further, advising, General Li, the dead cant be brought back to life. Try to ept it Just then, Night Fragrance suddenly attacked! He thrust a knife into General Lius chest, creating a bloody hole. You you General Lius face was filled with shock. Night Fragrance swung his knife again, severing General Lius neck. In this way, General Liu died. At the moment his eyes closed, he didnt understand why he was being killed. Night Fragrance immediately helped General Liu onto the bed, covered him with a nket, and pretended he was asleep. Then he poured the wine in his hand, using its aroma to cover the smell of blood. After sessfullypleting his mission, Night Fragrance shed another tear, left the tent, and said to the two guards on duty, General Liu had too much to drink just now, and he has a headache. Hes already asleep. Dont disturb him. Yes, General Li! the two guards responded. After Night Fragrance left, they secretly opened the tent p and saw theirmander indeed asleep, the strong smell of alcohol filling the air, making them feel nauseated. It seems hes really asleep. Wasnt General Liu known for being able to handle a thousand cups without getting drunk? Why does he look like hespletely wasted? Well, that depends on whether he wants to get drunk! Maybe hes pretending to be drunk to dismiss General Li? True enough! Anyway, lets not worry about that. Lets focus on our own tasks! The two continued their watch, unaware that the person they were protecting had already turned cold. Next, Night Fragrance followed the same pattern, killing another expert and feeling delighted. Great luck! Ive killed 22 experts consecutively! After today, Night Fragrance will definitely be renowned! Haha! However, theyll probably discover it soon. I need to retreat after setting the fire! Night Fragrance looked at the knife in his hand and thought, Ill try to kill one more person, then set fire to the provisions. Ill burn as much as I can! With another jug of wine in hand, he went to the next tent with a slightly tipsy demeanor. Unbeknownst to him, someone was secretly following him. This Night Fragrance is quite skilled in assassination. Even if hes not a thief, he has a promising future as an assassin! Since you want to be famous, Ill lend you a hand! With a knife simr to Night Fragrances in hand, the mysterious person swiftly went out and returned with blood. Then, Night Fragrance used the same method to kill another expert. At this point, there was amotion outside. General Liu is dead! General Wang is in trouble too! Enemy attack!!! Night Fragrances expression changed. Looks like weve been exposed. After setting the fire, its time to retreat! He rushed out quickly, heading straight for the granary. After starting a fire, he escaped. Job well done, time to go to sleep! Hehe! The hidden person observed, somewhat speechless. This little fire isnt enough. Ill lend you a hand again! With a wave of their hand, terrifying mes spread, dispersing in all directions. Another wave, and a strong wind blew in from the sky. In less than a moment, the mes soared to the sky! The food is on fire! Quickly put out the fire! Everyone,e help, the food is almost gone! Hurry, put out the fire! The Crown Prince of Great Xia, Xia Tianqiong, was awakened by themotion outside. Stepping out of his tent, he saw the towering mes and felt his heart sink. Whats happening? Why is it on fire? A guard reported, Your Highness, an assassin has infiltrated the camp and set fire to the provisions! Xia Tianqiong was furious. They actually set fire to the provisions? Wheres General Zhao, whos in charge of the granary? Where did he die? Shortly after, a soldier came rushing in, panic-stricken. Reporting to Your Majesty, General Zhao, whos in charge of the granary, is dead. He was killed in his tent! What? Xia Tianqiongs face darkened. Another expert of the Celestial Realm had died? Was he having a particrly unlucky day, with so many skilled experts being killed? Who killed General Zhao in the end? Xia Tianqiong roared. Reporting to Your Highness, its not known at the moment! But its highly likely that it was that assassin! Damn! Xia Tianqiong clenched his teeth, looking at the towering mes. He shouted, General Zhao is dead, but isnt there General Wang? He also had responsibilities over the provisions. Where is he now? Not long after, another soldier came rushing in, flustered. Your Highness, something bad has happened! General Wang, who was in charge of overseeing the provisions, is also dead. He was killed in his tent! What? Another one dead? Xia Tianqiong was shocked and dismayed. He held the soldier with both hands and yelled in disbelief, Are you kidding me? Its absolutely true, Your Highness! the soldier said, his face grim. Really dead Xia Tianqiong suffered another blow, his expression dazed. Just at that moment, another soldier came running, anxious and breathless. Your Highness, General Liu has just been discovered dead in his tent! Another one dead? Xia Tianqiongs body wobbled. Who killed him? Reporting to Your Highness, I dont know for sure, but its highly likely that it was General Li! Because earlier, General Li came to have a drink with General Liu. Shortly after he left, General Liu was found dead! Xia Tianqiong was furious, Nonsense! How could General Li have possibly killed General Liu? They had no enmity between them. Moreover, could General Li have killed General Liu? Since youre saying its him, then let General Lie here and face me to exin in person! In less than a moment, another soldier ran over. Your Highness, General Li is dead. He died in his own tent! What? Another one dead? Xia Tianqiongs face changed drastically. Then, soldier after soldier rushed in, panicking, to report the situation. With each arrival came news of another Celestial Realm experts death. Xia Tianqiongs face grew darker and darker, until it turned paler, eventually losing all color. He became limp, drained of strength, and copsed to the ground. Dead! Theyre all dead All of them! The more than 30 Innate Realm experts he had brought were all dead in less than a day! They hadnt even breached the Ho Pass, they hadnt even aplished anything yet, and they were already all dead. What a huge blow! Even with mes soaring in the distance, it couldnt illuminate his inner turmoil. Heatwaves washed over him, yet they couldnt warm his heart. On the second day, the Great Xia army once again appeared at the city gates. Exhausted and furious, Xia Tianqiong pointed his spear at Night Fragrance on the city gate, Night Fragrance, I demand an answer from you. Was it you who attacked our campst night, killed my people, and burned our provisions? Night Fragrance, with an air of arrogance, raised his fan and loudly dered, Thats right, it was me, your granddaddy! I killed them and set the fire. What can you do to me? Indeed, its you! I knew it was you! Xia Tianqiongs eyes turned bloodshot, filled with murderous intent. It was as if he was facing an archenemy, his voice dripping with resentment, You bastard! You actually killed all 35 of the Innate Realm experts I brought, and burned all the provisions I had with me. We are now sworn enemies! What? Night Fragrance was dumbfounded. He clearly remembered he had killed only 23 Celestial Realm experts20 during the day and 3 at night. How did it be 35? An increase of exactly 12 people! Moreover, setting fire to provisions, his fire could at most burn down a single granary. How did it manage to burn all the provisions? It didnt make any sense at all! Just as he was about to exin, Lin Beifan turned to look at him and eximed in delight, Night Fragrance, I never expected you to wipe out all their Celestial Realm experts and burn all their provisions. Impressive! I didnt see thating. You, young man, indeed possess remarkable capabilities! I knew you wouldnt let me down! Other officials and generals raised their thumbs in admiration. Truly Night Fragrance, the Imperial Cat! He singlehandedly exterminated their Innate Realm experts and burned their provisions. Thats incredibly impressive! Youve aplished a great feat. When you return, Her Majesty will certainly reward you generously! Amid the praise, Night Fragrance gradually lost himself and stopped exining. At this moment, Xia Tianqiong waved his hand and roared, Attack the city! We must take down the Ho Pass and capture Night Fragrance! But Your Highness, the casualties will be significant! I dont care about that anymore. Today, we must take revenge! Xia Tianqiongs eyes were filled with vengeful determination. He gritted his teeth and dered, We can lose the national war, but Night Fragrance must die!!! Chapter 264: Commanding the Wind and Rain, Hunting Down the Great Xia Army and the Crown Prince! Chapter 264: Commanding the Wind and Rain, Hunting Down the Great Xia Army and the Crown Prince! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
ughter!!! The battle cry shook the heavens. Once again, the Great Xia army surged towards the Ho Pass, densely packed and endless. The view was filled with heads and ck armor. General Zhao shouted from the city gate, Fire the arrows! Loose the arrows! Swish, swish, swish Arrows rained down like a storm. Due to the dense rain of arrows and the tightly packed Great Xia soldiers, the arrows hit wherever they were aimed. Many Great Xia soldiers fell before they could reach the city gate. Crown Prince Xia Tianqiongs eyes were crimson as he watched this scene. Although the casualties were immense, he couldnt care less. Right now, he needed an outlet, a way to vent all his angerpletely. Even if it required a certain cost, he considered it worth it. His gaze locked onto the white figure on the city gate again. His eyes grew even redder, and a boundless killing intent surged, as if he wanted to tear him apart, bone by bone, and shred him into pieces. Feeling those eyes fixed on him, Night Fragrance couldnt help but roll his eyes, So, I killed a few of your men and burned some of your supplies. Do you really need to hate me this much? Everyone listened in speechless astonishment. Killed a few of your men? Seriously? Youve wiped out all their Innate Realm experts and burned down their supplies. How could they not hate you? Burned some supplies? Seriously? You incinerated the provisions of their army of hundreds of thousands. How could they not want to kill you? If they were in their shoes, they would want to take him down as well. At this moment, Xia Tianqiong turned to the Grandmaster next to him and respectfully said, Elder Hei, I implore you to break down the city gate and capture Night Fragrance for me. I swear Ill tear him to pieces! Elder Heis expression was cold, Your Highness, Im only responsible for your safety. Other matters are of no concern to me. Elder Hei, as long as you help me, Im willing to Xia Tianqiong clenched his teeth and offered a series of generous conditions. Elder Heis expression finally changed. He rxed his stance and said, Your Highness, since youre so sincere, and Im not an inflexible person, I will help you capture Night Fragrance! However, as for breaking the city gate, Ill leave that to others. I dont want to bear the reputation of bullying the weak with strength. Xia Tianqiong was overjoyed, Thats enough, thank you, Elder Hei! Night Fragrance, surrender yourself! Elder Hei shouted loudly, soaring into the air like a goose, flying towards the Ho Pass. The immense aura of a Grandmaster swept through, oppressing everyone present. Night Fragrance was startled, They actually sent a Grandmaster to kill me? Although he possessed great strength and exceptional lightness skills! Although he had the small knife imbued with the will of the Grandmaster! He still wasnt certain whether he could contend with a Grandmaster! To preserve his own life, the most important thing right now was to flee! His body turned into a white shadow, rapidly leaving the Ho Pass. He left only a sentence behind, Everyone, a Grandmaster is here. This young master is no match. Ill lead him away. Well meet again another day! Lin Beifan shouted, Run towards the direction of Great Xia! Understood! The Great Xia Grandmaster followed Night Fragrances figure, and the two of them quickly disappeared. However, the great battle continued. The Great Xia army continued their assault on the city, while the Great Wu forces continued to defend the city. At this moment, Lin Beifan closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a terrifying force of nature surged into the sky. Flowing Through the Six Vacuities Art Calling the Wind and Summoning the Rain! In an instant, the colors of the heavens and earth changed. Strong winds swept in, ck clouds rapidly gathered, and lightning crackled. After a while, a loud rumble sounded, and heavy rain poured down. Whoosh, whoosh Splish, ssh Gale-force winds howled, and the rain poured like a deluge! Under these conditions, the battle became extremely challenging, with visibility reduced to almost nothing. Especially for the Great Xia soldiers, as the attacking side, they had to run against the wind, soaked by the rain. Their footsteps were wet and heavy, making it impossible for them to exert their full strength. Your Highness, the weather is unfavorable. We should retreat for now! a general advised. Xia Tianqiong shook his head, We cant retreat. Were out of supplies now! It takes three days for the provisions to arrive, and these three days are our weakest. If we cant take Ho Pass today, seize the supplies in the city, well be in a passive situation! If they take advantage and attack us, what can we do? At that time, the casualties will be even greater! Instead of being passive and getting beaten up, we must give it our all while we still have some strength left! Taking Ho Pass today will secure our position! With provisions in the city, we wont starve! What you said makes sense, Your Highness! The general nodded, not pressing the matter further. Everyone, hold on a bit longer! This weather will pass quickly. The rain will stop soon, and it wont have a significant impact. Once we take Ho Pass, everything will fall into ce! Xia Tianqiong said loudly. Yes, Your Highness! Then, they greatly underestimated the severity of the weather. Under Lin Beifans maniption, the rain showed no sign of stopping. Instead, it grew even heavier. The heavy rain affected both sides of the war, but it impacted the Great Xia side more profoundly. This was because the Great Wu forces could take shelter within the city walls, rotating their soldiers and taking advantage of the elevated position to eliminate the enemy. The Great Xia soldiers, on the other hand, were exposed to the wild wind and rain, their bodies drenched, cold, and heavy, their steps muddied. They couldnt even walk properly, let alone fight. Combined with their hunger, their strength was barely at three or four tenths. Whilemanding the battle, General Zhao eximed in delight, This heavy rain is a blessing from the heavens! Little bunnies, hang in there! Victory will surely be ours! Yes, General! Everyone saw the glimmer of victory. As the heavy rain persisted, the casualties on the Great Xia side gradually increased, and the rainwater turned red as bodies littered the ground. It didnt look like a battle; it looked more like a ughter. Tens of thousands of soldiers were lost just like that. On the Great Wu side, although there were casualties, they were negligiblepared to the Great Xia losses. One day passed quickly, yet they still couldnt capture Ho Pass. Xia Tianqiong finally shouted unwillingly, Retreat! The Great Xia army receded like a tide. Within Ho Pass, everyone cheered and celebrated, smiles on their faces. Weve won! Weve emerged victorious once again! Weve defended Ho Pass, haha! At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward, Now is not the time to celebrate. Though Great Xia suffered a great defeat, their army still greatly outnumbers ours. While theyve temporarily retreated, they might return. What we need to do now is to seize this opportunity and pursue them relentlessly, dealing a heavy blow to a drowning dog! General Zhao immediately shook his head, Thats not feasible! Although Great Xia suffered a major defeat, their army still far surpasses ours in numbers. Our chances of sess in pursuing them are minimal! Moreover, our soldiers are exhausted. Now is the time for rest, not pursuit. We should focus on defending the city! Lin Beifan raised his voice, General Zhao, you must understand that what we need is not a single victory in a single battle, nor just holding onto Ho Pass. We must resolve this war within a month,pletely driving back the Great Xia forces. Otherwise, Great Wu will be in jeopardy! General Zhao still hesitated, But, the risk is really too high Lin Beifan pulled out the Shangfang Treasure Sword and the military token, shouting, Now, I am takingmand of the entire army! Everyone, regardless of your position, must obey orders! Those who disobey will face military justice and will not be pardoned! General Zhao looked at the Shangfang Treasure Sword and the military token in Lin Beifans hand, and with a bitter smile, he bowed, I shall obey! Other generals and officers chimed in together, We shall obey! Next, Lin Beifan issued orders. He instructed General Zhaos troops and seven other innate experts to advance ahead, blocking the retreat of the Great Xia army. Meanwhile, he himself led arge group to encircle and outnk from behind. Whoosh, whoosh Eight figures shot up into the sky and disappeared from sight. Then, the gates of Ho Pass swung open wide, and the soldiers of Great Wu charged out in a formidable and determined manner. The killing intent was intense, and their momentum was overwhelming. Attack!!! Annihte all invaders! Great Wu will triumph! Xia Tianqiong was so frightened that his soul seemed to be escaping his body, Theyve actually broken through! Retreat! Run! After fighting for an entire day, the Great Xia soldiers were cold, hungry, exhausted, and devoid of any fighting spirit. How could they possibly be a match for Great Wu? They could only lead their battered and defeated troops and flee for their lives. Lin Beifanmanded the army, moving at a steady pace, No need to rush. Right now, we have them trapped like turtles in a jar. We can slow down and conserve our energy. They wont be able to escape. The faster they run, the quicker theyll meet their end! Yes, Sir Lin! And so, Lin Beifan led the army in a methodical pursuit. The momentum was enormous, with drums beating loudly, and battle cries resounding, creating an intimidating sight. The Great Xia army was utterly terrified. They could only run for their lives, rapidly depleting their strength. Some couldnt keep up and gradually fell behind, only to be easily wiped out by the Great Wu soldiers. After nearly a whole night of pursuit, Lin Beifans forces suffered minimal losses, but Great Xia lost tens of thousands. Seeing this scene, Xia Tianqiong felt a mixture of pain and helplessness. Because neither escaping nor staying put was an option! Staying put would result in the deaths of his 100,000 soldiers and perhaps even himself. Escaping would lead to sacrifices as well, but it would only amount to the death and injury of tens of thousands. When choosing between two evils, one must choose the lesser. He had no choice but to make this decision. Damn it! Ill remember this debt! I will definitely make them pay for this someday! Xia Tianqiongs anger soared, his hatred bordering on madness. As the Crown Prince of Great Xia, when had he ever been in such a pathetic state? This would be an indelible stain on his reputation! He absolutely had to get his revenge, or his thoughts would remain unsettled and his heart unfulfilled. Run, everyone! As long as we get across the Wujiang River ahead, well be safe! They wont be able to catch up! Xia Tianqiong shouted loudly, trying to motivate the group. Inspired by his words, everyone ran a bit faster. However, when they reached the Wujiang River, their expressions changed dramatically. The river was swift and turbulent, surging forward like a giant wave. It was impossible to cross. Damn it! After a day of rain, the Wujiang River has swollen, and its current is ferocious! Xia Tianqiongs face turned as dark as iron. Looking across the opposite bank, he noticed a few more figures. His expression changed once again. He recognized these individuals; they were the innate experts of Great Wu. They had blocked their path on the other side of the river. With the rivers swift current and the experts blocking the way, crossing the Wujiang River was practically impossible. And when he looked further behind, Lin Beifan was slowly leading his army in pursuit. Seeing the disheveled Xia Tianqiong, Lin Beifan smiled and said, Crown Prince of Great Xia, how much longer do you n on running? Chapter 265: With One Move, He Killed an Expert! Chapter 265: With One Move, He Killed an Expert! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan! Xia Tianqiong gritted his teeth, rain and sweat soaking his forehead. If he had admired Lin Beifan before, now he utterly hated him. Because his pursuit had turned him into a desperate, miserable dog without a way out. Crown Prince, you cant escape now. Surrender and put down your weapons obediently! Otherwise, idents can happen in the heat of battle, and losing your life wouldnt be good! Lin Beifan urged loudly. Xia Tianqiong found this sentence both familiar and grating! Didnt he say the same thing to Lin Beifan when they had brought 800,000 soldiers to the city walls? Back then, he had been full of vigor and self-satisfaction. In less than two days, the tables had turned! Xia Tianqiong was filled with rage and frustration. He yelled, Surrender? Dream on! We are the strong sons of Great Xia. We can only stand and die, never kneel and live! Stand and die, never kneel and live! roared the Great Xia army. Xia Tianqiong drew his crimson-threaded spear and pointed it towards Lin Beifan, shouting, Strong sons of Great Xia, follow me and kill! Kill!!! Tens of thousands of soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking heaven and earth. Their morale surged in response. ng, ng The soldiers of Great Wu beside Lin Beifan raised their weapons spears, swords, and shields preparing for battle. Lin Beifan ordered, General Zhao, General Wang Take down the Great Xia Crown Prince first! Yes, Sir Lin! The eight innate experts moved forward in unison, fierce mes engulfing them as they charged into the ranks of the Great Xia army. Protect the Crown Prince! Protect His Highness! However, the Great Xia experts were already wiped out, and the Grandmaster had been led away by Night Fragrance. Who could stop the eight innate experts? They cut through enemies and created a bloody path, heading straight for Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong! Xia Tianqiong knew that the situation was hopeless. His face was filled with despair as he grabbed a blood-stained knife and moved it towards his neck. He would rather die heroically than surrender to the enemy! But just then, his body unexpectedly froze. He couldnt move at all. General Zhao and the others easily closed in on him, capturing him and bringing him before Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan picked up a knife, ced it against Xia Tianqiongs neck, and shouted, The Crown Prince of Great Xia is here! If you dont surrender, dont me me for being ruthless! Crown Prince! Your Highness! The Great Xia soldiers eximed in sorrow. Xia Tianqiongs face twisted with rage, and he struggled to speak, to tell them not to surrender. But unfortunately, for some unknown reason, he couldnt move his body or utter a word. He could only watch helplessly as the Great Xia soldiers, one after another, dropped their weapons and surrendered. The shock was too great, the emotions too intense, and he passed out. Lin Beifan then ordered the soldiers to confiscate the weapons of the Great Xia soldiers and to bring them back to Ho Pass. After everything was settled, Lin Beifan waved excitedly, This battle is a great victory! Lets return and celebrate! Yes, Sir Lin! The soldiers rejoiced. The victorious soldiers marched proudly, escorting the captured Great Xia soldiers. Meanwhile, the oue of this battle had been witnessed by various spies from all sides, leaving them astonished. Great Wu actually won? The Great Xia Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong has been captured, and tens of thousands of Great Xia soldiers have also been captured! When did the military power of Great Wu be so strong? Its been less than 10 days, and the war between the two countries has already ended! The situation is critical, quickly send this information back! Great Wus forces are formidable and strong, we must not act recklessly! The capture of the Great Xia Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong and tens of thousands of soldiers not only marked the end of the war between the two nations but also meant unparalleled military achievements, rewards for everyone. Everyone was extremely happy, themon soldiers indulged in feasting and drinking, singing and dancing. The generals gathered together, enjoying fine wines and delicacies, abundant and exquisite. Among them, Lin Beifan sat in the main seat, receiving toasts from the other generals. General Zhao raised a cup of wine and said humbly, Sir Lin, if it werent for your decisive action, we might have missed the opportunity! Ill punish myself with a drink, please forgive me, Sir Lin! Lin Beifan smiled and said, General Zhao, youre too polite! While our opinions might differ, our goals are the same serving Her Majesty and Great Wu. I understand. No need to punish yourself, let me offer you a drink! Saying that, he raised his ss of strong liquor. General Zhao was delighted, Sir Lin, your magnanimity is the reason why you are held in such high regard by Her Majesty. Im not worthy! Come, lets raise our cups together and toast Sir Lin! The generals stood up one after another, raised their wine cups, and congratted in unison, A toast to Sir Lin! Cheers, generals! Lin Beifan toasted in return. After finishing this round of drinks, everyone burst intoughter. This wine isnt being drunk heartily enough! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. Servants, bring the fine wines I brought from the capital and share them with the generals! Yes, Sir! Pitchers of pce-grade wines were brought in one after another. The generals were all seasoned warriors, as well as seasoned drinkers. As soon as they caught a whiff of the wines fragrance, they couldnt restrain themselves and lunged forward, vying to grab the exquisite wines. Lin Beifan eximed, Theres plenty for everyone, a pitcher each! Ive nned it well in advance! Haha, many thanks to Sir Lin! Everyone smiled joyfully. General Zhao joked, Preparing so much wine in advance, it seems Sir Lin had foreseen our victory in this battle! Lin Beifan dered loudly, Indeed! We are the force of righteousness, and victory is only natural! Well said! Everyone raised their thumbs in approval. That evening, everyone left in high spirits. After the drinking, Lin Beifan didnt rest. Instead, he went to the prison cells to visit the captured Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong. At this point, Xia Tianqiong had already regained consciousness. His martial arts were sealed, and he was bound in heavy chains, deep within the cell. In front of him were some drinks, rice, and meat a decent meal. However, he remained unmoved, half-lying against the wall, disheveled, haggard, with lifeless eyes, appearing utterly despondent. Seeing this, Lin Beifan advised, Crown Prince, why dont you have a little? Now that youre already captured, its better to cling to life. Theres a saying, better to live to fight another day, isnt there? Xia Tianqiong remained unresponsive. Lin Beifan sighed, Your Highness, if you continue refusing to eat, well have to resort to special measures to make you eat. Crown Prince, have you ever eaten the roasted duck from the capital? Do you know how they feed the ducks in the capital? Still, there was no reaction from Xia Tianqiong. Lin Beifan continued, Feeding the ducks in the capital for roasting is a meticulous process. They constantly stuff food into their stomachs from a young age, forcing them to eat, even if they cant, even if they vomit, theyre forced to eat. This is how they be tender and plump. Your Highness, if you continue refusing to eat, well have to resort to using this method! Xia Tianqiongs expression finally changed, and he roared, If you have the guts, just kill me with a single sword! Your Highness, your words are too harsh. How could we bear to kill you? Lin Beifan said with a grin, A living prince is more useful than a dead one, isnt that right? Xia Tianqiong snorted. Just then, a hint of delight shed across Xia Tianqiongs face. With a smile, Lin Beifan remarked, Your Highness, you seem so joyous. Have you thought of something delightful? Through gritted teeth, Xia Tianqiong spat, Lin Beifan, youre finished! Everyone here is finished! Lin Beifan remainedposed and calm, smiling, Your Highness, why would you say that? Because Ive arrived! Suddenly, an elder appeared outside the cell, the same one who had always protected Xia Tianqiong. Xia Tianqiong shouted, Elder Hei, quickly save me and kill everyone here! Yes, Your Highness! Elder Hei responded. The fact that someone he protected had been captured was a tremendous disgrace to him. He was extremely irritated, stating, Your Highness, Ill get you out first, and then Ill return to unleash carnage! Rest assured, I wont spare anyone! Xia Tianqiong excitedly eximed, Alright, alright, hurry! Elder Hei burst in, disregarding Lin Beifan as he rescued Xia Tianqiong. Lin Beifan watched calmly andposedly, smiling, Great Xias Grandmaster, Ive been waiting for you! Elder Hei sneered, Waiting for me to do what? Waiting to be killed? Shaking his head, Lin Beifan said, No, waiting to kill you! If you dont die, I wont be at ease! Elder Hei seemed to have heard a colossal joke and burst into uproariousughter, You? Haha Yes, me! Lin Beifan extended his right hand, quickly condensing mist in his hand, shaping it into a clear and transparent ice de. Elder Heisughter abruptly ceased as he sensed a fatal threat from this ice de. Just as he was about to act preemptively, the ice de in Lin Beifans hand vanished! When it reappeared, it was already embedded in Elder Heis forehead. It went straight through, prating the back of his head! Elder Heis face was filled with astonishment. He mumbled, Such a swift de! Then, a chill spread from his head, freezing him into an ice sculpture. Witnessing this scene, Xia Tianqiongs eyes bulged in shock. Wide-eyed and stuttering, he eximed, You you you you actually killed Elder Hei! He had initially thought of Lin Beifan as an innocent civil official, but who would have thought he was a hidden, ferocious tiger? With just a single move, he had eradicated Xia Tianqiongs support. In one move, he had in a Grandmaster! He was formidable! Lin Beifan waved his hand dismissively, shattering the frozen Elder Hei into pieces, turning him into a pool of blood. Then, Lin Beifan condensed a ball of scorching mes in his hand, letting it fall on the blood on the ground. The mes quickly burned and evaporated the blood, leaving no trace behind. Feeling a chilling sensation throughout his body, Xia Tianqiong was taken aback. What kind of sorcery was this? He had never heard of any martial artist who could manipte ice and fire like this. It was almost godlike. He shrunk back to a corner of the wall, trembling and pale, stammering, You are you human or a ghost? You dont need to know! Lin Beifans gaze focused on him. Xia Tianqiong only saw a pair of purple eyes, then fainted. By tomorrow, you wont remember anything! With everything settled, Lin Beifan walked out of the prison cell calmly. Chapter 267: My Sword is Male, Your Sword is Female! Chapter 267: My Sword is Male, Your Sword is Female! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Next, the Empress bestowed a series ofvish rewards. Encouragingly, she said, Sir Lin, now youre the pir of the nation, holding up a corner of Great Wu! I hope youll continue to work diligently, prioritizing the state and the people. You and I, as sovereign and subject, will work together to rebuild Great Wu! Lin Beifan loudly dered, I will give my all, even to the point of death! The morning court assembly ended, and Lin Beifan returned with high spirits. Li Shi Shi, the Little Princess, and others had been waiting for a long time. As soon as Lin Beifan returned, they rushed over to greet him. Li Shi Shi couldnt control her emotions and actually flung herself at him, embracing Lin Beifan and murmuring, Husband, Im relieved youre back safely. Shi Shi missed you! While hugging her delicate waist, Lin Beifan chuckled, Dont worry, Shi Shi. Youre well aware of my capabilities! Although I know, I still worry, especially since you went to war! Li Shi Shi yfully scolded him. Li Yuxin, who was watching on the side, envied the two, watching their sweet interaction. She also wanted to rush over and embrace Lin Beifan. However, she had no position and other party was ady of the house, so it wasnt appropriate to act so boldly. On the other hand, the Little Princess was extremely excited. Standing beside Lin Beifan, she shouted with excitement, Lin Beifan, I heard youve been promoted! Youve be a second-grade official of the court and even a count! Lin Beifan reprimanded, Dont be disrespectful! In the future, you should address me as Lord Lin, the Loyal and Valor Count. Got it? The Little Princess was frustrated and pouted, I wont call you that! Youre a count, and Im a princess, hmph! Lin Beifan calmly took out a bunch of food: I bought this on my way back. Its fresh and hot. Will you eat it or not? If you dont want to, I wont give you any! The Little Princesss expression changed immediately. She slightly curtsied and softly said, Greetings, Lord Count! Everyone burst intoughter. In the following two days, Lin Beifan rested at home. Though he was resting, he had no shortage of tasks. Many influential figures came one after another to visit, bringing generous gifts. The doorstep almost wore out from all the visitors. After all, Lin Beifan was no longer an ordinary person! The Principal of the Imperial Academy! Prefect of the Dedian Prefecture! Second-grade official of the court! Titled as the Loyal and Valor Count! Each of these positions was illustrious, and Lin Beifan enjoyed a high level of trust from the Empress. He could be considered the most prominent figure in the imperial court! If not now, when should they curry favor? Regarding the visitors, Lin Beifan upheld a principle: ept all gifts, but dismiss all requests! Want me to do something for you? Think again, unless you bring at least a million taels of silver! In this manner, Lin Beifan made some small profits, probably earning around a million taels of silver! Lin Beifan couldnt help but sigh, No wonder people always say promotion leads to wealth truly, promotion does lead to wealth! As long as your rank rises, wealth naturally flows in. If you dont want it, others will willingly offer it! During these two days, Night Fragrance was also showing off. Due to the tremendous contributions he made in this battle, he was hailed as a guardian hero of the nation, bing the idol of the entire city. Wherever he went, people cheered for him. He was feeling quite pleased with himself, his tail almost wagging in the air. Dont get too cocky! Youre now a wanted criminal of the Great Xia Empire, with a reward of three million taels of silver. Many powerful individuals have been alerted, so dont mess things up! Lin Beifan advised. Let theme! Who can kill me? Night Fragrance took out an ordinary-looking small knife and proudly proimed, Even grandmasters cant catch up to me, and anyone below that level isnt my match. Under the heavens, who else can be my opponent? Haha Seeing Lin Beifans silent expression, Night Fragrance thought he had conceded, bing even more delighted. Raising an eyebrow, he provocatively said, My dear Prefect, you cant order me around anymore! From now on, you should address me as Lord Cat, got it? Haha! Lin Beifan quietly took out a small knife, What did you just say? I didnt catch that. Say it again! Night Fragrances face turned green instantly, Damn it! Why do you have another one? Lin Beifan smirked, Why shouldnt I? If I didnt have a way to restrain you, how could I willingly hand over a good knife to you? Not afraid! I have a knife too. Im not afraid of you! Night Fragrance encouraged himself. Raising an eyebrow, Lin Beifan challenged, Give it a try! Night Fragrance lifted the knife in his hand but found that its edge had dulled somewhat, bing an ordinary de. In contrast, the knife in Lin Beifans hand radiated even more brilliance. Night Fragrance was taken aback, Whats going on? Lin Beifan sneered, Although both of these knives are from the same predecessor, theres still a difference in quality. Your knife is female, and mine is male. When a female encounters a male, naturally she surrenders! Night Fragrance was shocked, What? This is possible? Lin Beifan grinned, So, should I still call you Lord Cat in the future? Night Fragrance excitedly mmed the table, angrily stating, Prefect, how can you say that? Lord Cat? Just call me Little Kitty! Lin Beifan furrowed his brows, Wont that sound a bit disrespectful? Night Fragrance continued angrily, Disrespectful? Its even more disrespectful for you to call me Lord Cat! If you dont call me that way, Ill break off our friendship! Lin Beifan silently put away the small knife, Since youre so sincere, I wont make things difficult for you. Little Kitty! Ugh! Night Fragrance sighed, his eyes tearing up, then he left with a heavy heart. Passing by, the Little Princess noticed and eximed, Night Fragrance, why are you crying? Night Fragrance held his chest, Because I just ate a bowl of noodles, and it hurt my heart so much that I couldnt breathe! The Little Princess was even more surprised, What noodles? Could they make you cry? Because I ate a bowl of tears! Wah~~ Little Princess: Two more days passed, and the negotiation team from Great Xia arrived. They wanted to negotiate with the imperial court, redeeming 600,000 soldiers and horses and also the Great Xia Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong. The Empress handed this matter to Lin Beifan to handle fully. Lin Beifan was very pleased. The Empress truly understood his intentions, and another opportunity for greed had arrived. The Little Princess and Night Fragrance, these two troublemakers who wanted chaos everywhere, came to join themotion, curious to see how Lin Beifan would negotiate. They each sat on either side of Lin Beifan. The Little Princess was more studious, pulling at Lin Beifans sleeve and humbly asking, Lin Beifan, how do negotiations work? Can you teach me? Night Fragrance fanned himself while listening intently. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Little Princess, international negotiations have many principles. You should pay attention to your words, maintain a refined manner, be courteous, and exercise restraint. Only then can you demonstrate the magnanimity of our great nation! Oh~~ Thats how it is! Both of them suddenly realized. Lin Beifan waved his hand, Anyway, you dont need to worry about anythingter. Just watch me in action! Sure, sure! They both nodded, sitting upright. The negotiation team from Great Xia arrived, and to Lin Beifans surprise, he recognized a few of them, especially the ministers who had apanied the Great Xia Crown Prince on his previous visit here. Lin Beifan sped his hands and greeted with a smile, Distinguished gentlemen, long time no see! Lord Lin, its been a while! The representatives from Great Xia wore very unpleasant expressions. They, the Great Xia Empire, were defeated by the person in front of them. Their soldiers and horses, as well as their Crown Prince, were captured by this person. How could they possibly have a good expression? Lin Beifan continued to smile, I believe none of you are in the mood for tea. Lets start our discussion! Lord Lins words are reasonable. Lets start now! The leader of the Great Xia delegation, surnamed Wang, sat up straight in front of Lin Beifan and handed over a document, saying, Lord Lin, wevee this time to redeem the 600,000 soldiers trapped in Ho Pass, as well as our Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong! These are the conditions offered by Great Xia. Please have a look. With just a nce, Lin Beifan mmed the table in anger, eximing, You want to redeem 600,000 soldiers and our Crown Prince with this paltry offer? It seems youck sincerity. Theres no need to discuss further. I wont negotiate with you anymore! The Little Princess and Night Fragrance, who were sitting beside him, jumped in shock! Wasnt it about maintaining refinement, understanding politeness, and exercising restraint? Why did he suddenly explode like this? It scared me! The Great Xia delegation was also taken aback. Why did he suddenly m the table? The tea on the table was sent flying, sshing all over their faces! Lord Lin, we are very sincere! Mr. Wang said, suppressing his anger. Sincerity? Lin Beifan chuckled coldly, With this meager offering, even beggars wouldnt ept it. You dare talk about sincerity with me? Go back to Great Xia and send someone capable of negotiation to talk to me! Mr. Wang stood up, pointing at Lin Beifan with anger, Lord Lin, are you deliberately trying to provoke a conflict? So what if I am? If you have the guts,e and fight me. Send another 800,000 troops to fight against me! Otherwise, let me announce it: negotiations suspended, lets have another battle, and then continue negotiating afterward! Lin Beifan mmed the table again, very arrogant. The Little Princess and Night Fragrance were startled again. Why did he m the table again? Could they stop being so jumpy all the time? Im really going to die of fright! Mr. Wang was so scared his heart nearly leapt out of his chest. Pointing at Lin Beifan, his face turned crimson with fury, You, you, you crude! Lin Beifan scoffed and sneered, Ive long seen through your hypocritical faces! Who started the war first? Now that youve lost, you want to buy back your people with just a small price Bang. Lin Beifan mmed the table again, raging, Where in the world does such a good deal exist? You, you, you The representatives from Great Xia were infuriated and flushed. Just looking at you infuriates me! Im in a bad mood. Well talk tomorrow! If you cant show real sincerity tomorrow, theres no need to continue talking. I dont want to entertain you anymore! Lin Beifan finished his words, flicked his sleeve, and left. The Little Princess and Night Fragrance followed closely. Only the delegation from Great Xia remained, feeling embarrassed, angry, and frustrated. Walking back, the Little Princess tilted her head and asked in puzzlement, Lin Beifan, werent you a bit too arrogant during the negotiations just now? Lin Beifan smiled faintly, One could say it was assertiveness. Night Fragrance was also puzzled, But werent we supposed to exhibit the magnanimity of a great nation? Lin Beifan smiled again, Indeed, we need to. However, our soldiers have risked their lives and emerged victorious. If we arent assertive, wed be doing a disservice to those soldiers! So we must be assertive, resolutely so! The Little Princess and Night Fragrance nodded in deep agreement. Chapter 268: Accusing Us of Shamelessness? Who’s More Shameless? Chapter 268: using Us of Shamelessness? Whos More Shameless? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
After Lin Beifan and his group left, the Great Xia delegation was furious and indignant. Lin Beifan is despicable. He doesnt even regard us! Hes deliberately making things difficult for us! Ive never seen such an arrogant person in my life! Perhaps we should report to the Empress of Great Wu and request someone else to negotiate! Theres really nothing to negotiate with him! Its hopeless! At this moment, Mr. Wang let out a sigh of resignation. Ladies and gentlemen, please calm down. Were in a precarious situation. What else can we do? For the sake of our prince and Great Xia, lets bear with it for now and not jeopardize the bigger picture! Everyone let out a weary sigh. Mr. Wang is absolutely right. The negotiations continued on the second day. Since sitting down, Lin Beifan hadnt said a word, waiting to see the other sides sincerity. Mr. Wang, the representative of Great Xia, took a sip of tea to steady himself and then spoke with aposed expression, Mr. Lin, after we returned yesterday, my colleagues and I considered what kind of conditions could satisfy you. So, we thought it would be best for you to propose them. Lin Beifan nodded slightly, That works too. I finally see a hint of sincerity. This negotiation primarily involves two matters, Lin Beifan raised two fingers, First, the issue of redeeming the 600,000 Great Xia soldiers, and second, the redemption of Great Xias Prince Xia Tianqiong. Lets start with the issue of the Great Xia soldiers. Please go ahead, Mr. Lin. Im all ears, Mr. Wang replied in a serious manner. Lin Beifan asked, I want to know, how much is the annual sry for your ordinary soldiers? Mr. Wang answered, Around 100 taels of silver. Lin Beifan continued, How many years do they serve? Mr. Wang replied again, They start serving at 18 years old and usually serve for two years! Afterpleting their service, they be part of the reserves and engage in farming and otherbor. But if a war urs, they must be called back for duty. Lin Beifan asked again, On average, how long can your retired soldiers in Great Xia live? Mr. Wang answered once more, Due to their physical strength, retired soldiers in Great Xia can live to around 50 years old on average. They went back and forth with questions and answers. Mr. Wang gradually became puzzled, Mr. Lin, why are you asking these questions? How are they rted to our negotiations? The reason Im asking in such detail is to calcte the value of Great Xias soldiers so that I can determine a reasonable price. Now, Ive figured it out! Lin Beifan took out a small abacus from somewhere and started clicking it. Your Great Xia soldiers serve for about two years, receiving an annual sry of 100 taels of silver, which amounts to 200 taels during their service period. Retiring to farming andbor, they can earn around 50 taels of silver per year. Living until 50, working for thirty years, they can earn about 1500 taels. Adding the 200 taels from their service, a Great Xia soldiers lifetime value is roughly 1700 taels of silver. However, being a nation that values etiquette and modesty, Ill make a modest proposal, Lin Beifan looked up, smiled faintly, For one Great Xia soldier, I only ask for 1000 taels! This demand isnt excessive, is it? What? 1000 taels per person? Isnt that unreasonable? The Great Xia delegation was about to have a stroke from anger. Mr. Wang stood up, his anger evident, Mr. Lin, 1000 taels for one Great Xia soldier, thats 60 million taels for 600,000 soldiers! Our Great Xia treasury has an annual ie of just over 100 million taels. Youre demanding too much. This is outright robbery. Im sorry, but I cannot agree. The other representatives also stood up in anger. Mr. Wang is right. Youre outright robbing us! 60 million taels of silver, your demand is way too much! We cannot agree! Our Emperor will never approve of this! Lin Beifan calmly took a sip of tea, Ladies and gentlemen, please calm down. Im not randomly setting a price. Im calcting based on the information youve provided. Its well-founded! And I even gave you a discount. For one Great Xia soldier, Im only asking for 1000 taels. Youre still making a profit of 700 taels! Not only are you ungrateful, but you also have the audacity to use us. What kind of logic is this? Its one thing to be shameless, but not this shameless, dont you agree? The Great Xia delegation was almost on the verge of copsing. using us of shamelessness? Whos more shameless? Lin Beifan continued, Besides that, you also need topensate for the funds required for my armys departure, as well as the pension for the fallen Great Wu soldiers! Im not asking for much. Just casually give me 20 million taels! The Great Xia delegation turned pale with anger. 20 million taels? Is this something they can casually offer? Adding to the previous 60 million taels, thats a total of 80 million taels! This It would almost empty their treasury! Their Emperor would never agree! And Great Xia would never agree either! Mr. Wangs face turned pale, muttering, Youre asking for an exorbitant sum. How can the negotiations proceed? There wasnt much to negotiate from the start! Whether you want to give or not is your business. If we can reach an agreement, good. If not, so be it! Lin Beifan stood up and left, Think it over, everyone. Ill be back tomorrow! Wait! Theres still the issue of redeeming the Crown Prince! someone called out. Well discuss that after finishing this matter. Lets talk about your Crown Princeter! Lin Beifan left after patting his buttocks. After leaving the negotiation table, Lin Beifan didnt head to the office. Instead, he came to the Six Doors. Even before reaching the Six Doors, Guo, who had received advance notice, was already standing at the entrance to wee him, his face beaming, Mr. Lin, what brings you here? Pleasee in! A particrly warm wee, an extra degree of politeness! You see, Lin Beifan was now a second-ranking official in the court, holding a noble title and being favored by the Empress. He could be considered the most influential figure in the court. Being able to establish a good rtionship with Lin Beifan was something that countless people dreamed of. As someone experienced in officialdom, Guo naturally knew how to act. Lin Beifan smiled, Master Guo, Im just paying a visit with nothing specific to discuss! Upon hearing this, Guo, even more delighted, thought, Its good when theres something to discuss. When you have an issue, youe to me to solve it. When I have an issue, Ille to you to solve it. Isnt this how rtionships are built? Mr. Lin, lets have a private conversation inside. Sure. After a cup of tea, Lin Beifan became serious, Master Guo, as you know, Im currently representing Great Wu and negotiating with the Great Xia delegation. However, the negotiations arent going smoothly. So, Im here to ask for your help! Mr. Lin, please go ahead. Ill do my utmost to assist you. Guos expression became grave. Dont be nervous; this is a straightforward matter! Lin Beifan smiled, I believe the Six Doors have personnel within the Great Xia territory, right? Of course! We have personnel stationed in every country, monitoring the martial worlds movements and the courts developments to prevent unforeseen situations. Mr. Lin, may I ask why youre inquiring about this? Its easy with personnel! Lin Beifan chuckled, Id like to ask the Six Doors to help me vigorously publicize the details of this negotiation. State that Great Xia is unwilling to pay to redeem their surrendered soldiers, that the Great Xia court doesnt care about the lives of its soldiers, and such a court isnt worth the loyalty of its people! The bigger themotion, the better. It will put pressure on the negotiation delegation! Upon hearing this, Guo, the Six Doors official, immediately understood what Lin Beifan was nning. He thumped his chest and assured, Mr. Lin, rest assured, this is a simple matter. You can count on me! Then Ill have to trouble Mr. Guo. After Lin Beifan left, Guo, the Six Doors official, fell into deep thought. Though this was a small matter, it was personally assigned by Lin Beifan. He rarely sought the help of the Six Doors. If he could handle this matter well and satisfy Lin Beifan, the benefits were unimaginable. Thus, he decided to personally oversee this task. Summon someone! A week quickly passed. The representatives from both sides negotiated for a whole week, yet there was no progress. The Great Xia representatives hoped to reduce the redemption fee, but Lin Beifan refused to budge and stuck to his price. Every round of negotiations ended in disagreement. Lin Beifan wasnt anxious at all, but the Great Xia representatives were growing increasingly impatient. Because they received news from Great Xia that the rumors were spreading wildly, using the court of disregarding the lives of the 600,000 surrendered soldiers, and the Great Xia courts reluctance to pay for their redemption. This had caused unrest among the troops and an unstable situation. The Great Xia Emperor was furious, sending an urgent letter pressuring them to swiftly resolve the matter. Otherwise, they shouldnt bother returning. It must be Great Wus scheme! one of the representatives said resentfully, Theyre dragging us while spreading rumors to pressure us. Its despicable! But what can we do? We cant possiblye up with 80 million taels! Lin Beifan is essentially forcing us into a corner! Everyone ground their teeth, wishing they could throw that Lin Beifan, that bastard, out and give him a good beating. Mr. Wang sighed, Given the current situation, it seems theres only one solution. What solution? They all asked in unison. Bribe Lin Beifan with money. What? Everyone eximed in surprise. Mr. Wang sighed again and said, Lin Beifan is immensely greedy, insatiable in his desire for money, and values money more than people. If we secretly bribe him, and get him to lower the redemption fee, this matter might work out. But can that work? someone asked with a worried expression. What other options do you have? Mr. Wang retorted. Everyone shook their heads helplessly. Regardless, we have to give it a try. So, on the next evening, they secretly reserved a luxurious restaurant and invited Lin Beifan for a drink. When the drinks were flowing and the atmosphere was lively, Mr. Wang took out a stack of silver bills, slipped them into Lin Beifans embrace, and whispered, Mr. Lin, could we possibly find apromise regarding the redemption fee? You are wholeheartedly negotiating the redemption fee for the Great Wu court, but that money belongs to the court and not you! However, if you rx your stance a bit, this money could be yours. Lin Beifan smiled and weighed the silver bills in his hand, If you had done this earlier, wouldnt the matter have been resolved sooner? The Great Xia delegation was dumbfounded! Turns out, the other party had been waiting here all along! Chapter 269: Greedy and Loyal, Skillfully Calculating Every Inch Chapter 269: Greedy and Loyal, Skillfully Calcting Every Inch Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
However, this money is a bit little, only 500,000 taels! Lin Beifan weighed the silver bills in his hand and somewhat disdainfully remarked, To be honest, its been a while since I received such a small sum of money. Imcking motivation! The Great Xia delegation was dumbfounded once again! 500,000 taels of silver, and hesining its too little? You see, they, as officials, might not earn 500,000 taels of silver in their entire lives! But then, thinking of Great Wus political climate and considering Lin Beifans greedy nature, they all understood. They exchanged nces. Mr. Wang spoke, Mr. Lin, how much do you want? Lin Beifan counter-questioned, How much do you want to reduce the redemption fee? Once again, they exchanged nces. Mr. Wang raised a finger, Below 1 million taels, is that possible? Lin Beifan chuckled coldly, Do you think its possible? The Great Xia delegation gave a wry smile; they didnt think it was possible either. Mr. Wang clenched his teeth and hesitantly raised a finger, Below 10 million taels, perhaps? Lin Beifan nodded, Thats more reasonable. Mr. Wang respectfully said, Then I entrust this to Mr. Lin. Lin Beifan smiled, As long as you give me 7 million taels, Ill reduce the redemption fee to 10 million taels. The Great Xia delegation: What the hell! Mr. Wang was astonished, Mr. Lin, thats too much youre asking for. Please understand that I cant fulfill that! Too much? Not at all! Lin Beifan shook his head, calmly saying, You know, Ive managed to lower the redemption fee from 80 million taels to 10 million taels. Thats a whopping 70 million taels Ive saved you! Im only asking for 7 million taels. Whats wrong with that? Youd be spending one unit of money to save nine units. Im being quite conscientious! The Great Xia delegation was furious! What an shameless extortionist! Did he really save those 70 million taels? Its obvious he just inted the price like a lions roar! Imaginary silver! And he says hes conscientious? Does this big corrupt official even know the meaning of conscience? Hespletely corrupted! Even dogs wouldnt eat that! Mr. Lin, youre asking for too much. We cant afford it, Mr. Wang said, suppressing his anger. Lin Beifan shook his head, Thats your concern. My conditions are already there. Either pay 80 million taels to the court, or pay 10 million taels to the court, give me 7 million taels, and the rest is off the table. Mr. Lin, arent you afraid well report you to the Great Wu Empress, using you of corruption and bribery? someone threatened. Lin Beifan sneered, Feel free to report! Do you think Her Majesty believes an invader from an enemy country, or does he believe in me, the loyal and valiant noble who has repeatedly made great contributions to the court? The Great Xia delegation was left speechless. This guy is truly greedy and loyal! When he should be greedy, hes extremely greedy! When he should be loyal, hes extremely loyal! Hes meticulously precise, leaving no room for exploitation! Lin Beifan calmly took a sip of tea, I was threatened just now, and Im not pleased. Add another 1 million taels! The faces of the Great Xia delegation turned green, What the hell! After finishing his tea, Lin Beifan stood up, Think it over and find me again! Oh, I forgot to remind you if this matter isnt resolved, the issue of the prince wont be discussed. Farewell! Lin Beifan left gracefully, leaving the Great Xia delegation in a mix of red and green faces. Esteemed gentlemen, what should we do now? Mr. Wangs expression was bitter. This Lin Beifan is too greedy! ording to what he said, wed have to pay 18 million taels. The cost is way too high. If we empty our treasury like that, it will undoubtedly be a major blow! But if we dont give money, this matter wont end! His Majesty is urging us, and the whole Great Xia nation is watching. What can we do? And if this matter isnt resolved, we wont be able to discuss the princes matter! The pressure is too much! Everyone sighed and cursed that money-grubbing bastard. Very well then! Lets first discuss this with His Majesty and feel out his attitude. If thats really not feasible, we can contribute our share to make it work. Mr. Wang clenched his teeth, Well pool our resources. People were shocked and horrified, Mr. Wang, you Mr. Wang let out a sigh, Gentlemen, every day the prince remains unrescued, theres another day of danger. The court is in turmoil right now, and the various royal princes are taking advantage of the situation, encroaching upon the princes power. Time is running out. If we cant bring back the prince, our entire East Pce faction will suffer a catastrophic blow! Not only will all our efforts be in vain, but even our lives, and the lives of our n members, might be at stake. By that time, it will be toote to regret, toote to do anything! Everyone nodded with heavy expressions. Their interests, their ns interests, were tightly linked to the prince. When he prospered, they prospered; when he suffered, they suffered! If their prince couldnt be brought back, how could they expect to coexist with other princes who ascended the throne? Power struggles have always been cruel! To secure their rights, bloodshed is inevitable! So, they had no choice. They had to follow this path even if it led to ruin! If they couldnt save the prince, they were all doomed! Two days quickly passed. The Great Xia delegation managed to meet with Lin Beifan once again, handing over the silver notes worth 8 million taels and promising to pay 10 million taels of redemption to the court. Lin Beifan was quite pleased, Is this all? Just 18 million taels? You give money, and I release people. Such a simple matter, isnt it? The Great Xia delegations eyes twitched as they listened. Only 18 million taels? Just 18 million taels? They nearly emptied their own wealth, and coupled with the courts 12 million taels, it was only then they managed to gather this sum! Mr. Lin, the money has been given to you. Do you know what to do next? Lin Beifan patted his chest and assured them, Rest assured, I am a man of my word. Tomorrow, during the early court session, I will report this matter to Her Majesty. The situation at Ho Pass will definitely be resolved promptly. The Great Xia representatives exchanged nces. Mr. Wang spoke loudly, Alright! Then we entrust this to Mr. Lin. Now, lets talk about the redemption of the Crown Prince. The other delegates became serious. Their main objective for this trip was the redemption of the Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong. Lin Beifan shook his head, You want to redeem Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong? To be frank, this matter is very difficult to aplish! You must realize, this war was instigated by your Crown Prince. He nearly led to the destruction of our country. Hes a major enemy of our nation. How could we easily release him? Moreover, as long as Xia Tianqiong remains in our hands, youll be wary and wont dare to use force again. Releasing him is like sending the tiger back to the mountain! If you were in our shoes, what would you do? The faces of the Great Xia representatives were extremely unsightly. Although they had already guessed that this matter would be very difficult, they hadnt expected it to be this tough. Mr. Wang cupped his hands, Mr. Lin, well have to trouble you with this matter. As long as we can retrieve the Crown Prince, everything can be negotiated. Lin Beifan looked quite pleased, Really? Of course its true! Lin Beifans smile grew even wider, As long as you give me 100 million taels of silver, Im certain I can persuade Her Majesty to release Xia Tianqiong. The Great Xia delegations jaws dropped, What the hell! 100 million taels of silver? How can you even say that with a straight face! Even if they emptied their national treasury, they couldnte up with such a massive amount of silver! Mr. Wangs face turned ugly, Mr. Lin, please dont joke. We cant possibly gather 100 million taels of silver. Under the heavens, there isnt anyone or any country that can. Lin Beifan seemed a bit displeased, Then how much can you offer? The Great Xia delegation seemed somewhat indecisive. Mr. Wang cautiously raised a finger, 1 million taels, would that work? Its eptable! Lin Beifan nodded, When the princes life is over, I will definitely hand over his ashes to you, so he can return to his roots and rest in peace. The Great Xia representatives were stunned, What the heck! If youre in a hurry, I can take action immediately! The Great Xia delegation was in disbelief, Oh my Mr. Wang gritted his teeth, 5 million taels! Alright! Lin Beifan nodded again, In 20 years, I will surely return the prince to you. The Great Xia group was once again thrown off! In 20 years? Thats a very long wait! Mr. Wang gritted his teeth again, somewhat pleadingly, Lin Beifan, 10 million taels! We really cant offer any more. If we do, we wont have anything left. Weve already emptied our coffers. Theres no way we can get out even a single tael. Finally, Lin Beifan relented, Fine, Ill try to persuade Her Majesty. It shouldnt be a big issue. But remember, this 10 million taels is for me, separate from the courts redemption sum. Mr. Wang and his group were feeling quite distressed, Thank you, Mr. Lin! The next day, after Lin Beifan returned from a quick visit to the pce, he reported, I have already informed Her Majesty about this matter. After my earnest efforts, Her Majesty has finally agreed to release the prince. The Great Xia group was overjoyed, Really? Of course, why would I deceive you? However, His Majesty demands a redemption of 30 million taels to release the prince. 30 million taels! They actually breathed a sigh of relief, considering it not too much. At least it was better than that heartless bastards demands! If he opened his mouth, it was either 80 million or 100 million, which had terrified them to no end! Back and forth, they had already lost around 20 million from their hands, being even worse than a countrys enemy. Lin Beifan continued, However, Her Majesty doesnt want money. Shes interested in goods worth 30 million taels, including food, salt, steel, cotton, and so on! The expressions of the Great Xia group grew serious again. Goods worth 30 million taels were not a small sum! If they really provided this, their Great Xia would be impoverished, and the countrys operations would be severely affected. For instance, food shortages might lead to famine, stirring public resentment and causing political unrest. And without enough food, they wouldnt even be able to wage a war. Lin Beifan seemed to see through their thoughts, and he said with a smile, Dont worry, you can gather the resources slowly. If it cant be done in a year, then two years, if not two years, then three. Whenever you manage to gather it all, we will release the prince. Chapter 270: Stirring Up Trouble in My Territory, Did You Ask Me? Chapter 270: Stirring Up Trouble in My Territory, Did You Ask Me? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Payment can be made in installments. Whenever the payment isplete, the person will be released. Although its still very difficult, living frugally and economizing can still achieve it. Otherwise, they will never have a chance to bring back the Prince. Mr. Wang gritted his teeth, Alright, its a deal! On the second day in the court, Lin Beifan reported the negotiation results between the two countries to the Empress. After the Empress finished reviewing the terms ofpensation, she circted it among the officials, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, Minister, please share your thoughts! Of course, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan began, First is the issue of the ransom for the 600,000 Great Xia prisoners of war. These 600,000 individuals are being held at Ho Pass, requiring daily food and water, as well as manpower for strict supervision. Every day they remain captive results in a loss. Its an enormous burden. Therefore, I suggest taking the benefits and advantages now rather thanter. By letting them leave, as long as Prince Xia Tianqiong remains in our custody, Great Xia wont dare to act recklessly. 10 million taels is just the right amount. It will not onlypensate for our courts losses but also yield a slight surplus. Furthermore, the sum isnt excessive, and Great Xia can certainly afford it. This way, we can immediately rid ourselves of this burden. The Empress nodded slightly, Well said! But why should we release Great Xias Prince Xia Tianqiong? Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, puzzled, Xia Tianqiong initiated a war against our nation, nearly leading to our destruction. Such a heinous crime, how can we hand him over easily? Moreover, hes the Crown Prince of Great Xia. Holding him gives us leverage; it prevents Great Xia from making any rash moves. Yes, I would never agree to handing over Great Xias Crown Prince either! His capabilities are outstanding, and he possesses the aura of a wise ruler. If we release him, its akin to releasing a tiger back into the mountains! What if he holds a grudge and starts another war? What then? Our court cant possiblymit such a foolish act! Great Xias Crown Prince must not be handed over! The officials expressed their opposition. Even the Empress herself wasnt very inclined to release Great Xias Crown Prince. Holding onto him was the only way to threaten Great Xia. However, she also understood that since Lin Beifan had decided to release Great Xias Crown Prince, there must be deeper considerations behind his decision. Many past incidents had proven that Lin Beifans judgment was urate, and others were often mistaken. Minister, please continue. Of course, Your Majesty. Lin Beifan smiledposedly, Your Majesty, honored officials, if we keep holding onto Great Xias Crown Prince, we can indeed continue to threaten the Great Xia Dynasty, making them cautious and unwilling to act recklessly. But, how long can this threatst? Have you all thought about that? For one or two years, we can continue to exert pressure. For three or four years, we can still do the same. But what about after five or six years? After seven or eight years? Can we continue to maintain this threat? Everyone fell into contemtion. A country cannot be without a ruler even for a day, and the same goes for a Crown Prince. Once Great Xia loses patience and supports a new Crown Prince, the use of our held Crown Prince will fade away. A new Crown Prince would prefer the current Crown Prince dead rather than alive. Lin Beifan continued, So, holding onto Great Xias Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong, indefinitely is unnecessary. His significance will weaken with the passage of time and changes in Great Xias court. We should take advantage of his current usefulness, strive to secure sufficient benefits, and strengthen ourselves. Lin Beifan bowed, saying, Thats why I promised to release him, giving them a visible opportunity and hope. But I asked for goods worth 30 million taels in return. Firstly, it can replenish our resources and deal with the uncertain future situation. Secondly, its an opportunity to weaken Great Xias power. Goods worth 30 million taels, Great Xia can achieve this within three years without affecting the normal operation of the country by living frugally and economizing. During these three years, not only will our Great Wu be umting strength and growing silently, but it will also be the most intense period of struggle in Great Xia. The various princes will certainly be vying for the position of the Crown Prince, leading to internal strife and turmoil in their court. Lin Beifan chuckled, At this point, if we were to release Great Xias Crown Prince, it will surely exacerbate their conflicts. Without us taking action, they will fall into chaos on their own. The threat from Great Xia will be resolved effortlessly! Brilliant! Truly brilliant! The Empress pped her hands andughed, With this strategy, not only can we strengthen our power in Great Wu, but we can also sow discord within the Great Xia court, causing them to stumble. This greatly benefits our court! Minister, your foresight is truly remarkable. Lets proceed with this n! The officials in the court had no objections either. They believed that this approach was the best, as it would maximize the use of Great Xias Crown Prince. After the morning court session, Lin Beifan brought the preparedpensation treaty and imperial edict to the Great Xia delegation. Mr. Wang, Her Majesty has agreed! As long as you pay 10 million taels, we will immediately release the Great Xia prisoners of war. As for the Great Xia Crown Prince we will release him once the 30 million taels worth of goods are delivered. Mr. Wang and the others looked at the stamped and finalizedpensation treaty and imperial edict, and a huge sigh of relief swept over them. As long as there was hope to save the Crown Prince, everything would be manageable. While 30 million taels worth of goods was a significant amount, they could still manage it with some effort. Whether it took 3 to 4 years or even as fast as 2 years, it was doable. They all expressed their gratitude, Thank you very much, Lord Lin! Lin Beifan nodded in response, Youre wee. Just know that I put in a lot of effort and persuasion with Her Majesty and the entire court. It cost me a great deal of words and bargaining. But in the end, youve spent less than 20 million, and its well worth it. The members of the Great Xia delegation were twitching with displeasure. Well worth it? What kind of assessment was this? Mr. Wang once again bowed and cautiously asked, Sir Lin, after traveling such a long distance, could we have a glimpse of the Crown Prince? Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to exin back home. Lin Beifan nodded, Certainly, 500,000 taels. Mr. Wang: What the heck! Mr. Wang tried, Could it be a bit cheaper? Lin Beifan retorted, You can choose not to see him. Mr. Wang: In the end, Mr. Wang scoured funds from various delegates and even borrowed from moneylenders. Finally, he managed to gather 500,000 taels and handed them over to Lin Beifan. Then, under Lin Beifans guidance, they followed him and had the opportunity to meet Great Xias Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong, in the deepest part of the dungeon. At that moment, the two sides stood hand in hand, silently gazing at each other, words caught in their throats. It was an emotionally charged scene. Afterward, Mr. Wangs face was filled with joy. However, the other officials were puzzled, Mr. Wang, why are you Mr. Wang scanned the surroundings, lowered his head, and whispered, Gentlemen, you are unaware of something! Ive just received a confidential report from His Majesty. He has secretly dispatched a grandmaster to assist us! Once we determine the location where the Crown Prince is being held, we can stage a prison break to rescue him! Fantastic! Everyone was overjoyed. When the Crown Prince is rescued, we wont need to pay the ransom to the Great Wu court anymore! And we can ask that grandmaster to tear Lin Beifan into pieces! Well take back everything he swallowed! Mr. Wang ground his teeth in resentment as he continued, Absolutely right! The group was thrilled again. Mr. Wang murmured, To avoid lingering in a dangerous situation, lets leave the Great Wu capital immediately! Then, well have the grandmastere to rescue the Crown Prince! Everyone nodded and left the capital that very night. Three dayster, a powerful and mysterious grandmaster infiltrated the capital and rescued the imprisoned Great Xia Crown Prince. Surprisingly, the Great Wu court deployed two grandmasters, yet they were unable to halt the rescue. The other party, holding the weakened Crown Prince, left the capital in a domineering manner. They retreated into a secluded valley. The mysterious grandmaster gently ced the Crown Prince down and said, Crown Prince, rest here for now. I am going to cause some trouble in the Great Wu capital and avenge you. Suddenly, the weakened Xia Tianqiong made a swift move, wielding a small knife and stabbing it towards the grandmasters chest. Despite the grandmasters timely reaction, the small knife pierced through, and blood spilled out. The grandmaster was astonished, You you youre not the Crown Prince! Xia Tianqiong smirked, Naturally, I am not that cuckolded Crown Prince. But do take a good look at who I am. The opponent removed the mask from their face, revealing that it was none other than the crafty Nightshade Thief, Night Fragrance. The Great Xia grandmaster was so infuriated that his hair stood on end, his face crimson. He shouted in anger, Fooled! Ive been fooled! Damn deceiver! Im going to kill you! Thene and chase me if you dare! Night Fragrance escaped for his life. The Great Xia grandmaster pursued him relentlessly. A prominent grandmaster, one of the worlds top martial artists, had fallen into a trap! He had been duped by a mere thief, who had even managed to wound him. If this got out, it would be an unimaginable disgrace! A grandmaster could not tolerate such humiliation! Todays debt would not be forgotten until it was avenged. Night Fragrance, you little thief, dont you run! the Great Xia grandmaster yelled. Im not stupid. Waiting around means death! Night Fragrance retorted. The two sides chased and fled, gradually moving far away from the capital. Due to Night Fragrances exceptional speed, the Great Xia grandmaster was gradually falling behind, angrily dering, If I cant kill you, Ill vent my frustration in the Great Wu capital! However, at this moment, he suddenly felt a spine-chilling sensation, as if he were being targeted by a primordial beast. Following this eerie feeling, he looked in that direction and saw an otherworldly young man floating elegantly in the air. His movements were graceful, covering hundreds of yards in a single step, as if he were walking on the moon. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right before the grandmaster. Coming to cause trouble on my turf, did you ask for permission? The Great Xia grandmaster was taken aback, stammering, You who are you? A dead man doesnt need to know! Lin Beifan held an ice-cold knife in his hand, effortlessly stabbing it through the grandmasters body. Then, he turned and left just as swiftly. Indeed, he came and left in a hurry, leaving nothing but a pool of blood behind. Chapter 271: Don’t Get Too Cocky, You Might Get Beaten Up! Chapter 271: Dont Get Too Cocky, You Might Get Beaten Up! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The next morning, Night Fragrance returned from his outing and inquired, What about that Great Xia grandmaster? Did hee back to trouble you? Lin Beifan shook his head, saying, No! Ever since he took you away, he hasnt returned. Phew~ Im relieved then! Night Fragrance let out a sigh of relief. Oh, by the way, what happened after that grandmaster took you away? Lin Beifan asked curiously. The story that unfolded afterward is quite thrilling! Night Fragrance snapped open his white paper fan, carried with him, and in a rather stylish manner, he said, That grandmaster thought I was the Great Xia Crown Prince. After he brought me to a mysterious valley and settled me there, he intended toe back for revenge and cause chaos in the capital. But do you know what happenedter? What happenedter? Speak up, dont keep us in suspense! Guo Shaoshuai urged. Later Night Fragrance smirked, mimicking a stabbing motion, and said, I took the opportunity when he wasnt paying attention and stabbed a knife into his chest, injuring him! Everyone was astonished, What? You injured a grandmaster? Seeing everyones shocked expressions, Night Fragrance was highly satisfied. He fanned himself while coquettishly stating, Could it be fake? Why would I deceive you if it didnt benefit me? Amazing!!! The group continued to be astonished. Its important to note that a grandmaster is considered the pinnacle of power in this world. Their strength is so immense that they are nearly god-like and can contend against thousands of soldiers and horses. They are essentially a different ss of strength. They are practically invincible. Even if you stand there and hit them, you cant move them. Everyone below grandmaster level is like ants. Even if you have a lot of ants, they cant defeat a grandmaster. Yet, Night Fragrance before them, against all odds, managed to injure a grandmaster! This was simply a miracle! This tale would spread throughout the martial arts world and be a legendary story! Guo Shaoshuai raised both of his thumbs, his face full of admiration. Night Fragrance, youre truly incredible! Your praise is too much! Night Fragrances vanity was greatly satisfied. How did you manage it? Night Fragrance pulled out his small knife, Naturally, I relied on Seeing Guo Shaoshuais starry-eyed look, his vanity swelled even more, and he coquettishly said, Relying on my own strength, of course. What else could it be? Hero, please ept my respect! Guo Shaoshuai bowed with his hands cupped together. Hahaha, youre too kind! Night Fragrance quickly helped Guo Shaoshuai up, then nced at Lin Beifan with a guilty look. Seeing him grinning without any particr reaction, he breathed a sigh of relief. If theres nothing else, Ill be on my way. Goodbye, everyone! Night Fragrance slipped out, showing off. However, the story of his martial arts legend gradually spread from the official government and became known throughout the entire city. Did you hear? Our officials distinguished cat, Night Fragrance, actually injured a grandmaster from Great Xia! What? Hes so powerful? But hes just an innate realm cultivator! Could it be fake? Its spreading from the office government that he impersonated the Great Xia Crown Prince, then took advantage of the grandmasters inattention and stabbed him in the heart, causing blood to flow! So strong! Even grandmasters might not be able to injure a grandmaster. I cant believe he did it! Such a promising young talent! Could he really be our courts distinguished cat? Under this influence, Night Fragrance became a sensation that resonated throughout the city! The direct consequence was that wherever he went, he was met with adoring gazes from everyone. Whether they were adults, the elderly, or children, their eyes were filled with admiration. Many young girls and widows, who were about to be married, would often send him flirtatious nces, making him pleased beyond measure. However, as no one was controlling the story, it gradually grew more mystified and exaggerated as it spread. Did you know? Our distinguished cat, Night Fragrance, actually killed a grandmaster from Great Xia! Really? I heard that he only injured him. What injury? Dont listen to the rumors! Think about it, when Great Xias grandmaster came to our capital to rescue their crown prince but didnt return after failing, it must mean he died. Thats why he couldnte back! Oh~~ I see, that makes perfect sense! Heroic deeds indeed! Its just that he mentioned injuring himself. But we, with our discerning eyes, would never fail to recognize the truth. Thats true! Look at his proud and rxed demeanor. Clearly, he resolved the future trouble! Distinguished cat, youre awesome! How fortunate we are to have such a guardian deity in our capital? As a result, everyones admiration for Night Fragrance grew even stronger, nearly reaching the level of fanatical devotion. However, Night Fragrance began to sense that something was off about this attention. He had only injured the grandmaster, when did it be about killing him? Come on! Theres a huge difference between injuring and killing! Injuring implies that hes still not a match for the grandmasters strength. But killing means he possesses grandmaster-level strength, even slightly stronger. That would be extraordinary. What if other grandmasterse looking for trouble? Its important to note that grandmasters are extremely rare, and everyone likes to engage in friendly exchanges with one another. If things turned serious, hed be the one getting beaten up! Feeling something amiss, Night Fragrance urgently paid a visit. Lord Prefect, please help me rify something! Oh~~ our esteemed cat hero is here. Please,e in, sit down quickly! Haha! Lin Beifan warmly weed him, personally pulling out a chair and pouring a cup of tea. Night Fragrance felt extremely uneasy, as if sitting on pins and needles. He sensed something sinister behind Lin Beifans excessive hospitality, suspecting that there might be a hidden motive or deception. However, at this moment, he couldnt afford to worry about all that. He urgently said, Lord Prefect, I have something to ask of you! Whatever it is, please go ahead. If I can help, I definitely will! Lin Beifan reassured with a pat on his chest. Thank you, Lord Prefect. The situation is like this: theres a crazy rumor going around that I killed the grandmaster from Great Xia. But thatspletely untrue. So, Id like to ask you to help me clear things up. Lin Beifan blinked his eyes, Why do you need to rify? Isnt it the truth? Night Fragrance was dumbfounded, Huh? What truth? Pointing at Night Fragrance, Lin Beifan had a look as if he had figured out everything, and he said with a smile, Night Fragrance, why do you still want to hide it from me? Its clear that you killed the grandmaster from Great Xia, and youre not admitting it? Night Fragrance vigorously shook his head, No, its really not If its not, he would have alreadye back for revenge! But up until now, theres been no word from him, which means hes already dead, and he died at your hands! You lied to me, saying you just injured him, but your mouth has yet to speak a single truth Lin Beifan chuckled, shaking his head. But the of heaven is wide and sparse, and the eyes of the masses are sharp, haha! Night Fragrance became even more anxious, Its really not like that Dont bother exining. Exnation is just a cover-up, and cover-up is the truth! Lin Beifan taunted. Ah~~ Night Fragrance didnt know how to exin, feeling utterly exhausted and rolling his eyes. Subsequently, the spection about Lin Beifan gradually spread from the official government. Even the Lord Prefect has admitted it. The grandmaster died at the hands of our distinguished cat, Night Fragrance! During the incident at the Ho Pass, he actually killed a grandmaster from Great Xia to save Great Wu. And then, after returning to the capital, he killed another one! Killing two grandmasters in session, hes so powerful! Whats a grandmaster? In front of our Hero Night Fragrance, theyre just a piece of crap! Hero Night Fragrance, youre amazing without exnation!!! This matter became more and more insane as it spread. Good news rarely travels far, but bad news crosses a thousand miles! Even the three Grandmasters of Great Wu couldnt sit still! There are rumors outside that our distinguished cat, Night Fragrance, possesses the power of a grandmaster and has killed two grandmasters from Great Xia! True heroes show themselves in youth, indeed talented! Two fellow grandmasters, grandmasters are rare. Why dont we go find him for a lesson? Absolutely agreed! Night Fragrance should readily ept! As a result, the three Grandmasters of Great Wu came to seek him out, wanting to engage in a martial exchange and learn from him! Night Fragrance was frightened. The situation he had been worried about hade true! Anxiously, he said, Seniors, youre really overestimating me! My strength is insignificant, and Im nowhere near capable of killing a grandmaster. Its all just a series of mistaken ims from outside. Its absolutely not true! The three guardian grandmasters were resolute in their determination. Where theres smoke, theres fire! Dont waste words. Whether its true or false, well know after a fight. Night Fragrance, lets fight! In the end, Night Fragrance was taken outside the city for a battle. This fight was earth-shattering! Night Fragrance was beaten like a sandbag, his handsome and dashing face turned into a face full of swollen lumps, his eyes swollen, his mouth crooked, his clothes in disarray. Hey on the ground looking up at the sky, his face covered in resignation. At this moment, he saw an even more handsome and dashing face. Lin Beifan blinked and said, So, you really cant do it! At this moment, Night Fragrances chest heaved with frustration! His heart full of grievances erupted into a furious roar, For fucks sake, I told you all a long time ago, but none of you believed me! His voice resonated for miles around, causing listeners to feel heartbroken and bringing tears to their eyes. Lin Beifan sighed, The truth tells us that you shouldnt get too cocky, or youll end up getting beaten up! On the other hand, the Great Xia delegation that had already left the capital was anxiously waiting for the Crown Prince and the grandmaster. But as they waited and waited, even after several days, they couldnt see them. This made them extremely anxious. ording to the timing, Elder Mu should have already rescued the Crown Prince and met with us! Why havent we seen them yet? Could something have gone wrong? It shouldnt, right? Elder Mu personally took action, what could possibly go wrong? But They began to have a sense of foreboding. Chapter 272: The Prince of Southern Jiang Plans to Seize Grain! Chapter 272: The Prince of Southern Jiang ns to Seize Grain! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Unable to ease their concerns, they had no choice but to go out and inquire. The result was astonishing news: their grandmaster, Elder Mu, had indeed raided the prison, but he didnt rescue the crown prince. Instead, he rescued a person disguised as the crown prince, Night Fragrance. Night Fragrances disguise was exceptionally sessful, as there were no ws noticed along the way. Moreover, he was deeply concealed and managed to kill Elder Mu during the rescue. In the battle at Ho Pass, he also killed another Grandmaster of Great Xia. Two Great Xia Grandmasters were killed by his hand, terrifying and hateful. So, this attempt to rescue the crown prince naturally failed. After learning this news, everyone was utterly dumbfounded, their backs soaked with cold sweat. Lord Wang, what do we do now? Since we didnt rescue His Highness the Crown Prince, and our Great Xias tribute died in this operation, how do we exin it to His Majesty when we return? His Majesty will surely be furious, and were done for! Lord Wang, quickly think of a solution! All the Great Xia officials were in a panic. Lord Wang sighed and looked bitter: What else can we do? We can only return to His Majesty and admit our guilt! If the Crown Prince wasnt rescued and Elder Mu fell, weve truly suffered a loss! Lets hope His Majesty is merciful and doesnt vent his anger on us! Others nodded, their faces looking extremely grim. They patted their chests, feeling chilled to the bone. At that moment, a tall and powerful figure burst in, ncing coldly at the group. He nodded slightly and said, It seems Ive found the right people. You must be the Great Xia officials whovee to negotiate this time, right? With tensions high, seeing a person with imposing aura enter, the Great Xia delegation was startled. One official stuttered, You, you who are you? Why why are you looking for us? I am a constable from the Six Doors, Big Bull! Big Bull stood tall, his hand on his waist, gripping a knife in the other. He looked mighty and stern, saying, Im here on themission of Lord Prefect of Dedian Prefecture, and the Principal of Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan! Ive brought you an edict! The Great Xia representatives exchanged nces, and Lord Wang asked, What does he want to tell us? Master Lin asked me to convey this! Big Bull shouted, Remember to take thepensation treaty and imperial edict back, and follow the provisions forpensation listed on it. Dont y any tricks on us, or youll regret it! We can kill your two Grandmasters, and we can even kill the third one, perhaps even inside your imperial pce. You will bear the consequences! The Great Xia group broke into cold sweats once again. Lord Wang trembled as he sped his hands and said, Yes, this Big Bull, sir, I remember! As long as you remember, Im leaving! Bull nced at the group coldly and left. The Great Xia group took thepensation treaty and imperial edict back, and also reported everything to the Xia Emperor. The Xia Emperor had be morepliant and obedient, following the terms ofpensation and refraining from any action. He was afraid another Grandmaster might be lost and that they might even attack the capital. Those who could kill Grandmasters were truly fearsome! As a result, arge amount of supplies were transported to Ho Pass, and then shipped by water to the Dedian Prefecture of the Great Wu Capital. The Great Wus treasury quickly became abundant. However, this left Prince of Southern Jiang salivating. After all, what hecked the most now was food. Due to theck of food, he had to plunder food from others, causing the economic copse of the Southern region. Because of the scarcity of food, he had to send his troops to farm and eat tree roots. But now, the court had so much food and resources, making him envious. After two days of contemtion, Prince of Southern Jiang clenched his teeth and said, Lets just raid them! Lord Wang Fugui eximed, Your Highness, thats far too dangerous! You must know, the court has dispatched heavy guards along the route to protect the food. If we attempt to raid the food, we will directly confront the court! The court has just emerged victorious, their morale is high, and we should avoid their sharpness! Our military move at this point would be unwise! Furthermore, even if we manage to seize the food, how do we bring it back? Carryingrge amounts of food will inevitably slow us down. How could we possibly match the court in action? And theres one more crucial point! Lord Wang Fugui continued, Your Highness, its truly unadvisable to raise an army now! The court is still in a dominant position. Once we confront the court, were sure to suffer casualties and losses. In the end, others will profit! Prince of Southern Jiangs expression turned conflicted; this was the source of his hesitation. Raiding for food was extremely risky, with a high likelihood of casualties and losses that would outweigh the benefits. But without food, his development was stunted. So, Ivee up with a good strategy! Advisor, what strategy? Since raiding for food is too dangerous, why dont we coborate with someone else to raid together? That way, we can share the risks, and our chances of sess will greatly increase! Prince of Southern Jiang looked at Lord Wang Fugui with a hint of anticipation. What do you think of this n? Advisor, this n is indeed good, but who will we coborate with? Of course, its my imperial brother, the Prince of Northern Hebei! Prince of Southern Jiangughed, Hes in the north, and Im in the south, attacking from both sides. The odds of sess will be higher! Ill write a letter to him. As long as he has ambitions, he wont remain indifferent. Perhaps hes also eyeing these resources! The more Prince of Southern Jiang thought, the more feasible the n seemed. He finally pped his thigh and eximed, Thats settled! Thus, he immediately wrote a letter to the Prince of Northern Hebei to discuss the matter of raiding for food. Upon seeing the letter, the Prince of Northern Hebei was intrigued. However, he didnt make up his mind and handed the letter to the nearby Strategist Zhuge. Strategist, take a look. Do you think this n is feasible? Strategist Zhuge read it and smiled, Your Highness, Prince of Southern Jiangcks food, which is why hes considering raiding for it. But hes also afraid of the courts military forces, so hes contacting us to work together. The Prince of Northern Hebei nodded; he shared the same thoughts. Strategist, whats your opinion? Strategist Zhuge sped his hands and said, Reporting to Your Highness, I believe this n is unsuitable. The Prince of Northern Hebei was surprised, Why is it unsuitable? Firstly, raiding for food is genuinely risky, Strategist Zhuge said, This batch of food is so crucial to the court that they will certainly guard it heavily. We wont have many opportunities to strike. Even if we manage to seize the food, bringing it back will be problematic. During this process, struggle and bloodshed are inevitable, and casualties are unavoidable. If the court bes anxious, they might just burn the food. The loss would outweigh the gains. The Prince of Northern Hebei nodded, You make a lot of sense, Strategist! Secondly, we dont actually need that much food, Strategist Zhuge continued. Your Highness, those beneath us are all practicing the Sunflower Manual. Once mastered, each person can hold their own in a battle. We dont need a massive military force, so naturally, we dont need so much food. The food we have now is more than enough. Why take unnecessary risks? The Prince of Northern Hebei nodded again, Youre right! Thirdly, Your Highness, what we need now is hidden development and the umtion of power. Only by enduring for a few more months, until everyone has mastered the Sunflower Manual, can we easily execute our grand n. But once exposed and targeted by the court, it would be detrimental to our strategy. Strategist Zhuge whispered, Previously, Tianmen was exposed like this, leading to their downfall. The sect leader of Tianmen, once a mighty figure, ended up being hunted like a rat, his lifelong efforts turned to nothing. Your Highness, we mustnt repeat their mistakes! The Prince of Northern Hebeis heart trembled. The event of Tianmen sects extermination was still fresh in his memory! This superpowerful sect, capable of challenging the court, was annihted with a few moves by the court due to their sect-wide practice of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. His subordinates didnt practice the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, but they were cultivating another form of demonic art. Once their situation was exposed, their grand ns would crumble! Youre right, Strategist. We mustnt repeat their mistakes! It seems the matter of raiding for food shouldnt concern us! The Prince of Northern Hebei waved his hand. Your Highness, actually, theres a way to work this out! Strategist, what do you mean? Strategist Zhuge lowered his head and smiled, Your Highness, though we wont raid for food, we can pretend to cooperate with Prince of Southern Jiang. Once we take action, we retreat, leaving Prince of Southern Jiang to raid for the food himself. This way, he will likely suffer casualties and losses, while we remain unharmed. Your Highness, do you find this n satisfactory? The Prince of Northern Hebeis eyes brightened, and he pped his hands, eximing, Excellent strategy! I love it! Haha! Prince of Southern Jiang was his archrival, a strong contender for his throne. If he could lead Prince of Southern Jiang into suffering significant losses, he would be very pleased and would strongly support the n. Strategist Zhuge continued to smile, Your Highness, we can also contact the top schr of the capital Wait, he should now be addressed as the Prefect Lord. We can have him advise the court to be prepared! This way, Prince of Southern Jiang will undoubtedly be trapped and suffer heavy losses! The Prince of Northern Hebei was grinning widely, Exactly, exactly! We must contact Lord Lin and have him offer suggestions to the court. Lets take down my good imperial brother, haha! So, not long after, Lin Beifan received a letter from the Prince of Northern Hebei. After reading the confidential letter, Lin Beifan chuckled, Using anothers hand to kill? Subsequently, in the court, Lin Beifan reported this matter to the Empress. Your Majesty, currently, a significant amount of grain is being transported from Ho Pass to the capital. The quantity is immense! Prince of Southern Jiang is short of food, and I suspect he might take a risky move and seize the opportunity to plunder! This matter must be guarded against! The Empress nodded, Youre right, My Minister. This matter indeed requires attention. Where is the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards? Here, Your Majesty! The Commander-in-Chief stepped forward. The Empress issued her orders, Have someone closely monitor the movements of the Southern Army. Report immediately if theres any situation. When necessary, mobilize local forces for interception. Also, dont let your guard down in the direction of Northern Hebei! I shall follow your orders! The Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards epted themand. Your Majesty, theres no need for such trouble! I have a n that can easily make Prince of Southern Jiang suffer losses, both in terms of soldiers and finances, without expending much effort! Lin Beifan smirked. The Empresss eyes brightened, Sir Lin, please tell us quickly! Chapter 273: If They Don’t Come, No Problem; If They Come, They’re Trapped! Chapter 273: If They Dont Come, No Problem; If They Come, Theyre Trapped! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Regarding the grain transportation ships, they follow the Great Wave River from Ho Pass all the way to the capital, covering a distance of over 800 miles. However, if Prince of Southern Jiang intends to hijack the ships for grain, the most suitable location is near Mount Gongxu, Lin Beifan exined. Here, theres a river route that leads straight to the south. Even if they take and route, the journey is rtively smooth, facilitating grain transportation. Additionally, this location is quite distant from cities on both sides, making it difficult for the court to mount a rescue. For this stretch, its approximately 200 miles. The Empress nodded, Continue, My Minister. Mount Gongxu is the optimal spot for grain robbery! But to carry out such an operation, they must have sufficient manpower. Firstly, to transport the grain, and secondly, to deal with the courts response, Lin Beifan raised five fingers, I estimate it would require around 50,000 to 60,000 troops. In summary, if Prince of Southern Jiang wants to seize the grain, its highly likely that they would deploy around 50,000 to 60,000 troops near Mount Gongxu. Therefore, if we defend this position well, we can be quite confident in our security. So, heres my strategy, Lin Beifan smirked, We can im to be guarding the grain and set up checkpoints 100 miles outward from Mount Gongxu. These checkpoints would be heavily guarded, not allowing anyone to approach. All travelers would be directed to take a detour. However, we can secretly create an opening. By letting them bribe the soldiers, we can secretly allow a few individuals to enter. Under such circumstances, Prince of Southern Jiang would definitely not send arge force openly, as that would lead to premature exposure and outweigh the benefits. Therefore, the most likely scenario is that they would infiltrate Mount Gongxu disguised asmon folk. But they would still need to pay to enter Mount Gongxu! Regr civilians are usually reluctant to part with their money and would rather take a longer route than pay. So, once they pay, its an indication that most of these civilians are likely Prince of Southern Jiangs soldiers in disguise. We can then take them down one by one, capturing them all and causing Prince of Southern Jiang to suffer losses. The Empresss eyes lit up, Ingenious! But what if Prince of Southern Jiangs people dont show up? a minister asked. If they donte, theres no issue; if theye, theyll undoubtedly be trapped like turtles in a jar! Lin Beifan eximed confidently. Each esteemed minister, what do you think of this n? the Empress asked the officials. The officials looked at each other and collectively responded, We have no objections! That settles it! the Empress concluded decisively. Thus, a strong force was dispatched, centered around Mount Gongxu and extending outward for 100 miles, with multipleyers of checkpoints set up to prevent anyone from approaching. At this time, a group of imperial soldiers were dispersing the people on the road to Mount Gongxu. This area is sealed off. No one is allowed to approach! Why is it sealed off? The bewildered citizens asked. The soldiers dered loudly, Because the courts grain transport ships are preparing to pass through here! For safety reasons, we have temporarily closed this section of the road and the river passage. No one is allowed near! But we need to go to the capital! You can take a detour; it might take you an extra two or three days. Oh my, why is it like this? The citizens startedining one after another. This situation was quickly detected by scouts sent by Prince of Southern Jiang. In haste, they returned to report, Your Highness, theres a major problem! Prince of Southern Jiang walked out, asking, Why are you in such a panic? Tell me in detail! The scout urgently reported, Your Highness, heres the situation. To safeguard the grain transport ships, the court has sealed off all routes to Mount Gongxu After hearing this, Prince of Southern Jiangs face darkened, The courts actions are clearly directed at us! Wang Fugui sighed and nodded, Indeed, Your Highness! They know weck grain and are afraid we might set our sights on their supplies. Thats why they have heavily guarded Mount Gongxu to prevent us. Prince of Southern Jiang felt unwilling, Are we really just going to give up like this? Fugui, quickly think of a solution for me! Wang Fugui was also very anxious, Wait a moment, Your Highness. Let me think! A dayter, Wang Fugui returned with a delighted expression, Your Highness, Ivee up with a n! Prince of Southern Jiang urged, Tell me quickly! Your Highness, heres the idea. I had people disguise themselves as regr citizens to test the courts troops. And guess what? They all turned out to be very greedy. As long as we offer them a few taels of silver, the imperial soldiers secretly allow passage. Prince of Southern Jiangs eyes lit up, Such a thing happened? Wang Fugui smiled, Your Highness, corruption exists from top to bottom in the court. High officials are corrupt, low officials are corrupt, and sometimes even the lowest officials are immensely corrupt. Youre not unaware of this! Prince of Southern Jiang nodded, Thats true! So, my n is like this, Wang Fugui said in a low voice with a chuckle, We can have our troops disguise themselves asmon folk, bribe the imperial soldiers, and infiltrate Mount Gongxu piece by piece. They will never suspect that under such tight security, someone would dare to steal their grain. This will surely lead toxity on their part, greatly benefiting us! Prince of Southern Jiang nodded repeatedly, Youre absolutely right, youre absolutely right! Additionally, we should send tens of thousands of soldiers outside to provide support. Once we seed in coordinating inside and outside, the court will be caught off guard. Moreover, we can seize the grain as well! Prince of Southern Jiang eximed with joy, Very well, very well! Your Highness, we can also contact Northern Prince and act together ording to this n! This way, the court will inevitably divert its attention, and our chances of sess will greatly increase! Wang Fugui suggested. Youre right, thats the way to go! Prince of Southern Jiang pped his hands in agreement. So, he had his elite troops disguise themselves asmon citizens who were supposed to pass through Mount Gongxu. Sir, I need to go to the capital to make a living! This area is sealed off. You cant approach. Take a detour! A detour? Thats too far. It will take an extra three or four days. Dont be fooled by my strong appearance; my health is actually weak! Please, sir, could you do me a favor? Im a man of principles; theres nothing to discuss. Sir The Southern soldiers disguised asmoners slyly handed over a tael or two of silver to the court soldiers. The court soldiers nonchntly tucked the money into their pockets. Meanwhile, a few other court soldiers saw this and coughed discreetly. The Southern soldiers, being clever, each offered a tael or two of silver, which the court soldiers swiftly pocketed. It seems youre really having no problems. You can go in. But remember, dont wander around, especially near the river. If anything happens, dont me me for not warning you. Dont worry, esteemed officials, were all ordinary citizens and know how to behave! The court soldiers opened the gate, saying, Go in! Thank you! Thank you, esteemed officials! The Southern soldiers, having sessfully bribed their way in, went on gratefully. However, shortly after entering, they encountered more well-disciplined court soldiers on the way, looking even more formidable. Stop! Get down and raise your hands! Esteemed officials, you misunderstand. Im just an ordinary citizen. I came in after paying money! Were here to catch people like you who pay money. Take him away! So, the disguised citizen couldnt resist and was captured. But those outside didnt know, and Prince of Southern Jiang remained clueless. The trap was set, and people were unwittingly walking into it. Over the course of three or four days, the court captured around 50,000 Southern soldiers. On that day, Prince of Southern Jiang was somewhat excited. Because the grain transport ships were slowly entering the territory of Mount Gongxu, the operation to seize the grain was about to begin. Once they secured this batch of grain, his shortage problem would be solved. He would at least endure until the bountiful autumn harvestter this year. Once the food issue was resolved, he could resume his pursuit of the throne. This matter was of great importance, and Prince of Southern Jiang came personally. Waiting left and right, he was extremely anxious, Why hasnt it started yet? Did something go wrong? Your Highness, theres no need to worry! Wang Fugui reassured, The courts grain transport ships have just entered Mount Gongxu. It will take at least two days and nights for them to exit. We can wait patiently! Furthermore, General Zhao is in charge of the operation! General Zhao is always prudent. He should choose to strike when the enemys strength is depleted at night and defenses arex. This way, we can achieve more with less effort! Once he seeds, General Zhao will surely send us a signal. Then we can act! Coordinating inside and outside, we will catch the court off guard and seize the grain! Prince of Southern Jiang pped his hands, Good! Ill wait until tonight for your good news! Yes, Your Highness! Wang Fugui bowed. The daytime quickly passed, and finally, night fell. The weather was pleasant tonightclear moonlight and a gentle breeze, especiallyfortable. After finishing dinner, Prince of Southern Jiang grew impatient again, Why hasnt General Zhao given the signal yet? Havent they seeded? Your Highness, theres no rush! Wang Fugui smiled, Everyone has just finished eating dinner. Theyre still in high spirits. Its not the right time to act yet! In thetter half of the night, General Zhao should make his move! Very well, Ill wait for another two hours. Prince of Southern Jiang clenched his teeth and found a clean ce to rest his eyes for a moment. Two hours quickly passed. Prince of Southern Jiang woke up and checked the time, asking those around him, Why havent we received the signal? Wang Fugui remainedposed, Your Highness, everyone has just fallen asleep. I believe General Zhao must be preparing to act. Lets give him a bit more time! Fine, Ill wait for one more hour. Chapter 274: Those Who Underestimate You Have Already Met Yama! Chapter 274: Those Who Underestimate You Have Already Met Yama! 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Prince of Southern Jiang and Wang Fugui exchanged nces. Prince of Southern Jiang fell silent for a moment, gazing at Wang Fugui with a profound look. Fugui, what kind of strategy do you think General Zhao is using? You said he acted under cover of night, but now its daylight, everyone is well-rested, had breakfast, so how does he n to proceed? Wang Fugui was sweating profusely and stuttered, Your Highness, General Zhao might General Zhao might think thatunching a surprise attack at night is toomonce, so he switched to daytime, catching us off guard! Nonsense! In my opinion, something has gone wrong! Prince of Southern Jiang retorted in anger. Wang Fugui felt scolded like a dog and shrank his head. Prince of Southern Jiang continued, his voice filled with fury, General Zhao has always been prudent in his actions. He knew we were waiting outside. If there were no movements, he would have sent a message to reassure us. Yet until now, theres been no news. Hes undoubtedly in trouble! Its highly likely he has been captured by the imperial forces! Wang Fugui anxiously asked, Your Highness, what should we do now? We should retreat, of course! Prince of Southern Jiang said with a touch of reluctance and urgency, If General Zhao and his team were captured, we might have been exposed. The situation is extremely unfavorable for us. So, we must retreat immediately! Just as he finished speaking, a soldier rushed over from a distance, flustered and eximed, Your Highness, bad news! Arge contingent of imperial troops has been spotteding from the southeast. Theyre heading our way! Prince of Southern Jiangs expression changed. A momentter, another soldier rushed over, equally flustered, and said, Your Highness, bad news! Arge contingent of imperial troops has been spotteding from the southwest. Theyre heading towards our forces! Prince of Southern Jiangs expression changed once again. Following that, several more soldiers came, all with the same anxious look. Your Highness, bad news! Arge contingent of imperial troops has been spotted to the due east Your Highness, bad news! Arge contingent of imperial troops has been spotted to the due west Prince of Southern Jiangs face changed time and time again. With each change, hisplexion turned paler. Finally, he clenched his teeth and said through gritted teeth, Damn it! I knew it, weve been exposed. Were surrounded by imperial troops! Wang Fugui anxiously asked, Your Highness, what should we do now? No time to lose, break through for me! Prince of Southern Jiang shouted fiercely. Yes, Your Highness! the crowd echoed. Thus, Prince of Southern Jiang led the group and charged in one direction. Cleverly, they didnt head straight towards Southern Jiang; instead, they chose to circle around, aiming to return to the south. The imperial forces pursued, intercepting them along the way, setting up sessive obstacles, using all the resources at their disposal, trapping Prince of Southern Jiang and his followers with nowhere to escape. Luckily, Prince of Southern Jiang had skilled protectors by his side; otherwise, he would have met his end long ago. This pursuitsted an entire week. Although Prince of Southern Jiang managed to return to the south, he had lost dozens of pounds and was utterly exhausted. Of the troops he had brought, apart from a few thousand elite soldiers who made it back with him, the rest perished along the way. Adding to this the soldiers who vanished in Gongxu Mountain, the total loss amounted to more than 80,000! Bad news travels fast; this incident quickly became a global joke. Prince of Southern Jiang, failing to steal the chicken while losing the rice! Initially wanted to seize the grain, but ended up sacrificing his own troops! More than 80,000 troops were lost just like that. Not a single grain was secured. I feel so sorry for them, hahaha! Its said that Prince of Southern Jiang hadnt intended for his men to pose asmoners and infiltrate Gongxu Mountain. The n was tobine internal and external efforts to seize the grain. Yet the imperial court saw through it, easily capturing them, and delivering 50,000 heads to them! Meanwhile, he was waiting outside like a fool, swarmed by mosquitoes all night long! After being chased by the imperial forces for over a thousand miles, there are hardly any survivors left, and those remaining have all grown thin! Back home, Prince of Southern Jiang was so enraged that he locked himself in, hahaha! In thend of Northern Hebei, at the Royal Pce. The Prince of Northern Hebei looked at thetest battle report,ughing so much that he nearly doubled over. Oh, dear brother, dear brother, youve never really suffered in your life, and yet you were chased over a thousand miles, losing all your plumpness. Imughing No, I mean, Im so heartbroken hahaha! Strategist Zhuges face was filled with a smile. Congrattions, Your Highness. This simple ploy of using another to do the dirty work has caused Prince of Southern Jiang to suffer losses and greatly diminished his threat. Its a cause for everyone to celebrate! Prince of Northern Hebei chuckled, his face glowing with happiness. I heard this n was proposed by Lord Lin, right? Strategist Zhuge promptly replied, Yes, Your Highness! As Miss Rushuang mentioned in the letter, indeed, Lord Lin Beifan suggested this strategy. He memorialized to the imperial court and offered a solution. His contribution is significant! The Prince of Northern Hebeiughed heartily, unable to contain his joy. Absolutely right, absolutely right. Lord Lin has done a great favor for me. He deserves rich rewards! But, Your Highness, our royal treasury doesnt have that much money left Even if we dont have money, we must reward. Im delighted, hahaha! In the Wuxi region, at the Royal Pce, Upon learning of this incident, the Wuxi Dukeughed even more cheerfully. Oh, elder brother, elder brother, youre experiencing this now! Back then, you mocked me for being led around in circles by a bunch of ragtag soldiers. But look at you now, youre even worse off than me. Youve directly handed your troops to the court on a silver tter and got chased for a thousand miles hahaha You didnt manage to plunder any grain, yet youve lost 80,000 troops and all your face. It must be heart-wrenching, isnt it? Hahaha Suddenly, the Wuxi Duke shouted outside, Hey there! Your Highness, what are your orders? The Wuxi Duke covered his belly,ughing, Take that gong back to him andfort our elder brother! Tell him that even if he ends up with nothing, Ill still give him a proper send-off (referring to the gong sound at a funeral), hahaha! Yes, Your Highness! In the Great Wu Court, the Empress was equally joyous. Prince of Southern Jiang had caused them no small trouble. This time, he had shed ayer of his skin. Lets see if he would dare to cause more trouble in the future. She looked at Lin Beifan with a warm smile. Minister, youve aplished a great feat once again. How should I reward you? For a moment, envy and jealousy filled the entire court. However, Lin Beifan remained veryposed. Your Majesty, this minor achievement doesnt require a reward. Once I umte enough merits in the future, promotion and titles wille in due course. This remark twisted everyones mouths and made them roll their eyes. This counted as a minor achievement? Youre too modest. I want to hit you! The Empress smiled gently, Alright! Ill keep that in mind for you. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed respectfully. The Empress then turned serious, Now, outside, weve defeated the Great Xia Dynasty, deterring our external enemies. Internally, weve defeated Prince of Southern Jiang, causing him to suffer losses and deterring the various vassal kings. In the martial world, after experiencing several grand upheavals, everything has now stabilized. The current situation is highly advantageous for our court. Therefore, esteemed ministers, we should seize this period of tranquility to vigorously develop and continue amassing strength. The more powerful we be, the less our enemies will dare to act. We should strike once and avoid a hundred retaliations! Yes, Your Majesty! the court officials replied in unison. After the morning court session, Lin Beifan didnt head to the Imperial Study or the Imperial Academy. Instead, he arrived at the heavily guarded Tiao Prison, where he met the imprisoned Crown Prince of the Great Xia, Xia Tianqiong. Long time no see, Your Highness! You look much better! Lin Beifan smiled. Indeed, Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong looked much improved, seemingly regaining some of his past glory. This was due to the fact that the court had not mistreated him. They provided him with the best food and clothing, even arranging the prison cell to be ratherfortable and enjoyable. Apart from restricted movement, everything else he received was befitting of a royal prince. Lord Lin, youvee! Xia Tianqiong put down the book in his hand and gazed calmly at Lin Beifan. No hatred, no anger, just an extraordinary calmness. Yet, beneath this calmnessy an indescribable fear. He couldnt fathom why he felt scared every time he saw Lin Beifan. The happier the other person seemed, the more frightened he became. After all, the other party was merely a powerless schr. It seems, Your Highness, youve alreadye to terms with it! Lin Beifan smiled. What can I do if I cante to terms with it? Everything has already been set in stone! Xia Tianqiong smiled bitterly. Lin Beifan nodded, Youre right, its all set in stone! The Great Xia Court has already admitted defeat, paying 10 million taels and redeeming 600,000 surrendered soldiers from Ho Pass. Theyve also promised to provide 30 million taels worth of goods aspensation. Currently, the first batch of grain has been transported to the capital! Xia Tianqiong sighed with pain, I am a criminal of the Great Xia! This war indemnity struck at the heart of their vulnerability. The 10 million taels were manageable, it could be squeezed out somehow. The main issue was the 30 million taels worth of goods. It was like extracting blood from the Great Xias body. With so many resourcescking, the development of the Great Xia would undoubtedly be restricted, their economy impacted, livelihoods worsened, and national strength weakened, affecting every aspect. Inparison, the Great Wu, gaining these resources, would rapidly grow stronger and would be harder to contend with in the future. Furthermore, during this period, his several imperial brothers would surely not sit still, attempting to seize power opportunistically, leading to instability in the court and further weakening the nations strength. It could be said that because of him, the entire Great Xia had suffered! Your Highness, do you regret it now? If you were given another chance, would you still raise arms against Wu? Lin Beifan asked. Xia Tianqiong shook his head with a bitter smile, Whats the point of discussing these matters now? To say I dont regret it is impossible! However, if I were given another chance, I would still He raised his head, locking eyes with Lin Beifan, and spoke each word slowly, Raise arms against Wu! But, before raising arms Xia Tianqiong pointed at Lin Beifan, I would definitely kill you first! Without killing you, I wont send out troops! Lin Beifan chuckled, Your Highness, you really think highly of me. Because those who underestimate you have already met Yama!! If it werent for me still having some use, weeds might have grown on my grave by now! Lin Beifan burst intoughter, Your Highness, youre truly humorous! This isnt humor, but the truth! Xia Tianqiongs lips curled with bitterness. Chapter 275: Only by Preserving Great Wu Can I Keep My Greedy Territory! Chapter 275: Only by Preserving Great Wu Can I Keep My Greedy Territory! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
The Great Xia Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong, had tried his best to overestimate Lin Beifan, yet he still greatly underestimated him! Thinking back to the past, when he led an army of 800,000 to Ho Pass, how confident and satisfied he was! Then, he guessed the beginning, but failed to foresee the ending. In just two or three days, he was defeated by Lin Beifan, aplete and utter defeat! 200,000 troops bathed in blood, 600,000 were captured! The 35 Innate experts he brought were all killed! Even he himself had be a prisoner, a bargaining chip in negotiations with Great Wu! On the other hand, Lin Beifan, relying on this monumental achievement, was promoted in rank and granted a noble title. In subsequent negotiations between the two countries, the other side skillfully maneuvered, yielding advantages on all sides,pletely exploiting Great Xia and leaving behind immense potential hazards for its future! It could be said that with his own strength, Lin Beifan not only saved Great Wu but also dragged Great Xia into a quagmire! Thinking again about what he had done for Great Wu over the past year and more. He did it. He achieved what he had said at the beginning! When the sky falls on Great Wu, I will support it! When the backbone of Great Wu breaks, I will carry it! When the fate of Great Wues to an end, I will continue it! As long as Im in Great Wu, I will do my utmost to extend its glory! Thinking back, these words were still resonating loudly! At this point, Xia Tianqiongs expression becameplex, Mr. Lin, I wanted to kill you, but I admire you even more! Without you, Great Wu would have been in chaos long ago! With you, what more could Great Wu ask for? Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. I am not worthy! Lin Beifan bowed with a smile. To be honest, I still cant figure out why you have given so much for Great Wu, so dedicated and meticulous. Could it be just for greed, as you said before, that because of greed, you are loyal? Xia Tianqiong asked with confusion, Otherwise, what else could it be? Lin Beifan smiled, his eyes narrowed, Your Highness, you should understand that Ive done quite a bit of treason for the sake of wealth! Just pull out one of these instances, and it could implicate nine generations! Xia Tianqiong smiled and shook his head, Indeed, youre both loyal and corrupt! For the sake of wealth, you could betray Great Wu! But to preserve Great Wu, you put forth all your efforts and talents, saving the copsing building! This is the first time Ive seen someone asplex and enigmatic as you. Greed is my nature, so Ill go to any lengths to satisfy my desires! But I also have to be sincere because only by protecting Great Wu can I safeguard my greedy territory! Lin Beifan chuckled. It seems thats the only way to understand it! Xia Tianqiongughed with insight, However, what youre doing is extremely dangerous, like walking on a tightrope. Moving forward is difficult, and stepping back is even harder! Right now, youre useful to Great Wu, so the people can tolerate you, both civil and military officials can tolerate you, and even your monarch can tolerate you! But, as your power grows and your rank rises, once Great Wu can no longer satisfy your appetite, and your authority threatens the imperial power, where will you go then? Have you considered this question? Lin Beifan smiled slightly; he had thought it through long ago! His answer was always ready: be prepared to flee at any time! With his Grandmaster-level strength, there was nowhere he couldnt escape to. Besides that terrifying woman, who else could hold him back? Unfortunately, that woman was on his side! So, he had long stopped worrying about this matter! At this moment, as he looked at Lin Beifans calm andposed smile, Xia Tianqiong was puzzled! Ordinary officials would be restless and anxious in such situations, filled with fear! Why couldnt he see a trace of panic on Lin Beifans face? Why was he so fearless? Was it that he cared more about money than his life? Or was there something else he relied on? You dont need to worry about this, Your Highness! Lin Beifan grinned, I have matters to attend to now. Ill take my leave. Ill visit you again next time. Please take care of yourself, Your Highness, and dont do anything foolish! Xia Tianqiongs face turned solemn, Rest assured! For the sake of Great Xia, I will never do anything foolish! Im relieved to hear that! Lin Beifan left the dungeon. Walking along the road, he unexpectedly encountered Night Fragrance rushing frantically. This was the first time Lin Beifan had seen such a situation, and he couldnt help but ask, Night Fragrance, whats causing such panic? Night Fragrance eximed, My master hase to see me, so Im going to hide! Lin Beifan was even more confused, Your mastering to see you isnt a good thing? Night Fragrance cried out again, But my master is out for blood! In just a couple of exchanges, Night Fragrance had disappeared without a trace. At that moment, a violent and overpowering aura emanated from a distance. A white-haired yet spirited old man appeared. He resembled a majestic eagle soaring from a distance, holding a spear in his hand. Hended on a rooftop and, from his high vantage point, asked, Have you seen my unruly disciple Night Fragrance? His eagle-like gaze scanned the entire scene, finallynding on Lin Beifan. Because Lin Beifan was standing out so conspicuously and didnt appear to be afraid of his aura. Lin Beifan pointed in a direction, He ran that way! Thank you, young hero. Im going then! The old man shouted and continued his pursuit. Whoosh, whoosh All the strong individuals within the city followed him in pursuit. Lin Beifan also followed to watch the spectacle. Outside the capital, the old man had already caught up with Night Fragrance, and the two were engaged in a fierce battle. The old man held a long spear and hisughter was hearty and bold, Clever disciple, I heard you killed two Grandmasters? Hahaha Youve made progress in these two years! Quickly show it to your master! While dodging, Night Fragrance shouted, Master, those are all distorted rumors from outside. They cant be true! Quit the chatter and face my spear! Boom, boom The two fought fiercely, turning day into night! In reality, it was all one-sided torment inflicted on Night Fragrance, like a sandbag being tossed around! In less than a moment, his once handsome face was so battered that it looked inhuman, truly a pitiful sight! Despite this, he could still react swiftly, evading attacks to minimize damage! Lin Beifan clicked his tongue, So, Night Fragrances light footwork was cultivated like this! This was forced upon him. If you want to hit others, you must first learn to take hits! At this moment, Night Fragrance felt incredibly aggrieved! You should know that he was currently the idol of the entire city, a hero protecting Great Wu, also known as the Grand Heroic Cat! His current battered appearance was a huge loss of face! So he shouted, Enough, Master! If you continue like this, I wont hold back! The old man was extremely pleased upon hearing this, Good disciple, you should have acted like this long ago. Witness my Dominant King Spear! He struck even more forcefully, thudding sounds echoing Night Fragrances teeth scattered on the ground. He pulled out a small knife and cried out, Master, youve pushed me to this! Lin Beifan smiled oddly, Hehe Master, watch the knife! Like a thunderbolt, Night Fragrance swiftly dodged the spear rain, closing in on the old man. He thrust his knife toward the old mans chest, slightly off-center. The old man unexpectedly didnt dodge or evade. Night Fragrances knifended on the old mans chest. Then, a metallic ng sounded, as if the knife had struck steel, and it couldnt prate at all. Night Fragrance was dumbfounded, Why didnt it work? This cant be this cant be So, he stabbed twice in a row, but still couldnt breach the defense! The old man was speechless, My disciple, what are you doing? With such an ordinary little knife, you think you can injure me? Have you lost your mind? Master, just wait a bit more, let me stab two more times The old man raised his spear, Disciple, it seems your mind is indeed messed up. Ill knock some sense into you! Master, please please no Thud, thud Ah!!! The battle ended quickly, with the old man emerging as the clear victor and Night Fragrance defeated miserably. The old man held his spear and stood in front of the bruised and swollen Night Fragrance with a disappointed expression, shaking his head, Originally, I heard you killed two Grandmasters and your strength had greatly improved, so I traveled far to verify your progress. I didnt expect that youve made no progress at all and your mind is still troubled. Sigh youve disappointed your teacher so much! Night Fragrance coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face full of despair. It was happening again! He was being burdened by this false reputation once more! Even though it was impossible, it spread like wildfire, leading to him being beaten by Grandmasters multiple times! Even his own master traveled a great distance just to give him a beating! Oh, he was so miserable! At this moment, Lin Beifan walked over with a smile, bowing, Senior, you are Night Fragrances master, the supreme Grandmaster known as the Spear God? The old man raised his head high, his voice like a resonating bell, Indeed, I am the Spear God. And who might you be? Lin Beifan smiled, I am Lin Beifan, the Prefect of the Dedian Prefecture in the capital, and also the immediate superior of Night Fragrance. So, its you. Ive heard about you! The old manughed, Youre the one who caught my disciple Night Fragrance and also turned him from amon thief into a national hero, promoting him to a third-ranking official in the court. Haha, youve taken care of my disciple these days! Oh, not at all, Senior exaggerates. I havent done much! Lin Beifan modestly replied. The old man shook his head and chuckled, Youve done quite a bit! My disciple has always been unruly, there are few who can restrain him. You are one of them, it seems youve put in quite an effort! Senior, please dont overpraise. Since youvee to the capital, why note to my mansion for a visit? I have fine wine and delicacies to entertain you. The old man readily agreed, That sounds good! Lead the way. Senior, please! Lin Beifan stepped aside to let the old man take the lead and guided the way. At the same time, he waved at the surrounding people, We are all on the same side, no need to worry. Everyone can disperse! Chapter 276: His Social Swagger Syndrome Strikes Again! Chapter 276: His Social Swagger Syndrome Strikes Again! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Lin Beifan invited the old man into the city. As they walked, the old man looked around curiously and eximed, This is Dedian Prefecture in the capital of Grand Wu? I came here twenty years ago, and it wasnt this bustling and lively. The changes are immense! Lin Beifan smiled, All of this is thanks to Night Fragrance! Since Night Fragrance took office here, hes been cracking down on viins, fighting crime, and improving public security. The better the security, the more prosperous the streets! Is that so? That brat has such abilities? The old man seemed somewhat skeptical. He knew very well what his own disciple was capable of. Sending him tomit crimes might work, but managing a city? Dont joke around! As the two walked, they also attracted the attention of many people, who appeared somewhat apprehensive. After all, the old man had suddenly appeared with a fierce aura, an imposing presence that didnt seem easy to deal with. To reassure everyone, Lin Beifan spoke loudly, Dear fellow citizens, let me introduce someone to you! The senior standing beside me is none other than Spear God, the master of the famed hero Night Fragrance. Hes one of us, so theres no need to be afraid or reserved! So, hes the master of the heroic Night Fragrance! With this announcement, everyone rxed. In the eyes of the public, Night Fragrance was a great hero who fought evil,bated crime, and protected the citizens. To produce someone like Night Fragrance, his master certainly couldnt be a bad person! People gathered around, and thumbs went up in praise. So youre the master of Night Fragrance, no wonder you radiate righteousness! Master Spear God, youve nurtured a good disciple, a patriot and savior of the people! Since your disciple came here, our lives have improved so much! Thank you so much, Master Spear God! The old man listened and was very pleased, Is that so? Has that little scoundrel really done so much? Naturally! Master Spear God, would we lie to you? Just ask around, who doesnt know about Night Fragrance, the nemesis of criminals? Who doesnt admire the hero who fights against wrongdoers? Hero Night Fragrance is the guardian deity of our city! The old man became happier as he listened. His own disciple had shown promise, bringing pride to his face. Looking at the bruised and swollen Night Fragrance behind him, the old mans face softened with kindness and satisfaction. You rascal, youve finally grown sensible and not caused trouble for me! Keep up the good work in the future, got it? Yes, Master! Night Fragrance replied happily. Getting approval from his master made him happier than anyone else. Upon arriving at Lin Beifans house, the hostess, Li Shi Shi, had already prepared food and drink to entertain the Spear God, who hade from afar. However, as they entered the mansion, the old mans gaze was drawn to the old monk Jing Tai. He felt that this old monk was a grandmaster. Tightening his grip on his spear, his eyes grew slightly heated and filled with a fighting spirit. I sense that youre a grandmaster! How about we have a friendly exchange of martial experiences? The old monks face remained calm as he joined his hands together. Amitbha Buddha, you overestimate me! I, a humble monk, only pursue the path of Buddhas enlightenment. I dont hold martial arts in high regard. Please find someone else. Old monk, dont try to deceive me! the old manughed. If you dont value martial arts, why is your martial skill so profound and your realm so high? Achieving this level requires decades of effort! Amitbha Buddha, your vision is clouded, kind benefactor! In truth, this humble monk was merely a slightly knowledgeable monk in martial arts before. It was onlyst year that my master imparted the true essence of Buddhism to me, and I had a great epiphany, bing a grandmaster. The old man was astonished. You became a grandmaster justst year? Impossible! Your grandmaster demeanor is so seasoned, as if youve been at this level for decades, reaching the level of the natural way of Dao! Amitbha Buddha, monks do not tell lies. The old monks expression turned solemn. Finally convinced, the old man asked urgently, Who is your master? In just one year, youve made such remarkable progress. Your master must be an incredibly deep senior! Could you introduce me? Far beyond the horizon, yet right in front of you. The old monk pointed at Lin Beifan. The old man was shocked again. Ah? Lin Beifan, the Prefect of the Capital? Indeed, Amitbha Buddha! The old monk joined his hands together. The old man stared at Lin Beifan intently, his brow furrowed. Lin Beifan? Are you truly this old monks master? But you seem not knowledgeable in martial arts. Lin Beifan gave a slight smile. I am indeed Jing Tais master, but in matters of Buddhism, not martial arts. I havent taught him any martial skills. But why is he Everything Jing Tai has realizedes from my teachings on Buddhism. You see Lin Beifan joined his hands together like an old chatan, preaching, Buddhism is a path, and so is martial arts. All is the path! The Great Dao is simple; the way of Dao is natural, and the Dao is omnipresent! The old monk experienced another great realization. Masters words are profound, Amitbha Buddha! Indeed, Amitbha Buddha! Even the Spear God old man understood, Buddhism is a path, martial arts also have their way; all is the path! Youre right, youve said something marvelous! This statement seemed to dispel the clouds and reveal the clear sky, offering him a glimpse of a breakthrough opportunity! Looking at Lin Beifan again, the old mans gaze changed immediately. I believe it now, you are indeed the master of this old monk, qualified to be his master! Although you dont know martial arts, you understand the way of martial arts! Really? Why does that sound like nonsense Night Fragrance fell into thought. But he was swiftly scolded by the old man, who struck him with a stick. You little brat, if you dont understand, then keep your mouth shut and dont embarrass yourself! This is a profound saying in martial arts. You can only grasp its meaning once you be a grandmaster! Night Fragrance sighed, his head swelling from a blow. He squatted in a corner, silently shedding tears. Even Lin Beifan felt a bit sympathetic. What a pitiful kid, always getting beaten up. No wonder he runs away when he sees his master. Just as he was about to console him, the old man dragged him away. Brother Lin, lets not pay him any mind. Hell be fine on his own. Lets continue discussing martial arts. With myriad forms in martial arts, what do you want to discuss? The old man thought for a moment and ced his divine spear in front of him. Take a look at my spear. What do you think? Lin Beifan smiled faintly. Senior, to be honest, your spear is quite ordinary The old man grew furious. What? Youre saying my spear is ordinary? I know of a spear Lin Beifan leisurely began, describing different levels of aplishment like the Advantageous Spear Realm, Supple Spear Realm, Heavy Spear Realm, Wooden Spear Realm, and the Nonexistent Spear Realm, using different terms to convey the same concepts. (That bullshit again, lol) The old man was astonished, excitedly patting his thigh. Advantageous Spear Realm, Supple Spear Realm, Heavy Spear Realm Thats brilliantly put! Ive studied the way of the spear for so long, yet myprehension is not as profound as yours. Im truly ashamed! Lin Beifan said, Senior The old man waved his hand quickly. Dont call me senior. Im not qualified to be your senior. If you hold me in high regard, just call me older brother. Ill call you little brother. Were peers, how about it? Lin Beifan shook his head. That doesnt seem appropriate. Its not suitable. The old man grew angry. Why isnt it appropriate? Whats wrong with it? Its a huge advantage for me to receive your guidance. If I continue as your senior, my conscience will trouble me! So, you must call me older brother, and even if you dont want to, you still have to! Lin Beifan immediately called out, Spear God Older Brother! The old man promptly responded, Lin Little Brother! Both burst intoughter. Hahaha! Guo Shaoshuai standing beside them furrowed his brows. This scene seems familiar? Mo Rushuang whispered, Junior brother, have you forgotten? Before, the Sword Immortal and de Saint admired the young masters martial arts talent, so they forcibly recognized him and became close friends! Guo Shaoshuai suddenly realized, No wonder! The young master is truly exceptional! As long as someone is a grandmaster, theyll be impressed by his talent and knowledge! Mo Ruoshuangs eyes sparkled as she looked at Lin Beifan. Just at that moment, the old man called out to Night Fragrance, You,e here! Master, what do you need? Night Fragrance came over, holding his head. The old mans face was stern. You listen well, you brat! Lin Beifan is now the close friend of this old man, and at the same time, hes your senior! In the future, when you see him, you must show respect, obey his orders earnestly, and treat him like you would treat your master. Do you understand? If you dare to be disobedient, Ill break your legs! Ah, no! Night Fragrances face was full of despair. Before his master arrived, Lin Beifan had already been controlling him tightly. Now that his master was here and had recognized him, wouldnt he have even more control over him? Night Fragrance staggered, feeling utterly hopeless. Lin Beifan smirked in triumph. Nephew Night Fragrance, please give me your guidance in the future! Following that, to wee this grandmaster older brother who hade from afar, Lin Beifan hosted a grand feast, intending to drink until he was drunk. Gradually, news of this spread to the imperial pce. The Empress listened and lightly chuckled while shaking her head. This Lin Beifan truly has a social mastery syndrome! Whenever theres a grandmaster, he strikes up a conversation and they be friends. Hes never failed. I really dont know how he manages to do it! This grandmaster spear master had be close friends with Lin Beifan and was also Night Fragrances master. It could be said that this spear master was already half a person of Great Wu. As long as Lin Beifan and Night Fragrance remained in Great Wu, this grandmaster would be on Great Wus side. The Empress became increasingly delighted with her thoughts. Bring me the two precious bottles of Ten-Li Fragrance wine from my collection, and deliver them to the Lin Residence! Yes, Your Majesty! the old eunuch responded. Inside the Lin Residence, the old man was drinking heartily, his face flushed with alcohol. Such fine wine must be enjoyed with fellow practitioners to truly relish it! This time, being able to meet you, young brother, is truly worth it! If you like it, then drink more! Cheers! Lin Beifan raised his cup. Cheers! the old man toasted back. After finishing this cup, the old man continued, I came out of seclusion this time for two main reasons. Which two reasons? Lin Beifan inquired. Chapter 277: Trouble Brewing in the East, Green-Haired Turtle Sect Master of Tianmen! Chapter 277: Trouble Brewing in the East, Green-Haired Turtle Sect Master of Tianmen! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
First matter The old man looked at Night Fragrance beside him and smiled, Its to see my disciple! I heard that my disciple Night Fragrance has be an official in the Great Wu, killing over 30 Innate experts at Ho Pass and even ying two Grandmasters, shaking the world. I am greatly delighted, who woulde and test his strength! Unexpectedly Night Fragrance smiled awkwardly, These are all rumors blown out of proportion. I dont have such ability! Though you may not have it, your strength has improved greatly! Moreover, youve matured in dealing with people and matters. Youve be a great hero and champion in everyones eyes. Im very pleased, the old manughed. Night Fragrance proudly lifted his head. Second matter The old man picked up the divine spear, his eyes filled with a strong fighting spirit, Its been a long time since I left the mountain, and Im itching to do so! Therefore, I want to test the world with my spear, exchange experiences with fellow martial artists! I see! Lin Beifan smiled, Thats quite simple! Our court has several Grandmasters, and you can have good exchanges with them! Besides, our courts informationwork spans the entire world, knowing the whereabouts of various Grandmasters! For instance, in Wudang and Shaolin, they each have a Grandmaster! Deep within the Valley of the Dead, theres another one, whose name is unknown but is referred to as the Poison Master by others! Not only is the opponent powerful, but also a master of poison. You need to be careful! At the Heavenly Dragon Lake, theres also an old senior Grandmaster Lin Beifan borated on the whereabouts of several Grandmasters. The old man shook his head andughed, My friend, most of the people you mentioned, I know them well, and weve sparred not just once or twice. Im very familiar with their martial arts. Theres no need for more matches! Ivee out this time to seek new Grandmaster-level experts! Only by exchanging experiences with new Grandmasters can it benefit my path! I understand! Lin Beifan nodded. For example, the newly appointed Grandmaster, Saber Saint, and Sword Immortal, they would be excellent opponents! The old man stroked his beard, Ive heard that one is incredibly fierce with a de, while the other is extremely sharp with a sword. They are rare opponents! Lin Beifan nodded again. Also, theres this Monk Jing Tai! The old man looked at the old monk, battle intent erupting once more, If I could spar with Master Jing Tai, this journey wouldnt be in vain! Amitabha! The old monk joined his hands, his face calm, paying no attention. Seeing the opponent being as unyielding as stone and not responding, the old man really wanted to stab him directly with the spear. However, no matter what, they were on the same side now, his juniors disciple, and he couldnt force the issue. I heard that the Saber Saint and Sword Immortal are friends of yours, my junior. Do you know where they are? The old man asked expectantly. Lin Beifan shook his head, I knew their whereaboutsst year! But after the New Year, I have no idea where they went. Maybe they had some insights and went into seclusion to cultivate! Ah, what a pity! the old man sighed. However, I know a new Grandmaster, which might satisfy your requirement! Who is it? Where? The old man asked urgently. Lin Beifan grinned, This person is called Leng Ruochen. He used to be the Sect Master of the Tianmen, a super faction in our dynasty. His strength has indeed reached the Grandmaster realm, and hes unfathomable! So, theres such a character. I will go find him in a couple of days! The old man was extremely pleased. Lin Beifan shook his head, Dont bother looking, you wont find him! Due to his great ambition, he led his entire sect to practice demonic techniques, viting both the martial world and the courts taboos. As a result, his sect was exterminated! He fought against two Grandmasters on his own but was eventually defeated. He escaped and his whereabouts are unknown! Since we dont know his whereabouts, why discuss him? Could it be that my junior is teasing me? Lin Beifan chuckled, Rest assured, although the Tianmen Sect Master has disappeared for a while, Ive heard that he fled to the Northern Hebei Province and is cultivating there! If youre interested, you can search in that direction! The old man joyfully eximed, Great! Having a direction is better than having none! Is that so? The Tianmen Sect Master is really hiding in Northern Hebei Province? Why didnt I know? Guo Shaoshuai worriedly said. Northern Hebei Province was his hometown, yet it was hiding a viin! Lin Beifan cleared his throat, This is a court secret. Its normal that you dont know! After all, someone as dangerous as him, the fewer people who know, the better. But its almost certain! Rest for a couple of days, and then Ill seek him out for a showdown! the old man said. Thats the spirit! Lin Beifan smiled happily, The Tianmen Sect Master is truly a viin, responsible for countless heinous acts. Its everyones duty to eliminate him. So, my friend, you can fight without restraint. Killing him is equivalent to removing a threat for the people! Absolutely right, my junior! Haha! the old manughed. He loved this kind of talk. Brother, I can lend you a hand! How can you help me? Lin Beifan smiled faintly, I can use the courts influence to spread rumors. I can say that you want to have a match with him, and if he doesnt show up, hes a coward! If hes a Grandmaster and doesnt want to be mocked by the world, he will certainlye out to fight you. But if he cant bear it He definitely wont! the old man pped, As a strong martial artist, one must be bold and strive for improvement, pushing further even when at the top! If he doesnt dare to ept a challenge from someone of the same level, then his path ends here! Exactly, my friend! Lin Beifanughed. The old man sped his hands, Im relying on you for the next step! Lin Beifan modestly waved his hand, No, it should be us relying on you, helping us get rid of a scourge! Both burst intoughter, Haha! Lin Beifan thought to himself, Prince of Northern Hebei, Tianmen Sect Master, Im preparing a surprise for you. I hope you wont be too frightened! After spending two days in the capital, continuing to discuss martial arts with Lin Beifan, the old man benefited greatly. Then, he set off for Northern Hebei Province to challenge the Tianmen Sect Master, Leng Ruochen. At this moment, Lin Beifan started spreading rumors using the courts influence. Have you heard? The master of the Imperial Cat Night Fragrance hase. Hes an immensely powerful veteran Grandmaster, ready to challenge the former Tianmen Sect Master, Leng Ruochen, in Northern Hebei Province! The Tianmen Sect Master has been hiding in Northern Hebei Province? I dont know, just what Ive heard! But hes really good at hiding. He hides for half a year at a time, like a cowardly turtle! Regr cowardly turtles poke their heads out to take a breath after a few days, but hes holding back! How could he dare toe out? He must have been scared out of his wits, haha! Thats right, scared out of his wits. But you, former Grandmaster, still maintain your demeanor, haha! The rumors spread like wildfire in Northern Hebei Province. At the Royal Residence, the strategist Zhuge rushed in anxiously, My lord, something bad has happened! A big problem! Prince of Northern Hebei, who was dealing with official matters, became serious. If the strategist was so panicked, it definitely wasnt a minor issue. Quickly setting aside the documents in hand and standing up, he asked, Strategist, whats going on? Tell me quickly! Strategist Zhuge said urgently, My lord, theres a wild rumor outside. Its said that the Tianmen Sect Master, Leng Ruochen, is hiding in our Northern Hebei Province! And now, the master of the Imperial Cat, Night Fragrance, is a veteran Grandmaster, preparing to challenge various top experts. Its said that the Tianmen Sect Master is hiding in Northern Hebei Province, so hese to challenge him! Is this true? Prince of Northern Hebei was greatly shocked. He looked around and lowered his voice, Who leaked the news about Leng Ruochen being here? Who could it be besides you, my lord? Only a few of our trusted ones know about this matter, and they wouldnt reveal it! Moreover, since the Tianmen Sect Master arrived here, he has been living a very low-key life, rarely appearing in public. How he was exposed, I truly have no idea! Prince of Northern Hebei thought for a moment and also realized it couldnt be his people who leaked the information. Maybe it was when Leng Ruochen was on the run that someone spotted him. Strategist, what should we do now? Prince of Northern Hebei sought advice. In a hushed tone, Strategist Zhuge said, My lord, this situation seems somewhat peculiar. Lets pretend we dont know and also make sure Leng Ruochen doesnt find out! If he does, pacify him and convince him not toe out. The greater cause is more important! Exactly, strategist! the king nodded. However, Leng Ruochen, who was hiding in a secret room, already knew. The same suspicion arose in his mind: While Im hiding in Northern Hebei Province, who leaked the news? His first suspicion was Prince of Northern Hebei, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Now, Prince of Northern Hebei and he were tied together like two leeches on the same string. They needed each other, mutually beneficial, and would definitely notmit betrayal. Could it just be a coincidence? The Tianmen Sect Master could only me it on someone spotting him when he was on the run! Although someone hade to challenge him, he didnt act impulsively. Despite being a warrior, he was even more of an ambitious individual who valued his grand n above all. His current identity was extremely sensitive. If he came out to fight, he would expose himself, inviting endless troubles, which would be very detrimental for him. So, he decided to endure for a bit! Endure for a while to ensure calm seas! Take a step back to broaden ones horizons! However, at this moment, a resounding voice spread throughout the entire city. Leng Ruochen, my master hase to find you. How long are you going to hide? Could it be that youre truly a cowardly turtle, as the rumors say? Back when you founded the Tianmen Sect, you endured like a cowardly turtle for over 20 years! Later, the entire sect practiced dark arts, and for a month, you were hiding like a cowardly turtle! Now youve run off to Northern Hebei Province, hiding like a cowardly turtle again! Endure, endure, endure! Youve been enduring all along! The more you endure, the more you lose, the more you lose, the more you endure! Were you a green-haired turtle in a previous life? Even when someone rode on your back and defecated, you dared not resist? Green-haired turtle! The Tianmen Sect Master Leng Ruochen is a green-haired turtle! Hahaha!!! The Tianmen Sect Masters expression changed, and Prince of Northern Hebeis face also shifted. Chapter 278: Suppressing the Villain, Our Lord Bears the Responsibility! Chapter 278: Suppressing the Viin, Our Lord Bears the Responsibility! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
This statement is truly malicious! Each word stings like a de! How dare you, you brat? The Tianmen Sect Master was furious. Its important to note that he was once the leader of a super sect, with tens of thousands of disciples under him. At the peak of his power, he could contend with established sects like Wudang and Shaolin. Even though the Tianmen Sect had been exterminated, he still remained! He was a prominent Grandmaster, belonging to the pinnacle of the worlds top experts! And now, he was insulted in public by a mere youth! A Grandmaster must not be disgraced! The Tianmen Sect Master shattered the nearby table with a palm strike. On the other side, Prince of Northern Hebei was equally angry. The words were indeed vile. If the Tianmen Sect Master couldnt bear it and revealed himself, what would they do? It would undoubtedly bring about a lot of trouble and severely harm his grand n! So, Prince of Northern Hebei rushed over to intercept. He happened to encounter the Tianmen Sect Master approaching, his anger evident. Prince of Northern Hebei immediately intervened, Calm down, Sect Master. Dont take this to heart! The Tianmen Sect Masters chest heaved with anger as he retorted, How can I calm down, my lord? This brat has insulted me openly! He actually dares to mock me as a cowardly turtle, even saying Im a green-haired turtle. Its utterly preposterous! My lord, put yourself in my shoes. Could you bear this humiliation? Prince of Northern Hebei forced a bitter smile, Sect Master, I understand your grievances, but think about our grand n! In another half year, we will rise in rebellion. Its not suitable to stir up more trouble now! Can you bear to watch all our effortse to naught? The Tianmen Sect Master gradually began to calm down. Prince of Northern Hebei felt relieved and continued to advise, Sect Master, just consider it as if he farted! When we march into the capital in the future, I will personally take charge and make sure hes brought before you. Whether to kill or maim him, its up to you! Good! Ill give you, my lord, some face! The Tianmen Sect Master brushed his sleeve and walked away. Outside, Night Fragrance, who hade with his master, stood on a tall building, observing all directions. Seeing no immediate response, he muttered softly, Could it be that the great demon Leng Ruochen isnt really here? Well, lets continue the act. A performance must be yed outpletely! He held a script in his hand, which Lin Beifan had written for him. Lin Beifan told him that if he followed the lines on it, he would undoubtedly provoke the Tianmen Sect Master. It had to be said, those lines They were absolutely maddening! At this moment, another jester joined in from below and shouted, Night Fragrance, the Tianmen Sect Master is merely hiding. Calling him a cowardly turtle seems appropriate. But why did you insult him as a green-haired turtle? The voice simrly spread throughout the city! The Tianmen Sect Master, who had just turned to leave, halted his steps. Night Fragrance shouted loudly, You dont understand this? Allow this young master to ask you, how was the Tianmen Sect exterminated? The jester called out, Because they practiced dark arts and the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! Night Fragrance inquired further, What kind of cultivation technique is the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? The jester continued, Its a technique that requires self-castration. Night Fragrance asked again, Why is self-castration necessary for cultivation? The jester was rendered speechless, This Allow this young master to enlighten you! Night Fragrance raised his hands in a trumpet shape and shouted, Because the Tianmen Sect Masters woman was taken by fellow sect members. He was cuckolded, so he angrily fabricated this technique to vent his frustration! Tell me, if hes not a green-haired turtle, then what is he? Oh~~ So thats how it is! Everyone suddenly understood. The Green-Haired Turtle, Tianmen Sect Master! Hahaha Laughter mocking the situation spread throughout the city. The face of the Tianmen Sect Master turned a mix of red and green, an extraordinary sight. He pounded his chest with both hands and shouted, Its infuriating! How dare this brat insult me like this? Saying that Ive been cuckolded? I wont rest until hes dead! I swear it! Then he turned around and headed back, intent on settling the score with Night Fragrance. Prince of Northern Hebei was somewhat rmed and quickly said, Sect Master, calm down Step aside, my lord. I dont want to get my hands dirty with you! The Tianmen Sect Master forcefully pushed Prince of Northern Hebei aside, soared into the sky with raging killing intent, and thundered, Brat, Im going to kill you! Its none other than the Tianmen Sect Master Leng Ruochen! Hes really in Northern Hebei Province! The entire city was in shock! Night Fragrance saw the Tianmen Sect Master and first rejoiced, The great demon Leng Ruochen has finally been provoked by me! Then he panicked, I cant withstand such overwhelming killing intent! Without hesitation, he fled, his speed astonishing. The pursuing Tianmen Sect Master shouted, Brat, dont run! I will definitely kill you! Ill y your skin, tear your tendons, shatter your bones, drink your blood, devour your flesh! Ill make sure your body is in a thousand pieces, utterly obliterated! Night Fragrance trembled, I was just joking, did it really have to get this fierce? The Tianmen Sect Master, who was chasing behind, heard this and was infuriated to the point of half death! Are you joking? Youre tossing my dignity on the ground and then ruthlessly trampling on it! What man could bear such humiliation? Night Fragrance, Im going to dismember you in the most gruesome way! The Tianmen Sect Master shouted angrily, putting all his strength into the chase. Surprisingly, he increased his speed by three points, closing in on Night Fragrance. Night Fragrance urgently shouted, Master, please save me! Swish! An old man wielding a long spear dashed out from the city. Fearless, he stood before the Tianmen Sect Master and shouted, You must be Tianmen Sect Master Leng Ruochen? Ive heard of your fame. I wish to use my spear to test your skills! The Tianmen Sect Masters face was filled with trepidation, You are Night Fragrances master, the Grandmaster known as the Spear God? The old man stood tall and proud, his voice deep as a mountain, Indeed, it is I. Lets battle! Good! Im brimming with anger right now and Ive been looking for someone to vent on! The Tianmen Sect Master gritted his teeth, Since youre that brats master, Im going to hold you ountable in the same way! Unable to fight within the city, well fight outside! The two Grandmasters quickly rushed out of the city, preparing for a showdown. The experts within the city also followed in pursuit. After running about ten miles, the two Grandmasters couldnt wait any longer and engaged in a fierce battle. The old man wielded his divine spear with agility and grace. His spear techniques were like dragons, overwhelming with each move, shaking heaven and earth. In just a short moment, he had already devastated a vast forest, leaving it unrecognizable. The Tianmen Sect Master was not to be outdone. He also revealed his weapon a pair of silver bracelets, worn around his hands. They were indestructible, and each move he made carried the might of thunder, unstoppable. Their battle was akin to a battle between gods, their momentum boundless, ttening everything in their path! Only innate experts had the chance to witness this up close! For those below the innate level, standing too close could mean being shredded by the force! The outside martial artists watched, enraptured. So, this is the strength of Grandmasters? Its truly terrifying! Theyre so powerful! Just watching has exhausted all my strength! When will I ever have a chance to be a Grandmaster? The old man who was currently fighting broke into heartyughter, Haha! This feels great! Such a satisfying fight! Its been so long since Ive encountered such a strong opponent like you. Today, I must enjoy this battle to the fullest! The Tianmen Sect Master roared in anger, Ill apany you until the end! Most of the spectators were experts from the royal pce. One of them eximed in surprise, I never thought that the great demon Leng Ruochen would actually be hiding in Northern Hebei Province! The thought of me and him being in the same city fills me with a sense of dread! Yeah! This is a true great demon! If he suddenly goes on a killing spree, who could stop him? Its terrifying! Only a Grandmaster can deal with a Grandmaster! Prince of Northern Hebei expressed deep remorse, saying, Esteemed heroes, I never expected that the great demon Leng Ruochen would be hiding in Northern Hebei Province. Ive been unaware for so long; its my oversight, and Im truly sorry. Everyone offeredforting words. My lord, this is not your fault! If a Grandmaster wants to hide, no one can find them! You are innocent in yourck of knowledge; we all understand! My lord, theres no need for you to me yourself! With the reassurances from the crowd, Prince of Northern Hebeis face improved. At this moment, Night Fragrance nced at the script Lin Beifan had given him, and his eyes lit up as he smiled, Ive heard that Prince of Northern Hebei is a wise and martial lord, supportive of the weak and just, a truly heroic figure. Prince of Northern Hebei didnt speak, and the other martial artists from the jianghu quickly spoke up in his defense. Why even ask? Our lord is a wise and martial ruler. Hes charitable and despises evil. Ive never respected anyone in my life, except for our lord! Our lord has done so much for us in the martial world, do you know? Following our lord leads to a future and hope! Night Fragrance, I heard youve turned over a new leaf. Do you want to join our lord? Hes eager for talents and knows how to employ them. He will surely treat you well! Prince of Northern Hebei slightly raised his head and chest, a hint of smugness in his smile. That would make things easier! Night Fragrance pped his folding fan open with a snap and said, My lord, since you are the righteous lord praised by all, someone who despises evil and upholds justice, shouldnt you lend a hand to the martial world and eradicate the demons, ensuring peace for the realm? Prince of Northern Hebeis voice turned heavy, Its my responsibility. Young brother, have you encountered any troubles? Night Fragrance pouted, My lord, you see, the great demon Leng Ruochen is right here! Shouldnt you take action to protect the martial world, exterminate evil, and bring peace? Prince of Northern Hebeis expression gradually froze, his face turning dark. This kid is malicious, actually making him act against his own ally. He was about to speak ambiguously and brush this matter aside, but the people behind him started moring. Do you even need to say that? For our lord, this is an obligation! Our lord despises evil, always standing up for righteousness and vanquishing demons! If we havent seen the demon, its okay, but if we do, its our duty to eliminate them! Its just the small Leng Ruochen, right? Lets see how our lord suppresses this demon! Even if we cant defeat him, well still fight. Nothing can scare away our lord! If we fail, well turn it into a heroic sacrifice! Prince of Northern Hebeis face turned pitch ck. He was furious! He wanted to p these martial artists whocked any sense of propriety, who seemed to thrive on chaos, and scatter them with a single blow! Chapter 279: My Lord, You’re Not Alone! Chapter 279: My Lord, Youre Not Alone! Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Under the support of the crowd, although Prince of Northern Hebeis heart was in a terrible state, he had to put on an appearance of righteousness and distress. He said, Young Brother Night Fragrance, as well as fellow martial artists, youre right! Punishing the wicked, eradicating demons, and upholding justice are obligations for us righteous individuals. I have a responsibility in this matter. However, this demon is too ferocious, and my own strength is feeble. Im afraid I might have the will but not the power. My lord, youre absolutely right. This demon is too ferocious! Without being a Grandmaster, theres no way to stop him! The demon is right before our eyes, but we cant vanquish it. Its frustrating! Everyone shook their heads in agreement, expressing regret and sighs. Prince of Northern Hebei continued to put on a show of being distressed, while secretly feeling pleased. Exactly, this is the way to do it! Its not that I dont want to eradicate the demon, but my strength is limited. Im simply unable to do it. Everyone should understand. At this moment, however, Night Fragrance grinned and said, My lord, I understand your difficulties, but rest assured! Although Leng Ruochen is powerful, hes no match for my master! So, in the end, he will undoubtedly flee again. Therefore, your task is not to eliminate the demon, but to intercept him. That shouldnt be too difficult, right? As long as we dy him for a while and trap him without an escape route, the goal will be achieved! My lord, for you, this small task shouldnt be a problem, and you wouldnt refuse, I assume? Prince of Northern Hebeis expression froze again. He was about to offer an exnation or two, when his subordinates once again started moring. What does this even mean? Our lord might not be a match for the big demon, but his strength is substantial and should not be underestimated! At the pinnacle of the Innate level, not to mention stopping the demon, even exchanging a few moves with him is entirely feasible! Who knows, maybe the opponent will be moved by our lords righteousness and submit, bowing in repentance! Night Fragrance, are you underestimating our lord? Prince of Northern Hebeis face turned pitch ck once more! His mood had hit rock bottom! He inwardly roared, do you people want me dead faster? He almost wanted to raise both arms and hammer these babbling martial artists to death! Brother Night Fragrance, and all you heroes, what you said is absolutely right! Although I may not be a match for this fiend, when the timees to act, I will definitely take action and give it my all! Prince of Northern Hebeis face was full of righteousness. My lord, you are wise! the crowd praised. But! Prince of Northern Hebeis tone shifted, This demons power is substantial, and his lightness technique must be exceptional! If he escapes in my direction, I will undoubtedly intercept him with all my might, not allowing him to take a single step! However, if he flees elsewhere, what can I do? Yes, this demons escape skills are top-notch! If hes truly determined to flee, intercepting him is truly difficult! But, my lord, theres only one of you. Even if you want to chase him, you cant catch up! Does that mean we can only watch helplessly as this demon escapes again? Once again, everyone sighed. Prince of Northern Hebeis spirits lifted once more. Exactly, thats it! Its not that I dont want to intercept him, but Im just one person. I cant possibly stop him! And what if he escapes somewhere else? How can I chase him then? Isnt that the truth? Night Fragrance smiled slyly and said, Its simple! Indeed, my lord is just one person, but were here too! With so many of us working together with unity and determination, cant we stop a single demon? Prince of Northern Hebeis expression froze once again. While he was searching for an excuse, his subordinates started shouting again. Thats right! One person might not be enough, but what about all of us? With our unity and determination, cant we stop a single demon? Remember, good prevails over evil! When so many righteous individualse together, cant we suppress this demon? My lord, youre not fighting alone. You have us! My lord, let us together eradicate evil in the martial world! Seeing this group of people shouting like theyve been injected with chicken blood, Prince of Northern Hebei felt like he wanted to die! Not only did he want to die, but he also wanted to drag this group of people down with him! Prince of Northern Hebei pondered and said, You heroes, this matter is of great importance. Perhaps we should first The heroic crowd said in unison, My lord, were here to help you! Prince of Northern Hebei: Oh my God! This time, he was truly pushed to the breaking point! Prince of Northern Hebeis face was turning ck, his heart was bleeding, but he had no choice but to put on a touched expression and said, With all you martialrades assisting me, why worry about not eradicating this demon? My lord, you tter us! The faces of everyone were beaming with joyful smiles. At this moment, Night Fragrance eximed, Brave heroes, quickly spread out and encircle this areayer byyer, inside and outside, making sure not to let the big demon escape! Night Fragrance, your words are spot-on! Thus, everyone surrounded the battlefield. Holding their deadly weapons, they stared intently at the demon figure in the center of the battle, Leng Ruochen. For all this, the Tianmen Sect Master observed it all, but he didnt take it to heart. He inwardly sneered, thinking, trying to stop him with this bunch of ants? Its pure wishful thinking! But its unfortunate for the lord, whos bound to suffer losses and casualties! Unconsciously, the two grandmasters had fought for 300 rounds. Although both were grandmasters, the Spear Gods profound skill became apparent. The Tianmen Sect Master gradually fell behind, a spear from the Spear God pierced his shoulder, blood sttering out with a splutter, staining half his body red. The Tianmen Sect Master knew that if they kept on like this, he would be the one to lose, and the situation would only be more dangerous. So he shouted, Our paths will cross again, lets wait and see! His body turned into a startled swan, flying towards a certain direction. Stop the demon! Night Fragrance shouted. Ha! Demon, where do you think youre escaping? Instantly, over a dozen martial heroes came charging. Get lost! The Tianmen Sect Master delivered a palm strike, manifesting as a towering palm, immediately sending the martial heroes flying, some of them spitting blood and dying. In this way, an opening was created. Just as he was about to escape, Night Fragrance intercepted, exchanging a couple of moves with the Tianmen Sect Master. The Spear Gods elder joined the fray once again, and the two sides continued their fierce battle. Less than 10 movester, he was overpowered again and fled once more. Boom! Another palm strike wounded over a dozen martial artists, and he escaped through the opening. Night Fragrance came charging once again, intercepting him anew. After several rounds like this, the Tianmen Sect Master became increasingly injured, and the various martial artists from different factions were covered in blood. Prince of Northern Hebeis heart ached as he watched! Whether they were martial artists or the Tianmen Sect Master, Leng Ruochen, they were all his people! This was clearly self-inflicted harm, an unnecessary depletion of their own strength! At this moment, Night Fragrance shouted, My lord, how much longer are you going to wait? Isnt it time for you to act? Prince of Northern Hebei also realized he couldnt wait any longer; otherwise, everyone would die! So he loudly proimed, Brave heroes, your lord has arrived! With a torrential killing intent, he lunged at the Tianmen Sect Master, and the two sides engaged in a fierce battle, creating a whirlwind of intensity, a disy of skilledbat. The martial heroes couldnt help but apud, My lord, what a grand manner and martial prowess! However, at this moment, Prince of Northern Hebei secretly blinked at the Tianmen Sect Master, his finger discreetly pointing to his own abdomen, preparing to y the injured act strategy. The Tianmen Sect Master understood his intention and aimed a palm strike at Prince of Northern Hebeis abdomen. But when the strike was about tond, he reduced its force by 90%. Prince of Northern Hebeis face turned pale and then blue, as he exaggeratedly spat out a mouthful of blood, dramatically flying backward. The crowd eximed, My lord! They rushed over for rescue,pletely forgetting about the Tianmen Sect Master! However, there was one person who still cared, and that was Night Fragrance. Big demon, where do you think youre running? Im here too! In the blink of an eye, Night Fragrance once again arrived in front of the Tianmen Sect Master. The Tianmen Sect Master loathed the person in front of him! Every time he was about to flee, he was stopped by this person. Moreover, earlier, this person had been so outspoken, distorting right and wrong, tarnishing his grandmaster reputation. Today, this seat will surely kill you! The Tianmen Sect Master roared, putting forth all his strength to unleash a unique move that spanned 300 feet! Night Fragrance was taken aback, wondering, do you hate me that much? With the speed of escaping for his life, he fled. At this moment, the Tianmen Sect Master halted his palm strike, continuing his escape, leaving only these words behind. Night Fragrance, Ill remember you, this enmity will be repaid! At this moment, the grandmaster battle finally came to an end, and Prince of Northern Hebei let out a relieved sigh. However, looking at the martial heroes around him, who were his aid in his grand cause, now dying, wounded, and crippled, he couldnt help but feel a deep sorrow. What had he done wrong to bring about such a cmity? This incident spread quickly throughout the world. The martial arts demon, Leng Ruochen, had hidden in Northern Hebei Province all along, but was brought out by Night Fragrance and engaged in a major battle with his master. The demon was defeated, wounded, and fled once again. However, many martial heroes suffered heavy casualties in this battle against the demon. At the same time, it also meant that Prince of Northern Hebei suffered heavy losses. But this time, no one mocked Prince of Northern Hebei. Because he acted righteously, got injured while fighting the demon, and even had the respect of injuring himself for the cause. He was a great hero, worthy of admiration! However, in the eyes of others, it was a huge cause for celebration! In the southernnd, within the royal pce. Ever since returning, the Prince of Southern Jiangs mood had been gloomy, keeping himself locked in his room. Wang Fugui rushed in, reporting the situation. After hearing it all, the Prince of Southern Jiang sighed softly, Even the imperial brother is in trouble now. Can this be considered as retribution for his wrongdoings? As his royal sibling, I cannot ignore this matter! Quickly send my royal bell over as afort to him! Yes, Your Highness! After Wang Fugui left, heartyughter could be heard from the room. In the westernnd, within the royal pce. Upon hearing about the incident, the Wuxia Duke became so excited that he pped his thigh and burst intoughter, Imperial brother, oh imperial brother, youre facing this now! I really want to go to Northern Hebei Province and see your expression, it must be quite a sight! Hurry and send that bell Your Highness, that bell has already been returned to the Prince of Southern Jiang! Is that so? Then immediately have an exquisite coffin made for me, to send to our royal brother in Northern Hebei Province! Haha! Yes, Your Highness! In the Great Wu Court. The Empress, who had learned about the incident, was very pleased, Imperial uncle got injured while fighting the demon, and Im very saddened! Someone, quickly send a decorative banner as a sign of constion! The old eunuch lowered his head, Yes, Your Majesty! But what should be written on the banner? The Empress said, Honorable in life, great in death! The old eunuch was stunned, Your Majesty, isnt that usually used for the deceased? Thats right! I want to infuriate him! Haha The Empress burst intoughter. Chapter 280: Discovering Dragon Bones, An Auspicious Omen? Chapter 280: Discovering Dragon Bones, An Auspicious Omen? 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Lin Beifan was equally pleased. He understood better than anyone that the Sect Master of Tianmen and the Prince of Northern Hebei were actually working together. This event was akin to causing them to harm each other, and it was likely that Prince of Northern Hebei was fuming behind the scenes. Now, over three months had passed since the beginning of the year. Lin Beifan had already dealt with the three major opposing factions and given the ambitious Great Xia Dynasty a lesson. All internal and external forces had settled down. As a result, Lin Beifan shifted his focus back to the capital. Comparing the citys development now to a year ago, it could be described as day and night. The politics were transparent, the watchdogs were silent at night, the people were prosperous, andmerce was flourishing. Development was progressing remarkably! Everyone believed that the future would be even better! Everything was on track, making Lin Beifans management easier by the day. On this day, he rode an official boat, touring and inspecting the farnds around the capital. Seeing the lush green rice paddies, vegetable fields, and orchards, Lin Beifan felt gratified. His heart was brimming with a sense of aplishment, and he smiled, This year will definitely yield a good harvest! Yes, Lord Prefect! Inside the fields, an elderly farmer who was puffing on a dried tobo pipe chuckled, Since the beginning of spring, the weather has been fair and the conditions bnced. We rely on the heavens for our sustenance. When the weather is good, the crops thrive! Indeed, good weather brings good fortune, Lin Beifan replied with a faint smile. In ancient agriculture, much depended on favorable weather. Therefore, Lin Beifan often utilized the Flowing Six Void Technique to improve the environment and weather around the capital. As a result, the harvests naturally improved. Of course, the most significant credit goes to Lord Prefect! The elderly farmer stood up, respectfully cupping his hands, If it werent for your Agricultural Eight Methods and the improved nting techniques, the development of agriculture! Expanding water resources and irrigating fertilends! Also, the addition of fertilizer varieties to improve soil quality. We wouldnt have such a good harvest this year! Thismoner thanks you, my lord! After saying that, he bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle. Lin Beifan quickly helped him up, Please rise! Youre an elder, theres no need for such formalities! Mainly, its because thismoner is moved Sitting on the boat, Li Shi Shi, Mo Rushuang, Li Yuxin, and others were ted, feeling immensely proud. Lin Beifan continued his inspection of the farnds as the boat drifted along. On the way, he encountered many officials. Hello, Lord Lin! Greetings, Lord Prefect! They were not officials from the capital; they came from other regions. Lin Beifan had achieved remarkable results in the capital, earning praise from the Empress and spreading his achievements far and wide. This led officials from various regions to visit the capital to observe and learn from the advanced urban management experience. Now, Lin Beifan had lost track of how many batches hade. In response, Lin Beifan would simply smile and nod. Unknowingly, it was already noon, and the sun was scorching. Lin Beifan entered the cabin. Inside, he saw the little princess gazing at a table full of delicious food with drool dripping from her mouth, yet she remained indifferent. Lin Beifan was taken aback and curiously asked, Princess, why arent you eating? Arent you usually fond of eating? The Little Princess shook her head, speaking earnestly, Im not eating. Im trying to lose weight! Lin Beifanughed mischievously, then yfully extended two fingers to pinch the Little Princesss plump and supple cheek, saying, Why try to lose weight? Being a little chubby is adorable! The Little Princess swatted away Lin Beifans mischievous hand, saying resentfully, You find chubby people cute because you dont have extra fat on yourself! Wait until you turn into a pig from overeating, lets see if youre still pleased! Lin Beifan sat down, spoke with a serious tone, Princess, dont suppress your feelings. If you want to eat, then eat! In my eyes, whether youre chubby or thin, tall or short, youre beautiful! The Little Princesss heart raced, and she bashfully lowered her head, asking, Really? Of course its true, Princess. I assure you! Lin Beifan earnestly said, For women like you, being plump is curvaceous, being thin is graceful, being tall is elegant, and being short is delicate. Youre beautiful no matter how you look! The Little Princess and the other women burst intoughter. Young Master, youre so humorous! Husband, youre quite good at making jokes! The Little Princess was extremely delighted and dered ambitiously, Listening to you, I feel enlightened! I will enjoy my meals to the fullest. Id rather be exquisitely plump than thin and alike! Lin Beifan quickly advised, But dont overeat either! If a woman weighs 90 jin, shes called slender. At 100 jin, shes called sexy. At 120 jin, shes called curvaceous. If it exceeds 120 jin What if it exceeds 120 jin? the Little Princess inquired. Thats called fatso! Lin Beifan replied. Annoying! The Little Princess rolled her eyes. Haha Everyone continued tough heartily as they moved forward. At that moment, Lin Beifan spotted a massive official ship approaching from a distance. The ship seemed to be carrying an enormous object, filling it to the brim. Numerous soldiers guarded it closely. On either side, there were two smaller auxiliary ships acting as guards. Gradually, their ship and the approaching ship met. Themander on the other ship was a fifth-ranked general who saluted Lin Beifan immediately, Subordinate pays respects to Lord Loyalty and Virtue, Prefect! No need for formalities! Lin Beifan smiled, What are you transporting on your ship? Why is the security so tight? Reporting to Lord Prefect, this item was discovered on the shore of the East Sea! After a heavy rain one night, we found a set of bones washed ashore the next day. They appear to be the remains of a formidable beasts skeletal structure! Due to its rarity, General Wang ordered us to collect it and transport it to the capital for the Majestys observation! Lin Beifan nodded, I see! Can you open it up so that I can take a look? Of course, Lord Prefect, pleasee aboard! Lin Beifan jumped onto the other ship and indeed saw a massive set of bones scattered across the deck. Lin Beifan eximed, This thing is huge! Just the skull alone is like a small house! If the bones were fully arranged, it would be at least over ten zhang in length! I suspect this might be the remains of an extinct ferocious beast! Lord Lins words are absolutely correct! the general next to him nodded. Lin Beifans interest was piqued, and he rubbed his hands together, saying, Let me take a look and see what I can piece together from it! Then, Lin Beifan instructed the nearby soldiers to move the bones. The skull was ced at the forefront, followed by the vertebral column, hand bones, and tail bones at the back Finally, they managed toy out a colossal creature measuring around ten zhang in length! With its fierce skull, serpent-like body, w-like hands, fish-like tail, and a length of about ten zhang No matter how you looked at it, it resembled the legendary divine creature! The general next to him saw it and gasped in astonishment, stuttering, This could it be the legendary dragon bones? Bones of a divine dragon? Dragon bones! These are dragon bones! Everyone around was shocked. Lin Beifan fell silent for a moment and said, General Liu and everyone, I suggest not jumping to conclusions too quickly! Although this thing looks like a dragon, but Dragon bones! These are dragon bones! Everyone knelt down one after another, their eyes filled with reverence. Lin Beifan wisely sealed his lips. This incident quickly rmed the court! Dragon bones found on the shore of the East Sea were on their way to the capital! Due to the significance of this event, the Empress wasted no time and dispatched a hundred thousand Imperial Guards along with several dozen innate experts to escort the bones to the capital. That evening, the colossal white bone structure was finally transported into the imperial pce. The massive white bone framework was gradually arranged within the pce. With its fearsome and massive skull, serpent-like body, w bones resembling human hands, and a fish-like tail No matter how you looked at it, it brought to mind the legendary divine beastthe dragon! The Empress and the officials were all exceedingly excited. Dragon bones! These are indeed dragon bones! Other than a true dragon, what other ferocious beast could have bones this enormous? This old man always thought that the divine dragon was a legend, but I didnt expect to see the bones of a divine dragon tonight! Its not in vain! Truly not in vain! The Empress looked at the massive skeleton before her, extremely excited, yet still somewhat incredulous. She murmured, Is this really dragon bones? Your Majesty, the dragon bones are right in front of us, how could they be fake? Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, said excitedly. Yes! The Empress nodded vigorously. Your Majesty, do you know what it means to find dragon bones within our dynasty? Gao Tianyao continued. What does it mean? The Empresss heart was racing. It means this is an auspicious sign from the heavens! Gao Tianyao eximed, Why would these dragon bones appear within our dynasty, not in the Great Xia Dynasty or the Great Yan Dynasty, not in any other country, but specifically within our dynasty? It shows that the heavens favor the Great Wu, favor Your Majesty, and thats why this auspicious sign has descended! It shows that Your Majesty is the true Dragon Emperor, the legitimate ruler recognized by heaven and earth, thats why you are granted the real dragon bones! It shows that under the wise leadership of Your Majesty, the Great Wu will be better and better! Unifying the world is just around the corner! The Empress burst into heartyughter, These words make perfect sense! Lin Beifan nced at Gao Tianyao, this guys cheek was getting thicker, his ttery skills were getting better and better! He could shamelessly utter such cheesy words! Meanwhile, the other officials began to chime in. Your Majesty, this is truly an auspicious sign from the heavens! Only the true Dragon Emperor could obtain dragon bones! With these dragon bones, what is there to worry about the grand undertaking not seeding? The Empress listened with great joy. Only Lin Beifans heart was filled with disdain. They were a bunch of sycophants and corrupt officials, kissing up and brown-nosing! Ive lived my life with integrity, unswerving in my principles, and I will absolutely not lower myself to their level! At this moment, the Empress asked with anticipation, Minister Lin, do you think what theyre saying is true? Your Majesty, they Lin Beifan sneered at them, discreetly creating some distance from this group of corrupt officials. He slightly bowed and said, They are correct! I have no objections! Haha The Empress burst into happyughter. Chapter 281: Consuming Dragon Bones, Everyone Becomes Immortal, All as Dragons! Chapter 281: Consuming Dragon Bones, Everyone Bes Immortal, All as Dragons! 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After the Empress had finishedughing, a situation nowy before her. Esteemed ministers, how should we handle the dragon bones? Your Majesty Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Revenue, stepped forward, We can disy the dragon bones and inform the people of the realm that the dragon bones are within our dynasty, signifying that the heavenly mandate is with us. This can boost the peoples morale and deter other nations! The Empress nodded approvingly, You speak well! Your Majesty Wang Rushui, the Minister of Works, stepped forward, We can enshrine the dragon bones in the imperial mausoleum. This will suppress the nations fortune, safeguard our dynasty, and perpetuate our legacy! It will bless the Great Wu for generations toe and ensure its continuity! The Empress nodded again, pleased with the suggestion, Well said! Your Majesty Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, stepped forward, We can build a Hall of War centered around the dragon bones. It will not only enshrine the dragon bones but also honor the heroes from across the realm! This will surely boost the morale of our military and enhance our nations strength! Once again, the Empress nodded with great satisfaction, This method is excellent! One after another, the officials put forward their ideas. Each suggestion delighted the Empress. At this moment, the Empress noticed Lin Beifan standing in silence. She smiled and said, Minister Lin, all the court officials have presented their opinions. What do you think? Share your thoughts with everyone. Lin Beifan stepped forward, looking at the court officials, and disdainfully stated, Esteemed gentlemen, your perspectives are too limited! The officials immediately became displeased, and many of them spoke up. Minister Lin, whats your insight? Dont just critique, share your ideas and let everyone hear them! If you cante up with a better idea, then I wont agree! Lin Beifan calmly sped his hands, Your Majesty, the suggestions made by the officials, such as disying it to the realm, using it to suppress the nations fortune, or building a Hall of War, are all somewhatcking in essence. They havepletely missed the right direction! In fact, the greatest use of the dragon bones is for refining elixirs of immortality, allowing people to achieve immortality, transcend worldly limitations, and ascend as immortals! Elixir of immortality, transcendence as immortals! With these eight words, the Empresss and all the civil and military officials eyes lit up, and their breaths quickened! The Empress urgently inquired, Minister, are you speaking the truth? How could I deceive Your Majesty? Lin Beifan smiled and continued, These dragon bones are inherently divine, remnants of a divine dragon, carrying its essence! Its like eating what you want to be. By consuming dragon bones, its as if youre ingesting an immortal elixir. How far can you be from bing an immortal and transcending worldly constraints? The Empress nodded excitedly, as did the officials. Even if one cannot be immortal, extending ones lifespan is still a possibility! Your Majesty, esteemed gentlemen, dont you agree? Once again, the Empress and the officials nodded enthusiastically. Lin Beifan stood before the dragon bones, excitement evident in his outstretched hands as he eximed, Look, how massive these dragon bones are! Even if we use them to make soup, it would be enough for the entire nation to have a sip! If, however, we forge these dragon bones into an elixir of immortality and have the entire nation consume it! By doing so, everyone would be immortal, akin to dragons! With intense excitement, Lin Beifan continued, We could establish an unsurpassed divine realm, exert control over the entire universe! Generation after generation, an eternal legacy! Above the heavens and below the earth, we would stand unrivaled! A sharp inhale echoed through the room. The Empress gasped, and the officials followed suit. What a grand vision! What an audacious spirit! Itpletely surpassed their imagination! It shook their souls! The officials began to feel ashamed; were they looked down upon by Lin Beifan just moments ago? Indeed, his disdain was rightful;pared to Lin Beifans ideas, theirs seemed utterly insignificant! Minister, can all this really be achieved? the Empress asked with excitement. Lin Beifan smiled slightly, Your Majesty, where theres a will, theres a way! After all, now that weve even discovered dragon bones, is bing an immortal or a sage still far-fetched? The Empress nodded in agreement, smiling, Your words are absolutely correct! Minister Lin, among all the civil and military officials, you are the one I trust the most. Thus, I entrust this pair of dragon bones to you for handling. You must make good use of them and not let me down! Lin Beifan responded loudly, Thank you for Your Majestys benevolence! Furthermore, this matter is of great importance and must not be mishandled! Therefore, I grant you the authority to mobilize all the military forces within the capital to ensure the utmost security of the dragon bones. Make sure they are not tainted by others! Lin Beifan once again eximed loudly, Thank you for Your Majestys grace! After gaining the right to handle the dragon bones, Lin Beifan immediately set his ns in motion. The first thing he needed to do was to disy the dragon bones, boost morale, and deter potential adversaries. That very night, he announced the matter to the public. The entire city was shocked and news spread across the world at an astonishing speed! Our court has actually discovered dragon bones as told in legends! Is it true? In my entire life, Ive never even seen a divine dragon, and yet, weve found dragon bones! Its very likely true! Today, 100,000 imperial troops left the city, apanied by numerous experts, all for transporting this colossal artifact! If it wasnt for the discovery of dragon bones, the court wouldnt have gone to such lengths! Is it true? Well know if we go and see tomorrow, wont we? Thats true! And so, the next day arrived. The city square was packed with a sea of people, all eager to see the dragon bones. Lin Beifan stood before the colossal structure, facing tens of thousands of citizens, and loudly proimed, Quiet down! Everyone, please be quiet! The dragon bones are about to be disyed. They are divine artifacts with spirits. Disturbing the dragon spirit above wouldnt be a good idea! Therefore, lets all watch in silence and avoid making loud noises! As the Prefect of the capital, Lin Beifans words held considerable weight. As soon as he finished speaking, the scene instantly fell quiet, all eyes fixed on the colossal object behind Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan was very satisfied and loudly dered, The auspicious moment has arrived. Let the unveiling begin! With Lin Beifans words still echoing, the massive curtain that covered the colossal object was lifted. Thus, everyone saw a gigantic set of bones neatly arranged on the square. The monstrous and terrifying colossal skull, the serpent-like coiled body, the five-wed limbs resembling human hands, and the fish-like tail bone, around ten zhang in length Such a vivid image left no doubt, this was Its dragon bones! These are indeed dragon bones! Only dragons have bones of such massive size! Themon people eximed in awe, their voices echoing in waves, creating a thunderous sound. At this point, Lin Beifan gently waved his hand, and a cloud drifted down from the sky, revealing a hole within it. Sunlight shone through the hole, falling directly upon the dragon bones, creating a radiant and sacred scene. Dragon bones! They are truly dragon bones! Themon people were extremely excited, now even more convinced. Because only genuine dragon bones possessed such divinity, bestowed upon by the heavens and earth. Dear fellow countrymen, what does the discovery of dragon bones within our nation signify? With intense excitement, Lin Beifan dered, It signifies that the heavens bless our Great Wu, guarding our citizens! Only with the heavens favor would they bestow dragon bones. This is an auspicious omen! Heavens bless our Great Wu, guarding our citizens! Heavens favor, bestowing dragon bones! This is an auspicious omen! Themon people became even more stirred up. Lin Beifan continued loudly, Therefore, it is at the behest of Her Majesty that I have disyed the dragon bones, allowing everyone to witness this divine artifact! We aim to convey that the way of heaven is within us, the will of heaven is with us, and the heart of heaven is with us! Thank you, Your Majesty! the crowd said in unison. Without anyone leading the way, everyone knelt down one after another, worshipping the dragon bones! And this matter gradually spread to other countries, reaching the ears of ambitious individuals. The Great Wu court discovered dragon bones and even disyed them publicly? How is that possible? There are no dragons in the world to begin with. How could dragon bones exist? Could it be that the Great Wu court is ying tricks to deceive themon people into serving them? This kind of trickery has long been overused. This king doesnt believe those are real dragon bones! We must investigate further! As soon as theres any development, report it immediately! Various spies from all corners had arrived in the capital city. At this moment, the disy of the dragon bones continued. To gain the trust of others, Lin Beifan summoned a cloud every day, revealing a hole in it to let sunlight shine through, creating the appearance of a divine light. He also secretly scattered some seeds into the ground, then controlled the energy of water and soil to nurture their growth. They quickly sprouted, blooming into an array of flowers, creating a miraculous scene. At times, when Lin Beifan was in a good mood, he conjured a gentle drizzle, allowing it to sprinkle around the dragon bones in a small area. He then manipted the underground water to bubble up, creating a unique and awe-inspiring phenomenon known as Heavenly Dew and Earthly Springs. This is a miracle! The dragon bones are manifesting miracles! Themon people became even more convinced. The ambitious figures who had been quietly observing from the sidelines were also gradually shaken! Could it truly be dragon bones? On the third night of the dragon bones exhibition, someone couldnt sit still any longer and paid ate-night visit. Lin Beifan stood before the dragon bones and loudly questioned, Lord Gao, itste at night, and youvee here. Whats the purpose of your visit? The visitor before him was none other than Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel. Cough cough Gao Tianyao coughed twice. Im here to see the dragon bones! Lin Beifan grinned. I remember youing every day. Could it be that you still havent seen enough? Ive seen enough! Its just that this time, I came to to Gao Tianyao hesitated and stuttered, I came to touch the dragon bones up close. Please, Sir Lin, show some flexibility! Lin Beifan was taken aback. Her Majesty ordered me to guard the dragon bones and not allow anyone to approach! If anything goes wrong, Ill be held ountable! I dont want to disappoint the Emperors favor. Lord Gao, do you think this is appropriate? Are you intentionally making things difficult for me? Gao Tianyao quickly said, Sir Lin, please listen to me Impatiently, Lin Beifan cut in. Dont waste words. I have one thing to say: If you want to touch, you have to pay! Gao Tianyao eximed, What the heck! All the emotions Ive been brewing and the lines Ive prepared for so long, and you just threw me off with a single sentence! Sir Lin, how much do you want? Gao Tianyao asked in a hushed tone. Lin Beifan whispered back, Well, it depends on how long you want to touch and how you want to touch! Weve known each other for a long time. A touch costs 100,000 taels! If you scrape off ayer of skin, add another 100,000! Gao Tianyao eximed, What the heck! Chapter 282: How Does Dragon Bone Taste? Chapter 282: How Does Dragon Bone Taste? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, stared fixedly at Lin Beifan, wishing he could tear him apart. Lin Beifan spoke earnestly, Lord Gao, dont look down on it. 100,000 taels is really not expensive! After all, this is a unique divine artifact in the world! Even if its just ced here, it can attract auspiciousness, bring good luck, and blessings to all. If consumed, who knows, it might grant eternal youth and life equal to the heavens! This divine artifact must not be lost! Even if you scrape off ayer of skin, it would be a grave offense, punishable by death! We have a long-standing rtionship, so thats why Im giving you this opportunity. If someone elsees, I wont entertain them! Gao Tianyaos expression kept changing, showing great inner conflict. In the end, he gritted his teeth, Fine! Ill give you 200,000 taels! With a heavy heart, Gao Tianyao handed over 200,000 taels, and Lin Beifan finally made way, saying, Lord Gao, please. Thank you, Sir Lin! Gao Tianyao stood before the massive dragon bone, his eyes filled with fascination. He stammered incoherently, This is the dragon bone! The legendary divine artifactthe dragon bone! In reality, he had never truly believed the object before his eyes was a dragon bone. His previous assertion was just an attempt to tter the Empress and make her happy. He could also use the dragon bone for various tricks to deceive the masses and stabilize their hearts. However, the events of the past few days had started to shake his certainty. Where the dragon bone was ced, a divine light bathed it. Flowers of all kinds bloomed around it, in a dazzling and colorful disy. Even more astonishing, heavenly dew and earthly springs emerged. All these miracles indicated that this was indeed the dragon bone. Its effects were unknown, but it was undoubtedly a priceless treasure. Bringing good luck shouldnt be a problem. Curing all ailments might be possible. Saving a life might just work. Maybe it could truly allow Eternal youth and immortality. So, he arrived in the dead of night, hoping to touch the dragon bone up close. If he could just take a bit of it back, it would be even better. Dragon bone, this is the dragon bone Gao Tianyao devoutlyid on the dragon bone. The hands that were ustomed to holding brushes were now ced on the bone, rubbing vigorously, over and over, and over again As if he wouldnt give up until he rubbed off a bit of skin. Lin Beifan couldnt bear it anymore. Lord Gao, stop rubbing! If you keep going, your hands will be blistered! I paid money. Even if my hands are rubbed raw, you have no right to interfere! Gao Tianyao retorted confidently. Lin Beifan sensibly shut his mouth. Finally, persistence paid off for Gao Tianyao. After wearing off ayer of skin, he finally rubbed off a bit of dust. He immediately put it in front of himself, licked it, and had a look of ecstasy on his face. Lin Beifan couldnt help but ask, How does it taste? Gao Tianyao frowned, This taste, its a bit fishy and a bit salty Lin Beifan chuckled, Exactly, because what you just ate was dirt! Cough cough Gao Tianyao started coughing. Lin Beifan continued exining, During the transportation of the dragon bone, it identally got some dirt on it! I distinctly remember, Lord Gao, the spot you were rubbing against happened to hit a clump of mud! *Cough cough* Gao Tianyao started coughing violently. He red at Lin Beifan irritably, Sir Lin, why didnt you say so earlier? Lin Beifan appeared wronged, How was I supposed to know? I didnt expect you to rub off a bit of skin and immediately put it in your mouth, savoring it like a delicacy. I was taken aback! Gao Tianyao snorted. In the end, he realized he couldnt really me Lin Beifan. After spitting out the mud from his mouth, Gao Tianyao reached out to scrape the dragon bone again, but Lin Beifan intercepted his hand. Gao Tianyao was puzzled, Sir Lin, what do you mean by this? Lin Beifan smiled slyly, Lord Gao, youve already touched it earlier! If you want to continue touching the dragon bone, youll have to pay again! Gao Tianyaos temperament exploded, I only touched it briefly, and now I have to pay again? Lin Beifan retorted, Just a brief touch? You rubbed off ayer of skin! Gao Tianyao protested, That was dirt! Lin Beifan countered once more, Even if its dirt, if ites into contact with the dragon bone, it bes divine soil! You you Gao Tianyao was about to explode with anger. Lord Gao, dont be angry! Considering our rtionship, Ill offer you a 50% discount for the second time! As long as you give another 100,000 taels, you can not only touch but continue rubbing! Gao Tianyao trembled with rage, Alright! Youre something else! In the end, Gao Tianyao conceded and paid 100,000 taels. Then, nearly erasing his fingerprints, he excitedly left after rubbing off a bit of bone dust. Over the next two days, Lin Beifan continued to receive more high-ranking officials and nobles. The rules remained the same: touch for 100,000 taels. Rub off some skin, plus another 100,000. With this small profit and high turnover method, Lin Beifan effortlessly earned several million taels. The Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen, also arrived. After scraping his fingers until they bled, he left contentedly. However, before leaving, he looked at the blossoming flowers around the dragon bone and said, Sir Lin, you probably dont need these flowers, right? I can help you remove them without hesitation! Lin Beifan quickly intervened, Of course, these are necessary! These are no ordinary flowers; theyve grown under the nourishment of the dragon bone. They are not simple flowers but immortal and extraordinary ones, priceless! Qian Yuanshen was greatly disappointed. But, in consideration of our rtionship, Ill offer you a special price of 10,000 taels per flower! Mr. Qian, how many would you like? Qian Yuanshen grew furious, If were talking about our rtionship, why charge so much? Its precisely because of our rtionship that Im charging! Our rtionship is valuable! Lin Beifan said righteously. Damn! Qian Yuanshen was infuriated. Thus, through these unusual flowers, Lin Beifan made another hefty profit. Later, Ill nt more flowers. These are perfect for collecting the IQ tax! Lin Beifan calcted with a chuckle. Over the next two days, Lin Beifan continued to perform more miracles, convincing an increasing number of people that this was indeed the divine artifact, the dragon bone. Unique in the world, no exceptions. In the southern region, at the Prince Residence. Wang Fugui excitedly rushed back, My Lord! My Lord! The news has been confirmed. That really is the dragon bone! The unique divine artifact in the worldthe dragon bone! Finally, the Prince of Southern Jiang left his own room, a bit excited but also somewhat uncertain, Is it really the dragon bone? Its absolutely true, my Lord! Wang Fugui nodded with excitement, To confirm its authenticity, I went to the capital in person! Guess what I saw? I saw a dragon bone measuring ten zhang disyed on the capital square, truly enormous! Wang Fuguis eyes gleamed with admiration as he continued, At that moment, divine light descended, illuminating the dragon bone, exuding a sacred and majestic aura! It even brought down a gentle rain, blessing everyone around! I basked in the divine light and rain, feeling like all my ailments disappeared, and my body became light! Is it really that incredible? Prince of Southern Jiang still had some doubts. My Lord, besides that, theres another great miracle! Wang Fugui said excitedly, Where the dragon bone was ced, it was originally a barren wastnd! However, within three days, it sprouted numerous celestial flowers, each more beautiful than thest! My Lord, please take a look. I spent a lot of money to secretly buy these celestial flowers from Lin Beifan! Saying this, he presented a brightly colored peony. As the Prince of Southern Jiang epted the peony, he was greatly shocked, These really grew within three days? Although he wasnt engaged in cultivation or flower nurturing, he understood that cultivating such a vibrant peony from scratch would take at least two to three months. But now, it had grown within three days,pletely subverting his understanding! Its absolutely true, my Lord! Wang Fuguis expression was very serious. Dragon bone, this is really the divine artifact, dragon bone! Haha! The Prince of Southern Jiang was extremely excited and happy. With the dragon bone, he could be the legitimate ruler of the world, rallying heroes to help him conquer! With the dragon bone, he could gain the blessing and assistance of heaven and earth! With the dragon bone, he might even be able to Achieve immortality, be a celestial being! At this moment, he thought of many things, and the more he thought, the more impatient he became. The Prince of Southern Jiangs breath became rapid, Fugui, how can I obtain the dragon bone? Wang Fugui looked troubled, My Lord, the dragon bone is currently in the capital, guarded by experts and a strong military presence appointed by the court! Trying to obtain the dragon bone is even harder than ascending to the heavens! The Prince of Southern Jiang persistently asked, Isnt there any other way? Wang Fugui folded his hands, My Lord, its nearly impossible to acquire the entire dragon bone. However, theres a chance if we manage to get a small portion of it! Because Lin Beifan is responsible for guarding the dragon bone, you know how greedy that fellow is! By bribing him secretly, we might have a chance to obtain the dragon bone! The Prince of Southern Jiangs excitement soared, Good! Go make the arrangements immediately! Spend as much money as needed, but make sure to secure the dragon bone! Yes, my Lord! With all his resources, Wang Fugui set off for the capital once again. At the same time, after confirming the authenticity of the dragon bone, many other vassal kings also had simr ns. Through bribing Lin Beifan, they aimed to acquire a portion of the dragon bone. They were prepared to be taken advantage of if it meant getting the bone. Even many martial artists and sects from the martial world couldnt remain indifferent at this moment. At the Shaolin Temple, a venerable old monk rushed excitedly into the abbots meditation room, Senior Abbot, the news has been confirmed. That imperial courts dragon bone is indeed genuine! Since the disy of the dragon bone, it has exhibited various miracles that cannot be exined! Perhaps only legendary divine artifacts would possess such spirituality and attract the favor of heaven and earth! The abbots face turned pale, Is this really true? The old monk nodded excitedly, Its absolutely true! Namo Amitabha! The two old monks chanted the Heart Sutra to suppress their emotions. Senior Abbot, the dragon bone is indeed a divine artifact! If we acquire it, will our martial skills advance by leaps and bounds? Will we be grandmasters, great grandmasters, and even supreme grandmasters? Can we even achieve enlightenment? The old monk was filled with excitement. The abbot scolded, Junior Brother, how can you be so greedy? The old monk retorted, Senior Abbot, arent you tempted at all? Even if Im tempted, can you really obtain it? Can you snatch the dragon bone from the courts hands? If our Shaolin were to ruin its heritage because of this, could you bear that responsibility? The old monk lowered his head, Then, Senior Abbot, what should we do? The dragon bone is a divine artifact of heaven and earth, and its our duty to guard it as Shaolin! The abbots face was filled with righteousness, We can send experts to the capital to negotiate with the court. We must protect the dragon bone and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands! The old monk gave a thumbs-up, Senior Abbot, your wisdom is truly remarkable! Namo Amitabha! The abbots face radiatedpassion. Other prestigious and righteous sects also began sending people to the capital after confirming the authenticity of the dragon bone. Chapter 283: Can This Dragon Bone Still Help People Gain Enlightenment? Chapter 283: Can This Dragon Bone Still Help People Gain Enlightenment? Please help me to pay my hosting subscription of the site this month or you can send manually to paypal ount
Not long after, Lin Beifan saw Wang Fugui, who was covered in dust. Before Wang Fugui could speak, Lin Beifan immediately refused, If you want the dragon bone, theres no need to talk! Wang Fugui hurriedly said, Sir Lin, please listen to me! Though this request is somewhat difficult, His Highness the Prince truly desires the dragon bone! Were not greedy, just a small amount, it shouldnt be discovered by anyone else! Alright! Considering our old friendship, one or two dragon bones for 1 million taels each! Lin Beifan said. Wang Fugui was greatly shocked, Why so much? Much? Not at all! Lin Beifan stood with his hands behind his back and said dismissively, You must understand, the dragon bone is a divine item. It can bring blessings and dispel disasters, cure all illnesses. If used to refine elixirs, it might even grant eternal life, matching the lifespan of heaven and earth! Its a unique divine item in the world! Her Majesty has emphasized repeatedly to protect the dragon bone! Ive risked my life to get you a bit of it! If you dont want it, thats fine, and I wouldnt want to give it either. Its not worth the risk! With that, he turned to leave. Wang Fugui hurriedly held him back, Wait, Sir Lin, please hear me out. This is a serious matter. Give me some time to think! Ill give you an answer in two days! Then you better make good use of your time! Lin Beifans expression remained displeased, Let me tell you, this dragon bone can only be disyed for half a month at most! After half a month, Her Majesty will take it back and guard it strictly! Not to mention you, even I, as an official, wont be able to touch it! Yes, yes, I understand how to handle it. I will respond to you as soon as possible! Wang Fugui assured. On the second day, Wang Fugui returned to Lin Beifan, deciding to purchase five million taels worth of dragon bone. So, Lin Beifan handed it over to him. Wang Fugui looked at the white powder-like substance in front of him, blinked, and asked, Is this really dragon bone? No doubt about it! Lin Beifan whispered, I secretly scraped this off the dragon bone. To avoid detection, I only took a tiny bit each day. This matter must not be revealed! I understand, I understand! Wang Fugui nodded. Next, Lin Beifan began a dragon bone business with other vassal kings and aristocratic families. This one wanted three million taels worth, that one wanted two million taels worth, effortlessly earning over 20 million taels! Adding the money previously swindled from high-ranking officials, the money earned from selling flowers, the total ie had surpassed 30 million! Lin Beifan was extremely pleased, Just scraping a bit off the dragon bone can earn so much money! If I were to sell it all, the money earned I cant even imagine! Definitely cant imagine! Not to mention breaking through to the Supreme Grandmaster realm! Even taking a step forward and bing a legendary immortal of thend was not an impossible thing! Just then, an official entered, Lord Prefect representatives from Shaolin Monastery and Wudang Sect have arrived! Lin Beifan furrowed his brows, Why are they here? Is it about the dragon bone? Lin Beifan stepped out of the room and saw a group of monks and Daoist priests approaching, clearly formidable in strength. Guiding them was none other than Guo, the chief constable of the Six-Doors. Lin Beifan asked in confusion, Master Guo, what is this all about? Guo shook his head with a bitter smile, You better ask them yourself! Lin Beifan looked at the group of monks and priests, his gaze filled with questions. The abbot of Shaolin Monastery, with apassionate smile, said, Amitabha! The dragon bone is a treasure of the world, to be held by the virtuous. If it falls into the hands of the wicked, it will undoubtedly lead to cmity in the martial world, causing turmoil and suffering for all living beings. Our Shaolin Monastery couldnt bear to stand by, so I led the Shaolin monks toe and protect this treasure! Namaste! the monks behind said in unison. The abbots words are indeed true! the head of Wudang Sect, with kind brows and eyes, said, The emergence of the dragon bone is both an opportunity and a crisis! If this divine treasure falls into the hands of evildoers, it will undoubtedly lead to endless ughter, causing misery for themon people! We, as representatives of the righteous martial world, have the responsibility to uphold justice, maintain order, and protect the well-being of the people. Therefore, weve specially sent people to guard the dragon bone! Infinite Heavenly Lord! Infinite Heavenly Lord! the Daoist priests behind echoed in unison. Seeing these two groups of seemingly righteous individuals, Lin Beifan quickly understood their intentions. Thank you, Shaolin and Wudang, foring to help! However, Her Majestys decree is clear. Except for officials, no outsiders are allowed near the dragon bone. Vitors will be executed without mercy! You are not official personnel, and your identities are sensitive So, I appreciate your intentions, but please return from where you came! Lin Beifan reluctantly refused. The two Grandmasters were shocked and immediately began persuading with earnest words. Lord Lin, we understand your difficulties! But, ording to our sources, many martial world evildoers have already taken notice! They are powerful andmit heinous deeds. Relying solely on the courts strength will hardly stop them! Do you realize how much cmity and evil would be brought if the dragon bone falls into their hands? Not only within our kingdom, but evildoers from other nations also have their eyes on the dragon bone! Thus, the dragon bone is no longer just a matter for the court; it concerns the whole world! We must safeguard the dragon bone and resist external evil! Lin Beifan was deeply moved, Both of you Grandmasters are venerable figures with the world in your hearts. I greatly admire that! The abbot of Shaolin and the head of Wudang nodded repeatedly, Well said, well said! Im not unreasonable either! For the sake of the dragon bone and the well-being of the world, as long as each of you contributes 10,000 taels of silver, I will allow you to guard the dragon bone up close! The abbot of Shaolin and the head of Wudang eximed in their minds. This was just about squeezing money out of them! Even their Shaolin Monastery (and Wudang Sect) wasnt spared from this greed. Lin Beifan had quite the audacity! Namaste! the abbot of Shaolin joined his palms, Master Lin, we monks of Shaolin are renunciants; we dont possess wealth. Lin Beifan also joined his palms, Abbot, I understand your predicament. You might not have money, but you have golden Buddha statues! If you donate one of those, isnt it the same? The abbot of Shaolin was astonished, How can we donate a golden Buddha statue? Why not? Buddha teaches: All sentient beings are equal! Therefore, this golden Buddha statue is no different from an ordinary Buddha statue. As long as theres Buddha in the heart, anywhere can be a purend. Isnt that right? Lin Beifan countered. This If youre truly struggling, Im a Buddhist believer. Donate it to me! Ill certainly treat the golden Buddha statue well. Namaste! Lin Beifan saidpassionately. The monks of Shaolin were speechless! Donate a golden Buddha statue to this corrupt official, and he would probably melt it down in the next moment! Seeing the abbot of Shaolin hesitating, Lin Beifan urged, Abbot, whats there to hesitate about? Buddha ispassionate and forgiving. For the sake of the worlds well-being, he will surely forgive you! Dont you find a Buddha statue precious for the worlds sentient beings in your eyes? Goodness, he even brought out these profound arguments! In the end, the abbot of Shaolin didnt donate, but he reluctantly offered 500,000 taels. Lin Beifan then turned his gaze to the people from Wudang Sect and smiled, The Three Pure Ones also have the world in their hearts Dont say more, heres the money from us! Finally, Wudang Sect reluctantly handed over 400,000 taels. With this, they finally gained Lin Beifans permission to closely observe and protect the dragon bone. Seeing this, other righteous martial factions also came to Lin Beifan, one after another. Lin Beifan treated them all equally, as long as they paid. Of course, you had to be from a reputable and righteous faction to have this opportunity. If not, everything is off the table. In this way, Lin Beifan managed to swindle a few million taels from them. This made Lin Beifan cant help but sigh, people in the martial world really are too wealthy! So, he decided to carry on with this ttery scheme to the end. With a smiling face, he approached the crowd of Shaolin and Wudang practitioners, Esteemed Grandmasters, have you gained any insights these past few days? Everyone shook their heads one after another. The abbot of Shaolin joined his palms together and said with a furrowed brow, This monk has been guarding the dragon bone day and night, but still hasnt grasped any trace of Buddhist principles or natural revtions from within the dragon bone. I just feel like its an ordinary bone, not much different from other rocks! Perhaps its due to our ignorant aptitudes. Namaste! Or perhaps, we are not fated with the dragon bone, Infinite Heavenly Lord! the head of Wudang said with a wry smile. Lin Beifan nodded and smiled, I understand! Its probably because the time is short, so you havent been able to grasp the profound truths of heaven and earth from the dragon bone yet. Persist, and I believe you will surely gain something! Thank you for your auspicious words, Master Lin! everyone said in unison. By the way, Lord Lin, after guarding the dragon bone for so long, have you gained anything? the curious abbot of Shaolin asked. Everyones gazes turned towards Lin Beifan. To talk about gains, indeed, theres a little something! Lin Beifan said with a smile. The crowd was shocked. What? You gained something? What kind of gains? The head of Wudang Sects voice was a bit urgent, Master Lin, if youve gained something, could you please share? Of course, its not some shameful secret! Lin Beifanughed, Iveprehended a profound principle of the universe from this dragon bone, which has greatly benefited me! What profound principle of the universe? the abbot of Shaolin inquired further. This principle of the universe is Lin Beifan smiled faintly, The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name A powerful and indescribable aura of the Dao radiated from him. The heroes of the martial world were all astonished! This was truly the great way of heaven and earth! The resounding sound of the great Dao! Just hearing it caused their martial arts realm to shift! Incredible! Incredible! Lin Beifan only recited a few dozen words and then stopped. Whates next? the head of Wudang Sect asked urgently. Lin Beifan shook his head, Theres nothing more. Iveprehended only this much! Although its just a short passage, it has indeed greatly benefited me. Namaste! Thank you, Lord Lin, for your guidance! the two Grandmasters said in unison. Once again, they looked at the dragon bone beside them, their eyes gleaming with excitement! This was truly the treasure of the world! Even someone like Lin Beifan, who had no martial strength, couldprehend the essence of martial arts from it! If martial artists like them understood it, wouldnt their martial skills advance by leaps and bounds? Chapter 284: Wudang Sect, Sparing No One, Not Even Children! Chapter 284: Wudang Sect, Sparing No One, Not Even Children! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Dragon bones were truly captivating! The abbot of Shaolin Temple gathered a few monks in a corner and instructed, Write a letter immediately and have Senior Brother Jiechen bring the most insightful disciples from our sect here! One monk couldnt understand, Amitabha! Master, why? The abbot replied impatiently, Youre clueless. Cant you grasp such a simple concept? The dragon bone can aid enlightenment and enhance cultivation. Its a top treasure in the martial world! If our disciples canprehend the supreme martial arts from it, their skills will skyrocket. This will undoubtedly strengthen our sects power! Oh Master, youre right! The monks suddenly realized. Thats why Ive asked Senior Brother Jiechen to bring more outstanding disciples here! The more disciples we have, the more who canprehend martial arts from the dragon bone. Its beneficial for Shaolin Temple, Amitabha! But Master, this will cost a lot of money! The monks remembered the hundreds of thousands they had been conned out of by Lin Beifan and looked troubled. The abbot remained resolute, Amitabha! As the saying goes, opportunities are not to be missed. If we dont seize this chance, we might be left behind by other sects, impacting Shaolin Temples status. So, no matter how much money it takes, we cant afford to miss this opportunity! Master is absolutely right, Amitabha! the others echoed. Simrly, Wudang Sect and other sects were following the same approach. They were eager to gather all their disciples, protect the dragon bone, and gain enlightenment from it. Looking at Lin Beifan, a schr with no martial prowess, being able to extract profound martial insights from the dragon bone, these martial artists were benefiting greatly from just a few dozen words. If one or two of their sect members achieved enlightenment, wouldnt that be a substantial gain? As the saying goes, when one person achieves the Dao, hispanions ascend to heaven along with him. This principle applied here. Within a few days, the square became increasingly crowded with representatives from various sects. They were divided by sect, facing off with a hint of hostility toward each other. Among them, Shaolin Temples disciples were the most numerous. About one-third of them were bald, their heads gleaming in the night. This made them the first to be criticized. Great Master Abbot, youre taking this a bit too far! The head of Kongtong Sect snidely remarked, Sending so many disciples, are you nning to move Shaolin Temple to the capital? Yeah, with so many monks, youve practically monopolized the dragon bone! The head of Qingcheng Sect shouted. Are you here to seize the dragon bone or what? Facing their taunts, the abbots expression turned sorrowful, Esteemed sect leaders, youve misunderstood me! The dragon bone concerns the martial world and the states stability. We cant afford any mistakes! As the leader of the martial alliance, I have a responsibility. Thats why Ive sent many disciples to protect the dragon bone. I hope you fellow martial artists can understand, Amitabha! The crowd was furious. He clearly wanted to seize the dragon bones blessings, yet he was speaking so nobly? Hypocritical and cunning! At this moment, the head of Wudang Sect and a group of young Taoists approached noisily. Judging by their Taoist robes, they were from Wudang Sect. Their numbers surpassed those of Shaolin Temple and had even included disciples from other sects. This time, the abbot of Shaolin Temple couldnt tolerate it anymore! With hands sped together, he loudly questioned, Amitabha! Head of Wudang Sect, why have you sent so many disciples here? The head of Wudang Sect replied righteously, Theyve alsoe to protect the dragon bone! What about them? Are they here to protect the dragon bone too? The abbot of Shaolin Temple angrily pointed at a group of innocent-looking young Taoists. These young Taoists were around 13 or 14 years old, but there were even a dozen or so kids under 10 among them. They had no internal energy and hadnt even started on the path of martial arts. What were these young children doing here? As the abbot of Shaolin Temple and the leader of the martial alliance, he still wanted to maintain some dignity. He could have sent some young monks with martial skills to represent their sect. But you, from Wudang Sect, are even including children! This was too much, it was intolerable! They, the head of Wudang Sect had a kindly smile on his face, They have been practicing martial arts within Wudang since they were young, and theyve never left our mountain gate! So, taking this opportunity, I thought Id let them see the world in the capital and have a glimpse of the dragon bone! Its not a big deal, everyone doesnt need to be concerned or take it seriously! Haha! The abbot of Shaolin Temple was furious! The heads of various sects were furious! You shameless old Taoist! You can say such shameless words? You tell us not to be concerned How can we not be concerned? If one or two outstanding disciples among them couldprehend supreme martial arts from the dragon bone, wouldnt your Wudang Sect leave us all behind? This was a contest of sect fortunes, and no one could afford to lose! As a result, the representatives from various sects started quarreling. Since themotion was quite significant, Lin Beifan was called in to mediate. Whats going on? What happened? Everyone here is from distinguished sects, all significant figures in the martial world! Making such a fuss, is this proper conduct? Lin Beifan scolded loudly. Cant you all just sit down peacefully and calmly exchange a few blows? Various sect leaders eximed, What the hell! Are you here to mediate or provoke a fight? Lin Beifan spoke with emphasis, I know, all you heroes are here to protect the dragon bone! Ive seen your sincere intentions! But why argue so much? Whoever pays can go in, isnt that simple? If you dont have money, no matter how much you argue, its pointless! Dont you agree? Harmony is the way to prosperity! The sect leaders gave Lin Beifan annoyed nces. Were the ones being harmonious, and youre the one prospering! Alright, stop arguing, follow the rules! Lin Beifanmanded loudly. Lord Lins words are reasonable! The abbot of Shaolin Temple reluctantly took out a silver note worth 1 million taels and said, Lord Lin, this is Shaolin Temples contribution, please ept it! Lin Beifan epted the money with a smile, To all the masters of Shaolin Temple, thank you! The head of Wudang Sect grudgingly took out a silver note worth 1.5 million taels and said, Lord Lin, this is Wudang Sects contribution! Lin Beifan once again epted the money with a smile, To all the masters of Wudang, thank you! In this way, Lin Beifan extracted money one after another from these sects. In the blink of an eye, it had crossed the 5 million mark. It had to be admired that these martial sects were indeed quite wealthy! Usually quiet and pretending to be poor, but when it came to giving money, they were not hesitant at all! However, Lin Beifan noticed that there was still a great potential to tap into. Apart from Shaolin and Wudang, other sects were itching to join in, clearly not wanting Shaolin and Wudang to take all the glory. And so, after a few more days, the number of martial artists in the city increased, and Lin Beifan earned another 5 million. As the martial artists were numerous, and with more peopleing to view the dragon bone, it seriously impacted the citys security and stability. As a result, Lin Beifan had to move the dragon bone out of the city. Outside the city, a massive dragon-viewing tform was constructed, where the dragon bone was disyed for everyone to see. Beneath the tform were disciples from various sects, all sitting cross-legged, densely packed. They protected the dragon bone while trying toprehend the profound martial principles from it. During this period, many treacherous individuals attempted to break in and steal the dragon bone, but they were repelled by the disciples from various sects. They were ruthless, as if avenging a deep grievance. Evil must be exterminated by all! If you want toy hands on the dragon bone, first ask if my sword agrees! Fellow martial artists, we must guard the dragon bone and prevent wicked individuals from touching it! As martial sects, its our responsibility! Everyone united in opposition. They had paid money; you cant just freeload without paying, where is the fairness in that? All these scenes were observed by Lin Beifan, and he felt satisfied. You paid the money and helped me protect the dragon bone. This feeling is truly exhrating! Meanwhile, these scenes were also observed by the Empress. The Empress was somewhat speechless, Lin Beifan, using the matter of the dragon bone to make money again! Not only did he manage to extract a sum from the court officials and even my uncles, he didnt spare the martial sects either. His audacity is growing! A white figure appeared on the beam,ughing, Indeed, his audacity is growing! But Your Majesty, do you believe thats really a dragon bone? The Empress chuckled softly, How can I believe it? Qingxuan Sister, when has that guy ever spoken the truth? If he says its a dragon bone, then it definitely isnt! Hes just trying to use this thing to get money from everyone! Hes quite cunning, fooling people from all over the world! Haha Bai Guanyin nodded with a smile, Yes, he has fooled the entire world once again! The Empress was quite vexed, However, hes bing more and more audacious now. Im afraid he will create a bigger mess, and it wont be easy to contain! Qingxuan Sister, keep an eye on him for me, dont let him cause chaos! Your Majesty, rest assured, he is a sensible person and will stop in time! The Empress covered her heart with her hand, smiling wryly, I just hope my heart can endure until he stops! Bai Guanyin couldnt help but chuckle, and her figure gradually faded away. At that moment, urgent memorials arrived from outside, and the Empresss expression changed when she read them. She sighed again, Hes really stirred up a storm this time! Chapter 285: Refusing to Surrender the Dragon Bone, Clash of Arms! Chapter 285: Refusing to Surrender the Dragon Bone, sh of Arms! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Because these memorials all came from the border regions, various countries were mobilizing troops along the borders, umting strength and awaiting action, creating an extremely tense situation. Apanying these memorials were diplomatic letters from various countries, all concerning the dragon bone. In these letters, the rulers of various countries explicitly stated: the divine artifact, the dragon bone, is a treasure of the world and should belong to all people, not solely to the Great Wu Empire! If the dragon bone is not handed over, there will be a sh of arms! The Empress immediately convened an emergency court meeting. During the meeting, her anger was palpable, Esteemed ministers, various countries have sent diplomatic letters, demanding that our empire surrender the dragon bone, or else there will be war! This is utterly unreasonable and shameless, a logic of bandits! The discovery of the dragon bone within our empire is a sign of heavens favor toward us. How can we possibly share it? But now, various countries have amassed troops at the borders, and the situation is extremely tense! Esteemed ministers, do you have any wise strategies? As the guardian of the dragon bone, Lin Beifan actively stepped forward and dered loudly, Your Majesty, they are just bluffing and need not be taken too seriously! The Empress asked, Minister, why do you say this? Your Majesty, recall our previous battle against the Great Xia Empire! In that battle, we paid a minimal cost and defeated the Great Xias forces, capturing 600,000 soldiers and even their crown prince, Xia Tianqiong. We achieved an unprecedented glorious victory, showcasing the might of the Great Wu Empire and intimidating the entire world! Under such circumstances, the various countries are actually afraid to act! Firstly, the Great Xia Empire wont dare to move! They have just suffered defeat, their morale is low, and they have no intention of engaging in another war. Another battle would result in their certain defeat! Moreover, the crown prince is in our hands. If they dare to act, we dare to kill! The Empress nodded, Your exnation makes sense! The Great Xia Empire wont act, and neither will the Great Yan Empire! They fear that a defeat like the Great Xias would have severe consequences for them as well! Engaging in warfare between major powers is no trivial matter! The Empress nodded again, Youre right! Both major empires wont act, and naturally, the smaller countries wont dare to act either! Lin Beifan smiled, So, their bluster is mostly just empty threats. We mustnt let them frighten us and cause chaos in our ranks! But what if they actuallye to attack? an elder statesman asked. If they want to fight, then we will fight! Lin Beifans tone was resolute, After obtaining reparations from the Great Xia Empire, our Great Wu Empire is well-stocked with provisions and abundant resources. We canpletely sustain multiple battles! Moreover, weve just defeated the Great Xia Empire, and our morale is high. Why should we fear them? The passion of the court officials was ignited, Indeed, we are well-supplied now, with high morale. Why should we fear their actions? If they want a fight, were the Great Wu Empire, who should they fear? We dare to fight; do they dare? Lin Beifan continued with impassioned words, Your Majesty, the situation in our empire has just turned for the better, and themon people can finally enjoy good days! Under these circumstances, if they dare to fight, it means they are against the well-being of our citizens! To oppose our citizens is to oppose the world. The world will support our empire and ensure victory in this battle! With such unity and determination, how can we not win? The court officials grew excited once again, With our unity and solidarity, how can we not win? We will fight and we will triumph! The most crucial point is, we have the dragon bone! Lin Beifans face was flushed with excitement, The dragon bone is within our empire. What does that indicate? It shows that the heavens favor us, that destiny is on our side, that the divine is with us! Even the heavens themselves stand with us. With this certainty, how can we fear? Lets fight! Want the dragon bone? Not just I, but themon people of the Great Wu Empire Lin Beifan roared, Will never agree! The court officials followed suit with their roars, Will never agree! The momentum was overwhelming, shaking the heavens! The Empress watched, her heart pounding. This guys skill at rallying people was getting stronger! Or perhaps, the benefits of the dragon bone were too great, tying together all interests in a resolute stand, refusing to retreat! The Empress was also deeply stirred and eximed loudly, Excellent! What you ministers have said is absolutely right! If they want war, then let there be war! We hold the dragon bone; the heavens are with us, and with unity, how can we not triumph? Your Majesty is wise! The court officials chorused. Thus, the Great Wu Empires response swiftly reached various countries: If you want war, we are ready, but obtaining the dragon bone is absolutely impossible! Observing the Great Wu Empires rapid mobilization of troops and their imposing stance, other nations courts refrained from hasty actions. Just as Lin Beifan had said, the matters of war were not to be taken lightly. The present Great Wu Empire was no longer the same as before. The current Great Wu Empire had even defeated the flourishing Great Xia Empire, their momentum was high, and their supplies were ample. With the dragon bone in hand and everyone from top to bottom united, their power was unprecedentedly strong. To defeat the present Great Wu Empire and seize the dragon bone, an exceedingly heavy price would have to be paid. In the event of defeat, the losses would be even greater! So, they changed their approach, inciting the martial artists from their own countries to go to the capital of the Great Wu Empire, aiming to seize the dragon bone. They hoped to muddy the waters and benefit from the chaos. Consequently, the number of martial artists around the Dragon Observation tform increased steadily. They hailed not just from the Great Wu Empire, but also from the Great Xia Empire, the Great Yan Empire, and other nations. They all stared intently at the massive dragon bone atop the tform. Is this the dragon bone? Its size is so immense, clearly not something ordinary! Yes, this bone is bathed in holy light, causing flowers to bloom! Sometimes, divine rain falls, and springs gush forth. One can faintly hear the roar of a dragon In all the world, is there any other divine artifact that canpare to this bone? Ive heard that this dragon bone possesses wondrous effects. Carrying it can turn misfortune into fortune, cure all ailments, and in crucial moments, save a persons life! It might even grant immortality, allowing one to ascend to the realm of the immortals! These are all rumors! But theres one thing that can be certain: someone hasprehended the grand Dao of heaven and earth from the dragon bone, greatly enhancing their martial arts! Who? Whos the lucky one? Its Lin Beifan, the Prefect who has been living by the dragon bones side! Its a pity hes a schr, not skilled in martial arts; otherwise, he would have had the chance to learn supreme skills from the dragon bone and be a peerless hero of the world! Ah, what a shame! Various experts were getting restless. If it werent for the numerous experts guarding below the Dragon Observation tform, they would have rushed to seize it. Seeing this, Lin Beifan decided to give them a little stimtion. His gaze turned towards various sects and ns,nding on a foolish-looking young monk. He chuckled, Haha, its you! Lin Beifan activated the Dao Heart Seeding Demon Art, and a surge of spiritual will descended upon the young monk. Misty purple qi, marrow cleansing through the Book of Changes, supreme yang heat The young monk, dazed and confused, fell into enlightenment. At that moment, a ray of sunlight descended from the sky, illuminating the young monk, making him appear incredibly dignified. This wondrous scene astonished everyone. What what is this? Whats happening to Tianbao? Why such a strange phenomenon? Lin Beifan walked over with a smile, Esteemed masters, dont panic! This young disciple seems to have seems to have achieved enlightenment! He might haveprehended the mysteries of heaven and earth from the dragon bone! Enlightenment! Everyone was amazed again. Although they had already learned from Lin Beifan that the dragon bone could bring about enlightenment and enhance ones cultivation realm, seeing it happen before their eyes for the first time was truly astonishing! It was indeed magical! Silence! Silence! Lets not disturb Tianbao! the chief abbot said loudly. Everyone nodded, holding their breath, fearing to awaken him. At that moment, an even more extraordinary scene unfolded. The young monks aura began to rise, his inner strength grew increasingly robust. Finally, it seemed as though he broke through a barrier with a loud bang, advancing to another level of strength! The onlookers were immensely excited. Hes breaking through! Hes breaking through! From ninth-grade martial artist to eighth-grade in one go! Such a rapid advancement! The dragon bone, it can truly enhance ones strength! In about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the young monks aura stabilized, and the holy light above his head disappeared. He blinked his eyes dazedly,pletely shocked by the scene before him. He found himself surrounded by people, all of them gazing at him intently, as if they wanted to devour him. Terrified, the young monk immediately hid behind the chief abbot of Shaolin and asked, Master, whats going on? Why is everyone looking at me? Is there something on my face? The chief abbot of Shaolin smiled benevolently, Tianbao, dont be afraid. Everyone is just concerned about you! Quickly tell your master what you experienced just now and why your strength broke through. Only then did the young monk realize that his strength had indeed unknowingly surged. Before he could even feel happy about it, he noticed that everyones gaze became even more intense and greedy. Shrinking his head, he trembled as he said, Amitabha! The young monk doesnt know what happened just now At that time, the young monk was reciting the Heart Sutra, and suddenly, his mind went nk. A grand and majestic voice, as though from the heavens, resounded. It seemed like he was imparting the Dharma; the young monk unconsciously fell asleep! When the young monk woke up, he saw everyone! What Dharma did he impart? Speak quickly! someone urged. Trembling, the young monk recited, Misty purple qi, marrow cleansing through the Book of Changes, supreme yang heat Though just a hundred or so characters, it led to profound realizations for the experts present, greatly exciting them. This is definitely an unparalleled supreme technique! Even though its just a few characters, each word is like a precious gem. Ive gained great insights! The dragon bone can indeed aid in enlightenment! Whates after? Whats next? someone urged. Terrified, the young monk shrank back and muttered in a low voice, Theres nothing more. The young monk only remembers this much! Amitabha! Little monk, are you deliberately hiding something? someone questioned loudly. The chief abbot of Shaolin stepped forward with full confidence, saying, Even if hes hiding something, so what? This was realized by my disciple of Shaolin and belongs to our Shaolin Temple. What does it have to do with all of you? Chief abbot of Shaolin, thats not right to say! Although it was realized by your disciple of Shaolin, the technique was imparted by the dragon bone. It should belong to everyone present! Are you trying to keep it all for Shaolin Temple? Seeing everyone arguing, the young monk was about to cry out of frustration, There really isnt anything more. A monk doesnt lie! Seeing that the young monk seemed truthful, everyone felt disappointed. Once again, they looked at the massive dragon bone beside them, their gazes even more eager than before! The dragon bone could truly aid in enlightenment and enhance ones strength! Chapter 286: Are You Here to Protect the Dragon Bone? Accept Your Payment Amidst Tears! Chapter 286: Are You Here to Protect the Dragon Bone? ept Your Payment Amidst Tears! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
This is a vivid example, unfolding right before their eyes! The martial artists outside the arena could no longer remain indifferent! This dragon bone can truly aid in enlightenment! This is a treasure of the martial world! The dragon bone is a treasure of the world, belonging to all, not meant to be monopolized by you. We also have a stake! Hand over the dragon bone, or dont me us for being impolite! Martial artists from various countries came out, all eager to seize the dragon bone. The imperial forces drew their weapons, highly alert. The abbot of Shaolin, as the leader of the martial arts world, stood before the dragon bone and shouted, Protect the dragon bone, dont let wicked individuals touch it! Yes, Leader! The martial artists of the Great Wu realm responded in unison. The two sides confronted each other, tense and ready for conflict! At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward, angrily saying, Whats all this noise? You martial artists are always either squabbling or fighting. Cant you behave a little? The abbot of Shaolin approached, rebuking the martial artists from other countries, Lord Lin, its not that this humble monk is itching for a fight, but they want to snatch the dragon bone! The dragon bone is a treasure of the world. If it falls into the hands of evildoers, it will undoubtedly bring cmity to the people! As righteous martial artists, its our duty to protect the dragon bone. We mustnt let these viins take it! Thats right! Were protecting the dragon bone! Its the duty of us heroes of justice! They are all wicked people; we mustnt let them steal the dragon bone and bring disaster to the martial world! If they want to take the dragon bone, theyll have to step over my dead body! The martial artists from the Great Wu realm united, shouting in unison. Martial artists from other countries grew furious. What the hell are you barking about? Youre so-called righteous, and were not? Youre clearly just talking nonsense, wanting to monopolize the dragon bone! The dragon bone is a treasure of the world, belonging to everyone! Youre twisting right and wrong. Even if I agree, my de wont! The abbot of Shaolin fumed, Since youre so obstinate, well settle this with our fists! This humble monk will show you the strength of the wrathful eyes of the Vajra! Come on! Lets see if your Great Wu sects can match the heroes of the entire martial world! Enough! Stop arguing! Lin Beifan shouted loudly, I know exactly what youre all thinking. But let me tell you, violence wont solve the problem! What if the dragon bone is destroyed as a result, losing its original purpose? Can you bear that responsibility? Gradually, everyone began to calm down. Lin Beifan continued, And what if, by some chance, you fail to seize the dragon bone but end up sacrificing your lives, even endangering your entire sect? Is it worth it? The voices in the scene grew much quieter. Lin Beifan went on, Even if you are lucky enough to snatch the dragon bone, butck the knowledge to use it, wouldnt that be a waste and a cheap giveaway to others? Pointing to the little monk, Lin Beifan said, Look here, there are thousands gathered, apart from me, only this little monk has the opportunity to obtain the dragon bone, one in a thousand! How many of you will actually have that chance? At this point, everyone hadpletely calmed down. Upon careful consideration of Lin Beifans words, they found his reasoning quite sound. If the dragon bone were to be destroyed in the process, they would be at a huge loss. Losing their lives without obtaining the dragon bone would lead to a blood price for their sects. Acquiring the dragon bone but not being able to use it effectively would result in even more loss. Therefore, paying such a tremendous price for the slight, visible but unattainable benefit was simply not worthwhile. So, what do you suggest? Are we just supposed to stand by and do nothing? a martial artist from another country angrily asked. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Isnt it simple? Its said that heaven has a good virtue towards life. And its also said, The Way of Heaven is fifty, and removes nine. Everything carries a glimmer of hope. As long as each of you pays me thirty thousand taels of silver, Ill give you the opportunity to get close to the dragon bone. Whether you receive a stroke of luck depends on yourselves! The martial artists from various countries eximed in surprise. So, you want money, you official! One of the martial artists from another country pointed at the monks of Shaolin and Wudang and demanded, What about them? Why do they only need to pay ten thousand taels? Can it be the same? Lin Beifan retorted, They are all prominent righteous sects, driven by a sense of justice and duty to protect the dragon bone. I greatly admire that, so Im only charging them ten thousand taels as a token of appreciation. The monks of Shaolin and Wudang felt their mouths twitch. Ten thousand taels each, just a token of appreciation? Youre nearly stripping our sects bare! At this moment, the leader of a sect stepped forward with a righteous expression and said, In fact, our Grand Feather Sword Sect is also a righteous and honorable sect, though not affiliated with the Great Wu martial world. However, we also harbor a sense of justice and havee all this way to protect the dragon bone. We request Lord Lins understanding! I see! Lin Beifan was deeply moved. Given your sincere intentions, I will only charge your sect ten thousand taels as well. The leader of the Grand Feather Sword Sect was overjoyed. Thank you, Lord Lin! After paying the money, they stood by Lin Beifans side. Other sects also understood. They all proudly announced their sects names, revealing they were prominent righteous sects from various countries. They strongly expressed that their purpose was to protect the dragon bone and hoped that Lin Beifan would grant their heartfelt intentions. Lin Beifan was even more touched. There are indeed many good people in this world! He tearfully epted their money and let them pass. The abbot of Shaolin tugged at Lin Beifans sleeve and asked with difficulty, Lord Lin, isnt this a bit inappropriate? After all, they are sects from other countries. Its said that those on different paths cannot work together. While happily collecting money, Lin Beifan whispered, Master Abbot, actually, Im doing this for your own good too. The abbot of Shaolin was puzzled, For our own good? Yes, for your own good and for the good of us all! Lin Beifan confidently said, We all came here for the dragon bone. If a fight breaks out, regardless of who wins or loses, the losses will be severe. Its better to spend a little money to avoid disaster. Its good for you, for me, and for everyone. Isnt this a good idea? The abbot of Shaolin gave Lin Beifan a sharp look. Were paying to avoid trouble! Only you are profiting! However, upon careful consideration, they found that Lin Beifans words made sense! If a real fight were to break out, they would be facing martial artists from various countries, which would be too much for them to handle. It would be better to sacrifice a small benefit and preserve their strength. The martial artists from various countries shared simr thoughts. They hade all the way to Great Wu for the opportunity rted to the dragon bone, not for fighting. After all, this was the territory of Great Wu, and causing a disturbance here would not be in their best interest. So, spending a bit of money to avoid trouble seemed like a good idea. As a result, martial artists from different countries gathered harmoniously at the scene However, the officials from various countries were somewhat dissatisfied. They had urged their martial sects toe here with the intention of causing chaos in Great Wu and then exploiting the situation to seize the dragon bone. But now, with everyone so harmonious, how could they create chaos? At this moment, a peak innate master suddenly rushed toward Lin Beifan aggressively. All this talking just masks your greed for money! Youve actually been greedy enough to target me, you official! Ill kill you first and then take the dragon bone! The words were slow, but the action was swift. He was already in front of Lin Beifan. Watch out, Lord Lin! Lord Lin! Everyone watched with bated breath. Lin Beifan remained unfazed. The old monk Jing Tai, who had been guarding the dragon bone all along, opened his eyes. Transforming into a streak of rainbow light, he appeared in front of Lin Beifan and struck out with a palm. Boom! The peak innate master spewed blood and flew out, falling to the ground in a state of unknown life or death. This scene greatly shocked everyone! Lin Beifan scanned the entire area with his gaze, especially those who were getting restless. He smiled faintly and asked, Anyone else? No one answered; everyone became well-behaved. So, Lin Beifan managed to profit another over ten million taels from this situation. The officials from various countries, seeing that all the martial artists had be well-behaved and they had no chance to obtain the dragon bone, once again bribed Lin Beifan, hoping to gain some of the dragon bone through him. Lin Beifan naturally epted the money offered on a silver tter and gained another twenty million taels. It can be said that ever since the appearance of the dragon bone, after various maniptions by him, he had gained over sixty million taels in total, almost like peeling off ayer of skin from each faction. Observing all of this, Bai Guanyin was left speechless. Youre quite something! Through the dragon bone, youve managed to extract money from various factions! In terms of greed, I would crown you the strongest! Thank you for the praise! Lin Beifan grinned smugly. At this moment, the two of them stood on a high mountain in the distance, looking at the dragon bone several miles away. The surroundings of the dragon bone were densely packed with martial artists. They were meditating and practicing diligently, hoping to obtain opportunities through the dragon bone. Unbeknownst to them, all their efforts were in vain. So far, I still cant figure out what that thing is! Bai Guanyin curiously asked, Can you tell me what it actually is? Lin Beifan smiled and said, In fact, its just the remains of a colossal beast! This beast lived in the deep sea and is called a Whale because of its enormous size. Since it resides in the deep sea, not many people are aware of it! Its bones are just ordinary animal bones, and theres nothing extraordinary about them. Bai Guanyin was even more speechless. He had managed to deceive the whole world with these ordinary remains of a colossal beast! She admired not only Lin Beifans tactics but also his audacity! After a moment of silence, Bai Guanyin said, Its about time! Ive learned from my sources that some grandmasters have heard about this matter and are on their way to the capital! Various countries are also preparing to send experts to seize the dragon bone! With so many strong individuals, even if you are powerful, you might struggle to manage everything! Lin Beifan nodded, Youre right. With the money Ive made, its time to put an end to this farce! Chapter 287: The Dragon Bone Actually… Flew Away by Itself? Chapter 287: The Dragon Bone Actually Flew Away by Itself? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan waved his hand, and dark clouds gathered densely over the sky of the capital city. Apanied by lightning and thunder, it seemed like rain was about to pour down. However, the people around the Dragon Viewing tform didnt seek shelter from the rain. Instead, they were filled with joy. Herees the timely rain again! After every rain shower, I feel like all my ailments vanish, and I be light and healthy! This is a blessing bestowed upon us by the Dragon God! Amidst everyones anticipation, a gentle but continuous rain began to fall from the sky. Bathing in this holy rain, everyone felt incrediblyfortable, as if all their troubles had disappeared. At this moment, Lin Beifan extended his right hand, saying, Dragon bonerise! The Dao Heart Seeding Demon Great Techniquespirit controlling matter! Thus, amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, they witnessed the dragon bone they had been guarding day and night slowly begin to move. It lifted from the ground, ascending into the air, flying higher and higher. The dragon bone its actually flying! The dragon bone is about to manifest its power! May the Dragon God bless us! The excitement was palpable among everyone. Many who didnt understand the truth knelt down devoutly, hoping to receive blessings from the Dragon God. However, the dragon bone showed no response to their prayers. It moved as if alive, swirling in the wind and rain like a true dragon. It flew higher and higher, as if it was ascending to the heavens. Wait, somethings not right! The dragon bone is flying away! Dragon bone! Dont go, I havent yet grasped the supreme martial arts from it! Dragon bone, stay with me! The martial artists from various sects grew agitated. For them, the dragon bone was their opportunity to break through, an unparalleled treasure that would grant them strength. And now, it was silently about to fly away. In an instant, dozens of experts shot up into the sky, flying toward the dragon bone. Lin Beifans expression remained indifferent. Thunderobliterate! As Lin Beifans voice fell, several bolts of thunder appeared in the sky and descended upon the martial artists soaring into the sky. Boom, Boom How could a humans speedpare to that of thunder? In a sh, they were all struck by the thunderbolts and fell to the ground, their bodies charred ck. Fortunately, their strong martial skills saved them; otherwise, they would have been reduced to ashes under these thunderous strikes. Its fate! A senior eximed loudly in sorrow, The dragon bone, a supreme treasure left behind in the mortal realm, was never meant to be owned by mortals. So now, its returning to the heavens! Forcing it recklessly will only invite divine punishment! With these words, many people agreed. I dont believe it! I refuse to let go of the dragon bone! A peak-level expert at the Innate realm shot into the sky. In an instant, the heavens seemed angered, and several bolts of thunder descended. Boom, Boom All of them struck the peak-level expert in the Innate realm. Without time to react, he turned directly into ashes. This time, nobody dared to make a move. They could only watch the dragon bone fly higher and higher, until it vanishedpletely. The dragon bone it truly flew away! Many peoplemented. This event quickly spread throughout the world. The dragon bone had spirit; amidst the wind and rain, it ascended into the sky and returned to heaven. Anyone who obstructed its path faced divine retribution. All these urrences added a more mysterious hue to the dragon bone. Peoples belief in the dragon bone became even stronger. However, it was regrettable that the dragon bone had left, and it might never return again, leaving behind only regret and sorrow. Due to the enormity of this event, Lin Beifan, as the guardian of the dragon bone, had an obligation to report it to the pce. With a face full of guilt, he asked for punishment, Your Majesty, I failed to guard the dragon bone properly. Please, punish me. After listening to Lin Beifans report, the empress secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This matter was finally over. If it continued, her heart might not have been able to bear it. The empress shook her head slightly and smiled, Minister Lin, this matter isnt your fault. The dragon bone possesses a spirit; if it wishes to leave, us mortals cant stop it. Those who attempt to obstruct it face divine retribution. Youve done well! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding! Lin Beifan expressed his gratitude with tears in his eyes. The empress stood up gracefully, her smile warm, Minister Lin, its gettingte. Have you had dinner? Its been a while since I had hotpot. Why dont you join me for some? Lin Beifan was a bit bewildered! The dragon bone had flown away. Your dream of immortality had gone up in smoke. Why do you seem a bit cheerful? Inviting me for hotpot? How could I endure such a thing? As youmand, Your Majesty! While themotion over the dragon bones departure stirred up the world outside, Lin Beifan was leisurely enjoying hotpot with the empress in the pce, watching the pce dance troupe perform. With the dragon bone having flown away and their opportunities gone, the various martial artists lingered for another two days before leaving in disappointment. Themon people of the capital also woke up from this dream-like affair and returned to their fields forbor. The capital seemed to return to normal. Yet, in their spare time, everyone couldnt help but discuss the matter of the dragon bone. For instance, the young princess. She was seen holding her head with both hands, her eyes drooping in a despondent manner, saying, The dragon bone actually flew away. What a pity! I wanted to make a soup using the dragon bone. I wonder what it would taste like. Lin Beifan grew furious, Keep your mouth shut! The dragon bone is a divine item. How can you use it to make soup? The young princess retorted with a twist of her lips, But it was you who first suggested using the dragon bone to make soup! You said that by making soup from the dragon bone, everyone in the country could take a sip. Youre even more disrespectful than me! Lin Beifan silently took a seat. The young princess was bing less and less adorable; she kept exposing his secrets. At this moment, the young princess excitedly grabbed onto Lin Beifans arm, Oh right, Lin Beifan, youve been guarding the dragon bone all this time. You should have had a chance to obtain some of it, right? Can you share a bit with me? Lin Beifan grew cautious, Dont make things up. I dont have any dragon bone. That would be against thew and disrespectful to the emperor. How could I do such a thing? Dont lie to me. Havent you disrespected the emperor on multiple asions? Besides, youre quite cunning. If you have something valuable, you would definitely stash it away. So, you must have kept some of the dragon bone for yourself! The young princess lowered her voice, Lin Beifan, I just want to taste it. Dont worry, I wont tell anyone. Lin Beifan shook his head, No need to taste it. It doesnt taste good. The young princesss eyes lit up, Youve tasted it? How was the taste? Tell me quickly! Lin Beifan whispered, I havent tasted it myself, but the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, licked the dragon bone powder in front of me! He told me that the taste of the dragon bone is a bit fishy and slightly salty, like eating soil! It seems the taste is indeed a bit off. Did he have any reaction after eating it? He did! Lin Beifan nodded vigorously. The young princesss eyes lit up again, What kind of reaction? He had indigestion and diarrhea afterward! Lin Beifan said emphatically. The young princess: Life in the capital remained unchanged. However, under Lin Beifans management, the capital was developing better and better. With improved lives, people pursued more things. For instance, the delicious dishes Lin Beifan had introduced, such as Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and hotpot, had gradually spread beyond the pce and be one of the delicacies of the capital. Many people wanted to have a taste and enjoy them. Even the courtesans businesses were thriving. Every time Lin Beifan passed by, thedies of Baihua Pavilion would call out to him. Sir Lin, I wonte this time. The girls miss you! Come in and have a seat! If you donte soon, well forget to put on our autumn clothes! Facing thedies invitations, Lin Beifan remained imposing: Youre just daydreaming! Even if you forget to wear your pants, you wont get to me! As he strolled down the street, Lin Beifan was quite satisfied. Except for thedies of Baihua Pavilion. At this moment, Lin Beifan spotted a familiar purple figure, Miss Ziyue, its been a while. I hope youre well! Thedy before him was none other than Princess Ziyue, whom he hadnt seen in several months! Compared to a few months ago, she had grown more confident and radiant! Perhaps the war in Wuxi had brought her newfound confidence! Minister Lin, youre too polite! Princess Ziyue smiled slightly, Congrattions on your recent promotion, Minister Lin. You shone brilliantly in the battle at Ho Pass, defeating Great Xia. You truly are one of the greatest military strategists in the world! Lin Beifan humbly replied, Princess Ziyue, your words are too kind. Its nothing. Princess Ziyue was a bit speechless! Great Xia was one of the three strongest countries in the world, even stronger than Great Wu by three points! In less than a month, you defeated Great Xia despite the odds, and you say its nothing? What would count as something then? Minister Lin, sometimes excessive modesty is a form of showing off, Princess Ziyue chuckled. Forgetting past glory is the mark of a hero. Lets not talk about that. Princess Ziyue, why have youe? Did you encounter any problems? Lin Beifan asked curiously. Princess Ziyues eyes held a hint of grievance, as if looking at an unfaithful person, Minister Lin, cant I visit you if I have no issues? Lin Beifan retorted indignantly, Princess, dont just look at me. Remember to bring some local specialties! Princess Ziyue tilted her head, puzzled, What local specialties? Wuxi is filled with soil! To me, money is like dirt. Thats the local specialty! Lin Beifan said. Princess Ziyues mouth twitched slightly, Minister Lin, you havent changed a bit. Lin Beifan sighed, a bit mncholic, Princess Ziyue, your words are off. People do change. Actually, I have changed. I used to be very greedy for money, but now Princess Ziyue inquired with concern, Youre not greedy anymore? Now Im even greedier! Without 3 million taels, I wont be satisfied! Princess Ziyue: Princess Ziyue gazed at Lin Beifans handsome face and had an urge to smack him, but she chuckled softly instead, Minister Lin, can we not talk about money? Discussing money can harm rtionships. But discussing rtionships can harm money! Lin Beifan also chuckled, Princess Ziyue, every time youe, you want to seduce me with your charm, to buy my affection with your emotions! But Id rather be crushed by your money than fall for your tender trap. Can we have fewer tactics and more sincerity between us? Princess Ziyue looked into Lin Beifans eyes, her expression serene, before suddenly bursting intoughter, Haha! Minister Lin, I always have a great time talking to you! Theres something I want to discuss with you privately. Would you oblige? Of course, Princess Ziyue, please! Chapter 288: Food Problem, Solved so Easily? Chapter 288: Food Problem, Solved so Easily? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Princess Ziyue invited Lin Beifan into her private chamber. After the maidservant had poured tea and lit incense for them, she quietly exited the room. Alone in the same room, a man and a woman, with the woman having a previous record, Lin Beifan couldnt help but shiver. Strategist, are you cold? Princess Ziyue asked with concern. Lin Beifan shook his head, Not cold. Not cold? Then why are you trembling? Princess Ziyue retorted irritably. Its mostly fear, Lin Beifan admitted. Fear? Princess Ziyue was puzzled. Mainly, Im afraid of you. Im afraid you wont be able to resist pouncing on me and taking advantage, Lin Beifan curled up, My mother once told me that boys are a vulnerable group and that when theyre outside, they must protect themselves. . Princess Ziyue was at a loss for words. Lin Beifan trembled even more, Princess, please dont look at me like that, can you? Im scared! Princess Ziyues mouth twitched, Strategist, rest assured, I wont do anything reckless. Really? Lin Beifans face lit up with hope. Really! Princess Ziyue said very seriously, Even if I do something, you wont be able to stop it! Hehe Lin Beifan became angry, Even if you have my body, you wont have my heart! Princess Ziyueughed, Strategist, if I have your body, is your heart far behind? When I bear your child, I dont believe youll remain indifferent! Lin Beifan trembled with rage, How can you say that? The child is innocent. If you have any issues, take them up with me! Princess Ziyueughed so much that she leaned forward and backward, Strategist, chatting with you is so much fun! Hehe The Empress, who was eavesdropping in the attic, felt a bit annoyed. Somehow, seeing them bantering and flirting made a sour feeling rise within her. Displeased, she muttered, Hmph! Shameless couple! Beside her, Bai Guanyin smiled, finding the scene quite amusing. Back in the chamber, Princess Ziyue finally stoppedughing, Alright, Strategist, enough with the jokes. Lets talk about serious matters. Please, Princess, go ahead. Im all ears! Next, Princess Ziyue and Lin Beifan reported on the situation in Wuxi. Over the past few months, relying on Lin Beifans revolutionary theories and the three major tactics, they had developed rapidly in thend of Wuxi. Their progress was unstoppable, best described as an irresistible force. Although the Wuxi forces are formidable, thanks to the Strategists strategies, weve been smoothly advancing in our battles! Originally, we had a regr army of over 100,000 soldiers, but now it has grown to nearly 200,000! Our reserve forces have developed even more vigorously, with numbers exceeding a million. Almost every vige has our people, even various camps within the Wuxi forces! Its with this foundation that were growing stronger as we fight, while the Wuxi Dukes strength is diminishing. So far, theyve lost nearly 100,000 soldiers! Take, for example, the Battle of Sha Vige, where we annihted 3,000 enemies! In the Battle of Daliang Vige, we took down over 6,000 enemies Princess Ziyue spoke eloquently, bing more animated as she continued. Lin Beifan chimed in at the right moment, Princess, youre truly impressive! Thank you for your praise, Strategist! A charming smile curved on Princess Ziyues lips, her heart swelling with pride. Receivingpliments from others might not mean much, but being praised by Lin Beifan made her immensely happy. After all, Lin Beifan was the brilliant strategist behind the Wuxi tactics, a top-tier talent without equal in the world. His approval carried more weight than a thousand words from others. However, weve encountered a couple of issues now. What issues? Princess Ziyue said seriously, Due to the Wuxi Dukes multiple defeats and losses, along with a shortage of supplies, especially food, their development is facing difficulties. So, theyve secretly contacted the Dayue Dynasty, hoping they could provide them with provisions and weapons. Lin Beifan nodded, Thats inevitable! The Wuxi Dukes supply lines have been severed by the court. He can only rely on self-sufficiency to develop, but your emergence has left him with no choice but to seek support from the Dayue Dynasty. However, this shouldnt pose a challenge for you, Princess. It certainly wont! The arrival of the Dayue Dynasty is even better. Old grudges and new hatreds will be settled together! Princess Ziyue said confidently, her voice tinged with bitterness. Now, she was no longer a defeated force. Holding her ground with an army of 200,000 soldiers gave her confidence. However, the main issue were facing is something Im not sure how to solve, which is why Ivee to consult you, Strategist. Whats the second issue? Strategist, our development in recent months has been incredibly rapid, evolving every day! But, precisely because weve grown so fast, our food supply is falling short. Princess Ziyue said with a mix of pain and joy, Having more people has its advantages, but it alsoes with disadvantages, like an exceptionally high demand for food. When we had around 100,000 people, we could rely on farming, raiding the Wuxi armys supplies, or purchasing provisions from outside to barely manage. But now, there are simply too many of us. Feeding everyone has be an enormous burden. Sometimes, food isnt something you can buy with money. Even if we could buy it, transporting food into Wuxi is a big challenge Princess Ziyue concluded, So, in order to keep growing, we must resolve this food supply issue. Lin Beifan nodded, Exactly! In any war, logistics be the ultimate challenge. Whoever has abundant food and ample weapons has a greater chance of victory. The Empress upstairs couldnt help but nod. In the end, wars were decided by logistics. The more food and better weapons one had, the greater their chances of winning. Without food, you couldnt even engage in battle, youd starve along the way. For the remnants of the former nted Moon faction to truly develop, they had to tackle this issue as well. The Empresss mind started to churn. The Great Wu Dynasty currently had sufficient food supplies. Should they secretly support the nted Moon faction a little, and let them teach the Wuxi Duke a lesson? In the attic, Princess Ziyues beautiful eyes turned towards Lin Beifan, speaking earnestly, Ive really hit a wall here, thats why Ivee seeking your advice, Strategist. The Empress couldnt help but shake her head and smile. How can this problem be solved? Food is either there or its not. Theres no clever trick to it. Even if youre the smartest person, you cant solve this problem. As expected, Lin Beifan sighed, Princess, this is quite challenging for me. You know, the food issue has always been a global problem. If I could solve it, I might have be a sage among humans by now! Strategist, heres 2 million taels. Please, I implore you! Princess Ziyue took out a stack of silver bills and pushed them toward Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan continued to shake his head, Princess, youre really putting me in a difficult spot. I truly have no power to solve this. Princess Ziyue took out another 1 million taels, Strategist, please ept this! Lin Beifans expression turned even more bitter, Princess, its not that I dont want to help you. If I could help, I would have done it already. Unless Princess Ziyues eyes brightened, Unless what? Unless you pay more. Damn it! Princess Ziyue eximed. Damn it! The Empress echoed. At this moment, both women truly wanted to grab Lin Beifans head and kick it like a ball. Princess Ziyue took out 2 million taels and pushed them toward Lin Beifan, saying with resentment, Strategist, is this enough? I dont have any more than this. This is all I brought! If you still wont agree, Ill have to resort to extreme measures. Theyre very crude and violent. I hope you wont regret it! Under Princess Ziyues threat, Lin Beifan reluctantly epted 5 million taels with tears in his eyes. Princess, actually solving the food problem isnt that difficult. Princess Ziyues eyes brightened, Strategist, whats your solution? Please, tell us quickly! Lin Beifan smiled, If you cant have grain, why not have meat? Strategist, what kind of solution is that? If we could eat meat, we would have done it already! Princess Ziyue said irritably, almost quoting the ssic line Why not eat meat? Princess, youve misunderstood me. Lin Beifan shook his head and chuckled, What I mean is, to the west, you have the Qinglong Mountain Range, and to the east, you have the Fenghuang Mountain Range. These mountainous and forested areas are full of animals and beasts. Why not venture in and catch some for food? Princess Ziyue shook her head, Strategist, weve considered this approach as well, but capturing wild beasts is time-consuming and requires a lot of energy. Were busy with battles and dont have the time or energy for such activities. Moreover, capturing wild beasts is dangerous! Even ordinary beasts cant be easily caught by a few strong men, and theres a risk of injuries or deaths. Its not worth the danger just for a meal. Actually, the main issue is that there arent many beasts in these two mountain ranges; we can describe them as scarce. With ourrge numbers, there simply wouldnt be enough to feed everyone. To catch more beasts, wed have to go deep into the mountains, which is not feasible for us. Lin Beifan smiled, Princess, your reasoning is sound! The beasts in these two mountain ranges are indeed difficult to catch, and theyre not plentiful. So, my solution is: why not introduce rabbits from Southern Jiang into these two mountain ranges? Princess Ziyue was stunned, Introduce rabbits into the mountain ranges? What kind of idea was this? She couldnt quiteprehend it! Not to mention her, even the two women on the attic couldnt understand it! Princess, you might not be familiar with rabbits as animals. Lin Beifan smiled, Rabbits are edible animals, their meat is delicious, they have strong survival abilities, and their reproductive capabilities are astounding. They can grow in a matter of months and start breeding. A litter can have seven or eight. They can breed every month, the output is astonishing! The Qinglong Mountain Range and Fenghuang Mountain Range dont haverge predators, meaning rabbits would have no natural enemies. As a result, their reproduction rate would be even more astonishing! In less than half a year, you could have a sufficient number of rabbits to feed your entire army! Moreover, capturing rabbits is much easier than capturing wild beasts! With some skilled warriors, catching rabbits is a breeze, and each catch could yield a litter. You can even set up traps and wait for them toe to you. This way, wouldnt the food problem be solved? Lin Beifan concluded with a smile. Princess Ziyue was astonished! The Empress was astonished! Bai Guanyin was astonished! The food problem they had been worrying about, was it really that simple to solve? This easy? Chapter 289: Species Invasion? I’ll Turn You into Army Rations! Chapter 289: Species Invasion? Ill Turn You into Army Rations! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Strategist, can capturing some rabbits and releasing them into the two mountain ranges really solve our food problem? Princess Ziyue inquired further. It should be said that it can solve the problem for most people! After all, people cant go without food! Lin Beifan chuckled. But but if the problem is so easily solved, why do people still need to cultivate crops? Why not just raise rabbits? Princess Ziyues face was full of confusion. The Empress was also very curious, perking up her ears to listen. Lin Beifan shook his head, Princess, youre only seeing the surface, not the whole picture! In fact, ancient people had thought about this issue long ago but eventually found it unfeasible. Do you know why? Im eager to hear the details! Princess Ziyue humbly asked. First of all, the input-output ratio is imbnced! Rabbits eat grass, but they also eat grains and vegetables, just like us humans! But the supply of grains and vegetables is limited, and if rabbits eat them, there wont be enough for us. For a pound of grain, if given to a person, it provides sustenance. But if given to rabbits, it wont yield even a pound of meat. Do you think its worth trading a pound of grain for a pound of meat? The princess immediately shook her head, Definitely not worth it, its wasting food! Thats exactly it. The input-output ratio is so imbnced that wise people know what to do! Lin Beifan raised a second finger, Secondly, an excess of rabbits would damage crops! Even if we dont feed them with grains and vegetables but let them roam freely, it wont work! Because if there are too many rabbits, theyllpete with us humans for food. It would be difficult to manage and could even lead to famine! Thirdly, catching rabbits requires physical strength! Rabbits are agile and extremely fast. Only experienced hunters can catch them. But how many people are experienced hunters? Its very difficult for others to catch rabbits. They might starve before catching any. Lin Beifan smiled, Its precisely because of these reasons that people dont raise rabbits! Raising them is not cost-effective at all. Even if theyre raised sessfully, they might end uppeting with humans for food. Catching rabbits is strenuous, and the cost outweighs the benefit! I see, it makes sense. Ive learned something! Princess Ziyue suddenly realized. However, our situation is vastly different! Lin Beifan smiled and continued, Well directly release the rabbits into the two mountain ranges. We wont need to feed them or manage them much at all. The territories of the two mountain ranges are vast, rich in resources, and have a scarcity of wild animals. This will allow us to raise enough rabbits to supply the entire army! Catching rabbits will be even simpler. In our army, there are many skilled warriors, who are agile and fast. Capturing rabbits will be a breeze for them, thus solving the issue of capturing them! So, raising rabbits is very cost-effective for us. Its simple and feasible, requires no management, and its even better than cultivating crops! When hungry, we can just go into the mountains and catch rabbits as needed. The rabbit meat can also be dried and preserved for several days! Princess Ziyue stood up and slightly bowed, Thank you, Strategist, for your enlightening guidance! Apart from gratitude, there was also admiration and reverence in her heart. The problem that she had been worrying about was actually solved so effortlessly by Lin Beifan! Where was this mere talent? He was a genius! Only a genius coulde up with such an ingenious and sky-breaking solution! Even the Empress from the loft shook her head and sighed, My dear advisor, your mind is truly I dont even know what to say! Toe up with such an innovative solution, you must be a genius! Yes, its truly unexpected! Bai Guanyin chimed in. Lin Beifan quickly helped Princess Ziyue up, saying modestly, Princess, theres no need for such courtesy. As your strategist, its my duty to offer counsel and guidance. Theres no need for such grand gestures! Strategist, if our grand n seeds, you will take the greatest credit! Princess Ziyue added. Lin Beifan waved his hand modestly, I havent really done much. I just moved my lips a bit. The stubborn princess insisted, Strategist, youre being too modest! Without your guidance, we wouldnt have achieved this level of sess. Once everything is aplished, I will surely reward you generously! Lin Beifan once again modestly waved his hand, Princess, theres really no need for that! But if you insist on thanking me, just remember to bring some local specialties next time. I wont refuse any offerings! Princess Ziyue chuckled, Strategist, youre at it again! Haha Afterughing, she looked at Lin Beifan with a deep gaze, Strategist, to be honest, Im starting to regret a bit! Regret what? Lin Beifan was puzzled. I should have tied you to Wuxi sooner! With you around, nothing would be a problem! Lin Beifan was startled, quickly saying, Princess, please calm down. Even if you were to possess me physically, you wouldnt possess my heart! Princess Ziyue smiled yfully, Its alright. If I bear a few children, your heart will be with me then! Damn it! Lin Beifan eximed. The Empress from the loft was furious, gnashing her teeth, This enchantress wants to steal my beloved minister! And using such despicable methods, its disgraceful for a woman! Next, Lin Beifan and the princess sat down again. Lin Beifan continued, Apart from rabbits, there are many other animals that are suitable for introduction into these two mountain ranges! For instance, bamboo rats from Jiangdong. They also feed on nts and vegetation, reproduce rapidly, and a single litter can have dozens of rats. Theyre very delicious. We canpletely introduce them into these two mountain ranges! Princess Ziyue listened earnestly, nodding repeatedly, Youre right, Strategist. Ill arrange for someone to bring some bamboo rats over. I remember that there are severalrgekes within the Qinglong Mountain Range and the Fenghuang Mountain Range, but they dont have carp, grass carp, and other fish species! We can introduce carp, tpia, and other fish fingerlings. Without natural predators, they will surely reproduce quickly, growingrge and fat, ready to be caught and eaten! Princess Ziyue nodded again, Understood, Strategist. Ill have someone handle it. Alright, I also recall Lin Beifan continued to eloquently list several species, mentioning every creature that could potentially cause a species invasion. You reproduce quickly? No problem, Ill turn you into army rations and eat you all up! Princess Ziyue was astonished! The Empress was astonished! Bai Guanyin was astonished! The seemingly unsolvable food problem before them was being solved so easily. Indeed, we might not be able to eat grains, but we can definitely eat meat! Not only meat, but rabbit meat, rat meat, fish meat The variety was incredibly rich! This didnt seem like going to war; it was more like going on a feast! Watching Lin Beifan speak passionately and authoritatively, Princess Ziyues gaze gradually became infatuated! I think thats about all I know for now. Ill continue to add moreter if I think of anything else! However, if the species be diverse, they will surely attract beasts from other mountains. So, its best to send experts into the mountains regrly to clear out the wild animals and prevent them from plundering our food! Lin Beifan, not quite finished, was preparing to take a sip of tea to moisten his throat when he suddenly noticed Princess Ziyue standing up and walking toward him. A bit flustered, Lin Beifan asked, Princess, what are you doing? Strategist, I want to lean on your shoulder for a bit, please allow me, said Princess Ziyue. Even more flustered, Lin Beifan said, Princess, please calm down! I cant calm down, I just want to be close to you! Please let me! Princess Ziyue pounced. Lin Beifan let out a cry of despair, No~ The Empress from the loft turned pale, her fists clenched, teeth gnashing, This enchantress again! So shameless! I dont want to watch anymore. Qingxuan, lets go back! Of course, Your Majesty! Bai Guanyin smirked. Half a cup of teater, the two of them sat down again. Princess Ziyues cheeks were flushed, using sips of tea to hide her shy feelings. Lin Beifan, on the other hand, had a look of hopelessness, mumbling to himself, Its over, Im not clean anymore Princess Ziyue was so infuriated that her mouth twisted, The strategist is really despicable! He got an advantage and hes still ying coy?! Having taken advantage, he was acting cute? She clenched her fist in secret, really wanting to give him a couple of punches on his face! After another cup of teas time, seeing the sky darkening, it was gettingte. Lin Beifan smiled, Princess, since weve been talking about rabbits, why dont we eat some rabbit tonight? I happen to know several ways to prepare rabbit dishes! Ill treat you tonight, Princess As the strategist treats, Ill dly apany! Princess Ziyue said with a joyful mood. And so, the two of them headed towards Lins residence, chatting andughing along the way. On the road, they ran into the little princess. The litte princess grumbled, Why is this woman here again? She appears only once in a few months and is usually invisible. Is she secretly doing something shameful? It had to be said that the Little Princess was spot on! Princess Ziyue smiled faintly and didnt pay much attention. Lin Beifan patted the Little Princesss head andughed, Little princess, you came at the right time. Today, were preparing to eat rabbit! I know several ways to cook rabbit, like braised rabbit, five-spice rabbit, spicy rabbit, dry pot rabbit The Little Princess was shocked and quite angry, How can you eat such cute little rabbits? How can you? An hourter, the Little Princess wiped the oil off her mouth, Hmm, its delicious! I didnt expect there were so many ways to cook rabbit, and they really are delicious! In front of her, all the tes were empty, leaving only a few bones. Young princess, didnt you say that little bunnies are cute and shouldnt be eaten? Lin Beifan provocatively said. The Little Princess blinked her big cute eyes, puzzled, Did I say that? I distinctly said that little bunnies are so cute, and I really like them. Its such a pity not to eat them! Everyone burst intoughter. Lin Beifan shook his head in amazement. Women, huh! They can change their minds faster than turning a page in a book! Should we continue to eat rabbit meat tomorrow? Yes! The Little Princess immediately raised her hand. At this moment, after eating rabbit meat, Princess Ziyue had even more confidence in Lin Beifans proposal. The rabbit meat was delicious, and their breeding capacity was astonishing. They could easily serve as their food source. Sending some skilled individuals into the mountains to capture them would yield results quickly. There were also several other kinds of animals that could be introduced, ensuring a bnced diet! Thinking about this, Princess Ziyue couldnt help but smile. So, going to war could also be this enjoyable! The strategist was truly remarkable! Having a strategist around was truly wonderful! Chapter 290: Exchanging Dragon Bones for Food? Chapter 290: Exchanging Dragon Bones for Food? After returning, Princess Ziyue immediately gave orders to her subordinates. Go to the Southern Jiang region and buy as many rabbits as you can find! Once youve purchased them, transport them to Wuxi. Release them into the Qinglong Mountain Range and the Fenghuang Mountain Range to let them multiply on their own! Her subordinates were puzzled, Ah? Princess, why do we need to buy rabbits? This is the strategists suggestion. This way, we can solve the food shortage problem for our nted Moon Army! Its a bitplicated to exin; dont ask too much. Just follow the orders. Oh, and Yes, Your Highness! In addition to rabbits, send people to the Jiangdong region to purchase bamboo rats. Transport them to the two mountain ranges as well. Yes, Your Highness! And carps, tpias, and other fish fry. Buy as many as possible and then transport them to thekes in the mountain ranges. Do you understand? After issuing a series of instructions, Princess Ziyue felt much more at ease. Hopefully, this n works as the strategist anticipated! Once our nted Moon Army is free from food concerns, we can go all out. The Duke of Wuxi and the Dayue Dynasty wont be our opponents! After the Empress returned, even though she was displeased with Princess Ziyues involvement with her beloved courtier, she secretly issued a few orders to assist in the empires cause, deal with the Duke of Wuxi, and handle the Dayue Dynasty on the other side of the Qinglong Mountain Range. Hope these small creatures really prove useful. We shall wait and see! Under the efforts of the two most powerful women in the world, progress proceeded smoothly. At this time, in the territory of Wuxi, within the royal pce Duke of Wuxi was in a bad mood, spending his days in gloom. It was all due to the sudden appearance of those rebels. Over four months ago, these rebels suddenly emerged and targeted the Wuxi Army. Their movements were swift, and they excelled at evasion and concealment. Moreover, their tactics were incredibly cunning. They always managed to avoid his strong forces and targeted the weak ones. After each attack, they would quickly retreat, leaving no trace. Over these four months, he had lost more than 100,000 soldiers and horses. The losses were significant. In contrast, the enemys strength seemed to have expanded considerably. They grew stronger with each battle, while his own forces weakened, driving him to the brink of madness. Damn these rat soldiers! He had tried many methods, but none seemed to work. Recalling the past, just a year ago, he had a million-strong army and ruled thend of Wuxi. He was full of confidence and ambition. However, the tides of fate had turned against him. Encountering various dangers, his soldiers dwindled, leaving him with only slightly over 600,000 now. Compared to a year ago, the difference was like night and day. He couldntprehend why in just a years time, things had turned out this way. It felt like sincest year, there was an elusive force targeting him. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. The court hadnt suffered even a hairs worth of damage, but he had lost 400,000 troops. He had be the subject of mockery by countless people! Those two idiotic brothers had probably made fun of him countless times! At this moment, Feng Chu, the Advisor, hurriedly approached. Your Highness, an envoy from the Dayue Dynasty has arrived! Good! Quickly invite them! A trace of delight appeared on the Duke of Wuxis face. After a moment, a middle-aged man dressed splendidly walked in with a dignified air, slightly bowing as a gesture of respect. Greetings to Your Highness, the Duke of Wuxi. May you live a thousand years! Lord Liu, we are old acquaintances. Theres no need for such formality! Haha! The Duke of Wuxi weed him with a heartyugh. Your Highness of Wuxi, some courtesy should still be observed, said Lord Liu, the envoy, politely after exchanging pleasantries. Without wasting time, he got straight to the point. I wonder if the Dayue Dynasty can continue to provide food? Over these past months of fighting against the rebel army, he not only lost many troops but also had his food supplies raided or destroyed by the enemy. This left him with a severe shortage of food that needed replenishing. The court wouldnt provide him with supplies, and they had blocked his food transportation routes, so he had no choice but to turn to the Dayue Dynasty for assistance. The envoy from the Dayue Dynasty said with an expressionless face, Your Highness of Wuxi, my sovereign is very dissatisfied with you. Last year, we had already agreed that my dynasty would provide you with food and military resources, and after your autumn harvest, you would immediately march to attack the Grand Wu Dynasty. Butter on, because of an unfounded rumor about a nted Moon treasure, you broke our agreement. Those who betray trust and principles are unwee wherever they go. The Duke of Wuxis face darkened. Moreover, it has been over four months since the beginning of the year, and you havent even managed to eliminate a small rebel army. Instead, you let them grow stronger while you continue to suffer losses. To be honest, my sovereign doubts your ability greatly. Cooperating with someone withoutpetence poses enormous risks. The Duke of Wuxis expression grew even gloomier. The envoy from the Dayue Dynasty questioned loudly, Now youe to us, hoping we provide you with food. Your Highness of Wuxi, if you were in our shoes, would you be willing? The Duke of Wuxi felt ashamed and furious that his ws were so ruthlessly exposed by the other party. If he didnt need something from them, he would have wanted to kill them on the spot! Suppressing his inner anger, the Duke of Wuxi said in a deep voice, Regarding the nted Moon treasure incident from a year ago, its not that I didnt want to raise troops, but I had already lost over 300,000 soldiers and horses by then. Our forces were weakened, morale was low, and the weather turned colder. Starting a war at that time would have been a losing proposition. So I chose to rest and recuperate, umte strength, and prepare for next years battle. Since the beginning of the year, we have indeed encountered this rebel army. Its not that I didnt want to deal with them, but they are cunning and elusive like the wind. They are extremely difficult to handle. Anyone facing them would struggle. As long as you supply me with enough food, I can definitely deal with this group of rebels and thenunch a campaign. The envoy from the Dayue Dynasty waved his hand. Your Highness of Wuxi, we dont want to hear your exnations. We only care about results. If you still wish to cooperate, follow our instructions. We have two options for you to choose from. The Duke of Wuxis expression remained calm. Please exin. The envoy raised one finger. The first option is that we provide you with ample food, but you must immediately raise your army. Thats impossible. Now is not the right time at all! The Duke of Wuxi eximed, Not long ago, the Great Wu court achieved a great victory against the Great Xia Dynasty. Morale is high, and they received food support from Great Xia. They have no worries in the rear. On the other hand, my military strength is not what it used to be, and if I start a war now, the losses would be severe. The second option is that this rebel army hasnt been dealt with yet. How can you consider starting a war? What if Im in the frontlines fighting while they sneak into my territory behind and destroy my base? Thus, only the second option remains. The envoy from the Dayue Dynasty smiled. We will still provide you with ample food, but in return, we request that you open the city gates wide and allow our army into Wuxi. This way, withbined strength, we can eliminate the rebel army, advance towards Great Wu, and it wont be difficult, right? The Duke of Wuxisplexion changed. This was the equivalent of betrayal, inviting the thief inside! Although he had cooperated with the other party before, he had never agreed to let them enter. This was the bottom line for someone of royal blood. If you really do this, theres no turning back! Regarding this matter, let me consider it! Advisor, apany me to see Lord Liu! Duke Wuxi turned around and left. Yes, Your Highness! Mr. Fengchun bowed. Shortly after, Mr. Fengchun returned, and Duke Wuxi asked, Advisor, which of these two options do you think we should choose? Mr. Fengchun anxiously replied, Your Highness, neither option should be chosen! In the first n, Dayue urges us to raise an army immediately. We have the mighty Wu army in front and the Rat Army behind. We dont stand a chance at all; defeat is almost certain! In the second n, if we do that, we would undoubtedly be seen as unjust by the world, and people would despise us! Your Highness, under such circumstances, sess is simply impossible. This has been the case throughout history! Duke Wuxi sighed, Have I not known that? But now, what other options do we have? Without food, we will lose, just slowly awaiting death! Your Highness, theres actually one more option! Duke Wuxis eyes brightened, What option? Tell me! Mr. Fengchun bowed and said, Your Highness, you have the Dragon Bone, a priceless treasure of the world, something of immeasurable value! Which royal family wouldnt desire it? If we exchange it with Dayue for food, they should agree! . .. . Duke Wuxi shook his head vigorously, No, no, the Dragon Bone involves the secret of longevity, an incredibly precious treasure. We absolutely cannot give it away! Although he valued food, he valued the Dragon Bone even more. After all, human nature is selfishsoldiers might starve without food, but he would shatter his dream of immortality without the Dragon Bone. Mr. Fengchun urged, Your Highness, I understand the importance of the Dragon Bone, but right now, food is even more crucial! Without food, we wont make it through the autumn harvest; soldiers will starve, and our ambitions will be in vain! If we cant endure this, we wont have a chance to rise again. Are you willing to ept that, Your Highness? Duke Wuxis heart wavered slightly. Your Highness, even without the Dragon Bone, we can obtain it again! Think about it, we got the Dragon Bone from Lin Beifan. Its so precious, do you think he wouldnt have kept some for himself? Mr. Fengchun whispered, Once we survive this crisis, we can find a way to get it back from him. Hes greedy for money; if we offer him more, I believe hell agree! Finally, Duke Wuxis heart gave way, Alright! Lets use the Dragon Bone to exchange for food! The emissary from Dayue was shocked when he learned that Duke Wuxi had the Dragon Bone and intended to use it to trade for food: You actually have the Dragon Bone? Duke Wuxi nodded, Naturally! Would we use this as a deception? The emissary asked anxiously, How much do you have? Seeing the others eager expression, Duke Wuxi exchanged a nce with his advisor and knew the matter was settled. A smile appeared on Duke Wuxis face, Probably around two taels (weight)! Actually, he had three taels, but just in case, he didnt reveal everything. The emissary inquired further, Where did you obtain it? Lord Liu, this is rted to a secret of mine, which I cant divulge! Duke Wuxi shook his head. Lin Beifan was their hidden piece within the court, ying a significant role, and his involvement couldnt be disclosed. This matter is of great importance; I cannot decide. It must be reported to His Majesty! However, if you truly possess the Dragon Bone, you should be able to exchange it for some food! answered the emissary. Then well trouble Lord Liu! Chapter 291: Is Someone Able to Refine the Elixir of Immortality? Chapter 291: Is Someone Able to Refine the Elixir of Immortality? The envoy from Dayue quickly went back and returned again. He brought along a person to verify the authenticity of the dragon bones and discuss the grain trade after confirming their authenticity. The other party lightly touched the dragon bone powder, examining it closely by both smell and sight. Finally, excitedly eximed, Lord Liu, this is indeed a dragon bone! The Dayue envoy was shocked, Really? Absolutely! Naturally its true. Could I deceive you? Duke Wuxi looked curiously, What puzzles me is, have you seen dragon bones before? How can you identify them? The two envoys from Dayue exchanged a nce, smiling contentedly. Have they seen them? They, from Dayue, even possessed several pieces of dragon bones! The authenticity of the dragon bones settled, both sides began to negotiate terms. How much grain should be exchanged for these two pieces of dragon bones? For Duke Wuxi, naturally, the more, the better. But for Dayue, naturally, the less, the better. In the end, after a week of negotiations, the Dayue Dynasty agreed to provide approximately 30 million catties of grain, about two months worth of supplies for the Wuxi Army, enough to sustain them until the autumn harvest. However, after the autumn harvest, Duke Wuxi must raise an army. With this agreement, Dayue obtained the long-desired dragon bones, while Duke Wuxi secured provisions for development. Both sides were content. Strategist Feng Chu smiled and bowed, My lord, a great joy! Strategist, where does this joye from? Duke Wuxi inquired. My lord, the issue of grain is not only ours but also the problem of those Rat Soldiers! Their forces are growing, but the grain shortage bes more pronounced. Without provisions, they will fall into chaos and self-destruction! Your words are very true! Now, we have solved the grain problem and can peacefully make it to the autumn harvest. However, what about those Rat Soldiers? They have no fields, relying solely on looting or external sources for supplies. But the channels for external supply have been cut off to the east by the court and to the west by us. North and south arepletely impassable for transportation! Feng Chu bowed again, So, my lord, now we can be adaptable and respond to changes, remain stationary while the world changes. As long as we guard our own grain and fields, we can wear them down without fighting! Duke Wuxi joyfully eximed, Well said! Our grand army mustnt make any rash moves, not give them any opportunities! By safeguarding our own provisions andnds, we can bring them down, let them self-destruct! Haha Your wisdom shines, my lord! Feng Chu chuckled. However, that dragon bone Duke Wuxi felt a pang of regret, unable to forget. My lord, please put your mind at ease! Feng Chu whispered, Ive secretly contacted Lord Lin. Through him, I learned he still possesses three pieces of dragon bone! With my persuasion, hes willing to part with two pieces, but at a cost of 4 million taels! Duke Wuxi drew a cold breath, 4 million taels! Thats twice the previous price! Hes too greedy! My lord, Lord Lin says the dragon bone has already flown away. Theres no chance of obtaining more. What he holds now are thest remaining pieces, raritymands high value. Hence, the price isnt cheap, naturally! Duke Wuxis face was deeply conflicted. Feng Chu persuaded again, My lord, if he werent greedy, we wouldnt have a chance! Thats true! Duke Wuxi sat down heavily, his brow furrowed, his expression changing. He tightly clenched his fist, clearly making a weighty decision. After a moment, he said, Give him all the gold, silver, and jewels in the royal mansion! If its not enough, take from others, make sure to gather 4 million taels for me! Feng Chu was greatly surprised, My lord, if we give everything, well have no money left! This Duke Wuxi waved his hand, We dont need money now! As long as we hold on until the autumn harvest and the Rat Soldiers copse, well immediately march east and get whatever we need. Why should we care about a little silver? Your words are very true! So, arge amount of gold, silver, and jewels were secretly transported to the Lin mansion in the capital city. At the same time, the Wuxi Army began to contract their frontlines, no longer venturing outward. They heavily guarded their provisions and fertilends, not giving any opportunities to the nted Moon Army. This information quickly reached the nted Moon Army. Princess, it seems Duke Wuxi has secretly conspired with the Dayue Dynasty again. Theyve gained food support and started to shrink their frontlines, heavily guarding them. Their intention is clear: to wear us down! Princess Ziyue nodded solemnly, Fortunately, weve prepared in advance! How are the rabbits, bamboo rats, and other animals doing? Princess, following your orders, weve already transported arge number of rabbits, bamboo rats, and other highly reproductive animals to the two major mountain ranges! After my careful observation, their reproductive capabilities are astonishing! In just half a month, their numbers have increased more than tenfold! Moreover, they grow quickly, ready to be eaten in just one or two months! ording to their reproduction and growth rates, they can definitely supply our entire army! Thats excellent! Princess Ziyues face brightened with a radiant smile. The food issue that had weighed heavily on her was finally resolved. With enough provisions, they could act without restraint, and the prospect of restoring their former glory was within reach! Now that Duke Wuxi is contracting his frontlines and theres no opportunity for us to strike, we should rest for a while, train and strengthen our forces, dig more tunnels, and breed more rabbits and rats to prepare for the future! Yes, Princess! After arranging everything, Princess Ziyue returned to her modest chamber and wrote a confidential letter. She had her trusted aide deliver it to Lin Beifan in the capital city. In the Lin mansion of the capital city, Lin Beifan looked at the letter from Princess Ziyue, then at the gold, silver, and jewels sent by Duke Wuxi, and he more or less understood the situation. Duke Wuxi must have exchanged dragon bones with the Dayue Dynasty for a significant amount of food. Then, he guarded the provisions and fertilends, intending to oust the nted Moon Army using an unchanging strategy. However, he didnt know that the nted Moon Army had received his guidance and cultivated arge amount of food within the two major mountain ranges. Currently, both sides were not fighting but rather trying to oust each other, waiting for an opportunity. After the autumn harvest, it will be the time for Duke Wuxi to rise in rebellion! This time, Duke Wuxi will have to rebel, or hell be left with nothing! Because if he doesnt rebel now, hell have nothing left! Lin Beifan chuckled softly. Duke Wuxi had been cornered by him to the point of desperation! The entire royal mansion and Duke Wuxis wealth had been emptied by him! The food and troops could onlyst a few more months, and the nted Moon Army frequently disrupted their supplies. Under these unfavorable circumstances, if he didnt make a strong effort now, he would be doomed! Lin Beifan looked northward, After the autumn harvest, the group of martial practitioners under Prince of Northern Hebeismand has also been mostly trained! The opportunity to dominate the realm is just within reach, and Prince of Northern Hebei certainly wont sit still; he will rise in rebellion! Also, Prince of Southern Jiang will rise in rebellion after the autumn harvest! At this point, Southern Jiang has already fallen into chaos! The once flourishingmercial economy has disappeared, poption loss is severe, and they are facing a serious shortage of food! If they dont fight now, they will be doomed! Therefore, civil war is inevitable after the autumn harvest! Lin Beifan wrote eight bold characters on the paper: Break to Rebuild, Power to the Warriors! Finally, the paper was set aze by Lin Beifan. However, whats most important now is greed! Lin Beifan smirked and brought out an exquisite porcin jar. Inside it were pieces of dragon bone Ever since the dragon bones had flown away under everyones watchful eyes, everyone believed in the authenticity of the dragon bones. They also firmly believed in the miraculous effects of the dragon bones. People with power and influence, especially emperors of various countries, were crazily trying to collect dragon bones. They suspected that the secret to immortality was hidden within the dragon bones. As they desired immortality, they wanted more dragon bones. So, the dragon bones in Lin Beifans possession became extremely precious, and their price kept rising. Unbeknownst to them, Lin Beifan wanted as much of this thing as he could get. These dragon bones are such valuable treasures. They must be sold slowly, bit by bit. In the end, they will definitely bring in a lot of money! In this life, Lin Beifan was counting on this to survive! Just then, a young eunuch arrived at the Lin mansion and summoned, Lord Prefect, Her Majesty summons you and the other ministers to the pce! Lin Beifan was puzzled, There doesnt seem to be any urgent matter now. Why would Her Majesty summon the ministers? Can you tell me whats going on? The young eunuch lowered his head, Theres an overseas Taoist who hase to Great Wu. It is said that he possesses great abilities and mysterious techniques. He can even refine the Elixir of Immortality! Her Majesty attaches great importance to this matter, so he has invited you and the other ministers to an audience! I see! Lin Beifans eyes took on a strange glint. An overseas Taoist who can refine the Elixir of Immortality? Can the Elixir of Immortality that he refines be consumed? Someone has reallye to deceive him. He should definitely meet this person properly! Following the young eunuch, Lin Beifan entered the imperial pce. Actually, all the ministers were already there. They nodded slightly to Lin Beifan, then made space for him to stand at the front. Lin Beifan was currently not only a second-ranked official of the court, but he also held a noble title. It could be said that he was the number one figure in the court, so he should stand in the first position. Looking down, he saw a somewhat chubby Taoist with dark circles under his eyes and a small mustache on his lips. He possessed the peak strength of the fourth rank and held a whisk in his hand. He appeared somewhat unruly. Lin Beifan inquired around, and someone answered, This person ims to be Empty Void Daoist. Hees from overseas and possesses mysterious abilities. Its said that he can refine the Elixir of Immortality! Lin Beifan nodded, I see! When everyone had gathered, the Empressughed, Esteemed ministers, I summoned you all here to introduce you to this Empty Void Daoist! Hees from overseas and is an extraordinary person. Its said that he can refine the Elixir of Immortality! Can you really refine the Elixir of Immortality? an old courtier questioned. The Taoist shook his whisk, slightly bowed, and proudly proimed, Your Majesty and esteemed ministers, I extend my greetings! Over the years, I have been seeking the path to immortality. Now, I have achieved sess and returned. Im deeply grateful for Your Majestys immense grace. Therefore, Ive speciallye to refine the Elixir of Immortality for Your Majesty. I request Your Majestys permission! Chapter 292: Is This Really the Divine Elixir? Clearly… Chapter 292: Is This Really the Divine Elixir? Clearly The officials looked at each other in bewilderment. If someone had told them before that they could refine the Elixir of Immortality, they would have surely dismissed it as a baseless im. After all, out of ten people who made such ims, nine were usually frauds. The idea of concocting the legendary Elixir of Immortality seemed preposterous. But now, things werent so certain. Even dragon bones had appeared; what else could be deemed impossible? The person before them seemed quite capable. Esteemed Empty Void Daoist, since you im to be able to refine the Elixir of Immortality, can you demonstrate it for us to witness? Gao Tianyao, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, inquired. The Empty Void Daoist shook his head slightly and chuckled, Refining the Elixir of Immortality isnt as simple as that. Just the collection of necessary herbs and precious treasures of heaven and earth is beyond count, let alone missing even a single ingredient. Even if the required ingredients are gathered, refining the Elixir of Immortality requires going through eighty-one steps, enduring forty-nine days, and only then can it be sessfully refined! A mistake in any step will result in failure. Furthermore, the Elixir of Immortality is a divine form that seizes the essence of heaven and earth, and it astonishes both the heavens and the underworld. It cant be easily disyed! Those whock blessings and virtue, upon seeing it, will have their lives shortened, or even lose their lives! Minister Gao Tianyao spoke again, Then how do you prove your ability? To be frank, our court has often encountered self-proimed experts who can refine the Elixir of Immortality. In the end, nine out of ten turned out to be frauds! Daoist, your origins are unknown. How do you expect us to believe you? Proving it is quite simple! The Empty Void Daoist gave a bow toward the Empress and said, May Your Majesty permit me to have my disciple bring the alchemical furnace and ingredients into the pce. I will then refine the elixir on the spot. Whether its real or fake will be evident at a nce! The Empress loudly dered, Permission granted! After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, everything was ready on the pce square. The Empty Void Daoist stood beside arge alchemical furnace, which was surrounded by various ingredients. He appeared confident, saying, Next, I will refine a divine elixir right before you. Everyone, please watch closely! As he spoke, he gave a loud shout and threw a handful of fire under the furnace, igniting the charcoal within. Then, he concentrated his formidable innate qi into his hands, creating a tremendous wind that intensified the mes, turning the furnace red-hot. Following this, he tossed various herbs into the furnace. Finally, he astonishingly lifted the furnace and flung it into the air, shaking it as if he was stir-frying the contents. His performance was both skillful and captivating! Meanwhile, the fragrance of the herbs gradually permeated the air. People couldnt help but nod in agreement. One elderly courtier even chuckled, This Empty Void Daoist seems to possess quite some skill. This old man is starting to believe him a bit! Modern fraudsters are bing increasingly sophisticated. Its premature to draw conclusions! Another senior courtier remained skeptical, Whether he truly has the ability will depend on the effectiveness of the elixir he produces! At this moment, the Empress suddenly turned her head to look at Lin Beifan and smiled, Minister Lin, youre erudite and talented! Regarding Empty Void Daoists abilities and the elixir hes refining, whats your opinion? Everyone turned their attention to Lin Beifan, wanting to hear his insights. Lin Beifan humbly said, Regarding the art of alchemy, I have only a rudimentary understanding. I wouldnt want to embarrass myself by pretending to know more than I do. You may have a rudimentary understanding, but thats better than knowing nothing at all! Since we have time, why dont you briefly exin it to us? Think of it as a way to pass the time! the Empress chuckled. Yes, Your Majesty! Then I shall provide a simple exnation! Lin Beifan cleared his throat and proceeded, As I understand it, elixirs are ssified into nine grades based on their efficacy, with Grade One being the strongest and Grade Nine the weakest. The higher the grade, the better the efficacy. Grade Nine elixirs are merely ordinary medicines, slightly better than those found in apothecaries. However, if an elixir reaches Grade Three or above, it can be deemed a Sacred Elixir, possessing miraculous effects such as resurrecting the dead and regenerating bones. The civil and military officials inhaled sharply, Thats truly astonishing! If an elixir reaches Grade One, it can be called an Immortal Elixir, capable of remarkable feats that shake heaven and earth, exhibiting a variety of mysterious and unfathomable effects. For example, consuming it immediately raises one to the level of a grandmaster. Perhaps even if one dies for three days, they could be revived from the underworld. It might even bestow eternal life The civil and military officials gasped again, Truly so astonishing! Lin Beifan continued, Those who can refine elixirs have a unified title: alchemists. Theyre also ssified into Grades One through Nine. The type of elixir an alchemist can produce corresponds to their grade. Alchemists are extremely rare, and Grade Three alchemists are even rarer! Theyre as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Its difficult to find more than a few in a thousand years! Alchemists like these are referred to as Sacred Elixir Alchemists because only they can refine Sacred Elixirs. Sacred Elixir Alchemists, owing to their ability to create Sacred Elixirs, are known throughout the world and are esteemed guests of all the mighty. Their every word and action can dictate the rise and fall of a nation. Once upon a time, an empire offended a Sacred Elixir Alchemist. The alchemist spoke just a few words, and all the powerful figures in the world responded. In the end, that empire was utterly destroyed! The civil and military officials gasped once again, Truly overwhelmingly astonishing! Lin Beifan continued to speak, and the crowd listened, captivated by his words. A vast and intricate world of alchemy unfolded before them. After Lin Beifan finished speaking, everyone had aprehensive understanding of the alchemist profession. I never thought such a profession as alchemists existed in the world. I truly am ignorant! one official eximed. Yes, its truly astounding! Even an ordinary alchemist possesses such power! If they reach the level of a Sacred Elixir Alchemist, their every word and action could shake the very foundation of the nation, perhaps even bringing down an empire! A Sacred Elixir Alchemist is probably a figure among immortals. We absolutely mustnt offend them! The Empress also nodded and spoke with gravity, Your words are absolutely correct, esteemed officials! In the future, if we encounter alchemists, we must never offend them. We must treat them with respect, understood? Yes, Your Majesty! the officials replied in unison. Your Majesty, esteemed officials, theres no need to be so concerned! Lin Beifan sped his hands. The Empress smiled wryly and shook her head, Minister Lin, how can we not be concerned? Even an ordinary alchemist holds such immense power. If we inadvertently offend them, it could jeopardize the entire nation! Especially the legendary Sacred Elixir Alchemists; their influence isparable to that of transcendent grandmasters. We mustnt offend them! I never expected that such a mysterious and powerful group of people existed in the world! Fortunately, Minister Lin has some understanding and shared this knowledge, otherwise, we would still be in the dark! It seems well need to be cautious in our actions in the future! Everyone nodded in agreement. Your Majesty, esteemed officials, theres really no need! Lin Beifan waved his hands repeatedly. Actually, everything I said just now was fabricated by me. In reality, there are no alchemists in the world, so theres no need to worry! The Empress and the civil and military officials: WTF Every one of them stared at Lin Beifan furiously! You spoke so convincingly just now, and we believed every word! Now youre telling us its false? You made it up? You made us worry for nothing? Were even feeling murderous! The Empress put on a half-smile, half-frown expression, Minister Lin, you dare to fool us like this? Do you know that this is a crime of deceiving the ruler? Your Majesty, you must issue a decree to punish him, otherwise, the publics anger wont be appeased! Your Majesty, please impose punishment and discipline Prefect Lin Beifan! Everyone was deeply upset and angry, wanting to take action against Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan felt very wronged, Indeed, I only have a basic understanding! The information I shared was all from a misceneous novel I read. But since you insisted, I had to say those things! Everyone was fuming, unable to believe that this guy was trying to reason his way out. Minister Lin, youre truly mischievous! the Empress scolded with a hint of exasperation. In the future, please refrain from saying things without a basis. We can forgive you this once, but we wont forgive you a second time! Yes, Your Majesty! With that, the matter was brushed aside. After another cup of teas time, Empty Void Daoist finally finished refining the elixir. The Divine Elixir is ready, please review it, Your Majesty! Empty Void Daoist presented three transparent pearl-like pills that emitted a slight heat and a fragrant medicinal scent. They looked extraordinary. An old official asked, What kind of elixir is this, and what effects does it have? This elixir is called the Divine Enlightenment Pill! Empty Void Daoist smoothed his thin mustache with satisfaction and said proudly, Once this pill is ingested, the soul can leave the body, float in the ethereal realm, soar through the sky, and meet celestial beings! The civil and military officials were stunned. The soul leaves the body, soars through the sky, and meets celestial beings? Does it really have such effects? Could this be a scam? But you can have someone try the pill! Empty Void Daoist proimed with conviction. Who will try it? the Empress looked at the civil and military officials. They were afraid it might be poisonous, so no one dared to try. Finally, a eunuch was called to test the pill. At first, he didnt show any reaction after ingesting it. But after a moment, his whole body started to feel heavy, and he entered a state of half-consciousness. Then, a somewhat foolish and blissful smile spread across his face, and he burst intoughter. What is happening? Empty Void Daoist eximed loudly, Everyone, theres no need to panic. Hes currently in an out-of-body experience, meeting celestial beings! Is he really meeting celestial beings? Just as they were speaking, the eunuch suddenly became astonished, Celestial! Im seeing a celestial being! Haha Everyone was rmed. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the eunuch finally regained consciousness. Excitedly, he reported, Reporting to Your Majesty, after consuming the Divine Enlightenment Pill, this humble servant did indeed feel a lightness in the body. I felt as though I was floating outside my body, eventually seeming to float beyond the sky and encountering celestial maidens! He truly encountered celestial beings? Everyone was surprised again, still finding it hard to believe. With a triumphant tone, Empty Void Daoist said, If you esteemed officials dont believe it, you can try it! The civil and military officials started to waver. Lin Beifan squinted his eyes; isnt this just the concept of Met Powder? Chapter 293: Minister, This Is Possible! Your Majesty, This Is Really Not! Chapter 293: Minister, This Is Possible! Your Majesty, This Is Really Not! Wushi Powder is concocted using five minerals: cinnabar, realgar, alum, azurite, and gypsum. After consumption, it causes the body to heat up, the mind to be highly excited, and induces a short-term sensation of floating and euphoria, captivating the heart. Its a kind of medicine, but taking too much of it can lead to addiction. In essence, its an ancient form of drug; consuming it excessively is akin to slow suicide. This type of poison was once highly popr during the Wei and Jin periods, from emperors tomoners, almost everyone took Wushi Powder. As for the dangers it poses, one can easily imagine. Lin Beifan hadnt anticipated that this Daoist would actually produce Wushi Powder. Following that, under Lin Beifans gaze, Empty Void Daoist invited others to try the elixir. Two court officials, unable to resist, each consumed a Divine Enlightenment Pill. They exhibited the same state of excitement and ethereal euphoria, as if their souls were leaving their bodies to ascend into the heavens. Ministers, does this elixir truly possess such miraculous effects? Have you truly experienced your souls leaving your bodies, soaring into the sky, and encountering celestial beings? the Empress curiously asked. Reporting to Your Majesty, after taking the Divine Enlightenment Pill, your humble servant indeed felt his soul detach from his body. I felt light and ethereal, as if soaring into the sky,pletely unburdened, experiencing utmost freedom throughout my entire being! In my dazed state, I seemed to have glimpsed celestial beings Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble servant also experienced simr sensations after consuming the Divine Enlightenment Pill! However, I didnt see celestial beings, but I did see my departed parents from years ago. They were smiling in the heavens, radiating immense kindness! The two elderly court officials described the effects of the elixir they had ingested. Everyone listened in astonishment. Could it really be a divine elixir? Can it genuinely make the soul leave the body and ascend to the heavens? Theyve seen celestial beings and even theirte parents! If it was just one person saying it, they might not believe it. But when the second and third persons, both influential court officials, stated the same thing after consuming the elixir, doubt was hardly an option. Amid the crowds shocked and eager gazes, Empty Void Daoist grew even more self-satisfied. This divine elixir was refined by me, how could it be fake? The Empress was also surprised and involuntarily looked at Lin Beifan, Minister Lin, what do you think? From earlier until now, she had been discreetly observing Lin Beifans expression. She noticed that he remained utterlyposed throughout, neither sad nor ted, as if he had long known the origin and effects of this divine elixir. Hence, she wished to hear from Lin Beifans mouth whether this elixir was genuine. Your Majesty, is there any need to ask? Lin Beifan eximed excitedly. Both esteemed officials personally tested it, and they couldnt possibly lie. Therefore, this elixir must indeed be a divine elixir! A truly rare divine elixir! The Empress couldnt help but roll her eyes internally. Such an exaggerated performance, its settled! This elixir is fake! Minister, youre absolutely right! The Empress also grew excited, speaking with a theatrical tone, After both esteemed ministers personally experienced its effects, its evident that this elixir must be an authentic peerless divine elixir! Daoist, you are a true sage outside the mundane world! Your Majesty is wise! Empty Void Daoistughed heartily. Daoist Empty Void! The Empress couldnt wait to ask, Since you can refine the Divine Enlightenment Pill, can you also refine the Elixir of Immortality? As soon as this question was posed, the court officials present couldnt help but feel a palpitation in their chests. If they were a bit skeptical before, witnessing the sessful refinement of the Divine Enlightenment Pill had increased their trust considerably. If a pill like the Divine Enlightenment Pill could be made, then why not other elixirs? Naturally, its possible! However, refining the Elixir of Immortality is not that simple. It requires arge number of precious ingredients, including the hundred-year-old tortoise shell, green jade purple coral, thousand-year-old peach wood Empty Void Daoist meticulously listed a long string of valuable ingredients, exining in great detail and professionalism. The Empress and the court officials nodded in session, their trust growing. Of course, theres also dragon bone, an essential catalyst! Empty Void Daoists eyes shone brightly. Over the years, the reason why Ive been unable to refine the Elixir of Immortality is due to theck of a catalyst like dragon bone! Without dragon bone as the catalyst, everything is futile! However, as long as Im provided with enough dragon bone, Im certain I can refine the Elixir of Immortality and present it to Your Majesty! At this point, Lin Beifan waspletely sure. The other party hade for precious ingredients! At the same time, they were after dragon bone! Ah, theyve managed to trick me! Daoist, youre a step toote! an old court official chuckled bitterly. Dragon bone is a divine object, and divine objects possess consciousness. On a stormy night not long ago, it flew away! Indeed, Im aware of this matter! However, havent any of you retained a bit of dragon bone? As long as you possess even a tiny bit as the catalyst, its possible to refine the Elixir of Immortality! Empty Void Daoist persisted, unwilling to give up. This Everyone turned to look at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan felt quite innocent. Why is everyone looking at me? Do I have any dragon bone? Everyone internally sneered. You corrupt official who seizes every opportunity, with dragon bone in hand, how could you not seize it? Weve all scraped off a bit! We dont believe for a second that you didnt keep any! With a smile on her face, the Empress said, Minister, if you happen to have some dragon bone, please present it promptly so Daoist can refine the elixir. Lin Beifan solemnly said, Your Majesty, I dont possess any dragon bone. Please examine the situation. The Empress continued to smile. Minister, youve been guarding that dragon bone for quite a while. Could it be that you didnt scrape off even a tiny bit from it? Lin Beifan responded with great righteousness, Dragon bone is a divine object. How could your humble servant dare to defile it? Only those corrupt officials and sinister individuals would dare to vite dragon bone! I implore Your Majesty to look into the matter! The surrounding court officials were so angered that they almost lost theirposure. You rascal, whom are you using? The Empress shook her head with a smile. Minister, this is possible! Lin Beifan felt like crying. Your Majesty, this is really not possible! Lin Beifan led the trouble to others, pointing at the court officials one by one. Your Majesty, Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, once came to pay respects to the dragon bone. He ced his hand on it; there might be a bit left! And also the Minister of War the Minister of Rites Lin Beifan pointed them out one by one. Those officials indicated by Lin Beifan felt their heads were about to explode! They wished they could chop Lin Beifan into pieces! The Empress lightly tapped the table and said, Esteemed ministers, you should know what to do. Dont put Us in a difficult position! We obey your orders! the court officials replied with bitterness. Lin Beifan whisperedfortingly, Esteemed officials, dont be upset. Out with the old and in with the new! I still have a little left. If you need it, I can sell it to you at an 80% discount! The court officials eximed, What the heck! The Empress gave an order, Daoist Empty Void, We will have the ingredients and the alchemical chamber prepared for you shortly. In addition, for your convenience, We will bestow upon you a fourth-rank idle official position! Once you sessfully refine the Elixir of Immortality or other divine pills, We will certainly reward you handsomely! Thank you, Your Majesty! Empty Void Daoist grinned until his eyes almost disappeared. Having gained the Empresss favor, Empty Void Daoist temporarily settled in the capital. In the following days, Empty Void Daoist was anything but idle, frequently showcasing his abilities. Transforming an empty basin into a snake, turning stones into gold The most incredible feat was reviving a person who had been dead for a day and was about to be buried. Empty Void Daoist passed by, administered a pill to them, and they miraculously came back to life. As a result, his reputation grew louder, making him the most prominent figure in the capital. Every day, prominent figures visited him in an endless stream, piling his house with precious gifts and lots of gold, silver, and jewels. Looking at the room full of wealth, Empty Void Daoistughed so much that his eyebrows disappeared, This time Ive truly struck gold! I havent even started refining pills, yet Ive obtained so much treasure! When I refine more Divine Enlightenment Pills, wealth will surely pour in! Moreover, the Empress will favor me, granting promotions and titles. Its just around the corner! At this moment, his disciple rushed in, Master, Lord Prefect Lin Beifan from the Capital have arrived! Lord Lin hase? Quickly, invite him in! Empty Void Daoists spirits lifted. Among all the court officials, Lin Beifan held the highest position and was also the wealthiest. When someone like him visited, he would certainly bring full sincerity, just like other prominent figures had. Looks like hes ready to strike again, haha! Minister Lin, your visit to my humble abode is truly radiant! Empty Void Daoist greeted with a smiling face. However, he noticed that Lin Beifan hade empty-handed and felt a bit dissatisfied inside. Nheless, he continued to pretend to be warm. Daoist Empty Void, Ive been very upied with official duties recently. Thats why Ive only now managed to find time to pay you a visit. I hope you can understand, Lin Beifan courteously said while cupping his hands. Minister Lin is too polite. Please, have a seat quickly, hahaha! Thank you, Daoist! Both of them took their seats, and tea was served. Minister Lin, if I may ask, is your visit this time rted to the Divine Enlightenment Pill? Empty Void Daoist asked with a beaming smile. In recent days, prominent figures had been visiting to experience the sensation of their souls leaving their bodies and floating freely with the Divine Enlightenment Pill. He guessed that Lin Beifan was here for the same reason. However, what followed surprised him. Lin Beifan waved his hand dismissively, Daoist, you got it wrong. Why would I need that poisonous stuff? Empty Void Daoists expression froze, a hint of panic in his eyes, and with a tone that mixed annoyance with embarrassment, he said, Minister Lin, what do you mean by that? Are you saying that the pills Ive refined are toxic? Lin Beifan smiled and nodded, Exactly, thats what I mean! Empty Void Daoist suddenly stood up, his face turning pale and sweat dripping down. He spoke in a firm yet shaky voice, Minister Lin, you are entirely framing me! If you dont provide a clear exnation, a satisfactory one, even if it has to be brought before the Golden Pce, Ill still bring a case against you! Lin Beifan grinned, his eyes half closed, Daoist, theres no need to pretend with me. Whats that Divine Enlightenment Pill of yours? I know more about it than you do! Your pill is made from cinnabar, realgar, alum, copper sulfate, and talc, five types of minerals. Its not some divine elixir at all, but a kind of psychoactive drug. It excites people and gives a sensation of floating and soul detachment. But when taken excessively, it bes addictive. Yet, this substance is also poisonous, with harmful side effects like vomiting, skin inmmation, intestinal perforation, mental instability, and more. Its practically a form of slow suicide! As Lin Beifanid out each detail, Empty Void Daoists face grew increasingly pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat! How did he know so much? He knows even more than me, the alchemist? At this moment, Lin Beifan mmed the table and yelled, You sinister chatan! How dare you cause trouble and deceive people in my territory with your misleading words! Chapter 294: I Want to Be a Good Person, but Reality Forces Me to do Otherwise! Chapter 294: I Want to Be a Good Person, but Reality Forces Me to do Otherwise! Empty Void Daoist trembled in fear. Once he realized what was happening, he felt extremely embarrassed that he had been frightened by someone without any apparent strength. Lord Lin, you are adding false charges. Whats there to fear when I have nothing to hide? Empty Void Daoists expression turned stern. Empty Void Daoist, are you still being stubborn? Were both fox spirits of a thousand years. Whats the point of ying games with me about supernatural tales? If the empress gets wind of this, or if the entire court, civil and military, learns about it, how do you think they will treat you? Lin Beifan chuckled and said, You must understand, this is a grave offense of deceiving the emperor. The entire court, civil and military, have been fooled by you! Great Wu wont tolerate you; even beheading would be a light punishment! Empty Void Daoists face turned pale once again. Lin Beifan sipped his tea lightly and continued, In fact, verifying this is quite simple! This substance should not be consumed excessively or consecutively. So, all we need to do is find a death-row convict and have them consume the Divine Enlightenment Pill for multiple days in a row. Whether its real or fake will be clear at a nce! Empty Void Daoist, how much longer do you intend to resist? Empty Void Daoist wearily took a seat and asked, Lord Lin, what is your intention in telling me all of this? Within his dejected gaze, there was a hint of killing intent. Empty Void Daoist, are you considering killing to cover up your tracks and prevent future trouble? Empty Void Daoist immediately shook his head and said somewhat nervously, Of course not. I am a monk; how could Imit such heinous acts? Lin Beifan grinned and said, Its best you dont! Because I visited your residence, and many people know about it. If I dont leave your ce, regardless of your true capabilities, you wont escape the legal! Furthermore, you should be aware that I have a Grandmaster in my residence who has been locked onto this location! As long as you dare make a move, he will dare to kill in return. Who lives and who dies isnt certain! Empty Void Daoist broke into another round of profuse sweating, realizing he had just crossed the gates of death. If he couldnt hold back his actions, he would be the one who died. Upon careful recollection, he had been manipted by Lin Beifan since his introduction at court. Lord Lin, what do you intend to do? Empty Void Daoist asked once again. Ivee here to remind you specifically not to cause a ruckus or deceive on my turf. Its better if youe and go as you came, otherwise, I wont be so forgiving! Lin Beifans tone grew stern. Why didnt you expose this when we were in the pce? Why are you telling me now, in private? Empty Void Daoist inquired. Lin Beifan grinned, pointing at the piles of gold, silver, and jewels in the room, If I had said something back then, would Daoist have had the chance to acquire these riches? Remember to deliver them to my residence; this could also be considered your life-preserving fee! Empty Void Daoist eximed, What the heck! So, the other side had been eyeing the treasures in his possession all along! He had only been a porter for a moment, and he was already being asked to deliver these riches to the other partys residence! The tea has been mostly consumed, and its time for me to leave! Lin Beifan stood up. Empty Void Daoist, Im giving you three days! Within these three days, you must leave Great Wu. I dont care where you go, but you absolutely cannot cause trouble within the borders of Great Wu! If I find even a single Divine Enlightenment Pill within Great Wu, consider the consequences! Also, dont forget to deliver these items to my residence, not a single one missing! If you cant manage to do so by tomorrow night, you can forget about leaving Great Wu forever! I keep my promises! With that said, Lin Beifan walked away, leaving Empty Void Daoist with a face that turned pale and then red. Master, what should we do? the young disciple of the Daoist asked anxiously. Empty Void Daoist clenched his teeth, saying, We need to deliver the items and leave. We cant stay here any longer. On the second day, Empty Void Daoist sent all the gold, silver, and jewels from the room to Lin Beifans residence. He then went to the pce to resign, stating that he was in search of special rare treasures to concoct an elixir of immortality, and thus he had to leave. Although the Empress and the court officials tried to persuade him to stay, he had made up his mind, so they had no choice but to agree. Fearful of persecution by Lin Beifan, the master and disciple packed up their belongings overnight and left the capital. Empty Void Daoists eyes looked lost. He had initiallye for wealth and power, but he hadnt gained any riches and had instead attracted a killers attention. Now, he had no idea where to go. Disciple, where do you think we should go? Just then, the young disciple by his side suddenly had a vacant look in his eyes, emitting a faint purple light, and he murmured, Master, how about we go to Great Yan? Why Great Yan? Empty Void Daoist asked. After all, Great Yan is an empire that rivals Great Wu. It would be a suitable ce for us to settle! Moreover, I heard that the Emperor of Great Yan is particrly enthusiastic about seeking longevity and immortality. We might have opportunities there! the young disciple exined. Empty Void Daoist nodded vigorously and dered, Good! Were going to Great Yan! In Lins study, Lin Beifan was exining the origins of a box of jewels to Bai Guanyin. Naturally, this led to a discussion about Empty Void Daoist. After hearing the story, Bai Guanyin was shocked. I cant believe that the widely rumored divine pill is actually a poisonous pill! That viinous Daoist is trying to overturn the state, utterly mad and wicked! Why not just kill him? Lin Beifan shook his head with a smile. It would be a shame to kill him! Hes actually quite useful. By driving him out of Great Wu, hell go harm other countries instead. If those other countries turn corrupt, wouldnt that be beneficial for Great Wu? Plus, I have leverage over him, so I can continue profiting from him. Its a win-win! Bai Guanyin also shook her head andughed. You youre so cunning! Lin Beifan sighed. If I werent a bit cunning, I wouldnt have survived till now! Honestly, Id love to be a good person, but reality forces me to do otherwise. Sigh! The inept empress, corrupt officials, ambitious vassal kings, neighboring countries, martial artists who kill officials at the drop of a hat, and even the dog system they were all pushing him! If he wasnt a bit cunning, he would have met an early end! Bai Guanyin thought of all the challenges Lin Beifan had faced and felt a sense of sympathy. Youve been through a lot! Its not that bad. Ive made it through. With my current strength, position, and authority, I can fully realize my ambitions! Lin Beifan chuckled. Thats true! Bai Guanyin agreed. Where do you think that Daoist might go? Lin Beifan smiled mysteriously. Theyre going to Great Yan. Why Great Yan? Because I said so! Not long after, Lin Beifan learned through the courts information channels that Empty Void Daoist had indeed gone to Great Yan. He sessfully concocted the Divine Enlightenment Pill there, gained favor with the Emperor of Great Yan, earned the trust of the courts officials, and became the royal tutor of the current dynasty. Once again, he rose to prominence, with wealth flowing in. The current Emperor of Great Yan, in order to support Empty Void Daoists alchemical endeavors, collected rare treasures from across the realm, causing both a strain on resources and the people. For instance, they spent several million taels to purchase dragon bones from Lin Beifan. While Great Yans strength remained robust, and envoys from all directions continued to visit, the future was uncertain. After all, theres no dynasty that remains prosperous forever! Rise and fall are the natural order of things! Moreover, this decline often starts from within! Once the emperor is inept, chaos ensues! Lin Beifan was keeping a close watch! Since Lin Beifan became the Principal of the Imperial Academy, almost a year had passed. During this time, he had quietly reformed the curriculum, gradually increasing the proportions of practical subjects such as arithmetic, agriculture, medicine, and engineering. He was subtly influencing the students of the Imperial Academy. Though Confucianism still held sway and serving the people remained the primary goal for Imperial Academy students aspiring to hold office, there were now more options avable, and the academic atmosphere was more open and liberal. As for those idle young scions, they had be well-behaved under Lin Beifans loving fists, their conduct had improved significantly, and they had made notable progress in their studies. Behaving was necessary; anyone who didnt would either be fined or beaten. Even if the God of Heaven came, it wouldnt matter! Under Lin Beifans management, the Imperial Academy was flourishing. On this day, a group of outstanding students finally graduated. Outstanding students of the Imperial Academy always received attention from the court. They could choose to take the imperial examination for official positions or follow the courts arrangements, gradually rising through the ranks in various ministries and offices. In essence, as long as you graduated from the Imperial Academy, you could be a government official and enjoy the imperial stipend. As the Principal of the Imperial Academy, Lin Beifan naturally took care of his students. He handpicked a group of outstanding graduates and personally guided them. Youre all the most outstanding students of this year at the Imperial Academy! Im very pleased that youve learned so much and are ready to serve the court and the people. Youre about to step into officialdom, so for this first lesson, Ill teach you the way of being an official, how to serve as a government official! Lin Beifan said with a smile. The students were all excited! The Principal of the Imperial Academy, the Prefect of the Capital, and the loyal and valiant Count Lin Beifan was going to personally teach them the ways of being an official. They felt truly honored! In unison, they said, We respectfully listen to the Principals guidance! Lin Beifan nodded in satisfaction. Good! At this moment, he noticed an old man with an unhappy expression approaching. Lord Yao, what brings you here? Lin Beifan asked. The person before him was none other than the former censor Yao Zheng, who used to sh with Lin Beifan frequently. Now, Yao Zheng had be his subordinate, serving as the Vice Principal of the Imperial Academy, responsible for academic affairs. Yao Zheng cupped his hands in salute. Principal, Ive heard that youre preparing to teach the students about the way of being an official. This is simr to what Im responsible for! So I came to observe and learn from your experience, seeking your approval. Lin Beifan inwardly shook his head and smiled. This cantankerous old man is obviously worried that Ill lead the students astray! Very well! Since Lord Yao is interested, I naturally agree! Come with us! Lin Beifan said. Leading the group, Lin Beifan arrived on a bustling street. As the saying goes, Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles. Today, through real-life examples, Ill teach you the true path of being an official! Yes, Principal! the group chorused. Just then, two elderly menboriously carried an open sedan chair, and a young man with an oily face and powdered hair sat inside. The stark contrast between the two elderly men, sweating and hunched over, and thefortable and content young man sitting in the sedan chair evoked a sense of pity. Lin Beifan pointed. I ask you all, what do you think of this situation? Chapter 295: Hard Work Doesn’t Necessarily Bring Wealth, Not Working Hard Ensures Comfort! Chapter 295: Hard Work Doesnt Necessarily Bring Wealth, Not Working Hard Ensures Comfort! The students were all indignant and began to criticize. How can you treat the elders this way? Respecting the old and loving the young has always been a tradition in our dynasty. How can he sitfortably while the elder struggles to carry the sedan chair? This is like eating bread soaked in human blood! This is disrespectful to our teachers and elders, contradicting the ways of sages, its too much! Doesnt his conscience ache? Lin Beifan asked again, So what should be done? That person shoulde down immediately. The elder should be above, the younger below, thats the right way! Young people should carry the sedan chair for the elders, thats in line with moral principles! Otherwise, wouldnt it be a disruption of virtue? And the young person should apologize to the elder! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, But, that young person paid for the sedan chair! Whats the big deal about paying? Does paying give someone the right to do whatever they want? Can paying allow the trampling of the elders dignity? Thats not reasonable! Even if he paid, he still cant sit! Everyone remained united in anger, highly emotional. Lin Beifan smiled again, But if they dont sit, the two elders wont earn any money! If they dont earn money, theyll starve! Life is of paramount importance. Can you bear this responsibility? Well Everyone was somewhat speechless. Lord Prefect, how could they starve? a student asked in confusion, Dont they have children at home? Cant their children support them? Lin Beifan shook his head, Your question is too naive! If they had children to take care of them, would theye out to earn money at such an old age? Even if they had children, would their children be willing to watch their own father, at such an old age, carry sedan chairs to earn money for others? Well Everyone was once again speechless. Lin Beifan said, The reason they carry sedan chairs to earn money must be due to their difficulties! If you dont believe it, go and ask them to see if what Im saying is true! They did ask and received a very disheartening response. One of the elders had truly been a bachelor for over 30 years, and everyone in his family had died, leaving only him. The other elder had a child, but the child had congenital idiocy, with an IQ of 10. Taking care of himself was a challenge, let alone taking care of the elder. So, out of necessity, they had to earn money on their own. A student asked, Why not do some simple tasks? Carrying sedan chairs is too tiring and demanding! The elder replied, Do you think we dont want to? Were old now, not very agile, not mentally sharp. People are afraid well have idents, so they dont hire us! We have no choice but to set up this business to earn money! A student asked, Could you engage in some small business to support yourselves? The elder replied, Where would we know how to do that? Weve been fooled before and didnt even realize it. Its better to carry sedan chairs! A student asked, But you cant carry young people anymore, its not in line with ethics, it must be stopped! The elder replied, Please dont interfere! Were earning money from young people now, only they are willing to spend money! The older folks are more and more stingy, saving money for their old age! A student asked, But this is really too hard. How long can you continue carrying sedan chairs? Elder: Life is as fragile as grass and mustard seeds. Living one day at a time is already a luxury. We dont expect anything more. Watching the disappointed faces of the students, Lin Beifan smiled and said, When young people ride in sedan chairs, it goes against moral principles. But if young people dont use sedan chairs, these two elders will simply starve to death! So, do you still think that the idea of elders carrying sedan chairs for young people is wrong? Should it be stopped? Everyone exchanged nces, speechless and deeply disheartened. Existence justifies itself, and reality is this cruel! Lin Beifan shook his sleeve, So now, heres the question! If you were in a position of authority, how would you solve the problem of elderly people depending on others? A student raised their hand, We can provide them with money and food, so they have something to rely on! Lin Beifan shook his head, No! There are millions of elderly people like them, and the court doesnt have that much money and food! Another student raised their hand, We can encourage the young people of our generation to support them in their old age! Lin Beifan shook his head again, No! Even young people are struggling to support themselves, how could they support others? Another student raised their hand, We can offer them simple tasks! Lin Beifan shook his head once more, No! The tasks the court can provide are allborious and exhausting, even more so than carrying sedan chairs! Each suggestion they put forth was met with Lin Beifans rejection. Everyone grew increasingly disheartened, their mouths bitter, Is there truly no solution? But Lin Beifan smiled, Reality is even more brutal than you imagine! Then, leading the group, Lin Beifan arrived at the doorstep of a wealthy household. There lived a poor family there, selling their daughter as a ve to serve as a maid for the wealthy household. Lin Beifan asked with a smile, How do you view this situation? Once again, the group became angry. How could they sell their daughter? Selling their daughter for a bit of money, thats heartless! Such people have no right to be parents! Lin Beifan asked with a smile, So what should be done? We must stop them. No matter how poor, they cant sell their daughter. Its basic human ethics! How could they do something like this? Do they have no sense of propriety and shame? We should report them to the authorities and teach them a lesson! Lin Beifan smiled, But if they dont sell their daughter, that impoverished family, including all its members, might starve to death. Even the daughter might die of hunger. But if they sell her, the entire family can survive! The daughter, in the wealthy household, might survive as well! What do you think should be done? Well Once again, everyone was left speechless and helpless. It couldnt be that bad, right? one student said reluctantly. If you doubt it, go and ask! Lin Beifan said. After asking, they found out that it was indeed true. In that impoverished family, there were about eight memberstwo elderly people who were unable to work due to illness, and four children who were all very young andcked the ability to work. The key issue was that the male head of the family was disabled and had limited mobility, while the female head had limited abilities as well. It was incredibly difficult for them to earn enough money to support their family of eight. So, with no other option, they had to sell their eldest daughter. A student asked, But even in poverty, they shouldnt sell their daughter! The male head of the family responded, Of course, we didnt want to either. But if we dont sell her, our entire family will have no food! A student asked, Shes your flesh and blood. How could you bear it? The male head of the family replied, Of course, we cant bear it. Thats why we found a good family for her! In that good household, she can eat well and sleep warmly! Moreover, we can still see each other often and take care of one another! We asked our daughter, and she agreed! After asking, the students returned with disappointment. Lin Beifan asked, If they dont sell their daughter, the whole family wont survive! By selling her, everyone can survive, and the daughter might even have a better life! Now, do you still think that selling the daughter is wrong? Well Everyone exchanged nces. Heres the problem again! Lin Beifan asked, If you were in a position of authority, how would you solve the problem of ensuring that these children have something to rely on? How can they all grow up in their parents care, enjoying family happiness? The students proposed one suggestion after another, all of which were simrly rejected by Lin Beifan. Though their ideas were good, theycked practicality. Then, Lin Beifan led the group to a physically able young beggar. How do you view this situation? he asked. The students became angry! Previously, they had encountered two elderly individuals and a poor family who, due to various reasons, faced hardships but still chose to work hard to support themselvesan admirable determination. However, this young, physically capable individual had be a beggar. One student angrily asked, You have hands and feet, so why do you beg for money on the streets? The young beggar looked puzzled, I have hands and feet, but I dont have money! The student continued angrily, Working hard will earn you money! The young beggar burst intoughter, Working hard will earn me money? Thats a load of nonsense! Look at those farmers in the fields, hunched over for a lifetime, have they be wealthy? Look at thoseborers, working hard all their lives, doing dirty and exhausting jobs, barely resembling humans. Have their lives improved at all? You! Everyone was left speechless. So, Ive figured it out now! When Im hungry, I beg for food; when Im thirsty, I look for water to drink! I have plenty of leisure time, I can bask in the sun, appreciate the beauty of the street, and even admire beautiful women. I can do whatever I want. Life is just 50 short years. Sufferingsts a lifetime, exhaustionsts a lifetime. Why shouldnt I choose happiness for a lifetime? What youre doing is not right Whats not right about it? The young beggar crossed his legs, I dont steal, I dont rob, I dontmit crimes. What can you do to me? Youre all educated people, dont spend your whole life reading books and turning your brains to mush! Haha! The students returned once again, disheartened. Lin Beifan smiled faintly, That beggar makes a good point. Working hard doesnt necessarily earn you money, but not working hard certainly leads to afortable life. Its quite tempting to hear! If you were in their shoes, what would you choose? Everyone exchanged nces, without an answer. Heres the question again: If you were in a position of authority, how would you motivate them? The students still couldnte up with a solution. If people dont want to work, lie t, and await death, what can you do? Unless you hold a knife to their throats, but how long can you do that? Alright, the lesson ends here today. You may all go back now. Think deeply about the problems you encountered today. Once youve figured it out, youll know how to govern! Yes, Lord Prefect. We take our leave! The students bid farewell with sped hands. Lin Beifan turned and left as well. Lord Prefect, please wait! Yao Zheng called out, catching up with him. Chapter 296: My heart is so bitter, let me be drunk and dreamy! Chapter 296: My heart is so bitter, let me be drunk and dreamy! Lin Beifan turned around and smiled, saying, Lord Yao, whats the matter? Yao Zheng bowed again and said with a frown, Lord Lin, please forgive my dullness. I didnt quite understand the principles of being an official that you taught earlier. I humbly ask for your guidance. Lin Beifan nodded, I see! Its also time for dinner. How about joining me back at my residence? We can have some wine and food while discussing this matter. Yao Zheng thought of the fine wine at Lin Beifans house, his interest in wine already piqued, and he replied, Respectfully, I will follow your lead. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they had returned to Lins residence. A table was set in the study with wine and dishes, and they continued their discussion on the principles of being an official over their meal. Lord Yao, if you have any points of confusion, feel free to ask, Lin Beifan said. Thank you, Lord Lin, for giving me this opportunity! Today, I apanied Lord Lin on the street patrol, learning about the ways of being an official. Through those three examples, Ive learned a lot and gained insights. However Yao Zheng furrowed his brows again, There are so many threads, I dont know where to begin! Lin Beifan nodded, I understand. Let me help you organize your thoughts. Thank you, Lord Lin, for your guidance. Im all ears, Yao Zheng replied. Lin Beifan set aside his chopsticks and dered solemnly, The initial principle I intend to instill in my students is the principle of a solid foundation. This entailsprehending your role as a public servant and the underlying purpose it holds. Essentially, this can be encapsted in six words: For the country, for the people. Yao Zheng immediately nodded, Lord Lin is absolutely right! For the country, for the people. The people are the foundation; without the people, there is no country. So, I want them to start from the peoples perspective. We often say that the people suffer, and we do know that they suffer, but in reality, the people suffer even more than we imagine. Lin Beifan took a sip of wine and continued, Thats why I want them to go down to the grassroots, to understand the hardships of themon folk. Lord Yao, let me ask you: an elder whos reached the age of 50 and still carries a sedan chair to earn a living, do you think they suffer? Yao Zheng nodded heavily, They do suffer! Lord Yao, let me ask you again: a family so impoverished that they have to sell their daughters into servitude to support the elderly and the young, do you think they suffer? Yao Zheng once again nodded emphatically, They suffer! Lord Yao, let me ask you once more: a young and able-bodied person who ends up begging on the streets despite having their limbs intact, do you think they suffer? Yao Zheng hesitated, nced at Lin Beifan, and replied, Lord Lin, I dont believe they suffer. They have limbs and strength; they could certainly find work to support themselves. Instead, theyre avoiding work and choosing to beg. They simply deserve their plight. Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, Lord Yao, dont judge merely by appearances; youre overlooking their inner struggles. Although they dont endure the physical hardships of life, they endure emotional suffering. Because they see no hope, no chance for improvement, despite having ambitions, they are powerless to pursue them. So, they resort to numbing themselves. Lin Beifan nced at the old man beside him and said, This kind of suffering is also known as the pain of unrecognized talent, the pain of being depressed due to unfulfilled aspirations. Lord Yao, you should have a deep understanding of this. I see! Yao Zheng took a sip of wine, reminiscing about his past experiences, a touch of bitterness in his expression. It is indeed very bitter. Thats why I want them to empathize with the peoples situation. As long as, in their future careers as officials, they remember the scenes they witnessed today and feel a bit ofpassion, being able to slightly favor themon people, I will be satisfied. Lord Lins words are absolutely right. I toast to you, Yao Zheng said, and they clinked sses before finishing their drinks. Lin Beifan continued, The second principle I want to teach students is the principle of dialectics. This means looking at issues from a dialectical perspective, seeing the positive and negative sides, understanding the surface and the essence. For example, the matter of the elders carrying sedan chairs for the younger generation. Having read the works of Confucius and Mencius, we know that such an action is not right. The elders should not carry sedan chairs for the younger generation. The younger generation should not sit in sedan chairs carried by the elders, as it goes against the principles of human ethics. But, lets look at it from a different angle. Did the elder do something wrong? No, he didnt. Hes doing theseborious tasks to survive, to have food to eat. If he doesnt do this, he might starve to death. Did the younger person do something wrong? No, he didnt. He paid for the service, and when you pay for something, you should receive the service you paid for. If he doesnt sit in the sedan chair, the two elders might starve. Nobody is wrong Lin Beifan gestured with his hands, asking, Could it be that our Confucian principles are wrong? Well Yao Zheng was at a loss for words, unable to answer. Actually, they arent wrong! Lin Beifan smiled, The Confucian principles teach us to respect the elderly and cherish the young. If we dont respect the elderly and cherish the young, if the generation gap is chaotic, then human ethics copse and the world falls into chaos. Yao Zheng nodded slightly, Indeed. Since nobody is wrong, then who is wrong? Lin Beifan asked again. Well Yao Zheng was once again at a loss for words, unable to answer. In fact, nobody is wrong; its just a matter of different perspectives! Confucius and Mencius advocated these virtues to enlighten the world. The two elders are doing what they must to survive. The younger person paid, so he should receive the service he paid for. Selling daughters into servitude, young people begging, its the same principle! Therefore Lin Beifan smiled, What I want to teach the students is that many things arent simply ck or white; theres no definitive answer. Blindly following books is not as good as using your judgment. Many things require practical consideration. This way, when they be officials, theyll remain calm andposed, considering all aspects, and will think from the perspective of themon people, instead of implementing policies recklessly. Thank you for the lesson Yao Zheng once again raised his ss to Lin Beifan. The third principle I want to teach students is the principle of choice. This means knowing how to make decisions and how to solve problems when they arise. For instance, the matter of selling daughters into servitude. Lin Beifan smiled, Even individuals with high moral standards cant ept selling daughters into servitude. And indeed, this matter is morally uneptable and falls into a legal gray area, unsupported by thew. But if this action isnt taken, the entire family might starve. As enforcers of thew, how should they act? How should they make choices when faced with this situation? Yao Zheng furrowed his brows, silent. To be honest, its really difficult! Lin Beifan shook his head with a clicking sound. If you uphold the authority of thew, then that family of eight will starve to death! If you dont do this, can you justify wearing your official robe? Yao Zheng cupped his hands, humbly seeking advice, Lord Lin, what should be done in such a situation? Please enlighten me! Lin Beifan shook his head, Theres no practical solution. Sometimes, let the people report, and let the officials ignore it as if they didnt see it. Ah, its challenging! Yao Zheng sighed deeply The fourth principle I want to teach students is the path of pursuit. This means what I, as an official, should strive for, what goals to achieve, what problems to solve. This is our ultimate pursuit as officials. Lord Yao, what do you think is the ultimate pursuit of us as officials? Lin Beifan asked. Yao Zheng frowned, For the country, for the people? Thats the foundation, the starting point. Im asking about the destination! Lin Beifan said. Yao Zheng sighed, Please pardon my dullness, I cant understand. Actually, the answer is quite clear! Lin Beifan smiled, As long as the elders dont have to carry sedan chairs, they can stay home in their old age, with their children and grandchildren around. Impoverished families wont have to sell daughters into servitude, every family can afford to raise their own children, enjoying family harmony. Young people wont have to feel hopeless about society; they can achieve whatever they want through effort. Summing it up in 12 words: The elderly have support, the young are provided for, andbor is rewarded! As long as these three points are achieved Lin Beifan chuckled with satisfaction, The country will prosper, the people will be strong, and the world will be in harmony. Youre absolutely right! Yao Zheng pped his thigh, excitedly saying, A question Ive puzzled over my whole life has been answered by Lord Lin with just a few words! The ultimate pursuit of officials is indeed to provide support for the elderly, care for the young, and rewardbor. By achieving these three points, how could the world not be peaceful? He immediately lifted his ss, Thank you for enlightening me, Lord Lin. I toast to you! Lin Beifan eximed, Cheers! After three more rounds of drinks, everyone felt at ease. Only then did they express the courage in their hearts. Yao Zheng furrowed his brows again and smiled bitterly, Indeed, this is the ultimate pursuit of officials. But achieving these three points is truly difficult, almost impossible. Lin Beifan nodded in deep agreement, sighing, Indeed, its incredibly difficult! Look at me, to fulfill this ambition, Ive fought corrupt officials and sycophants in the court, even stooping to their level. Ive truly struggled! Ive faced so much injustice and suffered so much, Lord Yao, do you know? As he reminisced about the past, an indescribable pain welled up in his heart. He couldnt help but take a sip of wine, using it to drown his sorrow. Yao Zheng looked at Lin Beifan enjoying the pce wine and the sumptuous delicacies on the table. He said, Lord Lin, you im to be in a difficult situation, and I can understand that. But to say youve suffered injustice and hardship, forgive me if I cant agree. Lord Yao, what you see is only the surface. How many can truly understand the pain in my heart? Lin Beifan patted his chest, a pained expression on his face. My heart is truly bitter. Even the finest wine cant wash away the bitterness. Sometimes, I just want to drown in this drunken dream! Lord Lin, you have such beautiful thoughts. Sometimes, Ive also thought the same way. But my skin isnt as thick as yours; I wouldnt dare say it, Yao Zheng said admiringly. Lin Beifan stood up and banged the table, Less talk, drink! Chapter 297: Greed is wrong, not being greedy is also wrong, what should we do in the end? Chapter 297: Greed is wrong, not being greedy is also wrong, what should we do in the end? For two consecutive days, Lin Beifan continued to help this group of students understand the hardships of themon people. Walking along the way, it seemed that Lin Beifan hadnt taught anything, hadnt spoken any principles, but amidst the confusion, it felt like everyone had learned a lot. It felt like they had learned more and more profoundly than studying for over a decade, filling their hearts with countless thoughts, intricate and unclear. Wanting to voice these thoughts, yet not knowing where to start. But they knew, the experiences of these past few days would be remembered for a lifetime. Yao Zheng, who had been following behind, also had many thoughts. After Lin Beifans exnations, he understood Lin Beifans intentions even better, and he was deeply moved. Are themon people suffering? They are suffering! More than what youve seen, heard, or imagined! How to free them from this suffering? Theres no way! Even if you have the ambition to change the world, possess extensive knowledge, have unparalleled martial skills, and wield immense power, youre still powerless, only able to watch them suffer! You might save them momentarily, but you cant save them for a lifetime; this is beyond your will to change! So, when you be an official in the future, try to understand them more, show them more favor, and help them a little! They are already suffering enough, dont let them suffer further! Yao Zheng deeply reflected, feeling that this teaching method was truly excellent! Much more effective than studying in a ssroom! Having been a censor for so many years, and now bing the superintendent in charge of students moral cultivation, its still difficult to find a young person who understands thoroughly and performs well! Yao Zheng sighed inwardly. He believed that Lin Beifans teaching method was excellent and must be promoted extensively, letting students understand the hardships of themon people. Only by experiencing the suffering of themon people can you know how to act in the future. As the sun set in the west, these three days of teaching activities came to an end. This is the way of governing that Ive taught you! Facing the contemtive students, Lin Beifans tone was in yet sincere: As for how much you can learn andprehend from it, that depends on yourselves! After all, each of you is a living person with your own thoughts and insights. No matter how much I say, it wont be of much use! We humbly follow the instructions of the Principal! everyone said in unison. Before we part, I have one more question for you, also the final question! Lin Beifan said. Principal, please ask. We know no bounds in speaking and will spare no words! everyone replied in unison. This question is rather pointed! Lin Beifan smiled as if his eyes were narrowed into crescents: In the future, when you step into the officialdom, you will definitely face various temptations and pressures from superiors! If you dont be greedy or offer bribes, you wont be able to fulfill your ambitions! But if you do be greedy, engage in bribery, its corruption and injustice, staining your reputation for a lifetime! So, at this juncture, how will you choose? The crowd was shocked, their eyes widening, some even opened their mouths wide enough to swallow an egg. This question wasnt just pointed, it was incredibly sharp! It had pierced right into their hearts, cutting to the bone, a deadly strike! Looking at the confused and indecisive students, Lin Beifan smiled and said, This question must be answered. Everyone is involved, and Lord Yao, youre no exception! Huh? Even I have to answer? Yao Zheng was bewildered. A student cupped his hands and resolutely said, Respected Principal, is there still a need to ask such a question? We study the books of sages, follow the ways of Confucius and Mencius. We must be honest, self-disciplined, restrain ourselves, not take what shouldnt be taken, not do what shouldnt be done. Only then can we be worthy of Her Majesty, worthy of the sages of the past, worthy of heaven and earth, worthy in our hearts! Yes, no matter what, we must never be greedy! Being a corrupt official is shameful! We study the books of sages, we should be just and incorruptible, clean and dedicated, serving the office and benefiting the region! Otherwise, whats the point of reading so many books? His response gained the support of many. Youre absolutely right! Lin Beifan nodded, smiling: But what if someone holds a knife to your throat and forces you to be corrupt? If you dontply, theyll cut off your head. What would you do then? The other person continued righteously, with an unchanged expression: Even if they take my life, I wontpromise! Im not afraid to die for the cause, as long as I can leave this world with a clear conscience! Lin Beifan continued, What if they hold a knife to the necks of your wife and children? Will youply or not? A slight cold sweat appeared on the persons face, but they remained firm: I wontply! My life is trivial, but my integrity is paramount. I believe that even in the afterlife, they will understand the difficulties students face! What if they hold a knife to the necks of your parents? Will youply or not? Cold sweat appeared on the persons face twice more: This I still wontply! Loyalty to the monarch and filial piety to parents, the monarches first! I would feel ashamed before my parents. Even if it means bing an ox or a horse in the next life, I will repay their kindness. Forgive my irreverence, but if a knife is held to Her Majestys neck, will youply or not? I The person stammered, beads of cold sweat dripping. This was a deadly question, how could they answer? Any answer would result in their demise! Lin Beifan chuckled, If someone threatens you with the lives of themon people, will youply or not? How could such a thing happen? The student panicked. Why not? For example, if your country is in ruins, but the ruler of an enemy nation admires your talents and wants to employ you, using your countrys people to threaten you! Will you choose to endure humiliation and live apromised life, or will you uphold your integrity and lead thousands ofmon people to the afterlife together? I The person was already shocked beyond words. Lin Beifan called out another student: How do you view my question? This The second students name was Guan Zhong, and he had already been dumbfounded by the series of life-or-death questions Lin Beifan had just asked. With a strong desire to survive, he said, I I would just be a little corrupt! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Well said! Before the person could rejoice, Lin Beifan made a throat-shing gesture: Daring to be corrupt? Off with your head! But Im only doing it for the sake of my family and children! If they threaten my family and childrens lives, if I dontply, their lives will be lost. I have no choice but to be corrupt! the person struggled. Commendable filial piety, touching family affection, but engaging in corruption and breaking thew, your head must still roll! Lin Beifan continued the throat-shing motion. The person said again, Im doing it for Her Majestys sake. Shouldnt that be right? Lin Beifan smiled wryly, Can anyone believe that? It would be a disgrace for Her Majesty to promote corruption. Off with your head! And it would likely be Her Majesty who executes you first! The person was somewhat in despair, Im doing it for the sake of themon people. Would that be eptable? Lin Beifan sneered, Ridiculous! Would themon people want you to be corrupt? They detest corrupt officials the most! Once you truly be corrupt, theyll despise you, and in the end, it will likely be themon people whom youve always protected who will end your life! Everyone was in a state of copse: Being greedy is wrong, not being greedy is also wrong, what should we do? Please, Respected Principal, teach us! Lin Beifan smiled wryly in his heart. If only I knew what to do! Even with his systematic knowledge, he could only survive in the cracks, bearing all the sins alone. Lin Beifan shook his head, This question has never had a standard answer. No matter how much I talk about it now, the problems youll encounter in the future, when its time to be corrupt, youll be corrupt, and when its time not to be corrupt, you wont be corrupt! Even if youre not corrupt now, you might be corruptter! You might be corrupt now andter have a sudden realization! But please remember! Lin Beifans gaze turned sharp, Whether you are corrupt or not in the future, be cautious! Once I find out, Ill take from you the exact amount youve taken. The second time I catch you, its double! The third time, double again If you cant give it, prepare for the rod! Just like I did in the Imperial Academy, do you understand? Thinking of everything Lin Beifan had done at the Imperial Academy, everyone shivered. We understand, Respected Principal! Lin Beifan nodded in satisfaction, Good, now youve got it. You may leave. Everyone bid farewell, and Lin Beifan also turned to leave. Yao Zheng was about to leave too, but he hesitated, turned around to watch Lin Beifans departing figure, and suddenly felt a sense of loneliness. Equally feeling the solitude in Lin Beifans departing back was Lady Li Yuxin. She called out softly, Master Lin! Lin Beifan looked in the direction of the voice, seeing the pure white figure of Li Yuxin carrying a medicine box, quickly walking towards him and smiled. Lady Li Yuxin, did you just return from a diagnosis? Yes, Master Lin, I just returned from a diagnosis! Li Yuxin had alreadye before Lin Beifan. From her smooth forehead and face, he saw a fineyer of sweat beads and a faint medicinal fragrance emanating from her. For some reason, this version of Li Yuxin made Lin Beifans heart skip a beat. Lady Li Yuxin, let me carry the medicine box for you! No need, Im already used to it, I wouldnt dare trouble you, sir. They walked side by side, like a fairytale couple. Li Yuxin asked curiously, Master Lin, what were you doing just now? I saw you bidding farewell to a group of students Lin Beifan smiled, Im still the Principal of the Imperial Academy. I was guiding them to understand the hardships of themon people and learn how to govern. Li Yuxinughed, Sir, your efforts are truly sincere. They will definitely be good officials who love the people like their own children. Lin Beifan shook his head, I dont dare expect too much. As long as they, when they be officials in the future, can slightly lean towards themon people, that would be enough. Just like you! Li Yuxin stole a nce at Lin Beifans handsome profile, her face slightly blushing as she lowered her head. Oh, by the way, Lady Li Yuxin, why did you return sote? And were you alone? Its quite dangerous! Li Yuxin smiled, Under your governance, the capitals security has improved significantly. I can walk the streets alone without worry. The reason I returnedte is because there were too many patients! Lin Beifans eyes narrowed, Many patients? Whats going on? Chapter 298: Locust Plague in Southern Jiang! Chapter 298: Locust gue in Southern Jiang! Li Yuxin saw Lin Beifans expression and knew what he was worried about. She smiled and said, Master Lin, theres no need to worry. Its not a big deal. They just had a collective stomachache. Theyve taken medicine and will be fine after resting for two days. I see, then I can rx! Lin Beifanughed and extended an invitation, Lady Yuxin, its been a while since youst visited my mansion. Instead of a formal invitation, how about a chance encounter? Come to my house tonight for a simple meal and then leave. My wife has been mentioning you! Thank you for the invitation, sir. Ill be honored to ept! Li Yuxins heart was filled with joy. The two of them returned to Lin Mansion with smiles andughter. Lin Beifan had some matters to attend to in his study, so Li Shi Shi received Li Yuxin. Li Shi Shi was very happy, saying, Yuxin, youve finallye. Youve lost some weight, I see! Sister Shi Shi, its been a while. Youre looking healthier and better each time I see you! Li Yuxin was also delighted and held onto Li Shi Shis hand, saying, ording to Master Lin, you often talk about me, so I came to see you. Do I really talk about you not? Li Shi Shi blinked. Really? Li Yuxin looked puzzled. Li Shi Shis gaze shifted slightly, and she chuckled softly, Actually, its my husband who talks about you all the time! He says that the days without you feel like an eternity. So, Yuxin, please doe often! Does he really mention me often? Li Yuxin was pleasantly surprised and a bit shy. Can I lie to you? Li Shi Shiughed, So please make sure to visit often. Consider this ce your home. I want us to be good sisters for a lifetime! Yes! Li Yuxin lowered her head and replied softly. At this moment, the spirited Little Princess rushed in, saying, Im here, Im here! Whats for dinner tonight? Is dinner ready? Im almost starving! Li Shi Shi smiled and said, Little Princess, its almost ready! Just wait for about half a joss sticks time! Okay, okay! The Little Princess nodded happily. Lin Beifan was disturbed and walked out, saying helplessly, I hardly see you around, but youre quite enthusiastic about dinner! Not being enthusiastic about dinner means theres something wrong with your brain! The Little Princess retorted confidently. Being too enthusiastic about dinner means theres something wrong with your nerves! Lin Beifans face turned serious, Let me see which nerve of yours is messed up that youre acting so hyper. Ugh, you meanie! Youre so mean. Im going to the kitchen. I wont pay any attention to you! The Little Princess stormed off. Laughter and merriment filled the courtyard. However, at this moment, in the distantnd of Southern Jiang, the mood of the Prince of Southern Jiang was not good. He stood under the scorching sun, sweat dripping down, in a field that was starting to dry up. He was anxious, looking at the withering rice seedlings. Whats wrong with this damned weather? It hasnt rained for three months straight, and the weather is still so hot. Even the riverbed is dry if this continues, the harvest will be ruined! He was in a crucial phase of preparing for an uprising, waiting only for a bountiful autumn harvest to fully prepare the grain, and then he could start the rebellion. If the harvest was poor, his military strength would be greatly diminished. The officials around him trembled in fear, afraid of incurring the kings wrath. But the Prince of Southern Jiang didnt me them; he knew very well that this was beyond their control. How could human effort influence the weather? Looking up at the zing sun, he wiped the sweat from his brow and couldnt help but curse, Heavenly deity,st year you sent a flood, and this year a drought! Are you deliberately opposing me? A thought urred to him, By the way, hows the grain situation in the capital? Everyone looked at each other, none daring to speak. Fugui, you tell me! The Prince of Southern Jiangs face was stern, Tell me everything truthfully, without hiding anything. If you dare to fabricate military information, Ill make you answer for it! Yes, Your Highness! Wang Fugui forced a smile and stepped forward, bowing, Your Highness, since the beginning of the year, the capital has enjoyed fair weather, warm like spring. The crops are thriving! Coupled with therge-scale water conservancy projects undertaken by the prefect, the implementation of the Eight Agricultural Methods, and the expansion of fertilizer varieties, theres no doubt that this years crop yield will increase significantly! Damn it! The Prince of Southern Jiang gritted his teeth in anger. His days were getting worse, while his enemies were thriving. It was unbearable! And the thought of the enemy having abundant grain reserves made it even more unbearable! His face turned ck with fury. Seeing this, Wang Fugui realized the situation was turning unfavorable and hastily continued, Your Highness, although our situation isnt great, the situation in Northern Hebei and Wuxi isnt favorable either. Northern Hebei has always been barren, with limited crop yield! The poption is decreasing significantly, and there are fewer people farming. This years crop yield is sure to be poor! Wuxi, too, is facing a simr situation! Moreover, theyre currently being harassed by the rebel forces, suffering continuous losses in troops. Their situation is worse than ours! Among the three kings, our situation is rtively better! Well, thats true! The Prince of Southern Jiangs expression finally improved. These were troubled times, and although he might be in trouble, as long as others were worse off than him, he felt happy and satisfied. Looking at the withered rice fields, Wang Fugui looked worried and asked, Your Highness, what should we do now? What else can we do? The Prince of Southern Jiang replied irritably, Quickly dig channels, dig deep wells, and divert water here. Otherwise, we wont have any grain to eat this year! Yes, Your Highness. Ill have someone take care of it! Wang Fugui hurriedly agreed. Just then, a buzzing sound came from the distance. The Prince of Southern Jiang and his group turned to look and saw a dense mass of insects forming a dark cloud, descending upon them like a swarm. The Prince of Southern Jiang was dumbfounded, What is this? Many officials were terrified. A locust gue! Its a locust gue! These locusts flew swiftly over the crowd, leaving behind devastated rice fields. The Prince of Southern Jiang let out a mournful cry, My grains! News of this incident quickly reached the imperial court, and the Empress immediately convened her ministers to discuss the matter. Theres a locust gue in Southern Jiang, wreaking havoc in the rice fields! ording to the information from below, this locust gue has reached a scale that only urs once every hundred years, and its causing significant harm! The locusts are migrating toward the capital. Esteemed ministers, how can we prevent this? The civil and military officials exchanged bitter smiles. How could one prevent and control a locust gue? Locust gues, along with floods and droughts, were among the three most destructive natural disasters. Among them, locust gues were particrly terrifying. Their vast numbers and swift movement made them impossible to eliminate or control. Once they appeared, they brought massive destruction and led to reduced crop yields. This was beyond human control. Under the Empresss gaze, all the officials lowered their heads. The Empress turned her attention to Lin Beifan, her eyes carrying a glimmer of hope, Sir Lin, do you have any sound advice? Your Majesty, I have a few immature suggestions, Lin Beifan said, bowing. The Empresss eyes lit up, Please, go on! Your Majesty, just like the chickens and ducks we raise, they actually eat locusts! If we release chickens and ducks, do we need to fear the locust gue? Lin Beifan chuckled. The Empresss eyes brightened further, This idea sounds promising! However, Your Majesty, there are too many locusts. The number of chickens and ducks we raise is too small to tackle the locust gue. The Empresss eyes dimmed, I see Your Majesty, I have another idea! The Empresss eyes brightened again, Go on! In fact, locusts taste quite good and are rich in nutrients. Chickens, ducks, and geese cant finish them all. We can have people catch and eat them! Lin Beifan suggested again. The Empresss eyes gleamed even more, It sounds like a feasible n! However, catching locusts is quite difficult due to theirrge numbers. Regr citizens wont be able to catch many. It might be better for us to save our efforts, Lin Beifan advised. The Empresss eyes dimmed once more, True, catching locusts is challenging. Your Majesty, I have one more idea The Empress became furious! This guy cant speak straightforwardly; hes teasing her in a back-and-forth manner, which is so infuriating! Clenching her teeth, she said, Minister, are you deliberately ying games with Us? Lin Beifan felt quite wronged, Your Majesty, how could your humble servant dare to do that? Your humble servant just said these were immature suggestions. You were the one who insisted I speak. Not speaking would be going against your will! The Empress was so furious she felt like using his head as a ball to kick around! This little rascal had be more mischievoustely, often making fun of her. This was outrageous! Minister, just give Us the final solution directly! Lin Beifan cupped his hands, This Your servant truly has no way. Please understand, Your Majesty. This locust gue couldnt be thoroughly solved now, let alone in ancient times. Even in the modern era, the focus would mainly be on prevention. Prevention would involve methods such as spraying pesticides or utilizing natural predators of locusts, like chickens, ducks, and birds. If the locust gue was extensive, pesticide spraying might be used, but ancient timescked such conditions. The Empresss gaze dimmed. However, theres no need to worry too much! The Empresss gaze brightened again, Minister, why do you say that? Lin Beifan smiled, The threat of this locust gue to me is indeed substantial. However, its urrence is conditional. Generally, it only appears during hot and dry weather, which is exactly the situation in Southern Jiang. But our capital has been enjoying fair weather, abundant rain, and moist air since the beginning of the year. So, the threat of the locust gue to us is limited. We can only hope for that! The Empress sighed with concern. At this time, news of the locust gue in Southern Jiang also reached his two brothers. In the residence of the Duke of Wuxi. Upon learning of this, the Duke of Wuxi was ted and burst intoughter, saying, Brother, without grain, how will youpete with me? This contest for the throne, youre going to be out of it early! Haha! Summon people to monitor the situation of the locust gue in Southern Jiang at all times. Report immediately if anything happens! Yes, Your Highness! In the residence of the Prince of Northern Hebei. Simrly, the Prince of Northern Hebei was extremely delighted, his face radiant with joy, Younger Brother, facing two natural disasters in a row, is this not heavens will? It seems youre not destined for the throne! Someone, quickly send that bell back to the Prince of Southern Jiang to console him! Haha! Yes, Your Highness! Chapter 299: Locust Plague Heading North – Using Natural Disasters to Counter a Natural Disaster! Chapter 299: Locust gue Heading North C Using Natural Disasters to Counter a Natural Disaster! The nations attention was focused on Southern Jiang. The Prince of Southern Jiang watched as swarms of locusts covered the sky, voraciously devouring his rice crops, causing his head to explode in anger. Every passing second resulted in hundreds of rice nts being damaged. Dragging his officials, Prince of Southern Jiang spoke with extreme urgency, Do any of you have a solution? Hurry ande up with something for me! If we cant deal with these pests, my grain will be eaten away! Southern Jiangs officials wore bitter expressions as they shook their heads, Your Highness, we truly have no means. This locust gue is one of the most terrifying disasters in the world, and its insurmountable. This is a natural disaster; can human effort counter it? Prince of Southern Jiangs anxiety deepened, How did the locust gues disappear in the past? Your Highness, your subordinate knows! Prince of Southern Jiang perked up, Tell me! Wang Fugui cupped his hands, his face filled with despair, After theyve devoured all the grain in the fields and have nothing left to eat, they will naturally starve to death. Prince of Southern Jiangs face darkened, he staggered, nearly falling. Be careful, Your Highness! Your Highness! Step back, I dont need assistance! Prince of Southern Jiang swatted away the hands that supported him. ring at the swarming locusts, he roared, You say this is a natural disaster, and human effort is futile? I absolutely refuse to ept that! Summon all martial artists and soldiers, eradicate these pests and protect the fields for me! Yes, Your Highness! the crowd responded. Thus, the soldiers cultivated by Prince of Prince of Southern Jiang entered the fields in a massive wave to eliminate the pests. Those without martial skills used fine fishings to catch the insects or utilized brooms made from dead branches to clear the pests. The most efficient were the martial artists, whose bursts of energy could kill many insects in an instant. Particrly the innate martial artists, after this campaign, nearly cleared a vast expanse. Seeing the results, Prince of Southern Jiangughed with joy, Exactly! Kill all of them for me! Leave none alive! Yes, Your Highness! The 430 individuals echoed and continued their extermination efforts. However, people grow tired, whereas locusts are endless, never tiring, and continue to multiply. After wiping out one wave, another emerges, and they seem impossible to eradicate. After three consecutive days of killing, Prince of Southern Jiangs soldiers copsed from exhaustion. Yet, the locusts didnt appear to diminish in the slightest. However, the rice crops had been substantially devoured. Gazing at the almost ruined rice nts, Prince of Southern Jiang sank to his knees, his eyes filled with despair, All of my grain is gone, everything is gone! This grain was not just his armys sustenance; it was also the hope for his imperial ambitions. Now that the grain was gone, his aspirations were crumbling as well. At this moment, a wild idea sprouted in his mind. Since everything was about to end, why not rise up now and march directly towards the capital? Either he would ascend the throne or perish trying! Your Highness, the locusts are migrating north! Someone called out. What? The locusts are migrating north? Prince of Southern Jiangs spirits lifted. The northern border of Prince of Southern Jiang was the direction of the capital. Haha, excellent! Keep going north! Prince of Southern Jiang stood up with heartyughter, I have no grain, and none of you will either! Im going to see how these locusts have devoured your grain! Haha! Witnessing this scene, Prince of Southern Jiangs officials were filled with deep concern. Has Your Highness gone mad? Hes crying andughing alternately Perhaps the shock was too much. Poor Your Highness! Sigh. So what do we do now? Buzz, buzz Billions of locusts, in an immense swarm, migrated northward, devouring all nts along their path, especially the rice crops. The scale of this devastation was beyondprehension, leaving virtually no trace of greenery. Witnessing this, the Prince of Southern Jiang felt a sense of euphoria. Keep eating like this, devour everything! I wont have it easy, and neither will you! News of the locust gue migrating north spread rapidly throughout the realm. In thend of Wuxi, the royal residence: The locust gue is actually moving northward, directly towards the capital? The Duke of Wuxi heard the news and couldnt contain his excitement. Haha, this is wonderful! If they can consume all of the imperial grain, the autumn harvest will fail, and it will be the perfect time for us to rise in rebellion! Your Highness speaks the truth! Mr. Fengchuns face was flushed with enthusiasm. In thend of Northern Hebei, the royal residence: The Prince of Northern Hebei was equally delighted, This locust gue is a blessing in disguise! With no grain during the autumn harvest, the imperial court will suffer! This is fate, a sign that the heavens want the downfall of the court! Heavens will is on our side! Your Highness speaks the truth! Advisor Zhuges expression was lively, After the autumn harvest, our forces will be nearly ready. The time for our uprising is near, and our grand n will be realized! Advisor speaks the truth. Keep a close eye on the capital and the locust gues movement! The Prince of Northern Hebei was extremely satisfied. Yes, Your Highness! the military advisor responded loudly. Other countries and ambitious individuals witnessed this scene with great pleasure. However, within the imperial court, they faced a dire situation. This was a once-in-a-century locust gue! The locusts left devastation in their wake, and with the autumn harvest imminent, failure to deal with the locusts would lead to a poor harvest, resulting in a series of repercussions. To counter the impending locust gue, the capital assembled arge number of chickens, ducks, and geese to eat the insects. They also mobilized a substantial force of soldiers and martial artists to eradicate the locusts. In short, every avable resource was being marshaled to confront the disaster. Still, the Empress remained highly concerned, holding frequent meetings with her ministers to discuss the locust gue. Her worries were enough to turn her hair white. However, Lin Beifan remained calm, eating and drinking as usual, not treating it as a major concern. He simply followed the imperial orders and cooperated ordingly. Observing this, the Empress couldnt help but ask, Advisor, do you have any solutions? Lin Beifan cupped his hands, Your Majesty, theres no need to worry. They wont be able to make it here. Minister of Revenue Qian Yuanshen anxiously eximed, Why wont they be able to make it? Theyre already here! Lin Beifan responded calmly, Whats the use of worrying now? Weve done everything we can. All we can do is give our best effort and leave the rest to fate. Sigh! Everyone sighed in unison. Seven to eight dayster, the locust gue finally arrived within the capitals borders. At this moment, all eyes in the realm were fixed on the capital, waiting to see whether the court could weather this cmity. However, more often than not, oveing this ordeal seemed impossible! If they could ovee it, then it wouldnt be the most fearsome locust gue that had everyone trembling! The courts military and horses were prepared, deploying numerous soldiers and martial artists to intercept the locusts. Especially the martial artists, aside from the guards, almost all had been brought in, amounting to over 5,000 individuals! Many peasants andmon folk spontaneously joined to helpbat the disaster. Even so, the imperial court dared not rx their efforts. This locust gue was too terrifying! A once-in-a-century catastrophe! Even Prince of Southern Jiang Prince, who was giving his all, found himself powerless. Despite assembling so many soldiers and horses, the court stillcked confidence. They could only do their best. Within the capital, all the citizens worriedly observed the battle between man and insect. If they lost, their future would be bleak. Prince of Southern Jiang followed, his face revealing a wild and ecstatic smile as he observed the imperial soldiers in the distance, ready for battle, and the locusts blotting out the sky above him. Go, my little insects! You must devour all their grain! Unleash your power! Im not having an easy time, and I wont let them have one either! Hahaha As Prince of Southern Jiangs words fell, the locusts in the sky emitted a droning sound and surged towards the imperial city. The generals and soldiers within the capital were on high alert, shouting, The locusts areing! Prepare yourselves! Yes, General! the soldiers responded in unison. Swish, swish, swish. They all drew their weapons, but instead of spears or des, they wielded brooms to sweep away the locusts. The more luxurious among them hadrges. Numerous martial artists gathered their true qi and strength to shake the locusts to death. Prince of Southern Jiang observed this scene with disdain, If such actions were effective, I would have won long ago! But this is good as well. Without struggling, you wont understand what true despair feels like! Hahaha! The locusts buzzed as they approached, nearly blotting out the sky! A single nce was enough to induce despair. At the city gates, Lin Beifan muttered to himself, Truly horrifying. Though he had heard that locust gues were terrifying, this was the first time he had seen it, and it was even more frightening than he had imagined. Just one look could potentially make someone with a fear of crowds pass out! In ancient times, there was simply no strategy to deal with such a situation. Even in a world with martial artists, facing an overwhelming number of locusts left them helpless. Fortunately, Lin Beifan was not without a countermeasure. There was only one thing that could counteract a natural disaster like this Another natural disaster! The great wind rises, clouds fly! As Lin Beifans words fell, a strong wind suddenly blew from the north to the south. The wind howled and managed to hold back the approaching locusts, as if a hand had pushed them back. Billions of locusts buzzed, but couldnt take a step forward. Its the wind! The wind is stopping the locusts! someone eximed in astonishment. What a favorable wind! Everyone cheered. If this wind could keep blowing forever! Although it was a hopeful wish, everyone knew that just as the wind came, it could also go. When the wind departed, that would be the time for confrontation. A sudden thunderp from level ground, wind and rain adding to the body! As Lin Beifans words fell again, a bolt of lightning shed in the sky. Soon, dense clouds gathered, obscuring the sunlight, and a light rain began to fall. The rain wasnt heavy, resembling spring rain as it moistened faces and nourished the rice seedlings. The capital was bathed in this gentle rain, shrouded in misty rain and appearing especially beautiful. But for the locusts, this rain and wind was an imprable barrier, a natural disaster that was impossible to ovee. They were left hovering outside, unable to cross. They lingered, unable to make the leap. The officials andmoners of the capital grew excited. Its raining in the capital! This rain came just in time, keeping the locusts outside! Locusts are most afraid of rain. This is timely indeed! What wonderful rain! Prince of Southern Jiang, who had silently observed this scene, was left dumbfounded, How can this be? Chapter 300: I’m Willing to Exchange 200 Jin of Flesh from My Body for a Severe Drought! Chapter 300: Im Willing to Exchange 200 Jin of Flesh from My Body for a Severe Drought! Prince of Southern Jiang had traveled a long distance to the imperial capital just to witness how the locust gue would ravage the city, hoping to find some psychological bnce. But now, things had taken an unexpected turn with strong winds and rain. Even if he didnt initially understand locusts, over the past few days, he hade to realize that locusts were afraid of water, especially rain. With both wind and rain, they definitely wouldnt be able to fly over. Why is this happening? How did it suddenly start raining? His mind was on the verge of copse. In contrast, themoners within the capital were delighted. This rain is so good! Now that its raining, the locusts wont dare toe! Keep raining, dont stop! From the city tower of the capital, the Empress and the civil and military officials smiled at the sight of the gentle rain. Their faces were filled with long-lost smiles. What a good rain, a timely rain! With this rain, the locusts wont be able toe for a while, and our crops are saved! Divine protection for the Great Wu, divine protection for the court! The Empress surveyed her officials, soldiers, andmoners, all of whom had bright smiles on their faces, as if they had narrowly escaped disaster. However, she noticed one person among themLin Beifan. He remained calm andposed, looking at the rain and wind without joy or sorrow. Her heart stirred, recalling Lin Beifans words from before. She smiled and asked, Minister Lin, youve remained calm andposed throughout. Did you foresee this? Lin Beifan sped his hands and said, Indeed, Your Majesty! Ive said before that this locust gue could nevere to pass. Everyone turned their attention to him, curious about how he had discerned this. How did you figure it out? The Empress voiced the question on everyones mind. Lin Beifan smiled and exined, As I mentioned earlier, our region has experienced favorable weather since the beginning of the year. Weve had ample rainfall and rtively humid air, which isnt suitable for locusts to breed. Locusts prefer dry conditions and wouldnte here. The Empress nodded with approval, Your exnation makes sense. He continued, Furthermore, I observed the stars at night and knew that rain wasing today. Locusts are afraid of rain, so they wouldnt dare cross our borders. Is that so? The Empress squinted her eyes. She had long heard from Bai Guanyin that since bing a Grandmaster, Lin Beifan had gained various extraordinary abilities. This was likely one of them. Otherwise, how could the rain be so perfectly timed? Minister, I never expected you to understand star observations and predict weather changes. You truly deserve to be my trusted advisor. So, can you tell me now, how long will this rainst? Will itpletely block the locust gue? the Empress inquired again. Lin Beifan counted on his fingers and said in a mystical tone, Your Majesty, I estimate this rain willst for about three days. The rainfall wont be heavy, simr to what were experiencing now, and it wont affect the livelihoods of themoners. However, it should be enough topletely hinder the locust gue. The Empresss delight knew no bounds as she eximed, Excellent! If it trulysts three days, Ill remember your contribution! Outside the capital city, Prince of Southern Jiang shook his hefty body, wiped the rain off his face, and gazed at the city bathed in the gentle rain. He spitefully muttered, Go ahead, revel in your temporary triumph! Its just a little rain. The wind will soon stop, and so will the rain. Thats when youll be crying! He stood there hoping for the wind to cease, for the rain to halt, and for the locusts to eventually swarm and wreak havoc upon the city. But as he waited and waited, the rain persisted. Comforting himself, he thought, Its fine! The rain only started not too long ago. It canst a bit longer, but it will eventually stop. Once the rain stops, it will be the time for your city to face disaster! He continued to wait, but after the time it took an incense stick to burn, the rain still hadnt stopped. I cant believe it hasnt stopped yet! This rain should be over by now. But its fine, its summer now. This type of rain usually wontst long. It should stop soon. Ill just wait a bit longer. Waiting for another hour, the rain persisted. After a whole hour, why hasnt it stopped? This rain, when will it end? Prince of Southern Jiang stared nkly at the sky, letting the raindrops fall on his face, feeling the coolness. But his heart burned with anger, and he didnt know how to vent it. He couldnt help but think of his own Southern Jiang. In the past, this kind of rain often fell in his region. The rain wasnt heavy, and the wind wasnt strong, but itsted for a very long time. Under such nourishing rain, his rice paddies would grow lush and there would be a bountiful harvest every year. But this year was differentsomehow, there was severe drought. There had been no rain for three months, rivers had dried up, rice paddies had withered, and it had even led to a terrifying locust gue. If only they could have a few rains like this in Southern Jiang, how could he end up like this? As dusk approached, it was time to go back for dinner. Prince of Southern Jiang cast a nce at the overcast sky and then at the distant capital city. He gritted his teeth and muttered, I refuse to believe that this rain willst the entire day! Tomorrow, Ill return to enjoy the sight of your despair! On the second day, Prince of Southern Jiang returned to the same spot. Bathed in the still-falling drizzle and gazing at the city shrouded in mist and cloud, he was on the verge of tears. Why hasnt it stopped yet? When will it end? The officials and soldiers who had been dealing with the locust gue in the distance had already withdrawn, returning to warm themselves. With this rain obstructing them, the locusts simply couldnt fly over. However, Prince of Southern Jiang still didnt give up. He continued to linger. With his hands sped together, he fervently prayed to the heavens, Heavenly Father, please, make this rain stop! Im willing to trade 200 Jin of my flesh for a zing sun and drought! Buzz buzz The movement of the locusts intensified. Prince of Southern Jiang raised his head in confusion. Whats happening? To his surprise, the dense swarm of locusts suddenly changed direction, flying towards the west and quickly disappearing. Prince of Southern Jiang was baffled. Did they just fly away? Where are they going? In the capital city, the Empress, civil and military officials, andmoners all observed the locusts shifting direction, and they were ovee with excitement. The locust gue has finally passed! They never crossed the border, never damaging our crops and farnds! This year will surely yield a good harvest! What a fantastic rain, such a wonderful rain! Everyone was overjoyed, singing and dancing, as if they had just won a victorious battle. In reality, for them, they had indeed won a victory. If this locust gue hadnt been averted, it would have resulted in a significant reduction in food production and triggered a series of problems, causing turmoil in the entire nation, akin to the consequences of a war. The Empress was overjoyed. Weve finally ovee this once-in-a-century locust gue! This years harvest is bound to increase. Ive decided to grant a general amnesty! She introduced some tax reduction policies to alleviate the burden of grain taxes for the people. Everyone was extremely delighted. Your Majesty, you possess great wisdom! Sir Lin, as you foretold, the rain indeedsted for three days! Thanks to this timely rain, we safely survived the locust gue. You have aplished a great feat! The Empress said with a beaming smile. Your Majesty, this is the will of heaven, blessing Your Majesty and blessing the Grand Wu. I dare not take credit! Lin Beifan humbly replied. Sir Lin, you are being too modest. You deserve this recognition! Without you, we might not have peacefully ovee the locust gue and won this battle to protect our food supply! The Empress said meaningfully. The Empress rewarded him with a series of precious gifts, causing jealousy among the officials. Your Majesty, we have also put in a lot of effort. You cant just reward Sir Lin! You should consider us too! We old officials have also had it hard! Seeing the officials moring for attention, the Empress was very generous. Of course, of course! Each of you will receive 100 taels as a token of my gratitude. Civil and military officials: At the same time, news of the Great Wu court sessfully surviving the locust gue spread rapidly throughout the country, astonishing everyone. The Great Wu court managed to swiftly ovee the locust gue? How did they do it? They had three days of continuous light rain! The heavens have favored the Great Wu court! Such incredibly good luck! If it werent for this timely rain, the capital city would have surely fallen into chaos. How fortunate! In the royal pce of Hebei, the Northern Region. The Prince of Northern Hebei was not in a good mood. He had hoped that the locust gue would bring disaster to the court and allow him to benefit from it. However, it turned out to be a false rm. He had wasted his emotions and been gloomy for two days for nothing. The Advisor Zhuge persuaded, Your Highness, the court did indeed have good luck, but such fortunate events are rare! Although luck is important, we also have a strong army. With tens of thousands of warriors at our disposal, what do we have to fear? Advisor, your words are true, Prince of Northern Hebei nodded. In the Western Region, in the royal pce of Wuxi, the Wuxi Duke was simrly unhappy. He had expected that the locust gue would stir things up at the court and cause them to lose some food. However, there was no threat at all. He had already worked up his enthusiasm, and now he had to look at this? A mere rain had extinguished his enthusiasm. Was someone intentionally ying games with him? The military strategist Fengchun advised, Your Highness, the courts good fortune is only temporary. Such luck wontst long. With our current strength, we should wait until after the autumn harvest and then march straight to the capital! The Wuxi Duke nodded. Strategist, you are right! Lets protect our food and remain unchanging amid change. After the autumn harvest, it will be our time to establish dominance in the Central ins! Youre absolutely right, Your Highness, Fengchun smiled as he stroked his beard. At that moment, a person rushed in hurriedly. Your Highness, were in trouble! The locusts are flying towards the Wuxi Region! The Wuxi Duke turned pale. What?! Chapter 301: Coping with Disaster? It’s all about accumulating good fortune! Chapter 301: Coping with Disaster? Its all about umting good fortune! Locust gue! It was indeed a locust gue! A once-in-a-century locust gue! He had witnessed this natural disaster more than once, each time bringing terrifying devastation. When the locusts passed through, not a de of grass remained, all the food was devoured, and it was a force beyond human control. It was impossible to eliminate! More terrifying than droughts and floods! The Wuxi Duke was in a panic! Back when he faced tens of thousands of warriors in the Qinglong Mountains, he had never been this panicked! Even now, with the emergence of the Rat Army, he hadnt panicked! Originally, he had only nned to watch the show from the sidelines, but he didnt expect the show toe to him! Grasping a soldiers arms, he urgently asked, Are you telling the truth? Is the locust gue reallying? Dont tell me youre trying to deceive me? Your Highness, how could I dare deceive you about something like this? Even if I had nine heads, it wouldnt be enough to chop off! The soldiers face was bitter. Its actually true? The Wuxi Duke staggered. If it were in the past, he wouldnt have been so worried! Even if they ran out of food, they could just take it by force, or spend a bit more money to buy it. There was always a way. However, now he was already at his wits end, waiting to mobilize his forces after the autumn harvest. Before that time came, if all the food was eaten, what was he supposed to do? He was in a dire situation. His soldiers might starve to death even before reaching the Phoenix Mountain Range! The Wuxi Duke grabbed both of Strategist Fengchus arms and shook them vigorously. Strategist, tell me what to do now? Quickly think of a solution for me,e up with something! Strategist Fengchu was almost shaken out of his wits. What could he do in this situation? This wasnt about marching or fighting; he couldnt deploy his troops. Even if they couldnt win a battle, they could still retreat! But this was a locust gue, one of the Three Great Natural Disasters! It was beyond human control! Even if you could escape, the food couldnt! Strategist Fengchu shouted loudly, Your Highness, dont worry. Its not the time to worry yet! The Wuxi Duke was puzzled. Why do you say that, Strategist? Strategist Fengchu smiled calmly. Your Highness, our Wuxi territory is extremely vast. From north to south, it spans 800 li, and from east to west, it stretches 1200 li. Thend is extensive, but there are few suitable ces for cultivating crops. The group of locusts might just pass by coincidentally. Lets worry when they reach our grain-producing areas. Strategist, youre absolutely right. I was too agitated just now, the Wuxi Duke calmed down. Just then, another soldier rushed in anxiously. Reporting to Your Highness, the locusts are flying towards the grain fields! The Wuxi Duke was taken aback. What? Theyre flying towards the grain fields? Its absolutely true, Your Highness! The Wuxi Duke became agitated once again, grabbing Fengchu by the neck and shaking him vigorously. Strategist, the locusts are flying towards the grain fields. Quickly think of a solution! Come up with something Fengchu was once again being shaken out of his wits. Struggling desperately, he said, Your Highness, stay calm! Theres no need to panic now! Its not the time to worry! The Wuxi Duke let go of Fengchu, puzzled. Strategist, why are you saying this? Fengchu coughed twice before saying, Your Highness, even if the locusts are flying towards the grain fields, theres no need to worry! They might just be passing through. Lets worry when they actually reach the grain fields! Strategist, youre right. I was too impulsive just now. I frightened myself, the Wuxi Duke calmed down once again. At that moment, a fourth soldier rushed in urgently. Your Highness, its bad. The locusts are already devouring our rice paddies! There are so many locusts, what should we do? The Wuxi Duke turned to Fengchu once more. Fengchu called out in advance, Your Highness! The Wuxi Duke asked expectantly, Strategist, do you have a brilliant n? Your Highness, I wouldnt dare im its brilliant! I just want to remind you Fengchu sped his hands, Now its time to worry! The Wuxi Duke gave Fengchu a p. Damn it, you jinx! Then, the two of them hurried to the grain fields. As far as the eye could see, there were locusts covering the mountains, blocking out the sun and dimming its light! And these creatures were busy eating his crops, indulging themselves in their feast. On a single stalk of grain, more than ten locusts were gnawing at the same time. The Wuxi Duke was rmed and shocked. Quickly, eradicate the pests and protect the crops! Yes, Your Highness! Everyone sprung into action, exterminating the locusts. The Wuxi Duke took the lead, frequently lending a hand, annihting the pests and defending the fields. News of the locust rampage in Wuxi quickly spread throughout the world. In the Northern Hebei territory, the royal pce. Strategist Zhuge entered with great excitement. Your Highness, fantastic news! The Prince of Northern Hebei was puzzled. Strategist, wheres this fantastic newsing from? Strategist Zhuge smiled and saluted. Your Highness, Ive just received word that the locust gue that originated in Southern Jiang has reached the Wuxi territory! Right now, they are devouring the Wuxi Dukes fields! The Prince of Northern Hebeis delight was evident. Is that really the case? Haha Thats wonderful! Little brother, you must have done something that angered both heaven and people, thus attracting this natural disaster! Heaven wants to eliminate you, haha! Youre absolutely right, Your Highness! Strategist Zhuge stroked his beard. Make sure to keep me updated on the Wuxi locust gue at all times. Report every single development, especially the changes in my little brothers expression! Im sure it will be a magnificent spectacle! The Prince of Northern Hebei gloated. Your Highness, Ill follow your orders! In the Southern Jiang region, within the royal pce, the Prince of Southern Jiang had returned in a gloomy mood. The blow had been too great, leaving him feeling closed off as he locked himself inside his room and refused toe out. Wang Fugui rushed over with cheerful news, Your Highness, I just received a message. Although the locusts havent invaded the capital, theyve made their way to the Wuxi territory and are currently wreaking havoc on the Wuxi Dukes crops. With a loud thud, the Prince of Southern Jiang burst out, Is that true? I might not be well-educated, but dont try to deceive me! Your Highness, its absolutely true. How could I dare to deceive you? Wang Fugui smiled Hahaha The Prince of Southern Jiangughed heartily with his hands on his hips. This is karma at work, justice served! This is the proper oue of a locust gue! My poor little brother, youre finally facing the consequences! Hahaha The days of his depression could finally be vented. One word: satisfying! Fugui, theres something Id like you to do for me! Please, Your Highness. Deliver that bell to me. Comfort my poor little brother. Haha! Yes, Your Highness! In the capital, within the Great Wu Court, the Empress was equally joyful, her mouth never closing shut after a morning court session. Who would have thought that my uncle would encounter such a rare locust gue, a once-in-a-century event? Im both pleased no, Im deeply grieved. Someone, quickly write down our advanced disaster relief experience and share it with my uncle! The court officials were all baffled. Your Majesty, we dont have any disaster relief experience, do we? Of course, its all about praying for rain! The Empressughed brightly. Minister Lin, tell us about our disaster relief experience! Lin Beifan was puzzled. Your Majesty, this is something you can only umte good karma for! If your karma is good, there will be heavy rain, and the locusts will perish. If your karma is bad, its a matter of life and death between you and the locusts! The Empress mmed the table and stood up,ughing. Youre right, it all depends on karma! Hahaha! Equally delighted were the nted Moon Army, who were nestled between two mountain ranges raising rabbit-rats. Princess, the Wuxi Duke is currently facing the locust gue! ording to what Ive learned, this is an exceedingly rare urrence thats beyond human control. The Wuxi Duke is in trouble! This is highly advantageous for our great cause! Princess Ziyues face was filled with joy. Youre absolutely right, the locust gue is a natural disaster, a sign that even heaven is helping us! While the Wuxi Duke is without grain, we have so much meat. The scales of victory are tilting in our favor! Princess is right, our restoration cause is hopeful! As they looked around, the entire mountain range was densely packed with rabbits. These rabbits were their source of food and had grown into a significant resource. Many nted Moon soldiers were busy turning the rabbits into dried meat, storing them just like provisions. The Wuxi Duke is suffering from a locust gue. Its the perfect opportunity for us to take action! Princess, are you suggesting Thats right! Princess Ziyue nodded and smiled. While the Wuxi Duke is preupied with eradicating the pests, we can take advantage of the situation to strike a blow, kill some people, burn some grain, and weaken their power! Princess is absolutely right, Ill arrange for our people to act! Wait! Theres no need to send so many people. Send a few skilled individuals instead! Yes, Princess! Thus, the nted Moon Army mobilized, reigniting their guerri warfare. Killing people, burning grain, starting firesthis severely disrupted the Wuxi Dukes pest elimination n! The Wuxi Dukes attention was divided, and he was growing increasingly frustrated. This group of Rats is causing chaos while taking advantage of the situation! Its outrageous! I wont tolerate sharing the same sky with them! Once the locust gue is over, Ill allocate manpower to deal with them! In the end, the locust gue remained unrelieved. Soldiers were ambushed by the nted Moon Army and suffered thousands of casualties. Staring at the rice paddies stripped bare by the locusts, the Wuxi Duke spat out a mouthful of blood. All of my grain its all gone! Chapter 303: Claiming Loyalty, Then Spitting Out My Money! Chapter 303: iming Loyalty, Then Spitting Out My Money! The Wuxi Duke utilized dragon bones to obtain another two months worth of grain from the Dayue Dynasty and immediately raised an army to march against Capital. With an army of 600,000, they marched mightily towards the Phoenix/Fenghuang Mountain Range. Simrly, the Southern Jiang Prince used dragon bones to acquire several months worth of grain from the Great Yan Dynasty and raised an army. The Great Wu Civil War had finally erupted! People from all over the world were watching this internal conflict. Would the decadent Great Wu Court emerge victorious, or would the two ambitious vassal kings seed? In the Northern Hebei region, within the pce. Military strategist Zhuge was excited as he rushed forward. Your Highness, its wonderful news! The Wuxi Duke cant bear it any longer. Hes leading an army of 600,000 to the Phoenix Mountain Range, confronting the imperial forces in a strategic position! The Southern Jiang Prince couldnt hold back either, and hes raised an army as well. The court is now under attack from two sides. Our opportunity has arrived! The Northern Hebei Prince burst intoughter. I knew that these two younger brothers of mine couldnt endure it any longer! Without food, all they can do is give it their all! Otherwise, they wont have another chance! Your Highnesss words are very true! Advisor Zhuge chuckled. Strategist, our opportunity hase. Do you have any brilliant strategies now? The Northern Hebei Prince asked expectantly. Your Highness, our opportunity has indeede, but its not yet time to take action! Zhuge smiled. With the three sides battling each other, neither victory nor defeat will be determined in the short term. When they are all wounded and weakened, it will be the perfect time for us to act! The longer we dy, the weaker they be, and the stronger we grow. This is advantageous for us! Only when the snipe and m fight can the fisherman profit! Strategist, youre absolutely right! The Northern Hebei Prince nodded in satisfaction. This idea matched his own. However, Your Highness, although its not yet time to raise an army, we can send experts to secretly cause disruption. Let them fight more fiercely! Advisor Zhuge added. Thats correct! Ill leave this matter to the strategist. I trust you! The Northern Hebei Prince patted Zhuge s shoulder. Thank you for Your Highnesss trust! Advisor Zhuge eximed loudly. In the Wuxi region, the nted Moon Army also learned about the situation. Wuxi Duke has finally raised his army! Its unexpected yet also within reason! Yes, if he doesnt raise his army now, the Wuxi forces will starve! Theyve been pushed into a corner, with rebellion as their only option! Braverades, this is a great opportunity for us to seek revenge! Princess Ziyue eximed with joy. The strategist mentioned that when the Wuxi Duke raises his army and fails to conquer quickly, he will definitely seek help from Dayue. We can use our geographical advantage to deliver a heavy blow to the Dayue forces! Everyone was excited. Princesss words are correct. Its time for revenge! Weve been operating in the Wuxi region for so long. Even the Wuxi Duke cant do anything to us. Once the Dayue forces step into Wuxi, they will be our targets. We can deal with them as we wish! Well take as many as they bring and wont let any of them leave alive! Our revival mission is one step closer, haha! Princess Ziyues eyes danced as she spoke, Braverades, we can now disrupt the Wuxi forces secretly, forcing them to face enemies on multiple fronts. This way, as the Wuxi Dukes attack drags on, the Dayue forces wille to their aid. We can finally get revenge for the grievances weve suffered! Princesss words are absolutely right! Everyone nodded one after another. The worlds winds and clouds were stirred by these events. At this time, Lin Beifan had carried out the imperial decree and arrived by the side of Songjiang. Underling pays respects to Loyalty and Valor Count, Prefect Lin! The officials all spoke in unison. Lin Beifan got straight to the point and asked, Whats the current situation? Have themoners all been evacuated? Are they properly settled now? Where are the Southern Jiang Princes troops, and where have they reached? Prefect Lin, as soon as we received the imperial decree, we acted immediately. Most of themoners have already been moved to the other side of Songjiang River. Everything that could be carried has been taken, and everything that couldnt be carried has been destroyed. We wont give the Southern Jiang Army even the slightest advantage! Regarding the Southern Jiang Army, theyve already set out and are on their way, reported Lin Beifans subordinates. Since we didnt organize any resistance, theyre moving swiftly. Its estimated that by tomorrow noon, theyll reach Songjiang and confront us. Lin Beifan looked over at the densely packedmoners near Songjiang, where they were starting fires to cook. He was very satisfied. Good! Youve done an excellent job! Ill record this as an aplishment for you. Thank you, Prefect Lin! The officials were overjoyed. At this moment, Lin Beifan had already be one of the most prominent figures in the court. His high position and authority, along with the Empresss trust, praise, and approval, made them extremely happy and excited. Now, well upy Songjiang and stand firm, not allowing them to step past us! Yes, Prefect Lin! Next, apanied by a few officials and generals, Lin Beifan inspected the situation of the reserve forces and the resettlement of themoners, and didnt find any major issues. On the second day at noon, the Southern Jiang Army arrived as scheduled. A total of 500,000 soldiers, forming a dense mass that extended as far as the eye could see. Banners fluttered in the wind, and the imposing sight was overwhelming, like a sea of people and mountains. At a nce, it was an immense pressure. In contrast, the imperial forces numbered just over 200,000, with less momentum. In reality, it wasnt that the court couldnt organize more troops; it was simply that Lin Beifan didnt require more. This battle was primarily focused on defense. As long as they held onto Songjiang and prevented the Southern Jiang Army from crossing, dragging them on for two or three months until they ran out of food, the Southern Jiang Army would copse on its own. Among the Southern Jiang Army, there was a portly figure, wearing shining bright armor, seated in a war chariot made of steel and pulled by four horses. He looked imposing. This person was the Southern Jiang Prince, who couldnt hide his plump physique even in armor. This was the second time Lin Beifan had seen the Southern Jiang Prince. The first time, he had burned all their grain. Now, they were meeting on the battlefield. His emotions were quiteplicated. Could he be the bane of the Southern Jiang Princes existence? Southern Jiang Prince gazed across the riverbank to a handsome andpelling young man dressed in a bright red official robe, surrounded by ministers and officials. It was clear he was a high-ranking court official. To achieve such a high position at such a young age, there was only one person in the entire court who fit the description: Lin Beifan, the Loyalty and Valor Count, the Prefect of the Capital, and the Principal of the Imperial Academy. This was the first time the Southern Jiang Prince had seen Lin Beifan, and he looked nothing like the image of a corrupt official he had imagined! The corrupt officials in his mind were skinny with sharp features, insatiable greed, and an ugly appearance. However, the person before him gave off an air of nobility and arrogance, standing apart from the others in an unapproachable manner. But, when he thought about how the person before him had embezzled tens of millions from him and was now leading an army to attack, the Southern Jiang Princes feelings grewplicated. After stealing so much money from me, and now youreing to attack me? Doesnt your conscience ache? Whether Lin Beifan felt remorse or not, the Southern Jiang Prince didnt know. But Lin Beifan himself felt remorseful, as he felt he had fed tens of millions to the dogs. Lin Beifan sped his hands together and said, I greet His Highness, the Southern Jiang Prince. Long live the king! Lin Beifan, Ive finally met you! I never expected that our first meeting would be under these circumstances. The Southern Jiang Princes tone was quiteplex. Actually, Ive always admired you. I thought you were a person of great talent and wanted to bring you into my service. Unfortunately, fate ys its games. Before we even had a chance to meet, were now facing each other with weapons. Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. Im unworthy of such favor, Lin Beifan replied, bowing. However, even now, I still greatly admire you! My niece is a foolish ruler. Following her wont lead to any prospects. Why not switch sides and join me? Together, we can create a great future. The Southern Jiang Prince was speaking the truth. Although he hated that Lin Beifan had embezzled his money, he did genuinely admire his talent. Being able to manage the capital so efficiently and prosperously was a significant aplishment in itself. Other abilities were self-evident. He was truly multi-talented, seemingly knowledgeable in everything and capable of anything. In summary, gaining Lin Beifans support was equivalent to acquiring a valuable talent, which greatly contributed to the Southern Jiang Princes ambitions. Additionally, Lin Beifan possessed the Dragon Bone, something the Southern Jiang Prince desperately needed. Your Highness, what nonsense are you spouting? Lin Beifan spoke righteously, I am a loyal servant of the court, devoted to the Emperor. I will absolutely not consort with traitors like you! The Southern Jiang Prince was so angry that he nearly fell off his chariot. You call yourself a loyal servant? With your embezzlement and corruption, punishing you a hundred times over wouldnt be enough! iming to be a loyal servant? First, return my money! The Southern Jiang Prince retorted angrily, Lin Beifan, are you shameless? Dont forget what youve done! Lin Beifan fired back, Southern Jiang Prince, youre the one without shame! The royal family has raised you, yet you have no intention of serving the court. Instead, you draw your sword against it! Has your conscience been devoured by dogs? Even prostitutes have more integrity than you! Theparison to prostitutes made the Southern Jiang Prince roar in fury. Lin Beifan continued, Southern Jiang Prince, I advise you to surrender and admit defeat! Considering your royal status, Her Majesty is likely to show leniency and spare your life. If you continue to be stubborn, dont me me for showing no mercy! Do you think Ill kneel before that niece of mine and surrender? Impossible! The Southern Jiang Prince snorted. Since I set foot on this path, Ive never thought about retreat. Either I wear the imperial robe or die trying! Lin Beifan sighed regretfully, Your Highness, theres no need for this. Even ants fight for their lives Shut your mouth! The Southern Jiang Prince roared, Its my turn to be the Emperor! She should step down now! Generals and soldiers, cross the river and march toward the imperial city! Yes, Your Highness! The soldiers responded in unison. With the Southern Jiang Princesmand, the Southern Jiang Army crossed the river mightily. Some used boats, while others swam directly across. Lin Beifan shouted, Guard the riverbank! Do not let them ashore! Yes, Prefect Lin! Archers stepped forward, releasing a volley of arrows. Some soldiers hurled stones, while others wielding spears and swords waited on the shore, ready to pierce any enemy that came too close. The Battle of Songjiang began, and the river soon ran red with blood. Chapter 304: I Hate Rainy Days! Chapter 304: I Hate Rainy Days! On the side of the court, the strategy was simplejust fire arrows and throw stones from the riverbank. It was an easy and rtively safe task. However, for the Southern Jiang Army attempting to cross the river, the situation was much more perilous. They had to both cross the river and defend against the arrows and stones from the court. The river quickly turned red from the bloodshed caused by the Southern Jiang Army. Seeing the devastating casualties, Southern Jiang Prince raised his long de and shouted, Let the martial artists wade through the river! First-rate experts will lead the way, followed by other martial artists. We need to create an opening! Yes, Your Highness! the crowd responded. The martial artists advanced, using their light skills to cross the river. Among them, the most formidable were the innate experts, who could practically leap to the other side and engage the court forces. Lin Beifan remainedposed and signaled, Soldiers to soldiers, generals to generals, block them for me! Yes, Commander Lin! The innate experts and martial artists from the court also entered the fray ording to Lin Beifans n. Strong faced strong, and weaker faced weaker. They did their utmost to intercept the Southern Jiang Armys crossing. A massive battle unfolded on the Songjiang River. shes of des, shes of sword light, and the surging of true energy filled the air. The two sides were forced to retreat about thirty yards, clearing arge area forbat. Eventually, due to the extreme danger, the ordinary martial artists had no choice but to withdraw, leaving only the innate experts to fight for control over the Songjiang River. With a smile on his face, Lin Beifan looked at Night Fragrance beside him and said, Its your turn now. Night Fragrance fanned himself while smilingcently, Leave it to me! With a snap, he closed his folding fan and switched to an ordinary small knife before advancing toward the Songjiang River. An old man guarding Southern Jiang Prince suddenly opened his eyes and, with a swift motion, rushed to the river, positioning himself in front of Night Fragrance. His aura was exceptionally powerful. Night Fragrance was taken aback, A Grandmaster! Southern Jiang Prince burst intoughter, Night Fragrance, Ive known all along about you. How could I not be prepared? This Grandmaster was indeed a powerful figure. He had been invited by Southern Jiang Prince to support his cause due to a favor owed. The Grandmaster faced Night Fragrance with a calm expression, Night Fragrance, this Grandmaster and your master go way back. Ill spare you this time for his sake. Withdraw, and I wont hold you ountable. Let me withdraw? What if you massacre our people? Night Fragrance protested. The Grandmaster spoke with pride, Rest assured, this Grandmaster also has a reputation to uphold. Unless someone of equal strength or a person posing a threat to His Highness Southern Jiang is present, I will not intervene. Very well! Its a deal! Night Fragrance begrudgingly stepped back. Turning to Lin Beifan with resignation, he said, Hes a Grandmaster and an old acquaintance of my master. I cant make a move! For Lin Beifan, the situation was bing increasinglyplicated as high-level martial artists and power ys shaped the course of the battle. Understandable! Lin Beifan nodded. After the Grandmaster persuaded Night Fragrance to withdraw, he stood by Southern Jiang Princes side, closing his eyes and looking like a sculpture. This left only the innate experts from both sides to battle on the Songjiang River. The battle raged on for a day, but neither side could gain the upper hand. Eventually, the drums signaled a retreat, and both sides stopped to make fires and cook their meals. However, due to the presence of many civilians with Lin Beifans forces, they were able to start cooking rice as soon as the battle ended. The aroma of cooked rice spread not only through their own troops but also across the river to the Southern Jiang Army. The Southern Jiang soldiers stomachs grumbled in hunger. They longingly remarked, Such fragrant rice! Havent had such delicious rice in a long time. I really want to eat! What a nostalgic scent! Lin Beifan, being on a mission from the court, wouldnt skimp on his troops. The rice he brought was the best from the imperial granaries. However, the Southern Jiang Army had faced water disasters and Lin Beifans destructive fire, leaving them without proper food for over half a year. Even now, they had only old rice rations, nowhere near as good as Lin Beifans new rice. Then, an unusual aroma wafted over again. The Southern Jiang Army stared, envious. This is the smell of meat! They actually have meat to eat! Marching for war, and they still have meat? Such treatment for the courts troops, how is that possible? Food supply during military campaigns was a significant issue, often consuming considerable manpower and resources. Having food was a luxury. However, now they had meat to eata luxury during wartime. The morale of the Southern Jiang Army was affected; they couldnt understand why their enemy could enjoy such fine food during battle. The situation worsened as another scent reached them. The Southern Jiang Armys eyes turned red with envy. This is alcohol! They actually have wine! Going out to battle, and they still have wine? What kind of divine treatment is this? Im so jealous! Transporting supplies was already a huge challenge; transporting alcohol was even harder. Alcohol couldnt sustain hunger and was prone to spige. It was unheard of to use alcohol during military campaigns. Seeing the longing expressions of his soldiers, Southern Jiang Prince was shocked. Not only did the court have excellent food, but it also had meat and wine. It seemed they were here not for war, but to indulge themselves. Could the court have be so wealthy? Watching his troops drooling, showing an unbing appearance, Southern Jiang Prince was extremely embarrassed. He scolded, What are you looking at? Hurry up and start a fire to cook! Yes, Your Highness! The Southern Jiang troops quickly started a fire. However, they werent cooking a proper meal but rather a simple porridge. They didnt have much food, so they had to ration it. Their food was yellow and looked like it had been nibbled by insects. As soon as it touched the water, it turned yellow. Apart from this meager dinner, they had nothing else. The Southern Jiang Army once again couldnt help but nce at the other side of the river, mouths watering. Why was it that, in the same war, the enemy could enjoy such good food? Their morale began to sink. Southern Jiang Prince realized that low morale would impact theirbat strength. He spoke loudly, Soldiers! Although were eating yellow rice now, it wontst forever! As long as we make it to the other side, food, meat, and wine will be ours! The spirits of the Southern Jiang Army lifted. Southern Jiang Prince was right! Once they reached the other side, they would have food, meat, and wine. They could feast heartily! Seeing his words had the desired effect, Southern Jiang Prince continued to encourage them, So now, lets eat heartily! Eat your fill so you have the strength to cross to the other side and seize the food, meat, and wine! Yes, Your Highness! The soldiers rallied. However, at that moment, Lin Beifan waved his hand, and the weather suddenly changed. Dark clouds gathered, and a drizzling rain began to fall. Southern Jiang Prince and his soldiers were dumbfounded! Why was it raining out of nowhere? If it was going to rain, fine, but why only on their side and not on the enemys? This was freaking bizarre! The Southern Jiang Army got soaked in the sudden rain, feeling both chilled and exasperated. But worse was yet toe. As the rain fell steadily, it soaked all the firewood, extinguishing the fires that were cooking porridge. Damn it! The fires out! Who doesnt light a fire on a rainy day? How can we cook like this? All the firewood is wet! The soldiers of the Southern Jiang Army were utterly perplexed. The water had barely begun to heat up, and now, how were they supposed to cook their rice? Were they expected to eat raw rice? Come on, that would give them indigestion! On the other side of the river, Lin Beifan and several officials walked over, carrying bowls of wine. Looking at the continuous rain on the opposite bank, Lin Beifan called out, Your Highness, its a pity that you cant start a fire to cook due to the rain. Would you like me to send some cooked rice and meat over? Your Highness, we have wine here! What type of wine would you like? We have a variety; let us send it over! If we let you starve, well bear a heavy responsibility! Southern Jiang Prince was extremely frustrated. These bastards were deliberately trying to provoke him! Hmph! I dont need it. You mind your own business! With a cheerful smile, Lin Beifan said, Although Your Highness may not need it, we have to show some goodwill. Otherwise, it would be highly disrespectful. Why dont we set up a table of food here, so Southern Jiang Prince can feast his eyes, satisfy his cravings? What do you think? The officials eyes lit up. Great idea! So, tables were arranged, rice wasid out, and food and wine were ced on disy. Lin Beifan and the generals enjoyed their food and wine,ughed and chatted, all while watching the rain on the other side. They watched as the Southern Jiang Army got soaked and looked utterly miserable. Southern Jiang Prince was trembling with anger. These despicable people! Wang Fuguis face was strained. Your Highness, we cant start a fire to cook porridge in this rain. What can we do? Southern Jiang Prince huffed, Set up tents and cook slowly inside them! Wang Fuguis face twisted with concern. But that will take a lot of time, and the soldiers Southern Jiang Prince snapped, Do you have a better solution? Yes, Your Highness! I know what to do! Wang Fugui scurried off. Southern Jiang Prince looked up at the rain falling on his face, then wiped it off forcefully. With clenched teeth, he muttered, I hate rainy days! Thus, while the courts troops rested, the Southern Jiang Army continued struggling to cook porridge. The small tents and damp firewood made the process exceptionally slow. After over two hours, they had only managed to cook a few dozen pots of porridge, which were quickly devoured by around 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers. The remaining hundreds of thousands of troops continued to endure hunger and had to keep cooking more porridge. Throughout the night, only 100,000 soldiers managed to eat porridge, while the rest of the 400,000 went hungry. Yet, the porridge was hardly satiating. Those who had consumed it earlier felt hungry again by the end of the night. The Southern Jiang Prince initially intended to continue crossing the river, but seeing the current situation, it was clear that wouldnt be possible. They might starve to death in the middle of the river. Looking up at the ongoing drizzle, he clenched his teeth and muttered, I hate rainy days! At that moment, Lin Beifans triumphant voice echoed, Southern Jiang Prince, the time for rest is over. Come out for battle! Well continue fighting for another 300 rounds! Southern Jiang Princes face turned pale. He knew very well he couldnt start a fire to cook food. Yet, Lin Beifan still uttered such provocative words Wasnt this a deliberate attempt to anger him? Chapter 306: The Venomous Tiger Doesn’t Eat Its Cubs, You’re Even More Venomous! Chapter 306: The Venomous Tiger Doesnt Eat Its Cubs, Youre Even More Venomous! Boom! This sound created a huge ripple in the hearts of the people, shaking their very souls. As long as they worked hard enough, Southern Jiang Prince could live the life he desired! He could have feasts of meat, luxurious clothing, indulgentpanionship, and even wear the imperial robe, reigning over all! And yet, they could only continue eating dirt, drinking sour water, enduring hunger without a decent meal, possibly even heading to the afterlife ahead of time The more they thought about it, the more they realized Lin Beifans words made sense, and gradually, their hearts began to crumble. If thats the case, why should they still strive? Why should they continue to fight desperately? They had sacrificed so much, even their lives, just to let Southern Jiang Prince live a better life. Meanwhile, they would continue to suffer, toil, and be miserable? At that moment, the morale of the Southern Jiang troops plummeted. They no longer had the will to fight! Southern Jiang Prince panicked and quickly exined, Soldiers, dont listen to that bastard Lin Beifans nonsense! Hes deliberately sowing discord and trying to divide us! Ive always treated you all as brothers, with care and concern However, Lin Beifanughed out loud, Southern Jiang Prince, who would believe your words? Look at yourself first! Youre fat and well-fed, with a potbelly. You have so much fat on you that if we scraped it off, it would be enough to fuel the entire armys cooking fires! Now look at your soldiers, your so-called brothers. Each one is as thin as a rail, skin and bones. Is this how you treat your brothers? Youre practically leeching off your own brothers, sucking their blood, eating their flesh, and digging into their bones. You even want to control their souls and make them sacrifice their lives for you From the inside out, youve exploited thempletely, wasting nothing! Even tigers dont eat their cubs, but youre even more venomous than a tiger!!! Boom Boom Lin Beifans words echoed in the ears of the Southern Jiang troops, creating one enormous ripple after another. The morale of the army continued to waver, and their spirits continued to dissipate. Southern Jiang Prince was furious, Lin Beifan, you bastard, shut up! Lin Beifan chuckled, Whats the matter? You dare to act but not to let others speak? Before you try to refute me, why dont you hide away that potbelly youve been nurturing for three years? It would make your words more believable! Southern Jiang Prince was beside himself with anger, You bastard! His words were too venomous, like a de cutting lives and drawing blood at every turn. In just a few sentences, he had crushed the morale of his entire army. At this moment, he wished he could rush to the opposite bank and tear Lin Beifan to pieces! Lin Beifan continued to shout loudly, Southern Jiang soldiers, I understand very well that you served Southern Jiang Prince to save your lives. But now, you cant even survive. Why continue sacrificing yourselves for him? Even ants strive to live, and yet youre willingly marching towards your own destruction! Since thats the case, why not choose a different path? Among the Southern Jiang troops, some stared nkly. A different path? Do we even have another option? Of course there is! Lin Beifans tone softened, In the end, you are all citizens of Great Wu, all soldiers of our Great Wu. You were simply misled and followed the wrong person! However, our Empress is still willing to wee you, and our Great Wu is still willing to wee you! As long as youy down your weapons, swim across to the other side, bow your heads and admit your mistakes, epting the authority of our court! I guarantee that you will have a satisfying meal! You might even get to eat meat and drink wine! Our court has always treated soldiers generously! Over these days, you should have seen it for yourselves, no need for me to say much. Moreover, if all of you surrender, there wont be a need to fight any longer! Lin Beifan smiled and continued, We are all people of Great Wu. How can there be asting feud? We can sit down amicably, eat good rice, savor delicious meat, and enjoy fine wine. Then, together, we can defend our homnd. Isnt that a wonderful prospect? The Southern Jiang soldiers were deeply moved by Lin Beifans words. If theres no way out with Southern Jiang Prince, why not go to the imperial court? After all, at the end of the day, they were still soldiers of Great Wu, just led astray by the wrong person. As long as they bowed their heads and returned to the courts allegiance, they wouldnt be held ountable. The court would definitely wee them. At least, they would be able to live! For the desperate Southern Jiang soldiers, being alive was better than anything else. Southern Jiang Prince was in a panic, shouting loudly, Soldiers, please remain calm! The other side is just using deceptive words to confuse you, distorting the truth. Dont be fooled! So what if were being fooled? Staying here means waiting for death, but going there means we can have a meal! I dont want to die. I want to live! An old soldier threw down his spear and jumped into the river, swimming towards the opposite bank. The power of example was immense. More Southern Jiang soldiers followed suit, leaving their weapons behind and entering the river. I want to live too. Whats wrong with wanting to live? In the end, I fight and go to war just to put food in my mouth. I follow whoever feeds me! Although Im a Southern Jiang soldier, fundamentally Im still a person of Great Wu! Surrendering to Great Wu isnt shameful! I dont want to fight anymore. I want to surrender! Led by these few Southern Jiang soldiers, many others jumped into the river. Southern Jiang Prince was both afraid and furious, shouting, No one is allowed to go! No one is allowed to go! Whoever goes will be dealt with by militaryw! Stop them for me! Whoever jumps into the river, I want them killed! After a bloody episode, over a hundred Southern Jiang soldiers lost their lives. They didnt die at the hands of the imperial court, but rather at the hands of their own people. The sight was chilling. Covered in blood, Southern Jiang Prince stood by the bank and yelled at the group of warriors, Guard the river mouth for me! No one is allowed to approach! Whoeveres, kill them! Yes, Your Highness! the warriors responded. Lin Beifan smiled slightly, Southern Jiang Prince, the situation has already turned against you. Night fell quickly. Rain continued to drizzle outside, and the Southern Jiang troops remained busy cooking porridge to fill their stomachs. Other soldiers sought shelter under the trees or within tents to avoid the rain. At this time, a group of soldiers exchanged quick nces, then stood up one after another and walked outside. A nonmissioned officer asked, Where are you all going? An experienced soldier replied, Were going to take a dump! After drinking so much porridge, you still have to go? We wont have any left if we dont go now. Do you want toe? The nonmissioned officer looked disgusted, Forget it, you guys go on your own, just dont get close to Songjiang! Got it, I still value my life! They headed in thepletely opposite direction of Songjiang, without attracting any attention. However, when they were out of sight, they made a wide detour and finally arrived at a section of Songjiangs riverside that was not under surveince. Then, with utmost caution, they swam across to the opposite bank Songjiang was over 30 zhang wide, not particrly long. They quickly reached the other side and headed towards the imperial army camp. We are Southern Jiang soldiers, we are here to surrender! Im freezing and starving right now, please give us some food! Otherwise, well really starve to death! This incident rmed Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan looked at the group of deserters who had escaped from the opposite side and said with a smile, You can recognize your mistakes and change your ways. Its heartwarming to see that you risked your lives toe here. We still have some food left. You should eat first and satisfy your hunger before we talk! The Southern Jiang soldiers were ecstatic, Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir But theres one thing I need to remind you of! You are still considered surrendering soldiers, and your status is sensitive. So, you need to follow the arrangements. As long as youre obedient and sensible, you wont go hungry! They nodded repeatedly, Understood! Well definitely obey! Lin Beifan was very satisfied, Very good! After this battle is over, Ill reinstate your military status, and youll enjoy the same treatment as the imperial army! They bowed repeatedly, Thank you, sir, for your generosity! That evening, Lin Beifan met another wave of surrendering Southern Jiang soldiers and treated them just as well. On the second day, the Southern Jiang army counted their numbers and found that 18 people were missing. Southern Jiang Prince happened to notice this and asked, Where are those 18 people? Whos responsible? Step forward! One of the nonmissioned officers nervously stepped forward, Reporting to Your Highness, I am the officer responsible for Zhang San and the others! They said they went to relieve themselves and havente back yet Another nonmissioned officer, also trembling, stepped forward, Reporting to Your Highness, I am the officer responsible for Li Si and the others! They also said they went to relieve themselves and havente back Taking a dump for so long, could they have escaped? Southern Jiang Prince suppressed his anger. Its unlikely, right? Just then, amander rushed in and whispered something into Southern Jiang Princes ear. Southern Jiang Princes face turned pale after hearing it. He rushed out of the tent and arrived at the riverside, looking across the river. On the opposite bank, several individuals wearing Southern Jiang armor were under the watchful eyes of a few imperial soldiers, doing heavy lifting work. They were quickly recognized. Isnt that Zhang San? Theyve already made it to the other side! Isnt that Li Si? Hes also on the other side! When did they cross over? They slipped away so fast without even inviting me! How did they manage to escape? Just then, they finished their work and it was time for breakfast. They received a steamed bun made from white flour, a bowl of steaming porridge, with some pickled vegetables in it. They ate with relish, finding it aromatic and satisfying. The Southern Jiang soldiers stared, their mouths watering. Damn! Even surrendering soldiers can eat this well! The porridge is so white, and there are pickled vegetables. It must be delicious! And theres a steamed bun made from white flour. I havent had one in so long! Luxurious! Theyre eating better than us. I really want to go to the other side! Im envious! Southern Jiang Princes temper exploded, and he trembled with anger, These bastards! They did it on purpose! Deliberately undermining our troops morale. Their malice is beyond measure! Chapter 307: I Didn’t Have a Choice Before, Now I Want to Be a Good Person! Chapter 307: I Didnt Have a Choice Before, Now I Want to Be a Good Person! At this moment, Lin Beifan, who was serving as the overseer, came out to inspect. Seeing the surrendered Southern Jiang soldiers enjoying their breakfast, he approached and warmly inquired, Hows breakfast? Are these steamed buns and porridge to your liking? The surrendered soldiers immediately stood up. Good morning, sir! These steamed buns and porridge are really delicious. I really like them! Especially these white-flour steamed buns, theyre big and satisfying, yet soft and fluffy. One bite is sofortable! And the pickled vegetables, theyre perfectly seasoned, both salty and fragrant! If only there was a bit more! Yes, if we could have a bit more, that would be great. Its not quite filling enough! Lin Beifan shook his head with a sigh, I understand your feelings, but our army still needs to march and fight, so we have to prioritize their supplies. I apologize for any inconvenience. The surrendered soldiers shook their heads immediately, expressing their gratitude, Sir, we dont feel inconvenienced at all. We are genuinely grateful! Grateful? Lin Beifan was puzzled. Yes, were really grateful, grateful that we managed to sneak over here! The surrendered soldiers exchanged nces, their smiles growing wider, Otherwise, where would we get to enjoy such fragrant and big steamed buns, along with such sweet and fragrant rice porridge? Thats the reason youre grateful? Did you all have a tough time before? Lin Beifan was even more puzzled. This question seemed to touch a nerve, and an old soldiers eyes welled up with tears as he said, Sir, we had such a miserable life before. You have no idea what kind of days we used to live through! Id like to hear the details, Lin Beifans expression grew solemn. A table was brought over, and on it were some melon seeds and snacks, ready to listen to the old soldiers tragic story. Worried the atmosphere might not be enough, Lin Beifan also summoned a group of onlookers. With the atmosphere sufficiently set, the story began. Sir, we used to live in extreme misery! The old soldier wiped his tears, sobbing as he continued, In reality,moners like us never wanted to be soldiers, and ording to the imperial militaryw, only the single sons in families were drafted. But Southern Jiang Prince disregarded thews of the court and forcefully conscripted us! Being soldiers was something we could bear, but the Southern Jiang generals treated us as less than human. They either beat or scolded us, trampling on our dignity! Furthermore, they frequently deducted our military pay, or even withheld it altogether and just fed us a single meal! Apart from that, there was nothing else! Lin Beifan asked, Didnt you resist? While wiping his tears, the old soldier replied, How could we dare to resist? They didnt see us as humans anymore. If we resisted, they would kill us directly! Many people were beaten to death by them! Yes, they treated us like animals, not humans! Taking human lives for granted was routine for them. When the troops were insufficient, they would just abduct more! My good brother was beaten to death like this! Lin Beifan was furious, Doesnt Southern Jiang Prince do anything about this? The elderly Southern Jiang soldier was also angry, Why would he do anything? He himself is cruel, heartless, and inherently greedy! The leaders set the example, how could those under them not be cruel and greedy? Lin Beifan was so angry he trembled, Beast! Savage! Worthless scoundrel! Shameless On the opposite side, Southern Jiang Prince was also shaking with anger, Who are you cursing at? But the most miserable time was after the flood. The eyes of the elderly Southern Jiang soldier were clouded with sorrow, Before the flood, we could still manage to have a full meal now and then, enduring through the tough times. But after the flood, those were days no human should have to live through. That catastrophic fire burned all our military provisions. From then on, we were practically starving, having one meal and then going hungry the next. We never had a proper meal again! On special asions, we would gather some wild nts as an extra dish. Later, to gather enough supplies, Southern Jiang Prince looted the grains of nobles and merchants. There were still some provisions in our camp, but the higher-ups took everything for themselves. What was left for us was only a little bit of leftover rice, not enough to satisfy our hunger, but enough to keep us alive. And we endured this state for so long! Lin Beifan was angry again, This is beyond reason! Does Southern Jiang Prince not care at all? The elderly Southern Jiang soldier was also furious, Does he care? Hes living a life of luxury in his mansion, feasting on meat and living off the fat of thend, sweating oil rather than sweat. How could he think of us? Lin Beifan was shaking with anger, Beast! Savage! Worthless scoundrel! Shameless Southern Jiang Prince on the opposite side was also trembling with anger, You bastard, stop cursing me! We thought that rising up to fight would lead to better days, but its even worse than before! Tears welled up in the eyes of the elderly Southern Jiang soldier. His dark face was streaked with smudged tears, We ate old rice that had worms in it, yet it didnt fill our stomachs. After a rainy day, we couldnt even have rice and could only wait for death! Sir, what have we toiled for our whole lives? What were we striving for? Lin Beifan was furious once again, They dont even let you eat while fighting, and Southern Jiang Prince does nothing about it? He did something, but its worse than if he hadnt! the elderly Southern Jiang soldier raged, Hes just a cold-blooded, selfish person! Now that its raining, marching and fighting are unfavorable. The best thing to do would be to temporarily withdraw the troops. But he wont do that! He wants us to freeze to death, he wants us to starve to death, hes dragging us along with him to die! Lin Beifan was trembling with anger, Beast! Savage! Worthless scoundrel! Shameless Southern Jiang Prince on the opposite side shouted in anger, Lin Beifan, thats enough! Thats why Ive had enough! The elderly Southern Jiang soldier mmed the table and stood up, shouting, Whenever I had a chance, I came over without hesitation! Because I deeply understand that theres absolutely no future following Southern Jiang Prince! There was none in the past, none now, and there wont be in the future! So, I want to abandon the darkness and turn to the light! I want to correct my wrongs! I want to abandon evil and do good Lin Beifan repeatedly reassured, Comrade, I understand your struggles! Please sit down, dont be so agitated Sir, please let me finish speaking! Alright, go ahead! Sir, I know Ive done many things that have wronged the court in the past. Now I deeply regret it and feel remorse! In the past, I had no choice, but now I want to be a good person! The elderly Southern Jiang soldiers eyes were filled with tears as he pleaded, Sir, can you give me a chance to change and start anew? Lin Beifan was deeply moved, Its said that recognizing ones mistakes and correcting them is the greatest goodness! Your deep awareness of your mistakes and your sincere reflection show that youre still a goodrade of the people, a good soldier of our country. After this battle is over, I will definitely report to the court and allow you to rejoin the ranks smoothly! We will fight side by side to protect our homnd! The elderly Southern Jiang soldier was overjoyed, Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, sir! Other Southern Jiang soldiers saw this and started speaking up. Sir, I also realize my mistakes. I want to return to the court and serve it. Great Wu can survive without me, but I cant survive without Great Wu! Please give me a chance. I want to be a good person, a soldier who defends our homnd! Lin Beifan was even more moved, excitedly saying, Greatrades! You are all outstandingrades of the people! Because of you, our people have strength, our country has belief, and our nation has hope! Yes! Everyone nodded vigorously, their gazes filled with determination. Lin Beifan continued with excitement, Work hard! Even though you are surrendered soldiers, I already see you as like-mindedrades, asrades who fight side by side! Bring the wine! Someone brought a bottle of fine wine, and Lin Beifan filled each surrendered soldiers cup. Raising his wine cup high, Lin Beifan eximed, No need for unnecessary words, lets do it! Lets do it! The surrendered soldiers all shouted in unison. Then, they all downed their drinks, feeling a surge of courage! Hows the wine? Lin Beifan asked. Great wine! Haha! The Southern Jiang soldiers on the other side were once again swayed. The fragrant white porridge, the soft and delicious steamed buns, and the attention and care from the court officials all of it was attracting them! Southern Jiang Prince secretly cursed in his heart, hurriedly shouting, Dont believe them! Its all an act! Itspletely meant to undermine our military morale. Dont fall for it! Dont believe The Southern Jiang soldiers on the other side sneered in their hearts. Whether it was an act or not, they could feel the attention and care from the court across the river, as well as the respect for their dignity. At least, it was much better than Southern Jiang Prince! They could at least put on an act, while you dont even bother! Seeing that no one was moved, Southern Jiang Prince angrily dered, Stop looking! All of you, go back to me! Go back this instant! Dont you listen to me anymore? If you dont go back now, youll face military discipline! Under Southern Jiang Princes strong demand, everyone had to turn around and leave. However, a seed quickly took root and sprouted in their hearts. In the blink of an eye, it was nighttime again. Cough, cough! I need to go take care of business! How coincidental, me too! I need to relieve myself too. Lets go together! The next morning, during another headcount, Southern Jiang Prince realized that over a hundred people were missing. They had all crossed over to the other side. Eating their white steamed buns and drinking their white porridge contentedly, they nced smugly at the opposite bank. Other Southern Jiang soldiers were envious. Why are they all so quick? The food smells so good! I want to join them! Southern Jiang Prince was furious, From now on, watch them closely! No one is allowed to go freely! Every time, there must be an officer or warrior supervising them! In addition, guard Songjiang well! If anyone escapes again, theyll face military discipline! Yes, Your Highness! Night fell again, but this time security was tight. Cough, cough! I want to go outside to take care of business! My stomach isnt feeling great either. I want to go too! Ill go with you! Groups of people went out again, but this time a warrior followed them, keeping them under surveince. What should we do now? Hes following us. We cant escape at all! We might as well be bold! Just then, the warrior following them spoke up, Dont go any further. If you keep going, youll be far from Songjiang. How can you swim to the other side then? You, you, you What do you mean? We dont understand? What I mean is The warrior approached, revealing a slight smile. Why dont we just escape together? I also want to flee to the other side! Wait, what? The soldiers were stunned. Chapter 308: What Can I Do, I’m Desperate Too, Your Highness! Chapter 308: What Can I Do, Im Desperate Too, Your Highness! The next day, when Southern Jiang Prince counted the numbers again, he found that hundreds of people were missing! Even more than before had escaped! Southern Jiang Prince was furious, Where are the people? Where have they gone? Didnt I give strict orders for the sergeants and warriors to keep an eye on them? Why are so many still missing? At this moment, Wang Fugui hurriedly rushed in, shouting loudly, Your Highness, something bad has happened! The missing soldiers have actually run to the other side and are eating porridge and steamed buns there! Southern Jiang Prince roared, What about those in charge? How are they managing their tasks? Bring them up here for military punishment! Your Highness, theyve also gone to the other side! Southern Jiang Prince eximed, Oh, damn it! He rushed to the riverside and found that it was indeed true. The missing soldiers, as well as the sergeants and warriors who were supposed to watch over them, had all run to the other side. They were eating white steamed buns and sipping hot porridge with satisfaction on their faces. At this moment, Lin Beifan appeared. He stood in front of the defected warriors, looking puzzled, All of you are martial artists with skills. ording to reason, you should have received recognition from Southern Jiang Prince and been treated well. Why betray him? After listening to Lin Beifans words, they poured out their grievances. Indeed, Southern Jiang Prince has treated us well, but this isnt what I wanted! Initially, the reason I chose to join Southern Jiang Prince was because I believed he had the ambition to conquer the world, the ability to control the universe, and the heart to dominate the seas. But now, it seems hes just a selfish person! For the sake of his ambition, he disregards themon people and even his own soldiers and horses. Hes despicable! Following someone like him has no future, and working for him torments my conscience. Unfortunately, were already on the thiefs ship, with no way to turn back. Fate is really ying tricks on us! But now weve discovered that the court treats us defected soldiers fairly well, and theyre willing to give us a chance to reform ourselves! So, we didnt hesitate to defect and join the court! We hope that you, Sir, can give us a chance to start anew! Lin Beifan couldnt help but be moved, So, all of you are righteous individuals with the world in your hearts. My apologies for any rudeness. Ill say it again: its never toote to mend ones ways, and theres nothing greater than correcting ones mistakes. Youve chosen the court, and the court will certainly treat you well. Stay here with peace of mind. As long as Im here, you wontck food! After the great war is over, I will restore your freedom! Whether you choose to continue serving the court or leave, its your decision. I respect your choice! The newly arrived defected soldiers were grateful and tearful. Thank you, Sir, for your forgiveness! Only by serving such a court can we fulfill our duty! Even after the war is over, Ive decided not to leave. I want to be loyal to the court and protect our country! Im staying too, to contribute to the court! Lin Beifan was deeply moved and fervently said, Its rare for all of you to have such awareness! With valiant heroes like you in the Great Wu, how can we not prosper? Heroes should drink heros wine, bring forth the wine! A cask of fine wine was brought forth, and Lin Beifan personally poured a bowl of wine for each person. Lets not talk much, cheers! Cheers! Everyone drank up, enduring considerable pain. Lin Beifan asked, Hows the wine? Great wine, haha! Everyone burst intoughter, spirits high with the aroma of wine, filled with heroic fervor. They felt immense satisfaction and a sense of allegiance to the court. At this moment, a warrior on the side of the riverbank shouted, wine in hand, Fellowrades, Southern Jiangs Prince pursues a path of rebellion and cruelty. Following someone like him leads to no future! Its better to cast off darkness and join the light, align with the court! The court is magnanimous and benevolent, they will surely forgive you all! When the timees, well gather in the capital, and drink the heros wine together. Isnt that joyful? Lin Beifan echoed, Indeed, this hero is right! In fact, we are all brethren. Whats the point of fighting each other? We only harm our own people! Its better to put down our weapons and drink together! Other surrendered soldiers also joined in. Lord Lins words are very true. We are all kin, whats the point of fighting? Put down the weapons,e over and drink, eat meat! Lord Lin is good to everyone! Southern Jiangs army was in turmoil. Southern Jiang Prince gritted his teeth in anger, These damned traitors! I treated them so well. Not only did they betray me, they even stabbed me in the back. They are heartless, selfish individuals! Seeing the envious nces of his soldiers towards the other side, Southern Jiang Prince roared, Dont look! Return to me, all of you! Whoever doesnt return will face military punishment! Subsequently, Southern Jiang Prince enacted even stricter regtions. He had warriors from various camps watch over each other, to keep them in check and prevent further escapes. But the next day, upon counting the troops, they were missing two thousand soldiers. They had all fled together in groups, shielding each other, concealing the truth, and escaping to the other side. Southern Jiang Prince was furious once again and issued even harsher orders. He stationed experts along the riverbank to prevent anyone from crossing. One discovered, one killed; one pair discovered, one pair killed; one group discovered, annihted. Regardless of identity, they were all killed. This finally halted the fleeing phenomenon. However, the morale of Southern Jiangs army had crumbled, devoid of any fighting spirit. They watched their fellow countrymen, who had once suffered hunger like them, now enjoying good food and receiving attention and care from the court officials on the other side. This imbnce stirred discontent in their hearts. Why? Why could they enjoy delicious food andvishness while we couldnt? Wasnt it just because they ran faster? If only I had been more decisive earlier, I would be the one enjoying the good life now! Their gazes seemed to pierce through, consumed by thoughts, wishing to rush over and cling to the courts thigh! Your Highness, this cant go on like this! Wang Fugui said worriedly. What do you suggest then? Southern Jiang Prince snapped, Its raining every day, we cant cook the grain. Without sufficient food, we cant fight. Lin Beifan that cunning fellow is manipting schemes, sowing discord, and shaking the troops resolve. Tell me, what can I do? Im also in despair! Your Highness, my suggestion is this! Wang Fugui said, After giving everyone a hearty meal, lead the army decisively across. Otherwise, well only be left to die! But that would result in heavy casualties Southern Jiang Prince was torn. Your Highness, its not a time to consider casualties anymore! Wang Fugui advised, Our troops morale is wavering, their spirits are decreasing day by day. If we dont fight now, theyll lose their will to fight altogether, and well be swallowed up by the court! So, we must seed in this battle, give it our all, and cross to the other side at any cost! First, it will deepen the mutual hatred between us and them, diminishing the thoughts of rebellion. Second, if we can seize the grain, we can soothe the troops morale. Third, if we cannd sessfully, well have cleared all the obstacles ahead! Your Highness, take action, we cant hesitate any longer! Southern Jiang Princes expression fluctuated. After a long contemtion, he pped his thigh, Good! Lets do as you say! With determination, Southern Jiang Prince immediately ordered his men to cook porridge to the best of their ability, ensuring every Southern Jiang soldier could have a bowl. After a day, the entire army was exhausted. Looking at the somewhat pallid faces of the Southern Jiang soldiers, Southern Jiang Prince dered loudly, Dear soldiers, I have been unfair to you these past days, and Im filled with guilt! But this wont happen again! Today, I will lead you all across to the other side! As long as we cross, there will be fragrant food, greasy meat, and exquisite wine! Everything you desire will be fulfilled! I will never mistreat any brother who fights alongside me! Fight! Fight! Fight! The Southern Jiang soldiers shouted loudly, their fighting spirit soaring. Southern Jiang Prince was very satisfied, Excellent! In this battle, sess is the only option, no room for failure! He pointed his sword towards the other side, Cross the river!!! So, the Southern Jiang army crossed the river with high spirits and determination. Profound experts and warriors from various paths once again advanced, leading the way. The imperial troops soon realized the situation, Reporting to all themanders, the Southern Jiang army is attacking! Lin Beifan led the group to the riverbank and shouted loudly, Imperial experts, dont let them pass! Yes, Lord Lin! Imperial experts advanced into the river to intercept. Lin Beifan shouted again, Archers, prepare! Yes, Lord Lin! Thousands of archers emerged from behind the shield bearers, bows fully drawn. At this moment, a surprising scene unfolded. The Southern Jiang soldiers downstream dropped their weapons and waved their hands, shouting loudly. Dont shoot! Dont shoot! Im surrendering! I dont want to follow Southern Jiang Prince anymore! Im one of your own, dont kill me! Lin Beifan and the others were dumbfounded. The downstream Southern Jiang soldiers had actually abandoned their weapons, swimming over and surrendering, a spectacr sight! Southern Jiang Prince was also taken aback. I sent you here to fight, and now youre all surrendering? The number of surrenders had reached over ten thousand! Its too thrilling! Southern Jiang Prince trembled with anger, shouting hoarsely, No surrendering allowed! I order you not to surrender! Pick up your weapons and fight for me! Fight for me! But the Southern Jiang soldiers in the water ignored him and continued swimming forward. As for their weapons, who knew where they had thrown them. Lord Lin, this The imperial soldiers looked towards Lin Beifan, seeking his opinion. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Who hasnt made mistakes? Those who can realize their errors and change their ways are the good sons of our Great Wu! We should fully ept them, lets not chill their hearts! Lord Lin speaks the truth! Lin Beifan waved his hand, Lower your bows and arrows, dont harm our own kin! Yes, my lord! The archers put down their bows and arrows one after another. Then, Lin Beifan shaped his hands into a trumpet and shouted loudly, Brave Southern Jiang soldiers, youre all admirable! If youe over to me, I wont turn you away! The Southern Jiang soldiers in the water cheered, Thank you, Lord Lin, for your generosity! With no threat to their lives, they swam even more joyfully, as if racing towards a new life! Chapter 309: Southern Jiang’s Prince Defeated, Pursuit Through the Night! Chapter 309: Southern Jiangs Prince Defeated, Pursuit Through the Night! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Seeing the soldiers he had painstakingly trained turn around and throw themselves into the enemys arms, Prince of Southern Jiang was furious! Standing at the shore, he shouted urgently and angrily, Come back! Imand you toe back! This is betrayal! This is seeking glory at the expense of your loyalty! This is wrong! If you donte back now, Ill enforce military discipline! Plunk, Plunk More people fell into the water. Hurry and escape, this is your only chance! If you dont go now, it will be toote! I want to go over there and have porridge and meat. I want to go over there and have wine! None of you can stop me! Everyone scrambled to swim towards the other side, fearing that they would be toote. The Songjiang River was packed with people attempting to cross! The scene was spectacr! It was too thrilling, and Prince of Southern Jiang was on the verge of fainting from anger! Drawing his knife from his waist, his eyes bloodshot, he shouted with rage, All officers, listen up! Kill them for me! Kill all the rebels in the river! Leave none alive! Yes, Your Highness! The Southern Jiang soldiers responded. At that moment, Lin Beifan shouted, Stop them! Let ourpatriots cross safely! Yes, Lord Lin! The imperial soldiers responded. Both sides began a fierce battle for people, one side killing, the other protecting! The Southern Jiang soldiers could see this scene, and they felt even colder, lips trembling. The Southern Jiang king they had always supported was killing their own people! And their enemies were protecting their own people! Was there any need to serve such a master? Without hesitation, they dropped their weapons, jumped into the river, and swam towards the other side. Meanwhile, the officer warriors who were ordered to kill the surrendering soldiers gradually ckened their efforts. They found it increasingly difficult to continue killing. These were theirrades, their fellow soldiers from the same trench! To die at the hands of the enemy was one thing, but to die at the hands of their own people Seeing this, Prince of Southern Jiang shouted in frustration, Why are you hesitating? Why have you stopped? What are you waiting for? Hurry and strike, kill these traitors! A warrior forced a bitter smile, Your Highness, they are our own people. I cant bring myself to do it! Prince of Southern Jiang roared with fury, From the moment they betrayed me, they ceased being our own people! They are a group of heartless traitors! Those who betray me deserve to die! Seeing that the crowd was still hesitating, Prince of Southern Jiang shouted again, Hurry and act, or do you also want to be traitors? Yes, Your Highness! The crowd responded. However, their strikes were slower, lighter, and less precise. After all, they couldnt be as cold-blooded as Prince of Southern Jiang. Half a day quickly passed. Around 300,000 Southern Jiang soldiers sessfully crossed the Songjiang River, bing the surrendered troops of the imperial court. About 150,000 Southern Jiang soldiers died in the river, staining the Songjiang River red. Around Prince of Southern Jiang, there were now less than 30,000 loyal troops and fewer than a thousand warriors, a very meager number. Dejected and disheartened, they had lost the will to fight again. Compared to the grand momentum when they first rebelled, their current state could be described as pathetic. Lin Beifan loudly proimed, Prince of Southern Jiang, your momentum is gone, surrender now! Considering you are a prince of the imperial court, perhaps Her Majesty will spare your life! Its all because of you! Everything is your fault! Prince of Southern Jiang stared at Lin Beifan, his eyes shooting out boundless killing intent. If it werent for you, would I have ended up like this? Lin Beifan shook his head, Prince of Southern Jiang, dont you understand why you failed by now? As the saying goes: With the Way, many are helped; without the Way, few are helped. Its because youre heartless and unrighteous, youve lost the peoples support, thats why youre defeated! No! Everything is because of you! If it werent for you, I would have already reached the capital! Perhaps I could have put on the imperial robe and ascended to the coveted throne! But because of you, everything is ruined! Prince of Southern Jiang pointed angrily at Lin Beifan, Kill him for me! No matter the cost, kill him! But, Your Highness, hes hidden within therge army, protected by many experts Prince of Southern Jiang roared, Cant you hear me? Is it because I have no troops that my words have no weight?! Pointing at Lin Beifan, he shouted, Now! Right away! Go and kill him for me! Yes, Your Highness! The people had no choice but to follow orders, crossing the river to kill, their target being Lin Beifan. Protect Lord Lin! Amander yelled. Several Innate experts once again entered the water, blocking their way. Night Fragrance held a small knife, standing in front of Lin Beifan. Fire the arrows! Swoosh, swoosh Arrows rained down. Among the advancing warriors, many were killed by the barrage of arrows, except for the Innate experts. Wang Fugui advised, Your Highness, recall them, or the losses will be great! Prince of Southern Jiang couldnt bear to listen anymore, gnashing his teeth, No! I must kill that Lin bastard! If it werent for him, I wouldnt be in this situation! But, Your Highness, if we dont withdraw the troops, they will all die Prince of Southern Jiang roared, Shut up! Even if they all die, I must kill him! Kill him! In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the Innate experts who had crossed the river had all been killed. Only a few Innate experts were left fighting in the river. Lin Beifan smiled as he looked at the situation, thinking it was time to end this. Within his deep gaze, a hint of light purple appeared. The Dao Heart Tempering Demon techniqueusing the mind to control matter! Under Lin Beifans gaze, one of Southern Jiangs Innate experts suddenly stopped in his tracks. Although the entire process took less than a second, it was fatal in a battle against equals. Seizing the opportunity, an imperial Innate expert shed down with his sword. Spurt. Arge gash appeared on the chest, blood spraying out, staining the chest red. The imperial Innate expert pressed on, relentlessly attacking until finally he struck down the enemy. Then he immediately went to support another person. Lin Beifans gaze continued to sweep across the field. Any Southern Jiang Innate expert he looked at would falter. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, four Southern Jiang Innate experts had fallen. The situation was quickly shifting in favor of the imperial court. The remaining Southern Jiang Innate experts were scared. They had followed Prince of Southern Jiang, seeking wealth and power, looking for a bright future. Now, their future was in ruins, and they were risking their lives for it. And so, without hesitation, they slipped away. Your Highness, the enemy is too strong. This old man will retreat first! Your Highness, its not that I didnt give my all, but the imperial court is too powerful. Ill take a step back for now! Your Highness, farewell from us in Southern Jiang! Prince of Southern Jiang cursed furiously, You bunch of bastards! I treated you well, provided you with food and drink, and even gave you high positions! Yet when troublees, you all flee first. Ungrateful lot! Im ashamed to be associated with you! Looking around and seeing only fewer than 30,000 remaining soldiers, Prince of Southern Jiang finally grew fearful, Retreat! Lin Beifan waved his hand forcefully, Cross the river, kill! Kill! Cross the Songjiang, head for Southern Jiang! Victory is right before us! The forces of the imperial court crossed the river with a fierce momentum. The bnce of offense and defense shifted once again. After crossing the river, Prince of Southern Jiang led his remaining troops in retreat. Lin Beifan led his army in pursuit, neither too fast nor too slow. Southern Jiangs soldiers had lost their morale, and they were tired and hungry, dropping out of formation and getting annihted by Lin Beifans forces. As a result, Prince of Southern Jiangs forces dwindled more and more as they retreated. After running for a night, only around 3,000 remnants were left. Looking at the remaining troops, Prince of Southern Jiangs anger caused his flesh to tremble uncontrobly, If it werent for that brat Lin Beifan, would I be in this situation? Your Highness, flee quickly, the imperial courts forces are catching up! Wang Fugui, panting heavily, rode his horse and warned. Prince of Southern Jiang turned his head and was horrified. They had indeed caught up! In a grand and imposing manner, they were closing in. The two sides were less than 300 yards apart, about to catch up at any moment! His forces were now very limited, and they couldnt run anymore! Prince of Southern Jiang shouted, Breeze, Fallen Sword you two, lead the troops to obstruct the imperial courts forces and protect my escape! These people were his right-hand men, whom he had cultivated with great effort and trusted deeply. However, for the sake of their own lives, they had no choice but to give up now. Breeze, Fallen Sword, and the others heard Prince of Southern Jiangsmand and felt like their hearts had turned to ashes. But everything they had was given by the king. Despite the kings ws, he had treated them very well. It was the idea of A loyal subject is willing to die for a true friend! Now, it was time to give their lives. We obey yourmand! They led the remaining 3,000 remnants, turned around, and killed their way back. Soldiers, follow thismander and fight back! Attack! As Lin Beifan chased after them, he looked at these heroes sacrificing themselves and was deeply moved, They are a group of people who know gratitude and repaying kindness, willing to make noble sacrifices. Give them a decent burial, and fire the arrows! Swoosh, swoosh After a round of arrow rain, all 3,000 remnants were killed. As Lin Beifan rode past a Southern Jiang general whose body was riddled with arrows but still stood tall and proud, he slightly slowed down and said, They were all brave men, just following the wrong master give them a proper burial! Yes, Lord Lin! Thank you The Southern Jiang general weakly murmured his gratitude, his eyes losing their light. Lin Beifan continued to lead his troops in pursuing Prince of Southern Jiang. At this point, Prince of Southern Jiang had very few people left by his side. They had been running through the night, and their speed was bing slower. Finally, they were surrounded by Lin Beifansrge force. Lin Beifan loudly dered, Prince of Southern Jiang, when are you going to keep fleeing? Youve already been defeated, theres no chance of making aeback. Lower your head and surrender! Prince of Southern Jiang looked at his situation, surrounded on all sides, and then nced at Lin Beifan riding on a tall horse approaching slowly. His eyes spat fire, and he gnashed his teeth, Lin Beifan! Its all because of you! Its all your fault! Ill never coexist with you! Our enmity is irreconcble! Lin Beifan remained calm andposed, Prince of Southern Jiang, is there any use in saying this now? You have no more troops, and youve lost your righteousness. Theres still a ce for you in this world. Come back with me and face your punishment. No! I havent lost yet! Prince of Southern Jiang roared. At this moment, the grandmaster who had been guarding by Prince of Southern Jiangs side stepped forward. With a voice that sounded aged, he said, Alright, lets call it quits here. Chapter 310: Prince of Southern Jiang, you better come with me, or your fate will be miserable! Chapter 310: Prince of Southern Jiang, you bettere with me, or your fate will be miserable! When the grandmaster spoke, no one could ignore him! Even though there were 100,000 troops present now, facing a grandmaster, victory was still unlikely! Lin Beifans gaze narrowed, You want to protect him? The grandmaster nodded and spoke slowly, This old one owes Prince of Southern Jiang a favor. Since he asked this old one to ensure his safety, this old one will naturally do his utmost! So, you all can return from where you came, and dont force me to take action. However, Lin Beifan smiled, You might be able to protect him for a while, but can you protect him for a lifetime? The grandmaster shook his head, Of course not! However, this old one will take him to a safe ce. That way, even if it only pays back a part of the favor. Lin Beifan continued with a smile, In this world, where can Prince of Southern Jiang find a safe haven? As a rebel prince, he cant stay in the Great Wu Realm. But if he flees to another country, he might be captured by the people there. Moreover, our dynasty will offer a hefty reward for him! Prince of Southern Jiang has no forces left, no personal strength, how can he protect himself? So, for Prince of Southern Jiang, theres no truly safe ce in the world! In that case, this favor of yours cant be fully repaid, and youve ended up with an unwanted burden! The grandmaster couldnt help but nod. Indeed, dealing with Prince of Southern Jiang was like holding a hot potato; no approach seemed entirely suitable. I have a good suggestion! Lin Beifan said. Lets hear it! The grandmaster was intrigued. With a sly smile, Lin Beifan continued, You hand Prince of Southern Jiang over to me and let me take him back to report. As of now, Prince of Southern Jiang poses no threat. Hes like a toothless fat tiger Prince of Southern Jiang: Just calling me a tiger is fine, why add the word fat in front of it? Lin Beifan went on, So, whether to execute or imprison Prince of Southern Jiang, either way works! In consideration of his status as a prince, our dynasty can show mercy beyond thew. We wont kill him but rather keep him under house arrest. That way, he might lose his power and freedom, but his life will definitely be spared! Furthermore, you will have repaid the favor! Is there anywhere safer in the world than our dynasty? The grandmaster was tempted, Your words do make some sense Prince of Southern Jiang grew anxious, Senior, dont listen to his nonsense! Id rather die than go back with him Prince of Southern Jiang, dont be too hasty to refuse! Lin Beifans smile widened, Now youre powerless, penniless, and unarmed. Youre practically destitute, just a fat man weighing over 300 jin. Where could you possibly run to? Even if you can run, can you endure this hardship? Fine food and luxuries? Finery and grand mansions? Youll never see those again. Having a meal is already a luxury! After feasting on delicacies, could you even stomach coarse grains? Prince of Southern Jiang began to waver. How could he stomach it? Even looking at it would make him nauseous! Lin Beifan continued, Just think about the kind of life your subjects have been leading under your rule. Then youll understand how tough your own life will be. It might even be tougher than theirs! Moreover, once your identity is known, people will definitely take advantage of you, forcing you to eat filth and drink urine. Theyll even make you kneel down and lick their feet, trampling on your dignity! However haughty you were before, your life from now on will be worse than theirs! Prince of Southern Jiang shivered. Think carefully, even if youre in hiding, are you really safe? Consider how many grievances youve caused these years, and youll realize how many enemies youve made! Once recognized, youll be torn apart alive! Prince of Southern Jiang trembled in fear, No! So, your best choice is toe with me! Lin Beifan said with a rxed tone, Although youll lose your freedom, your life wont be too bad! You wont have the luxuries you enjoyed before, but basic living conditions will still be ensured! Moreover, within the hands of our dynasty, no one will be able to torment you, and no one will be able to seek revenge on you. Your dignity and life will be protected! As long as you dont harbor ill intentions, behave honestly, you can live peacefully until the end of your days! Prince of Southern Jiang was deeply moved by this. Now that his rebellion had failed, he had to consider his options. The grandmaster couldnt protect him for a lifetime, so he would eventually face the miserable situation Lin Beifan described. He used to be an imperial prince, enjoying a life of luxury. How could he ever endure such a life? Whether he could survive or not was a question in itself! What he found intolerable was having his dignity trampled upon by people he once looked down upon! Death might be a better option! So, going with Lin Beifan was actually the best choice now! After much hesitation and internal struggle, Prince of Southern Jiangsplexion turned downcast, and he finally said, Ill go with you. A wise choice! Lin Beifan snapped his fingers. Since Prince of Southern Jiang had chosen to go with Lin Beifan, the grandmaster naturally wouldnt stop him. Observing Lin Beifan before him, the grandmaster couldnt help but sigh in his heart, This young man is truly impressive. He convinced one person in just a few words no, two people! He trulymands respect. Now that Prince of Southern Jiang had chosen to go with him, Lin Beifan naturally showed mercy beyond thew and allowed him to retain the dignity befitting a prince. He didnt have to be treated like a prisoner with ropes and iron chains. Instead, he was seated in a carriage and apanied the group. However, the other party continued to re at Lin Beifan fiercely, as if looking at a deep-seated enemy. Yet, Lin Beifan didnt take it to heart. What could he do, even if he looked at me fiercely? I wouldnt lose a single strand of hair. Afterward, Lin Beifan led the army to march towards Southern Jiang. There were still many officials left in Southern Jiang who had coborated with Prince of Southern Jiang. They hadmitted countless crimes, and now it was time for them to settle the score. Lin Beifan apprehended all of them and took them back for questioning and punishment. In this way, thend of Southern Jiang was once again brought under the rule of the dynasty. As for the wealth confiscated from these corrupt officials Some was confiscated, while the rest found its way into Lin Beifans pockets. Hehe! Thus, the conflict in Southern Jiang came to an end. Lin Beifan escorted Prince of Southern Jiang and these officials back to the capital for trial. News of this spread quickly throughout the world, leaving everyone astonished. The Southern Jiang conflict ended so quickly? Prince of Southern Jiang had 500,000 troops. Could it be that they were defeated by the dynastys 200,000 soldiers? I heard that the two armies shed near Songjiang. At that time, it was raining continuously in Southern Jiang, and the weather worked against Southern Jiangs troops. They couldnt start fires or get enough to eat, which significantly weakened their fighting capabilities! Adding to that, Lin Beifan, the supervising general of the dynasty, employed cunning tactics, causing Southern Jiangs soldiers to suffer heavy morale losses, and they surrendered one after another! Prince of Southern Jiang had no way to turn the tide, and he was finally defeated! With minimal losses, the dynasty triumphed over Prince of Southern Jiang! This Lin Beifan has achieved such remarkable results in two battles. Could he be the reincarnation of a war god? People from all walks of life discussed the matter. This news reached the ears of the Wuxi Duke, leaving him extremely annoyed. This elder brother of mine is truly useless! I thought with his 500,000 troops, he could divert the dynastys forces, making them split their attention! But unexpectedly, he lost within ten days. Hes aplete and utter idiot! Worthless! Military strategist Mr. Fengchu smiled bitterly, Even I didnt expect that the Southern Prince would be defeated so quickly! Sess in war relies on timing, location, and people. But with the rain pouring down, the timing isnt on his side. As the side crossing the river, the advantage isnt his. The Southern Prince doesnt have the peoples support, so unity isnt on his side either. This is why he suffered such aplete defeat. Your Highness, we must learn from this! No need to worry, Im not like our useless older brother! The Wuxi Duke said arrogantly. Mr. Fengchu let out a deep sigh. In the Royals residence in the Northern Hebei Upon hearing the news, the Prince of Northern Hebei was also very annoyed, The younger brother lost so quickly without causing any damage to the court. Its not that hecked sess, but he exceeded at failure! And Sir Lin is so thoughtless, how can he win so quickly? Doesnt this make things difficult for me? Strategist Zhuge bowed and said, Your Highness, the fault isnt with the Prefect! As exined in Miss Rushuangs letter, the Prefect actually intended to prolong the battle, increase losses on both sides, and create favorable conditions for Your Highness. So in the early stages, he was passive, and the two sides confronted each other across the river! The Prince of Northern Hebei raised an eyebrow, Then why Your Highness, the Prefects intentions were good, but who could have foreseen that the Prince of Southern Jiang wouldnt receive divine favor? Rain fell at their stationed area, making cooking extremely difficult. The Southern soldiers couldnt get enough to eat, making it impossible to fight. Adding to that, the Prince of Southern Jiang is selfish and ruthless, causing division and betrayal among his troops. They surrendered before even engaging in battle! Without soldiers, the Prince of Southern Jiang naturally crumbled in defeat. Its not that the Prefect was thoughtless, its just that the Prince of Southern Jiang was utterly ineffective. The Prefect himself was surprised by his own victory! I see, I misunderstood Sir Lin! The Prince of Northern Hebei suddenly realized. On the side of the court, there was naturally rejoicing. The Empress was overjoyed, This Minister Lin is truly skilled in warfare! In just a few days of mobilization, he defeated the Prince of Southern Jiang with minimal losses and captured him alive! The court didnt suffer any losses. Moreover, we gained an additional 300,000 skilled and capable soldiers. The Southern territory is back under our control, and the might of our Wu Dynasty has grown even stronger, haha! Indeed impressive! Bai Guanyin smiled and nodded, Its said that when pursuing the Prince of Southern Jiang, Lin Beifan spoke eloquently and convinced him to surrender, avoiding a confrontation with a Grandmaster! When he returns, we must reward him generously, reward him to death! The Empress excitedly rubbed her hands together. After five days, Lin Beifan finally led a vast army, escorting the Prince of Southern Jiang and a series of Southern officials, back to the capital for an audience. Before even reaching the city, the people poured out, weing them with cheers, songs, and dances, covering ten miles of the road. In the crowd, Lin Beifan saw Li Shi Shi, Li Yuxin, the Little Princess, and others. They were the most delighted, truly proud. Upon arriving at the gates of the capital, the Empress led civil and military officials to greet them. Lin Beifan dismounted and saluted, loudly saying, Your Majesty, as instructed, I went to suppress the rebellion led by the rebellious-king Wu Tiande in the Southern region, exterminating the Southern rebels. Now, I return in triumph and humbly request Your Majestys recognition! The Empress was moved, Minister, youve worked hard! We knew you wouldnt disappoint us! Come with us back to the pce, and we shall discuss rewards for your merits! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan replied loudly. Like this series? Also read My Ipetent Reign: Gifting the Kingdom at the Beginning, Bing an Eternal Emperor by the same author. Chapter 311: Prince of Southern Jiang’s Accusations, Lin Beifan is the Traitor! Chapter 311: Prince of Southern Jiangs usations, Lin Beifan is the Traitor! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Upon entering the Golden Hall, Lin Beifan reported on the situation in Southern Jiang. After receiving Your Majestys decree, I immediately set out for Songjiang! Leading an army of 200,000, we upied the northern bank of Songjiang and resisted the 500,000-strong rebel army led by Prince of Southern Jiang! In a span of 10 days, we finally achieved victory in this major battle! We captured 300,000 surrendered soldiers from Southern Jiang and apprehended Prince of Southern Jiang along with 32 traitors, escorting them to the capital for questioning! In this battle, the court suffered less than 3,000 casualties and emerged triumphant. Your Majesty, please take note! Well done, well done! the Empress apuded. Even though the situation in Southern Jiang was already known, hearing Lin Beifans report once again was still highly exhrating. Leading an army of 200,000 to withstand Prince of Southern Jiangs 500,000-strong force! Whats even more astonishing is that in just 10 days, with this army of 200,000, they captured 300,000 soldiers from Prince of Southern Jiangs forces, wiping out the remaining 200,000 soldiers! They even apprehended Prince of Southern Jiang and all the conspirators behind him! Throughout the entire process, the court suffered less than 3,000 casualties, which could almost be disregarded! The victory was stunning, absolutely magnificent! Minister Lin, your contributions in this battle are immeasurable. I shall surely reward you generously! the Empress eximed excitedly. You shall be promoted by one rank, bing a first-ss official of the court and retaining your position as the Prefect of the Capital, while also concurrently serving as the Principal of the Imperial Academy! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan replied loudly. Dont thank me too soon, theres more! The Empress smiled brightly. I also grant you a noble title: Duke of Loyalty and Valor! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifans voice resonated once again. Noble titles are reserved for those who have achieved remarkable military feats. Although they dont necessarilye with real power, they are a tremendous honor, signifying a high status. Currently, Lin Beifans official position and noble title surpass those of all civil and military officials, making him unquestionably the highest-ranking figure in the court. Just look at their expressionsimagine how envious they must be. Subsequently, Lin Beifan presented the military insignia and the treasured sword from the imperial armory. He stated, Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince of Southern Jiang and his conspirators have been escorted to the capital by me. They are currently awaiting Your Majestys judgment outside the pce! The Empress proimed loudly, Summon them in! In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Prince of Southern Jiang and his cohorts entered the Golden Hall. Prince of Southern Jiang looked rtivelyposed, although somewhat disheveled. He still maintained the dignity of a prince, not bound by shackles, dressed in a dragon robe as he strode into the Golden Hall, his gazeplex as he looked at his niece on the throne. The others were not as fortunate. They were all tied up, their hair unkempt, their faces dirty, appearing quite pitiful. As soon as they entered the Golden Hall, they immediately fell to their knees in supplication. Your Majesty, spare our lives, we know we were wrong! We were coerced and enticed by Prince of Southern Jiang into doing this; it was not our intention! Please, grant us a way out! The Empress nced at them, feeling disgust. This group of people were leeches, enjoying the benefits and honors bestowed by the court without repaying it, and instead they plotted rebellion, causing turmoil in the country. Now that they were captured, they were begging for forgiveness. Where in the world could such a favorable oue exist? I dont want to see them. Drag them away and execute them immediately! As for other traitors and their families, hand them over to the Ministry of Justice for trial. They must be dealt with severely! The Empress dered. Yes, Your Majesty! Three senior court officials stepped forward to receive the order. Your Majesty, spare our lives, we know we were wrong! Grant us a chance to live! These traitors pleaded loudly, desperate and imploring. Even Prince of Southern Jiang, standing beside, felt a pang ofpassion. After all, they had followed him for over a decade and shared some degree of camaraderie. But realizing his own situation was precarious, he could only pretend not to notice. After a moment, the court finally fell silent. The Empress, looking down from her elevated position, gazed at Prince of Southern Jiang, a sense of superiority in her expression as she smiled and said, Uncle, did you ever think it woulde to this? Hmph! Might makes right. Theres not much to say. Prince of Southern Jiangs face turned dark. In that case, if you admit your guilt, matters will be much easier! The Empress announced loudly. Due to your treason and conspiracy against the court, Prince of Southern Jiang, your heinous crimes have warranted your demotion tomoner status! Prince of Southern Jiang closed his eyes in despair. From this point on, he was no longer a prince of the court. All his past glory and wealth were no longer relevant. Prince of Southern Jiang, you havemitted such a monstrous crime that execution would be appropriate! However, considering your rtion to me, I find it hard to kill you myself. Therefore, you shall be confined to the heavenly dungeon for life! You shall never step out without my permission! Prince of Southern Jiangs face turned pale. Though his life was spared, he would have no freedom from now on. As for the lineage of Prince of Southern Jiang The Empresss gaze turned fierce. They shall all be demoted tomoners and executed without exception. Not a single one shall be spared! Prince of Southern Jiang was overwhelmed, nearly copsing. The decree to execute them all meant the end of his bloodline, with no descendants left! For any person from that era, this was an extremely difficult reality to ept. He opened his mouth as if to persuade the Empress to show mercy, but it ended up as a sigh of helplessness and sorrow. If it were him, he would probably eradicate the entire lineage as well to eliminate future threats. Uncle, are you satisfied with this punishment Ive decreed? the Empress asked. Thank you, Your Majesty for your mercy! Prince of Southern Jiangs voice was filled with heartache. As long as you are content. Uncle, although youve done wrong by me, I still take into ount our family ties. Rest assured in your prison cell and do not stir up trouble. I will make sure you have a peaceful retirement. Prince of Southern Jiang bowed and said, Thank you, Your Majesty! However, before being imprisoned, I want to expose someone! The Empress was puzzled, Uncle, who do you want to expose? Him, Lin Beifan! Prince of Southern Jiang pointed at Lin Beifan, his voice seething with killing intent. This man is the real traitor! A demon who brings chaos to the country and harms the people! If hes not eliminated, the consequences will be dire for Great Wu! The hall erupted in astonishment! Prince of Southern Jiang, a rebel, was actually using Lin Beifan of being a traitor, a demon causing chaos and harm to the country! Furthermore, he imed that not killing him would lead to catastrophic consequences for the nation! The Empress sneakily nced at Lin Beifan and noticed hisposed expression. She asked, Uncle, why are you framing Lin, a respected official? Ever since he joined the court, he has made significant contributions to our nation. Hes a minister I highly regard and trust. You say hes a traitor, causing chaos and harm to the country. I dont believe it! I dare say that I have evidence! Prince of Southern Jiang looked at Lin Beifan and sneered. Do you all know where I obtained the method to create the sky-flying divine artifact, the Great Air Balloon? Could it be from Lin Beifan? the Empress asked. Thats right, it was from this scoundrel! Prince of Southern Jiang gritted his teeth. This scoundrel is insatiably greedy. It wasnt until I paid him a full five million taels of silver that he relinquished the method to create the Great Air Balloon! The hall erupted in shock once again! Prince of Southern Jiang got the method to make the sky-flying balloons from Mr. Lin? No wonder we couldnt find anything back then, despite searching high and low. Family traitors are hard to guard against! Five million taels of silver, the same old greed! But, does he have the audacity to demand such money? Hes always been audacious. What wouldnt he dare? Thats true! Amid the crowds criticism, Lin Beifan remained utterlyposed. Besides this, theres more! Prince of Southern Jiang angrily pointed at Lin Beifan. I also obtained the method to make the air cushion ship from him, which cost me six million taels of silver! The hall erupted in astonishment again! Prince of Southern Jiang got the air cushion ship method from Mr. Lin? This time its six million taels, such greed! Hes tantlymitting crimes, how dare he? Lin Beifan remained as calm as ever, neither sad nor happy. I also obtained around seven taels of dragon bones from him, costing a total of fifteen million taels! Prince of Southern Jiang eximed angrily. The hall erupted once more! Selling dragon bones and earning fifteen million taels! He imed he had no dragon bones? Hes too cunning! The total of these embezzled funds adds up to twenty-six million taels! Hes truly insatiably greedy! Adding the usual bribes Prince of Southern Jiang spoke with hatred, This scoundrel swindled a total of thirty million taels of silver from me! Thirty million taels of silver! It turned me from the wealthiest king to a pauper! The court officials were dumbfounded! Thirty million taels of silver!!! It was nearly a third of the national treasury! Youre simply too greedy! Sitting on the dragon throne, the Empresss heart raced. Though she already knew Lin Beifan could be greedy, it seemed she had underestimated him. He managed to suck dry the wealthiest Prince of Southern Jiang! Such methods were unheard of! Thats why I say hes a traitor, a demon causing chaos and harm to the country! Hes just too greedy, willing to do anything to benefit himself, regardless of how much he betrays Great Wu! And hes also shrewd and crafty, with profound schemes. If hes not eliminated, chaos will inevitably arise in Great Wu, and the country will suffer! Prince of Southern Jiang used passionately. The Empress fell silent for a moment, then looked at Lin Beifan with a calm expression and asked, Minister Lin, in light of Prince of Southern Jiangs usations, do you have anything to say? Lin Beifan calmly cupped his hands and spoke righteously, Your Majesty, this is entirely baseless! My loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and moon, and my love for Great Wu is evident to all. Since entering the court, Ive tirelessly provided counsel, served the court diligently, and worked tirelessly to aid the people. Its because of this that, in less than two years, I rose to be the Prefect of the Capital, received a noble title bestowed by Your Majesty, and earned the title of Duke of Loyalty and Valor. All of this is recognition from Your Majesty and the court! The Empress nodded, Thats true! Ive aplished so much, all of which has been witnessed by many. Its unjust to use me! However, at this moment, Prince of Southern Jiang is falsely using me of leaking the method to create divine artifacts and selling dragon bones Lin Beifan sneered and continued, Its clearly a desperate counterattack, framing and ndering me, attempting to sow discord between us. This malevolent intent is obvious. Your Majesty, please see this clearly! Prince of Southern Jiang retorted angrily, I knew youd deny it. Luckily, I have evidence! Chapter 312: Accusing Me of Treasonous Loyalty, Deserving of Death! Chapter 312: using Me of Treasonous Loyalty, Deserving of Death! Imperial Uncle, do you have any evidence? the Empress asked. She couldnt help but feel a bit worried. Could it be that the Prince of Southern Jiang truly managed to catch a hold of evidence against her? How should she help Lin Beifan bluff his way through this? The Prince of Southern Jiang removed his dragon robe and took out two crumpled pieces of paper from a hidden sleeve. With a fierce re at Lin Beifan, he spoke with a triumphant tone, Your Majesty, please take a look. These are the methods for crafting two major divine artifacts that Lin Beifan, this treacherous thief, sold to me! Its undoubtedly written by Lin Beifan himself. Just one look and its clear whether its true or false! Present them, the Empressmanded. After a moment, she opened the two pieces of paper presented by the eunuch and carefully examined them. What was once a concern hadpletely dissipated! With a cheerful smile, she passed the papers down through the eunuch. Esteemed ministers, here is the evidence from Imperial Uncle. Take a look! And Lin Beifan, you as well! Yes, Your Majesty! The officials took turns reading, ncing at Lin Beifan and then at the Prince of Southern Jiang, shaking their heads one after another. A sense of foreboding arose within the Prince of Southern Jiang. What is the meaning of this? Soon, the papers returned to the Empresss hands. She smiled and asked, Regarding Imperial Uncles evidence, what do you esteemed ministers think? First came the Minister of Works, Wang Rushui, stepping forward respectfully. Reporting to Your Majesty, these two methods of creation are indeed for the Great Air Balloon and Air Cushion Ship. There are some minor differences, however. If we are to determine Lord Lins guilt based solely on these pieces of evidence, I, as an official, cannot agree! Why is that? the Empress asked with a smile. Because the handwriting on these two pieces of evidence ispletely different from Lord Lins! Wang Rushui said solemnly. Lord Lins writing is not only neat and dignified, it carries a righteous aura that is pleasant and delightful. I quite admire it! But the handwriting on these two methods appears delicate and slender. While they still look good, they are simply not written by Lord Lin! Therefore, using this evidence, its impossible to determine Lord Lins guilt! The officials nodded in agreement. Yes, the handwriting ispletely different! Its clearly not Lord Lins writing. How can we pin Lord Lins guilt on this? Its possibly forged, and theres simply not enough reason to believe it! The Prince of Southern Jiang was losing hisposure. This cant be! The Empress smiled, her eyes shining. Imperial Uncle, nothing is impossible! I, along with the entire court of civil and military officials, have seen Lord Lins writing. We can recognize it at a nce! Yes means yes, no means no. How could we possibly mistake it? Imperial Uncle, youve gone too far, deliberately producing false evidence to frame my beloved Lord Lin? Lin Beifan immediately stepped forward and bowed. Your wisdom, Your Majesty, and the insight of esteemed ministers! Watching Lin Beifans smug expression, the Prince of Southern Jiang was boiling with rage. I still have evidence! Imperial Uncle, do you have more evidence? the Empress inquired. Once again, the Prince of Southern Jiang carefully extracted a small pouch from his dragon robe. When the pouch was opened, it revealed white powder inside. What is this? the Empress asked curiously. Holding the pouch with great care, the Prince of Southern Jiang said, This is dragon bone! This is what I acquired from Lin Beifan at a great price! I had more, but I exchanged the rest for food, leaving only this small amount! As soon as the words dragon bone were uttered, the entire court, civil and military, became agitated. This was a divine item, something priceless and invaluable. Many people dreamed of possessing it; it could even grant eternal life! Present it, the Empress ordered. Looking at the seemingly ordinary white powder before her, the Empress blinked slightly and asked, Imperial Uncle, this dragon bone looks just like flour. How do you prove that its really dragon bone? This the Prince of Southern Jiang faltered. How could he prove the authenticity of such a divine item? The best way would be for it to exhibit miraculous properties, but he had no idea how to do that! With a clever idea, he said, I once took the same dragon bone to exchange for food with the Great Yan Kingdom! If it wasnt real dragon bone, would they have epted the trade? Would they have been willing to trade? The Empress chuckled softly, shaking her head. Imperial Uncle, this argument of yours is simply not credible! How did the Great Yan Kingdom authenticate this as true dragon bone? They dont possess dragon bone! Moreover, they are an enemy state, their words cannot be trusted! Oh, well the Prince of Southern Jiang stammered. Fine, even if this is genuine dragon bone, how do you prove that Lord Lin gave it to you? the Empress continued. The Prince of Southern Jiang anxiously said, At that time, the only person who had ess to the dragon bone was Lin Beifan! If this is genuine dragon bone and didnte from him, who else could ite from? The Empress shook her head. Imperial Uncle, your argument is nothing more than reckless usation! While its true that Lin Beifan had the best opportunity to get close to the dragon bone, aside from him, there were tens of thousands guarding it, all of whom had the chance to obtain it! Just consider the court officials. Many of them have some Court officials coughed awkwardly. So, Imperial Uncle, with this unverified white powder, which might not even be dragon bone, you want to falsely use my beloved Lord Lin. Its simply a baseless im! Your wisdom, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan proimed loudly. Seeing Lin Beifans arrogant demeanor, the Prince of Southern Jiang was infuriated once again. I still have evidence! Over these past two years, in order to win over Lin Beifan, Ive given him numerous rare treasures, like the Three Treasure Jade Ruyi and the Nine-Dragon True Gold Coffin The Prince of Southern Jiang listed off a bunch of precious items. There were simply too many! A search of his residence would undoubtedly yield them, providing enough evidence to incriminate him! The Empress fell silent for a moment and then said, I havent heard of most of these treasures! However, I am familiar with the Three Treasure Jade Ruyi and the Nine-Dragon True Gold Coffin. They are definitely not in Lord Lins possession! Ah? Why? the Prince of Southern Jiang was dumbfounded. Because these two treasures are in my possession! Quickly bring out these two treasures, let Imperial Uncle take a look! the Empress ordered. After a moment, the eunuchs brought forward the two treasures. One was a jade ruyi carved entirely from jade, glistening and translucent, appearing like a dream. The other was the Nine-Dragon True Gold Coffin, a small coffin entirely crafted from gold, engraved with nine intertwining true dragons, exuding an extraordinary sense of dignity. Imperial Uncle, take a look. Are these the two treasures you have? Staring with wide eyes, the Prince of Southern Jiang couldnt believe it. Indeed, they are identical. How are they in your possession? With a smiling nce, the Empress exined, These were brought as tribute by an envoy from a minor kingdom! They im to have acquired them at an auction in their country and spent a fortune to obtain them. They offered them to me as a tribute! Ah? How could this be? the Prince of Southern Jiang was dumbfounded once more. After pondering for a moment, he tried to argue, Perhaps Lin Beifan acquired them there and intended to fence them! The Empress shook her head. Imperial Uncle, youre going too far! That minor kingdom is over 2000 miles away from the capital. The journey is extremely distant! Since Lin Beifan entered the court as an official, he has mostly stayed in the capital. The few times he left were for official missions, each time hurriedly departing and returning. He never had the chance to travel over 2000 miles to that minor kingdom! He didnt go, so he could have sent someone else Your im is even more baseless! Lin Beifanes from amon background, he has no influence. Since bing an official, he has remained reclusive and stringent on himself. He hasnt developed any factions, nor can anyone manipte him. You say he would find others, but who could he possibly find? Lin Beifan dered loudly, Your wisdom, Your Majesty! Amused internally, he thought, with Bai Guanyin and her backing, helping to fence these items, you wont find any dirt on me. So, Imperial Uncle, all your argumentsck foundation, insufficient to convince anyone! Or rather, you are attempting to falsely use my loyal and righteous minister, and such intent is deserving of death! The Empress spoke loudly, her toneden with discontent. Once more, she turned her gaze to Lin Beifan, her heart aching as she said, Beloved minister, youve suffered grievances! Im gifting you these two treasures aspensation on behalf of Imperial Uncle. You must ept them, dont refuse! Lin Beifan was taken aback. After going through this ordeal, the treasures had now circled back to his possession, and in a perfectly legitimate manner! What a beautiful turn of events! With tears of gratitude, Lin Beifan said, Thank you, Your Majesty. I shall serve wholeheartedly and give my all until myst breath! Meanwhile, the Prince of Southern Jiang was furious! After all that effort, they hadnt managed to implicate him, and now he waswfully the owner of my two treasures? Wheres the justice in this? I still have evidence he insisted. Impatiently, the Empress waved her hand. Take him away. I dont want to hear any more! Two pce guards stepped forward to escort the Prince of Southern Jiang away. He struggled and shouted. I refuse to leave! I have something to say! Lin Beifan is truly a traitorous rebel! As long as hes around, Great Wu will never know peace, its doomed! Your Majesty, if you still consider me your Imperial Uncle, you better apprehend him! Otherwise, Great Wu will definitely perish in his hands! Perish in his hands! Youll regret not capturing him! Youll definitely regret it!!! Once again, the Empress waved her hand. Take him away immediately. I dont want to see him anymore! Yes, Your Majesty! The Prince of Southern Jiang was lifted up like a piglet and carried out. As he watched the distant Hall of Golden Chimes, he mustered all his strength to shout, Inept ruler! Great Wu will surely meet its end under your reign! The Prince of Southern Jiang was eventually led away, his voice fading into nothingness. Once more, the Empress looked at Lin Beifan, a hint of apology in her tone. Beloved minister, Imperial Uncle has no future left, so hes hysterical and biting back at you. Dont take his words to heart, hes trying to sow discord between us. Your Majesty speaks truly. I will definitely not take his words to heart! How could the words of a rebellious subject shake the rapport and bond between us? Lin Beifan said with a smile. Well said! Let us work together, minister and sovereign, to rebuild Great Wu! The Empress eximed loudly. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed. Like this series? Also read My Ipetent Reign: Gifting the Kingdom at the Beginning, Bing an Eternal Emperor by the same author. Chapter 314: Guerrilla Warfare Shines Again, The Near-Immortal and Near-Death Dayue Army! Chapter 314: Guerri Warfare Shines Again, The Near-Immortal and Near-Death Dayue Army! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, the Dayue Army has already entered thend of Wuxi, advancing towards the Phoenix Mountain Range, eight hundred li away. Leading the Dayue forces is General Gongsun Wudi. Not only is he a congenital powerhouse, but he has also led troops into battle for many years, with remarkable achievements. Hes known as the God of War and is greatly trusted by the Dayue court. With a force of 500,000 soldiers, he marches to conquer Wu. Walking on the soil of Great Wu, General Gongsun is filled with excitement. He had dreamed of leading an army into Great Wus territory, treading on its rivers and mountains, expanding the borders for Dayue! Unfortunately, in the past, Great Wu was strong while Dayue was weak, and such an opportunity didnt exist. Now, he has finally waited for this moment! Once this is achieved, he will undoubtedly make a name for himself, receiving promotions and titles. Even leaving a mark in the annals of history is possible! As a result, his steps quicken even more, wishing he could fly to the Phoenix Mountain Range immediately. At this moment, a general by his side reminds him, General Gongsun, we have entered thend of Wuxi. We must be vignt and cautious of that group of gueri soldiers! They appear and vanish like the wind, experts in ambush. This person is amander sent by the Duke of Wuxi to receive General Gongsun Wudi, named Zhou. General Gongsun waves his hand dismissively, saying with a hint of disdain, Those gueri rebels who only know ambushes? To be honest, its not that theyre too strong, but your lord is too useless! Half a year has passed, and he hasnt wiped them out. Instead, he allowed them to grow and be aughingstock! If I were in charge, I wouldnt let them live for a month! Haha Being the Dayue God of War, with his remarkable achievements, he has the confidence to make such statements. General Zhou suppresses his anger and says, General Gongsun, be wary. Dont underestimate those gueri soldiers. Theyre strong and cunning General Gongsun waves his hand, Forget it. If they truly had that strength, why resort to sneak attacks? Ultimately, its because theyre weak, and your lord is even weaker, leading to this situation! General Zhous face darkens. Furthermore, why should I worry? General Gongsun rides his horse, smiling contentedly, We, Dayue, have no grievances with them. Theyre acting foolishly to provoke us! General Zhou is displeased, Ive advised you kindly. Since youre unappreciative, Ill take my leave! Then, controlling his horse, he distances himself from General Gongsun. General Gongsun remains unconcerned, still immersed in his dream of imperial ambitions. Just at this moment, on a nearby hilltop, dozens of figures appear. The Dayue Army is here, led by the Dayue God of War, Gongsun Wudi! Theyre about to enter our ambush point. Stick to the n, avoid directbat! Yes, Captain! A whileter, the Dayue soldiers enter a valley between two mountains. Suddenly, dozens of figures emerge from the mountains. They shoot arrows and throw huge rocks. Because of their swift action, over a hundred Dayue soldiers fail to evade and bleed in the valley. After attacking, they disappear without a trace. General Gongsun remains calm, It seems this group is fond of ambushes. Theyve actually dared to provoke me. What audacity! Men, kill them all, leave none alive! Understood, General Gongsun! One of the subordinates acknowledged. General Zhou of the Wuxi forces approached on horseback, General Gongsun, please wait. This is not appropriate. By doing this, you might fall into their trap of luring you into a disadvantageous situation. General Gongsun calmly looked at him, General Zhou, what do you suggest we do then? General Zhou advised, Dont send out troops, dont engage with them. Ridiculous! General Gongsuns voice rose, Theyve provoked me to this extent, and you want me to ignore them? How could I maintain my dignity? Therefore, I must retaliate, instill fear in them, and make them regret their actions! Seeing General Gongsun so confident, General Zhou sighed and stopped advising further. Though there were only a few dozen ambushers, General Gongsun took them very seriously. He dispatched an elite force of over 2,000 soldiers to pursue them. However, by nightfall, they hadnt returned. General Gongsun grew uneasy and sent scouts, but they didnt return either. Finally, he had to send a cultivator of innate strength to investigate. When he returned, he brought unsettling news. All the Dayue soldiers are dead. The gueri soldiers are nowhere to be found. General Gongsuns face darkened, It seems I underestimated them. Very well, good! Arriving with great ambitions, ready to achieve sess, he had suffered a hidden setback before reaching the Phoenix Mountain Range. His mood soured significantly, and he now bore a grudge against this group of gueri soldiers. At night, they made a fire and cooked their meals, preparing to rest in ce. At that moment, dozens of figures appeared from somewhere. They held a bundle wrapped in cloth, resembling antern, and hurled it towards the Dayue Army. Be on guard! Several warriors acted, slicing through these objects with their swords. Inside, there were beehives emitting a buzzing sound. Countless bees swarmed out. Hos! These are all hos! Hos are poisonous. Run! Oh my heavens, theyre catching up! After this round, the Dayue Army didnt suffer casualties, but hundreds of soldiers had been stung, their faces in misery. The Dayue soldiers were furious and wanted to deal with these provocateurs, but they had vanished. General Gongsuns expression grew darker, These elusive gueri soldiers enjoy ying such petty tricks. We have irreconcble differences! After dinner, they could finally rest. In the deep night, some continued to stand guard while others rested. Suddenly, a group of people emerged from one side of the mountain. They lit firecrackers and threw them. Bang, crackle. The firecracker noises were deafening, awakening the 500,000-strong army. General Gongsun was awakened too. Disheveled, he came out, extremely irritated, and shouted, Men, send out troops immediately to hunt them down! Mobilize the whole army, leave no one behind! Yes, General Gongsun! A force of 30,000 soldiers was sent out, yet they returned empty-handed. An hourter, just as everyone was about to sleep again, the thunderous noise echoed outside. Bang, crackle. The Dayue Army was once again awakened. After a full day of marching, they just wanted a good rest, but every time they were about to sleep, they were woken up again. This feeling was unbearable, enough to make anyone want to kill. General Gongsun charged out again, roaring, Kill them for me! The army went out, but still, they found nothing. At dawn, the firecrackers sounded again. Bang, crackle. Ah again? Everyone groaned, really wishing for death. With the break of dawn, regardless of how they had slept, they had to continue their journey. Along the way, the nted Moon Army conducted surprise attacks, using various tactics archery, throwing stones, evenunching venomous insects and snakes. They would strike and then flee, refusing to engage in directbat. General Gongsun learned his lesson and never gave them the chance to ambush again. He also dispatched many scouts to sweep the area and gather intelligence. However, the results were unsatisfactory. Because their numbers were small, the scouts often fell victim to ambushes, many of them losing their lives. If they encountered the main army, these gueri soldiers would simply disappear, avoiding direct confrontations. And so, night fell again. While the army was resting and recuperating, the nted Moon Army struck with their cunning tactics setting off firecrackers, beating drums,unching arrows and stones. If the enemy sent troops, they would flee. If the enemy didnt pursue, they would continue to create disturbances, ensuring that no one could sleep peacefully. The Dayue Army was tormented to the point of near-death, feeling utterly miserable. Ah~~ Are they ever going to let us have a decent nights sleep? I didnt sleep wellst night, walked all day today, and now theres no sleep again! I really wish I could just die! Please, I beg you, donte again! General Gongsun was furious, You wretched gueri soldiers! If you have the guts, face us in an open battle. Whats the point of ying these petty tricks? His voice carried for dozens of li, but no one paid any attention. The third day and the fourth day were the same. Due to continuous marching andck of proper sleep, the entire Dayue Army became dispirited. Their steps were heavy, they were extremely drowsy, as if sleepwalking. Many soldiers, as they marched, fell to the ground and fell asleep. Some couldnt wake up once they fell asleep. Because of this, the nted Moon Armys sess rate in ambushes increased significantly. General Gongsun finally had to admit that these gueri soldiers were indeed difficult to deal with. He turned to General Zhou, General Zhou, youve seen the situation. These gueri soldiers are really troublesome. Theyve left my troops exhausted and sleepy. Since youve been at odds with this gueri force for a long time, do you have any strategies? General Zhou felt a sense of schadenfreude. Youre experiencing it now too! Back then, you mocked us, saying we were incapable. It turns out youre worse off than we are! However, now they were cooperating, and he didnt want to offend. General Zhou didnt reveal his inner thoughts and just sighed, shaking his head. General Gongsun, I sympathize with your situation. But to be honest, we dont have many options when ites to this gueri force. We can only endure it. The only thing to keep in mind is not to divide your forces. Otherwise, youll give them a chance to pick you off one by one. General Zhou, Ive learned my lesson. Following this, General Gongsun heeded General Zhous advice. They wouldnt pay too much attention to the gueri disruptions and wouldnt split their forces to chase them. They kept the main force moving forward. If people and horses were tired, they would rest a bit more. If the speed was slower, so be it. It was better than losing lives. This way, although there were still casualties, they were reduced. However, the soldiers of the General Gongsun were still angry, gritting their teeth. These damned gueri soldiers! When I have the time, Ill tear you all to pieces, burn you with raging fire! After about half a month, the Dayue Army finally arrived at the Phoenix Mountain Range, dusty and weary. Chapter 315: Strategist, How Should We Fight? I Fully Support Your Plan! Chapter 315: Strategist, How Should We Fight? I Fully Support Your n! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
When the Wuxi Duke arrived to greet the troops of the Dayue Empire, he was shocked. Why did they all have dark circles under their eyes and looked so listless? Yawning incessantly, they walked unsteadily. Some were even lying on the ground asleep. The Wuxi Duke couldnt help but doubt. Were these the valiant and skilled soldiers of the Dayue army? The invincible troops trained by the war god Gongsun Wudi? Was all that reputation just empty talk? If that was the case, hed rather not have their support. Worried, the Wuxi Duke asked, General Gongsun, whats going on with your troops? General Gongsun let out a deep sigh and said with a bitter smile, Ah, Your Highness Wuxi Duke, its really hard to put into words! Along the way, we encountered ambushes and disruptions from that group of rat soldiers. We couldnt sleep well, eat well, or even fight well! After all the hardships, we managed to reach here, but weve lost over thirty to forty thousand troops Ah! Those damn rat soldiers! I understand now. Youve all been through a lot, sympathized the Wuxi Duke. He himself had been harassed by those rat soldiers for over half a year. He couldnt eradicate them no matter how hard he tried, and he couldnt even find their traces. He understood Gongsuns frustration the most. After this battle, Im determined to exterminate them all and take revenge for this, General Gongsun clenched his fist, full of resentment. Im fully supportive! However, for now, the priority is to conquer Wu. Its been tough on all the Dayue generals who have traveled so far! Rest for two days, and after that, well unite our forces to break through the Phoenix Fortress and prate into the heart of the Central ins! Well said, Ive been thinking the same! General Gongsun proimed loudly. The Wuxi Duke made way and gestured, Generals, please enter. Ive prepared good wine and food to entertain you! Youre too kind, Your Highness Wuxi Duke. Please, after you! They entered the camp withughter and chatter. The other Dayue soldiers set up camp nearby, starting fires and cooking, preparing to rest. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan had also arrived at the Phoenix Fortress. The imperial generals and officials stationed here all lined up to wee him. Leading the weing party was General Zhu Xingyu of the Western Garrison. Holding a second-grade official position, he was a prominent minister of the court, yet he showed great respect to Lin Beifan. After all, Lin Beifan was undeniably the foremost figure in the court. As the Principal of the Imperial Academy, Prefect of the Capital, and a first-ranked official of the court, he was even a Duke. None of his achievements could be ignored. Finally, Mr. Lin is here after much anticipation! General Zhuughed heartily. With Mr. Lin here, we will surely be able to defend the Phoenix Fortress and prevent the armies of the Wuxi and Dayue from advancing further! Lin Beifan smiled and said, General Zhu, youre too kind. Youre the seasoned general on the battlefield, with vast experience and exceptional capabilities in warfare. Well still rely on you for leading the troops. Im just here to add a finishing touch! Mr. Lin, youre the truly courteous one! General Zhus tone held a hint of dissatisfaction. Among all the civil and military officials in the court, who can match your prowess in warfare? Whether its the battle at Ho Pass or the battle at Songjiang, they were both incredibly splendid, leaving people amazed! If I were put in such a situation, I definitely couldnt fight as brilliantly as you did! Thats why, in terms of warfare, I salute you! I also hope that Mr. Lin wont hesitate to share your strategic wisdom for dealing with the Great Yan Army and the Southern Jiang Army. Lets drive back the Wuxi Army and the Dayue Army! Haha Agreed! Lets work together to push back the Wuxi Army and the Dayue Army! Lin Beifan smiled. Afterwards, General Zhu led the group to host a feast in honor of Lin Beifan. As they were halfway through, a soldier rushed in to report to General Zhu. The general turned to Lin Beifan with a sly expression and said, Mr. Lin, theres an exceptionally beautiful woman in purple clothes outside. She ims to be called Ziyue and is your confidante. She wishes to see you. Mr. Lin, what do you think? A stunning woman in purple clothes? A confidante? At once, everyones gaze turned towards Lin Beifan, filled with curiosity. Lin Beifan felt a bit bewildered. Was Princess Ziyue here? He coughed and said, She is indeed a friend of mine. Shese all this way to see me. Ill go meet her first. Please, continue eating and drinking, dont mind me. General Zhu loudly proimed, Of course! Everyone, please continue enjoying the feast and dont disturb Mr. Lins leisure! Definitely wont disturb! Its fine even if Mr. Lin doesnte back! Laughter filled the air, and Lin Beifan left somewhat speechless. He leisurely made his way to the outside and indeed saw Princess Ziyue. As expected, she was dressed in purple attire with a purple veil covering her face. Although her face couldnt be clearly seen, her graceful figure and charming demeanor left all the men around her stunned. Lin Beifan approached and smiled, Miss Ziyue, why have youe? Princess Ziyue walked up, her eyes shimmering like clear water, and gazed affectionately at Lin Beifan, Sir, I missed you. My goodness, shes so bold right from the start, so alluring! This woman is bing bolder and more captivating by the day! Does she really think I cant do anything to her? However, seeing the envious and jealous nces from the men around, Lin Beifan couldnt help but secretly revel in his heart. It felt a bit exhrating! Although this woman was audacious, she was still giving him face. Miss Ziyue,e with me. Lets talk inside the room. Mr. Lin, please lead the way! The two gradually disappeared from sight. However, rumors about Lin Beifan and Princess Ziyue quickly spread. Entering the courtyard arranged by General Zhu for Lin Beifan, they walked into the study. Lin Beifan invited Princess Ziyue to sit down and said with a smile, This isnt the Lin residence. The conditions here are simple. Please dont mind, Your Highness! Why would I mind? Just being able to see the Military Advisor here fills me with joy! Princess Ziyue removed the veil from her face, her smiling eyes fixed on Lin Beifan without wavering, as if she couldnt get enough of looking at him. Lin Beifan felt uneasy under her gaze, Princess, thats enough. Please, stop looking at me like that! What look? Princess Ziyue asked innocently. The look you have right nowjoy mixed with fondness, fondness apanied by anticipation, and that anticipation carries a hint of shyness, like the look of someone experiencing their first feelings of affection Lin Beifan shook his head and tsked, Princess, your seductive skills are bing stronger and your allure even deeper. Princess Ziyue blinked, Really? But I havent used any seductive techniques! Lin Beifan: Princess Ziyue burst into giggles, her eyes sparkling mischievously. I know. Its just that, Advisor, you seem to have been moved! In your heart, is there a little bit of liking for me? After speaking, she even yfully winked at Lin Beifan, radiating charm. Lin Beifan blushed, Princess, dont make baseless ims. Theres nothing of that sort. Princess Ziyue leaned forward, her charming face yful as she blinked provocatively, Really, nothing at all? Bashfully, Lin Beifan admitted, It wasnt there before, but now theres just a tiny bit. Really? Princess Ziyues heart filled with joy. She leaned closer and inquired, What do you like about me? I like it when youre a little farther away from me! Princess Ziyue: Her smile disappeared, and she gave Lin Beifan a stern look. Military Advisor, you really dont understand romance. Lets get to the point! Lin Beifan agreed with a nod, Princess, youre absolutely right. Then, Princess Ziyue detailed the ambush and surprise attack on the Dayue army, reporting every detail to Lin Beifan. After her report, she tilted her head slightly and looked at Lin Beifan, as if expecting praise. Lin Beifan nodded in agreement, Princess, youve done remarkably well! Despite the 800-mile journey, you managed to inflict losses of over thirty to forty thousand troops on the Dayue army. Their morale is low, and they cant fight effectively. Truly impressive! Princess Ziyuesughter was unrestrained, Thank you for your kind words, Advisor. If it werent for their heightened vignce, it wouldnt have been as easy to set up a trap. Otherwise, the losses might have doubled! Lin Beifan chuckled, Ive heard that this time, the Dayues War God, Gongsun Wudi, is leading the troops. He has fought for years, with more wins than losses. Hes experienced and extremely cautious, so achieving these results is alreadymendable. However impressive he is, he cant surpass the prowess of our Military Advisor! Princess Ziyue admired, I heard that previously, you led an army of 200,000 to withstand a force of 500,000 from the Southern Jiang Army! In just ten days, with less than 3,000 casualties, you defeated the Southern Jiang Army, capturing 300,000 soldiers and even apprehending the Prince of Southern Jiang and other offenders! Compared to your aplishments, our achievements are hardly worth mentioning. Lin Beifan modestly shook his head. Advisor, Im delighted you coulde to the Phoenix Fortress. Because this time, we can finally fight side by side! Whether its the Dayue Army or the Wuxi Army, we will ensure they have no way out! Princess Ziyue was full of spirit, excited at the thought of joining forces with the Military Advisor to leave all their enemies behind. The day the nted Moon Dynasty is restored to power will undoubtedly be a renowned tale. However, Lin Beifan shook his head, Princess, youre overly optimistic. Theyve joined forces with a million troops, and with superior numbers, it wont be easy to win. Perhaps others cant, but I believe in the Military Advisor! Princess Ziyue had full confidence in Lin Beifan. After all, Lin Beifans military achievements were proven with real battles. In the past, facing an imminent invasion of 800,000 soldiers, he had takenmand in crisis and, in a matter of days, defeated the Great Xia Army with only 300,000 troops, capturing their prince and 600,000 soldiers, leaving an indelible mark on history. More recently, he led 200,000 troops to battle against the Southern Jiang Army in Songjiang. Again, in just a few days, he defeated the enemy and captured the Prince of Southern Jiang and 300,000 soldiers, further enhancing his reputation. The prosperous state of the nted Moon Dynasty within a year, causing the Wuxi Army and the Dayue Army to be flustered, was also thanks to Lin Beifans guidance. It could be said that Lin Beifan was unrivaled in military prowess! The Dayues War God, Gongsun Wudi? Hah! Hes not even fit to shine the shoes for the Military Advisor! The more Princess Ziyue thought, the more confidence she had. She eximed loudly, Advisor, tell us how to fight, and Ill fully support you! Chapter 316: The Plan Unveiled, A Million Troops with No Return! Chapter 316: The n Unveiled, A Million Troops with No Return! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Your Highness, what kind of results do you wish to achieve? Lin Beifan asked. Princess Ziyue didnt hesitate and said, Prevent them from entering the Phoenix Fortress and keep them outside the borders. Severely damage the Wuxi and Dayue forces, causing them substantial losses! If we can make sure they all stay behind, that would be even better! Lin Beifan pondered for a moment and replied, Keeping them outside the Phoenix Fortress and preventing their entry isnt particrly difficult for me. Princess Ziyue nodded with satisfaction, Yes, yes! Lin Beifan continued, Inflicting significant damage on the Wuxi and Dayue forces is also within my capabilities if I make an effort. Princess Ziyue nodded again, her happiness evident, Yes, yes! However, Lin Beifan furrowed his brows, If you want to keep them all behind, thats extremely difficult, almost an impossible task. Keep in mind, they possess a million-strong army, a force too immensrger than thebined strength of both our sides. Moreover, they have numerous experts; its truly a challenging situation. yfully, Princess Ziyue pouted, Strategist, you better think of a solution. I believe you can do it! Lin Beifan forced a smile, Your Highness, believing in me wont change the fact that Im truly at a loss here. Princess Ziyue pulled out a stack of silver notes and grinned mischievously at Lin Beifan, Dear Strategist, Ive long prepared. Now, do you have a solution? Lin Beifans expression changed, Your Highness, this really isnt a matter of money. Princess Ziyue puzzledly asked, Then what is the matter? Its a matter of a lot of money, Lin Beifan picked up the silver notes, sighing, With this little amount, its difficult for me to get things done. Princess Ziyue eximed, Oh my god! She then pulled out more silver notes, totaling three million liang, and stacked them in front of Lin Beifan. Angrily, she said, Strategist, this should be enough, right? Lin Beifan smiled warmly as he epted the money, Of course, Your Highness. Youre truly generous. I love your straightforward and approachable demeanor. Now that the money is here, lets get to work. Princess Ziyue sat up straight, her expression serious, Strategist, please tell me! With a slight grin, Lin Beifan said, Dealing with Wuxi and Dayues million-strong army isnt as difficult as it may seem. As long as we have the right timing, geographical advantage, and exploit their weaknesses, we can ensure they wont return. Princess Ziyue grew excited, Strategist, tell me quicklyhow can we make sure they wont return? Lin Beifan pinched his fingers together and muttered, I observed the night sky and noticed that in the past few days, the Phoenix Mountain Range and the Wuxi region have been suffering from a severe drought, with extremely hot weather Princess Ziyue was astonished, Strategist, you even understand celestial observations? Lin Beifan remainedposed and confidently stated, Of course. Even Zhuge Kongming understood celestial observations and strategicmand. Its reasonable for a strategist like me to possess these skills. Dont get caught up in these minor details. Alright, youre right Princess Ziyue concurred. Lin Beifan continued, With the hot and dry weather, theres a certainck of water. But during military campaigns, water is essential. People can go a few days without food, but if they go three days without water, theyll die from dehydration. The water source for Wuxi and Dayue is the Wutong River, whose origin lies in the Phoenix Mountain Range. The mountain ranges summit collects water, which flows down following the terrain, forming the Wutong River. Therefore, my n is this: you will reach the summit of the Phoenix Mountain Range and use boulders and other objects to block the Wutong River. With Wuxis army running low on water, they will inevitably trace the river back to its source, the summit of the Phoenix Mountain Range. By doing so, you can capitalize on the geographical advantage and engage in ambushes. This should be well within your expertise, especially since youve already mastered the three major battle formations. It shouldnt be a problem dealing with them. Princess Ziyues eyes lit up, Strategist, youre right. We can definitely ensure they wont return! But suddenly, she grew concerned, But what if they send arge force in? We have fewer troops, and it might not end well More troops would actually make it easier! Lin Beifan grinned, Keep in mind that the dry weather increases the risk of fires, especially forest fires. When the timees, with more people, you can simply start a fire and eliminate them, cant you? Princess Ziyues eyes lit up once again, Right, well set fire to them! Although the losses would be substantial, its for the sake of their water source. They will undoubtedly send experts this time. So, Your Highness, it would be best to dry up the water supply on top and cut off their retreatpletely. This way, theyll have only one path left. Princess Ziyue anxiously asked, What path? Theyll have to breach the fortress and enter the city to find water, Lin Beifan grinned mischievously, By then, I only need to defend the Phoenix Fortress, dy them for a few days, and theyll die of thirst. Great, great, great! This n is brilliant, Strategist! Princess Ziyue was so delighted her smile was unstoppable. Something that seemed really difficult initially became incredibly simple when in Lin Beifans hands. As long as they followed his advice, dealing with a million-strong army was as good as done. She was growing more and more impressed with Lin Beifan. Since getting to know him, she realized that there was no issue that couldnt be resolved. With him around, she felt utterly secure. Gazing at Lin Beifans handsome face, Princess Ziyue softly called, Strategist Lin Beifan touched his face, Your Highness, why are you looking at me like that? Princess Ziyue stood up and hurried towards Lin Beifan, Strategist, dont move, let me hug you for a while! Lin Beifan panicked, Your Highness, please calm down! I cant calm down, just let me do this! Princess Ziyue had already pounced. Ah! My chastity! Half an incense sticks timeter, Princess Ziyue left reluctantly, Strategist, Ill go prepare now. After we seed, Ille see you. Dont forget about me! As long as you remember to bring money, I definitely wont forget! Annoying! The next day quickly arrived. Lin Beifan woke up early, had a simple meal, and then went out to inspect the surroundings with General Zhu. At this point, the Phoenix Fortress had assembled 400,000 troops, along with sufficient supplies of food, weapons, armor, and more for the same number of troops. It could be said that they were fully equipped for whatever mighte. While walking, General Zhu suddenly sighed, Ive fought so many battles in my life, countlessrge and small, but this time is the most challenging yet also the easiest. Lin Beifan was puzzled, Why do you say that? The reason its challenging is because were facing abined force of a million from Wuxi and Dayue. The battle has the most soldiers and thergest scale, making it extremely tough. But its easy because we dont need to worry about supplies at all. During warfare, what matters most in the end are provisions and equipment! In previous battles, Ive always been concerned about these aspectsworried about insufficient supplies and inadequate weaponry. But now, we have absolutely no worries on the supply front. General Zhu chuckled, Sir Lin, you see, these supplies arrived early, and they are abundant. They are enough for me to put forth all my efforts. I heard that these supplies were obtained through reparations from the Xia Empire, negotiated by you, Sir Lin! Your strategic foresight truly impresses me. You dont know how many of our Great Wu soldiers youve saved, and on their behalf, I thank you! Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Its all for the court, for Great Wu. Exactly! No wonder Her Majesty values you so much. With your loyalty and talent, how could His Majesty not love you? General Zhuughed heartily Lin Beifan smiled lightly and said nothing. As they continued walking, Lin Beifan suddenly spoke, General Zhu, I observed the night sky and noticed that the weather has been extremely hot and dry these past few days. I suggest having the soldiers prepare extra water to prevent heatstroke. General Zhu looked up at the sun, Sir Lin, after hearing you say that, I realize todays weather is indeed quite hot! Its only morning, yet it seems we really do need to prepare more water! Prepare even more, and we can use water as a defensive weapon! Sir Lin, what do you mean by that? When water boils, its killing power is significant. When the enemy attacks the city, we can easily pour boiling water on them, thereby easily defeating them. Boiling water is effective, but it takes a lot of firewood to heat up enough water. Unfortunately, we need firewood for cooking and heating. We cant afford to use it for boiling water. Lin Beifan grinned slightly, I have a solution that can produce arge amount of hot water without using firewood. The soldiers of the Zhu ns army lit up, What solution? Lin Beifan had people prepare severalrge containers filled with water. He ced a few copper mirrors inside each container and then filled them with water. General Zhu was quite puzzled, Sir Lin, can this really create hot water? Yes! Lin Beifan pped his hands, The weather is hot, and the sunlight is strong. When sunlight enters the container, it will be reflected by the copper mirrors inside. The light will then continue to bounce around, reflecting off the inner walls of the container repeatedly. This process will raise the temperature of the water. Although it wont reach boiling point, it will still be hot enough to cause burns. This was essentially a rudimentary version of a sr water heater, using the refraction of light to heat water. However, General Zhu still couldntprehend it, Can it really work? Trust me, you wont be wrong if you believe me. Youll understand soon enough! Lin Beifan said with a smile. By noon, not a single cloud could be seen in the sky. The sun shone intensely, and just standing on the ground would make one drenched in sweat. Lin Beifan estimated that the temperature must be above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), enough to make people dizzy from the heat. Fortunately, Lin Beifan had the soldiers prepare plenty of water in advance, allowing them to avoid heatstroke. Still, the heat was unbearable. This was actually a result of Lin Beifan intentionally controlling the temperature to be lower; otherwise, it would have been even more oppressive. However, on the side of the Wuxi and Dayue armies, things werent going so well. Chapter 317: Forest Inferno, Leave No Trace! Chapter 317: Forest Inferno, Leave No Trace! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
On their side, the surroundings were incredibly open, devoid of any cover, providing an unobstructed view as sunlight beamed down. While tents could somewhat shield them from the sun, the thinyer of fabric hardly served any purpose. In fact, being inside the tent felt even hotter, akin to a sauna. The majority of the ground consisted of soil and rocks, which easily absorbed heat. After absorbing heat, the rocks raised the temperature even further. If the temperature in Lin Beifan side reached 40 degrees, then outside the fortress, where the Wuxi and Dayue armies were stationed, the temperature would rise by at least another three or four degrees. With the human body temperature ranging between 37-38 degrees, this extreme heat could truly be deadly. General Gongsun, who had just arrived at the fortress, woke up to such scorching conditions. Feeling a bit agitated, he walked out of his tent and coincidentally encountered Wuxi Duke, who was out inspecting the area. He asked, Your Highness Wuxi, is the weather here always this hot? Wuxi Duke shook his head, saying, Although its usually hot, its not this intense. Todays weather is quite unusual! However, this abnormal weather wontst for many days, endure it and it will pass! General Gongsun sighed, I can endure it, but my soldiers might not be able to! Perplexed, Wuxi Duke inquired, General Gongsun, why? Your Highness Wuxi, you might not be aware! Although Dayue usually experiences some dryness, the weather conditions are still quite suitable. Weve never encountered such extreme heat before, even I can hardly bear it! The soldiers I brought with me might not adapt well to this environment. If they cant adapt, the impact will be significant I see! Wuxi Duke chuckled, I overlooked that aspect. If the soldiers of Dayue truly cant handle it, they can go to the Wutong River to cool off. Some of my troops have already gone there. Thank you for the information, Your Highness. Ill take my leave now! General Gongsun hurriedly departed, eager to take a refreshing bath and find some relief. However, when he and his men arrived at the Wutong River, they realized the rivers water levels had significantly decreased, with parts of the riverbed exposed. Is this all the water the Wutong River has? General Gongsun wondered. Reporting to the General, there was a lot more water yesterday! Its possible that the scorching weather caused it to evaporate! a soldier reported. Never mind that, lets bathe and worry about itter! General Gongsun shed his armor, revealing his muscr physique, and plunged into the river to soak. The soldiers of Dayue who followed suit did the same, filling the small Wutong River to capacity. As they bathed, however, everyone started feeling ufortable. The rivers water had be heated, much like bathing in hot water. While they hade to cool off, the more they bathed, the hotter and more ufortable they became, eventually having to exit the river. Endure it for now. When the weather cools down in the evening, we cane back to bathe and cool off! General Gongsun donned his armor once again, gazing up at the scorching sun in the sky, muttering under his breath, This infernal weather! Such bad luck! Returning to the camp, they found it even hotter. From a distance, the heat distorted their vision, as if they had entered a desert. The stationed soldiers were drenched in sweat, some staggering and pale-faced with lips turning blueclear signs of heatstroke. The other soldiers were also extremely ufortable. Every spot was hot, and they couldnt find a cool ce anywhere. Everyone took off their armor, listlessly crowding inside the tents, their bodies drenched in sweat. General Gongsun inquired around and learned that thousands had fallen victim to heatstroke, making the situation dire. He sought out Wuxi Duke, asking, Your Highness Wuxi, its unbearably hot here, my soldiers cant take it. Is there any nearby ce for relief from the heat? Wuxi Duke sighed, Ive already had people check, but theres nowhere within a 30-li radius to escape the heat. Beyond 30 li lies the Phoenix Mountain Range, where you can find relief, but the journey there and back isnt worthwhile. General Gongsun nodded, Indeed, its not worth it. However, the relief spots were too far away60 li one way, which would take a day to travel. Enduring such intense heat while walking wasnt feasible. It would be better not to go and just copse on the way. General Gongsun gazed at the sky, If the weather stays like this, we wont be able to fight any battles! Wuxi Duke chuckled, General Gongsun, rest assured, while todays weather is unusual, it wont be amon urrence. Endure a little longer, and it will pass. With no better options, General Gongsun returned. Due to the extreme heat, everyone had lost their appetites and barely ate anything. Finally, they endured until evening when the sun set. While it was somewhat cooler, the temperature remained high. The earth, having absorbed heat, began to radiate it back. How could they endure 40-degree weather? General Gongsun, unable to bear it, took his men back to the Wutong River for a bath. However, they were surprised to find the water had significantly reduced. Someone exined, The heat must have caused it to evaporate. General Gongsun dipped his hand in the water and found it still scalding hot, making it impossible for them to bathe and cool off. They could only hastily wipe themselves and return to rest. But with the temperature so high, nobody slept well. On the second day, the sky was an immacte blue, not a cloud in sight. The sun shone brightly, and the air remained dry and scorching. By morning, the temperature had already risen to 40 degrees. The million-strong army looked up at the zing sun, filled with despairhow could they endure this? General Gongsun, his arms bare, sought Wuxi Duke again, asking, Your Highness, when will this weather end? This Im not quite sure! Wuxi Duke looked to his strategist. The strategist, Fengchu, spread his hands, wearing a wry smile, I dont know either! However, things got worse. A soldier rushed over, reporting urgently, Your Highness, bad news! The Wutong River has dried up, theres no water! Everyone paled in shock, No water? Wasnt there water yesterday? How can it just disappear? Im not entirely sure Everyone hurried to the Wutong River and found it indeed dry. The riverbed was fully exposed, only a few shallow puddles remained. Everyones faces grew grave; this situation was dire. Water was the source of lifepeople could go without food for days, but not without water. How could they live without water? How could they fight? It couldnt be that the heat evaporated it, could it? someone cautiously suggested. Unlikely! Even if the sun is intense, it couldnt evaporate the river in just a day. There must be an issue upstream causing it to stop flowing. We need to send someone to investigate! Wuxi Duke immediately dispatched a thousand-strong elite squad, led by a peak innate expert, to follow the river upstream, uncover the truth, and solve the problem. On the Phoenix Mountain Range, the nted Moon Army, who had waited for a long time, became excited. Princess Ziyue spoke with great delight, Wuxi Duke has sent troops! A force of about a thousand, led by a peak innate! Prepare well; make sure they have no way of returning! Yes, Princess! Theyy in ambush near the river, waiting for their prey. After about an hour, the Wuxi troops finally arrived. The nted Moon Army didnt hesitate to attack; they rained down all sorts of stones and arrows, inflicting heavy casualties on the Wuxi forces. Wuxis innate experts were furious, It seems you rats are up to no good again. Ill make sure to kill all of you! Thene! Amid the nted Moon forces, four aggressive innate experts charged forward. Within the military camp, Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun waited for a long time without receiving any news. However, the weather grew hotter and the water became scarcer. Whats happening with General Xu? He hasnt returned after so long? Wuxi Dukeined. The strategist, Fengchu, bowed, Your Highness, he might have encountered aplicated problem. Perhaps its best to send more people to investigate. Your military insight is correct! Wuxi Duke dispatched another troop and instructed them to report every half an hour, no matter the situation. Initially, things were fine, butter on, they gradually lost contact. Everyone grew increasingly uneasy. Wuxi Dukes expression darkened, Im afraid the situation is dire. General Gongsun suggested, Could it be the Rat Army? Theyve been rtively quiet these days; they might be plotting something. Perhaps they killed those people and cut off the water! Its quite likely! Wuxi Duke mmed the table, standing up, We cant dy any longer; immediately send arge force into the Phoenix Mountain Range! We need to solve both the Rat Army issue and the water problem! Yes, Your Highness! Thus, a massive army of 100,000 soldiers marched into the Phoenix Mountain Range. In the Phoenix Mountain Range, the nted Moon Army grew excited again. Princess, Wuxi and Dayue have sent arge force into the mountainsaround 100,000 strong. Our opportunity has arrived! Princess Ziyue was thrilled, Yes, our opportunity hase! This time, we must severely weaken them and show them our might! Stick to the n and act separately! Yes, Your Highness! By now, the 100,000-strong army had entered the Phoenix Mountain Range. They proceeded cautiously, vigntly watching their surroundings, guarding against ambushes. Surprisingly, their journey was smooth. Unknowingly, they had followed the dried riverbed deep into the mountains. Meanwhile, the nted Moon forces were outside, sprinkling palm oil and igniting it. The weather was hot, and the conditions were dry; fires were easy to start. With the added palm oil, the fire zed even more intensely. In a matter of moments, the mes raged high, enveloping the entire mountain peak and spreading upward. The army deep within the mountains soon realized something was amiss and grew panicked. Fire! Theres a fire here! A forest fire! Were doomed if we dont run! Help! Help! Everyone fled in every direction, forgetting about searching for water. At the foot of the mountain, Princess Ziyue and herpanions watched the towering inferno with a vengeful satisfaction, Let it burn! Burn them all to death inside! Leave no one behind! Before long, the mes shot skyward, illuminating the entire sky. Like this series? Also read My Ipetent Reign: Gifting the Kingdom at the Beginning, Bing an Eternal Emperor by the same author. Chapter 318: People Missing, Water Gone, the Frustrated Wuxi Duke! Chapter 318: People Missing, Water Gone, the Frustrated Wuxi Duke! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Theres a fire over there, a zing red expanse, like its on fire! Forest fire, such a massive fire! The Phoenix Mountain Range is aze! Atop the city walls of the Phoenix Fortress, everyone eximed in rm. At this moment, Lin Beifan also stood on the city walls, gazing at the towering mes in the distance, with a faint smile. Beside him, General Zhu frowned, saying, It was perfectly fine over there how did it catch fire? And this fire is enormous, igniting the hilltops so quickly! The weather is hot, and the air is dry, making it prone to fire! Lin Beifan smiled, But I have a feeling this mountain fire is unusually intense. It might be intentional Why not send someone to investigate? There might be unexpected gains! Lord Lin speaks wisely! General Zhu nodded, taking Lin Beifans words seriously. Because in the past two days, he had realized that Lin Beifan was indeed quite capable. He had said, in the hot and dry weather, preparations were necessary. Sure enough, for two consecutive days, the scorching sun zed, and sweat drenched everyones backs, leaving them on the verge of exhaustion. Fortunately, they had prepared some water, or else many might have suffered from heatstroke. He had said, ce copper mirrors in water basins, and under the scorching sun, it could generate hot water. Sure enough, after basking for half a day, the water in the basin did be hot, too hot to touch. Thus, he prepared many water basins and copper mirrors to store water. Now, he said this mountain fire was extraordinary, possibly yielding unexpected gains. General Zhu immediately dispatched a highly skilled expert to investigate, hoping his hunch was right. Meanwhile, the martial forces of Wuxi and Dayue also spotted the mountain fire. Its on fire, theres a fire there! Such a massive mountain fire! Sigh, hot weather makes fires easy to start! After hearing this news, Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun stepped out of their tents to observe. The fiercer the ze grew, the stronger their uneasy feelings became. Strategist Fengchu wiped off the sweat, nervously saying, That seems to be the origin of the Wutong River. Our army went there to investigate water sources! Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun exchanged a look, their expressions horrified, Somethings not right! Troubles afoot! They immediately gathered numerous experts and raced toward the site of the fire. They were all martial practitioners, covering the distance of several dozen miles in no time, only to be stunned by what they saw. Because this fire was too fierce, as if the entire mountain had been set aze! Amidst the raging inferno, they faintly heard cries for help and pleas. Our soldiers are in there! Hurry and save them! They rushed into the midst of the fire quickly. They discovered that their soldiers were indeed trapped in the midst of the ze, running around in disarray, hoping to escape from the mountain fire. But many more had already perished in the mes, the scene was terrifying. Without hesitation, they immediately began rescuing peopleone by one if they could, in pairs if possible. However, it was a drop in the bucket; they were only a dozen or so people, yet within the mountain fire were a hundred thousand soldiers, scattered throughout the entire hillside, too dispersed to be saved in time. In the end, it took an entire night, and they were only able to rescue three to four thousand people. Yet over ny thousand had be buried in the mountain fire. Wuxi Duke stared at the sky-obscuring ze before him, his eyes turning bloodshot, a surge of killing intent rising within him: Its definitely the Rat Army! They actually set fire to my troops and killed them. Theres no reconciling with them now! They truly deserve death!! General Gongsun roared. Rarely leading an expedition, he hadnt even had the chance to establish his aplishments, not even fought a battle, yet fifty thousand soldiers were now burnt to ashes! Coupled with the thirty to forty thousand soldiers lost on the way He had already lost eighty to ny thousand soldiers! In other words, he hadnt achieved anything and had already lost nearly twenty percent of his troops! The losses were undoubtedly heavy! He detested that group of rats to the core! Aaaah! General Gongsun struck out with all his might. Boom! Within a dozen yards, a deep pit was created, extinguishing some of the mes. However, human strength was limited. His power was useless before this massive mountain fire; it soon red back to life. Although the loss of tens of thousands of soldiers is extremely heart-wrenching, the most urgent matter now is to find a water source and solve the drinking water problem! Wuxi Duke said with a heavy expression, Without water, our hundreds of thousands of troops will die of thirst! Your Highness speaks the truth! General Gongsun nodded gravely. Then, they charged into the midst of the mes once more and finally reached the mountaintop along the river. However, the scene before them drove them mad once again! Because atop the mountain, there was a massiveke, the source of the Wutong River. Yet, thiske had been ruptured, the waterpletely drained. Those damned Rat Army! Theyve gone too far! Wuxi Duke pounded his chest, shouting in anger. They truly deserve to die! To die! General Gongsun also raged. Their voices resonated for three hundred miles, causing birds in a thousand mountains to take flight! This news was soon known to General Zhu as well. Good news! Tremendous news! He arrived before Lin Beifan with a spring in his step, saying, Lord Lin, you were spot on! I sent people to investigate, and we truly found an unexpected piece of good news! The Wutong River has dried up, the armies of Wuxi Duke and Dayue have run out of water. So Wuxi Duke dispatched a hundred thousand troops to enter the Phoenix Mountain Range through the Wutong Rivers course, to investigate water sources. Guess what happened? What happened? Were they burned by the fire? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. General Zhu danced with excitement, Exactly! Once they entered the mountains, a raging fire ignited within. The ze was so intense that even Wuxi Dukes experts could only rescue three to four thousand people! Nearly a hundred thousand soldiers were buried in the mes, never to return! This battle hasnt even started yet, and theyve already lost a hundred thousand soldiers. Truly, luck is on our side, luck is on our side! Haha General Zhuughed with great joy, his satisfaction evident. Rather than saying its luck, its more urate to say its deliberate! Lin Beifan chuckled. General Zhu nodded repeatedly, Master Lin, youre right! This mountain fire was likely caused by the rebel forces of Wuxi! They cut off the water source of the Wutong River, drained the water from the mountains, and then lured the armies of Wuxi Duke and Dayue over, setting the fire! Such a brilliant n, its truly done us a great favor! Haha At this moment, he really wished he could say to the rebel forces of Wuxi: Well done! Afterughing, Lin Beifan said seriously, But next, were in for a tough battle! Why do you say that, Lord Lin? General Zhu was puzzled. Marching and fighting cant be done without water! However, the Wutong River has dried up, and its water source has been destroyed. The million-strong army outside the city cant continue without water! To find the nearest water source, they must travel a hundred miles away, which is too far and unattainable! So, Wuxi Duke has only one option! Lin Beifans gaze intensified, That is to breach the Phoenix Fortress, to enter the city, and secure the water source! Thus, Wuxi Duke is bound to mobilize his troops, preparing for a city siege! This battle will undoubtedly be fiercer than ever before! Lord Lins words are indeed true! General Zhu greatly agreed and asked with anticipation, Theyre about tounch the attack on the city. Do you have any effective strategies? Lin Beifan smiled, In terms of defending the city, General Zhu, youre the expert. How could I meddle where Im not knowledgeable? I wouldnt dare, I wouldnt dare! General Zhu waved his hand repeatedly, modestly saying, Its you, Lord Lin, who is more remarkable. I greatly admire you! When ites to the critical moment, please dont hide your talents! In fact, I do have a strategy! Once its implemented, they wont have a way out! Lin Beifan chuckled. General Zhus eyes brightened, What strategy? Please tell me quickly! However, Lin Beifan mysteriously shook his head, The time hasnte yet. The secrets of fate mustnt be revealed! Huh? Why cant you say? General Zhu was dumbfounded. Because the time hasnte. If I say it now, it wont be effective! Lin Beifan smiled. General Zhu was itching with impatience, Lord Lin, could you please tell me in advance? I promise not to leak it! Lin Beifan didnt yield, General Zhu, please be patient for a bit longer! When the time is right, Ill definitely be the first to tell you! Disappointed, General Zhu left. Meanwhile, Wuxi Duke, General Gongsun, and the others returned to the main camp, their faces heavy. Sacrificing a hundred thousand troops, yet the water supply issue remained unsolved, leaving them both furious and disheartened. Without water, itll be a problem to cook food for tomorrow. What are we going to do? Never mind cooking, not dying of thirst is already a challenge! With hundreds of thousands of troops, how can we fight without water? These damn Rat Army! I wont spare them! Wuxi Duke turned to Fengchu, his strategist, with a glimmer of hope, Strategist, do you have any good ns? Fengchu sighed, Your Majesty, you cant make bricks without straw! Without water, no matter how great the strategy, its futile! Other than the Wutong River, wheres the nearest water source? General Gongsun asked. The closest water source is still within the Phoenix Mountain Range, another river known as the Vermilion Bird River. But its still a hundred miles away from here! Our troops will need one to two days to get there! However, even if we resolve the water problem by going there, we wont be able to fight! Fengchu sighed. Everyone followed suit with bitter smiles. After drinking water there, they would need one to two days to return and fight. During those one to two days, would they not drink water? Would they not cook food? They would still need water! The demand for water by the 900,000-strong army was truly staggering! And you couldnt possibly transport water over, that was beyond your capability. We have only one path left for the current situation! Wuxi Duke said solemnly. What path? everyone asked in unison. Wuxi Duke pointed his sword toward the direction of Great Wu, his gaze gloomy and fierce, The Phoenix Fortress definitely has water! As long as we breach the Phoenix Fortress, the water problem will be solved! Yes! Everyones hearts stirred. Chapter 319: This Old Guy Actually Dared to Shoot Arrows at Me? Doesn’t He Want to Live? Chapter 319: This Old Guy Actually Dared to Shoot Arrows at Me? Doesnt He Want to Live? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
What the Wuxi Duke said was indeed a good idea, and the only way. They had no water here, but there must be water inside the Phoenix Fortress. As long as they broke through the Phoenix Fortress, not only could they obtain a water source, but they could also open up a path to the hearnd of the Central ins! With this, their grand n was within reach! But Strategist Fengchu hesitated, Your Highness, the weather is dry and hot. Weve been without water for a day, and the soldiers are suffering from both dehydration and heatstroke. Their morale is low, and theirbat strength has greatly diminished. Launching an attack on the city at this moment might result in heavy casualties. Strategist, do you have any other solutions? Wuxi Duke retorted. Youve said it yourself, a clever wife cannot cook without rice! Werepletely out of water now. We need to address the water problem first! Theres water inside the fortress. We can only get it by breaking through. Otherwise, our million-strong army will die of thirst! Your Highness is right, I strongly agree! General Gongsun said in a deep voice. At present, we really have only one path to take. We cant dy any longer; we must act immediately! Very well! Wuxi Duke responded loudly. With the two leaders in the army making their decisions, everyone could only follow their orders. Thus, the siege war erupted once again! Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun assembled a force of 300,000 soldiers, charging toward the Phoenix Fortress with great momentum. Attack! Push forward with all your might! After we break in, therell be water to drink! Give it your all, everyone! Apart from the attacking force of 300,000, another 300,000 soldiers were shooting arrows and hurling stones from a distance. And there were yet another 300,000 soldiers doing nothing, waiting at the ready. Inside the Phoenix Fortress, the imperial soldiers were also taking swift action. They released arrows, hurled stones, thrust with long spears, knocked down thedders ced against the walls, and employed every possible means. At the city gate, various sandbags and massive stones were brought in to firmly block the gate, preventing it from being breached. At this moment, the heated water that had been prepared in advance was finally put to use. The defending soldiers scooped up the heated water that had been warmed by the sunlight and sshed it down. Though the water wasnt boiling, its temperature was still high enough to cause burns. After it was sshed, soldiers from the Wuxi Dukedom and the Dayue Dynasty howled in pain before falling off the walls. Ah~ Its hot water! It burns! My hand got burned! My face! It had to be said, the destructive power of this hot water was substantial. Just adleful caused several attacking soldiers to be harmed. And the Imperial Court had plenty more of this hot water. General Zhu, with a solemn expression, witnessed this scene. He rarely showed a hint of a smile and eximed, Exactly! Keep sshing it like that! Dont let them climb up! Because of the hot water, the defense of the Imperial Court soldiers became much easier. All of this was observed by Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun from a distance, but it didnt sway their determination. Sacrifices were inevitable in a siege, and they had already prepared themselves for substantial sacrifices. General Gongsun, atop his towering horse, looked into the distance, and at a nce, he saw the entire city wall and everyone on it. Finally, his gaze lingered momentarily on a young official wearing a red official robe. As far as I know, in response to our million-strong army, the Imperial Court has dispatched the Prefect of the Capital, Lin Beifan! This youngd is quite remarkable. Hes been an official for less than two years, yet hes risen from a sixth-rank minor official to the current position of a first-rank high-ranking official in the Imperial Court. His status and power are unmatched, making him the foremost figure in the Great Wu Dynasty! And whats even more incredible is that hes a civil official, yet he led troops to win two major battles, each time with minimal losses, and he was bestowed the title of Loyalty and Valor Count! Indeed, hes extremely talented! Wuxi Duke nodded with a trace of satisfaction on his face. After all, this person was under hismand; how could he not be impressive? However General Gongsun chuckled lightly. In my view, hes not living up to his reputation beneath the fame. Wuxi Duke was puzzled, General Gongsun, why do you say that? Take a look! General Gongsun pointed at Lin Beifan on the city wall, his tone tinged with contempt. In the ongoing battle, Lin Beifan is one of themanders, the brain behind the army. He should prioritize his own safety in order to n for the rest. But this Lin Beifan is a man of letters, with no martial skills whatsoever. Hes a feeble schr. Yet, he openly stands on the city wall, isnt that putting himself in danger? Not only that, hes not even wearing armor. If anything were to happen, what would be of the entire army? Everyone would have to expend effort to protect him. Therefore, this seeing the leopard through a small hole strategy reveals therger picture! General Gongsun sneered again. Perhaps its because his previous military achievements have gone to his head. This is a huge taboo for a general, something that must be avoided at all costs! Or perhaps he simply doesnt understand military strategy and tactics. His past aplishments were all the work of others. Its said that hes greatly favored by the Empress, maybe thats the case! Wuxi Duke and Strategist Fengchu exchanged nces, unsure of what to say. At this moment, General Gongsun extended his hand and called out, Bring me a bow! Someone immediately brought arge bow and specially crafted arrows. Wuxi Duke, puzzled, asked, General Gongsun, what are you nning? General Gongsunughed heartily, Im feeling a bit itchy. I want to show that young man on the city wall a bit of color! Let him understand that warfare isnt childs y! Wuxi Duke was taken aback, General Gongsun, please dont! Why not? General Gongsun asked while testing the bowstring with an arrow. If this arrow takes his life, I guarantee it will throw the Imperial Court into chaos! Even if it doesnt, it will at least give him a scare. That would be quite interesting! This Wuxi Dukes face broke into a sweat as he quickly came up with an idea, I see potential in Lin Beifan as a talented individual, so I want to recruit him for our use. Please, General Gongsun, spare him this time! I see. If he has caught the eye of Your Highness, then hes truly fortunate! General Gongsun didnt release the bow, continuing, In that case, I wont take his life, just give him a little fright! General Gongsun, please be careful. Dont end up hitting the bulls eye identally! Wuxi Duke advised. Rest assured, Your Highness. I know my limits! General Gongsun drew the bowstring taut, the true qi concentrated on the arrowhead. He aimed at Lin Beifans head and slightly adjusted his aim. As a grandmaster, Lin Beifans senses were keen. He had already sensed being targeted. With aposed gaze, Lin Beifan looked over. Did this old man really dare to shoot an arrow at him? Is he looking for death? Just then, General Gongsun released the arrow. Swoosh! The sharp arrow flew across a distance of over a thousand zhang and headed toward Lin Beifan. Young Master, be careful! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai shouted out as their swords shed out. ng! Despite their full effort, they couldnt block even half of the arrows force; the sword was deflected away. The arrow continued on its path, passing by Lin Beifans left ear and embedding itself into the city wall. Throughout the entire process, Lin Beifans expression remained unchanged. General Gongsun lowered the bow in his hand, a hint of surprise in his voice. Even when an arrow is flying straight at him, he doesnt panic. His calm demeanor in such a situation suggests hes a person of courage. Im starting to appreciate him! Just then, Lin Beifan suddenly shouted toward the base of the city wall, Night Fragrance,e out! Someone shot an arrow at me, nearly taking my life. Help me seek revenge! With a swoosh, Night Fragrance appeared before Lin Beifan, furiously asking, Who dares to shoot an arrow at you? Dont they know youre my immediate superior? Theyre disrespecting me! Ill go kill him! Lin Beifan pointed in the direction of General Gongsun, saying, Its that old fellow. Go ahead! If you cant kill him, you can eliminate some Innate experts at least! Night Fragrance looked into the distance, relieved to find no grandmasters around, and heaved a sigh of relief. With a snap, he opened his white paper fan, exuding confidence as he said, Rest assured, Ill definitely bring back a few heads of Innate experts as an apology to you! Im off! He leaped off the city wall, his body transforming into a streak of light, swiftly flying toward the troops of Wuxi Duke and the Dayue Dynasty. The armies of Wuxi Duke and the Dayue Dynasty were immediately on high alert. Enemy attack! An Innate is approaching! Be on guard, everyone! Swoosh, swoosh Arrows rained down, but they couldnt hinder Night Fragrances progress. Night Fragrance sneered, You think you can stop me with these arrows? Dont overestimate yourselves! His feet were suspended in midair, yet his speed increased by threefold. General Gongsun roared, Stop the Innate, leave none of them! Yes, General! Three Innate experts rushed out from the midst of the army. Night Fragranceughed, This is getting interesting. But even you Innate experts wont be able to stop me. Under the heavens, not even grandmasters can halt me! Today, Im going to stir up chaos among the million-strong army. Haha Hisughter echoed as he elerated even further. He then unexpectedly bypassed the obstruction of the three Innate experts and broke into the midst of the army, ying around as he pleased. Suddenly, he struck out with a fist, and over a hundred soldiers fell dead! Then, he thrust out a palm, and another hundred soldiers met their end! The soldiers were densely packed, no matter how he struck, there were always more targets. There was absolutely no chance of friendly fire. The armys formation was in disarray, with heavy casualties. Wuxi Dukes eyes almost burst from his sockets as he yelled, Innates, kill him now! Over a dozen Innate experts charged forward. Night Fragrance continued to maneuver with ease, a small ordinary knife now appearing in his hand. However, regardless of the weapons wielded by the Innate experts or the divine artifacts they possessed, they all proved ineffective against this small knife. As soon as the knife got close, it prated their defenses without fail, without exception! In less than a moment, the lives of two Innate experts were imed. Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun were so infuriated that their eyes turned red! They roared in anger, picked up their weapons, and rushed forward. Both of them possessed fourth-rank strength, and theirbined power temporarily held back Night Fragrance. They engaged in dozens of exchanges. Who are you? General Gongsun shouted while fighting. I keep my name and my surname, and I am the Cat Sage, Night Fragrance! Haha! Night Fragrance responded with a sense of pride. Why did you ambush my grand army? General Gongsun questioned again. You people bullied my immediate superior, which left me very unhappy. So, Ivee to bring you some misfortune! Night Fragrance retorted. Your immediate superior is Lin Beifan, the Prefect of the Capital, the Loyal and Valor Duke! General Gongsun felt like he was about to spit blood! All of this because of releasing a single arrow. It resulted in this star of cmity descending, causing the death of thousands of soldiers and iming the lives of two Innate experts! Wuxi Duke was also ready to spit blood! If he had stopped it in time, this mess wouldnt have happened! Feeling so wronged, dont you think? Chapter 320: What Kind of Strange Strategy Requires Money? Chapter 320: What Kind of Strange Strategy Requires Money? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Night Fragrance wielded a small knife, continuing to battle within the midst of a million-strong army! He moved like the wind, appearing as elusive as a ghost! Even a dozen Innate experts couldnt ovee him! As time passed, casualties escted within the Wuxi and Dayue armies, and the million-strong force turned into chaos. Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun were infuriated beyond belief! Damn little thief! Whats the point of attacking the small fries? If you have the guts,e challenge me! Wuxi Duke eximed. If you dont stop, I wont hold back any longer! Yet, Night Fragrance burst intoughter: What a thrilling experience! Todays killings are truly exhrating! Lord Lin had a great line of poetry: killing one is a crime, killing thousands is heroic! To kill nine million, thats the true heroism! Lets wipe out everyst person and im dominance and honor! Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun spat blood once again! You want to wipe out everyone? Is that even possible? Night Fragrance, you little thief, dont get too proud! Even if I have to risk my life today, Ill make sure to keep you here! General Gongsun yelled, releasing an astonishing surge of true qi, horrifying beyond measure. Come at me! Wuxi Dukes fierce aura erupted from him, pushing away everything in his path. Provoked by both of them, Night Fragrance grew even more arrogant: Come on! All of you,e on! Lets see whose strength is greater, yours or the sharpness of my de? The battle escted, bing even more intense! On the tower of the Phoenix Fortress in the distance: Lin Beifan and the others watched this scene, their faces filled with amusement. Night Fragrances killings are impressive! Single-handedly fighting against a dozen Innate experts, causing chaos in a million-strong army. Its so exciting that even an old man like me wants to join in the fun! Haha General Zhuughed heartily. Yes, I wish I could go too. A true man should be like this! Guo Shaoshuai eximed, filled with excitement and yearning. The other Innate-level generals nodded in agreement. Just then, Mo Rushuang called out, Look over there! They saw five masked Innate experts suddenly flying into the midst of the Wuxi and Dayue armies, creating a massacre. They charged forward, leaving a trail of blood and violence in their wake. Wuxi Dukes eyes widened in fury. Who are you? How dare you disrupt my army? Do you want to die? General Gongsun was equally furious. Youd better leave immediately, or I wont be polite! But they showed no mercy, continuing their killing spree. Wuxi Duke, for the sake of your ambition, youve actually opened the door to thieves and invited trouble. You are a disloyal, unjust, unrighteous, and unfilial person! Scum like you should be eradicated by all! Today, I shall act on behalf of heaven! Gongsun the Invincible, instead of staying peacefully in Dayue, you dare to stir up chaos here? Today, I will shatter your legendary status as the War God and show you how deep the earth is and how high the sky is! It turns out to be honorable heroes. My apologies for not recognizing you earlier! Night Fragranceughed as he fought, Let us wreak havoc among this million-strong army, ensuring that the troops of these two treacherous viins wont return! Absolutely! The five Innate experts responded in unison, their killing spree intensifying. Darn it! Wuxi Duke and General Gongsuns faces turned ashen. They had to send a few Innate experts to intervene. Within the Phoenix Fortress tower: Mo Rushuang asked in confusion, Who are they? How can they not fear Wuxi Duke and Gongsun the Invincible? Theyve plunged into the midst of a million-strong army, causing utter chaos! No matter who they are, those who aid us at this moment are our friends! General Zhuughed heartily. Yes, I really wish I could go! Guo Shaoshuai eximed excitedly. Lin Beifan chuckled softly; he recognized this group quite well. Werent they the old members of nted Moons group? Watching Night Fragrance wreak havoc, turning the million-strong army upside down, Lin Beifan couldnt help but join in and reap the numbers himself. Lin Beifan said, General Zhu and all the othermanders, with the enemy distracted, nows the time to strike and weaken their forces. Its a rare opportunity! Keep in mind, chances like this are hard toe by! General Zhu was intrigued, Lord Lin, this is the fortress Lin Beifan eximed loudly, I will guard it, ensuring nothing goes wrong. You can go have some fun! General Zhu thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. As Lin Beifan said, this was a rare chance. If they didnt take strong action now, they might not get another chanceter. Thus, he led eight Innate experts, their momentum overwhelming, and charged forward. Wuxi Duke, Gongsun the Invincible,e at me! Today, you wont leave without consequences! Wuxi Duke, General Gongsun, and the others had their faces change dramatically. Not good! Imperial experts areing! These old thieves! Intercept them quickly, dont let them prate our forces! Hurry! Before long, the Innate experts from both sides shed, darkness engulfing the sky, obscuring the sun and moon. Meanwhile, Lin Beifans gaze returned to the fortress. At this moment, the troops from Wuxi and Dayue were still attacking the fortress recklessly. Beneath the city wallsy a sea of bodies, forming mountains of corpses. Countless limbs were severed, and fresh blood stained the ground crimson. Although the imperial troops held the advantage of higher ground and geographical position as the defenders, their sacrifices were not few. Yet, their deaths, their sacrifices, were but trivial matters to those driven by ambition. Lin Beifan couldnt help but sigh, In this world, human lives are like weeds. The sky was growing dark; it was time to intervene. With a wave of his hand, Lin Beifan manipted the humidity in the air, causing the sunlight to refract and focus onto the battlefield. Simultaneously, Lin Beifan also controlled the rapid heat dissipation of the earths surface, causing the ground temperature to rise quickly. As a result, the temperature on the battlefield increased by several degrees. The weather was already scorching enough, making everyone sweat profusely even without any action. But after Lin Beifans maniption, the temperature rose even higher, causing dizziness and stars before the eyes due to the extreme heat. Coupled with theck of water and fighting in such sweltering conditions, it became even more unbearable. In a matter of moments, the soldiers on the battlefield copsed one by one with a thud. They werent dead, they were suffering from heatstroke and had fainted! Several hundred thousand soldiers fell unconscious on the ground! The scene was spectacr! Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun were so angered by this sight that they spat blood! They werent defeated by enemies but were felled by the weather, how could they continue to fight? It was impossible to fight like this! They couldnt even move, lying on the ground like targets! They could only look at the sky and curse, This damn weather! As the temperature continued to rise, more and more soldiers couldnt endure it. The situation was bing a certain defeat. Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun exchanged nces and finally unwillingly shouted, We retreat! The armies of Wuxi and Dayue began to retreat. Meanwhile, Night Fragrance had also enjoyed his killing spree. After taking down another Innate expert with his small knife, he patted his rear and left. Leaving behind an arrogant remark, Ive had my fun today, well continue another day! Other Innate experts also began to withdraw one after another. Wuxi Duke, old man Gongsun, were taking our leave as well! Until next time, well fight again, haha! Our paths may cross again, lets wait and see! Wuxi Duke and hispanion watched their departing figures and the soldiers bodies scattered on the ground, their faces turning ashen. With the major battle temporarily concluded, Lin Beifan weed back General Zhu and the others, celebrating their significant victory. However, within the camps of Wuxi and Dayue, a sense of gloom pervaded the air. In the main camp, Wuxi Duke sighed, his voice filled withment, Todays battle was truly pathetic! Several Innate experts disrupted our ns and led to heavy losses on our side! The hot and dry weather caused our forces to suffer heatstroke and copse. We no longer have the strength to continue fighting! Wuxi Duke sighed again, At present, were left with only 700,000 soldiers, and merely 10 Innate experts. Lacking water and morale, our fighting capacity has drastically decreased. What can we do? General Gongsuns expression turned gloomy as well, Indeed, what can we do? With a force of 500,000 troops, he had set out on this expedition to achieve greatness and glory for himself. Yet, todays initial battle resulted in aplete defeat, with 100,000 soldiers from Dayue dead in action! It was the most humiliating defeat he had ever experienced in his life! Adding up the previous casualties, the death toll likely reached 150,000! It had only been a short time since the war began, yet so many had already perished. How could they continue fighting future battles? Just thinking about it was giving him a tremendous headache! Although our losses are severe, we must fight again! Determination flickered in Wuxi Dukes eyes, If in the next two days, we still cant break through the Phoenix Fortress and prate the hearnd of the Central ins, then we wont have the strength to fight anymore. The consequences of that are unimaginable! General Gongsun nodded, Your Highness, youre absolutely right. Whether we want to fight or not, we have no choice! So, lets quickly discuss our strategy. Time is running short! Wuxi Duke hesitated for a moment, Actually, there might be a way General Gongsuns excitement surged, Your Highness, have youe up with a clever n? Please, share it! Wuxi Duke shook his head, Its not exactly a clever n! Whether it will work or not, I dont have much confidence General Gongsun urged, Your Highness, please share the n with us. Lets strategize together! With a bitter smile, Wuxi Duke shook his head, This n isnt easy to exin. It involves a secret move that Ive been keeping, and I can only use it as ast resort. General Gongsun grew anxious, Isnt it ast resort by now? If we dont use it, all of us are done for! Wuxi Duke pondered, Heres the deal, give me half a day to try it out! Whether it seeds or not, I will be ountable to everyone, how about that? Alright then, Your Highness, please act quickly, time waits for no one! General Gongsun said. Of course, I understand! Wuxi Duke nodded. Two hourster, Wuxi Duke returned with a pleased expression, Good news! General Gongsun, good news! My secret move can now be utilized! Theres hope to break through the Phoenix Fortress and prate the hearnd of the Central ins! General Gongsun was ecstatic, Really? Thats fantastic news! What preparations do we need? Wuxi Duke cleared his throat and awkwardly stated, We need to prepare some money, the more the better! Im sorry, General Gongsun, and also to the generals of Dayue, Ill need you to surrender all the money and valuable possessions you have! General Gongsun was dumbfounded in the wind! What kind of strange strategy required money? Chapter 321: The City Wall is Breached, a Million Strong Army Enters Phoenix Fortress! Chapter 321: The City Wall is Breached, a Million Strong Army Enters Phoenix Fortress! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
In the end, General Gongsun chose to believe in Wuxi Duke and handed over all of his and General Dayues money and valuable items to Wuxi Duke. Wuxi Duke disappeared with these items, returning an hourter with joy: We rested during the day, ate and drank our fill, and tonight, we shall take action! This time, we will definitely break through Phoenix Fortress and advance into the Central ins! Very well! General Gongsun eximed repeatedly. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan went to find General Zhu with a sly smile, whispering, General Zhu, the time hase! As long as we do this and then this and finally this, we can ensure that the armies of Wuxi and Dayue will have no way back! General Zhu, after listening, was both delighted and worried, Is this too risky? Lin Beifan shook his head, Its indeed risky, but the rewards will be substantial once sessful, a one-time effort. Just follow my instructions, and to be safe, we shouldnt let too many people know about this. Still hesitant, General Zhu only agreed reluctantly after Lin Beifan produced the Shangfang Sword and the military token. Afterward, Lin Beifan contacted Princess Ziyue and straightforwardly asked, Your Highness, would you like to obtain more provisions? Princess Ziyue nodded without hesitation, Of course! When marching to battle, one can never have too much food! Lin Beifan continued, Would you like to kill every soldier of the Dayue Army? Once again, Princess Ziyue nodded without hesitation, Of course! I dream of that! The opportunity hase! Lin Beifan whispered, Tonight, we can do this and then this along with this. Not only can we seize the provisions of Wuxi and Dayue, but we can also trap their entire army! Princess Ziyues eyes lit up, Strategist, can this really work? With me taking action, is there anything you need to worry about? Lin Beifan feigned displeasure. Well then! I entrust this to you, Strategist. Thank you! Princess Ziyue gave a slight bow. Your Highness, we are on the same side, no need to be so formal! Lin Beifan helped the princess up and, rubbing his index finger and thumb together, winked suggestively, Your Highness, Ive not only resolved the Dayue Army for you but also helped you acquire arge amount of provisions. Shouldnt there be some acknowledgment? Strategist, I truly adore you! Princess Ziyue rushed forward, embracing Lin Beifan with deep affection. Lin Beifan was flustered, Your Highness, I dont need this kind of acknowledgment! Im just an ordinary person, money is enough! But I just like you so much! Princess Ziyue pouted coquettishly. Unknowingly, evening arrived. The 700,000 soldiers of Wuxi and Dayue were well-rested, under the leadership of Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun,unching another all-out assault. Soldiers, charge! Once we breach the city, there will be water to drink inside! Not just water, but also wine and meat! This time, victory is assured! This time, Wuxi Duke led the charge, boosting the morale of the troops. General Zhu naturally organized his forces to resist. The enemy is attacking again. Prepare yourselves release the arrows! Hurl the stones! Dont let them climb the walls! Elite experts, intercept Wuxi Duke! The two sides engaged in a fierce battle at the fortress entrance, resulting in a brutal and rapid rise in casualties. Wuxi Duke fought alone against three experts at the Innate stage, disying unparalleled heroism and arrogance: Come! All of you,e! Today, I will undoubtedly break this city gate, enter the heart of the Central ins, march straight to the capital, and im the imperial throne! The Innate experts from the royal court were infuriated andunched their attacks one after another. Wuxi Duke, your recklessness will not go unpunished! I shall personally meet you! You are a rebellious pretender, unworthy of the Dragon Throne! Everyone fought fiercely! Interestingly, Wuxi Duke frequently used his most powerful techniques, repeatedly targeting a specific spot on the city wall as if trying to break through from there and enter the fortress. However, the experts of Great Wu were not concerned. The fortress wall was built from massive stones, reinforced with steel bars and cement. It was virtually indestructible and not easily breached. While a Grandmaster might have had a chance, it was impossible for Innate experts. As anticipated, even after dozens of strikes, Wuxi Duke only managed to scrape off a thinyer. Then, unexpectedly, a surprising scene unfolded. A massive explosion urred at the point where Wuxi Duke had attacked, and the city wall copsed, revealing a huge breach. The imperial generals were astonished by this sight! Their minds buzzed as the Phoenix Fortress had actually been breached! It was over!!! Inside, Wuxi Duke felt an overwhelming joy. The wall had been breached! As the mysterious person had said, this was the most vulnerable point in the fortress wall. With sustained effort, it was possible to break through and infiltrate the fortress. Wuxi Duke let out a triumphant shout, The wall is breached! Soldiers, charge through here! Break Phoenix Fortress, march into the heart of the Central ins, and march straight to the capital! Yes, Your Highness! The soldiers responded with high spirits, their morale soaring. Innate experts from Wuxi and Dayue rushed to protect the breach, allowing their armies to pour in. The soldiers didnt disappoint and eagerly surged in. The wall is finally breached! We can find water to drink inside! Im so thirsty, I must drink my fill! Charge, let me be the first inside! With soaring spirits and indomitable momentum, the imperial forces found themselves unable to resist and began retreating. Seeing this, Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun burst intoughter. As the troops rushed in, their first action was to seek water to drink. They spotted rows of barrels filled to the brim with water. Water! The water is here! So much water, enough for me! Im so thirsty, give me a sip! Let me drink first! Without hesitation, they lunged forward to drink. Those in the front drank fervently, while those in the back pushed forward to quench their thirst. Even people outside the city, upon hearing about the water, rushed in, temporarily putting the battle aside to drink their fill. These waters there couldnt be any issues, could there? General Gongsun expressed concern. Wuxi Duke shook his head and assuredly chuckled, General Gongsun, rest assured, theres nothing wrong with this water! Baffled, General Gongsun asked, Why are you so certain, Your Majesty? Because this water is meant to boil us, designed by Lin Beifan, the courts supervising general, to counter us! Wuxi Dukeughed, He had people collect numerousrge barrels, filled with water and some copper mirrors inside. Surprisingly, the water in these barrels absorbed the suns heat and turned into hot water! I see! General Gongsun suddenly understood, Ive been wondering how they had so much hot water. It turns out they manufactured it this way. Its truly amazing! Lin Beifan, who came up with such a method, is truly a genius! He indeed is a genius. Thats why I greatly admire him! Wuxi Duke said proudly Thinking about such a prodigious talent, ready to join hismand, made Wuxi Duke slightly excited. So, General Gongsun, this water is safe! Now that its evening, the water has cooled down, making it convenient for the soldiers to quench their thirst! Wuxi Duke chuckled. Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. Im relieved, General Gongsun nodded with a smile. Due to the scramble for water, things became chaotic. Wuxi Duke had to shout loudly, The oue is still uncertain at this point. Everyone needs to be cautious of the imperial troops! Each person should have a couple of sips, then pass it on to others and continue fighting! With the help of a few sergeants, everyone orderly took turns to drink. After drinking, theirbat prowess was unleashed, and they fought more fiercely. The imperial troops were powerless to resist, retreating towards another checkpoint, seemingly ready to give up the fortress. Meanwhile, the forces of Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun continued to charge into the city, gradually taking control. The tide has turned! The tide has turned! Wuxi Dukeughed heartily, his spirit soaring. The primary obstacle that had hindered his army was Phoenix Fortress. Now that the fortress had been breached, there were no more barriers in their way! As long as he wished, he couldpletely march all the way to the capital! The Dayue generals were in high spirits, with General Gongsun eximing boldly, Its time to establish our legacy! Ha ha It was his first expedition, and he was facing Great Wu, one of the Three Great Dynasties. No matter where this victory was ced, it was impossible for anyone to ignore. Thinking that he had the chance to march all the way to the capital of Great Wu, bing the first person to do so since the founding of Dayue, General Gongsun trembled with excitement, his face flushing. After this battle is over, Your Highness, lets head eastward and march to the capital of Great Wu. What do you think? General Gongsun suggested. Very well! Thats exactly what I intend! Wuxi Duke happily agreed. Just then, hundreds of torches were lit on the city walls, revealing many imperial soldiers. General Zhu stood on the city gate, looking down with amanding presence, and shouted, Wuxi Duke, invincible General Gongsun, do you think youve already won? Isnt it obvious? Wuxi Duke pointed his sword at General Zhu, exuding confidence, Now that weve broken through Phoenix Fortress, the path ahead is open. How can you resist us? Zhu Xingyu, you couldnt defend Phoenix Fortress, youve seriously neglected your duty! After this, the court will definitely not spare you. Youll be punished and stripped of rank, facing a bleak future! Its better to surrender to me now with your army and join my southern and northern campaigns, conquering the Central ins! When the timees, I will ascend to the throne, and Ill grant you the title of Grand General! Surrender, youve already lost! Follow His Highness to conquer the world, and you can be a Grand General! Only by following His Highness do you have a future! Promotions and titles are within reach, endless glory and wealth to enjoy! The fully refreshed soldiers of Wuxi Dukes army shouted arrogantly, exuding an air of dominance. Spit! You think youre worthy? General Zhu cursed loudly, You, an unfaithful, unjust, unkind, and unfilial person, what right do you have to have me serve you? For the sake of your ambitions, youve brought the wolves into our home! You have the heart of a beast and the nature of a wolf, following you will only lead to a quicker death! Chapter 322: It’s You! It’s You Who Ruined Me! You Vile Villain! Chapter 322: Its You! Its You Who Ruined Me! You Vile Viin! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Shut up! Wuxi Dukes eyes were aze with anger. General Zhus scolding had hit him where it hurt, rubbing salt in his wounds. In this world, it has always been the victors who dictate, might makes right! Wuxi Duke argued cunningly, Once I possess the great treasure and ascend the throne, all the people of the world will sing my praises, and history will record my glorious name! Just with your wolf-hearted character, you think you can obtain the great treasure? General Zhus temper red as he continued to berate, Not only will I not agree, but people all over the world will also disagree! You think the world will sing your praises? Dream on! If we dont curse you to death, that would be fortunate enough! Want history to record your good name? Go and have your delusional dreams. Youll only be remembered as a disgrace for ten thousand years, forever nailed to the pir of shame, spurned by others! Zhu Xingyu! Shut your mouth before me! Wuxi Duke angrily shouted. Beside him, General Gongsun advised, Your Highness, dont waste your breath on him anymore! The victor is the king, the loser is the bandit. As long as we win this battle, this world will be ours! What can their curses do to us? Well put a sword to their throats and see if they dare to curse us. And as for history recording our infamy, well point a sword at the heads of those historians and see if they revise it. As long as we have power and troops in our hands, what do we have to fear? General Gongsuns words are correct. Your Highness, Ive learned from your wisdom, Wuxi Duke nodded and then lifted his head with a fierce look in his eyes, Zhu Xingyu, Ive given you a chance, but you didnt treasure it. Dont me me for being impolite! How would you be impolite? General Zhu sneered. Annihte your entire army! Wuxi Duke roared. Hahaha General Zhu burst intoughter, You? You want to annihte my entire army? Waving his hand, the city wall was filled with countless heads. Each held a bow and arrow, aiming down below. The imperial soldiers who had fled outside the city orderly returned, now at the citys doorstep. With great enthusiasm, General Zhu proimed, I have 400,000 elite troops here. Can you kill them all? Wuxi Duke chuckled softly, Cant we? You only have 400,000 troops, but I have 700,000. Our forces are strong enough to defeat you twice over! General Zhuughed heartily, In the past, I might have been cautious of you, but now, I dont need to fear you at all! So what if there are more of you? If you all turn into cowards, whats the use? What do you mean? An uneasy feeling stirred in Wuxi Dukes heart. Just then, within the ranks of Wuxi Dukes troops, someone cried out in pain, clutching their stomach and crouching down, their face twisted in agony. Then, the second, third, fourth One after another, soldiers clutched their stomachs and crouched down in pain. Following that, the tenth, twentieth, thirtieth Soldiers from both Wuxi Dukes and General Gongsuns armies fell to the ground in waves, their faces contorted. Wuxi Dukes sense of foreboding grew stronger, and he hastily asked, Whats happening to you all? Whats going on? Why is everyone lying on the ground? Speak up, Im asking you, answer me! General Gongsun examined one soldiers condition and said with a grave expression, They seem to have been poisoned. But they were perfectly fine How could they have been poisoned? Wuxi Duke felt a sense of panic. Its the water! They all drank from the barrels of water! The water is tainted! Someone eximed in terror. Wuxi Duke pointed his sword at General Zhu and angrily shouted, Youve poisoned the water, you despicable viin! General Zhuughed triumphantly, Indeed, theres a problem with the water! However, I didnt poison it, but added a littlexative! You drank thexative, so naturally, your stomach hurts! Haha Wuxi Duke and General Gongsuns expressions sank. Though it wasnt poison, just axative! However, even this small amount ofxative couldpletely alter the course of the battle. How can you fight when your stomach is in pain? How can you fight when you have diarrhea? Can you even stand, let alone fight? General Gongsuns eyes spewed fire, and he angrily retorted, To usexatives is despicable and shameless of you! You are unworthy of being called a human being! General Zhu looked smug, The saying goes, all is fair in war! So what if I added axative to the water? I didnt force you to drink it. You fought to drink it, and now you me me for the problems you caused yourselves. How does that make sense? The imperial soldiers burst intoughter. Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun were furious! It was clearly you who added thexative! It was clearly your fault! You knew our troops were thirsty and needed water, thats why you ced the barrels full of water there, and then addedxatives! Now youre trying to shift the mepletely onto us. How shameless! How shameless!!! Just then, cries of pain echoed throughout the area. The hundreds of thousands of iing troops, all clutched their stomachs and fell to the ground. Their faces turned pale, sweat beaded on their foreheads, their lips turned blue, and their expressions twisted in pain Some couldnt hold it in any longer and squatted to relieve themselves. For a moment, the stench was overwhelming! However, Wuxi Duke felt his heart grow as cold as iron, his whole body shivering. How can troops like this fight? Each and every one cant even stand up; theyve be a bunch of cowards. How can they fight? What else can they do? He couldnt understand it. How had the situation that was once so favorable turned into this? Why did it turn into this? Why? Wuxi Dukes gaze swept across the scene. Finally, his eyes settled on a young man. The man was dressed in a red official robe, standing beside General Zhu. He appeared youthful and promising, with handsome features. He smiled slightly at Wuxi Duke, his smile radiant and attractive. This person was Lin Beifan, the hidden chess piece he had nted within the imperial court. Despite his greed for money, he had alwayspleted his tasks exceptionally well. His capabilities were outstanding, which earned him a lot of favor from Wuxi Duke. Therefore, when the Phoenix Fortress couldnt be captured for a long time, he turned to this hidden chess piece, hoping for his assistance. As expected, Lin Beifan lived up to his reputation. He pointed out a weak point in the fortress, allowing them to break through sessfully and enter the city. Victory was within reach, but the situationpletely turned due to thirst and drinking water. The imperial troops smoothly exited the city and trapped them inside. It was all a scheme, a trap targeting him. In that moment, Wuxi Dukeprehended it all. Everything became clear, but it was toote. Its you! Youre the one who harmed me! You treacherous traitor! Wuxi Duke pointed his sword at Lin Beifan, his anger erupting. Lin Beifan looked innocent and wronged, Your Highness Wuxi Duke, have you gone mad? We met for the first time today, so why falsely use me? ming me for harming you What did I do to harm you? Still pretending, huh? Truly a crafty viin! Wuxi Dukeughed bitterly, I had a lifetime of honor, yet I fell into the hands of a petty person! Haha, shameful andughable! Is this the retribution for my wrongdoings? Utterly senseless! Lin Beifan muttered to himself, then turned to General Zhu and said, Lets not dy any further, shall we? Absolutely, my Lord Lin! General Zhu gestured widely, Release the arrows! Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh Arrows rained down. The troops below the city wall were already struggling to stand, unable to dodge, and they fell one by one from the arrows. In just this barrage of arrows, over ten thousand soldiers were taken down. Continue shooting! General Zhu shouted. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh Another round of arrows. Another group of enemy soldiers fell to the ground. Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun watched as their soldiers were ughtered likembs. Their eyes reddened in anger, and they roared, How dare you kill my soldiers!! They led their innate and martial experts to resist. Take care of them, innate experts! General Zhu ordered, then led the imperial innate experts down. In the city, the innate experts from both sides shed fiercely, killing each other in a bloody frenzy. Amidst the chaos, the soldiers of Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun had nowhere to hide, resulting in even more casualties. On top of that, the continuous barrage of arrows from the city walls took a heavy toll. You killed my soldiers, I will kill yours! Wuxi Duke went mad, charging towards the city walls with a fierce intent to kill. Burn the boats and bridges, both sides perish together! General Gongsun had the same idea. At this time, around 450 masked innate experts rushed in from outside and stopped General Gongsun. They shouted to the imperial troops, Leave Gongsun Wudi to us, you go kill the others! General Zhu was delighted, Thank you, fellow righteous men, for your assistance! The ughter continued! Innate experts ughtered innate experts! Soldiers ughtered soldiers! Everyone went mad! About half an incense sticks timeter, the forces of Wuxi Duke and General Gongsun were almost decimated. Wuxi Duke looked at the hundreds of thousands of soldiers he had painstakingly cultivated, all gone. He went mad with rage. He quickly lunged towards Lin Beifan, Its you! Everything is because of you! I will definitely kill you, to avenge my tens of thousands of sons and soldiers! Lord Lin, watch out! Get out of the way! Everyone cried out in rm. However, at that moment, Wuxi Duke was already in front of Lin Beifan. He struck out with all his strength. I will ensure you have no ce to die!!! he roared. Yet, Lin Beifan didnt seem afraid; instead, he smiled enigmatically. He had a small dagger in his hand, and with a speed faster than Wuxi Dukes strike, he stabbed towards his opponents dantian. Caught off guard, Wuxi Duke was struck by the dagger, blood flowing freely. Lin Beifan then gave a forceful twist, breaking Wuxi Dukes dantian and nullifying his entire martial arts prowess. Wuxi Duke spat out blood and was sent flying back, trembling as he pointed at Lin Beifan, Ah! You youre not Lin Beifan! Lin Beifanughed, Youre right, this young master is indeed not Lin Beifan. With a tear of his mask and a sweep of his clothes, he revealed himself to be the master of disguise, Night Fragrance. Raising the blood-stained dagger triumphantly, he said, Wuxi Duke, how did you like the strike I just delivered? Did it feel good? Ah! Im furious! Furious Wuxi Duke screamed. Using all his strength, he not only failed to avenge his fallen soldiers but also lost his martial prowess due to a sneak attack. He was utterly furious. At this moment, the genuine Lin Beifan leisurely walked out. Looking at Wuxi Duke, who had lost his martial arts, he smiled faintly, Take him into custody! Yes, Lord Lin! Chapter 323: Unexpectedly, his appearance is honest and sincere, but his heart is so cunning! Chapter 323: Unexpectedly, his appearance is honest and sincere, but his heart is so cunning! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Wuxi Duke has been captured, and the Innate experts of Wuxi are not feeling well. They want to escape the fortress. Night Fragrance takes immediate action, preventing them from leaving one by one. Dayues Innate experts also wanted to escape, but was also kept by Night Fragrance. Finally, General Gongsun stands defiantly alone. At this moment, General Gongsun is surrounded and besieged by several masked strangers, struggling under the pressure. Night Fragrance shouts, Ill take care of that old man! Lin Beifan waves his hand, Nobody move, just watch quietly, as long as we dont let that old man escape! National hatred naturally feels more satisfying to take revenge oneself! Its worth knowing that when the nted Moon Dynasty fell, General Gongsun Wudi was one of the culprits. It was also during that time that he earned the honor and reputation of a war god. But for the remnants of the nted Moon, all of this was an indelible stain, a lifelong shame, as their reputation was built upon their countless sacrifices. The deep sea of blood feud naturally demands repayment with lives! Revenge must be personally taken to extinguish the mes of hatred! Therefore, the innate experts of the court surrounded them like an iron bucket around the city walls, blocking all escape routes for General Gongsun Wudi, allowing the remnants of the nted Moon to unleash their full power. Gongsun Wudi looked at the mountains of corpses piled up in the city, his heart filled with anger and sadness. Initially, he led 500,000 troops and ambitiously crossed the Qinglong Fortress toe to Great Wu, thinking he could achieve great things, establish a legacy, and be famous He had already broken through the Phoenix Fortress, with hope right ahead, but in the blink of an eye, everything changed! He brought hundreds of thousands of soldiers, all buried here! Even Wuxi Duke was captured by them! The tide had turned, and there was no way to turn the situation around! He not only suffered defeat but also had his lifelong reputation tarnished! The War God? It now sounded like a joke! Now, even keeping his own life was a question! However, what worried him the most was that the Dayue Dynasty lost 500,000 soldiers and horses, leaving the defense vulnerable. Various scoundrels were bound to take advantage of the situation, neighboring countries would certainly reach out, the court would be in turmoil, and public sentiment would surge The country might fall into chaos! The thought that he had pushed the Dayue Dynasty into the abyss filled Gongsun Wudi with sorrow and indignation. I have be criminal of Dayue Dynasty! In an instant, a masked woman in ck suddenly rushed out. In Gongsun Wudis moment of distraction, she pierced his chest with a sword, sttering a burst of blood. Gongsun Wudis face turned pale, his strength weakened by twenty percent. Gongsun old thief, you have your retribution today! the masked woman sneered. Who are you? I have no grudges with you. Why harm me? Gongsun Wudi eximed in anger. You dont need to know! Just remember, our blood feud with you is enough! Prepare to die! the masked woman attacked again, sword light dazzling, with fierce and overwhelming killing intent. It seemed that unless this person was killed, they would not rest! Then, the masked woman joined forces with several other innate experts and finally killed Gongsun Wudi with their swords. Afterward, she nodded to Lin Beifan and the others, and left gracefully. And so, the situation was settled! General Zhu waved his hand, full of spirit, and said, My sons, there are still troops from Wuxi and Dayue outside the city. They are all our enemies! Lets go kill them all without leaving a single one! Yes, General! The city gate opened, and the imperial army marched out mightily. However, they found that the remaining tens of thousands of soldiers had already been wiped out, and their provisions had been plundered. There was no need for many words; it was definitely the work of the nted Moon Army. Soldiers, youve all worked hard in todays battle! Drink and feast, rest well! After a day of recovery, well march out, enter Wuxi, wipe out the remnants of Wuxi, and reim ournd and rivers! Lin Beifan called out loudly. Yes, Commander! the crowd replied in unison. After a day of recovery, Lin Beifan led the army into Wuxi. They annihted the remaining Wuxi soldiers, captured the remnants of Wuxi, and brought the territory back under imperial jurisdiction. News of this great victory quickly spread far and wide! The Great Wu Court won again? How is this possible? Wuxi and Dayue joined forces with a total of over a million soldiers and horses. How did they lose so quickly? s! One can only say that fate ys tricks on people! Their defeat was caused by various factors! For instance, the hot weather, interrupted river flow, and the Wuxi rebels hindering them from behind! After finally breaking through the Phoenix Fortress, victory was within reach. Yet, in the end, the entire army drank contaminated water and copsed like a mountain! Its fate, and timing. Its just a pity! Indeed, its a pity! But Wuxi Duke deserved to lose! A person who forgets his roots andcks loyalty and righteousness, if given supreme power, would be a disaster for the people of the world! So, even the heavens couldnt stand by and let him win! Its his own doing! Since this year began, the Great Wu Dynasty has won several major battles. Impressive! The Great Wu Empire is no longer the same as it used to be; it cant be easily bullied anymore! What Im more concerned about is the loss of 500,000 soldiers and the War God Gongsun Wudi. Theyre both overwhelmed, and theyve provoked the powerful Great Wu. The Dayue Dynasty is in danger! They brought this upon themselves! Some were joyful, while others were worried. Naturally, the imperial court was delighted, and their morale soared! From top to bottom, the Dayue Dynasty was filled with fear and anxiety, afraid of the advancing Great Wu forces! Now that they had lost the War God Gongsun Wudi and suffered a loss of 500,000 troops, their defensive strength had greatly diminished. They had no way to counter the imposing Great Wu army! Even Prince of Northern Hebei wasnt happy at the moment. Sitting on his dragons seat, he grumbled, Wuxi Duke is such a waste! With Wuxi and Dayue teaming up, thats a million-strong army. I thought he could prate into the Central ins hearnd, but they copsed so quickly, hmph! And Sir Lin, whats going on with him? Didnt I instruct him to prolong the war, causing both sides to suffer heavy losses? Why did it end so quickly? At this moment, Prince of Northern Hebei was truly frustrated! He had originally been waiting for the moment when both sides were in chaos, peoples livelihoods were ruined, to make a dramatic call and rise up, ending the turmoil. Then, he could smoothly ascend the throne, wear the imperial robes, and rule the world! Who would have thought that before he could even react, the war had already ended, shattering his dream. Having missed such a heaven-sent opportunity, it wouldnt be so easy to rise up in rebellionter on. Reporting to Your Highness! Military strategist Zhuge addressed with a respectful hand gesture. The swift conclusion of this battle was unexpected even for me. But, Your Highness, this isnt Sir Lins fault! Wuxi Dukes defeat was entirely his own doing! Strategist, what do you mean by that? Prince of Northern Hebei asked. Your Highness, I learned from a letter sent by Lady Rushuang that when the Wuxi and Dayue forces gathered at the Phoenix Fortress, there was a severe drought and scorching heat. Under such circumstances, there was simply no way to engage in battle. Its likely that Wuxi Dukes recklessness and disregard for tradition led to his downfall, and thats why he suffered heavens punishment! With heaven not on Wuxis side, thats why he lost! Prince of Northern Hebei nodded, Strategist, youre right. Please continue! Besides the weather factor, theres also the factor of certain individuals! Your Highness, youre aware that since the beginning of the year, a group of elusive rebels rose up in Wuxi, opposing Wuxi Duke! In this battle, they werent mere bystanders; they oftenunched sneak attacks, disrupted water sources, set fires, and more. This incessant interference caused both Wuxi and Dayue to suffer casualties and losses, significantly weakening their strength! Prince of Northern Hebei nodded once again, Youre right, strategist. Please, go on! Just dealing with the weather and the rebels had already exhausted the Wuxi and Dayue forces. And now, they also have to face the court. But the court is not an easy target to bully; the difficulty can be imagined! In the end, although therge army broke through the Phoenix Fortress and victory was in sight, due to the water issue, the entire army was annihted! Mr. Zhuge shook his head in amazement, Its truly so dramatic! As Lady Rushuang said, it was actually General Zhu Xingyu who secretly put drugs in the water. Seeing that the fortress couldnt be held, he secretly drugged the water, and unexpectedly it worked. It had nothing to do with Sir Lin! Prince of Northern Hebei stood up excitedly, mming the table, So it was that old scoundrel Zhu Xingyu! I never thought that his outward appearance of loyalty and honesty would hide such cunning and deceitfulness. I almost misjudged him! So, this matter has nothing to do with Sir Lin from start to finish! Sir Lin didnt do anything, and yet Wuxi Duke lost. It can only be said that destiny cannot be vited. Wuxi Duke brought misfortune upon himself, practiced unscrupulous methods, and invited disaster. Even the heavens couldnt tolerate it, which led to his defeat! Mr. Zhuge praised. Prince of Northern Hebei nodded with his hands behind his back, It seems I truly misunderstood Sir Lin! But Prince of Northern Hebeis expression turned distressed, Now the imperial court is victorious, their morale is high, and their influence has spread far and wide! We missed this golden opportunity, and in the future, it wont be so easy to raise an army! Just then, a familiarughter sounded from outside, Your Highness, Im back! Prince of Northern Hebeis heart leaped with joy. He recognized the voice and realized it was the former Tianmen Master, Leng Ruochen, who had fled in defeat before. On that day, after being chased away by the Spear God, he found a hidden ce to recuperate. However, he maintained secret contact with Prince of Northern Hebei. Now that he had returned, it seemed his injuries had healed, giving him a newfound strength. Prince of Northern Hebei smiled as he went to greet him and indeed found Leng Ruochen, exuding an intimidating aura that made people avoid his gaze. He brought two individuals in peculiar attire. One of them had a bare upper body, with a darkplexion, and a giant snake coiled around his waist and arms. His gaze was chilling. The other was d in tiger skins, immensely huge, with arms thicker than thighs and thighs thicker than the waist. He seemed to weigh around four to five hundred catties, walking like a giant beast. Both of these individuals appeared difficult to provoke. Master Leng, youve finally returned! I dont know who these two are Your Highness, allow me to introduce them! The Tianmen Master smiled with a flushed face, These two are fellow good friends I encountered deep in the mountains. One is known as Dragon Suppressor, and the other is known as Tiger Tamer. Theyre a pair of brothers! Your Highness, they possess the prowess of grandmasters! Is that so? Prince of Northern Hebeis eyes lit up. Your Highness, we pay our respects! Both of these men ced their right hands over their hearts, simultaneously speaking. Haha! Two friends, theres no need to be so formal. Please, have a seat quickly, and Ill have tea brought in! Prince of Northern Hebei warmly received them while secretly considering how to win them over. At this moment, the Tianmen Master spoke triumphantly, Your Highness, both of these men are righteous heroes! After my persuasion, theyve decided to leave seclusion and help Your Highness establish a great undertaking! Really? Prince of Northern Hebei eximed in excitement. Chapter 324: Reaching the Qinglong Mountain Range, Extorting the Dayue Dynasty! Chapter 324: Reaching the Qinglong Mountain Range, Extorting the Dayue Dynasty! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Keep in mind, these are two grandmasters! The worlds top-tier martial artists! Each capable of facing a thousand troops! Possessing strength so great they could trample even an empire underfoot! Now, these two invincible grandmasters are actually here to assist in his conquest This is truly beyond imagination! In the expectant and unbelieving gaze of the Prince of Northern Hebei, the leader of the Tianmen Sect nodded with a smile and said, Absolutely true! And these two grandmasters, once again cing their right hands over their hearts, echoed in unison, We are willing to serve His Highness like loyal hounds! Thank you! Thank you very much, two heroes, for your assistance! With the aid of two heroes, how could my grand undertaking fail? Haha Prince of Northern Hebeiughed excitedly, from start to finish, his mood greatly relieved. As he said, with these two grandmasters assistance, how could his grand undertaking fail? At this point, his strength has caught up with the imperial court! The imperial court has a million soldiers and horses, but he possesses tens of thousands of Innate top-tier martial artists, enough to bridge this gap entirely! The imperial court has three grandmasters as protectors, and now he also has three grandmasters! No, it should be said four, as theres one more under Lin Beifansmand, which is one more than the imperial court! With an additional grandmaster, the bnce of victory has tilted in his favor! Moreover, his loyal subject, Lin Beifan, still remains within the imperial court, holding a high position and the Empresss trust! If rebellion arises, by coborating both within and outside, their chances of sess would be even greater! Prince of Northern Hebei couldnt think of any reason he wouldnt be victorious. Even if his former rivals, Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke, were to unite, they wouldnt be his match! The strategist, Mr. Zhuge, eximed loudly, Congrattions, Your Highness! A congrattion, Your Highness! With the assistance of two grandmaster heroes, sess is certainly within reach! Prince of Northern Hebei chuckled proudly, Haha Your Highness, youre celebrating a bit prematurely! The leader of the Tianmen Sect, Leng Ruochen, smiled mysteriously, This seat has another piece of good news for you! What good news? Prince of Northern Hebei anxiously inquired. The leader of the Tianmen Sectughed, Your Highness, these two friends of minee from an ancient tribe within the wilderness, skilled in alchemy! Theyve refined a kind of elixir called the Qi-Gathering Pill, which, when ingested, can elerate cultivation speed by three to four times! If we distribute this medicine throughout the entire army, within just one month, we could train tens of thousands of postnatal pinnacle martial artists in advance! Is there really such a miraculous elixir? Prince of Northern Hebeis breath quickened. Naturally! Dragon Suppressor produced a pouch and took out several unremarkable-looking pills, saying, Your Highness, these are the Qi-Gathering Pills! If you doubt it, you can have someone try it! Prince of Northern Hebei immediately had someonee over to test it, confirming that it truly increased cultivation speed. Prince of Northern Hebei once again grew excited, Excellent! Excellent! This is truly a miraculous elixir! With this elixir, we can undoubtedly train tens of thousands of postnatal pinnacle martial artists in a short period. A month from now, we can start our rebellion! Heroes, I am immensely grateful for your generous assistance! Once our grand undertaking seeds, I will surely reward you generously! Thank you, Your Highness! The two brothers, Dragon Suppressorn and Tiger Tamer, bowed their heads, exchanging smiles with the leader of the Tianmen Sect. No need for thanks! This is what you deserve, haha Prince of Northern Hebeiughed uncontrobly, as if he could already see himself donning the imperial robe and sitting high on the throne. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan was leading his army from east to west, retaking thends of Wuxi. Wuxi Duke had been captured, the Wuxi and Dayue forces were wiped out, so the progress was smooth, killing and capturing along the way. Within seven or eight days, they reached the Qinglong Fortress, bloodily dealing with those who resisted. The Qinglong Fortress was once again under the control of the imperial court. On the other side of the Qinglong Fortress, the Dayue Dynasty was in shock, fearing the advance of the Great Wu forces. After all, their war god, Gongsun Wudi, had been killed, and their 500,000-strong armyy buried in foreignnds. In the short term, they were unable to organize any meaningful resistance. So, they quickly sent envoys to seek peace. Facing the envoy, Lin Beifan disyed a tough stance, mming the table in anger, Back then, it was your people who invaded Great Wu first! Now that youve lost and want to make peace, thinking well let you off easily? Its not that simple! The Dayue envoy smiled wryly, bowing respectfully, Lord Lin, youre right. Your anger is justified, and weve realized our mistake! This is our sincerity, please review it! With that, he presented a list of reparations to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan nced at it and dismissed it with a wave, Is this your sincerity? I cant see even a shred of it in this list. Go back and revise it! If you dont show proper sincerity within three days, Ill lead my soldiers straight into your Dayue Dynasty, all the way to your capital, and negotiate with your emperor in person! The Dayue envoy was taken aback, Yes, yes, understood! They hurried back to negotiate new reparations. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan led his troops to train outside the enemy fortress, creating a massive show of force. He even had some innate masters charge through the enemy lines, frightening them. On the second day, the Dayue envoy returned with another list of reparations. Finally, there was sincerity visible in Lin Beifans eyes. Not only was therepensation for the imperial court, but also for his mental distress. Lin Beifan nodded in satisfaction, This is more like it! The Dayue envoy was overjoyed. Lin Beifan leaned in and whispered, Thepensation for the imperial court is enough, but mine is still a bitcking. The Dayue envoy asked in a hushed voice, Lord Lin, how much do you want? Lin Beifan grinned, I dont want much. Just double thepensation listed here! This isnt much? The Dayue envoy was bbergasted. To prevent an attack from Great Wu, the Dayue Dynasty immediately mobilized arge amount of gold, silver, jewels, and supplies to the Qinglong Fortress. As a result, the imperial court grew richer once again, and so did Lin Beifan. After collecting all the reparations, and taking a day to rest, Lin Beifan was ready to return. On this day, Lin Beifan stood on the Qinglong Mountain Range, gazing down at the Dayue Dynasty below. With the setting sun, the realm of the Dayue Dynasty was clothed in a golden hue, looking especially beautiful. Beside him was only Princess Ziyue. Princess Ziyue turned to ask, Strategist, why let the Dayue off so easily? We must let them go! Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Firstly, reaching the Qinglong Mountain Range can be considered reiming territory. The reasons are entirely justifiable! But if we were to reach the Dayue territory, it would be seen as an invasion,cking legitimacy. The Dayue side would definitely organize a fierce resistance, and their people would support it either, leading to significant losses for our forces! Princess Ziyue nodded. Secondly, our imperial troops have just undergone a long-distance march and are already exhausted, unfit for battle! If we were to attack the Dayue Dynasty, wed be unfamiliar with the terrain and at a disadvantage. Also, extending our battle lines would lead to logistical challenges! Princess Ziyue nodded again. Lastly, if by any chance we do conquer it, management bes an issue! You see, weve just reimed Southern Jiang and Wuxi. These two ces have already been severely harmed by Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke, with their economies copsing, livelihoods ruined, and heavy poption loss Lin Beifan sighed deeply, I havent even sorted out these two messes properly, and now with the addition of the Dayue, how could I manage it all? So, its best to quit while were ahead and take the benefits back with us! Princess Ziyue admired, What the strategist says is absolutely true! Fourthly Lin Beifan smiled at Princess Ziyue, What if we truly conquer them and bring the Dayue under the Great Wu banner? How would we deal with the nted Moon Faction? How would you restore the dynasty, Princess? What do you say? Strategist, youre right. Its better not to fight! Princess Ziyue immediately agreed. Lin Beifan smiled and nodded. In fact, there was one more point he hadnt mentioned. Prince of Northern Hebei had been quiet for the past couple of months, but who knew what kind of mischief he was brewing? You see, he was secretly cultivating a force of warriors. Though their numbers werentrge, if they seeded, their threat would rival that of a million-strong army! Furthermore, he had a good reputation and held sway in the martial world, capable of rallying many martial artists to his cause! With an army, a reputation, and his own strength, he would be harder to deal with than Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke! Besides that, he had the ambitious leader of the Tianmen Sect behind him So, Prince of Northern Hebei had to return to oversee the overall situation. Your Highness, your army haspleted training. The next step is to seize the Dayue and restore the nted Moon Dynasty! Do you know what to do next? Lin Beifan asked with a smile. Im not sure, please enlighten me, Strategist! Princess Ziyue humbly sought guidance. The Dayue has suffered a loss of their war god, Gongsun Wudi, and 500,000 soldiers. Their defenses are weak, and their military power has greatly diminished. Adding to that, weve demanded reparations for our victory, which led to a loss of a significant amount of gold, silver, jewels, and supplies. This shortage of resources has led to a tight economy, affecting the livelihoods of their people! Weak defense, poor economy, peoples hardshipsthese will inevitably lead to turmoil in the country! Therefore, now is the perfect time to restore the dynasty! Lin Beifan spoke eloquently, We can send people to infiltrate the Dayue, causing chaos and unrest. Well make the people resentful of the Dayue, then use our advanced ideas and strategies to absorb them into our ranks, develop them into our people. With the foundation of Wuxi, we can both attack and defend, allowing for rapid growth Princess Ziyues eyes lit up as she listened. Lin Beifans war strategy had proven to be effective! In just one short year, they had gone from nothing to their current size, all thanks to Lin Beifans guidance! Now, applying this approach to the Dayue was bound to yield even better results. And they were no longer starting from scratch! They had a devoted and capable army, along with sufficient food reserves. Was it really that difficult to deal with the Dayue? Princess Ziyue waspletely confident that they could develop and strengthen themselves within a few years and restore the nted Moon Dynasty! Of course, if they had someones assistance, the process would undoubtedly be faster! Princess Ziyue gazed at Lin Beifans youthful face, her eyes burning. Strategist, apany me to Dayue! Once the dynasty is restored, you will be my husband, the prince of the nted Moon! You will wield authority over wind and rain, with no one able to hinder you. Isnt this much better than being a subject in Great Wu? Chapter 325: Trash Isn’t My Persona, Greed Is My Persona! Chapter 325: Trash Isnt My Persona, Greed Is My Persona! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan was taken aback. Princess Ziyues gaze seemed as if she could swallow him whole. It was as though as long as he didntply, she would use force to bind him to Dayue. Lin Beifan hurriedly waved his hand, Princess, please dont act recklessly. Now isnt the time for me to leave Great Wu! But does timing really matter? Princess Ziyue asked in confusion, Strategist, honestly, in Great Wu, you can only rise to the position of a Prime Minister! Although being a Prime Minister might seem prestigious, you still have to listen to the Empress! If she wants to dismiss you or even kill you, its a matter of a singlemand! Throughout history, Emperors and Prime Ministers have had irreconcble conflicts! Because your power and the Emperors power ovep. The higher you climb, the more outstanding your abilities, the more shell fear you! The more she fears you, the more dangerous it bes for you! Strategist, youre wise. I dont need to exin much, you understand this principle! However, if you follow me to Dayue, you wont encounter these problems! Princess Ziyue chuckled, As long as you follow me to Dayue, restore the dynasty, not only will you be a Prime Minister, but youll also be my husband, and at the same time, the prince of nted Moon! Isnt that better than just being a Prime Minister, living an uneventful life? Moreover, you need not worry about me mistreating you! Princess Ziyue extended her delicate jade hand, gently caressing Lin Beifans face, and said softly, I love you too much to even think about mistreating you. How could I bully you? Lin Beifan trembled, Princess, please have some decorum. Im not an ordinary man! Neither am I. Its only when Im with you, Strategist, that my true nature shows! Princess Ziyue became emotional, I wear all sorts of masks to face this world, reserving only my innocence and childishness for you! Lin Beifan was deeply moved, This woman Furthermore, if we have children in the future, they will inevitably inherit my throne! Youre the man of the modern nted Emperor and the future Emperors father. Are you afraid of instability andck of power? Are you afraid of someone trying to take you down? Thats why, Strategist, our hearts are united from beginning to end! Princess Ziyue continued to caress Lin Beifans face, persuading, Follow me to Dayue, thats where you truly belong! Lin Beifans heart was racing! As long as he went to Dayue and restored the dynasty, he could be the Emperors husband and the future Emperors father! His power would soar directly to its zenith, unshakable by anyone! Moreover, this Empress was beautiful, powerful, wealthy, and pampered him greatly It fulfilled every fantasy a man could have! Oh no, oh no! Lin Beifan felt himself falling! He suddenly wanted to say, Princess, I dont want to resist anymore! But at the critical moment, Lin Beifan held onto his saintly resolve! Princess, now truly isnt the time to leave! Princess Ziyue was quite puzzled, Strategist, Ive said so much. Why do you Princess, please listen to me! Lin Beifan said seriously, Although the Dayue Dynasty has suffered heavy losses, its not utterly defeated! To deal with it, we must attack from within and without, in order to overthrow this wicked regime! From within, youll lead the troops and incite unrest, gradually eroding their power! From without, you can apply pressure through neighboring countries, making them deal with Dayues troubles and distracting the Emperor! Therefore, I must remain within the Great Wu court to help you! Through the Great Wu court, I can constantly apply pressure to them! I can also instigate conflicts among other nations, making them trouble Dayue! Lin Beifan smirked, By doing so, wont it make your actions easier? Princess Ziyue eximed, Its still you, Strategist, who has thought it through! Remaining within the Great Wu court, you can exert more force and create more pressure and trouble for Dayue! Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly, Yes, yes, thats exactly it! In his heart, he thought: I am indeed a righteous and great person; its definitely not for the sake of greed! Its just, Strategist, its too unfair to you! Princess Ziyue said with concern, Youll be all alone in the midst of the Great Wu court, surrounded by enemies, facing great danger. What if youre exposed? Not unfair at all! Although its dangerous, for the sake of Princess and our grand cause, Im willing to sacrifice myself! Lin Beifan spoke with great integrity. Strategist! Princess Ziyue was deeply moved, her eyes turning red. Princess, wipe your tears. Now isnt the time for personal feelings between us! Lin Beifan advised, As long as we aplish our goal, well be able to stay together, side by side, in the future. Youre right, Strategist! But its still too unfair to you. I cant bear it! Princess Ziyue shook her head. Even though I cant bear it, I have to. This is the necessary price to pay! Lin Beifans voice softened, Actually, I cant bear it either, Princess! As long as you remember my good points and bring money to see me often, Ill be content! Here, here, all for you! Princess Ziyue immediately took out the money she had on her and handed it to Lin Beifan. Looking at the full sum of money in his hands, Lin Beifan suddenly felt like a scoundrel, as if he were a man trying to deceive for money and affection! Come on! Being a scoundrel isnt part of my persona; being greedy is! Now, even his persona had copsed! Lin Beifan reluctantly epted the money. This was the only way to console the agony of his shattered persona. Just then, Princess Ziyue took a step forward, Strategist Lin Beifan was a bit flustered, Princess, please dont act impulsively. Im a man of virtue! I know, but I like you just the way you are! Princess Ziyue stepped closer. Lin Beifan became even more flustered, Could we change the location? Its kind of embarrassing out here in the wilderness! Strategist, dont refuse. Before we part, I want to give you a proper embrace! Princess Ziyue said as she lunged forward. Ah!!! After the duration of an incense stick burning, the two finally parted reluctantly. Princess Ziyue went off to attend to her restoration efforts, while Lin Beifan prepared to pack his belongings and depart for the capital tomorrow. At that moment, Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai walked over with serious expressions on their faces. Lin Beifan also couldnt help but be serious, Did something happen? Is something going on with Prince of Northern Hebei? Indeed, theres an issue with Prince of Northern Hebei! However, theres an even more serious matter to attend to now! Lin Beifans expression grew even more solemn, What matter? Mo Rushuang handed over a white handkerchief with an expressionless face, Young Master, wipe off the love marks on your neck first, then we can discuss serious matters! Lin Beifan coughed, Umm While wiping his neck, Lin Beifan exined, Rushuang, you know, Im a virtuous and chaste handsome man Mo Rushuangs expression remained emotionless as she said, I know, but please refrain from charming recklessly! You might have self-control, but other women might not! Lin Beifan empathized deeply, Rushuang, youre right! Indeed, the ones who understand women the best are women themselves! A twitch appeared at the corner of Mo Rushuangs mouth, and she didnt feel like talking anymore. Guo Shaoshuai spoke with envy, Young Master, how did you manage this? Can you teach me? If a woman treated me like this, Id willingly die for her! Lin Beifan sized up Guo Shaoshuai and chuckled, Shaoshuai, youre still a greenhorn, not fearing the tigress yet! You should know that some women may appear gentle and weak, but they arent easy to deal with! The more assertive they are, the more dangerous they actually are! The more beautiful a woman is, the more likely shell deceive. Shaoshuai, youre still young,cking in experience in the martial world, so Lin Beifan patted Guo Shaoshuais shoulder and spoke with sincerity, If you encounter women in the future, its best to avoid unnecessary trouble! Guo Shaoshuai looked enlightened, Thank you, Young Master, for the guidance! Leave the dealing to me! Guo Shaoshuai asked puzzledly, Huh??? Something just doesnt seem right! After wiping away the love marks on his neck, Lin Beifan spoke earnestly, Alright, lets discuss serious matters now! Mo Rushuang felt a bit jealous and didnt want to talk, while Guo Shaoshuai took out a small bottle and said seriously, Young Master, this is a pill that Prince of Northern Hebei had someone deliver to us. Its called the Gathering Qi Pill, and its quite remarkable! ording to the letter, after ingesting this pill, ones cultivation speed will increase. However, I sense that theres a problem with it. Ever since discovering Prince of Northern Hebeis true identity, Guo Shaoshuai didnt quite trust anything he provided. Lin Beifan took the small bottle and poured out a in-looking pill. He examined it, then sniffed it, and smiled, Youre right, theres definitely something wrong with this pill! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai exchanged nces and spoke in unison, Whats wrong with it? Lin Beifan said, This is a poison pill. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai were astonished, A poison pill! Ive told you before, strength is built through rigorous practice, leaving no room for carelessness or shortcuts! All the gifts of fate have their prices marked in the shadows! Lin Beifan held the pill in his hand and said seriously, This pill is refined from twelve rtively rare toxins. Each poison can cause fatal harm. But after being refined into this pill, the poisons counteract each other, turning into medicine. But poison is still poison. While this pill can indeed elerate cultivation speed, ites at the cost of ones life, simr to the Forbidden Evil-Repelling Sword Manual and the Sunflower Manual! Once the poison activates, even immortals cant save you. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai felt a shiver run down their spines! Its Prince of Northern Hebei again! Guo Shaoshuai gritted his teeth, his voice dripping with anger, First, he sent us the Sunflower Manual to harm us, and now he sends poison to harm us! How can there be such a wicked person in the world? He truly is sinister. We trusted him so much in the past! Mo Rushuangs tone was equally resentful. Lin Beifan wanted to exin that this item might not have been produced by Prince of Northern Hebei. He didnt have that level of capability. It might have been the work of the Tianmens Sect Master, Leng Ruochen. But the words stuck in his throat, and he also gritted his teeth, Youre right, Prince of Northern Hebei is truly malevolent! Hes willing to sacrifice everything for his ambition. He deserves death!!! Chapter 326: Not Exactly Identical, Almost Completely Irrelevant! Chapter 326: Not Exactly Identical, Almost Completely Irrelevant! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Indeed! Hes so malicious! Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai both eximed, united in their resentment. Young Master, what should we do now? Mo Rushuang inquired. Prince of Northern Hebei has concocted such a poisonous n, indicating his impatience. Therefore, we shouldnt dy. Lets hurry back to the capital! Additionally, draft another letter to Prince of Northern Hebei, telling him to wait for my return before taking any action! Lin Beifan urged. Yes, Young Master! they both acknowledged. They rushed from Qinglong Mountain Range, making their way back to the capital with great haste. After about a week, they finally returned to the capital. On that day, the citys residents once again lined the streets to wee them. Lord Prefect has returned! Lin Prefect is truly the military god of our Great Wu. He always returns victorious from every campaign! Hes truly remarkable, a role model for us schrs! To have a son like Lin Beifan is a blessing! In the Golden Imperial Pce, the Empress was seated on the throne, looking at Lin Beifan with a contented smile. Sir Lin, you truly havent disappointed Us. Within the Phoenix Fortress, you defeated thebined forces of Wuxi and Dayue, saving Great Wu from crisis! Furthermore, you fought your way to the Qinglong Mountain Range, reimed our territory from Wuxi, and even demanded substantial reparations from the Dayue Dynasty, greatly intimidating foreign powers! Excellent! Youve done exceedingly well! Thank you for Your Majestys praise. I, a humble servant, dare not take credit, Lin Beifan modestly responded. Your deeds are beyond excessive praise, the Empress dered loudly. Because of your resistance against foreign enemies within the Phoenix Fortress, your protection of Great Wu, your loyalty and valor are admirable. Therefore, you shall be promoted by one rank, bing an official of the first ss in the Imperial Court. Furthermore, a noble title shall be bestowed upon you, naming you the Loyal and Valiant Duke! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed. An official of the first ss in the Imperial Court! A bestowed noble title of Loyal and Valiant Duke! At this moment, Lin Beifan had reached the pinnacle of court officials, surpassing many civil and military officials by a significant margin! The envy and jealousy of those officials were beyond words. They couldnt utter any words of opposition, for those achievements were well-known by all! Moreover, if they were to oppose, they would undoubtedly provoke that cunning little bastard who would y dirty tricks! He was so sly, he was definitely capable of it! They could only begrudgingly ept it! Furthermore, the Empress showered Lin Beifan with a series ofvish rewards, too numerous for Lin Beifan to bother mentioning. After all, he no longer had to worry about his clothing and food for the rest of his life, so he didnt care as much. ording to Lin Beifans merit report, he was rewarded ording to his achievements. Promotions were given where due, rewards were distributed as warranted. In short, those who excelled and devoted themselves in this grand battle received their rightful rewards. Report to Your Majesty, the rebel king Wu Tianyong and the traitors from Wuxi have been escorted to the capital and are waiting outside the pce! Lin Beifan reported. The Empress eximed loudly, Summon them in! A group of individuals were brought in by the pce guards, many of them crying and wailing, kneeling as soon as they saw the Empress. Your Majesty, spare us, we know we were wrong! Your Majesty, Wuxis king forced us, we didnt want to do it! Your Majesty, please grant us a chance to live! Impatiently, the Empress waved her hand, Behead them all! As for the other prisoners, hand them over to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. Punish them severely and without leniency! Yes, Your Majesty! several officials responded. After dealing with these lowly individuals, the Empress looked toward the one person who remained. He was the Wuxi Duke, although he had lost all his power, his martial arts were crippled, and he had be a prisoner awaiting interrogation by the public. Yet he still stood defiant, scorning both civil and military officials. Imperial uncle, have you ever considered this day? The Empress, seated high above, looked down and said, For the sake of My imperial throne, you established your own domain, waged wars, and I was willing to tolerate it! But for your personal ambitions, you disregarded traditions, invited disaster, allowed 500,000 Dayue soldiers to invade, harming the people of the Central ins, plotting against the Central ins sovereignty The Empress mmed her hand on the table, loudly questioning, Imperial uncle, what crime do you deserve? Her voice reverberated through the court! Hmph! The victors are kings, the defeated are bandits. This king has nothing more to say! The Wuxi Duke spoke arrogantly, Ever since this king raised his troops, hes been prepared for all consequences! Either ascending to the capital with an imperial robe, or dying on the battlefield! However, it seems The Wuxi Dukes bitter smile couldnt hide his disappointment, My luck isnt quite favorable! The Empress dered loudly, You rebelled against principles, forgot your ancestors, and defied virtue. Even Heaven doesnt support you! The Wuxi Duke raised his head, his tone fierce, I havent lost to Heaven, nor have I lost to the court. Ive lost to a cunning viin! I hate it! Which cunning viin? the Empress inquired. Its him! The Wuxi Duke pointed at Lin Beifan standing at the forefront. His eyes were red with hatred, If it werent for him, I would have long taken Phoenix Fortress and seized control of the Central ins! Sir Lin? The Empress smiled, Imperial uncle, hes my loyal subject, devoted and capable. In these past two years, he has contributed immensely to the court. Why do you falsely use him? Loyal subject? Thats the biggest joke this king has ever heard! The Wuxi Duke sneered, My niece, do you know what your beloved subject Lin Beifan has been doing behind your back? Please, enlighten me! the Empress said. Very well! This king will tell you what your loyal subject has done behind your back! The Wuxi Duke proimed loudly, The method for crafting my aerial vessel, the Grand Air Balloon, was obtained from him, for which I paid a price of 3 million taels! Ha! The audience was astonished. The Wuxi Duke continued, The method for crafting my waterborne weapon, the Air Cushion Ship, was also obtained from him, for which I paid a price of 3.5 million taels! Ha!! The audience was astonished once more. This king even acquired the worlds treasure, the Dragon Bone, from him, for which I paid a price of 8 million taels! Ha!!!!! The audience was astonished for the third time. Overall, he cheated this king out of 14.5 million taels, nearly bankrupting me! With this background, I thought he waspletely loyal to this king, but who knew The Wuxi Duke trembled with anger, In the battle at Phoenix Fortress, he used the trust I had in him to betray me! He took all my money and then turned the tables on me. Hes truly heartless and despicable, defying all sense of justice! You use me of forgetting traditions and inviting disaster, then he, the greedy official, is one whos selling out the nation for personal gain! You use me of disregarding the courts principles and disrespecting the imperial authority, then hes the traitor harming the country and the people! The Wuxi Duke made a vehement usation, leaving everyone present in shock! The Empress could barely hold back herughter. The Imperial uncle was truly pitiable! He had paid such a heavy price, yet gained nothing and had been duped! Is this surprising or not? Unexpected or not? If she werent in the court, she would have burst intoughter three times over! Suppressing herughter, the Empress turned her head towards Lin Beifan. Minister Lin, is this true? Lin Beifan calmly bowed, Your Majesty, this is absolutely untrue. I am devoted to Your Majesty and would nevermit such disloyal and unjust acts. Clearly, its a scheme fabricated by the Wuxi Duke to falsely use and nder a loyal subject. Please examine the facts, Your Majesty! The Empress nodded, Minister Lin speaks the truth! We cannot believe the words of the rebel king! Hmph! This king knew you would whitewash everything, so this king secretly left a backup n! The Wuxi Duke touched his armor and pulled out two crumpled papers, saying, These are the manufacturing methods of two great artifacts that the crafty viin Lin Beifan gave to this king. Whether they are real or fake is obvious at a nce! Present them! The Empress nced at the papers briefly, then handed them expressionlessly to the officials for examination The Wuxi Duke smiled triumphantly, Now can you prove this kings words? Cannot! The officials shook their heads one after another. The Wuxi Duke was astonished, Why not? The Empress said irritably, Imperial Uncle, could you please put a bit more effort into fabricating usations? Just producing a set of manufacturing methods and iming Lin Beifan gave them to youdoes anyone believe that? The Wuxi Duke, perplexed, asked, Isnt this proof enough? His handwriting is on there Youre using handwriting to prove, but this handwriting and Lin Beifans handwriting arent exactly the same. Theyre practically unrted! How can you prove that he gave you this? The Empress retorted. The Wuxi Duke was shocked, Theyre not the same? He turned to look at Lin Beifan, only to find him smiling slightly, thoroughly pleased. This drove the Wuxi Duke mad, Hes indeed a crafty viin! But I still have evidence! With great care, he extracted a waterproof pouch from his armor and then carefully removed a bag of white powder from within. This is Dragon Bone! I obtained it from Lin Beifan! The Wuxi Duke dered. The Empress nced without interest, Imperial uncle, you casually take out a bag of white powder and say its Dragon Bone. Who would believe that? And you im Lin Beifan gave it to you. How can you prove that? This The Wuxi Duke was once again dumbfounded, feeling that he really couldnt provide evidence. He looked at Lin Beifan once more, only to find him even more smugly delighted. This king still has evidence! The Wuxi Duke said angrily, Over the past year, Ive given him not only wealth but also many precious treasures! For example, the Phoenix Shadow Night Pearl, the ck Jade Hairpin After reciting a series of precious treasures, the Wuxi Duke red at Lin Beifan with resentment and dered, As long as we search his residence, find these items, it will prove my words! The Empress said expressionlessly, Present the Phoenix Shadow Night Pearl and the ck Jade Hairpin! Before long, the eunuchs brought these two treasures forward. The Wuxi Duke was astonished, How do you have these treasures? Because they were presented as tribute from another country, and I liked them very much, so I epted them. They couldnt possibly be in Minister Lins possession! So, my good Uncle The Empress squinted, Until when do you n to falsely use my loyal subject? Your Majesty is wise! Lin Beifan eximed. Its impossible! Absolutely impossible The Wuxi Duke was losing his mind. The Empress waved her hand, Due to the Wuxi Dukes rebellion against principles, his chaos within the court, his act of inviting disaster, and his heinous crimes, he is now demoted tomoner status, stripped of all rights, and to be imprisoned in the celestial dungeon! Yes, Your Majesty! A few pce guards came forward, and they escorted the Wuxi Duke away. The Wuxi Duke struggled, Dont take this king away! This king has more to say! Lin Beifan is undoubtedly a traitor harming the country and the people! Hes even more sinister and terrifying than this king! Quickly arrest him, or the future of Great Wus sovereignty will be in danger The Empress gazed coldly without a hint of concern. Lin Beifan wore a smile on his face, unperturbed. The Wuxi Duke gradually sank into despair, issuing his final roar. Tyrant! You wretched tyrant! And you, Lin Beifan, treacherous minister, you shall not die a good death!!! Chapter 327: About to Reclaim the Northern Hebei, Someone Wants to Pick Peaches? Chapter 327: About to Reim the Northern Hebei, Someone Wants to Pick Peaches? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
After the departure of the Wuxi Duke, the court finally fell silent. With two out of the three rebel kings quickly defeated, Empress Long Yan was overjoyed andughed, The Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke have been thrown into the dungeon. Their armies are either disbanded or crushed. The regions of Southern Jiang and Wuxi have returned to the realm of Great Wu. Now, only the Prince of Northern Hebei remains! My esteemed advisers, what strategies do you propose? Your Majesty, Li Kaiguang, the Minister of the War, eximed, since the beginning of the year, our Great Wu has defeated the 800,000-strong army of Great Xia, the 500,000-strong army of Prince of Southern Jiang, and the million-strong coalition army of Wuxi Duke and the Dayue! Three consecutive battles, three resounding victories, have shaken the four seas and awed the world. No one dares to defy us! Thus, it is time to reim thend of Northern Hebei! Minister Li speaks the truth. The time hase to reim Northern Hebei! Put an end to the fragmentation of Great Wu! Our nation must rise from the ashes and achieve rejuvenation! The Empress listened with great delight, What you esteemed ministers have said is absolutely right. So, how do we reim thend of Northern Hebei? Gao Tianyao, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, spoke solemnly, Your Majesty, we can issue a decree to strip the Prince of Northern Hebei of his military and jurisdictional powers. Simultaneously, we can summon the Prince of Northern Hebei and his family to the capital, treating him as an idle prince! Now, our court has achieved consecutive victories, which have reverberated throughout thend. Our supplies are plentiful, the morale of our troops is soaring, and there is no adversary under the heavens! If the Prince of Northern Hebei is wise and sensible, he will surely obey the imperial decree! The Empress asked with concern, And if he refuses? If he refuses, we fight! Li Kaiguang the Minister of War eximed, Among the three rebel kings, in terms of wealth, the Prince of Northern Hebei resides in a frigid and economically challenged region. He is no match for Prince of Southern Jiang, and only slightly surpasses Wuxi Duke! In terms of military strength, the Prince of Northern Hebeimands only 300,000 troops, far less than the other two kings. He has merely cultivated some rtionships with martial artists of Jianghu. But these individuals are inconsequential before our vast armies. Having defeated Prince of Southern Jiang, Wuxi Duke, and the Dayue Army, what threat does a small Prince of Northern Hebei pose? With an army of 400,000 to 500,000 and some skilled experts, we can certainly defeat the Prince of Northern Hebei and reim thend of Northern Hebei! Very well, Minister Li, youve put forth an excellent idea! Empress Long Yan was pleased, And what are the opinions of the rest of you esteemed advisers? Your Majesty, issue an edict to curtail his power, and if he resists, then we fight! If the Prince of Northern Hebei is sensible, fine. If not, well march to his stronghold, capture him, and make him confess! Our imperial forces are strong, our morale high. What do we have to fear? The court officials mored excitedly. It seemed as though the string of victories had made them exuberant. Truth be told, they couldnt help but feel ted! Defeating the 800,000-strong Great Xia army! Oveing the 500,000-strong army of Prince of Southern Jiang! Conquering the million-strong coalition of Wuxi Duke and the Dayue! After these continuous battles, the might of Great Wu had not diminished in the least. On the contrary, it had grown stronger. Could they not feel exuberant? Only the Prince of Northern Hebei remained, and he was hardly a cause for concern! Empress Long Yan was greatly pleased, as this was her n as well. The division within Great Wu hadsted for too long, and it was time to bring it back together. However, she was cautious in her approach and asked, Minister Lin, do you have any thoughts on this matter? Lin Beifan bowed and replied, Indeed, its time to take action against Northern Hebei! However, Prince of Northern Hebei is stubborn and self-willed. He has devoted many years to his ambitions and will not surrender without resistance. He will inevitably rise in rebellion, so we must be prepared for war! The Empress nodded and sighed, Minister Lin, youre right. It seems that we have no choice but to fight this battle. You have my full trust in handling this matter. As Lin Beifan was about to ept themand, the civil and military officials grew excited. Your Majesty, theres no need to entrust this matter to Minister Lin! The Empress was puzzled, If not Minister Lin, then who? Since the beginning of the year, Minister Lin hasmanded three battles, each time achieving glorious victories against superior forces. His military talent and capabilities have been proven beyond doubt. Hes the most suitable candidate! Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, urgently interjected, Minister Lins military prowess is indeed exceptional, and I have full confidence in him leading. However, dealing with a minor figure like the Prince of Northern Hebei seems a bit of an overkill. Indeed, Minister Lin is the war god of our dynasty, the cornerstone of our nation! For a small Prince of Northern Hebei, theres no need for Minister Lins intervention. Its an overestimation of the Kings significance! Minister Lins presence in the capital can intimidate the world, sending shivers down the spine! Moreover, Minister Lin has been away from the capital for too long, leaving behind many matters. The capital needs him to oversee the situation. Our court also needs his counsel and strategies! Leave the matter of dealing with the Prince of Northern Hebei to others! The officials chimed in one after another. Lin Beifan had caught on that they were trying to snatch credit from him. They didnt want him to have a chance to excel and rise higher in rank, outshining them. The Empress naturally perceived their intentions, but their points were not without merit. Prince of Southern Jiang had been defeated, Wuxi Duke as well. Only the Prince of Northern Hebei remained, who was hardly a formidable adversary. Sending Lin Beifan into action seemed unnecessary. The court needed Lin Beifan more. His administrative talents overshadowed his military prowess. As he held court in the capital, she felt secure. So, esteemed ministers, what are your thoughts? Or do you have someone else in mind? Seeing that the Empress was considering their suggestions, the court officials were ted. Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, was the first to speak, Your Majesty, I have a candidate in mind! He possesses high virtue, formidable martial skills, and exceptional military talents! With him leading the troops, we can surely defeat the Prince of Northern Hebei and reim thend of Northern Hebei! The Empresss eyes brightened, Who is it? Li Kaiguang smiled faintly, His name is Zhao Kuo. He is the eldest son of the Zhao family, a prominent military n. He has been involved in military campaigns since childhood, disying remarkable capabilities. Furthermore, hes skilled in martial arts and is an innate expert. The Empresss eyes brightened even more, Summon him! Shortly after, a young general d in silver armor walked forward with his head held high, radiating an air of confidence. Without averting his gaze, he bowed deeply and proimed, I, Zhao Kuo, respectfully greet Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty! The Empress eximed loudly, No need for formalities! Thank you, Your Majesty! Zhao Kuo straightened up and bowed again, I, Zhao Kuo, pay my respects to the esteemed officials! The court officials smiled and nodded. This young man understood etiquette. However, the Empress frowned because this candidate was exceptionally young! In his early thirties, while not exactly young, among the generals, he was still quite youthful. Although he had decent strength and a respectable family background, warfare was no trivial matter! If they lost, many lives would be sacrificed, and it could even affect the nations stability! Allowing him to fight alongside the troops was eptable, but if he were to directly lead a military campaign, the Empress was deeply concerned. Thus, she inquired, Minister Li, who just rmended you to lead troops in battle against Prince of Northern Hebei, do you have any military achievements to share with us? This The young general Zhao Kuo became embarrassed. How could he have any military achievements? For the past decade, he had been focused on studying military strategy, training troops, and hadnt had a chance to make significant contributions. It was only this year that battles had be frequent, but each battle was extremely perilous. His family, valuing him greatly, had forbidden him from participating. In the end, Lin Beifan had taken action and achieved three consecutive victories, earning him rapid promotions and even a noble title. The envy and jealousy Zhao Kuo felt were indescribable. Now, with only Prince of Northern Hebei remaining, it was hisst opportunity. Seeing this, his family exerted their influence and had officials rmend him. Your Majesty, I dont have any military achievements to speak of, Zhao Kuos face reddened slightly, Its mainly because Ive been studying military strategy and training troops for these years, without a chance to lead troops in actualbat. However, I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me this opportunity. I promise to march into Northern Hebei and capture the King, bringing him back to face justice! The Empress questioned with skepticism, You have nobat experience and no military achievements. Can you really do this? I think its more appropriate to send an experienced and steady general. Seeing his chance at military glory slipping away, Zhao Kuo grew anxious, Your Majesty, even Minister of Loyalty and Bravery, Lord Prefect, had no military achievements before leading troops into battle! If a civil official can lead troops, why cant a military officer like me? The Empress let out an inward coldugh. Could those situations bepared? She had witnessed his military prowess herself! His tactics were far too advanced, too invincible. Without even leaving the capital, he had turned the situation in the western territories upside down. Furthermore, in addition to his remarkable military skills, he possessed terrifying martial arts mastery. Even if he didnt use his military knowledge, he could dominate through sheer strength. Youre nowhere near his level in stability and capability. The Empress still hesitated to make a decision. Zhao Kuo became more anxious, signaling the civil and military officials nearby, hoping theyd speak in his favor. Your Majesty, everyone has a first time! Although Zhao Kuo is young andcks military achievements, he has been steeped in military strategy from a young age. Hes onlycking an opportunity! If Your Majesty doubts, you can test him on the spot! And if Your Majesty remains concerned, the Zhao family can dispatch some experienced seniors to assist Zhao Kuo! These are senior generals who have been in battles for years and can guarantee sess! Your Majesty, you should give the young a chance! Finally, the Empress relented, Very well! I will give you an opportunity. She then presented several military questions, all of which Zhao Kuo answered confidently andprehensively. The Empresss apprehensions eased slightly, and she said, It appears you are well-versed in military strategy. I will grant you the opportunity to lead troops in battle. However, its essential for senior members of the Zhao family to apany you, offering guidance throughout the campaign. Zhao Kuo was overjoyed, Thank you, Your Majesty! And so, the matter was settled. Zhao Kuo would lead troops into battle, reim Northern Hebei, capture the King, and bring him to justice, while Lin Beifan would remain in the court overseeing affairs. Lin Beifan, with a contented smile, read the situation from beginning to end without uttering a single word. Chapter 328: Taking Credit from Lord Lin? I Shall Avenge Lord Lin! Chapter 328: Taking Credit from Lord Lin? I Shall Avenge Lord Lin! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
As a result, an imperial edict was issued to the northern regions. Itmanded the Prince of Northern Hebei to surrender his military power and jurisdiction over the northernnds, then relocate with his family to the capital for retirement. Upon the release of this royal decree, the entire realm was shocked. The court intends to deal with the Prince of Northern Hebei! Its about time! The Prince of Southern Jiang and the Wuxi Duke have already been dealt with, leaving only the Prince of Northern Hebei! The court is achieving continuous victories, with high morale and strong forces. If not now, then when? Its a difficult situation for the Prince of Northern Hebei! epting the decree means losing everything and bing a powerless noble. Refusing the decree would lead to the court sending troops to deal with him. Can the Prince of Northern Hebei stand against the court? The Great Xia Dynasty lost, the Prince of Southern Jiang lost, the joint forces of Wuxi and Dayue lost as well. What capabilities does the Prince of Northern Hebei have left? His military strength iscking, his financial resources are insufficient. Can he rely solely on those martial artists from the Jianghu? Im afraid its dire for the Prince of Northern Hebei! In thend of Northern Hebei, within the royal pce. The Prince of Northern Hebei received the imperial decree with a grim expression, gritting his teeth and saying, The court is forcing me into a corner! The military strategist, Mr. Zhuge, sighed bitterly, Currently, the court has achieved consecutive victories, reiming the territories of Southern Jiang and Wuxi. With high morale and strong forces, their decision is only natural! Fortunately, were not without resistance! Mr. Zhuge said with excitement, Currently, we possess an army of 300,000, tens of thousands of peak-stage martial artists, and the support of three grandmasters. We are fully capable of contending with the court! Your Highness, the time to rise in arms is now. When else? The Prince of Northern Hebei was also very excited, Advisor, youre right. The time to rise in arms hase! With 300,000 soldiers, tens of thousands of peak-stage martial artists, and three grandmasters, were more than capable of standing proudly in the world. Its time to change the course of the Dragon Court! Lets take up arms! And so, the Prince of Northern Hebei tore apart the imperial decree and issued a promation. Corrupt officials are in power, misleading the emperor, harming loyal subjects, and the people are suffering! Its not that I desire rebellion, but the court has be corrupt and is harming the realm. We must rectify this! For the sake of the Great Wus sovereignty, for upholding the righteous path, for the dawn of themon people, as a member of the Great Wus royal family, I have an unshirkable duty to rise against a tyrant ruler and restore a flourishing world! I hope that the heroes of the realm will join forces against this cause! In the promation, the Prince of Northern Hebei also listed the various wrongdoings of the court officials. Every act of wickedness was detailed, arousing intense anger and resentment among the readers. These corrupt officials, embezzling and distorting thew, causing harm to the loyal subjects, are utterly despicable. They all deserve to die! No wonder the Great Wu is in such turmoil. Its all because of these corrupt officials! These individuals wont find peace until they are eliminated! Your Highness, youve done well. We all support you! They must be eliminated!!! Instantly, his call garnered unanimous approval. It must be said that the Prince of Northern Hebei was much wiser than the other two kings. Instead of directly targeting the emperor, he aimed at the officials under her! This target was exceptionally precise because those officials truly were corrupt and treacherous, having siphoned off countless resources from the people and caused untold harm to loyal subjects! This is all witnessed by themon people with their own eyes and heard with their own ears, felt deeply and personally. Therefore, upon reading this promation, their anger and discontent were all ignited. Some joined in assistance, while others cheered and rallied, fueling the Prince of Northern Hebeis ambitions and cloaking them in the mantle of justice. However, the court officials were driven to madness! To actuallybel them as corrupt officials and traitors in front of the entire world! Yes, we might be corrupt or treacherous, but what about the contributions weve made? Do you turn a blind eye to them? Without us controlling the court, the country would have copsed long ago. Would you have the good life you enjoy today? Its one thing to use us of being corrupt officials and traitors, but why do you turn a blind eye to the biggest corrupt official and traitor of them all? Lin Beifan is more corrupt than us, amassing piles of gold, silver, and jewels at home without any pretense. Why spare him? Lin Beifan is more treacherous than us, even us treacherous officials are afraid of him. Why not condemn him? The more the court officials thought, the more indignant they became! Its truly unreasonable, a travesty of justice! Nephew, I entrust this battle to you! The Prince of Northern Hebei has gone too far, showing disrespect to the sovereign and ndering us as corrupt officials and treacherous ministers. This is uneptable! You must march to the Northern Region, capture the Prince of Northern Hebei, and bring him to justice! dered Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, with malevolence. Exactly! Nephew, the Prince of Northern Hebei must not be spared so easily! said Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Revenue, clenching his teeth, Ive led a clean and meless life, never having embezzled even a bit of the peoples resources. He actually ims our court is monstrously corrupt? Pure defamation! Its best to eliminate his supporterspletely, so he knows the consequences of offending us! Its not enough that he only uses you of being corrupt officials! That old fool uses me of debauchery, saying Ive been with ten thousand maidens! Damn it, do I even have the capability? Even if I did, I wouldnt have the time! eximed Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, trembling with anger. He must be captured, I need to vent my anger! You should capture him! That old fool uses me of indulging in improper rtionships and same-sex love. People look at me strangely on the streets, avoiding me by three steps! roared Zhao Jinli, the Minister of Rites, with intense indignation. Nephew, we entrust this task to you. You must fight fiercely. I wholeheartedly support you! The more arrogant he is now, the harder hell fall! added Wang Rushui, the Minister of Works. With the support and endorsement of the officials, Zhao Kuo was full of confidence. He proimed loudly, Uncles, please rest assured. A mere Prince of Northern Hebei is inconsequential! I will lead a great army to march into Northern Region and capture the Prince of Northern Hebei, letting you all vent your frustrations! Very well, very well! everyone eximed in agreement. Then the tone shifted. But, Nephew, I entrust my young son to you. When theres a chance to aplish something, dont forget him! Nephew, dont forget my son! Hes been in the military for years, and he has the ability, but hecks an opportunity to showcase it! So, you must give him plenty of guidance! Nephew, my son is quite capable. Dont forget him! Nephew, my son has never been in a battle before and is even afraid of killing a chicken. So, Im not asking for much! Dont let him go into danger. Just ensure he returns with some merits! The officials werent assisting Zhao Kuo out of mere goodwill but rather to secure aplishments for their own descendants through him. Both sides were benefiting each other, mutually fulfilling their needs. Zhao Kuo was somewhat troubled, but he had to respond with a smile, Uncles, please rest assured. I will definitely take good care of them. If they contribute, I wont forget them! Very well, very well! the officialsughed, leaving in high spirits. Since the Prince of Northern Hebei tore up the imperial decree, clearly defying the order and preparing to rebel, the court naturally had to take action. They appointed Zhao Kuo as the General of the Northern Expedition, leading a force of 400,000 to capture the Prince of Northern Hebei. This news stunned the realm. Its not the Loyal and Brave Duke or Lord Lin of the Capital? Yes, I find it odd too! Logically, Lord Lins leadership has defeated the Great Xia, the Prince of Southern Jiang, the Wuxi Duke, and the joint forces of Dayue. His military prowess is exceptional, even worthy of the title God of War. Sending Lord Lin would be the most suitable choice. How could this But Zhao Kuo isnt ordinary either! Hees from the military aristocratic family, the Zhao n, and is the most outstanding among the younger generation. Hes deeply immersed in the study of military strategy and tactics from a young age. Thats why he gained the unanimous endorsement of the officials! But what use is his excellence? Warfare isnt childs y. What qualifications does a young man without battle experience have to lead troops intobat? Is the court looking down on me by sending him to lead the troops? the Prince of Northern Hebei grew annoyed. Strategist Zhuge immediately reported, Your Highness, based on the message from Miss Rushuang, the initial choice for military leadership was indeed Lord Lin! Lord Lin originally intended to lead the army in surrender, allowing Your Highness to march straight into the capital and change the dynasty! But unexpectedly, both civil and military officials intervened and insisted on Zhao Kuo, clearly attempting to snatch Lord Lins credit. Lord Lin protested based on reason, but in the end, he couldnt ovee the courts treacherous ministers! So, these corrupt officials have interfered, ruining Lord Lins n! the Prince of Northern Hebei gnashed his teeth, Once Im in control of the capital, after I don the imperial robe, none of them will escape my grasp! Youre absolutely right, Your Highness. We cant let them get away! Mr. Zhuge nodded. Lord Lins loyalty ismendable, but its a pity that these corrupt officials have hindered him and sabotaged his efforts. However, this injustice must not go unanswered. I will avenge Lord Lin! the Prince of Northern Hebei stood up for Lin Beifan, Strategist, I entrust this matter to you. You must help me and Lord Lin vent our frustrations! Mr. Zhuge smiled, Your Highness, if Lord Lin knew you were standing up for him, he would surely be deeply grateful. He would be touched to his core, bowing down in utmost devotion, serving you till the end! The Prince of Northern Hebei smiled and nodded. That was his intentionto gain Lin Beifans unwavering loyalty through this method. Subsequently, a wave of public opinion began in thend of Northern Hebei and quickly spread throughout the realm. What is the court thinking? Theyre sending a kid who hasnt even grown a full beard to lead troops in battle? Its clearly a matter of nepotism. Is the court truly bereft of qualified individuals? Theyre bing increasingly inept! If it were the Loyal and Brave Duke, wed still have some respect for him! But what can we expect from a second-generation heir who relies on family connections? Dont wet your pants on the battlefield and be theughingstock of the world! War isnt childs y. Go back to nursing. Thats where you belong! Hahaha!!! Chapter 329: This Second Young Master Won’t Do, Let Lord Lin Take the Stage! Chapter 329: This Second Young Master Wont Do, Let Lord Lin Take the Stage! 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In the capital city, people from various court factions were greatly concerned upon hearing these opinions. Zhao Kuo really doesnt seem up to the task. Even the enemies dont take him seriously! War is not childs y. Lives are at stake! Handing over a 400,000-strong army to a second young master who has never fought before is truly unsettling. What if we lose? Lets not take it too seriously! Everyones just ying around! The more they talk, the more uneasy I feel. Its better to let Lord Lin take the lead. With Lord Lin on the field, Id feel at ease! Who can argue with that? Zhao Kuo, who was busy preparing for battle, exploded in anger upon hearing these rumors and gossip. Theyre saying Im not up to the task? Calling me a pampered second young master who relies on his family? Saying I havent grown up, that Id wet my pants in battle? This is absolutely ridiculous! True, he did indeed rely on his familys influence to get this opportunity! But, hasnt he also worked hard for it? Despite being born into a military aristocracy and living afortable life, he worked harder and put in more effort than others! He studied military tactics and strategies extensively from a young age, memorizing them effortlessly. He frequently simted battles with older generations and often emerged victorious! Furthermore, he started from the bottom by entering the military camp with his father at a young age. He ate what other soldiers ate, slept when they slept, and did what they did. He endured just as much hardship as any other soldier! In fact, because he was from the Zhao family and carried the hopes of his n, his father treated him harshly. Even a slight mistake resulted in punishment, often doubled! In addition to that, he endured the harshest training in the coldest winters and the hottest summers, all to build his innate strength. It can be said that he was entirely different from those useless nobles who justzed around and stirred up trouble everywhere! He had great ambitions and was eager to achieve great things! Now, he was justcking an opportunity to prove himself! Reiming the northern territories, starting with Northern Hebei, was that opportunity! Yet, before he could even make a move, everyone was already mocking him incessantly, from start to finish Zhao Kuo trembled with rage, unable to eat! Kuoer, dont let this bother you! A calloused hand was ced on Zhao Kuos shoulder. Uncle! Zhao Kuo turned to see a middle-aged man with a dignified face and stern demeanor. This person was his actual uncle, Zhao Hai, who had been diligently guiding him in military strategy and martial arts. Their bond was deep, much like with his father. Hence, he was referred to as uncle. Your restlessness and anxiety might y into their hands. To prove yourself, just achieve something significant. That will dispel all rumors! Zhao Hai advised. Zhao Kuo took a few deep breaths to calm himself and nodded, saying, Uncle, I understand. I wont act impulsively. I absolutely wont fall for the schemes of the enemy! Zhao Hai nodded in approval. Exactly! Remaining steady in the face of challenges is what makes a true heir of the Zhao family! The discontent and doubts of others will only fuel my determination to move forward! Zhao Kuo clenched his fist, his gaze unwavering. In this battle, I will certainly ride to the north, reiming thend, and bring back the Prince of Northern Hebei for justice! Good! With such determination, our Zhao family fully supports you! Zhao Hai eximed loudly. Over the years, all the experts weve nurtured in the Zhao family will follow you into battle! Additionally, weve leveraged our connections to gather many skilled individuals to aid us! Together with the imperial experts and forces, as long as we fight prudently, victory is assured! Zhao Kuo was ted. Thank you, Uncle! With the staunch support of the Zhao family, Zhao Kuo felt even more confident. He organized the troops and supplies, held a pledge ceremony, then led a vast army towards Northern Hebei. Meanwhile, the Prince of Northern Hebei was also counting his forces and making preparations for the impending war. My lord, we currently have a standard army of 322,000 troops! And there are 1,937,929,266 peak martial artists from the Heaven Defying Sect. Each one is equivalent to a hundred soldiers, making it a force of 1,2 million troops! We have a total of 15 innate experts! However, after the catalysis of the Dragon Suppressor and Tiger Tamer Grandmasters medicinal concoctions, weve gained an additional 50 pseudo-innate experts within our army. Their strength may be weaker than true innates, but theyre stronger thante-stage martial artists! Furthermore, there are three grandmasters lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike! The Prince of Northern Hebei was incredibly excited upon hearing this, Excellent! This terrifying power is bound to overthrow the court! After nning and waiting for so many years, its finally happening, haha! Mr. Zhuge hesitated for a moment, saying, However, we are rtively short on provisions and can only sustain for half a month The Prince of Northern Hebei calmly waved his hand, saying, We dont need that much provisions at all! Our army consists mainly of martial artists, and they move swiftly. In just a few days, we can march to the capital and change the dynasty, haha! Your Highness is absolutely right! Mr. Zhuge alsoughed. He didnt believe that this terrifying force couldnt bring down the court. The Prince of Northern Hebei stood up, hands behind his back, gazing southward as if he could see the imperial city hundreds of miles away. Lets set out! We wont return until the imperial city is captured! About five or six dayster, the two armies faced off on the ins of Northern Hebei. This battle attracted the attention of people from all over the world. The armies were separated by over 200 yards, facing each other from a distance. Zhao Kuo wore a dazzling silver armor, holding a specially crafted red-tassel spear in his hand. Mounted on a tall steed, he exuded an imposing aura, his spirit high as he swept his gaze across the Northern Hebei army. Around 300,000 troops, 14 or 15 experts at the Innate realm, along with various misceneous martial artists Zhao Kuo felt confident because his information was almost identical to what he had obtained. This force didnt pose a threat to him. After all, this time he led 400,000 elite imperial troops, outnumbering the 300,000 Northern Hebei army. In terms of Innate experts, apart from the 12 from the imperial side, his family had brought an additional 12 through various means, surpassing the opposition. As for those misceneous martial artists, they could be disregarded in the face of the armys arrows! Thus, the imperial side had a great chance of victory! At that moment, Zhao Hai leaned over and whispered, We just received good news. The Northern Hebei armys supplies are insufficient and can onlyst for half a month. We can y a steady game, drag it out for half a month, and secure a victory! Zhao Kuo was overjoyed. This was indeed good news! If the enemys supplies were inadequate, how could they fight him? With a confident stride, he rode forward, loudly dering, Prince of Northern Hebei, by rising against the Emperor, youvemitted a heinous crime of rebellion and gone against the Dao. Her Majesty is furious, and we are here to apprehend you and demand justice. I advise you to surrender now, ept your punishment, or face the consequences! The Prince of Northern Hebei sneered, Rising against the Emperor? Its clear that youve fabricated an imperial edict and framed me with malicious intent! My uprising isnt for rebellion, but to rid the Emperor of corrupt officials and restore prosperity to the nation! Rid the nation of corrupt officials and restore prosperity! Rid the nation of corrupt officials and restore prosperity! The soldiers of Northern Hebei chanted fervently, their voices deafening and their momentum overwhelming! It had to be said that after more than 20 years of cultivating his image, the Prince of Northern Hebei had garnered immense respect among the people of Northern Hebei, to the point of being deeply ingrained. Even many individuals from the martial world had been deceived, let alone the illiteratemoners and soldiers! Zhao Kuos expression soured. He had originally intended to show his might, but he was taken aback by the opponents people! Prince of Northern Hebei, it seems youre stubborn. Theres nothing more to say between us. Lets settle this with arms! Zhao Kuo rode back to his position, preparing for battle. Originally, theres nothing more to discuss! The Prince of Northern Hebei waved his hand with gusto, Guards, release the arrows! What? Release arrows? Zhao Kuo and the members of the court were dumbfounded. Usually, archers could shoot up to 100 yards at most! There was a difference of 200 yards between the two sides. How could they manage to shoot from such a distance? Had the Prince of Northern Hebei not been at war for too long and gone mad? Just when they were all puzzled, the misceneous martial artists, who seemed insignificant in their eyes, actually pulled out bows and arrows and began shooting. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh Arrows rained down, crossing the distance of 200 yards andnding within the ranks of the courts army like meteors. The unprepared court soldiers were struck by the arrows, cries of pain echoing everywhere. Ah! Oh no! Arrows iing! Ive been hit! Zhao Kuo was once again dumbfounded, How did these arrows travel such a distance? Something felt off to him! Exchanging a nce with his uncle, they both felt that something was amiss! This single barrage of arrows inflicted thousands of casualties on the courts army! The Prince of Northern Hebei was extremely pleased, brimming with excitement! His army of martial artists had seeded! Martial artists possessed superior physical strength, formidable power, and potent internal energy cultivationpared to regr soldiers. If trained in the ways of an army, they could surely unleash tremendous destructive power while marching and fighting! Moreover, his martial artists were no ordinary martial artists; they were all peak-stage martial artists. A single strike from them was equivalent to hundreds or even thousands of times their normal strength. The results were showing now. Just one round of arrow fire caused heavy losses to the enemy, while their side suffered no casualties! How could you fight me when you cant even shoot back? Haha! Fire more arrows for me! I want them dead! The Prince of Northern Hebei eximed with delight. Upon hismand, another volley of arrows rained down. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh Zhao Kuo shouted, Raise the shields, retreat slowly! All innate experts, follow me to shield against the arrow storm and protect the retreat of the main army! Yes, General Zhao! The innate experts dashed out from the main army, meeting the onught of arrows. Meanwhile, the courts main army took advantage of the situation to retreat gradually. nning to retreat? Have you asked me for permission? The Prince of Northern Hebei raised his sword and led his martial artist army, dering loudly, Kill for me! Spare none of them! Kill!!! The Northern Hebei soldiers were invigorated and advanced step by step. The army of martial artists continued firing arrows, reaping the lives of court soldiers from a distance. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh The losses of the courts army kept expanding. Chapter 330: Zhao Kuo is a useless armchair strategist; Lord Lin has to step in! Chapter 330: Zhao Kuo is a useless armchair strategist; Lord Lin has to step in! 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Zhao Kuo could see that things were going south, and he yelled, All Innates, charge into the Northern Hebei Army and wipe out the martial artists! Following Zhao Kuosmand, 24 Innates immediately charged towards the Northern Hebei Army. The Prince of Northern Hebei remainedposed, Innates, intercept them! More than 60 Innates emerged from the main army, carrying an overwhelming momentum as they swept forward. Zhao Kuo was taken aback, cold sweat pouring down his face as he eximed in shock, Prince of Northern Hebei how does he have so many Innate experts? Its important to note that Innates are no pushovers; they are extraordinary experts among the best of the best! Even if you count all the Innates in the imperial court, there are only around seventy to eighty of them, with half of them stationed within the military and the other half distributed among violent organizations like the Forbidden Army, the Six-Doors, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Yet, the Prince of Northern Hebei possesses over sixty Innates on his own, which is terrifying! And now Zhao Kuo only has twenty-four, a highly dangerous situation. The two sides Innates shed quickly! Only now did Zhao Kuo realize that most of the Prince of Northern Hebeis Innate experts were somewhat weaker than true Innates in terms of water affinity. But due to their overwhelming numbers, they were still formidable! These sixty-five Innates could easily suppress his Innate experts! They were also putting significant pressure on his regr army. Zhao Kuo, who was well-versed in military strategy, understood that the Prince of Northern Hebei was not as straightforward as he initially thought; he had hidden depths! Retreat was now necessary for the sake of strategic nning; otherwise, the losses would be even greater! Retreat! Get out of here! Move fast! Zhao Kuo urgently roared. The imperial army, upon receiving themand, quickly retreated without even maintaining their formations. The Prince of Northern Hebei sneered, Thinking of retreating? Lets see who gets to stay! My dear friends of the martial world, release yourselves and join the ughter. This is the moment to achieve greatness! Yes, Your Highness! After receiving themand, this diverse group of martial artists roared and charged towards the imperial army. They disyed terrifying strength, covering several yards in just two or three steps and rapidly catching up to the imperial army. With a casual palm strike, arge crater formed on the ground, killing several soldiers! A kick unleashed a powerful force, causing several soldiers to spurt blood! A sword strike descended, causing several soldiers to bow down! Their destructive power was truly astonishing! And unbelievably, there were over ten thousand of them! Only then did Zhao Kuo realize in shock, They are all Peak Postnatal Martial Artists! Peak Postnatal Martial Artists were not daunting; he could handle a dozen of them alone without fear! But facing over ten thousand Peak Postnatal Martial Artists was terrifying! Each of them could take on hundreds, making killing ordinary soldiers as easy as killing dogs! These over ten thousand Peak Postnatal Martial Artists were more terrifying than a million-strong army! Zhao Kuo was utterly panicked, only able to shout, Run! Run for your lives! However, Zhao Kuo himself faced a dozen warriors, trying to create an opportunity for the soldiers behind. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. He could stop a dozen, but he couldnt halt the thousands upon thousands. Seeing the imperial army in retreat, chased by the army of warriors, the Prince of Northern Hebeiughed triumphantly, Hahaha Congrattions, Your Highness, victory is assured! Mr. Zhuge, who stood beside him, bowed and smiled. Naturally! The Prince of Northern Hebeis eyes shone with confidence, With my army of over ten thousand warriors and 65 Innates, if I were to lose this battle, it would defy thews of nature! Hahaha In less than half an incense sticks time, the 400,000-strong imperial army had been scattered and defeated. Meanwhile, the Northern Hebei Army suffered minimal losses. The Prince of Northern Hebeis triumphantughter echoed throughout. Zhao Kuo was driven to madness! This was his first time leading troops in battle, and in less than a day, he had suffered a disastrous defeat! The 400,000 troops he had brought had been nearly wiped out! How was he going to exin this to the court? To the people? With bloodshot eyes and a terrifying aura, Zhao Kuo turned towards the Prince of Northern Hebei, shouting, Ill kill you! Im going to kill you! Kuoer, its dangerous! Come back! His uncle shouted in a hurry. But consumed by hatred, Zhao Kuo was beyond listening. He only wanted revenge, to kill or capture the Prince of Northern Hebei, creating an opportunity for aeback. The Prince of Northern Hebei remained incrediblyposed, a mocking smile on his face. At that moment, a burly man with a bare upper body and a huge snake coiled around his waist appeared by the Prince of Northern Hebeis side. Expressionless, he struck out with a palm, a force that traversed a hundred yards, hitting Zhao Kuos chest. A thunderous boom resounded as the armor on Zhao Kuos body shattered. He was sent flying backwards, spewing blood. The burly man chuckled coldly, This armor is quite impressive! If it werent for it, one strike would have killed him. But thats fine; Ill deliver another strike! The Prince of Northern Hebeis thoughts stirred, Master Dragon Suppressor, dont kill him! The burly man was puzzled, Your Highness, why? I n to establish dominance over the Central ins in the future, to ascend the throne. Ill need a great number of talented individuals! This young man possesses exceptional martial skills and battlefieldpetence. Hes a talent, someone I can utilize. The burly man nodded, Your Highness speaks wisely. In that case, I wont kill him. His massive snake slid to the ground and quickly darted towards Zhao Kuo, coiling around him a few times before retracting. Struggling, Zhao Kuo found himself unable to break free. The chiefmander of the imperial forces was captured, and the imperial Innates had no more will to fight, intending to retreat and regroup. The Prince of Northern Hebei called out, Masters Dragon Suppressor and Tiger Tamer, leave them to me! Yes, Your Highness! The two grandmasters acted in unison. None of the 24 Innates could escape; all were apprehended. Witnessing this overwhelming victory, the Prince of Northern Hebei once again burst into uncontrobleughter, Hahaha Ive won! News of this battle spread rapidly across thend, leaving the world in shock. The court actually lost? In less than a day, they were defeated by the Prince of Northern Hebei? The imperial 400,000-strong army waspletely wiped out! Are these 24 Innates, including General Zhao Kuo, all captured? Has the Prince of Northern Hebei truly be this powerful? The Prince of Northern Hebei is so terrifying! Hes even more formidable than the Prince of Southern Jiang and the Wuxi Duke! I believe its not that the Prince of Northern Hebei is too strong; its just that Zhao Kuo is too inept! With such a massive force and strong warriors, they should have won, but they lost to the Prince of Northern Hebei. Its not just a loss of face; the court suffered heavy losses! I told you that spoiled brat wasnt capable. If only Lord Lin had taken action! Exactly! Lord Lin, the Brave and Loyal Duke, would have assured victory! The Prince of Northern Hebeis morale soared! And the reputation of Lin Beifan also received a boost! Only Zhao Kuo, and the Zhao family behind him, suffered heavy losses and were utterly disgraced! With the situation dire, the Empress immediately convened a court meeting to discuss countermeasures. In the Golden Phoenix Hall, the Empress sat high on her dragon throne, her expression terrifyingly dark, her gaze seemingly capable of killing everyone present. The civil and military officials below were trembling in fear, cold sweat streaming down their faces. Just then, the Empress mmed the table and stood up, her anger akin to thunder, So this is the chiefmander you rmended? Truly excellent! Very, very impressive! In less than a day I should say, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he managed to wipe out my 400,000-strong army! I cant understand it at all. With 400,000 troops, even if they were killed one by one in a line, it would take until nightfall. How could he lose so quickly? Why did he lose so quickly? Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, was drenched in sweat, and he stammered, Your Majesty, its not entirely Zhao Kuos fault The Empress exploded, Silence! Did I ask you anything? I only care about the oue, not the process! The result is that he lost, lostpletely. He has thoroughly disappointed me! Li Kaiguang quickly recoiled his head. The Empress continued her tirade, That Zhao Kuo, that good-for-nothing, not only caused me to lose 400,000 troops but also lost more than a dozen Innates! He caused me heavy losses and damaged my reputation. Im so infuriated! Hes nothing more than an armchair strategist. I wish I could tear him apart! As his rmenders, youre equally at fault. How do you think I should punish you? Your Majesty, please forgive us! The civil and military officials trembled in fear. The Empress furiously dered, Cut their sries for three years! Furthermore, each of you must write a self-examination letter, reflecting on your words and actions, engaging in a serious and profound self-examination, and make it public! The civil and military officials instantly lost theirposure. Cutting their sries was eptable; after all, they didnt rely on that for their livelihoods. However, having to write self-examination letters and making them public was utterly nauseating. They could be shameless, but they couldnt afford to lose face! Your Majesty, about these self-examination letters The Empress roared in anger, Silence! Say one more word, and the cudgel will be ready! The officials quickly retracted their heads. The Empress continued with a grimace, After writing them, hand them over to Lord Lin for inspection. If hes dissatisfied, keep writing until he is! The civil and military officials eximed, Damn it! Lin Beifan promptly and happily epted the task, Yes, Your Majesty. The officials wore a look of resignation. After venting her anger, the Empress finally calmed down. She turned to Lin Beifan and spoke softly, Lord Lin, this time its up to you! The Prince of Northern Hebeis forces are strong and imposing. Among the court, only you can shoulder this heavy responsibility. Yes, Your Majesty, Lin Beifan replied calmly. Leave this matter to me. I promise Ill ensure that he wont return. The Empress was delighted and said after three affirmatives, I entrust this matter to you, Lord Lin. Im very confident in you. Whatever personnel or resources you need, just ask. Ill fully support you. Thank you for your support, Your Majesty, but I dont need anything, Lin Beifan replied. What? The Empress was dumbfounded, and so were the officials. How can you not need anything? Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, advised, You must understand, the Prince of Northern Hebei ising with great force. Hes even more terrifying than the former Prince of Southern Jiang and the Wuxi Duke! Hell reach the capital in two or three days. Itll be toote if youre not prepared! Lord Lin, how many troops do you need, how many experts do you need? Just say the word! Ill dispatch them to you immediately! Whatever you want, as long as you open your mouth, Ill arrange it for you right away! The civil and military officials offered advice and suggestions enthusiastically. Now everyone was on the same boat, so they had to fully support Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan smiled calmly, exuding confidence, I truly dont need anything. Not only that, but I also dont need to take any action. As long as the Prince of Northern Hebei reaches the capital, I guarantee he wont be able to escape. Chapter 331: Sharing Half of the Meat, We Must Win This Battle! Chapter 331: Sharing Half of the Meat, We Must Win This Battle! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Under Lin Beifans persistent insistence, the Empress and the officials relented. Meanwhile, news of Lin Beifan taking charge of the resistance against the Northern Hebei Armysmander spread rapidly throughout the realm. The court and the citizens of the capital were excited! We finally have Lin Beifan leading us. The court has finally made a wise decision! Ive been saying this all along. Matters of war should be entrusted to Lin Beifan! Hes exceptional in warfare, achievingprehensive victories with minimal cost every time he acts. Hes even greater than a war god! That Zhao Kuo isnt even worthy to shine Lin Beifans shoes! The Prince of Northern Hebei is in trouble this time! Neither of the two brothers was capable, let alone him? Haha! With Sir Lin inmand of the entire army, we can finally sleep soundly! With this anticipation, themon people kept a close eye on Lin Beifan, observing how he prepared the troops and strategized against the Prince of Northern Hebei, anticipating his triumphant return. However, it was puzzling that Lin Beifan seemed to be doing nothing at all. There were no troop movements, no mobilization of supplies. After attending the morning court session, he either went to the Imperial Academy or the government office, business as usual. On this day, Yao Zheng, the assistant reporting to Lin Beifan, couldnt help but remind, Lord Prefect, delegate these minor matters to me. You should focus on official duties! Lin Beifan chuckled, As a Prefect, isnt this my official duty? Thats not what I mean. I mean, the Prince of Northern Hebei is about to attack! Yao Zheng urged anxiously, The Prince of Northern Hebei harbors ill intentions, eyeing the capital. Hell be at our doorstep in a few days. The court needs you urgently! Your top priority should be preparing for war against the Prince of Northern Hebei, not dealing with these trivial matters here! Even better if he attacks. I wouldnt even bother making the trip! Lin Beifan confidently smiled, Dont be deceived by his current excitement. Hes just a grasshopper in my hand, ready to be squashed anytime! Yao Zheng grew more anxious, Lord Prefect, dont underestimate the Prince of Northern Hebei. I heard Lin Beifan waved his hand dismissively, Yao, you go attend to other matters! You dont understand military affairs, but youlle to know in due time! Yes, Lord Prefect! Reluctantly, Yao Zheng left. Back at the Lin Residence, the Little Princess rushed over in a flurry. Grabbing Lin Beifans arm, she anxiously asked, Lin Beifan, the Prince of Northern Hebei is about to attack. I heard you havent taken any action. What if the city falls? Lin Beifan retorted, Who said I havent done anything? Ive done a lot! Then what have you done? the Little Princess asked. Lin Beifan replied, I handled official business at the Imperial Academy and the Dedian Government Office, and dismissed many people who came to advise me like you! During that time, I had lunch, and the chicken soup was quite good, so I had an extra bowl! After lunch, I felt a bit drowsy, took a half-hour nap, then wasted an hour idly. Since there wasnt much to do, I came back for dinner! The Little Princess: So, you really havent done anything? The Little Princess became even more anxious, pulling Lin Beifans hand to urge him outside, Hurry up and prepare for war. Theres still time! Lin Beifan shook his head and whispered, Its really not necessary. Ive secretly made preparations behind the scenes, but I cant reveal them! If word gets out, it will be useless! Really? The Little Princess was highly skeptical. Pearls arent even that genuine! Youre so clever, could I fool you? Lin Beifan retorted. True! The Little Princess agreed. During dinner, the Little Princess reluctantly divided half of the meat in her bowl into Lin Beifans bowl, saying, Sharing half of the meat with you. We must win this battle. Were relying on you! Lin Beifan was deeply moved; snatching meat from the Little Princesss bowl wasnt an easy feat! It was no different from grabbing food from a tigers mouth! Lin Beifans eyes gleamed, Little Princess The Little Princess looked up, What is it? I want the other half too! The Little Princess: In the end, for the greater cause, the Little Princess sacrificed her own portion and piled all the meat into Lin Beifans bowl. In the evening, Lin Beifan was in his study handling official matters. Mo Rushuang entered worriedly and said, Young Master, are you sure everything is alright? Lin Beifan sighed, stood up, and said with a bitter smile, Rushuang, how could there be no problems? Based on the situation at the front, the Prince of Northern Hebei not only has over ten thousand peak-level post-natal warriors but also more than sixty Innate experts, along with two mysterious grandmasters! This level of power is enough to overthrow any dynasty! Young Master Mo Rushuangs expression grew even more worried. However, even though its difficult, I will do my utmost to stop it! Lin Beifan looked resolutely ahead, The Prince of Northern Hebei appears righteous but has sinister intentions. Once he ascends the supreme throne, chaos will reign, and the people will suffer! A true man knows when to act and when not to. For the sake of the people, even if it means sacrificing my life, my body, and my bones turning to dust, I will fight him to the death! Mo Rushuang was deeply moved, Young Master, Ill assist you! Though my strength is insignificant, Ill ensure Im by your side, bound by life and death! If you die, I wont live alone; Ill follow you even to the underworld! Rushuang, thank you! Lin Beifan turned and embraced Mo Rushuangs delicate body, In the eve of this great battle, with life hanging by a thread, having you steadfastly by my side, I feel blessed by the heavens! Mo Rushuang nestled her head on Lin Beifans chest, her voice tender with happiness, Young Master, in truth, its I who am fortunate! They leaned against each other,forting and consoling one another, a warmth flowing between them. Just then, Guo Shaoshuai suddenly burst into the room, his expression turning nk at the sight before him. He retracted his foot, slowly closed the door, and sheepishly chuckled, Sorry, it seems I came at the wrong time. Ill leave now; you can continue! Lin Beifan released the shy Mo Rushuang and asked, Come back! Whats the matter? Its like this, Young Master. Minister of War Li Kaiguang is here to see you. It seems like theres an urgent matter! Alright, Ill see him right away! Lin Beifan met Minister of War Li Kaiguang in the hall. With a cupped fist, Lin Beifan smiled, Why has Minister Lie sote in the night? Li Kaiguang bowed with a cupped fist, I greet the loyal and brave Lord Lin! Minister Li, no need to stand on ceremony. If youvee to me at thiste hour, there must be an urgent matter. Lets get straight to the point! Sure, I wont be polite then! After both had taken their seats, Li Kaiguang took a sip of tea and, still uneasy, asked, But before we discuss business, I must ask, can you really win this battle? Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Absolutely foolproof! After all, I wouldnt joke about my own future, would I? Alright, then I can rest assured! Its like this, Lord Lin Li Kaiguang spoke hesitantly, After the Prince of Northern Hebei defeated the imperial army, he captured somemanders, including my nephew, Li Tianxing. Can Lord Lin rescue him? I would be immensely grateful! Lin Beifan was a bit puzzled, Li Tianxing? That dandy, when did he end up in the military? Seeing Li Kaiguangs embarrassed expression, Lin Beifan suddenly understood, Minister Li, did you arrange for him to be there? Li Kaiguang grew even more embarrassed, chuckling ruefully, Lord Lin, at this point, I wont hide it from you. It was indeed arranged by me! I rmended Zhao Kuo to lead the troops, and Zhao Kuo favored my nephew, aiming to earn some merits and facilitate future official appointments! But, who knew Zhao Kuo would be so useless, he fell apart as soon as he confronted the Northern Hebei Army. Not only did the imperial troops suffer defeat, but my nephew also got captured by the Prince of Northern Hebei. Im so regretful! Li Kaiguang covered his face, filled with remorse and annoyance. But, my nephew is still my elder brothers firstborn and the legitimate heir of the Li family. I cant just sit by! So I had no choice but toe to Lord Lin for help, hoping you could rescue him. I would be incredibly grateful! Lin Beifan looked pained, Minister Li, your request is a tough one. I can defeat the Northern Hebei Army without a problem! But rescuing your nephew from his grasp is a different matter, with a much higher level of difficulty I understand that it might be difficult, but isnt there a solution? Li Kaiguangs face was bitter, Ive begged and pleaded, and I can only turn to Lord Lin for help. This is a token of my appreciation, please ept it! If sessful, a great reward will follow. Please, Lord Lin, do not decline! With that, he pushed a small box over. Lin Beifan opened it to find a collection of precious jewelry, worth 100,000 taels of silver. Li Kaiguang really knew how to handle things; I like that! Lin Beifan spoke, If sessful, I want 500,000 taels! Li Kaiguang: What the heck! This official is as greedy as ever! After thinking for a while, Lin Beifan said with sympathy, Alright, alright, as long as the person is rescued, 500,000 taels it is! Thats more like it! Lin Beifan happily epted the gold and silver jewels, saying, Back then, if you had just given me money directly and asked me to take your nephew to fight for merits, would it really havee to this? Lord Lin, please dont mention it. Im deeply regretful now! Li Kaiguang covered his chest, looking distressed. Next, Lin Beifan received several other imperial court officials. They all came with the same request: to rescue their captured kin. Lin Beifan treated them all the same, rescue with money, no rescue without! Finally, even the Zhao family came. They came boldly, offering everything they owned except their ancestral home. Lord Lin, as long as you rescue our son and the Zhao family youngsters captured, everything except our ancestral home will belong to you! Lin Beifan was grinning from ear to ear, No problem, everythings negotiable! At this moment, the Prince of Northern Hebei was leading his mighty army southward. To his surprise, the journey went smoothly, encountering no resistance whatsoever. The Prince of Northern Hebei furrowed his brow, Whats going on? Did the court give up resistance? Advisor Zhugeughed and cupped his hands, Reporting to Your Highness, we just received a letter from Miss Rushuang! She mentioned that the court has handed over themanders position to Lord Lin. Lord Lin has been acting mysteriously, fooling everyone. He didnt prepare for war; hes simply been waiting for Your Highness! As soon as Your Highness arrives in the capital, the gates will surely be wide open, allowing Your Highness to take control of the capital! The Prince of Northern Hebei was overjoyed, Excellent! Lord Lin has done well. Lets advance at full speed! Two dayster, the capital was right in front of them! Chapter 332: The Army of Northern Hebei Approaches the City, Watch Me Convince Them! Chapter 332: The Army of Northern Hebei Approaches the City, Watch Me Convince Them! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The imperial city, weve finally arrived! Prince of Northern Hebei looked at the towering imperial city in the distance and came to a stop, sitting on hisrge horse and gazing from afar. His eyes seemed somewhat distant, as if lost in memories. The entire army came to a halt with him. As the wind blew and banners fluttered, the army remained unusually quiet, an air of solemnity filling the air. Why, my lord, arent we moving? Mr. Zhuge asked, puzzled. Prince of Northern Hebei suddenly inquired, Advisor, do you know why I must im the throne? Mr. Zhuge blinked; wasnt it obvious? Who wouldnt want to ascend to the throne as an emperor in all the world? As a prince, youd definitely be even more eager, with power almost within your grasp! Yet, clever Mr. Zhuge understood that the king didnt need an answer; he needed an audience. So, he respectfully replied, I do not know, please enlighten me, my lord. Prince of Northern Hebei cleared his throat and said with a heavy tone, In the beginning, our father had four of us brothers. Among the four, I, the second-born, excelled in both literary and martial arts. Even my talents in cultivation were exceptional. I was the most outstanding among us four! The third brother, Prince of Southern Jiang, was also clever and capable. Thoughcking in cultivation aptitude and somewhatzy and gluttonous, he had a knack for business. He amassed wealth in the tens of millions at a young age, making him the richest among us four! The fourth brother, Duke Wuxi, might be headstrong and stubborn, but he was exceptionally skilled in leading troops and strategizing. He possessed remarkable martial talents and even achieved innate mastery at a young age! Only the eldest, with average aptitude and no outstanding qualities. In terms of strategy and tactics, hes inferior to me! In terms of business acumen, hes inferior to the third brother! In matters of military strategy, hes inferior to the fourth! Hecks martial talents and is quite ordinary! Prince of Northern Hebeis tone was full of disdain, a mix of scorn and anger. Yet, this mediocre individual, just because he was born a few years earlier than me, was favored by our father due to his status as the firstborn, supported by the officials, and became the crown prince. Heter ascended to be the ruler of the country! Hence, I am deeply resentful! My other two royal brothers are equally resentful! Why does the eldest get to be the emperor while we cannot? We are clearly superior to him. If we were in his position, its likely we would excel and perform better than him! Therefore, upon receiving my own fief, I began plotting to seize the throne. Prince of Northern Hebei narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth. I swore that I would reim everything Ive lost, bit by bit. The day I return will be the day I ascend the throne and control the world! Now, after more than two decades of careful nning, the moment has finally arrived! Congrattions, my lord! I congratte you! Mr. Zhuge immediately bowed and said, Your perseverance has moved the heavens, and now the heavens arepensating you with this opportunity! Though it may bete, I assure you it will not be absent! Yes! The heavens favor me, and the divine path is with me! Prince of Northern Hebeiughed heartily. March forth! The time for a change of dynasty is now. The era that belongs to me has arrived! The Northern Hebei army continued their march, heading towards the nearby capital city. Inside the capital city, chaos had erupted. Prince of Northern Hebei hase to attack! A 300,000-strong army is already at our gates, its truly frightening! I wonder if the court can withstand this? But what if I mean, what if Prince of Northern Hebei seeds? Should we flee? Shame, shame! Dont speak recklessly! The citizens of the capital were filled with fear and anxiety. They didnt want war to arrive, let alone Prince of Northern Hebei invading and disrupting their peaceful lives. In the past, they might not have cared much. After all, it didnt matter much who became the emperor; it was just a change of masters. But now, life was improving, there was hope for a better future, and they didnt want that to change. The imperial citys defending army, the Imperial Guards, the Embroidered Uniform Guards, the Six-Doors, the Eastern and Western Depots, and other institutions were all mobilizing troops and preparing for war. Although Lin Beifan said there was no need to prepare, who would dare take his words seriously? What if they really break through, and without preparation, it would be toote for regrets! Inside the imperial pce, the empress was feeling somewhat annoyed as she put down the memorial in her hand and asked, Whats happening outside? Why is it so noisy? Your Majesty, the old eunuch said cautiously, ncing at the empresss expression, The Northern Hebei army has reached our gates. Various departments of the court are mobilizing troops and preparing for battle! Hmm! The empress nodded, And what about Lin Beifan? How is he preparing? Loyal and courageous Lord Lin Beifan has just finished handling state affairs. Hes gone up to the city walls, preparing for battle. However, whats puzzling is that he hasnt made any specific preparations up until now! Your Majesty, this Hmm! The empress pondered for a moment and said, Im not in the mood to review memorials right now. Ill go up to the city walls and take a look myself! The old eunuch was shocked, Your Majesty, its dangerous! The empress shook her head, With Lord Lin Beifan there, it wont be dangerous! Lord Lin Beifan is skilled in war, but Ive never seen it myself. Today, Ill have a good look at how he fights! Shortly afterward, the empress arrived at the city walls and met Lin Beifan. While everyone else was anxious like ants on a hot pan, he had an air of tranquility, contrasting with those around him. Lord, Prince of Northern Hebei has already attacked. How are you preparing? Lin Beifan bowed, Your Majesty, Im ready! The empress asked curiously, What have you prepared? Ive prepared my mouth! Lin Beifan smiled proudly, Your Majesty, Im not boasting, but as soon as I speak, I guarantee that the Northern Hebei army will be chaotic, leading to their own defeat! The empressughed, Is it really that magical? Then Ill be looking forward to it! The two of them looked down from the city wall, and the Northern Hebei army had arrived. Looking down, it was a sea of people with fluttering banners, a densely packed mass that brought a tremendous sense of oppression. From within, Lin Beifan spotted the leader of the Northern Hebei army, Prince of Northern Hebei. This was his first time seeing Prince of Northern Hebei. He was d in ck armor, riding a tall horse, exuding a dignified and imposing presence, the appearance of a wise ruler. He noticed a somewhat cunning schr, sporting a mustache and holding a folding fan a figure reminiscent of Zhuge Liang likely Prince of Northern Hebeis strategist, Zhuge Xiansheng. He saw a group with varying strengths among them, some born with natural talents while others were weaker. He saw thousands of peak martial artists, forming a martial army that was no less imposing than an army of a million. He saw two oddly dressed individuals, one with dark skin and a giant snake around his waist, the other a burly giant both looking quite formidable, their threatparable to grandmasters. He even saw Zhao Kuo and others who were detained, exchanging nces with Lin Beifan, their faces filled with guilt, their gazes evasive. As Lin Beifan surveyed the Northern Hebei army, King Northern Hebei was also looking up at the city. First, he saw the extraordinary empress. Although she was a delicate woman, she wore imperial robes that radiated regal authority. Although she was his own niece, he never regarded her as family. He still needed to seize the kingdom and the throne from her. Then, he noticed Lin Beifan beside the empress. Although he had heard much about him and had secret interactions, this was Prince of Northern Hebeis first time seeing Lin Beifan. He looked much younger than he had imagined, appearing like a student from a private school. Even though he appeared young, he possessed remarkable talent. Proficient in poetry, prose, and articles, skilled in governance and administration, adept at leading troops in battles, and well-versed in many unconventional techniques It could be said that there was almost nothing he couldnt do! But starting from today, this unparalleled talent was now under hismand, serving him. Just thinking about it, he felt a slight surge of excitement. Thus, Prince of Northern Hebei couldnt help but show a smile of contentment and satisfaction to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan returned the smile. Their hearts connected, an involuntary bond. At this moment, the empress spoke sternly, Prince of Northern Hebei, you truly are an excellent uncle of ours! Instead of staying peacefully in Northern Hebei, youve brought an army of 300,000 to our imperial city. Are you nning a rebellion and usurpation? Having been emperor for several years, the empress carried a strong imperial aura. As she questioned, that aura overwhelmed the Northern Hebei army, evoking a hint of fear. Rebellion and usurpation? Thats exactly what Prince of Northern Hebei was thinking, but he absolutely couldnt say it! Rebellion? Your Majesty, youve misunderstood me! Prince of Northern Hebei bowed, righteously dering, I have always been loyal to Your Majesty! This uprising is not for rebellion, but to rid Your Majesty of corrupt officials and traitorous ministers by my side! These people have deceived your wise rule, exploited the people, and brought disaster to the kingdom. Their crimes are unforgivable! Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to open the city gates, let me lead my soldiers in to kill the corrupt officials and traitorous ministers, safeguard the nation, and bring prosperity! After Ive dealt with all the corrupt officials and traitorous ministers, I will immediately withdraw my troops without staying! Kill corrupt officials, eliminate traitorous ministers! Kill corrupt officials, eliminate traitorous ministers! The cries of the Northern Hebei army were deafening. Prince of Northern Hebei spread his hands wide and said loudly, Your Majesty, as you can see, this is the will of the people, the wish of the masses. I, too, am reluctantly doing this. I hope Your Majesty understands! What a hypocritical scoundrel! The empresss chest heaved in anger. Uncle, you im that there are corrupt officials and traitorous ministers around me. Why dont you tell me, who are these corrupt officials and traitorous ministers? There are so many! For instance, the Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao The Minister of War, Li Kaiguang The Minister of Household, Qian Yuanshen Prince of Northern Hebei enumerated them one by one, detailing their wrongdoings, inciting anger and clenched teeth. The empress red fiercely at the civil and military officials beside her. It was this group that had caused her to lose face and be forced to abdicate. The civil and military officials were sweating profusely as they offered exnations. Your Majesty, its all false,pletely fabricated, unworthy of belief! Its all Prince of Northern Hebeis attempt to frame and nder us. When one desires to use, what shortage of usations will they find? We are all innocent, please, Your Majesty, see clearly! After this matter is settled, I will deal with all of you! The empress red at them again, then turned to Lin Beifan and said, Minister Lin, the next step is up to you. Dont disappoint us! Rest assured, Your Majesty. Ill take care of it! Lin Beifan squinted his eyes. Chapter 333: One Statement in Chaos, Northern Hebei Army Turns on Itself! Chapter 333: One Statement in Chaos, Northern Hebei Army Turns on Itself! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan stepped forward and looked down at Prince of Northern Hebeis army from a higher vantage point. Seeing all of you truly astounds me! Every single person has actually cultivated to the peak of the Postnatal realm! With warriors numbering over ten thousand, you can rightfully be called an invincible army! The army of warriors held their heads high, brimming with pride. Of course! We are the invincible army of the Prince, specially here to deal with all of you! Under the heavens, who else can be our match? Your courts misconduct, embezzlement, and corruption, officials shielding each other retribution ising! Corrupt officials, prepare to die! Lin Beifan shook his head and chuckled, Dont get too conceited yet! Your situation reminds me of something. Everyone was very puzzled. At this point, why was he bringing up other matters? But by now, nobody was in a hurry; they listened to Lin Beifans narration. A year ago, an evil technique emerged out of nowhere. This evil technique is extremely remarkable! Because anyone with a bit of martial talent can cultivate it. Moreover, while practicing this evil technique, it feels as if one has divine assistance, advancing at an astonishing pace! Within 10 days, one can be a ninth-grade warrior! Within a month, an eighth-grade warrior! Within three months, one can be a seventh-grade warrior, reaching the pinnacle of the Postnatal realm! It can be called a divine art! However, the reason this technique isbeled as evil is because its extremely sinister! Firstly, to practice this technique, one must castrate oneself! Secondly, practicing this evil technique damages ones life essence and shortens ones lifespan! The faster you cultivate, the sooner you die! It can be said that this is a technique that exchanges life for power! This matter was known among martial artists. The evil technique Lin Beifan was referring to was none other than the notorious Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. As cultivating this technique required self-castration and would eventually shorten ones life, and since it would be countered by the imperial court once mastered, it was reviled by everyone and no one practiced it anymore. This incident had happened a year ago, so why was he still bringing it up? However, sitting on his horse, Prince of Northern Hebei looked at Lin Beifans confident demeanor and began to feel a sense of foreboding. This evil technique first fell into the hands of the Tianmen Sects Sect Master, Leng Ruochen! For the sake of fulfilling his ambition, he crazily had all the disciples of the sect cultivate this technique! Fortunately, his actions were exposed. The major sects of the martial world collectively attacked the Tianmen Sect. The sect was destroyed, and Leng Ruochen fled in defeat. The martial world suffered significant losses! But afterward, this evil technique fell into the hands of various sects and factions! In order to be stronger, they all practiced this technique as well. This led to mutual killings and conflicts in the martial world, causing further extensive casualties! This evil technique has caused two great cmities in the martial world within a year! The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual can undoubtedly be called the number one sinister technique of the martial world! At this moment, a martial artist from the Jianghu spoke up, puzzled, Were aware of these matters. Now that two armies are shing, why are you talking about these things? Lin Beifan smiled faintly, The reason Im talking about this is because this evil technique has reemerged under a different name! Everyone was shocked one after another. Evil-Repelling Sword Manual has reappeared? Dont they know the drawbacks of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? At this point, who would dare to cultivate it? Are they courting death? Arent they afraid that the martial world will rise up against them together? Who has practiced the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? Prince of Northern Hebeis army was also shocked. He loudly shouted, Lin Beifan, watch your words and dont speak recklessly! His words carried a strong warning. However, Lin Beifan paid no attention. Under the anticipation of the masses, he smiled slightly and said, The current Evil-Repelling Sword Manual is no longer called the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. It has been renamed the Sunflower Manual! Prince of Northern Hebeis army broke out into furious roars and shouts. Impossible! How could the Sunflower Manual that were cultivating be the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual? This technique doesnt require self-castration, and the cultivation speed isnt that fast. It has nothing to do with the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! I have both techniques, and the methods of cultivation arepletely different! Ive been practicing for almost a year and have had no issues! His Highness the Prince is wise and valiant; he wouldnt harm us! It must be your nonsense and framing! The other side is too malicious in intention. Lets not listen to him! At this moment, everyone realized that Prince of Northern Hebeis army of warriors had actually practiced the Sunflower Manual, which Lin Beifan referred to as the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual. Prince of Northern Hebei quickly tried to reassure the crowd, Dont listen to Lin Beifans nonsense, everyone! The Sunflower Manual Ive given you is a genuine divine art,pletely unrted to the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual! I consider all of you as brothers; how could I harm you? Under Prince of Northern Hebeis efforts to calm them, the crowd gradually regained theirposure. Whether its the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual or not, let me exin in detail! Lin Beifan continued, Is this Sunflower Manual capable of promoting you to the ninth grade within a month, the eighth grade within three months, and reaching the peak of the Postnatal realm within a year? The army of warriors nodded in agreement. Lin Beifan sneered, Where in the world can you find such a miraculous technique? Even Shaolins Yijin Jing or Wudangs Tai Chi Divine Art doesnt possess this kind of ability! On the contrary, infamous evil techniques and demonic arts have this kind of rapid cultivation speed! The faces of the warriors turned pale. Of course, if you are all unparalleled martial prodigies, then encountering a divine technique might truly grant you such a cultivation speed. But are you qualified for that? Honestly ask yourselves, are you unparalleled martial prodigies among the masses? The faces of the warriors turned pale once again. Anything gainedes at a cost! Your current strengthes at the price of sacrificing your own life force! Just like the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual, the faster you cultivate, the faster you die! And youve already reached the peak of the Postnatal realm Lin Beifans gaze was filled with sympathy, You only have three to four years of life left. Cherish the time you have! The entire city was in an uproar. Prince of Northern Hebeis army of warriors broke down again, panicking and shouting. Impossible!!! How could we only have three or four years to live? You must be speaking nonsense! Spreading false information, with wicked intentions! However, many warriors turned their heads and asked, Is what hes saying true, Your Highness? Prince of Northern Hebeis face broke into a sweat as he reassured loudly, How could it be true? How could I harm all of you? Dont believe him! His gaze turned towards Lin Beifan on the city wall, filled with a deep sense of threat, and he shouted, Lin Beifan, you treacherous official! Stop spreading false information, or I wont hold back! How could Prince of Northern Hebei admit to such a self-serving act? Lin Beifan smiled and said, In fact, besides shortening ones lifespan through cultivating the Sunflower Manual, theres another massive w. This w canpletely prove whether what Im saying is true or false. What w? someone asked. After cultivating this technique, youll be controlled by others, forced to a life worse than death, and even face a life-or-death dilemma! Lin Beifan enunciated clearly. Prince of Northern Hebeis army broke their defenses for the third time. To think you can be controlled by others? Impossible!!! Who could control me? How can there be such a thing in the world? Surely youre just talking nonsense! Even Prince of Northern Hebei was no longerposed. Cultivating the Sunflower Manual leading to being controlled by othersthis was something he didnt know! A figure popped up in his mind: Tianmen Sects Master, Leng Ruochen! Thinking of his character, he found it slightly believable! Let me prove it to you! Lin Beifan had someone bring a zither and started ying. The sound was bizarre andcked any rhythm; those around found it very diforting, but it was no more than that. However, the army of warriors below the city wall, upon hearing the music, felt like they were hearing a devils tune. They clutched their heads in pain and agony. Hands tightly covered their ears, they cried out in unbearable pain. It hurts so much! My head is throbbing! What kind of tune is this? Ah, its so unpleasant, my head feels like its going to explode! Stop! Please stop! Please, dont y anymore! Some people couldnt bear the pain and started grabbing weapons, smashing them against their heads, causing blood to flow. Some buried their heads in the mud. Some went mad, smashing their heads against walls and even pping themselves. Everyone watched in fear. The mere sound of the zither caused over ten thousand warriors to suffer excruciating headaches and extreme pain! Could it be that those who cultivated the Sunflower Manual were really being controlled? Prince of Northern Hebei felt a chill in his heart. He had been manipted by Leng Ruochen, curse it all! At this moment, Lin Beifan finally stopped, looking at the army of warriors whose faces were twisted in agony and bleeding from their heads. He smiled and said, How does it feel, everyone? Now, is there any need for me to say more? The army of warriors were furious, their spears turning towards Prince of Northern Hebei. Prince of Northern Hebei! Ill kill you!!! I followed you wholeheartedly, and you schemed against me behind my back? You want my life after taking it all from me! You despicable person with a human face and a beastly heart! I misjudged you; now Ill kill you! They rushed towards Prince of Northern Hebei and the Northern Hebei army without hesitation. Prince of Northern Hebei was panicking, Heroes, youve misunderstood, I didnt expect this either! Listen to my exnation However, no one was listening anymore. After being tormented by Lin Beifans zither, the truth was right there. How could they calm down? Only the thought of revenge remained! They could only avenge themselves by killing Prince of Northern Hebei! Quick, stop them for me! Prince of Northern Hebei shouted to the surrounding Innate experts. Yes, Your Highness! Over ten Innate experts responded. But, where could they stop them? Because there were fifty Innate experts who had also cultivated the Sunflower Manual and had their strength boosted after taking medicine. They had been affected by Lin Beifans zither earlier, and their fury was already soaring. Prince of Northern Hebei, Ive been following you for so many years, and you actually want my life! After you harmed me, Ill take you down with me! Today, either you die, or I die! You scoundrel, prepare to die! Amidst the Northern Hebei army, they began to kill each other. Pseudo-Innate warriors killing genuine Innate ones, the army of warriors killing Prince of Northern Hebeis 300,000 soldiers, all while seeking revenge against Prince of Northern Hebei! The once favorable situation instantly reversed! Chapter 334: Your Highness, Please Begin Your Performance! Chapter 334: Your Highness, Please Begin Your Performance! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The people on the city wall were dumbfounded! The army of the Northern Hebei was at the city gates, about to breach the imperial city, yet they were actually turning on each other? Post-natal Martial Artists were killing the main army, Innate Martial Artists were killing the confidants of the Prince of Northern Hebei! The killings were ruthless, as if seeking revenge from a blood feud! Honestly, they understood these warriors very well. Betrayal is something everyone detests, especially being betrayed by those they admire, trust, and love the most! Thinking about how they had risked their lives to expand the territory for the other side, only to be secretly plotted against for their lives, driven mad with anger! The depth of their past love was now matched by the intensity of their current pain and hatred! So, when the opportunity presented itself, an eruption was inevitable! The Prince of Northern Hebei is finished! Those whomit injustice will perish by their own actions! In order to realize his ambitions, he used and discarded everyone, not sparing even those closest and most trusted to him. Its despicable and chilling! Yes! Othersbored to pave his way to power, only for him to scheme against them in secret. Hes worse than an animal! Truly a wolf in sheeps clothing! He rose to power based on principles, and hell undoubtedly lose everything due to those same principles! He will be torn apart by those he personally nurtured! Even if he doesnt die, he wont have a ce in the world anymore! The Prince of Northern Hebei is truly finished! While berating the Prince of Northern Hebei, everyone involuntarily looked at the young man on the city wall, filled with deep admiration! He spoke without any preparation, and indeed, no preparation was needed! Just with his words, he incited them to turn against each other! Incredible, no need for exnation, simply too powerful! Admiration!!! At this moment, the Prince of Northern Hebei was already in disarray, his heart cold. His 300,000-strong army had been nearly decimated by the enraged army of warriors! The 15 Innate experts he had painstakingly cultivated were also pushed back by the furious pseudo-Innate warriors. Two had already lost their lives. Amentable fate! And the Imperial Courts forces watched from the sidelines, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment! The once promising situation had crumbledpletely! Isted and surrounded by enemies! Now it wasnt about securing the throne anymore, but about self-preservation. Grandmasters Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer, save me quickly! Yes, Your Highness! The two Grandmasters appeared before the Prince of Northern Hebei. Save my Innate experts first! the prince called out. Your Highness, how should we deal with those pseudo-Innate individuals? Dragon Supressor inquired. The Prince of Northern Hebeis heart turned cold: For so many years, theyve enjoyed my hospitality, lived off me, taken from me. But when its time for them to give their all, theyre unwilling. Heartless and ungrateful, kill them all! Yes, Your Highness! Grandmaster Dragon Supressor acted without hesitation. Each palm strike carried the power of thunder and force, iming the lives of pseudo-Innate individuals. These lofty Innate experts were like chickens and ducks before him, ughtered with ease, terrifying. Heres the Prince of Northern Hebei, follow me and kill! We must avenge this! Scoundrel,e and meet your doom!!! The warriors who had already wiped out the Northern Hebei army surged towards the Prince of Northern Hebei in a ze of fury. The towering mes of anger made even the Prince of Northern Hebei shiver. However, the calm-faced Grandmaster Tiger Tamer stood before him and asked, Your Highness, how should we deal with these people? The Prince of Northern Hebei, infuriated and ashamed, shouted, Kill them all, leave none alive! Yes, Your Highness! Grandmaster Tiger Tamer acted. He extended his arms, delivering punches like a giant, causing the heavens and earth to tremble, unleashing bomb-like explosions, mercilessly ughtering the army of warriors! The casualties among the warrior army rapidly expanded! On the city wall, the Empress spoke, Advisor, should we lend them a hand? Lin Beifan shook his head, Your Majesty, its best not to intervene! The Empress was puzzled, Why? Your Majesty, over these years, theyve acted as aplices for the enemy, opposing our court. We dont know how many crimes theyvemitted! Moreover, our 400,000-strong army was ughtered by them. Each and every one of them is guilty, deserving death! The Empress nodded, a hint of satisfaction in her voice, Advisor, what you say is true. Let them all die! Lin Beifan smiled, Now, theyre killing each other, its the perfect time for our rescue! As he finished speaking, an old monk appeared beside the captured court generals and Innate experts. Withpassion in his eyes, he said, Amitabha! The humble monk was entrusted by his master toe and rescue you all! The aura around the old monk shook, releasing everyone from their restraints. Recognizing him as the Grandmaster who followed Lin Beifan, they thanked him repeatedly. Many thanks, Grandmaster Jing Tai, for saving us! Amitabha, esteemed guests, please follow this humble monk! The old monk led the way, with Prince of Northern Hebei, Grandmaster Dragon Supressor, and Grandmaster Tiger Tamer among others watching as they left, helpless. Just then, Lin Beifan sensed danger. Looking toward the source of danger, a white figure was swiftly approaching, aiming to strike Lin Beifan. An assassin! Sir Lin is in danger, get out of the way! Everyone cried out in rm. But there was someone even faster than the approaching figure. With a whoosh, Night Fragrance, surpassing everyone else, whisked Lin Beifan away, evading the deadly attack. At this point, everyone could finally see the neer clearly, and their faces turned pale with shock. Tianmen Master, Leng Ruochen! Why is he here? Why would he want to kill Sir Lin? Tianmen Master stood where Lin Beifan had just stood, his gaze cold and fixed on Lin Beifan, filled with killing intent: Kid, youve ruined my ns. You deserve to die! And then he attacked once more! Night Fragrance put Lin Beifan down and faced him with a small knife, Find a safe ce to hide, Ill deal with him! The Empress called out, Grandmaster, stop him! A Grandmaster emerged from behind the Empress and confronted Tianmen Master. Even the old monk swiftly moved to intercept. Two Grandmasters and Night Fragrance, with partial Grandmaster strength, engaged Tianmen Master in battle. However, Tianmen Master didnt retreat. His gaze remained coldly fixed on Lin Beifan, as if he would only be satisfied by killing him. At this moment, below the city wall, Prince of Northern Hebei, seeing that his forces had inflicted considerable damage, shouted, Grandmaster Dragon Supressor and Grandmaster Tiger Tamer, hurry and kill the traitor Lin Beifan! I want him to die a miserable death! Yes, Your Highness! Grandmaster Dragon Supressor and Grandmaster Tiger Tamer, the two of them, advanced toward Lin Beifan. The Empress cried, Grandmasters, stop them! Yes, Your Majesty! Two more court-appointed masters emerged, intercepting Grandmaster Dragon Supressor and Grandmaster Tiger Tamer. Seven Grandmasters shed atop the city gate! The battle tore the heavens and the earth asunder, obscuring the sun and moon! Amidst it all, Lin Beifan looked on calmly, a hint of purple light in his eyes. Since youvee, dont think of leaving! Night Fragrances knife suddenly slipped from his hand and disappeared into thin air! No shadow, no trace, no sign! And when it reappeared, it was already embedded in the forehead of Tianmen Master Leng Ruochen! Tianmen Masters face was a picture of astonishment as he muttered, Such a swift de! With a slight turn of his head, he didnt look at the owner of the de, Night Fragrance, but rather at Lin Beifan, who stood some distance away, a smile on his face. His eyes were filled with shock and regret! And then, his strength gone, he fell to the ground with a thud. The entire scene was shocked! The Grandmaster-level Tianmen Sect Leader, Leng Ruochen, had been killed in an instant by a small knife! Everyone turned their gaze toward the owner of the knifeNight Fragrance! Night Fragrance trembled with fear, It wasnt me! A collective voice sighed in their hearts. Its your knife, and it clearly came from your hand. Who else could it be? Whats the point of pretending at this point? Night Fragrances face was filled with grief and anger, It really wasnt me! At this point, the two Grandmasters, Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer, who witnessed this scene, were dumbfounded. Someone here could instantly kill a Grandmaster! If he could kill the leader of the Tianmen Sect, he could kill them too! Unwinnable, time to flee! Swoosh, swooshtwo sounds, they ran faster than lightning. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared, even the Prince of Northern Hebei was left behind. Seeing that the situation was lost, the Prince of Northern Hebei decisively turned and fled as well. The Empress watched the three figures escaping and abandoned the practically uncatchable Grandmasters Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer, shouting, Grandmasters, help us capture the Prince of Northern Hebei and bring him back for judgment! However, Lin Beifan, observing the disappearing Grandmasters, sneered, You wont escape! And so, the great battle came to an end. Imperial troops left the city to clean up the aftermath. Not long after, the Prince of Northern Hebei was captured and brought back, standing for interrogation in the Imperial Court. The once-proud Prince of Northern Hebei had undergone aplete transformation. His armor was tattered and his hair was disheveled, his face as pale as paper, bloodstains at the corners of his mouth. With his martial arts abolished, his body was feeble, struggling to remain standing. The Empress was quite pleased, My dear uncle, have you ever considered that you would end up like this? The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. This prince has nothing more to say! The Prince of Northern Hebeis expression was defiant, But, Empress, dont be smug. This prince hasnt lost to you; he has lost to a conniving and treacherous scoundrel! Whos this treacherous scoundrel? the Empress asked. The Prince of Northern Hebei angrily pointed at Lin Beifan, Its you, Lin Beifan! Youve ruined my ns. Dont think youll have an easy death! The fire in his eyes seemed capable of reducing Lin Beifan to ashes. Feeling wronged, Lin Beifan responded, Your Highness, thats too much! I did indeed ruin your ns, but calling me a conniving scoundrel, I cant agree with that! Hahaha The Prince of Northern Hebeiughed furiously, Good! Very good, Lin Beifan! Ive seriously underestimated you! Day in and day out, Ive been hunting geese, only to be pecked by one! But dont get too cocky either. Today, I will expose your true colors! Let everyone see how youve been sponging off others and scheming! Lin Beifan gestured as if requesting, smiling, Your Highness, please begin your performance! Chapter 335: The Eyes of the Officials Shine Bright! Chapter 335: The Eyes of the Officials Shine Bright! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Prince of Northern Hebei sneered, Empress, do you know what your beloved minister has done behind your back? The Empress replied, I dont know. Please tell me the details. Prince of Northern Hebei spoke loudly, Long ago, your beloved minister Lin Beifan conspired with me! Initially, my beloved son was trapped in the capital! He secretly took 1.5 million taels of silver from me and persuaded the court to release my son! Later, he invented the flying celestial device, the air balloon, and the water-based tool, the air cushion boat! These were crucial national assets that shouldnt have been disclosed. However, his greed led me to spend around 7 million taels of silver to obtain the manufacturing methods of these two divine artifacts! And then theres dragon bone, an unparalleled treasure in the world, which should never be revealed. Yet, I only spent 5 million taels of silver to get a portion of the dragon bone from him! Prince of Northern Hebei listed Lin Beifans crimes one by one. Overall, he embezzled 15 million taels of silver from me, plunging me into poverty! So, Empress, the loyal minister in your eyes has long betrayed you, the court, and the country! I thought that after taking so much from me, he and I were on the same boat! But I was wrong! Prince of Northern Hebei angrily pointed at Lin Beifan and shouted, Hes a parasite, taking from me while giving nothing in return! He stole all my wealth, took all the good things, and then stabbed me in the back! I hate him!!! His voice was as mournful as a cuckoo crying blood, bringing sorrow to those who heard it and tears to those who witnessed it! However, after hearing Prince of Northern Hebeis usations, Lin Beifan remained calm, the Empress remained calm, and the officials remained calm. This scene had happened twice before, so everyone was somewhat ustomed to it. The Empress looked at Lin Beifan and asked, Minister, do you have anything to say? Lin Beifan calmly replied, Your Majesty, the pure stay pure, and the impure stay impure. I have nothing to say. I have only one thing to say: lets just listen to his words and not take them seriously. The Empress nodded in agreement, Minister, youre absolutely right! Prince of Northern Hebei angrily snorted, Hmph! Lin Beifan, I knew you would deny it, so I kept something in reserve! Saying that, he removed the worn-out battle armor from his body and took out two crumpled pieces of paper from his Han clothing. The Empress curiously asked, What are these? Prince of Northern Hebei red at Lin Beifan, a triumphant vengeance in his eyes, and said, These are the two major divine artifact manufacturing methods Lin Beifan gave me! Once you take a look, it will prove the truth of my words! However, as these two pieces of paper were presented, the Empress didnt even look at them and asked, What are your thoughts, esteemed ministers? Minister of Personnel Gao Tianyao stepped forward, bowing, and said, Your Majesty, in my opinion, Prince of Northern Hebei is intentionally using loyal officials of wrongdoing. Just like when he initially rose in rebellion and fabricated usations against us officials, these are baseless ims that cant be taken seriously! Minister of Works Wang Rushui also stood up and said, Your Majesty, I wholeheartedly agree with Minister Gao. Prince of Northern Hebei is already a repeat offender. He falsely used us in the past, and now he dares to falsely use Minister Lin. We need not pay attention to him! Minister of War Li Kaiguang said, I share the same sentiment! Just like the previous two cases of false usations, even at deaths door, he wants to drag others down with him, framing and sowing discord between ruler and subject. His intentions are extremely malicious! Minister of Rites Zhao Jinli said, Your Majesty, theres really no need to pay attention! I can vouch for Minister Lins integrity. He is definitely not that kind of person. But the same cant be said for Prince of Northern Hebei. For the sake of his own ambitions, he would even harm his own allies. What cant he do? His words, his evidence, arepletely unreliable! Next, the officials actively voiced their opinions. The essence of their words was that Lin Beifan was undoubtedly innocent, and Prince of Northern Hebei was merely fabricating charges and ndering the loyal officials. His words and evidence were untrustworthy. Prince of Northern Hebei trembled with anger, You bunch of corrupt and deceitful officials! Distorting facts, confusing right and wrong, misleading the public When I regain my freedom, none of you will be spared! The officials sneered in their hearts, go ahead and curse, curse all you want! You used to curse me so fiercely, today Ill hit you just as hard, lets see if I cant beat you down! The Empress smiled faintly, Uncle, do you have anything else to say? Prince of Northern Hebei anxiously said, Empress, dont you want to take a look? After you see it, youll know the truth! The Empress waved her hand and generously stated, No need to look! Just as the officials said, this could easily be fabricated. Its entirely insufficient for us to believe. Everyones eyes are clear, and I trust Minister Lin! Lin Beifan immediately bowed, Your Majesty is wise! The officials also bowed and said loudly, Your Majesty is wise! Prince of Northern Hebei eximed, Damn it! At that moment, Prince of Northern Hebei seemed to have received 10,000 points of damage! Lin Beifan, dont get too cocky. I still have evidence! Carefully, Prince of Northern Hebei pulled out a small brocade pouch from his pocket, containing a packet of white powder. The Empress curiously asked, Uncle, what is this? This is the worlds treasure dragon bone! Prince of Northern Hebei loudly dered, This is the dragon bone I obtained from Lin Beifan! In his pursuit of wealth, he even stole and scraped this off a dragon bone, damaging a divine artifact. Your Majesty, please examine it carefully! The Empress remained veryposed, Esteemed ministers, what are your thoughts? Once again, Minister of Personnel Gao Tianyao was the first to stand up, Prince of Northern Hebei, youre casually presenting an ordinary packet of white powder as dragon bone? Clearly, youre framing and using falsely. Why bother with excuses? In my view, this thing is probably bone ash, scraped from some tomb! Minister of Works Wang Rushui countered, Minister Gao, lets be more generous. If we call it flour, were really not giving Prince of Northern Hebei any face! In my opinion, this thing looks more like lime! Minister of Rites Zhao Jinli said, Please forgive my ignorance, but doesnt this thing resemble quicklime? Prince of Northern Hebei was extremely frustrated, This is dragon bone! Genuine dragon bone! Alright, my lord. Even if its dragon bone, how do you prove that it came from Minister Lin? Gao Tianyao sneered, At that time, there were tens of thousands guarding the dragon bone, and countless experts among them. Obtaining dragon bone was too easy for them, easier than for Minister Lin. Yet, youre singling out Minister Lin with this false usation! Wang Rushui said, My lord, to be honest, Ive seen cases like yours where dragon bone is used to falsely use others, not once but twice before! Youre not the first one, and probably not thest! Zhao Jinli tsked, My lord, for the sake of smearing others, you casually take a packet of white powder and im its dragon bone, even saying it was given by Minister Lin. Youre really not holding back! To harm even your own allies, do you have any dignity left? Everyone ridiculed and mocked, once again making Prince of Northern Hebei tremble with anger, You lot of treacherous ministers who twist facts and spread rumors! Once I regain my freedom, I will crush you to dust, you wont have a good death! The Empress waved her hand impatiently, Uncle, youve seen it yourself, this thing cant prove Minister Lins guilt at all! Even if this isnt dragon bone, it might just be bone powder from some other animal. Take it back and make a nutritious soup out of it! Lin Beifan immediately bowed, Your Majesty is wise! The officials also loudly dered, Your Majesty is wise! Prince of Northern Hebei was left speechless, Why dont you believe whatever I say? The Empress chuckled, mocking, Do you even need to ask? Just look at everything Minister Lin has done over these years. Which action hasnt benefited our court, our Great Wu? Then look at yourself. Is there anything youve done thats benefited our court, our Great Wu? He is a loyal subject, youre a rebel. Should I believe him or believe you? Unless Im foolish, I wont believe a word you say! No matter how much you argue, no matter what evidence you present, I wont believe it. What can you do about it? Lin Beifan immediately responded, Your Majesty is wise! The officials also dered, Your Majesty is wise! Prince of Northern Hebei eximed, Damn it! At this point, Prince of Northern Hebei looked at the mocking Empress, at the officials who wereughing at him, and at Lin Beifans smug smile He finally understood the difficulty of exining oneself! He finally understood what it meant for officials to protect each other! He finally understood the concept of ipetence and tyranny! He finally understood what it meant to have treacherous ministers in power, with no hope in sight! Prince of Northern Hebei felt his anger quivering within him. The frustration and helplessness in his heart turned into a mouthful of old blood, spewing out with a puh! His chest was stained red! The Empress eximed loudly, Prince of Northern Hebei, for your rebellious intentions, your acts of treason, your heinous crimes! But considering your status as my uncle, Ill spare your life. You shall be demoted to amoner and imprisoned in the dungeon! Without my permission, you will not step out of the dungeon! As for your descendants, they shall all be eradicated, not a single one shall remain! Yes, Your Majesty! Several chief imperial guards stepped forward and escorted Prince of Northern Hebei away. Prince of Northern Hebeiughed maniacally, Ipetent ruler! Corrupt officials! Treacherous ministers! Great Wu Great Wu will definitely meet its end at your hands! I will watch with my own eyes, witness the downfall of Great Wu, witness your deaths!!! The Empress showed a contemptuous smile, Uncle, you definitely wont get to see it! Because Great Wu will surely rise swiftly under my rule, its power will shake the four seas and eight wildernesses! Chapter 336: Becoming the Prime Minister, One Below All, Above Ten Thousand! Chapter 336: Bing the Prime Minister, One Below All, Above Ten Thousand! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
In this way, the most stubborn Prince of Northern Hebei among the three major rebellious kings is also finished! Nextes the time for rewarding achievements! The Empress is in a very pleasant mood: Left General, I appoint you as the Grand General of the Northern Expedition, leading 200,000 elite soldiers, and departing immediately to recover thend of Northern Hebei! Yes, Your Majesty! an old general happily steps forward to receive the decree; this is almost an easily earned merit. The Empress speaks again: Royal Guard with the Sword, Night Fragrance of the Imperial Cat, where are you? Present, Your Majesty! Night Fragrance responds. In this battle, my dear, you led from the front, saving the important court minister Lin Beifan! At the same time, you single-handedly killed the leader of the Tianmen Sect, Leng Ruochen, who caused chaos in the capital city. Your contributions are immense! You shall be promoted to the first rank, bing a sword-bearing imperial guard of the second rank! Rewarded with a hundred acres of fertilend, ten thousand taels of gold, and ten bolts each of satin and silk After a round ofvish rewards, the officials are filled with envy! While Night Fragrance is somewhat surprised, theres also a hint of unease within him: Your Majesty, that I really didnt kill Leng Ruochen! Im just a small innate expert; how could I possibly defeat a grandmaster? The Empress smiles and shakes her head: Night Fragrance, you dont need to be modest! Everyone knows that the knife is yourpanion weapon. The knife flew out from your hand; if it wasnt you, then who? Night Fragrance exins with a tired expression: But, it really wasnt me! The knife flew out on its own; I dont have that ability Since a while ago until now, hes exined multiple times, but no one believes him. The Empress chuckles. Of course, she knows who did it. But she doesnt want to expose it; she can only reward him! After all, hes somewhat under her influence; rewarding him is just a part of the n. Night Fragrance, dont refuse, my dear. Whats rightfully yours is yours; you cant escape it! the Empress says with a smile. Night Fragrance helplessly epts the decree. Next is Minister Lin, step forward to receive the appointment! Lin Beifan bows: Im here! The gazes of the entire court are upon him. Now, Lin Beifan has be a first-ranking official of the court and holds the title of Loyal and Brave Duke. He can be said to be a top minister, reaching the pinnacle of power. As for matters of daily life and clothing, hes long surpassed everyone. Everyone is very curious about what the Empress will bestow upon him? The Empress looks at Lin Beifan with a satisfied expression: Minister Lin, in this battle, you used your words to sow discord among the Northern Hebei army, causing them to turn against each other and resolve the crisis for the court. Your achievements are significant! At the same time, since the beginning of this year, you have sessively led 800,000 troops to resist the Great Xia forces in the east, pressed south with 500,000 troops to conquer the Jiangnan region, held the western front against the alliance of a million troops from Wuxi and Dayue, and quelled the rebellion of the northern martial forces, ending the chaos in the Great Wu Empire. You have made our Great Wus might known across thend, and none dare oppose us! Furthermore, since you took office as the Prefect of the Capital, the weather has been favorable, the people are prosperous, and thend is abundant. The Heavenly Virtue Capital sees constant improvement and prosperity, rising steadily. This greatly pleases us! It can be said that your abilities and aplishments make you the foremost figure among all civil and military officials in the court! Therefore, after careful consideration, I believe its time to give you more responsibilities! The majestic Empress dered, From this day forth, Minister Lin shall assume the role of Prime Minister of the Great Wu, overseeing all officials, supervising their conduct, and assisting me in governing the nation to ensure stability and security. This is decreed! Astonishment filled the hall among both civil and military officials! With Lin Beifan bing Prime Minister, he truly holds authority over them all; theres no one who can restrain him now! The officials express their concerns hesitantly, Your Majesty, please reconsider The Empress responded, Whats there to reconsider? Is it because Minister Lincks capability, or because his merits are insufficient? Your Majesty, Lord Lin possesses both capability and merits. However, he is still too young, unable tomand the respect of the masses! The Empress countered, Although Minister Lin is young, his ambition is not limited by his age! His capabilities are extraordinary, and we should wee talents of all ages. I choose to elevate Minister Lin, allowing him to fully employ his talents! Your Majesty, Minister Lins time in office has been short, and his experience is limited. Shouldnt he gain more experience before assuming such a significant position? The Empress scoffed, Limited experience? Youve been at it for over twenty years and havent achieved in one year what others have. Yet, you dare im his experience is limited? Hence, this reason is not eptable! Your Majesty, its been a long time since weve had a Prime Minister in Great Wu! The Six Ministries and Nine Departments are each fulfilling their responsibilities, ensuring the smooth operation of the government. The role of Prime Minister seems somewhat redundant, and it might be inappropriate to reintroduce it. The Empress countered again, The reason we didnt have a Prime Minister before was due to ack of suitable talents! Over these years, Ive held the dual roles of Emperor and Prime Minister, and its been exhausting. Thus, I greatly need a capable assistant. This person has finally emerged, and its Minister Lin. I am very pleased! Your Majesty, with the addition of a Prime Minister, some of your authority might be diminished The Empress countered once more, No need to worry! My dear Minister is loyal and trustworthy, and I have great faith in him! Moreover,pared to all of you, hes far superior. At least he doesnt engage in factions or private interests at the expense of the public! Your Majesty Impatiently, the Empress waved her hand, Enough, stop talking. My decision is made. Come and pay your respects to the new Prime Minister! Do you really intend to defy my decree? Thank you for your favor, Your Majesty. I will devote myself fully to the task until myst breath! Lin Beifan received the decree, smiling as he faced the officials. The officials were helpless and had no choice but to speak in unison, Greetings, Prime Minister! Lin Beifan smiled and gestured, Colleagues, no need for excessive formalities. With the trust of Her Majesty, Ive taken on the role of Prime Minister. From now on, let us work together to assist Her Majesty and rebuild the Great Wu! The officials bowed again, The Prime Ministers words are absolutely correct! From that day forward, Lin Beifan ascended to the position of Prime Minister, bing the unquestionable leader of the court,manding the respect of all officials! One below all, above ten thousand! The Empress felt deeply gratified, Lin Beifan, ever since you joined the court, Ive believed you to be a promising talent. Youve never disappointed, demonstrating exceptional ability and contributing significantly to the court. Now, youve finally grown into the devoted minister Ive highly regarded. Im immensely pleased and content! All of this is Your Majestys gracious favor, and I am deeply grateful! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. Minister Lin, you bear significant responsibilities. After assuming the position of Prime Minister, you will also continue to serve as Prefect of the Capital, overseeing matters in the capital city. As the economic and administrative center of Great Wu, the capital must not fall into disorder! Additionally, you will remain as the Principal of the Imperial Academy, for the Imperial Academy represents Great Wus future and must be preserved! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan epted the decree. Minister, do you have any governing philosophy or ideas that youd like to share with everyone? the Empress encouraged. Your Majesty, to discuss my governing philosophy, I must first reflect on todays battle! To be honest, this battle has left me deeply affected! Lin Beifan sighed deeply. Prince of Northern Hebei rose in rebellion, purportedly in the name of dethroning the emperor, but its essentially unfounded. Nevertheless, it garnered the support of themon people. From this, we can see that its because the actions of our court officials havent been satisfactory enough to the people. This allowed an opening for our enemies! The Empress felt a strong resonance, What you say is absolutely correct! As the saying goes: To rectify others, first rectify oneself. To govern others, first govern oneself!'' Lin Beifan dered loudly. We must critically examine ourselves in order to do good things and strictly demand of ourselves before we can manage others. We shouldnt refrain from doing good deeds due to their insignificance, normit minor evils! Over time, this will earn the trust of the people, stabilize the nation, and secure the empire! The Empress wholeheartedly agreed, Minister, you are absolutely right! Therefore, my idea is Lin Beifan finally revealed a sly smile, Let me carry out inspections of officials homes! Firstly, we can identify corrupt officials, deter the unscrupulous, and cleanse the court of impurities. Secondly, we can present ourselves outwardly as righteous and pure, upholding the courts reputation! Another round of inspections? The officials turned pale at the prospect. They knew this wasing! Once this corrupt official reached high position, he would undoubtedly target them! The Empress pondered deeply, Minister, what you propose makes a lot of sense The officials pleaded anxiously, Your Majesty, please reconsider The Empress proimed loudly, My decision stands! No! The officials responded in despair Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan was overjoyed. Facing the officials, he said, Distinguished gentlemen, please, who would like to go first? After receiving the imperial decree, Lin Beifan proceeded to address the officials with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, due to Lin Beifans recent significant achievement and his appointment as Prime Minister of Great Wu, the news rapidly spread throughout the realm! Lin Beifan has be Prime Minister! Truly standing above all others! A Prime Minister in his twenties, the first in history! His name will certainly be recorded in history, his legacy enduring for generations! I wonder if life will improve a bit for usmon folk now that hes be Prime Minister? How bad could life get? At the very least, Lord Lin possesses remarkable administrative skills. Ever since he became Prefect of the Capital, our lives have been improving! Thats true! Regarding Lin Beifans appointment as Prime Minister, themon people held some degree of anticipation. After all, Lin Beifans abilities and achievements were apparent to all. Since bing Prefect of the Capital, the lives of the citysmon folk had been improving. The weather was favorable, food was abundant, the economy was thriving, everyone had work to do, everyone had enough to eat, and now they even had homes. Though he was quite greedy for money, he hadnt extended his hand to themon people. That was enough; what more could they hope for? However, for other officials, their mood wasnt as rosy! This guy was truly avaricious, and his methods were ruthless. No matter where gold, silver, or jewels were hidden, he could uncover them and then have them sent to his Lin residence. Notplying? Well, then prepare to lose your position and your head! The officials dared not express their anger! They despised Lin Beifan to the core! Yet, Lin Beifan didnt care at all. With a cheerful smile, he said, Distinguished gentlemen, as the saying goes, out with the old and in with the new! The wealth you embezzled is ill-gotten gains! ording to Great Wusws, youve long lost your official positions and your heads shouldve already been chopped off. However, Ive granted you clemency beyond thew, allowing you to keep your positions and your heads. You can continue serving the court, enjoying honor and prosperity. You should be grateful to me! Everyone was infuriated! Youve taken away all the ill-gotten wealth webored so hard to amass, and now you want us to be thankful to you? How audacious can you be? Ill thank your ancestors eight generations back!
In ancient Chinese military nomenture, Left General (, Zu Jingjn) was a high-ranking military position. The term Left refers to the position within the armys formation. The Left General was typically responsible for leading the left nk of the army during battles. This position held considerable authority and was often given to skilled and experienced militarymanders. Chapter 337: The One I Want to Kill, Even Jesus Can’t Save! Chapter 337: The One I Want to Kill, Even Jesus Cant Save! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, night was gradually falling. The two grandmasters, Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer, had fled more than 300 miles from the capital city and looked back. Dragon Supressor expressed some concern, Should we be safe here? We should be safe; weve already traveled far from the capital city, Tiger Tamer breathed a sigh of relief. I cant believe someone from the Great Wu court could kill a grandmaster. Its truly dangerous! From now on, we should stay far away from this ce and never return! Youre right, younger brother, Dragon Supressor admitted his fear, I felt like I was being targeted by a ferocious beast. It was extremely perilous! If we hadnt run fast enough, wed be dead by now! Is it really that terrifying? Of course it is! Dragon Supressor continued to tremble with fear, Even when I was young and had no cultivation, I wasnt as afraid when I was thrown into a snake pit! Yes, even more vicious than a tiger! Tiger Tamer nodded. Just then, they felt a shiver run down their spines! Because, this was the third voice they heard! When they arrived here earlier, they had already looked around and there was no one in sight! So, where was this unfamiliar voiceing from? Who are you? Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer leaped several yards away, staring warily in the direction of the voice. At that moment, they saw someone unexpected. Lin Beifan? What are you doing here? The person before them was none other than Lin Beifan, who had just hurriedly arrived from the capital city, still wearing his official robes. Lin Beifan had a very friendly and benign smile, seemingly harmless. However, in the eyes of Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer, it sent shivers down their spines, causing their hair to stand on end. That sense of deadly danger had descended upon them once again. I specially came to kill you both and eliminate future troubles, Lin Beifan said with a cheerful smile, extending his right hand. Two ice knives appeared in his hand, floating as if weightless, rising and falling. Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer were extremely cautious, exchanging whispers. Younger brother, this person is far from ordinary; he might even have the power of a grandmaster! We should strike first to seize the advantage! Both of them attacked simultaneously, exerting all their strength with the momentum of a thunderous force! You want to kill us? Lets see if you have what it takes! The one I want to kill, even Jesus cant save! The ice knives in Lin Beifans hand disappeared! When they reappeared, they had already been plunged into the foreheads of Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer, freezing them from head to toe as ice sculptures. After killing them, Lin Beifan flew away like a celestial being. Jobs done, time to go back and continue the inspections! Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, and the two grandmasters, Dragon Supressor and Tiger Tamer, shattered into pieces. Upon his return, Lin Beifan continued his inspections, causing uproar among the court officials and arousing resentment throughout the pce. Meanwhile, within the dungeon, whether due to the Empresss orders or not, the three major rebel leaders were strangely imprisoned together. The first to be locked up, Prince of Southern Jiang, upon seeing Prince of Northern Hebei and Wuxi Duke, was greatly surprised, Second Brother, Fourth Brother, why are you both imprisoned too? Could it be you lost as well? Prince of Northern Hebei and Wuxi Duke exchanged grim looks and nodded. Prince of Southern Jiang was extremely delighted, bursting intoughter, Great, this prince didnt win, and you both didnt win either. All of you lost to Big Brothers little girl! Haha, its so hrious! We lost to Big Brother back then, and now we cant even defeat Big Brothers daughter. Were truly utterly defeated, what a pathetic existence! If we had known this, why bother going through all the trouble? Why not just be idle princes? Haha As theyughed, tears even streamed down their faces. Whether it was out of excessive joy or regret for their past actions, no one could tell. Prince of Northern Hebeis expression grew unpleasant, clenching his fists, Im not like you! I didnt lose to that girl; I lost to a treacherous minister and a viin! If it werent for him, I would have already stormed into the imperial pce and donned the yellow robe! Which treacherous minister and viin caused your downfall? Prince of Southern Jiang and Prince of Northern Hebei asked in unison. Lin Beifan!!! Prince of Northern Hebei gritted his teeth. What? Lin Beifan? Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke were instantly shocked. Dont be deceived by his loyal appearance; hes actually a cunning schemer! Prince of Northern Hebeis teeth were clenched, and his eyes were filled with hateful intent. He may seem loyal to the court on the surface, but he had long been colluding with me in secret, embezzling millions of taels of silver from me and gaining my trust! As a result, when I led my troops to the imperial city, he stabbed me in the back, causing my men to turn against each other, and my ns to crumble! Prince of Northern Hebei pounded his chest, bellowing with heartbreak, I hate him! If he hadnt gained my trust and deceived me, I wouldnt have ended up like this! Is it truly Lin Beifan who caused your downfall? the two princes asked in unison. Prince of Northern Hebeis expression turned extremely unsightly, Ive already been defeated. Why would I deceive you? Hmph! Seeing how unpleasant Prince of Northern Hebei looked, the two princes believed him to some extent. Moreover, now that he was imprisoned, it proved his failure, leaving no need for lies. Second Brother, to be honest, among all of us brothers, youre the most astute, skilled at disguises and acting! After acting for decades, you managed to deceive the entire world. How could you be duped by that little thief Lin Beifan? Prince of Southern Jiang asked in puzzlement. Yeah, I cant understand it either. How could you be tricked by him? Wuxi Duke was equally baffled. Thats because you dont know how cunning and treacherous he is! Prince of Northern Hebei said through gritted teeth, Shortly after entering the court as an official, he had already pledged his loyalty to me, all for the sake of wealth! Over these years, you cant imagine how many things hes done for me! The method of creating the flying celestial balloons? He leaked it to me, costing me three to four million taels of silver! Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke were astounded, What? He leaked you the method for creating the celestial balloons? Indeed, and also the method for creating waterborne weapon, the air-cushion boat. He leaked it to me as well, costing me four to five million taels of silver! Prince of Northern Hebei continued through clenched teeth. Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke were astonished once again, What? He leaked you the method for creating the air-cushion boat? And also dragon bones! I spent several million taels of silver to obtain some dragon bones from him! Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Duke were astonished for the third time, Even dragon bones Because of this, I ced great trust in him! He participated in activities against the nation, all of which would cost him his life if exposed. He could only follow my path until the end! But who knew Prince of Northern Hebei pounded his chest, hatred evident in his eyes, At the gates of the capital city, just as I was about to seed, he stabbed me in the back! Its only now that Ive seen his true colors, but its toote for regrets. Isnt that ridiculous? As he spoke, he startedughing sorrowfully, Haha Prince of Southern Jiang and Wuxi Dukes faces looked as if a paint pot had been overturned, colors all over the ce, exceptionally vibrant. Seeing Prince of Northern Hebeis bafflement, they were equally puzzled, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, why do your expressions look so odd? At this moment, Wuxi Duke burst into tears. Prince of Northern Hebei and Prince of Southern Jiang were shocked, Fourth Brother, why are you crying out of nowhere? Because because I was also deceived by that Lin Beifan! Wuxi Duke wailed. What? He deceived you too? How did he deceive you? Wuxi Duke, filled with sorrow, continued to wail, Just like Second Brother, Lin Beifan had pledged allegiance to me before! He revealed the method for creating my air-cushion boat and the dragon bones. He embezzled six to seven million taels of silver from me! Even the worlds greatest treasure, the dragon bones, he sold to me, causing me to lose everything! Prince of Northern Hebei and Prince of Southern Jiang were still astonished, Wow! He sold all these things to you too? Wuxi Duke said mournfully, I believed that he was fullymitted to following me after he had performed so many acts of selling the nation and seeking glory. Who wouldve known that at the Phoenix Fortress, he would stab me in the back, resulting in the death of 600,000 of my soldiers within the stronghold? Hes nothing but a traitorous scoundrel!!! Thats right! Hes indeed a traitorous scoundrel! Prince of Northern Hebei and Prince of Southern Jiang spoke in unison, their anger ignited. Touched by the scene, Prince of Southern Jiang began to wail as well. Why are you crying too, Third Brother? Prince of Southern Jiang cried as he spoke, Because I was deceived by Lin Beifan too! Prince of Northern Hebei and Wuxi Duke were shocked once more, What? He deceived you too? Yes, just like you both. The method for crafting my two divine weapons and the dragon bones were all obtained from him. I spent 30 million taels of silver for all of it! Prince of Southern Jiang teared up, looking like a brothel girl who hadnt been paid after a tryst. But even after he embezzled so much silver from me, he doesnt show any gratitude. Instead, he turned against me. Isnt he despicable? Isnt he infuriating? Isnt he hateful? Hateful! Infuriating! Despicable! Prince of Northern Hebei and Wuxi Duke gritted their teeth. Then the three of them exchanged nces and embraced each other, bursting into tears. Who would have thought that the three of us brothers would fall into the hands of an outsider! Having fought all our lives, we were defeated by an outsider! My heart is so heavy! The bitterness is so deep, wawawa Its truly a heart-wrenching sight that brings tears to ones eyes! Just at that moment, Lin Beifan walked in with a smile, Why are you crying? Crying so sadly, can you tell me? Id like to be entertained a bit. Lin Beifan! You treacherous scoundrel! The Three Rebellious Princes gritted their teeth. Prince of Southern Jiang angrily asked, Why are you here? Naturally, Im here to see the three esteemed princes! No matter what youve said to me, its a form of showing me some kindness. As a person, one cant be heartless and ungrateful. So, I came here to pay a visit! Lin Beifans face was full of smiles, Seeing you not doing well puts my mind at ease! Ah!!! The Three Rebellious Princes were furious. They wished they could break out of the prison and tear apart this sycophantic traitor who takes advantage of others. Lin Beifan, you treacherous scoundrel, dont get too proud! Based on what youve done, sooner orter, you will end up here too! That day isnt far away! Prince of Northern Hebei shouted. Lin Beifan beamed, Thank you for your kind words. Take your time waiting. You might never see that daye! Ill visit you often. I just enjoy the look of your frustration when you cant stand me but cant do anything to me! Ah!!! The Three Rebellious Princes were furious once again. Im leaving now since theres nothing else to do! Lin Beifan tapped his head, Oh, by the way, I have a gift for you! Lin Beifan pped his hands, and two officials brought in arge bell. Does it look familiar? Lin Beifan grinned, Ive noticed that youve been passing this big bell around. It must have a special meaning to you. So, Ive specially brought it for you, to keep youpany and bond with it! The faces of the Three Rebellious Princes turned dark with anger. They gritted their teeth and red at Lin Beifan, You despicable person! No need to thank me, my dear rebels. Farewell! Lin Beifan patted his bottom and left, walking toward another part of the prison. Chapter 338: Your Rising Power Threatens the Sovereign, Growing More Dangerous! Chapter 338: Your Rising Power Threatens the Sovereign, Growing More Dangerous! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
In a particr cell, it was where the Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong of Great Xia was imprisoned. At this moment, the Crown Prince was standing in front of a writing desk, meticulously practicing calligraphy, engrossed in the elegant activity. Seeing Lin Beifan enter, he gave a faint smile, Lord Lin, howe you have time to visit? No, I should address you as Prime Minister Lin now. Lin Beifan arched his hand with a smile, Greetings, Your Highness. Ive only been appointed Prime Minister for a few days, yet youre already aware. Youve been confined here all this time. How did youe to know? Isnt it simple? Xia Tianqiong smiled, Although Im imprisoned here, Ive not been mistreated. Youve ensured that Im provided for in terms of food, clothing, and other necessities. Ive managed to eavesdrop on the pce attendants, so naturally, theres nothing they dont talk about. But I would like to request that you not punish them, Lord Lin. As long as they dont cross any ethical lines, I cant be bothered with them, Lin Beifan said. Xia Tianqiong put down his brush and, with an air of nobility, walked up to Lin Beifan, saying with a smile, Its quite rare for Prime Minister Lin to have time toe visit. Im delighted. Shall we have a drink? The hospitality of Your Highness is too gracious. I wouldnt dare to refuse, Lin Beifan replied. After a cup of teas time, Lin Beifan had entered the cell. Before them was a small table with wine and snacks. As they drank and chatted, theirughter echoed. Xia Tianqiong sipped his wine and sighed, To be honest, drinking is much better when shared. I used to drink alone and talk to myself in here, which became rather dull! Lin Beifan chuckled, You can invite the pce attendants to join you for a drink. Xia Tianqiong shook his head lightly, smiling, As the saying goes, A toast to true friends. Finding a kindred spirit is key to enjoying alcohol! Otherwise, its like ying the lute to a cow or feeding peonies to a bullmissing an essential vor! I hold the world in my heart, while those attendants only focus on the prison and city matters. We trulyckmon ground. I dont understand what they talk about, and theyck interest in my affairs. Were like oil and water. Its better not to drink with them, he exined. Lin Beifan nodded, Your Highnesss words are wise. Xia Tianqiong suddenly opened his folding fan with a snap, pointing it at Lin Beifan, Even in this heart of the imperial capital, only you, Lord Lin can truly be called my confidant! Shaking his head, Lin Beifan humbly responded, Your Highness, youre giving me too much credit. Not at all. I trust my intuition, Xia Tianqiongs gaze was intense as he looked at Lin Beifan, Ive heard that when I was about to leave Dedain after traveling there, it was you who strongly suggested to the court that I be kept, as I posed a threat to Great Wu and could spark war. If, at that time, the Great Wu court had heeded your advice, there might not have been theter Battle of Ho Pass! So, among the entire realm of Great Wu, youre the one who understands me the best. You are my confidant. Lin Beifan responded, But we are still adversaries. Actually, we cant even be considered enemies, just serving different masters, Xia Tianqiong smiled, Look at us now. With no conflicting interests, we can sit down and have a drink and a chat, cant we? Lin Beifan nodded and chuckled, Indeed. Thats how it should be! Theres no grudge between you and me, its only due to our countries stances that we stand opposed. Even now, I still greatly admire you. It would have been so much better if you were a Great Xia native, Xia Tianqiong said with a hint of regret. Lin Beifan poured a cup of wine for Xia Tianqiong, Your Highness, even if I were a Great Xia native, I wouldnt serve you. You see, talent needs a suitable environment to grow, like a mandarin orange from the south or a bitter orange from the north. In Great Xia, I wouldnt be able to fully utilize my abilities. It simplycks what I desire. Its only in Great Wu that I can thrive like a fish in water. Xia Tianqiong opened his hand and smiled, Just after wealth, arent you? If you were to apany me to Great Xia, you could be as greedy as you want, have whatever you desire, and I wouldply with it all! Lin Beifan chuckled, Your Highness, even now you want to recruit me? Of course! Ive realized by now that youre not merely talented; youre a once-in-a-millennium prodigy, a rare genius! Xia Tianqiong praised loudly. Since you became the Prefect of Dedian, the people live and work in peace, enjoying prosperity. You led troops into battle: against Great Xias 800,000 troops to the east, pressing down on Prince of Southern Jiang with 500,000 forces to the south, facing thebined million troops of Wuxi and Dayue in the west, and dealing with the chaotic rebel army in Northern Hebei. In all four battles, you achieved aplete victory, making it an impressive feat! With only you, youre worth more than a thousand soldiers. Having you alone can stabilize our nation! Xia Tianqiong extended another heartfelt invitation, Lord Lin, as long as you follow me to Great Xia in the future, the position of Prime Minister will surely be yours! Furthermore, even the title of an exceptional ruler isnt out of the question. In short, everything you possess in Great Wu will be given to you, and even more! Lin Beifan smiled, But Im a corrupt official and treacherous minister. But your corruption is moderate, and your treachery is reasonable, Xia Tianqiong immediately continued, Over these days, Ive thought and observed. I found that you only target corrupt officials andwbreakers, never offending themon people in the slightest. In fact, you treat them very well. Because of you, the citizens of the capital are able to lead better lives. Legally speaking, you are a corrupt official, but in terms of character, you are an outstanding official. You became a treacherous minister because in a corrupt environment, loyal ministers cant survive. You have to be more treacherous and greedy than they are to endure. And thats the truth. Lin Beifan added, But Ive arrested you, imprisoned you, taken away your freedom, and your dignity. Ive plunged Great Xia into turmoil. Dont you resent me for that? At the beginning, I did resent you. But upon reflection, I realize I greatly underestimated you, leading to this situation, Xia Tianqiong said with a bitter smile, I was mistaken, Im guilty! But whats done is done, theres no way to change it. We should focus on the future. For the future, I need you. Lin Beifan and Xia Tianqiong clinked their cups, and he said with a smile, Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. I am truly unworthy. Your Highness, do you know which aspect of you I admire the most? Which aspect? Xia Tianqiong asked. I admire your tolerance for others the most! Even though I am your enemy, causing you to be a prisoner and Great Xia to sink into a quagmire from which it cant escape, you can still ept me, and even recruit me to serve you. I admire your self-reflection the most! Always introspecting, making improvements when necessary and changes when required! I admire your approach to handling matters the most! Even within these prison walls, you remain calm and collected, not bing despondent or overly joyful over personal matters or worldly affairs. All of these are qualities a wise ruler should possess! Lin Beifanughed, No wonder when you were in Great Xia, your position was as unshakable as Mount Tai. No one could move you! Even now, though captured by Great Wu, the entire nation is mobilized to rescue you because you are worth it. Xia Tianqiong was delighted, So, are you willing to follow me? Lin Beifan replied, I am a corrupt official, and you are a just ruler; our paths dont align. Xia Tianqiong unwillingly said, I wont give up on you. Shaking his head, Lin Beifan continued, Regardless of whether you give up or not, I am already a subject of Great Wu. As they say, a loyal minister serves only one master. Changing allegiances is something I cannot do. Besides, the Empress treats me well, and betraying her is something I cant do. Although a loyal minister serves only one master, a virtuous bird chooses its tree wisely. As he poured wine, Xia Tianqiong smiled, Honestly, Lord Lin, although youve climbed high, youre bing increasingly dangerous. Lin Beifan asked, How so? Because when ones achievements are too great, it shakes the rulers authority. Word by word, Xia Tianqiong said, Your abilities are too strong, your contributions too significant. The Empress is muddled and incapable, unable to control you at all. Emperors are envious, and women are envious. When these two factorsbine, sooner orter, youll be a thorn in the Empresss side and a constant annoyance. Right now, you may still be at peace, but what about in the future? Can you remain peaceful then? Furthermore, youve offended all the civil and military officials once again! Xia Tianqiong continued to pour wine, his tone sly, I heard you seized their properties again? Confiscated quite a bit of silver and gold? Lin Beifan answered inly, Correct, I just confiscated their properties. I seized over 40 million taels of gold, silver, and jewelry, all of which were sent to my residence. Xia Tianqiongs hand holding the wine ss trembled. This guys methods are truly ruthless! To be able to confiscate 40 million taels of gold and silver jewelry, truly offending all the civil and military officials! Theres no room forpromise at all! Xia Tianqiong said helplessly, So, with such deep-rooted enmity, when you face trouble, they wont possibly help you. Its safe to say that in the court, youre isted and unsupported. Due to thebel of corruption, even though youve done many good deeds, themon people wont ept you. If you encounter difficulties, they might even cheer in celebration! Therefore, your fate relies entirely on the Empresss mood. She can favor and reward you because she needs you! But now, the entire court, civil and military officials, are under her control. The three major rebel kings are all imprisoned. Great Wu is united, its power felt throughout thend. She doesnt really need you that much anymore. What do you think shell do? Would she allow someone who holds so much power to wander freely in front of her? Who knows, perhaps one day, if you make a mistake, in order to pacify public anger, shell directly push you out to take the me and have you executed! Such things arent umon! Looking at Lin Beifans silent expression, Xia Tianqiong thought he had gotten through to him. Feeling pleased, he continued, So, why not leave yourself a way out? Im always here to wee you. Your Highness, you make a lot of sense. I am indeed bing increasingly dangerous now! However, thats a matter for the future! What will happen in the future, well see then! Maybe by the time she wants to chop off my head, Ill have already slipped away! Lin Beifan stood up, saying, Thank you very much, Your Highness, for valuing me. However, its gettingte, and I need to attend to official matters. Ille back to chat with Your Highness on another day. Xia Tianqiong also stood up, smiling, Visit often, and Ill treat you to fine wine! Thank you, Your Highness. Farewell! Lin Beifan left the prison. As he walked, he muttered to himself, A truly interesting prince. Even now, he wants to recruit me. But hell never know how many escape routes Ive left behind. Even if Great Wu, Ill be fine! Chapter 339: Autumn Harvest and the Emergence of Hybrid Rice Chapter 339: Autumn Harvest and the Emergence of Hybrid Rice If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
After a few more days, the Northern Expedition Army returned victorious, marking the end of the divided situation of regional kings and the reunification of Great Wu as a whole. The Empress was pleased, and the civil and military officials were overjoyed. A grand celebration of three days was held. Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai also returned from Northern Hebei. On the second day after the capture of Prince Northern Hebei, they hurriedly returned to visit their sect. Their reasons were threefold: to see their sect after a long absence, to expose the crimes of Prince of Northern Hebei to their sect and the martial world of Northern Hebei, and to protect their sect from the governments crackdown. With Lin Beifans assurance, Iron Sword Sect emerged unscathed from this round of investigations. However, when they returned, their faces were still filled with sorrow. Young Master, the people in our hometown are suffering terribly! Along the way, we found many households empty. The poption has greatly diminished, and many fertile fields are left abandoned! Its only been a year, and its turned into this! Mo Rushuangs voice was tinged with sadness. Guo Shaoshuai clenched his teeth and said, Its all that damned Prince of Northern Hebeis fault. For the sake of his ambition, he disregarded the peoples lives, causing my homnd to fall into such a state. I really want to storm into the prison and kill him! Clutching Lin Beifans arm, Mo Rushuang asked with hope, Young Master, do you have a way to save my hometown? Young Master, now only you can help! Guo Shaoshuai urged. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Rest assured, Im prepared. Tomorrow morning, I will submit a memorial to the court, granting amnesty throughout the nation and revitalizing Great Wu. I wont forget Northern Hebei. The two were overjoyed, Thank you, Young Master! The next day, at the imperial court assembly: Empress Long Yan sat high on the dragon throne. She spoke with authority, Now that Southern Jiang, Wuxi, and Northern Hebei have been reimed, the court has been restored, and our might extends to all directions. However, these three regions have been devastated by the three rebel kings, leaving their economies in ruins, their people impoverished, and their infrastructure in shambles. Gentlemen, do you have any good strategies? As the Prime Minister, Lin Beifan was the first to speak, Your Majesty, after great disorder,es great order, only then can peace be restored to the realm. This is a policy Ive drafted for governance and the welfare of the people. Please allow me to present it to Your Majesty. The Empress urged, Present it. She opened the scroll and read its densely packed contents. The main policies included: 1. Lightening the tax burden. For the first year, tax exemptions for cultivating wastnd in Southern Jiang, Wuxi, and Northern Hebei. For the second year, taxes are halved. In the third year, only 3/4 of the regr taxes will be collected, reducing the burden on themon people. 2. Labor returns to farming. Many youngborers were conscripted by the three rebel kings for their coup. Now that the civil war has ended, those who choose to return to their hometowns to farm will be allowed to do so. Simultaneously, those who have migrated elsewhere will also be encouraged to return and engage in farming. 3. Encouraging childbirth. Having more children would lead to reducedbor duties. Actually, this is a method of recuperation and rejuvenation. Lin Beifanbined the experiences of various dynasties from his past life, adapted them to the situation in Great Wu, and created aprehensive n. After reading it, the Empress was highly satisfied. This approach, my minister, is excellent, well-rounded, and specific. Fellow officials, take a look. If there are no objections, we shall implement this n! After the officials had reviewed the n, the Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen, stepped forward and said, Prime Minister, this n is indeed veryprehensive. I have no objections. However, I do find the notion of restoring Great Wu within three years slightly optimistic. The foundation of Southern Jiang still exists, and with the encouragement of agriculture, as long as the weather is favorable, there will likely be a good harvest next year. Within three years, it should be possible to restore around eighty to ny percent. However, it will be very difficult for Wuxi and Northern Hebei. First of all, these two regions suffer from different challengesWuxi experiences droughts with little rain, while Northern Hebei faces cold temperatures and freezing. Farming is inherently difficult. Moreover, these two regions have been gued by the two rebel kings for years, leading to severe poption loss, fallow fields, and poor grain harvests. In such circumstances, wanting to restore these two regions to their former state within three years is nearly impossible. Even if given ten years, sess is far from guaranteed. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Minister Qians concerns are valid. However, this n Ive proposed has undergone thorough research and argumentation. Qian Yuanshen humbly inquired, Prime Minister, I seek your guidance. Please enlighten me. First, Minister Qian, all your judgments are based on past experiences and spections. However, times have changed. Our Great Wu is not the same as it was before. Lin Beifan said confidently, Firstly, we have the miraculous tool called cement, which can rapidly construct water facilities, protect fields, and enhance crop yields. This will promote food production. Qian Yuanshen nodded, Prime Minister, your words make sense. This tool alone could shorten the time by two years. Lin Beifan continued, With the reunification of Great Wu, our river system ispletely connected, providing easy transportation everywhere. We also have the waterborne tool, the air cushion boat, which can facilitatemerce, poption movements, and resource flows. Qian Yuanshen nodded again, This tool could further shorten the time by two years. Lin Beifan went on, Since the beginning of this year, our capital has had favorable weather, leading to a bountiful grain harvest. Additionally, the resources obtained from Dayue and Great Xia have provided the court with ample provisions and resources. With our courts provisions, we can temporarily support the impoverished farmers in these three regions, enabling them to fully engage in farming. This way, the poption damage will be reduced, more people will be engaged in farming, and grain production will inevitably increase. Qian Yuanshen nodded once more, This action could shorten the time by another year, leaving us with five more years. Lastly, and most importantly Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty, the autumn harvest has arrived. The hybrid rice that I have cultivated has also yielded a bountiful harvest. This hybrid rice is drought and cold-resistant, capable of adapting toplex environments. By using this rice for nting, the national grain production will increase by about 40 to 50 percent. The grain issues in Wuxi and Northern Hebei will also be resolved. Hybrid rice!!! The Empress and the officials were no longer calm. Sincest year, Lin Beifan had been talking about cultivating hybrid rice. And he promised that as long as hybrid rice is promoted nationwide, grain production will inevitably increase by 40 to 50 percent, solving the food problem for tens of millions! Originally, nobody paid much attention to this. After all, this kind of thing was too miraculous, almost unimaginable! Unexpectedly, in less than two years, he actually managed to do it! The Empresss breath quickened, Minister, have you truly developed this high-yield hybrid rice? Lin Beifan cupped his hands and said, How could I dare to deceive Your Majesty in such matters? The Empress became even more anxious, Where is this hybrid rice? Show it to Us! Your Majesty and officials, please apany Us to the fields! Half an hourter, Lin Beifan led the Empress and the officials out of the city and arrived at his own fields. This was the fertilend bestowed upon him by the Empress. Now it covered thousands of acres, all interconnected, and quite extensive. Lin Beifan had essentially be andowner. Since it was autumn, the crops were ripe, and everyone was busy harvesting. However, Lin Beifans crops remained untouched. Your Majesty, please observe. This entire area is nted with hybrid rice! Lin Beifan proudly pointed to his fields. The Empress and the officials were shocked, This The Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen, furrowed his brows, Prime Minister, please pardon my ignorance. Is this truly hybrid rice? It does seem more lush, but it doesnt appear significantly different from other rice. The Empress also frowned, Is this really hybrid rice? The yield doesnt seem much different Others nodded in agreement. Lin Beifan smiled, Your Majesty, you may not know, but this is indeed hybrid rice. This is the mother nt of the hybrid variety, and it doesnt appear different from other rice. However, once its grains are sown, it will undoubtedly increase the yield next year. If you dont believe me, let me take you to another location to see. By then, youll understand! Lin Beifan led everyone to another spot. There, rice was also cultivated, upying only a couple of acres, but the rice grown there was much taller than the surrounding rice, almost the height of an adult. Moreover, the rice ears that grew wererger, fuller, and more robust, resembling small brooms. The Empress and the officials were astonished, This rice Lin Beifan was extremely excited, This is the true hybrid rice! Last year, I already nted a batch of hybrid rice in the Imperial Academy, and it looks just like what you saw before! I saved some of the seeds fromst years autumn harvest, nted them here this spring, and now theyve finally matured. The harvest is imminent! Your Majesty, please look, are these grainsrge or not? The Empress excitedly eximed, Theyrerge! Lin Beifan asked, Are these stalks tall? The Empress was still excited, Theyre tall! Lin Beifan asked again, Are these rice ears beautiful? The Empress remained excited, Theyre beautiful! Lin Beifan continued, With the nationwide promotion of this hybrid rice, can it solve the grain problem? The Empress nodded affirmatively, Yes! It definitely can! Lin Beifan smiled, Gentlemen, what are your thoughts? The officials were all excited. Good rice! This is truly good rice! In my life, Ive never seen such good rice. It grows so tall, so strong, so beautiful! Once promoted nationwide, it will undoubtedly solve the food problem for tens of millions of people! The problems in Wuxi and Northern Hebei will be easily solved! With this miraculous rice, our Great Wu will undoubtedly remain stable and prosperous! Bless Great Wu! Congrattions, Your Majesty! Congrattions, Your Majesty! Hahaha The Empress burst intoughter. With these tall, strong, and beautiful crops, how could her Great Wu not be stable and prosperous? A production increase of 40 to 50 percent, and the ability to grow in arid and cold regions, would solve the food issue for tens of millions of people nationwide. This was an invaluable resource, more precious than gold, and it had to be guarded well! The Empress immediately issued an order, Immediately dispatch a strong force to guard this area of hybrid rice. No one is allowed to damage it or reveal its existence. Vitors will be executed! Also, the name hybrid rice is not very pleasing. Lets call it Taiping Rice, symbolizing peace throughout the realm. Your Majestys wisdom! The officials chorused. Chapter 340: Food is the Weapon, and the Most Powerful Weapon! Chapter 340: Food is the Weapon, and the Most Powerful Weapon! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The Empress gazed upon this golden field of rice, her eyes filled with hope. With this batch of high-yield Taiping Rice, her Great Wus prosperity was bound to endure. The people of Great Wu would surely have enough to eat and drink, live in peace and happiness, and her realm would be tranquil and blissful. The Empress turned her head, looking at Lin Beifan, the man behind all of this, Minister, youve worked hard over the past two years! For the sake of the nations prosperity and the well-being of the people, youve researched and developed this rice that will stabilize and strengthen the country! Lin Beifan shook his head slightly, It cant be considered hard work, as I stand on the shoulders of giants! With giants leading the way, clearing the path, I was able to develop this miraculous rice! Compared to them, I fall far short. The Empress smiled and shook her head, yfully reprimanding, Minister, youre too modest! Over the past two years, youve taken charge of the research on Taiping Rice. I dont know how much criticism and misunderstanding youve faced, but youve endured it all! In my eyes, you are that giant! With your shoulders, youve upheld the skies of Great Wu! Inwardly, Lin Beifan wryly smiled, refraining from exining further since they wouldnt understand even if he did. To be honest, your research on the Taiping Rice that secures the nation is no less significant than expanding our borders and territories. Youve blessed millions ofmon people! Yet you hold the position of Prime Minister, and youre Great Wus loyal and brave duke, superior to ten thousand others. I dont know what kind of reward is suitable for you! Tell me what you want, and I will grant it to you! The Empress dered loudly. For a moment, the envious and jealous gazes of the officials turned towards them. This promise was truly enticing! Lin Beifan sped his hands and said, Thank you, Your Majesty! However, as I already hold the office of Prime Minister, with a high status and authority, and my livelihood secure, it seems I dont need much more. The Empress eximed, Meritorious deeds should not go unrewarded. You cant leave with nothing! In that case, I only hope that the court could allocate an annual budget of ten million taels for me to continue researching Taiping Rice, developing even higher-yield crops, enabling moremon people to have enough to eat! The Empress trembled slightly, You only want money to continue researching Taiping Rice? Yes, thats my aspiration! Lin Beifans eyes lit up, Your Majesty, think about it. Weve already developed Taiping Rice that increases both production and yield. This direction has proven to be feasible. Why not continue this research? Currently, its the first generation, which increases production by forty to fifty percent! By the second generation, it might increase by fifty to sixty percent! What about the third and fourth generations? If we keep researching, we might even develop super rice that yields a thousand jin per mu! A thousand jin per mu of super rice!!! Everyone gasped in astonishment. Keep in mind that currently, the usual rice yield is about two hundred jin per mu. A yield of two hundred and fifty jin per mu is already considered a bountiful harvest. What Lin Beifan had developed, the Taiping Rice, increased the yield by forty to fifty percent on this foundation, an increase of nearly a hundred jin, which was already terrifying. And now, he was actually iming to develop super rice that could yield a thousand jin per mu! This Although it might be a bit exaggerated, it was incredibly thrilling to hear! The Empress urgently asked, Minister, can this really be achieved? Your Majesty, where theres a will, theres a way! Lin Beifan smiled, Weve already developed Taiping Rice that yields three hundred jin per mu. Is it really that far-fetched to achieve a thousand jin per mu? Even if we cant reach a thousand jin, achieving four hundred or five hundred jin per mu is still hopeful. That would already solve the food problem for many people! Thats true! The Empress readily agreed, looking at Lin Beifan with deep emotion, Minister, youve achieved great merits once again. Yet, you decline rewards and still concern yourself with the peoples food. Our Great Wu needs talents like you as pirs! With you, Great Wu is fortunate, I am fortunate, and our nation is fortunate! Lin Beifan was truly moved; the Empresss words were exceptionally touching. He is doing this for Great Wu, for themon people! Absolutely not for greed! My personality is so great that even saints would kneel in front of me when they see me! At this moment, the Empress turned to the Minister of Revenue and said, Minister Qian, starting from this year, set aside a budget of ten million taels annually for Lin Beifans rice research! Supporting Prime Ministers continued research on Taiping Rice, Im inplete agreement! But allocating ten million taels each year isnt that a bit too much? Qian Yuanshen expressed some reluctance, I think three or four million taels should be enough. I feel like we dont need that much money. Its more than enough. Shut up! Youre ayman giving advice to an expert! Lin Beifan shouted, You think three or four million taels will be enough to research Taiping Rice? Thats just wishful thinking! Try giving someone else three or four million taels and see if they can research Taiping Rice! Qian Yuanshen was rendered speechless by the scolding. I I just Lin Beifan rebuked with disdain, Let me tell you, if it werent for me investing money, even ten million taels wouldnt have been sufficient! And yet, you wanted to cut corners, hinder rice research, and prevent the people from eating well. Youre nothing but a heartless person! Youck humanity! Qian Yuanshens face was full of grievances. I just said a few words. I cant believe I got scolded like this. He even said Ick humanity! Fine, I wont offer my opinions anymore; its not my money anyway! I didnt expect you to invest so much. Youve really worked hard! The Empress expressed her pity, Minister Qian, dont argue anymore. It will be ten million taels! Even loyal ministers shouldnt suffer, nor should capable officials be exhausted! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding! Lin Beifan was extremely grateful, on the verge of tears. In the future, hell have an embezzlement fund of ten million taels annually. Hell be living the good life! However, the officials seemed particrly discontented! Hes a loyal minister? Hes a good official? Humph! Among the civil and military officials, anyone you pull out at random is more reliable than him! But Your Majesty, although Taiping Rice is highly adaptable and has a high yield, its not without ws! Lin Beifan continued. The Empress furrowed her brows, Minister, what ws does it have? Lin Beifan reported, The first w is that its taste might not be very good. Itcks the aromatic vor of the original rice. The Empresss brows rxed, and she smiled, Thats not a major w. As long as it can feed people, thats enough. When ites to filling ones stomach, things like taste are not that important. Youre absolutely right, Your Majesty! The second w is Taiping Rice cannot be used for seed saving! Everyone was shocked, Cannot be used for seed saving? This Lin Beifan exined calmly, Because the principle behind Taiping Rice is to leverage the hybrid advantages of the parents. The offspring produced after hybridization inherit the favorable characteristics of both sides, resulting in high yield and strong adaptability. However, its genes are heterozygous, which leads to gene separation in the next generation, resulting in inconsistent phenotypes. The officials looked perplexed, What does that mean? In simple terms, the first generation of Taiping Rice can increase yield by forty to fifty percent. By the second generation, the yield will drop significantly, only increasing by about twenty percent. By the third generation, its essentially the same as ordinary rice. Therefore, Taiping Rice requires human intervention each year. We must cultivate it ourselves to ensure high yields. The peoples faces turned worried, Ah? Is that so? Isnt there a permanent solution? The Empress persistently asked. Theres a solution! Only through multiple generations of cultivation and selection can we eventually develop stable rice traits. However, this requires a significant amount of time, ranging from five to six years at the shortest, and as long as thirty to forty years! Thats why Ive applied for special funds to conduct research in this area! Lin Beifan once again sought funds for himself, weaving a usible excuse. The Empress eximed, We must continue the research! Even if it only increases the yield by a few pounds, its a tremendous progress! Youre absolutely right, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan smiled, In fact, the inability to save seeds for Taiping Rice is currently a good thing! The Empress was puzzled, Minister, why do you say that? Your Majesty, in fact, food is also a weapon, and the most powerful one at that! Lin Beifans tone was profound, Taiping Rice yields high and everyone wants to have it! However, to obtain Taiping Rice, they can only get it from our court. In this way, can they not support the rule of our court? Can they not follow the orders of our court? In the future, it wont be so easy for Great Wu to split apart! The Empresss eyes lit up, and the officials eyes lit up! Just as Lin Beifan said, food is indeed the most formidable weapon! With it, the people of the entire nation will undoubtedly support the court! Whoever disobeys, wont have food! Excited, the Empress eximed, Very well! Taiping Rice is truly a remarkable thing. I like it very much! With it, we can not only ensure the stability of the nation but also maintain the rule of the court. The whole world wille together! Haha! Your Majestys words are absolutely true! The officials echoed in unison. Minister Lin, since youve researched and developed Taiping Rice, you shall be responsible for its nationwide promotion, allowing people throughout the country to have ess to food! Additionally, the method for poption growth and recuperation shall also be under your supervision! Strive to rejuvenate Great Wu within three years! Your will shall be followed, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan dered. After receiving the Empresssmand, Lin Beifan immediately set to work. He convened the civil and military officials and, ording to each departments responsibilities, began implementing the method for poption growth and recuperation. The policies were great, but the key was to put them into action. No matter how good the policies were, they wouldnt matter if those on the ground didnt follow them properly. Therefore, Lin Beifan made a direct statement. He would make irregr inspections across various regions, and if he found any instances of inadequate implementation, he would immediately hold local officials ountable. Not only would he hold them ountable, but he would also confiscate their property. For more severe cases, he would even execute them. Hed decide what to do based on the situation. The officials remained silent, responding in agreement. They were now somewhat more afraid of Lin Beifan than the Empress. They werent afraid of the Empress; rather, they were afraid of Lin Beifan. The Empress might speak about reason, considering the imperial dignity and upholding courtws, but Lin Beifan didnt care about principles or sentimentality. He genuinely confiscated property, and he did it thoroughly! No matter where your gold, silver, and jewels were hidden, he could find them. For those with unclear origins, hed confiscate them outright. Corrupt officials werent afraid of honest officials; they were most afraid of officials who were even more corrupt than them! Officials who were more corrupt, held more power, and didnt care about personal rtionships or sentiment were the most terrifying! Therefore, the implementation of the method for poption growth and recuperation went smoothly. Simrly, there were no hindrances in promoting Taiping Rice. Southern Jiang, Wuxi, and Northern Hebei were all suffering from ack of food. The court now provided rice seeds for free. Who wouldnt want them? Both civil and military officials witnessed the high yield of this rice and even wanted to ask Lin Beifan for some seeds themselves. Chapter 341: Is this bullying? Clearly, it’s a playful interaction! Chapter 341: Is this bullying? Clearly, its a yful interaction! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At night, in the study of the Lin mansion, Lin Beifan was still working on implementing the strategy for poption growth and recuperation. Meanwhile, Mo Rushuang was in the kitchen, a bit flustered while preparing birds nest soup. Li Shi Shi approached with graceful steps, observing Mo Rushuangs slightly ckened face. She chuckled, Rushuang, what are you doing? Im making birds nest soup for Young Master, Mo Rushuang replied. This small task could have been done by Xiao Cui, Li Shi Shi smiled. Mo Rushuang shook her head, No! Young Master has done so much for my hometown, and I dont know how to repay him. So, I thought Id make him a bowl of soup. Its the only thing I can do for him. I see, Rushuang, youre thoughtful. Let me help you! Li Shi Shiughed. Mo Rushuang looked surprised, Shi Shi, you know how to cook birds nest soup too? In her impression, Li Shi Shi had always been a refined youngdy, skilled in everything from music to chess to painting. She excelled in poetry and was knowledgeable in all the arts. How could she do such things? Well, I was just bored at home, so I learned a little. I can do some cooking and dish preparation. Who knows, I might need these skills in the future! Li Shi Shi yfully rolled up her sleeves and smiled. Mo Rushuang was puzzled, In the future? As long as you stay within the Lin mansion, there are plenty of people to take care of you. How could you need those skills? Li Shi Shi felt like she had said too much, shook her head, and smiled, You might find out in the future. Lets not talk about that. Lets hurry up and cook the birds nest soup! Oh, alright Mo Rushuang nodded. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the birds nest soup was ready, and both women felt delighted. Ill take it to Young Master right away. Shi Shi, Im leaving! Mo Rushuang happily picked up the bowl of birds nest soup. Wait, Rushuang! Li Shi Shi called out. Mo Rushuang turned her head, Shi Shi, is there something else? Li Shi Shi walked over and whispered in Mo Rushuangs ear, Rushuang, theres actually a better way for you to repay the gentleman After listening to Li Shi Shi, Mo Rushuangs cheeks turned red, and her voice sounded gentle, Ill take the birds nest soup to him first! After saying that, she turned and walked away, as if she were running away. Li Shi Shi called from behind, Rushuang, let me know when youve made up your mind! Mo Rushuang hurried away even faster, her face even redder. A momentter, she entered the study, knocked on the door, and entered. She saw Lin Beifan working on a n for distributing food. Thinking of what Li Shi Shi had said, she felt a bit shy and said, Young Master, this is freshly cooked birds nest soup. Please enjoy it while its hot. Lin Beifan looked up and smiled, Sure! Just put it on the table. Ill have it in a moment. Mo Rushuang walked over with the birds nest soup, observing Lin Beifan as he wrote down a n for distributing food. Curious, she asked, What is Taiping Rice? Lin Beifan chuckled, Its a high-yield rice that the court is about to introduce. Its drought-resistant and cold-resistant, prepared to be cultivated nationwide, allowing themon people to have enough to eat. Northern Hebei is your hometown, so I n to allocate a bit more for Northern Hebei. Mo Rushuang expressed her gratitude with tears in her eyes, Thank you, Young Master! Lin Beifan waved his hand, No need to thank me. Its my duty. Alright! Mo Rushuang nodded slightly, but as she looked at Lin Beifan, her gaze became more affectionate. She made a decision in her heart. After Lin Beifan finished drinking the birds nest soup, Mo Rushuang took the empty bowl away. Later, she shyly approached Li Shi Shi, Shi Shi, Ive made up my mind A momentter, Li Shi Shi hurriedly rushed in, looking anxious, Husband, somethings wrong! It seems like Rushuang is sick. Shes lying in bed without moving. You need to check on her! Is that so? Lin Beifan was very puzzled. Just a moment ago, she had a rosyplexion. How could things have changed so quickly? Moreover, shes a warrior, how could she get sick? Ill go check! Lin Beifan hurriedly made his way to Mo Rushuangs room and found her indeed lying in bed. Rushuang, whats wrong? Why did you suddenly fall ill? Mo Rushuang blushed, Young Master, I Im not sick! Lin Beifan furrowed his brow, Not sick? Then why Just then, the door clicked shut from the outside, followed by Li Shi Shis cheerful voice, Husband, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold. Im going back to rest in my room! At that moment, Mo Rushuang, with an expectant expression, shyly and hesitantly said, Young Master, dont you understand my feelings? Tonight tonight, please dont leave! In this moment, Lin Beifan, how could he not understand the scheme of the two women? To refuse further would be unmanly! Without hesitation, he lunged forward. Young Master, please be gentle! Mmm~~ The next day, Lin Beifan got up refreshed and went to the morning court session. Li Shi Shi walked in, holding a bowl of brown sugar water, and smiled, Rushuang, from now on, we can call each other sisters! Mo Rushuangs face turned red, Yes, sister Shi Shi! Li Shi Shi happily said, Sister Rushuang! And so, at night, Lin Beifan had one more ce to go to. However, this matter was identally discovered by the little princess. She seemed to have knocked over a vinegar jar. For no reason at all, she would often re at Lin Beifan as if suspecting him of being a heartless person who started something and then abandoned it. Lin Beifan didnt understand, Little Princess, I havent done anything to you. Why are you ring at me like this? The little princess gritted her teeth, Hmph! You, bad guy, only know how to bully Sister Rushuang! Thats why Im ring at you! Ill re at you to death! Lin Beifan retorted, Little Princess, can you call that bullying? The little princess countered, Isnt it? Lin Beifan pounded the table and stood up, This is clearly yful teasing, just like what were doing now! The little princesss face turned red with a swish. She red at Lin Beifan again, called him a big scoundrel, and ran off! Li Shi Shi covered her mouth and chuckled, yfully scolding, Husband, youve annoyed the little princess again! Shes still young and innocent. Cut her some ck! Yes, Young Master, go andfort her. Her anger will fade quickly! Mo Rushuang pushed Lin Beifans arm. With a helpless sigh, Lin Beifan stood up, Alright, Ill gofort her! He leisurely entered the kitchen and found the little princess was indeed there. She was staring at a pot of slowly simmering chicken soup, drooling slightly. Seeing Lin Beifan walk in, she pretended not to notice and turned her face to the side, disying a somewhat childlike demeanor. Approaching her, Lin Beifan smiled and said, Little Princess, still upset? Weve been good friends for many years. Lets not fight anymore. We should praise each other! Dont just focus on each others shorings, also look for the good qualities in each other! Upon reflection, the little princess realized he was right and nodded, saying, Okay! How about this? You praise me, and Ill praise you. After were done praising, well make up and be friends again. Sound good? The little princess nodded again, Good, its a deal! Youre so smart and lovely. You go first! Lin Beifan smiled. The little princesss face turned red again, and she yfully nced at Lin Beifan. The little princess thought for a moment and said, Youre handsome and dashing, with an elegant demeanor! Lin Beifan immediately raised his thumb, Youve got good taste! The little princess: The little princess continued, Youre incredibly intelligent and resourceful! Lin Beifan raised his thumb again, Youre sincere! The little princess: The little princess raised her small head defiantly and provocatively said, You have a very exceptional friend, surname Wu, named Yunying! Lin Beifan raised his thumb once more, Youre humorous! The little princess: Fck! The little princess was frustrated, Ah! Im not ying anymore. All this praising is just praising yourself! Really done ying? Then Ill leave! Lin Beifan said. The little princesss curiosity was piqued, Where are you going? Lin Beifan said with seriousness, As a parent to the people, Im going out to understand the peoples feelings and the hardships they face. The little princess snapped, Clearly, youre going shopping, yet youre saying it so eloquently! Lin Beifan asked, So are youing with me? The little princesss eyes twinkled, she stood up, and eximed, Yes! It has to be said that the little princesss temperes and goes quickly. In no time, she had made up with Lin Beifan. The two of them left together, chatting andughing. At this time, it was the season of autumn harvest. Due to a bountiful crop this year, the saying goes having grain in hand makes one unafraid. So, everyone was very happy, and the streets were lively as a result. As they walked, their hands filled with various snacks, the little princess said while munching, You big scoundrel, I didnt expect you to perform so well as a parent to the people! Under your management, the people have food to eat and clothing to wear. Its really great! Lin Beifan responded seriously, Little princess, Im actually the Prime Minister now. Give me some face. Dont call me a scoundrel! I got it, Prime Minister Big Scoundrel! Seeing Lin Beifans dark expression, the little princess giggled and felt like she had finally taken revenge for earlier. Just then, they saw a drunken man passed out by the roadside corner. Many people were pointing and mocking him. Hes Zhao Kuo, the one who talks big on paper! Yes, hes the waste who caused us to lose 400,000 soldiers and horses in Great Wu! Hes truly useless! He never led troops in a battle, yet he bragged in the court, causing heavy losses for Great Wu! If it werent for the Prime Ministers intervention, the capital city would have been lost! A rotten mud that cant be used as support for a wall! Pah! Lin Beifan frowned, Why is Zhao Kuo there, and in such a state of drunkenness? The little princess sighed, The impact of that battle on him was immense! So, after he returned, he became like this, getting drunk every day, not caring about anything, no matter how much we try to persuade him. Actually, hes quite capable, hardworking, and righteous. Among the young masters, hes one of the best! Its just that hes had bad luck and encountered the formidable army of the Prince of Northern Hebei. Sigh! Lin Beifan put down the snacks in his hand and walked over. The little princess called out, Where are you going? Lin Beifan answered, Im going to wake him up. The little princess eximed, Are you capable of that? If you cant, dont mess around! Who says I cant? Lin Beifan said confidently, As a Principal in the Imperial Academy, the teacher of teachers, theres no one I cant educate! Chapter 342: I’ve Never Lost, I Don’t Know How to Write “Lose”! Chapter 342: Ive Never Lost, I Dont Know How to Write Lose! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Disperse, all of you, disperse! Theres nothing interesting to see! Lin Beifan waved his hand, shooing away those who were making sarcastic remarks. As soon as everyone saw Lin Beifan, they scattered and left, not daring to say more. Zhao Kuo, who was too drunk to be aware of his surroundings, heard a familiar voice. He struggled to open his eyes in a daze and saw a familiar figure. He grinned, tremblingly raised the bottle in his hand, and said, So its Prime Minister Its an honor to meet you here. This official This official hasnt congratted you on your promotion yet, uh care for a drink? Sensing the strong smell of alcohol, Lin Beifan furrowed his brows and said, Zhao Kuo, look at yourself now. Youre a descendant of the Zhao family and an official of the court. Yet, youre in such a state. Is this appropriate? But if I dont drink, what else can I do? Zhao Kuo suddenly burst into tears, 400,000 soldiers, the lives of 400,000 brave men, all because of me, lost in Northern Hebei! Experts from various factions who came to assist were captured by the Northern Hebei Prince because of me, and almost couldnt make it back! The Zhao family has been oppressed by the court because of me, and life is very difficult Everything is because of me!!! Im a criminal of the court, Im a criminal of the Zhao family, Im a criminal of Great Wu! Im useless, I even tried to imitate others in warfare! Im a fucking waste, a waste who talks about tactics on paper! Waaaah! Hearing this, many were heartbroken, and tears welled up in their eyes. A real man doesnt lightly shed tears, but not until he reaches a point of sadness! Lin Beifan sighed deeply. While its true that you made mistakes in this battle, the me doesnt rest solely on your shoulders. Regardless of which general led, the oue would have likely been the same. Your mistake was a single one underestimating the Northern Hebei Prince and marching into Northern Hebei without fullyprehending his strength. You broke a fundamental rule of warfare. Yes, I vited a fundamental rule of warfare! After a lifetime of studying military books, I made a fatal mistake when it mattered the most! Im truly just a waste. Im not fit for war! Waaah Zhao Kuo cried even more sorrowfully. Lin Beifan grew tired of it and shouted, Stop crying. What kind of man looks pitiful while crying? In the battlefield, who hasnt experienced losses? Which general can guarantee theyll always win? The saying goes, Failure is the mother of sess! Learn from your failures, draw lessons from them, and win the next time! Yeah, who hasnt lost a battle in their military career? Even the most famous generals in history couldnt avoid it. Learn from your failures, draw lessons from them, and win the next time! The little princess encouraged him. Zhao Kuo seemed to take it in. Reflecting on the military books and tactics he had studied over the years, he realized that no one could win continuously! Even the most famous contemporary general, Gongsun Wudi of the Dayue Dynasty, died in the Phoenix Fortress. The 500,000 soldiers he brought were all buried there. As a result, the Dayue Dynasty fell into turmoil and declined in power. If one were to talk about the most formidable contemporary general, it was probably the one in front of him, Lin Beifan! From the beginning of the year until now, he had fought in four battles. Each one was tougher than thest, yet the oues became easier. In the final battle, he won just by talking! If there were to be a consistently victorious general, he might be the one! Zhao Kuos thoughts stirred, and with a hint of hope, he asked, Prime Minister, have you ever lost before? It seemed that he hoped to find somefort and acknowledgment from Lin Beifan. Lin Beifans lips twisted with bitterness. Zhao Kuo, youve really asked the right person Zhao Kuo was taken aback. Even Prime Minister Lin Beifan let out a deep sigh. From childhood to now, Ive experienced many things. But no matter what I do, its always smooth sailing, everything goes well. Whether its studying, being an official, or leading troops in battle, its all the same. Ive never lost in my life, I dont even know how to write the word lose. Zhao Kuo was shocked! Ive never lost in my life, I dont even know how to write the word lose. This statement was truly arrogant; he had never heard someone so arrogantly self-assured in his life! Isnt that infuriating? His crying halted for a moment and then grew even more sorrowful. Waaah The little princess beside him grew anxious. Lin Beifan, you were supposed tofort him, not provoke him! Lin Beifan looked innocent. But Im just speaking the truth! Speaking the truth can hurt people! The little princesss small face wrinkled, and with a touch of weariness, she said, Cant you hold back a little? Dont release your arrogance to hurt others? Alright, Ill hold back a bit. Lin Beifan continued to persuade, Zhao Kuo, actually, I just wanted to tell you that failure really isnt a big deal. Were not the same; everyone has different experiences. Just look at it positively! You still have the chance to taste failure, to rally from it and be stronger. But I dont even have that chance. I can only taste loneliness! How bitter and painful that feeling is, do you understand? Their attention was drawn again. What does loneliness taste like? Lin Beifan took a deep breath and sang with sorrow, How lonely it is, how lonely it is for the undefeated. How empty it is, how empty it is for the undefeated. Alone on the pinnacle, the cold wind keeps blowing. My loneliness, who can understand me Zhao Kuo and the little princess burst intoughter. Zhao Kuo burst into tears again, crying bitterly, so heartbroken that it felt as if his liver and intestines were about to split. The little princess was furious. Can you please stop saying hurtful things? I really want to hit someone right now, do you know? Lin Beifan immediately consoled her. Little princess, calm down. Violence wont solve the problem, but money might! The little princess took out her money and stuffed it into Lin Beifans arms. Take it, take it. Just shut up, alright? Then, she crouched down and advised, Lin Beifan is just talking nonsense. You absolutely shouldnt listen to him Zhao Kuo, crying, said, Actually, I understood Prime Ministers words! People are different from each other. Prime Minister is above others, and Im just trash, genuine trash! Waaah The little princess grew even more anxious. No! He really didnt mean that Exactly, I meant exactly that! Lin Beifan said with a smiling expression, Everything you have now is provided by your family! Your life, your honor, money, and martial arts skillsall were given to you by your family! Without these, you would be trash, living worse off than ordinary people! Waaah The little princess was exasperated. Lin Beifan, can you please stop talking? Hes already pitiable enough! Lin Beifan sneered. What kind of pity is this? Truly pitiable people cant even cry, because their hearts are already dead! Yet Zhao Kuo has the time to cry here. Do you know how fortunate he is? Lin Beifan waved his hand towards a nearby figure. A middle-aged man with a confident stride approached, bowing respectfully to Lin Beifan. Greetings, Prime Minister! This man was none other than Zhao Hai, Zhao Kuos uncle. He had been keeping an eye on Zhao Kuo to prevent any mishaps. Lin Beifan smiled. No need for excessive formalities. Seal Zhao Kuos cultivation, then send him to the cement factory in Minxin City to work! During this period, cut off all his economic transactions, dont give him money, dont let him drink, dont offer him any assistance. Let him earn his own living! Zhao Hai was astonished. Prime Minister, this Lin Beifan waved his hand. If you want Zhao Kuo to wake up, follow my instructions! Frowning, Zhao Hai thought for a moment before nodding respectfully. Yes, Prime Minister. He extended his hand and tapped Zhao Kuos body a few times, sealing his cultivation. Then, he lifted Zhao Kuo onto his back, nodded at Lin Beifan and the little princess, and left. The little princess was somewhat puzzled. Lin Beifan, what are you trying to do? Will this really help Zhao Kuo recover? Lin Beifan smiled. Im pretty confident it will. The little princess tilted her head, unable toprehend. She asked, Why? Can you tell me? Its simple! Zhao Kuos journey has been smooth sailing all along. Hes never lost a single time in his life. You could call him an exceptional talent. But this battle has hit him hard, shattered his confidence, and led him to self-deprecation and degradation. In other words, his ability to endure psychological setbacks is weak. So, Im sending him to the cement factory to experience some hardship, without relying on his family. Hell have to support himself with his own hands. Only when hes experienced the bitterness of life, witnessed the suffering of themon people, will he realize that the hardships hes endured so far are nothing! While others endure such hardships and still manage to live well, with his advantages and opportunities, why cant he? This will force him to make a fresh start, regain his spirit! The little princess nodded, somewhat understanding. It sounds reasonable! Lin Beifan gave an exasperated look. Its naturally reasonable. You, as a little princess born with a silver spoon, wouldnt understand! Ugh, youre so annoying! The little princess covered her forehead and blinked her watery eyes. With a touch of sympathy, she asked, Lin Beifan, since you know so much, were you also in a difficult situation before? Lin Beifan sighed. Yes, I was in a tough situation before. My ancestors were all farmers. They relied on thend to eat, didnt dare spend a single penny carelessly. We were always poor and struggling! The little princess was sympathetic yet envious. Thats so pitiable! Since youve been through such hardships, why do you still look so youthful and well-fed? Maybe its because of my innate good looks. I cant control it myself! Lin Beifan said with frustration. Sometimes, even though I could rely on my talents to make a living, in the end, Im invited to banquets because of my appearance. Little princess, youre so beautiful and lovely; you must have experienced it too. The little princess agreed wholeheartedly. Yes, being good-looking is sometimes really annoying! The two exchanged a nce and sighed deeply. Sigh Just then, in the distance, a soaring sword aura and a soaring de aura appeared, interweaving in the sky, stunning all the experts in the city! What powerful sword aura! It has reached the level of a grandmaster, incredibly terrifying! The de aura is also extraordinary, so strong! This sword and de aura, they look somewhat familiar! Subsequently, two heartyughter echoed from afar. Old friend Lin, wevee to see you! Chapter 343: Here comes the rainbow fart! Chapter 343: Herees the rainbow fart! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
With the sounding, Lin Beifan saw a man in white clothes, carefree and unrestrained, as well as a burly man in coarse linen clothes, unconstrained in details, stepping in the air. These two people, Lin Beifan is very familiar with, they are none other than the long-lost sword immortal Shangguan Jianhun and the knife saint Ouyang Badao. Looking at the nervous court experts, Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, No need to be on guard, these are my friends! Yes, Lord Prime Minister! The court experts stepped back. In the blink of an eye, these two grandmasters had already leapt into the capital city and arrived in front of Lin Beifan. Little brother, its been a year, Ive missed you, old buddy! the two of themughed heartily. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Two old buddies, its been a year, and you finally remembered me! It seems like both of you have made progress, your martial arts have improved quite a bit, which is delightful! With a sword on his shoulder, the Saber Saint looked at Lin Beifan and smiled, In this past year, old buddy, I have indeed made some progress! Butpared to you, Im still far behind! The Sword Immortal also sighed, Yes, when I first met you a year ago, you were just a small official! But now, youve be the Prime Minister, surpassing tens of thousands of people! At such a young age, to be a Prime Minister, you can truly be called remarkable in the present age! I dare to say that a hundred years from now, there will be few who know the name of Sword Immortal, but there will certainly be even fewer who dont know yours! Lin Beifan eximed loudly, Its not very convenient to talk here. Both of you,e with me, lets go have a drink and discuss together! The two young grandmasters chorused, Sure! Lets drink and discuss together! After returning, Lin Beifan naturally warmly entertained them. During the drinking process, they talked about their experiences over the past year. A year ago, they left the capital to gain experience in the mortal world. Later, they each had some insights, so they went into seclusion and practiced for a few months, and as a result, Lin Beifan lost contact with them. When they emerged from seclusion, they found that the world had changed dramatically, and it was all rted to Lin Beifan. Using the divine artifact cement, Lin Beifan built a magnificent city capable of amodating a million people within three months. The Crown Prince of Great Xia, Xia Tianqiong, led an army of 800,000 to attack Great Wu, but was dealt with by Lin Beifan. Prince of Southern Jiang led 500,000 troops in a rebellion, but was resolved by Lin Beifan. Thebined forces of Wuxi and Dayue, totaling one million, were dealt with by Lin Beifan. The Prince of Northern Hebei and the head of the Tianmen Sect, Leng Ruochen, conspired to create a powerful army of martial artists that threatened the court. They fought their way to the capital city but were also resolved by Lin Beifan. There was also the shocking incident of the dragon bones that was rted to Lin Beifan. It was precisely because of these various events, all of which were sessfully resolved, that Lin Beifan steadily rose and became the Prime Minister of today. These two could not help but sigh that their little brother was truly skilled in his official position! At this moment, the rebellion of the Prince of Northern Hebei had failed. The head of the Tianmen Sect, Leng Ruochen, who possessed the strength of a grandmaster, was actually killed with a single strike by a young expert named Night Fragrance, which greatly shocked the two of them and made them eager to give it a try. Considering that Lin Beifan was also in the capital city, they decided to return and take a look. They happened to meet on the way and came together. With a sorrowful tone, Lin Beifan said, So, you guys just came to see me in passing Little brother, you cant say that! Sword Immortal poured wine for Lin Beifan while apologizing, Actually, I came back to see you. I want to discuss swordsmanship with you! There are very few people in this world who understand the sword as well as you do! Your words and actions are like the voice of the Dao, the words of a sage, enlightening! Old buddy, Ive gained some insights during this trip, and Ive made some progress in swordsmanship. Its all thanks to your guidance from the beginning! The more I understand, the more I realize my own shallowness and insignificance, and the more I realize your extraordinary talents! Lin Beifan listened with great pleasure and drank the cup of apology wine. Yeah, the reason I was able to make progress this time is also thanks to your guidance, old buddy! Saber Saint also sat down, pouring wine for Lin Beifan while beaming, Unfortunately, I, this old coarse fellow, with a master around and not knowing it, went to seek others for advice, wasting many opportunities and time! Oh right, theres a line of poetry that describes it, how does it go? Lin Beifan said, Among the crowd, I searched for him for a thousand times, suddenly looking back, he was there all along in the flickering lights! Saber Saint pped his thigh, Exactly! Thats the line! So, Ivee back this time. Little brother, I hope you wont hesitate to enlighten me this time, please, hehe! Lin Beifan calmly drank his wine, Thats about right! The nearby Little Princess and others were stunned. The dignified two young grandmasters were actually trying so hard to please Lin Beifan, acting so humble? Was that really necessary? Guo Shaoshuai sped his hands and respectfully asked, Two seniors, when you were discussing philosophy and drinking before, I was also there! I felt that what the young master said sounded profound and reasonable, full of mysteries, but it didnt seem to provide any practical cultivation methods! It seems impossible to improve ones strength through that! Saber Saint patted Guo Shaoshuais shoulder andughed, Kid, thats because youre too young, youve had fewer experiences, plus your cultivation level is low, so you cant understand! Youll understand when you reach a higher realm. When you achieve the Grandmaster level, the most important thing is enlightenment! Absolutely right! Sword Immortal chimed in, The path of martial arts is divided into nine realms. But to put it urately, there are only three major realms: Postnatal, Innate, and Grandmaster! In the Postnatal realm, the focus is on strengthening the body through self-torture, practicing muscles and bones, warming meridians, and refining qi and blood and muscles. This is the foundation of martial arts, building a tall building from the ground up! When you reach the Innate realm, the focus is on refining your true qi! Condense your true qi, make it more abundant, manifest it externally, extend it into your body, and enhance your killing power! But when you reach the Grandmaster realm, everything changes! In the Grandmaster realm, it means you havepleted both the Postnatal and Innate paths, excelling in all aspects, reaching perfection! Those who can cultivate to this realm are all exceptional talents, one in a billion, the prodigies of the martial world! Now, you tell me, at this level, how can you progress further? How can you distinguish strength? Guo Shaoshuai humbly inquired, Id like to hear more details! At this point, its all about enlightenment, understanding martial arts, understanding the way of heaven! Saber Saintughed, Whoever has a deeper understanding of martial arts, who is closer to the way of heaven, will have stronger strength! Sword Immortal nodded repeatedly, Exactly, thats how it is! Saber Saint pointed at the silent old monk nearby, a hint of envy in his voice, Look at Jing Tai old monk, it seems like he just broke through to be a Grandmasterst year, eventer than this one! But now, his strength and depth of umtion have far surpassed me! The reason is that he has been following your young master, gaining enlightenment from him, which is why his cultivation has advanced so rapidly! Sword Immortal clicked his tongue, Exactly! Back then, I saw him, a grandmaster, willing to take your young master as his teacher, and secretly called him foolish. Now I finally see through his true intentions. Hes a cunning old fox. The foolish one is me, not him! Amitabha! the old monk silently chanted. Everyone remembered that after the old monk had discussed philosophy with Lin Beifan, he shamelessly tried to be his disciple, and only reluctantly gave up when it wasnt approved. It turns out it was for this purpose. Indeed, hes a high monk! Truly, very high! But hes learning Buddhist teachings! Guo Shaoshuai said. For him, Buddhist teachings are his path! Sword Immortal replied. The old monk opened his somewhat clouded eyes, ced his hands together, and bowed, Both venerable speakers speak the truth! The master said that Buddha is the way. Amitabha! Amitabha! Sword Immortal and Saber Saint echoed in unison. So, young one, you should cherish the opportunity to follow by the side of your young master, pay attention to his every word and action. You can learn a lot from him, which will benefit you greatly throughout your life! Saber Saint said. In an instant, in the hearts of everyone, Lin Beifan became infinitely magnified! Everyones faces were filled with admiration. So, their master (Lin Beifan) was such an amazing person! Lin Beifan was secretly delighted. The two old buddies came, and they even brought rainbow farts! Seriously Understanding! Next time, bring a bit more! Dont say anything else, lets continue drinking! Lin Beifan shouted. As a result, everyone continued to enjoy their drinks and have a good time. Saber Saint, while drinking, said, Actually, I have another purpose foring this time! What purpose? Lin Beifan asked. Saber Saint and Sword Immortal exchanged a nce, gritted their teeth, and said, Old buddy, you understand this matter too! A year ago, after the battle beyond the heavens, the two of us encountered a young and mysterious expert outside the city. That battle, I suffered a terrible defeat, and the fear still lingers to this day. So, this past year, Ive been diligently practicing my sword technique, all to seek revenge on him! Lin Beifan silently drank his wine, pretending not to hear. Thats right, thats my intention too! Sword Immortal gritted his teeth, That battle shattered all of my pride! As a swordsman, Id rather break than bend. I wont rest until I avenge this grudge! But over this past year, I havent heard any news about him from anywhere else. I suspect hes still in the capital city, so I came back! Old buddy, youre the Prefect of the capital city. Could you have any clues about him? Saber Saints gaze turned over, carrying a hint of expectation. Lin Beifan calmly shook his head, No! Since you guys left, theres been no news about him. Its as if he never existed. Someone of that caliber who wants to hide cant be found by ordinary people! Saber Saint and Sword Immortal were greatly disappointed. However, if you want to find Night Fragrance, I can help you get in touch with him! Thank you, old buddy! Saber Saint and Sword Immortal said in unison. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Night Fragrance arrived gracefully, Lord Prime Minister, what brings you to me? Do you have some important task for me again that only I can handle? Lin Beifan grinned, Night Fragrance, let me introduce you to two people! These two young grandmasters are my close friends, Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun and Saber Saint Ouyang Badao. They want to exchange moves with you! Sword Immortal and Saber Saint were brimming with fighting spirit, each revealing their weapons. So, youre Night Fragrance? A true hero indeed! Show us your weapon, well determine whos superior in battle! I want to see whether your de is sharper or if mine is stronger! Night Fragrance: Oh my God! Chapter 344: Use Your Mighty Strength to Prove That You’re Truly Inadequate! Chapter 344: Use Your Mighty Strength to Prove That Youre Truly Inadequate! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Looking at the two grandmasters with their vignt gazes, Night Fragrance felt anxious: Two seniors, I am merely a small innate practitioner, with weak strength. Why must you seek to spar with me? The Sword Immortals battle intent was chilling: Why else? I heard about the major battle a few days ago, where you instantly killed Tianmens Grandmaster, Leng Ruochen, who possessed grandmaster-level strength. Quite impressive! Im itching for a fight, so Ivee to spar with you! The Saber Saint shouted loudly: Exactly! Show your weapons, and letspete! Night Fragrances heart was filled with frustration! Damn it, why is it like this again? That person clearly wasnt killed by me, so why is everything being pinned on me? Night Fragrance hurriedly exined: Seniors, I think youve misunderstood. I really didnt kill that person Enough of your excuses! At that time, under the watchful eyes of the public, tens of thousands saw you make a move! Are they all blind? You clearly have the strength, so why pretend to be modest and deceive me? Sword Immortal sneered repeatedly. Im not interested in wasting words with you. Lets meet outside the city! Swoosh, swoosh! The two grandmasters swiftly disyed their light skills and ran outside the city. Lin Beifan patted the stunned Night Fragrances shoulder and advised, Theyre going to stay here for several days. You cant escape. Whether you fight or not, youre still in for it. Use your formidable strength to prove youre not as weak as they think. That way, theyll think twice before bothering you again! Night Fragrance: . However, before the duel, I have something heartfelt to say to you! Night Fragrance turned his head dully, asking, What is it? Lin Beifan looked grave: Stay strong, ept your losses! Night Fragrance: . In the end, following Lin Beifans advice, Night Fragrance engaged in a fierce battle with the two grandmasters outside the city. It was a brutal fight. In less than 10 rounds, Night Fragrance was lying on the ground, battered and bruised, looking utterly dejected. In his hand, he still tightly held the little knife that Lin Beifan had given him. He had thought that with this small knife, he could spar with the two young grandmasters for over a hundred rounds. However, the knife unexpectedly malfunctioned, its edge dulled, leaving Night Fragrance in a pitiable state. Why is it like this again? Why He couldntprehend it. This knife was incredibly effective against enemies, yet it always fell short during sparring. The two grandmasters left in disappointment, while only Lin Beifan stayed behind, expressing sympathy: Night Fragrance, just take it easy! Its not the first or second time. Youll get used to it! Night Fragrance clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, No! This time I wontpromise. I must seek revenge! They beat me up, and I must strike back, not just to vent my anger! Lin Beifan eximed, Good! Thats the spirit! I have a suggestion for you! Night Fragrance inquired eagerly, What suggestion? Lin Beifan whispered, Arent you eager for revenge? Bring your master here. Your master is powerful and can surely give them a good thrashing, helping you get back at them! Night Fragrances eyes lit up, Yes, why didnt I think of that? Thank you, Lord Prime Minister, for your guidance! Lin Beifan smiled, Were allrades here, no need to be so formal! Not long after, in response to Night Fragrances fervent summons, the Spear God returned. My good disciple, I heard you killed Leng Ruochen with a single blow. Im very pleased! Ivee this time to assess your skills and see if youve improved! Night Fragrances face was filled with despair, No!!! In the end, Night Fragrance was thrashed once again by the Spear God, and his spirit was crushed. After dealing with Night Fragrance, the Spear God went to spar with the Saber Saint and the Sword Immortal. They fought two or three times every day, seeking satisfaction inbat. In the evenings, they would gather at Lin Mansion, drinking and discussing martial arts with Lin Beifan. This matter had be a popr story in the capital. Inside the imperial pce, themander of the Imperial Guards reported this situation to the Empress. The Empress smiled and said, I already know about this! Theyre all close friends of Minister Lin, and with him around, they wont cause any major trouble. As long as the capital remains stable, we need not worry about them. Your Majesty, what I mean is that Minister Lin has already be the Prime Minister. A grandmaster resides in his mansion all year round. Now, hes befriended three other grandmasters. Shouldnt we be cautious about him? Themander of the Imperial Guards alluded discreetly. The Empress understood his implication. As the current Prime Minister, Lin Beifan held high status and power, and he had the ability to influence the court. And now, being on good terms with four grandmasters, this strength is enough to threaten the court. The court must be cautious! The Empress shook her head and smiled, saying, I understand your point, but no need to worry! Minister Lin has done so much for us and the court. His loyalty is beyond doubt, and I trust himpletely! Hes already a grandmaster. If he wants to rebel, he could do it alone. Why would he need the support of other grandmasters? Moreover, since he took office, he hasnt been building a political faction. Instead, he has managed to alienate both civil and military officials. He hasnt left any room for negotiation; he clearly doesnt view power as a game! With such audacity, hes simply setting himself up for failure and escape in the end! By the way, stop having people watch Minister Lin. We dont want to give him any misunderstandings, the Empress added. Themander of the Imperial Guards felt a shiver. The Empress trusts Lin Beifan even more than he had imagined! It seems he needs to be even more polite to Prime Minister Lin in the future! I shallply with your orders! Flowers bloom at both ends, each showing a different branch. At this moment, Zhao Kuo had already been dumped into a cement factory. Wheres the alcohol? I want to drink Zhao Kuo woke up groggily, finding himself in an unfamiliar ce. There was no alcohol around. His cultivation had been sealed, rendering him as ordinary as anyone else. He had a splitting headache, a consequence of the alcohol. Shaking his head slightly, he recalled what had happened before. Previously, he had drunk himself into a stupor on the streets. He encountered Prime Minister Lin Beifan, who had provoked him with his words. Zhao Kuo had cried bitterly, his heart torn apart. Later, Prime Minister Lin Beifan had his uncle seal Zhao Kuos cultivation, cut off all economic ties, and sent him to the cement factory to earn a living through manualbor. It seems this is the cement factory! he muttered to himself. Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it. Right now, he still wanted to drink alcohol to numb his heart. Since they wouldnt provide him money or alcohol, he would earn money himself to buy alcohol and continue drowning his sorrows. At this moment, a foreman walked in and shouted, Whos Zhao Kuo? Zhao Kuo staggered over, saying, I am Zhao Kuo! The foreman frowned with distaste, Youve been drinking. You reek of alcohol. How can you work like this? If you hinder the work, can you bear the responsibility? If not for the higher-ups watching, I wouldnt even bother with you! Zhao Kuo, feeling numb and unresponsive, just belched after hearing this, showing no other reaction. With a slight tingling, he lowered his eyelids and murmured, I understand! The foreman continued with his displeasure, Lets go. Come work with me. Youre also named Zhao Kuo, just like that useless guy who talks big on paper! I hope you wont turn out to be as useless as him! Zhao Kuo felt slightly dizzy but still understood the foremans words. Then, under the foremans guidance, Zhao Kuo began his work at the cement factory. His job was to transport cement, moving it from the factory to air cushion boats, which would then transport the cement through rivers to various parts of the country. The work was simple but physically demanding, a toil of hardbor. Having the physique of a martial practitioner, after a days work, he felt sore and aching, even more than when practicing martial arts. Even lying down, he didnt feel like moving. The foreman walked over, a bit surprised, and said, Youre something else, kid. You look drunk and unsteady, but youre strong. You can handle the work of several people. Not bad! When its time to settle ounts at the end of the month, Ill give you some extra pay. Thanks, foreman! Can you Can you lend me some money first? Ill pay you back at the end of the month? Why do you need the money? To buy alcohol and drink! The foreman looked at him differently, Didnt expect you to be a drunkard! I can lend you money to buy alcohol, but you better not dy your work. Otherwise, I wont spare you! However, he suddenly felt extremely ufortable when the alcohol entered his mouth. It was the worst-tasting alcohol he had ever consumed, resembling horse urine. It was the best alcohol he could afford, and he forced himself to finish it withoutint. But the alcohol content was too low, and he didnt get drunk after consuming it. Alright! Zhao Kuo took a few coins and immediately went to buy alcohol. However, this marked the end of his drinking spree as he found the alcohol intolerable. Furthermore, it failed to intoxicate him. In a somewhat dramatic fashion, he decided to quit drinking. He could only numb himself by working more. As a result, a peculiar figure appeared in the cement factory. This person was extraordinarily capable of enduring hardships andbor. He could do several times the work of others. Yet, he remained silent, keeping to himself. He had no brothers, no friends, and no family. After work, he wouldnt return home but instead would find a spot to sleep or stare at the moon in the sky. It was truly strange behavior. His fellow workers gathered around him,ughing with malicious intent. At that moment, a few burly workers walked up to him. Kid, we heard youve been making quite a bit of moneytely. Can you lend us some money to spend? Zhao Kuo thought for a moment and immediately handed over all his money, saying, Take it! Those workers were left dumbfounded, Did you really give it when I just mentioned it? As they spoke, they handed the money back. Then it was Zhao Kuos turn to be surprised, Why dont you want it? We were just bored and fooling around with you! If we really took it and were found out, wed end up in jail, and we might lose our jobs. Were not willing to take that risk! Zhao Kuo nodded and continued to stare nkly. At this moment, one worker sat down and said with a smile, Brother, youre so generous. Lets be friends! Myst name is Sun, and my name is Sun Er. Its a name given by someone else, and they said its a cheap name thats easy to support! Zhao Kuos mood sank Zhao Kuo! Yeah, you work diligently, but after work, you dont go home. You spend the whole day here, lost in thought. Sun Er continued to speak, Brother, you seem different. You work hard during the day, but after work, you dont go home. You just stay here and look at the moon. Im curious about you. How old are you? Maybe if you tell me, I can help you understand? Sun Er grinned and added, Youre strange. You act so nk. Whats going on in your mind? Hey, Im older than you by a few years. Tell me, maybe I can help you find some rity! Zhao Kuo pondered for a moment and asked, Whats the meaning of life? Sun Er burst intoughter, Your thoughts are really interesting. What meaning can life have? Just being able to survive is good enough. Zhao Kuo was taken aback, Why do you say that? Chapter 346: Lord Prime Minister, Teach Me the Art of War! Chapter 346: Lord Prime Minister, Teach Me the Art of War! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
In the study of the Lin residence, Zhao Kuo once again saw Lin Beifan. At this moment, Lin Beifan was holding a brush to paint. Stroke by stroke, calm and leisurely, full of rxed elegance. Zhao Kuo didnt disturb him, standing respectfully aside, watching Lin Beifan paint with his eyes flickering. Since getting to know Lin Beifan, he had noticed that Lin Beifan always had a slow and unhurried demeanor, notpeting or rushing, as if nothing could trouble him or bring him down. And indeed, it was the case. Amidst enemies all around and the song of defeat on all sides, in such a political environment, he could still rise step by step, standing above everyones heads, bing the foremost figure of the current dynasty! Amidst the rebellion of the three major vassal kings and the fragmentation of Great Wu, he led his troops to quell the chaos, allowing Great Wu to reunify! He even invented the sky-faring artifact Great Air Balloon, the waterborne tool Air Cushion Boat, and the construction artifact Cement. Rumor has it that he also developed the high-yielding and bountiful Taiping Rice, each invention benefiting the country and the people! Not to mention his many achievements, he was practically a living legend! Sometimes, he doubts how someone as young as him could be so amazing. Could he be an immortal who has descended into the mortal realm? Lin Beifan set down the brushbeled 290 and looked at theposed Zhao Kuo. With satisfaction, he nodded and smiled, saying, Youvee! Initially, I estimated it would take you a few months to awaken, but it seems nearly a month has sufficed! Well done. I really have to thank that person named Sun Er, haha! Zhao Kuo sped his hands and loudly replied, The Prime Ministers intentions are deeply appreciated, and Im grateful beyond words! Its nothing. I simply dont want to see a nations talents go to waste. If I can lend a hand, I will. If you couldnt awaken on your own, I wouldnt have any way to help either! Zhao Kuo spoke loudly again, I still want to express my gratitude for the Prime Ministers assistance. Ive gained immeasurably! Lets not dwell on this. What business brings you to me? Lin Beifan asked. Prime Minister, I wish to learn the art of war from you! Zhao Kuo lifted his head, his gaze determined and unwavering. Shaking his head, Lin Beifan smiled and said, You were born into a military family, well-versed in military texts since childhood. With such background, you dont need my teachings. Only after engaging in warfare do you realize your own shorings! War is no childs y, and I dont want to repeat the same mistakes, Zhao Kuo continued while bowing, Prime Minister, you are a contemporary war deity, adept in military strategy! Therefore, I wish to learn the art of war from you, to mend my own deficiencies. I hope youll grant me the opportunity. Lin Beifan spoke loudly, Alright! Since you want to learn the art of war from me, let me ask you, what is art of war? Zhao Kuo pondered for a moment, then shared his understanding, The so-called art of war is the way of using military force, the method of marching and fighting! Lin Beifan shook his head slightly. Zhao Kuo was taken aback, Prime Minister, is what I said incorrect? Lin Beifan smiled, Partly correct. Zhao Kuo immediately sought more guidance, What is the other part, Prime Minister? Please teach me! Lin Beifan smiled, War is a crucial matter for a nation, its a matter of life and death, survival and destruction, and it must be closely examined! Zhao Kuo shivered, feeling that these few words were as profound and insightful as the grand sound of Dao itself. They were deeper and more thorough than what he had learned about the art of war for decades. In simple terms, war is a matter of great importance to a country. It involves the life and death of soldiers and civilians, and the survival of the nation. It cannot be taken lightly and must be treated with utmost seriousness. The art of war is actually the method to resolve conflicts, minimize casualties among soldiers and civilians, and protect the nation. Only by realizing this can one truly understand how to apply it. Zhao Kuo eximed, Thank you for your guidance, Prime Minister! Looking at Lin Beifan again, he held a sense of admiration. Truly, he was a war deity, with such a profound understanding of the art of war. This level ofprehension easily surpassed him; no wonder he was so adept at warfare! For the second question, what constitutes good military strategy? Lin Beifan inquired. Zhao Kuo fell into deep thought and didnt answer immediately. After pondering for a while, he said, For me, any strategy that leads to victory is good. If it allows the weak to triumph over the strong, the few to triumph over the many, and achieve the greatest victory with the least sacrifice, then its the best military strategy. For example, in the battles youve fought since the start of the year, Prime Minister, Im greatly impressed. In the battle at Ho Pass, you used fewer than 400,000 troops to resist the 800,000 strong enemy force of Great Xia. In the end, you sacrificed less than 20,000 soldiers, captured the crown prince of Great Xia, and forced their 600,000 troops to surrender. In the battle of Songjiang, you used 200,000 troops to defend against the 500,000-strong army of the Southern Prince along the Songjiang River. With minimal losses, you shattered the Southern Kings forces, captured him, and took 300,000 prisoners, achieving another significant victory. In the battle at Phoenix Fortress, you defeated thebined forces of Wuxi and Dayue, numbering in the millions, with clever tactics, stunning the world. But the most remarkable was the defense of the capital. You didnt even need to mobilize your troops, only using your words to defeat the Jibei army and shatter the ambitions of the Northern Prince. All of these are ssic battles where you achieved victory with the weaker force, triumphing over the stronger, and minimizing sacrifices. The strategies you employed in these battles are the best military strategies. Lin Beifanughed and scolded, Dont butter me up! Your praises dont mean much. For me, these four battles arent worth boasting about. The strategies used in them arent really that good. Zhao Kuo was taken aback, Prime Minister, why arent these four battles worth boasting about? Why cant strategies that lead to victory against stronger opponents and with fewer resources be considered good strategies? Lin Beifan calmly smiled, In warfare, the supreme act is to subdue the enemys strategy without fighting, then to break their alliances, andstly to crush their armies. The lowest form of warfare is siege warfare. Zhao Kuo pondered upon hearing this. Lin Beifan continued, The meaning of this statement is that the highest form of strategy is to outthink and outmaneuver the enemy, nullifying their intentions and actions. This way, there are no losses in terms of troops, provisions, and the foundation of the nation. Next, its using diplomacy to defeat the enemy, isting them and causing their downfall without actualbat. This method also doesnt result in losses of troops and provisions, and simrly preserves the foundation of the nation. Its a good strategy! Furthermore, its using military force to defeat the enemy. However, any military action requires enormous human and material resources, even the whole nations strength. It can destabilize the nations foundation and lead to suffering of the people. Even if the sacrifices are minimal, sacrifices are still sacrifices, and its highly undesirable. This is a lower approach. The lowest strategy is attacking the enemys cities with troops, which leads to the highest casualties and most sacrifices. Its thest resort and should be avoided if possible. Therefore, those four battles of mine arent praiseworthy! Although they all ended in victory, each was a case of using the weaker force to win over the stronger. Yet there were sacrifices involved, causing significant losses to Great Wu! Lin Beifan sighed, War is a matter of great importance to a nation, a matter of life and death, survival and destruction! Therefore, the best strategy is to avoid fighting if possible. If theres a method outside of warfare to solve conflicts, then use it. To bend others armies without fighting, to bend the enemys ruler without using force, to bend the enemys nation without war, this is the highest form of strategy! Zhao Kuos heart trembled at this realization. The best strategy is to avoid fighting if possible! To use methods outside of warfare to solve conflicts! To achieve victory without fighting, to bend others armies without fighting, to bend the enemys ruler without using force, to bend the enemys nation without war, this is the highest form of strategy! Each of these sentences overturned all his previous understanding, creating an unprecedented mental storm in his mind. Upon careful reflection, however, they were deeply thought-provoking, enlightening him. To achieve victory without fighting is truly the best strategy. All the military strategies he had pursued and been proud of before now seemed to pale inparison. Zhao Kuo bowed with sincere admiration, Prime Minister, Ive learned. Ill ask you again, what kind of general can be considered a good general? Lin Beifan posed the third question Zhao Kuo quickly replied, One who is adept in the art of war can be called a good general! Lin Beifan shook his head slightly, Not quite! A general who frequently wins battles with few losses can be called a general of consistent victories. Although they lose infrequently, if they lose in a critical battle, it could lead toplete defeat and even the downfall of the nation. So, they cant be considered good generals. Zhao Kuo tried again, A general who wins every battle can be called a good general! Once again, Lin Beifan shook his head, Thats not it either. Even though they win every battle, their victories are often achieved at great cost. While they achieve victory, the nation suffers in return. Zhao Kuos puzzlement grew, Then what kind of general can be considered good, if not one who frequently wins battles and not one who wins every battle? With a humble bow, Zhao Kuo asked, Please, Prime Minister, enlighten me. Ive actually already told you before, Lin Beifan smiled. Ive been told? Zhao Kuo was puzzled, realizing that it didnt seem that way. I indeed have, Lin Beifan dered, To bend others armies without fighting, to bend the enemys ruler without using force, to bend the enemys nation without war, this is the highest form of strategy. The one who can employ this strategy is the best general. Therefore, the best general is one who can make the enemy yield without resorting tobat. They can make the enemy open their gates without besieging, achievingprehensive victory without expending a single soldier. So, the more formidable a general is, the less theyll have spectacr records, and the less theyll havemendable achievements, as everything will happen naturally. Zhao Kuo was profoundly shaken, realizing that he wasnt at all surprised by his victory. He understood that the best general is one who achieves victory without fighting. His previous pursuits and proud strategies all paled inparison to this revtion. Lin Beifan summed it up with a smile, In short, those skilled in war have no grand aplishments. Zhao Kuos mind was greatly shaken, Thank you for your guidance! Chapter 347: The World Shares One Stone of Beauty, Yet I Alone Possess Eight Measures! Chapter 347: The World Shares One Stone of Beauty, Yet I Alone Possess Eight Measures! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Though it was just a casual conversation with Lin Beifan, the impact on Zhao Kuo was immense! Soldiers are a nations pivotal affair, the ground of life and death, the way of survival and demisethese cannot be neglected. Regarding warfare, the superior engages with strategy before attacking; then they engage in diplomacy before attacking alliances, followed by attacking armies, and finally besieging cities. To defeat the enemy without fighting is the height of military strategy; to subdue the enemys king without fighting is the epitome of skill; and to conquer a country without a battle is the ultimate strategy. A skilled warrior achieves sess without being conspicuous. These concepts of military strategypletely overturned his previous understanding, causing a profound shock and excitement. The sensation was akin to a martial artist obtaining an unparalleled divine technique they had long yearned fora mix of ecstatic surprise and overwhelming delight. Zhao Kuos gaze at Lin Beifan was full of admiration. Truly, he was a master of military strategy, a divine general of war tactics. No wonder he had led four campaigns, all resulting inprehensive victories. His military doctrine had transcended that of contemporary times. The military strategies and tactics he had learned over the years were iparable to Lin Beifans. It was as different as night and day. No, he must go back and digest everything thoroughly before seeking further guidance. So, after sorting everything out, he would return for more advice. With a respectful bow, he said, I am deeply grateful for the guidance, Lord Prome Minister. Ive gained valuable insights. But today, Ive already troubled you much, so I shall take my leave. When Lord Prome Minister has the time in the future, I would be honored to continue learning. I implore you, please do not hesitate to instruct me. Lin Beifan nodded approvingly, smiling gently. Your willingness to learn signifies my intent to teach. As the Principal of the Imperial Academy, I favor those who are diligent learners and open to seeking advice. Zhao Kuo was overjoyed. Thank you for your generosity, Lord Prome Minister. I shall take my leave now. With a wave of Lin Beifans hand, Zhao Kuo bowed and left the study. Lin Beifan continued his artwork, and after a while, a white figure appeared across the table. Lin Beifan remainedposed. Bai Guanyin, youvee. Bai Guanyin looked surprised. You actually taught Zhao Kuo military strategy? Lin Beifan calmly replied, He wanted to learn, so I taught him. Its not that big of a deal. But he suffered defeat in Northern Hebei, causing the court to lose 400,000 troops. Although he saved his life, he was demoted and has no hope for advancement. Why would you still teach him? Bai Guanyin asked, puzzled. People make mistakes. If they can change for the better and be given another chance, why not? Lin Beifan smiled. Look, the court is filled with corrupt officials and treacherous ministers. Their sins are no smaller than Zhao Kuos. Should we just execute them all? If we do that, who will govern the court? Who will manage the country, dont you think? Bai Guanyin pondered for a moment before nodding. Taking a life is simple, but saving one is difficult. Saving a nation is even harder. It requires numerous talents to work relentlessly, building upon the past and striving for the future, to truly rescue the country and its people. Zhao Kuo is a young man, inexperienced and prone to impulsiveness. Making mistakes is normal, but life still stretches ahead of him, brimming with endless possibilities! Giving him another chance might lead to him bing a talented general or a pir of the nation in the future. You make a very valid point, Bai Guanyin nodded and smiled. But youre a young person too. Howe I havent seen you make any mistakes? Lin Beifan spread his hands with a wry smile. You know my situation very well. If I make one mistake, my life will be ruined. So, I must tread carefully, avoiding any errors, or else others might use it against me. In reality, now that youve be the Prime Minister, standing above thousands of others, you have the capability to achieve your ambitions, to save the country and its people, making life better for everyone, Bai Guanyin remarked. I can only say that Ill do my best. Serving in office, benefiting a regiondoing that with a clear conscience is enough. As for the future and how far I can go, perhaps only fate knows. Bai Guanyin, I have three questions I want to ask you. Go ahead, Bai Guanyin replied. Lin Beifans gaze flickered slightly. Initially, you told me that you wanted to use the money I gained from corruption to aplish a grand task. Once this task is achieved, it would undoubtedly overturn the entire dynasty and improve the lives of themon people. What exactly is this task you intend to undertake? Bai Guanyin smiled gently, calmly inquiring, You finally remember this matter. I thought youd never ask. What do you think I would use this money for? Lin Beifans gaze flickered. To change the dynasty, to overthrow the Great Wu Dynasty. Bai Guanyin neither nodded nor shook her head. Due to the white mist enveloping her face, Lin Beifan couldnt discern her features, leaving him unsure of her intentions. Little did he know, hidden within the white mist, her exquisite face wore a slightly mischievous expression. Indeed, I did have that intention. But now, Ive noticed that under your influence, the state of Great Wu is gradually improving. Youve repeatedly dealt with the court officials, making them more honest and preventing any unruliness. The three major rebellious kings were captured, putting an end to the fractured fiefdoms within Great Wu, restoring unity. Furthermore, youve implemented various policies that benefit the people and invented numerous tools that benefit the nation and its citizens. The lives of themon people are improving day by day! So, Im not sure now if I should continue or not. Because if it were up to me, I definitely wouldnt have done as well as you. You really put me in a difficult situation! Lin Beifan asked, So, whats your current thought? Bai Guanyin earnestly replied, Although the three major rebel kings have been dealt with, corrupt officials still hold power within the Great Wu territory, and greed-driven officials run rampant. They are just subdued due to your presence. However, the situation in Great Wu hasnt fundamentally changed, and sooner orter, it will revert back. Lin Beifan smiled wryly. This takes time. We need to cultivate numerous upright and capable ministers, gradually rece these corrupt officials and foul bureaucrats, and then implement strict integrity systems to truly turn things around. I understand perfectly. In Great Wu, youve given me hope, so I wont take action. But in case youre not around anymore, I might not be able to hold back. So, you better stay in Great Wu as much as possible. Either use your peaceful methods to bring about change or Ill resort to my methods, the drastic ones, to save Great Wu. Lin Beifan sighed. Everything I do is like carrying my head in my pants. I cant even guarantee my own safety. I can only take it one day at a time, and in the end, I might have no choice but to escape. Bai Guanyin chuckled, Even if you want to run, there are people who wont let you. By the way, why did you suddenly have this doubt? Lin Beifan sighed again. Sigh, its all because of the Empress. Bai Guanyin was surprised. Because of the Empress? Yes, after all, this is her country. If you overthrow Great Wu, how would she cope? I cant bear to see her lose her way or even lose her life because of it. Bai Guanyin suddenly understood. So, youre worried about the Empress? Yes, after more than a year of being together, Ive developed feelings. I dont want anything to happen to her. So, what do you think of the Empress as a person? Lin Beifan spoke fondly, Shes incredibly captivating and beautiful, a peerless beauty. Many criticize her as an ipetent ruler, but I dont think shes that bad. Shes just a bit confused in her decisions and sometimes lets emotions cloud her judgment. For example? She keeps pampering me relentlessly, giving me all the best food, drink, and entertainment. Its sapping away my motivation, leaving me just to drift through life. Life without aspirations is no different from being a salted fish. She keeps promoting me, granting me titles and power, letting me rise continually. Until now, Ive be the Prime Minister, and she even granted me titles like Loyal and Valiant Duke. Isnt she afraid that Ill be too powerful and challenge her authority? Bai Guanyin continued to suppress herughter. Moreover, shespletely unguarded around me! These past few days, Ive been engaged in intense battles with several grandmasters. Its be enough of a threat to the imperial power! But she hasnt asked too many questions, and she even recalled the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Six Doors, and other surveince personnel! Lin Beifan sighed, Fortunately, I have no intention of rebelling, or else shed be in big trouble. Isnt all of this behavior characteristic of an ipetent ruler? Bai Guanyin asked. If she treated every official this way, then yes, she might be an ipetent ruler. But she only treats me like this, so the situation is different, Lin Beifan replied. Whats different? Bai Guanyin inquired. In a hushed voice, Lin Beifan confided, Let me tell you a secret. I suspect that the Empress has been lusting after my looks, which is why she gives me all these good things. In other words, shes infatuated and smitten. Bai Guanyin was shocked. This seems unlikely? Whats unlikely? Lin Beifan snapped, as if he had long seen through it. Ever since I entered the court and became an official, the way she looks at me has changed. She makes me attend morning exercises every day just so she can see me. When other officials attack me, she defends me multiple times! Giving me so many good things its all a sign of her affection! Actually, thinking about it, its normal. After all, Im a one-in-a-million kind of guy, a peerless handsome man in the court. Naturally, its irresistible for her! Sigh, being the Empress isnt easy. She spends her days in the pce, surrounded by a bunch of old geezers with graying hair and missing teeth..! Bai Guanyin pressed her hand to her forehead. Arent you a bit narcissistic? Lin Beifan confidently exined, Im not being narcissistic; Im stating facts. The worlds beauty is like one stone, but Im taking eight measures of it! Any woman who can resist my charms hasnt been born yet. The Empress is a woman, and shes no exception! Bai Guanyin couldnt help but burst intoughter. Youre indeed narcissistic, and quite excessively! After Bai Guanyin returned, she suppressed her amusement and reported this matter to the Empress. The Empress was so irritated that she gritted her teeth. Did Lin Beifan really say that? Bai Guanyin covered her mouth andughed. I might have toned it down a bit. After all, my skin isnt as thick as his. The Empress was itching with anger. He dares to think such thoughts about me? Ill definitely deal with him properly! Yes, you must deal with him properly! Bai Guanyin chimed in with amusement.
TLN: And in the end, the Empress will also be one of his harem. In the NU review, someined that the Empress seemed forgotten, even though she was the first heroine to appear. Hey, buddy, shes the Empress, she cant just fall for him like that. Her status doesnt allow for it Chapter 348: Sir Lin, you can’t escape from my grasp. Behave and submit to me! Chapter 348: Sir Lin, you cant escape from my grasp. Behave and submit to me! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The next day, during the morning court session, just after the ceremonial speech, the Empress yelled, Sir Lin,e forward! Lin Beifan was a bit puzzled. Why did the Empress seem angry? She had never spoken to me in this tone before. Could it be that shes upset about something else? Even if that were the case, it shouldnt be med on me! The officials thoughts stirred, feeling like something anticipated was about to happen, making them inexplicably excited. Lin Beifan stepped forward, bowing solemnly, and said, Im here. What are your orders, Your Majesty? The Empresss beautiful eyes red at Lin Beifan fiercely. Through gritted teeth, she asked, Sir Lin, have you been idle recently? Lin Beifan felt a bit uneasy. What did the Empress mean by this? It seemed like she was about to investigate something The officials eyes lit up. Is the Empress going to question him? Is she going to punish that scoundrel? Great! The officials felt excited, eagerly looking forward to it, and the court became unusually quiet. Why does Your Majesty say so? Lin Beifan asked, confused. The Empress gave a cold smile and said in a strange tone, I heard that youve been entertaining those grandmasters recently, with fine wine and delicacies, reveling every night. You seem to be having a great time! Is this true? Lin Beifan became even more anxious. The Empress was indeed nning to investigate! The officials became even more excited. The time hase for Her Majesty to take action against that scoundrel! Finally, the day they had been waiting for arrived. It seemed like the dream was finallying true. Your Majesty, indeed, its true! These people are friends of mine. Since they rarely visit, I naturally want to entertain them warmly. At the same time, I am trying to gain their support for the court, turning them into allies. I hope Your Majesty understands! Lin Beifan exined. Entertaining friends is your private matter, but you must distinguish between public and private affairs! the Empress scolded. Let me ask you, as the Great Wu Prime Minister, responsible for implementing policies for recuperation and stability, have you managed these matters well for the countrys benefit? Reporting to Your Majesty, this policy has been distributed ording to responsibilities among the six ministries, the nine ministers, and various governors offices. The officials are cooperating actively, and the implementation is proceeding smoothly. Everything is going well, Lin Beifan reported. Ill ask you again, as the Prefect of the Capital City, have you managed the affairs of the Dedian Mansion well? the Empress questioned again. Reporting to Your Majesty, the people of the capital are currently living peacefully and prosperously, with no major incidents urring. Consequently, the matters within the mansion have decreased significantly and have been properly managed by me, Lin Beifan reported once more. Ill ask you again, as the Principal of the Imperial Academy, have you managed the affairs of the Imperial Academy well? the Empress inquired. Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Academy already has a stable operational process. As long as officials perform their duties and proceed step by step, everything will be fine, Lin Beifan reported once again. After youve dealt with these national matters, you still have the energy to entertain your close friends. It seems you are indeed quite idle! Well, thats really something! The Empresss tone had a touch of mockery, and her gaze toward Lin Beifan appeared cryptic and malicious. Lin Beifan felt extremely anxious. It seemed like the Empress was truly going to reprimand him! Oh no! Yesterday, I said the Empress was a love-struck fool, but today she seems so wise and authoritative. Look at me and my big mouth, I shouldnt have spoken recklessly; now I might face consequences! The officials became even more excited! Indeed, Her Majesty is going to deal with Lin Beifan, that traitor! Ancestors in heaven, this is a joyous asion! The heavens have opened their eyes! Long live! Long, long live! Your Majesty, no need to give us face , let the storm rage even more violently! As long as he dies, were willing to shed our skin! Roar, roar, roar!!! Lin Beifan thought he could still make some excuses: Your Majesty, actually The Empress waved her hand elegantly, huffing, Sir Lin, spare me your exnations! I toil diligently within the pce every day to handle state affairs, while youre outside enjoying yourself with your friends, drinking and reveling. Can you justify yourself to me? Your Majesty, I The Empress mmed the table and stood up, saying angrily, Enough of your nonsense! I dont want to hear your exnations! Since you seem to have so much free time starting today, you wille to my pce and help me with state affairs, sharing the burden of governance! Lin Beifan: What the heck! Officials: What the heck! Everyone was dumbfounded! Shocked! This wasnt a punishment at all! Clearly, it was a reward! A tremendous reward! Being able to help the Emperor with state affairs, sharing the governance responsibilities, implied an immense extension of his power. His authority would increase even further! For a moment, envy, jealousy, and resentment filled the officials eyes. But Lin Beifan wasnt pleased at all! Helping the Empress with state affairs? How many tasks would that involve? He wasnt clueless about it! With things turning out this way, would he still be able to enjoy himself in the future? Come on, he just wanted to be a carefree salted fish, asionally indulging in some pleasures and not working so hard! So, Lin Beifan panicked: Your Majesty, please reconsider! The Empress said, Ive considered it thoroughly! Lin Beifan struggled: Your Majesty, I have limited experience The Empress said, ouve be the Prime Minister. What experience are youcking? How youve acted before is how you should act now. I believe you will handle things very well. Lin Beifan continued to struggle: Your Majesty, Im overwhelmed with official duties The Empress coldly smiled: Sir Lin, even if youre busy, can you be busier than me? I deal with so many state affairs every day. You deal with a few matters. Can you evenpare? The Empress waved her hand: Sir Lin, stop talking! Youre the current Prime Minister. These are things you should naturally do. Moreover, Ive already asked you, and youve said that the affairs under your control are managed well. Thats why you have leisure time to drink and have fun with your friends! Since you have time, shouldnt you consider my feelings and help me with some tasks? Lin Beifan really wanted to p himself a few times. He shouldnt have been so honest! He couldnt evene up with excuses properly; he was filled with regret! At this moment, the Empress looked at the officials, her gaze full of annoyance: Speak up clearly. Why are you whispering and muttering down there? By now, Lin Beifan and the officials had already discussed and reached an understanding. Minister of the Personnel Department, Gao Tianyao, stood up and said loudly, Your Majesty, I believe The Empress smiled faintly: Minister Gaos words are good. Lets not discuss this anymore. Gao Tianyao looked baffled: Your Majesty, I havent said anything yet. The Empress shot a re at the innocent-looking Lin Beifan: I know what youre trying to do, but I wont listen! And you, ministers, theres no need to say more. Ive already made up my mind. Sir Lin, you cant escape from my grasp, so just ept it! Lin Beifan looked utterly hopeless, and the officials seemed helpless too. After the morning court session, Lin Beifan followed an old eunuch to a pce. Prime Minister, this is the Hall of State Affairs. Its where former Prime Ministers assisted the Emperor in handling state affairs. Last night, Her Majesty ordered the servants to clean it up. Prime Minister, please take a look. Is there anything you require? Lin Beifan nced around casually and found the ce brightly lit and well-organized. There were a few bookshelves and arge table, filled with writing materials like ink, paper, and inkstones, resembling a study at home. This is good. Its fine like this, Lin Beifan nodded in satisfaction. The old eunuch called in four young eunuchs, saying with a smile, Prime Minister, these are the eunuchs assigned to assist you. They can read! Lin Beifan pointed out a few tasks and ordered them to read, and then he started working. After a while, he was overwhelmed. Okay, lets start working! Lin Beifan sighed. He felt that his unfortunate days were about to begin. Roll up your sleeves and get to work, or else what else could you do? Fortunately, being well-versed in reading, he could grasp the contents quickly, his mind processing even faster than a supeputer. However, the more he read, the more irritated he became. You, Liuhou, the Assistant Minister of Rites, dared to write something against me in this memorial! Ill note it down in my little book, and Ill see how Ill deal with you! General Liu, youre reporting about a battle but also maligning me. It seems I didnt deal harshly enough with youst time! High Minister Gao, Wang Rushui, stay put! Arrogant fools, you really went all out. Youre all in big trouble, every one of you! Prime Minister Very displeased The consequences would be severe! Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study. The Empress gazed at the elderly eunuch who had returned and asked with a smile, Having viewed these memorials, does Sir Lin harbor any thoughts? The old eunuch choked and then conveyed, Your Majesty, upon seeing them, Sir Linsplexion turned somewhat green The Empress erupted intoughter. Chapter 349: The Empress is indeed pursuing him! Chapter 349: The Empress is indeed pursuing him! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
She knew that this move would work against him! Sure, heres the proofread version: Lin Beifan is fearless and unaffected by ordinary tactics; however, he possesses a strong sense of responsibility and takes on anything within his purview. As a result, she employed this method, which not only keeps him in check and lightens her burden, but also serves to suppress corrupt officials along the way. This creates a triple win situation, and the Empress approves of her own idea. Just then, two eunuchs came in carrying a thick stack of memorials. Your Majesty, these are the memorials approved by Lord Prime Minister. Please review them! The Empress was surprised, Already? Yes, Your Majesty! The Empress casually opened one of the memorials and read it attentively. She found that Lin Beifans annotations were sinct, logically organized, and remarkably pertinent. Even if it were her, at most, it would be like this. But her pace wasnt as quick as Lin Beifans. With a vermilion brush, the Empress wrote the character approved on top, signifying her endorsement of Lin Beifans opinions, and that was that. Next, she browsed through several more memorials in session and noticed that Lin Beifan maintained a consistently high standard. Each memorial was thoroughly reviewed, remarkably appropriate, and some even had brilliant points that impressed her. The Empress was delighted, Appointing Lin Beifan as a Prime Minister was truly a wise decision! I wont have to toil so much from now on, haha Just then, two eunuchs walked in again, holding another stack of memorials. Your Majesty, these are the memorials approved by Lord Prime Minister. Please review them! What? Approved again? The Empress was once again astonished. She hadnt even finished reading the previous memorials, and he had already prepared the next batch. Was he even human? For some reason, Empress felt like her intelligence was being crushed! She had been raised to be an Emperor since childhood, which is why she possessed the ability to handle various political matters. Yet, as soon as Lin Beifan arrived, hepletely overshadowed her! With a bit of resentment, the Empress said, I cant believe it. Ive been Emperor for so many years, and I cant evenpare to a mere subject like you? She quickened her pace and started reviewing the memorials rapidly. In no time, the two young eunuchs returned. Your Majesty, these are the memorials approved by Lord Prime Minister. Please review them! The Empress: ce them there. Ill read them on my own! The Empress buried her head in the papers. Yes, Your Majesty! After a while, the two eunuchs returned again. Your Majesty, these are the memorials approved by Lord Prime Minister. Should we wait? Empress: Put them down. You can leave now! Yes, Your Majesty! After some time, the two eunuchs returned once more. Your Majesty, these are new memorials. Please review them. Seeing the stack of memorials piling up, the Empress grew angry: Go back and tell him to slow down. Im not in a hurry! Yes, Your Majesty! The eunuchs quickly conveyed the Empresss wish to Lin Beifan. As Lin Beifan swiftly reviewed the memorials, he calmly remarked, Tell me not to hurry? Easy for them to say! I have multiple responsibilities and many tasks to handle! In the time it took for this sentence, another batch of memorials had already been prepared. A young eunuch hesitated and said, But Prime Minister, sir Are you all foolish? Couldnt you have delivered them a bitter? The Prime Minister is right! So, a little whileter, four struggling eunuchs brought the memorials over. Seeing the Empresss dizziness, she sighed irritably, Didnt I ask him to slow down? Your Majesty, he has already finished reviewing the memorials! The Empress looked at the towering stack and let out an exhausted breath, Sigh. At this moment, she finally understood why Lin Beifan always managed to find leisure in the midst of his busyness, why he could ck off, and why he seemed so efficient in his work. With his intelligence and work efficiency, how could he not be quick? Fine, I wontpare anymore! Even if youre remarkable, youre still my beloved minister! The Empress didnt want topare anymore; it was simply asking for trouble topete with such an extraordinary being. After all, no matter how impressive Lin Beifan was, he was her subject, her faithful worker for life; there was no escaping from her grasp. Thinking about it, she even started feeling somewhat pleased with herself. Setting down her pen, she decided to take a walk outside to clear her mind and then return to work. Oddly enough, she ended up in the political affairs hall. She found Lin Beifan holding a steaming bowl of tea, looking out the window at the rolling clouds. His expression was rxed, as if he had all the time in the world, embodying an air of tranquility and carefree aging. On his desky a te of peanuts, another of roasted soybeans, and a tter of exquisite pastries, giving off an aura of indulgence. The Empress felt jealous. She was working herself to the bone, while he was there enjoying food and drinks, living the life she envied. At this moment, Lin Beifan noticed the Empresss presence and quickly stood up, saying, Greetings, Your Majesty! The Empress, with a somewhat sarcastic tone, said, Dear minister, you seem to be quitefortable. Lin Beifan responded earnestly, Your Majesty, todays workload exceeded the standard, so I thought Id take a break. I hope Your Majesty understands. The Empress, on the verge of hitting someone, thought, You have a lot of leisure now, and youre asking for time off? Minister, are you really tired today? The Empress asked with concern. Lin Beifan quickly nodded, Tired! Very tired! Incredibly tired! Beyond imagination tired! The Empress had a face full of ck lines. You little scoundrel! Youre lying right through your teeth! You dont even need to rehearse your lies! Are you acting arrogant because you think I cant deal with you? However, from handling these political affairs, this humble subject has gained an even deeper appreciation for Your Majestys efforts! Lin Beifan, with a touched expression, said, Your Majesty, you face countless books and documents every day, review numerous memorials, and handle myriad affairs. It must be incrediblyborious, isnt it? But those under you dont appreciate your efforts in the slightest. They dont work properly, and often stir up trouble. I, as a humble servant, will definitely criticize them severely! Tell them, how can there be an easy and peaceful time? Its just that someone is carrying the weight for us! These words resonated deeply within the Empress! Look at that, the Prime Ministers words are different. They hold depth and sentiment! Hearing it made her heart all fluttery; it was so seductive! Two words:fortable! A smile unconsciously appeared on the Empresss face. She said warmly, Minister, you truly understand me. Lets have lunch together at noon! Understood. Lin Beifan nodded with a bow. Yes, Your Majesty! Then, the two of them had their meal together. Although there was a distinction between sovereign and subject, the Empress still pulled Lin Beifan to sit at the same table. She felt joyful, as she was usually alone during meals as a solitary figure. After finishing her meal, the Empress went back to dealing with state affairs, resembling a working court. Although the food was delicious, there wasnt much taste to it. But now, with Lin Beifan, things had changed a bit. Watching him savor the food, she couldnt help but take a few more bites herself. Moreover, he didnt treat her as the Emperor; he acted quite carefreely when working, his political ideology coincided with hers, and he was adept at understanding her, making the Empress feel incredibly at ease, as if she were with a friend. A feeling of warmth surged up. Minister, where do you usually have lunch during normal days? the Empress curiously inquired. Lin Beifan, eating as he spoke, replied, If Im at the Imperial Academy, then I have lunch at the Imperial Academy. If Im at the Dedian Mansion, then I have lunch there. Sometimes I cant stand the food at either of these ces, so I slip out to find a restaurant to improve the meal. Only in the evenings do I return to the Lin Mansion for lunch. I see! The Empress smiled and said, Minister, if theres no urgent matter in the future, stay behind and have lunch with me! What would you like to eat? Ill have the pce kitchen prepare it for you! Lin Beifan was bewildered, Your Majesty, isnt this a bit inappropriate? The Empress frowned slightly, displeased, How can it be inappropriate? In the future, Ill mostly be in the pce dealing with state affairs in the morning. Lunch can only be had within the pce. You dont need to say much; weve happily decided on this! Lin Beifan blinked. Every morning he attended the early court sessions, depriving him of his mornings. Staying in the political affairs hall to review memorials deprived him of his mornings. If he had to have lunch in the pce, hed lose his lunchtime too. What about the afternoon? What about the evening? What if, in the future, she crawled to his bed? What then? At this moment, the Empress turned to a nearby old eunuch and said, By the way, in the future, Prime Minister Lin will need to frequently handle political affairs in the pce, which is very inconvenient. Give him a pass so he can freely enter and exit the pce! Yes, Your Majesty! the old eunuch responded. Lin Beifans heart wailed! Its over, its over! The Empress really intends to rope him in! Should heply, or not? Your Majesty, can I not take this pass? The Empress, displeased, said, How can you not? Its inconvenient if you cant move around. What if you have urgent matters at night and need to rush back to report? Having a pass is also convenient, dont you think? Lin Beifan was tearful in his heart! The Empress really has her sights set on him! Moreover, shes so considerate and thoughtful, even taking the evening into ount! Not following is no longer an option! At this moment, Zhao Kuo, since returning from Lin Mansion, had been locking himself in his study, diligently studying and writing. Zhao Hai was very worried and was afraid that Zhao Kuo hadnt yet recovered from the previous setbacks. Pushing the door into the study, he found the room full of scattered pieces of paper, and he asked with concern, Kuoer, what are you doing? Im reviewing the military tactics Ive learned before, Zhao Kuo said without looking up. Zhao Hai picked up a few sheets of paper from the ground and began to read, benefiting greatly from what was written. He said, Kuoer did youe up with these military strategies yourself? Zhao Kuo shook his head and smiled, Uncle, how could I possess such skills? These were all taught to me by Lord Prime Minister. I learned a lot from him yesterday! So it turns out! Zhao Hai was greatly impressed by the insights in the papers. He deeply appreciated the strategic ideas, which were far beyond the norm. It made him unable to help but say the phrase Military God it wasnt an exaggeration at all. Uncle, are these really so impressive? After all, they are indeed beyond what the entire realm, let alone the martial world, has seen. How does it seem to you? Zhao Hai shook his head with a smile. Kuoer, I dont have that capability, but looking at the tactics, they are indeed far ahead, incredibly advanced. Its as if this person, who has been fighting all his life, has been blessed with extraordinary foresight. Unexpectedly, Lin Beifans military strategies were not only ahead of their time, but also within the realm of reason. Not only in the Great Wu, but even within the vast world, there might not be anyone who could match Prime Minister Lin, who had achieved four consecutive victories! The godlike skills in strategy and tactics were astonishing, leaving others to admire and respect without reservation. Chapter 350: This is truly the supreme art of war! Chapter 350: This is truly the supreme art of war! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Zhao Hai eximed, Kuoer, this is your good fortune! You must study diligently, really dedicate yourself to learning. Once youve mastered it, you can pass it on to your uncle; your uncle wants to learn it too! Zhao Kuo hesitated, saying, Uncle, this matter must receive the consent of Lord Prime Minister! Some things require approval, and without his consent, I cant teach them to others. Yes! Youre absolutely right, thats how it should be! Never offend Lord Prime Minister! Zhao Hai quickly nodded. Thank you for understanding, Uncle! Zhao Kuo smiled and bowed. Zhao Hai looked at the transformed Zhao Kuo with delight and said, Kuoer, your return this time shows how much youve matured! Zhao Kuo lowered his head and remorsefully said, Im sorry, Uncle. It was my ipetence that brought trouble to the Zhao family in the past. Now, I only hope to start anew, work hard from the beginning, and make the Zhao family rise again! Very well! With this determination, your uncle is extremely pleased! Go ahead confidently, knowing that your uncle will always support you, Zhao Hai dered loudly. Thank you, Uncle! Zhao Kuos eyes welled up with tears. After spending about three days, Zhao Kuo finally integrated Lin Beifans military philosophy and carefully reviewed the newly learned art of war. Upon reviewing, he realized how shallow and ignorant he had been. As a result, he visited Lin Mansion three times to seek guidance from Lin Beifan. Youre eager to learn, and I have some free time. Let me teach you. How much you can learn depends on your aptitude! Lin Beifan smiled. Zhao Kuo joyfully responded, Thank you, Lord Prime Minister! However, before I delve into studying military strategy, theres something I need to ask for your approval on. Go ahead, what is it? Lin Beifan smiled. While summarizing your military strategy in my study at home, my uncle Zhao Hai happened to see it. He was amazed and wants to learn your art of war as well. May I seek your permission? After saying this, Zhao Kuo nervously looked at Lin Beifan. Without showing any impatience, Lin Beifan nonchntly replied, Of course, you can teach it freely to anyone. It doesnt matter who learns it. Zhao Kuo was astonished, Lord Prime Minister, this is a sacred art of war, a divine strategy for the stability of the nation. How can we spread it so openly? What if enemies learn from it? Wouldnt that be Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Why not? Look around, there are millions of schrs in the world. They all study the Four Books and Five ssics. Why can some achieve the highest ranks while others struggle even to pass the exams? Zhao Kuo pondered this. Furthermore, consider the millions of martial practitioners. Why do some make rapid progress with the same martial techniques while others struggle to even grasp the basics? Zhao Kuo nodded slightly. Therefore, its about the individual, not just the strategy! Strategies are static, individuals are dynamic. Only through active learning and application can a strategy truly be effective! If learned but not applied, how is this strategy different from any other? If not learned or used, how does it differ from toilet paper? Zhao Kuo nodded again and respectfully said, What Lord Prime Minister says is absolutely true. I have learned from your wisdom! Alright, what aspect of strategy do you wish to study? Lin Beifan asked casually. Lord Prime Minister once mentioned that the highest form of warfare is to conquer without fighting, to bend others armies, kings, and nations without engaging in battle. I wholeheartedly agree with this, so I wish to study such a strategy! Zhao Kuo enthusiastically dered. Ever since he learned about Lin Beifans military philosophy, he had wanted to study this ultimate strategy. To be invincible without deploying troops, making enemies surrender without a fight! The mere thought of it excited him to the point of being unable to contain himself, tossing and turning! Lin Beifan chuckled, This is no small challenge, you know! Zhao Kuo eximed loudly, I beg Lord Prime Ministers indulgence! Lin Beifan continued, Let me ask you, if our forces were equal in a conflict, would you surrender? Zhao Kuo shook his head firmly, Absolutely not! Lin Beifan asked again, If our forces were twice the size of yours, would you surrender? Zhao Kuo shook his head again, saying, Still no! Even though you have more soldiers, victory is not impossible for the skilled. Lin Beifan questioned, If our forces were five timesrger, would you surrender? Zhao Kuo hesitated briefly, then responded, I would still resist, despite the low chance of winning, and fight to thest! Lin Beifan inquired, What about if our forces were ten timesrger? Would you surrender? Well Zhao Kuo hesitated for a while, With a difference of tenfold, such a massive gap in numbers almost eliminates any possibility of victory! However, I would still fight desperately, seeking a glimmer of hope. Lin Beifan continued, And if our forces were twenty timesrger? Or even thirty times? At that point, victory would be practically impossible, but I would still not surrender! Even if I had to exhaust everyst soldier and fight to the end, even if it meant dying in the process. Dying on the battlefield would be an honorable fate for us warriors! Zhao Kuos determination was unwavering, and he had always held this conviction. When facing the terrifying army of martial artists led by the Prince of Northern Hebei, he had never considered fleeing. Instead, he was captured by an opponents grandmaster while protecting retreating soldiers. At this point, Lin Beifan smiled, You indeed would not surrender. However, if your sovereign orders you to surrender, would you still resist? Well Zhao Kuos eyes widened, panic crossing his face. Let me ask you again: If your country behind youmands you to surrender, would youply or resist? Zhao Kuos defenses started to break, How is that even possible? Why wouldnt it be possible? Lin Beifan chuckled, For instance, Ive already led my troops into your country, captured your sovereign, and threaten you to surrender or retreat. Would youply? If I dont surrender, Id be defying the royalmand, betraying the king, and opposing justice. The court wouldnt tolerate it, and the entire nation would not spare me! As for my soldiers behind me, would they follow my orders or ours? Zhao Kuos face broke into a cold sweat. For instance, lets say our forces have invaded your territory, and we have the power to annihte your country and people at any moment. We threaten you to surrender or retreat. Will youply? If I dont surrender, youll annihte the country and the people! If the nation youre protecting and its citizens are gone, whats the point of leading a resistance with a remnant force? Will the soldiers behind you risk their lives alongside their loved ones? I I Zhao Kuo was drenched in sweat. Lin Beifan shouted loudly, Zhao Kuo, what are you hesitating for? Are you willing to bury the entire country with your stubbornness? Zhao Kuo stepped back in fright, his face turning pale. Zhao Kuo, you should now understand the essence of the strategy to conquer without fighting, right? Zhao Kuo stammered, A strong nation and powerful army. Exactly, its a strong nation and powerful army. Thats the essence of the strategy to conquer without fighting, and its also the highest level of medicine! Lin Beifan burst intoughter. As long as your nation and your troops be powerful enough to make the enemys king fearful and the enemys citizens dread, surrender will naturally follow. They wouldnt dare to fight at all! Because if they did, your own soldiers would undoubtedly be ughtered, your king would certainly be captured by the enemy, and your citizens would die beneath the enemys iron hooves! National annihtion and extermination are right before your eyes! The concept applies to bending other kings without battle and bending other countries without fighting as well! Zhao Kuo asked excitedly, But Lord Prime Minister, how can we achieve this? Of course, the way to achieve this is to rapidly strengthen your own nation! Elevating the strength of the military forces, thats a strategy! Increasing the poption of the nation, thats a strategy! Boosting food production, thats a strategy! Raising the ie of the citizens, thats a strategy! All of these, as long as they benefit the country, are strategies! Zhao Kuo expressed despair, saying, But this is really difficult! Indeed, its extremely challenging, but you can umte small achievements over time, and small drops can gather into a sphere! For example, even though we cant double the strength of our military in a short time, we can enhance training to improve it by one or two tenths! The poption of the nation cant increase by millions in a short time, but by encouraging childbirth, adding one or two million is achievable In such ways, streams will naturally converge into rivers, rivers into oceans, and ultimately, countless rivers will flow into the vast sea of Wangyang! Our nation will undoubtedly be powerful, renowned throughout the world, and all will submit! Lin Beifan patted Zhao Kuos shoulder. Kid, if you dont n for the world, how can you n for a nation? If you dont n for a nation, how can you n for an army? If you confine yourself to victory on just a small battlefield, youll never be a master of strategy, let alone a military god! At this moment, Lin Beifans words broadened Zhao Kuos horizons, and everything became clear! The ultimate art of war is to make the nation strong and the military mighty! Any method that increases the strength of the nation is a good strategy! You must n for the nation! To n for an army, to n for a nation, you must n for the world! Only by looking beyond the limited battlefield victories can you be a master of strategy and a deity in the military! Zhao Kuo bowed solemnly, Thank you for your guidance, Prime Minister. Ive learned a great deal! Now, I want to test your knowledge, to see how much youve learned and understood. Zhao Kuo responded earnestly, Please enlighten me, Prime Minister. If we were to face the powerful Great Yan Empire on equal terms, how could we conquer without fighting? Without hesitation, Zhao Kuo replied, Naturally, we would first enhance our military strength through various methods, increase our poption, and boost our national food production Anything that enhances our national power, we should do our best to aplish! Meanwhile, we would also weaken Great Yan Empires national power through various means! Diminish the strength of their military, reduce the food ie of their citizens! Zhao Kuo continued, By doing so over time, our Great Wu will be stronger and Great Yan Empire will weaken further! Eventually, with a significant gap in national strength, we will undoubtedly conquer without fighting, and they will undoubtedly be defeated without fighting! Lin Beifan nodded approvingly, Well taught, it seems you truly understand! Remember, using force is thest resort! Zhao Kuo eximed loudly, Thank you for your guidance, Prime Minister! Now, I am more convinced than ever that you are the god of strategy and the deity of military wisdom! Why do you say that? Lin Beifan was intrigued. For your insights into the world of warfare! Zhao Kuo expressed his admiration. Chapter 351: Why is it always me who gets injured? Chapter 351: Why is it always me who gets injured? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Because, Lord Prime Minister, you have always been doing so! Zhao Kuos eyes were filled with enthusiasm. In the military, Lord Prime Minister, you introduced treatments for night blindness and trench foot, curing the sick in our army, increasing our military strength by one or two percent! You invented the flying artifact, the Hot Air Balloon, giving our army air superiority! You created the watercraft, the hovercraft, providing our army with powerful transportation capabilities! All of these advancements have doubled the strength of our army! In civilian life, Lord Prime Minister, you introduced the Eight Agricultural Methods, improved water infrastructure, added more than ten types of fertilizers, and even invented the high-yield Taiping rice, promoting increased food production so that themon people have enough to eat and dont go hungry! You also introduced the miraculous building material, cement, which not only strengthened our defense but also provided many people with homes! Now, youre vigorously promoting policies for recuperation, encouraging production, fertility, and trade, allowing the people to rest and recover and helping Great Wu quickly regain its strength! In terms of the rule ofw, Lord Prime Minister, you have severely punished corrupt officials and never shown favoritism, demonstrating a firm hand! As for talent cultivation, of course, as the Principal of the Imperial Academy, youve nurtured numerous outstanding future talents! In the martial world, Lord Prime Minister, youve devised brilliant strategies, firmly suppressing various factions and troublemakers, maintaining the rule of the court and the stability of the nation! Externally, you led the army to repel the forces of Dayue and Great Xia, seizing the opportunity to demand a series of war reparations, strengthening our side while weakening their national strength! There are many other contributions and merits to mention! Under your efforts, Great Wu has ovee its fragmented state, military strength has doubled, peoples lives have greatly improved, the court is stable, and the nations strength has grown stronger, deterring neighboring countries from daring to provoke us! Zhao Kuos eyes zed like the sun. Lord Prime Minister, you are the god of war who applies supreme military strategies flexibly in the military, in the court, and among the people!!! Lin Beifanughed heartily, I didnt expect you to notice. Indeed, all of this is the specific application of military strategy! Theres no clear distinction between military strategy, governing strategy, and diplomatic strategy! Because they are all integrated, their goals are the same, all for the prosperity of the country, the people, and the military! As long as we achieve this goal, its good military strategy! As long as the country is strong, the people are wealthy, and the army is mighty, strong enough to make other countries fear, who dares to challenge us? If there are dissenters, well lead our troops there, and perhaps theyll be too scared to fight, just open their gates and wee us with open arms! Exactly, Lord, youre absolutely right! Zhao Kuo nodded repeatedly, very excited. Although Lin Beifan didnt teach specific military strategies, he opened up Zhao Kuos concept of warfare, showing him that war could be fought this way and military strategy could be applied like this. This conceptual innovation felt like a whole new world to him. Zhao Kuo was filled with excitement and respectfully bowed, saying, Thank you, Lord Prime Minister, for your guidance. Ive gained valuable insights today. I need to go back and digest this further. When I visit you again, please dont hesitate to share your wisdom. Go ahead, Lin Beifan waved his hand. After bidding farewell to Lin Beifan, Zhao Kuo left the study. On his way out, he happened to see the Little Princess, Night Fragrance, and Guo Shaoshuai passing by. He nodded slightly and left. The three of them were shocked! Was this the same Zhao Kuo who used to drink and indulge in self-pity? Why did he look so different now? So polite, so spirited, as if he had undergone aplete transformation! The three of them rushed into the study, and the Little Princess asked, Lin Beifan, why did Zhao Kuoe? What does he want with you? He came to learn military strategy from me! Lin Beifan replied with a smile. Learn military strategy? With his current situation, does he even have the mindset for that? the Little Princess, Night Fragrance, and the others were puzzled. Lin Beifan replied with a hint of annoyance, Dont judge people based on their past. He has broken free from his past, turned over a new leaf, and started afresh. He feels that his military skills arecking, so he came to seek my guidance! I see! the three of them suddenly understood. Look at him. Despite facing such a setback, he can ovee it, feel ashamed, and be determined to improve. This is a great example for the young people of Great Wu! And what about you? Lin Beifan said sternly. Whats wrong with us? the Little Princess protested. Little Princess, lets start with you, Lin Beifan found a target and criticized with a sharp tongue. You dont put in any effort. You wander around all day, busy eating. Ive never seen someone as dedicated to eating as you! The Little Princess retorted, I work hard too! What do you work hard at? Lin Beifan asked. I work hard at finding food and buying food for you. Do you like it or not? The Little Princess picked up a food container and smiled. Lin Beifan silently epted the food container and said, Little Princess, stand behind me. Okay! The Little Princess happily ran over and stood behind Lin Beifan, clutching his waist. Then, they both red at Night Fragrance. Lin Beifan: Night Fragrance, take a look at yourself! The Little Princess echoed, Night Fragrance, take a look at yourself! Night Fragrance was puzzled, Whats wrong with me? You still have the nerve to ask? Lin Beifan eximed angrily. Look at Zhao Kuo. Despite facing such a significant setback, he can ovee it, feel ashamed, and be determined to improve. And you? You dont put in any effort at all. You wander around all day, idle andzy. Ive never seen someone as worthless as you! The Little Princess chimed in, Exactly! Ive never seen someone as worthless as you! Night Fragrance was bewildered, I was on patrol! Im here tobat crime! Lin Beifan chuckled, Dont try to fool me. The capital is quite peaceful now. Everyone follows the rules and there isnt much crime. Youre just showing off to satisfy your vanity! The Little Princess added, Thats right! Youre just showing off to satisfy your vanity! Night Fragrance pointed at the Little Princess, What about her? She also wanders around aimlessly and doesnt do any real work. Why are you criticizing only me and not her? Lin Beifan became even angrier, Can you evenpare the two? Shes diligently searching for food, persevering on the path towards her dreams, never giving up. What are you pursuing? Pursuing the Flower Lady, perhaps? The Little Princess agreed, Thats right, Im pursuing my dreams! What are you pursuing, the Flower Lady? Haha Guo Shaoshuai, who was nearby, burst intoughter. Night Fragrance, youve got your day today! Im having a st! Night Fragrance red at Guo Shaoshuai and then pulled out a small package, handing it to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan asked in confusion, Whats this? When I passed by the medical hall earlier, Miss Li Yuxin was too busy with her patients toe over, so she asked me to deliver this package of medicinal herbs to you. She said its for making soup and strengthening the body, Night Fragrance exined. Lin Beifan silently epted the package and said, Night Fragrance, stand behind me. Okay! Night Fragrance happily ran over and stood behind Lin Beifan, hands on her hips, joining Lin Beifan and the Little Princess in ring at Guo Shaoshuai. Ah! Guo Shaoshuaisughter abruptly stopped, and a sense of impending doom washed over him. Lin Beifan scolded, Guo Shaoshuai, take a look at yourself! The Little Princess scolded, Guo Shaoshuai, take a look at yourself! Night Fragrance scolded, Guo Shaoshuai, take a look at yourself! Guo Shaoshuai took a step back in fear and weakly asked, W-what did I do wrong? Lin Beifan became even angrier, And you have the audacity to ask?! The Little Princess was equally furious, And you have the audacity to ask?! Night Fragrance joined in the anger, And you have the audacity to ask?! Guo Shaoshuai, now at a loss, stammered, I I dont even know what I did wrong! Lin Beifans anger red up even more, Look at Zhao Kuo. Despite facing such a significant setback, he can ovee it, feel ashamed, and be determined to improve! Now look at the Little Princess, tirelessly pursuing her dreams, never giving up! Look at Night Fragrance, patrolling and fighting crime every day! And what are you doing? The Little Princess and Night Fragrance simultaneously eximed, Exactly, were working so hard! What are you doing? Guo Shaoshuai was left speechless, tears streaming down his face. Why is it always me who gets med? Im truly having a tough time too! Chapter 352: Is This the Preparation for Escape? Chapter 352: Is This the Preparation for Escape? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Darro Country is a small nation along the borders of Great Wu, with a poption just over ten million and limited resources. Two years ago, they fought a battle against Great Wu and lost. In the end, they sent the Third Prince to the capital for negotiations to reduce thepensation. At that time, Lin Beifan was still a low-ranking official in the court. He proposed the Swallowing the Python n, a gradual and subtle way to assimte Darro Country and expand the territory. Now, this n has been in operation for a year and a half, and everything is going smoothly. With the help of Great Wu, Darros situation has improved considerably. Originally, ording to this n, in 3-5 years, Darro could bepletely absorbed. However, now the other side has seen through their intentions. In the court, the Empress said with some annoyance, The royal family of Darro has seen through our intentions, betrayed our trust, torn up the treaty, and is currently expelling our merchants and teachers, burning all books, and terminating the bteral trade! The Darro royal family is excessively greedy, directly taking over our properties in Darro! The Swallowing the Python n has failed! Honorable ministers, do you have any good strategies? Your Majesty, since theyve torn up the treaty and betrayed us, we dont need to be polite. We should just fight! A small country like them cant be a match for our mighty hooves. Your Majesty, isnt it just a war? Weve fought so many battles this year; who are we afraid of? Even the Dayue Dynasty and the Great Xia Empire lost to us! Its just a small nation, not worth mentioning! Your Majesty, my suggestion is lets keep fighting until they surrender! The court was filled with loud cheers, and the generals were eager to move. In this past year, continuous major victories have boosted the confidence of the officials! When ites to warfare, they dont need to hold back at all! The Empresss gaze turned toward Lin Beifan. Minister Lin, what are your thoughts? Lin Beifan spoke loudly, Your Majesty, when I initially proposed the Swallowing the Python n, I anticipated this situation and made preparations! So, all we need to do is follow the n, copse Darros economy, cut off all supply lines, and strip them of everything we once granted, making them pay a heavy price! The Empress nodded, Minister Lin, your words are absolutely right! Furthermore, Your Majesty, the Swallowing the Python n has not failed! In the past year and a half, with the efforts of our merchants, we have controlled Darros economy! Under the influence of our teachers, the people of Darro have developed a longing for our nation! So, we still have a chance to continue the n and bring Darro under our control! The Empresss eyes brightened, Minister, are you telling the truth? Lin Beifan replied, How could I deceive Your Majesty? The Empress asked, What do you n to do? Lin Beifan answered, While implementing the copse n, we can use force to subdue Darro and bring them under our control! The Empress smiled, Excellent! The Swallowing the Python n was proposed by you, and you excel in warfare. Therefore, we wont trouble two leaders for this matter. We entrust this task to you! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan epted the order. Minister, how many troops do you need? the Empress asked. Lin Beifan shook his head slightly and said with a smile, We dont need many troops, Your Majesty, just 100,000 border troops will suffice! Are 100,000 troops truly enough? Li Kaiguang, the Minister of War, spoke up. Although Darro Country has a sparse poption, they have a fierce disposition. Its not possible to conquer them without a million soldiers! Lord Prime Minister is a military genius, but without sufficient forces, he might find it difficult to achieve his goals! Lord Prime Minister, theres no need to be modest. We have an abundance of provisions! Wang Rushui, the Minister of Finance, chimed in. Lin Beifan shook his head once again, Thank you for your kind offers, but its really not necessary! Dealing with Darro doesnt require mobilizing such arge force. Minister, then what do you need? the Empress inquired. Your Majesty, I only require 500,000 taels of silver as travel expenses, that should suffice! Lin Beifan smiled. The Empress and the officials were puzzled. The Empress asked, Minister, you dont need troops, so why do you need travel expenses? Your Majesty, I may not need troops, but I do need it! The journey to Darro is long, and there are many things to arrange along the way. Without money, it wont be possible! Lin Beifan exined. The Empresss gaze was filled with skepticism, Do you really need that much money? The distance from the capital to Darro was only a thousand li, a journey that could bepleted in 10 days to half a month. Youre not leading troops into battle, and youre traveling lightly. Even 10,000 taels would be extravagant. Are you trying to take advantage of the situation for personal gain? Lin Beifan gestured and said, These expenses serve another purpose, critical to sess. Please understand! The Empress couldnt be bothered to argue, and neither could the officials. Currently, the court was well-stocked with resources, and there was no need to worry about a small sum of 500,000 taels. If 500,000 taels could secure a victorious battle and bring Darro Country under their control, then it would truly be worth it! Alright! I will allocate the 500,000 taels to you! the Empress dered loudly. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan replied. At this point, news of Darro Country tearing up the alliance treaty and betraying their trust had spread throughout the city. Themon people were very angry, grinding their teeth in frustration. Darro Country actually tore up the alliance treaty, showing their true colors! I said it back then, we shouldnt have been so good to them! We opened trade, built factories, and sent many teachers to educate them, teaching them literacy, etiquette, and morals Now that theyve developed, they turn around and bite us. Theyre like ungrateful wolves, truly despicable! Youre absolutely right! Theyre a bunch of wolf cubs, extremely vicious. We should have never shown them goodwill! Now, the court is enraged and has sent Lord Prime Minister to deal with them! Lord Prime Minister is our nations military genius! With Lord Prime Minister taking action, Darro Country is finished! Exactly! Let them know the consequences of offending our Great Wu! The other generals were getting excited. Lord Prime Minister is going to war again! Following Lord Prime Minister, we gain merit without effort! Yes, the Lord Prime Minister has already dealt with the Three Rebellious Kings. Even the Dayue Dynasty and the Great Xia Empire couldnt defeat Lord Prime Minister. Darro Country is just a piece of cake! When Lord Prime Minister takes action, sess is guaranteed. Darro Country is as good as gone! We must join Lord Prime Ministers ranks! The generals were all mobilizing. As a military family, the Zhao family naturally heard this news first. Kuoer, this is a rare opportunity! Zhao Hai said with excitement. Lord Prime Minister is a military genius, and this time,unching an attack on Darro Country is almost a sure victory. Although our family isnt what it used to be, we still have some influence. Try to get yourself assigned to the army! If you can secure Lord Prime Ministers approval, that would be even better! Uncle, I know what to do! Zhao Kuos face was determined. His path to redemption was challenging, so he had to seize every opportunity, work hard to redeem himself, and wash away the shame he carried! This was an opportunity he couldnt afford to miss. At the same time, he hoped to learn more about leading troops and warfare by being by Lin Beifans side. Because of the preparations for war, Lin Beifan returned to the Lin residence early. Li Shi Shi, with a worried expression, approached him. Husband, I heard that youre preparing to go to war again? Lin Beifan nodded. Darro Country tore up the treaty and betrayed their trust. The Empress and the entire court are furious, so Im going to deal with them. Her Majesty has decreed it. Dear, how long will it take for you to return? Leading troops into battle is inherently risky. Moreover, every time they went to war, it took at least half a month, sometimes even a full month. The separation was too long, and the yearning was overwhelming. She truly didnt want to part again. If everything goes as expected, it should take about three months, Lin Beifan said. Another month? Li Shi Shis expression became even more worried. Dont worry! This time, Ill take you with me! Lin Beifan smiled. Her eyes brightened. Really? Li Shi Shi asked. Really, not only will I take you, but Ill also take everyone else! Everyone has been in the capital for so long; lets all go out together, explore the mountains, enjoy the waters, and rx! Lin Beifan waved his hand expansively. Is that really possible, Young Master? Mo Rushuang asked. Sinceing to the capital to find Lin Beifan, she hadnt left for over two years. Although living conditions in the capital were excellent, staying for so long could get tiresome, and she couldnt help but want to go out and see the world. Can we really go together? Xiao Cui was also delighted. Lin Beifan waved his hand. Everyone, the whole household is going, and no one should be left behind! Great! the little monk eximed with a smile on his face. Husband, wont this dy official matters? Li Shi Shi asked again. Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled. It wont dy anything. This is also part of official business. Just follow the n. Alright! Li Shi Shi rxed and her smile returned. At that moment, the little princess rushed over excitedly. I want to go! I want to go too! The scent of Night Fragrance wafted down from the sky, and he opened his paper fan with a snap. How can I miss out on such a good opportunity? Ive been in the capital for too long; its the perfect time to go out! That night, the Lin residence was unusually excited. The news quickly reached the Empress, and she was far from calm. Going to war? Didnt he just want to flee? He had even prepared 500,000 taels for travel expenses for the whole family! She summoned Lin Beifan to the pce that very night and asked anxiously, Minister Lin, I heard youre nning to take your entire family to war? Lin Beifan replied earnestly, Your Majesty, this is a strategic move to confuse Darro Country. Oh, I see. Well then you muste back! The Empress said with reluctance. Lin Beifan found this puzzling. As the Prime Minister, of course, he would return after the war. Where else could he go? Yes, Your Majesty. The next day, Lin Beifan set off with his family. He chose to travel by boat, following the river downstream, which would take about 10 days to half a month to reach Darro. He didnt bring arge group, only about a hundred people, primarily to take care of daily life, food, and safety along the way. This group would also help ry orders and executemands. However, when they reached the riverbank, Lin Beifan was taken aback. Among the group of a little over a hundred, there were actually more than a dozen high-ranking officers, with the lowest rank being sixth, and the highest rank reaching third! The total number of innate experts reached 18 people! Such extravagance had never been seen before! Chapter 353: Your Majesty Truly Dotes on the Prime Minister! Chapter 353: Your Majesty Truly Dotes on the Prime Minister! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan had a puzzled look on his face, My lords, what are you all here for? The various generals bowed and solemnly said, Greetings, Prime Minister! Prime Minister, on your uing campaign to conquer the rebellious state of Darro, the journey is long and perilous. We are willing to protect and assist you every step of the way. Please allow us to apany you. Lin Beifans expression darkened even more, Why do I need so many people? I have made preparations for my journey to Darro, and I dont require your assistance. Return to your duties, each of you! Prime Minister, you cant say it like that! An elderly general with a serious expression said, Traveling to Darro alone tomand a military campaign is a tremendous responsibility. There may be times when you are fatigued and make mistakes. Leading troops in battle is no trivial matter. Although I may not have a remarkable record in battle, I have years of experience and can assist you, reducing your burden, Prime Minister! A young general stepped forward with determination, Prime Minister, your safety is paramount to the state. I may not be suitable formanding battles, but I am unparalleled in ensuring your safety. I will not let a single hair on your head be harmed. If anything were to happen to you, Prime Minister, I would have to step over my own dead body first! Prime Minister! Another general spoke up, I possess a unique skill I can determine positions by sound alone. I can sense enemy movements within a radius of several dozen miles through ground vibrations, their numbers, and more. This expedition into unfamiliar territory is fraught with danger. With my assistance, Prime Minister, you can proceed with greater ease and higher chances of sess! Prime Minister All the generals expressed their abilities and pledged to serve Lin Beifan, offering to protect him from all sides. They made it clear that anyone wishing to harm Lin Beifan would have to go through their dead bodies. Guo Shaoshuai was deeply moved, tears welling up in his eyes, It turns out that you are all loyal and righteous individuals, valiant and heroic! With heroes like you in Great Wu, what need have we to worry? Get lost! Lin Beifan said irritably, What schemes are you all plotting? Dont think I dont know! I really dont need so many people. Go back to your posts! Otherwise, I will report to Her Majesty and charge you with dereliction of duty! Just then, a sharp voice rang out, The Emperor has arrived! Everyone turned to see the Empress approaching, gracefully and exceptionally beautiful, radiating charm that outshone all others. Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor, long live, long live! Everyone congratted in unison. Please, my dear subjects, theres no need for formalities! The Empress smiled and extended her hand. Lin Beifan raised his head and asked curiously, Your Majesty, why have youe? Sir Lin! The Empress approached with a joyful smile, For your distant expedition to Darro, a long and perilous journey, I couldnt rest easy. Thats why I came here to send you off personally. I wish you a safe journey and a triumphant return! Lin Beifan blinked, I never saw you send me off when I went to defeat the Three Rebel Kings before. Is it really necessary for a mere Darro state to have youe all this way? He couldnt quite put his finger on it, but something felt odd about the situation. Thank you, Your Majesty, Lin Beifan said gratefully. At this moment, the Empress noticed the generals standing nearby and was somewhat surprised, You why are you all gathered here? Are you here to bid farewell to Prime Minister Lin? Your Majesty, they are not here to bid farewell! Lin Beifan seized the opportunity toin, They all want to join my team and apany me to Darro to achieve merit. They are suspected of dereliction of duty, and as military officers, they should be punished! The generals looked apprehensive. Your Majesty, Darro broke our alliance, and I am deeply angered. So, I want to contribute to the court! one of the generals exined. Your Majesty, Prime Minister is embarking on a perilous journey this time, and we are genuinely concerned about his safety, which is vital to the state. We fear that something might happen to him, so we volunteered to apany and protect him! another general added. Fearing Your Majestys disapproval, we had no choice but to act first and reportter! Your Majesty, our intentions are all driven by patriotism! We acknowledge our wrongdoing, Your Majesty, please forgive us! I see! The Empress became angry, This is where you went wrong! Lin Beifan nodded in agreement, Yes, very wrong! The Empress continued angrily, As serving military officers in the current court, you have responsibilities and significant duties. How can you just abandon your posts? At the very least you should have reported to the council! Lin Beifan nodded again, Exactly, how can you abandon your posts without reporting to Her Majesty? The Empress was visibly upset, By doing this, you clearly dont regard me highly at all! Am I such a petty and unreasonable person? If you had truthfully reported to me, would I have refused? Lin Beifan chimed in, Exactly! If you had reported truthfully to Your Majesty, would she have refused? Hmm? Lin Beifan seemed a bit bewildered. He blinked, sensing that something was amiss. The generals, however, became ted. One elderly general cautiously asked, Your Majesty, does this mean that as long as we report truthfully, you will agree? The Empress smiled, Of course! Your intentions are all noble, for Prime Minister, for me, for Great Wu. I am an enlightened ruler, why wouldnt I agree? The generals were overjoyed. It was the senior general who spoke first, Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lin is heading to Darro tomand the campaign, and its a significant matter. I have years of experience in leading troops in battle, and I can assist Prime Minister in reducing his pressure. The Empress generously agreed, I approve! The young general, resolute in his principles, said, Your Majesty, Prime Ministers safety is crucial for the state. I have a unique ability to protect people, and Im willing to apany Prime Minister. Anyone trying to harm Prime Minister would have to step over my dead body! The Empress eximed, Good! This journey needs individuals like you to ensure Prime Ministers safety. I approve! Another general added, Your Majesty, I have the ability to locate by sound. I can sense enemy movements within a radius of several dozen miles through ground vibrations, making it easier for Prime Minister tomand the battle! The Empress apuded, That ability is excellent. I approve! In this way, the generals who were initially rejected by Lin Beifan all joined his team with the Empresss approval. They were all overjoyed, as if they had already achieved sess. Your Majesty, how can this be? Lin Beifanined, Clearly, they just want to gain military merits in Darro. Please, Your Majesty, see through their intentions! The Empress shook her head, with a slightly reproachful tone, My dear, this is where youre wrong. Lin Beifan was puzzled, Im wrong? Yes, you are wrong! Do you think building merit and achieving sess are that easy? Many generals and soldiers have served for decades without ever experiencing a battle. Without battle experience, how can they gain military merits? Understand them a little better! Over the years, they have worked hard, even if they havent achieved merits. But due to circumstances, they havent been promoted, which has been very challenging for them. So, why not let them earn some merits now? The generals were deeply moved and unanimously expressed their gratitude, Your Majesty, you are wise! Lin Beifan sighed, But with them leaving, who will take care of affairs in the capital? Who will handle things? The country cant be without a leader even for a day. The Empress smiled, At this point, Great Wu has ended its internal conflicts, and its reputation has spread far and wide. The people can rest and recuperate, and the world is at peace. At such a time, its not a problem for the military to have a few less generals. The most significant issue now is the Darro matter. My dear, you are traveling so far to Darro, and Im very worried. However, with their assistance, I feel more at ease. The generals all nodded in agreement, Your Majesty speaks the truth! The Empress continued with a stern tone, Listen to me carefully, all of you! The most important thing on this journey is to ensure Prime Minister Lins safety. You must bring him back safely, not even a hair should be harmed. Do you understand? We obey Your Majestysmand! They all replied in unison, their expressions filled with envy. The Empress truly favored Prime Minister Lin, even more than her own son. It seemed that they would have to tter him a bit more on the way to earn Prime Ministers favor. My dear, leave early and return soon. I need you! the Empress reminded. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan sighed, perhaps this was the sweet burden of happiness. Next, Lin Beifan bid farewell to the Empress, then boarded the luxurious ship bound for Darro with the rest of the team. There were a total of five ships, with thergest one reserved for Lin Beifan and hispanions. The other four ships provided protection, carrying apanying generals and necessary personnel. Some soldiers would travel along the riverbank to provide further support. Judging solely from their appearance, one wouldnt think they were going off to war but rather on a leisurely excursion. At that moment, news about Lin Beifans uing military campaign to Darro quickly spread throughout the world and reached Darro as well. The Darro royal family and officials were on high alert. Great Wu is finally making a move! This time, they sent Prime Minister Lin Beifan! Despite his youth, he is particrly skilled in warfare. He has won ten battles this year, often against superior forces, achieving remarkable victories. This visit may not bode well for us! Why be afraid? Does Great Wu think that Darro is easy to bully? I heard that Lin Beifan is arrogant and dismissive of Darro. He hasnt even counted his troops or prepared supplies; hesing leisurely as if on a vacation! Thats absurd! How can he look down on us like this? We must give him a lesson! In any case, we need to be prepared for battle! The news of Lin Beifan leading troops to Darro had caused quite a stir. Chapter 354: Chaos a Thousand Miles Away! Chapter 354: Chaos a Thousand Miles Away! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Within the Darro Royal Court, King of Darro asked the third prince, Hamu, youve had contact with Lin Beifan. Whats your opinion? Father King! When ites to Lin Beifan, Prince Hamu interrupted, his face twitching slightly. In my impression, he is cunning as a fox and insatiable! Initially, when I first approached him to persuade him to advocate for us and reduce the burden, we paid a hefty price for it, as you are well aware! King of Darro nodded. But never did I imagine that he would indeed aplish the task but sow the seeds of disaster for us! Prince Hamu gritted his teeth. We only wanted to lessen thepensation, but he aimed to swallow our Darro! Fortunately, we discovered it in time; otherwise, in another two or three years, Darro would have changed hands! King of Darro nodded once again. Furthermore, in less than two years, he went from being a newly appointed top schr to rapidly ascending to a high position, bing the current prime minister of Great Wu. He is not to be underestimated! Hemands the military like a god, personally leading four major battles, all of which were resounding victories! He pacified the Three Rebel Kings internally and resisted the threats from Dayue and Great Xia externally, disying immense power! Now that hesing to attack, we must be fully prepared! King of Darro nodded with his aged voice. Hamu, you are right! I am already old, so I entrust this battle to you. I fully support you! If we ovee this challenge, the throne will be yours. Prince Hamu was deeply moved. Yes, Father King! Although this battle was extremely challenging, the rewards would be enormous! So, Prince Hamu excitedly went down to organize the troops, gather supplies, and prepare for the battle. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan and hispanions were still boating on the river. Severalrge boats cruised leisurely, enjoying the picturesque scenery on both sides of the mountains. The days were rxing and pleasant. At this moment, they had just left the capital city, and they were approximately 1,000 miles away from Darro Kingdom. Suddenly, a soldier jumped onto the boat and handed Lin Beifan a piece of paper. Lin Beifan opened it and chuckled. Prince Hamu is in charge of this matter? Interesting! I used to miss him quite a bit back then. Ill give him a big gift now! The Darro Copse n can begin. Lin Beifan wrote six words on the paper: Cut off supplies, start rumors! Spread the word and act ordingly! Yes, Prime Minister! This order quickly spread throughout Darro Kingdom. The hidden Great Wu people in Darro immediately began to cut off vital supplies such as food, salt, oil, cotton, and then spread rumors. The Great Wu army is preparing to attack, and all sugar and oil supplies are cut off. Everyone, hurry and seize what you can, or it will be toote! When themon people of Darro heard this, they immediately became agitated. What? Great Wu is preparing to attack, and our food and oil supplies will be cut off? This wont do, how can we allow our food supply to be cut off? If theres no food, are we supposed to starve? No, I must go and seize some food back! If we dont act now, well starve to death! So, all themon people rushed frantically to the streets and major businesses. They broke through the resistance of the Darro soldiers and stormed into the major stores owned by Great Wu merchants, looting food, salt, oil, cotton, and anything else they could get their hands on. The entire market descended into chaos, and all the streets were in turmoil! Within the Darro Royal Court, a person rushed in hastily, saying, Your Highness, the Third Prince, something bad has happened! Theres a riot outside! Prince Hamu was rmed. What exactly is happening? Tell me in detail! Your Highness, there are rumors outside that Great Wu is preparing to attack our country and has cut off our supplies. Because of this, themon people have gone mad, and theyre all rushing to loot food and other supplies. Everything is in chaos! Prince Hamu angrily eximed, Why havent you dispatched troops to maintain order yet? Your Highness, there are too many people, we cant control them! Almost the entire city has erupted into a riot, and theyre alling to loot supplies! Our small force cant stop them, the messenger replied with a bitter smile. Prince Hamus face changed! If the entire city had erupted into a riot, it was indeed impossible to stop! Prince Hamu sighed, Then go and appease them for now. Tell them that food and supplies are sufficient, and they shouldnt loot! Your Highness, weve already tried, but they wont listen! Theyve gone mad Prince Hamu hurriedly arrived on the streets and found that themon people had indeed gone mad, looting everything valuable. He witnessed a chilling scene where many people were trampled to death during the looting. Surprisingly, the onlookers showed no sympathy and instead continued to rob the victims of their belongings, leaving them with nothing. Prince Hamu shouted loudly, Stop the looting! Theres enough food, enough supplies, trust me, everyone will have what they need! Prince Hamu stillmanded respect, and his words calmed the crowd slightly. However, at that moment, a voice full of anger emerged from the crowd. Trust him? Dont believe him! The first ones to loot were the royal family and government officials! Theyve already taken all the good stuff. If we dont loot now, there will be nothing left! With this speech, chaos erupted once again. Thats right, the royal family is the first to loot! Theyve already taken all the good stuff and left us with this junk! If we dont loot now, well have nothing left! Everyone, hurry and loot! The crowd resumed looting, even more fervently than before. Damn it! Prince Hamu gritted his teeth. Quickly, find the person who incited this unrest and bring them to me! A group of soldiers rushed towards the source of the sound but found nothing. Prince Hamus face turned ashen. He knew he had been deceived, and the person responsible was likely from the Great Wu court. As he looked at the chaotic scene of burning, killing, and looting, and the disorderly streets, Prince Hamu sternlymanded, Immediately summon the 100,000 defending troops stationed outside the city to suppress these rioters! Those who resist shall be killed! His attending officials were shocked. Your Highness, this will result in many casualties! Prince Hamu snapped, Then tell me, what other option do we have? We are on the brink of war, and if we dont deal with these troublemakers now, how can we face Great Wu? In turbulent times, harsh measures are necessary. Go quickly! Yes, Your Highness! Soon, the 100,000 defending troops from Darro marched into the city. After a day and night of effort, they finally managed to quell the unrest. However, Prince Hamu spat out a mouthful of blood. Because the people of Darro were fiercely resilient, and themon people were quite capable of fighting! To suppress this group of rioters, he had to mobilize over 5,000 soldiers! The enemy hadnt even arrived yet, but they had already suffered heavy casualties. Could he not vomit blood under such circumstances? At this moment, Lin Beifan and his group were still boating on the river, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. They were about 900 miles away from Darro. Lin Beifan looked at the paper message that had just arrived and smiled faintly. At this moment, the Little Princess excitedly ran over and said, Li Beifan,e quickly! Theres a mountain over there that looks like a horse, its so fun! Lin Beifan asked, Little Princess, can I ask you a few questions? The Little Princess paused, Sure, go ahead! Lin Beifan asked, Do you like drinking soy milk and eating deep-fried dough sticks? The Little Princessughed, Of course I do! Lin Beifan asked again, If I told you that you could only have soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks every day, would you be willing? The Little Princess became exasperated, How could I be willing? Lin Beifan smiled and nodded, Why wouldnt you be willing? Because I also love Dongpo pork, Eight Treasures Chicken, birds nest with fish maw, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and so on. All of those are tastier than soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks! Why would I eat those when I can have the better ones?! As she spoke, the Little Princess even drooled a little. Lin Beifan asked, What if you were only allowed to eat soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks in the future, what would you do? I would go crazy! The Little Princess exaggeratedly eximed. Yes, if youve been ustomed to luxury, going back to simplicity would drive you mad, Lin Beifan nodded. Now, go ahead. Everyone is calling us Ill followter! Lin Beifan wrote six words on the paper message: Confuse the people, undermine their virtue! Then he handed it to one of the apanying soldiers. Have them act ording to the n! Yes, Prime Minister! At this moment, within Darro Kingdom. Although the riots had been suppressed, the streets had be deste and quiet. All the shops were closed, and no one was doing business. Because everyone knew that Great Wu was preparing to attack, and all supplies had been cut off, causing a severe shortage of goods. People clung tightly to the food and supplies they had, reluctant to exchange them. Those with property were rtively better off and couldst for a while. But those without property were in a dire situation,cking food, oil, salt, and other necessities, living a difficult life. As a result, rumors began to spread once again. These sentiments were often held by the majority. Their lives had suddenly regressed to the past. The old days were so much better! We didnt have to work so hard, and we had food to eat and clothes to wear! We thought our lives would get better, but now were back to square one, as if it was all a dream! Its all because of the court and the royal family, theyre insatiable! They broke their promise, tore up the treaty, and seized all the property of Great Wu merchants, angering Great Wu and cutting off our food and oil! Why should they cause trouble and make us suffer for their mistakes? Thats right! This court is simply rotten, purely evil! Whats the use of such a court? We might as well rebel and submit to Great Wu, let Great Wu govern us, and our lives can improve again! I heard that Great Wu is implementing policies for recuperation, where peasants dont have to pay taxes for farming, and there are rewards for having more children. The court even provides seeds for free and helps repair irrigation facilities. The people of Great Wu are truly fortunate! Is that true? Is it really that good? Why would I lie? This news has been circting for a long time, and you didnt know? Oh my! Let Great Wu govern us; I want to be a citizen of Great Wu! Chapter 355: Don’t Stop! Keep Playing, Keep Dancing! Chapter 355: Dont Stop! Keep ying, Keep Dancing! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this time, many Darro people were reminiscing about the good times before. Previously, merchants from Great Wu came here to trade and build factories. Everyone only needed to provide cheapbor, and they had food to eat, money to spend, and clothes to wear. Life was so good. There were also some kind-hearted teachers who came to teach their children to read, write, and be virtuous. However, the greedy Darro court, desiring the wealth of Great Wu merchants, betrayed their trust and drove both the merchants and teachers away. They continued to lead a miserable life. If they could restore their previous way of life, how wonderful it would be! If they could let Great Wu rule over them and be Great Wu people, wouldnt that be even better? Once this idea was nted, it quickly took root. After all, most of them were just ordinarymoners who wanted to make a living. Theycked education and had a weak sense of patriotism. They didnt care who ruled over them; they only cared about having enough to eat. They didnt have a choice before, but now they do. Over the past year, they had witnessed the changes, the days with Great Wu and without Great Wu werepletely different. Furthermore, through the propaganda of Great Wus teachers, they learned that Great Wu was vast and rich in resources. Themon people living in Great Wu had much better lives. They had enough food to eat, beautiful clothes to wear, and sturdy houses. Moreover, the Empress was very kind and tolerant, currently implementing benevolent policies, encouraging production and farming, promoting childbirth, reducing taxes, and strengthening education. Themon people of Great Wu were living better and better. So, among the Darro poption, the call to be Great Wu people grew louder. However, starting a revolution meant risking their lives, and many people considered practical reasons and didnt act. In the Darro pce, Your Highness, bad news! an official rushed in. Whats wrong now? Prince Hamu was extremely annoyed. He was currently preparing for the impending Great Wu army, and the pressure was already high, like a tightly strung bowstring. On top of that, there were constant issues to deal with. Could he not be furious? The official said urgently, Your Highness, theres a frenzy outside! They say our court is wicked, acting out of self-interest, untrustworthy, and causing their living conditions to deteriorate rapidly! They dont want to be ruled by our court anymore; they want to submit to Great Wu. The slogan is already being chanted: Rather be a Great Wu person than a Darro dog!'' What? Prince Hamu was so angry that his head spun. Rather be a Great Wu person than a Darro dog, this phrase was a direct insult to their court! Wasnt this a p in the face of their court? Prince Hamu, his anger zing, said, Its clear that Great Wu harbors ill intentions, attempting to swallow up our Darro. When we timely intervened, how can it be our fault? Surely, there are those spreading lies and deceiving the people! What Your Highness says is absolutely true! Why dont you go and exin to let the people know about Great Wus sinister intentions? Prince Hamu ordered. The official sighed, Your Highness, weve already exined, but they wont listen! Hamu Prince angrily eximed, Why wouldnt they listen? Your Highness, have you forgotten? Before, we used force to suppress the rioters, and while we did suppress them, our rtionship with the people deteriorated to the extreme. How can they listen to our exnations? Hamu Prince became even more furious, gritting his teeth, Damn it! Weve been yed! He couldnt fathom that this was all part of arger scheme. Previously, the other side had incited the rebellion, forcing them to use troops to suppress it, which in turn worsened the rtionship between the government and the people. Now, they were taking advantage of the situation to sow discord between the officials and the citizens. Each step was incredibly sessful and well-timed. Your Highness, what should we do now? the official asked cautiously. Prince Hamu responded angrily, We are currently preparing for a nationwide war, and we cant afford internal chaos. Send troops immediately to apprehend those who spread rumors and disrupt the morale, and control the spread of false information! Your Highness, there are quite a few people I dont care, just arrest them first! Yes, Your Highness! So, once again, the Darro country mobilized its troops to apprehend those who had been spreading rumors. Many were thrown into the dungeons, and the cells quickly filled up. To address the overcrowding issue, those who had spread rumors were no longer put in the cells; instead, they had their mouths sealed, effectively silencing them. In a short time, fear swept through the Darro kingdom, and everyone was on edge. People grew even more resentful of the Darro court, feeling that they had not only deprived them of their happy lives but also their freedom of speech. This government was no longer wanted! At this moment, Lin Beifan had already arrived in the prosperous southern region on a luxurious ship. He received a warm wee from the local officials and nned to stay here for a couple of days to experience the local culture and savor the delicious cuisine. This ce is 700 miles away from the Darro country. Seeing Lin Beifan leisurely drinking and enjoying the dance, the little princess was getting impatient. She said, Lin Beifan, are you here for a war? Youre so slow; when will we arrive? Yes, young master, arent you in a hurry? Mo Rushuang worriedly asked. The other generals also looked over, curious about the situation. Lin Beifan calmly shook his head and smiled, saying, No need to hurry, not in the least! Whats urgent right now is on the Darro border; dying benefits us even more! Just then, a soldier rushed in, and Lin Beifan handed over a piece of paper. Written on it were six words: Disy military might and shake their nation! Lin Beifan handed it to the soldier to ry the orders. In the now somewhat silent dance hall, Lin Beifan waved and said, Dont stop! Keep ying the music, keep dancing! At this moment, rumors among the Darro elite and nobility started to circte. Do you know that the one leading the army for Great Wu this time is the current Prime Minister Lin Beifan? He has won four major battles this year, all of them victories! Even the Dayue Dynasty and the Great Xia Dynasty couldnt stop him. We Darro will likely not hold up against him! Ive heard that too. These four major battles had a minimum of 500,000 soldiers, and thergest had over a million! And hes known to be an extremely ruthless individual! How ruthless is he? After these four battles, indirectly, over a million soldiers died at his hands. How ruthless do you think that is? Wow, hes not a person; hes clearly a wolf in human form! Moreover, its said that he loves to loot and annihte families, especially wealthy ones and nobles households! As soon as a country falls, the first to suffer will be us! Can we withstand him? Withstand what? Hes so brutal; we should run! Thats right, run! As a result, many nobles fled during the night. Third Prince, somethings not right! an official rushed over. Whats wrong now? Prince Hamus anger red. These past few days, it seemed like there was a crisis every day! The official spoke with trembling words, There are too many, too numerous to count! However, out of the top 100 nobles, 96 have already fled. The noble district is nearly empty! What? Prince Hamu was almost on the verge of passing out. To think that 96 out of the top 100 nobles had already fled, that was basically all of them! You see, these nobles are part of the countrys upper echelon, many holding high positions, possessing immense power, and controlling numerous resources that keep the country running! Now that theyve all fled, how can this war continue? Prince Hamu was so furious that he gritted his teeth, Theyve gained so much in peacetime, but when dangeres, they run faster than rabbits! Immediately go and bring them back for me! Yes, Your Highness! The army marched out to pursue the fleeing nobles. One nightter, Prince Hamu couldnt sleep, his eyes bloodshot. He asked, Have they been brought back? It was the same official who replied, shivering, Your Highness, they havent been brought back! Prince Hamu was livid, Ive sent out so many troops; why havent they been brought back? Because because many of the generals have also fled! Theyve all fled? Prince Hamu spewed out blood from his mouth, furious and shouting, A bunch of ungrateful scoundrels, theyve infuriated me! After venting his anger, Prince Hamu finally calmed down. He understood that losing his temper wouldnt solve the problem. You go back now and make sure theyre closely watched for me! If even one more person escapes, I will hold you ountable! Prince Hamu ordered. The official smiled bitterly, Your Highness, watching them closely now might not prevent them from escapingter. These nobles and high-ranking officials of our court are deeply entrenched and have immense power; they can escape at any time! I know, but I have a n. You should first appease them! Your Highness, what do you n to do? They all fled because they fear Lin Beifan. If thats the case, if I send someone to kill Lin Beifan, wouldnt that solve the problem? Prince Hamu smiled. But Lin Beifan surely has many experts protecting him. With our strength We dont have to do it ourselves. If we offer a hefty reward in the ck market for Lin Beifans head, top-tier assassins will surely take his life for us! Haha Without further ado, Prince Hamu, gritting his teeth, took out 1 million taels as a reward for Lin Beifans head. However, after two days, no one epted the contract. Prince Hamu was frustrated, and upon investigation, he was furious because the assassins in the ck market were mocking him. Is Prince Hamu stupid? He thinks he can put a 1 million tael bounty on Lin Beifans head? Lin Beifan is the Prime Minister of Great Wu, favored by the Empress. Killing him is tantamount to dering war on the entire Great Wu. Who can handle that? I wouldnt even consider it for 3 million! A higher bounty wont work! He has 18 experts apanying him on this trip, even that Grandmaster monk from his family is with him! With such an elite team, who can kill Lin Beifan? I want money, but I value my life more! Hamu is just being ridiculous, insulting peoples intelligence. I cant stand it. Whos offering the bounty on him? For just 100,000 taels, Ill take his head! Chapter 356: Five Murderous Poems, Overwhelming Killing Intent Shakes the Enemy Nation! Chapter 356: Five Murderous Poems, Overwhelming Killing Intent Shakes the Enemy Nation! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Prince Hamu was furious: These rebellious people dare to mock me behind my back! After Im done with my tasks, I will lead the army to exterminate you all! Kill everyst one of you! The assassins were unreliable, and he didnt want to send people to their deaths either. Prince Hamu had no choice but to increase the rewards and continue military preparations. However, due to the departure of many nobles, there were vacancies in various positions, causing chaos in the country. Prince Hamu had to promote lesser nobles, officials, and respected individuals from the popce to fill the gaps. Yet, with the influx of new officials, things became disordered and messy. Prince Hamu had to manage and educate them on how to handle affairs. At the end of the day, Prince Hamu was exhausted and overwhelmed. Not only did he feel lost, but the other officials also faced difficulties. Many of them abandoned their posts, leaving the situation in turmoil. Soldiers, aware of the impending confrontation with Lin Beifan, a formidable warlord, started fleeing as well. As soon as one vacancy was filled, another position became vacant. Just as one unit was assembled, another one was disbanded. The number of people fleeing continued to increase, leaving Prince Hamu frustrated. Finally, Prince Hamu erupted in anger: Whos running away? Ill kill them all! This managed to control some of the situation, but the chaos in Darro continued. Themoners were agitated due to oppression, while officials and soldiers at higher ranks considered abandoning the country out of fear. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, while Prince Hamu was dealing with these issues, Lin Beifan and his group leisurely arrived at Hua Prefecture by boat. Under the guidance of the local governor, they enjoyed the scenery and had a good time. Hua Prefecture was 500 li away from Darro and known for its abundant chrysanthemums. When the chrysanthemums blossomed, the mountains were adorned with golden brilliance, creating a breathtaking view. Lin Beifans mood brightened as well. The governor of Hua Prefecture asked a question, Prime Minister, youre on a distant expedition to Darro. Why take it easy and not rush? With a good mood, Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Because Darro is already within my grasp! It can be stewed, roasted, steamed, or fried. I want to savor it slowly, preparing the most delicious vor to enjoy! I see! nodded the governor. Just like this Lin Beifan picked a chrysanthemum and said, I hope to arrive when the flowers are in full bloom. After I leave, theyll wither and fade away with the wind. The beauty of life and its eventual decline, both captured in sight. Saying that, he crushed the chrysanthemum in his hand and eximed, My poetic inspiration has struck, bring me a pen! With a pen in hand, Lin Beifan began to write vigorously on paper. After finishing, everyone gathered around and recited: As autumn arrives on the ninth day of September, after my flowers bloom, a massacre of hundreds of flowers! A fragrant formation breaks through the sky in the city of Luo, the entire city d in golden armor! The city of Luo referred to Darros capital. This poem conveyed a domineering and murderous atmosphere that everyone present felt, leading them to apud and exim, Great poem! This poem somehow spread to Darro rapidly, and its killing intent wasmunicated as well, sending shivers down their spines. Prime Minister Lin Beifan of the Great Wu hasposed a poem in Hua Prefecture: As autumn arrives on the ninth day of September, after my flowers bloom This is a deration of attacking our Darro! Such strong killing intent! So domineering! Hua Prefecture is more than 500 li away from here! It means that in just a few days, Prime Minister Lin Beifan will lead his troops over! Hes a military genius, invincible in battle. Can we stand against him? What stand? We cant possibly win, we should flee! Chaos broke out among Darros soldiers. Meanwhile, the border guards of Great Wu, upon learning that Prime Minister Lin Beifan was approaching, were filled with high morale. Soldiers, Prime Minister is about to arrive. This is the time to achieve greatness! Put on your golden armor, arrange your formations, and prepare! As soon as the Prime Minister arrives, well march into Darro and kill all the traitors! Kill! Kill! Kill! The armys morale soared, and they shouted fervently. Donning their golden armor, they organized themselves meticulously, radiating an intimidating killing intent. On the other side, Darros soldiers were left dumbfounded. They had never seen such a formation from Great Wu before. The high fighting spirit and overwhelming killing intent made them tremble with fear, feeling like victory was out of reach. Consequently, more people began to flee. Prince Hamu was so furious that he spat out blood and yelled, Just one poem, and youre all frightened like this? He hasnt even arrived yet, what are you afraid of? Dont panic and fall apart, all of you return to formation. Whoever runs will be killed! Meanwhile, in Zhou Prefecture, which was over 400 li away from Darro, Lin Beifan and his group received a warm wee from the locals. Two individuals performed a graceful sword dance,bining both gentleness and strength in a uniquely beautiful manner. With his poetic inspiration ame, Lin Beifanposed another poem: ughtering a million soldiers in Luo City, the treasure sword at my waist still reeks of blood! Through a hundred battles, the golden armor pierces the sands, not until Darro is shattered will we return! The surging killing intent once again transmitted over the 400 li to Darro. Darros soldiers were dumbfounded once more. Another poem filled with overwhelming killing intent! Such intense killing intent, it sends a chill down my spine and leaves me shivering! Two terrifying murder poems in a row. Why is this Prime Minister exuding such a powerful killing intent towards us? Quick, run away! Itll be toote once he starts killing us! The morale of Great Wus soldiers, on the other hand, soared as they received another poem, driving them to new heights. While d in golden armor, they trained and shouted loudly. Kill all the million soldiers in Luo City, blood stains the sword at the waist! Through countless battles, the golden armor pierces like yellow sand, Darro will not fall until its broken! Terrifying killing intent once again soared to the sky! The soldiers of Darro ran even more. Prince Hamu was extremely infuriated, roaring, Its just a poem, whats so terrifying about a poem? Everyone return to me immediately! Whoever doesnt return will face military punishment, and their heads will roll! At this time, after a day and a night, Lin Beifan arrived at the next location. This ce was only over 300 li away from Darro. Lin Beifan was in high spirits andposed another poem. A man must kill, killing without mercy! Leave behind an immortal legacy, achieved through killing! This poem was filled with stern killing intent and once again reached Darro. The soldiers of Darro were dumbfounded again. Another poem filled with murderous intent! This is the third one! One poem a day, such intense desire to kill! The more I read, the scarier it gets. We should flee! The morale of the soldiers of Great Wu surged, their fighting spirit soared as they practiced while chanting the poem! Killing intent gathered, surging towards the sky, overwhelming Darro! As a result, the soldiers of Darro began to flee once more. Prince Hamu was once again so enraged that he coughed up blood, shouting, Why are you all running? Whats so terrifying about a mere poem? All of you cowards, return to me! Return! In the end, he couldnt stop the exodus Prince Hamu was infuriated to the point of turning ck, ncing towards the direction of Great Wu with hatred. He said, Creating chaotic verses to disrupt military morale, such shamelessness! I refuse to believe that you cane up with a fourth one! But on the second day, when they were around 200 li away from Darro, Lin Beifans poetic inspiration struck again, and heposed another poem. Looking at the world over the past five years, where isnt there a hero who kills? We, hot-blooded young heroes, how can we let todays generation be inferior to the ancients? Another poem filled with soaring killing intent! After hearing it, the soldiers of Great Wu once again surged in morale, their blood boiling. They trained with determination, and their spears pointed towards Darro. As long as the Prime Minister arrived, they would charge into Darro, achieve glory, and make their mark! The soldiers of Darro were terrified, and more of them fled. Four consecutive poems filled with murderous intent had made them lose all resistance. Prince Hamu was burning with rage, cursing furiously, Lin Beifan, you treacherous scoundrel! What can you do without writing poems? If youre capable, fight with real weapons, dont y these petty tricks! The officials nearby were sweating profusely. Your Highness, there have been four consecutive poems. Even if the opponent has great eloquence, their tricks are exhausted! We dont need to consider them further. Lets focus on fighting with all our strength! Youre right! In warfare, its about true strength, notposing poems or creating art! Prince Hamu nodded. However, when he thought about the chaotic situation in Darro, he once again had a headache. Another day passed, and Lin Beifan took a boat to the next location, only 100 li away from Darro. Once again, Lin Beifan couldnt control his poetic inspiration andposed another murderous poem. To kill one is a crime, to ughter ten thousand is to be a hero! ughter nine million, and you be the mightiest among heroes! This poem filled with overwhelming killing intent once again spread, bolstering the morale of the soldiers of Great Wu and intimidating the soldiers of Darro. This time, even Prince Hamu felt a bit afraid. ughtering nine million implied wiping out all of them in Darro, it was excessively ruthless! Because this poem had the strongest killing intent, the heaviest desire to kill! At this moment, Lin Beifan was only a hundred li away from Darro. In two or three days, he could arrive, and then the war would begin. The situation was imminent, but even Prince Hamu found his confidence wavering. Three-fourths of Darros nobles and court officials had already fled. Darro was barely maintaining its operations. The most worrisome was the military. Darro originally had a force of 500,000 soldiers, but over 300,000 had fled, leaving only 200,000 struggling to hold on. They had to forcibly conscript 300,000 able-bodied men from themoners to replenish their ranks. However, these new recruits were inexperienced and didnt even know how to stand in formation, let alone fight. Can we win this battle? Prince Hamu was starting to doubt. After all, they were facing Lin Beifan, who wasnt just the Prime Minister of Great Wu but also a brilliant general known for his warfare expertise and undefeated record. Could these hastily gathered soldiers hold their own? Prince Hamu was losing confidence and harbored a thought he could hardly believe: Should I flee as well? Let General Awu lead the army to defend the city and prevent Great Wu from advancing! Prince Hamu suggested. What about you, Your Highness? Prince Hamu coughed and said, Youve seen it too. The situation here is chaotic. Before we deal with external threats, we must secure internal stability. Therefore, I must stay behind, coordinate resources and supplies, and provide them with full support! Yes, Your Highness! Two more days passed, and amidst great anticipation, Lin Beifan finally arrived at the borderZhan Nan Pass! Chapter 357: So, the Prime Minister of Great Wu is on our side! Chapter 357: So, the Prime Minister of Great Wu is on our side! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Zhan Nan Pass is the border fortress that stands in the way of Darro. Darros people can only enter Great Wu through Zhan Nan Pass. On the square in front of Zhan Nan Pass, an old general led a group of officers and soldiers to greet Lin Beifan, who hade in ordance with the Dao. I am General Yu Lian, leading the officers and soldiers of Zhan Nan Pass. I pay my respects to Prime Minister. Yu Lian is the General in Chief of Zhan Nan Pass, a third-rank general in the imperial court. Lin Beifan quickly helped him up and smiled, saying, General Yu, theres no need for excessive courtesy. Youve been guarding Zhan Nan Pass for many years, preventing Darro from invading. Youre like a steadfast pir in the south of our realm, your contributions aremendable and hard-earned. This is the duty I should fulfill, nothing to be considered as hard work, the old general said solemnly. Lin Beifan looked around. Behind the old general stood tens of thousands of soldiers. They wore golden armor, stood in orderly formation, their banners fluttered, forming an imposing sight that soared to the sky. These are the troops cultivated by the old general? Very impressive, they carry a powerful presence, Lin Beifan nodded with satisfaction. The old general smiled, How could this old man have such ability? The youngsters have heard that Prime Minister ising tomand the battle, leading us to invade Darro and suppress all those who arent loyal! Prime Minister is the war god of our realm, a master of strategy. With him at the helm, this battle is destined to be victorious. Thats why our spirits are high, eager to fight! I see, Lin Beifan nodded. Prime Minister! The old generals eyes lit up, and he couldnt wait to say, Weve already made all the preparations! As long as you give the order, we can set off and march on Darro! March on Darro! March on Darro! The three armies shouted in unison, and their battle intent surged to the sky! Lin Beifans mood surged along with them, and he shouted, Very well! Officers and soldiers, make camp and rest for a day! Tomorrow morning, the army will set out and march on Darro! March on Darro! March on Darro! The enthusiastic shouts of the soldiers grew even louder! This terrifying battle intent quickly spread to Darro, causing everyone to panic and flee in fear. The Prime Minister of Great Wu, Lin Beifan, has arrived at Zhan Nan Pass. Hes going tounch an attack tomorrow morning. Run for your lives! To flee even before the battle has started, isnt that going too far? Too far? You have no idea! Hes the war god of Great Wu, a strategist. Hes won fourrge battles this year, each time against greater numbers and stronger foes. He defeated a united army of a million soldiers, and even a powerful army of over ten thousand warriors. The stronger the enemy, the more easily he wins. How can we defend against that? Furthermore, this time hes brought 18 Innate experts, along with the Innate experts from Zhan Nan Pass. There are more than 20 of them! And theres even said to be a Grandmaster protecting him from behind. Do we even stand a chance? Damn it! With so many strong individuals, we have no hope of winning. Looks like I need to flee too! We must flee; this is ourst chance! People fled in panic, and nobody could stop the chaos. The city was left nearly empty! Prince Hamu was furious, Why run? The enemy hasnt even attacked yet, and youre already losing yourposure! Hes just one man! Useless! All of you are useless! After venting his frustration, Prince Hamu continued his frantic preparations for battle. At this moment, after a night of rest, Lin Beifan led his army of 100,000 soldiers, filled with confidence and determination, into Darro. Originally, Darro wanted to send troops to face the Great Wu army head-on. However, their internal situation was a mess. With so many nobles and deserters, they couldnt organize an effective battle force. Thus, they had no choice but to defend the city, hoping to maintain some advantage. Not long after, the Great Wu army arrived at Darros first citySha Hai City. The city wasntrge, with only three to four hundred thousand residents. But who knows how many were left now. Moro, the defending general of Sha Hai City, stood on the city wall, witnessing the massive Great Wu army with a sense of despair. From the intelligence he had gathered, the 100,000 soldiers of the Great Wu army were all skilled and battle-hardened warriors. Theirmander was Lin Beifan, the Prime Minister of Great Wu. Although he looked like a schr, he was a brilliant strategist, winning severalrge-scale battles and frightening neighboring countries with his victories. Furthermore, he had brought 18 Innate experts on this campaign, andbined with the Innates from Zhan Nan Pass, their number had exceeded 20. Rumors said there was even a Grandmaster protecting them. Yet Moro could only muster five to six thousand soldiers, most of whom were hastily conscriptedborers. There were barely any Innate experts, let alone a Grandmaster. How could they fight? It was impossible to fight! Moro felt utterly hopeless. There was no chance of winning this battle, and he even felt like running himself! Looking at his soldiers down below, they were all trembling with fear, devoid of any fighting spirit. Even if they didnt want to fight, they had to fight! Moros gaze swept across the entire Great Wu army, and in the midst of the troops, he saw a young man wearing a red official robe. Although he appeared young, he was surrounded by formidable experts, making him stand out. So, Moro spoke loudly, Could you be Lin Beifan, the Prime Minister of Great Wu? Lin Beifan stood with his hands behind his back and said, Thats correct, I am indeed! Moro shouted, As officials of Great Wu, youve abandoned your loyalty to Great Wu and invaded our territory with your army. What do you intend? You should be asking yourselves that! Lin Beifan questioned loudly. If it werent for Darros treachery, tearing apart the alliance between our nations, driving away our merchants and schrs, and encroaching upon the interests of our people, would I be here? General Moros heart was filled with bitter irony. The actions they took were indeed hical! In the beginning, after their defeat, they should havepensated Great Wu, yet Great Wu not only didnt demandpensation, but also supported Darros development, which they should have felt grateful for. Under Great Wus support, the lives of the people had improved significantly. But now, the royal family had torn up the alliance, seizing the interests of Great Wu, and rebuilding the businesses and schrs, offending Great Wu! Such ingratitude made anyone angry! He couldnt understand why the Darro royal family had done such irrational things! Our dynastys honor cannot be tarnished! Since you Darro have acted treacherously and ungratefully, we in Great Wu will naturally not be courteous! Those who are disloyal to the empire must die, and disloyal nations must be subdued! Kill! Kill! Kill! Lin Beifan shouted loudly. Those who are disloyal to the empire must die! Disloyal nations must be vanquished! Kill! Kill! Kill! The 100,000-strong army shouted in unison, and their overwhelming killing intent shook the entire city! Inside the city, both soldiers and civilians trembled in fear, their faces pale. Moro felt despair once again. There was simply no way to fight this! Did he have to die here? Why did they, who were clearly the cause of the problem, make them shoulder the me? A great sense of resentment welled up in Moros heart. He shouted, Wait! Dont be so impulsive! Lin Beifan asked, Now that the two armies are in conflict, do you have something to say? Moro anxiously said, Actually, it was the higher-ups who broke the alliance, the Darro royal family. It has nothing to do with usmon people. We, themon people of Darro, dont want to be enemies of Great Wu! Lin Beifan couldnt understand. What difference does that make? Isnt the Darro royal family the embodiment of your will? That was in the past; things have changed now, Moro said bitterly. The Darro royal family has be insatiably greedy,pletely obsessed with personal gains. So, without our consent, they recklessly tore up the alliance and seized your interests. In truth, we dont want to fight, dont want to be your enemies. We just want to return to the days of old! The people in the city, both civilians and soldiers, joined in the outcry. Yes, they dont want to fight at all! Weve just begun enjoying a good life; who wants to go fight a war on a full stomach? Its all because of that cursed Darro royal family. Theyve betrayed us, forsaking the alliance for their own gains! Indeed, were all innocent! Lin Beifan finally realized, So thats the case. It seems I misunderstood you all! Prime Minister of Great Wu! Moro sped his hands, somewhat apprehensive. If we surrender, will things be the same as before? Will you continue sending people to conduct business, establish factories, provide various resources, and send schrs to educate us? With this question, the citys residents craned their necks in anticipation! Lin Beifan burst intoughter. Youre asking the right person! Do you know who proposed the alliance between our nations? Who? Moro urgently asked. Lin Beifan raised his head proudly. It was I, indeed! The entire audience was shocked. Ah? Its actually you, Prime Minister? Lin Beifan smiled and nodded. Thats right! Initially, Prince Hamu of Darro came to our country to discuss reparations. Seeing that your small nation would have to bear such heavypensation, which would burden every citizen, I couldnt bear to see that. So, I used all my might to persuade Her Majesty and the imperial court to abolish the war reparations! Later on, considering that life wasnt easy for you, I proposed opening up trade routes between our nations, allowing both countries to trade. We provided jobs, food, and more, letting you enjoy better lives! We also sent many schrs to help you read and learn, cultivate virtue and wisdom, and be good people! So, all of this was done by you, Prime Minister! The citys residents looked at Lin Beifan with newfound respect. It turned out that the person before them was their benefactor! The one who had brought them a better life! He was one of their own! No wonder he seemed so friendly and approachable! Chapter 358: Open the city gates, welcome the Prime Minister to enter the city! Chapter 358: Open the city gates, wee the Prime Minister to enter the city! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
I did not expect to be betrayed so much without any gratitude, but who knows Lin Beifan angrily said, The Darro Royal Family is actually so heartless for a little benefit. They tore up the alliance between the two countries, seized the property of our people, and even expelled them from their own home. This is simply unreasonable! The rage in my heart is hard to extinguish, and it must be quelled with blood! Therefore, we must deploy troops, conquer Darro, and suppress the anger! Conquer Darro, suppress the anger! Conquer Darro, suppress the anger! The furious cries of therge army behind Lin Beifan. Moro anxiously said, Lord Prime Minister, all of this is the royal familys doing, it has nothing to do with us! I didnt know before, but now I know! However, youre currently keeping the city gates closed, pointing swords at me. Do you intend to be my enemy? Lin Beifan shouted. Lord Prime Minister, were also very dissatisfied with the royal family and dont want to be their aplices! As for weapons Moro shouted loudly, Quickly put down your weapons, all of them, dont let Lord Prime Minister misunderstand! The weapons fell to the ground with a tter. What about this city gate! Lin Beifan pointed to the front gate. Lord Prime Minister, I have another question now! Moro asked eagerly, If we surrender by opening the city, can we continue trading and doing business between the two countries as before? Will Great Wu provide us with jobs and resources? The other soldiers and civilians all stared anxiously at Lin Beifan, feeling extremely uneasy. Lin Beifan shook his head slightly. The hearts of the crowd sank. Is Lord Prime Minister still angry? Are our good days gone? At this moment, Lin Beifan smiled and said, How could it be the same as before? It will only be better than before! Darrosmoners: Huh? Better than before? Everyone looked at Lin Beifan in confusion. Lin Beifanughed and said, The main purpose of our trip is to eliminate the treacherous Darro royal family! But after removing the Darro royal family, who will govern Darro? Naturally, it will be us from Great Wu! By that time, you will all be part of Great Wu, all of you will be our own people. Can you say we would mistreat our own people? Thats right! themoners of Darro brightened their eyes. At that time, we will not only restore trade, production, and education, but also enjoy the good policies that only our Great Wu citizens can enjoy! For example, we will build new water facilities here, transport arge amount of fertilizer to promote food production! We will also provide you with free rice seeds for increased production and ie, solving your food problem! Wow~~ The eyes of the Darromoners lit up even brighter. As long as you work in the fields, in the first year, youll be tax-free, and all the harvested grain will be yours! In the second year, youll only need to pay half of the grain tax, which is half of the normal amount! In the third year, youll pay even less, definitely less than a tenth! Wow~~ The eyes of the Darromoners grew even brighter. Help you repair bridges, expand river channels, and make your activities more convenient! Wow~~ The eyes of the Darromoners became even brighter. And there are incentives for childbirth as well. As long as you have more children, youll pay fewer taxes, and the more you have, the lighter your burden will be! Wow~~ The eyes of the Darromoners became even brighter, they understood this part very well. There are just too many good policies, I cant even list them all! You can go and inquire for yourselves, youll find out soon enough! By the way, what should I call that general? Lord Prime Minister, Im called Moro! Moro responded immediately. Hello, General Moro! If you surrender, your gains will be the greatest! Moro was taken aback, Huh? My gains will be the greatest? Of course! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Think about it, if Darro joins Great Wu, you, as a general of Darro, will be a general of our Great Wu! You can receive a sry from our court, fight in battles and make achievements in other ces, rise step by step. Isnt that a great opportunity? Yes, a great opportunity! Moro nodded repeatedly. Now, theres a huge achievement waiting for you! What achievement could be that big? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Right now, if you lead the entire citys poption to surrender, it will reduce casualties on both sides! Youll not only secure a better future for the Darro citizens but also help Great Wu expand its territory. Isnt that a significant achievement? Exactly Moro nodded in excitement. The soldiers of Great Wu were all stunned, dumbfounded! he battle hasnt even started, and not a single person died, yet Sha Hai City surrendered? Its too swift, too hasty, isnt it? Everyone turned their gaze toward the red figure at the front of the army, their eyes filled with reverence. Lord Prime Minister is amazing, just a few words from his mouth made the other side surrender! Zhao Kuo, who was among the troops, watched this scene with great excitement, his fists clenched tightly. I finally see it. This is the legendary strategy of winning the war without fighting! His gaze turned toward Lin Beifan, his eyes filled with passionate admiration, Lord Prime Minister, you truly possess the supreme wisdom of military strategy! Hes a genuine military deity, a saint of warfare! At this moment, under everyones watchful eyes, General Moro led a group of soldiers, walking towards Lin Beifan with a happy smile on his face. Before Lin Beifan, he bowed and said loudly, I am General Moro, paying respects to Lord Prime Minister! The people behind him echoed in unison, General pays respects to Lord Prime Minister! Lin Beifan eximed, Generals, please, no need for formalities! From now on, we are all on the same side! I hope that in the future, we will stand by each other, be loyal to His Majesty, and serve Great Wu! Yes, Lord Prime Minister! everyone responded joyfully. Lord Prime Minister, pleasee inside! Moro led the way ahead. Along the way, the Darro soldiers weed them, standing straight and full of spirit, as if they were weing fellowrades rather than enemies. The Darromoners on the outeryer cheered and rejoiced, their faces beaming with smiles, as if they had won a victory. Witnessing such an inspiring scene, Lin Beifan couldnt help but wave his hand, and said, Comrades, hello! The entire citys poption chimed in unison, Hello, Lord Prime Minister! Lin Beifan continued, Comrades, youve worked hard! Once again, the entire citys poption echoed in unison, Serving Lord Prime Minister! Lin Beifan waved his hands repeatedly, Wait, it should be Serving Her Majesty!'' Everyone once again said, Serving Her Majesty! Very good! Lin Beifan was very satisfied and continued loudly.
Note: I have uploaded new chapters of [My Ipetent Reign: Gifting the Kingdom at the Beginning, Bing an Eternal Emperor]. Visit . Chapter 359: Other’s troops are diminishing, but the Prime Minister’s forces are increasing! Chapter 359: Others troops are diminishing, but the Prime Ministers forces are increasing! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
After half an hour, Lin Beifan led his army out once again. This time, not just 100,000 troops, but 150,000 troops! Because Moros forces have joined in, he wants to seize the opportunity to achieve more aplishments and win greater victories! 150,000 soldiers, a vast and imposing force, marching towards the second city! Meanwhile, in the Darro Court. An official rushed in hastily: Your Highness, the Third Prince, something terrible has happened! The first city, Sha Hai City, has fallen! Prince Hamu was shocked: What? Fallen so quickly! In less than a day! Yes, Your Highness! the official said with a worried expression. Prince Hamus face turned heavy: Great Wu is even more fearsome than we thought! And Lin Beifan is also more fearsome than we thought! But to capture a city within a day, they must have suffered significant losses, right? Your Highness, they havent suffered any losses How is that possible? Dont joke around! Siege is one of the costliest battles, even with theirrge numbers and numerous experts, there will be casualties! Prince Hamu shook his head. Your Highness, they truly havent suffered any losses! Because they havent even started fighting. The defending general, Moro, surrendered and defected to the Great Wu camp!, the official eximed. Prince Hamu was shocked again: What? Moro actually betrayed us and surrendered to Great Wu? Its absolutely true, Your Highness. Right now, that traitor Moro has already joined the Great Wu army, and they are moving with the troops to the next city, the official hurriedly exined. Prince Hamu was so infuriated that he felt dizzy, his anger boiling over. His troops surrendered without even fighting, and theyre helping outsiders against him! This is simply unreasonable! Prince Hamu mmed his hand down on the table, grinding his teeth: That damn traitor Moro, ruining my ns for Darro! If I had known, I wouldnt have promoted him! Ungrateful and treacherous! Once this battle is over, Ill have him killed! The big battle is imminent, Your Highness, please calm down, the officialforted. Prince Hamu also knew that now wasnt the time to lose his temper, and he asked, Who is the defending general of the second city? How many soldiers are there? Can they withstand Great Wus massive army? Your Highness, the second city, Panshi City, is defended by General Qingfeng. Currently, Panshi City has about 80,000 troops, a substantial force that should be able to resist for two days, the official replied. General Qingfeng, I see! Prince Hamu smiled. Hes a young general I recently promoted, loyal and capable. With his strength, he should be able to hold out for three days, giving us enough time. What Your Highness says is very true! At this time, after a day had passed, the Great Wu army had arrived at the next city, Panshi City. On the city wall of Panshi City, a general with a stern face looked at the vast Great Wu army approaching, his expression heavy. With his strength and the troops in the city, they couldnt possibly stop the Great Wu army. But they had to fight, whether they wanted to or not! He had just received the orders from the Third Prince in the rear. He must hold out for three days, buying enough time for the rear. Three days of resistance? Even two days would be a blessing, General Qingfeng silently cursed. In essence, the his troops had already been abandoned. Just then, his expression changed to one of astonishment. He saw that within the Great Wu army, there were many soldiers wearing the armor of Darro. These were the troops of Darro, why were they mixed in with the Great Wu forces? And at that moment, his expression changed once again. He recognized many familiar faces among the Great Wu soldiers. One of them he even knew very well, his fellow viger and good friend, Moro, who had enlisted with him back in the day. He was wearing Great Wus golden armor,ughing and talking with the Great Wumanders. Moro, what are you doing there? General Qingfeng eximed. Qingfeng, long time no see! Moro excitedly waved his hand. The Great Wu army came to a halt. General Qingfeng asked, What are you doing there, and why are you wearing Great Wus golden armor? Isnt it obvious? Moro said with some pride, Ive switched allegiances, abandoned evil for good, and joined the embrace of Great Wu. Ive be a general in the Great Wu army! General Qingfengs anger red: Moro, youve be a traitor! Can you justify this to your own country? Of course, I can justify it. I did this entirely for Darro, for the people of Darro! Moro shouted, The Darro royal familys greed knows no bounds. For their own interests, they betrayed their word, tore up the alliance treaty between our countries, and left our people in dire straits. Dont you see all of this, Qingfeng? I understand, but Moro continued his tirade: Back when you were serving the royal family, they didnt spare you a nce. Now that disaster has struck, theyve dragged you out to sacrifice! Why do you still wag your tail and serve them? Why are you so despicable? I General Qingfeng was deeply hurt and pained by these usations. Qingfeng, you need to think carefully! You should first and foremost be a general of Darro, not apdog of the royal family. You should consider the well-being of Darros people, not the self-serving interests of the royal family! Lost in thought, General Qingfeng pondered on Moros words. Moro pointed at Lin Beifan and asked, Qingfeng, do you know who this person is? Squinting his eyes, General Qingfeng said, Prime Minister Lin Beifan of Great Wu? Exactly, its Prime Minister Lin Beifan! Do you know what hes done for us, the people of Darro? He what has he done? Moro eximed loudly, When Darro was defeated, it was Prime Minister Lin who argued on our behalf in the court, saving us from heavy reparations! He also facilitated the alliance treaty between our nations, allowing us to lead better lives! General Qingfeng was astonished, He Prime Minister Lin Beifan did all of that? Of course, did you think I was lying to you? Moro said. Respectfully, General Qingfeng bowed and eximed, Many thanks to Prime Minister Lin! With your support, my homnd is experiencing better days. On behalf of my fellow vigers, I thank you! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile. Ive already told Prime Minister Lin that the responsibility for all of this lies with the Darro royal family, not usmoners. Prime Minister Lin has a kind heart and cares for the people. He promised that as long as we eliminate the wicked royal family, trade will resume, production will recover, education will be restoredeverything will return to normal, allowing us to continue living good lives! Really? Qingfengs eyes lit up. Not only that! Moro eximed excitedly, Once Darro bes part of Great Wu, well all be Great Wu citizens and receive even more benefits! Great Wu will send people to build water facilities, repair roads and bridges, provide free grain, and even reduce taxes Great Wus citizens have it all, and we will too! Really? Qingfengs eyes shone even brighter. And us military officers will reap even greater rewards. Once we be part of Great Wu, well be Great Wus generals, receiving generous sries, and having the chance to rise in rank, bing esteemed officials of the empire! Well also have the opportunity to lead troops to fight in other ces, broadening our horizons! Really? Qingfengs eyes brightened even more. Of course, youre my childhood friend from the same vige. Why would I lie to you? Moro raised two fingers, Qingfeng, there are two opportunities for you now! What opportunities? Qingfeng asked eagerly. As long as you open the city gates, lead the entire city to surrender, and allow the Great Wu troops to enter, its equivalent to helping Great Wu expand its territory. Isnt that a great aplishment? Moroughed. Yes, thats a great aplishment! Qingfeng was delighted. Next, youll join us in leading the troops to attack other cities, together seeking retribution from the Darro royal family. Isnt that another great aplishment? Moro continued. Youre right! Qingfeng nodded happily. At this moment, Lin Beifan added with a smiling face, Everything General Moro has said represents my intentions! As long as you surrender by opening the gates, theres no need to fight anymore. Everyone can go back to living the way they did before! And you, Qingfeng, will also be a general in Great Wu, climbing the ranks and having a promising future! While General Qingfeng was still reserved, the people below couldnt sit still any longer. General, what are you hesitating for? Surrender quickly! As long as we surrender by opening the gates, we wont have to fight, and no one will die! The Great Wu army is strong, and they have countless experts. We cant possibly win, so we might as well join them! By doing so, we can continue to live as we did before, and even better! General, isnt this a great opportunity for your future? Under the persuasion of the crowd, General Qingfeng loudly dered, Open the city gates, wee the Prime Minister into the city! Open the city gates, wee the Prime Minister into the city! Open the city gates, wee the Prime Minister into the city! The excited voices quickly spread throughout the city. With a loud bang, the gates opened. Qingfeng led the soldiers and the townspeople to wee Lin Beifan into Panshi City with joy and excitement. The Great Wu soldiers were left dumbfounded! What a group! The second city was captured so easily! Once again, they achieved victory effortlessly, without expending any effort or losing a single soldier! Prime Minister Lin Beifan was amazing; please ept my admiration! Zhao Kuo, who followed behind, became excited once again: Another instance of bending the enemy without fighting! Its so impressive. When will I be able to wield tactics like Prime Minister Lin? Then, Lin Beifan delivered another heart-stirring speech that resonated throughout the city, solidifying his influence. After that, he counted the number of soldiers and headed towards the third city. This time, Lin Beifans forces grew even stronger! It wasnt just 100,000 soldiers or 150,000 soldiers; it was now 220,000 soldiers! In the span of a day, their numbers had doubled! The Great Wumanders couldnt help but marvel once again. Prime Minister Lin was truly extraordinary! While the enemys troops were diminishing with each battle, Lin Beifan was doing the oppositehis forces were growingrger. Astonishingly, the more they fought, the more troops they had, shocking everyone! After tallying the numbers, Lin Beifan raised his arm and shouted, Lets set out and head to the next city! With a massive army of 220,000 soldiers, they departed from Panshi City, marching in a mighty procession. Chapter 360: I didn’t have a choice before, but now I want to become a great warrior! Chapter 360: I didnt have a choice before, but now I want to be a great warrior! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The news of the fall of the second city quickly spread to Royal Pce. Prince Hamu was greatly rmed. Especially upon learning that the other side didnt even engage in battle and surrendered directly by opening the gates, he was trembling with anger. Qingfeng, this guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes, has also betrayed me? An official sighed bitterly, Your Highness, its said that he and Moro were childhood friends from the same vige, and their bond was unbreakable. Thats why he was convinced! Now, he has donned the golden armor of the Great Wu and led arge army to attack Daliang City! Damn it! Prince Hamu cursed angrily, I promoted you all, and in return, you not only show no gratitude but stab me in the back. Each and every one of you is ungrateful, and none of you will have a good end! Your Highness, please calm down! Currently, the Great Wu has gathered the forces of two cities, with a total strength exceeding 200,000. The situation is critical, and we need to consider how to respond, the official reassured. Who is the defender of Daliang City? Prince Hamu asked. Your Highness, the defender of Daliang City is General Nihan. He has been in the military for many years, experienced and cunning. He should be able to hold off the Great Wu for a few days, the official reported. Well, so its General Nihan, not bad! Prince Hamu nodded slightly. However, a bad premonition quickly welled up in his heart. He He shouldnt betray us, right? Your Highness, rest assured. General Nihan is a man of integrity. He is loyal and devoted, and he shouldnt betray us. Very well, then I can be at ease. At this moment, Lin Beifan had already led his army to the outskirts of Daliang City. Moro and Qingfeng waved their gs and shouted from below the city walls. General Nihan, the Darro royal family has been treacherous and heartless! For their own gain, they have disregarded the people and abandoned morality. Those whomit unjust acts are destined for self-destruction! We advise you to surrender quickly and open the gates to wee the Prime Minister! Old General, as long as you surrender and open the gates, everyone could possibly live better lives than before, even better than before! Old General, you will also be a general in the Great Wu, receiving court stipends! Youll have the chance to rise step by step, leading the army across thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, achieving great deeds. Isnt this better than being a mere defender and living leisurely? General Nihan cursed angrily, You damn dogs! No matter how much you bber, its useless! I am a man of integrity, loyal and devoted, dedicated to serving the monarch and the country. I will absolutely nevermit treachery! It seems theres nothing left to discuss! General Nihan, you shall bear the consequences! The Great Wu army unsheathed their weapons one after another, and the formidable experts of the Innate Realm flexed their muscles, eager to try their skills. Wait, hold on! I havent finished speaking yet! You young folks, always so impatient and hasty. Cant you wait for me to finish talking before you take action? General Nihan urgently interjected. What do you have to say now? Moro asked. I have only one sentence now! General Nihan waved his hand dramatically and shouted loudly, Open the gates, wee the Prime Minister! Moro and Qingfeng: Oh my god! With a loud bang, the city gates opened. Lin Beifan and the others were joyfully weed into the city. Moro looked puzzled, General Nihan, didnt you say you were a man of integrity? Howe General Nihan stood resolutely, This is indeed my integrity. Id rather kneel down and live than stand and die. I absolutely wont give you the chance to draw your swords! Moro spat out blood, Cough! General Nihan, didnt you say you were loyal and devoted? Qingfeng asked. General Nihan continued firmly, I am indeed a loyal person, but my loyalty is only to the Great Wu! I was born as a person of the Great Wu, and Ill die as a ghost of the Great Wu! Qingfeng spat out blood, Cough! Lin Beifan sighed with emotion, Old General, your determination is truly impressive! People have always said youre cunning and calcting, and I didnt believe it. Now I do! With you in the Great Wu, how could it not prosper? Absolutely! General Nihan nced at therge army behind Lin Beifan and said, This battle doesnt need to be fought at all. The ultimate result is the citys destruction, so why bother? Besides, Ive long been displeased with the royal familys actions and have never done their bidding. Since thats the case, why not go against them? Lin Beifan nodded, Youre absolutely right, Old General! With sincere emotions, General Nihan turned to Prime Minister Lin and said, Prime Minister, I didnt have a choice before, but now I want to be a great warrior! Ive heard of your benevolence and righteousness. Can you give me this opportunity? Touched, Lin Beifan responded, Your sense of duty is admirable, and I will arrange it! Lin Beifan immediately had a set of majestic and imposing golden armor brought in and helped General Nihan put it on. General Nihan was very pleased and led his own forces to join Lin Beifans army. As a result, the imperial army quickly swelled to 300,000 strong. Everyone was in awe, and the troops continued to grow as they fought. In just two days, the army had expanded to 300,000, doubling its original size! Hamus household quickly received news of General Nihans surrender, which nearly left them speechless. They had initially held some hope for him, but he surrendered at the first opportunity. He didnt even put up a fight and opened the gates without any preparation. Im furious! Prince Hamu pounded his chest and yelled in frustration. Your Highness, the Great Wu forces have now expanded to 300,000, while our forces have suffered a loss of 200,000. The situation is extremely unfavorable for us! We must increase our troops in order to counter the fierce Great Wu army! an official reported. Prince Hamu nodded with a serious expression, Youre right, we must conscript more troops! So, Prince Hamu immediately began an extensive conscription campaign. Anyone who met the basic criteriabeing a healthy male with all limbs intactwas drafted into the army. This simple criterion led to widespread discontent among the people. Damn it! A while ago, they tore up the alliance between the two countries, cut off our livelihood, and left us with no way out! Now theyre not even allowing us toin, just pping us in the face! And now theyre dragging us into the army. Are they trying to drive us to our deaths? Has the court gone mad? Are they making so many brainless decisions? The officials heads must have been squeezed by the door. They wont let us die in peace! These days are getting tougher, I cant bear it anymore! We might as well revolt! Theres no future for us anyway! Exactly! Lets revolt against those bastards! Several small riots erupted among the people, leaving Prince Hamu with a splitting headache. Who dares to revolt? Execute them all, leave no one behind! And at this time, Lin Beifan continued to lead his army to capture cities and expand their territory. They had now reached the fourth city, Duyu City. Seeing the massive army approach the city, the defending generals didnt say a word and simply surrendered by opening the gates. Moro, Qingfeng, and Nihan were dumbfounded. Why did you surrender so quickly? At least let us say a few words! The defending generals sneered, Do I need you to tell me? Cant I see with my own eyes? Look at this vast army of people. How can I defend a small city against this? Id be brainless to fight against you! Moro, Qingfeng, and Nihan: . Looking at you three, I understand everything! The defending generals boasted, As long as I surrender quickly, there will definitely be a ce for me in the Great Wu! This pattern continued. Every time therge army arrived, the people within the city immediately surrendered, weing Lin Beifan into the city. As a result, Lin Beifans forces grewrger andrger, quickly expanding from 300,000 to 400,000, and then to 500,000. The Great Wumanders were bewildered. He was just enjoying hotpot and reciting poems, and in the blink of an eye, the city surrendered! Is this battle really that easy to win? Why is this happening, Prime Minister? Someone asked, and everyone listened intently. Lin Beifan smiled, Dont judge this battle by how easy it seems! Before the battle even began, I had made thorough preparations. Prime Minister, please borate! the crowd inquired. Ive been implementing this n for a year and a half now! Lin Beifanughed, When Darro Country sent an envoy to negotiate in the capital, we didnt demandpensation. Instead, we opened ports, promoted trade, and established educational initiatives to improve the lives of the Darro citizens. Now its clear that it has worked! The crowd nodded slightly. The reason for all of this was to gradually annex Darro without their noticing! However, the Darro royal family caught onto our intentions and tore up the alliance. They expelled our traders and educators! As a result, the lives of the Darro citizens were returned to their previous state! You all know that going from frugality to extravagance is easy, but returning to frugality from extravagance is difficult! Naturally, the actions of the Darro royal family led to public anger! So, we manipted the situation, escted tensions between the two sides, causing turmoil within the Darro royal family! Coupled with our advancing army and constant pressure, chaos ensued. They not only lost their sense of morality but also their peoples support! In reality, whatmon people want is quite simplehaving enough to eat, being warmly clothed, and getting good rest! However, these simple desires couldnt be fulfilled by the Darro royal family, but we, the Great Wu, can fulfill them. Naturally, they lean towards our side, Lin Beifan said with a smug smile. So, when our army arrives, they dont want to oppose us at all. Moreover, they cant win in a fight and would risk their lives. Why bother? So, only one path remainssurrender! After surrendering, everyones lives are saved, and they can even return to their previous lives, or even have better lives. Isnt that good? If it were you, how would you choose? Of course, Id surrender! Everyone burst intoughter. They praised Lin Beifan incessantly. The Prime Minister truly is a master of strategy and tactics! He startedying the groundwork more than a year ago, and from the beginning, he was in an unbeatable position. He defeated the enemy without even fighting! Amazing! Truly impressive! Were deeply impressed! Prime Minister, please ept our salute! Two more days passed, and Lin Beifan finally led his troops to the capital of Darro. That day, a force of 600,000 soldiers encamped outside the city walls! The people in the city were stunned. The enormous army, with its sea of soldiers and fluttering banners, surrounded the city where the royal pce was located, formingyer uponyer. There was no way in or out! Chapter 361: The Sharpest Dagger Often Comes from Within! Chapter 361: The Sharpest Dagger Often Comes from Within! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
How did the Great Wu gather so many people? Didnt we hear there were only 100,000? Look at the armor! The regr troops are only 100,000; the rest are our Darro forces! They joined the Great Wu and came to fight with the Great Wu army. Arent we doomed here? If only we had escaped earlier, what regrets! Though the city had over 500,000 soldiers, simr to the force Lin Beifan brought, the difference was evident. The troops led by Lin Beifan appeared vigorous, spirited, and full of conviction, while those in the city looked fearful, uncertain, and trembling, devoid of fighting spirit. It was clear who was strong and who was weak. How could they win the battle? Prince Hamu looked at the trembling Darro soldiers, his face darkened with anger. Before the battle even began, they were already frightened. How could they charge forward and resist the enemyter? Prince Hamu cursed the weak-hearted soldiers in his heart and felt extremely frustrated. Among the 500,000 soldiers, only 200,000 were regr troops. The other 300,000 were hastily recruited conscripts who had received little training and had never been in battle. It was natural for them to be afraid of the Great Wu army. So, they needed to boost morale! Prince Hamu eximed loudly, Soldiers, dont be afraid! Although the enemy has arge number, theyre just a paper tiger, all show and no substance. With our weapons raised, theres no undefeated foe in the world. We, the people of Darro, will triumph! At this moment, mockingughter echoed from the Great Wu army. Prince Hamu, arent you feeling guilty as you speak? Who is the real paper tiger after all? Look at your soldiers, their legs are trembling in fear. Its hrious! Tell your lies with open eyes. Im willing to proim you as the strongest! Following the direction of the voices, Prince Hamu looked over, his anger surging through his veins. Because the ones mocking him were the former DarromandersMoro, Qingfeng, Nihan They had all donned the Great Wus golden armor, embraced the Great Wus cause, and were now mocking him mercilessly. Prince Hamu angrily retorted, Shut up! You ungrateful traitors coborating with the enemy, selling out our countrydo you have the right to mock me? You surrendered without a fight and betrayed ournd. You even cheered for the Great Wu. Our Darro doesnt have such treacherous souls as yours! The defectors sneered, their faces full of disdain. What nonsense are you spouting? Werent you the first to break your promises, betraying loyalty and ethics, tearing up the alliance between our nations, stirring trouble with the Great Wu, causing our people to suffer in dire straits? Now that the nobles have fled, no one is left to fight. Youre using our lives as a buffer! Youre just trying to get us killed while dragging the entire city down with you! Youre the real treacherous ones!!! Nonsense! Prince Hamu exploded in anger. At this moment, Lin Beifan appeared with a cheerful smile. Prince Hamu, as the saying goes, Many roads lead to sess, but few lead to righteousness. Its because you acted without regard for ethics, without concern for the lives of the people, driven by personal gain, that you find yourself in this situation! Its all your own doing, and you have no one to me but yourself! As for my generals here, they all understand righteousness and have the well-being of the people at heart. Theyve seen through your true nature, which is why they abandoned evil for good and joined the embrace of the Great Wu! They are all fighting for themon people, for Darro, and for justice. They are all loyal and righteous individuals. The troops they lead are the forces of justice! His voice resonated powerfully throughout the scene. Having received Lin Beifans praise, the surrendered generals lifted their heads high, their spirits soaring. Surrendered soldiers of Darro raised their chests, their fighting spirit surging. Lin Beifan! Prince Hamu red at Lin Beifan with gritted teeth. It was this scoundrel who had deceived them back then, causing them to lose hundreds of thousands of taels of money and fall into a deep pit. And now, he dared to lead a massive army to attack! Shameless! At this moment, Moro reported loudly, Your Excellency, its gettingte. Why dont we charge into the city now and capture Prince Hamu and all members of the royal court to hold them ountable? A general raised his sword and roared, Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! The 600,000 soldiers shouted in unison, the sound shaking the entire city. Soldiers andmoners alike in the city took three steps back, their hearts trembling in fear. Prince Hamu saw that this wouldnt do! He quickly shouted, Wait! With a grin, Lin Beifan said, Prince Hamu, do you have anything else to say? Prince Hamu didnt look at Lin Beifan, but at the surrendered Darro generals. He said loudly, Gentlemen, its certain that our royal family has done something disappointing, which led to your surrender to the Great Wu. I apologize to all of you on behalf of our royal family! Saying so, he bowed deeply. The surrendered generals were a bit confused, not understanding what Prince Hamu was up towas he ying the sympathy card? Prince Hamu continued, Although youve surrendered to the Great Wu, I dont me you. me myself, me our royal family for not doing well enough. But as the saying goes, dont criticize your own family. Remember, Darro is your eternal country, here is your eternal home, your roots! Even though youve surrendered to the Great Wu, youre still outsiders, unable to truly assimte into the Great Wu. The same opportunities for promotion will certainly note your way. The same opportunities to make money will first go to their own people. You will always be outsiders! Moreover, dont be fooled by Lin Beifans promises. Will he actually fulfill them in the end? No one knows! This guy is sweet-tongued but two-faced. Hes incredibly cunning, concealing his emotions, so beware of falling for his trap! The surrendered generals expressions gradually turned grim. Prince Hamu had touched on their concerns. With a grin, Lin Beifan asked, Prince Hamu, what do you really want to say? My intention is for all of you to return! Prince Hamu dered loudly, As long as you return, I wont hold your past actions against you. Look around, ourbined forces now number over a millionover ten times the size of the Great Wu army. Our odds of victory are high! As long as we win this battle, youll be heroes of Darro, with promotions and honors just around the corner. Youll have everything you desire, living the life you want, better than begging like dogs under Great Wus rule. One has to admit, Prince Hamus rhetoric was quite effective! After hearing Prince Hamus words, the surrendered generals started to have some thoughts. The surrendered soldiers of Darro were stirred with emotion. Prince Hamu was pleased with their reaction and was about to continue speaking. However, Lin Beifan burst intoughter and said, Prince Hamu, youre quite amusing! At this point, you still want to sow discord? Do you think theyre foolish enough to believe your words? Hmph! Isnt what Im saying correct? Prince Hamu retorted angrily. Lin Beifan remainedposed and said, Prince Hamu, youre being delusional! I have 20 Innate experts and even a Grandmaster here. How are you going to contend with me? Do you think sheer numbers will suffice to challenge me? Leaving aside the question of whether youll seed or not, even if you do seed, what will happen to Darro? Hmph! It will remain the same! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. Everyone will still be hungry, without clothes to wear or homes to live in. Nothing will change! And after experiencing a great war, your supplies will be cut off by us again, making life even harder! Everyone was deeply moved by his words. Because Lin Beifan was absolutely right! If they managed to drive back the Great Wus army and win this battle, what would change? It would only make their lives even more difficult! Without food, clothes, or shelternothing at all! If they were already suffering so much, why even fight? Just to return to the hardships of the past? That effort would be in vain! Prince Hamu urgently stated, Listen to me, Lin Beifan is talking nonsense! After winning this battle, I will definitely treat you well! Lin Beifanughed again, Treat you well? What a joke! When our army hadnt arrived, you were already in such a miserable state! Do you think things will magically get better after we leave? Dont be naive. Gentlemen, they will be even more ruthless towards you! Because they fear that you might rebel again, that you could shake their rule. They will undoubtedly resort to bloody suppression! The ones who stab the deepest are often your own people! They know exactly where it hurts the most, where its most fatal! The surrendered Darro soldiers, who had been wavering, became resolute after hearing Lin Beifans words. The Prime Ministers words were right; the Darro royal family could never treat them well. Because they were afraid that they might rebel again! And stabbing hurts more when its done by ones own! Because they knew our pain so well! Lin Beifan continued, And all you generals, dont overthink it either! After submitting again to them, do you really think youll rise to high positions and live the lives you desire? No, its impossible! Because those fleeing nobles wille back and continue to enjoy everything they had before. Where would that leave positions for you? Darro is so vast, but there are limited positions, not enough to go around! When the surrendered generals heard this, they found it quite reasonable. The reason they had achieved their positions was that the nobles had fled, which had given them the opportunity. When those nobles returned, where would there be a ce for them? They would inevitably be thorns in the side of the nobles, facing exclusion and suppression, living worse than before. Given that, it was better to stick with the Prime Minister to the end! Prince Hamu urgently stated, Dont listen to Lin Beifans nonsense. I will definitely give you the benefits you deserve! As for those fleeing nobles, they can stay wherever they want. I wont tolerate them! Lin Beifan burst intoughter once more, Prince Hamu, youre joking again. Do you even have the ability to do that? Back then, they said they were leaving, and they left without hesitation. How many of them did you actually punish? Lin Beifan yfully winked, How about you call them back now? Lets see if theyll pay attention to you. You! Prince Hamu was exasperated. The surrendered generals became even more steadfast in following Lin Beifan! With a triumphant smile, Lin Beifan said, So, Prince Hamu, youre truly powerless! Since you cant deliver, dont make empty promises and embarrass yourself! Lin Beifan!!! Prince Hamu ground his teeth in anger. His eyes turned red, emitting intense killing intent that seemed to pierce through the sky! Chapter 362: Darro’s warriors all disarm, not a single one is a true man! Chapter 362: Darros warriors all disarm, not a single one is a true man! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
In thest moments, Lin Beifan looked towards the city and loudly proimed, Dear people of Darro, I urge you to quickly surrender and open the gates. Dont aid tyranny any longer! Theres nothing good for you in continuing this fight! If you lose, youll all meet your end, and therell be nothing left! And if by some unfortunate chance you win, itll be even worse! A voice from within the city questioned, Why would winning be worse? Lin Beifan responded loudly, Because, if you win, the Great Wu will definitely cut off ties with you! No food to eat, no jobs, no clothes, nothing at all. Life will be unbearably harsh. Is this what you aspire to? The people in the city were stirred by Lin Beifans words. He was right! Losing means death, and winning means going back to a life of hardship theyve experienced before. Whether they win or lose, their situation is dire. Why continue the fight? Lin Beifan continued, Even if you manage to bite back, itll be a Pyrrhic victory. How much strength will you have left? Look at our forces: this time we brought 100,000 troops, and even if we suffer losses, we cane back. How many times can you withstand that? The citys residents became even more realized. Lin Beifan was right once again! They brought only 100,000 troops, and even if theyre wiped out, it wont matter. Because they have millions of troops back in their country, they can send reinforcements after losing 100,000. At that point, they would already be heavily weakened. How can they resist? Defeat is inevitable, and death is certain! Lin Beifan continued shouting, Furthermore, do you think that if you win, the Darro royal family will treat you well? Let me tell you, they absolutely wont! Theyll only exploit and suppress you relentlessly, because youve rebelled against them, threatening their rule! After all is said and done, they will settle scores! Revenge will be taken, suppression will ur! By then, youll be heavily weakened, so what strength will you have left to resist them? Youll only be at their mercy! Is this what you want? The citys residents became even more uproar! They remembered everything they had been through. They recalled how the Darro royal family treated them! It hadnt been just a few days since the events unfolded, and the blood on the ground hadnt even dried yet. The smell of blood still lingered! In response, angry voices spread throughout the city. The Prime Minister is right! They dont even see us as human beings! Following the royal family only leads to our own losses in the end! My mother, my wife, and children were killed by them! I cant forget the despair in their eyes! Because I spoke a few words more, they knocked out all my teeth, and now I cant speak properly! Theyre not human at all, theyre a bunch of devils! The hearts of the Darro citizens became even more shaken. Prince Hamu shouted urgently, Everyone, dont listen to his nonsense! Absolutely dont listen to his nonsense! Hes undermining our military morale, he has ulterior motives! Things are definitely not like this Lin Beifanughed heartily, Prince Hamu, I am indeed undermining military morale. What can you do about it? Dare you deny everything youve done? I distinctly remember, just 20 days ago, the peoplecked provisions and resorted to looting, leading to chaos in the city! And what did you do? Instead of showingpassion for the people, you dispatched 100,000 troops to suppress them! It said tens of thousands ofmoners died in that riot! They didnt die at the hands of the enemy but at the hands of their own people. How ridiculous! Hahaha Lin Beifansughter was loud, but the citizens in the city were furious, not at Lin Beifan, but at the royal family. And then,ter on, the citys citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the royal family and whispered a few words against them! What did you do? You heartlessly sent arge force to arrest them all and throw them into prison. When the prison couldnt amodate everyone, you resorted to pping them and knocking out their teeth! Just because of a few words, you went as far as knocking out peoples teeth? How cold-blooded! Ive traveled far and wide for so many years, and Ive seen a lot of people, but Ive never seen such a cruel person! Your royal family truly sets a new precedent in history! Hahaha Lin Beifansughter grew even louder, and the citys residents grew even more outraged. Whats even more ridiculous is that theres more toe! Youve offended the Darro citizens time and time again, and yet shamelessly roped people in to be soldiers, to protect you! And after using them, you just kick them aside. Why do you have such a bloated ego? Being a citizen under your rule is truly pitiful, spending your whole life serving enemies as if you were cattle. Its both tragic andughable! Hahaha Prince Hamu roared angrily, Lin Beifan, shut up, dont say another word! Why dont you let me speak? Is what Im saying not true? Every single thing Ive said, isnt it something youve done? Its truly unforgivable! Lin Beifan pped his hands andughed, Youre allowed to act, but were not allowed to speak! But can you control the people of Darro? Can you control me? Can you control the mouths of people everywhere? Haha The echoingughter reached Prince Hamus ears, how grating it was! To the mouths of the Darro citizens, it brought anger and difort. It was building up for the final eruption! At that moment, Lin Beifan looked over the entire citys residents and said with a tone of disdain, To tell the truth, the Darro royal family harbors a me of unwillingness burning fiercely in their hearts! You people, still not resisting? I look down on you! Let me offer you a poem: Darros warriors all disarm, not a single one is a true man! This statement was indeed provoking, adding fuel to the fire! All the citizens in the city became excited! Damn it, I cant take this anymore! Who are they calling not a true man? Ill drop my pants and show them whos got it! Pick up your weapons, today well rebel against them! Today, Im going to kill these bastards one by one, for every one of us they kill! Rebel and roar! The citizens were furious, their emotions surged! Those citizens who were temporarily drafted into the army took off their armor and pointed their swords at Prince Hamu. Prince Hamu panicked, Everyone, dont act recklessly, listen to me Go to hell! Today, its either you or us! Ill kill you, you bastard! I wont let you live, I share yourst name! Many pieces of rubbish and stones were thrown towards the city walls, directly at Prince Hamu. He had some martial skills, but facing the onught of rubbish and stonesing from all sides, he was inevitably distracted, getting hit a few times and ending up battered and bruised. As for others, the situation was even worse, their heads were broken and bleeding from the impact of the stones! However, everyone felt that it was not enough. It seemed that unless a few people were killed, their anger couldnt be extinguished! Lin Beifan shouted loudly, So it turns out all of you are passionate heroes, and I deeply admire that! I solemnly promise here that as long as we eliminate the royal family, for each member we kill, there will be generous rewards! As long as we get rid of the royal family, you will rise up as masters, weing a brand new era! Youll be honorable citizens of Great Wu, and youll have everything youve ever possessed, and even more! Everyone, let loose and take action! Along with the 600,000 troops behind me, we are your strongest support! After hearing Lin Beifans words, the citizens in the city became even more excited! Countless words and sentiments converged into one word. Charge!!! Everyone brandished their weapons and rushed up the city walls to settle the score with Prince Hamu. Some even stormed into the royal court to eliminate the royal family members. Many others attacked the nobles residences, engaging in a frenzy of burning, killing, and looting. Lin Beifans skilled followers couldnt hold back anymore. This is thest chance, if we dont act now, we might not get another opportunity! Lets go and capture the royal family members, bring them back for interrogation! Prime Minister, we take our leave for now! Everyone swiftly scaled the city walls, their impatience palpable. There were only so many members of the royal family, and capturing one meant one less, so they were afraid that if they were even a minutete, theyd miss out on their share of credit. With 20 innate masters, the oue was clear. Lin Beifan calmly observed everything, waiting for the final harvest. Just at that moment, the city gates burst open. Open the city gates, wee the Prime Minister! Amid the jubnt wee of the entire citys residents, Lin Beifan led his troops into the city. Then, he coordinated the action of the 600,000 troops with the citys residents. Because the Darro royal family was utterly unable to resist the overwhelming force of therge army, the war quickly came to an end! The stubborn forces of the royal family werepletely eradicated. Darro King and numerous descendants, consorts, and others rted to them, a total of 113 people, were all escorted to the square for interrogation. The oue was certain! Standing in the square, facing the members of the royal family, Lin Beifan smiled and asked, How do you all think we should deal with them? Execute them all, leave not a single one! Yes! Kill them all! Let their lineage be severed for good! I want revenge for my parents! Themon people shouted in anger, and the members of the royal family trembled in fear, their faces pale. A general of Great Wu said, Prime Minister, the peripheral members can be executed! But for the main members, such as the king and the princes, I suggest that they be taken back for Her Majesty to judge. Lin Beifan nodded slightly; this was currently the most reasonable approach. However, the defected Darro generals argued, Prime Minister, just kill them all! Their heinous crimes are so enormous that words cannot describe them. Every day they live is a sin. Theres no need to continue polluting Her Majestys sight! Lin Beifan also nodded slightly; he saw through the thoughts of these people. They had defected, and there was always a bit of guilt in their hearts. Because of their betrayal, which led to Darros major defeat, the Darro royal family hated them the most. Given the chance, revenge would be certain. Therefore, to prevent endless worries, killing them now would bring peace of mind. No need to send them back, kill them one by one right here, right now! Lin Beifan shouted loudly. The surrendered generals sighed in relief, and the generals of Great Wu didnt dwell on it. Bring these criminals to the execution ground! Snap Snap As blood-soaked heads fell to the ground one by one, everyone felt a sense of satisfaction and release. Chapter 363: Returning Land? With all the royal family members killed, who should it be returned to? Chapter 363: Returning Land? With all the royal family members killed, who should it be returned to? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Then, Lin Beifan ordered the othermanders to reim several other cities. With the royal family members wiped out and other nobles mostly fled, taking over the remaining cities was smooth. There was no need for fighting; they surrendered directly, weing the army with joy and excitement. Lin Beifan sat in the royal court, overseeing the situation. With his efforts, themon people who had been imprisoned were released. The passage between the two nations was restored once again, trade flowed smoothly, and supplies began to enter Darro again. The driven-out merchants and schoolteachers slowly returned, and production and business activities began again. The schools continued sses, and everything resumed in an orderly manner. Seeing this scene, the hearts of the Darromon people finally settled. They celebrated with joy and happiness! With good times ahead, who would want to cause trouble? Meanwhile, the news of Great Wu conquering Darro spread throughout thend, astonishing everyone. Within just a week of starting the campaign, they managed to conquer Darro, a country with a poption reaching millions and a territory of over 300,000 square kilometers? What kind of divine speed is this? They cant even finish a military march in that time! Brave and ferocious Darro, a country with a fierce popce. Was it really that easy to defeat them? I heard that the one leading the campaign for Great Wu is Prime Minister Lin Beifan! Although hes a schr, hes an expert in military affairs! He led only 100,000 troops to Darro, and upon seeing him, the citys defenders surrendered without a fight! And so, without any losses, they managed to reach the royal court of Darro! Not only did they avoid losing any troops, they even reimed numerous cities along the way. The armys size kept growing, eventually reaching 600,000 troops! With 600,000 troops besieging the city and the citizens in the city switching sides, the battle was won! Prime Minister Lins military prowess is truly admirable! Five consecutive victories, each more spectacr than thest! Prime Minister Lin is undoubtedly the worlds number one war deity! I salute him! Expanding territory and gainingnd, what a remarkable achievement! Great Wu has profited greatly! Admiration, admiration! Within the imperial court of Great Wu, the Empress burst intoughter: I knew it, Lin Beifan is not one to disappoint! In less than a months time, he managed to conquer Darro without losing a single soldier. I must reward him handsomely! Congrattions, Your Majesty! Congrattions on bing the third Emperor of Great Wu to expand the territory since the countrys foundation! And at the same time, the first Empress in the entire worlds history to expand the territory! Based solely on this achievement, Your Majestys name will echo through history, leaving an eternal legacy! Such achievements can bepared to the emperors of old! Praises poured in abundantly. The Empress continued tough heartily, extremely pleased. While the Empress was delighted, other emperors from neighboring countries werent as happy; they felt a sense of crisis. Because Great Wu had already be one of the three major dynasties in the world, with considerable strength that shook the world. Now, they had conquered Darro, further increasing their might. After all,nd and poption were resources. Great Wu had suddenly gained so many resources; wouldnt they be stronger? As they grew stronger, wouldnt neighboring countries be more vulnerable? Consequently, they couldnt sit still, and they raised the banner of righteousness to criticize and condemn Great Wu. Great Wus campaign is an invasion, an unjust war! Bullying a smaller nation shows no responsibility as a major power! Great Wu should immediately withdraw their troops and return thend to the Darro royal family! Without waiting for Great Wu to respond, Lin Beifan directly countered, Ive already killed all the Darro royal family members. Who should we return thend to? The representatives of various nations were left speechless and had no choice but to suggest an alternative solution. This person possesses the bloodline of the Darro royal family and has the right to inherit. We can return the Darrond to him! Lin Beifan continued to counter: Sure, give it to him. Let hime and im it! The representatives of various countries were countered again and continued with their arguments. Great Wus cruelty andck of benevolence, for their own personal gain, used force to conquer Darro! The Darro citizens are disced, their lives miserable, against the principles of heaven! We hope people of integrity from all around will join us in condemning this! Lin Beifan retorted once more: Sounds good in words! If you have an issue with me, have the guts to fight me! If you dare send your troops, Ill respect you as a real man! Both sides exchanged heated words, but in the end, they couldnt outwit Lin Beifan and left dejectedly. The Great Xia Dynasty, since their crown prince was still in the hands of Great Wu, could only talk and couldnt take any reckless actions. The Dayue Dynasty was preupied with internal and external troubles and could only resort to verbal threats. As for other smaller countries, they didnt really matter. Only the Great Yan Dynasty made some moves. Because the Great Yan Dynasty was geographically close to both Great Wu and Darro, they neighbored each other and formed a triangr rtionship. When Great Wu attacked Darro, they observed from the sidelines, waiting for an opportunity. But in less than a week, Darro had been conquered by Great Wu, a speed that even they hadnt anticipated. Now, Great Yan was directly facing Great Wu, increasing the threat. So, they immediately mobilized 300,000 troops, along with their existing 100,000 troops, forming a total of 400,000 soldiers stationed at the border. They appeared as if they were ready to attack at any moment, intensifying the situation. However, on Lin Beifans side, everyone was excited. Lets start the fight, lets get ready to fight again! Weve been here for so long without getting into a real battle. What a bore! This time, our opponent is Great Yan, one of the three major dynasties. Finally, we can have a satisfying showdown! The timing couldnt be better, and the wee couldnt be warmer! I missed the battle at Ho Pass, but I wont miss this one. What a stroke of luck! Thankfully, I followed along. Haha! Everyone was eager to get started, their spirits high. It must be said that as militarymanders, they loved fighting the most, as battles provided them with opportunities to achieve fame and aplishments. Darros situation had left them frustrated for a while, but now they were facing Great Yan. An empire not inferior to Great Wu at all! If they managed to defeat Great Yan, it would undoubtedly leave a brilliant mark on their records. However, Lin Beifan sternly warned, Look at all you war enthusiasts, always thinking about battles! Remember, battles result in casualtiesmany casualties! If we lose, our nation will pay a significant price. Do you all understand? What Prime Minister says is true! But these words may not apply to everyone. However, they certainly dont apply to you, Prime Minister! As long as Prime Minister leads us into battle, we will definitely win! Even if there are sacrifices, they wont be significant. Prime Minister, how do you n to fight this battle? Well follow your lead! Hes our military deity! With you here, were invincible and unbeatable in every battle! Just a small Great Yan, how could they be a match for the Prime Minister? The generals all ttered, encouraging Lin Beifan to engage in battle. You guys Lin Beifan shook his head, Forget it, this battle cant be fought at all. Great Yan is just putting on a show! The generals were puzzled, asking, Why? Because in war, you have to consider the gains and losses, its not about fighting for no reason! Think about it, if they fight us and win, what can they gain? If they lose, what can they gain? Before everyones thoughts could catch up, Lin Beifan impatiently exined, Idiots! Naturally, they wont gain anything by losing, but theyll lose troops and suffer! Even if they luckily win, theyll still lose troops and suffer. Then, theyll obtain a ruined Darro country. Darro has a fierce people and a challenging environment. Can they manage it? Whats the point? Thats right! Everyone pped their foreheads. Then think about what losses well have in this battle? In fact, we wont have any significant losses at all. Because thisnd originally wasnt ours, so losing it wouldnt be a big deal! Even if we bring 100,000 troops and theyre all sacrificed, it wont matter much. Therefore, after this battle, Great Yan will undoubtedly suffer heavy losses, while we, Great Wu, will suffer only minor losses. Lin Beifan smiled slightly, Such a strategy of hurting the enemy while sparing ourselves is something I absolutely wont do. They wont do something so foolish either. Looks like this battle wont be fought. So why did they send troops over? Just bluffing! If we retreat, they will surely push their luck and demand benefits and advantages. So, we cant be afraid! Lin Beifan stood up and dered loudly, Gather the troops for training. Let them see our strength in action! Yes, Prime Minister! Everyone responded. The army was immediately organized, and they arrived at the border between the two countries for training. 100,000 soldiers from Great Wu d in golden armor and 200,000 soldiers from Darro in their battle armor formed battle formations for practice. The sounds of battle resounded, morale soared, and the fighting spirit soared. Great Yan couldnt help but feel overwhelmed! The soldiers of Great Wu were truly powerful, walking in their golden armor, they exuded an invincible aura. However, why did the Darro soldiers seem so obedient? They followed orders without hesitation, willing and content! As a result, wouldnt Great Wu now possess 300,000 troops? And if other Darro soldiers were the same Does that mean Great Wu could amass nearly a million soldiers from Darro? Thats quite terrifyingso many ants could even kill an elephant! However, they still remained defiant with their words, constantly mocking, appearing fierce in their words, but taking no actual action! Lin Beifans side was naturally the sameplenty of talk, but no actual movement! After about a week like this, the imperial decree from the court finally arrived. Lin Beifan led all the soldiers and Darro civilians to receive the imperial decree. By the Emperors decree: I have heard that Prime Minister Lin Beifan has incorporated Darro into the territory of Great Wu, realizing the grand achievement of expanding our borders. I am overjoyed! Henceforth, Darro shall be a part of Great Wu, and it shall be named Ming Darro Prefecture. The soldiers of Darro shall be our soldiers, and the people of Darro shall be our people, enjoying all the rights of the people of Great Wu! Subsequently, I shall dispatch Theres a lot more content, all with even more generous terms than what Lin Beifan promised. The people of Darro were ted, expressing their gratitude, Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! Next, it was time for the rewards to be conferred upon the surrendered generals. Simr to the civilians, they were also handsomely rewarded. All of them were promoted by one rank while retaining their original positions. They also started receiving stipends from the Great Wu court. They were given the choice to remain in Darro or join Great Wu to achieve sess. The surrendered generals were also immensely grateful, saying, Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! As for Lin Beifan and the other Great Wu generals, they hadnt received their rewards yet. It was probably something that would happen after their return. Next was the process of transitioning. Lin Beifan handed over the affairs of Darro to the officials sent by the court, and then they set off for the capital. Chapter 364: Hereditary Loyal and Valiant Duke, Supreme Commander of the National Military! Chapter 364: Hereditary Loyal and Valiant Duke, Supreme Commander of the National Military! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
When he arrived, Lin Beifan wasnt in a hurry. When he went back, he remained indifferent. In this manner, aboard a luxurious ship, while appreciating the scenery along both sides of the river, he leisurely made his way to the capital city. For the great generals, it was also an exceedingly rare leisure vacation. They spent over a month enjoying sightseeing, without much fighting, yet they managed to achieve great sess and gain credit, making many colleagues envious. With an involuntary gaze towards Lin Beifan, a decision formed within someones heart. Next time such an opportunity arises, they must join in, stubbornly persist, and no one will be able to stop them. In the court, the Empress looked at Lin Beifan and the others returning with great satisfaction. This time, all of you esteemed ministers have aplished a distant expedition. In less than a month, you have incorporated Darro into our territory, increasing our poption by over ten thousand. This is an achievement of expanding our borders. You all shall be richly rewarded! General Sunzuo, where are you? A general stepped forward confidently, answering loudly, Here! Your deeds in this expedition merit a promotion by one rank, elevating you to the fourth rank of the court officials. The Empress named each one, bestowing titles and rewards. Even the lowest rewards included half-rank promotions, as well as gifts of fertilends, gold, silver, and jewels, each one significant. Everyone who received rewards was delighted, expressing gratitude for the Empresss generosity. Finally, it was Lin Beifans turn. The most significant contributor to this operation was now Lin Beifan, who had already be the Prime Minister of the court and also the Loyal and Valiant Duke. His official rank had nearly reached its peak, and everyone was curious about what rewards the Empress would bestow. Esteemed minister, once again youve brought surprises to Us! The Empress spoke with a contented tone, In just a year and a half, when you had just ascended the court, you initiated the ambitious Swallowing Python n, creating favorable conditions for our Great Wu to subdue Darro. Now, youve led the troops to subjugate Darro, nearly without any cost, greatly expanding our borders. We are extremely gratified and joyful! Therefore The Empress raised her voice, saying, We still confer upon you the title of Loyal and Valiant Duke! However, we shall add the words Hereditary in front of it! The expressions of the officials in the court changed one after another! For it was known that there was a significant distinction between being a Loyal and Valiant Duke and a Hereditary Loyal and Valiant Duke. The Loyal and Valiant Duke is primarily an honorary title, indicating that this individual has achieved significant military aplishments for the court and thus earned the courts favor. However, if this person were to resist or refuse the title, it would not be bestowed upon them. On the other hand, hereditary Loyal and Valiant Duke is not only an honor but also a privilege. The term hereditary indicates that the title can be passed down through generations, from father to son, and so on. Holding this title allows one to continuously receive the courts stipends while enjoying substantial power. It also changes the starting point for officials entering the court. As long as the country remains intact and one avoidsmitting major offenses, future generations can livefortably. Since the founding of Great Wu, there havent been more than five Hereditary Dukes. And now, Lin Beifan is the only one. Yet, considering the vast aplishments he achieved in expanding the borders, granting him a hereditary title seems quite reasonable. Lin Beifan eximed, Thank you, Your Majesty! Dont rush to thank me, theres more! the Empress said with a smile. Lin Beifan was bewildered; what more could there be? Everything had already been achieved! The Empress spoke loudly, Since the beginning of the year, Prime Minister Lin has led troops into battle five times, always emerging victorious and achieving remarkable military feats! His strategic andbat abilities are unmatched, and he has contributed greatly. Therefore, starting today, I appoint Prime Minister Lin as the Supreme Commander of the National Military, overseeing all military affairs and only reporting to the Emperor! With this promation, the officials were left stunned and astonished! Lin Beifan was already the Prime Minister, and now he was also the Supreme Commander. He held both political and military power. Who else in the world could bnce and control him? How could the Empress make such a reckless decision? What if? The officials were anxious, and one of them said, Your Majesty, this is really not advisable! The Empress asked, Why not? Your Majesty, Lord Lin is already the esteemed Prime Minister, overseeing the nations political affairs. Now, hes also be the Supreme Commander, overseeing the military. Doesnt this seem a bit ufortable? The Empress countered, Why wouldnt it be suitable? Prime Minister Lin is proficient in both politics and warfare, and he has the capability to manage both roles effectively. Its a case of the capable take on more. Why shouldnt I entrust him with the role of Supreme Commander? Your Majesty, while Lord Lin is undoubtedly capable, taking on the roles of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander simultaneously, something unheard of in our history since the founding of Great Wu, and umon even in other countries. This seems to deviate from established norms. The Empress countered, Rules are meant to be broken! The reason such a situation hasnt arisen before is that there hasnt been someone like Prime Minister Lin who excels in both civil and military matters. Now that we have such a person, its only fitting to grant them the rightful honor and authority. An elderly courtier clenched his teeth and, despite the risk of offending Lin Beifan, said, Your Majesty, allowing one person to hold both the positions of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander entails immense power and poses a significant danger to Your Majesty! What if he decides what should we do? The faces of the courtiers in the hall changed; the words had be quite weighty! They all lowered their heads, refraining from speaking. Surprisingly, it was the Empress who remained veryposed. In her heart, she chuckled, thinking that this person wanted to rebel, but why go through so much trouble when he could simply disy his strength? For a grandmaster, changing the ruling dynasty was an easy task. Apart from peers of his level, no one could stop him. However, finding such peers might not even yield five individuals in the world. Who would willingly offend such skilled individuals? Its a thankless endeavor! Moreover, if he had aspirations for power, revealing his abilities would guarantee an instant rise. There was no need to climb step by step while being hindered by this group of corrupt officials. Prime Minister Lin is a loyal subject; I believe he would never engage in any treasonous act against the nation! the Empress dered. Your Majesty The Empress waved her hand gracefully, saying, You need not say more; my decision is final! Your Majesty, this really isnt advisable! The Empress grew angry, saying, Someone else objects too. Does that mean my words carry no weight? Stand forth! Someone stepped forward. Upon closer inspection, it was Lin Beifan. Amazed, someone eximed, Prime Minister, why do you oppose? Begging Your Majestys pardon Lin Beifan bowed, saying, Your Majesty, this humble subject has merely won a few minor victories by chance. In terms of qualifications and capabilities, Im fundamentally unfit to oversee the entire national military. I beseech Your Majesty to choose another capable minister! The Empress smiled and shook her head, Prime Minister, youre being modest. Everyone has witnessed your leadership and battlefield prowess. Throughout Great Wu and even beyond, who else could possiblypare? To call you a military deity wouldnt be an exaggeration! If you dont be the Supreme Commander, who else is qualified? If you decline, theres no one else worthy. With a mournful expression, Lin Beifan said, Your Majesty, as the Prime Minister of Great Wu, my responsibilities lie heavily in political affairs. I often find myself preupied and unable to attend to military matters. I truly cannot simultaneously hold the position of Supreme Commander. I implore Your Majesty to select another worthy minister! Once again, the Empress shook her head, saying, Prime Minister, youre being humble again. Ive witnessed your administrative abilities, and its certainly within your capabilities. Your presence makes everything much easier! Given this, why not take on the role of Supreme Commander as well? Lin Beifan clenched his teeth and continued, However, Your Majesty, youre bestowing too much upon me! To hold both the titles of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander, wielding both political and military power, arent you concerned that I might develop rebellious intentions? The Empress burst intoughter, Prime Minister, the fact that you can voice such concerns proves you dont have any rebellious intentions! Youre not considering rebellion now, and youll never consider it in the future! Lin Beifan was perplexed, Why are you so certain, Your Majesty? With Lin Beifans gaze fixed on her, the Empress smiled slightly, Based on my intuition! Lin Beifan: Isnt this reason a bit childish? Your Majesty, can you be more rational and not act so infatuated? Dont burden me so much! Receiving too much, its not fulfilling! Lin Beifan struggled, Your Majesty Prime Minister, you need not say more! The Empress waved her hand gracefully, Whether you want to be the Supreme Commander or not, you must be it. Royal orders cannot be defied. Do you wish to rebel against orders? Lin Beifan was so infuriated he felt faint, his face turning pale. So now, in addition to political affairs, he also had to handle military matters. Was the Empress trying to exhaust him to death? Thinking of the endless work ahead, the fatigue and toil, he felt like dying! Why is it so difficult to just be a corrupt official who cks off? The Empress seemed to see through Lin Beifans thoughts and said with concern, Prime Minister, I have no one else to rely on; I can only inconvenience you. Lin Beifans eyes welled up with tears, Thank you for understanding, Your Majesty! The officials of the court felt a sense of unease from him, a difort throughout his body. What kind of inconvenience is this? Clearly, its an opportunity they couldnt hope for even in eighteen lifetimes! If this is considered an inconvenience, let me bear it! The decision was already made, and the civil and military officials could only ept it. Congrattions to Prime Minister for another promotion! No, we should now address you as Supreme Commander! The Supreme Commander, the top figure in both military and political matters, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Great Wus history! Well rely on Prime Minister for guidance in the future! Lin Beifan waved his hand in despair, saying, No need for congrattions. I feel sad and distressed. I was actually thinking of finding a ce to drown my sorrows in wine. Do any of you have a rmendation? The officials were riled up, their faces turning green in an instant! A stampede of a myriad of thoughts rushed through their minds! Seated on the dragon throne, the Empress almost burst intoughter, eximing loudly, Prime Minister, if you wish to drink, Ill apany you! No need, Your Majesty. I can handle it myself. The Empress raised an eyebrow, Prime Minister, are you looking down on me? Are you refusing to give me face? With a pained expression, Lin Beifan said, Your Majesty, as they say, people have different intentions. I drink to drown my sorrows, while Your Majesty drinks to celebrate. Its probably best if we dont drink together. Otherwise, I might be sentimental and feel more sorrowful as I drink. The Empress finally couldnt hold back and burst intoughter, saying, Alright, alright! I wont make things difficult for you! Just then, an elderly eunuch shouted, Your Majesty, the envoy from the Great Yan Empire hase to pay respects! Lin Beifan was slightly taken aback. An envoy from Great Yan? Were they trying to establish diplomatic efforts to make up for theirck of strength? Chapter 365: If we want to fight, we’ll keep fighting; if we want to sever ties, we’ll do so freely! Chapter 365: If we want to fight, well keep fighting; if we want to sever ties, well do so freely! 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The civil and military officials present seemed to havee to the same realization, dividing into two groups and showing solemn expressions. Once everything was ready, the Empress spoke loudly, Announce the entrance of the envoy from the Great Yan Empire! The envoy from the Great Yan Empire entered the pce. To everyones surprise, it was none other than Great Yans Third Prince, Yan Xinghe. He was known for leading the younger generation of Great Yan into battle during the Yan and Wu Competition. Despite his valiant efforts, he was ultimately defeated. The Third Prince of the Great Yan Empire, Yan Xinghe, pays respects to the Emperor of Great Wu. I wish you well! Yan Xinghe dered. No need for formalities! The Empress extended her hand, Third Prince Yan Xinghe, this is our second meeting. You seem even more refined thanst year. Your demeanor is extraordinary, and youve certainly excelled in your studies. How is the Great Yan Emperor? Is he in good health? Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I am unworthy. As for my father he is in his prime, in good health, and full of vitality. Please rest assured, Your Majesty! Yan Xinghe responded. The Empress nodded slightly, Im relieved! So, why have youe to Wu this time? Ivee regarding the matter of Darro! Yan Xinghe said. The crowd thought to themselves, Here ites! The Empress chuckled inwardly, maintaining aposed expression on her face. She began, Oh? Youvee regarding Darro? The Great Yan Empire, as a major power, involves itself in the affairs of other nations. Isnt this somewhatcking in moral integrity? Yan Xinghe stood resolutely, As one of the Three Great Empires in the world, the Great Yan Empire has the duty to maintain order for all living beings. Therefore, whenever there is injustice, we have the right to intervene! Your Great Wus vast army invaded Darro, besieged the city, massacred the Darro royal family, and acted brutally and mercilessly. This has ignited anger throughout the realm! I represent the Great Yan Empire to advise you to withdraw your forces quickly, or else you will bear the consequences! The Empress mmed the table and stood up, proiming, They were the ones who broke their promises and betrayed their word! When they were defeated, I did not treat them unfairly. In fact, I granted them many benefits and wished for their growth. Yet now, theyve fattened themselves up and are turning around to bite us. They arepletely ungrateful, ruthless scoundrels! Such a nation needs to be dealt with, and if not fought, they wont learn their lesson! Then why, after defeating them, do you still upy theirnds? Great Wus ambitions are clear! Yan Xinghe retorted. The Empresss expression turned bright, and she smiled, As for absorbing Darro, one could say it was an ident. Even I did not anticipate it! One could argue that the Darro royal family had lost the support of their people, allowing us to take over. Its the will of heaven! The fall of the Darro royal family was entirely of their own making; they can only me themselves! Haha Yan Xinghe was furious! Was that really an ident? It was clearly a well-nned scheme that had been in motion for two years! Back then, when Darro was defeated and went to negotiate reparations with Great Wu, surprisingly, Great Wu generously declined the reparations and even granted them various benefits. This was all to control the economic lifeline of Darro and to win over themon people. Looking at the situation now, its quite evident! The Darro royal family was slow to realize and eventually saw through the scheme, leading them to break the alliance. However, with Great Wus growing power, they directly cut off their material supplies, causing their economy to copse. Along with some propaganda, Darro fell into chaos. The nobles fled, and the citizens suffered. Subsequently, a 100,000-strong army from Great Wu marched south without encountering any resistance. Aside from the military strength of Great Wu, the people of Darro harbored dissatisfaction towards the royal family. Thats why they willingly opened the city gates to defect. Afterward, the campaign progressed easily, culminating in the capture of Kang Darro. And now they im it was an ident? How shameless! What audacity! Emperor of Great Wu, we are all intelligent people; theres no need to pretend! The Great Yan Empire has only one demand: withdraw your troops immediately, or else well meet on the battlefield! The Great Yan Third Princes threat was resolute. The faces of the civil and military officials turned uneasy. Silence! How dare you threaten Her Majesty! Such disrespect! Third Prince, I advise you to apologize immediately, or bear the consequences! The Third Prince remained defiant, I represent the Great Yan Empire, and this is our stance. It will not change! You! The officials present were outraged, their faces flushed. The Empress was also angry, but she had to maintain her imperial demeanor. She said, War is a matter for generals to discuss. Let Supreme Commander speak with him. Supreme Commander? The Third Prince frowned, puzzled. Was there such a position? Howe he didnt know? Just as he was about to be sent off, Lin Beifan stepped forward, smiling, Your Highness, Third Prince, how have you been? Thanks to recent aplishments, I have just been appointed by His Majesty as the Supreme Commander of the National Army, tasked with overseeing the entire military affairs. Additionally, I also hold the position of Prime Minister! The Third Princes pupils dted, overwhelmed by shock! This guy actually became the Supreme Commander? Wasnt he just a minor official, almost a year ago? In just a year, he had risen to be the powerful Prime Minister of the nation. Now, it was even more astonishinghe had be the Supreme Commander too! When it came to military and political power, second only to the Emperor, he was truly terrifying and intimidating! Mr. Lin, your speed of promotion is truly impressive and makes me feel embarrassed. The Third Prince said awkwardly. Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. Im truly unworthy, Lin Beifan said with a slight bow. The Empress waved her hand again, saying, Sir Lin, now you are the Supreme Commander of our dynasty, in charge of military affairs. You should be the one to negotiate with him. Lin Beifan replied, Your Majesty, I suggest a direct approach. Lets go straight to the point and engage in a real battle! We can openly disy our forces, and the victor will im control over Darro. This time, it was the Third Princes face that turned anxious. He had thought he was quite audacious, but he hadnt expected this guy to be even more assertive. Without wasting words, he directly proposed war. The Third Prince nervously wiped his cold sweat. Prime Minister, remember that our opponent is the Great Yan Empire, a powerful countryparable to our own dynasty. If these two great nations go to war, regardless of the oue, both sides will suffer heavy losses. Furthermore, it will affect themon people, which isnt ideal, the Empress expressed her concern. The Third Prince secretly nodded, acknowledging the validity of her words. The Empress had a deep sense of morality. Lin Beifan, however, smiled faintly, Rest assured, Your Majesty. When I lead the army, what is there for you to worry about? In all the battles Ive fought, havent I always minimized our losses? As for themon people, you can be even more assured. I will make sure to bring the fight to Great Yan. If anyone suffers, it will be the people of Great Yan, not ours. The Third Prince was internally bbergasted. This guy was a war merchant! Seemingly harmless on the surface, yet harboring such malicious intent inside. I misjudged you, the Empress said again, However, wares with uncertainties. While the idea of a decisive victory sounds good, in case of any unexpected obstacles, the losses might be unbearable. Sir Lin, how confident are you? The Third Prince secretly nodded again. The Empress was right. In war, there were winners and losers. Winning was fine, but losing was disastrous. Such matters couldnt be taken lightly. Lin Beifan smiled once more, Your Majesty, the question you should ask is not whether they can fight, but how long they can hold out. Lin Beifan said with confidence, Im not boasting, but Ive fought with armies of 100,000, 500,000, 800,000, even a million soldiers. Ive faced terrifying armiesposed of martial artists as well! Ive fought all kinds of battles and never lost. Combining the results of several major battles, Ive eliminated over 200,000 enemies, but the overall losses were less than 5,000! I can oust them just through attrition. So, whats there to fear? Lin Beifan shouted, If Great Yan wants to fight, then we will fight until they cant hold on any longer! Well fight until they surrender! Well fight until they cry and beg for mercy! The generals were excited and called out like sharks scenting blood. Supreme Commander is right! This battle must be fought! With Supreme Commandermanding the operations, we have nothing to fear! He is the war god of our Great Wu, invincible in battles and undefeatable in sieges! With him leading, well conquer anything. Why should we be afraid? Your Majesty, please give the order now. We are willing to be the vanguard under the Supreme Commandersmand! Im willing to be the right vanguard! Seeing the situation slipping away, the Third Prince of Great Yan was drenched in sweat and said, Wait! Matters of war are not trivial. We should sit down and have a calm discussion. Third Prince of Great Yan, you were the one who first mentioned war, and now youre backing down? Arent you just trying to fool us? Lin Beifan angrily said, Ill ask you one question right now. Are you going to fight or not? If youre fighting, well deploy our forces immediately. If not, just surrender! Under everyones gaze, the Third Prince of Great Yan reluctantly uttered two words, Not fighting. In an instant, the officials looked at him with disdain. It turned out he was all talk and no action! The Empress and Lin Beifan exchanged a smile. They had seen through his bluff long ago. The Third Prince of Great Yan never had the intention to fight; he was just putting on a show of strength. A paper tiger, easily torn apart! So, they tricked him in perfect coordination! The Third Prince of Great Yan forced a brave face and said, We wont go to war lightly. However, if Great Wu refuses to withdraw its troops, then Great Yan will unterally cut off diplomatic rtions, sever all interactions, including trade. This will undoubtedly hurt you! Lin Beifan sneered, Cut them off then! Our Great Wu has immense potential and numerous business opportunities. We dont need to care about the trivial gains from trade between our two countries! The Empress nodded, What Sir Lin said is true. Those minor trade deals can be severed without hesitation. Our Great Wu is abundant in resources and opportunities to make money. Third Prince of Great Yan, if you have no useful suggestions left, then were done here. If you want to fight, well fight. If you want to cut off rtions, well let you. In short, trying to get us to withdraw from Darro is absolutely impossible. From now on, Darro is our territory, and its people are our people. They are our Great Wus assets and will never be ceded to anyone. Go tell your father to give up on that thought! Chapter 366: So Immortal Qi Drifts in the Eyes, Our Third Prince Has Used Quite a Bit of Medicine! Chapter 366: So Immortal Qi Drifts in the Eyes, Our Third Prince Has Used Quite a Bit of Medicine! 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The Third Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty, Yan Xinghe, sneaked away. However, he didnt give up; instead, he arranged to meet Lin Beifan inside a restaurant. Upon seeing Yan Xinghe, Lin Beifan quickly bowed and apologized, Your Highness the Third Prince, I must apologize for any offenses today! But as a high-ranking official and being in the court, I can only speak in this manner. I hope you understand! Its alright, Mr. Lin, youre also constrained by circumstances, and I understand, the Third Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty managed a forced smile. In reality, he felt quite frustrated and annoyed. He was upset from the altercation in the court, yet the person causing him distress was still someone on his side, and that person was also constrained. So he couldnt get angry without seeming petty and intolerant of others What a troublesome situation! Its good that Your Highness understands! Lin Beifan said happily. For some reason, upon seeing Lin Beifans smiling face, the Third Prince had the urge to punch something. Thankfully, he managed to control himself and didnt throw any punches. Instead, he congratted, I havent congratted you on your promotion, Mr. Lin! Not only have you be the Prime Minister of the Great Wu Court, but youve also be the Supreme Commander of the Great Wu Army, superior to all others in both military and political matters. Congrattions! Lin Beifan modestly replied, Its just a small aplishment. Youre being too humble, Mr. Lin! This is a small token of my appreciation! The Third Prince presented arge, translucent ck pearl and said, This is an unparalleled pearl called ck Night Star. It was excavated from the depths of the sea, and its invaluable. Firstly, its to celebrate Mr. Lins promotion, and secondly, I hope you can speak favorably in court to persuade the Great Wu Dynasty to withdraw its troops. Your Highness, honestly, this matter is really difficult to handle! Lin Beifan looked troubled, Expanding territories is a cherished dream for every emperor. Her Majesty has finally achieved this dream, and naturally, shes holding onto it tightly. No ones words can influence her. So, Your Highness, I understand your intention, but I hope you can understand the situation as well. With that, he deftly took the ck Night Star from the Third Princes hand and ced it in his pocket. The Third Prince was utterly perplexed! This was the first time he had encountered someone who epted his gift without hesitation, and even did so openly and without changing their expression. Where was their sense of shame? The Third Prince blinked, subtly indicating to Lin Beifan that he should either take the gift to handle the matter or return it. However, Lin Beifan politely smiled and said, Your Highness, please take a seat. The food and wine are getting cold. Lets eat and chat. Then, Lin Beifan engaged in polite conversation, discussing everything except the moment the priceless pearl vanished from his hand. The Third Prince felt extremely frustrated; it seemed that he wouldnt be able to retrieve that pearl. He held his chest, feeling a slight pang of pain. Eventually, the Third Prince resigned himself to the situation, pouring himself a drink while wearing a wry smile, I also know that this matter is difficult to handle. But when His Majestys orders are given, its our duty to give our all. Thats true Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly. The Third Prince continued, Actually, I came here this time for another matter, and I hope you can assist me, Prime Minister. Your Highness, what is it? Lin Beifan asked curiously. The Third Prince stood up, smugly turned around in front of Lin Beifan, andughed, Prime Minister Lin, take a close look. Can you see any differences between me now and before? Lin Beifan looked closely and noticed that the Third Princes eyes were sunken like a ghosts, hisplexion was as pale as a specters, his steps were unsteady, and there were traces of bloodshot eyes, yet he seemed incredibly excited It was evident that he looked like an addict. It seems that our Third Prince has used quite a bit of drugs. Lin Beifan spoke sincerely, It seems theres an additional touch of immortal aura. Thats right! The Third Prince eximed excitedly, pping his hands, Theres indeed more immortal aura, haha! The Third Prince jogged over to Lin Beifan and said proudly, All of this is thanks to the divine pills bestowed by Empty Void Daoist! Since Empty Void Daoists arrival, he has refined these transcendent pills. They are truly divine pills! After consuming them, ones soul can detach from the mortal body, freely roaming between heaven and earth, even conversing with heavenly immortals I often consume these transcendent pills, the Third Prince continued, my soul frequently detaches, and I feel ethereal and otherworldly. I often meet heavenly immortals, hence the additional touch of immortal aura! Lin Beifan sighed admiringly, Congrattions, Your Highness, on encountering celestial fortune! Ascending to be an immortal and achieving immortality is just around the corner! Haha The Third Princey down carefreely, pointing at Lin Beifan, Prime Minister, you always say pleasant things! However, bing an immortal and achieving immortality might be beyond my reach. ording to Empty Void Daoist, regr consumption of these transcendent pills can only extend ones lifespan, but it cant truly make one an immortal. Only by refining a genuine elixir of eternal youth and immortality can that be achieved! But such an elixir is not easily refined. Thats why our entire Great Yan Dynasty is collecting rare treasures and precious medicinal ingredients to provide for Empty Void Daoists elixir of eternal youth and immortality. Once the elixir is ready, my father will achieve immortality, undergo apotheosis, and be an immortal! One persons attainment will lead to chickens and dogs ascending to heaven! We princes and imperial grandchildren will receive my fathers blessing and also be immortals, attaining eternal youth and immortality. This way, the Great Yan Dynasty can perpetuate for generations, standing as the one and only immortal imperial court! As he spoke, he even became somewhat fanatical. Lin Beifan could tell that the Third Princes drug-induced effects were taking hold, causing heightened excitement and almost manic behavior. Shaking his head slightly, Lin Beifan realized how detrimental drugs could be. Wanting to achieve immortality and be an immortal? It would be enough if he didnt die early from some other cause! At this moment, the Third Prince grinned triumphantly, Ive heard that Empty Void Daoist initially came to your Great Wu Court, but you failed to retain such a distinguished figure! It appears your Great Wu Courtcks the appropriate standing! Lin Beifan clenched his fists, expressing deep regret, Indeed, its a pity we missed such a celestial opportunity! Seeing Lin Beifans regretful expression, the Third Princes smile grew even more smug. However, Prime Minister Lin, you still have a chance! What chance? Lin Beifan asked inquisitively. The Third Prince leaned closer and whispered, To refine the elixir of eternal youth and immortality, one must gather exceptional treasures from all corners of the world. The dragon bone in your possession is the most crucial ingredient! Empty Void Daoist mentioned that all other divine ingredients can be substituted, except the dragon bone. The more dragon bones, the better! So, Prime Minister, could you contribute the dragon bone you have? Moving closer once again, the Third Prince continued, Once the elixir is refined sessfully, youll earn great merit, and our Emperor will surely remember you! Lin Beifan opened his hands and sighed, Your Highness, I truly dont have any left! There was a bit of dragon bone remaining, which I intended to use for a memorial tablet, but in the end, I sold it all to you. Theres truly none left! None at all? The Third Prince asked, unwilling to ept it Lin Beifan shook his head immediately, None, absolutely none. You can beat me to death, and it still wouldnt change the fact! The Third Prince urged, Prime Minister, dont worry. We can buy them with money or trade valuable items. You wont be treated unfairly! Lin Beifan looked conflicted, Well I could probably manage to spare a bit The Third Prince looked at him disdainfully. This guy was as greedy as ever, only willing to part with something when money was involved! Its truly hard to fathom how someone without moral boundaries and who values money above all else managed to climb to a high position! But regardless, having dragon bones is a fortunate thing. The Third Prince rejoiced, Prime Minister Lin, how much dragon bone do you have left? Lin Beifan asked, Your Highness, how much dragon bone do you want? The Third Prince boldly stated, I want however much you have! Lin Beifan responded, You want however much you want, and Ill have however much you want! Huh? What I mean is, however much you want, I dont have it either! Lin Beifanmented, raising a finger, I only have a little bit of dragon bone left, truly not much The Third Prince remained indifferent, Add another bit. Lin Beifan was astonished, I dont have any left, how can I add more? The Third Prince was unyielding, Ill add money! Well Ill consider it! Although its a bit difficult, I can manage! The Third Prince: Finally, after some bargaining, Lin Beifan reluctantly offered 2.5 taels (weight), and the Third Prince reluctantly gave 8 million taels. Both sides finally reached apromise. Although he hadpleted the primary mission of this trip, the Third Prince didnt leave. He stayed in the Great Wu Court to secure more advantages for the matters concerning Darro. The Great Wu Court definitely wouldnt withdraw its troops, so the Third Prince had to seek alternative solutions. Darro doesnt belong to your Great Wu Court or my Great Yan Dynasty. However, its currently unimed and situated between our two countries. My suggestion is to develop this area as a free trade zone for both nations, jointly develop it, and jointly station troops to manage it. This way, we can both benefit from its prosperity! It would reduce conflicts and greatly benefit both nationsmerce. The Empress was firm in her response, rejecting, Impossible! Darro is my nations territory. None of your troops should enter! The Third Prince urgently proposed, We can offer you arger share of the benefits! The Empress rejected once more, Either fight or leave, theres no third option! The Third Prince felt extremely frustrated. How could he make any logical argument? Was this Empress truly unafraid of war? If the two major nations were to go to war, the consequences would be unimaginable! Your Majesty of the Great Wu Court, it seems theres only one solution now. The Third Prince helplessly stated, With tensions rising along the border, neither of our nations should withdraw their troops. However, war is not a trivial matter! Once hostilities break out, it will have profound and far-reaching effects on both our nations, affecting everything and everyone! To avoid conflict between our nations from worsening, I propose a royal marriage alliance between our nations, converting swords into gifts of jade! Marriage alliance? Everyone present was taken aback, but soon the notion settled in. Inter-country conflicts were always a serious matter. If they could avoid fighting, they would. A marriage alliance was one of the ways to resolve disputes. A marriage alliance indicated that both sides were closely connected and considered one anothers kin. What was the point of continuously fighting? Although a marriage alliance couldnt resolve all conflicts, it was indeed a good way to ease tensions. It was frequently employed by nations. Chapter 367: What Qualifies as the Heavenly Empire? Chapter 367: What Qualifies as the Heavenly Empire? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The Empress finally spoke up: Both of our nations are among the strongest empires in the world. If we were to engage in a conflict, it would have far-reaching consequences and be detrimental to both sides. Indeed, its not advisable to resort to warfare and disrupt the peace. A marriage alliance is a good solution! The court officials unanimously eximed, Your Majesty is wise! The Third Prince of Great Yan Empire secretly let out a sigh of relief, finally having his point understood. I fear that if the fighting continues, it might not end well. However, how should we arrange this marriage alliance? Third Prince of Great Yan, since you proposed this idea, please share your thoughts! the Empress continued. The Third Prince bowed and said, For the marriage alliance, the main goal is to resolve the conflicts between our nations and ease the tensions. Therefore, the candidates must be chosen carefully. First, they must hold noble titles, at least the rank of prince or princess. Second, whether prince or princess, they must be unmarried to ensurepatibility. Third, they must have the favor of the current Emperor. Only when these three conditions are met, will the marriage alliance be meaningful and effective! The Empress nodded slightly, finding this request reasonable. However, she soon furrowed her brows, realizing that the Great Wu Empire didnt seem to have suitable candidates. First, the issue of candidate identity couldnt be resolved satisfactorily. She herself had no heirs, so there were no princes or princesses avable. The bloodline of the Three Great Princes had been wiped out, leaving only some less-threatening dukes. Among them, some were unmarried and could be considered as marriage candidates. But then, the third condition posed a challenge. The Third Prince of Great Yan required the candidate to have the favor of the current Emperor, yet after searching among all the royal bloodlines, there was no one in the younger generation who met that criteria. Finding someone to fulfill this requirement would be difficult, and the astute Third Prince wouldnt be easily fooled. Therefore, finding a suitable person was virtually impossible. The Empress shook her head and said, This condition is too strict! Let me be clear, we in the Great Wu Empire cant find a suitable candidate for the marriage alliance, so we must rx the conditions! No, there is a suitable candidate in the Great Wu Empire! the Third Prince eximed. The Empress asked, Who? Princess Wu Yunying! As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent. The civil and military officials looked odd, bowing their heads, hesitant to speak. Even the Empress on the dragon throne narrowed her eyes, creating a sense of danger. The Third Prince continued, In your Great Wu Empire, Princess Wu Yunying is the most suitable candidate! Although she doesnt hold the title of a princess, shes greatly favored and cherished by you, Your Majesty. Hence, her status is equivalent to that of a princess. Additionally, Wu Yunying County Princess is only twenty-eight years old, unmarried, and without any engagement. She is highly suitable. Only by marrying her to Great Yan can the tensions between our nations be alleviated! The Empress nced at the court filled with civil and military officials, then looked at Lin Beifan. She realized everyone was silent and spoke again, If she is to marry, who shall she be wed to? It must be someone of equal status! At this moment, the Third Prince of Great Yan Empire exhibited an unusual awkwardness, with a slight blush on his face. Your Majesty of Great Wu, what do you think of me? The Empress widened her eyes in shock, You? Thinking that the Empress disagreed, the Third Prince hastily continued, Ever since I first met Princess Wu Yunying, Ive found her intelligent, charming, and romantic. Shes a perfect match for me! I am still unmarried, and so is Wu Yunying County Princess. Both unattached, the match is ideal! Furthermore, as the Third Prince of Great Yan, I excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and my poems and songs are unmatched. I am highly favored by my father, the Emperor. Wu Yunying County Princess wouldnt suffer any injustice by marrying into Great Yan. Please, Great Wu Majesty, grant your consent! He looked at the Empress nervously. Because, he did indeed have some feelings for the young princess, but he was afraid of the Empress refusal. The Empress waved her hand, Wu Yunying is a little county princess whom I greatly cherish. Im reluctant to let her go, but Im also afraid of hindering her good fortunes in marriage. Third Prince of Great Yan, you may leave for now! After Ive considered it, Ill give you an answer. Your Majesty of Great Wu, I shall take my leave, the Third Prince said unwillingly. The Empress looked at her court of civil and military officials and said expressionlessly, Esteemed ministers, regarding this marriage proposal, what are your thoughts? The officials exchanged nces and remained silent. Everyone knew of the close rtionship between Princess Wu Yunying and the Empressthey had grown up together. Though not biological sisters, their bond was like that of siblings. Thus, concerning matters rted to Wu Yunyings marriage, everyone refrained from speaking too much, fearing to inadvertently offend the Empress. The Empress had no choice but to single out Lin Beifan and said, Sir Lin, you are the current Prime Minister and Supreme Commander, and you share a close connection with Wu Yunying. Please share your thoughts! Lin Beifan spoke loudly, Your Majesty, I disagree with this marriage proposal! Not only do I disagree with this marriage, but I also will never agree to any future marriage alliance! The Empress was taken aback, and so were the civil and military officials! While they expected Lin Beifan to decline the marriage proposal, why would he refuse all future marriage alliances as well? The Empress asked in astonishment, Sir Lin, can you exin your reasons? Your Majesty, may I ask if you wish to be the Emperor of a Heavenly Empire or just a regr empire? The Empress opened her arms and proimed, Of course, I want to be the Emperor of a Heavenly Empire! Do you know how to build a Heavenly Empire? the Empress asked anxiously. Sir Lin, do you know? Please tell us! Lin Beifan shook his head slightly and said, I dont know! But I do know of a country that might be the closest to the image of a Heavenly Empire! The Empress urgently inquired, Which country is that? This country is called Daming. Your Majesty need not delve too deeply, for it has disappeared into the annals of time. However, this country is undoubtedly the greatest nation Ive ever known, and its the closest to the concept of a Heavenly Empire in history! Because Lin Beifan raised his head high and dered, Since its foundation, for three hundred years, this nation hasnt engaged in marriage alliances, tribute, submission,nd concessions, or reparations. It stands strong and unyielding, its spirit unbreakable! The rulers have the integrity of life and death, and an unyielding spirit. The Emperor guards the countrys gates, and kings defend their ancestralnds! If someone were to ask, What is a Heavenly Empire?'' This is my answer! Only a nation as steadfast as this one can be called a Heavenly Empire! Other nations simply dont measure up! The Empress listened with fervor! The officials listened with fiery enthusiasm! For three hundred years, the nation refused marriage alliances, tribute, submission,nd concessions, and reparations. Its spirit was unwavering, its backbone unyielding! The rulers held the integrity of life and death, an unyielding spirit, and the Emperor guarded the countrys gates, while kings defended their ancestralnds. A powerful force seemed to rush forth, leaving people breathless yet exhrated. The Empress took in a sharp breath, Such a strong nation! Sir Lin, is there truly such a nation? Your Majesty, indeed there is. Would I deceive you? Lin Beifan smiled and said, A true Heavenly Empire doesnt need marriage alliances, tribute, submission,nd concessions, or reparations. Because, for them, these actions are signs of weakness! As long as you are strong and resolute enough, you can make the world submit and unite the myriad of ns! As long as you fear nothing, nations will naturally gather, protecting the country and chanting praises for Your Majesty! The more the Empress listened, the more her emotions stirred. She spoke incoherently, Sir Lin, youve exined it so well! A Heavenly Empire should be like this! It can only be like this! I have decided that our Great Wu will be such a nation! Although our strength may not measure up, our integrity must stand tall! From now on, Great Wu will not engage in marriage alliances, tribute, submission,nd concessions, or reparations! The rulers must hold the integrity of life and death, and the Emperor must guard the countrys gates, while kings protect the ancestralnds! This should be our ancestral teaching, passed down from me! The officials eximed together, Your Majesty is wise! Then they looked at Prime Minister Lin Beifan with admiration, in awe of his extraordinary reasoning. He had managed to decline a marriage proposal with such a grandiose and irresistible reason! We truly admire him! Indeed, Sir Lin, you mentioned that this country existed for 300 years. Does that mean this nation only existed for 300 years? Why did such a powerful nation fall? The Empress asked in confusion. The officials were also curious and leaned in to listen. Your Majesty, the fall of Daming was caused by multiple factors, but the main reason was the dominance of corrupt officials in the court, widespread corruption, and intense ss struggles. The problems had be too deeply entrenched to be resolved. The rulers at the timecked the power to turn things around and could only resort to suicide, preserving thest vestiges of their dignity and integrity. Lin Beifan reported. The Empress couldnt help but recall her own experiences. The Great Wu Dynasty had also reached the .-year mark! Corrupt officials were rampant in the court, and corruption was widespread! ss struggles were also severe, causing the people to suffer! There were regional warlords, military conflicts, powerful neighbors surrounding them, and the risk of invasion at any time! If not for Lin Beifans arrival, she too might not have been able to turn things around and might have had to find a ce tomit suicide! s! The Empress sighed deeply. Where was there any Daming Dynasty? Lin Beifan probably intentionally fabricated a history simr to Great Wus, using it as an opportunity to remind her to be a good Emperor and avoid bing a ruler of a fallen nation! He had such a thoughtful and loyal heart! With him, I am fortunate, and the nation is fortunate! The Empress red fiercely at the civil and military officials, then smiled at Lin Beifan and said, Sir Lin, I understand your meaning, and I know what to do! Lin Beifan blinked his eyes. Your Majesty, what do you mean by that? Why am I having trouble understanding? Could you be reading too much into something? At this point, the Empress waved her hand, I want to be the Emperor of a Heavenly Empire. The topic of a marriage alliance shall not be brought up again! Tell the Third Prince of Great Yan that the marriage alliance is off! If they want to fight, were ready to face them! Yes, Your Majesty! the officials responded. The Third Prince of Great Yan, Yan Xinghe, unable to obtain the answer he desired, returned dejectedly and began packing his belongings to return to Great Yan. When Lin Beifan returned that night, he was approached by the Little Princess. Chapter 368: The Third Prince’s Recent Behavior is Unusual, He Actually… Chapter 368: The Third Princes Recent Behavior is Unusual, He Actually If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
During the morning court session today, did the Third Prince of Great Yan bring up the proposal of a marriage alliance to the Empress, wanting to marry me? the Little Princess said with annoyance. Lin Beifan calmly replied, There is some truth to that, but I intervened and broke off the marriage alliance for you. I know you definitely wouldnt agree, and as your friend, Im being loyal, right? As he spoke, he reached out and pinched the Little Princesss chubby cheek, which felt soft and bouncy. She swatted away Lin Beifans yful hand, angrily saying, That scoundrel Third Prince, how dare he have designs on me? He wants to marry me? Bah! Its like a toad lusting after swans flesh. This matter cant just be ignored! Lin Beifan interjected, What do you want to do? What do I want to do? The Little Princess clenched her fist and gritted her teeth, Of course, I want to give him a good lesson, let him know Im not easy to bully! Im furious, and there will be serious consequences! Lin Beifan was surprised again, What do you have in mind? Of course, I want to beat him up and make him cry for mercy! the Little Princess dered with determination. Lin Beifan quickly interjected, Hold on, little princess! He is the Third Prince of Great Yan, with a special status. You cant act impulsively! Besides, he has experts protecting him, and you dont have any backup! But if I dont take action, Ill feel unsatisfied! the Little Princess said indignantly. Really, theres no need. He doesnt have many good years left. Dont waste your time on someone whos practically a walking corpse! The Little Princess questioned, Huh? Lin Beifan cleared his throat, What I mean is, havent you seen his condition? Sunken eyes, paleplexion, unsteady steps. His health seems precarious. So, you dont need to bother with him. Let him face the consequences of his own actions! The Little Princess tilted her head and thought for a moment before nodding, He does appear weak, like hes suffering from the excesses of alcohol and indulgence! This so-called refined individual, who is actually a wastrel, dares to pursue me? Ill definitely give him a taste of his own medicine! Lin Beifan felt relieved. Why did the Little Princess always want to resort to violence? As a girl, why was she so prone to fighting? Such impulsiveness and aggressionwouldnt it lead to trouble? Wouldnt she upset certain individuals in the background? He asked, Lin Beifan, Ill be frank, will you help me? The Little Princess extended her arm, bringing Lin Beifans head close, and threatened, If you help, well be good friends! If you dont help Lin Beifans eyes lit up, What if I dont help? If you dont help, well be blood siblings! Lin Beifan raised an eyebrow, Hmm? The Little Princesss small fist swung yfully in front of Lin Beifans face. Break bones of closely rted blood siblings, she stated with determination. Lin Beifan felt a chill, Little princess, are you trying to put me in a difficult situation? In the next moment, he leaned closer to the Little Princesss ear and whispered softly, Actually, the solution is quite simple The Little Princess looked puzzled, Would that really work? Lin Beifan patted his chest reassuringly, Young princess, you can confidently go ahead with that n. It will surely leave him utterly embarrassed. Isnt that more satisfying than just throwing a few punches? After listening to Lin Beifans advice, the Little Princess, using the pretext of bidding farewell to the Third Prince, organized a farewell feast and invited the Third Prince as well as the young scions of prominent families in the capital to attend. The Third Prince of Great Yan had originally nned to leave, but he unexpectedly received an invitation from the Little Princess. Thinking that he might not see her again for a long time, and with no certainty of meeting again in the future, he felt a sense of mncholy and frustration. Meeting her once before departing seemed like a good idea, so he agreed to the invitation. The other young scions naturally wouldnt decline the Little Princesss invitation. At the banquet, guests gathered, the lights shone brilliantly, and the table was filled with delicious food and fine wine. The Little Princess sat quietly in the main seat, her demeanor more solemn than usual. Unlike her usual lively and mischievous self, she exuded an air of elegance simr to that of Yuxiu. Lin Beifan found it somewhat unfamiliar. The reason for hosting this banquet is primarily to bid farewell to the Third Prince of Great Yan, Yan Xinghe. His Highness the Third Princees with peaceful intentions, hoping to avoid conflicts between our two nations. His admirable sinceritymands respect! The Little Princess lifted her wine cup, her expression solemn. Therefore, let us raise our cups together and toast to His Highness the Third Prince! The guests raised their cups in unison, saying, To His Highness the Third Prince, please! The Third Prince also raised his cup and replied, Please. They all emptied their cups. After finishing the wine, the Little Princess raised her cup again and said, For thesting friendship between our two nations, let us raise our cups once more! For the friendship between our two nations, please! Everyone drank another round. As the focal point of the banquet, the Third Prince was frequently toasted by the Little Princess and other guests. The Third Prince was ustomed to such asions and didnt refuse anyone, drinking heartily. Others followed suit. With everyone a little tipsy, the conversation flowed freely. At this point, the Little Princess curiously asked, Third Prince, its said that you have a mysterious Daoist named Kongxu (Empty Void) in Great Yan, who has sessfully concocted the legendary Divine Pill, the Divine Enlightenment Pill. After consuming it, ones soul can transcend the ordinary and freely traverse between heaven and earth, even engaging in conversations with celestial beings. Is there any truth to this? Under everyones gaze, the Third Prince responded with a touch of pride, Indeed, it is true! That Daoist is truly remarkable. He has concocted pills that I, as a wealthy individual, frequently consume, and the effects are indeed as youve described! Regretfully, the Little Princess said, That Empty Void Daoist once visited our kingdom, but unfortunately, he only stayed for a few days before leaving. I had no chance to meet him! As for those legendary Divine Pills, Ive only heard the name and havent seen the actual medicine. Its quite regrettable. Yes, that Daoist dide to our kingdom of Great Wu as well, but he left after only a few days. I was even nning to ask Empty Void Daoist for a few Divine Enlightenment Pills, but I never got the opportunity! Now hes gone to Great Yan! Great Yan is in luck! His Highness is fortunate to consume the Divine Enlightenment Pill! Amidst the admiring and envious gazes of the crowd, the Third Prince became even more pleased with himself, losing himself in the moment. The Little Princess asked once more, Third Prince, does the Divine Enlightenment Pill truly possess such miraculous effects? Do you have any pills with you? Could you show us and broaden our horizons? Yes, Your Highness, could you show us? Its truly piquing our curiosity! Your Highness, please grant us the opportunity! Of course, please take a look! The Third Prince carefully took out a small bottle from his pocket and ced a pill onto an exquisite te. He passed it around, allowing everyone present to examine it. This is it truly the Divine Enlightenment Pill? It looks so ordinary and in, without any remarkable features. Does it truly possess such miraculous effects? The Third Prince was stirred up and eximed loudly, Indeed, this is the Divine Enlightenment Pill that can elevate the soul! As the saying goes, Seeing is believing. Since everyone is so interested, Ill consume it to demonstrate! With that, he picked up the pill and brought it to his mouth. Lin Beifan, observing from the sidelines, smirked in amusement. Already in an excited state from the drinks, being further stimted by the pill would surely lead to even more excitement. It seemed he was anticipating some unpredictable actions. Next, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Third Prince, after ingesting the pill, stood up. His eyes closed, hisplexion rosy, his steps ethereal, and he seemed to mutter to himself, disying the appearance of having elevated his spiritual perception. The onlookers were astoundedhad the Third Prince truly elevated his souls perception and begun to transcend the mundane realm? Just as everyone was taken aback, the Third Prince suddenly eximed, Sister Fairy, dont go! I miss you And just like that, he reached out, but only grabbed air. The people present were left bewildered. Third Prince, what happened? Why did he suddenly reach out like that? Is he under some kind of spell? In an instant, the Third Prince turned around again, his eyes still shut. yfully, he said, Sister Fairy, dont be so mischievous! Come here quickly. Im prepared! And then, he suddenly lunged again, but grabbed nothing but air once more. The crowd remained dumbfounded. Third Prince, what is he doing now? Sister Fairy? Could it be that His Highness is seeing the legendary celestial maiden, so hes overly excited? Is that just excitement? Clearly, its ack of self-control! Once more, the Third Prince turned around with a smile that was even more lecherous. Sister Fairy, youre so naughty! But this time, I wont let you get away! Saying this, he lunged once again. However, this time, he didnt lunge into emptiness; instead, he collided with a table and chair, causing a mess as cups and tes crashed to the ground, spilling drinks. Nearby guests quickly rushed to help the Third Prince. Your Highness, are you alright? At that moment, the Third Prince unexpectedly embraced one of the guests tightly and chuckled, Sister Fairy, I finally caught you! Lets see how you can escape now. How can you escape hahaha Then, he acted quite shamelessly and gave a somewhat inappropriate kiss. Damn it! Everyone present was utterly shocked. Because he had just Kissed a man! A purebred gentleman!!! This scene was truly far too unconventional! Too stimting! Ah!!! In the end, the Third Prince was hastily escorted away by his attendants, leaving behind the spectacle of the Third Prince disying spiritual perception and concocting a ridiculous excuse involving an evil presence. They urged everyone not to spread word of this incident. Naturally, the banquet came to an end on a rather awkward note. Although people were warned not to spread the story, news of the Third Princes actions during the banquet quickly circted throughout the capital city, bing the talk of the town. Chapter 369: The Little Princess, Sleeping on Lin Beifan’s Bed? Chapter 369: The Little Princess, Sleeping on Lin Beifans Bed? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Do you know what happened yesterday? It was absolutely shocking! What happened? Please tell us! Yesterday evening, Princess Yunying invited the young elites of various prominent families to entertain the Third Prince of Great Yan. However, when the Third Prince got drunk, he unexpectedly initiated a passionate encounter with another man! Wow, I cant believe something like that happened! Its so scandalous! Indeed! At that moment, everyone in the room was dumbfounded. It was beyond imagination! Who would have thought that the Third Prince, who seemed so refined, would have such preferences! People can be deceiving, and the sea is unfathomable, haha! As they discussed and mocked, news of this incident also reached the pce. The Empress immediately understood the situation and felt extremely frustrated. Oh my, it must be those two troublemakers behind this! Theyve caused such chaos! This might not harm anyone physically, but its certainly unsettling. The Empress couldnt fathom how the now-sober Third Prince would handle this situation. I hope he stays strong! Meanwhile, the Third Prince of Great Yan had regained his sobriety and, upon learning of the incident, was filled with sorrow and rage. Why did this happen? I truly dont have such preferences! My reputation How can I face my father after this? Just the thought of the strange nces people would give him made the Third Prince feel too embarrassed to lift his head. He even contemted finding a ce to end his life. Recalling his previous visit to Great Wu, which had also been disastrous, the Third Prince felt that this ce was cursed and immediately wanted to leave this ce of sorrow. In the Lin residence, the Little Princessughed uncontrobly. Sisters, you have no idea how amusingst night was! After the Third Prince took that elixir, he transformedpletely. He was hugging and kissing another man endlessly! Its so obscene! So disgusting! But its hrious! Haha Such a person still had the audacity to propose to me? Ugh! Haha Everyone joined in theughter. Lately, there hadnt been much excitement in the capital, so this incident became the talk of the town. After theughter subsided, the Little Princess went to Lin Beifans room, raised her head, and said sincerely, Lin Beifan, thank you for helping me get revenge. Lin Beifan was a bit annoyed as he patted the Little Princesss flushed cheek and said, Little Princess, is a simple thank you all you have to say? Do you realize the risks I took for you? The Little Princess looked a bit uneasy. She admitted that what they did was rather underhanded, and Lin Beifan had taken great risks. Ill share half of my meat with you from now on, the Little Princess earnestly promised. Lin Beifan grew even more irritated. The meat you eat is all hunted by me! Ill share half of my wine with you, the Little Princess said, her heart aching. Lin Beifan was even more exasperated. The wine is mine! In that case The Little Princess said yfully, Ill give myself to you aspensation. How about that? Lin Beifan was so infuriated that he trembled. How can you repay kindness with enmity? Fine, I wont y with you anymore! Hmph! The Little Princess, in a huff, turned and left. Lin Beifan went back to his study to organize some documents. At that moment, Li Shi Shi walked in gracefully, her tone slightly reproachful. Husband, even though your words to the Little Princess were meant as a joke, they carried some weight. You should know that the Little Princess has intentions Lin Beifan sighed deeply. Im well aware. But, as my wife, you also know that my actions in Great Wu are uneptable. Ill have to leave here eventually. The Little Princess has a special status; if shes associated with me, how will she fare in the future? Li Shi Shi also cleared her throat and said hesitantly, Thats true! She is the Little Princess of Great Wu, favored by the Empress, holding immense influence. And we are ultimately not of the same status. So, I should maintain a certain distance to avoid misunderstanding, Lin Beifan sighed. In reality, Lin Beifan had always had a fondness for the Little Princess. She was like a little girlfriend to him, often apanying him in mischief and yfulness, with a hint of innocence. ying with the Little Princess brought him great joy and rxation. However, their differences in status created a barrier between them. If their rtionship were to be exposed, it would inevitably lead toplications. Well, for now, I shouldnt dwell on that. Lin Beifan shook his head, picked up the documents in his hand, and spoke softly to Li Shi Shi, Shi Shi, Her Majesty has assigned me an urgent task. I wont be able to return tonight. Please take care at home.'' Go ahead, Husband, duty calls! Li Shi Shi replied quickly. The two embraced for a moment, and then Lin Beifan hurriedly left the Lin residence for the pce. Not long after, the Little Princess returned after making a round, looking left and right, and asked, Wheres that scoundrel? Why isnt he here? Li Shi Shi walked over and smiled, Little Princess, my Husband has urgent matters to attend to and wont be able toe tonight. Oh, I see. Thats not good! The Little Princess pouted unhappily. Seeing the Little Princesss insincere expression, Li Shi Shi secretly chuckled, but the thought of their ipatible statuses could only lead to a sigh. Later in the evening, avish dinner was prepared, and everyone was invited to partake. Bring more fine wine with eight legs! the Little Princess eximed. Little Princess I want to drink more of it while hes not here, to annoy him! The Little Princess gritted her teeth. As the night went on, the Little Princess drank more wine and became somewhat tipsy. Li Shi Shi was very concerned. Shes had too much to drink; it seems she wont make it through the night. Xiao Cui, go prepare a room for her to rest in, and Dali, inform the Princes residence so they can be at ease. Yes, Mistress! They both responded. Then, Li Shi Shi and Mo Rushuang helped the tipsy Little Princess to the prepared room for her to rest. At this moment, the Little Princess became slightly more sober. Where are we going? Little Princess, youre drunk. Were taking you to a guest room to rest, Li Shi Shi exined. Oh I see. No need for you to help; I can do it myself! The Little Princess insisted, pushing away the two of them. However, in her slightly wobbly state, she ended up entering a luxurious room and crawled onto the bed. Li Shi Shi eximed, Little Princess, be careful! This is my Husband bed! Lin Beifans? Well, then Ill sleep here! I feel safe when hes around The Little Princess curled up on the bed, looking like a sleeping kitten, very obedient. Li Shi Shi and Mo Rushuang exchanged nces. What should we do? Li Shi Shi furrowed her brows slightly, then unfolded a n. Since my husband is not here, it shouldnt be a problem. Tonight, Ill sleep here to take care of the Little Princess. That sounds good. Thank you, Sister Shi Shi! Mo Rushuang nodded. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan was workingte in the pce when he suddenly sneezed twice. Strange, with my constitution, how am I catching a cold? He shook his head, didnt dwell on it, and continued working. The night quickly passed. At the break of dawn, a luxurious carriage arrived at the front of the Lin residence. A middle-aged man, dressed in splendid attire with a tall and imposing stature, stepped down from the carriage. He instructed those around him, Knock on the door! After all, this is the Prime Ministers residence. Be polite! Yes, Your Highness! Two knocks sounded, and shortly after, Dali opened the door and, upon seeing the neer, was greatly surprised. Its Prince Yunqing who has arrived! Humble servant pays respects to Your Highness! This person was the Little Princesss father and also the most powerful figure in the court, the Prince of Yunqing, who was highly trusted by the Empress. The middle-aged man nodded slightly, revealing a hint of indulgent smile, and said, I heard my little daughter got drunk here and couldnt leave. So, I came to pick her up on my way! Your Highness, pleasee inside. Ill inform her, Dali replied. Very well, go ahead, Ill follow, said the Prince. Not long after, the Little Princess was awakened and, with some remnants of alcohol, stumbled her way out. Father, why are you here? Good girl, I heard you got drunk here and couldnt leave, so I came to pick you up! Prince Yunqing extended his massive palm and affectionately patted his daughters head, a hint of reproach in his tone. My dear daughter, you reek of alcohol. How much did you drink yesterday? The Little Princess, still groggy and drowsy, mumbled, I drank a lot, I lost count. Prince Yunqing wanted to scold her, but when he saw how obedient his daughter looked, he couldnt bring himself to reprimand her. He could only advise, Yunying, you are a youngdy and a member of the royal family. You should be more reserved in the future and not drink so much, do you understand? The Little Princess, still groggy, replied, Father, I understand. Good, as long as you understand. Prince Yunqing continued to stroke his daughters head and asked, Yunying, did you sleep wellst night? The Little Princess, still half-asleep, said, I slept very well! Thats good, Prince Yunqing said with satisfaction. Youve always been particr about your sleep. You cant sleep well unless youre in your own bed. Father was worried you wouldnt sleep well Where did you sleepst night? The Little Princess, still groggy, nodded and said, That. Prince Yunqings face suddenly froze. He lowered his head, nervous, and asked, Yunying, what did you just say? Did you say you slept in Lin Beifans bed? The Little Princess, still half-asleep, nodded, Yes. Prince Yunqings mindset shattered instantly! His beloved daughter, whom he had cherished for over a decade, had slept in Lin Beifans bed? Slept in a mans bed? Could it be that his precious daughter had already Prince Yunqings heart leaped to his throat, and he anxiously asked, Yunying, did he do anything to you? Which he? The Little Princess, in a drowsy state, asked. Lin Beifan, Prince Yunqing rified. He The Little Princess recalled the events from the previous night and huffed, Hes a scoundrel. I dont want to have anything to do with him! Hes a scoundrel? Now, the evidence was irrefutable! Prince Yunqing was seething with anger. His precious daughter, whom he had painstakingly raised, had been deceived by Lin Beifan, this despicable beast! His precious daughter was still a young maiden! Her status was noble, as she was the princess of a nation! To be involved in such a scandalous affair There is a limit to patience, and no father could tolerate this! Prince Yunqing shouted in fury, Lin Beifan, you despicable beast,e out here!!! Chapter 370: It’s Your Daughter, The Little Princess, Who has Taken Everything From Me Chapter 370: Its Your Daughter, The Little Princess, Who has Taken Everything From Me If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The sound spread far and wide, filled with anger, and everyone in the capital heard it. Thats the voice of Prince Yunqing! Whats happening? The Prince just called out the Prime Ministers name and even called him an animal. He told him to get out! Could it be that theyve fallen out due to the Little Princesss reasons? They cant have such a huge conflict, can they? Theyre not just having a conflict, theyre tearing each other apart! I have a feeling that something big is happening! Everyone eagerly watched the drama unfold. The groggy Little Princess was confused. What was wrong with her father? Why did he suddenly curse Lin Beifan and call him an animal Could it be that they were having a dispute? This couldnt happen! The Little Princess was getting anxious. Father Seeing his daughter looking so bewildered, Prince Yunqings heart ached even more. His anger red up, and he said, Yunying, dont worry; Father will definitely help you seek justice! Even if hes the current Prime Minister, Father will make sure he pays the price he deserves! Father, please dont! The Little Princess held onto Prince Yunqings arm, preventing him from acting recklessly. Prince Yunqings heartache and anger intensified. His precious daughter had been harmed, and she was still trying to protect that scoundrel? It was simply unreasonable! That scoundrel must not be let off lightly! Meanwhile, Lin Beifan, looking bewildered, walked into the scene. Whats going on here? Prince Yunqing, why did you just call me? What have I done to make you so angry? He had just finished his work and was nning to freshen up before attending the morning court session. Unexpectedly, he encountered this situation, leaving him utterly baffled. Seeing Lin Beifan looking so confused, Prince Yunqing became even angrier. He pointed at Lin Beifan and said, You still have the nerve to deny it? What have you done? Dont you understand? Lin Beifan blinked in confusion. What have I done? I dont think Ive done anything. He dares to deny it? Prince Yunqing was furious, trembling all over. You shameless scoundrel who eats and wipes clean without taking responsibility! Today, Ill teach you a lesson. Even if the Emperor mes me, Ill ept it! Saying that, he raised his huge fist, as big as a cooking pot. The Little Princess eximed, Dont! Others also shouted, Dont! Boom, boom About ten secondster, Lin Beifan emerged unharmed. Prince Yunqingy on the ground, bruised and swollen, wearing a bewildered expression. Who am I? Where am I? Why is everything like this? Standing beside him was an elderly monk withpassionate eyes. Put down the butchers knife, and you can be a Buddha on the spot! Donor, as long as this humble monk is here, I wont let you harm my masters hair. Amitabha! the monk said with great kindness. Lin Beifan spread his hands out in a helpless gesture and said, See, I told you not to resort to violence, but you wouldnt listen! Prince Yunqing: Father, how are you? Are you okay? The Little Princess hurriedly helped Prince Yunqing up, brushed off the dust on his body, and checked his injuries. She found that he had only suffered superficial wounds, which relieved her. She scolded him, saying, Father, whats wrong with you? Why did you suddenlye to attack Lin Beifan? He doesnt seem to have offended you in any way! Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly and said, Exactly! Prince Yunqings anger red up again. He hasnt offended me? My dear daughter, he has taken everything from you! How can I not be angry? Taken everything from me? Lin Beifan blinked his eyes and said with a sense of grievance, Prince Yunqing, are you mistaken? Its your daughter, the Little Princess, who has taken everything from me. My home is practically empty! The Little Princess recalled everything she had done in Lins Mansion and lowered her head with embarrassment. Hmm. Prince Yunqing suffered another blow. It turned out that his daughter had taken the initiative? Kids these days were really something! But even if it was his daughter who took the initiative, it was uneptable! After all, in such matters, it was women who suffered! Prince Yunqing pulled his daughter behind him and said, Daughter, mind your own business! Today, Father is sparing this mans life for your sake. I will seek justice for you; otherwise, it would be in vain to be a father! The Little Princess was angry. Enough, Father! Whats gotten into you today? Why are you acting like this? Lin Beifan hasnt offended you. Why do you want to hurt him? Hes my friend. If you hurt him, how am I supposed to face people in the future? Seeing his daughter still defending that scoundrel, Prince Yunqing felt very distressed. He wanted to hit him, but he couldnt bring himself to do it. He wanted to scold him, but he couldnt find the words. He sighed in helplessness, s! Father is doing this for you. Youve already given yourself to him, how can Father not be angry? The Little Princess was puzzled, Lin Beifan was puzzled, and everyone present was puzzled! The Little Princess had given herself to Lin Beifan? Oh my! This news was explosive! No wonder Prince Yunqing was so angry; anyone would be! Everyone looked at Lin Beifan with strange eyes. Could it be true that Sir Lin? Lin Beifan felt anxious. Why are you all looking at me like this? I am a chaste and virtuous man, a true gentleman who doesnt take advantage of others. I havent done anything! The Little Princess cast a flickering nce at Lin Beifan and said angrily, Father, theres nothing like that. Please dont say such things! Prince Yunqing was dumbfounded. Nothing like that? Didnt you just say that you slept in Lin Beifans bed? Finally, after some exnations, the truth came to light. The Little Princess had indeed passed out in Lin Beifans bed due to excessive drinking, but Li Shi Shi had stayed with her to take care of her. Lin Beifan, busy with official duties, hadnt returned home all night, so nothing had happened. Prince Yunqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief; nothing had actually urred. However, seeing his obedient daughter and the affectionate exchange between her and Lin Beifan left him feeling ufortable. He beckoned to his daughter and said, Dear daughter,e back with Father! Im not going back. Youve embarrassed me enough. I need to make amends to everyone! The Little Princess was not pleased. Return with Father first, I have an important matter to discuss with you! Prince Yunqings face was stern. Alright then! The Little Princess reluctantly waved her hand. After returning to the Princes mansion, the Little Princess urged, Father, please tell me whats going on quickly. I still need to go back to make amends! Yunying, from now on, stay away from Lin Beifan. Dont look for him anymore. Why? The Little Princess became agitated. We are very good friends. Why cant I visit him? Because he is a dangerous person! Prince Yunqing said with a serious expression. He is now the Prime Minister of the court and the Supreme Commander of the entire nation, with authority over tens of thousands. He holds a high position and great power, and he has already be a critical support for the imperial power. If he were clean and righteous, it would be one thing, but he is incredibly corrupt! Prince Yunqing continued. His wealth is well known, and it wont be long before he loses his head because of it. So, Father hopes that you will stay away from him. I dont want you to be involved with him, and I dont want you to suffer because of him! The Little Princess continued to be agitated. But he has done many good things. Empress Sister wont harm him! He has indeed done many good deeds, but they cannot make up for his mistakes! Prince Yunqing said. The reason the Empress tolerates him is solely because he has great talents and can handle important responsibilities. He has saved the Great Wu. But when he is no longer useful, his ws will be exposed. A monarch is ruthless and will surely remove him! The Little Princess became even more agitated. Then why didnt you stop this earlier? Why are you telling me now? Because in the past, you had very few friends, so I wanted you to make more friends and have a happier and more joyful life. Your friendship with Lin Beifan didnt matter much because I was confident that I could protect you, and the Emperor wouldnt me you for it. But now, itspletely different Prince Yunqing sighed helplessly. You clearly have feelings for Lin Beifan now. Father is afraid that youll be deeply entangled and unable to extricate yourself, harming both yourself and others. So, my dear daughter, forget about him. You are not a suitable match. I wont! Ill go find Lin Beifan! The Little Princess shouted. Bang! The Little Princess closed her eyes and fainted. Prince Yunqing caught her and gentlyid her on the bed. He sighed helplessly, My dear daughter, Father is doing this for your own good. Even if you hate me, I must do it! He walked out of the room and said to those around him, Take good care of the Little Princess. Shes not allowed to leave without my orders! Yes, Your Highness! Just then, an old eunuch arrived. Your Highness, Her Majesty requests an audience! Prince Yunqing bowed and smiled, Grand Eunuch, please wait for a moment. I will be there shortly. Soon after, Prince Yunqing entered the imperial presence. Greetings, Your Majesty, long live the Emperor! he said respectfully. Uncle Yunqing, theres no need for formalities, the Empress said. I heard that you had a conflict with Prime Minister Lin at the Lin residence today. Prince Yunqings heart skipped a beat; the recent incident had already reached the Empresss ears, and she was personally inquiring about it. The situation was unusual, and he needed to handle it carefully. Your Majesty, its true. However, it was just a minor matter, and it has already been resolved. Your Majesty need not be concerned, Prince Yunqing replied with a bow. The Empress shook her head. Uncle Yunqing, youre not being straightforward. Both of you are essential ministers of the court, and I dont want any conflicts between you. Tell me the details, dont hide anything. Do you understand? Prince Yunqings face sweated profusely. Yes, Your Majesty, he replied, reluctant but resigned. Chapter 371: Bestowing Marriage on Lin Beifan and the Little Princess? Chapter 371: Bestowing Marriage on Lin Beifan and the Little Princess? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Following that, Prince Yunqing reported the situation. Thinking that his younger daughter had lost her virtue to Lin Beifan under unknown circumstances, he had be angry and acted recklessly. The Empress listened, and she was utterly speechless. So, it was all a misunderstanding! Uncle Yunqing, you were too impulsive at the time, resorting to violence without rifying the situation! Fortunately, Prime Minister Lin had a grandmaster protecting him, or else things could have taken a dire turn. I will spare you this time. Yes, yes, I was indeed impulsive, and Ive paid the price for it. Prince Yunqing touched the wound on his face, grimacing. Grandmasters are truly extraordinary; even now, it still hurt. However, I understand your feelings. If your own daughter suddenly lost her virtue to someone else, you wouldnt remain calm either. Your wisdom, Your Majesty. Prince Yunqing bowed. But if that person is Lin Beifan, its different! The Empress smiled widely. Both of them are unmarried, one is the current Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the military, while the other is my beloved Little Princess. They are well-matched in terms of background and have a good rtionship, making them an ideal match! Prince Yunqing was utterly bewildered. Your Majesty, what do you mean? Uncle Yunqing, isnt it obvious what I mean? The Empress tapped the table. My intention is clear: let these two young people continue their rtionship! Ive long seen that Yunyings heart is already attached to Prime Minister Lin. She cant amodate anyone else, so its better to support their rtionship and let her find her own happiness. Prime Minister Lin is incredibly talented and can bepared to a celestial being in terms of ability. However, his temperament is uncertain, which worries me. If he establishes a family and career, he should mature quickly and be more dedicated to serving the court on my behalf. And you, Uncle, if this matter truly materializes, youll gain a top-tier son-inw! Someone like Prime Minister Lin is hard to find even with antern. Dont you agree? This is simply a perfect scenario! Prince Yunqing waspletely baffled. He had originally intended to separate them, but now the Empress wanted to support them? Prince Yunqing was terrified. Your Majesty, this is absolutely not possible! The Empress frowned, Why not? Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lin and Yunying are not a suitable match! The Empresss frown deepened. Why are they not suitable? In terms of status, age, and other aspects, they are a perfect match! Ive searched the entire Great Wu, and I couldnt find a better match than them. Prince Yunqing sweated profusely. Your Majesty, this, uh The Empress scolded, Speak frankly, dont beat around the bush! Your Majesty, its like this. Prince Yunqing bowed and exined, Prime Minister Lin is indeed an outstanding son-inw. However, he currently holds the prestigious positions of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the military in the court. I, as a prince of the court, am also a high-ranking official. If the two families were to be united, theirbined power would be too great. It might arouse suspicions and concerns. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider. The Empress smiled and shook her head. Whats the problem with that? I dont mind. Although high-ranking court officials should be discreet, if you look at it from a different perspective, this can strengthen the rtionship between Prime Minister Lin and me. He wont think about running away all the time. Prince Yunqing stammered, Ah? Cough, I misspoke earlier, Uncle. Dont pay attention to that, the Empress covered up. But, Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lin, this person This person still Prince Yunqing hesitated. The Empress inquired, What about this person? He Prince Yunqing gritted his teeth and said, He is an incredibly greedy person! Im worried that in the future, there will be serious consequences, and my daughter will suffer! The Empress shook her head once again and smiled. Uncle, isnt it just a little greed for money? In the entire court, who hasnt been greedy at some point? Such matters cant bepletely eradicated; we have to turn a blind eye to some extent. As long as he wholeheartedly serves the court, works for the welfare of the people and the nation, I can tolerate it. Your Majesty, its not just a little greed; he has amassed a vast amount of wealth. From what I know, the gold, silver, and precious jewels that Lin Beifan has embezzled over the years may even exceed the national treasury! However, Prince Yunqing was once again left speechless. Because the Empress remained unperturbed, as if she were hearing about something ordinary. She waved her hand and said, Ive known about these matters for a long time; theres no need to worry. At this moment, Prince Yunqing was truly shocked! So, the Empress had known about all these corrupt activities from the beginning? And she even tolerated them? Embezzling millions of taels of silver was already severe, but the wealth he had embezzled had be equivalent to the national treasury! This undermined the very foundations of the country and harmed its stability. It was enough to warrant the extermination of nine generations! At this moment, countless thoughts flooded Prince Yunqings mind. Had Lin Beifan been the Empresss pawn all along? Did the Empress encourage his corruption to collect funds to punish corrupt officials? Upon closer examination, although Lin Beifan had embezzled a significant amount of money, it seemed he hadnt used much of it. So, what had happened to all that ill-gotten wealth? At this moment, Prince Yunqing was drenched in sweat. Just then, the Empresss gaze turned deep and carried a hint of warning. Uncle, some things are better left unknown. Do not speak of them, or else I wont spare you! Prince Yunqing immediately assured her, Yes, I will keep my mouth shut! Not only should you keep it a secret, but also remember, Prime Minister Lin is of utmost importance to me, to the court, and to the Great Wu as a whole. Everyone else in the court can be reced, but not him. Even if it means offending the entire world, I cannot offend him. To gain his loyalty, no matter the cost its all worth it! Prince Yunqing was thoroughly astonished! He had never expected that Lin Beifan held such a crucial position in the Empresss heart! Although Lin Beifan was indeed highly capable, it was still hard to imagine to this extent! Prince Yunqing suddenly felt that Lin Beifan might not be as simple as he appeared on the surface. Although he had achieved extraordinary sess in less than two years, bing the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the entire country, unmatched by anyone in history, there was still much hidden beneath the surface. Only the tip of the iceberg had been revealed. Prince Yunqing also felt that the Empress before him was concealing something profound. Could it be that the Empress was hiding something as well? Why, despite all these years, did she still sit so securely on the throne, ruling the courts destiny so calmly? At this moment, Prince Yunqing deeply understood the saying: Apanying the ruler is like apanying a tiger. Yes, Your Majesty! I will remember, Prince Yunqing lowered his head. So, let Prime Minister Lin and Yunyings rtionship develop naturally. Uncle, if you dare to interfere with them, I will punish you! Prince Yunqing was filled with apprehension. Your Majesty, I dare not! Just then, a eunuchs voice came from outside. Announcing Your Majesty, Princess Yunying requests an audience! Prince Yunqings face became somewhat awkward, filled with resignation. This mischievous little girl, she must being secretly to the pce to report something to the Empress. Yunying is here! The Empress smiled. Quickly, let her in! The little princess slipped in, saw her father, made a face, then ran to the Empress and said in a loud and aggrieved tone, Empress Sister, Ivee to file aint! The Empress was very surprised. File aint? Who in the capital would dare to offend you? Its him, my father, Prince Yunqing! The little princess pointed at her own father indignantly. The Empress was even more surprised. How did he offend you? The little princess, still in her aggrieved state, said, Father wont allow me to associate with Lin Beifan, so he locked me up! He even secretly knocked me out at the time. If I hadnt been clever and devised a n, I wouldnt have escaped! Empress Sister, you must speak up for me! I see! The Empress was angry. My dear good Uncle, you actually locked up my beloved little Yunying just because you didnt want her to associate with Lin Beifan? What crime should you be charged with? The little princess, using her faux authority, added, Thats right! What crime should you be charged with? Prince Yunqing gave a bitter smile. Your Majesty, I made a momentary mistake. I wont dare to do it again! Will there even be a next time? It seems you havent learned your lesson yet, the Empress said angrily. The little princess continued her faux authority, You still havent learned your lesson, have you? Prince Yunqing, filled with trepidation, bowed his head and said, Your Majesty, I truly wont dare to do it again. Please forgive me! Thats more like it! The Empressughed gently andforted the little princess, Yunying, from now on, Ill take care of your matters with Lin Beifan. Go ahead and pursue it without worry! The little princess blushed instantly and appeared very shy and bashful as she said, Empress Sister, what could possibly happen between Lin Beifan and me? Dont make unfounded ims Is that so? It seems I misunderstood! The Empress teased, Yunying, you prefer to take things slowly, then. Alright, I wont pressure you. No, Empress Sister, youve misunderstood my meaning! The little princesss face was practically as red as blood, and she spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, I feel like it might not be impossible The Empress: Chapter 372: Your Marriage Matters, I’ll Decide for You! Chapter 372: Your Marriage Matters, Ill Decide for You! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
In the end, the Empress didnt arrange a marriage, but the Little Princess was still happy because she knew her older sister, the Empress, approved of this union and supported her from behind, so there were no concerns. Watching the cheerful figure of the Little Princess as she left, the Empress couldnt help but sigh, Youth is truly wonderful! At that moment, a white figure appeared on the ceiling, teasing, Your Majesty, you are also young; why the mncholy? The Empress smiled bitterly and said, While I may be young, Ive experienced much, and my heart is no longer youthful. I too wish for carefree happiness like a cloud serpent, but there are too many responsibilities pushing me forward, and I cant stop. Your Majesty, youve endured so much these years! Bai Guanyin remarked. Its not endurance; its my duty! Since ascending to the throne as the Empress, Ive enjoyed endless glory, wealth, power, and respect. I must shoulder my responsibilities to honor our ancestors, the people of Great Wu, and my own conscience, the Empress said with determination. Very well said! However, Your Majesty, theres one matter you should consider, Bai Guanyin said. The Empress curiously asked, What matter is that? Bai Guanyin provocatively said, Your marriage! The Empresss face froze for a moment, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. She stammered, Bai Sister, what are you talking about? Bai Guanyinughed and said, I mean, you should find a suitable man, get married, and have children! The Empress, annoyed, responded, Bai Sister, youre teasing me! Im not teasing. Im talking about a serious matter, Bai Guanyin said earnestly. Privately, although youre still young, youre not that young anymore. In themon world, a woman your age would likely have married already, and her children would have grown up. I understand that youve been busy with state affairs for all these years and had no time for personal matters. But now that the country is stable, you should consider your lifelongmitment! The Empress blushed even more. From a public perspective, this is also for the sake of Great Wu! As the reigning Empress, if you dont have an heir, the session bes a problem. Do you n to hand over your empire to someone else a century from now? Of course not! the Empress immediately replied. Then, for the stability of the nation and the continuity of the royal lineage, you must consider your marriage! Bai Guanyin urged. Without a man, how can you have a royal son or grandson? Dont you agree? The Empresss face turned even redder. But upon closer reflection, Bai Guanyins words made a lot of sense. She needed to consider her marriage seriously. Without an heir, the dynastys future would be in jeopardy. She couldnt entrust her empire to anyone else. People always had their own interests, and one would pass on their legacy to the person they trusted the most. However, who could be her suitable match? As the most powerful woman in the realm, ordinary men were not suitable for her, let alone worthy of her! At that moment, a familiar face crossed her mind. The Empresss face became even redder, as if dripping with blood, but deep inside, there was a hint of anticipation and joy. Bai Guanyin probed, Your Majesty, do you already have someone in your heart, dont you? The Empress seemed as if her thoughts wereid bare. She anxiously said, Bai Sister, dont make unfounded ims. Thats not true! Isnt it? Bai Guanyin tilted her head, puzzled. But aside from him, who else is worthy of you? Who else do you hold in such regard? The Empress stuttered, I I In truth, Your Majesty, he is the best choice for you. Bai Guanyinughed, saying, Lin Beifan is not only a top schr in the imperial examinations, but also an exceptionally rare grandmaster in both literature and martial arts. His leadership abilities are outstanding, and its nearly impossible to find anyone as excellent as him in the entire realm. Moreover, he is young, handsome, of impable character, and he hasnt married yet. Choosing him as your husband would be the perfect choice! And, havent you been worried that he might run away? Once you make him your husband and have a few children with him, he wont be able to escape. He will surely stay by your side wholeheartedly, assisting you in governing the nation and its people! The more the Empress listened, the more anxious she became. Though she had thought about this herself, hearing it spoken aloud was embarrassing. So, the Empress resorted to a tactic of escaping from official duties. Bai Sister, lets not talk about this for now. I need to continue with my official duties, she said, opening a memorial and pretending to diligently review it. Bai Guanyin shook her head slightly and disappeared. The Empress secretly let out a sigh of relief, touched her face, which had turned red-hot. Meanwhile, the Little Princess had joyfully rushed to the government office. Lin Beifan, Ivee to see you! she eximed. What are we going to do? Im busy with official matters, and I dont have time to y with you, Lin Beifan said calmly while rapidly reviewing the memorials. You can be busy, Ill just watch you! the Little Princess obediently sat nearby, propping her chin on her hands, gazing at Lin Beifan. She suddenly realized that Lin Beifan looked good no matter how she looked at himleft, right, up, downhe was exceptionally handsome! His appearance was off the charts, and he was young and skilled in various arts, from music and chess to calligraphy and poetry. He could lead armies in battle and preside over the court. He excelled in every aspect! Such an outstanding husband was hard toe by; it felt like she had hit the jackpot. The Little Princess couldnt help but let out a slyugh. Lin Beifan nced at her, asking, Whats the matter? Nothing, I just saw you and thought of something fun, the Little Princess said with a smile. Dont mind me, continue with your work! Alright, Lin Beifan nodded and continued with his official duties. The Little Princess continued to watch, meticulously observing every detail. When she noticed the ink on Lin Beifans table running low, she immediately came over to replenish it. She noticed the tea on his table had gone cold, so she promptly poured a fresh cup. And whenever there were too many memorials on his desk, she organized them neatly. She also asionally slipped into the kitchen to bring Lin Beifan some delicious snacks. Lin Beifans gaze flicked back to her again. He felt that something was off about the Little Princess today, and her attentiveness was particrly unusual. Unable to resist, Lin Beifan asked, Little Princess, what are you up to? Nothing, you focus on your work, dont mind me! the Little Princess said as she fed him a grape, realizing how tasty it was. Lin Beifan sighed. After finishing the memorials, Lin Beifan followed the eunuchs to the Imperial Study to report on some matters. Meanwhile, the Empress still hadnt fully recovered from her earlier embarrassment. When she saw Lin Beifan, the person at the center of her thoughts, she blushed once more. Her gaze flickered, and she felt somewhat uneasy, her thoughts drifting in various directions. Lin Beifan continued to report his work diligently, while the Empress nodded along, appearing somewhat distant. Lin Beifan couldnt help but ask, Your Majesty, are you listening? Ah, yes, yes My dear minister, Im listening, please continue, the Empress finally snapped out of her reverie. Yes, Your Majesty, Lin Beifan replied, slightly puzzled. Minister Lin, what were you saying just now? Lin Beifan: Lin Beifans gaze shifted towards her. The Empress seemed strange today. Could it be that its her time of the month? Lin Beifan had no choice but to start reporting his work once again, and this time, the Empress finally appeared serious, or at least she looked like it. After he finished his report, Lin Beifan asked, Your Majesty, is there anything you dont understand? Well I do have some questions, the Empress hesitated. Please, Your Majesty, Lin Beifan said seriously. I want to ask Minister, you havent been married yet, have you? Lin Beifan was momentarily dumbfounded. What kind of irrelevant question is this? What does my marital status have to do with our work? But since the Empress asked, he had to respond as a loyal subject. Your Majesty, I do have several close female friends, but as for a formal marriage, I havent entered into one yet. I n to formalize these rtionships in due time and give them proper recognition. Good, the Empress nodded repeatedly. Thats good. No formal marriage is perfect! Lin Beifan: Lin Beifan remained silent for a moment before asking, Your Majesty, do you have any other questions? I do have a few more questions the Empress thought for a moment, then nervously asked, You dont have any existing engagements, do you? The corner of Lin Beifans mouth twitched slightly. Your Majesty, Im just amoner without any existing engagements. Thats good, thats good! I can finally be at ease, the Empress breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Beifan: After a brief silence, Lin Beifan arched his hand and asked, May I inquire why Your Majesty is concerned about my marital matters? Its mainly for your own good. For my good? Lin Beifan was puzzled again. Yes, its for your good, the Empress emphasized. Minister, you are still young, so you shouldnt rush into marriage matters. Especially when ites to choosing a wife, you must be cautious, do you understand? Lin Beifans mouth twitched again. Of course, I understand. The Empress thought for a moment and added, However, Minister, as the current Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Army, you are quite busy with state affairs. Its not suitable for your household tock a mistress. How about this, you can take concubines for now, but we can dy the formal marriage. Lin Beifan: After some consideration, Lin Beifan asked, May I ask, Your Majesty, when can I formally marry, and what kind of wife should I look for? Well Let me think about it and get back to you. Lin Beifan was dumbfounded once again. I have to wait for you to think about it? What if you forget? Seeing Lin Beifans puzzled expression, a trace of shyness shed across the Empresss face. She pretended to be serious and said, Minister, rest assured, your affairs are my affairs, and I wont forget. I will take charge of your marriage matters! Lin Beifan was dumbfounded yet again. My marriage matters, and you want to take charge of them? Chapter 373: Is Lin Beifan a Traitor? Chapter 373: Is Lin Beifan a Traitor? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Your Majesty, regarding this marriage matter, I can make the decision myself, so you dont have to trouble yourself, Lin Beifan said diplomatically. The Empress became excited: No! As the current Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, marriage is not a trivial matter. It concerns the court and the stability of Great Wu. Therefore, I must make the decision for you! Lin Beifan was sweating: Your Majesty, it really isnt necessary, its not that serious The Empress interrupted: Ive made up my mind! Lin Beifan: In the end, he had to reluctantly ept the imperial decree. Meanwhile, after several days, the third prince of Great Yan, Yan Xinghe, had already retreated to Great Yan and brought back a reply from Great Wu, either to fight or withdraw, with no third option. Great Yans forces were not willing to withdraw, but they also didnt dare to engage in a hasty battle. So, the two armies continued to stand in a tense standoff. Afterpleting the official business, the third prince hurriedly went to a luxurious mansion. Teacher of the Nation, Ivee to see you! With a swoosh, a chubby Taoist priest appeared, who was none other than the long-lost Empty Void Daoist. After being expelled from Great Wu by Lin Beifan, he had arrived in Great Yan with his disciple. Using his alchemical skills and mystical abilities, he quickly gained the favor of the Great Yan Emperor and the court officials, bing the Nations Master with great influence and respect. Your Highness, youvee back, did you obtain the Dragon Bone? Naturally, the third prince smiled proudly and said, Of course! I, Yan Xinghe, cannot return empty-handed, can I? The Empty Void Daoist was delighted, Wheres the Dragon Bone? Let me see! Master, please have a look! The third prince carefully took out a box, then opened it to reveal a jade bottle containing the Dragon Bone. The Empty Void Daoist cautiously opened the bottle, revealing a bit of fine powder inside, carefully examining it and nodding, This is indeed Dragon Bone. Please tell His Majesty. The third prince eagerly asked, Master, there are 2.5 taels of Dragon Bone in this bottle. Together with what Father gave you earlier, its a total of five taels of Dragon Bone. Can we use this to refine the Elixir of Immortality? The Empty Void Daoist rolled his eyes inwardly. He also wanted to refine the Elixir of Immortality, but the problem was, he didnt know how! However, he was a seasoned chatan and remained calm, shaking his head and saying, Its not that easy, you know? For countless years, how many emperors have tried to refine the Elixir of Immortality, and how many have seeded? None! Its only now, with the appearance of the precious Dragon Bone, that theres a glimmer of hope. The third prince chuckled, Thats true! Dont worry, Your Highness. With the Dragon Bone and the national efforts to gather heavenly treasures, we have a much better chance now. If we have all the necessary ingredients, I have a 50% chance of refining the Elixir of Immortality! Even if its not the Elixir of Immortality, I can still create some longevity elixirs! The Empty Void Daoist made reassuring promises. The third prince was overjoyed, Then, well rely on Master! But, the Dragon Bone is still too little, the Empty Void Daoistmented, If we could obtain a few more catties of Dragon Bone, I could start alchemy and produce the divine medicine you need. Master, we have our ways, the third prince said confidently. What ways? Can you share them with me? The Empty Void Daoists eyes gleamed. The third prince hesitated, but he wanted the Empty Void Daoists help in obtaining the Divine Elixir, so he couldnt offend this knowledgeable figure. Master, this involves a secret of our dynasty, and it absolutely cannot be leaked! However, since you are one of us, I wont hide it from you. But after you hear it, you must promise to keep it a secret! The Empty Void Daoist solemnly replied, Your Highness, rest assured, I swear before the Three Clear Divine Beings that I will not divulge this. Thank you for understanding, I will tell you now, the third prince whispered. Our Dragon Bones, all of them, were obtained from Lin Beifan, the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Great Wu! In reality, he is our inside man arranged within Great Wu! The Empty Void Daoists pupils contracted! This news was incredibly explosive and shocking! Who could have imagined that Lin Beifan, the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander who was an immensely powerful figure, would be an inside agent for Great Yan! An inside agent at his level was truly an earth-shattering revtion! People would be burning incense at their ancestral graves over this! Really? Youre not deceiving me, are you? The Empty Void Daoist asked once more. How could I deceive you, Master? the third princeughed. Master, its indeed hard to believe, but its true! Because Lin Beifan is a very greedy person with no principles whatsoever. As long as you offer him money, hell do anything! In the beginning, we spent four million taels of silver to obtain the knowledge of crafting the Hot Air Balloon from him! Later, we spent five million taels of silver to learn the secrets of making the Air-cushion ship! Even the Dragon Bones we have on hand were purchased from him for a whopping fifty thousand taels of silver. Hes truly ruthless! However, if he werent greedy, we wouldnt have had an opportunity! What do you think, Master? Haha! Indeed, the Empty Void Daoist chuckled. Not long after, the third prince left for other matters. In the room, only the Empty Void Daoist remained, restless and excited, pacing back and forth. Lin Beifan, never in a million years did I think youd be such a person! Its truly heavens blessing. The Three Clear Divine Beings have shown their favor, giving me a chance for revenge. Haha! You see, Lin Beifan had expelled him from Great Wu, and he had swindled away all the wealth he had umted. It left him deeply resentful and seeking revenge. Moreover, the fact that Lin Beifan knew the secret of the Divine Elixir made him a significant threat that needed to be eliminated. Now, he finally had an opportunity. Lin Beifan, this time, Ill see if you live or die! The Empty Void Daoist summoned his young disciple and gave him a significant sum of money to carry out a task. Before long, a rumor quickly spread from Great Yan, sweeping through Great Wu. Do you know that Lin Beifan, the current Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of Great Wu, is actually a traitor! Hes already in an incredibly high position, favored by the Empress, living in luxury. How could he possibly be a traitor? This is likely true! I heard that this information leaked from within Great Yan, and Lin Beifan has long been a traitor! For his own benefit, he leaked the manufacturing secrets of Great Wus Hot Air Balloon and Air-cushion ship to Great Yan, allowing them to create these two great weapons! Even Great Yans Dragon Bones were leaked by him! Think about it, whether its the manufacturing secrets of the two great weapons or the Dragon Bones, only he had the opportunity to ess them. Who else could it be? Its entirely possible; hes a corrupt official who would do anything for money! We never expected him to be like this! Its shameful to betray ones country! The news spread like wildfire, and many people demanded an investigation of Lin Beifan to root out the traitor. Some individuals who held grudges against Lin Beifan, as well as high-ranking officials, added fuel to the fire, hoping to use this opportunity to bring him down. In no time, Lin Beifan went from being a highly respected Prime Minister and Supreme Commander to a traitor despised by the public. This matter quickly rmed the court. In the court, the Empress was furious. This is absurd! Such baseless rumors have caused such a hugemotion. Clearly, someone is plotting against us, ndering loyal officials, and attempting to subvert our Great Wu court with malicious intent! Sir Lin, your loyalty is beyond question, I believe in you, do not take this to heart! Your Majesty is wise, I wont take it to heart! Lin Beifan proimed loudly. At this moment, an elderly minister stepped forward, speaking thoughtfully, Your Majesty, this matter indeed seems somewhat premeditated! However, where theres smoke, there may be fire The Empresss anger red again. Are you implying that Sir Lin is not innocent? Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lin is undoubtedly innocent! However, this matter has escted, stirring public anger. My suggestion is not to go against public sentiment but to conduct an investigation in ordance with it. This way, we can prove Prime Minister Lins innocence and calm the peoples anger. I respectfully implore Your Majesty to consider this! Please consider it, Your Majesty! the officials chimed in. They might not know whether Lin Beifan hadmitted treason, but this was starting to look like a power y, an attempt to weaken Lin Beifan. And if an investigation were conducted, even if he were innocent, he would still be affected. The Empress was furious again. Is there a need to investigate such a matter? Its been circting for three days already! In the past, three of my uncles also used my trusted minister baselessly with malicious intent, like Zhao, and it was proven that my minister were innocent! So, these groundless rumors should be ignored! Spread the message that anyone who continues to gossip, nder loyal officials, or disturb the court will be thrown into the dungeons and face punishment! And you, if you continue to meddle in these affairs, using the loyal and upright, I will also hold you ountable! Yes, Your Majesty! The officials trembled. Under the Empresss authoritarian rule, these rumors and gossip were quickly quelled. Lin Beifan remained the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander, with his position unshaken. In the Great Yan Dynasty, the Empty Void Daoist learned about this news and was dumbfounded. How could this not have worked? Master, its said that this matter caused quite a stir in Great Wu and even reached the court, but the Great Wu Empress chose not to investigate. She ordered the arrest of anyone spreading rumors or ndering loyal officials, and thats how the matter was silenced! The Empty Void Daoist was filled with frustration. He had expended such great effort, and yet, Lin Beifan remained unharmed. It was truly frustrating! Normally, he enjoyed having a puppet ruler, but right now, he was particrly annoyed. This Empress is truly a puppet ruler, trusting treacherous officials! What a foolish Empress! Helpless, he decided to let the matter rest for now and look for another opportunity for revenge. Meanwhile, at this moment, Lin Beifan squinted at the message that had just arrived: This rumor came from Great Yan?
Zhao Gao, Wade-Giles romanization Chao Kao, (born, Zhao state, Chinadied 207 BCE, China), Chinese eunuch who conspired to seize power on the death of Shihuangdi, first emperor of the Qin dynasty (221207 BCE). His action eventually led to the downfall of the dynasty. Chapter 374: Dragon Bone… Once Again Appears! Chapter 374: Dragon Bone Once Again Appears! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Who is behind all of this? Although Lin Beifan did indeed do these things. However, only a few people know about these things, and they are all high-ranking members of the Great Yan. To protect their interests, they surely wont leak this matter. After all, Lin Beifan, alive and in a high position, is more useful to them, while a dead man is of no use at all. But now, something like this has happened, and its highly likely that an internal problem has arisen. Someone holds a grudge against him and wants to eliminate him. Who could it be? Lin Beifans mind shed with the shadows of dozens of people. Regardless of whether they had a grudge or not, he considered everyone. But in the end, he couldnt determine the culprit. Alright, whoever it is, Ill hold Great Yan ountable! Lin Beifan wasnt one to swallow his pride. Even if you cant harm me, youve caused me trouble, and I will surely repay it. Unable to find the mastermind, Ill hold the entire Great Yan ountable. Lin Beifan brought in Bai Guanyin. Help me with something! Bai Guanyin agreed readily. No problem, what is it? Youve probably heard the recent rumors. Someone is using me of treason, saying that I sold the manufacturing methods of two great artifacts and the dragon bone to Great Yan. Its absolutely absurd! I am loyal; how could Imit such a heinous act? Bai Guanyin smirked. This doesnt sound like an usation! Lin Beifan said firmly, Without evidence, its an usation! Well then, are you nning to expose the real culprit behind the scenes? Lin Beifan shook his head. No! The other party is cunning. Ive already mobilized the imperial power, but I couldnt find the true culprit behind the scenes. So, theres no need to waste any more time. Bai Guanyins eyes sharpened. What is your n? This matter leaked from the Great Yan capital. Its an internal problem that has surfaced, so I n to retaliate against Great Yan. An eye for an eye. I wont let them off! Bai Guanyin asked, Whats your n? Lin Beifan grinned. The Great Yan Emperor is currently collecting rare materials from all over the world to refine the elixir of immortality, right? Ill give him a chance. Its time to make a move on the dragon bone. Lets see if they can handle it! After learning of Lin Beifans n, Bai Guanyin immediately reported it to the Empress. The Empress was resolute. Lin Beifan wants to retaliate against Great Yan? Your Majesty, what is your opinion? Is that even a question? The Empress became determined. In recent years, the Great Yan Dynasty has caused us a lot of trouble. Ive wanted to deal with them for a long time! Since Lin Beifan is willing, we must fully support him! So, the Empresss hidden forces began to mobilize. The news quickly spread far and wide. It is said that someone on the eastern coast, near the southern sea, has seen the dragon bone! At that time, the dragon bone was hovering above the sea,manding thunder and lightning, swallowing clouds and spitting mist. The sight was spectacr! At that time, several fishermen saw it and prostrated themselves, praying to be favored by the dragon! The dragon bone? Didnt it already fly away? It did, but it can fly back! The dragon bone is a recognized treasure of the world! It is said that wherever the dragon bone resides, there will be abundant rainfall, gushing springs, and celestial flowers. Its a blessednd! Meditating near the dragon bone can lead to profound martial arts insights and rapid cultivation progress! If one can obtain the dragon bone, they might even refine various elixirs and miraculous medicines, making it the most extraordinary medicine in the world! We missed the chancest time; this time, we must go and see! Youre right; we cant miss this opportunity! This news quickly rmed various forces, and everyone was very excited. Because the dragon bone is not a mythical thing, but a real treasure. It once appeared in the capital of Great Wu and caused many miracles, witnessed by countless people. Unfortunately, it eventually flew away, leaving behind endless regrets. Now, a yearter, it has unexpectedly reappeared! This is a heaven-sent opportunity! We mustnt miss it. We need to send people to investigate! If theres truly a dragon bone, we must retrieve it, even if we cant, we cant let others get it! If we can obtain the martial arts secrets from the dragon bone, our entire sect will undoubtedly rise and be unstoppable! The dragon bone can also be used to refine divine elixirs and even the elixir of immortality! No matter the cost, we must secure it and prevent others from touching it! Obtaining the dragon bone also offers a chance to be immortal, overlooking the mortal world! He who obtains the dragon bone obtains the world! Many factions have sent experts to the eastern coast to investigate. In the great court of Great Wu, Lin Beifan, known for his dramatic speeches, was extremely excited. Your Majesty, there are rumors among the people that the dragon bone has reappeared on the eastern coast, near the southern sea! The dragon bone holds great opportunities, and we must secure it! The Empress, equally dramatic, nodded repeatedly and said, What you say is true! The dragon bone originally belongs to our Great Wu. We should wee it back and entrust this matter to you. Who do you think should be responsible? Your Majesty, the dragon bone is of utmost importance, and I am willing to go. Lin Beifan said firmly, If there truly is a dragon bone, I will do everything in my power to retrieve it. The Empress eximed, Good! Your loyalty ismendable. This matter is now entrusted to you! And so, the matter was settled without any interference from the court officials. Upon receiving the imperialmand, Lin Beifan immediately set out. After all, he was the mastermind behind the scenes, and without him, many things wouldnt be properly arranged. It took about four days of travel. He traveled swiftly, finally arriving at the eastern coast near the southern sea. By this time, many people had already gathered here. There were martial artists, officials from various countries, and even some adventurersalling to this ce in search of the dragon bone. Among them, thergest group was the soldiers and cavalry of the Great Yan Dynasty. This was because the southern sea fell under the jurisdiction of Great Yan. ording to rumors, the dragon bone had appeared on the eastern coast near the southern sea, which was located within Great Yans territory. Therefore, they had the advantage of geography and could dispatch more people. The sea was filled with ships. However, since no one had yet seen the dragon bone, everyone was cautious and there were no conflicts. At this moment, someone was reporting to Lin Beifan. Prime Minister, ever since the news of the dragon bone spread, tens of thousands of martial artists havee here in search of treasures! The Great Yan Dynasty, leveraging its geographical advantage, has dispatched 200,000 troops100,000 infantry and 100,000 navy. Great Xia is somewhat far away, but theyve also sent 50,000 naval troops. There are also troops from other smaller nations, totaling around 50,000. Lin Beifan nodded slightly. Prime Minister, should we also send some troops and cavalry? Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, No need. The news about the dragon bone is still unconfirmed, so theres no need to mobilize the military. Besides, quality is more important than quantity. The 18 experts I brought with me should be sufficient for now. These 18 experts were the same ones who had apanied Lin Beifan to defeat Darro previously. After thest battle, they had gained many benefits and were excited to follow Lin Beifan again. Supreme Commander, are you sure we shouldnt send more troops? With just us, facing experts from all over the world, we might be at a disadvantage, one of the generals said, feeling the pressure. Yes, Supreme Commander, you should send more people just in case, another general chimed in. Lin Beifan shook his head. Really, theres no need! What do you think our main goal for this journey is? To find the dragon bone! everyone replied in unison. Wrong! Completely wrong! Lin Beifan eximed. The crowd looked puzzled. Lin Beifan smiled and said, If there truly is a dragon bone, well naturally do our best to bring it back. However, considering thepetition from so many people, how much of a chance do we really have? Even if we send our troops and cavalry from Great Wu, it probably wont make much of a difference! The crowd nodded in agreement. So, we should have a backup n! Lin Beifan waved his hand and continued, Look around, there are so many factions here, including our arch-enemies, the Great Yan and Great Xia armies. Our goal should be to take advantage of this opportunity to weaken them and reduce the threat. Once thats done, well have our aplishments! The crowds eyes lit up. Supreme Commander, you are wise! As they watched the ships sailing on the sea, Lin Beifan squinted his eyes and thought to himself, Tonight, let the dragon bone reveal itself! Let other factions handle the search for the dragon bone; well rest and prepare ourselves. When the dragon bone appears, well seize the opportunity! Yes, Supreme Commander! As the night grew darker, the waves rhythmically crashed on the shore, and some dark clouds gathered in the sky. A bright moon hung high above. This scene reminded Lin Beifan of a poetic verse: The rising moon over the sea, together at this moment! The people searching for the dragon bone had all retreated to the shore to rest, and the night grew quiet. However, at this moment, Lin Beifan entered his tent, and a glimmer of purple light appeared in his deep, dark eyes. The wind howled, and the waves surged, hitting the shore and the anchored ships. The dark clouds in the sky gathered, forming a menacing storm. Pitter-patter. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Everyone was awakened by themotion outside. Whats going on? Its going to rain? Just a moment ago, everything was fine! I hope the wind and rain arent too strong; my tent cant withstand it! This darn weather! Just then, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky and struck the sea in the distance. Then, with a loud crash, a torrential downpour began. Under the strong winds, the waves surged and roared as if they could devour everything. At this moment, a gap suddenly appeared in the distant dark clouds, and a gigantic, snake-like creature slowly descended amidst the wind, rain, and lightning, creating a terrifying scene. Everyone was stunned when they saw the monstrous creature. Its the dragon bone! Theres really a dragon bone here! The dragon bone has appeared!!! Chapter 375: The Resurgence of Dragon Bones, a Chaotic Battle at Sea! Chapter 375: The Resurgence of Dragon Bones, a Chaotic Battle at Sea! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The news of the appearance of dragon bones instantly shocked the people on the shore! Everyone rushed out from the boats and tents, looking towards the thundering sea. There were indeed dragon bones, floating and sinking amidst the storm, as if they hade to life. Thats really dragon bones! Ive seen it with my own eyes! On that day, it flew away like this, and now it has returned! My luck hase! Haha Dragon bones! Iming! Everyone went crazy and rushed towards the sea. Countless ships, disregarding the howling sea winds and surging waves, set sail. Some warriors couldnt wait and jumped into the sea to swim towards the dragon bones. People from the Great Wu also rushed out, but they didnt act rashly; they looked to Lin Beifan, waiting for hismand. Lin Beifan calmly said, Dont be in a hurry, dragon bones are not so easily obtained. Yes, Supreme Commander! As they spoke, the floating dragon bones slowly rose into the air, concealed within the dark clouds. At this moment, the wind gradually calmed, the rain stopped, and the waves subsided. The dark clouds gradually dissipated, leaving only a bright moon in the sky. The dragon bones also disappeared, leaving people feeling mncholic. However, from that night onwards, news of the dragon bones appearing in the South Sea spread rapidly. At the coast of the East Sea, near the South Sea, there really are dragon bones! At that time, apanied by storms, thunder, and lightning, the dragon bones drifted down from the sky, a truly awe-inspiring sight! All the people on the shore witnessed this miracle and rushed into the sea, going crazy! However, its regrettable that the dragon bones disappeared in less than a cup of teas time, leaving everyone disappointed! But based on the signs of the dragon bones appearing, it seems they will continue to emerge! The appearance of the dragon bones truly stirred various factions into action, and they sent out experts. Its said that after the Great Xia Dynasty received this news, they immediately dispatched 100,000 navy troops, heading to seize the dragon bones. The Great Yan Dynasty went even further, sending 100,000 navy troops and 200,000 infantry, totaling 500,000 soldiers, gathering in the South Sea. Only the Great Wu Dynasty, sandwiched in between, didnt make many moves. At the coast of the East Sea, experts gathered. There were too many innate warriors to count, and even asionally, you could see a couple of grandmaster-level experts. On the sea, ships filled the deep grooves, presenting a bustling scene ofpeting vessels. Everyone was fervently searching for the dragon bones. Among them, the location where the dragon bones had disappeared was especially crowded with many experts and ships, but at this moment, tensions were running high. This is the territory of our Great Yan in the sea. Without His Majestys orders, no one is allowed to approach! I advise you to leave quickly, you may still save your lives, otherwise, dont me us for being ruthless! A general of Great Yan stood on arge dragon-headed ship, confronting powerful enemies from all directions. Behind him were densely packedrge ships, filled with soldiers holding crossbows and arrows. These were all soldiers of the Great Yan Navy, numbering 200,000, with ships numbering in the tens of thousands. Why should we not be allowed to pass? You all just want to monopolize the dragon bones, weve seen through your intentions! Dragon bones belong to the virtuous! Dont be afraid, were in this together! They shouted, standing their ground. The general of Great Yan narrowed his eyes, raised his sword, and warned, If you dont retreat now, I wont be polite! Hah! The soldiers behind him were all prepared for battle. Various experts showed signs of fear. Most of them were martial artists ustomed to fighting onnd, and naval warfare was disadvantageous for them. At that moment, a fleet hurriedly arrived. The Great Xia Navy is here! This fleet that rushed over was the Great Xia Navy, with a total force of 150,000 soldiers. While smaller in scale than Great Yans forces, they were not to be underestimated. This imposing fleet quickly sailed across the sea and entered the South Sea territory, confronting the Great Yan Navy. The general of Great Yan wore a grave expression and loudly dered, This is the territory of Great Yan in the sea! Anyone who vites this order and enters will be considered an invader! You Great Xia Navy, quickly withdraw, and I wont hold it against you! Great Yans sea territory? What a joke! The Great Xia generalughed. Ive never heard of territories in the sea! I advise you to step aside, or I can lead my fleet to break through! You dare! The Great Yan general angrily retorted. Why wouldnt I dare? The Great Xia generalughed heartily. Heroes, the dragon bones are right ahead! This is a priceless treasure; lets charge together! Good! The old general is right! Everyone cheered. With this, the Great Xia Navy,bined with various misceneous ships, had a greater strength than the Great Yan Navy. The General of Great Yan realized this was turning against them. They hadnt even found the dragon bones, yet they were losing troops. How would they face the Emperor? The General of Great Yan shouted, Wait! The dragon bones havent appeared yet, and were already fighting among ourselves. This will only benefit the Great Wu! Then what do you suggest? My troops need to enter the South Sea to search for the dragon bones! the Great Xia general insisted. Thats right, we need to enter the South Sea. If you dont let us through, well fight! It was now clear to everyone that the Great Wus people were watching from the shore. If both sides suffered losses and the Great Wu took advantage, they would be at a disadvantage. You must let us pass, or we wont be polite! Whether its war or peace, you decide! The General of Great Yan was very helpless. After careful consideration, he reluctantly agreed to allow a small portion of the ships to enter. This temporarily eased the tension. If the dragon bones appeared, they could quickly assemble arger force and eliminate this small contingent, securing the dragon bones. At this moment, no one wanted to engage in a conflict, so they followed the n. Both sides remained peaceful for now. On the shore, Lin Beifan smiled and said, Generals, I think its time for us to take action! The generals eyes lit up. Supreme Commander, what should we do? Lin Beifan whispered, The method is simple. Infiltrate the two opposing camps in disguise as their people, then wait for the right moment to strike, creating discord among them The generals nodded in agreement and immediately put the n into action. Once again, the night fell, and many ships returned to rest, nning to continue the search for the dragon bones on the next day. At this moment, the weather suddenly changed, and strong winds swept across the sea, whipping up terrifying waves. The sky became densely overcast, and lightning and thunder followed, followed by heavy rain pouring down. Amidst this eerie weather, a colossal entity intermittently appeared in the South Sea. As soon as everyone saw this object, they were filled with excitement. Dragon bones! Its dragon bones! Dragon bones have reappeared! Quick, chase after it! Once again, everyone went mad, heading toward the location of the Great Yan Navy. The General of Great Yan saw this scene, feeling a mix of joy and headache. He was delighted because the dragon bones had indeed appeared, and they were now in his navys territory, giving them a better chance to obtain the dragon bones than others. However, he was also worried because everyone else was converging on the location. How could they fend them off? Never mind that, lets get the dragon bones first! The General of Great Yan led a fleet to seize the dragon bones and left another fleet to block the others. The arriving fleets quickly engaged the Great Yan Navy in battle. One side desperately advanced, while the other side desperately obstructed, with neither willing to yield. They fought fiercely, and the day turned into night, with no light from the sun or the moon. One ship after another copsed, and soldiers on the ships fell into the water. The generals of Great Wu mixed in between the two armies, attacking each other and increasing casualties on both sides. Of course, many experts broke throughyers of barriers and rode the waves, racing to seize the dragon bones. Many had caught up with the fleet where the General of Great Yan was stationed. The General of Great Yan was very anxious. Innate experts, block them for me! Yes, General! A battle between Innate experts quickly erupted. The General of Great Yan led a small fleet and swiftly moved toward the location of the dragon bones. As they saw the dragon bones getting closer, the General of Great Yan was overjoyed. Closer, closer! Were about to get the dragon bones! Everyone, faster, faster! As a result, the gship of the generals fleet sped up by another three points. In about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the Great Yan Navy got even closer to the dragon bones. The distance between the two sides was less than twenty zhang, and it could be described as within arms reach. The General of Great Yan thought they were about to obtain the dragon bones when, to his shock, the dragon bones slowly ascended into the air and quickly disappeared into the dark clouds. My dragon bones! The General of Great Yan shouted in despair. The dragon bones had flown away again, and the battle naturally came to an end. When the General of Great Yan returned to count his troops, he coughed up another mouthful of blood. His gship had lost around 300 ships, and over 80,000 soldiers were sacrificed, yet they had gained nothing. It was a huge loss. The Great Xia Navy didnt fare much better. They lost over 200 ships and more than 60,000 soldiers, and they also gained nothing. As for the other martial factions, they suffered significant casualties as well, but thats not worth mentioning. The generals of Great Wu returned, all smiles. Supreme Commander, we really turned the tables on them! Guess how many ships I destroyed? A total of 33, haha! I even outsmarted a General from Great Xia, so satisfying! How lucky! I also outsmarted a General from Great Yan, haha! Supreme Commander, next time if such a good opportunity arises, dont forget about us! Everyone had achieved significant results. Lin Beifan smiled and said, I estimate that the dragon bones will continue to appear, so the battle is not over yet! Rest up and aim to inflict even greater damage on them next time! Yes, Supreme Commander! They all replied in unison. Chapter 376: It’s Time to Deal a Fatal Blow to Great Yan! Chapter 376: Its Time to Deal a Fatal Blow to Great Yan! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
With this, various factions suffered heavy losses. However, the news of the dragon bones reappearing once again stimted all the factions, prompting them to send even more reinforcements. The Great Xia Empire dispatched an additional 100,000 navy troops. Great Yan Empire, this time, sent an additional 200,000 navy troops, almost mobilizing all their naval forces. They also added 100,000 infantry, making a total of 300,000 infantry stationed along the coast. Great Wu Empire, on the other hand, remained rtively quiet. Lin Beifan only increased the number of experts slightly, maintaining an element of unpredictability. Once everyone was ready, Lin Beifan began to take action. On a dark night, he manipted the weather with lightning, thunder, storms, and surging waves creating a mysterious atmosphere. When the stage was set, the dragon bones once again made their appearance! And, quite unfortunately for Great Yan, they emerged once more in the South Sea, conveniently located behind their navy. Dragon bones! The dragon bones have appeared again! This is a blessing for our nation! Quick, chase after it! The dragon bones belong to us! Whoever obtains the dragon bones, obtains the world! Once again, everyone howled as they pursued. At sea, a great battle erupted among various factions due to the dragon bones. The Great Yan Navy sent troops to block those who were relentlessly searching for the dragon bones while they themselves were madly pursuing the dragon bones, determined to get their hands on them. Various factions, led by the Great Xia Navy, made a relentless assault on the defenses of the Great Yan Navy. The two sides fought fiercely, unwilling to give an inch. Lin Beifan, the great mastermind, stood on the shore and calmly observed the scene, urging them to fight harder. At this moment, the General of Great Yan once again approached the dragon bones. Seeing the dragon bones within reach, he was overjoyed. Dragon bones! Finally, theyve fallen into my hands, haha! Lin Beifan secretly smiled, gestured with his finger, and the dragon bones soared into the sky once again and flew away. The General of Great Yans expression immediately changed, and he let out a pitiful cry, No! The dragon bones had flown away once more, and the battle naturally came to an end. Everyone gained nothing, but they had once again suffered heavy casualties and needed to replenish their forces. Two dayster, Lin Beifan saw that the timing was right and once again manipted the dragon bones to appear. Dragon bones! The dragon bones have appeared again! Quick, dont let it fly away this time! We must catch it! The drama of treasure hunting yed out once more, with fierce battles taking ce. While chasing, Lin Beifan noticed several figures moving like celestial beings, swiftly surpassing numerous ships in pursuit of the dragon bones. Even grandmasters are here to seize the dragon bones? Lin Beifan smiled faintly. Let me show you the power of thunder and lightning. Under Lin Beifans control, terrifying thunderstorms brewed in the sky and unleashed their fury. Boom, boom! The area around the dragon bones was instantly covered by thunder and lightning. Those grandmasters who hade to seize the dragon bones appeared extremely embarrassed under the bombardment of lightning. They were fast, but not faster than the thunder zone. They possessed incredible individual strength, but in the face of this terrifying natural force, they still found themselves in a bit of a bind. Some were hit and fell into the sea. In the end, even the grandmasters couldnt seed, as the dragon bones bathed in thunder and once again ascended into the sky. This battle had dealt a significant blow to the various treasure-seeking factions. They had paid such a high price, yet they couldnt even get close to the dragon bones, even with the grandmasters intervening. It left them perplexed, wondering why they were expending so much effort and causing harm to each other when they couldnt obtain the dragon bones. Everyone, the dragon bones are divine and have the protection of the heavens. Ordinary people find it difficult to approach them! So, we shouldnt continue to harm ourselves for the sake of treasure hunting. We should gather our forces and have a chance to retain the dragon bones together. Otherwise, if we keep fighting among ourselves, well only weaken our own strength! suggested a few grandmasters. Indeed, fighting and killing like this not only damages our unity but also results in losses of troops and resources. We should sit down calmly, work together sincerely, and secure the dragon bones first. We can discuss the distributionter, Lin Beifan said with a smile. As they looked at Lin Beifan approaching with a smile, the onlookers found his demeanor displeasing. They had suffered heavy losses at sea while he stood on the shore, seemingly inciting conflict. Their losses had been devastating, while Lin Beifan hadnt suffered any harm. Now he was talking as if he had all the answers. It was outrageous! Prime Minister Lin, I have a question to ask you, said General of Great Yan with a stern tone. General Zhao, please go ahead, Lin Beifan smiled. Since the dragon bones appeared, all our factions have sent troops to seize them. Yet, your Great Wu Empire remains indifferent, just watching from the sidelines as if youre sure we wont get the dragon bones. Im curious, does Great Wu know something about the dragon bones that we dont? General Zhao asked with a hint of suspicion. One had to admit that this generals intuition was sharp. For a moment, everyones gaze turned towards Lin Beifan, filled with doubt. Yes, Great Wus actions are indeed strange! I suspect he knows something we dont! Could there be some secret involved? Lin Beifan, with an unchanged smile, said, Of course, I know. Everyone felt a jolt; he actually knew! What is it? Tell us quickly! Dont conceal it, or I wont be polite! General Zhao threatened. Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, Do I even need to say it? Youre all fighting over the dragon bones, as if you want to devour them. Dragon bones are divine, they have a spirit. Would you willingly allow yourselves to be taken by others if you were the dragon bones? Thats why I cant be bothered topete with you. I find it more enjoyable to watch you struggle. Haha You scoundrel! The group became angry. They wanted to teach the arrogant Lin Beifan a lesson, but they noticed that he was surrounded by numerous experts, and they couldnt make a move. In the end, under the mediation of several grandmasters, they decided to temporarily set aside their conflicts, form a Dragon Alliance, andbine their strengths to retain the dragon bones. After obtaining the dragon bones, they would discuss the distribution issue. After returning, the generals of Great Yan began toin. Now that everyone has formed an alliance, theres no chance to take action! Yes, anyone who dares to make a move will be dealt with by the grandmasters! We missed so many opportunities; its a pity! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Dont worry, everyone! All the worldsmotion is driven by profit. Once the alliance is formed, its very loose. As soon as a conflict of interest arises, things will heat up again! Three days passed smoothly, and Lin Beifan felt it was time to make a move and deliver a fatal blow to Great Yan. Once again, on a dark night with lightning, thunder, strong winds, and heavy rain, under such mysterious weather changes, everyone had a premonition: the dragon bones were about to appear. Sure enough, as everyone anticipated, the dragon bones reappeared! Dragon bones! The dragon bones have appeared again! Ill protect the dragon bones! This time, there was no fighting among them. They all rushed towards the dragon bones. The grandmasters, being the most powerful, were the first to approach the dragon bones. Lin Beifan summoned thunderstorms to strike the grandmasters. This time, the thunderstorms were even more fierce, terrifying, and shocking. The grandmasters were struck by lightning one after another, falling deep into the sea, seemingly lifeless. However, this scene didnt deter the relentless treasure seekers. The more formidable and terrifying the dragon bones, the more extraordinary they appeared, making everyone desire them even more. And so, the boats jostled for position. Finally, it was the Great Yan Navy, the closest to the dragon bones, that reached them first. The dragon bones, as if alive, gentlynded on their gigantic treasure ship and remained motionless. The General of Great Yan was extremely surprised to witness this scene. He had never expected to obtain the dragon bones so easily, something he had longed for but couldnt obtain before. Could it be that heaven is blessing Great Yan? The idea crossed the General of Great Yans mind as he watched the various fleets and experts approaching from all directions. ording to the alliance rules, regardless of who obtains the dragon bones, they should be distributed based on contributions; otherwise, all the powerful factions of the world would unite to eliminate the one who seizes them. However, at this moment, several grandmasters were in a life-or-death situation, and the sword hanging over their heads had disappeared. Having the dragon bones in their possession, they naturally didnt want to give them up. Prepare to set sail, full speed ahead, and leave them behind!manded the General. Yes, General! Great Yans gigantic treasure ship elerated. However, this situation was quickly noticed by those behind. Great Yan wants to monopolize the dragon bones! Quickly catch up! Dont let them escape! The dragon bones are for all of us! Another battle at sea began, with Great Yans navy against the other fleets. It seemed the dragon bones were too heavy; Great Yans gigantic ship was unable to gain speed and was gradually caught up by the pursuing fleets. Once again, a life-and-death struggle unfolded between the two sides. This battle was truly brutal! The dragon bones were within reach, and everyone was blinded by rage. In the end, Great Yans navy was outnumbered and wiped out by forces from other factions. The dragon bones are ours! Haha! But at that very moment, much to everyones astonishment, the dragon bones soared into the sky again and headed towards the shore. Dont go, dragon bones! Everyone chased after it relentlessly. Then, incredibly, the dragon bones flew behind the 300,000-strong army of Great Yan. Surrender the dragon bones, and well spare your lives! Advise you to retreat quickly, or we wont spare our des! Get lost! Youre not worthy of possessing such a divine item! Naturally, General of Great Yan wouldnt yield. He raised his sword and shouted, This is destiny; the dragon bones belong to Great Yan! Guard the dragon bones and dont let anyone touch them! Charge! 300,000 soldiers of Great Yan roared in unison. Both sides shed again, resulting in a fierce and bloody battle that painted the coastline red. In the end, the 300,000 soldiers of Great Yan were overwhelmed and suffered a devastating defeat, with their entire army annihted. However, the losses were severe for the other forces as well, making it a Pyrrhic victory. Nevertheless, the sight of the divine dragon bones within their grasp made everything worthwhile. The dragon bones are finally ours. But at that moment, to the astonishment of everyone watching, the dragon bones once again soared into the sky, spiraling upward and disappearing into the dark clouds. Dragon bones! Dont go! Come back quickly! Despite their shouts and calls, the dragon bones couldnt be brought back. They vanished into the thick clouds and were seen no more. Chapter 377: Getting His Person, Still Afraid of Not Getting His Heart? Chapter 377: Getting His Person, Still Afraid of Not Getting His Heart? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
After the great battle ended, everyone began to tally the casualties. The Great Xia Dynasty dispatched a total of 200,000 naval forces, but 160,000 of them were buried in the deep sea, with up to 500 damaged ships. The losses were considerable. The Great Yan Dynasty suffered the most severe losses, with the entire 400,000 naval forces they painstakingly cultivatedpletely annihted. Another 300,000nd infantry also perished. The total loss was a staggering 700,000. Such a loss of military power was unbearable for any dynasty. As for other factions, their losses were not insignificant either. Despite paying such a high price, no one obtained the Dragon Bone. Nevertheless, everyone persisted in their search for the Dragon Bone, sending troops tirelessly. Among them, the Emperor of Great Yan repeatedly faced opposition from his ministers but still sent an additional 300,000 troops. The Emperor of Great Xia also sent an additional 100,000 naval forces. However, since that day, the Dragon Bone never appeared again, as if it had onlye to this world for a brief moment of amusement. Lin Beifan acted for a few days, then used the excuse of being busy with official duties to leave. In the court of the Great Wu Dynasty, Lin Beifan had a ashamed expression. Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble servant was ordered to go to the shore of the Eastern Sea to wee the return of the Dragon Bone. However, due to fiercepetition, I ultimately returned empty-handed, letting down Your Majestys trust. Please, Your Majesty, punish me! The Empresss expression was very calm as she smiled, Minister, its not your fault! The Dragon Bone is a divine object, protected by heaven and earth, and ordinary people cannot obtain it. Minister, even though you didnt obtain the Dragon Bone, no one else did either. You cant me yourself for this! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding! Lin Beifan was grateful and tearful. From what I understand, there were millions of peoplepeting for the Dragon Bone at that time, not only from Great Yan and Great Xia but also from various forces in the martial world. Thepetition was extremely fierce, and the casualties were immense! For example, the recent troublemakers, Great Yan, lost 700,000 troops in this battle, severely weakening their strength! And Great Xia lost 150,000 naval forces! Minister, under such circumstances, for you to reduce the losses of our dynasty, or even avoid losses, is alreadymendable! I am very pleased. Minister, you are truly the pir of our nation! Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty, but this humble servant is not worthy! Lin Beifan was humble. The Empress said loudly, General Zhao and otherse forward! The 18 generals who were called out all stood up eagerly and said, We are here! In this expedition to the Eastern Sea, you all obeyed the Prime Ministers orders and caused significant harm and losses to Great Yan and Great Xia. I am very pleased! So, rewards The Empress distributed a round ofvish rewards. These 18 generals were overjoyed; following the Marshal was indeed rewarding! Strive for another opportunity next time! Thank you for Your Majestys grace! Do your job well; I wont mistreat you! The Empress smiled warmly. As for Minister Lin, I wont reward you now! You have everything you need, so if theres anything youck, just tell me, and I will arrange it for you! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed. Afterward, Lin Beifan returned to his usual routine as the Prime Minister, working from nine to five. In the morning, he attended the early court session and, after that, stayed in the political affairs hall within the imperial pce to assist the Empress in reviewing reports and handling state affairs. At noon, he stayed to have lunch with the Empress, and in the afternoon, he dealt with matters rted to the government office and the national academy in a regr manner. As for the evenings, well, no need to mention. During this time, Lin Beifan noticed that the Little Princess had be even more affectionate than before. She often appeared in the imperial pce, apanying him to handle state affairs. When the workday ended, she frequently joined him for meals, drinks, and conversations. At night, she often stayed overnight at the Lin residence. Within the Lin residence, she even had her own small room. Lin Beifan reminded her, Little Princess, you are still an unmarried maiden, and frequently staying overnight at someone elses cewhat kind of behavior is that? Remember to go home at night, or people will gossip! The Little Princess, who was busy devouring meat, blurted out, Anyway, sooner orter, Ill move in here. Why should I care about what others say? Lin Beifan: Hmm? The Little Princess realized her words and turned red in the face. She immediately covered her face with her hands and said, Oh my! How did I blurt that out? You all continue eating; Ill check the kitchen! With that, she hurriedly left with her two short legs. Lin Beifan: Everyone burst intoughter. Li Shi Shi chuckled, Husband, it seems the Little Princess has deep feelings for you! Youre the current prime minister, and shes the most favored Little Princess at court. Youre close in age and well-matched in status! The Little Princess is a bit mischievous, but shes sincere and understanding, a suitable choice for awful wife! Minister, you might as well marry her! Yes, the Little Princess is easy to get along with, and our rtionships with her are good too! Mo Rushuang smiled. Instead of letting some other woman take over the Lin residence, why not let the Little Princesse? We would all wee her! The two women deeply understood that with their status, they couldnt match Lin Beifan. Being a concubine would be one thing, but to be thewful wife, even if Lin Beifan were willing, the entire court, and the whole Great Wu, wouldnt ept it. It would lead to gossip, and rumors are more fearsome than tigers. It could even affect Lin Beifans career. Lin Beifan tightly held the hands of the two women and said with a bitter smile, Lets just let things unfold naturally. Actually, with both of you, thats enough for me! Speaking frankly, I cant make decisions about my marriage! Huh? Why not? The two women were baffled. This is an order from the Empress, Lin Beifan exined. She said my marriage is a matter of great importance to the country and has far-reaching implications. Therefore, the choice of a spouse must be cautious, and I cannot marry freely. Right now, I can only take concubines and not wives. The two women were once again taken aback. Could there really be such a thing? Even though their husband was not from a royal family, he couldnt make decisions about his own marriage? So, Husband, when can you marry a wife? Li Shi Shi asked. Her Majesty said well discuss it when shes ready! Mo Rushuang and Li Shi Shi: Huh? Lin Beifan couldnt help but sigh and said, Ive sacrificed too much for the Great Wu! On this day, the Little Princess sneaked into the imperial pce again. She cautiously peeked her head into the study, looking particrly cute. This scene amused the Empress, who waved her hand and said, Little Yunying,e here! The Little Princess rushed over, hesitated for a moment, and asked, Empress sister, are you busy right now? The Empress shook her head and smiled, Well, there are indeed some matters, but nothing is more important than what Little Yunying has to say! Little Yunying, what can I help you with? The Little Princess hesitated and said, Its not a big deal, mainly its about Lin Beifan. The Empresss interest was piqued. Him? Has he done something to upset you? Thats not it, the Little Princess said gloomily. In these past few days, I wanted to spend time with Lin Beifan and build some rapport but hes always been a bit indifferent, and our rtionship hasnt made much progress. Empress sister, what should I do? Did I do something wrong? So, thats it. Our Little Yunying has her own troubles, the Empress chuckled heartily. Empress sister, please dont make fun of me; Im serious! the Little Princess blushed and protested. Little Yunying, actually, youve done well in various aspects. Youre cute and charming, sometimes mischievous but understanding when it matters. Many men like the kind of girl you are. But Lin Beifan still ignores me! Empress sister, what should I do? the Little Princess humbly asked for advice. The Empress instantly transformed into an emotional coach, her gaze sharp as she said, Little Yunying, the issue isnt with you; its with Lin Beifan. Hespletely different from other men! Dont be fooled by his serious appearance; hes full of mischief, and you never know when hell do something shocking! Empress sister is right; hes such a mischievous person! The Little Princess seemed to think of something fun and giggled. So, when dealing with a man like him, dont y games or use tactics because you wont win against him! Be proactive, go straight for it. If you can get him, are you afraid you wont get his heart? The Little Princess was shocked; what kind of words were these? She didnt expect the Empress to be like this, so bold! Empress sister, is this really okay? the Little Princess asked, feeling shy. The Empress dismissed her concerns and said, Whats wrong with it? Anyway, sooner orter, youll marry him. Whats wrong with taking the initiative? With me backing you up, what are you afraid of? The Little Princess was obviously somewhat intrigued. Is this really feasible? Its definitely feasible! the Empress said with a cold smile, and that seductive enchantress has done it this way several times. The Little Princess made up her mind. Okay, Ill go and give it a try! Thank you, Empress sister; Im leaving now! With a light and brisk pace, she left. The Empress watched her departing figure with a satisfied smile and said, Little Yunying, this is as far as I can help you. At that moment, a white figure appeared on the ceiling. Bai Guanyin provocatively said, Your Majesty, you can also be proactive! If you can get him, are you afraid you wont get his heart? The Empress blushed and stammered, Bai sister, dont say that! How can I do such a thing? White Guanyin shook her head and teased, Your Majesty, you teach others one set of rules after another, but when ites to yourself, you be shy. Its not like your usual self! The Empress blushed, her beauty iparable. She lowered her head, pretending to be serious, and said, Bai sister, I still have state affairs to attend to, so I wont talk to you much. Bai Guanyin shook her head again, and her figure gradually disappeared. The Empress secretly sighed, and she felt sweaty all over. In that brief moment, the pressure on her was immense, akin to being pressured by family elders to get married. Chapter 378: From Today On, You Belong to Me! Chapter 378: From Today On, You Belong to Me! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, winter had arrived, and the weather had turned cold. When its cold, its easy to bezy, and Lin Beifan, who came from modern society, was no exception. On this day, Lin Beifan had a day off, and there were no important matters to attend to. He nned to indulge in azy sleep, curling up under the nkets, with only his head exposed, squinting his eyes, intending to sleep until noon. Cold winter mornings are the best for staying in bed! This habit had been with him for many years, regardless of wind or rain. His pursuit of life was this simple. At this moment, the Little Princess burst into the room and was surprised to see Lin Beifan lying in bed. She eximed, Lin Beifan, its already thiste, why havent you gotten up? Are you feeling unwell? Lin Beifan squinted his eyes andzily replied, Im not unwell; Im just sleeping! The Little Princess rushed over, looked at Lin Beifan, who was curled up like a caterpir in the nkets, and burst intoughter, saying, Who sleeps like you? Youre like a child, youre making meugh! Lin Beifan, still half-asleep, said, This is the mostfortable way to sleep! The Little Princess put her hands on her hips and scolded, Sleeping in broad daylight, what are you doing? Get up quickly! I dont want to get up, Ill sleep a bit longer. Nothing can stop me from pursuing my dreams! The Little Princess was stunned. You can pursue dreams while sleeping? Yes, because Im daydreaming! The Little Princess: The Little Princess called out, Get up first; I need to talk to you! Lin Beifan: If you have something to say, Im listening! The Little Princess called again, If you dont get up, how can I say it? Lin Beifan, with one eye open and one eye closed, said, Its cold outside, cant we talk under the nket? The Little Princess looked at Lin Beifan, who was fearless as a pig in hot water, and suddenly remembered the words of the Empress. Her face blushed slightly as she gritted her teeth and said, Fine, well talk under the nket! Then she lifted the nket, and there was room for her to get in. Lin Beifan was confused; he had only said a few words, and she actually did this. Looking at the beautiful face so close, smelling the fragrance on her, Lin Beifan eximed, Pervert! In the end, Lin Beifan got up, and the Little Princess got up too. They sat facing each other, both feeling somewhat awkward. Lin Beifan never expected the Little Princess to be so bold, actually crawling into his bed. He had been lying there innocently, and she couldnt even protect her own innocence. What was the worlding to? The Little Princess didnt expect herself to be so daring either. She actually crawled into his bed. It was all because of the Empresss words. If it werent for her, she wouldnt have been influenced like this. With that in mind, the Little Princess convinced herself. Lin Beifan said, Little Princess, if you have something to say, just say it. Theres no need for such a perverted approach. You should know that while you might not care about your chastity, I do! The Little Princess chuckled and said, What chastity do you have left? You already have several concubines. Youre no longer pure and innocent! Although my body may not be pure, my heart is still pure! The moment Im pure is worth more than a lifetime of promiscuity! Lin Beifan defended himself earnestly. The Little Princess burst intoughter, holding her stomach, and said, I love how you exin things so seriously. Its like you really mean it. Your words are so convincing, haha! Lin Beifan: Lin Beifan helplessly said, Enough with the jokes. Little Princess, what do you want from me? I I came to find you, I came to find you the Little Princess hesitated, looking around, and then said, Lin Beifan, we can consider that weve already slept together, right? Lin Beifan was taken aback. Uh should we really consider that? The Little Princess pped her hands and said, Lets just consider it! Lin Beifan: What did she mean by lets just consider it? Could this even be considered? The Little Princess blinked her eyes, blushing with shyness as she said, Lin Beifan, we can now be considered to have shared the same bed! In other words, I can also be considered as yours now Wait, this cant count! Lin Beifan waved his hands repeatedly. We havent done anything! Youre a youngdy; you cant be so casual. The Little Princess was understanding. Its okay; I dont mind. Lin Beifan was agitated. But I mind! The Little Princess waved her hand dismissively. You dont need to mind. Lin Beifan became even more agitated. How can I not mind? Its not you who will suffer! The Little Princess mmed the table. You will not suffer! Got it? Dont worry; I will take responsibility for you! Lin Beifan was furious. You think thats beautiful? Nothing happened, and you want to take responsibility for me? The Little Princess retorted coldly, Laughable! If I get you, why would I worry about not getting your heart? Saying this, she suddenly bravely pounced on him. Lin Beifan panicked. Little Princess, please calm down! Even if you im me, you wont im my heart! The Little Princess smirked. Joke! If I get you, Ill definitely get your heart too. With that, she boldly made her move. Lin Beifan became even more flustered. Little Princess, please dont! In the end, the Little Princess got her way, yfully patting Lin Beifan face, both triumphant and bashful. From today on, you belong to me! If you dare to start but not finish, youll see! Lin Beifan: Finally, the Little Princess happily ran off, as if she were going to the imperial pce to report her achievements. Lin Beifan touched his slightly moist face, wearing a look of resignation. Why were girls like this nowadays? Princess Ziyue was like this, and now the Little Princess too! They had no sense of restraint! How could I protect my chastity when girls were so forward? Lin Beifan walked out with a helpless expression, sitting by the firece, sighing. Several single men were sitting by the firece, and they were surprised to see Lin Beifane out so early. Guo Shaoshuai curiously asked, Young Master, didnt you say you were going to sleep until noon? Why are you up so early? Lin Beifan sighed. I couldnt fall asleep; I was woken up early in the morning! Young Master, why do you have so many red marks on your face? Guo Shaoshuai asked. Lin Beifan grumbled, Its all thanks to the Little Princess! Early in the morning, she imed I belonged to her, insisted on taking responsibility for me, and when I refused, she came at me forcefully! My face she kissed it! For a moment, the single men were all envious. Guo Shaoshuai, with a touch of jealousy, said, Young Master, this is simply a top-notch blessing. Its a blessing that many people cant beg for. Why do you look like youre about to die? Lin Beifan sighed again. What he meant was, how could you not worry when nothing happened, and she wants to take responsibility for you? The single men looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Guo Shaoshuai, unwilling to ept it, said, Young Master, you might be right about other things, but when you say Im not handsome, that I look like an average person, I absolutely disagree! Lin Beifan politely reminded him, Shaoshuai, you should go take a leak. Guo Shaoshuai shook his head. Young Master, I dont need to urinate. I mean, go urinate and look in the mirror, see what you look like! Guo Shaoshuai: . Everyone burst intoughter. Shaoshuai, get it now? Daliughed and said, Let me tell you, being handsome alone wont cut it. Nowadays, girls like bad boys! Take our young master here, hes a standout in that regard! Its true, if a man isnt a bit bad, women wont love him, thats the logic, hehe! Amitabha! Although this humble monk is a family person, I also find this statement quite reasonable, the young monk said solemnly. Guo Shaoshuai suddenly looked puzzled. But Im usually quite bad too. I often nce at beautiful women when walking by and even flirt a bit! Lin Beifan whispered a reminder, Shaoshuai, what youre doing isnt being bad; its being creepy! Guo Shaoshuai: Women like bad boys, but its not about looking bad! Handsome men who flirte off as flirtatious! But ugly men, like you (got it?), thats just in being a creep! Guo Shaoshuai: . Thats right! I remember seeing it before. Guo Shaoshuai tried to introduce himself to ady, and she scolded him as a creep! Dali pped his thigh and burst intoughter. Amitabha! This humble monk saw that too, the young monk chimed in earnestly. Guo Shaoshuai blushed with anger. Both of you, shut up! Everyone burst intoughter again. As they chatted, they talked about the weather outside. I feel like this years winter is colder than previous years! Normally, this time of year, Id just wear a cotton coat and be warm enough. But now, it feels insufficient; Im freezing! Thats true, its already started snowing earlier this year, more than half a month ahead of previous years! Dali warmed his hands by the charcoal fire and said, I heard those traveling merchants who go south and north are worse off. Even though its snowing here, its not as windy and bitterly cold as outside the capital. Beyond the capital, the wind howls, and people are freezing! Amitabha, may the Buddha bless us and let everyone get through this harsh winter, the young monk saidpassionately. Lin Beifan looked up, as if he could see through the cracks in space. Then he sighed, got up, and left. Young Master, where are you going? Guo Shaoshuai called out. Lin Beifan replied, The cold weather can be deadly; Im going to make some preparations! Chapter 379: The Arrival of Ice and Fire, Nationwide Construction of Shelters! Chapter 379: The Arrival of Ice and Fire, Nationwide Construction of Shelters! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
On the morning of the second day, Lin Beifan submitted a memorial to the Empress. In response to Your Majesty, since the beginning of this year, snowfall hase early, and the weather has turned extremely cold. Its highly unusual weather! We should prepare early to prevent the possible urrence of icy disasters! The Empress nodded, You speak the truth, Prime Minister. I have also noticed that this years winter feels colder than usual. Reports from various regions indicate even harsher conditions affecting the livelihoods of our people. Prime Minister, what suggestions do you have to share with us? Lin Beifan promptly replied, My suggestion is to construct shelters in various regions and provide centralized heating to help the people endure this severe cold. The Minister of Finance, Qian Yuanshen, furrowed his brow and said, Is this not aborious and costly endeavor, Prime Minister? Building shelters in every region and centralizing heating will require a significant amount of manpower and resources. The winters are indeed cold this year, but it seems to me that enduring it a bit should suffice, as weve done in previous years. Lin Beifan shook his head slightly, Its not at all excessive, but rather, its highly necessary! We must understand that severe cold weather can be deadly. Every year, many people die from the cold during winter. If we were to face an ice disaster that urs once in a decade, the casualties could reach millions, if not tens of millions! We have only recently achieved unity in Great Wu, and the livelihoods of our people are already struggling. Now that we are focusing on production, we require a significant poption. If we dont prepare for this winter and the people suffer heavy losses, it could undermine the foundation of our dynasty! The Empress nodded in agreement, fully endorsing Lin Beifans words. Great Wu had just begun to prosper, and its people couldnt afford setbacks. Therefore, it was imperative to be proactive and prepared. At this moment, Lin Beifan dered loudly, Ive observed the stars at night, and it is possible that we may encounter a once-in-a-century ice disaster! The Empresss face changed, as did those of the courtiers. A once-in-a-century ice disaster was extremely terrifying! ording to historical records, each urrence of such a disaster had severe consequences, resulting in tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of deaths. The toll was too great, leading to a decline in national strength and political instability. Many smaller countries couldnt withstand such disasters and were wiped out. The Empress urgently asked, Prime Minister, are you certain of what youre saying? Lin Beifan dered emphatically, I stake my life on it. I would never speak falsely. The expressions of everyone in the room turned grave. They all knew that Lin Beifan possessed the ability to observe celestial phenomena. When the locust gue urred, he urately predicted the weather changes, allowing them to prepare and manage the crisis effortlessly. Moreover, the Empress was well aware that Lin Beifan had the power to control the weather, a capability akin to that of a divine being. He said there would be an ice disaster, so there will indeed be one. The Empress dered firmly, Esteemed ministers, I trust Prime Minister Lin absolutely. In our previous court resolutions, Minister Lin has always provided well-thought-out advice, and he has never been wrong. I believe this time will be no different. Moreover, since the start of this year, the weather has indeed been unusually cold. We should make extra preparations to prevent any potential cmities. Otherwise, when disaster strikes, it will be toote for us to save the situation. While it may require significant manpower and resources, our court can fully bear the cost! Lin Beifan responded, Your Majesty, your wisdom shines brightly. All the courtiers exchanged nces, and they finally bowed respectfully, endorsing this course of action. The Empress asked, Prime Minister Lin, what are the specifics of your n? Lin Beifan immediately replied, We mustnt dy. We should start the operation now! Transport cement to various government offices immediately and construct multiple shelters in suitable locations to amodate refugees. Provide centralized heating to help everyone endure the harsh winter. Otherwise, when the ice disaster arrives and rivers freeze, it will be toote. The Empress eximed, Excellent! This matter is now entrusted entirely to the Prime Minister. Everyone else must give their full support! Anyone whogs behind, neglects their duties, or shows reluctance to work will face severe consequences! The courtiers shuddered, replying, Yes, Your Majesty! Under the leadership of Lin Beifan, the courtiers quickly mobilized. Cement factories brought out all their stocks and swiftly transported them to major cities through awork of rivers. Other supplies such as coal, firewood, warm clothing, and nkets were also distributed to various regions. Upon receiving the royal decree, government offices immediately selected shelter locations in safe areas and began constructing the shelters. This sudden and significant action by the court left themon people bewildered. They wondered, What is the court trying to do? ording to the official announcements, due to the uing exceptionally cold winter, there was a high likelihood of experiencing an ice disaster thates once in a decade. Therefore, the court had proactively constructed shelters. Is it really necessary to have shelters for just a cold winter? Havent we managed in previous years without them? This time is different! This time, we might face an ice disaster, so the court is taking preventive measures by building shelters and providing centralized heating to help us survive the winter. I dont think its necessary. The court is being overly cautious! Manymon people were skeptical. They believed the court was exaggerating and that there was no real need for such preparations. After all, they had been through many cold winters without shelters. This situation highlighted the short-sightedness of themon people. Their lives spanned only a few decades, and they had experienced very few, if any, ice disasters. Unlike the court, which had detailed records and knew the severity of the situation. This situation quickly caught the attention of neighboring countries as well. Although they showed some level of concern, they didnt pay much attention to it. Because there was currently no concrete evidence to suggest that there would be icy weather. Even if there were ice-rted challenges, they believed they had sufficient measures in ce, and there was no need to build shelters, which they considered a waste of resources. Great Wu is just making a fuss over nothing. No need to pay it any mind! Exactly! Couldnt they use the money for something else? Why waste it on these pointless endeavors? Im looking forward to seeing them make a fool of themselves, haha! Regardless of how the outside world perceived it, Lin Beifan strictly implemented his n, considering it a top priority for the current winter. He also ordered the military and local officials across the regions to take action collectively to prepare for the ice-rted challenges. In front of him were reports from various regions: Huazhou Prefecture had already constructed 18 shelters capable of amodating 900 people. They had also repurposed abandoned buildings into 22 shelters, providing space for 1,200 people. In total, they could shelter 2,100 people. Panzhou Prefecture hadpleted 12 shelters and could house 700 people. They had repurposed abandoned buildings into an additional 12 shelters, providing space for 600 people. In total, they could shelter 1,300 people. Huozhou Prefecture had constructed 20 shelters for 1,000 people and had repurposed abandoned buildings into 6 additional shelters for 300 people. In total, they could shelter 1,300 people. Every region was diligently working on construction. At this moment, Li Shi Shi and Mo Rushuang entered with bowls of ginseng tea. Husband, its gettingte. Its time to rest. Yes, after finishing this ginseng tea, you should rest. Dont risk your health; the court cannot afford to be without you. Lin Beifan sighed, There isnt much time now. A once-in-a-century ice disaster is looming, and I hope to have enough shelters in ce for the people before it arrives so they can weather the storm together. Husband, is this ice disaster really going to be so terrifying? Li Shi Shi asked, worried. Its more severe than you can imagine, Lin Beifan said with a somber expression. This ice disaster will sweep across thend. If we cant get through it, it might result in tens of thousands of deaths, countless families ruined. Ah? That serious? both women eximed. So, Ive ordered the construction of shelters in various regions and centralized heating. This way, we can minimize the loss of life. Otherwise, if we cant get through this winter, Great Wu might suffer a decline in national strength and face unrest, Lin Beifan exined. Hows the construction progress now? Mo Rushuang asked. Lin Beifan lowered his head to look at the documents. ording to the reports from various regions, the shelters that have been built and repurposed can currently amodate up to 3 million people, but its still far from enough. Young Master, youre working so hard, Mo Rushuang remarked. In my position, I must n ordingly. Since I have the opportunity to do so, I will give it my all, Lin Beifan replied. Then, Lin Beifan took a few sips of ginseng tea, nning to close his eyes for a brief rest before continuing his work. Just at that moment, a pair of small hands began to gently massage his temples, a bit clumsily. Lin Beifan opened his eyes. Little Princess, youre here again? Here again? This is my home! The Little Princess stated confidently. Ive told you, you belong to me, and this ce is naturally my home too. Lin Beifan was quite speechless. Ever since that day, the Little Princess had be quite proactive, not giving him any chance to react. The once innocent and adorable Little Princess had learned some mischievous tricks. This is a massage technique I just learned. How does it feel? Comfortable? The Little Princess asked proudly. Lin Beifan nodded immediately. Veryfortable. Little Princess, youre very skilled. The Little Princess was very pleased. Of course, I learned it specifically from Jade Sister! She said Ive already mastered it! Alright, Little Princess, go ahead with your next move. Ill close my eyes and enjoy it, Lin Beifan said with a smile. Great! Its not hard at all! The Little Princess, with her innocent and mischievous eyes, looked at Lin Beifan who had closed his eyes without resistance, gave a satisfied smile, and then hugged Lin Beifans head, moving in closer. A few minutester, the blushing Little Princess slipped away. Lin Beifan, its gettingte. Ill go to my room and rest now. Ille to see you again tomorrow! Hehe Lin Beifan let out an exasperated cry, You little rogue! Get out! As time passed, the weather grew colder. Over time, a powerful cold air mass swept in from the north. Overnight, thendscape transformed dramatically, with everything turning white as far as the eye could see. Chapter 380: National Efforts to Overcome the Ice Disaster! Chapter 380: National Efforts to Ovee the Ice Disaster! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The cold wind howled, heavy snowkes filled the air, and thend froze. Its so cold! Unbearably cold! Overnight, we had a heavy snowfall and a chilling north wind! It feels much colder thanst year! Yes, freezing like crazy. Good thing I prepared enough firewood and charcoal for heating! I have elderly people at home who cant bear this cold. I hope this day passes quickly! That reminds me, the weather can be harsh. My neighbor, that old man, passed away like thisst year! Due to the extreme cold and snow covering thend, people seldom ventured outside. Even if they had important tasks to attend to, once finished, they hurried back home, and few people were seen outside. Not to mention, the streets of the capital were now nketed in a thickyer of snow. What used to be bustling street vendors and a thriving street economy hade to a standstill due to the harsh weather. People were bundled up in thick coats, walking hurriedly and avoiding stopping anywhere. Under these circumstances, even the morning court sessions of the imperial officials were affected. Most of these officials were older and in fragile health. They had to brave the freezing cold to attend morning court, and after that, they had to return to their respective offices, which was simply unbearable. As a result, the Empress decided to temporarily cancel morning court sessions. Officials were not required to attend morning court unless they had urgent matters to report. However, Lin Beifan was singled out and had to enter the pce every day to handle state affairs. Your Majesty, why is it that other officials dont have to attend court, but I am required to be there every day? You shouldnt favor me so; its quite challenging! Lin Beifan asked with a hopeful look. The Empress chuckled and said, My dear, most officials are older and in poor health, unable to withstand the severe cold. But youre young and robust, so theres no issue for you. I have no choice but to rely on your dedication! Your Majesty is wise! the officials chimed in. Just then, Lin Beifans face turned pale, and he began to sway, clearly weakened. Your Majesty, please dont be fooled by my youth. Im not as strong as I may appear, he said weakly. Concerned, the Empress asked, My dear, whats happening? Lin Beifan coughed a few times and said, Perhaps its the rapid weather changes recently, but Ive caught a chill. So, I cante to court every day; it would worsen my condition and hinder state affairs. I hope Your Majesty understands. Oh, what should we do? The Empress worriedly said, Alright, my dear, youll temporarily stay in the pce. There are imperial physicians who can attend to you. You can manage state affairs from the pce, so theres no need to keep going back and forth! Lin Beifan was taken aback. He had just wanted a day off, but now he was being pulled into the pce, on call 24/7. Even Yang Bao isnt as demanding! Lin Beifans face quickly regained its color, and he said confidently, Your Majesty, theres no need for that! Im feeling much better now. Im in excellent health and dont need to stay in the pce! The Empress raised an eyebrow and said, Really? You looked quite pale just now Your Majesty, what was just now is in the past. After receiving Your Majestys care, I feel as if Ive been blessed by the heavens. I feel full of energy, in the best of health! Lin Beifan dered loudly. The Empress continued to worry, My dear, are you sure? Please dont push yourself too hard, or Ill be even more concerned! Your Majesty, Im absolutely sure. You can trust me! Lin Beifan reassured her. Alright, then Ill trust you! The Empress nodded, a satisfied smile on her beautiful face. In the days that followed, the cold weather and heavy snow continued to persist. Lin Beifan estimated that it was around minus 10 degrees Celsius. This was in the capital, where he controlled the weather, so it wasnt as severe. If it were in other ces, the temperature would drop even further. Minus ten degrees or so, for people today, is still quite cold. But the challenge is that modern people have heating, various heating devices, thick nkets, and winter clothing, not to mention houses that are windproof and waterproof, so they can endure it. However, for people in ancient times, it would have been a different story. You see, in ancient times, resources like firewood, charcoal, cotton clothing, and nkets were all preciousmodities. Only rtively affluent families could afford to have them. As for housing, the vast majority of people lived in thatched huts that leaked in the summer and let in the cold wind in the winter, which could be deadly. Some people didnt even have houses. So, this kind of weather was particrly tough. This weather is unbearably cold! Weve run out of charcoal, and my feet have sores now! Ive put on all my clothes, but Im still freezing! Our wooden house offers no protection against the wind; it howls right through, and its freezing! Heavens, help us! We need to find a warm ce, or we wont make it through this weather! At this time, everyone remembered the shelters that the government had built, and they rushed over. Government officials were guarding the shelters. Can we go in to warm up? Everyone asked eagerly. The officials waved their hands generously and said, Of course! We built these shelters for you to seek warmth in harsh times! Great! We can go in and warm up, wonderful! We used to mock the government for wasting resources, but now we see they had foresight! We have a ce to go in this weather! Everyone cheered with joy. Do we need to pay? someone asked eagerly. The officials smiled and said, No need to pay. This is a benefit provided by the court! However, once youre inside, you must follow the rules. No mischief allowed, or well have to expel you! We wont misbehave, we promise Then, everyone excitedly rushed inside and found that the shelters were quite spacious, capable of amodating many people. In the middle of the shelter, there was a massive charcoal furnace crackling away, warming up the shelter. Compared to the bitter cold outside, it felt like heaven inside. Everyone was excited once again. Its so warm in here, sofortable! Yes, even warmer than my home. I canfortably stay here. These are concrete houses,rge and sturdy, no drafts, and theres charcoal. Im spending the day right here! I wish I hade here earlier! People organized themselves in an orderly manner, each person upying about one beds worth of space. If it was a family, they could stay together and secure more space. Each shelter could amodate about 40 people. Although it was a bit crowded, everyone was enduring the harsh weather together, and there was no room forints. As for food and drink, they had charcoal to cook their own food if they brought any. If they didnt mind, they could have the government-providedmunal pot of rice. While not gourmet, it was enough to keep hunger at bay. And that was the maximum extent the court could do, thanks to Lin Beifans foresight and preparations. In the following days, more and more ordinary people, unable to bear the extreme weather outside, came seeking shelter, and the shelters were almost filled to capacity. Even some essential work tools like oxen and horses found refuge there. The entire nation came together to ovee the ice disaster! Inparison, other countries werent faring as well. They couldnt predict the severity of this ice disaster, so they were ill-prepared. After enduring for a few days, they couldnt hold out any longer, and both people and livestock began to sumb. Every nations court was in a state of distress. This weather is unbelievably cold! People are already freezing to death! What should we do? Do we need to build shelters like Great Wu? But how can we build shelters in time? I dont believe this extreme weather willst long; we just need to endure for a few more days! People continued to endure, never bowing down. Meanwhile, in Great Wus study, Lin Beifan reported to the Empress: Your Majesty, due to the prolonged cold weather, the entire nations people are facing extreme difficulties. So far, approximately 1.6 million people have taken refuge in the shelters weve built. The supply of charcoal, food, and other necessities is rtively sufficient, and casualties are rtively low. The Empress was very pleased. Well done! My dear, its fortunate to have you. If you hadnt foreseen the ice disaster and made preparations, countless people might have perished. Look at other countries; due to theirck of preparation, both people and livestock are dying inrge numbers. Your Majesty, its my duty, Lin Beifan humbly replied. My dear, in your opinion, how long will this ice disasterst? The Empress asked with concern. Lin Beifans face grew heavy as he raised two fingers. At least two months. The Empresss expression also turned solemn. Two months! That was too long! Considering that in just a few days, many people had already perished, if this ice disaster were tost for two months, it was hard to imagine the extent of the tragedy it would bring. It might lead to a decline in Great Wus national strength and internal instability. They couldnt control other countries, but they had to take care of their own. The Empress earnestly instructed, My dear, you continue to manage this matter. Provide whatever iscking, and the court fully supports you. You must do everything possible to save as many people as you can, so that they can safely pass through this ice disaster. I obey Your Majestysmand! Lin Beifan dered loudly. Subsequently, Lin Beifan continued to mobilize court resources, supporting shelters across thend, ensuring that as many people as possible survived. Furthermore, he strengthened supervision, warning that anyone found embezzling or dying disaster relief would face severe consequences. Chapter 381: Unable to Copy, Paying the Price for Arrogance! Chapter 381: Unable to Copy, Paying the Price for Arrogance! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
In Great Wu, thanks to Lin Beifans advance preparations, everyone could safely weather the disaster. But in other countries, things werent going so well. They naively believed that this extreme weather would pass in a few days, as it had in the past based on their experience. However, after ten days had passed, the freezing weather, howling winds, and heavy snowfall persisted without any improvement. The number of casualties and livestock deaths continued to rise. Yet they tried tofort themselves. Its been ten days already! ording to past experience, this cold spell is rtively long; it should end soon! In another two days, the weather should start to improve! May the heavens bless us; Ill light some incense for you! But after another five days, the weather remained just as cold, or even colder. The casualties and livestock losses increased further. Its been half a month; why hasnt it ended yet? This cursed weather! If it doesnt end soon, everyone will perish! This prolonged extreme cold is truly a once-in-30-years ice disaster! We were too hasty and unprepared! Some countries couldnt hold on any longer and began relief efforts. However, relief efforts were now extremely challenging. Rivers had frozen over, making navigation impossible. All roads were buried under thick snow, over a meter deep, making transportation of relief supplies nearly impossible. The heavy snow had cut off every city. Even every vige, every town, and every household had been isted. People were left to fend for themselves. Those who could endure would survive, and those who couldnt would perish. There was no third option. Of course, some countries continued to hold out. I refuse to believe that this extreme weather will persist for so long! It will end soon; it has to end soon! Lets wait a few more days! With this belief, they continued to wait. Another five days passed, but the weather showed no signs of improvement. The frigid conditions silently imed many lives, and many viges and towns became deste, losing allmunication. Even within cities, many ordinary people couldnt endure and perished in their homes. The elderly were the first to go, followed by the children. Countless families fell apart. Those who didnt want to die rushed into the homes of others, disregarding everything to seize heating materials. This is my nket; dont take it! One criminal pulled out a knife and menacingly said, Im about to freeze to death, why should I care if its yours? Hand over the nket, charcoal, and food now! After giving them to you, my family will freeze to death! Please, dont do this! I beg you The criminals eyes gleamed with malice. Either freeze to death or get stabbed to death; its your choice! Order began to break down, and a human tragedy was unfolding. Every country was on the brink. This is definitely a once-in-50-years ice disaster! Chaos is breaking out everywhere! If only we had learned from Great Wu and built shelters! Is it toote to start building them now? Whats the use of daydreaming? Even though relief efforts werete, they had to be undertaken, no matter the cost. If everyone died, what would be left of their nations? They now remembered what Great Wu had done before and had a collective realization. It wasnt foolish; it was foresight! Initially, they mocked Great Wu, but now they were facing the consequences themselves. They couldnt help but feel regretful, wishing they had followed Great Wus lead in constructing shelters, stockpiling charcoal, and heating materials, and mobilizing the entire nation tobat the ice disaster. Now, they could only try to remedy the situation, saving as many lives as possible. News of the situations in various countries quickly reached Lin Beifans ears. Lin Beifan couldnt help but scoff, saying, Theyre starting to take action now, but its already toote! Failing to copy and paying the price for their arrogance! Its a pity that theirmon people are suffering. Suffering for their pride. Suffering No matter which era it was, themon people always suffered the most. In times of prosperity, themon people suffered, and in times of national decline or cmity, they suffered even more. Misery was a constant. The only thing Lin Beifan could do now was manage the affairs of his own country. As for other countries, they could only rely on fate. Whatforted him was that thanks to Great Wus construction of numerous shelters, hosting refugees, and centralized heating, the casualties were rtively low, and order was maintained in various cities. Lin Beifan took some time to inspect the shelters in the capital. This was his direct jurisdiction, so it had to be handled exceptionally well. There were enough shelters, they were spacious, and the indoor charcoal fires burned brightly, creating a stark contrast with the frigid weather outside. Due to the extreme cold, there was no productive work to be done, so everyone stayed in the shelters to pass the time. With arge poption gathered in one ce, it was quite lively. Afterpleting his inspection, Lin Beifan was very satisfied. He praised, Well done! Its all thanks to Prime Ministers efforts! If it werent for you, Prime Minister, taking the initiative to build shelters in advance, we wouldnt have been able to achieve this. Prime Minister, you deserve the credit! ttered the officials around him. Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head without saying much. As he walked further, he suddenly frowned and remarked, The smell is quite unpleasant here. An apanying official offered an apologetic smile and exined, Prime Minister, theres nothing we can do about it. You see, everyone eats, drinks, and relieves themselves together in close quarters. After a while, the smell naturally bes unpleasant. Lin Beifan emphasized, I can understand, but hygiene still needs to be maintained. Otherwise, illnesses can easily spread. When everyone is gathered in one ce, one persons illness can affect many. It can be quite troublesome. Prime Minister, youre absolutely right. Ill arrange for someone to take care of it immediately, the official said, feeling embarrassed. Additionally, lets organize some entertainment, such as storytelling or performances, to help pass the time. Otherwise, people might fall ill from boredom, Lin Beifan suggested. Understood, Prime Minister. Ill take care of it, the official replied promptly. After ensuring that everything was in order, Lin Beifan left. However, at this moment, he received an urgent message: the Empress had contracted a cold and fallen ill. When it concerned the ruler of a nation, it was no small matter. Lin Beifan immediately went to the pce, and other officials received the same message and joined him. In the royal bedchamber, the Empressy weakly on her dragon-shaped bed. Behind thick curtains, officials paid their respects to the Empress. Your Majesty, may you live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times over! they chanted. Esteemed ministers you may rise, the Empress weakly said. I apologize for troubling you all with my health. My body is unwell, and I cannot attend to state affairs. Therefore, Ive temporarily entrusted the responsibilities to Prime Minister Lin. If you have any matters, report them to him, and he will make decisions. If its truly necessary, then you may see me. We are currently dealing with a nationwide disaster, and I implore all esteemed ministers to fulfill your duties diligently. Is that clear? We obey your orders! the officials replied in unison. The Empress waved her hand lightly. Theres no need for further ceremony. You may all withdraw. Prime Minister Lin, please stay. The officials bowed again and then retreated from the bedroom, leaving Lin Beifan alone with the Empress. Your Majesty, how may I serve you? Lin Beifan asked. My dear,e closer, stand before me, the Empress, in her weakened state, requested. Lin Beifan took a few steps forward, standing by the dragon couch and looking at the delicate figure so close to him. Your Majesty My dear, my body is not cooperating. Ive been invaded by the cold, so I have to trouble you with the matters of the Great Wu court. All state affairs will be temporarily handled by you. If you encounter any decisions you cant make thene to me! Right now, the entire nation is fighting against the disaster. All of you officials must fulfill your duties. Dont ck off, understood? I understand, Your Majesty. Please rest assured, I will handle everything. Your Majesty, your well-being is the most important. Great Wu cannot function without you. My dear, with you here, I am at ease, the Empress said, her eyes gently closing, her breathing bing calm. Lin Beifan could tell that the Empress had fallen asleep, so he quietly left the room. He waved for someone and asked, Physician Li, how is Her Majestys condition? An official with graying hair approached and bowed, saying, Reporting to Prime Minister, due to the extreme cold weather, Her Majesty contracted a severe cold. Its just a minor illness. However, during this period, Her Majesty has been tirelessly attending to state affairs, physically and mentally exhausted, and her body weakened. Hence, she fell ill. But its nothing serious, and she just needs to rest quietly for some time. Lin Beifan nodded. This diagnosis matched his assessment. The Empress had a rtively delicate constitution, and her continuous hard work for the nation had left her physically weak. Therefore, in the face of extremely cold weather, she couldnt bear it and fell ill, but it wasnt a major issue. She only needed a period of rest. Lin Beifan instructed those around him, Right now, Her Majestys condition is fragile, and she needs quiet rest. So unless theres a significant issue, theres no need to disturb her. Entrust it to me for decision-making. Yes, Prime Minister! the people responded. Chapter 383: I Want to Take Them All!! Chapter 383: I Want to Take Them All!! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Sir Lin, lets talk about your past life, the Empress said. Lin Beifan was a bit puzzled. My past life? Yes! Your background is somewhat mysterious, but you know so much and have exceptional abilities. So, Im very curious about what you were like in the past, and why you know so much, the Empress said. As she spoke, she gently brushed her hair from her forehead, and her gaze seemed somewhat unnatural. Even her face turned slightly red. After all, they were going to spend a long time together, so getting to know each other better was important. Lin Beifan furrowed his brows. Your Majesty, about my past life It seemed he was reluctant to talk about it. The Empress suddenly felt sorry for him. Lin Beifan didnt mention much about his past, but from what she had observed in recent years, he must have had a difficult life. He came from a humble background with no notable family or friends. He had only relied on his strength. To pass the imperial exams, he had worked tirelessly, studyingte into the night. He had lived a frugal life, wearing ordinary clothes, residing in a dpidated house, and mostly eating simple meals of rice and vegetables, rarely having meat. It was only after bing the top schr that his life improved significantly. Sir Lin, if you dont want to talk about it, I wont force you, the Empress said, understandingly. Lin Beifan shook his head slightly. Your Majesty, its not that I dont want to talk about it, but rather I dont know how to begin. The Empress seemed puzzled. You dont know how to begin? You can talk about anything. Its precisely because theres nothing to talk about that I find it difficult, Lin Beifans expression turned a bit bitter. Not to hide it from Your Majesty, but my past life was quite dull. The word hardship defined my life, and theres really nothing to talk about. The Empress chuckled awkwardly. Cough Lin Beifan looked concerned. Your Majesty, are you not feeling well again? Are you experiencing another symptom? The Empress gave Lin Beifan a somewhat exasperated look, a mix of annoyance and amusement. Its all because of you. How can you boast like this? She then startedughing. Lin Beifan felt quite aggrieved. But I was just telling the truth! I can see that you must have been quite mischievous and troublesome in the past. Yet, you managed to live to this day, which means you must have had a ratherfortable life! The Empress pointed at Lin Beifan andughed. Lin Beifan struggled for a moment. Your Majesty, you cant say that. In reality, my past was quite bitter. Was it because of someone elses suffering? The Empressughed heartily. Lin Beifan: Lin Beifans eyes seemed filled with bitterness. How did the Empress be so mischievous? She had uncovered his past so quickly; it wasnt fun at all! After theughter, the Empress was in a very cheerful mood and asked, Sir Lin, lets talk about the future. What do you think your future will be like? Or what kind of life do you want to have in the future? What are your dreams? Lin Beifan furrowed his brows again. Your Majesty, I dare not say. The Empress hinted, Is there some kind of hardship? Indeed, there is hardship, Lin Beifan said, his lips twisting slightly. Please forgive my crimes first, and then I will dare to speak. The Empress spoke loudly, Alright! I consider you innocent! Your Majesty, Lin Beifan sighed, Ever since I entered the court as an official, I have been favored by you. You kept promoting me, bestowing honors and riches upon me endlessly, and I am deeply grateful for your kindness. However, all of these are not what I truly desire. The Empress asked, Sir Lin, what is it that you desire? Lin Beifan cautiously nced at the Empress and said, Actually, my biggest dream is to not work every day but still receive a sry. So, Your Majesty, please grant me more vacation days. If I could have 20 days off per month, I would be content. The Empress coughed, looking somewhat surprised. Cough Lin Beifan panicked again. Why are you reacting like this? Dont scare me! Are you trying to make fun of me? The Empress scolded him with a hint of annoyance. As the current Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the military, you want to take 20 days off in a month? Who will handle state affairs then? I promoted you to this position to help me share the burden, and you want to rest? Thats quite an ambitious idea! Lin Beifan felt very wronged. Your Majesty, its because you asked me to tell the truth You can say it, but I dont agree! The Empress said firmly. Oh! Lin Beifan lowered his head. Sir Lin, its not just anyone who can aspire to reach your position, and yet youve achieved it. But you dont seem to cherish it. How can I not be disappointed in you? The Empress scolded him with a re. Your Majesty, please stop. I know I was wrong, Lin Beifan said, feeling very apologetic. The Empress couldnt help but burst intoughter and said, Look at how pitiful you look If there arent any major matters in the future, I can grant you some additional leave, alright? Really? Lin Beifan perked up. I promise, the Empress said seriously. Alright, lets talk about something else. The Empresss expression became somewhat unnatural, her eyes flickering. She asked, Sir Lin, I heard youre quite a romantic figure, with many close femalepanions. Tell me, what kind of women do you like? Lin Beifan blushed and said, Your Majesty, why ask such personal questions? Come on, Im really curious, the Empress pretended to be serious. In reality, she was feeling embarrassed, and her palms were sweaty. Lin Beifan continued to blush. Your Majesty, can we not discuss this? The Empress shook her head. No, I really want to know. The Empress pondered for a moment and decided to take the initiative. Sir Lin, do you prefer women like Li Shi Shi, refined and knowledgeable, gentle and considerate? Lin Beifan shook his head slightly. Not even that? The Empress furrowed her brows slightly. Do you prefer women like Mo Rushuang, strong-willed, justice-driven, with a heroic and valiant aura? Lin Beifan shook his head again. Not that either. Still not? The Empress concentrated and asked, Do you prefer women like Ziyue, captivating and enchanting, capable of seducing anyone? Lin Beifan shook his head once more. Not that either. Really? Then do you prefer girls like Yunying, cute and innocent, with a carefree spirit? Again, Lin Beifan shook his head. Still not? The Empress asked again, Do you prefer women who are authoritative, wield great power, andmand the world? Lin Beifan shook his head again. The Empress was puzzled. None of the above? Your Majesty, what kind of women do you like? Lin Beifan, feeling shy, said, Your Majesty, can we not discuss this? No, I must ask! The Empress insisted. Lin Beifan, feeling even more embarrassed, said, Your Majesty, can we please not talk about it? No! You must say it. Imand you! The Empress ordered, her heart pounding nervously. Your Majesty, judging from your questions, its clear that you dont understand men very well. My answer is Lin Beifan blushed and lowered his head, I want to take them all1! The Empress coughed. Cough Lin Beifan panicked again. Your Majesty, whats wrong now? Sir Lin, you might have really made me angry today! The Empress scolded him, not in a good mood. Lin Beifan felt very wronged. Its because Your Majesty insisted on me answering! Couldnt you have been a bit more tactful? I was already being tactful! Whenever I talk like this with people, they want to hit me! Your Majesty, you are quiteposed and sophisticated in handling this, which is alreadymendable! Lin Beifanughed. The Empress felt warm inside. Sir Lin, you have a good heart. At this point, Lin Beifan sighed. Actually, when ites to marriage and rtionships, I dont have a choice at all! Ever since I entered the court as an official, Ive always prioritized state affairs. Ive never actively sought attention from women. But fate has given me a handsome appearance, and I have be the center of attention wherever I go. There is no escape, and I have to passively ept it. Its quite distressing! The Empress was annoyed! What kind of nonsense was this? This was something that many men could only dream of, and you seemed a bit dismissive of it? He doesnt know the suffering of less fortunate men! She clenched her fist suddenly, wanting to punch him to vent the frustrations of all the men in the world! Now, even the matter of marriage is decided by Your Majesty! Lin Beifan, with a glimmer of hope, said, Your Majesty, when will you release the restrictions on me? Im not getting any younger; its time to get married! This matter lets talk about itter! The Empresss eyes flickered, wanting to escape the topic. She said, Alright, thats enough. Im tired now. Sir Lin, you may withdraw. Your Majesty, cant we chat a little longer? I have many things I want to tell you! Lin Beifan said. The Empress waved her hand, turned her head to the side, pretending to sleep, and said, Lets not chat anymore. Please withdraw quickly. I need to rest. If there are no major state affairs, donte to find me! Oh, then Ille back another day! Lin Beifan reluctantly left.
1. /Children choose, adults take them all! This phrase is a popr inte ng term used as a response to difficult or indecisive choice questions. Itsmonly used in interactive discussions or topics where people are asked to make choices. The phrase is often employed humorously when faced with dilemmas, such as questions like Do you prefer girls with short hair or long hair? In response, people might use the meme (I want them all), indicating a yful or unserious attitude toward making a choice. Chapter 384: Can There Be a Perfect Solution in the World? Chapter 384: Can There Be a Perfect Solution in the World? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Next, the ice disaster continued, and the weather grew colder. The Great Wu Empire managed to withstand the ice disaster as a nation, maintaining control, while other countries gradually crumbled. The number of affected people kept increasing. Even though the court was doing its best to provide relief, the harsh icy conditions made resource transportation difficult. They could only watch their citizens silently perish. The resulting social unrest couldnt be quelled either. But at this time, something was happening in the bordends. Ho Pass, the gateway from the Great Wu Empire to Great Xia, was heavily guarded year-round. Before the year began, Lin Beifan led hundreds of thousands of troops and defeated an 800,000-strong Great Xia army, capturing Great Xias Crown Prince Xia Tianqiong. This marked the beginning of his legendary military career. However, at this moment, this ce was also covered in snow, with whitendscapes and howling winds. Despite the bitter cold, the Great Wu soldiers continued to stand guard, shivering uncontrobly, their bodies covered in snow. Seeing their leaders absent, two nearby soldiers discussed quietly. Damn this weather! Ive been alive for over 20 years, and this year is the coldest! Isnt it? Were all wrapped in thick cotton coats, but its still freezing. Its too damn cold! Just endure a little longer, another stick of incense, and well rotate and get some warmth inside! Thank goodness the Supreme Commander prepared for this, bringing plenty of charcoal and nkets. Otherwise, wed all freeze to death! Supreme Commander is truly wise! Before the disaster struck, he made thorough preparations, building numerous shelters nationwide, centralized heating, giving our mothers and children a ce to go! Otherwise, I couldnt stay here right now! Yes, Supreme Commander is wise! Most of us have made so many preparations, yet it still feels challenging. Other countries must be in even worse situations. Many people might die this year! True, but thats not our concern. Lets focus on our own duties! Agreed! Just then, they spotted dozens of figures in the distance on the snowy in. Look, are those Great Xia soldiers? Its hard to see from this far, but its highly likely. Who else woulde here in such cold weather? Do they have a problem with their heads? Report this immediately and prepare forbat! The enemys presence was quickly reported, and all the soldiers at Ho Pass donned their armor and raised their weapons. Groups of soldiers rushed to the pass, bows drawn. A Great Wu general shouted loudly, Listen up, anyone approaching Ho Pass will be considered a provocation, and we wont hesitate to strike! The people who hade closer panicked and raised their hands, shouting, Dont shoot! Were just ordinary civilians! We heard youve built many shelters and centralized heating. Let us in, please! Weve run out of charcoal, and our nkets arent enough. The court isnt helping us, so we came to seek aid! Please, have mercy and give us a way to survive! We really dont want to die! The generals gaze hardened, Hold your fire for now! At this point, the group of people finally reached Ho Pass. They appeared emaciated, their skin yellowish, and some had frostbite on their ears. They huddled in their thick cotton clothes, shivering, with a mix of fear and hope in their eyes, looking pitiable. They indeed seemed like harmless civilians. They were all soldiers who had sworn to defend their homnd, hot-blooded and brave. They were willing to risk their lives in battle, but they couldnt bring themselves to harm civilians, even if they were from an enemy nation. The Great Wu general shouted from above, In consideration of your ignorance, I wont me you this time. Leave quickly! The refugees from Great Xia became agitated and started pleading. We cant leave; leaving means death! We really cant survive, so we came here for refuge, hoping for your mercy! Please, open the gate and let us in! I really dont want to die! They looked extremely pitiable. The leaders of Ho Pass hesitated. Their own heating resources were extremely limited, and they had to conserve them. If they allowed these people in, what if their resources ran out? Moreover, what if there were spies among them, causing trouble? It could endanger their own soldiers and civilians! No one wanted to bear that responsibility. But watching them freezing outside, some couldnt help but feel sympathy. In the end, it was the Deputy General of Ho Pass who made a decision. He had a heart of iron and said, You may leave! We are soldiers of the Great Wu Empire, and you are civilians of Great Xia. We have no obligation to protect you! I advise you to leave quickly; the gates will not open! No, please, have mercy! We will surely die if we go back! Give us a chance to survive! The Great Xian civilians fell to their knees. The surrounding officers looked at each other, and one of them said, General General Zhao waved his hand and said with a stern expression, I dont need to hear more. I am responsible for the 200,000 soldiers of Ho Pass and the 200,000 civilians living here! In the end, these Great Xia refugees left with hoarse throats, unable to move the Deputy Generals unyielding heart. Some copsed on the road and never got up. On the second day, another group of refugees arrived, pleading to be let in. But General Zhao still refused, allowing them to shout themselves hoarse, cry, and even hurt their knees. Many of them froze to death right in front of Ho Pass. On the third day, the fourth day More and more refugees came, seeking warmth inside the city. But General Zhao still didnt agree. As a result, the bodies in front of Ho Pass piled up, turning into frozen statues, each showing expressions of despair. But without exception, they all looked hopeless. These scenes continuously shook the hearts of the Great Wu soldiers. General, what if we let them in? They are unarmed civilians, who have endured so much hardship just toe here, seeking to stay alive! We have plenty of resources; we can spare some for them! General, I cant bear to watch this every night! You feel pain, dont I feel pain too? But our duty is clear; we cant do this! But, General General Zhao waved his hand weakly and said, Lets report this matter to the court and let them decide. So, an urgent military report quickly made its way to the imperial court. Meanwhile, simr information from various border fortresses rapidly gathered and reached the hands of Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan understood their predicament very well, but he couldnt open the gates due to his responsibilities. However, not opening the gates meant watching them freeze to death outside, which weighed heavily on his conscience. So, it had to be his decision. s! Can there be a perfect solution in the world? Lin Beifan sighed. Sir Lin, why do you sigh? Have you encountered some difficulties? The empress-level figure walked in slowly. Lin Beifan quickly stood up. Your Majesty, why have youe? Its bitterly cold outside, and your health isnt fully recovered. You might catch a chill! The empress smiled and said, Ive been lying in bed for days, and my body has stiffened up. Its very ufortable, so I came to move around and clear my mind. Dont worry, my lord, Im fine! Your Majesty, please take care of your health! Lin Beifan advised. The empress slowly approached Lin Beifans desk, looked at the mountain of memorials, randomly picked one up, and while ncing through it, she smiled and said, Sir Lin, have you encountered some difficulties? Tell me about it. I have indeed encountered some problems. Lin Beifan reported the situation. The empress nodded in understanding. Its indeed a difficult situation, a dilemma between opening and not opening the gates. Ive faced such dilemmas often during my years in power. Sir Lin, whats your opinion? My humble opinion is Lin Beifan nced at the empress, to do what is within our means and help each other. If the border garrisons still have resources to spare, we can open the gates to allow some refugees from other countries to seek shelter. If we dont have enough resources, we should prioritize the safety of our soldiers and citizens. But what if our well-intentioned actions lead to an ungrateful response, like the farmer and the snake? the empress asked. Lin Beifans expression grew stern. Then we fight. We fight fiercely! Once the ice disaster is over, we lead our armies to their capital, and we demand justice. Sir Lin, do what you believe is right, and I fully support you, the Empress dered. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding and support, Lin Beifan replied. They continued their discussion for a while before the Empress returned to her rest. Lin Beifan then issued his orders to the various border fortresses. Huo Pass quickly received a reply from the court. What does the court say? General Zhao asked, holding the military orders with excitement. This is the Supreme Commandersmand, General Zhao said. It says to assess our capabilities, prioritize the safety of our soldiers and citizens, and, if possible, allow some refugees from other countries to enter cautiously without causing chaos. So, the court agrees? Thats great! The soldiers were excited. Lets not celebrate too soon. I have to ask, how many people can our refuge hold if we squeeze in? General Zhao asked. If we squeeze in, it can amodate around ten thousand people, a soldier replied. Good, then lets open the gates. After verifying their identities, let them in, General Zhao ordered. And so, the city gates were opened, and refugees from other countries, affected by disaster, were allowed into the refuge in Da Wu. The refugees were overjoyed. Thank you, Great Wu, for giving us a lifeline! We promise to follow the rules, we wont cause any trouble! Thank you! Thank you all! Despite the continued cold of the winter, there was now a bit more warmth in the air. Chapter 385: Proud, My Country! Chapter 385: Proud, My Country! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, at the Ho Pass, refugees from Great Xia followed the Great Wu soldiers to the refuge. Feeling the warmthing from inside and the bustling sounds of people, even though the weather was still cold, their hearts were warm and excited. They could finally stay in the refuge, no longer enduring the cold and hunger. This meant they had a chance to survive! They had traveled a long way, risking their lives toe here for this moment. Wasnt this what they had hoped for? Now their wishes had finallye true. Thank God, thank Heaven! No, thank Great Wu for giving them the chance to live! But then, sadness struck. The ce they were in, the vige they were in, was also bustling with people. Due to the ice disaster, their parents, wives, children, neighbors, everyone had died one after another! Only they remained! To stay alive, they had to leave their hometown, carrying a one-in-a-million chance toe here. How many people knew the suffering and heartache they had endured? At the right moment, the leading general from Great Wu stopped and turned to warn them, Weve arrived! This is the refuge weve arranged for you. From now on, you must stay here, and you absolutely must not wander around! Otherwise, we will take necessary measures. I hope you dont make it difficult for us. The Great Xia refugees immediately reassured, General, rest assured, we will definitely not run around! We came here for refuge, and we wont abuse it! We will definitely follow the rules! The Great Wu general nodded slightly and said in a gentler tone, Good, you can go in now. We are taking a great risk by letting you in. If something happens, we will be subject to militaryw. I hope you understand. Yes, yes, General! The refugees entered the refuge. Inside, it suddenly became quiet. Themon people all looked at them with curiosity and some hostility. The refugees from Great Xia understood. The two countries had fought a war this year, so some hostility was normal. Moreover, bying here, they were essentially using their heating resources, so it was understandable that they might be unhappy. They didnt want trouble and certainly didnt want to quarrel with anyone. Under the arrangement of the guarding soldiers, they found a small ce to rest. Now, all they wanted was to peacefully endure the cold and survive. They didnt want anything else. The on-duty soldier shouted, Since were all living together, everyone must follow the rules. No fighting, no causing trouble! If anyone breaks the rules, Ill have to kick them out. Do you understand? We understand, sir! The crowd responded vaguely. With the warning from the soldiers, everyone behaved very obediently and didnt show too much hostility. For the next two days, the refugees from Great Xia mostly stayed in their own small area and didnt go anywhere else. When the witnesses sang loudly, they remained silent. During meal times, they queued up to receive their porridge, ate quickly, and were very low-key. They were more well-behaved than others, and gradually, everyone began to ept their presence. However, life in the refuge was undeniably boring. Some of the locals from Great Wu couldnt stand the loneliness and came over to socialize with the refugees. Among them was a young man named Wang Er Gou, who dressed like a rascal. He came with two others, squatted down, and grinned at one of the Great Xia refugees. The Great Xia refugee appeared to be around 20 years old, quite young but very frail. His face was red and blue, as if he had suffered from frostbite. He curled his arms and stepped back against the wall, warily asking, What do you want? Dont cause trouble; I dont want to be kicked out! Wang Er Gou chuckled, Dont worry, I wont cause trouble. Im just bored and thought we could chat to pass the time. The Great Xia refugee lowered his head and thought for a moment before reluctantly saying, What do you want to talk about? I dont know, whateveres to mind. Were just bored and looking to pass the time, right? Wang Er Gou sat down cross-legged like a monk. I heard you folks are from Great Xia, seeking refuge here. The refugees nodded, Yes. Whats your name, and where in Great Xia are you from? Wang Er Gou asked. The Great Xia refugee replied, My name is Liu, Liu Chu Ba, born on the eighth day. So thats why they gave me this name. Im from Mo Shi Vige in Great Xia. Mo Shi Vige! I know that ce; its over a hundred li away from here! Wang Er Gou eximed. This remark attracted everyones attention, and everyone in the refuge turned to look. Liu Chu Ba nodded, Yes, its indeed more than a hundred li away. Wang Er Gou couldnt help but ask, More than a hundred li, in this freezing weather, how did you end up here? Liu Chu Ba lowered his head, let out a weary sigh, and his voice was filled with helplessness and sadness. Everyone in the vige is dead. If we didnte here, where else could we go? Wang Er Gou was taken aback, Everyones dead? Your family too? All the people from my vige are dead. What? Everyone in the entire vige is dead? Wang Er Gou eximed. From what I know, Mo Shi Vige isnt a small vige. It has around 50 households, about a hundred people. How could they all be dead? Everyone was also very surprised. How could an entire vige with over a hundred people all be dead? It wasnt like they were massacred! Its true; theyre all dead. Im the only one left! Liu Chu Bas tone was gloomy. The ice disaster came so suddenly. No one was prepared, and no one expected the disaster tost this long. After a heavy snowfall, the entire vige was buried under snow, and we couldnt get out. We lost contact with the outside world. Our houses were all made of thatch, and the strong winds blew through. We couldnt heat ourselves properly. We had limited firewood and quilts, and the firewood ran out quickly. There were only ten quilts for the entire vige, not nearly enough. So, we had to take turns using them. We all went through it together. But in the end, we couldnt endure it anymore. First, the elderly with the weakest health passed away. Itsforting to know that they passed away peacefully without much suffering. Then it was the children; they didnt really understand. Their passing seemed peaceful, like falling asleep. After that came the women. They didnt exactly freeze to death; they went mad. Reality was just too hopeless. Watching their loved ones die one by one drove them to insanity. Finally, even the men couldnt bear it Liu Chu Bas tone was remarkably calm, but it filled everyone with endless sorrow. In such circumstances, who would willingly choose death? In the end, only I survived. You Liu Chu Ba looked at Wang Er Gou with indifference. Do you know how I survived? Wang Er Gou and the others suddenly felt a bit afraid. We dont know Because I was the hope of the whole vige, Liu Chu Ba chuckled self-deprecatingly. I had a bit more education, knew a few more words than most, so I became the viges hope. Everyone wanted me to live, to carry their hopes with me. It sounds ridiculous, doesnt it? The refuge fell eerily quiet, except for the crackling sound of burning charcoal. Wang Er Gou opened his mouth but didnt know what to say. Finally, he managed to say, My condolences. Thank you. Ive heard those words many times already, but I still appreciate it, Liu Chu Ba lowered his head slightly and clenched his fists. So, no matter what, I have to stay alive. I cant die. As far as I know, about fifty li to the east of Mo Shi Vige, theres a ce called Qiang Shi County with a poption of around 20,000. Why didnt you go there for help? someone asked. A few other refugees quickly replied, No need to go. We came from there, and its almost as bad. The government doesnt care about us at all, so we escaped here. Liu Chu Ba added, If there were a choice, who would want to leave their hometown? The locals in the refuge, from Great Wu, also sighed along with them. They hadnt realized just how much these refugees had suffered. This kind of suffering couldnt be adequately described in just a few sentences. Initially, there was hostility toward them, but now, there was only sympathy. In truth, I envy you. You have a responsible government, Liu Chu Ba said with tear-filled eyes. If our Great Xia had been prepared, we wouldnt be in this situation. My people, my vigers, wouldnt have died. I hate it! He pounded his fists against the ground fiercely, not caring about the blood. Everyone let out another deep sigh. While sympathizing with the refugees, they felt a strong sense of pride and security in their own government. It turned out that their government had been so good to them. When other countries experienced disasters and their people were on the brink of death, their government had already shielded them from the icy disaster! Proud, my country! Next, Ho Pass and other border regions continued to receive refugees. Based on the information gathered, the total number of foreign refugees epted nationwide had reached over 20,000! It might not seem like a lot, but considering the number of people who had died in the background, it was likely over two million. And that was just the death toll in the border regions! The border regions had sparser poptions, yet so many had died. Other areas were certainly no exception. Lin Bei Fan sighed, I hope this ice disaster passes soon. We really cant endure it any longer. Chapter 386: Has the Ice and Fire Finally Passed, with Historic Low Death Toll? Chapter 386: Has the Ice and Fire Finally Passed, with Historic Low Death Toll? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
After enduring for over half a month, the howling northern winds finally began to subside. The heavy snowfall ceased, and cracks in the overcast sky allowed a few rays of sunlight to break through. Temperatures began to rise, and while it was still quite cold, it was bearable. All of this seemed to indicate that the ice disaster had finally passed. People started seeing hope again. The winds have stopped, the snow has stopped, and the weather is warming up. Does this mean the ice disaster is over? Two months have passed since this ice disaster began. Could it being to an end? Ive been in the shelter for two months. I really miss home! Is the ice disaster truly over, or can we trust this news? Inside the pce, the Empress and Lin Beifan stood by the railing, gazing at the still snow-covered capital. Sunlight broke through the thick clouds, casting a different hue on the city. The Empress asked with hope, Minister, has the ice disaster truly passed? Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Your Majesty, indeed it has! After enduring for over two months, we have finally achieved victory! The ice disaster is behind us, and weve won! Thats wonderful! The Empress pped her hands in joy. However, Your Majesty, we are still in the middle of winter. It will remain cold for the next half month, and it might not be until the new year that the situation truly improves. We mustnt let our guard down, Lin Beifan cautioned. The Empress nodded repeatedly and said, Minister, you are absolutely right! But for now, lets spread this news across the country and let everyone rejoice! At the same time, lets assess the losses and casualties nationwide. This news quickly spread, and the people rejoiced. The ice disaster has finally passed! We endured for over two months and finally have hope! I thought I wouldnt make it! Thank you, Great Wu Dynasty, for letting me survive! I suddenly feel like crying! Some chose to leave the shelters, but most decided to stay. After all, despite the official announcement, people still had doubts, and the outside world was still frigid with limited resources. And so, another half month passed. The weather did not grow colder; instead, it continued to warm up. The dark clouds in the sky finally receded, allowing the sunlight to shine warmly. The ice and snow began to melt, and the wind hadpletely stopped. At this point, everyone was convinced that the ice disaster was truly over. Many people decided to return home; after all, no matter how good the shelters were, they couldntpare to thefort of ones own home. Furthermore, it was already three months away from home, and preparations for the New Year were in order. Meanwhile, the imperial court began tallying the losses of this ice disaster. In the Great Wu Imperial Court, the Minister of Revenue, Qian Yuanshen, reported loudly, Your Majesty, ording to the preliminary assessment by the Ministry of Revenue, during this ice disaster, a total of 125,000 cattle, 85,000 horses, 70,000 donkeys, 230,000 pigs, and over a million chickens and ducks have frozen to death due to our inability to rescue them. Compared to the previous year, the losses have nearly doubled, and it is indeed severe! The Empresss face grew solemn as she nodded, saying, This was entirely expected. After all, in such icy conditions, preserving human lives is already a significant achievement. We couldnt have done much for the livestock. You are absolutely right, Your Majesty, Minister Qian agreed loudly. The Empress then inquired, How many casualties among the people? Well Minister Qian nced at the Empress, hesitating for a moment. Worried, the Empress asked, Is it too many deaths? Tell me, Ive prepared myself for the worst. Minister Qian shook his head and said with some excitement, Your Majesty, its not too many deaths; its too few! During this ice disaster, our Great Wu has a total death toll of approximately 2.5 million people. Excluding those who died from illness, old age, or idents, the actual number of deaths due to freezing is around 200,000. Whether its the total death toll or the number of deaths due to freezing, its much lower thanst year. I distinctly remember that during the same periodst year, the total death toll nationwide was around 3.6 million people, with freezing deaths reaching around 800,000. If we look back 10 years, the death toll for this period this year is the lowest! The Empress was shocked, and the entire court was in an uproar. We experienced an ice disaster, yet our death toll is the lowest? Is that really the case? Its hard to believe! The Empress pressed on, Minister, is what youre saying true? We endured a once-in-a-century ice disaster, and the death toll is lower thanst year? Its even a 10-year historical low? The Minister of Revenue, both anxious and excited, replied, Your Majesty, even I couldnt believe this data at first! After double-checking it repeatedly, I dared to report this information to you. Please examine it carefully! Very well, very well! The Empress was overjoyed and highly excited. The Minister of Revenue continued, Your Majesty, the reason for this is entirely due to our early preparations. We constructed numerous shelters nationwide and stockpiled enough supplies to help themon people endure the severe cold. Thats why the casualties reached a historic low. The Empress was beaming and eximed, Youre absolutely right! Its because we prepared in advance that we could safely pass through the ice disaster. Even though it came at a great cost, it waspletely worth it. Because where there are people, there is hope! Long live the wise Empress! the officials cheered, their faces rxing. As the Empress stated, despite the massive losses the Great Wu Dynasty endured during this ice disaster, its people were safeguarded. Where there are people, there is hope, and a stable nation. The Empress inquired, What about the losses in other countries? Your Majesty, the losses in terms of livestock and poultry are still incalcble. But in terms of poption, after preliminary estimates The Minister of Revenues expression turned grave, The Great Yan Dynasty suffered at least 20 million deaths in this ice disaster! The Great Xia Dynasty had it worse, with around 25 million casualties! And our neighboring Dayue Dynasty had approximately 8 million deaths As everyone listened, their faces grew solemn. The death toll was simply too high! In the equally powerful Great Xia and Great Yan Dynasties, one out of every ten people perished! The Dayue Dynasty had it even worse, with a total poption of just over 40 million and 8 million deaths, meaning 20% of their people were gone. It was truly horrifying! And these were only preliminary estimates! In many remote mountainous regions, the count wasntplete yet, so the death toll would likely be even higher. Its terrifying! So many lives lost! The Empress shuddered, If our Great Wu hadnt prepared adequately, the death toll could have reached a staggering 200 million, leading to widespread suffering and hardship! Your Majesty speaks the truth! the officials concurred. Minister Lin, thankfully, we have you! The Empress eximed with excitement, Without your early warnings and preparations, we wouldnt have safely endured this ice disaster. Youve almost single-handedly saved 20 millionmon people and saved Great Wu! On behalf of the people of the world, thank you! Your Majesty, as the Prime Minister of Great Wu, it is my duty, Lin Beifan humbly replied. Sir Lin, you have once again achieved immeasurable merit for our court! No reward can truly match your contributions. I grant you a noble title, making you the Hereditary Loyal and Valiant Duke! dered the Empress loudly. This time, the courtiers had no objections. First, Lin Beifans contributions were indeed immense, equivalent to saving 20 million lives and pulling Great Wu back from the brink, securing its foundation, and leading it far ahead of other nations. Second, Lin Beifan had long been above them in stature, holding positions such as the Prime Minister of the court and Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army. Another noble title seemed inconsequential. It must be said that the adaptability of the courtiers was remarkably strong, and they had be somewhat numb to it all. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generous favor! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. The Empress, in a cheerful mood, said, Sir Lin, I hope you will continue to utilize your wisdom and abilities for the court and for Great Wu. I need a few days of rest, so if there are any matters, consult with Minister Lin; he will make decisions! Your Majesty, hasnt your illness already recovered? Why do you need more rest? Lin Beifan asked, confused. The Empresss expression became somewhat unnatural, and her eyes flickered. Her illness had indeed recovered, but resting a bit longer brought her morefort and rxation. It had been the most carefree month for her. With someone else worrying for her and handling state affairs, she didnt have to engage in political maneuvering or toil day and night. She waspletely at ease and unburdened, living life to the fullest. Besides, there werent any major issues at the moment, so she nned to rest a few more days. The Empress pretended to cough and said, Sir Lin, although my illness has recovered, my body is still somewhat weak, and I cannot handle state affairs. So, I have to trouble you once again! Lin Beifan inwardly sighed, thinking, Youve rested for over a month, and your illness is long gone. Its time to get up and work! You cant just keep treating me like a workhorse! Lin Beifan started to advise, Your Majesty The Empress waved her hand gracefully and said, Sir Lin, with you by my side, I am very at ease. Due to my lingering physical weakness, I must return to rest. If you have any matters, please consult Minister Lin. The court is dismissed! Lin Beifan: The Empress finished speaking and swiftly left, paying no heed to Lin Beifans resentful gaze. Thus, Lin Beifan had to continue the arduous task of governance. Looking at the mountain of official documents before him, his face was numb, and his heart was as cold as the external weather. His heart was as cold as the weather outside. The Empress, on the other hand, returned to her pce, continuing her feigned illness and leisurely vacation, thoroughly enjoying herself! Chapter 387: Love, even if you can’t resist, you have to resist! Chapter 387: Love, even if you cant resist, you have to resist! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The ice disaster has passed, and now its time to restore production and get the country running smoothly again. Although in this ice disaster, Great Wu suffered heavy losses, and the people also suffered, fortunately, lives were saved. As long as there are people, many problems are not problems. Many stores have reopened, many factories are back in operation, and there are more people working in the fields. The streets have be lively again. Although the days are still tough, we can get through it by persevering. Inparison, other countries havent been so lucky. In this ice disaster, every country lost more than ten percent of its poption. And those who died were mostly poor people, the backbone of the nationsbor force. They are the ones who farm, produce goods, and defend the country. The widespread loss of life has had a huge impact, directly leading to economic decline and a weakening of national strength. For example, the Great Xia, as an empire, lost a staggering 25 million people! Most of these were poor farmers, and many viges, towns, and even entire counties were left empty, bing ghost towns! Without enoughbor, many fertilends will go to waste. Without people farming, there will be a significant reduction in next years food production, posing a threat to the nations food supply. With a reduced poption, consumer power will inevitably decrease, leading to economic decline. Without sufficient food and a struggling economy, the country is bound to suffer! In addition, themon people will have a hard time surviving, and they will resort to desperate measures, such as murder, robbery, banditry, and even rebellion, to survive. To maintain national stability, the court must bear a huge cost forw and order. This massive loss is no less than a war with millions of casualties! Its even more severe! It will take at least a decade to recover from this! However, Great Wu, despite its losses, managed to save its most important asset, its poption, and can recover within a year! The old Great Wu was gued by regional warlords, territorial fragmentation! Corrupt officials were in power, and greedy officials ran rampant! The people suffered, and life was unbearable! National strength declined, and there was a sense of decline! Having the name of an empire but not the substance. Not only did neighboring major powers covet it, even a small nation wanted a piece of it. But after an ice and fire event, other countries copsedpletely, and their national strength became untenable. On the other hand, the previously inferior Great Wu shone the brightest, surpassing other countries and standing out! As long as it continues to develop steadily, it will surely surpass other countries quickly and be the number one in the world! The resting empress, every time she thinks about this, cant help butugh! I must reward the meritorious officials well! The empress waved her hand gracefully. Its lunchtime, hurry and invite the prime minister over! Also, instruct the kitchen to prepare more dishes that the prime minister likes! Yes, Your Majesty! Before long, Lin Beifan arrived and said, Your Majesty, Im here! The empress nced at him and was immediately shocked. Minister, what happened to you? At this moment, Lin Beifan had dark circles under his eyes, a paleplexion, and he walked as if he was floating, as if he had been overworked for days and nights. Your Majesty, due to my non-stop efforts in state affairs these days, Ive be exhausted. I apologize to Your Majesty, Lin Beifan said somewhat anxiously. The empress let out a sigh. Youre a top-level grandmaster with a body stronger than an ox. Even if you fought for days and nights, you wouldnt be exhausted. Just reviewing some documents and handling state affairs, and youre alreadyining of hardship? Clearly, youre trying to deceive me and take advantage of the situation to ck off! Minister, are you alright? the empress asked with concern. Your Majesty, although its been tough, its nothing. As the current Prime Minister, I bear the weight of the world on my shoulders, prioritizing the people and the nation. Even if its tough, its entirely worthwhile, Lin Beifan replied with righteous conviction. But in his heart, he silently thought, Your Majesty, Ive acted to this extent. Please let me rest. Show somepassion to your loyal and virtuous minister. The empress was truly moved and said, Minister, youve worked hard! Great Wu is fortunate to have you, and so is the nation. However, since you dont consider it a big deal and can persevere, I wont advise you to rest. But please take care of yourself and dont harm your health, alright? Huh? Lin Beifan was instantly confused. What does she mean? At this point, ording tomon sense, shouldnt she let me rest? How can she not advise that? Lin Beifans face grew even paler, and his body swayed. The empress was once again shocked. Minister, whats happening to you? Lin Beifan shook his head weakly and said, I dont know why, but suddenly I feel dizzy and lightheaded The empress called out, Quick, help the Prime Minister sit down! Lin Beifan took a seat in front of the empress. The empress asked with concern, Minister, how are you feeling now? Lin Beifan weakly replied, Your Majesty, I feel much better now, but my body still feels ufortable. Perhaps its because Ive been overworked these days. The empress was deeply moved. Minister, youve truly worked hard, and youre still persevering. Your Majesty, although its tough, I can still endure it, Lin Beifan said confidently. In his mind, he added, If I dont do these things, itll fall on Your Majestys shoulders. Your Majesty, youve just recovered from a serious illness; its not good for your health! He secretly hoped, Your Majesty, weve reached this point. Are you touched? Shouldnt you arrange for me to rest? The empress indeed felt very moved, and her eyes welled up with tears. Ah, Minister, even at this point, youre still thinking of me. Im truly touched! Lin Beifan nodded inwardly, deeply moved! He quickly put his feelings into action! However, since you, Minister, are so considerate of me, I would be remiss not to reciprocate, the empress promised solemnly. Minister, if you can hold on for a few more days, until I fully recover my strength, I will take over your worries! What??? Lin Beifan was left stunned for the second time. You want me to continue holding on? I really cant hold on any longer! Right at this moment, Lin Beifan suddenly fainted and copsed. Minister! The empress reacted swiftly, actually catching Lin Beifan with both hands and preventing him from falling. Minister, how are you? Dont scare me, she said with concern. While lying in the warmth of the empresss arms was somewhat tempting, Lin Beifan felt even weaker. I dont know why, but suddenly Ive lost my strength! Your Majesty I might not be able to hold on. He practically wanted to say, Give me a way out, let me rest! Minister, even if you cant resist, you must resist! The empresss eyes welled up with tears. I cant be without you, the court cant be without you, and Great Wu cant be without you! At this point, the empresss hand unexpectedly reached Lin Beifans soft waist and pinched hard, a 360-degree turn Lin Beifans eyes widened in pain, and he jumped up, gritting his teeth. Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch He was suddenly full of energy, with no signs of weakness. Turning around somewhat nervously, he saw the empress looking at him with a cold smile. Minister, how long do you intend to deceive me? Lin Beifan felt even more uneasy. Your Majesty, how do you see through it? The empress sneered, Because I know you better than you know yourself! Just now, I found out from the kitchen that you ordered a te of peanuts, some pastries, and a pot of wine, all for your enjoyment. Does that look like something a weak and exhausted person would do? Lin Beifan: You shameless fellow! To get a vacation, you even deceived me personally! The empress continued to scold him, Minister, you have quite the nerve! Lin Beifan tried to exin, Your Majesty The empress waved her hand, Alright, dont say anything more! Sit down right now, and after you finish eating, go back to work! Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan obediently took a seat and sneakily nced at the empress sitting next to him, realizing that she didnt hold any grudges. Before long, the meal from the kitchen was served. Lin Beifan was surprised when he saw it. These these are the dishes I love! The empress smiled, Minister, I ordered the kitchen to prepare these specifically for you. If you like them, feel free to eat more! Lin Beifan was deeply grateful. Thank you, Your Majesty. I will serve you wholeheartedly and give my all! As long as you use fewer tricks to deceive me, Ill bepletely satisfied! the empress added. Lin Beifan: Afterward, they picked up their chopsticks and began to eat. Minister, is it delicious? the empress asked. Mm-hmm, its delicious Lin Beifan nodded as he ate. Watching him enjoy the meal heartily, the empress felt very pleased and ate half a bowl of rice herself. At this time, the weather was getting warmer, and the atmosphere of the New Year was getting closer. Despite experiencing a once-in-a-century ice disaster that caused significant losses to Great Wu and its people, they had survived, and everyone was in good spirits. So, everyone was busy preparing for the uing Lunar New Year, getting ready to celebrate and have a good time. In the capital, the lively atmosphere of the past had returned. People were busy buying New Year goods and preparing for the festivities. And at this moment, Lin Beifan saw a familiar purple figure. Purple Moon, why have you returned? Have you finished your business over there? Lin Beifan smiled. The stunning beauty before him was Princess Purple Moon, who had been involved in the grand project of reopening a path in the Great Moon Dynasty. Her pair of captivating and seemingly speaking purple eyes made her unforgettable. She swiftly approached Lin Beifan, taking light steps and a graceful posture. She slightly lifted her head, her eyes deep and charming, with indiscernible emotions, saying, Mainly because of you, Minister. I couldnt help bute back to see you! Minister, how have you been in the past half a year? Have you missed me? Lin Beifan was instantly in a difficult situation. This woman, shes quite forward and not at all reserved! No wonder the people call her a bewitching woman! Chapter 388: What I Want is a Gift, Not Impropriety! Chapter 388: What I Want is a Gift, Not Impropriety! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lady Ziyue, these past eight months, this official has been doing very well! Now, I hold the position of the Prime Minister and the Supreme Commander of the Army, with an additional noble title. I can truly say Im flourishing! Lin Beifan boasted. It seems, Lord Lin, you have indeed been doing well these months, Princess Ziyue quipped, I wonder if you have the time now. Id like to invite Lord Lin to the Warm Pavilion for a gathering and heartfelt conversation. Ive also brought some gifts for you. What kind of gifts? Lin Beifan asked casually. Its the gift you desire most, Princess Ziyue replied. Lin Beifans eyes lit up, Lady Ziyue, lets go quickly! About half an incense sticks worth of timeter, Lin Beifan and Princess Ziyue returned to the loft where Princess Ziyue usually resided. Though it hadnt been inhabited for a while, it was regrly cleaned, so it didnt appear to have changed much. As they entered the loft, before even starting to brew tea, Lin Beifan couldnt help but say, Princess, please give me the gift! Strategist, youre really impatient, Princess Ziyue teased as she approached. Sensing the delicate figure in his embrace, Lin Beifans mind was filled with confusion, Princess, youre taking advantage of me right away! What I want is a gift, not impropriety! Princess Ziyue sighed softly, Im giving myself to you, isnt that the best gift? This gift is too precious, cant we skip it? No, Strategist, dont resist. Let me hold you for a while! Oh my! After the time it took to finish a cup of tea, the two sat face to face. Lin Beifan epted the handkerchief offered by Princess Ziyue and wiped away the strawberry marks on his face and neck, finally looking like a proper person. Their conversation finally returned to a normal track. Strategist, please have some tea, Princess Ziyue handed him a cup of light and fragrant Moonflower Tea specially brought from Dayue. It was incredibly sweet with a hint of bitterness, much like love, leaving a lingering taste. Lin Beifan, eyeing the slightly bluish tea, was quite cautious, Theres no poison in this, right? Princess Ziyue chuckled, covering her mouth, Strategist, rest assured, I dont like to y tricks. I prefer straightforwardness. Im relieved then, Lin Beifan picked up the tea and sipped it slowly. Strategist, how does it taste? Princess Ziyue asked. The taste is excellent; you have a good heart, Princess, Lin Beifan replied with satisfaction, Now, Princess, how is the situation in Dayue? I heard that many people died during this ice disaster, and the countrys power has severely declined, causing instability. How are your people faring? Have you safely weathered the ice disaster? Beforehand, when Lin Beifan sensed that the ice disaster was approaching, he had already informed Princess Ziyue of this through her spies in the capital, asking them to prepare. To emphasize the importance of this matter, Lin Beifan even demanded more money! As soon as money was mentioned, Princess Ziyue indeed paid great attention. Without fighting, they prepared wholeheartedly for the disaster. Now that the ice disaster had passed, Lin Beifan wanted to further understand the situation. Gratefully, Princess Ziyue said, Thank goodness for the strategists reminder, or this time we would have suffered unbearable losses. Due to timely and thorough preparations, our casualties were not significant. She stood up and gave Lin Beifan a bow, saying, I represent nted Moon and express my gratitude to the strategist. Lin Beifan waved his hand, Princess, as your strategist, this is what I should do, no need to be so polite. Princess Ziyue nodded with a smile, The strategist is absolutely right. From now on, were like one family, no need for such formalities. Lin Beifan nced back and felt that the princesss words had some hidden meaning. I really didnt expect this ice disaster to be so severe, Princess Ziyue sighed, Originally, Dayue had nearly 40 million citizens, a strong nation with the potential to threaten the dynasty! But in this ice disaster, due tock of preparation, over ten thousand people died, and the poption has decreased by nearly twenty-five percent! Many viges werepletely wiped out, turning into ghost towns. Even inrger cities, there were many deaths from freezing. Its deste everywhere, with mourning people and white mourning cloth covering the streets. Its like a human purgatory. Lin Beifan spoke, As far as I know, the death toll seems to be around 8 million Princess Ziyue shook her head, Strategist, your data is inurate. My people and horses have been operating in Dayue year-round, so I have more urate data. Its indeed close to 10 million. Thats truly terrifying, Lin Beifan shook his head in dismay. Its indeed terrifying. No matter how strong a workforce is, it cant do anything against natural disasters. After this, Dayue will definitely see a decline in national strength and face more difficulties. This is our opportunity as nted Moon rises and aims to dominate the world, Princess Ziyue said confidently. Indeed, it seems even the heavens are helping you, Princess, Lin Beifan replied. What should we do next? Princess Ziyue humbly sought his advice. Lin Beifan smiled, Princess, you dont need my guidance for this. Just follow the previous path, steadily and surely. You will definitely achieve your grand ambitions. Princess Ziyue nodded with a smile, The strategist is right. In fact, this was your n all along, but I want your confirmation to feel more assured. However, having just experienced the ice disaster, the people of Dayue are feeling hopeless. Its the perfect time to rally the people. You can find some individuals to stand out, act mysteriously, or even incite rebellion, constantly causing chaos in Dayue, diverting their attention, and shaking their foundation. At the same time, continue silently developing and umting strength behind the scenes. Lin Beifan smiled and said, If everything goes smoothly, we can hope to overthrow Dayue and restore the nted Moon Dynasty next year! Princess Ziyues eyes brightened as she raised her tea cup, saying, Then Ill toast to the strategists wise words! Ill use tea instead of wine, to honor the strategist and to honor our nted Moon! Princess, please, Lin Beifan also raised his tea. They drank their tea like it was wine. Next, they enthusiastically discussed more about the restoration of the dynasty, their spirits high. It could be said that they were now on the path to sess! Princess Ziyue became increasingly excited, never feeling that her dream was so close. If they followed the strategists n, they had a chance to restore the dynasty by the end of next year! Isnt that soon? Not at all, because preparations are underway for the New Year, and after that, its the next year! See, time is not long at all, right? Princess, when will you return? Lin Beifan asked. Ive been busy for over half a year, so I n to stay here for a while and rest, then return after the New Year, the princess replied. Stay here for the New Year? Lin Beifan furrowed his brow, Isnt the New Year a time for family reunions? Princess, you Princess Ziyue cast a seductive nce, Strategist, look at what youre saying. Arent you already a part of my family? So, who else should I be with if not you? Lin Beifan felt like he had just been trapped again! This woman really has no restraint! What if she cant control herself in the future? Wont I be in trouble? This woman can devour someone whole! Seeing that it was gettingte, Lin Beifan invited Princess Ziyue to return to his residence for dinner. As soon as they arrived at Lins residence, the Little Princess stared at them, her hostility evident. She said, Why is this enchantress here? Usually, the Little Princess didnt get jealous or angry when she saw Lin Beifan talking andughing with other women, but when she saw Princess Ziyue, it was different. It was as if she would steal her man. It had to be said, the Little Princesss instincts were spot on. Lin Beifans face changed, Princess, how can you speak to a guest like that? The Little Princess smiled triumphantly, Youre right, shes a guest, and I shouldnt be angry with her. A guest? Princess Ziyue lowered her head and nced at the Little Princess with some disdain. Arent we all guests? Im not! The Little Princess raised her head proudly. Let me tell you, Ive already moved into Lins residence, so from now on, Im the mistress of this house! Youve already moved in? Princess Ziyue was surprised and gave Lin Beifan a resentful look, saying, Lord Lin, youre really enjoying yourself. The Little Princess has already pursued you! She leaned close to Lin Beifans ear and whispered softly, No wonder youve been reluctant to leave the capital and follow me! Well, I! Lin Beifan felt helpless. You dont mind? Princess Ziyue teased. Yes! Lin Beifan said with a hint of grievance, looking at Princess Ziyue with dissatisfaction. I dont know if its because of you, but the Little Princess has be very aggressive and domineering. She often gets handsy with me! If she could be a bit more reserved, she wouldnt be like this now. Princess Ziyues face turned slightly red, and she ordered her attendants to bring in a cart full of gifts, saying, Its been a while, and Ive missed everyone so much! These are gifts I brought for you all. I want to wish you all a happy New Year in advance! Everyone was pleasantly surprised and gathered around. You brought gifts! What kind of gifts are these? Quick, open them, let me see! It had to be said that Princess Ziyues preparations were very thoughtful. They were all custom-made for Lin Beifans residence, and everyone was very happy. Even the Little Princess received a gift. The Little Princess turned her head and said, I wont ept gifts from this enchantress! But this is specially brought for you, featuring specialty foods from Dayue and a few neighboring countries. Are you really not taking it? Princess Ziyue held the gift and waved it in front of the Little Princess. The Little Princess immediately turned her head back and extended her hands, saying, Thank you! Hahaha Princess Ziyue couldnt help butugh. Seeing everyone receiving gifts, Lin Beifan couldnt help but look a little envious, What about mine? Princess Ziyue pounced into Lin Beifans arms, shyly saying, Im right here! Lin Beifan: . Chapter 389: It’s Over, My Chastity May not Be Preserved! Chapter 389: Its Over, My Chastity May not Be Preserved! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan is quite annoyed; this enchantress always finds ways to take advantage of him! And shes bing bolder by the day! Right in front of everyones eyes, she even dares to reach out to him! Just as he was about to scold her for it, this enchantress secretly takes out a stack of silver bills and stuffs them into his arms, saying with a sweet voice, Sir Lin, this is a gift from me. Do you like it? Lin Beifan immediately smiles, Miss Ziyue is very thoughtful! Since Princess Ziyue distributed gifts to everyone, everyone was in high spirits, and they treated each other warmly. Princess Ziyue responded with equal enthusiasm, and everyone got along very pleasantly. This situation quickly reached the ears of the Empress in the pce, and she was far from calm. Why isnt this enchantress staying in Dayue peacefully? She actually came back at this time and established good rtions with the Lin family. Is she trying to steal my favorite minister? She immediately summoned the Little Princess into the pce to inquire about the situation. Sister Empress, ording to her, she came back for the New Year! said the Little Princess. The Empress tilted her head and said, Just for the New Year? It seems so! But shes indeed been flirting with my man as soon as she returned, being all touchy-feely in front of me. Its infuriating! Ive never been so close to him like that! The Little Princess clenched her fists and said with resentment. Why didnt you take action then? Thats not like you! the Empress remarked. Sigh! She brought so many gifts for me, delicious ones at that! The Little Princesss eyes sparkled as she licked her lips. The Empress was speechless; apparently, a little food was enough to defeat her. Sister Empress, Ive always felt that this woman is suspicious, the Little Princess whispered. Whats the issue? the Empress asked with curiosity. This woman is officially a courtesan at the Xiyue Pavilion, but she disappears every few days. Thats not normal. She must be up to something shady in her free time! The Little Princess offered her insight. The Empress nodded inwardly; indeed, this enchantress had been up to no good. She had gathered a group of people to work on restoring the nted Moon Dynasty, and she was doing it quite visibly. How many women are capable of doing such things? Moreover, she repeatedly tried to seduce my favorite minister! No restraint, no hesitation to use her charms! This was simply outrageous! Little Yunying, I also think this woman is suspicious. She might have ulterior motives towards Minister Lin, so you must keep a close eye on her! the Empress said with a serious expression. The Little Princess nodded earnestly, Dont worry, Sister Empress, Ill definitely keep a close watch on her! Watching the Little Princesss greedy demeanor, the Empress couldnt help but feel that she wasnt very reliable. She sighed silently: Alright, Ill handle this myself! So, a sudden increase in the number of memorials was ced in front of Lin Beifan. Seeing the towering stack of documents, Lin Beifan became extremely frustrated, saying, Why are there so many tasks? Does His Majesty want to work me to death? Lord Prime Minister, these are all old memorials! Due to the numerous issues to consider, Her Majesty has been unable to make decisions, so he handed them over to you for handling. Please bear with it! the old eunuch said with a wry smile. Lin Beifan waved his hand, Very well, Ill do my best! Despite the increased workload, Lin Beifans efficiency remained high, and he hadpleted everything before noon. He was nning to have lunch with the Empress and then slip out of the pce to rx. However, during the meal, the Empress asked, Minister, I heard youve already reviewed those old memorials? Yes, Your Majesty. Although there are many issues, Ive sorted them out, and many of these matters can proceed. If Your Majesty has any concerns, you can review them! Lin Beifan replied. With you here, I feel very reassured! The Empress smiled brightly. It seems like youve finished your state affairs for the day. In the afternoon, lets talk about poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting. You are the top schr in our Great Wu, after all! Lin Beifan was a bit bewildered. Your Majesty, I still have to go to the Imperial Academy and the Dedian Mansion this afternoon to handle some matters! The Empress waved her hand, saying, No need to go! Under your leadership, these two departments are running smoothly and flourishing. Theres basically nothing urgent. If there are any issues, we can address themter in the evening. Your most important task right now is to apany me! Lin Beifan inwardlymented; its all over now! Previously, his mornings and afternoons were already dedicated to the Empress. Now, even his afternoons were under her scrutiny! Is the Empress nning something against him? Lin Beifan felt that his innocence was in jeopardy! Against his will, Lin Beifan continued to stay in the pce, apanying the Empress in various leisurely activities until it was time for dinner. Lord Lin, why did you arrive sote today? Princess Ziyue asked with grace. Since she had bribed everyone in the Lin household, Princess Ziyue visited every day. They engaged in casual conversations to deepen their bonds. Lin Beifan sighed, Today, there were a lot of state affairs to handle, so I spent some extra time on them. Besides, Your Majesty enjoys poetry and art, so I was asked to stay. Princess Ziyue nodded, I see. Then lets make the most of our time! Lin Beifan was puzzled, Make the most of our time for what? Princess Ziyue leaned closer and whispered in Lin Beifans ear, Strategist, do I need to remind you? Of course, its time for us to share our hearts. I have many things I want to tell you! Lin Beifan was flustered, Princess, isnt that unnecessary? What if the Little Princess finds out? The consequences would be severe! Princess Ziyue chuckled softly, Strategist, dont worry. Shes already been won over by my culinary skills. Right now, she doesnt have time to bother us. Lets go quickly; if we dy any longer, she might discover us! So, Lin Beifan was ushered into a study. When he arrived, he found an extra handkerchief to wipe away the lipstick marks on his face. Princess Ziyue followed him in, stifling herughter. The next few days were like this. During the day, Lin Beifan mostly stayed within the pce, handling state affairs and then indulging in leisure activities with the Empress. When he returned in the evening, he hadnt even had dinner yet, but he was lured into secretly enjoying Princess Ziyues cuisine. At the same time, he had to be wary of the Little Princess, as she asionally couldnt resist indulging herself. By the time bedtime arrived, his autonomy had beenpletely taken away, and assignments were already given on whom to apany. Every time he thought about it, Lin Beifans heart was filled with anguish, and he sighed, Im truly in a difficult situation! Finally, the long-awaited New Year had arrived! In the new year, there was a fresh start! In the past three months, everyone had just experienced a once-in-a-century ice disaster. Although the losses were severe, they had managed to survive it. So, everyone weed the New Year with hope for a happy and prosperous year ahead. On New Years Eve, countless fireworks lit up the sky, carrying peoples good wishes. Next came the official celebration of the New Year! On New Years Day, as per tradition, the court held a grand morning assembly where both the emperor and his ministers enjoyed together. At this moment, everyone held their gifts and respectfully paid their New Years respects to the Empress. Lin Beifan, as the highest-ranking official in the court, was the first to step forward. He carried a tray covered with a red cloth, slowly making his way over. The Empress began with a smile, saying, Minister Lin,st year you gave me One Unified Kingdom (a bucket of ginger). Indeed, under your diligent efforts, our Great Wu sessfully ended the division and achieved unity! I really liked that gift! So, what do you n to give me this year? Lets make it clear from the start: if its an ordinary gift, I wont ept it! Your Majesty, rest assured, you will love this gift! Lin Beifan replied with a smile. Oh? What is this gift? Please have a look, Your Majesty, Lin Beifan uncovered the red cloth. What was revealed before everyone was, surprisingly, a bowl of in white rice quite ordinary white rice. Minister, what does this symbolize? the Empress asked curiously. Your Majesty, this rice is not ordinary rice; its made from Taiping rice! Lin Beifan replied. Oh The Empress nodded, still somewhat puzzled. Lin Beifan continued, Now, Your Majesty, take a closer look at the bowl in which this rice is served. What does it resemble? It looks like a persimmon? the Empress said. Thats right; this is the idea. This is the New Years gift Im presenting to Your Majesty! Lin Beifan extended the bowl of white rice and dered loudly, I present to Your Majesty A Peaceful and Prosperous (Persimmon) Era! A Peaceful and Prosperous Era! I really like this gift! the Empress eximed joyfully. Minister, please give me this bowl of A Peaceful and Prosperous Era. I want to eat it, hoping that it will bring a peaceful and prosperous era to our Great Wu! Your Majesty, please enjoy it! Lin Beifan offered the bowl. The Empress happily took a couple of bites. Following this, the court officials continued to present their gifts and pay their New Years respects, and the Empress epted them with joy. Then, the Empress hosted a banquet for the officials. They enjoyed pce delicacies that were usually unavable, as well as fine pce wines. Everything was generously provided, allowing everyone to eat to their hearts content and drink with delight. There was also court music and performances to enhance the festivities. Observing the cheerful and lively atmosphere, the Empress couldnt help but reminisce about the events of the past year. Although the year had brought many aplishments, it had been far from easy. The Great Xias 800,000-strong army had been repelled in their invasion, the three major rebel kingsJiangnan, Wuxi, and Jibeihad been quelled, and the nation had put an end to 20 years of division, reunifying once again. They had faced a once-in-a-century locust gue and a once-in-a-century ice disaster but had managed to ovee them. They had achieved their grand goal of expanding the territory, incorporating the Darro Kingdom into Great Wu. They had also developed high-yield rice, Taiping rice, leading to increased production and ie. The situation in Great Wu had undergone a tremendous transformation, and all of this was thanks to one person. Minister Lin, youve worked hard this past year! I raise a toast to you and thank you for everything youve done for Great Wu! The Empress raised her wine ss and solemnly spoke. Your Majesty, your words are too kind. Please! Lin Beifan also raised his ss. After drinking this toast, the Empress once again raised her ss and loudly proimed, Esteemed ministers, throughout this past year, we have all witnessed Minister Lins outstanding contributions. Let us all raise our sses and offer a toast to Minister Lin together! The officials all stood up, raised their sses, and unanimously eximed, A toast to Minister Lin! Your Majesty, please, and colleagues, too! Lin Beifan returned the toast. Chapter 390: Is the Empress Coming to the Lin Residence for New Year’s Greetings? Chapter 390: Is the Empress Coming to the Lin Residence for New Years Greetings? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The grand court gathering had concluded amidst celebration. On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Beifan had no leisure because officials and military personnel from the entire court came to offer New Years greetings to him. The first to arrive was Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel. Among all the civil and military officials, his rtionship with Lin Beifan was the worst. They had been in conflict since Lin Beifan entered the officialdom, and this feud persisted even now. Knowing that Lin Beifan had be the Prime Minister, he only paused for a moment. However, even if their rtionship was strained, and even if he was reluctant, he had toe and offer New Years greetings. It was an unspoken rule in the officialdom. If you didnt do it, it meant you didnt understand the ways of the world and might incur displeasure, or even lead to Lin Beifan making things difficult for you. Gao Tianyao led officials from the Personnel Ministry and they all came to pay their respects. May Prime Minister Lin have a prosperous New Year, and may all your endeavors be sessful! Lin Beifan bowed and smiled, saying, Colleagues, theres no need to be so formal. I also wish you all health, sess, and advancement in the new year. Thank you, Prime Minister! the officials from the Personnel Ministry echoed once again. Next came officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, the Six Doors, the officials of the Capital City, and teachers from the Imperial Academy, and so on. They all came to pay their respects one after another, in an unending stream. In addition to the officials, some prominent ns, well-known merchants, and renowned schrs also came to offer New Years greetings to Lin Beifan. The threshold of the Lin residence was practically ttened. Of course, Lin Beifan received an overwhelming number of gifts. Several rooms had to be emptied just to store the New Year gifts, and it still wasnt enough. Lin Beifan remained busy until the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. He couldnt help but shake his head and sigh, Celebrating the New Year is truly exhausting, even more so than handling state affairs and official documents! Husband, who can be med when youre currently the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Empire? Li Shi Shi teased, covering her mouth with a smile. Yes, all of this is part of the formalities; it cant be avoided, Mo Rushuang added with a smile. Lin Beifanfortably reclined in his rocking chair, creaking it back and forth, and hummed, I dont care about anything anymore! Its a rare holiday, and Im going to take a few days to rx. Whoeveres, ept their gifts and send them away for me! But at that moment, a sharp voice pierced through, The Empress has arrived! The Empress is here? Lin Beifan immediately jumped up from his rocking chair. Li Shi Shi and Mo Rushuang exchanged surprised nces, their eyes filled with disbelief. My dear, theres no need for such formalities! The Empress reached out her hand gracefully, her beautiful face carrying a faint smile. She seemed to be in a good mood. Lin Beifan asked in confusion, Your Majesty, how did youe here? The Empress sighed, During the New Year and holidays, I was all alone in the pce, feeling quite lonely. So, I specially came out for a walk, to offer New Years greetings to you, my dear, and seek some good luck. Everyone was astonished! The Emperor hade to offer New Years greetings to the officials; this was truly an unprecedented event! What did it signify? It showed that the Emperor held Lin Beifan in high favor! The whole court was in a stir! Lin Beifan was even more surprised and said, Your Majestys visit is an honor, but its quite sudden, and Impletely unprepared! I apologize for theck of readiness; how can I make amends? Where do you need to prepare? The Empress retorted impatiently. My dear, youre always finding ways to bezy and use all sorts of tricks to show disrespect to me. Have I not noticed that? Lin Beifan was greatly embarrassed! How could he bring up such a matter? Its so embarrassing! Lin Beifan quickly changed the subject, saying, Your Majesty, its quite cold outside. Lets go inside! Very well! The Empress gave a slight smile and dismissed those apanying her, leaving only a eunuch and a pce maid by her side. With Lin Beifan leading the way, the Empress entered the house, looked around, and said with a smile, My dear, its been nearly two years. Youve now be the Prime Minister and the Grand Marshal of the military, a highly ranked noble. But you still have so few people here! Youre not short of money, so why dont you hire more staff? Yes, Empress Sister! Lin Beifan is quite thrifty. He hasnt hired anyone in these two years! Living here, many times he has to do things himself. It doesnt feel like the home of a high-ranking official! the little princessined. The Empress nodded in agreement, somewhat reproachful, and said, Indeed, among all the civil and military officials in the court, Prime Minister Lin holds the highest position but lives the most modestly. Its hard for me to watch. Lin Beifan chuckled, Your Majesty, because I can handle many things on my own, theres no need to hire more people. The Empress sneered inwardly, Handle them on your own? Isnt it because you want to be able to leave at any time? I dont believe youd leave so easily! However, Empress Sister, Ive found there are advantages to this! the little princess chimed in. What advantages? the Empress asked with a smile. Because everyone living here is family, there arent as many formalities. We all get along on equal terms, which makes it very pleasant. I feel much more rxed andfortable here than at the royal pce. I really love it here! the little princess grinned. The Empress contemted for a moment and said, Thats true! Just like my pce, everyone follows strict rules, and the hierarchy is rigid. Although there are many people, I often feel lonely. It seems that you gain something while losing something! The Empress looked around again and said to Lin Beifan with a smile, My dear, even though you havent hired many people, its be livelier here! The Empress walked up to Li Shi Shi and praised her loudly, Miss Shi Shi, I heard that youve been managing the Lin residence from top to bottom for the past two years! Prime Minister Lin can focus on state affairs thanks to you. Youve done a great job! Thank you for your hard work! Li Shi Shi was pleasantly surprised, Your Majesty, its my duty. Youve done very well. When you officially enter the family, I have a gift for you to resolve your identity background issue, allowing you to marry into the Lin family with honor! the Empress said with a smile. Thank you, Your Majesty! Li Shi Shi was overjoyed. All this time, her biggest concern had been her background, which often made her feel unworthy of Lin Beifan. If the Empress helped resolve it, the burden in her heart could finally be lifted. The Empress came to the second woman and said with a smile, Miss Rushuang, I know about you too! For these past two years, youve been guarding Prime Minister Lin closely, thwarting many dangers. Thank you for your hard work, on behalf of the court. Mo Rushuang was also pleasantly surprised! She was just an ordinary martial artist from the Jianghu, yet the Empress remembered her and publicly thanked her! Your Majesty, this is what amoner should do, and I havent felt it was hard at all! The Empress teased, I understand very well, for the sake of love, one can go to great lengths, right? Mo Rushuang blushed deeply. The Empress approached the third person and said sincerely, Master Jing Tai, for the past two years, you have faithfully guarded the Lin residence withoutint, allowing Prime Minister Lin to focus wholeheartedly on serving the country. Your contributions are significant. The old monk put his hands together and saidpassionately, Amitabha, Your Majestys praise is excessive. This humble monk only wishes to protect the Buddhas teachings. My master, is like a Buddha in my heart. He is a Buddha, and you are also a Buddha! the Empress said. Next, the Empress went on to express her gratitude to each person one by one. What was extremely surprising was that the Empress recognized every single person in the Lin residence. Not only did she recognize them, but she could also describe their characteristics and contributions. Among all the civil and military officials, only Lin Beifan received such an honor. Next, the Empress rewarded everyone with some benefits to win their hearts. Everyone was delighted and the atmosphere was harmonious. Just then, a rich fragrance wafted in. The Empress perked up, That smells delicious; it must be the aroma of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall! The little princessughed, Empress Sister, your nose is really sensitive. We are indeed making Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and preparing to serve it! When its time for dinner, you must stay and enjoy! The Empress nced over, That depends on whether Prime Minister Lin wees it or not. Very wee! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Its an honor for me that Your Majesty hase to dine at the Lin residence. Besides, Ive been enjoying royal feasts in the pce these days, and I feel a bit guilty. Its time to repay Your Majesty! Dinner time arrived quickly, and everyone took their seats. The Empress, as the ruler of the empire, naturally sat at the main table. Lin Beifan, as the head of the Lin household, had the obligation to apany her at the main table. They sat side by side, with Lin Beifan on the left and the Empress on the right. The interesting part came next. The little princess also sat at the main table, but on the right side of the Empress. Li Shi Shi, as the first woman of Lin Beifan, also sat at the main table, on the left side of Lin Beifan. Mo Rushuang, as the second woman of Lin Beifan, was also at the main table, to the left of Li Shi Shi. This table was filled with women, except for Lin Beifan. Li Yuxin also came but felt her status was low and her rtionship with Lin Beifan wasnt confirmed, so she quietly sat at the second table with Dali, Xiao Cui, and others. At this moment, the Empress pointed to the seat next to the little princess and said with a smile, Miss Yuxin, you should sit here! Li Yuxin was instantly ttered, Your Majesty, this isnt it inappropriate? The Empress waved her hand, Come over, anyway, youll sit here sooner orter. Do you want to defy my decree? I dare not! Li Yuxin sat down carefully, not daring to raise her head. Lin Beifan looked around, feeling bewildered. All these women seemed to have some unclear connection with him! How did the Empress arrange this so ingeniously? A chill ran down his spine. Could it be that shes targeting me, this little fresh meat? Lin Beifan shivered with fear! The Empress chuckled, Today is a friendly banquet; theres no need to be formal. Just treat me as an ordinary guest! How we usually interact, continue the same way now! Yes, just treat Empress Sister as you normally do. Shes very easygoing! the little princess urged. Encouraged by the little princesss words, everyone finally rxed a bit. Just as things were getting rxed, a woman in purple walked in gracefully. Seeing the scene, she was taken aback and stammered, I perhaps I came at the wrong time? No, youvee at just the right time! The Empress looked at her with a seemingly nonchnt gaze. Chapter 392: Is the Empress Possessed by the God of War? Chapter 392: Is the Empress Possessed by the God of War? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Spring had arrived, and from top to bottom, Great Wu was working tirelessly to support agriculture, kickstartingrge-scale production, and the entire nation was filled with energy and vigor. However, unexpectedly, neighboring countries around Great Wu were experiencing simultaneous peasant uprisings, throwing everything into chaos. The Great Xia Dynasty, Great Yan Dynasty, and Great Moon Dynastyall of them couldnt escape the turmoil. Lin Beifan had initially thought that the most chaotic situation would ur in the Dayue Dynasty. After all, the peasant uprising organized by Princess Ziyue was the most organized and extensive. They were experienced and had the potential for the greatest impact. But to his surprise, it was the Great Yan Dynasty that was the most chaotic. Uprisings had erupted everywhere, with even the smallest towns and cities joining the rebellion. The smallest rebellions had more than ten thousand people, and thergest had already reached fifty thousand. In total, the scale had surpassed one million, reaching unimaginable proportions. Yet, when one thought about it, it seemed to make sense. Ever since Empty Void Daoist had passed away, the entire Great Yan court had been obsessed with witchcraft and drug use, neglecting state affairs. The current emperor had evenunched an exploitation campaign to gather medicinal herbs and rare treasures from all over the country to concoct elixirs, which had already incited public outrage. Before, they had lost hundreds of thousands of troops to obtain dragon bones. Even so, relying on the dynastys foundation, they had managed to hold on. But misfortune came in session, with a once-in-a-century super ice disaster, causing the death of over twenty million people and a severe shortage of resources. The entire dynasty had suffered heavy losses. However, at this critical moment, the Great Yan Emperor continued his obsession with alchemy and ignored the livelihoods of his people. The people could no longer endure it and rose in rebellion. To maintain their rule, the Great Yan court had to dispatch over a million troops to quell the uprisings. How could one describe the chaos? It was worse than the most chaotic times in Great Wu! News of this situation quickly reached the Great Wu court. The Empress was delighted and sharpened her knives, saying, Now that Great Yan is in turmoil, the people are suffering, its the perfect time for our Great Wu to send troops! My ministers, how many troops do you think we should send, and who should lead the campaign? The entire court, both civil and military officials, were shocked and tried to advise against it. Your Majesty, it is not suitable to wage war now! The ice disaster has just passed, and many repairs are needed. We should focus our efforts on production rather than going to war! While there is unrest in Great Yan, we should remember that a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. Their military strength is still formidable! If we go to war, even if we win, it will be a costly victory! Please, Your Majesty, think this through! The Empress said displeased, Why cant we go to war? Back when Great Wu was in turmoil, they treated us the same way! If it werent for the help of Sir Lin Beifan, you wouldnt be sitting here ruling the nation today. So, while the enemy is weak and sick, we must deal with them properly and avenge our past grievances! Seeing that they couldnt persuade the Empress, the officials in the court exchanged nces with Lin Beifan. Lord Prime Minister, please advise Her Majesty! Its really not suitable for warfare right now. Waging war wont benefit Great Wu much! Supreme Commander, you must convince Her Majesty. She listens to you! At this time, Lin Beifan acted as a mediator and said, Your Majesty, what the officials are saying makes a lot of sense. Currently, Great Wu is fully focused on spring farming and its not the right time for warfare. The Empress frowned and asked, Are you not supporting me, Sir Lin? But Your Majesty also makes a valid point! Over the years, Great Yan has coveted our territory and caused us many troubles. This enmity cannot go unavenged. Now, with Great Yan in turmoil, its a heaven-sent opportunity. If we miss this chance, it might note again. So, Sir Lin, what is your opinion Your Majesty, matters of war are not trivial! Lin Beifan said, cupping his hands. Therefore, I request some time to consider this fully. After I have thought it through, I will provide Your Majesty with my answer. The Empress sighed, Very well, lets discuss thister. Although this impending war had been postponed, news of it had already spread among themon people, creating a buzz. Is our Majesty nning to attack Great Yan? This seems like a good opportunity. Our Majesty is wise! Excellent! I fully support it. Im going to enlist in the army right away and make my mark in this endeavor! I dont want a war! We havent had peaceful days for long; another war will only bring chaos! Yeah, I also dont want a war! Great Yans undercover agents in Great Wus capital soon inquired about the situations authenticity. With a solemn expression, Lin Beifan said, Its true! Her Majesty still bears a grudge against Great Yan for what happened in the past. She wants to seize this opportunity to march south with the army. The officials have advised against it, but Her Majesty is determined. Great Yan is in grave danger. The Great Yan spies hurriedly responded, Please, Prime Minister, help persuade Her Majesty. Our country is in turmoil and cant withstand another war! Lin Beifan shook his head, sighed, and said, Its difficult. Her Majesty is impulsive and eager for achievements. She doesnt listen to anyone. Even I cant persuade her now. You should prepare yourselves for war. The Great Yan spies were filled with anxiety. Prime Minister, you know the situation in Great Yan very well. We really cant afford a war right now. Please, we beg you to try to convince Her Majesty! Lin Beifan appeared reluctant. Well it depends on your sincerity. A sincere heart moves mountains. Three dayster, the Great Yan spies presented a substantial sum of 5 million taels of silver, demonstrating their sincerity. As a result, Lin Beifan stood before the court. Your Majesty, regarding the war with Great Yan, Ive carefully considered it and believe that its not advisable for us to go to war, he said. The Empress asked, Sir Lin, why is that? Your Majesty, although Great Yan is currently in turmoil, its not a good time! First, Great Yan has just deployed its forces to suppress the riots, and their military strength hasnt suffered much damage. Second, our nation has just endured a massive ice disaster, and we should focus on recovery and not engage in warfare. So, why dont we wait until their internal turmoil ends, and their military strength is significantly reduced beforeunching an attack? This way, we can rebuild our strength during this time, making it an even more opportune moment. The Empress nodded, Sir Lin, you make a valid point. Lets not attack Great Yan. Your Majesty is wise! The officials chimed in unison. Instead, we wont attack Great Yan, and well go after Great Xia! The Empress said with resentment, Last year, they dared to send an army of 800,000 troops to attack Great Wu? At that time, we were on the brink of destruction, our nations survival was at stake. We must avenge this grudge! Moreover, this year, they unterally cut offpensation payments and blocked our trade routes. So, its necessary to strike them and teach them a profound lesson! Lin Beifan and the officials were left in shock. Not attacking Great Yan but going after Great Xia? This was even more challenging, wasnt it? Your Majesty, please think it over! The officials pleaded, fearful, and tried to persuade her. But in the end, they couldnt change her mind, and Lin Beifan had to step in again, expressing the need to consider the matter thoroughly. However, this news once again spread from the court to themon people. Is Her Majesty nning to go to war again? Not with Great Yan, but with Great Xia? If we attack Great Xia, I fully support it, because they indeed deserve it! I still hope we dont go to war! Great Xias spies inquired about this matter. With a wry smile, Lin Beifan replied, Its true! The Empress has been fixated on avenging the humiliation at Ho Passst year. She wont be swayed by anyones advice. And shes even thinking of having me lead the army. Prepare yourselves for war; send more people! Im afraid I wont be able to control it in the court! The Great Xia spies were horrified. During this ice disaster, we suffered heavy losses in Great Xia. Now, with the chaos resurging, our country is in turmoil, and its not suitable for warfare. Please, Prime Minister, help persuade the Empress. It depends on your sincerity. When you show enough sincerity, I can be quite persuasive, Lin Beifan replied. In the end, Great Xia reluctantly paid a hefty price of 5 million taels of silver, showing their sincerity. Taking the money, Lin Beifan once again used his eloquence in the court. The Empress highly valued Lin Beifans opinion and nodded, saying, Sir Lin, you make a valid point. Since there are many risks associated with attacking Great Xia, we wont do it. We must not put our soldiers and citizens in harms way. Your Majesty is wise! Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Since we cant attack Great Yan or Great Xia, then lets go after Dayue! The Empress mmed the table and shouted, Last year, they dared to lead 500,000 troops across the Qinglong Fortress and reached the Phoenix Mountain Range! This is an enormous disgrace for our nation! We will avenge this! The officials were once again dumbfounded. Another war? The officials turned their eyes toward Lin Beifan because they had already realized that among all the civil and military officials, only Lin Beifan could persuade the Empress. Lin Beifan felt somewhat exasperated. What was going on with this Empress? She seemed to constantly crave warfare, either against this country or that. She was too impulsive. Could it be that Her Majesty was possessed by the God of War? Your Majesty, please give me some time to consider. Ill give you my answer after careful thought. Hurry up, Sir Lin. Im afraid I wont be able to control myself! The Empress was itching for action. In the end, Lin Beifan managed to extract another 3 million taels of silver from Dayue and sessfully persuaded the Empress once more. But she still wanted to wage war. If she couldnt attack a major power, would she settle for a smaller one? This decision put the smaller neighboring nations of Great Wu in a state of rm. They all sent gold, silver, and jewels to Lin Beifan, urging him to dissuade the Empress from starting a war. After this round of negotiations, Great Wu hadnt attacked any nation. However, Lin Beifan had collected over 20 million taels of silver in the process, which left him both pained and delighted. Even though persuading the Empress was a headache, he felt really happy when he got his hands on the money. It seemed that the next upgrade wasnt too far off. The next promotion would make him a Supreme Grandmaster, a formidable expert, much like the terrifying Bai Guanyin. Throughout this process, Lin Beifan had a vague feeling that he and the Empress shared an unspoken understanding. She would be responsible for fits of rage, and he would handle the financial negotiations. Chapter 393: Is the Empress the Mastermind Behind Everything? Chapter 393: Is the Empress the Mastermind Behind Everything? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, inside the Imperial Pce, the Empress couldnt help but burst intoughter. She had thrown tantrums in the court, leaked the information, and allowed Lin Beifan to secretly exploit various nations, funneling the money back to her. In the end, without doing anything, she had caused significant losses to various countries in terms of gold, silver, and jewels, while she profited immensely. It was a perfect scheme! Furthermore, its worth mentioning that she had secretly incited the turmoil in those countries using her hidden power. Initially, she had cultivated this power only to protect the foundation of Great Wu. However, she hadnt anticipated that the tables would turn. Great Wu grew stronger while other countries weakened. Naturally, she wouldnt miss this opportunity to use that power for revenge. Using their money to strengthen her own power, and then turning it back against themjust thinking about it made her ecstatic. Sister Bai, what do you think the rulers of those countries would do if they knew everything that was happening behind the scenes? the Empress asked with a grin. Bai Guanyin couldnt help but chuckle, Without a doubt, they would be furious. The Empressughed, But Sister Bai, theres a problem. What problem is that, Your Majesty? When should I confess to him? Though she didnt specify, both women knew whom she was referring to. The Empress looked contemtive, Its not the right time now. Bai Guanyin was puzzled, Why not? The Empress sighed, Because Ive been deceiving him and using him all along. While I posted those imperial edicts for the sake of Great Wu and the world, the means I employed werent honorable. I cant bear to face him. What if he finds out and gets angry or leaves? But you cant keep it a secret from him forever. Of course not! The Empress promptly rejected that idea, Sooner orter, Ill confess to him. When do you n to do that? When he cant leave me, Ill naturallye clean. Why dont you act quickly? Bai Guanyin quipped sarcastically, Just issue an imperial decree to bring him into the pce and share your bed. If he refuses, Ill personally bring him here. You can then set the stage however you like. The Empress blushed. Sister Bai, youre so straightforward, getting straight to the point every time. Although Im the Empress, Im still a girl! Bah, stop stalling! Bai Guanyin retorted, Hes a very shrewd person and has already begun to suspect. You cant hide it forever. Conceal it for a while, but you cant hide it for a lifetime. There wille a time when its revealed. The Empress reluctantly agreed, Alright, Sister Bai, Ive got to get back to official business! She leaned over her desk, pretending to work diligently. Your Majesty, please do it soon! Hes quite sharp, and hes already begun to suspect. You cant hide it forever, and the longer you do, the more difficult itll be when its revealed, Bai Guanyin sighed. Mm-hmm the Empress replied vaguely. Although Great Wu hadnt sent its armies to attack other countries, those nations remained in turmoil, while Great Wu became the only haven of peace. As a result, people from various nations, eager for a peaceful life, began flocking to Great Wu in hopes of finding a livelihood. This situation was unprecedented! Before, everyone was busy fleeing from Great Wu, causing a massive outflow of poption. Now, remarkably, there was an influx of people back into the country. This indicated that Great Wus development was thriving, while other nations were failing. Currently, refugees from various nations were amassing at the border, and it was bing overcrowded. This situation quickly reached the Imperial Court and ended up in Lin Beifans hands, inquiring whether they should ept these refugees. Lin Beifan fell into deep thought. It was well-known that in this ancient society, poption equated to resources. An adult could farm, work, or serve in the militarythere were countless things they could do. The more people a nation could support, the stronger it would be. Furthermore, Great Wu was currently in a phase of rapid production, requiring a variety of skilledbor. So, Lin Beifan issued an edict. At the gates of Ho Pass, a royal decree was posted, and the citizens gathered around. A call for talented and virtuous citizens? It seems to say that they want to ept skilled and hardworking people? I cant read. Can someone read it for me? A government official nearby spoke loudly, The court has decreed that they will ept refugees from various countries! However, they must possess a particr skill and be hardworking individuals. We will only ept those who meet these criteria. Others will not be considered! They can ept refugees? Thats wonderful! The Great Wu court is benevolent! The refugees who had gathered here became excited. At this moment, a refugee from Great Xia gathered the courage to ask, Sir, the royal decree mentions that only those with a particr skill will be epted by Great Wu. Could you please rify what is considered a particr skill? Everyone perked up their ears to listen. The government official loudly exined, A particr skill epasses a wide range! Farming, livestock raising, carpentry, construction, cooking, medical knowledge, and herbal medicine preparation, among other livelihoods that can generate ieall of these qualify! Great, Im a farmer! Im skilled in carpentry! Im a cook, a chef! The refugees became excited once again. Dont get too excited! Dont make a loudmotion! Come forward one by one! The government official said loudly, As long as you can prove your skills, youll receive guidance and passage all the way to various provinces of Great Wu, where you can make a living! If you excel in your skills, you may even receive recognition and assistance from our court to address your livelihood issues! Everyone, filled with hope for their new lives, queued up in an orderly manner. At this moment, an elderly man with white hair and a young man of about 20 approached. The elderly man appeared to be in his sixties or seventies but was still in robust health. His eyes sparkled with wisdom and vitality. He looked very spirited. He gazed at the long line of people and sighed, Twenty years ago, I already saw the corruption in the Great Wu court, the regional lords separatism, and the imminent downfall of our country! Disheartened and frustrated, I resigned from my official position and traveled the world! The rise and fall over these past twenty years have unfolded just as I expected! However, something changed starting from two years ago! Great Wu put an end to the regional lords separatism, and the civil and military officials dared not act recklessly. The court implemented various policies for the benefit of the people Great Wu prospered day by day, and peoples lives improved. This was particrly evident during the recent ice disaster. Other countries, on the other hand, are gradually declining. All of this is due to a wise minister in the Great Wu court. The young man beside him asked in confusion, Teacher, who is this wise minister youre talking about? The elderly man chuckled and said, Naturally, its the current Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the military, The God of War, Lin Beifan! The young man cursed, Teacher, isnt he a corrupt official? Why do you call him a wise minister? Shaking his head, the elderly man smiled, Ignorant child, you shouldnt judge people based on appearances or believe in rumors. Instead, observe what they do and what results they achieve. Since he took office, he has introduced many inventions like hot air balloons, airships, and cement, greatly enhancing the countrys power. He personally led the army to end the regional lords separatism and also made an impact on neighboring countries. During his tenure, the politics became cleaner,merce flourished, public safety improved, and food production increased, leading to a better life for Great Wus citizens. During this recent ice disaster, thanks to his early preparations, Great Wu smoothly weathered the crisis, saving over a million lives. It can be said that under his leadership, Great Wupletely turned the tide. If such a person doesnt qualify as a wise minister, then who does? Looking back over several decades, how many people can achieve what he has? The young man nodded thoughtfully. As for your remark that he is indeed corrupt, primarily greedy for wealth, its true. However, even though hes greedy, the wealth he takeses from corrupt officials pockets. He doesnt oppress themon people, which is alreadymendable. Hes not a saint, so we shouldnt demand too much from him! What the teacher says is absolutely true! The young man nodded. The most exciting thing for me is that he is still very young! As long as hes alive, Great Wu will continue to prosper and get better! The elderly man pointed to the crowd in line and eximed, Look at these people, my disciple! Its clear evidence! Only when the country prospers and the people are safe will it attract virtuous people from other nations toe here! Youre absolutely right, and weve seen simr situations in Great Yan and Great Xia before. But now, they are struggling while Great Wu shines alone. Teacher, lets head back home! A faint smile appeared on the old mans face. Youre right, its time to return. Ive been away from home for 20 years, and I can finally return. Back then, I left in anger, and now I return with a lifetime of knowledge, hoping to pass it on and contribute to Great Wu. Saying this, he walked proudly toward Ho Pass. Despite his white hair and lean figure, his love for thisnd remained fervent. The fire of patriotism in his heart had never extinguished. Having spent half his life wandering, he returned as a youth at heart. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan was reviewing the informationing in from various border posts. Nearly 100,000 people with valuable skills had entered Great Wu to make a living. This was like importing talent in ancient times! Although there might not be immediate changes, in a few years, these people would be part of Great Wus foundation, strengthening the nation. Just then, Lin Beifan received an invitation for a dinner from Yao Zheng, the Director of the Imperial Academy. Lin Beifan mumbled to himself, This old fellow rarely invites me to dine at a restaurant. He wont be eyeing my fine wine again, will he? Well, since I have some free time, I might as well go and see whats up! Chapter 394: Lin Beifan, Spreading Positive Energy! Chapter 394: Lin Beifan, Spreading Positive Energy! 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Putting aside the invitation, Lin Beifan retrieved a fine wine from the wine cer, walking out with a smile on his face. At this moment, in a private room of the restaurant, Yao Zheng, the director of the Imperial Academy, sat side by side with an elderly man. What was surprising was that Yao Zheng, usually fearless and unyielding, was now remarkably humble and respectful in the presence of this frail old man. Teacher, this time youre returning for good, right? After all, Great Wu is your roots! The old man chuckled, Naturally, I wont be leaving. After years of wandering, witnessing the splendor of various ces in the world, Im still most attached to this ce! Perhaps, as one grows older, they yearn to return to their roots. I want to live and die on this piece ofnd! Haha Teacher, with your robust health, you can probably live for several more decades. How can you talk about death? Its not at all auspicious! But, Teacher, your decision to stay makes me so happy. I can listen to your teachings anytime! Yao Zheng said with joy, shaking his head, his beard swaying. Little Zheng, youre an official now. How can you be so impetuous? the old man scolded. If others see you like this, its disgraceful! Please forgive me, Teacher. I understand, Yao Zheng immediately lowered his head in apology. Decades have passed, but you havent changed a bit! the old man said with a smile, though not without irritation. But when you meet the Prime Ministerter, you must show proper respect. Ive heard that youve caused him trouble more than once. If not for his magnanimity, you would have been dismissed long ago! Yao Zheng forced a smile. Teacher, I was ignorant in the past. My eyesight was failing, and I thought he was like other corrupt officials. But who knew Knowing your mistakes is good, the old man said, stroking his beard. By the way, Im really looking forward to meeting this Prime Minister. I wonder what kind of person he is! I really want to see him! Just then, the door creaked open. The old man turned to look and saw a young man in splendid attire, exuding an extraordinary aura, walking in with a bottle of wine, smiling. He was taken aback and asked, Young man, did you enter the wrong room? Lin Beifan nced at Yao Zheng beside the old man and replied, I dont think I did. The old man kindly advised, Young man, you should leave quickly. We are preparing to receive an important guest. If you disturb him, it might affect your future Yao Zheng was sweating profusely. Teacher, you misunderstood. This is the current Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the military, Loyalty and Valor Duke Lin Beifan! Ah? The old man was almost jaw-dropped. He hadnt expected that the young man before him was the most powerful man in Great Wu today! Although he knew he was young, he didnt expect him to be this young, even younger than his youngest students. Moreover, the young mans behavior and demeanor were nothing like that of a high-ranking official. When had a high-ranking official pushed the door himself and walked in with a bottle of wine? So, youre the Prime Minister, the old man said, apologetically. Ive misunderstood, and I apologize. Lin Beifan smiled and sped his hands. I see we used to be colleagues. My apologies for any disrespect. Prime Minister, youre too polite. Im just an ordinary man now, not worthy of such courtesy, the old man humbly replied. Lin Beifan chuckled. Deserving! If I remember correctly, you were the relentless Yama twenty years ago, standing above the emperor and below the officials, renowned among the people! In the end, disappointed with the court, you resigned and traveled to foreignnds. Your integrity and character are truly admirable! The elderly man modestly waved his hand and said with a bitter smile, A hero doesnt dwell on past glory. Back then, I was just an idealistic schr with aspirations butcked the ability to bring about change. Thats why I resigned from my official position and escaped from reality. Compared to Prime Minister, Im truly far inferior. With admiration in his eyes, the elderly man continued, Prime Minister, you entered the court alone, battled corrupt officials and greedy bureaucrats, quelled rebellious regional lords, resisted foreign invaders, and helped themon people while supporting the copsing government. You are our role model! Lin Beifan humbly replied, Old Sir, youre too kind. I havent done much, really. Most of the time, Im just dealing with corrupt officials, handling unruly regional lords, and asionally going to war. My days are quite ordinary. Both old men were astonished. What he described sounded far from ordinary! Every step he took was extremely perilous! If he made a wrong move, losing his position would be the least of his worries. It could lead to beheadings and the punishment of entire families. It was not just about him losing his job; it was about people losing their lives and families being ruined. Not to mention, the food is getting cold. Prime Minister, please have a seat quickly! Lin Beifan said. Of course, please, both of you! They all took their seats. Lin Beifan naturally sat at the head, followed by the elderly man, Luo Guanghai, and Yao Zheng. With a loud thud, Lin Beifan directly opened the seal on the wine and poured it for the three of them. Yao Zheng quickly grabbed the wine pot. Allow me, let me So, Yao Zheng turned into a dedicated wine pourer. Then, the three of them enjoyed their meal and chatted. Old man Luo Guanghai watched Lin Beifans manners from beginning to end and couldnt help but exim, Ive been an official for over a decade, and Ive traveled far and wide, but Ive never seen someone as down-to-earth as you! He sighed, Prime Minister, you truly are people-oriented! Theres not a strand of pretentiousness in you. Both old men nodded repeatedly. Thats right, thats right Lin Beifan took a bite of the sulent abalone and sipped a bit of the exquisite pce wine. He said emphatically, The most important thing is not just to talk but to act, to always keep the people in mind. By doing so, we can promote positive energy and rejuvenate society! Both old men nodded again, agreeing, Indeed, indeed, Prime Minister, your words are absolutely correct! Lin Beifan rinsed his mouth with birds nest soup and spoke with deep conviction, As officials of the court, we must not only know what the people need and what theyre concerned about, but we must also lead by example. Only then can we spread positive energy and bring about social renewal! Both old men nodded once more, saying, Thats right, thats right, what Prime Minister says is absolutely right! Lin Beifan picked up a juicy chicken leg and started eating. And most importantly, we not only need to talk the talk but also walk the walk. Should we invite those youngdies with thin clothes who looked a bit pitiful when I entered earlier to join us? Lets give them some warmth. Both old men agreed with enthusiasm, Sure, sure, thats a great idea Lin Beifan grinned. But then, the two old men suddenly realized something. No, no, no! Yao Zheng blushed. Prime Minister, we are schrs and high-ranking government officials. How can we engage in such improper and hical activities? Old man Luo Guanghai, his face redder than ever, echoed, Yes, yes! Lin Beifan burst intoughter. I thought you two had aged gracefully! The two old men gave him a re; they realized they had been yed for fools! Lin Beifan continued to chat and enjoy the meal. During their conversation, Old man Luo Guanghai was amazed. No matter what he talked about, Lin Beifan could always follow along and provide insightful responses. You should know that after years of traveling and broadening his horizons, he gained such insights and knowledge. But Lin Beifan, at such a young age, without even leaving Great Wu, knows so much. Its truly remarkable! No wonder he rose to be the top figure in the court! I returned this time for two reasons. First, as one gets older, they be attached to their homnd, hoping for a return to their roots. Second, seeing Great Wu prosper and thrive fills my heart withfort. I hope to serve the court once again with this aging body, and I kindly ask Prime Minister for this opportunity, the old man said sincerely, bowing. Yao Zheng, who was standing nearby, added, Prime Minister, my teacher has always been loyal to Great Wu, and his abilities are exceptional. He justcked the right opportunity. I hope you can give him a chance. Lin Beifan nodded. Ive seen the sincerity and capabilities of the old sir. I will rmend you for an official position and allow you to pursue your ambitions. The old man waved his hand repeatedly. Entering the court as an official is one thing, but back when I resigned, I considered myself a failure in the courts eyes. Now, they are bing even stronger, and Im getting older. I wont be able topete with them, so being an official again doesnt hold much appeal. Besides, it might just harm my health without much gain. Lin Beifan was puzzled. So, old sir, are you saying The old man smiled and said, After traveling far and wide for many years, Ive realized how vast the world is, and Ivee to understand my own insignificance. At my age, there are only a few years left, so I simply want to pass on all the knowledge Ive gained in my lifetime, so that everyone can benefit and broaden their horizons. This way, I can rest easy. Old sir, your sense of righteousness is admirable, Lin Beifan said with deep respect. The old man waved his hand again, modestly saying, Prime Minister, you overpraise me, and I dont dare to ept it. Lin Beifan asked, Old sir, what have you learned over these years? Could you share it with me? Of course, it would be my honor, the old man sighed. Over these years, Ive learned many things, and they are quite different from what we learn from books. Reading ten thousand books is not as useful as traveling ten thousand miles holds true. Some of the knowledge Ive acquired is unconventional, but it is based on facts. If I hadnt seen it with my own eyes, I wouldnt have believed it. Please, go ahead, Im all ears, Lin Beifan said with a serious expression. Very well, Ill tell you. Please forgive me if I dont exin it well, the old man said, his face bing serious. Prime Minister, do you know that the world is actually round? Lin Beifan: Haha! Chapter 395: They died miserably, and their ashes were scattered! Chapter 395: They died miserably, and their ashes were scattered! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan considered ten thousand possibilities! He thought about how he would discuss the different customs of various ces, how he would talk about the magical flora and fauna he encountered everywhere, and how he would exin unsatisfactory, seemingly miraculous natural phenomena But he never thought that as soon as he opened his mouth, he would say, The world is round. Is this something a schr like you should say? Thats a matter of science, something scientists are studying, not something for schrs like you to discuss! So, Lin Beifan was momentarily caught off guard! Butpared to that, Lin Beifan remained rtively calm, after all, he was a sessor to socialism who grew up under the red g and received the influence of materialism. Although he had experienced transmigration and was now linked to a system, he still believed in science! But Yao Zheng sitting beside him was very unsettled: Teacher, you say the world is round how is that possible? The sages have always told us that the sky is round and the earth is t! So, the world should be t, not round! The old man, Luo Guanghai, shook his head with a faint smile. Little Zheng, your viewpoint has always been themon view! Since we started reading and writing, our teacher told us that the sky is round and the earth is t! This conclusion alles from the sages, from the ancients! But have you ever thought that the sages could also be wrong? Yao Zheng immediately asked, How could the sages be wrong why wouldnt the sages be wrong? The old man chuckled and said, They are essentially human, just more learned and knowledgeable than ordinary people, so they can enlighten others and are revered as sages by us! But being human, they can make mistakes too! They have always said the sky is round and the earth is t, but is there any proof? This Yao Zheng furrowed his brow, seemingly unable to recall anything. You see, they actually have no evidence to prove their viewpoint! But everyone regards them as sages and treats their words as if they were absolute truths, so over time, a lie bes the truth! The old man smiled, his gaze filled with wisdom. Then, teacher, you say the world is round, what evidence is there? Yao Zheng asked. There is a lot of evidence; let me exin to you! The old man spoke confidently. For example, when we watch arge ship pass by on the shore, as the ship moves away, have you noticed that the ship gradually disappears from our view, making it impossible for us to see it? Yes, it does disappear! Yao Zheng nodded. Furthermore, it disappears very systematically! The first thing we cant see is the hull, then the deck, and finally the whole ship. Yes, whats the problem with that? Yao Zheng was puzzled. Thats a big problem! The old man mmed the table and said excitedly, If the world were t, we should be able to see the ship from beginning to end as it sails away. So, what does this indicate? Uh Yao Zheng was speechless, sweat forming on his face. To be precise, this world should be a spherical shape, just like the sun we see! The old man chuckled. Once again, Yao Zheng challenged, Teacher, you say the world is a spherical shape, then how do we stand on top of it without falling off? Well I have limited knowledge and shallow insight, so I cant exin it at the moment! But I have a method that can prove that people can stand on a spherical surface! The old man picked up a clean bowl, scooped some soup from it, and ced it on the ground. Before long, ants came over and climbed onto the bowl. The old man picked up the bowl, triumphant, and said, Look, this bowl is curved, simr to half a sphere! But the ants can stand on it without falling off, and even when I invert the bowl, they still stay put! Simrly, if ants can stand on a sphere, why cant we? This Yao Zheng was once again speechless. The old man looked at Lin Beifan, Lord Prime Minister, do you think what Im saying makes sense? Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed, theres some logic to it! Old sir, please continue with your discoveries! The old man Luo Guanghais enthusiasm for discussion was ignited: Apart from discovering that the world is round, I have also found that our world actually revolves around the sun, and not the other way around! Lin Beifan: Huh! Lin Beifan was once again taken aback. This old man really had an endless stream of astonishing ideas! Thats impossible! Yao Zheng was shocked once again, eximing, Thend beneath our feet, the origin of all things, the center of the universe, how could we possibly revolve around the sun? And look, teacher, the sun rises from the east and sets in the west every day, clearly indicating that the sun revolves around us! The old man smiled faintly, Zizheng, youve made another cognitive mistake! We have always believed that thend beneath our feet is the origin of all things, the center of the universe. But who told us that? Yao Zheng sweated on his forehead, The ancients, the sages The sages are also human, and they can make mistakes too! They have always said that our ce is the origin of all things, the center of the universe, but is there any evidence to support their conclusion? Yao Zheng sweated profusely, There seems to be no evidence Thats right, they had no evidence, so their conclusion is not reliable! The old man continued, So, do you have any evidence, teacher? The old man shook his head and said, I have limited abilities and shallow knowledge, so I dont have clear evidence, but I can try to demonstrate it for you! With that, he took a candle and a bowl. Lets assume this candle is the sun! He then took another bowl and said, Lets assume this is our world, a spherical world! The old man held the candle and moved it around the bowl. This is what we originally believed, that the sun revolves around us. But, in reality, it can also rotate like this! He fixed the candle in the center of the table and held the bowl. The world turns from west to east, day and night! Lin Beifan and Yao Zheng nodded. They turned around one more time. Look, just like from west to east, day after day, sunset and sunrise! Lin Beifan was once again taken aback. This guy, hes even bringing up the theory of rtivity! This senior is quite extraordinary! Yao Zheng was drenched in sweat, unable to find words. He felt like his entire worldview had crumbled. The old man grinned triumphantly, These are some of the conclusions Ive drawn from traveling around and studying various texts, observing the changes of the sun, moon, and stars! Although my viewpoints may deviate from the norm, I firmly believe that I am right! Yao Zheng was so frightened that he slumped into his seat, his face covered in sweat. The old man paid no attention to him. Instead, he looked at Lin Beifan, who remained rtivelyposed, and asked with a hint of anticipation, Lord Prime Minister, what do you think of my knowledge? He had high hopes for Lin Beifan! After all, he was someone with unconventional ideas, responsible for inventions like the Hot Air Balloon, Hovercraft, and Cement, a person whose thoughts should be open and active, and who should be able to understand him! Lin Beifan gave a thumbs-up, Old sir, your knowledge is truly eye-opening andpelling. However, you werent the first to propose the idea that the world is round. Really? Theres someone else with simr views? The old man was very excited. That person is called the Moon Worshipper, not only a great schr but also the most powerful figure in the world today, reigning supreme! Ah, the Moon Worshipper, sounds like a formidable character! And he also discovered the idea that the Earth is round. Im not alone in my beliefs! The old man sighed. But, old sir, do you know what happened to him when he proposed this idea? What happened to him? The old man asked. Lin Beifan smirked, When he proposed this idea, he was beaten to death by the Son of Heaven and a group of people! He died miserably, with no remains left, and his ashes were scattered! Wow! The old man shivered all over. Furthermore, regarding the heliocentric theory, youre not the first to propose it either! From what I understand, there was a man named Copernicus who first suggested this idea. But do you know what happened to him? What happened to him? The old man had a bad feeling. Lin Beifan covered his face, He had an even worse fate than the Moon Worshipper. He was burned alive by people! Oh my! The old man felt a chill run down his spine. Why did they all die? What else could it be? Because their ideas challenged the epted beliefs of the world, causing confusion and anger among the masses, so they were dealt with! Lin Beifan gave a meaningful look, Old sir, youre the third! Oh dear! The old man turned pale and copsed. Teacher! Teacher, what happened to you? Yao Zheng hurriedly supported him and anxiously called out. The old man was drenched in sweat, Im fine Teacher, dont say youre fine; your back is soaked in sweat! The old man blushed and argued, Its just because Im feeling a bit weak! The two old men sat down again, their faces covered in sweat, as if they had just gone through a trial. You know, illnesses from the mouth, and disasteres from the mouth! Lin Beifan drank while smiling, So, some things are better kept to yourself. When people get too excited, they might do unexpected things, and itll be toote to regret it! Yes, yes, Lord Prime Minister, youre absolutely right! The two of them epted his advice with humility. Alright, dont think too much about it. Lets have another drink to calm your nerves. After we finish our drinks, we can talk about something else! Lin Beifan poured more wine for them. After a few more drinks, they finally felt less shaken. Chapter 396: Domestic Turmoil, Request for Assistance from the Great Wu Sect? Chapter 396: Domestic Turmoil, Request for Assistance from the Great Wu Sect? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
After their discussion, Lin Beifan decided to appoint the old man as a director at the Imperial Academy, responsible for the daily management of the academy and the development of the research institute. Firstly, Lin Beifan was currently holding the positions of Prime Minister, Supreme Commander, Prefect of the Capital, and Principal of the Imperial Academy, making his official duties extremely busy and in need of assistance. Not to mention the Imperial Academy, where Yao Zheng had been handling the daily work for a year, but due to his age, he sometimes found it challenging to keep up. Lin Beifan had been wanting to find someone suitable for a while, but there hadnt been a perfect candidate. At this moment, Luo Guanghai had presented himself, and Lin Beifan found him very suitable. Luo Guanghai had served in the government for many years and had reached the rank of fourth-grade official, demonstrating his capability. Moreover, he had a strong desire to teach and pass down his knowledge, which made him an ideal fit for a position at the Imperial Academy. Secondly, the recently established Research Institute at the Imperial Academy needed a leader. This research institute was specifically focused on inventions and creations simr to air balloon and hovercraft,parable to todays Academy of Sciences, and it received significant attention from the court. Lin Beifan served as the institutes director, overseeing all its work. However, Lin Beifan was still too busy, and he often couldnt manage the smaller details. He considered having someone else take charge of it. While Lin Beifan thought about finding other members to take on the role, he realized that they had a conservative mindset focused on Confucianism, which might not be suitable for leading the institute. It could even hinder the institutes development. Luo Guanghai, on the other hand, was a perfect match. After all, he had recently proposed ideas like the Earth being round and the heliocentric theory, making him one of the most open-minded and active thinkers of this era. Having him lead the research institute would make the best use of his talents, and who knows, it might even spark some remarkable ideas. When Lin Beifan exined his n, the old man was pleasantly surprised, Lord Prime Minister, do you mean to have me take on the role of director at the Imperial Academy and be in charge of the research institutes work? Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Yes! You have served in the government for many years, and your experience is more than sufficient to take on the role of supervisor. Moreover, you have traveled extensively and have broad knowledge, with an open-minded approach. Its perfect for teaching those young schrs at the Imperial Academy, broadening their horizons, and increasing their knowledge. Dont just let them bury their heads in books all day long! But this official position is only a sixth-grade rank, which is far lower than your previous positions. It might seem beneath you, Lin Beifan said, shaking his head with concern. Luo Guanghai shrugged and replied, Not at all! Im delighted to be on board. Ive heard that the Research Institute, which Ill oversee, is directly managed by you, Lord Prime Minister. Youve conducted research that benefits the country and the people, such as the development of high-yield Taiping rice. Ive been wanting to visit and see it for myself for a long time, haha! You like it, and thats great! Lin Beifan smiled. Right now, the institute is not only researching Taiping rice but also working on steel behemoths that can float on water, telescopes that can see tens of miles away, and many other unimaginable novelties! The old man was lost in reverie. Thats wonderful! However, there are some things to be mindful of, Lin Beifan said. Please go on, Lord Prime Minister, the old man replied seriously. The two most challenging things in the world are, firstly, putting a policemans money into your own pocket, and secondly, putting your own ideas into someone elses head. Especially the second one, its extremely difficult, Lin Beifan said earnestly. I understand that youre eager to pass down your knowledge, and thats a noble intention. But, to be honest, your knowledge is quite revolutionary and beyond what most people can ept. So, I hope you wont rush things too much. Instead, guide them and let people slowly embrace your ideas. The old man agreed deeply, What you say is absolutely correct, Lord Prime Minister. I do want to serve the Great Wu and contribute my knowledge, but I certainly dont want to end up like those two fellow schrs who sacrificed themselves and met heroic deaths. Lin Beifan chuckled, Having this awareness is enough. Lets continue drinking! Cheers! The old mans face turned slightly red. The next day, during the court session, Lin Beifan reported this matter to the Empress. The Empress smiled, I didnt expect the Reincarnated Yama, who has been wandering for more than 20 years, to return with a wealth of knowledge. Its rare to see someone with both a sense of patriotism and the capability. Let him take the role of director at the Imperial Academy and oversee the research institute. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan eximed loudly. The matter was easily approved, essentially a formality. So, the old man, Luo Guanghai, assumed his new position. Upon taking office, he began to give lectures. This old man, perhaps due to Lin Beifans guidance, had seemingly opened up. Facing the eager students, he smiled and said, Today, I will teach you the power of gods! The students below were taken aback. Director Luo, if I heard correctly, youre going to teach us about the power of gods? How can humans possess the power of gods? Director Luo, isnt it a bit strange to say that? Im not joking; I genuinely possess the power of gods. I will teach you, and you can possess it too! At this point, the old man picked up a lever and confidently said, This is the power of gods! Just give me a lever, and I can not only move a city gate but also lift a mountain, and even shift the entire world!!! Lin Beifan, standing behind, was dumbfounded. Hes even exining the principles of levers! This old man is quite extraordinary! Although the principle of levers is basic mechanics, its undoubtedly useful! Next, the old man exined the principle of levers in detail, and the students listened with fascination. Lin Beifan stood next to the Little Princess, who was equally engrossed, and she said, Wow, the principle of levers is amazing! If I master it, wont I be the strongest person in the world? Lin Beifan gave a vague response, Well, theoretically The Little Princess turned her head and asked, Lin Beifan, where did you find such an amazing teacher? I lured him here with some fine wine! Lin Beifan replied. At this point, the Little Princess grabbed Lin Beifan and led him to a small grove behind the Imperial Academy. Lin Beifan was rmed, Little Princess, what are you nning to do? What else can I do? Of course, its while everyone is attending sses, hehe The Little Princess rubbed her hands together, showing a mischievous and impish smile. Lin Beifan was trembling with anger, In broad daylight, how can you engage in such vulgar and uncultured behavior? The Little Princess sneered, Have I not done such things often enough? Lin Beifan shouted, I will absolutely not let you seed! The Little Princess smirked, Lin Beifan, youve given up resistance, youre mine now, so behave! Refusing to ept defeat, Lin Beifan yelled in frustration, Dont move, Ill handle this myself! Then, he embraced the Little Princess tightly. The Little Princess felt delighted in her heart; this troublesome guy had finally relented! At this moment, the Great Wu Empire enjoyed peace and prosperity. The people lived infort and the nation thrived with vitality. However, neighboring countries were engulfed in turmoil and were far from peaceful. As a result, a significant number of refugees and citizens fled to the Great Wu Empire. The Empress couldnt be happier, thinking to herself, Since Minister Lin entered my service, my days have only gotten better, and the future can only be brighter! Just then, a royal edict arrived in front of the Empress. The White Elephant Kingdom requests the Great Wu Empire to send troops to suppress the rebels. If sessful, they will swear allegiance to the Great Wu Empire and offer annual tributes. The White Elephant Kingdom, the Empress knew, was a small nation located in the southwest with a poption of around 8 million. It was named after its significant white elephant poption and had significant military strength. Their terrifying White Elephant Army could effortlessly crush a force ten times its size. However, being a small country, they had weak risk management capabilities. Nearly 3 million of their people had perished in an unexpected ice disaster. Almost every household had lost a family member, resulting in a poption decrease of nearly 40%. Moreover, numerous domesticated animals, livestock, fruit trees, and more had sumbed to the catastrophe, plunging the entire nation into poverty. The people of the White Elephant Kingdom vented their anger on the government, ming them for not being prepared and for prioritizing their own indulgence over timely rescue efforts. Consequently, the casualties were devastating. After the Lunar New Year, a widespread peasant rebellion erupted in their kingdom, affecting the entire nation. The White Elephant court also suffered heavy losses during the ice disaster. For instance, out of their approximately 3,000 white elephants, over 2,000 had perished in the ice disaster. Their military strength was greatly reduced, and they were unable to withstand the angry rebels. As a result, the White Elephant court had no choice but to request assistance from the Great Wu Empire. Thankfully, we have Minister Lin in the Great Wu Empire. Otherwise, we might have ended up like them! The Empress shuddered at the thought. The Empress felt somewhat tempted by the White Elephant Kingdoms request. After all, with their military power, they could easily resolve the internal conflict in the White Elephant Kingdom. Upon sess, the White Elephant Kingdom would be a vassal state of the Great Wu Empire, paying annual tributes. This was an offer that no emperor or empress could easily refuse. However, if we seize this opportunity to annex the White Elephant Kingdom into our territory, expanding our borders, wouldnt that be splendid? Compared to having a vassal state, it was evident that expanding the empires territory aligned more with her intentions. Yet, there was one thing that made the Empress hesitate. Currently, the Great Wu Empire was focused on production and had little time to embark on distant conquests. The Empress didnt make a hasty decision and instead presented the matter to her court ministers. Esteemed ministers, this is a royal edict from the White Elephant Kingdom, requesting our empire to send troops to suppress the rebels. If sessful, the White Elephant Kingdom will swear allegiance to our Great Wu Empire and offer annual tributes. Esteemed ministers, what are your thoughts on this matter? Chapter 397: The Plan to Swallow a Nation Unfolds Once Again! Chapter 397: The n to Swallow a Nation Unfolds Once Again! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Your Majesty, this is a great opportunity! The Minister of Personnel, Gao Tianyao, was the first to speak enthusiastically. He said, After experiencing the disaster of the ice, the White Elephant Kingdom has weakened, facing internal strife and chaos. The imperial court is powerless to control the situation. Theyve requested military aid, and this is our chance! We only need to send 300,000 troops, and we can conquer everything! This will not only establish our dominance but also secure annual tributes from the White Elephant Kingdom. Its a profitable deal! Yes, its a profitable deal! Others chimed in. Please, Your Majesty, send our troops to support the White Elephant court! Minister Gaos supporters continued to voice their opinions. Your Majesty, I have a different perspective, the Minister of War, Li Kaiguang, turned to the Empress and said, Your Majesty, I believe that this is the perfect opportunity to incorporate the White Elephant Kingdom into our territory. Currently, the White Elephant Kingdom is in chaos, with uprisings among the people. Their court cant quell the rebellion. Therefore, they seek our help. We can pretend to be allies, gain their trust, and thenunch an attack to bring them under our rule, expanding our borders. This is an opportunity we shouldnt miss! Minister Li is absolutely right. This is the time to use military force! Others supported his view. This opportunity is too rare; its like a gift from heaven. We must seize it! Your Majesty, please think carefully! The ministers, military officials, and courtiers offered their opinions. Minister Li, the use of military force is quite risky! The Minister of Revenue, Qian Sushen, immediately countered, If we invade the White Elephant Kingdom as you suggest, we may indeed have a chance to expand our territory, but the cost will be high. Its an unjust war, and well face resistance not only from the White Elephant court but also from their people, who will see us as enemies. We are already focusing on domestic production; diverting our resources to another country is not advisable. Furthermore, neighboring powers like Great Yan and Dayue are watching closely and wont let us expand so easily. Theyll likely join the conflict, and well be caught in a two-front war, leading to inevitable defeat. So, either we send troops to aid the White Elephant court, minimizing our losses and securing benefits, or we refrain from military intervention and let them fight amongst themselves while we profit from the situation. Your Majesty, please consider this carefully! Please, Your Majesty, think it over! The Minister of Revenues officials echoed his sentiments. Ministers, you all make valid points, the Empress nodded. She was clearly torn. It was evident that sending troops to help the White Elephant court suppress domestic rebellion was the option with the least sacrifice and the most stability. Sess would mean gaining a submissive nation and annual tributes. But the opportunity to expand our territory is indeed rare. The White Elephant Kingdom is in turmoil, and our neighboring countries are preupied. When else should we act? If we miss this chance, we might not get another like it! However, this n carries a higher risk and substantial cost. Thats why the Empress has been hesitant. As a result, she thought of someone. This person is quite versatile; he can manage the court internally and lead armies externally. When all else fails, she turns to the Prime Minister! When ites to war, he cant go wrong. Prime Minister Lin, do you have any thoughts? Please share them with me. Lin Beifan smiled faintly and said, Your Majesty, your hesitation stems from a desire to gain the maximum benefit at minimal cost. If we can conquer the White Elephant Kingdom with minimal losses, that would be ideal, wouldnt it? The Empresss eyes lit up. Minister Lin, your words are spot on. Is there a way? I do have an idea that might work! The Empresss eyes brightened even further. Could it really be? The courtiers were astonished. How could this be possible? The Empress urged, Minister, please share your idea! Your Majesty, please wait. Ill exin! Lin Beifan raised three fingers. When we send troops to conquer another nation, were essentially pursuing three objectives:nd, wealth, and poption. The courtiers nodded, listening intently. The traditional approach is to lead armies into battle. Once we capture thend, the wealth and poption on thatnd naturally be ours. However, this approach woulde at a significant cost, and I believe everyone understands the magnitude of that cost. The courtiers nodded once again. However, the current situation is unique. The White Elephant Kingdom is in chaos, and our neighboring powers are preupied. This situation presents a rare opportunity that greatly favors our nation. We can take a different approach: first, acquire their poption, then their wealth, and finally, conquer the entire territory. This way, the cost we pay will be significantly less. The Empress couldnt contain her excitement. Prime Minister Lin, how can we do this? Its quite simple! Lin Beifan smiled. Your Majesty, our first step would be to open our borders and wee the White Elephant Kingdoms people into our territory to work and contribute. This alone will address the first problem. Lin Beifan had to exin further. Your Majesty, the reason the White Elephant people are rebelling isnt just because theyre angry with their inept government or because theyve suffered after the ice disaster. The most critical factor is that they have no future, no prospects. They are cornered, with no other choices. The Empress and the courtiers pondered this. From what Ive learned, there are already 50,000-60,000 White Elephant people living within our borders, primarily near the western frontier. This data ranks highly among various border regions. It shows that they cant survive in their homnd and have been forced to leave. The Empress and the courtiers were intrigued. If we open our borders now, more White Elephant people will undoubtedly flock to our territory. The Wuxi region, which is close to the White Elephant Kingdom, is vast and sparsely popted, capable of amodating the entire White Elephant poptionfortably. Previously, the Wuxi region was barren, with many areas unsuitable for farming. But now, things have changed! We have Taiping rice, which can be cultivated in many ces where it was impossible before. The only thingcking is people! If we bring the White Elephant people here, many of the wastnds in Wuxi will turn into fertile fields, and food production will undoubtedly increase! Then, we can provide them with some citizen benefits, and they will surely be grateful! This way, they wont go hungry, and they can live and work happily in Great Wu. In two or three years, wont they be our citizens? Lin Beifan chuckled confidently, We wont even need to fight; we can attract the White Elephant people to join us willingly. Theyll be thankful and willing to work hard for us. Isnt that ideal? Everyones eyes lit up, and they agreed, Yes! What about the wealth of the White Elephant Kingdom? one minister asked. Lin Beifan inquired, What does their diplomatic message say? The White Elephant Kingdom asked for our military support to quell the rebellion. If we seed, they will submit to our rule and pay annual tributes. Lin Beifan spread his hands and exined, Were just helping them solve their problems, right? As long as we bring the White Elephant people into our country to develop and cultivate thend, they wont be able to cause trouble in their own country, which is now sparsely popted. Once the issue is resolved, as stated in their diplomatic message, wont they have to pay tribute and offer us their wealth? Everyones eyes brightened once again, and they agreed, Yes! What about thend? Thats even simpler, Lin Beifan grinned mischievously. Most of the White Elephant people will have joined us, so who will be left to farm theirnd? By that time, their national wealth will undoubtedly decrease. And at this time, well demand their tribute withoutpromise. Theyll be helpless due to our strength, forced to exploit their remaining poption. The people will surely resent this, leading to another rebellion. At this point, when they see the White Elephant people living prosperously in Great Wu, they will be envious. Thats when we march in, and they will open their doors willingly, cooperating from within and without. In this way Lin Beifan smiled confidently, a scene like the Darro Kingdom is bound to repeat itself well conquer without a fight! With minimal cost, well take the White Elephant Kingdom! The Empress and the entire court were left speechless, staring at Lin Beifan in awe. After a while, the court began to apud, initially slowly and gradually increasing in volume until it became thunderous apuse. The Empress pped her hands while deeply impressed. Prime Minister Lin, this strategy is truly ingenious! Just like your n to swallow the Python, its a stroke of genius! Although we havent implemented it yet, I already feel that its highly likely to seed. Minister Lin, it can only be you who coulde up with such a brilliant n! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise. I humbly ept it, Lin Beifan replied modestly. Knowing when to show off and when to be humble is an essential quality for someone who has traveled to another world. The Empress asked, What do you think, dear ministers? I find this n marvelous. Do any of you have objections? The courtiers collectively responded, We have no objections, Your Majesty! The Empress pped her thigh and said, Excellent! Lets proceed with this n! I shall name it the Swallowing the Elephant strategy, and Minister Lin will be in charge! All of you, dear ministers, must support it wholeheartedly and ensure there are no mistakes. Do you understand? We shall follow Your Majestys orders! The courtiers echoed in unison. Chapter 398: As long as I’m in charge, no matter how many rioters come, I can handle them! Chapter 398: As long as Im in charge, no matter how many rioterse, I can handle them! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
After receiving the imperial edict, Lin Beifan began to make arrangements. First, he met with the envoys sent by the White Elephant Kingdom and conveyed the courts intentions: After careful consideration, Her Majesty and all the court officials unanimously agree that the Yun Army will help the White Elephant Kingdom suppress the rioters! The White Elephant Kingdom envoys were overjoyed: Prime Minister, is this true? Of course its true. Can I deceive you? Lin Beifan patted his thick sleeves and smiled. After all, Ive epted your benefits. When I take your money, I have to get things done! Yes, yes Thank you, Prime Minister! The White Elephant Kingdom envoys bowed. But there is one request, Lin Beifan said. The White Elephant envoys became uneasy: What request? When youve dealt with the unrest in your country, your court must deliver the promised tribute to our court within three months. The White Elephant envoys furrowed their brows even more tightly. Prime Minister, isnt this a bit too hasty? You must understand that our White Elephant Kingdom has just experienced a severe frost disaster, with significant losses! With ongoing unrest and chaos, we simply dont have the time to gather enough tribute. Please, Prime Minister, show some leniency! I understand your difficulties, but the Great Wu has also suffered heavy losses from the frost disaster! Therefore, we hope to receive some supplies as soon as possible to alleviate the shortage of resources in our country. This is the only request made by our Emperor, and if you do not agree, we will have no choice but to use force. Well The White Elephant envoys hesitated. What do you think, Gentlemen? Lin Beifan grinned and said, When the rioters are suppressed, theyll bepliant, wont they? At that time, it will be easy for you to gather tribute. The White Elephant Kingdom envoys were convinced. Thats true! So, they agreed to the Great Wu courts request and asked the Great Wu court for assistance. Lin Beifan and the White Elephant envoys set out that night, traveling for about a week, finally crossing through the Western Wu region and entering the White Elephant Kingdom. The ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom personally received Lin Beifan. He was dressed in luxurious armor, walking proudly, and warmly said, I didnt expect a small matter from the White Elephant Kingdom to trouble Prime Minister Lin. If I had known that Prime Minister Lin wasing, I should have waited at the border! Please forgive my rudeness. At present, Lin Beifan held higher power and status than the ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom. As the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Wu Dynasty, he led the court and the entire military, with power second only to the Empress. He was also known as His Royal Highness the Brave and Loyal King, with unparalleled prestige. In terms of power and status, he was the second most important figure in the Wu Dynasty, with great authority and weight. When the ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom saw him, he naturally had to be very polite. Lin Beifan smiled and said, White Elephant Kingdoms ruler, theres no need for such courtesy! Currently, theres chaos and disorder in the White Elephant Kingdom, and you have your hands full. We understand that. Our Emperor attaches great importance to this matter, so she sent me to resolve it. The ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom raised his right hand to his heart, very solemnly. Thank you, Prime Minister, for your understanding, and thank you, Her Majesty, for her consideration. Then, he looked behind Lin Beifan and was surprised to see that there were only a few dozen people with him, not even close to a hundred. He was puzzled. Prime Minister Lin, where are the troops from the Great Wu? Lin Beifan pointed to the people behind him. Arent these them? The ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom became even more confused. You came here with only a handful of soldiers from the Great Wu? Lin Beifan smiled and nodded, saying, Exactly! The ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom was not at ease and said, Prime Minister Lin, are you joking? With such a small number of troops, not even enough for one unit, how can you suppress the riots in my country? You must know that this time the unrest has spread across the entire nation, involving millions of people. Without three or four hundred thousand soldiers, it cannot be resolved! Its more than enough because Im here! Lin Beifan said with great self-assurance. As long as Im present, no matter how many rioterse, I can easily handle them. Your Majesty, please rest assured! The generals behind Lin Beifan all ttered him. Your Majesty, please rest assured. Our Supreme Commander is the military god of the Great Wu, undefeated in six major battles! Though we may be few in number, with Supreme Commander alone, we can stand against ten thousand enemies! When he rides out, all problems are immediately resolved! Just put your mind at ease! The ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom recalled Lin Beifans brilliant military record. This young man in front of him, although originally a schr, was exceptionally skilled in warfare. He excelled in winning with less, defeating the strong with the weak, and every time, he achieved quick and decisive victories with minimal sacrifices. He had never been defeated, and calling him a contemporary military god was not an exaggeration. The fewer troops used, the faster and easier the victory. Shouldnt it be the same this time? The ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom gained some confidence. Then thank you, Prime Minister Lin! Its my duty! Next, the ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom warmly hosted Lin Beifan and his entourage. During the banquet, Lin Beifan once again pledged with great determination that he would swiftly resolve the rebellion in the White Elephant Kingdom. As long as he mounted his horse, sess was guaranteed, and victory was at hand. Seeing Lin Beifans confident demeanor, the ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom felt even more reassured. After dinner, Lin Beifan followed the ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom to the war-torn area. Along the way, they saw scenes that shocked Lin Beifan and hispanions. Everywhere, there were ruined buildings, white mourning cloth hanging over doorways, and the ground was littered with spirit money. In the streets, they could see some ragged, barefoot people armed with hoes, clubs, and various makeshift weapons, confronting the soldiers of the White Elephant Kingdom. The shes were intense, with shouts and violence. Its you! You killed my parents, and Ill avenge them! Ill avenge my family, damn the court! Now youve pushed me to a dead end! I cant live, and you wont either! Die if you must, in eighteen years, youll be a hero! The ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom sighed and said, Originally, even though our White Elephant Kingdom isnt wealthy, it was a ce of peace and harmony, with good rtions between officials and the people. But who could have expected a once-in-a-century frost disaster to strike suddenly! This frost disaster not only took away millions of lives but also countless wealth. It pains me more than anyone else. But themon people not only fail to understand me, they direct their anger at me, rising up in rebellion one after another, and the unrest has spread across the entire nation! During this natural disaster, I suffered heavy losses as well. Over two thousand of the three thousand white elephants I raised died. Im truly powerless to quell the unrest. Sigh To maintain stability in the country, I had no choice but to request military assistance from the Great Wu. Lin Beifan nodded, saying, I understand. Next, it will be up to Prime Minister Lin! The ruler of the White Elephant Kingdom said with some anticipation. Ive always said that Prime Minister Lin, your military skills are godlike, undefeated in a hundred battles, truly the military god of our time! I hope that this time, Prime Minister Lin, you can use your full abilities to resolve the turmoil in the White Elephant Kingdom. I am deeply grateful! Lin Beifan patted his chest with great confidence. Your Majesty, please rest assured. Everything is on me! With that, Lin Beifan stood up and looked at the rioters below, loudly saying, Quiet, everyone! Please be quiet! Listen to me! However, these irrational rioters paid no attention. Who are you? Why should we listen to you? Thats right! We dont even care about the king. What are you worth? Look at him, hes probably the kingsckey! He looks well-fed, definitely a noble! Feeding on the sweat and toil of themon people, nobles should all die! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him Everyone was extremely angry. Some of the rioters had even raised bricks, ready to throw them at Lin Beifan. Seeing this scene, Tang Kuo, who was standing beside Lin Beifan, was furious. He stepped forward and shouted loudly, his voice echoing throughout the crowd, Calm down! No reckless behavior! Standing before you is Lin Beifan, the current Prime Minister of the Great Wu Dynasty, Supreme Commander of the Military, and His Royal Highness the Brave and Loyal King! Supreme Commander is the pir of our dynasty, and there can be no mistakes! If you harm a single hair on the Supreme Commanders head, the million-strong army of the Great Wu will march south, and youll be waiting for your doom! All the rioters present were silenced. They looked at Lin Beifan in astonishment. The current Prime Minister of the Great Wu Dynasty! Supreme Commander of the Military! His Royal Highness the Brave and Loyal King! Each of these titles was prestigious in its own right. Yet, the young man before them held all three titles simultaneously. It was astounding! However, among the rioters, there were some knowledgeable individuals. One older man who appeared more refined and had a somewhat aged voice said, Ive heard that the Prime Minister, Supreme Commander of the Military, and His Royal Highness the Brave and Loyal King are indeed the same person, a young man in his twenties named Lin Beifan. Although he started as amoner, his abilities are outstanding, and he has achieved great feats, which is why he was promoted by the Empress herself. The rioters were shocked. Is there really such a person? Amoner who became Prime Minister and Supreme Commander, and was even made a king? And hes this young? If this is true, its unbelievable! Some still didnt believe it, but the old man immediately began recounting Lin Beifans impressive achievements. At the age of 20, he became the top schr in the imperial examinations, known for his literary talent and innovation. He invented various national treasures such as the hot air balloon, hovercraft, and cement, enhancing the power of the Great Wu. He excelled in military strategies and warfare, quelling internal rebellions and confronting external threats from the neighboring nations of Dayue and Great Xia. He even reimed a lost territory. He predicted the impending ice disaster, issued a nationwide warning, and ensured the safety of the entire poption during the catastrophe. As the old man shared these stories, the crowd had no choice but to believe. But their astonishment grew. Could this still be a human? At this moment, the old man raised his voice and shouted, Are you truly His Royal Highness Lin Beifan, the Prime Minister, Supreme Commander of the Military, and Brave and Loyal King of the Great Wu? I guarantee it! Lin Beifan said confidently. No one should dare impersonate me! Chapter 399: Praise as much as you can, you’ll regret it later! Chapter 399: Praise as much as you can, youll regret itter! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Everyone involuntarily turned their gaze towards the White Elephant Countrys monarch standing beside Lin Beifan. They were beginning to believe more in Lin Beifan. After all, they didnt know Lin Beifan, but they recognized their own king. Their king was right there and hadnt denied anything, so it must be true. They hadnt expected such a prominent figure to actuallye to their aid. Gradually, everyone started to calm down. But then an elderly man spoke up, Prime Minister Lin, what do you want to say to us? If youre here to advise us to stop, theres no need! Our king is ipetent and did nothing during the ice disaster, causing our families to break apart, our homes to be destroyed, and now we cant even survive. What use is such a king? The old mans words stirred anger among the crowd. Thats right, whats the use of such a king? When we were starving and freezing, this king was hiding in his warm pce, living in luxury, not sparing us a nce! Ipetent and ruthless! All ourmon people have died, and now he wants toe and clean up the mess? He was so efficient in exploiting us, but now that its time to repay, hes useless! They want to send troops to suppress us? Even though were lowly, we wontpromise! Exactly! Down with him! Either fight for a future or die together! The White Elephant Countrys monarch, standing on the city wall, felt his heart race, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. How could Lin Beifan say such things and escte the conflict? At this moment, Lin Beifan extended his hands to calm everyone down and loudly dered, Everyone, please calm down, please! I have more to say. After Ive finished speaking, you can get angry again! Lin Beifans words carried weight, and themotion in the crowd gradually subsided. We, the Great Wu, did indeed n to send troops to assist the White Elephant Country and resolve the internal turmoil. However, now I see that its not easy for all of you. That once-in-a-century ice disaster was also experienced by our Great Wu. To be honest Lin Beifans expression grew heavy. Even though we in the Great Wu predicted the ice disaster in advance and made many preparations, the losses were still devastating. While themon people were saved, arge number of poultry, livestock, fruit trees, and more perished in the ice disaster. And there were other casualties that I wont mention. We in the Great Wu only lost our wealth, but all of you not only lost your wealth but also your loved ones, your friends, and everything else. Thats why youre rebelling, rising up to vent the pain and anger in your hearts, to resist this unfair fate. The people of the White Elephant Country listened with deep emotions. Indeed, their rebellion had been driven by such feelings. Otherwise, who would willingly engage in such life-threatening activities if not for a broken mind? I understand your suffering and helplessness, Lin Beifan continued, I understand your anger. But the past is gone, and the living must continue! You should all try to live well Live well? Where do we have a way to live? One of the rioters shouted loudly, We have nothing now, we dont even have food! But that damn king wants to force us to farm and wont even give us a single meal! Thats right! The ice disaster is over, but the weather is still cold, and the court wont even spare a piece of clothing! My family didnt die in the ice disaster, they died at the hands of the court! What use is such a king? What use is such a court? Lin Beifan looked at the White Elephant Countrys monarch. The monarch forced a bitter smile and said, Im also helpless! Our court suffered heavy losses during this ice disaster, and weck various resources. Although we had stored some food, coal, and nkets, its not enough for the entire nation. Lin Beifan nodded, realizing the limited resilience of smaller nations. These smaller nations typically upied resource-scarce regions with limited production capabilities. The resources they collected were mainly used for defense and arming their military to resist invasions byrger neighboring nations, ensuring their sovereignty and independence. Consequently, fewer resources were avable for themon people. Therefore, when natural disasters or crises struck, it was themon people who suffered the most. Lin Beifan turned back to face the White Elephant Countrys citizens and shouted, I understand your hardships and difficulties! Thats why our monarch, with apassionate heart, has decided to open our countrys gates and wee all of you into the Great Wu to seek a livelihood! As long as youe, you will absolutely not go hungry! This statement caused an uproar in the crowd. What? The gates are open, and they want us to go to the Great Wu to seek a livelihood? And they promise we wont go hungry? Is this a joke? The elderly man spoke again, Prime Minister Lin, can we really go to the Great Wu? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Of course, you can! The elderly man sighed, But even if we go to the Great Wu, theres still no way for us to make a living! Look at how many of us there are. If we all flood into the Great Wu, where will we find jobs? Without work, there wont be any food to eat, and well starve to death! The citizens couldnt help but nod in agreement. Furthermore, as far as I know, once we enter the Great Wu, well be in thend of Wuxi, which is vast but sparsely popted, rtively barren, andcking in food. How can we survive there? The citizens nodded again. This was the reason they hesitated to go to the Great Wu. Even if they went, there seemed to be no viable livelihood for them, unless they had some spare provisions to risk the journey. Lin Beifan smiled and said, This elderly gentlemans knowledge is a bit outdated. The situation in Wuxi, the western region, is no longer the destend it used to be! The Prime Minister Lin, we wish to hear the details! the elderly man shouted loudly. Lin Beifan smiled and said, In our Great Wu, we have developed a type of rice called Taiping Rice. This rice can grow and yield crops even in some barrennds, producing food. Therefore, we are currently reimingnd in the west of our nation, and we need arge number ofborers! So, as long as youe to help us reim and cultivate thend in the west, we will provide you with the necessary food and supplies, ensuring you wont go hungry! And when the harvestes, youll receive a share of the food! The citizens of the White Elephant Country were deeply moved. As long as we help cultivate thend in the Great Wu, well have food to eat and things to share! And if theres a harvest, well get a share of the food! Theres always a way out! Someone excitedly shouted, Prime Minister Lin, is what youre saying true? Youre not deceiving us? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Ive traveled all this way; do you think I came here to deceive you? In fact, you are the citizens of the White Elephant Country, and even if you cause trouble, it has nothing to do with us. We can simply ignore you. Dont you agree? Everyone believed him because there was no reason for Lin Beifan to deceive them, especially considering the effort he had put intoing here. So, youre saying this is true? We can really go to the Great Wu to seek a livelihood, just by working the fields? Haha! Isnt this my old profession? I can do it anywhere! His Majesty of the Great Wu is benevolent! Thanks to His Majesty for giving us a way to survive! I want to go to the Great Wu! I want to go to the Great Wu! Everyone cheered and rejoiced, wearing smiles of happiness. The White Elephant Countrys monarch pulled Lin Beifan aside and asked in confusion, Prime Minister Lin, what are you Lin Beifan whispered, Your Majesty, Im helping you solve the issue of the rioters. You see, as long as we divert them to the Great Wu for farming, they wont cause trouble here anymore. The White Elephant Countrys monarchs eyes lit up. Prime Minister Lin, youre absolutely right! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile. Praise as much as you can, because youll regret itter! Lin Beifan addressed the ecstatic citizens of the White Elephant Country and said loudly, Now, the border city gates are about to open! If you still dont believe it, you can follow me to see for yourselves! Are they really about to open? It seems that the Prime Ministers words are true! We can start a new life! Many citizens of the White Elephant Country rushed toward the city gates. Due to therge number of people, it was a bit chaotic, so Lin Beifan had to shout, Everyone, take it slow, dont rush! Form lines, register, and then enter the city in an orderly manner! At this point, Lin Beifans words had great authority, and everyone, filled with longing for a new life, entered the city in an orderly manner. On that day, over 400,000 White Elephant citizens entered the Great Wu, starting a new life. Chapter 400: The Land of Wuxi, the Future Granary of Great Wu! Chapter 400: The Land of Wuxi, the Future Granary of Great Wu! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
And this matter quickly spread throughout the entire White Elephant Country. The White Elephant citizens who were causing trouble were all excited. Is Wuxi recruiting farmworkers? As long as we work there, can we get food? If the harvest is good, will we get some grain? What a great opportunity! Look at Great Wu, theyre so good to their own people, truly a great nation! White Elephant Country cantpare, they want to exploit us to death! The cruelest to their own is always their own! I cant stay in White Elephant Country anymore, Im going to Wuxi now! Yes, Im going to Wuxi too! So, on the second day, more than 300,000 White Elephant citizens rushed over. By the third day, the number increased to 400,000. By the fourth day, it peaked at over 500,000, And by the fifth day, the number, although slightly reduced, still reached 300,000. In just these five days, nearly 2 million White Elephant citizens flocked to Wuxi. Approaching 600,000. And most of these people were originally involved in the revolution because they had no other way to survive. But now there was a way out, who would be willing to risk their lives? So they all came running. The internal turmoil in White Elephant Country naturally subsided. The White Elephant Countrys ruler was very surprised, never expected that the internal turmoil that had left him powerless would be so easily quelled. And without a single soldier, not a drop of blood was shed. He had to once again give Lin Beifan a thumbs-up and eximed, Prime Minister Lin, youve resolved this internal turmoil so easily, I truly admire you! Thanks to you, White Elephant is thriving and getting better and better! Lin Beifan smiled and said, White Elephant Countrys ruler, its not a big deal for Her Majesty! Now that the situation has been resolved for you, its time for you to fulfill your promise! Deliver the letter of submission, and White Elephant will bow to Her Majesty! At the same time, within three months, you must deliver the promised tribute! Otherwise, I wont be able to exin it to His Majesty! Delivering the letter of submission was no problem for the ruler of White Elephant Country. Now that Great Wu was so powerful and had a strong army, he, as a small countrys ruler, bowing to them wasnt a big deal. What made him cringe was delivering the promised tribute within three months. The time was too tight, and they had just experienced a severe ice disaster, their royal court suffered heavy losses, and they simply couldnt gather that much tribute. But they had to do it, offending Great Wu wouldnt be good. I promise, I absolutely wont break the agreement! The White Elephant Countrys ruler promised loudly, a hint of severity in his eyes. The reason he had to pay such a huge price was because his citizens below him were not obedient, and they wanted to overthrow his rule. Now that the war had subsided, it was time to settle the score! Wooles from sheep, and if I cant gather enough tribute, Ill use your things to make up for it. The White Elephant Countrys ruler left Lin Beifan and hurried back with a knife in hand. At this moment, Lin Beifans resolution of the turmoil in White Elephant Country quickly spread throughout the world. Many people admired this strategy, but even more people mocked it. Let over 2 million White Elephant citizens go to Wuxi to reim and farm, what were they thinking? Wuxi is a barrennd, the soil is poor, if they could have nted crops earlier, why wait until now? Great Wu is burdening itself with a heavy load! Over 2 million people, providing food and resources for them is a problem! The key is, do they have enough food to feed them? Just experienced an ice disaster, every country is facing shortages, the most important thing now is to secure their own food! But Great Wu is generously giving it away, feeding another countrys people, somethings wrong with their heads! If they cant grow food, theyll be in trouble! They definitely wont be able to grow it, Im looking forward to seeing Great Wus failure! Haha! Although everyone knew that Great Wu had developed a high-yield rice variety called Taiping Rice that could increase production when nted in fertile and well-watered areas, they were skeptical about its sess in the arid and water-deficient Wuxi region. So, everyone was waiting to see Wuxis failure. At this time, Lin Beifan was very busy and had no time to pay attention to external public opinion. He had mobilized many officials and manpower to register and document the White Elephant citizens, then organized them into teams and sent them to various ces in Wuxi to reim and farm. At the same time, he had to gather enough food and supplies from the court to feed these people. By the evening, he had to sneak away. Wuxicked water? Then he would bring heavy rains! Wuxi was barren? Then he would use earth-shaking techniques (earthquakes) to bring up fertile soil from deep underground! He also diverted rivers from the Phoenix and Qinlong mountain ranges. In this way, the soil in Wuxi was greatly improved. Combined with the drought-resistant and heat-resistant Taiping Rice, Lin Beifan believed that this year would surely bring a bountiful harvest here. If they continued farming for a few more years, this ce had the potential to be a food source for Great Wu. At this moment, the 2 million White Elephant citizens had already begun reiming and farming. What surprised them was that thend in Wuxi didnt seem as poor as they had imagined. It appeared that growing crops here might not be a problem. Why did everyone outside say that thend here was barren? As for theck of water, they had been here for several days and surprisingly, it had rained several times, even more frequently than in White Elephant. Moreover, two mountain ranges had natural river flowsing down. This water seems abundant as well. With this, everyone gained more confidence. After all, they came here to reim and farm, and if the crops grew well, they would surely have a good life. If the harvest was bountiful, they could even get a share of the food. So, everyone worked passionately, filled with determination. Lin Beifan stood in the field, watching the energetic scene, and shouted, Everyone, work hard! Youve seen thisnd; its productive, and we have no shortage of water! As long as we grow food, everyone will have food to eat! An elderly man who was taking a break couldnt help but ask, Lord Prime Minister, if the harvest is bountiful, how much food can we get? Everyone perked up their ears. Lin Beifan smiled slightly and held up three fingers, saying, Thirty percent! Thirty percent! Everyone eximed in surprise. You see, when they farmed in White Elephant Country, even in the best harvest years, they could only get about twenty-five percent of the food. The rest of the food was taken by the court and thendlord nobles, leaving them barely enough to survive. It was a difficult life. Buting to Wuxi, not only did they have the Great Wu court providing food, but with a bountiful harvest, they could get thirty percent! Better than what they had in White Elephant Country! Oh my, could there really be such a wonderful thing in the world? The elderly man asked excitedly, Lord Prime Minister, is this true? Lin Beifan proudly said, Of course, its true! I am the grand Prime Minister of Great Wu, also the Supreme Commander of the Army, a word of mine carries great weight. Why would I joke about this? Everyone cheered and rejoiced. To get thirty percent of the food is really great! Theyre giving us so much; we have to work hard! It looks like well have to work tirelessly! Its necessary; otherwise, we wont be fair to ourselves! Lin Beifan, puzzled, asked, Are you so excited just because you can get thirty percent of the food? This question seemed to touch a sore spot for the White Elephant citizens. Someone immediatelymented, Lord Prime Minister, you dont know, weve had such a hard life in White Elephant! We toiled all year, and in the end, the court took thirty percent of our harvest! Then, thendlords and nobles took away fifty percent, even seventy percent! What we had left was barely twenty percent, just enough to avoid starving! Thats already quite good! If we encountered natural disasters or other hardships, it would be even worse! Like this recent ice disaster, we all suffered heavy losses, and the court still took away half of the harvest. Those noblendlords took another half, and sometimes even more than that! What we had left was less than ten percent; how could we survive like that? And theres something even more infuriating! an angry White Elephant citizen eximed. They took all the food from my house and then forced me to work for them in the fields! They dont even give us food to eat and still make us work. Where in the world does such a thing happen? Thats right! Theyre utterly heartless! Now that I think about it, Im filled with anger! These people are like beasts living among humans! Lin Beifan couldnt help but shake his head and sigh, I never thought that you were suffering so much; I cant even imagine what those days were like. In Great Wu, we usually only collect ten percent of the food! Thosendowners, at most, take about thirty to forty percent of the food. The rest, about fifty to sixty percent of the food, belongs to the farmers. Its easy to sustain a family with that! The White Elephant citizens looked envious. To get an additional thirty percent of the food? The people of Great Wu are so fortunate! We wont be able to get that this year; we wont get it this year Lin Beifan shook his head and said, Due to the recent ice disaster, everyone has suffered heavy losses! Moreover, the three regions of Great WuSouthern Jiang, Wuxi, and Northern Hebeiwere gued by feudal lords before, resulting in poor harvests and great hardships for the people! Thats why our court issued an order exempting the people in these three regions from paying taxes on food to the court! This way, the farmers can retain an additional ten percent of their food, making their lives a bit better! The White Elephant citizens eyes turned even redder. To get an additional ten percent? The people of Great Wu are incredibly, incredibly fortunate! Besides that, we have used cement to construct various water facilities, dredged canals, promoted the Eight Agricultural Methods, and introduced various types of new fertilizers As long as it boosts production and increases yields, were doing it! The White Elephant citizens eyes turned purple with excitement. The Great Wu court is doing so many good things for the people. The people of Great Wu are so, so fortunate! At this moment, they all had the same thought. How wonderful it would be if I were a person of Great Wu! At this time, Lin Beifan shouted, Alright, enough talk about other matters; lets get to work! In short, give it your all! The more food we produce, the more you can harvest! Alright! Everyone rallied and worked even harder. They were not only working for the promised food but also hoping to impress the court and be people of Great Wu. Seeing this scene, Lin Beifan smiled inwardly. He didnt believe they could resist such temptations. Just at that moment, a graceful figure in purple arrived in the field. Chapter 401: This woman is too greedy, wanting to have 10 children! Chapter 401: This woman is too greedy, wanting to have 10 children! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan turned his head in surprise and said, Miss Ziyue, how did youe? The person in front of him was Princess Ziyue. She was still wearing a purple dress, with ayer of purple veil on her face, revealing only a pair of captivating purple eyes. Although the content couldnt be clearly seen, judging from her graceful figure, she must be an absolute beauty. When had the people from the White Elephant Kingdom seen such a beautiful woman? They were all momentarily stunned, forgetting their work. Princess Ziyue approached gracefully, as if she were carried by the wind. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of Lin Beifan. Tilting her head slightly, her purple eyes were charming as she smiled, Of course, I came to see Lord Lin. Its been over a month, and I missed you so much that I couldnt help bute! Such a melodious voice captivated the surrounding White Elephant Kingdom residents. This isnt a ce for conversation. Lets find somewhere else to talk, Lin Beifan said with a smile. Princess Ziyue looked around and nodded, Lord, youre right. So, the two of them left, chatting andughing. The onlookers couldnt help but discuss as they watched them leave. This woman in purple is so beautiful, like a celestial being from heaven! Yes, shes more beautiful than any woman Ive seen in my life. I wonder who can possess her. No need to say, it must be the consort of Prime Minister. Didnt you see the way that goddess looked at Prime Minister? Full of admiration and love! When they stand together, theyre like a perfect match! Haha, a man like Prime Minister, who wouldnt love him among all women on earth? True! Enough chitchatting, lets continue working! About the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the two of them arrived by the river. There was no one around. Lin Beifan asked again, Princess, what brings you here this time? Strategist, didnt I say it? I came here just to see you, this heartless man! Princess Ziyue looked at him somewhat reproachfully. I only found out through other sources that you didnt even have me in your heart. What kind of person are you if youre not heartless? Lin Beifan waved his hand repeatedly, Princess, youve misunderstood! I came to Wuxi on a mission to resolve the internal troubles of the White Elephant Kingdom and promote food production. Ive been extremely busy! And, Princess, youve been busy with your great undertaking in Dayue as well. I didnt want to disturb you, so I didnt contact you. Please forgive me! I understandpletely, thats why I came in person! Strategist, did you feel surprised? Princess Ziyue raised her head slightly, her purple eyes turned gentle, and she said with a smile, Of course, I was surprised! Princess, did you bring any special gifts? I prefer things that are yellow and white,monly known as gold and silver! If you didnt bring those, valuable items are also eptable. The essence of friendship lies in sincerity, and as long as your intentions are good, I can ept anything, whether its a lot of money or a little! Princess Ziyue was a bit angry, Strategist, I traveled all this way to see you, and all you care about is money! Do you really like money that much in your eyes? Do you think money is more important than me? Lin Beifan shook his head, saying, Princess, youve misunderstood me. I dont like money, and Im not interested in it! Princess Ziyue was a bit bewildered, You dont like money? Lin Beifan replied, Thats right. I like people who have money! Princess Ziyue: Lin Beifans gaze turned mischievous, Beautiful women like you, Princess, are naturally wealthy, and thats what I like the most! Princess Ziyue giggled, Strategist, you really know how to talk, and Im enjoying it! With your smooth tongue and sweet words, you must have deceived many women, right? Lin Beifan felt innocent, Princess, youve got it all wrong again! Men like me are always in demand. Theres no need for deception. Women are like moths to a me; theye rushing in, and you cant stop them! Thinking of the beautiful women in Lin Beifans household, Princess Ziyue nodded approvingly. Especially a certain woman Lin Beifans gaze drifted off. Always going against my wishes, making moves on me, and I dont even have a chance to resist, so I can only surrender! Strategist! Princess Ziyue scolded, her face blushing slightly, which made her look especially charming. Did I say something wrong? Lin Beifan asked. Princess Ziyue let out a little sigh, Strategist, your words are not wrong. But youve reminded me! Lin Beifan was confused, Reminded you of what? Reminded me to do what I should do! Princess Ziyue pounced on Lin Beifan and hugged him. Lin Beifan looked somewhat resigned. This woman hade again! Every time, she was so impatient, not giving me any choice! Alright, I cant resist, so Ill just enjoy it! Letting you have your way? Humph! If it werent for my hidden abilities, where would you The two embraced for a while, reluctant to part. Princess Ziyue talked about the situation in Dayue, and at the moment, everything was going smoothly. Princess Ziyue led her troops to set fires everywhere, while the Dayue Dynasty was busy extinguishing them. The country was in chaos, and the situation was gradually bing uncontroble. Lin Beifan nodded and smiled, Princess, the situation is really favorable. The day of nted Moons revival is approaching! Strategist speaks the truth! If no external forces intervene, I am confident that within half a year, I can overthrow the Dayue Dynasty and revive my nted Moon! Princess Ziyue said ambitiously. Lin Beifan cheered in agreement. At that time, I will be the Empress of nted Moon, and you, Strategist, will be the Prince of nted Moon, my husband! Together, we will govern nted Moon and then have a group of imperial sons and grandsons! How about we have 10 children, Strategist? Princess Ziyue daydreamed. Lin Beifan sweated, Princess, youre thinking a bit too far ahead, even considering children! Princess Ziyue looked very serious and said, Strategist, I have no choice but to consider this! The bloodline of our nted Moon royal family is thin, and the continuation of our lineage relies solely on us! Lin Beifan was sweating, But theres no need to have so many, two or three should be enough! Its necessary to have that many! Its not just for the nted Moon royal family, theres another important reason! Lin Beifan asked, Whats the important reason? Princess Ziyue touched Lin Beifans cheek and said, Strategist, you are the most outstanding and intelligent man Ive ever met! Your bloodline is so exceptional, it must be passed down, so we must have many children! Lin Beifan was drenched in sweat, realizing he was being treated like a breeding pig! Inwardly, Lin Beifan sighed deeply. Its so difficult to be a man as outstanding as me when even marriage is not a matter of choice! They continued to talk, discussing the matters of the White Elephant Kingdom. Princess Ziyue raised an eyebrow, Strategist, arent the matters of the White Elephant Kingdom really that simple? I find it hard to believe that such trivial matters would trouble you so much. Couldnt just send an official to handle it? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Princess, youre underestimating it. There are more reasons, and Ill tell you, but dont mention it to anyone! Strategist, please go ahead quickly. I promise not to reveal anything! Princess Ziyue leaned in curiously So, Lin Beifan exined the n to eliminate the White Elephant. After hearing it, Princess Ziyue was greatly impressed, Truly worthy of being a strategist, you cane up with such brilliant tactics! Although the n has just begun, I have a strong feeling that it will seed! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile. Then, Princess Ziyue became jealous, What virtues and abilities does that woman have to receive such help from you? That woman naturally referred to the Empress. After all, Im currently a Prime Minister in the Great Wu Empire, responsible for serving the dynasty and shouldering its burdens. Its only natural for me to serve the Empress! Besides, in these past two years, she has treated me well, and helping her with some matters is the right thing to do! Lin Beifan said with a smile. Strategist, youre not wrong! But now you have to be careful because your achievements are too great. Youre not just the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Great Wu, but even a King now, and theres nothing left to reward you with! The saying achievements high enough to shake the ruler is not just a saying! Throughout history, not many people who have reached this position have had good endings! Moreover, youve offended many officials and generals in the court. If theres any trouble, they will definitely take advantage of it! Lin Beifan nodded, I understand this, and I will be cautious! He had always been aware of his situation and was prepared to escape at any time. Especially be careful of that woman. She doesnt seem that simple! Princess Ziyue said with caution, Although Ive only seen her once, I have a strong intuition that this woman is absolutely extraordinary! Lin Beifan also nodded. As he spent more time with the Empress, he gradually realized that she was indeed not as simple as she appeared on the surface. She wasnt as ipetent as outsiders imed. Some things were indeed in disarray, but others were handled perfectly. She was the kind of person who seemed a bit muddled on small matters but was astute on big issues. Especially as she became more astute over time, overseeing the destruction of the Three Great Fiefdoms, she handled many matters skillfully. From the perspective of national affairs, they often reached a consensus without discussing it. Currently, the only foolish thing she seemed to be doing was being overly infatuated with men. Lin Beifan touched his own face. Any wise emperor would practice the art of ruling, ensuring a bnced court, so they could firmly control power and have officials and generals serve them. Even if it were just one person, they would need to maintain bnce to avoid being sidelined. However, the Empress had gone ahead and delegated all power to him. He was not only the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander but even a King, with support overwhelmingly leaning in his favor. It was too much for him to handle. If he were indeed a power-hungry minister, the Empress would have been finished long ago! Strategist, Dayue is not safe! Only nted Moon is your permanent destination! Princess Ziyue added. Lin Beifan nodded, Princess, I understand! If he ever had to escape in the future, nted Moon would indeed be a good ce to go. The only thing he would have to deal with is Princess Ziyue. This woman is too greedy; she wants to have 10 children. How can I handle that? Chapter 402: Strategist, you’re so charming, I really like you! Chapter 402: Strategist, youre so charming, I really like you! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, in the White Elephant Kingdom, due to the departure of 2 million people, there are now only 3 million people left. Those who remained are rtively wealthy andw-abiding citizens. They didnt cause trouble during this riot, trying to protect themselves. Now, those rioters have already left, thinking that the turmoil has passed and they can start a better life. They naively believe that if they dont resist or cause trouble, the king will treat them well. Some even feel relieved; with the rioters gone, there are fewer peoplepeting for their interests, and they believe they will live better and be wealthier. However, they are ultimately too naive! At this moment, a group of soldiers, led by amander, stormed into a wealthy household. The homeowner was bewildered and then became angry: What are you doing? Youre breaking into a private residence without cause; its illegal, do you know that? Be careful, Ill report you to the authorities! Themander sneered, If you have the guts, go ahead and report it. This is an order from His Majesty! What? This is an order from His Majesty? The homeowner felt a growing sense of unease. What does His Majesty want to do? What valuable items do we have? What does His Majesty want to do? Themander raised his voice. Anything valuable, hand it over to me! But, sir, valuable items? The homeownermented, After going through a fire, theres nothing valuable left in our house. The only valuable thing is this house! It seems youre nning not to cooperate. Search their belongings! Themander ordered. Subsequently, all 14 soldiers rushed in and conducted a thorough search, not sparing any room or cab. Soon, they found a small box of silver coins. Take it! themander ordered. The anxious homeowner intervened, You cant take that; its my mothers funeral fund, our life savings. If you take it, what will we do? Get out of the way! A soldier kicked him, and he fell. Then they found two quilts and some warm clothing. Take them! themander ordered again. The homeowner panicked once more, You cant take those; its freezing outside. Without these quilts and clothing, my family will freeze to death! Get lost! Another soldier kicked him, and he fell again. They also found a pot of rice. Take it! The homeowner pleaded desperately, You really cant take that; its all the rice we have left. If you take it, my family will starve! Please, have some mercy and leave us something to survive! Get lost! Finally, themander got annoyed. He drew hisrge knife, ced it against the homeowners neck, and shouted, If you utter another word, you, your wife, and children will lose your heads! I ah! The homeowner looked at his family and gave up struggling. And this scene repeated itself throughout the White Elephant Kingdom. Officials led the looting, taking away valuable possessions from themon people. Those who resisted, those who were deemed unworthy, were either thrown into the dungeons or subjected to abuse by the officials and soldiers, resulting in the deaths of many innocent citizens. Themon people who remained in the White Elephant Kingdom couldnt have imagined that, after thinking the riot had ended, they would wee a supposed better life. Instead, they were met with dreams shattered as their valuable possessions were looted, and many perished, their homes in ruins. They had survived the ice disaster, only to fall into the hands of a corrupt regime. Their hearts were filled with anger and regret. The king is cruel and unjust, treating us like this; its an outrage! If only we had joined those who went to the Great Wu earlier! Indeed, they went to the Great Wu and still had food to eat, while we cant even get a meal! At first, we mocked them for leaving their hometown to beg. Now, we realize they were right, and we were wrong. Im the real fool! A total fool! Now that those people are gone, who will stand up for us? Famine had diminished their wealth, making life extremely difficult. Meanwhile, across the country, gold, silver, jewels, and wealth had all umted in the royal pce. The White Elephant King looked at the mountain of wealth but furrowed his brow. Is this all? Far from enough! If we cant deliver the tribute in full within three months, the Great Wu will be angry and send troops The officials below trembled with fear. Your Majesty, we have done our best, but we truly cant find anything more! We just went through a natural disaster The White Elephant King shouted, If you cant find it, then let them work for it! In any case, they must gather the tribute within three months, no matter what, or what use are they? Yes, Your Majesty! So, the forces of the White Elephant Kingdoms court were on the move once again. This time, it wasnt about collecting riches but capturing themon people, forcing them intobor. Regardless of age or gender, as long as they had the ability to work, they were put to work for seven to eight hours every day, with no alternative. As for food, having a single meal of coarse grain and bran was considered fortunate, and it was often mixed with mud. Many people perished and starved. Themon people who remained were once again overwhelmed with immense regret. If only we had gone to the Great Wu! I heard they treat ourpatriots there really well. As long as everyone works hard, they ensure enough food. If theres a bountiful harvest, they even distribute three-tenths of the grain! Yes, I regret it so much now, I wish I had gone too! In the Great Wu, we could still have a decent meal, but here, we cant even get a single bite! Thats right, in the Great Wu, we could still be treated like humans, but here, were worse off than dogs! Lets all go to the Great Wu! So, many of the suffering citizens of the White Elephant Kingdom, unable to bear the hardships, secretly slipped towards the border, heading towards the Great Wu. However, the White Elephant court had already prepared for this, closing the city gates and sealing off all the roads. They stationed heavy troops, making it seem like there was no way out. Its all sealed off? Nowhere to run? Is there really no way out? Are we just going to wait for death? I dont want this! Despair overwhelmed the people of the White Elephant Kingdom. It seemed like they were being driven to their deaths! Among them, the White Elephant King stood tall at the city gate, loudly dering, All of you, go back! If anyone dares to take one step forward, dont me me for not being polite! Back! Back! Back White Elephant Kingdoms soldiers, armed with long spears, shouted sternly. In the midst of the crowd, a big man clenched his teeth and said, Maybe maybe we should resist too! You dare to resist? The White Elephant King was infuriated, touching a sore spot. You rebellious peasants! If the lesson youve learned isnt enough, Ill have you all killed without mercy! Yes, Your Majesty! The White Elephant Kingdoms soldiers moved, and they carried out a brutal massacre of the resisting citizens in a scene of bloody carnage. Afterward, the court emerged victorious, and those who had resisted were reduced to lifeless corpses lying in pools of blood, a horrifying sight. The White Elephant King, however, wore a stern expression. In the future, anyone who approaches the city gates will face merciless execution! Yes, Your Majesty! To prevent any further uprisings within the country and to secure his rule, the White Elephant King enforced a brutal regime. Anyone who showed signs of disobedience or rebellion was ruthlessly put down, sparing no one. In such an environment, asional resistance sprang up in various parts of the White Elephant Kingdom but was quickly suppressed. The days of the White Elephant Kingdoms citizens became increasingly difficult. It was a situation of dire straits with no visible hope. News of the situation in the White Elephant Kingdom quickly spread to the Great Wu, and the local citizens there became aware of it. Indeed! Those who didnt join us in the beginning and still wont join us now are just selfish! Selfish individuals like them deserve this fate! They thought that by not rebelling, the king would treat them well too naive! The ones who often hurt you the most are your own people. Sure enough, as soon as we left, they showed their true colors! Thank goodness we came to the Great Wu; otherwise, we would have suffered with them! Yes, were lucky to have left quickly! While they felt fortunate, they couldnt help but mourn the fate of the citizens who remained in the White Elephant Kingdom. After all, they were essentially the same people, just struggling to make a living here due to poverty. They would finish their work and eventually return, facing the same circumstances Deep sighs filled their hearts. If only they could stay in the Great Wu forever! Lin Beifan naturally learned about the situation in the White Elephant Kingdom. This is a path to destruction! If they dont deliver in three months, the White Elephant Kingdom will perish, and the Great Wu will expand its territory! Everything in the White Elephant Kingdom was unfolding ording to his n, which made Lin Beifan very satisfied. Turning his gaze to the Wuxi region, the 2 million White Elephantborers were now settled and actively cultivating thend. Everything was orderly, and Lin Beifan thought it was time to return to the capital. After all, he held the positions of Prime Minister, Supreme Commander of the Army, Prefect of the Capital City, and Head of the Imperial Academy. There were too many responsibilities to tend to, and he couldnt stay away from the capital for too long. So, Lin Beifan handed over his duties to local officials. At the same time, he bid farewell to Princess Ziyue, saying, Princess, I have to go! As you know, I have too many responsibilities behind me. Im bound to the court and have no choice. Princess Ziyue nodded in understanding and said reluctantly, Strategist, when will youe back? ording to the n, if everything goes smoothly, I will return to the Wuxi in three months. That will be the time for the White Elephants incorporation into the Great Wu. Princess Ziyue nodded again and said, Alright, three months from now, I wille to apany the strategist again. But before you leave, I hope you can fulfill a small request of mine. Lin Beifan opened his arms, closed his eyes, and said resolutely, Princess, go ahead, I can endure it. Princess Ziyue chuckled and scolded him, Strategist, youre so cheeky! But I really like it! With that, she pounced on him, and the two embraced tightly. Chapter 403: Now that the four seas are peaceful, can’t I enjoy myself a bit? Chapter 403: Now that the four seas are peaceful, cant I enjoy myself a bit? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan received a report from Princess Ziyue, and after about a week, he hurried back to the capital. He then entered the pce to meet the Empress and report on the affairs of the White Elephant Kingdom. The Empress, upon hearing the report, was very pleased and said, I knew that with you in charge, we would surely seed! It wont be long before the White Elephant Kingdom bes our territory, haha! Lin Beifan raised three fingers and said, Your Majesty, ording to the current situation in the White Elephant Kingdom, it will probably take only three months for it to fall into our hands! The Empress became even happier and said, Very well! After three months, trouble you to go and capture the White Elephant Kingdom! Lin Beifan responded, I obey yourmand! Sir, its almost noon. If you dont have any other matters, please stay and have lunch with me. After lunch, stay and help me review the memorials. Theres so much work to be dely, and I cant handle it all by myself! Lin Beifan looked at the mountain of memorials piled beside him, his face turning a little green. So many memorials were equivalent to several days worth of work. With the world at peace, why were there so many memorials? Lin Beifan felt that the Empress had deliberately left them for him, as she had also learned to bezy. Your Majesty, there is one more matter I need to report! Sir, what is it? The Empress asked. Lin Beifan said with a heavy heart, Not long ago, our Great Wu experienced a once-in-a-century ice disaster, causing heavy losses to the court and the people. And now, as we are in the spring nting season, whether Great Wu can recover from the ice disaster depends on this moment. Its a major issue, and we cant afford to be careless. So, I would like to inspect Great Wu and ensure agricultural production. I respectfully request Your Majestys approval. The Empress remained expressionless, her beautiful eyes ncing at him briefly as she said, Sir, are you trying to avoid political affairs and go on a leisure trip? Lin Beifan felt uneasy, realizing that the Empress had seen through him so easily. He said with a wry smile, Your Majesty, how could you doubt my intentions? Everything I do is for the prosperity of Great Wu! Great Wu is vast, with abundant resources, and we cant truly understand it by staying in the capital. Only by going out, conducting on-site inspections, and gathering specific information, can we make better arrangements. Well, thats true, the Empress thought for a moment and said, Alright, Ill apany you! Lin Beifan was shocked, and he stammered, Your Majesty, youll apany me? The Empress nodded with a smile, Yes! Its been a long time since I left the capital. Its time to see what Great Wu looks like under my rule, whether the people are living well, and if they have enough to eat and keep warm. Lin Beifan felt even more anxious. His n had been to take his beautifulpanions and close friends on a sightseeing tour while discreetly assessing the situation. But with the Empress apanying him, could he really go on such a leisurely trip? He immediately eximed, Your Majesty, this is absolutely not possible! The Empress furrowed her brows and asked, Whats not possible? Lin Beifan earnestly advised, Your Majesty, you are the Emperor of Great Wu, responsible for everything. With the four seas under your control, the entire empire relies on you. How can you easily leave the capital? If youre not presiding over the court, the country could fall into chaos! The Empress waved her hand dismissively and said, Sir, you dont need to worry. Even though Ill be going on an inspection tour, I will still handle state affairs. Throughout history, there have been precedents. As long as everything is arranged properly, there wont be any chaos! Lin Beifan persisted, But Your Majesty, your inspection tour is not a small matter! To ensure your safety and daily needs, arge number of personnel will be apanying you, and officials will need to make arrangements along the way. It will be a significant burden on the people, and they will criticize you for being an extravagant ruler. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider! The Empress waved her hand again, indifferent to his concerns, and said, Sir, I am already considered an extravagant ruler in the eyes of many. What does it matter how they criticize me? Lin Beifan was utterly shocked. Even if people criticized you for being extravagant, youre not concerned at all? But, Your Majesty Thats enough, Sir! the Empress interrupted firmly, Now that the country is unified and the four seas are peaceful, cant I enjoy myself a bit? Your Majesty, its not that you cant. Could you consider changing the timing? The Empress became angry, saying, Sir, youre usually quite clever. Why do you always make things difficult for me at this moment? If you say one more word, I will punish you I will punish you by having you stay in charge of the court and handle state affairs until I return! This was truly a powerful move, and Lin Beifan immediately fell silent! The Empress secretly chuckled, confident that she could control him. Seeing Lin Beifans distressed expression, the Empress couldnt bear it and said, Sir, dont be unhappy. I allow you to bring your family along. That way, the journey wont be lonely! Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan silently shed tears, realizing that this was a stroke of good luck in his misfortune. On that day, the Empress announced this decision to the outside world. After three days of preparations, a fleet of luxurious ships set sail from the capital. The itinerary was as follows: first, they headed south to Southern Jiang. Southern Jiang had always been an economic hub of Great Wu, and its strategic importance in terms of grain storage was significant. Therefore, the Empress wanted to start by inspecting Southern Jiang to ensure there were no issues with the grain supply before moving north to Northern Jiang. Then they would continue north to Northern Hebei and eventually return. If everything went quickly, it would take two months; if not, it could take three months. At this point, they had just set out and had not yet left the capitals territory, so the Empress hadnt gone sightseeing yet. Instead, she sat in her cabin, engrossed in reviewing memorials. She nned to handle state affairs first and then enjoy some leisure activities. She was indeed a diligent and responsible Empress. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan began to ck off, ying and frolicking with thedies on the ship. Look, theres a group of fish chasing us here! And here theres a big ck carp. It looks so plump! My mouth is watering. Lets catch it and make a braised dish! Braising it would be such a waste! We can use the head to make fish head soup, braise one half of the fish, and steam the other half. And we can make chili sauce with the fish tail! Young Lady, you make a lot of sense! The sounds ofughter and y echoed from outside into the cabin. The Empresss heart was in turmoil, and she couldnt sit still. She gritted her teeth and said, Im working hard to review memorials inside, and youre having such a great time outside? Go, bring Lord Lin in! Not long after, Lin Beifan walked in and respectfully asked, Your Majesty, what are your orders? Sir, you came at just the right time! The Empress smiled and stood up, pulling Lin Beifan to sit in her chair and resting her hand on his shoulder. You will be in charge of reviewing these memorials! Lin Beifan was somewhat surprised. But, Your Majesty, what about you? The Empress stretchedzily and said, Ive been sitting for too long and feel a bit tired. Ill go for a walk, stretch my bones! Before I return, these memorials will be your responsibility! Lin Beifan nodded understandingly. Understood, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan took on the Empresss work, while the Empress enjoyed her leisurely stroll. Empress Sister, youre here! the Little Princess enthusiastically eximed as the Empress returned. Your Majesty, we, the humble subjects, pay our respects. Long live our Emperor! Li Shi Shi, Mo Rushuang, and others immediately bowed. You dont need to be so formal, the Empress smiled and said, Since everyone rarelyes out to have fun, lets focus on enjoying ourselves. You dont need to worry too much about formalities; just maintain a respectful tone. Yes, Your Majesty! everyone agreed. The Empress curiously asked, What are you all doing? Empress Sister, I was nning to catch this big ck carp and make it the centerpiece of a fish feast tonight, the Little Princess said, her mouth watering as she spoke. The Empress became interested. Fishing, eh? I know how to fish. Let me do it! With that, she took over the fishing rod. Mo Rushuang advised, But, Your Majesty, this carp is quiterge. It might be too much The Empress took a look and nodded with a smile. Indeed, its big. I havent caught such arge fish before, so I might not have enough strength. Therefore,ter on, all of you must help me together to catch this fish! Yes, Your Majesty! So, everyone worked together to catch the carp. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan sat in the Empresss position, rapidly reviewing the memorials. Unconsciously, a stick of incense burned down. The number of memorials hadnt decreased much, but Lin Beifan was growing impatient. He turned to the old eunuch beside him and asked, What is the Empress doing? A stick of incense has passed, and she still hasnt returned. The old eunuch replied, Reporting to Prime Minister, Her Majesty is fishing and thoroughly enjoying herself! Shes fishing? Lin Beifan frowned. Could you please go and remind Her Majesty to return to her duties? Well the old eunuch looked hesitant. Your Majesty is having so much fun, and I dare not disturb her enjoyment. Prime Minister, please be patient. She should return soon! Alright, Ill wait a bit longer. Another stick of incense passed, but the Empress still hadnt returned. Lin Beifan couldnt help but ask again, Where is Her Majesty? The old eunuch replied, Reporting to Prime Minister, Your Majesty is still fishing. Can you please remind her? Its been half an hour, and its time for her toe back! Prime Minister, arent you making it difficult for me? If you endure a little longer, Her Majesty will return soon! Fine, Ill endure a bit longer. Another stick of incense burned down, and the Empress still hadnt returned. This time, Lin Beifan didnt ask. Instead, he used his spiritual power to understand the situation outside. And then, he was stunned. Because the Empress had actually bepletely engrossed in fishing! She had caught fish after fish, filling two water tubs, and one big carp had already been dissected. The problem was that she was so carried away with her fun that she had left me behind. Its as if she brought me to the door and then treated me like aborer, making me handle state affairs! How mean! At this moment, the Empress, who was enthusiastically fishing, suddenly furrowed her brow. Empress, whats wrong? the youngdy asked. The Empress frowned and said, I dont know why, but I feel like theres something I need to do, but I cant remember it right now Is it something important? the youngdy asked again. Its important and not important at the same time, the Empress waved her hand. Never mind. Lets continue fishing and having fun! Lin Beifan:
TLN: Ive added chapters of [My Ipetent Reign: Gifting the Kingdom at the Beginning, Bing an Eternal Emperor] on . Chapter 404: I considered you a friend, but you ended up craving my body! Chapter 404: I considered you a friend, but you ended up craving my body! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Dinner naturally consisted of a feast of fish. Various types of river fish, carp, tpia, tpia, catfish, and crucian carp Various cooking methods, steamed, braised, boiled, grilled, fried Everyone ate with great joy and satisfaction. Only the empress felt somewhat ufortable, with a slight sense of guilt, because there were always a pair of resentful eyes (Lin Beifans) watching her. Under the gaze of those eyes, she felt uneasy and choked. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she picked up a piece of crispy fried fish and ced it in Lin Beifans bowl, saying, Sir, youve worked hard today! Have some fish to replenish your strength! Lin Beifan put down his chopsticks and advised, Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a nation, how can you be so idle? Fishing made you forget about state affairs! Whats more, you left me alone in the room to review reports tirelessly while you frolicked outside for two hours. Is this appropriate? And youve already forgotten about me! The empress, feeling embarrassed, said, Sir, I havent had this much fun in a long time, so I couldnt stop myself! But tomorrow will be different; tomorrow I will seriously attend to state affairs. Please trust me! Your Majesty, you must keep your word! Lin Beifan said. With a determined tone, the empress said, I am the sovereign of this nation, and my words are as good as gold. How could I deceive you? Watching the empresss sincere demeanor, Lin Beifan believed her! But the result was different the next day. Wow, there are so many fish here too! Quick, bring me my fishing rod; Im going to catch them all! Today, Im going to catch ten barrels of fish! Wow, the Empress is so amazing; she caught another fish! Hahaha The empress was ying again, and she was even more excited than yesterday! Meanwhile, Lin Beifan sat once again at his desk, buried under a mountain of reports, correcting them without any emotions. His heart was filled with bitterness! Womens words are deceiving, I actually believed in your sincerity! Just then, a person peeked in, looking very cute. Lin Beifan waved to her, Little Princess, why are you here? The Little Princess came over with something in her hands, saying, Lin Beifan, I came to see you! These are special candied fruits and osmanthus cakes that I brought for you. Try them; how do they taste? Lin Beifan was deeply moved, Little Princess, youre the best to me! The Little Princess proudly said, Of course, youre my man; who else should I be good to? Lin Beifan: Quick, try it. How does it taste? The Little Princess handed over the food in her hands. Lin Beifan carefully picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and began to eat it. It melted in his mouth, and he swallowed it in two or three bites. Then, he picked up a piece of candied fruit. It was sweet, soft, and not sticky at all. Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly, Very good, very delicious. I really like them. Thank you, Little Princess! Seizing the opportunity, the Little Princess hinted, Lin Beifan, considering how good I am to you, shouldnt you show some appreciation? Show appreciation for what? Lin Beifan asked, puzzled. The Little Princess, with a sly look, winked, You know what I mean! Lin Beifan was so angry that his whole body trembled! I thought of you as a friend, but you ended up coveting my body! I thought there was a connection between us, but in the end, it turned out to be just a business deal! Lin Beifan felt a chill in his heart, opened his arms, and said, Little Princess,e here and be gentle with me! The Little Princess immediately pounced on him, clinging to Lin Beifan like an octopus. Holding the small person in his arms, Lin Beifan found some sce in his heart. Although he had once again been abandoned by the empress, the Little Princess remained loyal, providing him with a bit of warmth in this vast and cold cabin. Just then, the empresss voice came from outside: Yunying, Ive caught a big carp again! This carp is exceptionally fat and lively. You must love eating it! Where, where Empress Sister, Iming! The Little Princess hurriedly rushed out. Lin Beifan: Unbeknownst to them, the fleet had sailed more than 100 li away, leaving the capitals territory and arriving in Xianzhou Prefecture. All the officials of Xianzhou Prefecture and manymoners hade out to greet them. We pay our respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor! Everyone, please rise! The empress looked at the bustling officials of Xianzhou Prefecture and the densely packedmoners on both sides, furrowing her brow. During this inspection, I have repeatedly instructed that I would travel lightly and not disturb the people! You officials of Xianzhou Prefecture should each perform your duties instead ofing to see me! Except for the essential officials, theres no need for anyone else to be here! Yes, Your Majesty! The officials of Xianzhou Prefecture trembled with fear. And thesemoners, theres no need to arrange for them either! I truly dislike these meaningless grand spectacles that waste resources and trouble the people. If I catch wind of this happening again, beware of your heads! the empress warned. The Prefect wiped the sweat from his face and said nervously, Your Majesty, they came here of their own ord, not at my arrangement! Its just that the opportunity to see the Emperor is so rare that they couldnt resisting! I see, in that case, its not your fault! But now, its the busy season for spring nting, and the fields needbor. You should send them back! the empress ordered with a wave of her hand. Yes, Your Majesty! So, themoners on both sides were dismissed. The empress then set foot in Xianzhou and began inspecting the development of the region. The apanying personnel were not many, mainly consisting of skilled individuals. As they traveled, the empress couldnt help but sigh, Before I ascended the throne, I once stayed in Xianzhou for a few days! Now, more than ten years have passed, the streets are busier, there are more houses, and the roads are wider. I almost didnt recognize it! Prefect Liu, it seems youve done well in the past few years. You deserve a promotion! The Prefect of Xianzhou was overjoyed and said humbly, Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I am truly unworthy! Actually, if we talk about changes, it mainly startedst year! The empress was somewhat surprised, Only startedst year? Yes, Your Majesty! The Prefect of Xianzhou bowed, I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Just over a year ago, there were not many changes in Xianzhou! But in the past year, after the internal turmoil in Great Wu ended, the waterways were all cleared, hovercraft transportation became smooth, and various goods were transported faster, leading to an improvement in the economy! And theres also the widespread use and promotion of the miraculous construction material, cement, which has created numerous job opportunities. Manymoners are now working, and they are living in sturdy houses. This has once again boosted the economy! Furthermore, the courts policies for recuperation and recovery Under these various measures, the changes in Xianzhou are truly remarkable. The lives of themoners are getting better and better, and all of this is thanks to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! The officials all eximed. The empress shook her head with a smile, thinking to herself, How can this be my aplishment? Its all Lin Beifans doing! Without him, none of this would have been possible. A capable minister has a tremendous impact on the country! Especially someone like Lin Beifan, who has aprehensive and top-notchwork, has an even greater influence! With his efforts alone, he saved a nation! However, Lin Beifans abilities also belonged to her! After all, they were going to be a family in the future; there was no need to be so formal! Next, apanied by her entourage, the empress quietly inspected the spring nting in the fields. This was the busy season for spring farming, and themoners had rolled up their sleeves, hiked up their pants, and some even bared their arms, working energetically in the fields. The empress couldnt help but feel moved again. Last year, we faced a once-in-a-century ice disaster, but luckily we got through it! I hope this year will bring a good harvest and relieve their hardships. Your Majesty, sincest year, weve used cement to build many irrigation facilities and vigorously promoted various fertilizers and agricultural techniques. This spring, we nted high-yielding Taiping rice, and the beginning looks better than ever before. Were sure to have a good harvest this year! someone advised. The empress nodded, I hope so! The empress continued on and arrived at a teahouse not far away to have a meal. While resting, the empress didnt forget to nce at the fields and said with a smile, Sir, youre the top schr of Great Wu. Seeing this lively scene ofbor in the fields, dont you want topose a poem? Lin Beifan, who was eating, thought for a moment and nodded, Sure, Ill do my best! Amidst the anticipation of the crowd, Lin Beifan recited the ssic poem In Praise of Farmers. In spring, a lone millet seed takes root,e autumn, a bounty of countless grains it yields. No barren fields under heavens vast expanse, yet hunger persists amongst those who toil. Beneath the noonday sun, upon the humble hoe, beads of sweat descend to nourish the soil. Consider this, each morsel on the te, a testament to everyborers tireless toil. After hearing the poem, everyone was deeply impressed. What a great poem! Its simple and unadorned, yet sincere in its emotions, portraying thebor of farmers! Especially thest line: Consider this, each morsel on the te, a testament to everyborers tireless toil. It emphasizes the value of food and the hard work of farmers, reminding us to cherish food and avoid wastage! I also think thest line of the poem is the best, it adds the finishing touch! The empress looked at Lin Beifan with an amused expression, suppressing her innerughter. Sir, first put down the chicken leg in your hand, wipe the oil off your mouth, and then recite this poem more appropriately! Lin Beifan: After spending only two days in Xianzhou, the fleet continued its journey south. They visited several prefectures along the way, and overall, everything seemed satisfactory. During this journey, Lin Beifan also used his abilities to improve the local weather conditions and soil quality, ensuring a good harvest for the year. However, while on the move, news arrived from the Great Yan Empire. The Imperial Teacher of Great Yan, Empty Void Daoist, had gathered various precious materials and was preparing to refine the elixir of immortality. This news caught the attention of emperors and kings from various nations. However, upon receiving this news, Lin Beifans first reaction was, Is this unscrupulous Daoist nning to run away? Chapter 405: Don’t Worry, I’m Not a Good Person! Chapter 405: Dont Worry, Im Not a Good Person! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan could see through the abilities of the unscrupulous Taoist at a nce. While he might have some skills, like refining certain elixirs, he certainly couldnt create the elixir of immortality. Furthermore, the other party was well aware of their own capabilities and relied on elixirs to deceive and swindle others. They would continue doing so as long as they could get away with it, and they would be as greedy as they could be. Now theyre talking about refining the elixir of immortality; its possible theyve already had their fill and n to run! Or it could be that the Great Yan Emperor couldnt wait any longer and is forcing them to create the elixir of immortality. Once the deception cant continue, theyll move on to another target. The elixir of immortality is something they wont be able to concoct for sure! Lin Beifan pondered in his heart. Regardless of the possibilities, the Taoist would try to escape, and Lin Beifan couldnt allow that. This scoundrel is useful; we cant let them get away! Lin Beifan called for the Night Fragrance who was apanying him and said, Night Fragrance, can you do me a favor and go to the Great Yan Capital to take care of something? With a snap, Night Fragrance opened the folding fan in his hand and, fanning himself, said hesitantly, Youre asking me to go that far? Prime Minister, arent you making things difficult for me? Let me tell you, I wont do anything without benefits! Dont worry, this time its really interesting, beyond your imagination! Lin Beifan grinned and said. Oh, what is it? Night Fragrance asked curiously. Let me tell you Lin Beifan leaned closer to his ear and exined the situation. Night Fragrances eyes gradually lit up. Prime Minister, rest assured, Ill make sure to handle this matter properly! That day, he immediately disyed his supreme lightness skill and rushed to the Great Yan Capital. Great Yan Capital, the residence of the National Teacher. At this moment, the Empty Void Daoist and his young disciple were busy packing their belongings. Disciple, hurry up! Leave behind thoserge, cumbersome items; pick the small valuables that are worth a fortune. Everything else can be abandoned! The young disciple looked at the room full of gold, silver, and jewels with great reluctance. But Master, well lose a lot of money this way! If we lose money, so be it. Its better than losing our lives, isnt it? Master, cant we just stay? Empty Void Daoist let out a sigh and smiled bitterly. Disciple, even I dont want to leave, but we have no choice now! Master, why? the young disciple asked in confusion. Empty Void Daoist coughed and said, Originally, with our abilities, we could havefortably lived in Great Yan for a few more years without any problems! But who would have thought that the situation in Great Yan would change so rapidly? After the ice disaster, the people rebelled one after another, and they all med us! They said we were the bringers of misfortune, confusing the current emperor and officials, and they searched everywhere for wealth, making peoples lives miserable, full of hardship and cmities! The key issue is that under such circumstances, the emperor has be impatient and has given us a deadline to create the elixir of immortality! But how could we possibly create such a divine medicine? Empty Void Daoist looked bitter. If we cant produce the elixir of immortality, the lie will be exposed, and the entire Great Yan wont tolerate us. Well undoubtedly be torn to pieces by the emperor! So, we must escape, or itll be toote to save ourselves! The young disciple listened, terrified, and said, Master, youre right, we need to flee! At that moment, a sardonic voice echoed in their ears, Escape? Where do you n to escape to? Both of them in the room broke out in cold sweat. Empty Void Daoist vigntly scanned the surroundings and shouted, Whos there? Whos ying tricks? Show yourself! With a sudden bang, the door swung open, and a white figure swiftly entered. Standing before the two, he snapped open a folding fan with a mischievous smile and said, Its said that arriving early is not as good as arriving at the right time. I didnt expect to overhear such a top-secret conversation; this trip wasnt in vain! Who who are you? Empty Void Daoist asked warily. In his small sesame-green eyes, a hint of profound hostility lurked. Thats a good question! I am who I am. I havent changed my name or surname. I am the renowned Night Fragrance of Great Wu! Night Fragrance said with great pride. Youre Night Fragrance! Empty Void Daoist and his disciple eximed in surprise. Seeing their reactions, Night Fragrance chuckled and said, It seems you know my name, and Im quite pleased about that! Haha But at that moment, Empty Void Daoist suddenlyunched an attack, filled with overwhelming murderous intent. Night Fragrance swiftly dodged with graceful ease, waving his finger while saying, Empty Void Daoist, you better not make a move! Even Greatmasters couldnt catch me. You dont have the ability. Do you know why Im here? Why? Empty Void Daoist asked cautiously. Night Fragrance continued fanning himself and said with pride, Im here on the orders of the Great Wu Prime Minister, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Army, the loyal and brave King Lin Beifan! Lin Beifan!!! Empty Void Daoist eximed once again. He could never forget this man because it was this man who forced them to flee from Great Yan. Furthermore, the other party had been holding onto his weakness all along. As long as this weakness was exposed, he would undoubtedly be torn apart by the Great Yan Emperor and the entire court. Empty Void Daoist felt a sense of impending doom and asked, Why did he send you here? Why he sent me here is something you should already understand! Night Fragrance said with a sly smile. He told me to tell you that if you want to continue keeping his secret, youll have to pay the corresponding price! Empty Void Daoist closed his eyes in despair; he knew this day woulde sooner orter. This insatiable corrupt official would never let him go. How much does he want? Empty Void Daoist asked. He wants as much as you have. Hell take all of these, Night Fragrance pointed to the room full of gold, silver, and jewels. That should satisfy his appetite. Empty Void Daoist sighed deeply, His appetite is insatiable! Night Fragrances mouth twitched, Indeed, his appetite is huge. Even the priceless treasures that I painstakingly stole with great difficulty were swindled away by him! Even I fell into his trap, so youd better cooperate obediently. Otherwise, if he reveals your secrets, youll bear the consequences! Empty Void Daoists expression was uncertain. At this moment, his brain shed through dozens of ns, but he rejected them all one by one. Because none of these methods would work unless he could escape from Great Yan immediately or possessed the strength of a Greatmaster-level expert. Otherwise, he was doomed. Empty Void Daoist reluctantly threw the two packages he was holding onto the ground, Take them! Night Fragrance opened them and smiled, Thats a wise choice! Then, Night Fragrance made several trips back and forth, finally emptying the room of its gold, silver, and jewels. Empty Void Daoist watched, feeling like his heart was bleeding. These were treasures he had spent over half a year acquiring, risking his life, and using all his cunning to swindle. He had thought he could seed and retire infort, but in the end, everything became someone elses bridal gown. In other words, he had offended every level of Great Yan, and he didnt gain anything. Lin Beifan, you damn it, I am sworn enemies with you!!! Empty Void Daoists eyes were filled with rage. The young disciple looked at the empty room, his eyes devoid of hope, Master, should we still run? Empty Void Daoist clenched his teeth, Of course, we must run when necessary! Just at that moment, the door creaked open, and Night Fragrance casually strolled in. Empty Void Daoist and his disciple both jumped in surprise. Night Fragrance quickly said, Rx, Im not a good person Empty Void Daoist and his disciple: Sorry, I misspoke! Night Fragrance pped her forehead. Although I used to be a thief, Ive turned over a new leaf. Im now a cat who specializes in catching thieves! Empty Void Daoist suppressed his anger and said, Why have youe again? Theres nothing left here for you! Night Fragrance fanned himself while smiling mischievously and said, Of course, I know that. But I still have one more task; I need you to act in a little y for me. What y? Empty Void Daoist asked. At this moment, Night Fragrance suddenly made a move, and Empty Void Daoist resisted. In terms of strength, both of them had fourth-rank cultivation, making them evenly matched. However, Night Fragrances lightness skill and speed,bined with the small knife that Lin Beifan had given him, gave him the upper hand. He quickly subdued Empty Void Daoist and pressed his acupoints. His young disciple was simrly subdued. What do you want, Night Fragrance? Empty Void Daoist growled. Didnt I just tell you? I want you to y a role for me! Dont worry; the acupoints will release in an hour. Im off! With that, he left. When he reappeared, he had transformed into the appearance of Empty Void Daoist. With an air of solemnity, he arrived at the gates of the pce and said, Gentlemen, I, the humble one, have important matters to report to His Majesty. Kindly ry the message. Yes, Your Eminence! Shortly after, Night Fragrance met with the Great Yan Emperor inside the pce. Venerable One, what brings you here sote? Night Fragrance said with an air of solemnity, Your Majesty, I, the humble one, have observed the celestial omens and felt inspired. I believe that seven days from now will present an auspicious opportunity for creating the elixir of immortality! So, I intend to observe a seven-day fast and prepare myself in tranquility at the mansion before concocting this divine medicine! This matter must not be taken lightly, so I humbly request that Your Majesty assign some skilled guards and court attendants to protect my residence. I am profoundly grateful. Upon hearing this, the Great Yan Emperor was very pleased, Very well! Venerable One, please make the necessary preparations. I will arrange everything else for you! Thank you for your gracious favor, Your Majesty! Night Fragrance bowed. An hourter, the acupoints on Empty Void Daoists body finally released. The imperial edict and a meter-high guard arrived. By the imperial decree: Seven days from now, the Venerable One will create the elixir of immortality. The Venerable One will observe a seven-day fast and prepare in tranquility at the mansion. His Majesty is deeply gratified and has dispatched court attendants and skilled guards to safeguard the Venerable Ones residence. So decrees the Emperor! Empty Void Daoist waspletely stunned. Seven days from now, Im supposed to create the elixir of immortality? Why wasnt I informed about this? Even if I am to concoct it, why would I need skilled guards to protect me? Is it because theyre afraid Ill run away? Empty Void Daoist tried to inquire subtly, but in the end, he was infuriated beyond measure. It must be Night Fragrance! This person actually impersonated me and gave advice to the Emperor. This is a death trap for me! I am sworn enemies with you!!! Chapter 406: It’s Time to Show Real Skills! Chapter 406: Its Time to Show Real Skills! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The young disciple asked nervously, Master, what should we do next? What else can we do? Of course, well y it cool! Empty Void Daoist replied impatiently, ncing at the many experts outside, including 20 innate masters and even a grandmaster. Feeling overwhelmed by their sheer strength, he felt dizzy and disoriented. In the face of such a formidable force, how could he escape? The young disciple, even more anxious, suggested, Master, cant we tell the Emperor that Night Fragrance is behind all of this? He impersonated you and conspired against the Emperor! It wont work! Empty Void Daoist sighed bitterly. Even without this matter, the Emperor would still force us to refine elixirs. So, we should think about how to escape. In the following days, Empty Void Daoist tried every possible means to escape but ultimately failed. Every time he showed himself, so-called grandmasters in the area would spot him, forcing him to retreat to the mansion. Each day was a grueling trial, like a countdown to death. On the other side, Night Fragrance arrived with all the gold, silver, and jewels. This unscrupulous Taoist is really good at making money. In just over half a year in Great Yan, he has already earned nearly 20 million taels of silver in gold, pearls, and heavenly rewards! When I saw it, I was shocked, of course Night Fragrance nced at Lin Beifan and said, Compared to you, hes stillcking in experience! Lin Beifan looked around the room filled with gold, silver, and jewels, very satisfied. Initially, he cast a long line to catch a big fish, and now it had seeded, making his wallet bulge. Night Fragrance, youve worked hard all the way! ording to our agreement, you can choose three things you like from these treasures! After you make your selection, please send the rest to my mansion! This young master wont be polite! Night Fragrance immediately chose three precious items with great delight. Then, hezily reclined in his chair and said, After doing so much work for you, I finally see some extra money. But why go through so much trouble? Why not just deal with that crafty demon directly? Lin Beifan smiled mysteriously, He still has his uses! Afterward, Lin Beifan and the Empresses continued their exploration of Southern Jiang, enjoying the scenery along the way. Unbeknownst to them, seven days had passed. At this point, Lin Beifan and the others had reached the southernmost part of Southern Jiang, with less than a hundred li separating them from Great Yan. After spending one more day here, they could turn back and head to Northern Jiang. That night, Lin Beifan shared a room with Night Fragrance and asked for his help to switch ces with him. Lin Beifan quietly slipped away and swiftly flew to the capital of Great Yan. This very night was also the promised time for Empty Void Daoist to concoct the elixir. In the capital of Great Yan, a curfew was in effect, and soldiers guarded every important passage. The Emperor of Great Yan, apanied by officials, came to the residence of the Imperial Teacher with great pomp. Imperial Teacher, the hour has arrived! Are you ready? Can you refine the Elixir of Immortality? The Emperor of Great Yan asked with concern. Empty Void Daoist, in a dignified manner, replied, Immeasurable Longevity! Your Majesty, this humble one is prepared. However, the Elixir of Immortality is a divine elixir that challenges the heavens and earth. Whether it can be sessfully refined, this humble one cannot guarantee, but I will do my utmost. The Emperor of Great Yan nodded understandingly, Imperial Teacher, we understand! Throughout history, there has indeed been no precedent for sessful elixir-making. Imperial Teacher, please give it a try, and if it does not seed, I will not hold you ountable. Empty Void Daoist secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Its good that he wont be held ountable! He had now abandoned the idea of running away and was determined to follow through with the request to refine the Elixir of Immortality. He knew he would definitely need some post-production, but to protect his own life, he had to y along. He wanted to employ a stratagem of feigning distress. What does that mean? It means that during the alchemical process, he would exhaust himself, appear fatigued, and act drained, ultimately coughing up some blood at the endbasically, he would put on a show of working extremely hard and giving it his all. This way, if the elixir of immortality couldnt be produced, it wouldnt be a matter of ipetence but rather a matter of capability. If Im working this hard, you cant me me, right? Of course, the elixir wouldnt actually grant immortality, but it would have to possess some other effects, such as prolonging life, enhancing beauty, nurturing the liver, or healing illnesses, to present to the Emperor. This way, he could smoothly deceive everyone. A glimmer of hope. After sessfully deceiving everyone this time, he would consider making his escape. Your Majesty, and esteemed ministers, pleasee in! Led by the unscrupulous Taoist, everyone entered the Imperial Teachers residence and arrived in the courtyard. At this moment, there was a massive alchemical furnace in the courtyard, and his young disciple was adding firewood below, causing the mes to roar. The alchemical furnace glowed red hot, and waves of heat washed over them. Next to the furnace, there were piles of various rare herbs, lingzhi mushrooms, and many other unnamed medicinal ingredients, all looking iprehensible. The unscrupulous Taoist stood in front of the alchemical furnace, gazed at the moon in the sky, and said with a serious expression, Your Majesty, and esteemed lords, it is now an auspicious time. This humble Taoist will begin alchemy! During this process, I cannot be distracted to entertain you all. Please understand! Emperor Great Yan was somewhat excited and said, Imperial Teacher, what nonsense are you talking about? If you can create an elixir of immortality for us, we will be overjoyed. How could we me you? Imperial Teacher, just focus on the alchemy! Imperial Teacher, you can proceed with making the divine elixir, dont worry about us! Compared to the grand alchemical undertaking, our matters are insignificant! Imperial Teacher, please! Thank you, Your Majesty, and esteemed lords, for your understanding. Then I shall begin! Empty Void Daoist bowed again, took a deep breath, and walked further toward the alchemical furnace, his expression more serious than ever. Everyone knew that the Imperial Teacher was about to start producing the elixir of immortality, so they held their breath and watched seriously. Wind,e! Empty Void Daoist shouted. His whole body trembled as he emitted a surge of energy, and a strong wind blew, stirring up the fire inside the furnace, making it burn even hotter. Fire,e! Empty Void Daoist shouted again. Then, he conjured fire with his hands and sent it into the furnace, making the mes even fiercer. Water,e! Empty Void Daoist shouted once more. His hands actually condensed into water droplets, forming a ball of water that he threw into the furnace. Instead of extinguishing the fire, the water fed the mes, making them burn even more vigorously. The mes surged into the sky, creating a spectacr scene. Those around couldnt help but be entranced, deeply impressed. The Imperial Teachers alchemy skills have reached the realm of producing divine elixirs! Every time we witness it, we are deeply impressed! Your Majesty, the Imperial Teacher is truly a divine being; only a divine being can create divine elixirs! What you say is absolutely true, Sir! Next, Empty Void Daoist threw the various herbs ced beside him into the alchemical furnace in a specific order. Under the zing fire, these herbs unexpectedly melted together, producing a unique fragrance that gradually filled the entire room, making people unable to resist feeling invigorated. Such a delightful fragrance, is this the scent of the elixir? Only true divine elixirs could have such a fragrance! Just one whiff and it makes you feel refreshed and otherworldly! Everyone praised once again. Next, surprisingly, Empty Void Daoist rushed to the red-hot alchemical furnace, chanting something under his breath, his hands gathering thick true energy. Then, he lifted the alchemical furnace with force, swinging it. After the furnace fell, he effortlessly caught it and swung it again. This continued in a repetitive manner, like a performance. However, this scene appeared incredibly profound and mysterious to the onlookers, as if it concealed some kind of secret. Once again, they couldnt help but nod in admiration. At this moment, the unscrupulous Taoists face turned red, and then he spat out a mouthful of blood onto the alchemical furnace. Emperor Great Yan was shocked, Imperial Teacher, what is happening? Why did you suddenly cough up blood? Your Majesty, this is a normal procedure! the unscrupulous Taoists young disciple respectfully exined, The elixir of immortality is an immortal medicine that should not exist in the mortal world. Sessfully refining it is extremely difficult! Thats why my master is using his own essence blood as a catalyst to increase the chances of sess. I see, the Imperial Teacher has sacrificed too much! Emperor Great Yan said with concern, After this is aplished, I will definitely reward him! Next, the unscrupulous Taoist continued to spit out several mouthfuls of blood in session, staining the alchemical furnace. This scene left the onlookers shaking their heads in sympathy. This blood-spitting is just like having diarrhea! The Imperial Teacher has sacrificed too much for refining the elixir of immortality. After its aplished, we must treat him well! The unscrupulous Taoist secretly observed everyones reactions and couldnt help but smile inwardly. Are you feeling sorry for me? Its good that you are! Look at how much effort Ive put into alchemy, even spitting out so much blood. If it doesnt seed in the end, dont me me! Im quite clever toe up with such a good excuse! Seeing that its already gettingte, Ill continue the performance for half an hour more and then call it a day! With this in mind, the unscrupulous Taoist put even more effort into his performance. So, he once again spat out a mouthful of blood onto the alchemical furnace. At this moment, a thick dark cloud floated down from the sky. Lin Beifan waited within the cloud, watching the unscrupulous Taoists enthusiastic performance with a sly smile. Its time to add some seasoning to this! Under Lin Beifans maniption, a strong wind blew, whipping up sand and stones, causing the heavens and earth to change color. Everyone was shocked. Why did such a strong wind suddenly blow? Such a strong wind! This seems like an abnormal storm. Whats going on? Emperor Great Yan looked worried, This is a critical moment for refining the elixir of immortality. If a sudden storm disrupts it, what will we do? Will it affect the Imperial Teachers alchemy? No one could give a definite answer. While the unscrupulous Taoist continued to perform enthusiastically, Lin Beifan secretly whispered, Clouds,e! The dark clouds in the sky gathered even faster. What was initially a small cloud quickly condensed into a massive one, covering the entire capital, giving the impression that a devastating storm was imminent. Everyone was once again astonished. Is it going to rain? Why is the weather changing so unpredictably? This is strange! Emperor Great Yan was deeply concerned, This is a crucial moment for refining the elixir of immortality, and this sudden wind and rain, how will we cope? Could it affect the Imperial Teachers alchemy? Everyone could not determine what was happening. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan, stationed in the sky, rubbed his hands with excitement and said, Its time to demonstrate some real skills! Chapter 407: Come on, God! My fate is determined by me, not by heaven! Chapter 407: Come on, God! My fate is determined by me, not by heaven! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan pointed to the sky: Bring the thunder! Following Lin Beifansmand, a terrifying thunderstorm brewed in the sky. Streaks of lightning cut through the deste sky, apanied by loud cracks of thunder, unsettling those who watched. Emperor Great Yan and his courtiers wore worried expressions. Even thunder and lightning areing; it seems like rain is on its way! The weather isnt favoring us! With strong winds and thunder, can they still refine elixirs? Could this be a failure in alchemy? What should we do? An elderly courtier advised, Your Majesty, it might rain soon. Lets seek shelter indoors! Emperor Great Yan pointed at the unscrupulous Daoist: What about the Imperial Teacher Your Majesty, the Imperial Teacher is a master of innate abilities and possesses extraordinary skills. He will be fine! The elderly courtier urged, Your Majesty, lets go inside first to avoid distracting the Imperial Teacher. Sigh, alright! Emperor Great Yan and his entourage moved under the eaves and continued to watch the Empty Void Daoists alchemical process with concern. However, despite the adverse conditions, the unscrupulous Daoist was grinning. Even thunder and lightning were on his side this time, ensuring the alchemical failure he desired. He weed a bit more rain, wanting toplete his act fully! Lin Beifan seemed to hear his call and waved his hand. Suddenly, a heavy rain poured down from the sky. The downpour fell onto the zing hot alchemical furnace, producing hissing sounds as countless water vaporized, seemingly trying to quench the furnace. Emperor Great Yan and his officials grew even more worried! But the unscrupulous Daoist was even happier! Even heaven is helping me! I must be the favorite child of the heavens! It looks like its time to wrap this up! He prepared for a dramatic conclusion, putting a perfect finishing touch on his efforts. Raising his head, he shouted to the sky, God, are you trying to stop me from refining the elixir of immortality? Let me tell you, it wont work! Even if you are the mighty heavens, I will defy you! The unscrupulous Daoist raised the alchemical furnace in his hands, defying fate itself. God,e on! My fate is determined by me, not by heaven! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Ill grant your wish! Once again, he waved his hand, and a purple thunderbolt tore through the sky, hurtling towards the Empty Void Daoists residence. The unscrupulous Daoist turned pale! I was just talking casually, and youre actually doing it? He fled at lightning speed, clutching the alchemical furnace. Boom! The purple thunderbolt struck, precisely where the unscrupulous Daoist had been standing earlier, creating a massive crater, enveloped in smoke and debris. The Daoist breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that he had fled in time. Otherwise, he would have been seriously injured, if not killed, by that lightning strike. And just then, Lin Beifan waved his hand again, and another thunderbolt descended. The unscrupulous Daoist turned even greener! Once was enough; why are you doing it twice? Once again, he ran for his life, carrying the alchemical furnace. Boom! Thunder and lightning struck once more. The unscrupulous Daoist narrowly avoided danger once again, ending up with a dirty and disheveled appearance. On the dark clouds above, Lin Beifan smirked and coldlyughed, Lets see how long you can hide. As he spoke, he controlled two thunderbolts to strike down! The face of the unscrupulous Daoist had turned almost ck. God, youve gone too far! Coming at me with two lightning strikes this time? Am I not your beloved child? How can you treat me like this? Boom! Boom! Two thunderbolts simultaneously struck. Whether it was luck or the result of desperate potential, the unscrupulous Daoist managed to evade once again, suffering only minor surface wounds. However, Lin Beifan was having too much fun, feeling like he was ying a game of whack-a-mole. So, he controlled thunderbolts to strike down one after another. Boom! Boom! The unscrupulous Daoist jumped up and down, filled with regret! If only he hadnt challenged the favor of heaven, speaking thoughtlessly and provoking divine retribution! He hoped this ordeal would end soon, allowing him to make amends by offering incense to heaven. Meanwhile, Emperor Great Yan and those under the eaves had long been bewildered. Whats going on? Why are thunderbolts chasing after the Imperial Teacher? Its like he has a target on his forehead! Is this thunderbolt punishment because he refuses to die? Emperor Great Yan reached out with trembling hands, asking, Whats the situation? Can someone exin? Everyone shook their heads, not knowing how to exin this bizarre scene. Finally, they all turned to the unscrupulous Daoists young disciple, hoping he could shed some light on the situation. The young disciple could only muster the courage to say, Your Majesty and esteemed officials, because Master is refining the Elixir of Immortality, a divine elixir that defies the heavens and should not exist in the mortal realm, heaven has sent divine punishment to stop him from alchemy! Oh, I see! The crowd recalled the Imperial Teachers earlier defiant cries and nodded in understanding. Emperor Great Yan breathed a sigh of relief, Indeed, the Elixir of Immortality is a divine elixir that goes against the heavens. Even heaven does not allow its existence, so it sent storms and lightning to obstruct the Imperial Teachers alchemical process. It seems that this elixir is doomed to fail! Everyone joined in with disappointed sighs. At this point, Lin Beifan grew bored and decided to make a big move. He could be seen with thunderbolts in each hand, and he mmed them down together. Those colossal thunder pirs almost illuminated the entire sky! But the unscrupulous Daoist was now terrified! It seemed that this time he couldnt evade, and his fate was sealed! Even Emperor Great Yan and the others hiding in the rafters turned pale! Your Majesty, get away quickly! Two court attendants suddenly appeared in front of Emperor Great Yan, one grabbing his shoulder and swiftly leading him away, while the other blocked the approaching thunderbolts on behalf of the officials. As for the Imperial Teacher, who was in the center of the thunderstorm, they had already given up on him! Finally, the thunderbolts struck. Boom! Boom! They allnded on the unscrupulous Daoist and the alchemical furnace he was holding. The unscrupulous Daoist let out a miserable scream. The alchemical furnace exploded with a loud bang. At this moment, a golden light unexpectedly emerged from within the alchemical furnace. It floated in the air, bathed in the thunderstorm, radiating a brilliant and invible glow! Upon closer inspection, it was actually a round, lustrous golden pill! Moreover, it could float in the air without any support, which was truly miraculous! That is the Elixir of Immortality! In the hearts of everyone present, this phrase spontaneously rose. Only a legendary divine elixir could exhibit such inexplicable behavior. Following this, everyones breath grew rapid. This was indeed the legendary divine elixir, and if consumed, it provided the chance for eternal life and ascension to immortality! For anyone, it was an irresistible temptation! Quick! Fetch the divine elixir! Emperor Great Yan urged. Yes, Your Majesty! The courts experts sprang into action. Especially the two court attendants rushed forward, flying towards the divine elixir. However, at this moment, over a dozen top-notch experts stormed in from outside the mansion, all heading for the divine elixir as well. These individuals had been lurking in Great Yans capital, monitoring the situation at the Imperial Teachers residence. Seeing that the unscrupulous Daoist had actually produced the divine elixir, they did not hesitate to take action. Both sides shed fiercely, engaging in a bloody battle for possession of the Elixir of Immortality. Emperor Great Yan angrily shouted, Summon all of my experts! Whoever dares to seize my divine elixir will face no mercy! Yes, Your Majesty! Wave after wave of the courts troops and cavalry surged forth. The battle between the two sides was fierce, resulting in a bloody conflict, rivers of blood, and corpses strewn everywhere. In the end, Emperor Great Yan prevailed, annihting all opposing forces and gaining ownership of the divine elixir. However, just as the court attendants were about to seize the divine elixir, several thunderbolts struck from the sky, destroying the divine elixir. Emperor Great Yan mournfully cried out, No! My divine elixir! The winds ceased, the rain stopped, the dark clouds dispersed, and Lin Beifan left, patting his butt and departing. He left behind the ruined Imperial Teachers residence, a multitude of corpses, crimson blood, and the grieving Emperor Great Yan. The events of that night quickly spread throughout the world, astonishing everyone! Great Yans Imperial Teacher, the unscrupulous Daoist, actually produced the Elixir of Immortality! But during itspletion, it faced divine retribution because heaven doesnt allow this divine elixir to exist! That day, numerous experts also tried to seize the Elixir of Immortality, but ultimately failed! Nevertheless, nobody seeded! Because heaven destroyed the divine elixir, which is truly regrettable! Its indeed a pity; it was so close topletion! While many felt regret, their minds were buzzing with excitement. You see, this was the Elixir of Immortality! For countless years, numerous emperors and heroes had attempted to produce the Elixir of Immortality, sacrificing sleep and food, paying an enormous price, but all had failed! This had led people to believe that the Elixir of Immortality, a divine elixir that defied the heavens, could never be produced. However, this time, it shattered their beliefs. Someone had actually produced the legendary divine elixir! Even though it was ultimately destroyed, it was the closest anyone hade to sess! This idea sparked a passionate desire in the hearts of many. After all, this was the Elixir of Immortality! Numerous rulers and ambitious individuals immediately dispatched spies to gather information about the method of alchemy. Even if it required paying a hefty price, they were willing to do so! The world became even more chaotic as a result! At this moment, the Empress, who was boating on ake with Lin Beifan, received an urgent message from Great Yan. After reading the message, she handed the paper to Lin Beifan, a faint and ambiguous smile on her face, My dear, do you think theres truly an Elixir of Immortality in this world? Do you believe that Great Yan has really produced the Elixir of Immortality? Chapter 408: This woman is becoming smarter and smarter. How can I fool her in the future? Chapter 408: This woman is bing smarter and smarter. How can I fool her in the future? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan said calmly, Your Majesty, although there have been legends about the elixir of immortality since ancient times, countless emperors and ambitious individuals have sought to refine the elixir of immortality, aiming to rule the world forever. But in the end, they all failed! So, I have always believed that the elixir of immortality is like a flower in a mirror and a moon in the water. It may look beautiful and within reach, but its just an unattainable dream! The Empress countered, But just now, we received news from Great Yan that the Empty Void Daoist has sessfully refined the legendary elixir of immortality! Lin Beifan calmly replied, Indeed, the elixir was sessfully created, but it was destroyed by the heavens. This indicates that such a divine elixir is absolutely not meant to exist in this world! Your Majesty, think about it. If there really is an elixir of immortality, and someone consumes it, gaining eternal life and eternal dominion over the world, then who will have the final say, that person or the heavens? The Empress nodded thoughtfully. This creates a contradiction! So, the heavens will not allow eternal beings to exist! No matter how powerful a person may be, they cannot contend with the heavens unless they possess abilities equal to the heavens or transcend this realm. Otherwise, they can only be subject to the heavens, trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. The Empress nodded once again, You make a valid point, Minister. Lin Beifan emphasized, Therefore, I hope Your Majesty wont be obsessed with immortality but focus on state affairs, work diligently, and be a benevolent ruler to your people. In this way, even if your physical body perishes after a hundred years, your spirit will achieve true immortality, remembered by future generations. The Empress smiled, Minister, youre right! But I sense a hidden agenda in your words. What hidden agenda? Lin Beifan blinked innocently, wearing a slow smile. Minister, are you perhaps suggesting that Im neglecting my duties for leisure and should review the memorials? The Empress gave him a sharp look. Lin Beifan felt a bit panicked. How was the Empress bing so astute? The moment he showed a hint of cking, she noticed it. This woman was getting smarter. How could he continue to deceive her in the future? Your Majesty, theres absolutely nothing like that, Lin Beifan said sincerely. Really? the Empress pressed. Lin Beifan immediately shook his head, Absolutely not! Since there isnt, I can rx then! The Empress enthusiastically took out a fishing rod and waved it at Lin Beifan. Minister, you should go attend to state affairs. I came here for a rare break, so Im going to enjoy it. Youll have to work hard! Lin Beifan was quite exasperated. Your Majesty, its been over half a month! Ive been reviewing memorials for more than twenty days straight. Im about to lose it. Cant you let me have some fun too? No, state affairs are pressing, and we cant ck off. I came here rarely and just want to rx. So, Ill have to trouble you! The Empress was firm in her words. Under the Empresss strong insistence, Lin Beifan reluctantly continued reviewing memorials. They stayed for a day and then headed towards the east along the river, gradually moving away from the Great Yan Dynasty. Meanwhile, the capital of Great Yan was bustling with activity. Due to the rumored creation of the legendary elixir of immortality, various factions had sent spies to the capital, and the citys defenses were at an all-time high. Great Yan had mobilized many soldiers and experts for intensive patrols, leaving no room forcency. However, in the Imperial Pce, things appeared unusually calm. In a luxurious pce, on a grand bed,y a person wrapped like a mummy. This person is none other than the Empty Void Daoist. After being struck by lightningst night, he was seriously injured and unconscious. He was then rescued and brought to the pce for treatment by the Great Yan Emperor. Fortunately, he had a strong constitution, and after a day of rest, his body finally showed signs of recovery. He woke up in a daze and saw a familiar figure in a yellow robe. Imperial Teacher, youve finally awakened! I was so worried about you! The person before him was the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty. At this moment, the Emperors eyes were somewhat bloodshot, and he seemed to have not slept at all throughout the day. However, upon seeing the awake Empty Void Daoist, his spirits appeared exceptionally high. Your Majesty, Im sorry to have caused you worry! Ugh, where am I? The Empty Void Daoist looked around, feeling that this ce was unfamiliar but also somewhat familiar. Imperial Teacher, this is the imperial bedchamber of the pce! Last night, you suffered a heavenly punishment, and your injuries were extremely severe. Moreover, your residence was also destroyed, so we brought you here for healing. I personally watched over you for the night! The Emperor said with a smile. The Empty Void Daoist was taken aback. He not only found himself in the Emperors bedchamber but also had the Emperor watch over him for the night? This was such a tremendous honor! The Empty Void Daoist quickly got up, feeling anxious. Your Majesty, this The Great Yan Emperor was also flustered. Imperial Teacher, youre still heavily injured. Please lie down quickly. If you have any concerns, just speak, and Ill listen. Under the Emperors strong insistence, the reluctant Daoist finallyy down. He felt even more nervous. He hadnt done anything significant, so why was the Emperor being so good to him? He decided to ask this question. Imperial Teacher, have you forgotten? The Great Yan Emperor said excitedly, Last night, on that stormy night with thunder and lightning, you sessfully refined the legendary divine elixir the Elixir of Immortality! The Daoist waspletely bewildered, stammering, I I refined the legendary Elixir of Immortality? Exactly! The Great Yan Emperor eximed with great excitement. I couldnt believe it myself, Imperial Teacher, you actually refined such a heaven-defying divine medicine! Its a golden pill, emitting a faint fragrance, suspended in the air without being affected by wind or rain, like a miracle! Everyone saw it, and some even kowtowed in reverence! Empty Void Daoist blinked. He only remembered being struck by lightning before losing consciousness. But before that, in a vague moment, he saw a golden light shooting up from the alchemy furnace, dazzling and magnificent. Could that have been the Elixir of Immortality? Oh my goodness! He had messed around without a clue, and he had actually refined the legendary divine elixir? Even if it wasnt the Elixir of Immortality, it was probably another miraculous elixir with extraordinary effects! Could he really refine divine elixirs like this? He must be the most favored child of the heavens, hahaha! The Empty Void Daoist also became excited. Its just a pity that such a divine medicine is too heaven-defying and cannot exist in the world. Otherwise, I would have consumed it long ago and realized my dream of bing an immortal, the Great Yan Emperor said with a hint of regret. The Daoist was shocked. What? The divine elixir is gone? Yes! Imperial Teacher, you dont know. When the elixir waspleted, it caused an uproar, and countless powerful individuals came to seize it. But in the end, heavenly thunder descended and destroyed the elixir! Its truly a pity! Its indeed a pity! The Daoist nodded heavily, his heart aching. He had stumbled upon a rare opportunity, concocting such a divine elixir with great effort, only for it to be destroyed by the heavens! If he could find another one like it, he would definitely ingest it before being struck by thunder and lightning. Though the divine elixir is gone, fortunately, Imperial Teacher, youre still here! The Great Yan Emperor excitedly held the Daoists chubby hand, his face filled with zeal. Imperial Teacher, do you remember the method of refinement? The Daoist suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. They were both grown men, and now they were holding hands. It was too cheesy! Especially the Emperors gaze, he seemed like he wanted to swallow him whole. The Empty Void Daoist quickly pulled his hand away and said, Your Majesty, I remember the method of refining the divine elixir! Though the elixir had been concocted through his trial and error, he remembered the materials used and the entire process very clearly. The most unique aspect was that he had added Ivory Dragon Bones to it. Could it be that the dragon bones yed a role? The Daoist became excited; he seemed to have grasped a key point! Just remembering is good enough! Its good enough! The Great Yan Emperor said enthusiastically. Though we failedst night because we didnt know the consequences of the elixirspletion, we should be able to preserve the divine elixir next time with better preparation! The Daoist nodded excitedly. Your Majesty is absolutely right! Imperial Teacher, you can rest here, and from now on, youll reside in the imperial pce! Once your injuries are healed, well refine the divine elixir again! If you need any materials, just tell me, and Ill search the world to find them for you! The Great Yan Emperor guaranteed, patting his chest. Thank you, Your Majesty! I need The Empty Void Daoist opened his mouth and listed a long string of rare and precious materials. However, the Great Yan Emperor didnt hesitate and had his attendants note down the list. He then gave some instructions to the Empty Void Daoist and left the pce. He immediately summoned civil and military officials for a court assembly and passed on the list. Everyone, no matter what method you use, you must find the items on this list for me! This matter is crucial for my path to immortality, and all of you ministers must take it to heart and make it your top priority! An elderly minister hesitated, But, Your Majesty, this will exhaust the people and resources, and it might provoke public outrage. The country is currently in turmoil, and there is chaos everywhere. Shouldnt we wait for peace in thend before collecting the items on the list? The Great Yan Emperor mmed the table in anger, saying, They are all a bunch of shortsightedmoners, hindering my grand ambition of immortality! How can they not understand that once I be an immortal, I will bring blessings to the entire world? They dont understand gratitude and are obstructing such an important matter under my reign! Their crime deserves death! Your Majesty, you speak the truth! They are all a group of shortsightedmoners! Your Majesty, once you achieve immortality, the world will be at your fingertips, and everyone will enjoy peace! They not onlyck understanding but also seek to hinder Your Majestys great endeavor. Their crimes deserve execution! Your Majesty, I support your idea! When the civil and military officials saw the legendary elixir of immortality, they wholeheartedly believed in it and rallied behind the Emperor. Even if there were some opposing voices, they were drowned out by the mainstream opinion and couldnt create any disturbance. So, pay no attention to them! Whoever dares to resist, send the troops to suppress them! Yes, Your Majesty! Chapter 409: The More You Know Lin Beifan, the More Terrifying He Becomes! Chapter 409: The More You Know Lin Beifan, the More Terrifying He Bes! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
So, in order to achieve his own immortality, the Great Yan Emperor spared no effort, regardless of the lives of themon people, to collect the words of heaven and earth and refine the elixir of immortality. This led to unrest among the people, and grievances were on the rise! The days are already so difficult, and hes still thinking about his own immortality dream? His Majesty must have been misled by sorcery, hes lost his mind! For the sake of his own immortality dream, hes wasting the peoples resources and disregarding their lives a foolish ruler! A truly foolish ruler! Great Yan has no hope left; we cant survive these days, so we might as well revolt! Yes! Lets revolt against him! As a result, farmers from all over the country rose up in rebellion, and chaos swept across the nation. The Great Yan Emperor was extremely angry and sent out his armies to suppress the uprisings. Meanwhile, monarchs from other countries, knowing about the legend of the Elixir of Immortality that the Great Yan Emperor was said to be refining, sent experts and spies to the capital of Great Yan to gather information, determined to obtain the alchemical secrets of Divine Elixir. The first to act was the Emperor of Great Xia. He was already quite old and didnt have many years left. Especially after experiencing a severe ice disaster, his health had declined significantly. Therefore, he was very eager to obtain such a divine elixir to extend his lifespan, or even achieve immortality. So, he sent one of his grandmasters and many other experts to the capital of Great Yan, ready to seize the opportunity. The Emperor of the Dayue Dynasty did the same, sending many skilled individuals. Even the King of the White Elephant Kingdom, despite his weak power and the turmoil within his own country, still held the desire for immortality and dispatched some capable individuals to Great Yan. Some ambitious figures from the martial world and other experts also dared toe. All the events and conflicts in the world converged on the capital of Great Yan. They learned that even though the previous alchemical attempt had failed, the Great Yan Emperor was not willing to give up. He wanted to collect materials and refine the elixir of immortality once again, and they followed suit in gathering the necessary ingredients. Whatever the Great Yan collected, they collected as well. They did this not only to make it easier for themselves to refine elixirs but also to hinder the Great Yan Emperors pursuit of immortality. They learned that the Elixir of Immortality came from the Great Yan Imperial Teacher. Due to his extraordinary actions, he is currently recovering from severe injuries within the pce. Therefore, they dispatched experts to infiltrate the Great Yan Pce, hoping to persuade the reclusive Imperial Teacher to leave with them. They also discovered signs of several grandmasters visiting the pce at night. To prevent others from seeding, the Great Yan Emperor sent many skilled individuals, including a court protector, to keep watch over the Imperial Teacher day and night for twelve hours. Empty Void Daoist had no freedom whatsoever. Even when he needed to relieve himself, he felt like someone was watching his every move, making even such a simple act quite challenging. Even the Empress was puzzled. A fake Elixir of Immortality has stirred up all this turmoil in the world! Sir Lin, you really know how to cause chaos! Each of your moves is grand and dramatic, turning the world upside down over and over again! If I didnt know the truth, I might not have been able to resist either! she continued, still shaken. Fortunately, Sir Lin is my man, loyal to Great Wu! If he were from another country, my Great Wu would have been in trouble long ago! The Empress couldnt help but express her relief. The more she understood Lin Beifan, the more terrifying he seemed. Despite having incredible strength that could easily dominate, he chose to y the game of intrigue. Each of his moves was meticulously calcted, making it impossible to defend against, even when people knew it was a trap. His maniptions were truly fearsome! Fortunately, hes mine! the Empress said proudly, gazing towards the cabin. There, Lin Beifan was diligently reviewing reports. Although he wasnt the Emperor, he had almost exercised the Emperors authority. With the emergence of the Elixir of Immortality, monarchs from various countries pursued their dreams of immortality, disregarding the lives of theirmoners and depleting resources. As a result, the world became even more chaotic. Amidst this chaos, Great Wu remained stable, peaceful, and prosperous, like an oasis in the turmoil. More people from other countries flocked to Great Wu to seek a better life. Great Wu weed people from all walks of life, as long as they had skills and were willing to work diligently. If you had expertise and were capable, willing to contribute to Great Wu, you were wee. The overall quality of Great Wus citizens was slowly improving, and everything seemed promising. However, at this moment, Lin Beifan and the Empress were still enjoying themselves, touring Great Wu, enjoying the scenery, and having a great time. After a few days, they finally arrived in the eastern part of the country. This region had been firmly under the control of the court, experienced fewer disasters, and received the most support from the imperial government. Therefore, it was flourishing and prosperous. The Empress and herpanions were quite satisfied with what they saw. The Empressughed and said, This is how Great Wu should be! If the whole world were like the eastern region, with people living in peace and prosperity, wed have an era of peace and prosperity! Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Now that we have unified Great Wu, achieved social stability, and have the officials and the people working together, we are in an unprecedented period of transformation. We need stability for development, and our days will only get better! The Empress burst intoughter, filled with ambition. Sir Lin, youre absolutely right! Our days will only get better! I, through my own efforts, will create an era of peace and prosperity! Just then, they noticed something unusual. They saw a group of people queuing up to enter a medical clinic, their expressions filled with pain. Whats going on? Can someone please tell me? They all looked at the local magistrate, but even he shook his head and said, Ive only just found out about it, and Im not sure about the reasons. Please forgive me, Your Majesty! The Empress didnt me the local magistrate, as there were indeed too many matters to attend to. Lets go and take a look! They arrived at the front of the medical clinic, and their faces grew even more astonished. Not only were there many patients outside the clinic, but there also appeared to be simr symptoms among the patients inside. This situation seemed to be quite serious. At this moment, due to the Empress and her groups discreet visit, the patients didnt recognize them. The local magistrate waved for one of his officials to go inside. Soon, an elderly doctor with a white beard came out. Seeing the local magistrate, he was taken aback and quickly bowed, This humble one pays respects to the The local magistrate interrupted him, Now is not the time for formalities! Come and exin to me and these esteemed guests whats going on here. Yes, sir, the doctor bowed again. He nced at Lin Beifan and the others and, although he couldnt recognize them, their luxurious clothing and noble demeanor indicated they were people of wealth and status. Having the local magistrate personally apany them was beyond his expectations and something he couldnt afford to offend. So, he exined, In recent days, weve received arge number of patients from Embroidery Vige seeking medical treatment. Their symptoms are mostly the same: fever, cough, wheezing, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, among other things. There are approximately 50 people with these symptoms, and weve learned from them that there are about 30 more in Embroidery Vige who are experiencing the same condition but havente here due to mobility issues. To have nearly 80 people with the same illness in the same vige is quite serious, Lin Beifan said with a serious expression. What disease is this? Do you have any conclusions? The doctor shook his head slightly. Because the symptoms are simr, there is currently no conclusion. However, weve contacted several renowned doctors in the city to discuss this illness together. We believe we will have a conclusion soon. At the same time, weve reported this matter to the authorities in the hope of drawing their attention. This matter may be more serious than you think, the Empress said seriously. Take us to Embroidery Vige to see. Yes, Your Majesty, the local magistrate bowed. Your Majesty? The doctor was astonished. This person here is the current Emperor of Great Wu, the local magistrate introduced. The doctors eyes widened. Its actually Your Majesty! Oh my, Im ignorant and couldnt recognize the Empress. Please forgive me. No harm done. Lets go to Embroidery Vige, the Empress urged. Yes, Your Majesty. So, the local magistrate gathered some well-known doctors from the city, and they all went to Embroidery Vige to examine the patients and gather information. After half an hour, they finally arrived at Embroidery Vige. At this moment, there was a doctor treating patients under a makeshift tent. Lin Beifans gaze swept over and saw there were more than 50 people, 20 more than what the doctor had mentioned. Most of them were young and had simr symptoms of coughing, wheezing, abdominal difort, and diarrhea. These are all new patients! They were fine justst night, but overnight, they became like this. Its truly a disaster! the doctor treating them said. It does look severe. If not resolved promptly, it could cause panic among the people and endanger the lives of the citys residents. What conclusions have you reached, and how can we treat it? Lin Beifan asked seriously. We cant make a conclusive diagnosis yet due to the simrities in symptoms. As for treatment, it will vary from person to person. However, after discussing it, we suspect that it might be a Gu Worm Disease. A Gu Worm Disease? Lin Beifan frowned. Gu Worm Disease, also known as Gu Poison, is mentioned in the Zhou Hou Fang. Its caused by the imbnce of seasons and the invasion of damp and toxic qi, gradually affecting the meridians and organs, just like when Gu insects infest a persons body After quoting the text, the doctor continued, When I was young and traveling the country as a wandering physician, I encountered this disease quitemonly in the Southern Jiang region, so Ive reached this conclusion. Yes, I also believe its Gu Worm Disease! Normally, its more prevalent in the summer and autumn seasons and is usually found in the Southern Jiang area. However, its spring now, and its urring in Northern Jiang, so weve hesitated to make a conclusion. But judging from the current situation, it does indeed seem to be Gu Worm Disease. Various doctors expressed their views. Lin Beifan grew increasingly puzzled. This sounded remarkably like schistosomiasis? Chapter 410: This guy is too professional, who is the real doctor here? Chapter 410: This guy is too professional, who is the real doctor here? 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Schistosomiasis is a widely prevalent and highly harmful infectious disease. Anyone infected with it will exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, coughing, and wheezing. Its highly contagious, primarily transmitted through water. If people drink water contaminated with schistosomes ore into contact with the skin, they are at risk of infection. Even if feces are expelled from the body, it can still infect other livestock. When people consume infected livestock, they can get reinfected, which is very troublesome. If this is indeed schistosomiasis, it indicates that there might be a problem with the local river water. If not dealt with promptly, it could lead to hundreds of thousands or even millions of people getting infected, causing severe consequences. When Lin Beifan approached the patients, he sternly asked, I have questions for you. This matter concerns your illness and the safety of the citys residents. You must answer truthfully! Who are you the weakened patient asked. The local magistrate immediately stepped forward to introduce, Dont be impolite! This is the current Prime Minister of the imperial court, the Supreme Commander of the Army, His Royal Highness, King Loyalty and Valor! Whatever questions he asks, you must answer truthfully, without concealing anything! Everyone present was astonished. This young man before them was the Prime Minister of the current dynasty? They hurriedly and nervously bowed, saying, The humble ones pay respects to Prime Minister! Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, You are unwell, theres no need for formalities. What I ask next, you must answer honestly! Yes, Your Highness, we will answer truthfully, the patients weakly replied. Lin Beifan then asked, What kind of work do you do? Reporting to Your Highness, we are local farmers, making a living by farming. Reporting to Your Highness, we are farmers as well. Lin Beifan continued, Where do you usually get your drinking water from? Truthfully, Your Highness, we fetch our water from the Jinsha River! Yes, its the Jinsha River! The Empress and those around her were perplexed, but they didnt interrupt. After a round of questioning, Lin Beifan was nearly certain that they had contracted schistosomiasis. Their upations varied, but they lived in close proximity to the Jinsha River. There was a deep pool there, which they called the Jade Dragon Pool, and they fetched water from it. Since there hadnt been any issues in the past, and the river water appeared clear, they hadnt suspected anything. The Empress observed and asked, Sir Lin, have you found the source? Your Majesty, Im not entirely sure. We need to investigate the Jade Dragon Pool! Very well, I will apany you! Lin Beifan and the others soon arrived at the Jade Dragon Pool. The river water here was indeed very clear, and one could see the riverbed from above. Some fish swam leisurely in the river. Lin Beifans gaze was sharp, and he found what he was looking for in the Jade Dragon Pool. Nail snails! Nail snails are intermediate hosts for schistosomes. Where there are nail snails, there are usually schistosomes. Finding nail snails was enough to confirm that the vigers in Embroidery Vige had schistosomiasis. Bring some soil from the Jade Dragon Pool for me! Lin Beifan ordered. Yes, Your Highness! Two officials immediately took off their clothes and went into the river, digging up the soil from the pool and piling it on the riverbank. Lin Beifan picked up a piece of wood and extracted the nail snails from the soil. Throughout the process, the Empress was puzzled. She asked, Prime Minister, what are you doing? Have you discovered something? Can you please exin? Your Majesty, they have indeed contracted the Gu Worm disease! Lin Beifan said with a serious expression. The parasite disease? The Empress furrowed her brow, her expression growing solemn. She had learned from those doctors earlier that the Gu Worm disease was a prevalent illness in the Southern Jiang region, usually urring in the summer and autumn seasons. Every time the epidemic urs, tens of thousands of people get infected. After being infected, those with mild symptoms experience headaches, diarrhea, coughing, and shortness of breath, while severe cases result in swollen bellies as if pregnant, but you be as thin as a skeleton and often vomit blood. As long as you contract the disease, it greatly affects your ability to work, and its very difficult to treat. Is what youre saying true, Your Majesty? the empress asked. Lin Beifan nodded earnestly. Its absolutely true! However, I would prefer to call it schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis? What a strange name the empress furrowed her brow again. The reason its called schistosomiasis is because its caused by blood flukes! These blood flukes are the parasites mentioned by doctors, a very tiny and enormously harmful creature! They enter through any opening, preferentially inhabiting the bodies of humans and domestic animals. By feeding on blood, they grow and multiply in the organs, hence the name! The empress nodded in understanding. I see! So, Prime Minister, does killing these parasites cure the disease? In theory, yes, but its extremely challenging to implement! Lin Beifan sighed. Your Majesty, do you know that doctors have long recognized this disease and know how to treat it? But why is it still so widespread and recurring? The empress asked in confusion, Prime Minister, why? Lin Beifan pointed to the nearby river and said, Because people cannot survive without drinking water, and our main source of wateres from the surrounding rivers, where these parasites reside. Your Majesty, do you understand their danger? The empresss expression changed. People cannot survive without drinking water, but if they drink water from the rivers, they might get infected. If you dont drink water, youll die in a few days. If you drink water, although you may get sick, it could be months or even years before you die. So, I ask you, will you drink or not? The Prime Ministers words are correct; this disease is indeed difficult. Even if we cure the patients, they will still get infected because the water is contaminated. Unless they stop drinking water entirely, but how is that possible? The chief physician beside them sighed. Yes, this disease is truly stubborn. I once cured someone, but within a month, they rpsed because they had to drink water and ingested the parasites. Its truly frustrating! In the end, those patients will all sumb to the disease, theres no way around it! Even if they survive, they will suffer! Some people dont even get infected through water! This disease is truly insidious, and its challenging to prevent. Everyone shook their heads in despair. The Empress also found herself in a difficult situation; this disease was truly hard to treat. If they didnt handle it properly, it could be an epidemic, causing suffering for hundreds of thousands of people. Finally, the Empress turned to Lin Beifan, who often brought her hope. Prime Minister Lin, you speak with wisdom, and its evident you understand this disease well. Do you have a solution? Of course, theres a solution! Lin Beifan raised a reassuring finger. The Empress perked up, Prime Minister, please share! Lin Beifan smiled and said, This disease is caused by schistosomiasis, and the parasites always have a source. So, all we need to do is eliminate the source, which will reduce the disease and prevent its spread. The Prime Minister is correct, but where is this source of parasites? We cant seem to find it! Yes, those parasites are so tiny, not visible to the naked eye. How can we find them? If we cant find them, we cant eradicate the disease! Lin Beifan pointed to the snails at their feet and said, The source of the parasites is right here! The riverbank? Everyone looked puzzled. Thats right, the harmful schistosomes usually inhabit this type of snail. Because it looks like a nail, I call it the nail snail. So, as long as we find the nail snail and eliminate it, we can reduce schistosomiasis and prevent its spread! Its fortunate we discovered this in time. If we waited for the summer and fall seasons, the snails and schistosomes would have multiplied further, causing even greater harm and making it more difficult to deal with. People blinked in astonishment. Although Lin Beifans exnation seemed far-fetched, they couldnt help but believe it. The insects that had caused so much suffering were actually harbored in these tiny nail snails. At this moment, a viger who knew the area well couldnt help but speak up, Prime Minister, this may sound like a tall tale, but its true! I often swim here, and Im very familiar with the waters. I remember there werent these snails before. They only appeared recently, and our vige became infected. So, its very likely that these nail snails are the cause of our illness! Finally, some trust emerged. The Empress fell silent for a moment and said, Minister Lin, since you seem to understand this disease so well, I entrust this matter to you. If sessful, we can implement it in Southern Jiang and even nationwide, preventing people from suffering from these parasites. I will do my best! Lin Beifan immediately issued orders, Starting today, send people to search for nail snails along the riverbank. Once found, collect the nail snails along with the surrounding mud and burn them. Yes, Prime Minister! Ill instruct my subordinates to do so immediately, the local magistrate responded promptly. Lin Beifan continued, Until the river is thoroughly inspected twice, no one is allowed near it, especially the waters of the Jade Dragon Pond. But Prime Minister, how can people do without water? We all need to drink! The situation is urgent, and this is the only way to handle it for now. As for the water problem, you can still drink, but boil the water first and let everyone drink it. This will reduce the blood parasites in the water and minimize the risk of disease. On this matter, our court bears a heavy responsibility. After wepletely deal with the nail snails here, we can reopen the river. Yes, Prime Minister, I understand what to do. Lin Beifan then issued several more detailed orders, showing his expertise. The Empress and the surrounding doctors were left in astonishment. This guy was incredibly knowledgeable. Who was the real doctor here? Chapter 411: He led everyone to win this seemingly unwinnable battle! Chapter 411: He led everyone to win this seemingly unwinnable battle! 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As the current Prime Minister, Lin Beifan personally issued orders, and the local magistrate and officials immediately took action. The first thing they did was to post official notices, prohibiting anyone from approaching the river. This matter quickly caught the attention of the people in the city. Are they trying to make us die of thirst by not allowing us near the river? Thats right! How can we survive without water? We need water for farming right now! I need to fetch water for washing clothes and cooking. Are they telling me I cant use water? What are we supposed to do? Who gave this order? Its so inhumane! Is this how the government operates? There was widespread discontent among the people, and they voiced theirints loudly. The official standing nearby spoke loudly, Fellow vigers, please temporarily restrain your anger. We understand your concerns very well! But the reason for doing this is out of necessity. You see, our river water has been contaminated, and it contains parasites. Consuming it can make you sick, and without prompt medical treatment, it can be fatal! This disease is known as parasitic infection, or what Prime Minister calls schistosomiasis. It has previously causedrge-scale outbreaks in the Southern Jiang region, infecting tens of thousands of people each time. Once infected, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and even life-threatening conditions. Are you saying its that serious with hundreds of thousands infected? To ensure the safety of all the citys residents, we have no choice but to take these measures. As soon as these words were spoken, people became even more rmed. And people can die from it too? Dont spread baseless rumors! Dont make things up; were not children to be scared easily! The official continued, This matter has been confirmed by Prime Minister and several reputable doctors. Its absolutely true! If you dont believe it, you can visit the medical center and see for yourself; it will be clear. Gradually, people began to believe the officials words. But even if the river is contaminated, we still need water to drink, or well die of thirst! Thats right, we can cooperate with the measures, but how will we solve the water problem? Wed rather die of thirst than get infected! Fellow vigers, we have already considered your water needs! The official said loudly. There will be clean, boiled water avable for safe consumption. So, if any of you have the means to boil water, you can do it yourselves to solve the water problem. If not, the government will provide boiled water to everyone. Hearing that there would be water to drink, peoples anxiety began to ease. Fellow vigers, we are currently working diligently to clean the river, remove the parasites, and make the water safe for use. However, due to a shortage of personnel, we are now recruiting people with good swimming skills from the entire city to help us search for the parasite source and eliminate them. By resolving this parasite issue as soon as possible, everyone can return to using water normally! Our work is not unpaid; during our operation, we will provide three meals a day. If you help us find the parasite source, there will be financial rewards as well. We hope you can support our efforts! As soon as they heard that the government would provide meals and rewards for finding the parasite source, many peoples eyes lit up. Since they couldnt use the water right now, they thought they might as well get involved. The government was providing meals, and there were extra rewards for finding the sourcethis opportunity seemed too good to pass up. So, many people enthusiastically volunteered. Count me in! Im good in the water, they call me Little White Stripe in the Waves!'' I can swim, been swimming since I was a child! And so, this group of ancient version volunteers was taken to the river to search for the nail snails. Once they found them, they immediately dug up the surrounding soil and brought it to the shore for burning. On the other side, the court organized arge number of people to boil water for the entire city. Although the workload was enormous and it consumed a significant amount of firewood, it was a necessary step during this challenging time. Meanwhile, the medical center was already crowded, and the number of patients continued to increase. Initially, there were less than a hundred patients, but now it had reached three to four hundred. When people saw this situation, they naturally felt panicked. However, when they saw Prime Minister Lin Beifan was also present, and he appeared so calm, as if there was nothing he couldnt handle, their emotions gradually calmed down as well. Lin Beifan was indeed veryposed, drawing from his sessful experiences in another world, he had a deep sense of confidence that he could ovee this challenge. This confidence was infectious, and at this moment, it was more important than anything else. Empress, moving slowly, looked at the suffering patients with some concern and said, Sir, can we really ovee this situation? Look, there are already so many people We can, and we will, Lin Beifan said confidently. We are currently in the outbreak phase. Those who are infected now are those who were already infected before. Fortunately, we have discovered them in time. Once we clean the river of nail snails and improve sanitation, we can resolve this schistosomiasis. Good! The empress nodded in agreement. But, Your Majesty, we might need to stay here for a few more days, which could dy our journey. The Empress responded, Sir, this is a small matter. As long as we can resolve the schistosomiasis and reduce the suffering of the people, whats a few more days? Of course, Your Majesty! However, I may be too busy dealing with this matter and may not have time to review reports. I hope Your Majesty can understand, Lin Beifan added with a hopeful expression. The empress rolled her eyes. This guy was still thinking about cking off even now. However, he was indeed working hard, so she decided to let him have a few days off. As a result, on that day, another three hundred patients were added. On the second day, four hundred more patients were added. On the third day, there were another three hundred patients. The rate at which the number of patients increased was rming, and people began to feel extremely anxious. However, Lin Beifan remained resolutely confident. Hold on, everyone! The sun always shines after the storm, and victory wille soon! Perhaps it was the effect of Lin Beifans words. By the fourth day, the number of patients had dropped to just over two hundred. On the fifth day, there were only a hundred patients left. On the sixth day, there were only a few dozen. In the following days, there were only sporadic cases with fewer than twenty patients. Finally, everyone saw the dawn of victory. All of this indicated that Lin Beifans policies were working, and he had effectively contained the spread of schistosomiasis. At this point, the people who had contracted schistosomiasis were gradually recovering under the care of the doctors. Some of the younger patients with stronger bodies had already fully recovered. All of this strengthened everyones confidence. Lin Beifan once again shouted loudly, Fellow vigers, hold on a little longer, and we will soon achieve victory! Prime Minister is right! Seeing hope, everyones mood improved significantly, and their emotions became stable. At this moment, there was good news from the outsidethe Jinsha River. After two thorough searches and collections, almost all the nail snails had been removed and burned. Now they were conducting the third search, and they couldnt find any more nail snails. Prime Minister, can we reopen the Jinsha River now? the magistrate asked eagerly, representing the sentiments of themon people. His suggestion was met with great enthusiasm. Lin Beifan was very pleased and smiled, saying, Dont rush. First, try using some livestock and poultry to test the water. If there are no problems after a week, it means the water here is safe, and we can proceed with confidence. Yes, Prime Minister! Everyone replied joyfully. And so, a week passed. During this week, the livestock and poultry that had been continuously drinking from the river showed no signs of unusual conditions. This essentially confirmed that the water here had been purified and was safe to drink. On the other side, there were no new patients in the medical center, but the number of recovered patients was increasing. Everything was improving. So, two weeks after the discovery of schistosomiasis, as thest patient recovered, Lin Beifan, amidst great anticipation, announced the end of the schistosomiasis crisis, and everyone could return to normal life. People were overjoyed and extremely excited. This is great! The schistosomiasis is over! We only took two weeks to eliminate the parasites! Haha! We can finally live like before! One elderly doctor, ovee with excitement, shed tears of joy. This is truly a miracle! Throughout history, no one had a solution for schistosomiasis, but today, right before my eyes, it has been eradicated! Yes, its truly unimaginable. The impending schistosomiasis outbreak was actually stopped in its tracks! Thanks to the heavens for their blessings! another doctor eximed. Its not just the heavens blessings, but the wisdom and leadership of the Prime Minister! He discovered the disease symptoms in time and led us all to victory over the parasites. From now on, we wont be helpless against waterborne parasites anymore! Various doctors and informed individuals looked towards the young man who had remained calm throughout, their hearts filled with admiration. It was he who led everyone to win this seemingly unwinnable battle. He was a miracle worker! The empress was also very excited. My lord, this method is excellent and should be spread throughout the country, especially in the disaster-prone regions of Jiangnan. With this method, Jiangnan will no longer suffer from schistosomiasis! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty is absolutely right! However, prevention should be the primary focus. Detecting nail snails and symptoms in a timely manner, and then promptly eliminating them, is the true way to prevent it. Youre absolutely right! The empress nodded, instructing that Lin Beifans method for prevention and treatment be recorded and disseminated to the various provincial government offices for implementation. My lord, youve achieved another great feat. How should I reward you? Apart from a vacation, I can grant you anything! The empress smiled warmly, as if she could see through Lin Beifanpletely. Your Majesty, I only want a vacation! I dont need much, just ten days or two weeks will do! Lin Beifan said with hopeful eyes. The empress responded with a teasing tone, Youre dreaming! Youve already had a long break; its time to get back to work! Once again, the fleet set sail, this time with the goal of heading to Northern Hebei. Chapter 412, the Swallowing the Elephant Plan, is about to be realized! Chapter 412, the Swallowing the Elephant n, is about to be realized! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
This trip to the Northern Hebei Province went smoothly without any major incidents. However, in the White Elephant Country, a small event with global implications urred. In order to supply the tribute to Great Wu on time, the King of the White Elephant Country had to tax themon people heavily, causing widespread discontent. But now, since the discovery of immortality, the King of the White Elephant Country is eager. Although hes just the king of a small country, he also dreams of immortality! So, in pursuit of this grand goal, he had to collect various treasures like other countries. Unable to bully other nations, he resorted to oppressing his own people, leading to even more chaos and suffering within the country. Themon people in the White Elephant Country are bitterly regretting their situation, wishing to escape thisnd of misery, but they are quickly apprehended by the kings soldiers if they try. They want to rebel, but theyck the strength. The most capable and daring individuals have already gone to Great Wu to farm, leaving behind those with limited abilities who cant organize a strong resistance and are subjected to the kings tyranny. Their uprising is quickly suppressed, and life bes even more arduous, with no end in sight. Finally, some passing martial heroes couldnt stand by any longer. They stepped in to help when they saw injustice. With their martial prowess, they managed to kill some imperial soldiers, saving the suffering people of the White Elephant Country. Now, youre free. Get out of here! said the heroic figure. However, the people of the White Elephant Country showed no intention of leaving, appearingpletely numb. The martial hero was puzzled: Why arent you leaving? If you dont go soon, the imperial soldiers will catch up! One elder, with a bitter expression, took a deep breath and said, The world is vast, but where can we escape to? Were just ordinary people. No matter where we go, we cant escape the White Elephant Country. In the end, well be captured by them. And when they catch us, life will be even worse! Yes, many of us have tried to escape, but we were all caught! After being caught, life was even more unbearable! Some people tried to escape twice but still couldnt evade the governments. In the end, they were beaten to death, screaming in agony all night! Oh, what a cruel fate! If only we had run to Great Wu in the first ce! Indeed, now theres no way to escape; we can only wait for death! The martial hero was even more puzzled: Are you just going to stay here and do nothing? Otherwise, what can we do? the elder said with a sigh. Were not like you, with strong abilities, able to live freely and do whatever we want. The faster we run, the faster well die! The elder waved his hand, saying, Great hero, you should leave! We know you mean well, you can help us for just a moment, but can you help us for a lifetime? So, please, go and dont worry about us! Yes, you should go! If the imperial armyes, you might not be able to leave! You should go; we have work to do! Everyone picked up their hoes and shovels, continuing to farm, continuing to work, their eyes numb, like walking corpses. For the first time, the martial hero realized that having all these skills was of no use if he couldnt help the people! As they said, he could help them for a moment, but if he couldnt help them for a lifetime, he would only make their lives more miserable! A lifetime? The martial hero felt powerless, wanting to help but not knowing how. He shouted, Tell me! Tell me how I can help you! Themon people were also confused; they didnt know how to save themselves. If only they had known Perhaps theres a way, but its very difficult, the elder sighed. What way? A glimmer of hope shone in the martial heros eyes. Go find the Prime Minister of Great Wu! He once led more than two millionpatriots to Great Wu and gave them a good life! If anyone can save us from this suffering, it might just be him! The elders eyes sparkled with hope. Yes, go find him; he can save us! Hes our only hope! In the numb eyes of the othermon people, a glimmer of hope also appeared. The Prime Minister of Great Wu was the highest-ranking official they had ever seen, even more esteemed than their own king, with immense power. In their simple understanding, he might be the only one capable of dealing with their king. He had saved two million people from the hands of the White Elephant King in the past, so he might have the power to help them now. The Prime Minister of Great Wu? Alright, I will go find him! With the hopes of the people, the martial hero left the White Elephant Country and arrived in Great Wu in search of Lin Beifan. He learned that Lin Beifan was not in the capital city and was currently apanying the Empress on a tour of the realm. So, he followed Lin Beifans trail all the way, traveling through nearly half of Great Wu. Along this journey, he was deeply moved. Three years ago, I came here and found that it was and of banditry, corruption, chaos, and suffering for themon people! I never expected that in just three short years, this ce has undergone a tremendous transformation. The era of warlords is over, corruption has reduced, stability has spread across thend, and happiness has returned to the faces of the people Everything has improved to a point where I can hardly believe it! Compared to this, other countries seem to be deteriorating day by day. Sigh! All of this seems to have started changing since Lin Beifan took office! This person is truly strange! You could call him a corrupt official, but he has done so many good deeds for themon people! You could say hes a loyal minister, but his greed knows no bounds, and the whole world knows it. Calling him the greediest official in the world wouldnt be an exaggeration! Sigh, its really strange! Well, I shouldnt think too much about it; finding him is the priority! Finally, he reached Northern Hebei and saw Lin Beifan, who was apanying the Empress on a mountain excursion. However, the apanying officials stopped him. The martial hero didnt dare to resort to violence, as it might offend Lin Beifan. So, he bowed and loudly eximed, Lord Prime Minister, this humble one has an important matter to report to you! Please spare a moment to listen; I am profoundly grateful! Lin Beifan and the Empress exchanged nces. Your Majesty, permit me to see what this is about, and I will report back to you. Go, the sooner you go, the sooner youll return. Thank you, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan walked over with a smile, asking, Who are you, and what business do you have with me? If you donte straight to the point, Ill charge you with disturbing the peace! The martial hero said solemnly, I, Liu Haotian, am a martial hero! This time, I havee on behalf of themon people of the White Elephant Country Liu Haotian proceeded to recount what he had seen and heard in the White Elephant Country, growing more passionate as he spoke. The current White Elephant Country, under the rule of the White Elephant King, is in a state of misery, and the people are suffering! I once rescued a group ofmon people, but to my surprise, they all returned! Because for them, escaping means death, and staying might offer a glimmer of hope! I possess exceptional martial skills, yet I am powerless to help them. Its tragic andmentable! They say only you can save them! Liu Haotian respectfully said, So, Ivee with their hopes! I hope Lord Prime Minister can lend a helping hand. I am immensely grateful! Lin Beifan nodded and said, I understand your purpose ining. Youve traveled a long way to seek me out, showing yourself as a person of great virtue. I deeply respect that. However, the matter youre talking about is ultimately the White Elephant Countrys affair. I am an official of Great Wu, and it might not be appropriate for me to intervene. Liu Haotian hesitated, unable to find words to respond. Lin Beifan continued, Once I intervene, it bes interference in another countrys internal affairs! It would be difficult to exin to Her Majesty and the world. Lightly, it might affect my position, and heavily, it could cost me my head. I dont see the need to take such risks for another countrys people. Furthermore, this matter is quiteplicated and not easily resolved. So, Im sorry, but I may not be able to help. Liu Haotian became more anxious and said, But Lord Prime Minister, they said only you can help them! Lin Beifan remainedposed, saying, Indeed, I can help, but I cant help now. Ive already exined the reasons for this. Lets not dwell on it. Additionally, our meeting is a chance encounter. Who knows if you have ulterior motives? So, from a logical and emotional standpoint, Im truly unable to assist. Liu Haotian grew even more desperate and pleaded, Lord Prime Minister, I swear on the lives of my family that every word Ive said is true! Otherwise, may lightning strike me down! Even if what you say is true, I still cant help Lin Beifan trailed off. Liu Haotian suddenly knelt down and said, Please, Lord, extend your helping hand and save the people of the White Elephant Country! They truly have no way out, only you can save them! Lin Beifan was moved by this gesture and said, A mans knees are worth their weight in gold. Youre willing to kneel for the unknown people of another country. Great hero, please rise; I cannot ept such a grand gesture. However, he couldnt budge Liu Haotian. As long as I can save millions of lives, whats the significance of a mere personal loss of face? Please, Lord, extend your helping hand! Liu Haotian implored. Youre a true hero with noble principles, disying a character as pure as a lotus flower. I genuinely admire you. Im not heartless either Finally, Lin Beifan relented and said, Heres the deal: if you can obtain a petition from a millionmon people of the White Elephant Country, I am willing to take the risk and try to convince His Majesty to send troops to rescue the people of the White Elephant Country. Liu Haotian was overjoyed and said, Thank you so much for your kindness, Lord Prime Minister. I will go collect the petitions! He bowed once again and then left, filled with excitement. After he returned, the Empress, curious, asked, What were you talking about? Why was that man crying,ughing, and kneeling all at once? Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Your Majesty, his name is Liu Haotian. He came from afar, hoping that I, as the Prime Minister, could lend a helping hand to save themon people of the White Elephant Country. Our Swallowing the Elephant n might be about to seed! Really? Thats a tremendous achievement! The Empress was delighted. Weve been out enjoying ourselves for quite some time. Lets return to the pce now. Yes, Your Majesty! And so, they began their journey back to the capital city. Chapter 413: A Million Petitions, Conquering the White Elephant Kingdom! Chapter 413: A Million Petitions, Conquering the White Elephant Kingdom! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
On the other side, Liu Haotian received hope from Lin Beifan and immediately excitedly rushed back on my journey towards the White Elephant Kingdom. He shared this good news with the people of the White Elephant Kingdom. Fellow vigers, I have met with the Prime Minister of the Great Wu, Lord Lin. After I spoke to him, he agreed to take the risk and persuade the current emperor to send troops to rescue everyone! The people of the White Elephant Kingdom were filled with disbelief. Is it true? Did Prime Minister Lin really agree toe to our rescue? Youre not deceiving us, are you? Sir, we cant joke about such things! Liu Haotian nodded excitedly, Its absolutely true! However, this matter may affect his career, and he doesntpletely trust my words. So, he requests to see a million petitions before taking action! They instantly cheered with joy. Thats great, the Prime Minister is willing to help! We are finally saved! We can look forward to better days! Where is the petition? Ill sign! Liu Haotian immediately spread out arge piece of white cloth and said, Ive prepared the materials, but the petition has not been written yet! Let this old man write this petition! An elderly man who appeared well-read stepped forward. He looked elderly, with slightly dim eyes and unsteady steps, but his hand holding the pen was remarkably steady. He carefully wrote down their request on the white cloth, stroke by stroke. Although it seemed like just over a hundred words, he spent almost half an hour writing it. After he ced the final stroke, he finally sighed in relief. He wiped his back, drenched in sweat. Alright, the next step is The old man bit his finger, letting blood flow, and pressed it onto the white cloth, leaving his red fingerprint. Seeing this, the othermon people followed suit, biting their fingers and leaving their red fingerprints on the white cloth. In no time, this freshly written petition had hundreds of red fingerprints. Next, the old man carefully rolled up the petition and handed it to Liu Haotian, filled with hope and tears. Sir, we entrust this to you! We trust you, Liu hero! everyone said in unison. Liu Haotian took the petition with both hands, as if shouldering a heavy burden, and said solemnly, Rest assured, everyone! Once I gather a million petitions from themon people, I will deliver this document to Prime Minister Lin and ask him to send troops to rescue all of you! Thank you very much, Hero Liu, the elderly man bowed deeply. Liu Haotian wrapped the petition in a waterproof bag, then slung it over his back and said, Please take care, everyone. Wait for my good news! With quick steps, he carried the hopes of the people and left the vige. Subsequently, Liu Haotian tirelessly traveled throughout the White Elephant Kingdom, collecting the petitions from the people who had learned about the situation. They all supported him, leaving their bloody fingerprints on the petitions. The blood fingerprints on the petition multiplied, bing countless and impossible to count. However, Liu Haotians actions eventually caught the attention of the White Elephant Kingdoms court. The White Elephant King was furious, sent soldiers to chase him, and prohibited others from contacting Liu Haotian, imposing heavy penalties on those who vited this rule. Fortunately, Liu Haotian was skilled in martial arts; otherwise, he would have lost his life in the White Elephant Kingdom. But even so, this dy cost him quite a bit of time. After a month of effort, he finally collected a million petitions. Then, carrying this petition with him, he journeyed to the capital of the Great Wu, where he met Lin Beifan. Prime Minister, this is a petition from a million people of the White Elephant Kingdom. Please, extend your helping hand and rescue them! Liu Haotian excitedly opened the petition in his hands. Upon seeing this petition, which was over four zhang (around 13 meters) long and almost filled the room with red fingerprints below the concise text, the court was deeply moved. The Empress asked, What do you think, my dear? Lin Beifans face was grave as he replied, Your Majesty, although the people of the White Elephant Kingdom are not our subjects, their hearts belong to our Great Wu, and they willingly submit to us. Hence, they are our people! For the sake of our people, we must intervene. My suggestion is to send troops! The Empress wholeheartedly agreed, nodding, You speak the truth! Seeing our people suffering in another country, I cannot bear it any longer. My dear, you are the Supreme Commander of the nation; this matter shall be under your responsibility! I shall obey yourmand! Lin Beifan dered. With their unanimous decision, the court officials had no objections, as this was part of the n for territorial expansion. As the time for the expedition approached, various generals couldnt sit still and came to visit Lin Beifan, hoping to seize the opportunity to achieve military glory. Lin Beifan gathered his generals and immediately set out. After approximately a week of travel, they crossed thend of Wuxi and arrived at the Green Dragon Fortress. From there, they assembled ten armies to prepare for the expedition into the White Elephant Kingdom. After all preparations wereplete, Lin Beifan signaled Liu Haotian, who had apanied them, toe forward. Liu Haotian,e here. Prime Minister, what is yourmand? Liu Haotian asked with a bow. Lin Beifan spoke gravely, Liu Haotian, early tomorrow morning, we will march to confront the White Elephant Kingdom. However, to minimize casualties, I hope you can help me with one thing. Prime Minister, please give your orders. I am willing to go through fire and water for our cause, Liu Haotian replied in a determined tone. Lin Beifan waved his hand and smiled, Its not that serious! I just hope you can lead some of our generals to secretly infiltrate the White Elephant Kingdom. Mobilize and rally the people there. With your support from within and our military strength from outside, we can achieve our goals more effectively! Prime Minister, rest assured, I wont let you down! Liu Haotian said, then led several Great Wu generals to secretly enter the White Elephant Kingdom. They first arrived in a vige where the residents recognized Liu Haotian. Seeing him, they were astonished. Hero Liu, you Liu Haotian joyfully eximed, Fellow vigers, your petitions have been received by Prime Minister Lin! Prime Minister Lin, being benevolent, hase to rescue you! Now, a hundred thousand soldiers are at the city gates, and tomorrow morning they will enter the White Elephant Kingdom to save you! The people were overjoyed and cheered. The Prime Minister is here! Haha! This is great; we are finally saved! Weve been waiting for this day! Themotion in the vige alerted nearby White Elephant Kingdom soldiers. They yawned as they approached. What are you all shouting about? Shouldnt you be sleeping? Tomorrow morning, you have to work! Who are you people? Put down your weapons immediately, or we wont be polite! One of the Great Wu generals released a burst of energy, swiftly cutting down the officials and soldiers. He then raised his arms and shouted, People of the White Elephant Kingdom, your long-awaited Prime Minister has arrived! He is now outside the city. Lets open the city gates together and wee the Prime Minister! Open the city gates, wee the Prime Minister! they chanted enthusiastically. Following this, Liu Haotian and his group continued to roam, defeating the soldiers and rescuing the people of the White Elephant Kingdom. When they learned that Lin Beifan was just outside the city, ready to enter and rescue them, their excitement grew. It seemed that as long as Lin Beifan was there, everything would be resolved. They once again gathered their courage, picked up hoes, sticks, and the swords they had taken from the White Elephant soldiers, and rose in rebellion, rushing to the city gates to open them and wee the Prime Minister. This event spread like wildfire, sweeping across the nation from west to east, from south to north. However, the White Elephant King and his court remained unaware of these developments. They were currently preparing for the imminent battle with the Great Wus massive army, fully armed and vignt. In this tense situation, the day gradually dawned. As soon as it was light, Lin Beifan led his 100,000-strong army to the fortress gate of the White Elephant Kingdom. Naturally, the White Elephant Kingdom would not sit idly by and assembled a force of 300,000 soldiers to prepare for the battle against the Great Wus army. Although their numbers were more than three times that of the Great Wu and they held the key fortress, they did not dare to underestimate the Great Wus forces. The Great Wus military strength was inherently superior, and this time, they were led by the Supreme Commander of the Great Wu, Lin Beifan. This guy was an expert in warfare, skilled in winning against the odds, defeatingrger forces with smaller ones, and always emerging victorious. Many great nations had fallen to his hands. So, the pressure on the White Elephant Kingdom was enormous. At this moment, the White Elephant King stood on the city tower, looking down at Lin Beifan with eyes zing with fury. Chapter 414: When Heaven and Earth Join Forces! Chapter 414: When Heaven and Earth Join Forces! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The King of the White Elephant Kingdom shouted loudly, Prime Minister Lin, the White Elephant is already a vassal state of the Great Wu, and I am considered a subject just like the ministers. We are inherently one. Why do you send troops to attack our country? We have signed an alliance agreement. Are you nning to break your word and abandon the principles of both our nations? Will you act treacherously and disregard our honor? Such a breach of trust is not only a betrayal of us but of the entire world. How will people perceive you in the future? In the future, which nation will be willing to submit to the Great Wu? Lin Beifan sat atop his high horse and proimed, The White Elephants words are a joke. We have not broken our word or vited our promises! On the contrary, this is our demonstration of honoring the alliance. Pointing at the 100,000 troops below the city wall, the King of the White Elephant Kingdomughed angrily and taunted, Is this your demonstration of honoring the alliance? Well done, indeed! You have already reached our doorstep! Its like telling a bald donkey that hes a monk. I have never seen such shameless audacity! In his final words, he poured out all his grievances and anger. The White Elephants officials and soldiers followed suit, roaring in outrage. You Great Wu, with your treacherous ways, have the audacity to attack us? Even if you win, you will be infamous in the eyes of the world! We will never surrender! We will resist to the end! Evil cannot triumph over righteousness! Amidst the crowds reproaches, Lin Beifan remained calm and pped his hands. Present it! Two soldiers brought out a thick white cloth and slowly unfolded it, revealing countless bloody handprints. It was a shocking sight that left everyone stunned. The King of the White Elephant Kingdom has acted unjustly, causing suffering to the people and making their lives unbearable! Therefore, a million White Elephant citizens have submitted a petition, requesting our country to send troops to overthrow the corrupt White Elephant court and restore peace to thend! This is the petition from the White Elephant citizens! I have personally counted them, and there are a total of 1.12 million handprints on 940 pages. These are the cries of the White Elephant people in blood and tears! Lin Beifan spoke with righteous indignation, As the paramount state of the White Elephant Kingdom, its citizens are also our citizens of the Great Wu! When the White Elephant people suffer, we cannot simply turn a blind eye! Thats why weve sent 100,000 troops to rescue the White Elephant citizens. This is our demonstration of honoring the alliance and our responsibility as a great nation! Thats right! We havee to rescue the White Elephant citizens! They have suffered injustice and oppression by the White Elephant court, so it is our duty to rescue them! We are the champions of justice! I advise you to open your city gates and surrender quickly! The morale of the Great Wu soared. The White Elephant Kingdoms officials, upon reading this petition, were so furious that they felt their bodies were about to burst into mes. Through gritted teeth, the King of the White Elephant Kingdom said, These insolentmoners dare to stab me in the back! After this matter is resolved, I will make them pay! After a while, Lin Beifan shouted again, King of the White Elephant, I advise you to open the gates and surrender quickly. Theres no point in struggling further! Remember, the righteous have many allies, but the unrighteous stand alone. You have lost your moral ground, and defeat is inevitable! The King of the White Elephant Kingdom red at Lin Beifan, seething with anger. You have the audacity to advise me to surrender? Isnt it your Great Wu that forced us into this situation? Demanding tribute from us within a deadline, threatening war if we didntply. Well, Iplied, but you turned the tables on me! Your betrayal was deep and ruthless! The King of the White Elephant Kingdom now realized that he had fallen for the schemes of the Great Wu court from beginning to end. Initially, the Great Wu pretended to ally with them, pacifying the rebellion without harming a single person and taking away the troublemakers. This act of mercy earned them goodwill from the White Elephant citizens. However, after the incident, they pressured the White Elephant court to deliver tribute within a deadline, or face war. To pay tribute, they had to oppress their own people, sowing the seeds of discord. As a result, chaos erupted in the White Elephant Kingdom again, and the Great Wu used the pretext of a million petitions to intervene in their affairs, aiming to overthrow their rule and save the people. In the end, they wanted to annex the White Elephant Kingdom. From beginning to end, the Great Wu yed the role of heroes while they were cast as viins! It was a meticulous and cunning n! Incredibly devious and sly! The more the King of the White Elephant Kingdom thought about it, the angrier and more indignant he became. He felt like aplete fool, realizing he had been manipted all along! I wont go down without a fight, and neither will you! The King of the White Elephant Kingdom, in a fit of anger, exposed, Lin Beifan, you ungrateful traitor, a sellout for personal gain! Do you all know where I obtained the technology for my air balloona? It was bought from Lin Beifan himself, at the cost of a million taels! Both armies erupted inmotion! The King of the White Elephant Kingdom continued, Do you all know where I got the technology for my hovercrafts? Once again, it was from Lin Beifan, bought at the cost of 1.2 million taels! The armies were in uproar again! Do you all know how much money Lin Beifan has greedily taken from me over these years? Let me tell you, its no less than 5 million taels! The armies erupted inmotion for the third time! The King of the White Elephant roared in anger, Lin Beifan, you insatiable traitor, selling out your country for personal gain! Youve consumed so much wealth, betraying not only the Great Wu but also me! Everyone has the right to confront me, except you! Both armies were shaken to their cores, especially the Great Wus forces. They never imagined that their most revered Supreme Commander would engage in such treacherous acts. They suddenly felt a sense of shattered faith, and the armys morale began to waver. Lin Beifans expression remained remarkablyposed, but the apanying generals were uneasy. General Zhao pointed his spear at the White Elephant King on the city wall and shouted, Stop! Dont defame Supreme Commander! He has always been loyal to the country and the people, how can he collude with you for personal gain? King of the White Elephant, you clearly intend to deceive and weaken the militarys resolve. Dont be fooled, everyone! Thats right! Lin Beifan pped andughed, The King of the White Elephant clearly intends to use deceit to manipte us and shake our resolve. Dont fall for it, everyone! But I must say, King of the White Elephant, your tactics are truly despicable! The entire Great Wu knows that I have been wholeheartedly loyal to Her Majesty and the Great Wu! It was me who invented the airships, hovercrafts, cement as a construction material, and high-yield Taiping rice, all of which have contributed to the prosperity of the Great Wu! It was me who led the troops to pacify the Three Rebellious Kings, ending more than two decades of internal strife! At the same time, I led the army to repel external enemies, the forces of Dayue and Great Xia, protecting our homnd! It was me who expanded our territory and incorporated the Darro Kingdom into the Great Wus territory! It was me who oversaw the government, reversing the decline of the Great Wu! I have done so much for the Great Wu, to the point of exhausting my efforts and intellect. Thats why Her Majesty continuously promoted me, granting me the title of Loyal and Brave King. This is recognition of my loyalty! Lin Beifan lifted his head, pointing to his heart, and said with deep emotion, King of the White Elephant, you can tarnish my reputation, but you cannot stain my loyalty! Everyone found his wordspelling. Indeed, their Supreme Commander Lin Beifan had done many good deeds for the country and its people, which were visible to all. For instance, during the once-in-a-century ice disaster, if it werent for Lin Beifans nationwide deployment, the construction of shelters with centralized heating, and other measures, who knows how many lives would have been lost? People across the country owed Lin Beifan a heartfelt thank you. As a result, the armys morale began to stabilize. However, the King of the White Elephant was furious! This was truly a shameless individual who twisted right and wrong! He clearly took so much wealth from me, and now he ims to be loyal? It was simply outrageous! The King of the White Elephant seethed with anger! His eyes red like bulls eyes, red and fiery, as if he wanted to blow up Lin Beifan! However, he didnt say much more because he knew that words wouldnt make a difference now. The other side was incredibly cunning, and their hidden agenda was deeply entrenched. Ordinary evidence wouldnt shake them. Now, there was only one path left! The King of the White Elephant Kingdom drew his sword and shouted loudly, Soldiers, the Great Wu has betrayed its promises andunched an unjust war against us, viting our alliance! Although we are weaker in strength, we will not go down without a fight! Soldiers, follow me and wield your swords! Kill! Kill! The White Elephant army followed with a thunderous roar. Supreme Commander, lets join the battle and make a name for ourselves! The generals by Lin Beifans side were eager for action. Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, Wait, its not the right time yet. What do you mean by the right time? someone asked. Lin Beifans ears twitched slightly, and he said, The timing is now right; theyve arrived. Just then, within the White Elephant Kingdom, there was a deafening noise. The Prime Minister has arrived; our good days areing! Ive been waiting for this day for so long; we finally see hope! Lets open the city gates and wee the Prime Minister! Open the gates and receive the Prime Minister! These voices came from all directions. The King of the White Elephant turned to look, his face turning pale. Because he saw a dense crowd converging toward them. Although most of them were holding hoes, shovels, or wooden sticks they had picked up at random, and they werent wearing armor, most of them looked emaciated and didnt seem like a significant threat individually. However, when this group of people gathered into a million-strong army, it became truly terrifying. The King of the White Elephant Kingdom grabbed a nearby officer and asked, Whats going on? The officer was drenched in sweat and stammered, I I dont know! How can you not know when such a significant event is happening? What use are you? The King of the White Elephant immediately raised his sword and beheaded the officer, and a bloody head fell from the city wall. Then, the King of the White Elephant questioned several more people, but none could provide an answer. As a result, several more heads fell to the ground. At this moment, another deafening battle cry resounded. Wereing too! We are also the citizens of the White Elephant Kingdom; its our duty to overthrow the kings tyranny! The king has followed the wrong path, and we must topple him! Quickly open the city gates and wee the Prime Minister into the city! Surprisingly, these voices came from the side of the Great Wu. It turned out that the White Elephant Kingdom citizens who were cultivating and farming in the western territories of the Great Wu had alsoe to support Lin Beifan. The King of the White Elephant looked in that direction, and his face became even paler. His legs trembled with fear. Chapter 415: The Hearts of the People Return, the White Elephants Join the Great War! Chapter 415: The Hearts of the People Return, the White Elephants Join the Great War! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
In front, there are a million rebels, and behind, there are another million rebels, plus the 100,000 elite troops of Great Wu. This situation is even more dire than three months ago. How can they continue to fight? Its impossible! Not only is White Elephant King shocked, but the other White Elephant generals are also in despair. Its over! With so many peopleing at us, our 300,000 army cant hold them off! We need to escape quickly, or itll be toote! Yes, lets retreat for now. We must live to fight another day! Your Majesty, we cant hesitate any longer! At this moment, whether in front or behind, the White Elephant citizens are all charging toward the defending city, wanting to break through the oppressive rule and wee Lin Beifan into the city. As far as the eye can see, its densely packed with people, a sea of humanity! The White Elephant King and the officials within the city are like boats adrift in the ocean,pletely isted. At this moment, Lin Beifan raises his arm and shouts, Fellow citizens of White Elephant Country, I havee as invited! Now is the time when heaven and earth unite in strength. Let us join hands to overthrow the oppressive rule of White Elephant Country! The White Elephant citizens are extremely excited. Overthrow the corrupt court of White Elephant Country! Open the city gates, wee the Prime Minister! Change the world, right now! This wave of enthusiasm sweeps across thend! Everyone excitedly rushes towards the city gates, some even daring to climb the city walls. The White Elephant King and others are frightened, their faces pale. What should we do? Should we surrender and admit defeat? If we continue to fight, there will be no way out. Well be torn apart by these crazed people! I think we should escape! The White Elephant King roars, No! We havent lost yet! Release the White Elephant Army and crush them! The city gates on both sides thunderously open. Following that, the White Elephants elite army, the White Elephant Army, emerges from the city gates. They are colossal gray-white elephants, over twenty feet tall, with legs thicker than a grown persons waist, and their massive bodies are like mobile houses. They charge forward, shaking the ground and causing great fear. Be careful! White Elephants are extremely dangerous! Quick, run! White Elephants are dangerous! The citizens of White Elephant Country fled for their lives. Because no one knew the terror of White Elephants better than them. These terrifying giant elephants could trample several people with a single step and flick their noses to send dozens of people flying. They were truly the kings ofnd warfare, unmatched by anyone. White Elephant King, standing on the city wall,ughed maniacally, Haha! You rebelliousmoners, lets see if you dare to resist me! White Elephant Army, tear them apart, crush them! Leave no one alive! Trumpeting loudly, the White Elephants emitted long, resonant calls one after another. Then, they initiated their even more ferocious attacks. They charged recklessly, and many citizens were knocked down, causing massive casualties. Lin Beifan waved his hand, Warriors, take down the White Elephant Army for me! Dont harm them, I want to stay alive! Yes, Supreme Commander! The eager warriors didnt hesitate. Their method was like this: a few of them would team up, use their agile skills to bind the legs of the White Elephants withrge ropes, and then trip them. This method was very practical, and hundreds of White Elephants were quickly captured. The liberation of White Elephant Country begins now! Lin Beifan waved his hand again. Break into the city, capture the White Elephant King and the officials and generals of the White Elephant Court, and eliminate the resistance of the White Elephant Court! Yes, Supreme Commander! Finally, Great Wus 100,000 soldiers and horses started moving. The citizens of White Elephant Country also joined the excitement and rushed in. Although the White Elephant Court had 300,000 troops, their morale was shattered, and they couldnt organize effective resistance. They were quickly overwhelmed by this million-strong army, which stormed into the city. The White Elephant King and his group tried to escape, but they had already been targeted by Great Wusmanders. Run, where can you possibly run to? Let me tell you, youve already been surrounded by us. Theres no way out! Obey us ande with us, bow down and admit your guilt to the Supreme Commander! Otherwise, dont me us for being ruthless! Hehe The White Elephant King turned pale with fear. There are 20 innate experts, were done for! In the end, this group of people couldnt escape and were brought before Lin Beifan for questioning. Lin Beifan once again presented a petition in front of millions of White Elephant citizens, listing the crimes of the White Elephant King and others. Finally, he dered with great indignation, The White Elephant King and his aplices havemitted countless heinous crimes, sins that are beyond forgiveness! So, lets finish them all now and let them atone for their sins with their lives! As the bloody heads fell one by one, the White Elephant citizens let out a satisfying sigh of relief. Well done! Its satisfying to see them killed! People like that deserve to die! Only by killing them can we usher in a new hope! I think this punishment is still too light. They should be hacked to pieces, subjected to slow torture and execution! Yes, I also think the punishment is too lenient. They should suffer more, or it wont be satisfying! Prime Minister, youre too merciful! Lin Beifan shouted loudly, Fellow citizens, now that the evildoers have been brought to justice, White Elephant Country will undergo a tremendous transformation! However, there is a question before us now. Without a government or officials, White Elephant Country will continue to be chaotic even if weve won. Have you thought about what to do? At this moment, someone shouted loudly, Prime Minister, why make it soplicated? Since theres no government here, why dont you from Great Wu just send people to take over? Wouldnt that work? Yes, we want to be part of Great Wu. We want to be the people of Great Wu! Please grant our request, Prime Minister! The crowds voices were loud and eager. During this period, they had all realized that Great Wu treated its citizens exceptionally wellno taxes, high-yield crops, and the development of irrigation facilities. Even people from other countries received special treatment, better than they had in White Elephant Country. So, they had long wanted to join Great Wu and be part of it! Moreover, after this disaster, all the other countries were in chaos, with rampantwlessness and chaos. Only Great Wu enjoyed peace and prosperity. They had no other choice but to join Great Wu to live better lives. Seeing the enthusiasm of the crowd and the fact that they wouldnt let him refuse, Lin Beifan had no choice but to go along with their wishes. Good! Since you all want to join Great Wu, then I solemnly dere Lin Beifans expression became serious. From now on, White Elephant Country will be a province of Great Wu, called White Elephant Province! And the citizens of White Elephant Country will be the citizens of Great Wu, enjoying the same rights as our Great Wu citizens! Cheers erupted like a tidal wave. Haha! Ive finally joined Great Wu; I am a citizen of Great Wu! I have the same rights as the citizens of Great Wu! Ive finally seen the light of day. Today is truly a great day! Thank you, Prime Minister! Next, Lin Beifan led the Great Wu army to stay in White Elephant Country and carry out some post-war tasks. Firstly, they returned all the resources, including goods gathered by the White Elephant King from all over the country, as well as natural treasures, to the people. This single action alone greatly won the hearts of the people. Secondly, they uprooted any remaining noble and royal forces in White Elephant Country, leaving no trace behind. This was done to ensure Great Wusplete control of White Elephant Country and eliminate any obstacles. Thirdly, they audited White Elephant Countrys wealth and resources, reorganized its farnd, and initiated production efforts to help White Elephant Country recover as quickly as possible. With all these measures in ce, the people of White Elephant Country became even more supportive of Great Wu. Letting Great Wu manage us is absolutely right! We can look forward to better days ahead! Just thinking about it makes me smile! Meanwhile, news of Great Wus conquest of White Elephant Country quickly spread worldwide, causing shock everywhere. In just a few days, Great Wu has actually conquered White Elephant Country? Expanding their territory when did it be so easy? I heard that this time, it was Great Wus Supreme Commander Lin Beifan leading the attack. Without much effort and in less than a day, they took over White Elephant Country! Damn it! Our country is torn apart by internal strife, while Great Wu is expanding its territory! Great Wu is getting stronger and stronger. What should we do? Nations around the world felt a significant threat from Great Wu. They strongly protested, calling it an act of aggression and an unjust war, demanding that Great Wu return White Elephant Country. Among these protests, the most vehement came from the Great Yan Dynasty and the Dayue Dynasty. This was because White Elephant Country was situated at the border of these three nations, and Great Wus expanding influence posed the greatest threat to them. They protested vigorously, but Great Wu paid them no heed, treating their protests as if they were inconsequential. They had hoped to use military threats against Great Wu but found their own nations embroiled in chaos, making them incapable of dealing with internal strife, let alone challenging Great Wu. In the end, they could only watch helplessly as Great Wu incorporated White Elephant Country into its dominion.
TLN: Nothing happened in White Elephant Country in 1989 Chapter 416: Did Empty Void Daoist Get Captured? Chapter 416: Did Empty Void Daoist Get Captured? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Next, Lin Beifan remained in White Elephant to handle the lingering issues of the White Elephant Kingdom. There were indeed many problems, but fortunately, the people of White Elephant were quite understanding and cooperative, so many things gradually smoothed out and became well-organized. Princess Ziyue knew that Lin Beifan had arrived and took the time toe over. Her expression held a hint of resentment as she said jealously, Strategist, youve already helped that woman conquer two territories. When will you help me? Ive been working hard all alone in Dayue! Lin Beifan shook his head with a smile, Princess, havent I helped you a lot already? You should know that Ive been nning and strategizing for you, risking my life for over two years! Moreover, if we conquer Dayue, the territory will be many timesrger than White Elephant, and isnt that enough? Well, thats true! Princess Ziyue brightened up. In these two years, the strategist had indeed risked his life to n for her. And if they truly conquered Dayue, that territory would be vast and rich, far surpassing White Elephant and Darrobined. Just based on that, she would outshine that other woman. It seems that the strategist still has me in his heart! Princess Ziyue leaned closer, her hands encircling Lin Beifans waist, and her head resting on his chest as she exhaled gently, saying, Eight, nine, three. Strategist, when will you apany me to Dayue? As long as youe, our nted Moons treasures and I will all be yours! Lin Beifan was so frustrated that this woman hade again! Didnt she know how tempting she was to me? Princess, this matter isnt urgent. Lets wait until weve conquered Dayue. Alright, when I ascend to the throne as Empress after conquering Dayue, you muste to nted Moon and be my prince! Because the grand undertaking had reached its final stages, Princess Ziyue stayed with Lin Beifan for two days and then hurried back. Lin Beifan continued to stay in White Elephant and the Western Martial Lands to handle White Elephants affairs. The sudden addition of 5 million people was a massive issue in terms of their clothing, food, shelter, and transportation. If handled well, it would be an asset, but if not, it could be a burden. So, Lin Beifan had to put in a lot of effort. During this time, he stumbled upon a rather absurd situation. One day, while Lin Beifan was dealing with official matters, a group of White Elephant citizens came to petition, looking very anxious. Lord Prime Minister, something terrible has happened! The crops we nted are being eaten by a group of furry animals. Someone said theyre rabbits! There are too many rabbits, they run too fast, and we cant catch them. What should we do? If it affects the harvest, itll be a disaster! At that moment, Lin Beifan hadnt realized yet, Where did these rabbitse from? These rabbits came down from the Qinglong Mountains! We sent people up to take a look, and there were just so many of them, one nest after another! We cant figure out how, in just one year, there are so many rabbits up there! Lin Beifan suddenly felt both amused and exasperated because this situation was his idea. Initially, when there was a shortage of food for the nted Moon army, Princess Ziyue specifically came to him for advice. So, he suggested introducing rabbits, which could multiply quickly, into the Qinglong and Fenghuang Mountains to address the food shortage for the nted Moon army. Now, after a year, this group of rabbits not only survived a once-in-a-century ice disaster but also began to reproduce wildly, threatening the food supply below the mountains. Take me to see them! Lin Beifan followed the local vigers and enthusiastically arrived at the farnds below the mountains. Sure enough, they found many rabbits, fat and agile, nibbling on crops, while a group of farmers chased after them, making the scene look somewhatical. Lin Beifan chuckled, My fellow vigers, this isnt a bad thing; its actually a great one! A great thing? The vigers were puzzled. Indeed, its a good thing, Lin Beifanughed, These rabbits, not only are they delicious, but theyre also highly nutritious. You can catch them and enjoy their meat! These rabbits are edible, and they taste good? The vigers were a bit perplexed. These vigers were originally from the White Elephant Kingdom, where rabbits were notmon, so they didnt know whether these creatures were edible or how they tasted. Why dont you try it, and youll know? Lin Beifan suggested with a smile. You dont often eat meat, so you can catch some rabbit meat to supplement your diet. These creatures multiply rapidly, giving birth to a litter every month or so, and a litter usually has seven or eight rabbits. They grow quickly, so feel free to catch them; you wont run out of them! The vigers cheered up upon hearing this. What a great opportunity! Its been a while since I had meat; Ill catch some to enjoy! Ive never tasted rabbit meat; I must see what its like, haha! Many were eager to try. And theres another significant benefit! Lin Beifan continued with a grin. What benefit? Everyone asked eagerly. You can make dried rabbit meat, which is easy to store and transport. This way, you can sell it all over the country, and youll have an additional source of ie! Lin Beifan exined with a smile. The vigers eyes lit up; this was indeed a tremendous opportunity! What a great opportunity! Lin Beifan waved his hand and said, Tonight, lets catch some rabbit meat and give it a try! On that day, under Lin Beifans organization, the local vigers went into the mountains to catch rabbits. They then prepared various rabbit dishes, and after eating them, they couldnt stop praising the vors. At the same time, they saw a path to wealth through these rabbits. So, some skilled farmers and salt traders spontaneously formed rabbit-catching teams and went into the mountains to capture rabbits. They processed the meat into jerky and sold it nationwide through local merchants. Lin Beifan naturally weed this development and shared some techniques to make the rabbit meat even more delicious. After the affairs in White Elephant were settled, Lin Beifan returned to the capital and reported to the Empress. In the imperial court, Lin Beifan said, Your Majesty, I am pleased to report that I have sessfully taken control of the White Elephant Kingdom and ensured the welfare of its local citizens. They are deeply grateful for our protection. Your efforts aremendable! The Empress was delighted. I am aware of the situation in the White Elephant Kingdom. You have achieved this with minimal cost, bringing another expansion to our empire. I am pleased! However, I am not sure what reward to give you. Feel free to request anything from my private treasury! Thank you for your graciousness, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan replied loudly. I would like to inform Your Majesty that although thend in Wuxi is barren, it offers some delicious delicacies. I have brought a special dish from Wuxi to present to Your Majesty! The Empress became curious, My dear, what delicacy have you brought for me? Lin Beifan signaled for someone to bring it over, and it turned out to be a tter of aromatic dried meat. The Empress became even more curious, My dear, what is this? Lin Beifan smiled and exined, Your Majesty, this is rabbit meat! Suddenly, there was a surge of rabbits in the Qinglong and Fenghuang Mountains, and they were devouring crops! Originally, this was a significant problem for the farmers, but I saw that they wererge and well-fed, so I ordered them to be made into jerky. The taste is incredibly delicious! So, I brought some for Your Majesty to taste! The Empress was momentarily stunned. Rabbits from the Qinglong and Fenghuang Mountains? Werent those the ones that the other woman released up there? However, the Empress didnt dwell on it and smiled, My dear, its rare for you to be so considerate. Let me taste it! The rabbit meat was brought over, and the Empress picked up a piece, taking a delicate bite. She nodded and smiled, Indeed, the taste is excellent. I really like it! All of you, try some too! Yes, Your Majesty! So, everyone had a taste, and they all found the vor to be excellent Subsequently, Lin Beifan publicized this matter far and wide, presenting it as rabbit meat from Wuxi. The fact that the Empress praised it highly became the most significant advertisement in the realm. After all, which celebrity could surpass the current reigning Empress? Consequently, the Wuxi rabbit meat industry quickly gained poprity, as everyone wanted to taste the rabbit meat that the Empress couldnt stop praising. Lin Beifan had effectively turned the rabbit meat industry in Wuxi into a thriving business. In the following days, Lin Beifan remained in the original capital, working alongside the Empress to handle state affairs during official hours. In his leisure time, he enjoyed ying and having fun with various women, leading a low-profile yet fulfilling life. It was now summer, and the Taiping rice, sown throughout the realm, had grown vigorously. Whether it was the fertilends of the capital, the regions of Southern Jiang and Northern Jiang, or the rtively barren areas of Northern Hebei and Wuxi, the Taiping rice was flourishing. Lin Beifan was eager to see what kind of yield they would achieve at harvest time. However, during this time, whether it was Great Yan, Great Xia, or Dayue, things were bing increasingly chaotic. The Dayue Dynasty was primarily in turmoil due to Princess Ziyues actions. Using the advanced revolutionary theories taught by Lin Beifan, she led a peasant uprising that gained tremendous momentum, sweeping through the entire Dayue region. The dynastic change was imminent this year. As for the Great Yan and Great Xia Dynasties, their main source of chaos was the pursuit of the Elixir of Immortality. The Emperor of Great Yan had witnessed the creation of the Elixir of Immortality with his own eyes and became obsessed, disregarding the suffering of the people and neglecting state affairs. He was collecting rare treasures from all over the world once again, preparing to refine the Elixir of Immortality and fulfill his dream of eternal life. The Emperor of Great Xia, due to his limited remaining lifespan, was also obsessed with the idea of immortality. Now that he saw a glimmer of hope, he became equally fanatical, hoping to refine the Elixir of Immortality to extend his life and continue ruling the realm. As for the other smaller kingdoms, they had not yet recovered from the recent ice disaster, so they continued to experience turmoil. Meanwhile, in Great Yan, a shocking event urred. One dark and stormy night, arge group of formidable experts infiltrated the imperial pce of Great Yan. Among them, there were forty innate experts and even three grandmasters. This terrifying force had the potential to overthrow any kingdom under the heavens. However, they did note for the Emperor of Great Yan or the precious treasures within the pce. Astonishingly, they hade for Empty Void Daoist. They captured him and swiftly vanished without a trace. The Emperor of Great Yan roared in anger for three days, and countless heads rolled as a consequence. Chapter 417: Heaven Will Never Allow Such an Amazing Elixir to Exist! Chapter 417: Heaven Will Never Allow Such an Amazing Elixir to Exist! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, in the Great Xia Dynastys imperial pce. Empty Void Daoist woke up groggily, only to find himself in a magnificent pce that was no less grand than the Great Yan Emperors pce. Moreover, he saw a group of formidable individuals. This group of formidable individuals was none other than the mysterious experts who had infiltrated the Great Yan Emperors pce earlier and kidnapped him. Their strength ranged from at least innate level, and there were even three Grandmaster-level experts among them. He was taken away by one of them. Furthermore, there was an individual dressed in imperial robes, looking quite regal, being supported by an old eunuch, gazing at him with joy in their eyes. Elderly dignity spoke up, Empty Void Daoist, youre awake! Empty Void Daoist was somewhat afraid, his plump face trembling, Who are you? The other person opened their arms and said with an air of majesty, I am the Emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty! Empty Void Daoist quickly stood up and respectfully bowed, Your Majesty, I pay my respects! May I ask what brings Your Majesty to seek me out? The Great Xia Emperor walked unsteadily toward him,ughing heartily, Haha, Daoist, theres no need for so much formality! We have been eager to meet you, but due to your presence in the Great Yan Emperors pce, this is the only option we have. Please do not me us! Empty Void Daoist waved his hands repeatedly, Of course not Then he asked, May I inquire why Your Majesty has summoned me? I am here for the Elixir of Immortality! The Great Xia Emperor looked at Empty Void Daoist with great eagerness, I heard that you possess profound knowledge of the 18 Pill Refining Arts and have sessfully created the Elixir of Immortality in the Great Yan Emperors pce. I am thrilled, so I invited you here! Empty Void Daoist thought to himself that this was indeed the case. Ever since he created the Elixir of Immortality, many people had been unable to sit still. Numerous experts had gathered in the capital of the Great Yan Dynasty, hoping to make contact with him or even capture him. However, he had always remained in the imperial pce, protected by the Yan Emperors experts, so they had not seeded. Unfortunately, they had ultimately fallen into the hands of the Great Xia Dynasty. The Great Xia Emperor sighed, Daoist, a nation cannot be without a ruler for a single day! I am already old, and my time is running out. My oldest son is still imprisoned in the Great Wu, and his return is uncertain! So, I cannot die yet, or else the world will surely fall into chaos! Therefore, I hope that you will consider the well-being of the people and the state and create the Elixir of Immortality to extend my life! Please grant my request! Please grant my request! others echoed in unison. This Empty Void Daoist was in a difficult position, Its not that I dont want to help, but this matter isnt something that can be done easily! You see, to create the Elixir of Immortality, one requires countless rare and precious materials, as well as heavenly and earthly treasures. Without these materials, its impossible to create the elixir. The Great Xia Emperor hurriedly said, Daoist, please rest assured, I have already ordered people to gather rare treasures from all over the world for your alchemy! Whatever you need, I will collect it without hesitation, and I will ensure that you wont be in any difficulties. Besides the challenge of finding the required medicinal materials, you also have to face the Heavenly Tribtion, sighed Empty Void Daoist. Your Majesty should know that the Elixir of Immortality is a celestial elixir not meant for this world. When I created it, I faced a Heavenly Punishment. Not only was I severely injured, but the elixir itself was also destroyed, so The Great Xia Emperor quickly responded, I am well aware of that, Daoist. To deal with the Heavenly Tribtion, I have enlisted many experts from all over the world. You can rest assured! Hearing this, Empty Void Daoist felt somewhat tempted. However, as the national teacher of the Great Yan Dynasty, changing allegiances too abruptly was not a good idea. Therefore, he appeared hesitant. The Great Xia Emperor dered loudly, Furthermore, Daoist, as long as you can sessfully create the Elixir of Immortality, I will appoint you as the Prime Minister and grant you every honor and wealth you desire. In short, whatever the Great Yan Dynasty can offer you, I can offer you more and better! Empty Void Daoist still hesitated a bit. The Great Xia Emperor clenched his teeth and said, Moreover, Daoist, as long as you can produce the Elixir of Immortality, I will make you a co-emperor, ruling the world alongside me! Empty Void Daoist was now very tempted. After all, who wouldnt want to practice alchemy when such rewards were promised? Furthermore, the Great Xia Emperor was offering even more than his previous allegiance. So, he bowed deeply and said, I thank Your Majesty for this great favor! I will boldly ept this task and create the divine elixir for Your Majesty! The Great Xia Emperor burst intoughter, Haha! Thats the spirit, Daoist, and I should be the one thanking you! Following this, Empty Void Daoist took up residence in the Great Xia Imperial Pce. The Great Xia Emperor was overjoyed, warmly hosting Empty Void Daoist and urgently collecting the rare treasures of heaven and earth needed for the elixirs creation, to speed up the production of the Elixir of Immortality. For example, they sent people to contact Lin Beifan and paid a huge price to obtain two ounces of dragon bone from him. Just with this genuine-looking dragon bone, Lin Beifan deceived them into handing over 30 million taels. As a result, after selling it for so long, the dragon bone was still intact. On the other hand, when Empty Void Daoist had some spare time, he resumed his old profession and started refining the Divine Enlightenment Pill. Now, everyone in the Great Xia Dynasty hadplete confidence in Empty Void Daoists abilities. Witnessing him produce such divine elixirs, they couldnt wait to try them. As a result, everyone felt like they were floating on clouds after taking the Divine Enlightenment Pill, full of energy and excitement. They truly seemed like immortals. Even the ailing and elderly Great Xia Emperor, after consuming the Divine Enlightenment Pill, appeared much more energetic, and his health improved significantly. Thus, their trust in Empty Void Daoists abilities deepened, and they bestowed even greater honors upon him. Due to frequent appearances, news of Empty Void Daoist being captured by the Great Xia Dynasty gradually spread. The Great Yan Emperor became furious and issued an urgent royal decree, using the Great Xia Emperor of being a thief for taking away their national teacher. He demanded that the Great Xia Emperor immediately return the national teacher and offer a formal apology; otherwise, they would resort to military confrontation. The Great Xia Emperor waspletely unfazed by the threat and simply ignored it. He believed that they had nothing to fear, primarily because the two countries were not connected bynd. Any invasion would have to go through the Great Wu, and the Great Wu was unlikely to allow it. Therefore, the only option would be a naval route. However, the appearance of dragon bones in the sea had previously sparked conflicts between the two nations, resulting in the destruction of both naval forces. So, there was no real possibility of a naval battle either. At this point, the Empress of the Great Wu, despite the significant matter at hand, decided to intervene. Both emperors of great nations were behaving childishly, and she suggested that they allocate a piece of territory at the border and let both sides fight it out there to resolve their differences peacefully. The two elderly emperors were so angered that they couldnt even eat properly. Other countries watched this spectacle and found it amusing. In the end, the Great Yan Dynasty and the Great Xia Dynasty did not go to war. However, it was unclear what they were doing behind the scenes. Since Empty Void Daoist, who could produce the Elixir of Immortality, had arrived in the Great Xia capital, various factions and individuals began flocking to the city, making it extremely tense. The Great Xia Emperor had to strengthen his security measures to prevent his national teacher from being kidnapped by others and to protect the dream of eternal life. Not long after, the Great Xia Emperor joyfully approached Empty Void Daoist, saying, National Teacher, I have already collected all the alchemical materials you need. When will you start the alchemy? Empty Void Daoist was very surprised, Your Majesty, so soon? Of course! To gather all the medicinal materials you need, I have depleted the national treasury and mobilized numerous experts from around the world to collect them. Perhaps its Heavens blessing, but weve finally found them all! eximed the Great Xia Emperor with great enthusiasm. Very well! Empty Void Daoist was also delighted. Ever since he sessfully created the Elixir of Immortality the first time, he had been eager to produce another one. He hadnt expected it to happen so soon. National Teacher, when will you begin the alchemy? the Great Xia Emperor asked eagerly. Empty Void Daoist looked solemn, Your Majesty, creating the Elixir of Immortality is no childs y! Besides preparing the materials, I need to observe a strict 7-day fasting and purification ritual, maintain a calm mind, and only then can I begin the alchemical process. Furthermore, we need to dispatch many experts to guard against potential thieves and prepare for the impending Heavenly Tribtion. The Great Xia Emperor nodded in agreement, National Teacher, you are absolutely right. We must prepare for all aspects of this endeavor. Please proceed with your fasting and purification, and I will take care of all other matters. Thank you, Your Majesty, said Empty Void Daoist, expressing his gratitude. Next, the two of them went their separate ways. The unscrupulous Daoist prepared for the alchemical process, while the Great Xia Emperor mobilized his troops, summoned experts, and made preparations to deal with various powerful individuals who might try to interfere, as well as the impending Heavenly Tribtion. Such significant actions naturally attracted the attention of people from various backgrounds. Whats going on with the Great Xia court? Why are they mobilizing their military forces so frequently? Even the troops from several surrounding cities have been brought to the capital, totaling 500,000 soldiers! Could they be preparing for war? Who are they going to fight? Its not a war. I suspect that the Great Xia Emperor might be in trouble! Nonsense! Just the other day, I saw him in high spirits, full of energy, and he didnt look like someone in trouble at all! Moreover, he has the elixir from the national teacher to extend his life. How could anything happen to him? Could it be that Empty Void Daoist is about to produce a divine elixir? Various spections were rampant, and rumors spread like wildfire. Among these, the most widely circted theory was that Empty Void Daoist was preparing to create the Elixir of Immortality. This was why the Great Xia Emperor mobilized his troops and gathered all the experts in the capital to prevent any unforeseen circumstances. Inside the study of the Great Wu Pce, Lin Beifan and the Empress sat facing each other. My dear, what do you think of the recent developments in the Great Xia capital? the Empress inquired. Lin Beifan smiled confidently, I believe that Empty Void Daoist may be preparing to create the Elixir of Immortality. However, this matter is rted to the Great Xia Emperors quest for immortality, which is why hes mobilizing his forces to prepare for any unforeseen events. The Empress nodded in agreement, I share the same opinion. The Great Xia Emperor doesnt have many years left, and now that he sees hope for prolonging his lifespan, he naturally goes all out. But, my dear, do you think this elixir can be sessfully created? Lin Beifans tone was resolute, I still hold the same view. Creating the Elixir of Immortality is going against the natural order! Heaven will never allow such an extraordinary elixir to exist! Seven days passed quickly. Chapter 418: The Second Refining of the Elixir of Immortality, (1) Chapter 418: The Second Refining of the Elixir of Immortality, (1) If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, the capital of Great Xia is heavily guarded. 500,000 troops have entered the capital, with guards every five steps and posts every ten steps. The entire city is under strict martialw, and nomoners are allowed to enter. Emperor of Great Xia hurriedly walks over, taking three steps in two, and says, National Teacher, are the preparations ready? Emperor of Great Xia is overjoyed, Excellent! During the alchemical process, can you let me witness it in person? In the middle of the pce, there is a huge square with a massive alchemy furnace in the center. Below it, the mes are burning fiercely, making the furnace glow red, and waves of heat wash over. Any suspicious civilians, those without registered residency, have been temporarily expelled from the capital, or else it might lead to conflicts. The entire city has been fortified like an iron fortress. Inside the imperial pce, the guards are even stricter, and most of the courts experts are concentrated here, making it a formidable stronghold. Even a grandmaster would think twice before attempting to breach it. At this moment, the Emperor of Great Xia is leading civil and military officials in front of a pce, all feeling extremely tense. When the sun is at its zenith, Empty Void Daoist emerges from inside. He shakes the dust off his robe and bows solemnly, saying, Your Majesty, everything is prepared. We can start refining the Elixir of Immortality now. Emperor of Great Xia asks, Can we watch? Empty Void Daoist steps aside and smiles, Of course! Your Majesty and honored guests, please step inside. Thank you, National Teacher! They enter excitedly and nervously. Around the alchemy furnace, various rare herbs and treasures collected from all over the world are neatly arranged, including the most precious medicinal catalyst, dragon bones. Your Majesty and honored guests, Empty Void Daoist says with excitement, Next, I will use this furnace and these herbs to refine the legendary Elixir of Immortality. This is a monumental task and requires full concentration, so I wont be able to entertain you properly. National Teacher, please focus on your work; you dont need to worry about us, Emperor of Great Xia says loudly. Thank you, Your Majesty! Additionally, when the elixir ispleted, it might attract powerful individuals from all directions, and it might even invite thunderstorms. This Emperor of Great Xiaughs heartily, National Teacher, you dont need to worry about that. Ive made preparations! With a p of his hands, a group of experts enters, including three grandmasters and fifty innate experts. I have already summoned most of Great Xias powerful individuals to protect the pce! Outside the pce, within the Imperial Pce itself, there are 100,000 elite guards who excel in groupbat. Even innate experts would find it difficult to break through! Beyond the pce, within the capital, there are 500,000 troops on standby. Thisbined force is more than capable of dealing with any formidable opponents! The Emperor of Great Xia exudes confidence. Empty Void Daoist looks extremely concerned, Your Majesty, this force should be able to handle formidable opponents, but what about the terrifying thunderbolts that may descend from the sky? He remembers how thest time he identally concocted a divine pill, he was nearly struck down by heavenly thunder, leaving him traumatized. Without proper preparations, the second attempt might prove fatal. The Emperor of Great Xia smiles confidently, National Teacher, even against thunderbolts, I have a n. Empty Void Daoist is astonished, A n against thunderbolts Your Majesty, what is it? The Emperor of Great Xia ps his hands, and a group of soldiers enter, each holding thick iron rods that they nt into the ground. Empty Void Daoist remains puzzled, Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this? The Emperor of Great Xia chuckles, Ever since the National Teacher arrived, Ive been thinking about how to deal with thunderbolts. After brainstorming, a wise individual suggested that iron rods can attract lightning! If we erect these iron rods high into the air, they will draw the thunderbolts away from us, reducing the danger. I see! Empty Void Daoist nods, though he may not fully grasp the principles of lightning attraction with iron rods, he is confident that the Emperor of Great Xia wouldnt joke about the Elixir of Immortality. If the elixir fails, he would be the one to suffer the most. So, he can temporarily set his worries aside and concentrate on alchemy. Empty Void Daoist takes a deep breath, suppressing his inner excitement, and says, Since everything is ready, I will begin the alchemy process. National Teacher, please! The Emperor of Great Xia is equally excited. They, along with the civil and military officials, quietly watch as the National Teacher starts the divine pills concoction. Wind,e! Empty Void Daoist shouts. His body trembles, releasing a burst of energy that creates a strong wind, which stirs the mes in the furnace. The wind fans the mes, causing them to burn vigorously, producing crackling sounds. Fire,e! Empty Void Daoist shouts again. Then, he forms a ball of mes in his hand and throws it into the furnace. The fire intensifies even further. Water,e! Empty Void Daoist shouts once more. He conjures water droplets in his hand, turning them into clear water, which he adds to the furnace. Next, Empty Void Daoist tosses the prepared herbs into the furnace in a specific sequence, causing them to quickly melt and blend into a medicinal liquid, all while maintaining a steady rhythm. Then, his hands gathered true qi as he lifted the glowing red alchemy furnace, all while chanting incantations and vigorously tossing it in the air. Once the furnace descended, he repeated the process, as if performing a continuous rotation. In essence, the process of creating the Elixir of Immortality mirrored how it was originally conceived. Each step was executed meticulously, without the slightest deviation. Onlookers sheltered under the pce eaves were mesmerized and full of praise. The National Teachers alchemy technique is truly astounding! Yes, Ive never seen anyone toss the alchemy furnace in the air like that; its quite different from other Qi cultivators. ording to the National Teacher, this method is used to absorb the essence of the sun and moon, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Only with such a method can the legendary elixir be concocted! Yes, the actions of a master are indeed different! Just then, Empty Void Daoist suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the alchemy furnace. Everyone was instantly rmed. Why is the National Teacher coughing up blood? Thats a significant amount of blood, and its all over the alchemy furnace! Yes, if an ordinary person coughed up so much blood, they would likely have fainted by now! Whats happening to the National Teacher? Could the alchemy be failing? My lords, dont panic! The Emperor of Great Xia calmly smiled, The National Teacher exined to me earlier that this is a normal procedure. Because the Elixir of Immortality should not exist in the mortal world, its nearly impossible to create it conventionally. Therefore, it requires the National Teachers own essence and blood as a catalyst to have a chance at creating the divine pill. Everyone suddenly understood. So thats how it is; you had me worried for a moment! I never expected the National Teachers essence and blood to have such a remarkable use. Truly, he is an extraordinary individual! It seems the divine pill is about to bepleted! With their worries eased, everyone continued to enjoy the National Teachers blood-spitting performance. They saw Empty Void Daoist repeatedly tossing the zing red alchemy furnace into the air and catching it, spitting out a mouthful of blood every few cycles, spraying it onto the alchemy furnace. Because he had spat out so much blood, Empty Void Daoists face had turned pale. However, his heart was filled with joy. Because the legendary divine pill, the Elixir of Immortality, was about to be created under his hands! But at this stage, they couldnt afford to be careless. Because the heavenly tribtion was about to arrive. Empty Void Daoists face gradually became serious, and he shouted loudly, Your Majesty and honored guests, be cautious! The divine pill is about to bepleted, and the weather is about to change drastically. The thunder tribtion is likelying! The Emperor of Great Xia, who had taken refuge under the eaves, loudly called out, National Teacher, rest assured, we are well-prepared! Good! One more piece of advice. First is the Wind. Last time, when I was concocting the divine pill, there was a gust of eerie wind that affected everyones focus. Everyone must be cautious! After this reminder from Empty Void Daoist, he looked around, anticipating the impending eerie wind. The Emperor of Great Xia and the others also looked around, but to their surprise, there was no sign of any breeze, and the weather was oppressively hot. Then, they all turned their gaze to Empty Void Daoist, seemingly asking, Where is the wind? Where did it go? Empty Void Daoist also felt puzzled. Last time at this stage, there had indeed been gusts of eerie wind, which had greatly affected his alchemical process. But this time, there was none? Although the absence of wind was not what he expected, Empty Void Daoist remained calm. Wind or no wind, it didnt matter. In fact, it was better without it. Continuing to toss the furnace while coughing up blood, he shouted, Your Majesty, next, the sky will gather dark clouds, and heavy rain will pour down! This is a sign of the thunder tribtion approaching. Everyone must be careful! Saying this, he immediately looked up at the sky, preparing for the impending thunderstorm. The Emperor of Great Xia and the others also looked up at the sky. However, they found a clear and starry night, with a bright moon hanging high and no sign of dark clouds. The weather was exceptionally good. Once again, they all turned their gaze towards Empty Void Daoist, seemingly asking, Where are the clouds? Where is the rain? Where are they? Empty Void Daoist felt puzzled once more. Last time at this stage, the sky had been covered in thick, dark clouds, and the rain had poured down heavily. Why was there nothing happening now? However, despite this minor deviation from his expectations, Empty Void Daoist remained unflustered. The absence of rain was actually more convenient for alchemy. He continued to toss the alchemy furnace, coughing up another mouthful of blood, his face as pale as paper. He shouted loudly, Your Majesty and honored guests, the divine pill is about to bepleted, and the terrifying thunder tribtion is about to descend, threatening to destroy the divine medicine! You must be vignt and not let the thunder prevail, or all our efforts will be in vain! The Emperor of Great Xia shouted, National Teacher, rest assured, we are well-prepared! Several iron rods had already been erected high into the air, and the experts around the pce had gathered innate true qi, keeping a close watch on the sky. They were ready to defend against the thunderbolts when they arrived. However, despite their waiting, the thunderbolts never came. They looked up at the sky again, which remained clear with a bright moon and glittering stars, devoid of any clouds. This weather scenario didnt resemble anything close to thunder and rain. At this moment, Empty Void Daoist finally became anxious! Chapter 419: The Great Xia Emperor Consumes the Elixir of Immortality! Chapter 419: The Great Xia Emperor Consumes the Elixir of Immortality! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Because, based on previous experiences, this should be the time for storms, lightning, and thunderbolts to descend from the heavens, punishing him and destroying the Elixir of Immortality in his hands. But now, there is not a trace of thunder in sight. Does this mean the elixir he crafted is not a divine elixir,cking any miraculous effects, thus failing to attract the attention of the heavens? Does this mean He has failed in his alchemical endeavor this time? However, he followed his previous experiences meticulously, without making a single mistake. Why is it turning out like this? Dont panic, dont panic. Maybe the heavenly punishment is just dyed! the Empty Void Empty consoled himself, while on the other side, the Great Xia Emperor and his entourage frowned in silence, gazing at the sky. They continued with the alchemical process. The Imperial Teacher had mentioned that thunder woulde, but why has it taken so long without any sign of thunder? Could there be something wrong? They wanted to ask a few questions, but feared disturbing the Imperial Teacher, so they kept their words to themselves. At this moment, the Empty Void Daoist continued his alchemical efforts, stirring and mixing. The alchemical furnace danced in the air, showing off, but still failed to attract the attention of the heavens. The unscrupulous Daoist maintained a calm facade, but his heart was in turmoil. Thunder tribtion, why hasnt it arrived yet? If you donte soon, my elixir will be ruined! Dont panic, dont panic, just a little more waiting, it wille soon! heforted himself once again. And with that waiting, the time passed like an incense stick burning. The sky remained cloudless, exceptionally clear, and the night was very quiet, except for the sound of his alchemical efforts. The Great Xia Emperor and his ministers found it hard to stand any longer, so they had a few chairs brought in to rest. Then, they continued to watch the Empty Void Daoist tirelessly perform his alchemy. The Great Xia Emperor quietly asked those around him, Why has it taken so long, and the divine elixir still hasnt been produced? ording to the Imperial Teachers instructions, we should have witnessed the arrival of the Thunder Punishment by now. Why is there still no sign of movement? This The officials exchanged nces, unsure of how to respond. In the end, an elderly minister reassured the Emperor, Your Majesty, as the saying goes, good things take time, and divine substances are not easily crafted! As you can see, the Imperial Teacher remains calm andposed, which means everything is under control! So, we just need to be patient, and the divine elixir will soon beplete! The Great Xia Emperor nodded in agreement, A wise counsel indeed. Lets exercise patience! At this moment, the unscrupulous Daoist, who appeared serene in everyones eyes, was panicking deep inside. Why hasnt the thundere yet? If you donte soon, the Elixir of Immortality will be ruined! Can you still consume a ruined Elixir of Immortality? Moreover, hes really struggling to hold on! Just a moment ago, he vomited so much blood consecutively, and now his body is weak from blood loss. Even though hes a natural-born expert, losing so much blood will affect him. If it werent for his iron-like will, he would have already copsed! Oh heavens, please send down a thunderbolt! Strike me if you must, as long as I can craft the divine elixir, Im willing to offer my 200 pounds of fat as a sacrifice to you! the unscrupulous Daoist silently prayed to the heavens. Just then, a deafening roar was heard. The unscrupulous Daoists heart leaped, thinking that heaven had heard his plea and sent down a thunderbolt. But when he looked up, it wasnt thunder; it was his alchemical furnace exploding! After enduring the mes for too long and suffering blows from the unscrupulous Daoist, it finally couldnt hold on and exploded in the sky, turning into countless fragments that rained down like a shower of flowers. Everyone was in shock. Whats happening? The alchemical furnace it actually exploded? Could it be the failure of crafting the divine elixir? The Elixir of Immortality, is it unattainable now? Among the scattered fragments of the furnace, a ck bead shot out, cutting through the sky. The unscrupulous Daoist acted swiftly, rushing to catch this ck bead. As he looked at the ck bead in his hand, his face twisted in conflict. The Great Xia Emperor and his entourage hurried over, asking, Imperial Teacher, why did the furnace explode? Did the alchemical process fail this time? The unscrupulous Daoist looked at the Emperor, whose eyes were wide with urgency, and suddenly felt a lump in his throat, a touch of fear. For the sake of crafting the Elixir of Immortality, he had put forth tremendous effort, even disregarding the nation. If he dared to say it had failed, he might end up being tortured to death by the Emperor! Your Majesty, it didnt fail If it didnt fail, then where is the Elixir of Immortality? the Great Xia Emperor urgently inquired. Your Majesty, this is it! The unscrupulous Daoist opened his hand, revealing a pitch-ck bead, looking as if he had scooped it up from the ground, appearing quite repulsive. This This is the legendary Elixir of Immortality! The Great Xia Emperor and the officials were all astonished. Indeed! The unscrupulous Daoist nodded with a thick skin. In the legends, the Elixir of Immortality is said to be a brilliant and dazzling pearl, able to float and sink in the air without any support, truly miraculous! Why does this one look so ordinary? eximed the Great Xia Emperor in astonishment. Your Majesty, you must understand that those are just legends. Divine elixirs are formless and intangible! They can be a golden pearl or even a ck bead, or take other shapes; its entirely normal! calmly exined the unscrupulous Daoist. But, Imperial Teacher, in the legends, when the Elixir of Immortality is created, it emits a fragrant aroma, refreshing the spirit and curing all ailments. Why does this elixir not onlyck any fragrance but also smells burnt? Faintly emitting a disgusting odor? the Great Xia Emperor inquired again. Your Majesty, divine elixirs are formless and intangible, tasteless and odorless! They can take various forms and have various vors; its impossible to distinguish from their outward appearance! the unscrupulous Daoist calmly defended. But, Imperial Teacher, Ive heard that the Elixir of Immortality is an extraordinary elixir not meant for the mortal world. So, when its created, heaven sends thunder to destroy it! Why has there been no sign of this so far? The Great Xia Emperor thought for a moment and added, Imperial Teacher, these are your own words, not mere legends! Cough Your Majesty, its actually like this. The first time a divine elixir appears in the world, there indeed will be heavenly tribtion to destroy it! But the second time, there wont be, as the Dao follows fifty, the heavens evolve through forty-nine. Everything in the world retains a glimmer of hope, including divine elixirs! Moreover, this is also heavens recognition of Your Majestys noble character, which is why it didnt destroy the divine elixir. After all, you are the Emperor, the son of heaven! The Great Xia Emperor burst intoughter. Imperial Teacher, youre absolutely right! I am the Emperor, so heaven bestows its grace upon me! Hand over the divine elixir! Your Majesty, please enjoy it! The unscrupulous Daoist handed over the divine elixir. However, at that moment, an elderly courtier beside the Great Xia Emperor suddenly tore off his mask and clothes, then moved swiftly to grab the divine elixir from the Emperors hand. But this was noticed by a nearby Grandmaster, and the two quickly engaged inbat. In the blink of an eye, they exchanged blows dozens of times, and neither side could gain the upper hand. However, at this moment, the opponents body suddenly shook, and the Great Xia Emperors hand, influenced by a surge of energy, unexpectedly released the divine elixir, sending it flying into the air. The opponent swiftly shot towards the sky, reaching for the elixir. Ill take this Elixir of Immortality, hahaha! Thief, you wont get away with this! The Great Xia Grandmaster followed closely behind, and the two sides shed once again. And at that moment, a group of formidable individuals rushed in from outside the pce, all of them either Innate or Grandmasters, all vying to seize the divine elixir. This Elixir of Immortality belongs to me! It should be mine, none of you will seed! Lets see who has the upper hand! As the unfamiliar strong individuals fought over his divine elixir, the Great Xia Emperor grew furious and shouted, Quickly, snatch back my Elixir of Immortality! Yes, Your Majesty! The experts of the Great Xia Dynasty sprang into action, blocking various challengers while attempting to retrieve the divine elixir. Even the Imperial Guards stationed within the pce joined the fray. The pce descended into chaos. The divine elixir, which was being contested by all, kept flying through the air, changing hands repeatedly, and constantly being knocked away. The Great Xia Emperor, standing on the ground, watched anxiously. He feared that they might inadvertently shatter his life-extending elixir. Your Majesty, this ce is extremely dangerous. Lets retreat for now! someone advised. I wont leave! If I cant get back the divine elixir, I will not leave! The Great Xia Emperor gazed at the flying elixir with a fanatical expression. Meanwhile, the unscrupulous Daoist was overjoyed. Fight all you want; I hope they destroy the medicine so I can get away unscathed! However, despite the intense battle, everyone was cautious not to damage the divine elixir. In the end, the experts of the Great Xia Dynasty prevailed. After paying a heavy price, they finally repelled all the attackers and reimed the Elixir of Immortality, presenting it to the Great Xia Emperor. Your Majesty, the divine elixir is here, please enjoy! The Great Xia Emperor was delighted. All of you, my loyal ministers, have done well in protecting the elixir. You shall all be generously rewarded! After I consume the Elixir of Immortality and achieve eternal life, I will ensure that your efforts are duly recognized! Thank you, Your Majesty! the people rejoiced. Amidst everyones anticipation, the Great Xia Emperor extended his trembling hand and received the dark and foul-smelling divine elixir. He said with fanaticism, This is the legendary Elixir of Immortality! When I consume it, I will surely achieve eternal life and oversee the world. The Great Xia Dynasty will continue for generations, forever flourishing! With that, he brought the divine elixir towards his mouth. Your Majesty, wait! the unscrupulous Daoist called out. The Great Xia Emperor paused, smiling, Imperial Teacher, what is it? The unscrupulous Daoist observed the dark and unappealing pill that didnt resemble an elixir but rather seemed like poison. His lips twitched slightly, and he thought, Will this thing cause any harm when ingested? Nothing, Your Majesty. Please proceed, the unscrupulous Daoist replied hesitantly. The Great Xia Emperor assumed that the unscrupulous Daoist was reluctant and chuckled, Imperial Teacher, after all, this divine elixir was created to be consumed! Rest assured, I wont forget your contributions. Once I achieve eternal life, I will honor my promise and grant you a ce of honor by my side. With that, he swallowed the elixir in one gulp. Your Majesty, wait! the unscrupulous Daoist called out. The Great Xia Emperor paused, smiling, Imperial Teacher, what is it? The unscrupulous Daoist observed the dark and unappealing pill that didnt resemble an elixir but rather seemed like poison. His lips twitched slightly, and he thought, Will this thing cause any harm when ingested? Nothing, Your Majesty. Please proceed, the unscrupulous Daoist replied hesitantly. The Great Xia Emperor assumed that the unscrupulous Daoist was reluctant and chuckled, Imperial Teacher, after all, this divine elixir was created to be consumed! Rest assured, I wont forget your contributions. Once I achieve eternal life, I will honor my promise and grant you a ce of honor by my side. Chapter 420: The Great Xia Emperor Passes Away, and the World Changes! Chapter 420: The Great Xia Emperor Passes Away, and the World Changes! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Amidst everyones anticipation, the Great Xia Emperor swallowed the elixir of immortality. However, after consuming it, nothing seemed to change. One curious prince asked, Father, after taking the elixir of immortality, do you feel any different? Is your health improved? The Great Xia Emperor furrowed his brow and replied, I feel It seems like theres no change at all! Its just that this elixir its incredibly hard to swallow, its foul-smelling, and its stuck in my throat. I had to force it down! Everyone couldnt help but look towards the unscrupulous Daoist, hoping he could exin. No change is quite normal! The unscrupulous Daoist calmly said, No herb or medicine can work instantly; even divine medicine is the same. Your Majesty has now taken the divine medicine, and it will gradually improve your health, extend your lifespan, and restore your youthful appearance. Your Majesty only needs to be patient! I see, the Imperial Teachers words make perfect sense! Haha The Great Xia Emperor burst intoughter. I see, I was worried for no reason just now! So, divine medicine also needs time to take effect; it wont happen instantly! The Imperial Teacher is right! Your Majestys dragon body is currently unsteady andcking nourishment, so it needs gradual adjustment, without harming the dragon body! After listening to the Imperial Teacher, I feel much relieved! Everyone praised andforted the Great Xia Emperor. The more the Great Xia Emperor listened, the more cheerful he became, hisplexion improving, and his spirits lifting. The unscrupulous Daoist apanied him with a smile but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. No trouble is good! The elixir turned out like this; to be honest, he didnt know if it would work, what its specific effects were, or if it might have any adverse effects. Regardless of the oue, he could buy time. Just then, the Great Xia Emperorsughter came to an abrupt halt, and he clutched his stomach, his eyes widened in pain. Everyone panicked, and people rushed over. Your Majesty Your Majesty, whats happening to you? Your Majesty, whats going on? Dont scare me! Quick, summon the royal physician! Get the imperial doctor here! The Great Xia Emperor groaned in pain, I I have a terrible stomachache its unbearable Once again, everyone involuntarily turned their gaze towards the unscrupulous Daoist. After all, the Emperor had just consumed the elixir of immortality, and now this was happening. Among those present, the unscrupulous Daoist understood the situation the best. Inside, the unscrupulous Daoist was in a state of panic. Unexpected turn of events! It seems that things have taken an unexpected turn for the worse! The unscrupulous Daoist shouted loudly, Everyone, dont panic; this is a normal reaction! Normal? Everyone was bewildered. The unscrupulous Daoist asked, Your Majesty, do you currently have an unbearable stomachache and an urge to, well, relieve yourself? The Great Xia Emperor, clutching his stomach in pain, nodded, What the Imperial Teacher said is true! Right now I do have an urge to relieve myself. Is this normal? Thats correct, Your Majesty! The unscrupulous Daoist confidently stated, This indicates that the elixir of immortality is improving your body, essentially purifying it, and now itsing out naturally. So, all you need to do now is to relieve yourself as usual! I see, I must relieve myself now. Prepare quickly! The Great Xia Emperor called out. Yes, Your Majesty! With the assistance of two eunuchs, the Great Xia Emperor entered the pce and closed the door behind him. A eunuch brought a chamber pot and a stool for the Emperor to use. Others patiently waited outside. In no time, an unbearable stench emanated from the pce, filling the entire room. The surrounding courtiers were overwhelmed by the smell but dared not cover their noses. After all, it was the Emperor who was relieving himself. Who would dare toin? Be careful, or heads might roll. Before long, a young eunuch came out carrying the foul-smelling chamber pot. The unscrupulous Daoist stopped him and asked, How is the Emperors condition? The young eunuch reported, Reporting to the Imperial Teacher, after relieving himself, His Majesty is feeling much better and more energetic! The unscrupulous Daoist secretly breathed a sigh of relief; this was a good sign. It was probably just a case of food poisoning, and with a clean flush, everything should be finenothing too serious. However, at this moment, the Emperors personal eunuch hurriedly rushed out and eximed, Xiao Lin, His Majesty needs to continue relieving himself! Bring the chamber pot back quickly! Yes, Liu Gonggong! The young eunuch rushed back in. After a while, another unbearable smell once again wafted from the pce. The officials outside the pce were subjected to another round of torment. It was sour and pungent, beyond imagination! Many people turned green in the face. The unscrupulous Daoist appeared calm on the surface, but deep down, he felt anxious and uncertain. Two rounds of this, each worse than the previouscould there be a problem? And at a time like this? It could be life-threatening! Although the unscrupulous Daoist maintained hisposure outwardly, he was quite anxious. So, when the young eunuch brought the chamber pot out again, he immediately stopped him and asked, How is His Majestys condition now? Others gathered around to listen. The young eunuch reported, Imperial Teacher and esteemed gentlemen, after relieving himself twice, His Majestys stomachache has subsided, but hisplexion is somewhat pale, and he feels a bit weak! Everyone once again turned their gaze towards the unscrupulous Daoist, hoping for an exnation. Stay calm, everyone, no need to panic! The unscrupulous Daoist eximed, This is perfectly normal! His Majesty is undergoing detoxification, and the medicines effects are a bit intense. His Majesty is feeling weak because of it. But rest assured, as long as the toxins are expelled, he will be fine! I see, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. However, at this moment, the chief eunuch rushed out in a hurry, saying, Quick, bring in the chamber pot again! His Majesty needs to relieve himself once more! So, the young eunuch rushed back inside to assist. Before long, another wave of unbearable stench drifted from the pce. Many courtiers were left nauseated and green-faced. Some even fainted on the spot, foaming at the mouth. Then, another eunuch came out. But this time, it wasnt the young eunuch; it was the chief eunuch. He anxiously grabbed the unscrupulous Daoists hand and said, Imperial Teacher, His Majestys condition doesnt seem quite right! Even if we go by what you said, that His Majesty is detoxifying after taking the divine medicine, he has expelled quite a lot already. Howe its not over yet? Right now, His Majesty has fainted, and his face is as pale as paper! If this continues, Im worried The unscrupulous Daoist was now in a state of panic. There was definitely something wrong with this elixir! But he couldnt speak out; otherwise, he would lose his head! Dont worry; this is entirely normal! The unscrupulous Daoist was inwardly terrified, but he had to maintain aposed facade. He smiled and said, You see, His Majesty may seem weak now, but these are just symptoms! In reality, His Majestys body has undergone a tremendous transformation, restoring his youthful vitality, like a phoenix reborn from the ashes. Please remain calm and await the oue! A plea for understanding Oh dear, but we still have some concerns! How about this, Imperial Teacher? Since you understand the effects of this medicine the best, why dont you apany us inside? This way, everyone can feel more at ease! the chief eunuch suggested. The unscrupulous Daoist was terrified. How could he go inside? He was still hoping for an opportunity to escape! In this vast world, his life was paramount! If something really happened to the Emperor, he wouldnt have a chance to run! Sir, theres no need for that, right? I can wait outside! The unscrupulous Daoist was sweating. At that moment, weak cries were heard from inside the pce. The chief eunuchs face changed, and he grabbed the unscrupulous Daoists hand, rushing inside, saying, Imperial Teacher, theres an emergency! Come with us! Upon entering, the unscrupulous Daoist immediately saw the Great Xia Emperor. At this moment, the Great Xia Emperor was being supported by two young eunuchs, seated bare-bottomed on a stool. Hisplexion was as pale as paper, even his lips had turned white, and his breath was extremely weak, resembling someone on the verge of passing away. The unscrupulous Daoist was feeling extremely anxious. In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the Great Xia Emperor had transformed into this state! Upon seeing the unscrupulous Daoist entering, the Great Xia Emperors eyes flickered with a faint glimmer. He weakly asked, Imperial Teacher, whats happening? Why have I been continuously relieving myself since I took the divine elixir? Is there anything you can do to ease my pain? The unscrupulous Daoist had no solution. He waspletely at a loss. All he could do was bring inforting words to appease the Emperor. Upon hearing this, the Great Xia Emperor did feel somewhat reassured. He weakly replied, Listening to your words, Imperial Teacher, I do feel my body has indeed lightened considerably, and I feel much younger The unscrupulous Daoist inwardly remarked, Lightened, you say? Your body has lightened considerably after youve relieved yourself so much! Your Majesty, rest assured, endure a little longer, and this pain will soon pass! Your body will undergo a rebirth, bing even stronger than that of a young person! the unscrupulous Daoist replied, his voice trembling with anxiety. Alright, alright But just then, the Great Xia Emperors eyes widened, and the light in them suddenly disappeared. Then, his entire body slumped, utterly devoid of strength. As an innate-level expert, the unscrupulous Daoist distinctly sensed that the Emperors vital energy had ceased. In other words, he had died, passed away. The unscrupulous Daoists body also went limp, drenched in sweat. Disaster had struck! The apanying eunuchs were thrown into panic. Your Majesty! Your Majesty, whats happening? Your Majesty, please speak, say something! #YourMajesty Among them, the chief eunuch extended his finger and touched under the Great Xia Emperors nose, only to discover there was no breath! He was utterly terrified, his world spinning, and he staggered. If the Emperor had stopped breathing, did that mean he didnt dare to imagine. He desperately clung to thest straw of hope and anxiously asked, Imperial Teacher, what is happening? Why has His Majesty stopped breathing? The unscrupulous Daoist waved his hand in despair, Dont ask me, call the imperial physician quickly; perhaps theres still a chance! That night, dozens of imperial physicians rushed to the pce, working tirelessly through the night, but they couldnt do anything. The Great Xia Emperor had passed away. Chapter 421: Chaos in the Great Xia Dynasty, Great Wu’s Opportunity Has Come! Chapter 421: Chaos in the Great Xia Dynasty, Great Wus Opportunity Has Come! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
This matter quickly spread throughout the world, drawing attention from all corners of the globe. The Great Xia Emperor has actually passed away? I heard he consumed the Elixir of Immortality concocted by the Imperial Teacher but couldnt survive. What a tragedy! The Great Xia Emperor sought the Elixir of Immortality to prolong his life, but it ended up costing him his life. How ironic! Indeed, who could have thought that the divine elixir would turn into a deadly poison? Its so ironic. But didnt the Imperial Teacher already sessfully create the Elixir of Immortality? Why did it fail this time? The Elixir of Immortality is a divine medicine; its not something that can be easily concocted. Perhaps this time, he made a mistake. Thats true! Regardless, with the Great Xia Emperors passing, things are going to change dramatically in this world! The worlds attention has now turned to the Great Xia Dynasty. You see, the Great Xia Dynasty is one of the three most powerful nations in the world, and the Great Xia Emperor, as the most influential figure of his time, always attracted the worlds gaze with his every move. Now that he has passed away so suddenly, it will undoubtedly have significant repercussions, for better or worse, and every nation must prepare ordingly. Inside the study of the Great Wu Imperial Pce, the Empress, upon hearing this news, sighed deeply. I never expected that the Great Xia Emperor, one of the three Grand Emperors of our time, would pass away so soon! And to die in the midst of his obsession with alchemy! An era ising to an end. Yes, the Great Xia Emperor passed away like this! I heard that before his death, he suffered from severe diarrhea, and the whole pce was filled with a foul smell. Its such an undignified way to go! Lin Beifan also expressed his disbelief. From the information gathered by his spies, the Great Xia Emperor had ingested that ck pill known as the Elixir of Immortality and then suffered from continuous diarrhea until he died. Throughout history, no emperor had ever died in such a manner. This way of dying was truly unprecedented and destined to be recorded in history, leaving asting infamy. At the same time, Lin Beifan also admired that unscrupulous Daoist. He dared to deceive from start to finish, fooling not only the Great Xia Emperor but also all the civil and military officials. During this period, as long as timely treatment had been provided, the Great Xia Emperor might not have died. As a result, the opportunity to save him was tragically missed. So, Your Majesty, please dont be obsessed with the pursuit of immortality! There is no true path to immortality in this world. The more you crave it, the more you lose, even your own life! Lin Beifan earnestly advised. My dear, rest assured, I will certainly learn from this! The Empress, with lingering fear in her heart, couldnt help but nce at Lin Beifan. The death of the Great Xia Emperor had a significant connection with this conniving scoundrel. If it werent for him using various inexplicable methods to create miracles, deceiving the empty-minded Daoist and everyone in the world, the Great Xia Emperor wouldnt have fallen for it. This guy truly was a first-ss swindler, full of deceit, and even fooled the Emperor into consuming poison. He deceived everyone! If she hadnt known the secret behind it, she might have been fooled as well. Lin Beifan felt the Empresss gaze was somewhat peculiar and touched his own face. Your Majesty, what are you looking at me for? Is there something on my face? The Empress shook her head. Nothing! My dear, with the passing of the Great Xia Emperor, how do you think the situation in Great Xia will change, and what changes will ur in the world? Share your thoughts with me! Yes, Your Majesty! I believe that with the death of the Great Xia Emperor, first and foremost, Great Xia will fall into chaos! Lin Beifan spoke confidently. After enduring the previous ice disaster, Great Xia lost over 20 millionmon people, and the remaining citizens are filled with resentment, taking up arms in rebellion. Great Xia has long been in turmoil! Furthermore, the Great Xia Emperor, in his pursuit of the Elixir of Immortality, neglected state affairs. He collected rare treasures and precious medicinal ingredients from all over the world, once again stirring up public discontent, further exacerbating the chaos! Now, with the Great Xia Emperors passing, the Great Xia Dynasty is leaderless, and it will undoubtedly be even more chaotic! Lin Beifan continued solemnly. You see, Great Xia originally had a crown prince, but he is currently imprisoned in our kingdoms dungeons. Great Xia has not designated a new heir. This means that every imperial prince has a chance to ascend the throne and wield power over the realm! For the ultimate power, there will inevitably be a struggle for the throne! Your Majesty, youre well aware that the path to seizing the throne is bloody! Brothers fighting against each other for the coveted title of Supreme Emperor is not umon! In such a situation, Great Xia is bound to be in turmoil, with constant unrest and instability. Even if they manage to survive, their national strength wont be what it used to be. This situation is highly favorable for our Great Wu! We can strategize and gain unimaginable benefits from it, just as they once coveted our Great Wu! The Empress nodded with a cheerful smile. My dear, what you say is absolutely right, and I share the same thoughts! However, there are pros and cons to this matter! Lin Beifan said, sping his hands. Your Majesty, the Great Xia crown prince we hold in captivity has essentially lost his value. Theres no way we can extractpensation from Great Xia at this point! Thats true; hes of no use anymore. My dear, when do you n to release him, adding fuel to the fire in Great Xias situation, making it even more fierce and ruthless? The Empress smiled mischievously, her eyes filled with ill intent. Your Majesty, that will depend on how well the Great Xia princes perform! Lin Beifan also smiled mischievously. Now, in thepetition for the throne, they will fight each other to the death and take the opportunity to eliminate their rivals within the crown princes faction! When all the major forces are evenly matched, thats when we release the Great Xia crown prince and let them be even more ruthless and vicious! The Empress burst intoughter, saying, My dear, youre absolutely right! Just then, an old eunuch approached with a message, Your Majesty, the Great Xia Crown Prince wishes to meet with you! The Empress chuckled, The Great Xia Crown Prince must have already learned about his fathers passing, so he wants to persuade me to release him! My dear, since you have a somewhat friendly rtionship with him, please meet with him on my behalf. Lin Beifan felt a bit uneasy, Your Majesty, I and he are only acquaintances at best! Were notplete strangers, but we cant be considered friends. Your Majesty, please dont misunderstand! The Empress yfully scolded, My dear, I know exactly who you are; theres no doubt about your loyalty! With the Empresss permission, Lin Beifan went to the dungeon and met with the Great Xia Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong. At this moment, the Great Xia Crown Princes attire was somewhat disheveled, his eyes bloodshot as if he had been crying. He was pacing anxiously in his cell, asionally ncing outside. It wasnt until Lin Beifan arrived that he rushed over and anxiously asked, Prime Minister Lin, have youe on behalf of the Empress? Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed! What did she say? the Great Xia Crown Prince asked urgently. Your Highness, I assume youre already aware of the situation in Great Xia, Lin Beifan sighed. I understand that youre in pain and eager to return, but you should know that we wont release you. But I am of no use anymore! Releasing me now would be in your best interest, wouldnt it? the Great Xia Crown Prince shouted. Lin Beifan nodded, Yes, we will release you, but not at this moment. After all, the fire over there hasnt started burning yet. Pouring oil on it now would be premature. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it The Great Xia Crown Prince angrily pounded the cell bars, his hands bleeding, but he paid no heed. Then, as if his legs had lost all strength, he knelt toward the direction of Great Xia, wailing loudly, Father, your child couldnt return to mourn for you. Your child is unfilial! Father It was truly a heart-wrenching sight, enough to bring tears to anyones eyes. Lin Beifan couldnt help but feel a pang of sympathy. After all, the Great Xia Crown Prince should have had a very close rtionship with his father. He had been meticulously groomed by the Great Xia Emperor since childhood. The Great Xia Crown Prince had lived up to expectations, excelling in both academics and martial arts, disying a broad-mindedness, and demonstrating exceptional governance abilities. He had garnered the approval of the entire court and the recognition of the world. He had long been designated as the crown prince. Therefore, his fathers sudden passing must have left him deeply saddened and heartbroken. Even so, Great Wu couldnt release him until the right time came. When it came to nations and their interests, personal emotions had to be sacrificed. Lin Beifan sighed, Crown Prince, I understand that you desperately want to return, but I can only express regret! The reasons for this decision dont need much exnation, and I hope you can understand. I just hope that you wont give up on yourself and continue to live well. After all, there is hope in life. You wouldnt want to see the Great Xia Empire wasted in the hands of your brothers, would you? The Great Xia Crown Princes expression shifted slightly, and he said, Prime Minister Lin, could you please prepare some mourning garments and paper money for me? I want to mourn for my father here. Lin Beifan nodded, Of course! After leaving, Lin Beifan immediately ordered his men to prepare mourning garments, paper money, candles, incense, and everything needed for a funeral. He wanted the Great Xia Crown Prince to be able to mourn properly. Meanwhile, in Great Xia, just as Lin Beifan had predicted, the state funeral was still ongoing, but the various imperial princes had already started fighting amongst themselves. They shed, eliminating each others factions by any means necessary. In addition to this, the various regional kings and dukes were also making moves, deploying troops and generals more frequently. After all, as members of the imperial family, they also had a chance to seize the throne. Some prominent court officials and high-ranking generals seemed unwilling to sit idly by as well. In summary, the entire Great Xia had descended into chaos. This chaotic situation was even more turbulent than the situation Great Wu had faced initially. Although the battles were fierce, they all seemed to be targeting the Crown Princes faction. After all, the Crown Prince was the legitimate heir to the throne and possessed the most powerful Eastern Pce faction. Therefore, it was imperative to eliminate his faction, the biggest threat, before his return. As a result, various parties began pressuring the Crown Princes followers, forcing them to either join one of the opposing factions for protection or face certain death. Some wavering ministers, in order to protect themselves and their families, had no choice but to switch allegiances. In this way, the Eastern Pce faction was rapidly disintegrating, and the chaos continued to escte. Chapter 422: All Nations Unite to Invade Xia, Lin Beifan is the Alliance Commander! Chapter 422: All Nations Unite to Invade Xia, Lin Beifan is the Alliance Commander! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Apart from this, the surrounding countries of Great Xia all cast greedy eyes. After all, Great Xia is a juicy piece of meat! They upy fertilends and possess various resources; every nation wants a piece of it. Previously, Great Xia was strong with no opportunity, but now its different. Present-day Great Xia is full of discontent, with the people rising up. In the court, the various imperial sons and grandsons vie for the throne, seeking power and profit, shing with each other. In the martial world, some sects are also restless. War has engulfed the entire nation, causing unprecedented chaos. This is a rare opportunity! If we dont seize cities and territories now, when will we? The reason for the dy is waiting for the stance of a major power the Great Wu Dynasty. The Great Wu Dynasty is the most powerful nation bordering Great Xia and poses the greatest threat to Great Xia. As soon as the Great Wu Dynasty acts, they will act immediately to divide Great Xias territory. The Great Wu feasts while they drink the soup. The Great Wu will certainly not miss such a good opportunity and boldly deres to the world, The eastern territory, extending 400 leagues east from the White Tiger (Ho) Mountain Range, totaling about 1.2 million square leagues, all belong to Great Wu. You can have other territories as you wish! Upon hearing this, other countries feel its reasonable as long as Great Wu gets the eastern territory. So they immediately send troops and seize the territories they desire. The Great Xia court is furious. The eastern territory is inseparable from our nation! How can the Great Wu invade during our chaos? Arent they just like bandits? Do they have no sense of responsibility as a major power? We absolutely do not agree!!! However, even if they vehemently disagree, its of no use. Because Great Xia is currently in too much turmoil the court is in chaos, the people are restless, and the martial world is chaotic everywhere. They cant even manage their own country, so how can they resist the rising Great Wu? The people in the eastern territory of Great Xia are all in distress! If Great Wu ising to attack, they better run! Otherwise, theyll either die under Great Wus iron hooves or be captured by Great Xia and forced into servitude. They dont even know how theyll die! And in other border areas of Great Xia, themon people have also fled, running to other ces, hiding in deep mountains and forests, trying to escape the impending war. In this situation, the border war has finally begun. However, it wasnt the Great Wu Dynasty that fired the first shot; it was other smaller countries. Theirnds are rtively barren, and they have fewer resources, so they couldnt wait to send troops into Great Xia, seizing a piece ofnd to strengthen their own power. However, their campaign did not go well. While Great Xia might be weakened, a starved camel is stillrger than a horse, and a rotten ship still has three nails. These small countries couldnt provoke Great Xia. Just as they sent troops, they were stopped by the Great Xia border forces and couldnt advance. So, everyone once again eagerly looked to Great Wu, hoping they would send troops soon, break through the enemys border, and create an opportunity for them. At this moment, the Great Wu proposed an idea: all countries should unite their forces and form a coalition army to jointly attack Great Xia. Once they conquer Great Xias territory, they would divide it based on each nations contribution. This way, everyone could gain greater benefits and reduce casualties. All the countries were very interested in this proposal. Forming a coalition army to attack Great Xia could indeed bring greater benefits and fewer casualties. However, the details and the distribution n required careful consideration. So, Great Wu extended a sincere invitation, inviting all nations toe to Great Wu for negotiations. Various countries responded and sent representatives. Great Xia, once again, was furious and denounced Great Wu and the other countries. But no one paid attention. In three days, representatives from various countries hurried to Great Wus Ho Pass to participate in the Coalition Against Great Xia Conference. A total of seven countries, including Great Wu, participated in this conference. It may not seem like many, but these countries were mainly the ones near Great Wu, and other distant nations couldnt make it to the conference. At this moment, everyone gathered together, but their thoughts were different, and there wasnt much talking. The entire hall was very quiet. Just at this moment, a young man entered the venue as if he belonged there. The representatives in the room saw this young man and immediately stood up. One of them spoke, Are you the Prime Minister of Great Wu, the Supreme Commander of the Army, His Highness Lin Beifan? The young man smiled and nodded, Thats right, its me! This young man was Lin Beifan, the one who had proposed the alliance n. Naturally, he was representing Great Wu at this meeting. Lin Beifan was the second most important figure in Great Wu, with a higher status than the others present. So, all the representatives in the room stood up, saluted, and respectfully eximed, Greetings to the Prime Minister of Great Wu, the Supreme Commander of the Army, His Highness Lin Beifan! Lin Beifan smiled warmly and extended his hand, saying, Honorable guests, theres no need for excessive formality. Wee to this Coalition Against Great Xia Conference, which I will be presiding over. Indeed, it should be this way! everyone nodded. Please, have a seat, Lin Beifan added. As Lin Beifan gave the order, everyone took their seats. Great Xia has been unjust, causing chaos in the realm, bringing suffering to its people. The Emperor of Great Xia, in his pursuit of an elixir of immortality, has neglected his duties, disregarded the lives of the people, and, as a result, has met his end by the will of heaven, Lin Beifan proimed with great righteousness. However, the people of Great Xia have not escaped their suffering; they are even more miserable now. Her Majesty is worried and cannot sleep at night. Therefore, she specially ordered me to convene this Coalition Against Great Xia Conference, uniting the efforts of all to overthrow Great Xia, relieve the suffering of its people, and bring peace to thend. Our actions are just, carrying out the will of heaven. I hope you, honorable guests, will lend your support. Everyone looked at him with a newfound respect. His words were eloquent and enlightened! Despite it being an invasion, he made it sound so grand, so righteous, so noble, and the perspective shifted as if not fighting would be their own wrongdoing! Its no wonder he rose to such a high position at such a young age; the man had real talent! Prime Minister Lin, your words are absolutely correct! My king has also seen the numerous hardships faced by the people of Great Xia and couldnt bear it. Thats why we had to send troops against Great Xia! Indeed, my king felt the same way. We hope to contribute to the welfare of the people! For the sake of the people and the nation, we have no choice but to fight! Everyones voices resonated. The more they talked, the more they felt like righteous warriors, carrying out the will of heaven. Their heads were held a little higher involuntarily. Lin Beifan was deeply moved and said, It turns out that you all share the same sentiments! It is because ofpassionate and virtuous individuals like you, who care for the world and the people, that we can ensuresting peace and prosperity for the people! Prime Minister, youre too kind. We are not worthy, they all smiled. After the pleasantries ended, they got to the point. As the saying goes, A snake without a head cannot move. Here, we have gathered representatives from seven countries, each with strong armies and resources. But if we act independently, our strength will be greatly reduced, and Great Xia might find opportunities to defeat us one by one. Therefore, I suggest creating the position of Alliance Commander to lead the entire army, Lin Beifan proposed. In this way, all our forces will be united into one army, and all our strengths will bebined. Even if circumstances change, its not impossible to ovee them. What do you all think of my proposal? Everyone exchanged nces, looking very hesitant. To be honest, the main reason they came to this conference was to hope that Great Wu would lead the charge against Great Xias main forces, while they followed behind to reap the benefits. As for handing overmand of the troops and letting someone else lead, they were somewhat reluctant. What if the other person used their soldiers and horses recklessly? They wouldnt even have time to cry! I understand the concerns in your hearts, Lin Beifan said, sipping his tea and smiling faintly. Handing over control of your troops to someone else is a matter of trust, and I share your concerns. Thats why we can establish three articles of agreement. How do these three articles work? someone asked. Before going to war, well first divide the territory. The more territory you want, the more troops you must send. Otherwise, the terms are void. After the war, well assess the sacrifices of each nation. The more sacrifices you make, the more territory youll receive. For example: if your nation sends 100,000 troops, thats 25% of your total poption under arms. My nation sends 300,000 troops, which is 75% of our total poption under arms. So, my nation will receive twice as much territory as yours. But after the war, if your nation sacrifices 100,000 troops and my nation also sacrifices 100,000 troops, your nations sacrifice ounts for 50% of the total sacrifices, which is more than the original troop ratio of two to one. In that case, when dividing the territory, your nation can receive double thend. Lin Beifan eximed, In summary, well follow one principle: the more you contribute, the more you sacrifice, and the more benefits you gain! What do you all think of this? Everyone was quite impressed; this distribution n was fair. The more troops a nation contributed, the more benefits they received, and therger their sacrifice, the greater thend they obtained. It was logical and equitable. Therefore, everyone expressed their agreement. This distribution n is excellent and fair. I support it! I agree as well! That settles it! Lin Beifan asked, As for the position of the Alliance Commander Why even bother selecting? It should be you, Prime Minister Lin! You are the Prime Minister of Great Wu, the Supreme Commander of the Army, and titled as the Loyal and Brave King. Your status is the highest, and you are the most suitable for this role! Thats right, General Lin, you are the contemporary God of War, unmatched inmanding battles, victorious in a hundred fights. I have the utmost respect for you! Handing overmand of the troops to you, we have no worries! Everyone unanimously agreed, and their decision was clear. Lin Beifan nodded, Thank you all for your trust! So, I humbly ept the position of Alliance Commander! Chapter 423: The Brilliant Commander, All Nations Are Calculated to the Extreme! Chapter 423: The Brilliant Commander, All Nations Are Calcted to the Extreme! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Under the leadership of Lin Beifan, the meeting proceeded smoothly, and everyone reached a unanimous consensus. Due to the tyranny of Great Xia, all nations united to concentrate their forces andunch an offensive against Great Xia. Lin Beifan was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces,manding the entire army and overseeing the operations. Each country appointed a general to represent them,manding their own forces while following the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. The more effort each country contributed, the more sacrifices they made, and consequently, the greater their share of the benefits. In the end, territories would be allocated based on the size of each countrys contributions. Lastly, with a face full of red light, Lin Beifan raised his cup high, saying, Everyone, I believe that with ourbined strength, we will be unstoppable! Let us raise our sses and toast to a great victory in this battle! Commander, please, and everyone else too! With their faces also glowing, they all raised their cups and drank heartily, as if they had already won the war. After finishing this cup of wine, everyone hurried off to prepare. Zhao Kuo followed behind Lin Beifan, looking somewhat hesitant, as if he had something to say but was holding back. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Zhao Kuo, youve been with me for so long. If you have anything to say, dont keep it to yourself! Yes, Supreme Commander, Zhao Kuo said with a bow. I believe that this distribution n is highly unfair to our Great Wu! Lin Beifan smiled and asked, What do you find unfair? Prime Minister, ording to this distribution n, its clear that those who contribute more will receive more benefits. I have no doubts about that. However, those who make greater sacrifices will also receive more benefits I find this aspect highly unfair! Zhao Kuo said seriously. We in Great Wu not only have a strong and well-equipped army but also each of our soldiers can often match three soldiers from smaller countries. Therefore, when ites to casualties, we will certainly have fewer than these smaller nations. But fewer sacrifices also mean fewer benefits, which is highly unfair to us. What I fear the most is that some smaller countries might try to be sly, sending in some subpar troops who have no real impact on the war and end up with even morend after the sacrifices. I urge you to reconsider, Prime Minister! Lin Beifan shook his head and smiled, Zhao Kuo, youve made a valid point, but sometimes you need to look at things from a long-term perspective. ording to this n, we do indeed appear to be at a disadvantage, but the ounts arent that simple. I dont quite understand, Prime Minister. Please enlighten me, and Ill listen attentively, Zhao Kuo said humbly. Our goal is to defeat Great Xia, that much is clear. However, how to unite everyone, motivate them, and get them to contribute their best efforts is the biggest challenge we face now. These people are all opportunists; if we dont offer them some benefits, why would they be willing to unite, put forth their troops, and exert their full strength? Thats one aspect. Zhao Kuo nodded in agreement, Prime Minister, what youre saying makes sense. Secondly, with us leading the charge, our Great Wu will suffer fewer casualties, Lin Beifan smiled and said, In my opinion, our own soldiers are the most valuable. Id rather give up somend to reduce our sacrifices. Although well get fewer benefits when dividing thend in the end, its still worth it. Zhao Kuo nodded again, Prime Minister, youre absolutely right. A true leader should love their soldiers like their own children. Theres one more point to consider. Do you really think Great Xia is so easy to defeat? Lin Beifan asked with a smile, Although Great Xia has faced various disasters and suffered heavy losses in the past year, the foundation of an empire still exists. Were taking a piece of meat from them while they are in chaos, but once they recover, they will seek revenge and reim their lost territories. We can defend our ownnd, but can the smaller countries do the same? Conquering a kingdom is difficult, but defending it is even harder. If they cant defend it, their nations will fall, and what good will morend do for them? It would be a wasted effort. I see, Prime Minister, you are truly wise. I understand now, Zhao Kuo said, enlightened. Lin Beifan shook his head, No, you havent fully understood yet. Huh? Zhao Kuo was puzzled. When Great Xia recovers, and they go after these smaller countries to reim their lostnds, that will be my opportunity! Lin Beifan eximed with excitement. At that time, these smaller countries will have been weakened by Great Xia, their strength diminished, and their resources depleted. Meanwhile, we will have already expanded our territories in the Far East. With a strong army and abundant resources, we can continue to conquer and take advantage of the situation. Isnt that beautiful? Zhao Kuo looked at Lin Beifan with deep admiration in his eyes. What a genius! He had thought about how to maximize their gains from this war and how to eventually absorb all the other nations in a few years. Step by step,yer byyer, he had calcted every nation to the bone. Truly, he was formidable! And theres a fourth point! Lin Beifan said with a triumphant smile. Now, I am the Commander of the alliance. All the forces will obey my orders, and the entire army is under my control. With this, wont Great Wu be able to gain even more benefits? Prime Minister, you are brilliant. I am in awe, Zhao Kuo said with admiration. Following this discussion, news of the seven nations forming a military alliance to jointly attack Great Xia spread rapidly throughout the world. The people of the world were in awe. These seven nations forming a coalition to attack Great Xia, Great Xia is in big trouble! Indeed! Thebined military strength of the seven nations is at least a terrifying million soldiers! But right now, Great Xia is in chaos and unable to organize a strong resistance, they are doomed! Especially this time, the Commander of the coalition is Lin Beifan! This guy is a master of warfare, always winning with less, defeating the strong with the weak, and he never loses a battle. Hes considered a modern military god! With him leading a million-strong army, no country can withstand it, and neither can Great Xia! Great Xia is really in for it! The disparity in strength between the two sides was too great, it was like heaven and earth, and everyone had little hope for Great Xia. Not only did everyone lose hope, even the people of Great Xia themselves didnt have much hope. So, they started fleeing, either to other countries or deep into the mountains and forests to escape the war. The Great Xian military also didnt have much confidence; many of their soldiers deserted. As a result, Great Xia became even more chaotic. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan paid no attention to external opinions and was busy mobilizing his troops. He attached great importance to this uing war and nned to mobilize 500,000 soldiers to attack Great Xia. This was the maximum number of troops he could mobilize withoutpromising Great Wus defenses. Lin Beifan originally thought that he had called up a sufficient number of soldiers, but when the troops from other nations gathered, he realized that there were even more forces than he had anticipated. For example, the neighboring country, the Great Mo, with a poption of less than 10 million, usually had a standing army of around 500,000, but they had sent 600,000 troops. General Liu, the Great Mo has sent so many troops; youve sent 100,000 more than us! Lin Beifan looked at the massive army from the Great Mo and said in amazement. General Liu, themander sent by the Great Mo, led their forces. He quickly reported to Lin Beifan, Reporting to the Commander, this war against Great Xia is a just war, so our Great Mo has mobilized all its strength to participate. Thats why we have more soldiers. I see, I understand now, Lin Beifan said with a wry smile. He pointed to a group of veterans who seemed to be in their fifties or sixties and had gray hair. General Liu, are these also soldiers from the Great Mo? They look quite old, and some of them can barely walk. Can they still fight? General Liu replied solemnly, Commander, please dont underestimate them. As the saying goes, An old horse in the stable still yearns to gallop, and a hero remains vigorous even in old age. These are seasoned veterans of the Great Mo, skilled in battle. They can take on ten opponents each. I heard that when they heard about this campaign against Great Xia, they enthusiastically volunteered. I didnt want to disappoint their spirit, so I recruited them all. Just as they were talking, one of the elderly veterans stepped into a pit, fell down, and with a loud crack, broke a bone. His screams echoed through the entire army. Oh, my bones are broken! Is there anyone to help me? Lin Beifan: General Liu: General Liu was sweating profusely and tried to exin, Commander, please listen to me, this is just an ident! Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed, its quite unexpected. Just one pit, and it managed to break his bone! Fortunately, its only a broken bone, or else wed have a casualty before we even set out on the campaign! General Liu was drenched in sweat, his face flushed red. So, what about these people? Lin Beifan pointed to a few others who looked a bit too dolled up. You recruited the old man, which is one thing, but these individuals, they seem to be women. Can they really fight? General Liu tried to defend them again, Commander, dont underestimate them! You should know that women can hold up half the sky! Just then, a heavily pregnant woman suddenly clutched her belly and sat down, crying out in pain, Oh, the little one inside my belly is being disobedient! Im about to give birth! Someone help! Lin Beifan: General Liu: Lin Beifan chuckled coldly, Indeed, they can hold up half the sky! If there were no idents, she might have given birth to a son who could also join the army! General Liu, dont you think so? General Liu was drenched in sweat, feeling embarrassed, and just wanted to find a ce to bury his head Chapter 424: Where Do We Need Some Ingenious Tactics? Just Push Forward Directly! Chapter 424: Where Do We Need Some Ingenious Tactics? Just Push Forward Directly! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The Great Xia road is good, and we even know the way, so send over able-bodied individuals! Yet, in other countries, they dont even spare the disabled. Looking around, its either missing limbs or hearing and vision impairments, some not only blind but also missing two legs, pushed over by others. Can such people win a battle? They cant even walk properly; they can only go to their deaths! Its truly infuriating! Because of this widespread inclusion of unfit individuals, the total military force of these six small countries has astonishingly reached 3 million! Among them, there are a million regr troops, tops! A whopping 2 million are just padding! Seeing this, Lin Beifan became very angry and had to call a meeting to streamline the troops, kicking out those withoutbat capabilities to serve as logistical personnel for the main army. This reduced the six nations forces to 2 million, but there was still a lot of excess. Lin Beifan couldnt be bothered anymore. Since you insist on using them as cannon fodder, dont me me when they hinder us in battle, disregarding the lives of our own people. After making preparations, Lin Beifan led 2.5 million troops forward! And at this moment, the whole world is watching this battle. On the side of the Great Xia, they are urgently mobilizing their troops, gathering a total of 500,000 troops to defend the frontlines. However, the Great Xias marshal saw the dense and vast enemy forcesing and despaired immediately! 2.5 million troops, how can we fight this? Their total national military force is just this number! But they cant send all of them to fight, as some must guard the border fortresses and maintain order in the major cities to prevent civil unrest. Seeing the Alliance Commander Lin Beifan, their despair deepened! This guy is the best at warfare, especially skilled at winning major battles against stronger andrger forces. In over a year, he has fought several major battles and hasnt suffered a single defeat, rightly earning the title of War God! Their Great Xia once served under hismand! Now hes leading an army of 2.5 million troops, five times their strength. How can they fight this? The Great Xia marshal sighed silently. Even if they cant win, they must hold on! Because chaos reigns in their homnd, with different factions vying for power in the court, theres no way to organize a strong resistance. If the Alliance army breaks through the border, they will inevitably advance all the way to the Tiger Mountain (Ho) Range, and theirnd will change hands! The Great Xia marshal loudly dered, Where is the Commander of the Alliance Army, Lin Beifan? I am here! Lin Beifan rode in on a white horse. At this moment, he was d in exquisite silver-white armor, shining brilliantly under the sunlight. This person appeared full of vigor and confidence. Its worth mentioning that this set of armor is called the Sunlit Holy Martial Armor, specially chosen for him by the Empress. Its rtively lightweight, offers moderate defense, but its main purpose is to look good. The Great Xia Marshal angrily questioned, Lin Beifan, what is your intention? Are you leading the troops of seven nations to invade our territory? This is an aggressive war! An unjust war! Despite being someone who has read the ssics of sages, you are not taking it upon yourself to protect the realm and the people. Instead, youve actively initiated a war, plunging the citizens into distress and suffering. Lin Beifan, what crime should you be charged with? Lin Beifan, what crime should you be charged with? The Great Xia soldiers echoed. Lin Beifan sneered, rebuking, Spare me this act! Everyone has the right to say these words, except for your Great Xia! Last year, our Great Wu did not provoke you, yet you still initiated the attack, didnt you? At that time, did you consider the realm and themon people? The face of the Great Xia Marshal turned ugly, and he couldnt find words to respond. I vividly remember that we even captured 600,000 Great Xia soldiers back then! Lin Beifan nced at the soldiers on the city walls and continued to sneer, Take a look, and I see many familiar faces! How is it that youve forgotten so quickly? Forgetting the pain once the scar heals, huh? Its only been a year, and youve forgotten what youve done to yourselves? The soldiers on the city walls felt deeply ashamed. Now, were merely using your own methods against you! Lin Beifan rode his horse slowly and continued to reprimand, If we talk about injustice, your Great Xia is the true perpetrator of injustice! After experiencing natural disasters, with heavy casualties among the people, you not only failed to provide aid to the afflicted, but you also enforced brutal oppression! Your Great Xia Emperor even aimed to concoct an elixir of immortality, neglecting state affairs, and indiscriminately collecting treasures from heaven and earth, stirring up resentment among the popce! Now, with the Great Xia Emperors passing, the corpse is hardly cold, the court is fighting for the supreme throne, striving for power and wealth, and the result is the discement and suffering of countless Great Xia citizens, with grievances echoing far and wide! Lin Beifan shook his head, To be honest, the harm youve caused to the people of Great Xia is much greater than what weve done. You are the true origin of turmoil and disaster! Therefore, we have no choice but to raise our banner high, to rescue the people of Great Xia, and to bring peace to the world! We are avenging injustice, acting in the name of heaven, and fighting for justice! We act in the name of heaven! We act in the name of heaven! The Alliance army shouted loudly, their voices resonating like thunder. The Great Xia soldiers felt disheartened. As Lin Beifan had said, the harm they inflicted on the Great Xia people was far more severe than that of other nations! Their country was in chaos, so chaotic that it couldnt be described, providing an opportunity for other nations to exploit. Otherwise, a year ago, would they have dared tounch an attack like this? As the pursuit continued, Lin Beifan continued to shout loudly, Guarding Great Xia means guarding heinous sins! I advise you to quickly open the city gates and let us in to rescue themon people of Great Xia, lightening the burden of your sins! Otherwise, even if we dont judge you, Heaven will! The Great Xia Marshal angrily retorted, Its all nonsense! Dont listen to him! If we open the city gates, our people behind us will fall into distress, and the country will be on the brink of copse! So we must defend the city gates, not give the Alliance army any chance! At this moment, both sides had exchanged harsh words, and it was time to start the battle. The war enthusiasts by Lin Beifans side were eager and ready. Commander, how should we fight this battle? Please give us instructions! For the first battle, leave it to me! Im best at siege warfare. With 500,000 troops at my disposal, I guarantee well capture the city swiftly! Your reckless behavior is uneptable! The Commander must have a brilliant strategy in mind. Commander, do you have a n? Tell us, well follow your lead! Commander, please give the order! Lin Beifan nced at the more than 50 innate experts beside him and the 2 million-strong army and smiled faintly, What kind of strategy do we need for this battle? Well charge straight in! All innate experts, line up! All the innate experts immediately stood up and said in unison, Commander, pleasemand! Lin Beifan shouted loudly, Move out together, break through the gates of Great Xia! Once the city falls, 500,000 Great Wu soldiers will follow, infiltrate the city, and secure key locations! The troops from other countries will follow behind, eliminating any remaining Great Xia forces! Yes, Commander! The entire army responded in unison. After giving the order, more than 50 innate experts roared and charged forward, their momentum awe-inspiring. The Great Xia Marshal, with just one look, was filled with despair. Their entire army had only about ten innate experts in total. How could they withstand more than 50 innate experts? One against two might be barely possible, but one against five, not even if they had nine lives! If the Great Xia Marshal felt this way, what about the others? More than 50 innate experts, were finished! We cant hold them at all! Lets escape quickly; as long as we save ourselves, there will be hope! The Great Xia Marshal shouted loudly, No fleeing! As soldiers, we can only die standing, not live kneeling! Pick up your weapons, and even if we die, well die here! So, all innate experts, all warriors, block them for me! Great Xias strong men also rushed out with a determination to die for their cause. However, when they encountered the Alliances innate experts, it was like hitting a stone with an egg, utterly unable to withstand them. In just a moment, Great Xias warriors were all ughtered! The city walls were now littered with corpses, their eyes unseeing, and the heavy stench of blood filled the air. This was nothing short of a massacre! An utterly one-sided massacre. The Great Xia Marshal was frightened, his face turned pale. Its over! Its truly over! He had suspected that they would lose this battle, but he hadnt expected it to happen so quickly and so decisively. With great difficulty, he turned his head and cast a longing gaze behind him at the magnificent mountains and rivers of Great Xia. Then, he raised the de in his hand and charged towards the 50 innate experts. I will never surrender! Sons and daughters of Great Xia, follow me and fight! The Great Xia Marshalunched a desperate counterattack, but he was overwhelmed by the 50 innate experts and eventually perished under their siege, leaving behind fragmented remains. Lin Beifan paid his respects solemnly. Though we served different masters, the unwavering spirit and patriotism of this old general are truly admirable! He is a hero, and he must be given a proper burial. Yes, Commander! Next, the 50-plus innate experts ascended the city tower and continued their massacre, leaving no one alive. Lin Beifan raised his arm and shouted, The city gates are open; the entire army follows me into Great Xia! With a thunderous boom, the city gates swung open. Yes, Commander! Under Lin Beifans leadership, the Alliance army surged into Great Xia. The news of this battle quickly spread throughout the world, shocking everyone. Great Xias city gates fell within just one day! Its actually quite normal! Great Xia only had 500,000 troops and around 10 innate experts! But the Alliance army has 2.5 million troops, over 50 innate experts, and with War God Lin Beifan leading, it was just a matter of time before Great Xias gates fell! Now, the Alliance has prated deep into Great Xias territory! Without any barriers, the Alliance army can advance unhindered, all the way to the White Tiger (Ho) Mountain Range. The entire Xia territory is on the brink of falling! If Great Xia cant organize a strong resistance, its done for! Great Xia is in such chaos right now, with everyone doing their own thing. It looks bleak! Who could have imagined that in just a years time, Great Xia would fall to this state? Its truly tragic! The will of heaven is elusive, and the heart of heaven is inscrutable! Chapter 425: One Day, One City Falls, Generals of Other Nations Eagerly Seek Battle! Chapter 425: One Day, One City Falls, Generals of Other Nations Eagerly Seek Battle! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
At this moment, Lin Beifan had already led the Alliances grand army into the heart of the border town. Due to the rapid depletion of the Great Xia Empires main forces, the remaining troops were unable to organize effective resistance. Some fled, some surrendered, and many chose toy down their arms. Since they surrendered, Lin Beifan naturally spared their lives. After all, these were all able-bodied young men who could be used for warfare, farming, andbor extremely valuable resources. If it was possible to avoid bloodshed, Lin Beifan was willing to do so. Consequently, the Alliances forces smoothly took control of the border town. After nning to rest for a day, they would continue their campaign, attacking cities and seizing territories. When Lin Beifan issued this order, the Great Wu Army immediately began to prepare for battle tomorrow. However, the troops from smaller nations began to misbehave. They bullied the local residents of Great Xia, plundered their wealth and food, and some even contemted unspeakable acts against innocent women. Their behavior was truly despicable! Lin Beifan frowned; after all, these were small nations with undisciplined troops. They had not received proper military training or discipline enforcement. As soon as they achieved a little sess, they released their inner demons, seeking personal enjoyment. Lin Beifan already considered this area as part of Great Wus territory, and the local residents as Great Wus citizens. If they caused trouble here and left, the people would hold Great Wu responsible! So, Lin Beifan loudlymanded, Spread the word, all officers and soldiers of the Alliance, do not disturb the civilians, do not cause trouble, and most certainly do notmit acts of rape and plunder. Those who vite this order will be dealt with ording to militaryw! Yes, Commander! The order was quickly ryed. However, generals from various nations approached him with some discontent. Commander, why give such an order? Weve fought hard to capture this ce. Everyone here is a hero. Cant we enjoy ourselves a little? Yes, after this battle, our soldiers have suffered a lot. We should let them vent their frustrations. Commander, isnt this why we fight wars in the first ce? These generals were nominally his subordinates, but they were from various countries, so Lin Beifan couldnt lose his temper. He smiled and said, Gentlemen, I understand your thoughts very well! But have you ever considered what adverse effects might arise if we let everyone indulge at this moment? Whatwhat adverse effects could there be? They were all a bit puzzled. Influence can be substantial, and the consequences are very serious! Lin Beifan said solemnly. Wolves, only when they are most hungry, will they fiercely fight for food and kill livestock. However, once they are well-fed, they bezy and wont even move if you stand in front of them. Humans are the same way! Generals, if you let everyone vent their frustrations and get what they want too easily, indulging in plenty of food and drink, where will their fighting spirit go? If it were you, would you still be willing to fight? Commander, what you say makes perfect sense! The generals suddenly realized. So, I intend to keep everyone in a state of hunger, so they cant get what they desire most. They can see but not have it. This will build up their resolve to fight, to attack cities and seize territories, to engage in battle! In this way, wont we be able to conquer more territory and gain more benefits? Lin Beifan smiled triumphantly and said, At that time, we can enjoy ourselves thoroughly, wont that be splendid? Everyone enthusiastically agreed. Commander, youre absolutely right; we must keep them hungry! Only hunger will unleash great power! If theyre satisfied, they wont have the will to fight! Commander, youre wise; weve learned a valuable lesson! So, generals, when you return, make sure to restrain your troops well! Keep them hungry, and our army will be unstoppable! Lin Beifan added. The generals thanked Lin Beifan and returned to their troops. The incidents of burning, killing, and plundering did not ur again. Everyone peacefully rested and prepared for the uing battle. (TLN: As if it would be this easy) After a day of rest, everyone was in high spirits as they marched toward the hearnd of Great Xia. It took them a day to reach a city near the border Xia Yan City. This city originally had a poption of a million and was considered a rtively prosperous border town. However, since news of the Alliances invasion had spread, over 200,000 people had fled. When news of the border towns fall came yesterday, another 300,000 had escaped. Now, the poption was less than 500,000. The defending garrison inside the city numbered less than 50,000 and was no match for the approaching Alliance army of 2 million. Standing at the city gates, Lin Beifan shouted loudly, Who is themander of this city? This king advises you to open the gates and surrender. I may spare your life! Otherwise, when my army enters, you will surely die! The citysmander was resolute: No way! As the saying goes, we eat the rulers sry and bear the rulers worries! I am an official of the Great Xia, receiving a sry from the court. Naturally, I must serve Great Xia, serve the court! If you want to enter the city, youll have to step over my dead body! Lin Beifan dered, Very well! Ill grant your wish! Innate experts, enter the city and open the gates to wee the army! Yes, Commander! Dozens of Innate experts once again disyed their formidable presence and charged forward. The 500,000 regr troops of Great Xia couldnt hold out, let alone the garrison of the Xia Yan City. In less than a moment, the city gates were breached. Lin Beifan raised his arms and shouted, Generals, follow me into the city! Charge! The battle cry echoed. This city quickly changed hands. After a day of rest, everyone was in high spirits. Lin Beifan led the Alliances grand army to continue advancing towards the heart of Great Xia. Each time, the Innate experts would pave the way, opening the city gates. The Great Wu Army followed closely, eliminating the citys main forces. The troops from various countries followed behind, wiping out the remaining resistance within the city. They could capture a city in a single day, and their speed was exceptionally fast. If it werent for the need to keep moving and rest, they might have advanced even faster. People all over the world were astonished by the speed of their conquest. Good job, capturing one city a day! In just seven days, theyve taken seven cities and advanced over 200 miles! This speed is beyond imagination! It can only be said that the Alliances army is too powerful. With more than 50 Innate experts, 2.5 million soldiers, and Lin Beifan, a military god-likemander, its almost impossible for them to lose! Great Xia is in a dire situation! Even the princes and grandsons are holed up at home. They might end up fighting on their own doorstep! At this rate, Great Xia is truly doomed! People were discussing Great Xias plight with mixed feelings. Meanwhile, they couldnt help but envy the seven-nation Alliance, led by Great Wu. Because through this military campaign, these seven countries would undoubtedly carve out a piece of meat from Great Xia. Expansion was imminent. If it werent for the fact that they didnt share a border with Great Xia, they might have wanted to join in the action and grab a piece of the pie. At this moment, the victorious seven-nation Alliance was advancing triumphantly towards the eighth city. Lin Beifan was nning to have the Innate experts clear the way as usual, with the Great Wu Army dealing with the main forces, and the troops from various countries following to swiftly capture the city. However, a general loudly dered, Wait, Commander! Lin Beifan turned to look, and it was General Liu from the Mo Nation. He smiled and asked, General Liu, whats the matter? Commander, its like this, General Liu said seriously. Throughout this campaign, your Alliance has been the major force in reducing Great Xias main army, and we from the Mo Nation feel somewhat guilty about it. So, let us, the Mo Nation, take this city! Lin Beifan nodded and said, I understand. At this point, themanders from the Mo Nation began to speak up. Yes, Commander, let us, the Mo Nation, take charge of this battle! We, the Mo Nation, want to contribute to the Alliance! We guarantee a great victory! They were very enthusiastic because they had to request this battle. ording to the allocation rules, the more troops a country deployed, the more territory it could im. The country with thergest military contribution would have priority in territorial distribution. However, so far, the Great Wu Army had been doing most of the fighting, and they felt like bystanders with limited sacrifices. How could they secure significant benefits in this situation? Moreover, Great Xia appeared vulnerable now, so it was an opportune moment. These Mo Nationmanders had risen through the ranks based on their military achievements. This was an excellent opportunity to gain fame and prestige by capturing a few cities and humiliating Great Xia. So, if they didnt act now, when would they? Lin Beifan pondered for a moment and said, But in doing so, your sacrifices will be significant, and Im reluctant to do that. Please, Commander, grant our request! The Mo Nationmanders unanimously pleaded. Seeing the determined expressions of the Mo Nationmanders, Lin Beifan was deeply moved and said loudly, Very well! All of you are outstanding soldiers, and since you insist, I will grant your request! In this battle, you will be the main force, and the other troops will provide support! The Mo Nations variousmanders expressed their gratitude, saying, Thank you, Commander! As they looked up, they noticed envious and jealous nces frommanders of other countries, which made them feel a sense of pride. With the Innate experts leading the way, the city gates were quickly opened. General Liu from the Mo Nation raised his sword and excitedly shouted, Sons of the Mo, the city gates are open, follow me in! Its time to make a name for ourselves! Charge! The Mo Nations troops, high in morale, rushed into the city. Both sides quickly engaged in closebat. However, the Mo Nations troops were rtively inexperienced, and even when facing the demoralized Great Xia forces, they suffered a casualty ratio of 2:1. In other words, it took two Mo Nation soldiers to im the life of one Great Xia soldier. Nevertheless, the Mo Nations army remained enthusiastic. Lin Beifan could only smile and think, As long as youre happy! Chapter 426: Encounter with Martial Artists in the White Tiger Mountains! Chapter 426: Encounter with Martial Artists in the White Tiger Mountains! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
As they watched the Mo Army fight with enthusiasm, the generals from various countries were filled with envy. Seeing Great Xia warriors being defeated like this makes me want to join the fight! Indeed, opportunities to step on Great Xias head are rare. I wish I had volunteered earlier! Its a pity we were a stepte and missed a great chance. What a regret! After this battle, General Liu will surely gain fame throughout the world! In their hearts, everyone secretly made a decision: they must seize this opportunity next time. They couldnt let that old guy take all the glory. About half an hourter, after paying a heavy price, the Mo Army finally captured the city and sent the news north to Lin Beifan. Reporting to the Commander, Huashu City has been captured. Please give your orders! General Liu eximed. Lin Beifan smiled and nodded, saying loudly, Well done, General Liu, and all the warriors of the Mo! The entire army will enter the city, rest for a day, and continue the march tomorrow! Yes, Commander! The next day, following a day of rest, the alliance army marched forward once again. This ninth city was known as Yuanhua City, boasting a poption of one million and a rtively developed economy, thus earning its status as arge city. However, regardless of its size, the city couldnt withstand the might of a million-strong alliance army. Watching the city in the distance, Lin Beifan confidently dered, Generals, as usual, just like before, Ill have you all lead the way into the city, open the gates, and then Wait, Commander! a voice interrupted. Lin Beifan turned and smiled, General Liu, whats the matter? General Liu bowed and excitedly said, Commander, please entrust this battle to the Mo! I guarantee with my head that we will capture Yuanhua City. I wont return unless we seed! Lin Beifan hesitated, Handing it over to the Mo again? But yesterday, your losses were a bit Small sacrifices, what do they matter? As long as we can capture Yuanhua City and save the people inside, contribute to our alliance army, even if the Mo Army sacrifices everything, we wont hesitate! General Liu dered with righteousness. Other Mo generals echoed his sentiments. General Liu is right! Small sacrifices mean nothing! If we can capture Yuanhua City and contribute to the alliance armys cause, we dont mind sacrificing everything! Dying on the battlefield is the fate of warriors! Commander, we request to fight! Touched by their determination, Lin Beifan said, Very well! Since General Liu and the Mo warriors are so determined, Ill grant your wish! In this battle Commander, hold on! A voice called out. Lin Beifan turned to see General Tang from the nation of Great Peng. General Tang, whats the matter? he inquired. General Tang bowed and said, Commander, the Great Wu Army and the Mo Army have already contributed significantly as overseers. Meanwhile, our Great Peng Army hasnt done much, and we feel guilty. So, please entrust this battle to us, the Great Peng. We humbly request this favor, Commander. Requesting Commanders favor! the Great Peng generals echoed. Lin Beifan was taken aback. Ah You want to fight too? Standing nearby, General Liu scowled, annoyed that General Tang was attempting to seize credit and the opportunity at this moment. He loudly dered, Commander, let this battle remain with the Mo! After yesterdays fierce battle, we have grown ustomed to bloodshed and are well-prepared forbat. We will surely return victorious! General Zhao quickly countered, Commander, please entrust this battle to us, the Great Peng! While we havent experienced such intense battles, our soldiers are brave and skilled. They excel in both charging on horseback and fighting on foot. General Liu immediately mocked, General Zhao, I think you should reconsider! How many of your troops have seen realbat? Some of them cant even handle a sword, let alone fight effectively! General Zhao fired back, At least were better than your Mo Army! The way you fought yesterday it was like you were volunteering for death, bringing disgrace to our alliance. I dont even want to talk about it! General Zhao, your Great Peng is not up to the task General Liu, your Mo isnt any better The two of them continued to argue and trade insults. Meanwhile, Lin Beifan was extremely torn. Both generals were eager to lead, and their soldiers were equally enthusiastic. Choosing between the Mo and Great Peng was proving to be a difficult decision. Just then, a third general stepped forward. Commander, please entrust this battle to us, the Great Shang A fourth general followed suit. Commander, we, the Great Liang, request And then came the fifth and sixth generals. Each one volunteered, each one fought for the opportunity, each one was willing to sacrifice everything. Lin Beifan was deeply moved, and he dered passionately, With warriors as brave and selfless as all of you in our alliance army, how can we not achieve victory against Xia? Heres what well do Lin Beifan proposed an idea, How about we draw lots to decide? Whoever draws the attack paper gets the chance to lead the assault on the city, and the other nations will focus on encircling. What do you all think? Sounds good, sounds good! Everyone nodded in agreement. Lin Beifan then took out six pieces of paper. One wasbeled (attack), signifying the nation that would have the opportunity to attack the city, while the other five werebeled (encircle), representing the nations whose troops would mainly encircle the city. These six pieces of paper were rolled into a bundle and ced into a box. Lin Beifan held the box and said, Come on, whoever draws the paper will have the chance to lead the assault on the city! Commander, we have seven nations here, but there are only six papers in the box. Its not enough! someone raised a concern. Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, saying firmly, Generals, its absolutely enough! Because we, the Great Wu, wont draw. Were giving this precious opportunity to all of you! Thank you, Commander! the crowd responded in unison, expressing their gratitude. The drawing of lots began. In the end, it was the nation of Great Liang that drew the precious opportunity. The general from Great Liang immediately raised his sword and shouted excitedly, Soldiers of Great Liang, follow me into the city! This is our moment to achieve greatness! Charge! The 400,000-strong Great Liang army also roared and stormed into the city. After paying a price of 100,000 casualties, they finally captured the city guarded by only 60,000 city defenders. The subsequent battles unfolded in a simr manner. In each new city, nationspeted to be the first to lead the assault. Seeing the fiercepetition, Lin Beifan decided to let everyone draw lots to decide. Under Lin Beifans fair, just, and transparent supervision, almost every nation had a turn. After paying a significant cost, they would eventually capture the city. Lin Beifans Great Wu Army, for the most part, yed a minimal role, acting as a backup in the rear. A week quickly passed. The alliance army, which originally had 2.5 million soldiers, now numbered less than 2 million due to heavy casualties. But in Lin Beifans view, they had removed a lot of excess fat, and the army now appeared more organized. At this point, after half a month, the alliance army finally reached the White Tiger Mountains, the second barrier of Great Xia. If they could break through the White Tiger Mountains, the alliance army could advance another 300 kilometers, capturing nearly one-third of the territory. Even though the situation within the alliance was chaotic, Lin Beifan knew that this was the right time to cool down and consolidate. He immediately gathered 500,000 elite troops to defend the White Tiger Fortress. However, this wasnt the most crucial development. The most crucial development was Theyve actually called on the martial artists from within Great Xia to resist the alliance army. Interesting, Lin Beifan said with a slight smile. Just learned from the spies that, in order to face the oing Alliance Army and the impending fall of the Great Xia Empire, the imperial court of Great Xia has offered a certain price to invite various martial sects within the city and martial artists from the Jianghu toe together and defend against the alliance forces. With their nation on the brink of destruction, many passionate martial artists hurriedly rushed to frontline and gathered to defend the White Tiger Fortress. Among them, there were already tens of thousands of martial artists of the pre-natal realm, and more than 30 of them were Innate experts. Combined with the military forces of the Great Xia imperial court, their strength had be extremely formidable, capable of rivaling the Alliance Army. This marked the second major obstacle encountered by the Alliance Army since the beginning of the war. The morale of the Great Xia soldiers soared, and their voices echoed loudly. Alliance Army, lets see how youre going to fight this time! We have so many heroes and talents here; our strength is no less than yours! We wont let you take a step further! We will definitely win this battle! The members of the Alliance Army grew solemn. Commander, how do we approach this battle? Commander, the Great Xia has assembled the strength of both the imperial court and the Jianghu. They have over 50 experts in the Innate realm, which equals our strength! We may not be able to storm the city gates as easily as before! Yes, Commander! While their military might may be weaker than ours, those martial artists from the Jianghu more than make up for it! With over ten thousand martial artists, they can easily hold off three and a half million soldiers! If these martial artistsunch a surprise attack and cut off our supply route, our army will be in serious trouble! Commander Lin Beifan smiled slightly. Theres no need to worry, everyone. Let me go convince them. Lin Beifan, riding on a white horse, moved through the army and looked at the formidable fortress not far away. Heughed aloud, I heard that the Great Xia court couldnt hold on and had to invite the martial artists of Jianghu. I find it very interesting and curious. Werent you martial artists always at odds with the court? Now youre acting as theirckeys? The martial artists on the city wall grew furious. Lackeys? Why do you speak so harshly? The court is the court, and we are ourselves. We have no connection to the court whatsoever! Why should we care about the courts fate? The reason were here is not for the court but for this nation and its millions of people! To protect Great Xia and drive away foreign invaders! Once you invaders are repelled, we will naturally leave! Lin Beifan smiled calmly. It seems you all are true heroes in your own right, and I deeply admire that. However, Id like to pose a question to you: what kind of person truly deserves to be called a hero?
TLN: It seems theres a slight trantion error here. The trantion for Ho is Tiger Gaol, while the trantion for White Tiger is Baihu. Chapter 427: What Are You Doing if Not Aiding the Tyrant? Chapter 427: What Are You Doing if Not Aiding the Tyrant? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The martial artists on the city wall were bewildered. Right now, both sides are at war, and you, a mighty Supreme Commander, why are you asking such unrted questions? Nevertheless, they chose to answer. I believe that those with great power can be called heroes! I, on the other hand, believe that those who act with chivalry and bravery can be called heroes! The true heroes are those who specialize in eliminating corrupt officials, and they can be called heroes! No, no, none of that is correct, Lin Beifan shook his head. Not correct? The crowd of martial artists was puzzled. Lin Beifan smiled and said, People with great power can, at most, be called brutes! If they use their talents tomit acts of violence and arson, can they still be called heroes? What about those who act with chivalry and bravery? someone asked. Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Those who act with chivalry and bravery can indeed be called heroes, but they can only be called minor heroes. They are far from being true heroes! Because such heroes and champions can be found not only among martial artists but also amongmon people. Virtuous deeds are not exclusive to the martial world! Therefore, using this standard tobel someone as a hero is far too broad! Its inappropriate, very inappropriate! The martial artists nodded in agreement. Someone asked, What about the heroes who specialize in eliminating corrupt officials? Heroes who specialize in eliminating corrupt officials can also be called heroes, but they can only be considered minor heroes, Lin Beifan replied. The martial artists were not satisfied. How can such great heroes be considered minor heroes? Theyve all opposed the court, risking their lives. How can such people be considered minor heroes? Are you deliberately belittling these heroes? Lin Beifan shook his head and said with a smile, Im not belittling them; Im simply stating the facts! You may have killed corrupt officials, but have you considered who will govern the city after youve killed them? Well The martial artists were at a loss for words. Lin Beifan continued, A city with no one to govern it, what will be of that city? Do you know? I, the martial artists were once again speechless. At that time, there will undoubtedly be bandits everywhere, thieves running rampant, and a lot of rape and looting. The city will be in chaos The martial artists fell into silence one by one because they knew Lin Beifan was right. So, you take pleasure in killing, but you leave behind such a mess, making the people suffer even more! So, such people, no matter where they start, cannot be called heroes! Everyone fell silent once again. Someone asked, Then tell us, what kind of person can be called a hero? Everyone has their own answer! For example, some believe that those with extraordinary martial skills can be called heroes! Those who act with chivalry and bravery can be called heroes! Those who eliminate corrupt officials can be called heroes! However, in my eyes Lin Beifan raised his head high and proimed, Those who serve the country and its people, they are the true heroes! Those who serve the country and its people, the true heroes! This sentence seemed to carry a magical power. When the martial artists heard it, they felt as though they had been struck by lightning. Their pores stood on end, and they shivered all over. Lin Beifan loudly dered, Only those who wholeheartedly serve the country and its people can be called true heroes! Only those who dedicate themselves to the nation and its people can be called heroes! Only those who serve the country and its people with unwavering devotion can be called heroes! Those who serve the country and its people are the greatest heroes! Others are simply not worthy! The martial artists on the city wall apuded one by one. Thats right, Lin Commander, what you said is correct. Only those who serve the country and its people can be called heroes! Those who act with chivalry and bravery and those who eliminate corrupt officials can at most be considered minor heroes! They are far from true heroes! Lin Commander, your summary is correct, I have no objections! Haha! Now that everyone agrees with my words, those who serve the country and its people are the greatest heroes! But why are you now doing things that go against chivalry? Why are you obstructing our alliance army? Lin Beifan shouted. What do you mean by going against chivalry? We are currently protecting the country and upholding justice! You yourselves have said that only those who serve the country and its people can be called heroes. Arent we doing what heroes should do now? Defending against external enemies is the only way to safeguard the nation and its people! The group of martial artists retorted. Lin Beifan shouted again, Is this protecting the country and its people? You are clearly aiding the tyrant! Let me ask you, whates first, the country or the people, and whiches first, the people or you? Well they were momentarily unable to answer. Then Ill phrase it differently! Lin Beifan shouted again. Is there a country first, and then you, followed by the people, or is there the people first, followed by you, with no country? Its the country thates first, right? someone weakly said. Lin Beifan asked loudly, Since the countryes first, where do its citizense from? That, they couldnte up with an answer. Others were also unable to answer. So, its the people first, and from the people, a nation is formed, and from the nation, a country arises! As long as everyone genuinely acknowledges this nation, recognizes themunity they belong to, it can form a sense of homnd! Otherwise, without the support of the people, this nation cannot be called a home, and this country cannot be called a country! Everyone nodded involuntarily. Youre right! But now, does Great Xia still resemble a nation? Look at the chaos within the borders of Great Xia, rampant disorder, people suffering, and lives in turmoil! If the people acknowledged this nation, supported this nation, where would the need for uprisings be? Well So, which are you protecting, the home or the nation? Even the people cant survive, can this still be called a home, can this still be called a nation? The martial artists were once again left speechless. Let me ask you again, what is more important, the nation or the people? Lin Beifan asked. Of course, the people are more important! someone promptly replied. If you understand that, why persist in this path? Lin Beifan continued loudly, The longer you resist, the more suffering your people will endure! The longer you resist, the greater the hardship your people will face! Is this truly what you want? Are you content to watch your own people suffer and die while you stand by and do nothing? If what youre doing isnt aiding the tyrant, what else is it? Chapter 428: The Strongest Fortress Is Often Breached from Within! Chapter 428: The Strongest Fortress Is Often Breached from Within! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Three consecutive sharp questions, ringing in the ears! These martial artists carefully thought about it and realized that it was indeed the truth. Right now, they are resisting the foreign invaders on the front lines, but their own countrysmon people are suffering in the rear, enduring discement and misery. Some, in order to survive, have had to take up arms in rebellion. The longer they resist, the longer themon people behind them suffer. Some couldnt help but doubt, Are we doing the right thing? Dont listen to Lin Beifans nonsense; hes just trying to argue! A sharp voice rang out, Certainly, we are resisting on the front lines, and the people in the rear are suffering! But if we really let the allied forces in, can themon people behind us live in peace? You must know that they are invaders! How can invaders treat ourmon people kindly? At that time, themon people behind us will undoubtedly suffer even more! So, everyone must hold on and not be swayed by them! Upon hearing this, they once again felt it made sense, and their determination grew stronger. Lin Beifan chuckled, Invaders? Why do you speak so harshly? Do you know that since the ice disaster, how many Great Xiamon people have fled to our Great Wu for their livelihoods? They all looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion, unable to answer. Lin Beifan raised a finger, At least a million! Everyone was shocked. How is that possible? Are you lying to us? A million! So many? Lin Beifan raised his voice, Would I deceive you for no reason? Go and inquire within the borders of Great Wu, go and see for yourselves, and youll know if there are so many people! If the Great Xiamon people could survive, why would they leave their homes ande to Great Wu? You must understand that our Great Wu and Great Xia have hostile rtions; the border between the two sides is very tense! I didnt hold a knife to their necks, but they still ran to our side! It shows that our Great Wu is better than Great Xia! It shows that our Great Wu is peaceful, and in ournd, they can make a living! It shows that Great Xia is not peaceful; they have no future here, so they can onlye to our side! This is their own choice, they genuinely recognize Great Wu, so they are willing to serve Great Wu! Here, they live better than in Great Xia, and they have dignity! Lets talk about the Darro Kingdom and the White Elephant Kingdom! Lin Beifan smiled and said, These two countries only joined Great Wu in the past two years! Look at theirmon people now, they are living well, with fields to cultivate, stable food supplies, clothes to wear, cement houses to live in their lives have improved many times over! Not joining our Great Wu would be their loss! So, when ites to theters, do you think we will treat themon people well? Lin Beifan confidently spread his hands and asked, Isnt all of this clear evidence? Do I need to say more? After listening to Lin Beifans words, their hearts wavered once again. As Lin Beifan pointed out, if the Great Xiamon people could survive in Great Xia, why would they leave their homes and seek a livelihood in a distant enemy country? Truth be told, if they were Great Xiamon people, they might also choose Great Wu because, looking around the world, Great Wu is rtively peaceful and stable. In other countries, themon people have even fewer opportunities, and they can only run there to have a glimmer of hope for survival. Moreover, themon people of Darro Kingdom and White Elephant Kingdom seem to be doing well now. Despite experiencing the ice disaster, life is still tough, but they are at least better off than themon people in Great Xia. Could it be that they are wrong, and Great Wu is truly the popr choice? Seeing this, the Marshal of Great Xia couldnt help but feel uneasy and shouted, Dont listen to Lin Beifans deceptive words; dont be swayed by him! Hes an invader, and his words cant be trusted Under the reassurance of the other side, this group of martial artists once again settled down. Lin Beifan rode his horse and moved back into the midst of the alliances army. Zhao Kuo couldnt help but ask, Commander, what do we do now? Attack the city directly? Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, No rush! The strongest fortresses are often breached from within! We will now implement the Peoples Heart n! Yes, Commander! So, the alliances army camped. They made fires, cooked food, and reorganized their troops, but they didnt attack the city. The Great Xia side was the defending side, and since the alliances army didnt attack, they naturally didnt initiate any attacks either, dragging each other along. Because the other side had 2 million troops, logistics supply was a massive problem. If the other side was willing to drag it out, they were even more willing to drag it out, slowly wearing them down. They could also seize the opportunity to cut off their food supply lines. Meanwhile, within Great Xia, a wave of public opinion arose. The alliances army has already arrived and is facing off against the Great Xia army in the White Tiger Mountains! It is true that the alliances army is a force of justice, and wherever they go, they do not harm themon people! Is that so? How could it be false? Lin Commander is the recognized contemporary military genius, and he governs the military strictly! Moreover, he is also the Prime Minister of Great Wu! Under his efforts, Great Wu is thriving, and the national strength is rapidly recovering! Themon people in Great Wu are living better and better! Many of us Great Xiamon people have gone there to seek a livelihood, and life is not bad! And the recently annexedmon people of Darro and White Elephant, they are also doing well now! You must know that they were like us before, exploited by the court, and their lives were difficult. But now, they have found a better life in Great Wu! They couldnt survive! It wasnt until the Great Wu army arrived and turned them all into prosperous Great Wu citizens, allowing them to live the dream life they had longed for! It sounds so admirable. Can we do the same? Of course we can! As long as we be Great Wu citizens, we can also lead a stable and happy life! Lets open the city gates and wee the alliance army into the city! Open the city gates, wee the alliance army into the city! With the guidance of those with ulterior motives, this public opinion continued to escte. Themon people saw a new hope and rose up one after another, heading towards the White Tiger Mountains. Finally, this growing crowd gathered into a million-strong army, arriving at the White Tiger Fortress and shouting loudly. Open the city gates, wee the alliance army into the city! Open the city gates, wee the alliance army into the city! Inside the White Tiger Fortress camp, a soldier rushed in nervously. Marshal, something big has happened; the enemy army ising! The Marshal of Great Xia was shocked. The alliance army ising? The other person vigorously nodded, urgently saying, Marshal, its not the alliance army; its our Great Xia rebels! Theyve formed an army and areing right outside the fortress. They want us to open the city gates and wee the alliance army into the city! The Marshal of Great Xia was dumbfounded. Our Great Xia rebels want us to open the city gates and wee the alliance army into the city? What kind of situation was this? He had never encountered such a thing before! There was no logic in having ones own people open the city gates to let invaders in! Marshal, this is how it is After listening to the soldiers exnation, the Marshal of Great Xia was furious. Theyve really gone mad! Filled with righteous indignation, he went to the city wall and indeed saw a massive crowd ofmon people below. They were loudly demanding to open the city gates and wee the alliance army into the city. The Marshal of Great Xia was furious. These rebels! We are shedding blood on the front lines to defend our homnd, and they are hindering us from behind, and they want to open the gates for the enemy Its simply outrageous! Immediately, release arrows to drive them away! At this moment, a great hero intervened. Marshal, they are all Great Xiasmon people, just temporarily misled! Using arrows to kill them will result in massive casualties, which is not appropriate. Please think twice! The Marshal of Great Xia angrily said, Hero Guo, our soldiers are fighting on the front lines, and they are betraying us from behind. If we dont deal with this promptly, well be vulnerable from both sides, and the country will be in danger! In turbulent times, we must use severe measures. Please understand my predicament! Hero Guo nced at the millionmon people below the city, then at the determined Marshal of Great Xia, and thought about the current situation. Finally, he sighed and made a decision. Release the arrows! The Marshal of Great Xia shouted. Swish, swish, swish Countless arrows were fired. Numerous Great Xiamon people fell in a pool of blood. The martial artists who hade to defend their homnd on the city wall felt a chill in their hearts when they saw this scene. Their own people had not died at the hands of the invaders but indeed at the hands of their own government. Everything they were doing now Was it right? They were utterly confused! On the other side, Lin Beifan had already received the news. He immediately ordered his three armies and shouted, Ive heard that a million Great Xiamon people have gathered on the other side of the city gate to wee us! We cannot disappoint the Great Xiamon people! The entire army, follow me and cut through the White Tiger Mountains, into Great Xia! Charge!!! The entire army moved. More than fifty innate experts under Lin Beifansmand were the first to charge! On the city walls. A Great Xia soldier rushed over anxiously. Marshal, something big has happened! The million-strong alliance army is on the move, heading towards our border fortress! Among them, their innate (led by Zhao) experts are about to reach the city walls! The Marshal of Great Xia was shocked. What? Theyreing at a time like this? This was truly a situation where they were vulnerable from both sides! If they couldnt hold on, this defensive line would copse! The Marshal of Great Xia was in a state of urgency and quickly said to the martial artists around him, I implore all the heroes to lend a hand and resist the alliances innate experts! I thank you all! Hero Guo arched his hand and said, Marshal, thismoner is currently in a state of confusion, not knowing whether the convictions and justice Ive been holding are right or wrong! So, I wont participate in this battle. Please understand, Marshal, and bid farewell! The Marshal of Great Xia was dumbfounded. Ah? Hero Guo, you Hero Guo arched his hand once more and then left. Following him, the second hero stepped forward, arching his hand respectfully, Marshal, I also have doubts in my heart, and until I clear my thoughts, Ill take my leave! The third hero said, I am powerless in this battle. I have to go! The fourth hero said, Farewell, Marshal! Other heroes also left, disregarding the Marshals attempts to stop them. Two-thirds of the innate experts left, and other justice-minded martial artists, witnessing the imperial armys harm to their own people, felt disappointed and silently departed. The Marshal of Great Xia looked at the innate experts of the alliance who had already reached the city walls, their eyes filled with despair. Its over! Great Xia is finished! Chapter 429: After the battle, it’s time to divide the land! Chapter 429: After the battle, its time to divide thend! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Caught in a pincer attack and losing top-tier forces, the Great Xia Dynastys army finally couldnt hold on. They were routed by the alliance led by Lin Beifan, abandoning their armor and fleeing in disarray. In the end, the alliance forces upied the White Tiger Fortress. Following that, Lin Beifan continued to lead the alliance forces, breaking through the resilient defenses of the northeastern territories. At this point, with two consecutive defeats, the Great Xia Dynasty could no longer muster a strong resistance. They could only watch helplessly as their territory was falling, gradually losing sovereignty. After another half month, nearly one-third of the Great Xia Dynastysnd had fallen. The world was stunned by this performance. The alliance forces are too formidable! In just a month, theyve captured over three-tenths of the Great Xias territory! This speed is truly astonishing, almost unimaginable! Could it be that the Great Xia is really done for? As one of the three major dynasties in the world today, can they really fall so easily? The main reason is that the major imperial princes and their descendants, along with ministers and generals, are all vying for power, and other military forces are guarding different border fortresses. Therefore, they cant concentrate their forces to resist the alliance. But if this continues, the Great Xia will definitely fight back! I also believe that the Great Xia wont be finished so easily! But this is still a shameful situation for them, something they cant easily wash away! Haha! People all over the world continued to closely follow this war, specting about how far the alliance forces could advance and what kind of damage they would inflict on the Great Xia. However, at this moment, Lin Beifan felt it was time to halt their advance. Firstly, the front lines had stretched too far. Although they had suffered losses up to this point, they still had 1.5 million soldiers. While having arge army was an advantage, supplying them with food and provisions was a significant challenge. Once their supply lines were severed, it would be an unbearable burden for the alliance. Secondly, continuing the offensive would invite a frenzied counterattack from the Great Xia. As one of the three major dynasties in the world, the Great Xias military strength was formidable. Their current poor performance was due to numerous internal issues, preventing them from concentrating their forces against the alliance. However, if the alliance pressed deeper into the hearnd of the Great Xia, they would undoubtedly respond vigorously. At that point, their casualties would quickly escte. Thirdly, they had been fighting for a month, and the soldiers were bing weary. Some were showing signs of homesickness, and theirbat effectiveness was severely diminished. So, it was time to pause. So, Lin Beifan gathered the generals and announced, Generals, we can stop here. Weve gained enough territory and benefits; its time to return home. Why stop now, Commander? Weve had a smooth journey so far, and theres more we can conquer! This is a rare opportunity; we should seize it and take more from the Great Xia! Commander, lets continue the campaign and push forward! The generals were still eager. Lin Beifan smiled and shook his head, saying, I understand your thoughts, but we really cant continue. We need to call it quits. He then proceeded to exin his analysis. After listening, everyone nodded in agreement, rationalizing Lin Beifans decision. Now that you generals are on board with my decision, well rest for two days, then lead the army back. But before we leave, lets divide thisnd! Lin Beifan said with a smile. The generals became excited. They went to war for the purpose of gainingnd from the Great Xia, didnt they? Now, it was finally time to reap the rewards! Inside the tent, Lin Beifan spread out a map showing the territory of the Great Xia. The part marked in red was thend they had just captured. Looking at the map, they had already upied a significant portion of thend. Lin Beifan said, Generals, ording to our initial agreement, each country has had someone tally up their contributions. The more effort and sacrifices a country made, the morend they would receive! And ording to the size of their contributions, those with the greatest merits had the priority innd distribution. Lin Beifan took out a ledger. It was a book of military achievements, recording each countrys contributions and the number of sacrifices. Lin Beifan opened the ledger and read out each countrys contributions. Ranking first is the Great Peng Kingdom, which sent a total of 700,000 troops and suffered over 450,000 casualties! ording to our prior agreement, they have the priority to allocate thousand acres ofnd! Ranking second is the Mo Kingdom, which sent a total of 600,000 troops and suffered over 320,000 casualties! ording to our prior agreement, they can allocate thousand acres ofnd! Ranking third is Lin Beifan went through them one by one. Interestingly, in this campaign, the Great Wu had neither the most troops nor the highest number of sacrifices. They ranked second tost in terms of troops deployed. However, they had the least number of sacrifices, ranking first with fewer than 3,000 casualties, not even reaching the upper thousands. So, ording to the pre-arranged contribution agreement, Great Wu was rankedst. However, Lin Beifan didnt mind at all and smiled, saying, Therefore, in the War against the Great Xia Alliance, the greatest merit belongs to the Great Peng Kingdom! As per our agreement, please, the representative of the Great Peng Kingdom, go ahead and allocate thend first! After saying this, he apuded, and under Lin Beifans leadership, the other generals and officers joined in apuding. The generals from the Great Peng Kingdom were extremely excited. They had the highest military achievements and could gain the mostnd, potentially doubling their countrys territory. This was a significant expansion of theirnd, a remarkable feat that could be prominently recorded in history. Moreover, with these achievements, they were certain to receive promotions, titles, and other honors, truly a dreame true. Thank you! Thank you all! The Great Pengs generals suppressed their inner excitement, walked with pride, and epted Lin Beifans brush, prepared to make their mark on the map, symbolizing the division of the cake. However, at this moment, they halted and handed the brush back to Lin Beifan. In a serious tone, one of them said, I believe that in this campaign against the Great Xia, the greatest merit and contribution should go to Great Wu! Without Great Wus persistence and efforts, there wouldnt be the Great Xia Alliance today! Without Commander leading the troops, we wouldnt have achieved such a significant victory! If it werent for Great Wus soldiers leading the way, we wouldnt have captured such vast territories! So, I believe that the greatest merit belongs to Great Wu, and Great Wu should be the first to divide thend! Furthermore, we, the Great Peng Kingdom, are willing to allocate acres ofnd to Great Wu! People secretly thought, What a cunning old fox! Everyone knew that, in reality, Great Wu had made the most significant contribution in this campaign! Their contributions and achievements were merely exploiting loopholes in the rules, taking advantage of the situation. If they followed the rules precisely, even if Great Wu said nothing, they might still hold a grudge against them. After all, they had already thoroughly offended the Great Xia. If they offended Great Wu as well, it would be game over, and they could expect their nations downfall. Therefore, no matter what, the greatest merit and benefits had to be given to Great Wu. First, let Great Wu have a share of the meat, and then they wouldnt covet their soup. General Zhao, youre absolutely right! I also believe that the greatest merit belongs to Great Wu, so let Great Wu decide first! In addition, the Mo Kingdom is willing to allocate acres ofnd to Great Wu as a token of our gratitude for Great Wus support and assistance during these days! General Liu of the Mo Kingdom proimed loudly. I agree as well Next, generals from various countries expressed their opinions. They unanimously decided to let Great Wu have the first choice in dividing thend and were willing to allocate a portion of their ownnd quotas to Great Wu. Lin Beifan was pleasantly surprised and said, Generals, how can this be? Commander, why not? Its clear that Great Wu made the greatest contribution, so its only natural for you to choose first! Commander, if you consider me a friend, then please dont refuse our goodwill. Please dont decline! Commander, we kindly request you not to refuse. Under the insistent requests of the generals, Lin Beifan was deeply moved and tearfully epted their kindness. Since you generals are so sincere, then I wont decline, he said. Commander, thats how it should be, hahaha! As a result, Great Wu obtained the privilege of choosingnd first and thergestnd share. Lin Beifan picked up a brush and meticulously outlined the territory on the map, including the far eastern regions, aligning perfectly with Great Wus initial goals. However, the price they paid was far less than what they received. After finishing, Lin Beifan was very satisfied, saying, Alright, this is thend Great Wu desires! Next, its Great Peng Kingdoms turn! General Zhao, please! With that, he handed over the brush. Chapter 430: This Land Is a Mix of You and Me! Chapter 430: This Land Is a Mix of You and Me! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Thank you, Commander! General Zhao of the Great Peng Kingdom took the brush with a delighted expression. After contemting for a moment while looking at the nk map, he started to draw seriously, beginning from his countrys border. However, the result turned out to be a twisted, elongated shape that resembled a worm. Everyone looked at it quite awkwardly. General Zhao, what kind of drawing is this? It looks like something a child would scribble; its so ugly! Anyone could draw better than this without even trying! If this gets passed on, it will be a subject of ridicule! Do you want to redraw it? Do you need my help? General Zhao put down the brush and smiled, saying, Thank you, generals, but I havent made a mistake. This is precisely thend that the Great Peng Kingdom needs, please understand! At this moment, General Liu from the Mo Kingdom eximed, General Zhao indeed hasnt made a mistake! Look here, he has drawn it along the ck Ink River, and thend surrounding this river is fertile farnd, perfect for growing crops! And, look here and here there are iron mines, copper mines, and other important resources in these areas! This old man intends to take advantage of all these riches! Everyone realized the truth now and was furious. You sly old man! We underestimated you! Seems so honest on the surface but so cunning inside! With such a simple stroke, youve greedily taken all the good stuff and left us with nothing but junk! They protested vehemently and demanded that General Liu redraw thend. General Liu, of course, refused. He insisted that he had followed the rules precisely and that there was no need to redraw. No, you must redraw it! We wont let you leave if you dont redraw! Everyone was highly agitated. They couldnt ept that all the valuable resources were imed by the Great Peng Kingdom, leaving them with scraps. How could they report back like this? General Liu was adamant, as he had fought hard for these benefits and wouldnt easily give them up. Both sides argued vigorously and refused to give in, so they had to turn to Lin Beifan, the Supreme Commander, to settle the matter. Lin Beifan was truly in a dilemma, saying, Generals, I understand your feelings and difficulties, but rules are rules. Since we have already agreed to follow the rules, we should adhere to them. If we deviate from the rules, chaos will ensue, and it will harm the goodwill between us. Although General Lius actions may not be entirely fair, they do align with the rules, so we have to acknowledge it. I, as the Supreme Commander, cannot intervene in this matter. Commander is wise! General Liu eximed with joy, and other generals followed suit. Do you see that? Even the Supreme Commander agrees with my approach. You can all go to sleep now. Everyone was furious, but they had no choice but to ept it. Next, it was General Liu from the Mo Kingdoms turn. Initially, he had nned to draw a somewhat unusual shape and be modest about it. However, General Zhao was shameless and imed many territories that he had his eyes on. If he continued to be modest, the benefits would never reach the Mo Kingdom. So, he picked up the brush and also drew a twisted, convoluted pattern, resembling the insides of a worm with all its twists and turns, making people feel uneasy. General Liu, why did you draw it like this? Its twisting into our country! Thats right! Youve twisted it into two countries. Do you want to be neighbors with us that badly? You greedy fellow! Youve taken all the goodnd and left us with nothing! Hurry up and redraw it, or I wont be polite! General Liu put down the brush and confidently said, It was General Zhao who taught me to draw like this. If you want to me someone, me him! Everyone was enraged, but they had to ept it. Next, the other four countries divided thend, and they also didnt follow the rules, drawing lines that were twisted and turned in every direction, trying their best to im all the benefits for themselves. In the end, the map was divided into a chaotic mess, with each part intertwined with the others. It was a mix of territories, with one countrysnd intersecting with anothers. Despite being entangled, the friendship among them had dissipated. They viewed each other with suspicion and resentment. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Congrattions to everyone for obtaining thend you desired and achieving the grand goal of expanding your territories. Later, we will make copies of this map for each of you to take back. I also hope that after returning, you will send people to manage the territories you have imed and not let our friendship be strained. Yes, Commander! they all replied. Lin Beifan said with enthusiasm, In two days, we will all be heading back, and we dont know when well meet again. I feel a great reluctance to part ways. Bring the wine; I want to drink with you all until were all drunk! Yes, Commander! That night, Lin Beifan and the generals drank heartily. Two dayster, they all went their separate ways, feeling a mix of emotions. They returned to take control of the newly conquerednd while reporting to the court. About a weekter, Lin Beifan finally arrived in Great Wu City. Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, have returned with the alliance forces after our campaign against Xia. These are the gains from our expedition, and I invite Your Majesty to inspect them, Lin Beifan respectfully presented a map. The Empress opened the map and saw that the entire Eastern Region had fallen into the hands of Great Wu. She was delighted and praised, My ministers, you have worked hard, and the gains from such a modest price are substantial! Are all of you Great Wus loyal servants? Thank you for Your Majestys praise. Your humble servants are not worthy, Lin Beifan and the others replied. Then, the Empress looked at another part of the map and found it divided into various shapes, with territories ovepping each other. She couldnt help but burst intoughter. Because this map had nted the seeds of future conflicts, they were bound to have friction and disputes over these territories. In this way, the threat to Great Wu was greatly reduced. Moreover, they could take advantage of the situation in the future The Empress was increasingly impressed by Lin Beifan! After just one battle, they not only suffered minimal losses but also gained such enormous benefits. It was Great Wus fortune! Next, the Empress rewarded those who had performed meritorious deeds in this campaign. Everyone who received a reward was delighted. At this moment, Lin Beifan stepped forward and said loudly, Your Majesty, I have a matter to report! The Empress smiled and asked, What is it, my minister? Your Majesty, now that Great Xia is divided into chaos, with various princes ruling their own territories and the imperial princes fighting for power and profit, its time to release the Great Xia Crown Prince back to them! Lin Beifan reported loudly. The Empress nodded with a smile and said, Minister Lin, youre absolutely right. Its time to add fuel to their internal conflicts. This matter shall be handled by you. I haveplete trust in you. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan responded. After the court meeting, he went to the prison and met with the Great Xia Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong. Since theirst meeting, nearly two months had passed. The Great Xia Crown Prince had recovered from the grief of losing his father, but his eyes now held a hint of coldness, deterring strangers. As soon as Lin Beifan entered the prison, he was spotted by Xia Tianqiong. Prime Minister Lin, youve returned. It seems that the campaign against Xia has concluded. How is the situation in Great Xia? How much territory has been fragmented? Can you inform me? The Great Xia Crown Prince asked in a calm tone. Of course, I can. However, the situation is somewhat unfavorable. I hope Your Highness is prepared for it, Lin Beifan replied. He then proceeded to inform the Great Xia Crown Prince about the situation in Great Xia. As the Great Xia Crown Prince listened, he could no longer maintain hisposure. His body seemed to have been struck by a heavy hammer, and he staggered. It was as if his heart had been stabbed, and he felt intense pain. Although he had anticipated that Great Xia would lose some of its territory, he hadnt expected it to be this extensive. Great Xia, once a mighty dynasty, even more prosperous than Great Wu or Great Yan, where nations came to pay tribute and all ethnicities gathered for courtly visits. Now, one-third of its territory had been fragmented. For the Great Xia Crown Prince, this was an unbearable disgrace. The Great Xia Crown Princes eyes turned bloodshot with anger and hatred. His hands clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, drawing blood. I never expected that during a national crisis, they would each act independently, attacking each other! If they had united, would Great Xia have be so weak and vulnerable? I hate it! he eximed. And those deceitful nations like Great Desert, Great Liang, and Great Peng! They used to be obedient, begging like dogs when dealing with Great Xia. Now theyve united and taken bites out of our territory. I wont spare them! he added. Lin Beifan shook his head and said, Your Highness, this is human nature. Please try to understand. I came here with good news for you. The Great Xia Crown Prince was surprised, What good news? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Highness, you can leave! Leave? The Great Xia Crown Prince was puzzled. Lin Beifan continued, I mean, you can leave this prison, leave Great Wu, and return to your beloved Great Xia to continue being its crown prince. You are now free! Return The Great Xia Crown Prince was speechless. He had indeed yearned to return. Once back, he would be the Eastern Pce Crown Prince, a position with authority over countless others. Right now, Great Xia was like a den of wolves for him, filled with people who wished for his death. Returning would be walking into a trap, a death sentence. But he said firmly, I must return! Even if it means risking my life, I must return! I cant stand by and watch Great Xia be ruined by this group of people! Its my responsibility as the Great Xia Crown Prince! Lin Beifan ordered the prison door to be opened, weing the Great Xia Crown Prince with a smile. He asked, Your Highness, the journey back to Great Xia is perilous. Would you like me to arrange for an escort along the way? The Great Xia Crown Prince gazed deeply at Lin Beifan and replied, No need. I have my own arrangements. Chapter 431: It’s Autumn Harvest Season Again, Not Cooling Down is Just a Dream! Chapter 431: Its Autumn Harvest Season Again, Not Cooling Down is Just a Dream! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
After the Prince of Great Xia, Xia Tianqiong, left Heavenly Prison, he was quickly taken away and disappeared within the capital city. Its clear that the person who took the Prince of Great Xia was one of his trusted allies. This scene was quickly noticed by someone with ill intentions, and the news spread rapidly. Theyve released the Prince of Great Xia! The Great Wu court is truly cunning! Releasing the Prince of Great Xia at this time is clearly an attempt to ignite conflict within the Great Xia court and create chaos! That sounds like a great n, but now the power of the Eastern Pce in Great Xia has already been greatly diminished! Whether the Prince of Great Xia can survive and return is still a question! Lets watch and see. There are certainly many people who want the Prince of Great Xia dead. Indeed, his own brothers wont spare him! If I were the Prince of Great Xia, Id definitely use this opportunity to escape far away and never return! Within the Great Xia court, upon learning of this, the Prince of Great Xias royal brothers immediately dispatched numerous skilled individuals to pursue him. They even offered a reward of up to 10 million taels of silver to ensure the Prince of Great Xia wouldnt return safely. However, since his release from Heavenly Prison, the Prince of Great Xia had vanished without a trace. Killing him was easier said than done. Meanwhile, in Great Xias Heavenly Prison, the former national teacher, the Daoist known as Kongxu (Empty Void), was imprisoned. He hadmitted an unforgivable crime by concocting a fake elixir of immortality, which led to the death of the Great Xia Emperor. Normally, someone as deeply implicated as him would have been executed. However, perhaps due to the turmoil within the Great Xia court or the shifting alliances, he had been forgotten, and his life was spared. The unscrupulous Daoist had resigned himself to his fate, lying low and taking each day as it came. But just then, a massivemotion erupted outside. The Daoist, who had been lying t as a pancake, suddenly sprung to his feet, perked up his ears, and muttered softly, Whats happening outside? Why is it so noisy? You see, this was Heavenly Prison, a ce heavily guarded by numerous formidable experts. It should have been a quiet and secure ce with no major incidents. However, the intense sounds of a brawling from outside gave the unscrupulous Daoist a sense that something unusual was happening. At that very moment, they heard a thunderous crash. The gates of Heavenly Prison were breached, and an elderly man in white robes stormed in. Upon spotting the unscrupulous Daoist, he eximed with joy, Imperial Teacher, Ivee to rescue you! The unscrupulous Daoist was overjoyed, Bailong Wang, youvee to rescue me? He recognized the person before him as a revered master and a powerful figure in the presence of the Great Yan Emperor. The elderly man in white robes smiled and replied, Indeed! I havee on orders from above to rescue you, Imperial Teacher. Pleasee with me, and we will take you away to safety. Very well! Quickly rescue me, the unscrupulous Daoist nodded happily. The white-robed elderly man then unleashed several sword qi strikes, shattering the iron walls of the unscrupulous Daoists cell. The Daoist ran out eagerly, following the elderly man, and they escaped from the capital city, disappearing without a trace. About an hourter, they arrived at a dpidated temple deep in the mountains. The unscrupulous Daoist brushed off the dust and straw from his clothes, changed into a clean Daoist robe, tidied his somewhat messy hair, and then respectfully bowed to the elderly man before him and the others, saying, Thank you, Bailong Wang, and all the heroes who saved me! If you ever need my assistance in the future, please let me know, and I will do everything in my power! The people present were deeply moved and ttered. Please, Imperial Teacher, no need for such formalities! Imperial Teacher, theres no need for such a grand gesture; arent we old friends? It was His Majesty who ordered us to rescue you, so you should thank him! The unscrupulous Daoist bowed again, saying, To thank His Majesty is one thing, but I must also express my gratitude to all of you who risked your lives to save me. If it werent for your timely rescue, I might have perished in Great Xia. Infinite gratitude! Everyone exchanged polite pleasantries for a moment. Then, the Bailong Wang asked curiously, Imperial Teacher, its said that you were also brewing the elixir of immortality in Great Xia. But why did the Great Xia Emperor pass away after consuming it? Everyone was quite curious about this question and perked up their ears to listen. Ah, because that elixir was fake! the unscrupulous Daoist replied indignantly. Fake? They all looked surprised. No wind, no rain, no heavenly tribtions; naturally, it was fake, the unscrupulous Daoist exined. Since it was fake, why someone began to ask. The unscrupulous Daoist sighed, Because ever since I was captured and brought to Great Xia, the Great Xia Emperor forced me to refine the elixir of immortality. If I refused, he threatened my life. But you know, a loyal minister doesnt serve two masters, the unscrupulous Daoist said with great resolve. Although I may be a person of questionable morals, I understand this principle well. Under his coercion, I had no choice but to craft a fake elixir of immortality to deceive him. The result was that the elixirs effects were too potent. The Great Xia Emperor had a frail constitution and couldnt withstand it. So, after consuming the elixir, he met his end. Consequently, I was bound in chains and thrown into the prison! I see! Everyone suddenly understood. Bailong Wang chuckled, His Majesty suspected as much, which is why he sent me to rescue you, Imperial Teacher. Not only do you possess extraordinary alchemical skills, but you also have an unshakable sense of patriotism. After we return, I will definitely report this to His Majesty, and he will reward you handsomely! The unscrupulous Daoist modestly replied, If His Majesty insists, this humble Daoist cannot refuse his grace. Inwardly, he felt quite pleased with himself, thinking, Ive easily fooled them; Im indeed quite clever! Hahaha! Then, Bailong Wang extended an invitation, Imperial Teacher, please apany me back to Great Yan now. His Majesty has been eagerly anticipating your return for over three months. At the same time, we have prepared the necessary ingredients. I kindly request that you once again open the furnace and refine the elixir of immortality. Refine the elixir of immortality again? the unscrupulous Daoists eyes widened in shock. You see, not long ago, he had just crafted an elixir of immortality that ended up causing the Great Xia Emperors demise. Now, they wanted him to make another one? What if something went wrong again? What if he identally killed the Great Xia Emperor once more? Is there a problem, Imperial Teacher? the Bailong Wang asked, puzzled. Of course not theres no problem at all! the unscrupulous Daoist pretended to be confident but felt like crying on the inside. He knew that this group hade for the elixir of immortality as well. If he dared to voice any concerns, he might not live to see the next day. But how would he fool them this time? What if he couldnt? He was in a bind! The unscrupulous Daoists heart was heavy. Ever since he had crafted the elixir of immortality, it seemed like he had lost control over his own life. Bailong Wang chuckled, Since theres no problem, Imperial Teacher, pleasee with me. His Majesty is growing impatient. Very well we will go, the unscrupulous Daoist nodded, looking utterly defeated. Imperial Teacher, we are heading to Great Yan to wee you. Why do you seem somewhat uneasy? someone inquired. Im actually quite delighted! the unscrupulous Daoist replied. If youre delighted, why arent you smiling? I am smiling, arent I? The unscrupulous Daoist forced a wide grin that looked more like a grimace. Then, under the escort of the Bailong Wang and the others, he set off for Great Xia, trying to appear cheerful. Meanwhile, news of the escape from Great Xias prison and the disappearance of the Empty Void Daoist quickly spread throughout the realm. The Empty Void Daoist who killed the Great Xia Emperor has escaped! Someone must have abducted him because they want to obtain the elixir of immortality he can create. Thats my guess too! Great Xia must be in turmoil now. Yes, its quite embarrassing for them that the mastermind behind their Emperors death has fled. s, Great Xias reputation continues to plummet, with so many people trampling over them! They bear the name of an empire butck the substance of one! Everyone found Great Xias situation to be quite amusing. However, at this moment, the entire Great Wu Empire was not in the mood to pay attention to external matters. Because it was once again the annual harvest season. The sess of this years grain harvest directly determined the fortune of the nation for the next year. It was rted to whether the ordinary people could have enough to eat, and it was linked to the stability and prosperity of the entire country. For the Great Wu Empire, this harvest season was even more critical. Starting from the beginning of the year, they had been nting Taiping rice all over the country. This rice variety was high-yielding and could adapt to various dry and cold weather conditions. Now, finally, the time hade for them to inspect the results of this rice nting. It meant ending hunger, allowing the entire poption to be prosperous quickly, and signifying the nations increased strength and prosperity. It was an exciting moment! So, on this morning, the Empress led civil and military officials to the fields near the capital. There, she saw field after field of golden rice swaying in the breeze. The Empress was delighted and eximed, My loyal officials, look at how well these rice seedlings have grown. Theyre all so tall and strong, they could provide shade under them! And look at these rice ears, like little brooms there must be plenty of grain inside! My officials, whats the estimated grain yield in the capital this year? Lin Beifan smiled and replied, Your Majesty, since the beginning of the year, we have constructed numerous water management facilities, implemented various fertilizers, and also nted high-yield Taiping rice! Thanks to favorable weather, the growth of Taiping rice is excellent! After preliminary estimates,pared tost year, our grain yield in the capital has more than doubled! More than doubled!!! Everyone gasped in amazement. You see, even a 10-20% increase in grain yield would be considered a bountiful harvest year. But now, it had doubled just how much grain was that? Just thinking about it was incredibly exciting! Chapter 432: Your Majesty, Please Choose a Consort to Continue the Great Wu Bloodline! Chapter 432: Your Majesty, Please Choose a Consort to Continue the Great Wu Bloodline! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Very well! The Empress was extremely excited. Thend around the capital was fertile, with a mild climate, making it ideal for cultivation and a major source of high-yield crops. Although thend was limited, nearly a tenth of the nations food supply came from the capital. Now, with the increased crop yields in the capital, how many peoples food problems could be solved? As long as the issue of food was resolved, would the nation remain in turmoil? The Empress couldnt contain her excitement! How is the food situation in other regions? The Empress inquired with concern. Um Let Minister Qian from the Ministry of Revenue report on that! Lin Beifan smiled and motioned for Minister Qian Yuanshen to step forward. Minister Qian Yuanshen bowed to Lin Beifan, then turned to the Empress, visibly excited, and said, Your Majesty, the food harvests in other regions of Great Wu are beyond imagination! Beyond imagination? The Empress was puzzled. Yes, Your Majesty, truly beyond imagination. If not for my repeated verification, I wouldnt dare believe it, Minister Qian eximed. For instance, in the Northern Jiang region, despite the previous gue of insects, it did not affect the food harvests. Compared tost year, our food production in Northern Jiang has increased by more than 60%! More than 60%! Everyone gasped. While this growth rate couldnt match the capitals, Northern Jiang was significantlyrger and had many suitable areas for cultivation. In previous years, nearly one-fifth of the food came from Northern Jiang. Now, with an increase of over 60%, that was a substantial amount of food! Your Majesty, Southern Jiang has always been our granary in Great Wu! In this nting season, Southern Jiang has not disappointed, with an increase of over 80%, nearly doubling the harvest! Minister Qian continued. An 80% increase, nearly doubling the harvest! The crowd was astonished. Southern Jiang was Great Wus granary, where cultivation was most suitable, and its food production ounted for one-third of the nations total. An 80% increase, nearly doubling the harvest, was remarkable! The Empress and all the officials were left speechless. What about the food production in the Northern Hebei? the Empress urgently inquired. Your Majesty! Minister Qian eximed excitedly, Due to our Taiping rice, which can grow even in cold and arid regions, more than 90% of the seeds nted have thrived. Combined with favorable weather this year, abundant rainfall, the food production in the Northern Hebei has increased by over twicepared to previous years! More than twice! Everyone was astounded. Doubling food production was already impressive! Now, not only had it doubled but even more than that. This Its almost impossible to describe how incredible this is! But the most astonishing thing of all is the Wuxi region, he continued. How does the Wuxi regionpare? the Empress asked eagerly. Your Majesty, in the past, the Wuxi region was known as the poorest region in Great Wu, suffering from water shortages. So, the food production there was typically less than one-tenth of the nations total. But this year, Prime Minister and the people have reimednd for cultivation in the Wuxi region, even in areas that were previously unsuitable for farming, thanks to the Taiping rice! And with abundant rainfall, the food production in the Wuxi region has increased more than two-fold, more than five times, Your Majesty! the Minister of Revenue reported loudly. More than two-fold increase, more than five times! Everyone was left astounded! They could hardly believe it was true! Doubling or even tripling food production in other regions was eptable, but when it came to the Wuxi region, not only did it double, but it increased more than five times, far surpassing the others! This was quite an unexpected turn of events! Minister Qian, youre not joking, are you? Wuxi has really increased production by more than five times? the Empress asked anxiously. The Minister of Revenue replied with trepidation, Your Majesty, this would be a grave offense to deceive you. I wouldnt dare to make such a joke. Very well, very well! This is truly wonderful! the Empressughed heartily. The court officials were equally delighted! The capital had more than doubled its production! Northern Jiang had increased by over 60%! Southern Jiang had seen an increase of nearly 80%! The Northern Hebei had more than doubled its production! And now, the Wuxi region had increased production by over five times! When you added it all up, the entire Great Wus food production had nearly doubled! What did this mean? It meant that Great Wus food production this year could almost feed the poption of two empires! What a terrifying strength! With so much food, who would fear unrest, rebellion, or the nation not prospering? So, it was no wonder that the Empress and the officials were overjoyed! The Empress waved her hand gracefully and dered, Spread this news throughout thend, and prepare for the harvest celebrations! In addition, lift the curfew nationwide for a week. I want to celebrate with the people! Yes, Your Majesty! the officials replied. And so, the news of the bountiful harvest in Great Wu quickly spread throughout thend. Our Great Wu has actually doubled its food production this year? Wow, I knew when I saw the rice fields in front of my house that this years harvest would be good, but I didnt expect it to be this much! People were ted and couldnt believe their fortune! When the production doubles, how much food is that? Haha! I dont know how much, but Ill be eating well for the next two years with this years harvest! My harvest this year is also bountiful! No need to say more, Great Wu is mighty! Great Wu is mighty! As they say, when you hold power, you dont worry in your heart. After everyone learned that Great Wus food production had doubled, they cheered with great joy. At the same time, their patriotism reached unprecedented heights! You see, in the past year, the Great Wu court had done everything for them. They witnessed the implementation of policies for recovery and relief, helping the people survive a once-in-a-century ice disaster. The promotion of Taiping rice had increased food production. Until the moment of harvest, their patriotism had been ignited! Im proud to be born in this country! Great Wu is a nation that truly cares for its people! I love Great Wu! Great Wu is mighty! The courts of other nations looked on with envy. After experiencing the once-in-a-century ice disaster, they had not fully recovered. Now, with turmoil and chaos affecting their production, they would be content if this years food harvest didnt decrease. Little did they expect that Great Wu was defying the odds and achieving unprecedented sess, which left them feeling sour. Even Princess Ziyue, who was leading a revolution in Dayue, was sour. However, her bitterness wasnt about Great Wus bountiful food harvest; it was about the Empress. Whats so impressive about it? Isnt it all because of the Military Advisor? Without the Military Advisor, would you have Taiping rice? Could you manage Great Wu? Not being annihted by other nations would be an achievement! She had made up her mind. After the revival of the nted Moon Dynasty, she would do whatever it took to make the Military Advisor her husband. This guy was too exceptional; he could lead armies into battle and bring peace to a nation. One person could rece an entire dynasty! As long as he was there, her nted Moon Dynasty had a chance to develop into an empire. And then, she nned to have 10, no, 8 children with him to bind him tightly. Military Advisor, you cant escape from my grasp! The bountiful harvest in Great Wu had an unprecedented impact! First and foremost, it ignited the patriotism of the Great Wu citizens, making them spontaneously support the court! With the peoples hearts united, they were of one mind! With the peoples hearts united, the nations strength skyrocketed, shaking the world. Furthermore, the appeal of Great Wu for the citizens of other nations was too great to resist. Other countries were currently in chaos, struggling even to put food on the table. Only Great Wu stood stable and prosperous, not only maintaining stability but also achieving remarkable food production growth. This made other nations envious. As the saying goes, Water flows downhill, and people go where the opportunities are. They wanted toe to Great Wu for a more prosperous life. As a result, more refugees headed towards Great Wu. Regarding this, Lin Beifans opinion was straightforward: if youre young and skilled, youre wee. The more, the merrier. Since Great Wu had an abundance of food, it could feed them all. The Empress shared the same sentiment. The neers would be part of Great Wus strength, enhancing the nations power. With the bountiful harvest, there was much less government work to be done. The Empress was rxed, sitting in the court, enjoying the ttery andpliments of the officials. Your Majesty, due to this years bountiful harvest, the people of the Northern Hebei are extremely grateful for Your Majestys benevolence. They spontaneously organized a gathering on Tianwang Mountain to pray for Your Majesty, and the event attracted a million people! an official reported. The Empress nodded happily, Very good! Your Majesty, the people of Southern Jiang are grateful to Your Majesty and are preparing to raise funds to construct an Emperors statue that will be as tall as thirty-three zhang. They seek Your Majestys permission, another official reported. The Empress nodded again with delight, Very well! However, a thirty-three zhang statue might be too extravagant. Lets keep it to three zhang; the intention matters. Yes, Your Majesty, I will convey your instructions. Your Majesty, tonight the capital will host a grand dragon dance performance with thousands of participants. This performance is dedicated to Your Majesty! We hope you can attend, another official suggested. The Empress agreed enthusiastically, Certainly! I will definitely attend! Your Majesty With one ttery after another, the Empress was feeling rather ted, filled with a sense of achievement. Great Wu had finally risen under her leadership, with the peoples hearts and the world bending to her rule. She had achieved her lifelong dream in just three short years! At this moment, the Minister of Rites stepped forward and said, Your Majesty, there is another important matter. The Empress, in high spirits, said, Minister, please go ahead and speak. The Minister of Rites dered loudly, Your Majesty, with prosperity among the people and peace throughout thend, it is time for Your Majesty to consider your lifelong matter. As the reigning monarch, you cannot leave no heirs, or else the court and the nation will be unstable. We invite Your Majesty to choose a consort to continue the Great Wu bloodline. The officials all chimed in, Please choose a consort, Your Majesty, to continue the Great Wu bloodline. The Empress was left speechless. Chapter 433: Your Majesty didn’t say it wrong; she was indeed well-prepared! Chapter 433: Your Majesty didnt say it wrong; she was indeed well-prepared! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The Empresss smile vanished from her face, and her confidence was shaken. She never expected that on this joyous day, she would be pressured into marriage by the officials. Could it be that this was her greatest fear? The Empress sighed, Ministers, rest assured, I have already made preparations in that regard. But these matters cannot be rushed; we must take our time. The Minister of Rites anxiously replied, Your Majesty, time is of the essence! You must understand that as you grow older, the risks of pregnancy increase, and it could even be life-threatening! Therefore, we implore Your Majesty to choose a spouse quickly and bear a royal heir! Please, Your Majesty, choose a spouse quickly and bear a royal heir! echoed the officials in unison. The Empresss headache intensified. She responded, I know, and I have been making preparations. Cant that be enough? Your Majesty, youve been saying youre preparing, but over these years, weve seen you engrossed in state affairs without any visible preparations! The Minister of Rites urgently eximed. The Empress grew impatient, Ministers, rest assured, I have already selected the Prince Consort. Isnt that enough? The Empress has already selected a Prince Consort? The entire hall was in an uproar. Your Majesty, who is this person? the Minister of Rites pressed for details. The Empress was furious, Ive been open about having a Prince Consort. Why must you Your Majesty, we have to ask! You are the reigning monarch, and the fate of the entire nation rests on your shoulders alone! Therefore, the selection of the Prince Consort must be done with the utmost care! The Minister of Rites bowed and continued, First, their character must be impable, their conduct and demeanor must be appropriate. Second, their family background must bepatible; we mustnt burden Your Majesty. Lastly, they must be highly educated and able to assist Your Majesty. This is a matter we cannot afford to take lightly! The Minister of Rites respectfully implored, So, Your Majesty, please reveal the identity of the Empress Prince Consort! The entire assembly of civil and military officials chimed in, Please, Your Majesty, reveal the Empress Prince Consort! At this moment, the Empress was both embarrassed and angry. She wished she could punish these officials severely, but doing so might lead to a political crisis. Ministers, rest assured, the person Ive chosen has impable character, a suitable family background, and is unparalleled in knowledge. I guarantee that you wont be disappointed! The Empress dered loudly. In that case, who is this person, Your Majesty? Its not something shameful, so why not reveal it? The Minister of Rites grew increasingly impatient. Please, Your Majesty, inform us! echoed the entire assembly of civil and military officials. The Empress nced nervously at Lin Beifan, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. She quickly turned back, trying to act as if nothing had happened. However, that one nce did not escape the notice of the cunning officials in the room. After all, they were all sly old foxes! People be wiser with age! At this moment, all the officials in the court finally realized it! It turns out that Her Majesty has set her sights on Prime Minister Lin! Upon careful consideration, everyone realized that Lin Beifan was the most suitable candidate. Firstly, he currently holds the position of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Army, and hes also the loyal and brave King at this moment, making him one of the highest-ranking individuals in Great Wu. In terms of status, he is indeed a match for the Empress. Secondly, his abilities are outstanding. Otherwise, he wouldnt have risen through the ranks to this extent in just three short years. Looking across thend, there is no one who can surpass him. Lastly, their ages are not too far apart, and their appearancesplement each other perfectly. Aside from some minor concerns about character, they couldnt think of a more suitable candidate for the position of Prince Consort than Lin Beifan. Upon closer examination, everyone suddenly realized that Her Majesty had set her sights on the Prime Minister a long time ago! Three years ago, when Lin Beifan entered the court, he had always enjoyed the Empresss favor, continuously receiving promotions and honors, living a life of great wealth and privilege. Whatever the Empress ate, he ate, and he could often be seen entering the pce as if he were part of the household! Her Majesty didnt say it wrong; she had indeed been preparing for a long time! Three years of preparation showed remarkable patience! At this moment, Lin Beifan also understood! The Empress had indeed set her sights on him and had been nning for a full three years! How many three years does one have in a lifetime? Back then, she had solemnly dered, In matters of marriage, Ill make decisions for you This was clearly a proposed marriage for him, practically appointing him as the Prince Consort without giving him any choice! The Empress is truly cunning, Lin Beifan sighed in his heart. At this moment, the entire assembly of civil and military officials fell silent. These sly old foxes exchanged nces between the Empress and Lin Beifan, their eyes revealing an unspoken understanding. The Empress and Lin Beifan: Lin Beifan was rtively unfazed, being a man with thicker skin. But the Empress couldnt handle it! Faced with such a grand matchmaking scene and having her intentions exposed by this group of cunning old foxes, even Lin Beifan had seen through her thoughts. She suddenly felt uneasy, as if she were sitting on pins and needles, with everyones eyes on her. There was a strong urge to escape! Cough Ministers, if theres nothing else, you may leave the court! The Empress said awkwardly. Your Majesty, there is still an important matter! What matter? the Empress asked. The Minister of Rites couldnt help but cast a nce at Lin Beifan and said, Your Majesty, although youve already chosen the Prince Consort, and indeed, the choice is very suitable, when do you n to hold the grand wedding? This matter shouldnt be dyed, after all, the royal family must have an heir! The Empress and Lin Beifan: Cough! In unison, the officials said, Your Majesty, please hold the wedding as soon as possible and bear a royal heir! The Empress and Lin Beifan: Cough! The Empress became irritated. This matter, I have my own considerations. Ministers, dont meddle! Also, Im not in a good mood today. Youre all fined a years sry! Court is dismissed! With that, she walked away, leaving the dumbfounded officials behind. One person had escaped, but the other couldnt. Then, the officials gathered around Lin Beifan, offering their congrattions. Prime Minister, congrattions! We never expected that you would unwittingly be hehe! This is undoubtedly a great honor! Yes, youll marry the most powerful woman in the entire realm; youll be the envy of all men! But Prime Minister, Her Majesty isnt getting any younger, and we cant afford any dys! So, for the sake of Great Wu, for the sake of the millions of people of Great Wu, please get married as soon as possible! Yes, this matter shouldnt be dyed! The lower officials are already looking forward to toasting the Prime Minister at the wedding! Hehe! Lin Beifan felt overwhelmed. He had only attended a regr court meeting, and now he had gained not only a wife but also the pressure of a wedding, all while being urged by the entire court. He also had the urge to escape. However, at this moment, the officials surrounded him, not giving him a chance to flee. Gossip and rumors spread easily, especially when it concerned well-known figures. Just after the court meeting had ended, rumors about the Empress and the Prime Minister had already spread throughout the city, and themon people were discussing it with great interest. So, the Empress had already chosen a Prince Consort, and that person is the Prime Minister? They are of simr age, havepatible statuses, and exceptional abilities. Under their leadership, Great Wu has prospered and improved day by day. I fully support their marriage! Absolutely agree! They are a perfect match, like a match made in heaven! With them, Great Wu will enjoy stability and prosperity! Especially Prime Minister Lin, Ive always been afraid that someone with too much power would be purged by Her Majesty. But if he bes Her Majestys partner, there wont be that danger anymore! Theyre all one family, and theyll reconcile after any disagreements in bed! I just want to know when theyll hold the grand wedding! Im curious too, hehe! These gossip and rumors quickly reached the Lin residence, leaving the Lin family in shock. The Empress has set her sights on Young Master? She wants to make him the Comsort? During dinner, the little princess couldnt contain her excitement as she asked, Lin Beifan, is it true what theyre saying outside? Has the Empress really set her sights on you and wants to make you the Prince Consort? Lin Beifan sighed and replied, Rumors often have some basis in truth. What do you think? In fact, I had already noticed a while ago, Li Shi Shi said as she served Lin Beifan a dish, smiling. In these past few days, Ive observed how much attention Her Majesty has been giving you, which goes beyond a normal rtionship. Although Her Majesty is the ruler of a nation, fundamentally, she is still a woman. When a woman cares so much about another man, it indicates that shes had intentions for a while. Sister Shi Shi is absolutely right! I also believe that Her Majesty has long favored Master, Mo Rushuang added with a smile. That would be great! If Lin Beifan truly bes the Prince Consort, then my sister, the Empress, and the big viin can be together forever! The young princess cheered enthusiastically. Youre thinking too simplistically! Our statuses and positions areplicated. Shes the ruler, and Im her subject. Things wont be that simple, Lin Beifan said, delivering a yful punch without much seriousness. Of course! Her Majesty is very kind, but its you whos making itplicated! The young princess pouted, feeling a little dejected. Husband, actually, this situation might be good, Li Shi Shi whispered in Lin Beifans ear, speaking softly. In this way, we wont have to run around anymore. We can stay in Great Wu peacefully without leaving our hometown and go into exile. Yeah! Lin Beifan suddenly realized that it might not be a bad idea. If he became the Empresss partner, even if things were exposed in the future, she would probably forgive him, right? Lin Beifan touched his own handsome face. With this exquisite appearance, if he used his charm, he should be able to captivate her, right? Lin Beifan nodded confidently. Hmm, it should work! Chapter 434: Lin Beifan Arrives, The Emperor’s Heart in Turmoil! Chapter 434: Lin Beifan Arrives, The Emperors Heart in Turmoil! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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At this moment, within the Imperial Pces study, the Empress felt her heart in great turmoil. The secrets she had hidden for so long had unexpectedly been discovered by the officials. How could she face their countless questions in the future? Would they mock her behind her back? Especially when she thought about the fact that even her beloved Lin Beifan knew about this, she wished she could find a hole to hide in, never wanting to see anyone again. The more she thought about it, the more chaotic and upset she became. Staring at the piles of memorials in front of her, she couldnt read a single one. At this moment, an old eunuch brought a bowl of ginseng tea and smiled, saying, Your Majesty, please have some tea! The Empress finally snapped out of her daze, Oh alright tea! She then immediately lowered her head to drink the tea but ended up drinking too quickly and choking on it. Cough, cough Your Majesty, no need to rush, drink slowly! Oh alright! And then, she really began to sip it slowly. As she brought the teacup to her lips and took a gentle sip, her gaze suddenly became distant and she held that pose for a long time. No one knew what she was thinking; she was deeply lost in thought. The old eunuch couldnt help but chuckle as he observed this. He had watched the Empress grow up, and he could see right through her whenever she had something on her mind. Bowing, he said, Your Majesty, regarding the marriage between you and Prime Minister Lin, although there has been much discussion among the officials, overall, they are very supportive! After all, under the heavens, only Prime Minister Lin is worthy of you. The Empress, now moreposed, expressed a hint of delight, Is that so? Do the officials really think that way? Yes, how could I dare to deceive Your Majesty? the old eunuchughed and continued, It is said that after the court session ended, the officials all gathered around Prime Minister Lin, congratting him and even expressing their desire to attend your wedding banquet! The Empresss expression visibly brightened, and she happily took another sip of tea, It seems that the courtiers still have me in their hearts! Lets forget about the year-long penalty! Yes, on behalf of the officials, I thank Your Majesty! But then, the Empress became nervous again, What about themon people? How do they view me? The old eunuch bowed and smiled, Actually, themon people are even more supportive! They say the union between you and the Prime Minister is a match made in heaven! They hope the two of you will marry soon and continue the imperial bloodline. Very well! The Empress was greatly pleased, Then, let there be a three-day holiday to celebrate with the people! Yes, on behalf of themon folk, I thank Your Majesty for your benevolence! However, the Empress began to feel uneasy again, What about Sir Lin how does Sir Lin view me? After asking this question, her palms were sweaty, fearing an unfavorable response. After all, Lin Beifan was the real party involved. If he didnt agree, there was no use in forcing it. Your Majesty, as of now, this old servant has not received specific information from Prime Minister Lin! However, I heard from the little princess that most people in the Prime Ministers residence are generally supportive! Very well! The Empress became happy again. Although Lin Beifan hadnt expressed his intentions yet, with the support of the people in the Prime Ministers residence, especially Lin Beifans women, could he escape from this? Immediately select a batch of precious gold and silver jewelry from my treasury and send it to the Lin residence! Yes, Your Majesty! After a while, the Empress dismissed everyone, and only she remained in the study. At this moment, she noticed a white figure in front of her. Bai Guanyin provocatively said, Your Majesty, now the entire Great Wu knows about you and Lin Beifans affair, your wedding is approaching! The Empress blushed and said, Sister Bai, are you teasing me? Bai Guanyin shook her head andughed, How can this be teasing? Its clearly a blessing! In fact, you two should have done this long ago! Its just that youve been dragging your feet, hesitating, wanting to slowly nurture your feelings, and now youve reached this point! Otherwise, you could already have a child by now! The Empress blushed deeply, and Bai Guanyin burst intoughter. The Empress red at her with annoyance, saying, Sister Bai, my marriage matters are resolved, you should also consider your own affairs! Bai Guanyinsughter abruptly stopped, What affairs do I have? The Empress approached with a smile, Sister Bai, over these many years, youve been living alone, and youre not getting any younger! So, its time for you to find a good partner for yourself. I I want to pursue the path of martial arts, and Im not interested in romantic rtionships Bai Guanyin stammered. Although the Empress couldnt see the others facial expression, she could tell from the hesitant and embarrassed words that Bai Guanyin was clearly nervous and shy. This was naturally perceived by the clever Empress. As long as it didnt involve her own private matters, she was very wise, and she said with a smile, Sister Bai, you shouldnt say that! I know youve devoted all your thoughts to martial arts, but the path of martial arts is long and lonely, and you may feel lonely traveling it alone. Wouldnt it be better if you had someone to apany you on the journey? This I dont need Bai Guanyin stammered. Sister Bai, how can you say you dont need it? The Empressughed like a sly and charming fox, I think Lin Beifan is quite suitable; hes someone I can entrust my lifetime to! Sister Bai, havent you always said that Lin Beifan has great martial talent and will definitely catch up to you in the future? You two can walk this path together! That way, the martial arts journey wont be lonely! Bai Guanyin finally felt what it was like to be pressured into marriage and was flustered, Your Majesty, I I seem to have gained some insight. Ill take my leave for now and well talk about this another day! Then, with a swift movement, she disappeared. However, the Empress burst into heartyughter, looking very happy. She had been pressured into marriage by Bai Guanyin for a long time, making her scalp tingle with embarrassment and difort. Now, she had finally given it back in kind. It felt great! But Sister Bai is too shy; it seems Ill have to n things out, the Empress mused. She genuinely hoped that Lin Beifan and Bai Guanyin would be a couple. Her desire wasnt just personal but also rooted in the greater good. After all, Bai Guanyin was the top martial artist in the realm! If she could be persuaded to stay in Great Wu, it would greatly benefit the empire. Just at that moment, the old eunuch entered, saying, Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lin has arrived, and he insists on seeing you. He says its a matter of utmost importance and cant be dyed! Oh my! Why is he here? The Empresss face turned red. Her heart was in turmoil, and she felt an urge to escape! The Empress waved her hand, Tell him Im not feeling well today and need to rest. He shoulde back another day! Yes, Your Majesty! The old eunuch withdrew. However, he returned quickly, Your Majesty, Prime Minister has not left. He asked me to tell you that he only has a few words to say, which wont disturb your rest. He will leave immediately after. No! Tell him Im very sleepy right now and need to rest, I dont want to see anyone! The Empress pretended to be half-asleep. Yes, Your Majesty! The old eunuch retreated once more. Soon, he returned again, Your Majesty, Prime Minister still hasnt In this way, both sidesmunicated through the old eunuch. One desperately wanted to meet, while the other desperately wanted to avoid. The old eunuch caught in the middle was truly in a dilemma, almost running his legs off, eximing, What is this, both of you young people with your matters have tangled me up! What a predicament Once again in front of Lin Beifan, the old eunuch bowed and said, Lord Prime Minister, Her Majesty has said that she has already gone to sleep and wont receive any guests, no matter whoes. Its best if you leave for now! Is she really asleep? Lin Beifan chuckled, his mental power scanning inside, making it clear. The Empress was wide awake, dressed properly, and not at all asleep. It was evident she wanted to avoid him. Lin Beifan felt very wronged; this Empress was too overbearing! She had taken charge of his marriage without consulting him, leaving him with no freedom in the matter. Now she was refusing to see him, not giving him a chance to voice his objections. What kind of reasoning was this? Although he was her subject, he had his dignity, right? Liu Gonggong, go in again and tell Her Majesty that if she doesnt see me today, I will never agree to this marriage! The old eunuch was shocked, Lord Prime Minister, you absolutely mustnt do that! The fact that Her Majesty has chosen you is a blessing from your past life; you should cherish it! If you resist the decree, it could cost you your head! Lin Beifan raised his head, Humph! Do you think Im that afraid? See if I dare or not. The old eunuch hesitated. Lin Beifans courage was known throughout the entire court. He had only just entered government service and had boldly opposed the entire court of civil and military officials. His daringness could be described as boundless! The old eunuch was genuinely afraid that Lin Beifan might act impulsively. Liu Gonggong, just go in and tell Her Majesty this! Lin Beifan urged. Ah, well So, the old eunuch had no choice but to convey Lin Beifans words to the Empress. After hearing them, the Empress trembled with anger, That Lin Beifan, how dare he use this matter to threaten me? Hes truly audacious and disrespectful, not cing me in his eyes at all! This is unreasonable! Your Majesty, Prime Minister may have acted impulsively; please calm down, the old eunuch pleaded. The Empress was furious, Can he say such things just because he acted impulsively? Does he think he can threaten me this way? Hmph! Absolutely impossible! I am the ruler of this realm; how could I easily yield? Liu Gonggong, go and tell him toe in! What? The old eunuch was puzzled. The Empress, annoyed, said, Why are you standing there nkly? Hurry up and call him in! Yes, Your Majesty! The old eunuch bowed. Wait! The Empress called out once more. The old eunuch turned around and followed, asking, Your Majesty, is there anything else youd like to instruct? The Empresss face looked somewhat unnatural as she said, Have the pce maids help Lin Beifan tidy up in the Dragons Blessing chamber, and then assist him in changing into sleeping robes The old eunuch was perplexed: ??? Chapter 435: Have I burdened you, my love? Chapter 435: Have I burdened you, my love? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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When Lin Beifan walked in, he was bewildered, Your Majesty, why are you lying on the bed like this? He saw the Empress at this moment, with disheveled hair, wearing a golden sleeping robe, lying on afortable couch, covered with a not-so-thin nket, resembling an ailing beauty. You should know that the Empress was perfectly fine just a while ago. It was iprehensible how she had turned into this in such a short time, leaving Lin Beifan puzzled. Upon seeing Lin Beifan enter, she coughed a couple of times, My dear, youvee! Lin Beifan blinked, Your Majesty, whats happening to you? The Empress weakly shook her head and spoke softly, The imperial physician said its nothing serious, just that I overexerted myself today, so my head is throbbing, and I decided to rest early. My love, you can see its not that I didnt want to meet you; Im just helpless! Lin Beifan blinked again, Your Majesty, which physician said that? How can you look like this and say its nothing serious? It was Wang, the physician from the Royal Medical Bureau who saw me. Hes skilled; he shouldnt have misdiagnosed me! The Empress replied weakly, making up an excuse. Lin Beifan said without expression, Your Majesty, Wang, the physician, has retired due to his age! Cough The Empress coughed again, Im sorry, my dear. I may have remembered it wrong. It should be Liu, the physician! Lin Beifan remained emotionless, Your Majesty, Liu, the physician, took the day off today and isnt on duty! Cough The Empress coughed again, I might have remembered wrong again. It should be Zhao, the physician Yes, its Zhao, the physician! Just then, an elderly man in official attire walked in. The Empress was puzzled, Why are you here? The person before her was none other than Zhao, the physician, she had mentioned earlier. Physician Zhao bowed and said, Reporting to Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lin expressed concern that Your Majesty might be unwell, possibly suffering from an urgent ailment. So, he specially sent me to examine Your Majesty! The Empress gave Physician Zhao an annoyed look. After going through all the trouble of acting, it was exposed by this guy. She couldnt help but look at Lin Beifan with a somewhat guilty expression and said, Oh my! Perhaps Im just too tired today, so I got everything mixed up! Look at my scatterbrained self Lin Beifan didnt expose the truth either. After all, as the ruler of thend, he had to give some face. Revealing the truth wouldnt benefit him in any way. Moreover, they had gone to such lengths in this act, and it wasnt easy. So, Lin Beifan allowed Physician Zhao to go through the examination process, and in the end, it was confirmed that there was nothing serious, possibly just exhaustion. After prescribing a remedy, Physician Zhao took his leave. The Empresss gaze flickered, My love, since theres nothing urgent, you should leave. I need to rest! Your Majesty, I came here with a few questions. Once I ask them, we can leave and not dy anything, Lin Beifan said with a bow. The Empress felt extremely anxious. The matter she had been avoiding had finallye to the surface. She wished she could escape, but where could she go now? She had never been in such a situation before. What should she do next? Your Majesty, I wanted to ask Wait! The Empress called out, Eunuch Liu, please withdraw for now. The old eunuch nced at Lin Beifan and bowed, Yes, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave. With the serving maids and eunuchs, they all exited the room. In the room, only Lin Beifan and the Empress remained. The Empress was extremely nervous and embarrassed. She tightly gripped the nket, ready to cover her face at any moment if she couldnt handle it, hiding her embarrassment. Your Majesty, I want to ask, is your chosen husband, me? Lin Beifan asked with a heavy tone, his gaze fixed on the Empress on the dragon couch, awaiting her answer. The Empress became even more flustered, too shy to look at Lin Beifan directly. Her voice was barely audible, Yes Although her voice was quiet, Lin Beifan heard it. Receiving such a definite answer, Lin Beifan didnt know whether to be happy or sad. He was happy that the Empress had truly chosen him. After all, she was the most powerful woman in thend, exceptionally beautiful, and the dream of countless men. Yet, he had captured her heart. However, he was also sad because even though she was beautiful and powerful, she was known to be quite domineering. Would he lose a lot of his freedom after bing her husband? Would he be unable to continue his carefree lifestyle? Your Majesty, when did this start? Lin Beifan asked. When did it start? The Empresss gaze became distant as she recalled the various moments she had spent with Lin Beifan, their secret struggles for the greater good, working for the welfare of the people, with moments ofughter and tears. They were not just ruler and subject, not just friends, but alsorades who had fought side by side. Unable to pinpoint exactly when it began, Lin Beifan had quietly entered her heart and upied an important ce. The Empress thought seriously and said, It should have been about a year ago. A year ago, the matter involving the little princess and Lin Beifan had caused amotion in the pce, and she had resolved it. On that day, after the reminder from Bai Guanyin, she seriously considered the rtionship between her and Lin Beifan, feeling that it was time to take it further. Because she couldnt be without Lin Beifan, and Great Wu couldnt be without him either. Lin Beifan couldnt help but sneer inwardly. A womans words, tricky as a ghost! A year ago? Clearly, she had set her sights on me from the moment I entered the pce! Your Majesty, can I decline this marriage? Lin Beifan asked. You dare!!! The Empress jumped up in anger. In Lin Beifans astonished gaze, she weaklyy back down. But her eyes still stared fiercely at Lin Beifan. My love, youve already made me so angry that my dragon body is in turmoil! My love, marriage is not childs y! You and I are the supreme rulers of today. Only by joining together can we benefit Great Wu! Otherwise, there will be disputes in the future, turmoil in the court, and the country will be in turmoil! Besides, I ammitting myself to you. Am I causing you inconvenience? Your Majesty, its an honor for me that youve chosen me! However, marriage is not a trivial matter, and its equally important to me! So, we need to establish some ground rules; otherwise, Im afraid I cannotply! Lin Beifan said loudly. The Empress was almost amused! I am the mighty Empress, the ruler of todays world, and Im going to marry you. Its a blessing youve cultivated for generations! Yet, you want to establish ground rules and negotiate conditions with me? Fine! My love, go ahead and state your conditions! The Empress gritted her teeth. Pretending not to see her reaction, Lin Beifan continued, Your Majesty, although you are the ruler of the world and immensely wealthy, if we are to be together, you can have only me as your husband. No other man is allowed to appear! The Empressughed. She hadnt expected this young man to be so domineering. She readily agreed, Fine, my love, I promise you! In fact, besides you, I have no interest in anyone else! Lin Beifan added, Secondly, I have several beloveds in themon people, and our bonds are very deep. I promised to give them a status. So, even if we marry, I will never abandon them. I hope Your Majesty can understand and forgive me. The Empressughed again. This young man was both passionate and loyal. He was a person worth entrusting a lifetime to. Very well, I agree! If you were the kind of person who changes their mind easily, I wouldnt be interested in you! The Empress said with a smile. Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan bowed. Third Lin Beifan looked at the Empress with some trepidation. This third condition, Your Majesty, as they say, no one is perfect, and even gold cant bepletely pure. People are bound to make mistakes. So, no matter what Ive done in the past, I hope you can forgive me! The Empress chuckled inwardly. This was clearly a safeguard for things he might do behind her back. What a clever move! Hes even thinking about a way out in secret. Haha! Very well, I promise! the Empress eximed loudly. Lin Beifan was surprised. She actually agreed? It seems the Empresss infatuation has clouded her judgment, and shes not distinguishing right from wrong anymore! But I like it! Hehehe! After three consecutive conditions that the Empress readily agreed to, Lin Beifans mind started racing. The Empresss infatuated mind seemed beyond salvation. Could I propose a few more conditions? Seize the opportunity; it might note again! So, Lin Beifan said, Your Majesty, I have another condition. The Empress asked, Go on. I hope that from now on, Your Majesty, you will treat me well, cherish me, and never deceive me. Promise to fulfill everything I ask and speak sincerely in every word to me. The Empress thought for a moment. Isnt this how couples should be? So she replied, Alright, I promise. Lin Beifan secretly chuckled, then took advantage of the situation and continued, Furthermore, Your Majesty, when others bully me, you must stand up for me immediately! When Im happy, you should share my joy. When Im upset, you shouldfort me. The Empress thought about it and found it quite reasonable for a married couple. She agreed once again. Thank you, Your Majesty, Lin Beifan persisted, Also, Your Majesty, you must forever think that I am the most handsome and charming, dream about me, and have me in your heart Alright, I promise! the Empress said. In this manner, Lin Beifan continued to propose several more conditions. At first, the Empress agreed wholeheartedly, but as she listened, she realized these conditions were bing increasingly excessive! This guy was clearly taking advantage of the situation! Hes too cunning! So, the Empress shouted angrily, Thats enough, my love! Youve gone too far! Do you really think Im that easily fooled? Lin Beifan, with a satisfied expression on his face, said, Since Your Majesty finds it excessive, then I wont say more! The Empress, looking at Lin Beifans triumphant face, wanted to punch him. Since we have established three conditions and you proposed conditions, I will also propose a few conditions! The Empress sneered. Chapter 436: Marrying this wife, no regrets! Chapter 436: Marrying this wife, no regrets! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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As my imperial husband, your every move is rted to the state! So the empress raises a finger: My first request to you is, from now on, you must not dally with other women or bring those unsavory women back! This Lin Beifan hesitated. The empress raised an eyebrow, What? I dont restrict you from having other women, allowing you to have three or four concubines, and you cant agree to such a small request? Besides, you have so many women already, do you still want to mess around outside? Lin Beifan shook his head, Thats not it, Your Majesty! I can control myself, but what if someone else cant? You know, men like me who are attractive are like fireflies in the night, no matter where we hide, we shine brightly, and those women cant help bute after us. What can I do to stop them? The empress couldnt help but chuckle, You, a grandmaster, cant resist the advances of women? Unless you dont want to resist! Lin Beifan gritted his teeth and clenched his fist, falling into deep thought, and finally nodded in pain. The empress didnt look pleased, making it seem like she had wronged him in some way. Hmph! Men are all big simpletons! Second! The empress raised two fingers, Minister, you said something right, nobodys perfect, and I may make mistakes and deceive at times! So, no matter what Ive done in the past that hurt you, I hope to have your forgiveness and understanding, that you wont abandon me. Lin Beifan instantly became alert, Your Majesty, did you do something in the past? Is this condition mainly for future confessions of things you did to me? The empress, under Lin Beifans gaze, seemed somewhat evasive, Well, not really Not really, so what did you actually do? Lin Beifan pressed. The empresss gaze drifted even more, Really, its not much, just concealed something from you Lin Beifan was shocked, Your Majesty, you concealed something from me, is it something serious? The empress became even more evasive, wondering if her identity had already been guessed by Lin Beifan. What should she do now? She lowered her head, not daring to look at Lin Beifan. However, at that moment, Lin Beifan blurted out, Did you secretly cuckold me? The empress burst intoughter. Lin Beifan was sttered with saliva all over his face. The empress red fiercely at Lin Beifan, her eyes burning with anger, and through clenched teeth, she said, What nonsense are you spouting? Am I that kind of woman? If you talk nonsense again, Ill rip your mouth apart! Oh! Lin Beifan finally behaved. But soon he couldnt help himself and asked, Your Majesty, what are you hiding from me? The empresss gaze drifted once again, Its nothing major, it hasnt harmed you in the slightest, so dont worry about it! Lin Beifans heart felt like it was being scratched, and he asked again, Can you tell me now? Now is not the time, when the timees, Ill tell you! Alright, dont ask anymore, lets move on to the next topic! the empress said irritably. Oh! Lin Beifanplied once more. After receiving Lin Beifans promise of forgiveness, the empresss mood improved. Third! I hope that from now on, you will treat me well, pamper me, and not deceive me! Promise me that you will do everything I ask and speak to me sincerely for every word, the empress said. Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly, Alright! No problem! Fourth! When people bully me, you must stand up for me immediately! When Im happy, you should be happy with me! When Im unhappy, you should cheer me up! Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly, No problem! Fifth! Always think of me as the most beautiful, dream of me Lin Beifan found something off about this! The empress was clearly using the conditions I just mentioned to deal with me, using magic against magic, too cunning! Lin Beifan quickly interrupted, Your Majesty, its okay, no need to say more! Anyway, in the future, I will definitely treat you well and never abandon you, so that should be enough, right? Yes, thats about right! The empress had a satisfied smile on her face. At this point, both of them had finished discussing their conditions, and their rtionship had taken a significant leap. Lin Beifan looked at the sleeping beauty in front of him, her skin like jade, her face like a silver te, elegant and graceful, her figure slender and alluring. No matter how you looked at her, she was beautiful! And she was the most powerful woman in the world! Marrying this wife, no regrets! The empress also looked at the handsome young man in front of her, his appearance rivaled Pan An and Song Yu, and he was more dazzling than the stars in the sky. He was also among the top in terms of strength! Marrying this man, no regrets! Your Majesty! Lin Beifan called softly. My love! The empress blushed and lowered her head. Just as these two were about to take their rtionship to the next level, an old eunuch knocked on the door and entered. Your Majesty, the dragon dance performance with thousands of people in the capital is about to begin! You once said that you wanted to go to the scene and enjoy it with the people! But now you Go, of course we should go! The empress lifted the nket, preparing to get up. But then she remembered that she was still pretending to be ill and weak, so shey back down. Lin Beifan was very speechless, Your Majesty, youre pretending again, your body is perfectly fine! The empress snorted, Originally, I was indeed fine, but your recent fabricated words made me lose my temper. You deal with it yourself! Lin Beifan understood her hint and said, Your Majesty, let this humble servant help you up. Thats more like it! The empress huffed but couldnt help but smile at the corner of her mouth. Then, Lin Beifan helped the empress to sit up. This was the first time the two of them had such an intimate contact, and they both felt a strange sensation in their hearts. Especially the empress, who blushed with shyness. But when she thought about the fact that they would have such intimate contact in the future as husband and wife, she tried to ovee her embarrassment. Then, they attended the grand dragon dance performance with thousands of people that night. Although they didnt say much during the process, through their multiple intimate interactions, the people began to realize that the empress and the current prime minister were indeed getting closer. They truly matched each other in both looks and talents! Their union was a blessing for the Great Wu! As a result, the performance was even more joyous and the people danced and sang with enthusiasm. Subsequently, the empress and Lin Beifans wedding was scheduled. This was a true national event, and they had to choose an auspicious date, perform rituals to pay respects to heaven and earth, and follow various protocols, which was quite tedious. Completing this entire process would take more than half a year. Lin Beifan was overwhelmed by all of this. Fortunately, the Ministry of Rites and experts from the imperial family were responsible for these matters; otherwise, his head would have gone bald. However, the empress showed a keen interest in all these affairs. She asked about them three or four times a day and was very concerned about the progress of the wedding. Due to the excessive time spent on the wedding preparations, state affairs were dyed. However, she wasnt worried at all because she had Lin Beifan. She delegated all state matters to him and focused more of her attention on the wedding. Her face was full of smiles, like a blissful young bride about to be married. At this moment, the harvest of crops was abundant, there were no wars or disasters, and the Great Wu was truly enjoying a period of peace and prosperity. Meanwhile, outside the realm, chaos still reigned. The Great Xia Dynasty, without the threat of the Allied Forces, had turned against itself. Internal conflicts erupted in the court, among the people, and even within the martial world. It was a chaotic scene. The whereabouts of the Great Xia Crown Prince remained unknown, but the bounty on him had reached two million taels of silver. As for the Great Yan Dynasty, they unexpectedly captured the Daoist master who could supposedly refine the elixir of immortality. The Great Yan Emperor also gathered various rare treasures in preparation for the unscrupulous Daoist to create the elixir. Liu Beifan had sold a significant number of dragon bones from his collection. The Dayue Dynasty, currently under the oppression of the Army led by the nted Moon Princess, was steadily retreating and had lost more than half of its territory. It appeared that this dynasty was on the verge of a change in power The former Allied Forces had now sent their troops into the pre-determined territories, ready to divide the spoils. Due to the intertwined borders and uneven distribution of interests, tensions were rising, and it was likely that a war would break out soon. At this critical moment, astonishing news came from the Dayue Dynasty. In order to resist the formidable rebel forces, they had sent a powerful Grandmaster into the fray. This Grandmaster was incredibly formidable, single-handedly facing an army of rebels. He slew several rebel leaders and turned the tide of the battle in favor of the Dayue Dynasty. Now, Princess Ziyue and her rebel forces dared not make a move, and the situation was extremely precarious. In the Great Wu court, the empress asked sternly, Esteemed ministers, how do you view this matter? Your Majesty, from what I understand, the Grandmaster from the Dayue Dynasty should be their native Grandmaster, a veteran known as the Wolf Fang Moon. His strength has long reached the pinnacle of Grandmaster, and he is incredibly powerful! The rebel forces are no match for him, and its likely they will be defeated! one of the senior officials said. The empress nodded slightly and asked, Esteemed ministers, what are your thoughts? How can we benefit from this situation? Your Majesty, our current approach should be to observe quietly and not intervene. Let them fight it out to the death! This way, the Dayue Dynasty will surely weaken, which is highly advantageous for our Great Wu! another official advised. The empress nodded once more, and the court officials also agreed that this was the best course of action for the time being. Then, Lin Beifan stepped forward and said, Your Majesty, I have a different suggestion. The empress turned her gaze toward him, her eyes narrowing with curiosity, and she smiled, saying, My dear minister, what different idea do you have? Please share it with me!
1. Pan An and Song Yu were both historical figures from ancient China known for their romantic stories and poetry. Chapter 437: I will will never bow down to that woman! Chapter 437: I will will never bow down to that woman! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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For some reason, under the Empresss gaze, Lin Beifan always felt ufortable. But with no other choice, he said firmly, Your Majesty, I may have some information. I believe we should assist the rebel army in defeating the Dayue Dynasty! The Empress sneered inwardly, I knew you wouldnt forget that cunning fox. Minister, why would you want to assist the rebel army? the Empress asked. There are several reasons, Lin Beifan replied loudly. First, we have a longstanding feud with the Dayue Dynasty. They once allied with the Wuxi Army and nearly invaded the Phoenix Mountain Range, threatening our rule. Although we eventually defeated the Dayue Army and obtained numerous war reparations, the grudge remained unresolved due to thepromises we had to make at the time. Now, our country is strong, while the Dayue Dynasty is in turmoil. Your Majesty, its time for us to seek revenge! The Empress nodded, You speak the truth; revenge is in order. Secondly, now is the perfect opportunity for revenge! Lin Beifan raised two fingers, Your Majesty, the world is in chaos, and the Dayue Dynasty has no strong external support. Theres a rebel uprising within, isted and without assistance. This is a heaven-sent opportunity for us to exact revenge. We can defeat the Dayue Dynasty at a rtively low cost and settle the score! Again, the Empress agreed, You are correct. Thirdly, we can gain significant benefits from this war. The Empress inquired, What benefits are you referring to? At this point, an elder courtier chimed in, Prime Minister, are you suggesting we expand our territory and annex the Dayue Dynasty? Lin Beifan replied with a smile, Ive thought about it, but in recent years, weve already acquired significant territories in the Far East from Darro, White Elephant, and Great Xia. Our territory has expanded by over thirty percent, and we simply dont have the resources to reim morend. Trying to expand further would be burdensome. Its better not to. The courtiers were puzzled, If thats the case, Prime Minister, what are the benefits you mentioned? We can demand benefits from the rebel army! Lin Beifan smiled, This rebel army emerged suddenly, gained momentum in a short time, and threatens the Dayue Dynastys rule. They are organized, well-nned, and undoubtedly have substantial financial support. Therefore, we can support the rebel army and use this opportunity to demand some benefits. In doing so, we not only settle our old scores but also gain some spoils of war. Whats not to like? The courtiers nodded in agreement, Prime Minister, you are absolutely right! We can seek revenge and profit from this war! I believe this n is feasible, The Empress, seated on the dragon throne, chuckled to herself. Hes speaking so eloquently, but its clear he wants to protect that woman! All esteemed ministers, do any of you have differing opinions regarding the Prime Ministers proposal? We have no objections, the officials said in unison. The Empress inquired, What do you think, Prime Minister? I also believe this n is feasible! The Empress nodded, However, we need to negotiate terms with the rebel army first before providing assistance. Otherwise, wouldnt it be like warming ones face while exposing ones backside? Your Majesty speaks wisely! The officials agreed. Since this matter was brought up by Minister Lin, I will entrust him with the arrangements. I believe you will fulfill this task satisfactorily, the Empress said with a sly smile. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan felt a bit uneasy, as if the Empress had seen through him. However, if the other party cannot offer an appropriate price, I can understand. We can still support them. But once they overthrow the rule of the Dayue Dynasty, they must bow to our Great Wu. The Empress smiled mischievously, plotting something. Your Majesty is gracious! The officials eximed. This condition was indeed generous, requiring little to no payment in return for Great Wus support. It was an attractive offer for many small nations, but Lin Beifan couldnt help feeling that it was unlikely to seed. Princess Ziyue was a proud and somewhat disrespectful woman, especially in her interactions with the Empress. Making her bow to the Empress was simply impossible. At this point, the Empress added, Prime Minister Lin, you must convey my message to the leader of the rebel army. I will do my best, Lin Beifan said. Not do your best, but you must! Its just a message, nothing too difficult, dont you think? The Empress chuckled, eager to see the expression on that cunning foxs face after hearing her message. Yes, Your Majesty. I will certainly deliver the message, Lin Beifan replied with a bitter smile. With that, it seemed like a meteor was about to collide with Earth. After dealing with some official business, Lin Beifan set out the next day. After approximately a week, he arrived at the Qingneng Fortress and met with Princess Ziyue. She looked a bit more worn and fatiguedpared to before. It seemed that the affairs of the Dayue Dynasty had been quite taxing for her. However, when she saw Lin Beifan, her tired expression immediately turned into surprise. Strategist, youvee! I almost couldnt believe it when I heard you wereing to the Qinglong Fortress! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Highness, I heard about the situation with the Dayue Dynasty, so I came to assist. Strategist, I always knew that you had me in your heart! Princess Ziyue was deeply moved, feeling warmth in her heart. At the moment when she needed this man the most, he appeared before her. Princess Ziyue struggled to contain her excitement as she hurried over to Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan, slightly flustered, inquired, Your Highness, Ive came to see you. Whats wrong? Strategist, its hard to keep myposure when Im with you, she confessed. In the end, Lin Beifan, who had no strength to resist, allowed Princess Ziyue to approach. Her head rested on Lin Beifans chest. Although Lin Beifans chest wasnt particrly broad, it gave her an unprecedented sense of security. It felt like as long as he was there, nothing could go wrong. They embraced each other, shared their feelings for a long time, and reluctantly let go to discuss matters. Your Highness, I havee here on behalf of the courts orders. Great Wu has grievances with the Dayue Dynasty, so we want to assist your rebel army in defeating the Dayue and seeking revenge, Lin Beifan said earnestly. It must be you, Strategist, who advocated for this in the court, isnt it? Princess Ziyue smiled cunningly, her gaze filled with shrewdness. Lin Beifan nodded, Indeed! Initially, the courts stance was to watch from the sidelines and benefit when both sides are weakened. However, through my persuasion, everyone agreed to support the rebel army. Strategist! Princess Ziyue was once again touched and seemed like she wanted to rush into his arms. Your Highness, please calm down. Lets finish discussing the matter at hand first, and then you can embrace me if you wish. Strategist is right; I got carried away just now. Lets discuss the important matters first! Princess Ziyue regained herposure and asked, Strategist, how does Great Wu n to support my rebel army? Lin Beifan replied, We can send troops. In total, we have 500,000 soldiers stationed in the Qinglong Fortress, Wuxi region, and the White Elephant Prefecture, which can be mobilized at any time. If youck innate experts, we can also send them. However, what your rebel army mainlycks are Grandmasters, and Great Wu can dispatch Grandmasters to support you. This will greatly increase your chances of sess. Strategist, what conditions does Great Wu have? Princess Ziyue inquired. It depends on how many troops and resources you wish to mobilize. The more you want to mobilize, the higher the price. For example, if you want to mobilize 500,000 troops, you will not only be responsible for their provisions and sries but also pay a price of 10 million taels of silver. Additionally, if there are significant casualties, furtherpensation will be required, Lin Beifan exined. Princess Ziyue furrowed her brows, We are notcking in troops, and we have quite a few innate experts. What we trulyck are Grandmasters, and we will need to request one from the Great Wu court. How much will that cost? Lin Beifan raised two fingers, 20 million taels of silver. Half of it is a tribute to the Grandmaster, and the other half belongs to the court. Princess Ziyues brow furrowed even more tightly. 20 million taels of silver, they could afford it, but it was still quite costly. However, they had no choice since they needed a Grandmaster to counter the Dayue Dynastys Grandmasters. To be honest, 20 million taels of silver is enough to hire a Grandmaster, although its expensive, its still cost-effective. Because most Grandmasters are solely focused on martial pursuits and arent interested in gold and silver. Trying to buy them with money is simply impossible. Now that theres an opportunity, it must be seized firmly. In fact, there is another way to obtain a Grandmaster without spending money! Princess Ziyue was delighted and asked, What method is that? Lin Beifan cautiously nced at the princess and said, Your Highness, it was suggested that a Grandmaster could be dispatched to support you. However, once you overthrow the Dayue Dynasty, you must bow to Great Wu. Princess Ziyue exploded, What? Bow to that woman? Absolutely not! I would rather pay 20 million taels, or even 30 million taels, but I will never bow to that woman! Lin Beifan smiled bitterly in his heart; he knew it was impossible unless the sun rose from the west. Princess Ziyue huffed, Strategist, go and tell that woman that I can spend 20 million taels, or even an extra 10 million taels, to get a Grandmaster from Great Wu. I owe her nothing! Lin Beifan earnestly said, Your Highness, please dont be angry. In fact, there is another way. What other way, Strategist? Princess Ziyue looked over, eager to know. Chapter 438: Even if you sleep with me, I will never compromise! Chapter 438: Even if you sleep with me, I will neverpromise! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Lin Beifan chuckled and said, Princess, you actually know that I have some master friends. We have an unbreakable bond! I can arrange for them to help you, and then you wont owe the Empress anything! Princess Ziyues eyes lit up. Yes, why didnt I think of that? Whether its spending money or not, he would still owe the Empress morally. But if he let his strategist ask for help from master friends, then he wouldnt owe the Empress anything, just a favor to the strategist. But the strategist is one of her own, her beloved, and her future husband. What does owing a favor matter between husband and wife? Theres no need to keep ounts. Princess Ziyue became happier the more she thought about it. Then Ill trouble the strategist! But then she worried, But, strategist, by doing this, will it harm the interests of the Great Wu Dynasty, and will it offend the Empress? Lin Beifan said with great righteousness, For the Princess, even if I offend the Empress, what does it matter? What hes doing now, although it may harm the interests of the Great Wu Dynasty to some extent, in reality, even if the dynasty doesnt go to war or expand its territory, it wont gain much anyway. It wont harm it much. Hes in a high and powerful position now, and his achievements are outstanding. The entire court wont impeach him for such a trivial matter. Besides, the Empress is infatuated with him and his extraordinary looks. She should be lenient in such a small matter. Lin Beifan touched his own fair face and nodded confidently. Yes, theres absolutely no problem! Strategist! Princess Ziyue was deeply moved and started getting touchy-feely again. Lin Beifan panicked, Princess, lets stay calm for now; we havent finished discussing the main issue! Princess Ziyue didnt understand, Ive let you solve my biggest problem. What other important matters do we need to discuss? Of course, there is! Lin Beifan said earnestly, Princess, you see, Ive helped you solve the master problem. Can you give me those 20 million taels now? Princess Ziyue: You see, you spend 20 million taels to invite one master from the Great Wu Dynasty. But here, I can invite two, and if thats not enough, I can add one more. Its absolutely cost-effective, a fair price you cant get even if you break bones! Lin Beifan said enthusiastically. Princess Ziyue: What a guy! After all that, its about money! I was just touched for nothing! Strategist, so it turns out that all of this is about money. I really misjudged you! Princess Ziyue gritted her teeth. Princess, do you really think Im just after money? Lin Beifan asked. Isnt it? Princess Ziyue responded. Im after you! Lin Beifan dered loudly. For me? Princess Ziyue was very puzzled. You took 20 million taels from me, and youre saying its for me? What kind of bizarre reasoning is that? Its not just for you; its also for me and our future! Lin Beifan exined. Hmm? Princess Ziyue was even more confused. Princess, think about it. If I return empty-handed from this negotiation, I will undoubtedly face difficulties from the court and disapproval from the Empress! I currently hold a prominent position, and any slight mistake could be a weakness for everyone to attack! Lin Beifan exined. But if I bring back 20 million taels, its a different story, Lin Beifan continued in a hushed tone. I will put the money into the Empresss purse. This way, the Empress hasnt paid anything, but she gains a substantial sum of money. Do you think she would be happy? Moreover, the money belongs entirely to the Empress, not in the national treasury, so she can use it as she pleases Princess Ziyue understood; it was essentially bribing the Empress with money. If the strategist did something against the interests of the court, the court officials would undoubtedly make things difficult for him. But if he used money to bribe the Empress, and she was satisfied, then all problems would disappear. It might be a straightforward and rough method, but it was undeniably effective. Strategist, I didnt expect you to think this way. I misunderstood you just now, Princess Ziyue apologized. Princess, as long as you understand, Lin Beifan said with relief. Strategist, can you reduce the amount? 20 million taels is too much! Princess Ziyue pleaded. Lin Beifan smiled bitterly. Princess, I cant reduce it; thendlord doesnt have any surplus grain! Princess Ziyue looked at Lin Beifans distressed expression as if she saw through his true intentions. While he would indeed take the money back to bribe the Empress, he would undoubtedly take a significant cut in the process. Without saying a word, she unexpectedly embraced Lin Beifan and nted a kiss on his cheek. Strategist, can you reduce it now? she asked. Lin Beifan stood resolute. I cant! Say it again! Lin Beifan roared, Even if you sleep with me, I will neverpromise! Princess Ziyue got so angry that she kissed Lin Beifan on the lips. However, Lin Beifan remained steadfast in his beliefs. He wouldnt yield, no matter how she treated him, even if she slept with him. In the end, Princess Ziyuepromised. If giving 20 million taels to the strategist was what it took, shed do it. It was better than giving it to that woman, and she could consider it as keeping a man for herself. With the money in hand, Lin Beifan was full of energy and immediately sent messages to the Sword Immortal and the Saber Saint, asking them toe and help. Not long after, these two grandmasters arrived, dusty from their journey. With the assistance of the two grandmasters, Princess Ziyue led her rebel army with renewed confidence and staged another uprising. On that day, over 500,000 regr troops advanced toward the capital, Dyu. In addition to the 500,000 regr troops, there were millions of peasant rebels following their lead. For a just cause, we stand against the tyranny of Dyu! Overthrow the old regime, establish a new dynasty! We, themon people, can also take charge! mes of rebellion were once again ignited in Dyu. Emperor Dyu stood atop the city wall, gazing at the sea of rebel forces. His heart burned with anger, and he roared, You bunch of rebels! You were scattered to the winds after ourst battle, and now you dare to return? Why wouldnt we dare? Princess Ziyue removed her purple veil and dered loudly, Your Dyu has be corrupt, causing the people to suffer and be homeless. Our actions today are for justice! We will overthrow the decadent Dyu Dynasty and establish a new era where everyone has food, shelter, and clothing. Its absolutely inevitable! Ill be governing a new nation where everyone has clothes to wear and enough to eat! Emperor Dyu, if you have any sense, abdicate now and let a wise ruler take your ce! Open the city gates and wee us in, or else Thats right! Abdicate now! Dont force us to take action! Otherwise, you will face dire consequences! The rebel forces at the base of the city wall were shouting. Emperor Dyu was furious, shaking with anger. Dare they threaten me like this? Unbelievable, utterly unbelievable He turned to a ck-d elder standing beside him and said respectfully, Grandmaster, I request your assistance once again in driving away these bandits. If you can eliminate their leaders, all the better! This ck-d elder was none other than the grandmaster of the Dyu Dynasty Wolf Fang Yue. He nodded and spoke with a calm demeanor, Yes, Your Majesty. I will take action, and they will find no escape. Emperor Dyu was delighted. Thank you, Grandmaster! With that, the ck-d elders eyes shed with a hint of cunning. In the blink of an eye, he had leaped down from the city wall, covering a hundred yards in an instant, carrying an overwhelming aura of death as he charged toward Princess Ziyue. Princess Ziyue thought, This is the greatest crisis Ive ever faced. But she didnt panic in the slightest. Suddenly, there was a swish, swish as a sword and a saber flew in from nearby. The sword was a divine sword, and the saber was a divine saber, both carrying a chilling intent as they came towards the ck-d elder. The ck-d elders gaze sharpened, and in the blink of an eye, he retreated several dozen feet, avoiding the edge of the sword and saber. Then, following the momentum of the sword and saber, he focused his gaze and saw two young men who appeared carefree and unrestrained, calmly approaching. They caught the flying sword and saber. Are you the Sword Immortal and the Saber Saint? In the world of martial arts masters, they were well-known, so they recognized each other. Thats right, its us! they both said in unison. Why have youe, and why are you interfering in my affairs? the ck-d elder asked. Weve been entrusted by someone, and when youre loyal, you have to help, the Sword Immortal said with a smile. Yeah, our little brother rarely asks us for a favor, so we rushed over to assist! the Saber Saint added with augh. Who entrusted you? the ck-d elder inquired. Naturally, its me! Lin Beifan strolled over with a smirk. You are The elder found the young man in front of him somewhat familiar, thought for a moment, and eximed in surprise, Youre Lin Beifan, the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Great Wu, the Brave and Loyal King? Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Thats right, its me! With this revtion, the entire scene was shocked. The Prime Minister of the Great Wu is here? And hes brought two martial masters with him! Does this mean that the Great Wu intends to intervene in the affairs of Dyu? The ck-d elder asked, Is the Great Wu nning to intervene in this matter? Thats right! Back then, your Dyu led 500,000 troops into our territory, threatening the Phoenix Mountain Range and our rule! This enmity will not be forgotten, no matter how many years pass! Lin Beifan dered loudly. Now, its time for revenge! Brothers, help me kill the Grandmaster! After the battle, well celebrate in the Grand Pce! The Sword Immortal and the Saber Saint burst intoughter. Well said! After the deed is done, well celebrate in the Grand Pce! We wont return until were drunk! With that, they each took up their sword and saber and advanced towards the ck-d elder. The ck-d elder turned and flew outward, saying, This ce is not suitable; lets fight outside! Agreed! The three martial masters quickly disappeared from view. With no martial masters to threaten them, Princess Ziyue raised her arm and shouted, Soldiers, follow me! The martial masters have left; now is the time to storm the imperial city! Its time for a change of dynasty! Storm the imperial city, charge! Its time for a change of dynasty, right now! Fight for a new life! The morale-boosted rebel army surged forward in a massive wave, charging into battle. Chapter 439: The Slanted Moon Returns, Princess Ziyue Ascends to the Throne as Empress! Chapter 439: The nted Moon Returns, Princess Ziyue Ascends to the Throne as Empress! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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The Dayue Dynasty naturally organized resistance. Although their Grandmaster was called away and couldnt intervene, the Dayue Dynasty remained powerful. They relied on the advantage of city walls and the cultivation of talented individuals from the court to resist the approaching righteous army. The battle between the two sides was fiercely contested, with no clear winner. Princess Ziyue, who wasmanding the operation, frowned upon seeing this. The main forces of the Dayue Dynasty were concentrated in the capital city. Taking control of this territory wouldnt be easy. Even if the righteous army eventually won, it would be a Pyrrhic victory. In that case, their strength would inevitably be greatly diminished, and if neighboring nations took advantage of the situation, the efforts of these years would go to waste, and the restoration of the empire would be a mere illusion. In a desperate situation, Princess Ziyue called out to Lin Beifan, I implore the Great Wu Prime Minister to lend a hand! Once this is sessful, we will surely offer generous rewards! Lin Beifan looked at the generals around him, who were eager for both protection and potential rewards, and said, You all heard it; its time for you to act! Upon hearing Lin Beifans words, they enthusiastically responded, Yes, Supreme Commander! Without hesitation, theyunched an attack, turning into 20 streaks of light that soared towards the city walls. With 20 innate experts, they had the potential to change the course of the battle. When they went all out, they easily broke through the Dayue Dynastys defenses, and in a matter of moments, there was a thunderous roar as the city gates swung open. Princess Ziyues spirits rose, All righteous soldiers and civilians, follow me into the city. The change of dynasty is happening now! Charge!!! The righteous soldiers were filled with excitement as they rushed into the city. The Dayue Dynastys forces retreated step by step until they reached the imperial pce, with no way to retreat further. At this moment, the 20 innate experts from the Great Wu Prime Minister continued to advance toward the imperial pce, their momentum unstoppable, and no one could stand in their way. In less than half an incense sticks time, the gates of the imperial pce resounded with a deafening crash as they opened. Therefore, the righteous soldiers entered one after another, cutting down the pce guards and apprehending members of the imperial family. Inside the pce, a storm of bloodshed raged. Seeing the inevitable defeat, the Dayue Emperor and the imperial family members, under the protection of skilled experts, escaped through a secret passage. But to their surprise, as they exited the secret passage, they found themselves caught in a encirclement created by Princess Ziyue. I knew you would try to escape from here! Princess Ziyue sneered. The Dayue Emperor was shocked, How did you know? Have you forgotten? Who did this pce originally belong to? Princess Ziyue spoke with overwhelming resentment. Twenty years ago, it was you who expelled us from here and then upied our nest! I escaped through this secret passage! The Dayue Emperor cursed once again, saying, So you are remnants of the nted Moon! Today, I will avenge myte father and mother, as well as the brothers and sisters of the imperial family! Princess Ziyue shouted, Arrest them all, and I will personally pass judgment on each one! Yes, Your Highness! the attendants responded. Next, both sides engaged in a fierce battle. However, due to Princess Ziyues thorough preparations, she managed to eliminate all resistance forces and captured all members of the imperial family, led by the Dayue Emperor. The Grandmaster, who had been battling two Grandmasters, saw this scene and was about toe to their rescue. But at that moment, he sensed a life-threatening crisis approaching from inside the pce. There are experts among the righteous army! This is bad, I must escape! He instantly abandoned his n to rescue the Dayue Emperor, shook off the Sword Immortal and the Saber Saint, and fled for his life. Lin Beifan wore a faint smile on his face, saying, Running pretty fast! Ill give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If you can escape my pursuit, youre lucky! The time of an incense stick burned quickly. Lin Beifan used his mental power to lock onto the Grandmaster, and with an additional ice knife in hand, he disappeared with a swoosh. The de didnt return, but the world lost another Grandmaster. With this, the overall situation was settled. Princess Ziyue then brought the Dayue Emperor and others to the entrance of the imperial pce for a public trial. At this moment, to everyones astonishment, they realized that the leader of the righteous army was actually the former ruler of the Dayue, and furthermore, thest emperors own daughter Princess Ziyue. In just two or three years, she had sessfully restored the dynasty, truly proving that women were just as capable as men! As heads rolled one by one, the onlookers couldnt help but feel a sense of satisfaction. However, Princess Ziyue began to weep, saying, Father, mother, I have finally avenged you! The nted Moon Dynasty will be restored under my rule, and you can rest in peace beneath the earth! Lin Beifan couldnt help but feel helpless. If you want to cry, just cry. Why are you hugging me and crying like this? It was quite awkward in front of so many people, and exining it wasnt easy. After crying, Princess Ziyue wiped her tears and snot on Lin Beifans clothes, then regained herposure. Facing the expectant eyes of the crowd, she sincerely and loudly dered, Dear fellow countrymen, although our nted Moon royal family made some mistakes in the past, we have paid a heavy price for those mistakes! We have learned the lessons of bloodshed, and now that we have returned, we will not repeat the same mistakes! Rest assured, we will fulfill all the promises we made to you! After the restoration of the nted Moon Dynasty, thend will be distributed to the righteous army and the people who contributed their efforts! The greater the merit, the morend you will receive! We are the rulers here, and you are also the rulers here! Let us work together to govern this country, ensuring its eternal prosperity! After receiving Princess Ziyues promise, everyone felt reassured. Their uprising had been partly motivated by the promise ofnd rewards from the righteous army. Now, it was finallying to fruition. So, they shouted with enthusiasm: Long live Princess Ziyue! Long live the nted Moon! In the following days, Princess Ziyue and her entourage began preparations for the restoration of the nted Moon, including her coronation ceremony. They sent out invitations to various countries to attend the coronation ceremony. At this point, people also learned that the former Dayues righteous army had quite a history, as they were once part of the nted Moons old guard. They had spent 20 years diligently working towards this restoration, a truly remarkable feat in history. This restoration of the nted Moon will surely go down in history! Yes, and they seeded in just 20 years; its astonishing! I heard that the one leading this restoration is Princess Ziyue, the daughter of the previous nted Moon Emperor! She pursued an elusive dream for over 20 years and actually achieved it. Shes a remarkable woman, truly admirable! Princess Ziyues coronation marks another extraordinary empress! Yes, both Great Wu and Dayue now have remarkable empresses, both exceptional beauties! This ceremony is a must-attend! As a result, all the invited nations sent dignitaries to attend. Since Lin Beifan was originally in the Dayue, he naturally represented Great Wu. On the day of the coronation, a massive crowd gathered, and anticipation filled the air. Amid the sea of people, Princess Ziyue, wearing a brand-new dragon robe and a dragon crown, walked with great dignity and grace, supported by the crowd. She then paid respects to the heavens and earth, honored her parents, and dered the restoration of the nation. The Dayue Dynasty was henceforth renamed the nted Moon Dynasty. Following that, she ascended to the throne as Empress, with the title of Emperor Ziyue of Benevolence and Virtue. This title was bestowed upon her because she had led a peasant uprising and distributednd to the peasants, disying unparalleled benevolence and virtue. Next came the enfeoffment of meritorious officials. Anyone who had followed her in the uprising and demonstrated significant achievements received rewards. Many received enfeoffments and promotions. However, what surprised everyone was that the selection for the Prime Minister and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces had not been made. Doubts arose in everyones mindsdid Empress Ziyue want to consolidate power for herself? At that moment, Empress Ziyue spoke loudly, Here, I want to express my profound gratitude to one person! Because the restoration of the nted Moon Dynasty, my ascension to the throne as Emperor, owes everything to the support of that person! It is he who allowed me to achieve this magnificent feat in just three short years! Without him, none of the present glory would exist! The people in attendance were all amazed! They hadnt expected that behind Empress Ziyue and the nted Moon Dynasty, there was a hidden figure of great influence. In just three years, Empress Ziyue had aplished the restoration! Incredible! Someone couldnt help but ask, Your Majesty, who is this person? Can you please tell us? Empress Ziyues gaze shifted towards Lin Beifan, carrying an indescribable admiration and affection, and she said, This person is my military strategist. He possesses extraordinary talents that epass heaven and earth, and he excels in governing the country and leading the army. Throughout the realm, even if we look back in history for years, we cannot find another person of such astonishing abilities! The crowd was astonished once again! Talents that epass heaven and earth, exceptional in governing the country and leading the army! Throughout the realm, even if we look back in history for years, we cannot find another person of such astonishing abilities! Could this be a bit exaggerated? Was there really someone that extraordinary? Zhao Kuo, who was sitting next to Lin Beifan, couldnt help but nce at him and whispered, General, I feel that Empress Ziyue is talking about you! Throughout the realm, only you possess such exceptional abilities! Lin Beifan: .. Your Majesty, who is this person, after all? Another person couldnt resist asking. But Empress Ziyue shook her head, smiling, As for who this person is, I wont reveal it without his permission! But what I want to say is that I cant do without him, and the nted Moon cant do without him either! He alone is equivalent to an entire dynasty! Thats why Im leaving both the positions of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander to him! The crowd was astonished once again. To assign both the critical positions of Prime Minister and Supreme Commander to one person was truly unprecedented! Under the heavens, only one person could receive such an honor. But looking at the nted Moons officials, they seemed to take it as a matter of course, without any objections. Could it be that there really was this strategist whose abilities were beyond imagination and who hadpletely won over everyone? At this point, Zhao Kuo leaned in again and whispered, Supreme Commander, Im even more convinced that Empress Ziyue is talking about you! Lin Beifan: Shut up! I heard that; dont treat me like a mute! Chapter 440: Military Strategist, tonight you belong to me! Chapter 440: Military Strategist, tonight you belong to me! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Zhao Kuo closed his mouth obediently. In Lin Beifans heart, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Princess Ziyue had a sense of propriety and didnt mention his name. Otherwise, he really couldnt continue staying still. Next, Princess Ziyue, who had already been promoted to Empress, hosted guests from all sides. It wasnt until evening that everyone left for their own homes. However, Lin Beifan was left behind. On the entire Golden Hall, only the two of them remained. Empress Ziyue sat on the dragon throne in the Golden Hall, looking at Lin Beifan standing below, and proudly said, Military Strategist, look, after so many years of effort, We have finally restored the dynasty and ascended to the throne of the supreme! Lin Beifan nodded with a smile, Yes, all the way here, Your Highness has truly been through a lot No, I should address you as Your Majesty now, haha! But, I still prefer to call you Military Strategist! Empress Ziyue joyfully flew down from the dragon throne and came to Lin Beifans side, saying with a smile, Military Strategist, this dragon throne also has a ce for you,e and have a seat! With that, she pulled Lin Beifan in the direction of the dragon throne. Uh how can I do this? Im not an emperor Lin Beifan felt a bit embarrassed. Military Strategist, please take a seat! Lin Beifan was pushed into the dragon throne, and Empress Ziyue sat down beside him, asking with a beaming smile, Military Strategist, how does it feel? Lin Beifan looked left and right and replied, Theres not much of a feeling, its just a chair made of gold! But countless people have toiled and sacrificed for it, with brothers fighting each other and fathers fighting sons, all not umon. But in the end, it all turns into dust! For example, the Dayue Emperor, who sat on the dragon throne for more than 20 years, was taken down by you, and his head rolled! So, this dragon throne is really notfortable to sit on. Once you sit on it, you can only be a solitary ruler! Although you have the world, you have nothing of your own, living less freely than ordinary people. Its better not to take it! Empress Ziyue sighed, Indeed, if it werent for the burden on my shoulders, I wouldnt want to sit on this dragon throne either! Conquering a kingdom is difficult, but defending it is even harder! So, Military Strategist, please stay. I really need you, and nted Moon also needs you very much! Lin Beifan smiled wryly, Your Majesty, I want to stay too, but when Im in the court, I have no choice Empress Ziyue sneered, Stop making excuses. Are you not willing to let go of that woman from Great Wu? Which woman? Lin Beifan pretended not to understand. Hmph! Its naturally the Empress of Great Wu! Empress Ziyue snorted and said with a touch of jealousy, Military Strategist, dont pretend. Ive long known about the situation between you two! When you were in the Lin Mansion earlier this year, I saw the Empress of Great Wu at a nce. Her heart has long been set on you! And now, youve even started preparing for the wedding. Its going to be held in a few months, am I right? Lin Beifan panicked. How did Empress Ziyue know so much? Now, how could he continue to deceive her? But I understand! Empress Ziyue caressed Lin Beifans face, somewhat infatuated, Someone as extraordinary as the Military Strategist, how could that woman not be attracted to you? Lin Beifan immediately nodded happily. Your understanding is greatly appreciated! However, flies dontnd on seamless eggs! Empress Ziyue sneered. If it werent for the fact that you attracted attention, constantly exuding charm, how could that woman have set her sights on you? Lin Beifan tried to defend himself, Your Majesty, youre making a bit of a stretch Shut up, you heartbreaker! Dont talk about me making a stretch Can you count how many women have appeared by your side so far? Empress Ziyue was furious. Each one is stunningly beautiful, each one is peerless! Youve captured them all, not one left! Lin Beifans face turned bitter. Your Majesty, calm down. Ive only made a mistake that all men in the world would make! Do you still have excuses? Empress Ziyue angrily pinched Lin Beifans soft flesh. Lin Beifan winced in pain. When this woman got angry, it was always the same. She liked pinching people, and it really hurt! After getting angry, Empress Ziyue suddenly felt sorry. Military Strategist, does it hurt? Let me massage it for you! As she massaged, she said, That woman likes you, and I also really like you! I wish I could tie you to my side for 12 hours a day, day and night! But its obvious that you cant let go of those women from Great Wu! Military Strategist, youre wise, how do you suggest resolving this? Lin Beifan was in a panic. This was truly a century-old dilemma in love! Shes asking me to choose between her and the Empress of Great Wu! Choosing one side would inevitably offend the other! But not choosing would lead to disaster! Fortunately, Lin Beifan was an experienced driver who drove steadily. He asked seriously, Your Majesty, do you love me? Empress Ziyue nodded earnestly. I do! Lin Beifan asked again, How much do you love me? Empress Ziyue affectionately replied, Very much, very much! Lin Beifan snapped his fingers, Love is the answer! Love is meant to be shared! Your Majesty, you should share the things you love with others. Its better to enjoy together than to enjoy alone! Empress Ziyue: She was so angry that she once again pinched Lin Beifans soft flesh. Stop talking nonsense! Clearly, youre just finding excuses for your fickle heart. Dont you have enough women already? Lin Beifan pitifully said, Of course not enough! As the saying goes, more friends, more paths; more women, more experiences! Im an orphan, a lonely life. I long for a few more of you Empress Ziyue scolded Lin Beifan, You unfaithful man! Youre straying with multiple women? Lin Beifan immediately defended himself, Im not unfaithful; I just get seasick! Bncing multiple rtionships allows for a smoother journey! Pah! Thats all nonsense! They continued their yful banter for a long time. Lin Beifan noticed it was gettingte and, more importantly, his body couldnt handle much more, so he excused himself, saying, Your Majesty, its gettingte. Lets discuss anything else tomorrow! Empress Ziyue coldly smiled, Leaving? Where are you going? This is your home! Stay with Us tonight! Lin Beifan felt anxious, as if something was about to happen tonight. Your Majesty, wait, Im not prepared! But I am prepared! Empress Ziyue spoke with great solemnity, Military Strategist, the dynasty has been restored, and Ive ascended to the throne. We must think about the future! The dynasty must not end, so the responsibility of continuing the bloodline can only fall to us! Lin Beifan suddenly felt the weighty responsibility pressing down on him. He couldnt refuse this! If he led to the dynasty having no heir, he would be a sinner! Empress Ziyue lifted Lin Beifans chin and said with a fragrant breath, Military Strategist, tonight you belong to me! Afterward, Lin Beifan was led into the dragons embrace, and the night unfolded in a passionate manner. The next day, after foreign diplomats had attended the coronation ceremony, they gradually departed. However, Lin Beifan remained behind. Firstly, because the nted Moon Dynasty had just been restored, and there was much work to be done. Empress Ziyuecked political experience, and her advisors were scarce. Managing this newly established nation was a daunting task, so Lin Beifan stayed to help Empress Ziyue formte policies and handle state affairs, guiding the nted Moon Dynasty towards stability. Secondly, the royal family couldnt afford to have no heirs; otherwise, the court would be unstable, and the nation would be in turmoil. Lin Beifan understood the gravity of this responsibility and chose to stay, dedicating himself to the welfare of the dynasty. After several days and nights of hard work, Lin Beifan finally handed over the ten-year development n for the nted Moon Dynasty based on the actual situation. Your Majesty, this is the ten-year development n Ive formted based on the current situation of the nted Moon Dynasty! It should be followed ording to the outlined measures. In ten years, the nted Moon Dynasty will surely regain its former glory! Empress Ziyue, after reading it, was very satisfied. She said, Well done, Military Strategist. Im very pleased with the national policy youve formted. Lets follow the n outlined above! I hope that in ten years, as youve said, our former glory will be restored! Your satisfaction is what matters, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan said eagerly, You see, Ive devised so many policies for you. Charging you a few million taels shouldnt be considered expensive, right? Empress Ziyue rolled her eyes in exasperation. At this moment, he still remembered money! This Military Strategist had truly fallen into a money pit! Empress Ziyue lifted Lin Beifans waist and headed towards the dragon bed. Lin Beifan was quite anxious. Your Majesty, what are you nning to do? Military Strategist, didnt you want money? Empress Ziyue said with a mischievous smile. Since I dont have money, I can only offerpensation in flesh! Lin Beifan was extremely frustrated. I knew it! Love discussions are costly, and now I wont make any money in the future! Empress Ziyueughed heartily in triumph. This went on for over two weeks. Since Lin Beifan hadnt returned to Great Wu for a long time, the Empress who ruled the Great Wu court was somewhat uneasy. She thought, Could this unfaithful man be enchanted by that seductress and reluctant toe back? Immediately, the Empress gathered information through her secret channels to learn about the situation in nted Moon. She came to a conclusion: it wasnt that Lin Beifan was reluctant to leave, but he was possibly being forcibly kept there and couldnt return. This is outrageous! the Empress fumed. This unfaithful woman! I kindly helped her restore her country, and she wants to snatch away my man? She quickly wrote a letter and sent it urgently, 800 li, to the Empress of nted Moon. When Empress Ziyue received the letter from the Empress of Great Wu, she burst intoughter. That woman actually wrote to me? She probably wants me to send Military Strategist back! Haha, this is quite interesting! With a sense of satisfaction she couldnt exin, Empress Ziyue opened the letter. But as she read further, her expression grew increasingly serious. Eventually, she broke into a cold sweat, which turned into a bitter smile of helplessness. I underestimated this woman; she actually knows everything! The favor I owe her is enormous!
1. What does a stretch mean in ng? Used to describe something that is unlikely, or really out of the ordinary; quite difficult Chapter 441: The Confrontation of Two Empresses! Chapter 441: The Confrontation of Two Empresses! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Empress Ziyue had always arrogantly believed that what she did in Great Wu was a secret, unknown to the other empress. She was wrong. The other empress not only knew but knew very clearly. She had long known that she was once the leader of the Taiyi Sect, causing trouble and manipting people in Jiangdong. She had long known her identity as Princess Ziyue. She had long known that she secretly nurtured a rebel army in thend of Wuxi. She had long known about her collusion with the military strategist, and not only knew but also covertly supported it. For example, when the nted Moon Army had to purchase arge number of wild rabbits due to food shortages and release them in the Qinglong and Fenghuang Mountains, it wasnt as easy as it seemed. However, the empress assisted them behind the scenes, making it all go smoothly. For example, after the recapture of Wuxi, the nted Moon Army became the biggest threat to Great Wu in the west. However, the empress didnt take action against them; instead, she shielded them, allowing them to proceed smoothly to Dayue and carry out their grand ns. It can be said that without the empresss help, her grand ns wouldnt have gone so smoothly. It can be said that if she had intervened even slightly, her grand ns would have been aborted. Who would allow foreign invaders to run amok and expand their influence in their own territory? But the empress had the generosity to do so! I owe the empress too much, Empress Ziyue sighed. She, a self-confident woman, had always seen the empress as herpetition, dreaming of one day surpassing her. But now she realized that she was far behind inparison. What she had always taken pride in was invisible under the empresss watchful eye, like a small, insignificant matter. What astonished her the most was that the empress knew about the secret collusion between Lin Beifan and her, involving many treasonous acts, yet she didnt punish Lin Beifan; instead, she promoted him. And now, she was even preparing to marry him. Is this the empresss love for the strategist? Empress Ziyue was deep in thought. If she were in the empresss position and discovered that one of her lovers had a woman opposing her in secret, she definitely wouldnt tolerate it and would do everything to eliminate the threat. But the empress didnt, because she cared about the other person and didnt want to harm those dear to them. This capacity to forgive was truly admirable. However, though she admired it in her heart, she couldnt admit it openly. A letter personally written by Empress Ziyue was urgently sent 800 miles to Great Wu Capital. Upon receiving the letter, the empress chuckled and said, Still not convinced? I will make you call me sister! The empress immediately wrote a response and sent it back. Empress Ziyue, upon seeing this letter, instantly lost herposure. This letter not only brought the empresss greetings but also her promises. These promises were incredibly generous, making it impossible for her to remain calm. Food aid! Taiping rice seed aid! Tax-free trade between our two nations! An alliance between our two nations, with mutual military assistance! Firstly, food aid, which is of utmost importance. They had just experienced a severe frostst year, and until now, they were in chaos, with no one farming. Many fertilends had turned fallow, leading to a significant decrease in food production this year. Many people were going hungry. If the food issue wasnt resolved, their nation would remain unstable, and their government wouldnt be secure. Meanwhile, Great Wu had a bountiful harvest this year, nearly doubling its food production. They possessed a vast surplus of food. If the other side could provide some food, it would undoubtedly help them get through the year. In doing so, the nted Moon would be able to develop smoothly. Secondly, aid with Taiping rice seeds, which was also crucial. Now, everyone in the world knew that Great Wu had achieved a bountiful harvest thanks to nting Taiping rice seeds, stabilizing the nation and making the people prosperous. If the nted Moon could obtain Tai Ping rice seeds, they would undoubtedly have a bountiful harvest next year. With the people well-fed, the nted Moon would stabilize, develop rapidly, and soon restore its former glory. Tax-free trade between our two nations is essential. The nted Moon had money butcked resources. If they could purchase goods from Great Wu at a lower cost, it would undoubtedly aid in economic recovery and promote economic and trade development. An alliance between our two nations, with mutual military assistance, is also much needed. Their nation had just been established, and although they bore the name of a dynasty, they didnt have the strength of one. Many neighboring countries were eager to take advantage and seize nted Moon territory. At this time, forming an alliance with Great Wu would deter potential enemies, making them think twice about taking action, lest they offend Great Wu. I may not be able to defeat you, but Great Wu will send troops to deal with you. After reading this letter, Empress Ziyue gritted her teeth and muttered, That woman is so despicable! She knows I cant resist this kind of temptation and still brought it up! Shes clearly taking advantage of me! Taking a deep breath and embracing a fearless spirit of sacrifice, Empress Ziyue said, Alright, for the sake of the nted Moon, what does it matter to me personally? Ill just call her sister. I ept! Empress Ziyue immediately wrote a letter in response to the empresss proposal, agreeing to the terms beyond what was written in the letter. When Lin Beifan found out about this, he was shocked, saying, An alliance between our two nations? How did I not know about this? Empress Ziyue smirked, Strategist, of course you didnt know! Because it was discussed between me and that woman! Lin Beifan turned pale, What? You two discussed it yourselves? Empress Ziyue nodded, Yes! Lin Beifan was stunned. These two arch-enemy women, who seemed to have no connection on the surface, were secretlymunicating and even discussing forming an alliance Lin Beifan felt a chill creeping up his spine, as if there were a major secret hidden from him. He asked, How did you contact each other? Empress Ziyue replied, Through letters, of course! Lin Beifan asked again, What did you discuss in the letters? Can you tell me? We discussed many things in the letters, but Empress Ziyues gaze shifted, apanied by an inexplicable smirk, she said, This is a secret between the two of us, I wont tell the strategist! Lin Beifan was itching to know. Not knowing made him very uneasy. It felt like these two women were plotting something behind his back! Just tell me what you discussed, please. I promise not to reveal it! Lin Beifan said softly. Empress Ziyue shook her head, I still cant tell you! Your Majesty, just tell me! You said Im your most trusted strategist! Now, you wont even share a little secret with me? Do you no longer trust me? Lin Beifan pretended to be pitiful. Seeing Lin Beifans pitiful appearance, Empress Ziyue couldnt help but suppress a smile. Strategist, its not that I dont want to tell you, its that the other woman wont let me tell you! So if you really want to know, go and ask that woman! Strategist, youve been in the nted Moon for long enough; its time to return to Great Wu! But I dont want to go back now. I cant bear to leave you! Lin Beifan pretended to be affectionate. Normally, this approach worked well, but now You must go back! If you dont return, the food promised by that woman wont be delivered! So you must go back! For the nted Moon, for me, you must go back! Empress Ziyue said firmly. Lin Beifan, with a mix of sadness and anger, said, Your Majesty, youre selling me out for just this? Empress Ziyue retorted, What do you mean just this? Its a lot of things! If that woman hadnt offered so much, I wouldnt bear to have you leave! But theres a long road ahead, and well have many opportunities to be together! Empress Ziyue spoke tenderly as she led Lin Beifan away. Lin Beifan, perplexed, asked, Your Majesty, what are you nning? Strategist, since youre preparing to leave, we need to make good use of our time to continue the bloodline. The dynasty must not end! Empress Ziyue said urgently. Lin Beifan was bewildered, But its daytime now! Does that displease you? Lin Beifan replied solemnly, Your Majesty, you misunderstand! What I meant is that, day or night, I am ready to serve you wholeheartedly, even if it means giving my all and sacrificing everything for you! Chapter 442: Indeed passionate, passionate enough to roll in the sheets! Chapter 442: Indeed passionate, passionate enough to roll in the sheets! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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After spending a week, Lin Beifan finally arrived in the capital city of Great Wu. On the previous day, Lin Beifan immediately entered the pce to meet the Empress. The Empress looked at Lin Beifan with a mixed expression and said, Prime Minister, you finally decided to go home! Lin Beifan was puzzled and asked, Your Majesty, what do you mean? The Empress angrily said, Prime Minister, look at yourself. From the time you left the capital until now, its been a month and a half! ording to the protocol, after participating in the nted Moon Restoration Ceremony, you should have returned. But you dyed for half a month. What do you have to say for yourself? Lin Beifan sighed and said, Your Majesty, its because of Empress Ziyues enthusiasm! She was so grateful for my assistance and the help of Great Wu that she insisted on keeping me there for several days, treating me hospitably. I had no choice. The Empress chuckled coldly and said inwardly, Yes, indeed, enthusiasm, enthusiasm enough to roll in the bed! Lin Beifan felt extremely anxious. The thing he had been worried about had indeed happened. The Empress seemed to know something! Next, the Empresss words confirmed his thoughts. Dont think I dont know. That Ziyue Empress, she used to be the top courtesan in the capital, and at the same time, shes your lover, Ziyue Lady, isnt she? The Empress questioned. Lin Beifan became even more panicked; the Empress indeed knew! His rtionship with Ziyue Empress, to put it mildly, was a mutual affection, but to put it bluntly, it was treason! After all, he was a high-ranking official of Great Wu, and she was a princess of another country, both with sensitive identities. Their involvement could not help but raise suspicions. Now that it was out in the open, what should he do next? Lin Beifans first thought was to escape! The Empress continued angrily, You two have really done well, conspiring behind my back! Lin Beifan squinted and said, Your Majesty, thats a bit unfair! In fact, it was me who established the rtionship with her first, you cameter! The Empress, infuriated, said, You dare to argue? Lin Beifan straightened his neck and boldly said, Your Majesty, now that you already know about my rtionship with Ziyue Empress, whether you want to kill me or punish me, I wont frown! Very well this is what you said! The Empress pointed at Lin Beifan and said with anger, Ill punish you Ill punish you Looking at the Empresss angry expression, Lin Beifan felt extremely uneasy, and his emotions were in turmoil. Could it be that our rtionship is over now? Although he had imagined many times in the past the scene of running away. However, there has never been such a strong reluctance before. Its not that I cant bear to part with wealth, high rank, and riches; its that I cant bear to part with the person in front of me! Should I abandon my wicked ways andpletely submit to her? Just then, the Empresss finger pointed to the high stack of memorials on the nearby desk and said, I will punish you. In the next week, you must review these memorials for me, and you are not allowed to leave until they are all corrected. Lin Beifan: Huh? Lin Beifan was utterly baffled. He had prepared to escape, even contemted releasing his inner evil and taking a forceful approach, but now the Empress was punishing him by reviewing memorials? And he couldnt leave until he finished them? What kind of punishment was this? It was just his daily work, right? It was just a hint of the 996 working hours! Lin Beifan blinked, Is that it? Isnt it enough? the Empress said with irritation. Should I add another week? Lin Beifan hastily waved his hand, No, no, no Its definitely enough! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your leniency. I will give my all toplete this task. Now that you know, why arent you getting to work? The Empress stood up, somewhat impatient. Oh alright, Ill get to it! So, Lin Beifan embarked on the daunting task of handling state affairs once again. There were so many memorials, piled up on his desk and strewn across the floor. It made his head spin. Lin Beifan suspected that these memorials were deliberately left for him to handle as a punishment for showing leniency during the nted Moon Ceremony. Meanwhile, the Empress was in the adjacent room, selecting jewelry for the uing grand wedding. She personally examined every piece of jewelry and scrutinized every little detail until she was satisfied. Although it seemed like a meticulous process, the Empress found joy in it, and a faint, blissful smile adorned her face, the smile of a contented woman. Seeing her, Lin Beifan couldnt help but feel his heart sway, and he walked over. The Empress red at him and asked, Have you finished correcting the memorials? Lin Beifan shook his head, Not yet. Then why arent you continuing? Let me make it clear, if you dont finish, I wont let you leave! the Empress huffed. With two delicate golden hairpins in her hands, she wasparing them to see which one looked better for the wedding. Which one would be more suitable for the asion. Lin Beifan sat down and looked at the Empress sincerely, saying, Your Majesty, you look truly beautiful! This sudden expression of affection caught the Empress off guard, and her cheeks turned red in an instant. Although her heart was secretly delighted, she bit her lip and retorted, Honeyed words, smooth talk! Let me tell you, Im not as easily fooled as those naive young girls who know nothing about the world! Lin Beifan felt a bit wronged and said, Your Majesty, who else could I possibly deceive? Even my rtionship with Ziyue Empress is known to you. In this lifetime I cant escape your grasp! The Empress smirked triumphantly, Indeed! Under the heavens, there is no one who understands you better than I do! Alright, my dear,e help me decide which hairpin is suitable for the wedding day. I would be delighted to assist, my beloved Majesty! Lin Beifan immediately moved closer, one hand on the Empresss slender waist, and the other helping her select a hairpin. The Empress leaned her head against Lin Beifans shoulder, her smile even more radiant. At this moment, Great Wu remained peaceful and prosperous, thanks to the alliance between the nted Moon Dynasty and Great Wu. But in other regions, chaos and turmoil still prevailed. At this time, shocking news came from Great Xia: Great Xias Crown Prince, Xia Tianqiong, had sessfully returned to Great Xia. Initially, his influence in the court had beenrgely divided among others. However, he unexpectedly possessed a mysterious power in the background. This power, aside from a few individuals, remained unknown to all. It was a secret power left to him by the Great Xia Emperor, hidden away and not easily used. This power was secretive but formidable. The Great Xia Crown Prince had sessfully returned to Great Xia thanks to this power. Upon his return, he immediately embarked on a bloody path of ughter. Anyone who defied him, resisted him, regardless of their status, background, even if they were royal rtives or close siblings, he mercilessly ughtered them. In one pce, the Crown Prince of Great Xia, dressed in a dragon robe, looked at the bloody corpses scattered everywhere. He yelled angrily at the young man in ck armor in front of him, Brother, am I not your own flesh and blood? Are you going to kill me too? Of course! When the ruler breaks thew, he shares the same guilt as themon people! Xia Tianqiong shouted, Have I done anything wrong? Heh, still unrepentant? Xia Tianqiongs gaze was extremely cold. Our Great Xia has fallen to this state because you and others disregarded the countrys interests, fought for power and profit! All of you are traitors, all of you are scoundrels who bring disaster to the nation and the people, all of you deserve to die! Only by killing all of you can Great Xia see the dawn! The Great Xia Crown Prince yelled, Xia Tianqiong, for your cruelty, you will face retribution! Cruelty? Retribution? Xia Tianqiong gave a deste smile. Ive long stopped caring about that! For the sake of Great Xia, even if I fall into an endless hell, so be it. With a gentle wave of his hand, he ordered, Kill them all! Leave no one behind! Yes, Your Highness! A group of ck-armored men rushed in and continued the ughter. They spared no one, not even a prince. When Xia Tianqiong left, there was hardly anyone left in the entire pce, not even a single one of the 730 living beings. Xia Tianqiong continued leading his forces, and the entire capital city became a scene of carnage. No one had expected that the returning Great Xia Crown Prince would be so ruthless. Not only did he control a terrifying power, but he had also be even more brutal, sparing no one. In just a few days, he had decimated the high-ranking officials and nobility of the capital city, leaving tens of thousands of heads rolling. The entire city was permeated with a strong smell of blood, making people nauseous. Great Xia had descended into even greater chaos. The fugitive princes and royal figures, who had previously been governing independently and fighting amongst themselves, had now united to confront Xia Tianqiong. The Great Xia Crown Prince has fallen into darkness and is unworthy of being the crown prince! Yes, the Crown Prince is cruel and tyrannical. Great Xia is in danger under his rule! I will unite with you all! First, we must defeat Xia Tianqiong and then contend for the throne! I strongly agree! They formed a million-strong coalition army and advanced toward the capital city. Xia Tianqiong showed no fear. Although he had only 200,000 troops, each one was valiant and skilled in battle. They defended the Great Xia capital against enemies from all directions. Inside the pce, an elderly advisor bowed and said with great concern, Your Highness, various vassal lords are leading a million-strong army, and their momentum is fierce. We should consider a temporary retreat. Preserve the green hills; were not afraid of having no firewood. Xia Tianqiong sighed, Teacher, I understand your intentions, but we dont have much time left. Great Xia cannot afford further division, or the risk of losing the country. We must swiftly resolve this chaos in one fell swoop. But the elderly advisor hesitated. Xia Tianqiong waved his hand decisively, Teacher, theres no need for further discussion. I have my own arrangements. The elderly advisor sighed deeply and refrained from further persuasion. Looking at the Crown Prince, who had been by his side for over a decade, it seemed that he had changed since his return. But at the same time, he hadnt changed at all. Chapter 444: You have a Grandmaster, I am a Grandmaster, who’s afraid of whom? Chapter 444: You have a Grandmaster, I am a Grandmaster, whos afraid of whom? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Everyone was discussing. Initially, everyone thought that the Crown Prince of Great Xia was impulsive and reckless, which led to the horrifying massacre incident, igniting another civil war that plunged Great Xia into turmoil! Now, it seems like he wasnt reckless at all. He clearly had an ace up his sleeve, a n well-thought-out. In just these few days, he managed to resolve all of Great Xias crises, proving himself worthy of being the chosen heir apparent. Handing over the fate of Great Xia to this person would undoubtedly not lead to its downfall and might even lead to a resurgence. Lin Beifan naturally paid attention to the situation in Great Xia, and everything was beyond his expectations. The Crown Prince of Great Xia had a hidden strength, which is why he dared to act so recklessly. However, there was something that surprised Lin Beifan; his hidden strength seemed substantial. Rumors have it that the mysterious elder controlled by the Crown Prince of Great Xia is a Master! But in my opinion, that elder has probably reached the level of a Grandmaster! Lin Beifan muttered to himself. From the information gathered by the court, that mysterious elder effortlessly killed a precelestial expert, indeed possessing the strength of a Master, which is why peoplebeled him as such. However, Lin Beifan spected based on the collected information, with an eighty percent certainty, that the other party was a Grandmaster, one of the strongest in the world. Because even for a Master, its not so easy to enter the midst of a million-strong army and kill precelestial experts. The other party, on the other hand, achieved it effortlessly, so it was highly likely they were a Grandmaster. Although the Crown Prince of Great Xia had the assistance of a Grandmaster, Lin Beifan was not at all concerned. You have a Grandmaster, I am a Grandmaster, whos afraid of whom? In a fight, were evenly matched at best. What can you do to me? Moreover, it wont be long before Im no longer a Grandmaster! I will be something above a Grandmaster the Supreme Grandmaster! Except for that woman who seems god-like and devilish, who else in the world can challenge me? So, Lin Beifan remained unfazed, staying in the imperial pce in the capital, watching the changes in the world. At this moment, within the borders of Great Xia, after the Crown Prince of Great Xia defeated the alliance of six nations, morale soared. He continued to lead a million-strong army, relentlessly pursuing and reiming lost territories. The coalition of six nations had just suffered a major defeat, and the troops from these nations stationed in Great Xia were extremely frightened, retreating even before the battle began. As a result, the territories that had been upied were quickly reimed by the Crown Prince of Great Xia. The rulers of the six nations were heartbroken; thends they had just acquired were taken away without a fight. Additionally, they suffered significant losses in terms of troops and once again offended Great Xia, which was a huge loss for them. It was a situation akin to losing big. They regretted not studying martial arts instead of going to war. At this moment, the Crown Prince of Great Xia continued to press his advantage, recovering territory until he reached the easternmost region, the White Tiger Mountains. A million troops, banners waving, high morale, but they did not take the next step forward. A nearby general couldnt understand and respectfully asked, Your Highness, why not continue? Our soldiers are highly motivated now, and with this momentum, we can certainly break through the White Tiger Mountains and reim the easternnds! The Crown Prince of Great Xia shook his head, saying, I want to, but its not the right time. Why, Your Highness? Because the easternnds have already fallen into the hands of Great Wu! The Crown Prince of Great Xia sighed helplessly. Great Wus dynasty is not inferior to our Great Xia; they have a powerful military force. During our peak, we still couldnt ovee them. Now, Great Wu is flourishing, growing in strength day by day, while we have endured a century of rare ice disasters and endless internal strife. Our country is no longer what it used to be, and we cantpete with Great Wu. So, if we continue fighting, we will undoubtedly suffer heavy losses, even if we win. The Crown Prince continued, But now, we still have many internal and external problems to solve. Our country remains unstable, and if we lose arge number of troops, it will only worsen our situation. So, we cant continue. Your Highness is absolutely right, the general nodded. Whats even more frightening is that if we provoke Lin Beifan because of this, we will incur immeasurable losses, the Crown Prince of Great Xias face turned grave. He is a terrifying individual; he excels in both warfare and statecraft. He is the most formidable opponent I have ever encountered, without a doubt. I have lost to him before. If we anger Lin Beifan and engage in another military campaign, the advantage we have worked so hard to gain may be lost in an instant. The general nodded with a sense of dread. As a militarymander, everyone knew who Lin Beifan was. Because this person was truly terrifying! Although he was a civilian by background, he excelled in warfare, especially in the past two years, where he had won seven or eight major battles with minimal casualties each time. He was rightfully called the God of War! For military leaders, they both yearned to cross swords with Lin Beifan and feared going to war with him because the probability of losing was high. Once defeated, the consequences I, for one, dont want to suffer defeat a second time! If I lose this time, theres noing back! The Crown Prince of Great Xia looked at the White Tiger Mountains and sighed, We will reim the easternnds another time! The general said with a loud voice, Your Highnesss words are wise, and I have learned my lesson. The Crown Prince of Great Xia nced at the White Tiger Mountains in the distance and turned away, unwilling. Lets go back! In the future, when I return, I will definitely reim the easternnds The massive army turned back. Upon returning to the capital of Great Xia, the Crown Prince took care of internal affairs, secured the troops, and prepared for his coronation as emperor. Every emperor liked to send invitations to various nations to witness this world-shaking event, this historic moment. Naturally, Great Wu received the invitation, and Lin Beifan was explicitly invited to attend. However, Lin Beifan refused. He knew the Crown Princes intentions very well. The Crown Prince had been eyeing him for a long time, wanting to use him. If he couldnt be used, then destruction would be the only oue. If he went, he might note back. So, Lin Beifan designated a minister to represent Great Wu at the event. He continued to handle state affairs while preparing for his wedding with the Empress. At this time, the Great Yan Dynasty was once again refining the elixir of immortality. They had spent ten million taels to purchase some dragon bones from him. When this money was deposited into his ount, Lin Beifan was shocked to find out that it was time for him to level up! Chapter 445: Ascending to the Supreme Grandmaster, the Most Powerful in the World! Chapter 445: Ascending to the Supreme Grandmaster, the Most Powerful in the World! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Over the past year, Lin Beifan had umted nearly 200 million taels through various means, and whenbined with other sources of ie, his total wealth reached 300 million taels. With so much ill-gotten wealth, he could easily level up to the next stage. Since the time hade for his advancement, Lin Beifan secretly slipped out of the capital cityte at night. Knowing that this advancement to Supreme Grandmaster might cause somemotion, he ran quite far, nearly 200 li from the capital, into the deep forest. With his spiritual power extended and no one in sight, Lin Beifan excitedly said to himself, System, settle my ount! Ding! Host embezzled a total of 312 million taels of gold, silver, and precious gems, a massive amount that qualifies for the reward of merging with the God of War (Immortal) Yin Zhong (Later Stage) mode! A terrifying force immediately prated Lin Beifans body. This force was truly immense and also included the pinnacle martial art of the world, Dragon God Technique! You see, the character he merged with was essentially a deity among mortals. He had lived for over 500 years and possessed over 500 years worth of power! This was a terrifying martial art technique that allowed one to transform into a dragon, soar through the air, and unleash dragon-shaped attacks on enemies. It could also dispel poisons, heal injuries, and provide protection, among other abilities, making it incredibly powerful. And it offered the ability of immortality! As long as Lin Beifan was willing, he could also obtain the power of immortality and live forever. This continuous influx of power seemed never-ending, and Lin Beifan was starting to feel overwhelmed. Next, a massive wave of memories rushed into his brain, including all the martial arts of this mortal deity and the Taoist arts It was truly, truly, truly incredibly powerful! Lin Beifan sat cross-legged, elerating the absorption of this power, and his strength continued to rise. Meanwhile, in the outside world, the heavens and the earth changed colors, thunder roared, lightning shed, and fierce winds and heavy rain swept through. Vaguely, a ferocious dragon shadow could be seen, and the sound of a dragons roar could be heard, creating a frightening scene. In the capital city, Bai Guanyins expression changed as she looked in the direction of Lin Beifans location. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she muttered to herself, Someone is breaking through to the Supreme Grandmaster? Upon closer sensing, she found the persons aura somewhat familiar. A smile curved her lips beautifully. So, its him! Hes incredibly fast! In the blink of an eye, her body leaped into the air, walking on thin air as if treading on solid ground. With each step, she covered several zhang, quickly flying toward Lin Beifans location, which was two li away in a secluded mountain hut. A white-haired but ruddy-faced old man appeared from the sky. He puffed on his pipe and gazed in the direction of Tianwus capital city, saying, Another fellow Daoist joins us; my path is not lonely! Then, he furrowed his brow. But this fellow Daoists aura so vigorous, seemingly not even 30 years old. In the past few years, that demon girl nearly shattered this old mans bones when I encountered her. Now, this person seems even more destined to be part of the young generation! With that, he suddenly soared into the sky, transforming into a flying crane, heading towards Great Wu. At this moment, Bai Guanyin had already arrived at the location where Lin Beifan was breaking through, standing outside as a guardian. However, when she witnessed the scene of Lin Beifans breakthrough, her eyes were filled with astonishment. What martial art is he cultivating that makes his breakthrough scene so terrifying? The fierce wind and heavy rain,bined with thunder and lightning, asionally revealed the figure of a dragon soaring amidst the storm. Lin Beifan had always given her a sense of mystery. He didnt seem to practice much, but his strength had consistently soared. Especially since he had be a Grandmaster, he had gained various strange abilities, like summoning storms, turning spiritual energy into substance He didnt seem quite human, more like a monster. And now, this breakthrough scene appeared even more monstrous. Despite her shock, Bai Guanyin continued to guard diligently from the outside. She was filled with anticipation in her heart, wondering what abilities Lin Beifan would possess after breaking through to the Supreme Grandmaster. Could shepete with him now? After about two hours, Lin Beifan finallypleted his breakthrough. He took arge step forward and became the highest-level martial artist in the worlda Supreme Grandmaster! Examining himself, he found that his strength had truly skyrocketed. In less than three hours, he could defeat his previous self effortlessly. His strength was unbelievably overwhelming. Lin Beifan raised his head and saw a cold, ethereal woman standing in the sky outside. She was Bai Guanyin, and Lin Beifan had sensed her presence when she had just arrived. However, he was too busy with his breakthrough to pay her much attention. Now, the white mist on Bai Guanyins face couldnt obstruct Lin Beifans view anymore. He could see a beautiful, icy face underneath. She possessed a unique kind of beauty. Different from the empresss grace and world-leading beauty, different from Li Shi Shis elegance and virtuous beauty, different from Mo Rushuangs heroic and valiant beauty, different from Ziyues enchanting and seductive beauty, and different from Little Princesss adorable and cute beauty Her beauty carries a hint of otherworldliness, much like the goddess in the Guanghan Pce, ethereal and unattainable. At this moment, her clear and stunning face had a touch of a smile, and she said contentedly, Lin Beifan, congrattions on breaking through to be a Supreme Grandmaster! I always knew that sooner orter, you would reach this realm. Its just that I didnt expect this day toe so quickly! Lin Beifan smiled and flew towards her. Bai Guanyin, thanks for guarding me just now. Bai Guanyin nodded. No need to thank me! Even without me, you would have achieved enlightenment. But your path is something I find truly puzzling. I sense that there seem to be several different paths within you. These paths are all different, but youve merged them together to form your own path. Its quite strange. Lin Beifan chuckled inwardly. After all, he had assimted the paths of so many individuals, so naturally, their paths became a part of his own. Everyone has their own destiny, he exined. Bai Guanyin agreed, Thats true, different destinies lead to different paths. Then, with a hint of fighting spirit in her beautiful eyes, she asked, How about we have a battle? As top-tier martial artists, encountering an equal opponent meant that they couldnt pass up the opportunity for a duel. Id be delighted! Lin Beifans eyes zed with enthusiasm. It had been a while since he had a worthy opponent. He wanted to test his current strength and see how far he hade. He also wanted to find out the level of cultivation this seemingly otherworldly woman had reached. However, lets wait for another fellow Daoist first. Lin Beifan and Bai Guanyin turned their heads to the northwest. There, a white-haired man in in attire was approaching, holding a tobo pipe and smiling. In the blink of an eye, he had arrived in front of them. Chapter 446: Three Supreme Grandmasters Battle, Lin Beifan Transforms into a Dragon Chapter 446: Three Supreme Grandmasters Battle, Lin Beifan Transforms into a Dragon If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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The old man seemed ordinary, not much different from an ordinary farmer. However, he stood in the air without any support, calmly smoking a dry cigarette, which showcased his extraordinary nature. He first looked at Bai Guanyin and eximed, White girl, its been a few years, and your strength has improved again! Back then, we fought for seven days and nights, and then I narrowly lost to you! But now it seems that it wont take a thousand rounds for me to fall into your hands! Impressive, haha! Heughed loudly, seemingly carefree about winning or losing. Bai Guanyin lowered her head slightly and respectfully said, Senior, youre too kind! The other side waved it off with a smile, saying, White girl, dont call me senior. In the path of martial arts, the one who excels is the leader. You are ahead of me, so I should be the one calling you senior, haha! I dare not, Senior, Bai Guanyin replied. At this moment, the old man looked towards Lin Beifan beside Bai Guanyin and eximed even more, This is the friend who just broke through to be a Supreme Grandmaster. He looks so young! Even younger than White girl back then, what a talent! Truly, the world has a new generation rising, haha Greetings, Senior, Lin Beifan saluted, May I know your name? The other side sighed and shook his head, My name? Ive lived too long, Ive long forgotten it! Over the past three hundred years, Ive watched old friends pass away one by one, leaving me alone to avoid too much pain, Ive forgotten many things! You can call me whatever you like, call me old man or call me beggar haha. Lin Beifan was very surprised; this senior had actually lived for over 300 years, older than an entire dynasty! Bai Guanyin said, Senior indeed has no name. When I asked back then, he didnt answer, just being called Senior is enough! Lin Beifan nodded and called out, Senior. Bai Guanyins fighting spirit surged, All the Supreme Grandmasters in the world are here, but how about we settle our differences? Lin Beifan immediately agreed, I have the same intention! Then, both of them looked towards the old man. The old man, while exhaling smoke, nodded with a smile, Alright, I havent moved my bones in a long time. Ill y with you two little guys! Come at me! As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked the cigarette in his hand, and it turned into a sharp weapon, aimed at Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan didnt dare to be careless. Although this seemed like an ordinary cigarette, it was imbued with the martial will of the old man, turning it into an unstoppable divine weapon, possessing the power to destroy mountains and forests, just like Lin Beifans flying knives. Lin Beifans hand radiated ayer of golden aura as he punched it away. The old man caught the returning cigarette holder andughed, Impressive skills! They attacked again! Bai Guanyin also made her move. She simultaneously aimed one hand in a fist at the old man and another in an open palm strike at Lin Beifan. Two formidable experts simultaneouslyunched their attacks, forcing Lin Beifan to defend against both of them. The old man did the same. The three of them, the top experts of their time, were shing fiercely! Every move they made possessed supreme divine power, capable of reshaping the world or destroying it. Just a fraction of the residual force from their attacks could kill an ordinary person! Boom! Boom! In the blink of an eye, this deep mountain and forest area waspletely devastated! Time and natures changes were insignificant inparison! However, the three continued to battle, paying no heed to the external circumstances! Although they were all Supreme Grandmasters of their time, their fighting styles were distinct. For example, the old mans techniques were unremarkable and even somewhat clumsy, like a child who couldnt walk steadily or an intoxicated old man randomly throwing punches. However, he had reached a state of simplicity, where every punch could work wonders. Bai Guanyins moves were also simple but decisive. A fist was a fist, a palm was a palm, a kick was a kick, no tricks. Yet, each move was executed to perfection, as if it were from a martial arts textbook. Now, it was Lin Beifans turn, and his style was different. He fought with great agility, constantly changing and keeping his opponents guessing about his tactics. In terms of strength, it should have been Bai Guanyin in the lead, the old man in the middle, and Lin Beifan at the bottom ording to their power rankings. Bai Guanyin had previously defeated the old man, so she should rightfully be ahead. Lin Beifan had just be a Supreme Grandmaster, and his foundation was shallow, so he should best. However, what frustrated the old man was that he couldnt defeat Bai Guanyin, which was understandable since he had lost to her before. But now, it seemed he couldnt even defeat Lin Beifan. Lin Beifans defense was impregnable; his body was harder than diamond, and blowsnded on him like a breeze. His inner strength seemed limitless, quickly recovering. Despite his young age, his experience seemed shallow, but he fought like a seasoned warrior. Furthermore, he possessed a variety of strange techniques, such as controlling the weather, summoning thunder, andunching mental attacks. These often caught the old man off guard and nearly led to his defeat. From head to toe, there seemed to be no weaknesses! The old man couldnt help but doubt it; could this young man be a demon hiding under human skin? Otherwise, how could he be so powerful? Bai Guanyin was also surprised; Lin Beifan seemed unusually strong! Just bing a Supreme Grandmaster and already engaging in battles with these two seasoned experts! Even several of her ultimate moves were effortlessly countered. On the other hand, the senior expert seemed somewhat flustered, struggling to keep up. The word freak came to mind. After a few more exchanges, the old man was the first to withdraw from the battlefield. He chuckled while puffing on his dry cigarette, I cant go on; Im getting old and not as useful as before. Cant hold out for so long anymore. You two continue! Both of them nodded slightly and then went all out to confront each other. At this moment, Lin Beifan keenly felt the terror of Bai Guanyin. Her seemingly ordinary moves all contained the power to reshape the world! With each of her punches, entire small mountains were ttened. Lin Beifan was finding it increasingly challenging. Unless he used a forbidden technique where either you die or I die, he would likely lose after a few more exchanges. So, Lin Beifan opened his mouth and let out a dragon roar. His body instantly transformed into a dazzling golden dragon, controlling the wind, rain, thunder, and lightning as he swiftly moved through the heavens and earth, exuding tremendous majesty. The old man was taken aback, Could he really be a monster? Bai Guanyin was equally astonished. The golden dragon opened its dragon mouth and said, Dont be surprised, both of you. This is the divine technique Ive cultivated, the Dragon God Technique. When mastered to the highest level, one can transform into a dragon, greatly enhancing their strength. I see, so theres such a miraculous skill in the world, the old man nodded but didnt know whether to believe it or not. Chapter 447: The Path of Martial Arts is Long, Are You Interested in Becoming Dao Companions? Chapter 447: The Path of Martial Arts is Long, Are You Interested in Bing Dao Companions? 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The massive dragon head turned towards Bai Guanyin and roared, Lets battle! I wouldnt have it any other way! Bai Guanyin shouted, and her body, like a phantom, appeared in front of the giant dragon in the blink of an eye, delivering a palm strike. This palm strike seemed ordinary,cking the awe-inspiring aura or overwhelming killing intent. There wasnt a trace of visible power. It didnt seem like a move that a Supreme Grandmaster would make. However, this palm was exceptionally skillful because Bai Guanyin had concentrated all her strength into it, leaving no room for leakage. The palm struck the dragons body, and there appeared to be no change. Still, a deafening roar rang out, as if the very fabric of space was shattering. Yet, Lin Beifan only felt some difort, which he could easily endure. In the past, receiving such a strike would have left him severely wounded and coughing up blood. It had to be said that after transforming into a dragon, his entire body was covered in dragon scales, like an iron fortress, greatly enhancing his defense. Bai Guanyin was amazed that her full-force strike seemed to have little effect. Dragons Tail Sweep! Lin Beifan controlled the dragons body and swung his tail. Bai Guanyin didnt dare to confront it head-on; she swiftly dodged with incredible agility, as if she had teleported, evading the sweeping tail. Then, their fighting spirit surged once more, and they continued to battle. Lin Beifan was bing more proficient in controlling the dragons body, and hisbat strength was increasing. A single dragon w pressing down could destroy a mountain peak. A casual swipe of the tail could clear a forest. He could even breathe out dragons breath, creating a sea of mes. Bai Guanyin was gradually finding it challenging. This golden dragon was too invincible! Its entire body was as tough as a diamond, impervious to any attack. Furthermore, it could use magic attacks, spewing fire and summoning lightning. It was driving her to the brink of madness. However, she also became more excited as the battle went on. After so many years, she had finally encountered an opponent worthy of a battle! Only by having such an opponent could she be guided forward on her path, with hopes of one day reaching the realm of and-bound immortal! As a result, herbat power experienced a tremendous breakthrough, advancing a little further! You see, reaching the realm of a Supreme Grandmaster is already at the pinnacle for martial artists. Every small breakthrough represents significant progress and an opportunity that is hard toe by! Bai Guanyin broke through while in the midst of the battle! Lin Beifan could only marvel at Bai Guanyins martial talent; she truly was an extraordinary talent! The old man, who had been observing from the sidelines, had long been impressed. These two young people are truly remarkable, each one more extraordinary than the other! I have to admit that my old eyes cant keep up with the pace of the young generation! Just then, the sky was gradually lightening, and Lin Beifan felt it was time to go. So he shouted, Bai Guanyin, its gettingte. Lets each use our ultimate techniques and continue our battle another day, shall we? Bai Guanyin nodded, Agreed! Without wasting any time, Bai Guanyin seemed to strike with a single palm, yet it also seemed like she had unleashed hundreds of palms, filling the entire world with palm shadows. Moreover, these palm strikes could stack together. If these hundreds of palms werebined, they would unleash a hundredfold killing power, exceptionally terrifying! Lin Beifan saw through this strategy and didnt dare to be careless. He also employed his ultimate technique. Ten Thousand Thunder Strikes! Purple lightning fell from the sky like a rainstorm. Controlled by Lin Beifan, it transformed into a terrifying pir of lightning, piercing through the palm shadows. The palm shadows and the lightning shed violently! Boom! Boom! Boom It was as if the heavens and earth were about to copse. This immensemotion could be felt even two hundred miles away in the capital city, causing everyone to look up in astonishment. Whats happening over there? The sound is so deafening! It feels like an earthquake, so terrifying! I think I saw a dragon After about half a cup of teas time, the heavens and earth finally returned to calm. Lin Beifan had returned to his human form, standing in the air, slightly out of breath. Bai Guanyin was the same. The earth-shaking battle they had just experienced had left her pure white clothing slightly dusted and disheveled. However, both of them were extremely happy. It had been a long time since they had fought so joyfully, from head to toe. In martial artspetitions, meeting an evenly matched opponent is what makes the battle enjoyable. Haha! Spectacr, truly spectacr! The old man pped his hands and flew over, saying, I havent seen such a magnificent martial artspetition in a long time. Its not an exaggeration to say that this is the most spectacr martial artspetition Ive ever witnessed! Even if I were to go back 500 years, Im afraid I wouldnt witness such an unprecedented and unparalleled battle! Its truly my good fortune, haha! Youre too kind, senior! Lin Beifan and Bai Guanyin said in unison. Im not exaggerating at all, Im just telling the truth, the old man replied, puffing on his cigarette, And youre both so young with tremendous potential. In the future, youll have the opportunity to go even further and reach the realm of Earthly Immortals. Its truly admirable! Lin Beifan and Bai Guanyin both nodded. They were very confident in taking that final step to be Earthly Immortals. The old man continued to smoke, gazing at the two young faces in front of him. Suddenly, a glimmer of insight shed in his eyes, and he chuckled, I wonder, would you be interested in bing Daopanions? What? Lin Beifan and Bai Guanyin were dumbfounded. What I mean is, would you be interested in getting married? The old manughed, After all, the path of martial arts is long, and having a fellow practitioner by your side is the best! Youre both in your prime, and youre simply a match made in heaven. Bing husband and wife is the most suitable choice! Bai Guanyins face turned beet red, and she said in embarrassment, Senior, please dont talk nonsense! This is not appropriate! I didnt say anything! The old man took a puff of his cigarette and said with a wry smile, Im advising you as someone with experience! Look at me, Ive lived for so many years, watching my loved ones and friends pass away one by one until Im the only one left in this world. Do you know the loneliness and pain in that? Lin Beifan and Bai Guanyin fell silent because they could hear the endless sorrow in the old mans voice. Sometimes, living for too long is not a blessing, but a form of torture. Because there is no one left in the world who understands you. So, I hope that my tragedy wont be repeated in your lives! The old man advised, You are both young, and as the top experts of this generation, your future years are long! If you can walk hand in hand for a lifetime, the future will undoubtedly be less lonely. This is an opportunity that cannot be sought after! Senior, please dont say any more! Bai Guanyin blushed even more. While she also felt that what the old man said made sense, it was still embarrassing to discuss such matters openly. Sigh, how can I not say it? The old man shook his head and smiled, You young people have thin skin! If I dont puncture thisyer of paper, you might miss out on it in the future, which would be a pity! So, let me do the work for you! The old man chuckled and said, After bing Daopanions, youll be a family, able to explore martial arts together, progress together, and apany each other for a lifetime. What a beautiful thing! And if you have children in the future, it will be even more wonderful! Given your extraordinary talents, your children will surely inherit your extraordinary gifts, and with your careful guidance, they are bound to be top experts of their generation! They may even have the potential to be Earthly Immortals! So, Im saying you should have more children, dont waste your talents! If, at that time, this old man is still alive, I can take them as disciples and pass down my legacy! In this way, I can also have descendants, haha! The more the old man talked, the more excited he became. But Bai Guanyin couldnt stay any longer! With a few more words, they would have discussed children, and several of them at that! So, Bai Guanyin slipped away, saying, Gentlemen, I have something to attend to, so Ill take my leave! In the blink of an eye, she disappeared, running away quite swiftly. Ah, girls really do have thin skin after all! The old man sighed and shook his head. He looked at Lin Beifan, who had a thicker skin, and said with a smile, So, what do you think of my suggestion? Give it some thought. Lin Beifan blushed and replied, Senior, I beg you, please dont encourage me! What can I do? Both of you are top experts of this generation, and youre so young, practically a match made in heaven! The old man tried to persuade him once again. Lin Beifan continued to be embarrassed, saying, Senior, you really dont need to persuade me. Instead, you should try to persuade her more. I want to marry her! The old man paused and then said, Well Alright! Its a deal! After the matter is settled, make sure to have your children apprentice under me! Lin Beifan blushed even more and said, Senior, Im counting on you for this matter! The old mans eyes lit up. Very well! Its a promise! Chapter 448, the 3rd Alchemy Refinement? I’ll add some fire to it! Chapter 448, the 3rd Alchemy Refinement? Ill add some fire to it! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Although she had already run far away, Lin Beifan and the old mans words were still heard clearly. Her face turned red, and she gritted her teeth, saying, This old man is really shameless! Then, she ran even farther, disappearing without a trace. After parted with the old man, Lin Beifan quickly returned to the capital. However, the impact of this battle did not dissipate; instead, it grewrger. Do you know what happenedst night? he asked. How could we not know? Those loud noises were like an earthquake, and people panicked! At the time, I thought it was an earthquake, so I grabbed my child and pulled my wife out! What exactly happened? I came from that direction, and there were several barren hills there, but now theyve all been ttened! ording to the local vigers, those barren hills were fine yesterday, but overnight they turned into this! Could it be a duel between two experts? Even experts couldnt tten mountains, right? ording to the vigers nearby, the weather was extremely unusual that night, with strong winds and rain! They vaguely saw a five-wed golden dragon in the sky! It seemed like they also saw a celestial maiden fighting with the five-wed golden dragon! Youre just making that up. How could that be possible? Why not? They even found dragon bones with leg bones intact. Doesnt that prove the existence of dragon bones? This news spread like wildfire. In the court, someone reported the matter. Your Majesty,st night, there was a deafeningmotion in the southwest of the capital. Subsequently, I sent someone to investigate and found that in the Prorock Mountains, about 200 miles west of the city, several mountain peaks and forests were destroyed. It appears to be both man-made and not man-made. ording to the local vigers, the weather was abnormal that night, with strong winds, rain, and continuous thunder! They vaguely saw a golden dragon and a celestial maiden from above the nine heavens fighting on the mountain! I dare not take this lightly, so I have reported this matter to Your Majesty! The Empress nodded slightly and said, What you said, I also feltst night. Empress nced at Lin Beifan with a slightly raised eyebrow, unable to help but roll her eyes. It was this guy again! ording to what Bai Sister said, this guy broke throughst night and became the unparalleled Grandmaster of the world, then had a battle with two other unparalleled Grandmasters. In the end, he even transformed into a golden dragon. He really knows how to cause trouble from time to time, making people uneasy! This matter happened near the capital, we must not take it lightly! So Ill leave this matter to Minister Lin to handle! The Empress said, taking care of the trouble she had brought upon herself. Yes, Your Majesty! Lin Beifan epted the order. He nned to go through the motions and casually send some people to investigate. Then, as time passed, make everyone forget about this matter. However, at this moment, something shocking was happening in the distant capital of Great Yan. The Empty Void Daoist had received the assistance of the Great Yan Emperor and was preparing for the 3rd alchemical refinement of the Elixir of Immortality. This was a significant event. As the only person in the world who could refine the Elixir of Immortality, the Empty Void Daoists every move attracted the attention of the outside world. The first attempt to refine the Elixir had been sessful but destroyed by the heavens. The second attempt, in the Great Xia, had resulted in the poisoning of the Great Xia Emperor. However, it was said that at that time, the Empty Void Daoist had no intention of making the Elixir for the Great Xia Emperor and had fabricated a fake Elixir, which led to the Emperors demise. Now, this was the third attempt to refine the Elixir, and the chances of sess were high. No one could remain indifferent to the Elixir. The world was in turmoil, and various countries and factions dispatched experts to the capital of Great Yan. The Empty Void Daoist is going to refine the Elixir of Immortality again! The chances of sess this time are high; we must seize the Elixir! Please use the full strength of our sect to seize the Elixir! In the Imperial Pce of the Great Yan Dynasty The news reached the new Great Xia Emperor, Xia Tianqiong, who was furious. He clenched his teeth and said, That sorcerer not only escaped but also ns to continue refining the Elixir of Immortality? I will absolutely not let you go! Someone,e! An old eunuch walked in and respectfully said, Your Majesty! The Great Xia Emperors face was dark and gloomy. The sorcerer who killed my father has fled to the capital of Great Yan and intends to continue refining the Elixir of Immortality. This is a national hatred and a family feud that must be avenged! Immediately send experts to the capital of Great Yan to bring back the sorcerers head! Yes, Your Majesty! The old eunuch retreated. Wait! The Great Xia Emperor called out again. Your Majesty, what else do youmand? The old eunuch returned. If that sorcerer seeds in refining the Elixir of Immortality, seize it for me! The Great Xia Emperors eyes gleamed with eagerness. Yes, Your Majesty! The old eunuch withdrew. In the Imperial Pce of the nted Moon Dynasty Officials entered the pce to report the matter and asked if they should send someone to seize the Elixir. The Ziyue Empress remained extremelyposed and shook her head. No need to pay attention to it. Your Majesty, why? The officials were puzzled. Eternal youth and immortality were the lifelong wishes of every emperor, allowing them to rule the world forever and enjoy wealth and power indefinitely. Why did their Majesty seem so indifferent? Because our nted Moon Dynasty has just been restored, theres much to be done, and our strength is weak! If we were to lose a significant amount of power due to this, it would affect the stability of our nation, which is unwise! I cannot risk my own country and its people for this! smiled the Ziyue Empress. Your Majesty is wise! the officials bowed, feeling relieved to have such a rational emperor for their country. The admiring gazes of the officials made the Ziyue Empress feel somewhat ted. In truth, her rationality was entirely thanks to Lin Beifan. During the days they spent together, she had heard an astonishing piece of news from Lin Beifan: the dragon bones used to refine the Elixir of Immortality were all purchased from him at a high price. Moreover, the dragon bones he had were fake and had no miraculous effects. Fake dragon bones definitely couldnt produce the Elixir of Immortality. When she heard this news, she was utterly dumbfounded. That fellow, her beloved strategist, had used fake dragon bones to deceive everyone in the world. His courage was truly remarkable! However, even though we wont seize the elixir, we can send some people there to muddy the waters and create chaos! The Purple Moon Empress chuckled. Only by making them uneasy can it benefit our nted Moon! Your Majesty is wise! the officials bowed once more. Among the many countries, only the Great Wu Dynasty remained calm. Regardless of how chaotic the rumors outside were, they refused to send anyone, as if they were indifferent to the matter. However, on the night of the alchemical refinement, Lin Beifan left the capital with a carefree smile, heading towards the Great Yan beyond the swing. How can I miss out on such a good thing? Ill add some fuel to the fire and help with the excitement! Chapter 449: Every Step is Correct, I’m Truly Heaven’s Favorite! Chapter 449: Every Step is Correct, Im Truly Heavens Favorite! 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After breaking through to be a Supreme Grandmaster, Lin Beifans flying speed was incredibly fast. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he leaped high into the sky and arrived above the capital of Great Yan. At this moment, the defenses of the Great Yan capital were extremely tight. To ensure the safety of the alchemical refinement, the Great Yan Emperor had gathered 500,000 troops to guard the city. At the same time, more than 80% of the experts within the empire had been dispatched to protect the capital. This formidable force was truly impressive. However, despite the numerous experts of the Great Yan Dynasty, there were even more foreign experts. They were hiding throughout the city, waiting for the right moment to act. Inside the imperial pce The Great Yan Emperor, along with the imperial family and court officials, had gathered to witness the rare alchemical moment. In the central square of the imperial pce, a massive alchemical furnace was set up, burning brightly. Next to the furnace, various rare and precious treasures were ced; these were all ingredients for refining the divine elixir. In addition to these, there was a plump man wearing Daoist robes standing in front of the furnace. He had a solemn expression on his face. It went without saying that this person was the Empty Void Daoist responsible for the alchemical process. The Great Yan Emperor approached and eagerly inquired, Imperial Teacher, are you prepared? The Empty Void Daoist bowed and replied, Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble one is fully prepared! In another half incense sticks time, we can begin the alchemical process. The Great Yan Emperor was overjoyed. Very well! Imperial Teacher, continue with your preparations; I wont disturb you. Your Majesty, please. The Empty Void Daoist nodded. As he watched the Great Yan Emperor leave, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of the Empty Void Daoists mouth. In truth, he didnt want to perform the alchemical process. However, he was forced by the Great Yan Emperor to do it; otherwise, he would face dire consequences. But even if he performed the alchemical process, he didnt know if it would seed. Until now, he couldnt figure out why the previous alchemical attempt in the Great Xia had failed. Everything had been the same: the auspicious day, the procedures, the precise quantity of ingredientsnothing had differed, yet it had still ended in failure, causing him great distress. So, this time, he had no answers as to whether he would seed. If he seeded, that would be great, but if he failed He couldnt imagine how the Great Yan Emperor, who had invested so much hope and the empires resources, would react to his failure. Lets take it one step at a time, the Empty Void Daoist said to himself. Since the first attempt to refine the Elixir of Immortality, his destiny had been out of his control. He began, clearing his mind of all distractions, focusing on preparing to refine the divine elixir. The half incense sticks time quickly passed. The Empty Void Daoists eyes suddenly widened, and he shouted, Wind,e! Then he released his inner energy, creating a strong wind that blew into the alchemical furnace, making the fire inside burn even more vigorously. He then shouted again, Fire,e! As he gathered a bundle of mes in his hand and sent them into the furnace. Water,e! In this way, the Empty Void Daoist methodically followed the same steps as in the previous two attempts at alchemy. Even the amount of blood he spat out matched perfectly. It could be said that he had put in tremendous effort for this alchemical attempt. In the past, when he had engaged in deceitful practices, he had never been so dedicated. The Great Yan Emperor and the others watched in fascination and excitement. It has begun! Master has started the alchemy! This is it! I distinctly remember, Master, you used the same methodst time! Congrattions, Your Majesty, the divine elixir is about to be refined! Your Majesty, eternal youth and immortality are within reach! Under the ttery of the court officials, the Great Yan Emperorughed heartily. Haha if the divine elixir is sessfully refined, and I achieve eternal youth and immortality, I will certainly reward all of you, my loyal ministers! Thank you, Your Majesty! The officials said in unison. Finally, they reached the most critical step. The Empty Void Daoist focused his energy and attention, secretly looking up at the sky, his heart filled with anxiety and anticipation. He had experienced two attempts at refining the divine elixir. The first attempt had seeded, but the weather had turned exceptionally unusual, and he had suffered a divine punishment that destroyed the elixir. The second attempt had failed, with no change in the weather. This indicated that if the divine elixir were to be sessfully refined, there would be a response from the heavens. So now, he eagerly hoped for some signs from the sky. Thunder tribtion, pleasee, I beg you! High above in the sky, Lin Beifan watched the unscrupulous Daoist, smiled faintly, and waved his hand gently. In an instant, the entire capital was suddenly swept by a ferocious gust of wind. Whoosh~ This wind was strong and wild, almost capable of blowing people away. The Empty Void Daoist was overjoyed. The wind hade! At this moment, with the wind arriving, did it mean That his divine elixir refinement was about to seed? At this moment, the Great Yan Emperor and the others were also overjoyed. Your Majesty, this is the wind! The wind hase! Thest time Master was refining the elixir, there was also a strong wind! This is the heavens and earth responding to the divine elixir! It seems that the Elixir of Eternal Youth and Immortality may indeed seed! The Great Yan Emperorughed heartily, very excited. The wind has trulye! This wind seems extraordinary, just like thest time! If I remember correctly, the next step will bring dark clouds and heavy rain! As he spoke, Lin Beifan, standing in the sky, waved his hand once more. Instantly, the surrounding clouds quickly gathered and formed into a massive, thick dark cloud covering the sky above the capital. The Empty Void Daoist was ecstatic. Even the dark clouds had arrived, and it was an exact match! Could it be that his alchemical attempt would truly seed this time? The people around the Great Yan Emperor were also thrilled. Your Majesty, you were absolutely right. Dark clouds have gathered in the sky, and it looks like rain is on the way! Its exactly like thest time we were refining the elixir! Your Majesty, congrattions, it seems the divine elixir is truly about to be refined! The Great Yan Emperorughed once more. What you all are saying is correct. Thats what I believe too! Now that the wind hase, the clouds have gathered, and the next step is rainfall! Suddenly, a loud rumble sounded, and the sky opened up with a torrential downpour. At this moment, it was the rainy season, apanied by hurricanes and heavy rain, making the weather quite chilly. However, everyones hearts were filled with excitement and heat. Because the wind hade, the clouds had gathered, and it signaled that the divine elixir was about to be refined on the alchemical furnace! Especially the Empty Void Daoist, he was so excited that his fat body trembled uncontrobly. Every step had been perfect, proving that his alchemical attempt was indeed sessful. With this, his life was saved! His future was secured! God was indeed blessing him! I truly am Gods most beloved! Hahaha! The Empty Void Daoistughed heartily. Your Majesty and all the esteemed guests, the thunder tribtion is about to arrive, possibly to destroy the divine elixir! There may also be various experts trying to seize the elixir, please be prepared! The Great Yan Emperor responded loudly, Master, rest assured, I have already made the necessary preparations! Very well, Your Majesty! The Empty Void Daoist continued with the alchemy. At this moment, Lin Beifan waved his hand once more, and within the thick dark cloud, terrifying thunderbolts crackled. The radiant purple light illuminated the entire capital. In their hearts, everyone thought, The thunder tribtion ising. Chapter 450: The Great Yan Emperor Swallows the Elixir of Immortality! Chapter 450: The Great Yan Emperor Swallows the Elixir of Immortality! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Crackling Terrifying thunderstorms brewed in the sky, ready to pour down at any moment. The Empty Void Daoist was truly a mix of joy and worry! He was joyful because the thunder tribtion was approaching, proving that he was really about to sessfully refine a divine pill, just like the first time. He was worried because this thunder tribtion was too terrifying! The previous one had nearly killed him, and it took him two months to recover. Now, facing it again, he wasnt sure if he could withstand it. His gaze shifted slightly towards several iron pirs erected beside him, hoping they could withstand the onught. If they couldnt, he might have to sacrifice his own life. At this moment, skilled individuals scattered throughout the capital city watched as the thunder in the sky rumbled ominously. Beforeing to seize the divine medicine, they all understood. The birth of a divine pill would trigger a thunder tribtion. From the demonic winds, dark clouds, heavy rain, to the current thunderstorm, it was identical to the first time he had refined a divine pill. This confirmed that the Empty Void Daoist had once again sessfully refined a divine pill! After consuming this divine pill, immortality, transcendence into an immortal, or a significant increase in power various miraculous effects were possible. Under the anticipation of the masses, the thunderstorm in the sky finally descended. Boom! Boom! Dozens of lightning bolts struck, all heading towards the pce. The Empty Void Daoist turned slightly pale! The first time he had refined a divine pill, the thunder hade gradually. Why were they alling at once this time? It really seemed like they were after my life! Oh my goodness! Fortune favored him at that critical moment; the Empty Void Daoist flung the alchemy furnace aside, desperate to escape. However, how could ones speed surpass that of lightning? The lightning struck towards the Empty Void Daoist in the end. The lightning rods that were meant to divert the thunder were useless; they all shattered! The alchemy furnace was also shattered, causing a deafening noise. However, no sound couldpare to the Empty Void Daoists screams. Under the terrifying thunderstorms onught, the Empty Void Daoist was blown apart, with his flesh torn and bones exposed, lying on the ground, on the brink of death. However, everyone did not pay attention to the Empty Void Daoists tragic state but looked up together. There, a dazzling golden pearl floated aimlessly in the air, appearing extremely mystical. Having seen this gathering of people once before, they couldnt help but exim. This is the Elixir of Immortality! No one can resist the temptation of immortality! As everyone prepared to make their move and seize the divine medicine, there was once again the crackling sound in the sky. It turned out that another thunderstorm was brewing. The Great Yan Emperor shouted, This is a thunder tribtion! It wants to destroy my divine medicine. Quickly, help me intercept it! We cant let the thunder ruin my divine medicine! Yes, Your Majesty! In an instant, all the pce experts took action. They gathered their true qi in their hands to resist the thunderbolts falling from the sky. The experts outside the pce also lent their assistance in secret. Boom! Terrifying thunderbolts struck down. The experts exerted their innate true qi to counter the thunderbolts from above. Then, with a deafening roar, a shocking explosion urred! The experts either had blood on them or pale faces, almost all sustaining some minor injuries, looking rather unsightly. However, luckily, the divine pill was saved! Crackling The thunderbolts condensed once again. This time, without the Great Yan Emperor needing to speak, the various experts gathered their true qi once more. Boom! The thunderbolts descended once again. The experts struggled to resist, paying the price of further injuries, but they saved the divine pill for the second time. Having blocked the thunder tribtion twice in a row, it seemed that heaven was angered further, brewing even more terrifying thunderbolts. Everyone saw these thunderbolts shift from blue-purple to gradually turn dark purple. The destructive power in this transformation even threatened the Grandmasters. Despair filled everyones hearts, and they muttered, Its over! Under such terrifying thunderbolts, not to mention protecting the divine pill, it was questionable whether their lives could be preserved. The Great Yan Emperor, who had been constantly on their minds, seemed to have suffered a huge blow, swaying and letting out a mournful cry to the heavens, Heavenly Lord, do you want to shatter my dream of immortality? At this moment, as if hearing the call of the Great Yan Emperor, Lin Beifan smiled slightly, a golden dragon shadow breaking free from his body and flying towards the Elixir of Immortality. This spectacle made everyone exim. Is he also trying to seize the divine pill? Quick, look, what is that? A dragon! Thats a dragon! What is he going to do? In the gaze of the crowd, that golden dragon shadow flew over the divine pill and coiled around it. At this very moment, the thunderbolts struck down. Boom! Boom! Those terrifying thunderbolts hit the divine pill directly, but the divine pill remained unharmed. The thunderbolts were blocked by the golden dragon shadow. That dragon is protecting the divine pill! The crowd eximed once again. Next, the thunderbolts continued to fall, but they were all blocked by the golden dragon shadow, and the divine pill remained unscathed. It seemed that heaven had given up, as the winds calmed, the rain stopped, and the dark clouds gradually dispersed. The thunderbolts disappeared, seemingly indicating the end of the thunder tribtion. Only the divine pill continued to emit a brilliant light, floating in the air. The dark clouds have dispersed, does that mean the thunder tribtion is over? Is the divine pill saved? Protected by the golden dragon? Is that what this means? At this moment, the golden dragon shadow guarding the divine pill gradually shrank and then merged into the divine pill. This added a golden dragon pattern to the divine pill, making it appear even more mystical. For a moment, everyones eyes turned red! This was the Elixir of Immortality that had survived the thunder tribtion, and it was now the Elixir of Immortality protected by a golden dragon! After consuming it, the effects would surely be extraordinary, right? They reached out to seize it without hesitation. The divine pill is mine! Nonsense! It should be mine! Lets see who gets it for real! The Great Yan Emperor was furious, You dare to seize my divine medicine? Assemble all the armies, all the experts, and protect the divine pill for me! Anyone who dares to touch the divine pill will be ruthlessly killed! Yes, Your Majesty! And so, an epic battle unfolded in the heart of the Great Yan City. They fought until blood flowed like a river, until corpses littered the ground, until the blood flowed Lin Beifan, like a deity, coldly observed this war from above. In the end, after fighting until dawn, it finally concluded. The Great Yan Dynasty had paid a heavy price but had finally annihted all attackers and preserved the Elixir of Immortality. Despite the heavy sacrifices, everything was worth it for the Great Yan Emperor! Quick! Give me the divine medicine! The Great Yan Emperor eximed. Your Majesty, please enjoy it! The divine pill was presented in front of the Great Yan Emperor. The Great Yan Emperor couldnt wait and immediately swallowed it. Chapter 451: Well, He Managed to Fool Two Emperors in a Row! Chapter 451: Well, He Managed to Fool Two Emperors in a Row! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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The court officials and ministers watched in envy as they beheld the legendary Elixir of Immortality. Moreover, it was the Elixir of Immortality blessed by a golden dragons protection. Its effects were bound to be extraordinary perhaps it could grant not only immortality but also immediate ascension to immortality, aligning with heaven and earth! However, as envious as they were, they could only watch from afar. They had no qualifications to partake in such a divine medicine. At this moment, the Great Yan Emperor had already swallowed the divine pill. However, he had been too hasty, and the divine pill was quiterge, so it got stuck in his throat. His face turned red, and he gasped, Cough, water someone, get me water! Oh, Your Majesty, please take your time! A eunuch quickly brought a cup of tea. The Great Yan Emperor immediately drank it, finally feeling a bit relieved. Then, he couldnt wait to ask, My dear ministers, I just swallowed the divine pill. Do you see any changes? Do I look younger? The court officials exchanged nces but didnt notice any immediate changes. Speaking the truth would dampen the mood, but lying Well, that would be a crime of deceiving the emperor, and they didnt know how to proceed. Thankfully, a clever old eunuch by the Emperors side chimed in, Your Majesty, youve just ingested the divine medicine, but its effects may take some time to manifest. Lets wait a little longer; it will surely not disappoint you! Ah, you speak the truth; I was too hasty. Haha! The Great Yan Emperor chuckled. As a result, in less than half a teacups time, he couldnt help but ask again, Now? Its been half a teacups time. Do I look any different now? The court officials exchanged nces once more. It was the same old eunuch who spoke up again, Your Majesty, this divine pill is extraordinary. Perhaps its effects are just beginning to take hold after half a teacups time. Lets wait a little longer, and well soon see the changes. Haha, youre right. Ill be patient! And so, another half a teacups time passed. Now, how do I look? Do I appear younger? the Great Yan Emperor asked again. This time, perhaps due to the influence of the divine pill, the Great Yan Emperorsplexion turned red, and he developed red spots on his skin. His eye sockets became somewhat sunken, and his lips turned slightly purple. He didnt look younger at all; in fact, he appeared older and more haggard. Everyone grew anxious. Your Majesty, we dont know how to put this The Great Yan Emperor furrowed his brow. What do you mean? Speak the truth! Just as he finished speaking, the Great Yan Emperor suddenly clutched his stomach and let out a painful howl. Ah~ Everyone was rmed. Your Majesty, whats happening to you? The Great Yan Emperor was sweating profusely from the pain, gritting his teeth. I dont know why, but my stomach suddenly hurts Then, with a retching sound, he vomited, and among the filth, there was blood mixed in. The court officials and ministers grew anxious. Quick, summon the imperial physician! Hurry! Inside the pce, there was suddenly a flurry of activity. Lin Beifan, who was concealed among the clouds, smiled faintly. Having ingested so much mercury, hes clearly suffering from mercury poisoning. This is the result of seeking immortality! Even if he survives, hell likely shed his skin! With his mission aplished, Lin Beifan left. Two dayster, news of the events in the Great Yan City began to spread throughout thend. On the day of alchemy, the Empty Void Daoist sessfully created the legendary Elixir of Immortality. Due to the protection of the divine dragon, the Elixir of Immortality was preserved during the thunder tribtion. Various experts from all sides fought fiercely to seize the divine medicine. In the end, the Great Yan Dynasty suffered a massive loss of life but managed to protect the divine pill. Unexpectedly, after the Great Yan Emperor swallowed the divine pill, he not only failed to achieve immortality but was poisoned. He cried out in agony for a day and finally couldnt hold on and passed away. This event shocked the world. Damn! The Great Yan Emperor ate the divine pill and didnt achieve immortality; he died from poisoning? This is terrifying! This is the second emperor who has been poisoned to death for swallowing the Elixir of Immortality! Werent they saying that the alchemy this time was very sessful? How could it poison someone to death? Who knows? We can only ask the Empty Void Daoist! We cant ask him anymore! Its said that on that very night, he also died and had his head cut off! Everyone expressed their condolences and pity for the seekers of immortality who had ended up being poisoned. It was an ironic twist of fate. When the Empress learned of this, she was also surprised. Her immediate reaction was to suspect that Lin Beifan had secretly gone to the Great Yan City to y tricks and deceive the entire world. This guy, he was too good at ying games. He had managed to deceive two emperors in a row! Truly, he was the top trickster of all time! If she werent someone who knew him well in secret, she might not even know how many times she had been tricked by him. The Empress felt a bit annoyed. Such an entertaining event, and he didnt invite her to y along! Sometimes, she really wanted to expose Lin Beifans true identity, let him take her on adventures, take her flying, and have some fun together Many people felt sorry for the Great Yan Dynastys situation, but others with ambitions saw an opportunity. With the Great Yan Emperor gone, the Great Yan Dynasty is likely to fall into chaos! Yes, the Great Yan Dynasty hasnt fully recovered from the recent ice disaster, and theres internal turmoil. Moreover, the Great Yan Emperors two attempts at creating the Elixir of Immortality led to militarism, exhausting all financial and military resources, collecting resources from all over the country, which has long sparked public anger! Now, with his sudden demise and no clear session n, chaos is inevitable. A scene simr to the Great Xia Dynasty might y out again. This is our opportunity! Countries around the Great Yan Dynasty were all on the brink of action. As soon as chaos erupted in the Great Yan Dynasty, they would mobilize their armies. Some countries, further away like the nted Moon Dynasty, also contemted military action to seize territory. However, they hadnt yet stabilized their own internal affairs and were hesitant. Then there was the Great Xia Dynasty, eager to seize an opportunity. Unfortunately, there was the Great Wu Empire in between, separated by vast oceans, making it impossible to invade, leaving them frustrated. The most significant threat to the Great Yan Dynasty was indeed the Great Wu Empire. At this moment, everyone was closely monitoring the actions of the Great Wu Empire. Inside the Golden Imperial Pce of the Great Wu Empire, a general spoke with excitement, Your Majesty, with the sudden demise of the Great Yan Emperor and no clear heir, the court is bound to be in chaos! At this moment, turmoil reigns among the people of the Great Yan Dynasty, and external threats loomrge. They are extremely vulnerable! Meanwhile, our Great Wu Empire is strong, with a powerful army, abundant provisions, and its the perfect time tounch a military campaign! Please grant this humble general 500,000 troops, and I will undoubtedly conquer thends of the Great Yan Dynasty and present a vast territory to Your Majesty! All the generals chimed in, This humble general offers to serve and seeks Your Majestys approval! The Empress nodded and smiled, Seeing the loyalty of all my ministers warms my heart. However, military affairs are not to be taken lightly. Lin, the Supreme Commander of the Army, what are your thoughts on this war? Chapter 452: For the Grand Wedding, Are You Giving Up Easily Accessible Territory? Chapter 452: For the Grand Wedding, Are You Giving Up Easily essible Territory? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Lin Beifan smiled and said, Your Majesty, we can raise an army, but its not the right time yet! Everyones gaze turned towards him. Supreme Commander, what do you mean? A general asked, puzzled. Now, within the Great Yans borders, theres chaos with dragons contesting the throne, and themon people are in distress, taking up arms in revolt. Beyond that, there are wolves circling from outside. The Great Yans national strength is very weak; this is the perfect time for us to take action! Why do you say its not the right time? Please, Supreme Commander, enlighten us! Lin Beifan smiled and said, Just as youve said, the Great Yan is in a precarious situation right now, but its easier said than done to conquer it. Like when we attacked the Great Xia, we had to gather six other nations and assemble an army of over two million men before we could carve a piece of flesh from the Great Xia. However, after the Great Xias Crown Prince returned, he activated hidden powers and reimed all the lost territory within a month, except for the Far East! The same logic applies; being one of the Three Great Dynasties, the Great Yan Empire wont be that simple to deal with! Everyone nodded involuntarily. Initially, they all thought the Great Xia Dynasty was done for, but after the return of the 30th Crown Prince, he took decisive action, eliminating all the traitors, and swiftly regained lost territories, seizing supreme power. The Great Xia Dynasty was like this, and the Great Yan Empire would definitely not be easy to deal with. The Empress also nodded in agreement, saying, Prime Minister, you speak wisely! No dynasty was straightforward, and she, too, secretly held a powerful force. Even if a dynasty came to an end, she could regain power with this force. In that case, why dont we wait until they weaken further beforeunching an attack? Lin Beifan smiled and said, The Great Yan Emperor has just passed away, and theres no designated heir. Internal power struggles are just beginning within the imperial court! So, lets let them fight it out. The more intense their infighting, the more theyll weaken themselves! Over the past year, the Great Yan Emperor has exhausted the treasury to collect rare resources in pursuit of immortality, disregarding the livelihood of the people, which has led to widespread discontent and uprisings among themon folk! Now that the Great Yan Emperor has passed away, the situation in themon realm is even more chaotic! Furthermore, neighboring countries are watching closely and engaging in various covert actions The Great Yan is beset with internal troubles and external threats, with danger on all sides! Lin Beifan smiled and said, So, we should give the Great Yan more time. The longer we dy, the more their national strength will be depleted, and the more advantageous it will be for us! The officials admired him and said, Supreme Commanders words make sense! The Empress asked, Prime Minister, in your opinion, when would be the most suitable time tounch an attack? It would be best to wait until the end of this year, next spring! Lin Beifan replied. A minister responded with a furrowed brow, So long? It will have been over three months! Lin Beifan replied, Yes, we need to wait until the end of this year because this uing winter might be colder. This uing winter is going to be colder? Everyone immediately remembered the once-in-a-century ice disaster that had urred less than a year ago the haunting scene was still fresh in their memories. The Empress couldnt sit still and asked, Prime Minister, its not another ice disaster, is it? Lin Beifan shook his head, saying, Its not that severe; its just going to be colderpared to previous years. So, we need to take more precautions to reduce casualties among the poption and livestock. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, saying, As long as its not an ice disaster! Lin Beifan continued, In the harsh twelfth month of winter, with ice and snow covering thend, its not suitable for warfare. Otherwise, well only waste our forces in vain! We should focus more on internal preparations to withstand the cold and reduce casualties among the poption and livestock to preserve our strength. Moreover, at this time, the Great Yan is in internal strife, and they certainly cant divert their attention to dealing with the cold! Since this year began, the Great Yan has been in turmoil, with chaos everywhere! Crop yields are poor, and people are in dire straits. Plus, with the bitter cold, it will surely hasten the depletion of their national strength. By next spring, after weve weathered this harsh winter, and with the territories of the White Elephant Prefecture and the Far East fully integrated, we can once again expand our borders! At that time, we can seize the opportunity, mobilize our forces, and march south! The Empress eximed, Good! Just as youve said, its not time to go to war now. After we endure the harsh winter, we will gather our troops and head south to conquer a significant piece of territory! All hail the wise Empress! the officials chorused. With this, the court set the tone: they wouldnt go to war now, but they would wait until after the severe winter. However, at this time, foreign nations were watching the Great Wu closely, waiting to see when they would march and invade the Great Yan. But what frustrated them was that the Great Wu showed no signs of action. There were no troop movements, no stockpiling of provisions; it was as if they were not taking this matter seriously. This puzzled everyone; how could the Great Wu let such a golden opportunity slip by? First, the smaller countries surrounding the Great Yan couldnt sit still, and they reached out to the Great Wu, requesting them to lead a coalition army, just as they did in the previous joint campaign against the Great Xia. The n was for the Great Wu to lead a million-strong army to conquer cities and divide the Great Yans territories. Lin Beifan personally received them but politely declined, saying, Ladies and gentlemen, Im sorry to say that the Great Wu has no ns to go to war. So, please return. Everyone was taken aback, with someone asking, Prime Minister Lin, why would you pass up such a rare opportunity? A contented smile appeared on Lin Beifans face as he replied, You should all know that Her Majesty and I are getting married next year! Its a joyous asion, and its not appropriate to create bloodshed. So, please return! But next year, when you have the time, remember toe and celebrate our wedding with us. Ha-ha! Everyone was even more astonished. It was all because of this reason? For the grand wedding, they were willing to give up even the easily essible territory? Prime Minister Lin, please listen to me. The internal strife in the Great Yan presents a rare opportunity! If we miss this chance, it wont be as easy to seize a piece of theirnd in the future! Prime Minister, getting married and going to war are not fundamentally ipatible! Moreover, you and His Majesty should prioritize the nations interests rather than personal matters! Lin Beifan refused once more, saying, Thank you all for your kind intentions, but we really dont want to go to war. Please return. Under Lin Beifans repeated refusals, the people reluctantly left. The Great Wu had vast territories and abundant resources, so they didnt prioritize the Great Yansnds. However, the smaller nations, with limitednd and scarce resources, couldnt remain indifferent to the Great Yans temptation. Therefore, they returned and immediately raised armies, causing turmoil along the Great Yans borders. As expected, the Great Wu honored their promise and didnt go to war. Instead, they focused all their efforts on preparing for the harsh winter. They posted announcements, informing everyone that this year would be colder, and advised stocking up on winter supplies. They mobilized various cold-resistant materials and distributed them to cities. Additionally, they activated some shelters, centralized heating, and helped those without proper conditions to endure the severe winter. This series of actions caught the attention of some observant individuals. Chapter 453: Extreme Cold Weather Suddenly Arrives, The Seven-Nation Alliance Is Stunned! Chapter 453: Extreme Cold Weather Suddenly Arrives, The Seven-Nation Alliance Is Stunned! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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nted Moon Empire, the study room. The Ziyue Empress, who was reviewing reports, was very surprised when she learned of this: Great Wu is actually focusing on extreme cold weather and ignoring Great Yan? Thest time Great Wu mobilized like this wasst year, as if it were just yesterday. At that time, everyone was mocking Great Wu for making a big deal out of nothing, wasting resources. But then, once-in-a-century ice disaster struck, affecting people all over the world, with a high death toll. Every country suffered heavy losses, and they still havent fully recovered. In the end, only Great Wu managed to survive the bitter ice disaster unscathed. And then, they surpassed all other nations, bing a rare haven in the hearts of the people. She thought seriously about it and felt that this matter was not to be taken lightly. She needed to understand what was on Great Wus mind. So, she wrote a letter to contact the Empress. Not long after, she received a reply from the Empress. After reading it, the Empresss brow furrowed: Even though its not an ice disaster, extreme cold weather ising, and we must prepare for it! Its important to note thatst years ice disaster froze a quarter of their poption to death, and nearly every family lost someone. Though a year had passed, they still hadnt fully recovered from the pain ofst year. nted Moon had just established itself as a nation, and its foundation was not yet stable. Theycked many resources for dealing with the cold. If they were to experience a severe winter and lose millions of people again, it would be The Empress didnt dare to think further and immediately summoned her ministers, issuing a strict order. Extreme cold weather is approaching. From now on, the entire nation must prepare for the cold! Provide low-cost firewood, charcoal, nkets, and more to keep everyone warm. Additionally, build some shelters for warmth! Yes, Your Majesty! The Emperor of Great Xia, who was also closely monitoring Great Wus actions, noticed this as well. He frowned, What is Great Wu doing? Theyre mobilizing heating resources and activating shelters for centralized warmth Could it be another ice disaster this year? Last years ice disaster, due to theck of preparedness, imed nearly 30 million lives in Great Xia, along with countless other losses, pushing their nation to the brink, causing a year-long period of turmoil and decline in national power. His father, the former emperor, fell seriously ill due to that ice disaster, and his health never fully recovered, leading to his desperate pursuit of longevity elixirs, which ultimately backfired and harmed not only himself but also Great Xia. The lesson was deeply ingrained in him, so he dared not be careless and decided to investigate the situationter in the evening. The information he obtained was limited and not very useful. However, one piece of news caught his attention. This cold preparedness operation was proposed and led by Lin Beifan. Regarding Lin Beifan, he had mixed feelings, both love and hate. Love is because this person is learned and capable, able to govern and fight, unrivaled in the world. Its under his efforts that Great Wu has managed to reverse its declining fortunes and be strong and prosperous. He desires to have someone like Lin Beifan at his service. But hatred arises because he cannot escape the fact that Great Xia has ended up in its current state because of him. But whether its love or hatred, this person is meticulous and has never missed or failed in anything. His personal involvement in this matter indicates its utmost importance. Even if its not an ice disaster, its likely extreme cold weather that will result in casualties. Great Xia cannot afford to becent! Its better to be prepared than caught unprepared! The Emperor of Great Xias expression grew serious as hemanded, Spread my orders, the entire nation must prepare for the cold! At this moment, other countries also learned of Great Wus actions. However, most of them didnt believe that another ice disaster would ur. Suchrge-scale ice disasters have been frequent in recent years, but its unlikely to happen two years in a row. Besides, they have more pressing matters to attend to. For example, the princes and heirs of the Great Yan Dynasty are busy vying for power, attacking each other, with no thoughts on preparing for the cold. They are only concerned with whether they can seize supreme power. The smaller neighboring countries of the Great Yan Dynasty are currently focused on attacking Great Yan, seizing territory and resources, with no interest in other matters. However, despite the internal chaos, Great Yans military strength remains formidable. They firmly guard their borders, resisting the invasions of neighboring countries. So, these smaller countries, imitating the Coalition against Great Xia from years ago, have formed a formidable army of 2 million soldiers and more than 50 innate experts to attack Great Yan. This force is formidable, and Great Yans borders couldnt hold. In less than a day, Great Yans borders were breached, and the 2 million army entered Great Yans territory. This event attracted the attention of people all over the world. Great Yan has been breached by the Seven-Nation Alliance? Great Yan might be in trouble! Concerns about Great Wus preparations for the cold gradually faded. Due to the Great Yan Dynastys military forces being scattered, each prince governed independently and was reluctant to deplete their own troops. Therefore, the Seven-Nation Alliance easily captured cities one after another. They practically took down one city every day. The pace seemed slow, but if it werent for the time spent on marching and resting, it could have been even faster. At this moment, the variousmanders of the Seven-Nation Alliance were delighted and a bit arrogant. Is this the strength of Great Yan? Its so feeble! Yes, indeed. We thought Great Yan could hold on longer, but they turned out to be so weak! As an empire, its truly disappointing! Have you all noticed that without Great Wu, we can still seed? Thats right, as long as we unite, the empire can still be conquered! I bet Great Wu is regretting it now, haha! Well, its even better for us; we can im more territory! They chatted andughed while making progress. Little did they know that an extremely cold air mass was brewing in the far north and was soon going to sweep southward, bringing frigid weather, ice, and snow with it. Many countries woke up to a drastically changedndscape, covered in silver. Great Wu, Great Xia, and nted Moon had prepared for the cold, so they remained calm when the cold front arrived. But other countries were in shock! This cold air came suddenly and was a month earlier than usual! The strong winds howled, heavy snowfall nketed thend, catching them off guard, and it was incredibly cold. Could there be another ice disaster on the horizon? The most bewildered were the Coalition Against Great Yans armies. They were close to reaching the hearnd of Great Yan! Yet, a heavy snowfall trapped them in a city, rendering them immobile and exhausted. What made matters worse was the extreme cold. Their supplies for cold weather were limited, and they couldnt provide for the two million soldiers. Moreover, it was a small city with scarce resources, so there wasnt much cold weather gear avable. They were in a dire situation. What should we do now? We are in the middle of nowhere. Where can we gather cold weather supplies? Chapter 454: In this war, there are no winners, only losers! Chapter 454: In this war, there are no winners, only losers! 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At this moment, the entire world is worried because of the sudden extreme cold weather. Cold weather can be deadly. Last years once-in-a-century ice disaster caused a direct poption decline of 20-30%, and in severe cases, up to 30-40%. The entire country is in turmoil. Although the current cold is not as severe asst year, it will still im many lives. With more deaths, the country bes unstable. Look at how many countries have changed regimes sincest year. How many families have copsed? At this moment, they realize how wise Great Wu was, and they regret deeply. If only we had learned from Great Wu! Back then, I mocked them for being too cautious, little did I know I was the fool! s, its toote to say anything now! At this moment, only Great Wu, Great Xia, and nted Moon, who were prepared, remain calm. nted Moon Dynasty, within the royal pce. Empress Ziyue looked at the swirling snow outside the window and felt the biting cold wind, secretly relieved. Thank goodness we prepared in advance and distributed cold-resistant supplies, or this winter would be hard to endure! Is Strategist perhaps the reincarnation of the Dragon God? The uracy of this weather is uncanny. Great Xia Dynasty, within the imperial pce. The newly crowned Great Xia Emperor also gazed at the heavy snowfall outside the window and smiled in satisfaction. Thank goodness I prepared ahead of time, or many more people would have died in this weather! Your Majesty is wise! The court officials all agreed. Great Wu Dynasty, in the imperial study. At this moment, Lin Beifan and the Empress were reviewing official documents, discussing state affairs, and the matter of the grand wedding. Due to the cold weather, Lin Beifan was enjoying wine in his study to keep warm. He was drinking the finest wine, slowly steaming it on a charcoal stove. The rich aroma of the wine filled the room, creating a slightly tipsy atmosphere, quite enjoyable. At this moment, the Empress couldnt help but turn her head to look out the window and asked with concern, Sir Lin, how long do you think this heavy snowfall willst? Lin Beifan, while sipping his wine, chuckled and replied, Your Majesty, theres no need to worry. This heavy snow will onlyst for two weeks! After that, the snow will stop, and the cold will ease. The Empress let out a sigh of relief, saying, Its only two weeks, thats good! Its not the cold weather they fear, but prolonged cold weather. Last years major ice disastersted nearly three months. Except for wealthy families with enough charcoal, how could others endure it for so long? Whats even more terrifying is that the snow was so heavy and thick that transportation was extremely difficult, turning every city and vige into isted inds. It was an unprecedented cmity, causing irreparable losses. Now, there are only two weeks left, and they can tough it out. Your Majesty, theres really no need to worry! Lin Beifan poured another ss of wine for the Empress and said with a smile, We managed to minimize casualties duringst years ice disaster to historic lows! The extreme cold weather were experiencing now will pass quickly! Sir Lin speaks the truth! The Empress smiled, feelingpletely at ease. They had all survived the once-in-a-century ice disaster. How could they not endure a brief period of extreme cold weather? The Empress sipped her wine and gloated, I heard that the coalition army of the seven nations, leading a 2 million-strong force, has already prated within 500 li of Great Yans hearnd! But with the heavy snowfall and icy conditions, I wonder how theyll fare? How will they fare? Theyre in for a tough time! Lin Beifan grinned, I just received news from the front lines. The coalition army reached the city of Luohua, less than 100 li from Great Yans hearnd. However, a heavy snowfall trapped them, and they cant move forward or retreat. Its quite embarrassing! Hahaha! The Empress also burst intoughter, imagining their predicament. Lord Lin, as the Supreme Commander of our dynasty, a military genius, how do you think this major battle will unfold? Very well, Ill tell Your Majesty! Lin Beifan took another sip of wine and continued, Although the coalition army boasts 2 million troops, they seem formidable, but the issue of provisions is a significant problem! Providing for the daily needs of 2 million soldiers is no small feat. Therefore, their supply lines must remain intact, as any interruption would lead to copse. The Empress nodded, signaling Lin Beifan to continue. Normally, this issue is easily resolved within the coalition army. They have many capable individuals. However, a heavy snowfall has disrupted their grand n! As Your Majesty knows, in such icy and snowy conditions, traveling is extremely challenging, let alone transporting provisions, especially for 2 million troops! The Empress nodded again. So, this heavy snowfall has severed their supply lines! From what I understand, with frugal consumption, they mightst about a week with their existing provisions, but this snow is going tost for two weeks! In addition, theyll need to solve the issue of keeping warm in this cold weather! Transporting provisions is already a huge challenge, and solving the problem of staying warm in such conditions is even more difficult, nearly impossible! They are currently in a small city, and resources are limited Lin Beifan shook his head in disapproval, saying, Theye from seven different countries, and with seven nationse seven different agendas! Initially, they united for theirmon interests to attack Great Yan. But now, with scarce resources and for their own survival, they may start quarreling among themselves, even resort to infighting! So, they have already defeated themselves without the need for a battle! If I were Great Yan, I wouldnt need to do anything. Id just watch them self-destruct, and after their copse, Id send troops to clean up! It can be said that the coalition army haspletely yed themselves! They shouldnt have, really shouldnt have, sent their armies! Lin Beifan chuckled gleefully. The Empress thought seriously for a moment and said, The coalition army advanced triumphantly, nearing the hearnd of Great Yan, only to crumble due to weather conditions. They gained nothing but suffered a loss of 2 million troops! Great Yan lost a considerable amount of territory, although they might reim it eventually, but they also lost a significant number of troops! So, in this war, who really came out victorious? Lin Beifan shook his head and replied, There are no winners! In this war, there are absolutely no winners; everyone is a loser! If we must find one, it might just be us, Great Wu! Both the seven nations and Great Yan suffered heavy losses, providing us with a rare opportunity! When spring arrives next year, we can gather our troops and march southward once again, expanding our territory! They exchanged a knowing nce and burst intoughter. Meanwhile, the sleep-deprived coalition army, as Lin Beifan had predicted, began to quarrel among themselves. Chapter 456: Everything as Expected, Victory Decided a Thousand Miles Away! Chapter 456: Everything as Expected, Victory Decided a Thousand Miles Away! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Without supplies and trapped in the freezing cold, they could only wait for death. Throughout the entire army, an air of despair hung heavy. Generals from various countries saw this and were deeply concerned, but they had no food supplies to offer. Looking up at the sky, with snow falling on their faces, they couldnt help but curse, Its been ten days, and the snow hasnt stopped? Does God want us to starve to death? General Liu, now is not the time for cursing. We should calm down and think about how to solve the food problem, an old general advised earnestly. What else can we do to solve it? the other side became furious. The snow keeps falling, the roads are blocked, and we cant travel. We cant get the supplies here. We can only wait to die. Do you know that? Receiving a face full of anger, the old general was also upset and retorted, General Liu, have I ever been ignorant? I know youre ufortable, but do you think Im any better off? You should use your energy to solve the food problem instead of getting angry. The other side continued angrily, If I could solve the problem, would I still be here? General Zhao, if you can magically create food, Im willing to call you my father! Shame on you! What kind ofnguage is that? Cant you speak more politely? Im speaking quite politely to you right now! The two generals even started to quarrel and nearly came to blows. Alright, everyone, stop arguing. Lets save our strength! Other generals intervened and pulled the two apart. They sighed, As the crisis approaches, we must work together and stand united. Since the supplies havent arrived, well have to solve our food problem ourselves. Now, order the warriors in the army to search for food. Dig up some tree bark and roots, gather some wild nts; anything edible. Bring it all back! But will this meager food be enough? Well hold on for as long as we can. Otherwise, well really starve to death! s, it hase to this. Everyone sighed, feeling regretful. If they had known, they wouldnt have gone to war. They hadnt even captured any territory yet, but now they were stuck here, starving and freezing. In just these ten days, over four hundred thousand soldiers had died in the army. They hadnt suffered such heavy casualties even while fighting in the Great Yan. Now, with heavy snowfall continuing, they didnt know how many more would die or whether they could carry on. What they feared most was if Great Yan suddenly attacked. What could they do then? With just three or four hundred thousand troops, Great Yan could wipe out their million-strong army. Next, warriors from the army went out to gather food. Although it was still a meager supply, it allowed many to survive, and the death toll wasnt as high. In this way, they endured for four difficult days until the snow finally stopped. A whileter, the sunlight broke through the thick clouds and began to shine down. The weather gradually warmed, and the snow started to melt. This meant that the days of hardship were finally over. The soldiers of the Seven Nations Alliance were overjoyed. The sky has finally cleared up, thats great! I cant believe Ive survived! Everyone, hold on a bit longer; the food is on its way and will arrive tonight! Were going to have food to eat! At this moment, there was a hugemotion outside the city. The soldiers of the Seven Nations Alliance became even more delighted. Could it be that the food has already arrived? Theyre incredibly fast! Quick, start a fire, as soon as the food arrives, well cook it! However, when they rushed out of the city and saw the scene in front of them, they were filled with despair and turned ice-cold. Because what had arrived was not their supply convoy, but The massive army of Great Yan! As far as the eye could see, there were countless soldiers and fluttering banners. There were at least four hundred thousand soldiers! At this moment, the marshal of the Great Yan army looked at the Seven Nations army that had almost reached the hearnd of Great Yan. He gritted his teeth and said, The Seven Nations Alliance hase so close to our territory, this is truly audacious! Today, I will settle the score with you all! Blood debts must be repaid with blood! He raised the de in his hand and shouted, The entire army, move out, leave no one alive! Yes, Marshal! The Great Yan army moved as a whole, their momentum overwhelming. The Seven Nations army was terrified, trembling, and pale-faced. They had one thought in their minds: its over! In the end, Great Yan nearly annihted the Seven Nations Alliance, achieving a resounding victory! Only a few innate experts and powerful martial artists managed to escape, but they no longer affected the overall situation. Afterward, Great Yans army pursued the retreating enemy, recapturing all the lost territory. This battle quickly spread throughout the world. While people marveled at Great Yans strength, they alsomented the fate of the Seven Nations Alliance. The Seven Nations Alliance had an overwhelming momentum, winning every battle and nearly reaching the hearnd of Great Yan. Unfortunately, a heavy snowfall ruined the favorable situation. Yes, its such a pity. This battle was truly regrettable. A two-million-strong army, all gone like this, without any gains, only losses. Perhaps it was fate; their destiny was not yet fulfilled. This battle, they didnt win it! Everyone couldnt help but reflect that since the beginning of this year, there have been a total of three campaigns formed by the alliance. The first campaign was led by the Great Wu army, with Lin Beifan as the Supreme Commander, leading the armies of six nations to attack Xia and achieving a brilliant victory. The second campaign, with the armies of the same six nations but without Great Wus participation, resulted in a catastrophic defeat for the alliance, with the armies being defeated and ughtered by Xia. The third campaign saw the Seven Nations Alliance attacking Yan. Once again, Great Wu did not participate, and the alliance ended up defeated. To everyones astonishment, it seemed that without Great Wus involvement, the alliance consistently suffered defeats. Even though they had promising starts, they ended up losing. This became quite intriguing. Spections arose: Was it because Great Wu had foresight, knowing that they would lose this battle, so they didnt participate? Or was it because the alliancecked the strength of Great Wu, making them incapable? Ultimately, the key point seemed to be centered around Lin Beifan. After all, Lin Beifan was the Supreme Commander of Great Wus armies, overseeing the entire nations military affairs. Whether he chose to engage or withdraw, and how the battles were conducted, wasrgely determined by him. Whether he foresaw the unfavorable oue and extricated himself in advance or the absence of his leadership led to the alliances disastrous defeats, all of this spoke volumes about his exceptional qualities. This is what a true military genius looks like! Everyone acknowledged his remarkable abilities. At this moment, Lin Beifan, who was spending time in the capital, gathered some of his generals. As you all know, the Seven Nations Alliance has suffered a loss, and Great Yan has also been significantly weakened. This situation greatly favors Great Wu. When spring returns next year, with the warming weather, it will be the time for us to lead our forces south! Therefore, I ask all the generals to return and prepare for this. The generals became excited and eager to try. Were going to war again, this is fantastic! Weve been waiting for this day for so long. We must make Great Yan regret their decisions! Supreme Commander, tell us how to fight, and we will fight ordingly! Lin Beifan smiled faintly, I appreciate your dedication to serving the country, and Im pleased to see it. However, there is one thing I need to make clear: I wont be participating in this battle. Everything will be left to you. The generals were left dumbfounded, Huh? Supreme Commander, you wont participate?
Because no one is willing to buy advanced chapters on other site, Ive decided to unlock all premium chapters, and you can read them for free. In exchange, please provide a review and vote at /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/ Visit fal00mtl.) for advanced chapters Chapter 457: I Accept This Gift, and I Will Cherish It for a Lifetime! Chapter 457: I ept This Gift, and I Will Cherish It for a Lifetime! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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You should know that sincest year, almost all major battles have been led by Lin Beifan. Every battle led by Lin Beifan has been overwhelmingly sessful, with a hundred victories in a hundred battles. In simple terms, when Lin Beifan goes to war, he never loses. Therefore, in the future, whenever Lin Beifan leads the troops into battle, everyone is full of confidence and the unwavering belief in victory. Thebat effectiveness of the entire army is enhanced by more than 50%. It has be a habit to let Lin Beifan lead the troops, a trust between themander and the troops. It can also be called the consolidation of military morale. But now, Lin Beifan says he wont lead the troops anymore and hands over themand to them. This For a moment, everyone was a little panicked. Supreme Commander, this is absolutely not possible! We dont have confidence if you dont lead the troops into battle! After all, this time were going to war against Great Yan! Lin Beifan extended his hand to reassure them and smiled, saying, I understand what you all mean! However, when our army heads south, its also the time of my marriage with Her Majesty! Everyone was stunned and quickly realized. They were leading the army south next spring. In less than two months, it would be the time for His Majesty and the Supreme Commanders wedding. This is a major event of national attention, more important than going to war, and it cannot be taken lightly. As the groom and the Supreme Commander, he certainly couldnt be absent. Otherwise, if he couldnt return in time, it would dy Her Majestys wedding. What should they do then? Supreme Commander is absolutely right; the wedding is crucial! We can postpone the battle, but the wedding must not be dyed! Supreme Commander, you can rest assured and prepare for the wedding. Leave the war against Yan to us! Everyone calmed down. Thank you, generals, for understanding! Lin Beifan thanked them with a smile. In fact, there was another reason: he had now be a Supreme Grandmaster, one of the three most powerful individuals in the world. With just one move, he had the power to destroy the heavens and the earth. One person could contend against a nation, and no matter how many armies came, it wouldnt be enough to kill him. Therefore, he was not very interested in leading troops into battle anymore; it felt like bullying people. So, he let others do the job. We still have more than a month to prepare now! Generals, you are all excellent generals withbat skills. Im sure you will return victorious! Then, Lin Beifan organized the troops and made strategic arrangements, appointing the main generals and vice-generals and assigning tasks. Through a sand table simtion, everyone was told how to conduct this battle. After receiving guidance from Lin Beifan, everyone was filled with confidence. In this way, over half a month passed, and the New Year arrived. This year had been a good one; the entire Great Wu had experienced minimal disasters. The people had enough to eat and wear, lived in peace, and even witnessed a bountiful harvest. Everyones lives had improved. Therefore, everyone weed the New Year with great joy, hoping that theing year would be just as good. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the court held its annual grand court assembly. On this day, all the officials gathered in the court, holding New Year gifts to present to the Empress. Among the officials, Lin Beifan was the only one empty-handed. The Empress didnt show any hint of me; she smiled and said, My dear minister, I remember clearly that when you attended the grand court assembly for the first time, you presented the unification of our kingdom, resulting in a year of unification and power that shook the world. The second time you attended the grand court assembly, you presented an era of peace and prosperity, which indeed brought peace to ournd, with the people having enough to eat and a peaceful life. So, what do you n to present at this third grand assembly? Youre not reallying empty-handed, are you? Everyone looked at Lin Beifan, waiting to see how he would justify himself. Lin Beifan spread his hands and said with a smile, Your Majesty, on such a joyous day, how could your humble servant possiblye empty-handed? Oh? The Empress became even more curious. Then, what gift have you brought for me? Lin Beifan appeared a bit hesitant and said, Your servant offers himself to Your Majesty! Everyone was stunned, and then they burst intoughter. After all, in less than two months, Lin Beifan would marry the Empress. Wasnt offering himself to Her Majesty the same thing? It was a clever y on words with profound meaning. A hint of blush crossed the Empresss face. She red at Lin Beifan without a hint of anger and said, You, my dear minister, dare to make such a joke with me! However, I ept this gift, and I like it very much. I will cherish it for a lifetime! Lin Beifans mood instantly lifted. The Empress had said such affectionate words in front of the entire court, making him exceptionally happy. Next, the Empress hosted a banquet for the officials. The meal was exceptionally sumptuous, and the officials enjoyed it tremendously. As fireworks lit up the sky, the Empress couldnt help but look back at the past year, feeling that she had achieved a lot. They had nted peaceful rice, doubling the national food production. They had expanded their territory, bringing the White Elephant Country and the easternnds of Great Xia into Great Wus territory. With neighboring countries in chaos, Great Wu remained stable as a rock, and the people enjoyed prosperity. They surpassed other nations in wealth, bing the strongest nation in the world and ushering in a revival for Great Wu. Most importantly, she had found her beloved partner for life. The Empress turned her head and looked at Lin Beifan, who was enjoying his food, with a gentle smile on her face. Lin Beifan felt a bit embarrassed under the Empresss gaze and asked curiously, Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face? The Empress shook her head and continued to gaze, saying, Nothing, I just wanted to look at you. Its so good to have you here. Lin Beifan felt like he was being teased. Whats gotten into the Empress today? She keeps flirting like this. Isnt that usually something men should do? But Lin Beifan felt that he couldnt show weakness, so he set down his wine ss and said seriously, Your Majesty, I also have something to say to you. What is it? Please, go ahead, the Empress asked. Your Majesty, having you around makes me feel really good. The Empress yfully smiled, How good? I want to be with you for a lifetime. That sounds about right! The Empress happilyughed, and their hands secretly held each other under the table. After the grand court assembly, Lin Beifan went back to the Lin residence to wish everyone a happy New Year. He gave out red envelopes and exchanged good wishes. Even though they did this every year, everyone still enjoyed it. In the following days, Lin Beifan received waves of officials who came to pay their New Years respects. The threshold of the Lin residence was nearly worn out. On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, the Empress also visited and paid her New Years respects to the Lin family. They enjoyed a meal of tangyuan (sweet rice dumplings). This New Year was peaceful, simple, and happy. After the New Year, the court resumed its operations. People began spring farming, nting the peaceful rice provided by the court, hoping for a good harvest this year. At the same time, the well-prepared army for the campaign against Yan began its southward march. Even though Lin Beifan wasnt leading the troops, everyone was full of confidence and unity. Lin Beifan and the Empresss wedding entered its final preparations. Chapter 458: Drooling over my own man, what’s wrong with that? Chapter 458: Drooling over my own man, whats wrong with that? If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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At this moment, the Empress was in her private chamber, trying on her wedding gown for the uing wedding with great care. She attached great importance to this wedding and had prepared nine different wedding dresses. She intended to try each one and select the one she found most suitable and pleasing. As the Empress, dressed in her wedding gown, gracefully walked over, the little princess standing nearby couldnt help but admire her and said, Empress sister, you look stunning in your wedding dress! Really, Little Yunyin? The Empress smiled brightly. The little princess nodded eagerly, Of course! In my eyes, Empress sister, you are the most beautiful woman in the world! After putting on the wedding dress tonight, youll be even more beautiful! Haha, Little Yunyin, youre quite the charmer! Come and help me decide which wedding gown looks the best? The Empress stood in front of a huge bronze mirror, swaying to showcase her figure. Then, she entered another room and came out in a different dress. After looking several times, the little princess frowned in concern, Empress sister, they all look good; its hard to choose! I also think they all look good, but we have to choose one in the end, the Empress said, troubled. These nine wedding dresses were carefully selected by her and made by skilled craftsmen, and she was highly satisfied with all of them. Choosing the one she liked the most was a real dilemma. Little Yunyin, go and call Sir Lin here to advise me, the Empress ordered. Not long after, Lin Beifan, who was reviewing official documents, arrived. The Empress shyly disyed her wedding dresses and asked, Sir Lin, I really like these wedding dresses. Which one do you think is more suitable for our wedding? Your Majesty, why go through so much trouble? Lin Beifan smiled and said, Since you like them all, why not wear them all? You can wear one for the wedding ceremony, another for receiving foreign dignitaries, a third for celebrating with the people you can wear them all! The Empresss eyes lit up, and she eximed, Great idea! However, with nine dresses, it might be a bit cumbersome to change Lin Beifan mentioned. Not at all, its not cumbersome at all. I can arrange it, the Empress dered with a beaming smile. If time is short, we can extend the wedding for an extra day or two to make sure everyone gets to see them! Its rare to have a grand wedding, so lets go all out! the little princess chimed in. Following that, the Empress pulled Lin Beifan over and asked him to try on a wedding gown as well. Lin Beifan felt a bit hesitant, Should I also try one on? Of course, you are my future husband. How can we leave you out? the Empress said matter-of-factly. So, under the Empresss strong insistence, Lin Beifan changed into a wedding gown as well. It has to be said that Lin Beifan naturally has a way with clothes. After putting on the wedding gown, he looked magnificent and full of vigor, causing the two women nearby to gaze at him in admiration. Suddenly, Lin Beifan reached out and pinched the little princesss soft and bouncy cheek, saying, Look, youre drooling! The little princess, feeling embarrassed, wiped her mouth and realized that she hadnt actually drooled. She then retorted, Even if I did, whats wrong with drooling over my own man? Lin Beifan: That actually makes sense. Im speechless! Little Yunyin, how do you like this wedding dress? the Empress asked with a smile. The little princess immediately nodded, Its beautiful! Very beautiful! I also think its good. Lets settle on this wedding dress! the Empress pped her hands and said, Sir Lin, go change into another wedding gown and show it to me. Do I really need to change again? I still have to go back and review official documents. State affairs are quite demanding! Lin Beifanined. After all, as a man, one set of clothing was enough, and he didnt like changing repeatedly. Quit the nonsense and go! The Empress pushed him inside. So, Lin Beifan changed into one wedding gown after another and presented himself. Every time he came out, he greatly satisfied the two women. Its beautiful! Really beautiful! Lin Beifan looks good in any wedding gown! The little princesss eyes sparkled, and she couldnt help but drool. This woman was no longer hiding her intentions! Lin Beifan began to worry that she might not even wait until their wedding day and would drag him into the woods Indeed, they all look great! Lets take all five! But we should prepare another four as well! the Empress said with a smile. Lin Beifan felt a bit helpless. Five sets should be enough. Why do we need to prepare four more? Because I have nine dresses to change into, and as the groom, you should naturally prepare nine sets to match! the Empress said matter-of-factly. At this point, Lin Beifan really wanted to smack himself in the face. He regretted mentioning that suggestion earlier; it had caused him so much trouble. He deeply regretted it. In the afternoon, Lin Beifan and the little princess returned to the Lin Residence. The little princess sped her hands in front of her chest, her face full of anticipation. Today, the Empress looked incredibly beautiful, with a happy smile on her face. It makes me want to get married too! Lin Beifan nced at her and said, You can get married, but you shouldnt follow the Empresss example and prepare so many wedding gowns! The little princess patted Lin Beifans shoulder and said with confidence, Dont worry, I find changing clothes troublesome too, so I dont want to prepare so many! Besides, I cant surpass the Empress; otherwise, it would be overstepping! Lin Beifan let out a sigh of relief, Thats good, then. So, I only need to prepare eight sets! the little princess proudly dered. Lin Beifan: At night, when the night was quiet, Lin Beifan prepared a pot of wine and two white jade cups in his study. Before long, Bai Guanyin arrived, floating down and sitting in front of Lin Beifan. She raised one of the cups in front of her and said, Congrattions! Youll be getting married soon, marrying the most powerful and beautiful woman in the world. I toast to you! Thank you! Lin Beifan also raised his cup and smiled, The Empress is undoubtedly the most powerful and beautiful woman in the world! But speaking of beauty, youre not far behind! Bai Guanyin rolled her eyes and said, Youre quite the smooth talker, no wonder you have so many womens hearts! After drinking this cup, Lin Beifan looked serious, Bai Guanyin, theres something I want to tell you. As if she had anticipated it, Bai Guanyin asked, What is it? Go ahead. From now on, I wont be providing you with money anymore. I hope you understand, Lin Beifan said. Are you nning to turn over a new leaf and be an honest official? Bai Guanyin asked. No, Ill still be a corrupt official! As long as theres corruption, Ill continue to be corrupt until the entire political atmosphere in the Great Wu changes, and corruption is no longer tolerated, Lin Beifan replied. What will you do with the money you umte through corruption? Keep it for yourself? Bai Guanyin asked. Lin Beifan shook his head, I dont need it. I already have a worry-free life, and the amount of money doesnt matter to me. So, I n to hand over this ill-gotten wealth to the Empress! After all, Im her husband, her lifelong support. I cant do anything that would let her down, dont you think? Bai Guanyin suddenly burst intoughter, it went around in circles, only to return to empress? Chapter 459: What a Shameless Person! Chapter 459: What a Shameless Person! Lin Beifan, arent you afraid that after the Empress receives this money, she might misuse it? Bai Guanyin asked. Lin Beifan shook his head, Shes not ipetent; on the contrary, shes very wise! I can see that over the years, due to the instability of the country, she has been acting. Its only now, with the nation unified and at peace, that shes revealing her true self. Bai Guanyin nodded, That makes sense! And Ive always suspected that she actually knew about my corruption all along! Lin Beifan said with a wry smile, The reason she hasnt taken action might be because she sees my contributions to the Great Wu and, well, maybe because she desires me. Bai Guanyin burst intoughter, What a shameless fellow! Youre the first person Ive seen with such thick skin. Youve truly broadened my horizons! Haha! Lin Beifan: Im sorry, I couldnt help it. Myughter got a bit too loud. Bear with me! Haha, Bai Guanyin said. Lin Beifan: Afterughing, Bai Guanyin returned to her graceful demeanor. She had already decided to tell the Empress about what Lin Beifan had said and let the Empress deal with him. As for what you said, Ipletely understand! In fact, we no longer need funds now. Ive already developed our organization, and you can rest assured that Ill be by your side, along with the Empress and my support behind the scenes! Bai Guanyin smiled. Lin Beifan was curious and asked, Im very curious. Who are the people behind you, and what is this organization? What have you been doing all these years, and why couldnt the courts investigations uncover anything? Bai Guanyin mysteriously smiled, Over the years, weve used your money to do many things, establishing awork and covert power that covers various families. Were no less than a dynasty! Our organization doesnt have a name, but our purpose is to ensure that the people can live good lives and that there is peace throughout thend. But in the end, we found that despite spending so much money and doing so much, youve done better than us! Its you who unified the Great Wu and achieved peace. So, we havent needed to use this power much, and weve preserved it! As for your question about the people behind me, youll know soon enough! I can only tell you that they are both near and far, just as near as the horizon and as close as the eye can see! Alright, no need to say more. I have something to attend to, so Ill leave, Bai Guanyin said as she got up. Lin Beifan called out, Wait, theres one more thing! Bai Guanyin turned her head back, What is it? Senior asked me to deliver a message to you. He said hes had some insights recently and wants to discuss Dao with you, Lin Beifan replied. Bai Guanyin furrowed her brow, Really? Why doesnt he just talk to me directly? Why use you as an intermediary? Lin Beifans gaze flickered, Im not sure. Why dont you ask him to find out? Alright, Ill go check, Bai Guanyin said. Bai Guanyins figure gradually disappeared. Half an hourter, she appeared in front of her seniors thatched cottage. Her senior, sitting in front, was pouring tea for Bai Guanyin and grinning like a matchmaker, Bai girl, youre not young anymore, its time to consider marriage! Look at that Lin kid, hes preparing for a grand wedding, and his bride is the current Empress! Ive already chosen for you; the most suitable person for you is Lin kid. You two look exceptionally well-matched together! Although hes a bit of a yboy, its understandable. So, Im here to make the decision for your marriage! If he dares to disagree, Ill fight him until he agrees! At worst, the two of us old folks can double-team him until he surrenders! In the future, if you two have children, theyll definitely inherit your terrifying martial arts talents! At that time, make sure to let them apprentice under me. Ill pass on all my lifetime skills to them! Have more children; dont waste your talents! Hahaha The senior continued to chatter, getting happier as he talked. Bai Guanyin listened, feeling a mix of embarrassment, annoyance, and anger. This old man is so incorrigible! I came to discuss Dao with you, and you turned into a matchmaker, urging me to marry, and the groom is that Lin Beifan bastard! She could now see through Lin Beifans scheme. Bai Guanyin clenched her teeth, Her Majesty is right, this little bastard Lin may seem innocent, but hes full of tricks. After returning, Ill make sure he doesnt get away with it! As Lin Beifan, who was preparing to sleep, suddenly sneezed. Afterward, he and the Empress continued with their wedding preparations. The wedding invitations had been sent out, inviting emissaries and guests from various countries to attend. At this moment, the Great Wu could be called the number one nation under the heavens, with a powerful army, abundant resources, and peace throughout thend. The Empress was the most influential person in the world. Therefore, her wedding was highly regarded by all countries, and they sent ambassadors bearingvish gifts to attend. The capital city was bustling with foreign diplomats, and it seemed like the whole world hade to pay tribute. In themoners neighborhoods, the streets were cleaned meticulously. Colorful ribbons andnterns were hung on trees and roofs. In the evenings, numerous activities and performances were prepared to celebrate the Empresss wedding. In the southern region, the Great Wus Vanguard Army was fiercely attacking and conquering territories, disying its formidable might. Generals like Zhao Kuo shouted with raised arms, Soldiers, keep charging! Strive to capture Annan before the ninth day of the third month as a wedding gift for Her Majesty and the Supreme Commander! Yes, General! The soldiers shouted in unison, their morale rising by thirty percent, driving the enemy forces steadily back. The entire Great Wu was filled with a festive atmosphere. In the imperial pce of the Great Xia Dynasty, The Great Xia Emperor stared at the wedding invitation in his hand and pondered the prosperity of the Great Wu, unable to speak for a long time. No matter how much I calcte, I never thought that Lin Beifan would end up with the Empress! As a result, the conflict between them as ruler and minister will be resolved, and they will undoubtedly work together wholeheartedly. With this, the Great Wu, with Lin Beifans assistance, will undoubtedly be even more prosperous and powerful. As a result, where will there be any breathing space left for Great Xia? The Great Xia Emperor felt a strong sense of urgency and crisis. He had long seen Lin Beifan as an exceptional talent and had always wanted to bring him into his service. However, now, with Lin Beifan marrying the Empress, he hadpletely lost the opportunity to win him over. For the Great Xia and himself, Lin Beifan was a tremendous threat. It was a major problem that had to be eliminated!
I have conducted several experiments to automatically trante novels using the OpenAI API, and it can be considered a sess. The trantions from OpenAI (ChatGPT) can be said to be the closest to human-like, unlike other MTLs. If youre interested, please read I With Infinite Lifespan, Be a Reincarnator or visit fal00mtl(.. Chapter 460: The Ziyue Empress Attends the Wedding! Chapter 460: The Ziyue Empress Attends the Wedding! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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A letter sent by the Great Xia Emperor. Before long, an elderly man with graying hair arrived, his tone cold, This is the third matter! After this, our debts between us will be considered settled. Yes, Senior, youre right, the Great Xia Emperor replied reluctantly. Originally, he had nned to save this favor for crucial moments in the future, but now he had no choice but to use it. Alright, what task do you want me to do for you? the elder asked. The Great Xia Emperors eyes gleamed with malice, Senior, I want you to After receiving the mission, the elder departed swiftly, heading towards the Great Wu. In the capital city of the Great Wu, the streets were adorned with lights and decorations, and people were singing and dancing to celebrate the Empresss grand wedding. The Lin Residence was particrly lively because all of Lin Beifans friends hade to attend. The Saber Saint, Ouyang Badao, walked over with a big sword on his back,ughing heartily, Little brother, I never thought that one day you would be marrying the Empress, the most powerful woman in the world! Well done, youve made us proud, my friend! Haha Indeed! The Sword Immortal, Shangguan Jianhun, stroked his beard and smiled, When I received this wedding invitation, I couldnt believe it! It wasnt until the news spread outside that I dared to confirm it. I rushed here overnight to join your celebration! Congrattions, my friend! Spear God, the Night Fragrances master, with a polite nod, said, Congrattions! I wish you a hundred years of happiness with the Empress and an early arrival of noble offspring! In high spirits due to the joyous asion, Lin Beifan was all smiles. He sped his hands and said, Thank you all foring! However, the wedding is still a few days away. Please stay at the Lin Residence for now, and let me, your younger brother, entertain you! Is there wine? asked the Knife Saint. Lin Beifan chuckled, Of course! How much do you want to drink? The Saber Saint eximed, Great! Tonight, well drink and discuss martial arts. We wont leave until were drunk! Please, everyone! At this moment, the Great Wus southern expedition army had sessfully captured Annan Region of Great Yan, but they were now quarreling over some matters. Now that weve finally captured Annan, all the generals have worked hard. Its time for a break! So, let me take this battle report back to report to Her Majesty and the Supreme Commander! one of the generals said. Why should you? Why do you get to go back and celebrate while we stay here? Exactly! As themander, you shouldnt stay here. You should let us go back! No, Ive been craving a cup of wedding wine for half a year now. I must go back and have a drink! Another general insisted. As the argument grew more intense, they couldnt reach an agreement on who should go back and who should stay. Everyone argued and refused to yield. Theserades, who had fought side by side in the trenches before, were now ready to stab each other if anyone dared to stop them from going back for the wedding wine. In the end, they decided to draw lots to determine who would return. The lucky general who drew the lot mounted a high-headed horse and rushed back overnight to celebrate. After all, they didnt want to miss the grand wedding. While they were on their way, a luxurious procession entered the capital city, escorted by the army. A sharp voice announced, The Empress of the nted Moon, Ziyue has arrived! The whole city was in an uproar. Hey, the Empress of the nted Moon Dynasty is here! I heard that the Ziyue Empress is as beautiful as our own Empress! No doubt about it. They say that when the Ziyue Empress unveiled her face, you would be hailed as the most beautiful woman of the nted Moon! The two empresses of this era are meeting! This is a rare opportunity; lets go see! People rushed to the streets to catch a glimpse of the Ziyue Empress. In the luxurious procession, there was a grand carriage pulled by six magnificent horses. Seated inside was a woman wearing imperial robes. Although her face was hidden behind the curtains, her graceful posture indicated that she must be an incredibly alluring woman. This opulent procession went straight to the imperial pce. Lin Beifan, who had just received the news, was taken aback. He hurried to the pce gate and eximed in surprise, Your Majesty, why have youe? The Ziyue Empress red at Lin Beifan with displeasure and a hint of jealousy. Youre getting married, cant Ie? Lin Beifan felt extremely awkward. He was about to get married, but the bride wasnt the Ziyue Empress. Now, she hade to visit him. Could it be that she was going to cause trouble at the wedding? He felt a bit panicked and quickly said, Your Majesty, its not what you think! What I meant was, why didnt you inform me in advance? I just found out, and I wasnt mentally prepared! The Ziyue Empress waved her hand dismissively, No need to worry about that! Ive already discussed this with that woman. You dont need to concern yourself with it. Lin Beifans heart was filled with bitterness. How could he not be concerned? Ever since these two empresses got contacted, he had been left out of everything. They never told him anything, leaving him in the dark and feeling uneasy. Strategist, Ivee this time for a few reasons. First, I received an invitation from that woman. The nted Moon owes her a favor, so its only right for us toe. Second, Great Wu is like my second hometown, so I wanted to visit and rx. Third, its also a big surprise for our strategist! the Ziyue Empress said with a smile. Lin Beifan felt even more bitter; this wasnt a surprise, it was a shock. However, he had no choice but to go along with it. They then walked into the imperial pce to meet the Empress. This was the second time these two empresses had met. They were both considered the most beautiful women of their time, and being the two most powerful women in the world only added to their charm. Lin Beifan looked from one to the other and couldnt help but feel lucky that he had the opportunity to have the two empresses as his partners. The Ziyue Empress said solemnly, I am the Ziyue Emperor of the nted Moon Dynasty, and I greet Your Majesty of Great Wu. The Empress raised an eyebrow and, with a yful smile, said, Ziyue, what should you call me? The Ziyue Empress reluctantly replied, Sister! The Empress suddenly beamed and said, Ah, little sister, youvee! The Ziyue Empress felt even more frustrated. She red at Lin Beifan as if to say, If it werent for this man, would I need to lower my status? She was determined to settle the score with himter. Lin Beifan shivered, feeling like the Ziyue Empress was about to hold him ountable for something. Being a man was tough, especially when the woman in question was an empress. The Empress, in particr, made it even tougher. The Empress said warmly, Little sister, Im very happy that you could attend your big sisters wedding. I promise that I wont forget what I owe you. Lets work together to build a prosperous and happy era, shall we? The Ziyue Empress finally found somefort. This trip wasnt in vain after all. She decided to ept her role as the younger sister. Having such an extraordinary big sister to shield her from the storms ahead might not be so bad after all.
TN: It takes three days and $10 for the OpenAI API to trante the novel My Longevity Simtion. I saw quite positive reviews on Novelupdates, so I chose this series. The trantion by ChatGPT (OpenAI) is imed to be better than most Machine Trantion (MT) because its more human-like. If youd like me to trante a specific series, you can contact me via email, and I charge $1 per 100 chapters. I dont take any profit. Chapter 461: Clearly Coveting My Body but Speaking So Purely Chapter 461: Clearly Coveting My Body but Speaking So Purely If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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After that, the two empresses began chatting andughing. As the only two empresses of their time, they had many shared topics. They exchanged their experiences in governing, discussed the challenges and hardships of being female rulers, and even shared stories about theirmon man and more. But as they talked, they suddenly felt someone was getting in the way. With him around, it was hard to discuss certain matters openly. So, one of the empresses waved her hand, saying, Sir, if you dont have any important matters, you can leave. Lin Beifan blinked his eyes, wondering if they were trying to chase him away. However, he couldnt just leave. If he did, what kind of schemes might they hatch behind his back? There had been precedents for such things. Lin Beifan solemnly said, Your Majesty, I wont leave. Ive benefited greatly from listening to both of Your Majesties conversation. I wish to continue staying and learning from your teachings. Sir, how about you take your leave first? My sister and I are discussing matters rted to our chambers, and its rather awkward to talk about such topics in front of a man, the Empress advised. Upon hearing this, Lin Beifan couldnt leave even more. If they were discussing matters rted to their chambers, it was highly likely that they would involve him in some way. He said with a touch of bitterness, Your Majesty, please go ahead and discuss whatever you need to. Theres nothing that cant be said to a person. You dont need to treat me as an outsider. The Empress looked a bit troubled. This isnt about being an outsider or not; its about certain matters that are more suited to discussing among women. Its just not appropriate to talk about them in front of you. Your Majesty, theres nothing to be embarrassed about. You can consider me a woman or even a male confidant. Im known for my excellent listening skills, helping women with their troubles. Let me share a secret with you: I have a nicknameFriend of Women, the dream of 9 billion young girls worldwide! Lin Beifan said earnestly. The Empress rolled her eyes in exasperation. This man was using every excuse possible to stay. She couldnt believe his audacity. Even the Ziyue Empress couldnt help but chime in, Strategist, please leave for now. Well find you after were done. Under the strong insistence of the two empresses, Lin Beifan could only leave reluctantly. He sighed, Alright Alright, Im leaving. The two empresses waved their hands once more, saying in unison, Go ahead, go ahead! He took a few steps but turned around again. Im really leaving! The two empresses waved their hands a third time, this time more firmly. Donte back! Lin Beifan walked away, muttering, Im truly leaving and noting back! Lin Beifan took a few more steps and affectionately called out, This time, I dont know when well meet again, and my heart is filled with reluctance! Do you both have nothing to say to me? The two empresses simultaneously responded, We do. Lin Beifan was delighted and jogged back, asking, What is it? The two empresses said in unison, Get lost! Lin Beifan: In the end, Lin Beifan left dejectedly, feeling resentful, These two women have a better connection with each other than with men! By the evening, the Ziyue Empress left the imperial pce, changed into a purple dress, and arrived at the Lin residence. This event caused a stir among the Lin family members. The former renowned top courtesan, Miss Ziyue, is actually the Ziyue Empress! Li Shi Shi eximed in astonishment. The change in her identity is too sudden; I couldnt have anticipated this, Mo Rushuang shook her head. The youngdy of the Lin family furrowed her brow and said, I always thought there was something fishy about you from the beginning, and now its confirmed! You hid it very well, turning out to be an empress of the nted Moon Dynasty! The Sword Immortalughed while raising his ss, When I went to support the nted Moon Dynasty back then, I already saw the sparks between the two of them. It seems I was right! Both empresses of the current era have be my little brothers women! I must say, my little brother is indeed a role model for us men! Who wouldnt agree with that? It makes me want to find a wife too! Haha! the Saber Saint roared withughter. Quick, go find one. Im looking forward to toasting at your wedding! the Spear God said with a smile. Amitabha, the old monk said with a peaceful smile. The Ziyue Empress smiled faintly and said apologetically, Thank you all for your understanding. Initially, to restore our country, I had to conceal my true identity. Please dont take offense! We understandpletely! We wont hold it against you! Everyone in the Lin family understood the difficulties faced by the Ziyue Empress. After all, she was a runaway princess, and if her identity were exposed, she would undoubtedly be pursued relentlessly by the Dayue Dynasty. She might even be a fugitive wanted throughout the realm. Thus, hiding her identity was the only way to ensure her survival. At the same time, they admired her greatly. Leading a group of ragtag soldiers, in less than 20 years, she had established her own dynastya remarkable feat that must have involved countless hardships. Her achievements were enough to be celebrated for generations and be remembered throughout history. Later on, the Ziyue Empress pped her hands and had her servants bring in two carts filled with gifts. These are the gifts Ive brought from the nted Moon Dynasty. Please ept them! Everyone received several gifts. The outspoken younger miss of the Lin family received the most gifts, and they were all food items, which greatly delighted her. Lin Beifan looked quite envious and asked, Your Majesty, what about mine? Strategist, what do you need gifts for? I am the greatest gift! The Ziyue Empress walked slowly over to Lin Beifan and whispered in his ear, Tonight, I belong to you! Lin Beifan was quite irritated! Shes clearly enticing me, yet she speaks so innocently! Next, an extravagant banquet was held in the Lin residence to wee the Ziyue Empresss arrival. Byte night, Lin Beifan found himself unable to resist as the Ziyue Empress pulled him into the inner chambers, tirelessly working towards the legacy of the nted Moon Dynastyabor of love. In just a few days, time flew by. Lin Beifans wedding with the empress was finally underway. On this day, dignitaries from all over the realm gathered in the capital city, creating an unprecedented spectacle with crowds of people. They were here to witness the wedding of the worlds number one empress and to witness the beginning of a new era for the Great Wu Empire. On this day, Lin Beifan arrived at the imperial pce early, dressed in the grooms attire. The wedding ceremony followed a simr pattern tomon weddings, with a bow to heaven and earth, a bow to the parents, the exchange of vows, and a grand ceremony. However, as a royal wedding, it certainly wouldnt be so simple. They needed to bow to heaven and earth, but it was a grand ritual performed at the Temple of Heaven. The bow to their parents took ce at the ancestral temple, where they paid respects to the ancestors of the Great Wu Empire. The final exchange of vows was rtively straightforward. So, the specific procedure involved starting from the main gate of the imperial pce, where they would set off, proceeding under the escort of a grand procession, receiving the admiration and blessings of the people along the way. They would then go to the Temple of Heaven to bow to heaven and earth, followed by a visit to the ancestral temple to pay respects to their forebears. Finally, they would return to the imperial pce. This entire journey couldnt bepleted in a single day. In addition to these rituals, as the emperor and crown prince, they needed to receive guests from all over, proim a general amnesty, and so on. In summary, there was a lot to do. Chapter 462: On the Day of the Grand Wedding, the Empress Calls Him “Imperial Husband”! Chapter 462: On the Day of the Grand Wedding, the Empress Calls Him Imperial Husband! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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When the auspicious time arrived, Lin Beifan and the Empress, dressed in their finest, set off from the imperial pce. Along the way, the streets were packed withmoners, and the crowds were enormous, cheering and celebrating. Your Majesty and Prime Minister, we wish you a hundred years of happiness and eternal unity! Your Majesty, Your Highness, we wish you eternal happiness and hope you will soon bless us with royal descendants! Your Majesty and Your Highness, the future of Great Wu depends on both of you! Sitting in the luxurious carriage, Lin Beifan and the Empress held hands, waving to the crowds outside and receiving their blessings. Your Majesty, look, people from all over the world havee to witness your grand wedding. Youre the happiest woman in the entire world! Lin Beifan said with a smile. The Empress couldnt hide her smile either, and she yfully nced at Lin Beifan. Arent you? Lin Beifan shook his head. Im not. The Empress raised her eyebrows and stared at him. What did you just say? Say it again! Lin Beifan shivered in fear. Your Majesty, you misunderstood me. Im not the happiest woman in the world; Im the happiest man in the world. My gender cant be wrong! The Empresss face went from cloudy to clear, and she gave him another re. Its already thiste, and youre still being so cheeky! Underneath her hand, she discreetly pinched the soft flesh around Lin Beifans waist. It hurt so much that Lin Beifans face twisted in pain. The Empress, with a smug expression, said, Its your wedding day. Dont cry; smile! Your Majesty is right; I should smile! Lin Beifan endured the pain and forced a very fake smile. Hmph! Lets see if you dare in the future! The Empress finally released her grip. It was as if nothing had happened, and they both continued to smile and wave to the people outside. The journey from the imperial pce to the Temple of Heaven was not far, but it took them nearly an hour to reach their destination. Following the rituals, they paid their respects to heaven and earth, and then they proceeded to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to honor the ancestors of Great Wu. Standing in front of thete emperors memorial tablet, the Empresss eyes became slightly moist. Father, under my efforts, Great Wu has already united and expanded its territory, increasing our dominion by more than thirty percent! Within the borders of Great Wu, the people have plenty to eat and wear, living in peace and prosperity! I believe that Great Wus future will only get better and stronger! And, Ive found my lifetime partner! His name is Lin Beifan, the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the military. Hes the hereditary Lord of Loyalty and Valor. We couldnt have emerged from the quagmire and achieved rejuvenation without his significant contributions! Father, you can rest in peace now. Ille to visit you again another day! Lin Beifan held the Empresss hand and said, Lord Father-inw, I will definitely take good care of Her Majesty. Please rest assured. They bowed again and then left the Imperial Ancestral Temple, returning to the imperial pce. Next, under the witness of court officials, foreign envoys, and the entire citys poption, they performed the ceremony of exchanging vows as husband and wife. At this point, they could truly be considered a married couple. Your Majesty! Lin Beifan called out. Imperial Husband! The Empress corrected herself, her cheeks blushing as she said the new title. The ceremony isplete! The chief officiant announced loudly. The entire hall erupted in thunderous apuse and cheers. At this moment, civil and military officials, as well as foreign envoys, began presenting their congrattory gifts. Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, offered a white jade sculpture of a dragon and phoenix. He loudly dered, Your Majesty, Your Highness, this is a wedding gift from your humble servant. Wishing you a harmonious union and a hundred years of happiness! The Empress smiled and nodded, Minister Gao, your thoughtful gift is much appreciated! Next was Qian Yuanshen, the Minister of Revenue, who presented a pair of golden jujubes. May Your Majesty and Your Highness have many children and grandchildren! The Empress smiled again and epted the gift, Indeed, this gift is also epted. After the civil and military officials had presented their gifts, it was the turn of the foreign envoys. Envoy from the Mo Kingdom, we greet His Majesty of Great Wu and His Highness, the Lord of Loyalty and Valor! This is the wedding gift that our monarch has sent, a red coral sculpture. We wish His Majesty and His Highness a harmonious marriage, peace, and happiness! Envoy from the Great Peng Kingdom, we greet His Majesty of Great Wu and His Highness, the Lord of Loyalty and Valor! This is the wedding gift that our monarch has sent, two night-bright pearls. We wish His Majesty and His Highness good fortune and a deep and loving rtionship! One foreign envoy after another presented their gifts. The gifts were diverse and dazzling, overwhelming the audience with their grandeur. Finally, to everyones astonishment, it was revealed that there were already over a hundred envoys who hade to offer their congrattions. Even countries located far beyond Great Wus borders had sent representatives. The scene resembled the grandeur of the many nations paying homage to the court. Thest time such a scene had urred was over a hundred years ago during the height of Great Wus power. The citizens of Great Wu felt an immense sense of pride and honor in their hearts. Great Wu had truly risen once again! Just as this was happening, three generals arrived, dusty and disheveled. The Empress was puzzled, General Liu, General Zhao, werent you in the Great Yan Kingdom, fighting in a war? Howe youve returned? Only Lin Beifan showed a faint smile. The three generals cupped their fists and respectfully said, Reporting to Your Majesty and Supreme Commander, the Great Wu army has advanced southward to attack the Great Yan Kingdom. We have been conquering cities and territories along the way without any ckness. Three days ago, we sessfully captured the city of Annan. Therefore, we have returned to report this good news to Your Majesty and the Supreme Commander. We wish you both a joyful wedding and eternal harmony! The entire hall erupted into amotion. Thend of Annan has been captured so quickly? It took just over a month! Expanding the territory again, Great Wu has be too powerful! Great Wu is mighty! The Empress burst intoughter and said loudly, I really love this wedding gift! Generals, please have a seat and enjoy some fine wine! After the wedding, we will discuss merits and rewards! Thank you, Your Majesty and Marshal! The three generals were overjoyed. Then, the foreign envoys continued to present their gifts, their expressions even more respectful. The Empress continued, Today, I am getting married, and its a cause for universal celebration. Therefore, I have decided to grant a general amnesty throughout the realm, and the curfew will be lifted for seven days! In addition, all those imprisoned for minor offenses of less than three years in the dungeons will be pardoned and allowed to return home. Your Majestys wisdom! The officials echoed in unison. The Empress went on, To our friends who havee from afar, I have prepared fine wine and delicacies to entertain you! I hope you all can enjoy the feast without restraint and return home uninebriated. Thank you, Your Majesty! Everyone eximed. Just at that moment, an elderly man with white hair entered the pce as if entering an empty space. Standing above the pce, watching the scene before him, he sighed, It seems Ivee at the wrong time! But entrusted by others, loyal deeds must be carried out. Its just that this wedding is bound to be bloodied. Sigh! The courts experts were greatly surprised and gathered around. Who are you, and what are you doing here? Her Majesty is having a wedding now; you must not be disrespectful. Come down from the pce immediately, or we will charge you with a serious offense! Descend at once and confess, or we wont be polite! Chapter 463: I was once a grandmaster, but not anymore! Chapter 463: I was once a grandmaster, but not anymore! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
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Facing the threatening crowd, the old man remained unfazed. He just shook lightly, releasing a terrifying aura that swept in all directions. The court experts who came to attack were all blown away by this force. Grandmaster-level power! The crowd eximed. Only a grandmaster could possess such a terrifying ability, using just his aura to send innate experts flying. No, he is definitely not a grandmaster! Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun rushed into the scene, holding a sharp sword. He said with a serious tone, Even if he is a grandmaster, he doesnt have such a terrifying presence! Youre right, he is definitely not a grandmaster, or at least not an ordinary one, because I sense a threat from him! Saber Saint Ouyang Badao also appeared, his de infused with true energy, ready to strike. You are stronger than me! Spear God also emerged and pointed his spear at the old man on the pce. Amitabha! The old monk also entered the scene. The three court-appointed grandmasters also appeared, forming a protective barrier in front of Lin Beifan and the Empress. Everyone was shocked; who was this mysterious old man? He had actually rmed seven grandmasters! Various court experts rushed in and stood in front of the Empress and Lin Beifan. One of the appointed grandmasters advised, Your Majesty, Your Highness, this person is not to be underestimated; its better to step aside for now. The Empress nced at Lin Beifan and felt safe. She said proudly, No need! I want to see how this mountain viger who came out of nowhere can deal with me! Lin Beifan chuckled, Thats right; I want to see what he can do too! Helplessly, the others had to strengthen their protection. At this moment, the old man who had suddenly appeared looked at the seven grandmasters below him. He spoke calmly, Considering the difficulty of reaching your level of cultivation, Ill give you a chance to step back. I can spare your lives. The seven grandmasters were furious. How dare you look down on us? Youre too arrogant! Even if youre powerful, you shouldnt be so disrespectful and disdainful of others! It seems that Ill have to teach you a lesson today! The old monk folded his hands together, his eyes filled withpassion. He said, Amitabha, why have youe here, sir? Today is my masters wedding day, and its not appropriate for us to fight. Please, show some consideration. Well, its really not convenient, but I have no choice but toe! the old man replied. Why have youe here? Whats your purpose? the Spear God asked. Ivee here to repay a favor, the old man answered. The old man calmly spoke, Fifty years ago, I received a favor from the former Emperor of Great and promised to do three things for him. Now, I havepleted two of those tasks, and theres only one left. Once I finish this task, the favor will be repaid. As a current powerhouse, the old man had no reason to lie. However, the crowd grew more nervous upon hearing this because any involvement with the Emperor of Great Xia couldnt be good. Great Xia and Great Wu were currently enemies, with Great Wu having imprisoned the current Emperor of Great Xia for a year and seized the Far East territory from Great Xia, leading to significant animosity between the two nations. What did the Emperor of Great Xia send you to do? someone asked. The old man nced at Lin Beifan and the Empress standing beside him and said, The Emperor of Great Xia ordered me toe here and execute Lin Beifan, who holds the positions of Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief, and loyal and valiant Prince, as well as the Empress of Great Wu. The entire court erupted in shock! This mysterious old man hade to assassinate Lin Beifan and the Empress during their wedding ceremony! Regardless of their status, Lin Beifan and the Empress were pirs of Great Wu. If they were killed, Great Wu would swiftly crumble, leaving countless citizens in misery. This act was nothing short of madness! A strong murderous intent welled up in the Empresss eyes, and Lin Beifans expression darkened. This is outrageous! one of the grandmaster attendants eximed. Do you realize the consequences of your actions? If you kill our Majesty and the Empress, it will bring untold suffering to millions of innocent people! You will be the enemy of the world! Thats right! Your actions will plunge the world into chaos! You cannot destroy this world and the livelihood of themon people just for your personal grievances! The old man responded indifferently, The lives of themon people are of no concern to me. They are nothing more than ants. I do not care how many of them die. Right now, I only want to repay a favor. I advise you to step aside quickly, or I wont be lenient. Stop the nonsense! Sword Immortal, holding his sharp sword, dered loudly. If you want to harm my younger brother and sister, youll have to get past me first. Even if I die, I wont let you harm them! Saber Saint spoke loudly, I want to see if its your mouth thats sharp or my de! Spear God aimed his spear at the old man, saying, Since youre so obstinate, lets settle this with action. Its been a while since Ive encountered a formidable opponent. Today, even if I die, I wont let you harm them! The old monk, suppressing his anger, said, Kind sir, put down your murderous intent and attain enlightenment. Otherwise, even the Buddha has moments of wrathful indignation. The three grandmaster attendants stood in silence, indicating their stance through their actions. The battle was on the brink of erupting. The old man looked around and said with a trace of killing intent, It seems like youve made your choice. At that moment, Lin Beifan sighed and spoke, I wanted to have a proper wedding, but I didnt expect to encounter such a troublesome situation. Amidst the shocked gazes of the crowd, Lin Beifan approached the several grandmasters and said, He is an advanced grandmaster, and you are not his match. Step aside and dont sacrifice yourselves in vain. An advanced grandmaster! That old man is actually an advanced grandmaster! The most powerful figure in the world! A advanced grandmaster even more formidable than a grandmaster! Could it be true? The entire court was in an uproar. Sword Immortal couldnt help but ask, Little brother, are you sure you didnt make a mistake? Is he really an advanced grandmaster? Everyone perked up their ears. Lin Beifan helplessly replied, If you dont believe it, you can ask him. All eyes turned towards the old man. The old man was quite surprised and remarked, You have a keen eye; you actually saw through it. The old mans words were tantamount to admitting his advanced grandmaster status. The entire court was once again in shock. All the martial experts, including the grandmasters, were on edge. Even the grandmasters were not exempt! The old man then asked, Im very curious. How did you, a seemingly powerless schr, recognize my identity? Lin Beifan smiled faintly and said, Because, once upon a time, I was also an advanced grandmaster! You were also an advanced grandmaster? The old man was taken aback and looked Lin Beifan up and down seriously. However, he couldnt discern the aura and demeanor of an advanced grandmaster from Lin Beifan, nor did he see any signs of cultivation. Moreover, how could a young man in his twenties be an advanced grandmaster? Even if someone cultivated from birth, it wouldnt be possible. Let me correct that; I used to be an advanced grandmaster, but not anymore, Lin Beifan replied. And what about now? the old man inquired. Now, my strength surpasses yours slightly. If you hadnte, I could have continued to conceal it, but now I cant hide anymore, Lin Beifan said. Then, to the amazement of the onlookers, Lin Beifan actually took flight. Chapter 464: Prime Minister is Actually… The Supreme Grandmaster!!! Chapter 464: Prime Minister is Actually The Supreme Grandmaster!!! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
Lin Beifan soared without any support, floating as if he were a deity. A general was full of astonishment, his eyes nearly popping out: Supreme.. Commander, how did he fly? An old courtier was equally shocked, his mouth wide enough to swallow a chicken egg: Isnt the Prime Minister a schr? How can he fly? Could it be that the Prime Minister is also a martial arts master? A cultivator sighed, Even if hes a martial arts master, he can only leap, not truly fly! Perhaps a grandmaster could! But even a grandmaster doesnt have such an ability! Even if they can control qi to glide briefly and hover, they wouldnt be as effortless as him! Lin Beifans ability is akin to that of a deity! Someone went crazy, Can someone tell me whats going on here? This scene left everyone in shock! Everyone knew that Lin Beifan was a schr, exceptionally talented in academics, achieving top honors in the imperial examinations and rising steadily in his career, bing one of the most prominent figures in the martial world. For over three years, he hadnt disyed any martial prowess. But now, he was flying in front of everyone! Moreover, he was flying so naturally, so mysteriously, so ethereally This was something that ordinary martial artists couldnt do! It challenged everyones worldview! Only the Empress secretly took notice, thinking, This guy cant hide anymore, haha! At this moment, Lin Beifan had already flown to the front of the old man, who remained tense and furrowed his brows. Until now, he couldnt discern Lin Beifans background. He couldnt see any signs of cultivation, what martial arts he practiced, or his level of attainment Because he couldnt see through, he felt anxious. Because he was one of the most powerful grandmasters in the world, standing at the pinnacle of strength, yet he couldnt discern Lin Beifans secrets, which spoke to Lin Beifans extraordinary nature. Who exactly are you? the old man questioned. I am Lin Beifan, Prime Minister of the Great Wu Empire, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, hereditary Loyal and Valiant Prince, and also, still Her Majestys husband. At the same time, Im one of the people you came to hunt down! Lin Beifan said with a smile. Its impossible! the old man firmly dered, As far as I know, Lin Beifan is just a highly educated ordinary person. He couldnt possibly possess the kind of cultivation and strength you have! Theres nothing impossible! Lin Beifan proudly stated, Previously, I held a high position of authority, and there were people to do my bidding, so I didnt need to resort to martial force. But since youvee to kill me, I have to defend myself! What level of cultivation have you reached now? the old man asked again. Everyone below listened intently. Lin Beifan smiled and said, Didnt I just tell you a moment ago? Im slightly stronger than you! Its impossible! Absolutely impossible! the old man dered once again, Ive cultivated 150 techniques, and my strength has already reached the pinnacle of a grandmaster! You being slightly stronger than me unless youve already Before he could finish his sentence, the old mans pupils contracted, showing signs of shock. His body involuntarily took a step back, jumping to another pce and creating distance. The spectators below couldnt contain their curiosity. What does this old man mean? He didnt finish speaking, but he already retreated! Hes really keeping us in suspense! In fact, the old man has already said it. He mentioned that his cultivation has reached the pinnacle of a grandmaster, but the Prime Minister is slightly stronger than him, so theres only one possibility The Prime Minister has reached the realm of the Supreme Grandmaster! Supreme Grandmaster!!! Supreme Grandmaster!!! The crowd gasped in amazement. You see, the Supreme Grandmaster is the ultimate achievement in a martial artists cultivation! Such experts are exceedingly rare, seen once in a century! It can be said that they are almost mythical! Every Supreme Grandmaster has the power to change dynasties, and even empires are not exempt! But now, the schr Lin Beifan, who seemed powerless in their eyes, is revealed to be one of these formidable experts. How is this possible? Not only did the old man not believe it, but even the onlookers couldnt believe it either! Have you figured it out? Lin Beifan faced the old man and asked with a smile, Now that youve figured it out, what do you think I should do with you? You dared to disrupt my wedding and even plotted to take the heads of both me and His Majesty. What do you say? What punishment should you receive!!! This sentence was apanied by a mental attack from Lin Beifan. The old man was caught off guard and injured by the sound alone. His face turned pale, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. However, his eyes were filled with shock. Just a single sound had already injured him. Could it be that the other person really was No! This king does not believe it! The old man could hardly ept this reality. The person he intended to kill turned out to be a Supreme Grandmaster, a realm he had been tirelessly pursuing for years. A strong sense of crisis surged into his heart. He knew that acting first meant an advantage, while hesitating meant disaster. Meet your end! The old man screamed frantically, his hands gathering a terrifying palm force and pushing it with all his might. A tremendous and overwhelming force swept forth like a tidal wave! In an instant, the world changed color! The people in the imperial pce also had their faces transformed. What a powerful move!!! Under this move, the entire pce would be reduced to nothing, and anyone below the level of a grandmaster would perish! Even a grandmaster would probably struggle to resist! Stop it! Only Lin Beifans expression changed, but his eyes grew colder: Stubborn and overestimating yourself! He extended his hand with a gentle wave, and the overwhelming force that had surged like a mountain and ocean quickly dissipated, turning into a gentle breeze. The old mans pupils contracted as his full-force palm attack was effortlessly dispelled by Lin Beifan. Realizing that he couldntpete, the old man immediately retreated with lightning speed. Lin Beifan remainedposed, his figure flickering, and in the blink of an eye, he crossed the tens of meters to arrive in front of the old man, extending his hand. The old man wanted to resist, but for some reason, he couldnt move at all, and he could only watch helplessly as Lin Beifan grabbed his neck like an eagle seizing a chick. On the day of my grand wedding, its not appropriate to shed blood! So, Ill seal your cultivation for the rest of your life, and youll spend it in the dungeon! Lin Beifans voice was calm, as if passing judgment. No! Please the old man pleaded in terror. Having his cultivation sealed was even more agonizing than being killed. However, Lin Beifan seemed to have no consideration for him. With a slight shake of the hand holding the old man, all the bones and meridians in his body were shattered, turning him into a cripple. But Lin Beifan wasnt done yet; he invaded the old mans mind, erasing all his memories rted to martial arts. Then, he tossed him to the ground, his fate hanging in the bnce. Chapter 465: I’m Just a Child from a Common Family, but I Cultivate a Bit Faster! Chapter 465: Im Just a Child from a Common Family, but I Cultivate a Bit Faster! If you like this series, please give a rating and review at the following link: /series/i-am-a-corrupt-official-yet-they-say-i-am-a-loyal-minister/
The entire process took only a moment. In the eyes of everyone, the incredibly powerful old man was effortlessly handled by Lin Beifan, just as easily as dealing with a dog. Due to the astonishing speed of the events, the entire court was left stunned. The enigmatic and formidable expert is it really over just like that? The Prime Minister handled him in just two moves? It wasnt until Lin Beifan spoke that everyone regained theirposure. This person has been incapacitated. Put him in the dungeon! Without my permission, no one is allowed to approach him, let alone release him! Yes, Your Highness! The pce guards stepped forward to carry the unconscious old man away. As they looked up at the figure in the sky, their feelings were mixed with reverence and fear. At this moment, Lin Beifan spoke again, as if passing judgment: Furthermore, the Emperor of Great Xia dared to send someone to assassinate me and Her Majesty, an unforgivable crime! After the wedding, I will personally go to the Imperial City of Great Xia to take his head! Everyones hearts skipped a beat. With such an unparalleled powerhouse targeting him, the Emperor of Great Xia was done for, and so was Great Xia itself! Unless they could find a Supreme Grandmaster who could contend with Lin Beifan and was willing to help, otherwise, they were undoubtedly doomed! But the opportunity was so slim! If Lin Beifan knew what everyone was thinking, he would tell them that it wasnt just slim; there was simply no chance. The other two Supreme Grandmasters in the world were his friends, and who would go against him? At this moment, Lin Beifan slowly descended from the sky, his clothes untouched by dust, without a single wrinkle, and his smile unchanged on his face. But the people were looking at the person before them, feeling both familiar and unfamiliar. The Little Princess stammered, Y-y-you Are you really Lin Beifan? As sure as can be! Lin Beifanughed. The little princess tilted her head, But how did you suddenly be so powerful, powerful to the point I dont even recognize you! Ive always been this way; I just didnt show it, Lin Beifanughed again. Then then will you still treat me the same way as before? The little princess was a bit anxious. What do you think? Lin Beifan reached out and pinched the little princesss cheek yfully, finding it amusing. Ugh, youre so annoying, always pinching my cheeks! The little princess rolled her eyes but was secretly delighted. Lin Beifan hadnt changed a bit. Husband! Young Master! Strategist! Li Shi Shi, Mo Rushuang, and other women rushed up. Lin Beifan apologized, saying, Shi Shi, Rushuang I didnt intend to hide this from you, but I had no choice. Ill exin everything to youter, and I hope youll understand! Husband, rest assured, I understand, Li Shi Shi smiled gently, understanding his situation. Young Master, I know youre someone with important responsibilities, and you must have had a good reason for not telling us. You go ahead and do what you need to; you dont have to worry about us, Mo Rushuang also understood and empathized. Strategist, you made it so hard for us with your secrecy, keeping us in the dark all this time. I was worried about you. I can forgive you for now, but I have one request, and you must agree to it. What request? Lin Beifan asked curiously. Ziyue Empress said, leaning close to Lin Beifans ear, whispering, Ive heard that the speed of a Supreme Grandmaster is incredibly fast, crossing vast distances in the blink of an eye. If you still consider me your woman, promise me that youlle to nted Moon every week to contribute to the continuation of the nted Moon bloodline! Lin Beifan was speechless. This woman was still thinking about that! Well, considering shes my woman, Ill reluctantly agree! At this moment, Sword Immortal, Saber Saint, and others approached. Sword Immortal sheathed his sword and said with a bitter smile, In truth, we should have realized it earlier! How could someone who could sit down and discuss martial arts and exchange experiences with us be an ordinary person? Without a terrifying level of cultivation, you couldnt have guided us! Saber Saint, holding his de, also smiled wryly, Its really dark under themppost! My friend, three years ago, when we met that young grandmaster on the outskirts of the capital, that should have been you, right? A venerable master humbly and respectfully said, Your Highness, two years ago, the senior grandmaster we encountered outside the capital, that should have been you too? Night Fragrance took out an ordinary-looking small knife and said, Prime Minister, the powerful senior behind this knife, thats you too, right? Lin Beifan smiled faintly, Thats right, its all me! Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, unraveling the mystery that had puzzled them. But when they looked at Lin Beifan, their eyes held a mix of amazement and astonishment. After all, a Supreme Grandmaster in his early twenties was a phenomenon that couldnt be found even in the past 5,000 years! He truly deserved the title of the ultimate phenomenon! Lin Beifan modestly said, Please dont look at me like this, everyone. Im just a child from amon family, but my cultivation speed happens to be a bit faster. Theres nothing strange about it! Everyone was speechless! This wasnt just a bit faster; it was significantly faster! They were considered outstanding figures of their time, butpared to Lin Beifan, they were nothing. What was even more frustrating was that he not only had exceptional martial talent but also a high level of literacy, making him a true genius in both martial and literary arts. It seemed like the heavens favored him greatly. Why were all the worlds blessings bestowed upon him? Its really you! Saber Saint smiled wryly. You can certainly hide well! If I had your strength, I would have made myself known to the world long ago! Without that old man, you might never have revealed yourself! Little brother, I have no requests. After the wedding, we must have a serious discussion about martial arts. This time, it wont just be talk; itll be a real fight! Thats right! This time, we must discuss heroism through swordy, Sword Immortal said loudly. Anytime youre ready! Lin Beifan teased. As long as youre not afraid of your bottoms hurting! Saber Saint and Sword Immortal remembered their humiliating defeat from three years ago, and their bottoms still faintly ached. They blushed and said, Dont worry, we wont back down! In that case, I want to participate in this delightful event as well, Spear God chimed in. Your Highness, we also wish to learn from you, the three imperial Grandmasters said unanimously. May the Buddha bless us! Disciple also wishes to learn from you. Please grant us this favor, the old monk said. They exchanged nces and burst intoughter. Friendship among men was this simple and pure. After the exchange, everyone dispersed. Lin Beifan walked towards the Empress, continuing the interrupted wedding ceremony. On the way, everyone who saw him was filled with awe. Lin Beifan was not only one of the most influential figures in the world today but also the most powerful. His two identities merged into one, making him incredibly impressive. Previously, they had thought that only a man as exceptional as Lin Beifan was worthy of the Empress. Now, they realized that only a woman as extraordinary as the Empress, with unparalleled beauty and ruling the world, was worthy of Lin Beifan. Under the gaze of the crowd, Lin Beifan finally reached the Empress. As he looked at the stunning woman before him, he unexpectedly felt a trace of unease. Chapter 466: Your Majesty, Don’t Be Distracted by Romance, It Will Delay State Affairs! Chapter 466: Your Majesty, Dont Be Distracted by Romance, It Will Dy State Affairs! After all, concealing his true strength could be considered deceiving the emperor, which was a crime both morally and legally. Moreover, they were now legally married, so keeping this secret from her was not right. This matter, from moral, logical, and legal perspectives, didnt hold water. Lin Beifan hesitantly called out, Your Majesty The Empress shook her head and whispered, Imperial Husband, you dont need to say anything. I believe in you, and I understand. Lets continue with the wedding; we shouldnt let the guests see any jokes. Lin Beifan nodded repeatedly, Yes, Your Majesty, you truly understand the greater good. Once again, the two of them held hands, their smiles radiant as they faced the guests from all directions. Then, at that moment, the Empress whispered in Lin Beifans ear, After the wedding, well settle the score. Lin Beifan: Well, thats normal! Not pursuing the issue right now and waiting until after the wedding meant the Empress was still a little upset. However, this anger was limited to their marital rtionship, and she didnt intend to escte it. Afterward, Lin Beifan and the Empress warmly entertained the various guests. With Lin Beifans identity as a Supreme Grandmaster now exposed, his image among the martial world rose even higher, and everyone showed even more respect and humility. Finally, everyone left in high spirits. Lin Beifan and the Empress returned to the inner chambers. Your Majesty, itste; we should rest now, Lin Beifan said affectionately. A faint blush appeared on the Empresss face. It was unclear whether it was due to drinking too much or embarrassment. She stopped Lin Beifan, saying, Wait, first exin todays matter. If you dont rify it, I wont allow you on the bed! Your Majesty, what do you mean? Lin Beifan pretended to be clueless. The Empress raised her voice, Exin why you hid your true strength! For self-preservation, Lin Beifan replied. Why did you need to preserve yourself? she asked again. Because I did something that Im deeply sorry for you about, Lin Beifan said, covering his face. Over these years, Ive embezzled nearly 500 million silver taels of assets under your control, which I used for charity work. I was afraid that one day you would settle the score Then, Lin Beifan exined everything he had done in secret over the years, borating in detail. Your Majesty, although Imitted so many embezzlements, I swear on my honor that I never did anything that would harm you or Great Wu, Lin Beifan assured. The Empress asked, So, are you going to continue doing it in the future? Lin Beifan immediately nodded, Of course, I must continue! The Empress raised an eyebrow, What? You dare to continue? Lin Beifan pretended to be helpless and replied, The corrupt practices in Great Wu have not beenpletely eradicated yet. As long as corruption persists, Ill continue to contribute. However, I will hand over all the money I earn as your private funds! For some reason, looking at the Empresss calm expression, Lin Beifan couldnt grasp her true feelings. He couldnt tell if she was angry or not. ying the pitiful card, Lin Beifan gazed at her with pleading eyes and said, Your Majesty, he has already promised me that no matter what I did before, you would forgive me. You cant go back on your word! Finally, the Empress couldnt hold back and burst intoughter, Humph! Consider this your honest confession. Then let go of the past. But if you ever try to hide something from me again, I wont give you an easy time! Lin Beifan was overjoyed. This wife of his was truly understanding andpassionate! He immediately princess-carried the Empress, spun her around a few times, and gave her a few kisses on the face. The Empresss face turned rosy, and she weakly punched Lin Beifan with her small fists, unable to resist. Your Majesty, lets go to sleep now! Lin Beifan said excitedly. Imperial Husband, wait a moment! Theres something between husband and wife that should not be concealed. In fact, theres something I want to tell you, the Empress said, her voice tinged with guilt. No need to wait. Whatever it is, we can discuss it tomorrow, Lin Beifan replied eagerly. But this matter is very important As important as this matter? I cant wait any longer! Lin Beifan carried the Empress to the bed and couldnt wait any longer. You wicked! Not long after, the two of them were intimately engaged. As time passed, seasons changed, and they experienced numerous ups and downs. On the morning of the second day, Due to some state affairs that needed his attention, Lin Beifan woke up early. In the dragon bed, the Empress had just awakened, her eyes still drowsy and charming. Shenguidly stretched her jade-like arm and said, Imperial Husband,e here! How could one resist such a request? However, Lin Beifan managed to summon his iron will and said with a serious tone, Your Majesty, as much as Id love to, we mustnt be too engrossed in such matters and neglect state affairs. If you wish, Ill be with you tonight. The Empress rolled her eyes in exasperation, What are you bbering about? I just have something to tell you! Your Majesty, what is it? Lin Beifan walked over and asked. The Empress suddenly appeared coy, Imperial Husband, actually, theres something Ive been hiding from you all this time. I hope you wont be angry when you hear it. Lin Beifans expression immediately turned serious, Your Majesty, please go on. Im strong enough to handle anything. Except for the part about you putting a cuckolds hat on me, I can ept everything else! Dont make fun of this! Im being serious! The Empress punched angrily. Alright, Your Majesty, please tell me what it is, Lin Beifan replied. The Empresss eyes flickered, and she dared not look into Lin Beifans eyes. Actually, Ive known about your corruption all these years. Lin Beifans body shook. Why have you known all along? The Empress became even more nervous. Because all the money you embezzled over the years went into my pocket! Lin Beifans body shook once more. Why did it all go into your pocket? The Empress covered her head with the nket, her voice muffled. Because Bai Guanyin, Sister Bai, is my agent! Lin Beifans body shook three times. Bai Guanyin is your agent? At that moment, Lin Beifan understood many things. Why, over the years, despite embezzling so much gold, silver, and jewels, he hadnt been exposed and instead had grown richer, steadily climbing the ranks. Why, whenever he used the power of the court to investigate, he could never uncover the true forces behind it. It was all because the Empress was the mastermind behind it all. All the money he embezzled went into the Empresss pocket, essentially making him work for her all these years. Naturally, she favored him. Why, when he used the courts power to investigate, he could never uncover the true forces behind it all. Because these two forces were essentially the same, both belonging to the Empress. It was like trying to expose something hidden under amp; naturally, he couldnt find anything. Lin Beifan, who had once arrogantly believed that no one knew about his actions, had been seen through by the Empress all along. He was truly a big fool. A super big fool. Lin Beifans heart was filled with a mix of bitterness and anger. Your Majesty, hiding this from me must have been hard for you! Chapter 467: The Grand Finale! Chapter 467: The Grand Finale! The Empress grew even more guilty and said, Husband, Im sorry; I didnt mean to Lin Beifan was filled with anger and eximed, You didnt mean to? You kept this from me for a whole three years! How many three years do we have in our lives? The Empress peeked out from under the nket, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Her voice was weak as she said, Husband, you promised that no matter what wrongs I hadmitted in the past, you would forgive me. Lin Beifan was shaking with anger. Fine! So, youve been waiting here for me, plotting behind my back, making me feel so ashamed! Zhang Wujis mother was right, the prettier the woman, the better she is at deceiving people! The Empress buried her head in the nket, feeling guilty. Lin Beifan, angered, pulled the nket away. The Empress was nervous and trembling. She asked, Husband, what do you intend to do? Lin Beifan sneered, Your Majesty, what can I do now? Im full of grievances and need to vent them, and unfortunately, youll be the one to bear it. I hope Your Majesty understands my pain. The Empress cried out, Please, no! But I must! Lin Beifan pounced on her. The chamber was filled with the sounds of tender moans and sighs. Shortly after, the eunuch and pce maids came rushing in. One of the eunuchs asked the eunuch guarding the door, Whats the situation? Liu Gonggong, Her Majesty and the Prince Consort have not yet risen. The eunuch in charge was quite pleased. Excellent, this way theres a chance for the Dragon Prince or Dragon Princess to be born not long after! Spread the word that the morning court session is canceled today. Tell all officials not to disturb His Majesty and the Crown Prince unless its an urgent matter! Yes, Liu Gonggong! The attendants left. It wasnt until the afternoon that Lin Beifan finally walked out of the pce with a rxed expression. He instructed his attendants, Her Majesty is resting because shes feeling unwell. If theres nothing urgent, do not disturb her. Yes, Your Highness! The attendants replied. Lin Beifan hurried to his study, dealt with some urgent state matters, and then returned to the Lin residence. He confessed his own situation to those around him. In the evening, he returned to the pce. By then, the Empress had already woken up and was having her meal. When she saw Lin Beifan enter, she shot him an annoyed look and said, You scoundrel! Lin Beifan asked with concern, Your Majesty, are you feeling better now? The Empress was even more furious and replied, What do you think? Lin Beifan picked up a bowl of porridge and said, Your Majesty, let me feed you to make amends. Hmph! Thats the least you can do! The Empress said, her anger evident. After she had eaten her fill, Lin Beifan picked her up again. The Empress was rmed and asked, What are you nning to do now? Lin Beifan, with a sense of great righteousness, said, Your Majesty, the Great Wu royal family must not end, and we should strive to continue the Great Wu bloodline. Your Majesty, rest assured, I am willing to give my all and sacrifice myself for this cause, even to the point of death! And so, the Empress was once again subdued by Lin Beifan. While Lin Beifan and the Empress enjoyed their peaceful life, chaos brewed outside the borders of Great Xia. The news of the events at Lin Beifan and the Empresss wedding had spread. The Emperor of Great Xia had dispatched an advanced grandmaster to assassinate the Prime Minister of Great Wu and the Empress. To everyones surprise, the Prime Minister Lin Beifan turned out to be a supreme grandmaster, the strongest of the time. He easily defeated the Great Xia grandmaster and dered that after the wedding, he would personally go to the Great Xia Imperial City to take the Emperors head. A supreme grandmaster was just too powerful; no one could stand against them, not even a million-strong army. Panic spread among the court officials and people who learned of this news. Some began secretly packing their belongings to escape. In the Great Xia court, officials were in a frenzy, desperate to find out the whereabouts of the unparalleled grandmaster. One official trembled and said, Your Majesty, the supreme grandmaster is a legendary figure, like a dragon that appears and disappears at will. Its not easy to find him. Weve done our best; please forgive us. The Great Xia Emperor erupted in anger. Ipetents! Youve had three days, and you cant find a single person. What use are you? Find him immediately, and if you cant, dont bothering back! Yes, Your Majesty! The officials retreated in fear. Alone in the hall, the Great Xia Emperor sighed deeply, filled with regret. If only he hadnt provoked Lin Beifan. He had thought that Lin Beifan was just a powerless schr. He believed that by eliminating him, he could get rid of the threat and solve a major problem. But Lin Beifan turned out to be a dragon in disguise. He had sent skilled experts to deal with Lin Beifan, but they were easily defeated, and Lin Beifan even threatened toe and kill him. Now, he deeply regretted his actions. His only hope was to find another supreme grandmaster to confront Lin Beifan. However, supreme grandmasters were exceedingly rare and elusive, making it a daunting task to locate one. He sighed heavily. In the skies above the Great Xia Imperial Pce, a figure appeared. When people saw this figure, panic immediately ensued. Its Lin Beifan! That person is Lin Beifan! The supreme grandmaster of Great Wu! What?! The Great Xia Emperor quickly received the news and hurried out of the pce. To his astonishment, he saw a figure in the sky. This person, even if he turned into ashes, the Emperor would recognize himit was Lin Beifan, who had threatened toe and take his head. The Great Xia Emperors face turned pale, and he asked, How did he arrive so quickly? Your Majesty Xia, its been a while. I hope youre doing well, Lin Beifan said with a smirk. When I let you go back then, I didnt expect you to repay kindness with enmity, sending people to plot against me and the Empress. What do you think I should do with you? The Great Xia Emperor spoke in a low voice, Prime Minister Lin, it was my wrongdoing. I apologize and offerpensation. You can take whatever you want from this pce. I wont object. Lin Beifan chuckled, Why make it so troublesome? Killing you, wont all these things be mine? The Great Xia Emperors expression darkened further, So theres no room for negotiation? Lin Beifan shook his head, There was never a need for negotiation. A person should keep their word. I said I would take your head, and it must be done without dy. In that case The Great Xia Emperor turned extremely desperate. Everyone, obey mymand! Kill him! Yes, Your Majesty! The Imperial Guards and various skilled individuals from the court rushed in. Struggling in vain, Lin Beifan extended his hand and lightly waved it downward. A terrifying force swept across all directions, injuring all the skilled individuals and soldiers of the Great Xia court. They lost the ability to resist. No!!! The Great Xia Emperor screamed in horror. Then, Lin Beifan turned his gaze toward the terrified Great Xia Emperor. Youre an emperor; Ill grant you some dignity. With a gentle wave of his hand, the Great Xia Emperor was immediately frozen into an ice sculpture, preserving his terrified expression. Later, a gust of wind blew, shattering the ice sculpture into pieces. The Great Xia Emperor met a tragic end, and the bloodline of the Great Xia royal family waspletely extinguished. Chaos ensued in Great Xia, with no clear leadership, and the officials ruled their own territories independently, divided into multiple factions. Naturally, neighboring countries eyed this fertilend, but they were cautious because of Lin Beifan and Great Wu. As for another potential threat, Great Yan, Lin Beifan couldnt be bothered to deal with it. After all, that country was already in chaos enough, and the royal family, officials, and people were all addicted to vices. They wouldnt live for many more years. Let them fight among themselves, and Great Wu would clean up the mess when the time came. The current Lin Beifan, in terms of power and strength, had reached the pinnacle. He had no more ambitions. Now, all he wanted was to live a peaceful life with his wife and children, enjoying the warmth of home. He was focused on building a family and continuing his bloodline. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!