Chapter 1237: Tusi Contention, Bone Sha

*Plop, plop. *

The feed floated on the water's surface, mixed with semi-circular bubbles. The carp flicked their tails, scrambling to snatch it. Zhang He opened his fish lips, swallowing in large gulps, and the small pellets were swept into the vortex.

Xie Hongyu glanced at the remaining fish feed in the small wooden bowl and could no longer hold back: "Grandfather, aren't we going to do something? People outside are clamoring—"

"Clamoring about what?" the Tusi asked.

Xie Hongyu lost his voice; he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Is it clamoring to replace the Tusi?"

Xie Hongyu lowered his head in shame.

"Raise your head. By today, what could be done has been done, and what could be begged for has been begged for. You and I, grandfather and grandson, have done right by the Southern Frontier, right by the Nine Stockades, and right by everyone. Let them clamor if they want; as long as they don't disturb my sleep, it's fine." The Tusi scattered another handful of feed, ripples spreading across the water. "Who do you think, after me, is capable of taking charge in the Nine Stockades?"

"No one is!" Xie Hongyu shouted excitedly, as if poked in a vital spot. "They are all for their own selfish interests. Who truly thinks of the Southern Frontier? One by one, they are just a rabble!"

"Speaking out of spite is useless. If you really don't want to say that, then change the way you put it: after me, who is most likely to succeed?"

Xie Hongyu looked dejected.

After a long while.

"The Great Shaman Shen of the Myriad Elephant Stockade? He is virtuous and respected, with extraordinary strength. In his early years, he had many heroic feats. At that time, the Great Qian—"

"Great Shaman Shen is indeed virtuous and respected, but he succeeds because of his reputation and fails because of it. This reputation was built up day by day. He is far too old—over eight hundred years old now, perhaps nearing nine hundred. He is a living history, and he must remain in the stockade to guard the Myriad Elephant Fruit. How could he have the energy to leave the mountains and govern the Southern Frontier?"

"Then, Great Shaman Gao?"

"Great Shaman Gao is single-mindedly focused on cultivation, hoping to attain the Dao and become an immortal, to comprehend the Fruit. His strength is sufficient, but his seniority is lacking, and he himself is neither willing nor adept at handling extraneous matters."

"The one from Heavenly Cave—"

The Tusi sighed: "Wrong. Think again."

"What does Prince Chong mean by this? Is the Southern Frontier so lacking in successors? Aside from the current Tusi, is there not a single one capable of acting?"

"Naturally. If there were capable people, why would the Imperial Court go to the trouble of seeking trouble with the Northern Court and fighting on two fronts? At most, they would apply political pressure, not resort to force."

"Oh, please explain further, brother."

*Plop, plop. *

The milky, rolling soup bubbled and boiled, white steam swirling, a layer of light red chili oil clinging to the edge of the copper pot.

Long Eying used a strainer spoon to blanch the fish meat, her chopsticks meticulously picking out the mixed Sichuan peppercorns. Once the fish meat turned from translucent to milky white, she held the fish skin to prevent the white meat from breaking apart and served it into Liang Qu's bowl.

Straightening her chopsticks, Liang Qu picked up the specialty fish meat coated in dipping sauce and stuffed it into his mouth, his gaze fixed on Prince Chong.

【Water Essence +109】

【Water Essence +74】

【Water Essence: 808,800】

Hosting a hotpot dinner was, firstly, because Liang Qu had arrived in a hurry, making it convenient to prepare as long as the ingredients were ready; and secondly, the smoky, fiery atmosphere showed hospitality, and it was something Liang Qu had invented.

"Brother Liang rarely comes to Lingnan, so you don't know the situation in the Southern Frontier," Prince Chong said, his face flushed, laughing loudly. "That's why you underestimate yourself and underestimate the impact of this event on the Southern Frontier.

If the Tusi truly abdicates, then aside from him, whoever comes up will only intensify the internal conflicts within the Nine Stockades!"

"Are the internal contradictions of the Nine Stockades that intense?"

"More than that. When Brother Liang woke up today, you must have known that the Sky Dragons on both banks had dispersed, but do you know when they dispersed?"

Liang Qu shook his head.

"The third day after the battle!"

"That fast?" Liang Qu was surprised. "No further standoff?"

"None. The delegations talked for a day each, and the Great Shamans left," Prince Chong shook his head. "Before this Tusi Xie, the looseness of the Southern Frontier was actually much, much higher than Brother Liang thinks. Throughout the dynasties, they never worried too much. It was precisely because they would fight each other to the death on their own.

It was only after this Tusi took office that he built bridges and roads, developed in all directions, facilitated trade, coordinated blood feuds, and slowly established the concept of the Nine Stockades of the Southern Frontier, even proposing the concept of the River God demarcating boundaries between the north and south.

If there were another two or three hundred years, once the young people influenced by this become Sky Dragons and the backbone, perhaps they would work together. As for now—

Not to mention the distant future, when a new Tusi takes office, the first thing they must solve is the issue of the Insect Valley Festival's long-Qi rewards. Ten strands of long-Qi, five top-grade, five mid-grade—to the Nine Stockades, it's nothing, but to a single stockade, taking it out in a year would be painful. Even so, I dare bet this will be the first shock, and chaos will inevitably arise again!"

"So that's how it is."

Liang Qu was thoughtful.

Politicians and statesmen are different. A statesman can balance various forces, advance their own policies, and move toward their own goals; a politician is purely a representative of the interest groups behind them, aiming to strengthen those groups. Essentially, it is the wooing of some groups by one group and the squeezing of others.

If the representative performs poorly, they will be quickly pulled off their horse, with no autonomy whatsoever.

It is obvious.

The Southern Frontier is facing this situation now, especially when the sense of identity is insufficient.

"Therefore, with these two moves of yours, Brother Liang, until the Southern Frontier completely forgets its pain, Tusi Xie will be powerless, let alone continue to take office and hold power. They will fall into their own power struggles.

From now on, they will be no threat to our Great Shun. There is no need to worry about fighting on two fronts. It is time to take this opportunity to turn our spearheads, deal with the Northern Court, and eliminate another threat!

Reasonably and logically, Brother Liang, being so young and promising, will certainly go north in the near future."

"Prince Huai is going north next?" Xie Hongyu was surprised.

"After me, the most likely to take power are the several Great Shamans of the rear three stockades. No matter which one of them comes up, the situation will be a mess, with no unity to fight again.

Once the Great Shun is free from rear worries, as the Holy Emperor, I will certainly shift the main force to the north. If not for this, even with the excuse of slander, the Great Shun would not use this to launch an attack," the Tusi scattered the last handful of feed. "Fighting north and south simultaneously, the Great Shun would ultimately be unable to manage."

Xie Hongyu was excited: "Grandfather, then there is an opportunity! Can't we take advantage of the opportunity to—"

"Difficult," the Tusi poured a basin of cold water. "If I don't step down, the Great Shun won't concentrate all its energy on the north. If I do step down, no one can firmly push my plan."

A dilemma: there is an opportunity, but it cannot be grasped.

Why is Heaven unwilling to favor the Southern Frontier even once?

Xie Hongyu clenched his fists, his hatred for Liang Qu deepening further.

"But it's not without opportunity."

"Grandfather, what other opportunity is there?" Xie Hongyu's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked.

"Wait."

"Wait?"

"The rear three stockades are dissatisfied, the middle three stockades are the base, and the Great Shun concentrating its power to the north is undoubtedly the last opportunity for our Southern Frontier."

The Tusi took a deep breath. "Such a great trend will eventually be seen by capable people. You and I, grandfather and grandson, will step down for now. Once the Great Shun falls into the quagmire, you and I will strive to persuade the other stockades, especially the front three stockades. On the surface, there is an opportunity to regain power—"

"Tusi, it's bad, Tusi!"

"What is the matter, being so flustered? Don't you see we are talking?" Xie Hongyu scolded the servant sternly.

The servant knelt on the ground, trembling.

The Tusi stopped Xie Hongyu: "What is it? Speak!"

The servant kowtowed like a pestle: "Bone Sha—no, E Qirui—the traitor E Qirui went to the Great Shun, had an epiphany, and reached the Heaven-Piercing and Earth-Severing realm!"

"What?"

A bolt from the blue.

Prince Chong and Liang Qu stood up abruptly in the mist, the two looking at each other, both surprised.

Liang Qu pursued: "How did he have an epiphany? Can it be confirmed?"

"Confirmed. It was in your fief, Prince Huai. Afterward, he went to the Imperial Capital to receive rewards. I don't know the specific reason, but it seems he had an epiphany after watching 'Wang Er's Shadow Play'."

Liang Qu clicked his tongue: "You mean 'Saving Martial Artist Wang Er'?"

"Ah, yes, yes, yes," the scout nodded repeatedly. "It seems that is the name! Lord E watched it and had an epiphany, reaching the Heaven-Piercing and Earth-Severing realm."

Prince Chong was shocked. He had heard of shadow plays, but he thought it was just a form of opera. Could it have such a great effect? The three steps of a Martial Saint, with only the Heavenly Pass remaining—could he have a chance in the future—

Long Eying was suspicious.

Liang Qu was puzzled.

It was just an ideological impact. This thing—does it have such great staying power?

Dead silence.

"How is it possible, how is it possible—"

Xie Hongyu muttered to himself, retreating step by step, as if struck by a heavy blow, a mouthful of fresh blood accumulating in his throat.

He had only betrayed and defected for a month, and E Qirui reached the Heaven-Piercing and Earth-Severing realm?

No.

There was also the time for news to spread.

But, but—

The Tusi sat on a stone, looking out at the horizon.

Birds flew across the courtyard.

Suddenly.

The carp in the pond flicked their tails and struggled. The Tusi lowered his head, pinched one of the carp, and lifted its tail.

I don't know when, but in the translucent fins of the lively carp, there were already reddish-brown parasites winding and wriggling, slowly curling back into the fish's tail.

【Water Essence: 1,042,100】

"Convey the Emperor's oral decree: The Northern Court has wolfish ambitions and has long coveted the divine artifacts! This time, the slanders and turmoil are not just private grievances, but a real attempt to alienate the Southern Frontier from our century-old alliance, and even more so, to use fabricated filth to tarnish the clear reputation of a virtuous prince.

You are the pillar of the country. You should hold the momentum of thunder, immediately gallop north like a star. First, to clear the grievances; second, to cleanse the maze, to rectify the world's vision, and to restore our clear and bright universe!"

"Obey the decree!"

Liang Qu grabbed his clothes and stood up: "The Emperor has an oral decree. It seems there is really no way to talk with Brother Wei by candlelight. Thank you for the hospitality! The treasure fish of the Southern Frontier lives up to its reputation!"

"Great matters are urgent," Prince Chong cupped his hands. "If there is another opportunity in the future, I will definitely open a full treasure fish banquet, gather the treasure fish of the Southern Frontier, invite Brother Liang to the banquet, and create another good opportunity!"

Create another good opportunity.

One sentence, simultaneously causing the two to laugh tacitly toward the sky.

"Good, good, good! Come to the Southern Frontier again, and create another good opportunity!"

At the end of August, the Dry Bone fell, and all the Sky Dragons in the world knew it. However, the news of the great victory could not be spread immediately, lest joy lead to sorrow and sudden accidents occur, especially since Prince Huai was sleeping and could not wake up.

After the Ministry of War understood the cause and effect, the details, and the nuances, Prince Huai of the Great Shun had no serious injuries. The Ministry of Rites polished it, perfected it slightly, and announced it to the world, spreading it to the two capitals and eighteen provinces, which took until October.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!"

In the Huaiyin Martial Hall, the osmanthus flowers were fragrant, the ground was golden. Xu Zishuai held the official announcement, standing in front of the bulletin board. Around him, Hu Qi, Xiang Zhangsong, Li Libo, Chen Jiechang, and others formed a circle, exclaiming repeatedly.

"Killed another one! Killed another one!"

"How many Great Shamans are there in the Nine Stockades of the Southern Frontier?" Xiang Zhangsong was dumbfounded. "Are there fifty? And Ah Shui took down two in two years?"

Once upon a time, Perfected Forms were incredible big shots, with only a few in a prefecture.

Later, Master and Ah Shui both became Perfected Forms, and it became less unattainable.

The dreaminess when Liang Qu became a Sky Dragon and was enfeoffed as a Prince has not yet fully awakened, and in the blink of an eye, another Sky Dragon has fallen. How does it sound so light?

Xu Zishuai called for paste, took a brush, and personally posted it on the bulletin board, clapping his hands to signal.

"Look here, look here, announcing a big event!"

On the yellow sand field, the apprentices stood still.

"Prince Huai has made a great contribution, killing the Dry Bone Great Shaman of the Southern Frontier in battle, killing the Dry Bone Great Shaman of the Southern Frontier in battle. From today, there will be a three-day holiday, a three-day holiday! Come back to class the day after tomorrow!"

"Roar!"

In the Martial Hall, cheers erupted.

On the streets of Yixing, the figure of a young man riding a black dog drifting appeared again.

"Yo, isn't this Stone Baby? Again, thanks to your master's blessing, you've been released from the academy early?"

"Worshipping a master, just getting holidays. Are you familiar with the books of sages? Hahahaha."

"Ha!"

Wen Wen Shi Yun ignored the villagers' jokes and just let the black dragon accelerate, crossing the market.

In the Prince's mansion, the hedgehog climbed onto a stool, licked the ink, and waved the brush, preparing for the limited-time event in Prince Huai's fief, arranging for Jiangchuan to choreograph the shadow play of Prince Huai killing the Dry Bone.

Taking advantage of E Qirui's epiphany, he arranged for publicity funds to earn another box office for "Saving Martial Artist Wang Er".

Imperial Capital.

Banners fluttered, pavilions and towers stood tall, and the Heavenly Feather Guards chanted in unison.

E Qirui finally obtained the marquis title he had been dreaming of.

The Holy Emperor's golden words enfeoffed him as the "Cang Marquis"!

Cang, the mountains and rivers of the south.

Wu, refined iron and auspicious gold!

Afterward, he was given the Cang golden seal and the Cang great robe.

In the southern suburbs of the Imperial Capital, he was granted the "Cang Garden," with winding streams and coconut shadows and bamboo winds.

He was gifted a set of Cang jade black armor, a set of Cang iron scale armor, a rhinoceros horn cup from Jiaozhi, agarwood from Rinan, a glass mirror from Funan,

and nine treasures including ivory carvings from Linyi, one of each.

Finally, a "Cang Tripod".

The tripod was five feet high, with three legs in the shape of tigers, and the inscription cast on the belly: "In the past, the Yuechang clan offered pheasants; today, the Cang Wu Marquis returns to righteousness; the King's land has no north or south, and loyal souls are the mountains and rivers."

The ritual official sang: "Cang Marquis E Qirui, receive the seal, receive the talisman, receive the land, receive the treasure—may you remember this military merit and forever cherish loyalty!"

Outside the hall, the bell rang nine times, and a hundred pigeons were released.

An unprecedented resonance vibrated in his soul. The sky was as blue as the vast ocean. E Qirui had never seen such good weather; it felt like every cell was stretching and breathing.

Cang Marquis!

Before E Qirui could savor the meaning well.

The imperial decree was passed again.

"Expedition to the Northern Court?"

E Qirui was stunned, followed by excitement, a sense of gratitude for being trusted surging in his heart.

"The minister obeys the decree!"

"Finally about to be built."

Like a heartless man abandoning a crying woman.

The Great Shamans dispersed, the Southern Frontier was in chaos, Prince Huai's carriage turned sharply north, stopping briefly in Yixing.

After more than a year, with the concerted efforts of the monkey group, river otters, giant beavers, A-Fei, Fist, Little Lip Dragon, Dragon People, and Dragon Sturgeon, consuming countless materials, with nearly a thousand beasts working every day, a Prince's mansion covering nearly a hundred acres, with thirty acres of water ponds, rose from the ground, entering the final stage of completion.

Carved beams and painted rafters, open and bright, a half-moon water area surrounded the Prince's mansion, and the other half, a horse stable large enough to run horses, kept the fifty horses rewarded by the enfeoffment.

Waterfalls hung down, three 【Vortex Escape Paths】 provided access for water beasts and Dragon People, green-eyed snail flowers covered the water surface, and various epiphyllum and peach blossoms on the two crescent corners were in full bloom in October.

Undoubtedly, this trip to the Northern Court would not be a decisive battle like the Southern Frontier, and there would be a lot of time to find flaws. The autumn wedding plan fell through and could only be delayed until next year. To compensate Eying, that day Liang Qu let the otters move from the Yang mansion to the renovated room, accompanied Eying for a night waiting for the epiphyllum to bloom, and set off the next day.

Swift and decisive, once Prince Huai moved, the Northern Court faced a formidable enemy.

"This guy, not staying in his fief, why is he coming north?"

"Could it be to go to the Imperial Capital to receive rewards?"

"He stopped in the Imperial Capital. Oh, so it was to receive rewards, it should be fine."

"Wait, he moved again! He crossed the Imperial Capital! He is coming for our Northern Court."

"Damn it!"

In the Tengri Ulus Supervision, the Eternal Heaven Broad Tent, also known as the "Dome Terrace," which was the Northern Court's Astronomical Bureau, the officials inside reported in a panic.

One blow to crush the Southern Frontier's Dry Bone.

Rare in history.

Especially after learning of the Southern Frontier's series of strange behaviors and losses.

Liang Qu's strength was secondary; the key was that he and the White Ape, not knowing what kind of supernatural powers they had refined or what spells they practiced, were extremely strange and unexpected. Without thoroughly understanding them and balancing them, they simply couldn't cope.

"Could the Great Shun really think our Eight Tribes are as scattered as the Southern Frontier, wanting to dump a pot of shit on us?"

"Arrogant junior, I will definitely make him return in defeat! Pass my order."

"Sigh, haven't seen the Eldest Cao Shixiong for a long time. I wonder if he has refined the hundred classics. This white bear coat was a gift from the Eldest Cao Shixiong. Eh, such heavy snow outside, it's only October, right?"

The white jade palace whistled through the sky.

The cold wind blew the bear fur.

On the couch by the window, a white bear fur coat wrapped around two people. Liang Qu embraced Long Eying, leaning against the windowsill.

Long time no see.

Shuofang Terrace.

Flowing Gold Sea.

Hmm, and the Sick Tiger, the Eight Beasts, the Twelve Wolves, the Wolf Lord— ===== CHAPTER 1238 =====