Chapter 83: Humiliating History, Uninvited Guests (Supplementary Update)

Because his predecessor was also a keyboard-warrior firebrand.

Thus, Lu Yuan clearly knew that to date, not counting this current invasion by Sunlight Country, the Jin Dynasty had already experienced three large-scale external wars of aggression.

The first was fifty years ago, when the Holy Roman Powers, in order to spread their doctrines, open up the Jin Dynasty's vast market to dump opium and various commodities, and plunder gold and silver, brought their fleets to the borders, bombarded the national gates from the southern coast of Guang Province, and landed to march north.

At that time, the Jin Dynasty was still in a state of isolation, and in order to guard against the Han people, it had strictly forbidden the research and development of firearms, so the equipment in the army was mainly cold weapons, and the small amount of firearms and cannons were also in a very backward state.

Added to this, the descendants of the Jin Clan had known only pleasure for years, the administration was rotten from top to bottom, and their combat effectiveness was low; facing the sturdy ships, powerful cannons, and fierce firepower of the Holy Roman Powers' armies, they had almost no power to resist and were beaten into a rout.

The Holy Roman Powers' armies numbered only twenty thousand or so, yet they drove straight in; the Jin Army suffered repeated heavy losses and retreated step by step, even falling to the point of having to hide within provincial capitals for passive defense, and in the end, it cost the lives of eighty thousand soldiers and civilians to barely drive the Holy Roman armies back to the coastline.

But facing those dozens of warships at the coast, the Jin Dynasty had no way to respond and was forced to sue for peace, opening up trading ports and the right to proselytize to the Holy Roman Powers.

And it was precisely after this battle that the Jin Dynasty, having opened its eyes to see the world for the first time, experienced its first crushing defeat; its prestige and ruling power plummeted, and every person of insight could see the dynasty's decay and that it was strong on the outside but weak on the inside.

Therefore, only two years later.

In Guang Province, Chen Kequan absorbed the doctrines of the Holy Roman Heavenly Lord Holy Church to found the Shengping Sect, which swept across several provinces like a prairie fire, leading to the establishment of the Shengping Heavenly Kingdom.

And just over ten years after the first Jin-Holy Roman war of aggression, it was also when the uprising of the Shengping Heavenly Kingdom reached its climax.

In order to obtain greater benefits from the aggression during the Jin Dynasty's civil war, the Holy Roman Powers once again brazenly launched a second war of aggression, dispatching over thirty thousand men to land from the eastern coast once more.

Having undergone over ten years of development and innovation, the Holy Roman Powers' firearms and cannons were even sharper, and they even had repeating firearms equipped, which possessed infinite power on the battlefield.

Although the Jin Dynasty had begun to develop firearms and cannons during these ten-plus years, they still lagged far behind; facing the even more powerful Holy Roman Powers' armies, they again had almost no power to fight back and were once more beaten into abandoning their armor and retreating step by step, with strategic locations like Tongzhou and Jinjin falling one after another.

In the end, the Holy Roman Alliance even deployed their newly developed steam airships, which carried gunpowder to bombard the Jin Dynasty's capital, Tianjing, and even the Great Jin imperial palace!

In this era, air power belonged to a dimension-reduction strike that even the most formidable Martial Arts experts could not counter; under the bombardment of the Holy Roman Powers' dozen steam airships, half of the Great Jin's magnificent palace was reduced to ruins and scorched earth, and the Undying Demon Empress, the Emperor, and other nobles fled the palace in a panic, leaving the Holy Roman allied forces to burn, kill, and loot, reducing everything to ashes.

In this great war, the Great Jin was thoroughly terrified and sued for peace, signing even more humiliating treaties that allowed the Holy Roman Powers not only to proselytize without any restrictions but also to enclose land along the coast to establish concessions, which were equivalent to states within a state; it could be said that they lost all their dignity.

And what made matters worse was that just as the Jin Dynasty had humiliatingly sued for peace with the Holy Roman Powers, the Sha'e Empire, which bordered the northern territory, also took advantage of the fire to loot, dispatching a large army to invade and occupy vast territories in the Jin Dynasty's Outer Northwest and Northeast; this was the third war of foreign invasion.

The Sha'e Empire was also a powerful nation that had completed the Industrial Revolution long ago, and its national strength was in no way inferior to the Holy Roman Powers' alliance; the Jin Dynasty was again soundly defeated and completely unable to stop them, so they could only swallow their teeth along with the blood and once again humiliatingly and spinelessly cede those occupied lands.

From then on, the vast territory of the Great Jin seemed like a piece of succulent meat before foreign enemies, and everyone wanted to come up and take a bite, which led to the current incident where the tiny nation of Sunlight Country stretched out its claws and brazenly invaded.

Seeing that Li Junxian was not lightly angered, Lu Yuan comforted him:

"Master, there is no need to be so worried. To be defeated again by the tiny nation of Sunlight can only mean that the Jin Dynasty's Qi Luck has reached its end. This empire has reached the juncture of being broken to be rebuilt. I believe that this rotten ship of the Jin Dynasty will capsize before long, and when that time comes, it will be the moment to sweep away the evil filth and thoroughly restore the Han empire."

"I hope so."

Li Junxian sighed at length:

"The Undying Demon Empress suppresses the Jin Dynasty's national Qi Luck, and she is also the greatest tumor in this world; as long as she is there, the Jin Dynasty will not be so easy to overthrow. Counting the days, it is almost time for your Junior Martial Uncles to make their move, and I do not know if their mission will succeed..."

Ever since Lin Xingchao and the others left more than half a year ago, Li Junxian had already revealed to his three disciples that they were going to enter the palace to assassinate the Undying Demon Empress.

Xu Dahu said with both reverence and worry:

"With Junior Martial Uncles planning for so long, and having top-tier figures like a Grandmaster leading them, there should be a significant chance of success, right?"

Li Junxian sighed in silence:

"Even if they succeed, it will be a narrow escape, but since he chose this path, I have long been mentally prepared."

Xu Erhu and Xu Dahu looked at each other, and could only offer comfort:

"Master, do not worry. Since there is no news returned, it is actually a good thing. Perhaps Junior Martial Uncle has his own heaven-sent luck?"

"I hope so."

Hearing this, Li Junxian only waved his hand desolately:

"You all go; let me be quiet by myself."

Lu Yuan and the others followed his instructions and left the small courtyard.

After coming out, everyone in the garden was still discussing the invasion by Sunlight Country, and Xu Dahu sighed angrily:

"What a pity. If I didn't want to avoid serving the Jin Dynasty, I would have wanted to join the army, go to the front lines to meet those Sunlight dwarf thieves, and kill them to my heart's content to vent my anger!"

"Forget it, Big Brother."

Xu Erhu poured cold water on him:

"The battlefield is not a private duel. In that kind of place, bullets fall like rain and artillery fire is like a furnace; it is like a meat grinder. Even great experts of the Fourth Realm or Fifth Realm cannot exert much effect if they go there. You must not be impulsive."

"Sigh, I know."

Xu Dahu sighed heavily:

"I was just saying it, that's all."

Beside him, Lu Yuan did not speak, but the vague plan in his heart became increasingly clear.

The Jin Dynasty was an alien race that had stolen the state, and now its rule was corrupt and ruined, with hundreds of millions of people in the world suffering in deep water and scorching fire, unable to make a living. As a transmigrator, it would be truly unjustifiable if he did not do something when he had the ability.

Not to mention saving the masses, even for the sake of human hearts and public opinion, and the gathering of Qi Luck, he had to personally enter the game and stir up the winds and clouds of this world.

Otherwise, if he only knew how to hide in a corner to cultivate and ignore external affairs, wouldn't that mean he had come for nothing?

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

The Sunlight Country's defeat of the Jin Navy New Army caused a huge sensation and righteous indignation in a short period of time, but it did not take long before it gradually returned to calm.

After all, it was not the first time the Jin Dynasty had been defeated by foreign enemies, and most people in the world had long since become numb.

But there were also some whose hot blood had not yet cooled, loyal and patriotic scholars who were stimulated by the Jin Dynasty's defeat and became agitated, taking the lead in proposing comprehensive Westernization, as well as new policy proposals such as refusing peace, moving the capital, training troops, and reform.

During this period, various news kept coming from the outside world, which could be called a changing of winds and clouds, with the world in turmoil.

Yet Fengyang Prefecture, located in the interior, seemed not to have been affected much.

Li Junxian's fiftieth birthday also arrived as scheduled and was officially held in Boxiyuan.

At this moment, it was noon.

One could see that in front of the main gate of Boxiyuan, there was a constant stream of carriages, with one carriage after another stopping by the roadside, from which figures emerged, carrying gift boxes of all kinds with the help of servants.

Among these figures were officials, merchants, and martial artists, all of whom had come to offer birthday greetings.

Originally, Li Junxian's intention was for this birthday banquet to be limited to the interior of Boxiyuan for a lively celebration, and he had no intention of publicly inviting guests.

But after Pang Qinglong, the leader of the Qinglong Gang, found out, he personally visited and claimed that he hoped the gang could also celebrate for him, offering to provide people, money, and effort to hold a grand celebration for Li Junxian, the veteran.

As his disciples, Xu Dahu and Xu Erhu both hoped to host a grand celebration, and after they persuaded him together, Li Junxian changed his mind after some hesitation and expanded the scale of the invitations.

Although he had already retired behind the scenes as a veteran of the Qinglong Gang, Li Junxian's influence in the East City was not small, and many factions, upon hearing the news, came one after another to offer congratulations and build a favorable connection.

Just like right now in front of the main entrance, where a red carpet was laid out, Xu Dahu stood at the door to welcome guests, greeting the arriving visitors one by one and recording their congratulatory gifts in a ledger.

Nearby, brocade boxes and gift boxes of all shapes and sizes were piled up like a mountain, and the two gang members in charge of registration were busy, one writing furiously and the other calling out:

"Boss Xiao Heshan of Liheng Trading Firm, presents one jade-seated golden Buddha, to congratulate Chief Steward Li!"

"Master Wang Long of Tieyi Martial Arts Hall, presents one dragon-headed golden silk nanmu wood staff, to help Chief Steward Li celebrate his long life, may he remain ageless through the seasons!"

"Yang Tianyu of Jinyuan Chamber of Commerce, presents one authentic painting by the master of painting, He Daoyun."

And as the gift-bearing guests walked into the banquet hall.

One could see that the original competition arena of Boxiyuan had been converted into a birthday banquet venue, with a full hundred tables set up, and more than half of the guests had already taken their seats.

In such a grand and lively scene, Lu Yuan was accompanying Li Junxian, who was dressed in a dark red long robe and mandarin jacket, as he greeted and exchanged pleasantries with important guests one by one.

The person with the highest status among them was naturally the leader of the Qinglong Gang, Pang Qinglong.

This man was nearly fifty years old; although white hair had appeared at his temples, his physique was as sturdy as a lion, standing like an abyss or a mountain, possessing an inherent, awe-inspiring air of a superior.

After he led a group of high-ranking gang members to arrive, he immediately looked around and smiled helplessly:

"Old Li, oh Old Li, it seems a bit cramped here. Wouldn't it have been better to hold it at the gang's headquarters as I suggested before?"

Li Junxian was equally helpless:

"The Leader is too kind. I originally just wanted to close the doors here in the garden and have a lively time, why bother making such a big scene?"

"That won't do."

Pang Qinglong laughed heartily:

"You are a veteran of the Qinglong Gang and my brother who has been through life and death with me. How can a day like your fiftieth birthday be spent casually? If you hadn't stopped me, I would have set up several hundred more tables!"

This time, basically all the mid-to-high-level gang members of the Qinglong Gang at the level of Protector and above were present; besides them, the rest were merchants, gentry, and factions with good relations with the Qinglong Gang, totaling about three hundred people.

This was already quite streamlined; otherwise, given the intricate network of the Qinglong Gang, inviting over a thousand guests would not have been a problem.

While speaking, his gaze involuntarily shifted to Lu Yuan, and he said with slight surprise:

"Old Li, is this your third disciple, that disaster victim you brought back from outside the city back then?"

Over the past half year, Lu Yuan's Dharma Power had made great progress again; although he had tried his best to restrain it, one could still see his extraordinariness at a glance, and as the leader, this was the first time Pang Qinglong had seen him. Li Junxian nodded:

"Correct, this is indeed my third disciple, Lu Yuan."

Lu Yuan stepped forward to pay his respects, and Pang Qinglong's eyes showed amazement as he nodded and praised repeatedly:

"Good foundation, good foundation. Old Li, you really have found a good disciple."

As a Martial Artist who had stepped into the Fifth Realm Blood Refining, his eye was naturally sharp; he could clearly see that Lu Yuan's muscles and bones seemed extremely strong, to the point where even he could not fully fathom them.

Li Junxian chuckled: "Not at all, not at all."

At this moment, the calling out of gifts at the door ceased, the seats were basically full, and Xu Dahu, who had been welcoming guests outside, walked in:

"Master, the time has come."

Li Junxian nodded, then walked to the front of the stage, and said with a voice like a booming bell:

"Distinguished guests and visitors, dear friends and family."

"Thank you all for gracing me with your presence at this old man's birthday banquet. I, Li Junxian, have achieved some small success here at Boxiyuan, which could not have been done without the help and support of Leader Pang and all of you. Today, I have set out a modest banquet and light wine; it is not much of a gesture, but I hope you all come with high spirits and return fully satisfied!"

Regardless of their status, the hundred-plus guests all stood up to offer congratulations, giving him face:

"We wish Chief Steward Li the evergreen nature of an ancient cypress and that your sharp blade never grows old!"

Amidst the words of congratulation, both host and guests were delighted. Xu Dahu waved his hand to the side, and the waiters waiting at the edge of the venue filed in, setting down various delicacies and dishes.

Afterwards, Li Junxian sat with Pang Qinglong and other high-ranking members of the Qinglong Gang, while Lu Yuan and Xu Erhu, who held no official position in the Qinglong Gang, returned to the side tables to sit with the people from Boxiyuan.

Although Xu Erhu, who had been busy organizing for several days, was a bit tired, he smiled and greeted:

"A Yuan, today, to celebrate Master's birthday, Leader Pang invited all the head chefs from Shiweixian. Try it and see how it is."

Shiweixian was one of the top restaurants in Fengyang Prefecture. Lu Yuan did not stand on ceremony, tasted a few bites, and smiled:

"Not bad, it is indeed a rare delicacy. I'm afraid all the important figures in the entire East City have come to the birthday banquet today, right? I didn't expect that even after Master retired behind the scenes for so many years, his prestige would still be so great."

"Of course, Boxiyuan used to be just an unknown little garden. It was Master who single-handedly developed it to its current state. How could the various factions in this East City not give him some face?"

Xu Erhu smiled and said:

"But to say all the important figures in the entire East City is a bit of an exaggeration, after all, the official side..."

*Tap, tap, tap. *

"Stop... you!"

Just at this moment, a burst of noisy commotion erupted at the door.

Lu Yuan looked over and saw two gang members guarding the gate being pushed in, stumbling.

At the same time, several figures—some tall, some cold, some with extraordinary bearing—strode in. The newcomers were clearly ill-intentioned.

The leader among them was an old man with gray hair and beard, but a burly and vigorous physique.

He wore a black and gold mandarin jacket and long robe, with the gaze of an eagle and the demeanor of a wolf, his aura unfathomable. Just standing there simply, he was as immovable as a mountain.

And in an instant, this person locked his indifferent gaze onto Li Junxian at the main table, and with a chilling malice, he smiled:

"Old friend, it's your fiftieth birthday, why didn't you notify me?"

His voice rolled like thunder, showing deep Martial Arts cultivation. The group was clearly here to cause trouble. The three hundred guests present immediately fell silent, their eyes meeting with extreme shock.

Li Junxian was a veteran of the Qinglong Gang with a very high status; who on earth had the guts to come and cause trouble at his birthday banquet?

And in such a silent scene.

Li Junxian stopped Xu Dahu, who was about to stand up in a rage to scold them, and stared at the newcomer, his eyes surprised and cold:

"Lei Huating, it's actually you?"

(End of this chapter)