Chapter 493: Jade Prefecture

"Dong, dongdong, dongdongdong!"

Li Er Haozi wore a splendid suit of armor, wielding two purple-gold-forged dragon-head drum mallets, beating a purple-gold dragon-skin war drum until it thunderously shook the heavens; visible concentric white sound waves blasted outward, carrying hundreds of li.

Thirty-six Four Spirit Warships led the way, followed by over forty-eight thousand extra-large civilian transport vessels, with four thousand warships of various sizes guarding all around; the massive fleet rose slowly into the sky, casting a vast shadow, and no sunlight could be seen for hundreds of li around Great Marsh City.

Wu Tie stood atop the mast of a Four Spirit Warship, looking back at the awe-inspiring vast fleet, and thrust his fist forward: "Set out! Follow me to Jade Prefecture, where there's plenty of good food and spicy delights for you to enjoy!"

Hundreds of thousands of Black Phoenix Army soldiers shouted in unison, their loud, uniform battle cries shaking the clouds in the high sky apart layer by layer.

Led by Li Er Haozi, the soldiers of the Great Marsh Prefecture Army were a noisy, disorderly bunch.

The general is mighty!

The duke is magnificent!

I want good food and spicy drink; I'll find a young woman to bear my children!

Ya-ho!

The soldiers' faces flushed red, they waved their arms and kicked their legs in excitement, some even shouting slogans of blatant disrespect, bordering on treason. They were so carried away they forgot their own surnames.

On the decks of over forty thousand extra-large transports sent from Maple Prefecture and its surrounding areas, countless Five Elements Spirits stood shoulder to shoulder, a mix of anxiety, anticipation, innocence, and joy, gazing at the familiar mountains in the distance.

The entire Five Elements Spirits tribe, numbering in the hundreds of millions, was packed into those forty-plus thousand transports.

These civilian transports had only one advantage: enormous size. Sacrificing speed and defense, they stretched thousands of zhang in length, their bellies bloated like obese white pigs, with over a hundred decks each, each loaded to capacity to carry hundreds of thousands on long journeys.

The Five Elements Spirits were about to leave the forests that nurtured them, following their Holy Ancestor to the immensely rich yet perilous Great Jin.

Even the eldest and wisest Elders couldn't tell whether this was good or bad for the Five Elements Spirits.

But they believed in the Holy Ancestor… they trusted and worshipped the Holy Ancestor without reservation. Not a single Elder objected, not a single Five Elements Spirit dissented. They devoutly and fervently relocated the entire tribe to an unfamiliar land.

Inside the transports were also many residents of Great Marsh Prefecture.

For example, Gongshu Pen, plus many other convicts whom Mr. Li had sent from Great Jin to Great Marsh Prefecture as frontier labor.

These people were all technical talents, including many artifact crafters, talisman makers, alchemists, and so on—all of them skilled individuals.

Talent—Wu Tie would never let it slip away.

With the honor of being appointed a first-rank duke by the Great Jin Divine Emperor, and his current status as a scorching-hot hotshot, he transported millions of convicts from Great Marsh Prefecture, clearing their crimes and turning them into law-abiding citizens—as easy as a game.

Many convicts looked down in disbelief as Great Marsh Prefecture City shrank beneath them.

When they were exiled here, they thought they and their families would die in the frontier, even without a grave.

But they never dreamed that some of them, after just a year or two—or even a few months—would suddenly have all their crimes erased, becoming upstanding citizens who could proudly follow the Lord of Jade Prefecture to Jade Prefecture to enjoy prosperity.

The hundred-plus prefectures surrounding Peaceful Sun City are the birthplace of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom's rise and also its richest heartland.

Jade Prefecture, among those hundred-plus prefectures near Peaceful Sun City, is top-notch: vast territory, abundant resources, thriving population, prosperous inhabitants; in the whole Great Jin Divine Kingdom, aside from Peaceful Sun City, Jade Prefecture is the ultimate paradise.

It is said that the air of Jade Prefecture is perfumed with the sweet scent of honey!

There, a casual dig underground yields exquisite jade.

In Jade Prefecture, the rivers flowing through the cities turn rouge at dawn and dusk, as the water used by the town's young ladies and married women to wash their faces after makeup or makeup removal is drained into the ditches, tinting the river.

Moreover, it is said that Jade Prefecture is one of the few places in the Great Jin Divine Kingdom where even beggars are absent.

Because in Jade Prefecture, if you're just a bit diligent and willing to work, you can earn heaps of money.

Even if one farms in Jade Prefecture, the farmers' standard of living is roughly comparable to that of small landowners elsewhere…

In short, Jade Prefecture is a perfect utopia, an earthly paradise, the finest place to live imaginable for the people of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom.

"Jade Prefecture, Jade Prefecture!"

"We're going to Jade Prefecture!"

"Besides, we are the duke's men, close attendants of the Lord of Jade Prefecture!"

Those fortunate enough to be listed by Huang Lang, who brought their families to follow Wu Tie's migration, the Great Marsh Prefecture residents grinned until their eyes narrowed to slits; their hearts pounded, a surge of warmth welled in their chests, and they could hardly believe their good fortune.

The Great Marsh Prefecture residents listed by Huang Lang numbered in the millions.

Before they knew it, those millions had become as utterly loyal to Wu Tie as the Five Elements Spirits.

"From Great Marsh Prefecture to Jade Prefecture… set out!" Wu Tie roared again.

Ahead, an emergency colossal spatial gate slowly opened, a gigantic light gate tens of thousands of zhang in diameter shimmering in the air; the thirty-six Four Spirit Warships spearheaded into it, followed by one bulky, huge transport after another, and then thousands of Great Marsh Prefecture escort warships close behind, all diving into the gate.

Along the way, nothing happened.

No one provoked Wu Tie, nor did anyone step forward to deliberately cause trouble.

The Great Wu Army pressed the border, its spear aimed at the heartland of Great Jin, and the whole of Great Jin had entered a state of war.

Whoever stirs trouble at this time only brings trouble upon themselves and their families.

Moreover, Wu Tie's fleet is enormous, the Five Elements Spirits tribe is formidable in strength, numerous and mighty—who would be foolish enough to provoke such an elite force?

Day after day passed.

Each morning, noon, and night, Mr. Li proactively contacted Wu Tie via the Ten Thousand Miles Heavenly Secret Mirror to ask whether the journey was peaceful and stable.

Wu Tie also sensed that several distant followers had appeared near his fleet.

Their cultivation was unfathomable; if they hadn't deliberately revealed their aura, Wu Tie could hardly have detected them.

Without doubt, they were guards sent by the nobles behind Mr. Li, trailing Wu Tie's fleet all the way, crossing spatial gate after spatial gate, heading for Jade Prefecture.

Though the civilian transports were slow, even with ultra-long-range spatial gates saving time along the way, they still took over two months, and Wu Tie's massive fleet finally entered Jade Prefecture's territory.

The thirty-six Four Spirit Warships shot out of the final spatial gate, shattering vast clouds, then slowed down.

Ahead lay an endless fertile plain; at its edge, high in the tens of thousands of zhang sky, even straining Wu Tie's vision could only faintly discern a mountain range.

On the plain stood cities scattered in orderly fashion, with great rivers winding through, their surfaces dotted with countless white sails; along the banks lay boundless fields, mulberry groves, tea plantations, pastures, and also lakes big and small, with lovely hills.

It was fine weather: the sky was azure as the sea, thick white clouds hung motionless, and numerous large and small flying vessels formed fleets that leisurely shuttled through mid‑low air, linking city after city.

The rumor was true: the air of Jade Prefecture was fragrant with the scent of blossoms and fruits.

This truly is a rich and fertile land, where the rivers flow with wealth like a peach‑blossom spring.

The thirty-six Four Spirit Warships spaced several li apart in a line, crawling forward; behind them, endless lines of huge transports slid out of the spatial gates, casting vast shadows on the ground.

Ahead, several tens of li away, nearly a hundred beautifully crafted vessels shaped like birds, with both sides extending over ten masts, bearing huge white triangular sails, their whole bodies flashing with a pale silver light, medium-sized flying ships glided over lightly.

Wu Tie released his soul power, swiftly sweeping over these splendid flying vessels.

"Really… too rich!" Wu Tie gulped hard, swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

The standard warships of the Great Jin Ministry of War, in both materials and craftsmanship, are a step above those of Great Wei and Great Wu; Wu Tie had seen the flying fish warships equipped by the Zhao clan's private forces, and given the Zhao clan's influence and wealth, their flying fish warships are at least thirty percent stronger than the Great Jin Ministry's standard warships.

Meanwhile, these nearly hundred bird-shaped medium-sized flying ships, each about seven hundred zhang in length, almost blinded Wu Tie's eyes.

The main material of these flying ships is, surprisingly, refined supreme-grade spirit weapons, even the kind of spiritual materials normally used only for ordinary immortal weapons; moreover, the dense arrays of runes and formations covering the ships are all supreme-grade, consuming an astonishing amount of resources.

These flying ships, in speed, defense, and attack, are at least fifty percent stronger than the Zhao clan's flying fish warships.

On the battlefield, these bird-shaped flying ships could overwhelm the Zhao clan's flying fish warships, with a likely loss ratio of one to ten or even higher.

These bird-like warships are probably the main equipment of the Jade Prefecture provincial army…

The wealth of Jade Prefecture, just as Wu Tie sighed, is truly incredibly rich.

Wu Tie couldn't help but feel his heart warm; this affluent Jade Prefecture now belongs to him.

Among the nearly a hundred bird-like warships, there is a flagship a thousand zhang long; on its bow stand nearly a hundred officials dressed in purple and vermilion robes. These officials are arranged neatly by rank on the bow, and their expressions… at first glance look as if they had just lost their own father.

Wu Tie's keen eyes caught their complexions, and he couldn't help but start slightly.

"Feng, Lao Tie, it looks like they don't welcome us." Wu Tie vigorously rubbed the beard over an inch long on his chin.

"Obvious. Quite natural." Pei Feng gave a cold smile: "For so many years, Jade Prefecture has had no lord, directly under the Imperial Internal Affairs Hall… the current emperor's temperament… who knows how many people have been fattened by Jade Prefecture's output."

Lao Tie's eyes flickered with a ferocious Blood Light as he rubbed his hands together; his finger joints cracked with a sharp 'ka-ka' sound, like a street thug coming to collect a debt, he spoke in a strange tone: "Throw up what you've eaten of mine, hand over what you've taken… is it really that easy for us two to take advantage?"

Wu Tie gave a hey, his fingers lightly tapping the railing before him; the Black Heaven Cauldron, as if sensing a hint of killing intent in his heart, eagerly leapt out, transforming into a size over a foot and slowly circling him.

A stiff, icy, ferocious face appeared silently on the Black Heaven Cauldron.

With a hung-hung sound, the Black Heaven Cauldron puffed out strands of black smoke that enveloped half of Wu Tie's body.

The four spirit warships flew forward slowly; the opposing bird-like warships swiftly approached, then traced a huge arc with extreme smoothness, flying parallel to Wu Tie's fleet.

The central flagship drew alongside Wu Tie's command ship, moving forward side by side with it.

Over a hundred Jade Prefecture officials stood on the bow, scrutinizing Wu Tie up and down for a while; an elderly man in a purple robe with a jade belt gave a low cough, whereupon the officials' feet sprayed flowing light and auspicious clouds as they flew onto Wu Tie's command ship.

"We have paid our respects to the Lord of Jade Prefecture." Led by the purple-robed elder, over a hundred Jade Prefecture officials slightly bowed to Wu Tie.

Wu Tie turned, looked at the officials, and suddenly grinned: "Gentlemen, are you all officials of Jade Prefecture?"

The purple-robed elder nodded slowly: "Duke Huo, I am Tian Hua Rain, unworthy as the prefect of Jade Prefecture… this general Cao Bao is the commander of the Jade Prefecture provincial army."

Tian Hua Rain pointed and introduced, one after another, the hundred-odd officials behind him to Wu Tie.

Jade Prefecture's prefect, the provincial army commander, the hall master of the Jade Prefecture branch of the Forbidden Demon Hall, plus several commanders of the Great Jin's main forces stationed there—the Divine Martial Army, Divine Might Army, Demon-Suppressing Army, Demon-Routing Army—and the heads of various Jade Prefecture bureaus and offices, and so on…

About a hundred people, essentially all the prominent figures of Jade Prefecture are gathered here.

Wu Tie stood with his hands behind his back, quietly observing the Jade Prefecture officials, and said with a smile: "Hmm, Lord Tian, I'm a bit curious… according to Great Jin law, I am now the Duke of Jade Prefecture, and Jade Prefecture is my fief, correct?"

Tian Hua Rain stared blankly, then nodded: "What Duke Huo said is exactly right."

Wu Tie clapped his hands firmly: "All right, that means as long as I don't rebel, anything I do in Jade Prefecture is reasonable and legal, right? Even if I issue some seemingly excessive orders, as long as I don't rebel, I can do whatever I please."

The faces of Tian Hua Rain and the others twitched simultaneously; they stared dumbfounded at Wu Tie, not knowing what he wanted to say.

But in everyone's heart a faint uneasy thought arose…

This "Duke Huo Xiong" seems to be playing a bit outside the norm!

"What Duke Huo said is exactly right!" Tian Hua Rain took a deep breath.

"Well then, my first order is… you may take off your official robes and get lost!" Wu Tie said with a smile: "Huang Lang, from now on you'll handle Jade Prefecture's administrative affairs… Li Er Haizi, you'll be in charge of Jade Prefecture's public security… Lao Tie, you'll take charge of the Jade Prefecture provincial army…"

With a cold smile, Wu Tie looked at Tian Hua Rain and the others and said: "Come, take these officials to Jade Prefecture City, seal all account books, official documents, and everything else… I want to audit the books!"