Chapter 182: Yu Yongnian: Was I Carried by My Student?

Three hundred years ago, the founding Emperor of Great Liang established Great Liang.

But at that time, Great Liang was not stable.

The court of the previous Chu Dynasty was corrupt from top to bottom. The entire Great Liang was not only suffering from the chaos of demons and monsters, but neighboring countries were also eyeing it covetously.

"Back then, before the founding Emperor raised his army, he once went to the Han Kingdom. At that time, the martial arts of the Han Kingdom were extremely prosperous, and martial artists from many surrounding countries would go to the Han Kingdom."

Jia Nanzhu slowly recounted this secret history of the early founding of Great Liang to Lin Chen.

"The founding Emperor achieved success in martial arts. Returning to Great Liang, he saw the people of Great Liang living in misery, suffering from the multi-layered exploitation of the court, powerful families, and demons. In a fit of rage, he chose to raise an army to revolt. Responders gathered like clouds, but at that time, it wasn't just the founding Emperor who revolted. The Chu Dynasty's luck had run out, and several insurgent forces appeared."

"These forces included predecessors who had the same aspirations as the founding Emperor. These predecessors later chose to join the founding Emperor's insurgent camp, but more were opportunists and those greedy for power... And the founding Emperor's situation at that time was the worst, because the founding Emperor was the only one who proposed not allowing the existence of the demon race in Great Liang. He not only had to face the suppression of the Chu Dynasty but also the assassination of the demon race. The situation was extremely dangerous."

Jia Nanzhu's voice was low as he continued: "Fortunately, when the founding Emperor was studying martial arts in the Han Kingdom, he once took a master, and that master was the State Preceptor of the Han Kingdom. In the early stages, he gave the founding Emperor quite a few training resources to supply the founding Emperor in cultivating the martial artists under his command and improving his own strength."

"Actually, it wasn't just the founding Emperor who had the support of the Han Kingdom behind him; other insurgent forces also had the presence of other countries behind them. These countries were not truly kind-hearted for the sake of the people of our Great Liang; they just wanted to take the opportunity to foster their own forces in Great Liang, so as to plunder the territory and resources of our Great Liang."

At that time, the Chu Dynasty was a piece of fat meat in the eyes of other countries. But precisely because everyone wanted to take a bite and was staring at this piece of fat meat, no one dared to be the first to send troops, and finally chose this method of fostering forces.

Jia Nanzhu narrowed his old eyes, a cold light in them: "Including that Han Kingdom, it was the same. The founding Emperor overthrew the Chu Dynasty, established Great Liang, and was preparing to carry out a comprehensive cleanup and encirclement of those forces supported by other countries and the demon race, when the Han Kingdom took the opportunity to propose that our Great Liang cede three circuit areas to the Han Kingdom. The founding Emperor naturally would not agree."

"After being flatly refused by the founding Emperor, the Han Kingdom actually wanted to send troops against our Great Liang, wanting to forcibly occupy the power of the three circuits. At that time, the martial artists of Great Liang were fully occupied with dealing with the demon race. If the Han Kingdom sent troops, they would either have to give up the cleanup of the demon race, or the land of the three circuits could not be protected at all. In this situation, the founding Emperor resolutely made a decision: establish martial academies. And the founders of the martial academies were those other insurgent forces."

Lin Chen's pupils contracted; he somewhat guessed what the founding Emperor was going to do.

"The founding Emperor swore an oath that the Great Liang court would only establish Martial Halls and Martial Halls, and martial arts youths who wanted to go further on the Martial Way could choose to enter martial academies, and the Great Liang court would not interfere in all matters of the martial academies. All matters of the martial academies would be handled by the academy principals and instructors themselves. Just this one oath made those powerful families and the countries behind them unable to sit still."

Speaking of this, Jia Nanzhu's mouth curled up slightly: "These people thought the founding Emperor was muddled to make such a decision. After all, the whole capital was spreading rumors that the founding Emperor had once privately slammed the table, saying that rather than having the territory taken by the Han Kingdom, it would be better for Great Liang to be replaced by other powerful families. No matter what, this pot of meat would rot in the pot and wouldn't benefit other countries."

"Do you know why those powerful families and the countries coveting our Great Liang couldn't sit still?"

Hearing his teacher's inquiry, Lin Chen thought for a moment and replied: "In the eyes of these people, the founding Emperor was equivalent to handing over the martial arts geniuses of Great Liang to them. By having them establish martial academies and cultivate these martial arts geniuses, they could naturally make these martial arts geniuses have no sense of belonging to Great Liang, listening only to their orders. Ten or even twenty years later, when this batch of students grew up and entered the Great Liang court as officials, it would be pulling the firewood from under the cauldron for Great Liang."

"Not bad. The founding Emperor calculated the minds of these people, which is why he decided to establish martial academies. At that time, the founders of the United Wu Yuan were from these powerful families. To reassure these people, the founding Emperor even gave each of them a First Rank official position."

"Even, in order to make the genius martial artists of our Great Liang loyal to them rather than to their countries, these countries and powerful families even privately established some martial academies in Great Liang. In just ten years, the number of martial academies in our Great Liang reached more than thirty."

Jia Nanzhu seemed to have thought of something funny, his sparse eyebrows twitching: "But they didn't expect that from the moment they agreed to establish martial academies, they fell into the founding Emperor's trap. Can you guess what the founding Emperor was going to do?"

"The founding Emperor wanted to borrow a chicken to lay eggs?" Lin Chen pondered for a moment and replied.

"Borrow a chicken to lay eggs, not bad. Your description is very appropriate, it is borrowing a chicken to lay eggs."

Jia Nanzhu could no longer hold back and burst into laughter. "The origin of the name United Wu Yuan is because the martial academy was founded by the union of these powerful families. To make the students recruited into the martial academy loyal to them, they gave away large amounts of training resources, and even to make these students have no sense of belonging to Great Liang, the several countries behind them also sent techniques and resources..."

"But they didn't expect that these students did not turn their backs on Great Liang. After leaving the martial academy, they worked for our Great Liang. Although a few students betrayed our Great Liang, compared to the resources invested, it was just a drop in the bucket."

Lin Chen's mouth opened slightly. It could be operated like this?

So these genius youths were arranged by the founding Emperor in advance?

No!

Those powerful families, including the countries behind them, must have investigated the background and identity of these students. If their origins were suspicious, they would definitely not be recruited into the martial academy.

"Those who win the hearts of the people win geniuses!"

Jia Nanzhu looked at Lin Chen: "This is the founding Emperor's original words. The founding Emperor didn't make any arrangements, but the founding Emperor believed that these youths could see the changes in Great Liang, could see Great Liang gradually becoming strong. Those who betray their country for glory are ultimately a minority; more people will still choose Great Liang."

"The founding Emperor is truly a divine strategist!"

Lin Chen's admiration for this founding Emperor grew even deeper. Protecting the territory, beheading demons, opening the Martial Administration Department... borrowing resources from other countries to cultivate the martial arts geniuses of his own country...

This is what kind of confidence, confidence in being able to win the hearts of the people.

And the founding Emperor did indeed do it.

No wonder, no wonder Great Liang could flourish for three hundred years and has not declined to this day.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, then did the Han Kingdom just give up willingly?" Admiring the founding Emperor's grand strategy, Lin Chen asked curiously again.

"The Han Kingdom was naturally unwilling. Even though other countries pressured the Han Kingdom, the Han Kingdom still wanted to use force against our Great Liang, stationing a million troops at the Black River border, along with two First Rank experts, to forcibly occupy the land of the three circuits of our Great Liang. The founding Emperor sat in the Black River with a coffin, ten Third Rank martial artists burned their life essence to improve their realm, and thirty thousand martial artists of our Great Liang confronted the Han Kingdom across the river."

Jia Nanzhu had a ruthless look in his eyes: "The founding Emperor had only one sentence: if the Han Kingdom wants to fight, then fight. All martial artists of our Great Liang will abandon Great Liang, enter the Han Kingdom territory in teams of one hundred, and trade land for land."

"Trade land for land?"

Lin Chen had a glint in his eyes. The founding Emperor's courage...

If all the martial artists of Great Liang flooded into the Han Kingdom, even if they were not as good as the Han Kingdom, it would be enough to cause turmoil in the Han Kingdom. And the surrounding countries would inevitably take the opportunity to swallow the territory of Great Liang. Great Liang would be gone, but the Han Kingdom shouldn't think about occupying any benefits either.

"So, the Han Kingdom finally gave up."

"Hmm, the Han Kingdom gave up, but our Great Liang also paid the price." Jia Nanzhu's voice was low: "Ten upper-rank martial artists burned their life essence and all passed away three years later. The training resources originally given by the Han Kingdom were doubled and returned to them."

Lin Chen's mouth opened slightly, wanting to say something, but finally only sighed.

Even if the founding Emperor showed the courage to break the cauldrons and sink the boats, the Han Kingdom was not stupid and knew that the founding Emperor was mostly just showing a tough stance.

Dignity only exists on the edge of the sword!

If the strength is not enough, then even if you choose to break the cauldrons and sink the boats, it will at most make the other party hesitate.

"Don't be too sad. Our Great Liang is strong now and is no longer what it was back then. What your generation needs to do is to let our Great Liang continue to flourish, so as not to live up to the sacrifices made by our Great Liang martyrs back then."

Jia Nanzhu patted Lin Chen on the shoulder and comforted him.

The most difficult hundred years, Great Liang has already carried through.

"Back to the United Wu Yuan. It can be said that the establishment of the martial academy was sending charcoal in the snow. At that time, our Great Liang's martial arts resources were scarce, and these countries rushed to send a wave of warmth. Twenty years later, the surrounding countries and those powerful families finally discovered something was wrong. The students they cultivated with resources and techniques did not betray Great Liang after leaving the martial academy. Unfortunately, they discovered it too late. Our Great Liang's new generation of martial arts experts had already grown up. If they want to go to war again, our Great Liang does not fear any country."

Jia Nanzhu was beaming with joy. Thinking of the discomfort of these countries eating a dumb loss, he was incomparably happy.

"Yu Yu Jiaoxi, after these countries discovered they had been deceived, they chose to dissolve the United Wu Yuan?" Lin Chen asked curiously. According to what Jiang Jiang Shijie Jiang said, the United Wu Yuan was later split into three.

"Hmm, these countries discovered they couldn't make the martial academy students loyal to them, or that the tiny minority of traitors were not worth the cost of investment, so they stopped sending training resources. Our Great Liang naturally took over the martial academy."

What a "took over"!

Lin Chen couldn't help but laugh.

"However, back then, in order to make the martial academy students have no sense of belonging to Great Liang, these countries set many rules in the martial academy, among which the resources of the martial academy were allocated by all countries, and the ranking of the martial academy determined the distribution of resources. This rule still exists. Even now, the resources of the martial academy are jointly controlled by our Great Liang and the other eight countries." "Jointly allocated by nine countries, then the martial academy shouldn't just be our Great Liang's five, are there others in other countries?"

"Nine countries, a total of sixty martial academies."

Jia Nanzhu looked at Lin Chen: "The martial academy ranking changes every three years. The Qingyun Wu Yuan is currently ranked tenth, the Kyoto Wu Yuan is ranked eleventh, the Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan is ranked ninth, and the Canglan Wu Yuan is ranked twelfth. As for the Zhan Yao Wu Yuan... the situation is relatively special and does not participate in the ranking."

"Our Great Liang is slightly inferior to the other eight countries in top geniuses, but in terms of overall strength, it exceeds the other eight countries. You can see this from the martial academy ranking."

"Hmm."

Lin Chen nodded. Nine countries, sixty martial academies. The strongest Lord Lingxiao Wu Yuan in Great Liang is only ranked ninth, which is at the bottom, but the three consecutive martial academies are all Great Liang's, which just shows that the strength of the students in Great Liang's major martial academies is very even.

If he didn't guess wrong, the other eight countries should have gathered the top batch of martial arts geniuses into one martial academy.

"Now that the origin of the martial academy has been fully told, as for which martial academy to enter, it makes little difference to you. What you need to consider is what conditions these martial academies will offer you."

"Whoever has milk is the mother." Lin Chen laughed.

"This is a bit vulgar, but it makes sense."

Jia Nanzhu stroked his beard, and the master and disciple looked at each other and smiled.

Anhui Prefecture, Huangshan Villa.

Maple leaves like fire!

Yu Yongnian held an announcement, facing the congratulations of others around him, his expression a bit dazed.

He wasn't even a Ranked practitioner, hadn't participated in the Martial Examination, yet he had obtained an Eighth Rank official position.

"Yu Lin Shidi, congratulations!"

Huang Kun laughed and congratulated Yu Yongnian. He was becoming more and more admiring of his father; he was indeed far-sighted.

At that time, Lin Chen hadn't left his name on Mount Wudao, and in the dispute over the Jiangnan Circuit Model Student title, he was at a disadvantage. His father still decisively took Yu Yongnian as a disciple.

To tell the truth, he was still a bit hesitant in his heart at the time, afraid that his father might have misjudged. Now it seems his father's eyes were indeed sharp.

This Lin Chen was amazing!

Name-leaving on Mount Wudao, Jiangnan Circuit Model Student...

These two identities had already solidified his status as the number one person in the Acupoint Opening Stage in Jiangnan Circuit.

He originally thought that Yu Lin Shidi being able to take his father as a master was already rising in status because of his student, but compared to this Eighth Rank official position, taking his father as a master was nothing.

Entering the 【Edification Pavilion】 to contemplate the Martial Way meant he was guaranteed to enter the Ranked Tier.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, I... my mood is a bit complicated." Yu Yongnian smiled bitterly. A side Shu Suwan smiled and said: "Lin Lin Shixiong Huang, Yongnian should be too pleasantly surprised and needs to slow down."

"Haha, I understand. Then Lin Lin Shidi, rest for a while. Lin Lin Shixiong, I will take my leave."

Huang Kun nodded. Such a big pie suddenly falling from the sky and hitting his head, he had to slow down. If it were him, he would have to slow down too.

Huang Kun took people away, leaving only Yu Yongnian and Shu Suwan in the courtyard.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie, I..."

Yu Yongnian smiled bitterly. Pleasantly surprised?

Yes, but more of it was awkwardness. The goal he had pursued in Huangshan for half a year was achieved directly because of Lin Chen.

"What's there to be awkward about? Others would be envious."

Shu Suwan knew what her junior brother was awkward about. Her junior brother was soft on the outside and firm on the inside. Being an instructor but benefiting from his student, he couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart.

Until now, she had also figured it out. What "Huang Laoqian strolling on the Bright Summit, seeing her junior brother training, and breaking the rules to take him as a disciple"—these were all fake. The real reason Huang Laoqian took her junior brother as a disciple was because of Lin Chen.

Perhaps Huang Laoqian had already received news at that time, and by taking her junior brother as a disciple, he was building a connection with Lin Chen.

"Envious? I taught Lin Chen, but I didn't think about getting anything from Lin Chen."

"It is precisely because you didn't think about getting anything from Lin Chen that you are worthy of this reward."

Shu Suwan knew she had to persuade her junior brother well, otherwise, with his character, he would easily get into a dead end.

"The official document and reward issued by the Martial Administration Office are a kind of encouragement to all students and instructors in Jiangnan Circuit, letting everyone learn from you, Lin Lin Shidi. As an instructor, you should be more attentive in teaching students martial arts. You should accept this reward openly and honestly, so that you can inspire more instructors to be attentive in teaching students martial arts. This is a good thing for the students."

"If Lin Lin Shidi feels unworthy of this reward and pushes it away, what will other instructors in Jiangnan Circuit think?"

"Lin Lin Shidi, you are noble, but instructors are also martial artists. They also need training resources and want to go further on the Martial Way. People are not saints, how can they have no selfish motives? If you push away the Martial Administration Office's reward today, and other instructors face this situation in the future, should they accept it or push it away like you?" Shu Suwan's expression was very serious: "Instructors teach students sincerely, students have achievements in martial arts, and instructors get fame and profit. This is a must."

Reward merit and punish faults!

Yu Yongnian also understood his senior sister's meaning: "I was biased. As Jiang Jiang Shijie said, I will definitely accept this reward."

Shu Suwan's face showed a smile again. Lin Lin Shidi accepting the Martial Administration Office's reward and entering the 【Edification Pavilion】 meant entering the Ranked Tier was no longer a problem.

According to the agreement between her and her junior brother, when her junior brother enters the Ranked Tier, it will be time to propose marriage to the Shu family.

And her junior brother taught such a student as Lin Chen, so her family would definitely not oppose her marriage to her junior brother.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie, what is this Mount Wudao?"

Yu Yongnian didn't think about these things, but thinking of the mention of Lin Chen leaving his name on Mount Wudao in the official document, he was a bit curious about Mount Wudao.

"Mount Wudao, I have only heard a senior mention it once. It is a special place built by the founding Emperor. Only true martial arts geniuses can enter, and those who can leave their names on it are outstanding existences throughout Great Liang."

Shu Suwan didn't know much about Mount Wudao either. Although the Shu family was one of the four major families in Raozhou, her own martial arts talent wasn't particularly high, and she didn't know much about martial arts matters.

"Jiang Jiang Shijie, I am preparing to bid farewell to my teacher and return to Poyang County."

At this moment, Yu Yongnian had an urgent thought in his heart. He wanted to return to Poyang County and see Lin Chen.

Back in the Wu Tang, the youth who paced outside his courtyard door for a long time before gathering the courage to knock—who could have thought that in just over a year, he would become a dazzling existence in the entire Jiangnan Circuit.

Others only saw Lin Chen's current glory, but he saw the hardships from Lin Chen's article.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 183 =====