Chapter 43: Six Harmonies with the Same Wind, Nine Provinces United

The Taiji Hall.

The qin music was gentle and melodious.

The Empress brushed the hair from her forehead, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Dou Changsheng.

After a long silence, she spoke slowly: "The Great Jin possesses the four seas."

"For a moment, I actually cannot find the thing most suitable for you."

"Prince of Yan, do you have any high insights?"

Yu Yun drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, put down the cup, and spoke calmly: "Your Majesty already has a plan in mind."

"This subject dares not speak rashly."

"But if Your Majesty insists that I speak directly."

"This subject cannot refuse."

"Our Great Jin has been established for hundreds of years, defeating the Hu Ren in the north and breaking the Chen Dynasty in the south. Our national strength is robust; we are the head of the four nations and the number one great nation in the world."

"But in recent years, the Liang lands have been peaceful, and the martial spirit has decayed; it has reached a point where change is unavoidable."

"It is time to let the Liang lands feel the cold northern wind."

"With Dou Changsheng as the leader, let the people of the North enter the Liang lands as officials."

The Empress interrupted before Yu Yun could finish: "The Grand General's idea is good, but it is too naive."

"The Liang lands have always harbored exclusion toward the North; making a big move rashly will inevitably provoke resentment in the Liang lands. This can only be done slowly, like boiling a frog in warm water."

Yu Yun sighed and said: "The Wolf Lord of the grasslands is a heaven-sent talent of his generation."

"Now his troops are elite, his provisions are ample, and his wings are full."

"With hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry, and the Great Sage of the Polar Regions and the Great Shaman of the Shaman Sect—two martial artists in the top ten of the Earth Ranking—acting as accomplices."

"He will inevitably raise his troops and move south."

"The Great Jin does not have much time left; we must use strong medicine now."

"If we cannot unite all forces, the Great Jin will surely be defeated."

Yu Yun paused before speaking again: "I have gone beyond the passes six times, deep into the grasslands, wanting to kill this Wolf Lord before his wings were full."

"But the other party always avoided me. It was not until he swept through many large tribes in the North and personally entered the Polar Regions to invite the Great Sage into the Royal Court that he dared to lead his troops south, and we met for the first time."

"But at that time, I knew I was no longer his match."

"This Wolf Lord is fierce and cruel, but most rare of all, he is forbearing."

"Without absolute certainty, he will never make a move."

"Every major battle is waited until the enemy shows fatigue and reveals flaws before he launches a massive attack to defeat the enemy in one battle."

"When the Wolf Lord raises his troops, it will be when he believes he has enough to crush the Great Jin and enter the Central Plains."

"I can tolerate Your Majesty, precisely because the disaster of the Wolf Lord does not just affect the North and the Great Jin, but the entire Central Plains."

"As a single nation, the Great Jin is no longer his match. I want to go as an envoy to Western Qin and Eastern Qi, to use the strength of the three nations to crush the Hu Ren, break the momentum of the grasslands, and turn them into a scattered sand that can no longer pose a threat."

The qin music stopped abruptly. Chen Qingyao, who had been silent, looked at Yu Yun and shook his head: "The logic is sound."

"Western Qin and Eastern Qi do not lack wise men, and they can see it too."

"But the Grand General's mission will inevitably be a futile effort."

"If the blade doesn't fall on their own heads, they won't feel the pain."

"Our Great Jin borders the Hu Ren directly; if the Hu Ren move south, the Great Jin will bear the brunt."

"When Western Qin and Eastern Qi see this scene, they will not help just because we are all Huaxia; instead, they will gloat and even take advantage of the fire."

"The deposed emperor had too many schemes; seeing the disaster of the Great Jin's collapse, he still had the intention to seize power and provoke strife between generals and ministers."

"In this tribulation, we must pull together in the same boat to survive."

"Seeking help from outsiders is too difficult, but clearing out corrupt officials, rectifying the administration, repairing the passes, and training a new army—these can be done."

Chen Qingyao's gaze moved slowly, finally looking at Dou Changsheng, and he spoke slowly: "You have established a peerless contribution, saved the Great Jin, and rescued four regions, more than fifty provinces, and hundreds of millions of common people."

"You deserve a heavy reward!"

"The Three Primordials return to one, and you can contend with heaven."

"The 'Three Primordials Return Qi Technique' you primarily cultivate—if you want to step into the Divine Marvel Realm and rush into the Earth Ranking, you must cultivate the Second Primordial."

"I have a calligraphy scroll by the Old Man of the Sanshan in my possession."

"The Old Man of the Sanshan is a high-level expert of the Heaven Ranking; even a single character contains his essence, energy, and spirit. Studying it daily can enhance your essence, energy, and spirit, and one day, you will conceive divine intent, allowing you to step into the Grandmaster Realm."

"This is a supreme treasure, a favorite object of the late emperor, bestowed upon me when he entrusted me with the orphan in a time of crisis."

"Now I will transfer it to you."

"On it, I have written my insights and comments, creating a peerless technique, which is currently written on the back."

Chen Qingyao clapped his hands. A maidservant, eyes on her nose, head lowered, walked with small steps, holding the treasure with both hands, and walked to Chen Qingyao's side. Chen Qingyao grabbed it solemnly with both hands.

He slowly spread it out in front of Dou Changsheng.

It was a calligraphy painting with only two characters on it.

Loyalty! Ruler!

These two characters were like dragons flying and phoenixes dancing, vigorous and powerful.

Dou Changsheng didn't know much about calligraphy and couldn't tell how much accomplishment it had, but after seeing the first character, his heart went cold.

This was a routine against him.

The "Three Primordials Return Qi Technique" primarily cultivates three paths: Love, Loyalty, and Courage.

If this were a "Courage" character, it would fit him perfectly; "Love" would also be acceptable, but it just had to be a "Loyalty" character.

The purpose was self-evident.

Dou Changsheng was silent; he really wanted to say, "Can I exchange it?"

But he knew it definitely couldn't be exchanged.

Dou Changsheng stretched out his hands, received it solemnly, and then bowed to take his leave.

He couldn't stay in this place any longer.

A max-level big shot bullying a kindergartner—who could stand this?

Chen Qingyao watched Dou Changsheng leave, watched his back disappear without a trace, waved his hand to dismiss the maidservant, and then looked at Yu Yun and the Empress: "Whether it is Dou Changsheng or Wang Tianhe."

"Both lack this character."

"But this is unavoidable for the 'Three Primordials Return Qi Technique'."

"In the future, they will inevitably observe this calligraphy."

"The Wang Clan of Xiangzhou has stood for a thousand years, immovable. It is not that they have no flaws; on the contrary, they have serious defects. They will not be feared by those in power, but will instead fall under the control of those in power. Therefore, throughout the dynasties, they have been tolerated."

"As long as it is not rebellion, it is not a major crime."

This was an open scheme, flawless.

Unless Wang Tianhe had no intention of advancing further, but that was impossible. Being ninth on the Earth Ranking already explained his talent and comprehension—he had the ability to advance further; why would he stop?

"A piece of calligraphy—the Big King cannot withstand it, and the Little King is the same; Dou Changsheng is even less able to escape."

"The Captain of Defeating the Captives should be promoted and enfeoffed."

"As for the affairs of the North, I must trouble the Grand General to personally guard it."

"Calm the turmoil as soon as possible, integrate the forces of the North, prevent the Hu Ren from moving south, and also prevent Western Qin and Eastern Qi from seeing the Empress's ascension and taking advantage of the fire."

"This time, the deposition of the emperor, although the turmoil was not great, still caused a huge uproar, causing our Great Jin to lose face and our prestige to plummet."

"Of two evils, choose the lesser; it had to be done."

Yu Yun stood up instantly and walked toward the outside with large strides, his dissatisfied voice falling: "The deed is done, why continue to act hypocritically here?"

"Also, the Prince of Beiyang cannot die."

"That is the late emperor's only bloodline."

"We must not let the late emperor's line end, breaking the inheritance, leaving no one to offer sacrifices every year."

The Empress said in a deep voice: "The title of Prince of Beiyang, as long as the Great Jin exists for one day, will be hereditary forever."

"Also."

"My goal is."

"Six Harmonies with the Same Wind, Nine Provinces United!"

"When the merit is complete, I am willing to return the government to the late emperor's line and enthrone the Prince of Beiyang's heir!"

"I can publicly swear an oath; if I violate it, the world shall strike together!"

"I hope the Grand General will help me with all his strength!"

"To complete the Great Unification." ===== CHAPTER 44 =====