Chapter 312: Crossing the River

On the eve of the Duanyang Festival in the Jia-Chen year, respectfully written by Yan Jiuling:

To Brother Li Yan, for your perusal:

Since our hurried parting last time, time has flown, and suddenly several months have passed. Recalling last month, my family was trapped in a perilous situation. Fortunately, Brother Li Yan galloped to our rescue; I have engraved this in my heart and am endlessly grateful...

By the window, Li Yan flipped through Yan Yan Jiuling's letter.

In this era, the exchange of information is very slow.

The events in Unlike Yichang were only known to Yan Yan Jiuling in the capital after a long time had passed. Overcome with lingering fear, he immediately wanted to return to Ezhou.

Of course, his father, Yan Bonian, had long anticipated this and had simultaneously sent a servant with a sternly worded letter, urging him to prioritize the imperial examinations while also putting his mind at ease.

Although he could not return, he still wrote several letters, some to his parents and elder brother, and others to Li Yan.

This letter contained many things.

First, naturally, was a round of gratitude. From the words, one could tell that Yan Yan Jiuling had been deeply frightened.

Following that were various observations and intelligence.

Yan Yan Jiuling is very clever; he knows what Li Yan values more, so he shared much of the news he saw in the capital without reservation.

Just as Li Yan had anticipated.

The Yan family cannot be considered a great clan in Ezhou at all; even in Unlike Yichang, they were only upper-middle class. But because of his grandfather's "Ten Strategies for Securing the State," Yan Yan Jiuling's status immediately appeared extraordinary.

The Great Da Xuan Emperor adopted two of those strategies.

Whether it is "Opening the Seas for Trade" or "Replacing Native Officials with Appointed Ones," both have had a decisive influence on the current situation in the Divine Land.

Any reform cannot be separated from theoretical support.

With the powerful financial support of the Pro-Sea Faction, Yan Yan Jiuling's grandfather, who had been ignored during his lifetime, has now become a figure of national teacher status.

In any case, they blow his horn as much as they can.

Therefore, as soon as Yan Yan Jiuling entered the capital, he quickly became a popular figure. Officials and wealthy merchants of the Pro-Sea Faction invited him one after another, and banquets of all sizes were endless.

People from the local native factions, however, tried to find faults, and during several consecutive banquets, people spoke up to rebuke and question him.

Under these circumstances, the Yan family had no way out.

But fortunately, Yan Yan Jiuling is good at thinking. On his way to the capital, he traveled through many places, and his knowledge far exceeded those who only knew how to boast.

Not only was he not stumped, but he also put forward many true insights.

This, however, was extraordinary.

The Pro-Sea Faction already had the intention to flatter him; now they treated him like a rare treasure, and even the Great Da Xuan Emperor asked for his name.

It is precisely because of this that Yan Yan Jiuling came into contact with much intelligence that ordinary people find difficult to know, and he also gained a deep understanding of the Great Da Xuan situation.

The current Great Da Xuan Dynasty has reached a critical juncture.

Land annexation in various places has become very serious, and accompanying this is the expansion of local forces in various states. Forming cliques for personal gain is common, and they have even privately colluded to influence the imperial court's policies.

The national treasury is empty, and even the post stations can no longer be maintained...

These officials cannot be touched; if they are moved, the local areas will fall into chaos...

The imperial court's military expenditures are also insufficient, and there are even military generals secretly smuggling arms. Some do it to purchase grain to maintain military stability, while others do it to bribe their superiors, attempting to advance further...

The current Great Da Xuan Emperor is also a ruthless person, so he naturally thought of many ways.

He increased the power of the Commandant Office, using its cruel laws to suppress the officials. Although he cleared out some people, it met with an even greater backlash...

He balanced both sides, attempting to divide local forces, but instead caused greater chaos, almost causing the chaos of the Maitreya Sect to appear again...

If this continues, I fear that in a few decades, the Great Da Xuan Dynasty will lose control and head toward decline, and there are also enemy countries watching covetously from the surroundings.

And opening the seas for trade is the Great Da Xuan Emperor's grasp.

The rise of the Pro-Sea Faction caused the local native factions to begin to split. After a round of court struggles, they also got rid of many troublesome characters.

More importantly, the national treasury began to fill up.

With money, everything is easy to talk about.

This Great Da Xuan Emperor first moved against the border armies. Through repeated transfers of generals, he firmly grasped military power.

And this time, replacing native officials with appointed ones is also a reorganization of the military forces. The appearance of new-style gunpowder has made him even more powerful.

It can be said that as long as this war is won, the Great Da Xuan Emperor's prestige will reach another peak.

By then, I fear it will be another round of blood and rain...

In this situation, people of insight in the court naturally have already seen it. Although their positions are different, they all have a consensus: the Divine Land is about to welcome change.

Either the phoenix is reborn, and the destiny continues.

Or it will never recover and gradually decline.

There is no second path to take.

All the chaos in the Divine Land today has its source here.

Just two months before the new-style firearms were researched, a master-level expert entered the imperial city at night, attempting to assassinate the Great Da Xuan Emperor, but was repelled by Huo Yin, the leader of the Divine Fist Society, who is also a master.

But the identity of this master is still a mystery to this day...

Also, not only is the Heavenly Saint Sect causing chaos in Ezhou, but there are also evil cultivation forces making trouble in Western Hunan, Lingyou Guangxi, and the seas of Minzhou...

Therefore, the imperial court is simultaneously using Daoist registers to restrain people in the Mystic Sect while vigorously developing firearms...

Aside from the situation, Yan Yan Jiuling also spoke of many observations.

The chubby young master Lin Yu of the Jiangzhe Lin family found him. The two hit it off immediately, and because they both have friendships with Li Yan, they have already become good friends.

Yan Yan Jiuling was originally obsessed with mountains, rivers, history, and folklore, but after seeing many things, he changed his mind and wants to enter the imperial court to walk the path of regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world...

As for the chubby young master Lin Yu, he did not change his curious nature and followed him to wander around various mansions, seeing many treasures...

Besides this, Yan Yan Jiuling also highlighted one thing.

Because the blueprints for the Ministry of Works' new-style firearms were stolen, new-style gunpowder requires traveling to various places to investigate mineral veins, and numerous overseas rare treasures and mechanical arts are being transported into the capital...

For various reasons, the Great Da Xuan Emperor plans to establish a new-style academy in the capital, specifically to research yin-yang feng shui, mountains and rivers, history, mechanical firearms, and many other miscellaneous studies.

The name is Qiankun Academy, meaning to encompass the universe.

Some people from the Confucian Sect and the Mo Sect are fully promoting this matter, and even some declining Mystic Sect Outer Elixir factions are very interested.

It is currently in preparation and will likely be established next year or the year after.

In the capital, many people are waiting to see a joke.

But Yan Yan Jiuling feels that this academy likely has great potential. If he is on the list after the imperial examinations, he will find a way to enter this academy...

Qiankun Academy?

Li Yan looked at it, and a hint of interest also arose in his heart.

According to the letter, this academy is a bit like a comprehensive university of later generations, but what it researches are some strange skills and mysterious things.

If there is an opportunity in the future, he must go and see it...

…………

At the Parrot Island wharf, the atmosphere is becoming increasingly tense.

Today is another clear day. Under the dazzling sunlight, the river surface is sparkling. There is a sea of people on the shore, and dragon boats are neatly arranged beside the wharf.

It is now the ninth day of the fifth lunar month. As the competition progresses, those teams that came to join the fun but lacked strength have all been eliminated.

Everyone knows that the next few days are the focus.

Every day, a winner will emerge. By the last day, all the winners will gallop on the river to compete for the final championship.

The champion will have an imposing name: Leader on the River. For the common people and some participating teams, this is just a grand festival. As long as their results are higher than the village they find unpleasant, they will be happy enough to be drunk for several days.

If they win against their arch-rivals, they will also hold a grand flowing banquet.

The losers will be disgraced, and the villagers won't even give them a good look.

And for some major forces, winning the annual Leader on the River is also a symbol of strength. When they go out to speak, their backs are a bit straighter.

At this moment, all the dragon boats are in position.

From the dragon head to the dragon tail, they are all hung with colorful silk, and colorful flags are pulled in the center. This has a saying called "Hanging the Dragon Robe."

The men on the boats are all wearing vests of the same color, tied with belts of the same color, revealing muscular arms, fully focused, waiting for the command.

Unlike later generations, these dragon boats are even livelier, with not only big drums but also gong players to control the rhythm.

Of course, the most important thing is the "Steersman," all served by those with the most experience, waving colorful flags to command, not only to control the rhythm but also to be responsible for checking the route.

And on the shore, a sacrificial ceremony is being held.

!.

Rows of ritual masters are praying, incense smoke is curling, various tribute offerings and zongzi are arranged in a row, and numerous virtuous and respected elders, representing the people of the three towns of Near Wuchang, are conducting prayers and sacrifices.

This kind of ceremony must be held before the competition every day.

Soon, with the crackling of firecrackers, some pastries, offerings, and zongzi were all thrown into the river, representing the end of the ceremony.

Whoosh—Boom!

A huge sky-drilling cannon rushed into the sky and exploded.

And this is the signal for the competition to begin.

In an instant, ten thousand oars were launched, and the dragon boats were like dragons emerging from the sea.

The sound of gongs and drums rang out, the "Steersmen" stood at the stern waving colorful flags, and the crew shouted slogans, their movements neat, inserting their oars into the water at the same time, splashing water.

One dragon boat after another rode the wind and waves, galloping on the river.

Dong dong dong!

The gongs and drums are war drums. Between the dragon boats, they chased each other, neither side giving way, like a battlefield confrontation, making one's blood boil.

And on the shore, the common people also shouted like a tide, each with a flushed face, craning their necks and standing on tiptoes, competing to watch.

Not to mention the wharf shore, even the trees in the distance were covered with people, waving their own small flags and shouting. From time to time, someone would be too excited, slip, and fall into the river.

Some big shots who came to watch naturally wouldn't crowd with the common people. Near the Parrot Island wharf, high platforms were specially built, and there were even sunshades for them to watch.

Shi Chen, the leader of the Pai Sect, was also among them.

However, his attention was not on the competition, but on playing with the flintlock firearm in his hand, full of interest.

A master of a Mount Wudang secular bodyguard agency nearby saw this and couldn't help but shake his head slightly, "Leader Shi, although you already have a quota, this thing is a lethal weapon after all, so it's better not to take it out and be conspicuous."

"On a joyous day, it wouldn't be good to hurt anyone."

"Lethal weapon?"

Shi Chen laughed and said disdainfully, "For us people in the martial world, a knife is a lethal weapon, a stick is a lethal weapon, and even these two hands are lethal weapons. Do you mean I have to chop them off and put them at home?"

"This thing is just a deterrent. What's the use of hiding it? Only by putting it out in the open can it deter the petty."

"Leader Li, don't blame me for being talkative. With this gadget, the martial world landscape has changed."

"Those bodyguards under you, practicing for three summers and three winters, how many can actually make a name for themselves? Most are just mediocre people, and you still have to spend effort to cultivate them."

As he spoke, he raised the flintlock firearm in his hand and said proudly, "And with this gadget, I only need to spend a little more silver to immediately set up a firearm team. No matter how many people come, I can knock them all down with one shot!"

The bodyguard agency leader's face immediately turned ugly, and he argued, "This thing is just a tool. No matter how good the tool is, it still needs people to use it..."

"Alright, alright."

Shi Chen said impatiently, "I'm too lazy to argue with you. Confucian scholars study, martial artists practice martial arts, and distinguishing themselves from ordinary people is the same principle. What do you think the imperial court is trying to do by releasing this gadget?"

"If in the future martial artists are beaten to death by ordinary people with guns, how many people do you think will be willing to suffer this?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the people nearby fell into silence.

They had heard a lot about firearms, but after getting the quota and testing a few, they already understood many things.

This thing might not pose a threat to them.

But those ordinary disciples who haven't practiced martial arts for long simply can't block it.

And ordinary disciples are the majority after all, which means that those yamen runners equipped with firearms by the imperial court can suppress them.

This is still just ordinary firearms.

If there are a few new-style firearms, even they, if not careful, would be beaten into a sieve.

The martial world landscape has indeed changed.

There are some experts that even new-style firearms can't deal with, but how many experts can there be? The martial world is composed of ordinary people after all...

For a time, everyone was restless and fell into deep thought.

And at the same time, the competition on the river was still continuing. After a fierce competition, the Pai Sect won again.

"Hahaha..."

Shi Chen was satisfied, stood up, tucked the firearm into his waist, bowed to the surroundings and said, "Everyone, you have conceded. I will hold a banquet at my mansion today, so I invite you all to grace me with your presence."

"That is natural."

"We must go and have a cup of water wine."

He is like this, and everyone is used to it, but the Pai Sect has considerable influence on the river after all. Whether they go or not, they have to say the right things.

There is no way, this is called a petty person who is hard to offend.

Shi Chen laughed, took his men and left the Parrot Island wharf, returning to Near Wuchang City.

As a leader, he has saved up considerable family wealth over the years. The mansion he built can be ranked even in Near Wuchang City, and he has married several concubines and has a large group of children.

At this moment, in the large mansion, a stage had already been set up, several troupes were performing on stage, and once the news of the victory came, a flowing banquet was set up here.

"Greetings to Leader Shi!"

"Brother Shi, congratulations, congratulations!"

The guests who came to congratulate him stood up one after another to welcome him.

"Hahaha, congratulations to you too!"

Shi Chen laughed heartily and toasted table by table.

And at a table in a remote corner, the Fu family twins were drinking water wine, smiling, looking at Shi Chen in the distance...

…………

"Benefactor Li, please this way!"

Under the guidance of a young novice monk, Li Yan entered the Baotong Zen Temple.

Unknowingly, two days had passed. He had waited for a long time in the Chamber of Commerce, and it was only when the sun set that he received the news and came to Baotong Zen Temple.

Zen Master Master Tongxuan said that today he would give him a stroke of fate.

This matter had been mentioned by Abbot Abbot Mingzhu before, but Li Yan didn't take it to heart. Now that Zen Master Master Tongxuan mentioned it again, it made him quite interested.

It seems this stroke of fate is likely not simple.

Even though night had already fallen, Baotong Zen Temple was still as busy as ever, with monks coming and going constantly. But after arriving at the Daxiong Treasure Hall, Li Yan sensed something strange.

There wasn't a single shadow here, and the sounds from outside seemed to be completely isolated, quiet to the point of being eerie...

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to everyone, the second update will be a bit late.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 313 =====