Chapter 249

June 17th.

The Central Cabinet announced a piece of news:

The imperial court intended to build another new university!

Once the news broke, the world was shaken.

Regarding this matter, the Central Cabinet had kept it very well-guarded, with only occasional rumors leaking out, so very few people truly understood the situation.

When the news was finally confirmed, many people only realized it in hindsight.

In the political arena, waiting until the news is confirmed before starting to compete for it is, in fact, already too late.

The advantage the Lu family had spent over a decade laying out was now fully revealed.

Just as the Central Cabinet announced the establishment of the new university, the Feng Province Inspector Lu Wenzheng submitted a petition to have the university built in the Feng Province capital, and listed a series of preparatory measures:

A massive amount of martial arts cultivation resources, a vast reserve of teaching staff, and the full support of a major martial arts sect.

Finally, there was also a Grandmaster!

With such conditions put forward, other provinces, without any preparation, simply could not compete with Feng Province.

Of course, those provinces that did not yet have a university were naturally unwilling to give up so easily, and they successively began to consolidate resources and report to the center, striving with all their might to compete.

But the members of the Central Cabinet who could decide this matter had already been courted and lobbied by the Lu family for over a decade.

Unless the current Emperor or that Grand Secretary suddenly expressed strong opposition, the final voting result of the Central Cabinet would certainly favor Feng Province.

Following half a month of review and discussion, the Central Cabinet announced the final resolution on July 1st:

The new university would be established in the Feng Province capital, and the name of the university was written by the current Emperor himself—

Hongyi University!

Feng Province, provincial capital.

Inside the office, Lu Wenzheng was reading the documents just issued by the Central Cabinet regarding the new university, "Hongyi University."

The expression on his face shifted uncertainly; he did not seem as happy as he had anticipated.

A moment later, Lu Wenzheng put down the documents in his hand, his expression somewhat gloomy:

"Grand Secretary, what a brilliant maneuver."

The new university was indeed, as he had wished, to be established in the Feng Province capital, but this university was different from the other twelve comprehensive universities.

Hongyi University would only have a Stop-the-Conflict Department, without the seven departments of Literature, Science, Law, Agriculture, Engineering, Commerce, and Education!

The reason given was that the new university was established to solve the flaws in the current educational system of the Stop-the-Conflict Department in the twelve universities; since it was a "pilot university," there was no need to establish other disciplines.

After all, the other disciplines did not have any serious problems.

This reason was, of course, flawless, but it was very difficult for Lu Wenzheng to accept.

He could accept that the educational system of the new university would be significantly changed, and he could accept that the Grand Secretary would experiment with various new teaching models at this new university, but he could not accept that this new university was "castrated."

Although this world respects martial arts, it does not mean that other disciplines are unimportant; after all, the vast majority of officials in the imperial court are not from the Stop-the-Conflict Department.

Removing seven disciplines from the new university meant that Lu Wenzheng would lose half his bargaining chips if he wanted to use this Hongyi University to compete with Wu'an University in the future!

That Grand Secretary must have thought of this point early on, which is why he agreed so readily to place the new university in Feng Province.

Lu Wenzheng now looked back and realized that he might have fallen into the Grand Secretary's trap long ago.

As the current Grand Secretary, Ye Zean was considered to have power over the entire court, but he could not truly cover the sky with one hand in the Cabinet.

The Great Lan Dynasty had been founded for over five hundred years, and the problems were deeply entrenched; wanting to solve many issues, even for the current Grand Secretary, was a difficult path, and success was not guaranteed.

For example, establishing the thirteenth university—if it had been proposed directly by Ye Zean over a decade ago, along with a proposal to change the educational system of the Stop-the-Conflict Department, there would certainly have been many opponents, and it would have been very difficult to succeed.

But after the Lu family and Lu Wenzheng spent over a decade slowly laying the groundwork, this matter finally succeeded.

Lu Wenzheng now recalled that over these years, that Grand Secretary had likely been secretly pushing this matter forward all along, while he and the Lu family had become the other party's "pawns."

And yet, this was something the Lu family had done willingly.

"That Cabinet official who questioned the educational system of the Stop-the-Conflict Department in the twelve universities over a decade ago—I suspect you arranged that, Grand Secretary, didn't you?"

Lu Wenzheng laughed at himself.

He could now basically confirm that it was the "bait" Ye Zean had deliberately released.

The willing take the bait.

And so the Lu family took the bait.

After so many years, the Lu family had cleared away all the obstacles for Ye Zean, only to be outmaneuvered by him at the final moment.

The cake that was about to reach his mouth had been cut in half.

Yet the reason Ye Zean gave was very reasonable, and everyone would agree with it.

Having reached this point, Lu Wenzheng could no longer retreat; even if only half the cake remained, and even if this cake might be tainted with other things, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and swallow it.

That was why he lamented Ye Zean's brilliant maneuver.

This Grand Secretary had been in power for forty-six years; from the year the current Emperor ascended the throne, Ye Zean had been promoted to Grand Secretary.

During these forty-six years:

He suppressed the powerful clans, curtailed the power of the nobility, and centralized power.

He reformed the military system, promoted martial arts, and pushed through the Mingxin Reform.

Lu Wenzheng asked immediately.

Losing to such a person, although Lu Wenzheng felt terrible, he was also convinced.

Among the ten great clans, there were several families that had been treated even more harshly by that Grand Secretary; he, Lu Wenzheng, was already doing quite well.

"Someone come."

Lu Wenzheng quickly composed himself, his expression returning to normal.

"My lord."

The secretary pushed the door open and entered.

"Go prepare a banquet; we celebrate tonight!"

Lu Wenzheng said.

"Yes."

At night, the top floor hall of the provincial government building.

This was a place specifically used for hosting large banquets, and usually, this hall was only used for very important matters.

Those who could attend this banquet tonight were all big figures in the provincial capital, and one could say, big figures of the entire Feng Province.

That Boss Luo, Luo Yifu, who "summoned wind and rain" in the Jianghu, had to slightly bow his waist to toast the vast majority of people at this banquet.

This banquet was to celebrate the establishment of the new university, Hongyi University, in the provincial capital.

Although the final result was not satisfactory, no one dared to stand up at this time and say anything negative, so everyone at the banquet was all smiles, full of joy.

When the banquet was halfway through, a figure in white carrying a sword suddenly walked in from outside the gate.

On this occasion today, even a Dao Foundation powerhouse could not bring weapons inside and had to "disarm" outside the gate.

But the person who arrived was able to enter carrying a sword, which could not help but make people feel puzzled.

As for whether this person might be an assassin, the people present were not worried about that.

Because there was more than one Dao Foundation powerhouse present today, and there was also the Sect Master of the Qingshan Sword Sect, Nalan Zhi.

More importantly, with Grandmaster Xu Jing present, who would dare to attempt an assassination?

"Why did he come?"

"Who is this person?"

"Qingshan Sword Sect, Gu Yuefeng."

"No wonder."

"."

The crowd discussed among themselves, having already recognized the person who arrived.

The person in white carrying a sword was handsome and extraordinary, very young, and was none other than the second-ranked person on the Feng Province Wind and Cloud List, the Junior Martial Uncle of the Qingshan Sword Sect—Gu Yuefeng.

At the end of March this year, he broke through his seclusion and swept away the sea of clouds on Qingshan Peak with a single sword, and was considered by the Wangyue Tower to have reached a higher level, rated as a peak Dao Foundation powerhouse, listed second on the Wind and Cloud List, ahead of that currently prominent Green-Faced Ghost King.

It is rumored that this person is obsessed with martial arts and the sword, and from the day he first held a sword, he has never been without one.

His coming to attend this banquet did indeed give him the qualifications not to disarm.

After all, every peak Dao Foundation powerhouse could potentially be a future Martial Arts Master.

It was just that Gu Yuefeng's world had always only consisted of practicing martial arts and swordsmanship; logically speaking, he should certainly not be interested in these banquets, yet unexpectedly, he had come tonight.

Just when everyone present thought that Lu Wenzheng had invited Gu Yuefeng, Lu Wenzheng also curiously looked at Nalan Zhi beside him:

"Sect Master Nalan, did you ask Yuefeng to come?"

Nalan Zhi also looked strange and shook his head:

"Junior Martial Brother Gu does not like lively crowds, so I did not call him."

Gu Yuefeng was the closed-door disciple of the previous Sect Master of the Qingshan Sword Sect and was of the same generation as Nalan Zhi, so Nalan Zhi addressed him as Junior Martial Brother.

"I am the one who called him."

Just at this moment, Xu Jing, who was on the side, suddenly spoke up.

"Grandmaster Xu invited Junior Martial Brother Gu to attend the banquet tonight? Why didn't I know?"

Nalan Zhi, upon hearing this, looked at Xu Jing with some vigilance.

Xu Jing did not look at Nalan Zhi, but instead smiled as he looked at Gu Yuefeng, who was walking toward them step by step:

"I heard that he once had a story with that Feng Sanniang from Datong Prefecture, but that Feng Sanniang has already been killed by someone, and I think he should want to take revenge. Coincidentally, the person he wants to kill is also someone I want to kill, so I called him over."

The "famous battles" of the "Queen" Feng Sanniang consisted of two:

The first was inviting the previous Garrison Commander of Datong Prefecture to be a guest at her cabaret.

The second was inviting this Junior Martial Uncle of the Qingshan Sword Sect, Gu Yuefeng.

Such connections established Feng Sanniang's status as "Queen" in one fell swoop.

Now that Feng Sanniang is dead, there are quite a few people who want to avenge her, but those who truly have the ability are few and far between.

Gu Yuefeng certainly counts as one, and is the one with the most hope!

"Grandmaster Xu—"

Nalan Zhi, upon hearing this, immediately frowned and was about to speak.

"If he were unwilling, he wouldn't have come tonight; I did not force him."

Xu Jing turned his head and smiled at Nalan Zhi.

Nalan Zhi felt a chill in his heart, sensing a very dangerous aura from Xu Jing's smile.

"Mr. Xu, why didn't you mention this to me beforehand?"

Lu Wenzheng finally spoke, asking with a smile.

Xu Jing looked at Lu Wenzheng:

"Lord Lu previously promised to help me kill someone, but after waiting for a long time, there was no movement, so I had no choice but to do it myself."

After he finished his seclusion, he learned the news that the "Blood-Faced Ghost" was dead, which of course could not deceive him.

He could basically confirm that this Blood-Faced Ghost was impersonated by the Green-Faced Ghost.

However, he was now unable to run directly to Datong Prefecture to kill people at will.

First, the Green-Faced Ghost's whereabouts were uncertain, and finding him would not be easy.

Second, once he showed signs of wanting to kill in Datong Prefecture, Bian Jingru would dare to directly send the Imperial Camp Army to surround and kill him!

If the matter blew up, that old fellow from Wu University would certainly take action too!

There was no help for it; he was no longer a professor at Wu University, and he had completely broken ties with Datong Prefecture.

Back then, he was able to use the power of Datong Prefecture to surround and kill the Martial Arts Master Gu Xianfeng; now, if he wanted to kill someone in Datong Prefecture, he could only do it himself.

But he was now the President of Hongyi University; if he took action to kill someone and it was exposed, the impact would be huge.

By the same token, it was not easy for Lu Wenzheng to deal with the Green-Faced Ghost either.

"Mr. Xu, I have already been sending people to make preparations, but the Green-Faced Ghost King is now a behemoth in the Datong Prefecture Jianghu, and Datong Prefecture is the other party's home turf; it's not something you can kill just because you want to."

Lu Wenzheng explained.

Xu Jing's smile remained unchanged: "I know, so didn't I just find a way to kill him?"

Taking action to kill someone himself was the last resort; before that, Xu Jing had other choices.

At this time, Gu Yuefeng had already walked in front of the three.

"Lord Lu, Sect Master Senior Brother, Grandmaster Xu."

Gu Yuefeng bowed to the three with a calm expression.

It was not that he was arrogant; he was born with such a cold face.

"Junior Martial Brother Gu, are you going to Datong Prefecture?"

Nalan Zhi knew his Junior Martial Brother's temper very well, so he asked directly.

As he spoke, a burst of internal energy was silently released, laying down an invisible barrier around them to ensure that the voices here would not spread out and be heard by those around them.

Gu Yuefeng nodded: "That's right."

"Just for a woman?"

Nalan Zhi frowned, his tone becoming stern.

Gu Yuefeng's eyes shifted, and he slowly shook his head:

"My trip there is mainly to challenge Qin Zhen; killing the Green-Faced Ghost is just incidental."

Challenge Qin Zhen!

Qin Zhen was the first on the Feng Province Wind and Cloud List and was also listed as a candidate for the overall Wind and Cloud List.

After Gu Yuefeng broke through his seclusion, although he was also listed as a peak Dao Foundation powerhouse, he was still considered to have a certain gap compared to Qin Zhen, which was why he was ranked second.

Nalan Zhi, upon hearing this, instead showed a look of pleasant surprise:

"Junior Martial Brother Gu, have you already found the opportunity?"

The so-called opportunity refers to the opportunity to break through the realm!

As long as one has incorporated five types of implants, one already has the opportunity to build a martial arts foundation and break through the realm.

Gu Yuefeng had long incorporated five types of implants; the reason he had remained at this realm for many years was to wait for the best opportunity to break through.

Gu Yuefeng nodded: "That's right, so I want to have a battle with Qin Zhen."

Lu Wenzheng was not a martial artist and did not understand this sentence, but Nalan Zhi and Xu Jing both understood.

The opportunity for a martial artist to break through the realm is often found during battle.

Staying safely in a room to cultivate all the time makes it very difficult to become a true powerhouse.

With Gu Yuefeng's current combat power, he needs an opponent who can bring him enough pressure without being able to crush him, so that he can better find the opportunity.

Looking across the entire Feng Province, only Qin Zhen is most suitable to be his opponent.

So he wants to challenge Qin Zhen.

Either break through the realm during the battle.

Or break through the realm after defeating Qin Zhen.

The latter is of course better, as the state of mind will be more complete.

"Good, I will accompany you on a trip to Datong Prefecture!"

Nalan Zhi decisively agreed.

Xu Jing showed a smile on his face.

July 2nd, a piece of news came from the Feng Province provincial capital:

The Junior Martial Uncle of the Qingshan Sword Sect, who rarely came down from the mountain, suddenly came down.

The other party is coming to Datong Prefecture to challenge Qin Zhen, the first on the Wind and Cloud List!

There is also another piece of news: it is said that this Junior Martial Uncle of the Qingshan Sword Sect is also coming to Datong Prefecture to seek revenge, to kill the Green-Faced Ghost King and avenge Feng Sanniang!

After the news broke, Datong Prefecture was shaken.

A sword descends from Qingshan.

Battle a strong enemy, settle a grudge!

PS: I have a social engagement tonight, so there is only one update.

(End of chapter)