Chapter 505

The Qinglong Society is incomparably mysterious; since its inception, aside from the battle at Mount Wudang where it lost some assassins, it has never suffered any losses.

All along, there has been no loss of any kind.

At most, its peripheral forces have suffered damage, which is of no consequence whatsoever to the Qinglong Society.

Yelu Chu knew that such an outcome was not what Tie Muzhen wanted, but could only brace himself and speak.

"Wastes…"

Tie Muzhen, without the slightest courtesy, directly flung aside a golden cup,

"Yelu Chu, this matter must be intensified."

"Moreover, from this day forth, seal off the borders between the Great Yuan and the Great Song, Great Ming, and Great Qing."

"Without an official government warrant, none may travel to other nations."

"Absolutely not!"

Before Yelu Chu could say anything, a civil official leapt out to oppose,

"Great Khan, although my Great Yuan's military might is strong, unmatched beneath the heavens."

"Yet because we are secluded in the northern frontier, we are plagued year-round by sandstorms and blizzards."

"The arable land within our borders, grain output, and the like, are all extremely insufficient."

"All along, we have relied on cattle, sheep, fine horses, wool, leather, and so forth, to trade with the Central Plains nations."

"Exchanging for the survival supplies of our Great Yuan's people."

"If we rashly issue an order to seal the border passes,"

"within half a year, the realm will run short of grain."

"When that time comes, it will be troublesome!"

Yelu Chu, as Prime Minister, naturally also understood the popular sentiment within this thoroughly.

But he knew even better the reason Tie Muzhen had suddenly issued this command.

"Idiot!"

Tie Muzhen, after waiting for him to finish, directly retorted,

"Right now, the greatest threat to Great Yuan is not grain of any kind."

"The surplus grain in the warehouses is enough to sustain Great Yuan for three years' use."

"But Great Yuan's greatest enemy, the Qinglong Society, will not give Great Yuan three years' time."

"Moreover, with places like the Scripture Pavilion now exposed, it is no different than expanding the Qinglong Society's reputation once more."

"Those martial artists among the common folk, and even those serving in the court."

"Martial artists with no hope of breaking through, with insufficient resources,"

"do you think they would not betray their nation and leave its borders, going to join the Qinglong Society, for the sake of cultivation arts, divine weapons, and pills?"

"If this kind of behavior is not stopped, within three years—"

"in just half a year, my Great Yuan's martial artists will decrease by at least half!"

"Without martial artists, what use are all these common folk!"

The lands of the Nine Provinces are lands where martial artists are revered!

All the various forces beneath the heavens take martial artists as their own foundation.

The number and strength of martial artists determine the might of a force or dynasty.

Therefore Tie Muzhen's words were not wrong, after all.

That official, upon hearing, was also somewhat dumbfounded.

But he still felt this method would not work.

After all, sealing the border passes could at most block a portion.

Those who should run, who want to run, will still run.

Just as he was about to continue his remonstrance, Tie Muzhen waved his great hand,

"This is my Khan's decree; Yelu Chu, issue it immediately."

"Anyone who speaks further out of turn will be beheaded!"

"Yes!"

Yelu Chu, helpless, could only accept the order.

"Great Khan, previously a scout brought back news from the Great Song."

"Speak!"

"The An father and son we arranged have both died."

"Who killed them?"

Tie Muzhen asked casually.

The An father and son were nothing more than dogs in his eyes.

"It was our allies who struck covertly."

"Because An Yunshan was preparing to leak that it was Great Yuan directing things behind the scenes, they moved to kill him."

"Then let them be killed."

"Just two dogs; continue sending people to lure the Great Song's interior into chaos."

"Ximen Wudi dared to kill my son and a hundred thousand Kesig troops; I will definitely make him pay the price."

Tie Muzhen had never gotten past this hurdle.

"Yes! But Great Khan, even more critically, our allies have sent word."

"There is a supremely powerful 'Great Demon God' Xiao Jingtian, and the head of the Xuanhua, who may be going to join the Qinglong Society."

Yelu Chu was also filled with shock when he saw this news.

In the Heavenly Dao Gold List and the Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers List, this Xuanhua Hao kept appearing over and over.

A mere "Fourth Master" Hai Laocang had once dared to fish in troubled waters.

Right under the noses of "Heavenly Demon" Cang Ju and the experts of the other two great dynasties.

He muddied the waters and took Lin Shiyin away.

Combined with some introductions and the intelligence the Great Yuan had gathered from Yunzhou,

This Xuanhua Hao was absolutely an ambitious, overwhelmingly powerful great faction.

Compared to Zhoutianxia Society, it was in no way inferior.

But it had only just surfaced not long ago — why was the chief master of this Xuanhua Hao about to submit to Qinglong Society?

"Do you know the reason?"

In just one day today, he had truly heard far too much news about Qinglong Society.

It seemed as if everyone around him was about to submit to Qinglong Society the next moment.

Tie Muzhen's mood grew increasingly foul.

"Please forgive me, Great Khan — it has not yet been ascertained."

Yelu Chu said helplessly.

Xiao Jingtian's strength was so formidable that it would be the problem if Yelu Chu's people dared approach him.

"Is it the entire Xuanhua Hao surrendering, or only the chief master surrendering alone?"

Tie Muzhen truly wanted to slap Yelu Chu, but with manpower needed at the moment, he could only hold back.

"That is also unknown…"

Yelu Chu, drenched in sweat, could only say.

"You don't know anything either — then what are you saying?"

"Get lost, go investigate it clearly for me."

Tie Muzhen kicked over the desk and roared,

"If it is the entire Xuanhua Hao submitting to Qinglong Society, then send someone to Zhoutianxia Society."

"I believe Xiongba will certainly be willing to share in carving up Xuanhua Hao together with the Great Yuan."

"But if it is only the chief master submitting alone, then you must spare no cost."

"Recruit Xuanhua Hao's experts into the Great Yuan's ranks for me."

Now Tie Muzhen increasingly felt that he did not have enough manpower.