Chapter 83 Hero's Order I really want to have a match with Brother Li Er and see who...
The night wind howled, whipping Django's robes into a fluttering sound. She stood alone on the city wall's battlements. On the distant horizon, blurry black dots grew larger, accompanied by the faint sound of horses' hooves.
"Da, da, da—"
Unhurried footsteps came from behind, each step seeming to pound on Jiang Ge's taut nerves. Jiang Yuanshan, draped in a dark cloak, appeared particularly sinister in the moonlight. He slowly smoothed out non-existent wrinkles on his cuffs, a confident smile playing on his lips.
With no one around, Jiang Yuanshan stopped trying to hide himself.
“Daughter…” he sighed, his voice tinged with feigned heartache, “I warned you long ago that a daughter should be obedient and well-behaved. If you had listened to the letter back then, things wouldn’t have come to this.”
Jiang Ge slowly turned around. The moonlight gilded her with a silvery edge, but it couldn't penetrate her deep, dark eyes. Her gaze was as still as an ancient well, silently watching this so-called father.
They share the same blood.
"Obey me?" She suddenly chuckled softly, her voice so light it was almost carried away by the night breeze. "Obey you? Obediently hand over your power? Or do you want me to marry an old man?"
His father's authority was offended, and Jiang Yuanshan's expression changed drastically. His fingers clenched tightly under his cloak. "I'm doing this for your own good. Women are meant to marry and have children. I'm just setting things right." He scoffed. "This gender hierarchy has been reversed for too long. I think you can't even tell the difference between men and women anymore!"
Jiang Yuanshan angrily flung his cloak, sending dust flying everywhere.
He wanted to turn around and leave, but thinking of the benefits of the marriage, Jiang Yuanshan stopped and earnestly advised, "Don't you want to wear those beautiful dresses? I still remember how much you loved those embroidered ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) when you were little. Now you finally have the opportunity to wear dresses openly, why don't you cherish it?"
Beautiful dress?
Jiang Ge twitched the corners of her mouth. With power, she could wear whatever she wanted. She didn't want to always dress according to a man's wishes.
“If Father likes it,” Django said with a cold laugh, “he can try it on himself.”
Men love to embellish traps as something beautiful.
A bugle call suddenly sounded in the distance, signaling the army's successful assembly. Jiang Yuanshan's expression changed drastically, finally dropping his pretense: "You ungrateful wretch! Once the army breaches the city, let's see how you keep your mouth shut!"
Jiang Ge smiled slightly and looked directly at Jiang Yuanshan, "Then Father should open his eyes wide and take a good look."
At the same time, Django clicked the button to issue the mission.
The Zhangtai Palace of the Qin State.
The night was deep, the palace lanterns flickered, and the wind howled outside the hall, as if a thousand troops were lying in wait in the darkness. Inside the hall, however, there was a solemn atmosphere. The ministers lined up on both sides, holding their breath and focusing their attention on the tall and upright figure in the center of the hall—Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi.
Bai Qi knelt on one knee, his black battle robe trailing on the ground, the long sword still at his waist, carrying the chill of the battlefield. He lowered his head slightly, his voice low and clear, reporting to King Zhaoxiang of Qin on the recruitment of workers in Songyang.
"I personally went to Songyang, and what I saw and heard was indeed true." Bai Qi raised his eyes, his gaze sharp. "The matter of 'recruiting immortals' is indeed unbelievable, but the time-space transfer is real. I believe that regardless of whether the immortal connection is real or not, this matter can be used by our Great Qin."
On the throne, King Zhaoxiang of Qin had deep eyes, his fingertips lightly tapping the ground, and a slight smile playing on his lips. He wore a black royal robe, his crown adorned with jeweled tassels, and though he was advanced in years, he still exuded an imposing aura. When he heard Bai Qi mention the name "Ying Zheng," a glint of light suddenly flashed in his eyes, and his laughter resounded like a great bell throughout the palace.
"Excellent! What a magnificent unification of the six kingdoms!" King Zhaoxiang of Qin clapped his hands and laughed, his voice shaking the pillars. "I want to see how my grandson will sweep across the six kingdoms and establish his rule over the world!"
Upon hearing this, the assembled officials bowed their heads in congratulations, but Fan Ju stood to one side, his head bowed and eyes lowered, though his fingers clenched tightly in his sleeves. He slightly raised his eyes, glanced at Bai Qi, and a shadow of malice flashed in his eyes.
—Bai Qi is now untouchable.
Fan Ju knew King Zhaoxiang of Qin all too well. Just by looking at the king's undisguised joy, he knew that regardless of whether the "recruitment of immortals" was real or not, the king already regarded it as a godsend. Throughout Qin's history, all the rulers had aspired to conquer the world; in the past, King Wu died while lifting a tripod, and now King Zhaoxiang wanted to use this connection with immortals to build his power.
"Heaven's mandate belongs to Qin? Ha, it's nothing but a charade," Fan Ju sneered inwardly, but dared not reveal it in the slightest.
He wouldn't easily believe it without seeing it with his own eyes.
The flickering candlelight in the hall reflected the varied expressions on the faces of the assembled officials. Some were excited, some were surprised and doubtful, and some, like Fan Ju, were secretly making calculations.
"Zheng."
Clear and melodious like the cry of a phoenix, what is this sound?
The crowd looked up to find the source of the sound, which was a black bird. The Qin people considered themselves descendants of Shao Hao, and the black bird was considered the totem of Qin, symbolizing the mandate of heaven.
"The Black Bird?"
The ministers, who had initially been skeptical, exclaimed in surprise when they looked up and saw the black bird, wondering if it was true that the Mandate of Heaven was with Qin.
Before they could react, the black bird seemed to have found a target and headed straight for Bai Qi.
"Lord Wu'an, heed my command."
The black bird spoke human language.
"Songyang County is under siege. Magistrate Jiang has granted you permission to lead ten elite soldiers to its immediate aid. The best performing team will be rewarded with 50,000 coins!"
The fact that the black bird could speak human language was astonishing enough, but what did this reward of 50,000 mean?
King Zhaoxiang of Qin astutely grasped the word "reward." If it were something ordinary, it certainly wouldn't qualify as a reward; it must be some kind of treasure.
Bai Qi was still pondering who to bring when King Zhaoxiang of Qin suddenly stood up and declared firmly, "Bai Qing, how about bringing me?"
——
The black bird traveled through time and space, arriving in Xianyang during the Qin Dynasty.
Hei Fu had just met Ying Zheng and was preparing to go back to rest.
Inside the palace, the lights were naturally bright, and black birds flew up, blotting out the sky.
It felt like there was something extra on top of my head.
Hei Fu looked up. A black bird circled above the Xianyang Palace, its scales gleaming coldly in the palace lanterns. Its wings, like clouds hanging from the sky, cast shadows that enveloped the entire front hall square. Hei Fu looked up and met those piercing eyes, feeling a jolt in his soul.
"Hey, listen to my command."
The bird's song rose, like the clang of metal striking metal, making the bronze bells on the eaves jingle. The guards on duty inside and outside the palace walls gripped their sword hilts, but they saw that the black bird had no intention of attacking. Instead, it folded its wings and hovered three zhang above Hei Fu's head.
"Songyang County is under siege. Magistrate Jiang has granted you permission to lead ten elite soldiers to its immediate aid." The black bird's breath crackled with lightning, its feathers fluttering in the night wind. "The best-performing team will be rewarded with fifty thousand!"
Blackie's pupils constricted sharply. Fifty thousand?
That’s a lot of money.
The sound of armor clashing came from behind. It turned out that Meng Yi was leading his guards at full speed, but they all stopped ten paces away.
"Wait a minute."
A clear, resonant shout came from behind. Hei Fu turned around and saw Ying Zheng standing on the high steps in black robes, his twelve jade tassels swaying gently in the night breeze. His Majesty had actually chased after him out of the palace, with his attendants carrying the Emperor's sword staggering behind him.
The palace lanterns cast flickering light on half of the emperor's face, and Hei Fu saw a flame in His Majesty's eyes that burned brighter than the sun.
The black bird constantly darted and tumbled through the clouds.
"Bai Qi is a god of death; we can't afford to clash with him again."
Huo Qubing obediently followed behind his uncle Wei Qing, listening to his ramblings, occasionally nodding in agreement. This perfunctory attitude infuriated Wei Qing.
“You are too arrogant. Bai Qi is no ordinary person. He…” Wei Qing was about to give Huo Qubing a proper explanation of how terrifying Bai Qi was.
Just then, the black bird flew above the two of them, its wings and body alone enough to block their view.
Without a word, Wei Qing shielded Huo Qubing behind him and drew his sword. They had never seen such a huge bird before.
"Huo Qubing obeys orders."
As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Qubing peeked out from behind Wei Qing. Wei Qing noticed Huo Qubing's attitude and pushed him back down.
"What's up?"
As Huo Qubing's uncle, Wei Qing habitually stood in front of him, seeing Huo Qubing as still a greenhorn.
"Songyang County is under siege. Magistrate Jiang has granted you permission to lead ten elite soldiers to its immediate aid." Xuan Niao's voice was clear and crisp. "The best performing team will be rewarded with fifty thousand!"
"Fifty thousand?" Even Wei Qing couldn't hold Huo Qubing back now. "Really?"
The black bird nodded.
Then Huo Qubing, who couldn't wait to set off, spread his wings again.
...
As dusk settled, the sounds of traditional string and wind instruments filled the air. Inside the Taiji Hall, resplendent gold and jade lanterns illuminated the assembled officials in their purple robes. Li Shimin sat high on his throne, before whom on a gilded table sat more than a dozen steaming bowls of instant noodles.
"My esteemed ministers, this is a delicacy from the celestial realm." Li Shimin stroked his beard and smiled, personally lifting the lid of a bowl of pickled cabbage noodles. A rich aroma immediately filled the hall. "I specially ordered the Imperial Kitchen to cook it with silver-thread charcoal, served in a tribute glass bowl..."
Yuchi Jingde stared at the braised beef noodles in front of him, his copper bell-like eyes twitching slightly. Could he say he was tired of it?
"Zhijie..." Qin Shubao quietly nudged Cheng Yaojin beside him, "Why don't you eat it..."
Before he could finish speaking...
Suddenly, the sound of wings slicing through the air came from outside the hall. A black bird crashed through the carved window frame and landed abruptly in front of Yuchi Jingde.
"Yuchi Gong and Qin Shubao, heed my command!" The black bird spoke in human language, startling the guards holding halberds so much that they almost dropped their grip. "Songyang County is under siege. Magistrate Jiang has granted you two permission to each lead ten warriors to its aid!"
Amidst the uproar in the hall, Li Shimin suddenly slammed his fist on the table and stood up, oblivious to the instant noodle soup splashed onto his dragon robe: "Anyone can come? Then I..."
"The best performing team will be rewarded with 50,000 coins!" Xuan Niao quickly interrupted.
Fifty thousand coins can buy almost everything in the mall; those coveted items that His Majesty longs for are no longer out of reach.
The best team must be none other than the Tang Dynasty.
Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao exchanged a glance. Ten men would be enough. They hadn't been on the battlefield for a long time, and the thought of going to the battlefield made them excited.
"Wait!" Li Shimin darted down the jade steps and rushed directly to Yuchi Jingde. "I want to..."
Upon receiving the information, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu immediately organized their forces and rushed to the scene. On the battlefield, time is of the essence, and they had no time to waste. Wei Zhongxian, on the other hand, directly summoned ten Imperial Guards. Songyang County had Bai Qi and Huo Qubing in the distance, and Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao in the near distance, as well as Zheng He. No matter how you look at it, he couldn't possibly win the best award.
Since he couldn't get the best score, he would become Magistrate Jiang's loyal lackey.
The black bird flew to the Ming Dynasty, left a message, and then gracefully departed.
Zhu Di looked at Zheng He, straightened his clothes, and said, "Sanbao, who is stronger, me or Emperor Taizong of Tang?" Although Li Erge was very strong, he was not inferior in terms of martial prowess alone.
Without hesitation, Zheng He immediately replied, "Naturally, it is Your Highness. Your Highness is divinely gifted and a master strategist!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Di laughed loudly: "Sanbao certainly knows how to talk! But I really want to have a contest with Brother Li Er and see who comes out on top!"
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Author's Note: The main storyline of conquering the world has begun! [doge emoji]
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