"Haitang has recently made arrangements to secretly recruit ambitious individuals who are willing to join the Number One Manor in the World to fight against Cao Zhengchun and the Eastern Depot."
Zhu Wushi said in a deep voice, "Cao Zhengchun has become increasingly arrogant in recent years. He has been suppressing me in the court and fabricating charges to eliminate dissidents in private. I am in the public eye and cannot take action. I can only entrust these matters to you. You should pay more attention to appeasing these people in your daily life."
Shangguan Haitang nodded first, then said in a slightly heavy tone, "However, Haitang is worried that there may be Cao Zhengchun's people in my number one manor under heaven."
Hearing what Shangguan Haitang said, Zhu Wushi frowned and looked at Shangguan Haitang.
Under Zhu Wushi's gaze, Shangguan Haitang said, "My godfather always keeps his messages very secret, but after I arrange the action plan, Cao Zhengchun always manages to find out immediately and set a trap, causing the people I send out to suffer direct losses."
"If it weren't for the constant loss of experts over the past few years, the number of experts in the First Manor under Heaven would probably be several times higher, instead of only thirty-nine experts in the Innate Realm now."
In response to Shangguan Haitang's words, Zhu Wushi said in a deep voice: "Cao Zhengchun was able to rise from an ordinary eunuch to where he is now, until he controls the Eastern Depot. His methods and wisdom are beyond those of ordinary people. What I can think of, Cao Zhengchun can think of too. The game between us can only be about who makes the first mistake."
Shangguan Haitang asked, puzzled, "But wouldn't doing this just be a waste of our men?"
Zhu Wushi shook his head and said, "The power struggles in officialdom are not as simple as those in the martial arts world; strength is king."
"In the capital, the interests of the party and government, factions, and even the families of various officials are like a complex web, where pulling one thread affects the whole thing. Not to mention that His Majesty has deliberately arranged for me and Cao Zhengchun to check and balance each other."
"Under such circumstances, whether it is Cao Cao or myself, we can only respond to each move as it comes."
"One mistake could mean it's impossible to recover."
"This is why, for the past twenty years, both I and Cao Zhengchun have been walking on thin ice. If we cannot accept such casualties, once Cao Zhengchun gains power, there will be no one in the court who can deal with the traitor Cao. At that time, the number of people who die will be shocking."
Faced with Zhu's dismissive remarks, Shangguan Haitang's face also showed a somber expression.
Having followed Zhu Wushi for so many years, how could Shangguan Haitang not know that what Zhu Wushi said was true?
Although Zhu Wushi and Cao Zhengchun appear to be on opposing sides in the court, this situation is largely due to the emperor's own actions.
It could even be said that Cao Zhengchun was promoted by the emperor.
After all, Cao Zhengchun was a eunuch, and at most he could only control the emperor and command the princes. Even if he wanted to ascend the throne as a eunuch, the experts in the palace at the Celestial Realm would not sit idly by.
However, Zhu Wushi's surname is Zhu and his cultivation level is at the late stage of the Grandmaster realm. If Zhu Wushi were to take power, even the Heavenly Realm experts in the palace would not interfere in the internal strife of the royal family.
Compared to Cao Zhengchun, Zhu Wushi was naturally more feared by the emperors of the Ming Dynasty.
Otherwise, how could Cao Zhengchun have risen to prominence so quickly in just a few years?
After a short while, Zhu Wushi finally spoke: "The number one manor under heaven cannot stop recruiting ambitious people. The four teams of Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow are still missing the number one person with the character 'Yellow' to lead the last team. So after returning to the capital, as per my request, Haitang should try her best to find a candidate who fits the requirements of the number one person with the character 'Yellow'."
Shangguan Haitang replied, "Haitang knows."
Zhu Wushi waved his hand lightly, and Shangguan Haitang got up and walked out of the courtyard.
After Shangguan Haitang left, Zhu Wushi returned to his room.
Half an hour later, a carrier pigeon flew quickly out of Zhu Wushi's room and fluttered off in the north.
Zhu Wushi frowned as his gaze fell on the carrier pigeon in the sky and said, "Before the hegemony is established, the Sun Moon Divine Sect, the Flower Shifting Palace, and the Divine Water Palace cannot be touched."
Seventeen, sunny.
East of the Ming Dynasty, nestled among the southernmost mountains, on a lake backed by a solitary cliff, stand rows of bamboo houses scattered across the water.
Between these bamboo houses, people constantly move in and out, walking briskly on the bamboo bridge, making a "creaking" sound.
If there were people from the martial arts world here, they would immediately recognize that the people walking across the bamboo bridge were all wearing the attire of the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion.
Meanwhile, in the main house furthest back, Bai Xiaosheng sat at his desk, while a pretty little girl of about seven or eight years old leaned against the bamboo hut, flipping through a book.
Sun Baifa leaned against the door of the bamboo house, smoking a pipe while enjoying the lake breeze.
However, at that moment, a carrier pigeon flew quickly from the window and landed next to Bai Xiaosheng's desk.
As soon as the homing pigeons landed, they began pecking at the rice in the bowl next to the desk.
Seeing this, Bai Xiaosheng lightly raised his right hand, and with his true energy, he cut through the hemp rope binding the carrier pigeon's leg, then rolled the bamboo tube into his hand.
A few breaths later, looking at the note in the bamboo tube, Bai Xiaosheng chuckled and said, "Young Master Chu's medical skills are indeed extraordinary. Even with all his meridians broken and the cold poison caused by the thousand-year-old Xuanbing, he was able to resolve it with ease."
As soon as the voice came out, Sun Baifa, who was standing at the door, turned his head and asked, "How long did it take to heal the little fox?"
Bai Xiaosheng replied, "It's less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
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