Chapter 619: Zhao Duan: Old man, are you worthy enough to talk about face with me? (6k)
on deck.
Zhao Duan slowly put his right hand back into his sleeve and stared at the fish floating in the river, as if thinking about something.
Counting on his fingers, it has only been a month or so since he was promoted to the highest level in the world. Logically speaking, it is impossible for his cultivation to improve in such a short time.
However, two unexpected factors greatly accelerated the process of cultivation.
"When Guhuo Zhenren died last time, his soul was shattered. His pure soul power filled my sea of consciousness, causing my soul strength to increase dramatically... Tsk, what a kind person he is. Every time he comes to see me, he brings gifts..."
"As for the physical body..."
Zhao Duan lowered his head and looked at his lower abdomen... His lower abdomen was slightly bulging, which was a change caused by practicing "Dragon Control Art" in recent days.
Well, as his understanding and mastery of Dragon Soul grew, every time he practiced breathing exercises, the flow of Qi in his meridians seemed to be unleashed...
In addition, worldly perfection is not a clear state, which is why there is such rapid progress in cultivation.
"But I always feel like there's something missing. Sigh, perfection in this world is so hard to come by. When will I be able to enter the realm of the celestial beings?"
Zhao Duan sighed softly, unaware that if such a Versailles statement were to get out, it would be enough to infuriate all the cultivators in the world.
Turning back, his eyes swept across the deck. In addition to the soldiers operating the ship, at the other end of the deck, three graceful figures gathered together, lined up in a row, sitting on small stools fishing.
Yuxiu, Jinjian and Jiyue each held a fishing rod in their hands, which was stretched out high up, and the fishing line slanted down and dived into the turbulent flow.
From time to time, a fish was caught and Jin Jian's shouts could be heard.
This girl might have been the reincarnation of a fisherman in her previous life. She recently developed a love for fishing and doesn't even sleep in broad daylight.
However, given the speed the boat was traveling, it was unlikely that any fish would be caught. Zhao Duan guessed that Xiao Jiyue had secretly cast a spell to hook the fish onto the two priests' hooks...
Social anxiety and people-pleasing personality are highly overlapped...
The "young master" Tang Ping, wearing white armor and a white helmet, is patrolling the river with a "thousand-mile tube" in his hand.
Looking further back, behind the ship under your feet, there are two warships following on the left and right, all of which are staffed by officers and soldiers of the Shenjiying.
This is not the main force of the Shenji Camp. The real large-scale warship team is still far behind, led by Shi Meng himself.
In a sense, Zhao Duan personally served as the "advance team".
It was a sunny day at the moment, and the fleet had already entered the coastal area. Along the way, they ran into several patrol teams of sailors belonging to King Chen.
But they were all easily defeated, and the large number of enemies had not yet been encountered.
However, Zhao Duan guessed that with such a massive march, Prince Chen and Prince Jing would have known about it if they were not blind or deaf.
"Where are we now?"
Zhao Duan asked casually when he saw Tang Ping put down the telescope.
Tang Ping hurried over and said:
"Further ahead, we should reach Yutou Mountain. With Yutou Mountain as the boundary, going further east, we should enter the core sphere of influence of King Chen. My lord, as expected, King Chen will not allow us to advance any further."
Zhao Duan sneered, "I didn't come here to ask for his permission."
Tang Ping was filled with admiration. He had already been deeply impressed by this young man from a military family who had once provoked Zhao Duan in the Shenji Camp and had become his fanboy.
He nodded first, then hesitated and said:
"Although Prince Chen lacks experts, Binhaidao is within Qingshan's sphere of influence. The local underworld atmosphere is very strong. It is said that Prince Chen has spent a lot of money to befriend local underworld forces since his rebellion. If those underworld figures join the war, it will be a big problem no matter how big."
Zhao Duan asked, "Are there any noteworthy figures among the bandits?"
Tang Ping hesitated and said:
"I don't know much about it. I only know that the contemporary martial arts master Zuo Tang has lived in seclusion on the coast for many years. He is also a member of the Qingshan lineage. In terms of seniority, he is considered to be Wu Xiankui's junior brother. Nicknamed 'Drunken Sword Immortal', he is a ruthless character who reached the pinnacle of the world many years ago. However, he has been away from the world for many years, so few people mention him.
As for the masters of other sects in the martial arts world, they can also gather a few who have reached the worldly realm."
The underworld forces in Dayu are roughly divided into two branches, the east and the west.
The branch in the west was relatively unruly, relying on aristocratic families, and many of them were recruited by the King of Hejian.
The eastern branch is mostly an extension of the "Qingshan" lineage, occupying Binhai, Jiancheng and Qingzhou.
After the Eight Kings Rebellion, these martial arts masters tacitly avoided getting involved in the dispute, but instead hid in Binhaidao, which was in a state of "closing the country to the outside world".
"Drunken Sword Immortal? He's quite famous. But I wonder if he can withstand my gunfire."
Zhao Duan looked calm:
"As for the rest of the gangs, they are nothing to worry about."
As he spoke, Zhao Duan's ears suddenly moved slightly, and his mind silently spread into the cabin. A hint of joy appeared on his brows, and he said calmly:
"I'm going to rest in the cabin."
After saying that, he turned around and stepped into the cabin.
…
When I pushed open the door of my own luxurious supreme cabin, I saw that the window on the side of the cabin facing the ship had been opened at some point.
The river breeze blew in, and outside was the undulating river surface.
A woman dressed in white, with her black hair tied up in a high ponytail and a dazzling red silk around her waist, was sitting cross-legged at the tea table in the cabin, eating cakes on a plate.
The woman wore a white "fox" mask with red patterns on her face, and a long sword with a black scabbard was casually thrown on the brown table.
"Are you the Governor Zhao?" The fox-faced woman turned her head and asked in a low voice.
Zhao Duan took a deep breath, closed the hatch with his backhand, and said with a smile:
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
"Tsk, boring." The fox-faced woman casually pulled off her mask, revealing her stunningly beautiful face. Xu Zhenguan curled his lips, shook his head, and asked:
"Zhao Qing, how did you recognize me?"
No, you didn't change your clothes at all except for the extra mask... Zhao Duan complained in his heart, but his face was serious:
"Your Majesty's voice, appearance, and smile have long been engraved in my heart. Even if it takes three reincarnations, I can still detect the inexplicable bond between Your Majesty and me in the crowd..."
The empress spat, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she slammed the table lightly like a wandering heroine:
"Be serious."
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows: "Your Majesty knows me. I have always been a serious person."
brazen……
Xu Zhenguan rolled his eyes, and the two looked at each other, but they smiled at each other like king and minister.
Zhao Duan walked over with his sleeves rolled up, sat down opposite the empress, and said with a smile:
"I was counting the days, wondering why Your Majesty hadn't arrived yet, when I didn't expect you to break in through the boat window."
With the Empress's cultivation level, if she traveled at full speed, she could reach Binhai in one day and one night, but in fact it took several days.
Xu Zhenguan sighed softly upon hearing this, and said with some emotion:
"After I left, I slowed down my pace and took a few walks along the way. It's a rare opportunity to come out, so I observed the people's sentiments with my own eyes. However, I also have to return to the capital from time to time to handle government affairs, so I've been delayed for some time. It's been a while since I've been out and about."
Putting aside the last time when the empress performed the Fengshan ceremony, the emperor and his ministers were chased all the way back.
The empress rarely leaves the capital.
At first, because she was a princess, she could not leave without permission. Later, after she ascended the throne, she was busy with official duties all day long, and her every move would cause an uproar.
Therefore, you should not act rashly.
Obviously, this rare opportunity to go out for a walk is also a novel experience for her. The empress who travels around the world has changed her temperament from the majestic and graceful one in the past. She even joked with Zhao Duan just now, which shows what kind of female knight she is playing.
Zhao Duan has lived two lives and has a clearer understanding of this.
Looking at the charm and expression between the empress's eyebrows, which were completely different from those in the imperial palace, he couldn't help but be dazed for a moment, and then he remembered that although the woman in front of him was not a girl, she was still young after all.
In the world before crossing over, this would be the age when I would be traveling around and checking in during holidays, and would be forced to enter the blind date market...
Well, she endured things that she shouldn't have to endure at her age...
Although it was not quite appropriate, the woman in front of him gave him the feeling of a bird out of a cage.
It's like being in a cage for a long time and finally getting some fresh air.
"What's that look in your eyes?"
Xu Zhenguan was a perceptive woman. She sensed Zhao Duan's gaze and asked suspiciously.
"Ahem, it's just that I haven't seen Your Majesty in my true form for a long time, and I can't help but feel a little emotional." Zhao Duan used his usual oily tone.
Unable to contain his emotions? The Empress glanced suspiciously at a certain part of his body.
Zhao Duan coughed repeatedly and changed the subject:
"Since I entered Binhai, I have been reporting what I have seen and heard."
Seeing that the matter was being brought up, Xu Zhenguan also became serious. After listening to his brief report, he thought for a moment and said:
"So, you haven't encountered any decent resistance along the way?"
Zhao Duan nodded:
"Yes. But if we go further, to the territory of Yutou Mountain, I estimate that even if King Chen is very patient, he will have to show up. Otherwise, once our fleet breaks through this gap, it will really threaten his core territory."
Uncle Chen… Xu Zhenguan recalled his memories of this vassal king, shook his head slightly, and said:
"I just hope he can understand the current situation. However, the decision-making of Prince Chen's Mansion may not be decided by him."
Zhao Duan's heart moved.
He had also inquired and learned that Prince Chen seemed to be a man with little opinion of his own and that the real owner of Prince Chen's Mansion was the "Princess".
It’s just that Binhai is not close to the capital, so he has never seen the couple.
"What are your plans for Xuwen?" Xu Zhenguan asked again.
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"If my guess is correct, once Prince Chen appears, Prince Jing won't be far behind."
Entering Binhai with such high fanfare, their whereabouts would certainly not be hidden from Prince Jing.
Then how can I force Prince Jing to come and meet me instead of taking another route to escape back to the Huai River?
The method is very simple, which is to go straight to King Chen.
"Prince Jing wants to wrestle with the imperial court and won't give up his ally, Prince Chen.
Therefore, no matter what they discuss, whether it succeeds or not, as long as we contact Prince Chen, Prince Jing will definitely not stand by and watch, but will definitely come out to disrupt the situation.
Otherwise, if we wait until we are able to deal with him, or even win over King Chen, the Jiancheng rebels will be in real danger," Zhao Duan said.
Xu Zhenguan's eyes lit up:
"So, this is another overt conspiracy. Xu Wen must show up."
"Yes," Zhao Duan nodded.
“I don’t know if he showed up, but just as I wanted to hunt him down, he must have wanted to take advantage of me being in King Chen’s territory and get rid of me.
This way, we can not only eliminate the enemy, but also force King Chen to take sides, leaving him with no room for maneuver."
Hunter and prey.
It is not a one-way relationship, it can also be mutual prey.
Zhao Duan smiled, his eyes seemed to penetrate the planks of the ship and saw Xuwen in the distance:
"He will guess that I have a trump card, but he will never imagine that my trump card is His Majesty."
Xu Zhenguan stared at the man who was plotting for the whole world, and was a little dazed for a moment.
At this moment, there were sudden hurried footsteps and shouts from outside the cabin:
"Commander-in-Chief, General Tang, please get out of here quickly! Something's happening!"
…
Zhao Duan took the empress out of the cabin and arrived on the deck.
Seeing that the deck was full of people, the three women who were fishing were all standing on the deck, mixed in with a group of soldiers.
Even a small number of court servants who were resting in the cabin came out.
The young master was wearing bright silver armor and holding a thousand-mile tube in his hand. When he saw Zhao Duan approaching, his eyes fell on the white-clothed female warrior wearing a fox mask beside him, and he was stunned:
"This is..."
He didn't remember there was such a person on the boat.
Facing everyone's suspicious gazes, Zhao Duan explained calmly:
"The palace maid, the helper I have mobilized."
He immediately pushed through the crowd and asked, "What happened? What's the big fuss?"
Was she a palace maid? When did she board the ship?
Tang Ping and others were confused, but they were sensible enough not to ask any more questions.
The three Yuxiu women frowned at the same time, sensing a faint sense of threat from the mysterious woman in white.
This shocked the female Taoist nun, and she was wondering where this master came from.
Or is he a powerful person secretly hidden in the court?
Just like Lang Shiba and Ji Yue?
But the sense of threat was fleeting, as if it were an illusion. The empress withdrew all her energy, making herself appear unusually ordinary. She simply followed behind Zhao Duan.
Tang Ping hurriedly said, "Sir! Look ahead!"
Zhao Duan walked out of the crowd and saw a mountain in the river ahead. At the corner of the mountain, a fleet of boats was slowly sailing out.
This fleet was quite strange. It was not a warship, but mostly small boats. They were scattered here and there, but they came in swarms like a group of locusts.
Zhao Duan used his eyesight, his pupils flashing with golden light, and he could see clearly that there were people from the martial arts world standing on those small boats, dressed in different styles.
"It's Binhai Wulin!" Tang Ping said solemnly:
"If I'm not mistaken, these people are local martial arts masters, and several of the leaders among them are the leaders of martial arts sects."
Speak of Cao Cao and he will appear.
Zhao Duan raised his eyebrows, glanced at the empress beside him, and explained:
"It seems that some decent people have finally come to intercept us. I wonder if these people represent Qingshan, King Chen, or both."
The empress's white clothes fluttered, and the red silk around her waist danced in the river breeze.
His eyes swept past most of the wanderers and only fell on a ship at the back of the center of the fleet, which was obviously much larger.
A white-haired old man can be vaguely seen standing with his hands behind his back, his loose clothes fluttering.
"Zuo Tang." Xu Zhenguan thought for a moment and recalled the name.
…
…
now.
On the other side of the river, the local martial arts masters in the fleet were also looking at the official ship in the distance.
Everyone subconsciously held their weapons at their waists, expressions solemn, while a few were eager to try, rubbing their hands.
"The ship ahead is that of the Grand Commander-in-Chief, the Empress' husband, who is suppressing the rebellion."
At this moment, on the deck of a ship in the center of the fleet, a middle-aged man in a short-sleeved shirt with a green stubble on his chin and two swords slanted behind his back said in a deep voice.
"Tsk, such a large and ostentatious flag, visible from a long distance away, who else could it be besides that Zhao?"
The one who spoke was actually a woman.
She looked to be about thirty years old, quite pretty, wearing a well-cut cloth skirt, looking charming, with a whip hanging from her waist, coiled like a snake.
At this moment, she giggled and said:
"I heard that Zhao Duan has a very good appearance. I can feast my eyes on him today."
Beside the woman, a lean warrior, as slender as a giant monkey, stole a glance at her swollen breasts and smacked his lips when he heard her say:
"Auntie Gu, stop being so naughty. This Zhao Duan is no ordinary bastard. Be careful if he gets too close. He'll cut off two pounds of flesh from your chest and eat it with his wine."
The woman glared at him angrily at first, then smiled and glanced back:
"We're just supporting characters today. How will we get to be in the spotlight later? Whether we can repel Zhao Duan or not, it's useless for us and these hundreds of people. The key is still relying on Alliance Leader Zuo. Right?"
All the masters from the big and small sects on the boat looked at the white-haired old man in awe at the same time.
Zuo Tang's hair and beard were all white, and he was only wearing a plain, loose robe.
At this moment, the river breeze blew in, and the robe swelled up like a balloon.
The old man had a hemp rope tied around his waist, with an apricot-yellow wine gourd hanging on his left side and a half-broken sword crookedly hanging on his right side.
When you get a little closer, you can smell the strong smell of alcohol. Combined with his red nose and blemish-prone face, he really doesn't look like a master.
However, in this world, the three people to be most wary of are: the elderly, women, and children.
It must be extraordinary that someone with such a weak body can roam freely in the world.
"Haha, Madam Gu, please don't flatter me," the white-haired old man grinned.
"I have been retired for many years. I am old and frail. I cannot compare with you young people. The rest of me is nothing more than a little qualification. As for the leader of the alliance, don't even mention it."
The old man spoke in a calm tone.
But when he opened his mouth, the hundreds of warriors around him fell silent and looked at him respectfully.
It seems like "If I don't speak first in spring, no insect will dare to make a sound."
"but……"
The old man named Zuo Tang changed the subject and walked towards the bow step by step. With every step he took, the entire ship under his feet accelerated.
After ten steps, he had reached the bow, and the dock, which had been slightly behind, had already stood out like an arrow from a bow:
"When we face the enemy later, there's no need to be aggressive. If there's an enemy you can't defeat, I'll take care of them."
On the galloping fleet, hundreds of warriors clasped their fists and shouted in unison:
"Old leader, long live!"
…
"Zuo Tang?"
Zhao Duan thought it sounded familiar, and after thinking for a moment, he said:
"That 'Drunken Sword Immortal'? Your Majesty... you know him too?"
Tang Ping mentioned this name not long ago.
Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly, and a faint voice came from under the fox mask:
"When Eunuch Hai left the palace and entered the martial arts world, Zuo Tang was still young and the leader of the martial arts world.
The two sides had fought a battle, and Eunuch Hai was seriously injured. This was one of the reasons why he gradually retired and gave up the position of leader.
This matter has been circulating in the martial arts world for a long time, and I have also heard about it. In terms of seniority, this Zuo Tang is Wu Xiankui's junior brother, and Duan Shuiliu even calls him "Uncle Master."
Oh no, he was defeated by Lao Hai... Zhao Duan suddenly realized.
At this time, the other people on the deck also recognized Zuo Tang one after another.
Tang Ping's face paled slightly. "This person has long been retired and no longer concerned with worldly affairs, yet he unexpectedly shows up again."
The Jade Sleeve Priest concentrated his attention and said:
“I have also heard many stories about this person. It is said that his martial arts cultivation was only slightly inferior to Wu Xiankui on Daqing Mountain.
He calls himself the Drunken Sword Immortal, and his swordsmanship is so superb that, in terms of his attainments in swordsmanship alone, even if Wu Xiankui had been promoted to the Celestial Realm for many years, he might not be much better than him."
Oh, what a coincidence, there is a celestial being with a sword standing next to me... Zhao Duan glanced at the empress without any panic.
I even felt the pleasure of being a dog relying on others for power...
But the others did not dare to be careless, even Jin Jian's face was tense:
"So powerful? Senior Sister, can you beat him?"
Yuxiu, who was always proud, was silent. After a moment, she shook her head and said, "It's hard to say."
After all, she hasn't been in the industry long enough, so she can't be careless when facing this old monster.
Yuxiu looked at Zhao Duan and reminded him:
"You have to be careful. The Drunken Sword Immortal alone is not easy to deal with, and there are hundreds of martial arts masters. Don't underestimate the enemy. If a real fight breaks out, you may not get the upper hand."
When there is no big gap in top combat power, the number of people can determine the outcome.
Tang Ping waved the flag silently, and the three warships slowly stopped, supporting each other, and all the soldiers were on full alert.
At this time, the two sides were approaching each other on the vast lake.
And they stopped tacitly at a dangerous distance.
Zhao Duan stood at the end of the bridge and gave Tang Ping a look. The young master understood and shouted loudly with a sullen face:
"The imperial army is passing through, get out of the way!"
The energy wrapped around the sound and rolled across the surface of the river.
The white-haired old man looked over with a smile and said, "Is this General Zhao?"
Zhao Duan smiled and asked knowingly, "It's me. Who are you?"
The old man introduced himself:
"I am a wandering wuxia artist, nicknamed the Drunken Swordsman. I have the audacity to lead the Binhai wuxia team here today, at the request of King Chen, to ask Commander Zhao to withdraw his troops."
So direct? Zhao Duan said with interest:
"Are you the rebel King Chen's men?"
Zuo Tang shook his head:
"We are not subordinates of the king, but we are here because we cannot bear to see the flames of war spread to the people of Binhai Road. The world is now in chaos, and King Chen does not want the people of his territory to be dragged into the flames of war, so he has long blocked Binhai Road.
Now, the governor is coming with powerful ships and cannons, but even we warriors don’t want to see this.”
He has the air of a great hero, serving his country and his people.
Zhao Duan listened quietly and nodded in agreement: "That makes sense."
"Huh?" Zuo Tang, Aunt Gu, and the other people behind him were stunned. This was not what they expected.
Zhao Duan looked down at the crowd and said with a serious face:
"I now understand that King Chen was forced to cede territory and govern himself in order to maintain peace under his rule. He truly had good intentions.
However, the current situation has changed. I have already repelled the Jiancheng rebels at the Huai River, and Binhai no longer needs to block the river.
It's just right, my fellow knights, why don't you all follow me to see King Chen and ask him to return the military power? Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds? What do you think?"
Zuo Tang and the others' expressions changed slightly, and they said nothing.
Zhao Duan stared at him suspiciously, his smile gradually fading.
"Why? You don't want to?"
Zuo Tang was silent for a moment, then pointed to the officers, soldiers, and ships behind Zhao Duan:
"The commander-in-chief, this isn't a negotiation. How about this: the commander-in-chief, please give me some respect and withdraw your troops for now, and then we can discuss it later?"
Zhao Duan leaned forward, holding the railing with both hands, staring at him with a strange expression, his face gradually getting colder:
"You want this governor to give you face?"
He looked at me with disdain and said in a mocking tone, "Old man, you are... worthy of talking about face with me?"
"What the hell, you're just whining?" Zhao Duan turned his head and said, "Pah!"
There was a great uproar on the river.
——
Typos should be corrected first and then replaced
(End of this chapter)
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