“Therefore, this mission could go in two directions…”
Wu Ming spoke eloquently, “The first is that Li Rubi achieves a great victory, kills Wang Xuanfan, captures the provincial city, establishes his own regime, and declares himself king — that would be following Heaven’s mandate!”
“The other possibility is that this person suffers a crushing defeat, retreats to Jiushan Commandery like a turtle in its shell, loses his mind, and engages in tyranny…”
He then shook his head helplessly, “Although I really hope for the first scenario, unfortunately, it’s extremely difficult. In fact, the second possibility is the most likely!”
“In other words… Li Rubi will first achieve a great victory, then suffer a devastating defeat?”
Xie Xiaodi covered her lips in surprise.
Actually, in this chaotic era, it was common in the history of the Zhou dynasty for warlords who had previously enjoyed smooth sailing to, after one defeat, engage in tyranny, declare themselves emperor, and ultimately destroy their own foundations.
“This person…”
However, looking at Wu Ming now, Xie Xiaodi’s gaze was completely different: “He clearly understands worldly affairs, analyzes them with great insight, and comprehends the ways of fortune and destiny. Truly a talent fit to assist a king! No, perhaps even more than that…”
After all, Wu Ming at this moment appeared to be merely a youth of sixteen or seventeen!
“What about Young Master Yu then?”
Xiao Jidu hesitated slightly.
“We can moderately exchange some intelligence…”
Xie Xiaodi pondered for a moment: “After all, his mission is the same as ours — we’re like grasshoppers on the same rope…”
“That’s true indeed…”
Xiao Jidu nodded in agreement, yet failed to notice a flicker of unusual expression in Wu Ming’s eyes.
…
The platform for appointing generals.
Several hundred new recruits had already assembled. As Wu Ming ascended the high platform, Zhong Ting, Niu Yong, and others in the front row wore expressions of excitement.
“Hail General Wei!”
At this moment, five hundred soldiers saluted together. White vapor gathered like clouds, within which red energy surged and transformed rapidly, carrying a martial and bloodthirsty aura.
“This fortune and power already exceeds the level of our Zhou world…”
A strange gleam flashed in Wu Ming’s eyes as he thought quietly. Then he commanded, “He Zihai!”
“At your service!”
He Zihai, visibly excited, stepped forward first.
“You have achieved military merit before. I now appoint you as a Merit Officer. You shall now announce the merits of all present!”
“Thank you for your promotion, my lord!”
He Zihai kowtowed, then stood up, facing everyone and opening the military merit register: “In this battle, five individuals have achieved major merits: Zhong Ting, Niu Yong, Li Zhen, Chen Guang, and Gu Guan…”
“Zhong Ting!”
Wu Ming called out.
“Here I am, my lord!”
Under the envious gazes of many, Zhong Ting’s breathing became slightly heavy as he stepped forward and knelt.
“You have taken twelve enemy heads and followed me in slaying enemy generals and capturing enemy cities… I now promote you three ranks and appoint you as a Battalion Commander of the 8th Rank!”
“Niu Yong, you led the charge bravely and have also achieved great merit. I appoint you as my personal squad commander!”
“Li Zhen, Chen Guang, Gu Guan… all promoted to squad commanders!”
…
Actually, this unit wasn’t Wu Ming’s private army, so he couldn’t just appoint people arbitrarily.
However, these individuals indeed had significant merits, so the promotions would not be denied when reported upwards.
Moreover, Wu Ming had intentionally left many vacant positions, such as four Battalion Commander posts. These were actually reserved for personnel to be assigned from above, which was also a good gesture.
“Thank you, General Wei!”
These individuals all bore destined fortunes, and immediately knelt upon hearing their appointments.
Seeing the fortune converging, Wu Ming couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
At this moment, he roughly understood: the pure white fortune belonged to the 9th Rank, the deep red belonged to the 7th Rank, the golden yellow belonged to the 5th Rank, while the cyan-purple would only appear for those of the 3rd Rank or above, even beyond official ranks.
In fact, Zhong Ting possessed golden fortune, sufficient for commanding ten thousand troops, making him a great general. Being appointed as an 8th Rank Battalion Commander was naturally more than adequate.
The same went for Niu Yong and the others. Their innate fortune was red, and they were even capable of taking Wu Ming’s position. Being appointed as squad commanders was truly beneath their abilities.
“Previously, my team already had many talents. Now, these individuals have formed the backbone, giving me wings and support, something no one can ever take away… and furthermore, they support my fortune…”
Wu Ming was very satisfied with this situation.
With such massive fortune upon him, his Dao cultivation had advanced rapidly.
In fact, he had already vaguely reached the peak of Internal Alchemy, on the verge of achieving full accomplishment.
“After reaching the Alchemist stage comes the stage of the Daoist Master… However, the section on Daoist Masters in the ‘Huangting Yinfu Jing’ is incomplete. Although I could still breakthrough to the Daoist Master stage without it, I would never reach the level of True Immortal. Without completing the section on True Immortals, I cannot breakthrough to the level of Celestial Master… but that’s still quite far off…”
After arranging all the generals, Wu Ming took the official documents and credentials to petition for rewards for his subordinates, bestowing titles and ranks, and collecting official seals and uniforms.
At this time, within and outside Zhen Ding Commandery, soldiers patrolled everywhere, their military aura subtly present.
Since the failed surprise attack, Li Rubi had not abandoned hope of attacking the provincial city. Instead, he had summoned three more battalions, bringing the total to seven battalions gathered here — twenty thousand regular troops and ten thousand auxiliary troops, claiming an army of fifty thousand, with their military might directly threatening Caozhou’s provincial city.
Meanwhile, the provincial governor had fully delegated authority, ordering Wang Xuanfan to reorganize the provincial forces. A major battle was imminent.
In Zhen Ding Commandery, the former commandery governor’s mansion naturally became Li Rubi’s headquarters.
This courtyard was extremely luxurious, with red bricks and green tiles, carved beams and jade pillars, pavilions, terraces, and towers — everything imaginable.
At the entrance, a squad of soldiers stood guard, maintaining strict vigilance.
Fortunately, Wu Ming was now a general commanding a unit, his status noble. After reporting his arrival, he was soon granted permission to enter.
However, despite this, it took two hours before he finally finished his business and came out.
“Wait!”
However, at the entrance, Wu Ming encountered a familiar figure.
“It’s you!”
He looked at Yu Shaojun at this moment. The other was dressed in a jade robe embroidered with golden threads, appearing as a Daoist priest, though the pearl he used to hold in his hand was now gone.
Of course, what was most unforgettable was his aloof and disdainful demeanor, something ordinary people could never imitate.
The great Dao treats the world with indifference, regarding all beings as straw dogs.
But he treated all common people under heaven as mere straw!
However, when Yu Shaojun looked at Wu Ming now, his gaze seemed to contain a trace of something unusual, though it vanished in an instant.
“Long time no see, Brother Yu!”
Wu Ming greeted with a bow.
This person seemed to be doing quite well — soldiers and officers passing by all showed respect and quickly moved away.
“Come with me, Master Hu wants to see you!”
Yu Shaojun spoke concisely. After saying this, he couldn’t help but look Wu Ming up and down: “Unexpected… you’ve climbed so quickly in the military ranks. Already a 7th Rank official, hmm…”
Although joining the dragon’s ranks was extremely dangerous, entering the official system brought many benefits.
At the very least, this 7th Rank official status and the daily portion of red fortune alone were enough to make Yu Shaojun envious.
For a cultivator to have such fortune upon them, their Dao cultivation would naturally progress rapidly.
“You’ve found a master?”
Wu Ming immediately grasped the key point: “A Daoist named Hu? Could it be that…”
“That’s right! I’ve become a disciple-in-name of Master Nanshan. I assist him with various tasks… Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to enter his inner sanctum!”
Master Nanshan was highly revered in the Jiushan army, second only to Li Rubi himself. Even his formal disciples received official Daoist positions with leisurely duties, enjoying daily fortune without having to fight for their lives.
Of course, only a few core disciples enjoyed such treatment. Yu Shaojun, being an outsider who joined later, couldn’t possibly expect such good fortune.
“Let’s go!”
Yu Shaojun, with his wide sleeves fluttering, walked ahead. Wu Ming hesitated slightly, then followed.
Beside the commandery governor’s mansion, there was another large residence, which had been allocated to Master Nanshan. Servants and maids bustled about, all comforts provided, even in terms of scale, it was only slightly inferior to Li Rubi’s.
“Greetings, Young Immortal!”
“Young Immortal is taking someone to see the Elder Immortal?”
“Young Immortal’s Dao cultivation is profound, we…”
Clearly, as a disciple of Master Nanshan, even if only a nominal one, Yu Shaojun received a great deal of flattery.
However, he maintained a cold face, indifferent and unresponsive. Fortunately, others were well aware that this was his nature and did not take offense.
The two continued deeper, passing through a lush green garden, until finally a simple thatched cottage appeared before Wu Ming.
“Master! The person has arrived!”
Yu Shaojun bowed respectfully before the wooden door, his demeanor humble and reverent.
“Very well! You may leave. Let him come in alone!”
A voice came from within, faintly shrill, yet carrying an indescribable sinister aura, causing chills to run down Wu Ming’s spine.
Just from hearing the voice and sensing this mastery of projecting power through objects, Wu Ming immediately knew that this person’s Dao cultivation was extremely profound, surpassing even his own. In fact, he was the most powerful person Wu Ming had ever encountered! Even Wu Qing was somewhat inferior.
“Forgive my intrusion!”
Taking a deep breath, Wu Ming suddenly pushed open the door and entered.
Boom!
As soon as he stepped inside, he instinctively narrowed his eyes, witnessing golden-yellow fortune swirling like mist, even converging into streams. Specks of cyan could be seen within, flowing to the top of an elderly man’s head, continuously being drawn in as if into an endless abyss.
“Indeed, the Yellow Hall Fortune of the 5th Rank!”
Seeing this, Wu Ming’s heart stirred.
He knew that whenever an emperor bestowed a title, the national preceptor usually held a rank equivalent to the 1st Rank or even beyond official ranks. True Immortals were generally above the 3rd Rank, capable of drawing upon the nation’s fundamental fortune. In terms of fortune manifestation, this would appear as cyan-purple!
However, at present, Li Rubi only controlled a few commanderies. Even his own fortune was golden with a touch of cyan, his innate fortune tinged with purple. How could he possibly bestow titles on True Immortals?
Therefore, the True Immortals he could appoint would at most be of the 5th Rank, with golden-yellow fortune.
Even this, however, was extremely formidable.
For Li Rubi at this time, golden-yellow fortune was also one of his foundations. Having it continuously drawn away, even with some replenishment, his fundamental strength was still secretly weakening.
Daoism and Buddhism both emphasized that without the support of a ruler, one could not establish proper religious practices.
But once such support was truly obtained, the nation and its people would be on the brink of collapse, and even the ruler’s death and the dissolution of his Dao might be possible!
“Captain Wu! No need for formalities!”
The old man had a ruddy complexion, his face gentle and amiable, appearing at first glance like a highly cultivated Daoist.
But for some unknown reason, as Wu Ming’s eyes met the old man’s, he felt every pore on his body stand on end.
At the same time, he twitched his nose and caught a scent that was both orchid-like and musky, yet carried a strange pungency.
“It’s a fox!”
In a flash of insight, Wu Ming understood everything: “So this Master Nanshan is actually a supernatural being, a fox spirit in human guise!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage