Humanitarian campaigns lead to prolonged warfare and calamities, which most deplete the fortune of an era.
If deities and cultivators get involved, success could propel one to great heights, but failure would result in irreversible disaster. Thus, extreme caution is necessary.
Originally, the Wu family’s alliance with Duke Ding significantly enhanced their strength, creating a two-against-one advantage. There was a prospect of sweeping through the Dingzhou region, so Ao Nu naturally couldn’t resist intervening to share in the human fortune.
However, when the Wu family and Duke Ding turned hostile, Ao Nu immediately considered withdrawing.
Yet everything changed when Wu Ming came personally as a negotiator.
After all, it was well aware of Wu Ming’s capabilities. Li Yu, the current Chancellor of Chufeng, was entirely supported and granted dragon qi by Wu Ming.
Since the initial assistance came through dragon qi, the principle of balance in heavenly Dao meant that influence could now be exerted through that same qi.
Such power of influence was beyond others’ understanding, but Ao Nu, as a river deity, understood it very clearly. Thus, it decided to lend a hand.
Indeed, when the Southern Feng army advanced, capturing two counties without significant resistance,
Although this was partly due to favorable waterways, fortune also played a role.
Otherwise, even though these were county towns, they were far larger than the wooden stockades and watchtowers Wu Ming had seen in Japan. With the people united and conscripted for defense, even an army of several ten thousand would struggle to breach them for several days.
“Therefore, I must express my gratitude!”
Wu Ming bowed once again.
With troops deployed before the city, logistics and supplies at the rear became even more crucial, heavily dependent on water transportation. Moreover, the Dragon Palace could quickly obtain intelligence about surrounding districts and within the prefecture.
Even without mentioning this, Ao Nu, as the deity controlling rain and clouds, would inevitably be needed for various matters once the two prefectures were unified. Thus, maintaining good relations was necessary.
Ao Nu had several reasons to cooperate with Wu Ming: their previous connection, some fear of Wu Ming’s methods, and the desire to benefit from human fortune to strengthen its foundation. Thus, they quickly reached an agreement and parted on good terms.
“Now, the major matters are settled. The only thing left is to capture Chufeng city and solidify our fortune!”
At this time, Wu Ming returned to the military camp, gazing at the city’s aura. Seeing the Black Wolf and the Red Snake still locked in combat, he couldn’t help but smile.
…
“My Lord, we’ve arrived at the residence!”
As the palanquin landed, Li Yu stepped out, gazing at the desolate street and the hurriedly marching soldiers, his expression suddenly changed: “What has happened?”
A steward nearby replied: “…With the enemy approaching, isn’t the Prefect of Military Affairs enforcing a citywide lockdown? These are just patrolling soldiers!”
“I see…”
Li Yu nodded, then fell silent. This uneasy atmosphere immediately made those around him tense.
“A citywide lockdown is understandable, but now even these soldiers are being stationed here. Could this be an attempt to interfere with the security of my residence?”
The steward pondered silently, recalling vague rumors he had heard earlier, which made him even more alarmed.
“Let’s go!”
Li Yu flicked his sleeve and entered the residence. Several maids rushed forward to help him change clothes, but his wife was not there to greet him, which struck him as odd: “Where is my Lady?”
The maids’ hands trembled slightly: “The Lady is fine… it’s just… just…”
“Just what?”
Li Yu frowned, his authority immediately prompting the maids not to hide anything: “She is disciplining the servants!”
“Oh? Let me see!”
A sense of unease arose in Li Yu’s heart as he hurried toward the inner quarters. There, the old steward and two servants were carrying a stretcher out, covered with a white sheet, clearly a corpse.
“My Lord!”
The group had intended to leave quickly but had no choice but to bow respectfully when they unexpectedly encountered Li Yu.
“Who is this?”
Li Yu frowned: “Tell me!”
The old steward shivered: “It’s Nianlu. She broke a jade vase in the Lady’s room, so the Lady ordered forty strokes, and she died…”
“It’s her!”
Li Yu stepped back, his mind conjuring the image of a charming maid who had served him for years. A few days ago, she had received his favor in his study, and he had planned to speak to his wife about promoting her to concubine. He never expected her to die like this.
Drip! Drip!
Looking at the blood dripping from the stretcher, Li Yu’s face darkened.
His wife was the daughter of Xing Ju, and seemed fine before marriage. But after living together for a while, she had become increasingly intolerable, especially jealous.
In a noble household, there were established rules. When a maid committed an offense, the usual punishments were slaps, confinement in a dark room, or starvation. Only household slaves received whipping. Forty strokes were a military punishment, which even a strong man could hardly survive. This was clearly intentional murder!
“Go!”
Reflecting on his own loose talk, Li Yu realized he had doomed the maid. His face darkened further. He wanted to say “give her a proper burial,” but considering most of the servants in his household were loyal to his wife, he feared for Nianlu’s family and restrained himself.
As he approached the inner quarters, a richly adorned noblewoman came out to greet him: “My Lord has returned! Would you like dinner?”
Normally, Li Yu would have exchanged pleasantries with her, but now he could no longer tolerate it. He immediately said: “I’m busy today; no need for dinner. Also, I’ll sleep in the study tonight!”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and left, ignoring his wife’s displeasure.
Bang!
Behind him, the sound of something breaking echoed.
…
“The enemy approaches, and the Li and Xing families face imminent destruction, yet father and daughter still scheme for power…”
In his study, Li Yu rubbed his temples, thinking about the anxiety in his household, feeling overwhelmed.
At this moment, he took out the coiled dragon jade pendant from under his collar and held it in his palm: “Perhaps… having received the help of an extraordinary person, my fortune has run its course, and now I am destined to decline…”
A chill crept into his heart.
As he was lost in thought and his emotions swayed, a voice came from outside the door: “My Lord, Master Zheng requests an audience!”
“Let him in!”
Li Yu straightened himself, watching the household retainer enter: “Master Zheng, what do you see in my current aura?”
“Please forgive my limited abilities!”
Master Zheng knelt suddenly, thinking: “Darkness clouds his head; either defeated by Southern Feng or overthrown by the Xing family, his fate seems grim… Unfortunately, I’ve already enacted the method to share his fortune; I can’t escape now…”
This refusal immediately alarmed Li Yu, who sensed something was wrong. He said gravely: “Speak freely; I promise you no punishment!”
Master Zheng bit his lip: “My Lord’s aura was once extremely auspicious, but now it faces calamity from within and without… However, the Li family has governed this region for two generations, benefiting the people. If my Lord remains upright, there will surely be blessings in the future!”
This was mostly meant to comfort. However, after saying this, Master Zheng felt a sudden clarity, as if seeing more: “Hmm? If the internal calamity strikes quickly, there will be no escape. The only chance lies externally? Could it be that…”
Of course, he was merely a geomancer, and usually didn’t see much. Now, he dared not say more.
“My Lord, Lieutenant Guo requests an audience, bringing a Taoist priest with him!”
“Send them in!”
Li Yu waved his hand, and Zheng retreated to observe silently.
Moments later, a company commander brought a Taoist into the room, kneeling with a loud thud: “Your humble servant greets Chancellor!”
This Lieutenant Guo was a soldier Li Yu had painstakingly won over. Unfortunately, Xing Ju was too cunning, and so far, only this company commander had been secured, so Li Yu valued him greatly: “Quickly rise. What has happened?”
“The Prefect of Military Affairs has purged the ranks, citing my involvement in embezzlement, and has already relieved me of my command!”
“What audacity!”
Li Yu was furious. In these turbulent times, without any military authority, he would be at the mercy of others.
Glancing at the Taoist beside him, who had not yet bowed, he grew even angrier: “And who might you be?”
“This is Master Qingzhu. I guarantee his loyalty with my life!”
The company commander quickly replied.
“Oh? Then he must have some skill. But with the city under siege and my household in peril, what use is a mere Taoist?”
Li Yu frowned.
“On the contrary, Chancellor, have you not heard that fortune lies within misfortune? The Southern Feng army’s arrival might just be the opportunity for you to break free from your shackles…”
Master Qingzhu smiled calmly.
“And who exactly are you?” Li Yu said coldly. The sound of weapons being drawn echoed nearby; with a single gesture, his guards would rush in and kill the Taoist on the spot.
“A blossom reflecting in the woods, fish playing in the clear stream. Gladly casting my fishing line by the riverbank, my joy does not lie in the catch! Chancellor, do you still remember the Hermit Wujie?”
Master Qingzhu said confidently.
“Hermit Wujie? And that poem?”
Li Yu’s expression changed drastically as he instinctively gripped the jade pendant around his neck: “It’s you?!”
With a wave of his hand, he ordered: “Everyone, leave!”
“Your humble servant takes his leave!”
In an instant, Lieutenant Guo, Master Zheng, and even the hidden guards disappeared.
“You are Hermit Wujie?”
Li Yu’s expression shifted between suspicion and hope. If Master Zheng were here, he would see the swirling fortune above Li Yu’s head, with a dragon qi manifesting as a red snake, its eyes showing hesitation and struggle.
“No. I have merely been entrusted to guide you through this crisis!”
Master Qingzhu stroked his beard with a smile, though his heart was pounding wildly.
Of course, he wasn’t Wu Ming.
After all, Wu Ming now held a position of status and would not personally handle such errands. He had simply selected a Taoist priest from the Wu household and sent him instead.
If Li Yu had been more forceful and ordered his guards to stand ready, one might have seen the old Taoist Qingzhu trembling in fear.
“Oh? And how should I avoid this crisis?”
Li Yu asked.
“It’s simple. You are already in grave danger. If you continue to stay in Chufeng, you will surely perish, and your entire family will be in jeopardy. It would be better to pledge allegiance to a wise lord…”
“You are a messenger from Wu Zhi?”
Li Yu sneered: “How can I, a proud man, submit to that hen who usurps the rooster’s role?”
“Haha, Heaven’s decree includes both yin and yang, ever-turning. My Lord seems too attached…”
Master Qingzhu remained calm: “With the realm in chaos and heroes rising, my Lord’s master is a prominent figure from Southern Feng. With Chufeng’s support, the tide of fate will be secured. Who in Dingzhou could possibly resist? If you pledge allegiance now, you will achieve great merit, and in the future, how could you not be rewarded with a noble title?”
“Furthermore, even if you do not wish to serve, surrendering the city would protect your family and the people, avoiding the calamity of war and thus earning great merit…”
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