In the ninth year of Qianyuan, on the fourth day of the tenth month, Li Rubi was besieged and heavily defeated by Wang Xuanfan and the Jiedushi of Youzhou.
More than half of his 30,000 troops were killed or wounded, and they fled in disarray all the way back to their stronghold, Jiushan Commandery.
Wang Xuanfan, however, displayed the demeanor of a great general, steadily advancing and reclaiming lost territories. County after county submitted to him, and even former Jiushan soldiers defected, including one Tu Zhihui (commander of a military unit). By mid-month, he had recaptured most of the commandery and surrounded Jiushan Commandery like an iron barrel.
Inside Jiushan Commandery’s city,
The scene was bleak. Wine houses, teahouses, shops of all kinds, and even common citizens had shut their doors and stayed indoors, as if a great calamity was about to strike.
Deserters and unruly soldiers roamed the streets, their discipline completely broken, even looting and killing in broad daylight to vent their fear.
“Sigh… Now they’re no different from bandits…”
Wu Ming was riding a horse, accompanied by Niu Yong and He Zihai, when he suddenly sighed.
“Help!”
“Let me go!”
A woman’s cries for help came from an alley nearby, stirring Wu Ming’s heart. He turned to Niu Yong and said, “Go check it out!”
“Understood!”
Niu Yong responded and rushed into the alley. Soon, angry shouts and curses were heard. Two disorderly soldiers came out with swords in hand, arrogant and defiant: “We are elite guards!”
“Blind fool! Our master here is a Tu Zhihui!”
He Zihai immediately shouted, causing the two guards to shrink back and flee meekly.
“Thank you, my lord!”
At this point, Niu Yong helped a woman out of the alley. She was sobbing like a rain-drenched pear blossom, evoking sympathy. She bowed gratefully to Wu Ming.
“Quickly leave! I can save you once, but not twice!”
Wu Ming sighed again.
The woman was stunned, bowed deeply, and hurried away.
“Why does the Tu Zhihui sigh?”
Seeing Wu Ming’s troubled expression, He Zihai couldn’t help but ask softly.
“You two…”
Wu Ming gave a bitter smile: “Sigh… I’m sighing for our enemies. Wang Xuanfan not only knows how to command troops, but also excels in strategy. When the Tu Zhihui of Yunshan Commandery defected to him, he was immediately entrusted with great responsibility, even given command of an entire unit. This move shattered our morale completely, leaving our soldiers and officers without courage, indulging in pleasures and living aimlessly.”
“Be careful with your words, my lord! Be careful!”
He Zihai’s face changed instantly, and after glancing around, he exhaled deeply.
Wu Ming, however, just shook his head.
Back then, he was the first to flee because the 30,000-strong army collapsed, and no one noticed.
In fact, after reaching Jiushan Commandery and taking stock, it was found that most of the Tu Zhihuis and Wei Zhengs had died or surrendered. He, on the other hand, had retained most of his forces intact, so he was promoted and appointed as the Tu Zhihui of Lianshan Commandery, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
But at this time, Li Rubi’s fortune was waning, and the fate of a Tu Zhihui in Jiushan Commandery was not even as valuable as a former Wei Zheng.
“Moreover, this backlash is truly shocking!”
Wu Ming lifted his eyes and could see dense layers of calamity qi surrounding him, making his heart race. He knew that if it continued to develop, lightning would strike instantly.
Fortunately, it was currently suppressed by a layer of golden light and had not yet erupted.
“Although crossing the realms can remove heavenly tribulations, I have gone too deep, and calamity qi has become entangled within my fortune. Therefore, I must plan ahead and find a way to bear it.”
As he was thinking, he reached the city center and saw another general approaching, clearly filled with rage.
“Minister Liu! What has angered you so?”
Wu Ming recognized him as his former superior, Liu Jie, one of the few remaining old Jiushan generals, and quickly went forward to greet him.
Although their ranks were now equal, military tradition dictated respect for seniority, so this was necessary.
“It’s you!”
Liu Jie snorted coldly but still said, “After our lord’s defeat, he has been hiding in his mansion, spending his days watching performances, drinking, and indulging in pleasures, mesmerized by that sorcerer, and now he even wants to proclaim himself king!”
“Oh? Who is this sorcerer?”
Wu Ming’s heart stirred.
“None other than Nanshan! After the last defeat, I suggested executing this sorcerer, but who would have thought he used some unknown method to enchant our lord. He claimed that our commandery has nine mountains with dangerous terrain, high walls, and deep moats, sufficient for us to proclaim ourselves king and achieve great ambitions! Despite such nonsense, our lord actually believed him and ordered preparations for the coronation ceremony…”
Liu Jie had clearly been harboring resentment for a long time, and once he started venting, he couldn’t stop.
Li Rubi’s behavior, no matter where it occurred, would be labeled as foolish, incompetent, and acting against the natural order.
“Is that Liu Tu Zhihui ahead?”
At this moment, a group of ironclad cavalry in black armor, wielding swords and bows, surged forward. Wu Ming recognized them as Li Rubi’s personal guards, the Heishan Cavalry.
“It is me!”
Liu Jie shouted.
“Excellent! Our lord has issued an order! Liu Jie, the new Tu Zhihui of Shanshan, has committed treason and must be executed immediately!”
The cavalry commander shouted: “Why haven’t you accepted your death yet?”
“No… It’s impossible… I and our lord…”
Liu Jie’s face turned pale, murmuring.
“You still don’t believe it? Show him our lord’s order!”
A written order was thrown down. Liu Jie looked at it and saw the handwriting, signature, and seal of his lord, all correct. He let out a bitter laugh: “My lord… truly wants my life?”
His gaze became hazy as he recalled the days when he and Li Rubi had met like old friends, enjoying a harmonious relationship between lord and minister.
“General Liu is our lord’s trusted favorite general, how could he do such a thing?”
Wu Ming stepped forward: “Wait! Let me go see our lord in person…”
“Enough! Enough!”
At this moment, Liu Jie let out a bitter laugh: “Since my lord wants my life, let him take it!”
He was known for his bravery and was a celestial warrior with martial arts skills. If he wanted to survive, he could carve a bloody path and go anywhere in the world.
But now, his heart was completely broken, and he pulled out his golden tiger sword, shouting: “I, Liu Jie, am a fine man, how can I die by the hands of such scoundrels?”
He immediately slashed his own neck, and his head flew off, blood gushing like a spring.
Wu Ming stood there, stunned.
At the moment of Liu Jie’s death, a layer of black qi spread out from his corpse.
Above the Grand Commander’s mansion, and indeed throughout the entire commandery city, a large portion of the fortune was severed, making it wobble precariously, with black and gray qi swarming in.
Wu Ming understood clearly that Liu Jie was a man of destiny, specially destined to assist Li Rubi.
But now, he had destroyed himself, and with it, the last remaining foundation was utterly destroyed.
“Greetings to the Tu Zhihui!”
The Heishan cavalry placed Liu Jie’s head into a box and turned to Wu Ming.
At this time, Wu Ming was a Tu Zhihui and was rumored to be closely related to Master Nanshan, so they dared not be disrespectful and approached to bow.
“Wait!”
Wu Ming called out: “Are you going to report to the Grand Commander? I’ll go with you!”
They proceeded all the way to the Grand Commander’s mansion and entered the courtyard, where they could hear the sound of decadent music.
“Pay respects to the Grand Commander!”
As they entered the room, they saw musicians and wine servers all around, and in the center, several groups of young women wearing thin veils, revealing glimpses of their skin, dancing gracefully.
“Good! Liu Jie has been killed! Excellent! This traitor deserved his fate!”
Li Rubi, one arm around a beauty and the other holding a wine jug, saw Wu Ming and joyfully said: “Wu Ming, come and have a drink with me!”
Immediately, a woman came forward with a cup of wine.
“Thank you, my lord!”
In such a situation, a loyal and upright minister might not only refuse to drink but also directly remonstrate.
But Wu Ming had his own hidden agenda, so he drank the wine in one gulp, greatly pleasing Li Rubi.
After chatting for a while, Wu Ming secretly opened his spiritual eye and looked at Li Rubi.
He saw that Li Rubi’s face was filled with green qi, and although his fortune above had been greatly reduced, a strand of dark purple qi in the middle was quite active. A word floated into his mind: “False revival!”
He immediately realized that Li Rubi’s determination to proclaim himself king was as firm as ever.
“Originally, Li Rubi still had the fate of a greedy wolf, and wouldn’t have come to this, but success came from the dragon qi, and failure also came from the dragon qi! Now he is entangled by the dragon qi, his mind is confused, and not even a god can save him…”
“Greetings to the Grand Commander!”
At this moment, another person entered, it was Master Nanshan.
“Oh? How did your trip go, Master?”
“Reporting to the Grand Commander!”
Master Nanshan seemed very confident: “For many days, I have divined and obtained heavenly secrets. Our lord’s great fortune is irreversible. This is the tribulation of becoming a king. Since our lord has returned, he has escaped this tribulation. Now, as long as he ascends the throne and proclaims himself king, he will respond to the dragon vein’s fortune and soar like a dragon in the sky!”
“Haha…”
Li Rubi laughed loudly and turned to Wu Ming: “What does the Commander say?”
“In this time of chaos, a true dragon emerges. Please, my lord, proclaim yourself king and establish your regime to respond to this great fortune!”
Wu Ming bowed deeply and said loudly.
Who knows how Liu Jie would react if he were still alive and heard these words—he might even die of anger again.
“Excellent! Master Nanshan, choose an auspicious day. I shall proclaim myself the King of Jiushan!”
Li Rubi waved his hand, and Master Nanshan and Wu Ming immediately took their leave.
After leaving the Grand Commander’s mansion, the two hurried along and reached a deserted place.
“Well? Are you satisfied?”
Master Nanshan smiled: “Although I don’t know what you’re planning, it seems you really want this young man to ascend the throne?”
“It seems to be exactly what the Master wished for!”
Wu Ming also wore a half-smiling, half-serious expression: “Originally, this man’s rebellion was already enough to warrant the execution of his entire family. Now that he has proclaimed himself king, there’s no turning back!”
He clearly understood that in ancient times, whether or not one proclaimed oneself king was a significant turning point.
Before, Li Rubi had merely declared himself the leader of Jiushan Army. If he surrendered now and begged for mercy, he might die, but his family could be spared from execution.
In fact, with strong dragon qi fortune and some maneuvering within the court, he might not even have to die.
But now, he had committed a taboo. No matter how bold Wang Xuanfan was, he would absolutely refuse to accept his surrender. Not only would he not accept it, but he would also kill every member of Li Rubi’s family, leaving no one behind!
“Hehe… Only this way can I relieve my heart’s hatred!”
Master Nanshan flicked his sleeve and turned to leave. Wu Ming, watching this scene, narrowed his eyes slightly.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage