Chapter 107: Chapter 77: Imperial Guard and Emperor Faction

The fierce wind struck, causing Zheng Yi’s dragon robe to flutter loudly.

Standing beside him, Chen Liancang suddenly caught a glimpse of a sense of reverent worship emanating from Zheng Yi.

For some unknown reason, he instinctively knelt to the ground, bowing his head and saying, “This humble servant, obediently follows Your Majesty’s command!”

“Hahaha…”

Zheng Yi laughed as he helped Elder Chen up: “What is Chen Lao doing?”

“You are an Innate Realm expert; in the future, you need not bow when you see Us!”

“Though I am an Innate Realm expert, I am more so Your Majesty’s servant. This realm of mine was a fortuitous breakthrough witnessed at the birth of Princess Weiyang, a credit to Your Majesty’s virtue.”

“This humble servant’s life is solely for Great Yu, solely for Your Majesty!”

“Chen Lao overestimates.”

Zheng Yi’s eyes lit up and he suddenly asked, “Chen Lao, how are the Shadow Guards now?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, from last year to this year, a total of more than three hundred children aged five to seven were collected: 232 boys and 116 girls, totaling 348.”

“Currently, they are being taught martial arts and toughening their bodies in the Underground Palace.”

“Among them, the most outstanding ones will take at least five years before they can serve Your Majesty.”

“I’m not in a hurry.”

Zheng Yi said: “Chen Lao, I have a new idea here that I want to discuss with you.”

“Your Majesty, please speak.”

“I plan to bring the Shadow Guards to the surface, forming a new organization, not purely Death Warriors, to carry out some discreet tasks for Us.”

Chen Liancang curiously asked, “Your Majesty, Death Warriors are inherently secretive and live in the shadows. How do you intend to handle them?”

Zheng Yi shook his head: “As you said, Death Warriors cannot see the light, and can only handle assassinations or protection matters.”

“For such tasks, I have no shortage of people at my disposal.”

“What I lack is a group of individuals who operate under the sunlight, yet have infinite loyalty to Us, willing to offer everything for Us and the entire Great Yu.”

“For example, officials from the Imperial Court, military generals, wealthy merchants, scholarly people, and even some commoners and knights.”

Chen Liancang curiously asked, “What is Your Majesty’s thought on this?”

Zheng Yi murmured: “I want to build an organization, tentatively named the ’Imperial Guard,’ composed entirely of young people with exceptional loyalty to Us, willing to dedicate everything for Us!”

“Young people, passionate and impulsive, yet possessing a strong drive and motivation, are determined for Us and Great Yu.”

“These Imperial Guards will then become Our most loyal guards!”

“At the same time, I also want to form the ’Emperor Faction,’ recruiting and uniting all who share common goals and loyalty to Us.”

“Those wishing to join the Emperor Faction must swear under Our emblem, willing to give all for Us, and the Emperor Faction must be established with clear guidelines and conditions.”

“Let those who join the Emperor Faction possess an innate obedience and purpose, dedicating their lives to serving the Emperor Faction!”

“As for the Emperor Faction’s guidelines and conditions, as well as conduct principles, I will have someone organize them.”

Listening to all this, Chen Liancang felt he understood but didn’t fully grasp it, as if a layer of fog had descended on his mind, wanting to break it open but unable to due to his understanding, vision, and outlook.

Truly worthy of being Your Majesty.

These were the only words that came to his mind.

“Your Majesty, these things you speak of, this old servant doesn’t quite understand. Just tell me how to proceed.”

“It’s very simple.”

Zheng Yi’s eyes shone brightly: “Currently, the more than three hundred Shadow Guards being nurtured in the Underground Palace, apart from learning martial arts and assassination techniques, also need to be instructed in the Four Books of etiquette, military strategy, and loyalty to the emperor.”

“Especially the thought of loyalty to the emperor!”

Zheng Yi earnestly instructed: “In their daily practice, sleeping, and eating, they must verbally thank Us for Our heavenly grace, and in martial arts training grounds, private schools, and dormitories, there must be Our portrait or an emblem representing Us.”

“I want these more than three hundred children to imprint My image in their hearts from a young age, and cultivate them like this for five to ten years!”

Don’t underestimate these seemingly ordinary habits. Once habits become instinct, they become a lifetime’s shackle.

“This group will be the first batch of personnel for the Emperor Faction and the Imperial Guard.”

“Thus, after five to ten years, select the outstanding ones to enter the court as officials, or to take the imperial exam, or even to enter the military as generals!”

“As this group grows and slowly gains access to power, they will become the sharpest blade in My hand!”

Zheng Yi continued: “Moreover, seek out some young officials and soldiers who are loyal to Us and share common interests to join My Emperor Faction. As long as they join the Emperor Faction, I will value them and grant them power.”

“Young people, passionate and fearless, yet with a patriotic heart to serve the nation.”

“With this frail body, for country and citizens.”

“They want to serve the nation? It’s simple, swear allegiance to Us with an oath!”

“Especially the Imperial Guards by My side, all must swear allegiance to the Emperor Faction; those unwilling to swear will not be allowed near Me!”

“As this slowly develops, the entire Great Yu will be as solid as iron!”

Chen Liancang gasped upon hearing Zheng Yi’s detailed description, and in his mind, he could slowly envision how lively the Imperial Court would become in ten years, or even in just three to five years.

He knelt to the ground in solemn admiration, saying with loyalty: “With these words from Your Majesty, this old servant learns of the vastness of the world.”

“Your Majesty is indeed a divine person!”

“This old servant receives the command!”

As Zheng Yi descended from the Celestial Longevity Mountain, surrounded by a large number of eunuchs and guards, he noticed a nervous and anxious Embroidered Uniform Guard being stopped by the guards.

Upon seeing Zheng Yi, this Embroidered Uniform Guard urgently exclaimed: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I have an urgent military message to convey!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Let him pass.”

The guards stepped aside, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard quickly approached and respectfully presented a secret letter.

“Your Majesty! A secret letter from a Pseudo-Yan spy states that the heavy snow in Yan Land has subsided, and the Pseudo-Yan King has ordered twenty thousand Dragon Cavalry to set out, charging towards the Capital City!”

“What?”

Zheng Yi took the secret message and read it swiftly, ten lines at a glance.

It turned out that the heavy snow that lasted for over a month in Yan Land showed signs of diminishing, and the Pseudo-Yan King Zheng Yuantao seized this opportunity to dispatch his strongest Dragon Cavalry.

Disregarding the fact that the snow hadn’t completely melted, they headed directly towards the Capital City.

His purpose was simple, to rush into the Capital City as quickly as possible, capturing the Imperial Palace and key ministers.

Besides the Dragon Cavalry, there were over a hundred skilled Martial World fighters he had recruited, including several First-grade Realm, and even some Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists.

The leader among them was Cheng De, hailed as Beiyan’s top military general!

“Zheng Yuantao, what a dangerous maneuver, what a strong ambition!”

Doesn’t he fear that once the Capital City falls, the entire world will descend into chaos?

The Imperial Guard, having been weakened after the Yang Ni incident, has been in rebuilding for the past two years, but expecting these new recruits to confront the twenty thousand elite Dragon Cavalry is nothing short of a fool’s dream.

Even having them defend the city might be challenging.

And the loyalist troops from Jizhou, Sizhou, and other places couldn’t reach the Capital City in a short time either.

Zheng Yi immediately mounted his horse and rushed towards the Capital City.

“Summon Chen Hongxiu and Zhang Tieshan!”

Half a day later, Zheng Yi appeared on the second level of Baiyu City.

Chen Hongxiu and Zhang Tieshan also hurried back from the Divine Strategy Camp’s location.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

“You are excused from formalities, my loyal subjects.”

Zheng Yi raised his hand, saying, “I will be brief, Pseudo-Yan has made a move.”

“Twenty thousand Dragon Cavalry are heading towards the Capital City overnight. Due to the unmelted snow, a journey that would normally take three days will now take about five.”

“Have they made a move? That’s great!”

Zhang Tieshan clenched his fist, saying, “Old Zhao, we’ve been waiting for them for a long time; finally we can go to war, hahaha!”

“Old Zhao! What nonsense are you talking about? How is Pseudo-Yan’s move a good thing?”

Chen Hongxiu glanced at him, then immediately cupped her hands and said, “Please instruct, Your Majesty, we will obey your commands.”

“Ah yes, yes, Your Majesty, please command. I’ll go twist off the Pseudo-Yan King’s head myself!”

Zheng Yi automatically ignored Zhao Tieshan’s words and looked towards Chen Hongxiu.

Between the two, Chen Hongxiu was far more versed in military strategy and tactics than Zhao Tieshan.

Vaguely, it seemed that Chen Hongxiu was now the leader.

She had already been regarded by Zheng Yi as the first candidate for the Emperor Faction.

“I ask you, how is the gunpowder and cannonry equipped by the Divine Strategy Camp now?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty.”

Without hesitation, Chen Hongxiu replied, “Currently, Divine Strategy Camp is equipped with two hundred Red Coat Cannons, six thousand seven hundred matchlock guns, an abundant amount of gunpowder, fifty-seven thousand Thunderbolt rounds, over ten thousand Divine Fire Sprayers and Poison Dragon Divine Fire Sprayers.”

“How’s the training of the Divine Strategy Camp soldiers?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty.”

This time, Zhao Tieshan replied, “The Divine Strategy Camp has expanded to three thousand people, all selected from skilled Imperial Guard and civilian warriors.”

“They’re given three times the salary of ordinary soldiers!”

“Loyal to Your Majesty, also including over a hundred Martial Artists above the Third-grade Realm.”

“Everyone is already familiar with the use of matchlock guns which can continuously fire three iron bullets, with a range of over a hundred yards and far more powerful than ordinary bows and arrows!”

“Alternating the use of two guns, they can fire six iron bullets in a short time.”

“They’re also familiar with Red Coat Cannons, the latest models equipped by the Ministry of Industry, with a range of up to eight hundred yards!”

Zhao Tieshan’s eyes were full of awe and shock as he spoke.

It seemed that the power of the Red Coat Cannons had long conquered these people.

“And Thunderbolts, ordinary soldiers can throw them about fifteen yards, whereas military warriors can throw them fifty yards!”

Hearing this, Zheng Yi still shook his head.

Among the various firearms, the development of the Red Coat Cannon was the most satisfying.

Unfortunately, the advancement of guns was held back due to current technological limitations; even flintlock guns couldn’t be developed.

Nor were more advanced items like Thunder Mercury able to be produced.

It seems the Ministry of Industry’s budget needs to be increased to develop more convenient and stronger firearms as soon as possible!

Zheng Yi said, “Chen Hongxiu, Zhao Tieshan, listen to orders!”

“At your command, Your Majesty!”

“The two of you will lead the Divine Strategy Camp to the Tiger Mountain Pass to intercept the Pseudo-Yan Dragon Cavalry. I will command Chen Wannian to support you.”

Zheng Yi declared, “In this battle, I want the Pseudo-Yan Dragon Cavalry to be completely annihilated, turned to dust under the cannons.”

“Anyone who dares to defy my decree shall be executed without mercy!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The two quickly left, preparing for the march to Tiger Mountain Pass.

Not long after, Liu Cheng’en suddenly entered, whispering, “Your Majesty, someone from the Empress Dowager’s side brought news that she is seriously ill, bedridden now, and even the Imperial Physician can’t identify the illness.”

“Oh?”

Zheng Yi’s eyes brightened, the Empress Dowager’s serious illness was indeed a… double blessing!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep