After the initiation ceremony concluded, Chen Hongxiu, Zhao Tieshan, Meng Guang, and others bade farewell to Zheng Yi and led their respective subordinates towards the Northern Lands.

The three had similar objectives, all targeting Binzhou.

However, Chen Hongxiu and Zhao Tieshan were heading to the north of the Canglong River to join forces with Grand General Xu Mujun to resist Wu Country.

In contrast, Meng Guang’s destination was the harbor at the border of Binzhou and Jizhou.

He plans to establish the North Sea Navy there!

Accompanying him were over two hundred artillerymen.

These individuals form the foundation and creators of the North Sea Navy.

After sending off the trio, Zheng Yi handed over the affairs of the state entirely to the Cabinet.

For himself, he summoned Chen Liancang.

“Elder Chen, how is the martial arts cultivation of the Shadow Guard?”

“Your Majesty.”

Chen Liancang replied, “For some reason, these people have rapidly improved their cultivation over the past two years. Currently, there are five first-grade martial artists, eleven second-grade martial artists, and the rest are on the verge of breaking through.”

Zheng Yi contemplated that since the Shadow Guard spent their days within the harem, close to those five streams of innate spiritual qi, it was only natural their martial arts cultivation would improve swiftly.

Unfortunately, he could not control those five streams of innate spiritual qi.

If only he could keep these five streams within the Imperial Palace, or even just the Capital City.

Then the strength of his subordinates would increase even faster?

At this moment, a message suddenly came from the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror in his mind.

[Birth of ten streams of innate spiritual qi can affect the area of innate spiritual qi dissemination.]

Seeing this news, Zheng Yi’s eyes suddenly lit up.

Ten streams of innate spiritual qi?

Doesn’t it mean there are five more?

“Your Majesty?”

“Oh, I was thinking about something else.”

Zheng Yi returned to his senses and said, “All Shadow Guard members who breakthrough in cultivation will be rewarded.”

“Whoever can first break through to the Grandmaster Realm will also be rewarded by me!”

Chen Liancang respectfully said, “Understood.”

“By the way, Elder Chen, your immediate priority is to focus on the Imperial Mausoleum excavation.”

Zheng Yi continued to instruct, “The nurturing of young Shadow Guard members can be delegated to Liu Cheng’en’s Ritual Department.”

“This servant obeys the decree.”

“Alright, Elder Chen, you may withdraw.”

“Understood!”

After arranging the excavation of the Imperial Mausoleum and the nurturing of the Shadow Guard, Zheng Yi had no more significant matters and spent his days immersed within the harem.

His own lifespan increased at an astonishing rate.

And the women around him rotated swiftly.

Yet, there were only a limited few who had to be favored every few days.

He was selecting suitable candidates to bear a princess.

This woman must be naturally endowed, with high innate qualities and constitution.

Such a birth would significantly enhance the child’s aptitude.

Ideally, the woman herself would possess a spirit root.

This way, there would be a high probability the offspring would also have a spirit root.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the tenth of May.

Jade Token Tributor Zhao Suling from the Sacrificial Institute returned from Taizhong Mountain, reporting that Zhao Xizheng had an insight and went into seclusion again.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the twenty-first of May.

General Miaoo Xiu of Yunnan reported a great victory, commanding fifty thousand troops against two hundred thousand rebel forces at the Qingzhou border.

In this battle, the official army barely claimed victory.

They suffered over 23,000 losses, killed over 70,000 enemies, and the remaining rebellious people broke down; some surrendered on the spot, while a few fled into the mountains to become bandits.

Celestial Destiny Sect’s General Guardian Baha’er was captured alive and sent to the capital.

Zheng Yi ordered the remaining refugees to be relocated to Yan Land, granting them land and grain, soothing the refugees, allowing them to settle down.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the ninth of June.

Zheng Yi stayed overnight at Guangle Palace, attended by Concubine Yue, Miaoo Yuesheng.

Miaoo Yuesheng is the daughter of Miaoo Xiu.

Though not breathtakingly beautiful, her face was charmingly cute, and her figure was extraordinary; Zheng Yi spent the entire night indulging, lost in delight.

That night, Zheng Yi’s lifespan increased by another 16 points.

The next day, His Majesty ordered the promotion of Concubine Yue, Miaoo Yuesheng, to Consort Yue!

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the twenty-second of June, Miaoo Xiu returned to the court.

Emperor Zhengyong hosted a grand banquet in Baiyu City to welcome Miaoo Xiu, accompanied by Consort Yue.

The monarch and his minister were in high spirits, and during the event, Miaoo Xiu even personally performed a sword dance, full of vigor, earning great praise from the emperor.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the twenty-fifth of June.

His Majesty issued a decree, appointing Miaoo Xiu as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War and Right Imperial Censor of the Imperial Supervision Office, while also serving as Governor of Qingzhou, overseeing Qingzhou and General of Jizhou.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the first of July.

Yongzhou experienced a civil unrest.

Liu Xiang, the prefect of Chang’an Prefecture, failed to report in time and imposed additional harsh levies and miscellaneous taxes. Although he was executed in public, the burdensome taxes he left behind continued to be levied.

On the first of July, Huang Wa’er, the village chief of Yanchang County, unable to collect sufficient taxes, retaliated against a tax collector in anger, leading to the latter’s death.

That night, Huang Wa’er incited 132 villagers from Hongzao Village to rebel, armed with makeshift weapons like carrying poles, kitchen knives, and sickles, they broke into the county town of Tumi County, killing 47 county officials.

Days later, all thirty-two villages of Tumi County town followed suit.

They killed corrupt officials, robbed landlords, and the turmoil spread throughout Yanchang County.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the seventh of July, Huang Wa’er led ten thousand rebels to assault the county mansion of Yanchang County, overwhelming the county soldiers and swiftly called for reinforcements from the imperial court.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the seventeenth of July, Huang Wa’er breached the county mansion of Yanchang County, killing County Magistrate Li Changshui.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the eighteenth of July, Yanfeng County revolted, with the bandit leader Black Dog proclaiming himself as the Black Dragon King.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the twenty-first of July, Changfeng County rebelled, with the bandit leader Shi Dashan declaring himself King of the Mountain.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the twenty-eighth of July, Wuqi County rebelled, with the bandit chief Wuu Feng styling himself as Wulongzi.

In the 5th Year of Zhengyong, on the second of August, Ganquan County, Luozhen County, Huanglong County, Anchang County, and Weibei County all followed in rebellion.

5th Year of Zhengyong, August 8th, eighteen rebel factions gathered in Anchang County, collectively supporting Huang Wa’er as the leader of the ten counties’ rebels in Yongzhou, self-proclaimed as the “Yellow Heaven King”.

The rest of the rebels were collectively called the Eighteen Kings!

5th Year of Zhengyong, August 10th, the rebel Huang Wa’er led an army of five hundred thousand to besiege Chang’an Prefecture!

5th Year of Zhengyong, August 12th, a portion of the rebels infiltrated Hanzhong, Shu, and other regions.

Hanzhong, Shu, and other areas showed signs of rebellion!

If Chang’an Prefecture is breached, the entire Yongzhou will fall into the hands of the rebels.

Looking at the memorial in front of him, Zheng Yi felt his head swell considerably.

Damned it!

I had just peacefully engaged in dual cultivation for a few months, even planning to have children, and Yongzhou rebelled again.

I just want to cultivate immortality in peace!

At this moment, Liu Cheng’en hurriedly walked in: “Your Majesty, General Miaoo Xiu is here.”

“Let him in!”

“Minister Miaoo Xiu, pays respect to Your Majesty!”

The man who entered was not tall, yet very stocky, with large eye sockets, a face covered in coarse flesh, and most of his face obscured by thick hair, looking like a wild man.

Zheng Yi couldn’t figure out how this bear-like man could father the petite and adorable Consort Yue?

“Rise, my beloved minister, no need for formalities.”

Zheng Yi said, “Regarding the rebels in Yongzhou, what does my beloved minister think?”

Miaoo Xiu replied, “Your Majesty, the rebels in Yongzhou are nothing but rabble, not worth a mention!”

“As long as Your Majesty grants a portion of the Red Coat Cannons, Thunderbolts, and other artillery weapons to my subordinates, I assure you I will pacify the rebels within a month!”

Zheng Yi twitched his mouth. Since the bombardment of Pseudo-Yan, news of the Red Coat Cannons had spread like wildfire across most of Great Yu.

Almost every general had submitted petitions asking Zheng Yi to prioritize supplying their troops.

The arsenal was working at full capacity to produce them, but time was also needed.

Moreover, most Red Coat Cannons and Thunderbolts were supplied to the Divine Strategy Camp, and he had little inventory left.

Zheng Yi shook his head, “Miaoo Aiqing, it’s not that I don’t want to give them to you, but the arsenal produces only so many each day, and they must be prioritized for the Divine Strategy Camp and Grand General Xu.”

“I naturally wouldn’t dare to compete for General Xu’s artillery, but at least give me some… How about a hundred?”

Miaoo Xiu said boldly, his eyes shifting craftily.

Zheng Yi reluctantly said, “I can only give you ten for now, there’s no more…”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Miaoo Xiu joyfully said, “I will immediately send people to the arsenal to transport them, and once in hand, I must test the might of the Red Coat Cannons.”

“Don’t rush, Miaoo Aiqing, you haven’t explained how to deal with the Yongzhou rebels yet!”

“This matter is simple.”

Miaoo Xiu continued, “Since the beginning of this spring, we’ve had favorable weather in Great Yu, with seventeen to eighteen heavy rains. The previous drought has long passed.”

“For the chaotic elements in Yongzhou, just decapitate the rebel leaders and die-hard followers, then simply exempt the rest from taxes.”

Miaoo Xiu pulled out a rolled-up map from his waist. Upon unfolding it, it revealed the map of Yongzhou.

It seemed he had already guessed that Zheng Yi would send him to Yongzhou to suppress the turmoil.

“Your Majesty, this map is the topographical map of Yongzhou.”

Miaoo Xiu pointed at the map, “Yongzhou is located in the northwest, but surrounded by mountains on all sides, with the Canglong River flowing through the northeast.”

“This topography is easy to defend and hard to attack, yet it also acts like a prison confining the chaotic elements within Yongzhou.”

He further pointed to several spots on the right side of the map, “I have consulted ministers and soldiers from Yongzhou. To exit Yongzhou, one must pass through Wu Pass, Dafeng Pass, Wei Pass, and Cang Pass.”

“Cang Pass is located on the west side of Yongzhou, and beyond that lies a barren desert, where the chaotic elements wouldn’t dare venture.”

“Therefore, we only need to guard Wu Pass, Dafeng Pass, and Wei Pass to lock the chaotic elements within Yongzhou and then gradually annihilate them!”

“However, Your Majesty, my troops have suffered heavy losses and can only guard two checkpoints at most. We need others to guard the remaining one.”

“Do you have any military recommendations?”

“Yes.”

Miaoo Xiu said, “General of Yuezhou, Shi Heilang!”

“This man hails from the Yue people and has long aligned with Great Yu. Not only is he a Grandmaster in martial cultivation, but he is also battle-hardened. He commands three thousand tribe members proficient in jungle warfare, known as the ‘Wolf Army’.”

“Even I am no match for this man in mountain and forest combat.”

“The complex terrain of Yongzhou is more suited for his warfare.”

Zheng Yi examined the map in detail and nodded slowly, “Very well, I will grant your request and dispatch Shi Heilang from the headquarters of Yuezhou to engage in battle in Yongzhou.”

“Understood!”

The next day, Zheng Yi issued a Holy Decree.

He dispatched General of Yunzhou Miaoo Xiu, General of Yuezhou Shi Heilang, and Commander of the Imperial Guard Chen Wannian, with an army of one hundred thousand, to Yongzhou to suppress the rebels.

Simultaneously, he issued a new order.

To train a new army!

The three generals and their one hundred thousand troops, marching in three directions, advanced into Yongzhou with unstoppable force.

Miaoo Xiu stationed at Wu Pass, Shi Heilang at Dafeng Pass, Chen Wannian at Cang Pass, using the strategy of closing the gates to trap the rebels.

The troops under the three were all elite. Miaoo Xiu commanded the fewest soldiers, but they were all battle-hardened veterans.

Upon entering Wu Pass, he immediately took over the local county soldiers, rapidly expanding the number of troops to over eighty thousand.

Shi Heilang’s troops were entirely Yue people, most adept at mountain and forest warfare, and Dafeng Pass was located precisely in such terrain.

On the third day of entering Yongzhou, Shi Heilang personally led his personal soldiers to raid the rebel camp, killing the bandit King of the Mountain, one of the Eighteen Kings.

When everyone, even Zheng Yi, thought this would be a protracted war, shocking news arrived.

The leader of the Yongzhou rebels, Yellow Heaven King Huang Wa’er, unexpectedly died!

“What? The rebel leader Huang Wa’er was killed?”

Upon hearing this news, Zheng Yi was baffled.

What happened to the so-called Yellow Heaven King? The promised rebel leader, how did it end so soon?

“Your Majesty, there is a military order from General Miaoo Xiu.”

Lu Xiangqing said, “The death of the rebel leader Huang Wa’er is entirely credited to one person.”

“Oh, who?”

“Your Majesty, please see.”

Zheng Yi became interested, opened the battle report, and moments later, his eyes gleamed with astonishment, “I didn’t expect it to be him!”

“Wang Anshi!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep