The second matter is the reparations from Wu Country: fifty million taels of silver, one hundred thousand war horses, two hundred thousand cattle and sheep, a hundred concubine candidates, and so on.

Xu Mujun kept ten million taels of silver and fifty thousand war horses to serve as military pay and to form a cavalry unit.

The remaining forty million taels of silver, fifty thousand war horses, and other items will be escorted back to the Capital City by Cui Xiawu, who made great contributions in this war.

Cui Xiawu, the Martial Champion Scholar of Great Yu, and also the general who made the first climb merit in the battle of Black Mountain Pass.

The first climb merit, the first general to set foot on the Black Mountain Pass city wall and survive!

The third matter is that Xu Mujun, after more than two months, finally cleared all the ruins inside Black Mountain Pass.

From the Defending General’s Government Office within Black Mountain Pass, hundreds of secret letters were found.

These secret letters were evidence of the garrison forces, noble families, and merchants from Bingzhou, Binzhou, Youzhou, and other places conspiring with Wu Country to rebel!

The greatest number of letters came from Bing Merchants!

“The Emperor of Wu Country has succumbed, unexpectedly?”

Looking at the intelligence in hand, Zheng Yi couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional.

He had been in this place for four years, a short time, yet how many opponents, or enemies, had he outlasted?

Emperor Zhengyong, Prime Minister Yang, Empress Dowager, King Yan, and now this Emperor of Wu Country whom he had never met.

Zheng Yi believed that as time passed, he would outlast opponent after opponent!

The second matter, Zheng Yi agreed to Xu Mujun’s request.

Xu Mujun is currently stationed at Black Mountain Pass, suppressing Mangzhou and Huangzhou along with Chen Hongxiu and Zhao Tieshan.

Though these two states are vast in area, most of the land is grassland, suitable for raising horses but not for farming.

Even cities are scanty.

It was indicated that Xu Mujun should remain stationed at Black Mountain Pass, while Chen Hongxiu and Zhao Tieshan each lead an army to garrison in Mangzhou and Huangzhou, currently convening laborers to repair the walls of their respective prefecture cities, ready to fend off Wu Country’s counterattacks at any moment.

Regarding which prince of Wu Country he should support, Zheng Yi pondered for a while before quickly arriving at a decision.

With over ten princes of Wu Country still fighting desperately around the Imperial Court for the throne.

Only when the last victorious prince emerges can Wu Country settle down.

Since that is the case, they should support none and remain neutral.

Only in this way can they achieve the greatest benefit.

The third matter involves the border army and Bing Merchants selling national interests for their own profit, even to the extent of selling a large quantity of salt and iron weapons to Wu Country.

Of the three matters, this one is the most difficult to handle.

Bing Merchants are not merely a business organization but a representative of the Northern Family.

The liquid capital they control amounts to at least several hundred million taels of silver.

On top of that, they also own fixed assets, lands, shops, and so on.

If all converted to gold and silver, it would be an astronomical figure.

Additionally, Bing Merchants are also interconnected with the Southern Family; if Bing Merchants are affected, it will inevitably spark chaos between the North and South noble families.

Zheng Yi closed his eyes in deep thought, sitting from noon till night, only regaining his senses when Cui Xiabing came to him.

“What is Your Majesty thinking about?”

Cui Xiabing gently kneaded Zheng Yi’s eyebrows with heartache in her eyes full of tenderness.

“Beloved Consort, why are these officials so greedy?”

Zheng Yi didn’t mention the noble families, as Noble Consort Cui also hailed from a noble family, and one of the largest at that.

“For their own interests, the border garrison and officials have been selling national intelligence, even selling grains, salt, and iron to Wu Country.”

“If not for them, how could Wu Country have acted so arrogantly, penetrating deeply into the heart of Great Yu?”

Cui Xiabing shook her head and said, “Your Majesty, I don’t understand politics and military matters; I only know that you are the True Dragon Emperor, your words are imperial.”

“The whole of Great Yu belongs to you, Your Majesty…”

“And also.”

Cui Xiabing turned around, staring persistently at Zheng Yi, “Your Majesty must also have a spirit root, right? I can feel the magical power within you when attending to you.”

“Your Majesty is now a cultivator, seeking immortality and carefree living, so why worry about mundane matters?”

Zheng Yi’s eyes sparkled, indeed!

I am already a cultivator, and I have the method of immortality, so why am I worrying?

If these noble families, merchants, or officials betray me, let them perish!

So what if the world descends into chaos?

As long as I live on, the world will eventually return to peace.

Moreover, didn’t I make numerous preparations to resolve the outstanding officials and greedy ministers?

“Hahaha…”

Zheng Yi laughed heartily, lifting Cui Xiabing, “Beloved Consort, you have truly solved a major problem for me. Speak, what reward do you want?”

Cui Xiabing’s eyes lit up, and she said coquettishly, “Your Majesty~ I also want a child.”

“I heard from my master that if both parents possess spirit roots, their child is very likely to also have a spirit root!”

“A child with a spirit root…”

Zheng Yi’s eyes shifted, quickly making a decision in his mind, then immediately carried Cui Xiabing, striding towards the chamber.

The Empress Lu Lin’er, Noble Consort Xu Qingluan, Noble Consort Yang Huan, Consort De Li Changle, Consort Bi Bi He, Consort Yue Miaoo Yuesheng, with Princess Consort Wan, Concubine Qing, and Consort Miao all currently expecting.

Adding them up, there are nine daughters in total.

If this pregnancy with Cui Xiabing adds another, wouldn’t it be enough for ten strands of Pure Yin Qi?

That night, in high spirits, Zheng Yi channeled a strand of Innate Pure Yin Qi into Cui Xiabing to assist her in becoming pregnant.

Several days later, Zheng Yi issued a few decrees.

The first decree stated that Mangzhou and Huangzhou, located beyond Black Mountain Pass, are vast and sparsely populated with fierce folk customs and border Wu Country, lacking natural defense.

To suppress Mangzhou and Huangzhou, and to defend against Wu Country, capable and valiant individuals must oversee these regions; thus, the State Governor System is reinstated in Mangzhou and Huangzhou!

The first Mangzhou State Governor is the Prince of Great Yu, known also as Prince Xian, Zheng Zongxian!

Initially, Zheng Zongxian refused in various ways, but eventually, he had to acquiesce to Zheng Yi’s persuasion, threats, and incentives, reluctantly accepting the position of Mangzhou State Governor, tasked with suppressing the Northern Territory for Great Yu.

The first Huangzhou State Governor is the Grand General of Great Yu, Xu Mujun!

With two Innate Realm experts overseeing the two northern regions, unless they find new Innate Realm experts or cultivators, even if Wu Country utilizes its entire national strength, it would be difficult to breach their defenses.

Strangely, after this Holy Decree was announced, no one in the Imperial Court opposed it.

Some even suggested restoring the State Governor System within the Great Yu Thirteen States.

Miaoo Xiu could be the State Governor of Yongzhou or Yunzhou, Shi Heilang the Governor of Yuezhou, Xu Xuanwu the Governor of Nanyue, Lu Jinghe the Governor of Jizhou, and Gongsun Bo the Governor of Youzhou, and so on.

State Governors, as the masters of a state, oversee all military and political affairs.

It can be said that State Governors are the masters of their state, posing a powerful threat to imperial power.

These suggestions were firmly rejected by Zheng Yi.

“The Mangzhou and Huangzhou Two States are newly acquired territories of our Great Yu, the people are unsettled, and they border external enemies, so the State Governor System was restored due to local conditions.”

“Within the borders of Great Yu, the people live in peace and prosperity, and there are no strong external enemies; why should State Governors be established?”

Zheng Yi said coldly, “Do not bring this matter up again!”

The second Holy Decree was regarding the arrangement of war reparations from Wu Country.

Over these fifty million taels of silver, as well as a large number of cattle, sheep, and other livestock, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War nearly argued to the point of collapse, and even the Ministry of Industry got involved.

Ultimately, Zheng Yi upheld Xu Mujun’s proposal to distribute this large batch of reparations obtained from Wu Country.

It must be said that war is the only opportunity to make tremendous wealth!

Meanwhile, he issued a secret edict to Cui Xiawu, personally delivered by the Shadow Guard and Embroidered Uniform Guard, allowing him to act at his discretion.

Cui Xiawu escorting fifty million taels of silver and a large number of livestock across the pass to the Capital City would take at least half a year.

And this half-year period was the buffer time Zheng Yi needed to deal with the Northern Families and corrupt officials.

Zheng Yi ordered Cui Xiawu to lead the army to Bingzhou and station there, waiting for his next instructions.

By the name of training the army and suppressing bandits, he stayed in Bingzhou, looking for opportunities.

The reason for having the Shadow Guard and Embroidered Uniform Guard deliver the message together was naturally for another task.

Just as Zheng Yi was meticulously arranging this, Chen Liancang brought news.

“Your Majesty, Fayuan has awakened.”

“Oh?”

Zheng Yi’s eyes lit up, “He’s awake? Could his mouth be opened?”

Chen Liancang replied, “Not yet, but he wants to see Your Majesty.”

“See me?”

After considering for a few moments, Zheng Yi said, “Noble Consort Cui once said that aside from their own magical power, a cultivator’s most important asset is the Power of Divine Thought.”

“A powerful cultivator, even without magical power in their body, can use the Power of Divine Thought to kill enemies or control others. I… will not go for now.”

“Then what about Fayuan…”

“Elder Chen, do this.”

Zheng Yi whispered, “Divide the Shadow Guard into two groups, obvious and hidden, and watch over him at all times. Do not let him sleep.”

“If he shows the slightest sign of dozing off, wake him up with cold water or fire. No matter what, do not let him sleep, understand?”

“Understood!”

“And also.”

Zheng Yi continued, “Place more oil lamps and fire pits around him, keeping him constantly in the light.”

“Keep this up for half a month; I refuse to believe that monk still retains his Divine Thought!”

Chen Liancang’s mouth twitched. Can such punishment really work?

But since this was Zheng Yi’s directive, he could only say, “Understood!”

As he watched Chen Liancang leave, Zheng Yi murmured, “Punishment of the Imprisoned, ordinary people can’t endure it, but I wonder if a cultivator can?”

In the following days, Chen Liancang continuously reported Fayuan’s reactions and actions to Zheng Yi.

The first day, chanting sutras. He didn’t seem at all worried about his situation, even had the mind to shake a leg.

The second day, chanting sutras, and persistently persuading the surrounding Shadow Guard.

The third day, still chanting sutras, but appeared somewhat dazed.

The fourth day, started shouting and cursing Zheng Yi and the surrounding Shadow Guard.

The fifth day, began begging for mercy, at the very least asked the Shadow Guard to move the nearby fire pits farther away.

Upon hearing this news, Zheng Yi immediately ordered to double the number of fire pits around.

The sixth day, the seventh day…

Until the eighth day, Chen Liancang finally came to Zheng Yi with an ugly expression.

“Your Majesty, it happened just as you predicted.”

“Today, the third group guarding Fayuan of the Shadow Guard suddenly went mad, and actually attacked their own, fortunately, we had another group outside to take over, restrained the mad ones, and only four were injured.”

“Very good.”

Zheng Yi nodded and said, “He should be about to break, keep at it!”

“Understood!”

On the ninth day, Fayuan started to go crazy, shouting loudly for Zheng Yi to see him.

On the tenth day, Fayuan’s breath weakened, spouting nonsense.

On the eleventh day, Fayuan muttered to himself, yelling that he would say anything they wanted to know.

On the twelfth day, Fayuan began to plead for mercy, continuously retching.

After pondering a bit, Zheng Yi decided to wait a few more days.

Sure enough, on the fourteenth day, while a Shadow Guard was fetching him water, his body suddenly froze, and he unexpectedly drew a dagger and thrust it toward Fayuan’s throat.

He was attempting suicide!

Fortunately, Fayuan had the Blood Moon Gu that Zheng Yi had specially left with him, and it bit off the dagger from the Shadow Guard’s hand at the last moment.

After this, Fayuan started wailing loudly and his nerves gradually collapsed.

By the seventeenth day, Fayuan’s breathing became extremely chaotic and weak, his pupils protruded, looking as if he was about to devour someone.

And on this day, Zheng Yi returned to the Underground Palace.

Two Shadow Guards carried a solid wood chair on which Zheng Yi slowly sat down.

“Fayuan, why do you want to see me?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep