The autumn sky was clear and crisp.
The afternoon sun shone through the window as Pei Zi Yun woke up. He thought for a long time before coming out of the room. Actually, not much time had passed, only about two hours.
He looked up and saw that the courtyard had been cleaned up. Entering the courtyard, he saw Ren Wei sitting at the table doing his accounts. There was an inkstone, brush, ink and a tea set on the table.
Pei Zi Yun laughed, "Mister Ren, you must be tired. Why are you so busy the moment you return?"
Ren Wei hurriedly replied, "Young Master gave me a hundred taels of silver a year. This is the salary of a seventh rank official. How could I dare not do my best?"
Pei Zi Yun laughed, "That's fine. Later on, instruct the officials to send all the goods over to our island."
As he said this, he walked out and ordered, "Men, prepare a carriage and send me to the Grand Princess Mansion."
Speaking of which, the servants of the Crown Prince's Mansion were always at his beck and call. "Oh." The carriage came to a halt and the servant smiled, "Dao Master, where are you going?"
"To the Princess Royal Residence."
Pei Zi Yun boarded the car. There were two seats in the front and back, with a table in the middle. Pei Zi Yun was already used to this. He took out a silver bottle and poured some water into it. He pulled open the drawer and found some beef and peanuts inside.
Pei Zi Yun squinted his eyes as he leaned against the carriage and said, "System!"
Suddenly, a Plum Blossom appeared in front of him and quickly enlarged, turning into a translucent information interface. It floated in front of him with a faint sense of light, and data appeared in front of him.
"Dao Technique Principles: Proficient (37.1%)"
"Dao techniques: 43 types, Advanced (22.1%)"
"Stellar Transposition: Level 3 (6.4%)"
"Cloud Wind Form: Level 1 (33.2%)"
"Floating Ball!"
Immediately, another sphere appeared between his eyebrows. Just like the last time, white Qi flowed within the sphere, spreading out strand by strand.
"It's the same as last time. Focus on the principles of Daoist arts." As soon as Pei Zi Yun activated it, strands of white Qi flowed out and entered the space between his eyebrows. At that point, his mind cleared up. "Dao Arts Principles: Grasped (37.2%)"
"Although I have the spiritual wisdom of the three Daoists, it's still very difficult to improve from mastery!"
"But it's still worth it."
"Humph, when I reach the top, even Xie Chengdong might not have a stronger foundation than me."
Just like the last time, it wasn't the indoctrination of a textbook. Instead, it was a fusion of his current knowledge. In an instant, many points of knowledge were connected.
"Continue to exhaust him!" Without hesitation, Pei Zi Yun used the floating orb's spiritual intelligence, and watched as the numbers increased steadily.
Seeing that the floating ball had used up all of its spiritual intelligence, Pei Zi Yun looked up at it.
"Dao Law Principles: Proficient (67.9%)"
"Dao techniques: 43 types, advanced (31.7%)."
"Stellar Transposition: Level 3 (23.5%)"
"Cloud Wind Form: Level 3 (3.8%)"
"Ai, the principles of Dao Arts are getting harder and harder. But just like last time, as long as I improve it, I can improve my Dao Arts and divine arts. Let's not talk about the other improvements. My divine art, Cloud Body, Wind Body, has already advanced to the third level."
'It's too taxing on my spiritual energy. However, I have a feeling that once I reach the level of a Grandmaster in terms of Dao Arts, my powers will increase by leaps and bounds.'
At this point, the official shouted, "Dao Master, we've arrived at the Grand Princess' Mansion."
As he spoke, he lifted the curtains of the carriage. Pei Zi Yun then alighted from the carriage. Just as he arrived at the entrance, he saw an attendant standing there to welcome him.
This time, the route he took was different. Although he walked along the cobblestone path, he soon saw a winding walkway. Not far away, there were several residences. After a few steps, he passed by a small courtyard and heard the sound of the Canton Princess playing the zither.
When Pei Zi Yun heard this, he walked to the side of the walkway and listened to the music. The zither music was like quicksilver flowing through the ground, penetrating his pores and seeping into his heart. Pei Zi Yun couldn't help but fall into a daze. It wasn't until the song ended that he regained his senses. He frowned and thought to himself, 'The Canton Princess's zither skills are getting better and better.'
'According to the four levels of Beginner, Grasped, Advanced and Grandmaster, she should be in between the Advanced and Grandmaster levels. Once she takes this step, she will be able to leave her name behind.'
Thinking up to this point, Pei Zi Yun suddenly had a thought, 'Is the Canton Princess one of the Three Leaf Cultivators? If she is, how can she cultivate? I'm afraid the moment she starts cultivating, her powers will be drained away by the Dragon Qi, and she will never be able to cultivate. '
'Dao Master?' The attendant noticed that Pei Zi Yun had stopped in his tracks and was surprised. Pei Zi Yun then took a few steps forward before a thought came to him, 'Since ancient times, martial arts and chess have been used to cultivate. Does this mean that the Canton Princess can use the zither to cultivate and open the gates of heaven?'
However, to use the zither to cultivate, the Canton Princess and himself were both lacking.
Thinking up to this point, he turned around and spoke to the official who was following him, "Poetry, books, zither, and paintings. I have them now. Help me collect all of the famous musicians and painters."
As he spoke, the attendant who was leading the way looked at Pei Zi Yun, as though he was suspicious.
"Yes, Dao Master." The official looked at Pei Zi Yun, who was thinking to himself, 'Could it be that the Dao Master has taken a liking to the Canton Princess? Should I use music to suit her tastes? '
The attendant didn't care about all this and said, "Dao Master Pei, please hurry up. The Grand Princess is waiting for you."
"Lead the way."
Qin Prefecture, Hunting Grounds
The Hunting Grounds was the royal hunting grounds of the previous dynasty. It was established by the dynasty and given to the royal family as their hunting grounds. The forest was dense and the grass was lush. The mountains were high and the rivers were wide. The sun was high up in the sky today, and the camp was heavily guarded. There were about two thousand people.
At this point, the sound of a horn could be heard as people started to pour out from the camp. They were all dressed in military uniforms. Upon closer inspection, they realized that they were all Battalion Leaders and Platoon Leaders.
The Battalion Leaders and Platoon Leaders were leading their horses. Although there weren't enough horses in the army, King Lu had given the order to gather enough for them. Everyone's eyes were burning with passion as they stood under the sun.
Although it was autumn, the sun was shining brightly, and the air was warm. The Battalion Leader's forehead was filled with perspiration, and his lips were chapped. He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
Behind the Battalion Leader was a red horse, which was extremely restless. The Battalion Leader stretched out his hand and pulled on the reins. The horse was very hot-tempered, and used its hooves to dig up the sand.
The surrounding horses were all very excited as well, as their hooves dug into the sand. As long as the command was given, they would be ready to attack. They had the bloodthirst of a battlefield.
In the shade of a tall platform, several generals were seated. Beside them were cups of tea, and their bodies were covered in armor.
The leader was a middle-aged man around forty years of age. His eyebrows were furrowed, and he had a murderous look on his face. Next to him was a short general with a black face. The last one was a general of average stature. He had an imposing appearance, and was looking down at the Battalion Leaders and Platoon Leaders with satisfaction.
At this point, a sharp voice rang out, "King Lu has arrived."
The black robed guards escorted a group of people over. King Lu was wearing his armor, which reflected the sunlight. Behind King Lu was a eunuch and a scholar. They were Xie Cheng Dong and Eunuch Liao.
When King Lu arrived, these people stood up and bowed.
The generals and officers were all gathered together. When they saw that King Lu had arrived, they were all eager to fight. They rubbed their fists and rubbed their palms together, as though they were all eager to fight.
King Lu looked around before laughing out, "You are all generals who founded the empire, and have performed meritorious deeds. Not only I know of your bravery, even the Emperor knows of it. You are all veterans of the battlefield, and all of you have real talent. There's no need to compete."
"There's nothing wrong under the heavens, but the spirit of bravery cannot be tarnished. Platoon Leaders and Battalion Leaders are the backbone of the army. Let them go hunt. Whoever shoots the most arrows will be rewarded handsomely. The top three will be promoted by a rank!"
"Pass down the order, the sparring has begun."
King Lu's face was stern as he gave the order, as he walked towards the main seat.
The few generals paused as they looked at each other in dismay. Being rewarded handsomely was fine, but being promoted by a rank seemed to be a problem. However, since King Lu had just ascended the throne, none of them dared to offend him. Hence, they bowed in acknowledgement.
The messenger gave the order as the platoon leaders and Battalion Leaders shouted out in unison. When they heard that the top three officials would be promoted by a rank, their eyes lit up. Hundreds of Battalion Leaders and Vice Battalion Leaders mounted their horses and charged into the forest.
Behind them were five to six hundred platoon leaders and vice platoon leaders. They carried their bows and followed the Battalion Leader as they charged into the forest.
The Military Law Division was there to supervise the proceedings, to prevent anyone from killing their comrades in a fit of rage.
The people on the stage looked in the direction where everyone was looking, only to see groups of soldiers and horses galloping into the forest. There were many wild beasts in the forest, each with their own habitat. A leopard was eating a sheep.
A group of wild boars were digging the soil, searching for roots, earthworms, and fruits.
At this point, the sounds of killing filled the air, as the wild beasts were frightened. They were in a mess as they ran in all directions.
The hooves of the horses galloped across the ground, causing the crowd to scatter. Once they saw a target, they would shoot it. The arrows were marked with their own insignia. The trees were sparse, and there were marks on the ground.
A wild boar was enraged, and didn't retreat. Instead, it charged forward.
A Battalion Leader was riding on his horse, dressed in chainmail. He held a longbow in his hands. When he saw the wild boar charging towards him, he laughed out, "Good timing."
As soon as he finished speaking, he moved his horse to the side and shot an arrow. A "pu" sound was heard as the arrow hit the wild boar's thigh. The wild boar had two tusks, and its entire body was pitch black. When it felt the pain, it charged forward and drew its bow once more, preparing to shoot.
"Pu" An arrow was shot from afar, piercing through the wild boar's eye. Halfway through, the wild boar screamed out in pain. It wasn't dead yet, and was even more enraged, as it charged towards the soldiers and horses.
"Damn it, who angered it?" The Battalion Leader had no choice but to turn his horse to dodge. At this point, another "pu" sound was heard as another arrow was shot. This time, it pierced through another eye of the wild boar. The wild boar became blind as it charged forward for several feet before slamming heavily into a tree and collapsing to the ground.
Seeing that the wild boar had been killed, a platoon of soldiers ran over.
The Battalion Leader frowned and looked over in anger. He saw a young soldier with a red scarf on his head. He had a heroic bearing and was holding a bow in his hands.
When the Battalion Leader saw this, he was enraged as he raised his whip and scolded, "You're just a mere Battalion Leader, and you dare to snatch my prey?"
The Battalion Leader didn't seem to care about the Battalion Leader's threats. He used a knife to cut off the tail of the wild boar and tied it around his waist. The wind blew against the Battalion Leader's red scarf as he bowed to the Battalion Leader, "This time, it's His Highness's reward. Regardless of rank, whoever manages to hunt in the top 10 will be rewarded handsomely. As long as I can hunt in the top 3, you and I will be of the same rank. You still want to order me around?"
Although the Battalion Leader was of a lower rank, he didn't dare to be careless. With a look of arrogance, he turned around and left, looking for his next prey.
"You dare?" The Battalion Leader's eyes turned red as he was about to shoot the man. He gritted his teeth as he watched the Battalion Leader leave. He then used his whip to hit the wild boar's carcass, "Despicable man, I'll deal with you next time!"
Since he couldn't fight, he could only leave.
Within the hunting grounds, it wasn't possible to ride a horse everywhere. Today, the Battalion Leader and the Battalion Leader were the main characters of the hunt. Everyone on the platform could see everything clearly.
King Lu watched as he lowered his voice and whispered to Xie Cheng Dong, "Mister Xie has a good plan. This way, not only will the hundreds of Battalion Leaders recognize me, they will also fight amongst each other. No matter who receives my rewards, or even gets promoted, they will be my men."
Xie Cheng Dong raised his head slightly and glanced at the general from the corner of his eyes. The general looked at him attentively and replied in a low voice, "Only with enmity can His Highness draw them to his side and use them one by one."
"The most important thing is to mobilize the troops to patrol the borders. Don't be afraid of conflict, but don't let it be too big. As long as there are small skirmishes, King Lu will be able to gain control of the army. This way, the entire army will know that King Lu is the true commander!"
One of the generals saw King Lu talking to the man beside him and bit down on the pig trotter. There was a bone in it, and he chewed it to pieces.
The sun was slowly setting in the west, and the sundial was pointing towards the hour of the evening. King Lu signaled for the soldiers to stop fighting and turn around.
The Battalion Leader who wore a red scarf had some blood on his face, as well as some scars. He was grinning from ear to ear, and had thirty beast tails tied around his waist. When they reached the edge of the forest, another Battalion Leader rode out. Seeing that the Battalion Leader had so much prey, he was extremely jealous.
"Cough cough, from now on, I'm of the same rank as you. You can't do anything to me." The Battalion Leader laughed. Based on his archery skills, there wasn't anyone who could match up to him.
Following the sound of the drum, the Battalion Leader and the Battalion Leader returned to their formation and lined up on the platform. Although there were conflicts, there weren't any casualties. When they returned to their formation, they regained their military discipline and stood in neat rows.
"Officer of the Battalion Leader, count everyone's prey!" King Lu instructed. Following this order, there was another commotion. After some time, everything quietened down.
Seeing that the Battalion Leader had finished counting, the entire place was silent. King Lu walked forward, accompanied by the generals on his left and right. His personal soldiers held their swords in their hands as they walked.
"Long live King Lu, long live King Lu!" Hundreds of people knelt down in unison.
"Rise!" King Lu waved his hands and ordered, "Bring them up!"
Everyone looked over and saw two men carrying the silver ingots. The ingots were covered with a red cloth. King Lu personally removed the cloth, revealing the silver ingots. Under the sunlight, the silver ingots were all silver ingots worth ten taels of silver. The captain's eyes widened in shock.
"That's 98 taels of silver. Ten taels each." King Lu laughed out, "I value warriors the most. When I said I'd reward them generously, I'll definitely reward them generously."
"Men, bring the top ten up."
"Yes!" The top ten Battalion Leader stepped forward. However, several of them had swollen noses and bruised eyes. Their bodies were riddled with injuries. It was obvious that they had fought with each other during the hunt.
"Reward, reward them generously. Each of them will receive a hundred taels of silver!" King Lu pretended not to see anything as he shouted out loudly. Even though the Battalion Leader was extremely strict, they couldn't suppress the commotion. At that point, everyone started to discuss amongst themselves.
The middle-aged general's expression changed as well as he stood up, "King Lu, isn't this a little too generous?"
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