Chapter 115 East, West, North and South
Qi Shizhou said: "Today, Japan is in a state of division between the north and the south, with the princes fighting each other. The Southern Dynasty daimyo who lost the war organized samurai and ronin to smuggle and plunder along the southeast coast, which is the origin of this gang of bastards.
After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the remnants of Zhang Shicheng and Fang Guozhen cooperated with these pirates, using the islands in the East China Sea as a base to repeatedly invade our southeast and Goryeo.
However, for the Ming Dynasty, the Japanese pirates are just a minor problem, but the situation in Goryeo is becoming increasingly worrying. The previous tribute was also to the point where this was necessary. Now that it has failed, a large area of southern Goryeo has been occupied by Japanese pirates, and the country is in danger. "
Qi Shizhou's face was full of gloating.
Zhao Wumian nodded and uttered two words: "You deserve it."
"Hahaha."
Qi Shizhou laughed: "However, the Japanese martial arts have a long history. Xu Fu of the pre-Qin Dynasty and Jianzhen of the Tang Dynasty brought them superior martial arts, which were then integrated with local traditions to form unique martial arts - Ninjutsu and Kendo. In terms of magic, there are also Yin-Yang magic, which should not be underestimated.
The 'Ghost Eight' is a pirate force composed of ronin and ninjas. They are well-equipped and breed high-level beasts. It is rumored that they are supported by the Southern Dynasty Shogunate and aim to steal the Central Plains' wealth to support the Northern Expedition. They have coveted the mechanical beasts for a long time. The Ministry of Industry will strictly guard against them. You have to be careful, because they are very interested in you."
Zhao Wumian nodded: "Has it already appeared?"
Qi Shizhou said: "Half a month ago, a ninja used the shadow escape technique to sneak into the workshop of the Ministry of Industry and forced the guard to use his magical power [Bottomless Swamp]. This magical power is only possessed by the Japanese exotic beast 'Kawasamu', and Kawashimaru is extremely rare, and there are even fewer who have practiced it to the peak of the third realm. Combined with the Iga school's shadow escape technique, it is almost certain that this person is the ninja 'Wu Yan (Japanese language)', one of the Eight People, which means that the Eight People have already set their sights on the Tiger Dragon."
"Ah."
Zhao Wumian said with a smile: "There is Wang Baobao in the northwest, Japanese threats in the southeast, and Nahachu in the northeast... This is really lively!"
Qi Shizhou also laughed and sighed, "It's much better now, at least the southwest has been pacified. It was really chaotic when Zhang Shicheng and Chen Youliang were still around, and even the Central Plains was in chaos. Now it's just the foreign tribes causing trouble, and the Central Plains can no longer stir up any trouble. As long as we get rid of the White Lotus Sect, which is the most noisy, we will be safe."
"The White Lotus Sect is not easy to eliminate."
As far as Zhao Wumian could remember, this thing was not completely eradicated until the end of the Ming Dynasty. Of course, it might also be that the people who rebelled used this name, so it could not be eradicated and would spring up again in the spring breeze.
"It's man-made."
Qi Shizhou said, "Hasn't one Vajra Venerable been destroyed? Under the leader of the White Lotus Sect, there are 'three Venerables and seven Lotuses'. The seven Lotuses are not worth mentioning. Only the leader, Maha Venerable, and Bodhi Venerable are more troublesome. Recently, Maha Venerable appeared in the northwest, and it seems that he wants to incite the rebel forces in the country and cooperate with Wang Baobao. Commander Mao has already gone there, maybe this time he can be eliminated in one fell swoop!"
"hope so."
Zhao Wumian relaxed and leaned back in his chair. "Don't be nervous. The Qianqiu Festival is coming. The capital is on high alert. Masters from all factions are coming to the capital to present gifts. The Japanese pirates would not choose to attack at this time if they have any brains. Now in the capital, we are not the only ones who dislike them."
"That's true."
Qi Shizhou nodded: "In the past few days, Wudang, Tianshi Mansion, Yinyang Dao, and Wutai Sect have all come to offer elixirs. Many people want them to die."
Sure enough, for the next few days until August 5, the capital was peaceful.
In the blink of an eye, it was the Qianqiu Festival.
Although it would not be a grand ceremony, the palace was still decorated with lights and colors, drums and music, and firecrackers, creating a lively atmosphere.
However, no outsiders were invited. Those who attended the birthday banquet were all related to the royal family, the prince's family, the princess's in-laws, such as the Duke of Wei's Mansion, the Duke of Song's Mansion, and so on.
However, Xu Da, Feng Sheng and others were stationed on the border, and their eldest sons were making achievements in Yunnan, so the ones who came were their second sons and daughters who had not yet grown up.
The people who came to the Chang Mansion this time were Chang Yuchun's second son, Chang Sheng, and Chang Meizhen.
Zhao Wumian followed them in and met Empress Ma, who was indeed graceful and amiable.
Before the banquet started, Old Zhu rarely showed up. After not seeing him for several months, his aura became even more terrifying. When he suddenly appeared, everyone at the birthday banquet immediately knelt on the ground. Everyone was as nervous as if they had seen a ferocious beast or a mad dragon, as if a thorn in their back was on their side!
Zhao Wumian was shocked. It was hard to describe the feeling. He also had the power of a dragon, but compared with Lao Zhu, to use a cliché metaphor, it was like a firefly compared to the bright moon. Lao Zhu seemed to be in the state before a breakthrough. The true energy in his body was out of control and was released wantonly, like a living Yinglong, which was frightening.
The only person who was not afraid of him at the birthday banquet was Empress Ma.
"Zhongba, quickly put away your aura, you've scared the children."
Empress Ma pushed him in a stern tone and said, "You should go back to your retreat."
Zhu Yuanzhang was in a critical state and did not say much. He drank a glass of birthday wine, put down the gift box, nodded, glanced at the people present, paused for a moment on Zhao Wumian, and saw that he had broken through the third realm and his realm was stable. He was very satisfied, asked Zhu Biao to continue to preside over the birthday banquet, and turned and left.
As soon as he left, the oppression dissipated and everyone breathed a sigh of relief without concealing their feelings.
Even Zhu Biao was a little scared, so he quickly livened up the atmosphere and was the first to present a gift to his mother.
What Zhu Biao gave was a rare copy of the ancient Buddhist book "Amitabha Sutra".
Like Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma was also canonized by the Han Song court and was a member of the White Lotus Sect. Moreover, because her adoptive father Guo Zixing had followed Han Shantong in an uprising in his early years and was ranked among the three greatest in the White Lotus Sect, she was even once the saint of the White Lotus Sect.
The predecessor of the White Lotus Sect, the Lotus Sect, also known as the Pure Land Sect, was an orthodox branch of Buddhism. Empress Ma was influenced by it and also believed in Buddhism, so Zhu Biao spent a lot of effort and ordered people to find this handwritten classic by Master Kumarajiva.
Queen Ma really liked it.
Zhu Biao also smiled when he saw this.
After Zhu Biao, the second to sixth sons were all in vassal states. Then the seventh son, Prince of Qi Zhu Gui, gave a jade Guanyin, and then the eighth son, Prince of Tan Zhu Zi, gave a nine-fold flying needle screen. The gifts from the remaining sons were also very valuable.
After the prince comes the princess, and after the princess comes the prince consort and the maternal relatives. When it was the Chang family's turn, Chang Sheng was fine, as his mother had given him advice and he was given a jade flute. Empress Ma was also a musical person, so she naturally liked it. When it was Chang Meizhen's turn, she brought up her Huanghuali loom, and the whole birthday banquet fell silent.
"..."
Chang Sheng quietly covered his face, feeling very embarrassed.
Others couldn't help but laugh.
Empress Ma was stunned for a moment. When she heard Chang Meizhen say that she saw the Empress's expression was not right last year and guessed that she didn't like rosewood, so she specially made huanghuali, she couldn't help but laugh, and simply accepted it and said, "I like it very much."
Chang Meizhen was greatly encouraged and looked at Zhao Wumian provocatively.
Zhao Wumian was too lazy to pay attention to her. He held the pet and walked forward to pay his respects, presenting the King of Yan with a gift and the [Ice Chi Grass] he had prepared.
Ice Chi grass can not only save lives, it is also a very ornamental spiritual plant. Its icy flowers and frosted leaves are fresh and elegant. After being carefully transplanted with frozen soil by Zhao Wumian, it makes people feel calm and refreshed just by looking at it.
It was a little surprising.
Zhao Wumian didn't want to stand out, but he had to be attentive.
After all, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao have been very caring towards him during this period, and he has to respond.
In the past, you were not qualified to give gifts, but now anyone who doesn’t give good gifts is considered heartless.
This is a way of standing in line and also a way of expressing gratitude.
Zhu Biao didn't care about the ice chi grass, but cared about the thoughtfulness, and he was very pleased.
Empress Ma simply liked the Feifei and the Ice Chi grass. She was knowledgeable and knew how difficult it was to transplant such a plant. She also knew some inside information, so while accepting the gifts she also showed great care and encouragement from the perspective of Chang Yuchun's nephew.
Zhao Wumian showed appropriately that he was flattered and stepped back.
After that, the banquet began. The royal meals were served on the table one after another, and everyone started to eat and drink.
Zhu Biao specially brought Zhu Xiongying to meet Zhao Wumian. Zhu Xiongying was still young, only six years old, but he was very methodical in his words and deeds. Zhao Wumian liked him and gave him a small mechanical bird that could fly by itself.
The banquet lasted until the evening.
When I left the palace, the sun had already set.
Zhao Wumian let out a long sigh, thinking that it was finally done.
Chang Sheng and Chang Meizhen followed out and were still arguing about whether Empress Ma liked the Huanghuali loom or not, when suddenly a voice came from behind: "Wait a minute, Lord Jingyuan."
The three of them stopped and looked back.
A handsome young man quickly chased after them, followed by two guards.
Zhao Wumian recognized him. He had met him once at a banquet. He was the consort of Princess Anqing, Ouyang Lun.
He was also the first prince consort of the Hongwu Dynasty who was born into a commoner family.
The son-in-law of the emperor, whose full name is "son-in-law of the emperor", is an official of the first rank, with a title above the earl and below the duke. Although it is a nominal position, his political status is respected, so he should still be given due respect.
The three of them bowed and called him "Your Highness."
Ouyang Lun was handsome and elegant, otherwise he would not have been favored by Princess Anqing. He walked over quickly and said with a smile on his face, "I didn't have time to talk to you at the table just now, please forgive me, Earl Jingyuan."
"where."
Zhao Wumian probably knew what he wanted to do, and said in a lukewarm voice: "It is my turn to greet His Highness."
Ouyang Lun was very satisfied with his words and said bluntly: "I came here to ask the Mechanical Tiger Dragon..."
Zhao Wumian interrupted, "The Weapon Catalog has been submitted to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The mechanical beast is of great importance. If the Prince Consort wants to ask for the blueprint, he shouldn't come to me."
Ouyang Lun's face darkened: "I'm talking about the tiger dragon, the tiger dragon you gave to the Shen family. Is this a big deal?"
Zhao Wumian looked up at him and said, "So that's it. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has given me the blueprints. I gave them to Shen Weiyang so that I could make money with her in the future. Does the Prince Consort want to get a piece of the pie? Or does he want to rob them directly?"
"..."
Chang Sheng and Chang Meizhen turned their heads and looked at Zhao Wumian in surprise.
Now even Chang Meizhen could hear the tension in this statement. Wasn't it too straightforward and merciless?
The transition chapter is harder to write than the main storyline... It’s a little missing, I’ll add it later.
(End of this chapter)
