r18novel Page 418
Page 418
This man had some troops, but no real power and never participated in the wars of the Spring and Autumn Period. He was known as the most incompetent vassal king.
"Reporting to Lord Zhuge, my 40,000 soldiers are willing to surrender to His Highness the Prince of Tang!"
The surrender of the Zhao family was not surprising at all. With the world in chaos, Zhao Ying lacked the ability to stand on his own, was at odds with Zhao Bing, and was so far away from Xu Fengnian. Apart from Li Chang'an, he had no better choice.
Besides these three who brought troops, there were also more than a dozen first-rank grandmasters. Gongsun Xiushui, the number one swordsman of the former Southern Tang Dynasty, brought four second-rank disciples to join him. The Southern Frontier Dragon Palace, the number one sect of the former Southern Tang Dynasty, even moved the entire sect to Liangzhou.
With the addition of conscripts from Western Shu, Qingzhou, and Liangzhou, Li Chang'an's current military strength has reached 500,000!
However, considering the need to station troops in various regions, only 400,000 men could be deployed for a decisive battle against the Northern Barbarians. In Li Chang'an's view, with elite troops possessing integrated templates, 400,000 troops would be sufficient to completely annihilate the main force of the Northern Barbarians.
[Your power ranking has risen to 2nd in this world!]
Your wealth ranking has risen to 2nd in the world!
The top spot in both rankings should belong to Empress Murong from the North, but Li Chang'an is confident that after this decisive battle, his ranking in both should rise to number one!
During this period, other rankings have also improved, but the system has not yet settled them. Based on my experience from the previous life, the system should settle them once a certain ranking reaches first place.
【排名：权势2、财富2、武力4、风流3、文艺2】
Li Chang'an returned to his study and began to review the latest intelligence, as he needed to grasp the overall situation of the world as soon as possible.
"Your Highness, Princess Ye has sent me with the latest intelligence."
The woman speaking was reserved and cautious, and this maid named Xiaoya no longer showed any trace of Princess Liyang's demeanor.
Zhao Fengya walked over respectfully, knelt down on both knees, and presented several sealed small wooden buckets to Li Chang'an.
After Xu Xiao was killed, Xu Weixiong's three major enemies, Chen Zhibao, Li Yishan, and Xu Xiao, were all executed, and she changed her surname back to Ye.
Li Chang'an originally wanted to name her Ye Qingmei, but Xu Weixiong felt it was too flamboyant and did not fit her current pursuit of being a virtuous wife and loving mother. She named herself Ye Yuqing, and Li Chang'an let her have her way.
[Emotional Level: 100 (Die-hard Fan)]
Princess Ye was indeed a master at training maids. The former darling of Emperor Li Yang had now become her loyal follower. No wonder Li Chang'an felt that Zhao Fengya's gaze towards him was becoming more and more adoring.
Li Chang'an opened the wooden bucket and looked through the intelligence reports one by one. They weren't military secrets, but rather things that were about to spread throughout the world.
Li Dangxin of Liangchan Temple was murdered, and before his death, his Buddhist Vajra Body was destroyed.
Li Chang'an immediately took note: the number one Vajra of Buddhism had been targeted and his powers had been broken.
This matter must be related to the fortune of Buddhism. Besides Li Chang'an, the only other people watching the fortune of the world are the Qi cultivators of the Guanyin Sect and the Fulong lineage.
The Guanyin Sect has already pledged allegiance to Xu Fengnian, and one-third of the Qi cultivators of the Fulong lineage have been killed by Li Chang'an. Moreover, the Zhao family has the Heavenly Human Supervisor and the Qi cultivation of Longhu Mountain, so they shouldn't be going to try to seize the fortune of the three religions.
It seems that only Xu Fengnian, who has finally figured it out, could do it.
Li Chang'an knew that Xu Feng's abilities in his previous life must have been partially awakened. For example, the fact that he exchanged the land of Youzhou for development space was something only a cold-hearted and powerful ruler could do.
If Xu Fengnian were to unify the world in the future, such acts of abandoning the people would gradually be downplayed, and eventually even glorified.
At first, it might be said that he was forced to do it, then it might be said that he was a troublemaker who colluded with the northern barbarians, and finally it might be said that Li Chang'an instigated the troublemakers to let the northern barbarians into the pass.
In short, once one has conquered the world and secured the throne, there will always be great scholars to debate with him.
It seems that Xu Fengnian should have started collecting the fortune of the three religions. Li Chang'an is busy with the decisive battle against the Northern Barbarians and doesn't have time to deal with him for the time being. He can only deal with Xu Fengnian after this battle.
In this decisive battle, the Northern Barbarians will definitely deploy a large number of first-grade grandmasters. Li Chang'an's Absorbing Sea Sacred Heart Mantra can absorb a large amount of power, and he might be able to break through to the terrestrial celestial realm.
There is also intelligence that Zhao Chun and his son Zhao Zhuan have agreed to abdicate the throne, and Zhao Bing will ascend the throne as emperor, appointing his son Zhao Zhu as crown prince.
"Xiao Feng, your father has abdicated, and your Uncle Prince Yan has become the emperor."
Zhao Fengya's status in the Prince's mansion was no different from that of the other maids, and she still heard about the news of the chaos in the world.
Hearing this news now, she finally confirmed that her father had ultimately lost.
"Father is impulsive and easily trusts others. It must be hard for him to sit on the throne. I hope Uncle Prince Yan will treat Father well."
Li Chang'an glanced at Zhao Fengya with some surprise. Zhao Fengya blushed slightly as Li Chang'an stared at her.
Zhao Chun's biggest flaw is that he has never experienced a real life-or-death crisis; everything has gone too smoothly for him, and his thinking is too naive.
Because of their naivety and wishful thinking, they acted rashly and placed too much trust in Yuan Benxi. What Zhao Fengya said was not wrong.
It seems that Princess Ye has completely transformed Zhao Fengya, and she has developed some of her own ideas. "You've made some progress. It seems you're not entirely brainless after all."
Zhao Fengya blushed and replied, "I was ignorant before, thinking that I was a precious person and the most delicate person in the world."
"Later, when we arrived at the Prince's residence, the Prince was more than ten years younger than my father, but his insights and demeanor were far superior."
"That's why I felt that my father was not doing a good job on the throne, and it was also exhausting for him."
Li Chang'an was an emperor for decades in his previous life, so he was much better than Zhao Chun.
"Go and close the door."
Zhao Fengya got up and closed the door, then walked back gracefully and knelt obediently in front of Li Chang'an.
The once pampered princess is now so docile, without a trace of her former fiery temper, which greatly pleases Li Chang'an.
"What you said makes a lot of sense. Today I will reward you properly. Hold your head high."
Zhao Fengya raised her head, her delicate skin slightly flushed, and her bright eyes filled with affection.
Immediately afterwards, her mouth opened slightly in surprise, but she quickly suppressed the shock in her eyes.
Princess Ye had taught her how to do this, so she knew what to do.
She silently repeated a few words to herself: "I must not use my teeth; my tongue must be soft and flexible, and I must be as careful as sucking out the marrow after eating a bone."
Li Chang'an pinched her snow-white chin with one hand, and with the other hand pulled out the gold hairpin from Zhao Fengya's head, pressing his fingers against her hair bun.
"Kneel down and open your mouth."
Then Li Chang'an pressed his slender fingers against Zhao Fengya's hair bun, gradually reaching into the bun and unintentionally messing up the originally neatly styled hair bun.
Some things have their own charm when done by an expert, and their own beauty when done by a novice. Before long, Zhao Fengya lay on the desk with her hair disheveled and clothes in disarray, unconsciously starting to twist her waist.
Ever since she was forcibly taken to the Prince's mansion by Li Chang'an, she knew this day would come sooner or later, but she never expected that she would be so willing.
Princess Ye is right. Any woman would fall in love with His Highness if she spent a long time with him.
Li Chang'an grasped Zhao Fengya's slender and delicate waist, beginning round after round of exploration to seize the fortune of Princess Suizhu of the Liyang Dynasty.
After winning over Zhao Fengya, Li Chang'an's ranking in terms of womanizing actually rose to second place. After all, Zhao Fengya was a genuine princess with a very noble status.
The next day, Li Chang'an arrived at the No. 1 Restaurant in the world and found Minister Nangong teaching Xuan Yuanqing martial arts.
Xuan Yuan Qingfeng possessed excellent aptitude, and indeed, she broke through to the Vajra Realm within half a year. Li Chang'an occasionally came to visit her, and the lively and agile Xuan Yuan Qingfeng was not at all reserved, her favorability rating already reaching eighty.
Nangong Pushe is aloof and reserved, and doesn't dare to take the initiative to communicate with Li Chang'an. His affection level for Li Chang'an is 60.
"Sect Master Xuanyuan, now that you have broken through to the Vajra Realm, when do you plan to return to Huishan?"
Li Chang'an's words made Xuan Yuan Qingfeng feel embarrassed. "Huishan is the Huishan of the Xuan Yuan family, but in the final analysis, it belongs to His Highness. If it weren't for His Highness's righteous intervention, my father and Qingfeng would have died at the hands of the Ancestor long ago."
As expected, he would later become a powerful leader in the martial arts world, and he was indeed clear about his grudges and favors.
"Alright, Qingfeng, you can answer me now."
Xuanyuan Qingfeng cupped his hands and replied, "Your Highness, several experts and retainers from Huishan will come to support us in this decisive battle against Beimang."
"Qingfeng's plan is to return to Huishan with them after this battle."
Li Chang'an nodded and said, "That's the way to do it. You can also establish your authority through this battle."
As he spoke, he glanced at the two beautiful women in front of him, seemingly unintentionally. If he could win over one of them, he could probably climb to the top of the list of ladies' lovers.
Fortunately, Li Chang'an is not in a hurry at all. Doing things just because of the system ranking is really not fun.
He then turned to Minister Nangong and said, "White Fox Face, how long have you practiced your swordsmanship? Xie Guanying will definitely come to spy on this Tang-Mang war and seize the opportunity to gain the upper hand."
"If you want revenge, this is the best opportunity."
Upon hearing this, Minister Nangong's refined face immediately became solemn. "Your Highness, you have already practiced to the sixteenth stage, but I estimate that you are still a bit short of the skill to kill that old thief."
Li Chang'an said, "Go all out. I'll test your skills and see how you do martial arts. Maybe I can help you out."
Nangong Pushe was not a pretentious woman, nor would she say anything like she was unwilling to hurt the prince. She immediately drew her twin swords and began to spar with Li Chang'an.
With Nangong Pushe's cultivation level, he certainly wouldn't be able to cause any harm to Li Chang'an. No matter how ruthless the moves and true energy were, they were easily neutralized by Li Chang'an.
After sixteen strikes, Minister Nangong still couldn't break through Li Chang'an's defenses; Li Chang'an hadn't even managed to extend a single hand.
Nangong Pushe sheathed his twin swords, his beautiful eyebrows furrowed tightly, and his thin lips pressed together.
Her talent was exceptional, so much so that even the innate sword prodigy Jiang Si was amazed, but the gap between her and Li Chang'an was enormous.
Although Xie Guanying was not as strong as Li Chang'an, he was still ranked at the top or bottom of the Land Immortal Ranking. Nangong Pushe knew he couldn't kill him, so he was naturally somewhat frustrated.
"White Fox Face, I've noticed that the more you use your swordsmanship, the more it drains your vital energy."
"If you continue practicing like this, your eighteenth and nineteenth stops will greatly harm you and even seriously affect your lifespan."
Nangong Pushe said without any hesitation, "Your Highness is right. The reason why my swordsmanship is so difficult to master is precisely this: only by being ruthless enough to oneself can one improve one's martial arts skills!"
Xuan Yuan Qingfeng suddenly covered his mouth and chuckled, "No wonder Master Nangong always has such a stern face, there's a reason for it now."
Then, her smile suddenly froze. She thought of her ancestor who had taken over her mother and tried to force himself on her, and she also thought of her father who almost lost his life because of her.
Xuan Yuan Qingfeng said with an angry expression, "If it is truly a life-or-death feud, I would not hesitate to perish together with my enemy. What does it matter if I lose a little lifespan?"
Nangong Pushe's brows suddenly relaxed a lot. She pressed Xuanyuan Qingfeng's hand and said, "Qingfeng's spirit is no less than that of a man. I agree with what you say. In order to avenge my mother, I am also willing to die together with my enemy!"
Unexpectedly, Xuan Yuan Qingfeng's beautiful face changed again, and she sneered once more. The usually serious and reserved Minister Nangong was completely bewildered by this woman's alternating anger and laughter.