Chapter 656: Emperor's List Reappears

The meeting in the Imperial Study today was brief, but actions requiring immediate execution could begin today.

The first priorities decided were to expand the scale of military recruitment and training, procure sufficient provisions and fodder from various provinces, especially Bingzhou, to ensure logistics, and requisition blacksmith shops and their artisans at fair prices to forge arrows, weapons, and armor. Additionally, under the leadership of Imperial Advisor Du Changsheng, the remaining skilled individuals in the imperial court were to proceed to the front lines as quickly as possible. The plan was for them to catch up with the recently dispatched 50,000-strong reinforcement army heading to the front, so they could all arrive at Qilin Pass together. Further details would be discussed and formally announced to the public during the morning court session the following day.

About four hours later, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng emerged from the imperial palace and returned to the Bureau of Astronomy. Upon re-entering the vast archives, Ji Yuan was still seated in the same spot, reading. As he read, his fingertip traced the characters, as if sensing their meaning, and it appeared nothing had changed since the two men had left.

Ji Yuan only looked up when the two were a dozen paces away.

"You've returned?"

Yan Chang and Du Changsheng first bowed respectfully, then exchanged a glance, with Yan Chang speaking first.

"Mr. Ji, the war in the north is somewhat unusual. According to military reports, many sinister and strange individuals have appeared among the bandit forces of the Zuyue Kingdom. They are all Heavenly Masters and Sacrificers appointed by the Zuyue imperial court, holding official ranks and salaries, and are using dark arts to harm our Dazhen soldiers and common people."

Du Changsheng nodded and added.

"It's not as simple as Lord Yan suggested. While some of those so-called Grand Heavenly Masters and High Sacrificers might be legitimate rogue cultivators or exorcists, many more appear to be demonic sorcerers. It's hard to believe they would willingly serve the Zuyue court, yet that seems to be the case."

Ji Yuan set the bamboo slip aside, his expression calm as he nodded and replied.

"Although the rampant chaos caused by demonic entities in Zuyue has somewhat eased, it has no bearing on Zuyue's national fortune. Now, the Song clan of Zuyue has suddenly become powerful and confident, even able to march their army south to attack Dazhen, and they are assisted by so many extraordinary individuals... I also find this matter rather peculiar."

Hearing this, Du Changsheng tentatively asked.

"Then, what do you mean, sir?"

Ji Yuan shook his head and said.

"Whether they are malevolent spirits, evil cultists, rogue cultivators, or chivalrous heroes, they have all long resided in or around Zuyue territory. Now, they have accepted Zuyue's appointments, enjoying official titles and salaries, and are marching with its army. Regardless, they are now tied to the human destiny of Zuyue, and this has become a conflict of human destinies with Dazhen."

Ji Yuan's expression remained calm, but his words carried profound meaning. Regardless of humans, even most of those demonic entities had long been present in Zuyue. Now, they were all joining Zuyue, much like citizens responding to a national conscription, aligning with the nation's fortune and ethics. This left Ji Yuan unable to find fault.

After a moment of thought, Ji Yuan looked at Du Changsheng and Yan Chang again.

"Imperial Advisor Du, you must be heading to the front, right? When will you depart?"

Although he had not yet mentioned his departure for the front, neither Du Changsheng nor Yan Chang were surprised that Mr. Ji knew about it. Du Changsheng nodded in reply.

"This matter is urgent. Before coming to see you, sir, I already instructed my disciples to prepare the contingent and gather personnel. We will depart before nightfall, without waiting for the imperial decree to be announced at tomorrow's morning court. I also came to bid you farewell, Mr. Ji!"

"It seems you are finally demonstrating the responsibility of an Imperial Advisor."

Ji Yuan said with a smile as he stood up. Du Changsheng's heart was filled with joy, but he maintained a serious expression and spoke in a sincere tone.

"Serving the sovereign's interests after receiving his stipend is no special responsibility; it is merely fulfilling one's duty!"

"Well said. Heavenly Master Du, you must also be cautious on this journey. Although there are no great demons or evils involved, this is now a conflict of national destinies between Dazhen and Zuyue. One of the two is bound to fall; there can be no reconciliation, and the war will only escalate."

"Yes, I will certainly be careful! And our Dazhen will surely receive assistance from more extraordinary individuals."

Without saying much more, and deeming it unnecessary to elaborate on the details discussed in the Imperial Study, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng no longer had the leisure to join Ji Yuan in his relaxed reading and discussions of astronomy and other studies. They each bade farewell to Ji Yuan and departed in haste.

Ji Yuan stood alone in the archives for a while before bending down to pick up a small pile of bamboo slips at his feet, returning them to a large bookshelf nearby. Then, with a flick of his hand, a dozen or so bamboo scrolls from a shelf on the opposite side slowly floated down and settled beside him.

Such ancient books made of bamboo slips contained little content per scroll. Several, or even more than ten, scrolls were needed to equal the content of a single modern book of normal thickness. The archives were so vast largely because treasured books in bamboo slip format occupied so much space.

Ji Yuan sat down again, picked up a bamboo slip from beside him, and began to read its contents, seemingly not overly concerned with the developments of the war.

There were variables, and Ji Yuan even detected an unusual scent of conspiracy, but he had been planning Dazhen's move for decades, waiting for it to bear fruit. Ji Yuan was more willing to believe that this strategy would surely succeed.

Even though he knew countless counterexamples existed, Ji Yuan had always maintained his own brand of romanticism and was willing to uphold it—the belief that evil cannot triumph over good.

That afternoon, Du Changsheng led a contingent of over fifty people, riding swiftly out of the capital to intercept the nearest army detachment en route to reinforce Qizhou.

The next day, after the morning court session, at the four gates of the capital (east, west, south, and north), while market-goers and merchants were still sparsely scattered, riders furiously galloped towards the gates.

"Clear the way, clear the way! Officials on urgent business, clear the center of the road! Officials on urgent business! Giddy-up, giddy-up!"

"Clatter, clatter... clatter, clatter... clatter, clatter..."

"Giddy-up! Make way ahead! I have a leading token and am departing the capital by imperial decree!"

As the leading rider reached the city gate, seeing the gate guards seemingly about to halt him, he immediately slowed down, pulled out a gilded token, and held it high while still on horseback.

"Allow passage quickly!"

The keen-eyed gate guards spotted the token from afar. Combined with the riders' attire, they had no doubt, and promptly moved aside, also gesturing with their spears for pedestrians to clear the way.

The riders once again cracked their whips, urging their horses to greater speed and leaving the capital. The gate guards and onlookers discussed their departure among themselves.

"Oh no, could something major have happened again?"

"What else could it be? It must be related to the northern war!"

"Ah, that's not necessarily true. Those Zuyue bandits in the north are no match for our Dazhen; there's no need to worry."

"Disperse, everyone disperse! Don't linger at the city gate!"

As people discussed, several groups of riders departed one after another. The riders, mostly in groups of five, set off from the four gates and galloped swiftly towards the various cities where they needed to deliver messages.

Soon after, new notices were posted throughout the city that day, sparking a fresh round of public discussion about the war in the north.

In Changle Prefecture City, Tongzhou, adjacent to Dazhen's capital region, officials arrived at the very corner where an old beggar once sought alms, carrying a public notice and a bucket of paste.

"Move along, move along! Go beg elsewhere!"

"Yes, yes, sir!"

The beggars by the wall quickly picked up their broken bowls and moved aside. An official approached, frowned at the bowing beggars as they left, and shook his head.

"They have hands and feet, and they're not old. Why don't they find a job to support themselves instead of groveling and begging here?"

The beggars, of course, dared not reply and simply moved elsewhere.

"Hmph, even joining the army would be better than wasting time like this. Never mind, let's post the notice!"

They applied the paste and put up the silk cloth notice. This time, it was an imperial decree, something that hadn't been seen for many years—not even during the previous Zuyue invasion.

"Hey, they're posting an imperial decree over there?" "What?"

"It looks real!" "Come on, let's go see quickly!"

"Wait for me, I'm coming too..."

The imperial decree had just been posted by the officials on the wall, and already, common folk from around, as well as waiters from nearby restaurants and tea houses, were specifically sent to read it.

Two graceful girls in white, carrying bamboo baskets, happened to pass by. Seeing the commotion, they also approached, just as a scholar was reciting the decree.

"To all talented and righteous individuals across the land: The Zuyue bandits have invaded our imperial domain. The imperial court has raised an army for conquest, but the bandit forces comprise many sinister individuals, aided by various evil spirits and demons. Wherever they pass, lives are plunged into misery..."

After listening to the scholar finish reciting, the two young women on the outskirts exchanged a glance and then quickly withdrew.

In Changxiu Lane within the city, there was a quiet grand manor. A beautiful woman, lightly adorned with makeup, sat in the courtyard reading a book. On a small table beside her were snacks, melon seeds, and fragrant tea brewed with flowers. Her loose white robes concealed a figure that captivated both men and women. This was Bai Ruo's leisurely time.

It was at this moment that the two girls, aged sixteen, hurriedly pushed open the courtyard gate.

"Madam!" "Madam, this is bad!"

"What's wrong? Speak slowly."

The woman in the courtyard did not look up as she spoke. The two girls rushed closer to describe what they had seen.

"Madam, there are many demonic sorcerers in the Zuyue army, and they are constantly reinforcing their troops. It's not at all like many people previously claimed, that they would collapse from prolonged warfare. Our Dazhen army is struggling. An imperial decree has been posted on the streets, recruiting talented and extraordinary individuals for assistance. We heard that our Imperial Advisor has already rushed to the front lines overnight."

"Oh?"

Bai Ruo frowned, then looked up at the two girls.

"Du Changsheng went too?"

"Yes!"

Bai Ruo stood up, holding the book in her left palm behind her back. With her right hand, she tossed a handful of melon seeds onto the ground.

"Clatter, clatter..."

The scattered melon seeds formed a seemingly chaotic pattern on the ground. Bai Ruo continuously performed divinations based on them, while issuing instructions.

"Recite the imperial decree."

"Yes, Madam!"

The two girls, possessing excellent memory, recited the decree word for word after hearing it only once. When they finished, Bai Ruo's movements ceased, and her eyes showed a troubled expression.

"Mr. Ji's whereabouts are currently unknown, yet Dazhen is in distress. If he were to return and find Dazhen in a state of national ruin and families destroyed... Although Du Changsheng received a few pointers from Mr. Ji, his cultivation is too weak to hold out. Even if Lord Yin personally went to the front, he could only defend, not launch decisive attacks..."

Bai Ruo knew that Dazhen certainly had talented and extraordinary individuals within its borders, but she was unsure how many there were or how many would be truly effective. Although Dazhen's divine path was strong, its local deities had their own rules, rarely interfering in human conflicts. Even if they did intervene, it would only be within their designated territories; a local deity's power was not considered immense.

After much deliberation, Bai Ruo looked up at the two girls.

"We have resided in Dazhen for a long time. Let's go to Qizhou!"

The two girls were ecstatic inside, but outwardly suppressed their almost uncontrollable excitement, nodding in response.

"Yes, Madam!"