Chapter 46: Prime Minister Xu Ning
Xu Ning had invited Meng Yangming for two reasons. The primary one was to deal with the Grandmaster in the palace.
Xu Ning had already asked Xia Yun about this, and Xia Yun had confirmed that a Grandmaster existed within the palace, protecting the imperial family.
However, this Grandmaster was only responsible for protecting the emperor and wouldn't participate in any other conflicts. He was a guardian, not a warrior.
To resolve this potential threat, Xu Ning had gone to invite Meng Yangming. He needed a counterweight.
Although Meng Yangming couldn't necessarily kill the Grandmaster in the palace, he only needed to stall him. When the imperial power changed hands, and since Xia Yun was a direct descendant of the previous emperor, the Grandmaster would likely be powerless to intervene and might even continue his duty by protecting the new emperor.
However, Xu Ning remained concerned about cultivators. He couldn't guarantee that some might covet power in the mortal realm, especially now that the balance was shifting.
That's why he kept questioning Meng Yangming along the way, seeking reassurance.
Hearing that participation would incur divine retribution and severe karmic consequences, Xu Ning felt much more at ease. The heavens had rules.
Meng Yangming couldn't help but exclaim, his eyes narrowing, "Xu boy, what else are you hiding? You're always full of surprises."
Xu Ning was taken aback, then smiled enigmatically. "Senior, don't you know what I'm hiding? You've seen more than most."
Meng Yangming's voice was curious. "How much further are you? When will you reach the peak?"
Xu Ning knew, of course, that Meng Yangming was asking when he would reach the Grandmaster level. The old man was always watching.
Xu Ning answered honestly. "Get me a few more cultivation manuals, and I'll be there soon. I'm close to a breakthrough."
Meng Yangming, however, was puzzled. He had always wondered. "I've always wondered, what do you need so many cultivation manuals for? You don't seem to be learning them."
Xu Ning looked at Meng Yangming and immediately squatted down, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Senior, have you ever heard of a cultivation manual that can be practiced up to the legendary tenth level? Beyond anything currently known?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Yangming's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with disbelief. His breath caught.
What followed was ecstasy and excitement, his whole body trembling. He then turned around and grabbed Xu Ning's clothes, his grip iron. "Do you have it? Do you actually have such a technique?"
Xu Ning gently pulled away Meng Yangming's hand, calming him. "Senior, don't get excited. I'm creating it. It's a work in progress."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yangming immediately deflated. He released Xu Ning and then laughed ruefully. "You kid, you're just teasing me. Getting my hopes up."
Xu Ning asked in surprise, "Senior doesn't believe me? I'm serious."
Meng Yangming shook his head, his voice knowing. "Believe my ass. The martial arts tradition has existed for tens of thousands of years, producing countless martial arts prodigies, but no technique has ever been able to cultivate to the tenth level. Do you know why?"
Xu Ning prompted, "Senior means it's impossible, right? That it can't be done?"
Meng Yangming nodded gravely. "I admit that in other aspects, you are a genius. Your strategy, your knowledge, your medicine—unmatched. But the path of martial arts is too difficult, too demanding. It's not something you can achieve just by wanting it badly enough or being smart in other areas."
"Moreover, based on my observations over the years, your level of genius in martial arts hasn't reached the top level yet. Your aptitude is... average. Good, but not great."
Xu Ning was speechless. He admitted that his aptitude for martial arts was indeed very poor. He wasn't a natural like some.
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"But I feel like I'm missing something," Xu Ning muttered again. "A few more cultivation manuals. Just a few key insights and I'll break through."
Meng Yangming looked at Xu Ning suspiciously, his eyes narrowed. "Are you sure? This isn't just wishful thinking?"
Xu Ning's voice was firm. "Do you want to try? What's the harm in helping me find them?"
Meng Yangming thought for a moment and then said, "I'll find them for you after this matter is settled. When the capital is secure."
Since leaving Mingdu City last time, Meng Yangming had gone back to his ancestral home to retire and hadn't collected any cultivation techniques. He didn't have any new ones for Xu Ning this time.
Xu Ning wasn't in a hurry and said, "Actually, if you give me another two or three years, I'm confident I can produce a tenth-level technique. But I'm afraid you'll get impatient, senior. You don't have that kind of time."
Meng Yangming was taken aback, then became skeptical. "Two or three years? You're not kidding me, are you? That's impossible."
Xu Ning shrugged. "Believe it or not. We'll talk later. Right now, we need to prepare for the siege. The capital awaits."
As the horn sounded, signaling the final assault, the gates of Mingdu City suddenly swung open from within.
The iron cavalry waiting not far below the city walls instantly surged forward towards the gates.
Rumble—
Rumble—
The iron cavalry moved with incredible speed, instantly charging into the city gates. The rest of the army followed behind in perfect formation.
Meng Yangming, who had been chatting with Xu Ning, was stunned by the sight. "Xu boy, don't tell me this is your doing? You bribed them?"
Xu Ning waved his hand dismissively. "One hundred thousand iron cavalry are invincible in Da Xuan. Most people in Mingdu City understand the situation. They know which way the wind is blowing. Bribing them wasn't difficult."
Hearing Xu Ning's casual admission, Meng Yangming couldn't help but say, his voice a mix of awe and amusement, "You scholars play dirty tricks! Especially you, kid. If people like us actually fought you, we wouldn't even know how we died. You'd outthink us before we could lift a sword."
Xu Ning's voice was calm, focused. "Prepare yourselves. We're going to storm the palace next. This is the final step."
With Mingdu City fallen, nothing could stop the one hundred thousand iron cavalry. The army marched directly into the palace, encountering only token resistance.
And as expected, the Grandmaster in the palace made his move, a towering figure appearing on the palace roof.
Meng Yangming leaped from his carriage and engaged the enemy in battle, their auras clashing.
"Meng Yangming, are you sure you want to interfere in matters of imperial power? This is not your fight!" The voice of the Grandmaster from the palace echoed in the sky.
Meng Yangming's voice was firm. "Once my lord becomes emperor, I will be serving the rightful heir. What is there to be afraid of in participating? The mandate will pass to him."
With Meng Yangming holding off the enemy Grandmaster, the army below smoothly entered the court and saw Emperor Xia Qing sitting alone on the dragon throne, his face pale.
Xia Yun, clad in armor, led Xu Ning, dressed in white, out from the crowd. His voice was cold. "Brother, you are unworthy of your position and should yield the throne. Your reign has brought nothing but chaos."
Xia Yun hated Emperor Xia Qing to the core. All his brothers had died at his hands. He would not forgive.
Emperor Xia Qing did not answer Xia Yun's accusation. Instead, he looked at Xu Ning beside him and smiled bitterly. "If it weren't for you, how could I have lost? You turned the tide."
Xu Ning frowned, his voice hard. "Even now, you still think it's someone else's fault? You made your own choices."
If Emperor Xia Qing hadn't been so ruthless towards the other princes, and hadn't forced Xia Yun to raise an army, Xu Ning wouldn't have had to leave the capital. After all, it would have been much better to stay in the Hanlin Academy and study in peace.
As a result of Xia Qing's foolishness, Xu Ning had endured a tumultuous journey across the kingdom. Now, after all of it, he was returning to the Hanlin Academy to continue his studies, but under a new emperor.
Emperor Xia Qing erupted hysterically, his voice cracking. "What did I do wrong? I am the Son of Heaven! I cannot be wrong! Everything I did was to protect the throne!"
Xu Ning, seeing this, said nothing more. He shook his head and sighed, turning away. There was nothing to be gained from arguing with a broken man.
Xia Yun, not wanting to waste time, drew his sword and pierced the emperor's heart in one swift motion. It was over.
Emperor Xia Qing's death also stopped the two Grandmasters who were fighting. With the emperor dead, continuing the fight was pointless. The new emperor was a legitimate heir.
The rest was much simpler. Xia Yun ascended the throne and began rewarding those who had rendered meritorious service.
Xu Ning was directly appointed Prime Minister, the highest civilian position in the land. His other subordinates were also rewarded with lands and titles.
Even Meng Yangming, who had come to provide support, was appointed as a Guardian of Da Xuan, a position of great honor.
With the new emperor on the throne, everything needed rebuilding, and Xia Yun began to busy himself with the work of governance.
Xu Ning, on the other hand, lived a peaceful life, spending his free time reading in the Hanlin Academy, finally able to focus on his studies again.
Meng Yangming didn't leave either. He stayed in Mingdu, often coming over to chat and joke with Xu Ning. Occasionally, he would go out to collect cultivation techniques for Xu Ning, fulfilling his promise.
A year later, Xu Ning passed on a cultivation technique that reached the legendary level of the mortal realm to him. As for whether Meng Yangming could eventually master it and reach the realm above the Grandmaster, that was not Xu Ning's concern. He had given the old man a chance.
In the same year, Xia Yun finally completed the consolidation of Da Xuan. He quelled the remaining internal strife and issued a series of wise decrees that restored order.
Under Xia Yun's capable governance, Da Xuan flourished in just one year. The people prospered, and the treasury filled.
On this day, Xia Yun couldn't wait any longer. He came to Xu Ning to discuss the counterattack against the Cangming Empire and the recapture of Lingnan, wanting Xu Ning to come up with a plan. His ambition was reignited.