usatvline Chapter 102: A sword comes from the west, a celestial being descends from the heavens!
Chapter 102: A sword comes from the west, a celestial being descends from the heavens!
Chapter 102 A sword comes from the west, a celestial being descends from the heavens!
Li Shouyi sat expressionlessly in his seat, eating his meal without a care in the world.
This seemed out of place amidst the surrounding scene of clinking glasses and guests enjoying themselves.
Zhu Houzhao didn't even notice Li Shouyi's behavior, but it made the maids she brought from Korea behind her extremely anxious.
"Your Highness, you are a concubine of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Please come forward and offer His Majesty a toast."
A Korean maid spoke softly to Lee Soo-eok in Korean.
Li Shouyi raised his head, saw the beautiful women surrounding Zhu Houzhao, and then lowered his head again.
"No need, he's got plenty of women around him to drink with."
The maidservant urged again in a low voice, "Your Highness, you are now in the Ming Dynasty, you can no longer be as willful as before."
"You are now a concubine of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and your relationship with the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty affects the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and Korea."
"For the sake of Korea, Your Highness, you must win the favor of the Ming Emperor!"
Li Shouyi put down his chopsticks, frowned, and spoke with anger.
"I know, you don't need to remind me!"
It's happening again!
Even before she left Korea, she was constantly reminded that once she entered the palace, she must use every means to win Zhu Houzhao's favor.
Her father, Lee, said so, her mother, Queen Shin, said so, the ministers in Joseon, the envoys who sent her, and even the maids who served her all said so!
This greatly displeased Li Shouyi, even though she knew the importance of the relationship between the two countries.
But she couldn't bring herself to abandon her noble princess status and fawn over Zhu Houzhao like other women!
Li Shouyi lost her temper, and the maid behind her dared not urge her any further, only sighing silently in her heart.
Later, at the end of the banquet, Li Shouyi did not come to toast Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao ignored her and indulged in drinking and merrymaking with the other concubines.
That night, Zhu Houzhao kept Consort Liu Ningwei to serve him in bed, and enjoyed a night of passion.
During the time Zhu Houzhao resided in the Western Garden, the Ministry of Works' vigorous reforms had already yielded considerable results.
After the introduction of assembly line operations, the cost of manufacturing these firearms and warships by the Ministry of Works plummeted, while manufacturing efficiency increased several times over.
It now costs only two taels of silver to make a flintlock musket.
Five hundred taels for breech-rifled cannons, thirty thousand taels for an eighteen-zhang-long steel steamship, and two hundred and fifty thousand taels for a forty-four-zhang-long steel steamship.
Ten thousand cannonballs cost only twenty thousand taels of silver.
Ten thousand bullets, or even as low as three hundred taels of silver.
Li Xiang submitted a memorial to Zhu Houzhao, stating that the remaining silver in the Ministry of Works was more than enough to manufacture 100,000 rifles and 5,000 breech-loading cannons.
There were also ten large steel steamships, each forty-four feet long, and one hundred and twenty small steel steamships, each eighteen feet long.
Furthermore, Li assured Zhu Houzhao that the Ministry of Works could produce these items with guaranteed quality and quantity within three years.
Zhu Houzhao was overjoyed and bestowed upon Li Jingcheng a mansion, and also granted him the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.
Furthermore, the martial arts world, which had been quiet for several months after Zhu Houzhao destroyed the Shaolin Temple, was stirred up again by a challenge letter.
On a night of full moon, atop the Forbidden City.
With a sword coming from the west, the immortals fly from the sky!
Ye Gucheng, the lord of Baiyun City, and Ximen Chuixue, the lord of Wanmei Manor, are going to have a final battle in the Forbidden City on the Mid-Autumn Festival, August 15th!
The duel between two great sword masters in the martial arts world is a rare event that has not been seen in decades, and naturally it has attracted the attention of countless people in the martial arts world.
Upon hearing this news, people in the martial arts world rejoiced. Skilled and daring martial arts masters made plans to go to the Forbidden City during the Mid-Autumn Festival to watch the duel between the two.
Even second- or third-rate experts with limited skills wanted to go to the capital to join in the excitement.
However, Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, and other secret service leaders of the imperial court were extremely furious.
The world is vast, there are many places where the duel could take place, why choose Zhu Houzhao's rooftop? Isn't this a blatant disregard for imperial authority?!
None of these martial arts masters truly took Zhu Houzhao seriously!
Even though Shaolin Temple had been razed to the ground by order of Zhu Houzhao, these martial arts practitioners still dared to choose the Forbidden City as the location for their decisive battle.
That's practically suicide!
Moreover, the duel took place inside the Forbidden City, the closest place to Zhu Houzhao.
Why did they choose to hold the duel here? Was it merely to attract attention and defy imperial authority, or did they have some other motive?
Since Zhu Houzhao was involved, no one dared to be careless, and they all came to the West Garden to report the situation to Zhu Houzhao.
"Your Majesty, it is rumored in the martial world that on the night of the full moon on the fifteenth of August, Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue will have their final battle at the Forbidden City!"
West Garden.
Chongzhi Hall.
Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, Shen Lian, and Zhuge Zhengwo knelt before Zhu Houzhao. They all came to report the news to Zhu Houzhao at almost the same time.
The four men lowered their heads, feeling both angry and humiliated.
A subject dies for his sovereign's disgrace. Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng's duel at the Forbidden City was not only a sign of contempt for Zhu Houzhao's imperial power, but also a severe slap in the face to several of them!
Upon hearing this news, Zhu Houzhao did not fly into a rage as Cao Zhengchun and others had imagined. Instead, he frowned and pondered with a blank expression.
But it was precisely this calm before the storm that instilled fear in the four of them.
Cao Zhengchun broke the silence first, bowing to Zhu Houzhao and requesting permission to serve.
"Your Majesty, this old servant begs for permission to lead five thousand imperial guards. I will surely blow Wanmei Manor and Baiyun City to smithereens!"
After bombarding Shaolin Temple last time, Cao Zhengchun had fallen in love with this powerful cannon.
This time, he also wanted to bring cannons and blast Baiyun City and Wanmei Manor to the ground, ending it all once and for all.
Zhu Houzhao shook his head: "I must eliminate Baiyun City and Wanmei Manor, but not now."
"Have you ever wondered why they chose to hold the final battle right here in my Forbidden City?"
The four shook their heads; even if they had the answer in their hearts, they dared not speculate.
Zhu Houzhao calmly gave the answer: "The person who persuaded Ye Gucheng to take action was Zhu Chongyao, the heir apparent of the Prince of Nan."
"It seems there are still some vassal kings who are dissatisfied with my land survey throughout the land."
These words startled everyone present.
Getting involved with a vassal king changes the nature of the matter.
Ye Gucheng's heart is despicable, and the Southern King's lineage will also not escape punishment.
It could very well turn into another major treason case that implicates tens of thousands of people!
Thinking of this, everyone felt their heads spinning and their bodies drenched in cold sweat.
Then Zhu Houzhao asked another question.
"Have you considered how the martial arts world will react after news of their impending duel on the Forbidden City spreads?"
After a moment of silence, Yu Huatian spoke up: "Your Majesty, there will surely be a large number of fearless martial artists coming to the capital to watch the battle."
"At that time, the capital city will surely be crowded with those martial arts practitioners."
"good."
Zhu Houzhao nodded, and then surprisingly showed a smile.
"This is a great opportunity. I will ensure that all martial artists who dare to come and watch will never return!"
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, suddenly understanding Zhu Houzhao's intention.
"Cao Zhengchun, obey my command."
"Your servant is here!"
"Didn't Zhu Wushi want to come to the capital to see me? I've granted him permission to enter!"
"I not only want him to come to the capital, but I also want him to bring all the imperial spies with him!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"And Ling Luoshi, I also grant him permission to come to the capital to report on his duties!"
"What?!"
"No, Your Majesty!"
Zhuge Zhengwo screamed, his face filled with terror: "Ling Luoshi is ambitious, cunning, and treacherous; he cannot distinguish between loyalty and treachery. If His Majesty allows him to enter the capital, it may cause disaster!"
Zhu Houzhao looked at Zhuge Zhengwo expressionlessly: "Whether he is loyal or treacherous, I must see him."
"Just because it's unclear whether he's loyal or treacherous, am I supposed to ignore him forever?"
Seeing Zhu Houzhao's gaze, Zhuge Zhengwo realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly bowed his head to apologize: "Yes, Your Majesty is wise and far-sighted. I was just being presumptuous. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao watched Zhuge Zhengwo quietly until beads of sweat appeared on Zhuge Zhengwo's forehead before he looked away.
"In the coming days, the capital will inevitably see many more martial arts practitioners."
"Pass down the order: the entry and exit procedures in the capital will be lenient. Those entering the capital will be accepted without exception, while those leaving will be subject to strict scrutiny!"
"But after they enter the city, keep a close eye on them. If anyone causes trouble, execute them immediately!"
Zhuge Zhengwo and the other three immediately bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Finally, Zhu Houzhao added, "Furthermore, we must intensify our surveillance of the regional princes. If the Prince of the South has already acted this way, it is hard to guarantee that the other princes will not have the same thoughts."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Go down and let Wang Shouren come to see me."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
The four men got up and left the West Garden. Not long after, Wang Shouren, the Minister of War, arrived at the Chongzhi Hall.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao gestured with his hand, saying, "No need for formalities, please rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao looked at Wang Shouren and asked, "Minister Wang, are you aware of the news that Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue are going to have a decisive battle at the Forbidden City?"
Wang Shouren shook his head blankly: "Your Majesty, I do not know. May I ask who these two people are, that they dare to be so bold?"
Zhu Houzhao lowered his eyes and chuckled softly: "Just two petty thieves."
"I ask you, how is the training of the soldiers in the Western Hills military camp going?"
This occurred shortly after the Ministry of Works produced the first batch of flintlock muskets and breech-loading cannons.
Zhu Houzhao then ordered Wang Shouren to train soldiers in the Xishan military camp to master these new weapons.
After all, the emergence of a new weapon must be accompanied by corresponding tactics.
More importantly, it requires a corresponding operational mindset.
Zhu Houzhao entrusted this part of the matter entirely to Wang Shouren.
When Wang Shouren heard Zhu Houzhao ask about the part of the work he was in charge of, his expression immediately turned serious, and he bowed to Zhu Houzhao to report.
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