Qian country,

Shangjing,

A warm room;

The people of Qian are fond of extravagance and pursue elegance. As an official of the Qian country, he is naturally a leader in this way. In a year, he may only go to the fields before the spring plowing to make a show and teach the people the importance of spring plowing. At other times, he basically doesn't touch the common affairs of life.

During the war, the Yan people ravaged Shangjing, but now, in Shangjing City, people still sing and dance. You can say that the Qian people have forgotten the pain after the wound has healed, but this is actually a manifestation of the Qian country's vast land, abundant resources, and dense population.

With a big family and a great business, they can afford to squander.

Inside the warm room, the official was wearing an open Taoist robe, holding a handful of dried fruits in his hand, watching the painter in front of him painting.

The painting was very long and wide. The person holding the brush was Xu Fangyan, the contemporary painting sage of the Qian Kingdom. On his left and right sides were also famous painters. On the left was Gu Zhutong, a famous artist from Jiangnan, and on the right was Kong Mingzhou, a painter from the palace.

Even the people who were grinding ink and mixing paints were all famous figures outside.

"Your Majesty, by next spring, this painting, *Winter Solstice Trampling Snow*, will be completed. This work will surely be passed down for generations."

The speaker was Yao Zizhan, dressed in white, sitting beside the official, holding a wine glass in his hand.

It can be said that at this time, this warm room was gathering the true luck of the Qian Kingdom's calligraphy and painting circles. It would not be an exaggeration to say that most of the Eastern cultural heritage was here.

The official nodded, threw a fruit into his mouth, and chewed slowly.

Other paintings,

Some depict spring, some depict hot summer, and some depict autumn. Only he wanted to paint the winter scenery of Shangjing.

The prosperity of Shangjing cannot be concealed even in the cold winter.

This was the hustle and bustle he wanted, and the atmosphere he wanted.

Everyone has different heroism.

The Yan Emperor likes to stand on the city wall and wave his hand, commanding his iron cavalry.

What Zhao, the official, likes is to be in the center of the warm pavilion, raising his eyes to see only the brilliance of literature.

It is difficult to say which is better or worse. In short, they all have their own style.

"Teacher Yao."

"Your Majesty, I am here."

"I like Tian Lang this kid very much, but I am worried that he is too rigid and easily broken. Young people, when their anger rises, may really ignore everything. If he gets a stomachache from eating cold dishes before the formal banquet starts, it would be too unworthy."

"Your Majesty, when I returned from Jin last time, I had a drink with Zhong Wendao, and Tian Lang was also there. This child seems young, but he is not reckless at all.

As the saying goes, jade must be carved to become a useful tool. Tian Lang once said to me that the reason why our Qian army fears the Yan army like tigers is that since Emperor Taizong's Northern Expedition a hundred years ago, and the Yan army's southward advance in the past two years, our Qian army has basically collapsed at the first touch in any field battle, and only dares to defend the city.

Armor can be repaired, cities can be built, warhorses can be raised, and soldiers can be recruited, but the only thing that cannot be recovered without one victory after another is this martial courage in the heart."

"It sounds like there is some truth to it."

"The vigor of youth is also what our Qian Kingdom needs now."

"Vigor, vigor." Official Zhao reached out and picked up a glass of fruit wine, took a sip, and said, "He is a general on the front line, so he naturally wants to destroy cities and seize fortresses, and take the heads of enemy generals, but I am an official, and I am thinking that he has already created a small reputation, and the Yan people have suffered a few losses. If he is lost, it would be like pouring a bucket of cold water on the martial courage of our Qian border army.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. It is certainly refreshing and prosperous to cook with a raging fire, but only when the firewood is exhausted and the fire is extinguished can you truly see the mess on the ground.

What our Qian Kingdom wants is lasting national fortune, not an all-out Northern Expedition to destroy the Yan Kingdom and disappear. The emperor of the Yan Kingdom is used to gambling. If he doesn't gamble, he has no chance to turn the tables, but you can ask him, if he had a choice, would he be willing to gamble?

The world is full of worries and strange things. In fact, it all depends on what you are sitting on, a wooden pier, a redwood pier, or… the dragon throne.

Even this dragon throne has its own particularities, doesn't it? How much silver, how much gold, how many Eastern pearls are inlaid, all are different."

"Yes, Your Majesty is right."

"This is also why I have been vigorously promoting the military family in the past two years, but still vigorously developing literary affairs. In the past two years, we couldn't beat the Yan people, and all the mistakes and crimes were piled on the civil officials and ministers. It is possible, but it is too simple.

Like the emperor of the Yan Kingdom, if the aristocratic families are disobedient, he will trample on the aristocratic families with his iron hooves. It is certainly happy, but the foundation of the country is shaken, and warlords are established everywhere. If it were not for the support of those two marquises, this Yan Kingdom, even if it was at its peak for a while, would be destined to end in the second generation.

Teacher Yao, my meaning is very simple, and the purpose of my repairing this *Winter Solstice Trampling Snow* is also very clear, which is to tell you that our Qian Kingdom's national policy of treating scholar-officials preferentially will not change.

I have given you face, and they must also take a step back for me, and don't take an inch. Otherwise, I don't want to learn from the emperor of the opposing family, but it doesn't mean I can't learn."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

"In addition, I have decided to re-appoint a governor of the three borders. Teacher Yao, please work hard and run around for me and for the Qian Kingdom again."

"But, Your Majesty, I only understand writing and ink, and I don't know anything about military affairs."

"Hahahaha."

"Why is Your Majesty laughing?"

"What Teacher Yao said earlier, someone once said to me, he said to me in front of me, you, don't know soldiers."

"Oh, who is so bold?"

"How about being so bold?" the official asked.

"So bold to tell the truth."

"Hahahaha."

The official laughed, laughing loudly. Fortunately, those master painters who were busy with the *Winter Solstice Trampling Snow* had long been accustomed to their official's unrestrainedness, so they were not affected.

"That person, Teacher Yao, you should know him. He is a Yan person."

"Zheng Fan?"

"People now have titles."

"Earl Pingye."

"The emperor of the Yan Kingdom is still stingy. If Zheng Fan joins my Qian Kingdom, I can confer him a Duke without hesitation."

"Your Majesty is generous."

"Because I know he won't come, so I'm just enjoying myself."

"Your Majesty..."

"Don't have any burden in your heart about the governor of the three borders. First, this move is to quell the controversy in the court. The policy of emphasizing literature and suppressing military affairs has lasted for a hundred years. It is not something that can be changed overnight. As I said earlier, we have to take our time.

Second, I know Teacher Yao's temperament. Teacher Yao can sit on the position of governor of the three borders. If anything happens, discuss it with Zhong Wendao more."

This was almost stated explicitly: precisely because you don't know soldiers and you know that you don't know soldiers, that's why I sent you there.

"I understand, I am willing to go."

"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Yao."

"Your Majesty is too polite. In fact, I also feel that the poems and lyrics I have written in most of my life are too subtle and not strong enough. It is a lifelong regret. I thank Your Majesty for giving me this opportunity."

"Then I will look forward to Teacher Yao's new work in Shangjing. It must be a vast scene like a solitary smoke in the setting sun."

"I will definitely live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

Just then,

A report came from outside the warm room:

"Your Majesty, Mr. Xun Dao from Houhai and three supervisors from the Qintian Observatory are here to see you."

Houhai is not a sea, but a mountain in the south of Shangjing City. The mountain is not high, but it has spring all year round, with flowers in full bloom. Master Zang came from Houhai.

After Master Zang beheaded the dragon vein in Yanjing, only half a white lotus was left to be brought back by Baili Jian. Since that day, the person in charge of Houhai has been Mr. Xun Dao, who is Master Zang's personal disciple.

The Qian Kingdom is popular for practitioners. You can see this from the official's clothes.

"Oh, since Mr. Xun Dao is here, then something must have happened. Teacher Yao, let's go together."

...

Outside the warm room, in a pavilion, the official, who had changed his clothes, walked slowly, with Yao Zizhan following him.

Mr. Xun Dao looked like he was only in his early thirties. In theory, he couldn't be Master Zang's great disciple at his age, because Master Zang's second disciple was already over seventy years old this year.

But when Master Zang found this son, he thought that his luck was amazing, so he directly made an exception and accepted him as his disciple on behalf of his master.

However, this exceptional move caused a lot of criticism. Later, Master Zang's original group of disciples voluntarily took a step back and allowed this Mr. Xun Dao to cut in line and become the eldest senior brother.

"Your Majesty."

Mr. Xun Dao didn't kneel, but saluted with a handprint.

The three supervisors of the Qintian Observatory behind him knelt down to the official.

Before the official could ask,

Mr. Xun Dao said directly:

"A few days ago, Houhai observed that a meteor fell in the southern border of the country, adjacent to the South China Sea."

"A meteor fell?"

The official felt a headache when he heard this.

They don't really believe in the sayings of ghosts and gods. In fact, the ministers don't believe it either, but this doesn't prevent the ministers who don't believe in these sayings from using this to beat him, the official, and accusing him of going against the tide, etc.

It just so happened that he had been promoting the status of generals in the past two years, which had already made the civil officials feel very uncomfortable.

Mr. Xun Dao doesn't have these twists and turns. He never comes to the palace to flatter the official. The relationship between Houhai and the Qian Kingdom's royal family has always been equal.

And the Qian Kingdom's royal family has always had a rule that princes of all dynasties enter the gate of Houhai, but this rule was good at the beginning, but it slowly changed later. It is basically equivalent to the Yan Kingdom's Lakeside Pavilion. Princes who failed in political struggles will be sent to Houhai to be practitioners.

"Your Majesty, this meteor fall is no small matter. After calculations by the cultivators in Houhai, it was found that this meteor fall in the southern border of our Qian Kingdom is not a single one, but is connected to the four phenomena."

"Connected to the four phenomena?" The official asked curiously, "Does that mean there are three more?"

"Yes, a star fell in the western border of Yan, a star fell in the eastern border of Jin, and a star fell in the Daze of Chu.

Although these three stars have not been personally measured, it must be so because of the existence of the four phenomena."

The official frowned slightly and asked, "How to interpret this phenomenon?"

Mr. Xun Dao took a deep breath,

Spread his arms,

And said loudly:

"The four phenomena of meteor falls are a sign of a great struggle! According to ancient books, this phenomenon has appeared twice. Once, it was during the Great Xia Dynasty. When this sign appeared, the Emperor of the Great Xia once said, 'Wherever the meteors fall, they are all my territory.'

Therefore, there were the Marquis of Yan, the Marquis of Jin, and the Marquis of Chu, who held the order of the Emperor of the Great Xia to open up territory for the various Xia."

"After the second appearance, within half a year, two generations of Great Xia emperors died just after succeeding to the throne. The Great Xia palace was in chaos, the Xia Ding was lost, and the Great Xia was destroyed.

The three marquises of Yan, Jin, and Chu established their countries and established their own ancestral temples!"

The Qian Kingdom was the latest of the four great powers to be founded and did not belong to the same rank.

The official said in a deep voice:

"Then, according to Mr. Xun Dao, what does the reappearance of the four phenomena of meteor falls signify this time? I actually already knew what Mr. said earlier about the world of great contention. I want to know something more specific."

"Your Majesty, destiny is unpredictable."

"Oh? Could it be that what Mr. Xun Dao came here today is just to say this to me?"

Mr. Xun Dao knelt down, but not towards the official, but facing the east:

"One is the beginning, two is the birth, and three is the end."

The official closed his eyes and said after a long time, "I understand."

Mr. Xun Dao got up and said, "May Your Majesty be blessed."

After saying that,

Mr. Xun Dao left.

The three supervisors of the Qintian Observatory who came together earlier stood aside.

The official waved his hand and said, "You may also withdraw."

"We take our leave."

When everyone in the pavilion was gone,

The official looked at Yao Zizhan with a smile on his face and said:

"What does Teacher Yao think?"

"It depends on what Your Majesty thinks."

"The world says that Teacher Yao is a good old man who doesn't want to offend anyone. When the son of a merchant is born, he can write lyrics to celebrate it. When a martial artist breaks through his cultivation, he can write poems to welcome him. He doesn't have the attitude of a literary sage, but I know that Teacher Yao has always had no feelings for Houhai."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"I know why, and I'm actually the same. I like to wear Taoist robes just because I think they look good and are comfortable to wear. In Teacher Yao's poems and lyrics, he has written countless times about celestial beings and immortals, but he never mentions Houhai. I think he is like me, thinking that what the people of Houhai do is nothing but a trick to deceive the world?"

"I dare not."

"What dare you not? Zang Fuzi went to Yanjing and beheaded the dragon vein. What did the emperor of the opposing family do? Come, come, quickly cut off the real dragon and let me see!

Hahaha,

Although I shouldn't laugh, I can't help but smile every time I think of this scene.

The Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven, this is the title of the emperor. The emperor is the supreme being in the world. Why is he given the name of the Son of Heaven? Because the sky has no constant form, and because the sky does not exist, he is called the Son of Heaven.

Since God doesn't exist, it's no big deal to recognize a father. Anyway, he can't point fingers.

Those practitioners, cultivate in seclusion to attain enlightenment and immortality, or refine elixirs, and that's about it. But they insist on acting on behalf of heaven and talking about how the celestial phenomena and the will of heaven are, and all they think about is climbing above the Son of Heaven to show off their power and do whatever they want.

What if Zang Fuzi beheaded the dragon vein?

Didn't his Yan iron cavalry still attack my Shangjing city?

Isn't that Jin country, the land of the three Jins, now part of Yan territory?

These things are spiritual if you believe in them, but if you don't believe in them, that's all there is to it.

What Mr. Xun Dao said earlier about the world of great contention, do I need him to teach me?

The so-called one, two, and three, hahaha, after the fight, isn't it one, two, and three? It's obviously an extremely simple principle, but they think about not revealing the secrets of heaven and playing tricks in a roundabout way. Do they really think I'm the late emperor?"

Yao Zizhan took a deep breath,

Knelt down very seriously,

And said:

"Your Majesty has such ambition and such courage. I congratulate Your Majesty and congratulate the Qian Kingdom!"

"It's a pity that I am too young and I am better at maintaining my body than Teacher Yao, so I will definitely die after Teacher Yao. If I can die before Teacher Yao, I can still hope that Teacher Yao will write more beautiful words and phrases to praise me.

By the way, I don't plan to bring that old dog Yang Zhong back this time. First, this old dog has been operating in the three borders for a long time and is familiar with the situation there. With him there, he can also assist Teacher Yao. Second, that old dog is there, and he can also be an object for those writers to scold."

Yang Zhong was the former governor of the three borders, Grand Tutor Yang, who was a eunuch.

"Your Majesty, don't worry, I understand Grand Tutor Yang."

"You, ah, you, you understand everyone. Okay, okay, don't let those mystifying things ruin today's rare good mood. Let's continue to return to the warm room and enjoy the painting."

...

Some people are worried about celestial phenomena, some people are thinking deeply about celestial phenomena, and some people seem to be dismissive,

And some people,

Are dissecting celestial phenomena.

"I'm very busy." This was what Liang Cheng said.

His lord will lead the army to the Chu Kingdom in a while, and Liang Cheng has to be busy selecting the accompanying soldiers. They must be elites, but they cannot affect the training and reorganization process of the main force of the Snow Sea Pass after his lord leaves.

"I'm busier than you. I only have tonight. Tomorrow, I have to take people to the Chu Kingdom first to scout the way. Hurry up. There's only this last bit left. Use your fingernail to try it. Be careful. Can you cut it open?"

"Is it necessary to be so troublesome?"

"Isn't there any highly precise instruments now? Your fingernails are definitely better than my file. There's only this piece left inside. Be careful. I'm afraid that I'll accidentally destroy something good inside."

"Do you think this is gambling on stones?" Liang Cheng asked.

"Isn't it gambling on stones? Hurry up and don't dawdle. It doesn't matter if your fingernails are broken. Anyway, you're not going this time. You can just grow your fingernails at Snow Sea Pass."

Liang Cheng still didn't refuse in the end. He stepped forward, and ten fingernails slowly grew out and began to cut according to Xue San's instructions.

"Slower, yes, slower, cut a little to the left, be careful, be careful."

"Yes, yes, go a little deeper."

"Slow down, slow down, good, good, cut a little more."

Finally,

It was cut out.

A round meteorite the size of an adult man, in the end, only a palm-sized red stone was cut out.

Liang Cheng's fingernails were fine.

Xue San took the stone and looked at it carefully. It didn't have any amber luster, and it didn't seem very heavy.

"Damn it, I thought I could at least get a piece of legendary mithril or something, so I could forge a weapon or something. This thing is not metal at all."

"I told you not to have too much hope." Liang Cheng put his hand away and prepared to leave, and said, "Blind man was still thinking about whether there was any black ice iron."

"Tsk, tsk, well, I'll take this over to hand in to the lord."

Xue San took this up and entered the inner house.

Inside the inner house,

Zheng Fan was playing games with Little Tiantian. Little Tiantian had always liked his godfather, even though this godfather liked to spank his butt.

Xue San had just walked in with the red stone when,

Suddenly,

A burst of black mist directly attacked him.

"Damn it, Demon Pill, are you sick? It's me!"

Xue San was agile and dodged the Demon Pill's surprise attack, but the stone that was originally in his hand fell down.

The black mist went back and forth and instantly submerged into the red stone.

Immediately afterwards,

The color of the black mist began to gradually change. In the red stone, the figure of the Demon Pill appeared, but the Demon Pill's eye sockets were no longer a deep black, but revealed a red luster.

The red stone kept circling and flying around the Demon Pill, vaguely revealing an amber luster, as if there was a light source shining from inside.

Xue San subconsciously touched his chin,

And muttered to himself:

"It's okay, it's not a loss. Just treat it as finding a new nest for the Demon Pill."

This stone was not metal, but it seemed to have a great attraction to soul bodies.

Just then,

The aura on the Demon Pill suddenly began to fluctuate violently.

A look of surprise immediately appeared on Xue San's face,

Was he about to advance?

All the demon kings had secretly experimented to see if they could advance without being separated from their lord.

The Demon Pill's aura fluctuations were indeed, indeed...

At this time, Zheng Fan also sensed something and looked over here holding Little Tiantian.

And after the Demon Pill tried hard, suddenly, the aura on his body disappeared without a trace, leaving only his original appearance. He could even feel his fatigue.

Obviously, the Demon Pill also wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to try to advance, but he still failed.

It was as if there was really a pair of hands in the dark that completely "pinched" the demon kings and Zheng Fan together.

Xue San also sighed, with a somewhat disappointed expression.

Zheng Fan turned his head and continued to tease Little Tiantian, as if he hadn't seen anything in the previous scene.

Sometimes, you have to be deliberately confused.

And the Demon Pill, who had rested for a while, floated over with his new stone and continued to play the game of "I kick myself" with Little Tiantian.

Zheng Fan accompanied Xue San out of the house,

"That's all you got?"

"Lord, that's really all I got."

"Oh, I thought I could get some heavenly material or earthly treasure, but it's okay. Maybe it's some kind of material that is more suitable for souls?"

"Lord is wise. This subordinate guesses that it may be the magic crystal that Western magicians often talk about."

"It doesn't look crystal clear?"

"But if soul power enters it, it will become translucent, like it was before."

"Well, if we have the opportunity in the future, let's go to the West too."

Xue San hurriedly said, "Yes, Lord, we can plan to go to Jiangnan or the West to play after the war."

Zheng Fan smiled; "They don't conflict."

"Huh?" Xue San didn't understand what he meant.

"It's the same to watch while fighting."