Edict of Peace 89

Chapter 89: What is a Divine General? Chen Kingdom’s Secret Treasure

Chen Kingdom is located in Jiangnan, a region renowned for its flourishing culture. Even woodcutters and passersby can recite poetry. The current emperor is exceptionally skilled in calligraphy and painting, particularly landscapes, and also possesses considerable talent in poetry and prose.

This example of “leading from the top” (上行下效) means the emperor’s cultured nature influences his court. Most people in the palace understand poetry and could appreciate the subtle beauty of these two lines.

The focus wasn’t on outward appearance but on the deeper meaning, making the poetry particularly evocative. Especially coming from this beautiful girl, her clear and melodious voice, singing in the soft Wu dialect, it was momentarily unclear whether the lines “Cloud-like garments, flower-like face” (云想衣裳花想容) were about the imperial concubine or the girl herself. Xue Shuangtao softly sang the following two lines:

“If not seen on the Qunyu Mountain peak,”
“I would meet you under the moonlit Yaotai Terrace.”

After reciting, a long silence followed. The emperor murmured the poem, shaking his head and sighing, saying: “Previously, I heard the poem he wrote about a swordsman. At the time, I felt that while the talent was sharp, there was always a fierce aura. Today’s poem, ‘Show me, who has injustice?’ (把示君，谁有不平事)…”

“Is my realm not peaceful?”
“Is Jiangnan not tranquil enough?”
“Whose injustice do you wish to avenge with your sharpened blade?”
“This poem, however, is beautifully written and deeply appeals to me.”

The tenderness and grace were visible in Empress Xue’s eyebrows, a slight smile playing on her lips. “That boy is only a little over ten years old. I heard he’s been training at our house for ten years, practicing martial arts, but his father suppressed him, preventing him from showing his talent. This resentment is clearly a yearning for meritorious service.”

“Doesn’t ‘Show me, who has injustice?’ express a desire to take up the sword to support the realm?”
“Your Majesty shouldn’t feel that his youthful spirit and ambition are excessive but rather be happy to have such a talented young man. That’s inappropriate.”

This subtly altered the meaning of the boy’s poem to better suit the emperor’s preferences, and also created an image of a ten-year-trained youth eager to prove himself, thereby winning the emperor’s favor, erasing the ill will caused by the conflicts between aristocratic families and military officials.

Empress Xue smiled and said, “I quite like this poem, Your Majesty. What do you think?” (Note that she doesn’t address the emperor using the formal term for a concubine, 臣妾, in private)

She and the emperor have been married for twenty years, with deep affection. Now, she is finally pregnant, and the emperor cherishes her. He patted her hand and said, “If you like it, then it’s good.”

“He’s a good child.”

Empress Xue said softly, “I hear that recently the Chancellor and General Qi Junsong have some objections to this child. He’s a member of the Xue family, and he hasn’t even met them yet, but he’s already facing their oppression. Who are they targeting with this oppression and dissatisfaction – the boy, or the child in my womb?”

The head eunuch beside them stiffened, breaking into a cold sweat.

The emperor simply smiled, “They just haven’t managed their own children well, meddling in Yu Qianfeng’s affair and taking it out on your Xue family’s guest. Don’t worry about it. I’m still waiting for you to bear me a fine child.”

“As you say, Li Guanyi is indeed a talented young man.”

“Yuan Jingcai?”

The head eunuch bowed and replied, “Your servant is here.”

The emperor picked up his tea, calmly said, “Draft an edict.”

“Today, I heard Li Guanyi’s poem, its beauty deeply appeals to me. He comes from a good family, certainly without any vicious intent. Grant him one hundred taels of silver and a pair of precious jade. Tell Dantài Xiànmíng and others that court struggles must not involve innocent parties in past affairs.”

Past affairs referred to the deaths of those military officials’ sons.

The emperor casually placed his teacup down, softly saying, “Let’s not mention it again.”

Yuan Jingcai bowed. “Yes.”

He sighed inwardly, lamenting Dantài Xiànmíng, the Chancellor, and other aristocratic families using Qi Junsong’s son as a breakthrough point. Aristocrats, officials, relatives of the emperor, military officers, and civil officials were about to clash, when a single, understated remark from the emperor immediately suppressed the minor conflict.

The struggle would continue, but it couldn’t involve Li Guanyi anymore.

Those military officials’ sons died for nothing.

The phrase “remarkably beautiful, pleasing to my heart” (词甚华美，深得朕心) definitively established Li Guanyi’s status as a child of a good family. Most military officials wouldn’t dare use the previous incident to trouble him. He glanced at Xue Shuangtao standing there, wondering if this young girl knew she had just resolved a small conflict and given the Zhenwei Junior Officer, who had not yet arrived in the capital, a powerful patron.

He saw the young girl visibly relax, her hand tightly clutching her clothes.

Her eyes were fixed on the front,

even more focused than the examinees answering questions.

He knew she was nervous reciting poetry before the emperor.

Yuan Jingcai shook his head.

She was still just a young girl, of course she would be nervous!

He was just curious what kind of talent this young man possessed to elicit such efforts from her.

After finishing his tea, Empress Xue personally tuned her qin and composed a piece to sing the poem. The emperor tapped his fingers in time. A voice announced from outside, and the emperor sighed, “I must go to the Grand Sacrifice. These days, I burn incense and pray every day. Only when I’m with you do I feel a moment’s peace.”

He held Empress Xue’s hand, spoke intimately for a while before rising to leave.

After the emperor left, Empress Xue called Xue Shuangtao over. Xue Shuangtao helped her heavily pregnant aunt to sit comfortably. The Empress reached out and lightly touched Xue Shuangtao’s forehead, pretending to be angry, “You little rascal, so bold!”

Xue Shuangtao swayed her arms around her aunt, acting spoiled. “I was only sending the poem to you, Aunt. I never thought the Emperor would be here! Aunt~ Don’t be angry!”

Empress Xue already liked Xue Shuangtao.

Seeing her act spoiled, her expression was charming and adorable, making one want to hug and cuddle her. Even if she had been angry, three-fourths of her anger would have dissipated, and a smile appeared on her face. “You’re so good with words.”

Xue Shuangtao said, “Aunt, didn’t you like the poem?”

Empress Xue replied, “How could I not like such a beautiful poem? ‘Cloud-like garments, flower-like face’ (云想衣裳花想容), it’s so well-written! I just wonder, was this poem written for me, or for you?”

She teased her, and Xue Shuangtao replied, “Of course it’s for you, Aunt!”

Empress Xue teased, “Didn’t he write a poem for you?”

“Of course he did!”

Xue Shuangtao instinctively replied, but since that poem contained her name, she couldn’t reveal it, stammering, “Well, I’ll show you next time!” Empress Xue smiled and nodded, patting her hand. “Since you defend him so much, even your father approves of him.”

“When he comes to the capital, I will host a private banquet. Invite him too.”

Xue Shuangtao was delighted.

She also understood that this meant Li Guanyi now had a powerful patron in the capital. She felt that this talented young man would inevitably stir up trouble in the capital, so having someone willing to help would be beneficial.

That day, when writing a letter, the girl put a box of candied plums in it.

She said the Empress liked the poem and asked if he could write another one for her that day.

After a pause, she erased that sentence.

After thinking for a while, she wrote only eight characters:

Empress Xue snatched the letter to read it, and the girl tried to grab it back, but her aunt, taking advantage of her pregnancy, prevented Xue Shuangtao from touching her. Xue Shuangtao reached out to grab the letter, almost crying. “Aunt, don’t read my letter! I, I can’t write poetry like him!”

“Oh? You can’t? Then I must have a good look!”

Empress Xue proudly opened it to find the girl had written eight words:

“Spring flowers bloom, awaiting your arrival” (春日花开，静候君来)

Empress Xue stood still in the spring breeze for a long time.

She sighed, returned the letter to Xue Shuangtao, and rubbed the girl’s hair. Seeing her tearfully angry, she laughed, “What makes you so different from him?”

“These two sentences aren’t enough.”

“But writing like this, you’re no worse than him.”

“Spring flowers bloom, awaiting your arrival” (春日花开，静候君来).

What does that mean?

The spring flowers have bloomed, and I’m waiting for you to come.

……………………

In the secret realm,

Li Guanyi raised his halberd, pointing at the Xue Divine General ahead. His breathing was still slightly rapid. After continuously unleashing three ultimate techniques and using his Law Physique, his internal energy was severely depleted, and his body was reaching its limit. The defeated Xue Divine General remained calm, smiling slightly.

“Not bad. You managed to beat me by half a move.”

“The right to dismantle this secret realm is yours.”

He casually threw something to Li Guanyi. It was a jade pendant which turned into starlight and disappeared as soon as it touched Li Guanyi. This was the qualification to rebuild the secret realm, or rather, the foundation of the secret realm. As long as Li Guanyi and Yao Guang were together, they could find a suitable place to rebuild the secret realm.

Once Li Guanyi obtained the object, he breathed a sigh of relief. The moment he relaxed,

the spirit that had been supporting his body dissipated. The halberd in his hand felt incredibly heavy, and it crashed to the ground with a thud. Leaning on his halberd, Li Guanyi gasped for breath, his pores opening as sweat poured out. He tried to control his muscles and meridians to close his pores to prevent the loss of energy.

But he discovered that apart from fatigue, nothing was wrong with him.

Perfectly healthy.

Incredibly strong.

The Xue Divine General said, “Golden muscles and jade bones, dragon tendons and tiger marrow. Throughout history, the greatest suffering for generals is the result of consecutive battles. In times of chaos, the scale and frequency of battles fought by generals who conquer the world far exceed those of martial artists in the Jianghu (江湖).”

“Too frequent battles and fighting will injure martial artists. If the injuries heal well, they won’t damage their vitality, but too many battles often mean that one injury hasn’t healed before the next battle begins. Divine Generals are invincible at their peak, famed for their countless battles, but accumulated hidden injuries eventually lead to a poor end.”

“But your fundamental physique does not need to worry about this.”

“Your injury recovery speed is fast, and your defense is strong, like a dragon and tiger transforming.”

“Golden muscles and jade bones, invulnerable to blades – this is the caliber of an unparalleled warrior.”

Li Guanyi finally understood the strength of his foundation.

It wasn’t just defense but also sustainability.

A terrifying recovery ability, the ability to engage in close combat with an opponent, exchanging injuries without hesitation. He clenched his fist, feeling the powerful surge of blood, and curiously asked, “You just said, combined Law Physique?”

The Xue Divine General said, “Yes, or rather, combined vital energy.”

“In our time, those at roughly the fourth level can touch the Law Physique. At the fifth level, one can control the vital energy of a vast army to augment the power of their Law Physique…”

“As you know, the Law Physique is the convergence of spirit, energy, and body. If one can utilize formations to inject the power of tens of thousands of people into the fire of the Law Physique, it will create terrifying power. This is why even Jianghu grandmasters must avoid the edge of military formations.”

“A standard army of ten thousand requires thirty to fifty thousand support personnel. If there are cavalry, even more are needed, usually around fifty to sixty thousand. Among them, there would be two thousand seasoned martial artists, at least two hundred second-level martial artists, ten third-level deputy generals, five fourth-level lieutenants, and the reserve troops also consist of martial artists.”

“The combined spirit, energy, and body of so many people are channeled into a powerful martial artist’s body.”

“Can you imagine how strong the Law Physique unleashed at that moment would be?”

“This is the battle spirit of military formations. Only those who can command ten thousand troops are considered generals. A Law Physique infused with the vital energy of ten thousand men is like an unstoppable force. Any Jianghu expert, any martial arts grandmaster, is like an ant.”

“And if there are two generals whose cultivation techniques ultimately converge into compatible Law Physiques…”

“For example, a dragon and tiger combined attack.”

“Or the five elements, or yin and yang, often unleashing even greater power.”

“For example, if two Divine Generals, one with a Law Physique like the wind and the other with a Law Physique like a raging inferno, join forces, they could create a scene like a raging inferno that could turn the tables, even with less strength. This technique is large-scale military coordination or, on a small scale, a combined Law Physique attack.”

“It requires countless refinements and mutual trust, which is difficult.”

“But once used, it can often turn the tide of battle.”

“And you, possessing multiple Law Physiques, as long as you have the power to command an army of over ten thousand, you’ll be a general. Coordinating multiple Law Physiques to overcome the strong with the weak is common.”

The Xue Divine General suddenly sighed, “What a pity.”

Li Guanyi questioned, “What?”

The Xue Divine General softly said, “A pity I wasn’t born in your era. I really wanted to fight against you when you’ve grown stronger.”

Li Guanyi took a step back. “You fight against me.”

“Old man, stop reminiscing here.”

The Xue Divine General laughed heartily.

Li Guanyi hesitated, sat cross-legged, and curiously asked:

“What level are the top ten generals in the world?”

The Xue Divine General raised an eyebrow. “What, did you make enemies with them?”

Li Guanyi said, “No, I just wanted to ask.”

The Xue Divine General thought for a moment, “I don’t know if the standards for generals have changed in your time, but in times of chaos, culture declines, and martial arts battles become stronger and stronger. In my time, there was a standard for the top ten.”

He held up a finger. “One hundred thousand.”

“A general who personally leads an army of one hundred thousand, initiating a massive war involving millions of soldiers across the land. The army is well-ordered and obedient to orders, capable of defeating the enemy and winning – that’s a Divine General.”

“Initiating a war of millions…”

Li Guanyi’s pupils contracted as he murmured.

Millions of martial artists, over two hundred thousand seasoned martial artists.

Raising their swords and fighting.

Law Physiques roar in the sky, generals charge across the battlefield, the roar and clash of swords enough to engulf the Central Plains. A single rage shakes the world – this is the pinnacle of power in times of chaos. His enemy, the true White Tiger Grandmaster, is such a top commander who can lead an army of one hundred thousand, plus support and supply personnel, a force of hundreds of thousands.

Li Guanyi felt that the road ahead was long.

The Xue Divine General waved his hand. “By the way, where are you going?”

Li Guanyi briefly explained his trip to Jiangzhou City.

The Xue Divine General said, “Oh, Jiangzhou City, Chen Kingdom, a descendant of Chen Xingyuan!”

The Xue Divine General stroked his chin, looking at the young man who had managed to sit up and was dipping a brush into ink, his eyes wide, openly studying his forehead. He smiled leisurely. “How about a trade? You don’t write a checkmark on my forehead, and I’ll tell you a secret.”

Li Guanyi grinned, his eyes burning.

Those were the flames of revenge.

“No deal!”

“I’m going to write this mark!”

“Old man!”

“You enjoyed winning, didn’t you?”

The Xue Divine General calmly said, “It was Chen Xingyuan, the founding ancestor of Chen Kingdom.”

“The good stuff he buried in Jiangzhou City.”

“I think you’ll be interested.”

The corners of the Xue Divine General’s mouth curled up slightly as he opened his hand. “Back then, the emperor of Zhongzhou feared both of us. I am lazy by nature and still left this method behind. With his temperament, how could he not have hidden something?”

Li Guanyi’s movements froze, and the Xue Divine General calmly stated:

“It’s a mount.”

“A Qilin (Chinese Unicorn).”

(End of Chapter)

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