Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 58

The Five Virtues, also known as the Five Virtues Shift.

The Yin-Yang school views everything in the world as being composed of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The mutual generation and restraint among the five elements form the basis of this theory.

They believed that all things in the universe correspond to the Five Elements, each possessing its own virtue. The operation of the Heavenly Way, the changes in human society, the rise and fall of dynasties, and everything else are all the result of the transfer of the Five Virtues.

The element of fire will inevitably be destroyed by the element of water, and the element of earth will emerge from its remains.

Lu Wei would need to spend a lot of time to fully understand these doctrines. As a farmer, he hadn't even read all the agricultural classics. To spend time studying Yin-Yang philosophy would be a complete misguided path.

Fortunately, the "Five Virtues" is not only a book of knowledge, but also a book of martial arts!

Its role in martial arts is clearly of greater interest to the steward.

Based on the Five Elements theory, the Yin-Yang School divides the human body into five elements and uses their mutual generation and restraint to develop a unique internal skill.

The most distinctive feature of this set of exercises is that it uses the principle of mutual generation of the five elements to ensure that the internal energy is inexhaustible, and uses the principle of mutual restraint of the five elements to ensure that the attack hits the vital points directly.

Upon closer analysis, it can be found that its internal energy has many similarities with Lu Wei's Rejuvenation Skill, while its attack can be combined with the Farmer's Earth and Marsh Twenty-Four Formations!

If Lu Wei could integrate this 'Five Virtues Skill' into his own Rejuvenation Skill and actively divide his internal energy into the five elements, not only would the recovery ability of this fusion skill be greatly enhanced, but based on the Five Virtues, he would also be able to unleash the Twenty-Four Earthly Destinies by himself, just like Tian Ci!

There's no need to use dual swords yet.

This unexpected gift...we must be extremely vigilant!

After repeatedly checking the Five Virtues Manual twice to confirm that it was harmless and without errors, Lu Wei closed the bamboo slip with suspicion.

Was I being petty?

After encountering the Moon Goddess, Lu Wei continued his journey. Upon reaching the border between Qi and Chu, he received a warm welcome from the disciples of Shennong Hall. After entering Chu territory, there were Shennong Hall bases along the way from the border to Shouchun, where he could rest and replenish supplies.

These branches were all established in the last two years. When Lu Wei first entered Chu with a caravan, Shennong Hall had not yet ventured this far into Chu territory.

If this was the result of Lord Changping's support, then Lord Changping's ability to establish a secret connection with powerful figures in Chu at this point in time, and to keep the news hidden until Li Xin attacked Chu before betraying Qin, is truly remarkable.

Given the intelligence capabilities of the Qin state and the one-sided leaks by the nobles of the six states, it's truly baffling how Lord Changping managed to do it.

With this in mind, I arrived safely in Shouchun for the second time. The city had only aged two years and remained unchanged.

Gonggongtang had no connection with the State of Chu, but after two years of smuggling, the Xiang clan generously assigned Gonggongtang a piece of land very close to the Yunmeng market as a branch.

Each time a caravan from Yan Kingdom delivers its horses to the Xiang clan's military camp outside the city, the other goods on the carts are brought here and sold off at the Yunmeng Market. After that, the goods are replenished and brought back.

As the head steward of Gonggong Hall, Lu Wei naturally chose this place as his residence in Shouchun, and did not seek out a luxury inn to stay in.

The local official received the steward with utmost respect and trepidation. He was an old man who had participated in the last caravan and remembered Lu Wei's appearance.

After encouraging his disciples who remained in Shouchun, Lu Wei left the city the next day and arrived at the Xiang clan's camp. After being informed by soldiers, Xiang Bo, dressed in simple leather armor, excitedly stepped out.

"It's been several years, Brother Lu, you've risen to the rank of Chief Steward. In a few more years, shouldn't I be addressing you as Hall Master?"

His words were full of teasing, and Lu Wei cupped his hands in greeting, his expression showing no sign of unfamiliarity as he returned the joke: "Every time I make progress, Brother Xiang sends me top-quality wild game. To keep my palate from getting increasingly picky, I have to work hard to level up!"

"Hahaha," Xiang Bo laughed, patting Lu Wei on the shoulder, "Then you'll be in trouble when you reach the top!"

As he spoke, he led Lu Wei into the camp.

"That's why I shamelessly came to ask my brother for it in person."

Lu Wei kept his eyes straight ahead. The layout of Xiang's camp had changed drastically since his last visit. The layout was completely different, indicating that a new military formation had been adopted.

The two turned left and right and entered a military tent. It was empty and simply furnished. "Brother Lu, please rest here first. There have been some unusual movements in Qin recently. Brother Dong and Brother Liang have led troops to the border to guard the city and appease the troops. I still have training to do in the camp. After I've taken care of these matters, I'll come and have some meat with you!"

"Brother Xiang Dong went to the border?" Lu Wei asked hesitantly. "Didn't they say his child was coming soon..."

"Judging by the time, it should be at the end of this month, but... sigh," Xiang Bo shook his head: "The country has important responsibilities, and we soldiers can't afford to reunite with our families."

“I once asked the General to make this trip in his place so that Brother Dong could stay in Shouchun and spend some quality time with his family.”

"But military affairs cannot be handled at will according to personal wishes... Before the general had given any instructions, Dong-ge scolded me after he found out, and then he led his troops out that very night."

"Brother Xiang Dong, you are truly righteous!" Lu Wei clasped his hands in a respectful bow to the west, then said to Xiang Bo in a serious tone, "Since you still have military affairs to attend to, please go ahead and do your work. I will wait here for you."

"Well, we can't drink alcohol in the army right now. I'll keep my promise and go hunting with you in a while."

After Xiang Bo finished speaking, he left the military tent.

Lu Wei didn't really know whether there were any conflicts on the Qin-Chu border during this period. After all, there were many large and small battles in the late Warring States period, and many wars may not have been able to develop further, so even if some people died, they could not leave a single word in the long history books.

There are no historical records of Xiang Yu's father; he was raised by Xiang Liang from a young age, suggesting that his father likely died early...

...

In the state of Yan, it has always been snowy during the winter and spring seasons.

In a northern tavern, a burly man covered in thick fur rubbed his hands as he pushed open the door. Through his body, one could see that the outside world was already a vast expanse of white.

He shook off the snow from his body, exhaling hot breath, and went up to the second floor on his own without needing the waiter's help. He found the two men in the corner.

There were no other customers in the tavern, only this table with food and drinks.

"Hero, urgent intelligence from Luqiu Pavilion."

The burly man took out a piece of silk and handed it to the chivalrous man on his left, who was none other than Tian Guang.

Although in the Yan Kingdom he planned to make a name for himself as a "hero of integrity" without relying on the power of farmers to avoid attracting the attention of those with ulterior motives, he also wanted to use the name of "hero of integrity" to gain opportunities to meet with the powerful and influential people of Yan Kingdom who could cooperate with him and spread the Azure Dragon Plan to Yan.

However, it is perfectly acceptable to bring along two absolutely trusted confidants.

After taking the silk, he first poured warm wine for his brother who came later to warm himself up before casually spreading the silk on the table. With just a glance, he grasped the information contained within.

He chuckled, grabbed the silk, and stuffed it into the layer of his clothes at his chest.

"The Luo Wang operation was a complete failure. Not only did Tian Hu, who is Tian Meng's brother, notice the anomaly, but the newly appointed junior steward of the Gonggong Hall also sensed something was wrong."

The man in the knight-errant's attire sitting opposite Tian Guang spoke with a mocking tone, full of disdain.

"Has this young brother Lu returned to Yan?"

Tian Guang didn't respond directly. Instead, he lowered his head, ate two peanuts, and asked the burly man.

"No, according to his whereabouts, he went to the Chu region."

"Judging by the time, with the help of Shennong Hall, we should have arrived in Shouchun by now."

"Shouchun is a good place. It is good for our plans that he can make contact with the Xiang family."

Tian Guang laughed heartily and drank another cup of warm wine.

"Knight Master, that kid has quite a few secrets..."

The man in the wandering swordsman's attire, noticing Tian Guang's smile, spoke cautiously, given his status: "His words and actions are not befitting his age. Moreover, judging from his methods, he is ambitious..."

"Don't pry into your companions' secrets."

Tian Guang interrupted the man in the knight-errant's attire, and casually picked up another chicken leg for him. The man in the knight-errant's attire didn't find it strange, and took a bite.

"Brother Lu joined my farm at a young age and has risen from a verifiable one-star pearl grass to a six-star pearl grass. He has made great contributions."

"His abilities qualify him for the position of a hall master. To doubt him and drive him away would mean sacrificing our peasant faction's resources to aid his side."

Tian Guang then tore off another chicken leg from the roast chicken on the table and placed it on the burly man's plate: "As for Brother Lu's unusual secrets, what does it matter?"

“As long as he holds a high position in the farming community, his attitude will naturally be biased towards our farming community, and he will know how to work hard to seize benefits for the farming community, which is a good thing.”

"Don't let pointless curiosity ruin mutual trust."

"I also have many secrets that I don't want you two to know."

“But he sent someone to kill his rival Tian Zhong. If you, the future leader of the chivalrous sect, are also targeted by him... This man is capable of such a thing.” The man in the chivalrous attire frowned.

"Don't you know about the shady things Tian Zhong did, or even the shady things Tian Meng did?"

Tian Guang shook his head, his smile never fading: "Tian Du, don't look at our fellow farmers with prejudice."

"Infighting among the peasants is better managed by channeling rather than blocking. Since it involves the Azure Dragon Plan, I could die at any time. Letting the various factions fight each other within a controllable range might not be a bad thing."

"No matter which hall master it is, even if it's that fake Tian Meng, he still needs to develop his own halls for the sake of his own power."

"The peasant family, because of its special nature, cannot be destroyed. As long as there are people farming and people suffering, they will naturally become disciples of my peasant family."

"This is the earth's bounty on all things; Shennong is immortal!"

Then he changed the subject:

"How many people have been placed in the farmhouses by the net of infiltration?"

"Roughly estimated, there are about fifty suspects in Daze Mountain."

"As for the area outside Daze Mountain, we cannot make a count."

Tian Du replied.

"How do these people compare to my tens of thousands of disciples in the Farmer's School?" Tian Guang continued to press.

"A drop in the ocean." Tian Du shook his head: "Although the assassins of the Luo Wang are spread throughout the seven kingdoms, even if they all came to hide in Daze Mountain, I'm afraid they could only barely control the positions of my Farmer's Clan."

"As long as the leader gives the order, no matter how strong these people are, they can only die in the mountains and become nutrients for the trees of Daze Mountain."

"That's true in theory, but the Net is tightly organized while my peasant disciples are loosely organized, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to mobilize them effectively." The burly man finally found an opportunity to speak, trying to make his presence known.

Tian Guang raised his hand to touch his short beard, feeling its rough texture: "Human nature is loyal to its own interests, even the assassins of the Luo Wang are no exception. Their lower-level qualities are not much better than those of my peasant disciples."

"How do you think the matter of the fake Tian Meng should be resolved?"

"According to Changping Jun's intelligence, Crown Prince Dan of Yan has escaped Qin's guards and will return to Yan in a while." Tian Du analyzed the situation: "The only powerful person Yan can unite with is this man. Others, such as Yan Chun Jun, are all parasites."

“We shouldn’t act rashly against the leader of the Xia clan in Yan. How about we treat this as a test for the Six Halls?” the burly man suggested, based on Tian Du’s analysis.

“Treating it as a test is fine, but given Tian Hu’s personality, I’m afraid it won’t be able to keep it a secret for long. The assassins of Luo Wang are not fools. If they discover it, it’s one thing for him to escape, but what if he goes out of his way and causes Lie Shan Tang to suffer heavy losses?” Tian Hu did not support this idea.

As Tian Guang listened to their discussion, his eyes flickered. He knew that his own thoughts were the deciding factor, but because of this, the immense pressure made it very costly for him to make a mistake.

"Since the Net has sent us someone, we might as well make use of him."

This chivalrous farmer simply threw away his chopsticks, grabbed peanuts with his hands, and put them in his mouth, while his two companions didn't seem to care.

“It’s not good for training new people if the six hall masters are always holed up in Daze Mountain…” Thinking of Lu Wei, who had been traveling all over the north and south over the years, he smiled and said, “Except for Zhou He, let the other hall masters go south and west and do their part for the farmers!”

"Tian Zang, you take care of this matter..."

He turned his head and gave the burly man a few orders. Tian Zang nodded, put on his cloak, and went back into the snowstorm.

He then looked at Tian Du: "Maintain contact with Lord Changping and find out the whereabouts of Prince Dan."

Tian accepted the order, but added at the end, "Should we keep an eye on the Mohists?"

"No," Tian Guang said, his eyes lowered as he focused on his struggle with the peanuts. "I don't like being disturbed by outsiders, and Six-Fingered Black Knight is no exception."