Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

”Does the lord intend to... defy the imperial edict?” The strategist was shocked and immediately said, ”My lord, this must not be done. From the matter of dividing the troops, it’s clear that His Majesty wants to weaken you. If you defy the edict, it will only give His Majesty a pretext.

And if you don’t follow the edict, what will Chen Hong think? He might believe you don’t trust him and will side with His Majesty, which would be unfavorable.

A Third Grade Innate Martial Artist under the age of twenty has tremendous potential.”

Xiao Yunqi frowned, as he was well aware of this.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have pushed so hard with the memorials to appoint Chen Hong as the Military Commander, indicating his appreciation and intention to cultivate him.

However, he hadn’t expected Zhao Ji to extract ten thousand soldiers from his Infantry Department to give to Chen Hong.

This was an encroachment on his foundation and interests, making Xiao Yunqi naturally hesitant and contemplative.

Seeing Xiao Yunqi silent, the strategist continued, ”The reason Grand Commandant hesitates is simply the fear of Chen Hong betraying you in the end. We merely need to ensure this doesn’t happen.”

”Sir, what brilliant plan do you have?”

”The world is bustling for profit; everyone moves for gain. People live for fame and fortune. The Xiao Family has favored Chen Hong with promotion; naturally, he holds good feelings towards the Xiao Family. If Grand Commandant offers enough fame and fortune to win him over, there’s no need to fear his betrayal.

As long as he’s deeply bound, even if he wanted to betray in the end, he wouldn’t have the opportunity.”

After hearing the strategist’s words, Xiao Yunqi pondered for a moment and then said, ”The plan is feasible, but still somewhat unstable...”

”If Grand Commandant feels it’s unstable, you could also marry off the lady of the house to him.”

”That’s inappropriate; he’s a eunuch; how could he marry?”

The strategist said no more, understanding it was inappropriate, so he only offered it as a reference for Xiao Yunqi.

As the strategist dismissed the idea himself, Xiao Yunqi suddenly said:

”Although he cannot take a wife, he can have maids and dancers.”

The identities of the maids and dancers, of course, would be open.

When actually sent to Chen Hong,

it’s up to him what he wants to do.

The strategist did not respond.

Xiao Yunqi continued, ”Doesn’t Qinghong have an illegitimate daughter raised outside?

The Xiao Family’s bloodline shouldn’t fall outside. Find a time for Qinghong to bring her into the residence.”

”Understood.”

...

Weiyang Palace.

Xiao Yunxi received the secret letter from Xiao Qing’Er.

The secret letter was written to her by Xiao Yunqi.

After reading the letter, Xiao Yunxi couldn’t help but shake her head and smile lightly. After dismissing everyone, she gracefully walked behind the desk and began writing: ”Please assure Father that Chen Hong is a trustworthy person, and having cultivated the Child Fire Chapter of the Feather Nirvana Heart Scripture, he is incapable of betrayal...”

After writing, she sealed the letter with wax and handed it to Xiao Qing’Er to deliver it out of the palace.

...

Jizhou.

Julu.

”Big brother, not... something bad has happened, Ping’Er, Ping’Er he...”

Zhang Bao rushed into the dilapidated hall with the secret letter in his hand. At this moment, Zhang Jiao, who was in a meeting with leaders of the Yellow Turban Army from all over, frowned, turned his head to look, and said in a deep voice, ”What’s the panic about?”

”Big brother, something terrible has happened. The entire army in Nanyang has been wiped out, Ping’Er... Ping’Er...”

”What happened to Ping’Er?” In Zhang Jiao’s eyes, a flash of light appeared, and a bad premonition surfaced.

”Ping’Er... died in battle.”

Zhang Bao seemed to use all his strength to get the words out, and after speaking, he handed the secret letter to Zhang Jiao.

”What?”

Zhang Jiao’s body trembled, and a streak of lightning sparkled in his eyes.

”Boom...”

Thunder rumbled outside, and silence filled the hall.

All the leaders of the Yellow Turban Army present were well aware that although Zhang Ping was Zhang Jiao’s second son, he was the more promising of the two.

Otherwise, Zhang Jiao wouldn’t have entrusted him with such a significant task in Nanyang.

Zhang Jiao’s hand, holding the secret letter, trembled, and his face turned ashen. After quickly reading the contents, he immediately roared, ”Chen Hong, who is this Chen Hong?”

”Big brother, according to information from Black Shadow, this Chen Hong is associated with the Xiao Family and is a disciple of the Shenxiao Sect,” Zhang Bao said from the side.

”Shenxiao Sect?”

Zhang Jiao clenched his fists tightly and then coldly said, ”Die, I want him dead. Send orders for all the hidden Yellow Turban forces around Nanyang to mobilize; I want them all killed.”

”Understood.” Zhang Bao nodded. Zhang Ping was his nephew, and now that his nephew was dead, he was furious as well.

Just as Zhang Bao was about to leave the hall,

Zhang Jiao suddenly called him back and said, ”Our plan has been disrupted; we need to initiate our plan ahead of schedule and have Western Shu move first.”

”Understood.”

After Zhang Bao left, Zhang Jiao turned his gaze to the leaders and said in a deep voice, ”All leaders can now return to your duties and await my orders.

The heavens are dead, and the Yellow Heaven shall rise!”

”The heavens are dead, and the Yellow Heaven shall rise!”

”The heavens are dead, and the Yellow Heaven shall rise!”

”...”

The leaders all responded in unison.

Their voices echoed throughout the hall.

...

In the afternoon.

Celestial River City, Luo Mansion.

”My lord, we... we’ve struck it rich. I just had someone tally it up; these seven chests of treasures, when converted, come to a total of 1,320,000 taels.”

Liu Dan handed over the ledger listing the seven chests of treasure to Chen Mo, his voice restrained but revealing excitement.

Chen Mo took the ledger, glanced at it, and then directed Liu Dan to show him where the treasures were stored.

The treasures were kept in the warehouse originally used by the Luo Mansion for storing important items. Though damaged, it had been repaired to be more secure than other parts of the mansion.

Chen Mo had the seven boxes opened.

Seeing the brightly shining treasures, Chen Mo remained indifferent, while Gao Zheng and others were wide-eyed.

Chen Mo was generous, allowing them each to choose a few items they liked, and then said, ”Take out one box and distribute it among everyone, especially those brothers from Eastern Capital who should get more.”

He looked at Xu Dabong: ”Is the list of brothers who fell in Eastern Capital compiled? See who has family, and when we return to the Capital, deliver their pension to their families.”

Xu Dabong scratched his head and said, ”The list is compiled, but most of them were solitary, with almost no families.”

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.

Chen Mo patted Xu Dabong on the shoulder, then said, ”In that case, buy some good wine and food to lay on their graves.”

”Understood.” Gao Zheng and the others nodded solemnly, silently grateful for following the right leader who valued sentiment and righteousness.

Though only one box was used for distribution,

that box of treasure was roughly equivalent to nearly 200,000 taels.

Currently, Chen Mo’s side had only one battalion, nearly 500 men.

Each person could receive almost 400 taels.

About four years’ salary.

After dealing with the distribution, Gao Zheng and the others suddenly returned their share of the treasure to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo was taken aback, ”What are you doing? Bribery?”

”No,” Gao Zheng rubbed his hands, grinning. ”We don’t have anywhere to spend this money in Nanyang, so we want to deposit it in the bank run by Madam.”