765. How to Advance to First Rank Martial Artist

Xu Qi’an sat in the chief seat of the meeting hall, a sword coming out of his forehead.

He occupied this seat not because the others respected his prestige or feared his cultivation.

In theory, Xu Qi’an’s official post was currently the chief of the Nightwatchers, a position with authority rivalled only by the officials of the court. Even without real political power, his rank was higher than Yang Gong, a Provincial Administrator.

“Gentlemen, please speak freely. This official is listening.”

Xu Qi’an looked at the officials on either side and opened the proceedings.

When it came to marching, waging war, mobilising provisions, or stabilising the rear, he was a complete and utter outsider.

In these fields, he could offer suggestions and point out shortcomings, but if asked to organise or oversee them, he would only get in the way.

Yang Gong nodded, taking over from Xu Qi’an, and said,

“This meeting has three issues for us to discuss: funds and provisions, military manpower, and the defensive line.

“Of these, funds and provisions are closely intertwined. After the fall of Qingzhou, though we brought away the bulk of military supplies, the shortage of funds and provisions has continued to trouble us.

“The provisions shipped from Zhangzhou sank into the river not long ago, the entire escorting army was wiped out.”

Zhangzhou was one of the Great Feng’s breadbaskets, with the most abundant stores. Ten days ago, during the armistice, a convoy carrying grain to the Great Feng was attacked en route. Not only was the grain lost to the river, but the escorting troops were entirely annihilated.

This was the Yunzhou rebel army’s deliberate attempt to cut off supplies bound for Yongzhou from various provinces.

The Great Feng’s territory was vast. Whether by water or by land, the journey was extremely long, and encountering enemy ambushes during transport was an unavoidable hazard.

Of course, the Great Feng also sent elite experts into Yunzhou and Qingzhou to launch interdiction operations of their own.

At such a time, what was at stake was the material reserves of both sides, and the number of elite experts each could muster.

Compared to the Great Feng, Yunzhou’s single greatest advantage was its lack of strategic depth. Indeed, having a smaller territory had its benefits; the shorter supply routes and simpler terrain reduced the risk of mishaps.

Li Mubai reflected,

“Yongzhou is prosperous, but we must both stabilise disaster victims and provide for the army, so at most, we can hold out for a month. After that, we’ll have to start squeezing blood from a stone.”

Xu Erlang interjected,

“If we recruit new soldiers, that would greatly reduce the expenditure on funds and provisions.”

Enrolling the aimless refugees into the army would maximise resource efficiency.

Li Mubai replied gravely,

“In that case, we could last three months…”

He glanced at Mosang, the warrior of the Strength Gu tribe beside Miao Youfang, and changed his answer,

“Two months, without trouble.”

The group of officials and generals fell silent, their brows furrowed.

Problems with funds and provisions had always been the Great Feng’s chief difficulty. Without money or food, how could they wage war?

I could have the Flower God hasten the growth of a batch of grain, but that would be a drop in the ocean… Xu Qi’an thought of the Flower God’s spiritual essence.

But he immediately felt the idea was unreliable. The grain that Mu Nanzhi could accelerate was limited, whereas how much did the court need? How many mouths to feed? The scales were worlds apart. Still, the method could be used in an emergency.

At that time, after she was done, the Flower God would surely weep and say, “There’s none left, not a drop!”

This made Xu Qi’an’s lips curl up in a smile.

Knock, knock!

He rapped the table a few times to draw everyone’s attention and said,

“Her Majesty will establish new market towns and open border trade in Chuzhou and Yuuzhou. It won’t be long before the Great Feng has funds and provisions.”

He immediately relayed Huaiqing’s policy from the imperial court.

Imperial decrees took time to reach the provinces, they were certainly no match for ‘Tianjigong spies’ and related organisations that rode swiftly and used transmission magic to relay news.

Of course, once Sun Xuanji’s teleportation formations were completed, communication with Yongzhou would be vastly accelerated.

“Excellent!”

Zhang Shen stroked his beard with a smile,

“These two policies can solve the Great Feng’s most urgent and future worries.”

Establishing new market towns and opening customs trade would fill the state coffers and relieve the immediate financial crisis. Reclaiming abandoned farmland would allow the refugees to till the land come spring.

In these times, pacifying the people was actually simple: give them a few acres of land, and the Yunzhou rebels would find it difficult to recruit refugees as cannon fodder.

Li Mubai praised,

“Back when Her Majesty studied at the Cloud Deer Academy, she displayed remarkable practical ability. Now, seated upon the throne, it is the people’s good fortune.”

All voiced their admiration. Compared with Yongxing, the female Emperor’s ascension had given them hope.

Probably only Silver Gong Xu had the guts to support a woman to become Emperor.

The officials and commanders all looked at Xu Qi’an with respect, but when they saw the sword hilt on his head, they quickly lowered their heads, barely restraining themselves from laughter.

Protector Yuan’s azure gaze swept over the room. His lips parted to speak, but Sun Xuanji handed him a teacup and, deadpan, said,

“Drink!”

Protector Yuan quickly opened his mouth and took a sip, swallowing down the words that had been on the tip of his tongue.

…The gathered officials and generals secretly wiped sweat from their brows and cast grateful glances at Sun Xuanji.

If Protector Yuan had heard their thoughts just now, they would all be standing or even kneeling for the meeting, Silver Gong Xu would certainly not let them off.

Yang Gong cleared his throat and brought the topic back with a grave face,

“The third issue: the defensive line!

“And before that, we must estimate when the Yunzhou army’s next assault will be.”

Zhou Mi, former Commander-in-Chief of Qingzhou, mused for a moment and said,

“The Yunzhou army suffered a crushing defeat in Xunzhou City, their backbone has been broken. They will not come again so soon, not until that legendary Baidi returns to the continent.”

Baidi’s existence was not a secret to these high-level officials.

During the operation to neutralise Heilian, Baidi had not appeared, revealing that it was not on the continent.

“No, I think they will attack Yongzhou in the coming days.”

Li Mubai offered a different view. The Cloud Deer Academy scholar analysed:

“Firstly, the Spring Sacrifice is near. If the fight drags out for half a year or a year, Yunzhou can bear it, but draw it out for several years and they will be worn down by the war. Her Majesty’s new policies are the foundation for a war of attrition.

“If the Yunzhou rebels learn of this, they will never delay, but attack immediately.”

Miao Youfang suddenly commented,

“Perhaps they’ll attack Yuuzhou instead, to disrupt the court’s plans.”

Yuuzhou bordered the Southern Marches.

He had only just finished speaking when Xu Erlang by his side objected,

“Yunzhou doesn’t have enough troops to fight a two-front war.”

That was why Yunzhou had previously tried to seize Yuuzhou peacefully by negotiation, without a fight.

Everyone realised again that if the negotiations had succeeded, and the Yunzhou forces had taken over Yuuzhou or Zhangzhou, all truly would have been lost, and the court’s fall would have just been a matter of time.

The Great Feng has already paced on the edge of destruction once… The civil and military officials sighed inwardly.

Silver Gong Xu’s coup had changed the fate of the Great Feng dynasty.

Yang Gong drew the conclusion,

“From recuperation to mobilisation, no more than half a month will pass. Before the Spring Sacrifice, Yunzhou and us will fight another bitter battle. Next, we must build our first defensive line and choose a commander to hold it…”

…

Qingzhou Provincial Administration.

On the same morning, the Yunzhou military top brass were also holding a meeting.

Once everyone had arrived, Ge Wenxuan glanced around at the group and began,

“The Tianjigong has just received news that the capital is planning to open border markets in Jianzhou and Yuuzhou, establishing commercial links with the northern Yao and barbarians, the Southern Marches shaman clans, and the Wanyao Kingdom, to replenish the state treasury. Additionally, there is another decree to repurchase land from local gentry and nobles at its original price, and after the spring sacrifice, to use it for the resettlement of refugees.

“This is not a good sign, it strikes at all the weak points of Yunzhou.”

At these words, the senior officers present all furrowed their brows, realising the impact these two decrees would have on the situation once implemented.

Zhuo Haoran curled his lips and said,

“Opening border markets? Dream on. I’ll take my death-warriors and wipe them all out.”

Ge Wenxuan replied blandly,

“Go ahead, we’ll arrange your funeral in advance for you, General Zhuo.”

Zhuo Haoran bristled.

Without giving him a chance to get angry, Yang Chuannan interjected in a grave tone,

“As for Jianzhou, it’s too far away for us to get involved.

“Yuuzhou borders Qingzhou, so it’s within our reach. But have you considered that once the court opens border markets, the happiest parties will be the shaman clans, the Wanyao Kingdom, and the Central Plains merchant caravans.

“The Central Plains has tea, porcelain, silk, salt, and iron, all of which the shaman clans desperately need. The Wanyao Kingdom has just founded their country, apart from herbs and food, they’re short of everything. Both the shaman clans and the Yao will definitely station troops at the trading posts.

“And the Southern Marches are rich in resources, enough to drive profit-seeking merchants wild. In the past, when the shaman clans and the Great Feng were at odds, and during the Buddhist rule of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, they refused to trade with the Central Plains, so they were helpless.

“Now with those concerns gone, there’s bound to be a flood of caravans descending on Yuuzhou. The world is not peaceful, so they’ll hire armed escorts of some scale. If you take your death-warriors to wipe them out, just who will actually be destroying whom?”

It was worth bearing in mind that the martial world of the Central Plains was flourishing, with countless factions.

These jianghu roughnecks cared nothing for the fate of the Great Feng, but could be driven by profit. There might even be caravans formed by various jianghu factions heading to Yuuzhou.

Ge Wenxuan nodded, agreeing with Yang Chuannan’s analysis, and added:

“If we launch a campaign on Yuuzhou, with our current troops and supplies, fighting on two fronts would be risky.”

Zhuo Haoran fell silent.

Qi Guangbo spoke calmly,

“Now you understand why Xu Qi’an went to such lengths to support a woman ascending the throne? In supporting the Eldest Princess, he not only secured his rear, but because this woman has unrivalled talent, Xu Qi’an has been given wings.

“In future, we shall not only face Xu Qi’an, but also this female Emperor of the Great Feng.”

A senior officer, after pondering a moment, tried,

“With the Jianzheng absent from the capital, why doesn’t the National Teacher simply march in and slay this female Emperor?”

Everyone’s eyes lit up, they felt this was feasible.

Qi Guangbo was silent for a moment, then sighed,

“That would mean total destruction for both sides.”

He did not elaborate, but glanced at the taciturn, somewhat withdrawn Ji Xuan, and said,

“Being obsessed by emotion does not make an Emperor. If you would avoid the contempt of the National Teacher and His Majesty, erase the name ‘Ji Yuan’ from your heart.”

Ji Xuan nodded, saying nothing.

Qi Guangbo continued,

“Yuuzhou must be taken, but not yet. Prepare to attack Yongzhou first, I’ll give you half a month. We move on Yuuzhou in half a month.”

Yang Chuannan was taken aback,

“General, aren’t we waiting for Baidi?”

Qi Guangbo shook his head,

“The Great Feng can afford attrition, we cannot. Besides, Luo Yuheng’s tribulation is imminent, and Xu Qi’an is also an unstable factor, the more time we give them, the more uncontrollable things become.

“Besides, do you know when Baidi will return? Yunzhou’s fate, our fate, will not be pinned on an outside helper.”

…

【ONE: The teleportation formation in the palace must be in our bedchamber. If you’re worried about Lin’an, have Sun Xuanji build another in her Shaoyin Palace. Should Xu Pingfeng or Agaruka really attack the capital, only if the formation is in our bedchamber will we have even a slim chance of survival.】

【THREE: No problem. As long as Your Majesty doesn’t mind, naturally, neither does your servant.】

【ONE: What do you mean by that?】

【THREE: I need to keep some targeted teleportation talismans linked to the palace at hand, too.】

For a long time, Huaiqing said nothing, but neither did she say no.

Xu Qi’an continued writing, 【But should it really come to that, it will indeed be desperate circumstances.】

They were communicating in private.

【ONE: At the end of the Annals of Zhou, in the Yongyu era, the Church of the Warlock God marched on the capital. Emperor Yongyu, escorted by his army, fled the capital, leaving the imperial womenfolk and commoners behind. The Church of the Warlock God’s army slaughtered for three days and nights, and abducted the imperial princesses and concubines back to the northeast.

【Emperor Yongyu regrouped at the border, gathered a great army, and within six years drove the Church of the Warlock God’s army out of the Central Plains.

【The capital has never truly mattered. As long as we live, the Great Feng will not fall.】

Huaiqing’s transmission exuded a powerful, matchless confidence.

【ONE: Moreover, if Xu Pingfeng dares come to the capital, he can forget about returning to Qingzhou or Yunzhou in a hurry, this is our chance to wipe out the Yunzhou rebels’ headquarters. Given Xu Pingfeng’s temperament, he won’t opt for mutually assured destruction unless driven to desperation.

【You ought to focus on two things: one, helping the National Teacher weather her tribulation; two, how to advance to the first rank.】

So, help the National Teacher ascend to the first rank… Tsk, this Silver Gong is under an imperial mandate for dual cultivation… Xu Qi’an wrote back,

【Understood.】

Their conversation ended.

Xu Qi’an sat atop the Xunzhou city wall, gazing at the azure sky, pondering for a long time.

For every major system, after advancement there were no more bottlenecks.

As long as one accumulated qi, honed the body, and raised Broken Jade, one could, with time, steadily push their cultivation to the peak of second rank.

In other words, whatever the system or the rank, the hardest part was breaking through the threshold.

Xu Qi’an himself had relied on Wei Yuan’s blood pill to break through to third-rank Undying Body. After that there had been no bottleneck, dual cultivation with the National Teacher had seen his qi build up steadily.

The real challenge was the hurdle of advancing to a new rank.

Just like the old man, the step from initial third rank to peak third rank took a few decades.

But the leap to second rank held him back for a full five hundred years.

Advancing from third to second rank is Hedao, completing the ‘Will.’ But what of advancing from second rank to first? Xu Qi’an frowned deeply.

There seems to be no name for first-rank martial artist, there’s more to this than meets the eye. I feel the martial artist path might be the most special, and perhaps the most profound, of all.

The martial artist system had existed since ancient times, yet no Beyond-rank had ever appeared.

And the first rank for martial artists had no name.

Just these two points alone showed there was something off about this system.

He closed his eyes, sat cross-legged to investigate himself, and unsealed the seal on Master Shenshu.

With his current second-rank power, sealing Shenshu’s right arm was no trouble. Though Master Shenshu was a monk and didn’t care about matters of men and women, Xu Qi’an still didn’t like anyone watching during dual cultivation.

Luo Yuheng also refused to be upstaged by a little Silver Gong with a bystander on hand.

Before him appeared a hazy mist, drifting like gauze, and in the depths of the clouds and mists stood a dilapidated temple. Sitting before the temple gate was a handsome young monk.

“Master, I have a question,” Xu Qi’an pressed his palms together.

“How does one advance to first-rank martial artist?”

765. How to Advance to First Rank Martial Artist

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