manynovel Chapter 17: Undercurrents, Development Stage!
Chapter 17: Undercurrents, Development Stage!
The Battle of Juye was just a small-scale conflict amidst the turmoil of the world at that time.
Many people are unaware that such a war ever took place.
However, after this battle, the situation in the world began to undergo some subtle changes.
Wanyan Ting managed to gather less than three hundred remnants of his defeated army and return to Zhongdu. The rest either surrendered and joined Yang Kang's forces or were released back to their hometowns, becoming beneficiaries of Yang Kang's new land distribution and tax exemption policy.
When Wanyan Yongji received the news of the defeat in the court, he remained silent for a long time with a livid face.
Five thousand men were not a crippling blow to the Jin Kingdom, but the fact that Yang Kang defeated them with only a hundred men was truly astonishing.
The powerful and influential people of Zhongdu then realized just how terrifying a reincarnation of a tyrant who could nearly kill a local commander in a battle involving hundreds of thousands of troops was.
From then on, no one in the Jin dynasty's upper echelons dared to lightly mention using force against Shandong, and Wanyan Yongji's original intention to execute Wanyan Honglie had to be abandoned.
Countless civil and military officials who remained loyal to the Jin Dynasty could only lament in their hearts that the once mighty Jin Dynasty, which had looked down upon the world, had truly weakened.
Fortunately, the World Society did not publicize this matter, and Zhongdu could only pretend that nothing had happened, tacitly accepting the World Society's actual ownership of Shandong, hoping only that Yang Kang would not cause any more trouble.
But sometimes, failure itself is the original sin, and more and more local generals of the Jin Dynasty began to re-examine their loyalty to Zhongdu.
Those who already harbored resentment towards Wanyan Yongji began to stir.
Previously, the Southern Song court had treated Yang Kang with contempt, sending him to a minor official post and giving him a trivial title, treating him like a beggar.
However, when news of the Battle of Juye reached Lin'an, disagreements arose in the imperial court.
Those who advocated war saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and proposed to join forces with Yang Kang to recover the Central Plains together. Those who advocated peace, on the other hand, believed that Yang Kang was a wolf with ambitions and would inevitably become a major threat to the Southern Song Dynasty. They advocated to wait and see.
Ultimately, the emperor of Lin'an made the decision: do nothing.
They neither sent envoys, nor bestowed official titles, nor offered appeasement or recruitment. They simply brushed it off with the excuse that it was a matter for the northerners, not their concern.
In their view, Yang Kang was nothing more than a rebel army that had split off from the Jin state, and that the Mongols and the Jin people should worry about him.
Just like when Xin Qiji and others rose up in rebellion!
The situation fell into an eerie calm, and Yang Kang's World Society had a good opportunity to develop steadily.
Since we've already fought, and even won.
Yelü Chucai and his associates no longer held back in their actions, and all administrative and military deployments within Shandong were completely cut off from Zhongdu.
Every official and general whose loyalty was questionable was replaced. Yelü Chucai devised a framework tailored to the situation in Shandong.
A framework that allows Yang Kang to transform from a江湖 (jianghu) force into a separatist regime and king whenever he so desires.
They gathered refugees, reclaimed wasteland and distributed land, opened up trade with foreign countries, waged diplomatic and espionage wars against the Mongols, Jin, and Song, and established education and civilization within the country.
Yelü Chucai experienced both pain and pleasure. Yang Kang granted him almost absolute power as prime minister, but this also kept him extremely busy.
Yang Kang, on the other hand, devoted all his energy to military affairs.
While expanding and training elites, he also emulated the powerful gang leader, gathering homeless children, teaching them martial arts, and establishing a personal army.
Despite the tight finances of the Tianxia Society, special funds were still allocated to establish martial arts training halls throughout its territory to teach the first three levels of the "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill" and the basic "Quanzhen Internal Skill." Those with exceptional talent were sent to Yizhou Prefecture to become the personal disciples of the Society's leader, Yang Kang.
Yang Kang, in a rather perverse sense of humor, personally created three special branches under the World Society: Flying Cloud Hall, Divine Wind Hall, and Heavenly Frost Hall, stating that the leaders of these three branches would be chosen from among his disciples.
For a time, the practice of martial arts flourished in Shandong.
Inside Yizhou Prefecture, Yang Kang sat cross-legged in a secret room, his body flashing red light from time to time, and wisps of misty energy emanating from his pores.
A moment later, Yang Kang suppressed his inner energy, opened his eyes, and a look of surprise flashed in them.
"The Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill is already at the tenth level!"
"The Nine Yang Divine Skill is only at its peak, not yet perfected!"
"The 'Innate Skill' is so basic that one can barely grasp the basics and achieve little!"
Yang Kang said in bewilderment that his internal energy cultivation had progressed rapidly, but it was far from meeting his expectations. After all, compared to what he needed to do, he was still too weak.
"The integration level is stuck at 70%, and I don't know how to improve it next!"
Yang Kang was clearly annoyed. The thrill of leveling up with inflated stats was abruptly interrupted, which was truly unpleasant.
"Master, urgent news from Zhongdu!"
An urgent message interrupted Yang Kang's thoughts.
In the study, Qiu Chuji, Yelü Chucai, Yang Miaozhen, Wanyan Chenheshang, Zhang Rou, and other core members of the World Society were all gathered.
"The emperor ordered my father to go on a mission to Lin'an, partly to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of the Southern Dynasty and to find an opportunity to attack the Song Dynasty, and partly to search for the 'Wumu Legacy' left by Yue Fei."
"What are your thoughts on this matter?"
Yang Kang flicked the letter in his hand and addressed the crowd.
"With Mongolia in the north, our Tianxia Society will hold sway over Shandong!"
"With so many internal and external troubles, why is Zhongdu still preparing to attack the Song Dynasty? Has Wanyan Yongji lost his mind?"
Yelü Chucai said incredulously.
"The Military Manual of Yue Fei!"
"What good could a book like Yue Fei's last letter possibly do that warrants Prince Zhao personally searching for it?"
Yang Miaozhen said with a puzzled look on her face.
"That's the military strategy that Yue Fei used throughout his life of battles, raising and training troops, and waging war!"
"It is likely that the Jurchens were traumatized by Yue Fei back then and regarded him as a god reincarnated, which is why they regarded Yue Fei's military books as their lifeline."
Yang Kang covered his face and laughed.
Of all his father's actions throughout his life, only two things were truly unbearable for him: being troubled by love and treating the "Military Manual of Yue Fei" as a lifeline for the Jin Dynasty.
"Kang'er, you summoned everyone here so late at night; you must have already made a decision!"
Qiu Chuji stroked his beard and said curiously.
"I am prepared to head south alone to seize the 'Military Manual of Yue Fei'!"
Yang Kang said in a deep voice.
"My lord, a son of a noble family should not sit under a dangerous roof!"
"Your Majesty's military prowess is perhaps no less than that of Yue Fei; Your Majesty's divine martial prowess also gives you the qualities of a hegemon!"
"Now that we have barely established ourselves, why would our lord take such a risk?"
Wanyan Chenheshang immediately and strongly objected. The great cause was already showing signs of success, and he would never agree to his boss taking such a risk at this time.
Moreover, he had accompanied Yang Kang into the army since Yang Kang was young and had an almost superstitious obsession with Yang Kang. In his eyes, there was absolutely no need for Yang Kang to make such a big fuss over the "Wumu's Legacy".
"My lord, what you want is not the 'Wumu's Legacy,' but the fact that you've obtained it?"
Yelü Chucai's eyes flickered, and he immediately understood Yang Kang's meaning.
"Jin Qing understands me best!"
"My father was intelligent his whole life, yet he still regarded a military treatise as the Jin dynasty's lifeline!"
"The deep respect the Jurchen people held for Yue Fei, who lived a century ago, is evident!"
"Yue Fei's last will and testament is certainly not worth my personal trip, but the fear felt by the Jin people is absolutely worth the price."
"Now that everything in my World Alliance is running smoothly, I'll take this opportunity to meet the masters of the martial arts world!"
Yang Kang nodded and said.
"My lord, isn't this still too risky?"
"The current situation in Shandong depends entirely on Your Majesty. If outsiders find out that Your Majesty has left Yizhou Prefecture, I fear it will cause further trouble."
Yelü Chucai expressed his concern, and everyone else echoed his sentiments.
"So, the leader needs someone to impersonate you and stay in Yizhou Prefecture?"
Yang Kang's gaze fell on Yang Miaozhen, and Yang Miaozhen immediately understood.
"Miao Zhen's martial arts are on par with mine!"
"I think with you here, I can be sure of our safety."
Yang Kang smiled.
"What a pity, I can't go south with the gang leader to test the mettle of the martial arts heroes in the south!"
Yang Miaozhen did not refute Yang Kang, but only regretted that she could not go with him.
Seeing that Yang Kang had made up his mind, everyone could only discuss how to proceed.
Wanyan Chenheshang and Zhang Rou were in charge of military affairs, planning how to deal with possible external enemies.
Yelü Chucai, on the other hand, was planning how to spread the news of the emergence of the "Wumu Legacy" in order to maximize Yang Kang's benefits from obtaining it.
"Everyone knows the Shandong Tianxia Society, whose leader Yang Kang and deputy leader Yang Miaozhen are unparalleled in martial arts and are inseparable!"
"If only one person shows up, I'm afraid the outside world will become suspicious."
Qiu Chuji suddenly spoke.
"Master's words are not without merit. May I ask what advice you have?"
Yang Kang looked at Qiu Chuji with curiosity.
"Men should marry when they come of age, and women should marry when they come of age!"
"Kang'er and Miss Miaozhen are a match made in heaven!"
"After the engagement, they used the excuse that both parties needed to avoid suspicion!"
"That will ensure complete safety!"
Qiu Chuji stroked his beard with a smile on his face.
The crowd immediately cheered loudly. Yang Kang was dumbfounded, and Yang Miaozhen lost her usual sharpness, only lowering her head and blushing with embarrassment.