Chapter 42: There are cultivators in Wu State (Please collect and read)
May 9th, the fourth year of the Shoei era.

Xu Mujun led a large army to reinforce Binzhou.

May 17th, the fourth year of the Shoei era.

Xu Mujun led the Longxiang cavalry alone and spent eight days entering Binzhou. In the first battle, he repelled the Wu army, lifted the siege of Binzhou, and gathered the army.

May 21st, the fourth year of the Zhengei period.

The Wu army surrounded Xu Mu's army and confronted it at the Canglong River.

The fourth year of the Zhengei era, June 18th.

Xu Mujun led his 30,000 Longxiang troops and 100,000 border troops to launch a decisive battle with the 300,000-strong army of the Wu State.

In this battle, both armies suffered heavy casualties, and corpses were scattered across the Canglong River, with fish and shrimp in the river scrambling to devour them.

On June 27th, the Wu army was defeated and retreated. Xu Mu's army buried alive 120,000 Wu surrendered soldiers and led his army in pursuit.

July 20th, the fourth year of the Zhengei era.

The Wu army retreated to Heishan Pass and held the pass to the death. Xu Mu's army was stationed in Canglong City and confronted the Wu army in Heishan City.

The two armies were stuck in a long standoff.

On the seventh day of the eighth month in the fourth year of Zhengyong, Xu Mujun was assassinated!
Inside the Zhonghe Hall, Zheng Yi looked at the private letter written to him by Xu Mujun in his hand, and couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

It took only three months after Xu Mu's army arrived in Binzhou that he forced the invading Wu army back.

At the same time, it also posed a threat to the State of Wu.

According to Xu Mujun, both countries have suffered heavy losses and it is not appropriate to fight again.

Especially Dayu.

The civil unrest in the north has not yet been completely eliminated, and the army's food and fodder supply is not urgent. We must stop fighting and recuperate, otherwise we will be in great danger.

Faced with this request, Zheng Yi had an idea in mind.

The ceasefire must stop.

But when to stop and how to stop still depends on the outcome of the battle.

Now that Dayu has the initiative on the battlefield, they can certainly have certain advantages at the negotiating table.

And Zheng Yi also has his own plans.

In two or three years at most, once the Ministry of Industry succeeds in its research on explosives and artillery, we will inevitably have to fight a battle with the State of Wu!
one more……

He looked at the last content in the private message.

On the seventh day of the eighth month in the fourth year of Zhengyong, Xu Mujun was assassinated!
The assassin was a monk hiding underground.

While Xu Mujun was out inspecting the military camp, they suddenly attacked.

But the Xu Mujun of today is no longer the Xu Mujun of that time.

The Xiantian realm warrior, with the help of the flying sword taken from Huo Lingzi, immediately killed the attacker.

According to Xu Mujun's description, the cultivator from the Wu Kingdom was very weak.

Compared with Huo Lingzi, there is a world of difference.

Huo Lingzi claimed that he was at the ninth level of Qi training, while the attacker was only at the third level at most.

Not only does he not have any magical weapons such as flying swords, but he also relies on different talismans to cast spells.

After Xu Mujun reacted, he rushed forward and beheaded him with one sword!
"Wu Country...as expected, there are cultivators there, although they are very weak!"

Zheng Yi said with bright eyes: "Perhaps in addition to Wu Kingdom, there are cultivators in Nanzhao Kingdom, Xueyun Kingdom, Lin Kingdom, Shan Kingdom and other countries around Dayu!"

“It’s just that I didn’t find it…”

"It seems that we need to speed up!"

"Only when Dayu is stable can I devote myself to the search for immortals."

A few days later, the court session.

"If you have something to do, start the show, if nothing happens, leave the court!"

As soon as Liu Chengen finished speaking, someone stood up and said:
"I have a report to make!"

"Your Majesty! Our country has been at war with the Wu Kingdom for more than a year, and the number of lives lost has been heavy."

"Now there are rioters in the four northern states, and the roads for food and fodder are cut off. I beg Your Majesty to withdraw the army and suppress the rioters in the four northern states!"

"Also, Wu State and our country have diplomatic relations. Now Wu State has sent envoys to seek peace. I hope our emperor will send officials from the Ministry of Rites to contact them."

Sitting on the dragon throne, Zheng Yi asked indifferently, "Where is the Minister of Rites?"

The new Minister of Rites, Kong Xiangsi, walked out quickly and said, "Your Majesty, I am here."

"I will leave the matter of negotiating with the envoy of Wu Kingdom to you. Please do not disappoint me."

"promise."

After dealing with a few more minor issues, Zheng Yi said directly:

"I intend to establish a cabinet above the six ministries, select suitable candidates to serve as officials, lead all officials, and handle national affairs..."

This matter had already spread from the palace several months ago, so the ministers present were not surprised. Many people were still speculating, who would be the first seven ministers to enter the cabinet?

Several ministers at the front even nodded secretly.

Your Majesty's move seems to divide the power of the Prime Minister, but the real purpose is to limit Xu Mujun's power.

From now on, there will be no prime minister in the Dayu Dynasty, only a cabinet!
After a cup of tea, Liu Chengen announced the decree: "The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims:"

"…The new cabinet chief, General Xu Mujun!"

The announcement of the first candidate immediately caused a sensation in the court.

"Xu Mujun? Why is it him?"

"The chief minister of the cabinet! This is exactly the position of the prime minister!"

"What is your majesty thinking? Why do you trust Xu Mujun so much?"

"The Prime Minister is Xu Mujun. I wonder if Elder Lu and Elder Cui..."

The people below were discussing, and Liu Chengen paused for a moment and said, "The cabinet minister, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Supervisory Office, Lu Xiangqing!"

"The cabinet minister, the censor Wang Ze!"

"The cabinet minister, the Dali Temple Minister Li Yuanhao!"

"The cabinet minister, the clan leader Zheng Zongbing!"

"The cabinet minister, Imperial Censor Wang He!"

"The cabinet minister, the Minister of Justice Cui Jinghao!"

"These six people are the first cabinet members of the Great Yu Dynasty. They will manage the world for me and bring peace to the people!"

"Your Highness obeys your order...!"

All the civil and military officials knelt down and shouted "Long live the king".

"Ministers of the cabinet, please go to the Zhonghe Hall to meet the emperor!"

Zheng Yi left, and other officials also left tactfully.

Only Lu Xiangqing and six others went to Zhonghe Hall.

"Mr. Lu, I wonder what instructions His Majesty has for the six of us who have been left behind?"

Wang Ze came over and asked in a low voice.

Among the six, Lu Xiangqing and Cui Jinghao have the greatest power and the highest official positions, and are also the spokespersons of the two major aristocratic families in the court.

However, Zheng Zongbing was born into a royal family and was the uncle of the current Emperor Zhengyong.

Lu Xiangqing shook his head and said, "It's nothing more than dealing with the matter of Yang Ni. In two months at most, Yang Ni and his gang will be executed."

"I see."

"I wonder what Mr. Lu thinks of General Xu?"

"Haha... General Xu is favored by the emperor, and he is also the pillar of our Great Yu Dynasty. What do I think?"

"Long live your majesty. Now that you are in your thirties, it is time for you to make great plans."

"Gentlemen, we should loyally assist Your Majesty to bring peace to the world!"

"Mr. Lu is right..."

Soon, the six people met Zheng Yi in the Zhonghe Hall.

"Come on and see Your Majesty!"

Zheng Yi said, "Please stand up, gentlemen."

"I have called you here today because I have three important matters for you to deal with."

"First, Yang Xuansu's rebellion implicated many ministers in the court, causing the government to decline and government orders to fail."

"I plan to hold a special examination in the autumn and add a martial arts examination. What do you think?"

Open Enke!

Several people were stunned. They never expected that His Majesty would actually hold an imperial examination?

You know, although the Dayu Dynasty also had an imperial examination system, it had long been controlled by the aristocratic families.

Those who won the top prize in the imperial examination, or even the top dozens of Jinshi, were all from major families.

According to the rules, the imperial examination is held every three years. Who would have thought that Emperor Zhengyong would hold a special examination at this moment?

But this is also a good thing for them.

In this way, wouldn't it be possible to place one's own people in the court?
Several people all looked at Lu Xiangqing.

Since Xu Mujun was not there, the few of them subconsciously followed Lu Xiangqing as the leader.

"Your Majesty, it is a good thing to hold an imperial examination. But please forgive me for speaking frankly..."

Lu Xiangqing asked: "What is this martial arts exam?"

　Make up for yesterday's chapter
　　
　
(End of this chapter)