Chapter 137 Do you really think the Song Dynasty is that simple?
No one knew that the commotion caused by Wang Yangming in the Ming Dynasty had attracted the attention of a great emperor in the west of the continent.

Gao Changsheng certainly didn't know that the vast empire in the west of the continent, the supreme dragon, might have already taken action.

Of course, even if he knew, Gao Changsheng might not care.

There are definitely more than just one or two people in this world who want to unify the Nine Continents.

That is the highest dream in every emperor's heart.

But how vast is Jiuzhou.

It is difficult to fully appreciate how far the distance between the East and the West is just through words.

Of course the Qin Dynasty is strong.

When Ying Zheng ascended the throne and founded the country, the black dragon flew across the sky and roared in the sky, which shook the entire Jiuzhou.

But no matter how powerful the Qin Dynasty was and how strong its army was, it was unlikely to cross from the west to the east all at once.

At this time, Gao Changsheng was still in Li Yang.

It's not that I'm obsessed with fishing.

Instead, he was intercepted on his way north.

Perhaps the word "intercept" is not appropriate, it should be said that we just happened to meet on the way.

The person who came was none other than Lieutenant General Li who had been following him.

Gao Changsheng was indeed a little surprised when he saw the other person for the first time.

But after thinking about it, he realized that the other party suddenly came south to find him, and something must have happened.

And the next second, a person walked out from behind Lieutenant General Li, which made Gao Changsheng understand the situation instantly.

It was a woman, the left half of her face was covered with black spots, which instantly made her originally beautiful face lose most of its charm.

The woman's eyes flushed red, and she looked at Gao Changsheng with a timid look on her face unconsciously, but the anxiety and panic in the depths of her eyes could not be concealed at all.

His whole body was filled with fatigue and dust.

Yin Li, the apprentice of Grandma Jinhua Daiqisi, met her on the Changkou coast of Goguryeo that day.

Afterwards, Daiqisi left and continued to head towards Ice and Fire Island, and Yin Li naturally followed her.

She appeared here at this time. It seems that Daiqisi's journey to find the knife should have paid off.

But looking at Yin Li's appearance, it is obvious that things are not going smoothly.

"Yin Li? Where is Daiqisi?" Gao Changsheng asked.

"thump……"

With just one sound, Yin Li knelt down directly.

"Please General Gao, save my mother-in-law."

"Oh?"

Gao Changsheng raised his eyebrows.

It seems that Daiqisi really had an accident.

"Where is Daiqisi now?" Gao Changsheng asked calmly.

"Ling, Ling Snake Island." Yin Li spoke quickly, but because he was too anxious, his tone was not very fluent.

"Spirit Snake Island?" Gao Changsheng narrowed his eyes.

"You encountered enemies on the Spirit Snake Island? So, after returning from the Ice and Fire Island, you went straight back to the Ming Dynasty?"

"Haha, Dai Qisi is really brave!"

Gao Changsheng chuckled and spoke.

It was originally thought that they were discovered on their way back or in the Sui Dynasty and encountered the enemy.

Unexpectedly, the other party actually returned directly to the Spirit Snake Island.

At this time, even Gao Changsheng was a little surprised at Daiqisi's courage.

You have to know that he had some tricks on the other party at that time, and he didn't believe that Daiqisi would not feel it.

"No, it's not."

Yin Li was startled and even his body began to tremble. He waved his hands and shouted in panic.

"We encountered the enemy when we left Ice and Fire Island. They had many ships and we were unable to fight them at sea, nor could we reach the shore."

“I could only flee all the way to the Spirit Snake Island, and then I took advantage of my familiarity and used the reefs to land on the island.”

"But the other side is very strong. My mother-in-law said that we are definitely no match for them, so she asked me to take a small boat out to sea to seek help. She also said that I must not look for anyone in the Ming Dynasty."

Yin Li spoke repeatedly.

"Is he from the Persian Ming Cult?"

Gao Changsheng frowned.

He came by boat and attacked Daiqisi, which made him look like a member of the Persian Ming Cult.

But the other party came too fast. It was incredible that they could catch up to the Ice and Fire Island.

And there was something wrong with what Yin Li said next.

"No, not just the Persian Ming Cult."

"There are also forces within the Ming Dynasty." Yin Li shook his head.

"My mother-in-law said that the Persian Ming Cult may have always been in contact with a certain force within the Ming Dynasty. We may have been targeted as soon as we set out to sea this time."

"The reason why the other party didn't take action immediately is that they wanted to borrow our strength to find Xie Xun and the Dragon Slaying Sword."

"It's interesting." Gao Changsheng chuckled.

The mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole is behind.

Daiqisi tried her best but she never thought that she had already been a grasshopper in the palm of someone else's hand.

All her actions are under the control of others.

Of course, to be precise, what they and Gao Changsheng did was actually just something for fun.

But on Gao Changsheng's side, it was Daiqisi who came to him on her own initiative.

He had no interest in playing cat and mouse, so he simply took control of Daisy.

As for why no other ships were found in Changkou at the beginning, this is not difficult to understand.

There is no obstruction on the sea, and Daiqisi is not a fool, so the other party cannot get too close.

It is enough to just know a general direction of progress.

Moreover, Daiqisi docked at Changkou to replenish supplies, so it was impossible for her to follow her foolishly.

Gently touching his chin, Gao Changsheng's eyes flashed with thought.

"Please General Gao, please save my mother-in-law. Although the Spirit Snake Island has geographical advantages, it can't hold out for too long relying solely on my mother-in-law's strength."

"Also, Xie Xun and the Dragon Slaying Sword have also been taken back to the Spirit Snake Island by Grandma, so, so..."

Yin Li spoke anxiously. Having escaped from the Spirit Snake Island, she of course knew the situation over there. It was simply not something that Daiqisi could handle alone. Even with the help of Xie Xun, it would be in vain.

After all, Xie Xun is now just a half-disabled person who is blind.

Gao Changsheng did not respond, but turned to look at Lieutenant General Li.

"Deputy General Li, what is the situation in Nanjing City? Is there any movement in Liyang, Beimang?"

Gao Changsheng was of course interested in the Dragon Slaying Sword, especially after knowing that the sword was likely related to Emperor Xuanyuan Huangdi.

But Lingshe Island is in Ming Dynasty after all, which is too far away.

There was nothing wrong with him wandering around the area around Liyang Beimang, because he could keep track of the situation at all times.

But if he wants to enter the Ming Dynasty, once there is a change in the Northern Mang, he may not be able to react.

“Nothing unusual.”

"Especially after a saint was born in the Ming Dynasty, everyone's attention was drawn to this matter."

"It is said that Shangyin Academy and Qijian Music Bureau have sent teams to visit Daming to study."

"Liyang and Beimang also sent out delegations at the same time. Even Beiliang did the same. I heard that the prince Xu Fengnian was the one leading the delegation."

Gao Changsheng nodded. The birth of a true Confucian saint was no small matter. It was normal for the two countries to have such movement.

Confucianism has always emphasized self-cultivation, family management, governance of the country and peace in the world.

Confucian monks were often tied to the imperial court, like Wang Yangming, who also served in the Ming Dynasty.

Now that he has ascended to the saintly throne, not only will the fortunes of Confucianism and Taoism in the Ming Dynasty soar, but the fortunes of the Ming Dynasty as a whole will also soar.

This will inevitably affect the strategies of several neighboring countries towards the Ming Dynasty.

However, in this case, the mood of several countries, which were already reluctant to fight again, will definitely become even dimmer.

He doesn't have to worry too much in the short term.

"Don't worry, Marshal. According to our investigation, the Queen of Northern Mang summoned Tuoba Bodhisattva back to the court, but he did not return to Northern Emperor City because he was in seclusion."

"Without Tuoba Bodhisattva, relying solely on Dong Zhuo, it is unlikely that the Northern Mang would dare to launch an attack."

"As for Li Yang, I'm afraid they won't have the courage to do that after losing the Imperial Guards."

"Now perhaps only Beiliang will have a chance to send troops, but Xu Xiao sent Xu Fengnian to the Ming Dynasty as an envoy, so the war should not start in the short term."

Naturally, Yin Li didn't understand a word of what was being said between the two.

But she didn't dare to interrupt and could only look at Gao Changsheng anxiously, hoping to get a satisfactory reply.

"What about the Mongols?"

Gao Changsheng raised his eyes and asked.

He has always been aware of the powerful countries around him.

Not too worried.

All he needs to consider is whether there will be any unstable factors.

Temujin's Mongol army was undoubtedly the most uncertain factor.

Hearing this, Lieutenant General Li's expression turned solemn.

Lieutenant General Li's voice also turned serious.

No matter which force or individual, it is absolutely impossible to ignore Temujin.

This is an existence that can make anyone take it seriously.

"A few days ago, Temujin led his troops to capture Xiangyang."

"We fought a great battle with Guo Jing who was guarding the city, and directly forced out the Beiwei Army, the trump card of Xiangyang."

"Although Temujin retreated in the end, Xiangyang actually only had one breath left."

"If Temujin returns, Xiangyang City may not be able to be defended."

Having said that, Lieutenant General Li looked at Gao Changsheng.

"If Temujin marches straight in and occupies Song territory, it will probably have a direct impact on us."

"Even if we just capture Xiangyang, it will have an impact and threaten the Sui Dynasty."

"But we are too far away from Xiangyang. However, King Kaoshan has already gone to Yumen Pass. He should be able to make a decision."

If the Mongols really swallowed up the Song Dynasty, their territory would expand and their power would grow, which would inevitably pose a threat to neighboring countries.

Moreover, the Song Dynasty was close to the Sui Dynasty. If the land fell into the hands of the Mongols, it would mean that the land bordering the Mongols and the Sui Dynasty would increase greatly. The threat was obvious.

However, as Lieutenant General Li said, Yang Lin had already led a large army to station at Yumen Pass, targeting the Mongols.

I just don’t know why Yang Lin and the Sui army did not participate in this battle from beginning to end.

"Guo Jing, are you carrying the Wei army?"

Gao Changsheng's eyes moved, but quickly disappeared.

"Just keep an eye on Xiangyang's affairs, don't worry too much about them."

Gao Changsheng spoke casually.

Lieutenant General Li raised his head, with a look of doubt in his eyes.

Although Xiangyang is not the territory of the Sui Dynasty, its geographical location is very special. It is not only a barrier for the Song Dynasty, but also a protective function for the flanks of the Sui Dynasty's Yumen Pass.

If what Gao Changsheng said was true, that with the King of Backers around, the other party would take care of it and there was no need to worry, then that didn't make sense.

But now, according to his meaning, he can just ignore it, just like he doesn't care about Xiangyang's life or death. This seems strange.

He didn't believe that Gao Changsheng couldn't see the importance of Xiangyang City.

Gao Changsheng smiled and shook his head.

"Everyone in Jiuzhou knows that the Song Dynasty is weak and is bullied by the surrounding foreign races almost every year."

"Especially after the Jingkang Incident, only half of the country was left."

"With a country like this, do you know why it can still be ranked among the great powers and even be considered the orthodox dynasty of the Central Plains?"

"Uh……"

Lieutenant General Li was stunned by the question.

Indeed, judging by the performance of the Song Dynasty over the years and its current territory, it is not an exaggeration to call it a small country.

However, when everyone mentions this country, they will instinctively call it the Great Song Dynasty.

When talking about the Central Plains dynasties, everyone will include the Song Dynasty among them.

This is obviously unreasonable.

Gao Changsheng chuckled and said, "Xiangyang City can threaten our Yumen Pass flank. Didn't the Great Sui Dynasty see this in all these years?"

"Given the military strength of the Song Dynasty, why should we give Xiangyang to them? Wouldn't it be better to just send troops to take Xiangyang?"

Yes.

Deputy General Li suddenly woke up. Since Xiangyang had such a function, why didn't the Sui Dynasty just take it?
Thinking of this, Lieutenant General Li looked up instantly, waiting for Gao Changsheng to answer his questions.

"How could a country that has been established for hundreds of years and has stood firm in the Nine Continents to this day not have any foundation? Don't worry, the Song Dynasty is not that simple."

Gao Changsheng chuckled.

"Song Dynasty?" Lieutenant General Li showed doubt in his eyes.

"Don't underestimate the Song Dynasty. Although the Song Dynasty values ​​culture over military, it respects Taoism, promotes Buddhism, and promotes Confucianism."

"It is possible that there are more masters of the three religions in his country than in the surrounding countries combined."

"Xin Youan, a Confucian sage who is both civil and military, can be demoted at will. Although it is absurd, it does reveal some clues."

"In fact, if it weren't for the fact that there were few decent emperors in the history of the Song Dynasty, with the number of geniuses and outstanding people in the Song Dynasty, their strength would definitely not be weaker than any other country."

"The Song Dynasty has no shortage of talent, generals, or even the despised military strength. What they lack is a hero, a good emperor."

At this point, Gao Changsheng shook his head and smiled unconsciously:
"So, even though the Song Dynasty seems to be struggling to survive, it won't be easy for Temujin to destroy it in one battle."

"What we should worry about now is..."

Gao Changsheng suddenly looked up, and two rays of light shot out from his pupils.

However, the last sentence was spoken so softly that no one around him heard it.

Lieutenant General Li didn't say anything else, his eyes swept across Yin Li's flustered face.

He vaguely heard some thoughts from Gao Changsheng's words.

Gao Changsheng pondered quietly for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"Although the situation is calm, there are some things that we must guard against."

"Deputy General Li, I will give you a written order. Please give it to the generals when you return and have them act according to the instructions."

"Yes."

Lieutenant General Li understood instantly that Gao Changsheng might have made a decision.

"Marshal, should we block the news?"

Lieutenant General Li asked softly.

Gao Changsheng smiled and waved his hand.

"No need. The truth will come out sooner or later. The more you try to hide something, the faster it will be exposed."

"Besides, I have never thought of hiding anything."

"After you return, have a few generals openly announce to the public that I, Gao Changsheng, will be traveling to Daming to meet the Saint Yangming."

"As for the next arrangements, I will explain them in the warrant."

"Next we have to see how the other forces will respond. Perhaps this is another opportunity for us?"

"Yes, I will obey the order."

While Gao Changsheng was making a series of arrangements, someone was talking about the same thing in another place.

The northwestern border of the Sui Dynasty.

On top of a magnificent pass, two figures were gazing into the distance.

"Your Highness, Temujin was clearly close to taking the city, why did he suddenly retreat?" a middle-aged man asked in confusion.

"It's very simple about national destiny. The Ming Dynasty and the Mongols are mutually reinforcing and counteracting. The Ming Dynasty's national destiny is soaring because of the saint, and the Mongols will inevitably be affected." A loud laugh came from the King of Backers Yang Lin.

"Although Temujin gave up the throne, the fate of the country is not something that can be easily circumvented. Although it seems to be much better than the emperor on the throne, it is impossible not to be affected, and this impact may become greater and greater as time goes by."

The middle-aged man nodded, but soon doubts appeared in his eyes.

Yang Lin laughed:
"Wentong, you are wondering why I am so slow to act and just sit back and watch Xiangyang being attacked."

“Yes, if it weren’t for the incident with the Great Ming Saint, Xiangyang would have been lost. Then our army…” The middle-aged man was obviously puzzled.

Yang Lin smiled again when he heard this, with a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

"Wentong, our goal has always been to protect the Sui Dynasty, not to fight for another country."

"Yes, Xiangyang is indeed important. Once it falls into Temujin's hands, it will pose a great threat to our flanks and rear."

"We can see this, but why can't the Song Dynasty see it?"

"Indeed, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty was incompetent and absurd, but is he really a fool? Even if he is, is there no smart person in their court?"

"Humph, the reason why those people just stood by and watched, and even acted fearlessly, is simply because they saw that I have already sent out troops and they are sure that I will not sit idly by. It is really a good idea."

"In that case, I will just ignore it. I want to see if they can really sit back and watch Xiangyang be destroyed." Yang Lin snorted coldly.

"This..." Wei Wentong was speechless.

"Do you think that I am acting on impulse?" Yang Lin turned his head with a smile.

"I dare not." Wei Wentong bowed.

"Haha, Wentong, don't underestimate the Song Dynasty."

"What?" Wei Wentong was puzzled.

Yang Lin looked at him dimly: "You also sensed the military spirit unit in Xiangyang this time, right?"

"Yes, Yue Wumu's Beiwei Army is truly extraordinary, but it's a pity that it is still incomplete." Wei Wentong nodded.

Yang Lin smiled lightly: "The Beiwei Army is a force created by Yue Wumu after the Song Dynasty moved south."

"But what about before that?" Yang Lin raised his eyes.

"Before?" Wei Wentong was puzzled. Didn't the Northern Song Dynasty fall to the hands of foreigners? He didn't quite understand what Yang Lin meant.

“How many of those who can establish a foundation on this land and keep it are ordinary people?”

"The Song Dynasty really valued culture over military power, and in everyone's mind, it was also a weak image."

"But when they first established their country, they also used force to conquer it."

"Zhao Kuangyin is an expert in both boxing and cudgel, and his power is feared by the world."

Wei Wentong nodded. He did not deny that anyone who could become a founding monarch was not a simple character.

But he didn't know what Yang Lin meant by suddenly mentioning Zhao Kuangyin.

After all, the incident of the candle shadow and axe sound shocked the world. Countless countries sent spies to find out the relevant secrets, but unfortunately, nothing was gained in the end.

But now Yang Lin suddenly mentioned this person. Could it be that this great Song Dynasty founder left behind some legacy for the Song Dynasty?
"Hahaha!"

Yang Lin seemed to see what Wei Wentong was thinking and laughed out loud.

"Even if there is anything about Zhao Kuangyin, it is a secret of the Zhao Song royal family. Of course, I don't know about it."

"But those who can stand firm in the Nine Continents Empire must have some background and means."

"Like the great powers we are talking about, apart from anything else, generally speaking, they will have at least one or two military soul units. This is one of the reasons why a great power is a great power."

Wei Wentong nodded: "Doesn't the Song Dynasty have the Beiwei Army?"

"What about the Beiwei Army before that? It's only been a few years since Yue Wumu passed away, but the Song Dynasty had already existed before him." Yang Lin looked at Wei Wentong with a smile.

Wei Wentong also reacted suddenly. Yes, the Song Dynasty had already existed before Yue Fei.

"Is it possible? Could it be... But why have I never heard of it?" Wei Wentong said in disbelief.

"Because this unit has been around for a long time, and the emperors of the Song Dynasty did not like it, it is in a semi-sealed state. But sealing does not mean disappearance. If the emperor of the Song Dynasty wants, it can be sent out at any time."

"What unit is it?"

"Jingsai Cavalry!" Yang Lin said softly.

"I can't believe that the Song Dynasty still has such means. It's really..." Wei Wentong was obviously shocked.

"Haha." Yang Lin shook his head and smiled.

"But it's not just that. The Confucian and Taoist masters in the Song Dynasty are the best among all the countries."

"Even if there were no Jingsai Cavalry, even if a few Confucian sages emerged from the court and various academies, it would be enough to give Temujin a hard time."

"This does not include those masters who are disappointed with the Song Dynasty and are in a semi-retired state."

“With the addition of the Taoist and Buddhist masters, if the Song Dynasty is really pushed into a corner, the power he can unleash will definitely shock everyone.”

Yang Lin shook his head and chuckled.

"Temujin will have no problem taking Xiangyang, and even if he launches a large-scale attack on Song, it won't be a big deal."

"But if they really want to destroy Song, then there will probably be a lot of excitement to watch."

Wei Wentong opened his mouth, and only then did he realize that he seemed to have never understood this world.

"Okay, enough of the small talk. Although Temujin has withdrawn his troops, he will definitely come back."

"Although he said before that he would attack Xiangyang, we still have to take some precautions."

"Pass on my order. Have my Grand Guardian Lu Fang and Second Grand Guardian Xue Liang lead their troops to station at Jinji Ridge on the flank of Yumen Pass. They can monitor the movements of Xiangyang and also protect the flanks of my army."

"Yes!" Wei Wentong bowed.

"Also, bring Kyohiko with you. Now that Temujin has mobilized his troops, it's time for me to talk to him again."

(End of this chapter)