The Legend of Swing Sword and Execution of Demons

Chapter 787 Living Up to the Martial World
After Japan surrendered, the Central Plains were able to enjoy a peaceful and joyous New Year.

From the highest courts and royal palaces to the homes of ordinary people, the changes are happening every day.

Even in the seven days following the Lantern Festival, Luo Bo was still busy day and night with tedious and complicated government affairs.

If it weren't for the years he had spent navigating the world and toughening his body, Leng Shan would have been genuinely worried that Luo Bo would overwork himself and ruin his life once he returned to the throne.

Once the major national policies were finalized and peace was restored to the border regions, the court had a little more free time. Leng Shan disregarded many rules and regulations, invoked his newly appointed Junior Tutor status, and went directly to the cabinet ministers to ask for leave. He then quietly put down the imperial city on his shoulders and took the young emperor on a trip to Jinzhou.

Since they're just there to keep you company and help you relax, Fir is generally willing to answer any questions you may have.

However, it is not hard to see that after returning to the court, Luo Bo really devoted himself to it, thinking about the future of Zhongzhou.

Even after a hearty meal, while strolling to digest, Luo Bo's thoughts and feelings remain inextricably linked to the world of Zhongzhou.

Seeing that the young emperor was out relaxing but his mind was still so complicated, Leng Shan did not think that this was just needless worry.

Because of the pursuit of profit, the imperial court and the martial arts world will most of the time stand on opposite sides.

Over the past two centuries, numerous talented individuals have emerged in the martial arts world, and new and old forces have alternated and surged.

Until fifty or sixty years ago, the imperial court was overly extravagant in its territorial expansion and was exhausted, giving the martial arts world a golden opportunity to soar to new heights.

From then on, the relationship between the imperial court and the martial arts world was in a state of abnormal balance.

Many people realize the problem, but deep-seated problems cannot be solved overnight.

Many people in the martial arts world want to ride on the back of the imperial court, or at least be on equal footing with it, and are no longer willing to easily bow down to imperial power.

The imperial court's authority was challenged, and it could not easily lash out in anger, nor was it willing to lower itself to such a lowly position. Therefore, it was bound to try to find a way to compromise.

For example, using the martial arts world to control the martial arts world.

Therefore, the late Emperor Jing personally took charge of the Dark Palace, laying the groundwork for his own demise at a great cost.

While disciplining the Eastern Depot, Yu Tian also won over several powerful figures in the martial arts world, creating a formidable force.

Although the Fifth Marquis started late, he still managed to deeply integrate the Embroidered Uniform Guard into the martial arts world and used the almshouse to cultivate a powerful secret guard that intimidated many powerful figures.

Before the west wind could prevail over the east wind, or the east wind could prevail over the west wind, this stalemate was broken by the flames of war.

Currently, the imperial court and the martial arts world are in a very delicate state of harmony, but future conflicts cannot be avoided.

We should take advantage of the remaining two or three years, when the friendship between the imperial court and the martial arts world in fighting against foreign aggression still exists, and has not faded or dissipated, to properly sort out the bond between the two and their future development.

To avoid making hasty decisions and making mistakes when things come to a head, which could lead to irreversible consequences.

So, following Luo Bo's lead, Leng Shan continued their casual conversation about Zhongzhou and the martial arts world.

"Manager Ning is still used to going from street to street and will continue his previous business of selling wine."

Leng Shan is a member of the Twenty-Eight Mansions of the Dark Palace, as is Ning Xiaoyao.

The original intention behind establishing the Red Dust Inn was to conduct business in the martial arts world according to the principles of the martial arts world.

As the inn grew in number and staff, the atmosphere of the martial arts world became increasingly strong, gradually resembling the original ecosystem of the martial arts world.

However, the dark background cannot be ignored, and the merit of supporting the emperor by safely returning the radish to the throne cannot be erased.

The nature of the Red Dust Inn is difficult to change.

During wars with foreign barbarians, whatever thoughts people may have, they can only suppress them for the time being.

After the war is over, a final decision should be made to clarify the situation externally and to allow people to decide whether to stay or leave internally.

Hongchen Pavilion was born in response to this need.

As a subordinate administrative body of the imperial court, it recruits talented individuals.

The government established a central government headquarters in the capital region and branch offices in various localities, prioritizing the handling of cross-border disputes among江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) officials and other government agencies, and even negotiating suitable江湖 business deals.

The most urgent task is to deal with the many unresolved issues of the four destroyed sects: the Red-Clothed Cult, the Twelve Gates of Heavenly Fiends, the Douluo Gang, and the Hidden Edge Pavilion.

The Red Dust Inn, stripped of its official background, remains a private business run by a Jianghu gang.

I first heard three or four days ago that roughly 50% of people are willing to sell their literary and martial skills to the imperial family.

The other 50% either continued running their inns or went off to wander the world.

After hearing what the gentleman said, Luo Bo understood that Manager Ning had not chosen either path.

He neither accepted a salary from the imperial court nor collected debts at the inn, choosing instead to return to the streets and alleys to earn a pittance.

"I think if I had a choice, I would choose the path that is most comfortable for me."

"That's true for most people."

"When I have free time to go out on the street, I have quite a few chances to run into Manager Ning."

"If you can hold your liquor, it will definitely be a beautiful encounter."

"Haha, it's rare for you to hit my sore spot, sir. As for wine, I share the same opinion as Brother Jiang. Wine may be a good thing, but I'm not fortunate enough to enjoy it myself!"

"Hehe, it's fine if you don't drink on ordinary days, but you can't skip the blessing wine on your master's wedding day, can you?"

Unlike the others at the Red Dust Inn, Lonely Soul and Pure Hands decided shortly after the war to focus on running the inn and hold their wedding on an auspicious day, though the wedding date was yet to be set.

Luo Bo then said, "Of course, even if I get completely drunk on Master and Mistress's wedding day, it's still for their happiness. However, I've prepared my wedding gift, but has Master and Mistress set a wedding date yet?"

Fir tree blew a light breath through its nose, feigning displeasure, and said, "Your master said that he and that young hero Jiang have some degree of kinship, and it is only right that we wait for his and his wife to return in triumph before setting an auspicious date."

Upon hearing this, Luo Bo's lips curled slightly, and he kept his eyes down, remaining silent.

The gentleman is kind and upright, and never petty. As long as he mentions Young Master Jiang less, his anger will soon pass.

As expected, Leng Shan smoothly steered the conversation away, saying, "The old man is getting on in years and has worked too hard these past few years. He has already had Yi Zhongren sell off more than half of his property and renovate Xishan Island. From now on, the two old folks will either enjoy the flowers and play chess in the Chrysanthemum Garden or return to Xishan Island to live out their remaining years."

Upon noticing that one person was missing, Luo Bo asked, "So, Nangong Yan accepted General Liang's request and stayed in Suzhou?"

Leng Shan said, "That's right. The old general has greatly appreciated and admired Nangong Yan's talent for more than 20 years. This time, he visited the thatched cottage three times and persuaded him. We should bring his skills into the army so that the military strength of Zhongzhou, or at least Gusu, can be raised to a new level."

Liang Feixiong obtained a special decree to grant Nangong Yan an official position on her behalf. At a time when manpower was needed and a pillar of the state had emerged, Luo Bo readily agreed. For over half a month, there had been no further news, and Luo Bo had assumed he had been politely refused, feeling somewhat disappointed. Now, however, the matter was settled. Seeing that Luo Bo was somewhat relieved, Leng Shan continued, "There's another piece of good news: Long Yanling is also on his way to his new post."

Luo Bo was indeed somewhat surprised, because after Long Yanling entered the capital last month to receive his title, he took a month's leave to handle matters in the martial arts world and at home. There were still about ten days left in the schedule, but now he had already gone north.
Leng Shan said, "Li Moran and Shuang Chi are used to being free in the martial world and dislike being constrained. They have no intention of joining the army unless absolutely necessary. General Long's request for leave was an attempt to persuade them to go with him, but he failed to change their minds. They also know that the longer the military affairs in the north are delayed, the more difficult it will be to sort out. After a dignified farewell, they led their families north to take up their posts."

It would be a lie to say that Luo Bo felt no guilt for scattering a group of people who had once been loyal and devoted to each other. Even as the ruler of a country, he should consider all things from a broader perspective and not let emotions dictate his judgment.

"Jun Chi's health is deteriorating day by day. It is estimated that he will not live for more than three to five years. He is determined to retire from public life."

"Sima Jie, Yang Zijin, and several others followed, while the remaining thirty-odd members of the Qingtian Clan were taken over by Mo Shang."

"Zhan Tian was beaten so badly by Long Duoduo in the battle at the Southern Shaolin Temple in Putian that he could no longer hold his head up in front of others and could no longer amount to anything."

"Since then, the Crescent Moon Alliance has almost become an appendage of the Howling Moon Alliance. Zhan Tian is still able to manage some miscellaneous affairs, all thanks to Mo Shang's hard work."

"The unification of the three factions was a natural outcome, and the signboard of the Rejection of the Northern Alliance was officially put up."

"The Fifth General went to offer his congratulations in both his personal capacity and with the backing of the imperial court."

"It brought the congratulations and affirmation from friends, as well as the cooperative attitude of the imperial court."

"In the future, the Northern Alliance will be exempted from 80% of its foreign trade taxes and will also have priority in obtaining the right to escort official vehicles. The price to pay is to ensure the safety of private caravan trade."

"The profits involved are immeasurable, and official supervision and checks and balances are indispensable. The order in the north also needs to be restored as soon as possible, and a capable general is urgently needed to stabilize people's hearts."

"Fortunately, General Long has the will to serve the country, so this position is rightfully his."

"It's also good that he can understand the needs of the country and the people."

Fir listened to Radish's self-talk, sorting out the connections between the beginning and the end, without interrupting.

Luo Bo sincerely hoped, "I hope this big deal between the imperial court and the martial arts world won't be a loss."

Leng Shan corrected, "There is no such thing as a sure-fire business deal in this world. It's all about making and losing money, and as long as neither side owes the other anything, that's fine. The court currently has many things it can't do or manage in detail, and there may be more or fewer in the future. It needs to focus on the big picture and prioritize the details, making choices and leveraging external forces to maintain stability. Besides, maintaining the alliance of over a thousand people from the Northern Alliance in the long run is no easy task. If the resources aren't large enough, even ten Mo Shangs couldn't push it forward. The court's willingness to make concessions and leverage external forces has already given it a considerable advantage in the present."

Luo Bo, having learned his lesson, earnestly replied, "What you say is very true, sir."

Leng Shan continued, "Ghostly Enchantress and Jin Fengyu have focused on rebuilding their sects and restoring their vitality in recent years. In addition to the Temple of Gods and Phoenix Cry Pavilion, sects such as Sanrenju, Drunken Beauty, Illusion Moon Palace, and Yiqu Liunian Pavilion, as well as the Netherworld Sect, have all made promises to the court to help the Red Dust Pavilion eliminate the remaining hidden dangers of the Red-Clothed Sect, the Twelve Gates of Heavenly Fiend, the Doushuai Sect, and the Hidden Edge Pavilion."

Luo Bo clenched his fist and said, "The sparks from twenty years ago have reignited today. Although Zhongzhou still exists, we cannot allow the people to leave their homes and flee the flames of war every ten or twenty years. You must help me, sir."

Fir bowed and said, "I dare not disobey."

Speaking of the war, Luo Bo recalled the burned-down Emei Sect and asked, "The Emei Sect returned to Shu not long ago. How is the restoration of the mountain gate progressing?"

Fir replied, "The ancient temple, which has been destroyed by fire for thousands of years, will take at least four or five years to rebuild to a considerable scale."

After a moment of silence, Luo Bo asked, "...Does the imperial court have any connections to help in this regard?"

Leng Shan shook his head and said, "When the disaster relief funds allocated to various places have arrived one after another, the Emei Sect can also receive a certain amount of appeasement and compensation based on the number of people registered at that time, which can be used to rebuild the mountain gate. However, the imperial court is unable to continue the extra expenditures."

Luo Bo knew that although it was not a time when everything was in ruins and needed to be rebuilt, it was a time when the country was short of money and resources and manpower after the war. The court could only provide relief in a general way and did not have much spare power to provide targeted assistance. As for demanding war reparations from the Oirat and the Poisonous Indians, it was not something that could be done overnight, so he was inevitably anxious and frustrated.

Leng Shan reassured them, "Life must go on day by day; these things can't be rushed. Wudang Sect Leader Xuanxiao and Kunlun Sect Leader Zhuge Lingyun have both lent half of their disciples to Emei and Kongtong to help rebuild their sects. Emei Sect is currently under the leadership of Shui Rujing, and it should be able to provide Emei disciples with a place to live and begin accepting new disciples within about six months. Kongtong Sect's damage is relatively minor, and it should be able to reopen its gates within three months."

Radish felt somewhat relieved after hearing this.

Leng Shan said, "Comparatively speaking, you seem to take the disbandment of Tingyu Pavilion in stride."

"Sir, are you saying that I didn't feel anything when I learned that everyone from Tingyu Pavilion had scattered?"

"It's not that I take it lightly, but after listening to my master's analysis more, I have a more thorough understanding of the background of Tingyu Pavilion, so I can see it more clearly."

"Compared to other gangs, Tingyu Pavilion was the youngest to be established. It was the destruction of the Shi family that led them down this path. Although many of the later members were from the martial arts world, they were also free-spirited people with their own priorities and goals. They could come together for the greater good, but once their goals were achieved, they would go their separate ways and not hinder each other."

"Sister Meng Chaoge is the daughter adopted by General Shi Xin. She has always shouldered the heavy responsibility of avenging the Shi family. After the war against the foreign barbarians was extinguished, the executioners who destroyed the Shi family were the Netherworld Sect and the imperial court."

"Therefore, I consulted with the gentleman about how to make amends for the past mistakes of the imperial court, and chose a day to visit him."

"Unexpectedly, Sister Meng, representing Tingyu Pavilion, directly admitted the main culprit to be executed, lightly letting go of this grudge. She will also return to her hometown with Guan Dadao, Shi Zhonghuo, Ji Zhe and other old people from the Shi family to join the team to rebuild Yudu. In the end, I have gained several more deep friendships."

At this point, Luo Bo took a deep breath and roughly figured out how to balance the relationship between the martial arts world and the imperial court in the future.

"Don't worry, sir, I think I can see clearly and understand the situation."

"A nation is like a complex and intricate machine."

"Operate in accordance with the procedures set in the drawings."

"Some minor problems may occur during daily operation, and they should be repaired, patched, or replaced as needed."

"The operation is sluggish and inefficient. It is necessary to collect and organize various problems and make modifications and adjustments from the whole to the parts."

"Even in special circumstances, the prepared rules should be followed."

"Such a mechanism can be operated reliably by anyone."

"If all coping methods and means are based entirely on individual ability and will."

"If one person can manage it well, the next person can barely keep it up, but the next person after that may completely lose control."

"We can't always expect external forces to correct things at critical moments."

"We cannot expect to turn the tide every time there is a crisis by relying on the code of honor among people in the martial arts world."

"Such a court is derelict in its duty."

"Such a nation may exist for thirty or fifty years, but it is unknown whether it can survive for one or two hundred years."

"Of course, I can't predict what will happen in the future. There may be unimaginable changes, or the historical tragedies that have occurred time and time again may be repeated. So I will not interfere excessively."

"The world saved me from danger and taught me how to conduct myself and govern a country. There is an immeasurable bond between us and the nation."

"In my lifetime, I will give the martial arts world enough time and opportunity to change and transform."

"During this period, even if the martial world betrays me, I will not betray the martial world."

Only one chapter remains to conclude.

Almost ten years have passed, and it's finally time to bring this to a close.