The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, the city seemed no different from usual, except for the lingering smell of blood and burnt flesh in the air and the strictly sealed-off area around the Yue Ma Bridge.

Smoke still rises from the chimneys on time in the streets and alleys, and the shouts of vendors echo in the morning mist. Everything is proceeding as usual, as if the dramatic events of last night were just an illusion.

The news was sent urgently to the depths of the palace immediately after the incident, and presented to Prince Li Yuan of Tang, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, Prince Li Shimin of Qin, and others.

When Li Yuan, a seasoned general, learned that the three thousand elite troops he had sent had mysteriously turned on each other at the Yue Ma Bridge, with more than 70% killed or wounded and most of the survivors in a daze and seemingly insane, he was so shocked that he stood up from his throne.

However, the news that followed, brought back by soldiers at the risk of their lives from the almost completely collapsed underground entrance, instantly overshadowed the shock and anger.

The legendary Yang Gong Treasure Vault was actually located beneath the Yue Ma Bridge. Although most of the treasures inside were destroyed by the flames, the amount of gold and silver that had melted and reformed was still astronomical! The total value of the gold ingots and silver cakes that had been initially cleared and solidified into irregular blocks was enough to support the entire Li Clan army's military expenses for several years! Not to mention, there were also a large number of high-quality iron weapons and Mingguang armor fragments that needed to be melted down and recast!

...............

King Qin, Tian Ce Mansion.

Li Shimin, dressed in casual clothes, stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the ancient locust tree in the courtyard for a long time without saying a word. His brows were shrouded in a deep and unyielding sorrow and gloom. The bright sunlight outside the window could not dispel the chill in his heart.

"Three thousand two hundred and seventy-four people... Among them, one thousand nine hundred and eighty-three were my sons from the Tian Ce Mansion. They were all my good brothers who followed me in battles across the north and south, and crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood... Just like that... gone?"

These soldiers were not ordinary conscripts, but rather the core elite troops meticulously cultivated by Li Shimin with countless efforts, trained to the standards of his future conquest of the world! They were skilled in battle, proficient in martial arts, and utterly loyal to him. The loss of any one of them would be enough to break his heart, let alone the near annihilation of the entire army! Moreover, in such a bizarre, frustrating, and self-destructive manner!
Changsun Wuji stood quietly behind him, his face also filled with heaviness and regret. He understood Li Shimin's feelings; these soldiers were not merely numbers, but the cornerstone of His Highness Prince Qin's future grand ambitions.

"Your Highness, my condolences."

Changsun Wuji said in a low voice, "This matter is strange and far from ordinary. According to the survivors' fragmented words, it seems that... they were affected by an extremely profound spiritual technique, which caused them to lose their minds and go berserk."

“Mystic magic… Yin Kui Sect… Zhu Yuyan…”

Li Shimin slowly closed his eyes, the unfathomable gaze of Zen Master Kong appearing in his mind, along with the supreme power of the demonic sect represented by the name Zhu Yuyan. He had originally thought that establishing a good relationship with Jingnian Zen Temple would balance the influence of the demonic sect to some extent, but he never expected that the Yin Kui Sect's methods would be so bizarre and ruthless, directly causing him to lose nearly two thousand core elites!
"It was I who... underestimated them."

Li Shimin opened his eyes, a resolute glint in them: "They also overestimated the ability of the imperial army to cope with such extraordinary power."

He felt not only pain for the lives of his soldiers, but also for the sense of powerlessness he felt. Faced with absolute individual strength and bizarre magical abilities, the advantage of numbers sometimes seemed so pale.

"Your Highness, the treasures in the treasury are currently being inventoried and sorted at an accelerated pace; the amount is staggering."

Changsun Wuji tried to change the subject and ease the tension: "With this wealth, perhaps we can..."

Li Shimin waved his hand, his tone tinged with weariness yet unusually clear: "Money is certainly important, but a loyal and skilled army cannot be built up instantly with just money. Training a qualified soldier takes time, and training an elite soldier who can integrate into the Tian Ce Fu's battle tactics requires even more time and the tempering of war... This loss is difficult to make up for in the short term."

He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Changsun Wuji: "Wuji, issue the order: the compensation for the fallen soldiers will be doubled! Those with families should be properly settled! The survivors should be gathered together and personally treated by the Prince's Palace staff. You must find a way to restore their sanity! You will personally oversee this matter!"

"Yes! Your Highness!"

Changsun Wuji solemnly accepted the order. He knew that this was Li Shimin's attempt to make amends and to unite the remaining people's hearts.

Li Shimin gazed out the window again, his eyes deep and thoughtful. This battle had given him a profound understanding that his future path to supremacy would not only involve facing open enemies, but also being wary of those hidden forces possessing extraordinary power. The Jingnian Temple's ambiguous stance, the Yin Kui Sect's ruthless methods… the political landscape was far more complex than he had imagined.

...............

The Imperial Palace, Liangyi Hall.

In stark contrast to the somber atmosphere at the Prince of Qin's residence, the atmosphere inside the Liangyi Hall of the Imperial Palace was much more "intense," even though the same matter was being discussed.

Emperor Li Yuan of Tang sat high on his throne. Although he frowned upon hearing of the loss of his elite troops, his displeasure was quickly replaced by immense joy when he saw the preliminary inventory of the treasury's wealth presented by the eunuchs. The dazzling list of gold and silver made him feel as if he could see countless provisions, weapons, and the capital to recruit heroes from all directions!

"Okay! Okay!"

Li Yuan clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his face beaming: "Unbelievable! Unbelievable! That old scoundrel Yang Su actually left me such a great gift! Heaven truly blesses our Great Tang!"

Crown Prince Li Jiancheng stood below, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. Although he was also distressed by the loss of troops (many of whom were generals from his own faction), compared to the enormous wealth that was within his grasp, the loss seemed utterly acceptable. Moreover, most of the dead were elite troops from Li Shimin's Tiance Mansion, which weakened the power of his second brother, whom he considered a serious threat—a win-win situation!
"May my father be blessed with boundless good fortune!"

Li Jiancheng quickly bowed and echoed, "This is the capital bestowed upon my Li Tang dynasty by Heaven to establish its rule over the world! With this wealth, our army will have no worries about food and supplies, and we can greatly expand our army, recruit warriors from all directions, and wipe out Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande and other villains in the near future!"

Li Jiancheng had already begun to plan how to use this wealth to further consolidate his position as crown prince, win over court officials, and cultivate his own loyal forces.

Li Yuan nodded in satisfaction, his gaze toward Li Jiancheng growing even more benevolent: “Jiancheng is quite right. However, this incident has had a significant impact. Thousands of soldiers killing each other in the streets will damage the court’s reputation and could easily trigger panic among the people.”

After a moment's hesitation, Li Yuan's tone turned serious: "Issue my decree: the incident at Yuema Bridge last night was a tragedy caused by a sudden illness within the army. All surviving soldiers are to be strictly guarded and given a unified story. If any rumors circulate among the people, the Prefect of the Capital is to severely suppress them and prevent their spread! As for the treasures in the treasury... declare them publicly as the proceeds from the court's investigation of the previous dynasty's treasury's assets, to replenish the national treasury and reward the three armies! The specific amount is to be kept strictly confidential, and the Crown Prince... um, the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin will jointly be responsible for counting and depositing them into the treasury."

Li Yuan ultimately retained a degree of checks and balances, and did not completely hand over this wealth to Li Jiancheng.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Although Li Jiancheng was slightly disappointed, being able to take the lead in this matter already gave him immense power and opportunity.

"in addition,"

Li Yuan added, "Intensify the cleanup of the treasury ruins. Remelt the molten gold and silver as soon as possible and engrave them with the mark of the Tang Dynasty. Transport the remains of weapons and armor to the Imperial Workshop as soon as possible, identify the materials, repair what can be repaired, and recast what needs to be recast. We must transform them into our army's combat power as quickly as possible!"

"Yes!"

Thus, a major upheaval in Chang'an, capable of shaking the court and sparking countless speculations, was quickly downplayed under the conscious suppression and guidance of the Li clan's upper echelons. Although the official account was riddled with flaws, the suppression of power and the allure of enormous wealth deterred many from openly questioning or investigating it.

Chang'an City remains as prosperous as ever.

………………

With the deaths of several influential figures in the demonic sects, including Bi Shouxuan, Zuo Youxian, You Niaojuan, and Bi Chen, in Yang Gong's Treasure Vault, the forces and networks they controlled and managed in life instantly fell into a state of chaos with no leader.

Under the guise of purging its own members and investigating remnants of rebellion, the Yin Kui Sect's influence has expanded with unprecedented strength and breadth, taking over and even annexing those demonic sect branches that have lost their leaders.

Those who are willing to submit may retain some of their power and be incorporated into the Yin Kui faction; those who stubbornly resist will disappear from the world silently, like withered leaves swept away by the autumn wind.

In the Jianghuai region, the remaining forces of the Dao Ancestor's true lineage were bloodily purged by unidentified experts. Several elders who attempted to establish their own independent power died one after another. Under the threat of Danmei's absolute martial prowess and "Soul-Locking Induction," the remaining disciples were forced to merge into the newly established "Outer Hall" of the Yin Kui Sect. All the resources and sphere of influence they controlled fell into the control of the Yin Kui Sect.

The situation at Laojun Temple was even more dire. After the news of Bichen's death was confirmed, internal strife erupted within the temple over the position of abbot and the accumulated wealth. Danmei ruthlessly suppressed the conflict, killing and controlling those in power, uprooting and confiscating Laojun Temple's long-established business network and wealth. The once incredibly wealthy Laojun Temple was transformed overnight into a money bag for the Yin Kui Sect.

With the fall of You Niaojuan's banner, the already sparse number of disciples of the Extinction Path scattered like birds and beasts, with some being absorbed by the southern forces of the Yin Kui Sect.

Even those minor branches that had previously maintained a relatively good relationship with the Yin Kui Sect, or had always remained neutral, all chose to align themselves with the Yin Kui Sect amidst this atmosphere of fear and unease, seeking protection and swearing allegiance.

While the Li clan was still focused on the distribution and use of that treasure trove of wealth, among the two factions and six paths of the Demonic Sect, apart from the Demonic Image Sect, which was far away in Turks and had already lost power, and a few other factions such as the Mysterious Heaven Pavilion, which was elusive and almost independent, the rest of the forces had already been effectively integrated under the control of the Yin Kui Sect in an unprecedented centralized manner.

Zhu Yuyan's power reached a level of unity that the Demonic Sect had never achieved since the time of Xiang Yutian of the Evil Extreme Sect.

Just as undercurrents were swirling and new and old forces were quietly changing hands, a piece of news spread like wildfire throughout the land, shocking everyone from the highest levels of government to the farthest corners of society!
The manifesto appeared with unparalleled force at the city gates and bustling markets of major towns and cities. Its content was simple and direct, yet it was full of iron will and authority.

The Heavenly Alliance hereby proclaims to the world:
Heaven's justice is clear, and the distinction between the civilized and the barbarian must be maintained! Zhao Deyan, the Turkic national teacher, is of Han descent. Instead of serving his country, he has submitted to the barbarians, acting as their accomplice. He has repeatedly offered treacherous schemes, invaded our territory, and slaughtered our compatriots. His crimes are heinous and beyond description! Today, our Heavenly Alliance has captured this villain in Chang'an, investigated his crimes, and let Heaven and Earth bear witness!

To serve as a warning to others and to cleanse the world, we hereby announce to the world: At noon on New Year's Day, in the central square of Xiangyang City, the traitor Zhao Deyan will be executed by slow slicing to pay tribute to the heroic souls of the soldiers and civilians who died unjustly! Heroes from all over the world and people from all directions are welcome to witness this!
Any Han Chinese who colludes with foreign invaders and betrays the interests of their people, regardless of their social status, will have their entire family exterminated once the evidence is verified and confirmed. Their property will be confiscated and used to reward the border troops and provide relief to the suffering people.
Anyone who reports the aforementioned spies will be pardoned, regardless of their past or background, and will be richly rewarded according to the severity of the offense! Those who know but fail to report will be punished the same as the spies!
Heaven's justice is impartial; the Han dynasty will endure forever! Heaven's will is clear; the spirit of the Han will never perish! Those who betray their people for personal gain, no matter how far they flee, will be punished!

This manifesto was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up huge waves!

Zhao Deyan! That's the Turkic national advisor, the sect leader of the Demonic Image Sect, the "Demon General" who roamed the grasslands and deserts, causing countless Central Plains border generals headaches and even striking fear into their hearts! His martial arts were superb, his schemes numerous, and he was the most trusted strategist of Khan Jieli! Such a figure, actually… was captured alive by the Heavenly Alliance?! And he's going to be publicly executed by slow slicing in Xiangyang on New Year's Day!

The news itself was shocking enough! What's even more alarming is the overwhelming confidence and ruthless tactics displayed by the Heavenly Alliance in this manifesto!

Every word in the proclamation seemed to carry the scent of blood and the sound of metal and stone, powerful and resounding! This was not merely a punishment for Zhao Deyan personally, but also the most severe warning to all potential traitors and those with ulterior motives! Its spearhead was aimed directly at the Northern Turks and all forces colluding with them, demonstrating an unprecedentedly tough stance!
Only now did many people realize that the "Heavenly Alliance," which had swiftly integrated strategic southern cities such as Baling, Lingnan, Jiangling, Jingling, and Xiangyang with overwhelming force half a year ago, controlling the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River and encompassing most of the south, and had become a sweeping force, had made such a shocking move after being silent for more than half a year, seemingly focusing on recuperation and improving people's livelihoods!

…………

Southern Gobi Desert, the Golden Wolf Khanate.

Upon hearing the news, Khagan Jieli flew into a rage and immediately killed several of his attendants, smashing countless gold and jade artifacts inside the tent.

Zhao Deyan was not only his national advisor, but also the core planner of his southward expansion into the Central Plains! His capture and execution were a fatal blow to the morale of the Turks and to the plan to infiltrate the Central Plains! On the grasslands, smoke signals suddenly rose, and the various tribes were on edge, with the atmosphere extremely tense.

Changan.

Li Yuan, still basking in the joy of acquiring the treasure trove, looked at the urgently delivered copy of the proclamation in his hand, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty. They hadn't expected that this southern "Heavenly Alliance" would quietly accomplish such a momentous feat. This action undoubtedly won over the hearts of the people of the Central Plains, especially those on the borders who had suffered greatly under the Turkic rule.

Upon learning the news at the Prince of Qin's residence, Li Shimin was initially stunned, then fell into deep thought. He saw not only the strength of the Heavenly Alliance, but also the terrifying operational capability and precise strategic vision behind it. Their ability to capture Zhao Deyan alive suggests their strength and resources far exceed what outsiders imagine.

The northern warlords were all shaken. The Heavenly Alliance's move not only dealt a blow to the Turks but also established its authority before the world, demonstrating its qualifications and resolve as the leader of the Han forces. This made the northern warlords, still fighting amongst themselves for territory, appear narrow-minded. Many ambitious individuals had already begun secretly sending envoys to try and make contact with this emerging behemoth in the south.

In the martial arts world and among the common people, after the initial uproar, there was an irrepressible excitement! Especially those people who had personally experienced or heard about the atrocities committed by the Turks on the border, clapped their hands in delight and spread the news far and wide.

The image of the Heavenly Alliance was instantly elevated from a powerful force that controlled a region to the height of a pillar of the nation! Countless passionate young people and heroes of the martial arts world felt an infinite longing for the distant Xiangyang and the mysterious and powerful Heavenly Alliance.

The proclamation's severe provisions for punishing traitors sent chills down the spines of some forces and individuals who secretly colluded with foreign races, leaving them living in constant fear.

In an instant, the eyes of the world turned involuntarily to the south, to Xiangyang, the city where, on New Year's Day, the blood of the Turkic Grand Preceptor would be offered as a sacrifice to the heroic souls of the Han people. (End of Chapter)