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

The Turkic royal court was plunged into unprecedented chaos and a power vacuum. When Khagan Jieli was rescued by his personal guards at great personal risk, he was already despondent, sometimes sitting silently, sometimes roaring madly, clearly suffering irreparable physical and mental trauma and incapable of governing. Khagan Tuli was even more seriously injured, and his reckless actions had brought him great trouble, causing him to lose all prestige. He was temporarily placed under house arrest by nobles loyal to Jieli.

The high-ranking officials, nobles, and tribal leaders remaining at the royal court held an emergency meeting. The atmosphere inside the tent was so heavy it seemed to drip water. Bi Xuan was dead, the Khan had been deposed, and the elite troops were wiped out… This had practically broken the backbone of the Turkic Khaganate. How to stabilize the situation? Who would take charge? How to deal with the possible next move by that terrifying Central Plains people? How to deter the various factions stirring within the country? Every question weighed heavily on their shoulders.

Quarrels, finger-pointing, mutual accusations, secret alliances… after the initial panic, the allure of power began to emerge. Jieli's son, Dieluozhi (also known as Ashina Momo), was still young and lacked significant military achievements and prestige, making it difficult to command respect. The Tuli faction suffered a heavy blow. Other members of the Ashina royal family qualified to compete for the Khanate, such as Jieli's brother, Ashina Sunishi, began to become active.

Amidst this chaos, a previously unremarkable figure gradually stepped into the spotlight.

Ashina She'er.

He was the second son of Chuluo Khan (Jieli's elder brother), making him Jieli's nephew and Tuli's cousin. Around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, he was considered young among the Turkic nobles who valued bravery and seniority. Unlike many extravagant and power-hungry royal sons, She'er was intelligent from a young age. He was not only skilled in horsemanship and archery but also had a keen interest in Central Plains culture, military strategy, and politics. He secretly recruited Han Chinese scholars who had fled to the grasslands to study under him, gaining far more insight than the average grassland noble. He was usually low-key and modest, but in several internal campaigns against rebellions and small-scale external conflicts, he demonstrated a calm mind and considerable command ability, accumulating some prestige among lower-ranking generals and young nobles eager for change.

More importantly, in this earth-shattering upheaval, She'er was able to preserve his strength because he did not accompany Jieli on the expedition. His several thousand directly subordinate troops were among the few well-organized and formidable forces near the royal court. While other nobles were still arguing, She'er had already quietly taken action.

She'er, under the pretext of stabilizing the royal court and protecting the Khan, quickly took over part of the defenses of the Yudujin Mountain stronghold, placing his confidants in key positions. At the same time, he used his relatively clean identity (neither a direct descendant of Jieli nor distant from Tuli) to actively lobby the anxious and uneasy nobles and generals who lacked confidence in Dieluozhi or other competitors, under the slogan of uniting the tribes and weathering the storm together.

He wisely refrained from immediately raising the banner of vying for the Khanate, instead emphasizing the need to "preserve the survival of the Turkic Khaganate." At the meeting, he vehemently argued the dire consequences: "With a formidable enemy at hand, further internal divisions and infighting could lead to the extinction of our Turkic people! The most urgent task is to elect a wise leader capable of uniting the various tribes, calmly responding to the situation, temporarily taking charge, stabilizing morale, restoring production, rebuilding military strength, and simultaneously sending envoys to cautiously ascertain the attitude of the south, thus preventing further conflict."

These words resonated deeply with many tribal chiefs who were worried about the survival of their tribes. Compared to those princes and nobles who only thought about vying for power and profit, She'er seemed to have a greater sense of the big picture and responsibility. Moreover, although he held military power, he acted with humility and pragmatism, willing to "temporarily take over" rather than forcibly seize power, giving all parties a buffer and a way to observe the situation.

Meanwhile, Sher secretly contacted some powerful nobles who were dissatisfied with Jieli's long-term policies but also saw his potential, promising them future benefits. He adopted a divide-and-conquer strategy with Jieli and Tuli's former subordinates, winning over lower-ranking officers while temporarily monitoring and isolating the die-hards.

About half a month after the news spread, at a "Khuriltai" (tribal council) attended by most of the royal family and important figures, Ashina Sher was elected "Regent Yabghu" in a relatively "peaceful" atmosphere, temporarily acting as Khan and handling all affairs of the Khanate until Khagan Jieli recovered or a new Khan who was widely respected emerged. This effectively established Sher's supreme ruling position in the Turkic Khanate, only disguised by the guise of being "temporary" and "acting."

After taking power, She'er displayed a style completely different from Jieli. He immediately issued strict orders to all tribes not to provoke trouble and move south without authorization, especially prohibiting any retaliatory actions against the people of the Central Plains and their related forces, with violators to be severely punished. He dispatched multiple envoys, carrying relatively humble gifts and documents, to the south, attempting to establish contact with the Heavenly Alliance and even other forces in the Central Plains, to ascertain the truth, and to express his intention to "harmonize."

Domestically, he set about restoring order from chaos, providing relief to wounded soldiers, reducing some taxes to appease the herders, and simultaneously promoting promising young men and integrating the smaller tribes that had lost their allies after the fall of Jieli, quietly expanding his own power. Regarding the restless Tiele tribes like the Xueyantuo, he adopted a strategy of both appeasement and deterrence. On the one hand, he recognized some of their autonomy and reduced their tribute; on the other hand, he amassed troops to patrol the border, flexing his muscles.

She'er was well aware that the Turkic Khaganate was now outwardly strong but inwardly weak, its vitality severely damaged. His primary task was survival and recovery, not revenge or expansion. That Central Plains man named Yi Huawei was like a sword hanging over the entire steppe, making him dare not be careless in the slightest. He even secretly ordered the collection of all intelligence about Yi Huawei and the Heavenly Dao Alliance, the more detailed the better.

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

When the grasslands were engulfed in power struggles and fearful upheavals, news, as if sprouting wings, flew over the Great Wall and reached the Central Plains.

Changan.

When Li Yuan received urgent reports from the border and messages from spies who had infiltrated the grasslands, he was discussing with his trusted advisors, including Pei Ji and Xiao Yu, how to deal with the northern invasion of the Great Xia. When he heard the descriptions of how Martial Venerable Bi Xuan was turned to ashes with a single finger, how Jieli and Tuli had their legs crippled, and how three thousand Turkic cavalry were all crippled, the entire hall fell silent.

"Is this...truly true?"

After a long while, Li Yuan gasped, nearly dropping the teacup in his hand.

"Verified from multiple sources, there may be some discrepancies in the details, but it is generally true."

The intelligence officer, sweat beading on his forehead, said, “The grasslands are in chaos. Jieli’s son, Dieluozhi, is struggling to win over the people, and his nephew, Sheer, has been appointed regent and is doing his best to stabilize the situation.”

Li Shimin's eyes gleamed as he pondered, "Father, this is a golden opportunity! The Turks have suffered such a heavy blow that they will be powerless to look south in the short term. Perhaps we could consider secretly contacting She'er to restrain Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong?"

Li Yuan, however, looked worried: "It's certainly a good thing that the threat from the Turks has been temporarily relieved. But the Heavenly Dao Alliance Leader... his martial arts have reached such a level? Can one person defeat the elite troops of an entire nation? What if he marches south one day..."

This was the source of the greatest shock and fear in the hearts of Li Yuan, and indeed all the rulers of the Central Plains forces who heard this news. Yi Huawei had displayed not merely personal martial prowess, but a strategic deterrent force akin to a "human catastrophe"! With such a figure in the Heavenly Dao Alliance, the threat level instantly surpassed all other separatist forces, even exceeding that of the Turks!
Luoyang.

Upon hearing the news, Wang Shichong was initially overjoyed: "Even that old bastard Jieli has met his end! Haha!" But then, his smile froze on his face, turning into an extremely solemn expression, even tinged with fear.

"Nameless... Is he currently on the grasslands? What if he... takes us with him too..."

Wang Shichong, always suspicious and cunning, was even more paranoid at this moment. He intensified the defense of key passes such as Hulao Pass, while secretly dispatching envoys with lavish gifts to try every means to contact Yi Huawei on the grasslands, even if it was just to express "respect," in order to find out the movements and intentions of this treacherous star.

Hebei.

Upon hearing the news, Dou Jiande slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed, "A true hero!"

Born into a humble background, he deeply resented the repeated incursions of the Turks into his borders. Upon hearing that Yi Huawei had dealt a heavy blow to the Turkic royal court, he felt immensely pleased. However, his strategist Ling Jing calmly reminded him: "My lord, while Yi Huawei's actions are certainly gratifying, the power he has displayed is beyond the reach of ordinary people. The Heavenly Alliance is already powerful, and now with this divine might, who in the world can subdue them? Our Xia Kingdom is adjacent to them, which may not be a fortunate thing."

Upon hearing this, Dou Jiande's excitement subsided, replaced by a furrowed brow. He admired Yi Huawei's actions, yet felt deeply uneasy about the future threat posed by the Heavenly Dao Alliance. The martial arts world and powerful clans were in an uproar, yet also trembled with fear. Bi Xuan's name had resonated throughout the land for decades, a peak that countless martial artists found insurmountable. Now, he had been so easily erased by the leader of the Heavenly Dao Alliance? Rumors spread like wildfire, and the nameless figure was being deified, even demonized.

The title of "Number One Master Under Heaven" was no longer in dispute. Countless small and medium-sized sects and local powerful figures who had previously held a wait-and-see attitude or even a hostile attitude towards the Heavenly Dao Alliance began to quietly change their attitudes, either secretly currying favor with the South or restraining their disciples and followers to never have a conflict with the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

When the news reached the Heavenly Alliance, there was an initial silence of disbelief, followed by thunderous cheers! Soldiers and ordinary civilians alike were filled with pride, and morale soared to its peak.

"The Alliance Leader is mighty! May the might of our Han people be proclaimed!"

"Those Turkic barbarians have finally met their match! Let's see if they dare to come south and graze their horses again!"

After their initial excitement, Song Que, Xu Xingzhi, and other core members quickly calmed down. While the alliance leader's move certainly shocked the world, it also thrust the Heavenly Dao Alliance into the spotlight, making it the focus of all forces and even a potential public enemy.

Xu Xingzhi immediately ordered the strengthening of defenses in various regions, especially along the borders with Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande, to guard against potential unexpected conflicts. At the same time, he used this unprecedented influence to accelerate internal integration and the implementation of new policies, and sent more capable personnel north to meet the leader of the alliance.

………………

Spring of 623 AD.

Jiangyou Circuit, Luling Prefecture, Ancheng County.

Three years is not enough to turn the world upside down, but it can transform a name from a legend into a near-divine belief.

For this once obscure little town on the banks of a tributary of the Gan River, the changes it has undergone in the past three years far exceed the sum of its changes over the previous hundreds of years. And the source and core of all these changes are focused on the newly built, colossal statue outside the town, as large as a mountain.

The town's name has gradually faded from people's memories, and nowadays, people are more accustomed to calling it "Saint Lin Town" or "Hometown of the Alliance Leader".

Nestled against the mountains and beside the water, the town has expanded several times over from its original layout. New houses line the widened cobblestone streets, and although they lack the grandeur of large cities like Xiangyang and Jiangling, they are neat, clean, and exude a vibrant new energy.

The streets were noticeably denser with people, no longer just local farmers and artisans, but also many faces speaking various dialects: there were constables dressed as low-ranking officials of the Heavenly Alliance, travelers and believers from all over the country who came to pay homage to the "holy land," merchants who had come to open inns, taverns, and incense shops because they had sensed business opportunities, and even more craftsmen, laborers, and vendors who had gathered here because of the sudden construction projects and the various needs that followed.

The town was filled with sounds that were completely different from the past, day and night: no longer just the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs and the work chants in the fields, but the rumble of carts and horses, the shouts of merchants, the hammering of craftsmen, the clear reading voices of children in the school, and the rhythmic work chants and sounds of labor that could always be faintly heard from the construction site of the "sacred site" outside the town.

The changes are not merely superficial. A primary school has been established in the town, open to all children of school age, regardless of their wealth, to learn the "Three Character Classic of Heaven's Way," the "Instructions on Loyalty and Righteousness," and basic arithmetic. Outside the town, along the riverbank, new-style waterwheels slowly turn, drawing water from the river into newly constructed irrigation canals, irrigating the more cultivated fields in the surrounding area.

The visual and spiritual center of all this prosperity and order is the stone statue that stands three miles outside the town on a wide, specially leveled hill.

It was a human statue. A towering stone statue, ten zhang high, almost as tall as the lush green mountains behind it. The statue leaned against the green mountains, facing east, overlooking the town, fields and winding tributaries of the Gan River below. Its gaze seemed to pierce through the clouds and mist, looking towards the more distant Central Plains.

The stone statue depicts the leader of the Heavenly Alliance—Nameless.

Although very few people in the world have actually seen the leader's face, descriptions of him as "handsome and dashing, like a celestial being descended to earth" have long circulated through various channels. The statue is clearly based on a highly authoritative model (rumored to be the work of Princess Shan Wanjing, a direct disciple of the leader), and strives to capture that essence.

The main body of the statue is carved from locally quarried, dense granite. It is not a single block of stone, but rather thousands of meticulously polished stones, layered and interlocked using the "mortise and tenon mortar" technique secretly passed down by the Tiandao Alliance's Work Department, forming a seamless and exceptionally sturdy structure.

The stone statue has smooth yet powerful lines, a clear face, and sparse eyebrows. A gentle smile plays on its lips, while its eyes are as deep as the sea, gazing calmly ahead. Standing with its hands behind its back, its posture is as upright as a pine tree. It possesses both the elegance of a scholar and the ethereal grace of someone detached from worldly affairs, while also conveying an unparalleled majesty that seems to look down upon the world and rule the universe.

Its sheer scale and grandeur are enough to be considered a miracle of our time, enough to awe and inspire awe in any first-time visitor.

The statue's base is also two zhang high, encased in white marble, and surrounded by exquisite bas-reliefs. The content is not the traditional auspicious clouds and cranes, but rather showcases the major events in the history of the Heavenly Alliance since its rise: the establishment of the capital in Xiangyang, the naval battle on the Yangtze River, the pacification of the south, the conquest of the seas, the promotion of agriculture and sericulture, the establishment of schools... These scenes are strung together to form a silent epic, highlighting the Heavenly Alliance's martial prowess and virtuous governance.

The front of the base is engraved with four large gilded seal characters: "Dao Lin Tian Xia". The strokes are vigorous and powerful, with a hint of sword intent, and were written by Song Que, the Heavenly Blade.

The three-year construction was far from smooth sailing. Quarrying stones, transporting massive quantities of building blocks, working at heights, precise assembly, and withstanding wind and rain erosion—each step presented immense challenges. Countless skilled craftsmen from the Heavenly Alliance's Imperial Workshop, stonemasons from various regions, and locally recruited laborers poured their hearts and souls into this hilly terrain. At one point, spies from hostile forces even attempted to sabotage the project, but were swiftly eliminated by the "Sword Guards" stationed there and the local garrison.

The person in charge of supervising the entire construction of this statue was none other than Yi Huawei's disciple, Princess Dongming Shan Wanjing, who now holds a transcendent position within the Heavenly Dao Alliance and whose martial arts have reached the level of a first-class master.

At this moment, the main body of the statue is finally completed, and the final external gilding (mainly targeting details such as the inscriptions on the base and the patterns on the clothing) and the surrounding environment are being prepared.

The construction site was temporarily fenced off with wooden barriers, and elite guards stood watch at the entrance. Inside, the scene was still bustling with activity, but orderly. Craftsmen moved like agile monkeys on the towering scaffolding, conducting final checks and finishing touches; laborers chanted as they laid smooth, polished flagstones to create a wide plaza surrounding the base; and some officials-looking individuals directed the planting of evergreen trees such as pines and cypresses. (End of Chapter)