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The hall was deathly silent. Only the faint, gradually subsiding shouts of battle and the triumphant bugle calls from outside struck like a hammer blow against the already broken nerves of Li Mi, Xu Shiji, Qian Duguan, and the others.

Li Mi's face was ashen, his once upright body slightly hunched, and his eyes, which had once looked down upon the world, were now filled with immense humiliation and a deep-seated fear. He could clearly feel the cold, eerie restriction within his dantian, like a venomous snake coiled around the source of his power, ready to take his life at any moment, and locking away most of the power he had painstakingly cultivated over decades! The majesty of the Lord of Wagang had vanished completely.

Xu Shiji collapsed to the ground, drenched in cold sweat. The excruciating pain contorted his face, and his usually brilliant mind went completely blank. His proud "cutting off the fuel supply" strategy had become a colossal joke and had also cost him his life.

Qian Duguan was in the worst state. His cultivation was completely destroyed, blood was spilling from the corners of his mouth, and he lay slumped like a lump of mud on an expensive rosewood chair, staring blankly at the ceiling, unconsciously muttering, "It's over...it's all over..."

The brothers Fu Zhen and Fu Yan knelt on the ground, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, not even daring to look up at the figure in the green robe. Yi Huawei's warning, "Take his head, burn his royal court," was like the most terrifying curse, branded deep into their souls.

Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, seemingly oblivious to the despair and fear within. His deep gaze pierced through the walls, sensing the rapid process of bringing the entire city of Xiangyang under his control. Shan Wanjing stood behind him, her blue eyes gleaming with excitement, her heart pounding with pride at her master's unparalleled power and the overwhelming force of the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

"Song Lu".

Yi Huawei's voice rang out calmly.

"My subordinate is here!"

Dressed in military uniform, covered in blood but still full of vigor, Song Lu strode into the hall, knelt on one knee before Yi Huawei, and spoke in a loud voice, full of awe: "Reporting to the Alliance Leader! The four gates of Xiangyang, the docks, the treasury, the armory, and the city lord's mansion are all under our alliance's control! The main leaders of the Hanshui faction have either been captured or surrendered, and the stubborn resisters have been eliminated! Order is being restored within the city!"

"good."

Yi Huawei nodded slightly: "Qian Duguan, Li Mi, and Xu Shiji, detain them and keep them under guard. Fu Zhen and Fu Yan, cripple their martial arts, expel them from the country, and have them relay a message to Bi Xuan."

"As ordered!"

Song Lu responded without hesitation, waving his hand to signal the fierce elites of the Heavenly Dao Alliance to step forward and drag away the pale-faced Qian Duguan, Li Mi, and Xu Shiji like dead dogs. The brothers Fu Zhen and Fu Yan were also brutally crippled and dragged away amidst screams.

"Issue a proclamation to reassure the people, announcing Xiangyang's submission to the Heavenly Alliance. Strengthen city defenses, inventory the treasury, appease merchants, and restore shipping on the Han River. All who submit will be treated equally; all who commit crimes or take advantage of the chaos will be executed without mercy!"

"Yes! Alliance leader!"

Song Lu accepted the order and quickly turned to carry it out.

Yi Huawei took one last look at the luxurious hall, then turned and left with Shan Wanjing.

However, the news of Xiangyang's change of ownership was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, sweeping across the entire world at a speed ten or even a hundred times faster than the Battle of Pegasus Ranch!

The world is shocked!

When news of Li Mi's capture and the crippling of his martial arts reached the capital, it was as if the entire Wagang Mountain had been struck by a magnitude 10 earthquake! Wang Bodang, Shan Xiongxin, and others were devastated, filled with grief and indignation, yet leaderless, they were plunged into immense chaos and panic. The news of Xu Shiji's serious injury and capture only compounded the turmoil; Wagang's core leadership collapsed instantly!
When the strategist Shen Luoyan received the secret report, she was working on a sand table exercise. The command flag in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and her pretty face turned deathly pale. She murmured, "It's over... Master Mi... Brother Xu..." She knew what this meant. The backbone of Wagang had been broken by that "nameless" man! A tremendous sense of powerlessness instantly overwhelmed this brilliant female strategist.

The internal factional infighting within the Wagang Army quickly intensified, causing widespread panic and a sharp drop in morale. Their previously aggressive expansion came to an abrupt halt, plunging them into immense internal strife and chaos.

Li Xiuning and her entourage, riding towards the Pegasus Ranch, received an urgent secret report at a post station halfway through their journey. Upon reading it, Li Xiuning trembled violently, the report falling to the ground. She suddenly recalled the unfathomable gentleman in the green robe at the Xiangyang tavern, his seemingly magical abilities, his profound insights into the world…

"It's him! It must be him! He is Nameless!"

The immense shock left her speechless for a long time.

Li Gang's old face twitched, and his hand stroking his beard trembled: "A lightning-fast city capture... capturing Li Mi and Xu Shiji alive, crippling their martial arts and driving out the Turkic master... This... this is beyond human capability! Baling, Lingnan, Jingling, Jiangling, Xiangyang... the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the throat of the Han River are all in his hands! The Heavenly Alliance... Wuming... the great trend has been formed! The world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or landscape) has been completely changed!"

He was filled with lingering fear, but thankfully he had maintained proper etiquette in the restaurant.

Looking at the undisguised shock and a hint of... a complex light (awe and curiosity) in his fiancée's eyes towards the "nameless" one, Chai Shao felt a surge of intense jealousy and powerlessness. To live in the same era as such an opponent was an immense pressure!

Upon receiving the news in Taiyuan, Li Yuan was so shocked that he rose from his throne and remained silent for a long time. He immediately summoned all his trusted ministers and discussed countermeasures overnight. The Li clan's strategy had to be significantly adjusted! The threat of the Heavenly Alliance had surpassed that of Wagang and become the number one enemy! Its controlled areas were already putting enormous pressure on the Li clan's Guanzhong and Hedong regions.

When Du Fuwei (Jianghuai) and Dou Jiande (Hebei), these two powerful warlords, received the news of the fall of Xiangyang and the capture of Li Mi, they were equally shocked! Du Fuwei remained silent for a long time in the Liyang camp before finally ordering: "Contract the defenses and strengthen the city's defenses! Send an envoy... with generous gifts, to Jingling!" His voice was filled with unprecedented solemnity.

Dou Jiande paced back and forth in the Leshou Palace, his brow furrowed: "With the fall of Xiangyang, the gates to the Central Plains are wide open! The Heavenly Alliance's military might is unpredictable! My Hebei... is also in danger!" He immediately ordered the Yellow River defense line to be strengthened and secretly contacted the Turks to seek possible support or a way out.

The same thought arose in both of their minds: Who would be the Heavenly Alliance's next target? Jianghuai? Hebei? Or... strike straight at the heart of the Central Plains?
Changan.

Looking at the intelligence report about the Xiangyang drama in her hand, Zhu Yuyan's captivatingly beautiful face revealed a complex and enigmatic smile, which quickly turned into a cold and decisive one: "Send the order! All personnel lurking in Xiangyang and the surrounding areas must immediately reveal their identities to the Heavenly Dao Alliance and cooperate fully! At the same time... intensify the infiltration efforts into the remaining forces of Du Fuwei, Dou Jiande, and others! They must make the greatest contribution to the Alliance Leader's cause!"

Fan Qinghui and Master Liaokong met again. They looked at each other in silence, their eyes filled with deep solemnity.

The shadow of Luoyang had not yet dissipated when the thunder of Xiangyang struck! The power displayed by Wuming had completely exceeded their comprehension. Fan Qinghui sighed, "Baling rises, Lingnan submits, Jiangling falls, Xiangyang changes hands... The Yangtze River, the natural barrier, the Han River, the throat, are all in our grasp. This is not something that human power can overcome, but the oppression of Heaven... Jingzhai... may have to close the mountain to avoid the calamity." Master Liaokong closed his eyes and chanted scriptures, his prayer beads moving rapidly, his chanting voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

Fu Zhen and Fu Yan, brothers severely injured and with their martial arts crippled, fled back to the borderlands, bearing Yi Huawei's warning: "Take their heads, burn their royal court." When the news reached the Turkic royal court, "Martial Venerable" Bi Xuan was visibly shaken, summoning his trusted generals and the wolf cavalry leader for a secret meeting. The sudden appearance of such a terrifying figure in the Central Plains disrupted all of the Turks' plans to take advantage of the chaos and advance south.

The Goguryeo, Tuyuhun and other forces also learned of the upheaval in Xiangyang through their own channels. They were all terrified and strengthened their intelligence gathering in the Central Plains, and temporarily abandoned their plans to take advantage of the chaos.

In taverns and teahouses, on every street corner, everyone was talking about the miraculous change of power in Xiangyang overnight! And the breathtakingly vast territory that the Heavenly Alliance now possessed!

"Have you heard? The Heavenly Alliance Leader, 'Nameless,' personally came to Xiangyang and crippled Li Mi and Xu Shiji in a single move! The flags on the city walls of Xiangyang changed hands instantly!"

"It's not just Xiangyang! Think about it, from Baling to Lingnan, from Jiangling to Jingling, and now they've taken Xiangyang! The entire middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the Han River basin have become the territory of the Heavenly Dao Alliance! Their power is no less than that of the Sui Dynasty back then!"

"Qian Duguan? Li Mi! Hmph, before Wuming, they are nothing but chickens and dogs! I heard that when he shouts, the entire city of Xiangyang trembles!"

"Three blood lotuses bloom, a new era dawns in Xiangyang! A crescent moon hangs over the great river, the will of Heaven is unstoppable! This world may truly belong to 'Heaven'..."

Exaggerated, bizarre, and fantastical rumors spread like wildfire, elevating the image of "Nameless" and "Heavenly Alliance" to godlike status and bringing unparalleled deterrence.

Countless small and medium-sized forces, martial arts heroes, and even people suffering from the ravages of war all had a vague thought rising in their hearts: perhaps, this chaotic world really is about to end? And the only one who can end all of this is the nameless one who controls the "Heavenly Way" and holds the five core strongholds of Baling, Lingnan, Jiangling, Jingling, and Xiangyang, forming a crescent-shaped strategic zone!
The Battle of Xiangyang was like a boulder thrown into the muddy waters of the world, creating not ripples but towering waves! It completely shattered the original power structure and propelled the Heavenly Alliance and the "Nameless" to unprecedented heights.

Meanwhile, at Pegasus Ranch, Lu Miaozi and Shang Xiuxun, who had just repaired their father-daughter relationship and were standing together on the castle overlooking the pasture, also received a message from Xiangyang via carrier pigeon.

Looking at the few words on the letter, yet their earth-shattering content, Lu Miaozi stroked his beard and sighed deeply:

"Turning one's hand to create clouds, turning it back to create rain... The Alliance Leader's abilities are beyond the comprehension of even the gods and ghosts! With Baling as the base, Lingnan as the shield, Jiangling as the granary, Jingling as the horse pasture, and Xiangyang as the key! This crescent moon formation has been completed, dominating the south and overlooking the Central Plains! The Alliance Leader's next step will be to drink from the Yellow River and point his sword at the world!"

Beneath the light veil covering her face, Shang Xiuxun's red lips parted slightly, her eyes gleaming with a strange light. She recalled her father's heroic figure on the city wall that day, turning the tide of battle, and the unfathomable leader of the alliance in green robes. Looking at the fertile pastures belonging to the Heavenly Dao Alliance at her feet, and then gazing northward at the vast land now incorporated into the alliance, the sense of belonging to the "Heavenly Dao Alliance" in her heart had never been so strong as it was at this moment.

………………

The Heavenly Dao Alliance banner fluttering atop Xiangyang City, like a giant anchor anchoring the south, heralded the beginning of a new era. However, while the various lords awaited with either fear or wariness, wondering where this dragon of the Heavenly Dao Alliance would strike next, Yi Huawei made a decision that caught everyone completely off guard:
Let us halt our military advance and turn swords into plowshares!
Although the Heavenly Alliance's successive campaigns were unstoppable, capturing five major towns—Baling, Lingnan, Jiangling, Jingling, and Xiangyang—and bringing the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the Han River basin under its control, forming a vast crescent-shaped strategic zone, this expansive land had been ravaged by war, its people impoverished, and everything in need of reconstruction. Without a solid foundation, even the most formidable force is nothing more than a castle built on sand.

Yi Huawei, based in Xiangyang, issued the Alliance Leader's Decree with his supreme prestige: The forces under the Heavenly Dao Alliance shall immediately enter a period of comprehensive governance and rectification! All external military expansion operations shall cease, all forces shall be concentrated, households shall be registered and people shall be restored, production shall be resumed, and the foundation shall be consolidated!

A more ambitious and arduous "internal affairs war" than the conquest of cities and territories is unfolding in full swing across the vast territory of the Heavenly Alliance.

With Song Zhi overseeing the overall situation and Lu Miaozi providing technical support, the Tiandao Alliance quickly established a large and efficient household registration and local governance agency.

The Heavenly Alliance dispatched a large number of trained clerks and elite teams to conduct a thorough census and land survey in towns and villages. Whether they were natives, surrendered forces, or newly recruited refugees, they were all registered and entered into the "Heavenly Alliance Household Register," and issued identity wooden tags (designed by Lu Miaozi, with embedded miniature mechanical marks that were difficult to counterfeit).

The oppressive taxes and corvée labor systems inherited from the previous dynasty and separatist forces were abolished, and a unified and relatively simplified "Heavenly Tax and Corvée Labor Edict" was promulgated. The proportions of land tax and commercial tax, as well as the duration and scope of corvée labor, were clearly stipulated, and local officials were strictly prohibited from creating pretexts to exploit the people.

At the grassroots level, a system combining "collective responsibility" and "local gentry self-governance" was implemented. Ten households formed a "jia" (甲), headed by a jia chief; one hundred households formed a "bao" (保), headed by a bao chief (usually a respected local gentry member who supported the Tiandao Alliance), responsible for maintaining order, conveying government orders, and mediating disputes. This system strengthened control while utilizing local clan power, reducing governance costs.

Absorbing displaced people and settling them down is of paramount importance.

Yi Huawei knew that refugees were the greatest hidden danger in a chaotic world, but also the greatest potential for revival. The Alliance Leader's decree proclaimed to the world: all refugees willing to submit to the Heavenly Alliance's territory would be accepted and resettled!
Large-scale "refugee resettlement sites" were set up along major transportation routes and in various counties. Basic porridge kitchens, medicine (with Lu Miaozi guiding improvements to the recipe to increase efficiency), and temporary shelter were provided.

For registered migrants and local landless or land-poor people, land was allocated according to household size and population. The land primarily came from: confiscated land from rebellious powerful families, unclaimed wasteland, and newly cultivated land (especially in the Jianghan Plain and suitable areas of Lingnan) planned and reclaimed on a large scale by Lu Miaozi using machinery and manpower. The land allocation contracts clearly defined ownership and usage rights, protected by the laws of the Heavenly Alliance, greatly stimulating the farmers' enthusiasm for production.

Designed and supervised by Lu Miaozi, a large number of displaced people were organized and large-scale infrastructure construction was undertaken.

Dredging of waterways (the Han River and some tributaries of the Yangtze River), repairing and constructing new irrigation canal networks (such as the "Tiangong Canal" system), and building reservoirs and ponds not only solved the livelihood problems of displaced people but also directly safeguarded the lifeline of agriculture, turning vast tracts of wasteland into fertile fields.

The construction of the "Heavenly Road" connecting five core towns and important counties and townships involved widening and tamping the road surface. Some key sections even experimentally laid hardwood tracks designed by Lu Miaozi and utilizing mechanical shock absorption, which greatly improved transportation efficiency and the mobility of the army.

Strengthening the defenses of strategic locations such as Xiangyang, Jiangling, and Baling was not only for military purposes, but also improved the cities' flood control and disaster relief capabilities.

In Jingling (relying on the resources of the Pegasus Ranch), Lingnan (relying on abundant mineral and forest resources), and Jiangling (relying on the water transport hub), large-scale workshop areas were established under the official leadership of the Tiandao Alliance. They recruited refugees and local craftsmen to engage in the unified production of agricultural tools (large-scale production of Lu Miaozi's improved agricultural tools such as the curved-shaft plow and efficient waterwheel), weapons and armor (supplying the army through standardized production), warship construction and repair, salt and iron monopolies in ports such as Jiangling and Xiangyang (ensuring livelihoods and strategic materials), and Lingnan-specific processing (spice refining, medicinal herb processing, and precious wood processing), etc.

The workshop implements a combination of "work points" and "basic salary," which guarantees the workers' livelihood and also improves production efficiency.

"Agricultural envoys" were formed, consisting of officials skilled in agriculture and recruited experienced farmers. They were sent to various places to guide the farming season and promote intensive farming techniques such as crop rotation and intercropping.

(End of this chapter)