Conferred God: Got cramped at the beginning

Chapter 1085 The Discussion in the Imperial Garden

Li Shimin looked at Li Jing in front of him with great interest.

A person's thoughts can be hidden, and their personality can be faked—but their appearance can be seen clearly at a glance.

Especially Prince Jinzha and Prince Muzha, these two are renowned 'ancient gods' with the ability to see the smallest details.

Even if Hong Fu Nu used methods to conceal her appearance, she could not escape the eyes of Jin Zha and Mu Zha.

And no matter what, they could never forget what their own mother looked like.

Therefore, it was impossible for them not to recognize Hong Fu Nu's appearance.

So, what was their reaction when they saw Hong Fu Nu?
Is it joy or anger?
How did Li Jing manage to appease his two sons and get these two great gods to accept the existence of Hong Fu Nu?

"Your Majesty," Li Jing said with a wry smile, trying his best to suppress his inner anxiety.

He was a master strategist—and all strategists share a common trait.

That is, to completely control the changes in the situation.

Once the situation gets out of control, or if some completely uncontrollable factor appears in the situation, they will become quite anxious—they will try to force that impossible factor into their control.

However, it is clear that no matter how high Li Jing's attainments in military strategy were, and no matter how much he commanded his army and controlled the battlefield, the Luo Kingdom was still impressed by him.

However, the existence of the Three Altars Sea Gathering God was still something he could not control no matter what he tried.

That is why Li Jing felt absolutely no sense of security in front of the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas.

That is why Li Jing became increasingly anxious and uneasy when the topic of the Three Altars Sea Gathering God was brought up, as well as any matters that might provoke him.

"Jinzha and Muzha's temperaments are ultimately not as unruly and violent as the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas."

"Moreover, over the years, Jinzha and Muzha have often accompanied Bodhisattvas and Buddhas to cultivate their character."

"After they calmed down, they naturally understood the key to the matter of Hong Fu, and realized that it was just a coincidence."

Li Jing said, "Most importantly, he can completely suppress Jinzha and Muzha."

Whether through his own methods or by virtue of his status as a 'father,' he was able to suppress Jinzha and Muzha and calm them down.

However, the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas is different.

He neither cared about the identity of this 'father' nor about the power that Li Jing currently held.

"Alright, alright." Seeing that Li Jing was already showing his anxiety and anger, Li Shimin finally got up to comfort him.

"Pharmacist, I'm not joking with you."

"I am currently trying to find a solution for you."

"We must give the Great God of the Three Altars Sea Gathering an explanation for the matter of Hong Fu Nu."

"If you already had an explanation with your other two sons, how can I explain it for you?"

Li Shimin took a few steps forward before whispering his plan in Li Jing's ear.

"Pharmacist, what do you think of this plan?"

Li Shimin said smugly, “It’s a good thing you didn’t say much to your other two sons, otherwise, I would have had to personally go down and invite the Great Dragon God of Chengtian Bingyi down to persuade this Great God of the Three Altars and Seas.”

Although the little trust between the emperor and his ministers was destroyed because of the fact that Jinzha, Muzha, and the incarnation of Dipankara Buddha had secretly set foot in Chang'an, Li Shimin, as the emperor, naturally still had the big picture in mind.

He knew very well that for the Li Tang dynasty, Li Jing's existence was still as important as a pillar of stability.

Under no circumstances should they be allowed to get involved in a conflict with the Three Altars Sea God because of the Red Dust Woman, otherwise the situation would be extremely difficult to manage.

"I will follow Your Majesty's plan." Upon hearing Li Shimin's plan, Li Jing bowed respectfully and then left the study.

"I will go back now and give Jinzha and Muzha a warning."

……

"Lin He." After Li Jing left, Li Shimin immediately summoned another person.

After he ascended the throne, he selected elites from among the Yuan soldiers to form a guard known as the "Hundred Riders".

Among the hundred riders, each one was a martial arts expert and extremely loyal to him.

At the same time, they also had the responsibility of supervising Chang'an.

Lin He was the centurion of these hundred riders.

"You are in charge of Chang'an, overseeing both the inner and outer areas."

"But I did not learn of the arrival of Prince Jinzha, Prince Muzha, the Ancient Buddha Randeng, and even the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas in Chang'an from you, the Hundred Riders."

"Is this how you guard Chang'an?"

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die a thousand deaths." Lin He knelt on the ground, his face covered in cold sweat.

One of his duties in guarding Chang'an was to restrain the cultivators in Chang'an and keep the immortals and gods in Chang'an under his control.

After all, the magical powers of those immortals and gods are things they have cultivated through hard work; they are their own power.

Even though they are suppressed by human forces in Chang'an, what belongs to them is still what belongs to them—they are only suppressed, not deprived of their magical power.

Therefore, even if they are suppressed to the point of being like ordinary people, when they want to take action against someone, if they disregard the cost and their own lives, they can still cause a huge commotion!

It could pose a threat to many, many people—including Emperor Li Shimin!

Therefore, the Hundred Riders must ensure that all cultivators who have entered Chang'an are under their surveillance and that their movements are kept under control...

But now...

Prince Jinzha.

Prince Muzha.

Dipankara Buddha.

There is also the Great God of the Three Altars of the Sea.

These are not ordinary immortals or gods, but renowned and powerful figures!
If they harbor any ill intentions, the chaos they cause in Chang'an City could be unbelievably large!

But then, this powerful figure stepped into Chang'an City, and his hundred cavalrymen arrived without the slightest warning...

This is a huge oversight, as you can imagine.

"What's the use of dying if you die a thousand times over?" Li Shimin frowned and then relaxed.

"You should thoroughly investigate the issue of the Hundred Cavalry yourself and then report back to me."

"However, before that, you should go to the examination hall and invite the Three Altars Sea Gathering God to the palace for a chat."

"Just tell him that I have important matters to discuss with him."

"Your Majesty, I will go immediately."

……

"The Emperor himself has invited you." Inside the examination hall, in the Taoist temple of Emperor Wenchang, Emperor Wenchang looked at the hundred riders who had come to invite him, and his heart stirred.

“Perfect timing. Perhaps we can discuss the matter of the Southern Continent with the Human Emperor.”

"What does the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas think?" Emperor Wenchang asked, looking at Nezha.

“Very well.” Nezha nodded. “After all, it is a change in the human world. It would not be good to act without the Human Emperor’s permission.” If the Human Emperor had not sent an envoy, then this matter would have been missed.

But since the Emperor has happened to be here and sent an envoy, this matter must be made known to the Emperor.

Led by a hundred mounted guards, Wenchang Dijun and the Three Altars Sea Gathering God soon stepped into the Imperial Garden of the palace.

Although he already knew that Emperor Wenchang would also be there, Li Shimin still showed a look of astonishment and delight when he saw Emperor Wenchang in front of him.

It was as if they were completely unaware of the arrival of Emperor Wenchang.

“Your Majesty is a rare guest.” Li Shimin stood up.

Wenchang Dijun is an extremely influential deity among the human race—after the imperial examination system was implemented, there was a clear system for human people to become generals and ministers.

And the Wenchang Emperor is the guarantee of this system, the guarantee of fairness.

That is why, in the past, although Emperor Wenchang lived in the human world, he was quite distant from it.

They neither provoke the Emperor nor pay attention to the powerful families.

Even the incense offerings and sacrifices of the emperor and noble families were not accepted.

Throughout the entire human realm, Emperor Wenchang only accepts the incense offerings from the Wenchang Temple—no matter how much or how abundant the incense offerings are outside the Wenchang Temple, Emperor Wenchang treats them as if he cannot see them.

That is why, although both the emperor and the aristocratic families had their own ideas about Emperor Wenchang, they also believed in Emperor Wenchang's 'fairness'.

But sometimes, the emperor also wished that this Wenchang Emperor could be less fair, and that he could show more leniency towards the children of ordinary people in the imperial examinations...

Even though Li Shimin knew very well that such leniency was not advisable, his heart still couldn't help but waver.

Therefore, Li Shimin and those aristocratic families all invited this Wenchang Emperor.

But no matter whose invitation it was, this Wenchang Emperor completely ignored it.

This is the first time Wenchang Dijun has stepped out of his temple since he returned to power.

"I have come to see Your Majesty today because there is an important matter I wish to discuss with you." Emperor Wenchang did not try to establish any personal relationship with Li Shimin, but went straight to the point, wanting to end the topic as soon as possible and return to his own temple.

He has a very clear understanding of his own position.

He is the humane Wenchang Emperor, not the Wenchang Emperor of a particular human emperor.

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"Is Your Majesty aware of the unusual human activity that has already come into contact with the Southern Continent?" Emperor Wenchang asked.

"Your Majesty, please wait." Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately spoke up and then dismissed the messenger from the palace.

Soon, the four civil and military officials, led by their attendants, stepped into the imperial garden.

The four civil and military officials were none other than...

That is precisely:
Li Jing.

Changsun Wuji.

Fang Xuanling.

Wei Zheng.

These four men naturally knew that Emperor Wenchang had entered the palace—among them, Wei Zheng was already preparing to bring up the matter directly at tomorrow's court meeting, demanding an explanation from Li Shimin.

However, even though they knew, they all feigned surprise on their faces.

"May I ask, Your Majesty, what is this...?"

The four of them exchanged glances, all knowing that the matter that had summoned all four of them was no small thing.

"Alright, Your Majesty, you can now speak of the Southern Continent."

Once the four civil and military officials had entered the Imperial Garden, Li Shimin dismissed the servants and maids.

Thus, under the watchful eyes of Wei Zheng and the others, Emperor Wenchang began to speak of the Southern Continent, the changes in the Phoenix Kingdom, the changes in humanity, and the potential dangers arising between humanity and the demon race.

"What do you gentlemen think of the situation in Jambudvipa?"

After Emperor Wenchang explained the origins of the Phoenix Qi Demon Kingdom, Li Shimin finally turned his gaze to the four civil and military officials before him.

These four civil and military officials, along with himself—the decisions they made were decisions for the entire human race and for the entire human way.

The four civil and military officials remained silent, each pondering the impact of the situation in the Phoenix Kingdom.

Lost in thought, Li Jing even forgot that the Great God of the Three Altars Sea Gathering was still there.

Meanwhile, the Great God of the Three Altars and Seas had already recognized Li Jing.

With just one glance, he was certain that the Li Jing before him was the same Li Jing from the Shang Dynasty!

“If you do not accept what Heaven has bestowed, you will suffer the consequences.” A moment later, Li Jing’s voice rang out in the Imperial Garden.

"Your Majesty," Li Jing said, "I believe that not only should our Great Tang support Emperor Wenchang in taking up his post in the Phoenix Kingdom, but we should also send a great general to lead troops to accompany Emperor Wenchang."

What do military strategists fear?
There is no war!

Without war, not only would the military school lose its purpose, but it would also lose its path to advancement, and the development of the military school would stagnate.

Therefore, regardless of the dynasty or its reputation, the orthodox generals all considered war—although some of them thought of attacking from within.

Others, however, are considering launching military action against external forces.

Even those generals who are 'skilled in battle but do not boast of their achievements' and who do not easily mobilize troops, what they pursue is not to not mobilize troops, but to accumulate strength before mobilizing troops, so that they can deliver a powerful blow and kill their opponent.

What is the highest pursuit of military strategists?
It's just about expanding territory!

However, in this Central Region, the human race's territory has long since reached its limit. All wars, including those against the Turks, cannot be considered as territorial expansion, but rather as the "recapture of old lands."

But the situation is different in the Southern Continent.

"I also believe that we should head to the Southern Continent of Jambudvipa." After a moment, Fang Xuanling, the head of the civil officials, also spoke up.

What he was thinking about was not territorial expansion.

Rather, it was a conflict between civil and military officials, and a hidden danger between the emperor and his subjects.

Since ancient times, famous generals are like beauties, and they are not allowed to see their hair turn white in the world.

At the founding of a nation, renowned generals and military strategists were the most important pillars of the country.

Once the country is stable, the military strategist's influence needs to be suppressed—at this point, disputes arise between the civil and military officials.

This led to conflict between the state and its generals.

How to deal with these famous generals has always been a major problem.

It's difficult to reward properly, and it's difficult to impose a ban.

But what if they set foot in Jambudvipa?
It doesn't require much land in Jambudvipa...

All they need to do is establish a foothold in Jambudvipa.

Then, the conflicts between civil and military officials, and between the monarch and the famous general, will all be resolved!
—Those with burning ambitions cannot bear this tranquility.

Let's just throw them all into Jambudvipa (the southern continent).

(End of this chapter)