Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 627 Heading to the Han Empire
The journey back from the Northern Song Dynasty was full of adventures and legends. He was fortunate to travel with Wang Situ, the man from the Han Dynasty who represented the world of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Wang Situ, an old man who was well-read and wise, hit it off with Jia Changsheng at first sight. During the long journey, they talked about the past and the present, the general situation of the world, and heroes, and their admiration and appreciation for each other grew day by day. In the end, the two became brothers and made a vow to share life and death under the witness of heaven and earth. However, fate played tricks on them. Wang Situ fell seriously ill on the way. Although Jia Changsheng sought out famous doctors and took good care of him, he still could not stop the footsteps of death. Wang Situ's departure made Jia Changsheng heartbroken. He personally arranged the funeral for his brother and buried him among the green mountains and clear waters. Then, with a heart full of sorrow and memories, he embarked on the journey back to the Southern Song Dynasty.

In addition to the Southern Song Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty, there is also the Tang Dynasty, which represents Journey to the West, and countless surrounding countries. Jia Changsheng had heard many legends about the Tang Dynasty, which was a country full of fantasy and mystery. In the land of the Tang Dynasty, there were great monks with profound Buddhist knowledge, strange people who could exorcise demons, and the fascinating journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. He imagined the legendary scene of Tang Monk and his four disciples traveling west, going through 81 difficulties, and finally obtaining the true scriptures. He was full of curiosity and yearning for that distant country. The countless surrounding countries have their own characteristics. Some are famous for their strong military power, while others are famous for their prosperous culture. The exchanges and collisions, trade and disputes between these countries are like stars, dotted in this vast and magical world.

In this leisurely life as a viscount, Jia Changsheng did not stop exploring and understanding the world. He often sent his talented men to various corners to collect intelligence. Whether it was the latest developments in the officialdom of the Southern Song Dynasty, rumors and anecdotes in the rivers and lakes of the Northern Song Dynasty, or the strange customs of the Tang Dynasty and neighboring countries, he recorded them one by one and studied them carefully. He knew that in this complex and ever-changing world, knowledge and information are power. Only by fully understanding the full picture of the world can he take the initiative in the future changes and protect his position as a viscount and his inner peace.

He was also keen on collecting all kinds of precious books and cultural relics, whether it was the poems, calligraphy and paintings, rare antiques mentioned in Dream of the Red Chamber, the weapons and armor of the heroes in Water Margin, the military books and strategies, historical allusions in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, or the Buddhist and Taoist classics and strange magic weapons in Journey to the West, he regarded them as treasures and carefully collected them in his treasure house. These books and cultural relics were not only his window to understand the world, but also his precious wealth to inherit culture and enlighten wisdom.

Jia Changsheng's residence gradually became a gathering place for culture and knowledge. Scholars, literati, and artists from all over the world came to exchange ideas with him. In this small world, different ideas collided to create brilliant sparks, and different cultures blended with each other to weave a colorful cultural picture. Jia Changsheng played the role of organizer and leader. With an open and inclusive attitude, he accepted cultural elements from all directions, making his residence a microcosm of this diverse world.

However, Jia Changsheng also knew clearly that the world's peace and tranquility were only temporary. The power struggle within the Southern Song court was becoming increasingly fierce, and the northern border was often threatened by war. As a viscount, although he had no intention of getting involved in the core of the court disputes, he also understood that he had the responsibility to protect the people. He began to secretly train his own private armed forces, recruiting loyal, brave and skilled soldiers to prepare for the possible crisis.

At the same time, he also paid attention to the dynamics of other worlds. Hearing that a mysterious evil force had appeared in the Tang Dynasty, secretly undermining the spread of Buddhism and social stability. Jia Changsheng realized that once this evil force spread, it would most likely affect the peace and tranquility of the entire world. He decided to use his connections and resources to get in touch with the righteous people in the Tang Dynasty to discuss countermeasures. He sent his most capable assistant to the Tang Dynasty, bringing his greetings and sincerity for cooperation.

In this world that combines elements of the four great classics, Jia Changsheng's story continues to be written. How will he maintain his independence and dignity in the officialdom and aristocracy of the Southern Song Dynasty? How will he deal with challenges and crises from other worlds? Can he and the righteous people of the Tang Dynasty successfully join hands to thwart the conspiracy of evil forces? All of this is like a fog shrouding the road to the future, waiting for him to uncover the mystery one by one. And Jia Changsheng, the viscount who has experienced countless trials and tribulations, is moving towards an unknown tomorrow with firm steps. His figure has left a unique and profound mark in the long history of this diverse world.
In the quiet study room of the Viscount's Mansion in the Southern Song Dynasty, Jia Changsheng lazily leaned back on the armchair, gently playing with a warm jade pendant in his hand, his eyes revealing a deep and thoughtful look. He has already understood that in the vast land of the Tang Empire, various forces such as Buddhism, heaven, and magic are intertwined, and the situation is as complicated and unpredictable as a fog. With his current ability and the treasures he has, those matters of immortals and gods are not enough to scare him, but he has no intention of getting involved in his heart. In his opinion, the disputes between immortals and gods are like an endless chess game, and the chess pieces are helpless. He does not want to become one of the controlled chess pieces, and only hopes to find his own freedom in this mortal world.

At this moment, his mind was more drawn to the news of the Han Empire. Since the end of the unforgettable journey with Wang Situ, although Wang Situ's departure made him extremely sad, the changes in the Han Empire have never stopped. According to reports from his spies, the current Han Empire is like a lonely boat swaying in a storm, in danger. In the court, eunuchs are in power, relatives are interfering in politics, loyal ministers and good generals are either suppressed or framed, and the court is in chaos. The people are also suffering, natural disasters and man-made disasters are frequent, the people are displaced, and starving people are everywhere. Under this scene of decline, the powerful forces of all parties are ready to move, all secretly accumulating strength, waiting for a suitable opportunity to rise up and compete for the world. The once glorious Han Dynasty is like the afterglow of the setting sun. Although there is still some residual light, it can no longer hide the decline that is about to fall into endless darkness.

Jia Changsheng slowly stood up and walked to the window, looking at the bamboo swaying in the wind in the courtyard outside the window, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. He knew that the Three Kingdoms era was about to begin. This would be an era of heroes, wars, and opportunities and challenges. In this era, as long as you have enough wisdom, courage and strength, you can achieve a world-shaking hegemony. And he, Jia Changsheng, although he is a viscount of the Southern Song Dynasty, has never extinguished his ambition to make achievements and gallop on the battlefield. He longed to rise in troubled times like the great princes in history, and to build a powerful empire of his own with his own hands and wisdom, so that his name would leave a strong mark in the long river of history.

He began to plan carefully. First of all, he knew that if he wanted to gain a foothold in the chaotic times of the Three Kingdoms, a strong and loyal army was indispensable. So he decided to increase the investment and training of his own private armed forces. He sent his men to recruit brave and skilled warriors everywhere. No matter their noble or humble origins, as long as they had real skills, they could join his army. At the same time, he also hired many experienced generals and military advisers with a large sum of money to train soldiers and teach them military tactics. In the vast parade ground behind his viscount's mansion, the soldiers' shouts of killing could be heard every day, and their hard training could be seen. Jia Changsheng often went to the parade ground in person to inspect and boost morale. He knew that only when the soldiers were loyal to him could they fight for him on the battlefield.

In addition to the army, Jia Changsheng also realized that the reserve of food and materials was crucial. He used his status and wealth in the Southern Song Dynasty to purchase a large amount of food, weapons, armor and other materials, and secretly built many solid granaries and armoury in his fiefdom to store these materials properly. He also encouraged the people in his fiefdom to reclaim wasteland, build water conservancy projects, and develop agricultural production to ensure sufficient food and grass supply in future wars. He knew that "food and grass must go first before the troops move". If there is insufficient food and grass, even with a powerful army, it will be difficult to win in a protracted war. In terms of diplomacy, Jia Changsheng also began to actively plan. He sent envoys to neighboring countries to establish contacts, alliances, or exchanges with those forces that were determined to preserve themselves or seek development in troubled times. He reached trade agreements with some small countries, exchanging specialties such as silk and tea from the Southern Song Dynasty for their good horses, iron ore and other strategic materials. At the same time, he also secretly communicated with some local tyrants, exchanged intelligence with each other, and agreed to support each other at the appropriate time. He understood that in these troubled times, one more friend meant one less enemy, and only by establishing extensive diplomatic relations could one remain invincible in the complex situation.

However, Jia Changsheng also knew clearly that relying on these alone was far from enough. In the chaotic times of the Three Kingdoms, talent was the most valuable resource. He decided to follow the example of the ancients and recruit talents. He set up a school in his fiefdom, invited scholars from all over the country to give lectures and teach, and cultivate the younger generation of talents. At the same time, he also went around looking for those hermits with extraordinary talents, moved them with sincerity, and invited them to come out of the mountains to help. He heard that there was a young counselor named Zhuge Kongming in the mountains, who was extremely wise and had the ambition to help the world. Jia Changsheng personally brought generous gifts and visited him many times. Although he had not yet been able to persuade him, his sincerity had spread far and wide, attracting more talents to come and join him.

As time went by, Jia Changsheng's power gradually grew. His army was well-disciplined, well-trained, and increasingly powerful; his food and supplies were sufficient to cope with a large-scale war; his diplomatic relations were extensive, and he had a certain influence in the surrounding countries; he also had a group of talented and loyal counselors and generals under his command. However, he did not become complacent because he knew that all this was just the foundation for his quest for supremacy, and the real challenge was still to come.

On a quiet night, Jia Changsheng climbed up the tall building of the Viscount's Mansion alone, looking at the sky in the north that was about to be shrouded by war, and silently made a vow in his heart. He knew that the road ahead was full of hardships and dangers, and he might encounter countless setbacks and failures, but he would never back down. He would step into the stage of the Three Kingdoms with his dreams and beliefs, and fight with the heroes of the world. Regardless of the final result of success or failure, he would leave his own unique chapter in this long river of history, so that future generations would remember his name, Jia Changsheng, and his legendary battle in this troubled time.

In the prosperous but dangerous land of Southern Song, Jia Changsheng, after careful preparation for a long time, finally led his carefully built team on the journey to the Han Empire. This team was large in number and well-trained, but in order to act low-key and better integrate into the environment along the way, Jia Changsheng decisively ordered them to split into hundreds of small teams, like a trickle, heading towards the land in the north that was about to fall into chaos from different paths.

Jia Changsheng himself took a small team of the most elite guards, rode on tall horses, and set out on the journey first. They headed north and crossed the vast territory of the Southern Song Dynasty. At first, the road was relatively flat, and along the way there were beautiful scenery of the Jiangnan water town, accompanied by green mountains and green waters, and dotted with villages with curling smoke. But Jia Changsheng knew that this was just the beginning of the journey, and there would be many difficulties and obstacles waiting for them ahead.

When they reached the edge of a dense forest, the sky gradually darkened, and the afterglow of the setting sun made the outline of the forest particularly gloomy. Jia Changsheng felt a little alert, as he knew that there might be bandits hiding in the forest. Sure enough, not long after they entered the forest, a whistling sound broke the silence. A group of bandits in ragged clothes and holding various crude weapons poured out from all directions, blocking their way. The leading bandit was a burly man with a face full of flesh. He waved a big knife and shouted viciously: "I opened this road and planted this tree. If you want to pass through here, leave money for the passage!"

Jia Changsheng's guards immediately became nervous, and they all drew their swords and protected Jia Changsheng in the middle. Jia Changsheng, however, remained calm. He glanced at the group of bandits and had an idea in mind. He knew very well that these bandits were only after money, and it would be best if they could get rid of them with money and avoid a fight. So, he raised his hand to signal the guards to be patient, and then said to the bandit leader: "My dear friends, we are just passing by here and going to the north to do business. I know you are also trying to make a living, and I am willing to give you some money as a reward for your hard work. I hope you can give me some convenience."

(End of this chapter)