The disaster of the world begins with Dongfang Bubai

Chapter 35: Ghost Face Rakshasa
Cui You saw the curious and puzzled expression on Xi Mingzhang's face, so he smiled and explained:
"In ancient times, everyone had great powers hidden in their bodies, such as infinite strength, a body as strong as iron, and lightning speed, or the ability to control wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, gold, wood, water, fire, and earth."

"As time goes by, the divine energy in the human body gradually decays. Now, it may take hundreds of years for one to appear. That's why I was surprised that I have met three divine vein masters in the past few decades."

"The first one is naturally the current emperor. The second person is about your age, only two years older than you. He has also joined the army. His name is Ling Buyi. When he first joined the army, I was the one who brought him with me. I didn't expect that you would come back not long after he left me."

As Cui You spoke, he couldn't help but laugh.

"May I ask why you are so sure that I am a divine vein holder? If you are sure based on my speed, then it is not the martial arts I have practiced that has enabled me to achieve my current skills."

"There are indeed martial arts in the world that can make you so skilled, but I have never seen a martial art that can allow you to be extremely fast and brave enough to advance to the river level at such a young age."

"In addition, all those with divine veins have the appearance of precocity. The current emperor and young men of your age are all like this."

"And you are both calm and capable, and each of you has your own characteristics. Your Majesty is reserved and magnanimous, while Ling Buyi is serious and cold, and you are warm and taciturn, and like to stay at home."

Cui You smiled as he said this:

"According to my observation, you two are similar in one thing, that is, you are both very good-looking. You should know that when Your Majesty was in Feng County, the birthplace of the dragon, before he started his career, he was known as the most beautiful woman in Feng County."

"But I have to mention that when it comes to handsomeness, you rank first."

At this moment, Xi Mingzhang finally understood why Cui You was so popular. With his friendly attitude, who wouldn't want to deal with him?

"My Lord, compared to my appearance, I care more about continuing on the path of martial arts." Xi Mingzhang said with a smile.

"I've noticed your martial arts obsession early on. Apart from necessary official duties, you spend the entire day immersed in martial arts."

"My parents, sisters and brothers have all died in the war. If I hadn't been saved by an alien, I would have turned into dust long ago. I just want to become stronger so that my family can continue to live."

Xi Mingzhang showed an unspeakable disappointment on his face, and then said:

"So, after taking care of my master until his death, I heard that there were more advanced martial arts training methods in the army, so I went straight to Liaodong County, thinking that there would be a greater chance of meritorious service in the border counties, and thus a better chance of obtaining the training methods."

"I see."

Cui You nodded. This kind of talent sent by heaven by the divine vein must be extraordinary. When he first discovered it, he sent people to observe his temperament secretly and reported it to his superiors.

Of course, Emperor Wen also asked him to observe him carefully in secret to see whether he could be entrusted with important tasks in the future.

Xi Mingzhang naturally also noticed Cui You's observation of him, so he behaved as he had just said from beginning to end, being gentle and taciturn, liking to stay at home, and then tactfully adding some labels to himself, such as, family broken up, lonely and helpless, filial and loyal.

Moreover, I believe that my performance during the previous delivery of the letter was also known, which led to today's summons.

"It is difficult to survive in troubled times. Fortunately, the emperor has pacified the chaotic world. Now, it won't take many years for peace to return." Cui You paused and said:
"As for the more advanced martial arts, as long as you make more military achievements in the future and gain His Majesty's favor, His Majesty will not let you down."

"And next, there will be a great opportunity for you. The border threat in Liaodong County has been completely quelled, but someone in Jiaozhi has risen up in rebellion."

"After the emperor had built vehicles and ships, roads and bridges, and stored grain in Mingxing County, Hepu, and other places, he sent me an order to lead 20,000 soldiers and 2,000 vehicles and ships to attack Jiaozhi from the south by land and sea."

After Xi Mingzhang heard this, excitement appeared on his face, and he bowed and said:
"I am willing to follow you to Jiaozhi to quell the rebellion."

"Okay, you prepare yourself well. It will take at least three to five days, or at most seven to eight days, and then we will set off."

"Yes." Then, Xi Mingzhang thought that he would probably not return to Liaodong County in the future, so he moved the house he bought out and waited for departure.

He was not in a hurry to travel through the heavens again. Not only because he still had plenty of source energy, but more importantly, he understood the background of the main world and had some confidence in his heart. Unconsciously, he no longer had the urgency and worry that he had before, as if he was being chased by a dog.

Half a year later, Cui You led his army to defeat the rebels in Langbo, beheading thousands of them and gaining the surrender of more than 10,000 people.

Afterwards, the rebel leader led the remnants to flee the battlefield. Cui You directly sent elite cavalry to pursue them. The person leading the elite cavalry was none other than Xi Mingzhang. He was in Jinxi, where he annihilated the remnants of the rebels in one battle and killed the rebel leader in battle.

Cui You immediately sent the heads of the rebels back to the capital. After suppressing the rebellion, he organized manpower to repair the city walls, dig canals to divert water, irrigate the fields, and facilitate the people.

At the same time, local laws were sorted out with reference to the laws of the Han Dynasty and announced to the local people for the purpose of restraint.

More than half a year passed like this. Xi Mingzhang, who had become a captain in the army and a fifth-rank general who could defeat the enemy, received the emperor's order. He was first promoted to the rank of General of the Central Army to Suppress the Rebellion, and then ordered to quell the rebellion in Wuling County in the south.

It was originally a riot of the Wuxi barbarians in Wuling County. General Zhang Shang of Wuwei went to suppress it, but he advanced too deep into the enemy's territory and ended up being wiped out. Later, Xi Mingzhang was strongly recommended by Cui You and was sent by Emperor Wen to suppress the riot.

Xi Mingzhang led his troops, a total of more than 3,000 people, to Wuling County.

Since he took command of the army, due to his young age and handsome appearance, he was always subject to gossip in the army or foul language from the enemy.

Therefore, a red mask shaped like a ferocious Shura was specially created.

This battle was also the one in which Xi Mingzhang became truly famous. He won a great victory in the first battle and killed or captured more than 2,000 people. The remaining barbarians wanted to flee south to Huotou, but he had already anticipated this and thus captured them all in one fell swoop.

In fact, at the beginning, Xi Mingzhang relied on his bravery that could rival ten thousand men, so he only brought a small part of his troops. He firmly believed that he could defeat the barbarians in one battle, so he let the other half of his troops ambush on the route that the remaining barbarians would most likely take to escape.

After the war, the name of the Ghost-faced Rakshasa that was circulated in Jiaozhi spread to all directions with Wuling County as its center.

Next, Xi Mingzhang cooperated with the prefect of Wuling County to govern the Wuxi barbarians.

However, not long after, he received an order from Emperor Wen to go to Guangling to suppress the rebellion.

A man named Li Yong gathered his followers and captured Wancheng. The imperial court immediately sent someone to lead thousands of troops to attack them, but they were defeated by Li Yong.

After receiving the news of the defeat, Emperor Wen immediately thought of Xi Mingzhang and arranged for him to lead the expedition.

Facing rebels who were not regular troops, Xi Mingzhang relied only on local county soldiers to cut off the heads of Li Yong and others and sent them to the capital. His actions were swift and decisive.

Next, he began to rectify the affairs of Wancheng. At present, only Shu and Longxi had not been truly pacified. In the past two years, Longxi also had a brave and warlike young general who was famous all over the world. His name was Ling Buyi.

Before he came to Longxi, he had already gained some fame. After coming to Longxi, his reputation grew even more because of his style of leading the troops in every battle and his prestige of making the Qiang people flee in fear.

Both the government and the public regard these two rising stars as the pillars of the country in the future.

Xi Mingzhang naturally didn't care much about fame. After winning many battles, in addition to being promoted again, he finally got the method of practicing the third level of martial arts he wanted.

After becoming familiar with the method of cultivation in the third realm, he saw that although his cultivation had advanced to the sea level in the past two years, it was not yet perfect. In addition, his source energy was running low, so he began his third journey through the heavens.

(End of this chapter)