The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 368 Lure the snake out of its hole
"An extra disciple?" Zhao Ji asked in surprise. "Master Lingsu told me before that your master, the Hongmeng Immortal Venerable, only had three disciples named Tai, Shi, and Ling. Ling is Master Lingsu herself. How come there is another one now?"

Lin Lingsu shook her head and said, "I am also very puzzled. The appearance of this extra disciple was completely unexpected and abrupt. In the dream, Master suddenly spoke up and the eldest brother nodded beside him, obviously knowing about this matter."

Zhao Ji said, "Why does this dream keep changing? It seems that Master Lingsu's claim that dreams are a real manifestation of past lives is somewhat untenable."

Lin Lingsu's face was clouded with worry as she pondered, "It is indeed suspicious, and I still can't figure out the matter of reincarnation. If I have been reincarnated... then where did my master and senior brothers go?"

Zhao Ji pondered and smiled, "Since this dream cannot be confirmed, I think Master Lingsu should stop thinking about the extra junior brother and find a way to kill the Black Tiger General in the city and capture Shuozhou City. This way, His Majesty will appreciate the merit and send the Western Route Army to me for command."

Lin Lingsu said, "That Black Tiger General doesn't have any other powerful magic besides his black smoke. As long as we can find a way to control his black smoke, we won't have to worry about Shuozhou falling."

“Master Lingsu, don’t forget that he still has a black tiger as his mount. You must kill this beast, otherwise it will carry the other party away. Even if we get out of Shuozhou City, our merit will be reduced by half,” Zhao Ji said.

"That black tiger is nothing but a beast. Although its roar can frighten warhorses, it doesn't seem to have any other special abilities. It's not a threat. I have a plan to capture and kill it."

"Very well, then this matter will depend entirely on Master Lingsu. Once I have gained command of the army..." Zhao Ji had just finished speaking triumphantly when there was a knock on the door outside the tent. He frowned and said, "What is it? Come in and talk."

A military officer entered and saluted, saying, "Your Highness Prince Duan, Minister Zhang requests your presence."

"Zhang Jie is looking for me?" Zhao Ji glanced at Lin Lingsu and snorted, "We're not attacking the city, and the Liao army isn't challenging us. What does he want from me? He controls all military secrets, doesn't he? He won't let me command his generals or get involved in anything. Why would he need to come to me for no reason?"

The soldier chuckled dryly, "Your Highness, Minister Zhang said there is an imperial edict to be delivered. Please come and receive it with me."

"An imperial edict?" Zhao Ji pondered upon hearing this, a hint of joy appearing on his face: "Could it be that His Majesty has summoned me to take charge of military affairs?"

The soldier bowed his head and said, "This... I don't know."

"Lead the way!" Zhao Ji strode forward excitedly.

A moment later, they arrived at the central command tent and saw that the gate was wide open. Generals lined up from outside to enter the tent, and inside, a person dressed as an eunuch was talking to Zhang Jie.

Zhao Ji walked to the door, coughed loudly, and looked over from inside the tent. Zhang Jie said, "Your Highness Prince Duan has arrived."

The eunuch turned around and saw that he was an elderly eunuch in his fifties or sixties. He smiled and said, "Now that Your Highness has arrived, it is the perfect time to announce the imperial decree."

Zhao Ji recognized him; he was the head of the palace's library and archives: "Who is it? It's Wang Yaban."

The eunuch said, "Your Highness, please forgive this humble servant for being unable to pay respects due to my imperial orders."

Zhao Ji waved his hand, his mind only thinking that Zhao Xu had ordered him to command the army, and hurriedly said, "Proclaim the imperial decree, proclaim the imperial decree."

Unlike in the countryside, the ceremony in the army was not as elaborate, and there was no incense table to set up, but everyone still performed the proper etiquette, with the eunuch reading the imperial edict in front.

The decree was short, but Zhao Ji's face turned from white to red, then to black, and finally to a grimace.

Zhao Xu's imperial edict did not appoint him as commander of the army, but instead recalled Prince Yan, Zhao Ti, from the northwest, appointing him as the Pacification Commissioner, in charge of all affairs in Hedong, Hebei, and Yanyun.

His shoulders trembled slightly, and his fists clenched tightly. What ability did that warlord Prince Yan have to command the Northern Expeditionary Army and conquer Yan and Yun? Besides resorting to violence and extortion, what other skills did he have?
After announcing the imperial decree, the eunuch smiled and said, "Now that the matter is settled, I shall take my leave and return to the capital."

Zhang Jie hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay, saying, "Why is Commander Wang in such a hurry? You should at least finish your meal and rest before you leave."

The eunuch shook his head: "I ate at the post station inside Yanmen Pass when I came here, so I can still have a meal if I go back now. His Majesty is waiting for a reply, so I won't stay any longer."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the tent entrance. Zhang Jie hurriedly winked at the personal guard beside him. The guard chased after him for a short distance, stuffed a bag of silver into the eunuch's arms, and then returned.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Ji couldn't help but curse, "You're quick on collecting money!"

Zhang Jie's face twitched, but he didn't say anything. Zhao Ji glanced at him and said, "We are fighting bravely at the front, unafraid of death. This cowardly and useless piece of trash can't even stay for a moment. It's simply despicable."

Zhang Jie said with a forced smile, "What Prince Duan said is true; he is indeed a coward who fears death."

Zhao Ji snorted, finding it boring to stay any longer, and with a flick of his sleeve, he went out and returned to his tent. Upon entering the tent, he saw Lin Lingsu calculating something with her fingers and said, "Master Lingsu, there's no need to think about how to defeat the enemy."

Lin Lingsu asked in bewilderment, "Your Highness..."

Zhao Ji said, "His Majesty has decreed that the Prince of Yan, a military man, has been transferred from Hexi to oversee all affairs in Yan and Yun."

Lin Lingsu was stunned for a moment, then said, "This..."

Zhao Ji said angrily, "He is in charge of the overall situation of the Northern Expedition. No matter how many cities we conquer, the greatest credit will definitely go to him, and it will certainly be written in the history books. No matter how hard we work, he will inevitably steal the credit in the end. I will not let him succeed."

Lin Lingsu pondered and said, "Your Highness, it's not right to say that. Capturing the city and breaking the Khitan magic are still great achievements."

Zhao Ji said, "Even if he has merit, can he surpass him as the Pacification Commissioner and the Grand Marshal of the Northern Expedition?"

Lin Lingsu said with a wry smile, "That seems impossible."

Zhao Ji gritted his teeth and said, "That's it. I'm not going to do my work for him for nothing."

Lin Lingsu said, "Your Highness, but if..."

"What if?" Zhao Ji asked.

“If Your Highness can conquer more than half of those fourteen prefectures, then you can naturally petition the Emperor for credit, and your influence will surpass that of the Prince of Yan,” Lin Lingsu said.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again: "I will not lead the troops, but only assist from the side. All military affairs will be under Zhang Jie's command. Now that warrior is interfering again, even if I have the strength to recover half of Yan and Yun, how can that warrior let me have my way? He is the most cunning, and has repeatedly set traps for me. He will definitely obstruct me in various ways. I will not do anything futile."

Lin Lingsu said, "Then what does Your Highness mean..."

"I heard Mr. Huo talk about the Three Kingdoms at the Ding Family Tea House in Tokyo before. There was a good story in it, called Xu Shu entering Cao Cao's camp and not saying a word. From today onwards, I will no longer talk about any military matters, nor will I assist the army in any matter. I will just stay in the camp and claim to be sick. Let that warrior and Zhang Jie figure out a way to attack the city and recover Yan and Yun on their own," Zhao Ji said indignantly.

“Your Highness, but this…” Lin Lingsu’s eyebrows twitched.

"Master Lingsu, don't worry about it. Just listen to me. I'm a little tired and need to rest for a while. Master, please go back." Zhao Ji said as he walked behind the tent.

Lin Lingsu had no choice but to take his leave. He hadn't gone far from the tent when suddenly his body trembled violently, and he turned to look northwest. His expression was rather strange, his gaze subtly cold, and he muttered to himself, "What on earth is it that keeps affecting my state of mind..."

Hebei Road, ninety li away from the Song-Liao border, in front of Zhuozhou City.

The Song army camp resembled a long snake sloping downwards, with a very strange shape. The fences were similar to those of the Western Route Army, with many vermilion inscriptions painted on them.

Zhao Ti sat in the commander's tent, looking at the generals in front, and said, "Who designed this camp? It is quite ingenious."

Cai Jing bowed and said, “Your Highness, this was drawn by the monks of the Lecture Hall. There are people in the Liao army who can drive away insects and beasts, and there are also people who are good at controlling ghosts. This design and talisman can detect the enemy in advance and prevent them from sneaking in.”

"Insects and beasts are one thing, but what are Yin ghosts?" Zhao Ti asked.

"It seems to be a wandering spirit, but it's not quite like the ghosts of legend. It can appear at night and harm people, making it very troublesome," Cai Jing said.

"Oh?" Zhao Ti tapped the table. "Besides that, what other skills do the Liao troops in Zhuozhou City possess?"

“Besides these, there is another person in Zhuozhou City named Yelü Yan, who rides a strange beast that can breathe fire, and its mouth is ten feet long. No one can defeat him on the battlefield,” Cai Jing said.

"It's just one person's strength. If we can't fight, we'll just leave it at that." Zhao Ti shook his head.

"This man's beast resembles a water buffalo and is adept at roaring, its roar sounding like thunder. When it roars at the pass, many warhorses cannot advance," Cai Jing added.

Zhao Ti nodded: "None of them are to be feared. By the way, Yuan Chang, how is your martial arts training going?"

Upon hearing this, Cai Jing said, "Your Highness, I was ordered to compile a martial arts manual. I traveled all over the country, visiting various martial arts sects, as well as the Xuanmiao and Yuanmiao Temples, and ancient temples such as Shaolin. In addition to compiling the book, I also practiced boxing and internal energy cultivation. Now... I have reached the first level of the Twelve-Story Tower."

Zhao Ti looked at him and said, "I never imagined that Yuan Chang's talent for martial arts was so high, reaching such a level?"

Cai Jing said, “Your Highness, I was good at martial arts when I was young. Later, I passed the imperial examination and became an official in the court. Then I met the great hero Jin Tai, who taught me martial arts and helped me develop internal strength. So I had a foundation. This time, after reading all the martial arts in the world, I suddenly had an enlightenment and was able to make rapid progress in my martial arts.”

Zhao Ti pondered, "We've been to Shaolin and Liangmiao Temple, so have the secret martial arts techniques there been recorded in the Martial Classic?"

Cai Jing said, "The Martial Classic has an appendix. For example, not all of the Seventy-Two Arts are recorded in the Martial Classic. Some of the more powerful ones are recorded in the appendix. His Majesty's intention is to reward them accordingly. The martial arts of the Mysterious and Profound Temples are arranged in the same way."

Zhao Ti nodded. The Xuanmiao Temple in Suzhou was built in the Western Jin Dynasty, and the Yuanmiao Temple in Putian was built in the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. Both are ancient places with a long history, and martial arts exist in them. Although they cannot compare with sacred places like Shaolin Temple, they are stronger than ordinary Jianghu sects.

"I have discovered that if martial arts are practiced to a high level, their effects are actually no less than those of Taoist arts. Some time ago, when no talismans were drawn outside the camp, a ghost attacked us at night. I fought it with my own internal energy and my powerful fists, and actually shattered it into pieces, leaving it scattered and indistinguishable," Tong Guan said.

"That's true. How could martial arts be inferior to Taoist magic? If one can truly reach the pinnacle, with fists that can split mountains, legs that can shatter rocks, and swords that can divide the sea, then even the highest level of Taoist magic can rival it," Zhao Ti said leisurely, glancing at generals such as Zhong Shidao and Liu Fa.

"However, if you cannot learn martial arts, you can learn Taoism. Since the imperial court has made the Taoist and martial arts scriptures public in the army, it is for you to learn, not just for show."

Zhong Shidao looked at the people beside him and said, "Your Highness, I did start learning martial arts a bit late. General Yao and I are both too old to practice real martial arts. As for Taoist arts, I have been studying them recently and have already gained some insights."

Yao Gu glared at him, his face grim, and said, "General Zhong, what are you saying? You're old, but I'm not that old. I'm observing both of them now, choosing the one with the most talent to learn from."

Zhao Ti smiled upon hearing this. It was common knowledge that the Zhong and Yao families were at odds and that their children often fought and brawled in Guanzhong. Zhong Shidao was in his forties and Yao Gu was just over thirty, so naturally no one wanted to hear that he was too old.

"Alright, no need to argue about this. Focus on learning and try to acquire some skills." Zhao Ti gestured for everyone to go back.

The generals clasped their hands in agreement and turned to leave the tent. Zhao Ti said to Cai Jing, "Yuan Chang, go and call over the people from the Military Academy and the Law School."

Cai Jing accepted the order and a moment later led a dozen men in from outside. After bowing, they stood on both sides, seven on the left and eight on the right.

Zhao Ti looked closely and found it relatively easy to identify the seven people on the left. Three of them were wearing Taoist robes and had bags hanging from their waists; these were people who practiced Taoist magic.

Of the eight on the right, six are carrying weapons, and all of them have bulging temples; they are martial artists.

He asked these people to state their names and specialties, then demonstrated for a while before asking, "Which people drew those talismans outside the camp?"

Four of the seven Taoist practitioners stepped forward: "Your Highness, this was painted by us together."

Zhao Ti said, "Since you can make talismans to restrain the opponent's insects, beasts, and ghosts, you must have some knowledge of these two things. Tell me how to break them if we take the initiative to attack."

The four looked at each other, but no one said a word.

Zhao Ti frowned and said, "Regardless of right or wrong, tell me what you really think."

“This…” one of them scratched his head and said hesitantly, “Your Highness, we have been thinking about this matter every day, but we are too inexperienced to come up with any solution.”

"Is there really no way to do it?" Zhao Ti said calmly.

“There is indeed no way to get rid of the insect beasts and the ghosts, but…” The man hesitated slightly, “I do have an idea that is not really an idea.”

"Tell me about it," Zhao Ti said.

"Since we have no way to break these spells, we might as well find the person who cast the spell and eliminate them once and for all..."

"If you can't think of a way to break the spell, are you just going to deal with the person who cast it?" Zhao Ti stroked his chin, expressionless.

"That's right. However, both the insect-driving beasts and the Khitan sorcerers who summon ghosts are hidden in the city. Even when facing them or launching a night raid, they remain hidden within the army, making it difficult to strike."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we come up with a plan to lure the snake out of its hole and see how we can get rid of it?"

Cai Jing chimed in, "Luring the snake out of its hole? Your Highness's plan is brilliant. It's always better to lure the enemy out than to actively search for them."

Zhao Ti said, "Yuan Chang, you should also think about it. There's no need to reveal this matter. If you have any ideas, just report them to me."

Everyone agreed and then took their leave. Zhao Ti sat behind his desk, narrowed his eyes slightly, and fell into deep thought.

(End of this chapter)