Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 399 A Lone Warrior Stands Against Ten Thousand Enemies, A Brilliant Plan Determines the Fate of the World

"Master Li, something's happened!"

Aunt Hua pushed open the study door and handed Li Zhaoting a secret letter: "The pirates under Jia Leshan's command and the Japanese pirates from God Island are frequently mobilizing and are about to launch an attack."

"how do you know?"

"This matter is all thanks to Master Lu. The beauties that Master Lu sent were all assassins trained by Jia Leshan, and they were very familiar with Jia Leshan's intelligence, communications, and troop movements!"
Since Jia Leshan betrayed them, they naturally had no loyalty to him and sold him out directly. Based on this, Mr. Du deployed scouts and found traces of him.

Jia Leshan joined forces with the Japanese pirates.

Mr. Du is clearing out Shi Tianwang's forces and will not be able to return in a short time. The Crown Prince of Taiping needs two days to train his troops, and reinforcements will arrive in two days.

Mr. Du analyzed that this matter was aimed at you.

If... I can't say it!

Aunt Hua slapped herself in the face!
Li Zhaoting laughed and said, "If I don't go, the Japanese pirates will slaughter innocent people. If I go, I will have to hold off thousands of pirates and Japanese pirates all by myself. They will surround and kill me with thousands of troops and will not give me any chance of survival."

Lu Xiaofeng angrily said, "How cruel! I'll go with you, I'm going to personally kill Jia Leshan."

Li Zhaoting continued, "Mr. Du wants to use me as bait to attack from both sides. She will take a boat back, and the Prince of Taiping will lead troops to form a pocket. As long as I hold back the Japanese pirates, I can eliminate them."

Aunt Hua smiled wryly: "This...this..."

Li Zhaoting laughed loudly, "It's finally here! I've finally waited for this opportunity! I've waited twenty years, and now I can finally say these words."

"What?"

"The great chivalrous man serves the country and the people!"

A righteous spirit soared to the heavens, and the purple and green swords automatically sprang from their sheaths, circling around Li Zhaoting. The green sword emitted a three-foot-long green light, stirring up the wind and clouds. Its innate sword energy evolved into countless sword moves.

The drifting, ethereal clouds!
The world is full of chaos and turmoil!
The vast and mighty universe!
Possessing the seven colors of the heavenly wind!
The sword draws in the earth's energy from nine layers deep!
Piercing the Nine Heavens, Breaking Through the Heavenly Gang!

Inspired by this, Lu Xiaofeng shouted, "I will live and die with you! Let's fight the Japanese pirates together! At worst, we'll die on the battlefield, staining the sky with our blood!"

Li Zhaoting said, "Lu Xiaofeng, Aunt Hua, who said I have no reinforcements? Of course I have reinforcements. The Phoenix Tail Gang and the Divine Dragon Gang want to compete for the Minjiang River waterway. They need the support of the imperial court. Shouldn't we lend a hand?"

"The Imperial City Guard does not have this authority..."

Aunt Hua's tone was rather insincere.

The Imperial City Guard had similar functions to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but their power was vastly different; the Imperial City Guard had no authority to supervise local areas.

Li Zhaoting pulled out a stack of gold medals.

"Aunt Hua seems to have forgotten one thing: my father is the Vice Minister of War, and my father-in-law is the Vice Minister of Revenue."

This gold medal was a gift from the Eighth Prince;

This jade plaque was a gift from the Empress Dowager;

This token was given to me by His Majesty;
After returning from Yanyun, I was granted the title of Earl of Wuyi. I was ennobled for my military merits and had considerable influence in the court!

I suppose the envoy is willing to give me face!
Who concurrently serves as the Minjiang River Transport Commissioner?

Just like when dealing with Yuan Lianqin, the Waterway Transport Commissioner and the Transport Commissioner were both dispatched officials. There was no real government office in charge of the rivers. Most of them were concurrently held by local prefects or governors. If it was a crucial position like the Jianghuai Transport Commissioner, it was usually concurrently held by an official dispatched from the capital, such as the Vice Minister of Works.

"Wu Tieyi, the Vice Prefect of Fuzhou".

"Who?"

"Wu Tieyi, have you heard of Master Li?"

"I've heard my dad mention it a few times!"

Who is Wu Tieyi?
If you were to ask which villain is the strongest in Wen Ruian's works, no one could give a precise answer. However, if you were to ask which villain fought against the Four Great Constables, outmaneuvered them, and carried the story for over a dozen volumes until the series was discontinued, the answer would be Wu Tieyi.

Compared to renowned figures like Ling Luoshi, Lei Sun, and Su Mengzhen, Wu Tieyi was quite ordinary.

He is neither a martial arts master with superb skills nor a prime minister or grand tutor with great power. His position is only a prefect. A prefect is not a minor official, but compared with the many cases solved by the Four Great Constables, the position of prefect seems insignificant. How can he become a BOSS?

Wu Tieyi, however, managed to become the BOSS.

A boss who persisted for two whole series!

Zhui Ming was so angry that he swore to the heavens that he would capture Wu Tieyi within ten days, or else he would slit his own throat. More than twenty years have passed since then, and he still hasn't caught Wu Tieyi.

Why can't Wu Tieyi be caught?
Because "Wen Jukeng" skillfully stops updating!

To be honest, the person who best fits the identity of the leader of the Green Dragon Society in July is Wu Tieyi. Wu Tieyi is good at planning, full of ingenious schemes, and ruthless.

In the original story, Wu Tieyi was always surrounded by a constant stream of experts. Several of these experts were able to fight the Four Great Constables to a standstill, making people wonder if they could defeat the Four Great Constables if they all attacked at once.

They are at least several times stronger than the "Thirteen Thugs".

Of course, this was just a fleeting thought.

Perhaps Wu Tieyi possesses some kind of secret.

After clearing his throat twice to stop his rambling thoughts, Li Zhaoting smiled and said, "Prepare a visiting card. I'll go and pay a visit to this Magistrate Wu. Lu Xiaofeng, you go to the Phoenix Tail Gang and tell Wu Weiyang that he either participates in the extermination of the Japanese pirates or he has to go back to where he came from. If he doesn't take action this time, there's no place for the Phoenix Tail Gang in the Minjiang River. If he wants to make money, he'll have to risk his life!"

After a pause, Li Zhaoting continued, "If the Phoenix Tail Gang can achieve military merit and kill Japanese pirates, the Ministry of Water Resources will provide them with convenience, and the Minjiang Transport Commissioner will issue them several passes. I can introduce Wu Weiyang to the Vice Minister of Revenue. Although the Ministry of Works is in charge of waterway transportation, the money transported must be transferred to the Ministry of Revenue."

Lu Xiaofeng said, "You haven't gone yet! Do you think Wu Tieyi will agree? What if he's upright and incorruptible?"

Li Zhaoting shrugged: "How can an official be an official if he doesn't give face to the Empress Dowager, the Eighth Prince, or even the Emperor?"

"Impartial and incorruptible, upholding the law impartially!"

"Don't talk nonsense. The Minjiang Transport Commissioner is a high-ranking official in charge of waterway transportation. In this position, it's impossible to remain incorruptible and impartial."

"What if it were Bao Zheng or Gongsun Ce?"

“Bao Zheng is suited for official positions such as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review or Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, in charge of criminal cases and litigation. Bao Zheng is certainly capable of managing waterways, but definitely not as capable as criminal cases!”

The two exchanged a few words, then Li Zhaoting went to Wu Tieyi to get a pass, while Lu Xiaofeng went to the Phoenix Tail Gang and bluntly stated that the imperial court needed his help.

Wu Weiyang said, "Hero Lu, the martial world and the imperial court are clearly separate, and I have no intention of accepting amnesty."

Lu Xiaofeng sneered: "Wu Weiyang, you're an old hand at this. What do you rely on to seize territory? Only by risking your life in a fight can you be qualified to seize territory."

"What do you mean by that, Master Lu?"

"You want to make money but don't want to put in the effort, and you want to take advantage of the imperial court's bandit suppression to be the one who suffers the consequences? Heh heh! There's no such thing as a free lunch. Are you kidding me?"

"I don't want to do it, my brothers don't want to do it, can the imperial court force the Phoenix Tail Gang? Master Lu, you have a good relationship with Eagle Eye Seven, but I have nothing to do with you!"
If you're here to offer amnesty to the imperial court, I have no interest in that. Guards, escort Master Lu away!

The Phoenix Tail Gang cannot afford to entertain Hero Lu!

Wu Weiyang looked at Lu Xiaofeng with disdain.

Lu Xiaofeng said, "I'm not here to beg you, I'm here to inform you, Wu Weiyang, if you don't help, every river in the world, every transport commissioner, shipping commissioner, water department, work department, and some other departments I don't know about, as long as they are in charge of waterways, will be closed to the Phoenix Tail Gang, and you won't even be able to sell fish!"

"What official position does Master Lu hold in the imperial court? Are you the prime minister, the grand tutor, or the minister of work?"

"I didn't say that."

"Who said that?"

"The son of the Vice Minister of War, the son-in-law of the Vice Minister of Revenue, a close friend of the Eighth Prince despite their age difference, a junior of the Empress Dowager, a close friend of the current Emperor, and the leader of the Heavenly Gang, Li Zhaoting!"

"Lu Xiaofeng, are you threatening me?"

"I'm not threatening you, I'm a messenger. Have you ever seen a messenger threaten someone? Wu Weiyang, it's Li Zhaoting who's threatening you. Do you dare disobey him?"
As long as Li Zhaoting is alive, you will never have peace of mind.

If Li Zhaoting is killed, you will inevitably be implicated.

I forgot to tell you, Yuan Lianqin, the Vice Minister of Works, was sent to the Ministry of Justice prison by Li Zhaoting, his family property was confiscated and he was exiled to Lingnan, where he was assassinated by a chivalrous knight on the way.

Which government department do you have connections with?

At most, he's a doctor in the Ministry of Water Resources!

There's something else you might not know.

The Water Department Physician was Li Nanxing's student.

Now that I've said all that, the choice is yours!

I am just a messenger.

I've said everything Li Zhaoting had to say!
They are neither responsible for analysis nor for pleading on behalf of others.

My job is just to relay messages.

What message do you want me to send back?

Wu Weiyang, you can write a letter now!

Lu Xiaofeng picked up the tea and drank it all in one gulp.

It feels so damn good to bully others with your power!

When I used to roam the streets, I hated spoiled brats who bullied others and took advantage of their power. Now that it's me, I feel completely at ease.

Lu Xiaofeng wasn't the type to bully the kind-hearted; rather, Wu Weiyang was clearly up to no good. Time was of the essence, and there was no time for them to test each other. They had to stir things up, give him a good beating, and see how Wu Weiyang would react.

To establish a sect in a blessed land, all you need to do is buy a piece of land. Mo Taichong only spent eight taels!

They secluded themselves in the deep mountains and forests, living on wind and dew. The imperial court could govern the heavens and the earth, but it couldn't govern people, so they starved for air.

Those who make a living on the water, unless they are super gangs like the Grand Canal Gang, will have their passage restricted by the Grand Canal Transport Bureau, which could cause them to fall apart.

What frustrated these gangs the most was that the imperial court did not have a dedicated canal transport office; officials were dispatched instead.

Today Wu Tieyi is the transport commissioner, and the Phoenix Tail Gang must flatter him. Tomorrow he won't be; the imperial court will send other transport commissioners. The comings and goings are endless. Wu Weiyang's arms trembled incessantly.

If the plan to annex the Divine Dragon Gang succeeds, and once the imperial court eliminates the three pirate groups, he will be able to control the Minjiang River waterway and even the estuary, ensuring a continuous flow of wealth.

Although 90% of the money has to be handed over and only 10% can be kept for oneself, the profits from waterways are so great that even if only half a percent is kept, one can be rich for three generations.

However, if things go wrong, the Green Dragon Society wouldn't mind using 108 kinds of torture to turn Wu Weiyang into a lump of mud until Li Zhaoting was satisfied.

Wu Weiyang immediately put on a smiling face.

"Master Lu, I was ungrateful and offended you earlier. I apologize to you."

As he spoke, Wu Weiyang slapped himself three times, leaving clear handprints, and spat out two teeth: "What does Master Li require? What do you need us to do?"

Lu Xiaofeng said, "Things don't happen more than three times. This is the last time I'll emphasize this. I'm a messenger, and my duty is to deliver messages to you two. I don't know anything else!"

Lu Xiaofeng gently rubbed his fingers together.

Li Zhaoting is a brother and a beloved family and friend!
If you want me to betray Li Zhaoting, you'll have to pay more!
Wu Weiyang immediately presented a stack of silver notes.

Lu Xiaofeng counted and laughed, "Li Zhaoting wants you to help wipe out a group of mountain bandits. You know, he loves fighting bandits, and this will help improve his reputation."

"Our Phoenix Tail Gang can..."

"Chief Wu, send the Divine Dragon Gang!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Lu! I have been wandering aimlessly for half my life, but today, thanks to your guidance, I feel as if the clouds have parted and the sun has shone through. It has enlightened me!"

Wu Weiyang scratched his head with delight.

Sending the Divine Dragon Gang to help suppress the bandits would not only fulfill Li Zhaoting's mission but also eliminate the troublemaker.

good idea!
That's a great idea!
Lu Xiaofeng coughed heavily twice.

Wu Weiyang hurriedly said, "Men! Book all the courtesans of Wulin Dream for me. I want to drink and chat with Master Lu. Serve them well. Anyone who dares to neglect Master Lu, I'll throw him into the sea to feed the fish!"

The butler thought to himself, "You're the one I've neglected the most!"

Who the hell kept shouting "Show the guests out!"

……

Jia Leshan and Fujita Tsuyoshi made no attempt to hide anything.

Their goal was to kill Li Zhaoting to prevent him from defeating them one by one. They had to use moral blackmail to lure Li Zhaoting into the ambush.

Mr. Du will need two days to return.

The Crown Prince of Taiping also needs two days.

Even though the Longevity Technique has a fast recovery speed, and even though Li Zhaoting can defeat thousands of troops single-handedly, thousands of Japanese pirates will eventually exhaust him to death if they swarm him.

I can't kill you, but I can exhaust you to death.

Masters like Fujita Tsuyoshi, Yagyu Yujuro, and Wada Takeo are poised to rise to fame and seize the position of family head by stepping on Li Zhaoting's head.

Aside from Takeo Wada, who was already the head of the family, the other two were vying for the position of family head with all their might. However, there were several geniuses among their peers, and the two of them did not stand out.

Staying in Japan would undoubtedly lead to defeat.

They had no choice but to find another way, becoming Japanese pirates and plundering coastal areas to strengthen themselves.

The biggest beneficiary was Fujita Tsuyoshi, who was born with a love for killing. He was restricted in Japan, but becoming a pirate was like opening the valve. In just a few years, his power increased tenfold, and his martial arts skills had already surpassed his brother's and even the head of the family. He was unwilling to return to Japan because killing was ingrained in his blood and bones, and he wanted to kill to his heart's content!

When Fujita Tsuyoshi returned to Japan, he didn't want to fight for the position of head of the family; he wanted to become the God of War of Japan.

Yagyu Matsushiro shared the same idea. He was the eldest son of the Yagyu family, but he had been uneducated and incompetent since childhood. He offended a powerful figure, and Yagyu Munenori expelled him from the family. At the same time, he used his connections to get him to become Miyamoto Musashi's apprentice.

Despite years of diligent study, Yagyu Yujuro's pursuit of money, beauty, and power remained unchanged, but his mind became calm and composed, free from frivolity. His swordsmanship was exquisite, capable of cutting water with a single stroke.

Takeo Wada was their "bodyguard".

His martial arts skills far surpassed those of the two men.

Even a powerful figure like Mizuki Taisuke had to bow his head before Wada Takeo. However, as the head of the family, he was inevitably implicated and had to compromise for the sake of the family.

If he had abandoned his family and focused on swordsmanship, Wada Takeo could have stood shoulder to shoulder with top masters like Yagyu Ittsuken and Yagyu Satsujin. But he had no chance.

One by one, warships sailed toward the shore.

Li Zhaoting sat on the reef, listening to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, holding a gourd of wine in his hand.

Li Shengnan's wine gourd.

When Li Shengnan treated Li Zhaoting's injuries during their battle against Wanyan Jue in the Liao Kingdom, she did not take the gourd with her.

The gourd is not important; what matters is the fine wine.

Yu Luosha's brewing technique was extremely poor, but the brewing materials were all rare and precious treasures, each worth a fortune.

Li Zhaoting drank the last sip of wine.

Just as he was about to throw away the gourd, a slender hand snatched it away, slapped Li Zhaoting across the face, and then gently kissed him on the ear.

"You dare throw away my wine gourd!"

Li Shengnan's eyebrows furrowed, her anger burning fiercely.

"I'm imitating the ancients to create an atmosphere."

"What kind of hero are you trying to be? Do you really think you're an invincible hero? What will happen to your beautiful wife and concubines when you die? Who will take care of your father in his old age?"

"They can't kill me!"

"You're getting more and more arrogant."

"With Sheng Nan by my side, no one can hurt my back. What do I have to worry about!"

"There are still people who can do it!"

"Who?"

"Of course it's me!"

Li Shengnan grabbed at the soft flesh of Li Zhaoting's waist.

The Great Universe-Destroying Hand of Heaven and Earth!

The most powerful grappling technique of the Demonic Cult.

One claw can tear a kidney apart!

A person can die, but their kidneys must never rot.

With the battle imminent, Li Zhaoting, brimming with heroic spirit, reached out and grabbed Li Shengnan, pulling her into a domineering embrace.

A passionate kiss, a kiss that lasts until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble!

When Zhang Sanfeng quelled the Blackwater Gang, he seized Zhu Datianwang's Blackwater Giant Ship and gave it to Li Zhaoting, who stored it at the Eagle Sect's dock. Li Zhaoting and Li Shengnan agreed to go to sea to search for treasures and wanted to ride on this giant ship.

Li Shengnan waited in Zhejiang, and waited and waited, until she received a letter from Mr. Du, saying that Li Zhaoting was in Fuzhou and helping to suppress the pirates. She immediately rushed over by horse.

Li Shengnan arrived in Fuzhou last night, intending to give Li Zhaoting a surprise. However, she never expected that the Japanese pirates would set up a deadly trap, and Li Zhaoting walked into it willingly.

Li Shengnan knew that Li Zhaoting was a hero and a chivalrous man who would never abandon the people and would fight the Japanese pirates to the death. Li Shengnan would not try to dissuade him; she would only fight alongside him!

"Listen up, you Japanese pirates!"

"My name is Li Zhaoting!"

"Before me lies the boundary!"

The Azure Chain Sword sprang from its sheath, and with a swing, it left a long, slender sword mark in front of him: "Those who cross the line shall die!"

"Li Zhaoting, you are too arrogant!"

"Let me, Fujita Takeshi, deal with you!"

"Li Zhaoting, I'll cut off your head! I'll use your purple and green twin swords as my medals of honor!"

"Li Zhaoting, you didn't expect this, did you! We're not mindless brutes waiting for you to defeat us one by one! Even if it costs us our lives, we'll send you to hell today!"

Jia Leshan glared at Li Zhaoting through gritted teeth.

This time, it really came down to a life-or-death situation.

Either kill Li Zhaoting.

They will either be defeated one by one by Li Zhaoting.

Li Zhaoting had only one comment to this.

"Before me lies the boundary!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the winds rose and the clouds shifted, the landscape changed color.

The sea breeze howled, sweeping away the drifting clouds. The power of the wind and clouds gathered at the sword's edge, forming a sword beam that reached the heavens and the earth. Half of the sky cracked open, and the sword energy crashed down.

The drifting, ethereal clouds!
"Boom!"

A warship split in two, its keel blasted in two by the sword's edge, and Japanese pirates fell into the water like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

(End of this chapter)