You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

The next day, early in the morning.

[Missed the morning court session; cultivation level +68.]

[Enchanted by beautiful women, cultivation level +109.]

[Excessive indulgence in lust, bonus reward: Cultivation +59.]

[Humiliating a subject grants an extra reward: Constitution +3.]

"Oh……"

It seems we really have to go further and further down this path of humiliating our subjects.

Lu Zuo shook his head and chuckled, then opened the character panel.

Name: Lu Zuo.

Age: 25.

Identity: Imposter Emperor.

Constitution: +103.

Lifespan: +2633.

Internal Force: +115.

Enlightenment: +5282.

Zen Enlightenment: +3157.

Poison Path: Additional +3953.

Blade Path: Additional +5585.

Kendo: +6567.

Charm: +5530.

Luck: +3121.

Music, chess, calligraphy, and painting: +51600.

Cultivation level: Entering the inner sanctum.

Kung Fu Techniques: Wild Bull Strength, Formation-Breaking Spear, Horse-Slaying Saber, Free and Easy Wandering, Yang Family Spear (1/300), Guo Family Archery (1/300).

Cultivation points: 1201.

Talent 1: Tyrannical and incompetent ruler.

Talent 2: Travel incognito.

Talent 3: Rebellion.

Space: 10 cubic meters.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Zuo closed the panel and gave the cheat code: "Add all cultivation points to the Yang Family Spear."

[Consuming 299 cultivation points, the Yang Family Spear technique has reached its peak.]

"Continue to add Guo family archery skills."

[Consuming 299 cultivation points, the Guo family's archery technique has reached its peak.]

As the golden finger notification sounded in his mind, Lu Zuo felt a strange sensation within his body.

The muscle fibers seem to be repeatedly hammered and stretched by an invisible force, becoming more resilient and elastic.

A subtle yet distinct tingling sensation emanated from deep within my bones, as if the density of the sensation was quietly increasing.

His already extraordinary physique now gives him an even greater sense of fulfillment and strength from the inside out.

With every gesture, a powerful sense of strength surged forth, blood and qi flowed like mercury, and the five senses seemed to become more acute.

This is not only an improvement in muscle control brought about by the mastery of Yang family spear and Guo family archery, but also the most direct manifestation of the direct enhancement of physical attributes.

He gently clenched his fist, his knuckles making a series of low cracking sounds, feeling the surging power within him, and exhaled a satisfied breath.

Immediately, he closed the character panel, straightened his robes, and stepped out of the bedchamber, heading towards the imperial study.

……

Inside the Imperial Study, the morning light streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows.

Li Qingzhao slowly awoke, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and she was still somewhat dazed when she opened her eyes.

When she realized that she had been sleeping on the imperial desk all night, and was wearing a dark robe embroidered with dark gold dragon patterns that clearly belonged to men, she sat up abruptly, and two blushes instantly appeared on her pretty face.

This robe...

It's His Majesty!

An indescribable, complex emotion instantly seized her heart.

Since the Jingkang Incident, when the country was destroyed and her family perished, she wandered from place to place, enduring countless scornful looks and hardships. When she was fast asleep, exhausted, did anyone ever drape a warm garment over her?

This seemingly insignificant gesture, deep within the cold palace, appeared so abrupt yet...warm.

That long-lost feeling of being quietly cared for made her nose tingle slightly, and the softest part of her heart was gently touched.

She instinctively gripped the robe that still carried a faint scent of ambergris, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Just then, with a soft creak, the door to the Imperial Study was pushed open.

Li Qingzhao raised her head like a startled deer, and saw Lu Zuo walking in slowly.

She hurriedly rose, removed her outer robe, and hastily curtsied, her voice hoarse from just waking up and tinged with a barely perceptible shyness: "Your subject... Your subject Li Qingzhao greets Your Majesty."

Lu Zuo's gaze swept over the outer robe in her hand and her slightly reddened ears. He casually waved his hand and said in a calm tone, "Rise."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I...I have been disrespectful. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Li Qingzhao lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

"It's alright."

Lu Zuo walked behind the imperial desk and sat down, as if the events of the previous night were nothing out of the ordinary, and directly gave the order:

"Secretary Li, go to the Imperial Treasury immediately and withdraw five thousand taels of silver and one thousand taels of gold. Then personally deliver them to the post station and give them to Yang Tiexin and Guo Xiaotian."

"Just say it's the money I gave them for settling down and for the initial preparations."

"Remember, you must hand it to them yourself."

Upon hearing this, Li Qingzhao immediately composed herself and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your decree."

She carefully folded the outer robe and placed it on a chair beside her, then bowed and left the imperial study to hurry off to handle the matter.

Not long after Li Qingzhao left, a young eunuch tiptoed in and reported, "Your Majesty."

"Yue Fei has come to the capital and is currently awaiting imperial orders."

"Oh? You've come at the perfect time."

A glint of light flashed in Lu Zuo's eyes as he put down the vermilion brush in his hand: "Summon."

"Summon Yue Fei to an audience."

......

A moment later, a young military officer, about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a tall and upright figure, a resolute face, and an aura of righteousness between his brows, strode into the imperial study.

He was dressed in worn military uniform, covered in dust, but his steps were steady and his eyes were sharp as an eagle as he approached the imperial desk, about ten steps away.

"This humble general, Yue Fei, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Rise."

Lu Zuo looked at the national hero who would be remembered in history. He was still young, but his heroic spirit was already overwhelming.

Without any pleasantries, he went straight to the point and asked, "Yue Fei, I ask you about your knowledge of military affairs and your lofty ambitions."

"Now the Jurchen invaders are rampant and have occupied our territory. I wish to strengthen our army and prepare for its restoration."

"Please speak frankly: what are your views on the current situation?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Fei's tiger-like eyes flashed with a sharp light. He straightened his back and spoke in a loud voice: "Your Majesty!"

"In my humble opinion, the current situation is one of enemy strength and our weakness, but it is not impossible!"

"Although the Jin invaders are powerful and their iron cavalry is rampant, they have three major weaknesses!"

"Firstly, the Jurchens suddenly gained control of thousands of miles of northern lands, and the people longed for the Song Dynasty, so their power could not be maintained for long."

"The forced implementation of harsh and oppressive policies has led to widespread uprisings of rebel armies in Hebei and Hedong, posing a serious threat to the Jurchen forces!"

"Their troops are scattered and stretched thin; this is an opportunity for us!"

"Secondly, within the Jin people, generals such as Zonghan and Zongbi each commanded large armies and were vying for power and profit, so they were not a monolithic entity."

"The puppet state of Qi under Liu Yu is even more devoid of popular support, merely clinging to life; it is a festering sore, and can be dealt with gradually!"

"Thirdly, and this is the greatest weakness of the Jin invaders, they lack both favorable timing and geographical advantages!"

"Our Great Song Dynasty possesses the natural barrier of the Jianghuai region, with its dense network of waterways, which can greatly weaken the advantage of their iron cavalry."

"Furthermore, the Wu brothers from Sichuan and Shaanxi, who defended the strategic pass, served as pillars of the western front!"

"This is due to the superior combination of geographical advantage and popular support!"

After analyzing the enemy's disadvantages, Yue Fei changed the subject and spoke of himself, his tone becoming more solemn:

"Looking at our dynasty, it certainly has its difficulties. The Imperial Guards are bloated and weak, their discipline is lax, and the generals are often afraid of the enemy like tigers, or they have their own selfish motives, making it difficult to issue orders in unison."

"This is a long-standing problem that cannot be eliminated in a day."

"Furthermore, the empty national treasury and insufficient food and supplies are also major obstacles to the use of troops."

Immediately, he clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice suddenly rising: "However, although there are many drawbacks, they are not incurable!"

"In my humble opinion, the most urgent tasks are to simultaneously 'strengthen the foundation' and 'advance aggressively'!"

"The so-called consolidation of the foundation means relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, integrating the various armies along the river, selecting strategic locations to establish strong fortified camps, and practicing combined land and water warfare tactics."

"At the same time, Your Majesty should emulate Emperors Taizu and Taizong, and establish a new army in the heart of Jiangnan, selecting loyal and brave men from good families to train a new army that is completely obedient to Your Majesty, follows your orders uniformly, and is fair in rewards and punishments!"

"This army doesn't need to be large, but it must be elite!"

"They must be equipped with strong armor and sharp weapons, and generously supplied with provisions, so that they become a sharp sword in His Majesty's hand, capable of both offense and defense!"

His gaze was intense, as if he could already see the beginnings of that formidable army: "The generals of this new army, selected from humble origins and promoted from the ranks, must prioritize courage, skill in battle, and loyalty to the emperor and the country!"

"Only in this way can we sweep away the lethargy in the army!"

"As for the aggressive advance..." A sharp glint flashed in Yue Fei's eyes: "It's definitely not a reckless battle!"

"We should take advantage of the internal and external troubles plaguing the Jin dynasty and carefully choose our battle opportunities!"

"We can send elite squads to continuously harass their supply lines to the north and contact the righteous army in Hebei, keeping them constantly on the move."

"Once our army has completed its new training and the defenses of the Jianghuai region are secure, we can then target its weak points, such as the Xiangyang area, and concentrate our forces to steadily advance northward, first recapturing Xiangyang and Fancheng, and then conquering the Central Plains!"

"Take one step at a time, recapture one city, stabilize it, pacify the people, restore production, and sustain the war effort!"

Finally, he clasped his hands tightly, his voice booming like thunder, filled with unwavering resolve: "Your Majesty, the essence of military strategy lies in the two words 'precision' and 'focus'!"

"A general's worth lies in quality, not quantity; an army's worth lies in training, not in redundancy!"

"If Your Majesty trusts me and grants me tens of thousands of elite troops and ample provisions, I will certainly defend the Jianghuai region for Your Majesty, then recapture Xiangyang and march straight into the Central Plains!"

"One day, the banners of our Great Song Dynasty will surely be raised once more atop the walls of our old capital, Bianliang!"

"If I cannot quell the barbarians and restore our former territory, I, Yue Fei, will offer my head in resignation!"

His argument was well-reasoned and supported by evidence. It not only deeply analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, but also put forward a clear strategy for short-term defense and long-term counter-offensive, and expressed strong confidence and determination.

Throughout the entire imperial study, the powerful, passionate, and responsible voice of this young general resonated.

Lu Zuo sat on the dragon throne, listening quietly. His fingers tapped lightly on the imperial desk unconsciously, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

No wonder he was Yue Fei!

They not only saw the difficulties at hand, but also the opportunities in the future. What is especially commendable is their indomitable spirit and down-to-earth style.

Training new troops, selecting generals, harassing enemy forces, and advancing steadily...

Their ideas coincided perfectly with mine!

He did not immediately respond, but simply asked, "If I grant you military power, how long would it take you to train a fighting army? And how much food and supplies would you need?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Fei's eyes shone brightly, clearly indicating that he had already given it considerable thought, and he answered without hesitation, "Your Majesty!"

"If I could obtain 10,000 strong and healthy men from good families, with sufficient provisions and weapons, I would pledge that within six months I could train an army capable of defending the land and obeying orders without question."

"With a one-year deadline, we will surely train Your Majesty into an elite force that is courageous, capable, and able to wage war in the field! As for provisions and pay..."

He pondered for a moment and then gave a number: "To establish the camp, purchase weapons, settle down and recruit soldiers, we need 100,000 taels of silver and 50,000 shi of grain."

"To maintain this level of operation, we will need 20,000 taels of silver and 15,000 shi of grain per month thereafter."

"In the event of war, separate plans will be made for rewards and compensation."

When this figure was announced, Yue Fei himself felt it was somewhat enormous, but he knew that the cost of training troops could not be reduced, so his words were not exaggerated, but rather carried a pragmatic sincerity.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zuo's face showed a hint of difficulty. He tapped his fingers lightly on the imperial desk and sighed, "General Yue's request is all for the practical needs of training troops, and I am aware of that."

"However, now that the court has just been established, everything is in need of rebuilding, and all expenses are stretched thin."

"However, now that the court has just been established, everything is in need of rebuilding, and all expenses are stretched thin."

"The national treasury is empty, and even my personal funds are not inexhaustible. One hundred thousand taels of silver, fifty thousand shi of grain..."

"I fear I will be unable to allocate the full amount in a short time."

Upon hearing this, Yue Fei showed no disappointment; instead, his eyes shone even brighter. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said in a resolute voice, "Your Majesty, this humble general is well aware of the difficulties faced by the court."

"If Your Majesty could grant me the authority to recruit and train troops, designate defense zones, and bestow upon me appropriate ranks, allowing me to establish my own government, I would be willing to shoulder the responsibility of procuring provisions and supplies myself!"

"I will never again cause His Majesty and the court any trouble."

"I only beg Your Majesty's trust and permission to act as you see fit!"

As long as you have a title, territory, and authority!

Even with only one soldier, one penny, and one grain, he was confident that he could start from scratch and train a fighting force!

The key is to have His Majesty's support and a stage to showcase one's abilities!

That's exactly what Lu Zuo wanted to hear.

A glint flashed in his eyes, but he pretended to ponder for a moment before slowly nodding and saying in a deep voice, "General Yue's loyalty and bravery are commendable. He shares the burdens of the country, and I am very pleased."

"In that case...I grant your request!"

"Effective immediately, Yue Fei is promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guard Rear Army, granted the authority of a general, and appointed Military Commissioner of Jiangzhou, overseeing the defense of the Jiangzhou and Ezhou areas."

"You are permitted to recruit volunteers, train a new army, and handle all military affairs as you see fit!"

"I will order the Imperial Treasury to allocate 20,000 taels of silver and 10,000 shi of grain to help you establish yourself initially."

"As for the remaining shortfall, as you said, you shall raise the funds yourself. I will not concern myself with the process, only with the result!"

"Your subject obeys the decree."

"Your Majesty's kindness in recognizing and appreciating my talents is something I could never repay, even if I were to give my life for you."

Yue Fei's voice trembled slightly with extreme excitement.

at last!

Finally waited for this day!

They have a title, territory, and His Majesty's support!

Finally, we can unleash our full potential and get things done!

Train troops, prepare for war, drive out the Jin invaders, and recover our lost territories!

"Go forth and assume your post immediately; do not disappoint my expectations!"

"Your Majesty, I take my leave!"

Yue Fei kowtowed deeply once more, then rose and, with firm but slightly hurried steps, turned and left.

……

After Yue Fei left, Lu Zuo reviewed several important memorials and finished his daily government affairs. He then got up, changed into civilian clothes, and quietly left the palace with only four personal guards, walking towards the Wang residence.

As dusk approached, the streets became increasingly deserted.

The group turned into a relatively quiet alley, where the bluestone pavement was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

suddenly!

A sudden change has occurred!

A dark figure slid silently down from the shadow of the high wall at the alley entrance, moving so fast that it left only a faint afterimage!

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

Four sharp finger strikes pierced the air, accurately targeting the vital points on the backs of the four guards behind Lu Zuo!

The four guards were all seasoned veterans with extremely fast reflexes, but their attack was incredibly swift, and their finger strikes were exceptionally precise.

They felt a numbness in their backs, and their blood and qi instantly froze. They didn't even utter a sound before they stood frozen in place, unable to move, their eyes filled with horror!

A master of pressure point manipulation!

Lu Zuo instantly became alert, focusing all his attention on the overwhelming sense of danger!

The dark figure knocked down the guard, and without pausing, lunged at Lu Zuo like a leech. His left hand, with its five fingers forming a claw, aimed straight for Lu Zuo's throat with a sharp whistling sound, while his right hand, with its fingers together like a sword, silently struck Lu Zuo's vital acupoint in the chest!

With one move and two techniques, ruthless and cunning, he aimed to defeat the enemy in one strike!

Lu Zuo's pupils contracted slightly. This attack was far more fierce than Hong Qigong's previous tentative grab!

Don't try to take it head-on!

In the nick of time, he used the Free and Easy Steps technique, his figure drifting backward like a willow catkin in the wind.

At the same time, he unleashed the newly mastered Yang Family Spear technique, transforming the spear into a palm strike, and blocked the finger aimed at his Tanzhong acupoint with a powerful, horizontal strike across his chest.

Snapped!

Their fingers and palms met, producing a muffled thud.

Lu Zuo felt a sharp, condensed true energy penetrate his palm, causing his entire arm to go numb and his blood to surge. However, he used the force to fly backward a greater distance, narrowly avoiding the throat-locking claw.

"what?"

The shadowy figure let out a barely perceptible soft exclamation, seemingly somewhat surprised that Lu Zuo was able to catch the finger strike and use the force to retreat.

But his movements never stopped, his figure following like a shadow, and he once again slid up, his palms flying, palm shadows overlapping, sometimes slapping, sometimes pressing, sometimes cutting, sometimes pointing, his moves unpredictable, his strength sometimes hard and sometimes soft, covering all of Lu Zuo's vital points.

Lu Zuo concentrated intensely, pushing the movements of the Free and Easy Wanderer, the precision of the Yang Family Spear, and the power generation techniques of the Guo Family Bow Technique to their limits, maneuvering and dodging within a small space, countering each move as it came.

His internal strength was far inferior to his opponent's, so he relied entirely on his extraordinary combat intuition and understanding of the essence of the moves to resolve crises with the smallest movements and the most precise angles at the critical moment.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than thirty blows! A strong wind blew through the alley as their figures tumbled and flew.

The more the man in black fought, the more terrified he became!

His internal strength was clearly ordinary, and his moves were not particularly exquisite, but his predictions, his reactions, and his ability to adapt and improve rapidly under the pressure of life and death were simply unbelievable!

He suppressed his own power to a level similar to the opponent's, but he had already used seven or eight tenths of his exquisite moves, yet he still couldn't defeat him!

After a few more moves, a glint flashed in the black-clad man's eyes. He feinted an attack, forcing Lu Zuo to dodge. However, he did not pursue, but instead used the momentum to gracefully retreat, landing steadily three zhang away.

"There's some skill involved."

The man in black spoke in a hoarse voice, deliberately altering his tone to make it impossible to discern his age or gender.

He gave Lu Zuo a deep look, then flicked his wrist, and a thin, yellowed book with no words on the cover flew steadily toward Lu Zuo as if pulled by an invisible thread.

Lu Zuo instinctively reached out and caught it.

The man in black said no more. With a swift movement, he soared into the air like a bird. He lightly touched the alley wall with his toes and was on the rooftop. With a few leaps, he disappeared behind the continuous roof ridges.

It withstood more than thirty of my moves?

Too monstrous!

but……

How could there be such an illogical progress in the world?

unless……

Unless he actually possessed considerable skill, but concealed it with secret techniques, even managing to fool Brother Hong...

Although he did not reveal his high-level internal strength in this exchange, his predictions and responses were something that no complete novice could do.

Good, very good!

You mastered Hong Qigong's "Free and Easy Wandering" in just a few days. If there's really something hidden, learning my skill shouldn't be difficult either.

I want to see if your monstrous talent is real or fake.

……

In the alley, Lu Zuo held the still-warm book in his hand, his brows furrowed as he gazed in the direction where the man in black had disappeared.

This person possesses extremely high martial arts skills, employs unpredictable and strange techniques, and has precise control over his strength. It seems as if he is deliberately controlling the power, making it more like a probing attack than an assassination.

This book...

He looked down and opened the book. The first page had no title, only a few intricate and complex diagrams of the human body's meridians, and a line of ancient-style characters.

Qi condenses at the fingertips, intent penetrates to the tip, gathered but not released; whether flicking, shooting, pointing, or breaking, it all depends on the mind...

This is not an extremely profound and subtle method of luck.

Specializing in fingertip qi cultivation, it emphasizes breaking through the surface with a single point and overcoming force with skill. When mastered to a high level, one can launch invisible finger forces through the air with extremely strong penetrating power, unpredictable variations, and complete silence, making it a truly unique skill.

By gathering true energy at the fingertips, it is launched out...

Could it be some kind of finger-flicking magic?