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

After dealing with the two Tantric monks, Lu Zuo focused his mind on his inner sea and gave clear instructions to his cheat system:

"To advance the first seven levels of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill and the Highest Yoga Tantra."

[Consuming 200 cultivation points, the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique has been upgraded to the seventh level of perfection.]

[Consuming 300 cultivation points, the Highest Yoga Tantra has been upgraded to the Great Perfection stage.]

The moment the notification sound ended, a tremendous power erupted from the depths of my limbs and bones!

This is not an increase in true qi, but rather a crazy surge in pure physical strength.

The muscles and bones resonated, emitting subtle yet dense popping sounds. The muscle fibers seemed to be forged and tempered, their density increasing dramatically, and the blood surged like a raging river.

Lu Zuo clenched his fist lightly, feeling the pure power contained within it increase by nearly nine hundred jin compared to before!

It's as if a casual wave of the hand could shatter stone tablets and split rocks!

The power of the dragon and the elephant is indeed domineering!

This is only the first seven levels; if you obtain the complete text…

He suppressed the surging power within him and turned his gaze to the unconscious Hong Qigong.

The most important thing right now is to save his life, because only he knows the whereabouts of the complete "Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill".

Elder Lu.

Lu Zuo said in a deep voice, "Escort Chief Hong into the city immediately and find a safe residence near the capital to settle him in."

"I will send the imperial physician with the finest medicines from the palace to treat him and ensure his recovery."

Lu Mang was moved to tears and solemnly agreed, then quickly left with Hong Qigong and several skilled members of the gang.

Upon returning to the palace, Lu Zuo immediately issued a secret order to the head of the Imperial Medical Academy to select trusted imperial physicians to treat the patient and to report the patient's condition daily.

……

In Jiangbei, the night was as thick as ink.

Han Shizhong led a team of elite scouts, stealthily making their way to a dense forest on a mountain ridge several miles outside the Jin army camp.

Looking down from here, the Jin army's camps stretched for dozens of miles in the distance, their lights like a sea of ​​stars. Even from this distance, the sounds of men and horses could be faintly heard, and a chilling aura of killing intent swept over you.

"Record."

Han Shizhong lowered his voice, his gaze sharp as a hawk's: "The layout of the camp, the direction the gate faces, and the number of deer forts."

"The cavalry is estimated to number around 20,000, with no fewer than 3,000 armored cavalry."

"The infantry camp was densely packed with cooking smoke, and the number of soldiers was estimated to be no less than 50,000."

"The warhorse's condition... seems slightly lacking?"

Rumbling.....

As he was analyzing the situation carefully, a dull and intense tremor suddenly came from the ground beneath his feet, and dust billowed up on the distant horizon!

"hidden!"

Han Shizhong's expression changed slightly. He gave a low shout, and everyone instantly lowered their bodies, using the bushes and rocks to hide perfectly.

In the distance, a winding fire dragon is rolling in!

Those were countless torches! Accompanied by the increasingly loud sounds of horses' hooves, footsteps, and wheels rolling over the ground.

Under the moonlight and torchlight, one could see countless Jin cavalrymen wearing felt hats and leather armor, as well as many more infantrymen carrying long spears and pushing supply wagons. The procession was vast and seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see!

Han Shizhong's heart sank, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

Judging from this force, the reinforcements that have arrived must number no less than 50,000!

Moreover, their military bearing was impeccable, clearly indicating that they were a fresh force!

The Jin invaders... have actually reinforced their troops again?

And the number is so huge!

Are they planning to use all their strength to conquer Jiangnan in one fell swoop?

The Jiangbei defense line was already under immense pressure, and now it has been reinforced with another 50,000 fierce troops...

This battle will likely be a hundred times more difficult than anticipated!

He suppressed his worries and whispered to his most capable scout, "Look carefully, note down the flags, troop types, and weapons, especially any unusual siege equipment. Be meticulous, there can be no mistakes!"

"Yes, General!"

......

Shortly after, the central command tent of the Jin army camp was brightly lit.

Commander-in-Chief Wanyan Zongbi was looking at the map, his brows slightly furrowed. Although a large army was pressing in, the Song army, relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River and the advantage of its navy, had been unable to find an opportunity for him to break through in one fell swoop.

Just then, a commotion and the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the tent. A personal guard rushed in, his face beaming with joy: "Report! Commander! General Balisu has arrived with reinforcements ten miles outside the camp!"

Wanyan Zongbi suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Balisu is here?"

"Please come quickly!"

Before long, a Jin general, clad in heavy armor, with a full beard and a weathered yet undeniably fierce air, strode into the command tent. He was none other than Wanyan Balisu, the grandson of Emperor Taizu of Jin, Wanyan Aguda, and a valiant general.

He cupped his hands and announced loudly, "This humble general, Bali Su, has come to await the command of the commander-in-chief, leading 50,000 elite cavalry and infantry, by order of the lord!"

"fifty thousand!"

Wanyan Zongbi was overjoyed and stepped forward to pat Wanyan Balisu heavily on the shoulder, "Good! Balisu, you've come at just the right time!"

He walked to the tent entrance, gazed at the dark southern night sky, and burst into loud laughter, his voice echoing throughout the tent: "Hahahaha!"

"Excellent! Excellent! I was just worried that we didn't have enough troops to exert pressure on all fronts. Now, with your 50,000 fresh troops, my great Jin army is even more powerful!"

He turned abruptly, his gaze intense, his tone filled with undisguised ambition and contempt: "Han Shizhong?"

"A mere natural barrier like the Yangtze River?"

"Once my army is fully assembled and we have built enough boats and rafts, we will cross the river in one fell swoop, sweep away Lin'an, capture that brat Zhao Gou, and take him to Wuguo City so that he and his son can be reunited!"

"Let's see what those southerners have to rely on!"

Wanyan Balisu grinned and said, "The General is absolutely right!"

"The southerners are cowardly, only knowing how to defend their natural defenses. Now that our army has gathered, we will crush them and leave them without a single survivor!"

After laughing, Wanyan Bali quickly remembered something and whispered, "General, Qin Hui has secretly sent a message to Lin'an saying that he is under great pressure there."

"Zhao Gou has been behaving strangely lately. He needs some 'experts' in case of emergency and has asked us for help, requesting a hundred skilled men."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Zongbi scoffed, unconcerned: "Hmph, that old dog, he's quite afraid of death."

"Very well, he still has a great use in the Southern Dynasty court. Since he wants him, let's give him to him."

"From the group of Tantric lamas accompanying the army, transfer one hundred skilled ones to him."

"Tell those lamas that once they arrive in Lin'an, they must obey Qin Hui's arrangements, but they must remember who their true master is!"

"Yes, Commander."

Wanyan Zongbi turned his gaze back to the south bank of the Yangtze River on the map, his tone filled with absolute confidence: "The Song Dynasty has a young emperor, constant internal factional struggles, military generals who are suspicious of each other, and a prime minister who is a traitor."

"With such a court and such a ruler, it's already a struggle for survival; how can they possibly resist the mighty Jin army?"

"The destruction of the Song Dynasty is only a matter of time!"

"Quickly withdraw! Let the men rest as soon as possible. I need to see a new plan for crossing the river within three days!"

"Your humble servant obeys!"

……

North of the river, the mountain wind was biting, carrying the smell of cooking smoke and horse manure wafting from the Jin army camp.

Han Shizhong had been lying prone behind the rocks on the ridge for three whole days.

His tightly furrowed brows never relaxed, his gaze fixed on the endless Jin army camps below the mountain.

During these three days, he personally witnessed at least two sizable Jin army units rushing to the aid of the main camp and joining forces with it.

The camp visibly expanded outwards by a large circle, with noise and drills continuing day and night.

It's been three days...

Including the 50,000 men of Balisu, the Jin reinforcements now number 70,000!

With the existing forces, the Jin army north of the Yangtze River probably now numbers over 150,000!

Such a large-scale mobilization, with its enormous consumption of supplies, was no ordinary standoff.

Judging from this posture, Wuzhu is determined to achieve his goal in one battle, setting up a decisive battle plan and preparing to forcibly cross the river!

However, my Jianghuai defense line has no more than 100,000 combat-ready soldiers at most. Although the navy is powerful, it is difficult to withstand the enemy's relentless and costly attack...

Our troop strength is ultimately stretched thin!

A heavy pressure, like a mountain, weighed on Han Shizhong's heart.

He was not afraid to fight to the death, but as a commander, he had to be responsible for his men and for the half of Jiangnan.

"General..." A scout crouched down and approached, his voice dry and low, "The rations we brought... will only last for one more day at most."

Han Shizhong took a deep breath of the cold air, forcing himself to calm down.

They've seen most of what they needed to see. If they linger any longer and are exposed, this elite scout team will surely be wiped out.

"Order to retreat!" he commanded decisively, his voice low but clear. "Return by the same route, and be careful to conceal your movements."

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"yes!"

Under the cover of darkness and the terrain, the group silently retreated down the ridge, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, and stealthily made their way to the designated rendezvous point by the river.

......

Several days later, in the central command tent of the Jianghuai Grand Camp.

Han Shizhong, without bothering to wash away the dust of his journey, immediately spread out paper and began to write furiously.

He meticulously recorded his observations over the past few days regarding the number of Jin reinforcements, troop types, camp layout, and the condition of their warhorses, revealing deep concern between the lines:

"The Jin invaders have increased their troops by more than 70,000, and their combined forces may exceed 150,000. They have been building boats and rafts and practicing naval warfare for days. Their strength is immense and cannot be compared to ordinary border raids."

"Judging from his intentions, he intends to amass a large army and seize an opportunity to forcibly cross the river in order to engage in a decisive battle."

"Our army is deployed along the river, but our forces are already thin. We need to divide our troops to guard all the strategic points, which is a tight situation."

"We implore Your Majesty to make a swift decision, quickly dispatch elite troops to reinforce the Jianghuai region, and procure sufficient provisions, supplies, and weaponry in preparation for a fierce battle..."

As he wrote this, he paused, recalling a strange group of people he had glimpsed before the retreat.

The group of about a hundred people, dressed differently from the Jin army and ordinary people, exuded a strong and capable aura. Led by a Jin army guide, they quietly left the camp and headed south, seemingly to find a secluded place to cross the river.

He immediately added at the end of the letter: "Furthermore, before I withdrew, I saw more than a hundred people who appeared to be Tantric monks leaving the Jin camp. They seemed to be trying to sneak south. Their intentions are unclear. I humbly request Your Majesty's judgment."

After writing it, he sealed it with sealing wax, summoned his trusted lieutenant, and ordered in a deep voice: "Send this by express courier, eight hundred li, directly to the imperial court, to be presented to His Majesty in person! There must be no delay along the way!"

"Your humble servant obeys!"

.....

Just as the messenger, carrying urgent military intelligence, was galloping towards Yingtian Prefecture, inside a seemingly ordinary but actually heavily guarded residence in the city of Yingtian Prefecture.

Lu Zuo received a secret report from the head of the Imperial Medical Academy: Hong Qigong has regained consciousness. Although he is still weak, he is mentally clear and his life is no longer in danger.

He immediately traveled light and simply to the small courtyard.

The smell of medicine lingered in the bedroom. Hong Qigong sat leaning against the bed, his face still pale, but his small eyes had regained their former sparkle, though now they were filled with complex emotions.

He had learned from Lu Mang and others what happened after that night: His Majesty had swiftly killed the esoteric monk, demanded the antidote, and arranged for the imperial physicians to treat him carefully.

Upon seeing Lu Zuo enter, Hong Qigong struggled to rise and bow.

"Chief Hong is still recovering from serious injuries, there's no need for such formalities."

Lu Zuo took two quick steps, reached out and pressed down lightly, his tone gentle.

A clever Beggar Clan disciple had already moved a chair and placed it in front of the bed.

Lu Zuo sat down, looking calmly at Hong Qigong, and cut straight to the point: "Qigong, where is the little girl you risked your life to save now?"

"The 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill' that she took away is of paramount importance to me and to the Great Song Dynasty."

"This skill is relatively easy to learn, unlike other extraordinary techniques that demand exceptional talent. As long as one receives the correct instruction and is willing to work hard and progress step by step, even elite soldiers in the army can develop the strength of hundreds of pounds in a short time!"

"If such strongmen could be mass-produced and formed into an elite force, it would be of immeasurable benefit to the great cause of driving out the Jin invaders and recovering our lost territories!"

Upon hearing this, Hong Qigong gave Lu Zuo a deep look.

He has lived most of his life and experienced many things, so he has an extremely accurate eye for people.

This young emperor is decisive and ruthless, with a deep mind, but his determination to expel the barbarians and restore the Central Plains, as well as his pragmatic approach of not being bothered by trivial matters in order to achieve his goals, are genuine.

He was infinitely better than Zhao Ji, who only knew how to live in peace and suppress loyal officials.

He saved my life, and I can no longer remain uninvolved, whether in public or private matters, or in terms of reason or emotion.

He sighed deeply, a relieved yet resolute smile appearing on his face. He struggled to clasp his hands in a fist salute, his tone more solemn than ever before:

"I understand His Majesty's intentions."

"The old beggar has drifted through half his life, living a carefree life, seemingly without a care in the world, but how could he not yearn for his homeland?"

"Today, I have met an enlightened ruler. I am willing to serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty and devotion, assisting you in accomplishing the great task of restoring the Han dynasty and avenging the century-long humiliation of our Han people!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, though this old beggar is not talented, from now on the entire Beggars' Clan is willing to serve Your Majesty!"

He took a breath and continued, "As for that girl... Your Majesty need not worry, she is safe now."

"After the old beggar rescued her, he settled her in this Yingtian Prefecture."

"Oh?" A glint flashed in Lu Zuo's eyes. "In Yingtian? Where exactly?"

Hong Qigong lowered his voice: "It's in... the 'Orphanage' in the south of the city, disguised as an ordinary orphan girl."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zuo immediately ordered his accompanying guards to go to the orphanage in the south of the city to bring the person over.

"Seventh Master!"

Just then, a childish but urgent call came from outside the courtyard, accompanied by slightly disordered footsteps.

Lu Zuo turned around at the sound, and through the open door, he saw a Beggar Clan disciple leading a little girl of about seven or eight years old, whose clothes, though old, were washed clean, and walking quickly towards him.

The little girl had delicate features and a pair of large, clear eyes. She should have been a lively and adorable child, but her eyes held a hint of fear and precociousness that were inappropriate for her age.

She wore a gray cotton-padded jacket with several patches on her body and a pair of worn-out cloth shoes. Her hair was simply combed into two small buns and tied with red ribbons, which looked a bit rough and were obviously the result of self-care.

Most strikingly, several purplish-red, still-present, menacing strangulation marks were clearly visible around her slender neck, like the marks left by a venomous snake!

As she ran, a light-colored, inch-long scar was faintly visible at the hairline on the back of her head.

The little girl seemed completely unaware that there was an unfamiliar important person in the room; her gaze was entirely drawn to the weak Hong Qigong on the bed.

Like a frightened fawn finding shelter, she ran quickly into the house, rushed to the bedside, and knelt down on the footstool with a "plop." Her little hands tightly grasped Hong Qigong's hand, which was outside the blanket, and her voice was trembling with tears:

"Seventh Master! Seventh Master!"

"What's wrong?"

"Where are you hurt?"

"Does it hurt, Ah Xiu..."

"Ah Xiu is so afraid that you'll end up like your father and mother..."

When Hong Qigong saw the little girl, a kind smile appeared on his pale face. He gently took her small hand and comforted her, "Good child, don't cry, don't cry. I'm tough, I won't die."

He raised his other hand and pointed to Lu Zuo, who was sitting upright to the side, "Ah Xiu, quickly, kowtow to this person... to His Majesty."

Only then did the little girl, Ah Xiu, notice that there were other people in the room. She timidly turned her head and looked at Lu Zuo.

Seeing Lu Zuo's extraordinary demeanor, despite his youth, he possessed a captivating and authoritative presence.

Although she didn't quite understand what "Your Majesty" meant.

Knowing that this was a great figure whom even Hong Qigong treated with utmost respect, she quickly released Hong Qigong's hand, turned around, and respectfully kowtowed three times to Lu Zuo, her voice barely audible: "Axiu... greets Your Majesty."

"Rise." Lu Zuo's voice softened slightly, but his gaze involuntarily fell once again on the glaring marks and scars.

This scar...

This was definitely not caused by ordinary children playing around.

Hong Qigong gently patted Ah Xiu's head and said softly, "Ah Xiu, this is the current emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, the greatest good man."

"The book you found..."

"That book you can't understand is useless to you. If you're willing, you can offer it to His Majesty."

"His Majesty will surely stand up for you and take good care of you; no one will be able to bully you again."

Ah Xiu raised her head, looked at Hong Qigong, and then secretly glanced at Lu Zuo, almost without any hesitation.

In her simple world, Master Qi was her only support and benefactor. She would do whatever Master Qi asked her to do.

As for the book, all she knew was that she had picked it up in the chaos of escaping from that terrible place, and she had no idea what it was for.

She nodded obediently and carefully took out a small bag wrapped tightly in oilcloth from her close-fitting, faded undershirt.

She untied the layers of oilcloth, revealing a thin book with yellowed pages and worn edges, and handed it to Hong Qigong.

Hong Qigong did not take it, but gestured to her with his eyes to hand it directly to Lu Zuo.

Ah Xiu then turned around, timidly raised the book above her head with both hands, and presented it to Lu Zuo.

Lu Zuo took the book; it felt slightly heavy in his hand, with an antique feel.

He glanced at the cover and tucked the book into his sleeve. Then he instructed a eunuch beside him, "Take Miss A-Xiu away and make sure she is well taken care of. Do not neglect her."

"This servant obeys the decree."

The eunuch led Ah Xiu, who looked back repeatedly and still seemed somewhat fearful, out of the room.

After Ah Xiu left, Lu Zuo's face darkened. He looked at Hong Qigong, his brows furrowed: "Qigong, what's with the ligature marks on the child's neck and the knife scar on the back of his head?"

"What kind of cruel person would do such a thing to a child?"