Kill the enemy and get a wife? I'll single-handedly slaughter my way through the Northern Barba

Ruzhou City, night.

The Kang residence, the inner quarters.

Kang You, the Vice Commander of Ruzhou, gently knocked on the door of the study.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

"Come in!"

With permission, Kang Youcai pushed open the door, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted out.

"Father."

Upon entering the room, Kang You bowed respectfully to Kangxi and Qianlong.

Kangxi and Qianlong wore a black straight robe, exuding an imposing aura even without anger.

"Why are you here so late? Is something the matter?"

Kang You nodded and took out a letter from his sleeve: "Father, Thirteen's body has been found."

"He encountered an evil dragon in the Cloud Mountain, was swallowed whole, and died!"

Kangxi and Qianlong frowned slightly: "A vicious dragon? Such a creature actually exists in this world?"

Kang You smiled wryly: "Dad, that thing is probably a giant python, which the villagers in the mountains have been spreading rumors about as an evil dragon."

"The key point is that Lin Feng has already killed the giant python, and they have also found the centipede vine."

"The government sent people to guard the centipede vine. A few days ago, Bai Jing left Ruzhou City to go to Yunshan to handle this matter."

A cold glint flashed in Kangxi and Qianlong's eyes: "Lin Feng, it's that Lin Feng again, the meddlesome fellow!"

Kang You presented the documents to Kang Qian and asked, "Father, the centipede vine there is guarded by government officials. What should we do? Should we still take the vine?"

"Why not take it?"

A fierce look appeared on Kangxi and Qianlong's faces.

"Just wait until autumn and get the centipede vine before the government officials take it."

However, there are always exceptions.

Kangxi and Qianlong rolled their eyes and gave Kang You instructions.

"You'er, continue to send people into the mountains to find new centipede vines, and make preparations for both possibilities."

"Our Kang family has been preparing for many years, and we cannot let a single centipede vine hold us back."

Kang You cupped his hands in greeting, then suddenly remembered something.

"Father, Lin Feng went to the Bai family today and met with Bai Jing. What do you think we should do?"

Upon hearing this, Kangxi and Qianlong casually waved their hands: "Bai Jing is nothing but a cowardly and mediocre person, nothing to be afraid of."

"That kid surnamed Lin does have some skill, but how many days can he live?"

"The Ten Thousand Buddhas Festival is coming soon; someone will surely send him to heaven, haha!"

In the eyes of Kangxi and Qianlong, Lin Feng was no different from a dead man.

It's just a matter of dying sooner or later.

Kang You looked regretful.

"Lin Feng is highly skilled in martial arts and is a remarkable person. If he could be employed by our Kang family, he would definitely become a valuable asset in the future. It's a pity..."

Upon hearing this, Kangxi and Qianlong looked at Kang You with approval.

"Friend, it's good that you know how to recruit talent. Raymond Lam is indeed a talented person."

"But the more capable a disobedient person is, the greater the threat they become."

"Alright, stop thinking about him."

"There are many skilled martial artists in the world, and in the future, there will be plenty of talented people to serve my Kang family."

Kang You nodded, bowing respectfully, "Father's advice is wise!"

……

At the end of January, snow fell in Ruzhou.

Baiyujing was also covered in silver.

The Imperial Palace, the Wenlou Pavilion, the top floor.

The Imperial Palace's Wenlou (Literary Pavilion) has nine floors and contains almost all the rare and precious books of the Great Qian Dynasty.

It snowed today, but the wind was not strong. King Zhou, Li Ji, was bent over his desk, glancing at the map hanging on the wall from time to time.

Then, he carefully put down his brush and began to depict and replicate the image on the paper.

He was so engrossed in his painting that he didn't notice anyone behind him.

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, as Li Ji looked at the painting, someone patted him on the shoulder.

"ah?!"

Li Ji was startled and looked behind him.

A young man dressed in a bright yellow, narrow-sleeved robe with cloud and dragon patterns looked at him with a smile.

The young man had clear features and bright eyes, which held a gentle light.

His face was as handsome as jade, yet without any sharpness, like a piece of warm and beautiful jade.

"It's freezing cold, why aren't you even using a brazier? Aren't you cold?"

The young man's voice was clear and bright, like the sound of ice floes hitting the river in spring.

Prince Zhou, Li Ji, was slightly taken aback, then put down his brush and hurriedly bowed to him: "Your subject pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince..."

The person in front of him was none other than Li Yu, the Crown Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Li Yu supported Li Ji's arms: "How many times have I told you, we brothers don't need to act like this in private."

Li Yu leaned closer to take a look and said, "I heard from the female librarian at Wenlou that you arrived this morning and have been copying a map ever since?"

Li Ji nodded: "This is the only complete map of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the Wenlou collection. To make a perfect copy requires a lot of hard work."

Crown Prince Li Yu moved his gaze from the map to the table and glanced at it.

"Fourth brother's copying skills are getting better and better, but why do you suddenly want to copy a map of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"

The Great Zhou Dynasty is over a thousand years old, and the Wenlou (Literary Pavilion) contains rare and precious books from all over the world.

Li Ji searched for a long time before finally finding this complete map of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Prince Zhou, Li Ji, smiled and said, "Does Your Majesty still remember Lin Feng, who beheaded Zheng Yan in the Battle of Zhenyuan City?"

Li Yu nodded slightly and exclaimed, "I remember, Lin Feng, the deputy general of Zhenyuan Army, was granted the title of sixth-rank Yunqiwei and the rank of baron."

"What? Is this map related to him?"

Li Ji nodded: "When I parted ways with Lin Feng, he asked me to find a complete map of the Great Zhou Dynasty in Wenlou."

"After returning to the capital, I was busy with many things, and I finally found some free time to look for this map."

"Take advantage of the time and quickly make a copy to give to him."

After a pause, Li Ji asked, "What brings you here today, Your Majesty?"

A look of worry appeared on Crown Prince Li Yu's face: "I have come to prepare for disaster relief."

Disaster relief?

Li Ji thought for a moment and said, "I haven't heard of any disasters anywhere. What news did you receive today, Your Majesty?"

Li Yu shook his head: "A month ago, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed the stars and saw that the planet Mercury was out of motion, and said: 'Mercury is in disarray, ice and water will bring calamity.'"

Chenxing is Mercury.

Mercury is associated with water in the Five Elements theory and governs rivers, frost, and floods.

The saying "When the stars are in disarray, ice and water bring disaster" refers to the fact that rivers can cause disasters due to abnormal flow during the ice-covered period.

Li Ji suddenly understood upon hearing this.

He comforted Crown Prince Li Yu, saying, "Brother, this calamity of ice and water has occurred only a handful of times in the three hundred years of our Great Qian Dynasty."

"Your Majesty need not worry. If this does happen, the court will handle it accordingly."

Crown Prince Li Yu shook his head: "Lord Li Zhengfeng of the Imperial Observatory, in all your years of stargazing, when have you ever been inaccurate?"

"Last night, he observed that Mercury and Saturn were in opposition, which the Imperial Astronomical Bureau interpreted as: water encroaching on the earth, and the dikes breaking down."

Li Ji looked surprised and uncertain; he knew Li Zhengfeng's abilities.

The old lord has served as the Director of the Imperial Observatory for thirty years and has never made a mistake.

but……

Li Ji was puzzled. Li Yu was never such an anxious person. Why was his behavior today so different from usual?

Li Yu sighed softly.

"If there is indeed a natural disaster in the spring, the imperial court will have its own procedures for handling it."

"But my uncle came personally to urge me to make preparations in advance."

"Consult ancient texts and review documents to come up with a set of procedures in advance."

"So that I can have a response if Father asks."

The "uncle" that Li Yu mentioned was Lu Jian, the great general of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Lu Jian's younger sister is the current Empress.

Lu Jian is the maternal uncle of Crown Prince Li Yu, Prince Zhou Li Ji who was raised by the Empress since childhood, Princess Huaiqing, and Princess Lin'an.

Li Ji nodded upon hearing this: "Uncle, you're very kind."