Gao Wu Da Ming: Starting as a military household and ascending to the rank of Martial Saint

Although Yu Shaowu's archery skills have reached an extremely high level, allowing him to easily kill the giant wolf, ultimately, he is only relying on the divine power of the Zhenhai Xuntian Bow.

The Sky-Piercing Bow weighs a maximum of 800 jin (approximately 400 kg), and its power has a limit, but an individual's strength can grow even more.

His physical attributes have indeed improved a lot, but to achieve real progress in combat power, he still needs to practice martial arts.

Martial arts cultivation in this world is tiered. For martial artists, the mainstream levels are Body Tempering Realm, Meridian Opening Realm, and Qi Gathering Realm.

Among them, the Qi Gathering Realm is the ceiling, having already stepped into an extraordinary realm, becoming a martial arts master one in ten thousand.

However, according to Yu Shaowu, above the Qi Gathering Realm, there are even deeper transcendent realms that not only enhance personal power but also significantly boost the combat strength of one's army. Even more profound realms can be deeply intertwined with the fate of the nation, wielding the power of illusory mountains and rivers, where a single word can become law for the entire world.

Grandfather Yu Dayou was above the Qi Gathering Realm, but even Yu Shaowu, the eldest son and grandson, did not know the specific level.

This kind of power to influence the world is something that cannot be achieved through hard work, and Yu Shaowu has no desire to even try to obtain it.

He recalled the figure of Ji Shouyi, who was at the third level of the Body Tempering Realm, splitting a pack of wolves in half on the mountain. He thought that if he could reach Ji Shouyi's close combat strength in a short time, coupled with his own heaven-defying archery skills, he should be able to protect himself in this remote countryside.

With the aid of the control panel, Yu Shaowu felt it shouldn't be difficult to accomplish. The problem lay in choosing the right training methods.

The Yu family certainly possesses some inherited martial arts techniques, but Yu Shaowu never practiced them properly from a young age, and now only has some scattered skills remaining. If he were to rashly attempt to cultivate them, he might suffer a qi deviation.

If you go directly to Ji Shouyi's martial arts school, you should be able to learn anytime. However, a martial arts school in the countryside doesn't have a deep foundation, and the learning content has very limited growth potential.

The Thousand-Household Garrison does have a martial arts training system, and it's an official system of the imperial court, so it should be the most complete and offer the greatest potential for growth. However, for someone like me, a convict, obtaining a learning opportunity at the Thousand-Household Garrison is virtually impossible.

For now, the only option is to take it one step at a time. As long as I can survive Wei Zhongxian's rule, I will be exonerated, and then I will have the opportunity to learn any martial art.

He walked briskly and soon returned to Yaomaodun.

The soldiers were busy in the fields when they saw Yu Shaowu return with only a small cloth bag on his back, so they assumed he had returned empty-handed.

Some people gloated and laughed, saying to Yu Shaowu, "Shaowu, I told you you were wasting your time this time, but you didn't believe me. It's already a miracle you weren't carried off by wolves."

Yu Shaowu simply smiled at such mocking people without refuting them. These kinds of people are incompetent themselves and can't stand seeing others succeed; talking to them is a waste of time.

He walked without stopping, and in no time he arrived at his doorstep. The last time he returned, Madam Wan was sitting at the door waiting for him and had warmly welcomed him inside.

To be honest, these details, though seemingly insignificant, can evoke a sense of warmth in one's heart. They also made Yu Shaowu feel that he was being looked after and needed.

However, this time, Yu Shaowu did not see Wan Shi, and the front door of her house was also tightly closed.

Yu Shaowu's expectations were dashed, but upon reflection, he realized this was to be expected. He had spent two full days on the mountain; Wan Shi didn't know when he would return home, nor could she possibly be watching from the doorway every day.

He stepped forward and gently knocked on the door knocker. Soon, Wan's voice came from inside: "My husband is not here, so it is inconvenient for me to go out to entertain guests. Please leave on your own and come back another day."

She spoke in a cold tone, clearly conveying strong defensiveness and rejection.

Yu Shaowu said in a deep voice, "My wife, it's me who's back."

"Ah!" A gasp rang out from inside, followed by a series of rapid footsteps, and the door creaked open.

Wan looked at Yu Shaowu with excitement, as if she was about to throw herself into his arms. However, she restrained herself from doing so, maintaining the composure of a well-bred lady, and only bowed slightly, saying, "Husband, you're back."

As she spoke, she went to get Yu Shaowu's luggage.

Yu Shaowu didn't let her take it; instead, he held her hand and led her into the house.

When Wan saw that Yu Shaowu only had a small cloth bag on him, with neither game nor food, she assumed that he had returned empty-handed.

She didn't mind, and while pouring tea for Yu Shaowu to quench his thirst, she said, "Husband, it's good that you're back. Hunting is all about luck, so it's okay if we don't catch anything for now."

Yu Shaowu took the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and asked, "Did anything happen at home while I was away?"

He sensed Wan's unease the moment he opened the door. Something must have happened at home.

Madam Wan was taken aback for a moment before saying, "Yesterday at noon, Zhang Qing, the steward of the Zhang family, came again. This time he came with Commander Yang. He said he wanted to bring us some food. But I didn't accept it and let them leave."

"Did they say anything?" Yu Shaowu asked.

Wan hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself. Finally, she stammered, "No...it's nothing. Husband, you shouldn't go hunting these days. We can sell some of our belongings and get through this summer's tax. From now on, like Old Zhao next door, you can farm and I can weave. Maybe we can make a living that way."

Seeing that Wan Shi remained silent, Yu Shaowu said, "They're just saying there are wolves on the mountain, and I'll die there. Even if I don't die, our whole family will be at Zhang Yuanwai's hands, right? Perhaps they even threatened you with my life."

Madam Wan looked at Yu Shaowu with some surprise, then nodded and said, "That's exactly what they said. How did you know that, husband?"

Yu Shaowu smiled slightly and said, "Because I've also been threatened by them. It's nothing more than these kinds of excuses."

Seeing Yu Shaowu's relaxed expression, seemingly unaware of the seriousness of the situation, Wan Shi said with a worried look, "Husband, the Zhang family has two members who have passed the imperial examinations, and they wield considerable power in Baode Prefecture. Even Commander Li cannot defeat them. I'm afraid that if they really make a move against us..."

"Don't worry, my wife," Yu Shaowu said, "This matter started because of me, and I will settle it."

Wan didn't know what method Yu Shaowu could use to resolve this matter. After thinking it over, it seemed that there was really no other way except to sell herself.

Seeing Wan's worried expression, Yu Shaowu changed the subject, saying, "To be honest, I actually encountered a pack of wolves on my trip to Tumen Mountain. One of them was even bigger than a tiger or leopard."

"Ah?" Madam Wan was taken aback and quickly asked, "How did my husband escape? Is he injured?" As she spoke, she went to check if there were any wounds on his body.

Yu Shaowu sighed and said, "My wife, you don't understand your husband at all. As a descendant of the Yu family, how could I possibly run away? I shot that wolf dead with just a few arrows."

Wan was somewhat surprised and uncertain after hearing Yu Shaowu's boastful words, but knowing his strength as well.

Yu Shaowu smiled slightly, finally placed the cloth bag in his hand on the stone mill, opened the bag, and said to Wan Shi, "Wife, come and see what's inside this bag."

Unsure of Yu Shaowu's intentions, Wan stepped forward with a puzzled look and peered into the bag. For a moment, she was blinded by a dazzling white light. Upon closer inspection, she discovered the bag contained a large pile of silver nuggets and strings of copper coins.

Since being demoted to Baode Prefecture, Wan had never seen so much money. How long must it have taken to hunt to get such a harvest?

Yu Shaowu patted Wan's shoulder and said, "Now you should believe what I said, right? This money is the reward the hunters gave me after I hunted the pack of wolves."

Lady Wan gazed intently at her husband, a surge of tenderness welling up within her. She softly asked, "My husband, what great responsibility and what numerous dangers did you overcome to acquire so much wealth?"

Yu Shaowu hadn't expected that, despite being in dire poverty, Wan Shi would immediately show concern for him upon seeing this money. Even considering her high emotional intelligence, her actions were truly commendable.

He was also somewhat moved, and grasped Wan's hand, saying, "With this money, we won't have to worry about the summer tax anymore. We can finally get a good night's sleep these next few days. As for the matter with Master Zhang, we'll deal with it gradually; there will always be a solution."

"Yes!" Madam Wan nodded heavily. At this moment, she felt that her husband was simply omnipotent, and she began to trust the promises he made. She said, "Husband, you've worked hard hunting. I'll go and cook for you."

Wan hid the cloth bag containing the money in the room and quickly went to start a fire to cook. While cooking, she hummed a folk song from her hometown of Nanchang, and her previous unease vanished.

Yu Shaowu sat by the stone mill, sipping hot tea while pondering the matter of Master Zhang.

Wan's concerns were not unfounded; the Zhang family had produced two Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and their influence was indeed not to be underestimated.

The reason why the Ming Dynasty was able to control military generals through civil officials was that, after passing the imperial examination, scholars who were originally powerless would immediately receive the blessing of the nation's fortune, rise to prominence overnight, and wield extraordinary power. This was a deep bond between Confucianism and imperial power, which was simply impossible for ordinary military generals to resist.

One of the Zhang family members, a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), even rose to the position of Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Shaanxi. That was a third-rank official position. Not to mention the commander of a thousand-household garrison, even the superior of the commander—Jiao Yuanqing, the then-military commissioner of Kelan—had to give him face.

However, these two Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were powerful, but they were merely relatives of Zhang Yuanwai. Although Zhang Yuanwai was from the eldest branch of the Zhang family, he himself was just a failed Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). The power of the Zhang clan did not mean that he himself was powerful.

Yu Shaowu's thinking was simple: Zhang Qing and Yang Baihu were two lackeys; dealing with them would be pointless and would only cause more trouble. The only way to truly solve this problem was to kill that Zhang Yuanwai.

The problem is, how can you do it without anyone noticing and without getting yourself into trouble?

Murder is a technical skill; it requires careful planning and execution.