After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"The rise and fall of a dynasty is predetermined and cannot be changed by human effort."

"The barbarians of the Northern Dynasties entered the pass and established their rule over the Central Plains. Their roots were like duckweed, and the whole world rebelled. This was the proper course of events. However, the barbarians gained the hearts of the Eight Banners Han subjects, the Three Princes, the Green Standard Army, and the Han officials of the North, and their power grew day by day."

"Han officials all regarded themselves as slaves, shaved their heads and changed their clothes, took the imperial examinations, and ate with tigers. This was because the dynasty's fortunes had reached their peak, and therefore no one in the world could withstand it."

"When Yinzhen ascended the throne, he transformed the emperor into a ruler and the family into a country. He employed people without regard to background and won over the hearts of Han officials. The Han dynasty was at its zenith, making the national treasury richer and the military stronger day by day."

"On the other hand, the Southern Dynasty, even though it is burdened with national and personal grievances, should have worked together to plan a northward march. However, it is like an old man, living in a corner of the country. Although Shangguan Ke's son was old, he still had the heroic spirit of his father and captured two cities north of the river. The Southern Dynasty officials were just used as a shield to protect their pleasures."

"Let alone a northern expedition, even defending it by relying on its natural defenses would be futile. This is... its fate is sealed..."

Ning Nan gripped the reins of the white horse, his eyes shifted, and he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

At the end of August, Han Laoguai heard about the alliance initiated by the Northern Dynasty with the Southern Dynasty, and immediately headed north.

After investigating the matter, he made a decision...

"...One dynasty's fortunes are rising daily, while the other's are declining daily. This time, the Northern Dynasty has allied with the Rakshasa and is going south together. This is the time when the fortunes of the rising dynasty will completely devour the fortunes of the declining dynasty."

"If I had been born fifty years earlier, before the enemy's fate was sealed, perhaps a hero could have saved the day. If I had been born fifty years later, when the enemy's fate was like that of the previous dynasty, declining day by day, perhaps a hero could have saved us from our doom... But being born at this time, we insignificant people have no way to escape..."

"A pity."

"As the Taoists say, misfortune and fortune are interdependent. This northward migration might be a turning point..."

"If the Southern Dynasty were fortunate enough to have figures like Xie Xuan and Yu Yong, who could decisively defeat the Northern army in a single battle, as in the Battle of Fei River and the Battle of Caishi, then the fate of the Northern Dynasty would be like that of Fu Jian and Wanyan... a single battle that brought about its decline..."

"We, Qing and others, are incompetent and lack any military or political acumen. The past sixty years have been arduous, making it difficult to emulate Wei Qing and Huo Qubing in their efforts to expel the barbarians. We have wielded weapons and shields to wield the heavens, and forged swords to vanquish evil. For twenty years, we have toiled tirelessly... I have devoted my remaining strength to waiting for the likes of Xuan Yong... If the Northern Dynasty's fate is sealed... even if the Southern Dynasty cannot advance northward, heroes will surely emerge in the world... to drive away the calamities of the Red Sun..."

It was noon.

A ray of sunlight shone on the new leaves of the old locust tree.

The leaves are translucent.

Like the withered leaves that fell last autumn, new buds have sprouted once again.

…………

Jia Shi'an, leading the mule by the reins, traveled with Ningnan Road:

"Prince Jing, along with other envoys, arrived in Tongzhou several days ago. As arranged by the Grand Prince Consort, they have already traveled south with Shangguan Zhao, Shangguan Xiu, and Chen Ruhai. I, Jia, and the official seal of the delegation… are merely bait to draw the Northern Dynasty's attention. As long as the official seal of the delegation is near Beijing, the Northern Dynasty will not completely break off relations and sever all trade routes between the north and south. With my head, we can also convince the Northern Dynasty that the delegation is indeed here…"

Ning Nan nodded: "That's good then."

Jia Shi'an's expression turned solemn, and he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards him:

"This time, Mr. Jia... had some personal motives..."

Ning Nan glanced at him and smiled:

"Shangguan Xiu is my close friend. Even if you, Shangguan Xiu's own uncle, don't give him more consideration, I will."

Jia Shi'an, his eyes filled with gratitude, bowed on the mule's back and said:

"Mr. Jia...thanks for your understanding, Your Highness."

Ning Nan shook his head.

Jia Shi'an then looked at Ning Nan: "Grand Prince Consort,"

He hesitated for a long time, but finally said:

"Perhaps...perhaps...let me, Jia, take charge of this journey...Your Highness, please hurry..."

Ning Nan waved his hand and said:

"You guys are no good."

He gazed into the distance, his tone becoming deep and complex:

"It's not that I look down on you... it's just that you're really no good..."

Ning Nan didn't say anything more, but simply picked up the riding whip.

He ordered his men to wake up the more than 600 people who had rested for another half an hour, and to put leg wraps on them according to his instructions.

"Let's go."

Ning Nan flicked his riding whip.

"us,"

He shook his neck, which had become sore and stiff, and said:

"Let's go to Zhuolu now..."

…………

The first year of the Mingzhen reign.

March.

Late spring, auspicious day.

On the 14th, Ning Jiexiao, the leader of the Heavenly Principle Sect, led more than two hundred people and, with the support of palace eunuchs, stormed into the Forbidden City. They broke into the Qianqing Palace, wounded the emperor of the Northern Dynasty, and then fought their way out of the Forbidden City.

The capital was thrown into chaos, and the whole country was shaken!

The 15th.

Su Lang, one of the four generals of the Heavenly Principle Sect, launched an uprising in Zhuolu County, capturing the magistrate, county lieutenant, Tartar captain, Green Standard Army captain, and other officials of the Northern Dynasty, and seizing the city of Zhuolu.

On the same day, Ning Jiexiao led the followers of the Heavenly Principle Sect to swear an oath at Miaofeng Mountain. They then broke through the encirclement of 20,000 Eight Banner soldiers and Green Standard Army soldiers.

On the 16th, at the end of the day, Huang Zhongcai, the governor in charge of all matters concerning Miaofeng Mountain who was besieging Miaofeng Mountain, made a judgment that the rebels had broken out of Miaofeng Mountain. Soon after, Governor Huang found footprints on the north side. Following the footprints, he discovered that the rebels had entered Phoenix Ridge.

On the 18th, Ning Jiexiao, the leader of the Heavenly Principles Sect, arrived in Zhuolu County, and Su Lang led three thousand soldiers out of the city to welcome him.

The next day.

Ning Jiexiao ordered that all the evil deeds committed by the Northern Dynasty officials of Zhuolu County over the years be read aloud at the city gate, and that they behead them at the city gate, with their heads displayed above the city gate.

On the 19th, Ning Jiexiao sent Su Lang with two thousand men westward to Huangyang Mountain.

On the 20th, Huang Zhongcai, the governor-general in charge of the rebellion of the Heavenly Principle Sect, and Ortai, the Minister of War, led 3,000 vanguard troops to attack Zhuolu County, but failed.

On the 22nd, Huang Zhongcai's 20,000 troops arrived and besieged Zhuolu County. During the siege, they attacked the city three times and scaled the city gates several times.

On the 23rd, Ning Jiexiao ambushed Huang Zhongcai's supply route with 500 mule and horse troops, who were hidden 20 miles to the east. Huang Zhongcai was greatly alarmed.

That night.

Ning Jiexiao's troops opened the city gates wide and launched a feigned breakout from the north to lure the enemy. The northern army hastily retreated back into the city, allowing Huang Zhongcai's troops to seize the opportunity to storm the city. Just as they entered the city and began their mopping-up operation in the alleys, a deafening explosion was heard. Afterwards, Ning Jiexiao's troops officially fled from the west into Huangyang Mountain. The pursuers arrived, but Su Lang, who had been lying in ambush, caught them off guard. Several days later, Ning Jiexiao led his troops out of Hebei…

……

……

On March 16th, as Ningnan's horses trod towards Zhuolu County.

Nanjing, a thousand miles away.

It was a warm and sunny afternoon.

The "First Military Procurement Meeting of Daliang" held in Fengtian Hall Square officially ended after three days.

The New Instrument Bureau and the Daliang Academy of Sciences made a fortune.

When Li Xing, the president of the Academy of Sciences, was reporting to the Empress Dowager at the head of the table in the Qianqing Palace, he noticed that his sister-in-law seemed unhappy, so he quickly stopped talking and appeared somewhat apprehensive.

His sister-in-law seemed to sense his fear, smiled, and ordered Chunyu to take him to the imperial kitchen for a meal.

Li Xing secretly asked his sister Chunyu, "Sister, what's wrong with His Majesty?"

Chunyu whispered to him:

"My sister doesn't know either..."

Li Xing rolled his eyes, of course without letting Chunyu see it.

It was noon that day.

Zhu Cuiwei originally did not want to eat, but her mother heard that she had not had a good appetite these past two days, so she personally went to the palace to visit her.

Zhu Cuiwei still ate a meal.

The sun was setting on this day.

While reviewing memorials, she received a letter from the Northern Dynasty detailing the cause of death of Ning Nan, the deputy envoy of the Liang Dynasty's mission to the Northern Dynasty.