Origin Paradise!

"Boss, the Dragon Blood Bow, Dragon Blood Blade, and Dragon Blood Sword are three Dragon Blood weapons in total, all of which are top-tier rare items."

Wuhe relayed the story of the Soul Daoist, and then directly stated the investigation results obtained from the Daming Sect: "The Soul Daoist slew the dragon in Jianjiang, Yizhou. The Dragon Blood Blade is on the body of the Prince of Anbei. It used to be the old prince's personal sword. The bow was also given to Guo Ju by the old prince. As for the sword, it was stolen from the Prince's mansion 60 years ago by a notorious thief in the martial arts world. If we want to investigate, it may take some time."

Jiang He nodded, "Forget about the sword."

The situation in Daming Prefecture is not clear at present, but with the outbreak of the conflict last night, the Prince of Anbei has already gained a lot. Both sides are allies with the same goal in ensuring that Daming Prefecture does not fall. The more concentrated the Prince of Anbei's power is, the more stable the rear will be, and the greater the effective force of Yizhou in resisting the Northern Barbarians will be, at least it will not collapse at the first touch.

At noon, a detachment of royal guards from the front lines returned to Daming Prefecture after a night's journey to convey the prince's military orders to the generals.

First, the guards in the backyard of the Prince's mansion, who are actually the secret spies of the Prince's mansion, will be under the command of the Princess from this day forward.

Second, thoroughly investigate the Jianghu assassin who attempted to assassinate General Chen, and offer a reward of one thousand taels of gold. Upon receiving any information, report to the Prince's Palace immediately, and the Prince of Anbei will make the final decision.

Third, Mrs. Chen has caught a cold and should not leave the hospital in the near future.

Fourth, six days later, the Anbei Governor's Office will send troops to wipe out the bandit Black Mountain Tiger. This matter will be handled by the Pingluanbo (Pacifying the Rebellion Earl) and the Chengbei Commandery, which can mobilize all the Chengbei troops, totaling 1,500 men.

The guards who delivered the military order arrived at the residence, presenting a gold-patterned sword, which was the token of the Prince of Anbei. Compared to semi-public military orders, this kind of private token from a superior carries greater authority.

"Your Highness's order: Cao Jin, the deputy commander of the Northern Military Command, has sided with the Yan family. He will be accompanying the bandits as a deputy general this time. I hope Your Highness will execute him and keep it a secret. If anyone is overlooked, you can use this blade to protect yourself."

The guard handed over the gold-patterned sword. This type of sword was standard issue for the Anbei Army. The inside was engraved with complex patterns using a special process. The patterns were slightly different from one another. The gold-patterned swords of the generals could be used to represent their status.

Jiang He accepted the sword, which meant he had received authorization. Even if the private killing of the commander was made public, the Prince of Anbei would take the blame.

"My lord, please wait. The prince has another gift to give you."

The guard rummaged through his bag and pulled out a palm-sized wooden box. When the lid was opened, an enticing fruity aroma filled the entire South Study. It was the Southern Persimmon, a natural treasure from the Jianchi Mountains.

The guards dared not look at it for long and handed over the wooden box with both hands, for this thing would be of great benefit to one's martial arts realm.

"The prince said it was a thank-you gift appropriate for someone of his age."

"Understood." Jiang He accepted the persimmon. This thing could greatly improve one's comprehension within three minutes, making it a rare and valuable aid to cultivation.

After the guards took their leave, Jiang He wrote a transfer order and handed it to Grey Falcon, who then forwarded it to Prefect Zhu, who was in charge of dispatching troops at the time. The Northern Military Command had about three hundred embroidered-robed envoys with martial arts skills, and commanded 1,500 soldiers, which was theoretically enough to deal with the bandits.

Daming Prefecture is now in a state of war preparedness. Without the permission of the Prince of Anbei, he has no right to mobilize the Beihun City headquarters to withdraw from the front line. The same applies to the other generals and vice-generals. The Anbei Governor's Office is doing its best to avoid the huge oversight caused by the defense nodes being left undefended.

Jiang He took out three items from his pouch.

The first one was a thin young man who was in a daze and confused. He had been locked in a small dark room and was in a semi-mental state. Whenever he heard the words "Young Master", he would immediately become extremely crazy.

The other two items are Flame Ant Jade and Camel Hump Bag. The former can be used to gnaw on trees and secrete a solution with strong burning properties, while the latter is a special storage item that can hold liquid the size of ten standard swimming pools.

Jiang He said to Wu He, "Give the Flame Ant Jade and the Camel Hump Bag to your Flying Bird Legion, and fill them up as much as possible."

"Understood." Wuhe nodded. As a dedicated intelligence agent, he was essentially a half-assistant and was qualified to take on some of the work.

Jiang He patted the head of the little white snake around her neck, and Zhuang Ya immediately fell to the ground and transformed into human form.

"I also have a task for you. It's not difficult, but the time and place must be precise. We can communicate and retreat at any time through the contract, so you don't need to feel too much pressure."

Jiang He gave a few brief instructions. He didn't plan to raise parasites, but this would be Zhuang Ya's first time acting alone and taking full charge of a certain aspect. He was a little worried about her ability to execute the plan.

Zhuang Ya tilted her head, her little face showing a very serious expression.

"clear?"

"I hope so."

Jiang He got up and dismantled some of the surrounding tables and chairs, easily creating an airtight coffin. Before the thin young man lay down inside, he stuffed fifty black gems into his mouth and used the power of the Little Withered Sword Finger to set the detonation time.

Wuhe's eyelids twitched as he watched.

Zhuang Ya felt a chill run down her spine; she instinctively sensed a tremendous threat.

Jiang He wrote two more letters, intending to send them to Master Yanyu and Young Master Yan respectively.

If the eldest son of the Yan family were to die while he was away suppressing bandits, the Yan family would not be able to openly blame him.

Jiang He hadn't forgotten his previous act of beating the drum to appeal for justice, and he had to return the favor. After all, he wasn't a player to be bullied. Of course, this matter was generally in line with the purpose of protecting Daming Prefecture.

"Next comes cultivation."

Jiang He swallowed the persimmon, and her mind immediately cleared.

The hidden and overt forces surged in the palm, and after alternating between the two, they gradually intertwined, eventually forming a spiral-like force.

Three minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and the Grandmaster's level of Transformation Force remained unattainable.

"The spiral force seems to have a significant effect on armor penetration."

Jiang He gently touched the tabletop, leaving a clear spiral palm print a moment later.

Chapter 135 Old Man Yue

November, the sixth year of Xuanhe.

Five days have passed since the personal guards delivered the military order.

In the bedroom of the Earl's mansion, Jiang He finished his daily cultivation practice. At this moment, he only had nine Bloodstones left, but they had allowed him to open the sixth meridian.

[Hint: Your energy level +300]

[Energy Value: 2201]

[Hint: Rare Skill Quantity Trait - Wither, deals 9% → 18% additional Wither damage]

Jiang He stood up and exhaled a breath of turbid air. The Aphid Blood Stone was accumulated by the Aphid Emperor after sleeping for thousands of years. It had the great use of directly increasing lifespan. Once it was exhausted, similar resources would be difficult to replenish in a short time. However, he had no regrets about using it to strengthen his combat power.

After a quick wash, Jiang He changed into a light shirt and a scarlet robe. Just as she was about to go out to the Commander's Mansion to check on the mobilization situation, an embroidered messenger hurriedly arrived at her door.

"My lord, this morning the old madman went berserk on Yonglu Street and injured more than a dozen martial arts practitioners," the embroidered-robed messenger reported.

"Let's go take a look," Jiang He said.

The two left the Earl's Mansion one after the other, riding their horses to Yonglu Street. This street was mostly inhabited by powerful and wealthy families, except for the Yan family. As the family of the Grand Secretary, the Yan family occupied two streets and was known for being very discreet.

At this moment, Yonglu Street was crowded with martial arts practitioners. The old madman, who looked like a beggar, sat blankly in the center of the street, surrounded by more than a dozen people lying around him. Despite their incessant wailing, no one dared to approach him. The old madman was a genuine grandmaster-level expert, and few in the martial arts world could match him.

Yonglu Street is located in the north of the city. Upon seeing the people from the Commander's Mansion, the martial arts practitioners felt more confident.

"That old madman's punches are really powerful; he's practically trying to kill us."

"He's been insane for twenty years. Why are you outsiders messing with him? Even though he's no longer on the list, he was once the tenth in the world."

"He's the one who deliberately caused trouble for us."

"kill!"

Sensing malice, the old madman immediately turned his head, his blood-red eyes darting about with predatory intent, and the murmurs instantly subsided.

Jiang He reined in his horse. At the entrance of the mansion next door, an old man wearing a white turban nodded slightly, exuding an air of authority.

"Young Master."

Jiang He raised an eyebrow. There weren't many people in the Great Qian Dynasty who were enfeoffed as Earls or above, especially those at the Marquis level. Because of the existence of the four Grand Commanders, the total number was pitifully small. Even Young Master Yan, who was in the opposing camp, had to address them according to the rules. At most, he could make a sarcastic remark, but the other party seemed to take it for granted.

The embroidered-robed messenger leaned closer and whispered, “My lord, this is the Minister of War, former Second Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and Grand Secretary Yue. He has always advocated the Northern Expedition. Three years ago, his relative passed away, and according to custom, he returned to his hometown to observe three years of mourning.”

Jiang He understood that the mourning period for a deceased parent was a ritual system under the background of filial piety. In the court, it sometimes evolved into a means. Loyalty and filial piety were inseparable. It was only natural for important officials to return to their hometowns to mourn their deceased parents. However, being away from the center of power for three years would result in a heavy loss, and it would be difficult for them to make a comeback.

In such cases, the emperor could use the method of "seizing the opportunity to mourn," prioritizing the greater good over personal filial piety, thereby keeping important officials in the court and gaining the respect of the people.

However, as everyone knows, His Majesty is currently engaged in metaphysical discussions and the pursuit of immortality, and has been living in the deep palace for a long time. Such behavior requires a stable environment. The pro-war faction that calls for a northern expedition has always been unpopular. The main reason why the Grand Secretary has been able to sit firmly in the high position for thirty years is not because he is unparalleled in political maneuvering, but because he closely follows the Emperor's will.

"What does Senior Yue intend to do?" Jiang He said calmly, "I may not be a match for this old madman."

Without sufficient benefits, he had no interest in fighting a Grandmaster. The small amount of blood poison progress he provided was not cost-effective. With that kind of strength, he could have killed a dozen or so mid-level martial artists.

"Let's go inside and talk in detail," said Old Man Yue, stepping aside and extending his hand.

Jiang He dismounted and walked alongside the other person, while the embroidered-robed messenger waited at the door with the horse in hand.

"This old martial artist outside the door was once a hero in the martial arts world when he was young. He ranked tenth in the world at the age of twenty-three and was quite the ladies' man. However, he went mad on the mountain road during the Jianchi Mountain Sword Tournament and ended up in this state today. Such is the rise and fall of life."

The two arrived at a small pavilion, where a middle-aged man dressed in plain clothes, with a snake-head sword hanging at his waist, was listening quietly as a maid played the zither. Her snow-white fingertips glided across the strings, and two pieces were played in succession. The zither music was sometimes soothing and low like a murmur, and sometimes high and clear like metal and stone, like a fresh rain in an empty mountain.

Upon seeing the two approach, the middle-aged man began to brew tea. The teacup, decorated with lotus flowers, revealed a layer of emerald green at the bottom upon closer inspection. The tea leaves also contained some tiny, sparkling particles, emitting a rich, sweet aroma. Accompanied by the sound of the zither, the tea appeared exceptionally elegant.

Old Man Yue sat down casually and said, "Today's matter is rather uninteresting. I just planned to see you before returning to the capital. Those dozen or so martial artists on the ground outside originally intended to offer themselves as my bodyguards, but they accidentally provoked the ghosts in my mansion. The old madman is extremely sensitive to ghosts, which is why he attacked them. The mountain guardians of Jianchi Mountain will be here to calm things down later."

Jiang He didn't care at all whether the other person's words were true or false.

The old man pointed at the middle-aged man and said, “He was the second-place scholar in the first year of Xuanhe. He was about to go to the capital to serve as the Prefect of the Capital. However, rebellions broke out in the south, and it was late autumn. Refugees were flocking north to the Three Auxiliary Regions. If the chaos could not be quelled in a short time, the time between taking office and losing one’s head would be only half a month. That’s why I took the initiative to come to your door today, asking for a way to save my life.”

The middle-aged man stood up and bowed deeply.

"I humbly request your guidance, Your Excellency."

Old Man Yue smiled faintly: "I'm old now, you might as well ask the young people."

The middle-aged man showed no resentment upon hearing this, adjusted his position, and bowed deeply once more.

Jiang He looked at the snake-headed sword at the other party's waist and said, "If it's useful, you'll have to give up your swordsmanship skills."

"It's impossible."

The middle-aged man nodded without hesitation. He was still at the peak of the intermediate-level martial arts and had been unable to break through the cultivation barrier. So he had shifted his energy to his official career. His martial arts skills had gradually become a means of self-defense, and he no longer had any intention of being stingy with them.

“My lord, a million refugees have gathered in Fufeng County, near the capital. The previous magistrate of the capital has been dismissed and beheaded. The Ministry of Revenue has only allocated 800,000 taels of silver, of which 80% has been embezzled. Now, local merchants are driving up grain prices, with a pound of coarse grain costing as much as 140 wen. The 160,000 taels of silver is just a drop in the bucket. The transfer order has been issued, and I have no choice but to go, but I fear this journey will be extremely dangerous.”

Old Man Yue simply sipped his tea; such things were nothing new to him throughout his long life.

Jiang He pondered, doubting the other party's claim of "having no choice but to go." According to the usual practice of the Great Qian Dynasty, the next step for the Prefect of the Capital would be the Vice Minister of the Six Ministries, a high-ranking official of the third rank in the central government. If he suddenly shouted at a court assembly in the palace, he could startle even the emperor. He was very close to the true center of power.

In other words, he's an ambitious guy.

"How much silver can you contribute yourself?"

The middle-aged man chuckled, “My lord, you are unaware of my plight. I live a simple life with no savings. If I were wealthy enough to comfort a million refugees, I wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.”

Chapter 136 Conspiracy

The small pavilion at Yue Mansion.

"Then let's continue to raise grain prices."

Jiang He said, "Raise the price of grain by 180 coins, and use up most of the grain funds allocated by the imperial court at once. This matter must be carried out with great fanfare."

Old Man Yue put down his teacup and remained silent.

"Continue to raise grain prices?"

The middle-aged man seemed to be deep in thought. He was not stupid, and at this moment he was carefully trying to understand the profound meaning behind it.

"Grain prices have risen to unprecedented levels, merchants are chasing profits, and grain traders across the country have been stockpiling goods in the autumn; now is the time when warehouses are overflowing." Thinking of this, the middle-aged man couldn't help but ask with doubt, "Sir, are you so certain that those grain traders will rush here in droves?"

“Not a small number.” Jiang He couldn’t give an absolute answer, but it was a fact that the government was buying grain at high prices. The news spread like wildfire, and as fellow merchants made a fortune, many more grain merchants naturally couldn’t stand it. Even if they knew there were problems, many grain merchants would still actively invest, just like the stock market rumors he heard in modern times.

The middle-aged man turned his head, and the old man lowered his eyes in thought. After a moment, he slowly nodded.

"In my opinion, it is generally reasonable."

The middle-aged man got up and paced back and forth, muttering to himself.

“Grain merchants have gathered here, and there is enough grain, but how can I get the grain out of their hands? Some of these merchants are the money bags of important figures in the court, and I am no match for them.”

Old Man Yue smiled and dismissed it. This was a subtle jab at him, but unfortunately, he was currently focused on how to bring down Chief Minister Yan and didn't want to waste his energy on other troubles.

"When supply exceeds demand, grain prices will drop—this is a basic law. However, fate and human intervention can change things. Grain merchants, for their own benefit, might form an alliance to maintain grain prices. This is where you need to intervene secretly. If even one grain merchant breaks their promise, the news will spread, and the others will be caught in a dilemma. As they sell, prices will only go lower. Whoever escapes this trap first will suffer less loss, or even make a profit. With grain prices normal or even low, the chaos caused by displaced people will have room to ease."

After Jiang He finished speaking, he gave the other party time to consider. This method was nothing more than a run on the market, but it targeted the market. Once the run on the market occurred, without strong external interference, the outcome was basically a foregone conclusion. Like facing a wild beast, grain merchants only needed to run faster than their companions.

The middle-aged man frowned in deep thought. He felt that the phrase "supply exceeds demand" was profound and concise.

"My lord, what if they are united and as close as brothers..."

"Then you might as well die," Jiang He said coldly.

Old Man Yue shook his head and chuckled. If he couldn't even distinguish a single enemy, then he shouldn't be the Prefect of the Capital. Otherwise, he would be beheaded sooner or later.

The middle-aged man realized he had spoken out of turn, but he sat down again as if nothing had happened. So what if he was subtly mocked? What he needed most right now was a solution, not saving face. He was willing to ask questions thoroughly, because one wrong step could lead to total defeat, and it concerned his life and career.

"My lord, what if the grain merchants want to leave?"

"The journey was long and the transportation was inconvenient. By the time they returned, they had missed the winter harvest and were too late."

"What if the court officials insist on letting them go?"

"Displaced people gather, bandits roam freely, and under the guise of doing what's best for them, if you forbid it, the people's will will boil over for you."

"If the grain merchants are determined to maintain grain prices and delay the process, the refugees are starving and cannot wait a moment longer."