Martial Arts: Start by Obtaining the Wild World

Chapter 174 0173: The situation is getting worse!
Ma Yue looked at the contents on the parchment with confusion, which were all the things he had to do in the agreement.

The promise Cheng Zongyang made was not only that he would become a warrior, but also that his family would have a good life, etc. They were all written on it.

Although Ma Yue didn't understand why Cheng Zongyang wanted to make such a ridiculous agreement, he still signed his name and put his fingerprints on it.

There is no other reason. Since Cheng Zongyang feels that this agreement can restrain the other party and provide security, he will be satisfied.

He also needs a stable living environment to make his family live better. He also wants to become a warrior.

So, just complete the task without any second thoughts.

Ma Yue signed his name so quickly, neatly, and willingly that Cheng Zongyang looked up to him and thought he was a good person.

At least the other party agreed sincerely and not with ulterior motives.

Maybe I can train him as my subordinate in the future.

After the signing was completed, Cheng Zongyang said to Ma Yue:

"We'll leave tomorrow. You don't need to bring these things back. I'll prepare them for you. Go to the warehouse in the south of the city to get them, and someone will arrange it for you. Your family will also make arrangements for you. Don't worry."

"Yes, thank you, sir. But where is this warehouse in the south of the city?" Ma Yue asked with a bow.

"Nantang 19th Lane No. 73."

Only after Ma Yue left did Cheng Zongyang let Xu Dong in.

However, Xu Dong’s face looked a little pale when he came in.

Just now, he was outside in the yard, and suddenly he felt dizzy and retched, thinking that something was wrong. But the feeling came and went quickly.

He came in with a sad heart only after Ma Yue left.

Seeing that Xu Dong's expression was a little different from before he went out, Cheng Zongyang guessed what happened to the magnet just now.

But he didn't explain much, just said:
"You used to be a member of the escort agency. You seem to be quite old. Why didn't you get promoted?"

Xu Dong said with a somewhat embarrassed look:
"Qualifications are also related to money. I started learning martial arts relatively late. Although escorting a caravan can earn a lot of money, I am just an ordinary escort. I can only get a dozen taels of silver for each trip.

Only warriors can get more. I earn money to support my family, and I put the rest into my training, but the results are minimal, and I am only halfway to the top now. "

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly. This was similar to what Li Lu did back then.

He smiled and said, "Do you know about Lord Li's past?"

Lord Li? Li Lu?

Xu Dong was confused, not knowing what Cheng Zongyang meant, and shook his head slightly: "I don't know."

Cheng Zongyang did not hide anything and said, "He was once a county clerk. Like you, he was just an ordinary person who had only half a step into the eighth grade. He had always been unable to break through the blood barrier and could not make any progress. But now he has reached the eighth grade. It has been less than a year. Strictly speaking, he has reached the eighth grade in just six or seven months."

At this moment, Xu Dong suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked at Cheng Zongyang in disbelief.

"Sir, this, this is impossible? Two grades in half a year?"

It took Thaksin half a year to enter the rank, but in more than half a year he not only entered the rank but also reached the eighth rank. Is this possible?

Cheng Zongyang asked with a smile: "Do you want to be him?"

He knew very well what a temptation these words would be to anyone who wanted to become a warrior.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly, Xu Dong knelt down in front of Cheng Zongyang and said excitedly:

"Yes! I am willing! Sir, please tell me what I can do. I will do my best!"

Cheng Zongyang was stunned.

Wow, your reaction speed is amazing! But aren't you too excited?

"Get up." Cheng Zongyang said expressionlessly.

Xu Dong glanced at Cheng Zongyang quietly, and his heart skipped a beat. He thought his attitude was a bit too much, so he quickly stood up and said nervously:
"My Lord, I am a little anxious, so..."

"Okay." Cheng Zongyang sat back in his seat, looked at Xu Dong and said, "If you can help me with this, I can help you get into the rank."

Without giving Xu Dong a chance to talk too much, he continued:

"You go to the north to learn about the war situation on the front line. I will give you a flying bird for communication, so you can report from time to time. When you get the news I need, you can come back."

"Of course, I won't let you go empty-handed."

"You can ride a horse, and you will be given a horse. At the same time, there will be ..."

Cheng Zongyang took out the thing he gave to Ma Yue and demonstrated it again.

After feeling the effect of the geomagnetic stone, Xu Dong suddenly understood where the reaction he had experienced outside came from.

That feeling frightened him. But if he had something like this to protect himself, he would feel more at ease when he went out to do things.

In addition, Cheng Zongyang also gave him 100 taels of silver for expenses, no more. Although it might be used to inquire about information, not all of it was needed.

Finally, they signed a responsibility agreement. He never tested the hearts of outsiders.

Xu Dong also signed and pressed his fingerprints decisively.

It went very smoothly. This also made Cheng Zongyang feel that this guy could be used for his own purposes.

The so-called escort agency is the postal service and logistics in the previous life.

Xu Dong has experience. It would be a good idea to train him and then let him be in charge of the escort agency.

After solving these two problems, Cheng Zongyang felt relieved.

It was vital for him to have someone at the front line who could deliver messages back at any time.

If the number of fairy birds was not limited, he would have wanted to set up an informant in each county. But in the future, when the number of fairy birds increased, it would be inevitable to use them to build an intelligence network.

The elf bird is extremely fast, and ordinary people and birds have no chance of catching it.

In the evening, after dinner.

Cheng Zongyang asked housekeeper Zhang to call Zhao Laoqi and ask him to arrange more food for Ma Yue and Xu Dong's family.

As for where to live, we gave them a larger empty room so that they don't have to be crowded together.

The next day, Xu Dong rode a horse, took the elf bird and a feather of the elf bird, carried a bag and a long sword, and headed north.

Ma Yue was carrying a bag and pulling a horse-drawn cart. On the cart were several bundles of firewood used for concealment. Under the firewood lay a stone tablet and a long knife. He was dressed in ordinary clothes, just like an ordinary person.

After leaving the city, he got on a cart and drove the carriage southward at a moderate pace.

On the city wall, Cheng Zongyang looked at Ma Yue who was going away with a calm expression.

"What needs to be arranged has been arranged. Just keep waiting."

Cheng Zongyang didn't look at it any more and left.

When Cheng Zongyang tried every means to find out the situation at the front line, he was in Yangzhou Prefecture, the capital.

Emperor Liang was looking gloomily at the corpse covered with white cloth being carried up in the center of the court hall, while listening to Su Ze, who was dressed in mourning clothes, reporting the situation beside the corpse.

"...Knowing that the country was in a critical situation, he finally took the risk of swallowing the demon pill and trying to break through. After swallowing it, he wanted to suppress his innate true qi at its peak with all his strength, and wanted to break through his own shackles with the power of the demon pill. Originally, the progress was good, and he could hone himself little by little with the innate true qi.

But the power of the demon pill was too strange. It actually eroded the innate true qi silently, causing the power of the demon pill to dominate and erode him, and there were signs of him being transformed into a demon.

He told me that there was a remnant soul of the demon bird in the demon pill. In the end, he had to kill his own vitality and lock the power of the demon pill back into his body to prevent his body from being taken over by the demon bird and bringing danger to Daliang! "

Su Ze calmly recounted the various circumstances surrounding his father's death.

He watched the whole process, and this was also his father's way of letting him know the results of his exploration and attempts.

But in the end, when his father's eyes turned into the pupils of a demon bird and made a crying sound, he knew that the refining had failed, so he chose to commit suicide to preserve the situation.

Emperor Liang and all the ministers looked quietly at the person covered with white cloth on the stretcher.

The current situation is to use the monster to gain more power, but no one would have thought that the strongest person in Daliang would die as a result!

Because of this monster, Daliang lost four prefectures! This undoubtedly made the already critical situation even worse!
Emperor Liang looked at Su Ze and asked, "Does Elder Su have anything else to say?"

Su Ze bowed and said, "Your Majesty, my father said that there is a great chance of breaking through the realm by using the demon pill. But it takes time to gradually eliminate the residual soul of the demon beast in the demon pill, so that you can refine and absorb the power of the demon pill to break through. Therefore, you must not be greedy and rush. He was anxious about the situation on the front line, but the power of the residual soul of the demon pill backfired!"

"You mean, it takes time?" Emperor Liang frowned.

Su Ze nodded, bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

But at this time, an old man came out and said quickly:
"No, Your Majesty! Now that Daliang has lost four prefectures, any more time will only give the Thirteen Royal Clans and the State of Jin more time!
According to intelligence, their food and fodder reinforcements have been quickly delivered to the front line, and more personnel have been sent to the border where Beiding, Luoyang, and Jiyun meet!
Your Majesty, if we delay any longer, the consequences will be even more serious! For now, the best strategy is to use this monster's possession to get back the lost place!"

"Your Majesty, I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"..."

All of a sudden, officials in the court agreed with the old man's words.

The loss of the four prefectures caused heavy losses to eight of the aristocratic families! This also led to the crisis of being annexed by other aristocratic families.

If they delay any further, the result will definitely not be what they want to see!
Emperor Liang did not speak. He sat on the dragon throne with his eyes closed, thinking.

As the general manager of the Rotation Department and the Six Paths Department, Su Ze did not speak either.

His father's death gave him some more thoughts.

Although the ministers' obstruction was reasonable, their purpose was definitely not just to prevent the delay from putting Daliang in greater danger.

He has explained what he needs to say. Whether the death of the old man of the Su family is worth it depends on what Emperor Liang thinks.

Emperor Liang was extremely conflicted at this time!

In order to buy time, Daliang had to give up the four prefectures and shrink its scattered forces, so that Daliang could use the natural barrier of Tianduan Mountain to better deal with the strong offensive tide of the Thirteen Royal Families and Jin State.

This proved to be the case.

The Thirteen Royal Clans were successfully blocked out, and the State of Jin and the Thirteen Royal Clans came into contact, and were also striving for a favorable attacking position.

But their attacks were successfully blocked by Daliang.

But now Su Wuwei died due to a breakthrough in refining the demon pill, and his attempt failed. The answer given is still that it takes time.

This means that before Daliang truly obtains the power of the demon pill, it can only continue to abandon the four prefectures and maintain the current situation to block the thirteen royal families and the State of Jin.

As for when to take it back, it all depends on whether the demon pill has been refined and whether the person who refines it can really break through to a new realm!

But it’s a gamble!
Still gambling as before!
If we lose the bet, the four prefectures might be lost completely!

If they win, it will also depend on the effect of the breakthrough. Can they withstand the siege of so many innate perfect strongmen?

If the demon pills and the corpses of the demon beasts were handed over, would the Thirteen Royal Clans return them? Are they really willing to return this vast land and resources?

Similarly, if someone from the Thirteen Royal Clans achieves a breakthrough in the future by obtaining the demon pill, and then the Thirteen Royal Clans are integrated, how should Daliang cope with it?
Everyone in the court was waiting for Emperor Liang to express his opinion.

"Lord Su, who's next?"

Finally, Emperor Liang slowly opened his eyes and looked at Su Ze.

At this point, the ministers who had been opposing the idea suddenly became angry.

This means we still have to gamble!
"Your Majesty! Daliang cannot lose again! We can't afford to lose!!"

"All right!"

Without waiting for anyone else to speak, Emperor Liang interrupted in an irrefutable tone, "It has come to this point. Even if we give it up, the situation in the four prefectures cannot be reversed. Elder Su's death cannot be in vain!"

As he said this, he looked at Su Ze who was smiling again and said again:
"Who will try next?"

"Your Majesty, Daliang is in danger, and the Su family has no choice but to help. The second person is Su Wunian of the Su family! He is also my second uncle! He has also been at the peak of the Xiantian peak for many years, and is ready to follow your Majesty's command!"

Su Ze bowed, his tone serious!
Emperor Liang looked at Su Ze deeply.

The Su family has always been the core of Daliang, and the safety of Daliang also affects the safety of the Su family.

Therefore, the only family he could trust and feel at ease with was the Su family.

"Yes!" Emperor Liang waved his hand and made the decision.

Therefore, Emperor Liang forcefully suppressed the voices of opposition and continued to let the Su family refine the demon pill!

In the capital, in a basement under the backyard of the Su Mansion.

After Su Ze came back, he and his second uncle Su Wunian went to the place where the monster corpses and monster pills were stored.

The demon pill had been taken out of Su Wuwei's body. It was the size of a little finger, red and oval in shape, and emitted an overwhelming heat.

"Uncle, according to what my father said, don't rush for quick success even if it's a little slower! Don't worry about the situation outside. Your goal is to refine it. As long as you succeed, everything else will be fine!"

Su Wunian patted his nephew's shoulder and said with a smile:
"Don't worry. But if I fail, it will prove that refining the demon pill is not feasible. Then you will hand over the demon pill and the demon beast to His Majesty, and His Majesty will understand. Alas, it is a pity that there are very few records of demon beasts in various countries, otherwise it will be related to the use of demon pills."

Su Ze was silent for a moment before nodding.

Then, Su Wunian walked into the secret room, and the secret room slowly closed.

Next time, either the person comes out, or he is carried out!
Su Ze stared at the door of the secret room for a while, then left expressionlessly.

Once on the ground, he mobilized the Su family guards to thoroughly defend the entire Su family to prevent anyone from taking risks and causing damage.

At the same time, Daliang increased its troops on the border and launched a long-term defense!

The Thirteen Royal Families and the State of Jin also heard the news, and realized that a strong attack was no longer possible under the current situation, so they stopped attacking fiercely and started to deal with the captured territory.

It seems that they have decided not to retreat and are preparing to divide the land among the four prefectures, thus making preparations for a long-term war!
Time flies and it is already mid-month.

The east gate of Yufeng County.

Cheng Zongyang was also quite happy when he saw Li Lu, who looked dusty and a little tired.

This time, Li Lu was gone for more than a month. If he hadn't sent someone back to deliver the message, he would have thought that Li Lu was dead.

But the time was long and a lot of supplies were brought back.

There were so many carts that one could hardly see the end of them, which showed that Li Lu had traveled to so many places and collected so much supplies.

(End of this chapter)