The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 315 - 203: Yunyang Prefecture in the Whirlpool

Chapter 315: Chapter 203: Yunyang Prefecture in the Whirlpool

This old fox, indeed had an issue.

Upon hearing about the new gunpowder, Li Yan became alert at once.

Seeing his demeanor, Han Kun slightly shook his head:

"It seems there are things that Little Brother Li doesn’t understand yet."

Speaking, he sipped his tea and a trace of mockery flashed across his lips, "The news of the new gunpowder has actually been leaked a long time ago."

"Right before the new year, someone from the Ministry of Industry was bewitched, the recipes for the Divine Fire Guns and new gunpowder were all leaked."

"In the Capital, Deputy Magistrate Situ Bo was executed on the spot by the Captain Bureau, and Commander Wei Yuan knelt outside the palace walls for a whole night amidst the snowstorm."

"Although the court has tried its hardest to conceal this incident, and the court officials dare not speak much about it, how could there be a wall that doesn’t let the wind through?"

Honestly, Li Yan was also somewhat shocked after hearing all this.

Although he had suspected that such a thing couldn’t be concealed for long, given the process involved too many hands, and someone with intentions could always uncover flaws.

He just didn’t expect it to be leaked so quickly.

It hadn’t even made a public display of power, yet it had already been targeted.

"Who did this?" Li Yan couldn’t help but inquire.

Han Kun shook his head, "The court placed the blame on the demon of the Maitreya Sect, but the real mastermind is still unknown."

Speaking, he gently skimmed the froth off his tea, "In my opinion, there are too many parties in the Divine State who would do this, local gentry, large chambers of commerce, the royal family, or even the Taixuan Orthodox Sect."

"Why?" Lv San couldn’t help but ask.

"Balance!"

"The court, the Mystical Sect, the noble families, the pugilistic world... many times, it seems they have nothing to do with each other, but in fact, their connections are quite deep."

"Just like our Cao Gang, we appear to just be a gang from the pugilistic world, but we carry the heavy responsibility of Cao Yun. Once we become disorderly, the grain prices in the North would rise!"

"Some officials would then be unable to preserve their official positions."

"Our connections extend to various small and large Chambers of Commerce, which themselves are connected with different factions within the government, their orders can put us in a situation we can’t extricate ourselves from."

"Other factions, even the Mystical Sect is the same."

"The powers across the Divine State mingle and intertwine, forming a balance over many years."

"It’s just our Emperor who is too domineering."

"He wants to move against the Proper Xuan Sect because the Mystical Sect tightly controls Grotto Heaven and has many followers, posing a hidden threat..."

"He wants to move against the local gentry because they hold a massive amount of unreported land, causing the national treasury to be empty for years..."

"He wishes to act against the court officials because these officials protect the local gentry and those big Chambers of Commerce..."

"He even wants to make a move against the pugilistic world because it’s out of control..."

Li Yan said calmly, "These are all attempts by the court to rectify longstanding issues. Any slightly capable Emperor would try to take such measures."

"Yes, but few succeed."

Han Kun smiled subtly, shaking his head, "The balance formed over many years links everything together, so even our Emperor can only move forward with caution."

"He opened maritime trade and supported merchants and traders to suppress the gentry. These past years, he also promoted the Buddhist paths to suppress the Taixuan Orthodox Sect."

"In short, he wants to have total control over the Divine State and hopes to strengthen the military to contend with the Four Seas, leaving his name in history."

"However, now with these new weapons, he can intimidate the Mystical Sect and the pugilistic world, and even dare to directly eliminate forces within the court."

"Given this situation, who do you think is the real mastermind?"

Li Yan, mute, contemplated for a moment and shook his head slightly.

If this were truly the case, it would be hard to say.

To maintain power, some people have more courage than the heavens.

Thinking so, Li Yan slowly drank his tea, "We commoners do not understand the complications of the court."

"You’re also interested in this matter?"

Han Kun sighed and shook his head, "We’re not rebelling, just hoping for peace to make a living."

"Even this weapon, I wish it had never appeared. A lifetime of practicing martial arts could end by being shot by a rookie. Do you think I would be happy about that?"

"But there’s no helping it, that’s how the pugilistic world is."

"The thing has appeared, if you don’t have it and others do, you’re unlucky, never knowing when your head might get blown off."

"Let me tell you honestly, by the time of ’Dragon Raising Its Head’ in February, someone was already secretly selling the gunpowder formula and firearm schematics."

"By the time the Captain Bureau got there, the person had fled."

"Who knows which factions in the pugilistic world might have already bought it."

"It wasn’t supposed to involve me, but after the Captain Bureau returned to Yunyang Prefecture, all those associated with Hu Yewai were arrested, causing great unrest."

"The city has seen many new faces recently, and I have a premonition that something big is about to happen, so some matters have to be made clear!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan immediately understood.

Han Kun was just an elder in the Cao Gang, making clear these matters and specifically arranging them could perhaps allow him to tactically maneuver in secret.

The conversation had reached this point, and it was not sensible for Li Yan to continue playing dumb. He glanced at Han Kun and whispered quietly, "Heavenly Saint Sect!"

"It really was them!"

Han Kun suddenly stood up, grinding his teeth, "To be honest, people from the Heavenly Saint Sect are secretly contacting several elders of our gang."

"The Pai Sect side is unusually active, and they’re suddenly causing us trouble for no reason, it might also be related to the Heavenly Saint Sect."

"These guys, are probably planning to cause trouble again!"

"Brother Li’s information is crucial for me, it might even save many lives in the Cao Gang, the situation is urgent, I must speak with the gang leader immediately."

Li Yan nodded, "Elder, please go ahead, don’t worry about us."

The Heavenly Saint Sect was different from the Maitreya Sect; initially, they gathered mountain people merely to resist the government’s expulsion.

People in the pugilistic world generally view them favorably, even helping to hide them, so it’s not surprising they would have contacts with the Cao Gang.