The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 571 - 325 Infiltrating Jiangxia

Chapter 571: Chapter 325 Infiltrating Jiangxia

The so-called "Wan Yan," is a mythical beast unique to Yun Meng Da Ze, according to legend.

Previously, at the Jianghan Academy in Wuchang, Mr. Lin from Wenjin Academy helped them translate the "Mountain and Sea Spiritual Response Scripture," and did not ask for any payment, but only made a request for their help in finding this beast.

Mr. Lin’s second son was innately intellectually disabled, and it was rumored that the flesh and blood of this beast could treat him, hence he traveled extensively throughout Hubei, looking for clues.

Unfortunately, he found nothing.

Mr. Lin was extraordinarily knowledgeable and amiable, and both Lv San and Li Yan deeply respected him, so they agreed to his request.

Mr. Lin had handed over all the relevant materials to them.

In Sima Xiangru’s "Zixu Fu," it was mentioned, "Below them are the White Tiger, Xuan Leopard, Wan Yan, and Hu An."

Guo Pu had annotated, "Wan Yan, a large beast similar to a palm civet, one hundred zhang long."

According to Mr. Lin’s conjecture, this ancient exotic beast was somewhat like a marten, not small in size, and with an extremely long body.

Li Yan could hardly imagine that such an animal could exist in this world.

Originally, he planned to go out with Lv San to ask spirit monsters and wild beasts in various mountains, but since they had met the Tuo Master, they asked for help in the search.

"In what place?"

Upon hearing the news, Li Yan hastily inquired.

However, Lv San did not rush to respond, shook his head, and whispered low, "It’s not good to speak of it here, let’s talk when we return."

Upon hearing this, Li Yan instantly understood and asked no further.

The two of them whispered amongst each other, and the nearby senior military officers did not pay attention, but ordered, "Return to Parrot Island Pier," while exchanging commands with each other.

The Tuo Master’s intelligence was very timely.

Earlier, due to rash advancements, the court army suffered heavy losses.

Later, Yunyang Governor Yuan Qun came out to take charge, and with the court sending a Marshal who was skilled in strategy, the situation was immediately stabilized.

Now, the court army had entered the Jing Chu Mountains and adopted a strategy of steady advancement, eradicating vagabond strongholds one by one and simultaneously implementing an appeasement policy, distributing farmland and farming tools, and building many villages around Yunyang Prefecture.

Honestly, life for the mountain people was not so easy.

At first, they could live in peace, but as more strongholds were established, there would be exploitation, and it was harsher than the government’s.

There was no law in the mountains, it was only a matter of who had the bigger fist.

And with river pirates and Evil Cultivators running wild in the mountains, Jing Chu Mountains was no longer a paradise.

The only safe strongholds were those controlled by the Heavenly Saint Sect, but it required the lewd worship of the Heavenly Saint, brainwashing through various methods, and similarly, life was uncomfortable.

Since the establishment of Yunyang Prefecture by the court, with generous treatment provided, many mountain people had gradually moved out, thus Yunyang Prefecture prospered.

The Heavenly Saint Sect also felt threatened and obstructed efforts multiple times, even spreading rumors in the mountains and killing those who wanted to leave.

Now that the court army had entered the mountains, a large number of vagabonds had surrendered and migrated, and the Heavenly Saint Sect was gradually losing ground and reducing its influence.

Suppressing the rebellion was estimated to end within a month or two.

However, if the Jing Chu rebels cut off the grain supply and secured a few major victories, the war could likely reach a stalemate.

Therefore, securing the grain and grass transportation through the Yangtze River and Han River became a top priority.

With the cooperation of the Tuo Master, they could counteract and annihilate the rebel demons...

......

Before long, the warship returned to Parrot Island Pier.

After bidding farewell to the senior military officers, Li Yan and his companions disembarked, and Lv San then spoke up, "The Tuo Master said, just a few days ago, a group of Tuo Dragons was digging an underground channel and was attacked by the ’Wan Yan,’ with only one escaping."

"She originally planned to take revenge, but that place is somewhat troublesome, and she doesn’t want to get close to avoid misunderstandings."

"Oh?"

Li Yan became interested, "What place?"

Lv San replied, "Near Longquan Mountain."

Li Yan frowned upon hearing this, "That is indeed somewhat troublesome."

Longquan Mountain was in Jiangxia, not far from Wuchang, and according to the Tuo Master, this area was the territory of a Great Demon of East Lake Ancestor.

Of course, the Tuo Master naturally would not fear the East Lake Ancestor, but Longquan Mountain had some particular significance—it was the burial site of two generations of the Kings of Chu.

The reason it was said to be two generations involved another story.

When Emperor of the Great Xuan Dynasty started his revolt, he had the help of many people, one of whom, Chen Youliang, was particularly troublesome.

Different from the history of previous worlds, Chen Youliang had considerable influence at the time. Emperor Xiao Chengyou, founder of the Great Xuan, greatly feared him and, after several entanglements, got Chen Youliang to join him.

After the establishment of the Great Xuan, Chen Youliang was conferred as King of Chu.

Although a king of a different surname, the Great Xuan court continued to guard against him, first by seizing his military power, then placing his family under house arrest in Wuchang City, forbidding them from leaving the Prince Mansion.

Unable to move, Chen Youliang died despondently, but after his death, he was conspicuously buried in Longquan Mountain by the court.

Furthermore, Chen Youliang also had the identity of the Sect Leader of Maitreya Sect.

After Chen Youliang’s death, his son, Chen Li, inherited the position of Sect Leader of Maitreya Sect, raised troops to revolt, and was suppressed and executed by the court.

Although also conferred as King of Chu and buried in Longquan Mountain, the Chen family thus ended its lineage, and the Maitreya Sect went completely underground, remaining opposed to the Great Xuan court.

The second generation of the King of Chu then changed to the Xiao imperial family.

However, the court similarly feared these feudal princes and had long carried out royal family reforms.

One was changing titles, for example, King of Chu was changed to Prince Wuchang, and similarly, there was also the Prince Chang’an of Shan State.

Two, the fief was reduced, only to the city in question. Spending for the Prince Mansion was dependent on the revenue of the locality, and annual royal family evaluations were conducted, with those who did not qualify being stripped of their princely status.

After several rounds, the power of the feudal princes could no longer threaten the central government.

And on Longquan Mountain, only three successive Kings of Chu were buried, and should today’s Prince Wuchang be interred there, it could only be called the Royal Mausoleum of Wuchang King.