Time seemed to have hit the accelerator button.
Li Fan was implementing his plan methodically and in an orderly manner.
With two lifetimes of experience, everything went perfectly well, like water flowing down a channel.
He still took part in the Imperial Examination.
However, this time, with decades of experience in power, the papers he wrote were far superior to his previous life. He topped the list in the Provincial Examination, the Metropolitan Examination, and the Palace Examination, scoring triumvirates, and his name shook the world!
Then, under the pretext of gaining experience at a young age, he volunteered to serve as an official in an outlying area. Naturally, his destination was still Wen County.
Although there were many on the Court who could not understand and regretted his decision, they still approved his request.
Thus, in the third year of anchoring, he came to Wen County again.
This time, it was much better than his previous life. Due to his great reputation and detailed understanding of the temperaments of all the officers in the county, he managed to get everyone in Wen County under his control almost effortlessly.
Then, he began to promote and train the confidants from his previous life, continuously strengthening his own power.
At the same time, he drew up the blueprints for flintlock guns, commanding craftsmen to manufacture them according to the blueprints, and fully informed them of the difficulties encountered in production. Afterwards, he sent people to discreetly recruit skilled craftsmen from all over, striving to develop more advanced firearms.
The mining in the mountains was also not idle. Li Fan eradicated all the mountain bandits in the mountains near Wen County and made them all go mining. Relying on the mining area, he established many workshops in the deep mountains, producing crafts and ironware in large quantities. At the same time, he secretly organized trade caravans to travel and sell goods all over the place, accumulating wealth.
In the fourth year of anchoring, Li Fan found Emperor Xuanjing's double in a secret search. It was the existence of this double that almost caused his assassination plot in his previous life to fail. Fortunately, Li Fan always acted cautiously and had numerous back-up plans so that he did not end up failing. Li Fan personally trained the double and after half a year, there was almost no flaw.
In the fifth year of anchoring, the Great Drought in Jiangnan struck. Li Fan ordered his confidants to pretend to be refugees and attack the Langya King's Mansion. Li Fan led the groups to pretend to be rescuers, but in reality he coordinated the attack from inside and directly killed the family of King Langya, and let the double make his appearance.
From then on, Li Fan took over the nest of others and secretly controlled the Langya King's Mansion.
The news that King Langya's family was killed and only King Langya himself was preserved shocked the court and the world. The Emperor was furious and sent troops to suppress the refugees. Li Fan was commended for his meritorious service and was promoted to the position of Prefect of Jianghuai Government.
The power of Li Fan expanded further. But after this, he started to act even more cautiously. He did not continue to expand outward, but instead focused on technology climbing and production development in a low-key manner.
In the seventh year of anchoring, the Locust Plague struck as scheduled. Li Fan was well-prepared and naturally, there was no disaster in the Jianghuai Government. He also applied to the court to open the granaries to help the disaster victims. The court approved.
Taking this opportunity, Li Fan got a large population. Afterwards, these disaster victims settled down under Li Fan's rule, and Li Fan's power also grew exponentially.
In the ninth year of anchoring, the wedding of King Langya and the granddaughter of the Chief Scholar proceeded as scheduled. That night, Li Fan broke into the bridal chamber and scared the Queen of Langya half to death. When she found out that Li Fan had killed King Langya and occupied the Langya King's Mansion with a double, she denounced Li Fan as a traitor. Li Fan didn't care, but laughed out loud. He asked her to write down this shocking news in a letter.
Li Fan, pretending to be King Langya's messenger, secretly entered the capital with this letter to see the Chief Scholar.
With a calm expression, Li Fan told the Chief Scholar that he now controlled the entire Langya King's Mansion. He also declared that he had consummated his marriage with the Chief Scholar's granddaughter on the night of their wedding banquet. Although the Chief Scholar was surprised, he calmly asked Li Fan what he intended to do.
Li Fan straightforwardly told him that the Chief Scholar had made too many enemies during his years in power. Since all of his sons were incompetent, it would be difficult to protect the family after his death. As long as the Chief Scholar helped Li Fan when necessary, he would ensure that the Scholar's family remained prosperous for a hundred years.
The Chief Scholar thought for a long time and slowly asked what was needed. Li Fan just smiled and said that all would be clear in due course, then left gracefully.
In the tenth year of anchoring, the Queen of Langya gave birth to a son. Obviously, this was Li Fan's offspring. Li Fan wrote a letter and went to the Chief Scholar's residence to report the good news.
In the fifteenth year of anchoring, the Emperor finally fell seriously ill. After receiving the edict for succession, Li Fan, along with his confidants, travelled day and night, rushing to the capital.
After King Langya's double ascended the throne, Li Fan, borrowing the Emperor's edict, made major personnel arrangements in the court. With the secret cooperation of the Chief Scholar, he managed to control the situation without causing any ripples.
In the year 16, rebellions arose from all corners. Li Fan seized the opportunity to plant his followers within the army. After using the merit of suppressing the rebels, he rewarded his followers handsomely. In just three to four years, Li Fan had acquired solid control over the military.
In the year 20, the world gradually recovered from the turbulence caused by the changing times and the emperor's replacement. At this time, Li Fan decisively poisoned the impostor Emperor Kangning, eliminating the last possible threat in its cradle.
After his own son ascended to the throne, Li Fan conferred upon himself the title of Grand Master and moved from the shadows to the limelight, once again holding sway over the entire realm.
Thereafter, the development of Da Xuan Kingdom not only did not slow down but, due to Li Fan's will, operated even more rapidly!
In the year 35, at the Grand Master Mansion.
Li Fan frowned slightly as he read the secretive message presented to him by his subordinate.
"You mean to say that the mist on the Abyssal Ruin disperses every fifteen years for half a day?"
"To reply to the Grand Master, that's correct. Our Antique Seeking Official team was ordered to remain stationed next to the Abyssal Ruins. Day and night, we observed. A moment before, we acquired some gains," the Antique Seeking Official kneeling on the ground reminisced the scene with shock still visible on his face. "After the fog dispersed, there was a faint light from the bottom of the Abyss. Using a telescope, we discovered a myriad of upside-down spectacles."
"Although everyone sees differently, there were huge mountains stretching across the horizon, magnificent architecture hidden within them faintly visible; there were vast city castles standing on the plains, filled with bustling lights and sounds, with a population of no less than a million; there were also aerial cities surrounded by halos, various kinds of rare birds and exotic beasts flying within them, it truly is …" The Antique Seeking Official paused for a moment, finally uttering his inner astonishment. "Oneness, it truly is unimaginable."
"Indeed, it comes from the Abyss." Despite knowing this news already, receiving personal confirmation from his subordinate still stirred some excitement within Li Fan. However, years of experience had helped him conceal his emotions very well.
He asked calmly: "Have you found a way to reach the bottom of the Abyss yet?"
The Antique Seeking Official's breath hitched and his face turned slightly pale. He immediately kowtowed, apologizing, "I am incompetent. We've tried various methods but once we reach a certain depth, we're shredded by a sudden Gang wind. The Gang wind is formidable, it even shatters our hardest armor in an instant."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan didn't look disappointed at all.
After waving his hand, letting the Antique Seeking Official leave, Li Fan mumbled to himself: "Looks like, I have to wait for you instead."
...
In the year 50, Da Xuan Kingdom, Xuanjing City.
The usually bustling Xuanjing became eerily silent.
Under the orders of the current Grand Master, most citizens were forcefully relocated to neighbouring cities a month ago, allegedly to evade a disaster. This feigned reason was of course not believed by some. The Grand Master did not take any extreme measures, suggesting those unwilling to leave to dig bunkers in their homes for protection. These citizens merely treated it as a joke.
Even after receiving such reports, Li Fan didn't bother. He had done his part.
At present, his carefully prepared special troops over the years were stationed in the streets and alleys of Xuanjing City, ready to face two immortals.
All was ready, just waiting for the perfect moment!
At night, under the bright moonlight, the two immortals arrived as promised!
"Dao Xuanzi! Don't press me too much!"
Kou Hong's furious roar echoed through Xuanjing City.
"Da da da da …"
Countless tongues of fire suddenly ignited as tens of thousands of bullets, like a waterfall, rained onto the bodies of the two immortals!