Several months later.
Peng City, Great Chu.
An intelligence report lay on Fan Li's desk in the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion.
His true body, reading the report, frowned. He knew that the emergence of the Investiture of the Gods would have a significant impact, even causing social unrest and a loss of talent within the Five Kingdoms alliance.
But the reactions of the Three Kingdoms – Wei, Han, and Wu – still surprised him.
They had declared war on the Great Ming Dynasty.
"Sigh…"
Fan Li crumpled the half-written letter in his hand and tossed it into the wastebasket beside his desk.
He had intended to write a letter, subtly hinting to Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan that he had a solution to their lack of an Investiture of the Gods.
Once Lu Fubao's cultivation progressed, he would have her construct the first Investiture Platform in Jin City as a test. If successful, he would be willing to build platforms for the Three Kingdoms, for a reasonable patent fee, of course.
He believed in Lu Fubao. With her talent, aptitude, and personality, she would undoubtedly reach the Unity realm in this lifetime.
Perhaps even the Great Vehicle realm and ascension to immortality!
But the pressure the Investiture of the Gods exerted upon the Three Kingdoms had clearly exceeded his expectations.
Intelligence reports from the Fan Clan Trading Company's branches in Wei, Han, and Wu indicated a significant exodus of cultivators, both from established sects and reclusive lineages, defecting to the Great Ming Dynasty.
Even officials, from governors to magistrates, were fleeing their posts.
Liu Bei's Han kingdom was the most affected.
Qiao Zhou, a renowned Confucian scholar known as the "leader of Confucianism in Yi Province," had led hundreds of disciples to the Great Ming. To demonstrate his integrity, he had even refused an official position offered by Emperor Jiajing, choosing instead to participate in the Great Ming's imperial examinations as a candidate. He had excelled at every stage, from the county level to the provincial level, then the metropolitan level, and finally, the palace examination!
Within the Golden Luan Palace of the Great Ming, Qiao Zhou had composed an essay titled "On Hating One's Former Nation."
In his essay, he not only justified his betrayal but also proclaimed that the Great Ming had received Heaven's blessing and was destined to unify the land.
His essay had pleased Emperor Jiajing, who had personally declared Qiao Zhou the top scholar of the year.
"Qiao Zhou, courtesy name Yunnan, from Langzhong in Baxi Commandery. Formerly a Third Grade Guanglu Doctor of the Great Han, now a Fifth Grade Imperial Tutor of the Great Ming."
Fan Li shook his head in dismay. The Great Ming, having obtained the Investiture of the Gods, was indeed enjoying unprecedented popularity. It had become the center of attention for all talented individuals.
Individuals like Qiao Zhou were willing to abandon their Third Grade positions to become Fifth Grade tutors in the Great Ming.
Compared to this, the hundreds of thousands of women Emperor Yao Guang had lured away from the Great Chu, Wei, Han, and Wu through her sermons on the Holy Yin Scripture seemed insignificant.
Emperor Jiajing of the Great Ming, a silent force, had finally made his move, and it was a momentous one.
Fan Li set aside the intelligence reports concerning the loss of talent in the Three Kingdoms and picked up another report.
To be precise, it was a battle report.
"Zhuge Liang has marched to Jieting."
"Guo Jia has marched to Wuhuan."
"Zhou Yu has marched to Chibi."
"Each has led an army of one hundred thousand, attacking strategic border towns of the Great Ming from the south, north, and west."
"All three armies have achieved victories."
"Qiu Luan, Commander-in-Chief of the Great Ming's northwestern forces, and Zeng Xian, Supreme Commander of the Three Frontiers, have been killed in battle. Hu Zongxian, Grand Coordinator, has retreated with severe injuries, defending Yunzhou City."
"Zhuge Liang, Guo Jia, and Zhou Yu have joined forces outside Yunzhou City and are preparing to capture it."
Yunzhou City was a strategic stronghold on the northwestern border of the Great Ming.
The Great Ming Dynasty was primarily located on the plains. If Yunzhou City fell, the allied forces of Wei, Han, and Wu would have a clear path into the heart of the Great Ming, leaving the dynasty in perpetual turmoil.
The final line of Fan Li's battle report read:
"Crown Prince Wanli of the Great Ming has submitted a petition, requesting permission to lead an army to defeat the enemy. His request has been granted by Emperor Jiajing. He has been appointed Grand General of the North, with overall command of the Great Ming's northern forces. Hu Zongnan will serve as his deputy."
Oh?
To be honest, Fan Li wasn't impressed by Crown Prince Wanli's military leadership. Although he possessed the destiny of an emperor and considerable talent, he was likely no match for Zhuge Liang, Guo Jia, and Zhou Yu, three of history's most renowned strategists.
He was more concerned about Emperor Jiajing. The enemy had reached his doorstep, and he was simply observing?
The strongest individual in the world?
It seemed absolute power truly bred absolute confidence.
The three hundred thousand allied troops were likely insignificant in Emperor Jiajing's eyes, mere stepping stones for Crown Prince Wanli.
As long as the emperors of the Three Kingdoms didn't personally participate, Emperor Jiajing wouldn't leave the comfort of his Golden Luan Palace.
…
Imperial court, Great Chu.
"Duke Jin, Emperor Yao Guang has sent an envoy, requesting that the Great Chu also send troops to join the war against the Great Ming. Her Majesty wishes for you to personally lead the army."
Xiang Chong spoke politely, but his expression was one of malicious glee.
How arduous a task was leading an army on a military campaign?
Emperor Yao Guang's intention was simply for the Great Chu to send troops. As for who would lead them, she was the Empress of Great Ci, not the Emperor of the Great Chu. She couldn't possibly dictate such matters.
Xiang Chong, however, was unwilling to endure any hardship. He hoped Fan Li would die on the battlefield.
He readily appointed Fan Li as commander of the army, even using Emperor Yao Guang's name as justification.
"Your Majesty, I must decline," Fan Li said without hesitation.
"Why?!" Xiang Chong glared, attempting to intimidate him.
"I'm lazy," Fan Li replied.
He was reminding Xiang Chong – who was truly in charge of the Great Chu?
"Uh…"
Xiang Chong flushed crimson. He couldn't force Fan Li to do anything.
"Then let Fan Chun lead the army. He's the commander of the two hundred thousand city guards, isn't he?"
"Wrong," Fan Li said, shaking his head. "The city guard only has one hundred thousand troops. Please don't speak carelessly, Your Majesty."
"What? I'm not mistaken. The city guard has two hundred thousand troops."
Fan Li smiled.
"Your Majesty, the imperial court only disburses funds for one hundred thousand troops every month. Therefore, the Great Chu only has one hundred thousand city guards."
Xiang Chong was confused. "Then what about the other one hundred thousand? Who are they?"
Fan Li thought for a moment. "I suppose you could consider them my personal army."
According to the Great Chu's legal code, privately raising an army of more than fifty soldiers was a crime equivalent to treason.
The Fan Clan possessed one hundred thousand unregistered troops. This wasn't just treason; they could overthrow the dynasty and establish their own.
Xiang Chong looked at Fan Li in fear, swallowing hard, choosing to ignore everything he had just said.
"In any case, the Great Chu has no troops to spare," Fan Li declared.
Xiang Chong was still unwilling to give up. He frowned.
"Duke Jin, are you unaware that the Three Kingdoms' attack on the Great Ming is intended to reassure their citizens, to convince them that the Great Ming is not the true inheritor of the Mandate of Heaven? Their initial victories have stabilized the situation. I've heard that many cultivators who were planning to defect to the Great Ming have changed their minds. But the Great Chu didn't participate in the war. The cultivators in our nation are restless. I fear they will all defect to the Great Ming sooner or later…"
Fan Li looked at Xiang Chong, then at the officials assembled below.
Indeed, there was unrest.
Due to the Fan Clan's influence, the officials maintained a facade of obedience in Fan Li's presence.
But their true thoughts, who knew what they were thinking?
The Investiture of the Gods?
No matter how generous the Fan Clan was, how could mere material comforts compare to the allure of immortality?
"If they all betray the Great Chu, we'll be left with an empty shell. How will I explain this to Xiang Ning when she returns?"
Fan Li, thinking of his responsibility towards the true Emperor, changed his mind.
He glanced at Xiang Chong.
"Your Majesty, I agree to lead an army against the Great Ming Dynasty."