Yinshan Record

Chapter 532 Evil Spirits and Demons Lurk Deep Within (Part 2)
While the main body was diligently cultivating, Liu Yi's clone was not idle either.

After Sikong Tu's death, the Great River Alliance split into three parts. One part followed the current alliance leader, Jin Li, and defected to the imperial court. Alliance Leader Jin became the Imperial Censor of Youzhou, while most of the remaining members were placed in the Jingye Division. The other part chose to remain and followed Liu Yi's clone into Xuanshan.

Of course, most of the cultivators in the Great River Alliance were disheartened. They gave up their commitment to the Great River Alliance and returned to their own cultivation paths.

Su Che believed that many cultivators from the Great River Alliance joined the righteous army with the aim of changing the world.

The purpose of the Great River Alliance was to monitor the demons on and off the Canglang River. The cultivators who participated in it must have had a high degree of moral awareness.

In a sense, they were all idealists.

After Jin Li led a group of people to surrender to the imperial court, and after Liu Yi led the three demons of Xuanshan to fight against Sikong Tu, the cold reality shattered their burning ideals, and naturally many people chose to leave.

After all, how can following these insects change the world?

However, this is also a good thing for Su Che.

After Sikong Tu's death, Su Che took advantage of the vacuum created within the rebel army to take full control of the remaining rebel forces and successfully led them to retreat into Xuanshan.

Now, this righteous army, nurtured by Yu Chen, has taken on the surname "Liu," and its leader has changed from Taiping Zhenjun to Da Jiangjun, who acts on behalf of Heaven to pacify the people.

Three other demon kings, including Dushan Jun, also retreated to Xuanshan.

After being impacted by the rebellion of the Black Mountain Monster and the Great River Alliance, Xuanshan has truly become a paradise in a sense. Most of the monsters and bandits that originally occupied this place have perished in the two attacks.

The three demons of Xuanshan naturally reclaimed their mountain strongholds and each occupied a territory. Su Che also found three fertile valleys in Xuanshan and built fortresses in each. With the help of cultivators and demons, and with the abundant resources of Xuanshan, Su Che's three fortresses took shape in just over a month.

Of course, besides the fortified towns, there are also many spontaneously formed villages and hamlets, where people have begun to try to reclaim wasteland and open up wasteland in the Xuan Mountains.

Everything was in perfect order.

On a mountaintop, Liu Yi's clone stood with his hands behind his back, watching the people below who were constantly cultivating the land. Beside him stood a tiger-headed demon dressed in yellow.

On the hillside and in the valley below, countless monsters, some revealing their true forms and others carrying ropes, were tilling the land with heavy stone plows. Each of these enormous stone plows weighed at least several hundred pounds, and without the brute strength of these monsters, no one could wield them.

The heavy plowshare was first slammed into the ground by the monster with brute force, and then it began to plow the land by dragging the rope. Not far from them, a group of people watched them work with fear and curiosity on their faces.

Deep plow marks appeared behind the monsters, and soon young men followed with various farming tools.

"I must thank the Mountain Lord today. Without the many brothers he sent, these fields would not have been cultivated so quickly."

Dushan Jun was still dressed in his usual half-monk, half-layman attire, slowly turning the prayer beads in his hand.

"Brother Liu may not know, but I also ran a similar fortress in Xuanshan back then, just not on the scale it is now. Now I'm quite familiar with it."

That's absolutely true. Su Che once wandered around the stronghold of Lord Dushan with the little fox.

"Ninety-seven thousand four hundred and thirty-two people, excluding the elderly, women and children, there were more than forty-four thousand two hundred men."

Su Che looked at the busy people below and said, "In the end, it still can't compare to its heyday."

As the counties of Cizhou were recaptured by the imperial court, the rebel army was also in turmoil. Many people who had joined the rebel army believed that the situation was hopeless and returned to their homes.

This is actually a natural thing, after all, the family business is hard to abandon, and the new Grand Tutor Su has already ordered that the people who followed the rebels be treated leniently, and even reduced or exempted various taxes and levies for Cizhou for the next three years.

Compared to hiding in the deep mountains and living next to monsters, painstakingly cultivating wasteland and facing an army that may come at any time to annihilate them, going home to live a few years of peaceful life is obviously a more rational choice.

The army that had once swept through the entire Cizhou was also disintegrated as a result, with only a portion of the people who were no longer willing to serve under the court following Su Che into Xuanshan.

“I have also read the books of sages and know the saying, ‘If people from afar do not come, then cultivate virtue and culture to attract them.’”

Dushan Jun comforted Su Che, saying, "I believe that with Brother Liu's talent, he will one day turn this place into a true paradise, and then people all over the world will be eager to come here."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yi's clone laughed heartily.

"I hope so."

As the two were talking, a general wearing armor and a helmet, with two red flags behind him, rode a strong horse galloping down the mountain road. He dismounted gracefully and clasped his hands in a salute to Su Che.

"Zhang San, the Commandant of the Grain Supply, greets the General and the Mountain Lord." The man who came was Zhang San, the yamen runner who had started out with Young Master Su in Shanyin County. He had gone through all sorts of trials and tribulations and was the last one left in the camp.

After the tide receded, Zhang San was entrusted with an important task by Su Che, taking up the newly established position of Grain Search Commandant.

This official position was established by Su Che based on the old system from the medieval period. It was in charge of agricultural production, responsible for promoting various technologies, and allocating agricultural machinery and draft animals. Although Zhang San came from a yamen (government office) background, he had become quite capable after so much training and performed his duties very well in this position.

"Commander Zhang, you've worked hard."

Even a powerful demon like Lord Dushan showed considerable respect for Zhang San, who had been working tirelessly day and night lately. After all, this tiger had actually spent some time farming in Xuanshan and knew all too well the hardships involved.

These things seem simple, but once you put them into practice, they become incredibly complex and complicated, leaving you clueless as to where to begin. Furthermore, the creatures that Lord Dushan initially commanded were all spiritless demons, making it a truly hellish start.

"It's all within our scope."

Zhang San looked at Liu Yi beside him and said, "Reporting to the general, Elder Yue of the Great River Alliance has sent me to invite you, saying that a guest has come to visit."

"guest?"

Su Che frowned slightly. In the current situation, what kind of guests could possibly come?

"I heard it came from the East China Sea."

Zhang San explained, "It's a Taoist priest carrying four swords, and a white cat that can talk."

A Taoist priest carrying four swords?

Su Che's first thought was of the Rejuvenation Master he had met in the underground of Jiankang, who was suspected to be a successor of the Jade Scenery Sect.

They couldn't possibly have anything good coming to my door.

"Mountain Lord, I'll go ahead first."

"Brother Liu, please make yourself at home."

Su Che bid farewell to Dushan Jun in a hurry, and without waiting for Zhang San who was riding a horse, he headed directly towards a fortified village.

Today, the White Turban Army has three strongholds, named "Tianning", "Mianfeng" and "Tiexing" respectively.

The largest of the three is Tianning City, already enclosed by brick-clad earthen walls, and is now the core of the rebel army. Mianfeng City is the residential city with the largest population, and also has numerous workshops and commercial areas. It enforces the law that its gates are never closed and there is no curfew day or night, making it the industrial and commercial hub of the entire rebel army. Tiexing City, as its name suggests, is both a military fortress for garrisoning the rebel army and a prison. It is the smallest of the three fortresses, but also has the strongest defenses.

Yue Luan's residence was naturally not here. This elder of the Great River Alliance found a secluded place in the mountains not far from the three cities and specially built a thatched hut for him to rest, which can be regarded as a sign of Su Che's special regard for him.

After all, this is the Longevity True Person of the Jade Scenery Path. Although he did not reveal his identity, he is the only remaining elder in the Great River Alliance, and he must maintain the proper dignity.

In this humble dwelling, Yue Luan sat quietly on a futon, while the masked Taoist carrying four swords and the ridiculously large white cat sat quietly below him.

"Bai Zu instructed this junior to send his greetings to Senior Yue."

The white cat, completely unlike its arrogant demeanor when facing Zeng Mozhou, obediently lay down on the ground.

"Master Bai said that he heard that you are about to undergo the Sixty-Nine Tribulations. If you have time, you can stay in the East Sea for a few days. Master Bai is willing to predict the calamities that await you..."

"He should take care of himself."

Yue Luan glanced down disdainfully: "He promised to meet me in the Central Plains. I thought he had finally mustered some courage, but I didn't expect him to still be the same old man."

The white cat lowered its head and said, "Xuandu Palace is keeping a close watch on us, even Bai Zu..."

"Being timid is one thing, but there are so many excuses."

Yue Luan gave a cold laugh, then looked at the masked Taoist carrying four swords.

"How is your master doing lately?"

I'm asking for votes at midnight. *bows*

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(End of this chapter)