Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 183 Jiang Xuan's Scheme: Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain!
In the afternoon, Jiang Xuan returned from the palace.

As expected, Zhu Youjian was indeed working on suppressing the rebellion, reappointing Lu Xiangsheng as governor-general to lead troops to quell the rebellion, and ordering him to lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard to assist in dealing with the Ming Cult and other Jianghu forces.

Having previously collaborated with Lu Xiang-sheng during the suppression of the White Lotus Sect, Jiang Xuan had some understanding of Lu Xiang-sheng's character and was not opposed to the idea.

To his surprise, Zhu Youjian also appointed Yu Huatian as a military supervisor to accompany the army on the expedition, the purpose of which was self-evident.

"This guy, he's definitely starting to be wary of me. Or rather, he doesn't even trust Lu Xiang-sheng. That makes sense; once suspicion arises, anyone becomes a suspect..."

A hint of disdain flashed across Jiang Xuan's lips, but he didn't care. He had long since given up any hope for this young emperor.

However, many wise emperors only begin to become senile in their later years. It is quite rare for an emperor like Zhu Youjian to become senile in less than two years on the throne.

Jiang Xuan was indeed somewhat surprised by this.

Back at the yamen, Jiang Xuan summoned Xu Longqing and the others, briefly explained the matter to them, and told them to prepare to leave the capital for the Northwest in three days.

"As expected, it's because of this!"

Upon hearing Jiang Xuan's words, everyone frowned slightly.

"My lord, the martial arts families of the Northwest, such as the Hu and Miao, are alright, they are only first-rate forces. The strongest in their sects are only Hu Tian and others, and there are no grandmasters to oversee them. But the Ming Cult is not easy to deal with!"

Luo Yangxing's expression was solemn as he said, "The Ming Cult was introduced to China from Persia. Its background is very mysterious, but its strength is universally acknowledged in the martial arts world."

"Over the past few centuries, its power has never waned, and it has always remained among the top-tier martial arts masters, intimidating all heroes."

"Until twenty years ago, when Yang Dingtian, the 33rd leader of the Ming Cult, disappeared, internal strife broke out in the Ming Cult, and it was besieged by major sects such as Wudang and Shaolin, which forced the Ming Cult to retreat to foreign lands to develop, and its power was somewhat restrained."

"But I have received news that the Ming Cult has a new leader who is not only as skilled in martial arts as Yang Xiao, the Left Envoy of the Ming Cult, but has also mastered the Ming Cult's ultimate martial art, the 'Great Shift of Heaven and Earth,' and has already gained the approval of most of the Ming Cult's high-ranking members."

"Even Yin Tianzheng, the 'White-browed Eagle King' who left the Ming Cult many years ago and had already declared that he was establishing his own sect, has led his followers away from Jiangnan and headed to the Western Regions."

"Once the Ming Cult recalls its various factions, its strength will surely increase significantly. We, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, will probably not be a match for them!"

Upon hearing this, everyone began to discuss it, their faces showing concern.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is currently in charge of handling cases in the martial arts world, and those present are all high-ranking members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In the past six months, they have led their men to handle many cases in the martial arts world, so they naturally have some understanding of these top forces that have made the most of their presence in the martial arts world.

Other righteous sects are easy to deal with; as long as they have a legitimate reason to attack, some would even dare not resist if they came to their doorstep. But it is precisely evil forces like the Ming Cult that are the most troublesome.

This kind of force has no sense of chivalry or morality, and it is a professional rebel force with considerable strength, making it difficult to deal with.

Jiang Xuan said, "I will figure out the specifics of how to handle this. When it comes to cracking down on Jianghu forces, we don't always have to take action ourselves."

Pei Xing's eyes flickered slightly: "What does the Commander mean?"

Jiang Xuan, who was surrounded by his trusted confidants, made no attempt to conceal anything and said, "I have received news that major sects such as Wudang, Shaolin, and Emei have been frequently visiting each other recently to discuss how to deal with the Ming Cult."

Ren Yingying's eyes lit up. She was also wearing a white Jinyiwei official uniform at the moment. She was beautiful and very capable. She guessed, "Does the master mean to unite with Shaolin, Wudang and other sects to deal with the Ming Cult?"

The others were also energized, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope.

They had naturally heard about the grudges between the major sects such as Shaolin and Wudang and the Ming Cult. Now that the Ming Cult had re-emerged and moved eastward, intending to make a comeback, these martial arts sects would certainly not sit idly by.

If we can join forces with them to deal with the Ming Cult, our chances of victory will naturally increase significantly!
Jiang Xuan shook his head: "The imperial court does not interfere in the affairs of the martial arts world. This rule cannot be broken. It is their business if Shaolin, Wudang and other sects want to deal with the Ming Cult. It has nothing to do with us. We are dealing with the Ming Cult only because the Ming Cult joined forces with the rebel Li Zicheng to rebel. This case is under the jurisdiction of our Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"In short, let them fight their battles, we'll fight ours, but we don't necessarily have to strike first."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood Jiang Xuan's meaning.

Lin Pingzhi's eyes flickered as he said, "Master means we should wait for them to fight like dogs before we make our move... like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?"

Ren Yingying frowned: "But now that the Ming Cult has intervened in the rebel Li Zicheng's rebellion, the other major sects are not stupid. They must be able to guess that the imperial court will also take action. What if they share the same idea as us and are waiting for us to make the first move?"

Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "We'll have to figure that out. You guys get ready first, and I'll let you know when to make your move."

Jiang Xuan didn't elaborate on the specifics, but his words clearly indicated that he already had a plan in mind.

Out of their trust in Jiang Xuan, the group did not ask any further questions. They stood up, bowed in unison, and then left.

Jiang Xuan looked at Ren Yingying, who had stayed behind, and instructed her, "This time, it's time for your Sun Moon Divine Sect and Five Poisons Sect to stretch their muscles. Send a message to your father and He Tieshou, and tell them to prepare."

Ren Yingying's expression was solemn as she nodded in agreement.

……

Upon returning to his residence, Jiang Xuan quickly summoned the Netherworld members.

"grown ups!"

"Son!"

"Hall Master!"

"Master!"

Everyone greeted him politely, addressing him by various names.

Jiang Xuan didn't mind. His gaze swept over everyone, and he frowned slightly as he asked, "'King Qin Guang' and 'King Bian Cheng' haven't returned yet?"

Although the core members of the Netherworld are aware of each other's identities, they generally refer to each other by code names when discussing serious matters.

King Qin Guang and King Bian Cheng are Yan Shisan and Xia Xueyi, respectively, and these two have not yet arrived.

As for 'Urban King' Murong Qiudi, she was still busy dealing with matters in Jiangnan, and Jiang Xuan did not intend to ask her for help with this case.

"No."

Xi Yu shook her head: "After the battle of Wenzhou, King Qin Guang went to Yongzhou and has not returned since. King Biancheng was on good terms with him and went there as well. There is still no news of him."

"Went to Yongzhou? Could it be that he really went to Kuhai Town to look for Xie Xiaofeng?"

A hint of worry appeared in Jiang Xuan's eyes. Although Yan Shisan had also entered the second realm of swordsmanship, if he were to actually fight Xie Xiaofeng, he might not be a match for Xie Xiaofeng.

After all, Xie Xiaofeng was already a grandmaster many years ago, having comprehended the essence of the art. With so many years of experience and tempering his mind in the mortal world, his strength must have improved even further.

But after thinking about it, Jiang Xuan felt that Yan Shisan's fate had already changed, and it was unlikely that he would actively seek death. Moreover, Xia Xueyi was with him, and if something really happened, Xia Xueyi would definitely send a message for help.

However, Jiang Xuan was still not entirely at ease, and ordered, "Send a message to them immediately, urging them to return!"

"Young Master, has something happened? Did the Emperor really send you to deal with the Ming Cult?" Yang Huizhen was quick-witted and, seeing Jiang Xuan's serious expression, quickly guessed the truth.

Jiang Xuan nodded and explained the matter to them in detail.

Unsurprisingly, everyone who learned of this showed signs of worry.

"That damned emperor, he's ungrateful and neglectful of you for half a year. Now that he needs you, he's ordering you around again. He's truly heartless and ungrateful!" Qiu Moyan frowned.

“That’s right, husband, why do you still risk your life for him? The Ming Cult is not easy to deal with!” Jin Xiangyu echoed, quite indignant.

Cheng Shifei also received Jiang Xuan's message and returned. After a long time apart, he had lost some of his naivety and gained more composure and determination. He was no longer as impulsive and ignorant as before.

But he was an open-minded person by nature, and when he saw everyone spouting such rebellious remarks, he was stunned and couldn't help but interject, "Master, are you discussing a rebellion?"

Jin Xiangyu glanced at him and said with a smile, "What? Little beggar, are you scared?"

Even though he was replaced by a little beggar, Cheng Shifei wasn't angry. He immediately patted his chest and said, "Why would I be afraid? As long as Master gives the order, I would do anything for you, even if it meant going through fire and water!"

He was separated from his parents at a young age, grew up in the city, and suffered a lot. He had little sense of belonging to the imperial court.

In his heart, besides his father and mother, only his master treated him the best in this life.

Now that his father is dead and his mother is still not awake, his master is his only family. No matter what his master asks him to do, he will never hesitate.

"But... His Majesty just bestowed a marriage upon Yunluo. If she rebels, wouldn't I lose my position as the Prince's son-in-law?"

Cheng Shifei gave an awkward smile.

"Well, you little rascal, you're not afraid of rebellion, so you're just afraid you won't be able to get a wife?" Jin Xiangyu said exaggeratedly.

Everyone couldn't help laughing.

Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "This trip to the Northwest is not just to deal with the Ming Cult, but also to bring your mother back."

Cheng Shifei was stunned for a moment, then immediately became excited: "Master, you...you found the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom?!"

Jiang Xuan nodded: "We only found one, but it's enough to wake your mother up."

To avoid causing trouble, he did not mention that one Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom pod was only enough to sustain Su Xin's life for a year.

Cheng Shifei was overjoyed: "Great! I can finally save my mother and reunite with her!"

"But after so many years, I don't remember what my mother looks like, and I don't know if she would still recognize me..."

Cheng Shifei started to feel anxious and insecure again.

"Don't worry, silly boy. A mother's heart is connected to her child's. Even if your mother forgets your father, she will never forget you," Xi Yu comforted him.

Jiang Xuan looked at everyone and solemnly said, "The imperial court's resources far exceed what you can imagine. Although the emperor currently favors the Western Depot and suppresses the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I don't even consider the Western Depot a threat. Try to avoid mentioning rebellion in the future to avoid causing other unnecessary trouble."

"This trip to deal with the Ming Cult will not be without benefits for us, not only for the sake of the imperial court. I cannot go into details. You should each gather your men and head to the Northwest to await further orders."

Upon hearing this, no one said anything more, they all nodded and left to make their preparations.

Finally, Jiang Xuan secretly summoned another person.

"Have you investigated the matter I asked you to investigate?" Jiang Xuan asked the middle-aged man in front of him in a calm voice.

This middle-aged man is none other than Li Yanbei, the current head of the underground forces in the capital.

But at this moment, in front of Jiang Xuan, he behaved more docile than a cat. Even though he knew that Jiang Xuan had been neglected by the emperor, he did not dare to overstep his bounds in the slightest. He said respectfully, "Reporting to Your Excellency, I have investigated and found that the Southern Prince's Mansion in Guangzhou and the Flying Immortal Island in the South China Sea are indeed closely related."

"Seven years ago, the Prince of the Southern Kingdom was already taken as a disciple by Ye Gucheng, the new generation sword saint of Feixian Island, who was also taught swordsmanship."

"When the late emperor passed away two years ago and the new emperor ascended the throne, the Prince of Nan's Mansion sent people to deliver congratulatory gifts. Not long after they returned, the Prince of Nan's Mansion began to take action. First, they secretly recruited martial arts practitioners to win people's hearts and even trained assassins. They also secretly sent people to infiltrate the capital."

Li Yanbei paused for a moment, then continued, "Du Tongxuan from the south of the city should have been one of his men."

"I have found out that he didn't have that many experts guarding him before, but since the Emperor's enthronement ceremony two years ago, there have been several unfamiliar faces. The most powerful one is the mysterious man in black next to Du Tongxuan. This person should be an expert sent by the Southern Prince's Mansion."

"And the former Grand Secretary Han Kuang, who had also fallen, had personally gone to Guangzhou. He must have had contact with the Prince of Nan's Mansion, which is why he secretly helped Du Tongxuan."

"It's just as I expected..."

Jiang Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Previously, due to the competition for underground businesses in the capital, Du Tongxuan and Han Kuang were unintentionally involved. Later, after hearing Li Yanbei mention that Du Tongxuan had been invited by Ye Gucheng to a meeting on Feixian Island, he began to suspect that the two were related to the rebellion of the Prince of Nan and were inside agents planted in the capital by the Prince of Nan's mansion.

Now it seems that it is indeed the case.

Since Zhu Youjian ascended the throne, the Southern Prince's Mansion has been making various moves. This was obviously because when the people of the Southern Prince's Mansion came to attend the enthronement ceremony, they saw Zhu Youjian's appearance and found that he looked exactly like the Southern Prince's heir. Therefore, they had the idea of ​​usurping the throne and began to plant spies in the capital and win over Han Kuang, the Grand Secretary, in order to prepare for the future usurpation.

They probably never imagined that the mole they planted would be discovered and eliminated by chance.

"After Han Kuang and Du Tongxuan died, what other moves did the Southern Prince's Mansion make?" Jiang Xuan asked Li Yanbei.

Li Yanbei quickly said, "Last year, Jin Jiuling, known as the 'Divine Constable of Guangzhou,' was transferred to the capital by the Southern Prince's Mansion through his connections."

"Six months ago, an old steward from the Southern Prince's Mansion also changed his appearance and entered the capital. He used his connections to get castrated and enter the palace. Now he is a chief steward in the harem, and his surname is Wang."

In fact, the actions of the Prince of Nan's Mansion were very secretive, but now Li Yanbei controls the underground business of the entire capital, and his eyes and ears are almost everywhere in the city. In addition, with a clear target, how could the actions of the Prince of Nan's Mansion escape his notice?
Li Yanbei was very pleased with himself.

Then, as if remembering something, he quickly added, "Oh, right, sir, there's another matter you asked me to investigate..."

"Half a year ago, after Ximen Chuixue, the Sword God of Wanmei Manor, came out of seclusion, he also went to Feixian Island to visit, but he did not see Ye Gucheng, the Lord of Baiyun City. However, he did not give up. After participating in the 'Six-Finger Qin Demon' incident in Suzhou City with Lu Xiaofeng and others, he continued to go south. It should be as you said, sir, that he wanted to find Ye Gucheng for a duel."

Jiang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief; everything made sense now.

The Prince of Nan's Mansion wanted to usurp the throne. With the help of Ye Gucheng, they used Jin Jiuling, Chief Steward Wang, and others as inside agents to replace the emperor with the Prince of Nan's heir, who looked exactly like Zhu Youjian, without anyone noticing.

This means that the day of the duel between Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng is fast approaching.

Their final duel will undoubtedly take place atop the Forbidden City, specifically in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

But the Forbidden City is the imperial palace, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony is where officials hold court and discuss state affairs, representing the majesty of the imperial family. How could it allow two martial arts practitioners to trample on it and duel on it?
So they were waiting for an opportunity, a chance to lure the tiger away from the mountain.

And this was exactly the opportunity that Jiang Xuan was waiting for.

"With this rebellion by the rebel leader, the Western Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, responsible for guarding the palace, have all left the capital, creating such a good opportunity for you. You must seize it and not disappoint me..."

Jiang Xuan turned to look south and murmured.

The situation in the capital is already chaotic, but in his view, it's far from over. Only by thoroughly muddying the waters can he have a chance to profit.

If he plans this well, he can take this opportunity to climb another step up, stand alongside the imperial power, and completely stabilize his position in the court.

What is a mere Western Depot anyway?

Jiang Xuan wanted more.

(End of this chapter)