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

Chapter 196 The Alliance Against the Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng's Test

Qingyang City, northern Shaanxi.

The Ming Cult members entered the city in large numbers, tens of thousands of them carrying the Five Elements Flags and wielding all sorts of strange weapons, including swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks. They had all eighteen kinds of weapons and did not look like a regular army, nor did they look like ordinary martial arts practitioners.

However, their power was in no way inferior to that of the rebel army in Qingyang City, and perhaps even greater.

In the Qingyang County government office, Li Zicheng personally led his generals to hold a grand banquet to entertain the high-ranking members of the Ming Cult.

The leaders of the Ming Cult were naturally Zhang Wuji, Yang Xiao (Left Guardian of Light), Yin Tianzheng (White-browed Eagle King), and Wei Yixiao (Green-winged Bat King).

"Hahaha……"

"My esteemed friends from the Ming Cult, your presence truly brings honor to my humble abode in Qingyang!"

"On behalf of my 100,000-strong army, I sincerely welcome you all!"

Li Zicheng laughed heartily and led his men forward to greet Zhang Wuji and the others.

When Li Zicheng saw Zhang Wuji, who was leading the group, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He had only heard of this new leader of the Ming Cult before.

I thought it was just a rumor, but I never expected that he was really that young?

Although he was surprised, Li Zicheng did not show it. He stepped forward with a friendly expression, looked at Zhang Wuji politely, and said, "Haha, this must be the new leader of the Ming Cult, right?"

Yang Xiao had already met with Li Zicheng, so the two were not strangers. He stepped forward first to introduce Li Zicheng, saying, "King Chuang, this is our new leader of the Ming Cult."

"Master, this is the rebel leader."

Zhang Wuji smiled and nodded, cupping his hands in greeting, "I am Zhang Wuji, greetings to the King of Chuang."

"So it's Leader Zhang! Haha, Leader Zhang, no need to be so polite. From now on, we're all family!"

Li Zicheng laughed heartily, gestured for them to come in, and said, "You have all come from afar and must be tired. I have prepared some simple wine. Please come in, let's drink and chat!"

"Please, King Chuang."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two sides entered the lobby reception room and took their seats.

As the host, Li Zicheng naturally occupied the highest position. To his left, from left to right, were Liu Zongmin and other generals under the rebel king. Zhang Wuji and the others, being guests, were arranged in the right-hand row.

The banquet began, and the two sides mingled and chatted, creating a fairly harmonious atmosphere.

However, both sides were intentionally or unintentionally gauging and testing each other's strengths and weaknesses.

After several rounds of drinks, Li Zicheng finally spoke up and got down to business: "With your esteemed sect joining us in this uprising, I am like a tiger with wings. If our two families join forces, we can achieve great things. However, I wonder if Leader Zhang has any thoughts on the uprising?"

These words caused the atmosphere in the hall to fall silent.

All eyes of the rebel army were on Zhang Wuji, awaiting his reply.

Although it was just a simple sentence, everyone understood that it was about to determine the hierarchy within the alliance.

After all, both the rebel army and the Ming Cult were quite powerful.

The two sides are not in a subordinate relationship, but merely an alliance.

But two tigers cannot share one mountain.

Even if it's an alliance, there has to be a leader, otherwise, who should we listen to in future actions?

Li Zicheng's words were a test of Zhang Wuji's attitude.

Zhang Wuji wasn't an idiot, and he naturally understood what Li Zicheng meant. He smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, you flatter me. My Ming Cult comes from humble origins and knows nothing about military affairs. I'm good at leading the vanguard in battles, but the specifics of the uprising should naturally be decided by Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere immediately relaxed. Li Zicheng and the others all smiled, quite satisfied with Zhang Wuji's answer.

However, on the surface, Li Zicheng smiled modestly and said, "Leader Zhang is too modest. Leader Zhang is so young, yet he has become the new leader of the Ming Cult. He is truly a promising young man. In the future, I will have to trouble Leader Zhang with the affairs of the uprising. When we achieve great things in the future, I will certainly not fail you."

Zhang Wuji smiled and cupped his hands in thanks: "Then I thank Your Highness in advance."

Yang Xiao changed the subject, cupped his hands and asked, "Now that the entire northern Shaanxi has been occupied by Your Highness, I wonder what Your Highness plans to do next?"

Li Zicheng made no attempt to conceal his intentions, stating frankly, "I have been preparing for many days and am ready to march south soon, take Xi'an, establish my capital, and declare myself emperor!"

Zhang Wuji and the others were shocked and looked intently at Li Zicheng.

This guy really has huge ambitions.

He's already planning to declare himself emperor right after starting his rebellion?
Li Zicheng pretended not to notice anything unusual about Zhang Wuji and the others, and asked with a smile, "What do you all think?"

The second attempt.

Zhang Wuji and the others exchanged glances, nodded slightly, and cupped their hands, saying, "We, the Ming Cult, naturally support Your Highness's actions. However, the reinforcements dispatched by the imperial court have already arrived in Xi'an."

"The commander of the imperial army this time is Lu Xiang-sheng, the governor of three provinces who led the troops to quell the White Lotus Rebellion. He is not only brave and good at fighting, but also extremely skilled in military tactics."

"With this man guarding Xi'an, it will be difficult for Your Highness to take it by force."

Li Zicheng laughed heartily, quite confidently: "Gentlemen, rest assured, I have been planning this for a long time. Let alone Lu Xiangshan, even if Sun Chengzong and Yuan Chonghuan, who are guarding Liaodong, come together, I will not be afraid in the slightest."

"Moreover, with everyone joining us now, I am even more confident than before. If I was only 70% sure before, I am now 100% sure!"

Zhang Wuji and the others exchanged glances, their hearts filled with surprise and doubt, wondering where Li Zicheng got such confidence from.

However, on the surface, everyone still offered very flattering words and spoke politely.

But then Li Zicheng changed the subject, saying, "I am not afraid of the Ming Dynasty's reinforcements, but this time, that brat Chongzhen has even sent out the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In addition, I have heard that the nine major sects of the martial arts world, including Shaolin and Wudang, have formed an alliance and are heading northwest. I am quite wary of these people..."

Zhang Wuji understood Li Zicheng's meaning and said proactively, "Rest assured, King Chuang, leave the Embroidered Uniform Guard and various Jianghu factions to my Ming Cult."

"That would be perfect!"

Li Zicheng smiled with satisfaction, raised his cup, and said, "Come on, drink!"

A banquet is suitable for both hosts and guests.

After the banquet, the members of the Ming Cult were settled in a fine inn in the city to rest.

After returning to his room, Zhang Wuji was no longer drunk at all, his eyes were clear, and he waited quietly.

Before long, Yang Xiao and the others arrived.

"Master!"

"Left Envoy Yang, Grandfather, Bat King..."

Zhang Wuji greeted them one by one.

"Did the leader notice anything during tonight's banquet?" Yang Xiao asked.

Zhang Wuji's expression was solemn as he said, "Among Li Zicheng's men, apart from Hu, Miao, Fan, and Tian, ​​the others are not worth mentioning. But the one who truly hides his true abilities is Li Zicheng himself!"

Yang Xiao nodded: "He is very strong. Conservatively speaking, he is at least a Grandmaster of the fourth level or above. In a one-on-one fight, I am no match for him!"

(End of this chapter)