Double penetration: This Three Kingdoms has dragon energy

Chapter 159 Review of Strength and Zhang Zhao

December 18th, the first year of the Chuping era.

It is not advisable to send troops out; instead, it is advisable to conduct a review and hold a meeting.

As the year draws to a close, the internal and external wars waged by the Ji Qiu forces have all come to an end.

Now, let's take stock of Ji Qiu's personal strengths.

The first secret technique, Bewitching Mind, is at the beginner level of the fifth rank.

The second secret technique, Dragon Transformation, is at the initial stage of the sixth rank.

When the Dragon Transformation Secret Technique reaches the intermediate level, its power undergoes a transformation.

You will receive the following three benefits.

Firstly, the improvement effect of the four-dimensional attributes is doubled!
Secondly, the dragon seed doubles the effect of increasing cultivation speed!
Thirdly, Ji Qiu will gain the right to use the innate secret techniques of the Dragon Seed Controller!
At this time, he had a total of thirteen dragon seeds.

They were placed on Jia Xu, Yuan Huan, Lü Bu, Liu Bei, Yu Ji, Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, Huang Zhong, Guo Jia, the leaders of the three major political factions in the modern world of Annam, and the CEO of Ji Qiu Group.

Among them, Yuan Huan, Lü Bu, Liu Bei, and Yu Ji, the leaders of the three major political factions in the modern world's Annam, and the CEO of Ji Qiu Group, are the ones who truly need to rely on the dragon seed to control the effects.

Originally, Jia Xu also needed to be controlled by the dragon seed, but after such a long period of testing, especially with the current flourishing development of Ji Qiu's forces, Ji Qiu believes that Jia Xu has already submitted.

Therefore, he was removed from the list of personnel who must be controlled by the dragon race.

As for Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, Huang Zhong, and Guo Jia, they do not need to rely on the dragon seed for control at all.

Ji Qiu placed the dragon seed inside them.

Firstly, they coveted his innate secret technique and wanted to obtain the right to use it through the dragon seed.

Secondly, they can use the dragon seed to increase their cultivation speed.

Many people may have forgotten that, in addition to controlling their subordinates, dragons can also increase their subordinates' cultivation speed, doubling it from the start.

Once you reach the intermediate level, you can increase your power by two times!

Through the Dragon Seed, Ji Qiu gained the right to use eight innate secret techniques.

These are Jia Xu's Hidden Scale Secret Technique, Yuan Huan's Dragon Embroidery Secret Technique, Lü Bu's Unparalleled Secret Technique, Liu Bei's Unparalleled Benevolence and Righteousness Secret Technique, Zhao Yun's Dragon Soul Possession Secret Technique, Dian Wei's Evil Possession Secret Technique, Huang Zhong's Sun Piercing Secret Technique, and Guo Jia's Cave-Piercing Secret Technique!

Ji Qiu cannot cultivate these innate secret techniques; he can only use them. The level of these secret techniques is determined by the level of their original owners' innate secret techniques!
The third secret technique, Mad Faith, is at the peak of the seventh rank.

The total number of believers is 1.8 million, and the ratio of adjacent believer levels remains at 30.

The fourth secret technique is summoning lightning, a high-level seventh-grade technique.

The fifth secret technique, replenishing vital energy, is a high-level seventh-grade technique.

The sixth secret technique is hazy, at the initial stage of the seventh rank.

The seventh secret technique, Flying Feather, is at the initial level of the seventh rank.

The eighth secret technique, Mind's Eye, is at the peak of the ninth rank.

The Ninth Secret Technique, Heart Sword, Peak of the Ninth Rank.

In terms of magic arts.

The Nine Revolutions Mystic Technique has reached the third level of the second stage.

The Supreme Thunder Technique has reached the first level of Great Perfection.

Ji Qiu's number of followers was insufficient to support his simultaneous cultivation of two immortal arts.

Therefore, he decided to prioritize cultivating the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, because the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique improves basic strength, and a solid foundation is king.

Without the aid of faith in cultivation, the Supreme Thunder Technique can only rely on painstaking, gradual practice.

It remains at the first level of Great Perfection.

All the effects of secret arts and magical techniques are combined together.

This will allow Ji Qiu to achieve a single-arm strength of 2300 kilograms.

The running speed reached 6.2 seconds per kilometer.

His mental strength reached 4.8 times that of an average person. Although he could not truly influence reality with his mind, he could still exert a powerful aura.

Ordinary people don't even dare to look Ji Qiu in the eye.

His physical condition reached 5.6 times the peak of an average person.

It can withstand a frontal impact of 1.2 tons, making the skin more resilient, with improved recovery and endurance.

A cut that is half a foot long will heal on its own in at most half an hour.

He was able to discuss life with three women, Ren Hongchang, Zhang Ning, and Cai Zhenji, and was a man who could have sex ten times in one night!

The development of modern forces.

His business was mainly confined to Annam National School, but the companies he established had already spread to various fields.

The number of people in Annam who directly receive his salary has exceeded two million.

As a result of his influence, the number of people who rely on him for their livelihood has exceeded 30 million.

Annam has a total population of 1 million, and now nearly a third of the population depends on Ji Qiu for food.

He is the true uncrowned king of Annam!
Even though he had taken the dragon seed from the heads of the three major political factions in Annam, no one dared to touch him.

Because to attack him is to attack Annam!
However, just to be on the safe side, he did not remove the dragon seed from the three leaders' bodies.

Because no one can guarantee that these three leaders will always put Annam's interests first.

Throughout history, there have been many who have betrayed the interests of their country and nation for their own benefit.

As for Ji Qiu at present, although there is no force in Annam that can take him down.

However, there are still some outside of Annam.

Even without the intervention of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, most powerful nations can easily diminish his influence.

Of course, this only extends to amplifying his power; it's unlikely that he could be completely amplified.

Based on Ji Qiu's current personal strength, he can be considered invincible in the modern world!

His next step in the development of the modern world was to proceed in two steps.

The first is internal.

Continue to cultivate relations with Annam, increase the number of Annamites who depend on him for their livelihood, integrate the original three major political factions into one, carry out large-scale infrastructure construction, and enhance the overall strength of Annam.

Secondly, it is external.

It extends its reach to Annam's neighboring countries, Lan Xang and Funan, as well as their neighboring countries, Bagan and Siam.

Ji Qiu's future development plan is to integrate these five small Southeast Asian countries.

First, economic cooperation will follow, then political and military cooperation, ultimately leading to complete integration. If this plan can be completed and they can be integrated into one country, then Ji Qiu's power in the modern world will reach the level of a middle-class country.

Next, let's look at the situation of his civil and military officials.

First, let's introduce the newly recruited talents.

The recruitment notice issued in late autumn continues to play a role.

His personnel philosophy of selecting people based solely on their talent, regardless of their background, has attracted a large number of talented individuals.

Initially, he was just a talented person from a poor family, but as Ji Qiu made great strides on the battlefield, many powerful families also began to send their talents.

Of course, no powerful or influential family is currently willing to have their entire clan join them.

The main reason is similar to the Xun family, which sent Xun You, a member of the collateral branch of the family head, to invest.

During this period, Ji Qiu has recruited as many as a hundred new talents of various kinds.

However, there is only one person who truly deserves Ji Qiu's attention: Zhang Zhao!

Zhang Zhao, courtesy name Zibu, was a native of Pengcheng, Xuzhou, and was a highly influential minister of the Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period.

His position in Eastern Wu was comparable to that of Xun Yu to Cao Cao and Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei.

Zhang Zhao displayed extraordinary talent from a young age, studying the Zuo Zhuan under Bai Hou Zi'an. He became famous for his extensive knowledge, especially for his profound understanding of the Book of Han, which earned him the respect of scholars at the time. He was as famous as Zhao Yu from Langya and Wang Lang from Donghai, and they had a deep friendship.

Even Chen Lin, who drafted the proclamation against Cao Cao for Yuan Shao, although he was from Xuzhou, admired Zhang Zhao greatly.

Tao Qian, the governor of Xuzhou, heard of Zhang Zhao's reputation for talent and recommended him as a candidate for the imperial examination. However, Zhang Zhao refused. Tao Qian felt that Zhang Zhao was looking down on him and imprisoned him in a fit of anger. Fortunately, Zhao Yu pleaded for his life and Zhang Zhao was released.

In 194, Cao Cao launched an expedition to Xuzhou, and Zhang Zhao, who was unwilling to surrender to Cao Cao, chose to cross the river to Yangzhou.

Upon learning this, Sun Ce immediately took the initiative to visit him and extended a warm invitation to befriend him.

Moved by Sun Ce's sincerity and needing a place to settle down in the chaotic world, Zhang Zhao joined Sun Ce's camp and served him.

Sun Ce was eager to find talented people, so he appointed Zhang Zhao as Chief Clerk and General of the Army, entrusting him with all matters, large and small, in the army, whether civil or military.

At that time, Sun Ce's decisive and ruthless actions during the conquest of the six counties of Jiangdong aroused strong dissatisfaction among the powerful clans of Jiangdong. Zhang Zhao's joining greatly improved the negative image of the Sun family when they first arrived in Jiangdong and made the greatest contribution to laying the foundation for the Sun family's Jiangdong cause, surpassing many famous scholars such as Zhang Hong, Qin Song, and Chen Duan.

In 200 AD, Sun Ce was assassinated. On his deathbed, he entrusted Sun Quan to Zhang Zhao, even saying, "If Zhongmou (Sun Ce) is incompetent, you may take over for yourself."

His dying words, “If Zheng Fu fails to achieve victory, I will return west slowly without worry,” demonstrate his trust and reliance on Zhang Zhao.

At that time, the Sun family's foundation in Jiangdong was still weak. Internally, various forces were eager to make moves, and externally, powerful enemies coveted their territory. The situation was extremely precarious.

After Sun Ce's death, Sun Quan was grief-stricken and could only weep. Zhang Zhao immediately said sternly, "Xiaolian, is this the time to weep?" He then helped Sun Quan onto his horse and went out to inspect the army and stabilize the morale of the troops and the people.

Although Zhou Yu also quickly led his troops to support Sun Quan, Zhang Zhao, as the core figure of the regent group, played a decisive role in the direction of Sun's regime. Generals such as Cheng Pu, Dong Xi, Zhu Zhi, and Lü Fan were all under his command.

In addition, Zhang Zhao made every effort to recruit famous scholars such as Yan Jun, Sun Shao, Shi Yi, and Teng Yin, especially local Jiangdong scholars, into Sun Quan's staff, laying a solid foundation for Sun Quan to gain a foothold in Jiangdong.

On the one hand, he deployed his generals to quell the rebellions of various forces, such as the Yue tribes, after Sun Ce's death.

On the other hand, they began to formulate regulations and rites to make long-term plans for the Sun family's long-term rule in Jiangdong.

It is no exaggeration to say that without Zhang Zhao's strategic planning, it is uncertain whether Eastern Wu could have survived under Sun Quan's rule.

On the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, facing the overwhelming force of Cao Cao's army, Zhang Zhao advocated surrender.

Although this claim is not directly recorded in the Biography of Zhang Zhao in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, it can be indirectly confirmed by related historical materials such as the Biography of Zhou Yu and the Biography of Lu Su. Sima Guang's Zizhi Tongjian even explicitly points out, through the words of Sun Quan, that the group led by Zhang Zhao and Qin Song held the idea of ​​surrendering to Cao Cao.

Zhang Zhao made this suggestion based on his own considerations: Cao Cao, as the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, had a legitimate reason to attack and thus held the advantage in public opinion.

After Cao Cao conquered Jingzhou, he had both infantry and navy under his command. In comparison, Eastern Wu was far inferior in terms of military strength.

Moreover, as a scholar-official deeply influenced by Confucian values ​​of honor, Zhang Zhao believed that the emperor of Xuchang was the legitimate emperor of the Han Dynasty. Even if Cao Cao was arrogant and domineering, he was still a Han subject. Sun Quan's surrender was actually a return to the Han Dynasty, and he could still maintain his respected status. The country could also end its division. There was no need to risk the lives of the people of Eastern Wu for a slim chance of victory.

However, Sun Quan was ambitious and eager to achieve hegemony, which went against Zhang Zhao's ideals. As a result, Zhang Zhao's status in Sun Quan's heart plummeted.

After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhang Zhao continued to play an important role in the Eastern Wu regime, but he was no longer as relied upon as before.

Although Sun Quan was dissatisfied with Zhang Zhao, he also knew that Zhang Zhao was indispensable.

In 212, Ruan Yu wrote a letter to Sun Quan on behalf of Cao Cao, suggesting that if Sun Quan "takes Zhang Zhao from within and attacks Liu Bei from without," he could maintain control of Jiangdong for a long time, which shows the importance of Zhang Zhao to Eastern Wu.

In 229, Sun Quan proclaimed himself King of Wu and attributed the greatest credit for the Battle of Red Cliffs to the deceased Zhou Yu. Zhang Zhao wanted to praise Zhou Yu's merits, but before he could speak, Sun Quan retorted, "If I had listened to you back then, I'd probably be begging for food by now."

After that, Sun Quan selected a prime minister twice. All the ministers thought Zhang Zhao was the most suitable, but Sun Quan used the reasons that the prime minister's affairs were complicated and that Zhang Zhao's upright character and outspoken advice might easily cause resentment, so he appointed Sun Shao and Gu Yong as prime ministers one after the other.

Zhang Zhao was upright and incorruptible throughout his life, and dared to speak frankly and advise Sun Quan.

Sun Quan enjoyed hunting and was even threatened by tigers on several occasions. Zhang Zhao sternly advised him against it, but although Sun Quan apologized on the surface, he continued to do as he pleased.

Sun Quan was fond of banquets, but Zhang Zhao rebuked him, saying that his behavior was no different from that of King Zhou of Shang, forcing Sun Quan to stop drinking.

In 232, Gongsun Yuan, the governor of Liaodong under Cao Wei, rebelled against Wei and submitted to Sun Quan. Sun Quan was overjoyed and wanted to send an envoy to Liaodong.

Zhang Zhao strongly advised against it, pointing out that Gongsun Yuan's submission was not sincere and that if he went back on his word, Eastern Wu would become a laughing stock.

Sun Quan ignored his advice and insisted on sending an envoy. Zhang Zhao, indignant, feigned illness and refused to attend court.

Enraged, Sun Quan sealed Zhang Zhao's door with earth. Zhang Zhao, not to be outdone, blocked the door with earth from the inside of the house.

Later, Gongsun Yuan indeed betrayed Eastern Wu and killed Sun Quan's envoy. Sun Quan was filled with remorse and repeatedly invited Zhang Zhao to court without success. He even threatened to burn down the gate to force him to come. Finally, he went to Zhang Zhao's house in person and stood there for a long time. Only then did Zhang Zhao come out to meet him with the help of his son. The two men then reconciled.

In his later years, Zhang Zhao withdrew from court affairs and devoted himself to writing at home, producing "Commentary on the Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals" and "Annotations on the Analects," but unfortunately both of these works have been lost.

In 236, Zhang Zhao passed away at the age of eighty-one, and was posthumously honored with the title "Wen".

Throughout his life, Zhang Zhao was loyal to Eastern Wu. He made great contributions to stabilizing the situation, recruiting talents, and establishing rules and regulations in Eastern Wu. Although he was somewhat disappointed in his later years due to his differences with Sun Quan, his achievements and upright character left a strong mark on the history of the Three Kingdoms. He was undoubtedly a pillar of Eastern Wu.

Zhang Zhao sought refuge with Ji Qiu for two reasons.

On one hand, it was Zhao Yu's recommendation, and on the other hand, he had high hopes for Ji Qiu.

In his view, Tao Qian was old, but he was capable and had integrated the forces in Xuzhou early on, giving him a huge advantage in the early stages of the chaos.

However, they will not achieve much in the future struggle for supremacy.

It was just Xinchai, a vanguard for the king.

In comparison, Ji Qiu is the true potential dragon to seize the throne.

However, this hidden dragon is no longer a true hidden dragon.

They were already halfway into the air.

This made him somewhat regretful.

If he had joined Ji Qiu's forces while Ji Qiu was still trapped in Taishan Commandery, he would have been able to achieve the same status as he had under Sun Ce in history.

To be honest, it's a bit too late to seek refuge with Ji Qiu now.

But it's not too late.

Since Ji Qiu currently only occupies Qingzhou, his struggle for supremacy has only just begun.

Most importantly, Zhang Zhao astutely discovered that Ji Qiu's forces lacked true talent in domestic affairs!
(End of this chapter)