Simultaneous Transmigration: The Re-merging of 99 Selves

Zhao Yu smiled broadly and said without any concern, "It's alright. Miss Qiu is straightforward and outspoken; how could I possibly take offense? As for the talk of wealth and status, it is indeed true."

"I invited Chief Qiu here precisely to bestow upon you and the Iron Palm Clan an immense fortune. I wonder if you would be willing to listen to my explanation?"

Qiu Qianren traveled a long way to Lin'an just for this sentence.

He immediately sat up straight, cupped his hands to Zhao Yu, and said solemnly, "Your Highness, please speak. I am all ears."

Zhao Yu stood up, walked slowly into the hall, put his hands behind his back, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared: "Chief Qiu is a member of the Jianghu, but he should also know that last year's Kai Xi Northern Expedition resulted in a crushing defeat for the imperial court. The Jin army marched south, and the people of Lianghuai were displaced and suffered a terrible fate."

"Now, the smoke of war has barely cleared, and Shi Miyuan already wants to make peace with the Jin Dynasty, signing humiliating and unequal terms, increasing annual tribute, and ceding territory, completely disgracing our Great Song Dynasty!"

Despite Zhao Yu's indignation, Qiu Qianren remained unfazed and listened quietly.

Now, he has long lost interest in grand narratives about family, country, and the world. What happened to a hero like his master?

Qiu Qianren had no attachment to the Song Dynasty; all he cared about were tangible benefits.

Zhao Yu suddenly turned around and looked at Qiu Qianren: "The court has fallen to this state, what it lacks is not money and food, nor soldiers and horses, but elite soldiers and fierce generals who can win battles."

"I have heard that the Iron Palm Clan comprises thousands of heroes, each a skilled warrior who has fought against the Jin army for many years without fear of death. Chief Qiu's iron palms are unparalleled in the world. I wonder if Chief Qiu would be willing to lead the Iron Palm Clan to submit to the imperial court, serve as an official, and guard the border against the Jin army?"

Qiu Qianren's heart skipped a beat.

He entered officialdom!

This is exactly what he has been dreaming of.

As the leader of the Iron Palm Gang, he was renowned in the martial arts world, but in the end, he was just a bandit, probably not even as good as an ordinary citizen in the eyes of those court officials.

Qiu Qianren's greatest wish in life was to shed his identity as a江湖草莽 (jianghu caomang, a kind of outlaw in the martial arts world), enter the imperial court as an official, and bring glory to his ancestors.

Although the Song Dynasty valued civil officials over military ones, for a wanderer like him, having a proper official position in the imperial court was already an incredible stroke of luck. How could he dare to complain about whether it was a civil or civil position?

If he can truly achieve military merit, it is not impossible for him to be ennobled and appointed as a general.

Wasn't his willingness to pledge allegiance to Wanyan Honglie of the Jin Dynasty in the name of high-ranking official positions and generous salaries?

However, Wanyan Honglie was ultimately a prince of the Jin Dynasty. Even if Qiu Qianren surrendered to the Jin, he would still be a foreigner and subject to control at every turn.

But Zhao Yu in front of him is different. He is a prince of the Song Dynasty. By following Zhao Yu, he can be a legitimate official of the court and bring glory to his ancestors.

only……

Qiu Qianren's excitement subsided slightly, and he remained silent for a moment.

After a long pause, he raised his head and looked at Zhao Yu: "I appreciate Your Highness's kindness. But... can Your Highness truly make the decisions regarding matters of the court?"

His arrival in Lin'an was not without reason; he had already inquired about the situation thoroughly over the past few days.

This Prince Yongjia is indeed the emperor's younger brother, but he never attends court or deals with politics. He only focuses on cultivating Taoism in his mansion and is a well-known idle prince.

The power in the court is now entirely in the hands of Prime Minister Shi Miyuan.

Could such a powerless prince really secure an official position for him and settle down the thousands of Iron Palm Gang members?

Of course, Qiu Qianren also learned from Hong Qi that this Prince Yongjia had secretly mastered remarkable martial arts skills, and had even surpassed all others in the Mount Hua Sword Tournament.

Regardless of whether this matter is true or false, no matter how high one's martial arts skills are, one cannot control matters in the imperial court.

Faced with Qiu Qianren's question, Zhao Yu smiled frankly: "Right now, I really can't make the decision. However, I will soon be able to."

He took a half step forward, looking directly at Qiu Qianren: "As long as I wear that white hat, I'll give you not only an official position, but even a title of nobility or generalship. Chief Qiu, this golden road is right in front of you. Let's see if you have the guts to gamble with me."

White hat!

Upon hearing these three words, Qiu Qianren trembled, even his breathing became erratic.

How could he not understand Zhao Yu's meaning?

He knew that this Prince Yongjia was not as simple as he seemed, but he never expected that Zhao Yu was actually planning to... rebel!

"Your Highness, how could you inform us of such a treasonous matter? Aren't you afraid...?"

Qiu Qianren's voice trembled slightly.

"What is there to be afraid to say?" Zhao Yu laughed, his tone casual yet every word piercing.

"Do you think anyone in Lin'an City, besides me, would be willing to employ you? Even if you turn around and go out now to denounce me, do you think any government office would accept your nonsense, trying to frame a member of the imperial family and a prince? Without any evidence, who would believe you?"

Qiu Qianren opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again.

Zhao Yu was telling the truth.

He was the renowned leader of the Iron Palm Gang in the martial arts world, but in the imperial court of Lin'an, his words probably carried less weight than those of a sweeping eunuch in the palace.

Who would believe the words of a gang leader?

Moreover, for a serious crime like treason, who would dare to get involved without irrefutable evidence?

Seeing his shifting expression, Zhao Yu continued, "Chief Qiu, this is your only chance. If you win, you'll be a hero who helped the emperor rise to power, enjoying high office and great wealth, bringing honor to your family. As for losing, with your martial arts skills, aren't you confident you can escape unscathed?"

These words struck at the deepest part of Qiu Qianren's mind.

He stood there, his brow furrowed, deep in thought.

Zhao Yu was right; this deal was indeed a sure thing.

If he wins the gamble, everything he wants will be within his grasp.

If he loses the bet, with his martial arts skills and agility, who can stop him from leaving?

The nickname "Iron Palm Water-Walking" is well-deserved. In addition to his incredibly powerful iron palms, Qiu Qianren also possesses unparalleled lightness skills in the martial arts world.

He was confident in this.

Moreover, this Prince Yongjia himself possesses unfathomable strength.

Even Hong Qi, the leader of the Beggars' Sect, was willing to relay his message, which shows that this person is far from being as simple as he appears.

This gamble may not be without a chance of winning.

After much deliberation, Qiu Qianren had made up his mind.

He took a deep breath, looked up at Zhao Yu, and all the hesitation in his eyes disappeared, leaving only determination.

However, before making a final decision, Qiu Qianren had one last question he needed to ask.

Qiu Qianren bowed deeply to Zhao Yu and asked solemnly, "May I be so bold as to ask Your Highness a question? Last year at the summit of Mount Hua, did Your Highness truly overpower all the masters in the world and win the title of the number one martial artist?"