Chapter 84

Inside the grand hall.

Everyone was very curious, even the common people of the capital were curious, what was happening?

The unusual phenomenon was grand and looked extremely terrifying.

But the problem was, it had no effect or impact at all.

Was it just a grand scene? What did it mean?

However, a voice slowly echoed in the grand hall.

"Poetry that stands the test of time, a contest of national fortune."

"This is an attack on the Xiongnu's national fortune."

The voice belonged to Zhao Ru.

He had figured out what was happening.

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall was in an uproar.

"What do you mean?"

"Zhao Ru, do you mean that this poem has evolved into a military spirit, attacking the Xiongnu's national fortune?"

"Phew, it's really possible. This military spirit is formed by our great Xia warriors, and with the will of the literary path, it rains down on the twelve cities, indeed like an attack on national fortune."

"Contest of national fortune? Can a poem have such power?"

"Is this another timeless poem?"

Voices echoed one after another.

Inside the grand hall, some people did not believe it, but more were shocked.

Emperor Yongsheng was also curious. He hoped it was true, but he could not see it.

"If it were any other timeless poem, it would certainly not be able to do this, but Gu Jinnian's poem has the blessing of the Mandate of Heaven."

"I must thank the Fulo Dynasty for bringing such a heavenly opportunity to our great Xia."

At this moment, Su Wenjing's voice echoed.

He also understood what was happening.

"Mr. Wenjing, what do you mean? We don't understand."

"Yes, what do you mean? Mr. Wenjing, we don't understand at all what you're saying."

"How is it related to the Fulo Dynasty?"

Everyone spoke one after another, no one in the grand hall understood what Zhao Ru and Su Wenjing were saying.

"Mr. Wenjing took the twelve cities as the theme, and with the blessing of the Mandate of Heaven, this painting contains the power of the Mandate of Heaven."

"It carries the grievances of the people, and Gu Jinnian's poem fits the scene, imbued with the spirit of the literati."

"Thus, with the recognition of the Mandate of Heaven, it evolves into countless iron cavalry, transforming into a military spirit, suppressing the Xiongnu's national fortune."

"The Xiongnu stole our great Xia's territory, enhancing their national fortune. Now, with the Mandate of Heaven's blessing in the painting, Gu Jinnian's timeless poem recovers the national fortune and strikes a heavy blow to the Xiongnu's national fortune."

"If the Fulo Dynasty had not presented this painting, even if the Mandate of Heaven appeared, it would not have caused such an unusual phenomenon."

"Everything is a matter of cause and effect."

Zhao Ru spoke, revealing the truth.

For a moment, everyone was completely enlightened.

But the talented scholars of the Fulo Dynasty had grim faces, especially the third prince of Shenluo.

This painting was meant to humiliate the great Xia Dynasty, but unexpectedly, it helped the great Xia Dynasty immensely.

National fortune.

This thing is too mysterious. You say it exists, but you can't see it. But if you say it doesn't exist, it's absolutely impossible.

When the national fortune is strong, the weather is favorable, the grain harvests are abundant every year, the people are well-fed and well-clothed, and there is a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

But when the national fortune declines, natural disasters and human calamities occur, and there is no power to resist, just like the flood in Jiangning Prefecture, whether it's a natural disaster or a human calamity.

If the crops in Jiangning Prefecture had been harvested or matured half a month earlier, could it have been perfectly avoided?

This is the terrifying aspect of national fortune.

If the Xiongnu's national fortune is damaged, the great Xia Dynasty will more easily reclaim lost territories, and might even completely annihilate the Xiongnu, achieving the great unification of the north and ushering in a true era of prosperity.

In an instant, Emperor Yongsheng could no longer sit still in the grand hall.

His lifelong dream was to strike the Xiongnu in the north and reclaim lost territories. Achieving this, he would die without regrets.

If he could annihilate the Xiongnu and achieve the great unification of the north, even if he went to the netherworld, he would have the confidence to face his father.

Because his father, the founding emperor of the great Xia, did not complete the great unification of the north before his death.

But he did.

Expanding the territory is the highest achievement of an emperor, without any doubt.

The Xiongnu's national fortune was weakened.

For him, it was a great piece of good news.

However, he suppressed his excitement.

He suppressed the excitement in his heart.

He had long had plans for the Xiongnu, but the current great Xia was not yet ready to move, and needed to wait a bit longer.

At the border.

A golden expanse.

Thousands of troops charged into the twelve cities without hesitation.

Seven hundred miles to the north.

On the grassland, the Xiongnu came out of their camps, looking at the scene with puzzled eyes.

And in the Xiongnu royal court.

A middle-aged man looked at the unusual phenomenon with an extremely grim face.

"Poetry that stands the test of time."

"Destroy our Xiongnu's national fortune?"

He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with unwillingness and anger.

This was the suppression of the Mandate of Heaven, not something that human power could solve. Even if he wanted to act, he was powerless.

At this moment, a figure walked out of the hall and looked at the Xiongnu king.

"Your Majesty."

"The great Xia has been preparing for twelve years, day and night, longing to reclaim the twelve cities."

"Now that the Mandate of Heaven has appeared, it won't be long before the great Xia's iron cavalry directly takes these twelve cities."

"Your Majesty, if you hesitate, the great Xia will not give you time to hesitate when the iron cavalry comes."

The figure appeared, a middle-aged scholar, looking at the Xiongnu king, his voice enticing.

The Xiongnu king's gaze also became resolute at this moment.

"Alright."

"I agree."

"But tell the people behind you, after the matter is accomplished, I want the method to forge the great Xia's Dragon Gate Cannons. The rest is irrelevant."

The Xiongnu king spoke, agreeing to the other party's request, but also making his own request.

But upon hearing this, the other party frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, the Dragon Gate Cannon is the foundation of the great Xia's establishment. This is a bit too much to ask, but I can give you ten Dragon Gate Cannons."

He spoke.

The Dragon Gate Cannon is the foundation of the great Xia's establishment. The founding emperor swept through ten countries with this divine weapon.

Otherwise, relying on one's own strength to sweep through ten countries would be almost impossible.

Moreover, there are many rumors about the Dragon Gate Cannon.

Cannons are not rare things. The ten countries had them long ago, and the Fulo Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty also had corresponding cannons.

They were used to resist cavalry.

However, the disadvantages of cannons are obvious. They are large and very heavy, requiring powerful warriors to move them, and the cannonballs' power is not particularly strong, and the range is not far, with a large deviation.

They are still effective against warriors below the third realm, but for warriors above the third realm, they are not very effective.

But the great Xia Dynasty's Dragon Gate Cannons are extremely unique. The cannonballs are powerful, and even a Wuwang warrior cannot ignore them. The range is extremely far, up to fifty miles, with a deviation of no more than two hundred yards.

This is a very strange thing.

Fortunately, the great Xia Dynasty does not have many Dragon Gate Cannons. During the internal turmoil of the great Xia, the Fulo Dynasty borrowed ten, and the Jin Dynasty directly bought twenty.

Even the Central Dynasty requested nearly thirty Dragon Gate Cannons for research.

Cannons, in the context of a war between two countries, cannot determine the decisive outcome, after all, this is a world of immortals and martial arts.

But this weapon has a powerful deterrent effect. With hundreds of thousands of troops lined up, a round of cannons from the great Xia can destroy key points, causing tens of thousands of deaths at the start, and then cutting off the enemy's arms, pushing the army forward.

A complete annihilation might be exaggerated, but at the very least, it would be a small victory. With a good commander, a major victory is very possible.

After two or three such battles, the outcome is basically a complete loss.

"Ten Dragon Gate Cannons?"

"You're really looking down on me."

"Fifty."

"If it's less than fifty, I might as well give the twelve cities to the great Xia Dynasty."

"These twelve cities are not of great benefit to our Xiongnu people. We are more accustomed to living on the grasslands."

"They are not suitable for the houses built by the great Xia people."

The other party spoke.

A flat price of fifty cannons, and he was also speaking the truth. These twelve cities are just a defensive line for the Xiongnu, with military strategic value, but no substantial economic benefit.

Mainly, the great Xia people in these cities were long ago slaughtered, and they are now inhabited by the Xiongnu. They are not accustomed to living in the cities and do not like this lifestyle.

If not for the Fulo Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty, to be honest, they had already discussed with the great Xia to return the twelve cities in exchange for cattle, sheep, horses, gold, jewels, and great Xia tools.

Among the three great dynasties of the Eastern Wasteland.

The great Xia Dynasty is most famous for its tools. There are many strange and unique tools, such as saddles for warhorses and farming tools.

These common things are found in all countries, but for some reason, the great Xia's are better and stronger.

So, all countries speculate that the great Xia Dynasty must have a certain forging method to make the tools more perfect.

And the Jin Dynasty has something everyone wants.

[Dragon Rice]

The rice of the Jin Dynasty is extremely special. Warriors who eat Dragon Rice can strengthen their bodies and nourish their flesh.

Ordinary people who eat Dragon Rice can be free from all diseases, have strong qi and blood, and the strength of a bull.

The Dragon Rice of the Jin Dynasty is also cheap, with different grades, and even common people can eat it.

It can be said that although the Jin Dynasty is not composed entirely of warriors, its people are much stronger than those of other dynasties.

This is what all dynasties envy.

The Jin Dynasty has been eating Dragon Rice for hundreds of years, each generation becoming stronger, which is the fundamental reason for its dominance in the Eastern Wasteland.

Although the great Xia has the Dragon Gate Cannons, there are not many of them, and although they are powerful, a Wuwang warrior can be cautious and not be in great danger. In large-scale wars, the Dragon Gate Cannons can give the great Xia a certain advantage.

But for the Jin Dynasty, the advantage is not particularly significant.

On the contrary, the Jin Dynasty has a large population, and everyone is strong and robust.

Five thousand cavalry can break through ten thousand infantry, this is a common military knowledge.

However, if they encounter ten thousand Jin Dynasty infantry, the result would certainly be a defeat for the cavalry.

No need for ten thousand, five thousand Jin infantry can counter five thousand cavalry, due to their innate strength and the enhancement of Dragon Rice.

The Jin Dynasty exports a large amount of Dragon Rice every year, but it is the lowest grade. The slightly better grades are controlled in quantity and purchased by the nobles of various countries.

Some high-grade Dragon Rice is given as gifts to the royal families of various countries, but the quantity is also controlled.

The nobles and royal families of the Jin Dynasty eat the best Dragon Rice, which is ten times more effective than ordinary Dragon Rice.

To put it simply, there are immortal cultivators who have eaten Dragon Rice, and they believe this Dragon Rice is equivalent to a pill without any side effects. Yes, a pill without side effects.

It's just that the effect is not as strong, but it can cultivate the body and nourish the flesh.

This is why the Jin Dynasty is the first.

As for the Fulo Dynasty, it has neither tools nor Dragon Rice, but it produces two things. One is natural iron ore, which is something the great Xia needs very much.

The other is the mulberry leaf, which, when buried in the fields, can greatly increase production. Saying it doubles the yield might be an exaggeration, but it can at least increase it by fifty percent.

The great Xia Dynasty values the iron ore of the Fulo Dynasty, and the Jin Dynasty values this mulberry leaf. It is because of these two things that the Fulo Dynasty is so wealthy and is listed as one of the three great dynasties.

And these are things the Xiongnu do not have.

The Xiongnu generals are warlike and brave, but they can only be pawns because they lack key items.

They are also very frustrated and resentful about this.

Now that the opportunity has come, no matter what, he must negotiate good terms, otherwise, it would be a risk that is not worth it.

"Alright."

The middle-aged scholar thought for a moment. He did not continue to haggle and temporarily agreed.

Upon receiving the other party's promise, the Xiongnu king also nodded.

At this moment.

A meteor streaked across the sky and landed on the Xiongnu plain, causing an earthquake and destroying countless cattle, sheep, and warhorses.

This situation made the Xiongnu king's face turn very grim.

This is the downside of a decline in national fortune. He did not expect it to come so quickly.

And this is just the beginning. Who knows what will happen in the future?

"Quickly investigate what happened."

The Xiongnu king roared, ordering someone to investigate what had happened.

At the same time.

In the capital of the great Xia.

The scene of the meteor streaking across the sky also appeared in the sky above the capital of the great Xia, witnessed by countless people.

And inside the great Xia palace, accompanied by the sound of a dragon's roar.

This is a symbol of the strengthening of the great Xia's national fortune.

The true dragon's roar.

"Good."

In an instant, Emperor Yongsheng stood up, clenching his fist, unable to resist praising.

The civil and military officials were also extremely excited.

The Xiongnu is their greatest enemy. They know that Emperor Yongsheng thinks about war day and night, but they also know that the great Xia is not yet ready to declare war.

Each generation does its own part. Emperor Yongsheng has done what he should do. The next step is to continue to prepare and wait for a benevolent emperor to take the throne and govern the country, and then continue to prepare.

In this way, in fifty years, the great Xia will rise completely. At that time, let alone fighting the Xiongnu, even fighting the Fulo Dynasty, the great Xia will have the confidence to do so.

But the Xiongnu's constant interference at the border is also a headache. The Ministry of War and generals often use this as a reason to request military action.

It's a headache.

Now that this has happened, it is a great event. The Xiongnu's national fortune has been weakened and severely damaged. In the coming years, they probably won't dare to harass the border, and the Ministry of War and generals won't be able to use it as an excuse.

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live for ten thousand years."

Someone spoke, shouting "Long live the Emperor" at a critical moment.

At that moment, everyone followed, except for a few foreign envoys.

Hearing the officials shout.

Emperor Yongsheng was also particularly pleased.

However, he did not say anything, but looked at Gu Jinnian and said.

"Jinnian."

"Today, you wrote a timeless poem, weakening the Xiongnu's national fortune and enhancing the great Xia's national prestige. What reward do you want? As long as it's not too excessive, I will grant it to you."

Emperor Yongsheng spoke.

He was very excited and exceptionally happy.

Today's events made his heart unable to calm down.

"Your Majesty."

"I believe that enhancing the great Xia's national prestige is the duty of a Confucian scholar. I do not need any reward."

Gu Jinnian spoke, refusing all rewards.

The reason was simple: asking for this and that would make him look greedy. Not asking for anything is the best.

Let the emperor decide.

Such a big matter, if the reward is too little, everyone will see it, and if it's too much, I can handle it. Just let you decide.

And it also makes him look proud and unbending.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Emperor Yongsheng was very satisfied. He thought for a moment and then looked at Gu Jinnian and said.

"If that's the case, ordinary