Chapter 2, the Great Sword Master Wang Yue
Is that so? Liu Xie turned to look at Wang Yue, a smile in his eyes
Deng Quan's face was flushed, and he appeared embarrassed
Wang Yue is in his early fifties, tall in stature, yet not imposing; he simply exudes a calm demeanor, with a spirited gaze that reflects the aura of a skilled individual
Of course. Wang Yue said without a moment's hesitation. He looked Liu Xie up and down. Although Your Majesty is somewhat slender, your figure is well-proportioned, and your natural talent is exceptional. If you dedicate yourself to learning the sword, you will surely achieve some progress within half a year
If I remember correctly, he seems to have sacrificed himself in the battle that followed shortly after
Then let Wang Yue come, one person is enough with him. Liu Xie was pleased and took advantage of the situation.
I did not expect the Grand Commandant to be so valiant; it seems I, Yang, have misjudged. Had I known this earlier, I need not have exerted myself so desperately back in Xinfeng. With the Grand Commandant and these valiant warriors guarding His Majesty's side, even if Guo Si is brave, what can he do to His Majesty?
Wang Yue pondered for a moment. "The man from Henan, Shi A, has studied swordsmanship under me for several years and has gained a slight understanding of my techniques."
"Deng Qing, it is of no concern," Liu Xie said with a smile. "Although Yang Feng is a man of arms and comes from a humble background, he still possesses a sense of shame. Since he refuses to collude with Li Jue, fights valiantly to protect the emperor, and has repelled Guo Zi, how could he possibly harbor treasonous intentions?"
With these two top swordsmen providing protection, my chances of survival will significantly increase
Your Majesty... Deng Quan was in a state of panic, beads of sweat covering his forehead, his grizzled beard trembling, and his lips quivering for a long time. Gritting his teeth, he said: "I beg Your Majesty to forgive me, but I cannot comply. If Your Majesty insists on this, please relieve me of my duties first"
Seeing that Liu Xie no longer insisted on meeting Yang Feng alone, Deng Quan also breathed a sigh of relief, his attitude softened considerably, yet he still refused to comply with the order
He certainly knows Wang Yue, but he had no impression of Liu Xie at all before; he even thought that Wang Yue was no longer in this world
I inadvertently referred to Yang Feng as a minister, which provoked Deng Quan
It is said that every man harbors a dream of being a hero. Today, the true swordsman stands before us, and one aspires to be an emperor on horseback; is it not only natural to learn the sword?
Although Deng Quan lacks significant ability and has merely relied on his family background and qualifications to gradually attain the position of Guanglu Xun, he is nonetheless a loyal minister
Liu Xie looked at the other officials. "Apart from you, who else in the various departments possesses good skills?"
The horse's tail flicked and swept across Deng Quan's face. The hooves kicked up dust, scattering it all over Deng Quan.
Yang Feng tightened the reins, sitting atop his horse, looking down with disdain at the Tiger Ben and Yu Lin troops.
Is it the Lightning Five-Linked Whip
The accompanying knights also brandished their whips and shouted loudly, with some even deliberately charging on horseback, causing the Tiger Ben warriors to retreat repeatedly in a state of disarray
Deng Quan responded somewhat reluctantly
Having spoken, the circle of warhorses turned and was about to leave
Yang Feng let out a cold laugh and then said: "Perhaps it was due to the surprise attack by Guo Si on that day, catching Guang Luxun off guard, which led to his disadvantage. The situation is different now; Guang Luxun is well-prepared and unafraid of strong enemies, so naturally, there is no need for me, Yang, to exert myself. In that case, I shall not meddle in affairs that do not concern me. Farewell"
In that case, let Yang Feng come to see me alone, while the others remain at the base, how does that sound
Wang Yue was somewhat surprised, hesitated for a moment, and said: "In response to Your Majesty, Lord Deng's praise is unwarranted, and I feel unworthy. There are tens of thousands of wandering knights in Luoyang, among whom there are many skilled swordsmen. Although I have practiced swordsmanship for many years and have gained a modest reputation, I do not dare to claim invincibility."
Liu Xie nodded and took this matter to heart. He turned around to discuss with Deng Quan and decided to summon Wang Yue and Shi A to his side
Being an emperor still comes with its benefits, even the Grand Master must bow and show respect before me
During this special period, the duty-bound Tiger Ben Lang, bearing the heavy responsibility of protecting the emperor, dared not be negligent, nor could he defy the emperor's verbal orders, and could only report to his superior
There is no first in literature, and no second in martial arts; how can there be so many invincible ones in the world
Liu Xie furrowed his brows. "Deng Qing, I am summoning the ministers, not preparing to face an enemy. Why must it be like this?"
Streamlining the military and administration should start with the elite troops and the Imperial Guards around us
The great swordsman Wang Yue is among the Tiger Ben
It is truly a case of a gem covered in dust, as he is merely a young warrior.
Yang Feng plans to launch an attack on Duan Wei to seize his territory and is currently making preparations for the upcoming battle
Not long after, Wang Yue approached Liu Xie and bowed respectfully.
Liu Xie ordered his attendants and the Tiger Ben troops to remain at the base of the hill, intending to meet with Yang Feng alone
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In a time when countless individuals are drifting apart and losing their moral compass, such people are truly worthy of cherishing
Seeing Deng Quan's anxious expression, Liu Xie smiled, reached out to gently press, signaling Deng Quan to calm down a bit.
Liu Xie smiled wryly in his heart
Although Liu Xie was somewhat surprised, he was not disappointed. If Wang Yue truly dares to claim that he is invincible, then he should be more cautious instead.
Yang Feng curled his lips, let out a cold laugh, lightly kicked the horse's belly, and circled around Deng Quan twice
Your Majesty, although Wang Yue's swordsmanship is remarkable, he is still outnumbered and lacks the strength to ensure Your Majesty's safety. I, a humble servant, dare to request that Your Majesty consider the well-being of the people of the world and retract the order.
Liu Xie was momentarily taken aback
The Master said, "One must ensure that names are correct." Once it concerns status and titles, the fighting spirit of these scholars immediately skyrockets. Deng Quan, having fallen into the arrogance of a scholar, truly found himself at a loss.
Deng Quan insisted: "Yang Feng was originally a bandit of the Baibo, and he has been dependent on Li Jue for many years, being fickle and unreliable. Such a man, while he may be useful, is not worthy of being called a minister. If Your Majesty believes that I am being reckless and speaking out of turn, it would be advisable to summon the Three Dukes to discuss the matter, to demonstrate caution"
Liu Xie felt a stir in his heart. "At my age, can I still learn swordsmanship?"
This is a group of somewhat ostentatious warriors, yet their expressions reveal a profound sense of dejection. Although their numbers are few, their spirit is shockingly low, and their combat effectiveness is even negative. If Yang Feng were to contemplate regicide, relying on these individuals for protection would be akin to seeking fish up a tree
After obtaining the support of Princess Tang, Liu Xie immediately sent someone to summon Yang Feng
The official hesitated for a moment, glancing at Deng Quan and then at Liu Xie, and stammered, "It seems... there should be no major issues."
Upon hearing that the Son of Heaven had summoned him, Yang Feng believed that the Son of Heaven was about to issue a decree, and he quickly rushed over with great enthusiasm
The elite troops and feathered guards below the plateau stood as if facing a formidable enemy, forming ranks and aiming their halberds and long swords at Yang Feng and others
Where is Your Majesty
This is a critical time for employing talent, and it is not wise to have conflicts with the ministers
Although Yang Feng held the position of General of Xinyi, he originated from the Baibo bandits and not long ago was still a subordinate of Li Jue. If he were to harbor ill intentions towards the Emperor and jeopardize his life, who would bear the responsibility for such an act
"Before Your Majesty, I do not dare to speak recklessly," Wang Yue said sincerely
In order to survive in this chaotic world, he needs a truly capable army.
Deng Qing, are there any skilled warriors among the Tiger Ben and Yu Lin?
Deng Quan felt it was reasonable, turned around and discussed with his subordinates for a while, confirming that Wang Yue was capable of dealing with Yang Feng, and then ordered someone to make arrangements
Deng Quan was momentarily at a loss, unsure of how to respond. Seeing this, the officials beside him said, "Your Majesty, the Tiger Ben Wang Yue is a renowned swordsman across the land"
Liu Xie had long been prepared and glanced at the officials below the slope
Deng Quan, the Minister of Rites, received the report and was so frightened that his face turned pale. He hurried over and earnestly advised, "Your Majesty, with a family fortune of thousands of gold, still knows not to sit in the hall. Your Majesty, with a body worth ten thousand gold, how can you risk yourself?"
A minister is a high-ranking official, not just anyone is worthy of this title
Hearing Deng Qing say, "You have practiced swordsmanship for many years and are unmatched in Luoyang?" Liu Xie looked at Wang Yue with great interest, becoming increasingly pleased as he observed him
This is quite a pleasant surprise, having stumbled upon a treasure right from the start
Dozens of riders surrounded and galloped forward, coming to a halt at the base of the plateau. The warhorses neighed, their hooves trampled the ground, kicking up yellow dust and raising clouds of smoke and dirt.
Seeing the incompetence of his subordinates, Deng Quan felt a surge of anger, pushing aside the official who was protecting him, he stepped forward and shouted loudly: "Yang Feng, this is where the imperial carriage is located, how can you act so recklessly? Dismount at once!"
He paused for a moment and then said: "I believe that the three ministers possess profound virtue and are renowned throughout the world, worthy of being called ministers. Your Majesty should trust them and employ them."
Liu Xie looked at the subordinate beside Deng Quan. "In a one-on-one fight, how does Wang Yue compare to Yang Feng?"