Chapter 10, Competition

I want to say: "It's alright, I have an idea that will ensure His Highness the Sixth does not feel that our strength is too overwhelming. Moreover, it will definitely satisfy His Majesty." Prince Ning immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "When I secretly met with Father Emperor last night, I requested a very fine estate. It is located near the confluence of the Yima River, a tributary of the Liuhua River, just five miles from the Holy Capital. It covers an area of approximately fifty square miles of good land, and it will be your fief in due course." It is located near the confluence of the Yima River, a tributary of the Liuhua River, just five miles from the Holy Capital. It covers an area of approximately fifty square miles of good land, and it will be your fief in due course.

Seeing the expressions of Minister Zhang and several senior generals, who seemed on the verge of pouncing on me, I exchanged a glance with Prince Ning and we both smiled wryly. Although we had suddenly gained a powerful ally with extreme loyalty in the military, it also exposed a part of our strength in front of the other princes, leaving us uncertain whether this was a blessing or a curse

We dismounted, and Prince Ning left Sanqing and others behind to take me to the Hall of Martial Observation, where the crowns were towering, filled with the dignitaries of the Holy Capital

Emperor Shenren ascended the three-foot-high jade platform with the support of dozens of eunuchs and slowly took his seat on the throne

The Divine Benevolent Emperor did not summon "The Sword that Crosses the Heavens" but directly asked me, "What does the Yang family think about how this competition should be conducted?"

Prince Ning and I walked along, exchanging light-hearted banter. Some people genuinely greeted us, while others merely forced a smile at Prince Ning, their expressions lacking sincerity.

There, the Sixth Prince recommended the "Sword Across the Sky". Gritting his teeth, he signed his name. Minister Zhang immediately handed the life-and-death document to Emperor Shenren as a witness.

I leisurely leaned against another sandalwood table and nonchalantly said, "What does His Majesty say?"

Amidst the surging scent of blood, the surrounding imperial guards were filled with high spirits, erupting into frenzied shouts. Minister Zhang of the Ministry of War announced loudly: "Yang Weisheng, the commander of the Ning Wang's guards." Yet, within his voice lingered a hint of doubt; I knew he had recognized the 'Three Consecutive Slashes' I had executed. However, I could not understand why the old man, who usually excelled with spears and swords, had chosen to teach me this 'Three Consecutive Slashes' instead.

Prince Ning gave me a satisfied glance, and I smiled as I asked, "I wonder who the Sixth Prince has formed a connection with. Otherwise, even if brothers are competing for something, there would be no need to be so petty as to deliberately put the Prince in a difficult position. Moreover, the position of the Governor-General of the Five Provinces, while it has broad authority, does not have much military force available for mobilization. It is strange that in the past, everyone overlooked this, and as soon as the Prince recommended someone, someone immediately stepped forward to seize it, right?"

This guest, known as the foremost literary figure of the Celestial Empire, Mr. Simashang, although he holds no official position, can freely enter and exit the imperial palace. He possesses no title, yet among the thousands of officials in the Holy Capital, not a single person dares to raise their voice against him. The reason is simple: the current benevolent Emperor regards him as a confidant and kindred spirit; who would dare to offend the Emperor's intimate friend

I sneered menacingly as I struck down both horse and rider, my steed galloping past. In the swirling blood mist behind me, without a single move from the 'Sword Across the Sky,' both man and horse were cleaved into thirty-six pieces on the spot

Such arrangements have also greatly satisfied the guests, who praised, "Among Your Majesty's princes, only the Fifth Prince is so frugal and close to the people, very good, very good"

Once again playing with the small ornaments on the table, Prince Ning thought for a moment and said: "The martial arts competition is scheduled to take place in seven days at the Imperial Martial Arts Arena. You should prepare well. Hmm, join me for dinner tonight; I have a guest to entertain."

The Divine Emperor gestured for me to step forward, and I approached with utmost respect, kneeling on the ground and performing a deep bow once again

The crisp sound of the jade chime echoed three times, and the various officials, in a flurry, quickly arranged themselves in order of their ranks.

I shook my head and said, "How many troops can be stationed within a radius of fifty li? Moreover, it is only five li away from the Holy Capital."

I furrowed my brow: "Who has the other party sent?"

In addition to the titles previously conferred by Prince Ning, it is likely the intention of Emperor Shenren himself to promote me to the position of Inspector General of the Five Cities. This means that, in addition to leading the ten thousand soldiers to maintain daily order in the Holy Capital, I now possess the authority to lead constables and officials to apprehend individuals at will. Unless dealing with officials of the second rank or above, I can freely enter homes without anyone daring to obstruct me. Prince Ning could not help but show a look of unexpected joy, slightly alleviating the concerns brought about by Emperor Shenren's inadvertent revelation of my identity.

The dinner of Prince Ning is quite simple, consisting of two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, totaling four dishes; however, the portions are sufficient for three people to eat

The Divine Benevolent Emperor nodded and said, "Very good, yes, very good. There is a certain flavor of a general in having such a combination of literature and military prowess." As soon as these words were spoken, I distinctly felt the stir among the civil and military officials around me. The glances directed at me shifted from disdain to a burning enthusiasm, while those that were previously merely dismissive transformed into extreme hostility.

On the morning of April 16, 13,095 in the Sacred Calendar, I, Prince Ning, accompanied by three Qing attendants, two soldiers, the Fairy of Cloud and Crane, three masters, seven swords, and nine evil stars, along with fifty brocade-clad guards and one hundred armored attendants, slowly rode towards the imperial palace

Twenty zhang, I raised my giant axe towards the sky. At ten zhang, my battle axe began to slightly droop. At one zhang, I let out a thunderous roar, activating "Startling Dragon Qi" with all my strength, and the steel battle axe emitted a brilliant light. The old man taught me the "Three Consecutive Slashes to Break the Formation," which unleashed three arcs of energy, cleaving towards "Horizontal Sky Sword."

He directly led me to the secret chamber, where Ning Wang shattered the entire bluestone table with a single palm strike, leaving me astonished by his profound internal strength, which was at least two levels above mine; of course, it still could not compare to Sanqing and the others

Prime Minister Cai slightly cupped his fists in salute and smiled, saying: "This must be Commander Yang, who saved my son from trouble last time, right? Indeed, a young hero with extraordinary bearing. I commend Commander Yang for winning this position as the commander-in-chief." He nodded with a smile at Prince Ning, and without waiting for a response, turned around and slowly walked, swaying with every third step, towards the area where Scholar Qin and Left Prime Minister Chao were conversing. Scholar Qin gave us a slight smile and gesture, then turned around and led the two prime ministers directly to stand near the throne.

Inevitably, we will once again perform the kowtow dance and chant long live.

With a sword held horizontally, clearly unaccustomed to the weight of the hundred-pound golden chainmail, he wielded a two-foot-long golden spear in his hand, riding that fine steed as he slowly circled around the arena.

At this moment, over 30,000 heavily armored imperial soldiers surrounded the training ground, and amidst the thunderous sound of drums, hundreds of heavily armored cavalry charged back and forth across the field, their heavy war weapons shattering the two wooden stakes used as targets into splinters. This vividly illustrates the might of the Celestial Empire's military power

I turned back and smiled slightly at Prince Ning, who nodded in understanding and smiled in return. Meanwhile, on the side of the Sixth Prince, everyone had changed color in their faces. The Sixth Prince stepped forward a few paces and said: "Father, this matter is unfair. The General Tang, whom I recommended, is not skilled in horsemanship; how can he compete in a cavalry battle?"

Prince Ning nodded and said: "Father Emperor agreed last night to confer a noble title upon you, and he intends to secretly bestow further rewards on you in the future. However, regarding the position of the governor, since the Sixth Brother mentioned it in front of so many people, it would be difficult for him to refute it. He has established a contest for the official position. Do you think you can secure it?"

Under the influence of the killing intent emanating from me, the steed beneath 'The Sword Across the Sky' unexpectedly reared up in shock

The imperial guards surrounding the area energetically struck the massive leather drums, each capable of being embraced by sixteen men, producing a resounding "rumble" that echoed through the heavens and the earth. Tens of thousands of imperial soldiers continuously shouted battle cries while striking their weapons. A long wind swept in, stirring up the dust on the ground, and "whooshing" across the entire martial arts arena, evoking a sense reminiscent of a battlefield in autumn as troops are mustered.

Prince Ning snorted: "A martial arts master collected by the Sixth Brother, very famous in the mountainous regions of the southwest, known as 'The Sword that Crosses the Sky.' The inside sources say his sword energy can already be projected outward. What do you think? I mean, it shouldn't be too easy a victory, but you also need to make Father believe you are a capable talent. This is quite difficult to gauge, isn't it?"

Prince Ning nodded: "Not only is his movement technique formidable, but Mr. Shuiyun's internal strength can at least rank within the top five in the world. Hehe, I saved his son's life; otherwise, how would he be willing to fully support me with the First-Class Hall?"

I am confident and will speak directly: "If we follow the methods of competition in the martial arts world, it merely comes down to who has deeper internal strength and more astonishing techniques, which are of no practical use in actual combat."

Prime Minister Cai approached slowly, coughed once, and Prince Ning suddenly turned around: "Ah, Prime Minister Cai, my apologies, I did not see you coming."

Upon hearing these words from Emperor Shenren, Minister Zhang's face lit up with wild joy, and he barely restrained himself from exclaiming. Meanwhile, several high-ranking military officials brightened with excitement, nearly rushing forward. Emperor Shenren suddenly paused, as if recalling something, and smiled awkwardly before loudly bestowing further titles.

The Divine Benevolent Emperor appeared to be in a good mood, looking spirited as he cheerfully said, "All of you, rise." If it were not for the consideration of the faces of those around, I would have jumped up at the same time the Divine Benevolent Emperor spoke. However, taking into account the consequence of my little head being immediately severed by the palace guards and the secret palace warriors, I abandoned this thought

Prince Ning angrily said: "Lao Liu is utterly unreasonable; where is the decorum?"

I asked in astonishment: "Mr. Shuiyun, is it you who is reputed to have the most ethereal and swift movements in the world?"

I exclaimed in surprise, "This is indeed good news." Ning Wang chuckled and said, "It's just a few dozen miles, what kind of good news is that? In the future, when I become emperor, I will grant you a large piece of land."

The Divine Benevolent Emperor asked in astonishment: "Is this statement true? Is it not said that the deeper the internal strength, the higher the martial arts, the more formidable one becomes in combat?"

A general clad in golden armor, exuding an unparalleled majesty, stepped forward with a few strides and slightly bowed, saying: "Your Majesty, Commander Yang's words are indeed correct. The skills of the martial world cannot be equated with the martial arts used in battle. Even the world's foremost expert can only ensure their own safety amidst thousands of troops; to break through enemy lines and slay foes, one must rely on the solid skills of spears, horses, bows, and arrows"

Prince Ning, fuming, said: "Lao Liu is becoming increasingly unreasonable. He has already arranged four positions within the Imperial Guard for his people. This time, I recommended you to take the position of Commander of the Five Provinces, yet he dares to compete with me? Does he not regard me at all? After all, I am his elder brother, and I have never contested military positions with them before. This time, he actually humiliated me in front of the entire court. I, I, I..." He struck the air fiercely with his palm, producing a strange sound as it hit the thick granite wall opposite, leaving a palm print two inches deep.

On the road, I happened to encounter a young man who bore a slight resemblance to Prince Ning, albeit a few years younger. He was also accompanied by a large group of attendants and guards, and with a cold laugh, he said: "Your Majesty, I hope the people you select today do not embarrass themselves on the spot." With that, he spurred his horse and galloped away.

Prince Ning's expression fluctuated between dark and light as he arrived at the entrance of the imperial palace, deep in thought. Our large entourage turned left outside the main gate, bypassing the palace, and took a detour around the city wall, arriving at the Imperial Martial Arts Arena located behind the palace.

On the 9th of April in the year 13,095 of the Holy Calendar, the angry Prince Ning finished the morning court session and stormed into the carriage, taking us all the way back to the Prince Ning's residence.

The Divine Benevolent Emperor nodded and immediately made a decision: "Alright, bring the armor and weapons here, and have the two noble lords put them on at once. Also, have the stable bring two fine steeds."

A single compliment from the general in front of the emperor is far more effective than a year of your own hard work. It remains uncertain whether the general came to visit Prince Ning on his own accord or if Prince Ning invited him over for a proper meal.

I coldly provoked, "Your Highness is our master; if we do not give Your Highness face, wouldn’t that make us even more insignificant?" Sure enough, a dozen low, irritated grunts came from beside me

I shouted angrily and urged my horse to charge straight towards 'The Sword Across the Sky', and that fellow actually rushed towards me at full speed as well

The fourth-rank eunuch commander, acting as the middle officer, stood on the high platform in front of the Hall of Martial Arts. He fiercely waved the golden dragon flag downward, and the flag, infused with profound internal energy, emitted a "swishing" sound that surprisingly drowned out the sounds of drums, cheers, and the clashing of weapons.

I hurriedly stepped into the Hall of Martial Arts, and fell to my knees in front of His Majesty, amidst the delighted expression of the Prince of Ning and the pale gazes of several other princes: "Your Majesty, please forgive my offense. I momentarily lost control and accidentally injured the imperial horse, a crime deserving of a thousand deaths."

The Divine Benevolent Emperor indeed indulged excessively in wine and pleasure. After just a short period, he felt somewhat fatigued and let out a slight yawn. He inquired in the Hall of Martial Observations whether there were any important matters to report, only to find that the officials had no significant issues to present. Consequently, he directly set off to return to the palace, entrusting Minister Zhang to oversee my victory banquet

Prince Ning's eyes lit up: "Yes, yes, I overlooked this purpose. Well, private fiefdom, outsiders are strictly prohibited from entering. Hehe, I just happened to ask Mr. 'Shuiyun' from Yipintang to train a group of young experts there. Well, good, good, good..."

The benevolent emperor smiled broadly: "What crime is there? Your performance today is quite reminiscent of your father's heroic spirit when he broke through the enemy lines. I am greatly comforted. A mere imperial steed, what significance does it hold?"

Prince Ning and I exchanged a smile, but upon turning around, we noticed several princes looking at us with extremely displeased expressions. Prince Ning gave them a slight smile, gently spread his hands, and without offering any explanation, led me to seek Mr. Zeng's goodwill.

The benevolent emperor was slightly angered: "How can this be? The person you have nominated is vying for the position of commander, yet if he is not skilled in cavalry warfare, how can he lead the troops? Minister Zhang, prepare the death warrants." Minister Zhang of the Ministry of War quickly wrote two death warrants, and I swiftly signed them. I donned my armor, chose a pure steel battle axe weighing over a hundred pounds, and slowly mounted my horse to become familiar with its temperament.