Chapter Eighty-Four Great Change

  Yang Yunqiu rode his horse quietly into the capital city.

  His carriage was a bit too eye-catching and too big, so he had Zhou Dali take it directly to the villa in the suburbs.

  He led others to ride horses and go.

  The Sun family's mansion in the capital had been renovated long ago, and the servants knew early that their master was returning. They were all spirited and refreshed, with brand new furniture throughout the house. All the bedding had been newly made and aired out to dry. The maids had applied the most expensive rouge and powder, while the steward, young servants, guards, and attendants were all dressed in brand new clothes, lining up early to welcome their master's return.

  The grand mansion, newly bestowed by the emperor, had been under renovation for half a year. The neighbors around it had been tormented by various noises for several months, daring to be angry but not daring to speak out. Now that the new owner is finally going to show up, everyone is very curious.

  Sun Zhaoming was not particularly famous in the capital, after all, he was a local official. Even if he became a high-ranking official, people would only praise him for his position and power. However, no matter how great his power was, he was still not in the central government and had little influence on the people of the capital. Compared to the chancellors, the six ministers, and the imperial relatives in the capital, his fame was much smaller. Moreover, this time he was not returning to the capital for a job, but only attending a grand banquet.

  However, the fifth daughter of the Yu family was an exception.

  As soon as she got the news that Yang Yunqiu, also known as Sun Zhaoming, was about to enter Beijing, Fifth Miss pulled her cousin Sun Zuoyang to go to Fengyang Building and sat down in a elegant seat on the second floor.

  Sun Zhaoyang entered the Eastern Palace three years ago as a Long History.

  He was originally serving in the Hanlin Academy, and after three years of service, his family wanted him to become a prefectural governor or a county magistrate, or be appointed as the head of a large county, so that he could gain some experience and slowly rise through the ranks. No one expected that he would suddenly enter the Eastern Palace.

  However, although he only entered the East Palace and seemed to have no real power, his reputation in the capital was not small. He was still an idol for most of the girls and young women in the capital. In the scholarly community, opinions about him were also mixed, but overall, there were more people who praised him.

  Two people ordered a pot of tea.

  Miss Wu was silent, with thin lips and long eyebrows, phoenix eyes. According to later generations, she had a fox-like appearance, which would have been excessively charming in the Yin dynasty.

  She seems to know that her appearance is easily misunderstood, so she always has a cold face and is taciturn. She even learned some riding and shooting skills, just for show. But with her in full riding gear, accompanied by a large group of sturdy maids, rushing through the streets of the capital, people all over the city often see her. Fortunately, people are generally more tolerant of beauties, otherwise she would have been hated by many families long ago.

  "What does that person look like?"

  "It seems that Miss Wu is very curious." Sun Zhaoyang laughed and said, "Don't worry, this younger brother of mine is much better than me in terms of appearance."

  Ten years have passed in a hurry.

  Sun Zhaoyang is over thirty years old, already a middle-aged man. He has a mustache on his upper lip, which makes him look mature and steady, no longer the elegant young gentleman he used to be. His facial expression also seems to have become more gentle than before, not as sharp and revealing as it was in the past.

  "I'm here."

  He leaned forward, resting on the railing, his eyes dimly lit.

  Miss Wu frowned and watched as Yang Yunqiu rode her horse slowly to the bottom of the building, then lifted her hand and threw down the teapot she was holding.

  The guests around were shocked and all looked down with one movement.

  Even Lian Sun Quan Yang was startled by this young lady.

  Only to see the row of people below, their speed unchanged, beside Yang Yunqiu, a thin and weak young man wearing ordinary clothes took an umbrella from the horse and opened it.

  The teapot rolled down along the umbrella stand, he reached out to catch it and held it up with a light grip, turning his head towards his young master.

  Yang Yunqiu gave a wink, and Li Da jumped off the horse and entered the Fengyang Building, returning the teapot to the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper thanked him repeatedly, holding the teapot and hurriedly went up again, brewing another pot of tea for Sun Zhaoyang and the others.

  She looked up to see Sun Zhaoyang, and Yang Yunqiu was stunned for a moment, sighing in her heart - the Sun Zhaoyang from ten years ago was still somewhat unpleasant in appearance, but his aura was relatively upright. Unexpectedly, after not seeing him for ten years, this person's spiritual aura had become so turbid.

  Li Da returned, and the group continued to walk slowly from head to toe. Yang Yunqiu didn't take a second glance at Fifth Miss.

  After walking for a while, Li Da asked: "Young Master, is the lady up ahead going to be the future Young Mistress?"

  "What? Don't like the look of it?" Yang Yunqiu's face was twisted, his words almost gnashed teeth, couldn't help but laugh and shake his head.

  Li Da didn't dare to slander the future mistress, but in his heart, he couldn't help feeling wronged for his own young master. No matter how beautiful that woman looked or how noble her status was, in his mind, there was only one thing: as long as she wasn't liked by his own young master, she wasn't good enough. If she were gentle and considerate, it would be fine, but now, for no reason at all, she carelessly smashed a teapot on someone - and that someone happened to be his own young master!

  This kind of woman is not worthy of being the virtuous wife of a young master from a good family.

  Yang Yunqiu was also very surprised - he had always thought that all the ladies were of one mold, and did not expect an exception to appear. In fact, it's not his fault, he is busy with things on both sides of the globe every day, and more importantly, he practices meditation every day, how can he care about a woman who is thousands of miles away, even if she is his fiancée.

  The fifth young lady of the Yu family was also an unconventional member of a wealthy family's daughter.

  Li Da was grumbling there, and Yu Shu-man was even more unwilling. As a woman in this era who had missed her best years due to her parents' passing, she could be considered 'old'. She wasn't the kind of person who never left the house or stepped out of the compound; most of the time, it was possible for her to run into someone she fancied, and she was no exception. Of course, she wouldn't fall in love with Yang Yunqiu again.

  The little girl's concerns, for a moment, Yang Yunqiu didn't have the mood to care about.

  He saw Mu Nan Song again and suddenly knew that it was almost time.

  Ten years ago, Mu Nan Sheng was an old man with a strong spirit. Ten years later, his temples were white and he walked with difficulty. It was heard that half a month before the New Year, he had been seriously ill for several days without attending court. Fortunately, his condition improved during the New Year's festival, otherwise this year's grand banquet would not have taken place.

  The emperor was old and frail, the crown prince and several other princes were still young, but those princes were in their prime.

  Yang Yunqiu seemed to have already sensed the bloody atmosphere of the chaotic world.

  Mu Nan Song sat in the Gongzheng Hall, summoning Yang Yunqiu. His words were still warm and gentle, but Yang Yunqiu felt that his eyes had faded, and he looked old and haggard. Sitting on that dragon chair was indeed a thing that consumed one's vitality.

  For several days, Yang Yunqiu visited his old friends and teachers in the capital. Sun Zhifu also came to the capital personally, and after the three matchmakers and six gifts were settled, the day of his marriage to Fifth Miss was fixed.

  Miss Wu's age is also getting older, and it was not easy to finish her filial piety. The Yu family naturally agreed, but unexpectedly, a big thing happened soon after the date was set - Yu Shuman actually ran away in secret.

  The people at the Yu's house searched the entire capital, but couldn't find anyone. They were anxious and worried, but Yang Yunqiu was clear that the fifth young lady had a good relationship with a painter from the Jing Wang Fu, and the two of them secretly got on the Jing Wang's carriage and left the capital. Although she was his fiancée, Yang Yunqiu didn't bother to inform the Yu family about this news.

  A person's fate is in their own hands, whether Miss Five will be happy and content or a poor couple with a hundred sorrows, ultimately regretful, hurting themselves and others, he can't control it.

  It's just that the Yu family can't show their face, and the Sun family can't show their face either. Although this matter seems private, almost all the respectable families know about it. For a time, the elders of both the Yu and Sun families couldn't lift their heads when they went out to socialize.

  Yang Yunqiu didn't care about these things, after attending the year-end grand banquet, listening to Mu Nan Sheng say a lot of passionate words, and also bought a lot of silk fabrics, jewelry and accessories for Su Zhifu to bring back to his mother.

  Also met two suspected to be Yan Wang and Jing Wang's staff, of course, on the surface these two people have nothing to do with the two kings. They are all trying to persuade him to approach the king, anyway, promising future high-ranking officials and thick salaries, things that ordinary people can't resist.

  Yang Yunqiu sighed - In history, there have been many lessons, the clever rabbit dies and the good bow is hidden. How many meritorious officials who helped emperors conquer the world can retire with a whole body and a good ending?

  After hanging out in the capital for a few days, Yang Yunqiu returned to Dongchuan and completely ignored his privately eloped fiancée. He also didn't have the energy to deal with trivial matters of love affairs.

  Returned to Dongchuan, all the people who can be used are mobilized, the army is increased, and the production of various weapons and armor is increased. Guns and ammunition also need to be produced in large quantities.

  However, this thing has great lethality and is easy to leak secrets. Yang Yunqiu only allowed his direct guard team and a small part of the experimental troops to use it. Other soldiers were already enough with steel knives, long hair, and ancient version anti-stabbing suits.

  Dong Chuan, especially the preparations for the main base Qingzhou, have actually been done quite well. It's just a matter of waiting for the emperor to pass away and the crown prince to ascend to the throne, and then chaos will ensue. Of course, if chaos doesn't come, it won't be bad for them to strengthen their power either. In this era, every family raises private soldiers, and only private soldiers can provide security guarantees.

  Yang Yunqiu instead had more free time. He focused his attention mainly on university courses, and taking advantage of the time difference, he had already finished reading the four-year university course, entering in-depth research.

  He made notes, writing down various issues that needed to be discussed, and accumulated two thick volumes. Shi Tianlai and Old Master Shi followed him like a ghost, helping him solve problems. However, the things that Yang Yunqiu thought needed to be discussed were not something that Shi Tianlai could figure out with just one turn of his brain. He had to look up materials, discuss with others, and work all night in the laboratory.

  Luckily, Yang Yunqiu found out what was wrong and, despite the old man's discontented fuss, seized the notebook again. Otherwise, this old professor might have died from overwork.

  The days passed one by one, and finally the funeral bell tolled, with the whole nation mourning for the king. The twelve-year-old crown prince ascended to the throne in front of his father's coffin, issuing an edict summoning all princes to come to the capital.

  Yang Yunqiu and Wang Yi sat in the specially opened strategic intelligence room, studying the 3D map. Coincidentally, none of them were military personnel, nor did they have much military knowledge. Fortunately, there was a doll that could analyze everything, model it, and experiment ahead of time to ensure victory belonged to themselves. Their advantage was huge, crushing everything, even if local mistakes might occur, the overall strategy would definitely be theirs to win.

  In the first year of Shangde, on April 18th, the Emperor wanted to imprison King Jing. However, King Jing received the news in advance and escaped from the capital city, returning to his fiefdom in Yongzhou, where he raised the banner of "Clearing Away the Imperial Clan".

  Yang Yunqiu received the news and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "It's still good to be a prince or grandson, even if it's a rebellion, they can raise the flag of clearing the imperial court, and if they fail, at worst they'll be confined for life, absolutely no possibility of implicating nine clans."

  Qingzhou is just pretending that nothing happened, with continuous bumper harvests, the grain reserves in the granary can feed everyone for three to five years without major issues, it's just a bit troublesome to resettle the large number of war refugees.

  Yang Yunqiu occasionally goes out now and often hears some idle people in the teahouse complaining, worried that the war will burn to Qingzhou their hometown.

  The flames of war did not reach their hometown, but the plan did not change quickly. Yang Yunqiu originally wanted to remain neutral on the surface and secretly support Wei Wang's usurpation of the throne to stabilize the situation.

  The character of the king he still understands, belongs to that kind of principled good person, even if he became an emperor, he won't be a particularly powerful emperor, which is very beneficial for local powers.

  As a result, he had not yet acted when the whole situation got completely out of control.

  The Son of Heaven suddenly died from an arrow wound in his own bedroom, the assassin also killed himself by biting his teeth, then King Shang and King Jing inexplicably started fighting each other, afterwards several princes joined in a chaotic battle.

  Yang Yunqiu had predicted this chaos in advance, but never thought it would be so fast. Immediately after, the war broke out less than a day ago, only three hours, and the border was urgent. The Wata tribe from the grasslands launched a large-scale invasion, and within one day, they captured three cities and entered the central plains.

  "Whatever... " Yang Yunqiu covered her forehead, speechless. "It's either Wang Yi or Liu Sheng who comes. You said that among the newly qualified students, there are more than 20 military school graduates who have been shouting about becoming generals. Give them a chance to come over for actual combat training as soon as possible. I can't control this situation, so be it."

  The doll seamlessly blended into the battlefield, capturing countless grand and majestic scenes of war, then told Yang Yunqiu that as far as it knew, all of this was planned by a woman who had already died. From killing the emperor to sowing discord between the two princes, disrupting their deployments, causing them to make irrational decisions in a state of panic - everything had been arranged three years ago by a princess who had been sent to the grasslands to exchange her humble status for wealth and glory due to an imperial marriage.

  Yang Yunqiu was silent for a long time: "Forget it, the situation is not that bad. Let's just let our students gain more practical experience. You send a message, all those who are willing to go to the battlefield to fight for honor and think they have the ability can go, not just military school students. Doctors and nurses can help rescue wounded soldiers and refugees, and students from other industries can find what they can do themselves."

  Anyway, we have to make a mess of the Shang Dynasty, so let's just go all out.

  Yang Yunqiu himself was not idle, on August 15th, he became a nominal marshal and led the King's Righteous Army to defeat the Wata tribe at Shangmen Pass. Various cheating tactics came frequently, and nearly 40,000 people of the Wata tribe were eliminated. The ambitious tribal chief was forced to flee in disarray. Then, they marched thousands of miles, pacifying various places. Their army moved slowly, but wherever they went, they did not harm the local people, instead, they helped the civilians first. In less than half a year, most of the territory of the Yin Dynasty belonged to Yang Yunqiu, except for the capital city.

  No one had expected this situation!

  Lian Yang herself did not expect - however, the hot weapons against the cold weapons, on the battlefield a round of simultaneous shooting would scare those soldiers into thinking it was heaven's punishment, without defeat they would surrender, and with WaWa's all-around information report, they had the heavens, earth, and human advantages, it wasn't impossible for things to turn out this way.