Simultaneous Transmigration: The Re-merging of 99 Selves

Chapter 21 The Decadent Court

After hesitating for a moment, Wang Huai'an looked up at Zhao Yu, his tone full of sincerity: "Your Majesty, I dare to offer you a word of advice. You are of noble birth, a prince of the imperial family, and it is not appropriate for you to practice these martial arts from the Jianghu."

"If those censors and officials find out, they will surely submit memorials to impeach you, and the Emperor will likely harbor resentment. In my opinion, you should participate more in court affairs and appear more often in court; that is the right path for you."

"I have my own plans for these matters." Zhao Yu waved his hand, interrupting him. "Just do as I instruct. In a few days, I will find a suitable sword technique for you. Practice it diligently, and it will be of great use in the future."

Seeing that he had made up his mind, Wang Huai'an dared not persuade him any further and quickly bowed and replied, "This servant obeys."

Zhao Yu changed the subject, his gaze falling on him: "How's the process of recruiting those self-castrated people I asked you to gather going?"

Wang Huai'an bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, as you instructed, I have gathered over three hundred men. However, I am foolish and truly do not know what Your Majesty intends to do with these men."

He was genuinely puzzled.

Most of those who castrated themselves were homeless and jobless people from the lower class who voluntarily castrated themselves in order to seek wealth or a way to survive, hoping to enter the palace as eunuchs.

While the palace needed eunuchs, it didn't need that many, so naturally many were rejected.

Zhao Yu had Wang Huai'an gather this group of people.

However, Wang Huai'an really couldn't understand why he was spending money to support such a group of people.

Zhao Yu didn't explain, but simply held the teacup, his fingertips gently stroking the rim.

He knew very well that these people would be his sharpest weapon in the future.

Throughout history, those who dare to castrate themselves are either desperate or ambitious. Regardless of their circumstances, they possess a ruthlessness and tenacity that surpasses that of ordinary people.

Moreover, these people originally went to the palace seeking wealth and status, but they failed to be selected. Naturally, they harbored resentment towards the powerful eunuchs in the palace and towards the supreme imperial power.

Such people, if given a way out, given a chance to climb up, will risk their lives to fight for it.

More importantly, the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual that Zhao Yu wanted to obtain had a very strict requirement—to practice this skill, one must first castrate oneself.

These people are naturally suited to cultivate the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual.

Once Zhao Yu obtains the sword manual and trains a group of assassins who have mastered the Evil-Repelling Sword Technique, it will be an ace in the hole, whether it's seizing power in the Southern Song court or marching north to conquer the Jin dynasty in the future.

"You don't need to ask any more questions." Zhao Yu put down his teacup and instructed calmly, "Continue to recruit people, the more the better. Once you recruit them, take good care of them and don't let them suffer any injustice. Also, invite a few martial arts instructors over to teach them acupoints and meridians, lay a foundation, and teach them some basic fist and foot techniques. I will have a great use for them in the future."

Wang Huai'an has always been loyal to Zhao Yu, and even if he doesn't understand him, he would never go against his wishes.

"Yes, ma'am! I'll do it right away!"

Zhao Yu waved his hand: "Then you can go down first."

"There's one more thing," Wang Huai'an reminded him. "Your Majesty, the grand court assembly for the New Year is in a few days. According to the rules, you must attend court at the palace. I implore Your Majesty not to go out these next few days. If the Grand Court Assembly takes place and you are not at home, it will be a huge problem if the Emperor finds out."

He assumed that his prince had been secretly traveling around the martial arts world these past few days, relying on his unparalleled martial arts skills.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu chuckled and said, "I understand. I won't go anywhere these next few days. I'll just stay in the manor and prepare for the grand court assembly."

He really should take a good look at just how corrupt the Southern Song court has become.

The days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was time for the grand court assembly of the New Year.

Inside the Daqing Hall of the Lin'an Imperial Palace, all the officials stood solemnly, utterly silent.

Emperor Ningzong of Song, Zhao Kuo, sat on the dragon throne, his face pale and his eyes unfocused. Looking at the arrogant Jin envoy below, he couldn't utter a single tough word.

Today is the New Year's Day of the Great Song Dynasty, a day when envoys from various countries should pay homage to the emperor.

But the Jin envoy stood in the hall, his tone extremely arrogant. In front of all the civil and military officials, he read out the harsh terms of the peace treaty one by one, constantly referring to "our great Jin heavenly soldiers," his words full of contempt.

Not a single official in the entire court dared to stand up and refute him.

The head of the Privy Council, Shi Miyuan, had just executed Han Tuozhou and now held great power.

Facing the arrogant Jin envoy, he nodded repeatedly, saying "according to the will of the superior country," displaying a traitorous and self-serving face that was nauseating to behold.

Zhao Yu stood in the imperial family's ranks, dressed in the royal robes of a prince, watching this scene expressionlessly, his hands clenched tightly in his sleeves, his knuckles turning white.

As soon as Shi Miyuan came to power, he couldn't wait to send the heads of Han Tuozhou and others to the Jin Dynasty in exchange for this precarious peace.

Zhao Yu witnessed firsthand the Jin envoys swaggering around the Song court, the prime minister groveling and selling out his country for personal gain, and the emperor, the supreme ruler, being weak and incompetent, not even daring to look the Jin envoys in the eye.

An uncontrollable rage burned fiercely in his heart.

How can such a court and such an emperor be worthy of ruling the world? How can they be worthy of enjoying the vast land of the Song Dynasty?

No, in this state of partial peace, it can hardly be called a vast and prosperous land.

The humiliation of the Jingkang Incident is still fresh in our minds.

But the entire court of officials and the emperor of the Song Dynasty had long forgotten the humiliation of the past, and only knew how to live a life of ignominy and betray the country for personal gain.

Zhao Yu's gaze grew colder, and his conviction became increasingly firm.

This corrupt Song Dynasty, this weak imperial power, it's time for someone else to take charge.

As soon as the New Year holiday was over, before the turmoil in the court had subsided, Zhao Yu announced to the public that he would once again go into seclusion to cultivate Taoism and would not see any outsiders.

Wang Huai'an naturally knew what his lord was going to do, and quickly agreed, patting his chest to guarantee that he would definitely cover for Zhao Yu and would never let anyone in the palace or the court know a word of it.

Having arranged everything, Zhao Yu communicated with the barrier between the two worlds in his study. In a flash of light, he was back in Fuzhou City of the Laughing World.

It was still that familiar restaurant, and the streets were still bustling with traffic.

Zhao Yu, dressed in a blue robe, slowly walked into the restaurant. As soon as he entered, the manager recognized him at a glance.

"Young master, you've finally arrived!"

The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together, hesitantly took out the silver ingot that Zhao Yu had given him earlier from his pocket, and handed it to Zhao Yu with both hands.

"Young master, I am truly sorry. I have asked all my friends in Fuzhou and inquired with all the old residents in the streets and alleys, but... but I really cannot find the Xiangyang Alley you mentioned. I am too ashamed to accept this money; please take it back."

Zhao Yu didn't even look at the silver ingot, and gently pushed it back: "It's alright, you've worked hard these past few days, consider this silver as a reward for your hard work."

The shopkeeper was taken aback. Looking at the silver in his hand, his guilt deepened, and he thanked him repeatedly.

Zhao Yu didn't say anything more. He found a seat by the window, ordered a few dishes, and his gaze fell on the gate of the Fuwei Escort Agency not far from the window.

The vermilion gate, the imposing entrance, the majestic stone lions at the gate, and the brisk, energetic steps of the bodyguards coming and going—it was a scene of great prosperity.

Zhao Yu picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and his eyes were unfathomable.