Chapter 556: Recuperation and Rest

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Zhu Ying burst into laughter.

"Grandfather, rest assured. Once the Great Ming Empire has unified this [Comprehensive Martial Arts World], your realm will naturally be able to improve. At that time, by leveraging this [Power of National Fortune], you will surely be able to break through to the Divine Ability Realm."

Zhu Ying was quite confident.

In his view, the True Qi in this Comprehensive Martial Arts World was exceptionally dense. As long as Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao practiced extensively within this world, combined with the National Fortune of the Great Ming, their realms would naturally ascend.

At this moment, Zhu Biao spoke to Zhu Ying: "Xiongying, since the Song Kingdom has already been annihilated, what is the next target for our Great Ming Empire?"

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang followed up with some excitement: "Yes, Xiongying! Since the Song Kingdom is gone, the next step is naturally to continue our external expansion!"

However.

After Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao finished speaking, Zhu Ying waved his hand. It seemed that, for Zhu Ying, he did not wish to expand so quickly.

In his view, the most urgent priority was to first build up the territories they had already occupied.

Zhu Ying said to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao: "Grandfather, Father, Xiongying feels that the priority should instead be to stabilize and develop. After all, the Great Ming Empire has occupied the Song Kingdom for less than a month. If we attempt to expand recklessly right now, the Song Kingdom will certainly not be stable."

As Zhu Ying's voice fell, Zhu Yuanzhang appeared somewhat impatient. He said hurriedly, "What is there to fear, Xiongying? Didn't you say it yourself? After killing those Shaolin high monks and the experts of the Carefree Sect, no one in the Song Kingdom will dare to seek revenge."

But after Zhu Yuanzhang finished, a trace of an awkward smile appeared on Zhu Ying's face.

He explained to Zhu Yuanzhang unhurriedly, "Grandfather, although no martial arts experts will come for revenge, there will certainly be many remnants of the royal family left within the Song Kingdom, as well as many mountain bandits. If we do not eliminate these, the Great Ming Empire will find it difficult to achieve long-term peace and stability."

"Fine. If that is the case, we shall do as Xiongying wishes."

"Your grandfather and Biao'er will not involve ourselves much in court affairs. We have decided to practice together within the Song Kingdom's imperial palace to strive for a breakthrough to the Divine Ability Realm as soon as possible."

To be honest, after witnessing the battle between Zhu Ying and the four great experts of the Carefree Sect, Zhu Yuanzhang realized that there were still many martial arts powerhouses in this Comprehensive Martial Arts World. Zhu Ying's strength had already reached the Half-step Gangqi Realm. Naturally, Zhu Yuanzhang did not want to be a burden, so he decided to take advantage of the dense True Qi in this world to attempt a breakthrough to the Divine Ability Realm.

Of course, Zhu Biao felt the same.

Facing the thoughts of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, Zhu Ying naturally agreed.

Subsequently, Zhu Ying specially constructed a secret cultivation chamber for the two of them. The chamber was guarded by soldiers of the Imperial Guard, ensuring that absolutely no one could disturb their cultivation.

Afterward, Zhu Ying summoned everyone to the Great Hall. Upon seeing Zhu Ying, the civil and military officials all bowed in salute.

Once the court ceremony concluded, Zhu Ying spoke to the crowd with a solemn expression: "Currently, Imperial Grandfather and Father are cultivating in a secret chamber, so I shall be responsible for the daily affairs of the state."

"I now announce the strategic policy of the Great Ming Empire. Although the Song Kingdom has been overthrown by the Great Ming, it was a weak nation with very poor infrastructure, and its people have long lived in misery. Therefore, I have decided that the most urgent task is to develop the economy of the Song Kingdom."

"At the same time, I announce a renaming. The former Jin Kingdom shall be called Jin Province, and the Song Kingdom shall be Song Province. Both provinces are to undergo fundamental livelihood construction."

As Zhu Ying finished speaking, the civil and military officials in the hall accepted their orders one after another.

One official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue stood up and said to Zhu Ying: "Reporting to Your Highness. The roads in the Song Kingdom have currently been built, mostly consisting of cement roads. However, some bridges and water pipes have not yet been fully laid out."

"The territory of the Song Kingdom is truly too vast; completing these two tasks is by no means an easy matter. I request that Your Highness dispatch some manpower to assist."

Facing this request from the Ministry of Revenue official, Zhu Ying remained very calm, for he had already formulated a solution in his heart.

Zhu Ying said: "What difficulty is there in that? There are many prisoners in Jin Province. Deploy all those prisoners to the Song Kingdom and let them build it. Additionally, you are to build a railway—construct a line from Song Province to Jin Province to strengthen the cultural and economic connection between the two regions."

"The Ministry of Works shall be responsible for this matter."

"Your servant obeys!" the official of the Ministry of Works hurriedly replied.

Then, Zhu Ying turned his gaze toward Lan Yu. For Zhu Ying, it was very clear that although the Song Kingdom had been eliminated, there were still various civilian forces constantly provoking the rule of the Great Ming Empire, and many gangs were preparing to revolt.

Therefore, to eliminate these unstable factors, Zhu Ying decided to conduct a massive sweep.

Zhu Ying said to Lan Yu: "Song Province is vast and its population is a mixed bag. Furthermore, there are numerous gangs. Although the sect leaders and experts of these gangs have been caught in a single net, some gangs still wish to challenge the authority of the Great Ming."

"Lan Yu, I leave this matter to you. I will give you one month. Within one month, eliminate all the martial arts sects and various forces in the entirety of Song Province to rid the people of these evils."

Upon hearing that there was another opportunity for battle, Lan Yu was naturally quite excited. He immediately accepted the command from Zhu Ying: "Please rest assured, Your Highness. This general will certainly eliminate all remaining forces of the Song Kingdom within one month and return peace and quiet to the people."

Afterward, Zhu Ying spoke to the officials of the Ministry of Rites: "Now that the Great Ming Empire has occupied Jin Province and Song Province, I intend to establish schools in these two provinces. However, only Han people are permitted to study in these schools, so they may learn the culture of the Great Ming Empire as well as various modern knowledge."

"Additionally, a Great Academy can be established in Song Province, allowing students from the Imperial Academy in the main world to travel through the spatial portal to study and practice in the Song Province academies."

"The True Qi in this Comprehensive Martial Arts World is dense, making it an excellent place for cultivation. I believe that by bringing these martial arts scholars here, they will achieve twice the result with half the effort."

For Zhu Ying, he was in no hurry to launch wars, because he knew very well that whether it was the Republic, Tibet, Dali, or the Mongol-Yuan, these nations would be unable to withstand the impact of the Great Ming Empire. Since that was the case, it was better to first develop the two occupied provinces. After resting and recuperating, he would wipe out the other nations all at once.

Of course, what Zhu Ying wanted most was for these nations to unite and attack the Great Ming Empire together. Doing so would actually save him time.

Soon, the officials of various ministries began to carry out Zhu Ying's orders to build up Song Province and Jin Province.

Naturally, Lan Yu also led his great army to begin a comprehensive sweep within Song Province!

The Cavalry Battalion led by Lan Yu possessed many martial arts experts and was equipped with modern military gear; thus, no matter which sect they faced, the Cavalry Battalion provided a dimension-reducing strike.

Before long, most of the sects in the Song Kingdom were essentially annihilated by Lan Yu's Cavalry Battalion, leaving only the last one: the Shaolin Temple.

Originally, Lan Yu did not want to destroy the Shaolin Temple, considering that Zhu Yuanzhang had once been a monk in his youth. However, the monks of Shaolin were far too provocative, even forming an army to clash with Lan Yu's Cavalry Battalion.

When Lan Yu received this news, he was quite incensed. He simply led his army directly into the Shaolin Temple to conduct a purge.

In truth, since Ci Xuan and the others had been killed by Zhu Ying, the current Shaolin Temple no longer possessed any of the world's top martial arts experts.

The current Abbot was merely a former sweeping monk.

Therefore, with the current strength of the Shaolin Temple, they were fundamentally unable to withstand Lan Yu's onslaught.

Sure enough, in less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Lan Yu's army completely breached the Shaolin Temple, and the Buddha statues were all destroyed.

All of this was seen by the Sweeping Monk.

As the true expert of the Shaolin Temple, and as one of the few Half-step Gangqi Realm powerhouses in the Comprehensive Martial Arts World, the Sweeping Monk had been suppressing his rage.

He had wanted to strike directly several times to annihilate the army led by Lan Yu, but in the end, he had held back.

After all, the Sweeping Monk had long since entered the Buddhist path and would not kill in this lifetime.

However, after Lan Yu's army departed, looking at the ruined Shaolin Temple, he finally could not hold back any longer.

Thus, the Sweeping Monk went directly into the Sutra Pavilion. He wanted to ask Patriarch Bodhidharma if he could descend the mountain to seek revenge.

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace of Tibet in the Western Regions, an official rushed nervously before King Jinlun and Kumoji. Currently, Tibet was co-governed by these two.

"This is bad, this is bad! Your Majesties, the Song Kingdom has been destroyed!"

After the official finished speaking, Kumoji and King Jinlun exchanged a glance.

Kumoji immediately said: "The Song Kingdom is destroyed? How is that possible? There were numerous martial arts experts in the Song Kingdom, including the masters of Shaolin, the Carefree Sect, and the Five Greats of the Central Plains. Who could possibly defeat the Great Song?"

Upon hearing the news of the Song Kingdom's fall, Kumoji's first reaction was total disbelief. But King Jinlun beside him believed it implicitly, because his two disciples had died at the hands of Zhu Ying.

So, to some extent, King Jinlun was quite aware of the strength of the Great Ming Imperial Grandson.

King Jinlun said hurriedly: "This does not seem like fake news. The Great Ming Empire has been eyeing the Song Kingdom for a long time. Furthermore, this Great Ming Imperial Grandson is a peerless expert, possessing at least the strength of the Divine Ability Realm. The Great Ming's destruction of the Song Kingdom is by no means an accident."

When Kumoji heard King Jinlun's words, his expression darkened instantly. He had not expected the Great Ming Empire to be so formidable.

Kumoji asked urgently: "Then what should we do? Now that the Song Kingdom has been eliminated by the Great Ming, they certainly will not stop there; they will surely choose to continue expanding. If so, will our Tibet become a meal for the Great Ming Empire?"

Kumoji was visibly nervous. King Jinlun was naturally the same. After a moment of contemplation, King Jinlun said to Kumoji: "Since things have come to this, we can only unite with the Republic and the Mongol-Yuan. Oh, and the Dali Kingdom as well. Only if our nations unite and send our martial arts experts to oppose the Great Ming can we hope to have a fighting chance."

However, when King Jinlun shared his idea with Kumoji, the latter clearly disagreed.

Kumoji said in a cold tone: "How could those nations unite? The Mongols and the Republic have deep-seated hatreds, and Dali has always maintained neutrality. As for our Western Region Tibet, we naturally will not join forces with the Republic."

"Forget about uniting. Immediately dispatch troops to the border of the Western Regions and the Song Kingdom to strengthen our defenses. We must absolutely not allow the Great Ming to attack Tibet."

At the same time, within the palace of the Dali Kingdom, the King of Dali, Duan Zhengming, had also learned of the destruction of the Song Kingdom. He immediately informed his brother, Duan Zhengchun.

"Now that the Song Kingdom is destroyed, the territory of the Great Ming Empire will soon border our Dali Kingdom. Zhengchun, where should Dali go from here?"

Although Duan Zhengming was the nominal King of Dali, in reality, all major court affairs were handled by Duan Zhengchun. Therefore, when Duan Zhengming learned of the Song Kingdom's fall, he naturally had to consult his imperial brother, Duan Zhengchun.

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun was also somewhat shocked. He had thought the Song Kingdom could hold off the Great Ming Empire for a while, but he never expected it to be wiped out in just one month.

Thus, Duan Zhengchun said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, your brother believes that the Great Ming Empire possesses powerful military strength, and their Imperial Grandson possesses peerless martial arts. If we attempt to fight the Great Ming Empire head-on, I fear we will have no chance of victory."

"Therefore, your brother believes we should primarily focus on submitting to them as vassals."

Duan Zhengchun knew very well that with the current strength of the Dali Kingdom, they were in no position to fight the Great Ming Empire. Thus, his first thought was naturally to seek refuge under Zhu Ying.

But the next sentence from Duan Zhengming caused Duan Zhengchun to completely break down.

"Brother, there is one more thing I have not told you. That is that Yu'er was also killed by this Great Ming Imperial Grandson."

The "Yu'er" Duan Zhengchun spoke of was, of course, Duan Yu. Without a doubt, when Duan Zhengchun heard this, he was utterly stunned.

"How is that possible? How could Yu'er be killed by the Great Ming Imperial Grandson?"

Duan Zhengchun's legs even went weak.

He immediately sent someone to inquire: "Where is Duan Yu! Where has Duan Yu gone?"

An official said to Duan Zhengchun: "Reporting to the Prince, Young Master Duan Yu went to the Song Kingdom... it seems he went to find his two brothers, Qiao Feng and Xu Zhu."

When Duan Zhengchun heard this, he finally believed that Duan Yu had indeed been killed by the Great Ming Imperial Grandson!

At this moment.

Duan Zhengchun's eyes were filled with fury.

He said to Duan Zhengming: "Your Majesty, the Dali Kingdom must absolutely not submit to the Great Ming! If this vengeance is not avenged, I, Duan Zhengchun, am not fit to be called a man!"