The Villain's Counterattack

Chapter 525: The Sui Dynasty repeats the events of the late Han Dynasty, only missing the Yellow Tur

"Originally, the cause and effect were too great. I gave a month-long lecture and presented a set of palm techniques that could lead to a master's degree. I copied a copy." Yang Xuyan pulled a small booklet from his sleeve (actually, his storage space) and casually tossed it to Lu Miaozi, saying, "It's fine to just look at this, but don't really practice it. Divine skills choose their masters, and only those with a predestined relationship can practice it."

Upon hearing this, Lu Miaozi couldn't help but frown. He raised the secret book in his hand and chuckled, "This magical skill is in my hands right now. How can you say it's not meant for me? The sages of all generations have practiced it to no avail. How can we know it wasn't prepared for me?"

Yang Xuyan glanced at him and chuckled, "I've seen many shameless people, but few are as narcissistic as you. I'm not even close. Honestly, it's fine to look at the annotations of the ancients and decipher the oracle bone script, but don't try to truly practice it. You can't master it, and forcing yourself to practice will only lead to harm."

After hearing Yang Xuyan's words, Lu Miaozi suddenly came to his senses and asked suspiciously, "Could it be that you have already cracked the method of practicing the "Eternal Life Secret"?"

Dugu Feng and Shang Xiuxun were shocked upon hearing this, and they both cast shocked glances at him. Yang Xuyan shook his head gently and said, "I have some guesses, but they need to be verified. However, the Xiaoyao Sect's supreme martial art, 'Xiaoyao Yufeng', which I practice, is already on par with 'Changsheng Jue', so there's no need to change it. I can just refer to it a little bit, there's no need to put in a lot of effort to study it."

Lu Miaozi snorted, "Your Xiaoyao Sect's martial arts require too high a level of talent. With a skill as perverse as 'Xiaoyao Yufeng', who else in the world could successfully cultivate it besides you? If you pass away, this magical skill will most likely be lost. It would be better for you to study the 'Eternal Life Secret' and pass it on to future generations."

Yang Xuyan was slightly taken aback when he heard this, then fell into deep thought. After a moment, he let out a long sigh before saying, "You old man can still come up with good ideas occasionally, but completely cracking the 'Eternal Life Secret' is definitely not something that can be completed in ten days or half a month, or even three to five months. I'm afraid it won't be successful without a year or two."

Lu Miaozi: Is this reasonable? The Secret of Immortality has been around since the time of the Morning Emperor. For thousands of years, many sages have been unable to successfully research it, and you're telling me it can be cracked in just a year or two?

"How sure are you?"

"It's not very big, but there are still 5 or 6 points."

Lu Miaozi nodded slightly. This kid always liked to keep three points to himself when speaking. He said it was five or six points, but in fact, adding another three points would make it eight or nine points. At the very least, if he extended the time a little bit, he would definitely be able to crack it successfully in the end. The future is promising.

I am not doing this for myself, I am doing this for my daughter. I am not doing this for myself, I am doing this for my daughter, Lu Miaozi repeated to himself, but the three words "The Secret of Immortality" could not be erased from his mind. His daughter was not one of the so-called four great feats, but as the best craftsman in the world, Lu Miaozi knew it too well. Just a wisp of true energy from the "Heavenly Demon Great Method" in the "Heavenly Demon Strategy" almost killed him. One can imagine how powerful the completed "The Secret of Immortality" is.

Yang Xuyan then offered Lu Miaozi three days of preaching (translated and annotated text from the Changsheng Jue) in exchange for forging a powerful bow suitable for a master. The reason was simple: as Marquis of Liaodong, he was bound to defend Liaodong, which would inevitably lead to conflict with Goguryeo and the Mohe. Liaodong, with its mountainous forests and little arable land, was easy to defend but difficult to attack. However, both eastward toward Goguryeo and northward toward the Mohe, there were vast plains, making it the best direction for expansion. Cavalry was the primary force there, and mounted archery was the best offensive method.

The production of ordinary bows and arrows has been in full swing in Liaodong. Both the Buzhou Trading Company and the Dongming Sect have sent elite craftsmen to oversee the production. However, more advanced bows and arrows are not easy to make unless Yang Xuyan does it himself.

"A grandmaster-grade bow and crossbow? Can't you make that yourself?" Lu Miaozi looked at Yang Xuyan disapprovingly. Yang Xuyan shrugged nonchalantly and said, "I'm a nobody. I'm constantly busy with things, big and small. How can I have the time to wield a hammer and forge weapons? I have the materials and the skills, but time doesn't allow it. If you have the ability to study the Secret of Immortality, you don't need to help me forge a grandmaster-grade bow."

Lu Miaozi: You don't have time? You're running around everywhere with your beautiful apprentice every day, and you actually tell me you don't have time?

"How many do you need? If it's not too many, I remember there seem to be two or three usable strong bows in Yang Gong's treasury." Lu Miaozi was not opposed to making strong bows and crossbows. It was just that the materials required were slightly better and it would take some time and energy to make them. However, he didn't like such boring work that was forced on him.

It requires technical skills, but it is repetitive work, so Lu Miaozi disdains to do it unless he really can't do it.

"Distribute according to need. Probably only eight are needed right now, and more will be added later if needed." Yang Xuyan counted on his fingers. There were exactly eight people, including himself, Yang Xuangan, and six grandmaster-level brothers. As for An Long, Shi Zhixuan, Bi Xiuxin, Yue Shan, Shan Meixian and others, they were ignored by him. Although they were also grandmasters or great grandmasters, they did not need to go to the battlefield and could be used.

"Eight great masters who have fought on the battlefield? No wonder, no wonder..." Lu Miaozi's eyes suddenly changed when he looked at Yang Xuyan. How could he not know what a great master meant? Which faction in the world had so many great masters? Aside from the Great Sui Dynasty and the Turkic royal court, even Cihang Jingzhai, Jingnian Zen Temple, and the Yingui Sect didn't have any. He seemed to have underestimated this kid's strength.

But he and I are in the same group after all. The stronger he is, the safer I will be. Who knows, I might even be remembered in history in the future. This kid has great ambitions.

"If there are eight of them, I'm afraid there won't be enough in Yang Gong's treasury. Well, it's really unfortunate for an old man like me to meet you. I still have to do hard labor when I'm old. Alas, my life is miserable." Lu Miaozi sighed but could not get any sympathy from his daughter, Yang Xuyan and Dugu Feng. Instead, he mentioned Yang Gong's treasury several times, which made the two women quite interested.

"Senior Lu, when Yang Xuangan rebelled, he claimed he possessed the Yanggong Treasure House, which he could use to conquer the world. If he hadn't taken the wrong path and failed to uncover the Yanggong Treasure House, the world would no longer belong to the Sui Emperor. Is this true?" Dugu Feng was quite concerned about this matter. Lu Miaozi chuckled, glanced at her, and said, "Do you believe such nonsense? Yang Xuangan's downfall wasn't due to him, nor to the Yanggong Treasure House, but to the prevailing world situation, the aristocratic families, the Buddhist sects, and the Sui Emperor Yang Guang."

"Yang Xuangan's rebellion was influenced by both the aristocratic families and the Buddhist sect. They needed Yang Xuangan to distract the Sui Emperor, Yang Guang, and ensure the failure of the second expedition to Goguryeo. However, they also didn't want Yang Xuangan to succeed, as they themselves weren't prepared." Lu Miaozi stated bluntly, "Although war seems to be raging everywhere, these are merely minor incidents. You could even say they're just petty tactical attempts by local aristocratic families to resist the imperial court. There aren't many genuine uprisings by the common people."

"Once the common people truly revolt, a single spark could start a prairie fire, ushering in true chaos. Everyone says that when a dynasty declines, people suffer and rebellion breaks out. But is this really the case throughout history?" Lu Miaozi sneered. "The unified dynasty began during the Qin Dynasty. Although it fell in the second generation, was the Qin Dynasty truly in decline?"

"It's nothing more than that the kingdom was founded only a short time ago, and the nobles of the six kingdoms were unwilling to lose power. They took advantage of the invasion of the grassland tribes to tie up a lot of Qin troops, and took the opportunity to cause chaos when the Qin territory was too large and the power was too diluted." Lu Miaozi's words made Shang Xiuxun and Dugu Feng look at each other in bewilderment. Isn't the demise of the Qin Kingdom in the second generation what the history books said was caused by tyranny?

"After the Qin Dynasty came the Han Dynasty. Initially, the Han Dynasty was internally divided, with its power fragmented across numerous fiefdoms and subject to bullying by nomadic tribes. Later, the Han Emperor seized power, launched a counterattack, and defeated the Xiongnu, leading to the rise of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty consisted of two dynasties, the Western and Eastern, with Chang'an as its capital in the west and Luoyang in the east. Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, executed powerful eunuchs, promoted printing to control Confucianism, and founded the Hongdumen School, fostering the development of literature and art. He also introduced the Huchuang (Hu-bed), changing the Han people's habit of kneeling. He also employed Bi Lan, who invented the Kewu (Weird Crow) device for directing water to the roads."

"Was the Han Dynasty truly weak at that time?" Lu Miaozi asked himself, answering, "Not really. It was the imperial power that was weak, not the Han Dynasty itself. The strength of the aristocratic families severely hampered the Han Dynasty's ability to exert its power. Emperor Lingdi trusted the eunuchs, the Ten Attendants, to consolidate power. To suppress the aristocratic families, he launched the Factional Persecution. To weaken the aristocratic families financially, he openly sold official positions for a price. His methods, though seemingly crude, were extremely effective. However..."

"Emperor Ling was wise, but were the aristocratic families all fools? The emperor could check and balance the aristocratic families, but the aristocratic families could manipulate the people to rebel against the emperor, which led to the Yellow Turban Rebellion. The Han Dynasty did not perish because of weakness, but because of internal strife when it was strong."

Lu Miaozi sneered, "Just like the Sui Dynasty today. Emperor Yang Guang crushed the Turks, defeated Tuyuhun, pacified Linyi in the south, and conquered Ryukyu in the east. He even conquered Goguryeo three times before forcing Gao Yuan to surrender. Emperor Wen amassed so much wealth, and the Sui Emperor opened a canal connecting north and south. Trade boomed, and national strength continued to rise. Yet, why is there so much war and smoke everywhere, a sign of national ruin?"

"The Sui Emperor today is so similar to the Emperor Ling back then." Lu Miaozi's words startled Dugu Feng and Shang Xiuxun. "The Sui Dynasty is repeating the events of the late Han Dynasty, only missing the Yellow Turban Rebellion."