The next day, Song Yang Zhuo stood on the command platform of the five warships, looking at the two banks of the Yangtze River.
These five battleships were called Five-Tooth Battleships. They had five floors and were 120 feet tall. Each ship could hold 800 soldiers.
Now, these five giant warships were slowly sailing out of Linjiang Palace. Then, under the full sail of the cloth, the warships moved as fast as a galloping horse towards Yangzhou City, the nearest city under Jiangdu Prefecture.
Ever since Song Yang had learned about the current situation yesterday, he had been trying his best to recall the content of the original novel and think of various countermeasures.
At present, what he needed to do the most was to grasp the military power, appease the people, and increase his strength as soon as possible.
Although the world was now in turmoil, and heroes everywhere had already ceded their territories to become kings, no matter how chaotic it was, Song Yang, the legitimate emperor, was still alive. He still controlled the capital Chang 'an, the eastern capital Luoyang, and the coastal Jiangdu, the three most important strategic locations in the country.
As long as he was still alive in this world, it meant that the Sui Dynasty's orthodoxy still existed. Other than those who wanted to rebel, most of the civil and military officials of the Sui Dynasty still obeyed him.
But now that the world was in chaos, the aristocratic families were deeply rooted, and there were countless experts in them. If he wanted to eliminate these noble families who wanted to rebel, he would have to wait until Song Yang truly had the strength and power to remove these people bit by bit.
Therefore, Song Yang transferred Yuwen Huaji, who had the intention to rebel, away from Jiangdu. After ordering him to capture the assassin Fu Junzhuo, he used the excuse of protecting the emperor and other excuses to place his trusted generals in the Xiao Guo Army to take up important positions to prevent the Xiao Guo Army from being used by people with ill intentions and mutiny.
After setting up all this, Song Yang brought 4,000 imperial guards and sat on the Five-Tooth Battleship, heading to Yangzhou City in Jiangdu Prefecture to search for the Art of Longevity, one of the Four Great Mystical Books.
Song Yang had already read the story of the Twin Dragons in his previous life, so he was not unfamiliar with it. The Art of Longevity was an important cultivation technique that ran through the entire story.
In the original novel, Yang Guang was obsessed with the art of immortality, so he had been investigating for many years. Only then did he know that the book had fallen into the hands of Shi Long, who was known as the number one expert in Yangzhou.
As for the two main characters in the original novel, Kuo Zhong and Xu Zhiling, it was because they had learned the Art of Longevity by chance that they had grown from good-for-nothing hooligans to powerful figures.
Therefore, Song Yang would not let the Art of Longevity slip away from his hands and let others benefit from it.
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Yang Zhou City was located in the upper reaches of the river and was the main city under Jiang Du County.
Due to the unrest in the world, thieves were everywhere, and everyone was in danger. The first to prosper were the dozens of martial arts centers and dojos in the city. In terms of scale and prestige, the first place was the Stone Dragon Dojo founded by the number one expert of Yangzhou, the Mountain Pusher, Shi Long.
In the past ten years, Shi Long had rarely come to the martial arts arena to handle matters. All the business was handled by his disciples, but because his name was hung on the martial arts arena, people from far and near still came in an endless stream.
Shi Long was naturally fond of Taoism. He was single and did not marry. He lived alone in a small manor on the outskirts of the city. He did not leave the house. His disciples sent people to send him the daily necessities he needed regularly. All day long, he was immersed in studying the mysterious Taoist book, the Art of Longevity.
It was passed down through the generations. This book came from Guang Chengzi, the teacher of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan in ancient times. It was written in oracle bone inscriptions and was profound and difficult to understand. Among the sages who had read this book, although there were many people with great wisdom, no one had ever been able to understand and decipher the whole book.
There were a total of 7,400 characters in the book of the Art of Longevity, but only 3,000 or so characters had been deciphered. The book was also densely packed with notes and translation from people who had read the book before, but they were often more confusing than the original text.
Fortunately, there were seven human figures in the book. None of them looked alike. They were guided by various symbols such as red dots and arrows, as if they were describing some kind of cultivation method.
However, those who didn't understand the meaning of it didn't need to practice it. If they forced themselves to use some of the symbols to urge their true qi, their blood and qi would immediately surge, and they would go berserk. It was extremely dangerous.
The Art of Longevity was made of black gold thread, which made it invulnerable to swords and spears, water and fire. The stone dragon had been facing the Art of Longevity for three years, but he still got nothing. It was like a treasure was placed in front of him, but he did not have the key to open the door.
This Sky Rock Dragon started to meditate. He suddenly felt a sense of foreboding. He couldn't concentrate on the grimoire no matter what. Just as he was pondering, a dry cough came from outside the courtyard.
Shi Long quickly kept the grimoire in his arms. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind as he sighed and said,"Esteemed guest, please come in and have a cup of hot tea!”
It was only when the other party came out of the door that he sensed it. He knew that the person had already surpassed the realm of a first-rate expert.
"If you are powerful, you can help the world. If you are poor, you can stand on your own feet. Brother Shi, you are really scheming. You can attack and retreat. You can explain your actions with a clear conscience. I, Dugu Sheng, admire you.”
Shi Long knew that the other party was mocking him by reading the inscription he had hung in the hall.
He was well-cultivated and did not get angry. He remained in his chair and said lightly,"So you are one of the most outstanding experts of the Dugu Family, one of the four families. Why is there such a leisure to visit us outsiders?”
A middle-aged man placed his hands behind his back and strolled into the hall. He first looked around before finally landing on the face of the stone dragon who was sitting steadily like a mountain. He sighed and said,"It's all because Brother Shi is so tired. You obtained the Enchanted Book of Life Extension, which is the envy of all cultivators, but you didn't offer it to His Majesty. You made him unhappy. I, who was paid by others, could only be a small errand boy. I came to see that Brother Shi is a sensible person.”
Shi Long exclaimed in his heart. This was the first time he had come into contact with the Dugu Family.
In terms of martial arts, You Chuhong was naturally the number one in the Dugu clan. She was even more brilliant than her clan lord's son, Dugu Feng. Dugu Sheng was the third most powerful person in the Dugu clan, second only to Dugu Feng. He was also the most trusted Protector Spirit Emperor expert in Yang Guang's clan. Wherever Yang Guang was, he could be seen.
Since the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties, one of the characteristics was that the powerful families developed from generations of noble families. Some were called noble families or powerful families, which were clearly different from the ordinary commoners.
As the saying went," There were no poor families in the upper class, and no powerful families in the lower class." Scholars and commoners could not marry, sit together, or even interact. Whether it was in economics or politics, the aristocratic families enjoyed great privileges.
It was only when the founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Jian, unified the world and used the imperial examinations to obtain official positions that the situation of the aristocratic families monopolizing everything was slightly broken.
However, the power of the aristocratic families had not disappeared. The four influential families were Yuwen, Li, Dugu, and Song. They had great power and influence in politics, economy, and the martial arts world.
Although Shi Long's thoughts were running fast, he still looked calm and composed on the surface, saying casually,""This Shi has always been wild and wild, and has never understood the way of flattery. He is also a person who is not afraid of being coaxed. In a moment of desperation, he might risk his life and destroy the book. At that time, Brother Dugu will not be able to report to the master.”
The two of them started a verbal battle, and the atmosphere became tense.
Dugu Sheng looked at the stone dragon for a while and said,"If Brother Shi can destroy the precious book, then this book must not be Guang Chengzi's Art of Longevity. So, it's not a big deal to destroy it. However, Brother Shi's attitude is harmful to the students of your dojo. It may even bring harm to their parents and children. I, Dugu Sheng, would like to advise you nicely. If Brother Shi hands over the Bible and disband the Stone Dragon Dojo, I will let Brother Shi go for the sake of the Jianghu. This is a good intention and not a bad intention. Brother Shi can decide whether he lives or dies.”
Shi Long heard his confident tone and knew that what he said was true. Finally, his expression changed slightly.
Ever since he obtained this Daoist treasure, the Art of Longevity, Shi Long had racked his brain, but he still had no results. His state of mind was not as free and peaceful as before.
Now, he had offended the current emperor because of this book. He could even make the emperor take the opportunity to kill his own disciples and even disband all the local martial arts schools to eliminate the armed forces in this area. Was this the crime of holding the jade?
Shi Long felt an absurd feeling in his heart. He was a famous figure in Jianghu and was even praised as the number one expert in Yangzhou City. How could he easily lower his head? At this moment, he steeled his heart and decided that even if he had to die, he would not let the precious book fall into the hands of the fatuous Yang Guang.
Otherwise, with the talents under Yang Guang, he might really be able to decipher all the oracle bone inscriptions in the book, grasp the secret to immortality, and become an eternal tyrant. Then, Shi Long would not be able to escape the blame.
Shi Long raised his head and laughed loudly. After saying yes twice, he shook his head and sighed."This book isn't meant for those who are fated to have it, so it's harmful to obtain it. If Brother Dugu has the ability, take this book back and let that fatuous ruler read it. However, if he reads it to death, don't blame me for not warning him first.”
Dugu Sheng looked up at the big beam in the middle of the hall, and sighed," Brother Shi is not only ignorant, but also stubborn. However, since Brother Shi has not been famous for a long time, I, Dugu Sheng, will fight with you. Brother Shi will die in peace."”
Five Five-Tooth Battleships, each with 800 Imperial Guards, a total of 4000 people, and they were all elites of the Imperial Guards.
Since Dugu Sheng had followed Song Yang to Yangzhou and confirmed that Shi Long was still in the city, he had taken over all the ruling rights and city defenses under the Emperor's instructions. Whether it was the city gates or the secret channels, they had been sealed off layer by layer. Moreover, there were nearly 800 imperial guards surrounding the courtyard. Shi Long had no chance of escaping even if he had wings.
"His Majesty has brought so many people here for the Art of Longevity and to reorganize the armed forces here. Those who are willing to submit to the Great Sui will live, and those who are unwilling will naturally not be blamed on him.”Dugu Sheng thought to himself.
Shi Long didn't know that he had already missed his last chance of survival. He suddenly flew up from his seat, and his feet didn't touch the ground as he flew across the space of about ten feet. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of Dugu Sheng. He pushed his palms forward, and his Qi exploded violently, immediately rushing towards his opponent.
Dugu Sheng's eyes shone brightly. He volunteered to be the vanguard. He knew that the Emperor was still waiting outside the courtyard and should end the battle as soon as possible. Therefore, Dugu Sheng used his full strength to fight head-on.
"Boom!"
The two's Qi clashed, forming a vortex. The nearby furniture, tables, and chairs were torn apart like the autumn wind sweeping the fallen leaves. The Qi surged everywhere, breaking the doors and windows into pieces.
With Dugu Sheng's ability, he used the Mountain Pushing Palm to force the stone dragon to retreat, so as to resolve the shocking pressure.
However, Shi Long was even more miserable. His entire body shook violently, and his protective true qi shattered. His body staggered backward.
Dugu Sheng's toes touched the ground, and the long sword at his waist was unsheathed. He chased after the stone dragon at lightning speed before it hit the wall behind him, and the sword aura was fierce.
The stone dragon roared. He knew that this moment would decide whether he could preserve the Art of Longevity, so he used a strange technique that stimulated his potential.
He opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood, piercing towards Dugu Sheng's Death Acupuncture Point in his chest. At the same time, he sent out two palm strikes in the air and accelerated his retreat to the back wall.
Dugu Sheng was a man of character. Seeing this situation, he immediately knew that something was wrong. At the same time, he remembered that Song Yang had once reminded him that there was a secret passage in the stone dragon room. He couldn't help but sigh at the Emperor's divine foresight.
However, in a battle between experts, victory and defeat were only determined by a thin line. Dugu Sheng did not expect the stone dragon to have such a self-destructive move. He quickly stopped his body and leaned sideways, avoiding the fatal blood arrow by a hair's breadth.
However, he also knew that he couldn't let the stone dragon escape just like that. Therefore, Dugu Sheng immediately gritted his teeth and gathered 100% of his strength to withstand the Mountain Pushing Palm from the stone dragon. At the same time, the long sword in his hand flew out and attacked the stone dragon.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The sound of a strong bow and arrow piercing through the air suddenly rang out. The long sword in Dugu Sheng's hand followed suit. The Rock Dragon's protective Zhen Qi had already been broken. In addition, he had just used the self-destruction technique to activate his potential. He was simply unable to resist. His back hit the back wall, and a trap door immediately flipped him over.
"Break!"
The door immediately shattered, revealing a small secret room. Shi Long fell to the ground, his body pierced by seven or eight arrows and swords. Dugu Sheng walked to his side, pulled out his sword, and found the Art of Longevity on him. He then walked to the door and handed the Art of Longevity to the Emperor.
"My dear minister, are your injuries serious?”
Song Yang took the Art of Longevity and looked at the pale Dugu Sheng as he spoke. He waved his hand and the royal guards beside him immediately put away their crossbows.
"Your Majesty need not worry. This lowly subject only needs to recuperate for a few days to recover.”Dugu Sheng replied respectfully.
"En, my beloved minister has made a contribution to the treasure hunt this time and has been promoted to the right commander of the Imperial Army. All the soldiers who came to Yangzhou with me will be rewarded with twenty taels of silver.”
Song Yang said with a calm smile. His eyes had become even more profound and unfathomable than when he was assassinated. He gave people the impression of indifference and ruthlessness, but there was also a shocking imperial majesty.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
When they heard that the Emperor was going to reward all the imperial guards who came to Yangzhou, everyone immediately revealed a happy expression. Twenty taels of silver was enough for an ordinary family to live a year of food and clothing. Whether it was in modern times or ancient times, money was very important.
Looking at everyone's happy expressions, the wily Dugu Sheng knew that this was Song Yang's method to buy people's hearts. Dugu Sheng couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
This Emperor, whom he thought he knew very well, was no longer the one who was addicted to wine and sex. Now, it was as if he had changed into a different person. When he looked at him, it was as if all his clothes had been stripped off, and his thoughts were exposed.
This Emperor was no longer the fatuous ruler they were familiar with…
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。