Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 704 - 634: Arrival of the Ship

Chang’an, Great Ming Palace, torrential rain.

A fierce wind swept across the rooftop ridge, emitting a mournful howl, as cold rainwater cascaded down the eaves, forming waterfalls.

Since the Mountain Master’s death, this storm—which affected nearly half of the Central Plains—had persisted for seven days.

It seemed as if the ocean had been turned upside down, suspended over the Human World. The torrential rain destroyed crops and submerged roads, severing transportation.

Some said this rain was Haotian weeping in deep sorrow over the passing of the Academic Palace Master, Lian Xuanyao. Others held the opposite view, believing that Haotian, enraged by Lian Xuanyao cutting off the summit of Taihao Mountain, had deliberately sent down a divine punishment.

Yet others, those privy to insider information, would discuss it in private. They claimed that this storm evolved from the Chaotic Wind. Excessive water vapor gushing from the Nine Nether Dark River was scattered and swept into the clouds by the Chaotic Wind, causing the abrupt change in weather patterns. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Regardless of which theory was correct, the rain was gradually lessening. According to the Academic Palace’s estimates, it would cease in a few days.

This was perhaps the best news in recent times.

Inside the great hall, Emperor Yu and his ministers were still deliberating policies.

Such large-scale floods and torrential rains occurring simultaneously were historically rare. Fortunately, modern times differed from the past. The construction of railways significantly alleviated the transportation pressure for disaster relief.

A continuous stream of materials and manpower could be transported to disaster zones by train for emergency rescue operations. Even if sections of the railway tracks were damaged by the torrential rains, they could be quickly repaired with the Academic Palace’s unstinting supply of talismans.

Relocating disaster victims, ensuring supplies, building embankments, preventing epidemics...

Emperor Yu and his ministers carefully sifted through and decided on policies. Every decision made in this room would impact tens of thousands of common people thousands of miles away, so they had to be extremely cautious.

"...Let’s leave it at that for now. With the Guardian Mountain River Talisman, there’s no need to worry about warfare for the time being. Allocate all resources to disaster relief efforts. First and foremost, protect the common people."

Emperor Yu rubbed his temples, sighing deeply as he brought the meeting to a close.

CREAK—

The door opened, and the Empress entered with several maids, carrying a silver tray laden with many jade bowls filled with chicken soup.

"I had the kitchen take some time to prepare this. Be careful; it’s hot."

The Empress distributed the soup. The ministers showed expressions of flattered surprise as they received their bowls. The Minister of the Secretariat, Xue Ji, was an exception; he was the Empress’s older brother, and this chicken soup, their mother’s recipe, was something he had drunk countless times since childhood.

Even the young Historian in the corner, who was recording the Emperor’s daily activities, received a bowl. He accepted the chicken soup with utmost trepidation and gratitude, his face filled with deep emotion.

Drinking chicken soup on a cold, rainy night lessened their fatigue considerably. Emperor Yu, looking out at the thunder and lightning, suddenly asked, "Lately, what is the public sentiment in Chang’an City?"

This question seemed to drop an ice cube into the cozy atmosphere of the room. All laughter abruptly ceased.

Minister Pei Su, putting down his jade soupspoon, pondered for a moment before saying, "Most of the common people mourn the Mountain Master. They have spontaneously set up memorial tablets at home and, despite the torrential rain, have gone to newly built temples to commemorate him."

Emperor Yu nodded, then asked further, "Most? So, you mean there are some who do not mourn?"

The question was difficult to answer. Pei Su could only pick up his jade soupspoon, his gaze lowered as if in deep contemplation, avoiding the Emperor’s eyes.

As Emperor, Li Shun surely had means to gather the sentiments of Chang’an’s populace. The reason he asked this in such a setting was to hear these words spoken from his ministers’ mouths.

Seeing that no one responded, Empress Xue lightly tapped her soupspoon, making a tinkling sound.

The Minister of the Secretariat, Xue Ji, had no choice but to place his jade bowl down. He cupped his hands and said, "There are some idle folk gathered outside the Haotian Temple, unwilling to disperse. The Capital Governor, fearing they might block traffic, has fenced off that area under the pretext of construction."

"Idle folk? They are probably Haotian believers, aren’t they?"

Emperor Yu’s expression was indifferent. He knew Xue Ji hadn’t told the whole story. Before his death, the Mountain Master had entered Taihao Mountain alone, not only severing a peak but also severely injuring the Haotian Sect Leader and forcing four cardinals to retreat, causing considerable disgrace to Taihao Mountain.

In those kingdoms where faith in Haotian was most devout, such an action was considered immensely blasphemous and arrogant. Indeed, even shredding Mountain Master Lian Xuanxiao into thousands of pieces would not suffice as recompense.

As for Yu Country, its common people were famously pragmatic. Their faith in Haotian was nearly on par with their reverence for their own ancestors. They viewed Haotian as a presence to appeal to during the New Year, praying for protection, a smooth, disaster-free year, and abundant wealth.

Belief in Haotian was more a matter of daily custom. The sound of the Heavenly Bell morning and evening, and the Haotian Bell echoing throughout the city every hour, had become inseparable parts of life.

Of the four hundred million common people in Yu Country, there would always be some who were more devout in their belief in Haotian. A small fraction, much like the people of other kingdoms, even opposed the Mountain Master’s actions.

After all, long before the Academic Palace, Taihao Mountain had stood for thousands of years, protecting humankind from the clutches of demons and leading them through the darkest, most lightless of times. This point was indisputable.

A pin could be heard dropping in the silent great hall. The topic was too sensitive, too difficult to broach. Strictly speaking, everyone in Yu Country, including the ministers present and the Emperor himself, were Haotian believers.

Emperor Yu surveyed the expressions on his ministers’ faces, slowly sipping his soup. Even in the hearts of these ministers, their gratitude towards the Mountain Master isn’t entirely pure, is it? The Mountain Master had independently stormed Taihao Mountain, severely injured the Haotian Sect Leader, and left behind the Guardian Mountain River Talisman. This indeed bought Yu Country a few years of respite, but it also cut off Yu Country’s path of retreat. Once the Guardian Mountain River Talisman dissipated, Yu Country would face not only the Zhou Kingdom, the Jing Kingdom, and the Turkic, but also a vengeful, full-strength Taihao Mountain taking the field directly. The enemy was too powerful; even without direct intervention, they could shake the people’s resolve, making them indulge in wishful thinking. Fantasizing about whether peace with Taihao Mountain could have been maintained if the Mountain Master hadn’t acted. Fantasizing if surrendering now could secure a way to live. Fantasizing if betraying the Academic Palace could ensure, after the fall of Yu Country, continued enjoyment of glory and riches...

"The hour is late. Finish your soup, then go home. The Observatory has said the rain will stop in three days, and then we will attend the Mountain Master’s funeral."

Emperor Yu spoke meaningfully and set down his jade bowl.

The ministers, as if granted amnesty, quickly rose, bowed, and left the palace.

Emperor Yu gazed at the now-desolate hall, then leaned back wearily in his chair, heaving a long sigh.

The Empress signaled with her eyes for everyone in the vicinity to withdraw, including the Historian recording daily activities.

Once only the couple remained in the room, she quietly approached. Standing behind her husband, she began to massage his temples tenderly. "Don’t worry too much," she said gently. "All will be well when the boat reaches the pier."

"All will be well when the boat reaches the pier? I’m afraid some people might want to jump ship first, or even go as far as to sink the boat!"

Emperor Yu, his eyes closed, snorted coldly, his voice barely concealing his indignation.

The investigation results from the Academic Palace and the garrison regarding the recent Zhao Ming attack were alarming indeed.

The governor of a prefecture on the border of Yu Country and Zhou Kingdom had actually been turned, collaborating with the local garrison commander to disable the local alert array and facilitate Zhao Ming’s infiltration.

On the Yellow River Cao Transport, dozens of officials, whether bribed or threatened, had overlooked hundreds of boats sinking annually in the Yellow River system. These boats, carrying gunpowder when they sank, also played a role in collapsing the levees in various states.

Furthermore, anonymous leaflets had appeared in various State Mansions. These claimed that Lian Xuanxiao’s provocation of Taihao Mountain would bring catastrophic disaster to Yu Country. They urged the common people to consider whether the Academic Palace was recklessly dragging the entire nation into ruin.

Seeing the irritation and anger on her husband’s face, the Empress paused, then said in a soft voice, "Let’s wait for news from the Academic Palace. After the funeral, Chen Jijiu—no, it should be Master Chen—will go into seclusion for cultivation in the mountains behind the Academic Palace. If he can break through to the Near-Cliff Realm, everything will start to improve."