Therefore, the Seventh Rank to the Sixth Rank is a hurdle, and many people who only begin cultivating Internal Skill after reaching adulthood get stuck at this threshold.
For example, Wu Dongrong and Liao Yu both lacked opportunities when they were young, Internal Skill in the military after they grew up, so their Internal Skill cultivation was stuck at the Seventh Rank.
However, Wu Shuangren naturally overcame this hurdle without even feeling any difficulty. As his injuries healed, his Internal Skill improved.
After giving Xu Yu his instructions, he prepared to head home.
Everyone removed their armor, wrapped themselves tightly in cloth, placed them on horseback, and then rode back to West River Market.
The Royal Guard now only has about seventy warhorses, which isn't enough for everyone to ride. They have to take turns riding, and some people run, which is also considered a form of exercise.
After returning to the village, Wu Shuangren took Xu Yu to the canteen for a meal, which was already prepared by the kitchen staff.
Both of them had expended a lot of energy, so they sat down and immediately started eating.
After eating for a while, Luo Heng suddenly strode into the dining hall. He was holding a letter in his hand, the envelope already opened.
"Commander-in-Chief."
Luo Heng walked to Wu Shuangren's side, his voice low and his tone grave, "This is news from Rong Province, please take a look."
Wu Shuangren took the envelope and took out the letter from it.
It contained only a few lines of text.
On August 13th, tens of thousands of people gathered at Mount Liang and rose in rebellion.
"A force of 30,000 men stormed out of Mount Liang, sweeping through several surrounding counties. On August 17th, Rong Province City fell, and the Rong Province military commander fled with his men. The body of the Rong Province was hung on the city wall."
Wu Shuangren took a deep breath, his expression turning serious.
Rong Province is right next to Yi Province. The Mount Liang uprising has already wiped out Rong Province. Will they march on Yi Province?
"August 17th... that's eight days ago."
Wu Shuangren calculated the time.
If Mount Liang is going to attack Yi Province, they might already be on their way!
Luo Heng quickly apologized, "I only placed spies in Rong Province this month, so the news did indeed come back too late."
"It's not your fault, the two places are too far apart."
Wu Shuangren waved his hand, "Immediately send more men to Rong Province, especially along the official roads from Rong Province to Yi Province, and arrange personnel at all the post stations. If the Mount Liang army marches south to Yi Province, I need to know immediately!"
"Yes!"
Luo Heng accepted the order and left.
"Mount Liang, Mount Liang..."
Wu Shuangren murmured.
The history of this world has some similarities to the previous one, but much of it is chaotic. For example, there are the Tubo and the Jurchens, first the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and now the Mount Liang Uprising.
Therefore, Wu Shuangren could not use his past life's experience to judge the historical trajectory of this world. He did not know what the Mount Liang uprising in this world would ultimately become.
It's possible that Mount Liang was eventually granted amnesty, or it's possible that the Grand Commander actually stormed the capital, seized the emperor's throne, and donned the dragon robe himself?
Wu Shuangren couldn't predict what would happen next, but one thing he was very clear about—
Regardless of which world Mount Liang it is, this form of 'uprising' can never be made up of heroes, nor can one naively expect the other side to truly act on behalf of Heaven and uphold fairness and justice.
"If the Mount Liang army were to attack, and a bunch of heroes jumped out and said I was a villain, wanting to kill my whole family and rob the rich to help the poor, what would I do then?"
At the dinner table, Wu Shuangren's eyes turned cold, and he subconsciously clenched his fists.
120 Heroes and valiant men, acting on behalf of Heaven.
Rong Province, the capital city.
Several arrows were still stuck in the city wall, the water in the moat was stained dark red, and several corpses were half-submerged and half-floating in the water.
Inside the city, all the shops on both sides of the street had their doors wide open, with broken tiles and broken wood scattered all over the ground. The former prosperity had become shattered glass!
More than a dozen corpses, dressed in official robes, hung from the trees along the street. A wooden plank was nailed to the thickest locust tree, on which four large characters were written in blood—
Acting on behalf of Heaven!
Eight days have passed since the city fell, and from time to time, heart-wrenching cries and pleas for mercy can still be heard from within the city.
The stone lions in front of the government office were lying askew, their heads covered with marks from being hacked and chiseled. The plaque above the gate had been removed and smashed in two, and documents were scattered all over the courtyard, some stuck to pools of dried blood.
Inside the lobby, two people were standing in front of a map.
The man was tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, dressed in a black outfit with a gray cloak over it.
He looked to be in his early forties, with a resolute face and somewhat dark skin. His knuckles were large, and his thumb and forefinger were covered in calluses. At first glance, he had the air of a martial artist, but upon closer inspection, one would notice a scholarly air about him that was rare among martial artists.
This man is none other than Song Hai, the Grand Commander of Mount Liang!
Standing beside him was the strategist Wu Yan, who looked every bit the scholar. He wore a long blue robe, had a thin face, and three neatly trimmed long beards. He held a goose feather fan in his hand and gently waved it.
Rong Province has been pacified.
Wu Yan pointed to the map and said, "Commander-in-Chief, I suggest we head north next."
He drew a line on the map with a goose feather fan, running north from Rong Province and stopping at Ya Province: "Ya Province borders Shannan Circuit to the north, and has two passes within its borders. Once we take them, it will be difficult for the government troops of Shannan Circuit to cross."
Song Hai's gaze lingered on Ya Province: "You mean, the imperial court will first transfer troops from Shannan Circuit?"
"Inevitable."
Wu Yan retracted his feather fan, looking very confident. "If the imperial court wants to send troops to suppress us as quickly as possible, the fastest route is from Shannan Circuit, through Ya Province, into Jiannan Circuit. So as long as we occupy Ya Province and lock down the two passes, keeping the imperial army outside, we will have enough time to turn back and take Shu Province, thus gaining control of the entire Jiannan Circuit!"
The Wu Dynasty divided the region into 'circuits', 'prefectures', and 'counties'. The capital of Jiannan Circuit was Shu Province, and the governor of Shu Province was also the military governor of Jiannan Circuit.
If Mount Liang wanted to completely control Jiannan Circuit, it had to take over Shu Province, so many people in the army suggested that they should directly attack Shu Province next.
However, strategist Wu Yan proposed the opposite strategy.
Song Hai remained silent, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the map twice before turning to Wu Yan: "The strategist is absolutely right. Next, we should send the main force north swiftly to capture Ya Province and secure the passes!"
Wu Yan smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "The Commander-in-Chief is wise."
Song Hai nodded, then turned his gaze back to the location of Yi Province on the map, tapping the Yi Prefecture City twice with his finger.
What do you think of the news that Zhigang and Liang An brought back?
Wu Yan without hesitation, "The Mist Hidden Temple has been operating in Yi Province for many years, yet now they claim they can't even take down a small county militia. I think Ciwen is just trying to inflate his own value, preserve his strength, and use someone else to do his dirty work."
Song Hai nodded; this was exactly what he had thought.
Yi Province is a rich and fertile land, and it is a place that Mount Liang must occupy! Previously, because of the relationship with Zhigang, and because the strength of Mist Hidden Temple was not weak, Song Hai had been in contact with Ciwen, thinking that he could annex it without fighting, which was the best strategy.
The two sides had originally agreed that once Mount Liang made a move in Rong Province, Mist Hidden Temple would immediately follow suit in Yi Province and take Yi Prefecture City first.
But now, an unexpected situation has arisen.
"The Eight Winds Hall has already investigated. There is indeed a powerful figure in Bo County, but most of his men are in Xi Province. He only left a mere hundred men in Bo County, which is not a cause for concern."
Wu Yan said.
Song Hai shook his head. "Wu Shuangren is First Rate expert, and his mother, Xu Nanzhi, is First Rank even higher-ranking expert... Even if Ciwen exaggerated, Kong Kongzheng Liaoming are indeed dead. Both mother and son are experts, and their backgrounds are not simple. We cannot underestimate them and must make plans early."
Wu Yan: "What does the Grand Commander mean?"
"Let Zhigang and Liang An lead a group of men to Yi Province first."
Song Hai made a decision. "First, we can force Mist Hidden Temple to take action and capture Yi Prefecture City; second, we can test the waters in Bo County to see how capable they really are."
Wu Yan thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Wu Yan, your considerations are thorough. I admire you!"
Song Hai smiled and was about to speak when suddenly a series of hurried footsteps came from outside. A personal guard rushed in, his voice urgent:
"Commander-in-Chief, Strategist! Instructor Lin and Master Li of the Whirlwind Hall have gotten into a fight in the street!"
Song Hai and Wu Yan exchanged a glance, and their expressions changed simultaneously.
"Let's go, lead the way!"
The two of them strode out the door.
A crowd had already gathered on the street; they were all men from Mount Liang.
In the center of the crowd stood a mansion, its vermilion gate leaning to one side, the door panels covered with footprints and knife marks. Several corpses lay across the entrance, men and women, one of them a disheveled woman, half-naked, the bloodstains on the ground still wet.
Two figures clashed in the open space in front of the mansion. The sound of weapons clashing was as dense as a sudden rainstorm hitting an iron plate, and sparks flew constantly, dazzling the onlookers!
A tall, slender man with a heroic appearance, thick eyebrows like swords, and eyes like stars. He held a twelve-foot-long spear in his hand, which he wielded with the speed and power of a dragon.
His marksmanship had clearly reached a state of perfection. Each thrust, seemingly simple, was as if it carried an invisible vortex, not piercing the enemy, but rather 'pulling' the enemy towards it, drawing them into the spear tip!
This man is Lin Qian, the chief instructor of Mount Liang.
The one fighting Lin Qian was a black whirlwind. This man was as thick as an iron tower, with skin as black as charcoal, a leopard-like head and bulging eyes, and a full beard that stood up like steel needles.
He carried two Xuanhua axes, each weighing thirty-six jin. The two heavy axes were wielded in his hands as casually as two straws. The axe blades cut through the air, and the sound of the wind was as shrill as a ghost's wail. When the axe hit the ground, the bluestone slabs that were hit shattered on the spot!
This black whirlwind was Li Lin, the Whirlwind Hall. He looked formidable, but he was completely at a disadvantage.
Every time Lin Qian thrust out his spear, it struck precisely the weakest point in Li Lin's axe stance, rendering Li Lin's brute strength useless. Every time Li Lin swung his double axes in a wide arc, he struck empty air. Conversely, the tip of Lin Qian's spear grazed Li Lin's clothes several times, leaving gashes on his cuffs, collar, and trouser legs!
Li Lin was so angry that he yelled and screamed, becoming more and more agitated and chaotic with each blow.
Seeing that he was no match for them, a loud shout came from the crowd:
"Brother Li, I'm here to help you!"
A figure rushed out from the crowd, wielding two maces, and began to smash them down on Lin Qian's head and face.
This man was of medium build, dressed in a brown, close-fitting outfit, and wielded two maces, each engraved with cloud patterns. Every strike of the mace carried immense force!
This is also a First Rate expert!
Facing the First Rate masters, Lin Qian's spear technique surged like a raging sea, growing stronger with each battle!
The spear tip transformed into a shower of cold stars, enveloping both Li Lin and the man wielding the double maces, forcing them to retreat step by step.
Two First Rate experts were completely overwhelmed by Lin Qian alone!
The crowd began to stir, and many people wanted to rush forward to help.
"Stop it, all of you!"
With a thunderous roar, Song Hai, who had arrived on horseback, leaped from his horse, stepping on people's shoulders and heads, quickly jumping over the crowd, and entered the three-man battle circle with his bare hands.
He reached out with his left hand, his five fingers like eagle claws, and grabbed the handle of Li Lin's axe as it swung down. The Xuanhua axe was held down by his single hand and could not move an inch. At the same time, his right hand opened and pressed his five fingers on Lin Qian's spear shaft, stopping the opponent's spear thrust as well.
The man wielding the double maces quickly sheathed his weapons, took two steps back, and clasped his hands in a salute.
"Commander!"
The surrounding crowd shouted and bowed.
Song Hai stood between the three, his left hand gripping the axe, his right hand pressing down on the spear, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping from Lin Qian's face to Li Lin's. "What's going on? We're all brothers, why are you fighting?!"
Li Lin blurted out, spitting everywhere, "Brother, this Lin guy is crazy! He injured my cousins for the sake of a few strangers! When I confronted him, he cursed at me and even attacked me!"
Song Hai frowned, released the two men's weapons, turned to look at Lin Qian, and softened his tone. "Brother Lin, is that so?"
Lin Qian planted his spear in the ground, pointing it at the corpses at the mansion entrance, his expression cold and stern. "This family surrendered without resistance and cooperated with us, handing over all their valuables and stored grain. Today, the Whirlwind Hall men stormed into their home and violated the master's wife and daughters. I happened to be passing by and witnessed it, so I intervened!"
He stared directly into Song Hai's eyes, his face filled with obvious anger. "When the Grand Commander raised his banner, he spoke of acting on behalf of Heaven, of fairness and justice. Mount Liang was meant to fight corrupt officials and kill the tyrants who oppressed the people. If we allow our men to rape and plunder, how are we any different from those corrupt officials who prey on the people? In the past few days, I have witnessed many tragedies in the city: people forcibly occupying houses, robbing property, killing people in the streets... Is this what the Grand Commander Song meant by acting on behalf of Heaven?!"
His voice echoed throughout the long street, deafening and resounding.
Li Lin flew into a rage, pointing his axe at Lin Qian: "Lin! Stop pretending to be a saint! The brothers risked their lives to take Rong Province City. If we can't even let them have a moment's leniency, who will be willing to fight for you in the future? Those rich people bully men and women all the time. What's wrong with the brothers venting their anger now?!"
"They have surrendered; your men are committing rape and plunder!"
Lin Qian stared coldly at Li Lin, refusing to budge an inch.
I'll chop you up!
Li Lin raised his axe and was about to charge forward when Song Hai pressed one hand against his chest.
"Presumptuous!"
Song Hai's voice turned cold, and anger appeared on his face.
His high position and deep-rooted authority meant that when he became angry, his aura immediately overwhelmed the entire room!