The Year of Jiazi, When the Great Yuan Was Overthrown

On the South Sea, the weather is fine and sunny, with vast waves stretching as far as the eye can see.

While it has already snowed in the north, it is still quite hot in the South Sea.

In the fleet, the robust men in Spring and Autumn Annals prime all tore open their short jackets, exposing their chests to the sea breeze.

Every now and then, when flocks of birds are seen flying low overhead, someone will look up at the sky, holding a straw hat to protect themselves from bird droppings, and shout loudly, startling the flock of birds into a slight scattering.

The sailors burst into laughter.

A Tibetan monk walked into the cabin. He was bald, thin, and dark-skinned, and wore an orange-yellow robe draped diagonally, exposing one shoulder.

He spoke in a Nanyang dialect, and although his voice was somewhat loud due to his thin build, his tone was full of compassion and guidance.

The sailors also treated him with considerable respect, and gave him an awkward smile.

The fleet's owner, Liang Baoguo, emerged from the cabin. He wore a lotus crown, had a slightly plump face, and was of medium build. His long beard fluttered in the wind, and he wore a bronze-colored long robe, exuding an air of wealth and nobility.

"Master, we're docking today. Once we're ashore, please don't be so merciful anymore. You must act a bit arrogant, as this is crucial to the success of our entire ship."

Although it wasn't the first time the Tibetan monk had heard his advice, he still found it hard to believe.

"The Seres Empire, is it really so devout in Buddhism? But why only venerate arrogant monks?"

Liang Baoguo said, "That's the Great Yuan, not Seres anymore. Besides, they don't worship ordinary monks; they prefer foreign monks like you."

Back in the late Southern Song Dynasty, a large number of bandits roamed the coastal areas. Later, they were Kublai Khan and participated in the Battle of Yamen.

After the fall of the Southern Song, this group of people were ordered to transport the maps and books stored in the Song palace to Dadu) by sea. However, a few years later, due to the congestion of the canal, the waterways had to be repaired every year, which was very costly.

Therefore, Kublai Khan dispatched these former pirates to transport grain from the Jianghuai region to Dadu) by sea, a task that could transport over three million shi (a unit of dry measure) annually.

The navy of the Mongol Yuan Empire thus flourished even more.

Although when actually used for long-distance ocean voyages, they were prone to encountering storms and being destroyed on the spot.

However, the development of shipbuilding standards and the coastal residents' familiarity with and exploration of the sea have also made significant progress.

Because the imperial court treated the Han people harshly and imposed heavy taxes, many coastal villages were even willing to follow wealthy merchants and go to sea as a whole, settling down on islands and in Nanyang.

Liang Baoguo comes from such a village.

When he went to sea, he was just an apprentice. After arriving overseas, he saw that the local products were plentiful and the natives were lazy by nature, and he felt that there were opportunities everywhere.

In just over twenty years, he has built a successful business empire and is now a well-known business leader in Palembang, Nanyang.

However, having lived comfortably for many years, the more his business improved, the more he wanted to return to his hometown.

However, he needed some security even when returning home, as he still harbored lingering fears about the tyrannical Great Yuan.

Although he had many skilled people with him on his way back to his hometown, after much thought, he decided to invite a master with whom he had a close relationship to accompany him.

"Our Buddhism is probably different from the Buddhism of the Great Yuan."

The Tibetan monk said, "Before I set off, I consulted several masters to discuss the origins of Buddhism. The Buddhism here should be..."

Liang Baoguo didn't like hearing this, so he waved his hand and laughed, "Master, don't worry. Just don't mention those particularly different aspects of Buddhism."

"Besides, I doubt many officials in the Great Yuan Dynasty truly understand Buddhism. You look a lot like a Tibetan monk, and that's enough."

"Perhaps those minor officials, just by seeing your authentic Tibetan monk appearance, would already be kneeling on the ground, their buttocks sticking up high, kowtowing repeatedly."

As he spoke, he laughed along with the sailors around him.

But while Liang Baoguo found it amusing, he also felt a pang of sadness.

The first class were Tibetan monks, the second class were Mongols, the third class were Semu people, the fourth class were Han Chinese, and the fifth class were Southern Chinese.

This is roughly Liang Baoguo's impression of the Great Yuan.

As the two were talking, a child by the boat suddenly shouted, "I can see the shore!!"

Two people quickly pulled the child back a little from the crowd.

The child, around ten years old, was Liang Baoguo's Sunzi, named Liang Daoming.

Liang Baoguo hadn't wanted to bring many of his younger family members on this voyage, but Liang Daoming had secretly sneaked onto the ship and was only discovered halfway through the voyage. The old man was furious but had no choice but to bring him along.

He grabbed Liang Daoming, placed him on his lap, and slapped him hard across the face.

"You brat, I've told you to behave yourself, but you won't listen to reason. If you keep causing trouble after we get ashore, what if those Tartars run into you and chop you up with a single blow? How am I supposed to explain that to your parents when we get back?!"

Although Liang Baoguo was furious, his voice trembled with emotion as he spoke.

There's a saying among the people that the older a person gets, the more childlike they sometimes become.

Liang Baoguo's crying startled the real child, who immediately swore that he would behave himself once ashore.

After a great commotion on the boat, Liang Daoming straightened his clothes, stood beside his grandfather, and asked in a low voice, "Grandpa, since our hometown is so scary, why do we still insist on going back?"

"Sigh, I can't really explain it."

Liang Baoguo looked at the coastline and said softly, "I just want to go back and take a look."

"If you're dissatisfied with everything, go back and stay for a few days, then leave."

The ports of the Great Yuan were actually quite prosperous.

Many large ships with flags came and went, Zhongdu private and some government.

Before the Liang Lineage's fleet set sail, they also replaced an official flag on the ship and prepared a large amount of docking tax.

But when they actually arrived, the patrolling soldiers and clerks only took one-tenth of the silver from the box.

"According to the law, this is indeed the amount that should be collected. The other categories were added arbitrarily in the first place, but now they have been completely eliminated."

Upon hearing this, Liang Baoguo felt uneasy and secretly slipped money to the clerk. With great difficulty, he managed to get the clerk to accept a small amount of silver notes, revealing some of his true feelings.

The Great Yuan is gone!!

Nowadays, although there are many people in the local area who have served in the government, it is the rebel army that truly controls them.

"Rebels? Traitors?"

In Liang Baoguo's memory, many rebels and government soldiers were pretty much the same kind of people, equally inhuman, and wherever they went, cries of sorrow filled the air.

Upon hearing this, the minor official turned ashen-faced. "You can't call them rebels! If you call them a righteous army, then they are a righteous army; righteousness comes first."

He looked around, his voice barely audible, "These rebels are indeed different; they have someone controlling them."

The minor official was busy and didn't dare to say much before leaving in a hurry.

Liang Baoguo's suspicions deepened. He left most of the sailors on the ship to watch over the children, and took the Tibetan monks ashore to walk around.

After walking less than a hundred steps, he hurriedly escorted the Tibetan monk back to the boat.

Unfortunately, the people on the roadside all looked at these foreign monks with disdain, without even putting on an act.

Judging from their posture, if they weren't afraid that this monk knew martial arts, they probably would have pounced on him and started tearing him apart long ago.

Someone even reported it to the authorities, and sure enough, a group of soldiers came to investigate the monk's origins.

Liang Baoguo, accompanied by several attendants, went to the teahouse to inquire. It turned out that a few days ago, more than a dozen Tibetan monks had been beheaded at Caishikou, along with hundreds of Han monks who claimed to be Tibetan monks. The crimes they committed were on display and were shocking to behold.

For so many years, those monks in those big temples have been tyrannical and domineering. Every kin in the city can find a relative or neighbor who has a blood feud with those foreign monks!

It's a pity the new dynasty doesn't like to use the death by a thousand cuts method; otherwise, everyone would have been subjected to this torture, and only then would the people be satisfied.

Nowadays, monks in smaller temples are returning to secular life in droves, fearing they will be implicated.

"This is the new dynasty?"

Liang Baoguo sat in the teahouse, completely bewildered.

Half a year ago, he heard from the naval fleet that the Great Yuan was generally stable. Although it was tyrannical, it had a strong army and the people were unwilling to rebel in full force, and the rebels did not have the strength to do so.

Logically speaking, even if the rebel army's situation is very good within six months, the next step should be for the rebels to fight each other for territory, scheme against each other, and undermine each other.

"Take over territory? Who dares!"

The informant who had been invited across the table chuckled and pointed his thumb north.

"Back then, the Grand Tutor of the Great Yuan Dynasty was so powerful, he even kept a black dragon divine beast by his side, yet he was still slaughtered, wasn't he?"

"There's no need for even Lord Heaven to intervene; Young Hero Zhang alone could easily shove those despicable rebel leaders into a cesspool."

The gossip, with one hand to his lips, said mysteriously, "I'm not just making a figure of speech; someone really has been shoved into a latrine. Tell me, after that, who would dare to start a war?"

A customer at the next table complained, "We're eating here, don't sit in that cesspool."

"Hero Chu and Young Hero Zhang, they taught with benevolence and righteousness. Look at the people of the world today, who doesn't remember their kindness? As long as the righteous army is down-to-earth and diligent, they will also have their own merits and benefits. This is how to win the hearts of the people. This is what is meant by the invincible way of the king."

"If we continue to act as tyrannically as the Yuan dynasty, even if we resort to more cruel tortures, let alone drowning people in latrines, wouldn't there still be people who rebel?"

Liang Baoguo nodded to himself; there was some truth to that.

After processing this shocking news, he felt both surprised and delighted. He wasn't in a hurry to go back to his hometown to visit, but instead wanted to go to Suzhou and Hangzhou and Hangzhou and visit Dadu).

Upon returning, he rallied the fleet and continued by water, first heading to Suzhou and Hangzhou, and then northward.

Although many scenes along the way were still dilapidated, they were gradually becoming more vibrant.

When they arrived in Dadu, they heard that many nobles and wealthy but unscrupulous people in Dadu had been relocated to harsh and cold places, and their property had been confiscated and used to fill the national treasury.

In the northern part of the city, even the slightly better-off families were not yet bold enough, and some poor people had not yet come to their senses, still worrying about those lords and feeling somewhat uneasy.

In the southern part of the city, however, there was already a scene of jubilation and celebration.

Holding his Sunzi's hand, Liang Baoguo walked down the street and, after asking around, learned that tomorrow was the day of the Heavenly Maiden's wedding.

Recently, many chivalrous figures from the martial arts world have flocked to both the Dadu and the city to attend this grand wedding.

I don't know which faction led the way, but they brought in a lot of fireworks and firecrackers. Tonight, they're going to have a grand fireworks display to warm up for tomorrow.

Upon hearing this, Liang Baoguo walked to a brothel and took out a gold ingot.

"I'll buy one too, we'll set it off tonight!"

The shopkeeper replied, "Alright, sir, would you like to customize the font? That'll only cost an extra 10%."

"They even offer custom font sizes here? Great, I'm not short of money!"

Liang Baoguo, beaming, chuckled and pulled out another silver ingot, asking what number the fireworks should display. He hesitated for a moment, however.

You definitely need to include your name and a blessing.

"With no war in Dadu, will there be peaceful years to come? No, my family isn't from Dadu."

Old Liang said, "Let's call it 'Longing for Home, Peaceful Life,' and sign it—"

He glanced down at his Sunzi and said leisurely with a smile, "Signature: Liang Daoming."

As night fell, fireworks lit up the river channels in the southern part of the city.

The fireworks outside the city walls transformed into various golden rain centipedes and phoenixes spreading their wings.

Inside and outside the city, it drew the gaze of countless children.

Han Baiyu stood on the city wall, his arm around Zhang Yining's shoulder, watching the fireworks.

Han Rui muttered from the side, "According to etiquette, you two shouldn't see each other today."

"I am a celestial maiden, why should I concern myself with such worldly etiquette?"

Han Baiyu laughed arrogantly and turned to say, "Besides, we have a Lord Heaven here. With Big Brother Chu's reputation among the common people, believe it or not, if he lets out a word, all the weddings in the world will change."

Chu Tianshu was also watching the fireworks and was in a good mood.

"I don't know anything about weddings, so I'd better not offer any advice. However, I do know about the food. For your banquet tomorrow, have Diba Deng give instructions on the chicken dishes, and Danxia can prepare the sweet soups."

"Tsk tsk, exploiting their employees."

Han Baiyu laughed and said, "Speaking of which, have you mentioned to your employees that you're planning to run away soon?"

Chu Tianshu corrected him, "I'm not running away, I'm going to explore the stars and the sea for them."

Han Baiyu laughed so hard her body shook. Luckily, she was calm and composed, unlike Yu Danxia who was so cumbersome; otherwise, her clothes might have rubbed against the crenellations of the city wall.

Zhang Yining glanced at her helplessly.

A couple of days ago, Zhang Yining noticed that Big Brother Chu seemed to be in a bad mood.

I have a feeling that if Baiyu keeps making these kinds of jokes, Big Brother Chu might find an excuse to beat him up.

"Oh, right."

Han Baiyu's expression turned serious, a ruthless glint appearing in his eyes. "Old Chu, I won't stay indulging in this world of pleasure forever. Since there are so many supernatural things in my hometown, I'll have to go back and lend a hand sooner or later."

Chu Tianshu smiled calmly and said, "You really don't need to rush that."

"Even Wangliang casts a spell across realms, it can affect Trade Edict that is currently unclaimed. Even if the token now has an owner, it's still not safe for you to return to your original home. It's better to wait until you become stronger."

Han Baiyu pouted in resentment.

Zhang Yining gently reminded, "Baiyu, what about that thing we were talking about?"

Han Baiyu suddenly realized, and patted Chu Tianshu on the shoulder. "How about getting a silver needle as a souvenir?"

Chu Tianshu casually pulled out a needle. "Do you want the needle I used to stick into the silkworm cocoon? You two are really playing tricks—"

Before he could finish speaking, Han Baiyu had already withdrawn the silver needles and then pointed at Chu Tianshu in mid-air.

Chu Tianshu was slightly taken aback, feeling a strange, gentle, and warm current flowing through his meridians.

He had just felt a warm current when it turned into a cool sensation, changing at will, yin and yang alternating, like the alternation of the sun and moon, aiding the growth of living beings.

"This is... the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art Skill?"

Chu Tianshu exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing? Sending away internal energy reduces your maximum capacity. This is different from consuming internal energy normally; it's not so easy to recover!"

Zhang Yining bowed and said, "Now that the great enemy has been defeated, it is nothing for me to temporarily lose one-tenth of my strength. If you refuse, elder brother, we will be ashamed."

Chu Tianshu pondered for a moment.

Given Zhang Yining's current cultivation speed, even if this successful cultivation only reduces his upper limit, he will be able to break through it again in no time.

"Alright, then I won't be coy."

Chu Tianshu laughed, "This Heavenly Silkworm Divine Art is indeed quite abstract and difficult. I'll try out this successful form first, and it will be easier to practice it after I go back and kill the Evil Spirit to gather materials."

"Little Zhang, come with me for a moment."

He led Zhang Yining around the corner, a little further away from Han Baiyu, and spoke quietly.

Have you ever learned dual cultivation martial arts?

Zhang Yining: "Huh?!"

"The Dao of Yin and Yang—this is a very serious academic question, what's there to be shy about?"

Chu Tianshu chuckled, "Come, come, here's my handwritten manual. Wishing you a happy marriage!"