Chapter 524: Chapter 347: Great Li and Two Martial Artists
“Are you saying that in Great Li, a young lord has now ascended to the throne, with the Empress Dowager acting as regent, assisting the young emperor?”
Gu Yiwu’s eyes slightly widened.
“A widow mother ruling in court, holding sway over one of the largest dynasties in the northern part of Wangque Continent, both in terms of population and territory?”
Yunniang sighed softly and nodded, “Yes.”
Zhao Rong thought for a mont: “Good grief.”
Gu Yiwu slowly nodded.
Zhao Rong suddenly asked, “When did the forr emperor pass away?”
Yunniang pondered for a mont and for so reason, sniffled. Her speech was still clear:
“It was exactly a month ago. That’s when the late emperor passed away suddenly. The court fell into chaos since the late emperor was wise and beloved by us common folk, so there was widespread mourning among the people…”
Zhao Rong nodded lightly and listened for a while longer.
Midway through, he glanced at the woman in front of him who had sold herself into servitude and co to the mountains not long ago. At the mont, she was wiping away tears with her sleeve, reminiscing about the late emperor and reflecting on the past tumultuous events in Li Territory.
Yunniang’s tone of voice was sowhat mournful.
It didn’t seem feigned; she truly appeared to have loved the late Emperor of Great Li.
Zhao Rong quieted for a while, nodded, and realized that this late Emperor of Great Li, who could now also be deed Emperor Li, truly t the standards of a founding monarch that Zhao Rong had envisioned.
Originally a re commoner from the south of the river, he had co to power in an era of great upheaval in Li Territory, marked by aging dynastic rule. He took up the sword, rallying nurous skilled and righteous individuals. After nurous trials and seizing many opportunities, he transford from a carplike figure to a dragon, unifying Li Territory and expanding its borders.
He was the founding emperor of this newly established dynasty.
His claim to the throne was completely legitimate.
And now, Great Li was not rely confined to the forr dynasty’s territories. Since its establishnt, it had annexed other nations, expanding at least fivefold—yes, five tis, mostly over fertile lands.
Emperor Li established the capital within Li Territory, using the people of Li as the core to govern all directions.
It led to several surrounding nations submitting and paying tribute.
At this mont, the Great Li Dynasty stood tall at the northernmost part of Wangque Continent and indeed deserved such a strategic location.
Because Great Li, facing south while sitting in the north, looked down upon the southern Wangque Continent. Across the northern Half Continent, hundreds of nations, both large and small, though so had larger territories and populations, upon closer inspection, were all aging and stagnant old dynasties, none stronger than it.
There were hardly any who could even match its strength.
To find any that could stand shoulder to shoulder or surpass it, people of the northern Wangque Continent had to stand on tiptoes and strain their eyes towards the southern part of Wangque Continent.
Moreover, Zhou Rong gathered from Yunniang’s words that the establishnt of the Great Li Dynasty was not only due to the late emperor’s wisdom and martial prowess but also his command over many capable generals and ministers.
Oh, right, Emperor Li’s surna was Li, and his given na was Xiu.
Great Li belonged to the Li Imperial Family.
Zhao Rong pursed his lips; this new dynasty, rising like a phoenix from the ashes, was indeed in its early stages, exuding prosperity and montum.
And the founding emperor, Li Xiu, was in his pri, with an ambition to encompass vast territories and supported by both wise ministers and brave generals. The latter, finding themselves under a sagacious ruler, were also eager to establish ritorious deeds.
Like dry wood eting fierce fire, the national strength surged like oil in flas, growing stronger by the day.
It seed nothing was lacking now—just solidify the dynasty’s foundation, strengthen the imperial authority a bit more, and wait for a ‘random incident’ to occur, and then seize the opportunity to try and turn the Li River into a backyard stream.
Yes, and render most scholars at Linlu Academy, in so sense, holess.
Oh, a certain scholar with the surna Lin from Siqi Academy as well; his ho would also be gone.
Zhao Rong felt so worry for his friend and could not help but… smile slightly.
At that ti, most people of Half Continent looking around would probably consider everyone to be a person of a dissolved nation, akin to holess spirits, huddling together for warmth.
Zhao Rong shook his head, thinking that whoever spoke these words must surely lack emotional intelligence.
This should be called giving everyone a warm new ho, with many new family mbers.
How heartwarming.
He amusedly thought.
But all this—Great Li people’s fervent hopes, potential significant gambles by immortals from the mountains, the grand endeavors of the Great Li Dynasty—
was all gone.
At least, it seed so at the mont.
Because the vigorous Emperor Li Xiu had passed away.
This ‘great ship’ that aid to navigate through thorns heading southward, had lost its creator, who was also the most suitable helmsman for it.
Zhao Rong frowned slightly.
At this mont, Yunniang’s voice grew quieter and quieter.
“Did the… the late Emperor oppose those immortals on the mountain, selling the people of Great Li, especially us Li won?”
“The late Emperor had explicitly decreed. Within Great Li Territory, if impoverished parents needed to sell their daughters to raise money, they could only sell them to the governnt’s Music Workshop, to either learn singing, dancing and music, or to learn weaving and needlework.”
“Upon reaching adulthood, Li won could choose to earn their living through needlework and buy back their freedom;”
“Or they could accept the proposal of high-ranking officials to have their freedom bought for them, entering the hos of the nobility;”
“Or they could stay at the Music Workshop, either as musicians or dancers, or aspire for a greater future as palace maids and female officials.”
Yunniang turned to look at the fiery red maple leaves of her hotown, her face showing a look of longing.
“These were choices that we, modest won of willowy beauty, could make actively, rather than have our fates dictated to us, being sold off like re commodities…”
Zhao Rong had intended to cut off Yunniang as she went off-topic, yet at that mont, he paused, and after a brief hesitation, he held back.
He glanced at Gu Yiwu, whose expression was calm and unchanged. Seeing Zhao Rong looking his way, Gu Yiwu cracked a smile.
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