"Zhu Yuyan is indeed inferior to Fan Qinghui when it comes to overall strategy. However, Fan Qinghui pales in comparison to Wu Zetian. Moreover, they don't even use codes for their messages. Have they never considered the possibility of interception?"
Daniel shook his head lightly as he read the intercepted letter from the Pure Land Chan Sect's carrier pigeon. In war, aside from logistics, intelligence was crucial. For example, the Black Dragon Scroll and the Thousand Mechanism Copper Plate of the Qin Dynasty utilized cryptographic knowledge. Both were indispensable; stealing one alone would be useless for deciphering the message. Even though the chances of interception were slim, it was still a risk that couldn't be ignored.
"It seems the development of intelligence networks must also be put on the agenda. The Black Dragon Scroll and the Thousand Mechanism Copper Plate can serve as references."
"Li Mi has defeated Yuwen Huaji. Yuwen Huaji truly is a pushover."
In a side hall of the palace, Daniel, Xu Xingzhi, Wanwan, Bai Qing'er, Ouyang Xiyi, and others stood around a massive sand table that depicted the terrain around Luoyang and Chang'an. This sand table was created by Daniel after compiling relevant maps and using Red Queen's drones for scanning. He then used earth-based immortal techniques to craft it. Having previously made figurines, Daniel's skills, combined with immortal techniques rather than manual labor, resulted in an exceptionally detailed model. If Daniel were to sell such models in the modern world, he would undoubtedly make a fortune.
The side hall had been largely cleared of unrelated items, and the entire space was now filled with the sand table, showcasing Luoyang and its surrounding towns and mountains.
"Something's not right. Li Mi's strength seems off. He just defeated the Wagang Army; there's no way he could have defeated Yuwen Huaji so quickly."
Initially, Daniel hadn't paid much attention to this intelligence. He knew Yuwen Huaji's capabilities well—a man with lofty ambitions but a fragile fate. It wasn't surprising that Li Mi had defeated him. However, Xu Xingzhi raised a different perspective.
"What's the issue?" Daniel immediately asked.
"Li Mi's actions are too swift. He just defeated Zhai Rang and integrated the Wagang Army. Logically, he shouldn't be able to attack Yuwen Huaji so soon. Most importantly, he shouldn't have enough supplies to sustain consecutive wars."
Due to Daniel's interference, the Wagang Army hadn't been able to seize the Sui Dynasty's granaries, leaving them severely lacking in supplies.
"Moreover, under normal circumstances, the Wagang Army's priority should be capturing the Xingluo Granary. But Li Mi has abandoned that and directly attacked Yuwen Huaji. From this, it seems his next target is us."
As Xu Xingzhi spoke, he used a bamboo stick to draw several lines on the sand table, outlining his predictions.
According to Xu Xingzhi, Li Mi attacked Yuwen Huaji to prevent him from cutting off his retreat while he attacked Luoyang. By defeating Yuwen Huaji first, Li Mi ensured his rear was secure.
"Li Mi's ability to wage consecutive wars suggests he isn't lacking in supplies. Someone must be funding him. Additionally, many martial artists who haven't been active in the jianghu for years have recently appeared in Luoyang. Logically, Li Mi shouldn't be able to command them."
Xu Xingzhi now held significant power in Luoyang, second only to Daniel. He wielded authority similar to what Wang Shichong had previously held. As for Wang Shichong, he had retired after Daniel's rise to power.
With the empire not yet unified, Daniel saw no need to decentralize power. Xu Xingzhi held considerable authority in both civil and military affairs.
"Are you suggesting the Buddhist community is funding him? That's highly possible. Fan Qinghui likely wants to use Li Mi to deal with me. Given Li Mi's modus operandi, his next move will be to assassinate me. Even if he fails, Fan Qinghui can pin the blame on Li Mi, absolving the Buddhist community."
"Li Mi's luck is truly remarkable. He managed to rise again despite everything."
The saying "success and failure both come from the same source" aptly described Li Mi's situation. Daniel's interference had caused the Wagang Army to split prematurely, ruining Li Mi's plans and weakening his forces. However, it also drew the attention of the Buddhist community, which had previously ignored him.
Only the Buddhist community or powerful aristocratic families could mobilize long-dormant martial artists. For instance, Li Yuan had enlisted several renowned experts to deal with Shi Zhixuan.
While top-tier grandmasters were rare, there were plenty of lesser grandmasters. With a new generation emerging every twenty years, and grandmasters maintaining their strength well into their sixties and seventies, the cumulative number of grandmasters was substantial.
The Buddhist community's grandmasters were the result of such accumulation over the years.
"I understand the situation. Don't worry about him. Proceed with the original plan. Master Ouyang, I'll leave the Six Gates to you."
If it were Wang Shichong, he would have been extremely anxious upon learning of Li Mi's plans to attack Luoyang. But for Daniel, Li Mi was insignificant. His Wei Wuzu and Bai Jia troops were almost ready, and this would be the perfect opportunity to showcase them in this world.
"Your Highness can rest assured," Ouyang Xiyi replied solemnly. The Six Gates were now under his leadership. Given the nature of law enforcement, Ouyang Xiyi was the most suitable candidate among Daniel's subordinates. Members of the Demon Sect were unsuitable for such roles, especially at the higher levels.
Initially, Ouyang Xiyi had no intention of serving any faction. His assistance to Wang Shichong was based on their friendship, and his later aid to the Li Clan was similarly motivated. However, Daniel had managed to persuade him to join, not through deception but by appealing to their shared ideals.
"Luoyang, finally. Brother Ling, it seems our elder brother has started taking action."
That day, Luoyang was as bustling as ever. Three extraordinary young men arrived at the city gates. One of them, seeing a wooden platform at the gate where officials were tirelessly promoting legal policies and other related matters, couldn't help but smile.
These three were Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Ba Fenghan. After a long journey, they had finally arrived in Luoyang.
"The rule of law? This King of Tang is quite interesting," Ba Fenghan remarked with a rare smile after listening for a while.
To promote the rule of law, Daniel had arranged for officials to deliver speeches at the city gates around the clock. Additionally, large wooden signs with legal content and illustrations were erected at various street intersections. At the four main city gates, the sixteen principles of the rule of law were prominently displayed on massive wooden boards.
There was also a refugee registration station for those fleeing to Luoyang. Those willing to settle in Luoyang were offered various incentives.
"I originally wanted to present Elder Qu's head as a gift to our elder brother. Who knew that old man would flee so quickly?"
"Let's go. We should meet Brother Shen first. Brother Fenghan, you should come too," Xu Ziling said after carefully observing the surroundings.
"You go ahead. I'll pass," Ba Fenghan immediately declined.
"Come on, Brother Fenghan. After all we've been through together, I guarantee our elder brother is different from others," Kou Zhong insisted, dragging Ba Fenghan along despite his protests.
"Fine, I'll go," Ba Fenghan reluctantly agreed, overwhelmed by Kou Zhong's enthusiasm.
"Brother Shen!" At the palace gates, Daniel personally came out to greet them after being informed by the guards. Kou Zhong called out warmly upon seeing him.
"It's you," Ba Fenghan said, his expression changing as he recognized Daniel. His previous defeat at Daniel's hands had been more devastating than his later encounter with Qu Ao.
"It's me," Daniel replied with a smile, then turned to the Twin Dragons. "I heard Qu Ao of Tiele was chasing you. How did that turn out?"
"If that old man hadn't run so fast, I would have brought his head to you," Kou Zhong boasted, briefly recounting their encounter with Qu Ao.
Qu Ao was undoubtedly a top-tier grandmaster, immensely powerful. However, the Twin Dragons were stronger than in the original timeline, and their rapid progress during the chase allowed them to join forces with Ba Fenghan to deliver a fatal blow. Qu Ao narrowly escaped, losing his left arm in the process.
Once, the Twin Dragons together might not have been a match for Ba Fenghan. Now, both Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling could individually hold their own against him.
"Since you're here, would you like to tour the palace?" Daniel asked, noticing Kou Zhong's curiosity about the palace's architecture.
"Fantastic! I've always wanted to see the palace," Kou Zhong exclaimed with excitement. While Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan weren't as eager, they didn't pass up the opportunity.
"This is the Dragon Throne. Would you like to sit on it?" Daniel pointed to the throne at the top of the palace hall.
"Can I really just sit on it?" Kou Zhong exclaimed in surprise, while Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan were equally startled. They all knew the significance of the Dragon Throne.
"It's just a chair. Why not?" Daniel truly didn't care about the throne. In modern times, anyone with money could sit on a replica Dragon Throne, whether luxurious or simple. As for dragon robes, they were even more commonplace.
"Never mind," Kou Zhong said after staring at the throne for a while, ultimately deciding against it.
"Come on, sit down. Do you think I'm testing you? It's just a lousy chair. Sit," Daniel said, grabbing Kou Zhong and forcing him onto the throne.
"How does it feel?" Daniel asked with a smile as Kou Zhong curiously touched the throne.
"It's too hard. Very uncomfortable," Kou Zhong said, standing up.
"Brother Ling, do you want to try?" Daniel turned to Xu Ziling.
"No thanks. I have no interest in this," Xu Ziling quickly declined, even using his movement technique to distance himself from Daniel, fearing he might be forced onto the throne.
"The emperor's authority doesn't come from a lousy chair or a dragon robe," Daniel said, giving up on Xu Ziling, who was different from Kou Zhong.
"Let's go see other places."
The palace was indeed magnificent, with exquisitely designed pavilions, towers, and gardens.
"Something feels missing," Kou Zhong remarked as they walked, his initial excitement waning, especially after hearing about the emperor's duties and workload.
Kou Zhong was a restless soul. Being confined to the palace would bore him to death. He lacked Daniel's ambition and strength to break free from such constraints.
"Eunuchs," Ba Fenghan answered.
"Right, Brother Shen. Why haven't we seen a single eunuch?" Kou Zhong asked curiously.
"I disbanded them. Just because something is commonplace doesn't mean it's right. Do you really think eunuchs are normal?"
The thought of eunuchs made Daniel cringe. Coming from modern society, he naturally sought to eliminate such practices when he had the power.
Ancient palaces, while seemingly luxurious and enviable, were essentially vast prisons upon closer inspection.
The struggles within the harem cast a gloomy atmosphere over the palace. Even the wells were rarely used, as no one knew if they contained corpses. The vibrant flowers might have been nourished by human remains.
Feudal societies required eunuchs to prevent infidelity in the harem. Daniel, however, had no intention of maintaining a harem, making eunuchs unnecessary.
He even planned to repurpose the palace for government offices.
"Indeed, no one would willingly become a eunuch unless forced."
Mentioning the origins of eunuchs silenced the Twin Dragons and Ba Fenghan. They had never considered that something so commonplace could be so horrifying upon reflection.
"Enough of such unpleasant topics. Let's change the subject," Daniel said, ready to move on.
"Brother Shen, you didn't just expel them from the palace, did you?" Xu Ziling suddenly asked.
"Do you really think so little of me? Come, I'll show you where they are."
Seeing Xu Ziling's concern, Daniel shook his head and led them out of the palace through a side gate to a royal estate.
The eunuchs expelled from the palace had been relocated here, which also housed Daniel's first orphanage and school.
Since Emperor Yang of Sui rarely visited Luoyang, the eunuchs there had little to do. Some had taken up self-study, making them the most literate group in the palace. Even young eunuchs were taught to read and write to serve the palace effectively.
Daniel had put this to use by having the eunuchs teach the orphans to read and practice martial arts, alleviating the shortage of teachers.
Others were assigned to farming and sericulture.