Starting as a God-Emperor by Intercepting Destiny

0015 A total mobilization in Jingzhou: Zhao Jing begins to gather manpower, including unexpected sub

Hidden Mist Tea House, Dining Hall

After the Tu family was rescued, they buried their dead relatives and prepared food according to Chen Zhong's orders.

As the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach."

Even if the tea shop is exposed, it won't stop them from finishing their meal before leaving.

The dining hall was solemn at this moment.

The children of the Tu family dared not cry or make a fuss; they simply gazed silently at the delicious food on the table.

As a result, no one touched their chopsticks.

Even with limited resources, the Tu family still hung white curtains and lit eternal lamps to express their grief.

The entire dining hall was filled with a somber atmosphere.

Even Bao'er should be infected and have a poor appetite.

No wonder!

Ow!Ow!Ow!

Another bowl, please!

Inside a private room on the second floor, Bao'er was wolfing down her food.

Although she prefers lamb skewers and grilled fish.

But the Tu family spared no expense, using spirit stones as firewood to steam the finest mutton fat rice.

The rice steamed with these spirit stones is imbued with spiritual energy, making it no less effective than elixirs for innate martial artists.

Bao'er was already starving, so she naturally ate heartily, and even the rice tasted especially sweet.

As for death, it is something the orcs have long been accustomed to.

If it weren't for the rampant slave hunters who slaughtered the entire cheetah clan, Bao'er probably wouldn't have gone north to search for them, but instead stayed behind to protect the remaining members of her clan.

Live on quietly.

Living is just for rice.

After Bao'er accompanied Zhao Jing for ten years, this "dry rice" finally turned into "protecting its master".

Zhao Jing often sat at the same table as Bao'er, and now that the formalities were gone, they were even sitting at the same table.

Seeing Bao'er eating so happily, he couldn't help but smile:

"Don't choke."

"Eat! Down!"

Ow!Ow!Ow!

Bao'er ate with terrible table manners, and only when the food was almost gone did she guiltily ask:

"Your Highness, won't you eat more?"

"I'm full."

"The rest is for you."

Zhao Jing has retrieved the Thousand Illusion Pearl and restored his true form.

Because when the Tu family was preparing the meal, Bao'er went to the pit to pick up Zhao Jing and retrieve him along with the bomb for future use.

However, Zhao Jing had been lying in bed for a long time, which caused him to lose his appetite.

Although he possessed a Buddhist pagoda and profound magical abilities, his physical body remained weak and unable to absorb the nourishment.

Half a bowl of this kind of spiritual rice is enough to fill one's stomach, similar to the black carp.

Bao'er breathed a sigh of relief, but her amber eyes remained fixed on the half-bowl of leftover rice, and she couldn't help but ask:

"And Your Highness's bowl..."

"Here you go too."

Zhao Jing chuckled to himself.

He handed her a handkerchief, pointed to the grain of rice at the corner of her mouth, and reminded her to be mindful of her eating manners.

Bao'er, however, was completely unaware of it.

Your Highness has eaten your fill.

Leftovers should not be wasted.

She reached out and snatched the leftovers, finishing them off completely.

Chen Zhong kept giving him meaningful glances from the side.

Bao'er remained completely unaware.

After she had eaten and drunk her fill, she remembered the rules of the Eastern Palace and, ashamed, offered her explanation:

"His Highness once said that every grain is the result of hard work."

"We can't waste it."

So... that's how it's understood?

Zhao Jing chuckled, about to give them a lecture, when he suddenly heard voices coming from inside the hall:

"I heard a noise upstairs!"

"You all need to eat more!"

"The escape route is treacherous; even if you can't swallow it, you have to!"

"And you all, what are you standing there for? Quickly serve His Highness more food!"

Upon hearing this, the Tu family members downstairs ate their rice with tears in their eyes.

Bao'er's liking for this person increased significantly.

That's too advanced.

He actually added dishes.

Zhao Jing was somewhat surprised and glanced at Chen Zhong.

Chen Zhong hurriedly said:

"Your Highness, it is Tu Huaiyuan, the head of the Tu family."

"It was he who requested an audience just now."

The person shouting downstairs was the owner of the tea shop.

After annihilating the enemy, Zhao Jing was eager to refine Yuwen Zhe and did not summon him.

After seeing that His Highness had finished his meal, Tu Huaiyuan urged people to add more dishes while requesting another audience.

The dining table was once again laden with delicious food, and Master Tu stood respectfully outside the door.

Bao'er only ate until she was 80% full, but then stopped looking at the food on the table, narrowing her eyes and becoming alert.

"Your Highness, would you like to use the Thousand Illusion Pearl to isolate communication?"

When important guests are received, one must be cautious.

Yuwen Zhe forgot this ironclad rule and was tragically refined, becoming a puppet.

Zhao Jing waved his hand:

"No need!"

"Bring him in."

Tu Huaiyuan was a spy for the Eastern Palace, and he pretended to have pledged allegiance to the Eldest Princess. Such a loyal and ruthless individual would be hard to betray.

With two guards by my side, there's nothing to be afraid of.

A moment later, the door opened, and a middle-aged wealthy businessman with a protruding belly entered.

He was dressed in a brown silk shirt, with an abacus hanging from his waist, and his face was full of a friendly and prosperous expression.

Even the Embroidered Uniform Guards, after investigating, could not guess that this was a spy from the Eastern Palace.

As soon as Tu Huaiyuan entered the room, he knelt down seven steps away, his expression one of intense emotion:

"This old minister pays his respects to His Highness the Imperial Grandson."

"Long live Your Highness! Long live the Prince!"

Chen Zhong was protected by a golden aura, just in case, while Zhao Jing stepped forward to help Tu Huaiyuan up.

"Please don't stand on ceremony, Master. Please rise."

"The Crown Prince failed to protect us properly, which led to the Tu family's plunder. This is my fault."

"Please accept my condolences, Master."

Tu Huaiyuan was heartbroken at the loss of his children, and Zhao Jing should offer him comfort.

Upon hearing this, Master Tu looked up at Zhao Jing, seemingly lost in thought.

"It's so similar, it's uncanny."

"Heaven blesses the Great Yong Dynasty, and bestows upon this old minister a wise ruler!"

"The remaining fifty-six members of the Butcher's family are willing to die for Your Highness!"

"We only beg Your Highness to rescind your order and flee to Jiangnan immediately!"

"Otherwise, this old minister will kneel here forever!"

Just as Bao'er was reunited with her true form, Chen Zhong had already ordered the Tu family to divide their forces into three groups.

How can we obey such chaotic orders!

Tu Huaiyuan was extremely anxious and even forgot his grief over losing his son.

He was determined to escort His Highness south to ensure his safety.

Chen Zhong closed the door behind him and then placed a silencer on it to block out any noise from inside or outside.

Seeing that the other party was stubborn, Zhao Jing activated the pagoda, and the sound was like the chanting of Buddhist scriptures:

"Please rise, Master."

"Let's set this matter aside; I will make my own decision."

The sect leader, Tu, was not highly skilled in cultivation, and upon hearing this chanting, he unconsciously rose to his feet.

Mystic arts to captivate the mind!

It is said that the second grandson was born with ordinary bones, and was lazy and capricious. Although he was of good character, he was unlikely to achieve great things.

I never imagined it would be hidden so deep!

Tu Huaiyuan was overjoyed, his expression shifting several times before he finally couldn't agree.

He channeled his inner energy, broke free of his restraints, and cried out urgently:

"But Your Highness, you should have seen that red sun."

"You are now His Highness the Crown Prince's only child."

"Even with countless plans, how could this old minister allow you to take such a risk..."

"Perhaps his only blood relative."

Zhao Jing's lips curled up slightly:

"My elder brother has fallen, and even if I were to die, my younger siblings would still remain."

His Highness the Crown Prince is by no means a romantic; not only does he have many wives and concubines, but he also has secondary wives and numerous children.

Ironically, one of his concubines was Yuwen Yi's cousin.

In other words, the Crown Prince's residence and the Yuwen family could be considered related by marriage.

Normally, these people are like invisible beings, with no presence whatsoever, and even Zhao Jing can't be bothered to pay them any attention.

Tu Huaiyuan said urgently:

"Your Highness, these two things cannot be conflated!"

"They bear the bloodline of the Yuwen clan, and there is no way they can succeed to the throne..."

Father's plan has indeed failed.

Look, they don't even trust their own people. How can they expect to deceive the Yuwen family and settle scores later?

Zhao Jing silently cursed his father a couple of times, then raised his hand in a gesture of pressing down:

"What the master says is absolutely right."

"Since I am born into the imperial family, I should be worthy of this honor."

"How can a coward become the ruler of the world?"

Without courage, how can one turn the tide?

In a daze, Tu Huaiyuan seemed to see His Highness the Crown Prince from back then.

He was originally a small tea merchant in Jingzhou, but by chance he obtained a rare tea plant and cultivated it into the best tea variety in the north.

The Tu family prospered as a result, but this attracted the covetous eyes of wealthy merchants who plotted against them.

The government accepted bribes from wealthy merchants, moved the body to frame the Tu family, and falsely accused them of murder for money, leading to Tu Huaiyuan's wrongful imprisonment.

Even if the butcher family gave away all their wealth, it wouldn't save them.

It was also his destiny to survive; that year, Emperor Hongjing was on a southern tour, and the Crown Prince was overseeing the country.

The Crown Prince, with his keen insight, saw through the injustice and immediately ordered a retrial, thus clearing the Tu family's name.

Tu Huaiyuan was deeply grateful and intended to repay the favor. He was eventually granted an audience with the Crown Prince when the Crown Prince was inspecting Jingzhou.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince had a keen eye for talent and praised Tu Huaiyuan's abilities, which moved Tu Huaiyuan to tears of gratitude.

A scholar will die for one who understands him.

From then on, Tu Huaiyuan became a spy for the Crown Prince's palace, specializing in managing the Crown Prince's private property.

Now, sensing Zhao Jing's will, he couldn't help but murmur:

"It's so similar, it's uncanny."

Previously we were talking about appearances; now we're talking about character and integrity.

The biggest problem with the powerful and wealthy officials was that they regarded their wealth and status as a gift from heaven.

Zhao Jing, however, believed in one principle.

If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight.

The Crown Prince also kept in mind his responsibilities as the heir apparent, which is why he was able to clear the Tu family's name.

The father and son are exactly the same in this respect.

Tu Huaiyuan rose and bowed again, saying:

"This old minister is foolish and dull, and will follow Your Highness's lead without question."

"very good."

How much wealth does the Tu family currently possess?

Loyalty and righteousness are certainly touching.

However, Zhao Jing also needs to assess Tu Huaiyuan's abilities before making plans to give him important responsibilities in the future.

Tu Huaiyuan replied immediately:

"Your Highness, rest assured, all the hidden assets of the Crown Prince's Palace are managed by this old minister."

"For example, newspaper offices, soap shops, and textile machine manufacturers already earn over a million dollars a year."

"The rebels tortured the old minister, trying to seize the account books, but the old minister did not reveal a single detail."

No wonder Tu Huaiyuan is still alive.

It turns out that the Yuwen family intended to seize wealth, undermine the foundation of the Eastern Palace, and eliminate future troubles.

It was a series of deadly moves, a chain of iron chains.

Zhao Jing felt a mix of emotions.

My years of hard work have ultimately changed the world in a subtle and gradual way.

In the original game, Hidden Mist Tea House was merely a hideout for those on the run.

It's hardly an asset.

Now, Tu Huaiyuan possesses astonishing resources.

In the past, Zhao Jing used his elder brother's name to tinker with strange and ingenious skills, hoping to earn some pocket money.

Unexpectedly, His Highness the Crown Prince has such discerning eyes that he has recognized that each of these things is a treasure trove.

The result did not disappoint the Crown Prince.

When others invent ingenious or clever skills, one must be wary of powerful and influential people coveting them, lest one be guilty of possessing such a treasure.

The Crown Prince's residence is already a model of integrity by not resorting to force or robbery, and Zhao Jing need not worry about the development of its industries.

However, the Crown Prince acted cautiously and never made a big fuss.

Because he saw through Emperor Hongjing, a pathetic old man who was even jealous of his own son.

Therefore, the crown prince kept a low profile and broke down the industrial chain into smaller parts.

Tu Huaiyuan also held a higher status and greater influence than in the game.

However, Zhao Jing still couldn't help but have some doubts:

"If that's the case, why are there so few guards?"

With an annual income of millions, there should be a master to guide you.

Tu Huaiyuan looked ashamed.

"Your Highness, this is only to avoid attracting attention."

"The tea shop's allegiance to the Princess should have been foolproof, but somehow the news leaked out."

"This old minister will certainly investigate thoroughly, find the traitor, and tear him to pieces!"

The Crown Prince ordered Tu Huaiyuan to seek refuge with the Eldest Princess, and there were reasons for this.

Firstly, the eldest princess was not the heir to the throne and had no chance of ascending to the throne. Regardless of the outcome of the princes' battles, the tea shop would be preserved.

Secondly, the eldest princess harbors hidden ambitions that the crown prince cannot see through, so it is necessary to plant spies to investigate her true intentions.

The crown prince was a man of great wisdom and foresight, but alas, the executioner's blade prevails over all, and death extinguishes all.

Zhao Jing shook his head:

"The enemy may have used divination to glean the secrets of heaven; it is not your fault."

"I only ask, how many people can the tea plantation employ?"

In important industrial areas, there must be experts in charge.

Otherwise, just guarding against martial artists stealing would be enough to cause them a lot of trouble.

Zhao Jing wanted to return to Yujing, and he couldn't let Bao'er and Chen Zhong take risks, so he wanted to get as much help as possible.

Tu Huaiyuan took a deep breath and solemnly replied:

"Your Highness, it depends on the timeframe!"

"There are a total of 36 industries in Jingzhou, covering tea shops, weaving workshops, and silk shops, with 20 core innate elements and 151 true essence elements."

"After being rescued, this old minister has issued the [Flying Dragon Order] to gather manpower."

"At the fastest, ten Xiantian cultivators can reach Hidden Mist Village within an hour, and all twenty Xiantian cultivators will arrive within five hours."

"As for those at the True Essence Realm, they will arrive one after another in twelve hours."

The Eastern Palace has a very strong foundation. If they were to truly fight to the death, even if they couldn't win completely, they could still severely damage the Princess Alliance.

This defeat was solely due to the great success of the princess's decapitation tactic.

The Crown Prince possesses power, yet has no way to utilize it.

Now that Zhao Jing has rescued Hidden Mist Tea House, he can help Tu Huaiyuan awaken the forces lying dormant in Jingzhou.

Tu Huaiyuan had cultivated this network for many years and had his own secret channels of communication.

He was not highly skilled in cultivation, but wielded considerable power.

In a sense, His Highness the Crown Prince is quite magnanimous, allowing such a person to infiltrate the princess's camp.

They were not afraid of the other side defecting to the enemy.

Zhao Jing inwardly criticized his father's oversight, then frowned deeply:

"Five hours is too long; we'll begin the operation in one hour."

"The situation in Yujing is urgent and cannot be delayed."

"Those who cannot come should pack their belongings and move south immediately."

The situation was changing rapidly, and Zhao Jing could not wait any longer; he had no time to sit and wait for his men to assemble.

Tu Huaiyuan responded urgently:

"This old minister obeys!"

"Wait a minute!"

Zhao Jing suddenly called out to him:

"What is the level of this group's natural talent?"

Tu Huaiyuan hesitated for a moment:

"Your Highness, these people are not suicide soldiers; their combat strength is limited."

"The first batch of ten people are mostly at the initial stage of the Innate Realm, with only two at the early stage of the Innate Realm, far inferior to the two adults."

Tu Huaiyuan was ultimately a traveling merchant.

They usually recruited martial arts practitioners to serve as retainers. These people submitted to the Eastern Palace, but they rarely had any training, and since their skills were mediocre, their strength was naturally not great.

In a one-on-one fight, a Jinyiwei of the same rank would be more than enough to crush him, let alone elites like Chen Zhong and Bao'er.

Zhao Jing had anticipated this and waved his hand dismissively:

"I do not ask about combat strength, but only about their ability to adapt to changing circumstances and whether they have the will to die."

"The key to this trip is disguise; we need to borrow the identities of Yan Shuangxing and the others."

Combat strength is not the primary concern for this trip to Beijing.

If their activities are exposed, the enemy only needs one half-step Grandmaster to wipe them all out.

A master like Wei Zheng is not uncommon in Yujing.

Zhao Jing's plan was to use a substitution, with everyone replacing Yuwen Zhe and his group.

The bodies of Yan Shuangxing and others are still there.

They were just about to be skinned and made into masks.

Upon hearing this, Tu Huaiyuan revealed a long-lost smile:

"Your Highness, rest assured, although these people are not particularly skilled in martial arts, they are seasoned businessmen, adept at reading people's expressions, and many are also experts in disguise."

"As for loyalty..."

"If it weren't for the selection of loyalists, this old minister could have summoned even more skilled individuals!"

"Moreover, this old minister has his own means of controlling people, and is willing to accompany you to protect you, so as to ensure your safety."

Zhao Jing nodded, then shook his head:

"No!"

"Others may follow, but the master of the manor must retreat to Jiangnan."

Upon hearing this, Tu Huaiyuan immediately objected:

"If Your Highness were to meet with misfortune, what would become of us?"

"This old minister will certainly follow!"

Zhao Jing chuckled:

"This matter is easy. If I die, you will use my name to raise your banners and seek revenge."

"Your Highness!"

The three exclaimed in surprise, unwilling to hear such words.

No one has ever died in life.

Zhao Jing was a man of deep foresight; even in death, he wanted to become a banner of revenge, a nightmare for his enemies.

This is revenge.

Seeing everyone's tension, Zhao Jing couldn't help but laugh:

As the ancients said, "A true king never dies."

"Since I am determined to win, not even Heaven can take my life away."

The crowd's expressions softened slightly, and Zhao Jingfang said:

"The master's cultivation is still shallow. It would be better to take the account books south to consolidate his foundation."

"I only ask about the whereabouts of the secret agents in the capital."

"When I go to Yujing, I will not act rashly. I will only ascertain the truth before making a decision."

Tu Huaiyuan hesitated for a moment, then finally made his decision and slowly spoke:

"Your humble servant obeys."

"As for the account book, Your Highness need not worry, for such a thing does not exist in this world."

"What?"

Zhao Jing was taken aback.

Without ledgers, how can we manage?

Tu Huaiyuan chuckled:

"The manor's account books are nothing but a smokescreen."

"The exact accounts are all in my mind, without the slightest error."

Truly photographic memory!

Zhao Jing suddenly realized.

No wonder my father relies on me so much; this ability alone is enough to make me capable of great responsibilities.

He left not a single piece of paper behind, yet his mind held countless books; truly a genius.

Zhao Jing's eyes were piercing:

"Master, you cannot afford to fail!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness."

Seeing that there was no hope of them accompanying him, Tu Huaiyuan then offered his advice:

"Your Highness wishes to know about the hidden agents, so this old minister recommends someone."

"She was the adopted daughter of an old minister, and she would later become a 'living ledger'."

Absolute security means having no accounts or records.

With the help of the Crown Prince, Tu Huaiyuan found this woman with a photographic memory and adopted her as his daughter.

Adopted daughter?

Bao'er was enjoying the braised pork and didn't care about anything else.

At this moment, her animal ears stood up sharply, and alarm bells blared.

Tu Huaiyuan kept his eyes straight ahead.

"She is hidden in Hidden Mist Village, and her character and methods surpass those of the old minister by ten times. She is also well-versed in the secret network of the Jade Capital."

"If Your Highness is willing to take me in, my trip to Yujing will surely be beneficial, and I can also protect you!"

Even loyal ministers have their selfish desires.

This woman is both a pledge of loyalty and a guarantee for the future.

One who does not plan for the long term is not fit to plan for the short term.

Seeing Zhao Jing's extraordinary demeanor, Tu Huaiyuan decided to bet everything.

Since he could not accompany her himself, he sent his adopted daughter to keep him company.

Tu Huaiyuan's hesitation just now was because he was afraid that Zhao Jing would suspect that he had ulterior motives.

"Granted."

Zhao Jing didn't mind his subordinates' slight selfishness:

"We always welcome talented individuals, even those who are just starting out."

Tu Huaiyuan was overjoyed:

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"

Wait, something seems off.

Bao'er initially thought the old man who provided the meals was a very kind person.

So this old geezer is a bad guy.

Just as Bao'er was at a loss, Tu Huaiyuan, as if he had planned it all along, knocked on the door.

Chen Zhong casually removed the silence note, and the sound of knocking echoed all around.

Boom!Boom!Boom!

The woman outside the door came upon hearing the noise.

"This humble woman, Tu Su, bows to Your Highness, the Imperial Grandson."

Huh, it's you?

Zhao Jing's eyes narrowed, and he immediately made a gesture.

Prepare for battle!