“I won't be the Commander for much longer.”
Zhu Zai finally sighed, and spoke at length.
As mentioned before, this Da Shuo was quite similar to Li Miao's previous life's Great Ming. And the situation Zhu Zai was facing at this time was actually similar to the situation of Great Ming during a certain period.
The current Emperor had been on the throne for more than twenty years, and was old and frail, and had not been involved in Imperial Court affairs for many years. At this time, the Imperial Court was a complex mix of Eunuchs, Civil Officials, and maternal relatives, and undercurrents were already surging.
For a sensitive organization like the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the head of the family would definitely not escape this Fight.
Zhu Zai sensed this, and wanted to promote his Trusted Aides before he left. One was to leave some political Legacy for his subordinates while he still held power. The second was to leave some capital for himself, at least not to be completely kicked out of the center of power.
The Successor he chose was Li Miao.
Li Miao had been under him for more than twenty years, and he knew him inside and out. He had Disposition, Brain, and means.
In terms of Martial Arts, although he rarely made a move, in Zhu Zai's opinion, he had at least quietly cultivated his Martial Arts to the level of a Supreme expert. He could be said to be his most favored Successor.
The only thing was that he was a tough nut to crack, and would only budge a little when pushed. It was as if he had a Vendetta against High-ranking Officials and high positions.
Zhu Zai looked at Li Miao and said, "Da Li, why aren't you willing to do something?"
“A man cannot be without power for a day. Without power is without strength, without strength is wrong, and one will be at the mercy of others.”
“I know your Martial Arts are quite good, but if you don't cultivate yourself to be like an Immortal, how can you contend against the elite soldiers and iron cavalry?”
Li Miao smiled.
A summer insect cannot speak of ice, Zhu Zai of course did not understand his thoughts, because he had always looked at the problem from the perspective of a fragile, short-lived, and powerless ordinary person.
What's the point of power? What's the point of money?
Born into a world where Martial Arts existed, using Martial Arts as a means to gain power, in the eyes of Li Miao, who came from a boring, materialistic world, it was such a waste of resources.
What is Martial Arts? It is idealism, it is Transcend.
Can power allow one to stroll in the forest, stepping on the blood-red maple leaves, to see the Bright moon?
Can power allow one to open their Lapel, dance wildly in the snow, and drink hot liquor?
Can power allow one to settle Vendettas, kill strong enemies, and have their blood boil?
Can power allow one to ride the waves, travel the world, without worrying about dying on the road?
No. But Martial Arts can.
Just like Yan Xiaosheng, Li Miao didn't care what his life could be exchanged for.
He just casually poked a finger into this scum's Chest, making him suffer for Three Days before committing Suicide, he just wanted to be so happy! Without Martial Arts, could Li Miao do it?
He had already seen the road ahead, but he hadn't figured out how to go about it.
Li Miao couldn't say these words to Zhu Zai, he couldn't understand.
Just like a person who is born healthy will not know the longing of a blind person for color, Zhu Zai also couldn't understand the meaning of Martial Arts to Li Miao, nor could he understand how boring power was to Li Miao.
So Li Miao nodded and said, "Understood."
Zhu Zai turned his head abruptly, and looked at Li Miao incredulously: "What did you say?"
“I understand, can I watch you lose your power? If there's any important matter to Leave the capital, I'll handle it.” Li Miao said.
This sentence made Zhu Zai unable to speak for a long time.
After a while, he looked Li Miao up and down, and asked hesitantly, "Did you have a Problem with your cultivation? Qi Deviation?"
These words amused Li Miao, and he said with a wry smile, "You've been giving me a lecture for half a day, and I understood, and I'll do as you say, and you ask if I'm sick. You, a high-ranking official of the third rank, are you teasing your Subordinates?"
Zhu Zai said angrily, "Stop pretending to be crazy and stupid, if you were so sensible, would I have been angry with you for twenty years? What Calculation do you have?"
“Hiss—wrong!”
Zhu Zai seemed to have suddenly understood something, and looked at Li Miao with a sideways glance.
“You wouldn't be planning to use the matter of leaving the capital to fake your death and escape, and hide in some remote area to live your lazy life, would you?”
“How could that be?” Li Miao said seriously: “Definitely not a remote area, I love to eat and play, and I can't stand a hard life.”
“Get out.” Zhu Zai scolded: “Tell the truth!”
Li Miao knew that his eight-hour work schedule per day was simply a lazy act in the feudal era. This impression had long been deeply engraved in Zhu Zai's Brain, and without a reasonable reason, he couldn't Prevaricate.
He had to tell the truth: "My Martial Arts are almost done, and I'm thinking of going out for a walk and see what's what."
Li Miao was now thirty-five years old, and had been in Yanjing since he entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard at the age of fifteen.
One reason was that Martial Arts was interesting enough for Li Miao, and he didn't feel bored even after practicing for twenty years.
The second reason was that Vendetta was rampant in this world, and the social atmosphere was much more Violence than in his Previous life. Without cultivating his Martial Arts to a certain level, Li Miao was unwilling to easily get involved in the Jianghu. And the environment of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was also suitable for his Golden Finger to play its role.
The third reason was Zhu Zai's reliance on him, always keeping him in Yanjing, and keeping him in front of him to be used.
At present, his Martial Arts had reached a certain level, and there were not many opponents in the world, and he was safe.
Zhu Zai had taken care of him for many years, and now he needed him to do something. And he himself was also restless, wanting to go out for a stroll and see this Jianghu with his own eyes.
Zhu Zai nodded reluctantly after hearing this: "That sounds like something you would say."
He turned his head and took a piece of paper from the table, and handed it to Li Miao: "You can go and handle this matter, it will take about a year to go back and forth, and if you do it well, I can also operate for you."
Li Miao lowered his head to look at the paper, and there were several big characters written on it.
“Annihilate the Five Mountains Sword Sect”.