Confucius did not speak of strange powers, chaotic spirits, or gods.
However, the events happening to him truly astonished Huang Xu.
Martial arts instruction in dreams had actually become a reality.
He could really perform the Yang Family Spear techniques he learned in his dreams!
Especially when his master in the dream said he would bestow him with a peerless body, after he woke up, his entire body underwent a massive change. His strength surged, and the potential within his body seemed endless.
“Brother, are you serious? You really apprenticed to a master in your dream, who taught you some Yang Family Spear technique?”
“Brother Shihao, a Azure Dragon possesses him, does he have a Heavenly Mandate?”
“But, but, but isn't Brother Shihao an Eunuch?”
On the training ground, Huang Wu Die, looking like a beautiful girl next door, exclaimed in a clear, startled voice.
“This, I don't know either…”
Huang Xu said, on the verge of tears.
What happened to Huang Xu immediately caused a huge stir among the three members of the Huang Family.
Huang Zhong, who was on duty in the palace, was even called back by the anxious Huang Wu Die.
Huang Zhong personally tested Huang Xu.
He was shocked to discover that his son, Huang Xu, was not much inferior to him in strength.
And the Yang Family Spear technique that Huang Xu displayed, although there were many incorrect parts and many places where the movements were not fluid, it might be because Huang Xu had only learned it for a short time and hadn't mastered it.
However, in Huang Zhong's eyes, this spear technique was a top-tier one.
Huang Zhong was shocked, his heart stirred.
That night, the events that had happened to him made Huang Xu very excited. He wanted to go to sleep early to see if he could dream of the master who brought him such miraculous changes again.
But the more excited he was, the less Huang Xu could sleep.
At the same time, Huang Zhong and Huang Wu Die were also awake.
Their thoughts were all on Huang Xu.
Would Huang Xu dream of his master again?
Does Zhang Shihao have a Heavenly Mandate?
But isn't Zhang Shihao an Eunuch?
Night gradually deepened, and it wasn't until the latter half of the night that the anxious Huang Xu finally managed to fall asleep.
Dimly, a small stream appeared.
A burly man with a fierce and domineering aura, standing quietly in front of the stream, a dark black spear upright beside him, as if waiting for him.
“Master, is this really not a dream?”
Seeing Yang Zaixing again, Huang Xu immediately became excited and asked quickly.
“Practice spear!”
A faint, majestic voice sounded, a flash of cold light appeared, and the dark black spear roared through the air.
…
“Father, little sister, I dreamed of Master again! Master taught me the Yang Family Spear and military strategies again! Brother Hao truly has a Heavenly Mandate!”
Huang Xu was very excited, and affirmed to Huang Zhong and Huang Wu Die, who had rushed over early in the morning.
“This…”
Listening to his son Huang Xu's confident words, Huang Zhong's heart was stirred with shock.
Huang Wu Die's heart was also unquiet, her beautiful eyes filled with an inexplicable surprise, her heart pounding, she bit her silver teeth and murmured:
“Could it be… Brother Shihao, is he really not an Eunuch?”
…
When Zhang Shihao saw the Huang Family again, he noticed that their gazes towards him had changed.
There was an added complexity, an added respect.
This made Zhang Shihao very satisfied.
He had previously acquired the 【Epic Peak Fierce General Inheritance Template Card: Iron-Blooded Yang Zaixing Template!】, and after confirming that Huang Xu's body was almost fully recovered, he eagerly applied it to Huang Xu.
The reason Zhang Shihao was so impatient was Huang Xu's personality.
【When the Yang Zaixing Template is placed on oneself or others, the inheritor will inherit Yang Zaixing's martial arts aptitude, and within two years, in the form of dream instruction, will inherit Yang Zaixing's martial arts. Note: The inheritor's personality must match Yang Zaixing's to inherit Yang Zaixing's characteristic abilities!】
The first time Zhang Shihao saw Huang Xu, he was pleasantly surprised.
Even without considering Huang Zhong's reputation, Zhang Shihao would have saved him.
Because Huang Xu's personality was very similar to Yang Zaixing's personality in history.
And one of the conditions for the Yang Zaixing Template was a personality match.
Once the personalities matched.
It meant that Zhang Shihao could obtain a peak peerless fierce general almost identical to Yang Zaixing.
That was Yang Zaixing!
Facts proved that Huang Xu did not disappoint him. When Zhang Shihao saw Huang Xu again, Huang Xu's martial prowess soared.
At the same time, his entire being underwent a transformative change.
Name: Huang Xu
Age: 15 years old!
Martial Prowess: 91 (Strong five-star, not yet at peak, still growing...)
Leadership: 63 (Three-star, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
Strategy: 62 (Two-star, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
Politics: 55 (Two-star, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
【Affection】 (Towards Host): 100 (Extremely grateful and moved by the Host's life-saving grace and the Host's discernment of his father's talent, excellent affection. He also recognizes the Host as the True Son of Heaven, and will charge out on horseback at the Host's command.)
【Character, Conduct】: Honest, hot-blooded, stubborn
【Talent, Potential】:
【Iron Blood】: The potential of a peerless fierce general. When the body's blood boils and it falls into a frenzy, its potential will be continuously stimulated, its tolerance for injury will greatly increase, and the more severe the injury, the more its martial prowess will increase, with a maximum increase of +3!
…
Zhang Shihao saw the changes in the Huang Family and was pleased in his heart.
He greatly admired the dream instruction brought about by the system.
…
Days passed, and Huang Xu followed Yang Zaixing in dream training.
The Empress's belly also became noticeably more prominent day by day.
And the entire Thirteen Provinces of Great Han, with eleven Court Attendants each going to a province to personally select Meiren for Liu Hong, and General He Jin also getting involved, became a grand and bustling affair.
On this day, nearly a month after Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants proposed selecting Meiren for Liu Hong throughout Great Han.
……
Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The grill was filled with various ingredients.
Wafts of aroma spread out. Zhang Shihao grilled while handing skewers to Liu Hong, who sat on the dragon throne. Liu Hong held a skewer of grilled chicken feet in one hand and a skewer of pork belly in the other, eating with oil dripping from his mouth, his face full of enjoyment.
Ever since his first taste of barbecue, Liu Hong had been hooked, conquered by its flavor.
He had to have it every few days.
“Excellent, truly a delicacy!”
Liu Hong praised incessantly.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the surrounding Eunuchs, Imperial Guards, and palace maids serving them all gazed at the barbecue on the grill with envy, unable to stop swallowing their saliva.
It was simply too fragrant.
However, unfortunately, there were too few barbecue seasonings. Some concubines in the Imperial Harem couldn't even get any, let alone them. They could only watch and drool.
How good must that taste?
“Your Majesty, the bandits are truly audacious, truly audacious!”
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, just as Liu Hong was enthusiastically eating barbecue, Zhang Rang's seemingly furious voice came from outside.
Zhang Shihao, who was grilling, raised an eyebrow slightly and looked towards the main entrance.
He saw Zhang Rang walking in from outside, looking flustered and exasperated.
“Zhang Rang, what's wrong? Who made you angry again? Come, have a grilled chicken foot to calm down!”
Liu Hong, sitting on the dragon throne, glanced at the exasperated Zhang Rang, said with a smile, and at the same time, held up the grilled chicken foot in his hand towards Zhang Rang.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. However, I have come to see Your Majesty because I wish to request Your Majesty to mobilize a large army and dispatch a great general!”
Zhang Rang quickly and respectfully took the grilled chicken foot that Liu Hong handed him, and at the same time, anxiously explained his purpose.
“Hm? Mobilize a large army, dispatch a great general?”
As Zhang Rang's words fell, Liu Hong on the dragon throne was stunned, and even Zhang Shihao's hand paused.
“What's going on? What happened that requires mobilizing a large army and dispatching a great general?”
Liu Hong recovered, frowned, and asked in a deep voice.
Zhang Rang dared not delay. Under the gaze of Zhang Shihao and Liu Hong, he quickly explained:
“Your Majesty, it is like this: did Your Majesty not issue an order to recruit Meiren from all over the land?”
“I made a major discovery in Wuwei Commandery, Western Liang, discovering a Meiren of unparalleled beauty, capable of overthrowing kingdoms.”
“Originally, Xiao Huangmen Zuo Feng was already bringing the Meiren to Luoyang, but the local Western Liang soldiers and the Qiang colluded, pretending to be bandits, attempting to abduct the Meiren. They suddenly attacked when they left the Western Liang territory and were about to enter Huayin Commandery. The escorting officers and soldiers suffered heavy casualties, and Zuo Feng fled with the Meiren into the administrative seat of Huayin. “
“Zuo Feng ordered the Huayin Commandery Governor to organize troops, nearly a thousand commandery soldiers to escort the Meiren back to Luoyang. However, the other side actually had several highly skilled martial generals, more than one. Zuo Feng was defeated again, and fled back with the Meiren to the administrative seat of Huayin, currently defending the city!”
“I request Your Majesty to immediately dispatch troops, send a great general, and execute the bandits. It would be best to have Huang Zhong lead the Imperial Guards directly.”
Zhang Rang's angry voice echoed through the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
He was practically fuming.
Kidnapping, and it was aimed at him, Zhang Rang.
Truly audacious.
Zhang Rang's voice was exasperated, but Liu Hong and Zhang Shihao were both a little stunned.
A Meiren of unparalleled beauty, capable of overthrowing kingdoms, discovered in Wuwei Commandery, Western Liang?
Then, Western Liang soldiers colluded with the Qiang, pretending to be bandits, to snatch her?
Even with the Huayin Commandery Governor mobilizing nearly a thousand commandery soldiers, they were still utterly defeated?
The Meiren is now trapped in the administrative seat of Huayin?
“These… these Western Liang soldiers and Qiang are truly lawless. However, Zhang Rang, why do I not understand what you are saying?”
“Is there really a Meiren of unparalleled beauty, capable of overthrowing kingdoms? But why would the Western Liang soldiers and Qiang risk danger to snatch her?”
Liu Hong frowned slightly. He didn't get angry at Zhang Rang's rashness; instead, he asked with confusion.
Zhang Shihao's gaze also flickered as he looked at Zhang Rang, wondering what Zhang Rang was up to.
A Meiren of unparalleled beauty, capable of overthrowing kingdoms, in Wuwei Commandery, Western Liang?
Why didn't Zhang Shihao remember that?
However, Western Liang soldiers and Western Liang Qiang were indeed often lawless.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhang Rang heard Liu Hong's question and immediately realized his rashness. He couldn't help but take a deep breath, suppressing the irritation in his heart, and explained:
“Your Majesty, it is like this: this Meiren of unparalleled beauty, capable of overthrowing kingdoms, originally had a marriage contract with a Western Liang Army Sima. However, how could such a Meiren be tainted by a mere Army Sima? It just so happened that Your Majesty wanted to recruit Meiren throughout Great Han to enrich the Imperial Harem. So, I took the liberty of having the Meiren break off her engagement and enter the palace!”
“Perhaps that Western Liang Army Sima was unwilling and probably gathered people, disguised as mountain bandits and bandits. After leaving Western Liang territory, they directly attacked the convoy, intending to snatch the Meiren back!”
Silence!
Utter silence!
As Zhang Rang's explanation ended, the Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent.
Liu Hong, sitting on the dragon throne, his expression changing between cloudy and clear, after a long time, asked Zhang Rang seriously again:
“Zhang Rang, what you said, is the Meiren truly of unparalleled beauty, capable of overthrowing kingdoms?”
Hearing this, Zhang Rang's body trembled, and a hint of hesitation appeared on his face. After a moment of deliberation, he bowed and said:
“Reporting to Your Majesty, I have not seen the Meiren with my own eyes. However, Zuo Feng's reply stated with great certainty that Consort Zou is three points more beautiful than the Empress. Zuo Feng repeatedly assured me that if there is any falsehood, he is willing to commit suicide in front of this servant!”
“This… as beautiful as a celestial being, three points more beautiful than the Empress? Is there really such a beautiful woman in the world?”
Hearing Zhang Rang's affirmative relay of Zuo Feng's words, Liu Hong, sitting on the dragon throne, abruptly stood up, excited.
Liu Hong was instantly excited and thrilled, while Zhang Shihao, who had been somewhat nonchalant and felt that the Western Liang soldiers and Qiang were audacious, was instantly shaken when he heard Zhang Rang mention the Meiren's surname.
“This… Consort Zou? As beautiful as a celestial being, three points more beautiful than the Empress? Could it be…”
Indeed, Zhang Rang's description made Zhang Shihao think of one person.
Madam Zou!
Madam Zou was the wife of Zhang Ji and the aunt of Zhang Xiu in the Late Han Dynasty.
Speaking of Madam Zou, one cannot help but mention one person.
Cao Cao!
And the one who made Cao Cao so infatuated that he suffered heavy losses was Madam Zou.
Now, Zhang Rang said that the Meiren from Wuwei Commandery, Western Liang, had the surname Zou?
Zhang Shihao didn't know where Madam Zou was from, but historically, Madam Zou's husband, Zhang Ji, one of the warlords of the Han Dynasty, was from Guzang, Wuwei Commandery, Western Liang.
“This… is Madam Zou appearing? According to the situation, it seems, it's almost certainly her!”
“Your Majesty, I feel that Consort Zou is probably truly of unparalleled beauty; otherwise, ordinary Meiren would not cause such audacious behavior from the other party!”
“There are no elite troops or strong generals in the commandery. I request Your Majesty to immediately dispatch troops and generals to welcome Consort Zou into the palace!”
Zhang Rang's voice pulled the excited Liu Hong back.
Liu Hong nodded repeatedly, deeply agreeing, and said loudly:
“The Western Liang soldiers and Qiang are truly audacious! How dare they even touch the Meiren chosen by Us? They truly deserve death! Immediately assemble a thousand elite Imperial Guards cavalry. As for the commanding general, General Huang Zhong is too fierce and powerful, perhaps not quite suitable…”
Liu Hong did not hesitate to mobilize the few iron cavalry in Luoyang. However, he was clearly hesitant in choosing a general, and looked at Zhang Shihao, saying:
“Shihao, do you have the confidence to lead the iron cavalry to kill the bandits and bring back the Meiren?”
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhang Shihao and Zhang Rang were both clearly surprised that Liu Hong did not choose Huang Zhong as the general.
However, upon hearing Liu Hong say that Huang Zhong was too fierce and powerful, perhaps not quite suitable..., Zhang Shihao immediately understood that Liu Hong was worried about something happening between Huang Zhong and Madam Zou.
Actually, Liu Hong's concern was understandable, after all, Huang Zhong was in his early thirties.
However, hearing Liu Hong guarding against Huang Zhong and using himself instead, Zhang Shihao's mouth couldn't help but twitch violently…
“Your Majesty, rest assured, a mere group of petty bandits are not worth mentioning. Shihao will definitely bring Consort Zou safely into the Imperial Palace!”
Although he was very much looking forward to it, under Liu Hong's gaze, Zhang Shihao's expression became serious, and he said loudly without hesitation.
“Good, go prepare quickly and depart immediately!”
Liu Hong heard this and immediately urged.
Although he wasn't sure how strong Zhang Shihao's martial arts were, with a thousand elite Imperial Guards cavalry dispatched, Liu Hong wasn't worried about them not being able to defeat the enemy.
Zhang Shihao bowed and left in a hurry.
Looking at Zhang Shihao's retreating figure, Zhang Rang frowned slightly, but then relaxed.
Although he didn't want Zhang Shihao to go rescue the person, thinking that Zuo Feng was still by Consort Zou's side, and that Consort Zou had already been marked as his, Zhang Rang's, person, he didn't worry too much.
Soon, Zhang Shihao, astride Zhua Huang Fei Dian (Yellow Claw Lightning), wielding the Sky Dragon City-Breaking Halberd, and clad in bright silver armor, looking heroic and vigorous, took Liu Hong's imperial decree and led a thousand elite Imperial Guards out of Luoyang, heading west.