20demayo Chapter 75 Plan
Chapter 75 Plan
"Report—!!!"
A hurried report came from the edge of the square!
A messenger dressed as a flood flag came running, followed by a small, dusty squad.
The leader was not particularly tall, but he walked with a steady gait and exuded a refined demeanor.
This man led his team quickly forward, and knelt down on one knee before Yin Tianzheng, his voice loud and apology-filled.
"Your subordinate, Zhu Yuanzhang, has arrived late to the rescue. I beg the Eagle King to punish me!"
Yin Tianzheng simply waved his hand upon hearing this.
"Get up, you've come at the right time."
He turned to Chen Yuan and introduced him.
"Master, this is Zhu Yuanzhang, the deputy flag bearer of our sect's Flood Flag, Brother Zhu."
"He is steady and reliable in his work, and has made numerous contributions."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang astutely turned to Chen Yuan and bowed again.
"Your subordinate, Zhu Yuanzhang, pays respects to the Master!"
Chen Yuan's gaze was now completely fixed on this "Zhu Yuanzhang".
He looked the future founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty up and down.
Although he was only a mid-level leader of the Ming Cult at this moment, covered in dust, his eyes already showed signs of eagle-like and wolf-like cunning.
"Zhu Yuanzhang..."
Chen Yuan repeated the name in a low voice, a smile slowly creeping onto his lips.
"Brother Zhu, have you ever heard of a place called 'Nanjing'?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback. Although he didn't understand why, he still answered respectfully.
"Reporting to the Master, this subordinate has not heard of such a thing."
"The Jiangnan region is a prosperous area with prefectures such as Jiqing, Pingjiang, Hangzhou, and Shaoxing, but there is no 'Nanjing'."
In my humble opinion, the name "Nanjing" may be an ancient name, or...
He paused, looked up at Chen Yuan, and made a bold guess.
"...or it may be a new name that arose in response to the times, who knows?"
"Where exactly is the leader referring to?"
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang answer so cautiously, Chen Yuan found it utterly astonishing.
He suddenly burst into laughter, stepped forward, personally helped Zhu Yuanzhang up, and patted him hard on the shoulder.
"Good question!"
"No, that's correct!"
He turned around and faced all the believers again.
"Issue my leader's decree!"
"From this day forward, our Ming Cult is determined to advance eastward, our target—Jiqing Road!"
"And its future name—"
Chen Yuan's gaze was intense and resolute.
"Let's call it 'Nanjing'!"
......
The next day, the Wudang heroes took their leave, leaving Zhang Wuji behind.
At this moment, the entire Ming Cult began to mobilize.
The followers of each banner moved about like ants among the squares, temples, and warehouses.
Everything was in preparation for heading towards Jiqing Road.
Naturally, some within the sect opposed the sudden change of headquarters.
The atmosphere was so lively that I didn't dare bring it up.
However, afterwards, they secretly contacted Yin Tianzheng.
Yin Tianzheng then relayed this matter to Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan didn't offer much explanation, only leaving out one sentence.
"Now I am the leader."
In addition, Chen Yuan removed Wei Yixiao's cold poison and allowed the Fire-Worker Monk to join the Ming Cult, becoming the new fourth Dharma King, the "Crimson Flame Dragon King".
Three days later, at dawn, Chen Yuan summoned all the core members of the Ming Cult to the main hall of the headquarters.
In order, they were the three Dharma Kings Yin Tianzheng, Wei Yixiao, and Huogong Toutuo, as well as the ten flag bearers of the Five Elements Banner.
These are the true core of the Ming Cult today.
In the main hall, Chen Yuan spoke eloquently.
Below are Yin Tianzheng, Wei Yixiao, Huogong Toutuo, and the flag bearers and deputy flag bearers of the Five Elements Flags.
These are the core strengths of the Ming Cult.
"Everyone, I have tentatively decided on the location of the new headquarters."
He stood up and walked to the huge sheepskin map in the center of the hall.
Chen Yuan pointed to a location on the sheepskin map and said.
Yin Tianzheng stared intently, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Master, are we in the mountains?"
"That's right, the new headquarters is located on Qinglong Mountain, about 30 li away from Jiqing Road city."
"The advance teams, Hou Tuqi and Ju Muqi, have already set off."
"Their mission was to establish a hidden camp capable of accommodating a thousand people before we arrived."
Wei Yixiao scratched his head.
"Master, setting up the headquarters in the mountains is indeed a good idea; it's well hidden."
"But if so many of us march past in a grand procession, wouldn't that tell the Yuan soldiers where we are?"
"Good question."
Chen Yuan turned around and faced everyone.
"Next, everyone must go here in small groups."
"Except for the essential personnel who remained at the new headquarters, the elite of the Five Elements Banner, including the Four Dharma Kings, were all turned into ordinary people."
"Including me."
A slight commotion arose in the hall.
Chen Yuan scanned everyone present.
"Whether they are refugees, impoverished people, itinerant merchants, or wandering monks, they are all welcome."
"The place you're going to isn't Qinglong Mountain. It's every village and town around Jiqing Road."
"What you need to do is not to fight, but to help them."
"How can I help?"
Chen Yuan asked a question, and then answered it himself.
"Help them repair irrigation ditches, grow crops, treat illnesses, and drive away the yamen runners."
"We'll do whatever we can."
"Remember, you are not the high and mighty Dharma Kings or Flag Bearers of the Ming Cult."
"You are just like them, ordinary people struggling to survive in this world."
Wei Yixiao's mouth dropped open as he listened, and after a long while, he murmured something.
"Master...then...aren't we just farmers, doctors, and laborers?"
"So what?"
Chen Yuan smiled.
"Can this be worse than the tyranny of the Tartars?"
Yin Tianzheng's brows furrowed even more, but he finally spoke.
"Master, this plan... is far-sighted, compassionate towards the people's hardships, and truly a great virtue."
"But our Ming Cult is determined to resist the Yuan Dynasty. If we remain scattered and in hiding, when will the sacred flame of the Ming Venerable illuminate the Central Plains?"
"Furthermore... I teach my disciples to be mostly bold and passionate. It might not be their forte to engage in these trivial and mundane tasks for a long time, and it might also dampen their spirits."
These words voiced the doubts in many people's hearts, and the flag bearers nodded slightly.
Chen Yuan looked at him and suddenly asked.
"Eagle King, do you know when a tiger is at its most terrifying?"
Yin Tianzheng was taken aback.
"It's when it's lurking in the grass, and you have no idea where it is."
Chen Yuan said slowly.
"Once it leaps out and roars, revealing its location and claws, it is indeed terrifying, but it also... becomes a target for arrows."
He pointed to the villages and towns around Jiqing Road on the map.
"What we need to do is become the entire forest that nourishes the tiger."
"When the people of this Jiangnan region encounter difficulties, the first person they will think of is us."
"The direction that those who are willing to follow is the path we guide them on."
"At that time, the will of the people will be my weapon."
"Where the people are, that is my city!"
His voice suddenly rose in pitch.
"This is called building high walls, storing up grain, and delaying the declaration of kingship."
"It is also called coming from the people and going back to the people."
"This is what you call a single spark that can start a prairie fire!"
Inside the main hall, there was a deathly silence.
Only Chen Yuan's voice could be heard, along with the occasional crackling sound of the ever-burning lamp wick bursting open.
Everyone was awestruck by the grand vision and profound power depicted in those words.
That was no longer a simple feud between江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the martial arts world) or military conquest, but a completely different path that they had never imagined.
Chen Yuan took a deep breath and made his final summary.
"Listen carefully to these three ironclad rules."
"First, we must never reveal our Ming Cult identity."
"Those who disobey will be considered as having apostasy."
"Secondly, we must never bully the weak or oppress the people."
"If any disciple uses this to seek personal gain or engage in corrupt practices, regardless of the size of their merit or the rank of their position, they shall be executed on the spot to uphold the rules of the religion."
"Third, influence others subtly through assistance."
"Teach them basic martial arts to strengthen their bodies, teach them to recognize their own names, and help them understand simple principles. Let them gradually become strong and have something to strive for!"
His gaze swept across the entire room.
"Have you memorized everything?"
"I will obey the leader's orders!"
Everyone in the hall stood up, clasped their hands in greeting, and bowed, their voices echoing through the hall.
Just then, a follower hurriedly entered the hall and knelt down on one knee.
"Reporting to the leader, a large group of people has been spotted at the foot of the mountain!"