To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 890: Chapter 376: Subdue the Liuyang Sect_2

“Haha, what are you saying, Yin Sect Leader?”

Seeing that Yin Huixuan expressed his intention to submit and join him, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but laugh loudly. He stepped forward, helped him up, and joyfully said, “For Yin Sect Leader to bring his sect to join me is as good as gaining an army of a hundred thousand. I am too delighted to even consider blaming you.”

This sentiment was by no means an empty platitude.

The reputation of the Liuyang Sect in the martial arts world spread throughout Yangzhou and even had a significant influence in Qing and Yong, the two northern states.

If he could win them over, he could capture the hearts of the heroes of both northern and southern martial arts worlds and make the solitary warriors scattered across Jianghu vie to serve Chu.

In Yuzhang Prefecture, the Liuyang Sect had over ten thousand disciples, its influence spread throughout the entire region, truly deep-rooted.

With their help, Great Chu’s conquest of Yuzhang would be much easier.

As for Yin Huixuan himself, there was even less need to say.

Within Yangzhou, aside from Lu Yuan and Shen Qiu, he was the third Grandmaster to reach the Second Realm of the Inborn level — his strength was unequivocally supreme in Jiangnan.

Before Lu Yuan, the Inborn assassin, rose to prominence, Yin Huixuan’s personal power was even acknowledged to be greater than Shen Qiu’s, making him the unofficial number one in Jiangnan.

Therefore, if he could gain his assistance, the top-tier combatants of Chu would, following Lu Yuan and his two avatars, have another Grandmaster of the Second Realm.

So, taking in the Liuyang Sect meant not only winning over the hearts of the martial world in both northern and southern regions, but also harnessing the power of Jianghu in Yuzhang and gaining another Second Realm Grandmaster, Yin Huixuan.

The benefits were too numerous to count.

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Lu Yuan, of course, was tempted – otherwise, he would not have originally sent a messenger to Yuzhang to recruit them.

But in the end, he was rejected.

Seeing that Lu Yuan held no grudges, Yin Huixuan’s heart eased and he quickly replied, “Great Chu is full of talented people, with a million valiant soldiers, brilliant strategists as numerous as the clouds, and strong warriors like pouring rain. I am but a humble man with some skill in martial arts and dare not accept the praise of equating myself to an army of a hundred thousand.

“However, if Your Majesty does not despise my crude background, a lowly person from Jianghu, Huixuan is willing to lead his sect to serve Great Chu wholeheartedly.”

Yin Huixuan looked at Lu Yuan earnestly, expressing his intention to join him.

Several years ago, he had tactfully declined the invitation of the Chu envoys.

At that time, his proud, aloof stance earned him praise from others.

However, times had changed.

Back then, Chu was considered weak and not favored by the world.

The power struggle in Yangzhou was thought by many to be a conflict that could not be resolved for decades.

But after a war involving five kingdoms, the Chu army swiftly annihilated the Su and Southsea countries and secured the Lingnan Region.

Now they had defeated the Ning army and seized half of Jiangdong.

Thus, Yuzhang Prefecture, where the Liuyang Sect was located, had also become Chu territory.

The Liuyang Sect, too, became the subjects of Chu.

The situation in Jiangnan had completely clarified after Ning’s disastrous defeat.

Anyone could see that the remaining two prefectures of Ning were merely struggling to survive.

Once Chu had digested its conquests, obtaining the wealth, resources, and manpower of Lingnan and Jiangdong, and mustering the troops from these lands, Ning’s demise was certain with Chu’s advance.

In the past, when Chu and Ning were at odds, Yuzhang, lying on the border of the two countries, made both sides wary of each other, and neither dared to pressure the Liuyang Sect too much for fear of driving it into the arms of the enemy.

Therefore, maintaining this balance, the Liuyang Sect could thrive from both sides, assuming a neutral stance, independently reigning as the overlord of Jianghu outside these two countries.

But now with Ning retreating and Chu seizing half of Jiangdong, the Liuyang Sect had also become a sect under Chu’s jurisdiction with no more room to negotiate.

Thus, after grasping the situation, the Liuyang Sect no longer had any independence and did not wait for Lu Yuan to extend an invitation; instead, it proactively came to surrender.

“Yin Sect Leader’s willingness to lead the Liuyang Sect heroes to join Great Chu is surely a great matter, and I am naturally willing,” Lu Yuan said, nodding slightly as a response to Yin Huixuan’s intention, but his tone shifted as he earnestly added, “However, I must make it clear from the outset that when I govern the state and the people, I prioritize strict laws to maintain order and stability within the country.

“Now that Yuzhang belongs to Chu, we will implement our laws here as well.

“The Liuyang Sect has long been entrenched here, with disciples throughout the prefectures and counties.

“How you conducted yourselves under Ning’s rule in Yuzhang is not my concern.

“But from now on, under Chu’s governance in Yuzhang, you must strictly adhere to Chu’s laws and not defy them.”

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Otherwise, for all who break the law, shall be punished according to the penal code, without exception.

“I’m telling you this first, and after you go back, you must relay it to your own sect disciples—do you think you can enforce it?”

Lu Yuan looked at Yin Huixuan, his tone strict.

In past years, while Lu Yuan and Sun Siwen were brewing wine in Plum Forest, this good friend once said his life’s ambition was to eradicate corrupt officials, put an end to the swords and strife of Jianghu, establish a system that restricts martial arts, and secure peace for the people of the world.

Because of his support, under Sun Siwen’s years of governance within the boundaries of Chu State, these aspirations had largely come to fruition after more than a decade of effort.

Officials promoted within the country were mostly honest and dedicated to public service, thus ensuring a clear and righteous political environment and great governance at the local levels.

The martial arts sects of Jianghu were also under the jurisdiction of the government, strictly prohibiting private duels and revenge killings among Jianghu, with violators being severely punished without leniency.

With such a dual approach, Chu State had sufficient finance to maintain a military capable of a large nation despite its smaller size and vied for supremacy in the world.

Martial artists of Jianghu, fearing the strict laws, dared not vie for fame locally and chose instead to join the military ranks, seeking fortune and honor on the battlefield, which resulted in the ferocity of Chu soldiers.

These two pillars of state strategy had become unshakeable national policies of Chu State, as well as the foundation for its prosperity.

Thus, although Lu Yuan was glad about the Liuyang Sect’s allegiance, he was well aware that these Jianghu sects, used to being lax and free, did not like to be restrained.

The Liuyang Sect had always been the biggest sect in Jiangnan, with its numerous disciples taking pride in this, considering themselves a cut above the average Jianghu martial artist.

For people like them, getting them to obediently comply and abide by the laws would be very difficult.

Initially, dealing with the non-Innate first and second-tier sects within Chu State, to make them obey, the government did not hesitate to destroy dozens of Jianghu powers, killing thousands and involving tens of thousands in punitive actions, which then led to the great governance and peace within the country today.

Therefore, managing an Innate Sect like the Liuyang Sect would be even more challenging.

Sects like Liuyang, with disciples numbering over ten thousand, wielding influence over an entire prefecture and with a reputation that spread across several provinces, were akin to a small country in themselves.

Should they cause unrest, they were capable of troubling an entire province.

How could Chu State possibly allow such an unstable factor to remain outside of its control?

Hence, if the Liuyang Sect did not take the hint, then after pacifying Jiangdong and conquering Ning Country, Chu State’s immediate priority would be to suppress and eliminate martial arts sects like Liuyang.

To prohibit the martial arts of Jianghu, incorporate the world’s soldiers, and put an end to the chaos caused by the chivalrous and the heroic.

Therefore, before accepting their allegiance, Lu Yuan had to set out clear rules with Yin Huixuan, clarifying everything to prevent any displeasure or grudge between both sides in the future should any sect disciples break the law and Chu State take action.

“Martial heroes break the law with their valor, whilst scholars cause chaos with their words—this is something I am well aware of too.

“Now, with the world in peril, thieves arise in droves, and wars never cease. Rituals and music have collapsed; benevolence and righteousness are lost.

“His Majesty wishes to sweep away the troubles and unify Jiangnan, returning a peaceful era to the world. People must be governed with strict laws to eliminate the scourge of individuals achieving dominance through martial force.”

Yin Huixuan had naturally studied the laws of Chu State in advance prior to coming forward to offer his allegiance, and he was fully prepared.

Thus, seeing Lu Yuan clarify matters in advance, he did not show the slightest change in color, and respectfully replied, “My Liuyang Sect disciples have always prioritized chivalry and strictly forbid engaging in corruption, indiscriminate killing of the innocent, and evildoing in local areas.

“If, in the future, any disciple violates the laws of Chu and commits a crime, His Majesty may deal with them as he sees fit—this humble one dares not have the slightest objection.”

“Good!”

Seeing Yin Huixuan so compliant, Lu Yuan was satisfied, his face revealing a continued smile.

As long as an Innate Sect like Liuyang did not lead the charge in defying Chu’s laws and cooperated in adhering to them, then for places like Yuzhang Prefecture, and even other sects in the various counties of Yangzhou, being merely first and second-tier forces, they couldn’t really stir up any trouble.

The Jianghu of Yangzhou would thus be secured.

In delight, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but stand up and pace back and forth. Turning back to Yin Huixuan, he said, “Since you understand the greater good so deeply, I cannot let your loyalty and righteousness go unrewarded. Yin Huixuan, attend to my command.”

“Your servant is present,” Yin Huixuan knelt down.

“I now appoint you as the Protector-General of Great Chu, of equivalent rank to First Grade. If there are brave and strong ones among the disciples of the Liuyang Sect, report their names for slots, and after verification by the officials, they may also serve in the various military departments of Great Chu, seeking wealth and honor. I will treat them equally.”

Lu Yuan made arrangements for the Liuyang Sect.

“Your servant thanks you for your grace.”

Yin Huixuan’s voice trembled with excitement as he accepted the appointment, his last worry finally put to rest.

With this promise and conferment, he and the Liuyang Sect had finally navigated through the dangers of this dynastic transition and were welcoming a new opportunity and development.

He had not let down the trust of his sect and had managed to preserve the legacy of his ancestors.

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