Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Jiangnan.

On top of a certain high mountain, shrouded in clouds and mist, the mountain is extremely steep with no path to ascend. Yet, on a flat ground at the peak, there stands a small courtyard.

In the courtyard, an elder clad in simple clothes holds a palm-sized tortoise shell, gripping two copper coins from a previous dynasty in his hand, he glances up at the sky.

To an ordinary person, the sky only reveals thick clouds, but in his eyes, it’s a sky full of stars and the ruins of a starry expanse.

”How strange, Ziwei has dissipated, yet the Tianfu Star is so resplendent, seeming to take the place of the Emperor Star, surrounded by the Seven Killers. What kind of star sign is this?”

The elder in simple clothes was witnessing such a star sign for the first time, secretly speculating in his heart.

Ziwei represents the emperor, while the Tianfu Star represents the empress.

The dispersion of Ziwei implies that the Great Song Dynasty will have no emperor in the future.

And the Tianfu Star wanting to take over the Emperor Star...

The elder in simple clothes couldn’t help but widen his eyes in disbelief, exclaiming: ”Empress?!”

”Impossible, impossible, if there is an empress, what about that little child of Prince Zhen Nan?”

He murmured to himself, his hands never stopping, placing the copper coins into the tortoise shell and shaking it forcefully with his eyes closed.

The next second...

”Pfft...” A mouthful of crimson blood spat out from the elder’s mouth, and the tortoise shell in his hand fell to the ground, the copper coins inside scattering out.

Strangely, the copper coins were all broken in half.

The elder’s body shook violently, eyes widening, murmuring: ”The star sign of that little child of Prince Zhen Nan cannot be spied upon, instead, it has cost me a full cycle of life.”

He raised his hand for a glance, seeing no trace of blood, veins standing out, marred with many dark spots.

...

Astronomical Observatory.

In the pavilion atop a mountain, Li Taishi, shrouded in a gray robe, stared at the floating bronze artifact in front of him, sighing: ”Jizhou, another war is about to break out...”

...

Jizhou.

Julu.

The former Governor’s Mansion, now the headquarters of the Taiping Dao.

Zhang Jiao, holding a Nine-Section Staff, sat coiled on a reed mat, eyes closed, divining the omens, selecting the right time for the military campaign.

Currently, all nine counties of Jizhou belong to the Taiping Dao. The great virtuous teacher of the Taiping Dao, Zhang Jiao, with the ideal of ”bringing peace,” educates the people with good doctrines, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops in Jizhou, dominating the region.

However, such a massive force consumes astronomical amounts of food every day, and the Taiping Dao has been expanding the Yellow Turban Army, not considering the food issue at all, simply plundering a few wealthy gentry when food runs low.

But now, all the rich gentry in Jizhou have been thoroughly ransacked, leaving no more local tycoons for them to exploit.

With resources dwindling daily, Zhang Jiao has no choice but to plan for outward expansion, preparing to launch a campaign elsewhere.

However, in recent times, daily divinations have shown great misfortune. Zhang Jiao pays much attention to these signs, so the campaign has stalled.

As usual, Zhang Jiao started divining again.

”Big brother, how is it? What do the omens say? Can we launch the campaign?”

Seeing Zhang Jiao open his eyes, Zhang Bao eagerly asked.

Zhang Jiao shook his head gloomily, saying: ”Still great misfortune.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bao furrowed his brows. Since Chen Mo repelled the Desolate Kingdom troops, the daily omens have almost always been great misfortune, starkly contrasting the great fortune seen when raising the army.

The three brothers highly regard the omens, as they owe much of their current status to them. The constant bad omens naturally cause them great concern.

”How are the omens on third brother’s side?” Zhang Jiao put away the Nine-Section Staff and inquired about their third brother, Zhang Liang.

”A bad lot, the Imperial Court intends to wage war on us.” Zhang Liang stepped in just as Zhang Jiao finished speaking, holding a divination lot he had just drawn, and said:

”Big brother, the daily great misfortune must be related to the Nan Zhou Treasure obtained by Prince Zhen Nan. According to the front line reports, Prince Zhen Nan has transported five large ships of treasures back to the Capital. These treasures should be what was acquired from the Nan Zhou Treasure.

Now he has wealth and, with the support of the Wu Family, no shortage of grain. It’s likely he will make moves soon...”

Zhang Liang believed this movement by Chen Mo is definitely related to their Taiping Dao, and since omens are closely tied to the situation, it explains why the daily omens have been so poor. To reverse the omens, the situation must change.

”What are you suggesting, third brother?”

”King Yan of Youzhou and Zhang Xiu of the Five Bushels of Rice Sect are our potential allies. Only by joining forces can we resist the Imperial Court.” Zhang Liang suggested.

...

On the other side.

Bianliang.

Huangfu Hao returned with seventy thousand troops from the Wan Kingdom.

Of these seventy thousand troops, fifty thousand are from the Wan Kingdom’s army. According to Chen Mo’s correspondence, these fifty thousand Wan Kingdom troops are here to assist in the united effort to annihilate the Yellow Turban rebels in Jizhou.

Besides troops, Huangfu Hao also brought back a heap of gold and silver treasures.

These treasures fulfilled the promises made during Han Jingyun’s situation; most were seized from the confiscation of the Ning clan, with the remaining being the annual tribute paid by the Wan Kingdom to the Great Song.

The streets were packed with people, jostling to catch a glimpse of the Wan Kingdom’s army, distinct from the Great Song’s Imperial Guard.

Huangfu Hao had sent a letter ahead of his return, and the Imperial Court arranged a grand ceremony for their entry.

The affluent enjoyed high positions along the street, seated with drinks, watching the grand entry ceremony with guard and friends in tow.

The more humble brought their own tea and cold soup, calling out to their children, watching on tiptoe amidst the crowd.

Huangfu Hao instructed Zhang Lie to lead the Wan Kingdom troops to the Capital Camp for settlement, while he took the rest to report to Chen Mo at Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion.

Arriving eagerly at the mansion, Huangfu Hao discovered that Chen Mo was not present.

...

Weiyang Palace.

Cai’Er was the first to hear about Huangfu Hao’s entry into the capital and hurried to the bedchamber to inform the Empress Dowager.

Yet presently, she couldn’t even enter the bedchamber.

The affluent enjoyed high positions along the street, seated with drinks, watching the grand entry ceremony with guard and friends in tow.

The more humble brought their own tea and cold soup, calling out to their children, watching on tiptoe amidst the crowd.

Huangfu Hao instructed Zhang Lie to lead the Wan Kingdom troops to the Capital Camp for settlement, while he took the rest to report to Chen Mo at Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion.

Arriving eagerly at the mansion, Huangfu Hao discovered that Chen Mo was not present.

...

Weiyang Palace.

Cai’Er was the first to hear about Huangfu Hao’s entry into the capital and hurried to the bedchamber to inform the Empress Dowager.

Yet presently, she couldn’t even enter the bedchamber.

The affluent enjoyed high positions along the street, seated with drinks, watching the grand entry ceremony with guard and friends in tow.

The more humble brought their own tea and cold soup, calling out to their children, watching on tiptoe amidst the crowd.