Hyper-Dimensional Player

Chapter 821 - 74: The Fall of Later Shu, Campaign Against Southern Tang (1)_3

"Sun sister."

Yu Yaonu saw the gentle figure in the distance and immediately looked delighted. Suddenly, her expression froze, and she said incredulously, "Sister, have you comprehended the Dao Entrance Realm?"

Miss Sun's presence was ethereal, already possessing a few traces of celestial aura.

She slowly nodded and said, "Yes. I was fortunate enough to comprehend it."

Doesn't this mean that Sun sister's strength is now not weaker than the Saintess?

Yu Yaonu clearly sensed something amiss; Sun's strength had increased so rapidly that there must be something peculiar.

The group set off together for the Miao village.

At Yu Yaonu's signal, a master from the Five Immortals sect handed over the entire map of military towns and intelligence distributions of After Shu to the person in front of them. They've been operating in the Southern regions for a long time, even knowing the detailed arrangements within the Crystal Palace built by Meng Chang for his favorite concubine, Lady Huarui.

Meng Chang is historically known as 'debauched,' having ordered palace women to wear mandarin duck brocade robes at banquets, composing erotic verses such as 'Ice skin jade bones, clean without sweat.'

But in fact, under his governance, After Shu was quite prosperous.

They disguised themselves and entered Chengdu.

Ten years without fire in Shu, no sounds of war, abundant grains and rice for three qian, city ladies indistinguishable from grains (Note: unable to discern grains).

Miss Sun had just arrived here and could already feel the unique sense of leisure in Chengdu.

"Is this place really so wealthy?" Miss Sun marveled inwardly.

This hardly felt like a time of chaos.

In chaotic times, wealth is apparent just by observing rice prices.

City folks in Chengdu pick orchids and give fragrance, laugh and seek entertainment. The palace is filled day and night with music and wine, song courtesans in entertainment houses, poets and pleasant guests, portraying the semblance of a prosperous era.

Meng Chang was adept at enjoying pleasures.

He extensively recruited beauties of Shu to fill his harem, beyond concubines establishing twelve ranks, most cherished being "Lady Huarui."

He dallies daily among palace women, every banquet or song post leisure, he gathers beauties of the harem before him, personally selects the elegant and beautiful, grants titles, and allows them to enter his presence in turns, their rank comparable to noble officials.

This man's harem consisted of thousands.

Within the city, Yu Yaonu disguised herself, concealing her appearance, pointed to a faraway luxurious palace establishment and said, "Over there is the Maha Pool."

Meng Chang, being hefty and fearful of heat, faced difficulty with restful sleep during hot weather, thus he built the Crystal Palace on Maha Pool for summer retreat. Three large halls constructed with nan wood pillars, sandalwood beams, coral inlay windows, jade doors, surrounded by walls not brick or stone but rather expansive inlaid glass, wholly transparent within and without.

"Truly extravagant beyond measure."

"Considering such contrasts, even Your Majesty is somewhat aggrieved."

Miss Sun, blessed with sharp vision, gazed at the distant opulent palace and couldn't help but lightly sigh.

After beholding Meng Chang's Crystal Palace, she suddenly thought Duncan's lifestyle was too austere, even precious pearls and jade from the royal city had been dismantled to exchange for relief supplies.

This place could be the future site for Your Majesty's palace.

Comparisons among people, Miss Sun couldn't comprehend why she suddenly bore such absurd thoughts.

What virtue or ability does Meng Chang possess?

To deserve dwelling in the Crystal Palace?

Lady Huarui resided long-term in the Crystal Palace.

After After Shu's demise, Lady Huarui was favored by Zhao Kuangyin, later shot dead by Zhao Guangyi during a banquet hunt in the rear garden, motivations for the shooting by the divine charioteer remain unknown.

Regarding Lady Huarui, most people have only heard her poem.

—"The monarch raises a surrender flag on the city, I remain deep in the palace with no knowledge? Fourteen thousand disarm, not one true man remains."

The night is gently cool.

Miss Sun's gaze is deep as she looks at the distant brilliant lights, inwardly contemplating: "Southern Tang and After Shu both live in decadence."

"Here, literary leisure and martial play prevail."

This outing was to gather intelligence on Ba and Shu, strengthen bonds with Southern Border Five Immortals sect, in consideration of which to conquer first, the court remains under debate. But in her view, After Shu seems easier to subdue than Southern Tang.

Though not as exaggerated as in later poetry 'Fourteen thousand disarm, not one true man,'

Miss Sun already sensed this place is weaker than initially anticipated.

The 96th day following Jiaozhi's pacification.

Duncan led fifty thousand soldiers, advancing west from Hunan, entering Shu via Three Gorges, employing naval forces to pave the way, attacking After Shu with unstoppable momentum.

The same year.

Months after ascending the throne, Li Yu established the Dragon Soaring Army, trained naval forces, and dispatched Ministry of Revenue Censor Han Xizai and Grand Treasurer Tian Lin to pay homage at the Prince's residence.

This man offered tribute in both directions, upper half tribute to Zhao Kuangyin, lower half to Duncan.

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