Chapter 875
The Former Emperor
Chapter 875 The Former Emperor
"Fortunately, we managed to retrieve it. Otherwise, those barbarians would have done something with our emperor's body. We were afraid to act rashly, and our war was a complete failure."
"We have to thank Master Pan for this. If it weren't for her, who knows how many more people would have died today. Those lamas are really something."
"Hey, do you think she's a goddess?"
"They may not be true immortals, but they do exist as half-immortals. I've heard that they cultivate immortality with the goal of becoming immortals. If they were truly immortals, we would have long since passed away. It is only when they are still in the process of cultivation that we have the opportunity to see them."
"That's amazing," one soldier exclaimed. "I wish I could cultivate immortality too."
"It might not be impossible. I've heard that if we pray sincerely, perhaps we too can have a connection with the divine?"
"Is this for real? How could you possibly have a connection with the divine just by praying sincerely?"
"It's true. Do you know who Pan Yun is?"
"Who?"
The other party lowered his voice and said, "She is the younger sister of Pan Yu, the deputy commander of the vanguard battalion. I heard that his sister was born very weak, but she loved to worship gods since she was a child and insisted on meditating every day. One day, she actually transcended the mortal world and was able to cultivate."
"real or fake?"
“Of course it’s true. My cousin works in the mess hall of their vanguard battalion. During meals, Pan Yu and his comrades talked about his sister, and my cousin heard it all.”
Everyone gasped in amazement, then their minds began to race as they asked, "Which deity does she worship?"
"I'm telling you this in secret, but don't tell anyone else."
Everyone crowded closer, straining their ears to listen.
The man said in a low voice, "Everyone says that Pan Yun is a Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, but she only studied there. She is actually a disciple of the Sanqing Mountain. She is a disciple of the Sanqing Mountain God, so she naturally worships the Sanqing Mountain God."
A person next to him added, "Not only is it useful to worship the Sanqing Mountain God, but it is also useful to worship Pan Yun. I heard that many of General Chen's men have yellow talismans given by Master Pan, and they have avoided fatal wounds several times on the battlefield. As for those civil officials, they were able to leave the battlefield alive because they wore yellow talismans given by Pan Yun."
"The Sanqing Mountain God is quite far away. Pan Yun is right here in our army. Wouldn't it be more effective to worship her than the mountain god?"
Everyone's eyes flickered, and they were all tempted.
Worshiping gods can be complex, but it can also be very simple.
The simplest way is to silently recite a few words in your heart and pray.
For a more complicated approach, kneel down on the spot, bow several times towards the direction where the deity is located, and then pray sincerely.
A more complicated one involves preparing offerings and incense;
For the most complex cases, please refer to national sacrificial rites.
Despite being extremely tired and exhausted, with many soldiers bearing injuries, they still knelt on the ground and repeatedly kowtowed in the direction of Datong City.
The imperial court banned witchcraft and sorcery, and the army had always forbidden the worship of gods, except for the God of War.
The sight of so many soldiers bowing together alarmed officers of the rank of lieutenant general and above. One general immediately went to stop them and was about to order the entire army to cease the practice when another general blocked him, saying, "Didn't you see the bodies that were brought back for burial today?"
Marquis Gu Xingzu of Zhenyuan: "You've recovered so many corpses, who are you calling a culprit?"
Jing Rui: "Several civil and military officials in the court died in battle. They all had a yellow talisman that had been burned to ashes on their bodies, even Guo Deng had one."
"You mean someone is trying to harm them?"
“What’s the harm? That talisman is protecting them,” Jing Rui said in a low voice. “I was right next to General Guo Deng when he died in battle. To atone for his sins, he risked his life every time he went to the battlefield. When His Majesty was killed, he was almost insane. He fought like he was courting death. The knife that was cutting him slipped from his neck several times. I think the reason he could hold on for so long is because of that yellow talisman.”
And then there are Grand Secretary Cao and others. Although they weren't weak civil officials, they survived battles; do you really think that was due to skill?
So many generals and soldiers died, how come they are still alive? "I saw it, they also had charred yellow talismans on their bodies. I inquired and found out that they were given to them by Master Pan."
Gu Xingzu paused for a moment and then said, "But you can't kowtow in the army. The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty only kowtow to the emperor."
“The emperor has just been murdered, and this is the time to reassure the people,” Jing Rui said. “Pan Yun was so brave during the day and even managed to retrieve the emperor’s body. She is someone the entire army admires. If we forbid the soldiers from honoring her now, not only will the soldiers feel uneasy, but I’m afraid Pan Yun will also have some doubts.”
Gu Xingzu remained silent.
Jing Rui said softly, "This is a time when we need people, so let them pay their respects. These cultivators don't participate in politics and have no demands, so the soldiers' respect might be a motivator. Moreover, it can also reassure the soldiers."
Gu Xingzu then stopped trying to stop him.
In reality, there were very few generals who genuinely wanted to stop it, because not only did the soldiers need psychological reassurance, but the generals did too.
Most soldiers in the army admired strength, and they had witnessed Pan Yun's formidable prowess firsthand.
If they had her power, they could serve their country even better.
Countless golden rays of merit rose from all directions of Datong City. In the eyes of the cultivators, they were like fireflies, rushing up into the sky and then casting their light on one spot in Datong City.
Miaozhen stood in the courtyard and looked up, murmuring, "It looks like the Milky Way."
Tao Yanbai came out carrying a medicine box and said, "Junior Sister, Zhang Zhong has come back to life, but..."
"Is it affecting your lifespan?"
"Yes, although he survived, his injuries were too severe and damaged his health. I'm afraid he won't live for many more years."
Miaozhen withdrew her gaze from the air and murmured, "That's enough."
As long as I can save my life, that's enough.
After taking the medicine and barely surviving, Zhang Zhong opened his eyes. Upon seeing this, the guards beside him immediately stepped forward to look at him with great concern.
Zhang Zhong murmured, "I'm still alive..."
The guard hurriedly said, "It was Master Pan who gave up her life-saving medicine and had her two nephews come to treat her. General, you've finally come back to life..."
Zhang Zhong remained expressionless and silent, but he was truly grateful to Pan Yun. His gratitude drifted out of the room and landed in Pan Yun's room.
Miaozhen glanced at it once and then left.
This is just the beginning.
Once her junior uncle's deeds are reported back to the court and spread among the people, she will receive even more merit, and then she will be able to live.
Pan Yun was sitting cross-legged on the bed, enveloped by countless golden lights of merit.
Pan Xiaohei, who had been half-dead, was now lying at her feet, breathing in and out golden light of merit and spiritual energy with her, and his spirits finally improved.
Pan Jun diligently cultivated, remaining in seclusion for three days, unaware of the turmoil outside.
The day after the war, an angel arrived in Datong City with an imperial edict from the new emperor. Only then did the civil and military officials realize that the capital had acted decisively and established a new ruler.
The new emperor ordered them to guard the pass strictly, not allowing a single Oirat to enter, and to ensure the safety of the retired emperor, while waiting for the court to send someone to negotiate...
The Supreme Emperor?
No, the emperor has already been murdered; he is not the retired emperor, but the former emperor.
The previous "Zhang Yi" was Zhang Fu's younger brother; I misspelled his name. His son's name is Zhang Zhong, so I've corrected it.
(End of this chapter)