Chapter 1109 - 381: The Opportunity for the Fourth Root Bone Advancement (Double Release)

Chapter 1109: Chapter 381: The Opportunity for the Fourth Root Bone Advancement (Double Release)

Lei Jun was calm about it, as he always was on his journey.

He did not act for fame.

Conversely, he wouldn’t hold himself back just to avoid fame either.

Let everything take its natural course.

"In the coming period, I might still need to trouble Sir Lei and Dragon Tiger Mountain." Empress Zhang Wantong said.

Just like before the battle with Yunzhou, she would refrain from taking action whenever possible.

Lei Jun: "What Your Majesty wishes is also what this poor priest desires. With talented people emerging in every generation, I believe the Great Tang will soon see more worthy individuals appear."

"Judging by your cultivation, you’ve likely already grasped the third page of the Celestial Book." The Empress said, "When you have free time, come to my place to read the rest."

Lei Jun: "This poor priest thanks Your Majesty in advance."

Both remained composed, speaking calmly.

Lei Jun didn’t say much more, only asking one final question: "Your Majesty, the origin of this Celestial Book?"

The Empress: "From the Heavenly Palace of yesteryear."

Hearing this, Lei Jun appeared thoughtful.

They said no more on the matter, and Lei Jun instead asked: "Any news from Your Majesty’s side about the Great Unity?"

The Empress: "The Xiao Clan from Longwai flourishes there. They once intended to return to this Mortal World. At my behest, Yuan Zhou and others blocked them, and neither the North and South Lin Clans nor the Jingxiang Fang Clan intervened at the time."

Yuan Zhou is the courtesy name of Xiao Hang, the current clan leader of the Longwai Xiao Clan.

Back then, it was during the time when internal strife arose in the Longwai Xiao Clan due to their allegiance to the Tang Imperial Court.

The Lin Clan and Fang Clan naturally grew hostile towards the Longwai Xiao Clan because of this.

But unless absolutely necessary, they also did not want the Great Unity to return.

"The Lin, Xiao, and Fang Clans all became influential in the Great Unity."

The Empress said: "However, with the vicissitudes of life, aside from them, the Han and Su Clans are also there."

Lei Jun raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this.

Browsing through ancient texts in the Edict Hall of the Celestial Master Mansion, these two surnames appeared as well.

Thousands of years ago, the Han and Su Clans were also large clans that nearly rivaled the Five Clans and Seven Families. Although their foundations weren’t as deep, they too had outstanding individuals emerge in certain periods, establishing their own status.

However, as time went on, these two clans gradually declined.

The number of prestigious families that can withstand the test of time without falling is ultimately few.

Yet, it now seems that these two clans had branches that went to the Great Unity to try their luck, successfully gaining a foothold, and have thrived till this day, becoming influential once more.

"The return of the Great Unity to this Mortal World is met with various obstacles." The Empress finally said: "But it has successfully established a connection with another Mortal World. From recent understandings by Yuan Zhou, the dynasty in that Mortal World is still the Han."

Lei Jun nodded, thinking that contacting Kang Ming later might further verify this news.

"This poor priest is heading to Jingxiang, and after Scholar Xiao Chunhui returns from Qingzhou to Longwai, I will visit again." He said to the Empress.

The Empress nodded slightly.

Lei Jun then asked: "What are Scholar Xiaochunhui’s plans?"

The Empress: "He intends to explore the Heavenly Principle, and even journey to the Ming Realm. Having read ten thousand books, he now wishes to travel ten thousand miles."

Lei Jun: "The three Scholars Xiao are all talented, with extraordinary abilities."

Xiao Chunhui was "declared dead", making him a non-entity in the Great Tang.

This person, once seen by many as the Empress’s future prime minister, unexpectedly "died", leading many to ponder the future direction of the court.

Especially after the battles of Chang’an and Luoyang, during this delicate time.

Hearing the Empress mention that Xiao Chunhui would not stay in the Tang Dynasty by replacing him with someone else, Lei Jun formulated other speculations.

The Empress continues to take large strides, as always.

Xiao Chunhui willingly transitioning and going abroad to study means more members from the Scholarly Mansion will fill his place.

While in Cangzhou, Lei Jun received a lot of external information and learned that Fang Yue went along with Grand General Shangguan Yunbo to Jingxiang.

Though many members of the Fang Clan were hostile toward Fang Yue, he did not intend to cut ties with the Jingxiang Fang Clan.

At first, when the Jingxiang Fang Clan was deeply rooted, he left alone for the capital, then faced open and secret reproach from various prestigious clans and families within the Fang Clan, yet remained unfazed.

Now that the Fang Clan has declined, Fang Yue is also not intending to retaliate.

On the contrary, he is attempting to mediate and protect some members of the Fang Clan outside the core circle of the Jingxiang Fang Clan.

Such actions are likely to please neither side.

From the perspective of the Tang Court, it could also invite criticism.

But Fang Yue went ahead anyway.

Nonetheless, this move almost entirely severed his chances of succeeding Xiao Chunhui.

To even remain in his current position as the Grand Libationer of the Scholarly Mansion, he might have to thank heavens.

However, Fang Yue himself seems to prefer his current duty more.

Given the current Tang Court situation, the collapse of the Four Clans and Five Prestiges impacted not the upper echelons but the middle and lower levels, involving many related individuals.

The upcoming stage of transition might last for many years.

During this time, the four major Scholarly Mansions in Chang’an, Luoyang, Jianye, and Yuelu will continue to expand, a situation that is foreseeable.

Lei Jun once listened to Fang Yue’s ideas about this, which short-term would still base on large academies, and then broadly open schools and encourage academia and study tours.

The Scriptures Studies accumulated by the Five Clans and Seven Families will be sorted and gradually dispersed throughout the Mortal World.

The cultural pulse spreads, more scholars emerge, books become prevalent, but transformation requires time.

This too will be a massive undertaking, necessitating manpower and patience.

And, a lot of resources.

For the present-day Mortal World of the Great Tang, if it wishes to continuously fulfill the Empress’s vision, it requires continuous and substantial investment to carry out the transformation.

Fortunately, this venture at least has the amassed fortune of the Four Clans, Five Prestiges, and substantial royal and aristocratic resources as initial support.

The concern lies with the future.

Rebalancing resources—taking from excess to supplement deficiency—is naturally popular among the masses, but resistance will only grow with prolonged implementation.