"Well then," Fox Dragon declared, "there's only one answer! I shall pledge my loyalty to you!"

Emperor Zhengde was gone, and between Jiajing and Wanli, Fox Dragon feared both Jiajing and Wanli.

But as the saying goes, the local official is more powerful than the central one.

Jiajing couldn't reach him from within the painting.

But Emperor Wanli's sword point was less than ten steps away from him.

"Very good. From now on, you are one of my Great Ming's...no, one of my personal Imperial Guardian Beasts. I shall bestow upon you the title of the Chuan Dragon God!"

The titles of Dragon Gods came in all sizes, from small ponds and wells, to medium-sized lakes and rivers, to large Four Rivers and Four Seas, up to the Five Emperors and Four Symbols. The Dragon Kings were just one title among the ranks of Dragon Gods.

Emperor Wanli ordered Fox Dragon to be released from the Imperial Prison, and the Divine Generals of the Northern Garrison escorted him. Before leaving, Old Shen shouted in the prison cell:

"Senior, Senior, I will definitely go to Wudang as you promised! Thank you, Senior, thank you for your guidance!"

Old Shen's heart was filled with joy, almost to the point of tears!

Who would have thought that being imprisoned could lead to such a great opportunity! Having latched onto the thigh of an Ascension Realm expert, why would he continue to work for the Ming? After so many years of cultivation, would he be blinded by such meager institutional benefits!

........

Breathing in the fresh air again, everyone felt wonderful. Fox Dragon, however, had been in prison for so long that he found it difficult to adapt to the dazzling sunlight.

Having survived these long years, seeing the world outside again, seeing the bright sun hanging high in the sky, he felt somewhat dazed.

As soon as Emperor Wanli came out, someone quickly reported that a tribute team was entering the capital....

"The Jianzhou Guard Commander, Dragon Tiger General Nurhaci, has come to pay tribute to the Ming Court!"

Emperor Wanli recognized him; this fellow had come three times already and was a familiar face. However, Ji Xiang, who was by Emperor Wanli's side, was greatly shaken when he heard the name Nurhaci!

"Nurhaci?!"

"The founder of the Qing Dynasty is now in the capital of Ming!"

A "wicked thought" suddenly arose in Ji Xiang's heart.

To have murderous intent for no reason is one of the wicked thoughts, but Ji Xiang had to entertain this wicked thought!

What if he killed Nurhaci...?

"I didn't expect that not long ago, I was still thinking that if I achieved success in my cultivation, I would also lend a hand when the Qing army attacked the Ming in the future, but I didn't expect that the moment this oath could be fulfilled would come so quickly!"

"However, he hasn't done anything yet. To have murderous thoughts without cause is to create a wicked deed... which is contrary to my great vow."

Ji Xiang's great vow was to save all the wicked people in the world. Now, he clearly knew that Nurhaci would become the source of all evil in the future, but he hadn't done anything truly evil yet. If it was just a matter of internal strife among the Jianzhou Jurchens, that was a power struggle. Of course, he was also responsible, but in what name could Ji Xiang punish him?

To severely punish Nurhaci for the sake of the other Jurchen tribal people who died?

What a joke, could this reason stand? It couldn't. Moreover, Nurhaci's attacks on other Jurchen tribes were permitted by the Ming. If one were to trace the roots, Emperor Wanli should be strangled directly.

Thinking along these lines, Emperor Wanli first found Old Zhang and explained everything he had seen and heard in the Imperial Prison, expressing his desire to govern diligently, slay ghosts and gods with his sword, write books, and aim straight for becoming a sage.

And Old Zhang also told Emperor Wanli about Nurhaci having just entered the city and using the Dragon Tiger Divine Power to spy on the national prestige.

"Nurhaci saw the miserable state of Shuntian City and had thoughts, right?"

Emperor Wanli's tone was not good at this time. He had secretly窥探d (spied on) the national fortune and prestige of the Ming Dynasty, and even wanted to touch the loopholes?

His disloyal intentions were obvious, and the big hat was already prepared.

Emperor Wanli pondered in his heart, feeling that Nurhaci was a bit of a clown. In that case, Li Chengliang would have to be re-appointed and sent to the Liaodong area to suppress him forcefully.

And similarly, this matter made Ji Xiang's mind move greatly!

"This Old Scoundrel will never let it go. He窥探d (spied on) the national fortune and prestige. Old Zhang and Wanli don't know it, but I know that this must be coveting. Combining this with the previous incident where experts from the painting came to find Wanli, hoping to win him over to become their lackey, Nurhaci's strength is also not weak. It is very possible that he will be targeted and visited by experts from the painting!"

If he wanted to seize the other party's handle, he had to do it openly and uprightly, relying on the power of the Ming Court!

Ji Xiang directly revealed his guess to Emperor Wanli and Old Zhang.

"This person may have rebellious intentions! Experts from the painting may have already won him over! 窥视 (Spying on) the national fortune is something that a military officer of the second rank would never dare to do. Nurhaci has come to the Ming Court three times; this is his fourth tribute. Does he not understand the rules?"

"It is only his identity as a foreign military general that has allowed him to be treated generously by the Ming Court. I think this person is dangerous!"

Ji Xiang's intense hostility was felt even by Emperor Wanli, which was strange. "Ji Xiang, do you have some personal grudge against him?"

Ji Xiang laughed. "It's not that I have a personal grudge against him. Your Majesty, analyze Nurhaci's behavior yourself. Is there anything abnormal about it?"

"Wanting to use his own identity to make up for the loopholes in the national prestige... He is loyal to the Ming Court, but he is not loyal to this extent, right! Back in the Tang Dynasty, before An Lushan rebelled, he was also very respectful to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang!"

These words awakened the dreamer, and Emperor Wanli suddenly realized and saw through it again after a little thought!

"That makes sense! An Lushan was the adopted son of Zhang Shougui, and Nurhaci is the adopted son of Li Chengliang. Even their early experiences are similar; both of them lost their biological fathers...."

Old Zhang's eyes narrowed at this time:

"Could it be that he also wants national prestige, or national fortune?"

Emperor Wanli said:

"National fortune! That is related to the Great Dao of pardoning and enfeoffing gods! Japan suddenly seems to have a magic that can make up for the national fortune, and the national fortune of my Great Ming has suddenly risen again after the Fire Lord Rebellion, although this may be somewhat related to my diligent governance...."

Emperor Wanli praised himself, and the people on the side didn't care.

Old Zhang even took the opportunity to flatter him:

"Your Majesty can shake off your spirits, govern the country diligently, and face the mountains and rivers of the Great Ming. In the future, your achievements will surely illuminate the sun and the moon!"

Emperor Wanli was very satisfied with Old Zhang's flattery and said calmly that there was no need to over-promote him. He just needed to know that he was awesome, and that he should keep a low profile.

"If I am not low-key, it will attract the coveting of some unknown gods and ghosts! Moreover, according to Ji Xiang's statement, if that Nurhaci is valued by the people in the painting, wouldn't the Tartar tribe, Japan, Korea, and even those small places like Annam, anyone with the status of emperor...."

Emperor Wanli suddenly felt that he seemed to foresee the future, and his whole body shook, and cold sweat broke out!

These guys are all around the Ming Dynasty! The people in the painting, this wave of operations, could it be... to attack Ming from all sides!

What a ring around the Ming attack belt!

"That's it, it's good for us to know about this matter! But Nurhaci is a Dragon Tiger General of the second rank, the pinnacle of military officials, so if we rashly move him, I'm afraid the court officials will criticize us."

"This guy is not a god or a ghost, if you move him, these officials will not believe that Nurhaci will rebel!"

"Of course, I believe that Old Xu, the three Grand Secretaries, and Tian Yi must be my and your strong helpers."

After Emperor Wanli finished speaking, he saw Liu Mengyin on the side. Liu Mengyin immediately bowed, expressing that he was a firm imperial party! Even if you call a deer a horse in the future, I won't frown, and if you don't have a horse, I will be a horse myself!

Just kidding, now that he has entered the establishment of the Great Ming, who still wants to go back to Korea!

Promotions and fortunes!

"Yes, from now on you are my imperial golden pen. I want to see where Emperor Jiajing valued you, and specially told you small stories for two nights."

Emperor Wanli was very satisfied with Liu Mengyin's defection, and said that when necessary, you have to return to Korea and become my eyes and ears, staring at your king, and telling him not to do stupid things.

If that Korean king dares to do anything stupid, raise the flag of rebellion and cause trouble, then I can only send him to see the emperors of the Song Court.

Ji Xiang thought for a while, and said to Emperor Wanli:

"If Nurhaci's idea is really to obtain national prestige or national fortune, then it is very likely that he will go to the Dongyue Temple and the Fire God Temple, because in these two temples, there have been those whom you personally crowned... the 正神 (righteous gods) of the nation!"

"The 正神 (righteous gods) of the nation share the fate of the nation and are themselves a part of the national prestige of the Great Ming!"