Volume One, Chapter 12: Yao Qing Challenges a Duel! Could It Be a Cannon Contest Against Zhu Youjian?

The Shaman of Yaoqing's face darkened.

Clearly, she had not expected Zhu Youjian to be so resolute.

She narrowed her deep-set eyes, as if trying to peer straight through the young emperor, seeking even the slightest hint of hesitation or flaw.

But in Zhu Youjian’s gaze, there was only determination and authority.

He pointed directly at the Yaoqing Shaman with a commanding voice, as loud and clear as a bronze bell, filled with undeniable majesty: “The Yaoqing Shaman Sect is but a barbarian tribe, daring to use sorcery to corrupt the hearts of men, invade our lands, and insult my people.”

“Today, I hereby decree that the Yaoqing Shaman Sect must immediately submit; all shamans must bow to the Shenglming and serve as slaves or maids, or they shall meet a fate worse than death!”

“As for Huang Taiji, a mere barbarian lord, if he does not take his own life before Shanhaiguan as a sign of repentance, I shall personally lead my mighty army to crush Yaoqing, and take his head before the armies!”

What?

Zhu Youjian actually dared to defy the will of the sage so boldly?

“Emperor Chongzhen, how dare you be so disrespectful! You are digging your own grave!” the Yaoqing Shaman hissed through clenched teeth.

Zhu Youjian only gave a cold smile, his eyes blazing as he stared down the shaman: “Hmph, witch, do not be so arrogant here! My decree has been issued; if you do not obey, it is you who will truly dig your own graves!”

“My army is already prepared, awaiting only my command to crush you Yaoqing into dust!”

“Now, go back to Yaoqing and tell your Huang Taiji that my patience is not infinite.”

“If within three days I do not see your Emperor of Yaoqing kneeling in surrender, he will regret it beyond measure!”

Seeing Zhu Youjian’s unwavering stance, the Yaoqing Shaman’s expression grew even grimmer.

She looked at him with a threatening chill in her voice: “Emperor Chongzhen, my million-strong Yaoqing army already stands at Shanhaiguan. Your Shenglming’s strongest have perished; only generals like Qin Liangyu and Mao Wenlong remain on the battlefield, clinging to the brink. A monkey who has just reached the Divine Realm cannot protect your Shenglming!”

“I am here to offer your Shenglming a chance to live, a chance to continue reigning as emperor.”

“If you know what’s good for you, you will submit to Yaoqing; otherwise, your Shenglming will soon vanish, and you and your people will become slaves.”

Zhu Youjian sighed inwardly. A weak nation has no foreign policy—this is an eternal truth.

At this moment, Shenglming was indeed feeble; many of its strong figures had been persecuted for opposing Wei Zhongxian.

Meanwhile, other nations had powerful warriors who had reached Divine Realm and the Carp-to-Dragon stage stationed to defend them.

By comparison, Shenglming only had a handful of generals barely holding the line.

From what he knew, the fierce warriors who could rise in the future—Lu Xiangsheng, Shi Kefa, He Tengjiao, Huang Degong, Yan Yingyuan—had yet to fully emerge.

Right now, the powerful forces he could command were truly limited.

Moreover, in ancient imperial dynasties, being emperor didn’t guarantee obedience.

To truly command loyalty and respect was the essence; otherwise, history wouldn’t be littered with failed emperors.

But as emperor, Zhu Youjian could not show any wavering on the surface.

A sneer curled at his lips: “If your words matched your strength, you wouldn’t be in such a sorry state.”

“Perhaps the Great Sage Equal to Heaven cannot directly protect Shenglming, but I, Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian, swear to protect this land and my people with my own strength. Why should I rely on others?”

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The Yaoqing Shaman’s eyes flashed with surprise, quickly replaced by disdain.

She clearly did not believe this young emperor could accomplish anything.

After all, in the eyes of the world, Shenglming was a spent force, a flickering candle in the wind, not to be feared.

Yet she did not know that Zhu Youjian possessed a system that could rewrite destiny.

As long as Shenglming grew stronger, Zhu Youjian would rise to the pinnacle of this world.

Inside the government office, Shenglming’s officials cast approving glances.

Ambitious and aspiring!

From recent displays, Emperor Chongzhen was easily the wisest ruler among Shenglming’s recent monarchs.

The Yaoqing envoys wore grave expressions; they realized this emperor might not be as timid as intelligence reports suggested, but a hidden threat that must be eliminated.

The Yaoqing Shaman said coldly: “Since Emperor Chongzhen objects to the will of our sage, it seems you have not realized the true strength of Yaoqing. To let Shenglming face reality, I propose three contests in the name of the Shaman Sect’s saint, how about it?”

Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow: “Contests? What kind of contests?”

The Shaman curled her lips in a cold smile: “If Shenglming wins, we will return a hundred cities east of the Liao River to you. But if Shenglming loses...”

She deliberately paused, waiting for Zhu Youjian’s reaction.

Yet he remained silent, saying nothing.

He was no fool—if he asked what would happen if he lost, it would be tantamount to admitting defeat before the fight.

To win without fighting?

If even the emperor lacked confidence, how could others have any?

Such self-defeating behavior was unthinkable for Zhu Youjian.

Seeing his silence, the Shaman smiled: “Emperor Chongzhen, why do you not ask what happens if Yaoqing wins?”

Zhu Youjian’s gaze burned bright: “Shenglming will never lose.”

“Emperor Chongzhen, you are quite confident. Very well, if Yaoqing wins, you shall cede Shanhaiguan and the southern nine provinces of Shenglming, and have Shenglming submit in faith to our Shaman Sect.”

At these words, Shenglming’s officials erupted in uproar, pleading:

“Your Majesty! Do not agree to Yaoqing’s demands!”

“Yaoqing is cunning; this must be a trap!”

“Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a nation, do not be rash!”

[System Notification: Winning the contest against Yaoqing will grant 100,000 national fortune points!]

Despite his ministers’ warnings, Zhu Youjian nodded resolutely: “Very well. But this matter is of grave importance. You are but a shaman with no proof—how can you convince others? How credible are your words?”

Zhu Youjian was determined to win!

The stakes were over a hundred cities east of the Liao River.

These cities housed over a hundred million people.

They also held the key to Shenglming’s fate in the southern border war!

He could not stand idly by.

Besides, the system had given him a hint.

Winning this contest would reward 100,000 national fortune points!

The Yaoqing Shaman said: “I am the last disciple of the Shaman Sect’s saint, personally bestowed with sacred blood to prove all. This contest was proposed by His Majesty Huang Taiji himself.”

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly: “If that is so, I shall accompany you.”

The Shaman said coldly: “For the first contest, we shall compete in artillery!”

Hearing this, Zhu Youjian’s brow furrowed slightly, his expression amused.

They wanted to compete in artillery?

Wasn’t that self-inflicted humiliation?

But then he understood why Yaoqing chose this.

Yaoqing’s firearms were renowned as the finest in the world.

Though compared to the powerful technology weapons from his previous world, Yaoqing’s artillery was crude.

Still, on the current battlefield, Yaoqing’s firearms were the most advanced.

After all, Yaoqing’s cannons had been greatly improved by a Mohist master indebted to Huang Taiji, and were further enhanced with Shamanic sorcery.

Standing nearby, Yuan Chonghuan and Sun Chengzong, who had been frowning, relaxed upon hearing about the artillery contest.

They almost couldn’t hold back their laughter!

Both were military experts who knew the importance of firearms.

Had they not seen His Majesty’s improved weapons, they would have thought Shenglming would surely lose.

But having witnessed the emperor’s powerful innovations, they firmly believed no artillery in the world could compare.

Yaoqing’s challenge was practically digging their own grave.

An act of self-humiliation!

It was time to show true strength!

Fire the cannons!

They must fire and crush them!

The Yaoqing Shaman smirked: “Emperor Chongzhen, why remain silent? Are you cowed by Yaoqing’s cannons?”

“Indeed, all know our cannons’ unparalleled power!”

“If Shenglming fears to fight, best to concede and surrender early, to avoid humiliation!”

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