The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1336 - 693: East City Cargo Hold

"Mr. Li, I won't say thank you for your great kindness, please drink this cup!"

Yan Jiuling tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup, downing several cups in succession, his cheeks already flushed.

He raised his hand to pour more wine, his fingertips trembling slightly, almost spilling the liquid.

Li Yan saw this and promptly held down his wrist, taking the wine jar aside, and said with a smile:

"Brother Yan, there's no need for formality between us. If you keep drinking, you might get drunk and collapse in this inn."

"It's not just formality..."

Yan Jiuling sighed deeply, his gaze falling on the Bodhi Wood outside the window, his voice low and somber: "My father was afraid of disturbing my mind and kept the situation at home hidden. It's laughable that I was completely unaware, traveling and sightseeing without a care. If it weren't for Mr. Li's intervention, I fear..."

At this point, he suddenly closed his eyes, his knuckles turning white from clenching them tightly.

Li Yan patted his shoulder, "There's no need to dwell on the past. Now that the Southwest is secure, and with the Lei Family guarding, the Yan Family can rest easy."

Seeing Yan Jiuling's expression relax slightly, Li Yan seamlessly shifted the topic: "But this 'Qiankun Academy', they didn't explain clearly. You, Brother Yan, went to great lengths to secure the position there. You must know the inside story?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiuling sobered up a bit, a trace of solemnity glinting in his eyes, and he lowered his voice:

"Since you're asking, Mr. Li, I'll speak frankly. This academy, in the future, will determine the rise and fall of our Great Xuan's national fortune!"

"Have you heard the rumors about the Royal Fleet?"

"I know a little."

Li Yan nodded slightly: "I heard that the Inner Mansion secretly organized a fleet. To avoid the criticism of 'competing for profits with the people', they disguised it as a merchant team going out to sea. Unexpectedly, they were ambushed, losing three treasure ships... The enemy seemed to use a new moisture-resistant gunpowder?"

"It's more than just gunpowder!"

Yan Jiuling said in a deep voice: "The matter has been investigated thoroughly; it was the Franco merchants who did it."

"They have been disguising themselves as pirates, plundering everywhere, trying to control the sea routes. Not only did they use new moisture-resistant gunpowder, but their cannons are also very sophisticated, with barrels drilled using secret techniques, extending the range by thirty percent compared to the Ministry of Industry's 'Shenwei Great General Cannon'!"

His voice grew increasingly grave: "His Majesty dispatched secret agents for a thorough investigation and learned that the world has long since drastically changed."

"The Francos are the most powerful, with their presence spread across the seas, but the Red-haired Barbarians are even fiercer, showing an up-and-coming trend. They have long secretly controlled the South Sea Countries, posing as vassal states to enter the Divine State and colluding with Japan pirates to disrupt sea routes. However, due to the Southwest War, there was no time to deal with them, and it was only after the bombardment of Jinmen that His Majesty took the opportunity to act, eliminating these people..." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"On another continent, England and France are fighting, having invaded India, threatening our Divine State's northwest..."

"Then there's Raksha, which has taken in the remnants of the Golden Tent Wolf Country, building a city and stationing troops in Mo Bei..."

He sighed as he spoke: "The borders of the Divine State appear stable, but in reality, crises lurk everywhere."

Li Yan listened, his pupils constricting violently.

Since the Southern Song was overturned by the 'Great Song Ghost Sect', the history of this world had become completely different from his previous life.

Fortunately, the current Great Xuan Dynasty's national strength is in no way inferior to that of the previous life's Great Ming.

But from what Yan Jiuling said, the overseas countries' transformations are happening even faster than in the Divine State?

Could something have happened in the middle...

"His Majesty discovered that the barbarians' strength all started with the 'academy' that emerged a hundred years ago."

Yan Jiuling continued, "They collected books from various countries and even ventured to those ancient and mysterious secret realms to seek lost heritages. The Franco academy's astrology secret technique can calculate astrological phenomena to avoid storms, and recently, England's 'Royal Society' came to the Capital to buy ancient texts at high prices."

"So Qiankun Academy aims to encompass all schools of thought and rejuvenate the Qi Fortune of the Divine State!"

Yan Jiuling slapped the table forcefully, "Unfortunately, those corrupt Confucians in the court still see mathematics as fringe tricks. If it weren't for the Southwest war showing His Majesty the utility of firearms, this academy might not have even laid its foundation!"

"I see..."

Li Yan completely understood this, then looked at Zhao Lvzi, "Brother Yan, let me introduce someone to you. This Zhao Lvzi here is a close friend of mine, from the Mountain Rushing Lineage. Isn't the academy currently looking for teachers, could he perhaps teach there?"

"Of course he can!"

Before Yan Jiuling could answer, Fatty Lin exclaimed joyfully, "One of the academy's tasks is to re-measure the Fengshui of the Divine State. The Mountain Rushing Lineage is well-versed in the local landscapes, but unfortunately, each sect tends to guard its knowledge. If they could be gathered, they could certainly accomplish great things."

"Brother, would you be willing to share your sect's secret technique?"

Zhao Lvzi was silent for a moment and then said in a muffled voice, "I have already broken my oath and left Guanzhong. The things passed down from my ancestors must eventually be shared. If it truly benefits the Qi Fortune of the Divine State, I can face my ancestors without shame after I die."

"This is truly wonderful!"

Yan Jiuling was very pleased, "In a few days, I'll take you to see the Director."

Li Yan asked, "The academy's opening is imminent; Senior Yuan must be busy, I assume?"

He was referring to Yuan Feng, who appeared to merely be a doctor in the Ministry of Industry's Yu Hengqing Bureau, but was in fact an elder of the Mo Sect.

Back at Liangzi Lake, Li Yan found Lu Ban's Wooden Sparrow and met this old man.

It was from his words that Li Yan first learned about the Qiankun Academy and was later invited to join.

With the establishment of Qiankun Academy, the old man was appointed as Director.

"Not at all."

Yan Jiuling shook his head: "Master Tian has been taking disciples, and lately he's been mysteriously coming and going from the palace. It's unclear what he's doing, so the academy's affairs have been handled by me and other officials."

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener paid attention.

A flash of inspiration suddenly struck Li Yan's mind.

He remembered the steam engine prototype found at Liangzi Lake.

It seemed that because of this, Yuan Feng became the Director of Qiankun Academy.

Could they already have replicated this thing...

......

Meanwhile, as they chatted, the previously mentioned Yin Yang master had arrived in East City.