[National Power Ranking – Rank 9]
[The Qing Dynasty]
[Territory: Four Stars]
[Population: Four Stars]
[Military: Three Stars]
[Expert: Two Stars]
[Economy: Three Stars]
[Public Sentiment: Three Stars]
[Overall National Index: Three Stars]
[Reward: Twenty years added to the Emperor's lifespan, six million taels of silver, six million bushels of grain, twenty thousand fine horses]
"Impossible!"
"My Qing Dynasty, how could it only rank 9th?"
"It should at least be in the top three!"
"My Qing Dynasty should be the number one power in all of the Nine Provinces!"
Hongli stared in disbelief at the ranking in the sky, thinking he must have read it wrong.
He immediately turned toward Heshen with an angry glare.
This rascal dared to deceive him?
"Your Majesty, your lifespan has just increased by twenty years. Do you feel any different?"
Heshen's expression stiffened, sensing that things were going poorly.
He cursed internally. That slap in the face came too fast.
Still, he quickly changed the subject with a clever diversion.
"Hmm?"
Hongli paused, then quietly focused on how he felt.
Indeed, he discovered a surge of energy.
He felt as if he had endless strength.
"Hahaha! Good! The Heaven Dao Reward truly lives up to their name! Twenty more years of life for me!"
"Hmph! Now I want to see which nations ranked above the Qing Dynasty!"
"When the time comes, I will destroy them all!"
Thinking that eight Emperors were still ranked ahead of him made him extremely displeased.
Beside him, Heshen continued to offer congratulations and encouragement.
But in his heart, he felt nothing but contempt.
Wipe out other nations?
Keep dreaming.
Even the nearby Ming Dynasty is enough to give the Qing Dynasty a tough time.
Just think of how many terrifying cultivators the Ming Dynasty had.
The Qing Dynasty can't even begin to compare.
Forget God Demon Realm cultivators, even Mythical Realm ones are beyond the Qing Dynasty's reach.
In terms of martial power, let alone Ming Dynasty or Qin Dynasty, even Southern Song Dynasty or Northern Song Dynasty are far superior.
"Look, Your Majesty, outside the hall, there's all the silver and grain from the Heaven Dao Reward!"
This time, Hongli simply nodded calmly.
He directly ordered it all to be taken into the Emperor's personal treasury.
In his eyes, all of this was Heaven Dao Reward for him as the Emperor.
It had nothing to do with the national treasury.
"By the way, Heshen, I asked you to investigate the Empress Dowager's whereabouts. What have you found?"
"She couldn't have disappeared without a trace."
"The Empress Dowager vanished, and the two Heavenly Human Realm cultivators who were protecting her also disappeared. Someone is clearly targeting them from the shadows."
"You must find out the truth. Otherwise, I won't rest easy!"
Hongli felt a mix of respect and wariness toward the Empress Dowager.
Without her, he might not have inherited the throne.
But because of her presence, he always felt as though a heavy mountain pressed down on him.
He longed to get rid of her.
"Your Majesty, it must be the work of those rebels!"
"Chen Jinnan of the Heaven Earth Association and Chen Jialuo of the Red Flower Association, they must be behind this!"
Whether it was true or not, Heshen had to place the blame on them.
Otherwise, he would be the one in trouble.
After all, he knew very well the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had a complicated relationship.
It was not nearly as harmonious as it seemed on the surface.
The Emperor wasn't truly concerned about her safety.
He just coveted the power she held.
"If that's the case, then fully suppress both rebel organizations. I must find out the Empress Dowager's whereabouts!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And Heshen, about that beauty on the tribute vase I asked you to look into, who is she?"
"I've never seen such a stunning woman before."
As he spoke, a lascivious look flashed across Hongli's face.
"Your Majesty, this servant has found out. Her name is Princess Xiangxiang."
"She is the younger sister of Uyghur Queen Huo Qingtong."
"Uyghur Queen? Huo Qingtong?"
"A mere small tribe, how can they stand against my Qing Dynasty cavalry? Why hasn't Princess Xiangxiang been brought here?"
"Your Majesty, that Uyghur Queen is no ordinary figure."
"Not only is her power mysterious and unpredictable, but her command of the military is extraordinary."
"Her troops are also incredibly fearsome."
"If not for her unwillingness to make an enemy of the Qing Dynasty, our General Fuheng might have died in the previous battle."
"If Your Majesty tries to seize Princess Xiangxiang, you will surely provoke her. A war would be unavoidable!"
Heshen rarely showed such a serious expression.
In his eyes, groups like the Heaven Earth Association or the Red Flower Association were not on the same level at all.
If things went badly, all of the Qing Dynasty could fall into chaos.
"Is that so?"
"Hmph. How could my Qing Dynasty be threatened by a mere small tribe?"
"Send word to Fuheng. Mobilize three hundred thousand troops to suppress this Uyghur Queen!"
"She dares challenge the dignity of the Qing Dynasty, she deserves death!"
"And bring back Princess Xiangxiang. I want to see for myself if she is as beautiful in person as in the painting!"
Hongli declared with overbearing arrogance.
Suppressing the Uyghur Kingdom was just a cover.
What he really wanted was to take Princess Xiangxiang for himself.
Heshen felt a growing sense of unease.
It seemed that this coming war could completely change the structure of the Qing Dynasty.
He wanted to advise Hongli, but seeing the Emperor's excitement, he ultimately held his tongue.
His rise to such high status and power wasn't because of exceptional talent.
It was because he shared the same mind as the Emperor.
Even if something happened to the Qing Dynasty, what did it matter?
As long as his own power and wealth weren't affected, he would support anything Hongli chose to do.
==========
Ming Imperial Palace.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the ranking in the sky with a sneer.
"The Qing Dynasty still has value, otherwise, I would have already wiped out that eyesore of a dynasty."
"How can one sleep soundly while others snore beside their bed?"
The Yuan Dynasty and Qing Dynasty were his two main targets for elimination.
Temujin and the Yuan Dynasty were strong and might take time to defeat.
But the Qing Dynasty wasn't even worth his attention.
Over the years, he hadn't been idle.
He had secretly planted many agents inside the Qing Dynasty.
The moment he gave the command, the entire dynasty would be riddled with holes.
It would plunge into chaos and civil war.
If not for the fear that destroying the Qing Dynasty too early would alarm the Nine Provinces and unite other dynasties against him, he would have acted long ago.
But now, with the Heaven Dao Ranking revealed, the chaos among the Nine Provinces was only getting worse.
All-out war was on the horizon.
And it looked like the Ming Dynasty was about to make its move too.
==========
Grasslands, Jin Kingdom.
At this moment, King Wanyan Aguda of the Jin Kingdom looked gloomily at the ranking in the sky.
The Qing Dynasty.
Come to think of it, the Qing Dynasty's predecessor was just a branch of their own Jurchen tribe.
Who would have thought that after so many years, even a mere offshoot could establish an Kingdom?
Meanwhile, the main line of the Jurchen tribe, his own lineage, had achieved less.
This left Wanyan Aguda feeling utterly humiliated.
It seemed that the Jin Kingdom needed to step up.
"Your Majesty, when will our Jin Kingdom take action?"
"The Yuan Dynasty has already begun its campaign against the Northern Song Dynasty. It won't be long before the Northern Song Dynasty is wiped out. If we wait any longer, we might completely lose the opportunity."
Wanyan Honglie stepped forward, his face full of urgency, pressing the matter.
"Indeed. As long as Your Majesty grants me an army, I will personally lead our troops to crush the entire Northern Song Dynasty."
"By then, the entire Northern Song Dynasty will fall into our hands."
"With all the resources from the Northern Song Dynasty supporting us, the Jin Kingdom is sure to rise."
"Even in this so-called National Power Ranking, our Jin Kingdom can definitely secure a top position."
Wanyan Zongbi spoke with excitement.
He had long coveted the Southern Northern Song Dynasty and had been planning how to annex it.
Now the time had finally come.
Wanyan Aguda remained silent for a long time before finally making up his mind.
This was a grand struggle between powers.
The Jin Kingdom had to enter the arena and fight for its place.
"I hereby give the order to march south and destroy the Northern Song Dynasty."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At once, the generals of the Jin Kingdom below revealed excited, cruel, and bloodthirsty expressions.
==========
Tang Dynasty, Northern Grasslands.
Turkic Royal Palace.
The Turkic Qaghan, Ashina Doubi, looked to his National Master, the cultivator Bi Xuan.
"National Master, the Tang Dynasty has suffered severe losses after being schemed against by the Qin Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, and Yuan Dynasty. Should we seize this chance to march south and conquer some land?"
"Even if we can't wipe out the Tang Dynasty, we should at least gain some benefits."
"Qaghan, with the strength of our cavalry and cultivators, defeating the Tang Army is indeed not difficult."
"But when it comes to the cultivators of the Tang Dynasty, we fall somewhat short."
"With my current abilities, I am no match for the Mythical Realm strategist Yuan Tiangang."
"If someone like him targets you, the consequences could be dire."
Bi Xuan expressed his concern.
He wasn't even at the Heavenly Human Realm, much less a match for someone of Yuan Tiangang's Mythical Realm.
If that man attacked, he wouldn't be able to protect Illig Qaghan.
"No need to worry. I have other powerful cultivators by my side. You need not fear for my safety."
"In that case, it's settled."
"Prepare the troops immediately. While the Tang Dynasty is still reeling, we'll launch a surprise attack and catch them off guard."
"Yes, Qaghan."
==========
The appearance of the National Power Ranking had completely stirred up the northern grassland nations.
They saw a glimmer of hope.
As long as they could conquer the southern dynasties and seize their resources to strengthen themselves, then perhaps they too could earn a spot on the ranking.
With the help of Heaven Dao Reward, unifying the Nine Provinces might not be out of reach.
The most tempting reward of all was the extension of lifespan.
For an Emperor, this was even more desirable than power and wealth.
No matter the cost, they would fight for it with everything they had.
Especially those inherently barbaric and pillaging grassland tribes.
Not only the Liao Kingdom, Jin Kingdom, and Turkic nations.
Even the Xiongnu and Xianbei tribes to the north of Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty were readying themselves, eagerly awaiting the right moment to march south.
Especially now, with the Han Dynasty descending into chaos, the wolf tribes of the north saw it as a fresh and delicious feast.
Qiang, Xiongnu, Wuhuan, Xianbei and others.
All of whom usually fought amongst themselves.
Suddenly stopped their internal conflicts.
Their eyes were now fixed on the Han Dynasty to the south.
And when they saw the Yellow Turban Rebellion led by Zhang Jiao, they grew even more excited.
This was a golden opportunity.
If they seized it, they might also be able to establish their own dynasties like the Yuan Dynasty and Qing Dynasty.
The Han Dynasty was now gravely ill.
If they missed this chance, once Han Dynasty recovered its strength, it would become a disaster for all the tribes of the grasslands.
They could not allow the Han Dynasty to regain its footing.
With that thought, all the tribes began launching attacks on various cities of the Han Dynasty.
Their goal was clear.
To destroy the Han Dynasty and seize its lands.
The crisis facing the Han Dynasty was growing worse.
==========
Qin Dynasty, Northern Grasslands.
Xiongnu Kingdom.
Unlike the declining Xiongnu of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu Kingdom in the northern territory of the Qin Dynasty was still strong and powerful.
Their military might was formidable, and their influence, terrifying.
Especially their King, Chanyu Touman, who had established his own Xiongnu Kingdom and constantly threatened the northern borders of the Qin Dynasty.
Even the mighty Qin Emperor Ying Zheng had not yet found a way to destroy the Xiongnu Kingdom.
Instead, he had stationed large armies at the frontier, guarding against sudden raids from the north.
"Father, this is the perfect opportunity!"
"Right now, the southern part of the Qin Dynasty is in the midst of a decisive battle with the remnants of the Six Kingdoms. Why don't we strike their rear and catch them off guard?"
Chanyu Touman's son, Modu, suggested with great excitement.
"Oh? Why not just sit back and let the Qin Dynasty and the Six Kingdoms wear each other down, so we can reap the rewards afterward?"
Touman asked curiously.
"Absolutely not, Father."
"With the Qin Dynasty's national power, wiping out the remnants of the Six Kingdoms is no challenge."
"The Six Kingdoms won't be able to shake the Qin Dynasty's foundation."
"Now is the best time to attack. Not too early, not too late."
"Besides, don't you want to see our Xiongnu Kingdom make it onto the National Power Ranking?"
"The Heaven Dao Reward can extend your life, Father."
As Modu spoke, a flash of cunning appeared in his eyes.
Deep down, he had his own agenda.
Touman was already a roadblock in his path.
He intended to use this opportunity, through the Qin Dynasty, to eliminate his father.
Once he inherited the entire Xiongnu Kingdom, he believed he could lead it far better than Touman ever did.
What was a mere ranking?
He would one day destroy the Qin Dynasty itself.
Even unify the entire Nine Provinces.
By then, all of it would be his.
Why would he care for minor gains and small rewards?
His ambition was so great, even the heavens could not contain it.
All he needed now was a single opportunity.
And that opportunity was almost here.
"Hahaha! Well said, my son. Our mighty Xiongnu Kingdom will definitely make it onto the ranking!"
"I will claim the lifespan reward from the Heaven Dao Reward!"
==========
Boom!
Just as the ambitions of the many grassland tribes surged, just as they were about to act, the ranking in the sky was refreshed once again.
[National Power Ranking – Rank 8]