The participating teams from all nations under heaven were making their way to the River Observation Platform.

The Qi team set out from Linzi, traveled west through Zheng, detoured north around Jing, and finally passed through Ji and Wo to reach the River Observation Platform.

Speaking of which, Jing was directly west of Qi, and the River Observation Platform was directly west of Jing.

The quickest route for the Qi team was obviously to go directly west through Jing.

But this was clearly impossible…

Putting everything else aside, if the Jing officials asked you to disarm when the Qi cavalry passed through their territory, would you comply or not?

Would you follow the various rules of Jing, the various Daoist rituals, or not?

As six major powers under heaven, it wouldn’t look good for either side to yield.

Might as well take the broad road and each go their own way.

Every year, the Qi team didn’t hesitate to take a huge detour through Wo to reach the River Observation Platform.

The Jing side also remained silent, letting them go wherever they pleased.

The land of the “Fertile Soil Nation” (Wo) was naturally excellent, and the soil was very fertile.

But what truly made this small country prosperous was actually the Yellow River Assembly.

The so-called “Yellow River stretch” of the陆地瀚海 was precisely between Wo and Jing’s Jing Tian Fu.

Further west of Wo was the Tianma Plateau.

Leaving aside the countries coming from the south, most of the teams from the north had to pass through Wo to reach the River Observation Platform.

Qi, from the eastern region, which habitually took a detour, had even established a “Qi Hall” in Wo to receive Qi people passing through. Of course, the main function was to allow the Qi expeditionary team to rest when the Yellow River reached its target water level.

Mu also had a “Mu Garden” here, and Jing had a “Jing Tower.”

There was no need to go into detail about the other small countries.

With so many national forces establishing their footholds here, it was unexpectedly harmonious, with each keeping to themselves.

Wo, however, became a sort of transportation hub, with a blooming diversity. Many merchants from various countries would inevitably stop here when passing through.

And because of the mutual checks and balances, it maintained a certain transcendent independence.

Of course, being so close to Jing, it was impossible to completely escape Jing’s influence. It could prosper, but it couldn’t be strong.

Cao Jie was not tall, nor particularly strong.

Even his facial features, in their mildness, naturally carried a hint of hardship. There was almost no aggressiveness, and he looked quite easy to bully.

If Prime Minister Jiang Rumo had a “grandmother’s face,” then he could be said to have a “little daughter-in-law’s face.”

Both were similarly low-key.

Jiang Rumo could be said to be the least prominent prime minister in Qi’s history. His political agenda was mild, his approach to matters was smooth, and he advocated for win-win situations. He was often like a spring breeze and gentle rain, nourishing things without a trace, and getting things done without any visible effort.

An old story might illustrate Jiang Rumo’s style of handling things.

When he was in the Ministry of Rites, there was a Vice Minister in the same hall who considered him his greatest competitor and was hostile to him in every way.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have found ways to eliminate their opponent long ago. Many high-ranking officials had risen through the ranks with countless political enemies falling behind them.

But how did Jiang Rumo do it?

At that time, there was a very rare opportunity to be dispatched as a Prefect. Having the experience of serving as a Prefect and governing a region was also a very useful qualification for entering the Council of State.

Jiang Rumo had a greater chance, but he voluntarily gave it up and recommended the Vice Minister who was hostile to him to the Council of State.

That Vice Minister became a Prefect and even went out of his way to show off to Jiang Rumo, mocking him in every possible way. Jiang Rumo also met him with a smile and endured the humiliation.

Later, it was the Vice Minister’s former mentor who couldn’t stand it anymore and told him the inside story.

Only then did this person realize that his appointment as Prefect was entirely due to Jiang Rumo’s recommendation. From then on, he was completely convinced by Jiang Rumo, and even said, “This life, I would gladly guard the gate for Vice Minister Jiang.”

And within the Ministry of Rites, Jiang Rumo had one less opponent who constantly hindered him, and outside the capital, he had one more friend who cherished their bond. The other officials in the Ministry of Rites also admired him greatly for this, making things easy for him and achieving much. A few years later, when the position of Minister of Rites became vacant, almost all the officials in the Ministry of Rites recommended him to succeed.

After that, he became unstoppable, with a smooth official career, entering the Council of State and becoming a Grand Officer of the Court. And now, he has reached the highest position among officials, becoming the Prime Minister of Great Qi and leading the Council of State.

In comparison, Cao Jie in the Ministry of War did not have much of a distinguished reputation.

He was not like Fierce Butcher, a famous general known throughout the world, with a fearsome reputation that could stop children from crying at night. Nor was he like the God of War Jiang Mengxiong, who was invincible and unstoppable, conquering every battle.

He fought many battles, but he didn’t lead any famous campaigns.

In some famous major battles, he either cooperated with this famous general or that famous general.

In short, he was steady. While other generals shone brightly, he sat firmly in the rear. He always took “secondary credit” or “contributory credit.”

Moreover, he fought many losing battles, more than the other nine troop commanders in the Ministry of War combined. But he never suffered a complete and utter defeat.

No matter what the war situation, he could always preserve a portion of his troops and retreat. But that was all; things like desperate counterattacks or turning defeat into victory rarely happened to him.

It was such an seemingly unremarkable general whose ranking in the Ministry of War was second only to Jiang Mengxiong.

Emperor Qi once said: “The first in the world to employ troops is Zhenguo. The one skilled in warfare in the world is Cao Jie.”

“Zhenguo” refers to Grand Marshal Zhenguo Jiang Mengxiong.

In Emperor Qi’s view, the best person in the world at employing troops was the God of War of Great Qi, Jiang Mengxiong. But when it came to someone who could fight a war, the first person he thought of was Cao Jie.

Of course, this assessment was accepted by the people of Qi, but not by the people of other countries.

Even within Qi, there were many who did not agree with the latter half of the statement.

It was difficult for people to understand how the inconspicuous Cao Jie could be mentioned in the same breath as the God of War when it came to the art of war.

The Spring Death Army was renowned throughout the world, but many had to stop and think before they could remember who its commander was.

In short, he was just such an ordinary person.

People who met Cao Jie for the first time probably wouldn’t have any awe for him.

He did indeed seem unremarkable.

But when he sat there, intending to say something, he naturally exuded an air of profound depth and stability, like a deep pool or a towering mountain.

At least at this moment within the “Qi Hall,” none of the three national prodigies sitting opposite him dared to underestimate him.

“Do you know why the Yellow River Assembly was held in the first place?” Cao Jie asked.

At this moment, there were only the four of them in the hall.

Ji Zhaonan remained silent; he naturally knew.

Chongxuan Zun also smiled without speaking.

Only Jiang Wang, in his confusion, said: “Uh… dividing territory?”

He indeed didn’t know the inside story, but there was nothing to hide.

Cao Jie smiled: “That’s not entirely wrong.”

He looked at the three national prodigies, mainly speaking to Jiang Wang: “Since the Middle Ages, after the Human Emperor drove the Dragon Emperor to the vast sea, the Dragon Race has been extinct in the present world, not appearing before humans. But in reality, there are still dragons in the present world, an old dragon.”

He extended his hand and drew a long line on the table, then pointed his finger at this long line: “He is the master of this long river, enfeoffed as the Long River Dragon Lord by the Human Emperor in the Middle Ages to suppress the water veins of the long river. Nominally, he commands all aquatic races in the present world.”

Jiang Wang was inexplicably shocked.

He had also been to the long river several times and had a certain understanding of the aquatic races, believing that there would definitely be aquatic races in the long river. But he had never known that there was an old dragon here!

“In the Middle Ages, didn’t all the Dragon Race retreat to the vast sea with the defeat of the Dragon Emperor?” Jiang Wang asked.

Cao Jie said meaningfully: “As long as there are beings with wisdom, who doesn’t have their own thoughts? Not all dragons agreed with the Dragon Emperor’s ideas.”

“The long river is too vast, too grand. After the Dragon Emperor was driven out, the power of the Long River Dragon Lord alone was simply not enough to suppress it. Therefore, in the recent past, the long river suffered frequent disasters, ravaging both banks. Countless people on both banks were affected.”

“The ancient sages built the River Observation Platform on the Yellow River stretch and jointly suppressed the water veins of the long river here. Because countless creatures on both banks relied on the long river for life, it could not be suppressed to death. If the power was intentionally controlled, the seal would inevitably loosen under the continuous冲刷 of the long river. Therefore, every so often, the ancient sages had to come and reinforce the seal. This was the earliest Yellow River Assembly.”

Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said: “Perhaps it also had the meaning of showing off military strength.”

He noticed the sentence that Cao Jie emphasized – the Long River Dragon Lord nominally commanded all aquatic races in the present world.

Cao Jie smiled, feeling that the youth could be taught: “The Long River Dragon Lord now only nominally commands all aquatic races in the present world. In the early days of the recent past, that one was not just ‘nominally’, but actually commanded all aquatic races, the true master of the aquatic races.”

Jiang Wang couldn’t help but think, wouldn’t that be another Dragon Emperor?

However, after losing the support of other dragons and with half of the aquatic races retreating to the vast sea, the power and strength of this master of the aquatic races were far inferior to the Dragon Emperor’s.

The division of the aquatic races was likely related to the Human Emperor’s arrangements. This Long River Dragon Lord should be the piece the Human Emperor placed among the aquatic races.

The final result was also very satisfactory – at least for the human race.

After the great division of the aquatic races, they were still able to roam the vast sea and engage in back-and-forth battles with the human race in the eastern region in the realm of illusions. This shows how powerful the aquatic races were at the very beginning.

And in such a glorious era, the Human Emperor Lieshan clan drove the Dragon Emperor to the vast sea, split the aquatic races at the long river, and solidified the position of the human race as the master of the present world. It must be said that this was truly a magnificent achievement.

Since then, over a long period, the Long River Dragon Lord gradually lost the power to command the water veins of the world, only serving as the nominal co-master of the aquatic races of the world. In fact, the aquatic races in various places were either self-governing or co-governing with the human race.

All that the Long River Dragon Lord could control was the long river.

Or perhaps he couldn’t even control the long river, because every Yellow River Assembly was a time for the powerful nations to suppress the water level and show off their military strength…

After the efforts of countless ancient sages and the conscious or unconscious concessions of the Long River Dragon Lord.

The aquatic races that had disagreements with the human race in the Middle Ages are now living in harmony. The human race and aquatic races continue the ancient covenant, almost becoming one entity.

At least in the official propaganda, many people believe that the aquatic races are just human races living in water. The two races share the same origin and are intimately connected.

This is a sign of great integration.

That’s why Jiang Wang was angry when he saw someone privately abducting aquatic women on the banks of the Qing River.

This was the education he had received since childhood. It was out of a young person’s kindness and passion, and personal simple feelings. He regarded the aquatic races as “people.”

This is exactly what those ancient sages wanted to see.

However, perhaps times have changed. Many people probably feel that the human race no longer needs the help of the aquatic races. Whether it is for external warfare or the suppression and regulation of water veins. They no longer talk about great integration or remember ancient covenants.

Now there are even countries like Luo that openly sell aquatic slaves, and rulers like Zhuang Gaoxian who oppress and manipulate the aquatic races, treating them as tools of war…

But how to put it?

As Master Guanyan said, everyone has their “ought to,” and everyone has their ideal world.

Perhaps in many people’s “ideal world,” the aquatic races should only exist as slaves and tools of war.

Jiang Wang is slowly understanding this world, but his understanding is far from enough.

He has been thinking all along the way, but he dare not say that his thinking is correct.

He wanted to get some guidance from Cao Jie.

But Cao Jie did not continue the topic and turned the conversation: “Besides Zhaonan. Do you two know what is distributed at the Yellow River Assembly?”

Chongxuan Zun smiled without speaking.

Ji Zhaonan had already been excluded, so he naturally had nothing to say…

Jiang Wang decisively shook his head: “I heard Chongxuan Sheng say that everyone sits down and divides territory, but I didn’t ask for details on how it’s divided or what territory is divided.”

Cao Jie looked at him and chuckled: “You haven’t figured out anything, and you’re coming to participate in the Yellow River Assembly?”

Jiang Wang said frankly: “I only know that I want to be the best in the world. I know this is enough.”

This was probably a somewhat arrogant statement, but he said it sincerely and with certainty. He truly thought so, so he said it.

As soon as he said this, Ji Zhaonan twitched the corner of his mouth and smiled appreciatively.

Chongxuan Zun also couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.

Just now, he suddenly thought. If he hadn’t chosen to break through at that time, and fought Jiang Wang at the same level before the Tai Miao, he thought, it would probably be very exciting…

“Very good.” Cao Jie praised: “Knowing what you want is already difficult. Being firm in what you want is even harder.”

His gaze swept over Jiang Wang, Chongxuan Zun, and Ji Zhaonan one by one: “I look forward to you displaying your banners for the country!”

General Cao, representing Qi, made an expectation here, wanting to… seize the top three in the Yellow River Assembly!

Jiang Wang was not humble at this moment, only saying: “I will do my best.”

Ji Zhaonan sat upright and said nothing. But his presence here was already the answer.

And Chongxuan Zun had a faint smile on his face, as if he didn’t think this was a difficult goal to achieve.

Cao Jie smiled, very pleased in his heart.

Among these three, Jiang Wang did not hide or feign anything. If he didn’t understand something, he would ask openly. If he had doubts, he would boldly guess, not afraid of making mistakes. He was very clear-headed and very firm.

And Ji Zhaonan and Chongxuan Zun, when it came to information about the Yellow River Assembly, clearly knew a lot. But they were not eager to show it at this moment, not vying for any so-called limelight. They all remained silent, only listening…

They are all people with proud bones, he thought.

Everyone who urges and encourages likes this book, don’t quarrel.

I will try to write more, and maybe write 10,000 words or something at the climax of the Yellow River Assembly.

Love you all.