Lu Bu, a man of simple nature, was momentarily stunned by the words. Was Li Ru truly looking out for Ye Feng's best interests? Had he been too harsh just now?
"Lord?" Lu Bu called out several times before Ye Feng snapped back to attention. Ye Feng quickly made his decision, "It's merely the potent effects of the elixir, spewing nonsense. Everyone, remember that we have purged the side branches today!"
"Yes!" The three men had come because of the system and had no other questions, quickly agreeing.
After settling everything, Diao Chan slapped her thigh, as if remembering something crucial, and spoke urgently, "Oh no!"
"My beauty, with this King here now, what matter can't I handle!" Ye Feng caressed Diao Chan's hand and spoke quickly, "There is nothing your King cannot handle. Now, you shall have the wind when you want it, and the rain when you desire it!"
Diao Chan blinked her innocent eyes, leaning against Ye Feng's chest and speaking aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, I think I've made a mistake!"
Ye Feng looked at Diao Chan's endearing appearance and coaxed, "My beauty, rest assured, just say it. If the sky falls, this King will support you."
"I told Lu Bu to notify all the ladies to come and handle the funeral arrangements together!" Diao Chan said hastily. "Lu Bu, quickly go and intercept them. Tell them on their way that Your Majesty has been resurrected and that they should each attend to their duties!"
Ye Feng gently flicked Diao Chan's nose. "You clever little thing. It's almost the New Year. Why don't we all gather in Liangzhou? If there's an opportunity, this King will give you a surprise!"
"What surprise?" Diao Chan's playful nature flared up, and she asked eagerly.
"You'll know when the time comes. As for now, some people deserve to have a little interest collected!" Ye Feng's gaze sharpened, fixed intently on the inner city of Liangzhou.
"If these aristocratic families dare to bully you, don't blame me for taking action against them!" Ye Feng teased Diao Chan, but his tone was filled with coldness.
"Your Majesty, if they join forces, won't we..." Diao Chan said, twisting the handkerchief in her hands.
"Don't worry, with my beauty here, they will never join forces!" Ye Feng sneered coldly. "Speaking of which, it's all thanks to my beauty's cleverness. She foresaw that I would take action against them."
Diao Chan looked confused. She had no idea when she had done such a thing.
"Does His Majesty speak the truth?" Diao Chan asked tentatively.
"You were shouting and killing in front of His Majesty, making them fear you by three points. Besides, if the news is released, they will only fear being made an example of, and will have no desire to unite!"
"But didn't we use this method last time? How could they possibly..." Diao Chan's brow was furrowed. "I'm afraid they won't fall for it!"
"My beauty is mistaken again. Last time and this time are different. Last time, they were extorted by this King. This time, it's entirely because they lost their credibility. Come to think of it, they benefited last time. Perhaps they will rush to offer benefits to the Chu King's mansion." Ye Feng let out a few hearty laughs and led his retinue out of the golden hall. "My beauty, you are truly my lucky star. This King will definitely cherish you well!"
"Your Majesty, what nonsense are you spouting? It's broad daylight, and you're not even ashamed!" Diao Chan lightly struck Ye Feng's chest. "I made a complete fool of myself today!"
Meanwhile, as expected, as soon as they reached the alley of the Chu King's mansion, someone carrying gold and silver jewelry arrived to pay their respects to the Chu King. Ye Feng's face darkened, and he instructed Lu Bu, "Tell them all to get lost. After committing such a grave mistake, this King only wants justice. What do I need money for?"
Lu Bu went out and conveyed the message verbatim to the stewards of the aristocratic families. As expected, their faces turned cold. One of them hastily took out a box and tried to press it into Lu Bu's hand. "General, this is for you alone. I don't know what the Chu King's intentions are. Please enlighten me!"
Lu Bu mysteriously pulled the man aside and spoke hurriedly, "I'll only tell you, and you must not tell anyone else. I heard that His Majesty is furious because you all betrayed your promise this time, so he wants to make an example of someone!"
The steward's legs went weak, and he almost fell to the ground. He hastily stuffed more gold and silver jewelry, then mustered the courage to speak, "I wonder which family His Majesty intends to target? Otherwise, we..."
"His Majesty said that since that area needs everyone to develop together, and you have all been together for so long, you are all equally dear to him. He cannot choose who to strike," Lu Bu looked around. "Fortunately, he later came up with an idea. Whoever contributes the least to that area will be kicked out. This way, they will surely be divided among the rest, and then a fault can be found!"
"Thank you for your guidance, General! Thank you for your guidance!" The steward left, full of gratitude. Lu Bu turned to go up the steps and was stopped by someone asking for advice.
After repeating the same tactic several times, Lu Bu had accumulated a considerable amount of gold and silver jewelry. He spoke until his throat was dry, but he faithfully explained everything.
When the silver was placed before Ye Feng, Ye Feng put down his chopsticks and laughed heartily. "No one but you could have handled this matter so perfectly."
Lu Bu scratched his head and asked after careful consideration, "Your Majesty, can't they see that this is just your rhetoric?"
"They can see it!" Ye Feng said calmly. Seeing that someone had already placed an empty pair of chopsticks on the table, he instructed Lu Bu, "Lu Bu, let's talk slowly!"
Lu Bu sat down on a stool. Ye Feng laughed for a long time before explaining, "About seventy to eighty percent of them can see that it's just rhetoric, but what can they do? The Third Army is now in my hands!"
"Your Majesty means that even if they see through it, they wouldn't dare gamble on whether it's just a jest, especially with the interests in that area involved?" Lu Bu asked tentatively.
"Clever! Let's call it the Ten Thousand Year City!" Ye Feng instructed them one by one. "I have already set the auction rules for the Ten Thousand Year City. The rest of the matters will be handled by Uncle Qin. Fengxian, you must help maintain order. If anyone disobeys, kill them without mercy!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Lu Bu was about to rise to bow again, but Ye Feng pulled him down. "What's the hurry? Sit down and eat. It's just a few words."
Lu Bu smiled honestly. "Your Majesty, if someone truly contributes the least, what should happen then?"
"It's fine. Once they see the benefits within the Ten Thousand Year City, they will naturally unite and kick them out of the circle. We won't have to bother with it," Ye Feng explained clearly.
"Understood! Your subordinate will go and do it now!" Lu Bu eagerly stood up, cupped his hands, and pushed the door open. He instinctively wanted to leave but heard Ye Feng's unhurried voice.
"Fengxian is a good child in all aspects, he's just a bit too eager. If he were more steady, I could confidently hand Liangzhou over to him."
"Your Majesty says that he himself is still a child, yet he calls others so," Diao Chan teased Ye Feng, but then her brow suddenly furrowed. "I just don't know what Your Majesty will do when the lords arrive!"
"Why fear? When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we cover it with earth," Ye Feng laughed heartily. "If it really comes to that, I'll let Fengxian take you out of Liangzhou to Youzhou, where it's much safer."
"Your Majesty said today that you would take Diao Chan wherever you go, yet now you're going back on your word?" Diao Chan asked petulantly.
"Alright, alright, I'll take you wherever I go!"
Meanwhile, the steward hurried back to the mansion and informed the leading clan leader of the matter. The teacup in the clan leader's hand suddenly fell to the ground. He hastily ordered people to pack all sorts of antiques and calligraphy, preparing to sell them.
"Master, Lu Bu spoke very clearly. As long as we spend money, we can be protected!"
The leading clan leader pondered for a long time, then turned and took out his own collections from many years, pressing them down heavily!
"Go find a buyer and sell these things. We can earn the money back when we acquire the land!" The leading clan leader traced each of the rare treasures with his finger.
"It's a pity that my father and grandfather only added to it, and now I have to sell it all. Truly unfilial," thinking of this, Clan Leader Shi Gong let out a roar. "Father, your son is unfilial and is going to sell the family property!"
As soon as the words fell, an enraged old man wielding a cane rushed in and cursed Shi Gong, "Who have you taken a fancy to this time that's worth so much of your family fortune? I only have your mother, and look at your backyard now, yet you can't leave me a successor!"
Seeing the cane about to descend, Shi Gong bravely grabbed it and shouted, "Father, Father, I'm doing this all for our Shi family!"
The old man, actually the helmsman of the Shi family, was filled with rage. "How did I give birth to such a good-for-nothing like you? You can't do anything right and only know how to chase women. I can see you'll die because of women one day!"
"Father, Father!" Shi Gong called out a few times but found the old man deaf to his pleas. He suddenly roared, "Old Man Shi, listen to me!"
Old Master Shi suddenly stopped wielding his cane and stared blankly at Shi Gong. "You, what did you say? Say it again to me!"
Shi Gong's demeanor immediately softened. "Father, listen to me. Although it is said that a son doesn't begrudge selling his fields, your son is not that kind of person..."
The steward, along with Shi Gong, recounted the events of the past few days and Lu Bu's words. Old Master Shi was stunned for a long time.
"Father," Shi Gong called out tentatively. After all, his father's cane was not to be trifled with. "Father, how should I handle this matter? Or should I just give up?"
"You brat, you've finally come to your senses. You're truly my son!" Old Master Shi held his cane and grinned. "You've done very well, but it's not enough. Besides this mansion, sell everything else and acquire as much land as possible."
"Ah, Father, are you senile?" Shi Gong said in a low voice, then raised his voice. "Or should we keep the land and the remaining mansions too?"
As soon as the words were spoken, Shi Gong received a heavy blow from the cane. "You want to keep them? Who will plow for you? Invest now, and in the future, Liangzhou will all be surnamed Shi. Son, you will be the emperor of this land!"