Chapter 1912

Chen Ru became even more uneasy: "Master Shao, we are all willing. My eight thousand taels are indeed not much, but in a few days, the merchants' guild will have another payment coming in, and then I will..."

Not to accept? Not accepting would be a big trouble! What they want is not just the money of your merchants' guild!

Shao Boyuan's face turned stern: "I come bearing the will of the Dragon God, plain words for plain people, no need for you to spend your lives buying safety! The Dragon God has his own plans; Qizhou's future development will only get better, and the new regulations to be issued soon will also bring you more business opportunities! Just put your hearts back in your bellies, abide by the law, and do your business."

The merchants looked at each other in dismay, unable to believe it.

The Dragon God doesn't want their money, but wants to give them more ways to make money?

Too good to be true, to the point that hearing it sounds completely unreal!

"Have you forgotten that the Dragon God also has the Yangshan Merchants' Guild under him? His old self personally walks the world, able to make business this big, naturally he values commerce and respects merchants, understands your hard work, and how could he easily deprive you of the fruits of your labor?"

This sentence was quite persuasive.

Everyone thought, yes, the Yangshan Merchants' Guild does business all over Jinshin, everywhere they do good deeds, deeply understanding the principle of 'harmony brings wealth'.

Merchants are the ones who can best understand merchants.

Seeing the other party repeatedly assure, Chen Ru finally relaxed a little, letting out a long sigh: "The Dragon God is wise, perceptive of worldly affairs!"

The Dragon God is the Dragon God, different from those past decadent rulers who only knew how to plunder and pillage them, and those 'righteous men'.

"Since the Dragon God now rules Qizhou, you will have more opportunities to deal with the Yangshan Guild in the future." Shao Boyuan continued, "My first order is that all shops and inns must open as usual after dawn! Whoever does not open, I will find trouble for them!"

The merchants immediately agreed, smiles appearing on their faces.

Shao Boyuan comforted them with a few more words, then dismissed the merchants, turning back to continue meeting with the officials, the main point being to fully ensure people's livelihood and supply, to avoid famine and disorder.

In these critical times, everything must prioritize 'stability'.

The governor of Yu County also grew bolder, speaking softly: "Master Shao, this grain and supplies have all been distributed to the people, official and military salaries cannot be paid, no one is maintaining order."

At this moment, the Black Armor Army quietly came over to deliver a message, they had searched the Qizhou Prince's treasury and found little remaining wealth.

Those corrupt officials and petty tyrants, however, were quite fat.

Shao Boyuan nodded. This was also within the instructions of the Nine Abyssal Great Emperor.

"Official and military salaries, including grain, need not be worried about, the Yangshan Merchants' Guild will subsidize. The next batch of grain will arrive as early as tomorrow afternoon!" From Ducheng to here, it's not far. According to the Dragon God's prior plan, Ducheng's supplies will next need to serve several cities.

"Also, Qizhou's army will be taken away by the Black Armor Army, the vacancies left will be filled by the Yangshan Guard. There will definitely be a shortage of manpower in the short term, please all bear with it."

The officials responded in unison, their hearts full of gratitude for surviving the ordeal.

On the night of the national upheaval, they not only could preserve their lives, but also keep their official positions—what more could they ask for?

In the distance, Weng Xing watched Shao Boyuan and said: "Wow, this guy is passionate and eloquent, full of energy! Where did the Dragon God find such a person?"

The Dragon God's subordinates truly have many talents, those he has heard of and those he hasn't, groups after groups popping up.

"Heard he was selected from the Original Association, which was also personally created by the Sovereign. Being appointed by the Dragon God, this person must have talent." Boshi Li said, "When he came to Ducheng, he kept mentioning the Sovereign, rubbing his palms, saying he wanted to display his talent."

The Original Association gathered many like-minded young talents from the Jinshin Plain. Looking at it now, the Nine Abyssal Great Emperor probably prepared the Original Association for today's uprising, truly far-sighted.

"Hope this isn't another Ma Jing essence, with some substance in his belly." Weng Xing looked at the dispersing merchants, tsk-tsking, "Hard-won victory, so many fat sheep not slaughtered just let go, alas."

In the past, these were exactly the targets the Weng brothers liked to attack.

The nature of merchants is to hoard and profiteer, to rob them is to do heaven's work.

Ai ya, saying this isn't quite good, the Sovereign also started the Yangshan Merchants' Guild as a merchant.

"The Sovereign repeatedly ordered, strictly forbidding us to lay hands on ordinary merchants and rich gentry." As one of the main commanders, Boshi Li must grasp the spirit of the order, "Looting them is only a momentary pleasure, but harms order and livelihood greatly. Such a large material supply for Qizhou cannot rely solely on the Yangshan Merchants' Guild."

The Weng brothers didn't care about these, following him excitedly: "Destroying a country, originally easier than killing Xue Zongwu, if we had known earlier, we would have seized a throne to play with, how great!"

"Qiguo is weak, its area only one-third of Luodian's." Boshi Li glanced at them sideways, "Destroying Qiguo is not difficult, the difficulty lies in prior preparation and subsequent handling. Such a large undertaking cannot have omissions, are you up to it?"

Weng Xing touched his nose: "Forget it."

He and his brother can't even support themselves, yet they want to support a whole prefecture's people?

Boshi Li sighed: "Only the Dragon God adult could easily accomplish this."

No mistake, no error, no omission, no flaw, no gap, no oversight, no lapse, no slip, no blunder, no defect.

Weng Xing wondered: "You are smarter than us. How do I feel that you admire the Dragon God more than we do?"

They had personally witnessed the Nine Abyssal Great Emperor slay Xue Zongwu, and thus prostrated themselves completely.

Boshi Li let out a long sigh: "Precisely because I am smarter than you, I can better appreciate the Dragon God's greatness! My little talent before him is like starlight beside the bright moon, not worth mentioning."

Weng Xing clapped: "Amazing, smart people flatter even better!"

He then immediately said: "Ai ya, the Pang brothers of Ruzhai seem to have taken another town. We can't lose to them!"

"They take towns, we attack countries, naturally our progress should be faster!" Weng Su rubbed his hands, urging Boshi Li, "Where to attack next, Xuecheng?"

"Yes, Xuecheng. But according to the Dragon God's plan, we must divide our forces from here, you two brothers go to Xuecheng, I go to Waizi Po." Boshi Li said solemnly, "We start from the places designated by the Dragon God, the further we go, the harder it will be, we must be mentally prepared! Alright, Qizhou's original army, especially the Ducheng garrison, we must reorganize, divide into units and take them away! Time is short, hurry up."

On this side, Chen Ru returned to his Bingji Merchants' Guild, his legs still a bit unsteady.

Tonight's national upheaval was too stimulating. Looking again at the pedestrians coming and going on the street, he felt as if he had awoken from a dream, unreal.

His home and the Bingji Merchants' Guild are separated by one alley, exiting the guild's back door leads straight home.

Just as he entered the door, his wife and children gathered around, speaking softly: "Master, your luggage is packed, are you leaving now?"

Qiguo suddenly changed again, this place cannot be stayed in.

Families like theirs, with a bit of money, are always eyed by many. Once local unrest occurs, they will surely suffer.