Chapter 628: The Three Kingdoms All Fall to the Great Sun Sword Disciple

Gong Gong Caiyu and the other two received the order and departed.

The void around them grew hazy as forty cultivators each with Foundation Establishment late-stage or higher cultivation appeared, bowed deeply to the youth in green robes, and then followed their respective Head Maids away.

After the General Heishi family took over the mountain gates formerly belonging to the Xiang Qiyu Sect and the Xuetudian, they implemented rule as well, stationing one or two direct-line Jin Dan members of the General Heishi family, along with a third-tier high-grade array formation. The investment was not large; most of their strength was concentrated in the Tushan Xiancheng closer to the Northern Plains.

The power of the two groups of maids was sufficient to handle the situation; the array formations would be dealt with using sword talismans.

In fact, this was already a generous estimate with ample margin; it was likely that the General Heishi Jin Dan members there had already fled, as it was basically impossible for them to foolishly wait for someone to come and annihilate them, just as many years ago when Master Dinghai Master Dinghai Zhenjun appeared, everyone scattered and fled.

The final seven maids revealed their forms and bowed deeply.

"Young Master."

The lead maid, wearing a dignified palace skirt, spoke softly: "In the process of restoring rule over Tushan Xiancheng, what should we pay attention to?"

Her name was Wan Zhuling, the most capable person among the maids of the Three Kingdoms region in handling government affairs; the six Foundation Establishment late-stage maids behind her were also skilled in this area.

Over a hundred, nearly two hundred years, as long as there was talent and a willingness to dig deep, any kind of talent could be found, and their cultivation aptitude was high.

"Just as in the past."

"While ensuring fairness, develop Tushan Xiancheng with maximum efficiency to create the most wealth."

Jiang Ding said without hesitation.

Over these years, he had grown accustomed to setting goals, finding people to execute them, and replacing them if they failed.

"Furthermore, absorb demon cultivators who have no habit of consuming human flesh into our ruling system, letting each display their strengths: what the rabbit clan cultivators are good at, what the snake clan cultivators are good at, what the ox clan cultivators are good at, and so on. Grant them fairness... but ensure their combined strength does not exceed one-fifth of humanity's."

Wan Zhuling was about to answer when another voice spoke, causing her to pause in surprise.

"Do you know how to do it?"

Jiang Ding asked.

This was entirely new government business.

"I do not know."

Wan Zhuling shook her head dignifiedly, not as cautious as the other maids: "I have not studied it, nor have I seen it, but there are talents employed by the General Heishi family in Tushan Xiancheng; perhaps we can ask them for guidance on this matter?"

"The General Heishi family's management was not very good."

Jiang Ding frowned.

"First, eliminate the demon cultivators who have the habit of consuming human flesh, the direct and collateral lines of the General Heishi family, and the demonic cultivators among the scattered cultivators, as well as those cultivators who have caused great public resentment. Handle these as quickly as possible, clean them up, and then spread this throughout the entire Tu State."

"As for the demons, maintain the status quo for now; I will think about it and tell you later."

"Yes. At the latest within three months, all of this will be handled."

Wan Zhuling and the other six Foundation Establishment maids bowed and retreated.

Do not think that because only a few of them are here, they are powerless; as soon as they stand in the city, a vast number of Foundation Establishment cultivators will immediately pledge allegiance. Moreover, they are all old cultivators accustomed to the existence of the Tushan Laws, and in the blink of an eye, hundreds of thousands of cultivators will be at their command, thereby controlling all major spiritual vein locations throughout the Tu State.

The maids dispersed in different directions, and the palace returned to silence once more.

"By the way, there is also Senior Li Li Mingda."

Jiang Ding, seated on the General Heishi Wang Zuo, remembered something, flicked his finger, and a black jade soul pearl flew out, landing in the hands of Gong Gong Caiyu in the distance.

"Take Senior Li with you to recover the Xiang Qiyu Sect."

This senior's soul had been repaired and could barely survive, but the lifespan limit of a Foundation Establishment cultivator still remained; he could live for at most another eleven or twelve years. Jiang Ding could not bear to let him pass away with regrets.

"Yes, Young Master."

Gong Gong Caiyu bowed deeply.

In the Xiang Qiyu Sect, she had not received much care; instead, there was much cruel competition, so her emotional attachment was not deep.

All arrangements were completed.

Jiang Ding closed his eyes and entered a meditative standby state.

He somewhat liked this current state: planting seeds, waiting quietly for time to pass, and then reaping the fruits, simply reaching out to pick them.

Time flew like a shuttle, and all things evolved.

In the first month of Jiang Ding's seclusion,

rule over Tushan Xiancheng was basically restored; the Law Enforcement Hall, the Agriculture Hall, the Finance Hall, and other institutions were quickly established, and personnel were soon in place.

Naturally, those selected were the Foundation Establishment cultivators who chose to pledge allegiance immediately; although they could not influence the battlefield situation, they were considered politically reliable and were given important positions.

In the second month, Foundation Establishment families and forces throughout the Tu State pledged allegiance, expressing their willingness to abide by the Tushan Laws, accept guidance from Tushan Xiancheng, carry out production, and purge demonic cultivators and man-eating demon beasts from all areas.

In the third month, the entire Tu State was liberated, and stable tax revenue began to be provided.

In the fourth month, the First Maid of Winter led her Tian Chong Guang Yao Yang Dao Soldiers to destroy the General Heishi Xuetudian, liberated the Chu State, stationed there on the spot, and began restoring rule over the Chu State.

In the fifth month, Gong Gong Caiyu led her Tian Chong Guang Yao Yang Dao Soldiers to destroy the General Heishi Xiang Qiyu Sect forces, liberated the Yue State, recovered the Xiang Qiyu Sect, and fulfilled the promise Jiang Ding had made in his heart years ago to ensure the Xiang Qiyu Sect's lineage would not fall.

This time, there were no obstacles in the land of the Yue State, and no more compromise-style reforms were needed.

While ensuring that the Xiang Qiyu Sect's name and the worship of its ancestral masters remained unchanged, the order of Tushan Xiancheng spread across the Yue State, penetrating every inch of land and influencing every commoner on the earth.

One year.

In one year, the Three Kingdoms region was completely renewed.

Regardless of what cycle of dynastic decline the mortal world was in, all entered a golden age; those who obstructed were either killed or imprisoned, and the hundreds of thousands of Qi Refining cultivators ensured that all policies could be implemented.

Among forces and spiritual veins in various places, demonic cultivators who frequently killed to seize treasures decreased significantly; the remaining ones would be caught and executed by Law Enforcement Hall cultivators if they were not careful.

Occasionally, those who encountered patrolling Tushan maids or candidate maids were captured instantly, with no escape possible.

Naturally, there were also those who resisted.

Either a Foundation Establishment force in some area felt dissatisfied with Tushan Xiancheng's deep intrusion into their territory and dictating terms, or they desired more ruling power over commoners, or they were hiding certain secrets and secretly obstructed the Tushan Laws of Tushan Xiancheng.

They did not intend to rebel, nor did they directly confront; they merely delayed behind the scenes with various reasonable excuses.

Under such circumstances, no one could find any evidence.

To this, Wan Zhuling also had a clear countermeasure.

Any faction that fails to enforce the laws of Mount Tu—no matter the reason—will immediately have its territorial control revoked. Every member of the clan, from Foundation Establishment cultivators down to Qi Refining cultivators, must leave the territory within three days. Those who fail to comply by the deadline will be treated as rebels and purged: Foundation Establishment cultivators will be executed, and Qi Refining cultivators guilty of grave offenses will be put to death.

The world lacks everything except Foundation Establishment cultivators who have no territory.

After dozens of Foundation Establishment factions were dealt with in this manner, the entire Three Kingdoms region was terrified. No more outward compliance with hidden defiance, no more stalling and obstruction—the laws of Mount Tu now passed through everywhere unimpeded.

There were naturally also those who enforced too harshly, those who enforced incorrectly, and those who were corrupt—many of them, in fact—with vast blind spots in oversight that could not be dug out right away.

Still, the Three Kingdoms region as a whole had settled into stability, with no further major disturbances.

"This year's tax revenue and financial report is out."

At this moment, Jiang Ding, seated upon the Black Crow Wang Zuo, opened his eyes, ending a year of closed-door standby.

"Having gone through war, with order in chaos, and with production planning in every region still underway, plus additional investments in various projects—the Three Kingdoms region's tax surplus for this year is twenty-seven million low-grade spirit stones."

It's relatively low, mainly due to the impact of war and infrastructure investment.

"Once production recovers across the regions and investment is no longer needed, the projected annual income will be sixty million low-grade spirit stones."

"If nothing unexpected happens, this tax revenue will continue on indefinitely."

(End of chapter)