Chapter 500

That previous inspection really showed a great deal of change.

Perhaps it was because the Zhao clan had already become a vassal to Zhao Quan, so their rank had risen and they no longer had to endure those humiliating searches by the soldiers.

Besides, it was probably also because of the importance placed on it.

Zhao Tan's ability was bound to be stronger than those soldiers.

Among those twelve female lords, some were bewildered, some were nervous, some were calm.

Zhao Tan inspected them one by one.

The inspection was very fast.

In less than ten minutes, everyone had been checked once.

"Your Highness, nothing abnormal."

Zhao Tan reported to Zhao Quan.

Zhao Quan nodded: "That's for sure, this kind of matter…"

Zhao Quan did not continue.

His eyes swept over those few female lords once again.

Then he walked over himself.

He patted the shoulders of the two best-built female lords.

A faint glow shimmered on his palm.

Those two female lords had been somewhat composed just moments ago, but now being personally inspected by Zhao Quan, they could not help but feel a little nervous.

After all, if a noble wanted to find fault, there were plenty of reasons they could fabricate.

But Zhao Quan only did a cursory check before withdrawing his hand.

As expected, he did not discover anything.

"Alright, you may go back."

Hearing this, not only those female lords, but the entire clan breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Quan said: "Recently it's been unsettled everywhere. The rebel army is running rampant very seriously. Destroying things everywhere, attacking nobles… Soon there will be a chance for you to earn merit. Don't disappoint me."

Zhao Shizhang and several clan elders visibly stiffened.

The meaning was very clear.

A battle against the rebel army was coming soon.

It was called earning merit, but in reality it was extremely dangerous.

But there was no way out.

Having already boarded this boat, getting off again would not be so easy.

And even without becoming a vassal to Zhao Quan, the Houye Society would still impose task quotas.

Either fighting the rebel army, or fighting magical beasts — the outcome was about the same either way.

And now the nobles were the official side.

The rebel army was a band of rebels. On the surface, standing on the same side as the nobles was also a perfectly reasonable righteous path.

There were many rebel armies.

Some had clear objectives, strict discipline, and strong fighting power.

Their goal was to resist the nobles.

But some were simply bands of rebels.

Or rather, bandits, robbers.

Under the banner of resisting the nobles, they oppressed ordinary commoners, plundering and swallowing up their territories.

The nobles lumped these bandits and robbers into the rebel army's camp as well.

On one hand, it could stigmatize the true rebel army.

After all, they were all called the rebel army, so ordinary commoners found it very hard to tell who was who.

This way, even if the commoners' resentment toward the nobles was great, they would find it hard to easily trust the rebel army, hard to join them.

Those true rebel armies, as a result, also found it very hard to easily gain the commoners' trust.

On the other hand, whether it was the true rebel army or bandits and robbers, to the nobles they were all the same.

All enemies.

Encounter them and exterminate them.

It's just that some were hard to fight, some were easy to fight.

All about the same.

However…

The people from the Miankending Society were most likely the true rebel army.

The Zhao clan had gone after them, so retaliation would surely come later.

It was just a matter of not knowing when.

Zhao Shizhang cupped his hands: "Our entire clan awaits Your Highness Zhao Quan's dispatch at all times, without a second word."

Zhao Quan snorted.

But he also revealed a faint smile.

Looking at his expression, a hint of helplessness could actually be seen as well.

"Now it's nothing like before. The external pressure is growing greater and greater, and the number of those magical beasts has never decreased.

"And our territories have also been overrun by the foreign races in many places…

"Those damned rebel army, taking advantage of the busiest time to cause trouble — they truly have no regard for the lives of everyone in the city!

"Now that the Zhao family has shown their loyalty, even if you don't go looking for the Resistance, they will come looking for you.

"So it's only a matter of time.

"Don't think about anything else. What you need to do is follow me. Wherever I point, you fight there for me.

"I've already adjusted your quotas. The standard quota will be reduced by 30%, so you'll have more time to develop, won't you?"

The earlier words, after everyone heard them, were just listened to and nothing more.

But that last sentence truly made many people's whole bodies jolt.

A reduction in the regular quota?

By 30% at that?

That's no small measure.

This kind of quota is truly a burden for the lords.

It's like serving corvée labor, serving military service.

Although killing magical beasts gives experience and loot.

But if there are too many or too strong magical beasts, it will also continuously cost personnel, soldiers, and equipment and supplies.

These are all real, tangible losses.

Soldiers all need to be trained.

They need to be raised slowly from level 0.

Although there are items that can increase experience, it's impossible for every soldier to be able to use such items.

Most of them have to be leveled up bit by bit.

Every loss of a high-level soldier is a great loss.

But sometimes, you must send powerful soldiers to the front, you must make them hold the line.

For example, in the previous battle, Tang Ruan and those female soldiers in the middle had to hold the line, only then could they win.

So the lords are also all seeking a balance between expenditure and gain.

Slowly building up their strength.

And everyone knows that the quota is a means by which the nobles suppress the commoners.

With the quota in place, commoners are constantly being worn down by magical beasts, so they can never become too strong.

So the previous increase in the additional quota was truly a form of devastation for the lords.

Their strength would all be worn away.

Now that the regular quota has been reduced by 30%, the measure can be said to be quite significant.

This way, the lords will deal with magical beasts more easily.

Originally, the magical beasts' strength was about the same as the lords', only a bit weaker.