Chapter 171: Looking down on whom

Prefect Zhang Zhishan was a mysterious existence in Shanghe City.

He rarely appeared, giving people the feeling of a reclusive powerhouse.

Those who could become Prefects were all sent down by the Imperial Court; their strength was naturally quite good, and they managed the city defense army of a city, holding immense power.

Usually, even these merchants with status didn't have the qualifications to see Zhang Zhishan.

Many people were seeing the guardian deity of Shanghe for the first time, but this guardian deity came up and performed a slide-kneel, leaving them stunned.

Zhang Zhishan was still patrolling the surroundings today, but upon hearing the news of the Emperor's micro-tour, he immediately came to pay respects to Li Chen.

As for the Chamber of Commerce matter, he truly didn't know.

His clan brother Zhang Shanhe only relied on his prestige and didn't tell him everything.

Li Chen took a look at Zhang Zhishan; his muscle lines were firm and powerful, and because he had fought against demonic beasts for a long time, his aura was also powerful and fierce. Moreover, the sharp momentum on his body could make ordinary people look on with fear.

If he appeared alone, even City Lord Ding Tianming would have to be a head shorter than him.

Unfortunately, sitting in front of him was the Emperor of the May Tian Ce Dynasty; under Li Chen's momentum, Zhang Zhishan appeared very small.

Officials sent down by the Imperial Court were basically capable people.

Especially in places like this, stationed where there were many demonic beasts and sects were numerous, Zhang Zhishan was definitely someone carefully selected by the late Emperor; his strength was naturally beyond doubt, having reached the peak of the Heavenly Abyss Realm.

His loyalty to the Imperial family went without saying; didn't you see him slide-kneeling over?

It was enough to show how excited Zhang Zhishan was to see the Emperor and how much he respected the Emperor.

Even if he was acting, if he could act for a lifetime, that was also an absolutely loyal subject.

"Rise."

Upon hearing Li Chen's words, Zhang Zhishan stood up.

Li Chen directly revealing his strength had this one benefit: it could make subjects absolutely loyal.

Because for those who were disloyal, or who swore to be loyal to the late Emperor, Li Chen could directly send them to see the late Emperor.

According to habit, Li Chen directly had Zhang Zhishan report his work from the side, which was the city defense situation in recent years, whether there had been beast tide attacks, how the public security of the official roads outside the city was, and so on.

These were all the Prefect's work.

Zhang Zhishan, like a subordinate, reported one by one beside Li Chen.

It couldn't be said to be "like"; he was actually Li Chen's subordinate.

Former Chamber of Commerce head Zhang Wanshan was seeing his clan elder so humble and low-key for the first time.

In Zhang Wanshan's impression, his clan elder had a powerful deterrent force in this area just by standing there, making him not even dare to speak loudly.

In fact, over the past few years, relying on his clan elder's prestige to bully people, Zhang Wanshan was also afraid.

However, others were even more afraid of Zhang Zhishan, and no one dared to go to Zhang Zhishan to speak ill of him.

Zhang Zhishan reported for a while, and basically, the problems that appeared and how he solved them were all stated clearly.

Coupled with the fact that Shanghe City was indeed not very chaotic, and Li Chen had seen it with his own eyes and had also learned some things from the Jiang family's female dependents, he expressed approval of Zhang Zhishan's work.

This was just approval, yet it made Zhang Zhishan feel flattered.

In his words, having received the great favor of two generations of Emperors, he would definitely work hard and not refuse even if it meant death!

Facts proved that the more powerful the Emperor, the more loyal the subjects.

The sentence spoken by the Second Prince Li Xian in the court, "If there is no powerful cultivation as support, how can I protect my dynasty for thousands of generations," was increasing in value.

Li Chen actually didn't care what the subjects thought in private, as long as they could maintain a loyal attitude in front of him.

If Li Chen were curious about what the subjects said about him in private and whether they had thoughts of rebellion, then he would fall into the troubles of being an Emperor, which was the imperial suspicion that subjects feared most.

If an Emperor liked to be suspicious, he would set up various departments to monitor the officials and investigate in secret.

The subjects would also find various ways to cope; at that time, in the court, it would look harmonious, but in fact, dark currents would be surging, and they would be fighting to the death in private.

Li Chen didn't do such things, allowing the old officials in the court to show their absolute loyalty.

However, Li Chen didn't think there was a problem with some Emperors being suspicious of whether subjects were rebelling; after all, not every Emperor had Li Chen's cultivation.

The most direct monarch-subject relationship was that of the founding Emperor.

The founding Emperor of the Li lineage was young, so he didn't kill the meritorious officials.

Because the Emperor was young, his lifespan was very long, and he could suppress these old officials with great merits, and could even say he could outlive these subjects.

But for those old founding Emperors, in order for their descendants to sit firmly on the throne, they definitely killed meritorious officials in various ways.

Li Chen didn't found the dynasty, but the problem was he was also young; who could outlive him?

After listening to Zhang Zhishan's report, Li Chen took a look at him and said: "This armor of yours is?"

Normally, a Prefect wouldn't wear armor unless there was something important.

Zhang Zhishan immediately replied: "Returning to Your Majesty, in a few days, the Immortal Ancient Linghu is about to appear, and this subordinate is training troops in order to strive to obtain a share of the opportunity."

According to Zhang Zhishan, the so-called Immortal Ancient Linghu was one of the most precious opportunities in this area.

It appeared in its true form every seven years.

At that time, the spirit spring in the center of the lake would roar like a dragon and tiger, gushing out and turning into the purest nectar in heaven and earth.

That spirit spring was no small matter; it contained supreme spiritual power left over from the Immortal Ancient period.

Cleansing the marrow and cutting the bones was just its most basic effect.

Once cultivators drank this spring, not only could they greatly enhance the toughness of their meridians, making spiritual power flow more smoothly, but they could also significantly improve their physical fitness.

More importantly, it could not only help some cultivators who met the requirements break through bottlenecks, but it could also make people achieve twice the result with half the effort on the path of cultivation; it was a truly priceless treasure.

Breaking through bottlenecks—what kind of concept was that? Wasn't it just more powerhouses in the sect!

Because of this, the Immortal Ancient Linghu became the key to the survival of the surrounding major sects.

Whenever the spirit spring gushed, it was the time when the major sects competed most fiercely.

Zhang Zhishan had been training troops recently, thinking about getting a share of the pie when the time came.

"How much could you get before?" Li Chen asked curiously.

"It is shameful to say, but the opportunity of the Immortal Ancient Linghu is divided by the Chensha Dao Sect and the Yuxu Immortal Mansion by ninety percent, and other forces can only share ten percent." Zhang Zhishan answered seriously.

Li Chen nodded; the sect forces were indeed formidable, and the Chensha Dao Sect and Yuxu Immortal Mansion were also well-deserved.

For major sects to continue to develop, resource channels were very important.

Taking away ninety percent was enough to show the power of these two sects.

Zhang Zhishan felt that Li Chen would reprimand him, but Li Chen didn't; after all, Zhang Zhishan was only in the Heavenly Abyss Realm and indeed couldn't deal with the Sage Realm.

And they were all people living in this area; if they were to fight to the death, it would indeed not be worth it, and they could only share some leftovers.

"Fine, I will accompany you when the time comes." Li Chen said nonchalantly.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Zhishan said excitedly.

Others might not know, but as a Prefect, he naturally cared about state affairs, and his channels for news were also many.

He had long heard that the new Emperor was in the Sage Realm and could defeat powerhouses like the Dingtian True Person, which was enough to prove the value of this Sage Realm.

Zhang Zhishan felt that if Li Chen went personally, he could probably take at least fifty percent; the Chensha Dao Sect and Yuxu Immortal Mansion would definitely have to give Li Chen some face.

If Li Chen knew he thought this way, he would definitely smile and say: Your perspective is too small.

Fifty percent? Looking down on whom? I want it all!

If they want to pick up some mud and sand to soak in water to drink, they have to look at my face.

Li Chen just wanted to let these sects know whose territory this May Tian Ce Dynasty was.

He was just worried about not having a chance to get in touch, and now the opportunity had come.

Li Chen had always used deterrence as the main method toward sect forces, and he wanted to find ways to make the sects work for him.

The competition system of the sects was very cruel, which was why they could cultivate many powerhouses.

These were just free-range dogs; if they were obedient, they would be kept; if they were disobedient, they would be killed.

The reason Li Chen didn't keep them in captivity was mainly because he was too lazy to manage them.

If kept in captivity, the distribution of resources, the cultivation of personnel, and the conflicts between sects—all these would require Li Chen to solve personally.

Because the sect powerhouses, as I said before, only feared Li Chen and didn't fear others.

If a special organization was set up to manage the sects, wouldn't that just be adding trouble to himself?

Li Chen had two purposes for coming out this time.

First, it was to clean up the people of the Zixiao Tiangong and make them fear imperial power.

Next, he could assign them tasks and let these sect people work for him.

The reason he came to Shanghe City was because there were many Sage Realm powerhouses nearby.

Li Chen was too lazy to go to other sects without Sage Realm powerhouses.

To beat them, naturally, he had to beat the strongest ones.

Second, to investigate the traces of the remnants of the previous dynasty and eradicate these people.

This was a bit difficult; at least until now, Li Chen hadn't found the traces of the remnants of the previous dynasty. However, he also had a way, which was the so-called "passing the buck" method.

As long as he cleaned up the two major sects, couldn't he just give the task to them?

Do you want resources? If you want them, you can exchange them with the heads of the remnants of the previous dynasty!

Li Chen was only responsible for the general direction; specific details could be left to others.

There were so many remnants of the previous dynasty; Li Chen didn't have the heart to catch them one by one.

Originally, this method was very difficult to achieve; if the resources offered weren't generous enough, the sect people wouldn't work hard, so the Immortal Ancient Linghu was indeed a key point.

Since he had already shown his face, Li Chen began to do his own work, going to inspect the city defense construction, the mental outlook of the Shanghe City garrison, and so on.

It was no different from a leader's inspection.

As for the Chamber of Commerce matter, Li Chen naturally didn't need to care.

At his level, let alone hitting merchants, if he coughed, the Chamber of Commerce would probably vanish into thin air instantly.

Hearing that Li Chen was going to inspect, Zhang Zhishan, as the Prefect, personally held the horse for Li Chen.

After leaving the Chamber of Commerce, he introduced the situation around Shanghe City to Li Chen.

!

The group first arrived near the city gate, where the walls were towering and various great arrays were thick and solid.

According to Zhang Zhishan, there weren't many sects here before, and there were frequent beast tide attacks.

Just like in Tiger Crouching City, there were many traces of fierce beasts hitting the city walls.

So the Prefect and the City Lord needed to cooperate to resist the beast tide attacks together.

Now that there were more sects, powerful cultivators often went to hunt demonic beasts, and there hadn't been a beast tide for many years.

It could also be seen that the appearance of sects had both disadvantages and advantages.

On the other side, that is, in the Chamber of Commerce.

Jiang Rong was now the head of the Shanghe City Chamber of Commerce, and everything was going so smoothly.

Even the heads of the Chambers of Commerce in the neighboring cities heard the news and rushed over to talk to her about contracts.

Those merchant family heads who had ignored her some time ago now all put on fawning faces.

They were even more respectful than when her father was around before.

And all of this was just because Li Chen came out and showed his face.

Li Chen didn't even say anything, yet he could cause such great power.

This dimensionality reduction strike was indeed not just talk.

She felt more and more that she was right to listen to her mother; it was simply a huge profit.

Yesterday, she actually didn't understand why her mother stayed behind as well.

Later, she realized that she truly couldn't handle it.

Her mother could also be considered sacrificing herself for her.

From Jiang Rong's perspective, it could indeed be understood this way.

After Li Chen left, the Son of Luck, Lin Mo, also began his own calculations.

As a Jiang Fu servant, Lin Mo first began to help Jiang Rong organize some contract issues with other merchant families; he was very good at this.

After finishing, when Jiang Rong had a little free time, Lin Mo began to hint: "Eldest Miss, this subordinate has hidden some things; I hope Eldest Miss will forgive me."

Lin Mo was a smart person; he couldn't very well say directly: "The things this morning were all done by me; come and thank me quickly, instead of thanking the Emperor."

Jiang Rong, hearing this, asked suspiciously: "What things have you hidden?"

This was the line Lin Mo needed her to ask voluntarily.

At this time, Lin Mo could say that after he went back last night, he felt that Ding Tianming was not quite right, so he secretly followed him for a whole night, and only notified the new City Inspector this morning.

Because he was afraid of news leaking and was also hindered by Jiang Rong's trust in Ding Tianming, he didn't say it out loud.

Now that he said it, he expressed his apology.

To put it plainly, it was using a self-effacing way to let Jiang Rong praise him.

Jiang Rong learned that it was he who had found out; how could she blame him? Naturally, she praised him a bit, saying it was fortunate she had his discovery; otherwise, the Jiang family would have encountered a big crisis this time.

Jiang Rong definitely couldn't say it was all because of her serving in bed, so the credit was attributed to Lin Mo.

Lin Mo saw the satisfied look on Jiang Rong's face toward him, and his heart was filled with joy; the relationship could be considered to have taken another step forward.

According to the agreement, Jiang Rong intended to directly promote Lin Mo to be the Jiang Fu steward.

But Lin Mo immediately refused, indicating that he was only loyal to the Eldest Miss and would just be the Eldest Miss's attendant servant.

Initially, Lin Mo did want to be a steward, because a steward had great power.

But the Emperor's appearance gave him a sense of crisis, so he thought about staying by Jiang Rong's side to avoid Jiang Rong being taken a fancy to by the Emperor.

Jiang Rong naturally agreed to this request and even gave him quite a bit of reward money.

Just like that, after three days of servant selection and two days of busyness, Lin Mo finally obtained the qualifications to enter the Jiang Fu.

This excited him so much that he felt like he was floating when he walked.

In the afternoon, Lin Mo followed Jiang Rong to the Jiang Fu, this legendary small daughter-country, the holy land that countless men in Shanghe City dreamed of.

Coming for the first time, Lin Mo still had to show his demeanor and look straight ahead.

The Jiang family recruited three servants this time; the other two could also enter the Jiang family, but they couldn't stay overnight and had to leave before nightfall.

Only Lin Mo, as an exception, could stay overnight at the Jiang family. Although the place to stay was in a remote location closer to the woodshed, this was a historic leap.

Especially at dinner time, Lin Mo chatted here with the other two servants.

When they heard that Lin Mo could stay here, the other two servants were extremely envious.

Lin Mo said with his mouth that everyone should work hard together, but his heart was full of superiority.

Especially watching the departing backs of the other two servants, Lin Mo felt an incomparable pride.

We are both servants, but we are still different; you don't have the qualifications to live in, but I have already entered.

People just like to use this kind of comparison to make themselves feel more capable.

Now the entire Jiang Fu had only him as a man; could he not be excited?

Lin Mo was now like a proud lion, patrolling his territory.

Passing by the Stone Scenery Garden, he met the beautiful lady Jiang Ningyue and a stunning young woman he had never seen before.

Now he could reasonably use his identity as a servant to greet these two.

Jiang Ningyue was still as beautiful and moving as ever, every move full of grandeur, highlighting the demeanor of the Jiang Fu's mistress.

For some reason, Lin Mo felt that the more he saw her recently, the more alluring he found her.

The young woman beside her was named Dong Zhiqing, Jiang Ningyue's daughter-in-law.

Dong Zhiqing didn't seem to like talking to other men and was very avoidant of Lin Mo.

Lin Mo felt it was fine; it was his own abruptness. Take it slow; sooner or later, he would be able to let Dong Zhiqing say a word to him, and he would be satisfied.

Leaving the garden, Lin Mo fantasized: this pair of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were so beautiful; what man could withstand this temptation?

Maybe five years, maybe ten years, he must work hard to get this pair of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law!

That feeling was as if it were his lifelong goal.

Next, Lin Mo arrived at the hall and saw a dignified, stunningly beautiful mature woman there.

Seeing her for the first time, Lin Mo swallowed his saliva; this was entirely out of instinct.

This woman was somewhat similar to Jiang Rong, but much older.

Then it should be Jiang Rong's mother.

To be honest, with Xie Minjun's plump figure and stunning face that made people unable to breathe, no man could withstand it, let alone a hot-blooded young man like Lin Mo.

Other men might not be able to get in touch with Xie Minjun, but Lin Mo could continue to use his identity as a servant to greet Xie Minjun.

"I heard from Rong'er that this time it was thanks to your help that the Jiang family was able to resolve the crisis."

Xie Minjun's words were plain, but the gentleness and charm of a mature woman were fully displayed.

"Not at all, not at all; I just did what I should have done."

Just hearing the sound of Xie Minjun's voice, Lin Mo was incomparably excited, his heartbeat accelerating.

He didn't even dare to fantasize about what other sounds Xie Minjun might make; what kind of temptation would that be?

Perhaps afraid that his abnormal state would be detected, Lin Mo chatted for a few sentences and then took his leave.

After walking far away, Lin Mo let out a sigh of relief, calming the manic state in his heart.

Amazing; the women here are all too tempting.

Lin Mo felt that in this life, he must work hard to get all these women!

The so-called "near water towers get the moon first"; no one had more of an advantage than him!

Just as Lin Mo was secretly swearing, he heard maids nearby kneeling on the ground, shouting the slogan of paying respects to the Emperor.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a familiar figure appearing at the Jiang Fu.

This person Lin Mo had seen at the Chamber of Commerce; it was precisely the Emperor of the May Tian Ce Dynasty, Li Chen!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 172 =====