Chapter 363: Foreign Ways Are Better

After hearing the words “new artisan,” Xu Yuan no longer cared about Gao Wanli’s origins or intentions:

She is my enemy!

The stepmother is an old artisan, and she despises new artisans above all.

A mere sixth-rank artisan dares to challenge the stepmother? What nonsense.

But what Yan Lao wanted to say was not this—he told Xu Yuan: “Gao Wanli is an extremely stubborn new artisan.

She firmly believes all ancestral mechanical arts are outdated and that today’s problems must be solved with foreign methods.

She often tells people: Is it so hard to admit you’re inadequate?

If we’re weak, we must accept it; if others are stronger, we must learn from them!”

Xu Yuan found this utterly baffling: “Aren’t the battles we’ve fought against the Snow Saber Devils and the Red-Haired Barbarians all victories? How can our ancestors’ methods be inadequate?”

Yan Lao took a sip of wine and sighed helplessly: “It’s not just Gao Wanli—there are many in the Northern and Southern Capitals who have always distrusted the court.

For instance, after several major wars with foreign powers, they’ve always insisted the court’s battle reports were falsified.

We must have lost, they claim, but frontline commanders lied about their achievements.

The court, in turn, never exposes the lie and instead proclaims a great victory to the realm.

Others insist that even though we won, we did so at the cost of countless lives—saying we kill one Snow Saber Devil at the price of three soldiers.

They claim that sinking one small foreign sailboat in the South Seas costs us three five-hundred-dan warships!”

Xu Yuan was even more confused: “Where do they get these numbers? Did they personally fight in the battles and count every casualty?”

Yan Lao shook his head: “Who knows?”

Xu Yuan could understand their distrust of the court.

By now, even Master Xu had to admit in his heart: the Ming Court is rotten to the core.

But if you distrust the court, why do you so revere foreign ways?

The key is, the foreign powers have lost every battle against the Ming.

Are you trying to spin their defeats as victories with your words?!

Yan Lao glanced at the others—the banquet had reached its later stages; Shi Bading and the rest were already drunk, pulling at each other, trying to outdrink their rivals.

Drunkards in this state always think: The opponent is done for; if I just hold on a few more cups, he’ll fall.

No one noticed him and Xu Yuan, so Yan Lao felt safe—he pulled Xu Yuan close, their heads nearly touching, and whispered: “Gao Wanli’s family strongly advocates buying new cannons and new ships from foreign lands.

They’re one of the biggest players in Zhengzhou specializing in this trade!

Gao Wanli came to Champa specifically to compete with you for the position of Chief of Champa, so her family can more easily transport goods bought from the Red-Haired Barbarians back to Zhengzhou.”

Xu Yuan understood: “So there are many in the court who support them?”

Yan Lao smiled: “You’ve truly matured—you saw right through the scheme at once.”

Xu Yuan sneered: “It’s always the same—just profit.”

“Exactly.” Yan Lao nodded. “The court’s procurement used to be handled entirely by the major artisan guilds in Zhengzhou; all the benefits were already divided up.

Some people couldn’t get a share, so they grew jealous and impatient.

Now, if the court opens procurement from foreign lands, they can slip in and skim profits for themselves—fill their pockets to the brim.

So many who support the Gao family don’t truly believe foreign goods are better—they just want the profits from buying them.”

Xu Yuan’s breath grew heavy with anger; Yan Lao patted his shoulder: “Xiao Yuan, do your job well. When you and the Commander enter the Northern Capital, you’ll have the chance to act—pluck out these parasites one by one and crush them!”

…

Yan Lao returned to Luocheng the next day.

Both Yan Lao and Ma Tianshou had full confidence in Xu Yuan now.

Previously, as a Police Inspector, Xu Yuan had driven out He Youxing and Xie Qingman.

Now that he’s Chief, why would he fear a mere deputy?

Xu Yuan led his men to see Yan Lao all the way to the city gate.

Upon returning, Xu Yuan officially took over the Champa Office.

The largest office room, once belonging to He Youxing, now naturally became Xu Yuan’s.

Xu Yuan sat in the main seat and tapped the table with his fingers: “Gather everyone—we’re holding a meeting.”

Soon, Shi Bading, Wan Yun, Fu Jingyu, Mao Dabin, Jia Yi, Di Youzhi, and others arrived.

Only then did Xu Yuan tell Lang Xiao Ba: “Go fetch Senior Gao.”

Gao Wanli entered with her subordinates and found the office packed with people.

Only one seat remained—on Xu Yuan’s left.

She was different from Xie Qingman.

Xie Qingman had shallow roots and relied entirely on her “close friends” in the Northern Capital.

When she took office, she brought only Wan Yun.

But Gao Wanli came with two full squads provided by her family—one led by a seventh-rank Spirit Cultivator, the other by a sixth-rank Alchemy Cultivator!

Gao Wanli came as a “mighty dragon.”

Now, in this office, Master Xu appeared “strong and well-equipped”; Gao Wanli couldn’t help but sneer.

Xu Yuan used “Wang Ming” to observe Gao Wanli.

He hadn’t had time to look at her properly the day before.

But this glance revealed something…

Xu Yuan remained expressionless and pointed to the seat beside him: “Sit.”

Since their first meeting, when Gao Wanli had spoken disrespectfully to him, Xu Yuan had treated her with cold arrogance.

Gao Wanli resented that he wouldn’t even address her as “Senior Gao”; she snorted and sat down.

She had entered with her sixth-rank Alchemy Cultivator and seventh-rank Spirit Cultivator, but now only one chair remained—they had to stand behind her.

Gao Wanli quickly decided to strike first, asserting her strength.

She herself was a sixth-rank Artisan Cultivator; in this age, Artisan Cultivators were held in higher esteem, and Gao Wanli had long felt her status superior.

In her competition with Xu Yuan for the position of Chief of Champa, she had thoroughly investigated him and knew he was merely a sixth-rank Alchemy Cultivator, with a side study in “Commercial Law,” his level uncertain.

But since he’d studied Commercial Law only briefly, it couldn’t exceed seventh-rank.

Thus, in the Champa Office, there were three sixth-ranks—she controlled two.

In raw strength, she utterly surpassed Xu Yuan—why should she tolerate him?

Gao Wanli spoke up: “Senior Xu, bring two more chairs for Mr. Lu and Mr. Jiang.”

The office was already cramped.

There was no room for more chairs.

Before Xu Yuan could refuse, Gao Wanli said: “Mr. Lu is?”

Shi Bading and the others were genuinely surprised.

Gao Wanli had arrived with a sixth-rank subordinate!

Seeing their expressions, Gao Wanli was pleased—this was exactly the effect she wanted.

She continued: “If there’s no room for more chairs, those without the right to sit should generously give up theirs.”

But Xu Yuan coldly asked: “May I ask what positions Mr. Lu and Mr. Jiang hold in the Purification Office?”

Gao Wanli replied: “They hold no official posts—I’m preparing to appoint them as Police Inspectors.”

Xu Yuan replied without mercy: “Since they’re not members of my Purification Office, and today’s meeting is for the Champa Office of the Purification Office, please ask them to leave.”

(End of Chapter)