Chapter 94: The Path of an Overlord

Hot Recommendation: With a flash of his figure, Lu Li had already returned to Lu Zhuang.

The tenant farmers outside Lu Zhuang saw Lu Li from afar, and while still a long way off, they retreated to the side and bowed in salute.

Only after Lu Li had left did they stand up to continue their farming.

While working the fields, they said, "Lu Manor Master is truly like a Bodhisattva from the heavens; in the three years I've been a tenant at Lu Zhuang, my family has never once gone hungry."

"Haha!

Me too.

My wife and relatives at home all ask me to introduce them; they want to come work at Lu Zhuang."

"The 'Responsibility System' of farming that Lu Manor Master implemented is truly wonderful.

Whenever I think about having grain left over after the autumn harvest, I have so much energy to work..."

Lu Li returned to the main hall, and not long after, the figure of Li Tong walked in hurriedly from outside.

He came before Lu Li and bowed in salute.

"Manor Master, did you summon me?"

Lu Li nodded, and with a wave of his hand, a surge of True Qi helped Li Tong stand up.

"Mr. Li, I wish to train a group of soldiers; how can I obtain more wealth?"

Lu Li's gaze was as calm as water as he looked at Li Tong.

Currently, Haozhou is located near the edge of the front lines between Yuan and Song; in times of peace, trade is prosperous.

Among these, the most profitable businesses, such as silk and porcelain, are basically all run by the Wang Family and the Su Family, and behind them, the shadow of Prefect Cai is never absent.

Although Lu Li already possesses land that ordinary people cannot reach, compared to the first-tier wealthy families like the Wang Family, the Su Family, and the Prefect, he is still far behind.

Li Tong's heart skipped a beat; ever since he was saved by Lu Li, he knew that Lu Li's ambitions were by no means limited to being a mere Manor Master here.

Li Tong thought to himself: 'Back then, my benefactor once said he wanted to expel the Tatars, and now he even wants to train an army.

' After three years of lying low, this Manor Master is finally going to take action.

Li Tong pondered for a moment and said, "Reporting to the Manor Master, there are actually many ways to accumulate wealth."

"But your subordinate has one thing I do not understand, and I ask the Manor Master to clarify."

"Speak."

Lu Li said.

"May I ask, Manor Master, do you merely wish to survive in these chaotic times, or do you seek a great undertaking?"

"Oh? What is the difference?"

Lu Li asked.

Li Tong said solemnly: "If it is the former, you only need to rely on your peerless martial arts and unite with strongmen to force the Wang Family and Su Family to bow their heads."

"But if it is the latter, you cannot do that."

"Public opinion is to be feared, and heroes are judged by their origins; one cannot let future generations say the Manor Master was a bandit by trade."

Hearing this, Lu Li sat up straight.

In truth, he hadn't thought that much about it, but once pointed out by Li Tong, he couldn't help but nod secretly.

Li Tong was right.

He hadn't expected that the down-and-out scholar he had saved would possess such knowledge.

Lu Li hesitated for a moment and said, "The latter."

Hearing this, Li Tong took a deep breath, knelt on one knee again, and said, "Your subordinate greets my Lord!"

"Please listen as I explain the ways to generate wealth one by one."

"The first path is land."

"Currently, we already have over ten qing of fertile fields, and every year we can accumulate a great deal of military provisions."

"But if you want to support an army camp, I fear you would need at least a thousand qing of fertile fields."

"However, our Lu Zhuang is a newcomer to Haozhou, and the good land has already been monopolized by families like the Wang Family and the Su Family."

"Moreover, Lu Zhuang is developing rapidly, and the 'Responsibility System' of farming we proposed has long since caused resentment in their two families."

"Therefore, they will certainly find ways to restrict our manor's land; this method is not easy."

Relying on farming to make money is the method most people in this era think of first.

It is very normal for Li Tong to bring up the land issue as his first point.

"Besides this, there are commercial forms like the Su Family's silk and the Wang Family's porcelain, but the reason those two families can make money is because they have the backing of Prefect Cai."

"But your relationship with Prefect Cai is not good right now, so..."

Lu Li said with some impatience: "So you're saying both of these paths are dead ends?"

"No, your subordinate suggests that you, my Lord, could agree to the marriage proposal put forward by Prefect Cai and take Cai Miss as your wife."

"In the future, you could plot for power and authority, unite with the noble families, and thereby control Haozhou."

Lu Li:??? Well, you, Li Tong!

After talking for so long, you want me to marry into a family? Am I the kind of man who relies on women to start a business? Li Tong added: "This is the Official Path..."

Lu Li slapped the table,

and shouted: "Are you making fun of me?"

Li Tong immediately shut his mouth, secretly lamenting in his heart: The young do not know the value of a wealthy, beautiful woman!

"I knew my Lord would not choose this path, what a pity... but there is a second path we can take."

Li Tong said.

"What path?"

Li Tong's gaze was as cold as ice, and he whispered: "Secretly hire strongmen to occupy the commercial streets of Haozhou, kill the Prefect, destroy the noble families, and then have you, my Lord, subdue these men."

"This is the Hero Path."

The Hero Path... Reminiscing about his past life in the world of *Smiling Proud Wanderer*, Lu Li had wielded his sword across the pugilistic world, laughing at the red dust of the mortal realm; if there was an obstacle before him, he would simply cut it down with a sword.

"In this life, should I walk the Hero Path?"

Lu Li muttered to himself.

The hall was silent, and after Lu Li pondered for a long time, he suddenly stood up straight.

So be it!

I shall be a hero, and I shall achieve hegemony!

The aura about him changed abruptly at this moment, sharp and resolute.

Outside Lu Zhuang, a tenant farmer who was tilling the land happened to look up at the sun in the sky, then pointed at the clouds in the distance and shouted, "A dragon!"

Everyone looked up and saw a large expanse of clouds extending from behind the cloud layer in the sky, which, at a rough glance, looked just like a dragon's head.

At the same time, Lu Li had already returned to his room.

He fished out the mask of the Ming Venerable from a hidden compartment and whispered, "The first step is to unite the strong?"

"Isn't the strongest person in Haozhou the Ming Venerable himself?"

...... The next day.

On the streets within Haozhou City, many followers of the Ming Cult suddenly appeared.

These followers walked the streets, and if they saw any ruffians or scoundrels harassing merchants, they would immediately intervene.

They would go up, drag that group of ruffians into an alley, and then... Bang!

Bang!

The figures of several ruffians flew backward directly, smashing heavily onto the ground.

One of the ruffians had his arm grabbed by a Ming Cult follower, and then it was kicked until it snapped.

"From now on, this street is under the management of our Ming Cult.

In the future, every shop will pay us protection fees; if you dare to come here and cause trouble, he is your fate."

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!

Understood."

The ruffian covered his purple-blue bruises and begged for mercy.

Similar situations appeared on every street in Haozhou City; the Ming Cult followers drove away the troublemaking ruffians one by one.

On the other hand, a portion of the Ming Cult members remained behind to lobby the various merchants, who only needed to pay a small amount of silver to receive the protection of the Ming Cult.

If any ruffians caused trouble, the Ming Cult would naturally handle them.

At that time, these troublemaking ruffians were truly the most headache-inducing problem for the merchants.

If they didn't give money to the ruffians, these ruffians would come to cause trouble, making it impossible for them to conduct their business.

But if they reported it to the officials, the other party was not a heinous criminal and would merely go inside for a few days before coming back out.

Once they came out, they would only bully the person who reported them even more severely; over time, this phenomenon had become a stubborn disease.

However, the Ming Cult was not the government; when they caught ruffians, they truly beat them.

In their view, this was also a way to protect the common people, belonging to the will of the Bright Fire.

For a time, the effect was obvious, and the merchant streets became much more stable.

After half a month like this, eighty percent of the merchants were willing to rely on the Ming Cult for protection; three hundred wen a month was something they could all accept.

Many people felt at ease walking the streets, and business actually became better.

But not everyone wanted the Ming Cult to control the merchant streets, such as the martial arts halls and sects originally on the streets.

Recently, disciples from other sects had come to find trouble with the Ming Cult members.

A group of sturdy men blocked the path of the Ming Cult members, and the leader cursed, "Hey!

How are you Ming Cult people doing things?"

"This is the territory of our Shenquan Sect; if you know what's good for you, get out quickly."

"Our Sect Master is Shenquan Wudi; do you want to taste his fists?"

Facing the provocations of these sects, the Ming Cult disciples merely lowered their heads and left, not arguing with them, and afterward, they would report the names of these sects to the Lion King.

That night, it rained in Haozhou City.

Actually, a rainy night is very suitable for killing.

Because some people, on a rainy night, only carry a blade and not an umbrella.

The Lion King of the Ming Cult carried a blade, walking in the night.

His footsteps stepped on the puddles on the road, making a pattering sound.

He arrived in front of the Shenquan Sect, and with one kick, he opened the courtyard gate.

Bang!

The wooden courtyard gate shattered instantly.

From within the Shenquan Sect came bursts of sounds of muscles and bones colliding.

The rain gradually ceased.

A figure suddenly flew out from the Shenquan Sect; it was the Sect Master of the Shenquan Sect, Shenquan Wudi.

The Lion King flew out, grabbed his hair with one hand, and lifted his face from the ground, facing the street before them.

"Now, whose street is this?"

"It's... it's yours."

"Hmph."

The Lion King let out a cold snort and grabbed Shenquan Wudi's left hand.

The blade light slashed down fiercely, severing one of his fingers.

Another half-month passed, and the commercial streets within Haozhou City were all under the control of the Ming Cult.

Except for the two streets belonging to the Su Family and the Wang Family...