Chapter 298: There Are Great Confucians to Defend Me

The number of forged plate armors in the entire domain has now exceeded ten thousand; in the following days, as the forge workshops adjusted their focus, they began mass-producing farming tools and various implements, greatly accelerating the pace of land reclamation and city construction within the domain.

After the young men finally finished sowing the newly opened hundred thousand mu of land, Wei Yuan looked down at the vibrant life beneath the soil, where seeds had begun to sprout, and felt deeply at peace.

At that moment, he suddenly sensed something— a strange caravan was approaching the domain.

The caravan consisted of over a dozen cargo wagons, yet including drivers and escorts, it numbered no more than a hundred and some. Each guard was lean and formidable, none ordinary cultivators.

Several domain cultivators rode out on horseback and blocked the caravan. A middle-aged man stepped forward and said: "We are from the Six Realms Trading Association, here to establish trade routes. We humbly request you inform the domain master."

Moments later, the caravan was led to an open area outside Yong'an City to set up camp, where Wei Yuan and Cui Yu hurriedly arrived.

Both sides sat down in the temporary tent. The middle-aged man summoned two young girls, who laid out tables, tea sets, and prepared tea. Wei Yuan glanced at them and immediately realized these two girls were also Foundation Establishment cultivators—though they concealed their cultivation extremely well, invisible to ordinary people.

As soon as the tea touched his lips, Cui Yu praised: "Excellent tea!"

The middle-aged man smiled and said: "This cup of 'Water Color Azure'—one sip equals a month's cultivation. I can only afford this pot. How does the domain master find it?"

Wei Yuan's expression remained indifferent, neither approving nor disapproving; he merely nodded and said: "Fine."

The middle-aged man's heart tightened—he sensed Wei Yuan had truly seen great worlds; this cup of tea had failed to impress him.

In truth, Wei Yuan thought the tea tasted decent, but the spiritual energy it provided was too minimal—it saved him only half an hour of arduous cultivation, better than nothing.

The middle-aged man continued: "We are an exploration caravan under the Six Realms Trading Association. I am Xu Su, the manager of this caravan. We've come to establish a trade route to your domain and plan to open a branch here in the future. We hope the domain master will grant us some favors."

Wei Yuan showed no reaction, but internally he was surprised. Yuan Qing had sealed off the surrounding regions like an iron barrel—how had this caravan gotten through?

Cui Yu asked: "The southern and eastern routes are both blocked. How did you get here?"

Xu Su smiled faintly: "We are an exploration caravan, not an ordinary one. Blockades? Hmph. Posting garrisons every few hundred li? To us, such blockades are riddled with gaps. As long as no True Person is stationed, we can slip through unseen. In fact, we should thank Yuan's blockade—without it, we'd have faced countless competitors. Now, we're the only ones here."

Wei Yuan said: "I know nothing of the Six Realms Trading Association. Could you tell us about it?"

"Our headquarters is in the capital of Zhao Guo, one of the two largest trading associations there. We primarily deal in bulk essentials and also handle military supplies. If the domain master requires rare treasures, we can discuss further. As for our strength—just look at how we've brought this caravan here intact. I believe that speaks for itself."

Wei Yuan said: "Your cargo wagons look unusual."

"All exploration caravans use specially designed wagons, each inscribed with talisman arrays that reduce cargo weight by seventy percent. When necessary, just two Foundation Establishment cultivators can activate the array to achieve brief flight over a hundred zhang. With such wagons, we have the confidence to cross mountains and rivers."

Wei Yuan asked: "So what have you brought this time? And what do you intend to buy?"

Xu Su smiled: "I heard the domain master has only recently established Qingming, and is not favored by Western Jin. So we've brought some gifts for you personally, representing our association's sincerity. Here is the list."

Wei Yuan took the jade paper and scanned it with his spiritual sense. The list contained abundant grain seeds, textiles, and medicinal herbs—all varied, well-matched, and many specifically suited for damp environments, exactly what Wei Yuan needed.

For cultivation resources, they brought seedlings and seeds of about fifty to sixty types of medicinal herbs; given time, the domain could become self-sufficient in producing basic-level elixirs.

Finally, Xu Su ordered a heavily sealed box brought forth. When opened, it revealed seven saplings, each about a foot tall, entirely emerald-green and suffused with dense spiritual energy—clearly not ordinary spiritual plants.

"These are seven saplings of Water Color Azure. Once mature, each yields three taels of Water Color Azure annually—the very tea we just drank."

Wei Yuan finally showed emotion, taking the box to examine it closely, and confirmed these tea saplings were top-grade spiritual plants—only slightly inferior to Red Jade Lanterns, yet equal in rank.

Seeing Wei Yuan's approval, Xu Su smiled: "How does the domain master find this gift?"

Wei Yuan said: "The gift is too heavy. I feel ashamed to accept it."

This gift was worth ten thousand immortal taels—enough to support ninety new disciples of Tai Chu Palace for a year. Just the seven saplings alone were worth over eight thousand taels.

Xu Su smiled: "This gift only asks for one promise from the domain master."

"What kind of promise?"

"Any future favors you grant other trading associations must not exceed those given to the Six Realms Trading Association. If you offer better terms to others, you must offer the same to us."

Wei Yuan immediately shook his head: "I cannot agree to that. I won't accept the gift. Please return, Mr. Xu."

Xu Su was stunned: "Domain master, our terms are not excessive—we only ask to be treated equally." Wei Yuan replied coolly: "To secure permanent, unshakable advantage, this is far too little. Moreover, I have no intention of making such a promise. I'm glad you came. I'll buy your goods at market price. Whatever you wish to take from us, you may take."

Xu Su clenched his teeth: "If the domain master refuses, then this proposal is dropped. But if we wish to open a branch here in the future, what is your stance?"

Wei Yuan smiled: "Of course! I've already chosen the location for you. If you have no other business, you may go inspect it now—pick the land you favor."

Xu Su's expression turned serious: "What is the land tax here? Is it the same as in Western Jin?"

This was a critical question. Western Jin levied thirty percent of merchandise value as trade tax, with numerous checkpoints and arbitrary levies. Wei Yuan paused, then said: "Two percent."

"Two percent of income? Acceptable…" Xu Su nodded. Their journey across thousands of miles and through multiple blockades was immensely costly; this tax rate was steep but tolerable.

But Wei Yuan added: "No—it's two percent of your net profit."

Xu Su gasped, leaping to his feet: "Are you serious?"

"Exactly." Wei Yuan said.

Upon confirmation, Xu Su's face lit up with joy. Twenty percent of income versus twenty percent of net profit—there was no comparison; the difference could be seven, eight, even tenfold! With this, the earlier promise no longer mattered.

He immediately said: "Excellent! Domain master, your generosity is unmatched. I will report this to the chief manager—the Six Realms Trading Association will fully support you!"

!.

At that moment, Cui Yu suddenly asked: "Mr. Xu, your association arrived first—your strength is undeniable. But you surely don't limit yourselves to legitimate trade?"

Xu Su smiled: "You must be Cui Yu, the young immortal of the great house. Your insight is exceptional. Indeed, we also handle gray business—depending on what the domain master desires."

Wei Yuan said: "What if I want someone dead?"

Xu Su paused, then smiled: "Most people have a price. It depends on how much the domain master is willing to pay—and who you want dead."

Wei Yuan said: "The governor of Ningxi, Yuan Yuan Qingyan's immediate family—only direct descendants."

Xu Su frowned: "This concerns a True Person, and a governor… this…"

Wei Yuan said coolly: "Are you afraid of a True Person with no future?"

Xu Su gritted his teeth: "We've handled such matters before. Under Western Jin's system, provincial governors' families must reside within a hundred li of the capital. I'll report this, but the price… won't be cheap."

Wei Yuan's expression softened slightly: "Is an advance payment required?"

"No! We trust the domain master's word. After completion, we'll give you a price. You may pay in immortal silver, or deduct it from future tax payments. Any other requests?"

"Two minor things. First, after the deed is done, leave a mask at the scene—any kind will do. Second, don't kill the children—erase their memories and send them south, to a poor farming family, to live out their lives in hardship."

"Easily done. The south is full of mountains; many tribal villages there have had no contact with the outside world for generations. Once placed in one, they may never leave fifty li in their lifetime."

"Good. Now, I'll take you to see the land."

The designated area within the domain was no longer around the hall housing Qingming, but moved into Yong'an City. Xu Su returned to the caravan to fetch his fengshui array tools for surveying. Wei Yuan and Cui Yu waited outside.

While waiting, Cui Yu asked: "Why suddenly target Yuan Yuan Qingyan's family?"

Wei Yuan said: "He used a scorched-earth strategy—if he'd succeeded, the domain would now be littered with corpses. Even if it failed, that doesn't mean he didn't commit evil. This is a perfect opportunity—I'm playing a quiet move, collecting some interest first. Though perhaps his children mean little to him; I might waste immortal silver."

Cui Yu frowned: "The court has always followed unwritten rules: never punish families, and death absolves guilt. Doing this will invite censure."

"That's only when the grudge isn't deep enough. 'Don't punish families, death absolves guilt'? In court struggles, how many cases have involved mass executions and widespread exterminations? In the past three hundred years alone, the Great Tang had nine major cases implicating over ten thousand people. These rules remain unwritten precisely because they can't be openly stated—and they're utterly unreliable."

Wei Yuan paused, then added: "Yuan Yuan Qingyan is called a mad dog—but he's not truly mad. I strike at his family to see if he fears me; second, to make him understand that my only rule is that I have no rules."

Cui Yu sighed: "You're destined for great things—your reputation matters. Yuan Yuan Qingyan will surely rally a host of censors to slander you. Your name will be ruined."

Wei Yuan laughed heartily: "Don't worry about your reputation! If that day comes, and we command vast armies and sweep across the land, when we enter the pass, great Confucians will defend me."

(End of Chapter)