CHAPTER 218: CHAPTER 217 YOU ARRIVE JUST IN TIME

On the day it began to clear up, the news of Governor Higashiumi bowing his head spread throughout Xuanzhu County.

Boxes of gold, silver, and jewels were transported to the Linhai Army camp in Half City, and urgent meetings were held in the secret chambers of various merchants and nobility.

Early Rain led the army to surround the Governor’s mansion.

The Bronze and Iron Guards were targeted with firearms.

The Duke was ordered to the door.

Sending money and daughters to form family ties.

Any of these actions was enough to make the entire Xuanzhu County tremble three times.

As a meritorious figure following the illustrious reign of Emperor Lie, the Huyan Family of Donghai had sustained for a thousand years, continuously renowned, staunch as a pine, outlasting countless royal families and nobles over the millennia, and had vaguely become the local ruler of Xuanzhu of Dongyang.

The Governor of Xuanzhu County, the magistrate of Dongyang District, would make their first appointment to visit Governor Higashiumi. Without his permission, they couldn’t issue a single decree from their study.

Of course, a key reason for Governor Higashiumi’s long-standing tenure is their refusal to monopolize. His relationship with each family and commerce guild is intertwined like canine teeth. If every transaction in Xuanzhu County required a share to be given to the Silver Blood Association, then all the money it received must share a portion with Governor Higashiumi.

Bear in mind, the Silver Blood Association has only gradually risen in the past hundred years, and it is an alliance composed of eighty-eight commerce guilds.

However, the Huyan Family of Donghai has been drawing money from the Dongyang District for hundreds of years.

To ordinary people, they would feel that Governor Higashiumi is similar to the Governor, magistrate, and president of the Silver Blood Association, all high-ranking figures out of reach. But within the upper circles, everyone knows Governor Higashiumi is the true opinion leader.

The president’s proposals of the Silver Blood Association often get rejected by members;

The Governor’s decrees are openly defied by everyone;

The magistrate’s orders are dealt with perfunctorily.

But all decisions made by Governor Higashiumi must be respected by everyone.

This is because Governor Higashiumi rarely takes a stand, no matter how tumultuous it might be outside, his residence still fronts the sea and remains tranquil over time, which everyone agrees not to mess with; also because he represents the Xuanzhu nobility class, his stand is enough to serve as direction for Xuanzhu’s nobility.

Now, not only did Governor Higashiumi give money, but he also offered his precious fourth daughter for a marital alliance with the Jing Family.

According to eyewitnesses, he was almost shoving her out!

Facing the hostile attitude and troops of Jing Zhengwei, Governor Higashiumi not only didn’t explode but even sent money and shoved his daughter out!

Governor Higashiumi, how could you be so disgraceful? You must know shame, know shame!

While everyone was condemning Governor Higashiumi as a coward, they hurriedly sent money to the Linhai Army.

After Governor Higashiumi paid, the Governor’s office also sent money, and the Quan Family additionally sent a large sum of money, claiming to be an allowance by the magistrate Quan Yuan, with other small commerce guilds also following suit: ’Oh, we almost forgot to give money’ ’The car broke down the other day, didn’t have tools to send money, really sorry’ ’Didn’t have enough bags to pack the money at home, so came late’ and so on.

Governor Higashiumi flinched, and everyone flinched upon hearing the news.

By evening, looking at the gold and silver treasures almost filling the entire camp, roughly calculated, the military fund pool was surprisingly filled to seventy percent.

Piles of treasure lay exposed on the ground, gold coins and silver tickets sparkling with brilliance, almost blinding the Linhai Army’s group of poor soldiers. Fortunately, Wanshisa’s skillful military leadership managed to calm the soldiers and organize the property; otherwise, this money might not reach Lan Yan but would be divided up already.

"Governor Higashiumi, that old fox..."

In the study at the Fugitive Shang Courtyard, while playing cards, Le Yu suddenly realized something, gritted his teeth, and hammered the desk.

Desk HP -1.

Facts proved, although Le Yu had already been influenced negatively by Jing Qingfu, Jing Zhengwu, and Qin Le Yin, his thinking speed still couldn’t match those truly cunning merchants. After returning home and taking a nap, Le Yu suddenly realized he was played by Governor Higashiumi.

What was his original intention!?

It was to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys!

Indeed, Le Yu had prepared to massacre Governor Higashiumi’s mansion when he went to them.

People of the Silver Blood Association, all of them are ones not conceding until they’re presented with evidence. Without the mindset of going on a killing spree, how else could you snatch money from them?

Moreover, snatching money is just a means; Le Yu’s real goal was still to kill people.

If he doesn’t kill off a batch of capitalists occupying high positions, controlling means of production, how else can Le Yu promote the grassroots to control means of production?

Even when asked to pay a small sum, they were so reluctant, then in a few days’ factory shop ’borrowing it for a few days’ event, wouldn’t the Silver Blood Association be furious like someone borrowed their wife?

All was thought through by Le Yu; as long as Governor Higashiumi dared disobey the order, dared talk back, dared smack him, dared argue, dared curse, dared spit; he would dare let the Linhai Army revolt on the spot, making the Huyan Family history!

But Le Yu was bluffed!

Governor Higashiumi said, ’If you dare act, you’ll die in Xuanzhu County,’ and Le Yu’s killing intent was indeed diminished by some degrees, and then Governor Higashiumi coaxed and softened, making Le Yu drop the idea of acting.

Yet thinking carefully, Le Yu guaranteed that even if he paraded Governor Higashiumi in the streets, the Silver Blood Association wouldn’t dare utter a word!

A group of merchants, can’t they afford to sing ’Let justice shout once out of the blue’ ’Unite as one against enemies’ scene?

The Linhai Army could come and scatter their ashes in just one day!

From start to finish, the Linhai Army was always Le Yu’s bottom card, trump card, an invincible card!

Whether Governor Higashiumi softened or not, he would inevitably have to give money because he had no means to solve the card of the Linhai Army.

The Silver Blood Association was the same, they just clung to a lucky mindset, and now that Governor Higashiumi softened, they naturally didn’t dare to jump rashly.

Reflecting now, when Governor Higashiumi knew Le Yu brought people to surround his mansion, he already knew Le Yu intended to start a rampage and slaughter.

His chatting and inquiries are all meant to erode Le Yu’s killing intent. He had long prepared to give money and hostages but wrapped out a gesture of ’I’m doing this for your sake to relent this far,’ instead making Le Yu owe him a favor.

Such extreme pulling, Le Yu submits.

Yet counted carefully, Le Yu is at a loss.

If Governor Higashiumi hadn’t softened, Xuanzhu County would’ve been covered in rivers of blood today; if hundreds of merchants and nobles hadn’t been killed, the Linhai Army wouldn’t sheath their swords. Then the whole county would be shocked, making Le Yu truly able to say something one time and have his next plan simplified greatly.

Now Le Yu not just didn’t explode, and more troubling, Governor Higashiumi almost insighted his intention.

Though Le Yu never concealed his intention, it’s just that generally, people are reluctant to speculate in that direction.

Le Yu intended to exploit military funds via Blue Flame to weaken the Silver Blood Association.

If power is the backing for the Martial Artist’s rampage, then money is the source for the Silver Blood Association’s worker exploitation.

Le Yu squeezed out this substantial sum of money from them; subsequently, every family must cut back on expenses. In this materialistic Xuanzhu County, if you provide insufficient money, then the people below will be less loyal.

Money, as a resource, can be converted into violent arms. Le Yu clipped their money, meaning he prematurely consumed their potential army power.

Otherwise, when it truly comes to violent liberation, all commerce guilds need just to form a squad of armed forces to protect themselves momentarily; as long as the activists can’t chew them down, they could directly place a massive bounty, guaranteeing half of the people would defect.

Never rely on the competence of grassroots souls.

Allowing a group of unfed people understanding what firmness means is organizationally foolish.

And now it’s fine. When Le Yu leverages Blue Flame’s sickle to reap them, Silver Blood merchants cut worker expenses, everywhere claiming ’no money to pay wages’ ’bankruptcy’, just short of taking bowls to the streets for alms.

Le Yu just wanted them to cry poor.

When the time comes, even if they say they have money, no one will believe them.

And since Le Yu dared to recklessly offend all the ruling class and also use the scythe to cut into the Silver Blood Association, it clearly leads to one conclusion:

He wants to destroy the Silver Blood Association, the Governor’s Mansion, the various family merchant associations, or rather, the current ruling class of Xuanzhu County.

All those he has offended will be slaughtered by him.

This is the reason for Jing Zhengwei’s recklessness.

This conclusion is actually not difficult to think of, but no one is willing to think this way.

Because—

Why?

Even if Jing Zhengwei wants to rule the Dongyang district, he still needs a ruling team. If he kills everyone, who will help him manage that group of commoners?

No one can figure it out. The Lord of Wanghaigong merely relied on his outstanding experience to ensure Le Yu’s intentions. He only knows that Le Yu is about to lift the butcher’s knife, but he doesn’t know where this butcher’s knife comes from.

So, Le Yu suffered a loss.

If he had lifted the butcher’s knife today, he could at least severely damage the Silver Blood Association. They would be powerless to resist even if they realized it. Now even the Lord of Wanghaigong has realized it, many people in the Silver Blood Association have also become smarter, and the simple plan has become complicated.

Moreover...

"Don’t curse my dad!"

Huyan Silo said angrily: "You lost the card game, just accept it. Why curse my dad? You really have no card manners!"

As the price of being scared by the Lord of Wanghaigong, Le Yu took his daughter home with him.

Although Le Yu’s evaluation at the time was "Just this," as the apple of the Huyan Family’s eye, how could Huyan Silo not be beautiful?

Among the few beauties Le Yu has seen in his life, Qian Yuya is "pure," Qing Lan is "charming," and older sister An Qian is "voluptuous." Huyan Silo could be said to have the advantages of all three — both pure, charming, and voluptuous.

Moreover, when faced with such a dramatic life change of "being sold by her dad," Huyan Silo remained calm without throwing a big tantrum, thus raising Le Yu’s evaluation of her by several percentage points.

If it were Le Yu’s friends, they would definitely give Huyan Silo full marks, but Le Yu isn’t one of them; his heart belongs to Qing Lan, his person to Qing Lan, and he no longer has the energy for anything else.

But playing cards with a beauty is still something he can do.

"I’m cursing; what can you do, bite me?" Le Yu sneered, his words sharp: "Besides, why are you still thinking about him? He’s already given you to me. Tsk tsk tsk, such a scumbag who gives away his daughter, you should quickly curse a few more times."

"My dad didn’t give me to you!"

"Who says? I declare, you’re sleeping with me tonight."

"You... we aren’t married yet!"

"Is getting married enough to sleep together? Then I declare we’ll get married after this game."

Le Yu played a Critical Strike card and casually said: "Besides, haven’t you heard of my reputation? Don’t you know what kind of wolf den your dad has sent you into?"

Of course, Huyan Silo knows Jing Zhengwei’s reputation.

And she has known for many years.

Jing Zhengwei’s inhumane "playful habits" are terrifying even to men, let alone women.

And with Madame Tai as her enemy here, how could she miss the opportunity to vilify Jing Zhengwei?

Moreover, it’s not vilification, just stating facts.

In Xuanzhu County’s matchmaking circles, Jing Zhengwei had long been on the iron blacklist, with no one daring to marry their daughter to him.

Even his younger brother, Jing Zhengwei, has an unmarried fiancée, only his elder brother, Jing Zhengwei, remains solitary, which shows how unwelcome he is.

Being forced by her father to be with such a notorious villain, even with Huyan Silo’s calm temperament, she accumulated a lot of negativity, and with Le Yu’s words, her eyes turned red, and her vision blurred.

"Glad you know to be afraid," Le Yu said, "In a few days, you should go home. Anyway, your dad and I just need this marriage contract to show our attitude. But if you want to break out of this life where you have no control, you better think of a solution yourself."

"This time it’s me, next time it might be some fat-headed warlord. Play the cards, I’ve been waiting forever."

If giving money is admitting defeat, then sending your daughter is clearly being so cowardly you’re beneath the ground.

Many commercial associations were already very hesitant; seeing even the Lord of Wanghaigong send his daughter, they immediately let go of their final stubbornness. They might be planning to send their daughters too.

Huyan Silo was silent for a moment, rubbed her eyes, and played a Direct Hit card, saying, "I’m not going back."

"... No way, really fallen for me? Alas, blame my damn irresistible charm—"

"Don’t be narcissistic," Huyan Silo said, "My dad loves me."

"Interesting, is this the millennium-old family education of the Lord of Wanghaigong? Truly impressive, huh?"

Ignoring the sarcasm in Le Yu’s words, Huyan Silo said, "Xuanzhu County is about to undergo a major change. By then, your Jing Family will be the storm’s center. If you Jing Family are defeated, my dad can get me out. But if your Jing Family laughs to the end, then this is the safest place."

"If the Lord of Wanghaigong Mansion gets into trouble, I can help them by being here."

Le Yu suddenly asked, "How will you help?"

Huyan Silo: "I’ll get you to help."

"Why should I help the Lord of Wanghaigong Mansion?"

"Didn’t you promise my dad?"

"If promises had to be fulfilled, the Silver Blood Association would have gone bankrupt long ago."

"But, but... I’m your fiancée!"

"So what if you’re my fiancée? Doesn’t mean you can sleep here."

"I, I can let you..."

"If after sleeping I regret it, what can you do?"

"I, I..." Huyan Silo was choked by Le Yu’s words. How could she usually be argued against like this? Tears welled up in her eyes, almost bursting out like a rain of flowers.

"Men are unreliable. Go home early, wash up, and sleep." Le Yu played a Direct Hit card.

"I don’t want to!"

Huyan Silo suddenly grabbed Le Yu’s hand, seemingly making an extremely important decision, her shoulders trembling, enduring humiliation, and said with utmost humiliation. "I, I’ll be a good wife!"

Creaaak.

The door was suddenly pushed open, revealing a half silhouette in a green robe. She looked playfully at the two holding hands while playing cards and asked, "Did I come at a bad time?"

"No, Qing Lan," Le Yu waved at her, "You came at just the right time."