Chapter 140: A banquet, high and hard
Willow branches on the moon.
A bonfire was lit on the ruins of the main peak of the Central Mountain Range, and a call was issued.
The new patriarchs of the four major clans, Cai, Jin, Lin, and Zheng, gathered at the foot of the mountain.
These four people were the people from the four major clans who did not escape from Fuli Island with the Langmo Sect, nor did they choose to resist during the Pinghaiwei landing operation. They were elected as the leaders after the war stopped.
They have the same characteristics.
He is a direct descendant of one of the four major clans, has a certain reputation, and is not a very vicious person.
"Brother Weiming."
"Brother Can."
"Brother Yuhui."
"Brother Qinghe."
The four of them met and greeted each other.
Under the rule of overseas demon sects, people are suffering, but the clans that occupy a certain ruling position still retain relatively complete etiquette.
It's just a small courtesy but no great righteousness.
Their etiquette is reflected in the order of respect and hierarchy, and they have absolutely no sentiment or ambition to take care of themselves when poor and help the world when rich.
So don’t think that Cai Weiming, Jin Can, Lin Yuhui and Zheng Qinghe are greeting each other in a friendly manner now. The same was true for the leaders of the four major clans who used to sit in their current positions.
However, there is a deep blood feud between the four major clans with a total population of less than 200,000 and the more than million common people.
Over the years, the mutual attacks, harsh exploitation, and killings have resulted in many murders.
Even Cai Weiming, Jin Can, Lin Yuhui, and Zheng Qinghe, who were not very vicious, had smiles on their faces at the moment, but if they had the chance to kill the other party, they would never hesitate or show mercy.
What is more curious is that there are extremely frequent intermarriages among the four major clans.
Cai Weiming's mother is the legitimate daughter of the Lin family, Jin Can's mother is the legitimate daughter of the Zheng family, Lin Yuhui's mother is the legitimate daughter of the Jin family, and Zheng Qinghe's mother is the legitimate daughter of the Cai family.
You have me I have you.
In terms of blood relationship, the four major clans are actually family members.
In this way, even if one is eager to kill the other party, there is room for many things to be discussed in a friendly way.
Cai Weiming flicked his fingers, using a trick to block the sound from leaking out, and then lowered his voice and said, "What do you think? How should we deal with it tonight? What is the background of this Tao Tietao Yuanzheng? Have you found out clearly?"
Jin Can also lowered his voice and replied, "What else can I think? When an enemy comes, we will fight him with our generals; when water comes, we will block it with earth; when one moves, we will counter it with our own moves. As for this Dean Tao, do I need to ask him about him? The Tianjiao who ranks first on the Potential Dragon List is a powerful figure, but he has only been rising for more than a year."
"Brother Can, don't be careless."
Lin Yuhui said seriously, "I got the news that this Tao Yuanzheng was born in the mud... He was born in an ordinary family. He was originally a porter who carried bags. Once he got an opportunity, he became a dragon in the sky, but he was not arrogant or impatient. He is a difficult person."
Zheng Qinghe's face was a little solemn: "If you say that he is not arrogant or impatient, I believe it. But he is arrogant and domineering. He once defeated 107 geniuses by himself. This time, he invited us to a banquet as soon as he came. I'm afraid he has bad intentions."
"Yes."
Cai Weiming heard this and sighed,
“The Celestial Empire is benevolent and righteous, but not everyone in the Celestial Empire is benevolent and righteous.
After Pinghaiwei conquered our Fuli Island, it was said that the Qingzhou government and some officials of Pinghaiwei originally wanted to wipe out our four major clans, Cai, Jin, Lin and Zheng, to prevent future troubles!
Even if the clan is not exterminated, they must move away!
It was the new Pinghaiwei chief, General Miao, who strongly opposed it, which led to the situation where our four major clans remained on the island.
However, Marshal Miao also said frankly that the Celestial Empire would not adopt a policy of control over the overseas islands. If our four major clans were stubborn and refused to cooperate with the Celestial Empire's policy of changing the land system to Han Chinese, we would probably be courting our own destruction.
Commander Miao said that punishment for past mistakes is a warning to future ones, and curing illnesses and saving lives. Pinghaiwei’s attack and expulsion of the Langmo Sect was a punishment for past mistakes; the extermination of the four stubborn clans was a warning to future ones.
It’s not cruel!”
Jin Can chuckled and agreed, "I heard that this General Mu was originally a subordinate of that person. After that person lost power, he sank in the southwest of the Celestial Empire for thirty years and finally managed to get out. Even if everyone doesn't know what's going on in the southwest, they have heard some news. The situation over there is not simpler than ours, it's even more complicated. The water is very deep, but General Mu didn't drown. He waded out, and he was clean."
Lin Yuhui felt something was wrong and asked immediately, "Brother Can, what do you mean by that?"
Zheng Qinghe raised his eyebrows and answered for him: "Brother Can means that Tao Yuanzheng and General Miao are old acquaintances, and he is reminding us that with General Miao's great skills, how could he let Tao Yuanzheng take office alone without support? Maybe the Pinghaiwei army has already assembled, and they are waiting for our four major clans to be ignorant, so they will send troops to destroy them. In this way, when we attack other islands, the clans on other islands will not dare to surrender. Because the Heavenly Dynasty punishes the past and warns the future, and cures the disease to save people, because we are stubborn and recalcitrant, and we have ourselves to blame."
Lin Yuhui frowned: "So, what Brother Weiming, Brother Can, and Brother Qinghe mean is that no matter what request Tao Yuanzheng makes tonight, our four major clans must agree to it?"
"exactly."
Cai Weiming, Jin Can, and Zheng Qinghe answered in unison.
Lin Yuhui's frown relaxed and he complained, "Brothers, just speak frankly. Why do you have to scare me? Am I the kind of person who can't tell the difference between the important and the unimportant? I mean the same thing."
In response to this, Cai Weiming, Jin Can and Zheng Qinghe smiled.
After reaching a consensus, Cai Weiming withdrew his tactics and the four of them went up the mountain to attend the banquet.
The main peak of the Central Mountain Range is only four hundred feet high and is not considered a high mountain.
The four of them all had some skills and quickly reached the top.
The Langmo Sect, which used to be like a ghostly hell with its endless palaces and lingering black air, has now lost the black air and no longer looks like a ghostly hell, but its palaces have become ruins.
At the original mountain gate of the Langmo Sect, five bonfires were burning according to the five elements.
Tao Tie stood alone beside the half-collapsed stone pillar, with his hands behind his back, looking towards the east, with his back to the four people approaching.
A faint, barely perceptible aura emanated from Tao Tie.
The feeling given to the four people was similar to that of five burning bonfires.
It seemed as if the Tao Yuanzheng in front of him felt that something was an eyesore and wanted to burn it.
"All four of you are here, that's great."
Tao Tie turned around and said softly, "I'm new here, and I don't know much about the four major clans of Cai, Jin, Lin, and Zheng, nor do I know much about you four, nor about Fuli Island. You see..."
As he spoke, Tao Tie extended his right hand and casually pointed at the ruins around him: "I don't even have a good place to stay, so although I say we're having a banquet tonight, there's actually no wine or food, and there aren't even any tables and chairs for you to sit down. I'm really sorry."
Cai Weiming, who seemed to be the leader among the four, stepped forward and apologized from the bottom of his heart: "Tao Yuanzheng, it's our fault for not being considerate and not treating us properly..."
"No no no no."
Tao Tie raised his right hand and interrupted Cai Weiming, "I am here to take office, not to be a guest. Besides..."
His face suddenly darkened, and his voice also sank slightly. Tao Tie said seriously: "Fuli Island may have been your territory in the past, but since the day Pinghaiwei landed, it has been the territory of the Celestial Empire. All under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people are the king's subjects. Fuli Island is the Fuli Island of the Celestial Empire, not the Fuli Island of the four major clans of Cai, Jin, Lin, and Zheng! I will only say this once, do you understand?"
"clear."
Cai Weiming, Jin Can, Lin Yuhui, and Zheng Qinghe responded in unison, each with a different mood.
Or heavy, or sad, or angry, or resentful...
Or maybe all four of them had various emotions mixed together, which were difficult to describe.
Tao Tie went straight to the point and said in a tone of notification rather than negotiation: "I am temporarily serving as the director of the Fuli Island Mission, responsible for building a superior mission and four subordinate missions on Fuli Island. However, the court did not give me money and asked me to raise the funds on my own. I am new here and don't know how to raise the funds. I am inviting you four to a banquet tonight because I want to ask for your advice. I hope you can teach me." After he finished speaking, Tao Tie actually bowed and saluted the four people.
The four of them quickly moved away and then looked at each other quickly.
Not daring to let Tao Tie wait any longer, Cai Weiming immediately stepped forward to express his opinion: "The missionary institute will benefit the people, and I, the Cai family, am willing to donate one million yuan and 50,000 shi of grain."
The money of the Dayong Dynasty is the first-class hard currency in this world.
Whether it is the overseas magic sects in the east and southeast, the Million Mountains in the southwest, the Ten Thousand Monsters Desert in the northwest and north, or the Ice Field Demon Realm in the northeast, whether it is the human forces or the demons, monsters, ghosts and monsters, they are all using the money of the Celestial Empire.
The million yuan mentioned by Cai Weiming sounds like a huge number, but in fact it is only a million copper coins.
Even to build five ordinary buildings, a million coins would not be enough.
Tao Tie didn't take it as an offense and waited quietly.
Cai Weiming suddenly changed his tone and increased his efforts: "I am willing to contribute 10 million yuan in cash and 200,000 dan of grain."
Jin Can, Lin Yuhui, and Zheng Qinghe all followed up: "Jin/Lin/Zheng are willing to donate 10 million yuan and 200,000 shi of grain to help build the missionary institute."
One family gets 10 million coins and 200,000 shi of grain. For four families, that would be 40 million coins and 800,000 shi of grain.
It has already met Tao Tie’s first-phase expectations, or even exceeded them.
Tao Tie was very satisfied, and a smile appeared on his face. He praised loudly: "Good! Very good! The four of you are all sensible people, and the four major clans are all loyal to the Heavenly Dynasty. I will definitely write an article to report to General Miao and the court that the four of you and the four major clans have taken the initiative to assist in the construction of the missionary institute."
"Thank you, Yuanzheng."
Cai Weiming, Jin Can, Lin Yuhui and Zheng Qinghe all expressed their gratitude.
"You're welcome. This is what I should do. It is also the reward you four deserve for your deep understanding of justice, your loyalty to the court, and your concern for the common people."
Tao Tie waved his hand, politely declining the four people's thanks, and walked towards them.
As he walked, the five ghosts of the Five Ghosts Sect, an old man, an old woman, a young boy and a young girl appeared from the left east, right west, front south and back north, and a middle-aged man with an androgynous temperament appeared out of thin air in the middle.
The old man, the old woman, the young boy and the young girl surrounded Cai, Jin, Lin and Zheng. The middle-aged man was not far behind them and could stab them in the back at any time.
Tan Jinxuan held the hand of his ghost wife Xiaoqian and returned to the world of the living from the underworld.
Mo Yuhan and Chu Yingying fell from the sky.
When Cai, Jin, Lin and Zheng saw this scene, they felt a chill down their spines.
Damn it, not only did they surround the four of them, they also blocked all possible escape routes.
It’s just...
Without giving the four people time to complain, Tao Tie walked up to them and said meaningfully, "Taizu ended the last round of chaos and founded the Celestial Empire in order to save the people from disaster and to allow the human race to stand up and survive, without being bullied by demons and monsters, or being exploited by those who think they are 'different from the ordinary'. Do you understand this?"
"I'll wait to understand."
Cai, Jin, Lin and Zheng could only nod in agreement.
In fact, they don’t understand, not at all.
However, Tao Tie said this not to make them understand this point, but to continue: "Now that the great catastrophe has come again and the chaotic times have come again, it is the time for the Heavenly Dynasty, from Your Majesty to the younger generation like me, to make achievements and establish careers, to make the Heavenly Dynasty more prosperous, and to make the backbone of the human race straighter. Do you understand?"
"I'll wait to understand."
Cai, Jin, Lin and Zheng nodded in agreement again.
"No. You don't understand."
Tao Tie shook his head slightly and said with a smile, "You really don't understand."
As he spoke, all the expressions on Tao Tie's face disappeared, and his eyes were indifferent: "A young man like me is much more eager for war than you and your majesty think."
Bloodthirsty cruelty emerged in his indifferent eyes: "You are lucky tonight. You made the right decision, so you are still alive. I hope you can make the right decision in the future."
Cai, Jin, Lin and Zheng couldn't help but shiver.
For some reason, they believed what Tao Tie said and didn't even think of questioning or refutation.
Cai Weiming gritted his teeth and couldn't help asking, "Director, may I ask, what will happen if our decision tonight is not in line with your wishes?"
Tao Tie smiled and waved to Tan Jinxuan.
"grown ups."
Tan Jinxuan let go of his ghost wife Xiaoqian, came to Tao Tie, and obeyed his orders respectfully.
Tao Tie ordered: "Jin Xuan, tell them your plan, I have something to take care of."
When he finished speaking, Tao Tieren had disappeared from the ruins of Langmo Sect and suddenly appeared on the sea east of Fuli Island.
On the ruins of the main peak of the Central Mountain Range, Mo Yuhan waved his hand and set down a circular light water mirror as big as a giant screen.
What is shown above is Tao Tie floating above the sea, and the black cloud that sneaked into the waters east of Fuli Island without being noticed by the Pinghaiwei Fleet.
"The Wave Demon Sect."
Cai Weiming was sharp-eyed and quick-witted. The moment he saw the black cloud, he exclaimed, "The Langmo Sect has fought back?"
Jin Can, Lin Yuhui, and Zheng Qinghe all looked at the black cloud, trying to determine how many people the Langmo Sect had sent by the size and thickness of the black cloud.
However, the next second, they saw a divine general named Guandi with phoenix eyes, drooping eyebrows, a face as red as a jujube, riding a red rabbit horse and holding a crescent-shaped sword. He appeared in an instant with 10,150 soldiers and formed the Nine Palaces and Eight Diagrams Formation in an instant, surrounding the black cloud.
Tan Jinxuan's voice rang in the ears of Cai, Jin, Lin and Zheng at the right time.
"Your Excellency is number one on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and is known as the Heavenly Dynasty's No. 1 Prodigy. The Heavenly Dynasty is a benevolent and righteous dynasty, so your Excellency is naturally a benevolent and righteous person.
Chief Steward Miao said that it was a lesson for the future and I agree with you.
Therefore, if the decision of the four of you tonight is not in line with my wishes, I will not force you, and I will not take action against the four major clans.
He would just follow Taizu's example and hold a public trial in every city he arrived in.
Fuli Island is not small, but it only has four cities, so it won’t take much time.”
"You say, can the adults do this?"
"Do you think that after you have accomplished this, you will still be short of money and food?"
As he was speaking, Emperor Guan had already commanded his troops to launch a massacre against the black cloud and the remnants of the Langmo Sect hiding in the black cloud.
Tao Tie stood in the air, riding the wind, quietly appreciating Guandijun's command and dispatch, which was like an art.
He was completely unaware that a wisp of black air appeared behind him.
(End of this chapter)
