Chu Minghou smiled and said, "Anyway, Yuan'er plans to do it this way. Of course, this plan is just a plan and hasn't been revealed. Don't tell outsiders about it."
"Of course!" Bai Ningyu said quickly.
Chu Minghou said, "If you really want them to become grandmasters sooner, then start with this battalion."
Bai Ningyu hesitated: "But they are already retired..."
Chu Minghou smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "If I say any more, your eldest sister will get angry."
Bai Ningyu glanced at the front hall, shrank his neck, and his ears were still hot.
Thinking of Bai Ningshuang's stern face, he shivered. The shadow of being taught since childhood still existed, so he quickly said, "Okay, I'll find a way to squeeze them in..."
"Otherwise, I'll just go with him and keep an eye on things for him."
"That depends on Yuan'er's plan."
"Okay, I'm leaving."
Bai Ningyu immediately dismissed the idea.
His nephew was not an easy person to deal with, nor could he be.
This uncle of his was useless in front of him, so it was better not to be controlled by him.
After Bai Ningyu left, Chu Minghou returned to the front hall, where Bai Ningshuang was already sitting with Chu Yi and Li Suyue.
"That brat!" Bai Ningshuang said angrily: "Meddling in other people's business."
"This is unavoidable." Chu Minghou smiled and said, "Who could resist? We would be the same if it were us, but Yuan'er..."
He shook his head, quite dissatisfied with Chu Zhiyuan's actions.
If it were someone else, he would have avoided them, but avoiding his own uncle when he came over was inappropriate.
There should still be some distinction between family and outsiders.
The royal mansion has been sealed for so many years, but Bai Ningyu has never distanced himself from the royal mansion.
"Yuan'er did well!" Bai Ningshuang snorted: "If he makes an exception for his uncle, what about the uncles and cousins? Seal them all off, treat everyone equally."
Chu Minghou sighed: "Good things can sometimes turn into bad things."
He felt that he had been under too much pressure lately.
In comparison, he would rather still be in a state of sealed mansion, without having to deal with these social niceties.
Bai Ningshuang said, "As long as the initial stage is well controlled, it will be easy to form rules in the future."
At the beginning, people will have wishful thinking, wanting to take advantage of loopholes and gain advantages.
Once people understand that there are no loopholes to exploit, they will honestly follow the court's rules and rank according to merit.
Chu Yi smiled and said, "Brother, are you really going to be completely selfless? Is the royal grandfather going to give you some rewards?"
"This is what should be done, what rewards are needed." Chu Minghou smiled and said, "Yi'er, practice hard. You don't have to go to the Martial Arts Academy."
"What about Sister Li?" Chu Yi asked: "Brother, you won't let her go to the Martial Arts Academy too, will you?"
Chu Minghou smiled and said, "That still depends on what your brother says."
"Hmph, if even Sister Li has to enter the Martial Arts Academy, then I'll ignore him!" Chu Yi snorted.
Li Suyue quickly tugged at her sleeve.
Chu Yi smiled and said, "Sister Li, don't worry, brother will definitely agree."
Li Suyue quickly said, "I also want to enter the Town Guard Division..."
"Entering the Town Guard Division is different from entering the Martial Arts Academy." Chu Yi said, "When will we have to wait for meritorious service to rank us!"
"Go talk to your brother, we don't care." Bai Ningshuang said.
So-called benefits move people's hearts.
For martial arts masters, anything involving martial arts realm or grandmaster realm is enough to fight to the death for.
Although the imperial court has established that ranking should be based on merit, merit is dead, and people are alive.
What if the merits are equal?
Within the Town Guard Division, there are too many situations where merits are the same, several ninth-ranks plus several eighth-ranks, and so on.
At that time, there will inevitably be endless open and secret struggles.
More importantly, the Town Guard Division originally recruited people from the army and the four major sects, now five major sects. Many veterans who have retired from the army are tired of fighting and do not want to enter the Town Guard Division.
Many disciples of the four major sects also do not want to enter the Town Guard Division, as it is too dangerous. Therefore, the manpower of the Town Guard Division is actually insufficient.
Now it is different.
It is conceivable that this time, too many retired soldiers and disciples of the five major sects will enter the Town Guard Division.
The masters of the four major sects and the masters in the army were originally at odds with each other, fighting openly and secretly, and this time, I am afraid it will become even more intensified. I am not afraid of their secret struggles, but I am afraid that after intensification, it will turn into open struggles, causing the Town Guard Division to disintegrate.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "We can't manage much, let them go."
"It's also that this subordinate is worrying too much." Gao Lingfeng laughed at himself: "I'm just worried that without the court's mediation, they will make such a mess that they will completely fall out."
Chu Zhiyuan said: "They haven't really fallen out for so many years, they already know each other's bottom line."
Gao Lingfeng hesitated for a moment: "This subordinate has also received several invitations to be forwarded to you, my lord, and it is really difficult to refuse."
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "I will not accept any invitations."
"Then this subordinate will refuse them on your behalf, my lord."
"Who are they?"
"Except for White Cloud Sword Palace, the other three of the four major sects have sent invitations."
"That's quite complete."
Gao Lingfeng smiled and said: "They also know that you will not accept invitations, my lord, but they still insist on sending them."
The four major sects have always been arrogant.
They neither curry favor with the heir nor offend him, which is actually to keep a respectful distance, apparently because the Qing Royal Mansion is disliked by the emperor.
Over the years, the four major sects have become quite confident with their strong strength, even when facing the heir.
Among the four major sects, only White Cloud Sword Palace has a good relationship with the heir because of Huang Shirong.
The other three sects have basically had no contact, and now they have become a bit embarrassed, even unable to deliver their invitations.
The reason they ran over here to ask me to forward their invitations must be because they were turned away at the Qing Royal Mansion.
Chu Zhiyuan did not speak.
"I will convey your meaning to them, my lord." Gao Lingfeng smiled and said: "They are really anxious now."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled: "It will be better in a while."
Now is the time when the impact is strongest. After a while, when the impact is not so strong, people's hearts will also settle down, and they will not fly around like headless flies, wishing they could kneel at my feet to please me.
As the two were talking, Guo Chi tiptoed closer and whispered: "Your Highness, Elder Hu Jin of the Flying Heaven Sect has arrived."
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand: "I won't see him."
"...Yes."
Guo Chi did not expect Chu Zhiyuan to be so disrespectful to Hu Jin's face, or to the Flying Heaven Sect's face.
Hu Jin was an elder of the Flying Heaven Sect, a figure who could cause a stir in the Flying Heaven Sect and even the entire martial arts world with a stomp of his foot.
Chu Zhiyuan said: "Tell Elder Hu that I will not see any elders or high-ranking members of the four major sects."
"Yes!" Guo Chi solemnly clasped his fists and turned to leave.
Gao Lingfeng felt a little uneasy.
This was different from refusing an invitation. An elder had come to seek an audience, but was directly rejected. This was too disrespectful to Elder Hu's face, and to the Flying Heaven Sect's face.
Chu Zhiyuan saw his expression and smiled: "What are your insights, High Lord Gao?"
"...My lord, is it appropriate to dismiss him like this?" Gao Lingfeng hesitated, and finally couldn't help but say: "It would be better to be more tactful."
"What is the difference between being tactful and not being tactful?" Chu Zhiyuan said: "Anyway, I'm refusing."
"But it hurts his pride too much." Gao Lingfeng said: "These martial arts people still value face very much."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said: "If it is said that ordinary martial arts masters value face more, then these elders are not so easily hurt in their pride."
"But..." Gao Lingfeng was still worried.
