Chapter 371: Unexpected (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

What does the envoy think?

Seeing Qin Li deep in thought with his eyes downcast, Gu Chi maintained his inscrutable demeanor, a half-smile playing on his lips, though inwardly he breathed a long sigh of relief. He even secretly rubbed his sweaty palms behind his sleeve, praying that Qin Li wouldn't ask any more questions.

Ask again—

He's about to give himself away.

Perhaps God heard his prayers.

He watched as Qin Li's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, then sighed softly, "Since ancient times, reform has been like walking on a knife's edge; there has never been a precedent of succeeding without losing a single soldier. Lord Shen's ideas are bold, daring to do what predecessors dared not, and he is wholeheartedly devoted to the people, which is indeed rare. However, once he goes astray, his fate will surely be one of utter ruin..."

This is also one of Qin Li's personal experiences.

They knew all too well how much trouble this matter would cause.

No, the changes Shen Jun is planning are far, far greater than what he experienced back then—the latter was merely a change in a small country, while the former could be a spark of change that will soon sweep across the entire continent.

He asked, "Shen Jun, are you truly not afraid?"

Qin Li now understood why Qi Shan chose Shen Jun. It was mostly because Shen Jun was young and impetuous, defying conventions and righteousness. Coincidentally, Qi Yuanliang was also a crazy disciple at heart.

These two are like a turtle eyeing a green bean; they've hit it off.

Gu Chi: "..."

Qi Yuanliang is a bastard.

Our lord is no ordinary man.

At the very least, they should be golden tears!

He muttered his complaints, then heard Qin Li's thoughts suddenly change, and he sighed, "Unfortunately, while this approach has its benefits, it's not suitable for everyone. At least, not for Tianhai... Sigh."

Any change will affect the interests of those who have already benefited.

These people were originally Wu Xian's supporters.

Their support for their lord Wu Xian was not solely due to his personal charisma, but also largely because it was "profitable."

If such a change were to occur and touch their interests, they would turn their swords against Wu Xian.

That's one point.

As for the second one—

Tianhai is rich and prosperous, and has been recuperating and developing in recent years. With light corvée labor and low taxes, and ample granaries, it is not yet at the point of poverty where martial arts masters would need to become "tenant farmers".

There is absolutely no need to take the risk of carrying out such a reform; the disadvantages outweigh the advantages—offending those people too early could even shake the position of Lord Wu Xian—if things really come to a dead end in the future, this method can be used as a "strong medicine"!

On the contrary, Shen Jun's team did not have this worry.

Gu Chi: "..."

Thinking about it carefully, it really makes sense.

Because they were so poor, everyone was willing to abandon all moral principles in order to get a bite to eat. Their lord also possessed a remarkable talent for "moral blackmail," capable of convincing people of everything. Wasn't Zhao Dayi just one of those people who was fooled?

If the subordinates under your command are of high social standing and are particular about their appearance...

I reckon he'll be the next Qin Li.

So it seems that being poor can be an advantage.

He said, “A young man who is not reckless is not a true youth. My lord has always been bold yet meticulous. If he were afraid, he would not have done this.”

He said that, but he was thinking it to himself.

Their lord acted this way without considering the problems Qin Li was worried about. High-level martial artists possess immense strength and ability; one of them could be worth hundreds or even thousands of commoners! Not taking advantage of such a situation would be a loss!

You can't afford to be at a disadvantage when it comes to food!

So he took full advantage of Zhao Feng's labor.

_(:з)∠)_

Qi Shan and the others did not stop them, not because they hadn't thought of this, but because they felt that their own territory was small. No matter how they messed around or exploited the martial artists and scholars, it would only be a laughing matter that was not respectable to outsiders, and no one would take it seriously.

Who would follow suit?

It's merely a matter of addressing the immediate crisis without causing serious consequences, let alone elevating it to an unprecedented level like "changing the continent." Qi Shan's outburst last night was partly due to Qin Li's "easy talk when you're not in the situation."

They only wanted to feed the common people and survive, but Qin Li kept bringing up the "endless troubles" issue.

"Man grows old with sorrow, while flowers grow old without sorrow..." Qin Li still disagreed, but his tone was not as firm and certain as before. He just said in a strangely melancholy tone, "Shen Jun dares to think, act, and take responsibility, which is truly admirable."

only--

There are countless examples in this world of well-intentioned actions that backfire and become counterproductive. One can only hope that Mr. Shen will learn from past mistakes and stop as soon as possible, or perhaps wait for the right opportunity to pursue this matter again.

"Keeping people alive is more important than anything else." Because of Qin Li, Gu Chi also began to take this matter seriously. If it were truly a long-term governance policy, he pondered what kind of system should be established to maximize the abilities of the martial artists without affecting the regime and social stability. "At least, the River Governor relied on it to get through the most difficult first year..."

Before the hidden dangers are exposed, the common people of Heyin will be the most steadfast supporters and advocates of this system.

Because they are the beneficiaries.

Without the courageous warriors led by Zhao Feng to take the lead, clearing wasteland, cultivating fields, and building houses, the He Yin's limited population and labor force, even if they worked non-stop all year round without eating, drinking, or sleeping, would hardly have reached the current level.

Not to mention this year's bumper harvest.

Furthermore, there's the matter of dredging waterways and building reservoirs and canals...

Which corvée labor service doesn't require a large number of able-bodied young men to be included?

It should be understood that corvée labor is unpaid labor by ordinary people.

Ordinary people don't get paid no matter how much work they do.

If the brave warriors do the work for them, the common people who would otherwise be conscripted for corvée labor will not have to participate in the heavy labor and can enjoy the benefits of these projects—no longer having to worry about God not being kind to them.

The risks of drought and flooding have been significantly reduced.

Even if it's not a bumper year, it won't be a disaster year either, and the basic living conditions of ordinary people can be guaranteed.

Gu Chi said, "Let's take it one step at a time for now."

Qin Li could tell that Gu Chi was unwilling to talk much, but he didn't feel slighted—such secrets must be known only to Shen Jun's confidants, and as an outsider, it was already quite remarkable that Gu Chi was willing to talk to him so much.

Therefore, I wisely skipped this topic.

It shows thoughtfulness and consideration.

Gu Chi: "..."

Although, however, there's really no need for that.

(ω)

All of the above were made up on the spot, fresh and hot.

He didn't want to talk about it simply because he couldn't come up with anything else.

The two sat facing each other, drinking tea, and discussed in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere how to mobilize manpower and where to dig a reservoir and canal to bring in fresh water from the Miao River. Qin Li was very interested in this project because the reservoir would benefit Tianhai.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Qin Li was still not satisfied.

But he still had things to finish, so he could only regretfully get up and take his leave. Not long after he left the government office, Qi Shan returned, his expression unreadable. Seeing the tea set on the table that had not yet been put away, he said, "Qin Gongsu has been here."

This is a declarative sentence.

Not surprised at all.

Gu Chi: "He just left."

Qi Shan took her seat in Qin Li's place.

He replaced the tea set that someone had used with a new, unused one: "He must have come here because he's figured things out. Coincidentally, Yi Ru has also given us a definite answer, so now only Shang Nan's family is left, which makes things much easier."

Gu Chi: "Qin Gongsu is stubborn, but he's not inflexible; surprisingly, he's easy to talk to..."

Meeting Qi Shan is like eating a hundred or eighty firecrackers; my brain and reason run away from home hand in hand... It's simply outrageous!

However, Qi Shan remained tight-lipped and did not wish to say more.

Qi Shan felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze.

He put down his teacup, sighing helplessly, "My relationship with Qin Gongsu wasn't always this bad. Although there were some wariness and conflicts, we generally respected each other. But—do you know who my next lord was after Qin Gongsu's death?"

Gu Chi: "..."

Gu Chi: "???"

Gu Chi: "!!!"

A bold idea suddenly popped into his mind—

After Qi Shan killed the former ruler of Qin, could it be that he defected to the opposing force that conquered Qin's former state?

Qi Shan looked at him, his pupils dilating in shock, and admitted it.

Yes, that's exactly what you think.

He was captured by mistake, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Gu Chi was speechless and even thought that Qin Li was a true gentleman with great self-control. He didn't even get angry and draw his sword to kill Qi Shan, this scourge. What kind of self-control did he have?

Gu Chi clicked his tongue and muttered, "You really don't do a single thing that a human being would do..."

Qi Shan sneered repeatedly.

She stood up and said, "So that's how Wangchao sees me. In that case, if I do something decent, wouldn't I just be taking the blame for nothing? All the miscellaneous tasks in the government office are now yours."

After saying that, he strode away.

With a wave of his sleeve, all that remained were official duties piled up to the rafters.

Gu Chi: "..."

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Qi Bushan, come back!!!

——————————

"Damn it, that piece of trash surnamed Lu!"

Gu Chi cursed inwardly. Coincidentally, his lord, Shen Jun, was also swearing and cursing the entire family of the Prefect of Luxia County. Shen Tang wasn't the only one with the same feelings; the three families of Tianhai were also seething with anger.

This all started with the chaotic fight last night.

The "unfilial sons'" birth mother is responsible for bringing them into the world, while Shen Tang, wielding the Mother's Sword, is responsible for sending them to the Western Paradise.

With a swift stroke of the sword, the killing was decisive and ruthless.

Despite the complete lack of coordination among the four factions, each fighting independently, their elite forces managed to overwhelm the raiding bandits. In an instant, heads flew amidst screams, and the night sank into a sea of ​​blood.

That scarred-faced bandit is quite skilled.

Seeing that the situation was not good, they also revealed their "trump card"!

A force of 520 elite warriors, armed with shields, led the way, while soldiers armed with spears and halberds followed behind. Their shields, formed from martial energy, were enormous, standing a zhang tall, half a zhang wide, and a zhi thick.

The shield is held by two strongmen.

When the weapon struck, it left only shallow marks.

Anyone attempting to breach the heavy shields and penetrate to the rear would instantly fall into their shield encirclement, facing isolation and annihilation. These heavy shield warriors were all expressionless; even if pierced, they wouldn't flinch, and would immediately retaliate—taking advantage of the enemy's moment of surprise, they would thrust out with their spears.

Kang Shi was the first to notice the Heavy Shield Warrior.

As they appeared and formed ranks, Xianyu Jian was ordered to transform his martial energy into soldiers and dispatch them to break through the formation.

"These heavy shield warriors are a bit strange..."

Even while carrying the entire show, Chu Yao couldn't help but keep an eye on the situation here, ready to step in immediately if Kang Shiwen ran out of steam. Hearing this, he asked, "What's strange?"

"Five hundred elite soldiers emerged from the rear of the bandits, all of them of superior second-class strength, each as strong as an ox..." Kang Shi had seen such elite troops before, but compared to some luxurious lineups, they were nothing. However, none of them were as synchronized as these men, their breaths and attacks were in unison, and swords and spears could not hurt them.

It seems to feel no pain, only knowing how to kill. Is this still human?

Upon hearing this, Chu Yao carefully sensed the effects before saying, "Strange, 'submerging in water and fire' doesn't work on them."

This is the first time I've seen something like this.

【Submerging in water or fire leads to self-destruction】is one of the literary spirits that Chu Yao has studied quite a bit, and it is suitable for chaotic battles.

Those with weak strength or a lack of willpower are easily invaded by their mental vulnerabilities, triggering their most unbearable and painful memories, and even causing hallucinations. Even a moment of distraction on the battlefield can be fatal by a stray arrow, let alone in the midst of a chaotic battle between two armies.

These 500 heavy shield warriors clearly do not belong to the former.

However, it seems that it is not suitable for the latter either.

Five hundred second-class scholars, each with a will strong enough to withstand the mental attacks of a second-rank scholar, have a chance that is even slimmer than Qi Yuanliang's chance of reforming...

Chu Yao's eyes darkened slightly.

With a flick of his long sleeve, a crow flew out, almost blending into the night. The crow moved nimbly, dodging stray arrows that seemed to come from nowhere, like a wisp of black smoke, flying towards the heavily shielded warrior and circling low in the air.

Snap—

The crow was still split in two.

It turned into silvery-white ash and vanished without a trace.

At the same time, Chu Yao suddenly opened his eyes.

He said, "There is indeed a problem."

Judging from their appearance, these heavy shield warriors were all commoners. Their hands bore the marks of years of labor rather than training. Their expressions were numb, their eyes dull, and their pupils cloudy. They lacked the sharp and resolute brilliance of elite soldiers... They were like puppets!

After forming their ranks, they pressed forward relentlessly.

The previously demoralized bandit group was greatly encouraged. With each step they took, they shouted in unison, their voices soaring into the sky, and the corpses beneath their feet were trampled into mud.

Shen Tang was almost distracted when she heard the noise.

Taking advantage of the situation, the scarred bandit launched a fierce attack.

"Give me your life!"

With a clang.

The enormous shadow rapidly grew larger overhead.

The scarred bandit was attacked from both sides by his subordinates.

Shen Tang said sternly, "Get out!"

With a single "Cut the Weeds and Eliminate the Roots" martial spirit spell, the opponent was struck back. Although it was not as powerful as Gong Xichou's casual attack that could defeat a powerful move, it still caught the scarred man off guard.

Shao Chong wasn't too far from Shen Tang's position.

He naturally caught the voice of the heavy shield warrior as well.

He was contemplating whether to support Shen Tang's side—and at the same time seize some military merits to make up for the losses caused by the woman with the twin swords crossing the border—but before he could move, his chest and heart suddenly clenched, and his long-calm blood began to boil.

Those pure black eyes faintly revealed a hint of scarlet.

But he can still suppress it.

However, being on the battlefield, the omnipresent stench of blood made him irritable and a strong impulse surged within him.

They wished they could slaughter every living person around them.

Shao Chong's subordinates were the first to notice his unusual behavior.

He crushed the skull of an enemy martial artist with his bare hands, splattering brain matter all over his arm.

Subordinate official: "!!!"

Oh my god, why did it have to happen at this time?!

Before he could come up with a solution, a figure blurred before his eyes, and a fleeting afterimage disappeared from his sight.

In the blink of an eye, Shao Chong had already charged into enemy territory and was wreaking havoc. His methods were extremely cruel and ruthless. For example, smashing someone's skull with his bare hands was considered relatively civilized. He also tore apart living people with his bare hands. In just a few breaths, he left behind a pile of corpses. The nearby bandits trembled with fear and dared not move forward.

The subordinate officials immediately dispatched troops to provide support.

They were afraid that Shao Chong would be killed while he was unconscious.

Clearly, his worry was unnecessary.

Unlike his previous episodes, this time he retained some of his rationality. Shao Chong knew what he was doing—he could kill these enemies, but he couldn't kill the soldiers behind him!

The two armies... no, the five armies clashed for a short time, less than a quarter of an hour from the ambush to now, and the battlefield was already littered with corpses, the vast majority of which were left by the bandits.

Although the four forces suffered losses, most of them were wounded.

The casualties were concentrated when the heavy shield warriors appeared.

While they were still small and insignificant—once their own forces were divided by the heavy shield warriors, they would be unable to defend themselves from both ends and would be easily devoured by the enemy in batches—Xianyu Jian summoned the Martial Tiger Talisman, which transformed into martial energy soldiers to resist most of the pressure.

The first feint attack actually dispersed more than ten people.

Just then, Chu Yao's voice came from beside him.

"Coordinate, attack."

Xianyu Jian had no doubts.

Then Chu Yao uttered in an extremely cold voice, "Like the collapse of earth, like the shattering of tiles!"

[Collapse]

Without warning, the ground beneath the heavy shield warriors softened, engulfing their legs like a swamp.

The 380-odd martial arts soldiers blocking their path were enveloped in a faint layer of silvery-gray aura. As they clashed with the heavy shields, a piercing sizzling sound emanated from the surface, followed by rising foul-smelling white smoke—was this corrosion?

The shield's surface was corroded with deep, human-shaped marks.

Xianyu Jian: "..."

Wait, is this what a complete collapse looks like?

(へ╬)

Slamming the ground!!!

(End of this chapter)