The sweeping monk looked at Chu Di and the others behind him, knowing they were terrified. He released a gentle stream of internal energy, warming their bodies and dispelling their fear. They thanked the sweeping monk gratefully, saying, "Thank you, Master!"
"Well, you can go about your business now. This matter is settled, so we should be going. Young friend, we hope to meet again someday!"
Before Chu Di could speak, the sweeping monk transformed into a golden light and vanished from the spot.
When he looked into the distance, Xiong Ba and Zhu Wushi had both disappeared, leaving only a dozen or so figures lying on the ground in the ruins. Chu Di produced a hidden weapon and carefully approached them, but all of them were already lifeless!
...
Meng Fan sat at the head of the main hall, listening to everyone's stories.
“Young Master, Sun Cheng made contact with the Yun Sheng Dynasty more than ten years ago. In the past ten years, with the help of the Yun Sheng Dynasty, the Sun family has gradually developed from a second-rate family to a top family. Their family businesses are spread throughout the entire Huo Feng Dynasty. Unfortunately, according to Sun Cheng’s memory, the money they earned has recently been transferred to the Yun Sheng Dynasty through Hengtong Bank. Moreover, all the remaining money has been used to support puppet forces in Zhanzhou.”
Zhu Wushi recounted what he knew, focusing on what Meng Fan was interested in—the Sun family's money, of course! As for the love story between Sun Cheng and Qian Ruoyu, Meng Fan certainly didn't want to hear it!
"We've also figured out why they wanted to target the Zhao family. There are three cities in Zhanzhou bordering the Yun Sheng Dynasty, and Sunset City is one of them. The Yun Sheng Dynasty reinforced the other two cities, keeping Dongfang Qingyun busy. Then they seized the Zhao family's supplies and equipment, as well as the forces they supported, to start an uprising in Zhanzhou. Finally, they attacked Dongfang Qingyun from both sides, causing Zhanzhou to change hands!"
"Hmm, this is quite ambitious to plan for an entire prefecture. Alright, I won't concern myself with anything else. There's nothing much going on these days, so you can stay at the Zhao residence and let me think about future developments!"
Meng Fan thought that as more and more characters were summoned, it would be a waste of resources to keep them all by his side. It would be better to send them out and let them use their strengths to build up their power in various places or even in the center of the empire. In this way, the wealth gathered would increase more and more. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
The key is that you just need to lie flat!
Thinking of this, he looked at Zhu Wushi and said, "Write down the distribution of power in the Qingxuan Continent as you know it from Sun Cheng and that old woman's memories and give it to me as soon as possible."
...
Three days later, only Cao Zhengchun and the Sweeping Monk remained by Meng Fan's side.
As for the others, he sent them out to develop their own power bases. For example, Lin Yuantu had business experience in his previous life and was now sent to develop commerce in a certain empire.
Feng Qingyang took Zhao Feng with him on a journey, becoming a master-disciple duo traveling the world and collecting strange and wonderful stories.
Zhu Wushi also left. He was mainly in charge of the intelligence system. How he operated it was his own business. A good, easy-going boss only needs to know how to use people!
Xiong Ba and Wang Chongyang were also sent out, and Meng Fan instructed them to establish their own sects and re-establish the Quanzhen Sect and the World Society!
Xiao Feng was the leader of the Beggars' Sect in his previous life and also served as the Southern King. Meng Fan asked him to rebuild the Beggars' Sect based on the Fire Maple Dynasty and then expand it to other places!
As for Aqing, Meng Fan couldn't bring himself to make her do anything, so he let her stay by Xiao Feng's side.
It wasn't that this little girl volunteered to stay by Xiao Feng's side, but rather that no one else wanted her. Originally, Meng Fan asked them who was willing to take A Qing with them, but Xiong Ba and Zhu Wushi directly handed her over to Xiao Feng. After all, A Qing's strength was no less than theirs, and none of them could control her. Given her personality, who knew what kind of trouble she might cause?
Xiao Feng, being honest and simple-minded, agreed without even thinking about it, and for a long time afterward, he regretted it!
Meng Fan remembered that Eunuch Cheng was the founder of the Sunflower Manual, at least that's how it was described in the world of The Laughing Swordsman. So he simply let him, Wei Jinzhong, Cao Shaoqin and Yu Huatian each choose an empire to join.
Meng Fan can communicate with the summoned characters in real time through the system, which is why he can lie down without worry.
When they left, Meng Fan didn't give them any money. In fact, he took away the silver and valuable accessories they had carried when they were first summoned, claiming that "only by enduring hardship can one rise above others." This made the group of men secretly resentful! They were really unlucky to have such a master!
Fortunately, Meng Fan also taught them some modern and advanced production methods such as soap making and winemaking. If used properly, they would have enough start-up capital!
Not only that, Meng Fan also made use of Zhao Wuji, the new elder. He wanted to develop the Zhao family quickly, first setting a small goal to make the Zhao family a top family in the Fire Maple Dynasty, and then radiating outwards!
To achieve this, one cannot simply rely on intimidation; the first step is to dispel the Fire Maple Dynasty's hostility and wariness towards the Gold and Silver Gate.
Meng Fan planned to have the Sweeping Monk and Zhao Wuji contact the people of the Dynasty at the right time, so as to establish a bridge between the Gold and Silver Gate and the Dynasty.
It's not too difficult, but we can't do door-to-door business; we have to wait for the right opportunity!
Meng Fan then discussed the future development strategy of the Zhao family with Zhao Wuji.
The Nine Yang Divine Skill was designated as a family martial art of the Zhao family, accessible only to direct relatives. Other family members, including retainers, could learn inferior techniques such as the Purple Cloud Divine Skill, the Frost True Qi, and the Wudang Breathing Technique. As for swordplay, saber techniques, palm techniques, finger techniques, fist techniques, staff techniques, and leg techniques, these were housed in a library within the Zhao family. Direct relatives could directly learn them, while retainers and outsiders needed to contribute to the library to learn them.
Zhao Wuji's family suddenly became incredibly wealthy, and fearing that bad people might have ill intentions, he asked Meng Fan to stay at the Zhao family's house for a while longer. Meng Fan, however, was in no hurry to leave. He spent his days traveling and enjoying the scenery with Lian Yue and Lian Xing, completely forgetting about home!
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Xima City is one of the three border towns in Zhanzhou.
Outside the city, the plains stretched out flat and the terrain was perfect for battle. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were fighting on the plains, and the soaring killing intent made the weather gloomy. Even the heavens seemed to find it unbearable, for a thunderclap rang out and a torrential downpour began, washing over the battlefield. In moments, the river water turned red. Not only did the heavens fail to cleanse the place, but the rain also intensified the battle!
In the center of the battlefield, a burly man in black armor raised his greatsword, pointed it at an old general, and said, "Dongfang Qingyun, is this all the skill you have to dare to show yourself when you come out of the city to fight?"
The old general, clad in dark red armor, had lost his mount in the fierce battle. Holding his long sword horizontally, his expression tinged with sorrow, he said, "Since I dared to leave the city to fight, I naturally intended to slay you. What a pity! We've been locked in a stalemate for thirty years, with no clear victor. Today, your soul returns to the underworld. What can I do?"
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