858 The fourth brother is ruthless
The armor shimmered with light, dazzling and eye-catching. The long-haired shield soldiers, with their bows fully drawn, formed an army of five thousand, like heavenly soldiers and generals descending to earth. They stood on auspicious clouds and were bathed in rosy light. Their imposing presence was enough to make gods and demons retreat and all things bow down.
Captain Guan, Mi Zhanguo, Yun Baiyi, Zhang Dazhuang, Shanlong, and others stood quietly in the fierce wind, watching to see if the Fire Spirit Sect after Nanhe, the Yu family patriarch, or someone with other intentions would appear.
If such an event occurs, it will be a matter of life and death, and all of them will be captured in one fell swoop. There is no reason to guard against thieves every day.
Captain Guan said softly, "The decisive battle is tomorrow; we've given them time!"
Yun Baiyi, Zhang Dazhuang, Shanlong, and the others nodded slightly, their hearts filled with fear, for the adults had also arrived.
Inside the Yu family compound, the patriarch, dressed in a long robe with a sword always at his side, walked with unsteady steps and a wavering mind. He hurriedly sent a message using runes to inform his ancestor.
"Commander of Dalong Prefecture, five thousand troops have invaded Nanhe Prefecture. Please, Ancestor, show mercy and provide assistance!" Looking at the talisman that conveyed the message, the Yu family head breathed a slight sigh of relief.
His brow relaxed slightly, and he thought to himself, 'In recent days, the Ancestor has taken more than a dozen talented clansmen from the family. I wonder if the Ancestor is satisfied.'
As if sensing something in the darkness, it seemed that the ancestor's departure of these clansmen was not a good thing. These past few days, with beauties serving him every night, he had long forgotten the ancestor's scolding of him that day, and his restless desire for revenge had also vanished.
Now, all we can do is to properly arrange and fulfill the ancestor's requirements. We must work tirelessly, overcome difficulties, and do our utmost to complete the ancestor's task in order to gain the ancestor's favor.
In Nanhe Prefecture, besides the Yu family, there are also the Tian family and the Cheng family!
The Tian family was involved in commerce and philanthropy, accumulating considerable wealth through the salt and silk industries, and actively participating in charitable causes such as building bridges, roads, and schools.
Furthermore, the family has a Martial King in charge, who divides up these excellent resources.
The Cheng family rose to prominence long before the Yu family. Relying on the Yu family patriarch, the intimidation of the Martial Emperor, and the fame of the Fire Spirit Sect, the Cheng family could only remain silent and dare not openly engage in battle.
Many family members entered officialdom through the imperial examinations and held important positions. The prefect of Nanhe Prefecture and others were all members of the Cheng family. They held important positions and often held poetry and literary gatherings to win over talents in the prefecture.
Not only did he control the lifeline, but he also treated the people there very well, seemingly understanding the principle that "he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world," and thus providing extremely generous treatment to the talents in his household.
Whether it was generous salaries, comfortable residences, or beautiful concubines, or even marrying off daughters or legitimate daughters from the family, it was not uncommon. Such treatment truly made the talented people feel the sincerity and respect of the family.
In Nanhe Prefecture, the three major families—the Yu family, the Cheng family, and the Tian family—divide more than 90% of the resources, while the remaining resources are divided among other vassal families.
At this moment, with the army besieging the city, the three major families immediately understood the reason for the conflict. However, Nanhe Prefecture still belonged to the Holy Emperor, while Dalong Prefecture was merely of equal rank. How could they possibly raise an army in rebellion?
The Cheng Family Manor, like a massive fortress, is not only a symbol of the Cheng family's glory but also the ultimate display of power and luxury. It is also the place where several of the Cheng family's patriarchs secluded themselves for cultivation.
Inside the fortress lay a completely different world, a magnificent and awe-inspiring scene unfolding before one's eyes. The hall soared into the clouds, its ceiling inlaid with dazzling gems and gold leaf, and at the deepest part of the fortress lay a spacious secret chamber.
The secret chamber was not only guarded by the Cheng family patriarch, but also served as his sacred cultivation ground. It was the secluded cultivation location of several retired elders or patriarchs of the Cheng family, and outsiders rarely knew how many patriarchs remained inside.
If it weren't for the fact that the Cheng family had been destroyed and the entire clan wiped out, the head of the Cheng family would certainly not have come to disturb these elders.
With the Holy Emperor gone, the aristocratic families' desire to test him intensified rapidly. Furthermore, the current weakness of the royal city only fueled their ambitions. People are like seedlings!
The land is now overflowing with ripe fruit, so much so that it fills my heart with excitement. After twenty years of rest and recuperation, the quantity is truly overwhelming—far too much to eat!
As a result of oppressive policies, after paying three years of winter taxes, taxes were collected in advance, followed by three years of spring taxes. Unable to pay the spring taxes for the following year, the people sold their children or even themselves to the Tian, Cheng, Yu, and other families to become slaves or farm laborers.
The Cheng, Yu, and Tian families couldn't wait to drive these people who had been sold into servitude into their own fortified homes, where they cultivated the land day after day without rest.
The gates of this manor are for entry only; once inside, there is no exit. Guards armed with knives stand watch, and anyone attempting to escape at night will be captured, hung up, and left to dry in the sun to die of thirst, serving as a deterrent to the servants and serfs.
Inside the Cheng family manor, in a secret chamber, where the spiritual energy was faint, stood an old man in a brocade robe and jade pendant. His face was gaunt, and his mouth was stained with blood. Scattered limbs lay on the ground.
The other two old men were the same; they didn't even bother to hide the bloodstains on their clothes!
"Seventh brother, eighth brother, now that the others are all dead, we're the eldest, second, and third brothers."
The three slowly looked at the other five people on the futon: one woman and four men, all of whom were now dead, their bodies just skeletons!
The seventh and eighth brothers looked at the fourth brother in front of them with some fear. It was the fourth brother in front of them who had killed the other five people, and he seemed to be showing signs of a breakthrough. If he broke through to the Martial Emperor realm, he would definitely be able to extend his lifespan.
The fourth brother frowned slightly as he looked at the wary eyes of the seventh and eighth brothers. A thought flickered in his mind, but he eventually suppressed it.
He explained softly, "Seventh Brother, Eighth Brother, we are usually the closest of friends. This is a last resort. The spiritual land is depleted, and there is certainly not enough for the eight of us to share."
Moreover, the Grand Elder is determined to prevent us from achieving immortality. If he doesn't die, how can we live?
The seventh and eighth brothers nodded slightly, as if acknowledging what the fourth brother had said, their eyes filled with vigilance, showing no sign of letting their guard down.
They remembered how the fourth brother had defeated them one by one, leaving none alive, showing no familial affection whatsoever, and the eldest elder was the oldest.
With the spiritual energy weakening, the five signs of decay in the celestial beings appeared the fastest, and their strength declined the fastest. The fourth brother took the opportunity to sacrifice the eldest brother, plotted and acted, and obtained a great reward. Then he sacrificed the other four one by one.
The fact that the eighth and seventh brothers were close to him prevented him from having a 100% chance of success. Otherwise, the outcome would have been unpredictable.
The Grand Elder wasn't entirely against the sacrifice; when it came to the final step, he would certainly agree wholeheartedly!
Although it was what they thought in their hearts, at this moment the two of them completely agreed with what the fourth brother said.
After that, things became much simpler. The fourth son sent a message to the head of the family, instructing him to send many people who had sold themselves into slavery to the manor to farm, ensuring the production of grain crops and workshops.
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