Chapter 1371 - 1371 43 Support Shouzhe in Nation Building

Chapter 1371: Chapter 43 Support Shouzhe in Nation Building (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Chapter 1371: Chapter 43 Support Shouzhe in Nation Building (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2 Jiang Zhencang shook his head, not even bothering to pay attention to the grumpy old man any longer. He rarely relaxed enough to enjoy some “low-quality wine” while listening to the discussions happening at the dining tables around him.

Some were talking about business, others were discussing education, mentioning how certain children from certain families had been admitted to the Town Academy, and some had even been accepted into the Wang Family School.

Emperor Longchang had one thing right; the voices from the common folk were indeed the most genuine.

Jiang Zhencang had devoted his life to selflessly protecting Da Qian and bearing the responsibility of safeguarding the Human race. Wasn’t his desire for Da Qian and the Human race to flourish?

Although Xinping Town was a small place, it had achieved economic prosperity, and even the commoners lived their lives in abundance and knew their manners. Focusing solely on the area governed by the Wang family, it was truly not much different from most regions in the Immortal Dynasty.

The only thing missing is that the Immortal Dynasty had been established for tens of thousands of years and had nearly realized the ideal world where the entire population reached the Vital Energy Refining Realm.

“I heard that Master Shouzhe also wants to achieve full-citizen cultivation?” Jiang Zhencang casually remarked, “Last time at the Sacred Land, he consulted with me about the possibility of collaborating with the Pill Refining Peak to develop a mass production model for the Enlightenment Pill.”

“Full-citizen cultivation,” scoffed Emperor Longchang. “Easier said than done. How can the bloodline of the entire population improve overnight? Even for the Immortal Dynasty, it took tens of thousands of years to achieve this feat.”

Full-citizen cultivation was a massive systemic project, requiring cultural, economic, and significant overall productivity improvements. The biggest issue was time – it was impossible to achieve a transformation of bloodlines without extensive time accumulation.

It was not merely an issue with the Enlightenment Pill.

“Isn’t Master Shouzhe just feeling his way across the river by probing the stones?” added Jiang Zhencang, “He has already implemented universal education in his territories. Even young outsiders are re-educated through literacy classes.”

“As I see it on my way here, the commoners of Xinping Town are filled with a completely different vigor and spirit. They have all completed basic education; their eyes sparkle with intelligence and wisdom, and they exude confidence in their posture. The overall quality of the population has already surpassed that of the commoners in Return to Dragon City.”

“Master Shouzhe is indeed passable when it comes to economy and education.” Even Emperor Longchang couldn’t find fault there, and could only bitterly concede, “Of course, with a smaller population, it’s naturally easier to manage some things. Return to Dragon City, being so vast, naturally encompasses a mix of good and bad.”

“Master Shouzhe truly is a talented individual devoted to construction; we should support him more,” Jiang Zhencang remarked with emotion. “He has created too many miracles. I have a premonition that if Master Shouzhe maintains his original aspirations, our Da Qian might become the next Immortal Dynasty.”

“Support, I have always been supportive,” Emperor Longchang asserted confidently, “The more I nitpick with him, the more it counts as another form of support.”

While they were talking, Emperor Longchang’s eyes lit up: “Here comes another opportunity.”

At this moment.

Another group of guests arrived at the restaurant, their dress and demeanor indicative of long-standing high status, and carried themselves with dragon-like grace and tiger-like vitality, exuding robust vitality and apparently possessing high cultivation bases.

It was not surprising given that the group, aside from a charming and water-spirit-like young girl, consisted of several middle-aged men who were all at the Heavenly Person Cultivation Stage, with one elderly leader wearing a purple crown and radiating deep authority – a cultivator of the Purple Abode Realm.

This group of cultivators was not ordinary, clearly belonging to a Prominent Family.

With the cultivation base of the Purple Abode Realm and not lacking in merits, such a family could already be conferred the rank of a Fifth Grade Purple Abode Prominent Family.

However, their expressions were all grave and troubled, as if entangled with some misfortune.

They took a private room, ordered a lavish table full of dishes without much appetite, and one middle-aged man at the Heavenly Person Cultivation Stage spoke with a heavy tone: “Old Ancestor, could it be that Yinglei is deceiving us? Saying that Master Shouzhe is not home is clearly just an excuse. I’ve heard that Wang Shouzhe prefers tranquility and doesn’t leave his home for decades.”

“Zhao Mingtai, watch your words,” another middle-aged man said sternly, “Is Master Shouzhe’s full name something you can call casually? Besides, there’s no reason for Yinglei to deceive us. Even if it’s evasion, we can only wait!”

“Wait, we can’t afford to wait.” The man named Mingtai said anxiously, “Those iron pots have already been detained, and we have deferred payment for the goods with the reputation of the Prominent Family from the Wang family. If we drag this out any longer, wouldn’t our Tianfu Zhao Clan be left with neither money nor goods?”

At the same time.

Jiang Zhencang slightly frowned as he transmitted his voice: “So it’s the Tianfu Zhao Clan, a branch of the Daqian Zhao Clan. I heard that the Ding Duke’s Mansion and the An Duke’s Mansion have always been at odds. Does the Tianfu Zhao Clan actually have business dealings with Changning Wang Clan?”

“You don’t understand, Old Jiang.” Emperor Longchang said with a smile, “That kid Wang Shouzhe is very cunning and might be setting a trap on purpose. The Tianfu Zhao Clan, being implicated by the Daqian Zhao Clan, is not having an easy time nowadays. I guess they are desperate and looking for a cure all over the place, which falls right into the trap that Wang Shouzhe had laid out.”

“During the tax replenishment turmoil of the Emperor’s son dispute years ago, we had to support the main house with a lot of our capital, and almost all of the assets we could sell were sold,” Zhao Mingtai said with a sigh. “Now that our family is in dire straits, and Ming Lei cannot afford to delay his Purple Abode cultivation. We were hoping to rely on establishing long-term business with the Wang family, but who would have thought such an incident would occur – alas…”

“Could it really be that we have to send Yun’er to the Wang family to beg for a marital alliance? Our Yun’er is a natural Sky Pride, with just a bit of nurturing her future would be boundless.”

Emperor Longchang slapped his thigh as he transmitted: “I understand now, Old Jiang. This must be because Wang Shouzhe fancies the young lady, trapping her family. Then by forcing them, no, by having them willingly ‘offer’ the girl…”

Jiang Zhencang nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood. Shouzhe, such a graceful gentleman, and you describe him in such a shameful manner. What deep hatred do you two actually have?

“Longchang, don’t overthink it.”

“I’m not overthinking it. Even if the Zhao Clan is in decline, how many people in the world dare to detain their goods and make them feel aggrieved? Only the now flourishing Great Qian Wang Clan has such capability. With just a hint from the current Prime Minister Wang Yinda, there will be many who would secretly come forward to deal with the Zhao Clan.”

Thinking he had grasped Wang Shouzhe’s weak spot, Emperor Longchang stood up with vigor and strode to the private room’s door, swinging it open: “I heard you’ve been troubled by the Wang family? Do not fear, just tell us exactly what happened, and there will naturally be someone to ensure justice for you.”

“This…”

The Zhao Clan members stared dumbfounded at Emperor Longchang, who was this old man that came out of nowhere, no, two old men…

“Two elders…” Zhuge Liangcai, who was dining with distant relatives, quickly came over, “What is this about? Please don’t cause trouble, you’re disturbing other people’s meals.”

“Kid, you seem to have good conduct, so I won’t make things hard for you.” Emperor Longchang patted his shoulder and said, “You can’t handle this matter, go call your Family Head Wang Shouzhe instead.”

For a moment, the restaurant was in chaos, and the diners all came over to watch, excitedly discussing among themselves.

Just as he finished speaking, a stern voice came from the entrance of the restaurant: “Who is causing trouble here?”

As that voice came out, the surroundings immediately quieted down.

A young man dressed in an imposing officer’s uniform, under the escort of a group of his followers, walked into the restaurant. He swept a stern gaze across the room, and eventually, his eyes landed on Emperor Longchang and Jiang Zhencang.

“Great Commander Ansong!” Zhuge Liangcai quickly approached to salute, “These two elderly gentlemen must have some misunderstanding, it’s nothing serious, nothing serious.”

This young man was none other than Wang Ansong, ranked twelfth in the ‘An’ generation of the Wang family. He, now eighty years old, had already become one of the Sky Pride, his cultivation level also had stepped into the Level Two of the Heavenly Person Cultivation Stage.

Such age and cultivation level would absolutely be renowned even if put in Return to Dragon City, a well-known young talent.

“You old… fellow? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.” Wang Ansong looked more and more familiar with Longchang, frowning, “Why are you dodging and hiding upon seeing me, the Great Commander? Could it be, you are an old hand at making trouble, and have been caught by me before?”

…