Bringing the farm to another world

Chapter 16254 Meeting
"Zhao Hai, I have already sent a signal to those aristocratic families. If they can accept this concession, then I will no longer deal with them. You won't blame me, will you?"

"I wouldn't dare. I can understand whatever decision Your Majesty makes, but I would like to ask Your Majesty to grant me a special privilege." Zhao Hai said this while keeping his eyes on Gongliang Juewen.

Gongliang Juewen frowned slightly, clearly displeased with Zhao Hai's demand for special privileges. He looked at Zhao Hai and said, "Tell me, what privileges do you want?"

Looking at Gongliang Juewen's expression, Zhao Hai couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Gongliang Juewen truly had the mentality of someone in a superior position, believing that everyone should listen to him and do whatever they were supposed to do for him. If anyone made even the slightest request, it was considered disrespectful, and he would become unhappy. Zhao Hai really looked down on such a person.

However, Zhao Hai pretended not to see it and bowed to Gongliang Juewen, saying, "Your Majesty, you should also know that our Myriad Laws Divine Sect has a great feud with those aristocratic families. After all, many of our disciples have died at their hands, and we cannot let them go. Therefore, I would like to ask Your Majesty to allow us to continue dealing with those aristocratic families after you have reconciled with them. Of course, we will not let the sects go either. But please rest assured, Your Majesty, we will try our best not to take action in the city."

After listening to Zhao Hai's words, Gongliang Juewen thought for a moment and then said, "Okay." He finally agreed to Zhao Hai's request because the most important reason why he initially agreed to the missionary work of the Myriad Laws Divine Sect was to let the Myriad Laws Divine Sect suppress the aristocratic families and sects. Now, Zhao Hai's request was exactly what he wanted, so how could he refuse?

Zhao Hai bowed to Gongliang Juewen and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Gongliang Jue said, “However, if you really do that, then I can no longer give you the title of state religion, nor can I give you the title of national teacher. If I give you these titles and you go to war with the aristocratic families, the aristocratic families will think that I am supporting you in going to war with them. At this time, if I do that, it will be very dangerous, and it may cause another war. So I can no longer give you such titles.”

Zhao Hai responded, "Yes, I understand. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, what follows is a matter of personal grudges between us and those aristocratic families."

Gongliang Juewen nodded and said, "Okay, it's good that you understand. You can go back now."

Zhao Hai responded, then bowed to Gongliang Juewen and left the study. After Zhao Hai left, Gongliang Juewen breathed a sigh of relief, then shook his head slightly and said, "Acting impulsively will not lead to great achievements."

He was obviously referring to Zhao Hai. In his view, Zhao Hai shouldn't be acting so impulsively. He should seize the opportunity to obtain the title of "State Religion" and also gain the status of "Imperial Preceptor." With the title of "State Religion," things would be much easier for the Myriad Laws Divine Sect in the future. The title of "Imperial Preceptor" would elevate his status even further, making those aristocratic families think twice before trying to deal with him. Moreover, with the title of "Imperial Preceptor," he could even attend court and participate in political discussions, influencing national policy. This was extremely important for the Myriad Laws Divine Sect. However, Zhao Hai had given up both the title of "State Religion" and the title of "Imperial Preceptor" just for revenge. This was acting impulsively and was the most inappropriate thing to do.

However, Gongliang Juewen also felt that this was a good thing. Zhao Hai did not have such a high level of political awareness, so the development of the Myriad Laws Sect was also very limited, which made it easier for him to control the Myriad Laws Sect.

Not long after Zhao Hai left, a palace attendant entered and bowed to Gongliang Juewen, saying, "Your Majesty, Wan Hai requests an audience."

When Gongliang Juewen heard the eunuch say this, his eyes lit up. He knew Wan Hai very well. Wan Hai was the head of the Wan family. Wan Hai also had another identity before. He was the Minister of Works of the Divine Kingdom. However, when the aristocratic families resigned from their posts, he also resigned.

Now that Wan Hai has come to see him, it is enough to show that the aristocratic families are prepared to bow down. Gongliang Juewen knew exactly what this meant, and he immediately said, "Let him in."

The eunuch responded and then went out to fetch someone. A moment later, Wan Hai came in. As soon as he entered the study, he said to Gongliang Juewen, "Your Majesty, this sinful subject Wan Hai pays his respects."

Upon hearing this form of address, Gongliang Juewen smiled and said, "No need for formalities, please have a seat."

At his voice, the eunuch immediately brought over a chair for Wan Hai. After thanking him, Wan Hai sat down. Gongliang Juewen looked at Wan Hai and asked, "Wan Hai, is there something you need?"

He was asking a question he already knew the answer to, and Wan Hai understood his meaning perfectly. He wanted to firmly grasp the initiative in the conversation, so he said, "Your Majesty, this time I am here on behalf of the various noble families to plead guilty. We were instigated by the Gongsun family and did some things that went against Your Majesty's will. We beg Your Majesty to punish us."

Gongliang Juewen looked at Wan Hai and then said, "I am indeed very angry about what you did before, but I am very happy that you have come to apologize to me. However, you still need to be punished. Are you willing to accept it?" Wan Hai looked at Gongliang Juewen and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty's punishment is acceptable to us. We only hope that Your Majesty can understand that we had no choice in the matter."

His words were essentially telling Gongliang Juewen that they had already yielded and that he shouldn't go too far. Gongliang Juewen, of course, understood the implication in Wan Hai's words. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he said coldly, "Do you still have objections to my decision?"

Wan Hai said in a deep voice, "We dare not have any objection to Your Majesty's decision, we only hope that Your Majesty can understand us."

Although the words were spoken softly, the meaning was quite clear: we have no objection to your decision. This was actually just a polite remark, but at the same time, he was telling Gongliang Juewen that he should be considerate of them. That was telling him that he should consider their strength, and if they really pushed them too far, they were not without the power to fight back.

Gongliang Juewen understood the meaning behind Wan Hai's words. He thought for a moment and then said, "From now on, the number of officials from any family in the court shall not exceed one-third of the total number of officials. What do you think? Do you agree?"

Gongliang Juewen didn't want to play games with Wan Hai anymore and directly stated his demands. After hearing Gongliang Juewen's words, Wan Hai's heart sank. Although he knew that Gongliang Juewen would definitely suppress them this time, he didn't expect that this blow would be so ruthless.

Gongliang Juewen then said, "I have no special requirements for you. As long as you can agree to this, that will be enough."

Upon hearing Gongliang Juewen's words, Wan Hai understood his meaning and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

Gongliang Juewen nodded, and then he said, "If you have no objections, then tomorrow you can send the people from each aristocratic family back to court to serve. Of course, you must control the number of people, and I will not interfere with who you choose."

Wan Hai responded again, and Gongliang Juewen continued, "There's one more thing, concerning the Myriad Laws Divine Sect. The sect leader, Zhao Hai, doesn't intend to end the conflict with your aristocratic families so easily. They might still target you, but I won't interfere in this matter. I don't care how they deal with you, and I won't care even if you kill them all. Do you understand?"

Wan Hai was taken aback, but he immediately understood Gongliang Juewen's meaning. Gongliang Juewen had made it very clear that Zhao Hai was not going to let them go and would continue to attack them. However, this matter was no longer Gongliang Juewen's concern. Gongliang Juewen would no longer help the Wanfa Divine Sect attack them, and he would no longer interfere in their conflicts. Even if the aristocratic families really killed Zhao Hai and his group, he would not care.

Wan Hai said in a deep voice, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand. But Your Majesty, what will happen to those city lords in the future?"

What Wan Hai was referring to were, of course, the city lords of the various cities in the Divine Kingdom. Currently, many of the city lords in the Divine Kingdom are from prominent families, which is why he asked the question. He was worried that Gongliang Juewen would cause trouble for those city lords.

Gongliang Juewen glanced at Wan Hai and then said, "I said, what was before will remain the same. By the way, I will also reinstate the five city lords of your Wan family to their positions. Since some people are hesitant, I have no need to give them those positions again."

Upon hearing Gongliang Juewen's words, Wan Hai understood his meaning. Previously, Gongliang Juewen had asked the sect to take over the five cities controlled by the Wan family and appoint them as city lords. However, the sect members had been dragging their feet and refusing to go. Clearly, Gongliang Juewen was very dissatisfied with this matter. Therefore, he took this opportunity to return the city lord positions to the Wan family, ensuring that the sect members would never have the chance to take over the city lord positions again.

Wan Hai bowed to Gongliang Juewen and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Gongliang Juewen looked at Wan Hai and then said, "Wan Hai, I'll be frank with you today. In the end, this world belongs to our aristocratic families. Our Gongliang family is also a member of an aristocratic family. It's just that now that we're in this position, you no longer consider us a member of an aristocratic family. I don't blame you for that. But you must know that we all have a common enemy, and that is the people of the sects. They are completely different from us. If one day they really become stronger than us, do you think we will have a good outcome? So your real enemy right now is not us, and we don't want to go too far with you. As long as you don't go too far, we can actually coexist peacefully. After all, we have a powerful enemy watching us. If we really fight to the death, it will only benefit others in the end. I hope you can understand this."

When Wan Hai heard Gongliang Juewen say this, he was taken aback. Then he glanced at Gongliang Juewen and knew what Gongliang Juewen meant. Gongliang Juewen was warning them not to go too far. As long as they didn't go too far, Gongliang Juewen would coexist peacefully with them.