Lord of Puro

Chapter 724: The Lord of Xiaodu
The record player had eaten up Ye Sheng's soul, and the water tank was making a constant rumbling sound.

Li Banfeng rubbed the belly of the record player: "My wife, what's wrong with you?"

"Little slave, I want to vomit..."

Gulu!
A large cloud of smoke blew out of the speaker, and the record player really vomited.

"Xiao Wan, what's wrong?" Hong Ying asked with concern, "Are you pregnant?"

The record player shook its loud speaker: "This soul is not right."

Hong Ying reprimanded, "Xiao Wan, this is your fault. Look carefully, this is Ye Shengge's soul. The soul of Grandmaster Huan Xiu is not to your liking. You are too picky."

"Do you think I can't recognize that this is Ye Shengge? It's not that his soul is bad, it's that there's something mixed in his soul!" Halfway through her words, the lady started vomiting again.

Li Banfeng was a little worried: "Madam, what's mixed in? Is there poison in his soul?"

The record player waved the needle and said, "Don't worry, my husband. They are just some random ingredients. It won't be a big deal if you eat them. Ye Shengge's soul is full of oil, salt, sauce and vinegar. He is no longer a living person. He should be considered a first-class weapon."

"No wonder."

Li Banfeng recalled the experience of fighting with Ye Shengge. Every time Qiao Yi gave an order, Ye Shengge would increase the intensity of the battle. The entire execution process was like a machine.

Thinking about Ye Shengge's image again, he doesn't look like a happy cultivator at all.

"Did Neizhou transform him into a giant shrimp?"

The record player shook its loud speaker: "That's not the case. Ye Shengge founded Huan Xiu and was recognized by the peddler. The peddler made him medicine powder, and he became the second Taoist sect in the world.

But Ye Shengge himself felt that Huan Xiu's sect was not good enough to fight, and he often suffered losses in front of other sects, so he later practiced transformation and became a big shrimp. "

Li Banfeng thought about it carefully: "No wonder Ye Shengge's fighting style is so obvious, using Huan Xiu techniques to control and using physical cultivation methods to fight. Is this the style of high-level Huan Xiu?"

The record player said, "High-level Huan Xiu don't follow this routine. Huan Xiu also has fighting skills. It's just that Ye Shengge looked down on the Taoist sect he founded and went astray, so his fighting ability is not high, and he is not even a leader among Huan Xiu."

Hong Ying thought for a moment and said, "When it comes to single combat, Ye Shengge is indeed not good, but on the battlefield, he is still quite capable. His techniques are fast and have a wide range. He has made many military achievements in our army."

Li Banfeng was stunned: "Is Ye Shengge in your army?"

Hong Ying nodded and said, "Ye Shengge is the first Taoist master to surrender to the imperial court."

"The first person to surrender has made so many military achievements and was made into a first-class weapon?" Li Banfeng lifted Ye Shengge's head and looked at it carefully for a moment.

The record player said, "When I was eating his soul, I could still hear him repeating the same thing over and over again."

"Which sentence?" Li Banfeng was also very curious.

"He said, I have done my duty faithfully."

Li Banfeng sighed, "Ye Shengge is such a loyal person. I have to convey his feelings to Lao Qiao."

After collecting the bodies, Li Banfeng sent the record player and Hong Ying back to his residence.

The record player was still feeling nauseous, so he went to the second room to rest. Hong Ying and Jiu Er were preparing in the main room in case of any emergency.

Li Banfeng asked Honglian for another deed.

Honglian gave Li Banfeng a piece of paper and said, "The most ruthless contract paper is too difficult to refine. The quality of this contract paper is a little worse."

Li Banfeng was not too picky: "It doesn't matter if it's a little worse, let's see if Old Qiao dares to try it."

After leaving Suishenju, Li Banfeng walked out of the mansion carrying the head.

At the intersection of the sixth street on the right, there is a dead branch.

There was a carpenter's shop on the side of the street with two bricks stacked at the door. Li Banfeng walked in.

This carpentry workshop is quite large. The front hall is filled with cabinets, boxes, coffee tables, desks, and all kinds of furniture.

Ban Fengzi stood by the wall and pointed to the backyard, where Qiao Yi and Nian Shangyou were.

There is a pond in the backyard and a keel waterwheel next to the pond.

Qiao Yi was worried that something might happen to Ye Shengge, so he was looking for a way out for himself.

He thought about escaping from Tianyi City, but the mechanism to control Tianyi City was in Jinrui Hall. Li Qi and Ye Shengge were fighting in Jinrui Hall. Qiao Yi and Nian Shangyou could not get in and could not control Tianyi City.

The only way out now is to use another first-class weapon and join forces with Ye Shengge to besiege Li Banfeng.

This waterwheel is a first-class weapon deployed by Xie Gong in Tianyi City. Nian Shangyou participated in the deployment, but he did not know how to use this weapon.

He stood on the waterwheel for a long time. The various parts of the waterwheel operated flexibly and could pump water from the pond.

After fetching water for a long time, there was no change in the waterwheel. Qiao Yi was anxious, and Nian Shangyou was also anxious, but he could not think of a solution.

"My lord, thank you for letting me place the weapons here, but you never let me use them. I really don't know how to use this waterwheel."

Qiao Yi urged: "Pedal faster!"

Nian Shangyou was panting so hard that his gills were almost flipped over: "My lord, I have tried my best."

Qiao Yi said angrily: "You are a warrior, but you don't even have this much strength!"

Li Banfeng said: "I guess the faster the better. If it is a little slower and the water flow is suitable, maybe this waterwheel can be used."

"How slow is appropriate..." Qiao Yi looked at Li Banfeng and pursed his lips.

Nian Shangyou looked at Li Banfeng, then looked at Ye Shengge in Li Banfeng's hand. He lowered his head and continued to pedal the waterwheel.

Li Banfeng waved to Nian Shangyou and said, "Come down first, and let's discuss how to step on it."

"Okay!" Nian Shangyou agreed, got off the waterwheel, wiped the sweat off his face, and said to Li Banfeng, "Your Highness, this is a first-class weapon my master gave you. We'll help you try it out here to see if it works."

Li Banfeng praised: "Mr. Nian, I know you are thorough and loyal to your master."

Nian Shangyou quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise."

Li Banfeng raised Ye Shengge's head and looked at Qiao Yi: "He was also a loyal person. He didn't forget to tell you even after his death that I have done my best."

Qiao Yi nodded and said, "He is indeed a loyal person."

Li Banfeng looked sad: "I can't bear to part with this loyal man, why don't you just let him go."

Qiao Yi also looked a little sad: "Your Highness, we have to be reasonable when we talk. Since you can't bear to let him go, why did I let him go?"

"I can't bear to leave you either, so it's just right for you two to go together!" Li Banfeng felt that the logic was very smooth.

Qiao Yi was silent for a moment, tears streaming down his face: "Your Highness, I can't bear to leave you either, I'd better not go..."

"If you don't want to go, just sign the contract!" Li Banfeng took out the contract paper, and the contract had already been written with the judge's pen.

There are three stipulations in the contract:
First, the Shang State could no longer send troops to Puluo Province.

Second, the Shang State could no longer send troops to Xiaocheng.

Third, Prince Pingyuan can travel to Shang State at will, and no one is allowed to interfere or harm him.

After reading these three contracts, Qiao Yi shook his head and said, "Qiao is definitely not a spineless person. This contract cannot be signed."

"Okay, let me take a look at your spine." Li Banfeng pulled out the sickle.

Qiao Yi pulled out the dagger, and before Li Banfeng stood up, he pierced his finger and made a handprint.

Li Banfeng took the contract and called Nian Shangyou over: "Master Nian, where are we going now? Should we go to Xiaocheng?"

"Yes, we are going to Xiaocheng..." Nian Shangyou lowered his head and answered in a low voice.

Li Banfeng reminded: "Why don't you go to Jinruitang and take a look. Don't make the mistake."

Nian Shangyou nodded and said, "I will go check it out right away."

Nian Shangyou's original order to Tianyicheng was to make a trip on the sea and then return to Chaoge.

Given the current situation, Nian Shangyou didn't dare to have any other ideas and immediately asked Tian Yicheng to go to Xiaodu.

Qiao Yi pondered over the contents of the contract and sighed, "Your Highness is very scheming. I am ashamed of myself."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "Brother Qiao has planned everything, why should you be so modest? Three heads grow on one body. You planned against Xie Gong and Zhu Jin, and they were completely unaware of it before they died. Just this method alone makes me admire you very much.

The altar was destroyed, and everyone thought you were exhausted and dying. Even the outside states were deceived by you. If I hadn't prepared the contract carefully in advance and then fought Ye Shengge with my life, I'm afraid no one would collect my body today. Don't you think this is the truth?"

Qiao Yi smiled bitterly, with a hint of regret in his smile.

Li Banfeng asked, "Brother Qiao, do you regret it? If you had brought a more powerful first-class weapon, you would have won a great victory."

Qiao Yi sighed repeatedly: "It is not easy to find a first-class weapon that only obeys my orders and not my two brothers. How can I force it to have a stronger fighting force? How can there be so many perfect things in the world?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "That's right, it seems that Brother Qiao also has a lot of difficulties."

Qiao Yi sighed, "I'm in trouble right now, and I have to vent my grievances to the prince. But now my body has changed. If others know the inside story, I won't be able to continue as the cabinet's chief minister, and I won't be able to fulfill my promises to the prince."

"Brother Qiao is right," Li Banfeng looked at Qiao Yi with a considerate smile, "So try not to let anyone know that you have become a leader. Once people know about it, you will have to keep your position as the Prime Minister. If you can't keep it, you must think about your funeral arrangements. When that time comes, don't make sure no one will collect your body."

Qiao Yi looked helpless: "The terms and conditions set by Your Highness in the contract are watertight. They are too harsh for Qiao. If Qiao strictly abides by the contract, I am afraid that I will not be able to sit on the position of Prime Minister."

Li Banfeng walked to the edge of the pond and touched the keel of the waterwheel: "Brother Qiao, didn't I tell you just now? Don't be modest. All contracts in this world have loopholes. If you don't know how to exploit loopholes, you will never be able to sit in the position of Prime Minister.

How you want to exploit the loopholes depends on your ability and courage. We still have a long time to live together, and we can slowly deal with each other in the future.
But there is one thing you must remember, to do business in Provo, you must have capital, just smile when you make money, and don't cry when you lose money. "

Qiao Yi raised his head and sighed: "After all this calculation, it is Qiao who loses."

Li Banfeng lowered his eyes and looked at Qiao Yi: "Don't act like a good kid after getting an advantage. You should have died at the hands of your two brothers, but now not only are you alive, you've also gotten rid of the two burdens. From now on, you don't need others to watch you when you do anything. You've made so much money, and you're still saying you're going to lose it?"

Qiao Yi said: "The one who made the most money this time should be His Royal Highness, right?"

Li Banfeng was startled: "Speak slower, I didn't hear you clearly."

Qiao Yi softened his tone: "Your Highness, please calm down. What I mean is..."

"I'm not talking about you," Li Banfeng stretched out his hand, signaling Qiao Yi to stop talking, "Speak slower."

Qiao Yi didn't understand, it seemed like there was no one else here.

Li Banfeng said, "Go to the outer room and bring the buckets from the second row of shelves."

Qiao Yi was stunned: "Your Highness, are you talking to me?"

Li Banfeng frowned and asked, "Is there anyone else here?"

Qiao Yi went to the outer room and brought back a wooden barrel.

Li Banfeng asked Qiao Yi to put the wooden barrel at the outlet of the trough, and he stepped on the water wheel to start drawing water.

Soon, the bucket was full, and Li Banfeng asked Qiao Yi to put the water into the water tank.

Qiao Yi had never done such rough work before, and he had just become one person from a three-man team. He staggered with a bucket of water and poured it into the water tank.

Just as he was about to take a breath, Li Banfeng called out, "Hurry up and bring the bucket back."

Qiao Yi put the bucket back, and Li Banfeng filled another bucket of water and asked Qiao Yi to pour it into the vat.

After doing this repeatedly for 18 buckets of water, Qiao Yi's face turned blue from exhaustion. Li Banfeng nodded and said, "Almost done." Qiao Yi was puzzled: "Almost done?"

Li Banfeng got off the waterwheel and waited for a moment, but saw the keel waterwheel making a clacking sound.

The water wheel became the body, the keel became the arms, the water tank became a leg, and the pedals became two feet. This keel water wheel stood up.

This is a first-class weapon!
But why would Li Qi use it?
The dragon bone waterwheel bent its body, bowed towards Li Qi, and waited for Li Qi's instructions.

Qiao Yi was even more confused now. This was a first-class weapon brought by Chaoge, so why would he listen to Li Qi?
"We really made a lot of money this time," Li Qi ordered Longbone Waterwheel, "Keep an eye on Old Qiao!"

The waterwheel came closer and looked down at Qiao Yi.

Qiao Yi didn't dare to move.

Li Banfeng left the carpenter's workshop and went to study with Nian Shang to learn how to control Tianyi City.

……

Tianyicheng was indeed fast. It took them less than half a day to reach Xiaodu. Under Li Banfeng's control, Tianyicheng opened his mouth and the three of them entered Xiaodu together.

Like Chaoge and Bocheng, Xiaocheng also has nine gates.

Li Banfeng asked Qiao Yi: "Does the Nine-Layered Gate have any special meaning?"

Qiao Yi simply replied: "This is the ancestral system. All capitals of the Shang Kingdom must be built according to the ancestral system."

This construction model is so complicated that Li Banfeng feels that it is definitely not as simple as the ancestral system.

Before entering the city, Li Banfeng was worried that Qiao Yi would be recognized, so he used the mud from the bottom of the pond to paint Qiao Yi and Nian Shangyou's faces black.

Nian Shangyou didn't care, he quite liked the feeling.

Qiao Yi suffered, the fishy smell of the bottom mud made him feel nauseous.

But after entering the city, Li Banfeng found that he was worrying too much.

Although Xiaocheng is an old capital, this city is not depressed.

There was an altar in Bocheng, which was the foundation of the rituals and laws of the Shang Dynasty.

Xiaocheng is located at a transportation hub and is the commercial foundation of the Shang State.

There are factories inside every city gate.

The second city gate is full of craftsmen's workshops.

The layout of these two cities is basically the same as that of Chaoge.

After entering the triple city gates, the layout changed.

The Sanzhongmen in Chaoge was once a restaurant, while the Sanzhongmen in Xiaocheng is home to rows of shops selling clothes, fabrics, furniture, gold and silver jewelry, ceramics and paintings, gears and clockworks, medicinal supplements... everything is sold.

The street was crowded with people, and no one noticed Qiao Yi and Nian Shangyou at all.

Li Banfeng was quite satisfied with the situation of Xiaocheng: "It looks a bit like a city now. I thought you had left me an empty city again."

Nian Shangyou smiled humbly and said, "Since we have made an appointment in advance, my master will naturally not break his promise."

Qiao Yi gritted his teeth and said nothing.

It's not that he didn't want to break his promise, it's because this matter was done by Xie Gong, not arranged by Qiao Yi.

Xie Gong had no intention of letting Li Qi come to Xiaodu alive, and naturally he had no intention of clearing out Xiaodu.

However, even if Qiao Yi were to do this, he would not be able to clear out Xiaodu in a short period of time. This is the commercial center of Shang State. The number of residents in the city exceeds that of Bocheng and is slightly less than that of Chaoge. It is not easy to send so many residents away.

However, Qiao Yi was not too worried. Xiaocheng had a very high status in the Shang Kingdom. Even if the imperial court issued a document, it would be difficult for Li Qi to gain a foothold in Xiaocheng.

It was fortunate that he retreated when he saw the difficulty. If he continued to persist, Xiaocheng might very well become his burial place.

Li Banfeng introduced Nian Shangyou along the way.

There are many guild halls in Sichong City, which are places for discussing big business. Big business does not involve goods. Especially for businesses like coal, stone and wood, the goods cannot be displayed in Xiaocheng City, and the business is settled in the guild halls.

When you reach the Fifth City, most of the residences are for the scholars in the city.

The nobles and officials lived in the Sixth City.

There are government offices of all sizes in the seventh and eighth cities, and the ninth city is the former site of the imperial city.

Xiaocheng was once the capital, so naturally there was an imperial city, but no one lived in the imperial city permanently, and only staff were arranged to clean it regularly.

Li Banfeng asked: "Where does the mayor of Xiaocheng live? Isn't there a Marquis's Mansion here?"

Nian Shangyou shook his head and said, "Xiao City has no city lord or dukes, and is directly governed by Chaoge."

In other words, Xiaocheng has never been conferred to anyone else.

"But we can't leave everything to Chaoge, right?"

Nian Shangyou said: "There are two ministers in the city, Yu Yunqiu and Ao Shuangqian. Trivial matters are led by these two ministers and they discuss and deal with more than 30 other ministers together."

Li Banfeng asked, "Where are my three first-class weapons?"

Nian Shangyou said, "They are all in the imperial city. I will take His Highness to inspect the goods now."

"This matter is not urgent. How many scholars are there in Xiaocheng?"

Nian Shangyou roughly estimated: "About 10,000."

"What about the common people?"

Nian Shangyou thought for a while and said, "More than 300,000."

"How many slaves are there?"

Nian Shangyou really didn't know about this. Who would care about the number of slaves?

After thinking for a long time, Nian Shangyou replied: "There should be millions of people."

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "If it is really a big city, go and invite all these people to the imperial city."

Nian Shangyou was stunned for a long time, not understanding what Li Banfeng meant.

Li Banfeng said, "Go quickly, it's hard to invite so many people."

Nian Shangyou nodded and said, "It is indeed not easy to invite you. I don't have the means to do so."

Li Banfeng smiled and said, "You are just like your master, you know how to be humble. When you are a senior scholar and come to Xiaocheng, shouldn't the ministers give you face? Shouldn't the government offices obey your orders? Ask them to help you get things done."

Nian Shangyou looked at Qiao Yi.

Qiao Yi asked Li Banfeng: "Your Highness, why did you do this?"

Li Banfeng frowned and said, "Why do you say that? I came to Xiaocheng to take office. Shouldn't this be known to others? Shouldn't there be a ceremony for taking office? Otherwise, who would recognize me as the city lord?"

Nian Shangyou thought for a moment and said, "Just inform the ministers about this matter."

Li Banfeng refused: "Am I the city lord of the nobles? Aren't the scholars, commoners, and servants under my jurisdiction?"

Nian Shangyou wanted to say a few more words, but Li Banfeng waved his hand and said, "Stop talking so much and get to work!"

Nian Shangyou looked at Qiao Yi, who was speechless. In desperation, Nian Shangyou hurried to the city to inform everyone.

Li Banfeng and Qiao Yi strolled in the imperial city. Although it was an old capital, the imperial palace was still as magnificent as ever, with more than a hundred palaces of various sizes and tens of thousands of houses.

After waiting for half a day, Nian Shangyou came over and said, "The ministers, scholars, and common people will be here soon, and only 30% of the servants can come at most."

Li Banfeng was not very satisfied: "30% is a little less."

Nian Shangyou shook his head and said, "Your Highness, 30% is not a small amount. There is not enough space for all these people in the imperial city."

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "Let's take these people first. Go and prepare the ceremony and get the court's documents and seals ready."

Nian Shangyou hurried to prepare. There was no time for a too complicated ceremony, so in such a rush, he could only prepare simple rituals and music.

By the time everyone had gathered, the entrance to the great hall was packed with people. The ministers stood at the front, followed closely by the scholars. The common people had already stood outside the imperial city, and the servants filled the eight-story city.

Qiao Yi stood in the attic, looking at the sea of ​​people outside the building, and felt that Li Qi's behavior was ridiculous.

What's the point of making such a big scene? You are reading the document by yourself in front of the hall. After all, isn't it still a joke?
Li Banfeng had no intention of reading the document himself.

He asked Ban Fengbing and Ban Fengchou to dress up as guards and open the door of the hall, but he did not go out himself.

The projector in front of the door produced images of Qiao Yi, Xie Gong and Zhu Jin, who slowly walked out of the hall.

Zhen Qiao Yi stood in the attic and was stunned: "Is this an illusion? What does he want to do?"

Nian Shangyou was watching from the side, his eight whiskers trembling, and he couldn't give a reasonable explanation.

The images from the projector were so realistic that no one present could spot any flaws, and no one dared to look directly at Qiao Yi.

"Qiao Yi" stood in front of the main hall and began to read the document:
"Prince Pingyuan is a man of both virtue and talent, loyal and brave. He has made outstanding contributions to the stability of the country and the prosperity of the country. I hereby confer the title of Prince Pingyuan on him, and grant him the land of Xiaocheng to honor his merits and to show his honor.

"Xiaocheng has thousands of miles of fertile land and magnificent mountains and rivers. It is a blessed land given by heaven. I hope Prince Pingyuan will uphold his loyalty, love the people like his own children, govern diligently, protect the territory and the people, and enable the people to live and work in peace and contentment, and share the blessing of peace."

Every word was so deafening that even the entire city could hear it clearly.

Why is there such a big commotion?
The projector doesn't have this ability. This is a method that Li Banfeng borrowed from his wife using the skills of the deep mansion.

Everyone present was in an uproar.

When Nian Shangyou informed them, they still didn't believe that the court would really seal off Xiaocheng and give it to a person from Purozhou.

Now you have to believe it even if you don't want to, because this is the document read out personally by the Cabinet Chief Minister Qiao Yi.

"Where does this put me? I will be cursed for all eternity!" Zhen Qiaoyi's eyes were bloodshot and he wanted to rush to the attic to make things clear.

Nian Shangyou stopped Qiao Yi and said, "My lord, no!"

Qiao Yi can't go out.

Qiao Yi, who has a head, cannot see anyone yet.

This is a dumb loss!

He has to eat it even if he doesn't want to!

Li Banfeng walked out of the hall and took the document from "Qiao Yi".

Against the backdrop of the projector, Li Banfeng was wearing a royal blue brocade robe, a gold spider-patterned belt around his waist, and a emerald-gilded crown on his head. This was the image of the prince he designed based on the appearance of a sunflower seed.

Standing in front of the main hall, Li Banfeng said two sentences:
"From today on, I am the master of Xiao City!"

"From today on, Xiaocheng will abolish the slave system!"

PS: Banfeng, you just don’t understand the principle of gradual progress!
(End of this chapter)