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Chapter 505 Emperor! (asking for monthly ticket)

When the King of Qin left Tingfeng Pavilion, Xue Daoyong looked at the chessboard with the remaining chess pieces on it. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but say, "Really? I've already said so much to him, but he won't even give up a game of chess."

"I couldn't beat this kid seven years ago."

"Seven years later, how come I can't beat him anymore?"

"Does that mean I'm really a bad chess player?"

Xue Daoyong began to doubt himself. After a long time, a shadow appeared silently beside the old man. It was the leader of the Xue family's secret guards, and also the person Xue Daoyong admired when he was young.

Everyone knows that Xue Daoyong of the Xue family is the seventh-level martial arts master.

However, few living people know the evil spirits behind the fierce tigers in troubled times.

The shadow's martial arts level and internal strength may not be higher than Xue Daoyong's, but when it comes to killing methods, even this fierce tiger in troubled times cannot be compared with him. The old man in the shadow looked at Xue Daoyong who was indignant about the chess game and spoke for the first time:
"The Xue family's wealth was accumulated bit by bit over the past hundred years, at the cost of your life countless times. Since King Qin has no intention of taking these things from the head of the family, why do you still want to give them away?"

“I still don’t understand this.”

Xue Daoyong threw the chess piece in his hand and laughed, "You feel bad too?"

Shadow said, "Among these gold and silver deeds, we fought hard for them. I didn't care before, but you gave them away so casually. No matter what, I still feel reluctant."

Xue Daoyong burst into laughter: "You, you really dare to speak."

"Really? I can't see clearly!"

Xue Daoyong looked at his old brother with a sigh and said, "The kid in your eyes is still the young man who couldn't discover you back then, but Li Guanyi."

The Shadow Guard leader was puzzled: "Isn't it?"

Xue Daoyong said: "Yes, and no. He is the young man you and I have watched grow up, but he is also the King of Qin who has occupied a vast territory and has many counselors and generals under his command."

"You feel heartbroken for giving it to Li Guanyi."

"Then if you give it to the King of Qin, if the King of Qin asks you for it, do you still have the courage to say you can't bear to give it up?"

The shadow guard was stunned. For some reason, he felt an indescribable chill.

Xue Daoyong held the chess pieces in his hand. The black and white chess pieces were like the world and the human heart. He said calmly, "I have always told you to read more books. Read more books. Looking through the history, don't you find anything?"

"In many troubled times, have the wealthy merchants who occupied a city or a state been willing to spend millions of gold to support those who seemed to be just bandits at the time?"

"You're willing to forge weapons for them and call up local militia?"

The shadow guard replied, "Is it because they, like the Patriarch, have seen the changes in the world and want to prepare in advance?"

Xue Daoyong couldn't help but laugh and scold, saying, "At what time do you still have the energy to flatter me here, saying that you have seen through the troubled times and bet on the world. Among the people who do this in the world, more than 90% are just doing it for self-protection."

The shadow guard was puzzled: "Self-protection?"

Xue Daoyong stretched out his hand, his white eyebrows drooping as he looked at the two chess pieces: "The world is undergoing a great change. If it is still a peaceful time, with no wars in the four directions and hidden dangers in the court, then the Central Plains Dynasty will mostly plunder the people."

"So there were many heavy taxes, which were gradually imposed on the people, making their lives exhausting."

"However, this is only a temporary solution and does not address the root cause."

"It's just overdrawing the foundation of the next hundred years to fill the current hole."

"And the conflicts between the emperor on the throne, the civil and military officials in the court, the wealthy merchants and the common people in this city were only temporarily suppressed, and the peace was temporarily whitewashed."

"But these contradictions will eventually accumulate, just like a chess game."

"Disadvantages accumulate little by little, and eventually turn into a powerful trend. At that point, there is really no room for maneuver. So, at some point, someone raises his arm and calls for action, and the whole world responds."

"Trouble is coming."

"At this moment, the people are the people's hearts, and the people's hearts are the foundation. When they can no longer plunder the people, guess what these heroes in the world will do?"

The shadow guard remained silent.

Xue Daoyong stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly: "It was plundered from the merchants."

"As you said, the Xue family is so big that it seems to have chambers of commerce that stretch all over the world, in different states and counties, with various shops and accumulations. It seems to be extremely powerful, but——"

"So what?!"

The old tiger sighed tiredly and said:

"This is a time of chaos."

"How can you be the hero? Strong soldiers and horses, gold and silver, and background? As long as you let go of your determination and pick up the sword in your hand, the Xue family's chamber of commerce will be nothing more than a granary for those powerful people and heroes."

"In his old age, Jiang Wanxiang slaughtered all the prestigious civil and military officials in the court, and the blood flowed like a river. The King of Qin has thousands of troops under his command, and there are more than two hands among them who can kill you and me within ten moves in a head-on confrontation."

"Throughout the dynasties, how many of the top wealthy businessmen in troubled times had a good ending?"

"Guan Yi is too kind-hearted."

"The King of Qin didn't take it, but it's because he's still a sentimental king. He has his bottom line and rules in his heart."

"But you can't think that he can't take it."

"You must not think that giving things away is a favor to the King of Qin."

“We must not take credit for this or become complacent.”

"Besides... Guan Yi is not the only one in Tian Ce Mansion. Right now, the world is in turmoil. The King of Qin and the State of Ying are facing each other like swords. We don't know when a war will break out. Guan Yi will not force us to hand over our things."

"But in the eyes of those fierce and brave men under his command, we have gold and silver in our hands, but the King of Qin lacks these. The situation is stalemate, and the soldiers are ready to die, but we are still sitting high in the attic, not saying a word and not spending a penny."

"What do you think Wen Qingyu, Yan Daiqing, Pojun, and Wen Lingjun would think?"

The shadow guard's forehead was covered with sweat. He was silent for a long time and said:

"The King of Qin cherishes the old friendship."

Xue Daoyong laughed: "You are talking about our old relationship again now."

"I've already said, no matter how great the favor is, how many times can it be used?!"

"Are you planning to use this kindness to exchange for another 300 years of prosperity for my Xue family? Why are you dreaming in broad daylight?"

"You are right. You are absolutely right. Considering the old friendship, he probably won't care about these things. However, there are too many people in the Xue family. Even if I try my best to take care of them, there will definitely be some stubborn people who rely on the family's prestige."

"If there is any problem at that time, we will be targeted by those who dislike the Xue family. What will happen then?"

The shadow guard lost consciousness.

In a trance, I seemed to have seen that scene.

In the peaceful days that have been maintained, even a shadow like him walking in the shadows subconsciously believes that the power of money is comparable to that of swords, and actually ignores the turbulent chaos of today.

Xue Daoyong casually let go of his hands, and the two chess pieces fell onto the chessboard with a jingling sound. He said, "Guan Yi is a good child. I will definitely have a good end. However, after I am gone, how long can these descendants live?"

"In troubled times, gold and silver without weapons and swords to protect them are nothing but the chains of Yama. If you add in relatives by marriage, arrogance and dissoluteness, and if they violate the law, this is a disaster that will lead to the extinction of the race in the first year of the founding of the country. Don't forget..."

Xue Daoyong glanced at his old friend, his eyes clear, like a hunting tiger: "Xue family."

"It is also a family with hundreds of years of history."

boom! ! !
Almost like thunder running, the shadow guard's brain was blank, raised his head and looked at the old man in front of him, Xue Daoyong said lightly: "Even the Murong family itself has been unlocked, and the Murong family's mansion has become the Qilin Military Workshop."

"The Xue family has too many businesses and too large a scope. Even if you and I were in control, we would have lived up to our consciences over the past hundred years. But are the different places really as clean as the white snow and autumn frost in the world?"

"You might as well say that Chen Dingye is a good man who stands tall and proud."

"It would be better to offend the generals of the Tiance Mansion army when the battle is about to begin."

"It is better to settle these dirty old accounts when the world is at peace and the four sides are investigating."

"After I die, the Xue family will be executed."

"Let Guan Yi, Shuang Tao, and Lan Yin Xu Guo completely break up. Why not let me do this myself?"

"Hand over everything and retreat bravely, and my Xue family will be fine."

Xue Daoyong was calm and composed. The shadow guard was silent for a long time, in a trance for a long time, and said:

"I finally understand what the Patriarch meant when he said that when everyone wants to take a step forward, they have to take a step back. Even if the Xue family has the potential to become a royal family that truly unifies the world, even if the Xue family can truly become a thousand-year-old family."

"Even if you, the head of the family, can retreat unscathed, do you still want to take a step back?"

Xue Daoyong leaned against the curtain of Tingfeng Pavilion and said:
"What are we asking for?"

"As for fame, won't what I'm doing leave any trace of myself in the history books? As for wealth, even if the Xue family handed over everything, the remaining wealth would be enough to provide the children in the family with food and clothing."

"Or do you want to seek power and seize power from the unprecedented group of contemporary heroes who gained the country in the founding years, or do you want to tease the Qilin's whiskers?"

"Since I don't ask for anything, then what good does this wealth that rivals a country have for me?"

"Besides, Guanyi occupies a vast territory, so he can recover very quickly. My bet this time will only save him three to five years."

"Wealthy enough to rival a country, but it's just a chamber of commerce. How many years can it last?"

Shadow Guard asked, "So, what is the gamble that the Patriarch is making this time?"

Xue Daoyong asked: "Bet?"

"I bet that my Xue family will not be wiped out, and that the world can be stable."

"I bet on the beginning of eternal peace."

"Bet on a—"

Xue Daoyong paused, then raised his lips with a tiger-like calmness and smile: "Before the age of thirty, I was the unrivaled king who unified the world!"

"At that time, he rode on a Qilin and roamed the world, and there was peace everywhere."

"I am toasting you from afar in this Tingfeng Pavilion."

"It's a reward for my life."

........................

All the documents of the Xue family's Chamber of Commerce were first temporarily transported to Jiangzhou City and to the gentle and harmless Mr. Wen He. Mr. Wen He looked at them for a long time, with an expression on his harmless and sincere face that was difficult to describe.

“…………Awesome.” In the end, Wen He just said in admiration.

When the shadow guard had delivered the things, he was about to leave, but Mr. Wen He called him and said, "Sir, please stay."

"Please stay."

The shadow guard was puzzled, and the harmless gentleman smiled and said, "Mr. Xue, since you sent such a gift, we can't not give a response. It just so happens that I have something here, which I will regard as a return gift to Mr. Xue."

Wen He handed over a letter, and the shadow guard subconsciously thought it was money.

But I picked it up.

If I were to pay for it, this amount would be too little.

However, the person in front of him is under the command of King Qin, which leads to the possibility that the weight of this point is a little subtle.

Mr. Wen He smiled gently and said, "You can tell Mr. Xue."

"You're welcome."

The shadow guard complained in his heart that it was just a small gift and he said there was no need to thank him. However, he appeared to be quite respectful and polite in returning the greeting. Then he quickly returned to Tingfeng Pavilion and took out the letter, which only had some names written on it.

All of them belong to the Xue family.

The shadow guard saw that Mr. Xue smiled slightly and said, "Young man, you have some skills, not bad."

Then he asked the shadow guard to run again, also with a simple letter.

Mr. Wen He was still thinking about so many things, how to amuse, no, how to have a good conversation with Mr. Yan Daiqing, when he discovered that there was another person coming. When he was feeling a little curious, he saw what the shadow guard took out.

It was a letter, and inside it was the same list as the one Wen He gave, but a lot of things had been erased on this letter.

Wen He's expression was slightly stunned, and then he was slightly moved.

He knew that the fierce tiger of the Xue family had begun to notice the problems within the Xue family long ago and had been dealing with them.

The meaning of Xue Daoyong's letter is very clear.

This fierce tiger in troubled times will personally cut off the rotten meat within the Xue family, and hand over the Xue family's gold, silver and chamber of commerce to the Qilin Army, expressing full support, but will not place his own sons in the Tiance Mansion.

The shadow guard said to Mr. Wen He, "The master said you don't need to thank me."

Wen He paused and said, "The old man is very clever."

"Wen Qingyu admits defeat."

The shadow guard paused and said, "The master said that if Mr. Ruo answered like this."

"Then I'll have to say something to you next time, sir."

Wen He said, "I'm all ears."

Shadow Guard said: "Why didn't you say it this time? Is it Yan Daiqing from the Western Regions?"

Wen He remained silent, then smiled and sighed, saying: "As expected, every generation has talented people. Wen Qingyu, I've learned a lot from you." In front of the shadow guard, he lit the letter given by Xue Daoyong and burned it to ashes before the shadow guard left.

Time passed slowly and it was already the end of June.

The hottest and most humid period has passed, and the rain has gradually increased in frequency. It started to drip in Guanyi City, and the rain fell on the trees on both sides of the road, making a rustling sound.

The sound of rain calms people's hearts, but the people on both sides subconsciously quicken their pace to avoid the rain, so as not to get their clothes and hair wet by the sudden rain.

The rain came so suddenly that it caught people off guard.

The old manager of Huichuntang had gone out to deliver medicine without an umbrella. When he encountered the rain on the road, he frowned and had to find a place to shelter from the rain. His hair had turned white and his health was not as good as it was a few years ago.

But there was no place to hide from the rain for the time being.

Just as I was frowning, the rain suddenly stopped, but I could still hear the sound of rain falling, and see the water droplets forming lines and dripping onto the ground, forming small arcs.

I looked up and saw an umbrella.

The old shopkeeper turned around and saw a young man holding an umbrella behind him. The young man was wearing a blue shirt, a leather belt around his waist, and had his hair tied up with a very old jade hairpin. He was standing in the rain with an umbrella.

The old shopkeeper was puzzled for a moment, then he felt that the young man looked familiar.

But he was a dull person by nature, so he just thanked him. The young man smiled and said, "Boss, don't you have an umbrella today?" The old shopkeeper said, "I was out delivering medicine, and I was in a hurry."

"Little brother, just take me to the eaves in front."

"I'll stand there for a while."

"The rain at this time comes and goes quickly."

"it is good."

The young man walked slowly with an umbrella, and the old shopkeeper carried a medicine bag on his back. The two of them walked in the rain. The rain gradually became heavier, scattering on the leaves and on the ground, as if separating the things under the umbrella from the surrounding world.

The young man took him to the eaves, folded his umbrella, put it sideways, shook off the rain on it, and then stood under the eaves with the old man, watching the rain fall on the roof, slide down the tiles, and drip into strings of water.

The old shopkeeper chatted with the young man in a random manner.

After a while, hurried footsteps were heard from the rain. A fat man wearing a straw hat and raincoat came out from the rain. He walked in a hurry and was a little out of breath.

He looked up at the old man in front of the store whose clothes were all wet, and said:
"Ha, you old medicine man, you didn't even inform me in advance that you were coming. If my neighbor hadn't told me that you were waiting here when he went back, I wouldn't have come out today. It's raining so hard, I'd be more comfortable in the yard with a pot of hot tea and some roasted peanuts."

"Who is this……"

He looked at the young man next to him, his eyes full of doubt: "Are you an acquaintance?"

The old shopkeeper said, "He is a kind-hearted man who brought me here with an umbrella." The tavern owner had only met Li Guanyi once. Even as the manager of Huichun Hall, he had welcomed and seen off countless pharmacist apprentices in the past few decades.

A lot has changed in seven years. They seemed not to recognize the young man, but they still opened the door of the tavern and invited him to come in and sit with them. The owner was quick and efficient in pulling up the window curtains of the tavern, making it bright inside.

He also helped himself to some peanuts soaked in celery and peanut vinegar, garlic jelly, and pork head that was first smoked and then braised. He cut a plate and brought it out. He took great pains to bring a small stove and said, "Today is quite elegant, let's drink some good wine."

The old shopkeeper also had a rare smile on his face: "If you want to drink, just say so."

"What are you talking about?"

"What's so elegant about our place?"

The fat shopkeeper was not convinced and said, "What you said, does elegance have anything to do with gold? Listen carefully, I have three kinds of elegance today."

"I had no intention of coming here, but today I came here for the first time."

"Today I thought that you, an old medicine man, were the only one, but now you have a new friend, which is the second elegant interest."

The fat tavern owner's voice paused.

The old shopkeeper wanted to listen to his friend's joke, but he deliberately asked him: "Where is the third elegant interest?"

The fat shopkeeper hesitated for a long time, but just smiled: "The fact that I have to make up a refined taste just for drinking is a refined taste in itself!"

"Hahaha, these things are not important."

"Come, come, drink, drink."

The fat tavern manager poured out the wine. It was not some expensive wine, and could not be compared with the imperial wine in Chen Huanghuang's palace, but it had a refreshing feeling. They drank it facing the falling rain and chatted leisurely.

The old shopkeeper said, "This young man looks familiar."

"But I haven't seen it anywhere near here."

"I wonder what you have done in these years?"

The young man held a glass of wine and looked at the old man in front of him. He was an old friend, but he did not say anything about his identity. He just drank and said with a smile: "It's no different from what the old gentleman did."

A good drink and a good conversation, accompanied by the sound of wine cups clinking and rain falling, was quite carefree. But the rain eventually slowed down, just as the old shopkeeper said, the rain at this time of year comes quickly and goes quickly.

The young man looked at the rain which gradually subsided and stood up to say goodbye.

The old shopkeeper smiled and asked if he was also a doctor, and the young man replied:
"That's it."

He was wearing a green robe and walked out holding the umbrella. There was still some rain falling.

"It's just about curing illnesses and saving lives."

The tavern owner and the old shopkeeper watched the young man walk away with his umbrella. As he walked further and further away, the tavern owner withdrew his gaze and looked at the old shopkeeper. He smiled and said, "I see, he seems to be someone you know, old medicine man, don't you remember him?"

The old shopkeeper just said to himself: "I don't remember."

"I've helped so many people, met so many people, and I don't know how many years ago the cause and effect was. How can I remember everything?"

"So what if I don't remember?"

"If I helped him that day, I only wanted him to remember me and repay me later. If there was any fate between us in the past, today's rain and a good drink are enough."

The fat shopkeeper laughed: "How uncouth!"

The old shopkeeper replied: "This is what is important."

The two old friends looked at each other, but they understood each other without saying anything. They raised their glasses and drank. The old shopkeeper looked outside, where the rain was falling like silk. Then he raised his head and drank, muttering to himself: "Cure illnesses and save lives. What a cure and save lives."

"Good wine."

"Very intoxicating!"

…………

In Zhongzhou, Ji Yanzhong held the imperial edict in his hand. He heard the voice in his ears, but his mind was blank.

"You think that Guan Yi's achievements have helped him defeat the enemy, break through Jiangzhou, and drive out Emperor Chen."

"Can I be called the Emperor?"

"The emperor is as bright as fire. He has been named Qin Wu. Now his name is known all over the world and his reputation is known everywhere. He should be called—"

"Emperor Qin."

"What do you think?"

(End of this chapter)