Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

Li Changqing and Li Yuanqian exchanged a glance.

To be honest, this was an outcome they hadn't expected.

Both Li Changqing and Li Yuanqian had predicted that Emperor Li Zheng of the Great Zhou Dynasty would pretend to be deaf and dumb.

The Salt Gang secretly colluded with the Xiaoyao Marquis's Mansion, paying them 10% of their profits annually. It's unclear what they received in return.

In the past year or two, the morale of the canal gangs has also been fluctuating.

If the royal family doesn't act, who knows who will beat them to it?

They could use the pretext of vying for the throne to take the opportunity to bring the Grand Canal Gang under their control.

of course.

Even without this premise, Li Changqing would have done it anyway. However, with this premise, he believed that Emperor Li Zheng of the Great Zhou Dynasty had an excuse to feign ignorance.

Li Zheng naturally wouldn't interfere.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty the Emperor brought this matter out into the open.

Li Yuanqian blinked, as if he had suddenly thought of something, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"It seems that the Canal Gang will be under the jurisdiction of our Great Zhou Dynasty from now on."

He was naturally unhappy that he failed to gain control of the Grand Canal Gang.

But if Li Changqing also ends up with nothing, then the situation will be different.

He'll be watching the show from the sidelines.

"What's in my pocket, no one can take out of my pocket."

Li Changqing sneered.

He doesn't value high positions or particularly care about power.

So he can share these things with others, but others can't take them.

Even the emperor wouldn't do.

The two groups separated, and Li Changqing instructed his men: "Send a few men to keep an eye on the Canal Gang, and don't let those fools cause me any more trouble. The elders of the Canal Gang can be them, or they can be someone else."

Despite saying that, Li Changqing had no intention of replacing him.

His plan requires the help of these elderly people from the Caobang community.

With new people coming in, both their understanding of the Grand Canal Gang and their personal relationships with the various branches need to be re-examined.

It would take forever to lay the foundation for the World Society and allow Li Changqing to indirectly control the economic lifeline of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Although it needs to be used, it's still necessary to scare them when necessary.

To prevent these guys from doing something foolish in a moment of impulsiveness.

"Leave it to me. Those guys should behave themselves now and won't cause any more trouble."

Li Changsheng said loudly.

Although there were some unexpected events during the process, the final result was as they had expected.

He didn't disappoint his younger brother's expectations; he was able to help him out.

"As for the few who participated in the war, there's no need to mention my eldest brother."

From the moment Li Changsheng and Nan Caocao entered the Prince of Qin's mansion, Li Changqing sent them a large sum of money, fifteen shops, and three estates outside the capital.

The total value is incalculable, but it was roughly equivalent to a quarter of Li Changqing's assets at the time.

Nan Caocao didn't want the shop at all; Zhuangzi returned two rooms.

They kept only a small villa with a hot spring, planning to take the family on occasional vacations.

But she kept the money.

"Consider it a dowry for our darling, and I'll save it for her. Your older brother and I will be living and eating at the Prince's mansion from now on, so we won't need to spend much money. Besides, your older brother can earn money, and we won't need that much. Unlike you, who has to take care of a whole bunch of people."

"Your sister-in-law can't manage the shop either. When you marry the princess, you can hand it over to her."

Knowing his brother and sister-in-law's intentions, and since Li Changqing had no plans to separate from them anyway, there was no need to give Li Changsheng the reward he was promised.

They're all stored in the same warehouse, moving from one hand to the other.

"Master Wuchen, I will reward you with a thousand taels of gold and three precious pills. Tell me exactly what you want, and I will get it for you. As long as it's available in the Great Zhou Armory, not the kind sold by the pill, I will grant your request. You will also receive a month's paid leave to recuperate. In addition, I will try to secure a month's worth of opportunities for you."

What Li Changqing sent were all things that Master Wuchen urgently needed.

A thousand taels of gold is merely an extra; the three precious pills are priceless treasures.

After all, the pills in the Great Zhou Armory can not only help martial artists improve their cultivation level, but some can also save their lives in critical moments.

This is a treasure that almost no martial artist can refuse.

The number of slots available for studying the Great Zhou Armory is even more precious.

Don't be fooled by the fact that hundreds of people cultivate in the Great Zhou Armory year-round.

However, the royal family itself occupied a large portion of the spots. In addition, the top aristocratic families closely tied to the Great Zhou royal family also occupied a portion of the spots.

Take the Duke of Qi's mansion for example; they alone occupy thirty of the available spots.

Although nominally they were subjects of the Great Zhou royal family.

In reality, the Duke of Qi's mansion was essentially a partner of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and even the second largest shareholder of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

They wield immense power and hold a very high position.

Other top sects, noble families...

There are some spots available, more or less.

This is the method by which the Great Zhou royal family binds them firmly to the Great Zhou ship, and it is also the result of mutual compromise.

This is why the Great Zhou Dynasty enjoyed long-term stability and peace.

So, when you calculate it this way, the number of seats that can actually be controlled by the royal family is actually not that many.

Besides the royal family members themselves, there were also the emperor's men, and the men of several princes...

Everyone's waiting in line.

Li Changqing was able to promise this spot so easily because he had already secured three spots.

Moreover, these three spots belong only to him, and no one can take them away from him.

One of them is for the fourth elder of the family; no application is required, it is a direct quota reserved for that individual.

One was given to him by King Li Yuanhao of Qin, who instructed him to use it to win over his subordinates.

There was another one, given by Emperor Li Zheng of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

After the quota was secured, only Li Changsheng used one, leaving the other two vacant.

Now is the perfect time to distribute the rewards.

"Azure Dragon, reward me with a thousand taels of gold and a precious elixir."

"As for Hong Fu, you are the greatest contributor to this battle."

Hong Fu Nu's face was as pale as paper. Li Long Jing's last palm strike was delivered with full force, fueled by anger.

Even though she avoided vital points, she was still seriously injured by the force of the palm strike.

"Bring her antidote."

Li Changqing first presented them with a gift: an antidote specially prepared for their secret guards.

"From this day forward, you are free. If you wish to remain in the Prince's Palace, you will retain your original status and privileges. If you wish to leave, I will not interfere."

"I am willing to stay."

Without any hesitation, Hong Fu Nu immediately asked to stay.

Without the protection of the Qin Prince's Mansion, she, as a Grandmaster, alone could not escape the assassin camp's pursuit.

"Alright. The reward is five rare pills. Just like Master Wuchen, whatever you fancy, I'll get it for you. Aside from a few rare divine herbs with only one or two left, even top-grade pills are no problem. However, if you want top-grade pills, I can only get you two. I'll also provide a manor outside the capital and three shops. Even if you don't take on any more missions, these things will be enough for you to live comfortably in your old age."

……