Three punches shattered the demonic soul, young hero, I'm an honest man!

Pei Yun's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.

rhetoric?

There seems to be something else behind this tall, muscular boss's words?

Is it because they're worried he'll be swayed by a powerful businesswoman like Qin Lanfei?

Or is it just a simple reminder?

He chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly composed.

"Don't worry, Lord Luo. I only care about tangible benefits."

"You can't sway me with just words."

Pei Yun was never one to suffer a loss.

Seeing that he was completely unmoved, Luo Qingyi nodded in satisfaction and changed the subject.

What are your thoughts on the Sihai Chamber of Commerce incident?

"Logically speaking, the mere Clear Water Sword Sect and Seven Kill Hall shouldn't be enough to make Qin Lanfei so constrained, or even require external help to resolve the issue."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yun's expression became more serious.

He paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts.

"The Sihai Chamber of Commerce was just a second-rate chamber of commerce in the capital in its early years."

"In just a few years, it has developed to the point where it is considered one of the top in the entire Great Ying Immortal Dynasty."

"Consort Qin Lan made outstanding contributions, that much is beyond doubt."

"But that's also where the problem lies..."

Pei Yun dipped her finger in tea and gently drew circles on the table.

"I've looked into it. When Qin Lanfei led the Chamber of Commerce to rise to prominence, she relied on a strategy of being adept at navigating social situations and avoiding offending either side."

"Unite all forces that can be united, and do not offend any faction."

"This is a wise move when the chamber of commerce is weak, as it can minimize conflict and accumulate capital."

"But times have changed, and the Sihai Chamber of Commerce of today is no longer the same as it was before."

"In terms of financial resources, it is a behemoth that ranks among the top in the entire Great Ying Immortal Dynasty."

"However, its status is seriously disproportionate to its financial resources."

"This has led to it remaining a soft target that anyone can bully in the eyes of the martial arts world and various forces."

"Even the small Seven Kill Hall dares to act arrogantly on its head, and the Clear Water Sword Sect doesn't even take it seriously."

Pei Yun looked up at Luo Qingyi, his gaze sharp.

"They have the strength, but lack the corresponding status and deterrent power."

"This is the root cause of Consort Qin Lan's current predicament."

"It's not that she can't handle the Clear Water Sword Sect and the Seven Kill Hall, but that she's struggling internally."

Pei Yun looked at Luo Qingyi with a sharp gaze.

"She was hesitant about whether to change the strategy that had brought her success in the past and reorient the giant ship that was the Sihai Chamber of Commerce."

"Should one continue to be a nice guy who doesn't offend anyone, or should one bare their fangs and demonstrate the strength and status commensurate with their wealth?"

To put it simply, it's path dependence.

"This so-called trouble is merely an outward manifestation of her inner hesitation."

Pei Yun picked up his teacup and drank the last sip of tea.

"Consort Qin is not stupid. Even if I don't interfere, she will figure it out sooner or later."

"My intervention this time was merely a matter of going with the flow, to see if I could do her a favor."

After listening, Luo Qingyi's eyes flashed with undisguised admiration.

This guy...

His insight into problems is indeed sharp.

Ordinary people only see the feuds and disputes between gangsters and business associations.

Pei Yun not only saw through the surface of things, but also understood Qin Lanfei's inner struggle and weighing of options.

This insight is truly astonishing.

"Well analyzed."

Luo Qingyi sincerely praised her.

She looked at the seemingly lazy but actually shrewd and perceptive subordinate in front of her.

My appreciation for them deepened even further.

……

Pei Yun came out of Luo Qingyi's room and stretched.

I had a very fruitful day, and I'm in a pretty good mood.

"Though serving in the government, one's heart is in the wilderness; true freedom and ease are found in the wild."

Pei Yun hummed a little tune, pondering whether to go to Baidi Tower to find Yunniang to listen to the new song, or to return to the courtyard to continue comprehending the "Supreme Immortal Chapter".

Just as I was pondering this, I bumped into someone at the corner of the corridor.

The newcomer was dressed in the uniform of a commander of the Imperial Guard, with a square face and a serious expression.

Pei Yun was no stranger to this person.

Zhao Lian was one of the three commanders of the Northern Garrison.

However, Zhao, who was usually known for his composure and steadiness, had a look of worry on his face that he could not hide.

He nodded slightly when he saw Pei Yun, and then strode straight toward Luo Qingyi's residence.

Pei Yun raised an eyebrow.

What trouble has Commander Zhao encountered?

Inside Luo Qingyi's public room.

"grown ups."

Zhao Lian bowed respectfully, his expression solemn.

"Commander Zhao, what brings you in such a hurry?"

Luo Qingyi's voice was clear and crisp, carrying a hint of the composure of someone in a superior position.

Zhao Lian spoke in a deep voice: "Lord Luo, one of my officers, a centurion, encountered some trouble while handling a case this morning."

He recounted the whole story.

Originally a centurion surnamed Wang under Zhao Lian, while investigating a case, he discovered that Li Yu, the youngest son of General Weiyuan in the capital, was privately dealing in military equipment.

Although the number was small, it still violated my Great Win Law.

Wang Baihu, acting in accordance with the law, intended to bring him back to the Northern Garrison Command for questioning.

Unexpectedly, Li Yu turned out to be a troublemaker.

Relying on his family background, he not only refused to comply, but also suddenly attacked, injuring Commander Wang and two captains.

Luo Qingyi raised an eyebrow slightly.

"How dare a mere scion of a military family provoke my Imperial Guard?"

"Where is Li Yu now?"

Zhao Lian gave a wry smile.

"That's the tricky part of this case; otherwise, it wouldn't have alarmed you, sir."

"After injuring the man, Li Yu immediately fled into the Imperial Guard camp."

"The Imperial Guards?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Qingyi vaguely understood why Zhao Lian had come here.

"Does he have ties to the military?"

"Yes." Zhao Lian sighed.

"The one who protected him was a young general from the Shence Army named Wei Zheng."

"Wei Zheng..."

Luo Qingyi repeated the name, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhao Lian added, "This person is not very old, but he is said to be extremely talented and highly regarded among the younger generation of the Shence Prefecture. His background is also not simple."

"He was forceful, claiming that Li Yu was his cousin and had been frightened, and that he would not allow us to bring people with us."

Shence Mansion is the highest military command institution of the Great Ying Dynasty in the capital, directly under the control of the Minister of War.

Their core duty was to guard the capital region and protect the safety of the capital.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Shence Army belonged to two major systems, one civil and one military.

The former supervised all officials, while the latter protected the capital region.

They should keep to themselves and not interfere with each other.

However, friction between these two powerful institutions of the Immortal Dynasty has never ceased.

The Shence Army, relying on its status as the Imperial Guard, often looked down on the Embroidered Uniform Guard, these "lackeys and henchmen."

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard was said to be "as one with Heaven," its cavalrymen went out everywhere, drawing the attention of all officials.

However, they also believed that the Shence Army's soldiers were arrogant and unruly, and they often wanted to find an opportunity to teach them a lesson.

"I have already sent men to keep a close watch on the Imperial Guard camp to ensure that Li Yu does not secretly escape," Zhao Lian said.

"However, it may not be easy to capture someone from the military camp, so I came here to ask for your instructions, sir."

Luo Qingyi's gaze narrowed slightly.

The arrogant and fierce soldiers of the Shence Army are not so easy to deal with.

This matter is neither a big deal nor a small one.

If not handled properly, it could easily escalate into a conflict between two powerful government departments.

Just then, an announcement came from outside the door.

"Your Excellency, Commander Zhou requests an audience."

"Let him in," Luo Qingyi said.

Before long, Zhou Mingxuan entered the communal room and bowed first.

"Lord Luo, Commander Zhao."

Luo Qingyi glanced at him.

"Commander Zhou, you've come at the right time. There's something I need to tell you."

She briefly recounted what Zhao Lian had reported.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingxuan frowned slightly.

"Shence Prefecture...this is indeed a difficult situation."

His eyes darted around, as if he had thought of something, and his gaze lingered between Zhao Lian and Luo Qingyi for a moment.

"Lord Luo, I do have someone in mind who might be worth a try."

"Oh?"

Luo Qingyi gestured for him to continue.

Zhou Mingxuan cleared his throat.

"My subordinate, Liu Mang, a centurion, served in the western border army for several years in his early years. He is probably more familiar with the ways of the army than we are."

"Sending him to negotiate with Wei Zheng might be useful."

"After all, people with military backgrounds are probably more likely to talk to each other."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lian hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not object.

Although Liu Mang was reckless and impulsive, he was indeed quite brave and had some seniority in the army.

Maybe it really will work?

Luo Qingyi pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well, go and fetch Liu Mang."

Zhou Mingxuan accepted the order and left.