The King of Ji had been immersed in reviewing memorials when he abruptly halted his brush. His gaze lingered on a memorial submitted by Sun Chao'en, and he fixed his eyes upon it, reading it through several times.
In this memorial, Sun Chao'en impeached Xiao Feixue, the biological son of Xiao Jingyuan, alleging that he had taken advantage of this summer's floods to forcibly acquire land en masse at dirt-cheap prices. In August and September alone, the land he had accumulated exceeded ten thousand qing.
The evidence provided was meticulous, accompanied by several maps and account books. Detailed annotations were made for every commandery, specifying when each parcel of land had been acquired and how much silver had been spent. Just the land marked on these maps amounted to over eight thousand seven hundred qing. The account books documented the expenditures down to the finest detail, every single entry substantiated.
The issue was that Xiao Feixue had already reached the perfected stage of dharma idol and could break through to Scenery Command at any moment. The Xiao family had reportedly been making secret preparations for this over several years. For Sun Chao'en to suddenly impeach Xiao Feixue at such a juncture was rather intriguing.
The King of Ji set the memorial aside and ordered an attendant to summon Sun Chao'en into the palace.
A moment later, Sun Chao'en stepped into the Imperial Study and bowed in prostration. The King of Ji scrutinized him closely and remarked with deep meaning, "Not seeing you for half a month, dear minister, you have grown darker."
Sun Chao'en chuckled. "I have darkened, but I have also grown stronger."
The King of Ji waved a broad hand. "Be seated."
Sun Chao'en took a seat to the side. The King of Ji then asked, "Is the Desolate Realm truly so miraculous?"
Sun Chao'en replied, "The Desolate Realm alone is naturally not so miraculous. It must be paired with the appropriate mental cultivation techniques, followed by taking the corresponding medicinal pills to nurse the body upon returning. Yet none of that is the crux. The crux lies in going together with Wei Yuan. He shields against the terrifying might of the Desolate Realm's blazing sun while preserving the portion necessary for tempering the dharma body. Only in this way can one achieve twice the result with half the effort and enhance one's natural aptitudes."
"How long does one need to recuperate after a single trip?" the King of Ji asked further.
"Given this humble subject's constitution, it requires over a month to mend. But with Your Majesty's supreme aptitudes, about three to four days should suffice to recover."
The King of Ji nodded. "You are one of the few in this court who speak the truth to Us. As for harboring a bit of selfish ambition, who doesn't? Hmph! Those who yearn to leave their names in the annals of history—in Our eyes, their selfish ambition is the heaviest of all!"
Sun Chao'en smiled. "Is Your Majesty fretting over the construction of the new palace again? In truth, this matter is not difficult to handle. It is merely that this humble subject already holds somewhat too many concurrent posts. Should I take on yet another, many will become green with envy."
The King of Ji's eyes brightened. "You have a way for the new palace?"
Sun Chao'en said, "Since the rebels were quelled, the state has rested and recuperated over these past five years, and the state treasury has finally shown some improvement. However, the loss of subjects was ultimately too severe, leaving annual revenues insufficient. With the silver currently stored in the treasury, it is nowhere near enough to support the construction of the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace. Thus, not only are the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue opposed, but the entire civil and military court stands against it as well."
The King of Ji's expression darkened. "We naturally know all this. Does it need you to tell Us?"
Sun Chao'en offered a secretive smile. "Yet even with the current silver in the treasury, the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace can actually be built."
The King of Ji's eyes shone. "How can it be built?"
"If the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace is to be constructed, tradition dictates that it must be entrusted to the Ministry of Works. Once such a massive project is handed over to them, from top to bottom, every layer and every channel will pocket considerable profits. In the end, the immortal silver actually used for the palace's construction might not even amount to half.
"Therefore, the foremost priority is that it cannot be handed to the Ministry of Works. The next best alternative is for this humble subject to be transferred to the post of Minister of Works."
The King of Ji was taken aback. "The Ministry of Works dares to embezzle half?!"
"Layer upon layer of extortion, layer upon layer of subcontracts—embezzling only half would already be considered exceptionally honest. As long as we bypass the Ministry of Works, or if I assign the project directly to designated, trusted hands after becoming Minister, we can ensure the vast majority of the silver is spent on the palace itself. But by doing so, the civil officials will obtain no benefits, and the Ministry of Works will gain nothing, so everyone will naturally oppose it. That is the first issue.
"The second issue is that constructing the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace is exceedingly arduous. The State of Ji currently possesses very few artisans capable of such work; not only can the timeline not be guaranteed, but the construction cost will also remain sky-high. Throughout this process, those with hidden agendas can obstruct it at every turn—either by monopolizing critical materials or by controlling key craftsmen—thereby fulfilling their goal of embezzling construction funds."
The King of Ji snorted, murder flashing in his eyes as he said slowly, "This matter is of such paramount importance to Us—do they not know that? Whoever dares to sabotage the construction of the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace makes himself Our enemy!"
Sun Chao'en asked cautiously, "May this humble subject dare ask Your Majesty, what is the reason for this?"
The King of Ji replied in a measured tone, "Our fate has a deficiency. At this critical juncture, We must erect the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace to suppress it before Our fortune can turn. This is a secret of heaven. Over these past few years, you have handled affairs effectively and resolved countless troubles for Us; only for this reason am I revealing this truth to you."
Sun Chao'en said, "This humble subject understands. Whoever opposes the construction of the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace is driving Your Majesty toward a dead end."
The King of Ji nodded. "If We cannot survive this tribulation, We will naturally execute all related parties, leaving not a single soul alive, to be buried with Us!"
Sun Chao'en said, "If Your Majesty has such resolve, this humble subject indeed has a way: entrust the construction of the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace to Qingming."
Murder instantly flashed in the King of Ji's eyes, yet Sun Chao'en showed no fear, quietly awaiting a response.
The King of Ji let out a cold huff. "What does Wei Yuan want?"
"Wei Yuan wishes for the territory of the commanderies to remain within the State of Ji, but to have the two commanderies of Xiang and Han enfeoffed to him."
The King of Ji's gaze flickered before he said slowly, "If he can truly accomplish this, what harm is there in enfeoffing the two commanderies to him? Even without enfeoffing them, those two commanderies would turn into dead lands. But is that all?"
"Wei Yuan also wants the right to free trade across the entire territory, with total commercial taxes on Qingming caravans not to exceed ten percent. If Your Majesty agrees to this, the subsequent twenty-five years of indemnities can be waived."
The King of Ji grew thoughtful. After a moment, he said, "He would rather have trade than reparations? Could it be that what he gains from trade exceeds what can be seized by plunder?"
Keeping his composure, Sun Chao'en said, "That, this humble subject does not know."
The King of Ji furrowed his brows in thought. "Never mind, this matter is not terribly important. But if we employ the people of Qingming, can the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace truly be built?"
Sun Chao'en said, "The Ministry of Works quoted a cost of one hundred and ten million taels for the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace, whereas the actual engineering cost should be around fifty million. However, if all raw materials are procured from Qingming and all construction artisans are hired from Qingming, the cost can be halved once again.
"The state treasury currently holds fifteen million taels of silver in reserve, leaving an actual shortfall of ten million."
"Where will this ten million come from?" The King of Ji frowned.
Sun Chao'en replied, "This is precisely why this subject wishes to investigate Xiao Jingyuan and his son. If Xiao Jingyuan's son Xiao Feixue attains Scenery Command, their house will possess two Scenery Command cultivators, becoming impossible to restrain. It is far better to act now. Not only can we confiscate ten thousand qing of farmland, but we can also seize a set of cultivation resources meant for advancing to Scenery Command. These lands and family estates can be converted into several million taels.
"Over the years, this subject has squeezed the people's wealth, demanded bribes, and accepted kickbacks, accumulating over three million taels. If I bring all this forth, we can roughly assemble the required sum."
The King of Ji's tightly furrowed brows finally smoothed out. "Then wouldn't you be taking a total loss?"
Sun Chao'en said, "This subject embezzled and took bribes, amassing ill-gotten wealth. Now that Your Majesty has a need, it is only right to contribute it in full. Once the money is gone, this subject can simply earn it back slowly."
Visibly touched, the King of Ji stepped out from behind the desk, patted Sun Chao'en on the shoulder, and asked, "Do you have confidence in apprehending Xiao Feixue?"
"This matter should be approached through two simultaneous measures. First, we must invite the Supervisor of the Embroidered Uniform Office to step forward and intimidate Xiao Jingyuan. Second, we must promise not to harm Xiao Feixue's life nor disrupt the foundation of his Dao path, taking only the greater part of his family fortune and the Scenery Command resources. Given the Xiao family's foundation, they will naturally be able to save up another set of Scenery Command resources over the course of a century.
"By the time Xiao Feixue achieves Scenery Command, Xiao Jingyuan will already be approaching the end of his lifespan, effectively leaving the Xiao family with only one Scenery Command expert.
"Xiao Jingyuan should understand Your Majesty's intentions and ought not to take reckless risks."
The King of Ji nodded. "A splendid plan! Dear minister, you are truly a pillar of the state!"
Sun Chao'en hastily said, "I merely share Your Majesty's burdens."
The King of Ji suddenly said, "When Cai Miao enters the palace tonight, come along as well. We shall have Xu Shang present a dance for sovereign and minister to appreciate together."
Sun Chao'en was greatly startled and hurriedly claimed he dared not.
The King of Ji laughed. "What is there to fear? As long as you handle this matter of the Cloud Terrace Golden Palace properly, you will hereafter be beneath one person and above ten thousand.
"Xu Shang's dance is merely an advance on your reward."
***
High above the Immortal Heaven, Cangwu suddenly opened his eyes. Looking down at the earth below, he murmured, "There are still over four years remaining before the contract with Wei Yuan expires. However, the opportune moment has arrived. The Heaven-Earth Severing World Refining Grand Array is fully prepared. In just a few days, once the grand array is deployed, I can fulfill the Venerable Master's commission, and I will no longer need to squander time here."
He slowly stepped out of his cave dwelling, summoned several disciples, and instructed them to make preparations to activate the grand array. Cangwu then departed his abode to seek out the King of Ji.
A few days later, Cangwu and the King of Ji stood high above the Immortal Heaven, quietly awaiting the impending celestial alignment.
Across the territory of the eight commanderies, a deathly stillness reigned. For thousands upon tens of thousands of li, there was no trace of human habitation. Everything was in place.
***
At the border of the State of Ji, Wei Yuan hovered in midair. Looking down at the million-strong army drawn up in formation, he pointed toward the State of Ji!
As the suppression array was withdrawn, the military qi surged forth like an oceanic wave, turbulent and sweeping across a thousand li! Divided into multiple columns, the army of one million crossed the border and charged into the State of Ji!
In this battle, Wei Yuan was determined to sweep through the eight commanderies and completely occupy the two commanderies of Xiang and Han. A fierce army of one million whose vitality burned like fire was easily equivalent to tens of millions of mortals. Wei Yuan was eager to see how Cangwu would refine the eight commanderies now.
One million was merely the vanguard; Wei Yuan had deployed another two million troops in the rear, ready to reinforce at any moment.
As for the ten-year pact established between both sides back then, in Wei Yuan's eyes at this moment, it was nothing more than a scrap of waste paper.
Chapter 1082