With Fei Luoya's acknowledgment, the territory of Eastern Shanyue had finally passed into the Li family's hands completely and without dispute. Having reorganized the six major clans and settled the locations and yields of the various spirit fields, returning to Mount Lijing was finally placed on the agenda.
Shanyue Royal Palace, the front hall.
Li Yuanxiu circled and annotated the silk scroll for a while, organizing his thoughts into a mental outline. Only then did he set down his writing brush, check the time, and say in a low voice, "Pingyi, bring the maps and come with me to pay respects to the elders."
Hearing this, Li Pingyi felt rather nervous as well. He tightened his sleeves, cradled a map scroll in his hands, and followed behind Li Yuanxiu through a long corridor. Flanking them, two rows of clan soldiers stood quietly with weapons in hand, eyes fixed straight ahead.
After walking for a while, Li Yuanxiu and Li Pingyi entered the palace's rear hall, where they saw Li Feiruo standing respectfully by the doorway. Li Pingyi looked up slightly and said softly, "Aunt."
Li Feiruo was Li Pingyi's biological aunt. Ever since he could remember, she had already married out of the family, returning only during seasonal festivals or ancestral sacrifices. Each time she returned, she would speak in detail with her eldest brother, Li Xiewen, about the affairs of the Shanyue. By the next morning, this information would be compiled into a booklet and placed on Li Xuanxuan's desk. Although Li Pingyi was not very close to her, he still greeted her with a smile.
"Young Clan Master, Yi'er," Li Feiruo replied in a gentle voice.
The group entered the hall together. Li Yuanxiu saw that the head seat was empty. Seated on the left was a middle-aged man carrying a golden bow, his brow sharp, smiling as he spoke of something—it was Li Xuanfeng. On the right was Li Yuanxiu's father, Li Xuanxuan, listening attentively and nodding in approval from time to time.
Next down was Third Uncle Li Xuanling, whose cultivation had now reached the peak of Embryonic Breathing, with a breakthrough in sight within the next few years. He held a jade slip, reading it, and nodded slightly when he saw Li Yuanxiu look over.
Chen Donghe and Li Qiuyang sat next in order, restrained and silent. Below them were the clan uncles wielding actual authority, led by Li Xiewen. The elder clan members were advanced in age and had not accompanied them on the expedition; those who could sit in this hall were relatively young and held positions of responsibility within the family.
"Greetings, elders," Li Yuanxiu and the others said respectfully.
They waited at the foot of the dais for a dozen breaths when someone descended on the wind, landing before the hall. The assembled crowd rose in unison and greeted respectfully:
"Welcome, Clan Uncle / Ancestor / Second Uncle!"
"I have arrived late; thank you all for waiting."
Li Tongya took his place at the head of the hall and nodded to Li Yuanxiu. Taking the cue, Li Yuanxiu stepped forward and said in a clear, measured voice:
"Our Li family now holds actual control over Eastern Shanyue. We have collected fifty-four spirit items valued at thirty-two spirit stones, and seven Embryonic Breathing shamanic artifacts and magical instruments valued at over forty spirit stones."
Li Yuanxiu paused. He had already reported the three Qi Refinement-grade magical instruments separately to Li Tongya, so he refrained from mentioning them here to avoid provoking idle chatter among the clan uncles. Changing the subject, he continued:
"At present, every five years our Li family must deliver a tribute of one thousand jin of spirit rice, one hundred Baiyuan fruits, one hundred jin of yellow jade spirit rice, twenty-five spirit stones, and several other kinds of spirit items valued at a total of fifty spirit stones.
"The yield of spirit rice at the main house on Mount Lijing is around one thousand three hundred jin. Now that our Li family has acquired the land of Eastern Shanyue, we are currently short of hands. The yield from the usable spirit fields in Eastern Shanyue is around one thousand jin. After allocating clan stipends to all our cultivators, we can retain a surplus of eight hundred jin of spirit rice every five years. The bulk of our revenue still comes from adding the yield of the Qingwu ore vein, which brings in an income of around thirty spirit stones every five years."
Li Yuanxiu gestured with his hand, and Li Pingyi unrolled the map scroll beside him. Li Yuanxiu explained the distribution of the spirit fields and their varying fertility one by one. The elders seated above listened carefully. Li Tongya thought to himself:
*This does not even factor in talisman crafting and miscellaneous items like Wuzuo worm silk. Factoring those in, the income could reach forty spirit stones. Combined with the family's remaining thirty spirit stones, in a few more years we can hire someone to set up the grand formation on Mount Huaqian.*
Looking down at everyone, Li Tongya nodded slightly and said warmly, "In absorbing Eastern Shanyue this time, all of you have contributed your efforts. Once we return to the towns, the family will naturally confer rewards according to each person's merits."
The assembly expressed their gratitude. However, the clan uncles below hesitated and stammered, exchanging glances, until one of them finally stepped forward. He was a cultivator from a lesser branch, also possessing a cultivation of the third level of Embryonic Breathing. Glancing upward, he said respectfully:
"Our family's acquisition of Eastern Shanyue is entirely credited to our Qi Refinement elders. We merely waved banners and cheered; we would not dare claim any merit... It is only that..."
The moment this man stepped out, Li Qiuyang, the head of the lesser-branch cultivators, froze in surprise. A flash of alarmed anger crossed his face, as this matter clearly exceeded his expectations. Li Qiuyang gritted his teeth, but Chen Donghe placed a hand over his and gently shook his head.
That lesser-branch cultivator suddenly fell to his knees and said respectfully, "Now that Eastern Shanyue belongs entirely to our family, we implore the elders to eliminate the Shanyue royal lineage, abolish their state system, and place the land under our Li family's governance by establishing towns and villages... Only in this way can we root out future troubles, civilize the Shanyue, and eliminate the danger of disloyalty from the royal bloodline..."
While the lesser-branch cultivator was still speaking, Li Qiuyang realized what was going on. He sighed inwardly and quietly lowered his head, speaking no further.
*In the end, it still comes down to fighting over self-interest...*
Standing before the steps with his back to the man, Li Yuanxiu had long known what this group was planning. The Li family only had so many towns and villages under its jurisdiction, and the managers dispatched to run them were primarily his concubine-born brothers. Because those brothers were highly capable, the members of the lesser branch had naturally lacked the leverage to compete, so they had turned their eyes to Eastern Shanyue instead.
*They hinted at it multiple times before, and I gave them a proper reprimand, but these clan elder-brothers refused to give up, wanting to try their luck before Granduncle...*
Li Yuanxiu narrowed his eyes. If Eastern Shanyue had its royal lineage eliminated and was brought directly under the Li family's control, hundreds of thousands of Shanyue people would translate into countless newly created towns and cities. Naturally, that made these people salivate, enough to put forward someone of standing to test the waters.
*Furthermore, this man is of the younger generation. Even if he misspeaks, there is plenty of room to smooth things over.*
Once the lesser-branch cultivator finished reciting his prepared speech, Li Yuanxiu gave a light chuckle. Without turning around, he said in a low voice:
"Eastern Shanyue has just been through multiple fierce battles, and the people are in deep turmoil and unrest. If our Li family takes direct charge at this juncture, all we would get is a mess that drains manpower, materials, stored grain, and craftsmen—and we would also have to expend resources to support a group of officials who would seize the chaos to aggressively annex land and wealth..."
Li Yuanxiu took a step forward. The insinuation in his words caused the clan uncles' expressions to change. His gaze swept across their faces, compelling them all to lower their heads. Li Yuanxiu smiled and continued:
"What our Li family values in the Shanyue lands is nothing more than the spirit items and spirit fields. Now that these are in our hands, while the common people's resentment runs high, it is far better to leave governance to Shamoli. If they must resent someone, let them resent the Shanyue royalty; if they must rebel, let them rebel against Shamoli. Once their customs have changed and their populace recovers its strength, we can slowly encroach upon them. By then, their livelihoods will have stabilized, their living conditions will have improved, and the Shanyue commoners will credit it to the grace of our Li family."
Seated at the head of the hall, Li Tongya listened, the corners of his mouth curving slightly into an approving smile. He nodded, gave a light wave of his hand, and said in a deep voice:
"The Eastern Shanyue royal house is a vassal in name, but a puppet in reality. This matter is settled; there is no need for further discussion."
"Understood."
Li Tongya was among the highest in generational seniority within the family and was the most powerful, revered as the Li family's ancestor. A simple, detached statement from him was enough to make everyone rise and assent, sealing the decision once and for all.
The lesser-branch cultivator awkwardly retreated to his seat. The members of the lesser branch exchanged glances, all letting out faint sighs, knowing that any hope for this plan had been extinguished.
Li Yuanxiu shook his sleeves, putting the matter behind him, and resumed:
"From the second month until now, during our twenty-seven days stationed in Eastern Shanyue, thirteen clansmen allowed troops under their command to commit abuses for entertainment, nine clansmen used their authority to secretly amass wealth, and another seven committed various offenses of differing severity.
"Those who allowed troops to commit abuses will be stripped of their ranks and robes and imprisoned. Their subordinates who failed to dissuade them, from squad leaders on up, will be executed alongside them..."
Li Yuanxiu paused here, as if alluding to the bloody scene that would entail, frightening several people below into shrinking back. Li Yuanxiu continued:
"Those who accepted bribes will be stripped of their titles and offices, and those who offered bribes will be imprisoned or executed according to the law... and never employed again."
Li Yuanxiu concluded by detailing the remaining matters one by one. Only then did Li Tongya nod. He designated several people to remain behind in Eastern Shanyue to oversee the Shanyue cultivators in cultivating the spirit fields, and said softly:
"The affairs of Eastern Shanyue are concluded. Withdraw the troops, and let us return home."
Chapter 190