Turning Shrek City Upside Down

Yan Shaozhe could no longer sit still and hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"Elder Xuan, how is this a minor adjustment? You clearly intend to turn the entire Shrek City upside down.

Not to mention the sheer scale of this project—the manpower and resources required would be astronomical.

What is more, those merchants have operated around the Inner City for years. Their roots run deep.

Forcing them all to relocate so suddenly would inevitably stir up considerable trouble."

"Trouble?" Chen Xuan sneered, his tone utterly assured.

"Shrek City belongs to Shrek Academy in the first place.

Those willing to stay may follow the new rules and conduct their business properly. Those unwilling to comply are free to leave.

Remember this: this city was built for Shrek people.

Only instructors, students, and those who have shed blood or rendered service for the academy are qualified to live in the vital areas of the inner ring.

As for outsiders who merely profit from Shrek's name, they deserve nothing more than to retreat to the outskirts."

Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth, still filled with concern. "But an expansion on this scale will certainly cost a terrifying sum.

Together with the resistance and backlash from so many merchants, the future risks will be far from minor."

"Cost?" Chen Xuan cut him off directly. "For this disciple-taking ceremony, the three great empires and every major sect will all arrive bearing gifts.

They have already prepared lavish presents. Those funds and resources can be used to support the city expansion project.

And there is Elder Lin's side as well. Do you think she would just watch us go broke?"

He raised his eyes toward Yan Shaozhe, a sharpness in them that brooked no argument. "You should stop staring only at the tiny patch of land before you.

What Shrek seeks has never been merely ten years of stability, but a foundation lasting centuries and a legacy lasting millennia."

Yan Shaozhe gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Elder Xuan, the game you are playing is truly far too grand."

"What, are you afraid?" Chen Xuan asked calmly.

"It is not fear." Yan Shaozhe shook his head and sighed. "It is simply that I need to return and carefully calculate this enormous expenditure."

Chen Xuan said, "When the time comes, come with me to discuss the accounts with Elder Lin.

The Treasure Gathering Pavilion controls more than half the city's industries. On the surface, expanding the city would affect their existing interests.

But think carefully. Once the new city is rezoned, the entire core ring will belong to Shrek's direct line.

With the city's order completely renewed, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion will ultimately be the greatest beneficiary."

Yan Shaozhe nodded. "Elder Lin has always kept public and private matters strictly separate, and she scrutinizes every detail. Convincing her will not be easy."

"No matter. We can discuss it properly with her when the time comes," Chen Xuan said.

He looked once more at the map on the wall, his tone softening slightly. "Besides, this matter must ultimately be decided through public deliberation at the Sea God Pavilion.

How to expand, where to begin construction, and how to proceed afterward must all be discussed in detail at the meeting.

Only once Elder Mu agrees and the elders approve can the city expansion truly be put into practice."

Yan Shaozhe asked, "Then what do you plan to propose at tomorrow's Sea God Pavilion meeting?"

"Very simple. Three matters."

"First, remove immoral instructors from the Outer Court. Boil the frog in warm water and steadily clean them out; there is no need to rush.

Second, fill the academy's teaching vacancies. Give priority to Inner Court students serving as substitute instructors and experts from the Inquisitorial Legion teaching classes.

Third, launch Shrek City's expansion plan and redraw the city's layout.

The core campus, teachers' residences, and outer commercial districts will be pushed outward layer by layer, with clear priorities and order between inner and outer areas.

Shrek's direct-line teachers and students will have priority over the crucial inner-ring areas, while outside merchants will gradually relocate outward into their proper places."

Yan Shaozhe fell silent for a moment, then said cautiously, "There will be very little opposition to the first two matters. Only the city expansion... will certainly be extremely controversial."

"That is precisely why it must be discussed openly."

"I want everyone to understand that this is a foundational plan for Shrek's next hundred years.

If the city becomes unbearably crowded in the future, if teachers and students have nowhere to live, if top talents cannot be retained, then whoever insists on opposing it will bear that responsibility."

Yan Shaozhe no longer tried to dissuade him. Staring at the circles of ink drawn across the map, he took a deep breath. "Fine. At tomorrow's meeting, I will stand fully on your side."

Chen Xuan patted his shoulder, turned, and walked toward the door. Yet when he reached it, he suddenly stopped.

"Oh, right. Do not spread word of the city expansion yet.

I will raise it personally at tomorrow's meeting.

Tonight, you only need to prepare a complete set of regulations for reforming the Outer Court's teaching staff and dismissing instructors. Keep the city expansion matter to yourself for now."

"I understand," Yan Shaozhe answered solemnly.

Chen Xuan pushed open the door and left the study.

Outside, moonlight flowed like water, a gentle evening breeze stirred, and the night was serene.

He raised his eyes to the full moon in the sky, and Zhang Lexuan's figure involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

"That little girl should be sleeping soundly by now."

He chuckled softly and headed toward his own courtyard.

Shrek City appeared peaceful and tranquil tonight.

Yet no one knew that a great upheaval capable of overturning the academy's structure and affecting the next thousand years had quietly begun from the few ink lines in that study.

Early the next morning, the Sea God Pavilion's council hall was filled to capacity.

Chen Xuan arrived first.

The sky had only just begun to brighten when he took his seat. A cup of clear tea sat before him, untouched.

The previous night, Cai Mei'er had specifically arranged for a reliable female steward to look after Zhang Lexuan.

He had intended to find time to visit his disciple that morning, but halfway there, he turned back.

Business first, he thought. Once the overall situation is settled, I will go keep my disciple company.

Before long, Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er arrived one after another.

The two first bowed to Chen Xuan, then took their respective seats.

Soon afterward, Xian Lin'er, Qian Duoduo, and Elder Zhuang entered the hall in turn.

Upon seeing Chen Xuan, both Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo respectfully addressed him as "Elder Xuan."

Elder Zhuang had also arrived early, since he wanted to see what bizarre ideas Xuanzi might come up with this time.

Finally, Elder Song slowly entered the council hall while supporting Mu En.

Mu En looked somewhat better than he had a few days earlier, though he remained thin and frail.

He took the seat of honor and raised a hand to indicate that everyone could dispense with formalities.

"Everyone is here. Xuanzi, you speak."

Chen Xuan rose to his feet, slowly swept his gaze across the hall, and declared, "Elder Mu, there are three major matters for discussion today.

Purge immoral instructors from the Outer Court, fill the academy's teaching vacancies, and expand Shrek City."

"First, purging Outer Court instructors.

At present, some Outer Court instructors are not from Shrek's direct line and possess no teaching ethics whatsoever.

For years, they have relied on beating and scolding students, even expelling them, to establish their authority and inflate their own reputations.

Such mediocre teachers must be purged. Not only must they be purged, but they must also pay for what they have done before.

However, this cannot be handled radically with a single sweeping cut. We must boil the frog in warm water and advance steadily.

First investigate thoroughly and gather evidence, confirm their wrongdoing, then dismiss them one by one.

As for instructors who keep to their duties and devote themselves to educating students, Shrek will naturally treat them well and arrange proper positions for them.

But the Outer Court's lecterns must ultimately be returned, little by little, to Shrek's own people."