How Local Tyrants Were Brought to Heel

"As a supreme being, all he could do was pray for this kind of life-extending pill..."

Emperor Sheng looked at the place where the other party had vanished, then at the pristine white jade bottle left on the table, and could not help shaking his head with a laugh.

He then drew it into his palm from afar and began seriously considering a question—

How should he bring that young deputy general named Ye Li into his service?

Heavy use and generous rewards were merely the most basic methods.

The arts of an emperor's mind were far from so superficial. The true means of taming a wild horse had always been to wield both favor and might.

And the degree to which that favor and might were applied determined whether an emperor's methods were truly masterful.

The simplest example would be that when Ye Li returned empty-handed ten days later, he needed to display the utmost understanding and tolerance.

Yet at the same time, he could not refrain from punishing him altogether.

"Hmm..."

"Since he is one of Ling'an's followers, I can simply pressure Ling'an when the time comes and have her punish Ye Li in my stead. That would be perfectly reasonable."

As Emperor Sheng strolled toward the heart of the lake, his thoughts drifted freely.

Within all of Great Sheng, there were truly few things capable of moving a peak Venerable.

Much less a Venerable like Ye Li, who was clearly extraordinary. His deep foundations were plain to see; trying to sway him would be easier said than done.

"Come to think of it, he recently earned a place among the top three. By the rules, he will also attend next month's Shangqing Martial Arts Tournament."

"Perhaps I should discuss it with the Imperial Preceptor. At that time,