" General Yuchi, are you having trouble sleeping?"
On the Stargazing Tower, thanks to the City God God's influence, a civil official named Zhou Haitao temporarily gave up his house for two people who were looking for something new to live in.
The decorations of the Stargazing Tower were quite different from those of ordinary wealthy families. Although each house was small, they were so exquisite that they were almost dazzling. All the floors were covered with something that looked like ceramic, and one dared not put too much pressure on them when walking on them. When Yuchi Peng took off his shoes, he was even a little embarrassed to show his smelly feet.
Each house has a large terrace, which is then enclosed by a large piece of transparent glass, protecting it from the wind and rain while still allowing residents to enjoy the bustling view from the high-rise buildings.
Yuchi Peng watched the lights of Liuzhou from a high-rise building until the end of the night, around 1 AM.
"Look, it's almost time for the roosters to crow," Yuchi Peng said, pointing to the lights under the glass that seemed never to go out. "The lights are still so bright, and there are still so many people on the street."
"If everyone has enough to eat, they'll naturally have the energy to wander around late at night." Luo Yi looked down at the crowd with a complicated expression and said, "The capital doesn't have a curfew, but there aren't as many people at night because most people only eat two meals a day, and most can't afford meat. They're not getting any oil or fat, so they get hungry quickly. Naturally, they have to go to bed early at night, otherwise they won't be able to sleep because they're hungry, which will delay their work the next day."
"Do the people here really need to work?" Yuchi Peng was a little stunned. He felt that the people here seemed to have plenty of free time.
"Working less doesn't mean not working at all. Otherwise, where would all that food and goods come from?" Vice Minister Luo sighed. "During the day, I talked to the students in the Academy of Engineering at the academy. The workers in this city, whether they are weavers, dyers, blacksmiths, skilled craftsmen, or carpenters, are not willing to work for long periods of time. If they work more than three hours a day, they will go on strike, and sometimes they will even stage a joint strike."
"Aren't you afraid no one will want you?" Yuchi Peng asked, bewildered.
"I'm not afraid." Vice Minister Luo shook his head. "There are two reasons. First, the government provides basic food and lodging, so no one will ever starve here. Second, the government has regulations that any work exceeding three hours is considered processing and must be paid 50% more than usual; otherwise, it's illegal. But in reality, the people of Liuzhou nowadays prefer to spend more time enjoying themselves. Even if those skilled merchants offer 100% more, few are willing to do processing."
As he spoke, Vice Minister Luo pointed downstairs and said, "That's why you see so many people who are very idle. Even if they only work three hours a day, they receive good treatment. They can afford to drink a little wine and listen to some music every day. It is said that after working four days, they get three days of full rest. If this requirement is not met, the workshops nowadays can't find anyone to work."
"Huh, so extravagant?" Yuchi Peng was completely stunned upon hearing this.
"Because of the generous conditions," Vice Minister Luo shook his head and laughed. "The students from the Agricultural Academy told me that there are still many uncultivated fields in Great Azure Mountain. Even if everyone in Liuzhou moved there, there would still be enough land to cultivate. The government encourages farming; anyone willing to go to Great Azure Mountain will be allocated twenty acres of fertile land. Great Azure Mountain has a kind of worm that can help loosen the soil and cultivate the land, even more useful than an ox. In addition, there are various waterwheels for irrigation and Bluebird to catch the worms. Farmers can manage their fields in very little time each day and live a very carefree life. The reason why some people are willing to come to Liuzhou City is because it's lively enough. If things get out of hand, they can always go back to farming. This is the common thinking among the people of Liuzhou now. The workshop owners are practically begging to recruit enough workers."
After listening for a long time, Yuchi Peng suddenly burst into laughter. "This sounds pretty good!"
"Yes," said Vice Minister Luo, sitting quietly to the side, gazing at the beautiful lights below. "It's quite nice."
"Isn't this glass very fragile? It's so tall and made into such a large piece. It looks beautiful, but won't it break?"
"This is tempered glass," Luo Yi said, touching the large piece of glass on the terrace. "It's very strong. It's said that only a martial artist of the Fifth Rank rank or higher could barely break it with a full-force punch. Normally, unless deliberately damaged, it won't break even from wind and rain."
"Wow, this is amazing! Was it researched and developed by those academy sorcerers?"
"Yes"
Do they study everything?
"Yes," Luo Yi, looking somewhat bewildered as he looked outside. "I spent the whole day wandering around the academy. Some people were researching how to improve clothing materials, some were researching ingenious wooden carts that could save manpower, some were researching larger and faster ships, and some were researching new varieties of grain with higher quality and higher yield."
Confused, Yuchi Peng muttered, " Chen Qing... has completely changed the profession of sorcerer!"
"Yes, it has permeated Hundred Trades, causing the entire world to undergo earth-shattering changes because of the sorcerer's power."
"Is this correct?" Yuchi Peng suddenly asked.
"Is that right?" Vice Minister Luo looked down and said, "I don't know if it's right or wrong, but I do know that if the court continues to allow Chen Qing to develop like this, in ten years at most, the court will no longer have the ability to attack Jiangnan. In twenty years at most, the court will have to kneel down and lick Chen Qing's boots."
"How could that be?" Yuchi Peng said with amusement, "Isn't Vice Minister Luo exaggerating a bit?"
Did General Yuchi consider the possibility of being captured before he came?
"Uh..." Yuchi Peng's face immediately darkened. This damned scholar, why did he have to bring up the sore spot? He had finally managed to divert his attention.
" Chen Qing has more than you can imagine, like Wei Gongcheng from yesterday," Luo Yi said seriously, "I still can't believe it's true!"
Upon hearing this, Yuchi Peng rolled his eyes. He was different; otherwise, why wouldn't he be able to sleep?
Even now, he can't believe that two years ago, Wei Gongcheng was a cripple, so destitute that he didn't even dare to go back to the Wei Household, fearing that the mistress would find an opportunity to kill him. He could only be fed by the Yuchi Household in an awkward position. Now, he has become such a person!
The Underworld, in charge of life and death, responsible for determining the Underworld Lifespan of the deceased and the Samsara of the human soul.
Is this really something that could happen?
But what I saw last night felt so real.
Those spirits of the Underworld were so real, living lives almost identical to those of the Liuzhou people in the world reflected in Liuzhou!
This is truly a terrifying thing.
Both Yuchi Peng and Luo Yi thought so.
Because if this were true, if people from Jiangnan died and then had a second life.
Why wouldn't the people of Jiangnan fight to the death for Chen Qing?
Because even if you risk your life, there's a guarantee!!
The Yuchi Peng's spine. Chen Qing's army was already formidable; if they also possessed a fearless, reckless spirit, who in this world could stand against them?
Just as Vice Minister Luo said, in at most twenty years, the court will probably have to lick Chen Qing's boots!
Luo Yi felt the same way. As long as Chen Qing could establish himself, he wouldn't even need to take the initiative. Given the current conditions in Jiangnan, those aristocratic families with little sense of national responsibility would move there on their own.
This place is rich in spiritual energy, with even the most remote spots possessing the effects of aristocratic spiritual fields. It boasts high-quality grains that nourish the body and replenish blood, and a wide variety of novel goods that surpass those of the Central Plains. It will soon become a trading center, and most importantly, it contains the Underworld!
What do aristocratic sorcerers desire most?
It means immortality.
What are you most afraid of?
It means that after death, one is dragged into the Yin-Yang Road and then devoured by evil spirits!
He didn't know how Chen Qing managed to forcibly leave a human soul in that so-called Underworld and even establish a deity to govern it!
But for more than 90% of people in the world, this kind of thing is an enormous temptation!
Everyone is afraid of death because no one knows what they will face after death. But this tells you where you will go and what you will enjoy after death.
When there's a place where even death is guaranteed, who wouldn't want to go?
Yes, Wei Gongcheng said that obtaining Underworld Lifespan here requires merit and comes at a price.
But can't these powerful families afford the price?
They have no chance to pay the price!
Once Chen Qing is secured, Luo Yi is quite certain that if the powerful families of the world cannot take him over, they will have no choice but to obediently compromise!
But here's the question: why not keep this kind of thing under wraps?
"You thought of that too, didn't you?" Luo Yi looked at Yuchi Peng.
Yuchi Peng didn't turn around, but just stared blankly down below. "When I first heard that the imperial court was coming to Nanming Prefecture for peace talks, I was quite angry and ashamed. I was angry that the imperial court had no backbone, and ashamed that I would be immediately and shamefully ransomed back. After returning, I'm afraid I won't dare to show my face for a year. It would be truly humiliating."
But I've realized that things might not get that bad.
Luo Yi looked at Yuchi Peng and nodded. "Yes, Chen Qing has taken too big a step this time. The imperial court, the eldest princess, the Duke of Wei, and that monster from the West Sea —each of them is a powerful force, yet Chen Qing dares to let them all in. The Spring and Autumn Hegemony Alliance is not so easy to imitate. If you want the heroes to obey your commands, you have to have the strength to back them up. Inviting four families means you have the strength to suppress them. Does Chen Qing have that strength?"
Yuchi Peng remained silent.
Liuzhou is magical and beautiful, but also fragile.
What is Chen Qing in such a hurry about?
Why the rush to expose it?
Once the treasures here are exposed, powerful families across the land will likely turn into wolves and tigers, vying for this lucrative piece of meat in Jiangnan.
Can Chen Qing hold out?
Can they keep it under control?
What is he thinking?