Chapter 107: More Than a Dilemma, It's a Death Trap

Chapter 107: Not Just a Predicament, But a Dead End

"Guidance is too strong a word; they are merely some humble opinions."

Only to hear Qian Hai speak slowly: "Chengdu Prefecture occupies the most prosperous core region of Shu; Chengdu County alone boasts twelve administrative districts and a population of millions of households. The Great Ming Treasure Notes flowing through here daily could truly be described as mountains of gold and seas of silver."

"Such a massive piece of fat meat, yet only the Daoist and Confucian sects enjoy it exclusively; other Sequences cannot even get a hand in. Does Minister Li understand the reason why?"

The question Qian Hai raised was one Li Jun had indeed pondered before.

After entering Shu Road Logistics, Li Jun discovered that this conglomerate's strength was not actually that formidable.

Even within the scope of his contact, it could be completely described with the two words 'weak and frail'.

Otherwise, the Shu Road Logistics building would not have been so easily blown up by a few bandits from the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Convention, and even the helmsman would not have been seized.

Although part of the reason was the intricate and complex nepotism within Shu Road Logistics, allowing many incapable wastes to usurp power.

But during the struggle for the Yang Clan Ancestor's bequest in Mianzhou County, logically both clans should have gone all out, exhausting their foundations.

Yet the ones who acted—Wu Jinfeng, Shi Chengfeng, Gu Jia—possessed strength merely at Sequence Eight, not even reaching the Peak level.

Even that 'San Tiao' whom he himself had pierced through could likely have slaughtered them with ease.

The Gu and Wu clans, as the two leading Third-Rank Aristocratic Clans of the Confucian faction in Shu, possessed strength merely such as this.

The situation of the other Confucian scholar clans was presumably even more wretched.

With such strength, they fundamentally could not hold onto this piece of fertile, gold-flowing fat meat that was Chengdu Prefecture.

Yet the reality was that the entire Chengdu Prefecture was like an airtight iron barrel formation; aside from the Confucian and Daoist sects, other Sequences could only follow along eating scraps and leftovers.

As for the Martial Sequence, in every province of the Empire they were destined to be coolies; they need not be considered at all.

"You are a smart man; perhaps you have already sensed a thing or two. In this Chengdu Prefecture, or rather most of Shu, the Daoist sect is actually the strongest power."

Qian Hai's words were shocking.

"The Wu Clan and us merely make money for them, then take a share of the soup for ourselves."

The old man paused his words for a moment, gently turning the jade thumb ring on his thumb; an invisible ripple enveloped the two of them.

Li Jun understood in his heart; the function of this jade thumb ring was probably similar to his own Cicada Wing Ranger.

"So-called Third-Rank Aristocratic Clans are merely the limit the Daoist sect permits here, not the limit of the Gu and Wu clans. The true foundations of both clans are actually in the accompanying capital, Jinling!"

"And those left behind here, to put it bluntly, are all people with poor prospects in the imperial court's officialdom. That is why they would mobilize such a huge fuss over a mere single recommendation quota."

"But even this situation exists only because the New Donglin Party currently controls the court, and the Confucian sect is honored as the foremost of the Three Teachings, forcing the Daoist sect to take a step back."

"Otherwise, tell me, why would our County Magistrate hide in a small pavilion warming a stove? And why has the Prefect of Chengdu Prefecture spent years studying at the Donglin Academy?"

"They are men of proud bones; out of sight, out of mind. Since they cannot accomplish anything, they might as well enjoy life, wait for their term to end, then go elsewhere to display their grand ambitions."

Li Jun took a deep breath, forcing his boiling brain to stay calm, and asked: "Why doesn't the Daoist sect make money itself, instead making us Confucians help?"

Qian Hai smiled confidently upon hearing this, "Each trade has its mastery; among the twelve Sequences today, who is better at business than us Confucians? Back then, for our Gu Clan to seize this quota to enter Chengdu Prefecture, the clan elders expended no small effort."

"These Daoist Masters have their own money-making methods, but those are only affordable for the powerful and noble. A single Golden Elixir that extends life by mere months sells for hundreds of thousands of Treasure Notes; how could ordinary people afford it?"

"As for those other zero-cost, infinite-profit methods, they are merely draining the pond to catch the fish. If all the people of Chengdu Prefecture believed in the Three Pure Ones Ancestor and practiced quietude and non-action, who would pay for the maintenance of the Huangliang Grotto-Heaven?"

The old man walked with hands clasped behind his back, speaking as he went, utterly oblivious to Li Jun's face turning iron-green beside him.

Or perhaps, this was one of the purposes of his revealing these secrets.

"The fact that the Sichuan-Chongqing Gambling Convention people could enter this time is also because the one who hired the killers was the Wu Clan, involving internal Confucian strife, so the Daoist sect chose to turn a blind eye. Otherwise, those few Sequence Eight little fleas would have been crushed long ago."

Li Jun licked his dry lips, voice rasping as he asked: "Then why have I seen almost no Daoist Sequence Followers in Chengdu Prefecture?"

"Minister Li has probably not visited many counties, have you?"

Qian Hai smiled, "Since ancient times, Daoists descending the mountain happens only in chaotic times; in prosperous peace their set of tricks finds no buyers. Moreover, the Daoist Sequence does not allow them to participate too much in the mundane world; in the words of those ox-noses, it would defile their divine intent."

"Besides, where in the mortal world is there the comfort of a Grotto-Heaven?"

When Qian Hai spoke these words, his language was full of mockery.

"With the old man saying so much, Minister Li, you should understand your own situation, no?"

Qian Hai suddenly stopped, raised his eyes to gaze at Li Jun, "What you face is not a predicament, but a dead end!"

"Aside from those insignificant Martial Nines, within Chengdu County there is practically no Martial Eight of your caliber. This is not because the threshold of this Sequence is so high, or its decline so miserable, but because the Daoist sect forbids it."

"If one appears, the only possibility is that someone in the Daoist sect permits it."

The old man's face was grave, "However, this is no good thing."

At this moment, the image of that mountain-like obese figure surfaced in Li Jun's mind.

If the truth was as Qian Hai said, the person who permitted his existence was likely Yu Kou!

The other party keeping him alive naturally could not be out of benevolence; there could only be ulterior motives.

Li Jun remembered clearly the Yellow Turban Power Warrior he had seen in the Huangliang Buddhist Kingdom.

The other's boxing frame and moves, and the internal force contained within, all proved his former identity.

Yu Kou's move against the Gu Clan was likely also due to internal power struggles within the Qingcheng Group.

This is fucking enemies on all sides!

Li Jun suddenly felt hostility sweeping from the surrounding void, but just then.

Clang!

The sound of the copper lock catching the door rang out thunderously.

Blood surged in his body, the furious flood dragon in his heart raised its head.

A strand of knife-like ferocious anger fell upon his heart, using malice as a whetstone, the edge growing ever sharper!

What is a lone tyrant? This is a lone tyrant!

Qian Hai, standing to the side, suddenly felt waves of murderous intent, startled in his heart, "The old man spoke these words to suppress him, how did it backfire? Do Martial Sequence people have only a single gall in their bellies?"

This Gu Manor Steward hurriedly said: "The old man told you these things today with sincerity, wishing to discuss a cooperation with you."