Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 244 - 241: Sudden Disaster!

Chapter 244: Chapter 241: Sudden Disaster!

Splash... Splash...

Under the clear moonlight, the white waves lapped against the sandy beach.

Huang Wu, Lady Peach Fairy, Nie Hongying, and Xing’er, having finished their official duties, were playing in the sand by the sea.

Joining their play were two huge water snakes, one black and one red, each as thick as a water bucket.

They were the twin daughters of Little Concubine Mrs. Long Shao—Zisu and Hualing.

"Sister, the fish here tastes so good!"

"Silly Hualing, you think everything edible tastes good."

"Wuuu... Xiao Wu cousin, Sister is bullying me again."

Silver bell-like laughter rippled endlessly along the beach.

Among them, Golden Official Nie Hongying had almost had her soul scattered due to the Inverted Taoist’s "Name Calling Falling Horse Skill."

After her ghost transformation, her memory loss was severe, making her appear exceptionally indifferent.

But after so long, her "self" was gradually being rebuilt.

The blade-sharp coldness of her demeanor had softened considerably from the beginning, and she was slowly regaining the vitality fitting for a young girl.

Moreover, since Wang Yuan assumed the role of acting City God, with the convenience of the divine position, his ability of "Exorcism" had grown increasingly formidable.

Each morning, he would cast an "Exorcism Seal" on her and Huang Wu, allowing their once dormant memories to finally start to awaken slowly.

As her Taoist Ability increased, there would come a day when she could revert to her complete self.

Wang Yuan withdrew his gaze and noticed Zhou Jinghuan, who had just returned from a naval base in Ninghai State, staring into the distant sky, lost in thought. Wang Yuan teased him,

"What’s the matter, Big Cousin? Thinking about a girl?

You’re twenty-seven or twenty-eight already, haven’t you thought about taking a wife? Or is it that Emperor Jianming doesn’t take much notice of you and hasn’t arranged this lifetime matter for you?

Oh, right, those women from Tanhuan Country and Moluo Country you brought back have a certain exotic charm. Home flowers don’t have the fragrance of wild ones, brother, I understand you!"

Upon hearing this, the now attentive Zhou Jinghuan hurriedly denied,

"No, no, no, we can’t talk like that anymore.

Those women from the small countries were brought back as gifts for you. It’s your own fault for not having the guts to take them, what does it have to do with me?"

At these words, a hint of suspicion suddenly appeared in Wang Yuan’s eyes,

"Can’t talk like that? Something’s off with you!

My intuition tells me there’s definitely something going on!

You couldn’t have taken the opportunity of this transfer of personnel to meddle with officials of Dengzhou Prefecture, and brought back an old flame from the Capital, could you?"

Zhou Jinghuan was indeed back to welcome the staff who had arrived in Dengzhou Prefecture.

To be a ruler, valuing talented people is fundamental; no matter what one thought internally, it was necessary to maintain outward decorum.

This was exactly the kind of thing Wang Yuan didn’t have the patience for; managing people was far more troublesome than managing spirits.

Zhou Jinghuan deliberately ignored this subject and slapped Wang Yuan’s shoulder hard, diverting the conversation,

"Hahaha, let’s not talk about this. Let’s continue discussing the strategy you mentioned to extend the dynasty’s lifespan.

Explain to me why tax reform is key, and how it can lead to a twofold increase in sources of wealth?"

When it came to serious matters, Wang Yuan no longer teased his Big Cousin.

Having resolved to do something significant, it was naturally better to start early. He continued where he left off,

"As a ruler of a power, one must acknowledge a major premise.

Limited by the nature of an agricultural society, without massive external changes such as a production boom, the annual output of a great unified dynasty remains fixed.

There’s no increase, only existing resources, which may even diminish significantly during disaster years.

There’s no need to consult the Ministry of Revenue for statistics; everyone knows how precarious Great Yan’s finances have become.

And it is widely acknowledged that the ’Human Willpower’ of a dynasty isn’t completely intangible as it has tangible carriers:

The corvee, taxes, foodstuff, cloth, and talents that people contribute to the Court all form part of the ’Dragon Qi Prohibition’.

In other words, Dragon Energy is limited by the population, which is constrained by resources, leading to the fact that over thousands of years in Red County Shenzhou, there has been little significant breakthrough in the overall ’Dragon Qi Prohibition’.

Neither advancing nor declining – insufficient initiative during prosperous times and total disarray during the end times."

Seeing Zhou Jinghuan engrossed in this theory, Wang Yuan proceeded,

"Don’t be fooled by Emperor Jianming’s pretense of being thoroughly dedicated; it’s all blind action. The series of reforms he has made do not touch on the core issues.

First, the interests of the scholar class are not aligned with those of the state.

In the south, commodity production and maritime trade are highly developed, lacking only an efficient source of power. The foundations for a surge in productivity are all present.

Yet Great Yan’s business tax is a huge black hole of Dragon Energy that nobody dares to touch.

Only when everything is pushed to the brink of collapse can order be openly reestablished."

"Second, the pie must be enlarged rather than merely redistributed.

Gather the most ’knowledgeable’ Mages from various fields to find ways to improve overall societal wealth output efficiency, be it food or industrial products.

If the output resources created by the Yan Han people could expand tenfold, then the power of ’Dragon Qi Prohibition’ would also invariably be ten times stronger.

By that time, there’ll be no place for demons and ghosts to exist anywhere in Red County Shenzhou!"

Speaking of this future, Wang Yuan’s eyes shone brightly, evidently harboring grand hopes for that envisioned future.

To reverse the world’s mutation process, billions of common people and powerful mages alike were the main force in battle.

Absorbed in the discourse, Zhou Jinghuan couldn’t help but ask,

"What then is this power source that could replace manual labor and significantly boost productivity?"

However.

Before Wang Yuan had a chance to reply, a piercing and chilling voice suddenly emerged from the woods to the side of the beach:

"Ha, His Majesty is indeed incredibly perceptive.

Prince Jing, your traitorous intentions are transparent as day. Are such matters of the state for a vassal king like you to comment on so casually?!"

Wang Yuan and Zhou Jinhuan both started with shock at the same time.

Before this person spoke, neither of them—one a Yin God Realm Mage and the other at the peak of Dao General—had detected the other’s presence.

Instantly, they whirled around like lightning, as if facing a mortal enemy.

Soon after, they saw a slender old man with a dark expression on his face, yet dressed in luxurious bullfighting clothes, slowly stepping out from the shadows of the trees under the moon.

Wang Yuan did not recognize who this person was, but Zhou Jinhuan’s pupils suddenly narrowed as he said haltingly:

"Treasure Bureau Inner Official Lv!"

The visitor was indeed a eunuch from the palace, and moreover, he was Lv Jingde, the Imperial Eunuch of the Treasure Bureau, one of the twelve bureaus of the Inner Court.

The supreme supervisor of the former tomb guardians of Daling Village was the Divine Palace Supervisor among the twelve bureaus.

During the Great Yan dynasty, those eunuchs in the palace held immense power, far beyond what a mere government office title could describe.

As close attendants to the Emperor, they were an extension of the Emperor’s power. When they moved outside the palace, it was not an exaggeration to say they directly represented Emperor Jianming himself.

Just as the two, who were eagerly planning momentous schemes, ran into such a character, one could imagine how their mood plummeted.

It was as unpleasant as swallowing a fly.

"Prince Jing Zhou Jinhuan, receive the Imperial Decree!"

Inner Official Lv, utterly indifferent to the latent hostility of the two men, held up an imperial decree wrapped in jade scroll yellow silk and read it in his emotionless, chilling voice:

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Jing Zhou Jinhuan possesses only the capability of a Dao General and is unfit for major responsibilities.

Effective immediately, hand over the command of Long Water Camp and retire to your mansion with no leave to exit without decree. Let it be known!"

After reading, Inner Official Lv lifted his eyelids, his face forming a mockingly cold smile, and said:

"Prince Jing, come and receive the decree."

"Stripped of power? Confined?!"

Hearing the decree, the complexions of Wang Yuan and Zhou Jinhuan changed drastically, and they exchanged a glance as their moods sank to rock-bottom.

Although the seal on it showed that this was an imperial decree issued from the Inner Court, representing only the Emperor’s will without going through the Cabinet or informing the courtiers,

they understood without a doubt it conveyed the Emperor’s intentions.

If Zhou Jinhuan truly were a public-spirited filial and wise person, he would probably not even understand why he had fallen into such misfortune.

But after uniting with Wang Yuan and Huang Wu, he was very clear about the whole story.

This Jianming Emperor, who had long been deranged with the desire to maintain power, clearly would not allow any accidents to shake his imperial position, preemptively removing Zhou Jinhuan’s status to safeguard against future risks.

At this very moment, "Yunhe Bridge" and Qingyan, locked behind the Living Dragon Gate, were the Emperor Zhou Wenrui’s absolute taboo!

Normally, letting Zhou Jinhuan command the troops caused no issue, but now that there were only a little more than three months until the Dragon Gate Festival on February 2, no accidents could be tolerated.

No wonder, after applying the "Sacrificial Technique · Five Grains Harvest," there had been no proper response for such a long time; it turns out, malice had been brewing here.

’This is troublesome,’ thought Wang Yuan.

The situation had been looking up until now; all they needed to do was to proceed step by step.

Even though the process was bound to be fraught with grave dangers, saving Qingyan amidst the power struggle between Emperor Jianming and the One-Eyed Stone Man was actually not a small chance of success.

But just as they were full of confidence, they had their plans thoroughly undermined.

Moreover, the two of them didn’t realize yet that another official, already halfway there with the decree, was en route.

He was to oversee the Yang Officials and eliminate all those who would destroy the "Yunhe Bridge."

Zhou Wenrui, seated in the Dragon Court, had merely flicked his finger to launch a combination of blows.

Combining his forces from above and below, after pulling the rug from under them, he would then douse them with a bucket of icy water, completely severing the possibility of rescuing Qingyan!

His message was clear.

I care not for the No-Life Dao’s schemes or if they have any ulterior motives, but as long as the "Yunhe Bridge" stands unharmed and my imperial throne is secure, all will be well.

Just as the two were frantically thinking of strategies, they heard Inner Official Lv speak again:

"Wait! His Majesty has another oral decree."

The old eunuch stared intently at Zhou Jinhuan, a cold glint in his eyes, and the words he spat out were like bitter winter wind:

"The decree states: Times have changed, and it is ordered that Inner Official Lv shall strip Zhou Jinhuan of his martial arts and military skills. Return to the mansion and live out your days as a wealthy prince."

If the previous decree still contained a chance for Zhou Jinhuan to rise again, having already awakened to the Extreme Intent of Military Skill and not far from breaking through to the fourth realm of Military Leader,

these so-called "oral decrees" spelled out a real death sentence for Zhou Jinhuan.

Just as Zhou Jinhuan’s face turned ashen,

Boom—!

An explosively fierce aura suddenly burst from the old eunuch, his lone presence imposing as if he were a thousand troops.

In the face of this man, Wang Yuan and Zhou Jinhuan felt as though they were standing naked in the snow, with harsh winds all-around, utterly isolated without anything to shield them.

The bone-chilling intent to kill caused every hair on Wang Yuan’s body to stand on end as he managed to squeeze out a sentence from his constricted throat:

"You are a Military Leader of the fourth realm of Military Skill!"

But Zhou Jinhuan, after his initial shock, thought of much more, his eyes sharpening:

"No, that cannot be. Although my father is parsimonious, he would never destroy his own defenses; he has only three sons after all. You castrated cur, dare to deliver false decrees?

Who have you pledged allegiance to? Is it my imperial brother Zhou Jingzhi, or is it my younger brother Zhou Jingliang?!"

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