Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1539 - 1532: Main Hall Meeting

Chapter 1539: Chapter 1532: Main Hall Meeting

Not until all the tea had been served did Dongliang Yu realize this point, and he hastily stood up and said, "My apologies, I did not notice the inconvenience to the two of you, I will leave now. Please enjoy your tea."

"There’s no need to be so formal, please take a seat," Cheng Ziang waved his hand and then whispered something to Feng.

Hearing his words, Feng picked up the tea, turned her back to Dongliang Yu, and started drinking with gulps. After the long fight, she was indeed very thirsty.

"Please take a seat," Cheng Ziang signaled again.

"I have offended..." Dongliang Yu nodded with some guilt and then sat down again.

"The Superior Lord must already know our intentions, so I will not beat around the bush. We have come concerning the matter of taxation in this area, and we hope the Superior Lord can give us an explanation so we can give one to the townspeople as well," Cheng Ziang said seriously.

"The Manor Lord should know, the Wuyun Sect’s standing is all reliant on the taxes from this area. We collect on behalf of the Imperial Court and give proceeds to the Court, what is wrong with that?" Dongliang Yu said with a smile.

"But you are collecting far too much," Cheng Ziang said with a slight frown.

"Oh, so the reason you came is concerning the taxation issue, right?" Dongliang Yu asked.

"Exactly," Cheng Ziang nodded.

"Then, do you understand that the additional taxes we impose are mostly merchant taxes? As for the land taxes, we basically collect on behalf of the court for free, this point has not yet been understood by the Manor Lord, right?" Dongliang Yu asked with a smile.

"Indeed," Cheng Ziang nodded honestly.

"To speak truthfully, those merchants don’t want to pay a single penny. The Manor Lord hopes to collect less, they hope for no collection, and so disputes arise, and they even resort to murder to silence and frame our Sect," Dongliang Yu said, slowly narrowing his eyes.

"You know about this matter?" Cheng Ziang’s expression also became grave.

"How could we not understand, when the affair happened within the jurisdiction of the Wuyun Sect?" Dongliang Yu said with a smile on his face.

Cheng Ziang was anxious because this event had occurred the night before last. The next day Dongliang Yu had approached them and then took them back to the Sect.

In less than two days, Dongliang Yu already knew about the event and even understood it clearly, knowing it was the townspeople who were responsible. Indeed, the Wuyun Sect had their informants in town.

"The Manor Lord may not know why the Wuyun Sect specifically targets merchants," Dongliang Yu continued.

"Please, enlighten me," Cheng Ziang said respectfully.

"Merchants profit greatly from trading Origin Ore from the West Outer Heaven, making substantial profits each trip. If this continues, everyone will long for such profit, leaving no one to till the fields or be fishermen. Therefore, imposing heavy taxes on them is also to curb this trend, to prevent everyone from following suit," Dongliang Yu explained.

"That does make sense," Cheng Ziang nodded in agreement.

In such a feudal era, the development of productive forces was not sufficient to meet population growth. If everyone engaged in commerce or mining, it would lead to massive amounts of farmland left untended, further leading to a decline in productivity and causing a severe food crisis.

Trade belongs to the circulation phase, while agriculture and hunting belong to the production phase. Again, if everyone focussed on wealth from circulation, production would verge on collapse.

The total wealth remains the same, excessive internal competition would lead to serious waste.

It’s like dividing a cake; the cake has a fixed size, no matter how it’s divided, some will be dissatisfied. The best solution to this problem is to increase the total size of the cake so that even a small portion can meet basic living requirements.

The production phase is like making the cake, and the circulation phase is like dividing the cake. With the government’s regulation of commercial activities, the cake can be divided properly, ensuring social stability.

That is why, in the feudal era, dynasties always tended towards favoring agriculture over commerce. Without emphasis on agriculture and control over commerce, the total wealth could not increase, indirectly leading to social tension. For stability, even if it meant subsidies, the Imperial Court had to keep people tilling the fields to increase society’s total wealth.

"But this matter should be arranged by the Imperial Court," Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but say.

No sooner had he spoken than he regretted it, seeing Dongliang Yu looking at him with a sly smile.

Indeed, how could the Fengyu Dynasty have the capacity to govern? Almost all the cities in this area are locally autonomous, the Imperial Court can’t even collect taxes, let alone meddle in other affairs.

"But still, my lord, by only providing the Fengyu Dynasty with the minimum amount of taxes and keeping the rest for yourself, isn’t that a bit unkind? After all, this is still the territory of the Fengyu Dynasty." Taking a deep breath, Cheng Ziang steeled himself and said to Dongliang Yu.

"If it weren’t for us, the Imperial Court wouldn’t be able to collect a single penny. Because of us, the Imperial Court has an additional source of income. Isn’t this a win-win situation?" Dongliang Yu asked with a smile, spreading his hands.

"Then, looking at it this way, the land of the Wuyun Sect must be quite fertile. Such an attractive position and no one coveting it? That seems a bit hard to justify, doesn’t it?" Cheng Ziang suddenly changed the topic with a new question.

"Although I reside in Fengyu, I am, after all, of the Dongliang family. Even though the Anxiang family is the great power in Qi State, the Dongliang family is also an aristocratic family with a significant reputation," said Dongliang Yu, his face displaying a hint of pride.

"It seems that although you reside in Fengyu, your heart is still with the Tiansheng Empire," Cheng Ziang said with a smile.

He dared not use the term ’Dongsheng,’ for it was a term used by the Demon Clan to describe the Tiansheng Empire; besides the Demon Clan, no one else used this term.

"I heard that you gentlemen came from the West to the East, hailing from foreign nations. What relation do you have with those foreigners from Abisien?" Dongliang Yu inquired.

"Oh, my lord is even aware of the foreigners from West Outer Heaven?" Cheng Ziang asked without changing his expression.

"Of course I am aware. Not only that, but I also know that the foreigners helped the Demon Clan defeat the Heavenly Army’s conquest," Dongliang Yu said with narrowed eyes and an increasingly broad smile.

"They are our compatriots. We heeded their call and came here to end the war in the East Continent, to spread goodwill in the East, and to nip the threat of war in the bud," Cheng Ziang said without blinking.

"Oh, is that so?" Dongliang Yu wore an expression of indifference.

"Do you not believe me or do you not believe in the divine might of the saints?" Cheng Ziang inquired.

"That’s just a Nascent Soul, nothing to fear," Dongliang Yu said at a leisurely pace.

"Nascent Soul?" Cheng Ziang instinctively paused.

Dongliang Yu seemed to realize he had misspoken, blinked, and quickly recovered, deciding to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"How do you gentlemen plan to end the war?" Dongliang Yu asked.

"By displaying might through martial prowess and persuading with reason," Cheng Ziang replied.

"I am ignorant, please elaborate," Dongliang Yu requested.

"By repeatedly persuading with reason, we aim to convince others," Cheng Ziang responded.

"And if the other side does not comply?" Dongliang Yu inquired.

"If they do not comply, we continue to persuade until they do. We will not interfere with other’s affairs without cause, and will only bring welfare to the people in our way," Cheng Ziang stated.

"Forgive my frankness," Dongliang Yu said, "but the world is filled with complex grievances and endless wars. It seems overly idealistic for a few of you to think you can achieve universal peace."

"Of course we are aware of the many disasters in the world, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The main purpose of our journey is to resolve the conflict in West Outer Heaven. If we succeed, we will then consider seeking welfare for the world," Cheng Ziang explained.

"Oh, so it is for the conflict in West Outer Heaven that you have come?" Dongliang Yu asked with some surprise.

"Our compatriots are trapped in West Outer Heaven, once facing a life or death situation. Naturally, our first priority is to resolve the conflict in West Outer Heaven," Cheng Ziang replied.

"And how do you plan to resolve the conflict in West Outer Heaven?" Dongliang Yu asked curiously.

"We plan to travel west into Kyushu and seek an audience with the Heavenly Dynasty, to pray that they will never again invade West Outer Heaven. This way, all the people of the Demon Clan in West Outer Heaven will be protected," Cheng Ziang stated.

"Admirable ambition," Dongliang Yu clapped his hands involuntarily but quickly added, "Yet it still seems a bit too idealistic."