Protect Our Patriarch
Book 5: Chapter 144: Those who uphold wisdom will gain the world

……

Half-step Immortal Artifact?

Yao Baiquan was so shocked that he took a few steps back, his face full of envy and jealousy. He glanced at Wanwan, then at Wang Anye, as if he had a stomach full of words he wanted to say.

Even Wang Anye was slightly surprised, looking Wanwan up and down, he said, "Why didn't you mention this before?"

"Young Master Anye, look at what you're saying. We've only known each other for less than an hour," Wanwan said in a charming voice. "I can't tell you everything, can I? Besides, it's just a half-step Immortal Artifact. It sounds impressive, but it's still just within the realm of Dao Artifacts."

"You can't say it like that," Yao Baiquan wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Maybe during the Shenwu period, there were quite a few half-step Immortal Artifacts, but in our era, families that possess them are very few. Only a few families, plus the royal family and the Immortal Palace, have some, and each one is renowned, serving as the family's ultimate treasure."

"Young Master Anye, you're truly fortunate. From now on, the Wang's Clan's foundation will rise another level," Yao Baiquan, though extremely envious, didn't dare harbor any ill intentions.

On one hand, the Yao's Clan and the Wang's Clan had a good relationship, with deep cooperation in many fields. On the other hand, he had heard that his own Ancestor Yuangang, who married into the royal family, was currently a guest at the Wang's Clan.

"This time, we owe it to the Yao's Clan," Wang Anye gracefully cupped his hands. "I'll report to my great-grandfather later and ask him to help compensate the Yao's Clan. This merit should be credited to Brother Yao."

"Thank you, Young Master Anye." Yao Baiquan beamed with joy. "Since you're fine, I won't disturb your rest. I'll go and supervise the repairs of the flying boat."

After a brief exchange, Yao Baiquan left to attend to his tasks.

Wang Anye returned to the luxurious cabin of the flying boat, set up a barrier, and began a deeper conversation with Wanwan: "Wanwan, since you came from the Shenwu Heavenly Abyss, do you know anything about its interior?"

"You call it the Shenwu Heavenly Abyss, but to us, it's the final battlefield." At the mention of this, Wanwan's voice involuntarily lowered, revealing a deep fear. "The outer region demons tore open the sky, and endless demons descended. Our Third Army's Ninth Corps engaged in fierce battles with the outer region demons on the defensive line."

"We killed countless outer region demons, but their forces were too numerous. Gradually, our Ninth Corps dwindled in numbers until it was finally exhausted. My master, who was the commander of the Third Army's Ninth Corps, Yao Guifang, heroically sacrificed herself at the last moment."

Listening to Wanwan's description, Wang Anye could almost feel the tragic and desperate atmosphere of that time.

He wondered what kind of mindset those ancestors had to fight to the death and hold on until the last moment in such circumstances.

He stood up, solemnly saluting in the direction of the Shenwu Heavenly Abyss: "To the ancestors who heroically sacrificed themselves, to Commander Yao."

After a moment of silence, he asked, "I heard that His Majesty the Holy Emperor used some powerful trump card to perish together with the outer region demons, creating the Shenwu Heavenly Abyss we have today. Do you know anything about this, Wanwan?"

"I vaguely remember hearing such a rumor, but my master's status was just an ordinary corps commander, not privy to such high-level secrets." Wanwan recalled the situation, her voice trembling slightly, and even the light on her sword dimmed a bit. "I only remember that shortly after my master Yao Guifang died in battle, there was a massive explosion. Then everything went silent. I was trapped in the fragments of the broken space, enduring until this energy tide swept through my space fragment, allowing me to escape."

"Then I met you and felt that your swordsmanship was very appealing to me, as if it had great potential, so I decided to reside with you. It's a kind of fate, really."

Wang Anye knew the final battle between the Shenwu Royal Dynasty and the outer region demons was extremely tragic, but he hadn't expected it to be so severe. For a moment, he felt a heavy weight on his heart and gained a deeper understanding of the threat posed by the outer region demons.

No wonder his great-grandfather was always focused on developing strength and expanding their power. Only when the Wang's Clan had enough strength could they protect themselves in case of future disasters.

"Wanwan, can you tell me about the Shenwu Royal Dynasty?" Wang Anye attempted to gather more information to take back to his great-grandfather.

"Oh, I'm just a Spirit Artifact, I don't know much about miscellaneous things. Besides, I've been trapped in space fragments for so long, enduring countless energy tides, and many of my memories are very blurry and incomplete." Wanwan said helplessly. "If you have specific questions, you can ask, and I'll see if I can remember."

"Do you know Wang Chuanwu?" Wang Anye asked.

He was very interested and curious about this legendary ancestor of the Wang's Clan.

"Wang Chuanwu? I have a vague impression." Wanwan pondered. "I think he was a corps commander of some army group. I vaguely heard someone mention him, but I can't remember the specifics."

"Do you know Wu Panpan?" Wang Anye asked again.

"I do, I do!" At the mention of this name, Wanwan became excited. "She was the leader of our Third Army. I met her many times with my master. She was very powerful, very beautiful, and my master always idolized her."

As she spoke, her tone suddenly turned somber: "Our Third Army should have been completely wiped out, and Leader Panpan is probably also... sigh~"

Wang Anye was deeply shocked.

What kind of epic war was it, where even True Immortals would fall? It seemed that the future development path of the Wang's Clan and the human race was long and arduous.

Afterward, Wang Anye asked a series of questions. Some Wanwan could answer, while others she couldn't, as she was ultimately a weapon and wasn't always by her master's side, and her memories had been eroded by energy tides.

Eventually, Wanwan grew a bit impatient with his questioning and complained, "Young Master Anye, I'm just a Spirit Artifact. I can go chop people, no problem, but can you stop interrogating me? I really can't take it anymore."

Only then did Wang Anye apologize and put her away, letting her rest well.

Having acquired a half-step Immortal Artifact, Wang Anye was naturally pleased.

He practiced the Sword and Formation Manual, and his main combat method was the "Sword Formation." The more excellent swords, the better.

However, he had always used "Years" as the main sword and core of his sword formation. Now it seemed... he felt a bit guilty toward his master.

……

Some time later.

In the Daqian Imperial Palace, Zhuozheng Pavilion.

As the year-end approached, the temperature in Guilong City had been dropping, and even within the palace, protected by formations, it was getting colder, gradually taking on the atmosphere of winter.

Recently, with the arrival of a cold wave, heavy snow had begun to fall, covering the entire Guilong City in a world of ice and snow.

Inside the palace walls, ordinary attendants and palace maids with low cultivation had already donned thick winter clothing. The flowers and plants in the Imperial Garden were shielded with protective covers, and even the carpets in Zhuozheng Pavilion had been replaced with fire-wool rugs that radiated warmth.

At this moment, in the courtyard outside Zhuozheng Pavilion, a group of attendants, under the command of the inner guard leader Little Xiangzi, were busy shoveling and sweeping the snow off the paths, appearing busy yet orderly.

Suddenly.

A young man in a cloak strode into the courtyard.

Amidst the piled-up snow, his dark cloak stood out starkly against the white expanse, like ink spilled on white rice paper.

On the back of the cloak, a lifelike dragon pattern, meticulously embroidered by the finest embroiderers, was particularly striking.

This young man was none other than Prince An, Wu Mingyuan.

Seeing him, the attendants in the courtyard quickly stopped their work, greeting him with respect and awe. The inner guard leader, Little Xiangzi, immediately went up to support Prince An's arm.

Prince An waved to the other attendants, signaling them to continue their work, then ascended the steps and pushed open the door to Zhuozheng Pavilion.

Inside, Wang Shizhao had been busy alone for quite some time. Seeing Prince An enter, he quickly stood up and saluted, "Your Highness."

"I've told you many times, we're all on the same side, no need to be so formal," Prince An said with a hint of helplessness.

With Little Xiangzi's assistance, he removed his cloak, then took off his stiff leather boots and changed into comfortable velvet slippers before entering the warm inner chamber. He asked Wang Shizhao, "Has this year's tax report come in?"

"The Director of the Tax Bureau, Meng Yuanbai, submitted the report an hour ago," Wang Shizhao said, picking up a document from the table and handing it to Little Xiangzi. "I took a quick look. This year's total tax revenue is about twelve billion Qian gold, which is a significant increase from last year."

It's worth noting that during Emperor Longchang's reign, the annual tax revenue of the Great Qian was only four to five billion Qian gold. Even accounting for the taxes evaded by the families at that time, the current figure is double that. Moreover, this figure continues to grow each year.

This shows how rapidly the Great Qian has developed in recent years.

"Goodness, out of this twelve billion in taxes, five billion comes from Longzuo Commandery," Prince An remarked with some emotion as he flipped to a page, but then he brightened up. "With this tax revenue, we can finally fill the treasury deficit and still have a surplus."

Seeing him so pleased, Wang Shizhao hesitated but felt compelled to pour cold water on his excitement: "Your Highness, don't celebrate too soon. Take a look at this—it's next year's development plan and the estimated funds needed."

With that, he handed over another document from his desk.

Prince An took it and, upon seeing the contents, his expression fell: "Building official roads, establishing a public transportation system, setting up official schools, and creating an ironclad patrol fleet—if we do all this, won't the treasury be emptied again?"

"Yes," Wang Shizhao nodded. "The official roads are just enhancements to the existing ones, but the other projects require substantial funding. I've calculated that relying solely on tax revenue, we can only sustain until early autumn."

Though the annual tax revenue is substantial, the Great Qian is currently undergoing large-scale infrastructure projects across the country, and the border is still at war. The money is quickly spent, often flowing out as soon as it comes in.

Fortunately, in recent years, the Great Qian has earned a lot through exporting grain seeds and other goods to the Immortal Dynasty, preventing it from becoming truly impoverished.

Wang Shizhao looked at Prince An's expression: "Your Highness, should we approve this development plan? If not, I can have them redo it."

"Approve it! How can we not?!" Prince An's heart ached, but he gritted his teeth and said, "The Great Qian is in a period of rapid development, and we can't afford to slow down. Otherwise, it will affect a series of subsequent plans."

At this point, he suddenly glanced at Wang Shizhao with a hint of slyness: "Shizhao, I heard your family made quite a stir in Northern Zhou and the Yan Kingdom this time, earning a lot."

Wang Shizhao immediately became alert: "Your Highness, the spoils of war from supporting foreign troops are considered military achievements and are exempt from taxes according to national policy."

"Who said anything about taxes?" Prince An was speechless, but recalling the intelligence reports he received earlier, he couldn't help but feel envious. "If I had known that sending troops to the Yan Kingdom would be so profitable, I would have dispatched the Imperial Guard as well. Then we wouldn't be worrying about construction funds now."

"……"

Wang Shizhao was speechless.

Your Highness, did you think this through?

The Imperial Guard is one of the nation's trump cards, rarely mobilized except for rotations on the outer region battlefield.

Not to mention that we're still at war with neighboring countries. Even in peacetime, if Prince An dared to send the Imperial Guard to another country, Southern Qin and the Western Jin Dynasty would likely seize the opportunity to attack the Great Qian while its rear is vulnerable.

"No, I must have a good talk with Wang Shouzhe." After his initial envy, Prince An gradually calmed down. "With so many spoils of war, the Wang's Clan can't digest them all at once. It's better to lend them to me for national development. What was that term again?"

"Oh right, 'loan.'"

This time, Prince An couldn't avoid borrowing from Wang Shouzhe.

……

Not long after.

Longzuo Commandery, Changning Garrison.

Wang's Clan Main Residence.

With years of development and the increasing number of clan members, the Wang's Clan Main Residence had expanded significantly, almost outgrowing Ping'an Town.

Yet, despite this, the residences near Zhuhui Lake remained the homes of important clan members. Wang Shouzhe, Wang Shouyong, Wang Shoulian, and their brothers, as well as Wang Long Yan, Wang Xiaohan, Wang Dingzu, and Wang Dinghai, all had homes nearby.

Of course, several dozen guest houses were also built to accommodate relatives from allied families when they visited.

Not far from Wang Shouzhe's courtyard was a tranquil and spiritually rich small courtyard named "Hidden Dragon Cottage."

This cottage was ideally located, with abundant spiritual energy and a touch of immortal spirit energy from Li Xian. It was planted with many exotic flowers and plants, and its overall layout was serene and elegant, offering a sense of secluded charm.

The Hidden Dragon Cottage was a leisure guest house built at the strong request of Prince An.

However, due to his busy state affairs, Prince An rarely had time to visit, having only been there two or three times since its completion.

At this moment.

In the garden pavilion of the Hidden Dragon Cottage, two distinguished figures were sipping tea, playing chess, and chatting, with several attendants serving them.

One of them was, of course, the rarely visiting Prince An, and the other was naturally Wang Shouzhe.

As the year-end approached, while Guilong City was covered in snow, Longzuo Commandery still enjoyed clear weather, though the temperature had dropped somewhat.

Unknowingly, it had been 114 years since Wang Shouzhe first entered the capital.

Over the years, the Great Qian had changed significantly, with a brighter future ahead. Even Zhao Zhikun, who had defected and received a reduced sentence, had long since completed his sentence and gone to the Immortal Dynasty. Reflecting on it, there was a sense of the vicissitudes of time.

Having experienced so much, both men's temperaments had changed considerably compared to the past, exuding a calm and steady aura from the passage of time. Even in casual home attire, they commanded respect and awe.

"Hahaha~" Prince An won another game of chess, feeling refreshed and laughing heartily. "Shouzhe, your chess skills are as weak as ever, reminding me of our carefree days in Guilong City."

Most chess masters don't enjoy playing against weaker opponents because it's too easy and lacks a sense of achievement.

But Wang Shouzhe was no ordinary novice. Beating him was uniquely satisfying.

"Your Highness is busy with state affairs, especially during the year-end when there are many trivial matters. Your visit to the Wang's Clan this time can't just be to reminisce about my chess skills, can it?" Wang Shouzhe calmly packed up the chessboard, collecting his pieces with a serene demeanor. "If you have any requests, just say so. We're all busy, let's save each other's time."

"Hehe~ I just love seeing you with that faintly exasperated look, Shouzhe." Prince An stretched lazily, chuckling with satisfaction, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Ahem!" Wang Shizhao, serving nearby, couldn't stand it any longer and coughed to remind him, "Your Highness, don't forget the main business."

Business?

Right.

Prince An suddenly remembered he had business to attend to. He took a sip of immortal tea and said seriously, "Shouzhe, here's the situation. I have a few major projects to start. Considering our family ties and all the help you've given me, I'm inviting you to participate."

"Your Wang's Clan just needs to invest money, and once the projects succeed, you'll be one of the biggest beneficiaries. The projects are as follows..."

Wang Shouzhe listened intently to Prince An's smooth and confident presentation, his expression serious.

After a while, he clapped his hands and said, "This is truly a case of position determining perspective. Your Highness, after being in such a high position for so long, your thinking has indeed become impressive."

"Shouzhe, what do you mean by that?" Prince An's serious expression faltered slightly, feeling a bit awkward, sensing that Wang Shouzhe's words had a hidden meaning. "If you have any dissatisfaction with the projects or rewards, we can discuss it. There's no need for such sarcasm."

"Your Highness, you should look in the mirror. Your face is practically saying one thing," Wang Shouzhe chuckled while sipping tea. "I, Prince An, need money! Your Highness, do you really think I'm that naive?"

"Pfft!" Wang Shizhao couldn't hold back his laughter. "Your Highness, I've been telling you not to play these games. With my grandfather, it's better to be straightforward."

Playing these tricks and not getting caught would be strange.

"Ahem~"

Prince An awkwardly glared at Wang Shizhao, then, with a smile, poured more tea for Wang Shouzhe and began to complain: "Don't laugh at me, but being the supervising prince is truly exhausting. If I had known, I wouldn't have wanted this position back then. Now, our Great Qian lacks money everywhere. Even a clever housewife can't cook without rice. Considering our past..."

"Stop..." Wang Shouzhe quickly interrupted him. "You want to borrow money, right? Just say so, no need to beat around the bush."

"Yes, yes, it's about borrowing money, two billion immortal crystals." Prince An grinned, "Don't worry, I'll borrow it in the name of the Great Qian, with interest as agreed."

"Two billion immortal crystals?" Wang Shouzhe squinted at Prince An. "Your Highness, how did you get so bold? Two billion immortal crystals is a full two hundred billion Qian gold."

"Based on my calculations, our Great Qian's annual national tax is only about eleven or twelve billion Qian gold. With the current development speed, this money might not be enough, and there won't be much left. Even if we assume you can save one billion Qian gold a year, it would take at least two hundred years to repay this debt, not to mention the interest."

"Shouzhe, your calculations are off." Prince An argued confidently, "You also mentioned our Great Qian's rapid development. Although the current national tax is only twelve billion Qian gold, will it remain the same in ten or twenty years? If the treasury has this money, the Great Qian can quickly get on the fast track. Once the economy develops well, we might be able to repay the debt in twenty or thirty years."

"Even if Your Highness is right, how can our Wang's Clan, a mere fourth-grade family, possibly come up with two billion immortal crystals?" Wang Shouzhe chuckled. "Such an amount is astronomical even for a first-grade family."

"Shouzhe, you're being unfair." Prince An pursed his lips, giving him a sidelong glance. "Let's not talk about other things. Just the recent order for black armor from the Immortal Dynasty could earn your Wang's Clan a fortune. And how much did our Fugui make from the recent battle? That's 5.5 billion, plus a Dao Artifact!"

With all that, you're still telling me you don't have money?!

Prince An was truly envious of the Wang's Clan for producing a "God of Wealth" like Wang Fugui. Despite sending many children from the Wu's Clan to study at the Wang's Clan School, why hadn't they produced such talent?

"Since Your Highness sincerely wants to borrow, I can't refuse you." Wang Shouzhe leisurely sipped his tea and said, "I did hear that Fugui made some money, but those are hard-earned merits from Fugui and Anye. We can't just lend it to the treasury for nothing, can we? How about this: our Wang's Clan can lend the treasury one billion immortal crystals, with an annual interest rate of three percent, to be repaid within thirty years. How does that sound?"

"Three percent?" Prince An's eyes widened. "Shouzhe, isn't that interest rate a bit high? In just thirty years, it'll double."

"If it's not a bit high, how can I give Your Highness some pressure and motivation?" Wang Shouzhe said leisurely. "Besides, it can prevent you from having too much free time and rapidly improving your chess skills."

In this world, due to the generally slow economic growth and the long-term business strategies of families, large loans often have low interest rates.

"Revenge, Shouzhe, this is revenge! If I had known, I would have let you win a few games on purpose." Prince An regretted deeply, feeling the pressure.

But after carefully considering the Great Qian's development speed, he found the interest rate acceptable.

"However, one billion immortal crystals may seem like a lot, but with the Great Qian undergoing a series of reforms, there are too many places that need funding. Investing this money in the entire Great Qian's construction is still a bit insufficient." Prince An frowned again. "Can't the Wang's Clan squeeze out a bit more?"

"Your Highness, our Wang's Clan isn't a cash cow, and we also have many expenses and development plans." Wang Shouzhe laughed, then took out a plan and placed it in front of him. "However, I happen to have a plan here. Your Highness can take a look; it might solve the urgent need."

He knew Shouzhe would have a solution.

Prince An's eyes lit up as he took the plan and began to read.

However, after seeing the contents, his expression fell again: "Shouzhe, are you crazy? If I really do this, the old princes and dukes in the Ancestral House will criticize me to death."

"Without madness, there is no life." Wang Shouzhe's expression gradually turned serious. "The situation is becoming increasingly tense. We don't know how much time the outer region demons have left us for development. We must develop as quickly as possible. The stronger we are, the more opportunities for survival we'll have."

Hearing this, Prince An's expression also became solemn: "Shouzhe is right. I'll take on this plan! Even if it means being crushed to pieces, I'm willing."

Suddenly, his expression turned a bit strange: "Shouzhe, despite saying this, I can't shake the feeling that I've fallen into your trap this time. It seems like you're trying to pass the buck."

"How could that be? Your Highness is the capable one, and you should bear more responsibility."

"No, no, no, Shouzhe, you're the taller one, so you should bear the heavier burden."

"Your Highness, don't be modest. When Heaven bestows a great task upon a person, it first tests their resolve."

"Shouzhe, are you saying the title of a fourth-grade family is too small for you? No problem, I can make you a king of a different surname, and our Wu and Wang families can share the world."

"Your Highness, you're dreaming too beautifully. I won't take the blame."

"……"

……