133: Chapter 133 Another Trip to Taiping County! Steward Zhao Gets a Promotion!

Pei Lingshu rolled her eyes at Shen Yi without saying a word. She turned and walked towards the inner room.

The matter concerning Cui Zhaoyue was of great importance; she still needed to make preparations...

Seeing this, Shen Yi quickly called out, "Is it truly not graceful?"

Pei Lingshu looked as if she had lost all her strength. "Graceful... graceful!"

Shen Yi chuckled and entered the room as well. Clenching the tianyuan tongbao in his hand, he drifted into a deep sleep.

He did not use the tianyuan tongbao immediately; Shen Yi was considering the scope of its usage.

The most intuitive use would naturally be to enhance the strength of his Dao Soldiers... or to find a method for the Rakshasa Dao Soldiers to advance to the Second-Rank.

However, Shen Yi knew that a lone army is hard to sustain. Given the current scale of Qinghe Town, it simply could not afford to support Second-Rank Dao Soldiers.

Being able to maintain a scale of nearly a thousand men was only possible because he occasionally went on raids. Coupled with the treasures continuously obtained from intelligence probabilities... and the various factors of the demon-slaying order all added together, only then did he achieve such a state.

This was also the reason why others always held Shen Yi in high regard.

But he knew his own situation best; if measured by balanced requirements, his Qinghe Town having one hundred Dao Soldiers was already quite remarkable.

Current tax revenues and grain cultivation were far from sufficient to provide for these Dao Soldiers.

The tianyuan tongbao might be able to help the Rakshasa Dao Soldiers advance further, but what after that? Continue to wage war everywhere? Exist as a predatory town?

The fear was that... he would provoke someone he shouldn't. And they would all die suddenly.

Do not think that having Pei Lingshu as a backer means one can sit securely on the fishing platform. Even someone as strong as Pei Lingshu had people she couldn't deal with. That Zhao Commandery Li Family...

Furthermore, once this coffin was sent up, it would certainly cause a monstrous uproar. If he were to still attack and kill recklessly everywhere? Wouldn't that be courting death?

Therefore... Shen Yi decided to play it safe! But... the current establishment could not change. It certainly could not be reduced! This was the key to maintaining his rule...

Shen Yi considered everything in his mind, then fell into a deep sleep!

Early the next morning, Shen Yi led Wang Meng, Yan Shu, Zhou Xian, and others to Taiping County, traveling light.

Looking at it... it had been desolate and dilapidated for a long time.

It was nearing the end of the year, and logically, it should have been a scene of harmony, beauty, and prosperity.

However, the Great Black Heaven Mother Buddha Sect was aggressive, and with the added menace of Yao Beasts and the ceaseless Spirit Demon Storm, the officials of Taiping County could not help but sigh and worry.

By the roadside... white flags were fluttering. Was someone having a funeral? And they weren't of low status...

The Taiping County soldiers were seen roughly pushing the commoners aside. Their expressions were solemn...

A few strange-colored horses were seen pulling a bronze coffin. The carriage was creaking under the weight.

In front, two pale-faced youths were carrying funeral banners. Behind them, people were scattering paper money...

A sense of sorrow silently lingered in everyone's hearts. Shen Yi, however, frowned.

Among them, he saw a familiar figure. An official from the Military Affairs Department... Chu Sheng.

Chu Sheng was wearing mourning robes; clearly, the deceased had an extremely close relationship with him.

Chu Sheng seemed to sense the gaze, slowly looked up... and saw Shen Yi. A forced smile appeared on his face. He nodded...

Seeing this, Shen Yi felt helpless. Using the technique of voice transmission, he said slowly, "Please accept my condolences."

Just before Shen Yi could leave, he heard an extremely hoarse voice. It was actually Chu Sheng.

Chu Sheng said slowly, "This afternoon... at Tianxiangju Restaurant." "I have important matters to discuss with Brother Shen."

"Very well..." Shen Yi paused for a moment, then nodded casually.

Afterward, he arrived at the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce. This time, it was not Steward Zhao who welcomed Shen Yi, but a relatively young steward.

Shen Yi was a bit curious and asked, "Where is Steward Zhao? Why isn't he here?"

The young steward smiled and said, "Steward Zhao has always been meritorious... he has now been promoted to Deacon."

"He has been entrusted with important tasks by the Chamber of Commerce... and is very busy." "However, Deacon Zhao instructed me that if I see Lord Shen arrive, no matter how busy he is, I must bring you in."

Seeing this, Shen Yi nodded without saying much.

This time, there were no twists and turns. Instead, he went up the wooden stairs to the second floor of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

There were far fewer people on the second floor... He walked into a room. Shen Yi was suddenly enlightened.

The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce was indeed wealthy. Damn it, a Deacon could actually possess a palace as large as a Sumeru Mustard Seed? What about the positions above him? He didn't even dare to imagine!

He saw Steward Zhao Ping wearing a brand-new Deacon's uniform, looking triumphant, and chuckling, "Brother Shen is here?"

Seeing this, Shen Yi smiled slightly. "Brother Zhao... your speed of promotion is not bad either."

"Compared to you, it's far off..." Steward Zhao Ping waved his hand, signaled the steward behind him to withdraw, and then said slowly.

"Pingyang Prefecture issued the demon-slaying order and the expansion order; these tasks... the lower counties are competing for them."

"These things are not just simple opportunities." "Whichever county gets more things done, whichever county completes them thoroughly... will be recorded by the Promotion Department."

"It is also very beneficial for future promotions." "This counts as a sort of impression score."

"My Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's Taiping County branch and the Pingyang branch in Pingyang Prefecture naturally belong to a superior-subordinate relationship." "It is the same as the relationship between Pingyang Prefecture and Taiping County."

"When Brother Shen and I brought out the land deed and the expansion order, it was naturally because Pingyang Prefecture and the Pingyang branch had reached a consensus."

"So my share of the merit could not escape me." "These several battles, large and small, especially Wanren Cliff."

"It made my merits sufficient, and so... becoming a Deacon was just a matter of course, right?"

Steward Zhao Ping explained, and Shen Yi nodded. Since the Immortal Dynasty had developed to this point, its system was naturally extremely perfect. And naturally... it was also very bloated.

Relationships were intricate and complex, hard to describe.

Steward Zhao Ping continued, "Is Brother Shen here to look for Mountain Opening Warriors?"

"These days, the Mountain Opening Warriors are a bit busy; a vassal king of Pingyang Prefecture, the King of Pingyang, is supervising the construction of a palace." "There are no such vacancies for the time being."

"Might as well wait a bit..." "Besides, we Deacons have some discounts." "It can waive three thousand copper coins."

Shen Yi nodded and said casually, "That's a good thing."

"It's just that this time, not only do I need to transport Wanren Cliff." "I also need to transport Hanshan Temple..."

Upon hearing this, Steward Zhao Ping was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "It seems you really want to subdue these monks?"

"As a brother, I have to remind you." "This bunch of bald donkeys are not good people."

"The ascetic monks of Hanshan Temple are, after all, a minority... most of these bald donkeys are glib and stingy, full of bad intentions."

Shen Yi smiled and nodded in agreement. "Isn't it... when others are greedy, I fear." "When others fear, I am greedy."

"Just joking..." Shen Yi continued, "Besides that, I came here to purchase a batch of young and strong men..."