52: Chapter 52 Arrangements... Shen Yi's Anxiety!

"Set the matter of the Shuhe Stone aside for now... we will deliberate further once the Yao Beast tide has passed."

"Shuhe Ancient Town has become a vacant lot... such structures easily attract rogue cultivators, evil entities, and even invasions by Yao Beasts... Next time, I fear we must be prepared for a fight!"

"Impossible... The land deed is still in my hands, and we have legitimate grounds... These so-called evil entities are merely specimens contributing Evil Qi to us."

"Understood, Lord Shen!"

"The commoners of Shuhe Ancient Town must be properly settled... Right, disperse them and integrate them into Qinghe Town."

In the hall, the Old Village Chief instantly understood the implication of Lord Shen's words.

When people gather together, if they are linked by Bloodline, they easily form cliques.

Such cliques would provoke prejudice among the local commoners of Qinghe Town... subsequently leading to conflict.

Qinghe Town is not what it used to be; currently, there are over three thousand commoners in Qinghe Town.

This is already quite a number; if internal strife were to break out... combined with external threats, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Shen Yi thought for a moment and continued.

"If there are women and young men of suitable age... arrange for them to intermarry."

"Keep in mind that the Rakshasa Guard and soldiers have priority."

"Additionally... this time when I go to Taiping County, I will invite a few teachers to open a schoolhouse..."

At the mention of a schoolhouse... a trace of emotion appeared in the Old Village Chief's cloudy eyes.

"Lord Shen..."

"Alright... do not be like this, go and get busy!"

"Understood!"

In the courtyard, Shen Yi looked up at the sun overhead.

A somewhat chilly wind blew in... it was clear that early winter was approaching.

Ten miles outside Qinghe Town stood several small hills. In previous years, after harvesting the rice, the commoners of Qinghe Town had to rush to the hills to chop firewood to survive the long winter.

But this year, the commoners of Qinghe Town were clearly much more at ease... because Shen Yi had not excessively deducted their copper coins.

The income of the Qinghe Town commoners this year came from two sources... One was naturally the planting of grains. Qinghe Town handed over seventy percent, with forty percent going to Taiping County... and thirty percent remained for Qinghe Town's own use.

The amount left in the commoners' hands was only thirty percent.

However, this thirty percent was actually more than the previous sixty percent.

Because many harsh and miscellaneous taxes had been reduced.

This was also the reason why Shen Yi was able to establish a firm foothold so quickly.

Besides that, there was the final wave of lingyuan rice.

Shen Yi deliberately took out ten percent of this lingyuan rice, converted it into copper coins, and distributed it to them...

Do not underestimate this ten percent; the copper coins from this ten percent were equivalent to the usual sixty percent.

In other words... the commoners who had cultivated the twenty mu of lingyuan rice fields each received nearly two years' worth of copper coins...

A full dozen or so copper coins.

It made those who hadn't been selected envious... many watched with longing, keeping their eyes peeled to see if there would be such good work next year.

Regaining his focus, Shen Yi thought for a moment and called for Yan Ping.

At the doorway... he saw Wang Meng, Di the Charcoal, and Zhou Xian standing in a row.

On the right were Yan Shu, Yan Ping, and several other martial artists.

Yan Ping walked into the room, looking humble...

Looking at Shen Yi before him, he swallowed hard.

This handsome Lord Shen... used a jade pendant to invite an Immortal.

He killed a Level 9 Qi Refining rogue cultivator who was comparable to an Immortal!

Such ability... it was simply astonishing.

Not to mention resisting... at this moment, Yan Ping was ready to prostrate himself before Shen Yi.

He could simply be described as loyal and devoted!

Following such a big figure... his future would likely be so bright he wouldn't be able to sleep!

Shen Yi looked at Yan Ping, considering the man's utility...

He did not want to put him into the Rakshasa Guard...

Instead, he wanted to place him in Taiping County.

The previous lingyuan rice, along with those few koi spirit items, had helped him open the doors to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War... giving him a bit of a reputation and earning the favor of many officials of the Immortal Dynasty.

As for the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce... there was naturally no need to say much regarding Steward Zhao.

And Wang Teng, being in Taiping County, was there to handle these interpersonal relationships, including listening to many rumors... and tracking the movements of important figures.

But as the operation grew larger and larger... one person's ability was limited.

Furthermore, Wang Teng was just a mortal and could not endure the hardship of tempering his Physical Body.

His body was very weak.

If he accidentally offended someone he shouldn't... wouldn't that be disastrous?

Therefore... Yan Ping's appearance was just right.

Seeing this, Shen Yi looked at Yan Ping.

"Right now, I am giving you two choices..."

"One... you become a commoner of Qinghe Town, and I will give you some farmland... for you to cultivate yourself."

"Second... is to go to Taiping County and follow Wang Teng's instructions; whatever he tells you to do, you just do it!"

Seeing this, Yan Ping quickly bowed.

"Lord Shen... I choose the second one!"

There was some disappointment in Yan Ping's eyes... he had originally thought he might be transferred to become a Rakshasa Guard to fight on the battlefield... but he hadn't expected this arrangement.

However, he did not say anything more... at the very least, his own safety and the villagers of Shuhe Ancient Town were all settled.

He could also rest much easier.

Shen Yi waved his hand...

"Later, I will take you with me to Taiping County... go on now."

"Call Yan Shu over."

"Yes!"

Yan Ping walked out the door... Yan Shu entered.

Yan Shu appeared calm and composed.

Relying on the incident at the ancestral hall, as well as his own talent... he knew he would be put to appropriate use.

This Lord Shen seemed to have a very pure way of judging people.

Shen Yi yawned and said slowly.

"There are currently two mu of spirit fields outside the city... you must properly protect them."

"Besides that, do you know any other Formations?"

"Something like summoning clouds and rain?"

Yan Shu awkwardly scratched his head.

"Too expensive... I couldn't afford it back then."

"..."

Shen Yi sighed helplessly and nodded, saying.

"This time when I go, I will search for them for you... besides these two daily tasks, you need to learn that Sixteen-Character Geomancy Secret Manual."

"The Sanchuan Sand Sea is vast... your role is also significant."

"There is no need for me to explain this in too much detail, right?"

Yan Shu nodded.

Shen Yi said.

"Once I become a Ninth-Rank official... I will incorporate you into the administrative affairs."

"Work hard..."

Hearing this, Yan Shu's heart trembled.

"A Loose Cultivator like me... can also get a government position?"

"Old man, Father... our family's ancestral graves are smoking with good fortune."

Shen Yi waved his hand.

Seeing Yan Shu's excited face... he knew his skill in painting grand pictures had improved again... then he waved his hand.

He called for the other three.

Looking around... he saw Shen Li exhale a breath of murky air.

"The two land deeds have been completely collected... but we must absolutely not slack off."

"Next... what we have to deal with."

"Is the Black Fiend Bandits."

"Continue to drill the soldiers... and patrol inside and out."

"When the Yao Beast tide strikes, there is no room for carelessness!"

"Understood!"

Having settled everything... he returned to the small courtyard.

To... see his supposed Sword Immortal.

Wife.