great-warnovel Chapter 30 First Encounter
Chapter 30 First Encounter
April 20
The twelve Qi-refining families in the southwest received a notice to attend a meeting.
The main topic was tribute.
Now that the main branch of the Liu family has taken back the tribute from the southwest region, it's natural that they need to give a warning to the families below them.
The Chen family was represented by their clan head, Chen Daoping.
However, this happened shortly after Chen Daoping set off.
A floating cloud boat landed on Tianmu Mountain.
The willow-leaf flag fluttering above already indicated the identity of the visitors—the Liu family!
The Chen clan was on high alert. Chen Daoxuan thought it was that old dog Liu Guisheng who had come, so he hurriedly summoned the clan elders who were still in the family, including Chen Chunan.
Just as everyone was on high alert, a pair of elegant cloud boots stepped out of the floating cloud boat, followed by a pair of jade-like legs.
The Chen family members were all taken aback.
Then, a soft laugh was heard from the owner of those jade-like legs: "So, your Chen clan considers me an enemy? Are you preparing to go to war with my Liu clan?"
Upon hearing the woman's voice, Elder Chen Daoxuan was instantly jolted awake, remembering the proud daughter of the Liu clan's main lineage—Liu Ruyan!
"No, no! Chen Daoxuan of the Chen clan, along with his clansmen, pays respects to Fairy Ruyan!"
Seeing that the elders and others bowed respectfully, Chen Chunan suppressed his discomfort and also bowed slightly.
Liu Ruyan slowly descended from the void and stood in front of everyone, accepting the greetings from the Chen clan with composure, though her gaze lingered on Chen Chunan for a few seconds longer.
"Oh? You know me?"
"This fairy possesses extraordinary grace and unparalleled cultivation. We, the lower clan, presumptuously speculate that she is none other than Fairy Ruyan of the Liu clan."
Liu Ruyan's reaction was indifferent: "You guessed right~ But I don't have time to listen to your flattery. I heard that Liu Guisheng promised you that you wouldn't have to pay tribute for three years?"
Chen Daoxuan forced a smile and said, "That is indeed the case, but now the main branch is in charge, and the Chen family is willing to obey the fairy's order."
Liu Ruyan looked at Chen Daoxuan with great interest: "Can you represent the Chen clan?"
The elder bowed even lower: "Before the clan leader left, he entrusted me with the affairs of the clan, so naturally I can represent the Chen clan!"
"You're quite sensible! However, you cannot escape the guilt of voluntarily siding with Liu Guisheng's lineage back then! Starting this year, your tribute will be increased to 9%!"
"9%?"
The elder's face instantly turned extremely ugly. What crime of siding with Liu Guisheng's lineage? What the hell does your internal conflict have to do with us? I don't want to pay a single cent in tribute!
Before the elder could even utter his plea, Liu Ruyan ruthlessly interrupted him: "You have no right to bargain with me! Hand over or die! The choice is yours! I want to see the full amount of supplies by August this year, or you'll face the consequences!"
As soon as Liu Ruyan finished speaking, she didn't linger. She leaped towards the Floating Cloud Boat, and at the same time, four figures flew out from the clan's territory and landed on the Floating Cloud Boat.
After a long while, once the floating cloud boat had flown away, Chen Mingchuan walked over with a grim expression.
"Uncle! Madam Liu just sent a few people to check all our properties! They left three lists, saying that this year's tax payments will be based on these lists!"
When Chen Daoxuan received the three forms, he nearly fainted.
Chen Chunan was startled and leaned over to take a look.
The three slips clearly stated: "Twenty-six mu of spiritual fields should yield 22800 jin of spiritual rice."
Lingyuan Lake's output is unknown. In previous years, 320 spirit fish were required as payment, but this year the payment has increased by 10%.
There are 12 spirit peach trees, which should produce 4200-4300 spirit peaches.
Except for Lingyuan Lake, whose output they couldn't determine, they calculated the rest very accurately.
Previously, my family paid 7% of the tribute to Liu Guisheng's lineage, but now it has increased to 9%!
They'll break your bones and suck your marrow!
This was the first time Chen Chunan had experienced the dog-eat-dog world of cultivation.
Even landlords in their past lives wouldn't dare collect rent like this!
They've left no way out for anyone!
Chen Chunan shook his head slightly.
The ordinary clansmen below, upon hearing the amount to be handed over this year, immediately erupted in uproar.
"What? 9%? What are we left? We probably won't even get a pound of spirit rice for the next year!"
"Spirit rice? There's not even spirit chaff to eat! What's the point of continuing this industry? We might as well just abandon it!"
The crowd was immediately agitated. Hearing the strong opinions of the clansmen, the elder clansman, who had been "fainting," curled his lips into a strange smile.
Upon noticing this, Chen Chunan was speechless.
He had forgotten that he had also attended the last meeting, and that the clan had long ago planned to abandon their territory and disperse into hiding.
The only challenge is how to mobilize these ordinary tribespeople.
As the saying goes, it's hard to leave one's homeland. This applies not only to Chen Chunan's previous life but also to this one.
The Liu family used to be very exploitative, but the Chen family is now considered the wealthiest alchemy family in the southwest.
Which of the spirit fields, spirit peaches, and spirit fish isn't something that other alchemy families covet?
Even if only 30% can be left each year, the resources contained therein are not a small amount. Even ordinary clansmen can get several kilograms of spirit rice a year.
Moreover, Liu Guisheng had previously promised to exempt him from paying tribute for three years.
Although many clansmen openly expressed their indignation at the plight of Chen Yunling, Chen Yunping, and others.
In reality, many people are thinking that they won't have to pay tribute next year, and their families can get a lot more cultivation resources!
It sounds cruel, but that's the reality of human nature!
They'll never know the pain until the knife falls on their own heads!
In this situation, it's impossible to mobilize people to evacuate without making things clear!
But can you explain this clearly to all the members of your tribe?
Even if everything is explained clearly, can a smooth evacuation be guaranteed?
What appeared to be a punitive and exploitative declaration by Liu Ruyan today was actually a brilliant assist!
Those who are willing to help will naturally seek a solution from the clan chief and elders.
However, this can only happen after the tribute has been collected. Only when they feel a huge difference from previous years will they think of seeking change.
As for those who have no intention of leaving and are unwilling to evacuate, all I can say is that good advice is useless to those damned devils.
Even Buddha cannot save all sentient beings, let alone the elders of the Chen clan, who are just a group of low-level Qi Refining cultivators.
The elder clan leader, who appeared to be furious, was probably secretly overjoyed!
After thinking it through, Chen Chunan could only laugh and shake his head, ignoring it.
Completely unaware that he had given the Chen family a major boost.
She was still thinking about the young man who seemed out of place among the aged faces of the Chen clan elders.
Liu Ruyan turned to an elderly man in charge of foreign affairs and asked, "Uncle Ge! Do you know anything about the young man next to Chen Daoxuan?"
The old man, addressed as Uncle Ge, bowed and said, "In response to Miss, none of the new generation of immortal talents in the Chen family have this face. Perhaps they were hidden by the Chen family before, but if they were hidden, they shouldn't be showing up today."
Liu Ruyan sneered, "Perhaps he's a hidden genius. Investigate him later; someone who can appear beside several elders of the Chen clan can't be an ordinary clansman."
"yes!"
Soon the Floating Cloud Boat landed again in the square of another Qi Refining family.
Liu Ruyan calmly instructed the group, "Continue the investigation. Don't let these cunning individuals conceal their assets! Since I'm taking charge, I must do it thoroughly! While their clan leader is away, I want to find out exactly how many assets the twelve families in the southwest possess!"
Uncle Ge's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to persuade him, but in the end he gave up.
My own daughter is so out of touch with reality, she doesn't understand the concept of things going to extremes and then reversing, so it's good that she suffers a little loss.