World's First Traitor System (422)

Chapter 422 - Eve of the Battle

The unrestricted printing of currency could rapidly brew the simplest and most brutal form of inflation. In this alternate world, devoid of a sophisticated understanding of financial and monetary systems, for Fan Li to manipulate these early forms of capitalist machinations was child's play.

As for how to prevent the livelihoods of ordinary people from being affected, he had long been prepared.

Fan Li had spent a month buying back the Baochao and Lingshi Quan scattered among the populace, and had stopped paying salaries with them.

Thus, within a short period, traditional currency quickly regained its dominant status in Great Chu.

During the fierce battles in Xiongzhou, Fan Li, under the guise of social welfare, distributed exorbitant amounts of Baochao and Lingshi Quan to the entire population.

These unearned notes, the moment they landed in the pockets of ordinary people, exhibited extremely poor purchasing power.

But the people of Chu didn't mind.

It was essentially free welfare. Aside from a few grumbles about Duke Jin's stinginess, most were either grateful or simply didn't care.

In the end, this carefully orchestrated financial scheme became a situation where only the Great Ci Dynasty suffered losses.

"Someone!"

"Prepare the compensation. Deliver it to Great Ci as quickly as possible. Do not delay our ally's important matters."

At Fan Li's command, hundreds of official carriages, overflowing with worthless paper, lined up neatly before the Fan Manor.

Fan Li then cupped his hands towards Liu Chan and the others. "I ask the three esteemed envoys to bear witness. My Great Chu honors its commitments and never breaks its word."

The three envoys wore peculiar expressions. But from beginning to end, Fan Li's actions had been impeccable; they couldn't find any fault.

Jin De and Miaoyin departed, carrying with them a burning resentment that had nowhere to go.

…

"Elder Sister, Fan Li deserves to die!" Jin De seethed.

"Indeed!" Miaoyin added. "Fan Li is despicable, daring to deceive us."

The two Sage Rulers returned to Great Ci and immediately reported the events to the Empress. They dared not delay.

Otherwise, if Yao Guang's wrath were to fall upon them, they couldn't bear the consequences of an Emperor's fury.

"Kill Fan Li?"

Empress Yao Guang sat high upon the Dragon Throne, her face, not beautiful but dignified and majestic, betrayed no trace of emotion.

"Unnecessary."

"Fan Li is a clever man. He knows that after Shi Jingtang and Li Yu's deaths, the time for the five kingdoms to attack Great Ming is near. I need to combine the strength of the five kingdoms to attack Jiajing. I won't touch him for now."

"But one force can overcome ten schemes. In the face of absolute power, his petty intelligence is useless. Only after Emperor Jiajing's death will I personally send Fan Li to the Yellow Springs Road."

As she spoke these words, Yao Guang's voice, uncharacteristically, carried a hint of resentment.

Clearly, this deception by Fan Li had deeply angered the Empress.

In the past, during several assassination attempts on Fan Li, Empress Yao Guang had never personally intervened.

Now, she had spoken her golden words. In Jin De and Miaoyin's eyes, Fan Li was already a dead man.

"Elder Sister, is the opportunity to attack Emperor Jiajing at hand?!" Jin De asked eagerly.

Yao Guang nodded.

"I have just received a message from Ah Chang."

"Ever since I demonstrated the miraculous effects of the [Living Earth or Xirang] to the world, years have passed. Emperor Jiajing has dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard to scour the realm, yet they have found no trace of the [Xirang]."

"That man is growing restless."

"Grand Commander Lu Bing has only reported a few suspected secret realms, yet Jiajing wants to personally investigate them."

"If not for the persistentency of Yan Song and Xu Jie, he would have already left the borders of Great Ming."

Jin De and Miaoyin were overjoyed.

"Elder Sister, those secret realms are all fabrications. We only left a few faint clues of the Living Earth, they are utterly empty. Even so, Emperor Jiajing wants to embark on a personal expedition?" Miaoyin asked.

"Elder Sister's schemes are far-reaching; how could Emperor Jiajing not fall for them?" Jin De interjected. "He never dreamed that his most beloved Imperial Noble Consort is actually a spy from the Pure Land. From years ago, his every move has been within Elder Sister's grasp."

The Golden Luan Palace echoed with the joyful laughter of the two women.

Yao Guang also smiled.

"No hurry. I am using this scheme like fishing. Only when the truly fragrant bait is released will the big fish bite. Give Jiajing some more time. Let the ministers dissuade him a few more times. Even the most receptive emperor in history has a limit to his patience."

"When that time comes, the [Nuwa Secret Realm] I have prepared for Emperor Jiajing will emerge. And I will personally wait for him along the way, to see him off on his final journey."

…

Years passed in the blink of an eye. The world remained eerily calm.

In the Southern Ridge Mountains, Fan Li's Great Jin was practically a secluded paradise, untouched by the world's strife.

But a paradise it was not, untouched by worldly affairs.

Great Jin's vigorous growth had never ceased, it was simply unknown to the world.

"Reporting to Your Majesty!"

Hu Zongxian stepped forward from the ranks of the court officials.

"I have been training troops for nine years, as per Your Majesty's decree. The army is now complete. Fifty thousand soldiers, all skilled in battle formations, horsemanship, archery, and both ranged and close combat. However, the army lacks a name. I request Your Majesty to bestow one."

Fan Li nodded in approval. "Minister Hu, you have labored diligently. I hear the fifty thousand soldiers have all cultivated the [Dragon Scale Technique]. Dragon scales, as strong as iron walls to protect the body, as sharp as swords to slay the enemy. I shall bestow the name [Dragon Scale Army]."

"I, on behalf of the soldiers of the Dragon Scale Army, kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's heavenly grace!" Hu Zongxian exclaimed excitedly.

After he retreated, Wang Ban stepped forward.

"Reporting to Your Majesty!"

"Great Jin has been established for nine years. Externally, there have been no wars. Internally, governance is stable. The national treasury is now abundant."

"Now, the time for founding the kingdom is near. I propose that, using the Yunmeng Mountains as a boundary, we construct a Great Wall to the north, to defend against enemies from the Central Plains!"

"Approved!"

Fan Li pondered for a moment, then added.

"During the construction of the Yunmeng Mountain Great Wall, I request Empress Lu Fubao to deploy defensive formations. In addition, conscript ten thousand soldiers from the five great families to serve as the Great Wall garrison."

Wang Ban accepted the decree and retreated.

Yu Shenzi and Jing Wudi both stepped forward.

"The Imperial Hospital reports to Your Majesty. I, your humble servant, was ordered to recruit three hundred medical apprentices. Over nine years, the three hundred apprentices have studied the Great Jin Pharmacopoeia and their cultivation has all reached the Nascent Soul realm. They are ready to graduate."

"The Censorate reports to Your Majesty. I, your humble servant, was ordered to search for orphans from the Yunzhou War and teach them the Night Wandering God technique. Over nine years, we have trained thirty-six Nascent Soul realm assassins and seventy-two Golden Core realm assassins."

As he spoke, Jing Wudi paused briefly, his gaze flickered towards Yu Shenzi, seemingly without intention.

He added, "The thirty-six at the Nascent Soul realm are all capable of assassinating Divine Transformation realm cultivators. The Golden Core assassins also have a chance of assassinating Nascent Soul realm cultivators."

Fan Li listened and nodded with satisfaction.

"The three hundred medical cultivators will all be incorporated into the [Dragon Scale Army] as military physicians."

"The one hundred and eight assassins will be granted imitation [Fish-Gut Swords]. After the founding of the kingdom, they will cooperate with the [Dragon Scale Army] in battle."

As Fan Li's voice fell, a 'ding' sound suddenly echoed in his mind, the system's notification.

"Enriching the nation."

"Strengthening the army."

"Defending the borders."

"The host has diligently fulfilled the duties of an emperor, meeting the reward criteria of the [Emperor's Staircase]."

"Reward: Cultivation."

"Nascent Soul Seventh Rank..."

"Nascent Soul Eighth Rank..."

"Nascent Soul Ninth Rank..."

"Divine Transformation First Rank..."

"Divine Transformation Second Rank..."

"Divine Transformation Third Rank..."

After years of diligent cultivation, Fan Li's rank in the Nascent Soul realm had already improved.

Great Jin had been established for nine years. Now was the time to reap the rewards of establishing the kingdom. The [Emperor's Staircase] also emerged to add to the occasion.

"Divine Transformation Ninth Rank!"

His realm stabilized, ceasing to increase.

Fan Li breathed a long sigh of relief.

At this moment, his eyes seemed to shimmer with divine light. His cultivation, body, and nascent soul were stronger than ever before.

Divine Transformation Ninth Rank, at the peak. Fan Li felt he had finally entered the ranks of true masters.

"I..."

Fan Li was about to express some sentiments when he suddenly received another system alert.

"Special event detected!"

"A divine beast has descended from the heavens. Host, prepare for battle!"