149: Chapter 149 Taking Advantage of the Situation! Reclaiming the Zhang Family!

Is this right?

This is just so damn right!

According to what Zhang Qi said just now, everything makes sense!

The Outsiders are a huge cake that the Immortal Dynasty has yet to deal with!

But just because it hasn't been dealt with doesn't mean others can act on their own to carve up this cake.

Outsiders are equivalent to walking mineral deposits.

Shen Yi holds the land deed... recruiting Outsiders is essentially legal mining.

It's equivalent to having proper documentation!

The responsibility for supervising this matter lies not with the Ministry of Justice, nor with the Ministry of Revenue.

But with the Grand Court of Justice, which handles foreign affairs and imperial matters.

This explains why Yuan Ping, the Commander of the Pingyang Prefecture Garrison, wanted to silence everyone.

The Grand Court of Justice is an institution that reports directly to the Emperor... if the people at the very top were to hold someone accountable.

Never mind a Garrison Commander like him, never mind a Fourth-Rank Family.

Even the Prefect of Pingyang Prefecture wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure!

How could he not be afraid?

It's just... why didn't the Garrison Commander choose to buy the land deed?

Instead of choosing... to plunder it privately?

You have to know, buying the land deed from Steward Zhao of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce didn't cost much.

And a Fourth-Rank Family has nepotistic ties with the Pingyang Prefecture yamen.

It shouldn't have cost much at all!

But very quickly, Shen Yi found the answer in his heart.

The reason is very simple...

Recruiting, enslaving, and slaughtering... the three uses of Outsiders are linked to three different outcomes.

Like Shen Yi holding the land deed, wanting to recruit them as commoners or able-bodied men... converting them into Dao Soldiers.

This counts as recruitment.

Essentially, this is finding a new path for the Outsiders to survive.

On the surface, the Imperial Court would also look much better...

They might even grant him some political merit.

After all, it promotes great racial unity...

As for enslavement, the Imperial Court's attitude should be to turn a blind eye.

After all, to them, Outsiders are people, yet also not people...

They belong to the spoils of war from the Sanchuan Sand Sea victory.

They have human rights... but it's still being planned.

It hasn't been issued yet.

So they will pretend not to see it...

But slaughter.

That must absolutely not be encouraged.

The existence of the Outsiders well supported that rare Luck of the Sanchuan Sand Sea!

In the years of being kept in captivity for who knows how long, their Luck had long been inextricably linked to the Luck of the Yao Race!

The Yao Race was beaten back, leaving only the Outsiders.

These Outsiders became the stabilizer for the fragile ecology of the Sanchuan Sand Sea.

No matter what... these Outsiders must be kept alive!

Only then can a relatively smooth transition be achieved.

And slaughter... is extremely likely to lead to some ominous events!

So before the Immortal Dynasty set down policies, the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce and many other Families had an indifferent relationship with the Outsiders... or even some goodwill.

This clears up all the hurdles... and explains why Yuan Ping wanted to kill them!

Shen Yi took a deep breath, realizing the seriousness of the matter.

He never expected that every time he went on an expedition, there would seem to be some abnormality, big or small, that appeared.

Whether it's evil cultivators, the Corpse-Driving Immortal Sect, or the Prodigy from the Hu Family's Badao Sword Sect.

He finally wanted to recruit a lackey... and it had to be linked to a Fourth-Rank Family.

It really left him speechless.

However... he wasn't overly afraid!

After all, he could be considered someone with backing now!

Zhang Qi looked at Shen Yi in front of him with piercing eyes, seemingly waiting for an answer.

Shen Yi thought for a moment, then said calmly.

"Leave this matter... to me."

"It will definitely reach a proper conclusion."

"You should rest for a while..."

Then Shen Yi stood up and said to Wu Mei in a deep voice.

"This is a serious matter."

"I'm afraid the Zhang Family can no longer stay in Panshi County."

"Although the Magistrate's Golden Seal is in Zhang Qi's hands, it is only temporary."

"That was a measure arranged by Magistrate Wei to protect Zhang Qi."

"When a new magistrate takes office, the new ruler brings his own people."

"The Zhang Family is lacking in successors, so it's clear they won't be reused."

"Leave..."

At this moment, Shen Yi revealed his true intentions.

What?

He's immoral? Profiteering?

Nonsense... if you were given such a huge opportunity, would you choose to refuse?

Obviously not!

A trace of sorrow flashed in Wu Mei's eyes.

Zhang Qi sighed repeatedly.

Wu Mei spoke up.

"Lord... before my late husband passed, he told me to take good care of the Zhang Family."

"Yet it has ended up in such a miserable state."

"Now, if I have to leave my home, I'm afraid my late husband will not be able to rest in peace!"

Shen Yi's expression remained calm, noncommittal.

Seeing this, Zhang Qi coughed weakly and asked.

"Lord... please do us a favor."

"Let me speak with the Family Head."

Shen Yi nodded casually and left the room.

The room quickly became quiet.

The candlelight shone on him, making Zhang Qi look even uglier and thinner.

Seeing this, Zhang Qi also sighed.

"The Zhang Family has been pioneering here for a hundred years... naturally, we have feelings for Panshi County."

"But matters must still be prioritized!"

"Zhang Qi knows that you are deeply affectionate, Madam, but now is not the time to be stubborn!"

"The Liu Family and the Ye Family failed in their attempt... the people behind them are likely going to lose their patience!"

"Right now, after thinking it over... the only chance lies with Lord Shen."

He paused for a moment and continued.

"I consider myself to have a good eye, and I just observed this Lord Shen... he can be described as a flawless piece of jade."

"His background is extraordinary."

"When this Lord Shen heard about that Fourth-Rank Family, he didn't show the slightest bit of cowardice."

"This wasn't an act... but rather he truly feels that the Yuan Family is nothing special."

"He is so young, yet he has already amassed fifteen hundred Dao Soldiers under his command."

"He is no ordinary person."

"The turning point for the Zhang Family may just lie with this Lord Shen!"

Wu Mei was stunned and asked.

"Do you think... this Lord Shen... can be trusted?"

Zhang Qi shook his head.

"It's not that simple."

"But this is the only path we have."

"This Lord Shen leaving us space is giving us face."

"Ever since you sent him a letter asking him to come here, Madam."

"The fate of our Zhang Family has already been bound to this Lord Shen!"

"I'm afraid this Lord Shen won't even give us a chance to refuse!"

"It looks like a multiple-choice question, but in reality, it's a mandatory choice!"

Wu Mei looked dazed.

"Did I... invite a wolf into the house?"

Zhang Qi shook his head.

"That depends on how you look at it... as of now."

"My Zhang Family has nothing that this Lord Shen would covet."

"It doesn't count as inviting a wolf into the house."

"There was no evil intent in his eyes when he looked at you..."

"I don't know what his motives are either."

Zhang Qi rubbed his head, feeling a headache, but said slowly.

"Things have come to this, so this is the only path left."

"Success or failure, we can only bet on it."

"Madam... take the Zhang Family and leave!"