Sauron received Tu Lingchen, the current master of Count Tu Ling’s residence!
“Tu Lingchen, what do you know about Finance Minister Sof?” Sauron asked.
His tone was very casual, but his gaze was fixed on Tu Lingchen’s every movement.
Behind Sof was Hidden Continent, the Dragon Temple.
Over these years, they had used astronomical sums of gold coins to seize control of the kingdom’s economic lifeline, buying off a massive interest group.
As the former top noble of the Kingdom of Fury Waves, Duke Tu Lingtu must have held enormous weight within it.
Now it depended on how Tu Lingchen answered. If he avoided the important points and dwelt on the trivial, it would show he harbored ulterior motives, still wishing to remain within this interest group, unwilling to truly serve Sauron.
If that were truly the case, even if Tu Lingtu had committed suicide, Sauron would still have to thoroughly confiscate the Tu Ling family’s property and exterminate their clan.
Tu Lingchen fell into a brief hesitation, a choice between life and death.
Once, because he had been blinded by love and jealousy, he had not appeared particularly intelligent.
But because of Tu Lingtu’s death, he seemed to have become a different person. His mind became extremely clear and wise.
He immediately sensed the meaning behind Sauron’s question.
So he faced a difficult choice. Stand on Sauron’s side, or stand on the Hidden Continent interest group’s side.
Indeed, in Tu Lingchen’s eyes, this interest group was more appropriately called the Hidden Continent interest group.
Although Hidden Continent was merely a white horse vest of the Dragon Temple, the economic infiltration of these past few years had all been completed by Hidden Continent.
After roughly half a minute, Tu Lingchen said, “Sof is no simple man. He is the spokesperson for the Hidden Continent interest group in the Kingdom of Fury Waves, and holds very great weight within the Hidden Yuan Association.”
Sauron breathed a sigh of relief.
With this sentence, Tu Lingchen had saved his own life.
Sauron said, “This interest group has carried out terrifying infiltration and bribery of the Kingdom of Fury Waves’ nobles over these past few years. Your family must have been the first to bear the brunt!”
Tu Lingchen immediately knelt down and said, “Yes, this subject is guilty.”
Sauron said, “How much did your family receive?”
Tu Lingchen said, “Not much cash, just over a hundred thousand gold coins. There are also shares in the Royal City Gold House, roughly three hundred thousand gold coins. The largest bribe was territory, one hundred and thirty li of territory.”
“What?” Sauron cried out in shock.
Territory? What right did the Hidden Continent interest group have to give away territory?
Don’t think that just because Tu Lingtu was a duke, he only had symbolic food fiefs, which altogether amounted to no more than a dozen or so square kilometers. This was completely different from feudal lords who commanded tens of thousands of square kilometers at every turn.
Yet Tu Lingchen said that the Hidden Continent group had given Tu Lingduo one hundred and thirty li of territory, which converted to a full three to four thousand square kilometers.
Tu Lingchen said, “In the provinces, prefectures, and counties below the kingdom, the Hidden Continent group first caused large numbers of farmers and landlords to go bankrupt. Then they colluded with local prefectures, counties, and governor’s offices to purchase large tracts of land, finally submitting it for Zili’s signature. In the end, these lands became the private property of the Hidden Continent interest group, distributed to the kingdom’s top nobles as lifelong territories.”
“Haha… haha…” Sauron truly could not help but burst into loud laughter.
Then he wanted to ask, didn’t anyone in the cabinet inquire about this, such as the former Minister of Personnel, Hei Mu.
Later Sauron thought, because it involved the buying and selling of large tracts of land, the cabinet did not have a department specifically responsible for this matter. The cabinet only had six ministries, no Ministry of Land.
So as the regent young lord, Zili could completely decide with a single word.
Instantly, Sauron said with some pain, “I see Zili is not such a incompetent person. Why is he so muddle-headed?”
Tu Lingchen said, “Prince Zili has no foundation at all. Some things he knew were drinking poison to quench thirst, yet he had no choice but to do them.”
Sauron said, “The treasury now has a deficit of over seven million gold coins, fully five years of the kingdom’s tax revenue.”
Tu Lingchen immediately knelt down and said, “This subject is willing to donate all family property to serve the kingdom.”
Then, Tu Lingchen said, “Actually, the so-called treasury deficit is merely the tip of the iceberg above the sea’s surface.”
“I know, but this seven million deficit is the most fatal.” Sauron said, “I am giving you a heads-up here. The Hidden Continent interest group’s infiltration of the kingdom has only occurred within a few years, so it is still not too late to deal with it now. I would rather fight another civil war, killing several hundred thousand or over a million people, than fail to uproot the Hidden Continent interest group completely.”
Tu Lingchen bowed and said, “Yes, this subject is willing to follow the lord’s lead.”
Sauron said, “Very well. In a moment I will confiscate Sof’s property and exterminate his clan. You will lead the team with Imperial Guard Commander Hei Ningqi.”
Tu Lingchen trembled. Having him personally go arrest Sof meant being irreconcilable with the Hidden Continent interest group. But by now, he had no way back.
“Yes!” Tu Lingchen said.
…
The Kingdom of Fury Waves’ Finance Minister Sof was merely a viscount.
Moreover, this noble title had been conferred after Zili seized control of the court, and to this day it had not been stamped with the king’s jade seal.
So, his residence in the royal city was not large, merely a few dozen mu.
But the splendor and magnificence inside completely surpassed imagination. Even Duke Tu Ling’s residence and Prime Minister Yan Wuji’s residence were far inferior.
“How did it go?” the Hidden Continent young lord Fang Qingyi asked.
Sof smiled and said, “Sauron was so frightened his little face turned pale, sitting there completely stunned. This man can fight wars, but handling political affairs is a complete mess, merely a political upstart. He was all-powerful having just seized control of the court. But once he tasted bitterness, he knew hardship.”
The Hidden Continent young lord Fang Qingyi smiled lightly, raised his wine cup and drank, saying, “We must weave an airtight net. Once someone enters this net, they can never escape again. Hard methods won’t work, soft methods won’t work either.”
Sof said, “An interest group is a fierce beast, a fierce beast that can devour everything. Gold coins are an even more terrifying fierce beast. Once released, wanting to lock them back is impossible. King Zibian was formidable, strictly guarding against us, not allowing us to buy shares in the Kingdom of Fury Waves’ official gold house, not allowing us to participate in land transactions, not allowing us to participate in military grain transactions. After Zili came to power, he suddenly opened everything up. With astronomical sums of money, we easily occupied the commanding heights of the Kingdom of Fury Waves’ economy, cultivating a massive interest group. No one can change this anymore. No matter who sits on the throne, it is the same. They must all listen to us, otherwise they won’t even have the opportunity to pay soldiers their wages. Without our support, their orders won’t even leave the royal palace.”
Fang Qingyi said, “Yes, so don’t be afraid to lend money. Whether it is Zili or Sauron, as long as they are willing to borrow money, they are good puppets. The more they borrow the better. Anyway, we are just moving from our left hand to our right hand.”
Sof smiled and said, “Seeing Sauron’s frightened little white face today, it was truly even more beautiful than a woman’s. It really made me feel a bit of tenderness in my heart, a bit of fluttering.”
Finance Minister Sof was a lover of pretty boys, with no discrimination between men and women.
Fang Qingyi glanced over and said, “What? Want to make him your bed companion? When he owes us ten million gold coins, perhaps there will really be an opportunity.”
“Hahaha…” Sof said, “If I have an affair with Sauron, then what relation would that make me and Zhiyan? Hahaha…”
Just at this moment, fierce sounds of horse hooves rang out outside, along with orderly yet hurried footsteps.
Fang Qingyi frowned and said, “What is happening?”
Sof said, “Could Sauron not withstand the pressure and come to us on his own initiative?”
And just at this moment, Sof’s steward rushed in, trembling as he said, “Master, disaster has struck. The imperial guards have completely surrounded our residence.”
At these words, the expressions of Sof and Fang Qingyi drastically changed.
What did Sauron mean by this?
“Go out and see!” Fang Qingyi said.
Then, under the protection of several hundred Hidden Continent warriors, the two walked out of the residence and arrived outside the main gate.
They saw the Shadow Pavilion and imperial guards jointly mobilized, over five thousand men surrounding Sof’s residence so tightly not even water could leak through. Leading them were Imperial Guard Commander Hei Ningqi, and another unexpected person, Tu Lingchen, son of Duke Tu Lingtu.
Sof’s heart trembled, his face turning cold with rage as he said, “Hei Ningqi, what do you think you are doing?”
Hei Ningqi maintained a coffin-like expression and said, “Confiscating property, exterminating the clan!”
“You dare…” Sof shouted fiercely, “I am not merely the Kingdom of Fury Waves’ finance minister, but also an elder of the Hidden Yuan Association. My milk brother is Balong, the grand inquisitor of the Zidu Tribunal! Who dares touch me? Go tell Sauron to come see me!”
Hei Ningqi paid no attention and directly waved his hand, saying, “Advance!”
Instantly, imperial guard warriors and Shadow Pavilion warriors charged forward fiercely.
“Wait!” the Hidden Continent young lord Fang Qingyi said, “Commander Hei Ningqi, this residence is Hidden Continent’s territory. The Kingdom of Fury Waves’ army has no right to trespass.”
Hei Ningqi sneered coldly, “This is the Kingdom of Fury Waves’ land. When did it become Hidden Continent’s territory? Since when does your Hidden Continent have territory?”
Fang Qingyi said, “This was bought by my Hidden Continent, personally approved by Prince Zili.”
“Hahaha…” Hei Ningqi laughed loudly and said, “Then if your Hidden Continent bought all the land in the royal city, wouldn’t the entire Zidu royal city be your Hidden Continent’s territory?”
Having said this, Hei Ningqi took out a land contract and said, “Is this the so-called land purchase contract you speak of? Very sorry, but the kingdom’s laws clearly state that non-kingdom citizens may lease land and purchase houses, but absolutely no land transactions are permitted. In other words, these houses may be yours, but this land still belongs to the Kingdom of Fury Waves. The regent duke has said that these land transactions were all Zili’s private dealings, illegal, and are immediately void!”
“Riiiiip…” Instantly, Hei Ningqi tore this land contract to shreds.
In that moment, Fang Qingyi’s face changed drastically in shock.
If this one land contract was illegal, then several thousand other land contracts would also be voided as illegal.
That involved astronomical sums of gold coins, astronomical amounts of land.
Instantly, Fang Qingyi said coldly, “Is Sauron declaring war on my Hidden Continent?”
Hei Ningqi said, “Nothing of the sort. It is merely correcting previous misgovernance. However, the regent duke has said that if Hidden Continent wishes to declare war, then even if it means fighting another civil war, killing several hundred thousand or over a million people, he will not care.”
“Advance! Arrest Sof’s entire clan, confiscate Sof’s family property.” Hei Ningqi ordered.
“Who dares…” Sof loudly ordered, “All warriors step forward. No matter who dares trespass on Hidden Continent territory, kill without mercy!”
Instantly, several hundred Hidden Continent warriors stepped forward, blocking the main gate, drawing their war blades and confronting the imperial guards!
The imperial guard commander exploded with rage. This world was truly absurd and laughable. On the land of the royal city, there were actually external warriors attempting to override the imperial guards.
At this moment he was incomparably grateful that Sauron had defeated Zili. If Zili had been allowed to ascend to power, the consequences would be completely unthinkable. By then, Hidden Continent would completely ride on the kingdom’s neck, throwing its weight around, and the entire Kingdom of Fury Waves’ citizens would become like servants.
Of course, Hei Ningqi did not know one word: colony!
Hidden Continent’s constant infiltration of the Kingdom of Fury Waves ultimately aimed to turn the entire Kingdom of Fury Waves into Hidden Continent’s colony.
First an economic colony, then a political colony!
“Hahahaha…” Hei Ningqi burst into loud laughter and said, “His Majesty the Dragon Emperor saved the human kingdoms, causing human civilization to rise once more. Everything he did was not so that his subjects could become pigs and dogs, oxen and horses for others! Let me see who dares stop me? Charge with me!”
Instantly, Hei Ningqi fiercely drew his war blade.
Count Tu Lingchen hesitated slightly, then also drew his precious sword.
The two led several hundred warriors charging forward fiercely!
And the Hidden Continent warriors protecting Finance Minister Sof showed fear on their faces, yet still did not retreat, shouting fiercely, “This is Hidden Continent territory. We are Hidden Continent warriors. If you dare advance half a step, kill without mercy!”
“Kill…!” Imperial Guard Commander Hei Ningqi fiercely slashed down with one blade.
Instantly, the Hidden Continent warrior in front was alive split in two.
What Tu Lingchen held in his hand was a precious sword, not a war blade, but he also fiercely slashed down, splitting the Hidden Continent warrior in front in two.
Then, he sighed in his heart, “Now, there is truly no way back anymore!”
“Shwish shwish shwish shwish…”
The elite warriors of the imperial guards and Shadow Pavilion madly slaughtered.
In moments, the several hundred Hidden Continent warriors blocking Sof were killed completely clean.
Hei Ningqi’s face was covered in fresh blood. Like a fierce beast, he stared at Finance Minister Sof, grabbed his neck with one hand, and said coldly, “Sof, I have endured you people for many years! Because I am His Majesty the King’s imperial guard commander, my duty is to guard the king. I could not leave the royal palace half a step! I could only watch you people throw your weight around, only watch you people trample the kingdom’s dignity, only watch that fool Zili constantly selling out his own country. I have endured you people for a very long time. Now Duke Sauron has won, Princess Zhiyan has won. I don’t have to endure anymore. I am going to massacre on a large scale!”
Sof trembled with fear and hissed, “I am a man of Hidden Continent, I am a man of the Dragon Temple…”
Hei Ningqi said, “Which hand did you just use to hand Duke Sauron two hundred thousand gold coins?”
Sof was startled. What did this mean?
“Which hand?” Hei Ningqi’s voice was like thunder.
Sof instinctively raised his right hand.
Hei Ningqi pressed Sof’s right hand to the ground, then stomped down fiercely with his iron boot.
“Boom, boom, boom!”
The hard boot ruthlessly stomped on Sof’s right hand.
Instantly, blood splattered in all directions!
“Ahh…” Sof let out an incomparably miserable scream.
Hei Ningqi’s iron boot stomped down continuously!
The first stomp, Sof’s hand bones shattered.
The second stomp, the entire hand was completely flattened.
The third stomp, the entire hand was stomped into meat paste!
“Boom, boom, boom…” Hei Ningqi’s anger accumulated over several years was madly vented.
Madly stomping.
“I have endured you people for many years! I let you trample the kingdom’s dignity, I let you sell out the kingdom’s interests!”
“Ahh… ahh… ahh… ahh…”
Sof let out heaven-shaking screams. Fang Qingshu at the side watched, his face twitching, his expression completely changed.
After stomping over a dozen times, Hei Ningqi finally stopped and fiercely lifted Sof from the ground.
Finance Minister Sof raised his right hand and discovered that everything below the wrist had completely disappeared, becoming that pile of mud on the ground!
Instantly, he let out another scream of utter horror!
“Charge in, arrest people, confiscate property! Anyone carrying weapons, kill!”
“Anyone resisting, kill!”
“Anyone cursing, kill!”
“Anyone fleeing, kill!”
“Anyone standing, kill!”
Instantly, several thousand imperial guards surged into Sof’s residence like a tidal wave!
Inside, a scene of bloody wind and rain, wailing ghosts and howling wolves!