Hidden Continent Young Master Fang Qingyi fell into deep anxiety!
After years of ruined governance, the taxes paid by the provinces, prefectures, and counties below the Furious Wave Kingdom to the royal court, as well as the taxes from noble territories, were all greatly reduced. And they could not even be collected properly.
This was inevitable. When central authority was weakened, local forces would become arrogant and rampant.
Especially in the final two years, because of Suolun’s rise, Zhili had to rely on nobles and lords. Local forces became even more brazen.
Many industries belonging to the royal court were successively infiltrated by the Hidden Origin Society, becoming breeding grounds for noble and official corruption.
Previously, under normal circumstances, the kingdom’s annual tax revenue plus income from royal industries was approximately around 2.6 million gold coins. And now, how much was the actual fiscal revenue truly handed over to the royal court each year? Only heaven knew.
Therefore, the monthly expenses needed for the kingdom’s operation were all borrowed by Zhili’s signature from the Wangcheng Gold, and Wangcheng Gold in turn borrowed from the Hidden Origin Society.
In Fang Qingyi’s view, as long as he cut off the Furious Wave Kingdom’s monetary lifeline, Suolun should compromise.
However, Suolun did not compromise.
Then Fang Qingyi threatened to expose the truth of the kingdom’s massive deficit, letting this volcano erupt.
Suolun still did not compromise.
Now, the gold coin reserves in the Wangcheng Gold vault had vanished without a trace. In Fang Qingyi’s view, this was the killing blow against Suolun.
The gold coin inventory in the Wangcheng Gold vault was undoubtedly Suolun’s greatest confidence.
Once these gold coins were lost, even with heaven-defying abilities, the situation could not be saved. One could only wait for the court situation to collapse, for the kingdom’s order to collapse.
Just like the late Ming Dynasty. The entire Great Ming’s wealth combined was far more than a billion taels of silver.
But at the critical moment, Emperor Chongzhen could not even take out a mere few million taels of silver. He watched helplessly as the massive Great Ming collapsed and perished.
And the fiscal situation Suolun faced was even worse than that of Emperor Chongzhen.
Chongzhen simply had no money in hand. But Suolun had to face a deficit of nearly twenty million gold coins, exceeding the kingdom’s ten years of tax revenue.
Unexpectedly, Suolun still did not compromise. Instead, he dispatched imperial guards to annihilate the Hidden Origin Society, and carried out a great massacre.
How dare he? How dare he?
The Hidden Origin Society was truly Hidden Continent’s territory. It was recognized by the Furious Wave Kingdom and the entire human kingdom.
Next, Fang Qingyi had to face a situation.
What should he do? Facing the completely mad Suolun, what should he do?
The cards in his hand had all been played. Triggering the kingdom’s economic crisis, making the Wangcheng Gold vault’s gold coin reserves vanish without a trace, this was already a royal flush. There could not be a bigger card.
He had no more cards to play. Suolun still would not surrender. What should he do?
Of course, Fang Qingyi absolutely did not believe that Suolun could save the current situation.
But should he let the Furious Wave Kingdom completely collapse and its order be destroyed?
That would mean all of Hidden Continent’s previous investments had completely gone to waste.
Hidden Continent wanted a complete Furious Wave colony, a complete nation that could continuously produce profits.
A completely chaotic Furious Wave Kingdom did not conform to Hidden Continent’s interests.
Once the situation developed to this point, it would mean Hidden Continent’s strategy had completely failed. The astronomical price previously paid would all be wasted.
As for him, the Hidden Continent Young Master who had just taken position, he could naturally only step down in disgrace.
Hidden Continent was backed by the Holy Dragon Temple, controlling nearly half of the human kingdom’s gold coin minting and gold coin reserves. And through the Hidden Origin Society, it controlled the economic lifeline of the human kingdom. Of course it was majestic and domineering, looking down upon the world.
But…
To truly become powerful, Hidden Continent could not rely on money alone. It also needed armies, truly powerful strength.
Therefore, Hidden Continent needed a puppet state, a true colonial state.
The Northern Court Kingdom was too remote. The Western Liang Kingdom was too poor. The Yan Empire was too formidable. The Eastern Li Kingdom was also too formidable.
Ultimately, Hidden Continent chose the Furious Wave Kingdom.
This was an emerging nation. Its order was still relatively fragile. Its position among human kingdoms was not very stable. Yet it was very powerful.
To colonize the Furious Wave Kingdom, Hidden Continent had already put in decades of effort.
…
Over thirty years ago, the king at that time was still Zhiluan’s father. This was a wise and ruthless monarch. Hidden Continent did not have many opportunities.
Thus, Hidden Continent selected another person: the Furious Wave Kingdom’s Crown Prince Zhilan.
Like crown princes of other kingdoms, Zhilan went to study at the Yanjing Holy Temple after his teens.
People from the Holy Dragon Temple and Hidden Continent desperately brainwashed Zhilan, instilling in him some very “advanced” ideas.
After Crown Prince Zhilan returned to the Furious Wave Kingdom, the previous king gave him full power, letting Zhilan stretch his wings and prepare for his future ascension to the throne.
In the previous king’s view, when one was crown prince, one should not fear making mistakes. One should fear not daring to do things.
With Hidden Continent’s astronomical investment of gold coins, Crown Prince Zhilan’s political achievements were incomparably glorious. The Northwest Province he governed was originally a bitterly cold land. Yet the taxes handed over each year were actually higher than those of the Southeast Province and the Furious River Province.
Not only that, in the eyes of officials, nobles, and lords, Crown Prince Zhilan was simply the embodiment of perfection.
Tolerant, elegant, benevolent!
As long as one joined Crown Prince Zhilan’s faction, wealth and honor flowed in endlessly.
In just a few short years, Crown Prince Zhilan’s reputation rose like the sun at noon. He was completely praised by all people as a holy monarch. His fame even surpassed that of the previous king.
Not only that, even the other princes bowed at Crown Prince Zhilan’s knee, because from Zhilan they could obtain enormous benefits.
And at that time, Zhiluan was merely a wandering prince, roaming everywhere with Count Suolong, one big bird traveling the world, sleeping wherever he went.
When the entire world said a person was good, this was extremely abnormal.
Governing the world was not hosting a dinner party. One was certain to offend people, even offend many people.
The previous king of course discovered the danger within. He also sent the Black Ice Bureau to investigate Crown Prince Zhilan, uncovering the Hidden Continent and Hidden Origin Society behind him.
The previous king was an extremely wise person. He immediately smelled the heaven-shaking conspiracy and danger behind this.
He immediately warned Crown Prince Zhilan and ordered him to immediately draw a clear line with Hidden Continent forces.
But Crown Prince Zhilan thought his father was jealous of him. He continued to do as he pleased.
And Hidden Continent forces felt the time was ripe. So they set up a plot to murder the previous king, attempting to let Crown Prince Zhilan ascend the throne early.
Hidden Continent’s assassination that time failed. The previous king was merely injured.
Regardless of whether this assassination was Crown Prince Zhilan’s scheme, the previous king knew he had no choice. At this time, he must be decisive in killing. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Thus, he immediately summoned Zhiluan to return to the royal city! Then he ruthlessly struck at Crown Prince Zhilan’s forces, uprooting them completely!
Crown Prince Zhilan’s death was a heaven-shaking matter in the Furious Wave Kingdom. Its influence remained profound to this day.
However, this drastic change lasted only a short time. From beginning to end, it was merely a few days.
First, Count Suolong escorted Zhiluan back to the royal city. Along the way, they encountered three intercepting ambushes. And those who moved were all princes under Crown Prince Zhilan’s command.
Under the previous king’s instruction, Zhiluan began to exterminate Crown Prince Zhilan’s forces.
Those few days, the entire royal city Zhidu was in panic. Heads rolled in the killing. Among them, the heads of two princes were personally chopped off by Zhiluan.
Duke Zhiwei and Zhiting were young, so they were not implicated.
As for Crown Prince Zhilan’s entire family, it was the previous king who personally sent Grand Eunuch Gao Ting to lead imperial guards to annihilate them.
Grand Eunuch Gao Ting was Gao Yin’s adoptive father. Back then, he personally beheaded Crown Prince Zhilan and his wife.
As for Zhili and Zhining brother and sister, it was because Gao Ting momentarily softened his heart and let them go, not killing them all.
When Li Chenglian fled with the Zhili brother and sister, Gao Ting pretended not to see.
After Grand Eunuch Gao Ting reported back to the previous king, he immediately chose to commit suicide by poison. Because in his view, even if Zhilan had betrayed the king, he was still his master. He had moved to kill his master. He no longer had any reason to live.
After Crown Prince Zhilan died, the previous king was physically and mentally exhausted. He first established Zhiluan as crown prince. A few days later, he abdicated and went into seclusion.
Therefore, Zhiluan so abruptly became king!
And from the first day he sat on the throne, he was destined to stand on the opposite side of the lords and nobles.
Now, over twenty years had passed. King Zhiluan was still notorious. Conspiracy theories spread throughout the world.
That he had murdered the crown prince to ascend the throne, murdered his own brothers, and finally even poisoned the previous king. Insane, his sins towering to the heavens!
However, Crown Prince Zhilan was killed by the previous king’s order. And the other two princes were also ordered by the previous king for Zhiluan to exterminate.
It’s just that the previous king could not bear the bad name of killing his son. So Zhiluan could only bear the bad name of killing his brother.
And Crown Prince Zhilan’s reputation in the Furious Wave Kingdom was still like a white lotus flower, simply a holy monarch alive in the world. Yet he was harmed by the treacherous petty person Zhiluan. Truly heaven had no eyes.
And King Zhiluan became a sinister and despicable treacherous king.
A stupid traitor was treated as a saint. A person who truly guarded the nation was treated as a treacherous villain.
This world, sometimes, is just this absurd.
But fortunately, King Zhiluan was very free and easy. If you think I killed them, then treat it as if I killed them.
Unlike the Qing Dynasty’s Yongzheng Emperor, who was notorious for offending the world’s gentry. And this Yongzheng Emperor was slightly narrow-minded. Unable to contain his anger, he even specially wrote a book called “Great Righteousness Awakening the Deluded” to defend himself. What use was that? This was a struggle of interests, not a struggle of reputation!
…
Over twenty years ago, Crown Prince Zhilan’s death and Zhiluan’s ascension to the throne meant Hidden Continent’s colonial plan for the Furious Wave Kingdom had temporarily failed. So they could only completely lie low, beginning to set their sights on the next generation, that is, on Zhili’s head.
Now, Zhili had also been defeated by Suolun.
Could it be that this time, Hidden Continent’s colonial plan would completely fail again?
For this plan, Hidden Continent had already spent over thirty years. The effort of two entire generations.
And even if Hidden Continent could afford to delay, he Fang Qingyi could not afford to delay. The failure of the colonize Furious Wave strategy meant his political life would completely end.
Gritting his teeth fiercely, Fang Qingyi went to Holy Priest Gel’s castle.
“Your Excellency Holy Priest, Suolun has gone mad. He would rather let the Furious Wave Kingdom completely collapse than compromise with us.” Fang Qingyi said, “So, is it possible to dispatch the Holy Temple Legion to exterminate Suolun?”
Holy Priest Gel said in shock, “You mean, the Holy Temple Legion directly going to war with the Furious Wave Kingdom?”
…
Wangcheng Gold Headquarters!
A griffin beast rapidly descended. A Shadow Pavilion warrior knelt and said, “Your Grace, Demon Continent Princess Yuanyuan led assassins to attack the princess’s residence. They were repelled by City Lord Ashi Liren and Madame Fang Qingzhuo. The enemy was nearly completely annihilated and retreated in defeat. But the demon woman Yuanyuan successfully escaped.”
Suolun’s heart was shocked. He asked in a hoarse voice, “And?”
The Shadow Pavilion warrior said, “City Lord Ashi Liren’s body is shrouded in frost. She is unconscious, her life or death uncertain. Madame Fang Qingzhuo was wounded by sword strikes. Because the enemy’s swords were poisoned, she too has fallen unconscious!”
In an instant, Suolun’s hatred toward the demon woman Yuanyuan reached its extreme!
He had sent Zhiya to the heavenly prison to interrogate Finance Minister Suofu out of necessity. He of course knew this would put the princess’s residence in danger.
But he felt the incident happened suddenly. Fang Qingyi would not be able to find so many experts to attack the princess’s residence in such short notice.
And Princess Zhiya had also immediately arranged for several thousand troops and dozens of Shadow Pavilion experts to station in the princess’s residence. In terms of defense, it was already airtight.
Unexpectedly, Fang Qingyi had actually found the demon woman Yuanyuan. And this cheap woman truly went to attack the princess’s residence.
Fortunately, Ashi Liren’s martial arts were heaven-defying. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.
But very clearly, she had once again been backlashed by the dragon yin absolute meridian. Each backlash brought her one step closer to death.
Suolun ordered, “Dispatch five thousand imperial guards to guard the Wangcheng Gold castle. Do not let anyone enter.”
“Yes!” Hei Ningqi said.
“Hahaha…” Fang Zeming laughed loudly, “Suolun, you have exhausted your tricks. Go kneel and beg for mercy from my family’s young master!”
Suolun said coldly, “Skin all of him alive. Then I will personally deliver him to Fang Qingyi!”
At these words, Fang Zeming’s face changed in horror. He said in a hoarse voice, “Suolun, you dare, you dare…”
Two Shadow Pavilion warriors stepped forward and fiercely pressed him to the ground.
A eunuch stepped forward, holding a small knife, lightly cutting open Fang Zeming’s ankle.
Like a master butcher dismembering an ox, this eunuch’s skill was incomparably proficient. He skinned this Wangcheng Gold Chief Manager Fang Zeming alive, stripping all the skin from his entire body.
“Ahh… ahh… ahh…” This Hidden Continent direct descendant member let out incomparably mournful screams.
Suolun mounted a griffin beast. Under the protection of Zhuang Zhixuan and over a dozen Shadow Pavilion warriors, he rode the griffin beast and rapidly returned to the princess’s residence.
…
After returning to the princess’s residence, in the underground secret chamber, Suolun saw two unconscious beauties.
One was the peerless beauty Ashi Liren, shrouded in frost.
One was the gentle and virtuous Fang Qingzhuo.
He faced a choice: whether to save Fang Qingzhuo first, or save Ashi Liren first.
After slight hesitation, Suolun decided to save Fang Qingzhuo first, because saving Ashi Liren would take a long time. Even he himself would be in danger of losing his life.
So first the easy, then the difficult!
Moreover, at this time Fang Qingzhuo’s breathing was extremely weak, like a thread of gossamer. It seemed she could break her breath at any moment.
At this time in the secret chamber, both Zhiya and Zhining were inside. Princess Zhiya had already returned from the heavenly prison. Zhining tightly held Fang Qingzhuo’s hand.
“Husband, Suofu has already confessed. There truly is such an account book.” Princess Zhiya said, “Of course, perhaps this account book is now useless.”
Because the Wangcheng Gold’s gold coin reserves had disappeared, the account book in Suofu’s hands indeed had little meaning.
“Yan, go up and guard for me. Do not let anyone approach.” Suolun said.
Princess Zhiya nodded and went up.
“Zhining, you go out too.” Suolun said.
Princess Zhining hesitated for a moment, then nodded and went out.
“I beg you, you must save sister-in-law.” Zhining said through tears, “We owe her. We can never repay it in a lifetime.”
“I will.” Suolun said.
Zhining went out, looking back with every step.
The entire secret chamber only had Suolun, and two unconscious women.
Suolun took out a dagger, cut an opening on Fang Qingzhuo’s wrist, then also cut an opening on his own hand.
The two people’s blood mingled. The Demon Star followed the bloodline into Fang Qingzhuo’s body, beginning to examine her entire body.
“Demon Star, how is it?” Suolun asked.
The Demon Star said, “It is a very bizarre strange poison. It does not circulate throughout the body. It only occupies and coils around the heart area, continuously devouring vitality.”
Suolun said, “Then can you devour this severe poison and suck it out from Fang Qingzhuo’s body?”
“No!” the Demon Star said, “This severe poison is very strange. If I devour it, it will pass through your body and also devour your vitality.”
Suolun said, “Then what should we do?”
The Demon Star said, “You make an opening at her heart area. I will squeeze out this strange poison bit by bit.”
Suolun was stunned, then nodded.
Taking a deep breath, he directly undid Fang Qingzhuo’s clothes, revealing her snowy white chest.
Then Suolun took out golden needles and pierced them toward Fang Qingzhuo’s heart.
Then, he gently turned Fang Qingzhuo’s delicate body, letting her lie on her side. This way, when the Demon Star expelled the strange poison, it would flow out along the golden needles.
“Cut another opening on her chest, because that place is closer to the heart. My poison expelling efficiency will be higher.” the Demon Star said.
Suolun was stunned. He cut an opening on Fang Qingzhuo’s chest. Bright red blood flowed out.
Then, he pressed his finger on the wound on Fang Qingzhuo’s chest, letting the two people’s blood mingle.
The Demon Star’s energy tentacles once again entered Fang Qingzhuo’s heart through the blood.