The Royal City's Tricks Run Deep

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the dust had just settled on the debate over tax rates.

Wang Hao's voice rang out again, sounding as casual as chatting with an old friend. However, to Zhang Wuji's ears, it felt like a deathly chill blowing straight from the Nine Nether Underworld.

"My beloved ministers, the matter of taxes is settled, and We are deeply gratified. However, our beloved minister Zhuge just mentioned that local tax officials face great difficulties in collecting taxes, even risking their lives. This leaves Us unable to eat or sleep in peace," Wang Hao said, his fingers gently tapping the imperial desk. "The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty must never become empty words on a piece of paper. Therefore, We plan to reform the local garrisons."

Buzz—

It was as if a massive bell had been violently struck inside Zhang Wuji's head, causing his entire body to stiffen instantly.

Local garrisons?!

The Emperor was finally making a move on the military power controlled by the noble families!

Although the local guard posts and provincial armies of the Great Zhou were nominally imperial troops, in reality, they suffered from severe land annexation. They had long become thoroughly corrupt and had reached a point where reform was absolutely necessary!

"Where is the Minister of War, Tie Zhan?" Wang Hao asked calmly.

"I am here!" Tie Zhan immediately stepped forward.

"From this day forth, the local garrisons of all provinces, commanderies, and counties across the realm shall be stripped of the control of local civil officials!" Wang Hao's astonishing words fell like heavy hammers, violently smashing into the chests of the aristocratic officials. "All local garrisons shall be under the joint command of the Ministry of War and the Five Armies Commander's Office! Personnel transfers of local generals, as well as the supply of rations and forage, shall all be centralized and managed by the Ministry of War and the Commander's Office. No local chief official at any level shall have the authority to mobilize a single soldier without authorization!"

"Your Majesty is wise and martial! This move will surely invigorate the military might of our Great Zhou!" Tie Zhan accepted the decree without hesitation, loudly acknowledging the order. For the Ministry of War, this was an unprecedented expansion of power!

"No! Absolutely not, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Wuji went mad. He no longer cared about the proper decorum between ruler and minister, crawling and stumbling to the center of the hall, entirely oblivious to the blood seeping through the bandages on his head.

"Your Majesty! The founding ancestral precepts of the Great Zhou dictate that local military and civil administration be unified, with civil officials overseeing military generals. This was established to prevent generals from amassing troops and bringing chaos to the regions! If all local garrisons are centralized, should a riot or banditry occur locally, civil officials will have no troops to deploy. Are we to just watch helplessly as the world descends into chaos? The laws of our ancestors cannot be changed, Your Majesty!"

The aristocratic officials also realized that this was a moment of life and death. They fell to their knees one after another, their wails shaking the heavens as if the end of the world had arrived.

"The laws of our ancestors?" Wang Hao sneered. "Vice Premier Zhang, do the ancestral laws dictate that local tycoons treat the local garrisons like their own watchdogs? If We do not reclaim military power, are We supposed to wait for the day when these local magnates bring the local garrisons to force Our abdication?!"

"This old minister absolutely does not mean that!" Zhang Wuji trembled all over in terror. This accusation was too severe; it was a crime punishable by the execution of nine generations! If those old monsters of the royal family decided to strike, the Zhang family of Yingtian Province would be wiped out entirely.

"Since you do not, then shut your mouth and listen to Us finish." Wang Hao gave Zhang Wuji no chance to retort, directly throwing out a second, even more ruthless killing blow.

"Since the local garrisons are now under the joint command of the central government, they must have something to do in their daily routines. We decree that, starting today, one of the primary tasks for the garrisons of all provinces, commanderies, and counties shall be to cooperate with the local branches of the General Taxation Bureau to collect taxes by armed force!"

The moment Wang Hao said this, his true intentions were laid bare!

"Anyone who refuses to pay taxes or violently obstructs tax officials shall be dealt with at the discretion of the garrison generals. They shall be charged with treason, executed on the spot, and have their estates confiscated!"

Zhuge Huaijin was so excited he almost fainted.

Armed tax collection!

This was equivalent to equipping the Taxation Bureau with the sharpest blade! In the past, the tax officials he sent were like scholars encountering soldiers—unable to reason with them. Now, with a pack of fierce, wolf-like regular troops backing the tax officials, which noble family or powerful tycoon would dare say they had no money? Dare to claim poverty? They would just roll out the cannons and blast them to hell!

"I, Zhuge Huaijin, on behalf of all tax officials across the realm, kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's heavenly grace! With the local garrisons here to assist, if we still cannot collect the taxes, this old minister will slit his own throat right here in the Hall of Supreme Harmony!" Zhuge Huaijin's roar echoed through the great hall, his imposing aura soaring like a rainbow.

"Madness... It's all madness..." Zhang Wuji slumped on the floor, his face the color of dead ashes.

He tried to grasp at the last straw, turning his head to look toward the side of the military generals and nobles.

"Duke of Ying! Duke of Zhenguo! Say something! The Five Armies Commander's Office taking over the local garrisons will inevitably lead to convoluted military affairs and widespread local chaos! This is absolutely not a viable long-term plan!" Zhang Wuji cried out shrilly.

In his view, the nobles should stand on his side because once the Ministry of War interfered with local military power, the interests of traditional military generals would also be harmed.

However, a scene that brought him absolute despair unfolded.

Wei Jing, the Duke of Zhenguo who controlled the Great Zhou's most elite 240,000 Imperial Guards, and Zhang Jing, the Duke of Ying who controlled the 480,000 Capital Garrison troops, exchanged a glance. They stepped forward simultaneously and dropped to one knee, their armor emitting the cold clatter of colliding metal.

"I, Wei Jing (Zhang Jing), support Your Majesty's garrison reform policy! The Five Armies Commander's Office will certainly work in full cooperation with the Ministry of War to train the local garrisons into an invincible army! Anyone who dares to obstruct tax collection and disrupt the foundation of our Great Zhou shall be killed without mercy!"

The murderous aura of the two top-tier military generals completely shattered Zhang Wuji's final illusions.

Zhang Wuji stared blankly at these two old fools, and suddenly, he understood everything.

The Emperor had used shares and dividends to buy off the commanders of the central Imperial Guards and the Capital Garrison! The Five Armies Commander's Office originally only managed the central army. Now that the Emperor was giving them half of the local military power as well, how could they possibly refuse such an expansion of authority?

One interlocking scheme after another.

First, he established a four-four-two balance in personnel, making the noble families and humble clans keep each other in check at the local level;

Next, he used the self-sacrificial ruse of paying taxes out of his own pocket to seize the moral high ground, forcing everyone to accept exorbitant commercial taxes;

Finally, capitalizing on the exact moment the noble families relaxed their guard to protect their dividends, he used tax collection as an excuse to unite with the Ministry of War and the nobles, slicing off the noble families' control over local military power with a single stroke!

Stripping them of financial power! Stripping them of military power!

Wang Hao sat on the dragon throne, smiling as he looked at Zhang Wuji, who was slumped like mud. In Zhang Wuji's eyes, that smile was simply more terrifying than a devil's.

How was this a young, naive emperor who had just taken the reins of government? This was clearly a peerless tyrant covered in calculating schemes, one who would eat a man without spitting out the bones!

Zhang Wuji knew that the momentum was lost.

In the face of the royal family's unfathomable foundation, before the blades of the Imperial Guards and the Capital Garrison, and against the Emperor's interlocking methods, the Twelve Great Houses absolutely did not dare to raise the banner of rebellion. They did not even have the courage to tear away all pretense of cordiality.

Devoid of military power, strangled by the Taxation Bureau, the local civil official system was also stuffed full of ambitious youths from humble backgrounds eyeing them like tigers.

The noble families had already been stripped of their armor and pinned down on the chopping block.

"It seems... I can only go back, unite with the patriarchs of the other eleven families, kneel down, and properly beg His Majesty..."

Zhang Wuji let out a miserable laugh as he knelt to accept the decree and give thanks for the imperial grace.

"Court is dismissed—!" Wei Zhongxian's shrill voice rang out, sounding the death knell for the old era of the noble families.

...

The capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty had all its nine gates wide open. Above the city gates hung a banner with gold characters on a red background: Warmly welcoming geniuses from all over the Divine Land to the capital. The Great Zhou Imperial Court provides you with comprehensive one-stop service!

Beneath the banner were rows of temporary City Entry Registration Desks manned by eunuchs of the Eastern Depot and officials from the Ministry of Justice.

Xiao Chen carried a heavy iron ruler, black as ink, on his back. His black robes fluttered wildly in the wind. Looking up at the banner that reeked of nouveau riche tackiness, a sneer of extreme disdain curled the corners of his mouth.

Mortal imperial power, even with all these flashy gimmicks, cannot cover up the truth that martial arts reign supreme. Today, I, Xiao Chen, will let the whole world know right here in the Great Zhou capital what a true peerless genius is!

He strode toward the city gates, his body faintly exuding the true qi fluctuations of a half-step Astral Qi Realm expert. This was the result of the aura of the three types of strange heavenly flames within his body leaking out. The surrounding ordinary martial artists were forced to retreat by this wave of heat, their eyes full of awe.

Xiao Chen thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being the center of attention. He had waited for this day for far too long.

Name, origin, cultivation level, and purpose of visiting the capital. A young eunuch from the Eastern Depot sitting behind a desk did not even bat an eyelid as he asked mechanically, holding a calligraphy brush.

The Northwest, Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen crossed his arms and said proudly, Half-step Astral Qi Realm! Here to take the top spot on the Genius Rankings!

The tip of the young eunuch's brush paused. He finally looked up, his white-powdered face instantly breaking into a highly professional smile: Oh, so it is Young Master Xiao! Men, quickly process the Supreme Genius City Entry Package for Young Master Xiao!

Xiao Chen frowned. Before he could speak, another eunuch beside him had already handed over a long bill.

Young Master Xiao, the basic city entry appraisal fee is one thousand taels; since you are carrying a heavy regulated weapon, you need to pay a dangerous goods deposit of three thousand taels; additionally, the city entry tournament participation guarantee fee is five thousand taels. That comes to a total of nine thousand taels of silver. Will you be paying in cash or bank notes?

Xiao Chen's expression instantly froze. The fury in his eyes flared up in a flash, and the three-colored strange flames around his body suddenly surged over ten feet high: What did you say?! Nine thousand taels just to enter the city? This is daylight robbery! Do you really think I am made of mud?!

Insolence!

With a few metallic clangs, over a dozen Brocade Guards around them instantly drew their embroidered spring blades, sending a chilling aura of death into the sky. However, what truly made Xiao Chen's pupils shrink were the rows of runic muskets and several cannons on the city walls that had already locked onto him. Standing beside them were two Astral Qi Realm experts with auras as deep as the abyss!

Young Master Xiao, at the feet of the Emperor and before the laws of Great Zhou, there is no such thing as 'thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west bank'. The young eunuch slowly raised his pinky finger. If you refuse to pay, that is contempt of the imperial court. Not only will your tournament qualification be revoked, but you will also have to spend a few days drinking tea in the Imperial Prison. Your reputation as a peerless genius has not even spread yet, and you would be going to jail first. Is that a good deal?

Xiao Chen clenched his fists until they cracked. His nails dug deeply into his palms, and blood flowed through his fingers.

Good... very good! Great Zhou Imperial Court, I, Xiao Chen, will remember this! Reason told him that now was not the time to fall out. He gritted his teeth, forcefully scraped together nine thousand taels in bank notes from his storage ring, and slammed them heavily onto the table.

Welcome to the capital, Young Master Xiao. May your martial arts journey be prosperous~ The young eunuch tucked away the bank notes, his smile growing even more radiant.

After entering the city, in order to calm the anger in his heart, Xiao Chen headed straight for the largest restaurant in the capital, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. At this moment, the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was already filled with martial artists and geniuses from all corners of the world.

Just as Xiao Chen found a seat by the window, a few richly dressed young masters from aristocratic families at the next table began to talk and laugh loudly.

Have you heard? That Xiao Chen from the Northwest used to be a piece of trash who could not even gather true qi, and he even had his engagement publicly broken by a woman. I do not know what kind of dumb luck this garbage stumbled into, but he actually dares to participate in the Genius Tournament?

Hahaha, I bet he will not even pass the preliminaries. He is probably just here to make a fool of himself!

These aristocratic young masters were exactly the atmosphere group secretly arranged by the Eastern Depot, specifically tasked with provoking those individuals of great destiny who had explosive tempers, shallow backgrounds, but considered themselves extraordinary.

Xiao Chen was already holding in a stomach full of anger. Upon hearing these words, the string in his mind called reason completely snapped.

You court death!

Xiao Chen could not even be bothered to waste words. He slammed his hand on the table and shot forward like an enraged cheetah. He reached back and drew the heavy black iron ruler, bringing with it a violent three-colored strange flame, and directly smashed the table of those aristocratic young masters to pieces with a single strike!

Boom!!!

The terrifying shockwave overturned three or four surrounding tables and chairs. Those aristocratic young masters screamed and flew out the window with perfect timing, disappearing without a trace.

The entire restaurant instantly fell dead silent. Xiao Chen put away his massive ruler and swept his cold gaze across the room, enjoying the awe-filled looks from the crowd. He knew that this single strike was enough to make his name spread throughout the capital! This was his, Xiao Chen's, style of doing things: if you can fight, do not waste time talking!

Clap, clap, clap.

A crisp round of applause came from behind the counter. The manager of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, a smiling fat man holding a pure gold abacus, walked out at a leisurely pace.

Excellent skills. Young Master Xiao's move of burning the heavens with strange fire truly brings light to my humble establishment. The manager's smile carried a creepy vibe that made Xiao Chen's hair stand on end.

What? You want to stand up for them? Xiao Chen snorted coldly, holding his giant ruler horizontally.

The manager waved his hands repeatedly: No, no, no. Our royal restaurant opens its doors to do business, and we believe that harmony brings wealth. It is just... Young Master Xiao just smashed one table and four chairs belonging to our shop, plus collateral damage to three other tables. According to the newly promulgated Great Zhou Royal Asset Protection Law and the Great Zhou Penal Code, you have to pay compensation.

Xiao Chen sneered: How much could a few broken wooden tables possibly be worth? Is one hundred taels enough?

Young Master Xiao must be joking. The manager flicked the beads of his gold abacus with a loud clatter, then pulled out an exquisitely framed itemized bill and handed it to Xiao Chen, pointing at a line of small text on it.

Xiao Chen focused his eyes on it, and his eyeballs nearly popped out of his head.

Written impressively on it was: Royal specially supplied thousand-year purple sandalwood Eight Immortals table, inlaid with top-tier qi-gathering array runes, unit price: one hundred thousand taels of silver! Chairs: twenty thousand taels each!

Are you out of your fucking mind from poverty? This is clearly just ordinary pine wood! Xiao Chen roared, the veins on his forehead bulging.