Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 728: Chapter 94: Tragedy! The Foundation of Zuoqiu Family is Undermined_4

Many prominent families began to feel the pressure, even surreptitiously employing wagon teams in an attempt to transport grain from the Qian family’s warehouse themselves. As expected, they were impeded by the sentries of the Zuoqiu family.

After several unsuccessful attempts, these prominent families immediately became incensed.

It is understood that the Zuoqiu family has long held a unique dominating power within Qing’an County. These years, apart from this Grade Four Zuoqiu family, there is not even a single Fifth Grade Purple Abode family within Qing’an County.

It is not that the Rank Six families are simply unlucky, incapable of cultivating even a single Sky Pride out of their many family members. Rather, even if a Sky Pride does indeed arise, it would be impossible to nourish it to its full potential.

To develop a Sky Pride into one belonging to the Purple Abode Realm requires consumption of resources that can only be described as monumental.

The vast majority of resources in Qing’an County have been monopolized by the Zuoqiu family. They alone possess six rankers of the Purple Abode Realm. Thus, resources available to the Rank Six families have become extremely limited. They are fundamentally incapable of fostering a Purple Abode ranker.

Throughout the years, who knows how many Rank Six families, left with no other options, have sent their descendants – their potential Sky Prides – to study at the Academic Palace. Yet, to this day, even with two individuals from the palace attaining the Purple Abode Realm, the ranking of these families never improves.

It can be said that the dissatisfaction of these Rank Six families concerning Zuoqiu family has been festering for quite some time.

In the past, they dared not challenge the Zuoqiu family directly. But now, seeing the Zuoqiu family incurring public wrath, how could they let go of such an opportunity?

Thus, Rank Six families began to stir up trouble covertly and fanned the flames of collective hatred against the Zuoqiu family. With the indirect instigation by the Wang and Qian families, dissatisfaction towards the Zuoqiu family amongst the citizens of Qing’an County rapidly reached its peak.

This situation swiftly attracted the attention of the Academic Palace.

Two palace disciples from Rank Six families, seeing a rare opportunity, decided to take action. They passed the news on to Return to Dragon City, the national capital.

After this, the matter escalated further.

Had it not been for the Zuoqiu family’s influence within Return to Dragon City, they might have been held accountable immediately. The family had to pull some strings during the Small Morning Meeting just to buy time for Qing’an County.

Regardless, Wu Ding Hai, the Prefectural Governor of Qing’an County, and a few old ancestors of Zuoqiu’s family began to feel the pressure.

By now, the atmosphere within Qing’an County is extremely tense. If they can’t solve the problem immediately, Prefectural Governor Wu Ding Hai’s tenure might come to an end, and Zuoqiu’s family might face condemnation from the government.

The Great Qian Land practices a system of governance in which the imperial family shares power with the regional, prominent families. This means that the latter need to take responsibility for maintaining regional stability.

Just as during the floods in Longzuo County, when families like the Wang family helped gather refugees. This is seen as a duty. Otherwise, why should the court give these families a portion of the tax revenue?

If a large-scale public event were to take place within the Zuoqiu family’s dominion, this would be considered a serious dereliction of duty on part of theirs. Minor cases would result in a written inquiry, while serious cases could lead to the stripping of the family’s aristocratic rights.

It can be said that at this point, the Zuoqiu family’s attempt to block the Wang family’s grain has thoroughly failed.

This failure is another loud slap in the face to the Zuoqiu family, casting a heavy gloom upon them.

They had spent so long as a Grade Four prominent family, they had grown accustomed to looking down upon others.

They have forgotten that they are not rulers of Qing’an County, but merely a part of it. The other large and small families aren’t their livestock to be exploited at their whim.

Once they defy the tenets of “human nature” and harm everyone’s interests, they are sure to face backlash.

Helpless, the Zuoqiu family had to once again seek the help of Wu Ding Hai, and through some of their connections in the capital, communicate once again with the Prefectural Governor of Longzuo County, Taishi Ankang, hoping that he would mediate the issue.

At this point, Taishi Ankang had pretty much gotten involved, and the connections that the Zuoqiu family sought were indeed influential. Therefore, under the arrangements of Taishi Ankang and Wu Ding Hai, the heads of the Zuoqiu, Wang, and Qian families sat down to negotiate – naturally, this involved only head-level negotiations, with any family ancestors not participating.

This was why Taishi Ankang defended Wang Shouzhe, after all, the Changning Wang clan was only a “Seventh-Rank Aristocratic Family”, and the family didn’t have an elder of the “Purple Abode” realm.

The chosen location for the negotiation was set in the Purple Abode Palace of the Wang Clan in Longzuo.

It wasn’t until the formal meeting between the two parties that Zuoqiu Guanyu, Wang Shouzhe, and Qian Xuehan met for the first time.

By their level, it can be said that they are all already top players in the field. Their past competitions were all carried out behind the scenes, manipulating the situation from afar, but never face-to-face.

“I am Zuoqiu Guanyu from Zuo Qiu’s family. It is an honor to meet Master Xuehan and Master Shouzhe. Both of you are indeed the elites of Great Qian Land, True Dragons among the people.” The first to make his cultured greeting was Zuoqiu Guanyu, the head of Zuoqiu family.

Being the head of a Fourth-Rank Aristocratic Family, his demeanor was impeccable. He truly was magnificent and extraordinary.

Wang Shouzhe and Qian Xuehan naturally also returned the courtesy in a courteous manner, exchanging pleasantries with Zuoqiu Guanyu as if there had never been any conflict between them.

At this level, all the underhand struggles were the norm. But tearing faces in public was pointless, unless there was some specific strategic goal. Otherwise, when meeting each other, it was necessary to put on a show of aristocratic grace.

After a series of insincere pleasantries…

Once both parties sat down for tea and a chat, Zuoqiu Guanyu cupped his hands at Wang Shouzhe and said with a bitter smile: “Master Shouzhe, I did not expect you to be the direct disciple of Master Changchun from Longzuo Academy. No wonder you are so skilled in grain cultivation. The wheat and rice strains from your family are really impressive, formidable indeed.”

With the network of the Zuoqiu family, it would have been a breeze to find out Wang Shouzhe’s background if they were willing to look into it.

“Not at all,” laughed Wang Shouzhe modestly, “I am nowhere near my master. The acquisition of these wheat and rice strains was simply due to some guidance from my Master and some luck on my part.”

Guided? Accidentally?

Zuoqiu Guanyu found that hard to believe.

He had collected some secret information, that Master Changchun had explored a relic of the Divine Martial Dynasty over a hundred years ago.

Master Changchun never discussed what he had obtained from the relic and handled it discreetly. But after that incident, there was a new baby girl originated from nowhere around him, who was his prestigious Direct Disciple, “Green Fern”.

Could the adoption of a mere baby girl produce a great talent?

This could not help but make people suspect that Master Changchun had additional gains from the relic. Particularly, he might have the ability to cultivate high-quality grain crops.

The grains in the Wang family’s possession were also likely related to Master Changchun’s secrets.

Fortunately, Wang Shouzhe had no idea what Zuoqiu Guanyu was thinking, otherwise he might not have been able to hold back an outburst of laughter.

It had to be said that the imagination of the Zuoqiu family was too adventurous… They had speculated such an extraordinary origin for the source of the grains, which was a hundred thousand and eight thousand miles away from the facts.

Nevertheless, Zuoqiu Guanyu’s face turned somber again, as his eyes flashed sharply: “However, Master Shouzhe, it seems somewhat dismissive of our Zuoqiu family for you to sell grains in our Qingan County.”

“With your family on the cusp of instability, Lord Guanyu still wants to throw his weight around? Is this because you are accustomed to your high status, or was your brain simply pounded in the head?” Wang Shouzhe’s face turned serious, his eyes abruptly turning cold, “Let’s talk if you want to, or you can just walk out.”

“Pfft!”

Qian Xuehan almost spit out his tea, his eyes full of admiration as he looked at Wang Shouzhe.

He was really bold! He was not even afraid of confronting a fourthly ranked aristocratic family head on!

…