Zong Shou took the list and took a look before he burst out laughing. He thought to himself that Kongqi Sect outer sect deacon Qiao Han was conned by him a month ago. It would be weird if he didn't hate him to the bone.
As for those fire lightning arrows and intense ice arrows, he didn't expect Kongqi Sect to craft them for him. Anyways, it was okay as long as they could be used. Gantian Mountain had tens of thousands of spirit masters and he didn't need to worry about them faking it.
As for Renbo's words of advice, he acted like he didn't hear it. He thought to himself that if he treated the Taoyun City envoys well, would the city lord show mercy?
If the situation changed and Gantian Mountain regained its former glory, would Taoyun City dare to be disrespectful to Zong Shou because of such a small humiliation?
The last item on the list was the number of mind stones spent. All the bows, armor, grain, medicine etc were prepared by Renbo and taken from the Gantian Mountain treasury. What he spent the most on were the merchant ships as well as the spiritual arrows purchased from the Kongqi Sect.
… Actually, these fire lightning arrows and intense ice arrows could be crafted by the blacksmiths in Gantian Mountain. However, the number was too small. Even if they rushed day and night, there would only be a thousand.
He spent a total of five thousand grade 4 beast crystals. It seems like this Kongqi Sect deacon Qiao hated him to the bone. The price actually increased by four times, viciously extorting a huge sum of money from him.
Apart from that, he also spent a thousand on the merchant ships. If there was any damage, he had to compensate according to the price.
At this moment, the treasury of Gantian Mountain had dried up. In the end, they still had to take out money from him.
Zong Shou didn't care, keeping the list and smiling towards Renbo, "Prime minister! I don't need the treasury to repay these beast crystals as well as the three hundred three arm spiritual crossbows. Just treat it as my initial investment. You just need to give me ten percent of the profits when you return from the cloud ocean hunt. "
Renbo's face instantly turned green. In his heart, he felt really weird. Wasn't this Gantian Mountain all yours, Zong Shou's? Now that Gantian Mountain City was in danger, if it was a smart ruler, he would take out more money from the treasury to increase the strength of Gantian Mountain City.
This ruler was really good, not only did he guard his own money bag so tightly, but he also kept a close eye on it. He even tried to think of ways to take money from Gantian Mountain's treasury.
Don't you know that if the skin doesn't exist, where will the hair attach to? The foundations of Gantian Mountain are gone, can you keep the money in your pockets?
Over the past few days of observation, he realized that his new ruler was extremely intelligent. He could understand many things with just a hint. He was even more creative and well-versed in political strategy. However, his temperament was simply too strange.
However, it didn't make sense to say that he was stingy. Last time, when they were talking about building a bank, they didn't hesitate to fork out money as the starting capital.
Unable to comprehend the situation, Ren Bo could only reply in displeasure, "I can only give you 5% at most!"
In the past, when Gantian Mountain sent cloud ships to hunt under the cloud ocean, even if Zong Weiran personally led them, the highest they could earn was a hundred thousand grade 4 beast crystals. Even though the Spirit Tide had shown signs of warming up recently, and the number of demonic beasts had increased tremendously. According to his estimation, the profit this time would definitely not exceed this amount.
5% was just 5 thousand grade 4 beast crystals.
Using it to exchange for those 300 three arm spiritual crossbows and these grade 2 spiritual arrows was not bad. It could be said that they had profited.
Since Taoyun and Blazing Flame City were working together, then it would be good for them to prepare more killing weapons.
"5%?"
Zong Shou's brows furrowed, his face filled with unhappiness. Then, he actually nodded his head and agreed, "5% is good! However, prime minister needs to inform the various races about this matter … "
Following which, Ren Bo passed over a beast skin. After Zong Shou opened it, he saw that on it were the names of some officials. It was the 6 department official system that he had requested a few days ago as well as the suggestions for the officials.
Looking closely, it was similar to the 3 province and 6 department system of the mid plains emperor dynasty. However, it wasn't a copy. Based on the situation of Gantian Mountain, it was slightly modified to be more suitable for a barbaric land like Donglin Cloud Continent.
As for those officials, one could see that Ren Bo didn't have any selfish motives. The people he listed were all people that he had recently understood, they were all really talented and had good morals.
A few of them even had grievances with Ren Bo.
Zong Shou didn't agree or disagree, keeping the list into his sleeves. Then, he smiled, "This matter isn't urgent. Let's talk about it after I return from the cloud ocean. My prestige hasn't been established yet. If we change the system, it will only make the people panic. The most important thing for Gantian Mountain is this hunt. "
When Ren Bo heard that, he was furious. Actually, the official system of Gantian Mountain was not too far from the 6 department system. Zong Weiran had been guiding them in recent years, and their ruling system was much better than the other cities. Now, they only lacked a name. Setting the 3 province and 6 department system would only make the people feel more at ease.
This was why when Zong Shou suggested the 6 department system, he didn't stop him. Only because the early preparations were already done.
Following which, he understood something. Did Zong Shou reject him because he didn't trust him? Did he need to investigate the people on the list?
Thinking about that, Ren Bo was instantly speechless. The thoughts of a ruler were hard to fathom. Even if he knew that Zong Shou's actions were the right way for a ruler, he couldn't help but feel disheartened. This was the first time he had thoughts of leaving.
Thinking back to when Zong Weiran was still alive, it was like a lifetime had passed, making him feel depressed.
A new ruler would have new officials. Since this new ruler wasn't new to him, then what was the point of keeping him?
Zong Shou didn't notice Ren Bo's thoughts, smiling, "Oh right! If prime minister has nothing to do, why don't you organize a budget? "
"Budget?" Ren Bo's brows furrowed, not understanding.
"It is the budget!" Zong Shou nodded, thinking about how this era didn't have such a name, he opened his mouth to explain, "It is to estimate the income and expenditure of Gantian Mountain City next year, calculating the various expenses. It means to spend according to income … "
As for what the budget was, he wasn't too sure and could only explain it in a vague manner. Ren Bo understood right away. However, he was stunned by what Zong Shou said.
"… Why don't we calculate it according to 10 times of what we spent last year! The price of beast crystals hasn't hit the bottom and has depreciated a lot. It is better to spend it all and collect more resources to build more houses! "
Ren Bo was startled, only coming back to his senses after a short while. 10 times, that was at least 3 million grade 4 beast crystals.
Did this Zong Shou treat the cloud ocean as his back garden? Where did he get the confidence to hunt so many beast crystals and mind stones under the cloud ocean?
Not only did Ren Bo not understand, but the people following him were also at a loss.
※ ※ ※
Ren Bo rushed over worriedly, his brows furrowed as he left in a fit of anger.
Looking on as the back view of this old minister who had served 2 dynasties left, Zong Shou couldn't help but bitterly tug at the corner of his lips.
What he said was the truth. However, he neglected the fact that with his current age and prestige, it was far from enough to make his subordinates believe in him.
Instead, he was treated as an arrogant and unrealistic person by his subordinates.
Sighing softly, Zong Shou looked to his side, only to see Chu Xue, Ruoshui and the others looking over with weird expressions. He couldn't help but rage, "Even you all don't believe me?"
Chuxue only moved her lips for a moment before stopping herself. A moment later, she decided to speak the truth, "Young master! 10 times, that is 3 million and above grade 4 beast crystals! I heard my father mention that our Gantian Mountain only has a total of 10 thousand xiantian experts. "
Xuan Yunlan's brows furrowed, "Maybe the ruler doesn't know the situation under the cloud ocean. Under the cloud ocean, the number of beasts and evil spirits has increased. However, the danger is also increasing year by year. Even our Qingyin School only gets 600 thousand grade 4 beast crystals each time we hunt. Even the 10 shrines don't get much. Ruler shouldn't have too much hope this time … "
Zong Shou couldn't help but be speechless. What if he told these people that not only did he explore the abyss in the god-emperor game in his last life. In reality, he had also headed down alone to hunt beasts.
He knew the geography under the cloud ocean as well as the distribution of beasts and evil spirits like the back of his hand which was why he was confident. The people in front of him definitely wouldn't believe him, right?
Shaking his head slightly, Zong Shou was too lazy to explain, walking towards his ship.
Anyways, when the time came, the truth would speak for itself. This time he asked Renbo to gather 400 merchant ships that could carry 100 thousand stones. They weren't for him to look at.
His Five Tooth Warship was the most majestic warship in this Rainbow City port. It was 200 feet tall and had a total of 20 layers. It could carry 5 thousand soldiers and store 100 thousand stones of resources.
However, the decorations within were really simple and crude. Similar to the Hanyan Palace at the peak of Gantian Mountain, it continued Zong Weiran's simple and practical style, but it didn't lose its grandeur.
Zong Shou frowned, this was too simple and crude. In his life, although he could go all out for the sword path, he could bear the torture of the underwater whirlpool, he could bury himself in the sand for months.
However, if he had the conditions, he would pay attention to the quality of his life. In life, one should enjoy while they could.
As for whether or not such enjoyment would wear down one's heart, Zong Shou had his own opinion. If one couldn't even control their own heart, then the path of cultivation would be filled with greed. In that case, pursuing the pinnacle of the Sword Dao was just empty talk. It was better to give up early.
To be able to experience such luxury and indulge in luxury and still have a strong heart was the true training. Forcing oneself to maintain such a monk like life might not be a sign of a firm heart.
His living quarters were at the center of this 5 tooth giant ship, extremely spacious. There were a total of 40 rooms beside which were used by his maidservants and guards. It was like a small palace.
After Zong Shou entered his sleeping palace and sat down, he waved everyone away. Then, he took out an ancient book. He flipped through it page by page.
Within his soul ocean, the stars shone. While memorizing, he tried his best to deduce and calculate.
This was one of the secret manuals that Wei Xu left for him before he left. Coincidentally, it was beneficial to his world shocking spiritual art. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to qidian.com to vote for me. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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