Fan Xian and the Shadow silently looked at the scenery inside the large city. Perhaps the Shadow was deeply moved, but Fan Xian was slightly shaken by the scene before him. Perhaps the Shadow was deeply moved, but Fan Xian was slightly shaken by the scenes reflected in his eyes.
Dongyi indeed lived up to its name as the largest city in the world. It took up a lot of land. Their carriage traveled through the city for a long time, but they were still far from their predetermined destination. Along the way, they saw all kinds of buildings and bustling crowds moving through them. Goods from all over the world gathered here. Countless accents rang out on the streets. Countless people wearing different clothing were haggling over prices, and they were using a sign language that Fan Xian was not familiar with.
The hundred forms of the marketplace could be seen clearly in this Dongyi city that was built on commerce. Fan Xian sat in the carriage and looked down the street. He found that there was not a single item that could not be found in this city. He couldn't help but secretly exclaim in admiration. In such a bustling and prosperous place, who would be able to hold back from spending money on tourists from other places?
Although the Qing Kingdom had begun to set up a large commercial port in Quanzhou over 20 years ago and relied on the enormous production of the palace treasury to forcefully take a large share of the sea trade with foreigners, it not only directly caused Danzhou port to fall into decline and calm, but it also dealt a great blow to Dongyi. However, Dongyi was, after all, a place where merchants from all over the world gathered. In particular, the ships that went out to sea were skilled in the art of controlling the waves. They intersected with the land far away, so the trade had continued to flourish.
Even with the palace treasury that Fan Xian now controlled, if they wanted to travel by sea, they could not completely rely on Quanzhou to go out to sea. Many adventurers and merchants from overseas were still used to doing business through Dongyi.
This kind of change would probably take decades. After Fan Xian saw a dozen foreigners on the street, he accepted this point of view in his heart. When he was overseeing Jiangnan, the furthest the foreigners were willing to go was as far as Quanzhou, so he had never seen a single one.
"Do you find it strange?" The Shadow asked in a low voice beside him. "Foreigners only trust Dongyi, so every time the Qing people see these blue-eyed people, they always feel uncomfortable."
Fan Xian smiled and didn't say anything. He thought to himself that in his previous life, he had once taught mahjong in the foreign students' building all night. How could he feel strange when he saw foreigners?
"Why don't the foreigners trust the Qing Kingdom? At most they are willing to stop at Quanzhou for a few days, they are never willing to go deep into the interior. " Fan Xian asked quietly, "Northern Qi does not have a suitable outlet to the sea. That is one thing, but we have already built three large ports in the Jiangnan area. In particular, the Quanzhou port has been built for over 20 years. Why have we never completely taken away Dongyi's position?"
"I'm not too sure either." The Shadow pressed down the bamboo hat and coldly said, "But I heard that twenty years ago, the Quanzhou Navy had a good relationship with the foreigners. Later, something happened to the Quanzhou Navy, and many of the foreigners were scared away."
Fan Xian raised his eyebrows and didn't ask any more questions. On his way into the city, he had been looking in all directions and listening in all directions. He had carefully savored the atmosphere of the marketplace that was particularly different from that of this land. He had gradually come to understand the reason for this.
Dongyi had always been able to occupy the center of the world's commerce because the people there valued freedom. Merchants used their words and actions for profit. On the streets, other than the officials from the manor of the Master of the City who maintained public order, there were not many officials. Although he hadn't had the opportunity to personally see the specific process of trade, Fan Xian already had a strong feeling that Dongyi's trade basically already had some kind of contract. Regardless of whether it was the manor of the Master of the City or the Sword Hut, neither of them would try to control the actions of the merchants. They would only draw up general market regulations.
In comparison, although the Jiangnan area of the Qing Kingdom was also developed in commerce, this kind of development and prosperity was, to a large extent, based on the overly special product of the palace treasury. Jiangnan's commerce relied on the unique production of the palace treasury, so it could be completely set by the court, or rather, by itself, with very little fluctuation.
The commerce of the Qing Kingdom's Jiangnan was a kind of commerce that was monopolized by the court. Regardless of whether it was the incomparably illustrious Ming family, the Lingnan Xiong family, or the Quanzhou Sun family, they were only the recipients of the palace treasury. If the court wanted these three families to die, then they had no choice but to die. The court did not care about the sanctity of contracts with merchants.
However, Dongyi's business was rooted in the foundation of equal trade. No power could be like the Qing court and shamelessly use force. No one could be like Fan Xian, who could use the power in his hands to make the Ming family vomit 3,000 liters of blood and innumerable losses.
It was clear that, for merchants, the latter kind of prosperity was more reliable, long-lasting, and worthy of trust. Dongyi was like a gathering place and autonomous territory for the world's merchants. They used their sweat or cunning to seek benefits. Their life and death were up to heaven and not imperial power.
Fan Xian pulled his gaze back from the door of a large merchant house. An absurd feeling suddenly welled up in his heart. If Dongyi truly leaned toward the Qing Kingdom, given the Emperor's powerful desire for power, how could he be willing to remain unchanged for 50 years? How could he be willing to have so many merchants not listen to his orders in the territory he ruled?
If the glory of the Qing Kingdom's powerful imperial power truly descended upon Dongyi, would this prosperous and free or secretly dirty city still be able to maintain its current vitality?
Fan Xian and the Shadow chose an unremarkable inn to stay in. After settling down the carriage, they walked onto the main street and merged into the crowd. It was still early, so it was not yet convenient to do what they wanted to do. Thus, these two powerful warriors, each with their own thoughts, decided to imitate the situation of women and once again wandered the streets in the noisy seaside city.
The reason Dongyi was so large, other than the shocking amount of trade that attracted merchants from all over the world, was because all kinds of strange people gathered here, such as the great bandit Wang Qinian, and even earlier, the young lady of the Ye family and her blind, young servant at her side. With strange people, there were naturally legends and legends. Adding to the glorious and threatening name of Sigu Jian, who knew how many vagrants and homeless people had come to settle down and seek a living. Countless young people from Northern Qi and the Qing Kingdom had come to travel.
Even the Hu people far away on the grasslands and the Snow Man people in the North had once traveled tens of thousands of li. Year after year, the population of Dongyi increased, and the city grew larger and larger.
Looking at the various styles of buildings on the main street, Fan Xian clicked his tongue in wonder. He thought to himself that the Bund of the past was nothing more than this. However, the Bund had mostly been Western buildings, while the buildings in Dongyi were of various styles from the mainland. Northern Qi inherited the black and green flying eaves from the Wei Kingdom, the Qing Kingdom's solemn and square buildings, the domed houses on the grasslands, and Nanzhao's gilded rain and arrow towers.
It was said that back in the day, the Western people's buildings had been in the limelight in Dongyi. Later, following the rise of the Ye family, the Western people's position fell completely. The trade on this land began to move in the direction of imports.
The reason was simple. They could not make the silk, tea, and porcelain that the Western people wanted to buy. The Ye family could also make the expensive glass and mirrors that they used to sell. Furthermore, they made them better and sold them cheaper.
Thus, it was very difficult for the kingdoms in the overseas continents to trade on the sea because Dongyi no longer needed their goods. Instead, they were required to use silver to settle accounts. If it weren't for the large amounts of silver mines that were rumored to have been discovered somewhere in the wild lands a dozen years ago, their national coffers would have long been emptied by the cunning and ruthless merchants of Dongyi, as well as the Ye family that had fallen from the sky. They would no longer be able to support the extravagant needs of the nobles in their country.
After listening to Fan Xian's rueful words, the Shadow coldly said, "The Western people are no different from us. However, their martial arts are like their sorcerers. They look good, but they are actually completely useless. Thus, they can only allow us to exploit them. They only come to complain every year."
Hearing these words, Fan Xian couldn't help but smile. He still remembered the first moment he was reborn into this world. He saw the Shadow beside him fly over like an eagle and instantly kill a sorcerer.
The sun was slightly setting, but Dongyi was still as lively as before. Although the shops gradually showed signs of closing, the places of pleasure in the middle of the streets were preparing to light up their red lights.
"Have you finished looking?" the Shadow suddenly asked.
Fan Xian used his fingers to gently pull on his straw hat. After a moment of silence, he said, "Yes."
He was a traveler from another world, but in this world, he could not be a simple traveler. After the rare half-day tour of Dongyi temporarily came to an end, Fan Xian was going to return to the darkness, leaving behind the joy and gratification of sightseeing and picking up his black dagger again.
The Shadow tilted his head slightly and turned to the right. Brushing past a row of saury ice stalls, he disappeared into a small alley. In a flash, the straw hat disappeared without a trace.
The setting sun in the west lost the honor of shining on the East Sea. Miserably, it was blocked off by the various tall buildings in Dongyi and turned into patches of darkness. Fan Xian walked in and covered his tracks.
— — —
The manor of the Master of the City in Dongyi was brightly lit. Although it was not completely night and there was a lingering warmth of the setting sun still shining on the tall eaves of the manor, the servants in the manor had long lit the lamps. It was as if they were all afraid of the arrival of the night in Dongyi.
In a few days, the diplomatic groups from the Qing Kingdom and Northern Qi would arrive in Dongyi. Everyone knew that the Great Grandmaster of the Sword Hut was about to decide the future direction of Dongyi after the opening of the Hut. However, everyone knew that once the sword saint passed away, no matter what Dongyi chose, it would be an endless dark night descending for these common people who were happy in the name of free merchants.
Of all these people, the most nervous was the Master of Dongyi. Regardless of whether Dongyi became a territory outside the Qing Kingdom or Northern Qi, there was no need for him, the Master of the City in name, to continue to exist.
He was the Master of the City in name because the true masters of Dongyi were Sigu Jian and the Sword Hut. He only enjoyed the glory and wealth and carried out simple administrative work on behalf of them.
The Master of the City looked worriedly at the middle-aged swordsman sitting across from him. Faintly, he sighed and said, "Master Yun, to say something inauspicious, it looks like the sword saint is not going to make it. As the head of the Sword Hut, you have to make a decision."
Yun Zhilan, the first disciple of the Sword Hut, lowered his head slightly and maintained his silence. After a long time, he said, "Teacher knows his limits. There is no need for you to worry too much."
"Even if I don't worry for myself, I have to worry for the people in this city," the Master of the City stared into his eyes and said. "If we really surrender to the Qing Kingdom, at worst, I will go to the Qing Kingdom's Jingdou to be a free and unfettered Marquis. Dongyi has worked hard to build this city. Are we really going to give it to our enemy, the Qing Emperor, with both hands?"
Yun Zhilan knew that the Master of the City purposely spoke in such a dignified manner because he was worried about his own path of escape once the city fell and the Hut fell. If this person actually dared to go to Jingdou to be a free and unfettered Marquis, why would he ask him so seriously today? Everyone knew the Qing Emperor's ambition and terrifying ruthlessness. If the Master of the City went to be a free and unfettered Marquis, he would probably be greeted with a cup of poisoned wine within two years.
Yun Zhilan had to admit that his thoughts were the same as those of the Master of the City. As a superior ninth-level ace, he was not worried about his future after the city fell. Presumably, even the Qing Emperor would welcome him. However, he had grown up in Dongyi. He had a sense of belonging and love for this city and the Sword Hut that came from the depths of his soul. No matter what, he could not accept Dongyi surrendering without a fight and being absorbed into the Qing Kingdom's territory.
If they could remain independent of the two powers in the world, it would be Dongyi's best future. If the situation could not be reversed, Yun Zhilan would rather join hands with the relatively weaker Northern Qi court to fight the Qing Kingdom together.
Yun Zhilan furrowed his brows slightly. His eyelids fluttered weakly, revealing two cold lights that flashed through them. He knew that an important figure was in the Sword Hut having an important conversation with his teacher.
If this negotiation was successful, then Dongyi would stand up bravely and carry out a decisive resistance against the powerful Qing Kingdom.
Yun Zhilan raised his eyelids and looked at the Master of the City. "I will not surrender."
The Master of Dongyi was slightly startled. It was as if he had not expected the other party to agree so readily. Truthfully speaking, the Master of the City had been tossing and turning restlessly these two years. No matter what choice he made, it could not make him happy unless Sir Sigu Jian's injuries recovered and he regained his former might.
He looked at Yun Zhilan hesitantly and said, "But, what exactly does the sword saint mean? I haven't seen him for more than two years. "
Yun Zhilan did not answer this question. His expression was slightly strange. Even now, he, the first disciple of the Sword Hut, was not sure what his teacher was thinking. Was it to fight or surrender?
However, he immediately calmed down. Thinking of the major figure in the Sword Hut, he took a deep breath and said, "Presumably, the teacher also does not want his life's work to go to waste like this."
The Master of the City furrowed his brows deeply and glanced at Yun Zhilan. Probingly, he said, "Everyone under heaven knows that the sword saint was injured by the Qing Emperor on Dong Mountain two and a half years ago. Originally, I, a slow-witted person, would not think that the sword saint would turn toward the Qing Kingdom. However, news has gradually come these two years that Thirteenth Wang is the sword saint's last disciple and is on good terms with the Qing Kingdom's Fan Xian. I don't know what Master Yun thinks of this matter."
After these words were said, Yun Zhilan's expression became serious. Sternly, he said, "Thirteenth Wang is my brother disciple. Everything he does is arranged by my teacher."
"It is precisely because his friendship with Fan Xian was arranged by the sword saint that this is what I am most worried about," the Master of the City looked at Yun Zhilan and said seriously.
Yun Zhilan sank into silence. In the past, he had also felt a boundless coldness from this arrangement. He had never thought that his always proud and ruthless teacher would, before his death, be willing to put aside his deep hatred and make secret contact with the Qing Kingdom.
"Thirteenth Wang …" He sighed in his heart and said to himself, "I don't have any objections to you. Even if teacher wants you to take over the Sword Hut, I will only listen to you. However …"
The light on the table suddenly dimmed and then brightened, reflecting Yun Zhilan's cold face. He knew that the most important thing right now was to not let the Qing Kingdom's people disturb the important negotiations in the Sword Hut. On the Sword Hut's side, he had already arranged for countless aces to lie in wait outside. He had also arranged for many powerful warriors outside the plum garden.
Yun Zhilan raised his wine cup and took a shallow sip. "I have already made arrangements for Thirteenth Wang. Don't worry, Master of the City."
The Master of the City furrowed his brows slightly and said, "That is good. As long as it is not the Qing Kingdom's Fan Xian coming personally, it is fine."
"Sir Fan junior is still on his way." Yun Zhilan's eyes were solemn. Calmly and firmly, he said, "But, if he dares to go find little brother alone, I will keep him there forever."
…
…
Fan Xian had already arrived. He and the Shadow had admired the eaves of the manor like tourists. However, no one on Dongyi's side knew. At the same time, Fan Xian also did not know that the first disciple of the Sword Hut, Yun Zhilan, had begun to protect the Sword Hut because of his loyalty to Dongyi and himself. He was even willing to harm Thirteenth Wang to keep the Qing Kingdom's people forever on this land.
At the beginning of the night, Fan Xian came to a courtyard on the outskirts of Dongyi. Looking at the green banner hanging to dry on the low wall, he couldn't resist smiling slightly. Naturally, he did not go forward and directly knock on the door. Instead, he made a few turns and passed through the back of a plum garden, preparing to see Thirteenth Wang, who had been waiting for him.
As he walked through the plum blossoms and was about five or six steps away from the back door, Fan Xian stopped his steps. He didn't hear the barking of the dog in the courtyard. Thirteenth Wang had once told him that he raised a mutt with the best nose when they were chatting.
Dogs could be made into dog meat hotpot, but plum blossoms would not be the only one left.
Fan Xian's fingers curled slightly. His eyelids lowered as he stared at the plum blossom in front of his feet. He knew there was an ambush here and that the people lying in ambush were all aces. When his figure paused, he felt a gust of wind sweep past in front of him and cut down a plum blossom. Immediately after, powerful sword intents seeped in from all directions.
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