A mere Cave Master didn't have the qualifications to discuss matters in the manor hall. Miao Yi brought his men and left, but Ever Peace Manor's grand hall was in an uproar.
Inside the Grand Hall, Yang Qing sat high up on his throne, surveying the solemn crowd below him. He officially announced, "Everyone, thanks to the Hall Master's great kindness, from today onwards, he has allowed me to control both South Edict and Ever Peace Manors. I hope everyone will work together with me, and not disappoint the Hall Master's high expectations!"
On the way here, Yang Qing didn't reveal any information beforehand. Everyone thought the Manor Head had summoned everyone to order them to prepare so that they could evacuate Chang Ping and return to South Edict.
Who would have thought that the Manor Head would throw out such a shocking piece of good news? The Palace Master actually allowed the Manor Head to take charge of two manors?
What did this mean? If the Manor Head ate the meat, everyone would at least have a bowl of soup to drink. Otherwise, if all the benefits were taken by the Manor Head, who would be willing to risk their lives in the future? Then, wouldn't it be possible that the territory that everyone occupied now would belong to that person?
The Grand Hall was instantly in an uproar. Everyone could be said to be pleasantly surprised. After a moment of clamor, they tidied up their attire and faced Yang Qing, who was seated high up, and cupped their hands in greeting. "Congratulations Manor Head, congratulations Manor Head. Your subordinates are willing to follow Manor Head and serve you faithfully!"
It could be said that everyone's words came from the bottom of their hearts. If one were to say that when they had first occupied Ever Peace Manor, they had still been somewhat apprehensive, worried that the higher-ups would punish them. But now, after witnessing Yang Qing's incessant and daring actions, they could be said to be wholeheartedly convinced. Everything was under the Manor Head's control.
Yang Qing smiled and pressed his hands together. Looking at everyone's expectant eyes, he knew that everyone was waiting for his next words.
He didn't disappoint them. "I've said it before. If you don't let me down, I, Yang Qing, won't let you down. Over the past few days, all of you have been working hard on two mountains, two mansions, and two places. It can be said to be very tiring. Therefore, I wish to redivide the areas under your jurisdiction to make it easier for all of you to govern. Does anyone have any objections? "
Sure enough, it was going to be settled. The group of people were excited, and their eyes lit up.
Naturally, he was willing to redivide the territory and reorganize the mountains that separated the two manors. Otherwise, it would indeed be too inconvenient. They then cupped their fists and responded, "We are willing to follow Manor Head's orders without any objections!"
Yang Qing nodded in satisfaction, but his brows furrowed. "It's just that there's something I can't decide on at the moment, and I hope to discuss it with everyone."
"I'm all ears!" the crowd responded again.
Yang Qing, who was sitting between Qing Mei and Qing Ju, stood up. Clasping his hands behind his back, he sighed, "We are short of manpower. We can take care of the two manors for now, but in the long run, it will be difficult to maintain. The Palace Master sympathizes with us and will soon allocate three hundred men to me. I wish to disperse these three hundred men to all of you, but I don't know if it's appropriate to disperse all of them? "
Hearing this, everyone's heartstrings immediately tightened.
The Hall Master had assigned three hundred men, and you had scattered them all without leaving any room for negotiation. Even if the Hall Master did not suspect that you were plotting something, it would still make the Hall Master lose face, and the three hundred men would not be convinced.
They were all released from Suppressing Second Hall to be their subordinates? This arrangement was not a problem for those with low cultivation. What about the best of them? If that was really the case, it would be hard to manage such a troublesome subordinate.
This meant that they wanted to cut off their territories from everyone's hands!
No one was willing. The smiles on their faces disappeared, but they still sang in unison, "We are willing to follow the Manor Head's arrangements."
Yang Qing had been waiting for everyone to say this. He nodded and said, "I wish to allocate a mountain from both manors to settle them. I wonder who is willing to let go of a mountain?"
Doing this kind of thing would offend people. Although no one would dare to object if they forcefully pushed it down, no one would be willing no matter who it was. Resentment was unavoidable. It was not easy for everyone to fight for cultivation resources bit by bit. They had to use soft methods.
Didn't he, Yang Qing, rebel against Lu Yu because of a similar matter?
Even if he didn't rebel, it was fine to pull his balls behind his back, such as colluding with outsiders and secretly doing things that were detrimental to them.
This kind of person would easily be targeted by outsiders. Yang Qing had been targeted by Feng Zhihuan. With Feng Zhihuan's secret support, he had decisively rebelled.
Most importantly, it was easy to disappoint his subordinates. If their morale was broken, it would be difficult to lead the troops.
As soon as he said this, the crowd below fell silent. Some lowered their heads in silence, while others looked at each other. It was a complete opposite of the excitement from before.
Yang Qing's gaze fell on Qin Weiwei, his eyelids slightly drooping.
Qin Weiwei understood and stepped forward with cupped fists. "During the battle at East Arrival Cave, your subordinate was unable to discern the enemy's true intentions and was fooled. I almost caused the entire South Edict Manor to fall beyond redemption. Your subordinate cannot escape punishment. I am willing to relinquish Mount Calming Sea! "
Everyone was stunned. They then subconsciously looked at Xiong Xiao to see his reaction.
Actually, in everyone's hearts, the most suitable candidate was Xiong Xiao. This fellow held three mountains in his hands, which was one more than everyone else. Everyone's hearts were already a little unfair, but he had made a great contribution, so they had nothing to say.
But now the situation was different. Who was Qin Weiwei? She was the Manor Head's adopted daughter. Xiong Xiao, you have more than enough. Are you really not willing to let go and watch as Qin Weiwei steps down?
Everyone was the same. They all had two mountains in their hands. The law did not punish the masses, so they didn't feel any pressure.
The tallest tree in the forest was the first to be destroyed by the wind. After Xiong Xiao felt everyone's gazes, he felt immense pressure. The topic hadn't even brushed past him, and all the pressure had suddenly shifted onto him.
Yang Qing didn't even look at Xiong Xiao, nor did he try to stall for time. He was very decisive. He looked at Qin Weiwei and nodded. "It's good that you know your mistake! Alright! Take out Mount Calming Sea and prepare to … "
"Manor Head!" Xiong Xiao hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. He cupped his fists and said loudly, "Manor Head, please give Mountain Chieftain Qin another chance. Your subordinate holds three mountains in his hands. I am willing to relinquish one!"
Up until now, none of those who followed Yang Qing had stepped down because of defeat, unless they had committed some sort of mistake. In the cultivation world, fighting and killing were very common. Yang Qing would always give everyone a chance. He wouldn't kill them all with a single blow. At most, he would give them a punishment.
If he allowed Yang Qing to take this lead and deal with Qin Weiwei this time, it would create a gap in Yang Qing's heart. Next time, he would be able to deal with Xiong Xiao. Next time, Yang Qing would have a way to make Xiong Xiao spit out all three mountains in his hands.
Although Hall Master Huo Lingxiao had given Xiong Xiao hope, it still depended on Xiong Xiao's performance. The Hall Master couldn't possibly help an incompetent person into his position. At the very least, he had to endure until his cultivation was suitable for the position, right?
It was easy to decide whether to give up one mountain or cause a ruckus until he lost everything in the future. Furthermore, Yang Qing had always treated Xiong Xiao well. It was only right for him to help Qin Weiwei.
"That's not very good, is it?" Yang Qing shook his head slightly.
Xiong Xiao cupped his fists again and reiterated, "Mountain Chieftain Qin was not at fault in the battle with Zhang Decheng. Previously, Zhang Decheng had schemed and schemed against her. If it were me, I would have fallen for it as well. Even if Mountain Chieftain Qin was at fault, she had also performed meritorious deeds. If Mountain Chieftain Qin hadn't broken Zhang Decheng's trap at the crucial moment, we wouldn't have the opportunity to occupy two Manors today. Actually, Mountain Chieftain Qin's meritorious deeds outweigh her mistakes. Last time, she neglected the rewards and sided with me. Xiong Xiao was already feeling uneasy. How could I watch Mountain Chieftain Qin get punished? Manor Head had already rewarded Xiong Xiao once. How could he punish Mountain Chieftain Qin to reward Xiong Xiao again? Xiong Xiao is willing to give up one mountain. I hope Manor Head will understand! "
"This …" Yang Qing appeared to be in a difficult position. However, Xiong Xiao's words made sense. He couldn't help but look at the crowd and ask, "What does everyone think?"
"Xiong Xiao's words make sense!"
"This subordinate concurs Xiong Xiao!"
The group of people spoke up for Qin Weiwei and Xiong Xiao. Qin Weiwei was calm and collected, but everyone was helping Xiong Xiao to the point that his heart ached. He had given up one mountain just like that.
Xiong Xiao understood in his heart that this group of bastards weren't speaking up for him. In fact, they were speaking up for themselves. They didn't want Yang Qing to step down from this defeat. Otherwise, who knew who would be the one to suffer in the future.
Of course, there was also an element of jealousy towards Xiong Xiao.
"Since everyone has said so, then it's decided!" Yang Qing waved his hand and slapped the table.
As usual, as long as it involved the distribution of everyone's benefits, he would always comply with the majority's opinion. Everything was voluntary, and he wasn't the one who forced them to do so.
But in reality, he had always been the one to guide them.
The following matters were easy to handle. Everyone redivided their territories, and the situation of dividing the mountains into two manors came to an end. The territories controlled by each Mountain Chieftain were now close to each other, making it easier to govern. Some people wanted to withdraw their troops from Ever Peace Manor, while others wanted to withdraw from South Edict Manor. This was unavoidable.
Even though Qin Weiwei was not punished again, she was still only in control of Mount Calming Sea. With her current abilities and cultivation, Yang Qing had already made an exception by promoting her to be the Mountain Chieftain. It would be a little too much to ask her to be in charge of two more mountains.
The remaining mountain was naturally reserved for the people from Suppressing Second Hall, who would select a portion of them to enter after they arrived.
After the meeting ended, everyone except for Xiong Xiao was overjoyed. After this, they would have to spend some time busily reorganizing.
In the courtyard, Qing Mei, who was following behind Yang Qing, asked, "Xiong Xiao won't be dissatisfied, will he?"
Although the previous meeting was decided by the majority, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Yang Qing was the one who orchestrated it. Xiong Xiao couldn't possibly be unaware.
Yang Qing snorted coldly. "So what if he's dissatisfied? I've always treated him well, and have always been biased towards him. Today's meeting was to teach him a lesson. Don't think that I won't dare to touch him just because he's connected to the Hall Master. I want him to understand that now isn't the time for him to let his imagination run wild. I will take back what I can give him. "
"The Hall Master has already met with him alone. Isn't it a little inappropriate for you to act like this?"
"There's nothing inappropriate about it. If I can't back down, then I can't back down. If I can't even control my own subordinates, why would the Hall Master need me?"
After a few days, the troops of each mountain had finished reorganizing. Each Mountain Chieftain came to report that the three hundred men assigned by Suppressing Second Hall were already in place.
Each Mountain Chieftain led a batch of men back, but Qin Weiwei wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, she stayed by Qing Mei and Qing Ju's side for half a day.
When she left, she also took fifty men with her. Even though it wasn't enough to make up for all of Mount Calming Sea's manpower, it was still better than nothing. Yang Qing couldn't possibly let her lack too many men for too long. Besides, Yang Qing still had to think of other ways to make up for the remaining manpower. He still had to turn his attention to those sects.
Qin Weiwei returned to Mount Calming Sea without stopping. As she was bathing in the fragrant bath, she suddenly said to Hong Mian, "Make a trip to East Arrival Cave. See how the reconstruction of East Arrival Cave is going."
Hong Mian was a little surprised. 'Do I have to go personally?' However, she still agreed.
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