Li Mu wanted nothing more than for these two old fellows to leave the Department of Offerings.
They lived in large mansions and were served by more than a dozen maids and servants. Every year, the imperial court would provide them with large amounts of spiritual jades, spiritual herbs, and other cultivation resources. Despite such good treatment, they couldn't even go to work on time. The results they could produce every year were even less.
Thinking about Li Mu himself, with a meager salary, worried about the Emperor's heart, purged the rebels, killed the Demon Path, and built the link between the Imperial Court and the Fu-lu School. Besides his own official duties, he also had to approve memorials for the Empress and give her special treatment …
Thinking of his own efforts, the Head Offerings' efforts, the treatment of the Head Offerings, and his own treatment, Li Mu felt even more unbalanced.
The two Head Offerings had not expected that Li Mu would be so unyielding.
After expelling the two Head Offerings and dozens of other Offerings, what was left of the Department of Offerings?
Did he not think that if he really did this, how would he explain it to the Imperial Court?
As for making them swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, this was naturally impossible. Any cultivator with a normal mind would not joke about the Heavenly Dao. The two coldly snorted at the same time, clasped their hands behind their backs, and left.
Li Mu was, after all, acting on the Empress's orders. With their status, there was no need to say too much to Li Mu. When the Department of Offerings fell into chaos because of him, he would not be able to explain himself to the Imperial Court, and would naturally leave with his tail between his legs.
Seeing that the two Head Reverends had left, those Reverends who didn't report to the Reverends Department within the time set by Li Mu also didn't dare to step into the Reverends Department. They all left with gloomy faces.
This was only a temporary departure.
According to Li Mu's own rules, this time, more than half of the combat strength of the Department of Offerings would be expelled from the Department of Offerings. The Department of Offerings of the Great Zhou existed in name only. Once the Imperial Court investigated, he would not be able to bear the responsibility, and would still have to invite them back.
And the Offerings of the Department of Offerings were secretly rejoicing that they had changed their minds at the last moment.
Li Mu didn't even give face to the Great Consecrator, much less them. Once they lost their status as Consecrators, where would they find cultivation resources? Without a sect or family, leaving the Consecrator Department was the same as cutting off their cultivation path.
After sending those people away, Li Mu sat back down on the chair in the courtyard of the Office of Offerings.
The original intention of the Consecration Department was to recruit strong cultivators to serve the country. They did not want them to participate in the politics of the court. However, the Consecrators were in the Divine Capital. These matters could not be avoided easily.
The current Consecrated Office had already deviated from its original intentions and needed a complete change.
Of course, the price of change was also huge.
This time, Li Mu had expelled more than half of the Consecrators of the Consecration Department. Although this was more beneficial for future management, the drawbacks were also obvious.
The overall strength of the Consecration Department had severely shrunk. Although they had the unkempt Taoist priest, no matter how powerful he was, he was only one person. He could not solve the problem of the 36 counties of Great Zhou.
Right now, the Foreign Service Division urgently needed fresh blood.
However, they could not expand their recruitment at will. Otherwise, the previous Internal Guard was a lesson to be learned.
If someone with bad intentions sneaked in and gave them a fatal blow at the critical moment, all their previous efforts would be in vain.
Li Mu thought for a while and stretched out his hand. A white light flashed and a black, palm-sized wooden block appeared in his hand.
The four sides of the wooden block were engraved with mysterious runes. After Li Mu injected his spiritual power, these runes began to flicker and emit a faint light.
After the light on the wooden block stabilized, Li Mu put the wooden block to his ear and said, "Hey, is this Senior Brother Sect Master? I'm Li Mu. Last time, we talked about the cooperation between the Ancestral Court and the Imperial Court. You promised to send some elders over. What? Ten? Ten is too little, at least thirty … Thirty isn't much at all. What's the point of them staying in the mountains? Why don't we pull them out to temper their minds? It's good for their future cultivation.
Li Mu put down the wooden box and saw the unkempt Taoist priest standing in the courtyard of the Consecration Department.
He looked at Li Mu with a puzzled gaze and asked, "Xuan Jizi is your Senior Brother?"
Li Mu nodded.
The Taoist priest thought for a while and asked again, "Then who is your Master?"
Li Mu said, "My Master is Talisman Daozi."
The Taoist priest revealed a look of understanding and said, "So it's him …"
Li Mu asked, "Senior, do you know my Master?"
The Taoist priest shook his head and said, "I'm not familiar with him. Talisman Daozi has some talent in the Fu-lu, but his cultivation talent is not high. His lifespan should be in these two years. Your Master …"
Li Mu said, "With the Talisman of Heavenly Secrets, it should be able to buy Master ten more years."
The Taoist priest was stunned and then said, "So the Talisman of Heavenly Secrets was given to Talisman Daozi. Who drew the Fu-lu? As far as I know, no one in the Fu-lu School has this ability …"
Li Mu smiled and said, "Senior, you don't have to worry about this. After a year, Senior's Talisman of Heavenly Secrets will be handed over."
The unkempt Taoist priest didn't ask any more questions and said, "What do you need me to do?"
Li Mu said, "Senior, you only need to preside over the Offerings Department. The other matters will be taken care of by the Offerings Department below."
The Head Reverend's greatest use in the Reverend Department was to intimidate others. If there weren't any Sixth Realm cultivators holding down the fort, the words "Reverend Department" would inevitably lose some of its grandeur.
When the Head Offerings were truly needed, it would be when an earth-shattering event happened in a certain county.
On the first day Li Mu took charge of the Offerings Department, he drove away more than half of the Offerings and angered two Head Offerings. Soon, the news spread throughout the Divine Capital and caused a heated discussion among the officials.
"This is too ridiculous."
"In less than an incense stick's time, he will be expelled from the Offerings Department. He wants to turn the Offerings Department into his own."
"Even the two Head Offerings were angered away. Without the Head Offerings, the Offerings Department is nothing but an empty name. Let's see how Li Mu will deal with this!"
"He will destroy the Offerings Department …"
…
Many officials in the court thought that Li Mu's actions were a bit excessive.
In the Ministry of War, several officials discussed this matter and had different opinions.
"Strict adherence to orders and prohibitions. Compared to the court, he is more suited to be in the military."
"If he doesn't use this method, it will be difficult to get rid of the Offerings Department."
"He doesn't have to be so harsh on the two Head Offerings. After all, the Offerings Department still depends on them …"
…
Daan Square.
The Offerings that Li Mu drove out of the Offerings Department were all waiting at home.
The Offerings Department was already understaffed. Without more than half of the Offerings, the Offerings Department was simply unable to deal with the emergencies that occurred in the 36 counties of the Great Zhou. Although there were many officials in the court with decent cultivation, they each had their own duties and official duties. It was impossible for them to leave their posts to deal with these matters. When the time came, it would be Li Mu begging them to return.
A day later, someone knocked on the doors of these Offerings.
It wasn't Li Mu who knocked, but an official from the Ministry of Works.
The Offerings' benefits were very good. Apart from receiving a generous monthly salary, they could also live in large mansions arranged by the court and have maids and servants to serve them.
Of course, the premise of all this was that they were still Offerings of the court.
When they were no longer Offerings, all their benefits would be taken away.
"Is that Li Mu serious?"
"What do we do now?"
"Is there no one in such a large court who can control him?"
"Why isn't the Head Offerings saying anything?"
…
The orders of the Ministry of Works could not be disobeyed. No matter how unwilling these people were, they could only move out of their mansions.
Yesterday, they were still noble Offerings of the Great Zhou. They lived in mansions bestowed by the court and had maids and servants to serve them. Overnight, they were driven out of their homes and became homeless wanderers.
But they did not leave the Divine Capital. Everyone firmly believed that there would be a time for them to return.
This confidence was shattered when they saw the thirty Manifestation Realm experts enter the Offerings Department.
Countless former Offerings stared at the doors of the Offerings Department in shock.
"Where did he find so many experts in such a short time?"
"Is this his new consecrator?"
"So he planned all of this!"
…
When they saw these experts, their hearts were filled with regret. They had been so fearless because without them, the Offerings Department would not be able to function in a short time.
Who would have thought that Li Mu would only use three days to find people to replace them? They had only wanted to give Li Mu a show of strength, but not only had they failed to scare Li Mu, they had also lost their status as Offerings.
They had chosen to join the Offerings Department because there were no sects or clans to provide them with cultivation resources. Once they left the court, their path of cultivation would become abnormally difficult.
While these former consecrated elders were feeling regretful, Li Mu, who was in the Consecrated Office, had a satisfied expression on his face.
Xuan Jizi had taken his words seriously. In just three days, the thirty Elders of the Fu-lu School arrived at the Divine Capital from Mount Baiyun.
"Greetings, Martial Uncle!"
The thirty people stood in three neat rows and bowed to Li Mu.
Li Mu reached out and gestured. "We're all family, so there's no need to be so polite."
The old man in the lead walked over to Li Mu and cupped his fists. "Before we left, the Sect Master instructed us to listen to Martial Uncle Ling Jizi's orders when we arrive at the Divine Capital. Please instruct us, Martial Uncle."
Li Mu felt gratified when he saw the obedient faces of these people.
His own disciples were still the most obedient and sensible. What were those Offerings who had looked up at the sky when they spoke?
He waved his hand and told everyone, "There's no hurry. Let me arrange your accommodations first …"
Soon, Li Mu led everyone to the Da 'an Square.
After he left, the doors of the Offerings Department closed.
A few former Offerings who had been pacing back and forth at the doors shook their heads in disappointment. They could only turn around and leave.
After these powerhouses arrived, the doors of the Offerings Department were completely shut.
Before long, two old men walked over to the doors of the Offerings Department. They were the two High Offerings.
They glanced at the tightly shut doors of the Offerings Department and slowly floated up.
A moment later, the two of them landed heavily on the ground.
The slovenly Taoist priest placed his hands on their shoulders and said indifferently, "Behave yourselves. This is not a place for you to wander around as you please …"
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