Fei Changliu said, "We all know that. Why play dumb?"
"Let's put this aside for now." Niu Youdao didn't want to talk about this. He hadn't invited Fei Changliu here to talk about this. They couldn't continue the discussion either. Those things had been sold cheaply, and he couldn't afford to pay for them. "Song Jiuming said that he could return after killing me. He promised benefits to the Immortal Retaining Sect and urged us to work for him. Am I right?"
Fei Changliu was bewildered. He didn't know how the other party knew.
Zheng Jiuxiao and Xia Hua looked at him in bewilderment. The Song family was indeed biased towards the Immortal Retaining Sect. Why didn't they inform us?
Peng Youzai, who was sitting on the other side, knew more about the situation. Shang Chaozong seemed to have planted a spy in the Song family. The information that Shang Chaozong passed to Niu Youdao was also relayed by the Heavenly Jade Gate. That was why he knew.
Fei Changliu said, "I've already said that as long as you compensate for the damage to my shop, we'll let bygones be bygones."
Niu Youdao said, "Sect Leader Fei, the Immortal Retaining Sect couldn't kill me in the past, and I dare say now that the Immortal Retaining Sect won't be able to kill me in the future. May I ask how Song Jiuming will return, and how will he fulfill his promise to the Immortal Retaining Sect?"
Fei Changliu said, "Don't you understand what I'm saying? Compensate for the Immortal Retaining Sect's losses. As for the rest, we won't pursue it for the sake of the Ice and Snow Pavilion! "
Niu Youdao didn't follow up. "Song Jiuming, don't even think about returning. How about we make a bet that the Song family will be wiped out soon?"
Fei Changliu said, "Don't talk to me about the Song family. Don't give me that either. In the past, we all worked for our own masters, and the Immortal Retaining Sect would accept any casualties for helping the Song family. But the huge sum of money in the shop was shared by all the disciples in the Immortal Retaining Sect. If you don't give us an explanation, we won't be able to explain it to all the disciples in the Immortal Retaining Sect. Of course, if you can get the Ice and Snow Pavilion to say that they won't pursue this matter, then I'll accept it. Otherwise, I can only look for you! "
Niu Youdao did not answer the question, "The Immortal Retaining Sect was originally attached to the Song family. Now that the Song family has collapsed, the Immortal Retaining Sect is probably at a loss as to what to do?"
Fei Changliu said, "This is the Celestial Retaining Sect's business. You don't have to worry about it!"
Niu Youdao's gaze swept across the crowd. "I have invited all of you here to discuss how to divide the profits of the Yan Kingdom's Southern Region. How is this compared to the Song family's offer? If Sect Leader Fei isn't interested, you can leave now. I won't force you. Whether you live or die, I'll accompany you at any time. "
"…" Everyone was stunned. Dividing up the Southern Yan Prefecture?
Fei Changliu, Zheng Jiuxiao, and Xia Hua looked at each other.
Peng Changliu was stunned for a moment, then he sneered, "Dividing up the Southern Region? How arrogant. Could this be the Ice and Snow Pavilion's idea?"
Niu Youdao gestured to Fei Changliu. "I said I won't force you. Sect Leader Fei, if you want to leave, feel free to."
Fei Changliu said nonchalantly, "There's no harm in listening."
Niu Youdao scoffed. He looked around and asked, "Is there such a reason? If you want to settle accounts with me, how can I allow you to listen to my secrets? "
Wu Shaohuan, who was standing behind Fei Changliu, lowered his head and whispered a few words into Fei Changliu's ear.
Fei Changliu's stiff face tightened. He lowered his eyes and said, "If the Southern Region's profits are really enough to make up for the Immortal Retaining Sect's losses, then I'll be able to answer to everyone in the Immortal Retaining Sect. It's not impossible to let go of our past grievances."
Niu Youdao asked the other two, "What about Sect Leader Zheng and Sect Leader Xia? Do you want to settle accounts first, or what? "
Zheng Jiuxiao stroked his beard. "Let's hear it first!"
Xia Hua nodded in agreement.
"If that's the case, then let's hear it first." Niu Youdao sneered and looked at Peng Youzai. "This has nothing to do with the Ice and Snow Pavilion. Does Sect Leader Peng think that Prince Yongping's ambitions are limited to the small Qingshan County?"
If it was the Ice and Snow Pavilion's intention, then it was still possible. But when he heard that it wasn't, Peng Youzai immediately said disdainfully, "Who doesn't want to climb higher? No matter how high one's ambition is, one must have the corresponding strength to achieve it. He shouldn't be boasting here. "
Niu Youdao retorted, "It's still better than doing nothing! Think about it. If Prince Yongping hadn't arrived at Canglu County and done something, the Heavenly Jade School's influence in the Southern Region would have been limited to just one county. The moment Prince Yongping arrived, he immediately helped the Heavenly Jade School take over the entire Qingshan County. Could it be that Prince Yongping is a boastful person? "
Peng Youzai naturally didn't like the fact that his words were mocking the Heavenly Jade School's incompetence. He sneered and said, "If it wasn't for the Heavenly Jade School's support, how could he take over Qingshan County?"
Niu Youdao said, "Then why didn't the Heavenly Jade School take over Qingshan County earlier and waited for Prince Yongping to do so? Could it be that the Heavenly Jade School has the ability to predict the future and knew that Prince Yongping would escape prison and come to Qingshan County? Is that why they waited for so long? Isn't Sect Leader Peng afraid of being laughed at? Hehe, if Prince Yongping hadn't settled all sides, would the Heavenly Jade School have dared to support him? If Prince Yongping hadn't arranged everything properly to boost the Heavenly Jade School's courage, I'm afraid the Heavenly Jade School's influence in the Southern Region would still be holed up in Guang County. "
"Impudent!" An Elder behind Peng Youzai angrily rebuked.
Niu Youdao raised his teacup and glanced at the Elder. He slowly raised it to his lips and said, "To be able to sit down and talk, we're talking about reason, not who has the loudest voice."
As he finished, he gently blew on the hot tea and slowly took a sip. He continued, "If Prince Yongping had said that he wanted to take over the whole of Qingshan County when he first arrived at Guang Guang County, I'm afraid that the situation today would be the same. I'm afraid that Sect Leader Peng would also mock Prince Yongping for overestimating himself. But what is the truth? Back then, the Heavenly Jade School probably never imagined that Prince Yongping would become the Lord of Qingshan County. Today's ridicule is like a relapse! "
Fei Changliu, Zheng Jiuxiao, and Xia Hua fell into deep thought when they heard Peng Youzai's words. Who would have thought that Shang Chaozong would be able to take over Qingshan County so quickly?
Peng Youzai raised his hand to stop the furious Elder behind him. "What a sharp tongue. If Shang Chaozong really has a way to take over the Southern Region, our Heavenly Jade School will naturally support him with all our might. We will only applaud him and not do anything evil. But how big is Qingshan County? How big is Southern Region? Even if our Heavenly Jade School fights to the death to stop the other schools, what can we do? Guang County and Qingshan County only have so few men. Even if we let Shang Chaozong deploy them, how can the Southern Region defend such a large area? How can the Yan Imperial Court let the matter rest after forcefully taking over a province? You're boasting shamelessly here. Could it be that you've already discussed a safe plan with Prince Yongping? "
At this point, it was just as he said. If they could really take over the Southern Region, why not? He stopped the angry Elder because he wanted to hear what would happen next. As a Sect Leader, he had to consider the interests of the entire school. There was no need to get angry over a few words and delay important matters.
Niu Youdao said, "If we want to take over the Southern Region, the safest way is to have a strong army. Relying on your Heavenly Jade School's strength is a lie. Your Heavenly Jade School may have a lot of men, but if you throw them out, the vast Southern Region won't even be enough to fill the gaps between your teeth. That's why we have to rely on Prince Yongping's side. "
Chen Tingxiu, the elder behind Peng You who was furious, laughed coldly and said, "Feng Lingbo is fine too, but there's no need for him to be the head of the Shang dynasty, right?"
Niu Youdao said, "Of course. However, I only support Shang Chaozong. It's that simple!"
Chen Tingxiu said sarcastically, "You support? What do you have to support him?"
Niu Youdao said, "I don't know much about war. When I was chatting with Prince Yongping and Lan Ruoting, I asked them how many men are needed to take over the Southern Region. They said that if it's just an attack, three hundred thousand elite soldiers are enough! As for the governance and defense after the conquest, we can just recruit people on the spot. In reality, there's no need for too many soldiers. Too many would be a heavy burden. Counting the hundred thousand elite soldiers in Guangyi County, we still need two hundred thousand elite soldiers! "
Everyone looked at him, not knowing what he meant by giving an irrelevant answer.
Peng You snorted coldly, "Guangyi County is already at its limit to support a hundred thousand elite soldiers. That's because Guangyi County is a land of fish and rice. Adding another two hundred thousand elite soldiers will cost more money and food. It's not something Guangyi County and Qingshan County can afford."
Niu Youdao slowly took a sip of tea and continued, "This is exactly what I can support. I can provide financial support!"
Peng You said, "Do you know how much an elite soldier needs to eat in a day? The simplest food and drink costs at least ten copper coins. They also have families to feed. Each person needs at least three hundred copper coins per month to cover the basic needs of their family. That's another ten copper coins per day. "
"This doesn't include the cost of clothes, armors, and weapons. It doesn't include the wages of the warhorses and the generals. It doesn't include the cost of training the wounded, and it doesn't include the compensation for accidents."
"Just the basic needs of each person cost twenty copper coins per day. Two hundred thousand elite soldiers will cost four million copper coins per day. That's four hundred gold coins. In fact, it's far more than four hundred gold coins. Adding other miscellaneous expenses, the cost of supporting two hundred thousand elite soldiers will at least triple. It's impossible to support them without one thousand five hundred gold coins per day. "
"This is just for one day. Ten days will cost fifteen thousand. In a month, it'll cost forty to fifty thousand gold coins. In a year, it'll be about five hundred thousand gold coins. Do you know how many craftsmen are needed to support two hundred thousand elite soldiers? Do you know how many horses are needed? This doesn't even include the war. Once a war breaks out, just the manpower and financial resources needed to prepare and transport a large number of supplies, as well as the compensation for the dead, will add up to an even larger number. Kid, it sounds nice to attack Nanzhou, but it's not so easy to fight a war. It requires strong financial support. You support it? Where did you get so much money to support it? "
Fei Changliu said faintly, "I'm afraid you only dare to say that because you stole three of our shops and have some capital."
Niu Youdao said, "There's no need to list all these things for me to hear. I don't care about all this nonsense, and I don't understand all this nonsense. I'm only providing financial support. As for how to spend it, that's for Prince Yongping to worry about."
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