Translator: AnubisTL
Hearing this, the middle-aged man sitting on the Grand Preceptor's Chair slightly raised his head. His appearance bore some resemblance to Chu Youhuan. He frowned, and a magnetic voice rang out.
"I have no interest in the border checkpoints. What I want to know is the recent movements of the Chu Kingdom's sects, or whether there are any unusual activities in Great Wei or Great Li!
I'm not saying this to criticize you, but you've been with me for a long time. You should focus on what matters and not waste your energy on trivial matters. Isn't this basic common sense?
I'm swamped with work all day long. How could I possibly have the time to care about some insignificant border checkpoint?"
Prefect Chu's voice was soft, and he spoke with a smile, yet it carried an overwhelming sense of authority.
"Yes, Prefect, your reprimand is justified. But this particular checkpoint is closely related to us!"
At these words, Prefect Chu raised an eyebrow, showing some interest. "Go on, tell me more."
"The newly approved checkpoint is located in the northern border marshlands."
"Hmm?"
Prefect Chu put down the Jade Slip in his hand, his expression slightly stunned. "Are you sure?"
"I've verified it several times. It's definitely there."
"Has Grand Marshal Sima lost his mind? Setting up a checkpoint in such a place—is there some hidden scheme behind this?"
Everyone knows that the marshlands are a point of contention between the two opposing factions. Grand Marshal Sima's stance has always been clear: he strongly opposes involving sects in border defense affairs.
Yet, establishing a checkpoint in the marshlands is completely contrary to his usual position.
Unless he's gone mad, there's no way he would make such a move.
Even a fool would understand what it means to set up a checkpoint there.
"Grand Marshal Sima's stance is now being questioned by the other side, but so far, they haven't made any inquiries."
"What's the reason for that?"
"The application bears Grand Marshal Sima's seal and was included in a military report directly presented to His Majesty.
The content is exaggerated, far beyond the actual situation, and the wording is not precise. Everyone suspects it's the work of his wayward son, Sima Juncong!
Because of this, the other side doesn't dare to directly question it—at least not until they confirm Grand Marshal Sima's current stance."
Hearing this, Prefect Chu stood up from the Grand Preceptor's Chair and began pacing back and forth in the room.
"This is unusual. There are only a few possibilities:
First, Grand Marshal Sima has changed his mind, but the likelihood of that is extremely slim.
Second, Sima Juncong has been influenced by someone. If that's the case, the person behind it is likely Gu Feng. This is highly probable, given that he once successfully influenced my daughter to build a restroom cultivation chamber in the Sunset Glow Sect. It's very much in line with his style.
Third, someone else wants to get involved, but this possibility can be ruled out directly."
As he spoke, Prefect Chu's eyes gleamed with wisdom. He was almost certain that Gu Feng was the one pulling the strings behind this.
"So, Prefect, are you saying that Gu Feng tricked Sima Juncong?"
"Not tricked, but lured. Sima Juncong may seem like a spoiled and incompetent young master, but coming from a prominent family, he's not without some ideas.
Add to that Gu Feng's masterful persuasion, and in a moment of impulsiveness, he ended up causing this mess," Prefect Chu said with a smile.
"Prefect Chu, how do you think Grand Marshal Sima will respond to this matter? Will the checkpoint at the swamp area's entrance and exit be successfully established?"
"Definitely. Even if he doesn't want this son, would his wife agree? It would cause an uproar, and in the end, he would have to remain silent and grudgingly accept it," Prefect Chu laughed heartily.
"Gu Feng's move is indeed ruthless, forcing a path to be created. This young man has great talent. With proper nurturing in the future, he has the potential to become a pillar of stability for the Chu Kingdom," Prefect Chu's eyes sparkled as he lavished praise on Gu Feng.
To be honest, when he decided to secure the border of the swamp area, he was just testing the waters, already prepared for failure.
Unexpectedly, Gu Feng gave him a huge surprise. It's easy to imagine that once the checkpoint is built, the profits generated would be absolutely staggering.
The area has a natural geographical advantage, but due to the high construction costs, there were already two checkpoints about a hundred miles away on either side, making it unnecessary to build one there.
But now, things are different. Gu Feng has secured a hundred-year operating right for the area. He plans to establish a checkpoint and attract all the merchants from the two existing checkpoints. It's foreseeable that his business there will be booming.
"Prefect, should we do something about this?"
"Of course! This young man will definitely need funds. Our Grand Harmony Academy is also short on money. Let's invest a bit and take the opportunity to make a profit!"
...
At the Sima residence in the capital!
"Madam, it seems the young master has gotten into trouble!" a nanny whispered to the beautiful lady.
The lady sat in the pavilion, absentmindedly feeding the fish in the lake. After hearing the nanny's report, she scattered all the fish food in her hand.
"That old stubborn man will surely go mad. He might even beat my Cong half to death. If he gets thrown into prison, it would be a disaster.
This must not happen. My Cong has finally found something proper to do. I don't expect his support, but he must not hinder him!"
A team of cultivators, riding Dragon Steeds, galloped out of the capital, heading towards the northern frontier.
...
In the swamp area!
"Can you increase my share a bit?"
"Why?"
"I'm in trouble. I just received a notice from Father, ordering me to return immediately.
From the tone, he seems very angry. Most likely, the checkpoint documents have been approved, and he's going to hold me accountable!" Sima Juncong said with a bitter face.
"Don't worry about the shares. The urgent matter now is how to deal with your father's punishment."
After only five days of freedom, Sima Juncong was summoned back by Grand Marshal Sima.
As soon as he returned to the marshal's camp, he was forced to the ground.
"Ungrateful son, kneel down!"
With a thud, Sima Juncong knelt down without hesitation.
"Do you know what this document represents?" Grand Marshal Sima was furious, his beard and eyebrows twitching.
"It's just an entrance and exit checkpoint. This move not only effectively combats the long-standing smuggling problem in the swamp area but also generates revenue for the country. What's wrong with that?" Sima Juncong shouted.
Hearing this, Grand Marshal Sima was momentarily stunned. He keenly sensed a change in his son.
In the past, whenever he got into trouble, he would adopt a stance of 'do whatever you want, I won't be beaten to death anyway.'
This time was different. Sima Juncong sternly rebutted his father's words.
"You don't understand, this is not just a simple checkpoint!"
"Do you really think I don't understand? I know everything. It's just that you don't want the sects of Chu to get involved in border defense, right?
I just can't figure it out. Some sects in Chu are very powerful. If they come to manage the border together, they can assist in defending against foreign enemies in case of war. What's wrong with that!
In the end, it's just that you're too selfish, afraid that these sects will affect your position in the Northern Frontier once they get involved." Sima Juncong was really going all out this time.
Some of these words were his own thoughts, and some were things he heard while drinking with Gu Feng.
"Do you want to drive me to death? The country has its own laws. Relying on sects will lead to constraints. A large part of them are not firm in their stance. In the event of war, their first thought is how to protect themselves. Their passive attitude in war is far from the loyalty of the military." Grand Marshal Sima had always been biased against sects, always feeling that they lacked loyalty to the country.
"Then let's just let the country be destroyed together. Chu is not your country alone. If there is hope, I believe all sects would not want the country to perish!" Sima Juncong directly retorted.
"Anyway, you've made a big mistake, and I must punish you!" Grand Marshal Sima was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Come on! You can kill me, but please give me the checkpoint document approved by His Majesty!" Sima Juncong put on a fearless expression.
"Come on, drag this unfilial son down and beat him to death!"
"Who dares!"
At the critical moment, Madam Sima arrived.
"Mother, look at this old stubborn man, he wants to kill me!"
With his mother's arrival, Sima Juncong immediately gained confidence, jumping up from the ground and hiding behind her.
"You... why are you here?"
"How could I not come?" The beautiful woman said expressionlessly, then started crying, tears and snot flowing, making the Northern Frontier Marshal's scalp tingle.
"Our son has finally found a proper job, why can't you be flexible? A small checkpoint, what can it affect?"
"Today, either you kill both of us, or you hand over the document."
...
Three days later, a chariot rolled through the void, heading straight to the swamp area.
"My son, I now solemnly warn you, when you marry in the future, you must not marry someone like me, or you'll be driven crazy!"
Sima Juncong looked at his mother, recalling the scratches on his father's face, and nodded seriously.
"Hahaha, I'm back!"
"Come, come, welcome our Deputy Marshal back!" Gu Feng, upon learning that Sima Juncong had brought the checkpoint document, greeted him with the highest honors.
"And who is this?"
"My mother!"
"Ah, so it's Madam Sima, pleased to meet you. I'm Gu Feng, Sima Juncong's partner... Only a celestial being like Madam could raise such a prodigy as Juncong."
Upon learning the beautiful woman's identity, Gu Feng didn't hesitate to flatter her.
Madam Sima was momentarily stunned, tilting her head to look at Gu Feng. This kid really knows how to talk, no wonder he could fool my son.
"Cough, cough, Juncong has secured the approval documents for you, contributed a chariot, and provided two hundred Innate Realm cultivators. Yet, you're only giving him a five percent stake. Isn't that a bit unfair?" She had come here primarily to see Gu Feng, but her main goal was to secure more benefits for her son.
"Madam Sima, please hear me out!"
"This area spans ten kilometers and is a swampy region. The funds required to build a dam here would be astronomical.
Once my checkpoint is established, the business at the two nearby checkpoints will plummet... The annual profits will be staggering... Not only that, but I also plan to acquire a Spirit Fire. Have you heard of the Bao family in Cloud Prefecture? They are now my partners and will send Alchemists in the future... The Sunset Glow Sect's outer sect will also fully support me... The Myriad Harmony Guild will not only provide Spirit Stones but also hand over all their export business to me...
Compared to other checkpoints, my biggest advantage is independence. At military-controlled checkpoints, weapons and pills cannot be sold, but here, as long as taxes are paid, there are no restrictions!
In a few years, I plan to level the surrounding mountains, fill in the swamp, and build a commercial city on top, opening a Trading Hall.
We can collect entry and exit fees, as well as stall rental fees. This place will become the commercial hub of the northern border!
Do you still think a five percent stake is too little?"
Gu Feng spoke passionately, and the previously expressionless lady couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.
"You're saying you want to level the surrounding mountains, fill in the swamp, and turn this place into a city, establishing a trade center?"
"Exactly, that's my overall plan!"
Although the lady found this vision too distant and exaggerated, she couldn't help but feel tempted.
If so many forces were indeed involved, a five percent stake wasn't too little.
"Earlier, you mentioned you wanted to secure funding from my family?"
"Is that not appropriate?" Gu Feng probed.
"Very appropriate. How much Spirit Stones are you planning to ask for?" the lady asked with anticipation.
"How much do you think is appropriate, Madam Sima?"
"500 million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!"
"Pfft—" Gu Feng was utterly stunned. 500 million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, converted to Low-grade Spirit Stones, would be 50 billion. That would probably be enough to build a dam.
"I can help with the negotiations. You promise a five percent stake, and I'll take 400 million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones from it!"
Gu Feng was completely shocked. So, Madam Sima's enthusiasm was all about securing a 400 million Mid-Grade Spirit Stone kickback!
Of course, selling a five percent stake for 100 million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones far exceeded his expectations. As for the kickback, it didn't matter. She had the capability, and he wasn't envious at all.
"You're ruthless! Deal!"
"You're a man of great ambition. I'll entrust my son to you from now on!"
"Madam, rest assured. Feel free to visit often!"
(End of the Chapter)
📚 Read [FD] on Patreon.com/AnubisTL – Up to c234. [+2]
☕ Support me to keep this going.
🎯 Translated [2] Novel [400k+] Words and counting!