Chapter 79 - 70: I Want to Tame You to Be My Dog

Chapter 79: Chapter 70: I Want to Tame You to Be My Dog

Perhaps he was sick.

Zhao Huan found that the older he got, the more he enjoyed watching his sons fight amongst themselves.

Now that Zhao Ci and Zhao Yong had brought up the matter at the same time, he was naturally happy to see it play out.

Still, after a moment’s thought, he said, "Ci, you speak first!"

Zhao Yong: "..."

’So infuriating!’

Zhao Ci felt a flicker of doubt. He couldn’t quite grasp Zhao Yong’s intentions yet, so he decided to stick to his own plan for now.

He said, "It’s like this, Father Emperor! Your son has heard that the Northern Three Prefectures are plagued by poisonous miasma and disease. The local people suffer immensely, and because of this, very few are able to cultivate to the Physical Body Realm. The environment there is harsh, and few officials or soldiers are willing to go there to protect the people.

Therefore, your son feels that the pills, worth two hundred thousand taels, that you granted can be distributed to the people of the Northern Three Prefectures.

This way, even if it doesn’t cure the miasma and diseases, it can at least bring some comfort to the people there.

If their children are able to embark on the path of cultivation because of this, they will surely stay in their hometown to protect the peace.

In doing so, the public order in the Northern Three Prefectures can be greatly improved, and the reputation of your benevolence, Father Emperor, will be deeply ingrained in the hearts of every person there."

Hearing this, Zhao Huan became thoughtful.

Zhao Yong, however, immediately said, "Father Emperor! Your son believes this is inappropriate. Qi Cultivation Pills are always an important strategic resource. Every single pill could potentially create a Physical Body Realm master.

The Great Yu Kingdom is prosperous and strong now. Soon, we will be able to counterattack the four nations of Longyuan. At that time, every soldier at the Physical Body Realm could be a key factor in determining victory.

Lao Shi has a heart for the common people, which your son greatly admires. However, the people of the Northern Three Prefectures are frail. Taking one Qi Cultivation Pill might only alleviate some of their illnesses. Even three pills might not be enough for them to break through to the Physical Body Realm.

Considering the foundation of our kingdom, your son believes we should carefully select those with a high chance of breaking through. Only then would this batch of pills be put to its best use."

Listening to him drone on.

Zhao Ci almost laughed in anger. "Brother Huang! These pills were refined using the reward Father Emperor gave *me*. It must be nice for you to stand there and dictate how things should be done!"

Zhao Yong smiled proudly. "Lao Shi! This batch of pills isn’t just from you. Yesterday, your brother also put together an order for a thousand pills and, while I was at it, requested three thousand each from the Zhu Family and the Feng Family."

’Whoa!’

’This bastard is really willing to splurge!’

’Is he willing to go bankrupt, cutting off his own flesh just to steal my credit?’

’But it makes sense. I was a bit too high-profile this time. The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince were probably startled.’

’Damn it, my high-profile move is backfiring a little.’

Zhao Ci scoffed. "Brother Huang, you’re bringing out a mere thousand pills and you want to leverage my five thousand? Isn’t that a bit shameless?"

Zhao Yong couldn’t help but say, "And the Zhu and Feng Families..."

Zhao Ci cut him off directly. "Didn’t you claim to be a self-made man, Brother Huang? How are you counting the pills from the Feng and Zhu Families as your own? Could it be that the two families are secretly backing your rise to power, engaging in some shady dealings?"

Zhao Yong was left breathless with anger. "You, you... you!"

He was stunned.

’Can you even say things like that?’

Zhao Huan was also getting a headache from listening. "Ci! Don’t misspeak."

Zhao Ci was also incredibly frustrated. He had planned for so long, all for this wave of harvesting insight points, and he had even made a promise to Kan Luotang.

’How could I let this bastard Zhao Yong stick his nose in it?’

He said directly, "Father Emperor! Your son is donating pills out of his own sincerity. Ninth Imperial Brother also has his own ideas for donating pills. In any case, we are each refining our own pills, there’s no need to lump them together. Your son will take the five thousand pills from the Xingyu Pill Association to the Northern Three Prefectures. As for Ninth Imperial Brother, he can go wherever he pleases. Your son won’t stop him. We just need to not interfere with each other."

"Father Emperor, your son feels this is inappropriate!"

"Who do you think you are?"

Zhao Ci was getting annoyed. ’This guy is like a dog-skin plaster, impossible to shake off. And just because I cleaned his clock twice?’

Zhao Huan’s face immediately hardened. "Insolence! You are all my sons and subjects. What has become of your decorum, undermining each other like this?"

"Your son was wrong!"

"Your son was wrong!"

The two of them admitted their fault perfunctorily.

Only then did Zhao Huan’s expression soften slightly. "There is some merit in what both of you have said. However, since we are granting pills, you should pool your efforts. I think Ci is right. The Northern Three Prefectures are chaotic and there is much public resentment; they do indeed need to be placated.

However, the Northern Three Prefectures are quite dangerous...

Let’s do this.

I will appoint you as Envoys of the Pill Granting Mission. On the day the pills are ready, you will each take your own men to escort the pills to the Northern Three Prefectures.

Yong has procured more pills, so he will be the Head Envoy of the Pill Granting Mission. Ci, you’ll have to bear with it and be the Vice Envoy of the Pill Granting Mission!"

Zhao Ci: "???"

’Old Deng!’

’You’re taking sides, aren’t you?’

Zhao Yong was overjoyed. "Your son accepts the command and will definitely not fail the trust you’ve placed in me, Father Emperor!"

"Wait!"

Zhao Ci immediately cut in.

Zhao Huan looked at him with a grin. "Ci, you have some thoughts?"

’Of course I have some damn thoughts!’

But then a chill ran through Zhao Ci’s heart. ’Could this Old Deng be trying to test whether I was... disciplined by Gu Xiangzhu last night?’

’Although he doesn’t have a wish floating over his head right now, a person’s thoughts don’t meet the standard to form a wish when they aren’t strong enough.’

’I must be cautious!’

’My attitude cannot be wrong.’

’But if I don’t fight for it, with a shit-stirrer like Zhao Yong around, the process of farming insight points will definitely be greatly affected.’

His thoughts turned.

He immediately said, "Father Emperor, your son has suddenly thought of a problem. There has been an issue with the Alcohol Refining Technique recently, and it seems we can’t mass-produce it for a short while. After careful calculation, this year, we might only be able to fulfill the military’s one million four hundred thousand tael order.

If we produce this extra two hundred thousand taels’ worth, we might not be able to fulfill the military’s order. That would be a major crime.

How about this? Since Ninth Imperial Brother is so sincere, why don’t you, Father Emperor, take this two hundred thousand taels and purchase five thousand pills from the Yonghe Pill Workshop? Not only would this let Brother Huang have his fill of being the ’pill-purchasing minister,’ but it would also help out his business."