The Demonic World I designed-Chapter 48 - 46 The First Challenge of Shendao Liu Part 1
48: Chapter 46: The First Challenge of Shendao Liu (Part 1)
48: Chapter 46: The First Challenge of Shendao Liu (Part 1)
“Where is it as serious as military power?” Gong Qiniang hastily chuckled, “It’s just the right to recruit mansion soldiers within the city.
Once the new Commander takes office, he will naturally hand it over.”
“And what if he doesn’t hand it over?” Mu Hongqing didn’t let it slide so easily and asked with a smile.
Gong Qiniang was startled, then laughed, “That shouldn’t happen, right?
So young, how could he be so aggressive?
Besides, this isn’t the previous dynasty.
Does he think he can seize military power from those martial families with influential heritages?
He’s probably thinking too much.”
In the final period of the previous dynasty, the conflicts between many officials in Jiangnan and the military officers from influential families were extremely intense.
Indeed, there were powerful magicians who had snatched control over the mansion soldiers.
After all, the gate soldiers, who were responsible for the checkpoints, often extorted and solicited bribes, greatly affecting the business environment, especially in prosperous cities like Lyuzhou.
Guarding the gates was a lucrative position.
Both the government and the Commander naturally wanted to keep it in their own hands.
In theory, although the gate soldiers were military positions, since they had to record the goods at the gates and it concerned tax revenue, if military officers took control, it could easily lead to conflicts with the administrative authorities.
Thus, it was proposed quite early by the civil officials that local governments should financially support a group of mansion soldiers to be responsible for the city gates and checkpoints.
But because the military generals were too dominant, this suggestion had never been passed.
“That’s because you, Lord, have always served in Jiangnan and never been to the north!” Mu Hongqing said with a smile, “In some places in Northern Yan, there are many influential military families and magicians as local officials.
The fight for control over the mansion soldiers can be quite fierce.”
“Ah?” Gong Qiniang was first taken aback but then chuckled, “There’s no helping it, right?
When there’s an urgent matter, one must adapt.
Little Chen taking over such a mess and asking for control over the mansion soldiers — isn’t that justified?” free𝑤ebnovel.com
Mu Hongqing looked at him with astonishment.
Was he already taking sides?
It seemed that this Chen Qing was quite charming.
After having met only briefly, he had managed to make the Provincial Governor think so highly of him.
“Let’s wait and see then…” Mu Hongqing also said with a smile, “I’ve heard that the new Commander is quite a troublesome fellow.”
“The new Commander?
Has it been decided already?” Gong Qiniang asked curiously, “Mu DarRen is well-informed.
Could you satisfy my curiosity?”
“Weichi Feihong!”
“Ah?” Gong Qiniang shuddered at the news, almost spraying out his tea.
“The madman from the Weichi Clan?”
Two outstanding figures had emerged in the current generation of the Weichi Clan.
The first was Weichi Peng, who at seventeen had beaten his father and inherited the title.
The second…the eldest son with the nickname of ‘Slaughterer,’ renowned for his astonishing feats in the battles against Northern Yan, was Weichi Feihong!
Weichi Feihong was five years older than Weichi Peng and once thought to be the one to inherit due to his exceptional talents.
However, his younger brother Weichi Peng proved to be equally capable, and thus the title was not so easily settled.
However, Weichi Feihong became more infamous not for his strength but for his unruly and tyrannical temperament.
Last year, at the Imperial Court, Great Jin achieved a resounding victory against Northern Yan, incorporating the seven Yanyun cities into its territory after that battle.
During the campaign, Weichi Feihong, despite catching the betrothed princess of Northern Yan’s Crown Prince — a valuable hostage for negotiations — gave in to lust, slept with her and even abused her to death!
This incident forced Northern Yan into a corner, with no choice but to engage in a bloody battle.
Even though Weichi Feihong personally led the troops to victory over the Crown Prince’s Black Iron Guards, he was still imprisoned by numerous civil officials.
In the end, His Majesty raised his rod high but let it fall lightly — Weichi Feihong was only sentenced to a hundred military lashes and ordered to reflect at home, causing much dissatisfaction among the civil officials.
Such a brutal man, known for razing cities in the Northern Territory and repeatedly censured throughout his military career, and who had so disgraced the princely consort of a nation, was appointed to Lyuzhou?
Was His Majesty trying to stir up trouble in Lyuzhou?
Gong Qiniang was immediately so angry he gritted his teeth, “What is His Majesty thinking?”
“Speculating about His Majesty’s thoughts is not advisable for Official Gong,” Mu Hongqing said solemnly, setting down his teacup.
“You are right to remind me…” Gong Qiniang hurriedly apologized but couldn’t help adding, “Still, this is… right?
Mu DarRen, didn’t you say previously that Chen Qing has a good relationship with Weichi Peng?”
“Indeed, that’s the word,” Mu Hongqing said with a smile, “However…Weichi Feihong and Weichi Peng do not get along well…”
Gong Qiniang: “….”
“Then… perhaps I should write to Lord Chen, to advise him not to dispute with that madman over the mere right to mansion soldiers, ah… truly, shouldn’t we have appointed a mature and stable Commander at this time?
Who recommended this lunatic?”
Mu Hongqing responded with a smile, “People may not be willing to give up what they have acquired.
Let’s wait and see.
Maybe Lyuzhou will become even more lively than we imagine…”
—————————————————–
“Lord… Lord, the mountain path is treacherous.
Are… are you really going up the mountain alone?” The coachman asked tremblingly.
Daqing Mountain was uninhabited, and when night fell, not even a bird could be heard—eerily quiet.
Add to that the unique howling sound of the Feng Long within Azure Dragon Mountain, it was certainly spine-chilling.
“Do you want to come with me?” Chen Qing asked the coachman with amusement.
“Eh… that, no, I wouldn’t dare.
Lord, you have your literary grace as protection, warding off all evil.
I can’t do the same, so I’ll just stay here and watch the horses for you.”
“Okay…
take good care of the horse, and don’t let it run away,” Chen Qing shook his head and then easily made his way up the mountain.
Although this was only his third visit here, each time he’d come to handle memorable major matters, so naturally, the impression was deep-set—he wouldn’t get lost even with his eyes closed.
It wasn’t long before Chen Qing was embraced by a familiar figure.
This time there was no stench of a fox, but a faint scent of lotus flowers.
“Did it work?” Chen Qing turned to look at the other party.
The Ghost Doll now bore no resemblance to its former muscular body with a cute child’s face.
Instead, it had transformed into a genuine little loli, delicate and adorable, but—having no suitable clothes—still naked as the day she was born.
Chen Qing, resigned: “However, before we return, Daddy needs to find something.”
“What is it?” Ghost Doll finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She couldn’t just do everything Daddy said.
“Do you know if there are any demons in these mountains that have lingered a long time without preying on humans?”
“Huh?” Ghost Doll paused, “How does Daddy know there are demons here that haven’t touched human flesh?”
Chen Qing smiled upon hearing this, “Because this place has you…”
With the oppressive force of Ghost Doll present, most wild animals wouldn’t dare approach.
However, this also resulted in Daqing Mountain’s plants and fruits being untouched and abundant, making it an ideal hideaway for those demons aware of Ghost Doll’s situation.
It was a place with few humans and no fierce animals; wild fruit were more than sufficient…
Of course, that’s assuming they kept their distance from humans.
Those with a taste for human flesh would naturally congregate in bustling areas.
“What does Daddy need them for?
They’re all weak and useless creatures.”
“Daddy is going to use them as Gate Deities,” Chen Qing said with a laugh.
The fierce ones he couldn’t yet command, so he had to start with these demons who dared not even come near the scent of human beings.
Indeed, according to Chen Qing’s plan, no career path could ever be free of demons—be they bloodline warriors, magicians, or even the God Dao flow.
Only demons and those with demonic heritage could become divinely appointed!
“Gate Deity?” The Ghost Doll was suddenly curious.
“What is that?”
“They guard the gates of Tiandu, protect the citizens within, and if any demons approach, they will reveal themselves to expose and suppress the demons!”
“Is…
is there such a thing?” Ghost Doll stared blankly, having lived so long in the human world, she’d never encountered this.
Man-eating demons could mingle with the crowd and enter the city at any moment, and neither magicians nor those of bloodline families could easily detect them.
This was why it was so difficult for humans to completely eradicate the threat of demons.
Magicians could set up techniques for defense against demons, but those would only trigger if the demons touched the prohibitions.
Normally, unless the demons carried out a massacre in the city, it was hard to trigger the techniques.
Besides, maintaining these techniques required a considerable investment from magicians, and even in the peak era of magicians, there had never been talk of humans being able to defend against demons on a large scale.
In Ghost Doll’s understanding, if a demon just wanted to satisfy a craving and eat one or two people, it seemed like nobody could stop them.
“There wasn’t before, but as soon as Daddy is here, there will be!” Chen Qing said, patting Ghost Doll’s head with a smile.
Ignoring the majestic thing below, the child was still quite cute, with a cute voice to boot.
“Is Daddy going to catch those little demons to be Gate Deities?
Can Nezha be one?”
Chen Qing chuckled and shook his head, “Our Nezha is destined to be a great god in the future!”
Once a demon accepts the divine designation of the God Dao system, they are bound for life within the system and can only rise to become a higher-level Gate Deity.
Even if one day Chen Qing were to conquer Tiandu, his subordinates, the Gate Deities, could only be promoted to the Imperial Forbidden Gate Guardians, not to the status of God of Conquest.
With Ghost Doll’s talent, it couldn’t be wasted on the career of gatekeeping.
But if the divinity of Gate Deities is so lowly, why is Chen Qing determined to appoint one first?
This concerns the mechanics of the God Dao system as planned by his partner.
According to the God Dao system mechanics, when a deity is first appointed and the faith of the people is weak, the power of the official seal for divine appointment is limited, and the number of deities that can be appointed is actually just one or two.
At this time, the type of deity to appoint becomes crucial.
The first challenge of the God Dao system is to appoint a type of deity and gain the recognition and popularity of the people to obtain greater divine appointment power.
Many players don’t understand this, choosing to appoint either a Mountain God, River God, or the Hell City God on their first go, which not only wastes the power of divine appointment but also has a slow return on investment, and is not recommended for beginners.
This is also why many players who don’t understand the mechanics perish at the very first step!
