Divine Brilliance
chapter-273

Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales

Pretty much at the same time, within the Gantian Mountain Chongzhen Hall, the atmosphere was unusually solemn. Hu Zhongyuan stood behind all of them in a more central position. His expression was really respectful, his eyes not looking away. However, for some reason, he felt the atmosphere today getting more and more wrong.

He could feel a knife-like gaze sweep down on him from the elevated portion of the hall, causing him to feel a chill down his spine. But when he carefully looked over he couldn’t see anything wrong.

Only Zong Shou sat on the throne. Just 14 years-old, that slightly thin body sat in that wide chair. It seemed quite funny.

However, his face was tightly scrounged up. Thinking back to 3 days ago, his killing intent and decisiveness, cruel methods, it made one feel like bursting into a laugh.

“Since the ruler once to consider this war loses into the country’s treasury then I have nothing to say.”

The one who spoke was Ren Bo. He was around 40, wearing a scholarly crown and a white robe.

Gantian mountain city didn’t have any official arrangement and also no office. Hence, there weren’t any designated uniforms which were why their clothing was all different.

At this moment, the white robbed prime minister’s brows were furrowed as he said coldly, “I only want to remind your majesty that our Gantian mountain city hasn’t gone down the cloud ocean to hunt beasts, and we can see the bottom of our treasury. If there are any additional expenditures, we would be unable to form another cloud ocean hunt.”

Zong Shou sat on the throne. He was first slightly astonished. He had forgotten about this matter. Gantian mountain city’s normal tax returns and various income took up less than half of the country treasury. The true big one was beneath the cloud ocean.

Gantian mountain hadn’t had a ruler for months and this cloud ocean hunt was naturally put to a stop.

After he became ruler, his subordinates looked forward to this. This was also the most important mission of Gantian mountain city.

He waved his hand without much care, signaling Ren Bo, who was cold towards him, to back down. Then, he gave a hand signal towards Chuxue at the side.

Chuxue hesitated, after a short while he took a few scrolls and stood in front of the throne. She coughed softly, “The ruler now has several government decrees to make, please listen up!”

The people in the hall all were solemn when they heard that. They all lowered their heads and quietly listened.

New rulers often made changes when they were appointed, much less this well-hidden, extremely strong young Monster king who had suppressed all the powers in the city just as he was appointed.

This was also the 1st decree after he took the throne so they treated it respectfully and carefully.

Seeing the situation Chuxue was more relaxed, calming down and reading according to the bright yellow words on the decree, “2 days ago I ordered Hu Zhongyuan to secretly visit various parts of the city to check the morally wrong and harmful Shili Ling Xiangding. In the future, it might affect our culture. Especially the Quiet Cloud Pavilion. Within it, all the males and females are flirty and obscene. The prostitution within can’t be accepted. After he reported it, I was furious. This evil wind cannot be left to grow. I order left pillar general to check on this place as well as all the brothels in the city. From today on after 11 o’clock, we will have night curfew!”

When she read that Chuxue was enlightened. Thinking that the prince’s revenge was here. Moreover, he was settling a personal matter through his official position. How evil. However, checking the brothels was a good thing.

Hu Zhongyuan below was stunned. When did he receive instructions from the ruler to observe and investigate the city? He also didn’t say how it affected the culture and was morally wrong? Although this Quiet Cloud pavilion was an entertainment place, the girls inside didn’t sell their bodies. No prostitution and any obscene stuff happened within.

The officials in the hall were instantly silent. Hu Qianqiu’s face was also changing, staring angrily at his son. The other people all had weird expressions.

They were all not proper righteous men, so who here hadn’t been to that Shili Ling Xiangding? They more or less had 1-2 people they frequented there.

Although it affected the culture and was immoral, it wasn’t anything serious.

He really couldn’t understand why Zong Shou would treat this matter so seriously and make it his first decree since he took the throne.

They all exchanged glances with one another. It was still Ren Bo who stepped out, “Ruler, that Shili Ling Xiangding’s tax is enough to support 3 towns! They are all poor girls who are unable to find jobs elsewhere. If you think they are immoral you can increase tax. Moreover, it isn’t wartime. I don’t think there’s a need for this night curfew…”

Zong Shou pouted. Then, he took up 3 pieces of paper from his table. One writing “too busy at night”, the other writing “population” and the last one was “war wind.”

He muttered and pointed out towards Chuxue. She looked for a long while before she understood, helping him relay the message with a weird expression on her face,” the ruler said that it is too busy at night and isn’t a good thing for our Gantian Mountain City. So he wants the night curfew so the young boys can go back to give birth to children. Our Gantian mountain relies on our people for war, and we rise only because of our great martial cultivation. That small income from hands-on businesses can be forgotten. Increasing our population and keeping the prosperity of our races is most important!”

So the young master wasn’t taking revenge, but he was giving out a proper decree? Yesterday he went to understand the lives of the people?

The entire hall’s atmosphere turned solemn, and everyone’s expression in the hall changed.

The race leaders who looked at him with weird gazes, their expressions had more respect for Zong Shou.

How did they not understand such a simple theory? Their kids from morning to night they were getting wilder. They should rush back to train or to accompany their wives to give birth to kids to strengthen the race. It was better for the nights to be more mundane, so a night curfew was a good choice.

A flash appeared in Ren Bo’s eyes as he smiled whilst bowing, “The ruler is wise, and I am wrong.”

Then, Chuxue opened up the 2nd scroll and read, “I have investigated the population growth of Gantian mountain. 2 years ago, it was less than half a percent. This is why I order that any women that can give birth to a kid will be rewarded with a grade 2 beast crystal. Those who give birth to above 3 can apply for Gantian Mountain City to provide for them.”

The entire hall was in an uproar. Everyone’s faces were filled with surprise and joy.

Give birth to more children and get rewarded with money. If one gave birth to more, the city would raise them.

Although this was different from before, those who are allowed to go about and be unrestrained at night were the rich. This 2nd degree targetted all people of Gantian mountain.

One could imagine the prosperity of the Gantian mountain increasing, so how could one not be delighted?

Ren Bo was also startled. If just like what was mentioned in the degree, this expenditure would be huge.

Then, decisiveness appeared in his eyes. This was a good thing for Gantian Mountain. Even if he grit his teeth and tightened his pants, he was going to forcefully sustain it. He bowed once more,” understood! The prince is extremely talented and better than the former ruler!”

His tone wasn’t as cold as before. Moreover, within this hall, no one felt that it was a wrong decision.

Just this 2 decrees had already earned the hearts of everyone. The ruler’s skill at making decisions was farsighted and covered everything.

Chuxue was filled with respect and worship. Her young master was truly the best. She opened the 3rd scroll, “I had spent 3 years studying in Linhai College and understand the pain of the common people, that they dream of getting a high-grade cultivation technique or spiritual technique. If Zong Yuan was able to get such, how would he only have such achievements now? This is why, from today on, I will open my father’s book hiding pavilion. All the books within will be split into 5 layers for all people from the Gantian Zong family to pick 5 books of the first layer when they are of age. Then, the thousands of copies of grade 2 and grade 3 can be exchanged by merit.”

Hu Qianqiu’s eyes constricted as he clenched his fist, raising his head and looking at Zong Shou.

Everyone in the hall was buzzing. They were either shocked, astonished, or felt uneasy.

Within the cloud world, all powers all collected many spiritual and martial techniques. However, these resources were all kept secret and not released.

In a chaotic time, the powerful ruled. Only the strong ones, the ones with bigger fists, could control others.

But if normal civilians could learn deep and strong martial techniques and have a chance to reach the peak of the martial path, then what power do the aristocratic families have to rule over them?

Zong Shou was making an exception, not bothering about that, only making them use merit to exchange for it.

Hu Qianqiu didn’t know what would happen in the future, but in the short term, their strength would greatly increase, and their military strength would increase by several times. As time would go on, the power would amass. As long as Zong Shou could suppress them and control them.

Was he so talented?

Such a thought flashed in his head as he exchanged glances with Chai Yuan, who also had such a bright glow.

Ling Xian’s body shuddered as his face showed disbelief.

Chuxue didn’t wait for them to regain their senses, reading the 4th government decree, “Be it cultivating martial path or spirit techniques, they all need spirit stones and beast crystals as well as pills and artifacts. I know that the people have it tough and many give up because of that. From now on, Gantian Mountain City registered citizens only need someone to be their guarantor and they could loan from the city lord manor to purchase to breakthrough to a new realm. Any army disciple doesn’t need a guarantor and can do so interest-free…

Another bomb was tossed into the Chongzhen hall.

Hu Qianqiu only felt blur and muddy. Before this, he was worried Zong Shou wasn’t good at administrative matters but now he realized that he underestimated the ability of the ruler.

The 4 administrative decrees were all connected. All of them related to one another. It was also brimming with ambition!

The first 2 could increase the population and help the future. The latter 2 could cause Gantian Mountain to increase by several million soldiers. Some lower grade ones can also climb up towards higher grades.

Out of all these people, 70% would be grateful to Zong Shou. Those in the army would be especially loyal.

Although it affected many of the interests of the noble races of the people, their Hu family suffering a lot in the short term, with how determined Zong Shou was, no one dared to step out to oppose.

Pretty much everyone looked at Chuxue. She had a total of 7 scrolls, 7 decrees. The 1st 4 were already filled with surprises so naturally, they were looking forward to the other 3.