Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 1876: Chapter 1407: Arrangements

“However, Shopkeeper, you must remember ‘scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.’ If this class division is truly established by the Confucianists, then the merchants will be ruined!”

Before leaving, Li Zhirui left these words as a reminder and then drifted away.

Upon hearing these words, the Shopkeeper shuddered all over, his face drastically changed. Indeed! Although this matter had not been mentioned for some time, it did not mean the Confucianists had given up on the idea.

After all, if this matter succeeded, the Confucianists would benefit the most!

The so-called ‘scholar’ in a broad sense refers to those who study and pursue officialdom, but in a narrow sense, it only refers to Confucian scholars.

Confucianists might use the broad definition to ally with the other Hundred Schools, gain their support and approval, and then gradually narrow it down to only define Confucian scholars.

This is very possible, and the Confucianists have enough motivation to do so.

But in any case, this has nothing to do with the merchant’s disciples, because in this class division, it is stipulated that merchants’ children cannot participate in the imperial exams!

Especially during a particular intelligence gathering, the Shopkeeper learned that the Confucianists initially planned to categorize merchants as low-status! However, this sentence was later deleted from the official documents.

But from this point, it’s not hard to see that the Confucianists look down on merchants and aim to suppress and even destroy them!

“Indeed, it is necessary to curb the development of the Confucianists! We cannot let the Confucianists continue to dominate as the leader of the Hundred Schools!” The Shopkeeper increasingly felt that Li Zhirui’s proposal made a lot of sense.

He immediately wrote this matter and his opinions on a piece of silk paper, applied a Secret Technique seal, and then sent it back to the Jinzhou merchant headquarters as quickly as possible!

Although the Hundred Schools invented a means of message transmission across long distances, due to poor confidentiality, important intelligence still needed to be transported in person.

…

On the other side, Li Zhirui had already returned to his room at the inn.

He was confident about his persuasion this time, believing that the merchants would likely agree to cooperate with him.

After all, most of the risk was borne by him, and the merchants just needed to act according to the situation.

Once partnered with the merchants, Li Zhirui did not plan to act hastily.

Because after arriving in the capital, he had gained a slight understanding of the situation. The Confucianists’ two main opponents, the Mo Family, had mostly devoted their efforts to the creation of the Mo Family’s Country.

The remaining forces of the Mo Family in Daqian were mostly focused on intelligence gathering and nurturing the new generation.

The other major opponent, the Legalist faction, had nothing significant going on. However, being a stranger, how could he directly connect with the high ranks of the Legalist faction for no reason?

If reported step by step, too many people would know, and if any link leaked the information, giving the Confucianists a heads up, it would be challenging to strike quickly!

So Li Zhirui planned to confirm the alliance with the merchants, have them act as intermediaries, or provide him a method or channel to get to know the Legalist faction higher-ups, and then discuss forming an alliance against the Confucianists.

Hence, in the upcoming period, he need not worry about other matters, just wander the streets and alleys, measure the outer capital with his feet, and observe the livelihoods with his eyes.

Don’t underestimate these things; they might become a powerful weapon against the Confucianists!

For example, Li Zhirui discovered that the current laws in Daqian favored the Confucianists, such as scholars being exempt from bowing to officials, jurens receiving tax reductions, and so on.

Although these favorable conditions seemed applicable to disciples of all Hundred Schools, because the Confucianists had the most people and were most keen on officialdom, they gained the most advantage.

Other schools, except for the Legalist and Military Families, were not very inclined to enter the bureaucratic sea, hardly taking any official exams, thus naturally not enjoying those privileges.

Meanwhile, Li Zhirui was working on another task, which was secretly establishing an underground organization!

The purpose of doing so was to facilitate the dissemination of information later on.

Most of the people he selected were those wandering Rangers because they were idle and roamed around all day, doing something slightly outrageous wouldn’t attract attention.

Of course, this organization was just newly established, with few people, and needed time to develop.

…

In Jinzhou, Daqian.

After the merchant headquarters received the letter from the capital’s Shopkeeper, they immediately held a high-level meeting.

After circulating the letter, one of the three Saints of the Daqian merchants opened his mouth and said, “What are your thoughts on this?”

“Putting other issues aside, the Confucianists should indeed not be allowed to continue developing like this! Otherwise, where would we have a say in Daqian’s domains?”

“Especially the ‘scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants’ system concocted by the Confucianists is definitely a fatal blow to us. Who knows how many disciples will flee.”

“But the question is, do you really trust that suddenly emerged cultivator? Who knows if he is an undercover from another country, infiltrating Daqian just to stir up our internal strife and undermine Daqian’s development?”

…

Actually, regardless of what they say, the ultimate goal is the same: to restrict and weaken the power of the Confucianists!

And now the problem lies in whether this suddenly appearing Li Zhirui is trustworthy, and what means he has to accomplish this task.

“Since everyone agrees, then let’s convey this decision to Mo Wen, let him continue engaging with the counterpart, gather more information, and then make the final decision!” declared the merchant Saint.

A few days later, Mo Wen in the capital received the reply, couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, being a bit more cautious is good, after all, Li Zhirui appeared too suddenly, and needs to be tested as to why he wants to do such a laborious but unrewarding thing.

The next day, he invited Li Zhirui over to discuss the alliance and collaboration.

“It seems the merchants are willing to cooperate with me,” he thought as he received the invitation in his room yesterday evening, confirming the merchants’ agreement.

So today, when meeting again, Li Zhirui always wore a faint smile, waiting for Shopkeeper Mo Wen to speak first.

After a while, seeing that he didn’t intend to talk, Mo Wen had to speak up first, “May I ask why you are doing this? Is it because the Confucianists have offended you before, or is there another reason?”

Hearing the question, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. It seemed the merchants over there didn’t trust him much.

But thinking about it, such a big matter, if not thoroughly investigated, the consequences would indeed be too severe!

“Shopkeeper, you need not doubt my identity and purpose.”

As he spoke, Li Zhirui cast a prohibition in the vicinity, then lifted the Secret Technique concealment on his cultivation within.

“I am not from the Southern Domain, but an East Continent Immortal Tao Cultivator. I came here merely for training, not as another country’s undercover, and as for why I want to scheme against and deal with the Confucianists?”