Protect Our Clan Leader

Without waiting for Fang Yu’an to speak, Wang Shouzhe took the initiative to salute: “It is an honor to see you, Senior Brother Youan, all other senior brothers, and this senior sister.”

With a warm smile, Fang Yu’an reciprocated the gesture: “Junior Brother Shouzhe, it’s been more than two months since our last hurried goodbye at the Academic Palace. I did not expect that we would meet again under these circumstances.”

Ji Mingyu, Li Yangde, and another core female disciple, Qian Cailing, also hastily returned the salutations, all addressing him as “Junior Brother Shouzhe.”

They all knew that Wang Shouzhe was a named direct disciple of Master Changchun.

Although the title carries the term “named”, they all understand that this is but a necessary formality and Master Changchun could formally take Wang Shouzhe as a direct disciple anytime Wang Shouzhe wished.

Moreover, they thought it was only natural. This Junior Brother Shouzhe, not yet even thirty years old, had managed to defeat Ji Mingyu. Should he wish to join the Mysterious Ice Palace, it was highly likely that their Master Binglan would accept him as a direct disciple.

The customs of the Academic Palace were such, that one’s background didn’t matter. Even if you were born into a prominent Purple Abode family, if you lacked strength, neither the core disciples nor the direct disciples would care much about you.

However, someone like Wang Shouzhe, who had risen in status purely by virtue of his own strength, commanded even Ji Mingyu’s respect and she avoided engaging him in battle anymore.

After exchanging courtesies briefly, Wang Shouzhe also came to know their names. He greeted them, “Senior Brother Yangde, Senior Sister Cailing. After we finish our business here, please do not leave in a hurry. Allow me to treat you all properly.”

Seeing their familiar camaraderie, the complexions of the various Grade Eight Prominent Families subtly shifted. Allies and relatives naturally had smiles on their faces, whereas the faces of the others looked somewhat complicated.

The clan leaders of the two celestial families, Lei Qiuwei and Huangfu Jinghuan, apparently appeared quite awkward.

They had taken positions at the very front, trying to take advantage of their proximity to form relationships with the core disciples of the Academic Palace at the earliest opportunity, but they hadn’t expected that these disciples would already be so familiar and close with Wang Shouzhe.

Even the City Lord Xiahou Hongde was taken aback for a good while. Only then did he step forward with a chuckle and say, “I am truly envious to see Clan Leader Shouzhe being so friendly with the esteemed individuals. But, this is hardly a place for us to chat. I have prepared a banquet in the Hundred Flavors Pavilion in honor of the esteemed individuals to help them feel refreshed.”

Clearly, he had noticed the awkwardness amongst the other families, and graciously stepped in to defuse the situation.

Meanwhile, Wang Shouzhe’s standing in his mind unknowingly rose by several notches. It seemed that the information he had received about the Academic Palace was not comprehensive and he had truly underestimated Wang Shouzhe!

As for Fang Youan and his group, they naturally wouldn’t refuse Xiahou Hongde’s hospitable gesture and followed him into the city along with others.

Under the guidance of the city defense battalion, the group headed straight for the Hundred Flavors Pavilion.

Of course, the Hundred Flavors Pavilion of Changning Guard couldn’t possibly compare with the grand headquarters of the Hundred Flavors Pavilion in Longzuo County.

Upon reaching the Hundred Flavors Pavilion, they found out that Qian Xuean, the shopkeeper of the Changning Guard branch of the Qian Family Business, was already waiting at the entrance.

With his belly growing bigger and bigger, he looked like the Mile Buddha, and greeted Fang Youan and all other core disciples from the Purple Abode Academic Palace with a smile.

Upon seeing Qian Cailing, he quickly bowed deeply and said, “Xuean pays his respects to Aunt Cailing.”

“Oh, it’s Xue’an.” Qian Cailing examined him from head to toe, “I haven’t seen you in two or three years and you’ve gained weight. So, you are also in Changning Guard.”

Qian Cailing had a deep impression of this Qian Xuean.

He had originally been an insignificant bastard from the direct vessel family, yet he unexpectedly had become so successful and accomplished several great achievements for the family. Even the old ancestor of their family had mentioned him twice.

What kind of honor was that? Even as her, a core disciple of the Academic Palace from the illustrious Qian Family, she had also found her impression of Qian Xuean deepening more and more.

Qian Xuean, of course, was an opportunist, seizing every chance to run to the Academic Palace every two or three years.

Qian Cailing also had often received gifts from Qian Xuean, leaving a deep impression on her.

This little conversation might seem ordinary to others, but to the heads of families in Changning Guard, it caused their expressions to change and their hearts to become more solemn.

It seemed that among all the core disciples from the Academic Palace, this female core disciple named Qian Cailing, seemed to be the most inconspicuous, yet she turned out to be from the Qian family.

In the whole of Longzuo County, the Qian family was a well-known fifth-grade Purple Abode prominent family, holding a very eminent status, and almost no one dared to offend them.

Even Wang Shouzhe found himself looking at Qian Cailing a few times more, not expecting that Sister Cailing turns out to be Qian Xuean’s aunt.

Indeed, the Academic Palace of the Purple Abode is a place teeming with exceptional talents.

Or more precisely, the Qian family of Longzuo indeed has profound and immeasurable foundations.

Afterward, it was naturally a warm reception. With the presence of Qian Xuean, a skilled socializer, the atmosphere became much more lively.

After the third round of toasts.

With a serious expression, Fang Youan respectfully addressed the guests at the banquet, “Everyone, we have eaten and drunk, but we must not slack off in the face of disaster. I, Fang Youan, have been entrusted by the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion and the Academic Palace to oversee disaster relief. I ask everyone present to give their utmost support. City Lord, I noticed a significant number of refugees gathered near Changning Guard City when I was in the air earlier. Has proper arrangements been made for them?”

Upon mentioning the urgent matter, everyone’s face turned grave.

Xiahou Hongde spoke with a solemn face, “The middle and downstream of Peace River have suffered severe damage. Many refugees are heading east. As only 30% of Changning Guard City is affected by the disaster, many refugees have gathered here without leaving. I have ordered the construction of several temporary refugee camps and opened granaries to provide porridge for the refugees. But the number of refugees is increasing, and the amount of grain stored in Changning Guard City is limited. We can only hold on for so long.”

Fang Youan frowned, “Some of us senior brothers have preceded you, and some junior brothers and junior sisters are coming by road, collecting food and fodder along the way. But I’m afraid these don’t meet our immediate needs, and we will need the local prominent families to contribute.”

When he said this, everyone fell silent for a while.

With a bitter smile on his face, Ningxi Dang’s Party Zhenghe said, “Inspector-General, all lands of my Dang family in Ningxi have been submerged. The tenant farmers and common people in our jurisdiction have all fled to the town. If we don’t receive help, I’m afraid my Dang family is going to…”

The other prominent families also showed bitter expressions, indicating that it is not the harvest season, and each family relies on their stored food to survive, each suffering considerable losses.

“We could still gather some food.” Qian Xuean of Qian family business said, “I can muster some for the time being. The problem is that more and more refugees are gathering, and surely we can’t just send them elsewhere? To the best of my knowledge, the two guard cities Dignan Town and Ze upstream suffered even more severe disasters. Numerous fields and houses were swept away, especially in Ze Guard City, which is still submerged in water, with countless dead and injuries. The surviving common people and tenants are probably homeless.”

“Humph!” A hint of killing intent swept across Fang Youan’s eyes, “Dingnan and Zhenze, both guard cities, have been negligent in flood control, causing such a huge disaster. Their days of relaxation are probably over. Let’s not talk about this for now. We still need to do find a way to settle these refugees.

With these words, there was another silence among the prominent families, each carefully contemplating the situation.

Wang Shouzhe understood. It was not their fault.

After hundreds of years of development, most of the territories of Changning Guard City’s prominent families were already saturated. An increase in the number of tenant farmers and laborers would not bring significant economic growth but instead would increase various consumption, forming a burden.

However, they couldn’t just dismiss Fang Youan’s requests. He came with the title “Inspector-General”.

He might look gentle now, but he could destroy an Eighth-Grade Prominent Family on a whim if angered.

After a brief consideration, the Family Heads began to express their stance – one family accepted one or two thousand refugees, and another accepted two thousand. Despite their greatest efforts, it still seemed insufficient considering the vast number of refugees.

Someone even suggested asking Donghaei Guard City or other guards to accept some refugees.

At this point, Huangfu Jinhuan stood up and said, “Our Huangfu family is willing to take in five thousand refugees.”

Lei Qiuwei quickly added, “Our Lei Family is also willing to accept five thousand refugees.”

With this, Fang Youan looked much relieved. At least, these local magnates were not simply shirking responsibility.

“Brother Yu An,” Wang Shouzhe pondered for a while before standing up and saying, “Our Ping’an Town is willing to accept forty thousand refugees.”

What?

Forty thousand refugees?!

Everyone was taken aback, their eyes focused on Wang Shouzhe, their faces filled with disbelief.

Wang Shouzhe, however, felt regretful.

If he could handle the sudden influx, he would really want to accept all the refugees. Because the more people the Wang family’s upcoming development plans could accommodate, the better.

…