Protect Our Clan Leader
Chapter 1533 - 83 Wang Fugui Turning the Clouds and Rain (Vote for Monthly Ticket)_4

Chapter 1533: Chapter 83 Wang Fugui Turning the Clouds and Rain (Vote for Monthly Ticket)_4

"No, we cannot easily touch that batch of Xuan Iron ore." Wei Dongyu’s expression changed slightly, and the previously fierce look on his face calmed down.

He paced a few steps around the room, then suddenly turned around and instructed Wei Wentao, "Like this, I will first contact some old friends, ask them to speak with that old tea tree and try to get the compensation amount reduced to below fifty million. In addition, you go contact the Helan Han Clan."

Wei Wentao was taken aback.

"Isn’t the Xuan Jia Division urgently in need of a batch of Xuan Iron ore recently?" Wei Dongyu’s eyes slightly squinted, a cold hue flashing in the depths of his gaze, "Coordinate with the Han Clan and drive the price of the Xuan Iron ore up further, then sell it off. You are familiar with this matter; you should know how to handle it, right?"

"I know, I know." The Family Head of the Wei Family’s eyes lit up, instantly understanding, "Nowadays, with the battlefield outside our territory becoming tense, the Xuan Jia Division, in order to rush the production of this batch of three hundred thousand sets of Black Armor, needs Xuan Iron ore urgently, and will most likely have to bite the bullet and buy it even at a higher price. As long as we can drive up the price of Xuan Iron even by just ten percent, the money for compensation will be sorted out."

"Wise Old Ancestor!"

Watching the trouble that had been plaguing him half a day be neatly sorted out by the Old Ancestor, with a solution in sight, Wei Wentao visibly relaxed, immediately starting to flatter Wei Dongyu.

"Enough, stop with the flattery." Wei Dongyu waved his hand impatiently, "Hurry up and get to work. Make sure you do a good job."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

Wei Wentao immediately took his leave to carry out the orders.

Soon, the room regained its quietude, but Wei Dongyu’s face no longer held the ease it did at the start.

...

Immortal Court——[Immortal Soldier Department]!

The "Immortal Soldier Department" is an important division of the Immortal Court, charged with the production, storage, allocation, and recycling of all equipment within the Immortal Court.

Under the Immortal Soldier Department, there is a "Division" called [Xuan Jia Division], which is specifically responsible for the manufacturing and maintenance of various grades of [Black Armor].

Inside the Xuan Jia Division.

Zhao Xiqing, the Director of the Xuan Jia Division, was being reprimanded by her direct superior—the [King of Zhennan] Yun Xiayang.

The King of Zhennan is one of the younger and more promising Dukes from the bloodline of the Immortal Dynasty’s Imperial Household, who has managed the Immortal Soldier Department on behalf of the Immortal Emperor for centuries and is quite a powerful Duke.

"Zhao Xiqing!" The King of Zhennan looked sternly at the woman in blue in front of him, "You are also a veteran of our Immortal Soldier Department. It was because of your exceptional ability that this king pushed past opposing opinions to place you in the position of Director of the Xuan Jia Division."

"Now, with the battlefield beyond our borders growing increasingly tense, constant messages urging our Immortal Soldier Department, give me a straight answer today, when will those three hundred thousand sets of Black Armor be completed and delivered?"

As an "Xianpiao," even with a little support from the Han Yue Zhao Clan, it was not easy for Zhao Xiqing to reach the position she holds today.

She responded with a solemn bow, "Your Highness, as you’re well aware. Over the past hundreds of years, the warfare has become increasingly dire, and the consumption of weapons and equipment and other materials has been rising year by year, and our storerooms are running increasingly short on resources."

"As the saying goes, one can’t make bricks without straw. With a significant shortage of Xuan Iron ingots, how am I supposed to conjure up three hundred thousand sets of standard-issue Black Armor out of thin air?"

The standard-issue Black Armor of the Immortal Dynasty is the standard equipment for the military soldiers.

The realm of the Immortal Dynasty has long implemented universal cultivation, even ordinary citizens possess the cultivation base of the Vital Energy Refining Realm, therefore the standard for recruiting soldiers in the military is far higher than that of Da Qian.

Only cultivators of the Spirit Platform Realm have the qualification to become a true member of the military.

One can say that the Black Armor Army of the Immortal Dynasty is the true Black Armor Army.

The Daqian Xuan Jia Army is merely imitating the Immortal Dynasty’s organization; in terms of sheer fighting prowess, it is far from matching that of the Immortal Dynasty’s Black Armor Army.

"Zhao Xiqing, are you perhaps still resenting this king’s harshness towards you?" the King of Zhennan asked with an unfriendly expression, "Or do you feel that the task of procuring Xuan Iron ingots falls upon this king?"

"Your subordinate would not dare." Zhao Xiqing respectfully bowed again, "I have already been trying various ways to gather Xuan Iron ingots, but due to the long-term consumption of resources by the war on the external battlefield, many of the Imperial Household’s mining veins have been emptied, and the output is insufficient. The stocks of Xuan Iron ingots on the market are also becoming increasingly scarce, with prices continually climbing."

"I have also investigated this matter and suspect that led by the Helan Han Clan and Jingan Wei Family, a few hundred large and small mining families have secretly banded together, hoarding Xuan Iron ingots, and attempting to manipulate the price of Xuan Iron. Otherwise, the price of Xuan Iron ingots wouldn’t have surged so fiercely over the years."

The face of the King of Zhennan grew increasingly solemn: "Do you have solid evidence?"

"Subordinate has already contacted the Han and Wei families, and they claim they can find a way to speed up mining. However, due to the difficulty of mining and the low yield, the price of Xuan Iron ingots will have to be increased."

"Subordinate has sent people to investigate, but the Han and Wei families are very cunning. It seems they didn’t hoard all at once, but rather, they’ve been gradually withholding and accumulating over hundreds of years, continually creating the illusion of resource scarcity."

"Without any evidence, how can we take this seriously?" King of Zhennan frowned and scolded, then said sternly, "Xiqing, if you have no firm evidence, do not act rashly."

"Subordinate understands." Zhao Xiqing sighed and said, "Their audacity is mostly because they are backed by someone of great influence. That person’s reputation is currently soaring, and even Your Highness would find it difficult to casually provoke her."

"As long as you understand, Princess Jingan is not someone to be trifled with." King of Zhennan frowned and said, "Xiqing, what are they asking this time? How much exactly?"

"The amount of Xuan Iron required for each set of the Black Armor, adding up to eight thousand Immortal Crystals." Zhao Xiqing said helplessly, "The total quoted price is two hundred and forty million Immortal Crystals!"

"Have they gone mad?" King of Zhennan’s face darkened instantly, "Black Armor, though requiring a large quantity of materials, is after all only at the level of standard Spiritual Instruments. I remember two hundred years ago the cost of materials was only two thousand Immortal Crystals, and only rose to three thousand five hundred in recent years!"

"Indeed, subordinate suspects that they are taking advantage of the situation." Zhao Xiqing said helplessly, "Your Highness, if I agree to this procurement deal, I’m afraid my tenure as director will come to an end. However, to repay Your Highness for your promotion, subordinate is willing to be the scapegoat."

"We can afford the wait, but the soldiers at the front cannot." King of Zhennan banged the table angrily, yet his eyes betrayed a hint of helplessness, "Agree to their asking price."

"Yes, Your Highness." Zhao Xiqing’s expression turned serious.

"Don’t worry Xiqing, my Wang Fu has sizable assets." King of Zhennan sighed, "By selling off and mortgaging assets, plus raising funds from various other sources, we can come up with over a hundred million Immortal Crystals to patch the deficit for the short term. Whatever happens, I will not let you suffer, but you must speed things up and ensure the troops at the front have complete sets of armor!"

"Your Highness is magnanimous." Moved and admiring, Zhao Xiqing deeply bowed in gratitude, "Xiqing will do her utmost."

At that moment.

The door guard of the Black Armor Department reported: "To inform the Director, someone holding the Princess’ Order is here at the Black Armor Department, stating they have important matters to discuss with the Director."

The Fourth Princess?

Zhao Xiqing and King of Zhennan exchanged a puzzled look, as the Fourth Princess, despite her title, was only about ten years old, right?

However, no matter what, with the Princess’ Order being presented, Zhao Xiqing could not avoid it.

"Please let them in," commanded Zhao Xiqing, then turned to King of Zhennan, "Your Highness, maybe you should excuse yourself first."

"No matter, I want to see what kind of gimmick that child Mengyu has come up with." King of Zhennan said calmly.

Shortly after.

Wang Fugui, accompanied by Luo Yuqing, as well as Jiang Qinglian, a cultivator of the Divine Power Territory serving both as tribute and guard, arrived together.

Upon seeing Zhao Xiqing, Wang Fugui was the first to bow deeply and said: "Fugui pays respect to Old Ancestor Xiqing."

"Fugui?" Zhao Xiqing was taken aback for a moment, sizing him up, then seemed to remember something, a flicker of excitement passing through her eyes, "You are Jingling’s, no, Jingyu’s child, right?"

"Cough cough~ Old Ancestor Xiqing, my mother’s name is Zhao Jingling," Wang Fugui coughed twice, clarifying.

"Yes, yes, Jingling and Jingyu are the treasured twins of our Zhao Clan’s direct line, who married the brothers Wang Ningyao and Wang Ningyi of the Wang family. It was agreed, whoever bore a son first would be the heir to the Wang family’s direct lineage."

Although Zhao Xiqing did not often return to Da Qian, she was clear about some important matters at home.

She said excitedly: "I too only learned from the letters from the Zhao family that you, Fugui, are the child of our family’s Jingyu."

"Cough cough, my mother is Zhao Jingling." Wang Fugui reminded again awkwardly.

There was no helping it; not only did his father and uncle look very similar – though not twins, they could be mistaken for such – his mother and Aunt Jingyu were indeed identical twins, looking almost exactly alike.

Not to mention that many outsiders couldn’t tell them apart, even Grandfather Wang Anye often couldn’t distinguish between his two daughters-in-law...

...