The Great Seminary

Chapter 306 A Sudden Rise in the World
The True Dragon Kingdom went from "emerging" in the Luanya Islands of the Outer Wilderness Ocean to "greatly prospering" and gaining some fame on the East He Continent in just one or two years.

It gives the impression of a sudden rise, but based on the history of humanity over the past million years, there is a 90% chance that it will suddenly collapse in the future.

There's no reason why uncivilized people or barbarians could have a hundred years of good fortune.

Even the currently powerful 'Yuanshan' is seen by many as nothing more than a peerless overlord, a once-in-a-millennium figure, emerging from the vast grasslands.

It was merely a sudden emergence into the world.

Once Changsheng Tiemu dies, this vast empire will disintegrate within ten years.

Regardless of whether it was based on someone else's story, the True Dragon Kingdom had already "shown off" its tens of thousands of specially trained elite troops, the Golden Stone Army.

They manufactured exquisite steam furnaces and steam cars, and recently even steam airships that can fly, which are sold across the mainland.

This family possesses both martial prowess and literary talent; to say that it is merely a small, insignificant maritime tribe or a minor state is an overstatement.

As its only ally in the East, the barbarian Dragon Tiger Shogunate, which operated under the Ming-Song system of "civil and military autonomy," naturally rose in status.

Now even high-capacity mechanical warships like the 'Cloud Whale Kunpeng Ship' are being sold on consignment, which really makes one's imagination run wild...

We disembarked at noon.

The dockside was filled with the aroma of hot pot cooking in numerous taverns, restaurants, and eateries.

Although Zhang Gui's appetite has gradually decreased over the past two or three months.

These past few days, all I've wanted to eat is the air and dew; I can't even eat a single 'pure meat pill' in a meal.

I feel sleepy from time to time.

I have a feeling that I am about to break through the barrier of the extraordinary and leap from the fifth rank 'upper middle grade' to 'upper grade'.

However, he still planned to have a banquet with Lü Zhenduan and Ding Chengqi to reward his two capable ministers.

In the afternoon, we will take the Yunjing Kunpeng ship to visit the three island cities of Tianjing, Tianqiao, and Tianhui.

Suddenly, a group of people came running over, their faces flushed and pale.

Even though the 'star watchman' on the dock was prepared, he couldn't stop it.

All they could do was follow behind and loudly announce, "Young Master, you went out to sea this morning."

These people from the Pingyang Guild Hall said that a life-or-death matter had occurred and they had to see you.

"These weeping and wailing people are all from your family, I dare not force them to stop..."

Seeing his soldiers so honest and simple, Ding Chengqi hurriedly waved his hands and said:
"Alright, Your Highness understands. You may leave."

Lu Zhenduan then greeted him with refined manners.
"Ladies and gentlemen, in broad daylight, in the streets and alleys, is it not proper for you to make such a fuss?"

And it's hard to explain things clearly, so come with me.

I'll take you to get some herbal tea, so you don't catch a heatstroke.

When the young master arrives, don't rush to speak..."

With a few words, he calmed the group down and led them toward the back courtyard of the government office.

At the same time, a crumpled piece of paper, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, was tossed into Zhang Gui's sleeve like a swallow returning to its nest.

He sensed it naturally, but deliberately ignored it, letting the crumpled paper slip into his sleeve.

He took one hand out from his sleeve, stepped out of the bustling dock, and glanced down at the crowd.

The sign above simply reads, "The Zhang family has failed; the authorities are ordering their arrest."

His brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed.

He activated the "Great Intersection of Celestial Phenomena and Geography" within his body, summoning heavenly fire that reduced the paper to ashes.

He strolled back to his backyard with his hands behind his back.

Those dozen or so people who mingled in the "Pingyang Guild Hall" in Zhihai Town were the head stewards and stewards of the Zhang family in Pingyang.

In the main room, some sat listlessly, others paced anxiously.

Zhang Gui entered, his expression calm, and said:
"Although we were not very close to our elders in the clan before, we were still familiar with each other's faces."

Zhang Gui sends his greetings.

"Just tell me what's wrong. As long as it's something I can help with, there's always someone to look out for you." "Brother Gui, our Zhang family of Pingyang has been...confiscated by the Emperor!"

The oldest and most well-dressed member of the Zhang family from Pingyang, a plump old man, spoke in a trembling voice.

"How could such a thing happen? Why?"

"They didn't say; it was the agents of the Eastern Depot who came directly to take it."

They locked up all the people in charge of the clan.

We slipped through the net because we were in 'Zhihai Town'!

The plump old man wiped away his tears.

Zhang Gui hissed as if in pain, "All the people in charge of the clan have been arrested."

Only those of you who are out there doing business haven't been arrested.

In Pingyang Zhangjia, whether it was "inside" or "outside", I had no trouble or "responsibility".

Naturally, no one knows what you officials have done.

We can only try to find out more first.

"Oh, Brother Gui, we are all blood relatives."

Such a major event has happened in the clan, how could you just be asking around and asking around…”

"A while ago, Zhang Liuduo, the old patriarch, led tens of thousands of clan members and young servants in hundreds of mechanical ships and fled far away."

What a grand display! Yet none of my 'blood relatives' in the clan told me beforehand.

After the old patriarch passed away, he started anew, and my brother Jiuqing, who was one of the two outstanding young men of the Zhang family in Pingyang, became the leader of the clan.

But I'm not even an elder in the family..."

"The position of head of the family is vacant, isn't it reserved for you?"

"I've saved these for me, hehe. I've heard that any of the clan members who showed even a little respect for me have been taken away by the old patriarch."

It's clear that those who left and those who stayed had discussed it with each other, so I won't go looking for trouble.

"Anyway, I can't become the head of the Zhang family in Pingyang. I am the heir of the Shishi Kingdom, a foreign land of the Ming and Song dynasties, and a general of the Dragon Tiger Shogunate."

Zhang Gui colluded with his friend Chu Tuantuan, using the guise of an Eastern Depot agent to scare away the old patriarch of the Zhang family in Pingyang.

But Zhang Liuduo was not someone to be trifled with.

Knowing that Zhang Gui had a close relationship with the head of the Eastern Depot in Siyang County, they actually became suspicious of this.

They just weren't willing to risk their lives.

However, he was unwilling to peacefully leave the family business in Pingyang Town to Zhang Gui.

Thus, he forcibly took away those core members of the clan who were willing to support him as the new head of the family.

It was a form of revenge that harmed others without benefiting oneself.

This perfectly reflects Zhang Liuduo's usual magnanimity, but deep down he is a ruthless person who believes "I would rather betray others than be betrayed by them."

Unfortunately, for Zhang Gui, whose family fortune is now extremely abundant, such a small ancestral property as Pingyang Town is of no concern.

I thought I might as well make a cut.

However, his withdrawal from Pingyang left the remaining members of the Zhang family devastated.

The plump old man at the head of the group was so angry at Zhang Gui's nonchalant attitude that he became dizzy.

He pointed with his finger, stammering, "You, you, you..." as if about to explode.

But his own son, who was standing next to him, quickly covered his mouth.

“The Zhang family of Pingyang is ignorant of the bigger picture, so it is only right that Longhu is angry.”

However, we are all close relatives of the same clan, so please make some arrangements for us…”

(End of this chapter)