Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 377 The Banquet Strategy: A True "Super Weapon"

For Chen Mo, time always seems to be never enough.

He felt he had so much to do, so much to change the world, and he even wanted to bring some ideals that had never been realized on Earth to the Starry Sky world.

He didn't want to establish a dictatorship, and a country ruled by a dictator was completely contrary to the world Chen Mo envisioned.

But reality is cruel. If he wants to advance his ideal world, he must first strengthen his authority and form a de facto dictatorship.

In many situations, the cost of communicating and executing is far greater than the cost of executing commands.

In order to avoid becoming a dictator, he had to become one first, and Chen Mo seriously doubted whether he could ever go back down this path!

But he couldn't think about that now; he could only keep going down this path.

Go straight down a dark path.

Every second counts, there is no time to lose!
After the lord's approval, a large delegation was quickly organized and began its journey south to Creek Moon.

The deputy head of the delegation, who was actually the main executor, was Chen Ye, who was appointed as the Special Advisor for the Northern Foothills Affairs of the Summer Moon Alliance. Before the trip, Chen Mo and Chen Ye had a long and continuous conversation that lasted for several days.

Every time he came out after the conversation, Chen Ye looked dazed, as he was going through a lot of complicated things.

In addition, Chen Mo also assigned him two assistants to help him carry out his work better.

One of them, named Chen Yuanfeng, was the captain who had previously been sent to Bailu Plain to liaise with the Restoration Society. He was a true-blue member of the lord's inner circle and a disciple of the emperor.

Chen Yuanfeng was in charge of the delegation's communications. In theory, although Chen Ye was responsible for the main decisions, Chen Yuanfeng could easily take control of the discourse at any time under the guise of "the lord's call."

The other one is named Porter Eri, who comes from another major faction in the Vast Ocean Territory, second only to the Lord's students, and is known as the Restoration Factory worker.

As is well known, the original factory had no workers, but as more spies came, it acquired workers.

Potter Eri is a true descendant of the next generation of the Restoration Plant. His father, Old Eri, was the Second Knight of Zircon Territory. Later, he "voluntarily transferred" to become the Deputy Director of the Security Department of the Restoration Plant in the Vast Ocean Territory. He played a huge role in the final subjugation of the invading forces of Zircon Territory and made outstanding contributions. After leaving the Restoration Plant, he moved to an even more important position.

As the eldest son of old Eli, Potter Eli went from being a second-generation official in Zircon Territory to a second-generation official in the Vast Ocean Territory.

The father and son were able to serve Han Hai with complete peace of mind thanks to a large-scale prisoner exchange. Han Hai used a group of Zircon Knights who longed for their homeland and only wanted to go home to exchange for the families of these Zircon Warriors who were willing to stay in Han Hai.

With no more worries, Eri and his son became staunch loyalists of the Vast Ocean Territory, able to work openly and proudly for their new lord.

These two, one a scholar and the other a warrior, accompanied Chen Ye on his visit to Xiyue.

Of course, such a high-level delegation must have a leader who can keep things in check.

This time, it was Princess Liushuang who came.

For a long time, Liu Shuang had essentially become Chen Mo's personal bodyguard and senior protector. But Chen Mo could see that although the little girl liked being by his side, her liveliness was waning day by day.

This person was once a valiant battlefield warrior, a guardian of the clouds, the wrath of the meteor, and the indestructible blade!
Therefore, this time, Chen Mo directly appointed her as the deputy commander-in-chief of the Alliance's highest military command and the head of the special delegation, to lead a team to Xiyue.

Well, she also brought her older sister along. The two of them are always around, pleasing to the eye, but they can easily stir up restless thoughts.

Of course, only a very few people know that sending out Flowing Frost has another special function.

As the nominal princess of the Elf Queen, Liushuang theoretically has more convenient access to the Elf race's support than anyone else.

As for Chen Mo, although he was missing a powerful bodyguard, his safety was still not a problem thanks to the security forces around him, including the protective gear and scrolls covering his body.

There were even rumors within the guard that the lord was less likely to get injured after Frostfall left...

This fully equipped team, possessing almost the same authority as Chen Mo himself, was certainly not on a sightseeing trip south to Xiyue.

However, at this moment, not only the leaders of the Thirteen Tribes of Xiyue, but even the delegation itself, did not know what kind of monster they were about to release.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The former Xiyue Royal City has now been renamed Yingxue City.

According to rumors circulating privately among some tribal elders, the original plan was to name it "Welcoming the Monarch City" or "Welcoming the Frost City," but the lord rejected both without hesitation.

Finally, after racking their brains and considering many options, they came up with this seemingly unrelated name.

According to some people's private interpretation, the land of the vast sea is full of salt frost, which is as white as snow... 'Welcoming the snow' means welcoming the blessings from the vast sea.

Anyway, as long as you're willing to think about it, you can always find a logical explanation.

As the former capital of the Xiyue Federation, Yingxue City was one of the cities that suffered less damage from the war and recovered faster because the last emperor of Xiyue fled without a fight. The various tribes of Xiyue thoroughly "cleaned up" the city, and now Yingxue City is a vibrant place where everything is thriving.

The welcoming carriage, accompanied by the crisp sound of horses' hooves, drove along the wide central avenue. On both sides were neatly arranged evergreen crystal-leaf trees. These trees, native to Xiyue, have very thin leaves containing translucent crystalline veins. When the afterglow of the setting sun shines through the layers of leaves, it refracts delicate and dreamlike spots of seven colors, as if drawing flowing rainbows on the carriage.

This is the sixth day of the reception, and the sixth welcome banquet.

The long table was covered with a dark green tablecloth embroidered with intricate patterns, and the candlelight in the silver candlesticks emitted a soft glow. The table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes, and the elegantly dressed guests sat around it.

Chen Ye sat in the main seat, gracefully cutting the charcoal-grilled deer ribs with a silver fork. With each cut, he precisely separated the meat along the muscle fibers, peeling off a small, delicate, and neat slice, which he then steadily put into his mouth, chewing slowly and carefully.

You probably couldn't master this skill without cutting the ribs of three to five hundred long-horned deer.

Even after searching the entire country, it's uncertain whether Xiyue can still find so many deer!
In the Starry Continent, whether someone is a noble, and how noble they are, is immediately apparent within their social circle.

Tonight, the chief politician Lucius of the Spear Tribe is in charge of providing the main accompaniment.

This person was once sent to the Han Hai as a scapegoat for peace negotiations to cover up the royal family's sneak attack, but the plan failed and Chen Mo exposed him.

Fortunately, the Lord of the Vast Sea was a man of great righteousness and released him back to Xiyue. Because of this experience of "going deep into the tiger's den" and "surviving by the skin of his teeth", he unexpectedly gained the favor of both the conservative and reformist factions within Xiyue.

The conservatives believed that his ability to accept a critical mission and risk his life to negotiate in "enemy territory" was a great service to the country; the reformers, on the other hand, believed that his ability to emerge from the Han Hai region in this way must mean that he had established a good relationship with the Han Hai lord and could be relied upon.

Therefore, Lucius is now the second most powerful councilor after Elder Zegen, enjoying unparalleled influence.

Tonight's reception was arranged with Elder Zegen accompanying Liu Shuang, the head of the delegation, and the Second Councilor accompanying Chen Ye, the deputy head of the delegation. This was reasonable, but there was another consideration that was not easy to say.

It is said that when the reception plan was being drafted, someone suggested that the elders could cross-host the reception. For example, Elder Zegen could have an in-depth conversation with Advisor Chen Ye, and Lucius could sit and communicate more with Leader Liushuang, so as to explore the Han Hai's intentions and true intentions from different perspectives and identities.

The proposal was immediately rejected by the old chief of the Spear tribe, who was known for his prudence.

"That young elven prince is clearly inexperienced and naive. All men under sixty years old here should keep their distance!"

"Let alone if something really happens, even if it's just some unfounded rumors, if it reaches Chairman Chen Mo's ears and causes some misunderstandings, none of us can bear it!"

"The example of Xiasha Port is right there in front of us!"

Well, these old guys really took caution to the extreme. So, besides the highly respected, white-bearded elders, the only people on Captain Liushuang's side were the women from various families and clans.

On the other hand, Chen Ye, the consultant who was relatively "safe," seemed much more "lively."

As Lucius and Chen Ye chatted, the topic returned to the previous episode, focusing on the turbulent situation on the mainland.

"My uncle once lamented to me, 'Better to be a dog in times of peace than a human in times of chaos!' Along this journey, I've witnessed countless displacements, broken homes, and the transformation of noble families and powerful clans into nothingness in an instant. It can only be said that the road is arduous and life is unpredictable!"

Lucius straightened his expression, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly towards the northeast: "So, Chairman Chen's restraint of the elves in Xiyue, his preferential treatment of the tribes, and his punishment of only the ringleaders are truly a great favor to Xiyue!"

Chen Ye nodded and said, "Indeed, this trip on the grounds of Xiyue was a rare moment of peace!"

As they talked, Chen Ye seemed to get into the conversation and began to share his experiences: "When I set off from Shuanglan to visit my uncle, I brought six carriages. As a result, I encountered dozens of bandits and river pirates along the way. Only in Xiyue, apart from the extortion by the city gate officials, did I only encounter three robberies. It was indeed very orderly!"

Chen Ye's current identity is that of a nobleman from Shuanglan. Although the city gate officials dare not offend such foreign nobles too much, they will not take them too seriously either. The money that should be paid must not be less than a penny.

As for the fact that she "only" encountered three robberies and extortion by city gate officials "in various places," whether this is praising Xiyue's safety or satirizing her lack of safety is a matter of opinion.

Lucius gave a slightly awkward smile and forced himself to continue, "With the Chairman's support and the care of the ministers, things will be much safer in the future."

Chen Ye nodded and continued, "If even we, with our full complement of guards, are like this, I imagine the younger generation in the family must be extremely cautious when they go out on business, especially when carrying large amounts of gold and silver, which are heavy and conspicuous, and they will be watched from the moment they leave the house."

"To be honest, I'm always on edge whenever I'm on the road, afraid that I might get robbed or even have my clothes stolen!"

A few soft chuckles rippled through the banquet hall; some nodded, some shook their heads, and some expressed "deep agreement."

With a sigh, Chen Ye put down his wine glass.

"I've discussed this with my uncle, and he said it's easy to handle!"

Lucius's eyes lit up.

"Chairman Chen, do you have any insightful opinions? Could you please offer some guidance so we can learn from you?"

The people around him put down their utensils, perked up their ears, and focused their eyes on Chen Ye. Chen Ye looked around and raised his voice slightly.

"The method my uncle mentioned is called 'universal deposit and withdrawal'!"

"This matter will definitely be difficult to handle, extremely difficult, but Uncle has his own way of solving it. However, as to which specific places can accept 'universal deposits and withdrawals,' that depends on how much support each tribe can provide!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In a world like the Starry Continent, where people prey on each other, there is no doubt that financial institutions operating across cities cannot survive.

The so-called inter-regional deposit and withdrawal, which refers to cross-regional banking institutions, needs to solve at least four problems.

First is the issue of trust. Why should depositors believe that a shop in a distant city, which they may have never been to, will honestly pay them the gold coins they have deposited?
Without a powerful, cross-regional law enforcement agency as ultimate credit guarantor, any agency's promise is nothing but a castle in the air.

The second issue is the anti-counterfeiting and identification of deposit and withdrawal slips; the third issue is the safety of asset transportation between branches; and the fourth issue is where the profits come from.

There might be some who can solve one problem, but those who can solve two are one in a million, and those who can solve all of the above problems at the same time... well, they just don't bother with that!
The reason why the modern banking system is profitable is that it is based on the modern order.

Behind every bank lies not only the bank's own strength, but also the nation's military and police order maintenance system, the nation's convenient road, rail and air transportation system, the nation's information security system that provides a safety net, and the legal system for enacting, adjudicating, and enforcing laws to punish crimes...

In ancient times, money shops and paper banks could operate during times of peace and prosperity, but they would perish immediately if there was any social unrest or imbalance.

Therefore, the most advanced system developed in the Starry World so far is the local property storage system. For example, when you arrive in Qingze City, you can temporarily deposit your money in the Equipment Appraisal and Consignment Shop of the Qingze City Mercenary Guild and pay a storage fee. You can then retrieve it before leaving.

Yes, depositing money requires a storage fee, so this business mainly involves charging itinerant merchants for short-term storage fees.

Those commoners who were already poor and wished they could stretch every copper coin to its limit wouldn't pay storage fees to deposit their money. And those wealthy gentlemen, whose safety was guaranteed, wouldn't go out of their way to give money to the consignment shop.

As for lending, which was originally one of the biggest sources of profit for the banking system.

I'm sorry, anyone who dares to get involved in this area will suffer a terrible fate. Even dwarfs have to resort to war to gain access to a region's lending market.

All of the above directly determines that the business of charging storage fees for local storage is inherently difficult to scale up; the profit incentive is insufficient, making it a thankless and laborious endeavor.

The storage fees they collect are hardly enough to cover their costs for venue, personnel, security, and documentation. It's just something that consignment shops can do on the side.

As for crossing cities...

As mentioned before, to make the houses in the city seem worthwhile, the area outside the city was full of bandits! If the money to be transported was large enough, even the nearby garrison might become bandits.

Chen Mo had his eye on this business a long time ago.

Unlike others, he didn't need to make money from this, so he didn't need to consider the profit issue. Anti-counterfeiting was also not a problem for him, given the technical support from Dongxia.

Transportation security has been largely resolved after establishing its own drone air force. Therefore, its biggest challenge is building trust.

Why should others believe in such an insignificant little territory?
So, day after day, year after year, Chen Mo could only leave his plan gathering dust in the closet until now, when the conditions have finally begun to ripen.

Today, Xiyue in the south, along with Hanhailing, is part of the Xiayue Alliance and is nominally under the command of Chairman Chen Mo.

In the northern Bailu Plain, Han Hai Ling has achieved complete control over certain areas.

This constitutes a banking business area spanning thousands of kilometers, theoretically based on trust.

If one could store money in Qingze City and then travel lightly to easily retrieve the money they wanted from the Han Hai or Xuan Shui, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous convenience for merchants and mercenaries who frequently travel long distances.

What ultimately prompted Chen Mo to take action was the core equipment that Dongxia provided him after the upgrade brought about an increase in transportation capacity.

Composed of 160 server racks, this supercomputer boasts a computing power of quadrillion calculations per second and also features central storage. It is equipped with a complete backup system, an independent and stable energy supply system, a signal transmission system, an anti-counterfeiting identification system, and hundreds of equipment terminals that can be operated offline independently.

Most importantly, this system can prevent counterfeiting through facial recognition.

This means that everyone who comes to deposit money will enter the central database of the Vast Ocean Territory.

In a place where ordinary people have almost no surplus wealth, who is most likely to save money? Of course, it's the nobility, their vassals, various professionals, merchants, and mercenaries!
In theory, given more time, Chen Mo could gather all the information on the upper and middle classes of society.

If, if this system is indeed effective, it can be further expanded to other countries…

You have to understand, if Chen Mo succeeds in this, the Starry World doesn't have a central bank, a banking regulatory commission, or a financial management office...

In the future, the deposit and withdrawal transactions between the two parties will be transformed into transfer transactions, so you won't have to spend a single gold coin...

Issuing checks and bank drafts is essentially a disguised form of issuing tokens...

Going a step further, to gain true control over currency issuance...

This is the real superweapon, a nuclear bomb? How many people can a nuclear bomb kill?

Chen Mo was so excited about this that he couldn't sleep for nights on end.

For this reason alone, I'd do it even if it meant losing money, let alone making a profit!

Of course, Chen Ye was unaware of this overall plan, and even Liu Shuang was unclear about it.

At this very moment, Chen Ye, as the deputy head of the delegation and special advisor for the Northern Foothills Affairs of the Summer Moon Alliance, was displaying the small "card-folding device" in his hand to the thirteen elders of the Stream Moon Sect with the unique elegance of an aristocrat.

It also showcases a starry world, and we wonder what the future will be like.

(End of this chapter)