Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 93 Supporting the Overall Situation
Although he was in a hurry, Li Xiangming had other tasks to complete, so he had to hold back and go to the fourth room first.

Compared to the mortal world, the affairs of the cultivation world are obviously more important, and whether or not the cooperation between the Li and Geng families takes place will have far-reaching consequences.

As the person involved, he couldn't get away from it.

"What brings you to the patriarch's attention?"

Li Chenglu was very surprised.

"The Geng family."

After a brief explanation, Li Xiangming turned around, grabbed Li Xiangcheng to be a conscript, and split into two groups to notify the other clan elders.

Not long after, the clan elders gathered at Changlin House.

"Xiangming, I heard that the Geng family has sent people?"

"That's right, you'll see in a moment."

Li Xiangming had no time to spout nonsense.
They kept urging the clan elders to hold a meeting.

In the Changlin residence, Li Qianxiong quickly announced that the Geng family was seeking cooperation.

"This is a good thing. The Geng family is giving away benefits for free, we can't refuse it."

Li Chengweng said slowly.

If it's a spiritual herb from Green Cloud Cave, the Li family will have to consider it. After all, there are too many spiritual herbs and medicines. If the Li family redefines its connections in Zhangning Prefecture, it will inevitably involve using connections.

But Purple Cicada Cloud Sand doesn't have this concern. It's rare and expensive, and the Li family can easily find buyers.

Thus, even with a 20/80 split, the Li family still made a profit, since their costs were minimal.

Li Chengdian bluntly stated, "That's right, a fool wouldn't make money if he could."

"Helping the Geng family carries great risks."

Li Qianxiong reminded him.

"What reward comes without risk?"

Li Chengzhi refuted this, and the other clan elders basically held the same opinion.

If the profits from Zichan Yunsha are not great enough, then what about a protracted war?
It's obvious to anyone with eyes to see that the Geng family desperately needs strategic resources, and the Li family is their only option.

Once the two families cooperate, the spirit stones from the Geng family will flow into the Li family continuously.

Compared to that, what's wrong with the Li family taking some risks?
Upon hearing this, Li Qianxiong remained silent. The fact that the elders all expressed the same opinion was somewhat unexpected.

Li Xiangming was equally surprised. He had always been accustomed to seeing arguments between the head of the family and the elders, and between the elders themselves, in Changlinfang.

It's rare to see such an important matter discussed so harmoniously, as we did today.

This also indirectly shows that as long as there is profit to be made, the Li family, who are skilled in combat, are not actually afraid of war.

In the past, when participating in the Battle of Nanbin, the Li family also reached a consensus among its top leaders.

Because the Battle of Nanbin can help the Li family secure a spiritual vein.

When it comes to pursuing profits, the elders are more radical than the patriarchs.

Since the clan elders were of one mind, Li Qianxiong had nothing to say. He then had Li Xiangming summon Li Qianyuan, the head of the guesthouse, to discuss the negotiations with the Geng family.

During the interview, Li Xiangming was frequently asked about the details of his contact with the Geng brothers.

Aside from the fights and bribery allegations, Li Xiangming told the truth almost entirely.

But Li Qianxiong, who appears rough on the surface but is actually very meticulous, noticed that he was distracted.

"Are you still thinking about the locust plague?"

“That’s right. This locust plague came too suddenly. If the situation is serious and the harvest fails, Changtai Township will inevitably be in turmoil.”

"Locust plague?"

The clan elders were unaware of this matter and inquired among themselves.

"Xiang Qi just came to report that there is a locust infestation in Changtai Township. The situation is still unclear. I have arranged for Qian Gao to investigate."

Li Qianxiong replied.

“It’s harvest time right now. If this is serious, the people in both villages will have worked for nothing this year.”

"There should be some grain stored up, right?"

"We have enough food to last until next year, but the locusts came suddenly, unlike a natural disaster. I'm worried that there are evil forces causing trouble behind it, and that the locusts will continue to plague us next year."

Actually, Li Xiangming was more worried about locusts in the Pushui River basin than in Changtai Township.

The Pu River basin, especially the Pucheng area, is home to more than 70% of the ordinary people in Pu County.

Once the farmland in this area is damaged, the entire Pu County will almost certainly fall into a state of famine.

Because we can't buy food anymore.

Relying solely on grain reserves is unrealistic.

Some people can save for three to five years, some may only have a year and a half, and some are conscripted for labor, spending months or even years away. They have no time to farm.

“This is no small matter, Patriarch. We should treat it with utmost care.”

Li Chenglu looked at Li Qianxiong.

Thanks to the reforms promoted by the tax office in the two townships, a lot of new farmland has been reclaimed. In addition, with the change in tax rates, the Li family has harvested a lot of grain in the past two years.

But no matter how much more, it's all directed at the Li family.

How long can this policy, which opens up to 100,000 to 200,000 people in two townships, be sustained?

Once the food supplies at Tailai Peak run out, the people of the two villages will face a devastating famine.

Most of these people are of the Li family bloodline.

Li Qianxiong also realized the seriousness of the situation. Unlike Hao County, Pu County was rich in resources and had Hengyue Gate in charge, so locust plagues were nothing to worry about, and there was plenty of food.

But Pu County was clearly not an option; if the harvest failed, even the Bailu Clan would be worried. Thinking of this, he immediately said, "Xiangming, you are in charge of the Accounting Office, so go over there and take charge of the overall situation. If you encounter any difficulties, just let your family know."

"Yes."

Having received orders from the patriarch, Li Xiangming had no intention of attending the meeting.

Anyway, negotiating cooperation with the Geng family is Dianke's job.

Whether he is present or not has little impact.

After leaving Changlinfang, Li Xiangming rushed to Changtai Township without stopping.

When they passed through Changyang Valley, Li Qianbai was no longer there; he must have returned to Changtai Township first.

Jiang Liang is here, though.

Li Xiangming asked a few questions and learned that locusts had first appeared in Daishan. Upon receiving the information, Lingwu Sect immediately sent Jiang Liang to inform the Li family.

No sooner had Jiang Liang arrived than the locusts followed.

Changtai Township was not spared either.

"What's the situation at Lingwu Sect?"

Li Xiangming asked the question.

“There are not many mortals under the command of Lingwu Sect, and the few spiritual fields are also taken care of by fellow disciples, so there is not much loss.”

Jiang Liang sighed. Lingwu Sect was alright, but Daishan was in a terrible state.

The internal strife within the Dai Mountain region is severe, and the ordinary people under its command have been forced into labor for years without any rest or recuperation.

The major sects only think about extracting spiritual root seeds from mortals, but are unwilling to allocate their power to protect the safety of their territory.

It is said that many villages in Daishan are still occasionally disturbed by monsters.

The sect leader's forces, however, ignored them completely.

Now we're facing a locust plague, and we don't know what to do next.

Jiang Liang knew that Dai Shan was no longer reliable, and in a few months, there would be disaster victims everywhere.

In the Pudong area, perhaps only the Li family's farmland can save some of the people.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, do you have time? If so, come with me to Changtai Township."

Li Xiangming invited, saying that having more people now would be more powerful. Jiang Liang's cultivation was quite good, and he was a disciple of the Lingwu Sect, so he was not an outsider.

"As you wish."

Jiang Liang cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

The two reached an agreement and rushed to Changtai Township.

During this time, Li Xiangming also inquired about the source of the locust plague.

However, Jiang Liangzhi's knowledge of this matter is unclear.

"In charge!"

Outside Xixiang City, Li Xiangqi waited for a long time before inviting the two into the city.

Apart from Li Xiangqian, who was stationed in Xulong Township, everyone from the Shangji Office was here.

In addition, a large number of officials from the two townships, including Li Jiong and Li Qiu, were also present.

"Li Qiu, how's the situation in Xixiang?"

Li Xiangming was the first to inquire about the disaster situation in Xixiang. Xixiang had been the focus of his efforts and was highly regarded by the Shangjifang.

Upon hearing this, Li Qiu hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

"The manager is asking you a question; speak frankly."

Upon seeing Li Qiu's appearance, Li Xiangqi was furious.

"Yes Yes!"

Li Qiu hurriedly bowed and apologized, "Xixiang...Xixiang has been severely affected by the disaster. There are huge swarms of locusts, some as big as a human head. The villagers didn't dare to stop them at all. As the locusts passed through, the rice crops were severely damaged."

"To get to the point, how many farmlands have suffered crop damage?"

Li Xiangming frowned.

"More than 70%."

"Seventy percent?"

Li Xiangming raised his voice instantly, a surge of anger building in his heart: "Didn't you take any measures to prevent locusts?"

"this."

Li Qiu stammered, unable to speak.

After moving to Pu County, the people became accustomed to the mischief caused by monsters and naturally regarded them as their greatest enemy.

However, as the Li family built fortresses around the area, the probability of monsters appearing in the village decreased significantly.

With the formidable enemy gone, the villagers naturally became complacent.

As for locusts, many people have never encountered a locust plague in Hao County in their lives, so they never thought of locust prevention.
"Humph."

Li Xiangming was very dissatisfied with Li Qiu's appearance.

What use is a township head who can't even speak properly?

But now is not the time to hold people accountable; Li Xiangming has turned his attention to Li Jiong.

"What about Dongxiang? How is the damage?"

(End of this chapter)