Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

The only benefits Li Changqing received from Emperor Li Zheng, besides the two small golden statues, were this gold medal in his hand.

Li Changqing did not ask for any bodyguards or official positions.

Although Li Zheng treated him very well, Li Changqing did not fully trust the people Li Zheng gave him.

So he simply refused.

He was not afraid to tell the King of Qin about most of his actions, but he did not want the emperor to know.

There was nothing he could do; some of the things he did were, to some extent, likely to shake the foundations of imperial power.

Just because Li Yuanhao could tolerate this doesn't mean Li Zheng could.

"What's the use of this gold medal?"

"Does tax exemption count?"

Upon hearing Li Changqing's answer, Li Changsheng was so angry he laughed.

"With your status, why would you need to worry about this?"

We nobles have never heard of paying taxes to anyone when we do business.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that the imperial court's laws and regulations were not perfect.

The Great Zhou Dynasty primarily levied land taxes, followed by shop taxes and city gate taxes.

There was no specific commercial tax, let alone a business tax.

As for salt and iron, they were subject to strict government control.

Their method of paying taxes involved first paying the government money to buy the corresponding salt certificates and iron certificates...

Only then can one operate legally.

"Holding this gold medal allows one to mobilize an army of up to five hundred men, demanding full cooperation from the government and prohibiting anyone from obstructing the operation. Does that count?"

Upon hearing Li Changqing's words, Li Changsheng's pupils widened.

"How is this possible? Isn't it the Chamber of Commerce?"

"That's right, this is the privilege of a super imperial merchant. Our World Merchants Association is the number one imperial merchant in the world."

Although Li Changsheng was unsure what Li Changqing would do next.

But he had a premonition.

Once this chamber of commerce is truly established, it could very well challenge imperial power to some extent.

The Great Zhou Dynasty would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen.

Once they find out, they will stop at nothing to destroy this chamber of commerce.

"You previously mentioned that we operate in logistics and intelligence, and now we possess the highest-ranking imperial merchant qualification in the land. Can you mobilize the government's resources to protect us?"

Li Changsheng was not ignorant.

He was able to become the deputy leader of the Shanhai County Canal Gang because of his personal strength and ability.

He already had a vague sense of how massive Li Changqing's plan was.

Just participating in it made Li Changsheng feel his heart surge with excitement.

"What do you want?"

"That's right, I want to take complete control of the entire Great Zhou, and even the whole world."

So what if it shakes the imperial power?

Li Changqing is now bound to the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he will not actually rebel against it.

He simply wanted to better control the power in the world and make those people work for him.

What did he do wrong?

He was simply pursuing martial arts with all his heart and wanted to take it a step further.

What could he have done wrong?

"Then send me a few men to take care of those guys first."

The sudden appearance of four new cultivators at the Free and Unfettered Realm in the Canal Gang was something Li Changsheng couldn't handle at all.

"Why send anyone? I'll go with you!"

"Weren't you trying to hide your identity?"

"Who said that? I just can't leave the capital. Besides, the World Society needs a powerful backer. It's either me, my father, or His Majesty. Who do you think is best, brother?"

Upon hearing Li Changqing's question, Li Changsheng couldn't help but laugh: "Of course, it's best to keep it in our own hands."

The World Alliance would connect the Beggars' Sect and the Canal Caravan, forming the world's largest caravan.

With such a powerful force, even if Li Changqing's father is its backer, it will still face many obstacles in the future.

It would be better to let Li Changqing handle it himself.

"But if His Highness the Prince of Qin and His Majesty punish you, can you withstand it?"

Li Changsheng's only worry now is whether Li Changqing can withstand the pressure from the Prince of Qin and His Majesty the Emperor.

Changqing had just returned to Kyoto, and even though they were blood relatives, they might not have much affection for each other.

Not to mention royal fathers and sons.

Even if you've never eaten pork, you've seen pigs run. Li Changsheng could imagine that the royal family's kinship must be indifferent.

"As long as I don't usurp the throne now, no one will make things difficult for me, so you can rest assured, brother!"

Li Changqing smiled and assured him with great certainty.

As long as he doesn't usurp the throne, both the royal family's elders and His Majesty the Emperor will give Li Changqing their full support.

After all, they were still hoping that Li Changqing would break through to the Supreme Realm and lead the Great Zhou royal family to its peak.

Li Changqing's success or failure was more important than the lives of most of them.

How could they possibly put pressure on Li Changqing?

"Alright! Let's go now, those guys are still waiting."

The headquarters of the Grand Canal Gang was located only ten miles from the Prince of Qin's residence; it was a large mansion with five courtyards.

It's clear that this gang is quite wealthy.

Li Changsheng and Li Changqing, leading more than twenty secret guards and over a hundred soldiers, headed in a grand procession towards the headquarters of the Canal Gang.

After the soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison saw the troops of the Prince of Qin's residence and confirmed that they were not heading towards the Imperial Palace or the Crown Prince's residence, they...

He immediately shrank back.

When working in Kyoto, the most important thing is to be pragmatic and adaptable.

Who can you offend? Who can you not offend? You must be clear about this.

at the same time.

The informants in Kyoto began frantically passing on messages.

"The Prince of Qinghe of the Qin Prince's Mansion has left the mansion with his guards."

"Their target is the Canal Gang!"

Upon hearing this news, all the Go players in Kyoto were caught off guard.

This Prince of Qinghe has always been low-key in the eyes of others.

Although he was granted the title of prince through an exceptional promotion, he remained in the Qin Prince's residence for over a year.

He did not attend any invitations or banquets, nor did he make any acquaintances.

Everyone pondered that, after all, he had been wandering outside for ten years, and probably hadn't adapted to his current identity yet.

Perhaps His Highness the Prince of Qin also felt that the Prince of the County was a disgrace, which is why he deliberately locked him up in the Prince's Palace to learn manners.

When Prince Qinghe makes his first public appearance, he will shock everyone.

No one expected that this was a quiet and almost invisible prince.

Suddenly, he paraded through the city with the soldiers of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

The people of Kyoto were alarmed.

Then they saw those people completely surround the headquarters of the Canal Gang.

The leaders and elders of the Grand Canal Gang had never seen such a scene before.

They quickly looked to the four experts at the Free and Unfettered Realm for help.

They could easily deal with Li Changsheng.

But they have no control over the situation right now.

The four experts at the Free and Unfettered Realm had increasingly grim expressions.

When they were invited to take charge of the canal gang, they never imagined they would encounter such a situation.

Those were no ordinary soldiers.

They jumped onto the courtyard wall to test their way out, sensing the presence of experts of the same level.

In other words, among the people from the Qin Prince's Mansion, there must be experts at the Free and Unfettered Realm.

"It's over!"

"This is it, we're completely finished!"

The leader of the Cao Gang nearly fainted as everything went black.

……