Chapter 83: Chapter 79: Emergency Council Meeting
Translator: 549690339
Tang Clan Family Council
The Tang Clan, as a prominent family in Xiling, has an extensive range of industries; thus, the comprehensive meetings of the entire clan, typically held at the end of every month, are of significant importance. Representatives from the Martial Hall, ancestral houses, clan schools, and the heads of each branch of the clan are all required to attend.
Besides these regular meetings, the clan leader can also temporarily convene a meeting, usually in the face of substantial challenges or disasters.
At forty-two, Tang Zhi has been leading the Tang Clan for two years. This is the first time he has ordered the organization of such a meeting.
Under the clan leader’s orders, the Tang Clan quickly mobilize. Numerous martial artists stand by in the square of the ancestral houses while representatives from clan elders, the first and second heads of the Martial Hall, the head of the Dark Thunder Hall, the sect head of the clan school, the clan elders of the Tang Clan, and representatives of the three branch clan leaders converge together.
Tang Luo is among them. As the newly promoted thirty-sixth clan elder, he is honored to sit with the elites of the Tang Clan in the ritual hall of the clan house.
Of course, those sitting around him are all familiar faces from the Secret Arts Pavilion since everyone from there has the status of a Tang Clan elder.
Everyone looks foreboding as they are unsure of the agenda of this emergency meeting.
In their minds, Tang Zhi has always been a decisive and cautious figure.
This approach has given the young clan leader a particular reassurance, but the sudden summons of this meeting has caused some alarm.
“Don’t be nervous,” Tang Zhi, seeing the general worry, reassures everyone. Other than the calm Tang Sen and Tang Zuo, who seem to share the same temperament, the rest of the clan members, from the elder to the branch leaders, seem a little tense.
Tang Zhi is ambitious and, as the leader of the Tang Clan, who wouldn’t want to achieve great things? However, he is well aware that before he can stand on invincible ground, he must maintain a surplus. Yet, looking through the navigation records of the Wancheng Treasure Ship, he recognized a thrilling opportunity, which may enable him to carve an indelible mark in the clan’s history.
Gathering his thoughts, Tang Zhi addresses the audience:
“Do you feel that the North City of Xiling is too crowded? Are you displeased by the smaller clans claiming land around us?”
“Do you find that our branch clans are struggling to grow, staggering at every step?”
“I promise that in half a year, every subdivision of the Tang Clan can build their mansions in the bustling North City of Xiling.”
“And each clan branch’s mansion will be staffed with a large number of servants, maidens, and warriors.”
The sudden promises leave the hall in stunned silence, as if it were raining gold coins.
Everyone is shocked by Tang Zhi’s sudden gesture of generosity, even Tang Sen, who is usually calm, looks somewhat worried.
Due to the long-term peace, land in Xiling City is extremely expensive, especially in the North and South City areas which are virtually sold out. Even with the Tang Clan’s strength, it would be difficult to buy land in North City, let alone raze it.
The usually cautious Tang Zhi making such bold promises naturally incites the audience’s curiosity.
However, the allure of Tang Zhi’s words is too great for the leaders, who can’t withhold their excitement, and one of them, Tang Ming, even directly asks, “Clan leader, are you telling the truth?”
“When have I ever made false promises?” Tang Zhi waves his hand, unperturbed.
“However, I need your full cooperation in the upcoming period. Are you all willing?”
“Yes, we’re willing!” Tang Ming quickly agrees.
“The first thing is that the Wancheng Treasure Ship will set sail again.”
“As of today, the Tang Clan will start grain collection. We need to collect one million tons of common grain within two months.”
“What?” Tang Ming, hearing Tang Zhi’s words, feels as if there’s a problem with his ears.
A million tons of grain? This is a joke. Not to mention whether Xiling has that amount of grain, but the Wancheng Treasure Ship can only carry a maximum of two hundred and fifty thousand tons of goods. A million tons would require the capacity of four treasure ships, and he didn’t understand what Tang Zhi was trying to do.
Because of the plentiful spiritual energy in the world, common grain can harvest three times a year, and yields over 1,000 pounds per acre. Therefore, grain prices in Xiling have remained low, and the purchase price of grain is roughly between 6-7 gold coins per 1,000 pounds.
Although the total cultivated land in Xiling exceeds two million acres and more than one hundred thousand farmers work on it, more than half of the land belongs to the clans. If the clans unite their efforts and purchase additional grain, it would be possible to gather a million tons.
But from the clan leader’s tone, it seems like this will be a complete purchase. Even if all the summer harvest grain in Xiling is taken, this amount couldn’t be reached.
Tang Zhi did not repeat his words. He only calmly looked at Tang Ming without saying a word.
Thinking about the clan leader’s promise, Tang Ming gritted his teeth and said: “The branch clans will undertake this task.”
Tang Zhi turned to Tang Zuo and Tang Sen and said, “I will assign all the craftsmen from the clan to you. Your task is to cut trees on the mountain and build a stronghold.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Yes.” Tang Zuo and Tang Sen responded simultaneously.
Tang Zhi nodded and swept his gaze across the audience, his voice firm and strong, “The Mountain Leader will stay. The rest of you, go. This matter concerns the future of our Tang Clan. After leaving this hall, just do your job and don’t spread the news.”
“Understood.”
April 10th
In the Star Pavilion
A year later, Tang Luo returns to the Mortal Realm. His spiritual power level of 3009.6 is a great accomplishment, but he feels dejected.
No one could have predicted that trouble would erupt at this stage, where problems should be least likely to occur.
“Old Tu, are you sure?”
“Master, it’s not that I am not faithful. There is something I must do and after I do it, I might have to run for my life. I can only resign.” Tu Tong, with a murderous look in his eyes, saluted Tang Luo.
Tang Luo was at a loss for words. The Martial Arts Hall staff member wanted to resign suddenly and he said he would live as a fugitive. What on earth was happening?
“Don’t rush to run for your life; first tell me what’s happening.”
Tu Tong stumbled over his words as he bowed again, “I ask for your approval, sir. This matter only concerns me and will not involve the Martial Hall in any way.”
The decisions of mature individuals often prove to be scarier than the impulses of young people, because they know exactly what they are going to do, and what the consequences will be afterwards.
Forcing a Tang martial artist to lead a life as a fugitive, Tu Tong must have offended some large clan.
Tang Luo’s curiosity is piqued and he asks again, “Did you get into trouble with the Mi Clan? But you spend your days in the pavilion, could it be that there’s a dispute over something from inside? If that’s the case, you don’t need to worry. I will stand by you.”
“It has nothing to do with the pavilion’s stuff, it’s more of a personal matter.” Tu Tong still shakes his head, insisting, “Please permit me to release the contract.”
Perhaps facing another person, given Tu Tong’s attitude, he might have left long ago, rather than humbly pleading again and again. But the person in front of him is not just his employer, but also the son of the First Head of the Martial Hall.
In all the years he’s been serving the Tang Martial Hall, Tu Tong knows its strength very well. The closer you get, the clearer you understand the capabilities of this behemoth. If Tang Luo did not agree to let him go, even if he and Su Mei managed to escape, the Martial Hall would have ways to find him.
He will never forget the gaze of the First Head when he accepted this task.
This is why Tang Luo’s patronage is particularly important to him..
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺