Chapter 232 - 134: Governor’s Order
After hearing Yang Jing present his plan, Canyuan True Monarch pondered for a long time.
"The Five Elements True Spirit Sect’s Spirit Rice production has suddenly surged these past two years. Upon hearing the news, we learned that a disciple had invented a Magical Artifact called the Insect Extermination Bell. This bell has nearly eliminated all Low Tier insect pests from the Spirit Fields. That disciple would be you, I presume."
Yang Jing hadn’t expected his name to have already reached the ears of this Nascent Soul True Monarch.
"It is I."
Canyuan True Monarch nodded and said.
"A remarkable talent for statecraft and administration. Your ability in governance surpasses even your talent for Immortally Cultivation."
"You flatter me, True Monarch."
Yang Jing could only cup his hands and reply.
"There’s no need for modesty. Yang Jing, I suspect your true intentions are not what they seem."
As a Nascent Soul Cultivator, Canyuan True Monarch’s experience was far beyond that of ordinary people. Having served in various posts and held the position of Northern Army Governor for two hundred years, he had long since developed a keen intuition.
"This Seven Nations Bank may seem to only be in the business of loaning out Spirit Stones, but in reality, it gathers all the prominent powers of the Northern Domain Seven Kingdoms into a single bloc. Moreover, it grants the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion the power to set its regulations and agenda."
He looked at Yang Jing.
If this Seven Nations Bank were truly established as Yang Jing envisioned, the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion could use it as a springboard to deeply influence the situation in the Seven Kingdoms through various means.
The relationship between the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion and the Seven Kingdoms was rather complex.
To prevent the various Governor’s Mansions from growing too powerful and becoming uncontrollable, the Six Sects had placed limits on their authority. The Northern Army Governor’s Mansion, for example, had no right to interfere in the internal affairs of the Northern Domain Seven Kingdoms unless it concerned the Four Demon Sects.
At most, they could only operate in the Northern Domain under the pretext of eliminating Tribulation Cultivators and Demon Cultivators.
The Royal Families of the Seven Kingdoms were especially wary of the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion. If it wasn’t absolutely necessary, they would never initiate contact.
"I’m afraid the Six Sects won’t let the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion hold this power for long," Canyuan True Monarch said.
The military strength of the Six Righteous Sects was largely determined by their number of Flying Boats. In truth, the Five Armies Governor’s Mansion possessed more Flying Boats than the main sects of the Six Sects combined.
The Six Sects mainly relied on their control over personnel and finances to restrain the Five Armies Governor’s Mansion, ensuring the five Governors who held military power did not spiral out of control.
Yang Jing’s plan for the Seven Nations Bank would completely solve the financial problems of the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion. This was equivalent to severing one of the arms the Six Sects used to control the Five Armies Governor’s Mansion.
Naturally, the Six Sects were not entirely composed of useless fools; they would not fail to see the hidden dangers in this.
As a Nascent Soul Cultivator and a vested interest within the Six Sects, Canyuan True Monarch had no intention of breaking away to become independent. But even a few years would be enough for him to accomplish many things.
Even just by personally investing in it, he could easily reap enormous profits.
"You must have been considering this plan for a long time."
He said, looking at Yang Jing. This proposal, which balanced the interests of all parties, was definitely not something that could be conceived in a short period.
"When I was still an Independent Cultivator, I saw how difficult their livelihood was. Even with the Pioneer Order allowing them to cultivate Spirit Fields, purchasing a single Magical Artifact still required more than ten years of scrimping and saving. Our greatest advantage as Cultivators when facing Demons is clearly our Magical Artifacts, yet the Independent Cultivators on the front lines can’t even afford them."
Yang Jing explained to Canyuan True Monarch, recounting his experiences in Huashan County.
"If the vast majority of Qi Cultivators could own both a Defensive Spiritual Artifact and an Attack Spiritual Artifact, they wouldn’t have been so utterly powerless against the Demon Mosquitoes back in Huashan County."
In the Western Continent, the number of Independent Cultivators far surpassed that of clan disciples. Most were descendants of mortals who had migrated there and embarked on the path of Immortally Cultivation after awakening a Spirit Root.
They had no foundation, no heritage, and their Power was weak.
Because of the Demons’ innate advantage in the Western Continent, Independent Cultivators of the same Realm, with their crude Cultivation Techniques and simple Magical Artifacts, were absolutely no match for them.
’In the future, the Three Western Kingdoms will be annihilated. The Six Passes Defense Line will suffer defeat after defeat, collapsing completely. There are many reasons for this, but a significant one is that the Independent Cultivators of the three kingdoms are too weak. They crumble at the first touch when facing the Demons that sweep through the countryside.’
’The Immortally Cultivation Clans scattered throughout the three kingdoms are like isolated islands. They are either overrun by Demons or forced to flee with their entire clan and any accompanying Independent Cultivators, only to be relentlessly pursued and slaughtered. The tragedy is beyond words.’
’White bones lie exposed in the fields, and for a thousand li, not even a rooster’s crow can be heard. The Six Sects’ arrangements in the three kingdoms are uprooted, and tens of millions of lives are devastated, devoured by Demons.’
Yang Jing proposed the bank strategy precisely because he wanted to mobilize the stagnant Spirit Stones sealed away in the secret vaults of the Royal Families and Immortally Cultivation Clans. He wanted to use them to enhance the Power of the Independent Cultivators, and also as a means to control those same clans.
If their easily transportable Spirit Stones were all stored in the bank’s vaults, these Immortally Cultivation Clans and Royal Families would no longer be able to so easily abandon their lands and flee at the first sign of a deteriorating situation, leaving the clans willing to stand their ground isolated and helpless.
But even though Yang Jing had been promoted to True Disciple, his influence within the Six Sects was still pitifully small. A policy like the bank, which concerned all the nations of an entire domain, was simply not something he could push forward on his own.
When Yang Jing learned that his position as a Seven Kingdoms Minister would grant him an opportunity to meet the Governor, he knew this was his greatest chance. As the head of military and political affairs in the Northern Domain, the Northern Army Governor had both the ability and the motivation to implement the bank policy.
If this plan succeeded, he would truly begin to change the future of the Western Continent.
Once the Seven Nations Bank in the Northern Domain began to generate massive profits, the other nations would surely rush to imitate it. Regardless of any embezzlement or forced apportionments that might occur, a tremendous amount of Spirit Stones would inevitably flow into the hands of Independent Cultivators through loans.
Whether the Independent Cultivators used the loans to purchase Magical Artifacts, Elixirs, Cultivation Techniques, or Magic, they would be converting the dead, stagnant Spirit Stones from secret vaults into tangible military strength for the Three Western Kingdoms.
"Independent Cultivators lack Spirit Stones and have limited purchasing power. Thus, even when the many Immortally Cultivation Clans refine Magical Artifacts and Spirit Pills, the market is pitifully small. A great deal of our Northern Domain Seven Kingdoms’ productive capacity lies idle. If a bank were to mediate, allowing idle Spirit Stones to circulate and completely liberating this productive capacity, the national power of the Seven Kingdoms would naturally flourish. We would no longer see a situation where a few True Disciples from the Demon Sects can run rampant with impunity."
Canyuan True Monarch was visibly moved. He hadn’t expected that Yang Jing, a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator, could be so farsighted and possess such a grand vision for the world.
"Remarkable. Today, I am truly a bit envious that the Five Elements True Spirit Sect has a genius like you."
He took out a Jade Order:
"This is a Governor’s Order. With this, you may act as you see fit. Take this order and act boldly. In the Northern Domain Seven Kingdoms, no matter who they are, they will show you some respect upon seeing this."
Yang Jing bowed, stepped forward, and accepted the order.
Holding this order was equivalent to having the Northern Army Governor’s backing.
"Xiaomeng."
Canyuan True Monarch looked at Meng Sima.
"Your subordinate is here."
Meng Sima replied respectfully.
"If you can handle this matter well, you might be able to advance further within the Supreme Profound Upper Yang Sect. Put your heart into it. Also, the term ’bank’ is too unfamiliar. I’ve heard that among mortals, there are already similar businesses that handle loans and savings, called ’Silver Shops’ or ’Ticket Shops.’ Let’s follow the old convention and call it the Seven Nations Ticket Shop."