Chapter 1040: Baiye Capital Immortal Dao (II)
There had been over ninety affiliated households on the eastern shore in the Jiang Family's era. When the Jiang Family split, the Xiao Family took advantage of the chaos and claimed many as their vassals. By the time the Yu Family controlled the east, there were only thirty-nine families outside of Milin Prefecture, while anything farther east was nearly all absorbed into Lixia Prefecture.
Since then, neither the Yu Family nor the Li Family had ever regained authority over those seventy-nine families. The Xiao Family had even forbidden the establishment of markets around Moongaze Lake, causing the Li Family to lose more than eighty percent of potential commercial revenue.
Now, with seventy-nine more households returned, the total came to one hundred and eighteen, even surpassing what the Jiang Family once controlled. The map of Moongaze Lake was finally whole again. Not only had thirteen spiritual mines been restored, but this also signified that the Li Family's influence could extend much farther, giving them the ability to intervene in the wilds along the riverbank.
The Xiao Family is giving far too much. There must be something behind this, thought Li Zhouwei.
As he studied the parchment and tallied the figures, he quickly analyzed, This is laying the groundwork for the Profound Peak Gate affair.
The wild hills and scattered shrines along the riverbanks, commonly called the Wilderness, lay between the Li Family and the Profound Peak Gate. Small temples dotted the land, most of them vassals of the Kong Family. The Xiao Family had long stood between them, but by stepping back now, they left the Li Family directly bordering the Profound Peak Gate's rear.
Li Zhouwei lifted his gaze toward the upper seats, but Li Ximing was already gone. The golden-eyed youth sipped his tea. Li Zhouwei had managed the family like a man constantly putting out fires for more than a decade. Yet now, with just this one map, he had to calculate anew, thinking to himself, It seems Granduncle has already agreed to the Profound Peak Gate’s request. Since the Xiao Family does not intend to intervene, our family must commit itself fully.
He rolled up the parchment and smiled as he said, "Such a generous gift... my family can only accept in shame."
Xiao Muyun smiled, exchanged a few polite words, and withdrew. The banquet hall still rang with music, but Li Zhouwei's thoughts were elsewhere. He rose and left his seat, beckoning Li Jiangqian over, and used secret voice transmission to say, "Go and find out whether the Xiao Family and the Profound Peak Gate have recently made territorial compromises."
Li Jiangqian's eyes mirrored his father's sharpness. The youth immediately sensed the family's decision. Music still played in the courtyard as his brows lowered in thought, The Daoist Master has resolved to take on the Profound Peak Gate burden... It seems Changxi both offered a backup plan and promised great profit. Refusal is no longer possible.