Breaking Army cracked a smile and burst into hearty laughter.
Li Guanyi continued, "I have also prepared a sword for you, Master. It’s not fully forged yet. It is made from the materials I obtained during the grand martial competition. I hope to forge a Treasure Weapon, or at least a mystical weapon."
"Master will have to wait a bit longer," he said.
Treasures obtained by the Lord during the grand martial competition, personally forged!
Passing down through generations, a mystical weapon!
The corners of Breaking Army’s mouth twitched, trying to suppress his smile, but then he let out an amused chuckle, "Well, Lord, it seems you are...ha, ha, ha, no, there is no need for such diligent effort!"
Li Guanyi responded with a smile, "It is only proper."
He did indeed think so and had prepared accordingly, but as characteristic of Li Guanyi, he wouldn’t have said it so directly. However, before Breaking Army’s arrival, the silver-haired girl had told Li Guanyi.
When dealing with the lineage of Breaking Army, it’s best to speak frankly.
This group could overthink things.
This was advice from the First Generation Shaking Light Records.
Breaking Army was overjoyed.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha! The sole strategist of our Lord, who forges a Treasure Weapon himself! A Treasure Weapon, a grade above those other fellows."
"Shaking Light, oh, Shaking Light, do you have one? A Treasure Weapon personally forged by the Lord!"
"Hmph, hmph, hmph, I knew it, I have already won."
"Shaking Light, oh, Shaking Light, what will you use to beat me?"
Reveling in his triumph, Breaking Army took his leave. On his way out, when he heard Li Guanyi speak of the aristocratic families of Jiangnan, Breaking Army said, "The families of Jiangnan are indeed not easy to handle, entrenched there interweaving for hundreds of years, and because of the earlier Battle Formations of the Jiangnan Eighteen States, their connections are particularly formidable."
"It’s no problem to use strategists like Wen He for the Lord."
"However, the Righteous path in this world is complemented by yin and yang, combining righteousness with surprise to overcome, and there hasn’t been new legislation in Jiangnan, has there?"
Breaking Army smiled and said, "I’ve left a person here for you, my Lord."
"Xiao Zhi, from the Academy, a disciple versed in both Legalism and Confucianism."
"A man who clearly distinguishes between love and hate, and is sure to retaliate. I have detained him, waiting for you, my Lord. You can dispatch him to Jiangnan first to establish legislation. Those aristocratic families have become more and more arrogant over the years."
"They think that the survival of the Jiangnan Eighteen States is entirely their own doing. The administration of the law is weak, they endorse one another, fail to promote virtue, and do not enforce punishments strictly. For such people, severe measures are necessary. It doesn’t work to always treat them kindly."
"Because if you are continually kind to them, they will see even the slightest change as neglect. It’s better to strictly regulate them through laws."
The next day, Xiao Zhi arrived and, after a lengthy discussion with Li Guanyi, noticed the small notebook with recorded matters and heard that Mr. Zhao had already been dealt with.
He saw that Zhao Jiao’s name had been crossed out in red ink on Li Guanyi’s notebook.
Xiao Zhi felt that this was someone who, like himself, kept grudges.
With a push from Breaking Army and Yuan Zhi also present, Li Guanyi, without any doubts, entrusted Xiao Zhi with the complete task of revising the laws and statutes of the Jiangnan region.
Xiao Zhi was silent, a man in his twenties. He raised his eyebrow and asked jokingly, "Leave it all to me? Not handing it down to the older generation? To trust me ..."
"How should I proceed?"
After some thought, Li Guanyi said:
"Enforce the law strictly, don’t burden the commoners harshly, don’t go easy on the aristocratic families."
Xiao Zhi cracked a smile, "Lord, have you suffered at the hands of the aristocratic families?
"Don’t worry, my Lord."
Nodding, Xiao Zhi squinted his eyes sharp as blades, his smile carefree and harmless.
Then he turned and noted down the names of the Jiangnan aristocratic families in his own notebook.
Whatever Li Guanyi had, he copied it down.
What Li Guanyi hadn’t written, he added.
For any Legalism prodigy, the opportunity to reform the laws of a state is something to look forward to, especially for a young person.
To take charge of a region’s laws right from the start.
Rather than trailing behind the dusty seats of those old scholars, Xiao Zhi felt exhilarated!
And so, he rode off to Jiangnan.
Before leaving, as if remembering something, he said, "If you, Lord, go to the Academy, remember to tie up a man named Wen He and bring him back."
"If he is not with us, I cannot sleep peacefully."
"Also, he has wronged me."
"Please tell him that it was Xiao Zhi who asked you to tie him up."
"Hmm? Why am I willing to help you?"
Xiao Zhi answered with a smile, "I am friends with Yuan Zhi, and you have treated Yuan Zhi well. I am repaying a kindness; besides, Taiping Duke had a great reputation, and my parents have received his help."
"My Lord, until we meet again in Jiangnan."
Thus, Xiao Zhi entered Jiangnan, another great talent from the Academy, a prodigy of Legalism.
Holding an upgraded version of Li Guanyi’s notebook, he appeared before the aristocratic families.
Meanwhile, Li Guanyi was treated daily by the bureaucrats of Ying Country, who blocked his way, refusing to let him proceed. Li Guanyi was clueless about their purpose but felt no irritation, drinking every day without restraint.
Finally, Sword Madman returned.
With the swords at his side, only fifty-seven remained.
The swords plundered in the past from his sect.
All had been returned!