blogombal Page 692
Page 692
Most of the experts nodded in agreement with Zhang Xiaoshan's explanation.
The Ghost Street in the Divine Capital is entirely composed of remnants of the Wu Tang dynasty, so it is unlike the round table in Lin'an Prefecture, which represents equality.
Although Luo Wang is one of the three major factions on Ghost Street, apart from the Zhang family's influence, Luo Wang and the Golden-Faced Buddha have virtually no influence here. Therefore, Jing Ni's accusations are completely useless.
As for the infiltration of the Net?
The four major organizations—the Bad Guys, the Plum Blossom Guards, and the Western Depot Guards—are locked in a fierce battle here, with no clear victor yet.
Since Luo Wang was squeezed out by the other three, it had long since lost control of Shen Du Gui Jie.
Chapter 834 The Early Birth of the List of Rewards and Punishments
"Isn't Mangshan Ghost Street afraid of the empire's crackdown?"
Upon hearing Jing Ni's words, a sharp glint flashed in the Queen Mother of the West's bright eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by Zhang Xiaoshan.
Then, Zhang Xiaoshan raised an eyebrow and looked at Jing Ni, saying:
"Alright, let's give Zhang face this time, as Luo Wang will do."
There are many rules in Ghost Street, but the biggest and most fundamental rule is that strength is paramount.
All treatment is based on merit.
And since some seemingly illogical things have indeed appeared, with your intelligence, why not consider why such a situation has arisen?
Zhang Xiaoshan's words, employing both soft and hard tactics, forced even Jing Ni to reluctantly sit down.
If it were the Queen Mother of the West, she would naturally have the courage to confront her head-on, but she still had to give Zhang Xiaoshan face.
Moreover, the fleeting killing intent of the Queen Mother of the West just now indicated that the experts present were at least at the pinnacle of their abilities.
As a top-tier assassin of the Luo Wang organization, how could Jing Ni not sense the chilling killing intent that sent shivers down her spine?
It was as if a demon god from the deepest hell had glanced at her from the ancient abyss for that instant.
At the same time, her quick wit made her realize that Zhang Xiaoshan's words had a hidden meaning. Her current ranking was unreasonable, because she felt that Princess Taiping was being presumptuous and arrogant.
But Zhang Xiaoshan's meaning is reasonable.
Its existence is its own justification!
Otherwise, Zhang Xiaoshan would have stopped it long ago.
As a result, even Jing Ni couldn't help but wonder what the problem was that she had overlooked.
"Alright, it's a rare occasion for everyone to gather here today, so there wasn't much to say before."
But today's events may have some concerns for you all, so I, Zhang, have come to Ghost Street to meet with you all."
At Zhang Xiaoshan's level, speaking without blushing is a basic courtesy.
Looking at the expectant crowd, Zhang Xiaoshan took out a scroll that appeared to be a list from his sleeve and said:
"This is a list that records all gangs in Kyushu with more than a hundred members."
Perhaps some have increased or some have perished during this period, but Zhang is not trying to subdue or suppress them, otherwise Zhang would not have brought it out for everyone to see.
However, the trouble caused by Zhang this time ultimately needs to be brought under Zhang's control.
Those marked with red pen and gold line, or those without any markings, are rewarded with gold line and punished with red pen; this is the standard for rewarding good and punishing evil.
Similarly, these matters are being handled in accordance with the instructions from above.
Those who fall under the gold line should remain still if possible, or at least be shown leniency; as for those under the red line, you may handle them as you see fit, but if you don't, Xia Ke Dao will have to deal with them in the future.
"Xia Ke Island!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed slightly, as they thought of that wretched Xia Ke Island.
Rewarding good deeds every three years and punishing evil deeds every ten years—who knows what the standards are? Moreover, the people on Xia Ke Island are definitely not to be trifled with. According to their information, there are at least two top grandmasters and four or five peerless masters on Xia Ke Island.
With the unparalleled martial arts skills left behind by Zhang Xiaoshan, they will undoubtedly be among those targeted for punishment ten years from now.
When Zhang Xiaoshan gave them this list, it was a warning.
Tell them not to get too cocky, or they might be the ones punished in ten years, no, nine years.
As for uniting to resist the Zhang family?
Their alliance was predicated on the internal strife among the five transcendent powers.
The hidden trump cards of the Zhang family are not something they can easily see. At least, without absolute certainty, who would dare to scheme against the five supreme Celestial Realm experts?
"Don't worry, young master, we will still give you face."
However, when everyone glanced at the list that had been passed on, they were all taken aback. It was densely packed with at least a thousand gangs and strongholds…
More than half of them were marked in red, which left everyone with a puzzled expression.
For a moment, Shangguan Jin Hong couldn't help but say solemnly:
"Young master, does that mean all evil forces are above it?"
"No!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoshan shook his head, looked at the inquiring gazes of the crowd, and slowly explained:
"One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers!"
Now that we've embarked on this path of life, whose hands are truly clean?
If it were any conspiracy, scheming, or feud between you, or even the annihilation of an opponent's entire family, you would not appear on this list.
After all, the Zhang family has done this kind of thing quite often.
The reason for drawing the red line is that they did something they shouldn't have done.
Such acts include betraying the interests of the Nine Provinces, massacring large numbers of innocent people, or aiding and abetting evil, reaching the standard of heinous crimes...
After all, grudges and feuds in the martial world should be settled within the martial world itself. Unless someone is utterly deserving of death, Xia Ke Island wouldn't casually take their life.
Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Their ambitions are built on the bones and blood of their enemies, so they will not let anyone who poses a threat to them go.
Even the Zhang family's Blood Droplets and the Twelve Zodiac Assassins have done their fair share of such work; this is a generally accepted rule in the martial arts world.
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These are also necessary stages for them to expand their power.
If this is also included in the list of punishable evildoers, then there is probably no innocent force in the entire Kyushu.
"As for why there are so many red marks, it's because these forces have all met the standard for eliminating evil."
In fact, the smaller the place, the easier it is to judge good and evil; but when it expands to a certain extent, even top forces with bad reputations cannot be dealt with directly and clearly by Xia Ke Dao.
Everything has its good and bad sides. The more vulnerable an individual is, the more directly good and evil, right and wrong, can be manifested.
The larger the power, the more blurred the lines become between good and evil, right and wrong.
"We have learned a great deal!"
....... ......... .......
Upon hearing this, everyone understood the 'rule of eliminating evil' that Zhang Xiaoshan had explained.
Contending for supremacy is acceptable, but oppressing the people or indiscriminately killing innocent people is not, nor is treason or any other violation of the rules.
In the world of martial arts, killing is inevitable.
Therefore, the mutual devouring between sects, or the killings and feuds between them, are not included in the reward and punishment system.
"As for other matters, Zhang has nothing to say."
The only benefit I can offer you is that you can apply to Ghost Street for some internal resources.
With the Zhang family's base in the city now completed, the Zhang family will increase resource investment in Ghost Street, and a large amount of steel resources will also be invested in the plains outside the pass in exchange for resources needed outside the pass.
"Thank you for your support, young master."
Everyone was overjoyed. Apart from glass, the biggest resource the Zhang family invested in the black market was steel.
After all, with the improvement of steelmaking technology, the Zhang family could sell any surplus steel they produced each year, except for what they used themselves, by selling it off in Ghost Street.
As for making deals with the Empire?
The Zhang family sells smuggled iron, which cannot appear on the official books.
Moreover, the Zhang family has needed a great deal of steel resources over the years, and the steel resources put into Ghost Street are only a very small part, which is far from satisfying the empire's appetite.
But it's different for the various factions; they fight for territory and recruit manpower...
What's needed most? Weapons, of course.
Top-quality steel weapons are nothing to a group of experts, but they are formidable weapons that a group of henchmen can hardly withstand. Therefore, these weapons would not be enough to make Ghost Street a place to snatch.
Chapter 835 Untitled
As Zhang Xiaoshan walked out of Ghost Street, news came that the Black Swordsman had been arrested.
These imperial experts had already set their sights on the Black Swordsman, and seeing that the Black Swordsman had been severely injured by Zhang Sheng's sword, how could they let go of this golden opportunity?
Even with the protection of Gai Nie, the leader of the Mohist school, and the experts of the Farmer's School from the Hundred Schools of Thought, they still couldn't withstand the powerful siege of the Empire. The three top experts of the Divine Marquis's Mansion, the six sword slaves of the Luo Net, plus the traps of the Shadow Guards... This time, the Empire came prepared.
Finally, the Black Swordsman, whose strength had not recovered to half, fell into the Shadow Guard's trap and became a sitting duck.
Even Wu Kuang could not escape the hunting net woven by Luo Wang.
In dramas depicting deep brotherhood, characters who could have escaped often end up walking right into a trap.
This was also the first battle for the empire to regain its dignity.
If it weren't for the overwhelming strength of Gai Nie, the leader of the Mohist school, and Tian Ci of the Farmer's School, wiping them all out would have been the best course of action.
However, the last group of imperial rebels scattered and fled to "797," with only the Black Swordsman and Wu Kuang becoming prisoners, which can be considered as achieving the initial goal.
Meanwhile, Black Swordsman and Wu Kuang were also secretly escorted back to Xianyang by Luo Wang to be punished.
The news of the Black Swordsman's arrest spread to Mangshan Ghost Street and Shen Du immediately, causing quite a stir.
Many even suspect that it was a joint effort between the Zhang family and the empire to eliminate them completely.
However, true top experts understand that the Zhang family has no reason to attack the Farmer's Clan. Moreover, if the Zhang family were to attack the Farmer's Clan, not only would the Black Swordsman and Wu Kuang be arrested, but everyone else would also be unable to escape.
Zhang Xiaoshan, upon receiving the message, disregarded it, which affected his subsequent plans.
He knew the Black Swordsman wouldn't die.
After all, the Luo Wang organization couldn't possibly let go of two top-notch assassins.
Especially with the losses of Yan Ri, Sheng Xie, and Yu Chang, it is precisely the case that a master is needed to fill the gap in the Heavenly Rank of the Net.
In addition, Tian Yan is also the new leader of the peasant faction, so Zhao Gao needs to consider Tian Yan's current status and even indirectly control him.
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The Imperial Building in the Divine Capital!
When Zhang Xiaoshan brought Lü Zhi back to the capital, a group of uninvited guests also arrived at the Zhang family.
Wang Li, an old acquaintance of the Zhang family, Wang Shichong, the governor of Shendu, Zhang Han, the commander of the Shadow Guard, and Guo Jing of the Divine Marquis's Mansion, arrived in Shendu immediately after arresting the Black Swordsman.
Their goals were different, and they were never on the same path.
"I've met the young master!"
"Zhang has returned from Ghost Street. I apologize for keeping you all waiting."
Zhang Xiaoshan didn't conceal his whereabouts, because there was no need. He had just met with experts from the Nine Gates of Ghost Street, and he didn't know how many of them had secretly defected to the Empire.
Moreover, this is not a secret.
He could guess the purpose of these high-ranking officials of the empire's arrival.
"It is we who have disturbed you!"
Even if Zhang Xiaoshan isn't in the Zhang family, there are still Zhang Yuan and Zhang Sheng, not to mention the experts under their command.
Zen Master Juexin, Abbot Juezhi, the Evil-Repelling Sword Rain Huatian, and even Liusheng Piaoxu accompanied Manager Feng at the top level. What reason did they have to be arrogant?
Therefore, I have gained a lot since coming here.