Chapter 45 Mr. Lu Yadao
The princes value profit and will not do anything without it. They have no respect for the king at all. Lugui does not believe that the two vassal states, Shang and Xuan, will suddenly change their nature for no reason.

after all……

Showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing!

Zhao Liang smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Shang and Xuan do have something to ask of you! The Prime Minister of Shang has prepared a lot of gifts for you, Your Majesty, and hopes that you can let the King of Shang return home! As for Xuan, since Han Jia, the eldest son of Marquis Xuan, was accepted as a disciple by Daoxing Tianzun of the Chan Sect and has left the secular world, he cannot inherit his title. He plans to make his concubine's son Han Ren the heir, and hopes to obtain your consent!"

The practice of princes paying tribute to the emperor originated from Dayu.

However, none of his descendants possessed the prestige comparable to that of Dayu, nor the benevolence and strength that convinced all the princes in the world.

Therefore, in recent years, the tributes from the princes have become more and more perfunctory!

"Humph!"

Hearing this, Lugui sneered and said, "I knew that these guys would only be so attentive when they need something from me!"

Then, he looked at Zhao Liang and asked, "By the way, is Cheng Tang still unrepentant?"

"Tell Yi Yin that if he wants me to let King Tang return to his country, then you can do that. In the next five years, the tribute gifts will be tripled according to this year's standards!"

"As for Marquis Xuanbo..."

"I remember when the late emperor was alive, he asked to marry my sister, so he is my in-law. So Han Jia has to call me uncle!"

"And Han Ren, a bastard, is also worthy of inheriting the title of Marquis Xuanbo?"

"Go tell Marquis Xuanbo that if he wants me to agree to have Han Ren's name recorded in the ancestral temple, he must show me his sincerity!"

He didn't care about these princes and their little tricks, but since they came to him, he would take this opportunity to solve the problem of the empty treasury.

Xuan State was just a small vassal state and could not produce much wealth.

However, under Yi Yin's governance, the Shang State has become rich and powerful, with abundant gold and jade, so it is just the right time to bleed it!

"No, Your Majesty!" Guan Long Pang objected immediately after hearing this: "Cheng Tang must not let him go! He has already alienated Your Majesty because of Min Shi! And Your Majesty has kept him under house arrest for so long, he must be holding a grudge against you. If you let him go, it would be like letting a tiger go back to the mountains!"

Lugui waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter. He wouldn't dare to rebel! If Cheng Tang rebels, we can use his head to warn the other princes!"

Although Guan Longpan held a high position as prime minister and was loyal to the Xia Dynasty, he often relied on the fact that he was a veteran minister for three generations to give orders to Lugui, which annoyed him very much!
If it weren't for his ability, Lugui would have wanted to replace him a long time ago!
"Your Majesty!"

Zhonggu, who was standing by, heard this and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Lugui unexpectedly.

"All right!"

"I have made up my mind, no need to persuade me!"

Guan Longpan and Zhonggu had no choice but to bow and take their leave. They planned to go back and discuss the matter with the other court officials first, and then make suggestions to Lugui during the court meeting tomorrow.

After the two of them left, Xia Geng looked at Lugui and said cautiously, "Your Majesty! What the Prime Minister said is not without reason. Letting Cheng Tang return to the Shang Kingdom is a hidden danger after all!"

Xia Geng is loyal to Lugui, but not as fawning as Zhao Liang. He can still listen to some harsh but reasonable words.

"How could I not know?" Lugui smiled and said, "I only promised to let Cheng Tang return to his country, but whether Cheng Tang... can return to Shang is another matter!"

"Your Majesty?"

Xia Geng didn't understand what he meant.

Lugui sneered and ordered immediately: "Xia Qing, you ask Shui Zheng, Huo Zheng, and Tao Zheng to go to the Taimiao and ask for the three magic weapons left by the Lord of Weapons, the Dragon Fang, the Tiger Wing, and the Dog God. When Cheng Tang is on his way back, secretly take action and bring back Cheng Tang's head for me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Geng immediately accepted the order.

However, Zhao Liang standing by was puzzled and said, "Your Majesty! Cheng Tang is just an ordinary man, why did he ask Shui Zheng and other priests to help? He also brought Dragon Fang and other magical weapons, isn't this just killing a chicken with a butcher knife?"

"Just follow my orders!"

Lugui smiled but did not explain why he did so.

As a human king with cultivation, he naturally noticed long ago that besides Zhen'e, there was a Daluo Jinxian cultivator who came with Yi Yin.

"Shangguo!"

After Xia Geng and Zhao Liang left, Lugui looked out at the void outside the city and sneered, "First there was the Min clan, then there was Cheng Tang. These cultivators have repeatedly interfered in the affairs of the Nine Provinces. They really don't take me, the Human King, seriously! But... since you are here, you have to pay some price!"

Ordinary practitioners will have their cultivation suppressed within Jiuzhou!
But... Huo Zheng, Shui Zheng and Tao Zheng are different!
They have human blood and are practitioners worshipped by the Xia Dynasty. They have the cultivation level of Taiyi Golden Immortal and will be blessed by the destiny of the human race.

Because they were appointed by the Human King!
Moreover, because they were canonized by the Human King, not only would their cultivation not be suppressed by the barrier within the territory of Jiuzhou, but they could also mobilize part of the power of the barrier.

Add to that the three magical weapons: Dragon Fang, Tiger Wing and Dog God... they are enough to hurt the body of a Daluo Golden Immortal!

……

Kunlun Mountains.

As the ancestor of all mountains and the hometown of gods, it is full of mysteries. After the collapse of Mount Buzhou, it has been the number one sacred mountain in the prehistoric world. Countless practitioners have opened up caves here.

The most famous ones are Yuanshi Tianzun who occupies East Kunlun and Queen Mother of the West who occupies West Kunlun.

but……

In addition to the two of them, there are also many immortals and people with great supernatural powers who also live in seclusion and practice in this place.

Taoist Lu Ya is one of them!

At this moment, the avenue was flowing around Taoist Lu Ya, and the whole universe was contained in it, connecting endless time and space. He was operating the avenue of cause and effect to deduce the supreme secrets of heaven.

"What a bad fate!"

Suddenly, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes as he looked towards the land of Kyushu.

He said to himself: "In the past, I was trapped in the calamity of losing myself. If I hadn't borrowed your body, I would have no chance of returning!"

"This is the karma I owe you!"

"Now, the corpses of your nine brothers have been desecrated as sacrifices. I will make that foolish and arrogant Human King pay a heavy price!"

After saying that, he turned into a long rainbow and fled straight towards the land of Kyushu.

……

On the other hand, Yi Yin finally met Cheng Tang under the arrangement of Zhao Liang.

"Master Hou!"

As soon as they met, Yi Yin couldn't wait to pay his respects to Cheng Tang.

In his early years, he was just a slave of Youshen clan. If Cheng Tang had not discovered his talent, he would probably still be living a slave life worse than death.

Therefore, he respected Cheng Tang very much and was willing to go through fire and water for him!

Upon seeing this, Cheng Tang hurried forward, helped Yi Yin up, and said with a smile: "My dear, there is no need to be so polite! If it weren't for you, the Shang Kingdom would be in such a mess now!"

Although he was trapped in Zhen'e in recent years, he was not completely ignorant of news from the outside world.

After all, Lugui only restricted his personal freedom, but did not cut off his channel for obtaining information.

He knew that after he was trapped, Yi Yin not only managed the Shang State in an orderly manner, but also kept running around, contacting those who could have a say in front of Lu Gui, intending to rescue him from this cage.

"My Lord!" Yi Yin's eyes filled with tears, and he choked up and said, "This time, I came here to bring you back to the country! Please come back with me, my Lord! Whether it is the people of Shang or the many ministers, they all think of your kindness day and night! Now, I hope that you can return to Shang as soon as possible so that you can take charge of the overall situation!"

Then, Yi Yin told Cheng Tang about the current situation of the Shang State, and also described to him the conditions under which Lu Gui...agreed to let him return to the Shang State.

"This……"

Hearing Lugui's request, Cheng Tang could not help but sigh and said, "To rule a country alone is a laborious and troublesome thing! The people of this world are the ones who suffer the most!"

Lugui was arbitrary and dictatorial. He required the Shang State to pay so much wealth as tribute in the next five years. He only thought about punishing Cheng Tang but ignored the common people.

You eat and earn a salary, which is the fat and blood of the people.

Aren’t these tribute treasures obtained through the taxes paid by the people?
Therefore, Cheng Tang felt very guilty!
Yi Yin quickly comforted him, "The gains and losses of the moment are nothing! As long as the king can return to Shang, all this will be worth it!"

“That being said, but…” Cheng Tang hesitated for a long time before finally saying, “Lugui, I’m afraid he won’t let me return home so easily!”

The king's words are as heavy as gold and should be followed by law. However, Cheng Tang knew that although Lugui was arrogant and tyrannical, he was definitely not a fool!
Others would not do such a thing as going back on their words, but Lu Gui might not be able to do that!

The road back home is destined to be bumpy and rugged, not smooth!

　Please order first and read later
　　
　
(End of this chapter)