Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1876: 1407: Arrangements

“However, Shopkeeper, you must remember ‘scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.’ If this class division is truly established by the Confucianists, then the merchants will be ruined!”

As he departed, Li Zhirui offered these words as a caution and then slipped away.

These remarks caused the Shopkeeper to tremble violently, his expression shifting dramatically. Of course! Even though the topic hadn't surfaced lately, that didn't imply the Confucianists had abandoned their plans.

In the end, should this scheme succeed, the Confucianists stood to gain the greatest rewards!

The term ‘scholar’ in its wider interpretation covers those who study and seek positions in government, yet in a stricter sense, it applies solely to Confucian scholars.

The Confucianists could leverage the broader meaning to partner with the other Hundred Schools, securing their backing and consent, before slowly restricting it to encompass just Confucian scholars.

Such a strategy seems entirely feasible, and the Confucianists possess ample incentive to pursue it.

Regardless, this division bears no relevance to the disciples of merchants, since the system explicitly bars merchants' offspring from sitting for the imperial examinations!

In particular, during one intelligence operation, the Shopkeeper uncovered that the Confucianists originally intended to label merchants as the lowest class! Yet, this clause was eventually removed from the formal records.

Even so, this detail clearly reveals the Confucianists' disdain for merchants and their intent to suppress, or outright eradicate, them!

“It's essential to halt the Confucianists' expansion! We can't allow them to keep holding sway as the foremost among the Hundred Schools!” The Shopkeeper grew more convinced that Li Zhirui's suggestion held real merit.

He promptly inscribed the issue along with his views on a sheet of silk, sealed it with a Secret Technique, and dispatched it swiftly to the merchant headquarters in Jinzhou!

Though the Hundred Schools had devised a way to send messages over vast distances, its lack of security meant vital information still required personal delivery.

…

Meanwhile, Li Zhirui had made his way back to his inn room.

He felt assured about his recent persuasion, certain that the merchants would probably consent to joining forces with him.

After all, he shouldered most of the dangers, while the merchants merely had to respond to unfolding events.

With the merchants as allies, Li Zhirui had no intention of rushing into action.

Since reaching the capital, he'd acquired a basic grasp of the dynamics. The Confucianists' primary foes, the Mo Family, had largely channeled their resources into building the Mo Family’s Country.

The Mo Family's lingering presence in Daqian concentrated mainly on collecting intelligence and raising the next generation.

Their other key rival, the Legalist faction, showed no major activities. Still, as an outsider, how could he casually approach the Legalist faction's leaders without cause?

Going through official channels would involve too many individuals, and a single leak could alert the Confucianists, making a swift assault nearly impossible!

Thus, Li Zhirui aimed to solidify the pact with the merchants, enlist their help as go-betweens, or secure an introduction or route to the Legalist faction's upper echelons, before negotiating a united front against the Confucianists.

Therefore, for the time being, he could set aside other concerns, simply roam the streets and lanes, traverse the outer capital on foot, and witness the daily lives through his gaze.

Never dismiss the value of such observations; they could prove to be a formidable tool in combating the Confucianists!

For instance, Li Zhirui noticed that Daqian's existing laws tilted toward the Confucianists, like scholars skipping obeisance to officials or jurens gaining tax breaks, among others.

While these perks appeared open to followers of all Hundred Schools, the Confucianists, with their vast numbers and strong drive for official roles, reaped the lion's share of benefits.

Other factions, aside from the Legalist and Military Families, showed little interest in diving into bureaucracy, rarely attempting the exams and thus missing out on those advantages.

At the same time, Li Zhirui pursued a separate endeavor: covertly forming an underground network!

This setup aimed to ease the spread of details in the future.

He mostly recruited drifting Rangers, as their aimless wandering made minor disruptions go unnoticed.

Naturally, this group was brand new, sparsely populated, and required time to expand.

…

Within Jinzhou of Daqian.

Upon the merchant headquarters getting the Shopkeeper's letter from the capital, they convened a top-level discussion right away.

Once the letter passed around, one of the three Saints among Daqian's merchants spoke up: “What do you all think about this?”

“Setting aside everything else, we absolutely can't let the Confucianists keep advancing unchecked! If they do, we'll lose any voice in Daqian's territories.”

“The Confucianists' ‘scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants’ scheme poses a deadly threat to us. Heaven knows how many of our disciples might abandon ship.”

“But the real issue is, can we truly rely on this cultivator who popped up out of nowhere? For all we know, he could be a spy from a rival nation, slipping into Daqian to sow discord and sabotage our progress.”

…

In truth, no matter their varied opinions, the core aim remains unchanged: to limit and diminish the Confucianists' influence!

The current dilemma centers on whether this abrupt arrival, Li Zhirui, merits trust, and what capabilities he brings to fulfill this goal.

“Since we all concur, let's pass this resolution to Mo Wen, have him keep interacting with the man, collect further details, and we'll decide once we have more,” announced the merchant Saint.

Several days passed before Mo Wen in the capital got the response, prompting a relieved exhale—better to proceed with caution, given Li Zhirui's sudden emergence, and probe his motives for tackling such a thankless, arduous task.

The following day, he summoned Li Zhirui to talk over the partnership and joint efforts.

“It looks like the merchants are ready to team up with me,” he mused upon receiving the invite in his room the prior evening, verifying their approval.

Thus, during today's encounter, Li Zhirui kept a subtle smile, letting Shopkeeper Mo Wen initiate the conversation.

After some moments, with no words forthcoming from him, Mo Wen broke the silence: “Might I inquire why you're pursuing this? Did the Confucianists wrong you in the past, or is there some other motive?”

At the query, he arched a brow slightly. Clearly, the merchants back home harbored considerable doubts about him.

Yet, considering the stakes, such a massive undertaking demanded full scrutiny, or the fallout could prove disastrous!

“Shopkeeper, there's no need to question my background or intentions.”

With that, Li Zhirui set up a prohibition nearby, then unveiled his concealed cultivation via Secret Technique.

“I hail not from the Southern Domain, but as an Immortal Tao Cultivator of the East Continent. My visit here is solely for training, not as a spy for any foreign power, and regarding my desire to plot against and confront the Confucianists?”