Master of Strange Dao

Because many people had died, much of the elderly population survived by transforming into Incense-eating People.

Now, after returning to their normal state, they simply ended their lives at the end of their natural lifespan.

However, it posed little problem, because those who managed to live that long were hardly ordinary people.

Ordinary people, even if they became Incense-eating People, had almost no chance of arbitrarily living an extra hundred years.

Yu Ziqing looked over the documents, everything was well-organized, moving in a positive direction, definitely better than him personally issuing orders here.

Before long, including Jia Shisi, all the Cabinet members returned.

Yu Ziqing stood up to greet them.

"Gentlemen, no need for formalities, nor to ask my opinion, I think you all are doing very well.

The broad direction remains unchanged.

Now I'm giving you something else."

Yu Ziqing waved his hand, and fifty Jade Pillars, along with hundreds of thousands of Jade Tablets, were released.

He briefly introduced what these items were, then handed each person a Jade Scroll.

"How to use them, and how to arrange them, is all explained in detail inside.

But how to specifically operate them must still be adapted to the real situation, you all arrange accordingly.

The broad direction is just to educate the citizens.

Be more grounded, whether it's raising pigs, farming, or scholarship.

Even if there are experts available, they could also teach the Cultivators some basic Cultivation knowledge."

"To implement anything, start with a pilot, test it; if it works, then expand it. Be sure not to rush."

The external situation is not so good.

If you want to settle down after going out, you must start preparing as early as possible."

Yu Ziqing finished speaking, and instead of rushing to respond, the Chief Cabinet Minister Zhang Quli, after reading the Jade Scroll, appeared somewhat complex.

"Everything is as the Emperor arranges."

With this tool, consumption is minimal, but information transfer is extremely fast.

Indeed, many things will become much more convenient, and it will also elevate the integration and control of Dadui to another level.

Because there are not enough people, not enough talents.

Dadui has many needs waiting to be addressed, and assigning even one literate person per village is difficult.

While there are still strong experts available, the middle-tier Cultivators are greatly lacking.

"I can't manage others, but can I at least manage the Dadui Imperial Family's library, the classics?

If I find suitable, basic knowledge, just narrate it as appropriate.

At least let them not take the detour at the beginning stage.

As for later, we'll discuss that when the time comes.

Now, don't worry about discriminating based on sects or hiding what is good."

Yu Ziqing sighed.

"I've heard the news; the northern region of North Zhen is getting worse, increasingly cold, to the point where not even cultivation, but grazers might not be able to graze.

You are probably aware of North Zhen's internal structure, not much different from before.

Now, with the filth buckets I provided, one can quickly obtain a lot of good fertilizer and hold it steady.

But, I'm guessing that as this continues, Emperor Zhen will probably be unable to suppress the internal strife."

At that time, there would definitely be a conflict with Dali.

This is a battle for survival; no one can stop it.

If Daqian intervenes by then, things will definitely become chaotic outside.

I've calculated; in at most four to five hundred years, Dadui must return.

Otherwise, all our efforts here will be in vain.

The method to use the filth buckets is also in the Jade Scroll, you all figure it out.

Every so often, someone will come to collect the filth.

To be honest, I've never managed a Divine Dynasty before; what I can think of is only so much.

How exactly to operate it depends entirely on you all."

All the Cabinet members stood up solemnly, bowed deeply.

"It's enough, Your Majesty; you've already done plenty."

If we still can't do well with these, we might as well come to see you with our heads."

Zhang Quli's eyes reddened, these ambitious scholars had envisioned this scenario countless times, but now was the ultimate moment.

They had the methods, they had the channels.

From agriculture to information channels, they had everything.

They had no reason to fail.

"Your Majesty, within a hundred years, we will give you a satisfactory answer."

"Not for me, but for yourselves, for the people of Dadui, for Dadui."

Yu Ziqing shook his head, looking at Jia Shisi.

"Wait until everyone can have enough food, then promote Body Refinement, even if it's just for strengthening the body, no forcing.

And, pay attention to stability, strictly investigate any disasters; once verified, punish severely."

They talked briefly, and Yu Ziqing didn't give any specific instructions, only providing directions as usual.

In terms of details, he believed these people would handle everything very well.

After touring several cities and especially the villages throughout Dadui, he confirmed that control over the grassroots was strong, indeed much better than in the previous two years.

Only then did Yu Ziqing feel relieved.

Remaining were the piles of files covering his desk; Yu Ziqing felt overwhelmed and hastily excused himself.

No sooner had he left than You Zhen came to invite Yu Ziqing for drinks.

You Zhen looked somewhat melancholic, pouring and drinking by himself without urging Yu Ziqing to drink.

"Elder, with the way you drink, you could continue for ten years and still not get drunk."

"Yes, I haven't been drunk for a very long time." You Zhen gave a bitter smile, somewhat self-mocking.

"Elder, it's because of Dazhen's matters, right?"

"Yes, Ren had come to see me earlier, discussing the situation in Dazhen.

My second brother is almost unable to keep things under control.

Although Dazhen's population is not large, today, the only habitable area is about a quarter of the territory.

And this summer, the days were extraordinarily short, I fear this winter will be even colder.

Certain places on the southern border of Dazhen have already become part of Dali's territory.

If it were just ordinary people, they might still survive.

But with less land, conflicts among Cultivators have intensified.

The forces from the north are now all amassed in the south, it's impossible not to have conflicts.

There are growing calls within the court to reclaim the lost territories.

And also, my second brother has yet to appoint a new Crown Prince, which is making things increasingly complicated.

If the weather gets even colder this winter, nobody will be able to hold it back."

"If we were to start a war with Dali now, does Dazhen stand a chance of winning?"

"It would be fifty-fifty; though Dazhen has fewer soldiers, we have quite a number of strong ones, and the strength of an ordinary soldier is also superior to those from Dali.

Internally, many forces in Dazhen now are considering moving southward, so the chances of winning aren't small.

What I'm worried about isn't the chance of winning, but that if we deploy troops, it would definitely be the court's troop.

And Dali, having just ended the war at the Abyssal Rift, has the West Desolate Army in high spirits.

Even if Dazhen wins, it would be a pyrrhic victory.

The losses to the court would be too great, and the various internal factions, which are already hard to keep under control, will certainly seize the chance to create chaos.

You know, Dazhen isn't like Dali, a big mess would erupt when that time comes.

By then, Daqian will surely get involved."

Yu Ziqing furrowed his brows slightly.

"If the Three Divine Dynasties go into chaos, the Wilderness won't be able to remain unaffected, am I wrong?"

"Someone who wants to muddy the waters will surely drag you into this.

Then, not just you, but all clans within the Three Divine Dynasties will be unable to remain untouched."

Yu Ziqing sighed deeply.

"This situation has gotten..."

After talking with You Zhen, Yu Ziqing wandered over to Yang's place and discussed the recent situation with him.

"Can you handle this situation?"

"How could I possibly handle it? The northern part of Dazhen is getting colder, people can hardly survive, if they don't move south, should they just wait to die? Even the Heavenly King couldn't help in this situation."

"So, what are you trying to say?"

"I just think, the Wilderness turning into this mess, along with the increasingly colder north of Dazhen each year, colder than the previous, all started with that anomaly in the north of the Wilderness all those years ago.

If the weather weren't so cold, there wouldn't be so many troubles."

"Nobody can do anything about it, the whole world is like this, the northern Wilderness back then..."

As Yang spoke, the long-lost Silence Divine Spell reappeared, and his gaze suddenly became vacant.

A moment later, three talismans formed by the Silence Divine Spell dissipated, and Yang's gaze darkened.

"It touched the core."

Yu Ziqing's face was stern as he looked at Yang.

"So the whole Wilderness, the northern part of Dazhen, even the entire world getting colder is admittedly not a natural change but a man-made one?

How could this be possible? At that time, even a Tenth Tier was lacking, and it wouldn't be possible for a Tenth Tier to have such long-lasting power to affect the global climate."

Yang fell silent for awhile.

"I don't know, I don't know at all, I have no clue why this has happened."

Yu Ziqing pondered for a long time, then slowly said."

"No matter who did it, no matter why, the current state of affairs is definitely what the other party wants to see.

You don't interfere, I will find out everything.

Whether it's Emperor Li or Emperor Qian, or even someone else, they are doomed."

Because this grudge had been fostered from the start.

He had not been in this world for two days when he saw the Great Sun Dominating the Sky, later to be starved to death, all because of this matter.