Chapter 44 Stepping Stone

The Shang tribe sent people to deliver 30,000 taels of silver early in the morning, which shocked the entire Li family.

Li Yi heard about what happened in Yanzhi Lane yesterday, but when he saw Li Chong return to the mansion, he was busy practicing. After thinking for a while, he did not invite him to come over to discuss.

But as soon as he got older, he had just finished a set of boxing skills. Before he could change his clothes, Li Fuer hurried in and whispered in his ear for a while.

Li Yi was shocked and had no time to change his clothes, so he followed him. When he arrived at the gate, he saw Shang Wentian with a blue face, straight as a mountain, standing between two carriages, directing his men to carry boxes. One of them opened, revealing a slowly box of silver.

Li Yi hurried forward and smiled and said, "Brother Wentian, why are you here? What are you doing? Come, hurry up and drink some herbal tea first. It's such a hot day, although it's morning, it's not cool. What wind blows your big ride?"

Shang Wentian's face was still like an iceberg, with a cold light on his face, and said word by word: "Brother Li, I admire your character and always treat you as a friend. Unfortunately, you have no choice but to teach your children. Not only did you hurt the juniors of our clan, but you also asked for 30,000 taels of healing expenses. I have sent the 30,000 taels of silver, and the friendship between you and my brothers has ended today. As yesterday's incident happened, it was the grudge between my Shang clan and your Li family. As a child of the Shang clan, I have no hesitation for the family, and you and I are no longer brothers, but enemies." After saying that, I tore off my clothes, which means cutting off my robe and sleeves, and gratitude and righteousness.

Li Yi's face suddenly changed drastically and he hurriedly shouted: "Brother Wentian, don't be so anxious, things need to be discussed. My dog's son has made a cruel mistake. Just teach me a lesson. Wait until I go in and take him over and let him apologize to you in person."

Shang Wentian snorted coldly and said, "No need." After carrying the silver down, he took the people straight away. His eyes were stern. Li Yiqiang grabbed him and broke free. Li Yi knew that he could not keep him anymore, so he looked at Shang Wentian and his party leaving with regret. He stood blankly outside the gate for a long time before sighing and returning home.

Although Li Yi received 30,000 taels of silver, he felt distressed and could no longer help but go straight to Li Chong's study and ask him for questions.

When he came to Li Chong's study, Li Chong was practicing. When he saw Li Yi coming in, Li Chong put away his seal technique and smiled and said, "Father is here, please sit down."

Zixiang and Man'er gave people tea and fruit.

Li Chong smiled and said, "I know my father's purpose. I have never discussed anything with my father, but I know that even if I talk to him, conflicts cannot be avoided. Since my family has defected to the princess, then the top ten nobles naturally regard us as thorns in our eyes, and there is no room for harmony between the two."

Li Yi said helplessly: "But the Shang tribes are different. The Shang tribe has a good relationship with my family. Especially Shang Wentian, who has been friends for many years and has a close relationship. Even if he defects to the princess, he can't offend all the top ten nobles, right? I think this Shang tribe is worthy of winning over!"

Li Chong shook his head, "No, this is a matter involving huge interests and huge families. One or two of them cannot change the overall situation at all. The county's main seizure of power, deprive and attack are these first-class nobles. How could the Shang tribe maintain peace with us for their own interests? You also know that the princess's move involves a huge interest of dozens or millions of taels of silver. Even if you had some friendship with the Shang tribe before, it was not enough to change the current hostile situation."

Li Yi thought for a moment, sighed, and suddenly understood. Even if he and Shang Wentian were brothers, if the Shang clan was mortal enemy of the Li family, then the two must be hostile and forget their previous friendship.

Li Yi sighed: "Oh, the merchant clan originally agreed that if my family was desperate, their family would help us! Now, it will be a life-and-death situation in the future. Could it be that my family really has to face the top ten nobles? Isn't it too expensive to defect to the princess?"

Li Chong shook his head, "Don't worry, as long as we strengthen our strength and work hard, we will definitely have a way out. But if we are timid and stopping, we will not end up well."

Li Yi was confused at the moment. Although he was very smart and had been in the officialdom for many years, he was also a brave and wise man, but now he suddenly thought that the Li family had offended all the first-class nobles in Yiyang. This was so scary that he couldn't stand it.

Li Chong seemed to not care about the consequences at all, and a calm smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Don't worry, Father. The more dangerous we are, the stronger the enemy we face, the safer we are."

Li Yi was stunned by this thirteenth son. Seeing Li Chong's calm smile, his heart seemed to have a settlement. He immediately let it go and asked, "How do you say this?"

Li Chong smiled and said, "Our Li family is now the princess's pawn and the pioneer. If we are destroyed, the princess' face will be lost, and no one dares to surrender to the princess in the future. Then the princess will become a puppet in the future. She will no longer have the right to speak in Yiyang and will never be able to insert it."

Li Yi thought for a moment, and suddenly his eyes shone, "What do you mean?"

Li Chong put away his smile and said seriously: "Since the ten nobles in the past acquiesced to the royal family to destroy our family, we don't have to give them face anymore. We have to resist the first-class nobles in Yiyang and see what strength they have. A princess has the support of the princes behind him. If they can't even deal with a small Yiyang, I think this princess will be a coward. But father, do you think Yun Caier looks like a coward?"

When Li Yi thought of the quirky princess, he immediately said happily: "She is unfathomable and is not an ordinary person."

Li Chong smiled and said, "Yes. She is a smart person, and she is also a very smart person. Since our Li family is so important and she is not stupid, she will definitely give us strong support in secret. Once the enemy dares to take action, the princess will have to protect us. Although we seem dangerous, it is very safe. Unlike before, we have no support behind us and our own strength is not strong. If the enemy wants to destroy us, how can the enemy destroy us? But now? We are the face of the princess. Even if the top ten nobles are eager to hit the princess in the face, will the princess let them succeed?"

Li Yi suddenly realized and laughed: "I have a good son. I used to think you had the talent to practice the way of heaven, but now it seems that even if you are strategy, you are better than your father."

Li Chong smiled and said, "Father, be polite." Then his eyes shrank slightly, and he showed a playful smile, "Father, look at how much benefit the princess has given us the Li family in the past? This is what she hopes that we will become stronger and have a certain ability to protect ourselves. If we take this opportunity to become the most powerful family in Yiyang, then what are the top ten nobles in the future? The first noble in Yiyang will be our Li family in the future, and father, you are the patriarch of the largest family in Yiyang. Think about it, for this goal, don't my father try to fight?"

Li Yi stood up suddenly, "It's worth it, it's worth it. Even if the family was confiscated and the clan was destroyed, this temptation was great enough. Why is a person living his whole life? Isn't it just to glorify his ancestors and expand his family? We now have the opportunity to become the number one noble in Yiyang, and in the future you and I will have the opportunity to shed a brilliant mark on the genealogy. We are worth taking this adventure."

Li Yi thought of the excitement and paced around the study. After a long time, he laughed and said, "Okay, since we have the princess as a backer, we will fight for her. If we succeed, our Li family will be famous in history. From now on, the historical records of Yiyang will be full of the names of my Li family. Even if it fails, I have arranged for Li Balang, Li Jiulang and others to come back from another place, and I will spread and become an ordinary family. My Li family will not be defeated, and this adventure is worth it."

Li Chong was also happy to see his father convinced by him, and then said in a deep voice: "Actually, my father has another point, which also forces me to fight against the top ten nobles."

"Oh? You said." Li Yi suddenly felt strange and made a statement of listening.

Li Chong sighed, "Father, I'm not to hide it. My son has a talented talent. In the future, my son's cultivation of the way of heaven will be unfathomable. I don't know how amazing it will be. The top ten nobles, these people are destined to be the pedals under my feet. I want these nobles to be the tempering products on my way of heaven. With their oppression and persecution, they can stimulate my potential, force my greatest energy and potential, and help me succeed on the road of cultivation!"

Li Yi felt inexplicably excited and surprised, and looked at Li Chong blankly, and after a long time, he said, "Oh, I can't see through your realm and ideals. I don't know what you want to pursue. Now it seems that Guangzong, Guangdajia, and promotion and wealth may not be your ideals. You have higher goals. No matter what, you are my good son, and it's really impossible for us to have someone like you in our family. When we were young, my father also pursued martial arts and explored the mysteries of life and the world, but when the martial arts stagnated, he no longer fantasized. Now I'm so relieved to see you have such a high pursuit."

Li Chong comforted, "Dad, don't be pessimistic. You are not old now. There are still opportunities. In order to make me strong, the princess gave me a very powerful secret book on sealing techniques. There are many methods of practicing sealing soldiers. After I comprehended it, I have a lot of experiences and ideas. I think it is also very beneficial for your martial arts practice on sealing warriors. Maybe my father will have a greater breakthrough in the future?"

"What? What you said is true? Can I still break through the level of a martial artist and have the opportunity to practice and become a military general?"
Chapter completed!