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 vanished into the distance.

These words struck the Shopkeeper like a bolt, causing him to tremble violently while his expression shifted 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 come to fruition, the Confucianists stood to gain the greatest rewards!

The term ‘scholar’ broadly encompasses individuals who study and seek positions in government, yet narrowly it applies solely to Confucian scholars.

The Confucianists could leverage the wide interpretation to form alliances with the other Hundred Schools, securing their backing and consent, before slowly tightening the definition to include only their own 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 taking the imperial examinations!

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

Even so, this reveals clearly how the Confucianists disdain merchants and seek to restrain, or outright eradicate, them!

“Indeed, we must halt the Confucianists' growth! They can't keep ruling over the Hundred Schools unchallenged!” The Shopkeeper grew more convinced that Li Zhirui's suggestion held profound wisdom.

Without delay, he jotted down the issue along with his views on a sheet of silk, affixed a Secret Technique seal, and rushed it off to the Jinzhou merchant headquarters at top speed!

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

…

Meanwhile, Li Zhirui had made his way back to his quarters in the inn.

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

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

Having allied with the merchants, Li Zhirui had no intention of rushing into action.

For upon reaching the capital, he had picked up a basic grasp of the landscape. The Confucianists' primary foes, the Mo Family, had channeled most of their resources into building the Mo Family’s Country.

The lingering Mo Family elements within Daqian concentrated mainly on collecting intelligence and raising the next generation.

As for the other key rival, the Legalist faction, no major activities stirred. Yet as an outsider, how could he casually approach the Legalist leaders without cause?

Going through proper channels would involve too many aware parties, 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 elites, before negotiating a united front against the Confucianists.

Therefore, in the days ahead, he could set aside other concerns, simply roam the bustling streets and hidden lanes, pace through the outer city limits, and witness the daily lives of its people with his own gaze.

Never dismiss the value of such observations; they could prove to be formidable tools in battling the Confucianists!

For instance, Li Zhirui noticed how Daqian's existing laws tilted toward the Confucianists, like exempting scholars from kowtowing to authorities or granting tax cuts to jurens, among others.

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

The other schools, aside from the Legalist and Military Families, showed little desire to dive into government service, rarely sitting for exams, and thus forfeiting those advantages.

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

The aim was to ease the spread of intelligence down the line.

He mostly recruited drifting Rangers, as they wandered freely without fixed routines, and minor mischief from them would draw scant notice.

Naturally, this group was freshly formed, sparse in members, and required time to expand.

…

Within Jinzhou of Daqian.

Once the merchant headquarters got the dispatch from the capital's Shopkeeper, they promptly convened a summit of top leaders.

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

“Setting aside other concerns, we absolutely cannot permit the Confucianists to keep expanding unchecked! If they do, we'll lose all voice in Daqian's territories!”

“The Confucianists' scheme of ‘scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants’ 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? What if he's a spy from a rival nation, slipping into Daqian to sow chaos and cripple our progress?”

…

In truth, no matter their varied arguments, the core objective remains identical: to limit and diminish the Confucianists' influence!

The current dilemma centers on whether this abrupt arrival, Li Zhirui, can be trusted, and what capabilities he brings to fulfill this mission.

“Since we all concur, then 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 clarity!” announced the merchant Saint.

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

On the following day, he summoned Li Zhirui to talk over the potential alliance and joint efforts.

“It looks like the merchants are open to working with me,” he mused upon getting the invite in his room the night before, solidifying their willingness.

Thus, during today's encounter, Li Zhirui kept a subtle smile on his face, letting Shopkeeper Mo Wen take the lead in conversation.

After some moments, with Li Zhirui showing no sign of starting, Mo Wen broke the silence, “Might I inquire why you're pursuing this? Have the Confucianists wronged you in the past, or is there some other motive?”

At the query, he arched a brow involuntarily. Clearly, the merchants back home harbored considerable skepticism toward him.

Yet it made sense; for an affair of this magnitude, skipping a deep probe could lead to disastrous fallout!

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

With those words, Li Zhirui set up a prohibition around the area, then dropped the Secret Technique hiding his cultivation level.

“I hail not from the Southern Domain, but as an Immortal Tao Cultivator of the East Continent. My journey here is solely for tempering myself, not as a covert agent from another land, and regarding my desire to plot against and confront the Confucianists?”