Supreme Emperor of Mist

"Acting Family Head," the members of the Qin Family greeted Hu Jia as she stepped into the meeting hall. It was attended by a few elders of the family, including Qin Lan's grandfather and some members of her own family.

The Qin Family today was no longer the same as before.

Although most of the contribution comes from Qin Lan for being conferred as a Marquis, it was also because of Hu Jia's excellent job as the Marquis's wife.

The Hu Jia today was also different from who she was before this.

From the outsider's view, Hu Jia was just a weak lady lucky to marry into the Qin Family. But to those wearing the signature clothing that everyone from the Qin Family wears, they knew it wasn't the truth.

While it was the truth that Qin Lan contributed the most to where Qin Family is today, Hu Jia was the one that put everything together. The pair of husband and wife is like Yin and Yang. They compliment one another.

"Everyone, please have a seat." Hu Jia replied. Her beauty was unrivaled as she turned around and took a seat on the chair prepared for the family head. The beautiful black colored dress on her looked perfect on her.

"Serve the food and drinks. Get the performer into the hall to lighten up the atmosphere." Hu Jia said. From the look of it, she doesn't seem to be a non-cultivator at all.

Entertainers soon came into the hall. Musicians gathered at one corner as they started to play the music for the dancers start stealing the people's attention.

But after that, they're back to talking about business.

"I believe that there are many things needed to be handle. Shall we start with the Xiyun City first?" Hu Jia suggested. The Xiyun City, formerly known as Fu-Rong Town, was also the starting point of the Qin and Hu Families.

Even after moving a part of their family members to this Fuyun City, there's still a quarter of clan members residing there handling the menial matters like grooming the younger generations, and so on.

"Please allow me to start first." Qin Qi and Qin-Qin's mother stand and volunteered to start their business discussion. The concern that was brought was mainly about the resources they had in hand and what was happening.

After the Xiyun City, the Fuyun City's concern came up next. This place is currently the gold mine of the Qin Family as it was where half of the Qin Family's business focused on.

The winery, Spiritual Herbs, Medicinal Pills, Textile, Pottery, and Inn business. The Qin Family was considered the largest owner of these businesses.

And then, the Demon Mountain Fortress was next and followed by other places. The discussion continued until their topic related to Shuiyue County.

"Have the Acting Family Head heard about the Clan Head's recent feat?" Qin Lan's grandfather smiled as he brought the matter about Qin Lan up before the end of their discussion.

"This Hu Jia naturally heard about her husband's achievement on the battlefield. It seems that we have to work harder to reach his level." Hu Jia smiled in reply.

Although she seems to be doing good so far in this place, it was incomparable to Qin Lan's achievement.

Her achievement is just on the level of better than the prominent families in this Yunshan Province. But Qin Lan's achievement was on a county level. Even if Hu Jia was given the same resources and opportunity, it's impossible to recreate Qin Lan's result.

His result was just too much for a regular person to achieve.

"Has he said anything?" Qin Lan's grandfather asked. From what he knew, Qin Lan still maintains communication with Hu Jia through exchanging letters once a week.

"So far, no. I think Qin Lan is still busy with the aftermath of the battle. He's currently the landowner for two counties, after all..." Hu Jia smiled when she mentioned the word landowner and two counties.

Right now, who could beat her husband's achievement?

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...

"Marquis! Wang Jian will take his leave right now!" the newly appointed Magistrate for the White Jade Town cupped his hands together at Qin Lan before his departure.

Accompanying him were ten or so soldiers from Qin Lan's Crimson Mist Battalion.

It seems that more of the battalion has come over from the Demon Mountain Fortress. From the look of it, they're here because the soldiers should get some experience. Although the Crimson Mist Battalion is considered Qin Lan's soldiers, they had to remember that their liege was not just Qin Lan.

They still belong to the Country of Wu.

As a part of Qin Lan's soldiers, their loyalty is pointed towards the King of Wu and Sun Wu Jian.

"Work hard and do not disappoint me." Qin Lan said before returning to the City of Yue. Although most of the paperwork and foundation was done, there are still many works waiting for him.

It wasn't the same as taking over the Shuiyue County, where everything was already there waiting for him. He would have to organize everything from scratch after the failure management of the previous County Lord.

Additionally, Qin Lan also needs to appease the people's needs and demands. Ruling over a county was different from managing a business. For a county to prosper, the foundation he lays down is crucial.

This is why Qin Lan planned to repair the roads first for the Shuiyue County and followed with the Shuiyue Military Academy. He also solved one of the few loopholes in the governing system that cut off the smuggling activities in and out of his county.

But the same cannot be done in Wuyue County.

First of all, repairing the roads has nothing to do with his attempt to strengthen his control over this territory. If he blindly focuses on this instead, it might spell trouble to him before the foundation work is even done.

"Milord, did you ask for me?" the former magistrate of White Jade Town came into Qin Lan's office.

"Yes. Secretary Song, please come in. There's something I would like to discuss with you." Qin Lan replied and pointed to the seat he prepared for the secretary. Based on the setting in the room, it seems Qin Lan was just meeting with him alone, without the others joining.

"Yes, Milord." Secretary Song went to the seat. A stack of records about the production of the Wuyue County was already on the table waiting for him.

"Perhaps, Milord is looking to discuss the foundation works for this county with this surname Song?" he smiled. It seems the secretary was another capable individual.

"Yes, this Marquis would like to listen to secretary Song's opinion." Qin Lan replied.

"If that Milord's wish, then this surname Song will not be reserve with his words. I believe that what Milord needed to do is not to ensure the prosperity of this county. There's another matter that Milord should be concern about first." the secretary changed his tone instantly after he got Qin Lan's approval to speak freely.

"Continue," Qin Lan replied. There's a smile on his face because this is what he wanted to listen to.

"Thank you, Milord. Do the Marquis hear about the bandit activities that's been going on around this county's border?" Secretary Song asked.

"I've used to hear about it back in Shuiyue County. How bad is it?" Qin Lan answered.

"Quite bad. Considering that we're one of the five counties that belonged to the Liaocheng Province. Since this Wuyue County is under Marquis's control now, this surname Song is sure that the Province Lord will not accept this willingly."

"But what you'll have to understand is that the 'bandits' we're talking about here were a part of the Liaocheng's force. The reason for their existence, I'm sure Milord don't need this subordinate to elaborate?" secretary Song hinted.

Qin Lan rubbed his chin for a moment after he listened to the secretary's words. It seems that schemes like this existed no matter which country or dynasties he's in. Such a thing might be new to the others, but not him.

In fact, the Hushan Bandits that almost took over the entire Flame Demon Moutain was the best example of what banditry could do when they got the support of a superpower behind them.

As for their reason for existence, it naturally due to the benefits.

First of all, it created a reason for pillaging. In the history of mankind, pillaging was an activity that couldn't be excluded. A small scale between villagers, a larger one between towns, and extensive to the point between two sects fighting to their death, was all for the same reason.

It was cruel, but this was also one of the ways mankind grew stronger. Before the emerge of Wu, Wei, and Shu, there's plenty of warlords ruling over this continent. Even in the records of the country library, it was unknown how many years it went on until the three countries risen up.

"By the way, there's a rumor about something else from the Xiancheng Province. Would the Marquis be interested to hear about it?" secretary Song continued.

"Oh? Please speak." Qin Lan opened his ears and patiently wait for what the secretary was going to say.

"It seems that in less than six months, the Ice Maiden Sect and Supreme Fist Pavilion were going to have a martial exchange. All the neighboring powerhouses, including the county lords, were invited to attend."

"From what this subordinate heard, it was also the opportunity for them to shower the two Major sects to obtain their favor. This surname Song wonder if the Marquis is interested." the secretary said.

"A ticket to the Martial Exchange? Yes, this Marquis is interested. And how do we get a ticket for that visit?" Qin Lan asked.