Chapter 401 - 282: Qi Yu Falls to Demonic Corruption, Gu Zhan Seeks to Kill Danyang
The first issue is opening the Martial Arts Secret Manual, which has significantly harmed the interests of the established noble families within Beidou Bang. These noble families have deep-rooted power within the gang. Although they are currently intimidated by your authority and dare not create trouble, they are certainly discontented in their hearts. They have contributed to Beidou Bang, and it indeed seems somewhat unfair to them now.
The second issue is weapon manufacturing, which is consuming too much. The internal affairs of Beidou Bang are barely sustaining, and as expansion continues, the consumption will undoubtedly increase. If no countermeasures are taken, there will only be two outcomes: either an emergency halt or Beidou Bang being dragged down.
The third issue is the Military Garrison Office, whose consumption is also huge and long-term. However, the troops of the Military Garrison Office are different from the gang members of the sub-branch. Although the gang members are numerous, they continuously generate profits, but the army only consumes resources and cannot sustain itself.
Beidou Bang is like pulling up seedlings to help them grow, seemingly powerful but severely lacking in foundation, with many issues. However, the most urgent problems right now are these three. Other issues are like gangrene that needs to be eroded step by step, but these three are serious illnesses that require immediate treatment. Otherwise, within six months, Beidou Bang will be dragged down."
Gu Zhan smiled slightly and said, "Indeed, that’s hitting the nail on the head. Beidou Bang faces many problems, but most of them can be dealt with slowly. I’m different from Dragon King; I’m still young and have plenty of time. However, the three problems you just mentioned are indeed urgent."
Nangong Weiyang poured a cup of tea for Gu Zhan and said, "However, having just heard the Lord’s words, your goals never seem to stop at just Beidou Bang or even just within Yunxi. So, I boldly guess that you have a strategy."
Gu Zhan nodded and said, "It’s not really a brilliant strategy; I just consolidated several issues into one.
Whether it’s the interests of the noble families, the supply of weapons, or the replenishment of troops, fundamentally, it’s merely Canglan Dao’s limited resources. As long as sufficient resources can be introduced, these problems can be solved easily.
And the quickest way to replenish resources is only one."
Nangong Weiyang’s pupils shrank slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Forceful annexation!"
"Correct." Gu Zhan nodded.
Nangong Weiyang slightly squinted his eyes and said, "Is the Lord going to attack the Danyang Sect? Or are you preparing to strike the entire Lu Yuan Dao?"
Gu Zhan nodded and said, "The Danyang Sect and Beidou Bang have held grudges for a long time. Now Yunxi is changing, and the two factions will eventually have to reach a conclusion. But to be honest, a mere Danyang Sect doesn’t really concern me.
In the beginning, Dragon King didn’t attack the Danyang Sect due to the initial instability within Beidou Bang and later because of the constraints of the Cyan Gorge Covenant. Now, Dragon King has resolved those two issues; what is a mere Danyang Sect?"
Nangong Weiyang said slowly, "However, the true foundation of the Danyang Sect lies not within themselves but among the various forces of Lu Yuan Dao. If we at Beidou Bang take action against the Danyang Sect, they will undoubtedly ally with the Danyang Sect for self-preservation."
"Hmm." Gu Zhan took a sip of tea, slowly put down the teacup, and said, "When I was in Great Desert City, I didn’t directly kill Song Lingjun for this reason. I was indeed worried that they wouldn’t join forces because in Lu Yuan Dao, only Song Lingjun’s prestige can unite them. Otherwise, without any grievances, it would be hard for me to justify pressing them down and grinding them."
Nangong Weiyang thought for a moment and said with cupped hands, "How does the Lord plan to fight?"
Gu Zhan said slowly, "Let them enjoy a good New Year first..."
At this moment,
Tian Yu walked in from outside the courtyard and said with cupped hands, "Lord, someone from Thirteen Lanes requests an audience."
Gu Zhan was slightly taken aback,
Nangong Weiyang was also stunned for a moment and said, "Lord, it seems the Astronomical Bureau has received some news."
Gu Zhan nodded slightly.
Although his cooperation with the Astronomical Bureau was kept a secret, Tian Yu, Nangong, and the high-ranking officials of Beidou Bang all knew about it.
Thirteen Lanes was a base set up by the Astronomical Bureau in Canglan City.
In the past, during Mo Jingzhou’s time,
this base was hidden. Later, Gu Zhan rose to power and reached a cooperation agreement with the Astronomical Bureau. To show sincerity, Director Qin You voluntarily handed over the list of Astronomical Bureau spies embedded within Beidou Bang to Gu Zhan, as well as the location of their base.
Of course, whether he disclosed everything or not is only known to Qin You.
Due to his position, Nangong Weiyang chose to avoid the scene and withdrew behind the screen.
After a short while,
a young man wearing a thick cotton coat entered and said with cupped hands, "Subordinate Chen Xian, Adjudicator of the seventh department of Yunzhou’s Astronomical Bureau, greets Governor Gu."
Gu Zhan observed this young man named Chen Xian with interest. His appearance was very ordinary, and his cultivation level wasn’t high, just having barely entered the Innate Realm, with nothing particularly memorable at first glance, the type of person who would go unnoticed in a crowd.
Very fitting for the image of an undercover agent.
However, someone who can manage a local espionage network naturally possesses significant ability.
It was apparent from his first words to Gu Zhan.
Nowadays, people primarily recognize Gu Zhan as the Gang Leader of Beidou Bang, yet Chen Xian referred to him by his official title. In a single sentence, he subtly shifted their relationship from collaborators to colleagues with a hierarchy of rank.