The journey was arduous, and Ye Ling and his party rode their horses to Cangyue City.
Cangyue City was located in the north of the Wu Dynasty, the largest city in the northern frontier of the Wu Dynasty, and an important hub for trade between the Wu Dynasty and the Ling Dynasty. Its prosperity was no less than that of the Wu Dynasty's imperial capital, and perhaps even surpassed it.
As Cangyue City was located on the border of the Wu Dynasty and adjacent to the Ling Dynasty, millions of border troops were stationed in its vicinity.
Shi Ming, the lord of Cangyue City, in addition to being the Imperial Tutor, was also the commander of the Wu Dynasty's million border troops. The entire Shi family held immense power in the north and throughout the Wu Dynasty.
It could be said that Shi Ming, with his wealth and troops, could march to the capital within three days if he was determined to rebel.
Even more terrifying was that Shi Ming himself was a peerless master, and the Shi family was proficient in mechanical arts. As long as Shi Ming was in Cangyue City, he was invincible.
However, Shi Ming was extremely loyal to Wu Yue and had repeatedly helped Wu Yue suppress border rebellions and resist Ling Dynasty invasions, showing no inclination to become emperor himself.
It could be said that Shi Ming was half responsible for Wu Yue being able to enjoy peace and be an emperor in the capital.
"Is this Cangyue City? It's so lively, not at all like a border city in the north." Bai Lan rode her horse to the outskirts of Cangyue City and marveled at the long queue at the city gate.
"Cangyue City is the most important trade hub between the Wu Dynasty and the Ling Dynasty. A large number of Ling Dynasty merchants bring goods to Cangyue City for trade every day, and then those Ling Dynasty goods are sold to other cities in the Wu Dynasty through the Shi family's merchant guilds," Wu Mei, who was more familiar with Cangyue City, explained to Ye Ling and Bai Lan.
"If that's the case, wouldn't Shi Ming, as the lord of Cangyue City, be rolling in wealth?" Ye Ling joked.
The trade between the two countries was all conducted in Cangyue City and controlled by the Shi family. The profits from this were astronomical.
Wu Mei nodded, "My husband is not wrong. The Shi family is the wealthiest family in the Wu Dynasty. Their family's assets even exceed those of the national treasury. They are truly rich enough to rival the nation."
"The taxes collected in Cangyue City in one month are equivalent to the annual taxes of more than ten other large cities."
"In fact, even before we left the capital, His Majesty had already begun borrowing money from the Shi family to fill the national treasury deficit."
Speaking of this, Wu Mei's face became dejected and worried.
It was truly sad to think that the emperor had to borrow money from his subjects to cover expenses.
Bai Lan laughed, "A ruler borrowing money from his subjects to fill the national treasury deficit is also a rare wonder in the world, but it is enough to show how rich the Shi family is. I would believe you if you said Shi Ming was the emperor."
Wu Mei did not refute Bai Lan's words.
In fact, it was not just the emperor. Because the Ling Dynasty sold many luxury goods, and the Shi family had opened numerous brothels and casinos in the capital... it could be said that the Shi family had a hand in all the entertainment facilities in the capital.
Many high-ranking officials in the court who were addicted to pleasure owed money to the Shi family. Those indebted officials could not refuse any requests from the Shi family. Coupled with the Shi family's control of millions of troops, if the Shi family were to rebel, Wu Yue would have no resistance.
Whether the Wu Dynasty survived now did not depend on the national strength of the Ling Dynasty, nor on the actions of the Burning Lamp Cult to the east. It only depended on whether Shi Ming himself wanted to be emperor.
Seeing Wu Mei start to worry again, Ye Ling said, "Our main purpose here is to spar with Shi Ming. Matters concerning the Shi family and the Wu Dynasty are not within our scope of concern, and we can't manage them. Let's go directly to find Shi Ming."
"Mm..." Wu Mei nodded, pushing the matters of the Wu Dynasty and the Shi family to the back of her mind, and obediently followed behind Ye Ling.
After leaving Tianyin Temple, Bai Lan had also obtained a pass for Cangyue City from Fayun. The three of them entered the city smoothly without any obstruction and headed for the Shi family.
The interior of Cangyue City was even more prosperous than its exterior. Tall buildings lined both sides, exuding extreme luxury. Even the white jade bricks paving the streets were only found in parts of the imperial palace in the capital.
"I didn't expect there to be such a beautiful city in the Wu Dynasty," Bai Lan marveled at Cangyue City, her eyes full of curiosity.
She always maintained a strong curiosity for novel things.
"Master... this time, besides your challenge, don't destroy Cangyue City. It would be a pity," Bai Lan suddenly reminded Ye Ling.
Ye Ling's mouth twitched, "What kind of person do you think I am? Am I that kind of destroyer?"
"Aren't you?" Bai Lan retorted.
Ye Ling looked at Wu Mei again, "Am I?"
Wu Mei also nodded, "Husband, two days ago, the thousand-year-old ancient temple Tianyin Temple was shattered by your kick."
"That was out of necessity..."
Ye Ling didn't know how to refute, and in the end, could only find an excuse to brush off the topic.
"Woooo—!"
As the three walked on the road, a loud horn sound suddenly echoed through the city. The people on the streets, as if hearing something terrifying, scattered to the sides of the street and knelt down.
Ye Ling saw the strangeness on the street and looked at Wu Mei.
Wu Mei shook her head, "I don't know what happened... When I came to Cangyue City before, I had never heard such a horn sound."
"Master, look ahead!"
At this moment, Bai Lan suddenly spoke. Ye Ling followed Bai Lan's gaze and saw a grand sedan chair carried by thirty-six people, accompanied by hundreds of attendants, slowly approaching.
"Yo! This is the imperial standard for an outing. Do you still say Shi Ming isn't the emperor?" Ye Ling teased upon seeing the magnificent procession, "The sedan chair is just missing dragon patterns to declare himself emperor."
Seeing the luxurious sedan chair, Wu Mei's expression turned grim.
She rarely came to Cangyue City, and there was no such news from the capital... This was the first time she had seen Shi Ming travel with such grandeur.
Bai Lan also laughed, "I finally understand why that guy Wu Yue could defeat the treacherous officials and consolidate his throne at a young age. It turns out it wasn't by his own ability, but by relying on another powerful minister."
"No wonder Cangyue City is more luxurious than the capital. The Wu Dynasty may be surnamed Wu on the surface, but in reality, it has probably become Shi."
Hearing Ye Ling and Bai Lan's words, Wu Mei clenched her fists.
She had always thought that although Wu Yue was greedy for pleasure, he had some ability. It was just that the Wu Dynasty's national strength was weak, and the domestic problems were deeply entrenched, making them difficult to solve overnight.
She had enough patience to wait for Wu Yue to change.
But from the current situation, Wu Yue had no intention of solving the problems of the Wu Dynasty.
Shi Ming put on such a grand display in Cangyue City. Wu Mei would never believe that Wu Yue would not know about such a thing.
It was likely that Wu Yue had already sold the Wu Dynasty to Shi Ming.
Thinking of this, Wu Mei sighed heavily, her eyes filled with disappointment towards her younger brother.
However, Wu Mei's gaze quickly returned to normal. She smiled at Ye Ling, "Husband, didn't you want to challenge Shi Ming to increase your reputation?"
Ye Ling sensed the change in Wu Mei's demeanor and then smiled, "Of course, do you have any suggestions?"
Wu Mei looked at the grand sedan chair ahead and said, "Now that Shi Ming is traveling, everyone in the city is watching him. If you make a move now, husband, you will surely become famous throughout the world, and your reputation will even reach the Ling Dynasty."
Hearing Wu Mei's words, Ye Ling smiled slightly and his gaze fell on the grand sedan chair, "You are right... Then, I will make my move now."
As his voice fell, Ye Ling took out Fayun's letter of introduction and threw it towards the sedan chair.
The envelope, like a hidden weapon, flew rapidly over everyone's heads, easily tearing through the sedan chair's curtains, brushing past Shi Ming's cheek, and firmly embedding itself in the sedan chair, startling countless experts.
"Assassin!!!"
Piercing screams erupted from the crowd, and the entire street descended into chaos.
Ye Ling's eyes glinted with a smile, and he shouted, "The Cang Mo Swordsman Wang Li Ren seeks a battle with the Lord of Cangyue City, Shi Ming!"