Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Taking by Force (One more to celebrate Alliance Leader’s memory of Dora)

Tian Yangni was also unclear what had caused such a significant change in Master Yu the Second.

However, he had managed to inquire about other matters. “It seems that Lord Beiyuan has established contact with the Gu Family.”

Feng Jun looked at him for a while before finally snorting coldly, “What choice will your Tian Family make? I hope you give me a clear answer.”

“I’m definitely on your side,” Tian Yangni stomped his feet in anxiety, “He’s just a relative by marriage to my family, and has never really held the Tian Family in high regard. Would I offend you for his sake… Would it be worth it?”

Indeed, this was the most standard and truthful answer—the Tian Family also wanted to help Lord Beiyuan Mansion, there was no doubt about that, but if the opponent was Feng Jun, then it definitely would not be worth it.

The Divine Doctor might be an Immortal, but that… wasn’t the key point. Anyway, the brunt was borne by Lord Beiyuan, and the critical issue was that the Tian Family had already established good private relations with the Divine Doctor. To change loyalty at this juncture, what kind of fool would do that?

Feng Jun remained silent with a wicked smile, continued drinking with Tian Yangni until around ten o’clock at night, before he dropped a sentence, “Help me ask, who exactly has instructed Lord Beiyuan Mansion to trouble me?”

This request was somewhat difficult for Tian Yangni, but since he had already picked a side, he could only follow through to the end.

By the time he left, it was nearly midnight. Liu Feifei, who had planned to sneak a report, had already fallen asleep.

Early the next morning, another disturbance came to the small courtyard, and it was none other than the two bailiffs from yesterday.

The two bailiffs took out official documents, and stated seriously that the Yongyi Duke intended to buy Mount Zhige to offer to the Inner Court as a horse farm, and your land here is unclaimed wasteland. We have roughly estimated the cost to be…

You don’t have to tell me the cost, Feng Jun interrupted them curtly: Sorry, I have no intention to sell!

Not selling is impossible! The two bailiffs stated firmly right away, making it clear: The entire Mount Zhige is to be presented to the Inner Court, it’s impossible to leave your plot of land alone—who will be responsible if the Inner Court is disturbed?

Feng Jun was inclined to argue, but even Lang Zhen gave him a bitter smile and shook his head: It’s no use, you can’t win.

The royal family generally does not seize the land of the common people, but if they truly decide to do something and have sufficient reason, even Immortals can’t easily interfere—after all, the matters of the secular world still have to be managed by the royal family and the Official Government.

“Then I’ll sell it after two full years,” Feng Jun conceded, “I just bought the land this year.”

A bailiff spoke in astonishment, “When you bought the land has what relation to selling it?”

“You’d better go and read, ‘Donghua Land Laws’ section six, clause eleven,” Feng Jun said expressionlessly, “If a plot of land changes hands three times within two years, it is considered to be involved in malpractices!”

It turns out that the founding emperor of Donghua Country was originally from a declined household. His father squandered the family wealth, and he almost starved to death at one point.

Therefore, he harbored extreme hatred for the practice of land hoarding.

Strictly speaking, Donghua currently has more land than people, which shouldn’t make land hoarding a severe issue. However, if one can easily annex cultivated land, then who would bother to laboriously break new ground?

Thus, Donghua Country defined extremely stringent land policies. If a plot of land changed ownership three times in two years, it could be deemed suspicious. Just on the basis of this policy, someone could be arrested for questioning and even sentenced based on free deliberation.

Feng Jun’s land came from the Tian Family, who had bought it from the government and then gifted it to the Divine Doctor—that’s already two owners. Selling it again would violate the rules.

As long as he insisted on this point, the land could completely be sold after two years—this was a legitimate policy.

The two bailiffs usually wouldn’t pay attention to such matters. Strictly speaking, with policies above, there are countermeasures below. Just take Zhige County, for example—plots that change owners three times within two years are plenty, and there are even those that changed hands four or five times.

But as the saying goes, ‘if the people do not raise a lawsuit, the government will not investigate.’ As long as both parties involved come to an agreement, no one sees it as an issue.

Over time, not to mention ordinary folks, even the clerks in the Prefectural Government Office have forgotten about such a regulation.

However, as soon as Feng Jun mentioned it, the two bailiffs’ faces changed—not because they were certain of this regulation, but because they considered that with the nature of ‘Donghua Land Laws,’ it was indeed possible for such a clause to exist.

‘Earth Laws’ were mainly directed at protecting the land of the common people. The frequent changes of land ownership within two years greatly increased the possibility of malpractices, which would also be unfavorable for the government’s regulation in the macro sense.

Because ‘Earth Laws’ have a protective aspect for the people, and it’s a time of peace and prosperity, it is rarely invoked, but regardless, as long as this law has not been declared abolished, it remains valid.

Feng Jun was fighting for these two years because he intended to mine all of the Spirit Stone during this period. After the Spirit Stone had been exhausted, Zhige County wouldn’t hold any attraction for him.

As for the jade houses and courtyards… they are treasures on Earth, but here they truly aren’t worth much, so letting go isn’t a problem.

In fact, even the jade house was built with the aid of the Tian Family, and all he did was forgive their transgression.

The two bailiffs didn’t know Feng Jun’s thoughts, but for them, agreeing to transact within two years also meant that they had completed their mission—after all, building a horse farm on the vast Mount Zhige would take several years, which wouldn’t hinder the main task.

So the two men left with relieved expressions.

But by noon, Lord Beiyuan came to the small courtyard again, accompanied by the magistrate of Zhige County—and as for the Princely Heir of Yongyi Duke, with such a significant status, he would not make an appearance without a settled agreement.

The county magistrate has arrived, and even if Feng Jun is reluctant, he must give the other party some face—this is the local parental official, after all.

However, the parental official’s face only goes so far as to enter the courtyard, without the privilege to even step inside the house or have a seat at a table.

So Feng Jun just stood there in the courtyard, chatting with the official.

The county magistrate was clear about his position, knowing this was a battle between immortals, one he couldn’t meddle in; he simply stated, “This land was sold by the official government. If you are worried about being held accountable, we are willing to buy it back at a premium.”

Premium is a term from the Earth Realm. His words were, “We are willing to add an extra fifty percent to the price to buy it back.”

Feng Jun promptly declined—doing that would still leave me facing “crimes of the loss of imperial assets.”

In less than half a year, to make a fifty percent profit between buying and selling, that charge would surely be substantiated.

The county magistrate mulled over the phrase “crimes of the loss of imperial assets” for quite some time, then stood up to take his leave, at the same time expressing his deep impression, “It appears that the Divine Doctor is not only adept at healing people, but also at governing a country.”

Feng Jun didn’t see him out, just offering a faint smile, “If not a good minister, then a good doctor… Isn’t that quite normal?”

The county magistrate gave him another look before covertly giving Lord Beiyuan a meaningful glance—my lord, this man really knows his stuff.

After he left, Lord Beiyuan signaled, and his guard shook his hand slightly, and a chair appeared out of nowhere in the courtyard.

The Deng Family Brothers, standing nearby, immediately gasped in unison, their eyes widening, “Storage Bag?”

Lord Beiyuan casually took a seat, ignoring them, and merely stated indifferently, “I already told you, what you sold to the youngest brother wasn’t a Formation.”

Feng Jun gave a dismissive curl of his lip, then ordered, “Second Son, go inside and fetch a chair out.”

The Deng Family’s Second Son had the tact to not only bring out a chair but also a tea table, and he brought over a glass ashtray.

Feng Jun took out a cigarette, lit it up, took a deep inhale, and casually tapped his cigarette on the ashtray without saying a word.

Materializing goods out of thin air was also within his capabilities, but since he couldn’t grasp the other party’s intentions, he wasn’t in a rush to show off—What if this fellow is purposefully probing? Wouldn’t I be playing right into his hands?

Anyhow, the glass ashtray and rolled cigarettes were also things that ordinary people didn’t have.

As for offering the other party a cigarette? That was out of the question—even if he were back in the Earth Realm, he wouldn’t offer a cigarette under such circumstances.

Lord Beiyuan, seeing the ashtray, couldn’t help but narrow his eyes, thinking to himself that this fellow indeed had quite a few treasures.

Crystal and the like were also available in the Earl’s mansion, but they weren’t luxurious enough to be used as cigarette ashtrays.

“Mr. Feng indeed has many rare items,” he said expressionlessly, “The Yongyi Duke’s princely heir has taken a liking to your generator and light fixtures. Name your price.”

So direct? Feng Jun gave him a puzzled look, “I really don’t understand what you’re saying, Lord Beiyuan. If he’s interested, just buy it.”

Lord Beiyuan didn’t look at him but continued to speak to himself, “In the future, if you want to sell generators and light fixtures, you can only sell them to the princely heir, and you’ll have to lower the price… The princely heir also won’t ask you for the manufacturing method.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Jun couldn’t help but scoff, “He would like the manufacturing method? Not to ridicule him, but would he be able to learn it?”

Lord Beiyuan turned to look at him, “So you agree?”

“You really are full of imagination,” Feng Jun said with a laugh in irritation, “When did I ever say I agreed?”

“It’s futile not to agree,” Lord Beiyuan stated flatly, as if declaring a matter unrelated to himself, “Taking your lands and properties is just the first step. With your status, you can’t fight against me, let alone the Yongyi Duke.”

Feng Jun became curious upon hearing this, “Doesn’t the princely heir fancy the Warning Formation?”

“That Formation is useless; only a fool would buy it,” Lord Beiyuan not only mocked Feng Jun but also showed no mercy for his younger brother, “The mansion has many things, but plenty of people is one of them, who needs that Formation?”

After a pause, he made it clear, “Nevertheless, this set of lighting is quite remarkable.”

Manpower can replace machinery for security, but no matter how much one tries, human bodies cannot emit light.

Feng Jun gave him another look, “Who has incited you to come to me? I offer a serious suggestion… You better kill that person immediately, as they are harming you.”

Lord Beiyuan hesitated for a moment, then said gravely, “No one incited me. I saw your Formation and felt you were deceiving Brother Bao… No one can bully the Beiyuan Mansion and not be punished.”

Feng Jun looked at him with mock amusement, “Even if I am to be punished, shouldn’t I sell the items to Brother Bao? What does this have to do with the Yongyi Duke’s princely heir?”

(First update, in memory of Dora, and also seeking monthly votes.)