Indeed, Chu Xue then continued reading: "I once made an oath upon the Altar of Heaven, vowing to ensure that all members of my Qiantian Sect clan would have security in their old age. However, the entire city of Qiantian is my populace, and I cannot bear to favor one over the others. Today, I hereby establish a silver bank to support all the elderly, the widowed, and the disabled within Qiantian City..."

Hu Qianqiu and the others immediately frowned. Including the previous few articles, this was no small sum.

The intent behind Zong Shou's decree was certainly benevolent. Many within Qiantian Mountain suffered hardship due to injuries, or because their sons had died on the battlefield.

And even for Innate Martial Artists, once they failed to advance further in the martial path, their strength would greatly wane upon reaching a certain age, leading to a desolate later life.

But the funds to support the elderly and disabled, coupled with the previous four decrees, meant that Qiantian Mountain’s annual expenditures simply could not cover the required amounts.

They initially thought the Crown Prince of Zhengxin Dao was too young and inexperienced in governance, thinking too simply. Then, they heard Chu Xue begin to elaborate, and only after a long explanation did they gradually begin to understand.

Zong Shou’s intention was that everyone in the city capable of supporting themselves could, of their own free will, deposit some wealth into that silver bank each year, whether much or little.

Upon reaching a certain age, or becoming disabled, they could then receive a fixed monthly sum of gold and silver from the bank, based on the amount they had deposited, to cover their living expenses.

Everything was entirely voluntary, with no compulsion. According to Zong Shou’s explanation, this was called a pension and disability insurance fund.

And for all military personnel, there was no need for them to contribute; the City Lord’s Mansion would pay on their behalf.

A faint glimmer appeared in the eyes of those in the hall. They had initially feared Zong Shou was about to impose new taxes on the city, and only then did they fully relax.

They then pondered the deeper meaning, and gradually felt that this method was not only ingenious but entirely feasible.

For a time, their thoughts were chaotic, with some even murmuring calculations of potential gains.

Including Qiu Wei, all the military commanders had flushed faces, eager to see Zong Shou's strategy implemented immediately.

Yet, the hall was strangely silent, no one speaking. They all looked expectantly toward the dozen or so high-ranking ministers seated among them, especially the fourth-decade middle-aged man in white robes and a scholar's cap at the highest seat on the left.

Ren Bo closed his eyes in deep thought. After a long pause, having considered everything thoroughly, he took a deep breath and spoke: "The Crown Prince once swore upon the Altar of Heaven that within the Qiantian Sect clan, there would be no distinction between main and branch lines; only merit would decide. Bloodline holds no inherent superiority or inferiority; only capability matters. He vowed to ensure my clansmen are provided for in old age and nurtured when young, free from worries of hunger or lack of clothing. These five edicts today are sufficient to fulfill the majority of that oath. Not only the eight hundred thousand members of the Zong clan, but also the citizens of all Qiantian tribes will benefit. This is also a strategy to strengthen the nation, allowing Qiantian City’s military might to dominate the Yun Lu in a few years!"

What he had previously valued most was Zong Shi. This young man was capable in both military and civil affairs. When working under Zong Weiran, he was always meticulous. Ren Bo had watched him grow, but three days ago, Zong Shou had appeared suddenly, rising powerfully and ruthlessly eliminating Zong Shi and the others.

Even though he knew at that time that this was the son of the benefactor, and according to Confucian morality, this one was truly the most legitimate heir, he still harbored worries, fearing that this monarch, barely fourteen years old, was ignorant of practical matters and would not only ruin Qiantian Mountain but also destroy his lifelong ambitions.

However, at this moment, he felt deeply fortunate. Even if these five strategies by the Lord seemed overly radical to him, and many details had not been fully considered, this alone demonstrated that Zong Shou possessed a magnificent intellect and grand strategic vision!

The former ruler was a tiger father; how could the current Lord be a weak son? Not only was he not, but he was even superior! As good as Zong Shi was, he was merely a watch-dog, a ruler content with maintaining the status quo. How could he compare to the current Lord?

Today, if even three or two of these five edicts were successfully implemented, it would mark him as a wise ruler!

However, Ren Bo’s tone immediately grew serious: "The Lord’s strategy is undoubtedly excellent. However, Qiantian Mountain City has limited financial resources. For the policy of lending to support scholars, only a few years would be needed before routine interest income could sustain it. As for the elderly bank, it can also rely on lending and various means of appreciation, and Qiantian Mountain City can also subsidize funds. But both equally require initial capital."

Zong Shou smiled slightly, picked up a piece of paper on which writing was already prepared, and said: "This money can be borrowed from me: two thousand Seventh-Rank Beast Cores. In the future, Qiantian Mountain City will repay it in installments."

Li Luoshidan, who had been observing from a corner nearby in the hall, exchanged glances, thinking that this Lord was truly generous this time, and exceedingly willing to spend.

"Covered by the Lord's private treasury?"

Ren Bo was visibly stunned, somewhat unable to grasp the nature of his Lord. Previously, he had argued relentlessly over petty sums, refusing to yield an inch, but now, he was offering two thousand Seventh-Rank Beast Cores at once.

He then glanced at the small, inconspicuous characters beneath the note—'Annual interest rate of two-tenths'—and nodded slightly. Ren Bo finally understood: this person truly refused to suffer a loss in any transaction.

"This arrangement is workable, but two thousand Seventh-Rank Beast Cores is too much. Our Qiantian City can manage by tightening its belt for a few years; only five hundred are needed! But has the Crown Prince considered the people who will manage the details below? If these funds lack supervision, they could be embezzled and squandered within three to five years. How can fairness be guaranteed, preventing favoritism? Although Qiantian City has City Inspectors, I do not have much faith in them. Furthermore, how can we guarantee that the City Lord will not divert these two funds for other uses in the future?"

Zong Shou’s eyebrows lifted slightly, finally showing a trace of surprise. This Ren Bo, having been appointed Chancellor by Zong Weiran, indeed possessed some ability; his words struck directly at the crucial points. He also felt a slight regret—the more loans given out, the greater the annual interest income. This old man was truly too shrewd.

He again picked up a piece of paper from the desk. Everyone watched closely, only to see a question written there: I heard Qiantian City once had a system of Clan Leader Consensus?

Hu Qianqiu was utterly confused but patiently replied: "There was, there was. In the past, the former Lord—he persuaded the various clans one by one to obey his commands and gather beneath Qiantian Mountain. At that time, the former Lord’s prestige was not yet established, so there was a consensus among the clans to determine the city’s policies. Later, it was abolished."

Zong Shou smiled inwardly. Zong Weiran, victorious in a hundred battles on the battlefield, possessed true vision and strategy. He took only one year to subdue the various clans into obeying his orders, thus rising in the west of the Yun Lu, standing alongside the mountain cities of Yun Xia and Lie Yan. This Clan Leader Consensus system was naturally abolished because endless deliberation was never as effective as Zong Weiran’s decisive action; it was simply smoother to obey orders directly.

He then waved to Chu Xue, signaling the girl to unfurl the sixth edict: "Starting today, the system of Clan Leader Consensus is re-established to supervise the implementation of these policies. The various Demon Race tribes may select one person for every two hundred thousand people to participate, named Elder. They will serve a five-year term and receive a stipend annually from the City Lord’s Mansion. Tribes with fewer than two hundred thousand people will automatically hold one Elder position. Furthermore, the Human race within the city may also nominate representatives to participate, selected by regional vote. Likewise, one seat will be added for every additional two hundred thousand people. Additionally, an Iron Gang Stone Hall will be constructed atop Qiantian Mountain to serve as the meeting place for the consensus of the tribes."

Everyone in the hall was momentarily bewildered. They felt indifferent to this matter—having supervision over those two huge sums of money was naturally good. But this seemed excessively grand.

And that Iron Gang Stone Hall—this item was rare. Although it was extremely costly, it could aid in breaking through to the Celestial Rank and comprehending the martial path. Those in Qiantian Mountain City had long envied Xuan Shan City for it. Using it as a meeting place for these Elders seemed overly extravagant, didn't it?

Even Ren Bo was puzzled. But after careful consideration, he said no more. This method could indeed plug most loopholes; at least the interests of all tribes within the city could be looked after. With these people in place, Zong Shou’s decrees and funds would have oversight. As for the finer details, those could naturally be perfected by him. If the Lord had to handle everything, what use would they, his ministers, be?

After careful reflection, finding no omissions, Ren Bo bowed down and said: "The Lord is wise; this method is very good!"

Seeing Ren Bo approve, Hu Qianqiu and Chai Yuan hastily followed suit with bows. Asking them to fight and kill was one thing; tactical calculations on the battlefield were no less than anyone else’s. But when it came to governance, tying their heads together wouldn't match Ren Bo’s insight. Since the Chancellor approved, Zong Shou’s series of edicts must be feasible. They could discern that Zong Shou’s policies were excellent, addressing needs no one else had considered, unprecedented in the Cloud Realm. But whether they could be smoothly realized still required Ren Bo’s judgment.

Zong Shou, however, felt a slight pique. These were all sound strategies that had been tested after long practice in later generations. Yet, upon presenting them, these people weren't immediately prostrating themselves in praise and singing hymns of glory; they were hesitant, showing a distinct lack of foresight, petty-mindedness. Nevertheless, Ren Bo’s prestige within Qiantian Mountain City was unexpectedly high.

Meanwhile, Chu Xue had already opened the seventh edict and read aloud: "As the former Right Pillar Grand General, Zong Shiyuan, has been dismissed, this position cannot remain vacant. Zong Lan, Commander of the Black Tortoise Iron Cavalry and Commander of the Imperial Guard, shall temporarily assume the post of Right Pillar Grand General. Furthermore, Zong Yuan once trampled through a thousand armies in the Ruohai Strait, leading three thousand cavalry to shatter the combined armies of Yun Xia and Lie Yan’s forty legions. Such merit must be rewarded. Effective immediately, he shall command the Black Fox Iron Cavalry and oversee the Imperial Guard!"

These two appointments were not entirely unexpected. When a new ruler ascends, they naturally must secure military authority. Although Zong Lan was not skilled in military strategy, having him replace Zong Shiyuan meant that the military strength under the Right Pillar Grand General in Qiantian Mountain City would return to the control of Zong Shou and the Qiantian Sect Clan—this was entirely expected and proper. As for Zong Yuan’s position, it was also within everyone’s anticipation. Such unparalleled talent, combined with unswerving loyalty to a confidant, meant Zong Shou would be foolish not to heavily employ him.