Chapter 127: One Year LaterFor the following year, Dai Youheng followed Xu Jiujiu's plan, making the diligent cultivation of his Rank his top priority.He made full use of the abundant resources provided by Xu Jiujiu, which far exceeded the standards for an illegitimate son of the Dukes Mansion, and devoted himself entirely to cultivating his spirit power without distraction.In his spare time, he stayed by Xu Jiujiu's side, assisting her with some of the Empire's political affairs.Xu Jiujiu fulfilled her promise, even opening up her exclusive Mimicry Cultivation Ground for him to use as he pleased.This treatment made Dai Youheng recall the past days of his predecessor in the White Tiger Dukes Mansion. Back then, Zhu Man specifically built Mimicry Cultivation Grounds most suitable for the White Tiger Spirit for Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin, while he and his younger brother Dai Luoli could only use them occasionally. Moreover, that environment, filled with masculine and slaughterous Qi, did not fully align with the attributes of the Evil Shadow Demonic Tiger, resulting in half the result with twice the effort.It wasn't that the Dukes Mansion lacked the ability to build one for him separately; it was purely that his Legal Mother deliberately ignored and suppressed him. Meanwhile, Dai Hao was away at war for years and never concerned himself with these "minor matters" within the mansion. The original Dai Youheng could only struggle forward amidst such a lack of resources.In contrast, what Xu Jiujiu gave was truly worthy of being called resources.Coincidentally, the Mimicry Cultivation Ground environments required by their two Spirits were exceptionally compatible. Xu Jiujiu's Star Crown Spirit needed to Cultivate under the vast starry sky to absorb starlight power, while Dai Youheng's Evil Shadow Demonic Tiger also required cultivation in the dark night. Their Mimicry Cultivation Grounds were both the same deep and brilliant night sky. Thus, even during the day, Dai Youheng could practice under the starry sky, greatly increasing his daily cultivation time.Under such favorable conditions and his own efforts, a year later, Dai Youheng's spirit power Rank broke through four levels in succession, reaching the height of Rank 56 Spirit King. His cultivation speed was startlingly fast.Furthermore, the insights he occasionally displayed in political affairs frequently surprised and even shocked Xu Jiujiu.During this time, a massive blizzard broke out in several northern cities of the Star Luo Empire, with severe cold blocking the roads and the people suffering.In the imperial court, a group of officials frowned, but the plans they proposed were uninspired, consisting of nothing more than the same old three methods: opening granaries to distribute grain,and allocating funds for relief. When the official in charge of household registration tremblingly stated that the national treasury might lack sufficient funds, many officials actually showed a helpless expression of "doing what is humanly possible and leaving the rest to fate," as if the people who couldn't be saved were destined to die there.This scene left Dai Youheng, who was listening in, dumbfounded. He thought to himself that this was indeed a World where individual power reigned supreme andthe internal affairs skill tree was generally misaligned. The crisis management capabilities of these officials were truly "no joke."No wonder Tang San's single grain-raiding strategy could be hailed as that of a God of War.He knew his chance to shine had come. Although he wasn't an internal affairs expert in his past life, his exposure during the information age, combined with the disaster relief strategies he had read about in various histories and novels, was enough to crush this group of fellows who only knew how to give a man a fish but not how to teach him to fish.He immediately offered his counsel to Xu Jiujiu and soon received an opportunity to explain it at the court meeting. He clearly pointed out that riots were likely to occur during a disaster year because the victims were without food, clothing, or work, and were hopeless about their livelihood for the coming year. If the imperial court only knew how to blindly distribute money and grain, it would be the clumsiest method.The core of his strategy lay in "Work Relief" and "Production for Self-Help," which could be summarized as:First, guarantee basic survival: First, ensure that the disaster victims are fed and not freezing, but not through simple distribution.Second, develop side industries to generate income: Organize victims to engage in side industries based on the actual conditions of each region. For example, in cities near southern marshlands, organize the weaving of bulrush products such as bibs, tea sets, and straw mats, to be transported and sold through official channels to the Heaven Spirit andDou Ling Empire to exchange for funds. Then use these funds to purchase grain from the south of the Empire, forming an internal cycle that could even stimulate the southern economy.Third, make good use of Spirit Master power: Hire Fire Spirit Masters to concentrate their strength on specific areas, such as seedling bases and workshops, to provide heating and melt snow. While this cannot change the overall weather, it is enough to protect key production activities.Fourth, vigorously promote infrastructure construction: Organized by the court, carry out projects such as road repairs, bridge building, river dredging, and mountain reclamation for mining. Recruit young and strong labor for Work Relief, allowing them to earn rewards through labor and avoid causing trouble while idle. In some areas with slightly warmer climates, projects could even continue until next spring.Fifth, guarantee next year's spring plowing: Seeds for spring plowing will be allocated from national special funds. Disaster victims can receive them for free, and taxes for that year will be waived. If there is a harvest the following year, they will be required to repay the seed costs without interest.After this series of measures, the officials in the court were stunned, and eventually, they all sighed in admiration, calling him a "great talent for stabilizing the country!"Dai Youheng felt somewhat speechless. These disaster relief procedures, which seemed almost like common sense in his past life, had actually become World-shaking strategies in this World.Those officials indeed didn't understand at first; they only knew how to mechanically allocate funds and transfer grain. When funds and grain were insufficient, they thought of raising taxes, robbing Peter to pay Paul.Helplessly, Dai Youheng could only participate in the coordination personally with the support of Xu Jiujiu, teaching the relevant officials step by step how to execute specifically. During this time, the mental and physical labor made him deeply realize the principle of "doing everything oneself," and he felt a bit more sympathy for a certain Prime Minister Zhuge who worked himself to the bone—no wonder he died of exhaustion.However, the effect was extremely significant. Although this blizzard was fierce, under the new policy, the disaster was effectively controlled, the people's hearts were settled, and even the speed of post-disaster recovery far exceeded the past. The court's expenditures were actually much lower than expected.After this battle, Dai Youheng's prestige in the country rose sharply. No one expected that this combat Genius, who had once shone brilliantly in the Spirit Master competition, would also possess such astonishing talent in internal affairs.He gradually transformed from an "illegitimate son who was lucky enough to gain the Princess's favor" into a young hero in everyone's eyes who was "adept in both the pen and the sword,and capable of helping Your Highness stabilize the country."He and Xu Jiujiu went in and out together every day, inseparable. Originally, there were many criticisms throughout the court and the commonality that "an illegitimate son is not a worthy match," but now these had gradually turned into praise for a "golden boy and jade girl, a match made in heaven."Xu Jiujiu also admired and even relied on him more and more. Having him by her side every day while handling political affairs, providing insights that were often incisive and unconventional, made her feel much more at ease.Unconsciously, she even began to get used to and look forward to his figure appearing on time in the palace every day.Of course, while some were gratified, others naturally hated him to the core.Duchess Zhu Man had never stopped tripping up Dai Youheng during this year. Since overt difficulties were hard to make effective under the vague protection of the Emperor and the Princess, she resorted to underhanded methods.Dai Youheng had encountered assassinations several times while out on official business. Initially, it was three Spirit Emperor-level assassins with a fierce offensive, clearly intending to settle the matter quickly and nip him in the bud.However, they far underestimated their target's strength. Dai Youheng didn't even let Ling Ya, who was guarding in the shadows, take action. Relying solely on his own strength, he killed the three Spirit Emperors with his tyrant tiger soul refining saber. His formidable combat power left Zhu Man trembling with fear upon hearing the news.With one plan failing, she gritted her teeth and paid a high price to invite two Spirit Saint-level powerhouses to act. Given her current situation, the cost for a Titled Douluo was too high and they were hard to invite; Spirit Saints were the strongest force she could currently mobilize, and dealing with a Spirit King should have been foolproof.Unfortunately, she miscalculated again. She had no idea what kind of existence was always following Dai Youheng.Those two Spirit Saints didn't even touch the corner of Dai Youheng's clothes before they were casually dealt with by Ling Ya, who appeared like a ghost. For a Titled Douluo to deal with Spirit Saints, there was simply no suspense.That night, Zhu Man tossed and turned in extreme unease. The next morning, when she woke up, she was horrified to find two hideous heads with eyes wide open in death placed prominently on the coffee table by her bedside—it was exactly those two Spirit Saints she had sent out!"Ah!!!"A shrill and terrified scream pierced the morning silence of the Dukes Mansion.According to the trembling recollections of the maid on duty that day, after seeing those two heads, the Zhu Man's face turned as pale as paper on the spot. She violently spat out a large mouthful of blood and then fainted. It was unclear whether she was frightened by that bloody and terrifying scene or driven to a frenzy by this blatant warning and failure.Since then, Zhu Man seemed to have truly quieted down a lot. At least in the short term, she dared not use such extreme methods again. And Dai Youheng's path to rise also seemed to have cleared a layer of the most direct haze.>
