Chapter 326: The Initiation of the Heaven’s Collapse Plan

Chapter 326: Chapter 326: The Initiation of the Heaven's Collapse Plan

As Zhongshan had anticipated, four months later, the imperial edict arrived in Radiant City!

"By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: Eastern Marquis is appointed to oversee the 'Heaven's Collapse Plan,' with full authority over the Da Yu Empire battlefield. All officials and military commanders are to comply with his directives. A special allocation of six hundred million top-grade spirit stones is provided, with fifteen billion top-grade spirit stones to be returned to the treasury in five years. So ordered by His Majesty!"

"Long live His Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

Zhongshan accepted the imperial edict from a eunuch's hands. Standing beside the eunuch was a scholar, none other than the chief strategist who had been present in the Great Xu King's study.

"Congratulations, Eastern Marquis!" The chief strategist smiled warmly.

"Who might this be?" Zhongshan looked at the chief strategist, puzzled.

"My name is Fan Yipin. Eastern Marquis may simply call me Yipin," the chief strategist introduced himself with a smile.

"Fan Yipin?" Zhongshan recognized the name.

"Greetings, Mr. Fan!" Zhongshan respectfully bowed.

"I have also had the honor of reading the Heaven's Collapse Plan. It is a magnificent masterpiece! I am truly impressed. This time, the Emperor and the Great Xu King have entrusted me with delivering the six hundred million top-grade spirit stones to you and assisting you in implementing this plan," Fan Yipin explained.

Upon hearing this, Zhongshan's pupils contracted slightly. The Heaven's Collapse Plan was a highly classified and valuable strategy. The fact that Fan Yipin had access to it indicated a significant level of trust from the Great Xu King.

"Mr. Fan, you flatter me! It's merely a small stratagem, unworthy of your attention," Zhongshan responded courteously.

"A small stratagem involving six hundred million top-grade spirit stones? Eastern Marquis, there is no need for humility or concern. I am here purely to assist and will not interfere with any of your decisions, not a single one," Fan Yipin assured him.

"Then I'll be relying on your support!" Zhongshan nodded, smiling.

"Now that the decree has been issued, the eunuch should quickly return to report to the Great Xu King and the Emperor," Fan Yipin suggested to the eunuch.

"Farewell!" The eunuch promptly turned and flew off.

Once only Fan Yipin and Zhongshan were left, Fan Yipin spoke again, "In addition to the six hundred million top-grade spirit stones, I have brought fifteen hundred capable and loyal individuals to serve under your command. They are reliable and will not betray you, ready to help you accomplish the Heaven's Collapse Plan!"

"Excellent!" Zhongshan nodded in approval.

Fifteen hundred people? Likely spies, but that was acceptable since he hadn't planned to expose the Daren Trading Association anyway.

"Would you like to inspect them?" Fan Yipin asked.

"Of course. These fifteen hundred individuals will be crucial to the Heaven's Collapse Plan. They will disperse five billion top-grade spirit stones across one hundred and fifty cities in the Da Yu Empire. Since you assure me of their loyalty, I can entrust them with the funds without worry," Zhongshan said with a smile.

The prospect of enormous profits drove people into a frenzy.

But it wasn't long before people started dumping their stocks of Liugu Grass, leading to the financial ruin of many who had bought in at high prices, while others sighed in relief that they had avoided such losses.

A strange phenomenon was observed across all the cities in the Da Yu Empire.

Raw materials, crafting materials, and alchemical ingredients underwent wild fluctuations in price. This caused chaos in the magical artifact and alchemical shops.

Stores began to run out of stock, either missing one thing or another.

A month of turbulence saw prices rising and falling unpredictably. The market became increasingly unstable, and shopkeepers grew anxious. However, many merchants began to engage in reckless speculation, treating the market like a gambling den.

After two months, the market in the Da Yu Empire was in turmoil. Speculative trading became rampant. People entered the market blindly, buying without considering the quality of the goods and selling just as indiscriminately. The focus was solely on hoarding and selling.

Market order began to break down, but it seemed that this chaos was confined to the commercial districts and had no direct impact on the government. The officials' only concern was that taxes were paid on time. As long as taxes were collected, the merchants were free to buy and sell as they pleased.

As the market trembled in chaos, transactions surged, leading to increased tax revenues for the government officials, who reveled in their unexpected windfall. Little did they realize the lurking menace, the impending catastrophe, and the sinister conspiracy festering beneath the surface.

The Da Yu Empire found itself embroiled in a storm of speculation. The initial frenzied buying and selling had laid the groundwork for an even more rampant and reckless investment climate.

Three months into this financial tempest, the ranks of gamblers swelled. Many had amassed fortunes through the volatile market fluctuations, yet an even greater number found themselves destitute, stripped of their wealth and left with scant options: endure harsh cultivation, borrow money, or abandon the city in search of new opportunities.

In the midst of this turmoil, Zhongshan and Fan Yipin sat in a pavilion in Guanghui City, engrossed in a game of Go. Yet neither of them paid any attention to the board. They played a game of blind chess, mirroring the chaotic and uncertain market conditions in the Da Yu Empire.

"How does it look now, Eastern Marquis?" Fan Yipin inquired, his gaze fixed on Zhongshan.

"I've been using Guanghui City as a microcosm to simulate the conditions of all the cities in the Da Yu Empire. The market behavior here reflects what's happening across the empire. Over the past three months, I've noticed that some cultivators are surprisingly shrewd. Initially reactive, they have begun to mount a counter-offensive," Zhongshan remarked with a deep breath.

"Oh?" Fan Yipin turned his attention to Zhongshan, intrigued.

"Our ability to influence the market hinges primarily on our substantial capital. With five billion spirit stones at our disposal, we've been able to steer the market. Although the amount allocated to each city isn't large, it's sufficient to make a significant impact. Over these three months, we've accumulated even more wealth. However, certain major families and prominent merchants within the cities have also wised up. They've started to band together, pooling their resources and beginning to play their own game, attempting to disrupt our rhythm," Zhongshan mused.

"Disrupt the rhythm? If they manage to throw off our timing, the Heaven's Collapse Plan might become ineffective, and we'll end up merely profiting from the chaos," Fan Yipin observed, his tone calm but with a hint of curiosity rather than anxiety.

"It's of no concern. I've anticipated this development. However, we have just three days left. During this time, let them enjoy their profits. In three days, I will show these major financial groups, who think they've ascended to the level of strategists, how they can be reduced to mere pawns once more," Zhongshan declared with unwavering confidence.

Fan Yipin's eyes narrowed at Zhongshan's words, his brow furrowing briefly before relaxing into a slight smile.

"Three days, huh? So, the first phase of the Heaven's Collapse Plan is complete?" Fan Yipin asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Yes, the first phase is complete. Now, the real devastation begins. The initial three months were merely preparatory. What follows is the first major collapse of the Da Yu market. This collapse will deliver a crippling blow to the Da Yu economy," Zhongshan stated with supreme confidence.