Chapter 144: Unifying Wano

"How do you know?"

Kurozumi Kanjuro panicked when he saw that Li Yuan wasn't fooled at all.

She rarely used the Copy-Copy Fruit's powers when with the Rocks Pirates, so even some officers didn't know her Devil Fruit ability!

"Wait, Li Yuan, I—"

Seeing this, Kanjuro quickly tried to beg for her life. She didn't want to die with her brother.

"Die!!"

Li Yuan wouldn't leave any potential threat alive. With a quick movement, he appeared behind the fake Rocks and cut off his head with the Seven Star Sword.

"General Li Yuan, please spare me. If you let me live, I promise our deal will never be revealed."

"I have many people placed in various parts of Wano. As long as I'm alive, they won't say anything!"

Seeing his two trusted subordinates dead, Kurozumi Orochi knew Li Yuan intended to kill him.

Now, he held onto Li Yuan's secret as his only leverage, hoping it might save him.

"Trying to threaten me?"

"Unfortunately, I, Li Yuan, am never threatened!"

"Where are these people you placed?"

Li Yuan glared at Orochi, demanding answers while crushing his shoulder.

"Ah!!!"

As the head of the Kurozumi family, Orochi had never experienced such pain. The agony of his shoulder being crushed made him scream like a pig being slaughtered.

"So that's where they are."

Using mind-reading, Li Yuan extracted the information about Orochi's arrangements.

After learning what he needed, Li Yuan knocked out Orochi.

He carried Orochi back to the Flower Capital, imprisoning him there.

Taking advantage of the situation, Li Yuan quickly eliminated all of Orochi's backup plans before news of Orochi's capture spread.

Thus, no one in Wano knew of his dealings with Orochi.

Returning to the Flower Capital, Li Yuan summoned Ashura Doji.

"Captain!!!"

Upon arrival, Ashura Doji's eyes were sharp, much stronger than two months ago.

Previously, Ashura Doji was a rogue swordsman. After two months of studying legitimate swordsman manuals and Ryuo training methods from Li Yuan, his strength skyrocketed.

Now, Ashura Doji's power was on par with a navy vice-admiral, making him the strongest among Li Yuan's subordinates.

"Gather all samurai and reclaim Hakumai, Ringo, Kibi, and Udon from Orochi."

"It's time to unify Wano!"

Li Yuan ordered.

"Yes, Captain!"

Ashura Doji responded excitedly.

In his view, Wano rightfully belonged to them.

Orochi had taken advantage of the chaos after they defeated Shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki to seize Hakumai, Ringo, Kibi, and Udon.

Now, it was time to reclaim those four territories.

The samurai under Li Yuan, upon hearing of the plan to reclaim the lost lands, eagerly joined Ashura Doji to take back Hakumai, Ringo, Kibi, and Udon.

The people of those regions were even more excited, knowing their good days were coming!

Without Orochi's command, his subordinates were like scattered sand, unable to resist Ashura Doji's advance.

In just one day, Hakumai, Ringo, Kibi, and Udon were completely reclaimed with ease.

Following the reclamation, Li Yuan implemented a system of loaning grain and leasing land to the people, allowing them to earn food through labor and eat their fill daily.

Those who had been enslaved by Orochi continued mining, but Li Yuan ensured they were compensated, preventing them from starving or dying of exhaustion.

The craftsmen forced into Orochi's weapon factory were not freed but were given freedom, food, and wages, unlike Orochi's oppressive regime.

They worked eight-hour days, with time to return home and rest, and had one day off every week.

This generous treatment and wages allowed them to support their families and enjoy luxuries, a life better than before being captured by Orochi.

Grateful for Li Yuan's treatment, the craftsmen had no complaints and even felt thankful.

Now, many in Wano envied those working in the weapon factory.

The craftsmen not captured by Orochi, hearing of such benefits, wanted to work for Li Yuan.

In response, Li Yuan ordered the construction of three more factories to meet the demand.

As for the wastewater, Li Yuan tasked scientist Yuma with designing a simple purification system to prevent environmental pollution.

On the seventh day after reclaiming Hakumai, Ringo, Kibi, and Udon, once everything settled and the people resumed normal life, Li Yuan gathered many in a square in Hakumai, a place heavily oppressed by Orochi.

"Everyone, some of you may know me, others may not."

"Let me introduce myself: I am Li Yuan, the Shogun of Wano!"

Li Yuan declared from a high platform, looking down at the people.

"General Li Yuan!!!"

"We love you, General Li Yuan!"

"Long live General Li Yuan!!"

"..."

The crowd erupted in cheers, with many moved to tears.

They had suffered under Orochi, losing families and homes, with many dying by his hand.

Li Yuan, like a shining sun, had driven away the darkness, bringing them hope and a bright future.

"All of Orochi's crimes have been eradicated."

"I captured Orochi, and he is here now."

"I will execute him by boiling, ending his life!"

Li Yuan ordered Orochi brought forth and placed before a large cauldron of oil.

"Mmm!!!"

Orochi struggled desperately, trying to speak, but his tongue had been cut, and his mouth sealed, rendering him mute.

Li Yuan had confirmed Orochi had consumed the Mythical Zoan Yamata no Orochi fruit.

Thus, Orochi wore seastone handcuffs, suppressing his fruit's revival ability.

"Kill him!!"

"Kill him!!"

"Kill him!!"

"..."

The people of Hakumai, seeing Orochi captured, shouted angrily, their cries even louder than their praises for Li Yuan.

It was clear how much they loathed and hated Orochi.

"Execute the boiling punishment!"

Li Yuan commanded.

"Splash!!!"

With his command, the samurai escorting Orochi pushed him into the boiling oil.

"Splatter splatter!!"

In just five seconds, Orochi's struggles ceased, and he died in the cauldron.

"Wonderful, Orochi is dead!!"

Seeing Orochi's demise, the people of Hakumai rejoiced.

"Now, with Orochi dead, I have an important announcement."

"From now on, Ashura Doji will be the daimyo of Kurazukuri, managing it on my behalf."

"Hakumai, Ringo, Kibi, and Udon currently have no daimyo and will be managed by me temporarily."

"The Infinity Sword School is now established in these regions. I hope you all try to become members."

"And I promise, those who join and become swordmasters will be eligible to become daimyo."

"Only the first four to become swordmasters can become daimyo!"

Li Yuan declared.

"What? Join the Sword School, become a swordmaster, and become daimyo?"

"That's wonderful, thank you, General!!"

"I must join the Infinity Sword School and become a daimyo!!"

"..."

Hearing Li Yuan's words, the crowd was elated. Being a daimyo was a position of power, a path to rise above others.

It was the best way to break social barriers and become someone of significance.

With this opportunity before them, who wouldn't want to try, thinking they might be a prodigious talent in swordsmanship?

Seeing their enthusiasm, Li Yuan nodded in satisfaction and left.

He used the Infinity Sword School as a way to cultivate subordinates, ensuring a steady supply.

While the quality might be lower, the quantity was high.

With numbers, a few geniuses were bound to emerge.

The navy's abundance of talent stemmed from their recruitment from the four seas.

Through rigorous selection, only the best reached headquarters, becoming elite and allowing the navy to dominate the seas.

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