Blackmail, Baichao Chamber Of Commerce

According to the list provided by Drizzle, Yuan Zuozong had accurately located all the aristocratic families and forces in Shuofang City that were affiliated with the Great Zhou Dynasty.

"Let's start with the Chen family," Yuan Zuozong decided, scanning the list and selecting the first target.

The Chen family was a long-established clan in Shuofang City. While not among the most powerful, they were well-regarded, and their estate covered several thousand acres.

Given the ongoing war, the Chen family had tightly secured their mansion.

Yuan Zuozong waved dismissively, signaling his deputy, Xu San, to approach the door.

Despite their intentions, they were maintaining a facade of courtesy.

"Open the door!"

"Our Lord wishes to discuss important matters with the head of your family!"

"Who is your lord?" came the wary reply from inside.

The occupants of the Chen family estate, unsure of the situation, did not immediately open the door. Instead, they questioned the visitors.

Xu San glanced back at Yuan Zuozong, clearly unsure of what to do next.

Yuan Zuozong gave him a stern look.

Xu San quickly recovered and took action.

"If you refuse to open the door, it means you have something to hide! You must be hiding defeated Imperial troops!"

"Bring them out! I'll search the premises myself!"

With a resounding crash, Xu San's punch shattered the expensive red lacquer door of the Chen family mansion.

As for the people who had questioned them, they were nowhere to be seen.

Shortly after, Yuan Zuozong emerged from the Chen residence with a space ring in hand.

"Hmph! This is all they had? I was expecting more."

"It's better this way. The money and people are gone—no loss for us."

Yuan Zuozong sneered. According to Drizzle's intel, the Chen family donated millions of spiritual stones to the Great Zhou Dynasty each year. The 50,000 spiritual stones they had offered were a mere token.

He dismissed their efforts as insufficient.

But Yuan Zuozong's dismissive attitude belied the reality. The treasures accumulated by a family with a history of thousands of years were certainly substantial.

Having dealt with the Chen family, Yuan Zuozong crossed them off the list and moved on to the next target.

...

Li Family

"Hey! If you don't greet me properly, are you looking down on me?"

"Come on! Search the premises!"

Li Family Ancestor: ????

...

Wang Family

"Our general said we won't take a single coin from you!"

"Come here, take everything except one penny! Move it all out!"

Wang Family Head:...

Knew it.

They really wouldn't take a cent!

Except for a single coin, everything else was being confiscated?

...

Shanhe Chamber of Commerce

"I heard you provide 20 million spiritual stones in taxes to Da Zhou every year?"

"Well, now that Shuofang City is under our Lord's control, you'll be paying us directly!"

"I'll collect the taxes in advance. We'll take three thousand years' worth right now!"

President of the Shanhe Chamber of Commerce: (Expression of disbelief)

Three thousand years!?

Our chamber of commerce was established less than three thousand years ago!

...

The forces targeted by the Dragoon Army quickly realized what was happening. Yuan Zuozong was attempting to extort them!

Many groups complied immediately, relinquishing their wealth to avoid destruction.

Those who resisted found their families destroyed, their assets seized.

Soon, news of the Dragoon Army's raids spread through the major forces in Shuofang City, causing panic and fear.

"Hmph! How dare they target families like ours?"

"Have they never heard of an unshakable dynasty and enduring families?"

"The Fang family in Shuofang City has been around for thousands of years!"

"But if Orion dares..."

"It's not good! The latest news is that Orion's men are causing trouble at the Fang family!"

"The Fang family's ancestor couldn't tolerate the insult and took action!"

"As a result... he was slapped to death!"

"What?!"

Hearing that the Fang family's ancestor had been killed, the person who had spoken in disbelief nearly choked on his own words.

"Impossible! The ancestor of the Fang family is a peak martial artist, nearly a half-saint!"

"And there are still several martial arts sects within the Fang family. How could this be possible?"

Boom!

Before he could finish, a loud noise erupted from the east of Shuofang City.

It seemed to be coming from the direction of the Fang family...

Looking into the distance, everyone saw a massive handprint imprinted in the air where the Fang family estate once stood!

A general with a commanding presence hovered above, coldly surveying the scene.

The Fang family had been completely wiped out!

"Gulu..."

Numerous powerful individuals observing from afar were left stunned, their confidence shaken.

"Don't worry... isn't there still the Baichao Chamber of Commerce in Shuofang City?"

"I don't believe Orion would dare to target the Baichao Chamber of Commerce!"

The Baichao Chamber of Commerce.

Compared to local forces in Shuofang City, the Baichao Chamber of Commerce was a colossal entity!

Its influence extended throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty and the entire Eastern Continent.

Certainly, after settling in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Baichao Chamber of Commerce had to contend with the local powers.

And anyone related to the Zhou royal family was a target for Yuan Zuozong.

The Baichao Chamber of Commerce was no exception!

"Leave! How dare you target our Baichao Chamber of Commerce!"

"How reckless!"

"Disappear before I get angry!"

"Otherwise, I won't hold back!"

In the streets, all other shops and houses had their doors shut tight.

Only the Baichao Chamber of Commerce remained open, its opulent four-story building starkly contrasting the surrounding establishments.

Their arrogance reflected their confidence.

The branch president of the Chamber of Commerce in Shuofang City was a semi-saint level expert!

...