Infrastructure Throne

What Yan Zui pointed to was the first place on the left hand.The moving of Shen Qingze's seat meant that Earl Yan En had to sit on the side.

And it's not just a chair to sit on the side.

After the assassination, suspended animation, scapegoating and power seizure, the two hypocritical uncles and nephews finally reached the verge of confrontation.

Yan Zui raised the wine glass and took a sip of the wine, the deep red was clear and watery, reflecting the thin red at the corner of his mouth that seemed to be a smile but not a smile, the hidden sharpness of his words made some people feel like they were sitting on pins and needles.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was subtly frozen for a moment.

Being publicly refuted by his nephew, as usual, Earl Yan En could not help but walk away, but the mess of the festival is still vivid, without Mo Yun's help, Yan En seems to have cut off his own arm.

His cruelty to his allies was seen by the nobles, and they were inevitably disappointed. Many nobles who had tried to get close to him gradually alienated and turned to Yan Zui's command.

People around who heard this little episode secretly paid attention to Yan Zui's face.

The city lord, who has been in office for less than half a year, is really powerful despite his young age.

Taking the matter of the festival as a fuss, they fought repeatedly, shoveling the alliance between the earl and Mo Yun to pieces, and taking advantage of the opportunity to drive away Yongye, to forge an unbreakable prestige in the hearts of the people.

With just one sentence, he easily won over a mysterious and powerful new officiant.

Uncle and nephew, each other's power ebbed and flowed, and in a blink of an eye, the power balance was adjusted. The newly appointed young city lord gradually stabilized his foundation, while the earl and his wife, who had been in business for many years, were in jeopardy.

If it wasn't for fear of fame, it would be inconvenient to attack his own uncle in front of the people of the city, whether Earl Yan En can sit here tonight is still a mystery.

With his nephew's approaching every step of the way, Earl Yan En's face changed again and again with the eyes of his colleagues watching a show. The appearance of the nephew bowing his head and surrendering.

In just a few moments of eye contact, the attendant has moved the seat of the officiant to the left of Yan Zui according to the order of the city lord.

Shen Qingze followed kindly, dragging the hem of her long sacrificial robes, followed slowly, and formally sat down.

He looked at this and then at that, feeling amazed in his heart, as if he was watching a wonderful live drama.He is clearly in the center of the storm, but he has nothing to do with him, just like the calm in the eye of a typhoon.

It's really interesting.he thinks.

In the eyes of these nobles who have lived here for generations, Yuanliu City is the whole scenery in their eyes, but to Shen Qingze, a visitor from another world, this small city is no different from a small earth city in a corner.

A servant came up to pour wine, but Yan Zui pressed down with one hand, he naturally took the silver tin flagon, and filled a glass for Shen Qingze himself.

Yan Zui slowly stood up holding the cup: "Everyone."

Everyone then stood up, and the guests in the distance couldn't help but quiet down and look at him.

"Today's dinner is not only to welcome the arrival of the new chief priest, but also to celebrate the restoration of our Abyss City and the survival of our lives after the catastrophe."

Yan Zui left the table with his cup in hand, strolled along the long table, caressed the high backs of everyone's chairs elegantly, and his voice clearly spread throughout the banquet hall, magnetic and full of rhythm.

"In just over a month, the city has experienced too many disasters and lost too many compatriots. In order to defend our common homeland, everyone has paid a lot. Although it is difficult, we have survived anyway. We fight Retiring the ferocious beast slaves, quelling the rebellion, and surviving a doomsday like Yong Ye, all depend on your solidarity!"

"Although Yuanliu City is a small city, the people are strong and united as one. No enemy can defeat us! Why don't we have a good celebration?"

When Yan Zui smiled, his complexion was so bright that it was difficult for people to look away from his face, and the encouraging words that came out of his mouth seemed to be particularly convincing.

"Everyone, don't be restrained, relax, let's toast, toast the hero, toast the sun, tonight will not be drunk and will not return!"

The good-natured laughter was endless, everyone's faces were filled with joy again, and the atmosphere became lively again. The table was full of wine and wine, and the guests were chatting and laughing.

Finance and tax officer Luo Xin likes to be lively the most. He touched his slightly bald forehead, raised his wine glass to Shen Qingze, and said with a smile, "Master Officiant, please allow me to toast you."

Shen Qingze nodded in greeting, while carefully looking at the fat man in front of him.

The house was full of guests, except for his nephew Yan Zui and Xiao Meng, he didn't know anyone.

"This is Chief Finance Officer Luo Xinluo, who is in charge of all financial and tax matters in the city, including agricultural tax, mining tax, and commercial tax. As the officiant, you are in charge of sacrifices and farming, and you must deal with him."

Yan Zui came behind Shen Qingze at some point, leaning against the back of the neck-high seat.

It turned out that the officiant was also in charge of farming.

Shen Qingze thought about it again, although he still couldn't get rid of the farmer's suit, it was just convenient for him to vigorously engage in farmland reclamation and water conservancy.

Rubbing the rim of the wine glass with Yan Zui's slender fingers, he leaned closer to him, and using the hand holding the glass, he introduced to Shen Qingze one by one the important officials in the city, and these people would soon become his subordinates.

Seeing Shen Qingze stand up, the middle-aged fat man hastily stood up and bowed to Shen Qingze with a smile.

Shen Qingze nodded slightly.Well, money is in charge.

Yan Zui then pointed to the man with dangling shoulders next to him: "This is the affairs officer of the City Lord's Mansion, Fan Mizhou. He is the chief steward of the City Lord's Mansion. He has to take care of trivial affairs, big and small, that others don't care about."

Shen Qingze expressed his understanding.Well, chief of staff.

Fan Mizhou stroked his chest with his right hand, and saluted Shen Qingze solemnly, with a steady voice: "I have met the officiant. I welcome you on behalf of the City Lord's Mansion."

Without Yan Zui opening his mouth, the man beside Fan Mizhou had already stood up consciously. He was tall and strong, a full head taller than Shen Qingze, with well-developed humerus, like a fitness trainer, and his voice was like a bell:

"Haha, it's my turn, I'm Teng Changqing, I'm the logistics officer in the city. I'm in charge of military supplies, logistics, transportation, and repairs and construction in the city."

Yan Zui smiled slightly: "Director Fuji is from a military background, straightforward and rough, Master Shen, don't take offense."

"No." Shen Qingze nodded again, um, the transportation team leader and contractor.

"Xiao Meng is the captain of the guard, in charge of security and city defense matters in the city, you have already met." Yan Zui's eyes slowly fell on the last person.

The man was sitting next to Earl Yan En. He was young, with slender eyes and slightly squinted. He looked amiable. He didn't get up, but raised his glass to Shen Qingze from afar: "My name is Berg, see you." Lord Officiant."

"Berg is a salt and iron official. He is in charge of the two mines outside the city, as well as the salt field. The income of the mines is the largest income in the city. The manager of Berg has worked hard."

Saying that, Yan Zui leaned close to Shen Qingze's ear, and the slightly drunken smell of alcohol sprayed on his earlobe, Shen Qingze wanted to scratch it so much, but held back.

"This person is the nephew of the Countess Yan En. The Countess was married outside the neighboring city of Mingzhu. Her ancestors were once great nobles from the Mansi allies in the west of the mainland. Her skin color and appearance are different from those of us oriental survivors."

Oh, it turned out to be a household with a mixed relationship between Chinese and Western.

Shen Qingze quickly digested this complicated interpersonal relationship, and nodded to express her understanding.

Yan Zui introduced a few nobles to him in a neutral manner, then dismissed them, and returned to his seat to sit down.

Finance and tax officer Luo Xin twisted his fat belly, leaned his upper body forward, and almost pressed it on the dining table, squinting at Shen Qingze's silver-white emperor's sacrificial robe, his eyes rolled around:

"Master Priest, may I ask, where did you get this sacrificial robe from?"

In order to avoid tracing the source, Shen Qingze pursed his lips, and said without changing his face: "It's from the family."

Luo Xin's eyes widened, and his voice changed: "A family heirloom?"

The official Fan Mizhou also looked at him, frowned thinly: "I look at the ornamentation on it, it is very special, it seems... the unique sacrificial pattern of the Great Master of the Great Xia Empire."

Shen Qingze: "..."

What eyes does this person recognize? ?

He can't say that he bought it in the system mall. As long as there is enough krypton gold, he can also buy the God of War armor, the emperor's dragon robe, and even the skin of the Elf King to pretend to be an elf!

Seeing the officiant being silent, in the eyes of everyone, it added another layer of mysterious halo.

Speaking of it, no one knows Shen Qingze's true origin, it seems that such a person suddenly fell from the sky.

Everyone's eyes were subtle, and they didn't know what strange guesses and associations were added in their hearts.

"My lord, as a priest, may worship the legendary Imperial Master, so what's so strange about wearing a similar sacrificial robe?" Berg interrupted the officials' contemplation with a chuckle.

He took a sip of his wine, and said slowly: "Although the old saying goes that the important affairs of the country are in the hands of priests and soldiers, but I think that the farming affairs in charge of the Lord Priestess are more important."

Shen Qingze remained silent, raised her eyes to look at him, and quietly waited for the other party's next words.

"That's right." Earl Yan En took over the conversation calmly, "Look at the food on our dinner table, the soup is watery, and the meat is pitiful. Alas, I haven't had such a rough dinner for many years. , Even us nobles are like this, don’t know how the common people below live..."

Luo Xin was picking up a piece of roast goose leg, and put it down after hearing the words: "I think it's okay, chicken, duck, fish, vegetables, fruits and desserts, there are fewer types, but there are everything you should have. The Earl even dislikes this, I don't know how much the Earl What delicacies are there every day in the house?"

Berg smiled and said: "My lord, this is compassionate. After all, the food reserves are getting less and less, and the price of food in the city is soaring. We can only rely on trading with Mingzhu City and exchanging raw ore for food. Originally, this matter, It was led by the former chief priest Mo Yun, but he is dead now, and there is no one who mediates in the middle..."

He carefully looked at Yan Zui's face, and seeing that the latter was fine, he continued to boldly say:

"In addition to the earthquake a few days ago, many mines collapsed in the mine, and the miners had to clean them up bit by bit. The output of raw ore plummeted. After coming and going, the grain is decreasing day by day, and often a large cart of raw ore is pulled out, and half of the cart is exchanged for grain.”

Reminiscent of the fact that Mo Yun insisted on asking the festival to send the old people a living sacrifice, and that he might also have plans to consume the population and save food by taking the opportunity, many people changed their expressions slightly.

But this point must never be said.

Berg shook his head and said: "If this continues, I'm afraid that in winter, the food in the city will be unsustainable and there will be great chaos. Moreover, the priest Mo Yun had predicted that this winter would be extremely cold. The attack, the caravans in the neighboring city are afraid of danger, so they don’t come to take the goods, alas, I don’t know how many people will die..."

Several high-level officials frowned, and for a while, the festiveness of the dinner was also diluted a lot.

Berg's blue eyes tentatively looked at the silent Shen Qingze:

"It is rumored that the Lord Priestess has hands and eyes that reach the sky, and that he has magical powers. That ancient monster can only retreat in front of you. You are in charge of farming, and you have saved so many old people. I don't think you can bear to watch everyone starve to death and freeze." die?"

None of the chief officers was a fool. No one dared to answer such a heavy question, and no one could make food for nothing.But if it is really starving and killing people all over the place, causing a big riot, this responsibility...

There was an awkward silence all around.

"Nonsense!" Instead, it was Earl Yan En who spoke first, and cast a cold glance at Berg, "The officiant has only just been in office for a long time, and he used to be a blacksmith. How do you know this? You are too abrupt."

Berg said: "Sorry, I took the liberty."

Shen Qingze gently turned the wine in the quilt, watched the two people sing together with cold eyes, and insisted on pushing herself into the pit.

It's a pity that whoever jumps into the pit and who will bury it is not certain.

"What Chief Officer Berg said makes sense." Shen Qingze narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly, "I also have a prophecy that this winter, no one will starve to death, nor will anyone freeze to death."

"What?" Everyone was startled, and then someone laughed.

Yan Zui frowned slightly, staring at him silently.

"Really? Listen, listen." Earl Yan En and Berg looked at each other in astonishment, only to find it absurd and ridiculous: "Could it be that the priest has the ability to turn things into gold, or can he make crops grow out of thin air? "

"The officiant is young, and his tone is not small, then you must remember what you said, if the time comes, heh..."

There was a murmur at the banquet table because of his prophecy, there were sporadic laughter one after another, and some people frowned and shook their heads, disappointed at his bold words.

※※※

The dinner party was swept away by Berg's heavy topic, and finally ended without knowing how, the guests gradually dispersed, and a waiter led Shen Qingze to his residence to rest.

Shen Qingze didn't have much carry-on luggage, so he only ordered Jin Da to bring his crossbow, dagger, and ducks, and then resettled the little ichthyosaur, which is known for its fortune attribute, in the big fish tank, and the big white dog stayed at home, to accompany Li Dad.

The city lord's mansion is very large, with three floors. The underground is the dungeon and the cellar, the first floor is the banquet hall and office, the second floor is the meeting hall and study, and the third floor is the bedrooms.

The former chief priest, Mo Yun, didn't live in the city lord's mansion. He was originally a nobleman, and he had a mansion in the city passed down by his ancestors, and now he has rushed to the palace.

Only Shen Qingze, an outsider, has no foundation or background in the city, not even a decent place to live.

Regarding Yan Zui's decision to place him in the City Lord's Mansion, the people below also have different opinions.

Shen Qingze drank a lot of wine at the dinner party, there were a lot of people at the party, everyone came to toast, the air was hot and dry, all the way to the bedroom, when he passed the corridor, he was blown by the evening wind, his clothes were sticky to his body with sweat, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

The bedroom prepared for him was large, with elegant and simple furnishings. There was a whole bookcase on one side of the wall, a soft blanket was laid on the floor, and the bed was as soft as cotton candy.

Shen Qingze didn't want to get drunk, and struggled to get up to take a bath.

Speaking of which, it has been more than a month since he traveled to the game, and the conditions are simple, he has never had a good bath, and every time he hastily showered, let alone other people in the village, I am afraid that the number of showers is pitifully rare.

It's a pity that this is not a modern society, there is no running water, and there is no water heater. If you want to take a bath, you have to go to a dedicated bathroom, call the attendants to prepare hot water for him, and steam the bathroom.

Holding the change of clothes in his arms, he leaned on the rug and waited for a long time. When his eyelids were fighting, the attendant who had gone to prepare hadn't returned yet.

It was already time to fall asleep, the city lord was delighted to be quiet, the corridor on the third floor was quiet, not even a single person was there.

Shen Qingze walked alone in the corridor. The City Lord's Mansion is too big, and every corridor looks exactly the same. After walking around for a long time, he finally found the bathroom at the end.

The space inside is spacious, the candles are bright, the heat is dense, and the water mist rises. The bath in the middle is made of hot spring rocks, and a screen at the entrance blocks the view.

Shen Qingze walked around and made sure that there was no one in the bathroom, then took off the emperor priest's sacrificial robe, and soaked comfortably in the warm water.