Protect Our Chief

Chapter 1047 - 65: The Big Picture! The True Foundation of the Wang Family’s Strength

Therefore, their covert investigation, although just a preliminary move, is nonetheless a crucial part that directly influences whether the subsequent joint actions of the Three Ministries can proceed smoothly and produce satisfactory results.As such, the two of them didn’t dare to slack off; they even squeezed in work time at the expense of their sleep.

As for the outcome...

"Teacher, should we continue investigating?"

The young tax officer looked up at the white ceiling, his eyes vacant, with dark circles beneath them, appearing as though life had ravaged him countless times, and even his voice was weak: "We’ve already measured the fields, conducted private interviews about the actual reclamation time and farming years, and even investigated the Spirit Fields everywhere we could, but found no issues..."

"No issues is actually the biggest issue. From the records, the Changning Wang Family actually pays their full taxes every year, with very few exceptions where the tax exemption period for reclaimed land reaches fifty years; they often pay taxes several years, even decades, early. Is this normal? This isn’t normal!" The old tax officer’s voice was also weak, but his tone was full of resentment, muttering, "There must be a skilled accountant behind the Changning Wang Family, who can make the tax records impeccable, so that no issues can be found. They’ve been guarding against us for a long time!"

"Could it be that the Changning Wang Family is just crazy and actually hasn’t committed any tax evasion?" The young tax officer really didn’t want to continue investigating and couldn’t carry on.

He’s just a Spirit Platform Realm cultivator; although his stamina and energy are much greater than a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, he couldn’t withstand such endless, tireless high-intensity investigation.

If they continue at this pace, they’ll fail to uncover any tax evasion evidence by the Changning Wang Family, and he’ll end up worn out and sick first.

A dignified Spirit Platform Realm cultivator, getting sick from excessive fatigue, wouldn’t that make him a laughingstock?

"Rubbish! If you had a pile of Spirit Stones right in front of you, just a reach away, and everyone else had taken them without any issue, could you resist not reaching out? Even if you can resist for a moment, can you for a year, two years, several decades, a hundred years?" The old tax officer simply couldn’t believe in the Changning Wang Family’s innocence.

He’s been a tax officer for so many years, has conducted countless covert investigations, and has assessed thousands of Noble Families. How could he not know how these families truly operate?

No matter how exemplary and disciplined a Noble Family may appear, they inevitably have some hidden transgressions, albeit minor and not serious in nature.

Investigating such families is utterly thankless; after much effort, all they might find are trivial issues that can’t topple the opponent, while unwittingly offending them, leading those above to turn a blind eye.

Then there are some families that have long decayed at their core, and their actions warrant the ransacking of their homes numerous times. The higher-ups are fully aware of these actions and might even have evidence in hand, but due to protection from above, they can’t act for the time being. However, once the protector encounters issues, it’ll be their time to act.

He’s encountered such situations several times, where evidence painstakingly gathered ended up sealed in confidential files.

But he isn’t discouraged because he knows those things are just temporarily sealed, and one day they’ll be utilized. Such thoroughly corrupted families will inevitably ruin themselves; it’s just a matter of time.

As for the situation with the Changning Wang Family, though it’s the first time he’s seen it, and it indeed seems unbelievably clean, he believes a reasonable explanation must exist behind it.

Whether the Changning Wang Family genuinely pays their full taxes diligently every year or has cleverly prepared accounts to guard against audits, there must be an issue.

He refuses to believe there truly exists an immaculate Noble Family!

Hearing the old tax officer’s questioning, the young tax officer found himself speechless. Quite frankly, he couldn’t firmly say he could resist not reaching out either.

After pondering for a while, he stammered, "What do we do now?"

"What else can we do?" The old tax officer gazed at the ceiling, speaking helplessly, "Of course, we report truthfully, saying what needs to be said. Meanwhile, organize our investigation notes and interviews from this period, so if questioned from above, we have something to account for."

As for the rest, it is already beyond their control.

...

At the same time.

In a private room of the Lijiang Tea House near the Dingpu Ferry, two people were sitting opposite each other, drinking tea.

One of them was dressed in a scholar’s robe, looking refined and elegant, with an outstanding and scholarly aura, while the other wore profound cyan Black Tortoise martial attire, handsome in appearance, exuding an extraordinary presence.

These two were none other than the second leader of the Jiaolong Gang, Jiaang Yusong, and one of the patriarchal elders of the Changning Wang Family—Wang Shouyong.

During last year’s relic expedition, although Wang Shouyong didn’t manage to reach the final level due to his own abilities, he managed to set a new record at the seventh level, successfully fulfilling a part of the ’sheep shearing’ plan devised by Wang Shouzhe.

As a result, he gained immense benefits, acquiring a top-grade magical treasure and enhancing his bloodline talents significantly due to the High Modification and High-Grade Essence, reaching the appearance of a Great Celestial Pride C-class middle stage, becoming a member of the hidden Great Celestial Prides within the Changning Wang Family.