Protect Our Chief

What’s this I’m up to?

This is giving me a hard time~~~ He’s really pushing it~!

Emperor Longchang, full of muttering in his heart, coldly laughed and mocked while looking at the huge embankment that isolated Anjiang from the Great Wilderness Marsh from afar, with his hands behind his back, saying: "That layout by Wang Shouzhe is just as lousy as his chess game. He only focuses on the immediate surroundings and is not good at long-term operations. This Great Wilderness Marsh development plan is nothing but a foolish move. It seems to curb some flooding in the middle and lower reaches of Anjiang, but in reality, the investment far exceeds the output, the cost efficiency is very low, and there’s the risk of offending that old monster in the Southern Wilderness Marsh."

"Once that old monster erupts, let’s see how Wang Shouzhe cleans up the mess."

After saying this, Emperor Longchang couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased.

To stand on the sidelines like this, pointing and talking about the situation, is truly satisfying. Wang Shouzhe used to do this all the time, loved to make some national policy comments, and recklessly discussed the emperor’s affairs, which made him resentful.

Now, when Emperor Longchang flips things around and criticizes the loopholes in his strategy, he finds that being a critic has its perks, mainly that it’s satisfying. Especially when his criticisms of Wang Shouzhe’s phrasing include many learned from Wang Shouzhe himself—ideas like long-term operations, development plans, and very low cost efficiency.

This is called "using his own methods against him", and it must let Wang Shouzhe taste what it’s like to be criticized face-to-face.

But just as Emperor Longchang was feeling pleased, someone beside him snorted coldly: "I’ve lived for a hundred and thirty years, and I’ve heard countless boasts, but boasting as refreshingly unique and shamelessly like you, I haven’t seen much."

The speaker was an elderly man in gorgeous clothing not far away.

Emperor Longchang stiffened his face, turned to scrutinize the elderly man in gorgeous clothing for a few moments, and arrogantly said: "What I’m talking about are national affairs, what would a little old man like you understand?"

A mere youngster over a hundred years old dares to act venerable before the emperor?

With Emperor Longchang’s previous temper, he would’ve shocked them with his imperial presence by now.

However, on a trip in disguise there are enjoyable aspects that come with it, others wouldn’t know he’s the emperor; he can easily hear things that others wouldn’t dare say in his presence before.

Then, based on his true talent and learning, he can make them bow down.

That’s how true skills are demonstrated~

"Although I’m not some big figure, but I’m the owner of this ’Dingjiang Ship’." The elderly man coldly laughed and said, "I haven’t done any great things in my life, just as a small independent traveling merchant, I witnessed Changning Wang Family grow from a small Ninth-Grade Noble Family, all the way to its current flourishing state, experiencing an unprecedented miracle."

"If you’re just talking nonsense, that’s fine. But to say that Patriarch Shouzhe doesn’t understand long-term layouts and only cares for immediate benefits, I truly can’t agree. Not only me but also the countless individuals whose lives were changed would not agree."

"People like you, who’ve lived long but still don’t understand the basics, and are an old trouble for others, can only drag down the younger generation."

"What? Dare you call me a burden, old man?!"

Emperor Longchang’s face darkened like iron and was just about to roll up his sleeves to argue with this "old critic", but he was held back by Old Yao and Wu Xue Ning, one on each side.

"Grandfather, we’re on someone else’s ship, please bear with it for now. It wouldn’t be good if we got kicked off." Wu Xue Ning, with a full head of black lines, hastily soothed in a soft voice.

Previously, she had always respected Ancestor Grandfather very much. On the one hand, because Ancestor Grandfather was very good to her, on the other hand, because Ancestor Grandfather seemed very capable, like he could handle everything. But now...

Forget it, better not mention it.

With such a commotion on their side, naturally, everyone else on the ship noticed. Not only the elderly in splendid clothes but also other traveling merchants looked at Emperor Longchang with disdainful eyes, gossiping privately.

"This really is an overestimating his capabilities type, doesn’t even hold Patriarch Shouzhe in high regard."

"Judging by his bearing, he should be a privileged lord, most likely just squandered his family wealth and had to come out to do some business to make ends meet."

"Alas~ there are so many people in the world who talk like they’re unbeatable but are baffled when it comes to doing real work."

"This old squanderer should perhaps go to Ping’an Town and Xin’an Town to see how Patriarch Shouzhe manages, how he leads everyone to common prosperity."

"You’re so out of date, aren’t you? Ping’an Town is now completely relocated, turned into purely Wang Family’s main residence base. The current population is primarily concentrated in the newly opened places like Xin’an Town, Xinping Town, Wanghai Town, Dongxia Town."

"Even the original Dingpu Ferry has become Wang Family’s private commercial ferry, traveling merchants can do business, but unless there’s special circumstances, they can’t enter Wang Family’s main residence area. It’s impossible to go from Dingpu Ferry all the way through Wang Family’s inner residence to reach Zhouxuan Pass like before."

"However, Wang Family has newly built a ferry in Xinping Town, named Xinping Ferry, replacing most of the original Dingpu Ferry’s functions. Our ’Dingjiang Ship’s destination this time is Xinping Ferry."

Though Emperor Longchang was criticized by the crowd and his old face turned black, almost losing his temper, in the end, he held it in.