Although it’s a bit better compared to the west and north, overall, it’s quite strange.

"I’ve done some calculations, and in these cities of the Eastern Lands, it’s almost as if countless revenues of Silver Tael are evaporating every day. In other words, these people are doing business, earning Silver, but the Silver they’ve earned has disappeared into thin air."

"For instance, there’s a woman who opened a Cloth Store; she started her business ten years ago, and lived in an ordinary courtyard at the time. Ten years later, her living standards remained the same as back then."

"Over the years, she’s earned more than a million taels of Silver, but aside from leaving a little change for daily needs and necessary cash flow, the rest is completely invisible, not helping or improving her life at all. Wouldn’t you say it’s peculiar?"

According to Shujun, this is called evaporation.

The Silver was clearly earned, yet it’s completely invisible.

It’s as if there’s an unseen hand harvesting these people’s hard-earned money.

"Gold and silver are tangible; whether lost in a gambling den or spent on purchases, there must be a place it goes. But you can see the income, yet not the expenditure, and the Silver disappears, as if it never existed."

"I’m very concerned about this, and had someone investigate, leading me to discover something even stranger."

Shujun squinted.

"This place must have secrets; the visible businesses are all helping someone accumulate wealth. That person has turned this place into an impenetrable fortress where outsiders have no chance of integration."

"For example, the Substore Owner of Huizi Store managing Dongdi City is entirely composed of outsiders, not a single local. Even the long-term and short-term laborers hired by the store are all outsiders, with no locals!"

On the surface, it seems peaceful, harmonious, and thriving, but many things don’t stand up to scrutiny. If one delves deeper, this place is more than just deep waters. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

It’s downright terrifying.

The whole Eastern Lands encompass much more than just a city or two.

The region covers nearly a quarter of Dayuan’s land, with countless people and cities. Yet it can achieve such airtightness, surpassing even Big Brother Liang Zhichen’s Mist Capital and Mist City in Jiangnan.

Shujun further shared his speculation, "I believe the entire Eastern Lands are working for someone, or some power, with utmost loyalty, impervious to intrusion."

Clearly living under human control, yet looking at the people’s demeanor, there’s not a trace of reluctance, as if they’re wholeheartedly, internally devoted.

This time accompanying Yixuan to the Qin Family Ancestral Land in Dongcui City, the brothers saw it as a trivial matter, akin to killing a chicken with a butcher’s knife.

But Shujun mentioned these things; he went out merely as a side quest, wanting to help Yixuan gather news about the Qin family and to find out how those with hidden agendas were framing his sixth brother with rumors.

Unexpectedly, he learned some unrelated matters, which genuinely shocked him.

Big Brother Liang Zhichen is always shrewd and strategic; not to mention Shujun has clarified things so well, even a hint from Shujun allows him to deduce many things.

Just like...