850 - 858
Chapter 850: Laying a Foundation in Youzhou Province
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
In this world, only very few people could be legendarily featured by radical life. Most of the people lived very common lives. Each individual's fate trace had a strong inertia. After many years, this inertia was manifested in Zhang Tie's friends once again.
The members of God's Will Brotherhood neither lost their "ambition" that they used to carry in Blackhot city and succumbed to the common life nor be unrivaled in the region. Like many other commoners, they were still trying their best to climb up on the way that they could see.
'With my support, it took a group of foreign young people a few years to root in a strange place. Through concerted efforts, they even accumulated 600,000 gold coins using the 200,000 gold coins that I gave them at the beginning. It's already a great job for them. In this age, most of the young men could not make such a great achievement.' Zhang Tie praised them inside. However, compared to what Zhang Tie had experienced, such an achievement was nothing great at all.
Zhang Tie started to rethink profoundly.
The sharp contrast between Doug's passion and Zhang Tie's calm feeling inside reminded Zhang Tie, 'Barley, Doug and the other members of God's Will Brotherhood remain unchanged; the one who has changed is me. Therefore, I could not maintain the same passion as them facing the undertaking that drives them crazy.'
Over the past years, after experiencing so many things such as exterminating all the demons in Waii Sub-continent and establishing the Sacred Iceland Kingdom, what the God's Will Brotherhood was doing was not on the same level as Zhang Tie at all. The business of hundreds of thousands of gold coins could almost be ignored by Zhang Tie.
'Perhaps, the strong inertia could also be called fate. What if I did not have Castle of Black Iron?' Zhang Tie asked himself while sighing with emotion.
Such a sharp difference between him and his friends didn't cause any sh*t superiority complex to Zhang Tie; instead, he treasured this friendship more than ever.
Barley, Doug, Hista and the other members of God's Will Brotherhood watched Zhang Tie with scorching eyes and waited for his answer.
After being silent for a few seconds, Zhang Tie let out a deep sigh and watched them with a sincere look, "I'm afraid that I cannot leave Youzhou Province for the time being. I've experienced too much these years and shoulder greater responsibilities than before. I cannot live as free as before anymore!"
"I get it. Is it because of your family? I've not expected that you already have 3 sons. You're the best one among us!" Bagdad praised in an unconstrained way.
"Not only that!" Zhang Tie replied with a smile.
"Are you still following the order of Huaiyuan Palace?" Sharwin asked.
"Not completely. But I cannot separate from Huaiyuan Palace so easily!"
"What's the reason then?" Leit opened his mouth.
"Promise me, you will not be surprised by that!" Zhang Tie watched them with a solemn look.
"No problem, go ahead!" The other guys also replied with a rare, solemn look.
"I already promoted to a knight when I was in Waii Sub-continent. My current title is the dean of the supreme court in Youzhou Province. After staying in Taixia Country for so long, you must have known the responsibilities of the dean of the supreme court." Zhang Tie said with an extremely serious look.
After exchanging a glance with each other, the atmosphere in the room turned strange at once.
After being silent for a few seconds, "Hahahahaha..." those guys suddenly burst out into laughter as they staggered forward and back.
Doug even shot out his saliva. As they laughed, they patted their bellies and thighs forcefully.
Zhang Tie had not imagined that these guys would respond in such a way when he exposed the truth.
'F*ck, doesn't this father look like a knight? I've practiced a lot to promote to a knight. What are you guys laughing at?' Zhang Tie swore inside with a confused look.
"Bighead, you're really humorous!" Hista burst out into laughter as he forcefully patted Zhang Tie's shoulder and said with a wink, "If you were a knight, you must have been a clan elder of Huaiyuan Palace. In Waii Sub-continent, a knight could be the head of a corps. Actually, there's not a single knight in the former Andaman Alliance at all!" After saying that, Hista revealed an obscene look as he lowered his voice, "Actually, I had also used this trick before to cheat women to sleep with me. Later on, I found this trick didn't work anymore as none of them believed that. One time, I finally encountered one. However, when I woke up the second morning, I found my purse and that woman had long gone. From then on, I stopped playing such a trick!"
"I'm indeed a clan elder of Huaiyuan Palace. I also took the office of corps leader of Hurricane Corps over those years when I was in Huaiyuan Prefecture in Waii Sub-continent!" Zhang Tie explained with a helpless look.
"Hahahaha..." The other guys smiled more excessively.
"This is our familiar "bighead". You're as humorous as the very, very special one before..." Barley laughed so heavily that his belly started to quiver like ripples.
"Hmm, it's good for you to have such an idea. At least you have a target!" Sharwin said implicitly.
"Just like how we used to dream that we were childes and young masters of the 4 major clans in Blackhot City and had the endless braised beef with potatoes!" Doug nodded with a serious look.
"Knight is also my lifetime target!' Bagdad chested out as he said this.
"If you were a knight, our brotherhood would have a reliance in Taixia Country. Our business would be..." Leit suddenly stopped as he and the other guys suddenly felt that Zhang Tie had changed greatly while releasing an extremely strange qi, which almost froze each cell of them in a split second.
All of them had sensed that their awareness had been separated from their body by that overwhelming force. They felt that their awareness and body might be imprisoned in a firm and hopeless cage. If Zhang Tie liked, he could blow up their heads only by throwing a glance at them. In this state, they would definitely be suffocated in the end.
In only a few seconds, after Zhang Tie concealed his overwhelming qi, the laughter in the room had stopped while the other guys had been wet all over even in the winter as they felt their clothes were sticking to their body tightly.
They looked like as if they had seen a ghost in the daytime with their mouths widely opened, which could almost hold an egg.
"Rea...real...kni...kni..kni...knight!" Dough became stammered, "I'm still alive after pa...pat...patting a knight's shoulder?"
"Our God's Will Brotherhood ha...have a kni..kni..knight!" Barley the Fatty was affected by Dough as he stared at Zhang Tie, causing goosebumps all over Zhang Tie's body.
"Huaiyuan Palace have just won the position of provincial governor of Youzhou Province. The current provincial governor of Youzhou Province is Zhang Taixuan, the head of Zhang Clan. I was appointed as the dean of the provincial court in Youzhou Province. As you've been in Taixia Country for so long, you must have known the responsibilities of the dean of provincial court!" Zhang Tie watched them silently, "As it's a chaotic world, Taixia Country might be the last pure land of humans. I know you live pretty well given your looks. I know each of you has a bright future. I'm happy to see you living well which is also what I expected for when I founded the God's Will Brotherhood. I don't want to disrupt your living pattern; neither do I want to force you to make any choice or decision. If you like, you can come to Youzhou Province to give me a hand. However, although the knight's world is full of chances, it's also very dangerous. I cannot guarantee you anything. With this decision, you might be involved in a greater crisis in the future; even at the cost of your lives. Therefore, you should think about it carefully. If you agree to come here, I will welcome you. If you want to maintain your current living pattern, I will also be happy about you!"
"What...what can we do...here in Youzhou Province?" Barley asked in a hesitated and unconfident way after exchanging a glance with the others.
They all knew that they were nothing in front of a knight and the dean of the provincial court in Youzhou Province. If they had ruled a city, they might win the favor of the dean of the provincial court in Youzhou Province; however, their current achievement was totally like how kids playing sands in front of Zhang Tie.
"What are you adept at?" Zhang Tie asked.
"When we came to Youzhou Province, we had analyzed our strengths carefully. As we had just graduated from middle school, we didn't have skills, battle strength or human relationship. What we could rely on was the capital that you had gifted us, our intelligence and diligence; therefore, we finally chose the service industry. We invested an inn and a mini bar at first. After accumulating enough experiences in this industry, we opened hotels, which is also what we are adept at!" Barley replied.
"If so, why not open hotels in Youzhou Province?" Zhang Tie smiled, "But you should not only open 3 hotels here; instead, you should open at least 300 hotels across Youzhou Province..."
Zhang Tie said while the other guys' eyes gradually turned bright...
"You've already been a dean of the provincial court in Youzhou Province, what do you open so many hotels for?" Doug asked like an idiot.
"Now that it's an investment, of course, our first goal is to make a lot of money. Even I want to make money; it's legitimate as money is a symbol of strength and power. The simplest method to accumulate strength and power is to make and save money!" Zhang Tie smiled, "In the future, our hotels could even spread across Taixia Country. We could contact people from all walks of life. Each hotel works as eyes and ears, which could help us ask about and collect information in the most convenient way. In most cases, a key message is even more important than a corps. Additionally, the hotel is a comprehensive service industry, which would be involved with clothes, food, accommodation and transportation; furthermore, it's a labor-intensive industry. The more hotels we open, the more places will we occupy, the more stakeholders will we have and the more people will rely on us, the greater influence will we have. We shall lay a solid foundation here by making our undertaking better, greater and stronger. Now that we've decided to scrape a living in Taixia Country, we have to root deeply in this place."
Zhang Tie had learned from Golden Roc Bank how to exert one's utmost efforts to do a good job or develop an industry. Over these days, Zhang Tie had been considering how to root in Taixia Country. Besides building a city and expanding Jinwu Business Group, Zhang Tie felt that he could do something else. Besides hotel industry, Zhang Tie had also considered about mining ores, architecture and machinery manufacturing. Of course, Zhang Tie longed most for having a private bank like Golden Roc Bank. Whereas, given the strict requirements for opening a private bank in Taixia Country and the limited resources of him and Zhang Clan in Taixia Country, Zhang Tie gave it up for the time being.
In Taixia Country, a provincial bank would require at least 10 billion gold coins as an initial capital, this condition had disappointed most of the major clans.
Zhang Tie had not imagined that those guys of God's Will Brotherhood could arrive here suddenly and run their hotel industry well in Guizhou Province from a scratch. Zhang Tie then poured out his original thought.
Now that Zhang Tie had poured it out, he had almost made a determination. Even if they didn't agree, Zhang Tie would also have someone else do it. Even if dozens of hotels suffered a loss, Zhang Tie could still stand that. Therefore, Zhang Tie was confident to tell them that he wanted to open over 300 hotels across Youzhou Province, which number was too small for Youzhou Province, even being a lower province.
Chapter 851: Ceaseless Troubles
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
The group of Barley left after staying in Golden Light City for 4 days, during which period, they learned about Zhang Tie's recent developments; especially the message that Zhang Tie was going to buy a land and build a city in Youzhou Province. Through a short negotiation, they had determined to settle down in Youzhou Province and restarted their new life here.
Even though, they needed to handle a lot of problems.
The first problem was in the God's Will Brotherhood.
There were 28 members of God's Will Brotherhood totally, among whom only the 6-7 guys headed by Barley knew Zhang Tie's recent developments. All the others still knew nothing about Zhang Tie's current situation. As the achievement that they had made in Guizhou Province also benefited from all the other members of God's Will Brotherhood, they needed to notice the other members of God's Will Brotherhood about their choice so that the others could make their decisions.
As of now, besides the group of Barley which was still single, many members of God's Will Brotherhood had gotten married and established families in Guizhou Province. Therefore, it was actually uneasy to convince others to develop in Youzhou Province together with the group of Barley.
However, Zhang Tie didn't mean to move all of them to Youzhou Province, because he didn't want to destroy their recent lives by having them move to a strange place and restart a new life. He was not entitled to make such a selfish decision.
Zhang Tie asked Barley to only tell them that he had already returned to Taixia Country and was going to do something; instead of telling them about his recent developments. Those who wanted to come could come here to develop their new undertakings; those who didn't, just stay there to maintain their current lives.
After hearing Zhang Tie's suggestion, Barley and the other guys nodded. It would be much easier to handle it in this way. However, they all knew that the members of God's Will Brotherhood would divide into different ways after they made such a decision. The God's Will Brotherhood that they founded in Blackhot City would also come to an end soon after they made their choices.
Perhaps, nobody would declare about the dissolution of the God's Will Brotherhood; actually, after they made such a decision, they would divide into different ways completely. What linked them would be the friendship between them instead of interests and honors. As a result, God's Will Brotherhood would become a countrymen organization and club.
Anytime, only the binded interest was the firmest foundation.
He could not force all of them to follow his leadership because each person had his own lifestyle. Some liked to conquer the world; some felt that the greatest pleasure lay in mountainscapes and rivers. If the two kinds of people were bound with each other, besides being embarrassed, there would be a series of side effects. The final outcome might be that they could not even be friends.
Zhang Tie didn't dream about conquering the world. It was normal for him to have such a dream in other sub-continents; however, if he still thought about this in Taixia Country, he must have been insane. Nevertheless, given his current social status, what he should consider and face was still different than that of commoners. This also caused the greatest difference between him and the other members of God's Will Brotherhood.
"The original intention of God's Will Brotherhood was to survive our friends in Blackhot City in the holy war. It seems that we've already reached this target now. All the members who joined the God's Will Brotherhood are living pretty well. It indicates that our decision to establish the God's Will Brotherhood is right. Our brotherhood also played its role. I'm very happy about this point. From then on, I hope our friendship remains unchanged and God's Will Brotherhood to be preserved. Those who come to Youzhou Province will have a wholly new start. I feel that Jinwu Hotel Group would be a nice name. I hope Jinwu Hotel Group would be the largest hotel group in Youzhou Province in one decade."
The bright future that Zhang Tie described just now made Barley and the other guys spirited; therefore, after confirming some details with Zhang Tie, they had hurriedly returned to Guizhou Province by the fury-level airship dispatched by Zhang Tie. After ending their business in Guizhou Province, they would soon return to Youzhou Province by that airship. By then, they would show their talents in Youzhou Province.
During the 4 days, Zhang Tie also got the news about those girls in Rose Association who had come to Taixia Country. Most of them had married others and delivered babies. Some moved to other places in Guizhou Province with their parents and had lost their contact with the God's Will Brotherhood.
Guizhou Province was larger and more prosperous than Waii Sub-continent. The total population in Guizhou Province was over 10 billion. A lot of foreigners were living there. With the financial management income of 580 gold coins from Golden Roc Bank annually, plus their nice looks, they could live like rich ladies even with their family members. Therefore, Zhang Tie was not worried about them.
This message also drew a full stop for the crazy deed between Zhang Tie and those girls of Rose Association in Blackhot City.
...
On December 1st, Zhang Tie stood in the open land in the backyard in the heavy snow and saw Barley and the other guys of God's Will Brotherhood slowly rising up and flying towards the south.
On the deck, Barley and the other guys were waving their hands towards Zhang Tie with full ambitions. Even Beverly, Fiona and Linda had come out to bid a farewell towards them together with Zhang Tie.
Seeing off the airship, Zhang Tie let out a deep sigh.
"Alas, I've not imagined that those beautiful girls of Rose Association have married others. Hubby, are you missing them? If those girls were here, we would have a lot of games to play!" Fiona looked around and watched Zhang Tie while pouting her petite mouth faintly.
"You know that." Zhang Tie watched Linda and Beverly with a sense of guilt.
"I've long known Barley and the other guys, do you think that I don't know what you enquired from them?" Beverly watched Zhang Tie with a faint smile.
"Ahem...ahem..." Zhang Tie coughed in an embarrassed look, "Erm, I just care about them, don't think too much!"
Fiona suddenly let out a sigh, "Actually, we know that you're a nostalgic person. Hubby, if you want to find those sisters of Rose Association or pick them to your side, as long as they like, Beverly and I will not oppose it, if some more people could serve you, we don't need to be that painstaking anymore!"
'Say yes and mean no; definitely say yes and mean no.' The moment he heard Fiona's tone, Zhang Tie had known what this ladykin was thinking about. Women were all jealous; especially those women who had married and delivered babies would have a strong territorial consciousness in the family; perhaps, Fiona and Beverly didn't feel anything special when Zhang Tie killed time with those girls in Rose Association previously; they would even join them; however, if any more women dared break in his life circle at this moment, Zhang Tie was sure that his harem would get a big fire.
"Don't worry. It's enough for me to have 3 of you!" Zhang Tie patted Fiona's raised butt under her fox-fur robe and said seriously.
"Really? I don't think so!" Beverly watched Zhang Tie with her flickering eyes, "I remember that Sonia stayed in your study a bit longer than before a few days ago!"
"Alas!" Zhang Tie suddenly shouted as he heavily patted his head and said, "I forgot I promised Chenglei to teach the little guys rollerskating!"
After saying that, Zhang Tie had escaped away.
Fiona, Beverly and Linda became silent for a few seconds as they had not imagined that Zhang Tie could be so shameless. After exchanging a glance with each other, they burst out into laughter at the same time.
...
After the group of Barley left Youzhou Province, Zhang Tie recovered his "home-staying" mode.
Even in such a "home-staying" mode, besides accompanying his family members and negotiating with his elder brother about purchasing a land to build a city, Zhang Tie also kept an eye on the holy war, the situation facing Taixia Country and various messages. Additionally, he kept cultivating every day.
As the old Hua saying went, be prepared for danger even in times of peace. Even though Youzhou Province in Taixia Country could not sense the battle flames of the holy war, Zhang Tie, who had witnessed the cruelty of the holy war, dared never forget about the greatest threat from demons. Zhang Tie knew that there was no Shangrila across the human territory facing the holy war; even in Taixia Country, there were also a lot of surging hidden forces...
The notice "Long-term Garrison Knights Wanted in the Lion Fortress of Earth-element Realm" was still hanging on the top of the notice board in the Mountain of Brightness. Being different from that a few years ago, the treatment for garrison knights in the Lion Fortress grew from 2 earth-element crystals per month to 6...
This was not a good signal as it revealed that the situation facing Lion Fortress in the Earth-element Realm was growing more and more dangerous.
Demon disasters started to break out in Golden Roc Sub-continent. The National Defense Department of Taixia Country had dispatched knights over there to crack down the demons...
Plague broke out in the dozens of cities of Chaosang Sub-continent at the same time. The Northeast Military Region Headquarter had issued the order to the navies in each province within its territory to prevent ships from stealing into Taixia Country from Chaosang Sub-continent and strictly control population and commodities smuggling...
These were the major events that happened in the border of Taixia Country during the past a couple of months. As to the inland of Taixia Country, the heresy Heavens Reaching Church aroused a riot in Ganzhou Province in Taixia Country at the bottom of November, which was pacified in Mid-December. However, the court temples in Youzhou Province also received the documents about catching the dregs of the Heavens Reaching Church from the Supreme Court in Taixia Country...
In Mid-December, a LV 13 important criminal on the 8369th place of the wanted list in the Supreme Court of Taixia Country sneaked in Youzhou Province and fought ferociously with 4 bounty hunters in the wild of Threespring Prefecture. Finally, the important criminal was killed at the cost of the lives of 2 bounty hunters.
In such ceaseless troubles, they welcomed the first spring festival of the 900th year of Black Iron Calendar...
Chapter 852: On the Way
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
After leaving Youzhou City 2 months ago, Zhang Tie returned to Youzhou City by airship once again on December 30th, the 899th year of Black Iron Calendar.
Zhang Tie was a bit depressed on the journey as he had to stay in the airship for a whole day. By contrast, if he could fly there himself, it would only take him 4-5 hours from Yanghe Prefecture to Youzhou City. For the sake of convenience, he could directly fly over there; however, as a black iron knight, it would be too shocking if he just flew there himself. As he had already been very famous in Youzhou Province, Zhang Tie didn't want to be any hotter anymore; therefore, he just chose to go there by airship.
Thankfully, he could spend almost 20 hours to absorb about 10 earth-element crystals in the flight.
Over these days, although Zhang Tie looked free, he didn't slow down his cultivation speed. Even at home, he would also spend at least 10 hours a day in cultivation. He constantly formed his earth chakra at the speed of using up 1 earth-element crystal per 2 hours.
Zhang Tie absorbed earth-element crystals at a very shocking speed. He would consume at least 5 earth-element crystals a day. Therefore, he had consumed over 300 earth-element crystals over the past 2 months.
...
In the berth cabin of the airship, after absorbing one earth-element crystal in his hand, Zhang Tie felt that a complex geometric pattern composed of triangles and rounds on the rim of a part of the earth chakra of the King Roc Sutra finally turned bright. It was like assembling a huge machine. After it was assembled, Zhang Tie felt that one dragon scale on his knight's crystal plate turned golden at once. Zhang Tie knew that he had already lit 11 dragon scales.
It was the 8th earth-element crystal that Zhang Tie had used up since he boarded the airship. It indicated that Zhang Tie had already cultivated in his berth cabin for 16 hours silently. Such a period was not long for a person who had stayed in the tower of time for 15 years. However, he needed to relax too. After lighting the 11 dragon scale, he had improved his battle strength a bit more. Therefore, Zhang Tie stopped today's cultivation.
After opening his eyes, Zhang Tie threw the useless earth-element crystal into Castle of Black Iron. After that, he picked himself up; warmed up his limbs and sensed his physical and spiritual changes before opening the hatch door and walking out of his berth cabin.
"Elder Mushen!" Two bodyguards on the airship hurriedly gave a salute to him when they saw Zhang Tie coming out of his berth cabin.
According to the schedule, this airship should arrive at Youzhou City at about 9 am. It was about 5 am when the day had just broken. It was still far away from the estimated arrival time. Given the distance, this airship should still be about 500 miles away from Youzhou City.
"Tell the captain, I will arrive there ahead of you. You can just arrive at Youzhou City on time!" After leaving a message to the two guards, Zhang Tie came to the open deck. After breathing the chill air, he directly flew off the deck towards Youzhou City.
Even if someone saw him flying towards Youzhou City from here, it would not arouse any doubts.
After flying in the air once again, Zhang Tie felt as free and pleasant as fish in the sea and bird in the sky.
With the protection of his protective battle qi, Zhang Tie could almost not sense the chill wind in the high altitude.
In heavy wind and snow, Zhang Tie gradually elevated and deepened into the thick, grey clouds in the troposphere.
Snowflakes were coming into being in the thick, grey clouds. With the strong knight's consciousness, Zhang Tie was meticulously tasting how the virtual vapor gradually became glittering snowflakes. 'What a nice process!'
In each second, hundreds of millions of beautiful snowflakes would fall off the thick, grey cloud with the chilly wind...
Penetrating through the thick, grey cloud where snowflakes were gradually coming into being, Zhang Tie felt like flying in a brilliant park. He could see and sense numerous glittering nice snowflakes silently blossoming in the air in each split second. Watching those "water spirits" blossoming, floating in the air and landing on the land, Zhang Tie felt vacant inside...
In Zhang Tie's consciousness of knight, such a scene was super splendid.
Who else could enjoy such a realm of super greatness in the universe except for knights?
It required sun's temperature, namely the strength of fire, to evaporate water from the surface of the ground. Due to evaporation and desublimation, water manifested its different forms in different spatial locations. After that, snowflakes would return to the land by wind. The whole life of a small piece of snowflakes was affected by the four elements such as earth, water, wind and fire in the universe.
In the vacant state, Zhang Tie had a new insight from these snowflakes, which reminded him of the forming and disappearing bubbles in water.
On the vast white land, the undulating mountain ranges were like silver snakes while the plains were like running white elephants. In such a vacant state, Zhang Tie gradually saw the contour of Youzhou City when he was already 70 miles away from Youzhou City.
At the sight of Youzhou City, Zhang Tie almost forgot something.
In the thick, grey cloud, Zhang Tie directly called 6 thunder hawks out of Castle of Black Iron.
The two bigger thunder hawks had been very familiar with the outside world; however, the other 4 smaller ones were very curious and excited about this new world; especially the snowy day. They kept chirping while flying around Zhang Tie.
At the request of their "father", the 4 younger thunder hawks had to accept the baptism of a lightning bolt in their lives like why a flying moth would dart into the fire. It originated from their instinctive impulse.
If thunder hawks could survive the baptism of a lightning bolt, they might accomplish an evolution in their lives. If they failed, they might be heavily wounded or lose their lives. The first thunder hawk that Zhang Tie raised was caught by someone in the Selnes Theater of Operations after being struck by the lightning bolt. The 4 younger thunder hawks' mother was also wounded when she accepted the baptism of a lightning bolt. However, she was lucky as she was not captured by people.
Standing still in the air, Zhang Tie watched these thunder hawks who came to Taixia Country with him from Waii Sub-continent with a tender look.
These thunder hawks were not only his pets but also his partners and comrades-in-arms...
"Go, go to the north, there are fewer people over there. Remember to survive back!" Zhang Tie instructed them while pointing at the sky in the north.
It was Liaozhou Province in the north of Youzhou Province, which was a wild province with fewer people.
Thunder hawks were born to be hardly captured. These thunder hawks were smarter and stronger due to the training of Aziz in Castle of Black Iron while those younger thunder hawks had mastered hunting skills. In Liaozhou Province, they would have a fewer chance to meet people. Even if they were struck by a lightning bolt, they didn't need to worry about being captured by people.
Those thunder hawks chirped and flew around Zhang Tie for a short while. Finally, Zhang Tie waved his hand towards them. After knowing Zhang Tie's intention, they instantly penetrated through the clouds and flew towards the north as fast as a lightning bolt facing the heavy wind and snow.
Seeing them off, Zhang Tie felt a bit sad. Because he didn't know how many among the 4 younger thunder hawks could survive back. However, it was their fates. They had to accept the challenge from their fates like how Zhang Tie was coming here to accept the challenge from his own fate. They could not avoid that; instead, they could only face that.
Until the 6 thunder hawks disappeared in his vision did Zhang Tie move his eyes to Youzhou City in the distance. He then accelerated towards Youzhou City.
Zhang Tie came here today after receiving a message from Huaiyuan Palace that the Clan head had something to negotiate with the other elders of Zhang Clan yesterday.
As Count Long Wind had been the provincial governor of Youzhou Province, no matter how influential and great Zhang Tie was in Youzhou Province, he should never think about having Zhang Taixuan invite him to Golden Light City. Nobody else across Youzhou Province had such a right. In the Northeast Military Region, only Commander Cheng was qualified to call a provincial governor of Youzhou Province.
Zhang Tie didn't know why Zhang Taixuan summoned him; however, he knew that it must be a major event.
2 days ago, all the procedures about purchasing the land had been handled. Through this journey, he could bring back those documents about land ownership, atlas and certificates about property right and title deed for land. From then on, Zhang Tie's family would enter the list of major landlords in Youzhou Province; the land area of Zhang Tie's family would reach 200,000 square miles, which was equal to 1/4 of that of Yanghe Prefecture.
The new land was also incorporated into the administrative area of Yanghe Prefecture. After the city was built, Zhang Tie and Zhang Yang planned to have their dad be the major of Jinwu City...
Chapter 853: Reason
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
When in Huaiyuan Prefecture, Zhang Tie's dad ran a medium-sized airship corporation as his new undertaking. However, after moving to Taixia Country, his airship corporation became disadvantageous completely because its manufacturing skills were greatly lagged behind in Taixia Country. Not only that, the airships that were produced by large-scale airship production bases and factories in Spiritualmaple Prefecture and Chaoyang Prefecture were even much cheaper than that produced by Zhang Ping's corporation due to the effect of scale.
As they could not match their competitors on quality and price, of course, their products had no market in Taixia Country; therefore, Zhang Ping's airship corporation could only wind up.
Actually, across the Yanghe Prefecture, only the Huaiyuan Airship Manufacturing Plant affiliated to Huaiyuan Palace was a bit competitive in this line in Youzhou Province on both scale and skills. All the other small and medium-sized airship manufacturing enterprises could not match the local airship manufacturing enterprises in Taixia Country. Therefore, these foreign enterprises could only be merged by Huaiyuan Airship Manufacturing Plant, cooperate with each other to be the downstream suppliers of Huaiyuan Airship Manufacturing Plant or wind up.
After moving from Waii Sub-continent to Taixia, Huaiyuan Palace also suffered pains from adapting to the integrated demands from all aspects in Taixia Country. On one hand, Huaiyuan Palace's certain industries had overcapacity and labor surplus; on the other hand, Huaiyuan Palace's products lacked core-competitiveness in Taixia Country.
Not only the airship manufacturing industry, even the entire manufacturing industry that Huaiyuan Palace was involved in was experiencing such a sharp pain.
The method that Huaiyuan Palace used to relieve pain was to build a city. They intended to stimulate the great domestic demand by building a city so as to gradually advance and integrate the overall strength of the manufacturing industry in Yanghe Prefecture.
As a clan elder and the one who suggested to build a private city for his family, Zhang Tie could pay attention to these domestic affairs facing Huaiyuan Palace from a higher point.
'By buying land and building a city, I intend to meet my family's demands and give a hand to my clan at the critical moment. Given the current layout of Yanghe Prefecture, if it contained one more city, it would welcome an all-round development. Additionally, my father who has "lost his job" and is staying at home could take the office of the major of this new city, which could spice up his living. My mother could live a life as a major's wife. That would be better.'
The reason that Zhang Tie's elder uncles' families drew closer to Zhang Tie's family was that the Milkway Shipyard was facing the same question as Huaiyuan Palace's airship manufacturing industry. Milkway Shipyard had to realize promotion and resources integration so as to survive on and further develop given the internal situation facing Zhang Tie Clan and the macro environment facing the entire shipbuilding industry across Taixia Country. Milkway Shipyard and Zhang Tie's elder uncles' families didn't have such a strength. Milkway Shipyard could not have a bright future without Zhang Tie's protection and support.
A clan should have a strong economic lifeline. However, as Huaiyuan Palace had just settled down in Taixia Country, the only two competitive businesses of Huaiyuan Palace in Youzhou Province and Taixia Country were rune weapons, equipment manufacturing and the all-purpose medicament of Zhang Clan.
Rune weapons and equipment manufacturing was the trump card of Huaiyuan Palace. Rune weapons and various types of equipment were always badly needed in both Waii Sub-continent and Taixia Country. They were always shopping-rush goods at proper market prices regardless of their quantities. The problem facing Huaiyuan Palace was that the rune weapons and equipment produced by Huaiyuan Palace could not meet the market demand.
The key manufacturing process of rune weapons was artificial; precisely, they were made by rune equipment's handicraftsmen. Rune equipment's handicraftsman was a high-end profession in this age and the most precious resources of Huaiyuan Palace. The number of rune equipment's handicraftsmen who were cultivated by and served Huaiyuan Palace grew at a limited speed. Therefore, they could not compare with the industrial streamline.
In such case, as the market of all-purpose medicament was gradually opened in Taixia Country, Zhang Tie's family would also become increasingly important in Huaiyuan Palace even though without Zhang Tie's help. Like a gold mountain which could not be used up, all-purpose medicament would grow more and more valuable in Huaiyuan Palace.
Although outsiders didn't know that the all-purpose medicament was invented by Zhang Tie and its production was completely within Zhang Tie's control, the management of Huaiyuan Palace knew it clearly. During the 2 more months when Zhang Tie stayed in Golden Light City, Elder Muen who had become the prefectural governor of Yanghe Prefecture had paid a visit to Zhang Tie two times so as to talk about the Jinwu City and the all-purpose medicament.
Huaiyuan Palace hoped Zhang Tie to expand the production of the all-purpose medicament.
Half of the 2 million-odd all-purpose medicament that was produced by Jinwu Business Group were sold out through the channels of Long Wind Business Group according to the agreement. If Zhang Tie could expand the production scale of all-purpose medicament, those business groups and commercial networks under the affiliation of Huaiyuan Palace would be the beneficiaries.
In Waii Sub-continent, the Long Wind Business Group of Huaiyuan Palace was famous. After moving to Taixia Country, Long Wind Business Group had deteriorated to be average. If they wanted to expand the clan business and commercial network, Long Wind Business Group urgently needed a unique knockout product, which was rightly within Zhang Tie's control. As Zhang Tie directly controlled the annual production scale of all-purpose medicament, Huaiyuan Palace could only dispatch one elder to pump Zhang Tie.
Zhang Tie didn't reply to Elder Muen's request clearly, because Elder Muen could not handle too many affairs in Huaiyuan Palace. Additionally, in a clan, affairs being involved with the interest of tens of millions of gold coins must be clarified. Even two brothers would keep careful accounts in some families, not to mention Huaiyuan Palace which was such a complex, huge clan.
This time, Zhang Tie estimated that Zhang Taixuan was going to negotiate with him about this thing in Youzhou City.
'Zhang Taixuan has been very busy since the beginning of October. When in Golden Light City, I was told that Zhang Taixuan had not exited White Tiger Complex for three months and worked about 20 hours a day. Therefore, it's reasonable that Zhang Taixuan wants to negotiate with me about the provision of all-purpose medicament after handling the major affairs in White Tiger Complex.'
Through Zhang Taixuan's 3-month efforts, the entire Youzhou Province had entered the normal track; the government's organs at different levels gradually ran normally, making Youzhou Province a bit like a province in Taixia Country.
If it was other lower provinces which had just been established, it would take them at least 1 year to enter the normal track. It would take a new lower province at least half a year to be equipped with all the officers, not to mention having all the affairs enter normal tracks. However, it only took Zhang Taixuan less than 3 months to make all of this. As a result, everybody admired his high-efficient ability. Even Commander Cheng was shocked by his excellent achievement.
It could be said that Youzhou Province had become a real lower province in Taixia Country by now.
Overlooking the city from the sky, the magnificent Youzhou City didn't look different than that 3 months ago. However, although the snow outside the city had been several feet in thickness, there was no snow on the city wall of Youzhou City. Given this point, Zhang Tie knew that Huaiyuan Palace had fully controlled this city over the past 3 months. Without a powerful ruling ability over the city guards of Youzhou City, the city wall of this city could never be so clean during the daybreak.
Zhang Tie landed on the wild outside Youzhou City with the heavy snowflakes. Closely after that, he strode towards Youzhou City in a relaxed way.
Unless wartime or due to public affairs, generally, Class A cities in Taixia Country forbad knights to fly inside without consent. Otherwise, as long as they flew over the city wall, they might be attacked by the city guards. In order to not make any trouble or joke, Zhang Tie just landed outside the city and strode inside the city.
It was his second time to visit Youzhou City. He felt pretty special.
When he came to Youzhou City for the first time, Zhang Tie didn't even take a round in the city. He took his family members into Huaiyuan Mansion. After that, his family members left Youzhou City. He then entered White Tiger Complex to attend the competition. Later on, he got drunk by a jar of dragon-marrow liquor gifted by Commander Cheng. When he woke up, he took the office of the dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province. After being familiar with his responsibilities, he left Youzhou City. Therefore, he almost had no impression about this city which covered over 1,000 square miles.
When Zhang Tie arrived at an east city gate of Youzhou City at over 6 am. He found that the city had been boisterous as over 10 trucks were entering the city gate at the same time...
Each city wall of Youzhou City had several city gates, which assumed different responsibilities. Through different city gates, they separated human flows from vehicle flows. The city gate where Zhang Tie stood was mainly available for vehicles that transported materials, which included grains, meats and vegetables that were produced in the farms outside the city...
Chapter 854: Theft
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"Uncle Man, have you sold out your mutton? It's so fast!" A young man who was waiting for entering the city in a medium-sized steam truck lowered down the window and shouted towards an old man who was wrapped in a goat-hide coat and a goat-hide hat on an oxcart.
It seemed that they were familiar with each other. They might both live in the nearby farm villages and towns which were subordinate to Youzhou City.
"The new year is coming. I've sold them to my old customers at a discount. The moment they entered the market, they had been taken away!" The old man pulled down his hat before exhaling a cold breath, "Why are you alone here? Where's your elder brother?"
"My elder brother is strong. He used to practice battle skills. Last night, my uncle came back and said that some archers were wanted in the new archers' station in the town with the compensation of over 10 gold coins a year. He might be promoted to a village constable in the future if he had a good performance there; therefore, my elder brother has gone there before daybreak. If he's got good luck, he might be a civil servant from then on. As the snake butter and cabbages are ordered by Steward Liu of Dainty Building, my elder brother doesn't need to give me a hand. When I send them over there, the buddies of Dainty Building will help me unload them!" The young man replied as he moved his car a bit forward when he saw one more vehicle ahead of him entering the city.
"Hahahaha, brat, you look diligent. I will introduce a beautiful and able girl to you next year!" The old man teased. Closely after that, he waved his hand and said, "Well, hurry up, if you're late, Steward Liu will not show you a good look!"
"Thanks, Uncle Man. Uncle Man, watch out on your way back. I will invite you for a drink when I come back!" The young man revealed a cheerful look as he stretched his hand out of the window and bid a farewell to the old man. After that, he drove into the city.
The old man on the oxcart took out a small metal pot from inside his coat and had a small mouth of drink. Closely after that, he drove the oxcart out of the city.
When the young man entered the city gate, Zhang Tie was also going through the pedestrian passageway beside the vehicle.
Zhang Tie was wearing a fur cashmere with hood. After putting on his hood, he almost covered half of his face. Therefore, nobody could identify Zhang Tie at all.
The soldiers outside the city gate were just checking whether those vehicles carried contrabands or not. However, most of the trucks entering the city were carrying vegetables and meats, which could access to the city gate very fast. As there were 8 driveways entering the city, it was not crowded over there.
Above 80% of the vehicles were small and medium-sized steam trucks and tractors. Some were drawn by animals such as long-horn yaks and tall and strong david deer, even rhino-dragon horses.
At the sight of the vehicle drawn by a rhino-dragon horse, the soldiers outside the city gate threw two more glances at it in order to check whether it was an army horse. Rhino-dragon horses in army horse-breeding farms always had marks on their bodies, which could not be used by commoners. Those army horses would not be sold to commoners. However, there were wild colts in the wild of Youzhou Province, which were usually captured by local people. It was very dangerous to catch a rhino-dragon horse, even a colt. If someone caught it, he could show off his ability for sure.
Most of the wild rhino-dragon horses would be sold to army horse-breeding farms for mating. Few of them were raised by their conquerors, who were usually pioneers, professional hunters and part-time rhizotomists in the wild.
If there was any need, these people would draw maps in the wild; survey the topography in the wasteland or hunt something in the wild and sell them. However, they liked to serve major clans and rich people by hunting some exotic animals or pets in the wild at their requests. Pharmacists were also their customers. Pharmacists would always entrust them to seek for some animals and plants for refining some special pills or medicaments. These guys would even be employed to drive dangerous wildlife away from the region where a city was going to be built.
As Zhang Tie knew that these guys were active in the wild of Youzhou Province, Zhang Tie told his thunder hawks to accept their baptism in Liaozhou Province.
"Show me your face!" A soldier stopped Zhang Tie and ordered him with a solemn look.
Zhang Tie then put off his hood and showed his face.
Zhang Tie thought that he would be recognized; however, after looking at Zhang Tie for a short while, the soldier directly waved his hand and let him in.
'It turns out that I think too much.' Zhang Tie mocked himself before putting on his hood once again.
Until Zhang Tie had entered the city gate for a half minute did the soldier who checked him just now suddenly feel something wrong as he scratched his head and murmured, "Yi? That young man looks familiar. But I don't know him. What the hell!"
Over 2 months ago, when Zhang Tie shocked the entire Youzhou City, many people had seen him in the mirage. However, due to different perspectives, they could only see what happened in the cony domain from top to bottom within 45 degrees. They could not see his face clearly. Therefore, this soldier just felt Zhang Tie's face was familiar.
Nobody could imagine that the dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province whose nickname was the Lion of Youzhou Province appeared outside the city gate of Youzhou City and directly strode into the city without any retinue.
After entering this city gate for a short while, Zhang Tie had seen a boisterous trading market. Most of the vegetables and meats that were carried in the city from outside were sold here...
Although the day had just broken, it had been filled with bargaining voices in the trading market, although they were just bargaining for a few haos or copper coins...
Hearing the boisterous bargaining sounds, Zhang Tie felt tender instead of being annoyed.
When he was in Blackhot City, he used to buy grains in such markets by tricycle...
At this moment, a kid knocked into Zhang Tie and soon disappeared in the crowd...
With a smile, Zhang Tie just saw him disappearing into the crowd...
A thief dared steal money from the dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province, how hilarious!
Of course, what was funnier was that when the thief fumbled across his body, Zhang Tie suddenly moved a purse containing over 10 gold coins out of Castle of Black Iron. Precisely, Zhang Tie "foisted" the purse into the thief's hand...
The thief really thought that he had made it. After pinching the purse, he instantly ran away and soon disappeared into the crowd. However, he didn't know that it was Zhang Tie who foisted the purse into his hand; neither did he know that his body, that purse and each gold coin in the purse had been attached with a tracing tentacle by Zhang Tie in the split second.
Zhang Tie just felt that it was funny to do this. Of course, as he had not been to Youzhou City for over two months, he wanted to check the efficiency of breaking a criminal case of the court temples within his territory. By the way, as the new year was coming, he wanted to give a favor to the security in Youzhou City. As that thief was still young, it was not late to save him and send him on a right path.
Zhang Tie didn't think too much about this thing...
Chapter 855: Jia Farmland
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Youzhou City covered 1,000 square miles, almost half of which were high-yielding farmlands. Additionally, there were abundant water resources in the city. Under the protection of the high city walls, the farmlands were forbidden to be developed for commercial use.
Perhaps, only Hua people could build such a city.
Having just lit a new dragon scale on his knight's crystal plate, Zhang Tie was loitering in the city and enjoying the magnificent scenery of the only Class A city in Youzhou Province.
After leaving those crowded commercial areas, Zhang Tie entered the neighborhood of those farmlands.
Compared to those buildings with Hua characteristics and various strange places, those farmlands in the city attracted Zhang Tie the most.
In Taixia Country, farmlands in Class A cities were specially called jia farmlands.
According to the Laws of Taixia Country , those who dared violate or destroy any farmland in Taixia Country would be punished to starve to death in the prison of court temples just as brutally as those corrupt officers were punished to swallow golds after being reported.
Jia farmland was an important symbol of a Class A city.
It could be said that Hua people used jia farmland to respond to holy wars.
In holy wars, the jia farmlands which were divided into several pieces in Youzhou City could realize self-sufficiency for its 3 million people when this city was surrounded by demons and constantly fought demons until the end.
Actually, each Class A city in Taixia Country could be a self-sufficient fortress in dilemma. Even though being the toughest battle, as long as the city was not broken through, the millions of survivors inside the city would be able to sustain the bloodline of Hua people.
Besides containing the meaning "first", the word "jia" also meant armor and helmet.
As Zhang Tie's family wanted to build Jinwu City, Zhang Tie gradually learned more about city planning.
Besides jia farmlands, Youzhou City contained 6 strategic materials warehouses which were buried underground and were built together with this city as the basic allocations of a Class A city. Among those strategic materials warehouses, the first warehouse stored 30 million tons of standard coal; the second warehouse stored 3 million tons of various metals predominated by steel and iron; the third warehouse stored 10,000 whole sets of machinery equipment and tools; the fourth warehouse stored crops' seeds and table salt; the fifth warehouse stored ordnance and weapons; the sixth warehouse stored other necessary or major strategic materials. These 6 warehouses were called Six Warehouses of a Class A city. Each Class A city should ensure the safety and sufficiency of the strategic materials in the six warehouses.
When a city was besieged by demons, it would enter a state of emergency. These strategic materials warehouses would be activated at once. With the help of the jia farmlands in the city, this city would become a firm wartime fortress.
Without the extremely miserable historical lessons before the Catastrophe, Hua people would not pose such a strict requirement on their Class A cities. After experiencing the constant disasters before the Catastrophe, Hua people genuinely understood what were the most important resources that Hua people could survive on.
If a nation wanted to survive on, it must rely on its cultivated lands rather than its real properties being made of steel reinforced concrete. The genuine mineral resources were much more reliable than the colorful paper notes; with crops' seeds in hand, they would feel much safer.
Cultivated lands, resources and crops' seeds were the three basic elements that a nation survived on at the cost of countless blood and tears. If a nation lacked any one of the 3 elements, it would deteriorate into the dust in the long course of history for sure.
Perhaps some small countries could still survive on if they lacked one or two of the three basic elements. Even if they lacked cultivated lands or crops' seeds, they could also be traded for their demands with others. However, it didn't fit Hua people. As Hua people was too powerful as the pillar of humans, also the implacable foe of demons. If Hua people lacked any of the 3 basic elements, the entire human race would not survive on.
Hua people almost deteriorated into dust before the Catastrophe.
Therefore, after the Catastrophe, when the first Class A city of Hua people appeared, they prioritized the protection of four elements, namely, Hua population, cultivated lands, resources and corps' seeds.
No matter how terrifying was the war, as long as there was a Class A city remaining in this land, Hua people would survive on.
When other continents or sub-continents were protecting rich people with high city walls, the largest cities of Hua people were protecting the most basic elements, also the hope of the rejuvenation of the nation with high city walls. This might be the reason why Hua people was the most powerful and awe-inspiring nation.
Only at this moment did Zhang Tie feel something familiar with this city when he watched the tidy aqueducts in the jia farmlands of Youzhou City.
Rich people would not cultivate land themselves; however, jia farmland could not be left uncultivated; therefore, only common farmers would choose to cultivate farmlands in the city. Because of this, if the city was besieged, many of these farmers would survive on due to their ownership of the jia farmlands.
In normal times, after the wastes in the sewers and the domestic garbage were fermented and dried in the sun in a concentrated way, they would become the fertilizers of the jia farmlands. In this way, the urban resources were gradually recycled.
As the competition for the provincial governor of Youzhou Province had just come to an end a month ago, the greater part of jia farmlands in Youzhou City had not been sold out yet.
All the jia farmlands in Youzhou City were high-yielding farmlands. Additionally, the irrigation engineering in the jia farmlands had been established. The price of such farmlands was as same as that outside the city walls. Additionally, they were in city walls, which meant that the grains produced from such farmlands could be sold directly in the city. Given so many benefits, they should have been in urgent demand; however, they had not been sold out yet over the past 3 months. Because Taixia Country posed very strict requirements on the qualification of the purchasers.
As the dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province, even though Zhang Tie could buy hundreds of thousands of square miles on the border of Yanghe Prefecture, he was not qualified to buy any jia farmland in Youzhou City.
According to the Laws of Taixia Country , the purchasers of jia farmlands had to be farmers who had cultivated lands for over 10 years with adroit farming skills; besides, they had to have the preliminary farming gentry qualification certificate. Each preliminary farming gentry could purchase 10,000 square meters' jia farmlands; farmers with medium farming gentry qualification certificates could buy 20,000 square meters' jia farmlands; farmers with senior farming gentry qualification certificate could purchase 30,000 square meters' jia farmlands. Farming masters who were one level higher than senior farming gentry could purchase 150,000 square meters' jia farmlands.
In Taixia, if farmers could cultivate lands well, they could promote to farming gentries. After purchasing jia farmlands, farming gentries would become townspeople and enjoy a lot of benefits. After promoting to half landlords, they would win a sharp increase in honor, social status and wealth. In wartime, farmers who had jia farmlands could be real farming gentries as long as the city walls were not broken through. For most of the common farmers in Taixia Country, they could win higher social status by owning jia farmlands.
Although it was snowing, some places near the jia farmlands were still pretty boisterous. A lot of purchasers were converging there from all the other prefectures of Youzhou Province. They were checking the topography and fertility of the farmlands before purchasing them. Zhang Tie also swarmed up and gained more knowledge about that.
After joining in the fun, Zhang Tie suddenly thought of his No. 1 earthworm, 'I wonder how many grains could be increased across Taixia Country if I placed several kgs of No. 1 earthworms in each piece of Jia farmland?'
After Zhang Tie took a walk around Youzhou City in a leisure way, it was 10 minutes away from 12 am. Zhang Tie came to White Tiger Complex on time with high spirit.
As the new year was coming, the outside of White Tiger Complex had also been faintly decorated with red lanterns, which represented a festive atmosphere.
According to the appointment, Zhang Taixuan and Zhang Tie would meet at the lunchtime. It felt both genial and important to talk about it at lunchtime.
To tell the truth, Zhang Tie really felt a bit hungry after exploring around the city for an entire morning.
Less than 10 people could be qualified to be invited by the provincial governor across Youzhou Province. When he thought that his father-in-law was going to invite him for a lunch, Zhang Tie felt especially strange.
After putting off his hood, Zhang Tie had been recognized by some fighters from Huaiyuan Palace who were standing outside the White Tiger Complex. Therefore, he was invited into the Provincial Governor's Mansion respectfully.
After over 2 months, Count Long Wind looked more dignified as the provincial governor of Taixia Country.
In a tranquil place of the Provincial Governor's Mansion which was full of plum blossoms, Zhang Tie and Zhang Taixuan were talking about the affairs in Youzhou Province while drinking and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
"How do you feel about Huaiyuan Palace's position in Youzhou Province now?" After proposing toasts to each other for three rounds, Zhang Taixuan put down the glass and suddenly watched Zhang Tie with a solemn look.
Zhang Tie murmured inside, 'Here it is...'
"After taking a round in Youzhou City, I learned that Huaiyuan Palace is growing increasingly vigorous in Youzhou day after day!" Zhang Tie replied leisurely.
However, Zhang Taixuan suddenly let out a sigh, "Although Huaiyuan Palace looks vigorous in Youzhou Province, it's actually treading as if on thin ice. It might be at stake at any time!"
After hearing this answer, Zhang Tie became stunned at once...
Chapter 856: Treading as If on Thin Ice
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
'Although Huaiyuan Palace looks vigorous in Youzhou Province, it's actually treading as if on thin ice. It might be at stake at any time?'
When Zhang Tie heard these words from Zhang Taixuan the provincial governor of Youzhou Province, he almost wanted to touch Count Long Wind's forehead to check whether he had fever or not.
'Are you kidding me? Huaiyuan Palace is growing pretty well now. How could Zhang Taixuan be so passive?'
It seemed that Zhang Taixuan had known what Zhang Tie was thinking about; he then called a clerk to bring a document here.
After the clerk left, a document appeared in front of Zhang Tie. Count Long Wind then implied Zhang Tie to read it by throwing a glance at Zhang Tie. Out of curiosity, Zhang Tie took up the document.
"This is a document that Commander Cheng sent to the Xuanyuan Hill. Commander Cheng copied one over here. You can take a look at its contents."
Out of curiosity, Zhang Tie opened it. Only after reading a few lines, he had been shocked. The upper part of the document was the imperial to the throne of an impeachment; the lower part of it was the reply and denouncement of the Northeast Military Region.
Zhang Tie could never imagine that he would become the main character in the memorial to the throne.
——"Su Qianling, the official in charge of the discipline of the public functionaries impeaches Zhang Mushen the dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province for dereliction of duties"
At the sight of the title of the memorial to the throne, Zhang Tie had widely opened his mouth.
After composing himself, Zhang Tie read the contents carefully while growing increasingly furious...
The contents contained two events: first, Zhang Tie rarely handled the public affairs in the court temple after taking the office for over 2 months. He didn't even know whether the gate of the court temple was facing south or north; those officials in the court temple didn't even know the look of the new dean of the provincial court in Youzhou Province at all.
Second, Zhang Tie was taking liberties with his beautiful wives and concubines, traveling leisurely, drinking and amusing himself with them every day in Golden Light City; besides, he even bought land and stored wealth and goods in Youzhou Province excessively.
The expressions in the memorial were very delicate. After deleting the other relevant reasons and linking the two affairs with each other, the impeacher precisely depicted an image of a newly rich who was fickle, rude, horny, avaricious and lazy. Anyone who caught sight of this person might spit towards him.
Closely after that, he started to criticize Zhang Tie viciously.
"If it were in peaceful time, it's good to see the dean of the provincial court being leisure; however, it's the wartime. Given the situation outside Taixia Country, our vast country is constantly being disrupted by demons. War flames could be seen almost everywhere; hundreds of millions of commissioned officers and soldiers are awaiting eagerly the order for battle or fighting forcefully with demons on the battlefields. Given the situation inside the country, the Heavens Reaching Church is making troubles everywhere; crafty and evil forces were surging, afflicting commoners severely...however, in such a chaotic period, the dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province is only indulged in beauties, drinks, wealth and goods. What a misfortune it is for the commoners..."
"I, Su Qianling now propose to impeach Zhang Mushen the dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province for the sake of the commoners in Youzhou Province. Please punish him with the crime of dereliction of duties..."
If the names of Youzhou and Zhang Tie were changed in the memorial, Zhang Tie would smite the table and rise to his feet for sure. Besides, he would swear that dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province for holding down his job without doing a stroke of his work. Given the memorial, the commoners in that province under the governance of that dean of the provincial court were definitely living a miserable life. However, when that main character became Zhang Tie, Zhang Tie was driven extremely furious as his chest rose and fell.
After composing himself gradually, a question occurred to Zhang Tie's mind, 'Who's that motherf*cking Su Qianling? I've just been to Taixia Country for a few months but I don't know him at all. What does this guy bite me for?'
'I've not offended anyone surnamed Su, not to mention Su Qingling. What's the reason then?' Although Zhang Tie was longing for the Xuanyuan Hill, before he caught sight of its look had someone in the Xuanyuan Hill started to attack him.
This memorial was directly presented to the dasikong, one of the top three chancellors of Taixia Country from the Central Censorate of Xuanyuan Hill. After reading it, the dasikong left no comment; instead, he directly sent it to the Northeast Military Region for further response. However, the reply from Northeast Military Region was of one word, "F*rt!" What an aggressive reply! At the sight of the reply "F*rt!", Zhang Tie instantly recalled the cold, black face of Commander Cheng. He then immediately felt warm inside.
After taking a deep breath, Zhang Tie threw a glance at Zhang Taixuan. He knew that Zhang Taixuan must have something to say.
"Do you know what punishment you will face in Taixia Country as a knight with the crime of dereliction of duties?" Zhang Taixuan asked with a gloomy look.
Zhang Tie shook his head. As it was not written in the Laws of Taixia Country, Zhang Tie also wondered about that.
"If a knight commits the crime of dereliction of duties in Taixia Country, he would be chopped off his head in the army; or removed from his post and dispatched to the abyss of the earth-elements realm to fight demons for 6 decades. However, in the abyss of the earth-elements realm, a common knight only has less than 20% of possibilities to survive the battle with demons for 6 decades. As the provincial governor of Youzhou Province, I shall also assume the joint responsibilities because of your deed. I will not promise you any higher post within 6 decades! Additionally, from then on, the key position dean of provincial governor of Youzhou Province will be assumed by other people but Zhang Clan."
After hearing Zhang Taixuan's words, Zhang Tie changed his face, 'What a memorial! My mom has been so worried about me when I'm above the ground; if she knew that I was punished with the crime of dereliction of duties and dispatched to the abyss of earth-elements realm, she might get scared to death.'
'Even if I returned to the ground after 6 decades, what would my family members look like?' Zhang Tie dared not imagine that.
The vicious intention between the impassioned lines really frightened Zhang Tie.
'What a bloodless massacre!'
Zhang Tie finally understood why Zhang Taixuan sighed that Huaiyuan Palace was treading as if on the thin ice.
"Who's Su Qianling? I've not provoked him; I've not even seen him or heard about him before. Why did he frame me?" Zhang Tie asked as he looked straight into Zhang Taixuan's eyes and tamed his anger.
After letting out a sigh, Count Long Wind shrugged, "The 360 censors in the Central Censorate of the Xuanyuan Hill are responsible for supervising all the officials in the territory of Taixia Country. They are called around-the-clock imperial censors. Before reading this memorial, I also didn't know Su Qianling."
"Really?" Zhang Tie replied with an amazed look.
Count Long Wind nodded, "Actually, Su Qianling is not the point as he's just a tool and piece in the hands of others. However, you've missed a point. Su Qianling didn't target at you, but Zhang Clan of Huaiyuan Palace. If he could defeat you, he would defeat the entire Huaiyuan Palace too. Because you're the youngest and most hopeful elder in Huaiyuan Palace. They want to humiliate Huaiyuan Palace and further rock the foundation of Huaiyuan Palace by tearing a wound on you!"
"They? Who're they?" Do Huaiyuan Palace have an enemy in Taixia Country?"
"As we're in the secular world, each of us has personal enemies." Zhang Taixuan let out a sigh as he watched Zhang Tie seriously, "Have you considered why our ancestor Lord Huaiyuan would leave Taixia Country and lay a foundation in Waii Sub-continent?"
Zhang Tie was shocked once again as he had not imagined that the enemies of Huaiyuan Palace were left by Lord Huaiyuan.
"They were the opponents of Lord Huaiyuan!"
"Besides being the opponents of Lord Huaiyuan, they are also the enemies of the Zhang Clan of Huaiyuan Palace. Because of them, Lord Huaiyuan was killed in the earth-elements realm!" Zhang Taixuan revealed a sense of animosity, "Too many people in Taixia were involved in this event. It's the secret of Zhang Clan of Huaiyuan Palace. Only elders and some other figures knew it. I planned to tell you about that after a few years; however, I've not imagined that they couldn't wait to frame you in such a vicious way after knowing that Huaiyuan Palace won the position of the provincial governor of Youzhou Province. If I still didn't tell you about it, you might suffer a big loss." After a pause, Zhang Taixuan watched Zhang Tie with a serious look and continued, "It's Gobbling Party who framed you and Huaiyuan Palace!"
"Gobbling Party?" It was Zhang Tie's first time to hear such a strange name.
"Lord Huaiyuan offended the Gobbling Party in Taixia Country, the head of which has become the master of the crown prince in the east palace of Xuanyuan Hill. It's a class I position, the most dignified position below the three top chancellors, namely; dasima, dasitu and dasikong. He might probably promote to one of the three top chancellors. He has numerous apprentices, ears, and eyes in Xuanyuan Hill. His family has hundreds of cities in the upper provinces. His clan forces are dozens of times greater than that of Huaiyuan Palace..."
After hearing that, Zhang Tie felt like swearing that b*stard...
Chapter 857: The Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
As the party originated from Gobbling Province, one of the 36 upper provinces in Taixia Country, it was gradually called Gobbling Party by the public.
On the 687th year of the black iron calendar, the mysterious stele which was unearthed from the Gobbling Party of Taixi Country shocked the world.
Nobody knew what was the stele. It could not be damaged a bit by any means, even by powerful, high-rank knights. Therefore, it aroused a sensation in Taixia Country. Many high-rank knights across Taixia Country poured into Gobbling Province and wanted to try whether the mysterious stele was as firm as that in the legend. However, although they tried all the possible means only to damage even a bit of it. Not only common high-rank knights, even the 7 major sects in Taixia Country and the Xuanyuan Hill were shocked and dispatched powerhouses to Gobbling Province.
The mysterious stele was indeed completely out of people's imagination. No matter how many chakras had the knights formed, they could not damage the stele a bit.
Later on, through the authentication of some top alchemist masters in Taixia, they reached a more shocking conclusion——the substance of that mysterious stele violated all the ionization laws of substances on the planet. The stele could resist any element, energy and substance. The atoms and porous structure of the substance of that stele were always fixed. In another word, time didn't exist compared to that stele. That stele was really immortal.
"Immortal?" This word drove everybody mad; especially Hua people who used to treat themselves as immortals and keep pursuing the natural laws as the ultimate target. After that mysterious stele was unearthed, it aroused a storm in Taixia Country. In the opinion of all the Hua people, being immortal was a reflection of freedom. Only those being immortal could be free and produce such an immortal object.
After the mysterious stele was unearthed for 3 months and aroused a sensation in Taixia Country, a paragraph of Hua characters loomed on the unlettered stele, which could be translated in the following words——with benevolence as the core, morality as the body, ritual as the use and righteousness as the driving force, natural laws would loom on objects while containing objects. The essence of natural laws is real and reliable. Natural laws could not be described by words but shall be followed.
The paragraph of characters on the mysterious stele shocked the entire Taixia Country once again. The mysterious stele was therefore called Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele. The characters on it drove numerous people mad. Many people even treated the characters on the stele as the truth towards the natural laws.
In the beginning, the Gobbling Party was just a non-governmental organization or a group of people who studied the contents of the characters on the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele in Gobbling Province. Later on, this organization gradually expanded. It even had leaders. Therefore, the name of Gobbling Party gradually spread across Taixia Country.
By now, the so-called Gobbling Party was definitely not a local force in Gobbling Province; instead, it had developed into an organization that didn't belong to any sect and had a great influence among the people and in the imperial court of Taixia Country.
When the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele was unearthed in Gobbling Province, Zhang Huaiyuan the former West Expedition General of the God's Will Army, one of the top 4 armies in Taixia Country even went to investigate the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele himself. When the inscriptions appeared on the stele, Zhang Huaiyuan even wanted to carry the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele back into the abyss of the earth-elements realm with his God's Will Army despite world condemnation, which aroused a big trouble and offended Gobbling Party from then on.
"Why would Lord Huaiyuan move the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele back to the abyss of earth-elements realm?" Zhang Tie couldn't stand to ask Zhang Taixuan.
"Our ancestor Lord Huaiyuan was straightforward and candid. He thought that the inscriptions on the stele were casting spells on people. If the mercy, morality, rituals and righteousness advocated by the words spread over Taixia Country and became the truth that was pursued by people, it would cause limitless damages to Taixia Country. Before demons arrived, Hua people would have been exterminated. Because of this, in order to preserve the spirits of Hua people, Lord Huaiyuan preferred to move the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele back into the abyss of earth-elements realm despite world condemnation!" Zhang Taixuan let out a sigh.
'I've not imagined that Lord Huaiyuan was so heroic in Taixia Country. When hundreds of millions of people were watching the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele and wanted to laud it to the skies, he dared lead the God's Will Army to rob it and intended to move it back to the abyss of the earth-elements realm.' Zhang Tie felt blood boiling when he recalled the heroic look of his ancestor.
"Has he made it?"
"If he could make it, there would not be Gobbling Party now!" Zhang Taixuan sighed, "The stele itself had been regarded as the immortal object of Taixia Country and the symbol of natural laws by many people regardless of the inscriptions on it. If Lord Huaiyuan wanted to seal it, he would shock the Gobbling Province even the whole country at once. Therefore, the entire Gobbling Province was at loggerheads. A great number of people who wanted to seek for the secrets of the natural laws from the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele didn't want it to be sealed. Thus, they started to prevent Lord Huaiyuan and the God's Will Army, almost deteriorating the entire Gobbling Province into a battlefield. The entire country was shocked. Later on, Emperor Xuanyuan issued the decreed and dispatched the commander-in-chief to appease this event in Gobbling Province!"
"Ahh? Who's the winner?"
"Before Lord Huaiyuan wanted to seal the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele with God's Will Army, people across the country wanted to consecrate it in the Xuanyuan Hill and fix its position as the immortal object of Hua people. However, after this event was appeased, Lord Huaiyuan and his God's Will Army were dispatched away from Gobbling Province. The Gobbling Party then instigated the public opinion to force Lord Huaiyuan to exit the God's Will Army and leave Taixia Country for Waii Sub-continent. Additionally, the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele is still in Gobbling Province; instead of being consecrated in the Xuanyuan Hill!"
"In this case, how could the leader of Gobbling Party be the master of the crown prince in the east palace of Xuanyuan Hill?"
"After the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele was unearthed for many years, one guy entered meditation and cultivation 3 years before the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele and promoted to the black iron knight at 18. After that, he continued to enter meditation and cultivation for 30 years before it and promoted to an earth knight, which shocked the entire country. After promoting to an earth knight at 48, it took him 5 years to finish his masterpiece The Morality and The Classic on Returning to the Nature . He even made annotations to the 12 classics of Taixia Country, which had been widely accepted by scholars and intellectuals across Taixia Country. It was said that The Classic on Returning to the Nature was the supreme truth that he had learned through medication. Anyone would improve his cultivation progress by cultivating The Classic on Returning to the Nature. Therefore, The Classic on Returning to the Nature was regarded as the treasure for cultivation by the members of Gobbling Party. Outsiders could not even have a chance to read it. After finishing his masterpieces, he entered the earth-elements realm and fought another 6 decades. Due to the great achievements that he had made during the 6 decades, he was awarded as the duke; besides, he promoted to a shadow knight. After leaving the earth-element realm, he refused all the high positions and rich compensations and entered his meditation in front of the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele once again. After another 6 decades, he promoted to a heavens knight. After that, he entered earth-elements realm and killed the demon duke and destroyed a fortress of demons with his own battle strength. By then, this guy had been well-known across the world for both political and military achievements. Plus, he had been longing for that position for a long time and the Gobbling Party had reached a scale, he naturally became the master of the crown prince in the east palace of Xuanyuan Hill and the leader of the Gobbling Party!"
'What a weirdo! What a weirdo!'
"Was Lord Huaiyuan killed by this guy?" Zhang Tie clenched his fist as he asked Zhang Taixuan.
"Although this guy didn't launch an attack himself, it's also related to this guy. When this guy promoted to an earth knight in 30 years and shocked the entire country, Lord Huaiyuan had been exiled to Waii Sub-continent. As this guy and Lord Huaiyuan were both earth knights by then, when this guy headed for the earth-elements realm, the Gobbling Party also instigated the public opinion to force Lord Huaiyuan to enter the earth-elements realm too. Their competition had been faintly carried on since then. Finally, that guy returned from earth-elements realm; however, Lord Huaiyuan fought to the death over there."
This was the history of the resentment between Zhang Clan of Huaiyuan Palace and the Gobbling Party. Although Lord Huaiyuan had passed away, the resentment between Gobbling Party and Huaiyuan Palace had not come to an end. The competition between Lord Huaiyuan and Gobbling Party was more like a competition between beliefs and ideas than a piece of Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele. Because of this, the two parties were always hostile against each other. Given the current situation, unless the offsprings of Zhang Clan of Huaiyuan Palace joined Gobbling Party regardless of their face and bowed towards the Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele, it was impossible for Gobbling Party to not cause Huaiyuan Palace troubles.
If not, even though the offsprings of Zhang Clan survived well with both honor and wealth, it was nothing different than death.
Therefore, Huaiyuan Palace could only continue to turn hostile against Gobbling Party. If Huaiyuan Palace became scared at this moment, not only the Gobbling Party would turn pleasant and rampant; even those who supported Huaiyuan Palace such as Commander Cheng would belittle Huaiyuan Palace.
When the ancestors planted the tree, the posterity would enjoy the cold. Similarly, when the ancestors beat the tiger, the posterity would be prepared to be attacked by the tiger. As an offspring of Lord Huaiyuan, Zhang Tie knew that he didn't have the right to choose something. Since the day he came to this world, he had been branded as the offspring of Lord Huaiyuan, who should not only carry the honor in Waii Sub-continent but also the resentment in Taixia Country. On such a critical issue, Zhang Tie could only stand firmly on the side of Huaiyuan Palace; share honors and humiliations with Huaiyuan Palace.
After being silent for a short while, Zhang Tie made his determination, "Next year, the output of all-purpose medicament of Jinwu Business Group would increase to 15 million vials, half of which would still be sold by Long Wind Business Group without any surplus condition. Long Wind Business Group could get commodities from Jinwu Business Group at 50% off!"
Zhang Tie's decision meant the benefit of tens of millions of gold coins a year. This figure was not small even in Taixia Country.
'Now that Gobbling Party said I was greedy about money and liked to stock land and commodities, I will show them what they want to see. I will show them money makes the mare go.'
When wealth reached a certain scale, it would become a terrifying, overwhelming strength.
Zhang Tie revealed a tameless sneer at his mouth corners, 'F*ck you, Far-ancient Immortal Moral Stele; f*ck you, Gobbling Party; f*ck you, heavens knight! This father even dared to fight the entire demons and Three-eye Association, do you think that I'm afraid of you? F*ck! Do you really think that you're Emperor Xuanyuan?'
Zhang Tie always accommodated himself to circumstances. He had been very satisfied with the living during the past two months when he just read brief reports from the court temple in Youzhou Province and played with his sons. However, Zhang Tie was also very unyielding and unruly. He would turn more unyielding and unrulier if he met a more powerful enemy. Facing those great challenges, Zhang Tie's ambition and spirit would also rise.
At this moment, Zhang Tie felt that he had returned to the No. 7 National Male Middle School. Although he just sat below a small tree leisurely and didn't mean to incur someone; some b*stards still came to his side and threw some service plates in front of him so as to reflect their lofty images.
After hearing Zhang Tie's decision, Count Long Wind became silent for a short while. As the head of Huaiyuan Palace, he knew the importance of Zhang Tie's decision, "As Taixia's industrial development is much more advanced than Waii Sub-continent, the shipbuilding industry in Yanghe Prefecture should also be integrated so as to be more competitive. You can have Jinwu Shipyard merge Long Wind Shipyard!"
Long Wind Shipyard had an asset of over 50 million gold coins. After Jinwu Shipyard merged Long Wind Shipyard, Zhang Clan's Jinwu Shipyard immediately became the largest shipbuilding enterprise in Youzhou Province. Zhang Tie's family would also become the largest shareholder of Jinwu Shipyard.
Count Long Wind just presented Long Wind Shipyard to Zhang Tie so forthrightly.
Zhang Tie nodded without any hesitation...
'I wonder how would my grandpa feel after knowing that Count Long Wind presented the largest shipyard in Yanghe Prefecture to me.'
...
After half an hour, Zhang Tie left White Tiger Complex vigorously under the escort of some officials of Zhang Clan.
After raising his head and throwing a glance at the snowflakes in the sky, Zhang Tie didn't put on his hood; instead, he directly strode towards the Land Bureau which was less than 1 mile away from White Tiger Complex.
In the heavy wind and snow, all the snowflakes just stayed 10 cm away from him...
At the sight of this scene, all the passers-by thought that they mistook it as they all kept their eyes on Zhang Tie...
Chapter 858: Another Form of Counter-attack
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
There were 4 red lanterns outside the gate of the Land Bureau, which were used to set the festival atmosphere. The arrival of Zhang Tie made those in the Land Bureau busy at once.
As the new director general of the Land Bureau in Youzhou Province, Elder Muan was not there. The deputy director and two hierarchical superiors came out to receive Zhang Tie.
The position of deputy director was assumed by a deacon of Huaiyuan Palace. The two hierarchical superiors were from two subordinate departments of the Land Bureau respectively.
In a magnificent parlor of the Land Bureau, Zhang Tie was drinking tea leisurely and talking with the deputy director and the two hierarchical superiors. The others were trotting here and there in the Land Bureau. In a couple of minutes, a field register official had entered the parlor with a pile of documents. He then placed those documents in front of Zhang Tie.
After waving his hand to let the field register official leave here, the deputy director started to introduce the documents to Zhang Tie one after another.
"Elder Mushen. This is the general agreement of the land that you've purchased. With the general agreement, the title deed that you sigh when you want to divide and sell this land would be legitimate; this is the trading document approved by the Land Bureau of Youzhou Province; this is your receipt; this is the map of that land that you've bought..."
With the introduction of the deputy director, Zhang Tie reviewed all the documents one after another. The material of the title deed was similar to silver-based paper. However, it was more ductile than silver-based paper. The title deed for the land was watermarked with complex, colorful, secret patterns. The secret patterns would change their colors from different perspectives. Touching the grains, Zhang Tie could feel evident three-dimensional lines. This should be a very senior anti-fake printing means. There were the location, area of the land, the corresponding identifiers of the subsidiary files, maps and a scarlet stamp of the Land Bureau of Youzhou Province on the title deed for land.
The names of Zhang Tie and Zhang Yang were written in the column of owners of the title deed. Because the land was paid by Zhang Tie, when his elder brother handled it, he only wanted Zhang Tie's name to be left in the column of owners of the title deed. Later on, at Zhang Tie's insistence, Zhang Yang's name was added as well.
This bit of land was really nothing for the two brothers. The common title deed symbolized the common undertaking of the two brothers.
The entire land that Zhang Tie purchased covered 257,970 square km. In the beginning, Zhang Tie thought that he could buy an integral area of land such as 250,000 square km. Later on, he knew that plain countries in Taixia Country could be easily sold integrally; however, such mountainous areas were always sold according to the trends of the mountains and rivers and topography within the territory. A river, a mountain or a remarkable topographical symbol would serve as the boundary of the territory, which could be easily identified. Because of this reason, the area of the mountainous region could only be measured according to details.
As the attached document of the title deed, the map of this private territory was composed of over 40 pages.
The turnover on the receipt presented by the Land Bureau was 110,927,100. According to the preferential policy formulated by the Land Bureau of Youzhou Province, Zhang Tie could enjoy 5% off. However, Zhang Tie felt that Huaiyuan Palace might be framed as being greedy for small gains due to this, especially when Huaiyuan Palace wielded the scepter of Youzhou Province; therefore, he ignored the benefit of millions of gold coins. Compared to the reputation of Huaiyuan Palace, such a preferential policy was really trivial. Given the overall situation, Zhang Tie ignored the small gains.
Watching the figure on the receipt, Zhang Tie felt that he was too innocent, 'If others want to attack me, they could. It's nothing to do with my caution.'
As the dean of the provincial court of Youzhou Province, only those people above LV 15 on the wanted list or events that aroused a shock across a prefecture could attract Zhang Tie's attention, 'Knights should not pay attention to trivial affairs or bury themselves in these documents all day long. Knights in Taixia Country are not that cheap. Even if I did that, I'm sure that they would impeach me too with the reasons such as "has no appreciation of things' importance", "Being busy doing trivial affairs all day long", "sees only tree leaves instead of Mountain Tai", "has no experience and is only limited to counties and cities". Given their reasons, facing demons outside the country and evil forces inside, it's the countrymen's misfortune to have me take the office of the dean of the provincial governor of Youzhou Province.'
At the sight of the figure 110,927,100, Zhang Tie felt that the zeros in this figure were like ripping mouths that were deriding him as an idiot. After running his spiritual energy, Zhang Tie instantly got a figure 5546355, "F*ck, over 5.5 million gold coins, over 2 years of compensation for this father. Even many dogs would wave their tails towards me if I bought steamed buns for them with this amount of money; however, those b*stards still want to ruin my family."
'Being meticulous? That's bullsh*t!'
The deputy director was always observing Zhang Tie's facial expressions carefully. Watching his slightly complex expression at the sight of the receipt presented by the Land Bureau, the deputy director lightly coughed twice and comforted Zhang Tie meticulously, "Don't worry about that, Elder Mushen. Although it's a high price, when Youzhou Province develops into a medium-sized province, this land will definitely pay off. Additionally, all the mineral resources beneath this land have not prospected. If you discovered large-scale mineral ores in your territory, you would further make a great profit. Based on the information mastered by the Land Bureau, Youzhou Province is not a barren province. We've found various rare mineral resources in Youzhou Province. Many major clans in Taixia Country also usually make such enclosure investments on large scale in lower provinces and have made great profits. As there're more and more people in Taixia Country, after a few years, this land would become more and more valuable. Your offsprings would have something to rely on by then."
Zhang Tie revealed a smile as he felt a bit better. He then threw a satisfactory glance at this deputy director.
After telling the deputy director to put away these materials for him, Zhang Tie said, "Did any other clans purchase a lot of land like me lately?"
"Over the past two months, the Land Bureau has received a lot of records of land purchase cases. Many major clans from Tongzhou Province, Qiongzhou Province, Yanzhou Province, Huizhou Province and Chaozhou Province were purchasing lands which ranged from hundreds of square miles to tens of thousands of square miles. Besides being used for domestic investment, these lands are always provided for the branches of those major clans! Aww, Zhu Dabiao 1 the grandson of the provincial governor of Yanzhou Province had also bought one patch of land in Youzhou Province. His private land covers over 200,000 square miles, which is the largest patch of land being traded by now. Yesterday, he had already paid it off through the bank. After the new year festival, the Land Bureau will dispatch people to survey that land, draw a map and set boundary marks for it."
After hearing his words, Zhang Tie realized that a climax of land enclosure was aroused after Youzhou was promoted to be an established lower province. However, the name of the grandson of the provincial governor of Yanzhou Province really...really...had a strong personality...
Zhang Tie smacked his mouth...
"Lands in lower provinces are the cheapest in Taixia Country; especially those which have just been established. According to the regulations of Taixia Country, after one purchases a patch of land and builds a city there, he will take the office of the mayor of this city and become an official of Taixia Country. In Taixia Country, many major clans choose such a method to help their juniors become officials! If one buys a patch of land in a wild province, even though he builds a city there, he could not be an official of Taixia Country. By implementing such a policy, Taixia is guiding folklore major clans' capital to flow in lower provinces for the sake of the development of lower provinces." The deputy director explained.
"Hmm, not bad!" Zhang Tie nodded as he stroked his jaw with hand, "I want to buy one more patch of land. Do you have the map of Youzhou Province? Bring it to me, please. I want to select one more patch of land and register it here today!"
After hearing Zhang Tie's words, the deputy director became stunned, 'How rich is Elder Mushen?'
After being silent for a second, he composed himself at once as he hurriedly threw a glance at a hierarchical superior on his side and let him fetch the map of Youzhou Province.
After drinking two mouths of tea water, the hierarchical superior had already fetched the map of Youzhou Province and paved it directly over a huge square desk in the room. Zhang Tie walked closer to the desk and could see the whole territory of Youzhou Province on the map.
Youzhou Province's map was like a fat eggplant. It was almost 15,000 miles from east to west and about 7,500 miles from south to north. With Liaozhou Province in the north, it connected other provinces in the territory of Northeast Military Region in the south and west; besides and was close to the ocean in the east. The entire area of Youzhou Province was about 200 million square miles.
The topography of Youzhou Province was predominated by mountains and plains, which were in disorderly distribution. All the lands that had been purchased on the map were marked in blue while those that were available were marked in green. Given the map, the blue areas were mainly in the prefectures of Youzhou Province while the green areas occupied over 95% of the total area of Youzhou Province.
'Aren't you impeaching this father for being immersed in stocking lands and wealth? This father will show you about greed. F*ck! I don't believe that you could bite off my ass for that. There's no regulation in the Laws of Taixia Country that officials are forbidden to buy land. Additionally, the more land I buy, the deeper Huaiyuan Palace will root in Youzhou Province.'
Zhang Tie bought more land especially for those members of Gobbling Party. As the old Hua saying went, humans and buddhas both strove for vindication. Although Zhang Tie could not defeat the Gobbling Party right now, it didn't represent that he would not launch a counterattack.
Being supported by Commander Cheng and some big figures in the Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Tie felt reassured. 'Although the Gobbling Party is powerful, someone dares ignore it too. As long as I don't do anything excessive so that the Gobbling Party could get my alibi, I don't need to worry about anything at all.'
As he purchased this patch of land mainly for giving vent to his anger and making his enemy uncomfortable, what was important was not where that patch of land was located but that the patch of land should be large; the larger the better.
"Which land is cheapest in Youzhou Province? Even cheaper than the patch of land that I've already bought?" Zhang Tie put it straight.
"Elder Mushen, the patch of land that you've bought is wasteland over 150 miles away from Yanghe Prefecture. It's Class C Level II. The cheapest land in Youzhou Province is here. The mountainous areas here are Class D Level IV!" The deputy director pointed at the green mountainous area nearby the border of Liaozhou Province which covered tens of hundreds of square miles, "This mountainous area is a depopulated zone. There's no city within 1500 miles. It borders Liaozhou Province with a large area of wilderness in the west. Additionally, the greater part of this mountainous region is covered with rocks. Few plants could be found there. Few lands could be cultivated over there. Therefore, the land over there is Class D Level IV. Its price is only 30 gold coins per square mile!"
'30 gold coins per square mile?' Zhang Tie watched the map as he thought about the money that he could use. He then directly patted onto a gourd-shaped plateau which covered almost 2 million square miles, two times the size of that of Yanghe Prefecture before saying, "Here, I will buy it. Register it today. Go prepare for it, I want to handle the procedures as soon as possible!"
After Zhang Tie moved his palm away from the map, the deputy director was shocked by the words below Zhang Tie's palm——Zanggu Plateau.
The Zanggu Plateau was a bit larger than 1% of the total area of Youzhou Province on the map.
"Elder Mushen...are...are you sure? You're buying Zanggu Plateau?" The deputy director watched Zhang Tie with a shocked expression, "There's nothing here. It's too difficult to develop it. Even if Youzhou develops into a medium province or big province in the future, this place will still be of a very low value..."
"I don't care, as long as it's large enough!" He then gritted his teeth and added, "And, I will take all the discounts! F*ck..."
The deputy director didn't even know why Zhang Tie suddenly swore. After all, less than 10 people had read the memorial that Zhang Taixuan showed Zhang Tie across Youzhou Province.
Zhang Tie took all the documents away from the Land Bureau, leaving a lot of exclamations once again.
After leaving the Land Bureau, Zhang Tie came to his territory with a cold face——Provincial Court of Youzhou Province.
Forbidding agencies like the Provincial Court of Youzhou Province remained unchanged even though the new year was coming while the other yamuns had hung red lanterns at the gates. On such a cold day, it still looked like "Business Only".
In the Provincial Court of Youzhou Province, Zhang Tie was sitting in the main seat of the main hall while hundreds of officials were lowering their bodies towards him for the first time.
After stealthily throwing a glance at Zhang Tie, the officials in the Provincial Court of Youzhou Province found Zhang Tie didn't look good. Therefore, they dared not breathe smoothly.
After running his eyes over the officials, Zhang Tie sipped a mouth of tea water and put down the teacup. As a result, the officials felt much colder in the hall.
"I've not been to Youzhou Province for over 2 months. While taking a round in Youzhou City this morning, my purse was stolen..."