Chapter 91

Liu Yu, Mo Chao, Jia Liang, Qian Zhen, and Zhou Bu are the most important left and right arms of Gu Chensha. These days, they have been leading troops personally, and they are also very loyal.

To build the fief, these five must play a pivotal role in the future.

Seeing the five simultaneously step into the Dao Realm, Gu Chensha nodded secretly. This was not due to the "Seven Sages Heart Refining Pill," but because they had a solid foundation, which stimulated the divine bloodline within their bodies. The pill merely served as a catalyst.

He had planned for these five to step into the Dao Realm before him, but unexpectedly, he obtained a great fortune in the Chaos World Magic Ape Temple's treasure house, thus taking the lead.

"Did we actually step into the Dao Realm?" The five regained their senses and hurriedly knelt down. "Just now, the pill made us see seven ancient sages teaching us. Such a pill, the Prince actually bestowed upon us. How can we repay you in the future?"

"Build the fief well, help me firmly suppress the barbarian tribes here, and at the same time, monitor the people of Long Yuyun and Yu Hanlu to prevent them from causing trouble." Gu Chensha gestured for the five to stand up.

"Prince, we have already taken over about three thousand warriors from Long Yuyun. We are currently reorganizing them." Zhou Bu reported. "As for Yu Hanlu's army, we have not taken it over because the people of Bao Yu Kingdom seem to be resistant."

"Of course, Longjian Island has been completely destroyed. Although Long Yuyun has many small actions, he is ultimately in a state of national destruction and family ruin. The experts of Bao Yu Kingdom are just estimating their value, hoping to sell themselves at a good price. If I am not mistaken, they are likely also negotiating with the people of the Great Wei Dynasty." Gu Chensha thought. "Now, what I lack most is people. Apart from you five, the others cannot stand alone. Building this fief requires talent, and you five are far from enough."

"Prince, we are also cultivating. In our own team, there are a few with excellent cultivation, already at the third level of the Mortal Realm, reaching the realm of mastery, and are martial arts masters." Liu Yu was very optimistic.

"This is not enough. You need to read more books. Just fighting is being a brute." Gu Chensha had already planned: "I will set up a military academy in the city, with Yiming as the teacher. You people must attend one hour of class every day to learn military and administrative skills. I will also write to Duke of Giant Rock, asking them to send some management and military strategy experts to teach you."

Duke of Giant Rock had given him three hundred horned dragon armors, showing sufficient goodwill. Seeking help from this person, he would certainly assist.

Gu Chensha wanted to cultivate all 243 of his soldiers into true talents, capable of standing alone, at least as county-level officials. A county can have tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand people, and those who can govern a county are no small feat.

"Go and call the three Xiangs for me." He ordered.

After a while, the three Xiangs arrived. Si Xiang spoke first: "What does the Prince command?"

"I want to write to Duke of Giant Rock. Do you have any quick means of communication?" Since the fief was being built, the most urgent matter was to restore communication with the outside world, whether to send memorials to the court or to contact all directions. This barbarian tribe was far from the outside world, and building roads was impossible. Gu Chensha also lacked means of communication, so he could only ask the three Xiangs.

"This is convenient." Si Xiang replied: "We have raised many spirit eagles, and communication is not difficult."

"In this wilderness, even spirit eagles seem inconvenient. It takes at least two to three days for a round trip. I think you have a faster means of communication." Gu Chensha smiled and asked: "The Heavenly Engineering Academy seems to have invented something new. Can you show me?"

"Since the Prince asked, we cannot refuse to answer." Si Xiang took out a black iron box, palm-sized, with a glowing screen inside and a golden pen, made in an unknown way: "This is called the Mother-Child Zhou Tian Box. As long as you write with the golden pen inside, the same information will appear in the iron box on the other side. It is said that there is a Zhou Tian Tower in the Heavenly Engineering Academy, which can cover the surroundings with supreme power. The words we write will first enter the Zhou Tian Tower, then be transmitted to other boxes."

"Is it that amazing?" Gu Chensha knew that in the Immortal Dao, there was the Crystal Shadow Technique, which allowed people to communicate and see each other over thousands of miles, but that was a divine object, not something ordinary people could possess. Now, it was vividly in front of him.

In such a vast empire, the hardest thing to manage was the lack of smooth communication. For example, if a rebellion occurred in a remote area, by the time the information reached the capital and the army was dispatched, it would be too late.

Therefore, historically, few people who unified a hundred countries could maintain long-term peace and stability.

The first thing Emperor Tianfu did after ascending the throne was to build canals, lay roads, and establish rapid communication. Now, they had even created such a magical device, so that even in the most remote areas, as long as information was sent, it would immediately reach the central government.

"Very well, immediately send a message to Duke of Giant Rock, telling him that I have conquered the barbarian tribe and need talent to manage it. I hope Duke of Giant Rock can send experts to reinforce us." Gu Chensha said.

"We will handle it." Si Xiang took the golden pen and wrote.

"I need to find a way to buy some of these from the Heavenly Engineering Academy." Gu Chensha thought: "I wonder how much they cost?"

"Prince, the most urgent matter now is to build a castle, but the most important thing is to open up the roads." Xue Xiang said: "We are not far from the Giant Rock Great Wall, only about three thousand miles, but there are dense forests and mountains blocking the way. Even if we build a castle, outsiders cannot enter. Only by opening up the roads will people from inside the Great Wall come in a steady stream."

"That's true." Gu Chensha agreed: "But how can we build a road thousands of miles long? We even need to cut through mountains and build bridges. Even if I were a god, I would be powerless."

"No problem, we don't need to build such a long road." Xue Xiang took out a map: "This is our location, and this is the position of the Chengtian Pass. In the past month, the Emperor has ordered the construction of fortresses and roads outside the pass, advancing hundreds of miles. People from the Heavenly Engineering Academy have also come to the outside of the pass, establishing a branch hundreds of miles from Chengtian Pass. The Emperor has also issued an edict, allowing noble families to go outside the pass and purchase land, which is very cheap. Many noble families are vying to buy it, so we only need to cut down trees in the mountains and forests to allow people and horses to pass. In a few months or a year, the road will likely reach here."

"Perhaps not." Gu Chensha shook his head: "For the Heavenly Engineering Academy to build a road here is not easy. In such a vast wilderness, building many roads naturally has priorities. I need to go to the border and negotiate with the people of the Heavenly Engineering Academy, paying them to quickly open up the road. In addition, I need to ask them to come and build a castle."

"Prince, to get the Heavenly Engineering Academy to do the job requires a large amount of money. Even princes must follow the price." Xue Xiang did not say more, but the implication was clear: she thought Gu Chensha had no money.

"I have my ways." Gu Chensha did not reveal his plans. The thousand boxes of goods stolen from the Peach County temple, worth at least tens of millions, were still rotting in the Sun Moon Altar space. He might as well take them out and sell them to fund the construction of the fief.

Prince Gu Fansha also wanted to obtain these goods but was beaten to it by Gu Chensha, which made him want to kill.

Tens of millions of coins is an extremely large sum, even for a noble family, it would be difficult to come up with it all at once.

Gu Chensha was not short of money. If he needed money, he could go to the barbarian temple and take some.

Dismissing the three Xiangs, Gu Chensha went to find Long Yuyun.

At this moment, Long Yuyun was by a lake outside the castle, seemingly talking to a powerful existence in the lake. Gu Chensha vaguely saw a long fish deep in the lake, with a very strong aura, almost as strong as Yiming.

This must be the divine beast of Longjian Island, the Sword Whale.

Whoosh!

Gu Chensha activated the Great Dragon Armor and flew out of the castle, landing by the lake, which surprised Long Yuyun. The Sword Whale in the lake floated to the surface, eyeing him warily.

The Sword Whale looked like a ribbon fish but had a fleshy crest on its head and two wings, allowing it to fly, though it often stayed in the water.

It was a descendant of an ancient divine beast.

"You actually stepped into the Dao Realm, and this armor has even advanced further, capable of withstanding innate qi." Long Yuyun whistled, making the Sword Whale sink back into the water: "What great fortune did you obtain?"

"There's no need to talk about that secret." Gu Chensha cut to the chase: "Do you have a trade caravan at the border market? I have a batch of goods to sell. How does the pricing work?"

"What goods do you have?" Long Yuyun was quite surprised: "Hanlu and I have already established a trading company at the border. If you have good goods, it can greatly enhance our company's reputation."

"Let's not rush. Come with me to the border." Gu Chensha said: "How many people do you have at the border?"

"About a few thousand, all reliable. The border market is booming, with people from all over the country rushing to make money. Land prices are soaring, and the court is profiting from this war. We have transported some precious herbs to the border to sell, and they were easily sold." Long Yuyun said: "Now this place has become your fief, but it is far away. The border is the center of population. I think you should increase your investment at the border. I bought a lot of land at the border many years ago and built shops, making a profit of dozens of times this year."

"Long Yuyun's abilities are indeed strong, no wonder she can command millions of people on Longjian Island." Gu Chensha was secretly surprised. In terms of administration, business, and economics, he knew he was not as good as her. This was his weakness, but he did not hide it. He slowly planned and thought, then said: "What are your plans? Will you bring the people of Longjian Island to join me, or will you be like Yu Hanlu, with divided loyalty?"

This was a clear statement of his stance.

Gu Chensha knew his foundation was too shallow and could not be built up in a short time. If he could truly gain the allegiance of the Longjian Island forces, after digesting them, he would have a solid foundation, and his influence in the court would also grow.

Now, he had no one to do business, no one to pass messages, no one to manage the barbarians, and even no one to serve in his residence, truly a state of poverty.

The words were spoken, and it was up to Long Yuyun to respond.