Chapter 16

"Son, you really have some skills." Li Yulong, upon seeing Li Xian, finally said these words after holding back for a long time.

"Hehe." Li Xian laughed foolishly, not knowing what to say.

Li Yulong then turned to Xu Ren, "I'll leave this kid to you, sir."

"Rest assured, Lord Li. As strategists, we have our own principles and moral standards to adhere to."

Li Yulong nodded and then turned to Li Xian, "Listen up, boy. Anyang is not a good place. Our Great Xia is already on the edge of the Immortal Realm, with the east bordering the sea and the northeast bordering the territory of the demon race.

And Anyang borders the sea to the east and the demon race to the northeast, with Cai State to the northwest.

Anyang, nominally a state of the Great Xia, is actually under our control only in one county. So, even though you are a colonel, your actual power is less than that of an ordinary captain.

Also, when you get to Anyang, remember to meet the governor of Anyang, who is your elder brother Li Liang.

Heh, both you and your elder brother were sent here by that old guy Wang Chuan."

At the end of his speech, Li Yulong's lips curled into a mysterious smile.

After the scolding, Li Yulong arranged for people to help move the workshop. To be precise, it was the people and related items in the workshop that were being moved. All traces of scientific research were taken away. What couldn't be moved, Li Xian, with a heavy heart, destroyed. In the future, the workshop would return to Li Youwei's hands, and new people would be recruited to continue the past work.

Additionally, Song Xing and others from the government office also moved with Li Xian, along with their families, officially becoming the first batch of private soldiers under Li Xian. This was a cause for celebration.

Before leaving, Li Xian had a small gathering with his friends. Yuan Zhao, who was half a year younger than Li Xian, cried his eyes out, which deeply moved Li Xian; but one word from Yuan Zhao sent all of Li Xian's emotions flying. Yuan Zhao said, "Brother Xian, with you gone, I can't find another younger brother older than me."

Li Xian, enraged, chased Yuan Zhao around the courtyard. In the end, Li Xian gave his three sworn brothers a great task—acquire textile materials, such as cotton, hemp, silk, and ramie, and anything that can be used for weaving, as long as it doesn't exceed the market price by more than 20%. The three brothers, upon receiving the task from Li Xian, promised with a thump on their chests that they would ensure not a single cocoon would be left in the Great Xia!

In the afternoon, led by Li Xian, a group of over three hundred people set off grandly towards the northeast. Along the way, they discussed non-stop, treating the relocation like a tour; many who were leaving the capital for the first time were extremely excited.

On the journey, Li Xian admired Xu Ren's strategies, while Xu Ren was shocked by Li Xian's numerous strange ideas. Oh, now Xu Ren had an additional item that Li Xian said was essential for strategists—a feather fan. As soon as he received the feather fan, Xu Ren fell in love with it and couldn't put it down.

However, along the way, Li Xian also saw a completely different side of Wuyang City—ruin! Especially after leaving Wuyang City for five hundred miles, this phenomenon became increasingly evident. The fields were full of crops, yet there were starving people wandering by the roadside, some even eating grass and tree bark—over which they would still argue.

"See that?" Xu Ren stood up and distributed some snacks to the surrounding refugees, his tone somewhat somber.

Li Xian was silent for a long time, then said softly, "When a country is about to fall, disasters will surely come. They may be natural disasters, or human-made disasters, but often the latter is worse than the former."

"Exactly." Xu Ren suddenly turned to look at Li Xian, "Li Xian, do you think technology can really make everyone well-fed?"

"Sir, do you think the current Li Xian is the type to talk big?"

"Haha..." Xu Ren burst out laughing.

But seeing such a Xu Ren, Li Xian couldn't help but ask, "Why do you care so much about the suffering of the world? From what I have seen and heard, many so-called cultivators don't care about the people, only about themselves and whether they can cultivate to become immortals and ascend to heaven."

Xu Ren looked into the distance at the refugees, as if in reflection, "A person lives a lifetime and must do something, at least to prove that they have been here.

Moreover, cultivation is now divided into two schools. One is the traditional school, known as 'the way of withdrawal,' where they live in seclusion and explore cultivation alone.

The other is our new school of thought, known as 'the way of engagement,' where we grow through trials. Being a strategist is our method of cultivation."

"I see." Li Xian understood the general situation.

The group continued to move forward, but laughter gradually disappeared from the group. Along the way, they even encountered several bandits—though a group of people armed with wooden sticks and barely clothed could hardly be called bandits.

"Is this the result of selling offices?" Li Xian suddenly felt a sense of anxiety.

"No." Xu Ren's voice was clear and loud, "Li Xian, your father is a good official, really. You may not know, but if it weren't for your father's intervention, the Great Xia would already be in chaos. The Wang family you offended is the real villain, and they are also relatives of the emperor.

In fact, it is precisely because of your father's practice of selling offices that many people with the ability and inclination to rebel have been co-opted, and he has also collected huge wealth from them to support the operation of the Great Xia.

So, your father is a capable official without a doubt. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to you.

However, the act of selling offices to co-opt people is only a temporary solution, buying us about ten years, but it won't last long.

So, you have at most five years of safe development time."

"Five years, that's enough!" Li Xian's eyes brightened, and his anxiety vanished. It turns out that his father was a capable official, not a villain, and it was just that ordinary people didn't understand.

Knowing the urgency of time and seeing the disaster along the way, Li Xian's resolve became even stronger, and he immediately urged the group to speed up.

On the journey, Li Xian and the others discussed many mechanical issues, including the simple yet wonderful thing called a screw. Previously, connections were made using arrays and magic, but for large-scale production in the future, screws would be needed. With the basic machine tools now available, mass production of screws and nuts became possible.

Finally, after about five or six days, the group crossed over 1,500 miles and arrived at the most remote Anyang.

"I can smell the sea!" A sense of expectation welled up in Li Xian's heart. The sea, a true treasure trove! At least in the memory of his Earth soul, the sea equaled treasure.

Upon entering Anyang, Li Xian was surprised to find that there were no refugees here, and the farmers working in the fields were not emaciated. Many of them even had a faint aura of cultivation.

"This is the system of military farming. All of Anyang is a border region, and the system of military farming is implemented here. The farmers are actually soldiers."

"I see."

After advancing another twenty miles, they finally saw the tall and magnificent city of Anyang, which, at a glance, was no less impressive than the capital.

In front of the city, a young man in a green robe led the way. Before Li Xian could speak, the young man shouted, "Brother Xian, you're here. Did you bring anything good?"

Hearing the words "Brother Xian," Li Xian was exasperated; you are my real elder brother, you could at least call me 'little brother.' Ugh, elders call me 'nephew,' and peers call me 'brother,' my good name has been reduced to a lower level by you all.

"Haha..." The young man walked up to Li Xian and patted him hard on the shoulder, "Not bad, it's been two years, and you've changed so much. Come, come, come, your accommodations are already prepared, just waiting for you."

"Big brother, be gentle." Li Xian winced in pain; his elder brother Li Liang was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and those slaps were quite strong.

"Don't change the subject, quickly, did you bring anything good? If you didn't bring anything, I'll be angry."

"Big brother, you're the one changing the subject. Besides, which brothers ask for gifts the moment they meet?" Li Xian immediately labeled his elder brother as "extreme."

Li Liang whispered three words in Li Xian's ear: "Stainless steel."

Oh, so the things Dad made were given to you. "Big brother, rest assured, the cake will come, the carriage will come, but you have to give me some time."

"Your words put my mind at ease. Come, come, come, to welcome you, I specially ventured into the demon territory to get several demon beasts. Today, I'll make sure you eat well. Starting tomorrow, start building the workshop for me."

"I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch."

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