Chapter 26

When Song Xing and his group returned on horseback, Li Xian was explaining a timekeeping device—the Big Ben—to everyone. Considering the current rudimentary industrial foundation, Li Xian could only choose the Big Ben.

"It has two important components: the mainspring and the pendulum. The mainspring stores energy, while the pendulum is used for timekeeping." Li Xian explained until his mouth was dry, mainly because he only had a rough idea of how it worked and knew nothing about the internal gear arrangements.

"How does the pendulum keep time?" Everyone was puzzled, even Xu Ren was confused. How could a swinging iron ball keep time?

"I know, I know!" Little Xie An shouted, "Although the amplitude of the swing is different, the time for each swing is the same! Therefore, as long as the length of the pendulum is calculated correctly, it can keep time precisely, down to the second."

"Hmm?" Xu Ren observed carefully for a long time and found it to be true. "Xie An, how do you know this?"

"Big brother doesn't let me say."

Li Xian: ...

"Ha ha..." Everyone burst into laughter.

Liu Bin also laughed for a long time before he recovered. "Young Master, the principle of this device is simple, but to achieve precise timekeeping, it requires repeated measurements. I estimate that we can produce a prototype within a month, before the New Year."

"Good, I'm looking forward to your good news."

Seeing another problem solved, Li Xian finally smiled, feeling a great sense of accomplishment.

But good news was followed by bad news—there weren't enough people! When Li Xian first arrived in Anyang, he only had about 300 people. The textile factory had already faced a shortage of workers, which was temporarily resolved by Aunt He Lin personally recruiting women from Anyang and the surrounding villages.

However, with the introduction of the "Big Ben" project and the increased demand for looms in the textile factory, the machinery factory first faced a shortage of personnel.

Unlike the textile factory, the machinery factory had research tasks and was a core department, so it couldn't just hire anyone. Confidentiality was taken very seriously by everyone in the factory.

Moreover, the machinery factory's increased production put enormous pressure on the metallurgy factory, which was already burdened with a 1 million catties weapons order from the sea clan. Song Gang was so worried that he was pulling his hair out. Now, with the Big Ben project, the factory managers were in an uproar.

What to do with the shortage of personnel? This wasn't something that could be solved easily; at the very least, loyalty had to be tested. Now it was Li Xian's turn to pull his hair out.

Only Xu Ren was confident. "Young Master, what's the problem? Just ask the eldest brother for more people!"

"Eldest brother? What people does he have? His 30,000 soldiers are always complaining about being understaffed."

"Injured soldiers!" Xu Ren seemed to have an idea, his tone somewhat sad. "Every governor has a large number of injured soldiers. When I was with the Songzhou Prefect, I saw thousands of injured soldiers. Their lives... have almost no hope. And many prefects and governors secretly 'dispose' of some injured soldiers to reduce the burden.

Moreover, here, we can arrange for many injured soldiers to work. Even those who can't work can be assigned to guard gates and warehouses. The loyalty of these soldiers is not a problem."

Li Xian immediately stood up. "I forgot about this. Sir, let's go to Anyang and see how many injured soldiers there are."

When they left the factory, Li Xian suddenly said, "Sir, you've been wanting to say this, haven't you?"

This time, Xu Ren didn't have his usual confident demeanor but was somewhat sad and reflective. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you. The main reason I left the Songzhou Prefect was not just because he didn't adopt my suggestions, but because I discovered he was secretly disposing of useless soldiers."

Li Xian was silent. Such things were not uncommon in any world. Injured soldiers were not only valueless but also a heavy burden. When Cao Cao crossed the Huarong Road, he even had injured and weak soldiers carry grass to pave the way, while he led the cavalry charge behind them, using the injured soldiers as stepping stones in the muddy road.

After a long time, Li Xian said solemnly, "Sir, perhaps Li Xian has the ability to show you a new world!"

When Li Xian returned to Anyang, the soldiers he encountered along the way all respectfully called him "Du Wei." Although Li Xian had never truly led them and his cultivation was not as high as some centurions and commanders, his actions in Anyang had genuinely earned the respect of these soldiers.

"Ha ha, Brother Xian, I heard the call of Du Wei from far away." Li Xian's eldest brother, Li Liang, also came to greet him from a distance.

Li Xian immediately said, "Brother, I'm here to solve your troubles."

"Troubles? I don't have any troubles."

Li Xian looked around at the soldiers and lowered his voice. "Brother, let's talk inside."

"Alright."

After sitting down, Li Xian finally got to the point. "Brother, the business has already expanded and needs a lot of people. I heard that you have many injured soldiers here. Perhaps I can give them a new place to live and work."

Unexpectedly, Li Liang suddenly frowned. "Brother, these soldiers are indeed a burden, but I am willing to support them. They are already injured and disabled. Can you bear to make them work?"

Li Xian sat up straight. "Brother, listen to me.

First, for these injured soldiers, at least for most of them, this life is a humiliation! Giving them something to do, giving their lives new meaning, and proving that they are still alive is a better way to treat them.

Second, keeping them busy and giving them new goals will prevent them from sighing every day over their disabled bodies. We are all cultivators. As long as they have confidence, there is a chance they can enter the Yuan Ying stage and reshape their bodies.

Third, participation is voluntary, and there is no compulsion. Even if they enter the workshop, their monthly compensation will not be reduced. Those who do not want to work will still be supported according to the original standards.

Fourth, I can assign them appropriate positions, at least giving them motivation and hope to continue their cultivation.

Fifth, their families will be treated well, and the factory can even send people to take care of their children and educate them in cultivation and learning.

What do you think, Brother?"

Li Xian's words and ideas clearly had a significant impact on Li Liang. Even Xu Ren, who had been with Li Xian all along, was inspired—this was a new way to approach the situation and explain it.

Li Xian stared at his brother Li Liang, waiting for a response.

After a long time, Li Liang instructed his advisor, who was also the county magistrate, Zou Hui, to go and ask the injured soldiers.

Soon, Zou Hui returned with a strange expression. "Eldest Young Master, almost all the injured soldiers have expressed their willingness to work. As long as Young Master doesn't refuse them and can tolerate their mistakes, they are willing to work without pay."

Zou Hui spoke calmly, but Li Liang felt the soldiers' bitterness. He sighed, "Brother, you are right. No, Brother Xian, you are right. Ha ha..."

Li Xian was speechless. The title "Brother Xian" would probably stick with him for a long time.

After that, Li Xian didn't need to get involved. Xu Ren and the new factory managers went crazy trying to recruit people! The number of injured soldiers exceeded expectations, with over 10,000! When Li Xian heard this number, he was stunned for a long time—how could a county like Anyang have over 10,000 injured soldiers?!

Then Li Xian understood. The soldiers here were all cultivators with strong survival capabilities. In ancient times on Earth, injured soldiers often died from infections, but here, in the cultivation world, these soldiers were all cultivators.

It was just that Li Xian's eldest brother was really too "generous." With a wave of his hand, he sent over 10,000 people to Li Xian. Li Xian was moved to tears.