Chapter 88

Li Xian personally led the research on spirit stones; although there had been research on spirit stones in the past, the scale was not large because no one knew how to start. In fact, there were people in the Immortal Realm who had studied spirit stones, but they clearly failed; that's why spirit stones are so scarce now.

But this time, because a method to study spirit stones was found, Li Xian finally expanded the research on spirit stones on a large scale. Li Xian ordered Peng Yongguang, who was in charge of the power department, to take specific responsibility for this project.

However, although Li Xian's idea was good, many problems still arose during the research.

"Master, ordinary materials cannot store spirit energy. Jade can store spirit energy, but it is not strong enough..."

"Use black iron!" Li Xian interrupted the researcher's rambling.

The researcher ran to the black iron factory and asked Hu Juncai for black iron, requesting ten tons. Then Hu Juncai came to complain—Master, we don't have enough either.

"Where is it not enough?" Li Xian was very annoyed. Why don't they know how to share the burden? Everything has to be solved by me. Do you really think I'm a nanny?

Hu Juncai smiled bitterly, "Master, we can only produce about 500 kilograms of black iron per day. Now that the factory is expanding in all aspects, all the black iron produced every day is not enough for the conductors alone. The cement factory is expanding, the machinery factory is expanding, and the smelting factory is expanding.

In terms of power, black iron is not only used for superconducting wires but also for spirit energy conductors, which have the highest demand.

The rest, such as engines, locomotives, and the Floating Cloud Island, all need black iron.

There is also the newly started armory, which requires a large amount of black iron.

Master, we are also expanding ourselves, and it is really tight now."

Li Xian flipped through Hu Juncai's thick ledger, feeling dizzy. Power and black iron are now interdependent, and these two departments consume the most black iron. After looking at the various applications one by one, Li Xian had to admit that the factory was already stretched to the limit; if the research on spirit stones were to be added, the fragile balance of the entire group would be broken.

"Development is too fast!" Li Xian rubbed his forehead with a bitter smile. But spirit stones are really important. If the spirit stone problem can be solved, it will break the last heavy chain around the neck of the Brilliant Stars Group.

"Meeting! Everyone, let's have a meeting to review the development situation!" Helpless, Li Xian could only call a meeting and sent Song Xing to Anyang to invite Fang Shijing, hoping to pool everyone's wisdom.

Fang Shijing was also very troubled when he saw Song Xing. There were still many things in Anyang that had not been handled, and now the group had another issue. Fang Shijing found Xu Ren, who was the most idle. When everyone else was busy, he was drinking tea with Ling Zhifeng.

"You two are really at ease."

Ling Zhifeng chuckled, "Mr. Fang, you don't know. I just completed a divination. Anyang will have a smooth year ahead. Great!"

Hearing this, the overworked Fang Shijing was furious: "Great for your head! Now I have a task for you. Continue to search for strategists and scholars. We need at least three more strategists."

"I am a fangshi, and I only handle divination. Don't come to me for other things. Oh, I suddenly have a feeling. I need to go into seclusion. Don't disturb me." Ling Zhifeng threw down his cup and ran off.

Fang Shijing pointed at Ling Zhifeng's back, trembling with anger: "I hate fangshi the most. These scoundrels are always idle."

"But we really can't do without them!" Xu Ren sighed. "If it weren't for Ling Zhifeng's notification, Anyang might have been caught off guard and even risked being breached."

"I know. But we are really overwhelmed now. Master has made a breakthrough in the research of spirit stones and needs more people. It's a mess." Fang Shijing explained the current difficulties.

Post-war work was not yet complete, the acquisition of refugees and grain in various places had just begun, and the promotion and screening of officials, the formulation and implementation of various rules and regulations, urban planning, and transportation construction planning, all made Fang Shijing overburdened. It would take at least two years to sort everything out!

Xu Ren listened quietly and suddenly sighed, "Brother Fang, we lack a prime minister! I am confident in my strategic abilities, and you are not inferior in internal governance. But in handling overall affairs, especially political matters, neither of us is competent.

Little Anyang is already more complex than the entire Daxia Kingdom."

Fang Shijing sat down and poured himself a cup of tea, "Mr. Xu, I have never seen such rapid and unimaginable development. I am glad to have the opportunity to work here, but I must admit that I am already struggling.

But, a prime minister is hard to find.

It is said that in the south, there was once a country called 'Daming' with thousands of years of history, but only one qualified prime minister named Zhang Juzheng. Other countries, including our Daxia Kingdom, have not had a true prime minister."

Fang Shijing's assessment piqued Xu Ren's curiosity, "Oh? Isn't Ouyang Wubing the prime minister of Daxia now?"

Fang Shijing suddenly sneered, "Mr. Xu, as a strategist, you may not pay much attention to these political matters. In fact, Ouyang Wubing's abilities are not enough to be a prime minister. He focuses on trivial matters and neglects major state affairs. In my view, Li Yulong has only a third of the qualities of a prime minister."

Xu Ren held his tea cup, lost in thought, "Who do you think has the most prime ministerial talent in Daxia and its surroundings?"

"Yan Ze'an of Cai Kingdom. Cai Kingdom should have ended decades ago, but Yan Ze'an has brought about a revival. I have studied Yan Ze'an. He is not bound by trivialities and is clear about major issues, always able to see the essence of things. Unfortunately..."

"No need to say more!" Xu Ren suddenly interrupted Fang Shijing, "Yan Ze'an, right? Brother Fang, go to Qingyun Valley for the meeting. In a month, I will bring Yan Ze'an over. We happen to need a county magistrate."

"Ah..." Fang Shijing looked at Xu Ren, his voice full of disbelief, "Mr. Xu, you... want to bring Yan Ze'an over?"

"Yes, it's not difficult at all!" Xu Ren suddenly took out his feather fan and played with it, pointing to someone nearby, "Bring Mr. Beichen here."

Fang Shijing left with a belly full of questions, and Beichen Yuqing, with a dusty face, walked in. He had been busy with military affairs these past few days. Especially now that industry was on track and showing its power, Beichen Yuqing also had to consider these aspects.

"Mr. Xu is always so at ease." Beichen Yuqing envied when he saw Fang Shijing with his feather fan.

Xu Ren smiled and was about to speak when a hurried voice came from outside.

"What is it?" Xu Ren asked.

A dusty Li family guard came, "Mr. Xu, Master asked me to give this letter to Master, it's urgent information."

Xu Ren took the letter but did not open it casually, instead asking the guard, "Is something major happening?"

"Yes. General Fu Minghui of the Northern Expedition was defeated, and only less than three thousand of the thirty thousand imperial guards escaped."

"What!" Xu Ren was shocked, standing up and knocking over the table and teacup. "Thirty thousand elite imperial guards, how could they fail! Even if they failed, it shouldn't be such a惨败!"

(One chapter turned into four. Votes, please!)

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