Chapter 239

"It's just that this kid took the wrong path in the past, preferring to be a wandering knight! Messing around and wasting his brains."

"Fortunately, he has spent the last two years focusing his heart on studying at the Jiangling Academy, and he has grown quite a bit."

"It is indeed time for him to come out and gain some experience so he can become a talent sooner!"

"Then count him in!"

"Also, add Gu Yong and Lu Su as well!"

"Gu Yong has long had the idea of entering officialdom, but because I had too many talents under my command, he worried there wouldn't be a place for him, so he didn't rush and instead kept helping out at the academy."

"Now is the perfect time for him to graduate and gain experience along with Xu Shu."

"As for Lu Su, his talent is no less than Xu Shu's; he is capable in both civil and military affairs. When he undergoes training in Xiangyang County, I plan to have both him and Xu Shu join the Staff Department simultaneously, and begin to come into contact with our army's military affairs and tactical and strategic deductions."

"To further improve their abilities and experience in this regard."

"After they are familiar with it for a year or so, they can learn from Gongda, Zhicai, or you, kid."

Su Xuan continued.

Of course, he had long known that Xu Shu had joined the Jiangling Academy.

This was one of the top names on the list of talents he had ordered the Secret Guards to search for.

Lu Su, on the other hand, was a genius he had personally invited to study at the Jiangling Academy long ago.

"Hmm! At this point in time, perhaps I can find a way to invite Zhuge Liang's family to Jingzhou to avoid disaster while also pursuing their studies!"

"Right! And Pang Tong of the Pang clan; I can't forget that kid either!"

Su Xuan thought again.

He would not wait to leave Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei and cause trouble for himself.

Although, in all likelihood, Liu Bei would not live to see that day, as Su Xuan estimated he would have already unified the world by then.

But Zhuge Liang's talent and wisdom were worth gathering and cultivating in advance.

In the future, he still had to conquer the heavens and myriad worlds.

The more top-tier talents, the better.

"The Lord is wise!"

Guo Jia immediately cupped his hands and praised.

Gu Yong and Lu Su were indeed exceptionally talented.

He was eager for the Lord to have as many top-tier talents as possible, so that he could slack off more.

He himself didn't have much pursuit for position or power; as long as there was enough money to spend, enough wine to drink, and enough beautiful women, that was enough.

Life, after all, is best lived comfortably.

Half a day later,

Su Xuan and his party returned to Jiangling City.

After meeting with Xi Zhicai and Li Yan to resolve the matters that had accumulated over these days, Su Xuan said to Xi Zhicai: "Zhicai! The commanderies of Wuling, Changsha, Jiangxia, Lingling, and Guiyang have all been taken!"

"Given the future situation, it is no longer appropriate to keep the Provincial Governor's Office in Jiangling City!"

"Therefore, I plan to relocate the Provincial Governor's Office to Xiangyang City!"

"However, Xiangyang City is currently only a county seat and its scale is too small. I plan to expand or even rebuild it. Do you have any thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, Xi Zhicai immediately shook his head and said: "None! I think the Lord's idea is excellent!"

"Indeed, with Jingzhou now in our hands, in the future, we will mainly face military campaigns in Nanyang, Yuzhou, Yanzhou, Sili, Yizhou, and Jiangdong!"

"Jiangling City is ultimately a bit too far south; Xiangyang City is more suitable."

"However, building Xiangyang City will likely take quite some time."

"Even with steel and cement, and even if we can conscript enough able-bodied men to build it, I fear it will take at least a year or two."

"During this period, the Governor's Office must remain in Jiangling City."

"So, there is no rush to relocate!"

"Let's build up Xiangyang City first!"

Come to think of it, this Jiangling City had developed step by step to its current state under his own hands.

Not to mention, he was truly a bit reluctant to leave this place!

"Hmm!"

Su Xuan nodded upon hearing this and said: "Then let's use steel and cement, and conscript enough able-bodied men to build it!"

"Remember to pay them enough wages so the common people don't have any complaints."

"Also, we can build the Provincial Governor's Office, the officials' residences, and the city walls first."

"Then build the commercial district, and finally the residential areas."

"In this way, half a year should be enough for us to move over."

Residential areas can be done slowly; once the other parts are built, it won't affect the operation and defense of the Provincial Governor's Office and Xiangyang City.

"That's a good idea! In that case, half a year is enough!"

Xi Zhicai's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "However, who does the Lord plan to entrust this task to?"

Su Xuan looked at Li Yan beside him and said: "Zhengfang, I will entrust this matter to you to lead! I will have Xu Shu, Gu Yong, and Lu Su assist you. Do you have the confidence to complete it within the specified time?"

Li Yan was stunned at first, then overjoyed: "I will certainly not fail the Lord's heavy trust!"

He had not expected Su Xuan to entrust such an important matter to him.

This fully demonstrated the importance the Lord placed on him!

How could he not be happy?

Perhaps, after completing this task, his position could catch up to that of Tian Feng and the others?

He never felt his talent was inferior to Tian Feng and the others.

Hmm! At most, he just lacked some experience.

"Good!"

Su Xuan nodded with a smile: "For the cement and steel, go find Huang Huang Chengyan and have him coordinate the production!"

"I will also instruct him later to build several cement plants and steel mills near Xiangyang City."

As it happens, there are quite a few steel blast furnaces in the secret mountain base in the western suburbs of Dengxian, and Su Xuan felt it was time to fully restore production there.

He might even add more blast furnaces.

Afterward, Su Xuan thought for a moment, left the Prefect's Office, and went to the academy, where he met Cai Yong and Xun Shuang playing chess.

"Master Cai! Father-in-law!"

Su Xuan stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Lord Governor, you are too polite!"

Cai Yong stood up quickly to return the bow.

Su Xuan's status was different now, and he really couldn't just sit there.

Xun Shuang, however, sat calmly and looked at Su Xuan: "What brings you to the academy today, kid?"

"I assume you have something on your mind?"

"Hehe!"

Su Xuan smiled slightly and waved his hand at Cai Yong: "Master Cai, no need for such formalities. Here, I am merely your student."

Cai Yong felt very pleased to hear this and laughed: "Not at all! Not at all! I haven't taught you much, I am ashamed, truly ashamed!"

Su Xuan then looked at Xun Shuang: "Nothing can be hidden from you, Father-in-law!"

"I do indeed have a matter to discuss!"

"As you know, in the Jingzhou commanderies, except for Nanyang, which is still mostly in the hands of Lord Yuan Shu, the others have basically been taken!"

"It is no longer appropriate to keep the Provincial Governor's Office in Jiangling City!"

"Therefore, I plan to relocate the Governor's Office to Xiangyang City!"

"But Xiangyang City was previously just a county seat and is not sufficient to be the capital of Jingzhou, so I plan to expand it."

"I have already appointed Li Yan to oversee the construction, but I still lack a few assistants."

"Currently, I don't have enough people under my command! I heard there are several great talents here at the academy, so I came specifically to meet them."

Xun Shuang and Cai Yong nodded in understanding.

Cai Yong said: "There are indeed a few great talents! One is Lu Su, Lu Zijing, whom you called here to study years ago; one is Gu Yong, a disciple I took while in Wu; and one is Xu Shu, who joined the academy two years ago. These three are all excellent!"

"I imagine that with the intelligence capabilities of the Secret Guards, you came here specifically for these three, didn't you?"

"They happen to be at the academy right now. Do you need me to call them over for you to meet?"

Cai Yong did not resent Su Xuan's actions.

After all, this academy was founded by Su Xuan, and it was stated from the beginning that it was to cultivate talents for him.

It was only natural for Su Xuan to come and recruit talents.

"Then I will trouble you, Master Cai!"

Su Xuan nodded with a smile.

Cai Yong immediately ordered someone to summon Lu Su, Gu Yong, and Xu Shu.

When the three saw Su Xuan, they were stunned for a moment, and then a look of excitement appeared on their faces.

It seemed they had already guessed the purpose of being called here.

They themselves had intentions of entering officialdom, and Su Xuan's appearance was the best thing that could happen to them.

"Greetings, Master Cai, Lord Ciming, Lord Governor!"

The three of them bowed to Su Xuan and the others in unison.

Cai Yong waved his hand first: "I called you here because the Lord Governor wants to see you. You can discuss the specifics yourselves! I won't interfere!"

Saying this, he sat down and continued playing chess with Xun Shuang.

Su Xuan smiled knowingly, beckoned the three to walk a dozen steps away, and looked at them: "With your intelligence, I assume you have already guessed the purpose of my visit!"

"So, I won't beat around the bush. Are you willing to join me and serve under my command?"

As soon as Su Xuan finished speaking, the three looked at each other.

Then they bowed in unison: "We are willing! We are honored that the Lord does not despise us, and we are willing to serve until death."