Chapter 412

Time flew by.

It was almost in the blink of an eye; at least Wu Tie still hadn't realized the passage of time, and two and a half months passed in a flash.

Huang Lang, and the talent of his clansmen, was fully demonstrated in these two and a half months.

As Wu Tie and Huang Lang had guessed, Huang Lang's clansmen were indeed invaded by the Black Phoenix Army posing as bandits who stormed into Daze City, violently plundered and taken to the Black Phoenix Army's mine, becoming miserable mining slaves.

After Wu Tie and the Black Phoenix Army reached a cooperation agreement, Huang Lang's clansmen were safely released.

After all, they were an entrenched bureaucratic clan; Huang Lang's clansmen had basically trained in various civilian official positions since adulthood—engineering construction, water conservancy repair, farming, mining and smelting, etc. —and were proficient in any livelihood-related affairs.

When the Black Phoenix Army put them to work as laborers in the mine, their effect was hardly different from that of ordinary mining slaves.

But when they took over all the administrative posts of Daze Prefecture, the energy they unleashed left the Black Phoenix Army from top to bottom staring at each other, speechless.

The whole Daze City was like a rusted, broken machine that had been repaired, oiled, given a new power core, found its direction, and then went "Boom—" forward in leaps and bounds.

New mining tools were forged.

New smelting workshops were built.

New construction procedures were designed.

In two and a half months, the Black Phoenix Army's mine output increased ore production by over twenty times; the smelted metal ingots were of higher quality, purer, and alloy quality improved by more than fifty percent.

One of Huang Lang's cousins turned out to be a rather skilled weaponsmith; many of Huang Lang's nephews and grandnephews were his indoor disciples.

Thus, a casting workshop was built inside Daze City; the metal ingots originally piled uselessly in the Black Phoenix Army's storeroom quickly turned into gleaming cold-light weapons.

Although limited by conditions, the weapons forged in Daze City were at best of three-refined spirit weapon quality, which already amazed the Black Phoenix Army up and down—at least, Daze Prefecture now had a steady source of arms.

The new Daze City was also completed.

Wu Tie turned the troops under Zhang Xibai into his own provincial military subordinates, and gave them an imposing name—Xiongzi Battalion.

Hundreds of thousands of Xiongzi Battalion soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Black Phoenix Army soldiers, following Wu Tie's order, instantly transformed into engineering troops.

They each knew a few five-elements techniques; nearly a million soldiers toiled for two and a half months, and a city a hundred li long and wide rose from the ground.

The new Daze City's foundation rose three zhang above ground, its walls a hundred li long and wide, each side having three gates and three barbicans; the walls stood thirty-six zhang high and twenty-four zhang thick, made of rock transmuted by earth-element sorcery mixed with molten metal and cast, inscribed with numerous defensive wards, thus its defensive power was astonishing.

Wu Tie also took out all the defensive formations he possessed, including the deployment funds issued by the military, and the hundreds of sets of large and small defensive formations Li Xian had sent in the baggage, and used them all in the new Daze City.

Hundreds of defensive formations linked together, Daze City was instantly enveloped in a layer of five-colored vapor; gold and silver splendor flickered intermittently on its blue-black walls, making the whole city resemble a heavenly citadel, truly mighty and extraordinary.

Including the warships confiscated from Zhang Xibai's command, as well as the baggage Wu Tie brought from the military and Li Xian, hundreds of large and small warships were taken out by Wu Tie and organized into a fleet directly under the Daze Prefecture army.

Hundreds of warships large and small hovered all day above Daze City; each bow main gun emitted a faint gloomy light, instantly giving the entire city an inexplicable aura of intimidation.

Because mining techniques were improved, the Black Phoenix Army's captive millions of laborers, a full two million, were released back.

Those who could survive the Black Phoenix Army's harsh mine conditions were all robust, energetic young adults; under the direction of several of Huang Lang's nephews, these young adults swiftly joined the great production movement.

In just two and a half months, over a hundred million mu of farmland had been opened up outside the new Daze City.

These young adults' lowest cultivation was around the Sensory Mystery Realm; using sorcery to open farmland was inherently not difficult; the previous lack of reclaimed farmland in Daze Prefecture was merely due to harassment by the Tianyuan King, Silver Dragon King, and Silver Tongue King's subordinate tribes, and the Black Phoenix Army commanders' lack of skill in management.

Now the Tianyuan King and Silver Dragon King have been slain by Wu Tie, while the Silver Tongue King was frightened out of his wits and hides somewhere unknown.

Under the coordination of Huang Lang and other veteran administrators, the two million laborers burst forth with vigorous strength; the over-a-hundred-million-mu farmlands were kept in perfect order, and various canals and irrigation works were tidied up neatly.

Wu Tie's cave-abode military camp now sits at the very center of the newly opened farmland.

Wu Tie opened his military camp to its maximum form; a camp tens of li long and wide lay like a monster crouched on the earth, all its prohibitions fully activated, frenziedly devouring heaven and earth essence!

In the history of the Da Jin Divine Nation, perhaps Wu Tie is the first commander to use a cave-abode treasure in this way.

The camp turned into a massive heaven-earth essence converter, rapidly swallowing free heaven-earth essence, then turning it into a vast white mist that seeped out from the camp walls and gradually spread to the surrounding fields.

The concentration of heaven-earth essence in the fields was far above that of the natural environment; the closer to the camp, the higher the concentration, and under the nourishment of an almost substantive white spirit mist, crop growth was astonishing.

In the over-a-hundred-million-mu fields, the outermost positions already had essence concentration three times or more the former level, while the spots nearest the camp reached roughly a hundred times the normal natural level.

In the outermost fields, red coral rice was planted; slightly inward, the red coral rice had already evolved into yellow coral rice. And as the essence concentration continually rose, the closer to the camp, the higher the quality of the coral rice.

Red coral rice, yellow coral rice, blue coral rice, green coral rice…

Outside the wall of the cave-abode camp, within about three li, mutant plants have already appeared, and blue-green coral rice has already emerged.

Blue-green coral rice, this is nearly the highest grade of coral rice that can be cultivated in the Da Jin Divine Nation.

This is sufficient to meet the daily spiritual-consumption needs of high-level cultivators in the Embryonic Storage Realm.

Even blue-green coral rice in the Da Jin Divine Nation is basically not used as ordinary rations, but as a blending ingredient for many spirit pills, to neutralize the property clashes between various spirit medicines.

Blue-green coral rice should not be counted as food, but rather as a first-rate spiritual herb treasure!

On the south wall of the new Daze City, Pei Feng and other Black Phoenix Army high-ranking officers stood on the top floor of the three-story gate tower, silently gazing at that lush, verdant expanse of farmland.

In the distance, that huge military camp was inhaling and exhaling heaven-earth essence; in the field nearest the camp walls, the blue-green coral rice plants stood over three zhang tall, thick and sturdy, essentially like little trees.

"Really..." Pei Feng shook his head vigorously: "As this army chief, am I really useless?"

Pei Feng's gaze somewhat scattered, he murmured low: "The same soldiers, the same laborers, the same exiles... in our hands they achieved nothing... but in General Huo Xiong's hands..."

Qian Three, Old Man Ma, and the others remained silent.

They each looked at one another, then simultaneously shook their heads.

To have them wield knives and slash people, they're all adept; but to let them manage the economy, to let them govern a region, they truly lack the brains for it!

Pei Feng suddenly exhaled, his scattered eyes becoming extremely bright and spirited: "Still, it's good. At least twenty percent of this grain and fodder belongs to us... and the remaining eighty percent, we also have unlimited purchasing rights."

Pei Feng laughed happily.

Qian Three, Old Man Ma, and the others also laughed.

As Pei Feng and Huang Lang finally agreed upon, and then obtained Wu Tie's recognized contract, all industries in Daze City have a fixed twenty percent share for the Black Phoenix Army—for example, grain, weapons, and the various salts, fish, glues, hides, etc., all yield them a fixed twenty percent profit.

Based on that twenty percent share, if the Black Phoenix Army has greater demand, they can purchase without limit from Daze Prefecture!

As long as they have sufficient funds, they can purchase unlimitedly whatever they need.

And funds, the Black Phoenix Army are not lacking.

Over these years they have waged war year after year, mining vast veins; piles of precious metal ores, gemstones, etc., have accumulated without number, and these can be completely exchanged with Daze Prefecture for enormous quantities of resources.

With resources, troops, and weapons and armor, the Black Phoenix Army can continually grow.

The Black Phoenix Army was like a weak giant; he lacked clothing and food, his vitality was feeble, he lacked nutrition, so he had lost his combat strength.

Wu Tie simply stuck one end of a thick infusion tube into this giant's body, continuously supplying them with nutrition. Once the giant recovered and became stout and strong… he could unleash the combat strength he ought to have.

An army, with sufficient soldiers, sufficient weapons and supplies, sufficient grain and logistics—what else could they lack?

They lack nothing!

They would only lack enemies……

"How wonderful!" Pei Feng tightened the cloak behind her, wrapped it around her body, her bright eyes slightly narrowed as she looked toward the city wall where Wu Tie stood, gesturing outward.

Wu Tie was asking Huang Lang about the next step's plan.

Now the Heavenly Centipede King has been slain, the Silver Dragon King also killed; the two great land-and-water tyrants of Great Marsh Prefecture have all perished.

When the dragons are leaderless, that is precisely their weakest moment.

Great Marsh Prefecture also had a modest foundation of prosperity and development, so Wu Tie formed a somewhat bold idea—what Great Marsh Prefecture now lacks most is manpower. He asked Huang Lang whether it might be possible to conquer part of the barbarian tribes, making them labor and military reinforcements for Great Marsh Prefecture.

Facing Wu Tie's inquiry, Huang Lang furrowed his brows and fell into thought.

After a while, Huang Lang slowly nodded: "General, our Great Jin is not lacking in examples of conquering barbarian tribes and conscripting their entire clans as vassals. However, this usually occurs among the great aristocratic clans; those powerful and influential clans will conquer one or two mighty barbarian tribes to serve as family wings and military reinforcements."

"But the official court of Great Jin rarely does this." Huang Lang said softly: "The dignity of the Great Jin Divine State lies here; officially conscripting barbarian tribes, heh. The Great Jin Divine State's outward attitude toward these tribes has always been unsparing."

Wu Tie waved his hand forcefully and laughed loudly: "Then, in the name of I, Huo someone, let us conscript a batch of mighty barbarian tribes. Well, I, Huo Xiong, ought also to have a private army belonging to the Huo family."

"Carefully select, look—on Great Marsh Prefecture's territory, which barbarian tribe is the strongest in combat and most worth winning over?"

Pei Feng stood on the gate tower, silently watching Wu Tie laugh loudly there.

She suddenly asked softly: "Doesn't my Pei family also have a Sword Mantis vassal?"

Several old men of the Black Phoenix Army looked at each other and slowly nodded: "But… the Sword Mantis only obeys the orders of the Pei family head… now they are…"

Pei Feng nodded and said softly: "I don't know; when my father subdued the Sword Mantis clan, could it have been similar to Huo Xiong's situation?"

Qian San, Ma Shu, and the others exchanged glances; Ma Shu gave a dry laugh: "What nonsense about the military lord? This Huo Xiong—how could he be compared to the former military lord? In both civil governance and martial prowess he falls far short! Pah, he doesn't even measure up to a single hair of the old military lord!"

Pei Feng let out a snort of cold laughter: "My father, is his body hair that thick? Nonsense!"

The elders of the Black Phoenix Army gave an embarrassed, dry laugh without speaking, while a sense of unease simultaneously rose in their hearts.

For all these years, Pei Feng has never shown any interest in the opposite sex…… even Sima Lang's pursuit she firmly abandoned…… this 'Huo Xiong'……

The Black Phoenix Army elders glared hatefully at Wu Tie…… pah, this fellow is truly ugly to look at.

Although one must admit he has some ability, he is truly hard‑on‑the‑eyes ugly.

"Hee‑hee……yo……!"

A strange cry came from high above, and everyone at once turned their gazes to the eastern sky.

Not over thirty zhang long, slender and delicate, yet its wings spread dozens of triangular sails; wind lines flickered across the vast sail surface, and the gale‑wrapped airship drew a long trail as it sped toward Great Marsh City.

The prow of this airship bore a huge divine‑beast skull plaque, the beast's jaws gripping a sharp longsword…… this is the emblem of the Great Jin Divine State's Military Department.

A "hee‑hee" tearing‑through‑the‑air sound came from afar; from the moment this airship entered Wu Tie's party's field of view, it took only a dozen breaths to draw near Great Marsh City, and in another dozen breaths it had flown hundreds of li, its speed astonishing.

Several of Wu Tie's flagship barges moved forward to meet the airship, forcing it to halt in midair.

A figure appeared on the airship; several of Wu Tie's officers went out to meet it, and after a while two officers hurried back, dropping heavily to their knees before Wu Tie.

"General, these are the Military Department's military law officers; they have come to investigate the case of the destroyed spatial gate in Great Marsh Prefecture and the mysterious deaths of successive prefectural military lords……"

Wu Tie's pupils contracted, and he laughed: "Well, which faction of enemies has come knocking? Still, they've found a handy pretext."