Chapter 25: Eightfold Divine Builder Raises Strong Walls, Drawing Refugees to Expand the Settlement

After his family's situation stabilized, Chen Wen immediately devoted all his energy to the construction of Jiao Tu Zhen.

The primary task was to reinforce defenses! He would not allow Hu Biao or any enemy to threaten the peace here.

He personally surveyed the terrain around the settlement, and his eightfold thinking speed let him quickly form several reinforcement plans in his mind.

He chose the most practical and quickest-effective one:

Relying on the existing fence, he would build a hybrid rammed-earth and wood-stone breast wall and watchtower.

Once the plan was set, he executed it immediately!

The next day, at dawn, Chen Wen shouldered his best axe and came to the woods near the settlement.

"Today, I will cut enough timber for five watchtowers and a hundred-meter breast wall!"

He set this goal for himself.

His eightfold strength and stamina erupted explosively!

He no longer needed to be careful; instead, like a humanoid logging machine, he aimed at the selected large tree and brought his axe down hard with an afterimage!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The heavy logging sound echoed through the mountains like war drums!

An ordinary person would need half a day to fell a giant tree, but under his hand it often collapsed after just a few dozen swings!

Then came delimiting, cutting to length… all steps completed in one smooth flow, efficiency frighteningly high.

【Felling giant trees, strength and stamina proficiency increase (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+10…+10… (continuous)】

【Processing raw timber, woodworking proficiency increase (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+5…+5…】

The townspeople were drawn by this huge commotion and came out to watch.

When they saw Chen Wen alone, in just a morning, he had felled and preliminarily processed timber almost piled into a small hill.

Everyone was stunned, mouths agape, unable to speak.

This… this is still human?!

In the afternoon, construction officially began.

Chen Wen was both the chief engineer and the strongest laborer.

The rammed-earth wall required large amounts of soil and a solid foundation.

His eightfold strength enabled him alone to pull the heavy rammer that normally needed three or four people, and he never tired.

Under his demonstration and leadership, the townspeople's efficiency also increased.

【Participating in rammed-earth wall construction, building proficiency increase (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+8…+8…】

【Leading the construction work, organizational coordination ability increase! Diligence Points (WP)+5…+5…】

Building the watchtower required raising the heavy raw timber upright.

Normally this required complex pulleys and multiple people cooperating.

But Chen Wen could often shoulder a single log that normally needed several people to lift.

His eightfold balance let him steadily plant the log into the hole, straighten and secure it.

【Erecting structural timber, strength and balance proficiency increase (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+15!】

Under his leadership, the entire Jiao Tu Zhen turned into a bustling construction site.

A project that originally would have taken one or two months to complete was now advancing at a visibly rapid pace!

Five days! Only five days!

A sturdy three-meter-high, two-meter-thick rammed-earth mixed wood-and-stone breast wall replaced the original dilapidated fence!

Five sturdy watchtowers, rising nearly ten meters above the wall, stood at key positions!

The defensive capability of Jiao Tu Zhen increased by more than just one level!

All the townspeople who participated in the construction looked at this miraculous project, their faces brimming with pride and disbelief.

Their admiration and conviction toward Chen Wen reached its peak.

【Efficiently completing the major defense project, greatly increasing the stronghold's safety. Gaining the wholehearted acclaim of all townspeople! Diligence Points (WP)+500!】

【Current WP: 1956】

And the news of Jiao Tu Zhen's rapidly completed solid defenses spread like wings across the surrounding mountains and wilderness.

Increasing numbers of refugees came with their families, drawn by reputation, seeking shelter.

They had been tormented by Khitan people, bandits, and defeated soldiers, losing all hope.

And the story of Jiao Tu Zhen's solid walls and that "divine person" leader became their last straw of hope.

Chen Wen turned away no one who came.

He, with his eightfold insight and management ability, efficiently registered the newcomers.

According to their age, strength, and skills, he quickly assigned them to different posts:

Able-bodied laborers participated in construction and patrol; women and elders handled logistics and gathering; older children could also do whatever odd jobs they were capable of.

The entire Jiao Tu Zhen functioned like a precise and efficient machine, with Chen Wen as this eightfold-powered "core" driving it, frantically absorbing refugees and strengthening itself.

The population quickly surpassed three hundred and continued to grow.

Food pressure suddenly surged, but Chen Wen did not panic.

He had long planned to reclaim land and farm, but the defense works and influx of refugees temporarily delayed it.

Now that the defenses were initially complete, it was time to solve the food problem.

And just then, Zhang Cheng brought news: Hu Biao's men had appeared again near the settlement, scouting.

This time, they eyed the tall breast wall and watchtower, dared not approach, but their looks grew more hostile.

Chen Wen gave a cold chuckle:

"Just in time. Once we deal with them and seize their provisions, our seeds for land reclamation and initial rations might then be secured."