Chapter 103: Something Is Not Right

The generals of the three armies who left the Council Hall had not achieved their goal for this trip; while disappointed, they still held some hope.

In their view, this person Wen Gu did indeed have some ability, and his sudden interference this time was truly surprising.

For the sake of the Telescope and Microscope, they would not harbor resentment, and instead felt some appreciation. Eating at the same table, they looked at Wen Gu as elders looking at a junior. But scrambling for food in the same basin, that was a contest on the same level!

One can earn respect if one has real ability.

As they returned to their respective homes, they still thought: no matter how big Wen Gu's appetite was, he wouldn't swallow all the wealth in Lao Zhao's account, would he?

That kid surnamed Wen only managed two wards for now; even if it really had something to do with the wards, how much could there be to do? How much money and grain could he use?

But recalling the reactions of the Zhao father and son, perhaps there were some new unique skills or divine artifacts?

Thinking this, they grew a bit more expectant.

If that were truly the case, it wouldn't matter even if Wen Gu emptied Lao Zhao's account balance this time.

It really wouldn't matter.

They could still continue to lie in wait for the next batch.

Once the wealth saved up over the autumn and winter seasons was emptied, spring would arrive soon, and Lao Zhao's account would rise another round.

When spring comes, the ice and snow melt and the river water rises, then ships can pass. The teams from the great families in the south will head north along the various rivers before the weather gets hot.

When the great families come to Xinzhou to seek refuge with the Zhao Clan, they will certainly want to show their sincerity, which means exchanging large amounts of grain and supplies for Xinzhou Money Vouchers.

After deducting military maintenance costs and necessary storage, there will certainly be a large batch of grain, grass, and goods that are temporarily unused flowing into Lao Zhao's private treasury.

Even if the previous batch was intercepted by Wen Gu, they would always have a chance at the next batch... right?

That kid Wen Gu wouldn't be eating from the bowl while eyeing what's in the pot... would he?

The garrison generals and the scholars were all thinking this.

As for Lao Zhao?

Bah, why keep so much in the account?

Grain and supplies are meant to be used!

Nowadays, the fields in Xinzhou are being reclaimed one after another, but the yield certainly cannot keep up; what can be used are the savings of the various great families.

In this current world, one must seize the time to preserve oneself and strengthen oneself!

The more Lao Zhao scrapes off, the more they can share!

The bigwigs of the three armies who had left were already plotting how to distribute the next batch of grain and goods.

Inside the Council Hall.

Wen Gu held the manuscript and, page by page, fluently explained it to the Zhao father and son.

Nowadays, major forces focus primarily on defense; everyone knows they must preserve their vital strength.

Monsters and living people exist in a relationship of mutual hunting.

Xinzhou is neither big nor small. The Evil Plague has been raging for nearly two years, and the surviving population in the province is concentrated in a few important towns. Today, over ninety percent of the villages and towns have been abandoned.

As for areas outside the gathering places of survivors, they only set up watchtowers in places with favorable terrain or where necessary to observe enemy movements, using smoke signals to transmit messages if there were any unusual activity.

For this reason, many scouts were also trained.

It is just that these established watchtowers are either simple Tu Bao or watchtowers and turret-carts built of wood.

If they encounter a monster swarm charging, the watchtowers are basically gone and need to be rebuilt.

Thinking more pessimistically, monster swarms are encountered every year when the weather gets hot, and as time goes on, when the survivors from the south migrate north, those monsters that feed on living people will also pursue their prey and head north one after another; perhaps the swarms will become more frequent.

Will it really be possible to rebuild in time when that happens?

The watchtowers are the eyes the Zhao Clan has deployed all over Xinzhou; losing them means the Zhao Family loses most of its control over the movements in Xinzhou!

A more sturdy watchtower that can exist stably is very necessary under the current special circumstances!

Such a watchtower needs to satisfy several points—

It must have a certain defensive capability to provide temporary shelter and supplies for passing teams;

It must be able to assist in information gathering, intelligence transmission, and the transshipment of supplies;

It must be able to survive the impact of a monster swarm!

Wen Gu flipped a page with a rustle and opened the conceptual sketch—

"Therefore, considering many factors, I have conceived of such a Defense Post..."

Wen Gu referenced the circular earthen buildings, made corresponding modifications based on current special needs and the new technical materials the workshop could provide, and finally drew the conceptual sketch.

Those monsters afflicted by the evil are different from human armies; after being alienated, they lack human consciousness and the ability to think.

Monster swarms surge like waves, all eyeing gathering places of large numbers of living people, all large towns; they will not stop for a small post.

"Just like the water in a shallow stream, when it flows past an exposed rock, it will surge directly over it and will not stop to submerge it.

"As long as this rock is high enough and stable enough! It can exist forever! The water won't even touch the top of the rock!"

The Head of the Family Zhao's eyes brightened, unable to hide his excitement.

The moment he saw this manuscript from Wen Gu, he thought of these things.

The consumption of watchtowers is indeed a major pain point for their Zhao Clan.

And, as long as these "rocks" can be firmly planted there, it is as if he has placed a pair of eyes there!

If the number of these "rocks" were greater and they could be firmly planted all over Xinzhou, he could strengthen his control over Xinzhou!

Wen Gu looked at the Head of the Family Zhao's glowing eyes and Zhao Shaozhu's excited expression, flipped the manuscript to the next page, and continued.

Behind the conceptual sketch were the broken-down technical points, listing the manpower, materials, and time required for each item...

It... really cost quite a bit of grain and goods!

The Zhao father and son looked at the conceptual sketch in the front, their blood boiling with ambition! When they saw the various manpower, material, and time costs in the back, both fell silent.

After a long while, the Head of the Family Zhao took a deep breath.

What account surplus grain?

Where would there be any surplus grain?!

Not to mention what is currently stored in the warehouse, even the entire year's income would have to be poured into it!

And perhaps that would only be enough to take the first step, nothing more!

The Head of the Family wore a grave expression; after pondering, he asked Wen Gu, "What is your suggestion?"

Wen Gu said, "We could first select one location as a pilot site and build one to test it out."

The Head of the Family nodded in agreement.

To build a Defense Post like the one Wen Gu had drawn, it would certainly be necessary to use the kind of improved Three-in-one Soil provided by Qingyi Daozhang.

The defensive works reinforced this year had already been tested, and they were indeed sturdy enough!

It was just a pity that production was limited, and the workshop had already planned to recruit more hands.

If such a Defense Post could succeed and hold firm against the impact of monster swarms, then they could attempt to build more, or even ones on a larger scale!

The Head of the Family took the manuscript from Wen Gu and flipped through a few pages.

The Defense Post drawn by Wen Gu had a basic version and an advanced version.

The advanced version was larger, with one circle nested inside another, and could accommodate more people.

Then the question arose again—

To build these, how much grain and supplies would be needed?

The Head of the Family was calculating the costs in his mind.

Wen Gu took a glance.

Lao Zhao seemed to have become haggard in an instant.

The next day, the Head of the Family summoned several important garrison generals one after another for secret talks.

Consequently, the several generals of the three armies all knew that this time, they truly would not be able to get a share of Lao Zhao's account, and they might not even be able to get any extra surplus grain next time, or even the time after that!

This...

This so-called Defense Post really does look quite formidable!

And that...

That Wen Gu!

He is truly ruthless!

This isn't just eating what's in the bowl while looking at what's in the pot; this is completely taking the pot away too!

That little dog bit down really hard!

Fine!

No need to think about what tricks to use to cry poor at the next meeting; no tricks will be of any use!

There is no need to keep an eye on Lao Zhao's account anymore; now they can only turn to keeping an eye on the Defense Post.

They were stationed in the various cities of Xinzhou, and the first pilot Defense Post would certainly not be too far from the survivor gathering sites, which meant it would not be too far from the cities; the nearest city would certainly be able to gain more benefits!

Thus, the several garrison generals who had returned to Xinzhou City for the New Year busied themselves.

Wen Gu, the initiator, faded into the background instead; there wasn't much for him to do afterward, as that was a tug-of-war between the Zhao Family, the three armies, and the various survivor gathering sites in Xinzhou.

He was just a small Ward Chief, managing small matters in the ward; other things had nothing to do with him.

In any case, as long as the Defense Post could appear, Wen Gu's goal would be achieved. As for where it was set up and how it was built, that was planning at a strategic level.

Xinzhou City was only so big; if there was any movement, as long as the wealthy and powerful families were interested in paying attention, even if they couldn't understand the full picture, they could always dig up some information and know the basics.

This meeting at Zhao Zhai on the third day of the New Year was the focus of everyone's attention.

It was unknown what kind of meeting these powerful figures held behind closed doors, but rumors in the ward said that when those people left the Zhao Family mansion, their moods seemed ordinary, yet somewhat subtle.

Not two days later, these few were summoned to Zhao Zhai one after another.

And then their reactions were even more subtle.

It couldn't be called indignant, nor could it be called happy.

Immediately following that, their recent activities became more frequent as well.

It seemed as if something was faintly brewing.

Something is wrong.

Continue to observe!