Chapter 158: A Prickly Surprise

The atmosphere seemed to freeze for a moment; perhaps it was only for an instant, but to Li Xian and Li Yuanming, it felt as though it lasted forever.

Finally, Li Yuanming stood up, bowed, and said, “Master, please allow Li Yuanming to pay his respects.”

“Haha…” Li Xian finally burst into hearty laughter, quickly helping Li Yuanming back to his feet, and they both sat back down. He ordered the attendants to undo Li Yuanming’s true essence, and the atmosphere between them completely changed.

A moment ago, they were captor and captive; now, however, they were comrades.

This was not because Li Yuanming had betrayed the Governor of Lüliang, Zhao Guoshan, but because Li Yuanming had already given everything for Zhao Guoshan. Moreover, Zhao Guoshan himself was a prisoner now.

Once seated again, before Li Xian could speak, Li Yuanming took the initiative, “I see that your view of poison scholars seems different from most people’s?”

Li Xian knew that this was Li Yuanming asking about his future; he smiled slightly and replied, “I won’t speak of empty words or grand philosophies, I’ll just say two things. First, the world, when divided for too long, must eventually unite; when united for too long, it must eventually divide. Second, no breaking, no building; breaking before building. What do you think, Mr. Li?”

“Good! Just these two sentences make it worth getting drunk! These are the most heartfelt words I’ve heard since entering the world! People always say poison masters are unscrupulous, but they don’t know, there are plenty of people in the world who are unscrupulous! Those treacherous officials and greedy officials are even more ruthless, and they have no bottom line.

We just use extraordinary means to accomplish extraordinary things.”

After this, Li Yuanming seemed to have found a kindred spirit and got completely drunk. In the end, he collapsed to the ground without even circulating his true essence.

After Li Yuanming was sent back to his room, Li Xian immediately went to the front hall to announce the news of Li Yuanming’s joining. But before doing that, Li Xian had to explain to everyone why he was accepting a poison scholar with a questionable reputation.

This explanation took over an hour and, in the end, the group reluctantly accepted Li Yuanming. However, for Li Yuanming to truly integrate into Anyang, he would need to make many more efforts and show his worth.

As the sun was about to set, several fast horses galloped toward Anyang City, carrying the latest imperial edict.

Soon after, more fast horses arrived, bringing news from Li Yulong.

After reading the imperial edict and Li Yulong’s message, everyone’s expressions were strange, filled with both surprise and trouble.

Xu Ren rubbed his forehead and sighed, “A prickly surprise. The good news is that after Anyang County absorbed Zhongshan County, we are now a true county. The geographical limitations that had been restricting Anyang’s development have been resolved.

Zhongshan County spans 480 miles, and with Anyang included, it can barely be considered a 500-mile county, about half the size of Prince Bao’s Baofeng County.

But His Majesty has given Lüliang County to the Crown Prince, which means our previous cooperation with Dongyuan County and the Yuan family has been completely ruined.

Moreover, once the Crown Prince controls Lüliang County, Anyang will be sandwiched between Lüliang and Wuyang, where the imperial capital is located, facing enemies on both sides.

In addition, since our cooperation with the Yuan family has fallen through, we will now have to face pressure from the southern Nanyang County and the Kong family alone. Ha!”

Xu Ren analyzed the situation, and Li Xian’s smile faded. His Majesty’s move was truly masterful! He gave Li Xian what he wanted, but also created many troubles for him, casually pulling away a potential ally — the Yuan family! It was a clean and decisive move, cutting off the root of the problem.

After a long silence, Li Xian finally sighed, “It’s already like this, and the result is still acceptable. After all, through the imperial edict, we have officially absorbed Zhongshan County, which is legitimate and solves many future problems.

Thus, Beichen Yuqing, take your orders. Immediately head south to take command of the 50,000 soldiers of Zhongshan County. Inform them that they are no longer surrender troops, but regular soldiers of Anyang, and they will enjoy all the privileges of regular troops. However, they will need to undergo a three-month evaluation, and those who fail will be dismissed.”

“Yes!” Beichen Yuqing accepted the order and immediately boarded a flying vessel heading south. The troops facing the Kong family in the south were the surrendered soldiers of Zhongshan County, fewer than 50,000.

After Beichen Yuqing left, Li Xian looked at the newly arranged sand table. The area that used to be Zhongshan County in the south was mostly blurry.

Li Xian pointed to the former capital of Zhongshan County, Ding Mountain Prefecture, and said, “Yan Zean, immediately go to Ding Mountain Prefecture to set up the deputy capital of Anyang, with a six-month deadline. After six months, the deputy capital will be revoked and return to Anyang. I expect to see a prosperous and completely renewed Anyang County after six months.”

Xu Ren was somewhat puzzled. “Young Master, the location of Ding Mountain Prefecture is excellent. Why not completely move the capital of Anyang there?”

“Because it’s not necessary! The current Anyang is perfect. Here, the northwest is close to the demon tribe’s territory, the east is near the sea, and to the north, there’s the State of Cai. This is an exceptionally strategic hub.

And here, there is constant danger, always reminding us to develop and grow. Ding Mountain Prefecture is too peaceful, and it would make us forget about the danger!”

Xu Ren still had objections. “But this is not conducive to governance and centralization of power. From Anyang Prefecture to the southern new boundary of Anyang County, it’s a full five hundred miles. The southern boundary also borders the Southern Yang County of the Kong family and the Eastern Yuan County of the Yuan family, and we must also consider the future control of Luliang County by the Crown Prince.

If we cannot control this region nearby, it will bring a lot of trouble in the future.”

Li Xian smiled confidently. “Only five hundred miles, two hundred and fifty kilometers. With railways, it will be enough! You’ve seen the railway between Qingyun Valley and the shipyard, right?

In the past, Anyang was small and didn’t need railways, but now it’s different. With a five hundred-mile radius, we can try to lay a few railways.

However, to build large-scale railways and develop the Brilliant Stars Group, we must find a place where underground murky energy gathers. Send people to inquire in the former Zhongshan County to see if there is any discovery. Zhongshan County’s terrain is very suitable for the emergence of this underground murky energy.

Oh, by the way, continuing to call it ‘underground murky energy’ isn’t very appropriate. I think ‘oil’ would be more fitting.”

At this point, Ling Zhifeng spoke up. “Young Master, the underground murky energy you mentioned, I know of a place, in Zhongshan County. I saw it during my travels. But this oil is very dangerous. Animals die if they come in contact with it, and plants wither. Is this thing really useful?”

Li Xian directly ignored the latter part of his words. “Really found it? How far is it from Anyang?”

It was the first time the group had seen Li Xian so eager. Ling Zhifeng had no choice but to point to a rough location on the sand table. “I remember it being here, about 150 miles north of Ding Mountain Prefecture, and around 200 miles from Anyang. It’s a low-lying basin, and the substance is at the bottom of the basin.”

“Excellent! Tomorrow, I’ll lead the team myself to check the condition of this substance and then discuss how to control and utilize it. Oil is a treasure protected by the Earth, millions of years in the making!”

The group clearly didn’t believe it, but seeing Li Xian’s unwavering confidence, they were somewhat unsure. After all, Li Xian was always right when it came to technological developments! Not to mention, it was the flying machines that allowed them to defeat Zhongshan County in one fell swoop.

As the group was still considering the oil matter, Yan Zean spoke up. “Young Master, now that Anyang County covers five hundred miles, we need one thing — law! To be precise, the current laws need further improvement.”

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