Chapter 89: Defeat!

Li Xian personally led the research on spirit stones. Although there had been some research on spirit stones in the past, it was not extensive because no one knew how to start. In fact, people in the Immortal Domain had researched spirit stones before, but they had obviously failed; that was why spirit stones were so scarce now. 

However, this time, having found a method to study spirit stones, Li Xian finally expanded the research on a large scale. He ordered Peng Yongguang, the current head of the electricity department, to take charge of this project.

Although Li Xian’s ideas were good, they still encountered too many problems during the research.

“Young master, ordinary materials can’t store spiritual energy. Jade can store spiritual energy, but its strength isn’t enough…”

“Use black iron!” Li Xian interrupted the researcher’s rambling.

The researcher hurriedly ran to Hu Jun’s black iron branch factory to request black iron, asking for ten tons at a time; then Hu Jun came to complain—“Young master, we don’t have enough either.”

“Where are we lacking?” Li Xian was frustrated. Why can’t anyone think for themselves? Everything falls on me to solve; do you really think I’m a babysitter?

Hu Jun smiled bitterly. “Young master, we can only produce about 500 kilograms of black iron a day. The factory is expanding in every aspect, and all the black iron produced daily isn’t even enough for the wires. The cement, machinery, and smelting branches are all expanding.

In terms of electricity, black iron is not just a superconducting material; it’s also a conductor of spiritual energy, and the demand is the highest.

The engines, locomotives, and Floating Cloud Island all need black iron.

The newly started arms factory also requires a large amount of black iron.

Young master, we also need to expand ourselves; it’s really tight right now.”

Li Xian flipped through Hu Jun’s thick ledger, which was dazzling to read; the electricity and black iron departments were mutually dependent, and these two were the departments that consumed the most black iron. As he looked through the various applications, Li Xian had to admit that the factory was already under strain. If they added the research on spirit stones, the fragile balance of the entire group would be disrupted.

“We’re developing too quickly!” Li Xian rubbed his temples with a bitter smile. However, spirit stones were really too important. If the issue of spirit stones could be resolved, it would lift the last heavy iron chain binding the Brilliant Star Group.

“Hold a meeting! Everyone gather for a meeting to sort out the development situation!” Left with no choice, Li Xian called for a meeting and sent his aide Song Xing to Anyang to invite Fang Shijing so that everyone could brainstorm together.

After meeting with Song Xing, Fang Shijing was also feeling overwhelmed. There were a lot of issues to handle in Anyang, and now the group had more matters to attend to. Unable to do anything else, Fang Shijing sought out Xu Ren, who was the most free. While others were busy and running around, he was leisurely having tea with Ling Zhifeng.

“You two are really relaxed,” Fang Shijing remarked.

Ling Zhifeng chuckled, “Mr. Fang, you don’t know. I just completed a divination. Anyang will have a smooth year ahead. Great fortune!”

Hearing this, Fang Shijing, who was already frazzled with work, exploded: “Great fortune, my foot! I’m giving you a task now—continue seeking out strategists and scholars from various places. We need at least three more strategists here!”

“I’m a diviner; I only handle divination. Don’t bother me with other matters. Oh, I just had an inspiration; I need to go into seclusion now. Don’t disturb me.” Ling Zhifeng dropped his cup and bolted away.

Fang Shijing pointed at Ling Zhifeng’s retreating figure, shaking with anger: “I can’t stand diviners. These guys are always idle!”

“But we really can’t do without them!” Xu Ren sighed. “For example, if Ling Zhifeng hadn’t come back to notify us, Anyang could have been caught completely off guard, even risking the city’s safety.”

“I know. But right now, we really can’t keep up. The young master’s research on spirit stones has made breakthroughs, and now we need more manpower. It’s a tangled mess,” Fang Shijing expressed his difficulties.

The post-war tasks were still incomplete, and the acquisitions of refugees and grain were just getting started. There was also the promotion and selection of officials, the formulation and implementation of various regulations, as well as city planning and transportation construction plans, which had overwhelmed Fang Shijing. All of this would take at least two years to sort out!

Xu Ren listened quietly and suddenly sighed, “Brother Fang, we’re lacking a choice for a chancellor! I’m confident in my strategies, and you excel in internal governance. But when it comes to handling overall affairs, especially political matters, neither of us is qualified. 

A small place like Anyang is already more complex than the entire Great Xia Kingdom.”

Fang Shijing sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. “Mr. Xu, I’ve never seen a place develop this quickly, and in such unimaginable ways. 

I’m glad to have the opportunity to work here; but now I have to admit that I’m starting to feel overwhelmed.

However, talented chancellors are rare! 

I’ve heard that in the southern region, there was a country called ‘Da Ming,’ which only had one qualified chancellor named Zhang Juzheng in its thousands of years of history. Other countries, including our Great Xia, still haven’t had a true chancellor up to this day.”

Fang Shijing’s assessment piqued Xu Ren’s curiosity. “Oh? Isn’t there a Chancellor Ouyang Wubing in Great Xia now?”

Fang Shijing suddenly let out a cold laugh, “Mr. Xu is a strategist, so you might not pay too much attention to political matters. In truth, Ouyang Wubing’s abilities are not enough to qualify him for the position of chancellor. His focus is always on trivial matters, neglecting the management of national affairs. In my opinion, Li Yulong possesses a third of the capabilities of a chancellor.”

Xu Ren held his cup of tea, seemingly lost in thought. “Brother Fang, who do you think among Great Xia and its surrounding regions possesses the most chancellor-like qualities?”

“It’s Yan Ze’an of the Cai Kingdom. The Cai Kingdom should have ended decades ago, but Yan Ze’an has managed to revive it. I’ve studied him; he doesn’t sweat the small stuff and is decisive in major matters, always able to grasp the essence of a situation. It’s a pity…”

“No need to say more!” Xu Ren suddenly interrupted Fang Shijing. “Yan Ze’an, huh? Brother Fang, you should go hold the meeting at Qingshan Valley. In a month, I’ll recruit Yan Ze’an. Just in time, we need a county magistrate.”

“Pfft…” Fang Shijing looked at Xu Ren, his voice filled with disbelief. “Mr. Xu, you… want to recruit Yan Ze’an?”

“Of course, it won’t be difficult at all!” Xu Ren said nonchalantly, pulling out his feather fan to play with it and gesturing to a nearby person. “Bring Mr. Beichen here.”

With a belly full of questions, Fang Shijing left. Meanwhile, Beichen Yuqing arrived looking exhausted, having been busy organizing military matters these past few days. With industry starting to gain momentum and showing its power, Beichen Yuqing had to consider these aspects as well.

“Mr. Xu is always so relaxed,” Beichen Yuqing said enviously, seeing Fang Shijing shaking his feather fan.

Xu Ren smiled and was about to speak when an impatient voice came from outside.

“What’s going on?” Xu Ren asked.

A weary Li family guard rushed in. “Mr. Xu, the master sent me to deliver this letter to the young master. It’s an urgent message.”

Xu Ren took the letter but didn’t open it immediately. He asked the guard, “Is it something serious?”

“Yes. General Fu Minghui’s northern expedition has suffered defeat. Out of thirty thousand Imperial Guards, fewer than three thousand have returned.”

“What!” Xu Ren exclaimed, standing up in shock and knocking over the table and teacups. “How could thirty thousand elite Imperial Guards fail? Even if they did fail, it shouldn’t be such a devastating defeat!”

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