Chapter 1114: Annexing the High Kingdom (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Demolition and reconstruction is impossible.
If they really did that, Fang Yan and the others suspected that seven days would be their death anniversary! Since Gu Ren's time, Shangnan County had been a key development area, receiving almost 60% of the resources allocated to Gu Ren's forces. Other counties also centered around Shangnan, and its population and economy had been consistently growing. In the years since Shen Tang took over, he had tried to balance the various regions, but Shangnan County's population was still enormous. Reconstructing the entire inner city was a massive project; even tens of thousands of laborers would have to work for several years, how could it possibly be rebuilt in a few days?
However, my old friend's concerns are not unfounded.
Most of the people are ordinary folks, and many of them "hate those who have and laugh at those who don't." If this matter is not handled properly, it could be taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives, potentially leading to a mutiny and damaging the reputation of the Lord.
The rows of charging stations worked from day to night.
Several of the civil officials were of mediocre cultivation. Even with intense focused practice, their energy was depleted. Whenever they felt they couldn't hold on any longer, a surge of vitality would nourish their meridians like an ice-cold drink in the middle of summer, making them feel so refreshed that their heads felt like they were flying away, and they were full of energy without showing the slightest sign of fatigue. This strange feeling was addictive.
The more you can't hold on, the more stimulating that pleasure becomes.
I wish I could come back again.
Fang Yan: "..."
He couldn't bear to look at the strange expressions on their faces.
The old friend also noticed the subtle movement. He was a very mischievous man: "The people under Lord Shen's command are indeed extraordinary."
It feels like giving the other person a whipping at this moment would be incredibly satisfying.
It's one thing if one or two people have quirks, but so many of them?
Is something wrong?
After a long pause, Fang Yan finally managed to say, "It's all thanks to Ji Mo Shao Bai."
He had known Ji Moqiu for so many years, and this was the first time he had ever seen this side of the guy. He had completely put into practice the principle of "use people to the point of death as long as they are not killed," and he was heartless and cruel! Where had that kind, innocent, and righteous child gone? Since he had awakened his intelligence, his methods of oppressing people were even more ruthless than his teacher's.
Another quarter of an hour has passed.
My old friend also felt the immense strain.
He had neither sold himself to Shen Youli nor had any romantic relationship with her, so there was no need for him to risk his life for her. Just as he was thinking of forcibly breaking free from the formation, a surge of boundless vitality exploded within his dantian, like parched land receiving its first generous rain after years of drought. The vitality instantly swept through his limbs and bones, permeating every corner of his meridians, and all the pores on his body opened simultaneously, greedily breathing in the dense energy of heaven and earth.
This taste was so wonderful, unlike anything I'd ever experienced before.
The old friend couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Upon internal inspection, he discovered that his meridians had widened at some point, their surfaces covered with a lustrous green light, and they were much more resilient. What surprised his old friend most was that the speed at which he absorbed and condensed literary energy had noticeably increased!
At the same time, the mind is clear and lucid!
Literary scholars rely on their literary talent and intellect for a living.
These changes in both prove that he is making progress.
This realization horrified my old friend.
The advancement system for scholars differs from that of martial artists. The latter progress from low-ranking officials to 20th-rank marquises, with each advancement clearly defined. The former, however, is different. A scholar's accumulated cultivation over time may not be as effective as a single moment of sudden enlightenment. Those with less comprehension may only slightly increase their literary energy ceiling no matter how much they cultivate. The effects of the Word Spirit remain unchanged, without any significant impact.
The slight change that had just occurred gave the old friend a vague idea—the power of words he hadn't been confident about before, he could now use with absolute certainty! Good heavens, there was even this advantage! No wonder these clerks refused to get up.
So they really did get to eat well!
Even if it were him, he wouldn't get up.
Shen Jun kept moving, and so did he.
Which of the literary figures was not a person of strong will?
This hardship is nothing more than a drop in the ocean!
Fang Yan felt uneasy about his old friend's 180-degree change in attitude and wished he could move as far away from him as possible.
At midnight, no one in the city was asleep.
The common people gathered in layers around the city walls, and showed no sign of dispersing at this hour. For every house Shen Tang's spirit built, they counted it, their voices growing louder and louder. As time passed, the rate of house growth noticeably slowed.
Finally, it came to a complete stop.
Exhausted from her non-stop work, Shen Tang nearly collapsed. Ji Moqiu, who was closest, quickly steadied her, and she managed to regain her balance. Perhaps it was the strong night wind, but Shen Tang couldn't help shivering, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. She then noticed that Ji Moqiu's palms were unusually hot: "Is the High Priest feverish?"
The temperature difference between day and night is a bit unusual today.
I didn't feel this cold at night yesterday.
Ji Moqiu said, "No, it's because Your Highness is cold."
At this moment, Shen Tang felt something cool liquid sliding down her nose. She took out a handkerchief and covered it, saying, "Oh, I caught a cold."
As soon as I looked down, I noticed something peeling off my face.
Shen Tang touched her face in surprise, unexpectedly finding her finger joints stiff and swollen, her skin bluish, and her left cheek covered in a layer of ice. She rubbed her face vigorously, breaking the ice into small strips. Just as she rubbed it off, she found her cheek tightening again. She rubbed again, removing another layer of ice. Gong Xi Chou, having finished his work, flew up to the city wall and, seeing Shen Tang's appearance, suddenly widened his eyes: "Mama!"
Although it wasn't snowing at this time of year, Shen Tang was visibly covered in a layer of white, which continued to thicken over time, her eyelashes clinging to ice crystals. Gong Xi Chou checked her pulse and was surprised to find that the chill was emanating from her dantian.
"Big brother, take a look!"
Without Gong Xi Chou's reminder, Ji Mo Qiu had already infused Shen Tang's meridians with divine power. Shen Tang also realized something was wrong and hurriedly mobilized her martial energy to protect her most vital organs, her heart and brain, to prevent them from being invaded by this strange cold energy. As soon as she protected her heart meridian, her martial energy and the cold energy clashed in various meridians. Perhaps because she was too cold to feel anything, the two energies fighting in her meridians did not cause much pain.
Shen Tang asked, "Is this a side effect of the Word of Power?"
Although it was a question, it was phrased as a statement.
At this time, everyone else also stopped practicing.
Shen Tang wasn't completely obstinate; in the final round, he left everyone with 10% of their spiritual energy, enough to ensure their normal actions.
Just as he was about to stretch his limbs and check his unexpected find, he looked up and saw Shen Tang surrounded by the Gong Xi Chou brothers, each holding one of his hands, with snow piled up at Shen Tang's feet. Qi Shan's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly said, "Quick, go and prepare hot water."
He then instructed Shen Tang: "My lord, protect your heart meridian."
As Shen Tang answered, she shook open the frozen ice layer.
"Don't worry, it's not fatal."
It's nowhere near as bad as the previous unlucky guy's situation.
It's just that it's somewhat damaging to her image.
Shen Tang rubbed her nose, pulled off two icicles that had solidified into pillars, and tossed them away in disgust. Even though she said the situation wasn't serious, Qi Shan and the others immediately lit several campfires. Shen Tang looked at the leaping flames, wanting to jump in and warm herself, but ultimately resisted the urge: "This little bit of firepower isn't enough. How about we find a clay pot and heat the water a bit..."
After a flurry of activity, Shen Tang realized that things were not as simple as they seemed.
As the ruler of the country, she couldn't possibly jump into the earthenware jar in public. Even if those in the know understood that she was trying to alleviate the side effects of the Word of Power, spreading the word would distort the meaning, and she feared it might encourage others to imitate her. Therefore, the earthenware jar was placed on the tent.
Shen Tang stepped one foot into the tent.
The tent collapsed instantly.
To be precise, the camp was shattered and then collapsed.
Wrapped in two large cotton quilts, Shen Tang: "...???"
A sense of foreboding crept into her heart, but she comforted herself that it was an accident. The earthenware urn was then laboriously carried to another tent. Shen Tang, wrapped in a thick cotton quilt, moved over and stepped inside. Once again, the tent burst open.
Shen Tang, feeling like her brain was about to freeze: "..."
She stood amidst the ruins, looking up as she pondered a question.
"Yuanliang, did Ji Shou come secretly?"
Qi Shan shook her head: "No."
Shen Tang turned her stiff neck: "Or was our camp ambushed by the Gao Kingdom? Ji Shou was under pressure, so he unleashed his inner power? That doesn't make sense either. The Gao Kingdom was exhausted in the last battle, so where did they get the strength to pressure Ji Shou like this?"
As she spoke, Shen Tang sneezed a series of sneezes.
A continuous stream of cold air was still emanating from inside the Dan Palace.
Others might describe the cold as an exaggeration, saying their blood almost freezes into ice. But Shen Tang has no doubt that the blood flowing out when she cuts open her skin might be shaved ice.
It's really so cold.
The body was clumsy like never before.
Cui Shanxio and others considered another possibility.
"Perhaps this is also the drawback of the power of words."
Shen Tang broke down immediately upon hearing this.
She did good deeds, sheltering homeless people, building new houses and repairing roads, and instead of receiving honors like "One of the Ten Most Touching Monarchs in the World," she was given a terrible fate? What's wrong with her?! She raised her voice: "You want me to have bad luck too?"
Her brain is so numb from the cold that it's hard for her to move.
Qi Shan had no choice but to remind him: "My lord, do you remember when this house suddenly appeared before your eyes? Even if my hut is broken and I freeze to death, it would be enough! From this, we can deduce that the drawbacks of this incantation are 'freezing' and 'my hut is broken'."
Shen Tang: "..."
She was completely numb.
According to Qi Shan's words, he can't enter any buildings until the side effects of the Scholar's Words of Power disappear?
This is absolutely terrible!
Then, a bizarre scene unfolded.
Beneath the sky, Shen Tang floated cross-legged in a pottery jar filled with clear water. A fire was burning brightly beneath the jar, and instead of heating up and boiling, the water inside froze into ice.
Shen Tang sat inside and held a meeting with everyone.
This spirit truly impressed Fang Yan, his old friend.
That's incredibly impressive; even in this situation, they still remember to command animals.
Shen Tang was unaware of his thoughts and was trying to use her stiff mind to arrange how to distribute the houses: "The houses certainly can't be given away for nothing. If that's the case, some people will be resentful and do extreme things out of jealousy."
Even if they are relatives from the same village, if any of them have made a fortune by raising livestock or growing fruit, then one must be wary of someone secretly poisoning the fields or damaging the crops. The same applies to houses. If one could acquire such a good house without any cost, Shen Tang dared not imagine how many fires would occur in this area, and he also feared that people with a little money and power would take the opportunity to persecute and seize the homes of ordinary people.
This potential hazard should be considered early on and completely eliminated.
Shen Tang's teeth chattered as he said, "First, we need to clear up all the land deeds and find out who lives here. Those with land deeds can use them to offset part of the house price. Any shortfall will be considered a debt owed to the government, interest-free, and payable monthly. Once the debt is cleared, the house can be traded and transferred normally. Those who are just renting here can continue to rent, or they can receive compensation and be resettled by the government in other places with lower rents."
The deeds to these houses are all held by the government.
The homeowners only have the right to reside there; no one can evict them, but the property cannot be transferred or sold. Most importantly, Shen Tang wanted them to spread a message—these houses are not the last of their kind!
Other unaffected areas of the administrative center will also be rebuilt.
However, since the war is not over, the second phase must be postponed.
The government plans to introduce a series of new policies to boost the economy. Those who make contributions will be awarded special housing vouchers, which can be used to offset the purchase price of second-phase housing.
Phase 1 homeowners can move into their preferred homes now, but Phase 2 homeowners will receive even greater discounts. Anyone involved in the city's development is eligible for a housing voucher.
To put it bluntly, it's just empty promises.
They made a big promise to appease those who didn't get a house this time.
As long as this promise is kept in mind, these people won't cause trouble in the short term; they're still waiting for Shen Tang to deliver on his promise. As for areas outside Shangnan County, Shen Tang also has a plan to appease them: "Shangnan County can be developed into a model area to enhance the reputation of the royal court."
Don't be afraid of war. Other warlords don't even make empty promises, but Shen Tang truly has them. Houses destroyed can be rebuilt, and homes lost can be quickly rebuilt. As long as the land is not lost and the country is not abandoned, everything lost will return in a better form!
As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn!
"That's the general outline. You can discuss the details later." As she spoke, Shen Tang suddenly shivered, her teeth chattering, and hurriedly called for more firewood to be added. "Make it burn brighter! Damn it, I almost froze to death!"
She had never been in such a predicament, not even when fighting with someone.
A single incantation nearly crippled her.
The water boiled for a full six hours before it finally dissolved.
She crawled out of the earthenware jar, her hands and feet stiff.
The chill had completely dissipated, and her martial energy was depleted; she couldn't even dry her clothes with her internal energy. A gust of wind made her sneeze and cough from the cold, so she hurriedly put on the large cotton quilt that Qi Shan had handed her.
She couldn't even find a place to change her clothes, so she had to borrow martial energy from Ji Moqiu. She didn't borrow from Gong Xichou because his martial energy was too cold, and she was afraid it would worsen her condition. While sniffling, she held a bowl of hot porridge and flatbread to replenish her strength: "We'll set off after we finish eating. We've delayed here for an extra day, and Wu Hui must be worried sick."
Gao Guoyuan is severely weakened; it's time to strike while he's down.
Shen Tang, the ruler of the country, cannot be absent for too long.
Qi Shan said worriedly, "But given the Lord's condition..."
After finishing a pot of hot porridge, the warmth spreading throughout her body made her want to cry. It was hot, itchy, and she felt so happy she felt like she was ascending to heaven. The only problem was that she had a lot of snot; she had to wipe her nose several times with a handkerchief after finishing a pot of porridge. She ate while wiping her nose, saying, "It's alright. My martial energy has recovered by ten percent. With Shao Xuan and the others on the road, what could possibly happen to me? I need to get back as soon as possible and deal with Gao Guo, lest something unforeseen happens."
I'm never at ease until I've actually eaten the meat.
Having lost its elite troops, Gao Guo is now nothing but a paper tiger.
After Shen Tang had eaten and drunk his fill, he patted Qi Shan on the shoulder.
"Wait, I'll bring back the entire Northwest Continent for you!"
|ω`)
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