Chapter 1527: Sample Creation

Chapter 1512: Building a Showcase Model

Seven days! Seven days of non-stop work, with lights burning bright through the nights!

The expansion of Tianshui New City achieved unprecedented efficiency, laying two main arterial roads in just seven days. According to He Lingchuan, these two main roads serve as the first "showcase model," extending directly from Tianshui City's east gate to Yunsong Town, and then connecting to Youhu Lake, which will be the core of the future new city. This allows both nobles and commoners to travel along the wide, clean, and flat main roads to the new city and see the construction progress for themselves. Seeing is believing.

Behind this astonishing efficiency, the authorities heavily invested in hiring yokai, utilizing Mystic Crystals, and even employing elemental energy! Recently, heavy rains had fallen, and Loushan Mountain was characterized by undulating slopes, loose and slippery rocks, and uneven terrain. Relying solely on manual excavation and carrying would have taken at least two months to clear even a rudimentary path. King Yao specially approved a large amount of elemental energy to dispel clouds and stop rain, creating clear skies directly over Loushan Mountain! Going all out, elemental energy was further used to flatten peaks, fill valleys, and alter the landscape.

Loushan Mountain was known for its loose soil and rocks, making it difficult for wagons to traverse. You Rongzhi conscripted five hundred mages and yokai from the military and civilian sectors. They combined their supernatural abilities with large-scale formations, and with the aid of elemental energy, managed to forcefully level the mountain peaks and fill in the hollows, reducing the height by dozens of feet. People could now walk directly through the mountain. He Lingchuan also brought in heavy beast-yokai and even deployed several giant mechanical constructs. These were used either to transport bulky materials or to pull steamrollers, making the work both fast and labor-saving.

These grand spectacles were rarely seen. Officials, nobles, commoners, and villagers all came upon hearing the news, watching in awe and expressing endless admiration. "So impressive! So impressive!" Upon returning to Tianshui City, everyone excitedly boasted about what they had witnessed, gushing with enthusiasm.

Immediately, an imperial censor submitted a memorial, arguing: "Elemental energy is a national treasure, hard-won and extremely precious. It is usually only used for regulating weather, disaster relief, or supporting internal and external wars. To use it for paving roads and building bridges? This... this is absurd! A wasteful extravagance!" King Yao looked at the memorial, snorted, and tossed it aside, ignoring it. Did these fellows truly believe he was a foolish ruler? Did they think he would impulsively squander elemental energy on a whim? He too felt a pang in his heart! He Xiao said that a successful stir-fry requires a fierce flame. Without elemental energy, it would be impossible for ordinary human labor to create such engineering miracles in such a short time.

The night You Rongzhi came to the palace to request elemental energy, King Yao still flew into a rage—but then agreed. Because he knew He Xiao was right. King Yao understood the bureaucratic ecosystem of Yao Kingdom better than anyone. If they stuck to the old methods, the new city wouldn't be completed even in ten years. But he was displeased that when He Xiao initially described the grand vision of the new city and a full treasury, he never mentioned the subsequent troubles. He was even more displeased that he had also been swept along. So many officials were exasperated by the new city's expansion, and not going home for seven days was common. Since everyone, from top to bottom, was going all out, how could he, as the ruler of the kingdom, be unwilling to use even a bit of elemental energy? The use of elemental energy signaled that this project had national support, making it difficult even for King Yao himself to obstruct it further.

However, other officials then stepped forward to argue: "Such an astonishing and extravagant undertaking perfectly demonstrates the prosperity of our great Yao Kingdom and its unparalleled strength in Shanjin. Yao Kingdom is a major power in Shanjin; its substance is important, but its image is equally crucial. Look at the public's reaction; it's overwhelmingly positive, and the effect is truly good." The common people of Yao Kingdom had always known that elemental energy was reserved for state affairs. The use of elemental energy for the new city's expansion therefore signified another grand feat to be accomplished "with the strength of the entire nation!" With such spirit and undertaking from the authorities, it was clear they were absolutely determined to go all out, and the public no longer had any doubts.

While the roads were being built, He Lingchuan also "suggested" to King Yao to begin the next "showcase model": a complete street block. This block was to be built beside the main road, with neat and beautiful streets, shops, and houses, all fully equipped. However, building a street block was not as simple as paving roads. Apart from other considerations, water supply and drainage systems needed to be pre-installed, and building materials had to be polished, carved, and some even required time to air-dry and set. Especially the stone materials favored in Tianshui City, how could so much be quarried in such a short time? But the project had to keep pace. What to do? He Lingchuan's suggestion was to reuse the old method from building the gates of Youhu Villa, summarized in one word: old. Stone doesn't easily rot, so old is better than new. They would find all useless old buildings nearby, such as idle and abandoned residences, estates, and villages, and dismantle and transport all reusable old materials. Even several old streets in Tianshui City's old district were completely demolished, and all their stone materials were transported to the new city.

Construction of the new city was in full swing, with task-based teams in each area working three shifts, practically striving to work thirteen hours a day. It was at this point that He Lingchuan's skill in coordinating between levels and streamlining logistics became evident. His assessments were precise; any tangled problems that came his way would be meticulously organized within half a day. You Rongzhi's signing speed could barely keep up with He Lingchuan's efficiency in resolving conflicts. Slacking off or delaying wages? Non-existent. Reporting, settling, reviewing, and approving were all done immediately, striving to resolve issues before the day ended.

Other officials, after signing their pledges, were able to work diligently overtime and not resort to their former tricks, largely because He Lingchuan led by example, immersing himself in the construction site without seeking special treatment. His workload was easily more than five times that of other officials. When even their "leader" above was working so relentlessly, how could the officials in charge of the expansion project dare to slack off? They might criticize He Lingchuan's domineering and ruthless nature, but they had to admire his dedication and diligence. Wanqifeng and others, who followed He Lingchuan daily, couldn't stop grinning: "What's it like to have a workaholic boss? It's about time these Yao people experienced their daily suffering too!"

He Lingchuan could even recommend people to the right positions—this was truly remarkable. You Rongzhi was initially very uneasy and wanted to wait and see, not approving. But he quickly compromised. Going against He Lingchuan was like swimming upstream in a turbulent river: exhausting and unrewarding. Why bother exerting all that effort? Within just a few days, officials on the expansion project realized that while Lord You was nominally in charge and responsible for signing and approving documents, He Xiao was the one who truly called the shots for the project itself! Not only did He Xiao handle on-site scheduling and team approvals, but he could even intervene in personnel assignments. If he asked for someone, he would certainly get them. A person who calls the shots wields real power. A person with real power is always surrounded by supporters.

On the second day after the showcase block—no, the new city's demonstration block—began construction, He Lingchuan brought someone back from the construction site. Around fourteen years old, wearing a short tunic and bare-chested, with a cloth band around his head and mud on his legs, dressed no differently than an ordinary mountain porter.