novelraw Chapter 73: The Billionaire
Chapter 73: The Billionaire
Chapter 73: The Billionaire
Shen Liu believed he had figured out his uncle's intentions.
However, Wen Gu keenly sensed that there might be other developments.
Even if Old Zhao and Little Zhao didn't heavily rely on the branch families of the Zhao clan, they would at least issue a warning or two when two districts were in conflict. This time, they completely ignored it.
Was it genuine indifference, or were they preoccupied with other matters?
It shouldn't be a bad thing. If they were truly in a bad mood, anyone from the Zhao family or Shen family, let alone the young masters, could be strung up and whipped. But for now, they were as tolerant as ever, albeit dismissive. This indicated that no bad news had occurred for the time being.
As the weather grew colder, Shen Liu, despite his complaints about Jingxing District being too small and dilapidated, still frequented the area. He checked the progress of the garden construction daily and shared gossip from the marketplace with Wen Gu. This also served as a source of information.
Wen Gu, uninvolved with the Wanfu Garden project, sat at his desk and asked Cheng Zhi to summarize the information collected during this period. For instance, how many teams had arrived from the south, and roughly how many Xiànsòu Army personnel were there to receive them.
However, after much calculation, Wen Gu found something amiss. The main force of the Xiànsòu Army that had departed seemed not to have returned. The city defense army was busy with surrounding security and defense fortifications. What about the Xiànsòu Army? Where had its main force gone?
The six great clans were not at war with each other; their primary tasks in winter were hunting evil creatures and escorting prominent families. The number of Xiànsòu Army escorts for the noble and influential families migrating north was far less than anticipated. Logically, given the current situation, they wouldn't travel too far for escort missions. They would need regular resupply, rest, and rotations. But as of now, the numbers didn't add up. Several military districts belonging to the Xiànsòu Army in the outer city area remained vacant, and the departed main force had yet to return.This suggested they were either engaged in some secret strategic deployment, escorting a specific billionaire, or both.
Wen Gu took out the district map drawn by Cheng Zhi. During this period, He Da had collected information from various market districts. Some larger districts near the core areas had strict entry controls, requiring wooden tokens for passage. He Da was unaware of the specific situations within those districts, only managing to infer the inhabitants based on fragmented information.
Wen Gu's gaze swept across the market districts, pausing at a particular spot. This district had previously gone unnoticed. It didn't belong to any relatives of the Zhao family, nor did it seem to house any well-known dignitaries. The people entering and exiting appeared to be craftsmen working on building houses and managing courtyards.
According to the summarized information, this place held many mysteries. The district name was chosen by a civil official subordinate to Old Zhao, offering no clues to its occupants' identities. However, a name could always be changed. Could there be another billionaire yet to arrive?
...
A seaport on the eastern coast.
The eastern coastline was dotted with numerous ports. This particular location wasn't a major port but was a prosperous seaside town. It had large houses built against the hillsides and small houses along the coast. After the epidemic of evil, the area was filled with a deathly aura, becoming even more desolate in winter. Only the occasional gurgling sound, like that of wild beasts, sent shivers down one's spine.
Until one day, the thunderous sound of horse hooves arrived. Dark figures hiding in houses roared, attempting to break free. However, the freezing snow and severe cold significantly limited their movements. Bowstrings twanged, and flashes of lightning-like saber light and the glint of armor followed.
In the surrounding woods, trees were cut down, their falling producing a series of crackling sounds in the snowy weather. In a gully further away, black smoke rose from a bonfire.
After several days, the seaside port town was completely transformed. Houses were cleared and then fumigated with thick smoke. More cavalry and infantry arrived in succession, setting up camp. Nearly half of the Zhao Clan's Xiànsòu Army gathered here after hunting. They intended to establish a military stronghold in this abandoned port and, at the same time, receive distinguished guests arriving from afar.
As the weather grew colder, the commanding general looked at the sea surface, which was on the verge of freezing, his anxiety mounting. Fortunately, the distinguished guests they were waiting for arrived just as the sea was about to freeze.
Under the overcast sky, sails appeared on the boundless sea. Closer inspection revealed several large sea ships leading the fleet, accompanied by dozens of medium-sized ships, and then countless small and medium-sized vessels following, forming a dense, far-reaching procession.
The commanding officer stationed at the port finally showed a smile, the first in many days, as he watched the approaching fleet. The maritime magnates from the south lived up to their reputation. This grand display was worthy of the family head's painstaking efforts in multiple communications.
...
Xin Prefecture City.
Wen Gu analyzed the information at hand, believing it highly probable that another billionaire would arrive this winter. He thought, "I must create some stir before the billionaire arrives!"
Shen family's Wanfu Garden could not be built immediately due to the extensive groundwork required. Wen Gu pondered, "Perhaps I should start something else first." He casually went to Qingyun District opposite and offered some "encouragement" to the dog Taoist priest.
Using the Shen family's garden construction as an opportunity, Wen Gu conducted a talent assessment. He had to admit that wealthy families with deep foundations could truly conceal their resources. Although the "dog magnates" only provided a small portion of craftsmen for the Wanfu Garden, even this small group had allowed Wen Gu to advance some of his plans ahead of schedule.
Seeing Wen Gu arrive, the Taoist acolytes looked at their master. Upon his nod, they withdrew. The district foreman and their master had important matters to discuss, and it was not appropriate for them to overhear.
Wen Gu entered the room. Before he could speak, the other party spoke first.
Daoist Master Qingyi: "I heard you pulled the Shen family into building the garden and raked in quite a fortune?"
Wen Gu frowned and vehemently denied it: "That's not true. Don't believe rumors, and don't spread them!" If he were truly accumulating wealth, he would have taken a share. His ambition lay elsewhere; it wasn't about earning money. All rumors! Pure rumors!
Wen Gu then asked, "I heard you are looking for a new position?"
Daoist Master Qingyi waved his sleeve: "Where did you hear that? Don't believe rumors, and don't spread them!" He retorted with the same words.
Wen Gu stopped discussing rumors with him and handed him a piece of paper. Daoist Master Qingyi averted his gaze, refusing to take it, and said glumly, "The list you gave me last time had too many issues, and they haven't been resolved yet."
Wen Gu: "The blueprints for the Taoist temple."
Daoist Master Qingyi snatched it up quickly: "You should have said so earlier!" His eyes lit up as he looked at the drawing of the Taoist temple, his spirit renewed, his face flushed with excitement.
Wen Gu handed him another paper. The Daoist priest accepted it. Oh, this time it was a task list. He intended to toss it aside, but due to his rapid reading speed, he inadvertently read some professionally relevant content.
"Removing glutinous rice for modified three-element soil?" the Daoist priest exclaimed in surprise.
"I vaguely heard about this during my travels, but the exact proportions and modification methods require professionals like you, Daoist Master," Wen Gu explained. "I know you have secret techniques for sealing alchemical furnaces."
What were the requirements for sealing an alchemical furnace? High-temperature resistance, ease of molding, and good airtightness. Different Taoist priests had different secret recipes, but in this regard, those who practiced alchemy were more knowledgeable.
Daoist Master Qingyi looked at him warily. Wen Gu glanced at him: "I'm not asking for your secret recipe. Just modify this. If it meets the minimum requirements, the task will be considered complete." To prevent the dog Taoist priest from being perfunctory, Wen Gu added, "Your Taoist temple will also use this material for construction when the time comes."
Involving his Taoist temple, Daoist Master Qingyi became serious. The dog scholar's schemes were truly layered. To put it mildly, despite his complaints, he did have a need.
Wen Gu persuaded him: "Put in more effort. If there's a technological breakthrough, I'll report it to the higher authorities. It can save the Zhao Clan a lot of glutinous rice. I also want to try some techniques during the construction of Wanfu Garden to see if breakthroughs can be achieved. If successful, they might be applicable to defense projects and warfare. These are great contributions."
Daoist Master Qingyi understood. If he could achieve results, he would receive benefits, perhaps even enough to build his Taoist temple without additional personal expense, and it would be built faster. "Alright, I get it!"
Daoist Master Qingyi's expression was impatient. He intended to toss the list aside again but noticed new issues. "Why do you need me to refine auxiliary materials for firing glazed tiles? Didn't you get many craftsmen?"
"Firing glass, read carefully," Wen Gu reminded him. The Daoist priest looked again: "This firing process has..."
"It's transparent enough for windows. Your Taoist temple can also use it. Once the lighting problem is solved, the design of the Taoist temple can be more daring," Wen Gu said.
"Hmm, firing this is indeed useful," Daoist Master Qingyi noted. Wen Gu then discussed other items that needed to be produced, urging Daoist Master Qingyi to refine more materials and gather what the Taoist temple needed as soon as possible. Several small kilns had already been built in Qingyun District, and if larger kilns were needed, they could be borrowed. The Zhao Clan had large brick and tile kilns where prisoners performed hard labor. If there was a need, they could ask his uncle and cousin; it shouldn't be a problem. Qingyun District was just for experimentation; large-scale production would still be carried out in the Zhao family's workshops, so there was no need to worry about affecting the surrounding residential environment. Wen Gu himself still lived there.
After "encouraging" the dog Taoist priest, Wen Gu went to inspect the kilns for ceramics, glazed tiles, and glass, looking for improvements in today's finished products.
Inside the room, after Wen Gu left, Daoist Master Qingyi looked over the papers in his hands and set them aside. He recalled the news he had heard in recent days about the benefactors of Wanfu Garden. Look, that's the difference. As soon as the dog scholar made a move, he brought in several wealthy households from the districts! Here, there was no need to worry about not meeting wealthy nobles in the future. Once the garden was built, those people would come in droves every day!
Daoist Master Qingyi felt a sense of urgency. His Taoist temple must be completed before the Wanfu Garden opposite was built!
Recently, Wen Gu had been paying close attention to the craftsmen and kilns in Qingyun District, frequently traveling between the two districts. Sometimes he stayed too late, and the district gates were closed. He would stay at a residence in Qingyun District, but Jingxing District also had many affairs. Although he, as the district foreman, could control the opening and closing of the gates, he saw no need to create issues over this. Bypassing the rule of closed gates was not impossible. Digging a tunnel? Tsk, one couldn't just think about exerting effort underground; it wasn't like they were doing anything illicit.
He walked briskly from Qingyun District to Jingxing District and then back out, standing in the alley between them. His gaze gradually moved upward. They could also build upwards.
(End of Chapter)