Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“I will be honest. In the past, many domineering people of our clan acted too ostentatiously and turned us into a thorn in the side of the Eastern Tang Dynasty’s royal family.”
Chen Jiezhi respectfully answered Zhang Dongyun’s question, “Furthermore, our clan did not have a clear perception and allied with a few sects in Eastern Tang. We actually became close and fought alongside to deal with the royal family’s pressure. But the alliance ended up being divided and disintegrated from within due to the royal family. As a result, my clan was abandoned and suffered a great calamity.”
This long-bearded middle-aged man sighed. “The royal family killed my father, who was the clan leader at that time. Apart from that, they also killed many clan members, and our clan can no longer make peace with them.”
Zhang Dongyun spoke calmly, but his words were not very polite. “In other words, all of you learned a lesson after suffering a beating. How long will this lesson keep you guys awake?”
“I will never forget it. It will be passed down from generation to generation. If anyone reneges on it, the Chen clan ought to fall.” Chen Jiezhi was firm.
“Very good.” Zhang Dongyun nodded slightly.
He was not at all afraid if they rebelled.
An internal rebellion would also generate quests to guard the fortress.
It was unnecessary to deliberately force some people to rebel, but if they were looking for trouble, Zhang Dongyun would welcome it.
“His Majesty is magnanimous, and Chang’an is open and merciful.” He looked at Chen Jiezhi in front of him. “But you have to abide by the rules of the fortress. Remember your words today.”
“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. Thank you for your care, Mister Black Cloud.” Some sweat broke out on Chen Jiezhi’s back.
He felt an invisible pressure in front of Mister Black Cloud.
Perhaps he was stronger than the old bloody shadow demon. He was worthy of being the first trusted aide under the Chang’an Fortress Lord.
After watching Chen Jiezhi leave, Zhang Dongyun smiled slightly.
The Cold Mountain Sect was indeed suddenly showing signs of rapid development thanks to his rewards.
Over time, it would have a greater chance of replacing the Forgotten Truth Temple than the other major sects.
It would be able to take it to the next level.
But this take-off needed to develop over time.
In contrast, the Chen clan was a ready-made combat power right now.
Unfortunately, it was much weaker than when it had been at its peak.
But then again, if that had not happened, the Chen clan would not have taken the initiative to pay allegiance to him.
I still have to strive to expand and develop my fortress… Zhang Dongyun thought.
After the Chen clan members experienced setbacks and suffered blows from Chang’an Fortress while in the fortress, their mindset changed a lot.
Their sense of superiority was obliterated.
All the people of all ages kept a low profile and tried to integrate into Chang’an Fortress.
The Chen clan members, who had survived being hunted down by the Eastern Tang Dynasty, were not weak in any way in terms of both quality and ability.
Compared to the local Cold Mountain Sect from Qinzhou Prefecture and the refugees from Longbei County, the Chen clan members still had advantages in various aspects.
With correct attitudes and active integration into the fortress, they would naturally have a place.
The Department of Law Enforcement under Zhang Dongyun gradually had a basic framework set up and started to get on track, just like the Department of State Affairs.
[Completed the initial steps of the fortress’s Department of Law Enforcement and started daily operations. You have completed Construction Quest 2.2. Rewarded 500 Construction EXP.]
After completing two quests and with my previous balance, I now have 1,100 Construction EXP… Zhang Dongyun calculated in his heart.
If memory serves me right, the next construction quest should be…
[Construction Quest 2.3—Create a stable source of income for your fortress, where the residents have jobs and there is a stable economic reproduction.]
It was as he had expected.
After refreshing the list of quests, Zhang Dongyun shook his head slightly.
He had done some experiments that proved this was a complex quest he had set up when designing the game.
Fortress Lord Zhang sighed.
This quest might look simple, but it was actually complex.
The residents had to have their own jobs, and there needed to be economic reproduction.
The so-called wealth would mainly depend on the residents of the fortress supporting themselves.
While they fed themselves, they also had to provide for Zhang Dongyun, the Fortress Lord.
Ultimately, they were the people of the Fortress Lord. He was not their nanny.
But for Zhang Dongyun, it was much easier for him to guard the Impenetrable Fortress System and complete the quests by working as a nanny.
For example, if he once again performed a miracle, reversed the laws of nature, and took over the creation of the world, he could easily make the Impenetrable Fortress the granary of the world.
If he did not want to manage that much, he could also just manage Longbei County only.
The refugee uprising was mainly due to famine and the government’s excessive exploitation in Longbei County.
If Chang’an Fortress were to produce grains, there was no need to worry about selling them in Longbei County.
However, it was impossible to accomplish the construction quest by doing a grain business.
The only way was to sell the natural produce grown by the people of the fortress to the outside.
When long would it take for a season’s crop to be harvested, let alone the yield?
He could not get new quests without completing the old ones.
Zhang Dongyun was pondering about this problem in advance.
There was actually a solution.
The system’s coverage could still go in another direction besides the four directions and above.
Underground.
After the first upgrade, two thousand meters underground was also within the system’s coverage.
With a sweep of his mind, Zhang Dongyun discovered mineral veins buried underground in the mountain ridge below Chang’an Fortress.
They were easy to dig.
Even if he wanted the people to be self-reliant, it would not prevent Fortress Lord Zhang from digging the ground, right?
Digging for ores and digging the ground was essentially the same thing.
However, digging the ores and bringing them up to the ground would rely on the labor of the people.
With Zhang Dongyun’s protection, they did not need to worry about problems such as collapses.
But unfortunately, the mineral veins were buried deep underground.
Fortress Lord Zhang was seriously considering whether to use the system’s power to smoothen the mountain ridge below so that the ‘ground’ below the fortress would sink closer to the mineral veins.
I think I can give it a try, but there’s no hurry.
First of all, I need to find a solution for the sales.
I’ve been looking for trouble with the Eastern Tang Dynasty and the Forgotten Truth Temple for the sake of wiping out the surrounding sects.
I will cripple and frighten them off so that they won’t be able to blockade the outskirts and affect the development of Chang’an Fortress.
I also need to choose business partners for the sales of the mineral ores.
I have to find a reliable way…
Just as Zhang Dongyun was pondering, his heart suddenly moved slightly.
Someone had snuck in.
The system covered a much broader scope than the fortress walls.
Zhang Dongyun had noticed the other party before he could enter the fortress.
Instead of capturing him immediately, Zhang Dongyun waited to see what would happen.
The person who came was very good at hiding his tracks.
Many people outside the fortress had yet to notice him.
The other party then started to climb over the fortress wall.
Fortress Lord Zhang could not help but feel a bit amused.
The Thunderclap Sect’s Wu Qiong had tried to sneak in at night the last time.
However, this person climbed over the wall in broad daylight.
A faint wisp of mist floated over the fortress wall.
As soon as it left the fortress, it suddenly distorted and was forced to reveal its original form.
A young Daoist priest fell from the sky, looking astonished, but he soon regained his composure.
“Xie Zhao, a disciple of the Forgotten Truth Temple, seeks an audience with the Chang’an Fortress Lord and Mister Black Cloud,” the young Daoist priest said aloud.
His voice spread far.
The Chen clan members and the Cold Mountain Sect disciples in the fortress were startled.
“Xie Zhao, this name sounds familiar…”
“He’s the best disciple among the younger generation of the Forgotten Truth Temple. I heard that his cultivation surpasses that of many elders of the sect.”
“So it’s him, the first successor of the Forgotten Truth Temple. Many people say he’s the candidate to succeed as the abbot.”
The people in the fortress were discussing.
He looked nonchalant and sounded gentle. “I was rude and presumptuous in coming here today, but there is a reason. I have no grudge against Chang’an Fortress. Because some evil people of the Cold Mountain Sect incited disharmony, a disciple of my sect was captured by Chang’an Fortress.
“I therefore ask to meet the Chang’an Fortress Lord and Mister Black Cloud. I hope we can resolve the misunderstanding between us.”
He was still courteous.
Zhang Dongyun did not express an opinion. “How are you related to that young Daoist priest?”
Xie Zhao gave the highest degree of respect. “I’m his senior brother…”
Zhang Dongyun interrupted him before he could finish. “Seize him.”