814: Chapter 40 You Fight the Front, I’ll Sneak Attack!
814: Chapter 40 You Fight the Front, I’ll Sneak Attack!
“Although what you said is touching, I still don’t quite understand.”
Ian folded his hands on the table, gazing at the old man before him.
He fell silent for a while before slowly saying, “If you truly see stars in your dreams as you claim…”
“Why then, in the face of this starless night sky, as stars disappear one after another, can you remain as calm as you are now?”
Old Farrel’s tone became more solemn, he carefully chose his words and tried to express himself in a toneless manner: “Aren’t you the same, my lord?
Knowing full well how hopeless it is to look up at the starry sky…
yet still able to keep your reason.”
“I am certainly far from being as capable as you, my lord.
I have gone mad, but I survived…
when everyone else despaired and took their own lives.”
“I shamefully and stubbornly…
“Perhaps the sanity I possess now is the aftermath of my madness back then.”
Ian did not respond; he just silently watched the old man in front of him.
After a long time, he spoke again, this time about business: “Let’s talk about your work and compensation.”
Everyone has dreams, and no dream is truly unique.
This complex and obscure world, yet not lacking in hope and light, was shaped by the intertwining of thousands of dreams.
Ian did not talk extensively with Old Farrel.
He engaged in conversation about the management of the territory with the old man, and discovering that the latter was well-versed in the affairs of Xia Hui Territory, Ian immediately decided to have him start work at the city hall the next day to assist Scott in managing finances and personnel issues.
He was said to assist Scott, but in reality, he was there to guide Scott in learning this aspect of the work.
As Ian’s assistant and secretary, Scott had many responsibilities and couldn’t possibly cover everything, thus the real decision-making was done by Farl.
Trust those whom you employ; do not doubt those you use.
As a Prophet, Ian knew who would betray him and who would not.
So, he trusted what Old Farrel mentioned about ‘dreams’.
It was only after Old Farrel left that Ian turned around, looking out the window at the bright Illusory Moon and the dim night sky.
He whispered softly, emitting a long sigh, but ultimately revealed a smile: “Upon Terra, not everyone has forgotten the starry sky after all.”
“A Starwatching Tower…
indeed, that’s something I wanted to do, just reminded me of it.”
The next day, Ian summoned Roland.
This young man, with his teal hair, seeming to have some blood of the Iron Folk—likely adapted from living with Dwarves for a long time—was not as ‘naive’ as Ian had imagined.
Compared to the true exemplar of naivety, Adalbert, Roland was more about being straightforward.
He dislikes lying, one might even say he detests it.
This Mechanical Alchemy Master views his life as rigid as a mechanical structure; he firmly believes that if he went against his inner voice and did something he would regret, it would be like having a faulty part in an alchemy device, causing his entire life to be a failure.
This might not be a completely healthy attitude towards life, as not everyone can persist in being true to themselves all their lives—Ian could not guarantee that either.
But such people indeed possess a unique willpower and charm, making them stand out as truly unique.
“I believe the flat land to the west of Xia Hui Territory, near the Gorge Mine District and Solitary Flame Peak Gorge, rich in minerals and a traffic hub between Xia Hui Territory and Mountain People’s area, is perfect for developing industry!
Just build a fortress there, armed with the developed alchemy industry, the future territory will be impregnable!”
Faced with Ian’s inquiry, Roland’s eyes lit up; he immediately pulled out heaps of blueprint papers and diagrams from his briefcase.
Pointing at a flat area on the map, he elaborated enthusiastically, “What I studied in Falling Star Hills was the ‘production chain’ from basic mineral refining to final mechanical shaping.
If it wasn’t for my homeland always prioritizing agriculture and Spirit Energy Plant cultivation, I would have returned to build it earlier!”
The flat land he mentioned was precisely where Ian had cleared out and tricked the Rebel Highlanders into camping.
The site indeed had strategic advantages, but it could be attacked from the surrounding high ground.
But conversely, if Ian himself preemptively occupied the high points around, then the campsite would indeed be as secure as if cast from copper and iron—impregnable to all.
Ian was quite pleased with Roland noticing this point; he nodded and said, “The main focus of Xia Hui Territory will still be on agriculture in the future.
However, I will not neglect industrial production either.”
“That flat land, after the spring plowing next year, we will start to develop it.
Before then, the main task of Xia Hui Territory is to first develop its economy, then establish a complete mining operation chain, followed by the city hall allocating funds for constructing industrial facilities and purchasing machinery in the gorge area, while fully mining the district and building the industrial camps.”
Roland was not questioning Ian’s pace, but instead was amazed at how fast their lord was: “That’s just three or four months away, so soon?”
“It’s already quite slow.” Ian pointed to the map: “Industrial production in Xia Hui Territory is urgent.
Tomorrow you will lead a team to scout the exact terrain in the gorge area, plan the future industrial camp zoning, I give you two months’ time, in two months, I want to see a mature plan for an industrial town.”