Yan Daiqing, with dark circles under his eyes, was pouring a potently strong tea into his mouth, the resentment emanating from his entire body so intense that even Xiao Zhi had to keep a distance of three feet, not daring to speak directly to the man.
These days had confirmed a painful truth: dealing with internal politics was a tormenting affair.
The grand designs of the world, the recruitment of soldiers and talents, the provisions for logistics—all required meticulous planning. It was tedious and difficult work, each with its unique hardships compared to that of war generals at the front.
Right now, there was no ongoing war; the armies marched forward with ease; generals trained troops, exhilarating!
Princes recruited allies, thrilling!
Yet Yan Daiqing, as the logistics officer, felt murderous at heart.
His teeth clenched tight with a cracking sound.
"Do you have any idea how dismal the finances are?!"
"Do you know how poor Jiangnan is, to the point of being unable to lift the pot lid?! You have your fun out there while dumping all the internal and financial affairs onto my head, Li Guanyi!!!"
Already seething with anger, Xiao Zhi said indifferently,
"Just say whether it’s been changed or not."
Yan Daiqing, overcome with rage, received a letter from Li Guanyi brought by Yuan Zhi. He was furious, but when he saw a change in the expression of Yuan Zhi, who should have been on the same side as him, and was handed a scroll, he said, "It’s from our lord."
Yan Daiqing snatched the letter over and said, "I want to see what it says!"
But then he was taken aback.
Xiao Zhi and Pang Shuiyun came over to look and saw that Li Guanyi had recorded in a calm and measured manner, "With great changes under heaven, I have made an agreement with Emperor Ying: within three years, there shall be no warfare in Jiangnan and the Central Plains. I will enter the Western Regions, and Jiangnan needs to recover and restore."
"It comes down to nine words."
"Build high walls, accumulate vast grain reserves, and ascend the throne slowly."
"Gongshu Ban’s sharp tools represent [building walls]."
"Gentlemen, you have worked hard."
Build high walls, accumulate vast grain reserves, ascend the throne slowly... Yan Daiqing’s anger slowly dissipated as he looked at the words [building walls], listening to Gongsun Huaizhi talking about Li Guanyi capturing a thousand troops single-handedly, he sighed.
After washing his face and drinking a deadly strong cup of tea, Yan Daiqing returned to his post, as Jiangnan silently began a new task—developing a specialized road system.
"Enlarge the Gongshu Mechanism’s Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse greatly, making them dash about everywhere."
"Thus, allowing food, goods, and information from all directions to be transferred day and night, continuously. The products from the Farmer School and the Mo School could be delivered to different regions with the utmost speed."
"Even the transport of troops."
"Please, Mr. Gongsun, go and discuss in detail with logistics officer Mr. Lei Laomeng and others. Break down the barriers between Divine Beast Manor, the Gongshu Family, and the Mo Family Mechanism, and see if the combination of the three can push our plans forward a bit..."
This was a colossal project and plan. Yuan Zhi, looking at Yan Daiqing, said, "Daiqing, perhaps you should rest a bit now..." Yan Daiqing scoffed and said, "Rest? With things , how could I possibly rest?"
He took a sip of tea, his voice calm, "Since our lord is galloping outside."
"His great aspiration is to connect Jiangnan, with its produce, commerce, and soldiers, like the blood vessels within a giant, so they act upon each other as naturally as moving one’s own arm, converging into one force. Since he harbors such a great ambition, we must strive to bring his vision closer to reality."
Yan Daiqing, composed yet still forthright,
"Gentlemen, please continue your strenuous efforts!"
Yuan Zhi, Xiao Zhi, and even Pang Shuiyun responded with a solemn air,
With the Gongshu Family stepping in, and under the banner of the Qilin Army, the Beast Taming Skills of Divine Beast Manor, the Mechanical Skills of the Mo Family, and the Gongshu Siege Devices combined, technological barriers between them crumbled, and they opened up generously to each other, only to discover that the barriers had already been resolved.
As the three factions joined hands, they could create even stronger mechanisms.
All were greatly delighted.
The pressure on administrative staff increased tenfold.
Thus, logistics officer Yan Daiqing suffered incessant stomach pains in the Qilin Army command office.
He would often punch a wooden dummy, grinding his teeth and cursing Li Guanyi.
Seeing this, Xiao Zhi turned away and spoke to those nearby:
"The joys and sorrows of our kind!"
Li Guanyi was unaware of the young strategist in Jiangnan cursing him. Gongsun Wuyue was discussing with him how to deal with the thousand soldiers from Chen Country—it was indeed a problem. They could neither be killed nor released.
As Li Guanyi pondered on this, news arrived that logistical officers from that contingent of Chen Country’s army had come forward, led by two young men with a distinguished air and martial skills that seemed formidable, now heading this way.
The two men had already been identified by Li Guanyi through information from Qi Junsong.