Chapter 684: Kunwu Training Camp, Developments! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Wang Chong was dumbfounded, but he quickly gave a faint smile.
This was actually the first time since the conclusion of the southwestern war, where he had completed the Trial of Destiny and become Controller of Destiny, that the Stone of Destiny had given him a reward. Although Wang Chong had already gained a significant amount of Destiny Energy, 1000 points was still quite the large number.
I'll keep this Destiny Energy for now. In the future, once I've understood the secrets of the energy arts and power, I'll start to slowly exchange the points for rewards, finding the best method to use them, Wang Chong quietly said to himself.
Ever since he had been promoted to Controller of Destiny, the Stone of Destiny had opened for him a brand new set of rewards. However, Wang Chong had still not understood their contents, so he had not exchanged for any rewards.
”It's good enough. All participants of this operation will be rewarded three hundred taels of gold. Jingdian, I'll leave the rest to you.”
”Yes, Young Master.”
......
Once everything was settled, Wang Chong quickly left the mine.
......
When the news that Wang Chong was gathering a large amount of sand, crushed rocks, lime, and clay to repair the roads got out, the capital once more began to buzz with activity. The Wang Clan was currently the focus of attention in the capital and wielded an astounding amount of influence.
The matter of the fief in particular had made everyone pay attention to Wang Chong's every move.
In the Great Tang Empire, repairing roads and bridges was not any big deal. All the wealthy clans would do something like this, but the massive amount of wealth Wang Chong had invested in this project made things different.
Besides that, Wang Chong was also involving the Bai Clan, the Zhao Clan, the Xu Clan, and many other renowned clans of the capital in this project.
But this time, not even the Bai Clan or the Zhao Clan knew what this 'cement road' that Wang Chong spoke of actually was. (TN: In Chinese, the word ‘cement’ is 水泥, or literally ‘water mud’, which would be quite confusing in an era where cement did not exist.)
”Ling-er, what is the Wang Clan up to?”
”The lime and clay aren't an issue, but what's going on with this matter of building roads?”
”Our Bai Clan is quite the prosperous enterprise, so it's not like we can't put forward the money, but what sort of task is repairing roads? Our Bai Clan is a prestigious clan of the capital. Talk of this matter will bring great shame on our house.”
In the courtyard of the Bai Clan, a marble table sat amidst artificial mountains, ponds, and gardens. Next to this table, several elders of the Bai Clan had surrounded Bai Siling and were engaged in an alternating offensive.
Previously, when Bai Siling had mentioned that Wang Chong was gathering large quantities of lime and clay, the Bai Clan had believed that this was an excellent chance to get in on the ground floor of one of Wang Chong's plans.
When it was learned that the sword smiths and shops of the capital had engaged in large-scale forging of metal components for Wang Chong, the entire Great Tang Empire had begun to regard the seventeen-year-old youth as a god.
Countless clans wanted to better their relationship with him. Just like during the southwestern war, they hoped to share in some of his transcendent glory.
But the lime and clay that Wang Chong had gathered was actually for the sake of repairing roads! The matter had now become rather awkward.
The Bai Clan was one of the elite clans of the empire. Involvement in this matter would instantly result in a drop of its prestige, and it wouldn't be able to show its face in front of the other great clans.
Hence the current scene playing out.
”Third Uncle, Second Uncle, Big Uncle… I really don't know anything about this matter.”
Bai Siling's fists were clenched beneath her sleeves as she inwardly cursed Wang Chong. This bastard had dug a hole for her.
Bai Siling had truly wanted to help Wang Chong, but she hadn't expected Wang Chong to have her Bai Clan repair roads. But at this time, before her elders, not only could she not reveal her emotions, she also had to speak on Wang Chong's behalf.
”Moreover, Third Uncle, Second Uncle, Big Uncle, Wang Chong has never done anything without purpose. Perhaps he has a bigger plan that he hasn't told anyone yet,” Bai Siling said as she inwardly wished for Wang Chong's death.
But at this moment, Wang Chong was completely clueless.
In Kunwu Training Camp, outside the capital, the place echoed with cheers of 'Wang Chong'.
”Young Master, our Kunwu Training Camp is truly popular right now! Countless students from the training camps want to enter our Deflecting Blade Manor, and I've received six or seven thousand applications in this time period. I'm not able to look through them all alone, so I had to find a few people to help me.”
The blustering wind made the banner of Deflecting Blade Manor rustle and snap. Beneath the banner, Wei Anfang stood shoulder to shoulder with Wang Chong, both of them looking down the mountain.
When the news got out that Wang Chong had returned to Kunwu Training Camp, Deflecting Blade Mountain became surrounded in a sea of people, everyone coming out to welcome Wang Chong.
In the excited crowd, one could occasionally hear cries of 'Young Marquis' or 'Empire's Eighth General'.
Of the Great Tang's Three Great Training Camps—Longwei, Shenwei, and Kunwu—Kunwu Training Camp originally had the lowest reputation. However, its relationship with Wang Chong had allowed it to rise above the other two.
Many noble scions now put aside Longwei and Shenwei, electing instead to join Kunwu Training Camp.
”This is a good thing. Isn't this exactly what we wanted?”