55 Affiliated Villages (1/2)

Back inside the manor, Ouyang Shuo headed into the administrative offices on the east side.

He first handed the five building blueprints he had just purchased to Zhao Dewang at the Construction Division. He told him to get some people while the walls were being built to go and upgrade these five buildings.

Then, he looked for Gu Xiuwen, asking him to come to his office, he had something to arrange.

Gu Xiuwen had just been told he was being transferred from the Household Registration Office this morning. Hearing Ouyang Shuo call for him, he knew that he was being given a new task.

At the mayor’s office, Ouyang Shuo had Xiuwen sit down and smiled at him. “Xiuwen, you have had a very good performance during this time of difficulty with the errands you have done. I have seen all this, and now I have a more difficult task to give you, do you have the confidence?”

“Whatever the lord commands, I will make sure it is done!”

Ouyang Shuo nodded with satisfaction, exclaiming, “Well, there is a need for such boldness! That matter is thus: Since the village has upgraded to a township, you can build an affiliated village. The area of the territory has expanded, the northern salt fields behind the mountains are now formally a part of the territory. This will provide the salt pans workers a safe place, and save them from coming back and forth between Shanhai and the fields. I have decided that this first subsidiary village will be built near the salt pans and will be dedicated to the salt field workers.”

“The lord is generous, any questions the salt workers have about your grace have been answered!” Gu Xiuwen said earnestly.

Ouyang Shuo waved his hand. “The northern salt pans will be the golden industry of the territory for a very long time. The salt workers spend all day in the wind and sun, continuing to create benefits for the territory which gives them a stable home. This is the meaning of the new village! I need a responsible village head. I intend to recommend you. Are you willing to suffer living on the beach?”

Although his heart was prepared, Gu Xiuwen was still very excited, saying rather incoherently, “It is an honor to serve under your lead, Xiuwen will even die without a word.”

“I am ready to name the village the Beihai Village, mainly to cater to the northern salt fields. However, the absolute role of Beihai Village is not limited to this. In the future it will be the only port city of the territory, the window of our territorial trade, and so its importance cannot be underestimated,” Ouyang Shuo explained firmly.

Gu Xiuwen nodded his head, feeling the responsibility coming down on him, and said, “For this Beihai Village, does the lord have any starting orders?”

“My first thought is that Beihai Village will be built in direct accordance with grade 3 village standards. As for the population, all 250 existing salt workers will be under its jurisdiction. In addition, every Shanhai division will deploy one or two low level officials to help you build the administrative structure of Beihai, and all the talents of Shanhai should send at least one apprentice there to get started. Shanhai has four blacksmiths, one should be sent over to you. Finally, the territory will supply you enough basic materials to deal with the materials needed for construction,” Ouyang Shuo told him, dispelling any of Xiuwen’s concerns.

The conditions of Beihai Village were not the same as Shanhai, which was basically built by pioneering tactics. This was the advantage of a subsidiary village. With early support and administrators, it could develop very quickly. More importantly, as long as the base town had buildings, there was no need for building blueprints in the affiliated villages. That saved a ton of money.

With these promises from Ouyang Shuo, Xiuwen was emboldened. He said firmly, “With such unique conditions, we are sure to build a Beihai Village worthy of the lord’s confidence.”

“You have to remember your long-term plan for construction of the port location, where to build the village, it is better to be located somewhere suitable for a big port.” Ouyang Shuo told him.

“In addition, although the salt pans have not been affected by bandits or pirates, we will have to prevent that. After we begin, I am not just concerned about the people’s livelihood, but also forming a defense force as soon as possible. I will be deploying a sergeant from the cavalry squadron to help you.”

Xiuwen nodded, motioning to himself to remember this.

With this general situation almost done, Ouyang Shuo rose and smiled at Xiuwen. “Come, go with me to get the Village Creation Token.”

Ouyang Shuo went with a puzzled-looking Gu Xiuwen into the central meeting hall. There was a hum as the golden heartstone of the Township rose from the floor, its flat front facing Ouyang Shuo.

He put his hand on the face of the stone, in his heart mentioning the affiliated village, and the system prompts sounded immediately.

“System Notice: Shanhai Town belongs to a Grade 1 Township, and has a quota for 1 affiliated village. Would you like to use it?”

“Yes!”

“System Notice: Shanhai Town was built using a gold level token, affiliated villages will use a build token one level lower, a silver token. Dispense now?”