153 Upper South State 3 (1/2)
”Jie Hu!!!” Jie Feng cried as she approached the battlefield. At this moment, the entire Tiger City vanished from this subjugated part of Seven Star County along with the City Lord and 1.5 Million people.
She hesitates to move forward because the opponent is five Inner Qi Lords against herself. Although her cultivation is just a stage below Jie Hu, it was reinforced by medicinal pills and oddity treasure that was banned from circulation.
This is also the reason why the Jie Clan only have five Inner Qi Lords leading the clan. Jie Hu, the City Lord of Tiger City, Jie Feng, the City Lord of Phoenix City, and Jie Long, the City Lord of Dragon City. The remaining two is the Clan Patriarch of Jie Clan, Jie Qian, and Grand Elder Jie Yun.
With the loss of Jie Hu, the number of Inner Qi Lord remained in the Jie Clan is only the four of them. This is also why Jie Feng hesitates to strike. If she falls, that means the Jie Clan's destruction can be said to be imminent!
”Hall Master, should we attack?” Liang Tian addressed Zhang Wu Ji as Hall Master to follow the proper etiquette in front of so many soldiers. Especially when a third of the soldiers are support from the Mystic Engineer Establishment, which excels in the usage of Celestial Tools.
”No, we should reinforce the land we just took, send another batch of masons to this place to rebuild the city. We'll name this the Li Jing City because Li Jing is the person that landed the last strike on the City Lord Jie Hu.” Zhang Wu Ji waved his hand to dismiss their request and gave them another order.
With this instruction, the fifteen Seven Star Tenders started to move. The splits into a team of five, three tenders each, to secure the border claimed by Tiger City. With the Jie Clan situated at the far east of the Jie County, they're not worried about the clan may attack.
Very quickly, one month has passed.
The process of building up the Li Jing City went quickly,although the size of their city is pitiful at the moment. But from a proper City Planning, the rebuilding went on very well, somewhat similar to Li Yuan City at the outer area of Golden Husk City, the capital of Crystalline River County.
Now, Zhang Wu Ji initial plan of establishing a proper track to connect the city together via a trading route started to become much more visible. With the variety of Servant Puppets with Carriage available, the Partial Fighter Qi Weaving Stone become a replaceable commodity that similar to the Disposable Battery in his previous life.
Plus, the Servant Puppet Carriage demand increases because they replaced the Tamed Beast and Carriage Horses as the choice of transport. Seven Star Tender that becomes their first County-Product belonged to the joint construction between Seven Star County and Willow Timber County said to be the new form of Border Control Force.
With the abundance of resources available for them to exploit without worries, Seven Star County becomes the third strongest superpower in Upper South State after Five Flame County controlled by Five-Flavour Flame Sect and Blood Marsh County under Blood Art Sect.
Luckily, Five Flame County is located far west in the Upper South Stage, neighboured by Blood Marsh County and Snow Maiden County. This means that the people from the four counties will have to travel across Heavenly South County to access to Seven Star County and the others.
As for the Black Iron County located above Heavenly South County, they're not taking any action at all. Their standing is questionable, especially when Black Iron Armored Forces is well known as the strongest Vanguard Suppliers to the Southern Imperial Kingdom.
”Huh... I finally reach the 21st Stage of Inner Qi Soldier. Although I only have 5 Strands of Soldier Qi now, my fighting strength allows me to fight people five stages above me at ease.” Zhang Wu Ji came out from his month-long seclusion after he is done consolidating his foundation.
”Master, you're out?” Li Jing came to his residence for his daily report.
”En. How is the update of the power surrounding our Seven Star County?” Zhang Wu Ji's first question is related to the safety and threat that may come from their neighboring counties.
”Herb Valley County agreed to pay us by supplies to protect their interest as a neutral bystander. We negotiated for the price of their peaceful request, and it was set at 300 Million Qi Sensing Pills monthly.” Li Jing reported the good news first to calm his master.
”And?” Zhang Wu Ji took a seat in his Reception Hall and took a sip of the Mulberry Tea.
”We suspect that Upper South Merchant Corporation is purchasing a large number of Celestial Tools from the Inner Western State. It seems that the Designer Hall in the state greatly support their purchase and even support the transaction with their personal mercenary team to deliver the goods.”
”Our question is, why would the Designer Hall in the Inner Western State support them so much, especially when they're having the same trouble like us, an internal war in their own state.” Li Jing reported the news with his own thinking.
”How is our progress ongoing?” Zhang Wu Ji narrowed his brows together as he already can guess the reason for such a report.
Most probably, the Upper South Merchant Corporation strike a deal with the Designer Hall in their agreement of payment. If the corporation willing to surrender to the Designer Hall jurisdiction, won't this benefits the Designer Hall?
”There must be something else...” Zhang Wu Ji was unwilling to put all his hypothesis in one target and try to think about this matter deeper. He started to think about the possibility of a two-pronged attack and even a three-pronged attack, and soon came out with an answer.
”I would rather guess incorrectly than failed to prepare for it. As a librarian in my past, this kind of planning is nothing abnormal, especially when the Upper South Merchant Corporation leader is all businessmen.”
”They might be colluding with either Five-Flavour Flame Sect, Blood Art Sect, Jie's Clan, or all of them to attack our county in three different directions. With my forces is yet to stabilize, a full force attack from three different directions might kill us off if I am unprepared.”
”Li Jing!” Zhang Wu Ji guess worries him and immediately think of a defensive plan. Although he's not a war tactician, his experience and knowledge from his previous life, armed by ten thousand episodes and thousand reading books are not something to be underestimated.
”Yes, master.” Li Jing bowed at Zhang Wu Ji with his mind concentrating at the next word that will come out.
”Split our Seven Star Tenders into three parts. One will guard the entrance from Heavenly South County, one at Li Yuan City facing Golden Husk City, and lastly, one will be positioned in between Crystalline River County and Jie County.” Zhang Wu Ji ordered.
”Master, if we arrange our soldier like this, our chances to win the war against Golden Husk City might fail.” Li Jing hesitates but chooses to question his master's sudden change of plan.