"But who should be notified first?"
At this moment, Bai Tong slightly stroked his beard, feeling a bit troubled in his eyes.
Those elders had all greeted him.
One careless mistake could offend someone.
"Forget it, the other lords are fine, but I can’t afford to offend that Demon Star. If she finds out a disciple appeared on the main list without her being informed, she might cause me trouble and hang me up..."
Bai Tong shivered privately at the thought, then swiftly formed a spiritual light in his hand, transforming into a spiritual mechanism that flew deep into the foothills of the Divine Mountain.
In an instant, Bai Tong’s eyes darted, and he once again formed a layer of spiritual light seal with a different frequency in his hand, and moments later, notified another Immortal Peak deep within the Divine Mountain.
...
Within and outside of Fengyang County, a torrential rain seemed to replenish everything with fresh vigor. No longer did the city exude the air of dusk on the western hills; instead, it was full of vitality.
The refugees gathered from all directions on the street were no longer stagnating in a morose death-anticipation. Instead, they bore hopeful expressions, cherishing dreams for the coming year.
After the heavy rain, they began to plan in small groups their return to their hometowns to resow crops.
Many refugees, struggling with all their might, began to gather funds for their journey when suddenly news arrived.
The three major families in Fengyang County united with the various big and small families within the county to simultaneously open their granaries, donating grain and materials to help the refugees return home, immediately drawing the attention of countless refugees.
The granaries were suddenly overcrowded with people.
In front of the Zhang Family’s granary, Zhang Lu and Hu Shan were shouting energetically and calling upon nearby compatriots to maintain order. Inside the granary, Zhang Jian was busy opening large burlap sacks of rice, and numerous members of the Zhang staff fetched rice scoops to distribute grain to the queuing civilians.
"Young Master, there are simply too many people. Purely relying on distributing grain, even if we were to deplete all the reserves in the granary, it probably wouldn’t be enough!"
Watching the rapid consumption of rice and flour mountains within the granary, Zhang Lu’s face showed distress.
As his body grew, his physique increasingly resembled that of his father Zhang Hu, with a brawny and broad frame, his growth surpassing even Zhang Jian.
This scholar’s attendant looks more like a thug!
"It’s almost autumn, and soon there will be new rice coming in, but this method is indeed too inefficient. Even if they make it back home, they might not survive the harsh winter!"
Zhang Jian slightly frowned.
But he knew, the Zhang Family had tried their best.
It would hurt their vitality to exert further, affecting the Zhang Family’s overall situation.
"How about this, I’ll write a letter shortly and have Xiaoxie deliver it posthaste. Isn’t our Zhang Family planning to reopen a watermill workshop in the commandery city, along with a blacksmith shop and sword shop? All these need labor!"
"Additionally, I could have father contact the maternal grandfather to see if we can engage in road and dike repair to provide relief through work!"
Zhang Jian had now excavated the remainder of the ancient sword-casting technique he had learned. The core techniques, whether in material selection, ore selection, site selection, water selection, folding and forging, composite steel addition, or secondary quenching, were all uniquely distinct. Although the weapons cast were not epoch-defining, they were certainly top-notch.
A set of ancient sword-casting techniques capable of crafting excellent swords and sabers could undoubtedly help the Zhang Family climb to a higher tier at this moment.
Of course, Zhang Jian chose to bring out the ancient sword-casting technique at this moment with careful consideration. The Zhang Family, by now a commandery’s noble family, had sufficient strength, both soft and hard, to protect its interests, ensuring it wouldn’t become a source of trouble.
Zhang Lu took note and then proceeded to arrange for the letter to be sent to Fengxi County.
Zhang Jian is currently the vanguard of the Zhang Family in Fengyang County, seizing the opportunity to firmly establish their footing.
He knew that after the three major families join forces to topple the Commandery Governor’s Mansion, it won’t be so easy to expand further.
...
The Zhang Family is bustling with recruitment, land selection, buying storefronts, and even wooing hearts, recovering part of the Three Religions within and outside of Fengyang County. Currently, the major forces within and outside the county are clearly aware.
Those with the capability to intervene were either too occupied to manage, living in constant anxiety, or shared interests with the Zhang Family, or simply unwilling to offend them lightly.
And those unable to exert influence, even if intent on intervening, quickly found their path blocked by the experts brought by the Zhang Family.
In daylight, the Qi Family provided support, while in the shadows, the Cyan Bamboo Gang and experts like He Xiong from smaller factions offered covert backing. Everything was unfolding positively.
The Zhang Family’s momentum gradually reached the esteemed status of a commandery’s notable family.
During their expansion, the Zhang Family did not forget the major adversary within the Commandery Governor’s Mansion. This period of structural change was the right time to thoroughly suppress or send that individual back to Haojing to secure the hard-won victory.
The key naturally lay in obtaining evidence of the Commandery Governor’s Mansion secretly attacking tribute ships and plundering tribute goods.
Although the Commandery Governor’s Mansion had executed the plan flawlessly at the time.
The mighty Bai Shui had concealed all traces.
But now with the Bai Shui Dragon Monarch’s revival, the Bai Shui Divine Department regained control, and within the Bai Shui Dragon Monarch’s domain, finding evidence of Commandery Governor’s Mansion involvement became traceable.
...
At Qi Mansion, Madam Qi Wan was currently in the flower hall. Beside her, a tall maid was vividly narrating the recent developments of the Zhang Family.
It was nothing but how many shops had been bought, how many prime locations were chosen, and rumors of connections with certain officials. Madam Qi Wan listened and nodded implicitly.
Her father-in-law’s attitude she had also discerned; this was clearly about forming a comprehensive alliance with the Zhang Family, fully supporting them to gain a firm foothold in Fengyang County.
Regarding the marriage alliance, it was highly encouraged, and the selection had basically been settled on Qi Yuhua, with both families reaching a tacit agreement.
Madam Qi Wan was personally quite satisfied; initially, she had several backup candidates, such as the Young Marquis from Dingnan Marquis’s Mansion. That family’s ancestral home was in Fengyang County, visiting annually.
The Dingnan Marquis’s Mansion was also a military family with deep roots in the army.
Madam Qi Wan had personally witnessed the Young Marquis, whose demeanor was quite excellent among his peers.
Additionally, there were the Wan Family in the capital, her own natal family with suitable young descendants, and several other noble clans in the capital.
Every commandery’s noble family had a host of relatives and friends with status and influence, yet after consideration, Madam Qi Wan decided on the Zhang Family.
Not because the Zhang Family’s social standing had risen, as a newly elevated commandery’s noble family was not heavily weighted in Madam Qi Wan’s view. It was more due to Qi Yuansi’s relationship with the Zhang Family.
Besides, Qi Yuhua herself was willing.
With her daughter willing, Madam Qi Wan had nothing more to say.
Seeing the maid finish speaking, Madam Qi Wan said, "You did a good job. You may visit Yu Hua later; she is more eager to hear this news than I am!"
"Yes!"
The maid’s face also revealed a smile.
She had followed Madam Qi Wan for decades, and seeing her young lady find a fitting partner was naturally a delight.
...
Deep within Bai Shui, in the dust-laden remains of the Dragon Palace, Bai Nu frowned. The once splendid palaces from a thousand years ago had turned into ruins. These ruins had been visited by spirit monsters numerous times, leaving them empty, further vexing Bai Nu.
Seeing Bai Liying’s calm demeanor, Bai Nu became more irate.
He said grimly, "Does that young man disdain your demon race identity?"