Dimension Demon's Chat Group

Chapter 442 Cross-Border Cooperation
Of course, such a dangerous idea as "enlightening the entire population" could not be uttered in front of other emperors.

However, Zhang Chulan had already learned about Li Shimin from He Jingfeng, and knew that this resident of Zhutian City, who had been emperor twice, was extremely open-minded and even highly admired the doctrines of later generations.

Moreover, the three restorations of the Han Dynasty and Li Shimin's personal martial prowess made his position extremely secure.

That is why Zhang Chulan dared to make such a suggestion openly and honestly, without fearing that Li Shimin would suspect that they had mixed in some private ideas that were detrimental to the imperial power during the education process.

Looking at Zhang Chulan, who was speaking eloquently in front of him, Li Shimin's admiration grew even stronger.

However, this appreciation was not directed at Zhang Chulan, but rather at the think tank that was hastily established behind him.

Admittedly, he had many top talents among his ministers, including even a capable minister like Zhuge Liang who went down in history.

But there was only one Zhuge Liang, while Zhang Chulan's think tank was "mass-produced" from among hundreds of millions of people across the country after education became widespread!

"If my Han Dynasty had so many talented people, my father and I wouldn't be so exhausted..."

Li Shimin became increasingly interested as he listened, and thus decisively agreed to the first collaboration proposed by Zhang Chulan.

Zhang Chulan was overjoyed upon seeing this and immediately proposed a second collaboration.

"...Teaching a man to fish is certainly the best policy, but learning to fish takes time."

"Therefore, before the Great Han Dynasty fully completes its modernization and industrialization, we are willing to provide some assistance."

Li Shimin asked with great interest, "For example?"

Zhang Chulan smiled slightly and said, "High-quality steel tools, a large quantity of nails, screws and other hardware products, as well as inexpensive furniture, textiles and other household items, etc..."

At this point, Zhang Chulan paused, then turned to look at He Jingfeng and smiled:
"I don't think Brother Feng would be interested in this kind of cheap goods transaction, right?"

"..."

He Jingfeng gave him a deep look, shook his head and said, "It's not that I look down on him, it's just that I don't have the ability yet."

That's right. Even a powerful company like Baiyu Group has to import large quantities of its own high-tech products from China.

This is the true value of the world's largest manufacturing nation!

Of course, the goods mentioned here are limited to those traded abroad.

For advanced technologies like interstellar warships and power armor made from magic steel ingots, raw materials still need to be imported from the Exotic Treasure Pavilion.

"I must say, the products and services you provided really impressed me."

Li Shimin said solemnly, "So now the question is... what do I and the Han Dynasty need to provide?"

Zhang Chulan replied without hesitation, "All Heavenly Coins!"

Li Shimin frowned and asked, "Only the Heavenly Coins?"

Zhang Chulan laughed and said, "Of course not!"

"We are well aware of how precious the Heavenly Currency is. Therefore, in the transaction, Your Majesty only needs to pay 10% to 50% of the Heavenly Currency as appropriate. The remainder can be replaced by precious metals, mineral resources, extinct living animals and plants, and ancient books and artifacts such as bamboo slips, silk books, bronzes, and jades from the Han Dynasty and earlier..."

This requirement has clearly risen to the national level.

Especially things like living plants and animals, which are of no use to individuals, but have immeasurable value for biological research and ecological restoration.

Ancient books and artifacts, especially those that are easily perishable, are priceless treasures for the archaeological community.

If we could obtain firsthand, unmodified materials from the late Han Dynasty, we could surely unravel countless historical mysteries for later generations!
At this point, Zhang Chulan turned to He Jingfeng and smiled, "And Brother Feng, I've also received quite a few powerful authorizations. If you're willing to sell some Heavenly Coins, we're willing to exchange them for real currency, rare resources, preferential policies, and many other means!"

This is treating the Celestial Coins as a highly valuable form of foreign exchange, and planning to stockpile some in advance!

He Jingfeng raised an eyebrow, looking at Zhang Chulan with some surprise.

To be honest, he originally thought that Zhang Chulan's main goal for this trip was the advanced technology of the City of Heavens and his extraordinary power to fight against an entire country.

But unexpectedly, the person behind him had such sharp eyes that they saw right through him and set their sights on the Heavenly Coins!

Yes!

As the universal currency of the City of Heavens, as long as you have enough Heavenly Coins, you can easily buy anything, whether it's super technology or extraordinary power.

Therefore, rather than focusing on immediate technological and physical benefits, they seem more inclined to take advantage of the early entry into the city to collect and stockpile a large amount of celestial currency.

Just like Li Shimin's Shu Han world, they can still exchange cheap goods for Heavenly Coins now, but if Shu Han develops in the future, they will only be able to barter for resources!

Thinking of this, He Jingfeng couldn't help but sigh.

Individual wisdom is indeed no match for the power of the collective.

If he didn't also have the other identity as a chat group member, even if he had entered the City of Heavens several years ahead, he would probably have been surpassed by Zhang Chulan, who represented the entire country...

"it is good!"

After a moment's thought, He Jingfeng decisively replied, "I can sell you some Heavenly Coins, and I'm even willing to provide you with interest-free Heavenly Coin loans..."

Zhang Chulan, his expression unchanged, asked, "But?"

He Jingfeng smiled and said, "But I also have a request. If you plan to leave the Merchant Alliance and build your own power in the future, I hope I can also contribute."

That means investing in advance, intending to align our interests!
Zhang Chulan understood immediately and said, "Okay, that's within my authorization."

Having dealt with He Jingfeng, Zhang Chulan turned his attention back to Li Shimin, continuing to discuss matters related to cross-border cooperation between the two worlds.

Only after the cooperation between the three parties was concluded did Zhang Chulan turn his head and turn his gaze to the fourth person who had remained silent all along. "Hero Yan, I've kept you waiting!"

That's right, the fourth person in this private room is none other than Yan Chixia from the world of A Chinese Ghost Story.

Upon hearing Zhang Chulan's words, Yan Chixia shook his head and said in a deep voice, "I have benefited greatly from the discussion just now, so there is no need to say that I have been waiting for a long time."

"However, I am also curious. Brother Li owns a country, and Brother He owns a company, but I am all alone. I wonder how your side plans to cooperate with me?"

"Alone?" Zhang Chulan smiled slightly. "I don't think so."

Yan Chixia raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh?"

Zhang Chulan didn't mince words; he simply took out the city entry token and placed it on the table.

“Master Yan, perhaps you have never encountered anything like this before, which is why you think you have hidden it very well.”

"But in reality, the chat software that grants entry to the city has already exposed your identity, because it not only displays the user's nickname and personal signature, but also the other party's IP address, which is your current location."

“We’ve been friends for three days now. Apart from the City of All Heavens, your profile has clearly displayed the three characters ‘City of the Wrongfully Dead’ for the rest of that time…”

Yan Chixia: "..."

He glanced at the information panel displayed on the city entry permit with a dark expression, and couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

"It really is……"

Yan Chixia muttered something under his breath, then pushed aside the city entry token and simply laid his cards on the table, saying, "Fine, since Brother Zhang has already seen through me, then I won't bother to argue any further."

"That's right. I, Yan, died several years ago. Later, with the help of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, I defeated the Black Mountain Demon in the City of the Wrongfully Dead and became the new Lord of the City of the Wrongfully Dead!"

It really is a body of a ghost or god!
Zhang Chulan swallowed hard, looking at Yan Chixia with a hint of alarm.

Yan Chixia sighed softly and said, "My world is now almost in the end of its Dharma. Gods and Buddhas are no more, demons are everywhere, and even the Netherworld is in constant war and chaos."

"I, Yan, am determined to use the power of the City of the Wrongfully Dead to subdue the Netherworld and re-establish the Underworld. That is why I accepted Brother He and Brother Zhang's invitation to come here to discuss matters."

"I just wonder, young brother Zhang, how do you intend to help me?"

Yan Chixia reminded him, "Let me tell you first, the firearms you're talking about aren't that effective against the vengeful ghosts of the underworld. The ghost soldiers of the City of the Wrongfully Dead don't need any of the resources of the mortal world; incense and yin energy are enough for them!"

"..."

Zhang Chulan composed himself and said with a smile, "Master Yan's world is quite special, which I am naturally aware of. However, judging from your frequent visits to the Divine Weapon Pavilion these past few days, could it be that the City of the Unjustly Dead is still lacking a batch of weapons?"

"So what?"

Yan Chixia said with great interest, "I have already resolved this matter at the Divine Weapon Pavilion, and the weapons I commissioned are all standard ghost weapons produced by the City of Heavens, which are far more powerful against ghosts than ordinary weapons..."

"What about the recruitment of soldiers?"

Zhang Chulan said quietly.

Yan Chixia was taken aback upon hearing this, then frowned and said, "You plan to send troops to help me?"

Zhang Chulan shook his head and said, "Of course not. You are the lord of the City of the Wrongfully Dead. Sending troops to the underworld to help you would be no different from sending them to their deaths."

"Then you mean..."

"Ghost Soldiers as a Source!"

Zhang Chulan smiled slightly and said, "You may not know, but there is a treasure in the [Exotic Treasure Pavilion] of the Heavenly City that can project a soul to another world."

"According to the fairy from Yaochi in Dengxian Pavilion, a big shot in Zhutian City once modified this treasure and turned it into a game pod with the same function."

"Once players log into the game pod, their souls can be projected into another world and play in the real world."

"Since what is projected into the other world is only a projection of a real soul, even if you die, it will not have a significant impact on your soul. At most, you will be mentally exhausted for a few days due to the loss of the projection!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Chixia's heart stirred, as if he understood Zhang Chulan's meaning.

Although he didn't know what virtual reality games were, he understood the benefits of soul projection.

If this treasure truly possesses such power, then the City of the Wrongfully Dead will no longer need to worry about manpower. As long as it can provide sufficient corpses and bodies, a continuous stream of ghost soldiers will appear.

"So, if we have such a treasure, along with enough people and bodies, we can use this method of soul projection to send troops across realms..."

At this point, Yan Chixia paused, then turned to look at Li Shimin and said:

"In that case, why don't I cooperate with Brother Li?"

"The Han army is surely more powerful than the players you're talking about, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan and He Jingfeng exchanged a knowing smile.

"That's when we need to bring in Brother Feng's Baiyu Group!"

Yan Chixia asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Li Shimin sighed and said helplessly, "Brother Yan, that treasure in the Treasure Pavilion is just a base station. In terms you can understand, it's like the City of All Heavens."

"But if people from all the heavens and myriad realms want to enter the Heavenly City, they still need an 'Entry Permit'."

"Brother Yan, you don't think everyone has the technology to create 'entry permits', do you?"

(End of this chapter)