Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 111 A Letter from the Chi Family
Xulong Township.

Li Xiangming and Li Xiangqian stood on the side of the street, silently watching the wagons loaded with ore slowly move forward.

The air is filled with the scent of earth and minerals, giving one a unique sense of tranquility and power.

The sounds of horses' hooves, wheels rolling, and coachmen's shouts intertwined to create a unique symphony, heralding the dawn of a new day.

"Xiang Qian, are you still short of people?"

"We don't need any more."

Li Xiangqian shook his head. Since the establishment of Su'an Township, the Shangji Office has had a large number of young and strong men.

These people are of no use staying where they are, since Su'an Township has nothing.

In addition, Su'an Township is hundreds of miles away from Changtai Township, with no road in between, making transportation extremely inconvenient.

Even if we wanted to transport supplies, it would take a lot of time.

After much deliberation, Li Xiangming decided to abandon the development of Su'an Township.

Instead, the population was gradually transferred to Changtai Township and Xulong Township, with a focus on developing these two areas.

Xulong Township, in particular, is surrounded by large mineral veins and has great development potential.

The Shangji Office had not paid enough attention to it before because Xulong Township had an insufficient population. The people of Changtai Township were used to a peaceful life and were unwilling to move to the remote Xulong Township, which made Xulong Township unqualified to serve as the logistics support for large-scale mines.

But it's different now.

Li Xiangming promised the people of Su'an Township that as long as they agreed to relocate to Xulong Township, they would receive housing, land, and financial subsidies.

Currently, the prerequisite is that someone in the family needs to be serving in the military long-term.

At first, the people of Su'an Township were very hesitant, after all, they had to perform forced labor and they didn't know what they would be doing.

Therefore, only a few people agreed to move to Xulong Township.

Li Xiangming immediately used scarcity marketing tactics to purchase real estate and land for this small number of people, while simultaneously halting the relocation of their household registration.

When the news reached Su'an Township, it immediately sparked a wave of envy and regret.

Li Xiangming then invented something called grain coupons, which were promoted in Su'an Township. Only by working could one earn working hours, only working hours could be exchanged for grain coupons, and only grain coupons could be exchanged for grain.

For most people, two meals of porridge a day are simply not enough to fill them up.

Especially for teenagers, who are in the process of recuperating.

The Li family has also cut off all contact with the surrounding areas of Su'an Township, so now they can't buy anything even if they have money.

Left with no other choice, many people volunteered to perform forced labor for the sake of their children.

As a result, Xulong Township gained a large number of miners.

Meanwhile, the Shangjifang government gradually relocated the miners' families to Xulong Township to fill the population gap.

Currently, there are over 10000 laborers in Xulong Township, each fulfilling their duties in mining, road construction, smelting, and forging.

We could actually allocate more, but with more people, there would be more food to eat.

Most of the grain in Xulong Township is supplied by Tailai Peak.

There is a budget for the grain in Tailai Peak, and it is impossible to give it all to Xulong Township.

Therefore, Li Xiangqian dared not ask for more people.

"That's enough. If you have any other needs, just let us know. For the next two to three years, the focus of the Shangji Office will be on Xulong Township. I hope that after three years, Xulong Township can make a move on the lapis lazuli mine."

Li Xiangming said calmly.

"Yes!"

After leaving Xulong Township, Li Xiangming informed Li Xiangqi that he hoped Xixiang City could bring in a group of laborers from Su'an Township to cultivate new fields.

The specific number to be introduced will need to be discussed jointly by the government offices of the two townships.

After all, the food consumed by laborers is three to four times that of refugees.

These people can be used, but not indiscriminately.

After giving a brief explanation, Li Xiangming returned to Changyang Valley to take charge.

Currently, there is Li Xiangqi in the western part of Changtai County, Li Qianbai in the eastern part, and a large number of experienced officials from both counties.

Su'an Township was protected by Li Qiangao, who was sent by the head of the family, and three thousand well-trained soldiers.

Xulong Township was governed by Li Xiangqian and protected by Nie Rong and Tang Xueyan.

He only needs to coordinate the allocation of resources in the three townships and implement the established policies; he doesn't need to do everything himself.

Back in Changyang Valley, Li Xiangming secluded himself in Fengming Tower to focus on cultivation.

But a few days later, Li Qianfu came knocking. "A letter from the Chi family?"

Li Xiangming frowned, took the letter, and found that it was an invitation from Chi Jingtong to a small gathering.

"Chi Jingtong forcibly drove away the locusts some time ago, and his old injuries have flared up. I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left. His letter at this time must be because he needs our help."

"Shouldn't they ask the clerk for help? Why would they come to us?"

Li Xiangming was puzzled.

Although the Shangjifang (上计房) also had contact with the Chi family, it was Li Qianyou (李乾友), the head of the Diankefang (典客方), who was the one who truly won over the Chi family. Moreover, the Diankefang was responsible for diplomacy, while the Shangjifang was only responsible for collecting tribute.

Logically, the Chi family should have sought help from the clerk's office, whether they were asking for favors or handling matters.

"I don't know, this letter was handed to us by the clerk."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming pondered for a moment, but still decided to go and take a look.

Even in its decline, the Chi family is still a cultivation family and has its own value.

"Uncle Qianfu, are you going?"

"I'm busy with the Changyang Valley market, so I'm afraid I won't have time."

"Lend me that blue-backed demon lizard."

Li Xiangming led the Blue-backed Demon Lizard away and headed towards Xiaolan Valley.

After Li Qianju, dispatched by the Li family, negotiated with Yuyuan and captured the remaining five blue-backed demon lizards.

However, the Upper House only received three heads in the end, and the rest were all given to the Beast Breeding Peak.

This was to be expected, and Li Xiangming was not dissatisfied.

After all, his previous budget was only for three Divine Wind Steeds, but now he has replaced them with Blue-backed Demon Lizards, so he is overjoyed.

The hope is that the breeding center can do its job well and produce qualified offspring for the Blue-backed Demon Lizard, so as not to waste these spirit stones.

The Blue-backed Demon Lizard often keeps its eyes half-open and likes to stroll slowly. However, once a command is given, it moves with incredible speed, and its massive body does not affect its speed at all.

Actually, flying boats are faster, but they cost extra spirit stones.

After buying the Green Cloud Boat, Li Xiangming was penniless, so he naturally tried to save money wherever possible, since he wasn't in a hurry anyway.

Not long after, the Blue-backed Demon Lizard carried Li Xiangming to Su'an Township.

Since he was here, Li Xiangming took the opportunity to check on the mood of the people in Su'an Township.

It was discovered that most of these people wanted to leave Su'an Township, even if their families had members serving in the military for them.

Li Xiangming was not surprised by this.

He knew that most people longed to own land.

The lack of farmland, the control over the area, and the scarcity of food and clothing in Su'an Township clearly made it impossible for these people to feel safe.

Unfortunately, there is limited farmland near Danggui Mountain, so these people will have to stay in Su'an Township for a long time.

They didn't even have the right to start a new project.

Shaking his head, Li Xiangming left.

Xiaolang Valley is less than 200 li from Su'an Township, and with the speed of the Green-backed Demon Lizard, it can naturally arrive quickly.

After informing Chi Jingtong with a sound transmission talisman, Li Xiangming waited outside the valley and fed the Green-backed Demon Lizard two Spirit Feeding Pills.

Spirit-Feeding Pills are the most common elixirs consumed by spirit pets. They not only satisfy their hunger but also contain spiritual energy. After being refined, spirit pets can slowly increase their strength.

Of course, it's unrealistic to expect to raise a high-level spirit pet using Spirit Feeding Pills.

Given the enormous size of the Blue-backed Demon Lizard, two pills were clearly not enough. It affectionately nudged Li Xiangming's hand with its head.

"Here's one more, but you can't ask for any more."

Li Xiangming smiled and took out another pill.

He didn't actually lack spirit-feeding pills, since the Imperial Household Department had spirit pets, and he could legitimately apply to his family for them without spending any money.

But saving a little money is never a bad thing.

Soon, three young people emerged from the valley—two men and one woman—all descendants of Chi Jingtong.

Li Xiangming recognized the woman; she was Chi Youyan, whom the Chi family had wanted to matchmake for him.

After not seeing each other for more than half a year, Chi Youyan looked even more beautiful, her big, innocent eyes staring curiously at Li Xiangming.

(End of this chapter)