With the rise of my family, I can summon the Daoist Soldiers' Nest.

"As for the third step, it is to make our territory not only go far, but also last long."

Strengthening the foundation and cultivating talent is essential for long-term stability and security.

He walked slowly to the map and gently pressed his palm against the entire territory of Xiang County:

"What we need to do next is to enable Xiang County to have the ability to grow and repair itself. Even if I am not here in the future, or if the main force of the Lin family goes out, this place can still operate normally."

Lin Ye surveyed the crowd, his gaze sharp and piercing:

"We will establish an apprenticeship system in martial arts schools and workshops in various towns, allowing young people to learn different skills in rotation."

They opened a lord's school to teach literature, arithmetic, agricultural techniques, and martial arts, thus cultivating local talent.

Water conservancy projects, road expansion, and the construction of rest stations have enabled the faster flow of information and goods.

Build granaries, clinics, and schools to improve disaster relief and people's livelihood.

The remaining forces of the local gentry were absorbed into their ranks through economic means, thus weakening and dividing them.

Those who stubbornly oppress others should be punished according to law, and power should be gradually incorporated into the Lin family's governance system.

We also need to hold cross-township competitions, harvest festivals, and trade fairs to foster a shared sense of belonging among the people of Xiangxian County.

He paused, his voice lower but carrying more weight:

"Finally, the nest and the Dao soldiers will be nurtured as planned, with the cultivation of third-rate spiritual plants to provide long-term support for martial artists' advancement and territory defense. At that time, we will not only have the stability of the present, but also the confidence for the next few decades."

These words were more far-reaching and systematic than the previous two steps, directly shifting the crowd's mindset from "surprise" to "admiration".

Lin Qiang murmured, "Young Master, is this... to ensure the stability of Xiang County for generations to come?"

Zhang Yuan nodded emphatically: "This is the true foundation."

Sun Qian solemnly cupped his hands in greeting: "Young Master's vision is beyond our reach."

Lin Ye chuckled inwardly. Nine years of compulsory education plus modern management common sense—it was indeed a game-changer.

In this era, I'm probably the only one who could come up with the idea of ​​"regional autonomy + industrial division of labor + talent cultivation + cultural identity".

While you are still relying on brute force and clinging to the old ways, I am already weaving a net of ideas and systems to firmly bind Xiang County into an ironclad unit.

He remained calm on the surface, but in his heart he gave himself a thumbs up.

So what if my martial arts skills are suppressed and my plans rely on others? When it comes to strategy, I'm guaranteed to win.

Inside the hall, the crowd's emotions had shifted from excitement to deep conviction, as if they could already see an unprecedented Xiang County slowly taking shape in Lin Ye's blueprint.

Seeing that everyone was convinced by the "three-pronged approach + three-step execution" strategy, Lin Ye shifted his gaze and spoke with even greater certainty:

"Another crucial arrangement is the fate and reconstruction of the county seat."

He walked to the other side of the map and pointed to the location of the county town.

"The current county town, having suffered from war, has damaged houses, narrow streets, and a disordered water system, and is no longer suitable as the administrative and commercial center of our Xiang County."

It's not far from the fortified village, but it has scattered our manpower and resources, preventing us from forming a cohesive force.

Lin Qiang frowned: "Young Master means... abandoning the old county town?"

"It's not about abandoning it, it's about demolishing the old city and building a new one." Lin Ye said firmly, "Magistrate Cao was right when he said, 'Where the lair is, there the county seat is.'"

We need to re-plan a new city around Linjiawu, taking advantage of its location and resources, so that it can be easy to defend and can concentrate population, trade routes, military equipment and government affairs.

From now on, the new town will be the heart of Xiang County, and the old county town site can be used for agricultural reclamation or workshops, and the city walls will no longer be preserved.

These words shocked everyone present. To demolish and rebuild an existing county town was almost unimaginable in ancient times.

A county town is not only a geographical concept, but also a symbol of power.

Zhang Yuan couldn't help but ask, "This... how much manpower and resources will it take? Will the people be willing to move it?"

Lin Ye smiled slightly, revealing complete confidence.

"Therefore, we used the work-for-relief method, with each family contributing money and grain, and the costs were shared according to population and financial resources, to organize the relocation and construction labor force."

The people who participated in the construction of the city were paid wages according to their work, which not only solved their livelihood problems but also accelerated the progress of the project.

The new town is planned with residential areas, markets, government offices, martial arts schools, academies, and granaries—it's fully functional, and people will have a much better life there than in the old town.

He looked around at everyone and emphasized his words:

"The new town is centered around Linjiawu. The waterway is drawn from the main branch of the Wu River, and the roads connect directly to various towns. Caravans and guards can reach all the key locations in the county in half a day."

With administration, commerce, and defense integrated, government orders are no longer difficult to implement and trade routes are no longer blocked, as was the case in the past.

The gentry in the old county town were deeply entrenched; demolishing them would sever the roots of the old order and truly unify Xiang County from the Lin family.

Tian Liang's eyes lit up: "This way, we can concentrate our efforts, ensure that people have work and food, and also cut off the old forces' reliance on us."

Sun Qian said in a deep voice, "Young Master's move is not just about building a city, but about breaking down the old and establishing the new."

Lin Ye nodded: "Yes, the new city will be surveyed and planned in March, construction will begin in six months, and it will be completed within a year."

Each family received their assigned funds, provisions, and manpower, with the Lin family responsible for overall planning and military protection.

Those who contribute more effort, build faster, and produce better quality will be given priority in the allocation of prime locations and commercial spaces in the new city.

If anyone is perfunctory, not only is the location poor, but they will also bear the responsibility for the delay.

His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over the heads of the six families and the representatives of the five major clans:

"Remember, this is not just about building a city; it's about truly putting Xiang County in our hands."

"Let the people see with their own eyes that following the Lin family means having a way to make a living, hope for the future, and a stable life."

A surge of unprecedented enthusiasm ignited in everyone's hearts, and they responded in unison:

"Yes, sir!"

Having received the order and reassured themselves, the crowd left the Linjiawu council hall in twos and threes.

Tian Liang and Tian Han walked side by side, talking in hushed tones, their smiles barely concealed.

"Uncle, Sangyuan Town is ours now!" Tian Han couldn't contain his excitement. "Young Master really treats us like family. He not only gives us a way to make a living, but also a future."

Silkworms and silk were valuable even in the county seat. If we go all out in Sangyuan Town, the Tian family will be able to establish a firm foothold in Xiang County within two years!

Tian Liang nodded vigorously. "Young Master said he'll not only provide seedlings and craftsmen, but also guarantee trade routes. We can not only raise our own, but also export them. This is much better than the old hotel." The two walked lightly, as if they were already on a broad road leading to the town.

Not far away, the five family heads were also congratulating each other.

As they talked, they clasped hands in greeting and agreed to take stock of their manpower and prepare supplies as soon as March arrived, then head to the town to get started.

Other stewards of the Lin family were also affected by the meeting.

Although Lin Ye did not say it explicitly during the meeting, he secretly instructed Lin Qiang afterwards to have several elders from collateral branches take the younger generation to assist in the construction of the new town and the management of the sub-town.

This not only shared the core tasks but also gave them an opportunity to escape the confines of the fortified village and take charge independently.

An elderly collateral branch steward received the order and was immediately surrounded by his wife and children asking him questions on his way home.

"Father, is the young master really sending you to manage Qingxi Town?"

"Yes," he grinned from ear to ear, "Young Master said that the Lin family members not only have to guard the fortified village, but also have to know how to expand their territory. If they help establish regulations and lead people to do the work, their families can also be allocated a good house in the new city."

The young people were eager to try: "Can I go too? To learn management?"

The elder patted him on the shoulder: "Go! Broaden your horizons, so you can take on bigger responsibilities in the future."

The lights in the collateral branch courtyard were on much later than usual, and laughter and words of advice mingled together.

For them, this was not just a job, but a sign of being recognized by the core of the Lin family and having something to look forward to.

In the past, in the fortified villages, there were many people and many things to deal with, and it was difficult for collateral branches of the family to make their own contributions.

Now that they have the affairs of the town and the new city, their talent and loyalty can finally be exchanged for real status and gains.

As night deepened outside the fortified village, the festive atmosphere, like warm wine, rippled outwards from the courtyards of various families and the Lin family's collateral branches.