My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

"Prefect Ji, words are not enough. May we see what this cement is?" someone asked.

The others echoed his sentiments, for no amount of eloquent words from Ji Xuanyuan could compare to seeing it with one's own eyes.

Ji Xuanyuan smiled and said, "In that case, please follow me."

Outside Zhuojun City.

A piece of land that was originally an abandoned official road has now been leveled and compacted, and covered with a layer of bluish-gray ground.

The ground was as smooth as a mirror, gleaming with a cold, hard sheen under the autumn sun, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding uneven, dusty dirt roads.

This is the cement road test site that Ji Xuanyuan ordered people to pave several days in advance.

It was about thirty zhang long and wide enough for two carriages to drive side by side.

Along the roadside, there is a short wall and a simple pavilion foundation built of red bricks, which are also angular and exceptionally sturdy.

The invited representatives from various counties and wealthy merchants stood at the intersection of the dirt road and this strange road, their faces filled with astonishment, curiosity, and scrutiny.

Most of them were initially not enthusiastic about Ji Xuanyuan's invitation, and some even resisted it.

Although this young prefect was recommended by Liu Yan, since taking office, his style of conduct and the policies he implemented have been at odds with the interests of the local powerful families in You and Ji.

Furthermore, due to his recruitment order and other matters, he became known by many as a "heretic" and a "person who competes with the people for profit."

Getting too involved with him could attract criticism or even retaliation.

However, the fact that profit was the primary motivation, yet the fact that so many prominent figures in Youzhou could be gathered together to discuss matters, is itself quite unusual.

Everyone was calculating in their hearts that Liu Yan was about to leave his post and return to Luoyang, and the new governor of Youzhou, Liu Yu, would soon take office.

This renowned minister from the imperial clan was known for his benevolence and virtue, but his governing strategies and attitude towards local powerful figures remained unknown.

At this time of power transition and uncertain future, Ji Xuanyuan is going to carry out a grand road construction project. Isn't this just attracting the first wave of attention from the new governor?

This gives them the opportunity to observe the situation from the rear and then decide how to deal with their new boss.

With the intention of making Ji Xuanyuan the first to take the lead, and with some skepticism about the huge profits described in the letter, they came to Zhuojun with a "let's take it one step at a time" attitude.

Upon seeing this incredible cement floor, many people abandoned their initial arrogance and became more focused.

Accompanied by Guo Jia, Tian Feng, and Ju Shou, Ji Xuanyuan walked to the edge of the cement road.

"Gentlemen."

He began, "Seeing is believing. This is the road surface and foundation built with cement and red bricks. Please come forward and try it for yourselves."

He gestured, and several strong soldiers brought over two oxcarts fully loaded with stones.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the oxcart slowly drove onto the cement road.

The heavy wheels rolled on the smooth, hard surface, producing a uniform, dull sound. The vehicle traveled extremely smoothly, a stark contrast to the bumpy, swaying ride on the dirt road.

Soldiers brought several buckets of water and poured them onto the road. The water quickly flowed along the slight slope to both sides, leaving the road almost completely dry and muddy.

"You can all think about this."

Ji Xuanyuan pointed to the road and said, "What would it be like if the main trade routes and official roads between the various prefectures of Youzhou were all paved with this?"

Without waiting for anyone's reply, he began to explain in detail: "Firstly, it is sturdy and durable, impervious to wind and rain, and can be guaranteed to remain smooth for ten or twenty years. Unlike dirt roads, it does not require the annual conscription of laborers for repairs, saving countless labor services and money."

"Secondly, the journey is smooth and swift. Caravans can use more oxen and horses to carry goods, reducing manpower and shortening the journey by nearly half. With the relay stations for communication and the fast horses, the dream of arriving in the same day is no longer just a pipe dream. If there is military intelligence, the speed of troop mobilization is doubled!"

His gaze swept over the merchants whose eyes gleamed: "You are all experts in logistics and transshipment. You should know that smooth routes mean greatly reduced cargo damage and faster turnover. The same batch of furs transported from Liaodong to Jicheng, and the same batch of silk transported from Jizhou to the border, will take less time and suffer less livestock loss. The savings are real money! If the roads are open, the size of caravans can be expanded. Goods that were previously avoided due to the treacherous roads or could only be transported in small quantities can now travel freely!"

These words hit the merchants right where it hurt.

Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang exchanged a glance, both seeing the interest in each other's eyes.

The representative of the Yuyang Tian family was named Tian Chou. He was young but shrewd, and his fingers unconsciously calculated the cost changes of salt and iron transportation in his sleeve.

Wang Ze of the Shanggu Wang clan thought that if there were a stable trade route that was not affected by the seasons and climate when trading with the tribes outside the Great Wall, the profits would be considerable.

Ji Xuanyuan then shifted his focus, pointing north: "Thirdly, it benefits border defense and has long-term advantages. If the border is unstable, trade routes will be cut off, and your interests will be like trees without roots. If this road is built to key border passes such as Daijun, Shanggu, and Yuyang, the speed of our army's food, supplies, and weapons delivery will be more than twice as fast. With a stable border army, the barbarian cavalry beyond the border will not dare to easily raid the passes, and your warehouses and businesses in the border areas will be secure. Moreover..."

He lowered his voice slightly, but it carried even more weight: "I have heard that the newly appointed Prefect Liu has a reputation for pacifying distant peoples. Once he takes office, it will be only a matter of time before he reopens the border markets for mutual benefit in order to appease the Wuhuan and Xianbei."

"At that time, foreign merchants will bring furs, fine horses, and livestock southward, while Han merchants will bring salt, iron, tea, silk, and porcelain northward. The scale of trade will surely surpass that of the past. Without a proper thoroughfare, how can this influx of wealth be contained? Are we really going to rely on those dusty dirt roads that turn to puddles in the rain?"

The last rhetorical question sent a chill down many people's spines.

Among them were well-informed individuals who had heard of Liu Yu's possible appeasement policy.

If that's the case, the value of a good road will be magnified many times over!

Ji Xuanyuan raised his voice at the opportune moment, his eyes gleaming with an almost burning light, as if he were depicting a grand blueprint: "Gentlemen, today we are discussing the road to Youzhou, but why must your vision be limited to Youzhou alone? What will happen when the cement road runs through Youji, merchants marvel at it, the imperial court takes notice, and the governors of various states witness the convenience and prosperity it brings?"

He spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire world: "Then, people will come begging to have these beneficial and profitable things spread throughout their states and counties!"

"The technology is in my hands, the craftsmen are in my hands, and the secrets of the core materials also lie with me! At that time, this road-building industry can extend beyond Youzhou and reach the whole world! And those who can lead this cause are none other than you all present today, us, the earliest pioneers and partners! Every investment today may yield ten times, a hundred times, the returns of the Han Dynasty in the future! This is not a small gain for a single city or region, but a chance to create a new industry and seize control of the lifeline of the world's transportation network!"

These words suddenly broadened the scope, leaping from a corner of Youzhou to the entire territory of the Han Dynasty.

Many merchants' breathing quickened involuntarily, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of greed and excitement.

They may not understand many grand principles, but they have a beast-like intuition for the enormous profits behind terms like "monopoly," "first-mover advantage," and "business worldwide."

"Prefect Ji!"

Zhang Jun, the merchant from Dai County, was the first to lose his composure and asked loudly, "Is this true? Is this cement secret truly only in the hands of the prefect and never to be leaked?"

"nature."

Ji Xuanyuan stated firmly: "The Gewu Academy is the culmination of my efforts. Its core formulas and processes are all subject to strict regulations. Even if we cooperate in road construction in the future, the cement and red bricks will be supplied uniformly by the Zhuojun workshop and allocated as needed. This is the foundation upon which our 'consortium' stands."

"Let's do it!"

Although young, Tian Chou of Yuyang made decisions with remarkable speed. His family controlled the salt and iron industries, and a stable and efficient transportation route was essential for them. He immediately declared loudly, "My Tian family of Yuyang is willing to follow in the footsteps of the Prefect and work together to achieve this goal!"

"I, Su Shuang (Zhang Shiping) from Zhongshan, am also willing to participate!" Two Malaysian businessmen followed closely behind.

With the leader taking the lead, other merchants who were already interested, such as Chen Gui from Liaoxi and Wang Ze from Shanggu, also chimed in, and the scene immediately became lively.

The assistant officials sent by various prefectures, such as Liu Dun, the Prefectural Assistant of Guangyang, Wang Men, the Clerk of the Five Offices of Yuyang, and Gongsun Fan, the Registrar of Liaoxi Prefecture, were much more cautious.

They saw and heard it with their own eyes and knew that if this road were completed, it would be of great benefit.

However, this matter involves a wide range of issues and requires a huge investment, so it is not something they can decide on the spot.

The men exchanged glances, and Liu Dun, the eldest among them, stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying, "Prefect Ji has a grand vision and a plan that benefits the state and its people. We are deeply grateful. However, this matter is of great importance, concerning the prefecture's finances and long-term interests. It is beyond our ability to decide. We must immediately write a letter to our Prefect, explaining the advantages and disadvantages, and request his decision. We ask the Prefect to grant us a few days' grace, and we will surely receive a reply."

Ji Xuanyuan had anticipated this, and nodded with a smile: "That's how it should be. Xuanyuan awaits your good news."

Over the next few days, the fast horse traveled back and forth between Zhuojun and the various prefectures of Youzhou.

As Ji Xuanyuan had predicted, apart from some counties that had long-standing grudges against him or whose governors were extremely conservative and explicitly refused, most governors, after listening to the reports from their subordinates in detail, especially after learning that many powerful merchants had expressed their willingness to participate, believed that the matter was profitable and could allow Ji Xuanyuan to take the lead in dealing with Liu Yu's concerns. Therefore, they all replied that they agreed in principle to participate and could send officials or designate merchants to represent the prefecture government in investing.

With the overall situation largely settled, the next step is the most practical one.

Raise money and share the profits.

The council hall of the prefect's mansion was once again filled with people, the atmosphere more solemn than last time, yet also tinged with a sense of eager anticipation.

Ji Xuanyuan presented the core of the drafted charter.

The "Youzhou Transportation Group" was established, with a total share capital of twenty shares.

The road construction project was coordinated by the group, with the Zhuojun Prefectural Government providing technology, core materials, guidance from key craftsmen, and some start-up funds. It was also responsible for coordinating relations with counties along the route, thus playing a leading role.

The remaining shares will be offered to various county governments and merchants, with their investment determining their share of future road network revenue.

"The price is five hundred gold coins per share," Ji Xuanyuan calmly announced.

A soft gasp rose from below the hall. Five hundred taels of gold was no small sum.

Many small and medium-sized business owners looked troubled, calculating their assets.

Some county government representatives also frowned, wondering if the budget could be approved.

However, true tycoons have a different perspective.

What they saw was not the price of five hundred gold coins, but the potential for immeasurable future profits represented by each share.

"I, the Zhen family of Zhongshan, will subscribe to three shares." Zhen Yan's calm voice broke the brief silence.

He didn't even blink at 1,500 gold coins.

This not only reflects optimism about the benefits of road construction, but also further strengthens and demonstrates the alliance between the Zhen family and Ji Xuanyuan.

Zhen Yan's lead had an immediate and noticeable effect.

"The Tian family of Yuyang, subscribe to two shares!" Tian Chou followed closely behind, spending a thousand gold coins.

"The Zhang family of Dai County, subscribing to one share!"

"The Wang family of Shanggu, subscribing to one share!"

"The Chen family of Liaoxi, subscribing to one share!"

After discussing for a moment, Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang jointly purchased one share.

Several grain and silk merchants from Guangyang County (Jicheng) pooled their money to buy a share.

Representatives from various prefectures, after being authorized by their respective prefects, often subscribed to one or two shares in the name of their prefectures or in conjunction with local trusted merchants.

In the end, all twenty shares, except for the portion reserved by Ji Xuanyuan, were snapped up.

Even some middle-class merchants who were initially hesitant, seeing the trend, gritted their teeth, scraped together money, and squeezed in, afraid of missing out on this opportunity.

Ji Xuanyuan declared publicly: "The contract is now established, and payment is settled. Please deliver the full amount of your share subscription funds to the designated treasury of the Zhuojun Prefectural Governor's Office within one month. Failure to do so will be considered a waiver, and your share will be purchased by others. Once the funds are in place, the Youzhou Transportation Group will officially commence operations, and the first phase of road surveying and construction will begin immediately!"

The crowd responded enthusiastically, their expressions varied—some excited, some expectant, some apprehensive—but most thrilled to have participated in some momentous pioneering endeavor.

They knew that from the moment they pressed their fingerprints and promised to contribute money, their interests were inextricably linked to that of the young prefect of Zhuojun and to this yet-to-be-existing network of cement roads.

As the crowd dispersed, carrying their contracts and thoughts, the prefect's mansion, which had been bustling all day, gradually quieted down.

Guo Jia looked at the silk scroll on the table filled with names and the number of shares subscribed, his peach blossom eyes flashing with a complex light: "Senior brother, twenty shares, five hundred gold per share... This first phase has seen a huge influx of nearly ten thousand gold. At the very beginning of the road construction, we have already amassed such wealth, and have even brought most of the prefectures and wealthy merchants of Youzhou onto our ship. Such methods... I admire you."

Tian Feng stroked his beard and said seriously, "Although the funds have been gathered, the project is massive and the management is complicated, involving the interests of all parties. The subsequent scheduling and coordination cannot be taken lightly. We must be especially wary of anyone who might obstruct the project, misappropriate funds, or slack off."

Ju Shou added: "That's right. Moreover, Governor Liu is about to arrive, and we don't know his attitude toward this matter. We need to be prepared."

Ji Xuanyuan walked to the window and looked at the deepening twilight outside.

His shadow stretched long in the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Money is the first step. With money, roads can be built. Once the roads are built, the bonds of interest will be stronger. As for management, coordination, and guarding against villains... those are the next priorities for Fengxiao, Yuanhao, Gongyu, and you." He said slowly.

"As for Governor Liu... pacifying the border regions and appeasing the people is a benevolent policy. Our road construction also aims to prosper the local area and strengthen border defenses, so there is no conflict between them. Even if he has some doubts at first, he will understand once he sees the results. Until then..."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep: "All we need to do is build the roads, make the money we're supposed to make, and win over the people we're supposed to win over, so that the Youzhou Transportation Group can truly become a river flowing with gold, a ship that can carry us and all the shareholders to even greater distances...