Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

The back of Wild Fox Ridge was originally a barren, rocky slope.

Now, however, this place is as bustling as a market.

Dozens of strong men, shirtless, were carrying thick pine logs up the earthen slope, sending sawdust flying and the sounds of sawing wood rising and falling.

Li Ping stood on a high slope, holding a newly drawn sketch in his hand, pointing and explaining to Lao Shuan.

"Uncle Laoshuan, this wall needs to be built thicker than the city wall."

"The animals in the mountains are strong; if the wall is too thin, a black bear can knock it down."

Old Shuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and readily agreed.

"Don't worry, sir, everyone knows the risks."

"These days, the wild animals in the mountains are behaving strangely, so no one dares to slack off. It's just that the timber and stone are being consumed too quickly every day."

"If there's not enough timber, we'll cut it down; if there's not enough stone, we'll quarry it. As for wages, we'll provide three meals a day, and you'll get paid at the end of the month."

Li Ping patted Lao Shuan on the shoulder.

"Have everyone's families been settled in?"

"They've all been settled in cave dwellings and wooden houses on the back hill."

"Everyone said that in all their lives, this was the first time they had ever seen an official distributing grain and money to runaway households."

"Even if you whip them, they won't want to move now."

Old Shuan grinned, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Li Ping smiled but didn't say anything.

He turned around and looked at the dozens of men training in the open space.

Shi Gan, his back wrapped in bandages and holding a wooden stick, was shouting at the group of men.

"Stand up straight, all of you! Those crossbows are for killing the enemy!"

"This isn't for shooting birds! Anyone whose hand shakes will get no meat tonight!"

Among this group of men were able-bodied men originally from Wild Fox Ridge, newly recruited hunters, and a dozen or so bandits who had been selected through rigorous screening.

Li Ping broke them up and reorganized them into three teams.

"Shi Gan, come here."

Li Ping waved.

Shi Gan jogged over and clasped his hands in a salute.

"My lord, what are your orders?"

"How many crossbow bolts has Zhang Tiebi fired?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Zhang Tiebi brought two blacksmiths from the surrendered bandits."

"We've been working day and night, and we've already amassed thirty steel crossbows and fired over a thousand arrows, but we're almost out of pig iron."

Shi Gan was somewhat worried.

"I'll have Jin Fugui handle the pig iron matter."

"His caravan will be sending a shipment into the mountains in a few days, and it will definitely include a lot of iron."

Li Ping pointed to the group of men who were training.

"This rule must be established."

"Old Shuan was in charge of logistics and civilian affairs, Da Zhuang led the hunters to keep watch in the mountains, and Zhang Tiebi, the bandit who knew about weapons, was in charge of the iron furnace."

"As for you, Shi Gan, you are in charge of this armed force."

"Anyone who dares to break the rules, cheat, or bully escaped residents will be dealt with according to military law."

Shi Gan's expression turned solemn.

"Understood!"

After explaining the situation at the mountain stronghold, Li Ping returned to his courtyard at Wild Fox Ridge.

Uncle Zhou was checking the accounts inside the house, the abacus beads clicking loudly.

"Uncle Zhou, do we have enough money?"

Li Ping sat down, picked up the hot tea and took a sip.

Uncle Zhou stopped using his abacus and sighed.

"Sir, establishing this village and supporting several hundred people costs money like water every day."

"If it weren't for the silver found at Black Wind Stronghold, we would have collapsed long ago."

"However, the batch of spirit sand that Tie Tou sent is worth quite a bit of money."

"Don't sell that batch of spirit sand yet."

Li Ping waved his hand.

"That's the Bai family's place, where I use it for cultivation and drawing talismans. Have they been making any moves lately?"

"The Bai family has remained silent, but there have been some rumors circulating in the city."

Uncle Zhou lowered his voice

"They say the adults secretly gathered their followers in the mountains, plotting something sinister."

"At the county government office, it seems that Registrar Zhao is secretly collecting evidence against the magistrate, intending to file a charge of 'plotting rebellion' against him at the prefectural level."

Li Ping sneered.

"To plot a rebellion? That's a pretty serious accusation."

Just then, Qian Duo rushed in from outside, not even bothering to knock.

"My lord! Something terrible has happened!"

Qian Duo was panting heavily, his face trembling.

"Something happened in the city? Is that old bastard Chen Rang going to make a move?"

Li Ping raised an eyebrow

"It's not Magistrate Chen, it's Registrar Zhao!"

"He was in the county government hall today, in front of several local gentry."

"They say the officials are secretly hiding weapons in Yehuling, with ulterior motives, and they even say they'll send troops to raid Yehuling!"

Money was so much it made her stomp her feet in frustration.

"Sir, we have several hundred people in this mountain stronghold, as well as crossbows and iron furnaces."

"If this is really discovered, it's a crime punishable by the execution of the entire family!"

Li Ping, however, remained completely calm and instead laughed.

"Seize the property? What can he use to seize it? Those dozens of bailiffs in the county government office who can't even hold a knife properly?"

"But... but what if the county sends troops?"

Qian Duo was a little scared

"The prefecture? Senior Brother Ren Jun is still in Jiangning. What if Chen Rang dares to send a memorial to the prefecture?"

"The memorial hadn't even reached the prefect's desk before Ren Jun stopped it."

Li Ping stood up and dusted off his sleeves.

"However, the label of 'private gathering of followers' doesn't sound good. We need to change our approach."

"Change the signboard?"

Qian Duo and Uncle Zhou were both stunned.

"Qian Duo, go to the county government office tomorrow and deliver a letter to Magistrate Chen."

"Although Black Wind Stronghold is now peaceful, strange beasts are stirring in the mountains, and there is a risk of a beast tide threatening Xiyun County."

"In order to protect the territory and ensure the safety of the people, I have specially recruited local militia at Yehuling to form the 'Xiyun Anti-Beast Militia Camp'."

A playful smile appeared on Li Ping's lips.

"Take the provisions and pay for the militia camp for example. I will raise the money myself. The county government will not contribute a single penny. All we need is an official plaque from the county government."

Qian Duo blinked.

"My lord, is Magistrate Chen capable of agreeing to this?"

"Why didn't he agree? Chen Rang isn't deaf; he naturally heard the commotion from the monsters in the mountains."

"He was overjoyed that someone was paying out of their own pocket to help him defend the city against beasts."

"As for Zhao Heng, if he dares to bite again, he will be hindering the great plan to prevent the beasts from attacking and will be colluding with the enemy to harm the country."

Li Ping snorted coldly.

"Once we get this license, it will be perfectly legitimate for us to establish a village in the mountains and forge weapons to 'protect the territory and ensure the safety of the people'."

Upon hearing this, Qian Duo immediately slapped his thigh.

"Your Excellency is brilliant! This time, Clerk Zhao's mouth is probably shut shut!"

"Alright, stop flattering me and get on with it."

Li Ping waved his hand.

At night, Li Ping sat in his study and unfolded the Earthly Qi-Guiding Technique.

On the stone table lay several pieces of pale blue spirit sand, emitting a faint glow.

He took a deep breath, circulated his spiritual energy, and began to try to circulate it according to the Earthly Origin Qi Guiding Technique.

This technique is far more powerful than the Small Heavenly Circuit Qi Induction Technique; spiritual energy flows through the meridians.

"There's a slight stinging sensation, but the spiritual energy I brought back is even purer."

"Buzz"

The spiritual energy vortex within his body trembled slightly, seemingly expanding even further.

Li Ping opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air.

"Late stage of Qi elicitation, almost there."

He looked out the window at the pitch-black night, where faint lights flickered in the direction of the mountain stronghold.

With this "Military Regiment" designation, his base of support was finally officially recognized.

Next, it remains to be seen whether the Bai family or the mountain monsters will be the first to make a move.