He changed Tiwat

Zhongli was able to leisurely wander the mortal world and retire to complete his plans because there was a guardian in Liyue Harbor whom he could completely trust.

He was not afraid at all of the struggle between the seven stars, the sabotage of the Fools, or even the possible turmoil.

—Because it doesn't matter, Gan Yu will take action.

"What task did the Emperor assign you?" Gan Yu asked.

“He called me ‘the successor of the Emperor.’” Han Fulai raised his head and looked at the distance not far ahead.

Opposite the Moon Sea Pavilion is the former residence of the Rock King Emperor, the Rock-Bound Palace.

"I see, I understand." Gan Yu nodded.

So, will Gan Yu support him?

"Gan Yu, what was your original plan?" Han Fulai asked.

"The Fools' schemes, Ningguang's ambitions, the internal strife in the Silver Plains... let's gather all these troublesome things together and then resolve them all at once." Gan Yu counted on her fingers, calculating carefully.

"But wouldn't this have a huge impact on the Seven Stars government?" Han Fulai blinked.

"That depends on who will decide Liyue's fate—us or the Seven Stars?" Gan Yu said with a smile. "Even without the Seven Stars, I will ensure that Yujingtai can function properly. We will concentrate power in Yuehaiting and then send the Seven Stars out. This way, our secretaries can manage the country well."

"Uh..." Han Fulai was speechless for a moment.

“When that time comes, I will take the lead in the Liyue government, and you will be my permanent secretary of the Moonsea Pavilion,” Gan Yu continued.

...Han Fulai felt a chill run down his spine for some reason, because he thought of Gan Yu's daily workload.

"I...I'm not qualified, am I?" His voice was a little weak.

“You were indeed far from good enough before…” Gan Yu seriously assessed Han Fulai’s work performance to his face. “A person who serves as executive secretary must be consistently loyal and reliable, and must be the most upright and respectable civil servant after undergoing the most rigorous and meticulous screening.”

"So many things before were actually the result of 'rigorous and meticulous screening'?"

“Yes.” Gan Yu nodded generously.

"So I'm still...?" Han Fulai asked with a bitter face.

"You're almost there," Gan Yu said with a smile. "You already have enough experience, and you're flexible, adaptable, and approachable. All you're missing is..."

She approached Han Fulai, raised her hands to cup his face, and then—

I used my finger to forcefully lift the corner of his mouth into an arc.

"...Keep smiling."

Gan Yu clapped his hands, looking as if he had accomplished something great.

“All your talents are exactly what Liyue needs, and your past records fully demonstrate your abilities. You are now the successor of the Geo Archon and the permanent secretary of the Moonlit Pavilion. As my successor, you are not fighting alone.”

Han Fulai's eyes lit up. The meaning of those words was very clear: Gan Yu was willing to help him!

"So what are you planning to do?" Gan Yu asked again.

Han Fulai did not answer directly, but instead asked, "If the Seven Stars have a conflict of interest, which side should we, Yuehaiting, stand on?"

Gan Yu smiled faintly.

"The winning side."

Han Fulai revealed his choice: "I think Lady Keqing is very suitable. She has ideals, drive, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose, and she also has many other advantages..."

"Yes, she has a good appearance, a good temperament, and strong professional skills. Most importantly, she has a high degree of obedience and mental maneuverability." Gan Yu gave Ke Qing a very high evaluation.

"There's another matter, concerning Liyue's infrastructure and agriculture..." Han Fulai said.

"Let's talk about this back in the office. I've already drafted the documents regarding the use of those four trillion yuan." Gan Yu's expression remained calm.

"...Truly worthy of being called Lord Gan Yu." Han Fulai exclaimed sincerely.

"Han Fulai, from now on, you must remember one thing." Gan Yu rarely called him by his full name.

Han Fulai responded with a solemn expression.

Gan Yu extended a hand to him.

“We come from different worlds, but we share the same name—Executive Secretary Yuehaiting. The public has entrusted us with all the practical matters, and the administration will be passed down from generation to generation, forever.”

"Always remember, 'I am the Liyue government.'"

Han Fulai grasped Gan Yu's hand, just as he had when he first transmigrated.

"I am the Liyue government."

Chapter 101 How Outrageous is China's Humanities Education? [4k]

Since reaching a consensus with Gan Yu and Ke Qing at the Moonlit Pavilion that day regarding the "Liyue's Radiance" project, the exploration of the Biyue River basin has been put on the agenda.

After several days of preparation, Yuheng Xingke Qingkong made her schedule, traveling light and with only her personal secretary Han Fulai and her personal secretary's assistant Shen He, to begin a week-long investigation of the Biyue River.

Han Fulai and Keqing are the main force of the "Liyue Radiance" project. This expedition is something they have been preparing for a long time. Shen He is mainly here for a paid trip and also serves as a bodyguard.

Their expedition covered a vast expanse of water from Luhua Pond to Qingce Village, but the main focus was on Guili Plain.

The Liyue River can be considered the "mother river" of Liyue, its course almost running through the entire land, with numerous tributaries. A comprehensive survey would likely be a large project lasting several months. This is not something they should be doing right now; firstly, they cannot afford to delay their current work for too long, and secondly, it is not necessary at the moment.

Although Liyue is vast, the land truly suitable for people to cultivate and live in is quite limited. The city is limited to Liyue Harbor as the main city, and there are only two large villages and towns, Qingce Village and Qiaoying Village. The scattered residents in other places are mostly scattered villages consisting of hundreds of people, which cannot even be considered towns.

It can be said that all of Liyue's resources are concentrated in Liyue Harbor, the main city, which has made it the most prosperous commercial port in Teyvat. The price is the desolation outside Liyue Harbor.

Under the protection of the Geo Archon, over the course of 3,700 years, Liyue Harbor became the most populous city on the Teyvat continent, and also the most crowded. Han Fulai had visited Qingce Village several times and vividly remembered the sight of only the elderly and infirm remaining there.

The concentration of resources leads to a population siphon effect, with generations of Liyue people vying to migrate to Liyue Harbor, resulting in the situation we see today.

The able-bodied young men of Liyue are all concentrated in Liyue Harbor. However, due to the limitations of the harbor's topography and social productivity, Liyue Harbor's current population capacity is already at its limit. Because Liyue Harbor cannot provide enough social resources and jobs for everyone, social stratification and conflicts are becoming increasingly serious. Whether it is Secretary Zhao from Qingce Village or Zhiyi from a poor family, they are all "costs" of Liyue Harbor's development.

Meanwhile, the countryside is quietly becoming desolate, and the increasingly aging Qingcezhuang village is still unsure of its future...

Just as Han Fulai saw when he first arrived in Liyue Harbor, the north and south sides of Scarlet Cloud Slope were practically two different worlds. And the interior and exterior of Liyue Harbor were also two different worlds.

As the "successor of the Geo Archon", the "successor of the Executive Secretary of the Moonlit Pavilion", and the "successor of the Great Harmony Society", his "Liyue Radiance" plan was designed to change this situation. In Han Fulai's words, he wanted to "enable every Liyue person to stand up and make money!"

At the same time, in order to seize the highest power in Liyue, he needs political achievements. Supporting Yuheng to the throne, as the man behind Yuheng, is only the "result" of the plan. What is important is the "process" of the plan - "Yuheng's grand blueprint".

"Returning to the New Area" is the most important part of this blueprint.

In his essay for the Liyue Civil Service Examination, he proposed a solution to Liyue's rural issues—the formation of an integrated urban-rural economy and society. This involved boosting consumption through infrastructure development, establishing a unified supply and marketing system, and creating connections between urban and rural areas; using rural cooperatives to transform rural commerce and increase rural employment.

Ningguang initially viewed him differently because of this. Coincidentally, Qingce Village was flooded, and the Liyue Seven Stars even summarized their strategy as "reforming and providing relief, resolving the dilemma," intending to submit it to the Geo Archon for approval before implementation. Unfortunately, during the subsequent summoning ceremony, Zhongli faked his death and retired, Liyue Harbor faced two consecutive threats of Daedric-level attacks, and now the Seven Stars are embroiled in internal strife, so the matter ultimately came to nothing.

Of course, even if Zhongli were in power, it would take at least three to five years to see results in promoting the integration of urban and rural economies, and the first thing to do is infrastructure construction.

To be more specific, it's about road construction.

Qiaoying Manor, a border village in Liyue, is located in the far northwest of Liyue. It is separated from Liyue Harbor by towering mountains such as Mt. Aozang and Huaguang Forest, and a trip there takes more than a week. The reason why Qiaoying Manor's tea is so precious is not only due to its quality, but also because of the high transportation costs.

Even if the Liyue Seven Stars were truly willing to undertake a major construction project to extend the road to Qiaoying Village, it would be a matter of years. And the numerous mountain villages in Liyue are even more problematic. At least in Tianheng Mountain Village, where Shenhe's hometown is located, there's a mountain road. But in more remote areas, even a mountain road is a rare find.

These things need to be done, and should be done, but not now. The situation in Teyvat can't wait that long, and neither can the power vacuum in Liyue Harbor.

Now Han Fulai needs a political achievement that everyone can see immediately.

An undeniable, groundbreaking achievement that could change the course of Liyue.

On the first day of the expedition, the group arrived at Luhua Pond, located at the northern foot of Tianheng Mountain.

On the day of his date with Ningguang, Han Fulai also came here, but it was already night. The most beautiful scenery of Luhua Pond can only be seen during the day.

They were colorful ponds, rising and falling in a well-organized manner. If viewed from above, one could only marvel at the wonders of nature.

The scene before me was like a giant palette spread across the earth.

Under the brilliant sunlight, the pools shimmered with various colors, like jewels on a vast, spread-out carpet. The larger pools were less than an acre in area and no more than a meter deep; the smaller ones were like saucers, so shallow that you could touch the bottom with your little finger. The edges of the pools were formed of golden stone powder, like ribbons encircling the pools of different sizes into various shapes: gourds, sickles, crescents, plates, lotus flowers…

Ke Qing and Shen He had seen Lu Hua Chi before, but even they were deeply impressed by the beautiful scenery before them.

"If only we could build a city here, but alas... I really want to move Luhua Pool to Liyue Harbor. I wonder how Luhua Pool was formed..." Keqing shook her head with some regret. Although Luhua Pool is beautiful, it is surrounded by mountains on three sides, the terrain is rugged and uneven, and there are few resources, so it lacks the necessary conditions to build a town.

Luhua Pond is a scenic spot that is like a fairyland on earth, but only immortals could probably live in such a place.

Shen He tilted his head and replied, "When I went down the mountain to find my relatives, I also passed through this place. I once asked my master how this place was formed, and my master told me a legend."

"What legend?" Ke Qing asked with great interest.

"According to my master, this pond was originally a garden thousands of years ago. During the era of the war between demons and gods, a couple who were not recognized by their families met here in secret. However, turmoil is merciless, and the man followed the Rock God and threw himself into the struggle of the gods as a mortal... just like countless mortals of that era, he has been missing for hundreds of years."

"The woman lingered in the garden, waiting for her lover to return. Later, the flowers were replaced by weeds, which rotted in the tide; when the tide finally receded, she returned to the soil, and her tears formed this pond."

Ke Qing was deeply moved and nodded in agreement. "What a poignant legend... Perhaps it is because of such profound longing that the pool water here is so clear and gentle."

Shen He stepped forward, squatted down, and scooped up a handful of water from the pool. The water was clearer and brighter than the sky, reflecting the white clouds in the sky.

She stuck out her tongue like a small animal and licked it. The water temperature was similar to her body temperature, and the taste had a slightly sweet aftertaste, without the salty bitterness of "tears".

"Sweet. Not tears." Shen He gained true knowledge through practice.

Han Fulai watched this scene with a smile. He remembered that Ningguang had fished here that day. The reason she was able to catch the sweet-sweet flower killifish here was not only because of the sweet flower juice, but also because of the sweetness of the water itself.

"Ahem, legends are just legends after all. I already knew that." Keqing, who had just been immersed in the atmosphere of the legend, coughed lightly, seemingly explaining to someone else.

“I do know a little about the origin of Luhua Pond,” Han Fulai said.

"Huh? You know?" Ke Qing's eyes widened.

Shen He also looked at him at the same time.

"Yes, I learned about it after hearing the legend Ah He told me." Han Fulai's face once again showed that smile that made Ke Qing grit her teeth.

"Two points in the legend told by True Lord Liuyun are true. First, this place was once a garden full of plants. Second, it was formed by a flood brought about by the war between demons and gods. It is because of these two points that the present-day Luhua Pond was formed."

"Has Lord Keqing ever read a history book called 'The Stone Book Collection'?" Han Fulai asked.

“Of course.” Ke Qing nodded.

"That makes things easier."

Han Fulai raised his head and recited a passage from the "Collection of Stone Books": "'There was a demon god named Gui Zhong, who was on good terms with the Rock King. He set up powerful crossbows to protect Tianheng, calling them "Gui Zhong Machines." He also led his people to live north of Tianheng, where they farmed for a living. At its peak, the fields and towns stretched as far as Shimen. Gui Zhong once said to the Rock King: "Now my people are all living in peace and prosperity, almost like returning home. Why not name it Guiliyuan?" The Rock King agreed. Thus, Guiliyuan got its name.'

"Hmm... this explains the origin of the name 'Gui Li Yuan'. But what does it have to do with the formation of Lu Hua Chi?" Ke Qing asked, puzzled.

"Lady Keqing, please don't be impatient, I was just about to say something."

Han Fulai summoned paper and pen from his blank divine eye. As a secretary, these were his tools of the trade, essential items he always carried with him.

"It would be easier to understand if we used diagrams."

He picked up his pen and began sketching on the paper. In less than a minute, a map of Guili Plain appeared on the paper. Although it was a sketch, it bore an eighty percent resemblance to the Liyue topographical map hanging in Keqing's office.

As the Star of Liyue, Keqing is a professional civil engineer who oversees land and construction in Liyue. She is highly skilled in engineering drafting and mapmaking. Many of the drafting tasks for the projects she oversees are done by her personally. Keqing also has a habit of carrying map scrolls with her for reference, so she can easily draw a topographical map of Liyue from memory on the spot.

Even she had to draw from memory, which would take at least several minutes. It was impossible for her to draw as effortlessly as Han Fulai, as if his pen was drawing automatically. Such proficiency could only be achieved by Han Fulai drawing Liyue's topography thousands of times, developing a kind of bodily memory.

"How...did you do that?" Ke Qing couldn't help but ask.

"A trivial skill. Nothing more than practice makes perfect." Han Fulai simply smiled.

He had actually been secretly practicing drawing all along! Was it to help me with the flood control project? Ke Qing's heart was filled with a unique kind of emotion at this moment.

Han Fulai, of course, had no idea what Keqing was thinking, and he had never practiced drawing Liyue's topographical map... but his statement that he was skilled was indeed true.

Because what he drew wasn't a topographical map of Liyue, but a topographical map of China that he had drawn thousands of times.

He was a liberal arts student from China, a top-performing student from a small town who excelled in the rigorous middle and high school entrance exams. The liberal arts education in China is absurd, requiring students to be knowledgeable in astronomy, geography, and even human affairs. How much geography is expected? Holding a topographical map without latitude, longitude, or place names, a Chinese liberal arts student can instantly recognize the location.

It's not just about recognizing the terrain; it's about being able to describe the local climate, rainfall, altitude, regional environment, and types of agriculture and industry given a given location.

The liberal arts education in China is just that outrageous!

When he was in school, his teachers required students to familiarize themselves with the terrain of China and assigned hand-drawing assignments. Occasionally, they would also select students to practice writing on the blackboard. As a top-tier expert on the Chinese Literature Ranking, Han Fulai had indeed practiced diligently.

So he has now drawn a topographical map of China that is about 80% accurate – a topographical map of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Back when Zhongli asked him to familiarize himself with the local customs and culture of Liyue, he had already investigated the topographical map of Liyue. So he quickly matched the topographical map of Liyue with the topography of the Jiangzhe region of China—because they were so similar.

With its terrain of "seven mountains, two rivers, and one part farmland," Liyue Harbor surrounded by mountains on three sides, and Guyun Pavilion not too far away... it can't be said to be exactly the same as Lin'an Prefecture in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but it can only be said to be virtually identical.

As for whether it's a coincidence or other factors... considering other things such as poetry and magic, Han Fulai has some guesses, but he can't be sure yet, so let's just consider it a coincidence for now.

He drew a circle on the terrain symbolizing Dihua Isle with his pen.

"Before the war between the demons and gods, Dihua Continent was still land. It was the war that caused a landslide, which submerged this place and turned it into a wetland." This history was explained to him by Zhongli when he was preparing for the ceremony to send off the immortals, in order to explain the matter of the glass lily.

"Furthermore, according to the records in the *Stone Book Collection*, Guili Plain was once a vast and fertile land, at its largest extent encompassing even the Shimen region. Therefore..."

As he spoke, he filled in a large piece of land on the terrain near Wangshu Inn, and then marked a mountain range.

"Near the Wangshu Inn, there used to be a piece of land, and a mountain range blocked the Biyue River. Let's name it the 'Wangshu Mountain Range'. Because of the war between the demon gods, the Wangshu Mountain Range collapsed, the terrain changed, and the Biyue River changed its course, rushing straight to the land beneath our feet before being blocked by Tianheng Mountain. The river water accumulated here, forming a lake, which is the Luhua Pond that we see today."