Castle of Black Iron

Through negotiation, the elders and clan head of Huaiyuan Palace figured out the plot that Heavens Reaching Church made in Taixia Country. Later on, they discussed the counter-measures.

Speaking of counter-measures, Huaiyuan Palace had to appreciate the Gobbling Party. When Huaiyuan Palace’s main force transferred from Waii Subcontinent to Youzhou Province, Huaiyuan Palace behaved meticulously in case of being screwed by the powerful enemy of the Gobbling Party in Taixia Country. After Huaiyuan Palace transferred to Taixia Country, all the grain seeds that Huaiyuan Palace planted in the reclaimed land of Yanghe Prefecture came from Huaiyuan Palace’s storage in Waii Subcontinent.

Therefore, Huaiyuan Palace must be not contaminated by the demonized grains.

Nobody could imagine that Huaiyuan Palace’s meticulous deed at the beginning could become their asset to respond to the crisis facing Taixia Country as a whole. How life affairs changed!

“In the ancient book History of Wu State and Yue State in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period , on the 13th year since Goujian ascended to the throne of the Yue State, he cheated Wu State with the reason that Yue State suffered from a severe natural disaster and borrowed 1 million kg millets from Wu State. On the second year, Yue State’s millets became ripe. Goujian then dispatched people to select fine millets, steam them and dry them before finally returning them to Wu State. At the sight of fine millets, the king of Wu State was very happy as he had people delivered the millets to his farmers; however, they got no millet that year, causing a famine across Wu State. When clan elders returned to Taixia Country, you all suggested carrying grain seeds from Waii Subcontinent in case that Youzhou Province was controlled by others due to the problem of grain seeds. I’ve not imagined that such a trivial decision of elders could have such a great effect today and earn a bit hope for our Huaiyuan Palace in the chaotic world!” Zhang Taixuan let out a sigh with emotion. After that, he stood up and said, “At that time, Taixuan was fighting demons in the Earth-elements Realm. Thanks to your considerate arrangement, our clan was relatively safe, you’re so intelligent and considerate, please accept my bow!”

“It’s our responsibilities. As members of Huaiyuan Palace, of course, we should think for the sake of Huaiyuan Palace. Clan head, we dare not accept such a solemn rite!” As the other elders said in unison, they hurriedly spring up to bow deeply towards Zhang Taixuan. After being polite for a while, they all sat down once again.

“When the spring arrives, we need to reclaim more wasteland and sow more grain seeds in Yanghe Prefecture in case of danger. In the chaotic world, we would not feel flurried with grains in hand. As long as we have grains, our Huaiyuan Palace would not be afraid of the demons and Three-eye Association as we would be more confident to respond to crises! As for expanding people for reclaiming wasteland, I suggest Huaiyuan Palace to recruit or receive refugees from Chaosang Subcontinent or other subcontinents. It’s time for us to put our accumulated fund in such places. As long as our capital and personnel were in place, we could reclaim over 700 million square meters’ wasteland in 1 year.” Elder Muen suggested.

“I agree with Elder Muen very much, but I’m afraid that we couldn’t easily manage so many outsiders!” Elder Muyu added.

“The former Hurricane Corps have been disbanded after they arrived at Taixia Country; however, after being disbanded, the Hurricane Corps maintained their overall strength; they just turned into armed guards of business groups under the control of Zhang Clan. It’s easy to call them together. Nominally, they could be the guards of our business groups; actually, they could serve as a stationed military force. If Hurricane Corps is responsible for managing the reclamation of wasteland in semi-militarized means next year, it would be much faster!”

“I agree, it’s a good method!”

“This plan counts most in our clan. We have to assign able men to manage well the stationed military force and the reclamation of wasteland! Additionally, they have to report the progress to clan head and all the elders of Huaiyuan Palace in each season.”

“After the catastrophe of bloody figures broke out, the prices of grains across Taixia Country had been higher than it was last year. Now, Huaiyuan Palace should expand our granaries in all of our cities; additionally, we should speed up purchasing grains from other places. When in an emergency, people would even buy one steamed bun with one gold coin!”

“Elder Muyu is right. We’d better execute it as soon as possible. Longwind Business Group and all the other business groups of Huaiyuan Palace should take action as soon as possible. Now that we could figure out the problems, the other major clans in Taixia Country could figure them out too sooner or later. All the major clans in Taixia Country are collecting grains at relatively slower speeds. When everybody realized the importance of the issue and started to collect grains, the prices of grains in Taixia Country would at least rise by a few times than now. At this time, the private cities of Huaiyuan Palace should collect as many grains as possible!”

“I don’t think that we should be busy building granaries outside cities. We’d better build new battle fortresses outside the cities in Yanghe Prefecture. Battle fortresses could be installed rapidly. On one hand, battle fortresses could assist cities to defend enemies and reassure the public; on the other hand, we could use these battle fortresses as temporary granaries and store a part of grains in the battle fortresses. One stone for two birds!”

Only after more than half an hour, the elders had already worked out many suggestions and decisions through discussion.

Besides constantly expanding reclaimed land in Yanghe Prefecture, Huaiyuan Palace would constantly purchase land; receive refugees; expand army; regulate well grain seeds; increase the storage of grains; intensify the training of domestic troops; strengthen intelligence and information collection work tentatively and coordinate well with the other major clans in Youzhou Province in a few years.

The entire battle strength of the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace might not be greater than that of Zhang Tie’s; however, all the other elders were as wily as Zhang Tie facing similar crises.

Zhang Tie just listened to the other elders’ words silently, which benefited him a lot. If Huaiyuan Palace were 10 more timers stronger, they would definitely have more means and different counter-measures. However, what these elders proposed had been the optimal plans.

“Elder Mushen, what’s your opinion?” Zhang Taixuan moved his eyes onto Zhang Tie who was being silent while asking him politely.

“Clan head and all the other elders are experienced, mature, wise and considerate. you’ve considered all the situations. Therefore, I have nothing to say. It’s Huaiyuan Palace’s great honor to have a clan head and all the other elders!” Zhang Tie said modestly and politely.

After hearing Zhang Tie’s praise, Zhang Taixuan revealed a smile; all the other elders also touched their beard in a pleasantly reserved way.

There was one sentence that the other elders didn’t say. Actually, they all felt that it was Huaiyuan Palace’s honor to have Zhang Tie as their grand elder, who was not greedy about power and influence besides being modest and young. In other major clans of Taixia Country, there were always grand elders who misused their power and elbowed out their clan heads and the other elders only for power and profits. By contrast, Zhang Tie, who was young, polite, powerful with a lot of secret methods and could have the princess of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion be docile to him while being not greedy for power was popular no matter where he was. Although these elders didn’t disturb Zhang Tie in Jinwu City these days, they had heard that the princess of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion directly called Zhang Tie’s parents father and mother.

In the eyes of all the elders, the marriage between Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian was fixed. The moment Zhang Tie became the son-in-law of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion, his position in Huaiyuan Palace would be more special and honorable.

If Zhang Tie said the same words before, the other elders would feel it was reasonable because Zhang Tie was indeed the youngest clan elder; however, after Zhang Tie promoted to the grand elder of Huaiyuan Palace, his words satisfied those elders so much.

“Now that, the plans have been fixed!”

Zhang Taixuan made a decision while all the other elders nodded. After that, this Clan Elders Meeting came to an end officially.

“Elder Mushen, are you free to accompany me to visit Embracing Tiger Mountain?” Zhang Taixuan asked Zhang Tie.

After hearing that, all the others realized that Zhang Taixuan had something to talk with Zhang Tie. They then bade a farewell to Zhang Taixuan and Zhang Tie before leaving Ancestral Shrine Palace one after another.

“Glad to do that!” Zhang Tie replied.

After that, the two people walked out of the Ancestral Shrine Palace and went towards the top of the mountain along the stone steps behind the Ancestral Shrine Palace.

In winter, the dark fell earlier. When Zhang Tie arrived at Embracing Tiger Mountain, it was not dark yet; however, after the conference, it had already become dark outside.

Under the green fluorite lamps, the stone steps looked hazy. Although there was no accumulated snow on the stone steps, there was some vapor. It took Zhang Tie and Zhang Taixuan a short while to come to the best pavilion near the top of the mountain from the back of the Ancestral Shrine Palace.

From here, they could see the brilliant and warm lamplight over Embracing Tiger City and the vast sea outside Tiger Embracing Harmor.

“I wonder whether Tiger Embracing City could still maintain such a scenery after this holy war!” Zhang Taixuan suddenly let out a sigh with emotion as he watched Embracing Tiger City at the foot of the mountain.

When Zhang Tie was guessing what Zhang Taixuan wanted to talk with him, Zhang Taixuan turned around after letting out a sigh with emotion as he asked Zhang Tie, “Elder Mushen, do you know the relationship between Huaiyuan Palace and Taiyi Fantasy Sect?”