Munitions Empire

Zheng Country, on the somewhat desolate streets, groups of beggars huddled together, their eyes filled with curiosity as they gazed at the passing carriages.

Out of an innate fear of the wealthy, they shrank their bodies and crouched in the corners, disheveled, from afar resembling an unattended pile of trash.

Yet these people were all alive, alive in a pitiable and emaciated state, surviving in a world that didn't treat them as human beings.

The passing carriage was clearly extravagant, as it used four wheels and was designed with a complex suspension system.

The complicated and expensive suspension system allowed the carriage to glide smoothly over the uneven roads, which clearly indicated that the owner must certainly have a taste for enjoyment.

In these times of war and chaos combined with corruption, no one really cared about regulations anymore. The rich here were the rulers of heaven and earth, the challengers to traditional rules and systems.

As the carriage drove down the street, the assistants of some shops also began to notice this imposing carriage, because not many people around here could afford a carriage drawn by two horses.

"I wonder if it's a big household from King City, it looks really impressive," a shop assistant said enviously upon seeing the coachman on the carriage.

Just by looking at the silk worn by the coachman, one could easily discern that the person seated inside was definitely someone extremely wealthy or of high status.

The carriage stopped in front of the government office, and a servant hopped down, walking to the entrance to present his visiting card to the guard.

At first, the guard at the doorway looked disdainful, but the moment he received the visiting card and felt a weight in his palm, he looked closely and saw that hidden underneath the card was a heavy Gold Coin!

After Zheng Country's defeat in the war with Shen Country, suffering heavy losses and a decline in national power, people willing to bribe the guards with Gold Coins had become a rare sight.

Consequently, a smile immediately appeared on the disdainful face of the guard, and he even bowed a little lower, smiling as he said, "Please wait a moment, esteemed guest."

He then hurried into the yard with large strides, putting on a show of being diligently at the service of someone who had paid—after all, a Gold Coin was not easy to come by, and it was always necessary to make the paying guest feel that his money was well spent.

Well, if one really thinks about it, calling it an esteemed guest is not a mistake, as it's all part of the service industry, isn't it? No shame in that…

It wasn't long before the guard came back, gesturing for the visitor to enter with great eagerness, "The Lord of the City invites you."

Only then did the attendant who handed over the visiting card return to the carriage, respectfully helping to open the carriage door, from which a middle-aged man finally stepped out, placing his foot onto a soft stool prepared by a servant in advance.

Even during the peak times of Zheng Country, there were not many people who were so particular about pomp, and most of them resided in King City—such ostentatious displays were not seen in these coastal towns.

The middle-aged man was clothed in gold and silver, each detail seeming to express his immense wealth and prestige. As he alighted from the carriage, he looked left and right, and then followed the leading guard into the clearly worn-down government office.

Just by looking at the missing roof tiles and the disorderly pile of timber and stones in the corner, it was evident that the place had been neglected for years, completely embodying an air of dilapidation.

But to say that there were no rich people in this city would be an injustice—after all, no one was willing to spend their own money to repair the government offices.

Can it not be seen that on both sides of the government office there stood grandiose mansions, with exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters, high walls, courtyards, and golden roofs with red walls?

"City Lord," the guard greeted, bringing the middle-aged man before an elder dressed in official attire and sitting solemnly at the head of the room, bowing as he spoke.

"You may go now." The elder waved his hand lightly, and the guard quickly left the room, not forgetting to firmly close the door behind him.

No one wanted an inadequate ranking lamp to stand by when discussing important matters with others. So, when the City Lord saw the servant standing beside the middle-aged man, his gaze was very unfriendly.

"This is my confidant, there's nothing we need to avoid," the middle-aged man explained with a smile, casually tossing his silk gloves onto the table.

"Confusion of seniors and juniors, neglect of hierarchy... the way of chaos!" The City Lord huffed with great dissatisfaction over the middle-aged man's approach.

However, he knew very well that he, in fact, did not have the standing to lecture the middle-aged man before him, so after huffing, he moved on to the matter at hand, "The noble you spoke of... can he really do what you claimed?"

"As I have said, City Lord... as long as you dare to receive... these will be yours," said the middle-aged man as he produced a promissory note from his chest and handed it to the City Lord.

The City Lord was startled and then recognized it as a bill that could be used to withdraw 100,000 Gold Coins at the discretion from the Li Family's commerce house.

That's a whole 100,000 Gold Coins! Do you realize what that means? Which merchant in Zheng Country could draw out 100,000 Gold Coins? That would be considered a "tycoon."

"This is only the beginning! As long as the Lord of the City is willing to agree to their terms, there will be more offerings to follow," the middle-aged man said with a smile as he pushed the promissory note towards the old City Lord, assuring him.

His movement was practiced and smooth, as though he were merely pushing a blank piece of paper, except it was actually a promissory note for 100,000 Gold Coins, the kind that didn't deceive either the young or the old.

The old City Lord swallowed, not because he had never seen so much money before, but because he had never seen money acquired so effortlessly!

All he had to do was nod in agreement, and this was just a token of the other party's good faith. The subsequent offerings could be even more, to the extent that they frightened him.

"This money... is a good thing, but I'm just afraid... it's too hot to handle," the old City Lord said nervously, his hand already on the promissory note.

The middle-aged man burst into hearty laughter and then took out another one, pushing it across the table to the old City Lord: "Two hundred thousand! All yours if you simply nod," he said.

"The more you do this, the less I dare to accept it," the old City Lord said slowly, without moving his hand from the note.

"Fine," the middle-aged man responded, taking out another three notes from his pocket and pressing them on top of the first without a second thought: "A total of one million Gold Coins! Not a small sum, old man..."

The old City Lord gathered the five promissory notes, straightened them out, and placed them in front of himself. After examining each one, he nodded and said, "To sell my old bones for this amount feels somewhat unworthy, but since that benefactor shows such sincerity, I suppose I will..."

"Once you take the money, no more talk is needed. Now you and I are alike; from now on, we'll be the benefactor's hounds," the middle-aged man said with a sigh as if he had completed some significant task.

"Being a dog... what's so bad about it?" the old City Lord tucked away the money close to his body and spoke, "Pass a message to the benefactor for me. From now on, in Linshui City, I'll handle any big issues for him."

"Then I thank the Lord greatly," the middle-aged man said as he stood up and left promptly, not wanting to waste any more time.

The old City Lord didn't see the man out but merely waved his hand and then sat there in silence, as if deep in thought.

Once out of the Lord's Mansion, the middle-aged man entered a carriage and immediately revealed a submissive demeanor, rubbing his hands together and smilingly reporting to the young man who had not left the carriage, "The task assigned by you, Sir, has been accomplished."

The young man inside the carriage was fiddling with a dandelion ring on his finger. After hearing the report, he nodded, "Start a soup kitchen tomorrow and distribute to the refugees around the area. Gather all the able-bodied men, and have them clear mountains and build bridges..."

"Ah?" The middle-aged man appeared confused, seemingly feeling that such tasks did not warrant a bribe of one million Gold Coins to the Lord of the City.

"Whatever it takes, get the Linshui City port under my control. Spend as much as you need; there is no cap," the young man ordered without looking up as he toyed with his ring, "I want to see the land deed and government authorization this afternoon, and from now on, that place will be my private property... Understood?"

Although it sounded difficult, the middle-aged man hesitated for a few seconds but agreed, "With enough money, it can be done."

"Also, find me twenty thousand capable workers. I want to build a dock, and the price is not an issue," the young man continued, "I'll give you ten Gold Coins per person, and any extra is your commission."

"How could I possibly accept that... Rest assured, I'll have all these matters sorted out for you within three days," said the middle-aged man, his spirits lifted at the prospect of earning more money, his grin widening as he spoke.

"Remember, I don't care what means you use... Understood?" the young man said, letting go of the ring and looking sternly at the middle-aged man.

"Don't worry, Sir, I know what to do," the middle-aged man assured immediately.

Press-ganging commoners into major construction projects was something he was already adept at. As for concerns about their well-being or devastating their families, what did that have to do with him?

After all, if he didn't conscript these people for work, they might starve to death. If he didn't mistreat these wretches, they would eventually fall victim to others and become meat on the chopping block.

In the end, if they were to die, who benefited from their death?

As for why these people were being made to repair bridges and roads, and why they were being made to build docks... that was not for him to consider.

Why not build something?

"Additionally, I want to map this area for a few hundred miles around and locate mineral veins. Have the City Lord assign some Soldiers tomorrow to protect my people," the young man made another request.

"That's an easy task. My Li Family still has many connections in the region!" the middle-aged man promised confidently, thumping his chest, "Everyone gives us some face!"

"Do your job well! Your Li Family's future will surely be much better than the Zhang Family's... Understood?" the young man patted the middle-aged man's shoulder.

"Yes! Yes! Understood! Understood!" the middle-aged man lowered his head, excited.