Chapter 680: All-Embracing, the Largest City! (2/2)

With this, the greatest obstacle to Wang Chong's construction of the city was addressed.

”Siye, I'll leave this matter to you. No matter what, you must do your utmost to recruit, cajole, and subdue the people of Wushang.”

In his study, Wang Chong and Li Siye stood across from each other. Taking a token from his waist, Wang Chong gave it to Li Siye.

”This is my marquis token. Take it with you. If it's necessary, you can transfer soldiers from the Qixi Protectorate, Beiting Protectorate, or any of the other surrounding armies, and have them work with you. The people of Wushang worship strength, but solely brute force won't be enough to make them yield. You won't need just incredible strength, but also wisdom and courtesy to obtain victory.”

”Yes, this general will go!”

A hint of doubt flickered through Li Siye's eyes, but he quickly clasped his fist and bowed.

Li Siye had never heard of Wushang, much less been there, and he certainly didn't know why Wang Chong viewed it with such importance. However, it was the duty of soldiers to follow orders, and besides, Li Siye believed that no matter what Wang Chong did, he always had his reasons.

Taking Wang Chong's token, Li Siye quickly left, leaving Wang Chong alone in the room.

All was quiet. The expression in Wang Chong's eyes constantly shifted as a pensive look appeared on his face. The Wushang worshiped strength and would not easily submit. Otherwise, someone would have been able to make them surrender by now, and so many of them wouldn't have died during the otherworldly invasion.

But Wang Chong wasn't that worried about Li Siye. After all, Li Siye was the future Invincible Great General. By relying on his strength and courage, he could alter the course of a war, and through his personal charisma, he could win over many followers.

In all the Central Plains, only Li Siye could rely on his own strength to rally the troops and reverse the course of a battle, despite his lack of knowledge in military strategy and formations.

If not even Li Siye could make the Wushang submit, then no one could.

Now, it's time to think about how to construct that city.

With this thought, Wang Chong broke free from his contemplations and left the study.

A familiar figure was sitting in the reception hall of the Wang Clan, bearing a ruddy complexion and energetic air as they sipped tea.

”Young Master!”

Seeing Wang Chong come out, Zhang Shouzhi almost scalded his tongue in his haste to put down his tea and stand.

”I've made you wait a long time.”

As Wang Chong spoke, he gestured for Zhang Shouzhi to remain seated and sat himself down across from him.

”Haha, I heard that Young Master was receiving a guest, so I told them to not disturb you. But I didn't think that Young Master would arrive before you were even informed.”

Zhang Shouzhi smiled as he sat himself back down.

”Quite a few great clans have probably gotten in touch with you recently, right?”

Wang Chong took a sip from another cup of tea.

”Haha, with Young Master's blessing, everyone is now keeping a close watch on that fief by the Silk Road, all of them wanting a cut of the profits. I've counted, and almost eighty percent of the great clans in the capital have come to find me. I've received so much gold, pearls, agate, coral, and jade that my hands have gone soft.

”As for the remaining twenty percent, the majority of them lack the strength and know that they can't compete with the other clans, so they didn't come to see me.”

Zhang Shouzhi was all smiles as he spoke. The matter of the fief by the Silk Road and his close association with Wang Chong had made him quite the popular character in the capital. The number of people coming to see him with gifts in hand, if lined up, would stretch from the eastern wall of the capital to the western wall. When one thought about how coldly he had been treated previously, his current situation became even more unimaginable.

”But, Young Master, with all these people, I've become a little afraid of all the wealth I've gathered! I request Young Master's assistance in indicating which people I should receive gifts from and which I shouldn't.”

”Choose? Why should we choose? Just accept it all.”

Wang Chong chuckled and took a cake from the table.

”Ah?”

Wang Chong's words made Zhang Shouzhi's eyes widen. He had never dared to believe that Wang Chong would want to accept gifts from everyone.

The capital was home to countless great clans. Would the Wang Clan be able to repay all these favors?

”Ha, if they're willing to give, why shouldn't we accept? Moreover, don't worry about us not being able to fulfill our promise. The more money we get, the larger the city we can build. Once we've built a large number of restaurants, inns, and tea houses in the city, do we still have to be afraid of not fulfilling our promise?”

Wang Chong gave a leisurely smile.

This absent-minded attitude filled Zhang Shouzhi with alarm. Wang Chong actually wanted to wholeheartedly embrace eighty percent of the capital's great clans and bring them into his project. This daring was not something Zhang Shouzhi would dare to even dream of.