Castle of Black Iron

Under the expectant eye light of people, Zhang Tie moved his eyes onto Lu Yishan’s face as he said, “Now that we’ve got the Fiery Oil, of course, we need to use them. The advantage of Fiery Oil could first be manifested on airplanes. There was not a single airport in Huanzhou Province, Kangzhou Province, Ningzhou Province and Military Province within the Peacewest Military Region. Lu Yishan, I appoint you as the supervisor of Weiji General’s Mansion too. You will also have an airboat and 20 bodyguards. Half an hour later, I want a Class A airport in every 500 miles and a Class B airport in every 200 miles within the four provinces. Can you do it?”

“This humble man has already been clear about the rules and regulations regarding the establishment of airports within Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory. I dare make a military pledge. If I cannot accomplish the task on time, the homeowner could behead me!” Lu Yishan stood up as he said while thumping his chest thrillingly.

The last thing that Lu Yishan was not certain was airport construction; especially in the theater of operations. With Zhang Tie’s support, Lu Yishan had so many methods to meet Zhang Tie’s requirement. In the second half of last year, over 20 airports had been completed in Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory and Youzhou City under the leadership of Lu Yishan. Therefore, Lu Yishan had long been versed in constructing airports. It was too simple for him to do that. Additionally, he would enjoy great fame after making it; therefore, he became so thrilled.

Zhang Tie nodded as he picked up a token arrow from his tiger-shaped table and had a bodyguard give it to Lu Yishan.

After taking the token arrow, Lu Yishan sat down. Zhang Tie then moved his eyes onto Sun Qiming’s face as he said, “Although you’re not my myrmidon, you and Sun family have participated in the whole process of the production of dual-drive engine and airports in Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory and are pretty familiar with this process. Therefore, I also appoint you as the supervisor of Weiji General’s Mansion and gift you a token arrow, an airboat and 20 bodyguards. You could casually allocate the resources of the official plants within the four provinces. I don’t care what you will do, purchase or build plants within the 4 provinces, all in all, you will be in charge of this thing. I want each of the 4 provinces to have the industrial capacity to produce at least 500,000 operational aircrafts a year!”

“Yes, sir. If not make it on time, Sunqiming would have no complaint about accepting punishment!” Sun Qiming said in a low voice.

Zhang Tie then picked up a token arrow and had one of his bodyguards hand it to Sun Qiming.

After Sun Qiming sat down, Zhang Tie moved his eyes to Zhang Su. The moment Zhang Tie opened his mouth, Zhang Su and the other air cavalries had blushed.

Zhang Tie said, “As you’re my students, I dare say that the air cavalries from Fiery-Dragon Territory could turn up your nose at the whole world. Besides being matched with the most advanced operational airplanes of human, you’ve also learned the most advanced and established air-combat tactics and ideology. None of the human troops across Taixia Country could match you. You will be the protagonists of Taixia Country and Humans on the stage of the holy war. All the past ground forces would be dwarfed in front of you!”

“I’m waiting for your order, corps leader!” Zhang Su shouted while all the other officers of Fiery-Dragon Corps stood up at once and watched Zhang Tie’s flashing eyes.

“I did not call you here for the battle. I want you to kindle. I wish air cavalries are not exclusive to Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory, but the entire Taixia Country as a whole. I hope all the commoners who couldn’t become powerful fighters above LV 9 could become air cavalries as long as they’re healthy. I hope that even the weakest people could resist demons. The Thunder Hawk Instruction Unit is here to establish pilot training schools. You need to establish one pilot training school in each prefecture of the 4 provinces and enable more and more people to drive operational aircraft. I hope your students are waiting for driving airplanes, not the other way round.

“I swear to make it!’ Zhang Su said resolutely.

“Fine, you’re also a supervisor of Weiji General’s Mansion. You will also take the token arrow, one airboat and 20 bodyguards. You will be responsible for all the members of the Thunder Hawk Instruction Unit of Fiery Dragon Corps…”

“Trust me, corps leader, each member of Thunder Hawk Instruction Unit is qualified to be a coach…”

“Nice!” Zhang Tie took out the token arrow and had a bodyguard give it to Zhang Su.

Zhang Tie finally moved his eyes onto the last person who looked honest, tolerant and average at his 40s at the end of the representatives of Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory. That person, who had been sitting there silently since the beginning, was one of Zhang Tie’s men of sacrifice and one of the senior agricultural agent that Bai Suxian gifted Zhang Tie.

As this man was reliable, Zhang Tie didn’t feel like having this man die for him. This person was one of Zhang Tie’s general managers who was responsible for those fertile farmlands that Zhang Tie rented in Ninghe Prefecture. The execution of “new policies” in those farmlands of Ninghe Prefecture including the feeding of No.1 earthworms and production of “earth pulp” in each farm would be arranged by this person.

“Zhang Fu!”

“Here I am, owner!’ The middle-aged man at his 40s instantly stood up after hearing his name being called.

“There’s a patch of official land outside Kangzhou City. From tomorrow on, you will be responsible for the management of that patch of official land with your men. Just imitate what you’ve done in Ninghe Prefecture. If someone comes to the farms for a visit or learning, just manifest the methods of feeding “No. 1 earthworms” and producing “earth pulp” as much as you could. No need to keep any secret. You will take charge of the sales of No.1 earthworms within Peacewest Military Region. Its price depends on you. Don’t suffer a loss. Although what you do seems ordinary, it’s related to the overall battle situation of the theater of operations. I don’t trust anybody else but you!” Zhang Tie said calmly.

“Yes, sir. I see!’ The middle-aged man called Zhang Fu answered before sitting down quietly.

After making a clean breast of these things, Zhang Tie finally became reassured. Although the problem of grain supply counted most among the 5 urgencies, it was easiest to solve too. Thankfully, the seeds provided by the Imperial Land Ministry were safe. Only after having people make a “demonstration field” near Kangzhou City, those Weiji envoys who were stimulated by the order of balancing rewards and punishments across the entire military region would promote the new technologies of “No. 1 earthworms” and “earth pulp” which could help farmland realize steady, growing yield like that “demonstration field” to the rest of the military region as soon as possible. In this way, the issue of grains supply could be basically solved. ‘Given my ability and fame, if I have people make such a “demonstration field” outside Kangzhou City, not only those officials even those major clans across the military region would imitate it as much as possible…’

Besides the issue of grains supply, the supply of all-purpose medicaments, the production of airplanes, the construction of airports in the theater of operations and the training of air cavalries indicated that he had exerted his utmost efforts to fulfill his commitment as Weiji General. At least, the 5 aspects would not face the same problem anymore.

Actually, Zhang Tie could do it without having to select other people exclusively.

“Mr. Lu. There’re some manufacturing blueprints and formulas of Fiery-Oil weapons on the airboat from Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory. After a while, you have people duplicate those maps and materials and deliver them to each arsenal within the theater of operations so that they could make the corresponding preparation in producing weapons…”

Fiery-Oil weapons such as Fiery-Oil inflammable bombs and Fiery-Oil spears could be easily produced by major clans across Taixia Country as long as Fiery-Oil spread over the country. It was just a matter of time. Zhang Tie just took the lead. Zhang Tie had not thought about occupying the formulas himself; instead, he just shared them with the public so that each weapon factory within the theater of operations could accomplish the preparation for production of Fiery-Oil weapons.

Through one year’s R&D, Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory had been able to produce 5 categories of Fiery-Oil weapons as follows: first, different types of Fiery-Oil inflammable bombs in different specifications for airplanes and airships; second, inflammable spears; third, inflammable bolts for crossbows and ordinary bows; fourth, single-soldier inflammable grenades; fifth, inflammable flamers. Now, the entire Fiery-Dragon Corps had started to be matched with these new weapons. Among these weapons, the most destructive one was inflammable flamer which was lethal to the enemy from 50 m away. This weapon had started to be deployed for squads. After being matched with these destructive inflammable weapons, the overall battle strength of Fiery-Dragon Corps would definitely reach a new height.

This time, Zhang Tie brought the manufacturing blueprints of the 5 weapons.

“Yes, sir!” Lu Yanyu said as he stood up. After that, he threw a glance at Zhang Tie, “Could we deliver these manufacturing blueprints of Fiery-Oil weapons to the commoners so that the corps across the military region could purchase them through multiple channels?”

“We could. But I have to clarify that the non-governmental workshops and factories which receive these manufacturing blueprints should give us discounts on the premise of quality guarantee! Additionally, what I’ve told you just now is closely related to the overall situation facing the theater of operation. All the 4 provinces and local places should coordinate with it at their full efforts. Nobody was allowed to stir up trouble. In the case of coordination, I don’t need to know about it. Mr. Lu could arrange it yourself. Later on, I will only pay attention to the result. If the result is good, all the participants would be awarded; if not, I will have to chop off your heads…”

“This humble official is clear. All the staff in Peacewest Farming Administration would live up to the expectation of general!” Lu Yanyu bowed towards Zhang Tie, closely followed by all the other officials of Peacewest Farming Administration who stood up and bowed before saying in unison, “We will live up to the expectation of general!”

“Good. My heart is at peace with your words…” Zhang Tie nodded after these urgencies were fixed.

…

On the second day since they arrived here, Zhang Tie’s elder brother, 2 myrmidons and Zhang Su had left Kangzhou City by airboat and started their actions.

Besides Zhang Tie’s bodyguards, Lu Yanyu also assigned some experienced officials from the Peacewest Farming Administration who were familiar with the affairs of the 4 provinces to help them.

The only ones who stayed in Kangzhou City were Zhang Fu and his retinues. However, these people were not inside the city wall; instead, they went to take over the official farmlands outside Kangzhou City accompanied by 2 officials from the Peacewest Farming Administration.

There was neither Fiery-Oil nor No.1 earthworm in Peacewest Military Region yet, which could only be transported from Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory, Youzhou Province for the time being. Lu Yanyu had already worked out a plan last night by arranging airboats to transport them from Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory. As airboats had a large carrying capacity and great speed, they could make a round trip in about half a month. The components of thousands of airplanes, also the first batch of airplanes demanded by all the pilot training schools within the theater of operations could be transported from Fiery-Dragon Bounty Territory to the theater of operations by 50-60 airboats only in one trip. In case of Fiery-Oil demanded by pilot training schools, Zhang Tie had contacted Heavens Fortunes Sect and had them distribute the latest batch of Fiery Oil over here from the territory of Heavens Fortune Sect. It would cut off 50% of cost by transporting them from Youzhou Province.

Everybody across Peacewest Farming Administration had also been busy solving the “5 issues” mentioned by Zhang Tie in the conference today.

When everyone started to “be busy”, Zhang Tie got free from these secular things. Like how he said before, from now on, he would only pay attention to the result and determine who to award and punish. Zhang Tie didn’t know whether this was his way as an official. This way of being an official was a bit indolent more or less. Perhaps, the others might be more diligent in this position by making an inspection across the military region by airboat or make comments and instructions on various documents that were handed in each day and would never lose their interests in doing it as an official; however, Zhang Tie was not addicted to being an official. He felt that it was enough to do so by having experts to give full play to their strong points. He only needed to assign proper people to proper positions. As for the details, it depended on themselves.

…

“General, after knowing that you’re back yesterday, 7 major clans in Kangcheng City have presented their posts to invite you together…”

Raising his head and watching the last airboat leaving Kangzhou City, Zhang Tie was thinking that he could finally become relaxed and promote to 9 changes earth knight and study the bet between him and Feng Cangwu, Lu Yanyu’s voice sounded.

The highest official in Kangzhou City was the commander-in-chief of Peacewest Military Region, closely followed by the provincial governor of Kangzhou Province. However, at this moment, the commander of Peacewest Military Region was in Xuanyuan Fortress; the provincial governor of Kangzhou City was also making an inspection across Kangzhou Province and in charge of the reorganization of the Kangzhou Provincial Army; instead of being in Kangzhou City. Therefore, Weiji General became the highest official in Kangzhou City. After knowing that Zhang Tie was going to take drastic measures soon after he came back yesterday, of course, those major clans in Kangzhou City would like to strike up an acquaintance with him.

Kangzhou City was really boisterous and eye-catching that Zhang Tie could not stay here any longer.

Those who were called major clans and qualified to send their posts to invite Zhang Tie for a banquet in Kangzhou City were all local forces in Peacewest Military Region. Zhang Tie was clear what these people would speak after attending their banquet. It was boring; however, Zhang Tie didn’t want to offend these local forces out of no reason.

After rubbing his hand, Zhang Tie put down his hand as he turned solemn, “Reply them on behalf of me. I’m going for inspection across the military region right now. I’m too busy. Therefore, I couldn’t accompany them for the time being…”

“Ahh, general, you’re going for inspection once again?” Lu Yanyu asked with an amazed look because Zhang Tie had just come back from inspection yesterday, “General, where are you heading for? Do you need my arrangement…”

“Ahem…ahem…no need. This time it is confidential. I will be there alone. Remember to report me once per 7 days. If there’s something that you couldn’t solve, I will solve it when I come back…” Zhang Tie replied with an undoubted reason without even blinking his eyes. As Weiji General, anything that Zhang Tie regarded as confidential was confidential. If Zhang Tie liked, all of his schedules, opinions, words and plans and the likes could become confidential. Commoners were not qualified to ask about it, not to mention making a discovery about it.

Now that it was confidential, Lu Yanyu didn’t ask about it as he continued, “When will you set off, general?”

Zhang Tie finally blinked his eyes as he replied, “Right now…”

Closely after saying that, Zhang Tie had rushed into the sky with a roar before Lu Yanyu uttered anything. When Zhang Tie was in the sky, a thunder hawk dove downwards him from the clouds. After being mounted by Zhang Tie, the thunder hawk instantly turned into a golden lightning bolt and disappeared from the sight of Lu Yanyu…

“Is that what knights usually do?” Lu Yanyu muttered as he watched Zhang Tie disappearing into the sky…