82: Chapter 82 Five-Year Plan

On this day, Gao Feng stood on the highest watchtower of Panshi Stockade, overlooking the vast and increasingly prosperous territory below.

The spring breeze was gentle as it swept through the valley; the freshly turned soil emitted a fresh scent, and the distant streams thawed, gurgling like the heartbeat of the earth.

Although the golden waves of wheat were not yet visible in the fields, the meticulously planned and well-irrigated ridges already heralded the beginning of a promising farming season.

In the distance, newly built villages were wreathed in cooking smoke, and farmers returning from their labor carried new-style farming tools, satisfied smiles on their faces.

Further away, on the massive drill ground, Du Wei was leading thousands of soldiers in Formation drills; their synchronized footsteps and earth-shaking shouts were filled with the beauty of strength and discipline.

Yet, in his heart, there was not much joy, but rather a deeper contemplation.

He knew that the era of small-scale skirmishes had ended.

The current Panshi Stockade was like a young tiger that had just grown up; although it was already lording over this mountain forest, it still appeared so small compared to the true behemoths outside the mountains.

If Panshi Stockade wanted to truly establish itself in this vast and magnificent world, and even go further, it must possess its own higher-level extraordinary power System.

He needed a Cultivation Technique that could allow him to reach the Fourth Realm and even higher Realms.

He needed an Alchemist capable of concocting Medicinal Pills to help him and his soldiers rapidly increase their strength.

He needed a Formation Master capable of setting up defensive Formations to ward off powerful enemies.

None of these could be provided by this barren Northern territory.

He slowly cast his gaze toward the south.

At the end of the distant horizon lay the more prosperous and mysterious Central Plains.

There, one could find Sects with millennia of Legacy, deep-rooted noble families, merchant guilds with wealth that rivaled nations, and the Great Qian Dynasty, which controlled the top resources of the entire world.

That was the true den of dragons and tigers, and the true stage for heroes!

At the same time, his hand subconsciously touched his chest.

There, a cold, mysterious hexagonal object obtained from the Hundred Ghost Cave lay quietly.

The exploration of the ancient ruins should perhaps be put on the agenda.

The Ghost King went to such great lengths, even refining an "Yin and Yang Dao Body," just to open these ruins; what kind of secrets were hidden inside?

Or perhaps, what kind of heaven-sent Opportunity was hidden there?

Perhaps the higher-level power he needed was hidden there!

Gao Feng withdrew his gaze, a flash of determination crossing his deep eyes.

Traveling far to seek the Dao was important, but without a stable Foundation, everything would be a castle in the air.

Panshi Stockade might look strong and well-manned with thousands of people, but internally it was riddled with hidden dangers, like a giant with a strong body but whose internal organs and Meridians System had not yet fully developed.

Before embarking on that unknown treasure-hunting journey, he had to build this home into a truly indestructible steel fortress that could operate on its own.

"Come here!" Gao Feng shouted in a deep voice.

A personal guard immediately hurried up the watchtower and knelt on one knee: "Stockade Master!"

"Pass on my order: summon all core members of the Political Affairs Hall, the Law Enforcement Hall, and the Military Affairs Office to the assembly hall in a quarter of an hour!"

"Yes!"

Following Gao Feng's order, the upper echelons of the entire Panshi Stockade moved rapidly, as if pulled by invisible strings.

A quarter of an hour later, the atmosphere inside the newly built assembly hall was solemn and grave.

Gao Feng sat at the main seat, his gaze like lightning, slowly sweeping over everyone present.

Luo Qin looked valiant and spirited, with a hint of capability between her brows; Liu Chengfeng held a white fan, his expression scholarly; Du Wei's face was as calm as water, like an iron tower; Big Fool held his pair of giant hammers, smiling honestly; the heads of each battalion and department also sat upright, their expressions focused.

"I have summoned you all today for only one matter."

Gao Feng got straight to the point, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears, "That is the next five-year plan for Panshi Stockade—I call it the 'Panshi City' plan!"

He walked to the massive sand table in the center of the hall, picked up a long wooden rod, and pointed heavily at the location of Panshi Stockade.

"We currently have a population of five thousand, a thousand acres of fertile land, and two thousand battle-ready soldiers."

"It seems that we are already the hegemon of the Gui Jian Chou Mountain Range."

"But!" His tone suddenly became severe, "Our city walls are still built of wood and stone, unable to block a true elite army; our farming tools are still crude iron implements, and farming efficiency is low; most of our soldiers are still wearing tattered leather armor, holding weapons that are barely usable; we don't even have a decent team of physicians; a small plague could cause us heavy losses!"

"Most importantly," Gao Feng's gaze swept across the crowd, "we lack talent! We lack enough talent! We lack specialists who can truly stand on their own!"

"We lack literate scribes who can manage a region; we lack skilled craftsmen who can improve equipment; we lack physicians who can save lives and help the world; and we even more lack teachers who can impart knowledge and cultivate the next generation for our Panshi Stockade!"

These words were like heavy hammers, striking hard at everyone's hearts.

The trace of pride and complacency brought by victory vanished in an instant, replaced by a deep sense of crisis.

"Therefore," Gao Feng's wooden rod drew a grand blueprint on the sand table, "the 'Panshi City' plan has three cores!"

"First, infrastructure upgrade! Within one year, I want to see a true, strong city built of cement and massive stones rise from the ground! Its walls must be three zhang high and one zhang thick, enough to withstand the bombardment of catapults! Inside the city, we must plan out four major areas: military, political, civilian, and industrial; roads, canals, and wells—not a single one can be missing!"

"Second, industrial revolution! The steel mill must be expanded tenfold! I want our soldiers to be able to wear steel armor and use steel blades! A military workshop must be established, specifically to research new-style weaponry, such as the bed crossbows and catapults I drew before! Farming tools must also be improved; I want one farmer to be able to do the work of three people in the past!"

"Third, and this is the most important one—the 'Attracting the Phoenix' Plan!"

This novel term made everyone prick up their ears.

Gao Feng looked at Liu Chengfeng and said in a deep voice: "Military Advisor Liu, you are fully responsible for this matter! I want you to spare no cost to 'attract' the various talents we urgently need from outside the mountains for me!"

"How to attract them?" A cold smile curled the corners of Gao Feng's mouth, "It's very simple: smash them with money! Trade with grain! Tempt them with the stable life of our Panshi Stockade!"

"I authorize you to form a 'caravan,' using the banner of the Four Seas Merchant Guild, to go deep into every prefecture and county in the Northern territory."

"Go find those down-and-out scholars impoverished by war, find those craftsman workshops bankrupted by exorbitant taxes and levies, and find those physicians who have run out of options because they offended the powerful!"

"Tell them that in my Panshi Stockade, we do not ask about background, we do not look at the past, we only look at ability! As long as they are willing to come, I will give them fertile land and luxury homes! I will give them salaries far exceeding what they get outside! I will give them absolute respect and a stage to display their talents here!"

"I also want you to post the 'Panshi Stockade Recruitment Order' in the most conspicuous places in every county! Tell all ambitious people in the world that there is a paradise in the Northern territory, waiting for them with open positions!"

"I further want you to collect those rare books that noble families consider scrap paper but are a pity to discard, whether it is agriculture, mathematics, geography, or... Alchemy, Formation!"

"If the money is not enough, go to the treasury and take it! If there are not enough hands, pick them from the entire army! I have only one requirement: before next spring, I want to see a 'Hundred Crafts Institute' composed of at least fifty specialists from all walks of life, and a 'Cultural Education Institute' composed of twenty scholars, appear in Panshi Stockade!"

Gao Feng's words made everyone present feel their blood boiling and their spirits stirred!

They seemed to have already seen a brand new Panshi Stockade, full of talent and flourishing with all kinds of industries, rising steadily!

Liu Chengfeng was so excited that his whole body trembled slightly; he bowed deeply to Gao Feng, his voice filled with unprecedented high spirits and confidence:

"Stockade Master, such grand talent and strategy; Chengfeng is in awe! Please rest assured, Stockade Master; within half a year, if Chengfeng cannot attract the hundred craftsmen and officials for the Stockade Master, I am willing to bring my head to see you!"

The meeting ended, and the entire Panshi Stockade was once again injected with a brand new, more powerful, and longer-term construction momentum.

Infrastructure, steelmaking, and talent recruitment—the three carriages were driving side by side.

Under the warm spring sun, the entire Panshi Valley turned into a huge, bustling construction site.

Gao Feng did not act as an absentee manager, but threw himself completely into this vigorous "Great Construction," knowing well that details determine success or failure.

Agriculture, as the Foundation of the stockade, was placed at the forefront of all work.

That thousand acres of fertile land located downstream of the stream was undergoing an unprecedented agricultural revolution under Gao Feng's personal guidance.

He abandoned the extensive farming methods of this era and introduced modern agricultural concepts of "deep plowing, fertilization, and crop rotation."

He had the farmers use the curved-shaft plows rebuilt by the craftsmen to plow the land more than a foot deep, thoroughly loosening the soil.

Subsequently, he organized a special team to collect wood ash, human and animal manure, and even rotting leaves soaked in Spirit Spring water from all over the valley, mixing and fermenting them to make the most primitive yet effective organic fertilizer.

When this black, foul-smelling fertilizer was evenly spread into the fields, the old farmers who had farmed their whole lives showed expressions of disgust and curiosity.

"Stockade Master, this... this dirty stuff, can it really make the crops grow better?" Old Wang Four asked, pinching his nose, unable to hold back.

Gao Feng smiled and patted his shoulder: "Old Wang, you don't trust this stuff, but can't you trust me? Just wait and see; at the autumn harvest, I guarantee you will be amazed!"

In addition to the innovation of farming methods, the construction of water conservancy facilities was also crucial.

Gao Feng personally surveyed the terrain and planned a main canal to divert water from the upper reaches of the valley.

Thousands of able-bodied laborers were mobilized, using pickaxes and shovels to dig the river channel into the hard ground.

Whenever he encountered hard rock layers that were difficult to excavate, Big Fool would hoist his giant hammer and, like a Heavenly God descending to earth, smash the massive boulders into pieces amidst a series of "rumbling" roars.

The inner walls and bottom of the channels were all poured and smoothed with cement, which not only prevented leakage but also greatly increased the speed of the water flow.

When the clear stream water first flowed along this brand-new irrigation channel into the fields waiting to be watered, all the farmers let out thunderous cheers, as if they had already seen the heavy, golden wheat ears of autumn.

Meanwhile, the house construction in Panshi City was also in full swing.

Following Gao Feng's "Li-Fang System" plan, the entire residential city was divided into dozens of square residential districts.

The construction of the houses adopted an assembly-line approach, with the logging team, quarrying team, and cement plant each performing their own duties, providing a steady stream of standardized Materials for the construction site.

Under the leadership of foremen at various levels, thousands of laborers dug Foundations, built walls, and installed roof beams and tiles.

Gao Feng even designed simple pulley Systems and wooden booms to hoist heavy stone Materials and prefabricated cement components, greatly accelerating the project's progress.

Rows of uniform, sturdy, and durable wood-and-stone mixed-structure houses rose from the ground in the valley at an incredible speed.

Whenever the houses in a district were completed, a group of lucky families, under the arrangement of Luo Shu, would joyfully move from their crowded and damp temporary shacks into their new homes.

As they walked into their spacious, bright new homes that still carried the faint scent of pine, touched the solid, smooth cement walls, and looked at the Dragon-coiled heated brick bed personally designed by Gao Feng that could spread heat throughout the entire room, many were so moved they couldn't speak, only wiping away tears and muttering, "Stockade Master is a living Bodhisattva, Stockade Master is a Heavenly God descended to earth, Stockade Master is a savior."

Amidst this bustling construction, time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, the spring plowing ended, and summer arrived; the vegetation in the valley became increasingly lush, and the air was filled with the fragrance of soil and wildflowers.

That day, Gao Feng was in his stone house, deducing the star map of the ancient ruins obtained from the Hundred Ghost Cave.

He had already confirmed that "Double Moon Weeping Blood" was an extremely rare astronomical phenomenon, and according to calculations from ancient books, the next occurrence would take at least another year and a half.

As for the place named "Serpents Eye Peak," after the numerous scouts dispatched by Liu Chengfeng compared various captured maps and notes, it was finally locked down to the deepest part of the Gui Jian Chou Mountain Range, atop a mountain peak shaped like two giant snakes intertwined, which was surrounded by poisonous miasma all year round.

The clues were becoming increasingly clear.

Just as he was deep in thought, a flurry of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

It was Luo Hua, carrying a bowl of iced plum soup, her face flushed with an unusual redness and panic.

"Brother-in-law! You... you must... hurry and take a look!"

Gao Feng's heart tightened, and he immediately stood up: "What happened? Don't rush, tell me slowly."

"It's... it's sister!" Luo Hua panted, speaking urgently, "She... she was directing the laborers in building the irrigation channel today when she suddenly fainted from the sun! Uncle Sun just checked on her and said... said..."

Luo Hua's face turned even redder, and her voice became as thin as a mosquito's: "He said it's... a pregnancy pulse!"

"What?!" Upon hearing this, Gao Feng was also stunned for a moment, and then, a joy even more complex and intense than when Su Yue was pregnant surged into his heart.

He grabbed Luo Hua and strode quickly towards Luo Qin's residence.

When he arrived, Luo Qin had slowly regained consciousness and was leaning weakly against the head of the bed, with Su Yue, Luo Qi, and Luo Shu gathered around her, chattering, both happy and worried.

Seeing Gao Feng enter, a blush instantly appeared on Luo Qin's heroic face, and she instinctively wanted to rise to salute, but Gao Feng stepped forward in one stride and gently pressed her shoulder.

"Don't move." Gao Feng's voice was unprecedentedly gentle, "How do you feel?"

"I... I'm fine." Luo Qin lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes, her voice carrying a hint of shyness and an imperceptible joy.

Gao Feng said nothing, just sat down by her bedside and held her slightly cold hand.

He knew that this woman, who was usually stronger than any man and had shouldered the entire internal affairs of the stockade for him, needed companionship and support most at this moment.

Gao Feng immediately ordered that all of Luo Qin's work be temporarily handed over so that she and Su Yue could rest and nurture the pregnancy in peace.

And Gao Feng also set aside plenty of time to accompany them both.

At the same time, he worked even harder to cultivate the other women, planting more seeds to harvest enough children in the future.

Warm and happy times always pass by quickly.

In the blink of an eye, the intense heat gradually faded, the autumn breeze brought coolness, and Panshi Stockade welcomed its largest harvest in history.

When those golden, plump wheat ears, which far exceeded the output of any fertile land outside, were harvested, threshed, and piled into small mountains, the entire Panshi Stockade erupted in excitement!

After precise weighing by the Storage Department, this year's total grain production reached an astonishing fifty thousand shi!

This figure was not only enough for the eight thousand soldiers and civilians of the stockade to eat for a whole year, but there was even a large surplus that could be used for brewing wine and foreign trade.

The joy of the harvest completely dispelled the last shred of anxiety about the future in everyone's hearts.

They sang and danced, slaughtered pigs and sheep, and held a grand harvest celebration.

And just as the celebration reached its climax, Su Yue, who had long passed her due date, finally went into labor.

Gao Feng handed everything over to the midwives who had been prepared long ago and the medical team led by Uncle Sun, while he himself waited quietly outside the delivery room.

After several hours of torment, when a crisp, loud, and life-filled infant cry came from the room, a heartfelt, happy smile appeared on Gao Feng's face.

"Congratulations, Stockade Master! Congratulations, Stockade Master! It is a young Stockade Master!" The midwife walked out carrying a swaddled bundle, her face full of joy.

The first healthy Bloodline belonging to him had finally been born.

Gao Feng took the child and looked at the little face that resembled him by seven or eight parts, while also carrying a bit of Su Yue's gentleness, his heart filled with indescribable warmth.

He held the child and walked to Su Yue's bedside, looking at her slightly pale but still beautiful face, and said softly: "Yue'er, you've worked hard."

Su Yue looked at him, then at the child in his arms, and tears of happiness slid silently down her cheeks.

"Brother Feng... give him a name."

Gao Feng pondered for a long time; he thought of his previous life, and the nation he had fought and sacrificed for.

He thought of that homeland to which he could never return.

A trace of deep nostalgia and infinite expectation for the future flashed in his eyes.

"Let's call him... Gao... Chengzhi." He said slowly, his voice filled with solemnity.

Cheng means heritage, continuation.

Zhi means ambition, ideals.

He hoped his son would inherit his Bloodline, and even more, inherit his ambitions.

In this rotten and dark chaotic world, to create a brand new, bright future!

The news of Gao Feng's joy at having a son spread through the entire Panshi Stockade like a spring breeze in an instant.

The entire valley erupted!

The Stockade Master has an heir!

This meant that the Legacy of Panshi Stockade was guaranteed!

Everyone's future now had a more solid Foundation!

Gao Feng immediately ordered a grand banquet for three days!

The entire Panshi Stockade was decorated with lanterns and festoons, pigs and sheep were slaughtered, and a continuous feast was laid out, celebrating for three days and three nights!

Whether it was the elders of Panshi Stockade, the newly joined refugees, or those Wu Hui tribesmen who had already surrendered, everyone was immersed in this ocean of joy.

They sang and danced, ate meat in big mouthfuls, and drank wine from big bowls.

They praised the Stockade Master's wisdom and martial prowess, lauded the birth of the young Stockade Master, and prayed that the future of Panshi Stockade would be even more prosperous.

And amidst this endless jubilation, a small figure was hiding in a corner, secretly watching all of this with a pair of clear and envious eyes.

He was Wang Laosi's son, Little Stone.

As one of the "veteran" children who joined Panshi Stockade in the first batch, the thirteen-year-old Little Stone was now one of the best students in Panshi Academy.

He had not only long ago mastered the Thousand Character Classic but, under the personal guidance of Military Advisor Liu, had even begun to study the Analects and some simple mathematics.

He was no longer that silent farm boy who followed behind his father.

His horizons had long been completely opened by this rapidly changing mountain city and the strange and fantastic stories told by the Stockade Master.

He knew that on the other side of the mountain was a bigger world.

He also knew who had brought everything they now possessed—being able to eat their fill, wear warm clothes, have books to read, and have a home to return to.

He looked into the distance at that figure, surrounded by the crowd, holding the newborn, his face beaming with a happy smile, looking like a deity, and his small fist clenched unconsciously.

For the first time, a clear and firm thought sprouted in his heart.

"I... I also want to become someone like Stockade Master!"

He wanted to study, to practice martial arts!

He wanted to use the skills he had learned to assist the Stockade Master and to build this home!

He wanted his father to live a better life, and he wanted all the people of Panshi Stockade to never go hungry or be bullied again!

In the young boy's heart, a flame was quietly igniting.

And there were still many, many more boys like him in Panshi Stockade.

They were the future of Panshi Stockade.

They were the most precious seeds of hope that Gao Feng had personally sown in this chaotic world.