NEC Chapter 97: Bandit Intelligence, East Xia's Decision

Oren greatly appreciated such generous buyers.

Both sides quickly finalized the details.

The first batch would consist of one thousand young and strong slaves, with humans accounting for at least half, beastmen preferably from docile species, and half-beastmen preferably centaurs.

The upper three and lower three races were temporarily not considered, to be discussed later.

Different from others, Lord Chen Mo directly proposed that if these slaves had family members, such as wives and children together, they could all be sent over. Vast Sea Territory would accept them all.

When this request was made, Oren completely understood in his heart that this lord was preparing for long-term development here and wasn't leaving!

This move was often used for defending cities on Starry Continent.

Once you couldn't establish roots, the young and strong could be taken away, but women and children would have great difficulty migrating long distances to foreign lands again, especially when women and children were related to the young and strong. This was to bind people to this piece of land.

After discussing the unit prices and categories of slaves, there was still one troublesome matter: transportation!

Seven-Radiance Garland would be responsible for delivering people to Flag Mountain Pass. The remaining journey would have to be handled by Vast Sea Territory itself.

"In any case, we will not undertake transportation after entering the desert. After all, the vast desert with its difficult journey and such a massive group would require too much guard force."

"Moreover, if any bandit group harbored ill intentions and launched a surprise attack on the road, we couldn't bear it."

Now it was Chen Mo's turn to scratch his head.

Originally, he had wanted to pay extra to have the other party responsible for delivering the slaves to their destination. He had even planned to pay according to the final number of people who arrived, which would also urge the other party to be more careful.

Now with the other party's attitude, this wasn't a matter of money.

Just as Chen Mo helplessly agreed to arrange his own team to go to Flag Mountain Pass for support, Herlan suddenly stood up and first bowed to Chen Mo, "Lord, please forgive my presumption. There's something I need to consult Executive Oren face to face. I implore your permission!"

"Just speak!"

Herlan turned to Oren, spreading his hands flat with a serious expression, "Executive Oren, as far as I know, Seven-Radiance has many properties under its name, including escort and transportation services."

"Being able to do business with beastman tribes, selling weapons and armor that are prohibited for human sale to beastmen, there shouldn't be any business you dare not do."

"When you say you're worried about bandit attacks, I'm afraid it's not that you're worried, but that you know for certain there will be bandit attacks."

Oren smiled sheepishly, "How could that be? I'm just..."

Herlan stepped forward, leaning slightly with his gaze directly suppressing Oren's unspoken words, "Executive Oren, Vast Sea Territory sincerely wants to do business with Seven-Radiance. The first batch of young adults with their families is already a scale of several thousand people."

"As long as the first batch of slaves arrives safely, my lord will immediately sign orders for the second and third batches."

"In the future, as long as Seven-Radiance doesn't deliberately defraud, Vast Sea Territory's population, grain, weapons, armor, cloth and clothing, daily necessities will all be purchased primarily from your trading company. More precisely, purchased from those willing to sincerely deal with Vast Sea Territory."

"As long as my lord establishes a foothold here, this mountain-high, sea-deep trade might be enough to promote someone to grand executive, don't you think?"

Due to Herlan's increasingly aggressive approach, the two attendants beside Oren involuntarily stood up, seeming to want to intervene but not daring to actually step forward.

Oren maintained his composure, looking at Chen Mo who was watching with interest, then at the aggressive Herlan. He pressed his hands on the table and slowly stood up.

"I underestimated your territory's foundation. My vision was short-sighted."

"However, sir, you're overthinking. How could I have any intelligence about bandit attacks?"

"It's just that the southern nations are fighting in utter chaos. I've only heard privately that some family deserters violated military regulations, were stripped of military positions, and wandered north. They have to make a living somehow."

Oren meaningfully tapped his chest, "What if they see our trading company escorting such a large group of slaves and mistake us for fat sheep ready for a big haul? That would truly be enormous trouble, don't you think?"

Herlan's expression relaxed, and that textbook-perfect standard smile returned to his face, even brighter than before, "I see, I misspoke. Then, regarding this slave purchase, we'll have to trouble Executive Oren greatly."

"After the matter is completed, Vast Sea Territory will naturally present generous gifts to thank the executive for his thoroughness."

After seeing off Oren, Herlan immediately returned and asked the lord to dismiss all maids and guards, leaving only Old Mage Downs at his side before eagerly explaining.

"Although what he said wasn't entirely clear, the meaning is basically obvious, someone is targeting us."

"Our slave purchase was sudden. They shouldn't be targeting this batch of slaves specifically, so it must be..."

"Coming for me!" Chen Mo unhappily ran his hand through his hair, messing it into a clump of tangled grass. "He said they're deserters from the south. It's Zircon Family’s doing again!"

"Uh... sir, we can't be completely certain..."

"There's nothing uncertain about it!"

Chen Mo pressed down one finger, "Their Little Blondie schemed against me, that's the first grudge!"

"Then they arranged assassins to pursue us, deepening the hatred!"

"After that, Frost and I escaped from Greenspine, and that old guy Earl Cloudmist thoroughly humiliated Greenspine Kingdom!"

"With me coming here, it would be strange if they didn't come cause trouble."

"However, in this situation, doesn't the Development Territory Protection Treaty have any effect at all?"

Herlan replied, "It still has some effect. Even Mistmoon Divine Court wouldn't ignore such actions. The temple's tracking and lie detection methods are no joke."

"So those coming must be death warriors."

"Death warriors won't be numerous, and for such dirty and dangerous work, they can't hire human mercenary groups either."

"But the northern lands are racially chaotic. There are always some brain-deficient goblins, or bold ogres and half-beastmen who might be bought and used by them."

Chen Mo slowly nodded, "So they might assemble a team of desperadoes to either directly attack my Vast Sea Territory, or... intercept our slave convoy halfway, right?"

"Exactly, please prepare in advance, lord!"

"Mm, Old He, you did well this time! Keep it up, permanent appointment is just around the corner!"

After verbally commending the well-performing Steward Herlan, Chen Mo began organizing a report for home.

Although following home's arrangements, Vast Sea Territory was doing its utmost to pursue a military-first route, Chen Mo really didn't want to go to war now.

Once fighting broke out, his pitiful transportation capacity would be completely occupied by war weapons.

How many good things had home planned for him?

Saltwater rice seeds, soil improvement agents, microbial fertilizers, lightweight film greenhouses, pipeline spray irrigation systems...

Flexible photovoltaic panels, solar power arrays, electrical energy storage systems, micro vertical wind turbines, manual generator sets...

Seawater purification systems, portable drilling equipment, light electric construction machinery, multispectral detectors...

Even in military preparations, there were reconnaissance systems, wireless signal towers and communication facilities, biological detection radar networks, automatic shell stamping machines, nitrocellulose reaction vessels, and other enormously valuable equipment and facilities.

Building up any category would be a project with lasting benefits and enormous future impact.

The original plan was to wait for territory personnel to arrive, first build photovoltaic power stations, then construct seawater purification plants, farm for three months, achieve ammunition self-sufficiency in half a year, and realize basic five small industries within a year...

If they could explore some oil, they could spiral skyward on the spot.

But once war broke out, it would greatly delay development progress again.

You must know that he now had essentially built his own magical spiritual energy nexus with a grand master providing full guidance. His cultivation speed was already maxed out.

After all, no matter which magic academy or wizard tower you went to, they wouldn't let their dean or tower master give you exclusive use of their spiritual energy nexus.

But even with this top-tier cultivation environment, burning expensive magic crystals, advancing to the next level would still require at least a year.

Before then, his monthly 1.8-ton transmission capacity seemed high, but in actual use, it wasn't enough anywhere.

One batch of weapons and ammunition might occupy the development time of a "five small industries" for a month or even several months.

Chen Mo reviewed the schedule. This sacrificial altar session was prepared to send back materials including: aerial photography of the entire territory, soil and stone samples dug from several meters underground at various locations in Vast Sea Territory, nearshore seawater and underwater ecosystem samples, some desert flora and fauna, and a large sand beetle...

The original plan was to receive a batch of solar panels and power storage equipment, several weather station components, small ammunition supplements, and new training manuals designed for centaurs...

It seemed the plan needed adjustment again.

Chen Mo sighed deeply. Reality, how could everything go as desired!

Of course, Chen Mo's worry was that his development wasn't fast enough, while home's worry was that Chen Mo wasn't stable enough.

At this monthly meeting, the military officer representative from the think tank pointed at the simulated sand table of Vast Sea Territory on the projection screen, his tone grave.

"[Wanderer] is too eager!"

"He urgently hopes to quickly build a complete industrial system of energy, food, basic construction, elementary military industry, and related supporting facilities that mutually cycle and are self-sufficient. Yet in terms of territorial security, he's still using that military system mainly composed of indigenous people and cold weapon centaurs as the main force, with a small skeleton guard as auxiliary."

"The military-first concept we've repeatedly demanded, putting all resources and materials into military priorities first, has never received sufficient attention from [Wanderer]!"

The young officer helplessly shook his head, "I always feel like [Wanderer] is like a player addicted to production and construction games, obsessing over accumulating resources first, climbing tech trees, building the base beautifully, and waiting until fully developed before massing troops."

"From his self-cultivation to seizing territory, everything follows this approach, which makes us... constantly feel like we're watching him walk a tightrope!"

Many experts present nodded in agreement.

Different circumstances, different perspectives. Being outside the situation, East Xia hoped [Wanderer] would first secure himself. Slow cultivation ability didn't matter, gradual territorial development was fine. As long as the green mountains remained, everything could be planned gradually.

Chen Mo's approach was obviously full of radicalism. The think tank saying he was walking a tightrope was slightly exaggerated, but the direction was correct.

Amid the chorus of regret, Executive Cangming, who attended today's meeting, lightly tapped the table. The entire room immediately fell silent.

"I'll repeat that old saying: I understand your feelings, but I don't support your approach!"

"Requirements? On what basis do we make requirements of others?"

"If we view our dealings with [Wanderer] as a transaction, at least so far, I believe our gains far exceed our investments. [Wanderer] owes East Xia nothing, we have no right to demand this or that from him."

"If viewed as mutual dedication, then there's even less right to point fingers and criticize comrades fighting in another world!"

"Ultimately, you can offer suggestions, but whether he listens is up to him, whether he acts is also up to him."

"I'll emphasize again: in practical matters, we should coordinate with him, not make him submit to us."

"Many of our comrades have the attitude of family elders, acting like 'I'm doing this for your own good,' always thinking they know more and calculate better, wanting everyone to dance to their baton."

"What do you think this is? Match-fixing?"

"If Wanderer could return through the altar someday, following your logic, would you also imprison him, assign people to watch him 24 hours a day, treating him as a tool to achieve your so-called benefit maximization?"

"Is this right?"

"Wrong!"

"At least I think it's wrong!"

Some lowered their heads, others blushed, all with expressions of humbly accepting criticism and feeling deeply ashamed.

Cangming steered the conversation back.

"I personally think [Wanderer] is doing quite well."

"His cultivation hasn't fallen behind, and he has somewhat of a team around him. This is much safer than hiding alone in a foreign country."

"If we really followed some people's initial conservative plans, having him find a corner to cultivate slowly, once war spreads there with soldiers and bandits running rampant, and he has no open noble status but does have noble enemies, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

"No matter how you calculate it, it can't be safer than being within his own territory with over a dozen guns nearby, not to mention the possibility of being controlled by others and used to threaten us in return."

"So you can suggest and provide plans, but in final matters, you must respect [Wanderer's] choices."

"Or rather," the executive's gaze turned to the huge Starry map on the conference room wall, "trust the judgment of this child of destiny!"

With that, the previous issue was concluded.

Next, Cangming raised an even more sensitive topic that everyone dared not openly address.

"Regarding the experimental use of 'spiritual energy,' what are your views?"

The intensity of internal opinion struggles within East Xia on this issue had reached an alarming degree.

Thanks to the large quantities of various mage manuscripts, study materials, and cultivation insights that Wanderer had sent back, the basic cultivation path had been roughly mapped out by these technical personnel in East Xia.

However, the cruel reality was that Blue Star had no such thing as spiritual energy, or rather, this element!

In the vast materials Wanderer sent back, some traces of so-called spiritual energy had been discovered to varying degrees, but all could only be indirectly sensed, in a state where they couldn't be absorbed or utilized.

The breakthrough came after [Wanderer] sent back those precious "mana crystals."

When these high-concentration spiritual energy aggregates from another world were placed in highly isolated laboratories, under specific meditation guidance, experimental personnel first truly "captured" the "spiritual energy" dispersed in the enclosed space!

Even more exciting was that through repeated attempts, they successfully achieved preliminary guidance and conversion!

In other words, Blue Star's homeland had produced cultivation results under special environments.

Although the effects were still minimal, going from "0" to "1" was already revolutionary enough.

Through repeated testing with multiple control groups, East Xia's experimental personnel had now produced their first "mage" capable of independently releasing weak fireballs, and the first "warrior" able to mobilize spiritual energy to enhance muscle strength.

What triggered intense internal struggles within East Xia was: given the extremely limited number of mana crystals, who qualified to cultivate?

As everyone knew, with such a small quantity, it certainly couldn't be the people.

But even excluding most of the people, there was still a situation of too many monks for too little porridge.

The technical department from a research perspective, military department from a practical perspective, and certain groups from personal perspectives, made the allocation rights for such scarce resources irreconcilable.

This matter had been deadlocked here. Except for a few small-scale control group experiments that continued slowly under central support, all other applications were essentially temporarily banned, awaiting the results of struggles at certain levels.

Now, Number Two Elder, Executive Cangming, had put this matter on the table.

Faced with complete silence in the room, Cangming snorted coldly, "What? Where's that momentum from arguing privately with red faces and bloody heads, wanting to take the lawsuit to the cabinet? Now you're all mute?"

"Come on, starting from my right hand, speak one by one! Share your 'brilliant insights'!"

The first participant pointed to cleared his throat, "Uh... we... will follow leadership arrangements completely!"

The second followed up, "Resolutely obey the command of Spark Vanguard and East Xia Cabinet!"

The third, "Unconditionally obey orders!"

The fourth, fifth... all had almost identical styles, with no waves at all.

Cangming was almost amused by his anger, "Huh? Weren't you fighting irreconcilably just a few days ago? Didn't someone say they wanted us old folks to judge right from wrong?"

"I heard someone was complaining everywhere, saying ancestors bled and suffered for generations, why should children not even have cultivation qualifications but benefit those soldiers?"

The old man heavily slapped the table, "Is this what you should be saying? What? Think you're Manchus entering the pass, ancestors suffered so descendants should abuse others?"

Military representatives immediately stood up in unison, followed by Security Department, [Cihang] Engineering Office, Academy of Sciences, Space Administration...

The entire room stood like wooden stakes, silent as cicadas, not daring to breathe loudly.

Cangming pointed outward, "I discussed with Donghuang Tanshu, you've had your democracy, since you can't democratize a decision, then we'll centralize!"

"These resources [Wanderer] sent back are for serving the country, not for your family children to become cultivation nobility and be superior to others."

"All cultivation-related resources go to the military, concentrated in a specially selected team."

"Your family children want to practice? Fine, pass the 'three reviews and nine verifications,' enter military selection, then you'll have legitimate cultivation qualifications!"

"I even know some of you might pull tricks, that's fine too. If you can pass the three reviews, I'll grant you this privilege!"

The room was dead silent.

The three reviews referred to political ideological examination, personal will examination, and combat capability examination.

Those who could pass the three reviews were all maxed out in loyalty, topped out in willpower, outstanding in physical fitness and combat skills, one in ten thousand or even one in a hundred thousand, true "red soldier kings."

Even in the hardships of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Army back then, they would be among those who could persist to the end.

But regardless, the higher-ups had given clear arrangements.

At the end of the report, the military representative quietly requested, "The experimental group previously proposed small-scale battlefield testing. May we approve execution?"

"Approved!"

"Mm, among those currently confronting us with cold weapons, one south and one west, it seems the western Ganges Lotus Federation is somewhat more troublesome."

"Put the cultivation test group on the western front. Perhaps at critical moments, they'll be useful."

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