In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

Page 651

The expeditions of these soldiers meant enormous losses, and the taxes levied by the empire amounted to 'more than half' of its revenue.

If it weren't for the high-yield crops brought by the Zhang family from the New World, there would have been famine and starvation long ago, with bones scattered everywhere.

Chapter 771 Progress of the Mo Family Mechanical City

Clang! Clang! Clang...

"Hurry up, you didn't eat breakfast, don't even think about slacking off."

If you slack off, you'll get a major demerit once, and three major demerits will get you kicked out immediately. Don't think I'm joking.

Inside the Mo Family Mechanical City, a group of craftsmen were working enthusiastically and with great passion.

Similarly, competition and the presence of the "good cop" are not lacking anywhere.

After all, the high salaries and benefits paid by the Zhang family weren't meant to be enjoyed by a spoiled brat.

As for strenuous labor, it was quite common in this feudal era, and when the Zhang family selected members, they chose strong and healthy men.

They even have monthly physical examinations, and if any health problems arise, the Zhang family will take timely measures to mitigate their losses.

If someone were to die from overwork, it would be extremely detrimental to the Zhang family's reputation.

As long as there's nothing to do, and they receive high salaries and benefits, the exhaustion in the eyes of outsiders is perfectly normal; it's all just an exchange of benefits.

Moreover, the Zhang family's abilities mean that this labor can replace their corvée labor time, which is why so many people outside want to come in.

Only a power like the Zhang family could connect with the empire.

"Young Master, Commander 19, this is a message you just sent!"

Jin Bu'er came in from outside and handed the message to Zhang Sheng, who was in the main seat—Miyamoto Musashi!

Upon receiving the news, Miyamoto Musashi's pupils constricted.

Unlike the plains outside the pass, the Mo Family's Mechanized City requires a huge investment. This additional investment of one million gold coins has already exceeded the investment of the previous year.

At this time, Miyamoto Musashi still had five million gold coins left.

It wasn't that he didn't have the freedom to use his skills, but rather that the Mo Family's Mechanized City was such a small place that there wasn't enough room to throw gold into it.

Moreover, with the Zhang family's resources, connections, and influence, who would dare to make money off the Zhang family so easily? In addition, with the empire's secret assistance, at least 50% of the costs were saved.

However, these were not things that Miyamoto Musashi cared about.

Zhang Xiaoshan's words implied that he would spare no expense to complete the construction of the Mo Family Mechanized City as quickly as possible.

Furthermore, the city of the mechanical city also needs to start stockpiling supplies for the future.

Clearly, a tremendous upheaval is about to occur in Kyushu.

It should be related to the Dragon Emperor's eastern tour.

The Dragon Emperor's eastern tour was not a secret; officials at all levels along the route were to be notified.

"Commander Tie, what do you think?"

The outer perimeter had just been completed, and Tie Zhan, who was stationed in Xianyang, was transferred to the Mo family's administrative town to guard it.

With the addition of Jin Bu'er and the River Stream Duo, this place has gathered a Grandmaster, four peerless masters, and no fewer than a dozen top-tier experts. Not to mention the thirty-six Heavenly Generals of the Luoyi Merchant Guild, the hundreds of guards transferred from the guild, and the Blood Droplets in the shadows.

This is also why Miyamoto Musashi watched helplessly as the castle was infiltrated.

These people are ultimately just ants, not worth his time and effort. His current task is to focus on building the mechanical city.

Even if these people wanted to riot, they would probably be quelled by the craftsmen below as soon as they started, without the craftsmen even having to lift a finger.

After all, this concerns everyone's interests, and for a riot to break out, the Zhang family would have to be "rich and heartless".

Otherwise, if the Zhang family is overthrown, those craftsmen will be the ones who suffer the most.

"Since that's what you want, young master, we'll do as you say."

We currently have approximately 100,000 people here. With the additional million gold coins you've invested, based on the cost of recruiting workers, we can recruit another 100,000 and strive to complete the project within a year!

"That's what I meant too."

"In that case, Commander Jin, the recruitment is entrusted to you. Don't worry about infiltration; recruit 100,000 qualified workers as quickly as possible!"

"Yes, young master!"

Although Jin Bu'er knew Miyamoto Musashi's true identity, he understood that on the surface, they had to maintain a superior-subordinate relationship.

Who knows if there are any spies from the Luowang organization nearby?

This is also why he passed the message to 'Miyamoto Musashi' first.

"Commander Tie, the housing issue is now in your hands."

"Don't worry, young master!"

At this time, after the outer passageways and residences of the city were completed and the internal smelting plant was built, the construction of the interior began.

Housing was not an issue at all, and the Zhang family's layout was comparable to the Deep Pit Hotel of later generations.

Built against the towering mountain walls on both sides, and with a bridge connecting the interior and the outside world as its roof, the Zhang family constructed a massive dam bridge.

However, it was not a dam that blocked water, but a water conservancy project that propelled a huge waterwheel.

First, a dam was built to block the water. Then, five super waterwheels, each twenty feet tall, were placed high above and below the sluice gate. The enormous kinetic energy generated by these waterwheels made the most of the water energy.

The foundations that the water conservancy project solidified on both sides are the 'Deep Pit Hotel' where they now reside.

The bridge extends at least fifty feet from the water's surface, with a foundation twenty feet deep. The middle section is divided into twenty-story buildings, and the cross-section of the bridge features a sky pavilion several tens of feet long, providing single-room dormitories for 30,000 people. These are spacious hotel-style dormitories that can accommodate families.

Now, with the internal residential buildings and the courtyard houses built outside, the area has a population of 100,000 people of all sizes.

Therefore, regarding the dormitory issue, as long as each dormitory room accommodates four to six people, there is no need to worry about not having enough rooms.

After all, they were temporary workers, so it was good enough that they had a place to stay.

Those who remain will be carefully selected by the Zhang family and will become elite craftsmen.

Compared to the Mo Family's mechanical city, the plains outside the pass are much calmer.

Unlike the Mo family's 717 cities, which were the focus of construction, the project on the Guanwai Plain was sprawling, covering the entire Guanwai Plain, and was a bottomless abyss of a gold-devouring project.

Therefore, the five million gold coins thrown in were like a ripple, merely a burst of enthusiasm.

Even so, Wan Sanqian still managed to attract a large number of surplus laborers.

Zhang Xiaoshan's mission is to accelerate construction, which is a great benefit to the people of the plains outside the Great Wall.

Moreover, the Zhang family's recruitment criteria are top-notch even in the heart of the empire.

Therefore, when the Zhang family recruited workers, not just 100,000, but millions of surplus laborers came to apply.

Fortunately, some of the construction projects, such as the ironworks, fur workshops, and glass workshops, have already started to generate profits.

Therefore, Wan Sanqian directly expanded the enrollment by over a million places to accelerate the construction of the plains outside the pass.

Moreover, these people eat well every day, do a lot of work, and their physical fitness is constantly improving. They will be the best recruits in the future, which is another arrangement made by Zhang Xiaoshan.

Once the empire falls into chaos, and the Zhang family raises their banner, these people will inevitably rise up in response.

Moreover, the Zhang family also owns a steel plant here, making large-scale military production a breeze.

A fine man, equipped with excellent iron armor.

In just three months, they will become elites who dominate the battlefield.

Chapter 772 A Day Trip for Mohist Disciples

Is this still the Mechanical City?

The Mohist school is a thing of the past; the Zhang family now rules the Mechanized City.

Therefore, the Mohist disciples who entered the Mechanized City looked at the completely transformed city in disbelief. Compared to before, they could not recognize any trace of the old Mohist Mechanized City.

But when they left, the city had been ravaged and was now nothing but ruins.

The Zhang family rebuilt on the ruins, and it was naturally no longer their former mechanical city.

Only a faint outline remains, something the Zhang family cannot change.

For a time, their complaints about the Zhang family decreased significantly.

To put it bluntly, they have already abandoned the Mechanized City.

The current Mechanized City is a base built by the Zhang family and has no connection whatsoever with the Mo family.

If it weren't for the Zhang family, what they would see upon their return, aside from this magnificent and grand corridor, would likely be completely devoid of any architectural traces.

Moreover, the Zhang family has invested heavily in this place. In the first year, they recruited 100,000 craftsmen, and now in the second year, they have recruited another 100,000 craftsmen. In particular, looking at the smooth, layered steps in front of them, they are many times more orderly than the dark and gloomy ones before.

This is the Zhang family's special concrete structure; even with a thickness of only one foot, it achieves an effect similar to refined steel.

In key locations, the Zhang family laid a deep foundation, ensuring the safety of the passageway and preventing it from being destroyed by gunpowder in one go.

It's worth noting that the famous Nazi fortresses—air raiders—had concrete walls that were only about ten feet long.

However, its defensive capabilities are such that it can withstand the impact of a 250-kilogram bomb.

At the end of the stepped passageway is a huge gate made entirely of forged steel.

The underground foundation is entirely made of concrete, and with rolling pulleys, it can open and close in ten seconds, which is more convenient than the wooden gates of the Mo family before, not to mention its defensive capabilities.

Even a grandmaster would be left sighing in despair!

Hiss...

When everyone entered, they were utterly shocked by what they saw.

Even though the Mohists built the city of mechanisms for a thousand years, exploring the mountains along the cliffs, carving caves, and constructing suspended walkways...

A thousand years of glory, yet it was nothing more than a fortified city of traps and mechanisms.

However, the Zhang family built their "dormitory" in a deep pit on the cliff, erected a huge waterwheel, and constructed a dam resembling steps based on the elevation difference... Only then did the Mo family realize the vast gap between their mechanical skills and those of the Zhang family.

No wonder the Zhang family's 100,000 craftsmen here weren't enough, so they recruited another 100,000.

Such a magnificent building would be too big for another 100,000 people.

However, they overestimated the Zhang family, or rather, the Zhang family couldn't possibly have all such massive projects. Water conservancy was the power source of the entire mechanical city, so its construction naturally consumed a huge amount of resources.

The interior construction that follows only requires adding concrete pillars and laying concrete floors.

Because of its large internal area and numerous passageways, recruiting more craftsmen would speed up the construction process.

As for the supervision of the subsequent factory construction?

Naturally, this top-secret mission will be carried out by members of the Zhang family, and the Zhang family will also conduct its first selection process.

"Alright, this is your room."

The person inside will be your roommate for the next year, and will introduce you to how to live here.

And this afternoon I'll make the bed and collect some toiletries; work officially starts tomorrow!

The dormitory supervisor led the three members of the Mo family into one room, and then continued to lead the others to assign other dormitories.

The doors and windows are the simplest wooden ones, and the interior is decorated in the most basic way.

But for the disciples of the Mohist school, it was a silent shock.

Compared to their previous dormitory in the Mo Family's Mechanical City, they were living in what was practically a primitive tribe, surviving in caves.

"Since you're new here, choose a bed yourself and then clean up the place."

Afterwards, come with me to the dormitory manager on this floor to collect your bedding, clothes, washbasins, and other daily necessities. Also, get your hair cut while you're at it; these chores aren't very convenient.

Upon hearing this, the Mohist disciples didn't say much, but silently got to work.

They were newcomers, but they knew that the Zhang family had provided such good conditions not to support idlers.

···

That evening, when everyone saw tonight's dinner, they exchanged shocked glances.

Two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, and the meat dishes aren't just a few slices or small pieces of meat, but at least three ounces.

"Big brother, is this how you usually eat?"

Mo Jiajia looked at the older brother he had met in the dormitory and asked the question that had been on his mind.