Chapter 27: Discussing Development

"This Protector-General is truly useless."

"Hmph, I’d be thrilled if he actually did it. Once the city is torn down, he’d have to ask our permission before he could ever build it back up."

Among the county magistrates, there were many old acquaintances who had clashed before. Now, huddled together in discussion, they reached a consensus: if the capital was demolished, they would ensure it could never be rebuilt.

"My Lord, a twenty-mile city is unprecedented. If you succeed, it will surely shake the entire world."

"Your ambition is admirable, but even General Fang Li couldn't achieve such a feat. Are you certain you can?"

"My Lord, the Great Zhou capital is only eighteen miles. A twenty-mile city is impossible to build. Please reconsider."

The magistrates used reverse psychology, desperate to goad Fang Han into ordering the destruction of the city walls immediately.

Su Zihuan, his face dark with anger, stepped forward and roared, "What kind of wicked intentions do you scoundrels harbor?"

He turned to Fang Han and continued, "My Lord, do not listen to these slanderous words. Once the capital is razed, how will we defend ourselves if there is another rebellion in the Southern Frontier?"

"Indeed, My Lord, the capital must not be torn down. Even if we are to build a new city, we must not destroy the current one."

"My Lord, please reconsider," the officials pleaded in unison, urging him to abandon the expansion.

Fang Han pondered for a long time, then asked with a puzzled expression, "But if we don't tear down the old city, we have no bricks or stone. How are we to raise a new one?"

A magistrate fanned the flames, saying, "If you use new earth to build, it will take at least three to five years. If you transport the materials from the old city, you could finish in months."

Another added, "My Lord, if you are truly worried, why not build the new city first, then tear down the old one?"

"Exactly, My Lord. Even General Fang spent six years pacifying the rebellion."

Hearing Fang Li’s name, Fang Han’s fighting spirit was instantly ignited.

"Fang Li!" Fang Han shouted, rising to his feet. "My mind is made up! I shall prepare to rebuild the city shortly!"

Su Zihuan jumped up, stepped forward, and pointed at the magistrates, roaring, "You villains! You scoundrels!"

One magistrate replied nonchalantly, "Magistrate Su, we came here by the order of the Inspector, who was appointed by Lord Fang himself. If you call us scoundrels, are you implying that Lord Fang is one as well?"

Su Zihuan’s face turned crimson. "You are thieves by nature! If the Lord hadn't been forced into a corner, why would he have ever appointed you as Inspectors?"

The other officials joined in, scolding the magistrates while trying to dissuade Fang Han. Fang Han’s expression remained grim as he fell into deep thought, observing the group of magistrates. He needed a way to neutralize Su Zihuan's argument. If he insisted on following the bandits' wishes despite knowing their true colors, he risked fueling the suspicions of those behind the scenes.

Suddenly, Fang Han had an idea. The person who tied the knot must be the one to untie it; letting them back down on their own would be far more effective than trying to excuse them.

Fang Han’s face darkened as he nodded. "I had almost forgotten. Previously, I ordered the Inspectors to send troops to assist in suppressing the bandits, and only three agreed."

"If it weren't for Magistrate Su’s reminder, I would have almost forgotten that you yourselves are of bandit origin and hold me in such little regard."

"Very well, I shall not pursue this further. Go back and tell your respective Inspectors that as long as I am in office, you are not to engage in banditry again."

"The matter of building the city is dropped for now. I called you here today to discuss how to develop the economy of the Southern Frontier."

The magistrates exchanged bewildered glances. The Protector-General had actually given up on tearing down the city. If the capital developed, wouldn't that still pose a threat to them? They had to find a way.

Fang Han’s own officials, hearing the city would stay, breathed a sigh of relief and began discussing economic development.

"The Southern Frontier is rich in herbs. Since we have cleared fields, why not cultivate them?"

"Herbs? That sounds viable."

"We should also mine for resources. We can reclaim several mines in the name of the Protectorate to ensure they don't fall into the hands of villains."

While the officials discussed the economy, the magistrates huddled together, whispering.

"We must make this boy resolve to tear down the city!"

"He already suspects us of being bandits; how can we force it now?"

"In my opinion, the boy has no mind of his own; he is being misled by those people. If we show him our support, we can dispel his suspicions."

"True. Once the capital is gone, when the next war breaks out, I will pick you all off one by one."

"Hmph, we shall see!"

A long silence fell. Su Zihuan glanced to his right, feeling a sudden, ominous foreboding. But he couldn't dwell on it; economic development was the priority.

He stepped forward. "My Lord, the Southern Frontier has countless herbs. We should select the most vital ones to cultivate."

"Herbs?" Fang Han feigned ignorance.

"The market demand for herbs is immense, especially on the borders. Constant warfare with foreign nations leads to countless casualties."

"With a sufficient supply of herbs, whether we sell them or use them in our own conflicts with the Southern Barbarians, we can significantly reduce casualties."

"Is this true?" Fang Han exclaimed.

Su Zihuan felt smug; he believed he had found Fang Han’s weakness. Beyond Fang Li, nothing mattered more to him than the Southern Barbarians. If he could leverage these two issues, he would succeed. Besides, herb cultivation was genuinely profitable. Before the chaos, the people of the Southern Frontier often gathered herbs, and a large portion of the Great Zhou army’s medical supplies had come from here. Later, as wars broke out, exports dwindled and the army suffered, only stabilizing when Fang Han improved local production.

Hearing of the herbs, Fang Han felt a secret sense of relief. If he had improved the production of medicine earlier, the Great Zhou would have become an impenetrable fortress, impossible to topple. Now, with the medicine in the Southern Frontier, he could hold the reins himself. Small bandit rebellions, the Southern Barbarians, the Great Zhou—or even foreign powers—would eventually be no match for him.

Su Zihuan boasted, "Certainly. You may not know, My Lord, but before the wars, many in the South made their living gathering herbs."

"Very well, we shall cultivate herbs. What other suggestions do you have?" Fang Han asked, scanning the room.

Chen Xingshi stepped forward. "My Lord, we could mine for resources, but most of the mines in the Southern Frontier..." He cast a glance at the magistrates. The mines were currently in the hands of these warlords. They appeared to submit, but their ambitions were vast; they would never willingly hand over the mines.

Hearing the word 'mines,' a magistrate’s mind began to race. This was the perfect opportunity to clear their names. If they voluntarily gave up the mines, who could claim they intended to overthrow the province? As for mining and building an army—without city walls, any number of troops would be useless. Furthermore, they could use this as an excuse to station their own forces there, ostensibly to protect the capital, while actually using it to expand their own power.

The group exchanged knowing smiles, and one of them stepped forward.