Chapter 145: Discussing Countermeasures

Chu Yun grabbed Chen Ping's hand and asked, "Second Uncle, are you certain you have seen this color of stone mountain in Heijiang Town?"

Seeing how excited Chu Yun was, Chen Ping could tell that this kind of stone mountain was clearly of great importance to him. Not wanting to disappoint Chu Yun, he began to recall carefully and earnestly.

Finally, he said with absolute certainty, "Yun'er, I am completely certain that I have seen stone mountains of this color in Heijiang Town. It was right in the northern region of Heijiang Town, a very long distance away from Nanhai Town."

Chu Yun grew even more excited. "Haha, that's wonderful! But Second Uncle, how can you be so sure that those stone mountains are in the northern region of Heijiang Town?"

He had hoped the iron ore would be in the southern region. After all, Nanhai Town lay to the south of Heijiang Town.

However, Chen Ping explained, "Because I figured that the secret of bombs—being nothing other than the art of thunder—was of paramount importance, I deliberately took a detour and entered Heijiang Town through the northern gate rather than going straight through the southern gate."

At this point, his tone shifted. "Tell me, Yun'er, is this kind of stone mountain exceptionally important?"

Chu Yun nodded. "This kind of stone mountain is actually an ore. It can be used to forge things far harder than bronze, and its applications are immensely vast and versatile."

Chen Ping could not help being stunned, exclaiming, "I never imagined such ore could be so vital."

Chu Yun replied, "Indeed, this ore is crucial. Therefore, I would like to ask: Second Uncle, what was the reaction after you bombed the Witch Doctor Sect's apothecary and medical clinic in Heijiang Town?"

Chen Ping was taken aback once more. Because he instantly understood Chu Yun's implication, he asked, "Yun'er, do you intend to further expand our territory and take over Heijiang Town?"

Chu Yun nodded in confirmation. "Precisely."

Yet Chen Ping shook his head. "Yun'er, I strongly advise you against doing so."

"Why?" Chu Yun asked. "Lan'er came to report just a moment ago that after she bombed Anning Town, many people fled the town that very night, and the forces of the Witch Doctor Sect withdrew immediately. Lan'er said I could even take over Anning Town now. Is Heijiang Town not in a similar situation?"

Chen Ping replied, "No. When I made my return journey, I entered Heijiang Town again through the southern gate to find out how the Witch Doctor Sect reacted to the bombing of their apothecary and clinic. The situation I gathered was much the same: many people fled overnight, and the Witch Doctor Sect evacuated immediately."

"Then why," Chu Yun asked, "do you strongly advise me not to expand my territory into Heijiang Town?"

Chen Ping answered, "Because Heijiang Town and Anning Town are already relatively close to the core region of the Great Qi Dynasty. Once captured, we would find ourselves surrounded by enemies on three sides. It is unlike the three territories you currently possess, which are mainly concentrated in the southern part of the Great Qi Dynasty and benefit from natural barriers on all sides except the north."

With that, he looked at Chu Yun and added, "Yun'er, I am a man of little culture and limited insight. Perhaps my advice isn't very good; you might want to call Chu Wencai over and ask for his opinion."

Chu Yun nodded, thinking it would indeed be beneficial to consult a few more people. He promptly ordered his men to summon Chu Wencai, as well as the major and intermediate clan leaders of Chu Family Town.

Once everyone had gathered, Chu Yun addressed them all: "Because the Witch Doctor Sect poisoned the upper reaches of the Sanqing River, causing a plague to break out in Qitan Town, countless innocent lives would have been lost had I not intervened with timely rescues. Furthermore, the able-bodied men of Qitan Town were forcibly conscripted by the Witch Doctor Sect to attack us, leaving almost none of them alive."

"Therefore, my master, the God of Thunder, bombed the Witch Doctor Sect's pharmacies and clinics in both Heijiang Town and Anning Town within a single day as a warning."

"And now I have received word that the people of Heijiang Town and Anning Town are terrified; many have fled, and the Witch Doctor Sect has withdrawn."

"In other words, there should be no problem for us to take over these two towns and further expand my territory."

Chu Cuihua, possessing little education herself, joined several short-sighted intermediate clan leaders in offering cheerful congratulations after hearing Chu Yun's words: "Congratulations, Lord Earl, on gaining the territory of two more towns!"

However, the rest remained silent.

Chu Yun looked at Chu Wencai. Even before he could speak, as if anticipating what Chu Yun would ask, Chu Wencai immediately stated, "Lord Earl, I do not advise taking over these two towns or expanding our territory any further."

Chu Yun nodded. "State your reasons."

Chu Wencai replied, "I have several reasons for this. First, Heijiang Town and Anning Town are already quite close to the core region of the Great Qi Dynasty, and both towns feature flat terrain. Once captured, we would face enemies on three sides."

"Second, you have only captured Nanhai Town and Qitan Town for less than half a month. If you continue to seize these two towns located in the core region, lords from all quarters will assume we harbor wild ambitions to conquer the entire Great Qi Dynasty, making us the target of public condemnation."

"Third, your takeover of Nanhai Town and Qitan Town was entirely justified. Lin Yang supported the Witch Doctor Sect in attacking you, which was an act of ungrateful betrayal. Moreover, the Witch Doctor Sect's army that attacked Chu Family Town this time was primarily conscripted from Qitan Town; winning the battle and bringing Qitan Town under your control is entirely reasonable. Taking over Heijiang Town and Anning Town, however, would be unprovoked—an act of aggressive expansion that would likewise make us a common target."

"Fourth, we currently only possess the Fierce Tiger Army, and the guards have not yet been fully formed into an effective force. The common folk of the three towns have not yet grown strong in combat capability under your policies, and we do not yet meet the conditions for external expansion. Furthermore, the people of Qitan Town have just endured a war and are devoid of young, able-bodied men. If expanding our territory were to invite a war..."

At this point, he suddenly dropped to his knees.

Thud!

He struck the ground heavily with a kowtow. "Lord Earl, Wencai hopes you will hold fast to your original aspirations, allow our lands to recuperate first, and let the people in your territory live in peace and prosperity before planning any expansion. Moreover, your master, the God of Thunder, displayed his divine thunder solely to warn the Witch Doctor Sect, letting them know we are not to be trifled with and that our borders are inviolable."

Following this, Chen Ping, the others, and even Chu Cuihua and the intermediate clan leader who had just congratulated Chu Yun moments before, all joined in advising Chu Yun to temporarily refrain from further territorial expansion.

Because they all felt that what Chu Wencai said made profound sense.

Yet Chu Yun looked down at the small piece of iron ore in his hand, furrowed his brow, and said, "What you say makes sense, but my current three territories do not possess large quantities of this ore."

"The northern part of Heijiang Town holds vast amounts of it."

"Besides, my master, the God of Thunder, mentioned in a dream that in the future, the entire Great Qi Dynasty—and indeed the entire world—will mine this ore on a massive scale."

"My master also told me that the uses of this ore are immensely broad and significant."

"I believe that if we lack a massive supply of this mineral resource, it will likely be very difficult for us to establish ourselves in this world in the future."

As the Bronze Age transitioned into the Iron Age, iron ore resources would undoubtedly occupy an overwhelmingly crucial position; without them, standing one's ground would indeed prove nearly impossible.