Chapter 339: Chapter 303: Talent

The first time using the Ghost Realm, Liu Tianyou didn’t control it very well. He merely wanted the two Ghost Slaves in front of him to try writing poetry, but the entire Ghost Realm collapsed, reverting back to the appearance of the meeting hall; however, the beams and wooden pillars showed traces of corrosion, with remnants of ink stains.

Sang Que said, “Later, you can find a deserted place to slowly experiment. Try not to spread the Ghost Realm inside a house. Ordinary people can easily be eroded to death in the Ghost Realm. If the Ghost Realm continuously exists in one place for more than seven days, it will completely change that place, turning it into a Death Domain, causing that place to thoroughly lose its vitality.”

Liu Tianyou nodded; such power was indeed magical, sparking his curiosity.

Sang Que picked up the copper mirror, inside which part of the Zhuangyuan Ghost’s power was still sealed. She now had a better drawing to replace the copper mirror.

“Your current strength is roughly at the fourth layer. Keep this copper mirror close to you. Once your Heart Lamp’s level catches up, you can gradually reclaim the Zhuangyuan Ghost’s power, eventually returning to the fifth layer. I reckon there won’t be a need for a promotion ceremony during this process, possibly even at the sixth layer, as the Zhuangyuan Ghost was originally a sixth-layer ghost.”

Liu Tianyou continued nodding; indeed he had gained from disaster.

“Now let’s talk about your suggestions for managing Bright Moon Mountain.”

Sang Que sat down opposite Liu Tianyou, looking all set for class.

Liu Tianyou regained his bearings, retrieving the notes he had written.

“I believe, for a place to develop long-term, there are nine key points: household registration management, talent recruitment, official management, agricultural production, taxation, legal system, commerce, education, and security forces.”

“Talent recruitment and official management can wait for now. Currently, Bright Moon Mountain’s agricultural production is decent. Before the autumn harvest, it’s crucial to quickly establish household registration, formulate a comprehensive taxation system, and clarify mountain regulations, ensuring everyone knows what can and cannot be done. There must be a fair and just standard to appease the populace.”

“In terms of education, we must build schools. Right now, relying solely on that old village head as the instructor is far from sufficient. Unfortunately, I’m too spread thin; otherwise, I could also serve as an instructor. As for security forces, although we are not at war with the outside, we must ensure the safety of the mountain’s residents and guard against the court treating us as bandits and attempting to suppress us unreasonably. At the very least, we need the capability for self-preservation…”

Liu Tianyou spoke eloquently, explaining each point’s importance to Sang Que along with his initial plans.

They continued talking until late at night, refilling three pots of tea.

“… Ultimately, it still comes down to a lack of people — a shortage of laborers for various tasks, skilled craftsmen in military, water management, commercial, agricultural, educational, and medical fields. Professional talents, not those from the commons.”

Sang Que felt a headache coming on, as Liu Tianyou hadn’t yet mentioned the deficiency in administrative talents, a matter he planned to handle himself, sparing Sang Que from additional burden.

Liu Tianyou also refrained from mentioning finances and resources, as, upon inspecting the warehouse a few days ago, he was astonished by the quality grain Sang Que had obtained, along with numerous Ten Victory Stones, a Buddhist Sect holy object, lavishly used for brick firing.

Yao Zhen had advised him not to ask unnecessary questions, saying Sang Que has connections, and resources wouldn’t be a shortfall; what Liu Tianyou needed to do was swiftly organize everything on Bright Moon Mountain.

Seeing the troubled expression on Sang Que’s face, Liu Tianyou said, “Actually, I have a solution for this — Big Boss, would you like to hear it?”

Sang Que nodded eagerly, “Go ahead.”

“Daoist Yao Zhen’s plan to build a Taoist Temple at the entrance of Bright Moon Mountain is a stroke of genius, helping us solve many issues. You might as well have Daoist Yao Zhen quickly register with the government and, utilizing the temple construction, recruit workers in the county. With proper wages, a batch of professional talent can be gathered. As for how to retain these people, further measures can be considered.”

Sang Que’s eyes lit up, “Hmm, go on.”

“Bright Moon Mountain is vast, with plenty of arable land not yet cultivated, and the planned Eight Diagram City is not small. Later, the surrounding villages don’t need to be demolished; I’ve estimated, sustaining a population of ten thousand is feasible. Currently, Qinzhou’s situation is unstable; many people are trying to move to Jinzhou.”

“Through Daoist Yao Zhen’s Taoist Temple, we can gradually gather these displaced people. My only concern is, once the population increases, the happenings inside Bright Moon Mountain might be leaked, ultimately attracting government suppression or recruitment. If recruitment happens, it’s easier managed, and you could seize the opportunity to secure a governmental position, legitimately preserving the land of Bright Moon Mountain.”

Sang Que glanced at Liu Tianyou, aware that he still leaned towards relying on the court — which wasn’t wrong. After all, seeking shelter under a great tree provides shade; without it, no matter how much they develop, they’re just bandits.

Sang Que nodded, “Understood. Let’s proceed according to your plan, step by step. I will be responsible for security on Bright Moon Mountain and will start selecting and training people soon to establish a Guard Army. As for the remaining matters, consult with Yao Zhen—let me know if you need finances or resources, and I’ll handle it. It’s late; get some rest.”

“Wait,” Liu Tianyou called out to Sang Que, “Big Boss, have you ever considered that Bright Moon Mountain should have its own Divine presence?”

Sang Que frowned; she indeed had thought about this before but had postponed it due to many other matters.

Liu Tianyou stood up, earnest, “I previously discussed with instructors at the school; everyone agreed that the world was most stable back when Witch Lady was around. After the Witch Temple was desecrated, the gods people worshipped became varied, each with different characteristics, leading to differing beliefs among people. Those who believe in one god find fault in followers of another, easily causing conflicts.”

“Maybe because of the Zhuangyuan Ghost connection, my mind feels clearer now, and I’ve realized a deeper aspect. The existence of gods and rituals is fundamentally for better managing the populace. In a place, when the population grows, distinct groups naturally form, centering around certain individuals or beliefs, excluding others.”

“But if you can ensure everyone on Bright Moon Mountain shares the same faith, then naturally, they’ll unite, finding a reason for solidarity, bound by the presence of a Divine, instinctively defending their territory. I’m not quite sure how to express this, but I’m certain you understand my point.”

Sang Que pondered for a moment then nodded; she understood clearly. On a small scale, no matter the internal conflicts within a village, if an outsider intrudes, all villagers instinctively unite and face outward.

On a larger scale, when Huaxia’s vibrant red flag is raised, Chinese people worldwide stand tall, ready to fight for their homeland.

“I understand, and I’ll seriously consider this matter. Since it’s mentioned, please assist me in surveying what beliefs the current populace holds while registering their household information.”

“Okay.”

Sang Que returned to rest, grateful for Liu Tianyou’s timely reminder. If those chaotic gods had rooted themselves here and led the people to believe that it’s their gods providing them with a good life, she’d be at a huge loss.

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