"An endeavor for a hundred generations! Once Zijing finishes his part, I plan to bundle it up and offer it to the Five Great Merchant Families. Renting it to them for fifty years, they might even fund the project themselves," Chen Xi said seriously. "The economic and political value it holds is immense, so I can't simply hand it over to them..."
"A project costing over a thousand billion coins? Even Emperor Qin's Great Wall didn't reach that figure," Zhuge Liang said with a wry smile. "I really don't know where you get your confidence from."
"Because in matters like this, I believe no one in the world can plan better than I can, and no one sees further than I do," Chen Xi said, placing a hand on Zhuge Liang's shoulder as he gazed confidently at the river. "Besides, I won't lose. History will bear witness to all of this."
"Fine, but when you're ready to present this plan, let me know. I want to assess its feasibility," Zhuge Liang said after a long pause, watching Chen Xi's unwavering confidence.
"The feasibility is a hundred percent; it's only a matter of time and manpower. I just hope Zijing has resolved that," Chen Xi replied with a yawn.
"I suddenly feel sorry for Zijing. He seems to have so much to handle. No wonder he's always working diligently in the administration hall, striving for the prosperity of the territory. Beyond your plans, it's probably Zijing's efforts that contribute the most," Zhuge Liang said with a bitter smile, recalling how every time he saw Lu Su, the man was either shivering from the cold or buried in work.
Back in the administration hall at Mount Tai, Fenggao, Lu Su was busy organizing another round of civilian recruitment for infrastructure projects during the farming off-season.
"Zijing, do we really need so much infrastructure? Mount Tai seems quite prosperous already," Sun Qian asked after receiving his orders. The roads were already well-connected.
"Once the roads are done, we'll move on to water conservation, river dredging, and dam reinforcement. Get some people to study the water systems of the Yangtze, Huai, Yellow, and Ji rivers. Also, have someone examine the waterways of the Si River and Bai River in Xuzhou," Lu Su said without looking up. He couldn't work on a grand canal, but he could start with smaller projects.
Lu Su was the only civil official aware of Chen Xi's massive water conservancy plan. Others didn't even know that Chen Xi was planning such large-scale waterworks.
When Chen Xi first presented the plan, with costs exceeding a thousand billion coins, Lu Su was so shocked that he spilled his tea and dropped his fruit on the table. He had immediately rejected the idea. However, after Chen Xi fully explained the project, Lu Su reluctantly began considering its feasibility. Ultimately, he realized that the project was indeed necessary. Connecting the east, west, north, and south—stretching from Chang'an and Luoyang in the west to Jizhou in the north, and Jianye in the south—would make it difficult for the land to be divided again, ensuring lasting unity.
The benefits were numerous, but so were the costs. As someone with a sharp eye, Lu Su saw the potential gains. With Chen Xi's persistent persuasion, he eventually agreed to take on the task, provided Chen Xi didn't get too carried away.
"Understood," Sun Qian nodded. Given the drought this year, water conservation projects seemed reasonable, so he accepted the orders without further questions.
Lu Su, feeling a bit overwhelmed, continued to think about Chen Xi's short-term plans. But embedded within that 20-year long-term plan were so many short-term tasks that it was enough to drive anyone crazy.
As he managed tax policies, Lu Su reflected on how he had mastered the art of multitasking. If it weren't for his sense of responsibility, he might have already abandoned everything and headed to Qingzhou out of frustration.
"I suddenly feel uneasy mentioning Zijing," Chen Xi muttered.
"I have the same feeling," Zhuge Liang nodded, giving Chen Xi a sideways glance. "I plan to go back and focus on my studies."
"When you return, you should train in administration with Zijing. You've already learned enough; now you just need practical experience," Chen Xi said, patting Zhuge Liang on the shoulder. After all, there weren't many people he could use freely, so having a young Zhuge Liang as an additional resource was invaluable.
"Alright," Zhuge Liang agreed after a moment of contemplation.
Meanwhile, with the cold fog cleared, Taishi Ci and Guan Hai quickly leaped onto Gan Ning's ship. After regrouping, they immediately sent orders to the rear, preparing to advance and pursue the enemy. However, seeing how quickly Sun Ce's forces had fled, Gan Ning realized they wouldn't be able to catch up. Instead, he reflected on the difference between his navy and Sun Ce's, knowing that once the Jiangxia Navy arrived, retreating would be difficult.
"Couldn't capture Sun Ce?" Gan Ning asked Taishi Ci, who looked a bit disheveled. "I thought he wasn't that formidable."
"Couldn't kill him," Taishi Ci replied, shaking his head. "His strength is almost on par with mine. Next time we meet, he'll be even stronger."
"..." Gan Ning frowned, glancing at Taishi Ci's right thumb before sighing. "If you couldn't kill him, there's nothing more to be done. I couldn't take down Zhou Yu either. It seemed they came here only to test us, and with their light boats, it's as if they were ready to retreat from the start. Brother, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Guan Hai replied curtly. "I'm heading to the cabin. You two continue talking; don't bother me unless it's important."
Taishi Ci looked puzzled as Guan Hai walked away. "What's with him?"
"Ha, don't worry about him. Everyone has their own goals. His current ambition is to sleep in the cabin," Gan Ning explained casually, offering a lighthearted excuse.