The construction of a city had always been a huge project that consumed a lot of money and was extremely extravagant. As a master architect, Zhang Shouzhi had been most worried about a lack of funds during construction, leading to the abandonment of the project halfway.
But now, the funds he had gathered were more than enough to build quite a few cities. This was no longer as simple as a few hundred thousand or a few million taels of gold.
For the first time in his life, Zhang Shouzhi didn't need to worry about funds at all. But this time, not only was he not pleasantly surprised, he was even a little worried for Wang Chong.
But it was not so easy to accept money from the great clans!
"Young Master, this is no small matter. I hope that Young Master will be careful!"
Zhang Shouzhi said in a low voice.
Wang Chong smiled but said nothing. He naturally knew what Zhang Shouzhi was worried about. If his goal was only to use the fief to make money, then accepting so much money from the great clans would naturally be a problem.
But Wang Chong had ulterior motives. Making money was just a facade, but the truth was far from it. Moreover, the larger the city, the more clans it would attract. Only then would it be of greater help to the Western Regions, and it would also be able to obtain more resources and support from the great clans.
And from a certain perspective, this would allow his fief to have the greatest influence!
A general needed extraordinary foresight and daring. This was something that Zhang Shouzhi did not possess.
"I have my own plans. Sir Zhang, there's no need to worry."
Wang Chong smiled faintly as he raised a finger.
"In addition, I hope that the construction of the city can be put on the agenda as soon as possible. One month, at most one month. Excluding the transportation time of wood and ironware, I hope to complete the construction of the city within one month. "
"Buzz!"
Hearing Wang Chong's words, Zhang Shouzhi's body trembled and he suddenly raised his head. The construction of a city had always been time-consuming and laborious. The larger the city, the longer it would take.
It was completely normal for an ordinary city to take a year or two. Now that Wang Chong had received so much money from the aristocratic families, wanting to use it all to build a city and finish it within a month was simply impossible.
"Haha, where there's a will, there's a way. Old Mister Zhang, have you forgotten about that city of steel we built on the mountain to resist Mengshe Zhao and Ouzan?"
Wang Chong seemed to have seen through Zhang Shouzhi's thoughts and smiled.
"But even this is not enough!"
Zhang Shouzhi was a little anxious.
Building a huge city within a month was a miracle that could only be accomplished by God. Wang Chong's request was simply impossible.
"It's naturally impossible for an ordinary city, but that's not necessarily the case for a steel city."
Wang Chong smiled and waved his hand without even turning his head.
"Wei Guo, Wei Wu, bring the thing in!"
Bang! The door opened, and the two guards, Wei Guo and Wei Wu, walked in with a large metal chest that had been prepared in advance. Zhang Shouzhi, whose face was full of worry a moment ago, seemed to have already expected this. He looked at the box and laughed. He took two or three steps away from his seat, and without waiting for the big iron box to stabilize, he rushed over and opened the iron box's lid.
"Hahaha, I was right! Young Master really did come prepared!"
Zhang Shouzhi looked at the white scrolls in the metal box, beaming with joy. He reached out with his right hand and scooped up one of the scrolls. His previous worried expression was nowhere to be seen.
Swish!
He unfurled the white scroll, revealing a profound, complex, and incomprehensible structure. In the past, unless Wang Chong personally explained it, not even the most formidable architect of the Tang dynasty would be able to see through Wang Chong's secrets.
The majority of people probably didn't even know what this was.
But after working with Wang Chong on the 'steel wall' on the surface of the mountain, Zhang Shouzhi could tell at a glance that this was a blueprint for a steel wall. Moreover, it was a massive and complex structure that was even grander than Wang Chong's' steel wall 'in the southwest.
"Not bad, not bad! Hahaha … this is true wealth. Young Master, from the southwest, I knew that you would definitely build a true steel city. My premonition was right. Although a month is rather short, if it's a steel city, I'm willing to do my utmost and use all my strength to complete it! "
Zhang Shouzhi's eyes were bright, his entire body trembling in excitement. He looked at the white scroll like it was the most precious treasure in the world. The gifts sent by the aristocratic families were indeed tempting, but for a true civil engineering master, only the truly great architectural blueprints were the most tempting treasures in the world.
A steel city!
Although he had only seen a small portion of this massive structure, to Zhang Shouzhi, from this moment onwards, there was nothing in the world that could attract his attention more than this never-before-seen steel city.
Right now, even if it was an imperial decree, even if it was his life, he could not give up, much less withdraw.
One, two, three … Zhang Shouzhi was constantly unfurling one blueprint after another, his expression excited as if he had found a priceless treasure.
Wang Chong took a sip of his tea, a smile on his face.
Ever since he had learned that he could be granted a fief, he had focused his attention on this steel city on the Silk Road. Time was limited, and the war in the Western Regions would soon arrive. He simply didn't have two or three years to build a city.
Thus, Wang Chong's best choice was to use modular construction to create a 'City of Steel' that had never appeared in this world!
In normal circumstances, even if he used modular construction, building a city of steel in a month would still be impossible. This massive and complex project was not something that any great clan, rich or powerful, noble, or Imperial Prince could accomplish.
But it just so happened that Wang Chong had completed the most complicated part.
He had pulled in all the great clans of the capital!
Once these people were brought in, Wang Chong could borrow the wealth, resources, and manpower of the great clans of the capital to move the world. He could borrow the strength of the entire Tang Dynasty to build this all-important 'steel city'!
Once this plan succeeded, it would no longer be a problem of Wang Chong building his fief alone. The entire Tang Dynasty, the entire world, would be helping Wang Chong build his fief!
This fantastical undertaking required enormous resources, wealth, and authority. Nothing like this had ever happened in the history of the Tang Dynasty. But now, in Wang Chong's hands, this unimaginable feat had become a reality with his own hands!
"The blueprints for this steel city are all here. I will leave all the resources, manpower, resources, and finance required for its construction to you. In addition, I will have the four great sword-smithing clans and all the sword smiths and shops in the capital cooperate with you. In this aspect, Wei Guo and Wei Wu will do their utmost to cooperate with you!"
Seeing Zhang Shouzhi's eager expression, Wang Chong gave a knowing smile. Putting down his teacup, he stood up from his seat.
"In addition, once all the great clans receive their money, you will truly be able to mobilize all the sword smiths, sword smiths, and mines in the world to begin your construction!"
"Hahaha, I already had this intention. Even if Young Master didn't say so, I would still do it. Just thinking about this massive project makes me excited. If Young Master doesn't mind, I would like to immediately bid farewell and begin the preparations. "
Zhang Shouzhi excitedly said.
To a master architect, construction was their life. To be able to create a massive project that would go down in history was the dream of every master architect.
And a massive, unimaginably massive steel city on the road to the west was definitely possible!
Zhang Shouzhi quickly left with the chest filled to the brim with blueprints. He called over thirty guards from the Wang Clan and even enlisted Miyasame Ayaka's help to escort him back home. It was as if the chest wasn't filled with blueprints but the most valuable treasure in the world.
… …
"Now, there's only one thing left!"
In the hall, after Zhang Shouzhi had left, Wang Chong raised his head, his fingers tapping on the table as thoughts flitted through his mind. If he wanted to change the western border of the empire and change the fate of the Anxi Protectorate, he could not just build a city on the Silk Road.
At the same time, this was not something that Wang Chong could solve by recruiting a few Wushang warriors.
If he wanted to resolve the problem of the Anxi Protectorate once and for all, this was far from enough. In Wang Chong's plan, there was still one last step missing.
"Out of the city!"
After leaving his home, Wang Chong boarded a carriage and passed through the streets and alleys, finally passing through the city gate and into a mountain outside the city. Amidst the boundless mountains, a flat, man-made mine stood at the foot of the mountain.
The periphery of the mine was heavily guarded. Countless well-armed soldiers were guarding the outside of the mine.
Wang Chong's promotion to marquis was a major event for the entire Wang Clan!
In order to celebrate, the entire Wang Clan had sent gifts. These soldiers had all been sent over by the old subordinates of Wang Chong's grandfather. They had all been carefully selected, warriors of extraordinary strength and extremely reliable.
And the latter was what he valued the most.
"Young Master!"
Upon seeing Wang Chong appear, figures hurriedly emerged from the mine, strode to Wang Chong's carriage, and bowed.
"Jingdian, there's no need to be so courteous in front of me."
Wang Chong waved his hand and stopped him, his gaze quickly turning to the mine.
"How are the preparations for the matter I arranged coming along?"
"Reporting to Young Master, all the lime and clay have been prepared. In addition, according to Young Master's orders, we have gathered a large number of masons and had them prepare the materials. "
Zhao Jingdian respectfully said.
"Mm, take me to take a look!"
Wang Chong said.
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