Martial Arts: I Have Chapter 220 - 148: Opportunity to Buy the Dip; The Drought E

Chapter 220: Chapter 148: Opportunity to Buy the Dip; The Drought Ends

Cheng Guangshan was having five or six dical apprentices organize the dried dicinal Materials to prevent them from getting wet in the rain. He himself was fiddling with sothing at a wooden table by the door.

"Guangshan," Cheng Guanghai called out.

Hearing his na, Cheng Guangshan looked up and out the door.

When he saw it was his big brother and Zhou Hansong, he smiled, stood up, and went out to greet them. "Big Brother, Brother Song."

But the two didn’t co inside, simply asking from the doorway, "It’s nothing much. We just wanted to ask what you think about the proposal Zongyang made before he left."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Guangshan nodded and said, "I think it’s a good idea. It could reduce the farming pressure here. But the problem is we’re a bit short on Martial Artists. If we send them out, the Hunting Hall will be stretched thin."

Cheng Guanghai said, "Don’t worry about that. In the second batch of fifteen people, soone will probably reach Entry Grade in about half a month. They’ll be just barely usable. The veterans can lead the newcors; we’ll train them up slowly. Besides, it’s not like they’ll be out every day, just occasional patrols."

Cheng Guangshan nodded slightly. "Then there shouldn’t be any problems. Cultivating from cuttings only takes a few days anyway. If we can pull this off, the issue with the dicinal Materials will be completely solved. It all just depends on what Zongyang arranges in the county."

"We’re just giving it a try. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just pull back," Cheng Guanghai said with a smile.

anwhile, in Cheng Zongyang’s house in South City South Pond Sixth Lane, Jade Peak County.

The house was completely refurbished and now had four or five maids, servants, and a butler.

In the front courtyard’s living room, Cheng Zongyang was discussing matters with Li Lu.

He had been in the County Town for three days and had learned from Li Lu how much it had changed in the few months since his last visit.

His original plan to stay for only a day had been delayed, which led to him having Zhao the Seventh send over a few experienced servants.

This ti, he planned to take care of all his business before heading back.

These days, Jade Peak County Town had no Governnt Office; it was under the temporary jurisdiction of the Gangs.

After having Zhao the Seventh make inquiries and learning about the Thirteen Royal Families’ thod of governance, Cheng Zongyang knew that the opportunity to buy into Jade Peak County at rock bottom had arrived.

Although the war was still ongoing and the Four Mansions of Xiangyang, Linchuan, Xichuan, and Haining had nearly all fallen into the hands of the Thirteen Royal Families, the Jin Kingdom to the north was successfully being held at the border.

Da Liang was still holding on, seemingly waiting for sothing.

Likewise, the Thirteen Royal Families’ offensive was growing fiercer, as if they were racing against the clock.

As a result, in the two or three months since Jade Peak County was captured, it had been secretly controlled by Li Lu.

With no Governnt Office, the four Gangs under Li Lu’s command each managed a different area, ensuring the County Town’s stability while also trying every possible way to acquire resources. However, because supplies had dwindled, more and more people were fleeing the town.

For now, these matters were also difficult for Cheng Zongyang to handle.

Granted, if they waited four months, the village could harvest no less than 800,000 catties of rice. After setting aside a six-month supply of food for their own people, the rest could all be sold. When the winter harvest ca, there would be another astonishing yield.

But this was just an idea, not sothing they would actually do. The grain harvest had many other uses; not only could it be used to brew wine, but it could also be made into various rice and flour byproducts.

The only thing that could offer so imdiate relief was the thirty to forty thousand catties of dried fish from the Wilderness World, though much of it was not yet fully dried.

As for other resources, they were just a drop in the bucket and wouldn’t solve the County Town’s problems.

Li Lu had co today not only to deliver money, but also to discuss the next steps with Cheng Zongyang.

"...For now, we’ve managed to stabilize a good number of people, and this is the money we’ve collected. I’m telling you, brother, the amount of dried fish you have is astounding. You should talk to your master later and see if he can send so grain," Li Lu said with a smile. "Even though everyone in the County Town is poor now, they still have so money when you add it all up."

Cheng Zongyang picked up his teacup, took a light sip of the mountain tea that tasted rather plain, and set the cup down before slowly speaking:

"My master wants silver and Gold. These large coins and copper plates... my master’s people can’t just haul a giant pile of copper coins back, can they?"

"We may have sold eight thousand catties of dried fish this ti, but we only got one hundred and twenty thousand copper coins back. It sounds impressive, but that’s only twelve taels of Gold. After deducting costs, there’s not much profit left."

As for silver notes, they had long since beco worthless paper. He had stopped using them a long ti ago.

Li Lu laughed. "There’s no helping it. If you sell at a high price, the common folk have no money to buy. I had to trade for this Gold from so of the smaller families. But..."

CRACK-BOOM!

Suddenly, a massive thunderclap ripped through the sky, making both Li Lu and Cheng Zongyang jump.

Li Lu froze for a long mont. Slowly, an expression of incredible excitent began to show in his eyes. Without another word, he shot up and ran out of the living room.

Seeing this, Cheng Zongyang also got up and walked outside, sighing with a complex expression.

"It’s finally raining!"

The drought had lasted for three years, and the sky had been overcast for five or six days. This was the mont it had all been leading up to.

In the courtyard, Li Lu stood with his arms outstretched, head tilted back toward the ever-darkening sky as thunder continued to boom.

It was as if, in that mont, a dam that had held for nearly three years had burst, jolting countless numb souls awake!

DRIP... DROP...

Raindrops the size of beans pelted Li Lu’s face, stinging slightly, but it only made him let out joyous peals of laughter. He spread his hands to catch the falling drops, then cupped them together.

The rain grew heavier!

Gradually, it turned into a downpour!

"Hahahaha! HAHAHAHA! It’s finally raining! Damn you, heavens! You’ve finally opened your eyes!!"