The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

Just as the Heavenly Alliance was vigorously promoting agricultural policies, Shan Meixian's Dongming Faction fleet returned from Southeast Asia, bringing back a special "gift"—several carefully selected Southeast Asian crop seeds that were highly adaptable and had extremely high yields!
These include drought-resistant and high-yielding cassava, large-tubered sweet potatoes with a short growth cycle, and peanuts, a type of oil-rich food that can be used as an important supplementary food! These new crops from the tropics are of revolutionary significance for supplementing the food varieties in the Tiandao Alliance's jurisdiction, improving disaster resistance, and especially for expanding the cultivated area in humid and hot or mountainous and hilly areas such as Lingnan!

Lu Miaozi personally took over these seeds and, with his extensive knowledge and profound understanding of plant growth, established special experimental fields in Lingnan, Jingling and other places to study their optimal planting conditions and cultivation techniques.

The agricultural administration department established by the Tiandao Alliance quickly mobilized personnel to vigorously promote the planting of high-yield, drought-resistant crops such as Champa rice in suitable areas such as the Jianghan Plain and the area surrounding Xiangyang. These crops complemented the new varieties from Southeast Asia brought back by Shan Meixian. The introduction of these new crops greatly enriched the variety and resilience of the official granary reserves.

At the same time, the efficient agricultural tools improved by Lu Miaozi using mechanical arts (labor-saving curved plows, foot-operated waterwheels, and wind/water-powered rice and flour milling machines) were vigorously promoted, and government-run agricultural tool rental points were set up for small farmers to rent.

Thoroughly dredge the waterways of the Han River and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, crack down on river bandits, and ensure the safety of navigation. Establish large-scale government-run wharves and warehouses in Xiangyang and Jiangling.

Standardize weights and measures, abolish exorbitant taxes and levies, reduce major commercial taxes, and encourage itinerant and stationary merchants. Issue "Tiandao Tongbao" and "Flying Money Notes" guaranteed by the Tiandao Alliance and valid within the alliance to promote commercial circulation.

By utilizing the fine horses of the Pegasus Ranch, an official "Heavenly Path Express" system was established, greatly accelerating the speed of information transmission and document circulation.

Trade channels between Lingnan and the Central Plains and overseas were opened, and the Maritime Trade Office (initially established in Panyu) was set up to regulate management, collect customs duties, and replenish the government treasury.

Of course, the Heavenly Alliance was not entirely lax in its military efforts. Dong Jingzhen was stationed in Xiangyang, Song Shidao was stationed in Jiangling, and Song Lu commanded the navy. While resting and reorganizing, they reorganized and trained troops from various regions that had surrendered and newly recruited, according to unified standards. They eliminated the old and weak and replenished their forces with superior equipment (supplyed uniformly by the workshops).

Overseen by Song Que and Zhu Yuyan (responsible for intelligence and special talent), the "Heavenly Path Martial Academy" and "Heavenly Secrets Pavilion" (headed by Lu Miaozi, cultivating practical talents in engineering, mathematics, medicine, agriculture, etc.) were established in the five core cities. All eligible young people within the jurisdiction (regardless of background) were selected for study based on their potential. They were taught improved martial arts, military strategy, mechanical arts, medicine, and agriculture. This was to build a strong foundation for future expansion and governance.

After stabilization, a pilot program of the "new imperial examination" system, designed by Lu Miaozi and integrating policy theory with practical knowledge (mathematics, law, and agricultural and industrial knowledge), was gradually implemented to break the monopoly of aristocratic families and select governance talents from the lower and emerging classes.

Yi Huawei's "strengthening the foundation and cultivating vitality" approach, promoted with his immense prestige, has yielded astonishing results.

In just a few months, the land that had been devastated by war was once again filled with the sight of hardworking farmers; displaced people received life-saving food and seeds at resettlement sites, and hope was rekindled in their eyes; waterwheels roared through the fields, and clear canal water flowed into the parched land; merchants and travelers came and went on the wide roads; the workshops worked day and night, producing agricultural tools, cloth, and salt that were supplied to all directions; the official granaries gradually filled up, and market prices stabilized.

In Lingnan, Song Yuzhi was leading his clansmen to develop workshops with great enthusiasm, utilizing local specialties; in Jingling, the Feima Ranch not only supplied military horses but also promoted improved animal-drawn farming tools to the people; in Jiangling, at the bustling docks, not only goods were unloaded but also many more refugees who came with their families to seek refuge. Under the guidance of officials, they registered in an orderly manner, their faces filled with anticipation for a new life.

The Heavenly Alliance has halted its expansion, but with a more powerful and profound force, it is laying the foundation for the future across the vast southern lands.

The power it embodies is greater than any sharp sword, because it carries the yearning of millions of people for a peaceful and prosperous world, and it also shows that the concept of "Heaven's Way" is gradually transforming from an ethereal idea into a tangible source of vitality and hope on this land.

The feudal lords of the land watched with astonishment and uncertainty this once-silent behemoth in the south. They vaguely sensed that when this dragon raised its head again, its power would be even more unstoppable. Meanwhile, the people under the rule of the Heavenly Alliance, in this rare respite and rebuilding, truly touched for the first time the peace and hope brought by the "Heavenly Way." That sense of belonging and identity was quietly taking root, sprouting, and growing stronger day by day.

………………

The city gates of Luoyang slowly opened in the morning light.

An old horse-drawn carriage moved slowly along with the flow of people entering the city and stopped not far from the city gate.

Shan Wanjing sat upright in the carriage, her gaze calmly observing the scene outside through the window. A group of gatekeepers were checking the identities of people entering the city.

Yi Huawei sat opposite her, his expression unchanged. He had disguised himself simply today, looking like an ordinary middle-aged man with a thin face, wearing a dark gray cloth robe, his long hair casually tied back with a wooden hairpin.

Shan Wanjing's attire was simple: a light blue narrow-sleeved cross-collar top, matching trousers, and a dark gray long skirt that reached just below her knees for ease of movement. She wore a two-finger-wide black leather belt around her waist.

Her beautiful hair was all combed back and tied into a simple bun at the back of her head, secured with a silver hairpin. Not a single stray hair fell across her forehead, revealing a smooth forehead and well-defined eyebrows. Her facial features were distinct, with a straight nose and lips pressed into a straight line.

As the gatekeepers gave way, the carriage slowly drove into the main street, and a cacophony of noise immediately filled the carriage.

The street was about thirty zhang wide, lined with shops on both sides, their signs and banners fluttering in the wind. Pedestrians came in an endless stream, many of them Western Region merchants dressed in foreign clothing and wearing felt hats, leading camels slowly along. The camel bells jingled, mingling with the cries of vendors and the clamor of carts and horses.

Dan Wanjing's gaze swept across the street, noticing several middle-aged men standing on the street corner. They seemed to be chatting idly, but their eyes were constantly scanning the crowd. Chao Yihuawei turned his head slightly and whispered, "Master, there are quite a few informants on the street."

Yi Huawei nodded slightly without turning his head to look, and said calmly, "Luoyang is now a place where various forces converge, so this situation is not surprising."

The carriage continued on its way, passing through the Heavenly Street and then turning onto the road heading west along the Luo River.

The river was over ten zhang wide, its water murky, with waves gently lapping against the banks. Dozens of boats of various sizes were moored on the river, some tied to stone pillars on the bank with thick ropes and linked together with iron chains, forming a floating market. Boatmen were loading and unloading goods, their shouts rising and falling.

Shan Wanjing noticed that some ships had special flags hanging on their masts, and she carefully examined the patterns on the flags:
"Are those Wang Shichong's ships?"

"Partly yes."

Yi Huawei calmly replied, "There are also the Dugu Clan and other forces."

Shan Wanjing nodded slightly: "Oh!"

The carriage continued along the Lotti River.

Locust and willow trees lined both sides of the embankment, their branches and leaves providing ample shade. The dappled shadows fell on the carriage curtains, creating shimmering dappled light. Fewer pedestrians were seen on the road; only a few elderly people fishing and hurried passersby could be seen occasionally.

Tianjin Bridge spans the Luo River, with two tall buildings standing at each end. The bridge is constructed of massive stones, and its surface can accommodate five horse-drawn carriages side by side. Carriages and horses travel across the bridge, while boats shuttle back and forth beneath it.

Shan Wanjing's gaze fell upon the market south of the bridge. It was bustling with activity, teeming with vendors. Several ragged children weaved through the crowd, their eyes warily scanning the passersby. An old woman selling pancakes sat on a street corner, her hands rough, her face wrinkled, but her sharp eyes keenly observing her surroundings.

Raising a slight brow, Shan Wanjing asked, "Master, shall we go directly to the south of the city?"

Yi Huawei shook his head slightly: "Let's take a look around the city first."

The carriage crossed the Tianjin Bridge and turned onto a quieter street. The buildings here were noticeably more refined, with high walls and deep courtyards, many guarded by stone lions. Occasionally, a magnificent sedan chair would pass by, its curtains drawn low, obscuring the figures inside. Shan Wanjing noticed a patrol of soldiers passing by; their armor was of different styles, clearly belonging to different factions. The soldiers marched in unison, but their eyes betrayed vigilance, and their hands remained firmly on their sword hilts.

"The garrison in Luoyang doesn't seem to be unified," Shan Wanjing remarked after observing.

"Yes, you have made progress!"

Yi Huawei's gaze swept over the group of soldiers, taking in everyone's expressions. He smiled and said, "Wang Shichong controls the troops in Luoyang, but Li Mi and the Dugu clan have both placed their own people in the city. Obviously, even those lowly soldiers are well aware of this."

"So they... oh, I see, they've obviously reached some kind of agreement!"

Dan Wanjing's beautiful eyes flickered, and she chuckled softly, "For this rabble to be mixed together, there must be immense external pressure. It seems they are still quite wary of Master!"

"Hehe~, that's not necessarily true."

Yi Huawei smiled noncommittally and turned to look at the buildings lining the road.

The carriage continued its journey, passing through several streets before arriving at a relatively open square.

In the center of the square was a stone-built pool, where several women were drawing water. To the west was a row of shops selling grains, oils, and groceries. To the east was a teahouse, where a few customers sat at several wooden tables, conversing quietly.

The carriage stopped in a relatively quiet street in the south of the city.

Yi Huawei got out of the car first, followed closely by Shan Wanjing, whose eyes quickly scanned the surroundings.

The street was about three zhang wide, lined with gray-walled, black-tiled houses on both sides. Several old locust trees stretched their branches over the walls, casting dappled shadows on the stone pavement. At the street corner was a small stall selling steamed buns; the stall owner, a hunchbacked old man, was kneading dough. A few barks of dogs came from afar, emphasizing the street's quietness.

Shan Wanjing noticed an inconspicuous mark on the lintel of the third house on the left. It looked like a child's doodle, but upon closer inspection, it could be identified as a specific symbol.

Yi Huawei had already walked towards that house, with Shan Wanjing following half a step behind him, remaining vigilant.

Reaching the door, Yi Huawei didn't knock. Instead, he took a copper coin from his sleeve and inserted it into a groove in the door's crack. A moment later, the door silently opened inward.

Inside the gate was a small courtyard, about three zhang square. The ground was paved with blue bricks, and in the corner was a well covered with a wooden lid. Directly opposite the gate were three connected rooms, with their doors and windows tightly closed.

A middle-aged man dressed in a brown short-sleeved shirt emerged from behind the house. Upon seeing Yi Huawei, he immediately bowed in greeting.
"Your subordinate Chen Feng greets the Alliance Leader!"

"No gift!"

Yi Huawei nodded slightly: "How is the situation?"

"By order of the leader, I have already sent people to spread the rumor that Yang Gong's treasure vault is in Luoyang..."

When Chen Feng looked up, his gaze swept over Shan Wanjing before returning to Yi Huawei: "Currently, all forces are searching for Yang Gong's treasure vault, and there are undercurrents within the city. Last night, Li Mi's men clashed with the Dugu clan in the west of the city, resulting in three casualties..."

Shan Wanjing stood quietly beside Yi Huawei, listening to Chen Feng's report. Her right hand never left the hilt of her knife. Her gaze swept across the courtyard wall, noticing several newly repaired marks on the top of the wall.

Yi Huawei asked, "Is there any movement at Jingnian Temple?"

Chen Feng replied, "The Zen temple has been closed for many days, but there are rumors that Zen Master Liaokong has emerged from seclusion."

Shan Wanjing frowned slightly. She knew that Jingnian Temple, under the guidance of Zen Master Liaokong, had always been a pure land in the martial arts world, but it was also unfathomable.

Yi Huawei didn't seem surprised, and simply said, "Keep an eye on things, and tell your people to be careful."

"Thank you for your concern, Alliance Leader!"

Chen Feng bowed in response, then hesitated for a moment: "Alliance Leader, Wang Shichong has recently increased patrols in the city, especially checking unfamiliar faces. I have prepared two sets of identities..."

Yi Huawei waved his hand slightly: "It's alright, even if they recognize me, they can't do anything to me."

With Yi Huawei's current skills, even if Xiang Yutian were alive, he might not be able to stop him, unless Xiang Yutian ate a few Dragon Orbs and was reborn, then that would be a different story.

Shan Wanjing suddenly asked, "What's the price of grain in the city now?"

Chen Feng looked at her, bowed slightly, and respectfully replied, "It's increased by 30% compared to last month, but it's still stable compared to other regions. Wang Shichong brought in a batch of grain from Jiangnan, which has temporarily stabilized the market."

Shan Wanjing nodded and asked no further questions.

After talking with Chen Feng for a while and learning some details about Luoyang, Yi Huawei signaled to Shan Wanjing to leave with him.

Stepping out of the courtyard, the street remained quiet. The old man selling steamed buns was still there, but he had stopped what he was doing and was wiping his workboard with a cloth.

Yi Huawei seemed oblivious to the calluses on the old man's hands and walked straight to the other end of the street. Shan Wanjing followed closely behind, keeping a half-step distance.

As the sunlight rose higher, it cast long shadows of the two on the cobblestone street. The sound of horses' hooves approached from the end of the street, growing louder and faster. Shan Wanjing paused slightly, stepping aside to let Yi Huawei walk on the inside, while she turned towards the direction of the sound.

A troop of cavalry appeared at the street corner, about ten men in gleaming armor, their banners embroidered with the character "王" (King). They moved slowly, seemingly patrolling the street. The leading general glanced at Yi Huawei and Shan Wanjing, paused briefly, then turned away, quickly passing by them, the sound of hooves fading into the distance. (End of Chapter)