I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 86 Military Equipment
"We've changed our gear. It's been so many years since Room 11 changed our uniforms."

"Dragon Toad Spider Gun".

"The Dragon-Binding Rope".

"My God, there's also soft armor."

"A hundred-times-refined steel knife, also engraved with runes."

"Chief Xue is awesome!"

"........."

The camp was in an uproar.

Xue Xiang was in a good mood. His cheap teacher hadn't been a waste of time; the notes had just been submitted when the new standard equipment arrived.

Tong Guonan and Tong Sheng exploited the soldiers, using the Eleventh Division as a tool for accumulating wealth.

Xue Xiang didn't see it that way; he regarded them as trusted and powerful figures.

He would naturally not let go of the opportunity to strengthen his military.

Xue Xiang stepped forward to try out the new standard weapon and felt greatly relieved, thinking that he could finally sleep soundly from now on.

He was touching a standard steel knife engraved with runes when Wang Anshi appeared outside the camp gate.

He's been busy lately, and he's gotten quite thin and tanned.

Xue Xiang's impression of him changed drastically. After picking up Wang Anshi, he led him directly to the tea room on the left side of the barracks.

As soon as the two sat down, Wu Kui rushed over to serve them tea.

This man was none other than Xun Sizhou's follower and an old acquaintance of Xue Xiang.

After Xue Xiang passed the exam and was admitted to the city school, he still had nowhere to go. He and Xun Sizhou came to find Xue Xiang and expressed their desire to follow him.

When Xue Xiang decided to go to Suiyang, a place like a dragon's den and a tiger's lair, Wu Kui made an excuse that he had something to do at home and did not go with him.

Now that Xue Xiang's situation in Suiyang has improved, he asked Xun Sizhou to intercede on his behalf, and Xue Xiang granted him the position of a squad leader.

Xue Xiang had his own judgment about people like Wu Kui, utilizing their strengths and overlooking their weaknesses.

Therefore, when Wu Kui pressed his hand again, Xue Xiang didn't criticize him at all.

After pouring the tea, Wu Kui left the room, leaving the two of them to talk.

Wang Anshi's purpose in coming here was to persuade Xue Xiang to make peace with Ding Chunxia of the Kaishan Sect, at least to have a meal together.

Although he forced Ding Chunxia to take the deposit last time, which solved the immediate problem of his salary, things at the ferry crossing are not easy to handle without the help of the Kaishan Sect.

"Chief Royal, there is something I don't understand. Please enlighten me."

I see that you don't care much about anything else, but you're fixated on the shops at the ferry crossing.

At first, I thought you were involved and had some vested interest, which is why you spoke up for Ding Chunxia.

Now it seems that's not the case at all. What exactly are you after?

Xue Xiang had kept this question in his heart for a long time.

"May I ask, Chief, what are your thoughts on the shops at the ferry crossing?"

Xue Xiangdao said, "Located in a strategic location, it is naturally a good place to do business unless there are major cases."

They were just banging gongs and selling candy, each doing their own thing; it didn't amount to anything, just creating a spectacle.

Wang Anshi stood up and cupped his hands in greeting, "No wonder the people of Suiyang call you the Divine Lord, for your eyes are like torches."

The shops at the ferry crossing, scattered and rented out individually, are not a sustainable business. Only through unified leasing and strategic planning can they achieve significant success.

Xue Xiangdao said, "The head of the royal family doesn't seem like the head of the eleventh division; he seems more like the head of the seventh division (the seventh division is in charge of commercial affairs)."

Wang Anshi's gaze turned serious. "I wonder if the section chief has noticed the river merchants on the Xiang River."

Xue Xiang nodded. "When I came here, I saw that there were many river merchants traveling on the Xiang River. It was very lively."

Wang Anshi said, "It looks lively, but they are all unfortunate people who have to be born and raised on the water in order to evade some taxes and fees."

To be honest, I grew up on that riverboat since I was a child.

My parents' greatest wish in their lifetime is to be able to sell spiritual textiles on land.

Although they have passed away, I want to fulfill their unfinished wish and give river merchants like them the opportunity to set up stalls at the ferry crossing. Ding Chunxia promised that once it was done, she would set aside a special location for river merchants to set up stalls for free.

In fact, if we don't charge stall fees, the river merchants are willing to bear some of the commercial taxes.

Xue Xiang was stunned; he never expected that Wang Anshi still had the heart of a child.

After a moment's thought, Xue Xiang asked, "How are the sales volumes of the river merchants' spiritual textiles?"

"There are at least several thousand copies every day."

"How can you manage to weave such a large quantity in time?"

"Along the Xiang River, there are many handicraft workshops that specialize in producing silk fabrics. Some of these fabrics are ordered before they even leave the workshop."

Some would take them to the Xiang River and sell them to passing merchants, earning a higher price.

Besides spirit textiles, there were also precious medicinal herbs from various mountains and fields, as well as various homemade spirit-themed trinkets such as mechanical birds.

"I see"

Xue Xiang started spinning around in circles.

He looked through the information about Suiyang Town and found that it had spiritual fields and medicinal mountains, indicating that it had good resources.

If there are distinctive textile products, they could be used as flagship products to create a "Suiyang model".

After all, doing business might not be any harder for him than being a plagiarist.

Xue Xiang summoned Chen Jun and asked him to bring the map of Suiyang Town. The more he looked at it, the happier he became.

To the east of the ferry crossing lies a vast expanse of barren land.

After confirming with Wang Anshi that the wasteland was unclaimed, he became even more excited.

If the Suiyang model in my mind really comes to fruition, that unclaimed wasteland to the west could become the future downtown area.

How much does one acre of barren land cost? It's practically free.

How much does a shop in a downtown area cost?
This is practically a risk-free, highly profitable business.

Moreover, if the Suiyang model is successfully implemented, the credit will be immense, and the share of the credit will be substantial.

Damn it!

…………

Spring tides bring rain, rushing in late; at the deserted ferry crossing, no one is there, and the boat lies adrift.

The lake view from Huhailou is already exceptional. Standing on the top floor, Wanghaiju, one can see the Xiang River, which connects with Suiyang Lake, in a distant view, like a view of the sea.

"Hu Kan, how are the banquet preparations going?"

Ding Chunxia, ​​who is usually unkempt, not only shaved her face and trimmed her eyebrows today, but also changed into a scholar's simple clothes, trying to restrain her heroic spirit and make herself look more refined.

This was the seventh time he had asked Hu Kan.

"The cold dishes are all prepared, and the hot dishes will be ready as soon as Director Xue arrives. We can start cooking immediately."

"Where's the little green dragon? Is the chef you hired authentic? I heard that people in Jiangzuo eat it raw, so the little green dragon's meat has to be sliced ​​as thin as a cicada's wing."

"Three thousand spirit silk a day, and a famous chef from Jiangzuo hired from the state, Sect Leader, isn't our price a bit too high? Including the cost of ingredients, I think even hiring the Prefect wouldn't cost more."

"If you're going to do big business, don't worry about small details. Those who only care about small details deserve to stay in the sand."

At this point, Ding Chunxia's personal servant hurried over to report that Director Xue had come upstairs.

Ding Chunxia hurriedly went to greet him, and caught him just as he stepped onto the top floor staircase. She saw him bow from afar, saying, "I am Ding Chunxia, ​​greetings to Director Xue."

"No need to be polite. Since we're here to eat, let's eat first and then talk business."

Xue Xiangchong and Ding Chunxia nodded and quickly walked past him.

He didn't have a good impression of Ding Chunxia. If it weren't for the fact that the Kaishan Sect had already gained momentum and Suiyang Town needed to maintain stability for the time being, he wouldn't have come.

“Chief Wang, you and Sect Leader Ding have a long-standing friendship. You two chat first. I’m hungry, I need to fill my stomach first.”

As Xue Xiang spoke, he sat down at the dining table, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat.

(End of this chapter)