Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The commotion of the Starfire Castle wedding and the excitement of the system rewards gradually subsided over the next few days, settling into a more substantial and clearly defined drive for action. Chen Xing knew that momentary victory and joy, without a clear long-term strategy, could easily lead to losing direction in the face of successive challenges, or wasting precious development opportunities due to internal disagreements. It was time to formally establish that long-brewing idea, first proposed after the wedding, as the fundamental strategy for Starfire Castle for the foreseeable future.

Five days after the grand wedding, a meeting of even higher caliber and with a more solemn atmosphere was being held in the council hall of the fortress lord's mansion. In addition to the absolute core members Chen Xing, Murong Mingyue, Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, Wu Xuejiu, Zhou Dashan, and Li Shu, the attendees also included the thousand-man commander of the Southern Outpost Battalion, as well as the main leaders of Dongtun, the trade market, the crafts district, the household registration office, the newly established "Firearms Research and Development Team," and the "Medical and Epidemic Prevention Center" preparatory office, totaling more than twenty people. They gathered together, almost encompassing the minds of all key nodes in Xinghuo Fortress's military, political, and civil affairs.

The council chamber had been simply furnished. In the center was a large long table covered with newly drawn detailed maps. The surrounding walls were also adorned with regional maps, fortress plans, and wooden plaques summarizing various laws. The atmosphere was solemn, and no one made a sound.

Chen Xing sat upright in the main seat, his gaze slowly sweeping over every face present. Among them were loyal followers who had followed him from humble beginnings, representatives of the earliest refugees who had joined him, strategists who had joined halfway through, allies and wives who had submitted to him through marriage, and craftsmen, clerks, and officers who had been promoted step by step... They came from different backgrounds and had different strengths, but at this moment they were all connected by the three words "Starfire Fortress".

"Gentlemen," Chen Xing began, his voice steady yet penetrating, "I have gathered you all here today not to discuss any specific matter, but to discuss what our Starfire Fortress should be based on and where it should go in the future."

He paused briefly to draw everyone's attention.

"Since the Battle of Wild Wolf Slope, our fortress has gained immense prestige, attracting allies from all directions, resulting in a surge in population and an expansion of territory. This is truly a cause for celebration. However, fortune may be fraught with peril. The Black Mountain commander, having suffered heavy losses, will not rest until a full-scale retaliation is imminent. Sun Han of Iron Rock Fortress harbors suspicion and his hostility remains undiminished. Hu Yong of Gray Valley Fortress is indecisive and unreliable. Further afield, various warlords hold sway, and barbarian cavalry roam freely—none of them are benevolent neighbors." Chen Xing's tone grew somber. "Internally, we have newly surrendered troops to assimilate and appease, and all industries await development; externally, we are surrounded by powerful enemies, with danger lurking everywhere. If we make a wrong move, all our previous efforts could be destroyed in an instant."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, cooling down the slightly optimistic mood that had arisen from recent successes. The crowd's expressions turned serious, and they nodded silently.

"Therefore, at this time, we need a clear strategy, just as a ship sailing on the sea needs a compass to guide it so as not to lose its way or be afraid of the storms." Chen Xing stood up, walked to the wall with a large map hanging on it, and picked up a thin wooden stick.

"After much deliberation and repeated discussions with Mr. Wu, Mingyue, Chen Wei, and others, I have come up with nine characters, which I believe will be the fundamental strategy for Xinghuo Fortress going forward." He turned to face the crowd and said clearly, word by word:

"Build a high wall!"

"Store up plenty of grain!"

"Slow down, declare yourself king!"

Nine words, like nine heavy hammer blows, struck the hearts of everyone present. A hush fell over the hall as everyone pondered these concise yet profoundly meaningful nine-word policy.

Chen Xing pointed with a wooden pole to Xinghuo Fortress and the newly expanded area on the map: "What does 'building high walls' mean? Firstly, it naturally means constructing and reinforcing city walls, fortresses, and outposts to create an impregnable defensive system. This is the foundation for protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people; without it, everything else is just empty talk. The southern outpost needs to be expanded, the eastern outpost wall needs to be raised, fortifications need to be set up at all key transportation points, and the main fortress wall needs to be completed as quickly as possible according to the new city plan, sparing no expense!"

His wooden pole swept across the farmland, rivers, and workshops of the controlled area: "Secondly, the 'wall' also refers to the internal barriers within me. The army needs to be well-trained, disciplined, and rewarded and punished clearly; these are the spears and shields protecting the 'wall.' Craftsmen need to improve, forging sharper spears, stronger shields, and even... more ingenious tools. Systems need to be perfected, laws need to be enforced, and superiors and subordinates need to be of one mind; these are the sinews and bones of the 'wall.' Without sinews and bones, no matter how hard the bricks and stones are, it is just a pile of loose sand."

"What does 'stockpiling grain' mean?" Chen Xing continued, "In chaotic times, grain is the lifeline, the foundation of morale, and the source of confidence! Our fortress has potatoes, a rare and precious grain, a blessing from heaven, but we must not be complacent. We must devote all our efforts to land reclamation, water conservancy projects, improving agricultural tools, and breeding superior varieties to ensure that grain production increases year after year! We not only need grain to sustain life, but also reserves for war, funds to attract refugees, and capital to exchange for foreign goods. Warehouses must be distributed throughout all settlements, protected against fire, moisture, and theft, and managed according to law, with absolutely no room for corruption or waste!"

His tone grew increasingly solemn: "Grain is not limited to cereals. Salt, iron, cloth, medicine, livestock... all the necessities for people's livelihood and military needs must be stockpiled. We should encourage artisans, develop trade, and even... try to mine the necessary minerals ourselves. Only with abundant resources can we calmly cope with blockades, sieges, and even protracted wars."

Finally, Chen Xing pointed his wooden pole lightly at the area representing the larger surrounding powers: "What does 'delaying the declaration of kingship' mean? It's not a lack of ambition, but rather a strategy of concealing one's true intentions!"

"Although my Starfire Fortress has gained some fame, its foundation is still shallow and its strength is not yet strong. If we hastily raise our banner and declare ourselves king now, it would be like a child carrying gold in a bustling market, and we would surely become the target of everyone's criticism! How could the Black Mountain Commander, or even other more powerful forces, allow someone else to sleep soundly beside their bed? 'Delaying the declaration of kingship' means concealing our sharpness and hiding our claws."

"Externally, our fortress can be a stronghold protecting the borders and its people, a partner in fair trade, and even temporarily maintain a facade of submission to certain powerful forces. We will never be the one to stick our neck out, nor will we vie for empty titles. Our goal is tangible territory, population, food, and an army—to ensure that everyone who comes to Starfire Fortress can have enough to eat and wear, a house and land, and a glimmer of hope! Not an empty title that could bring about our annihilation at any moment!"

"Internally," Chen Xing's gaze swept over everyone, "we must also guard against arrogance and impetuosity. Newly acquired territories require patient integration; newly surrendered people require careful education; and unruly soldiers in the army must be strictly disciplined, lest they become arrogant because of their achievements, or bully the weak. We, the core members, must set an example, be diligent and pragmatic, and focus our minds on how to 'build walls' and 'stockpile grain,' rather than indulging in pleasure and fighting for power."

"This nine-character strategy—'Building high walls' is fortifying the foundation, 'Storing ample grain' is strengthening the base, and 'Delaying the declaration of kingship' is accumulating strength," Chen Xing summarized. "These three complement each other and are indispensable. Building walls and storing grain are so that one day, when we are fully equipped, we can advance to contend for supremacy or retreat to ensure our safety. Before that, we must be like hibernating bears, silently accumulating fat and strength, enduring, waiting, and growing!"

He placed the wooden pole back in its original position, returned to the main seat, and looked at everyone: "This is a plan I have been considering, and I am sharing it with you all today. You are all the backbone of Starfire Fortress, and your future, the life and death of thousands of people, is at stake. Please feel free to share your thoughts."

A brief silence fell over the hall again as everyone digested the profound meaning of the nine-character policy.

Wu Xuejiu was the first to rise, bowing deeply: "The Fortress Master's vision is truly admirable! These nine characters deeply capture the essence of 'deep roots and solid foundations, awaiting the opportune moment.' Focusing on practical matters rather than seeking empty fame, and prioritizing long-term gains over short-term profits, is indeed the best strategy for survival and strengthening in chaotic times! I believe these nine characters should be the highest strategy for our fortress, promulgated and followed by everyone!"

Chen Wei said in a deep voice, "In my humble opinion, this strategy is both prudent and aggressive. Building walls, training troops, stockpiling grain, and manufacturing weapons are all measures to solidify our foundation. By patiently building up our strength, we can avoid a full-scale conflict with a powerful enemy too early, giving our army more time to train and equip itself. Once our troops are well-trained and well-supplied, and our walls are high and our moats deep, even if the Black Mountain Commander attacks with his entire force, we can still defeat him!"

Murong Mingyue's eyes gleamed with admiration. As a former tribal leader, she understood the pragmatism and brilliance of this strategy: "There's a saying on the grasslands: a true eagle will gaze intently at its prey for a long time before taking flight, adjusting its posture. Your strategy, Lord, is to allow our Starfire Fortress, this fledgling eagle, to first grow strong wings and muscles, to see the winds clearly, before soaring through the skies. Mingyue fully supports it!"

Zhao Tiezhu scratched his head: "I'm straightforward, but I understand! It means first sturdy up our own home, store up enough food, and don't rush out to show off and cause trouble! That's right! That's how we should do it! Building walls, farming, training soldiers—we're all familiar with these things!"

Zhou Dashan, Li Shu, the commander of the Southern Outpost, and others also expressed their opinions, feeling that this strategy hit the nail on the head, was in line with the current situation of Xinghuo Fortress, and could point out a clear direction for progress. They all agreed.

Seeing that everyone was of one mind, Chen Xing felt reassured. What he needed to do was to unify the will of the core leadership under this strategic banner.

"Very well!" Chen Xing declared decisively. "Since everyone agrees, from this day forward, the nine characters 'Build high walls, store ample grain, and delay declaring kingship' will be the fundamental strategy for Xinghuo Fortress for the foreseeable future! Mr. Wu, please draft a detailed 'Current Governance Outline of Xinghuo Fortress' based on these nine characters, categorizing all specific matters into three main categories: 'Building Walls,' 'Storing Grain,' and 'Building Momentum,' clearly defining objectives, responsibilities, and timelines, and distributing them to all departments for implementation. At the same time, the essence of this nine-character policy must be widely publicized, ensuring that all soldiers and civilians within the fortress understand our goals and path!"

"I will obey the Lord's command!" Wu Xuejiu solemnly accepted the order.

"Chen Wei, Mingyue, military training, defense construction, and even the exploration of firearms are all of paramount importance in 'building the wall' and need to be accelerated."

"Tiezhu, Dashan, and the managers of each garrison, the matter of 'stockpiling grain' is a matter of life and death; you must not be negligent!"

"Li Shu, internal and external intelligence, as well as the movement of people's hearts and minds, are crucial to the success or failure of 'building momentum,' so we need to be even more astute!"

Chen Xing gave them his instructions one by one, and everyone solemnly agreed.

A meeting established the core principles for Starfire Fortress's future development. These nine characters, like a guiding star, will illuminate a pragmatic and powerful path for survival and growth for this emerging force thriving amidst chaos. After initial turbulence and rapids, Starfire Fortress, like a ship, has finally set its course and begun its steadfast journey into deeper waters that demand even more patience and perseverance.